NIGERIAN NOTCH

The sight was not just bewildering it was also shocking. Dateline was Thursday, May 29, 2003. Venue was Aso Rock Presidential Villa. It was the cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate the second term victory and second swearing-in ceremony of then President Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo. Joining Obasanjo to cut the celebration cake were two governors and some party leaders of the supposed opposition All Peoples Party, APP (which later became All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, before a faction of it morphed into General Muhammadu Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. By this time, the only other opposition party, the Alliance for Democracy, AD, had lost all but one of its six governors in the South-West geo-political zone, which was its stronghold. Apart from Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, who survived through his grit, determination and an insider dealing of a leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the other five bit the political dust. Ad...

President Donald Trump, yesterday, declared that he was saved by God from assassination attempts while campaigning for a second term in office to make America great again as he was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States of America. He pledged to make some immediate and sweeping changes in the next few days, promising to deport millions of undocumented and ‘criminal aliens’, use military force at the southern border to reduce the number of migrants entering the country drastically, declare national energy emergency to expand drilling and tackle inflation. He also promised to usher in a golden age and bring an end to what he described as America’s decline, while adding that US policy will recognise only two genders. “My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom. “The golden ...

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Otolo Ward 1, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has expelled its top stakeholder, Prince (Hon.) Samben Nwosu. Nwosu, a former Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission (PCC); and front line senatorial aspirant for the forthcoming Anambra South senatorial by-election, was suspended over allegations bothering on fraud and anti party activities. The letter with the caption: "Letter Of Expulsion From Our Great Party, PDP," dated January 17, 2025;  signed by PDP chairman and secretary in the ward, was made available to newsmen in Nnewi. Part of the letter reads, "You were served suspension letter by our great party, and you were invited to appear before the disciplinary committee set up by the party to hear the gravieous allegations against you in line with our party's constitution. You were to appear before the said committee on 13th January, 2025, as indicated on the letter dat...

In a historic ceremony, Donald J. Trump took the oath of office, marking his return to the White House as the 47th President of the United States of America. This momentous occasion took place at the US Capitol, where Trump was sworn in, eight years after completing his first term. Trump's inauguration ceremony was attended by high-profile guests, including billionaire Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg, and French billionaire Xavier Niel. Indian business tycoons Nita and Mukesh Ambani also attended a "candlelight dinner" with President-elect Trump. In his pre-inauguration rally, Trump vowed to "act with historic speed of strength" to address the country's crises. He promised to sign around 100-200 executive actions on his first day in office, focusing on issues like border security, energy, and reducing the cost of living for American families.  Trump's inauguration marks a significant milestone in American poli...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the likelihood of reconciling with Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara. Wike criticised Fubara and his allies for failing to implement President Bola Tinubu’s directive issued during a peace meeting he convened. Recall that in 2023, Fubara and Wike’s camp signed an eight-point peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu and other stakeholders at a crucial meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. However, the agreement collapsed, with Fubara claiming he was coerced into signing the deal with Wike’s camp. During a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday, Wike remarked that Fubara and his allies should have gone back to President Bola Tinubu to clarify why they could not comply with the directives. He said, “I’m wondering, what conflict to resolve? Mr President, in his wisdom, called all parties. He said, ‘This is the problem, and I want this problem to be resolved. Withdraw the impeachment notice. You go and d...

The Presidency has stated that the recent remarks made by UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, will have no impact on Nigeria. In her latest criticism about the country, Badenoch expressed concerns about the potential impact of ineffective governance in the United Kingdom, drawing a comparison to Nigeria. Speaking on the need to build trust and position the Conservative Party as a solution to Britain’s challenges, Badenoch warned of the risks of Britain’s system faltering and likened it to governance issues in Nigeria. She drew the analogy during her first speech of the year at an event organised by Onward, a British think-tank. Reacting to her statements, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Monday, dismissed their relevance to Nigeria’s international relations or efforts to attract investors. He said, “I don’t think it would have an effect because she’s ...

Donald Trump plans to tell Americans that he hops to usher in a "thrilling new era of national success", according to excerpts of his inauguration speech obtained by CBS, the BBC's US partner. In his remarks, Trump is also expected to say that a "tide of change is sweeping the country". He will also outline a "series of historic executive orders" to begin his presidency. It has previously been reported that as approximately 200 executive actions might be signed today alone, including on immigration, the US-Mexico border and the economy. "With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense," he will add. "My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigour and the vitality of history's greatest civilisation". BBC

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Monday granted N20 million bail to former Managing Director of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, and four other defendants standing trial for alleged Arik Airline N76 billion and $31.5 million fraud. The other defendants in the trial are former Receiver Manager of Arik Airline Ltd, Kamilu Omokide, Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank and Super Bravo Ltd. Justice Mojisola Dada granted the defendants bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety each after hearing arguments for bail by their respective lawyers. Details later…

US President-elect Donald Trump vowed a blitz of emergency actions Sunday at a huge victory rally on the eve of his inauguration, starting with a crackdown on an “invasion” of immigrants at the border with Mexico. “Starting tomorrow, I will act with historic speed and strength and fix every single crisis facing our country,” Trump told a cheering crowd at a Washington arena the day before he is sworn in for a second term. Republican Trump was joined on stage by Elon Musk — the tech tycoon who is set to lead a major cost-cutting drive in his administration — and who vowed to do “great things” and make America strong “for centuries.” The 78-year-old Trump focused on immigration in his campaign-style speech, driving home the dark messages that helped spur his remarkable victory in November’s presidential election. “We’re going to stop the invasion of our borders,” added Trump, whose administration has indicated that it plans to launch raids targeting undocumented migrants with...