News

Media Office Alleges Plot to Arrest Peter Obi by Tinubu’s Govt

Published

3 months ago

July 20, 2024

Eric

The Peter Obi Media Reach has refuted allegations made by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, linking the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to a planned protest.

The media office described the allegations as wild, wicked and baseless, saying that the presidency was planning to use the planned protest to arrest Obi.

In a lengthy post on his verified X handle on Saturday, Onanuga claimed that Obi’s supporters are behind the planned nationwide protests against the Tinubu administration.

The presidential aide said Obi and his supporters should be held responsible for any mayhem that may occur in the protest, alleging that “they are not democrats but anarchists.”

Onanuga accused the protest organisers of lacking the patience to wait for another election in 2027 and instead, “destabilise Nigeria by staging a civilian coup against President Bola Tinubu.”

He claimed that those organising the protests were also behind the ENDSARS protest of October 2020, which later turned violent and urged security agents to interrogate the “agents of destabilisation” behind the demonstrations.

However, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Yunusa Tanko, on Saturday, the media office said the “unsubstantiated allegations are being orchestrated to arrest Obi and limit his freedom and association”.

Tanko also stated that the allegation was an attempt to stop Obi’s propagation of good governance, which the presidency found injurious to their lavish lifestyle.

He added that the former Governor of Anambra State has not in any way shown or been associated with violence, even in the most obvious provocations.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR, has been drawn to the wild, wicked and baseless allegations by one of the Spokespersons in the Presidency, Bayo Onanuga, accusing the Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, of being the mastermind of a planned protest in the country.

“The statement even said that Obi should be held responsible for any mayhem that may occur in the protest. But POMR can report from good and reliable authority that these unsubstantiated allegations are being orchestrated to arrest Obi, limit his freedom and association and stop his propagation for good governance which they find injurious to their lavish lifestyle.

“Peter Obi, by his mien in and out of political office, has not in any way shown or been associated with violence even in the most obvious provocations. He has always shown, even during the electioneering, that he is issue-driven as he carries on without calling anybody’s name.

“POMR is also aware that multiple attack dogs have been hired and strategically deployed to ensure that Obi does not enjoy the ear of the Nigerian populace who are keen on hearing his voice on issues.

“These spine doctors and hirelings, to justify their pay, indulge in all kinds of falsehood ostensibly to distract Obi and confuse Nigerians who already see Obi as a suiting balm in the current turbulent political and economic environment.”

News

Akpabio, Akume, Ministers Assume Presidential Roles As Tinubu, Shettima Remain Abroad, Says Presidency

Published

1 day ago

October 17, 2024

Eric

The Presidency has named Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) George Akume and the ministers as those in charge of the country’s leadership in the absence of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Both Tinubu and Shettima are currently abroad while the presidency insists that there is no leadership vacuum in the country.

There have been enquiries across the country regarding who is in charge of Nigeria in the absence of the president and his deputy.

The Presidency, through a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, recalled a similar situation during the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The statement said: “It is important to note that the President and Vice President are fully engaged with the nation’s affairs, even while they are away. There is no leadership vacuum in the country.”

Tinubu jetted out of the country on October 3 to commence a two-week working vacation in the United Kingdom (UK), while the vice president departed on Wednesday for Sweden, on an official trip.

“All State organs are functioning as usual. The Senate President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, ministers, and service chiefs are all in their respective positions, ensuring the smooth operation of the government,” Onanuga’s statement clarified.

“We had a similar situation in 2022 when former President Buhari and former Vice President Osinbajo were found to be simultaneously out of the country. President Buhari attended UNGA 77, while Osinbajo participated in the burial of Queen Elizabeth II.

“We have also experienced it during this administration. Between late April and early May this year, while President Tinubu was in London, after visiting the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, where he attended the World Economic Forum, Vice President Shettima left Nigeria, first of all for Nairobi, to attend the International Development Association (IDA21) Heads of State Summit.

“After returning, he left for Dallas, Texas, to attend the US-Africa Business Summit organised by the Corporate Council on Africa. President Tinubu returned home on 8 May. During this time, the government’s machinery did not halt.

“The Constitution, a testament to our adaptability in the virtual age, does not explicitly require the physical presence of either the president or the vice president in the country at all times to fulfill his duties.”

News

Glo-Sponsored 2024 Ofala Festival Begins in Onitsha, Showcases Nigerian Culture

Published

1 day ago

October 17, 2024

Eric

The annual Ofala Festival which celebrates the best of African culture and sponsored by digital solutions provider, Globacom, kicks –off in the historic city of Onitsha on Friday at the Ime Obi, the palace of Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the traditional ruler of the Kingdom.

In a press statement in Lagos, Globacom said, “the festival’s first day, known as Iru Ofala, takes place on Friday, followed by Azu Ofala, on Saturday, October 19, while the annual Royal Banquet organised by Globacom in honour of Igwe Achebe comes up at the Ime Obi on Wednesday, October 23.”

This prominent traditional festival in Southeastern Nigeria marks the monarch’s annual emergence from seclusion, where he successfully negotiates the kingdom’s fortunes.

The theme of the 2024 Ofala festival, “Courage, Perseverance, and Self-Reliance” (Onye kwe, Chi’e ekwe), reflects the Igwe’s message of hope and resilience amidst prevailing hardships in the country.

“We are proud to once again partner with the Ofala Steering Committee to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. The Ofala is a celebration of our nation’s diversity and resilience, and we are honoured to be a part of it”, Globacom concluded.

News

National Grid Collapses Again, Second Time in 24 Hours

Published

3 days ago

October 15, 2024

Eric

The national electricity grid collapsed again on Tuesday, the second time within 24 hours, plunging millions of people into darkness.

The latest incident comes barely 24 hours after electricity distribution companies across the country announced the grid collapsed around 6:48 p.m, resulting in the loss of power supply across their networks.

“Dear valued customer, kindly be informed that there was a system collapse at 09:17hrs which has resulted to a loss of power supply across our network,” Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) which serves some parts of Lagos State said on its X handle.

“We are currently working with our partners as we hope for a speedy restoration of the grid. We will keep you updated as soon as power is restored. Kindly bear with us.”

Similarly, the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company confirmed the fresh collapse and promised the restoration of normalcy as soon as possible.