Politics
PDP, APC Trade Accusations As Tribunal Verdict Looms.
The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, accused each other of attempting to influence the judges in the election petition tribunal panel that heard complaints related to the July 16 governorship election in the state.
The panel had adjourned for judgement after the parties adopted their final written addresses last Friday.
The PDP made the first accusation, with a statement, obtained in Osogbo, accusing the former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of plans to influence the outcome of the tribunal in his favor. The party, in a statement by its acting chairman, Dr Adekunle Akindele, alleged that the former governor was attempting to schedule a secret meeting with members of the tribunal for Friday.
The PDP statement further said, “Information at our disposal confirms the evil plot to corrupt and hijack the tribunal’s outcome and the plot has reached an advanced stage. The former governor is running around to get the judges to agree to a meeting for this Friday But he will not succeed because the judges will not agree to such a meeting. Panel members are men of integrity and good conscience.”
The PDP statement went on to say: “The PDP seeks to warn that 2022 is not 2018 and any attempt to tamper with the will of the people will be lawfully resisted by our people. The scam of 2018 cannot resurface in 2022 as the judiciary has assumed a new toga as a defender of democracy.”
In response, the APC accused the PDP of trying to justify their impending failure at the tribunal by spreading false information.
The APC said the Osun PDP handlers were only trying to be clever by half by rolling out falsehoods to justify the imminent failure awaiting them at the tribunal.
The state acting Chairman of the APC, Mr Tajudeen Lawal, said this in a statement. “We hope they are not trying to accuse us of what they did only because the project failed.
“Any discerning Nigerian will immediately know that Governor Ademola Adeleke has a bad case before the tribunal, as it is common knowledge in Ede that he had issues with his certificate. No matter how hard he tries, some people are still alive who know his story.”
Politics
JUST IN: Minors Freed By Nigerian Govt Arrive Presidential Villa
The minors who were just released by the Federal Government for their involvement in the end bad governance protest have arrived at the presidential villa, where they will meet briefly with government officials.
Recall that the Federal Government dropped the treason charges levelled against them for their participation in the protest that was held across the country.
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However, a source within the presidency confirmed that the governors of Kano and Kaduna States are already on ground to receive the minors and thereafter hand them over to their respective families.
The source also noted that the meeting will commence by 2pm at the Auditorium in the State House.
Following the directive of the President, Bola Tinubu on Monday, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had early Tuesday morning, took over the case file and notified the Federal High Court in Abuja of his decision to discontinue the case against the protesters.
Politics
US Election: Cardi B Expresses Nerves
Grammy-winning rapper, Cardi B has shared her intense feelings about the upcoming U.S. presidential election, admitting that her nerves are so high she feels as though she’s running for president herself.
With the election only a day away, Cardi B took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express her anticipation, telling her 36 million followers, “I don’t know why I’m so nervous for tomorrow. I feel like I’m running for president.”
The Bronx-born rapper and cultural icon recently made headlines for her passionate endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s candidate, at a rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Friday. Speaking to a crowd of supporters, Cardi B gave a rousing speech, highlighting her concerns about the Republican Party’s candidate, former President Donald Trump. She criticized Trump’s stance on women’s rights, calling him “a hustler who is trying to hustle women out of their rights and hustle Americans out of their money.”
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The rapper, known for her outspoken political views, did not hold back, asserting that Trump is “selling more than watches and sneakers” and accusing him of promoting “bigotry, misogyny, division, chaos, and confusion.” Her words resonated with supporters, many of whom see Cardi B as a voice for younger voters who care about issues like women’s rights, racial equality, and social justice.
Addressing rumors circulating online, Cardi B also clarified that she was not paid to endorse Harris, dispelling speculation that financial incentives were behind her appearance at the rally. “I did this because I believe in the future that Kamala Harris stands for, not for any money,” she tweeted.
Cardi B has been vocal about her political stance throughout the election season, using her platform to encourage her fans to vote and make their voices heard. Her support for Harris has added significant star power to the Democratic campaign, especially among younger and minority voters. As the election approaches, her rally speech and social media statements have brought renewed attention to the high-stakes issues on the ballot.
With her passionate stance, Cardi B has become one of the most influential celebrity advocates in this election cycle, drawing both praise and criticism. As Americans prepare to vote, her message continues to reverberate across social media and beyond, emphasizing the rapper’s commitment to political engagement and advocacy for her beliefs.
Politics
Nigeria’s Debt Service Ratio Falls To 65% As Tinubu Tackles Economic Woes
In an effort to reduce Nigeria’s debt burden and stabilize the economy, President Bola Tinubu announced on Monday that the country’s debt service-to-revenue ratio has fallen from 97 to 65 percent over the 17 months since he took office.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for seven new ministers at the State House, Abuja, Tinubu emphasized the government’s progress in stabilizing the economy despite challenging conditions.
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“For us, it was a challenge when the nation was servicing its debt with 97 percent of its revenue. It was nothing but the edge of the cliff,” Tinubu said.
“But today, I can report to you that we have brought that down to 65 percent, and we have never defaulted in meeting all obligations, both foreign and domestic.”
His remarks follow Afreximbank’s recent projection that Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio could reach 110.4 percent by 2024.
Afreximbank’s 2024 Nigeria Country Brief warned of a troubling upward trend in debt servicing, which could see the ratio surge from 33.8 percent in 2017 to a projected 110.4 percent next year.
However, with continued reforms, the report suggested the ratio might decline to 62.6 percent by 2025.
In the first nine months of 2023, debt servicing consumed 66.9 percent (₦5.79 trillion) of Nigeria’s total revenue, a slight improvement from 99.3 percent (₦4.23 trillion) during the same period in 2022.
Tinubu, while optimistic about economic recovery, acknowledged the ongoing struggles faced by Nigerians due to a sharp increase in the cost of living triggered by recent economic reforms.
“We have taken the bull by the horns,” the President asserted. “We have stopped the scavengers. We will fully put an end to the profiteers and smugglers of our resources across the country. We are not shirking our responsibility; we are confronting it head-on.”
He further expressed confidence that Nigeria was on a “good path” toward recovery, emphasizing that the government remains committed to re-engineering the economy.
He cited the introduction of a new minimum wage as one measure aimed at mitigating rising living costs.
Monday’s ceremony also saw the swearing-in of seven new ministers, part of a recent cabinet reshuffle.
In two batches, ministers including Idi Maiha (Livestock Development) and Dr Jumoke Oduwole (Industry, Trade, and Investment) took their oaths.
The reshuffle, which saw 10 ministers reassigned, five discharged, and seven new appointments confirmed by the Senate, reflects Tinubu’s stated commitment to reshaping his cabinet to meet Nigeria’s evolving challenges.
As the administration continues to implement reforms, President Tinubu emphasized a long-term vision for economic sustainability, not only for the current generation but also for future ones.
“Despite the challenges, we must undertake the job of re-engineering and retooling this country’s economic path,” he said.