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“Not Guilty, I Remain Venezuela President” – Maduro Declares Inside U.S Courtroom

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Ousted Venezuela leader, Nicolas Maduro, has pleaded not guilty to the charges read against at a New York Court on Monday.

He was charged with allegations bordering around narcotics and weapon trafficking.

The embattled Maduro, also added that he still considers himself as the President of Venezuela.

The 63-year-old who insisted that he remains innocent, said he was seized at his home in Caracas by the American military.

“I am innocent, I am not guilty,” Maduro said according to US media inside the courtroom.

The leader also hinted that he was ‘kidnapped’ in the U.S military operation but still considers himself the President of Venezuela.

“I’m still the president of my country,” he added.

Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, likewise pleaded not guilty.

Recall the deposed Maduro, was on Monday escorted into a New York courthouse under heavy security to face narcotic and weapon trafficking charges.

He was transported to the courthouse by helicopter and armoured vehicle, surrounded by heavily armed US law enforcement officers.

He is facing long-standing narcotics trafficking charges, accusations Washington has repeatedly levelled against his administration over the years.

As events unfolded rapidly, Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, appeared to soften her initial defiant stance late Sunday by extending an olive branch to Washington.

On Sunday, she announced the creation of a high-powered commission to negotiate the release of ousted former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following their capture by United States forces in Caracas.

The development comes less than 48 hours after Maduro’s arrest and transfer to New York.

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Impeachment: I’m not prophet but only fasting, prayers will save Gov Fubara. Tinubu hates ingrates- Fayose

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Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, has said he is not a prophet, but only fasting and prayers will save the Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers state from the impeachment process initiated against him by the members of the State House of Assembly who are loyal to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Fayose disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, January 9.

While speaking on the feud between Wike and Fubara, Fayose said faulted Governor Fubara for appointing people into his cabinet and spending state funds without recourse and approval of the State Assembly.

“I’m not a prophet, but what is happening in Rivers now, it will take fasting and prayers to save Fubara; it takes the President intervening.

How can he be appointing people in his cabinet and spending money without constitutional backing and approval of the State Assembly?

People are talking about Wike; remove Wike. Can you remove who or what he is? Can’t you see people popping out during his rallies?”Fayose asked

According to Fayose, he had years ago warned Governor Fubara on his inauguration day against betraying Wike.

“During his inauguration, I told Wike that I wanted to tell Fubara one or two things against betraying him, but Wike said I shouldn’t worry, that Fubara will not do it, I told Fubara not to fight that man that he will fight and not stop fighting.”he said

The former Ekiti governor said even President Bola Tinubu hates ingratitude, stating that if not by the grace of God, those whom the President has helped could have abandoned him, giving an instance that if the President did not make Wike FCT Minister, the Minister could have been buried politically.

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Photo of Peter Obi greeting Atiku on bent knees sparks debate

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A photograph of Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, exchanging a handshake with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has continued to generate reactions across social media after it was shared online by Atiku himself.

The image, which shows Obi slightly bent while greeting Atiku, has been interpreted by some Nigerians as a sign of submission or deference.

Critics argue that the posture is unbecoming of a politician seeking the highest office in the land, with some describing it as evidence of low self-esteem or political weakness.

Several commentators have further suggested that the image raises questions about Obi’s ability to assert himself politically, especially within the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC), where both politicians are members.

However, activist and public commentator, Maduabuchi Idam, has dismissed such interpretations as superficial, urging Nigerians to focus on competence rather than body language.

In a statement made available to journalists, Idam acknowledged that a casual observer could easily draw negative conclusions from the photograph but warned against overreading symbolism into a single moment.

According to him, Obi has consistently projected himself as a calm, disciplined and principled leader, noting that gentleness should not be mistaken for weakness.

“This picture has been trending since it surfaced on the internet today after being posted by Alh. Atiku Abubarkar himself.

“The reason it has enjoyed such attention is not far fetched.

“Mr. Peter Obi had a handshake with Atiku Abubakar almost on his bended kneels. A character only exhibited by sycophants or favour seekers.

“Peter Obi has always presented himself as gentle but firm, calm yet resolute. His disposition has never suggested aggression, and that should not be used to undermine his capacity for leadership,” Idam said.

He added that Nigeria’s political challenges are not the result of a lack of assertive personalities but rather the repeated imposition of unsuitable leaders on the nation.

Idam urged Nigerians to encourage authenticity among political actors instead of rewarding pretence, stressing that leadership should be judged by competence, capacity and integrity rather than optics.

“Nigeria’s problem is not the absence of haughty characters but the habit of forcing square pegs into round holes,” he stated.

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Fubara never invited us for roundtable talk – Rivers Assembly

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Rivers State House of Assembly has denied claims that it turned down several invitations from Governor Siminalayi Fubara for a roundtable talk.

Ekwutosblog reports that following the latest move by the assembly members to impeach the governor and his deputy, stakeholders have questioned why Fubara failed to meet with the lawmakers.

But some loyalists of the governor claimed that the governor had extended several invitations to the lawmakers but to no avail.

Immediate past Chairman of Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, Sir Igwu Achese in an interview on Friday claimed that on several occasions, the governor invited the lawmakers for dinner but they declined.

He said, “people keep asking why the governor is not able to call the assembly members for talk, for dinner and the rest of them.

“I will tell you that the governor has invited them not once, not twice to sit down with them on a roundtable but they all denied and refused to honour the invitations”.

However, when contacted by Ekwutosblog  on Saturday, the spokesperson of the assembly, Hon Enemi George denied the claim.

According to him, “no such invitation has ever happened. There was never a time The governor invited us for any discussion”.

Ekwutosblog reports that the assembly, in a post on its official Facebook on Thursday night, announced that it had served Fubara and the deputy governor, Mrs Odu, with the notice of impeacement.

Asked what is the next step after serving the notice, Enemi simply told Ekwutosblog  that “when we get there, we will know.

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