Author: Drum Africa Correspondent
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed insinuations that some power brokers are influencing the governance of President Bola Tinubu. Wike said this at the 2025 OAU Distinguished Personality Lecture in Ile-Ife, the Osun State capital, on Thursday, where he delivered the keynote lecture at the event. “He has shown that he has the courage. Under Tinubu, there is nothing like cabal. This is a president that is in charge,” he said. The minister stated that all former Nigerian presidents, including Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, were not bold enough to remove the petrol subsidy…
In the spirit of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, on Thursday donated rams, bags of rice, and other food items to the Muslim community in Abia State. Presenting the items to the Muslim faithful led by Sarki Shehu Bello in Bende, Bende Local Government Area of the state, Hon. Kalu urged them to use the occasion to spread love to the indigent and put a smile on their faces. He promised never to relent in championing the cause and welfare of his people by spreading the dividends of democracy. Wishing them…
Bill Gates, chairman of the Gates Foundation, says the amount spent by the Nigerian government on its healthcare sector is “too small” to address endemic challenges. Speaking at a media roundtable on Wednesday, Gates said high maternal and child mortality rates will not reduce if healthcare investments are not ramped up. The billionaire philanthropist said he had spoken to President Bola Tinubu about the need to increase the country’s health budget. According to him, while he understands that the government faces many tradeoffs in public expenditure, boosting investments in healthcare are crucial. “Well, the amount of money Nigeria spends on…
Former Minister of Education and Petroleum, Professor Jibril Aminu, has died at the age of 85. Prof. Aminu, also a former lawmaker, passed away in Abuja on Thursday after a prolonged illness. He was a distinguished cardiologist, diplomat, academic, and public servant whose career spanned over five decades. His funeral prayer was scheduled for at 2:00pm at the Abuja National Mosque on Thursday. His remains will then be flown to Yola and later to his hometown in Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State for burial. A native of Adamawa State, Prof. Aminu’s journey in public life began with remarkable…
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday received Tunde Bakare, founder of the Citadel Global Community Church, at his Lagos residence. Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, shared a photo of the visit via his official X account. Bakare was among the aspirants in the 2023 presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He scored no delegate votes as Tinubu won the election with 1,217 votes. Speaking in an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) after meeting with Tinubu, Bakare said his lifelong vision is to see a functional and prosperous Nigeria. “My life, personal…
In a major infrastructural push for the nation’s capital, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved the commissioning of 10 landmark projects within the FCT, beginning Tuesday, June 10. Wike, who made this known during an inspection of a project to be commissioned by President Tinubu, outlined a schedule in which the President will personally inaugurate projects over 10 consecutive days. “Mr. President has finally approved the commissioning of projects to start on June 10, which is next Tuesday, after the Sallah holidays. “That will begin with the…
Former Local Government chairmen across party lines in Abia State have declared their support for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal government, pledging to work for his reelection in 2027. Operating under the aegis of South East Forum of Former Local Government Chairmen, the former helmsmen declared their support during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu on Tuesday at Umuahia, Abia State capital. Recall that that the Deputy Speaker who represents Bende Federal Constituency of the State also served as the local government chairman of his Bende local…
The Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Wednesday, disclosed that the change of leadership that occurred in the State House of Assembly has nothing to do with him. Recall that the Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abayomi Akinruntan, and the Majority Leader, Emmanuel Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, resigned from their positions on Tuesday. Akinruntan, son of the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom in Ilaje local government area, Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, stepped down as Deputy Speaker and was consequently replaced by Hon. Ololade Gbegudu from Okitipupa local government area. In his resignation letter, Akinruntan did not disclose…
The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the final list of candidates for the 2025 Anambra State Governorship election and announced the official commencement of election campaigns. According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the list followed the conclusion of candidate substitution processes and the verification of personal particulars submitted by political parties. INEC noted that 16 political parties met the submission deadline of May 12, 2025, and are set to participate in the November 8 election. Among them, the African Action Congress and the…
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has said that there will be no hiding place for those threatening the peace and stability of Nigeria. Abubakar gave the assurance during the Second Quarter Route March of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Wednesday in Abuja. He reiterated NAF’s unwavering commitment to defending the nation’s airspace and protecting lives and property across the country, emphasising that the protection of all Nigerian was its highest priority. The CAS assured all officers, airmen and airwomen to remember that protection is not just an obligation, but highest priority of the…