Connect with us

News

Lai Mohammed: AbdulRazaq is a Deeply Troubled Soul, Not Qualified for Public Office

Published

on

It was only a matter of time before the Minister of Information, Culture and Orientation, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, addressed some concerns in the local politics of Kwara State, especially, after penultimate Sunday’s explosive interview by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who not only called out the minister but levelled otherwise destructive allegations against the government’s mouthpiece. Quite expectedly, in this right of reply with THISDAY, the minister has responded, perhaps, to set the record straight even though it appears the last may not have been heard of the brickbats. Excerpts:

You see, when you’re looking at the success of the APC, it’s not only about the governorship, we won not only governorship. We won the presidential election, we won all the senatorial seats, six house of reps seats. We won 24 House of Assembly seats. So if you see what happened in Kwara, the people in Kwara wanted a change. It is not because they voted for anybody. They wanted a change. And that change, I’ve been very fortunate enough to have coordinated the activities. But for him to say it’s because I want to pocket him, he is somebody that is troubled.

Number one, I think it’s very reckless on the side of any mature politician to start talking about who gave what for an election. I think it shows a lot of recklessness, inexperience and desperation. Now, the truth of the matter was that the impression he gave the party leaders was that he was a very wealthy man. That was the dummy he sold to the party leaders.

You know they say oja okun kun in Yoruba, we say it’s night market kind of, and he convinced them and they sold to us and we all bought it, but as soon as he got the ticket, we realised that he had no money at all and that’s why it now dawned on me that I had to go out and raise funds.

*He set up a 200-man campaign committee for his governorship, which he sent to me, which I approve

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Anyone Opposing U.S. Strikes Is Nigeria’s Enemy or Profiting From Insecurity — Ex-General Enenche

Published

on

A former Nigerian military general, Enenche, has described opposition to United States support and strikes against terrorists as unpatriotic, insisting that such resistance only aids insecurity or serves personal interests.
Reflecting on his experience in active combat zones over two decades ago, Enenche said he witnessed firsthand the human cost of insecurity. According to him, security goes beyond the battlefield, affecting human lives, the economy, and even cyber space.
“As a military man who fought in that area over 20 years ago, I saw with my own eyes the casualties, the rage and the devastation. When you talk about security, you are talking about human security, economic security, cyber security. It affects everyone,” he said.
He welcomed the United States’ decision to support Nigeria, describing it as a positive development for the country. Enenche referenced former U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to assist Nigeria, noting that such cooperation signals hope rather than danger.
“America has come out boldly to say, ‘We are going to help you’. President Donald Trump said they will assist Nigeria. For me, this is the beginning of good things to come for this country,” he stated.
The retired general criticized individuals who consistently oppose foreign support, accusing them of spreading fear and pessimism.
“Where some people see negatives, we should see positives. Those who constantly project fear and pessimism, I see them as enemies of this country,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with Nigeria’s past peacekeeping missions, Enenche questioned why similar objections were not raised when Nigerian troops intervened in countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Congo.
“Anytime Nigerians cooperate and act as a team, we get results,” he added.
He further clarified that while foreign allies may not deploy ground troops, Nigeria must still take responsibility for on-ground operations, with strong backing from state and local governments.
“They may not put boots on the ground, but we must do the foot-on-ground work. We must deploy the necessary resources, and that is where state governments and local governments must support this effort,” he said.
Highlighting the sophistication of recent operations, Enenche emphasized that the strikes were intelligence-driven and precise, targeting terrorist strongholds.
“Look at the capacity, look at the weapons used. Do we have that capability? This was intelligence-driven and precise. These terrorists do not want to be followed to their staging or assembly areas,” he concluded.

Continue Reading

News

‘Give Them Their Money Directly’ — Tinubu Warns Governors Over LG Allocations

Published

on

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a stern warning to state governors over the handling of Local Government (LG) allocations, insisting that funds meant for LGs must be paid directly to them in line with the Supreme Court judgment.
Speaking on Friday at the 15th APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, Tinubu stressed that the apex court has once again made its position clear, leaving no room for ambiguity. According to him, compliance is no longer optional, as the judgment is binding on all tiers of government.
“The Supreme Court has capped it for you again, saying, ‘give them their money directly’. If you wait for my Executive Order, because I have the knife, I have the yam, I will cut it,” the President said, adding that he has chosen to be patient and respectful with governors.
However, Tinubu warned that continued delay or refusal to implement the ruling would attract consequences, noting that enforcement could begin through FAAC disbursements if necessary.
Emphasizing the rule of law, the President said the ultimate authority remains the Supreme Court and its judgment must be obeyed without excuses.
“We have to comply. We have to respect the judgment,” he concluded.

Continue Reading

News

Accord Party Welcomes Adeleke for 2026 Governorship Bid

Published

on

The Accord Party in Osun State has indicated that Governor Ademola Adeleke would be granted a waiver if he decides to contest the 2026 governorship election under its platform.

Victor Akande, Chairman of Accord Party in Osun, told The PUNCH on Sunday that Adeleke or his aides have not formally approached the party, describing speculation about a potential defection as “mere rumours.”

Accord Party has emerged as a possible platform for Adeleke’s re-election amid internal tensions in his current party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Akande said the party already has two aspirants for its ticket in the August 8, 2026 election but would welcome Adeleke if he chooses to join.

“The issue of Governor Adeleke is still a rumour. I have not met with anyone from the government about this. Accord Party is not the only option being speculated for his defection, but if he comes, we will receive him wholeheartedly,” Akande stated.

He added, “Our doors are always open. People are free to join or leave at any time. If Adeleke comes, he will receive a waiver to contest just like any other aspirant. Currently, two individuals have shown interest in running under our platform, though they have not made financial commitments yet.”

Continue Reading

Trending