Kenneth Okonkwo, a lawyer and former spokesperson for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, has said that Peter Obi’s commitment to a one-term presidency in 2027 is a strategic promise tailored to win northern acceptance. In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Okonkwo explained that Obi’s declaration is not accidental but a deliberate attempt to balance Nigeria’s fragile power-sharing structure. According to him, “It was even Atiku Abubakar that first of all said he was going to do one term, then Peter Obi now keyed into it because he knows that if he, as a younger person, does not…
Author: Podium Reporters
In a bid to strengthen communication and public engagement, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has appointed Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Benjamin Hundeyin as the new Force Public Relations Officer. The official handover was announced in a statement by the outgoing FPRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who described Hundeyin as a “seasoned communicator and well-prepared officer”. According to Adejobi: “CSP Hundeyin holds a BA (Hons) in English Language from Lagos State University and an MSc in Legal Criminology & Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan. He also obtained a Certificate in Civil-Military Coordination from the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership…
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has dealt a heavy blow to terrorists in Borno State, neutralising more than 15 fighters and destroying their hideout during an air raid on Sambisa Forest. Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, confirmed the successful mission on Thursday. He disclosed that the air interdiction was executed on September 3, 2025, under Operation Hadin Kai, a joint task force operation aimed at eradicating insurgency in the North-East. “The strike targeted an enclave west of Zuwa, identified through intelligence and surveillance as a hideout for fighters and commanders linked to recent attacks…
Media personality Morayo Afolabi-Brown has explained that her support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential campaign was influenced by gratitude for his past support to her family. Speaking on the With Chude podcast, she recalled Tinubu’s role during her father’s illness. Her father, a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president and activist, benefited from Tinubu’s intervention. She said, “He cared for my dad and helped with medical bills. He was there for my mother when things were tough. Later, he supported my brother’s political aspirations. He always stood with us.” Afolabi-Brown insisted that her career in broadcasting…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again demonstrated his administration’s commitment to social welfare by directing the full enforcement of compulsory health insurance across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act of 2022. In a statement by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President mandated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to issue a service-wide circular to ensure MDAs comply without delay. The presidential order specifies that all employees of MDAs must be enrolled under the NHIA health insurance plan. Agencies are permitted to complement the government-backed scheme…
The Federal Government has initiated terrorism trials against nine men alleged to be responsible for coordinated attacks in Benue State. The trial commenced before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday. Prosecutors tied the nine accused to the June 13 assault on Yelwata, a community in Guma Local Government Area, where dozens were killed in one of the latest violent outbreaks plaguing the Middle Belt. The case has been broken into six distinct charges, covering terrorism planning, execution of reprisals, and illegal firearms trade. Court documents reveal that several suspects acted in collaboration, while others were…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to place a temporary suspension on the exportation of raw shea nut has continued to draw commendation, with Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, describing it as a bold and visionary step that will reshape Nigeria’s agricultural economy. Speaking through a statement on Wednesday, AbdulRazaq explained that the ban, which was announced on August 26, aligns perfectly with Nigeria’s drive to strengthen local industries. He noted that the president’s action reflects true leadership, as it is designed to curb informal trade, ensure value addition, and generate an estimated $300 million annually for the country. The governor…
The Nigerian Federal Government has approved Friday, September 5, 2025, as a public holiday to mark Eid-ul-Mawlid, the annual commemoration of Prophet Muhammad’s birth. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. The Minister extended warm greetings to Muslims at home and abroad, encouraging them to reflect on the Prophet’s example of selflessness and moral uprightness. “The Minister of Interior wishes Muslims a joyous and peaceful Eid-ul-Mawlid celebration,” the statement read. Beyond religious observance, Tunji-Ojo called on Nigerians to…
The political atmosphere in Ekiti State is gradually heating up ahead of the 2026 governorship election, but Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji has once again risen as the voice of reason, cautioning political actors to shun desperation and embrace campaigns anchored on vision, ideas, and the welfare of the people. In his recent statewide broadcast, the governor reassured citizens of his unwavering commitment to peace and stability in Ekiti, declaring emphatically: “No political ambition is worth the precious blood of any Ekiti person. Our politics must be about ideas, not about thuggery or desperation. We cannot mortgage the future of our…
President Bola Tinubu’s economic blueprint is beginning to pay off, according to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga. The adviser lauded the strengthening of the naira, which is increasingly being recognized in international trade. Reports surfaced that some Chinese traders now accept naira payments instead of dollars from Nigerian buyers, a significant milestone in bilateral trade practices. Market analysts attribute this shift to the Nigeria-China currency swap deal and the growing adoption of peer-to-peer exchange systems. Peer-to-peer platforms allow individuals to transact foreign exchange directly, thereby reducing bottlenecks associated with banking intermediaries. This development has been…