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Reunion: Former Lagos Governors Reunite After Four Years
The internal conflicts within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State appear to have come to an end, as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made a rare public appearance alongside two of his predecessors at a recent event.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, and former Governor Babatunde Fashola came together at a reception held in honor of President Bola Tinubu.
The event took place on Thursday at the Lagos House, located in the Marina area of the state.
Gboyega Akosile, the spokesperson for Governor Sanwo-Olu, took to Twitter to share this noteworthy occurrence, emphasizing that it marked the first meeting of these three prominent figures in over four years.
It is worth noting that since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, Akinwunmi Ambode is the sole former governor of Lagos State who served a single term in office.
Following this, Bola Tinubu held the governorship position from 1999 to 2007, after which he handed over the reins to Babatunde Fashola.
Fashola, in turn, governed the state from 2007 to 2015, before assuming the role of Nigeria’s Minister of Works and Housing from 2015 until 2023.
After assuming office in 2015, Akinwunmi Ambode faced a setback during the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary in the 2019 elections.
Intra-party disagreements and reported preferences from party leader Bola Tinubu resulted in Ambode losing his re-election bid. Following the end of his single term in 2019, Ambode has been noticeably absent from political and social gatherings alongside his predecessors, Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola.
Moreover, he has not made appearances at events alongside the current governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Despite his infrequent appearances, Akinwunmi Ambode was captured at some APC national-level events, such as in May 2021 when he was appointed as the deputy chairman of the South-West sub-committee of the Contact and Strategy Committee within the ruling party.
Speculation arose suggesting that Ambode might vie for the party’s governorship ticket against Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the primary elections scheduled for May 2022.
However, it was Ambode’s associate, Wale Oluwo, who ultimately contested but was defeated by Sanwo-Olu in the primary elections.
Also, In contrast to the public endorsements of Bola Tinubu’s presidential ambition by Fashola and Sanwo-Olu, Akinwunmi Ambode did not publicly express his support for Tinubu’s aspirations in the 2023 presidential race.
Ambode also refrained from making any comments regarding Tinubu’s victory in the polls.
However, signs of a potential reconciliation emerged when Babajide Sanwo-Olu attended Ambode’s 60th birthday celebration, held in Lagos on June 14, 2023.
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Musa Joins Jaiz Bank As Ambassador
Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa has been signed up by Jaiz Bank as a brand ambassador.
An elated Musa made the disclosure in a statement on his verified handle on micro-blogging site, X on Thursday.
The Kano Pillars striker urged his fans to troop to Jaiz Bank to do business for trusting him with the new role.
He exclaimed, “And to my amazing fans – if you want to support me, make sure to head over to Jaiz Bank and open your accounts with them today! ”
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He wrote, “✨Alhamdulillah✨ I am SO excited to announce that I’ve officially joined Jaiz Bank as their newest ambassador! 🎉💼
“A huge thank you to @JaizBankNG for trusting me and allowing me to be a part of this amazing journey! 🙏🏼💚 It’s an honor to represent a brand that believes in growth, security, and financial empowerment.
“I can’t wait to share all the incredible things we’ll be doing together! 🚀💡
And to my amazing fans – if you want to support me, make sure to head over to Jaiz Bank and open your accounts with them today! Let’s grow together! 💪🏼🔑
“@JaizBankNG is a non interest Financial institution poised with a mission to make life better through ethical Finance. 👌👌”
#NewBeginnings #BankWithJaizBank #PartneredUp #TeamJaizBank”
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Kenya Celebrates First Lady Rachel Ruto’s 56th Birthday
On November 20, 2024, Kenya’s First Lady, Rachel Ruto, celebrated her 56th birthday and her husband President William Ruto publicly expressed his love and appreciation for his wife on this special day, wishing her well.
The birthday celebrations were marked by an outpouring of goodwill from political figures, media, and citizens across Kenya, who praised her for her grace, leadership, and significant contributions to society, particularly through initiatives like the Joyful Women Organisation, which aims to empower rural women.
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The day was characterized by a collective acknowledgment of her role as a national figure dedicated to community upliftment.
In a heartfelt message, President William Ruto took to social media, writing, “Happy birthday my love, @MamaRachelRuto. Continue being a blessing to me and our children. Mungu akubariki sana,” which translates to “God bless you abundantly.”
Other prominent leaders also extended their wishes to the First Lady, with Anne Waiguru, EGH, OGW, Governor of Kirinyaga County, tweeting, “Happy Birthday First Lady,” further showing the respect and admiration for Rachel Ruto’s leadership and impact.
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Gas Explosion in Katsina Filling Station Damages Six Vehicles
A gas cylinder explosion at a filling station in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State has resulted in significant damage to six vehicles, according to a statement from the Katsina State Police Command.
The command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, confirmed the incident, which occurred on Friday, November 15, 2024.
He explained that a loud explosion alerted police operatives from the Jibia Divisional Police Headquarters. Responding promptly, the Divisional Police Officer led a team to the site, supported by military personnel.
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“Upon arrival, operatives found a truck loaded with gas cylinders engulfed in flames at Tamal filling station, along Kagadama-Magamar Jibia Road,” Sadiq-Aliyu stated. The joint team acted swiftly, deploying measures to protect lives and limit property damage. Their efforts successfully extinguished the fire.
The spokesperson added, “Six motor vehicles were significantly affected by the fire incident, but fortunately, no life was lost.”
State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar-Musa, has directed a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the explosion. Updates on the findings will be provided as investigations progress.
This incident highlights the need for heightened safety measures at gas filling stations to prevent such occurrences.