Akume Plots PDP’s G-5 Defection, Meets Ortom
Photo Credit:Punch papers
The five aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party leaders under the aegis of the G-5 may dump the party ahead of the 2027 general election, Sunday PUNCH has learnt. This has been tied to ongoing moves by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, to woo one of them into the governing All Progressives Congress.
The G-5 is made up of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and former governors Nyesom Wike, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Samuel Ortom of Rivers, Abia, Enugu and Benue states respectively.
The PDP chieftains opposed the continued stay of Senator Iyorchia Ayu as the PDP national chairman following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate for the 2023 election. They also moved against Atiku, who lost the contest to APC’s Bola Tinubu, who is now the President.
It was gathered that the five PDP leaders have been in touch with Tinubu even as their party, the PDP, is challenging the outcome of the February 25 election at the Presidential Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja.
Senator Demands Ex-Customs Boss’ Arrest
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The senator representing Osun East in the 10th National Assembly, Francis Fadahunsi, has said the former Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retd.), should be arrested by anti-graft and security agents.
Fadahunsi, a retired deputy comptroller general of customs, told Sunday PUNCH in an interview that the appointment of a thoroughbred professional as the new Comptroller-General would help the service.
President Bola Tinubu recently appointed Bashir Adeniyi as the acting Comptroller-General of Customs.
He added, “By the time the rots in the Customs service are uncovered, people would know how much damage is done. If not that Nigeria’s economy is resilient, it ought to have collapsed.” He faulted the process of auctioning vehicles, adding that some of the owners of the seized vehicles did not recover from the shock.
Fadahunsi noted that impounded rice were said to be donated for humanitarian purpose, which he said was being funded in the budget of the humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development ministry.
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Tinubu Visits Oba of Lagos
Photo Credit:Vanguard papers
President Bola Tinubu at the weekend visited the Oba of Lagos, HRM, Alayeluwa Oba Rilwan Aremu Akiolu at his Palace.
Tinubu Will Sustain Nigeria’s Position In Africa_Alake
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President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, on Saturday in Lagos, said the President was ready to lead the charge on the local and foreign scenes as the rest of Africa looked up to Nigeria.
“Everybody is looking up to Nigeria, especially in Africa and the ECOWAS region and President Tinubu is ready to take up the gauntlet,” Alake told State House Correspondents when President Umaro Embaló of Guinea Bissau visited the President at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos.
The Director of Information, State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, revealed this in a statement he signed on Saturday titled ‘African Issues: President Tinubu ready to take up gauntlet, says Dele Alake’.
Alake said Tinubu recognised that other African nations were taking cues from Nigeria in terms of leadership, adding that the President was prepared to step up to the challenge of providing a befitting example.
He noted that although both men met privately, President Embaló used the opportunity to express his solidarity and willingness to cooperate with Nigeria under the leadership of Tinubu.
YAHAYA (
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