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Principal officers: APC protests selection, N’Assembly members back Akpabio, Abbas

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The National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on Tuesday, expressed anger over the new leadership of the National Assembly announced by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

Adamu said the party was not officially informed about the sharing of the offices, describing the report of the emergence of principal officers as a rumour.

The party chair spoke at a crucial meeting of the National Working Committee and APC governors at the party secretariat in Abuja hours after the Senate President named Ekiti Central lawmaker, Opeyemi Bamidele, as the 10th Senate Majority Leader.

Akpabio also announced Senator Dave Umahi ( Ebonyi South) as Deputy Majority Leader; Ali Ndume (Borno South) as Chief Whip, and Lola Ashiru (Kwara South) as the Deputy Whip.

He also named Plateau North lawmaker, Mwadkwon Davou as Minority Leader while Osun West lawmaker, Kamorudeen Olarere (PDP Osun West) emerged as the Deputy Minority Leader.

Also, Darlington Nwokeocha, (LP Abia Central) was named Minority Whip while Rufai Hanga (NNPP Kano Central) was the Deputy Minority Whip.

Regardless of the ruling party’s position, several lawmakers are backing the National Assembly leaders’ decision and they have also endorsed the new principal officers.

It’s rumour – Adamu

Speaking on the development in the federal parliament, Adamu said, “I have just heard a rumour now from the online media that there have been some announcements in the Senate and House of Representatives.

“The national headquarters of the party of the NWC has not given any such information or communicated about the choice of offices. Until we formally resolve and communicate with them in writing which is the norm and practice, it is not our intention to break away from traditions.

“So whatever announcement is done either the President of the Senate, Deputy Senate President, Speaker or Deputy Speaker, is not from this secretariat.

“We are going to formally inform you that we are going to have a caucus. For quite a time, there has been no caucus in place. The caucus has been reconstituted according to the constitution of APC. And we will be discussing that with you as governors, you know your states more than we know it. Even if we come from the same state, the leadership is in you as governors.”

Continuing, the APC chairman disclosed that the party would make an official announcement when the decision on the sharing formula of the principal offices had been determined.

The former two-term governor of Nasarawa State also used the opportunity to update the APC governors on the audit of the party’s account in the last year, which the NWC hoped to submit in seven days at the meeting of the National Executive Committee.

He said, “You will get an update of the national election in the national assembly sharing of powers particularly the leadership of the chambers, the election of the principal officers of the Senate by the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, the election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives have been determined and announced and their responsibilities.

“The remaining offices are to be determined by the two chambers is yet to be done. I had a courtesy call on Saturday from the President of the Senate and his deputy.

“Along with the caucus, the National Advisory Council will give you the list that has been prepared and make sure that every state is represented. And we will give you the knowledge of it and advice. You will also be given the benefits of all the detailed accounts from April 2022 to April 2023.

‘’The PCC account has been audited and it has been submitted to the INEC by the party. We will hear your advice and then see how we can ensure that we comply with the provisions of the constitution of the party.”

Our correspondent reports that there was an alteration in the proceedings before the emergence of the principal officers.

Previously, the party would write the Senate President who will in turn read the names of the appointed officers on the floor of the chamber.

However, this tradition was not followed as the lawmakers were said to have agreed on the consensus candidates nominated for the positions in consultations with the political parties.

So, the Senate President simply read out the names of the selected lawmakers.

Akpabio defends selection

Akpabio said, “The All Progressives Congress caucus of the Senate after consultations has emerged with their leadership which will be the fulcrum of commencing other businesses of the chamber.

“I’m happy to announce that by consensus the Senate Leader is Senator Opeyemi Bamidele will be the Majority Leader. Sen. Mohammed Ndume (APC-Borno) will be the Chief Whip of the 10th Senate; Sen. David Umahi (APC-Ebonyi), by your consent will act as the Deputy Leader and Sen. Lola Ashiru (APC-Kwara) will be the Deputy Chief Whip.”

The Senate President explained that the emergence of the minority leaders was a democratic process.

According to him, 38 out of the lawmakers gave their signature and supported the emergence of the opposition caucus leaders, noting that it was more democratic to have other opposition parties elect their leaders, rather than making it solely a PDP affair.

He said, “On the other hand, concerning the minority parties, again it wasn’t entirely a party affair. Because it wasn’t a typical situation where you have one opposition party but rather six political parties involved.

“Fifty of our colleagues were involved so rather than it being a decision to be taken at the secretariat of political parties, it was more of a decision taken by members who were elected on the platform of the six minority parties, and 38 of them by their signature decided as to who their leaders will be and of course this was also communicated to their respective political parties and as democrats, all the presiding officers did was to follow suit because more than a single majority had decided.

“It is a ‘no victor no vanquish situation.’ We are happy eventually a leadership has emerged for the 10th senate”

  Meanwhile, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), a loyalist of the ex-Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has been named the House of Reps Minority Leader while Ali Madaki of the New Nigeria Peoples Party was named as the Deputy Minority Leader.

 The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, announced Julius Ihonvbere, the lawmaker representing Owan East/Owan West of Edo as the Majority Leader and Abdullahi Halims representing Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro of Kogi as the Deputy Majority Leader.

Abbas announced Bello Kumo representing Akko federal constituency of Gombe as the Chief Whip and Adewunmi Onanuga representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North federal constituency in Ogun, as the Deputy Chief Whip.

Ali Isa of the PDP was named the Minority Whip, while George Ebizimawo of the Labour Party was announced as deputy minority whip.

 Abbas said all the members of the APC in the house endorsed the selection of the principal officers from the governing party.

Reacting to the APC’s chairman’s allegation, the Senate Majority leader, Bamidele noted that the APC was aware of the emergence of the Senate principal officers.

According to him, those who emerged as leaders visited the APC chairman at his Keffi hometown during the Sallah holidays.

Bamidele stated, “By the grace of God, we will be able to make a difference that will be positive and that will be worth the effort of all of you that worked with us in ensuring that the two presiding officers emerged in a manner that was not rancorous, in a manner that was not only democratic but transparent.

“But of course, the emergence of the remaining principal officers of the 10th Senate was not an issue that was meant to be decided on the floor but rather it was an issue which on the one hand as related to the APC needed to be decided among the critical stakeholders of the party.

Bamidele speaks

“If you see the picture of those who visited the APC chairman, you will discover that those who were in the picture who visited, are those whose names came out on the list. So, there is no way the party can claim not to be aware of the emergence of the leadership of the majority leadership.”

Bamidele added that the same set of people visited President Tinubu during the Sallah festivities in Lagos to consult and present themselves to him.

“Before we went to the APC chairman, we went to see the President in Lagos and also consulted with him. The new leadership has emerged for the 10th senate and all I can assure you on behalf of myself and my dear colleagues is that we see it as an assignment. It is an assignment that we take very seriously,” he noted.

The Senate leader noted that the next step was to hit the ground running concerning committee formation, ministerial list and executive communication

Bamidele said, “For us, the next task is to ensure we hit the ground running so that from tomorrow we are able to take steps that will show that we have a clear understanding of what is to be done, the first task ahead of us is to constitute special committees of the 10th Senate. Our rules make provision for six special committees.

“Before long, during July we will have all the committees special and standing committees properly constituted so that every senator can get busy based on their professional background and can properly fit into the sector where they can add value.”

“We are ready to receive correspondence from the executive through a committee of the whole of the house commence with the confirmation hearing of the service chiefs and some other appointees who had been named by the President,” he added.

The lawmaker representing Nasarawa West, Senator Ahmed Wadada told our correspondent that although he had questions about how the names of the leaders were arrived at, he did not have a problem with the outcome.

He noted that it was put to vote and 38 lawmakers voted in support of it.

 He said, “I was not interested in the principal offices nor will I be interested today. If I was offered, I wouldn’t have been interested. What I want is fairness and balance. What should have been ideally done was to balance.’’

 “Of course, it was the decision of the majority of the lawmakers. If it wasn’t, trouble would have brewed on the floor but as you can see everything went smoothly.”

Senator Victor Umeh ( LP, Anambra Central) also noted that he expected some different names on the list but since it was the decision of the majority, it was accepted.

He further noted that the 10th Senate didn’t want to experience any form of crisis because they have the intention to work harmoniously for the country.

Umeh said, “Nobody lost out. Yes, we thought some people would emerge but since it was a majority’s choice, we have no reason to fight. There is a lot of work ahead of us and nobody is willing to have a crises-ridden senate.”

But the lawmaker representing, Kebbi South, Garuba Maidoki, expressed surprise over the emergence of the leadership.

He complained that nobody informed him about the process, stating that it was unfair “to sideline some people because they didn’t vote for the presiding officers.’’

Speaking on the controversy trailing the emergence of the NASS leaders, the Deputy Director of Publicity of the PDP, Chinwe Nnorom said the party would sort itself out on the issue.

“It is the internal affairs of their party and we are sure they will sort it out,” she said.

On his part, the Spokesman for the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Charles Aniagwu advised Adamu to remain calm, noting that Akpabio would not take any position against his party.

He said, “The ruling party produces the Senate Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip, and Deputy Chief Whip. These are positions for the party in the majority. But I don’t think Adamu needs to worry. Senator Akpabio will not take a position that will go against his party’s interest.

“Senator Bamidele is Tinubu’s boy. So, his emergence as Senate Majority Leader may not have been a unilateral decision engineered by Akpabio. With time, I think the APC NWC will know what happened and why it happened on Tuesday.”

Concerned by the friction generated by the choice of the National Assembly principal officers, the Labour Party blamed the face-off on President Bola Tinubu, saying it was obvious that the 10th National Assembly had mortgaged its independence.

Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, the LP National Secretary, Umar Farouk, faulted the alleged interference of the APC in the business of the parliament.

He stated, “The way I see it, the two chambers have completely mortgaged the independence of the 10th National Assembly. They were selected and not appointed.’’

But he vowed the opposition and minority caucus would not take a back seat and watch the two chambers fall apart.

Going by the APC’s position, the Chief Spokesman for Obi-Datti Campaign Council, Yunusa Tanko, said this meant that the legislature was truly not independent.

 Tanko stated that the ruling party’s frequent interference in the decisions of the legislators “will sooner or later reduce them to the status of a rubber stamp assembly.’’

APC govs

Meanwhile, the Progressive Governors’ Forum has pledged to intervene in the conflict between the APC and the presiding leaders of the National Assembly over the choice of principal officers.

But the governors believed the action was a result of a communication gap between the party and the party’s high-ranking legislators.

Addressing newsmen after they met with the NWC, the PGF Chairman and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, promised that they will resolve this with the aid of the APC internal mechanism.

He said, “Don’t let us misquote him. The chairman never said that they (Akpabio and Abbas) are on their own. The National Assembly leadership belongs to our great party and they enjoy our support.

“If there is a communication gap anywhere, we will make up. We have our internal mechanism for resolving such things. The national Assembly leadership enjoys the support of Progressives Governors Forum and that of our party. We don’t have any problem at all.

 “We congratulated ourselves in the way and manner the leadership of the National Assembly election was conducted. We now have a Senate President, his Deputy Senate President, Speaker and his deputy who we are very confident will do well,” he stated.

The Imo governor also debunked the growing report that Adamu has handed the audited account of the APC for scrutiny ahead of the National Caucus meeting slated for July 10.

“In the course of the conversation, the chairman did mention that in keeping with the Electoral Act, they (NWC) are working on having an audited account that will be presented at the national caucus meeting. It was just mentioned. It has not been presented,” he said.

Courtesy PUNCH Newspaper

Crime

BREAKING: Daredevil Robbers Kill Student, Ignite Campus Protest

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Students of the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) University, Lapai in Niger State took to the streets of Lapai today to protest the killing of one of them by armed robbers.

It was learnt that robbers invaded a student lodge close to the school gate in the early hours of today and in the process killed a 200-level student who resumed for the session yesterday.

The robbers also carted away several valuables belonging to the students without any resistance from security agents from the institution.

The students began protesting at the front of the school gate blocking the road and burning tires and sticks.

The students said the insecurity in the school began since the beginning of this year and they have been complaining to the school authorities and the police but nothing was done to address it.

It was learnt that robbers invaded a student lodge close to the school gate in the early hours of today and in the process killed a 200-level student who resumed for the session yesterday.

The robbers also carted away several valuables belonging to the students without any resistance from security agents from the institution.

The students began protesting at the front of the school gate blocking the road and burning tires and sticks.

The students said the insecurity in the school began since the beginning of this year and they have been complaining to the school authorities and the police but nothing was done to address it.

The students claimed that several female students have been sexually harassed in the course of robbery while several students have lost their valuables to the robbers.

The students are insisting that they will not disperse until the government and school authority take step to address the insecurity in the school community stressing their lives are no longer safe.

Calls and messages to the Information Officer of the institution were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abiodun Wasiu confirmed the killing of the student by armed robbers saying that he was stabbed on the neck.

“Today being 23rd June, 2025 at about 3am, information was received that at about 2.30am, some hoodlums attacked a student lodge at Ndakitabu area via Lapai.

Police operatives of Lapai Division rushed to the scene, but the suspected robbers had escaped.

“Unfortunately, one Jafar was stabbed on the neck and he was rushed to General Hospital Lapai where he was later confirmed dead,” Abiodun said in a statement.

He also confirmed the students have barricaded Agaie-Lapai road, adding that tactical teams of the Command have been dispatched to Lapai to ensure that normalcy is restored.

Source: The Nation

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NITDA Applauds Election of Dr Bosun Tijani As ITU Vice Chairman

The NITDA management describes Dr Tijani ‘s appointment as historic because it was the first for Nigeria in nearly 50 years.

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has applauded the election of Dr Bosun Tijani as Vice Chairman of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Council 2025.

Bosun Tijani is Nigeria’s Minister of Communications , Innovation & Digital Economy.

In a statement, the NITDA management describes Dr Tijani ‘s appointment as historic because it was the first for Nigeria in nearly 50 years.

The statement reads:” It’s a testament to your exceptional leadership and Nigeria’s growing influence in shaping the global digital landscape.

Your commitment to digital transformation, aligning with His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, will undoubtedly strengthen Nigeria’s position on the international stage.

NITDA stands ready to offer its full support and collaboration as you embark on this important international responsibility.

We are proud of this achievement, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with you to achieve our shared goals for a digitally empowered Nigeria.”

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Nigeria: There’s Fire on the Mountain, and no one is a runnin’

It is sad that foreign armed groups are able to overrun the nations’ security apparatus not minding the mind bugling amount of funds voted every year in the nation’s budget on security.

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By John Segun Odeyemi

Image credit: Burnt Community in Benue

Until now, I have refrained from writing commentaries about the political landscape of our country, Nigeria.

I have become disenchanted with the downward spiral of the absurdities that have become common place within the political space.

Within the last few days, I have read several articles on the killings in Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue States, and I am convinced to add my voice to the outcry of government’s inability to act proactively in securing the safety of Nigerians from marauding and murdering Fulani insurgents, Boko Haram terrorists and the incessant and now common place kidnapping for ransom.

Anywhere in the world, the first duty of any government is to secure the safety of its citizens in and outside of the country.

It is clear that the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is either incapable or unwilling to tackle the continuous decimation and subjugation of our people.

In most other climes that claim democratic principles, those in leadership should have resigned from office.

Not in Nigeria! Here we glorify ineffectiveness and inefficiencies.

In the epic 2008 song titled, “There is Fire on the Mountain,” by the Nigerian musician who goes by the name Asa, she makes the claim even though this fire is raging, surprisingly, no one is running.

I find two corollaries, one in an old English idiom, and the other in traditional Yoruba oral tradition; for the English, “The proverbial ostrich that buries its head in the sand.

And the Yoruba wisdom, “No one lights a torch and leaves it burning around a thatched roof.”

In both instances, the culprit is inertia or the lack of desire to act in preventing a disaster.

Either of which does not describe, even at the minimal level, a people willing to act fundamentally from a place of common sense!

Unfortunately, when I see the shenanigans, politicians have reduced my country to, I can only conclude we have politicians who have knowingly set a fire to the country.

And we have a citizen who see the fire and refuse to run.Human life is sacred and each individual’s life should be protected.

Sadly, the entire nation seems inured to a culture of bloodletting, savagery and the disposal of human life.

Our social media space is diffused with gory videos and pictures of unthinkable scenes of inhumane accounts of man’s inhumanity and cruelty to other humans.

Anywhere in the world, the first duty of any government is to secure the safety of its citizens in and outside of the country.

More specifically, of brigandry to defenseless communities.

A situation where aggressors over run entire communities, displace the communities and inhabit their homes without re-adjudication or lawful intervention by constituted authority and, or state intervention.

I continue to hear of “insecurity” in the nation when in reality, what we have is the invasion of our sovereignty as a nation.

It is sad that foreign armed groups are able to overrun the nations’ security apparatus not minding the mind bugling amount of funds voted every year in the nation’s budget on security.

One is forced to question the usefulness and functionality of government sponsored and funded state security agencies.

One cannot but wonder why insurgents are better equipped than the nation’s army in arms and intelligence gathering?

Who are the invested players who supply them with arms and ammunition?

How can bandits become so powerful as to brazenly over run our country’s army encampment, capture Nigerian soldiers, take their armored cars and weapons and put all of this on social media?

There are multiple narratives circulating and making the rounds especially on social media.

Unfortunately, there is no way of verifying the authenticity of some of these claims.

Some shadowy entities trace the incessant bloody and extremely violent attacks on a bid, either for the Islamization of the country or Jihad aimed at a land grab in favor of all shades of Fulanis from the Sahel.

Some even make the claim that it is both issues morphed into one.

I find some plausibility at least in the Fulani bid to find a home in Nigeria.

The current governor of Borno state made that claim on national TV. When asked if the Fulanis coming from outside Nigeria are Nigerians.

He blatantly said “Yes.” Immediately, when I encounter political impropriety and lack of diplomacy at this level, my mind goes into a default.

I try to find a matching partner for buffoonery; in this instance, I thought his less- cellency should be sent to Donald Trump’s school of diplomacy and should not be allowed to return without a doctorate.

For far too long, we have behaved like the ostrich, unable to confront, nationally, the real issues we need to confront; our federalism vis-à-vis regionalism, state policing, our current constitution, our so called “democracy”, and the relationship between the North and the rest of the country.

I believe there is enough land and space in the North to accommodate kith and kin from other climes to settle and graze their cattle up north.

Ranching versus grazing and any other animal husbandry is fine as long as your business does not disrupt mine.

But we all know that grazing is intentionally done to destroy people’s hard work on their farms.

We all know it, but we are looking the other way and mumbling the fool’s mantra, “It is well!”

It is not well, and there is no way it will be well, if some psychotic, marauding murderers, rapists, and demented drug addicts are allowed to kill innocent citizens of our country.

We can no longer be silent if we are human and sane.

If the corridors of power are playing politics with our fellow citizens’ property, security and lives, we have a moral obligation to rise up in holy and righteous anger to stump on evil.

Just last week, we witnessed in the United States, how an entire country came out en-masse to protest what was perceived as oligarchy, an affront on the idea of American democracy, which was tagged “No King.”

Why are we unable to hold our politicians accountable? Why is it that it seems we do not understand that they work for us (even though they steal from us all the time!)

If we do not force a change by our action as citizens, knowing that our so-called politicians are only interested in their own welfare; we must then ask ourselves the mother of all questions… pardon me to borrow from Asa again; “…

One day, the river will overflow and there will be nowhere for us to go.

And we will run, run, wishing we had put out the fire.”

When all has been said, we need to all agree as Nigerians, that these killings are too much! If you do not feel this empathy, then know you are a part of the killing spree.

Those who nurture this theater of war are not interested in building a nation or having a viable ecumenical union among religions in our country. it is all about disorder so they can continue to steal and enrich themselves; “… the more you see, the less you understand, Abracadabra!” If we keep quiet, they continue to eat away at the innards of our country and the rest of us, shall be unaware of what our infestation is coming from?

From within, they will polarize our peoples, dislocate the unity of our communities.

From our jaded communities, we help spew hate and hate and more hate. This in turn corrodes our ability to build a unified front.

Our politicians place their lighted touch under a thatched roof and go to bed on their watch.

When the fire starts, where are we going to run? We can douse the fire now if we imagine the conflagration that a burning Nigeria will look like.

John Segun Odeyemi, is a Catholic Priest and assistant professor of Systematic theology at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies, Xavier University of Louisiana.

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