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Bosun Tijani eats humble pie, apologises to senators for calling them ‘morons’ in 2021 Twitter post

Published

9 months ago

August 5, 2023

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A ministerial nominee from Ogun State, Bosun Tijani, has apologised to senators for calling them “morons” in a 2021 Twitter post.

On Saturday, Tijani, CEO and co-founder of CcHub, appeared before the senate to for screening as a minister.

During the screening, Simon Nwadkon, the senate minority leader, read out a Twitter post credited to Tijani, in which the nominee described senators as “morons”.

In the Twitter post published in 2021, Tijani faulted the mode of screening and confirmation of political appointees by the senate.

“Who conducted a security check on him when he was appointed? What sort of checks are done by @NGRSenate when they confirm appointees? And the media .. question for another day. Until we ask the right questions, these morons will continue to take us for granted,” he wrote on Twitter in 2021.

Nwadkon asked Tijani whether he was the one who authored the Twitter post criticising senators.

After Nwadkon’s questions, some senators stood up to make arguments in support of the credentials of the nominee.

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However, at the end of the submissions, Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, asked Tijani to apologise to the senator over his Twitter comments.

Responding, Tijani apologised to the senators and Nigerians over his old comments on social media.

He said comments were not to “spite” anyone but were made out of frustration and love for the country.

“Distinguished senators, I was raised properly as a Yoruba boy both in Agege and Abeokuta. I do understand that we are not meant to disrespect our elders and that is not the training we were given. My father won’t be proud of me for all these allegations,” he said.

“What he would be proud of is the passion that led me to those mistakes and that gave me the opportunity to contribute to the development of this country.

“So I want to profusely apologise to everyone in this hall, including anyone, anywhere in Nigeria that may have been offended by everything I said.

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“I begged that in the process of accepting my apology, you look at the undertone of everything I have said. I did not say it to spite. I said it out of frustration and love. Please accept my sincere apologies.”

The senate president said he will accept Tijani’s apology on behalf of the upper chamber and asked the ministerial nominee to bow and leave the podium.

JUST IN: Tinubu, Shettima to pay toll at airport gates

Published

48 mins ago

May 14, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima will now pay the required toll whenever they use the gates at airports.

Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation, announced this to journalists after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting chaired by Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja on Tuesday.

Keyamo said he presented two memos which were approved by the council.

Details later…

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Tinubu suspends 0.5% cybersecurity levy

Published

57 mins ago

May 14, 2024

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President Bola Tinubu has suspended the 0.5 percent cybersecurity levy after criticism and protest trailed the announcement.

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, announced the suspension.

Idris said Tinubu directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the implementation and review the modalities for its implementation.

Details later…

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Minister to sue Niger speaker over plans to ‘marry off’ 100 girls, says it’s ‘totally unacceptable’

Published

7 hours ago

May 14, 2024

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Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, has petitioned the inspector-general of police (IGP) and sought a court injunction to halt the marriage of 100 girls in Niger state.

Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, speaker of the Niger state house of assembly, announced last week that he would sponsor the wedding of 100 girls, some of whom were orphaned by insurgency, as part of his Maringa constituency project.

He said he had procured materials for the event scheduled for May 24, and promised to pay dowries for the bridegrooms.

Following the outcry that trailed the announcement, the speaker explained that he was only financing the wedding — not forcing the girls into marriage.

However, Kennedy-Ohanenye said the plan is unacceptable, and that the future of the girls should be a priority.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the minister said a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the issue will be carried out.

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She said the ministry will take responsibility for the girls’ education and vocational training.

“I want to let the honorable speaker of house in Niger state know that this is totally unacceptable by Federal Minister Of Women Affairs and by the government,” Kennedy-Ohanenye said.

“Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, that is no more business as usual.

“These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered.

“So I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG of police.

“And I have filed for injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th, until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them.

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“As the speaker did not think about empowering these women or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training support financially.

“The women affairs have decided to take it up and we are going to educate the children.

“Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them in a skill, empower them with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that child build his or her life and make up her mind who and when to get married.

“If for any reason the speaker tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned, there will be a serious legal battle between him and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.”

The minister added that based on the Child Rights Act, every child belongs to the state, hence the rights of every child will be protected from harm and violence.