NEWS
Cabal Can’t Hijack Tinubu’s Govt – Presidency
The presidency took a firm stance on Sunday night, dismissing any possibility of a cabal influencing President Bola Tinubu’s administration, a concern rooted in past occurrences.
Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, asserted this during a noteworthy interview on TVC News Sunday Politics.
Ngelale also pointed fingers at what he labeled “sub-regional forces” for the escalating insecurity in specific northern areas, attributing their activities to destabilizing the nation.
The president’s Aide was reacting to a range of current media topics, addressing concerns such as the state of the economy, the repercussions of past government officials’ negative activities, the prevailing security situation, and the diverse efforts undertaken by the Tinubu administration to address and rectify these issues.
Ngelale stressed that President Tinubu is not the type of leader who allows officials to mismanage or manipulate public office for personal gain.
According to Ngelale, Tinubu’s governance style leaves no room for any official to exert undue influence over the government.
He said “The good fortune we have is that we elected, not just a professional accountant, a professional auditor, but we elected a man who fully understands the governance mechanisms, not just at the federal level, but at sub-national level.
“I think this is a man who anyone working in the office of the President would tell you, there is not one individual in the Presidency that has a monopoly over what the President sees, hears and reads.
“Nobody has that kind of power in the office of this President and that’s intentional.
“He is someone who everyone has access to, everyone who needs to have access to him, has access to him. He has direct communications on a frequent basis with the heads of intelligence agencies, anti-graft agencies, and the like.
“So there is not going to be the potential there for anyone to form a cabal around this President because he’s aware of the dynamics of what has happened in the past and he is determined to ensure that that is not replicated under his watch.
“I will also add the fact that in the person of the current CBN Governor Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, this is a man who is reputed around the world as being a prudent manager of men and resources. This is someone who has a reputation, even within the government, of being tight fisted and that is by the intention of President Bola Tinubu to have someone like that in place.
“I would also add that when you look at organizational structures that lead to Governor Emefiele, … put him in the position that he currently is in, the President has taken a comprehensive review of that structure and he has said, even by legislation, that we are going to ensure that not only guardrails are put in place, but that legislative changes be enacted in such a way that this can never happen again.
“He’s determined to do it, Nigerians will watch him do it and that will mean that moving forward, the kind of elite conspiracy we saw between CBN officials, high ranking government officials and high ranking members of the private sector, they’re not going to be able to conspire amongst themselves to find loopholes within the system because we have a President who’s an auditor and accountant, who will close those loopholes, just the way he did in Lagos State many years ago”, he added
Discussing the security situation, particularly in the north, Ngelale claimed the involvement of sub-regional and geopolitical forces undermining the country’s stability.
Despite this, he emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges through collaborative efforts and ongoing initiatives.
Hon. Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani, former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against criticisms over the difficulties facing Northern Nigeria.
He argued that the North has received substantial financial support through regional development commissions and should focus on utilizing these resources effectively.
Zailani made this statement while speaking to journalists after receiving Alhaji Yerima Shettima, President-General of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), who visited to offer condolences following the passing of his stepmother, Hajia Fatima Abdullahi (Goggu Ladi).
READ ALSO: Dangote Peugeot Begins 3008 GT Assembly In Kaduna
He noted that Tinubu’s administration had provided significant financial backing to the North, particularly through the creation of regional development commissions, each receiving ₦750 billion annually—totaling ₦2.25 trillion for the region.
“President Tinubu has, in his own way, liberated the North from poverty and underdevelopment.
“With an annual budget of ₦750 billion allocated to each of the North’s three development commissions—totaling ₦2.25 trillion annually—the North has no reason to struggle with poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment,” Zailani stated.
He pointed out that if these funds were used efficiently, they could transform key sectors such as power, agriculture, and industrialization.
He cited an example where ₦200 billion could generate 100 megawatts of solar power, while investments in fertilizer blending plants and research could boost agricultural productivity.
Zailani stressed the need for accountability, urging Northerners to shift their focus from blaming the Federal Government to questioning the performance of their own development commissions.
“Instead of constantly questioning what the Federal Government is doing or not doing, we should be asking what our development commissions are doing with the allocated funds,” he said.
Addressing concerns about the Proposed Tax Reforms Bill, which some argue favors industrialized states like Lagos, Zailani encouraged the North to take advantage of its development funding and focus on self-sufficiency.
“Now that we have been empowered with development commissions, let us build our own industries and generate our own taxes instead of complaining,” he added.
He also commended Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani for his efforts in infrastructure development, particularly his directive for the construction of 20 kilometers of asphalt roads in each constituency.
He called on AYCF and similar organizations to collaborate with the government to drive progress in the region.
In response, Alhaji Yerima Shettima offered prayers for the late Hajia Fatima Abdullahi and reaffirmed AYCF’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.
“We will continue to uphold the truth and ensure justice for all,” Shettima stated.
The Lagos State Government has announced the closure and diversion of traffic on the Independence/Mekwen Bridge (inbound Marina/CMS route) for two months to allow for emergency repairs.
In a statement on Sunday, the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed that the repair work would commence on Wednesday, March 19, and run until Monday, May 26, 2025.
As a result, the section of the road from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) through Bonny Camp Bridge down to Independence Bridge will be closed to vehicular movement.
READ MORE: Woman Jumps Into Lagos Lagoon, Recovered Dead
Additionally, the Bonny Camp Underpass Bridge service lane inbound Independence Bridge will not be accessible to motorists. However, the service lane from Ahmadu Bello Way to Ozumba Mbadiwe will remain open.
To ease traffic congestion, the government has provided alternative routes for motorists.
“For motorists heading to Victoria Island from Ahmadu Bello Way, Osiyemi advised using Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street, then proceeding to Falomo Roundabout and linking Obafemi Awolowo Road to access Ring Road.
“Those traveling to the 3rd Mainland Bridge from Ahmadu Bello Way should go through Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street, then link Alfred Rewane Road to Osborne Road before connecting to Ring Road.
“Motorists heading to Inner Marina and CMS from Ahmadu Bello Way will be diverted through Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street to connect Falomo Roundabout, then link Obafemi Awolowo Road to access J.K. Randle Road/King George V Road.
Osiyemi assured that traffic management personnel would be deployed to regulate movement during the repair period.
“Motorists heading to Ahmadu Bello Way from Inner Marina/CMS will have through-traffic access,” he said.
The commissioner also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring minimal disruption, stating that officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will be on the ground to manage traffic flow along the affected routes.
The state government urged residents to plan their journeys accordingly and comply with the alternative routes to ease congestion during the two-month repair period.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has approved the recruitment of 1,100 primary school teachers to fill vacancies in public schools across the 18 local government areas of the state.
The announcement was made in a statement on Sunday by Bolu Ajijo, the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
According to the statement, the approval was granted after the completion of the recruitment process.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Nine Abducted Surveyors Freed In Ondo After N20m Ransom Payment
“As part of deliberate efforts to fill critical vacancies in public primary schools across the state, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the employment of one thousand one hundred teachers by the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board,” the statement read.
Reacting to the decision, the Executive Chairman of Ondo SUBEB, Victor Olambitan, commended the governor for addressing the shortage of teachers in the state’s public schools.
“The employment will go a long way in improving the pupil-teacher ratio in our public primary schools and, at the same time, enhance the quality of education delivered in schools, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas across the state,” Olambitan stated.
He also assured applicants that details on how to check the list of successful candidates and begin the documentation process would be made public soon.
Asake Reconciles With Father, Promises New House, Medical Support
Tinubu Not To Blame For North’s Challenges – Ex-Kaduna Speaker
Lagos To Shut Independence/Mekwen Bridge For Two Months
Ondo State To Employ 1,100 Primary School Teachers
Tragedy In Ogun: Police Inspector Found Dead At Factory
