Featured

Mahama, Mansur, Obi, Momodu, Others Grace Realnews Magazine’s 7th Anniversary Lecture

Published

6 years ago

November 20, 2019

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The main hall of the Sheraton Hotel Ikeja, Lagos was filled to capacity as prominent national and international guests including former President of Ghana, HE John Dramani Mahama, were on hand to celebrate the 7th Anniversary Lecture of Realnews Magazine, published by renowned journalist, Maureen Chigbo.

The event, which brought together government and media personalities among others, also witnessed the investiture of distinguished citizens into the Realnews Hall of Fame as well as the unveiling of a book, Pathways to Political and Economic Development of Africa.

In her welcome address, Ms Chigbo enlightened the guests on the need for the lecture, adding that equally prominent personalities had been available to present the lectures of the past six editions. She noted that they include Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Yakubu Mahmoud; Dr. Ibn Chambers, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, Prof. Maurice Iwu and Prof. Charles Soludo.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and former Minister of Finance, Alhaji Mansur Muktar, who spoke on the topic, The End of Oil: Whither the Nigeria Economy, revealed that time has come when the country should really diversify into other sectors because oil is no longer holding fort in the scheme of things.

In his anniversary lecture, titled “Beyond Politics: An Economic Narrative for West Africa”, the Special Guest of Honour, who doubled as the Guest Speaker, HE John Mahama took a swipe at the various inanities taking place in the sub-region.

He condemned in totality the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, the closure of borders by the Nigerian government, low level of education, poor leadership amongst others. While he blamed South Africans for forgetting the efforts of fellow Africans in the fight against apartheid, he came hard on the Nigerian government for not strengthening its institutions, resulting in the border closure.

A cross section of participants

A panel of discussants took centre stage afterwards with a representative of the Director General, Bureau of Public Enterprise, Mr. Alex Ayoola Okoh and Chief Executive Officer, American Business Council, Mrs. Margaret Olele, participating.

Other dignitaries that attended the event were former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Chief Dele Momodu; Rev Father Ebenezer Akinduro, Mr. Bisi Kazeem representing the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr. Maurice Achibong, representing the Police Service Commission; former Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr. Waheed Olagunju; Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okunsanya, Nkechi Ali-Balogun and Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba.

Featured

Tinubu Nominates Oyedele As Minister of State for Finance, Moves Anite-Uzoka to Budget Ministry

Published

11 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, has announced that “President Bola Tinubu has nominated Taiwo Oyedele as the minister of state for finance, replacing Doris Anite-Uzoka.

“Mrs Anite-Uzoka will now move to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, as the Minister of State, her third portfolio in the administration.

“President Tinubu has today conveyed the nomination of Mr Oyedele to the Senate for confirmation in a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

“Until President Tinubu nominated him as a minister, Mr Oyedele from Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which overhauled Nigeria’s tax system.

“Mr Oyedele, 50, is an economist, accountant and public policy expert.

“He attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in accountancy and finance. He attended Oxford Brookes University and earned a BSc in applied accounting.

“He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

“Mr Oyedele spent 22 years of his working career at PwC, joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.

“Mr Oyedele is also a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.”

Featured

Defection: Atiku’s Son, Adamu, Resigns As Adamawa Commissioner

Published

16 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Adamu Abubakar, the first son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has resigned as Adamawa State’s commissioner for works and energy development, days after Governor Ahmadu Fintiri defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Abubakar’s resignation letter, dated 2 March 2026, was addressed to the governor through the Secretary to the State Government. He gave no reason for his departure.

The timing is pointed. Fintiri announced his defection to the APC in a statewide broadcast last Friday, saying his cabinet and the PDP’s state structure had moved with him. Within 24 hours, 22 commissioners and special advisers publicly announced they were following suit. Abubakar, whose father remains one of the PDP’s most prominent national figures, was not among them.

In a statement issued Monday night, Abubakar’s media aide Abdulaziz Jauro said the former commissioner thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged continued loyalty to the administration’s developmental agenda. He also expressed gratitude to his father “for granting him the moral support and blessing to serve the people of Adamawa State” — a line that, read in context, suggests Atiku was consulted on the decision.

Abubakar said his resignation was not a withdrawal from public life. “This does not mark the end of his commitment to public service,” the statement read, “but rather the beginning of new avenues for developmental collaboration.”

The resignation leaves unresolved the question of whether it reflects a political break with the governor over his defection or a personal decision unconnected to the broader party realignment now reshaping Adamawa’s political landscape.

Featured

DSS Nabs Man over Assassination Attempt on Peter Obi

Published

18 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has detained a man in connection with the recent attack and alleged assassination threats targeting Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

According to AIT, the shooting incident took place on February 24, 2026, in Benin City, Edo State, during a political gathering attended by Obi and several figures from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The meeting was hosted by former APC National Chairman, John Oyegun. Gunmen reportedly opened fire at the venue, causing panic and forcing attendees to disperse for safety.

According to security sources, shortly after the attack, an individual identified as Udeme Monday Stephen allegedly took to social media claiming responsibility and issuing additional threats against Obi, warning of further violence.

Intelligence officials reportedly initiated swift investigations, employing digital tracing and forensic tools that led to the arrest of the 26-year-old suspect in Rivers State. He is said to be a teacher at a private secondary school in the Eliozu area of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

The suspect remains in DSS custody and is expected to face prosecution. The agency reiterated its commitment to responding to credible threats and safeguarding lives and national interests without bias.