These are the stories that drove the conversation today:
The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has responded to statements by the candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Jimi Agbaje who in a series of tweets on Tuesday, questioned his capacity to govern the nation’s economic capital.
As reported by Punch on Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu who knocked the PDP candidate for an attempt to join issues with him, “though in a very poor manner,” stressed that as leader, he should place a high premium on civility and imbibe a high level of decorum in a period like this as an example to his followers, adding that “it behooves on anyone seeking to be the governor of Lagos State to have an elevated mind.”
“Our campaign should be about important issues that affect the lives of our people; what we are bringing to the table to make life more meaningful to Lagosians. This election will be about who has the best credentials to lead Lagos at this time of our development. It won’t be about who can dish out the most insults or tell the most lies,” he said.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Wednesday pulled out of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) which recently endorsed the Presidential Candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar as its consensus candidate for February 16 election.
In a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Alfa, the party noting that the decision was taken at the National Working Committee meeting of the party on Monday in Abuja, said that the precipitate action of the PDP truncated the success of the CUPP as a working coalition at the Presidential level.
Speaking on the MoU signed by the parties as the guiding framework for the coalition, the SDP said: “The leadership of the (CUPP) Steering Committee aborted it through disregard for the spirit of inclusiveness, unity and the shared vision that propelled the rainbow Coalition. “It is mainly PDP driven. The PDP runs it as if others must shape in or ship out,” the statement added.
The Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jubril, on Wednesday resigned his appointment.
The development was made known on Wednesday as a valedictory session was held in honour by the Federal Executive Council at its weekly meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in his honour.
Jubril’s reisgnation followed his appointment as the new Emir of Nasarawa, having been selected by the Nasarawa Emirate Council and approved by the Governor, Tanko Almakura.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has threatened to work against Adebayo Adelabu, the governorship candidate of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo, at the March 2nd gubernatorial elections.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja, the 65-year old Minister accused the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and Governor of his home state, Abiola Ajimobi, of being the brains behind his exclusion from the party’s primaries, insisted that without restitution, there won’t be peace in the APC.
Shittu’s threat is the latest in the series of open rebellion that has greeted the announcement of governorship candidates submitted by the party to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2019 elections, after Governors Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun and Rochas Okorocha of Imo, had recently threatened to work against the party’s governorship candidates in their states.
The Pro-Chancellor of Crawford University, Igbesa, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, has said that Nigerians spend a whooping N1 trillion annually to pursue university education abroad, Daily Trust reports.
Ibidapo-Obe, who made the revelation on Wednesday in his address at the 10th Convocation of the faith-based Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun said that it was pertinent for the country to look into how education policy makers would encourage private universities to bring out their best.
“This move by government will make these private universities more efficient and attractive to Nigerians that are annually sending their wards to foreign universities at the cost of N1 trillion every year,” he said.
And stories from around the world:
British Prime Minister Theresa May told her MPs on Wednesday she expects to step down before the next scheduled election in 2022, as she fought an immediate attempt to unseat her over her handling of Brexit by warning it could derail the process.
May offered the concession to members of her Conservative party ahead of a confidence vote triggered by hardliners who hate the divorce deal she agreed with the EU last month. (AFP)
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday, without providing evidence, that U.S. national security adviser John Bolton was leading a plan to invade the South American nation, which is increasingly at odds with Washington as its socialist economy collapses. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, who once said he’d take a bullet for him, has lashed out at his ex-boss’ “dirty deeds” as he was given a 36-month prison sentence. (BBC)
Chinese authorities are questioning former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig – detained days after the arrest in Canada of a Chinese businesswoman – on suspicion of engaging in activities that harmed China’s national security. (Al Jazeera)
The United States will push the U.N. Security Council to toughen its stance to prevent Iran from working on ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and carrying out test launches, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday. (Reuters)
Temidayo Taiwo-Sidiq is a Journalist, Political Analyst and Satirist with major interest in Nigerian Politics, Governance and Sports.
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