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‘Don’t hide behind TV, let’s settle in on street’ – Oshiomhole dares Abati

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Senator Adams Oshiomhole has issued a public challenge to former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, threatening a physical confrontation over what he deemed “mischievous” questioning on a TV show.

In an interview on Tuesday on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Oshiomhole expressed shock at Abati’s line of questioning directed at Ifeanyi Okowa, immediate past governor of Delta state, in a recent programme.

“I was particularly shocked that a senior editor could ask the immediate past governor of Delta state, Okowa, mischievously, I must say, with all due respect, ‘did you get permission from Oshiomhole that your sins will now be forgiven before you decided to decamp to APC?’” Oshiomhole said.

The former governor of Edo, Oshiomhole, criticised Abati for what he saw as an attempt to associate him with the political actions of others.

“How can you ask such a question? What is my role? I am part of the legislature. Is the legislature in charge of prosecuting anyone for wrongdoing?” Oshiomhole responded.

Oshiomhole also brought up Abati’s past, pointing out that he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following his tenure as spokesperson for former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The man who made that statement was at a time invited by the EFCC after he was Jonathan’s spokesman, shamelessly. Thereafter, EFCC arrested him. Was I the one who granted him bail to leave PDP to go where he is?” He added.

The senator also expressed displeasure with Abati’s Labour Day remarks, accusing the veteran journalist of overlooking his contributions to the labour movement.

“Even on Labour Day, he talked about labour leaders involved in protests and picketing, but couldn’t acknowledge that I led those demonstrations. This is someone who once wrote an article titled ‘Oshiomhole the People’s President’ when I was NLC president,” Oshiomhole stated.

He went on to say that if Abati wanted to continue criticising him, he should do so directly.

“Instead of giving me credit, he claimed that once labour leaders leave the NLC, they go on to become governors,” Oshiomhole added.

He said, “If you’re bitter because you failed to become deputy governor in Ogun State, is that why you’re so paranoid and constantly attacking me?

“If you want to insult me, don’t hide behind the TV, come out to the streets and let’s settle it face to face.”

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ADC Coalition Knocks Shettima: ‘Stand By Your Statement That Tinubu Has No Powers To Remove Councillor, Let Alone Sitting Governor’

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The party describes the statement as “a mere attempt at political correctness.”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed the Presidency’s clarification on Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent comments regarding the President’s constitutional powers.

The party describes the statement as “a mere attempt at political correctness.”

This position was stated in a statement issued on Friday by  Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary and Spokesperson.

According to the statement, the issues raised by Shettima were constitutionally accurate.

“The truth must not be lost in the fog of political correctness. The Vice President needs to stand by his forthright and courageous statement, which affirms that the President has no constitutional power to remove an elected councillor, not to talk of a sitting Governor.”

“In declaring a state of emergency in the affected states under these dire circumstances, President Jonathan recognised the limits of his constitutional powers and he respected it,” the ADC stated.

“This is not just history. It is precedent,” the party declared.

The ADC urged President Tinubu to restore democratic rule in Rivers State and stop all actions that contradict constitutional provisions.

Earlier, Vice President Shettima denied attacking President Bola Tinubu over the removal of Siminalayi Fubara as Rivers State governor.

In a statement issued Friday by Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Shettima claimed that his comments during the public presentation of the book “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block”, written by former Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), were misrepresented.

The Vice President was said to have made historical references regarding attempts by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to remove him as Borno State Governor during the peak of insurgency in the North East—remarks that some reports claimed were indirect criticisms of Tinubu’s handling of the crisis in Rivers State.

“The sensational reporting disappointingly tried to erect a highly mendacious argument about the state of emergency declared in Rivers State and the subsequent suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara,” the statement said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, President Tinubu did not remove Governor Fubara from office. The constitutional action taken was suspension, and not outright removal,” it added.

According to the statement, Tinubu’s intervention in Rivers was necessitated by a breakdown of order, including the demolition of the House of Assembly complex and threats of impeachment against Governor Fubara.

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that Shettima revealed how former President Goodluck Jonathan once tried to illegally remove him as Governor of Borno State while in office, but was stopped by top legal advisers who told Jonathan bluntly that he lacked the constitutional authority to sack a democratically elected state governor.

“Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was floating the idea of removing this Borno governor,” Shettima said, pointing to himself.

“And Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, had the courage to tell the president:‘You don’t have the power to remove an elected councillor.’”

According to the Vice President, Jonathan was still adamant and pushed the idea to the Federal Executive Council (FEC), but was again blocked.

“The president was still unconvinced, he mooted the idea at the Federal Executive Council,” Shettima continued.

“Mr Mohammed Adoke told the president: ‘You do not have the power to remove a sitting governor.’

They sought the opinion of another SAN in the cabinet, Kabiru Turaki, who also said:‘I am of the candid opinion of my senior colleagues.’ That was how the matter was laid to rest.”

Meanwhile, in March, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Tinubu made the proclamation during a nationwide broadcast.

He also suspended the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months.

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Makinde inaugurates governing councils of five state-owned tertiary institutions

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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has inaugurated governing councils of state-owned tertiary institutions.

The councils were inaugurated on Friday in Ibadan, the state capital.

The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin; the Chief Judge of Oyo State, represented by Justice K.A. Adedokun; and a former Deputy Governor of the state, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja.

Others are former Deputy Governors, Engr. Hamid Gbadamosi and Barrister Hazeem Gbolarumi; former Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; Deputy Chief of Staff, Hon. Kazim Adeyinka Adeniyi; Chairman of Oyo State Advisory Council, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde; PDP State Secretary, Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke; and Chairman of Local Government Chairmen, Hon. Sikiru Oyedele Sanda.

DAILY POST reports that the governing councils of the tertiary institutions inaugurated on Friday included the governing councils of five state-owned higher institutions.

These institutions are: The Polytechnic Ibadan, Ibadan; Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, now Michael Koleoso Polytechnic, Saki; Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora; Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate; and Oyo State College of Health Science and Technology, Ibadan.

Our correspondent reports that those inaugurated as chairmen are Professor Lanre Nassar, Hon. Babatunde Olaniyan, Comrade Olusegun Oyewumi, Dr. Amusan Damilare Gideon, and Dr. Bisi Ojebola for The Polytechnic Ibadan, Ibadan; Oyo State College of Health Science and Technology, Eleyele, Ibadan; Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate; Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora; and The Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, respectively.

Ekwutosblog reports that other members of the councils were also inaugurated.

The governor also used the opportunity to sign into law the renaming of Oke Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, to Michael Koleoso Polytechnic, Saki.

 

Makinde, while addressing the gathering, reiterated his administration’s commitment to upholding quality and excellence in state-owned tertiary institutions.

He maintained that his administration will continue to provide necessary support to these institutions.

Makinde, while speaking further, also addressed the controversies surrounding the renaming of The Polytechnic Ibadan to Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan.

The governor, while speaking further, maintained that he will engage the stakeholders, among whom are alumni and students of the institution, over the renaming of the institution.

“I know that this inauguration would not be complete if I refuse to say one thing or the other about the issue regarding the renaming of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, after a former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo.

“We are ready to engage with the people, if you have any superior arguments apart from sentiment. And, if you are coming to us to even talk about the infrastructure and the quality of graduates coming from that institution and making a case for us to put in more resources and all of that, I can understand.”

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Immigration, Prison Service, NSCDC begin 2025 recruitment

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The Ministry of Interior, Nigeria, has confirmed that recruitment into its parastatals will commence on Monday, 14th July 2025.

The Ministry made the announcement in a statement on its X page.

It listed the involved parastatals as the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Fire Service (NFS), and Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).

“Interested and qualified candidates are to register through recruitment.cdcfib.gov.ng,” the statement reads in part.

It also advised interested candidates to visit the Ministry of Interior website for further information on the application process, requirements, and other relevant details.

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