Atiku Rejects Wike Stadium Offer

 The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has said he is no longer interested in using the Adokiye Amesiamaka Stadium, Igwurita-Ali, Port Harcourt, for its presidential campaign rally in Rivers State.

The Atiku campaign council lambasted Governor Nyesom Wike, saying the governor could not be trusted, adding that "he wrote to us formally cancelling the approval. We also expect Governor Wike to write and not just stand on a podium during campaign and make statements that depict a very high-level of instability."

The rejection followed volte-face of Wike, which had earlier withdrawn the approval to use the stadium.

SaharaReporters reported on February 1, 2023 that Governor Wike's administration had withdrawn the initial approval of February 11.

It had been reported that the Rivers State sports commissioner, Chris Green, in a circular issued on January 31, explained that the decision was taken because of their discovery that the PDP was in alliance with some members of the All Progressives Congress in the state

the Adokiye Amesiamaka Stadium, Governor Wike must first write to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, the same way he did while revoking the approval.

“He wrote to us formally cancelling the approval. We also expect Governor Wike to write and not just standing on a podium during campaign and making statements that depict a very high-level of instability. At this point, Rivers people should be aware that they have an unstable leader.”

Seun Kuti Hits Back At Peter Okoye, Calls Him "Talentless"

 “Psquare collected Millions to perform at Buhari’s APC inauguration in 2015, now in 2023 they still want to collect another money with Peter Obi, Peter Obi is part of the problem he is close friends with Atiku, Tinubu and the corrupt political Elites he is not the solution” - Seun Kuti digs out Evidence of Psquare performing for Buhari and Peter Obi with Atiku and Tibubu.

New Zealand: Police Seize Cocaine Enough To Supply The Country For 30 Yrs

 Police said Wednesday they had seized enough cocaine to supply New Zealand for 30 years, after snaring a massive bundle of drugs floating in the Pacific Ocean.

New Zealand police commissioner Andrew Coster told reporters the haul -- containing 81 bales of cocaine -- weighed 3.2 tonnes and had a street value of around $316 million.

"This is the largest find of illicit drugs by New Zealand's agencies by some margin," he said.

Officials believe the drugs were dropped at a "floating transit point" in the Pacific Ocean, where they would have been picked up and taken to Australia.

A police photo showed the massive haul was bound by netting and covered in yellow floats. Some of the bales had a Batman symbol on them, and the packages of cocaine inside are labelled with what appeared to be a four-leaf clover print.

"We believe it was destined for Australia, where it would have been enough to service the market for one year," Coster said.

"It is more than New Zealand would use in 30 years."

A naval boat intercepted the bundle, which was drifting hundreds of kilometres northwest of New Zealand, thanks in part to intelligence from the "Five Eyes" alliance.

The decades-old intelligence-sharing network comprises the US, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

Coster described the bust as a "huge result" for police in both New Zealand and Australia.

"There is no doubt this discovery lands a major financial blow right from the South American producers through to the distributors of this product," he added.

Officials said it was too early to say where the drugs came from.

Fuel Scarcity Will Ease Off Next Week, Kyari Assures Nigerians

 The Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mele Kyari, has assured Nigerians that the lingering fuel scarcity will ease off next week.

Kyari said this in a video clip shown on Channels Television on Tuesday evening.

He however said he could not assure that the queues at the fuel stations would disappear, but added that there would be significant improvement in the next one week

He said, “Now within the next one week, I’m not saying that you’re going to have zero queues within the next one week, no, because a number of things are out of our control, and of course the market forces will determine some of these issues.

“But I believe that we’re going to see substantial and relative ease compared to today in the next one week.



The PUNCH reports that the fuel scarcity coupled with the scarcity of both the new and old naira notes have brought untold hardship on citizens, crippling economic activities across the country.


Consequently, protests have broken out in various states and cities across the federation, with citizens lamenting the twin scarcity and its impact of their businesses and everyday lives.

Recall that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had also asked Nigerians last week Friday to give him seven days from then to resolve the naira crisis, with two days left to the completion of the seven days requested for by the President.

Osun PDP Praises INEC For Appealing Judgment Sacking Adeleke

 The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for initiating processes to appeal the judgement of the Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which annulled the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke.

The PDP in a statement by its caretaker chairman, Dr Akindele Adekunle, said the electoral umpire has lived up to the expectations of Nigerians in standing up to the defence of the country’s electoral system.

He then expressed faith in the higher court to establish the supremacy of BVAS machines above any other source of the accreditation of voters.


“It is so bad that the lies that INEC will not appeal the scandalous judgement that tried to discredit BVAS machines in our elections emanated from APC lawyers.

“While the falsehood lasted, we chose not to respond because we are convinced that INEC knows better and is aware of the implication of ignoring the attack on the BVAS machines as the decision of Justice Kume did at the Tribunal.

“INEC has towed the right path by appealing the “Buga judgment” because if such is sustained, what will happen will be candidates who lost elections manipulating server reports and presenting same to a judge to steal the election from the actual winner,” Adekunle concluded.

Idowu Owohunwa: The New Commissioner Of Police In Lagos

 CP IDOWU OWOHUNWA

- Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from ABU, Zaria 

- Masters Degree in Criminal Justice Studies and Policing from the University of Leeds, UK.

Full List:
Approval of the Police Service Commission;
i. CP Adamawa State - CP Adebola A. Hamzat, fdc
ii. CP Ogun State - CP Emeka Frank Mba, mni
iii. CP Taraba State - CP Suleiman A. Yusuf, mni
iv. CP Lagos State - CP Idowu Owohunwa
v. CP Ebonyi State - CP Faleye E.S. Olaleye

Sanwo-Olu Commiserates With Funke Akindele Over Mother’s Death

 Lagos State Governor, Mr. Jide Sanwo-Olu has sympathized with the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Lagos, Ms Funke Akindele over the death of her beloved mother, Dr. RB Adebanjo-Akindele.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile on Tuesday said it is often hard to find the right words at a time like this for someone who has lost a beloved person, noting that losing mothers is one of the deepest sorrows for man.

The Governor prayed for peace, comfort, courage and love for Funke, his immediate siblings, the Adebanjo and Akindele families as they go through a most difficult period of mourning of the dead.

He said: “My heart goes out to Funke, friends of the Adebanjo and Akindele families on the demise of their daughter, mother and grandmother, Dr. RB Adebanjo-Akindele who answered the ultimate call today, Tuesday 7th of February, 2023.

“Death of loved ones, whenever it happens, is usually a very painful episode but we must be consoled by the good life lived by the deceased person. We should relish in the beautiful memories the dead left behind for us.

The Governor urged the PDP Deputy Governorship candidate, to be comforted by the good life that her late mother lived and continue to pray for the repose of Dr. RB Adebanjo-Akindele.

“On behalf of my family and the good people of Lagos State, I hereby express my heartfelt condolences to the entire families and friends of Adebanjo and Akindele.
 
May God grant the soul of the departed eternal rest and the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.