Author: Safiu Kehinde

US President Joe Biden has issued presidential pardons to 39 Americans convicted of non-violent crimes and commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 other people. The White House described it as the most acts of presidential clemency issued in a single day. It has not given the names of the people involved. The US Constitution decrees that a president has the broad “power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment”. Earlier this month, Biden issued a controversial pardon to his son Hunter, which continued a recent trend of presidents pardoning people close…

Safiu Kehinde Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf, has on Thursday scrapped the Chief of Staff position while sacking the Secretary to State Government (SSG) in cabinet shakeup. Yusuf also relieved five commissioners while redeploying seven others. This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa. According to the statement, the Kano governor took the decision to enable optimum performance that will drive more dividend of democracy to the good people of Kano state. Those affected by the major shakeup are the Chief of Staff, Alh. Shehu Wada Sagagi whose office is now scrapped, and Secretary to…

Safiu Kehinde Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has pledged further demolition of properties illegally built on government lands in Abuja. Wike stated this at the flag off ceremony for distribution of vehicles to security agencies on Thursday. Sequel to the Senate’s decision to probe his alleged land grabbing from residents, the Minister held that he is unmoved by what he described as blackmail. Wike stressed that people take government land without approval while reinstating his commitment to the demolition of properties built on the lands. “Let me use this opportunity to tell Nigerians to tell Nigerians and…

Safiu Kehinde A former Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Babafemi Ojudu, has urged members of the Omoluabi Progressives to key into the philosophy and ethos of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Ojudu state this in a speech delivered to members of the Omoluabi Progressives in Osun State at a recent event. This was as he described former governor Rauf Aregbesola as a visionary leader who is dedicated to the fight for a better society. Ojudu who is also a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to Former President Muhammadu Buhari said Awolowo was a staunch advocate of true federalism whose…

Safiu Kehinde The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has set up committee of experts to study the proposed tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly to come out with appropriate recommendations to be forwarded to appropriate organs of the government. This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba. The ACF held that the current debates on the proposed tax reform by the National Economic Council and other critical stakeholders actually suggested that not enough consultations went into the preparations of the bills. It, however, admitted to the need for periodic…

Safiu Kehinde In another huge setback, Labour Party has again lost hold of a member of the House Representatives who, on Thursday, announced his defections from the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This is coming barely a week after five LP lawmakers abandoned the party for the APC. Following the footstep of his comrades, Hon. Ajang Iliya, representing Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau State, officially joined the ruling party as he denounced his membership with the Labour Party. Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, made the announcement during plenary, reading Hon. Iliya’s letter…

Safiu Kehinde The 2023 Bayelsa governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Udengs Eradiri, and his running mate, Benjamin Nathus, have resigned from the party. The later tendered his resignation letter to the party’s state Chairman in Yenagoa, following the footstep of hi principal who resigned from the party on the 8th of December. According to reports, most of the local government chairmen of the Labour Party in Bayelsa State also joined Eradiri and Nathus in leaving the party, adding more woes to the party that has been witness mass exodus over the past week. In the letter dated December 8…

Agency Report Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep grief over the tragic road accident that claimed the lives of some graduates from the Borno State University and left others injured. Shettima express his sorrow in a condolence message issued by his spokesperson, Mr Stanley Nkwocha, on Thursday in Abuja. He regretted that a moment of achievement and joy in the young students’ lives had turned into an unimaginable tragedy. ” The loss of these bright, young lives is not just a loss for their families but a loss for Borno and our nation. “These graduates embodied hope, promise, and…

Safiu Kehinde Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force have nabbed five armed robbers in separate operations in Lagos and Anambra states. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi. While recounting the efforts of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in putting intensive security measures in place ahead of the yuletide festivities, Adejobi confirmed the arrest of the suspected robbers which he described at a significant move in combating highway robbery and criminal activities. According to the statement, four of the suspects were,on Tuesday, arrested along Costain axis by operatives…

Safiu Kehinde Opposition Leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has fired back at Nigerian Vice President, Kashim Shettima, over his claim of her denigration of Nigeria. Badenoch, in a statement by her spokesperson during an address to newsmen on Wednesday, held that she stood by her words about Nigeria and cannot be forced to do PR for the country. “She is the leader of the opposition and she is very proud of her leadership of the opposition in this country. “She tells the truth. She tells it like it is. She is not going to couch her…