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What Buhari Told Us – Governors

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Governors of the 36 states who met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said the president told them that the Nigerian economy is in a bad shape.

The chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting which lasted for about 30 minutes, said after telling him of their mission, the president thanked them and said “the economy is in bad shape and that we have to come together, think and rethink on the way forward.”

The NGF met Thursday night over the lingering issue of a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers and agreed to meet with Mr Buhari to tell him their position on the matter.

A tripartite committee comprising of government, labour and the private sector, headed by a former Head Of Service, Ama Pepple, has recommended the payment of N30,000 as minimum wage.

The governors have consistently said that they will not be able to pay the proposed wage in their states unless massive retrenchment is carried out or the nation’s revenue-sharing formula is changed to favour the states and local governments.

Although Mr Yari declined to comment on what they actually discussed with Mr Buhari regarding the minimum wage, he said the president “talked to us in a manner that we have task ahead of us, we should tighten our belt and see how we can put the Nigerian economy in the right direction.”

He said the president again lamented how the past administrations under the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) allowed the nation’s infrastructure to decay despite huge petrol revenue.

”He wondered about what happened in the past; that for the 16 years of the now opposition party, the PDP in power and with oil at 2.1 million barrels per day at an average of $100, many infrastructure are in bad shape, ” he said.

Although Mr Buhari has recently said that he will not complain against the PDP again, Mr Yari said the president told them that that will be his main campaign tool.

”He is going to open a vigorous campaign and these are key issues that he is going to raise with Nigerians so that they can weigh their choice,” he said.

The Zamfara governor also said Mr Buhari expressed optimism that all of them seeking re-election or those going to the National Assembly and himself will be victorious, adding, however, that ”it is not going to be easy, it will be harder than before.”

Mr Yari said they also thanked Mr Buhari for coming to the aid of states to enable them to pay arrears of workers salaries by paying them the Paris and London clubs refunds.

“As governors, we, therefore, appreciate what Mr President has done. Without the president, with our mindset and thinking, it will be very difficult for us to govern, that’s the truth,” he said.

He also said that unlike in the past, Mr Buhari authorised the payments without reference to party differences.

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Police Probe Four Officers Accused of ‘Misconduct’ in Lagos

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The Nigeria Police Force has launched an investigation into alleged misconduct by officers from the Satellite Town Division, Lagos State, after a viral social media video.

The Force Media Officer, CSP Aliyu Giwa, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

The complainant, Rhapstar, posted the video on X on April 4, alleging incivility by officers on surveillance duty.

In the clip, police officers stopped a vehicle, ordered occupants out, and searched one individual away from the roadside-parked vehicle.

The incident triggered widespread reaction, amid concerns over alleged harassment during a roadside stop-and-search operation.

Speaking on the incident on Saturday, Giwa said the Divisional Police Officer and implicated officers were summoned, adding that an investigation into the incident was ongoing.

Giwa wrote on X: “When (Rhapstar) posted the viral video on 4 April 2026, alleging misconduct by officers from the Satellite Town Division, Lagos, we took the matter seriously and acted immediately.

“The DPO and the officers involved were summoned, statements were obtained, and detailed interviews were conducted.

“Preliminary findings indicate the incident occurred in May 2025. We are working to obtain additional details directly from the victims, as their accounts are central to the investigation.

“This process is not a cover-up; it is a demonstration of accountability.

“The leadership of the Force management team has emphasised that the rule of law is non-negotiable in the discharge of police duties nationwide. No officer is above accountability, and no incident is too old to investigate. The investigation is ongoing. We will provide regular updates.

“To every Nigerian who spoke up, your voice prompted accountability, as it should be.”

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Turaki Faction Kicks As Police Unseal PDP Secretariat

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The Tanimu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Nigeria Police Force of acting in contempt of court following the unsealing of its National Secretariat in Abuja, describing the development as a partisan move that undermines the rule of law.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said the police facilitated the takeover of the Wadata Plaza headquarters by individuals he described as “agents of the federal government and APC apologists masquerading as PDP members,” despite a pending appeal on the matter.

The PDP maintained that the judgment by Justice Abdulmalik, which the police purportedly relied upon in unsealing the premises, is already under appeal.

According to the party, the police, being a party to the suit, had been duly served and were fully aware of the appellate process.

It argued that by proceeding to unseal the secretariat, the police had “tampered with the res”, (a legal terminology referring to the subject matter of litigation) thereby risking rendering the eventual judgment of the Court of Appeal nugatory.

“It is most shameful that those entrusted with protecting the law are those disobeying the law,” the statement read.

The party expressed disappointment that the police, under the leadership of the new Inspector General of Police, has continued what it described as a pattern of partisan conduct since the crisis began.

It alleged that officers of the force had consistently acted in support of a faction it labelled as “Wike-backed APC apologists,” thereby deepening internal tensions within the opposition party.

Despite its grievances, the PDP called on its members nationwide to remain calm and law-abiding, urging them to avoid actions that could lead to a breakdown of public order.

“As law-abiding citizens, we admonish our members to continue to maintain peace and not undertake any activity capable of breaching public peace,” the statement added, while pledging to pursue all legal avenues to defend the rights of what it termed “genuine members” of the party.

The party also assured the public that it remained optimistic that the situation would be resolved in favour of democratic principles, warning against what it described as a “state-sponsored persecution and one-party drive.”

Invoking a note of hope, the PDP said the current challenges would ultimately give way to “joy and liberation,” expressing confidence in the restoration of what it called true democratic experience in the country.

The unsealing of the PDP secretariat marks the latest twist in the protracted leadership and legal tussle within the party, which has continued to generate political tension and raise concerns about institutional neutrality in Nigeria’s democratic process.

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Why Tinubu Was Absent at Commissioning of Sanwo-Olu’s Projects in Lagos – Presidency

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The Presidency has come up with reasons behind President Bola Tinubu’s absent at the commissioning of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s projects in Lagos, on Wednesday.

Tinubu was noticeably absent at the scheduled project commissioning in Lagos, sparking public curiosity.

However, Sunday Dare, his Special Adviser on Public Communications and Orientation, has clarified the reason behind the last-minute development.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Dare revealed that the President had to prioritise urgent national security matters over the event.
According to him, although Tinubu is currently in Lagos, he has been deeply engaged in high-level State duties, particularly ongoing security briefings tied to recent developments across the country.

“The president has been busy taking constant briefs and has to prioritise when it comes to state matters, especially security,” Dare stated.

He referenced rising security concerns, including recent unrest linked to incidents in Jos, noting that the President has been closely monitoring the situation and working directly with intelligence agencies.

Dare emphasised that Tinubu remains fully engaged behind the scenes, actively coordinating with security operatives and receiving continuous updates to address emerging threats.

The absence, he stressed, should not be seen as neglect of official duties but rather a reflection of the President’s focus on safeguarding national stability at a critical time.

Tinubu skipped the Lagos commissioning not out of disregard, but to handle pressing security issues demanding immediate presidential attention.

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