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By our reporter Another chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has quit the party,sparking fears of a possible implosion within the party. This time, former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) under the Muhammadu Buhari era, David Babachir Lawal, turned his back on APC. He joined a growing list of powerful voices within the party who have left the ruling party. Recall that former two-term governor of Kaduna State,Malam Nasir El-Rufai; former Osun State governor and President Bola Tinubu's estranged key South-West ally, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; former National Vice Chairman, North-West, Salihu Lukman; and several others, including…

By Okerafor Athanasius, Jalingo Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has honoured the State Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Dr. Aminu Jauro Hassan with an honorary award for exemplary services to the people. Four other distinguished personalities from the state were also given awards by the governor. The awards were bestowed on the beneficiaries at Wukari, headquarters of Wukari Local Government Area (LGA) of the state through Kefas' pet project, Community Center for Dialogue (CCD). These were contained in a signed statement issued to journalists in Jalingo, the state capital by the ALGON Chairman,who doubles as Chairman…

By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, has joined his ancestors. The first-class traditional ruler, who ascended the throne in July 2024, died in the early hours of Monday, July 7. He spent only a year on the throne; and he died three days after celebrating his 90th birthday at the weekend. These were contained in a report by Tribune Online early today. Oba Olakulehin received staff of office from Oyo State governor Engr. Seyi Makinde, on July 12, 2024, as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland. He was expected to address a world press conference to mark…

By Sam Tyav, Makurdi Apparently moving to re-engineer governance and inject fresh ideas for effective and efficient service delivery, Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has made some high profile appointments. The appointments take effect from Monday, July 7. The governor has approved the appointment of Professor Qrissturbeg Msughter Amua as the pioneer Vice Chancellor (VC), University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ihugh. Furthermore, he made other appointments into the state-owned higher institution These include Dr. Johnson Ijale Echor as Registrar; Mr. James Ormye, Bursar; and Dr. Demekaa Umbur, Librarian. A statement by the governor's Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Tersoo Kula,…

By Sam Tyav, Makurdi A total of 9991 students of the Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM), formerly Benue State University, were today matriculated into the institution. The lucky ones formed part of about 26,000 prospective students who applied for admissions into the university this session. Speaking during the matriculation ceremony in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Simon Terver Ubwa urged the matriculating students to consider the opportunity as a golden one, warning against toying with it. Professor Ubwa stated that the university management would equip and create conducive environment for…

Justice went both ways as the Federal High Court, Abuja, has ruled that the Nigerian Senate's ban on Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, was unlawful and unconstitutional. Delivering judgment today, Justice Binta Nyako ordered the immediate recall of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, stating that her suspension amounted to a denial of representation for her people in Kogi Central. The judge described the suspension as “unduly excessive” and criticised the Senate’s disciplinary process, advising a comprehensive review of its rules on sanctions. The senator had dragged to court the Clerk of the National Assembly; the Senate; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; and Senator Neda…

By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has called for the creation of an additional state for the South-East, to place it at par with the other six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Mbah also made a case for rotational presidency and state police to give every part of the country a sense of belonging and secure the nation better. He spoke on Thursday evening when he received in audience members of the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment, who were on a courtesy visit to him, at Government House, Enugu, ahead of the regional public hearing on…

By Felix Durumbah Another fruit of this week's three-day protest by irate workers of Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA) has manifested. Perhaps, panicked by threat by the workers' umbrella Joint Union Action Committee JUAC) to proceed on full-blown strike on the heels of the protest, authorities of FCTA have approved one of the key demands of the workers: training and retraining programmes for staff members. They had earlier hurriedly okayed the commencement of promotion exercises for the staff, another key demand of the workers. Ahead of the protest, which kicked off on Monday, June 30, and ended Wednesday, July 2,…

*Shuts Down Outlet By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu Enugu State Gaming and Lotto Commission, on Thursday, nabbed 21 underage lotto/game players, including three boys dressed in school uniform, in a lotto/game outlet in Independence Layout axis of Enugu. The apprehended underage children, of between ages 12 and 15, were nabbed at about 1:30p.m. and handed over to the state Ministry for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development. Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prince Arinze Arum, told newsmen in Enugu that the apprehension of the underage lotto/game stakers and unlicensed lotto/gaming outlet owner were part of ongoing moves to sanitise the system.…

By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu Stepping up into the premier league of aviation business, Enugu State government is set to launch Enugu Air, its commercial airline, on Monday, July 7. This was disclosed in a statement released by the state government on Thursday, July 3. According to the state government, Enugu Air is part of the Governor Peter Mbah administration’s integrated blueprint for a modern, multimodal transport ecosystem within its vision to make Enugu a major aviation hub. In the statement, signed by the Commisssioner for Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozor, the government said that the launch of Enugu Air would take…