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Obasanjo lacks moral right to condemn govt – Presidency

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Our youths are angry, there’ll be trouble if we fail to act - Obasanjo warns
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
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The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare, has lambasted former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, and urged him to apologise to Nigerians.

Dare, in a statement on his X (Twitter) platform, described Obasanjo’s regime as the most corrupt government in the history of Nigeria.

He said that Obasanjo has no moral right to condemn any government, noting that he should apologize to Nigerians for not laying the foundational infrastructure Nigeria needed to advance.

Recall that Obasanjo, had in his keynote lecture titled, “Leadership failure and the state of corruption in Nigeria”, delivered at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, a coveted institution in America, opined that Nigeria is a ‘failing state’ under President Tinubu’s watch.

“The more the immorality and corruption of a nation, the more the nation sinks into chaos, insecurity, conflict, and disunity.

“The failing state status of Nigeria is confirmed and glaringly indicated for all to see,” Obasanjo added.

He had also called for the dismissal of the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, and officials of the commission at all levels as part of a reform of the electoral process in Nigeria.

According to him, “As a matter of urgency, we must ensure the INEC Chairperson and their staff are thoroughly vetted.

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“The vetting exercise should produce dispassionate, non-partisan actors with impeccable reputations.

“Nigeria must ensure the appointment of new credible INEC leadership at the federal, state, local government, and municipal – city, town, and village – levels, with short tenures to prevent undesirable political influence and corruption, and to re-establish trust in the electoral system by its citizens.

“The INEC Chairperson must not only be absolutely above board, but must also be transparently independent and incorruptible.”

Irked with his speech, Dare noted that Obasanjo’s statement lacked sincerity, adding that democracy suffered mortal wounds under his watch.

His words: “Former President Obasanjo is a man with a tremendous capacity for mischief and Nigerians know it.

“His journey along the path of hallucinations has never been in doubt. So is his descent into muddling facts, forgetting that he ran a presidency on record as the most corrupt.

“His recent diatribe at Yale University lacks sincerity.

“It is actually laughable that Obasanjo’s pretentiousness about fighting corruption is not cutting any ice in the eyes of the general public.

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“We all know what happened under his watch and how, up till the present moment, there has been no explanation as to how he wasted a whopping $16 billion in generating megawatts of darkness across the nation. But that is not even the issue.

“Democracy suffered mortal wounds under his watch; only capped by his murderous rage for an ill-fated 3rd term.

“Successive administrations struggled to clean up the mess Obasanjo left behind, which President Tinubu is now making progress with.

“Obasanjo has lost any moral right to condemn any government. He should apologise to Nigerians for not laying the foundational infrastructure Nigeria needed to advance.

“A Yoruba proverb is “A o ki n wo ariwo oja, eniti a anba na oja ni a n wo”. This means that you shouldn’t pay heed to the market’s noise. Rather, keep an eye on the person you are negotiating with. This is instructive.

“In this market called Nigeria, the man with the renewed hope agenda is the one that matters and, indeed, Nigerians. Everything else is ariwo oja.

“This administration will stay focused in bringing relief to Nigerians. Obasanjo’s remarks reflect the infantilist nature of market noise.

“President Tinubu will stay the course in seeing through the reforms he has instituted for a better Nigeria.

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“The point here is that Obasanjo should take time off this habit of pulling down leaders, especially his successors and try to interrogate himself on how he has contributed to the parlous state of the Nigerian nation which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now spiritedly battling to put back on the track of development.

“We thank former President Obasanjo for agreeing that ‘Yes, there is hope’. That’s the Renewed Hope Agenda President Tinubu is about and it’s on track.

“We are happy to have that conversation with the former President.”

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Former Miss Nigeria dies in London

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Former Miss Nigeria, Edna Ibru
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Ex-Miss Nigeria and former First Lady of Delta State, Mrs Edna Ibru (nee Park) is dead.

Edna Ibru, wife of Olorogun Felix Ibru, the first civilian Governor of Delta State between 1991 and 1992, died in her 80s on Wednesday, in a London hospital after a brief illness.

The deceased, who was Miss Nigeria 1964, and the first Nigerian/African to represent Nigeria at Miss Universe, had two children for Ibru.

The Ibru family of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom in Delta State confirmed the death of the former first lady in a statement issued by her son, Dr Paul Ibru, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Saturday.

“Our amazing mother passed onto glory on Wednesday 15, January 2025 after a brief illness”, the statement partly read.

It continued, “Until her death, she was full of life and we never expected her to leave us so soon but we cannot question the will of God in her precious life.

“She was a lover of people, a mediator, a mother to many, outrageously humorous, deeply caring, down to earth, full of stories all of the time, and we will miss her very dearly.”

Paul added that arrangements for her burial would be announced by the family later.

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Tinubu administration has no plan, no vision – Bauchi Governor

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Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has expressed disappointment with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that while he initially celebrated Tinubu’s victory, he has since observed a lack of clear vision and effective policies that are hindering national progress.

Mohammed, who was an opposition governor during the 2023 elections, admitted to having high hopes for the new administration due to Tinubu’s successful tenure as Lagos State Governor.

However, he now believes that freedom and development remain elusive under the current leadership.

Speaking at a courtesy visit by Apostle Johnson Suleiman, the founder of Omega Fire Ministry, in Bauchi, Mohammed emphasized that President Tinubu appears to have entered office without a concrete plan or manifesto.

He also criticized the president for surrounding himself with individuals who he described as “misfits,” and warned that the administration’s direction is likely to lead Nigeria down a path of destruction.

The Governor clarified that he holds no personal animosity toward Tinubu, but expressed concern over the impact of the current policies, particularly those that he believes could negatively affect Nigerians.

He urged the president to be more inclusive and develop a comprehensive, well-thought-out vision for the country.

Mohammed called for reforms that would be beneficial to all citizens, stressing the need for unity and respect for Nigeria’s diversity.

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He cautioned against divisive policies and practices of impunity, urging for governance that prioritizes the welfare of the people and ensures their aspirations are not stifled.

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Yahoo Boys shoot EFCC officer dead, injure another in Anambra

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Armed internet fraudsters fatally shot an officer after opening fire on a team of anti-graft operatives in Anambra on Friday.

The officers were on a mission to corner a cluster of suspected cybercriminals, widely known as Yahoo Boys, when they were met with lethal violence on Friday morning.

One officer was shot dead on the spot and another sustained serious injuries and remained hospitalised in critical condition as of Friday night.

The officers had travelled to Anambra on the assignment from their zonal headquarters in Enugu.

A male suspect has been taken into custody for the murder, an official said. His identity was not immediately disclosed just as the motive of the attack is yet to be ascertained.

A spokesman for the EFCC said he would find out about the incident when contacted.

A police spokesman in Anambra did not immediately comment on the development.

The attack came as chairman Ola Olukoyede was recalibrating the agency’s protocol on raiding white-collar criminals. Yahoo Boys were hitherto largely known to be unarmed and, therefore, easily to take into custody.

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The deceased officer was identified as an assistant superintendent who had recently completed a promotional examination.

It was learnt that the identity of the officer was kept secret to allow time for his family to be officially notified.

Anti-graft agents expressed apprehension over the development saying the agency’s personnel insurance had been moribund for years.

“We no longer have life insurance,” an officer said under anonymity to discuss internal administrative policies.

“The last time family members of an officer who died on duty were compensated was under Farida Waziri.”

“So the families of the officer that died today won’t be getting anything,” another officer added. “So can we say he died for nothing?”

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