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We’ll never cover up Corruption- Saraki

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Senate-President-Bukola-Saraki

Senate President, Bukola Saraki says the present senate under his leadership will never cover corruption except if the information didn’t come to them. Saraki said this while speaking with a team of editors of the London based “The Economist” newspaper at the weekend.

“Under my watch, the Senate will never cover corruption except if the information didn’t come to us”, he said.

According to a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Mohammed Isa, Saraki said the Senate is ever ready to partner with President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the success of the anti-corruption war. The Senate, he said had already demonstrated such commitment through its interventions on many alleged corrupt transactions such as its swift investigation and adoption of a report on the management of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) that saved the nation about N7billion and the exposure of the inconsistencies in the 2016 budget.
The step, he said was a departure from the past where such reports were either watered-down or not presented for debate and adoption. He cited the report he presented to the last Senate on the over N1trillion fuel subsidy scam that never saw the light of the day.
In furtherance to the commitment, the Senate President said Nigerians would in the next few weeks be availed with the details of the National Assembly budget which will be a departure from the tradition of having one line item budget.
“For the first time we promised Nigerians to give out our budget breakdown. The committee will make its report available by next week. We are resolved to break the tradition of one line item,” he said.
Saraki said though party differences exist between the senators, citing example of the leadership tussle, he, however said, national interest and the desire of each senator to fulfil the promises made to Nigerians have become the guiding principle of the senate in their team work.
On the economy, he said the Senate has embarked on series of legislative interventions to create conducive environment for the private sector, as he said, “it is only when the private sector thrives that the issue of unemployment will be addressed and the nation’s GDP will increase.”
“Few days ago, we received a report on the laws that need to be amended in order of priority importance to ease doing business and overall private sector participation in the stimulation of Nigeria’s economy. We will soon commence the implementation of the recommendations in the report in addition to pushing for the amendment of the Procurement Act to stimulate and protect our local industries,” he assured.
He blamed lack of firmness and consistency in policy implementation by the past administrations as the main obstacle for the growth of the private sector.
“If people have confidence that these policies have come to stay, nothing will stop them from coming to invest in the country,” he stressed.
He allayed the fears that the low prices of oil will have negative impact on the implementation of the 2016 budget, saying that, “what we need to do is to block leakages and show more transparency.”
“If we can block leakages, stop the wastages and institute a culture of transparency in governance, the revenue in-flow will not be substantially affected. Without these, even if oil is sold at more than a $100 per barrel, we will continue to witness a decline in revenue in-flow as we witnessed in the past,” Saraki said.

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UPDATE: Oke-Ero DPM and Legal Officer Regain Freedom

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Good news from Oke-Ero Local Government: the Director of Personnel Management (DPM), Alhaji Musibau Amuda, and the Legal Officer, Barrister Omoladun Elizabeth Arinde, have safely returned after a period of absence.

In a statement released on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Hon. James Abiodun Fadipe — and obtained by Just Event Online TV — the Council expressed gratitude to Almighty God for their safe return in good health.

Hon. Fadipe described their return as “the Lord’s doing” and extended appreciation to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, and ALGON leadership for their support during the period.

The Council also thanked religious leaders, traditional rulers, security agencies, political leaders, party members, the DPM and LGT forums, and all well-wishers for their prayers and encouragement.

Reaffirming commitment to peace and development, Hon. Fadipe prayed for continued divine protection and progress for Oke-Ero.

“We remain committed to building a stronger, united, and progressive Oke-Ero,” the statement concluded.

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2027: Rivers PDP NASS Caucus Pledges Support for President Tinubu

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Members of the Rivers State caucus of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the National Assembly have formally declared their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The announcement was made in Port Harcourt on Saturday, through a statement read by Senator Barry Mpigi on behalf of the caucus. The statement was endorsed by all nine lawmakers — comprising two Senators and seven members of the House of Representatives.

The lawmakers cited the “visible successes” of the Tinubu administration as the reason for their endorsement.

Those who signed the statement include Senator Barry Mpigi, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Dekor, Solomon Bob, Hon. Felix Nwaeke, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu, Cyril Hart, Victor Obuzor, and Blessing Amadi.

In their declaration, the caucus urged individuals considering a presidential run in 2027 to shelve their ambitions.

“We, the National Assembly members from Rivers State — Senators and Representatives — express our profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his trust and confidence in our leader, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, demonstrated through his appointment as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” the statement read.

“We are pleased with the President’s public commendation of the FCT Minister, whom he hailed as the ‘master of infrastructure’.”

The caucus emphasized that after thoroughly evaluating the President’s economic policies — formulated to revive Nigeria’s struggling economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda — they were convinced of the administration’s clear progress.

They highlighted the challenges Tinubu inherited on May 29, 2023, including a bloated debt profile, inflation exacerbated by the printing of N22.7 trillion through Ways and Means financing between 2015 and 2023, and critical infrastructure deficits undermining food production.

The lawmakers asserted that President Tinubu’s policies offer the best path toward social and economic recovery. They pointed to declining inflation rates, reductions in Nigeria’s foreign debt, and optimistic growth projections endorsed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as evidence of the administration’s progress.

The caucus also praised President Tinubu for his “swift” intervention in resolving the political crisis in Rivers State, noting that it has set a foundation for enduring peace.

“As members of the National Assembly from Rivers State, we unequivocally affirm our total commitment to supporting the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” the statement continued.

“As representatives closest to the people, we are set to embark on an even greater mobilisation drive than we did in 2023, to ensure President Tinubu’s return to office.”

The lawmakers concluded by calling on all Nigerians to rally behind the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as the surest path to the country’s prosperity. They also appealed to potential presidential aspirants to abandon their ambitions and unite behind President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.

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2027 Presidency: No Candidate Can Win Without Northern Support – Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

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Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Bola Tinubu, has emphasized that no presidential candidate can emerge victorious in the 2027 elections without the backing of the North.

Speaking on the political direction of the region, Baba-Ahmed stated, “In the next six months, the North will decide its stance. If the rest of the country aligns with us, great. If not, we’ll move forward on our own terms. One thing is certain — no one becomes Nigeria’s president without Northern support.”

He expressed deep concern about the nation’s current condition and called on Northerners to reject divisive and manipulative politicians ahead of the next general elections.

“We need a government that understands our challenges and is ready to fix them. After Buhari’s eight years, we became wiser. Now we are in a new administration, yet we’re still complaining. Is that all we do—cry?” he asked.

Recalling the impact of the Boko Haram crisis, Baba-Ahmed noted that it affected every Northern group — Muslims, Christians, Fulani, Baju, and others — and called for unity across the region.

“Before Buhari, Boko Haram was bombing mosques, churches, Abuja, and Lagos. That period demanded unity among Northerners. Today, no politician can just walk in and expect automatic Northern support. Who are you?” he asked pointedly.

He warned against further marginalization of the North, stressing that continuous neglect would not go unnoticed. “If the plan is to rig the elections, they should think again. It won’t end well for Nigeria. The North is paying attention. Elders, the masses, and interest groups are reaching their breaking point. The injustice must stop.”

Baba-Ahmed also encouraged Northerners to abandon identity-based politics, urging voters to prioritize competence and integrity.

“We’re done voting based on religion or ethnicity. That chapter is closed. All we want is the right leader — even if he drops from heaven — someone who will fix our problems,” he declared.

He concluded by affirming that the North had learned hard lessons from past choices and would approach the 2027 elections with greater discernment and resolve.

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