News
El-Rufai: We’ve poor leadership today because cunning people, illiterates are leaders
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, has said the problem of poor leadership in the country has its roots in the leadership recruitment process, stressing that a surfeit of delegates who elect candidates in the political parties are illiterate.
El-Rufai made the assertion yesterday in Abuja while speaking with journalists at the end of a two-day national conference on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, organised by Centre LSD And Partners.
He said he had no intention of leaving the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), contrary to recent reports.
The former governor said he was only being hard on his party because he wanted it to change.
On January 8, el-Rufai had met behind closed doors with the leadership of Social Democratic Party (SDP) at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
At the meeting were former Chief Security Officer to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), and Atiku’s former spokesman, Segun Showunmi, among others.
Showunmi had in a post on his verified Facebook page described the meeting as a “strategic gathering” convened by SDP chairman, Shehu Gabam, to evaluate the state of opposition politics in Nigeria.
The move was, however, widely seen as part of ongoing plans to form a formidable coalition capable of defeating APC and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
But el-Rufai said yesterday, “I am not leaving the APC. I don’t have such plans.”
However, he lamented the lack of internal democracy in the ruling party.
The former governor of Kaduna State criticised the quality of leadership emerging from political parties, attributing it to unqualified delegates.
News
JUST IN: Mob Sets BRT Bus Ablaze After Motorcyclist’s Death in Lagos
An angry mob has set a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus on fire after it reportedly crushed a commercial motorcyclist to death at Ogolonto Bus Stop along Ikorodu Road in Lagos State.
The incident occurred on Friday, October 16, 2026. Eyewitness accounts and social media reports indicate that the motorcyclist was riding alone along the restricted BRT lane when the collision happened. He died at the scene.
Enraged residents and youths then attacked the bus driver and set the vehicle ablaze. Police officers and officials of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), who were nearby, intervened promptly and rescued the driver unharmed.
The identity of the deceased motorcyclist and the exact circumstances of the crash had not been officially confirmed at the time of filing this report. It was also unclear whether any arrests had been made in connection with the burning of the bus.
News
ARISE News Wins Seven Honours At Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards
The awards recognised the network’s achievements in television journalism and programming, with ARISE News winning the Best TV Channel (Viewer’s Choice) category.
• ARISE News Anchor and host of What’s Trending Ojy Okpe was named Best Newscaster (TV – Female)
ARISE News has emerged as one of the major winners at the just ended Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA).
ARISE News won seven honours across television broadcasting, news reporting, presentation and production during the ceremony.
The awards recognised the network’s achievements in television journalism and programming, with ARISE News winning the Best TV Channel (Viewer’s Choice) category.
The network’s flagship breakfast programme, The Morning Show, also won the Best TV Talk Show award, further strengthening its recognition in television broadcasting.
ARISE News Anchor and host of What’s Trending Ojy Okpe was named Best Newscaster (TV – Female).
Rufai Oseni was named Nigerian Broadcaster of the Year (Male), while Vimbai Mutinhiri-Ekpeyong received the Nigerian Broadcaster of the Year (Female) award.
The recognition extended to the network’s newsroom, with Ovieteme George winning Best TV News Reporter (Male) for his contributions to television news reporting.
Behind the camera, Sam Adeyemi received the Best Camera Operator/Cinematographer award, recognising his work in television production and visual storytelling.
News
Meta removes 3.7 million accounts in West Africa scam crackdown
The joint operation led to 28 arrests, identified more than 30 suspected scam centres and rescued 117 people allegedly trafficked and forced to work in scam compounds in Ghana.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has removed more than 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, pages and groups linked to suspected scam networks operating in West Africa.
The joint operation led to 28 arrests, identified more than 30 suspected scam centres and rescued 117 people allegedly trafficked and forced to work in scam compounds in Ghana.
The company announced the crackdown in a statement on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. It involved 14 technology companies and law enforcement agencies from 10 countries.
The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency coordinated the operation with the US Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies. Nigerian authorities were involved.
Other countries included Ghana, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India.Tech companies that took part included Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Coinbase, Starlink and Adobe.
Meta said the partnership let participants share intelligence across digital platforms, countries and financial systems to identify criminal networks.
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