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Tinubu deserves commendation for suspending Betta Edu – Atiku

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Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, has commended President Bola Tinubu on the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.

 

In a statement by his Special Assistant, Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Tuesday, Atiku noted that the suspension of the minister was commendable but not enough.

 

Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, to investigate all financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

 

Edu came under criticism after a leaked memo on December 20, 2023, revealed that she directed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585 million to a private account owned by one Oniyelu Bridget, who the ministry claimed currently serves as the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

 

The former Vice President noted that it was unfortunate that a programme that was designed to lift over 100 million Nigerians out of extreme poverty had allegedly become a cash cow for successive All Progressives Congress governments.

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He said, “While Tinubu deserves commendation for suspending Edu, we believe this is a belated move. First, he had no business appointing her as a minister of such a sensitive ministry in the first place. Tinubu put politics ahead of competence, hence this scandal.

 

“What experience did Betta have in the development sector? How was Imaan Ibrahim, with her wealth of experience, overlooked? How did the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, stand as Betta Edu’s referee during her clearance at the Senate?”

 

Atiku who called for reform of the ministry, alleged that it was not only Betta Edu that was involved in the transactions.

 

“Betta Edu should not be the fall guy. Others who have remotely and wickedly benefitted from money that was meant for poor Nigerians ought to be fished out, probed, and prosecuted too. It is demonic and tendentiously wicked to steal in the name of the poor.

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“There is a need for the government to reform the humanitarian affairs ministry and other interventionist programmes that had become an ATM and POS for those in power,” he said.

 

He noted that the fact that the previous Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, is also being probed for N37bn fraud was evidence that immediate and urgent actions need to be taken to reform the ministry.

 

The statement added, “Even during the COVID-19 lockdown, Farouq continued to implement the school feeding programme. She ridiculously claimed that the food would be delivered to the students at home since schools were shut.

 

“Today, Betta Edu claims that over three million households got N20,000 each during the Yuletide. Sadly, there is no evidence of millions of Nigerians getting such money. This shows that money has just been going into private pockets.

 

“The scandal that we are contending with is not about Betta Edu, nor about Halima Shehu, or any other person for that matter.

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“It is about a problem of systemic corruption through which the APC continues to bleed the treasury, ironically, asphyxiating the poor and vulnerable segment of the country, all in the name of caring for them.

 

“The APC has weaponised poverty and hunger to control the minds of the vulnerable masses, and it is even worse that they have devised a method to use poverty as an instrument of official corruption.”

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Good morning! Nigerian Newspapers Headlines: ADC appeals ruling sacking Mark-led leadership, cautions INEC

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1. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken its battle against the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the party to the Court of Appeal, asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to take any consequential action while the legal challenge is pending.

The party says it has filed a notice of appeal against the judgment delivered on November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu, alongside an application seeking to suspend its execution pending the determination of the appeal.

2. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday approved the elevation of Akwa Ibom State’s airport to international status and threw his weight behind the proposed Ibom Deep Seaport, a major boost to the state’s economic and infrastructure ambitions. The President announced the airport approval during his visit to the state, following a formal request from Governor Umo Eno, and expressed support for the deep seaport project as a strategic investment capable of transforming the state’s maritime trade and industrial landscape

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3. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, on Friday, warned patent medicine dealers in Imo State against selling lethal, counterfeit and expired drugs to unsuspecting members of the public. NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, issued the warning in Owerri during a sensitisation workshop on pharmacovigilance and drug distribution safety.

4. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has urged Rivers State residents to re-elect President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Wike said Tinubu deserved another four-year term for bold reforms and achievements in critical sectors, including removing the fuel subsidy, increasing allocations to states and local governments, improving university stability, and proposing the establishment of state police.

5. The Abia State Police Command has arrested suspects linked to the October 17 attack on Uratta Divisional Police Headquarters, rescued 10 stolen children, and recovered 15 firearms and 30 stolen vehicles in a major security crackdown across the state. The Command also disclosed that it arrested 109 suspects, comprising 89 males and 20 females, in connection with 211 criminal cases recorded between September 11, 2026 and November 6, 2026.

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6. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was back on the campaign trail yesterday, firing broadside at former vice president Atiku  Abubakar and the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi. President Tinubu, addressing hundreds of thousands of supporters at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, dismissed both men as lacking the leadership qualities required to rule Nigeria.


7. The Kebbi State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Abubakar Malami, has condemned alleged attacks, intimidation and destruction of property during the party’s presidential campaign flag-off in Birnin Kebbi. Malami also called for an impartial investigation into the demolition of the Malami Pressure Group headquarters along Sani Abacha Bypass, Birnin Kebbi, describing the incident as one that raises concerns about democratic freedoms.

8. A retiring Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji, said on Friday that a United States travel ban imposed on a seven-member panel of the apex court remained in force. She attributed the ban to what she described as the misinterpretation of a judgment delivered by the panel. She, however, did not mention the particular contentious case.

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9. The Kano high court has sentenced Umar Auwalu, and Yakubu Dayyabu to death by hanging for the murder of Fatima Abubakar, a 35-year-old woman, and her six children at Dorayi Chiranchi quarters in Kano.
Nasiru Saminu, the presiding judge, convicted the two men on Friday of a nine-count charge bothering on conspiracy, culpable homicide, and armed robbery.



10. Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have arrested a suspected notorious terrorist in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The troops also intensified clearance operations against terrorists and dismantled several hideouts in Zamfara, as part of efforts to rid the region of criminal elements.

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Akwa Ibom will deliver over 2m votes for Tinubu — Akpabio

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Friday said President Bola Tinubu will secure more than two million votes in Akwa Ibom state in the 2027 elections.

Akpabio made the promise during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.

He said more than two million registered voters in Akwa Ibom have collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs).

“We are united for progress; we are united in love for the president and for the APC,” Akpabio said.

“Let me make a quick correction, the DG of the campaign said we have 3.2 million registered voters, and he said about 1.8 million have collected their PVCs. Can I correct him? Over two million people have collected their PVCs.

“So, how many votes are we projecting for President Tinubu? Two million votes. And two million votes he will have.

“We don’t play tricks in Akwa Ibom, we deliver as it should be delivered. So, the DG of the campaign, my people are prepared to vote the president back to Aso Rock with over 2 million votes.

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“On behalf of my colleagues who are here, distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I’m very proud of the governors of the south-south.”

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Tinubu lands in Akwa Ibom for APC rally, commissioning of projects

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President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to attend an All Progressives Congress (APC) political rally as well as the inauguration of several projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration and .

The President arrived in the state on Friday alongside his wife, Remi Tinubu, and was received by Governor Eno, Vice President Kashim Shettima, government officials and other dignitaries.

Tinubu’s visit is expected to feature the commissioning of key infrastructure projects across the state, including facilities at the Victor Attah International Airport.

The President is scheduled to inaugurate the airport’s new international terminal building, international airport hospital and Ibom Aviation Village.

Other projects lined up for commissioning include the Airport-Okopedi Road, which connects communities in Nsit Atai and Okobo Local Government Areas, and Ring Road 3, linking Idoro Road to Ikot Ekpene Road through Uyo and Ibiono Ibom.

The AKWA-GIS Office Complex, Command-and-Control Centre and ARISE Palm Resort are also among the projects scheduled for inauguration.

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The President’s visit was earlier announced by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Thursday.

Onanuga said the President would commission the projects before participating in a political rally organised by the APC in the state.

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