THE presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who flew the flag of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the February 25 presidential election, had a secret meeting at Kwankwaso’s residence in Abuja, News Point Nigeria can report. At the centre of the discussion, News Point Nigeria understands is a potential move for a merger and state of affairs in the country as well as Nigeria’s involvement in the Niger Republic political impasse. This newspaper gathered that, the meeting also discussed some judicial matters of the Tinubu/Atiku tribunal case, issues around current…
Author: Abdullahi Maitama Sani
FORMER governor of Rivers State and a Minister designate, Nyesom Wike, visited the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Gnaduje, in Abuja, on Tuesday. Wike, who worked against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 election, has repeatedly denied plotting to join the ruling party. During a thanksgiving service organised in his honour shortly after he handed over power in Rivers, Governor Simi Fubara asked Wike not to abandon him if he ends up in the ruling party. “While we are seeing sign that it’s like you want to go…
THE Federal Government has applied to withdraw the illegal possession of firearms charge it filed against suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The judge had on July 25, admitted Emefiele to a N20million bail on a two-count charge of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions. But the Department of State Services (DSS) rearrested him after a clash with prison officials. On Tuesday, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed…
PETROL yesterday sold for N650 per litre in Borno, Oyo and Delta States against the current official price of N617. Marketers had recently said the product would sell for between N680/litre and N720/litre in the coming weeks should the naira continue to fall at the parallel market. Reports had also said the landing cost of petrol had risen month-on-month, by 37.4 percent to N632.17 per litre in July 2023, from N460 per litre in June 2023. In Maiduguri, Borno State Capital, the product yesterday sold between N625 and N655 at some private stations; and N635 at the NNPC Mega station.…
A NIGERIAN Air Force MI-171 Helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission crashed on Monday near Chukuba Village in Niger State. NAF spokesman, Edward Gabkwet, confirmed the accident in a statement made available to News Point Nigeria, Monday. The accident happened at about 1pm and the number of persons onboard or their state were unknown as of press time. “The aircraft had departed Zungeru Primary School enroute Kaduna but was later discovered to have crashed near Chukuba Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State. “Efforts are currently ongoing to rescue the crew and passengers on board the helicopter, while…
THE Organised Labour has vowed to proceed with a total, comprehensive and indefinite nationwide shutdown of the country, should there be another increase in Petrol Pump price from the existing 617 naira, which it describes as “illegal”. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, gave the notification on Monday, at the African Trade Union alliance meeting in Abuja, where organised labour also warned against undermining the demands of the union. News Point Nigeria had earlier reported that oil marketers on Sunday indicated that the cost of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, would rise to between N680/lite and N720/litre in the coming weeks…
DESPITE giving ECOWAS an invitation for dialogue, the coup leaders in Niger Republic have vowed late Sunday to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason” and further slammed West African leaders for imposing sanctions on the country. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the coup and has not ruled out using force against the army officers who toppled the democratically elected Bazoum on July 26. The West African bloc has approved the deployment of a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in Niger as soon as possible but remains committed…
OIL marketers, on Sunday, indicated that the cost of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, would rise to between N680/litre and N720/litre in the coming weeks should the dollar continue to trade from N910 to N950 at the parallel market. They also hinted that dealers seeking to import PMS were being forced to put the plans on hold due to the scarcity of foreign exchange to import the commodity. The warning came barely one week after the local currency crossed the N900/dollar ceiling, with the naira selling at over 945/dollar at the parallel market on Friday. Oil dealers said the…
GENERAL Abdourahmane Tchiani, leader of the Niger junta, has said the military is ready for dialogue. Since his gang overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, Tchiani’s regime has shunned several peaceful overtures. But speaking during a meeting with Islamic scholars from Nigeria, Tichani was quoted to have said doors were open to explore diplomacy and peace in resolving the matter. This newspaper had reported how Islamic scholars led by Bala Lau, Chairman of Jam’atul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, met with the junta in Niger’s capital on Saturday. In a statement Lau issued after the meeting, he said his delegation…
FOLLOWING the dissolution of boards of agencies by the President Bola Tinubu in June 2023, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has set up an ad hoc committee to review the resumes of individuals who will fill board appointments, this newspaper gathered. The ad hoc committee is currently being co-chaired by a former governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, and a former governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru. Our correspondent gathered that the two ex-governors were working hand in hand to achieve a timely submission of names so as to ensure an early resumption of new…
THE Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has dismissed calls from certain quarters that the military interfere in the democratic process in Nigeria. The military high command under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa again pledged loyalty to the “constitutional authority” of President Bola Tinubu, saying that it will not be distracted from its roles that are well defined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended). This reaction came on the heels of calls by some Nigerians that the military should step into the country’s leadership position owing to the perceived failure of democratic governments. But in a statement…
SENATOR Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central says the Senate told President Bola Tinubu to rule out war as part of moves to restore democracy in the Niger Republic. Senator Ningi, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday monitored by News Point Nigeria, said there must be a joint sitting of the National Assembly before the Nigerian Armed Forces could be deployed for war anywhere. “He has the right to ask (for permission) but the Constitution has stipulated some conditions. For him to ask the Nigerian Armed Forces to go into a war there needs to be…
FORMER governor of Kaduna State, Nasiru El-Rufa’i, has jetted out of the country after withdrawing his interest in ministerial appointment, this newspaper can confirm. A credible source told this newspaper that El-Rufai was off to Europe, but will be in Egypt first. The senate had last week approved the appointment of 45 out of the 48 ministerial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu. El-Rufai, and two other nominees; Stella Okotete (Delta) and Danladi Abubakar (Taraba) were not confirmed as the senate said they were awaiting security clearance about them. This newspaper had reported how Sunday Karimi, senator representing Kogi west,…
NIGER’s Coup Leaders have threatened to kill ousted President Mohamed Bazoum if neighbouring countries attempt any military intervention to reinstate him by ECOWAS. According to a report by The Associated Press on Friday, two “Western officials” said the putschists issued the threat while speaking to a top U.S. diplomat. This came shortly before the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it had directed the deployment of a “standby force” to restore democracy in Niger, after its deadline of Sunday to restore Bazoum’s government expired. The threat to the deposed president raises the stakes both for ECOWAS and for…
THE Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has ordered its standby force to restore constitutional order in NIger Republic. News Point Nigeria reports that, the President of ECOWAS, Omar Alieu Touray made the declaration while reading the resolution of ECOWAS on the Niger coup at the ECOWAS Extraordinary meeting in Abuja on Thursday. It also called on the African Union, AU, partner countries and institutions to support the resolution taken by the sub-regional body. ECOWAS said all efforts made to dialogue with Niger Republic military junta have been defiantly rejected by coup leaders as they condemn continuous detention of…
CHARIPERSON of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), President Bola Tinubu, says it is crucial to prioritise diplomatic negotiations to resolve the crisis in Niger Republic. According to the Nigerian President, the regional bloc must engage the coup leaders in the neighbouring country to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum. Tinubu spoke on Thursday in Abuja when he declared opened ECOWAS second extraordinary session on the situation in Niger Republic. He said, “More so, in reaffirming our relentless commitment to democracy, human rights, and the well-being of the people of Niger, it is crucial that we prioritise diplomatic negotiations and…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu is said to have authorized a group of Muslim scholars to meet with the military junta in Niger Republic in a bid to resolve the socio-political crisis in that country. The religious leaders, who disclosed this while speaking with reporters after meeting with the President, said their offer had been accepted by the President. The clerics led by the national leader of the Jama’a tul Izalatul Bid’ah wa Iqamatus Sunnah, Sheikh Bala Lau, advised the Nigerian leader against the use of force in Niger. “We want to find a lasting solution. We want peace and harmony to…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu and the former Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II are currently meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The 14th Emir Of Kano had recently returned from Niger Republic where he went to meet the military junta that seized power from the democratically elected President Muhamad Bazoum. Sanusi arrived the Presidential at about 8:25pm immediately after a high delegation of the Nigeria Islamic Ulama met with the President. When asked about his visit to Niger, the leader of the Tijjaniyya Order in Nigeria simply said, it’s fine. As at the time of filing this report, Sanusi was…
OUSTED President of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum, says he is being kept isolated and forced to eat dry rice. Recall that on July 26, 2023, the military ousted Bazoum and suspended the constitution. President Bola Tinubu, who is the Chairman of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), had scheduled a meeting for Thursday after the 7-day ultimatum that the regional bloc issued for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum elapsed. CNN quoted Bazoum in a series of text messages to a friend as saying he had been “deprived of all human contact” since Friday, with no one supplying him…
THE 14th Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, on Wednesday met with the coup leaders of Niger Republic in Niamey. News Point Nigeria reports that, the visit shouldn’t be unconnected with all efforts in finding a diplomatic end to the political impasse in Niger Republic. It is not clear whether Khalifa Muhammadu’s visit, who is also the leader of the Tijjaniyya Order in Nigeria was at the behest of the government or a personal endevour to help return peace in Niger.