Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has knocked a former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara for backing Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid. Dogara and some aggrieved members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) recently endorsed the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for next year’s election, a move Wike says is a deviation from the former speaker’s earlier stance. Wike who spoke during the flag-off of Indorama- Agbonchia- Ogale- Ebubu East/West Link Road, claimed that Dogara had insisted on Nigeria’s presidential seat returning to southern Nigeria as against his most recent support for Atiku from the northern region. “What I don’t like in life is people that don’t have character. I can’t stand it. At the appropriate time, I would challenge them to a debate. Ask Dogara: what made you leave PDP?” the governor asked during the event held on Monday. “Dogara was to see me; unknown to me, he gave me an excuse and I was watching Dogara on TV being received by President Muhammadu Buhari that he has gone to APC. I say ‘Okay, no problem’. The same Dogara said the presidency should be zoned to southern Nigeria for there to be peace. Now, I hear about the same Dogara (backing Atiku from the north). Is that how you do things? Can’t you say something and stand by it?” Wike’s comment is the latest in the crisis rocking the main opposition PDP since the party’s presidential primary earlier in May. The governor, who lost to Atiku in the exercise, claims the process was unfair and is also insisting that the National Chairman of the PDP Iyorchia resigns his position as part of moves to reach a truce. While efforts are being made to resolve the crisis, the governor and his allies have pulled out of the party’s presidential campaign with Wike saying the group will make a decision soon.

  Vice president Yemi Osinbajo, has urged the Nigerians youths to be hopeful, and not be pressured to leave the country out fear of the unknown. Osinbajo made this appeal during the 2022 Service of Nine Lessons and Carols held on Sunday evening at the National Christian Centre in Abuja. He said, “Fear of the unknown should not be allowed to lead our young people to migrate to other countries in search of greener pastures. We can make our pastures here greener again. It requires commitment and consistency. Osinbajo, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, urged Nigerians not to exercise fear or despair over the current challenges facing the country ahead of the 2023 elections. He expressed hope that Nigeria would overcome the difficulties as the elections and population census would be conducted peacefully without rancour. Osinbajo urged Nigerians to change the lens through which they view the country’s current predicaments and to always have positive expectations. He said, “Your theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Fear Not’. This is a very important subject for everyone of us even as we approach 2023 which has been described as a year that Nigeria seems to be at a crossroad. “We are approaching the year 2023. Yes, we are going to have elections and we are going to have a census exercise. “All these issues come with a lot of questions, but we have an assurance from our Lord and Saviour. He will not let our hearts be troubled. We should believe in Him and believe in God,” he added.

  The Labour Party (LP) believes its presidential candidate Peter Obi will clinch the country’s number one seat in next year’s election despite the crisis in the party. The Ogun State chapter of the party suspended the Director-General of its presidential campaign Doyin Okupe, a move which was overruled by the national body of the LP. But speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, a member of the Labour Party legal team Joe-Oke Onuakalusi says with the former Anambra State governor, his party is sure to win. When asked if the party is strong enough to handle internal disputes, he said: “It is [strong enough]. When the head is correct, the body will be equally correct. “You can understand that in Kenya, Ruto came on board just like Peter Obi is emerging and he won and is going to do excellently well,” he said on the show. “So, we are bent on winning the 2023 election, and by the time Peter emerges come February 2023, we are putting Nigeria on the right track. We have the structure and the best hands and Peter is cruising to victory.” He noted that the suspensions in the party are basically an internal affair which is not peculiar to the Labour Party. “Every party has its own constitution and internal affairs. If any party member goes contrary to it, they have the right to a disciplinary procedure and if that one takes place, it becomes a party affair,” he added. The lawyer faulted Okupe’s suspension, saying only the presidential candidate of the party has the right to appoint his campaign organisation’s director general. “He (director general, in this case, Okupe) must not be a member of the party; being a member of the party is an addendum but it is the prerogative of the presidential candidate (Obi to appoint his DG),” Onuakalusi noted. According to him, only the ward leaders have the power to suspend a member and not the state leadership as done by the Ogun State chapter of the party. “So, it is laughable for a group of men to say, ‘We have expelled you from the party’,” the Labour Party chieftain maintained.

  The Federal Government has employed about 161 persons living with disabilities in different agencies and Parastatals. The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD), James Lalu, who announced this, appreciated the present administration for giving hope to disabled persons in the country. Lalu also said President Muhammadu Buhari is the only President that brought hope into the disability community. The Executive Secretary spoke in Abuja at a briefing by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to commemorate the 2022 International day of Persons with Disabilities. He said: “This Ministry has been standing with persons with disabilities since it came on board. 161 persons with disabilities have secured employment in different agencies and Parastatals. President Buhari is the only President to has brought life and hope into our community and we are grateful.” The Minister, who was represented by the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP), Dr. Umar Bindir, said since the President assented to the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) act, a lot of States have followed suit to domesticate the act into laws. Bindir said however a lot still needs to be done towards the effective implementation of the provisions of the act, especially in the areas of accessibility, advocacy and sensitization.

  The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Monday said he is a marketable individual. Jagaban, as he is fondly called vowed to give loans to students in various institutions, if elected in the forthcoming 2023 election. The former Lagos state governor stated this at the Chatham House programme titled, ‘Nigeria’s 2023 elections: In conversation with Bola Ahmed Tinubu’, monitored by Vanguard via Twitter. The APC presidential candidate took time to discuss and proffer solutions to national issues bedeviling the country. During the interaction, Tinubu gave reasons he doesn’t do one-on-one interviews with Nigerians. In his words, “I see myself as a marketable individual. They want to use me to make money and I said no.” Recall that Nigerians had queried and condemned Tinubu’s alleged refusal to grant live interviews like his two major opponents in PDP and Labour Party. Reacting to that the Chief Spokesman of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Festus Keyamo and Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, deputy director, public affairs of the campaign council, said Tinubu was not shying away from live interviews, adding that “Campaigns have not started. The Nation will hear from him again and again and again.” On his own part, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, said live interview is the strategy of Tinubu’s opponents and the strategy could not be foisted or forced on Tinubu. However, Speaking on education, Tinubu said his administration would give loans to Nigerian students, noting that he would reform the Almajiri system in the North. The APC presidential candidate equally promised to build more schools and employ/ train teachers in the country. Speaking on Diasporal voting, Mr Tinubu opined that ‘their right to vote should not be abrogated’. He noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman is the only person that can speak authoritatively on the issue. On health, Tinubu said he would convert Brain drain to brain gain. He noted that his administration would manufacture drugs and stop importation of drugs in Nigeria. However, clarifies his age/identity imbroglio, Tinubu said he was born on March 29, 1952. He noted that his records are there for people to see. “I was born March 29, 1952, that’s my family record. The record is there. The transcript is there. I am Tinubu, if they require a DNA they should speak. There is one presidential candidate whose national identity is questionable but I did not go into that. Chicago has attested that I graduated from the school . Mobile oil has attested that I worked with them. Make sure you are upright”, he said.

  The Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has commenced the payment of salaries to workers in the state. The was contained in a statement shared on Adeleke’s verified Twitter account on Monday, signed by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed. Adeleke also noted that “any Ministry, Department or Agency that fails to submit its salary schedule latest today (Monday) will be sanctioned. Any agency head who obstructs the process of scheduling will face disciplinary procedures.” “This warning is sequel to report that some agencies are still holding unto their agency’s schedules despite the directive of His Excellency. “Governor Ademola Adeleke had last week directed immediate conclusion of documentation for payment of salaries. This was a consequence of a report that about 45 agencies are yet to submit their payment schedule. “Presently, the payment of salaries is ongoing starting with the Ministry of Justice,” the statement added. Upon assumption of office in November, Adeleke had issued six executive orders. Adeleke explained why he issued the executive orders in his first week as governor of the state. Adeleke explained why he issued the executive orders in his first week as governor of the state. Related News Why I issued executive orders – Adeleke Fulfil promises to workers, cleric urges Adeleke Adeleke’s allegations of looting against Oyetola unfair – ex-Commissioner Speaking at a thanksgiving service at Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim, Oke Gada, Ede, on Sunday, Adeleke also recalled the travails he passed through in his path to governorship, citing the conspiracies and the resolute campaign of calumny from within and outside the party. A statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, noted that Adeleke explained that the orders were meant to dismantle illegalities and “clean up the mess” he inherited. Quoting Adeleke, the statement further read in parts, “We passed through tough days before we reached here. I can’t but constantly praise God, my brother, my sister, my political associates, my friends and the great people of Osun state. “That massive support accounted for my hitting the ground running a week ago. That was why I issued those executive orders to dismantle all illegalities and clean up the mess I inherited. “The man I defeated set many traps for my administration but we are removing all the evil structures they put in place. “I have used the first one week to take charge and set the tone for good governance. From the new week, I will continue the great work. We are shaking up the system ; we are unveiling and commencing implementation of our agenda. “I thank the people of Osun for their love and show of huge backing. I reassure them that all my actions will continue to be in the best interest of the state. “All what I have done and will still do are to serve the people, meet their aspirations, and restore good governance in Osun State.”