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Just In: ‘Fayose Calls Obasanjo Irresponsible Hours After Forgiving Him
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has launched a fresh verbal attack on former President Olusegun Obasanjo, barely 48 hours after the two appeared to have reconciled publicly.
Naija News reports that the renewed outburst came despite Obasanjo’s public declaration of forgiveness during Fayose’s 65th birthday celebration in Lagos on Saturday.
At the well-attended event, Obasanjo had taken a swipe at Fayose over past abuses but said he had forgiven him after several emissaries appealed for a truce.
You are not the best of my political children, but you have made achievements that must not be ignored,” Obasanjo said.
He narrated how Fayose sent former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, to “sound him out” before personally calling to request his presence.
“Even to get me to come here, you could not approach me directly. You sent Osita. When Osita came, I said, ‘If he has sent you and you have delivered the message, then tell him you have delivered the message.’ Then, you phoned me and said, ‘Ayo,’ and I asked you, ‘Ayo who?’ You said, ‘Ayo Fayose.’ I told you that you can see me anytime,” he recounted.
Obasanjo further recalled chastising Fayose and his wife during the reconciliation process.
I told your wife, ‘Madam, you and your husband, you are not Omoluabi.’ She admitted and said, ‘Baba, you are right. Please forgive us.’ When you get that, what else can I do?” he said.
He added that Fayose had sought forgiveness and that, “as far as I’m concerned, you are forgiven. But the right lessons must be learnt.”
Obasanjo also urged Fayose to reach out to others he may have offended and mend fences.
Throughout the remarks, Fayose sat quietly. However, the fragile peace collapsed less than two days later.
A statement by Obasanjo’s Media Aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Monday in Abeokuta, revealed that Fayose sent Obasanjo a ‘Thank You’ message laced with renewed hostility and “unprintable names.”
The statement reads, “Dear Baba Obasanjo, I trust this meets you well. Your coming to my birthday party, I appreciate it, except for your very irresponsible comments at your age. You went so low, but I’m not surprised because someone once said you are supposed to be kept away in the zoo. Sincerely that’s where you belong.
I kept quiet or did not reply to you at the function so that the world will know the difference between a sane and a mad man that you are. It is also obvious that you have also lost your sanity OR should I say is the heightened stage of dementia. Not to worry, Baba. I shall set the records straight in due course of time. Lastly, I shall appreciate it if you return my money since you publicly admitted you received it, but Dangote brought u back.
“Your leopard will never change its skin.”
The former President replied tacitly, “Ayo, thanks for your ‘Thank You’ message, which undisguisedly revealed who and what you are, unchanged and unchangeable. Your money has been sent back through Foluso Adeagbo, who brought it, and in the same bag as he brought it, unopened by me”.Obj.”
The Senate has amended its internal rules that restricted the eligibility of those interested in the Senate presidency to a few.
This is as the new rules indicated that only members of the 10th National Assembly, who returned to the Chamber after the 2027 election, can become principal officers in the 11th assembly.
The decision was reached after a marathon closed-door session that was publicly criticised by Senator Adams Oshiomhole from Edo state.
The Senate has made a major shift to its internal rules as it amended its standing orders to restrict the eligibility of candidates for the office of the Senate President to only members of the 10th National Assembly.
The move came after a marathon closed-door session where the lawmakers agreed on new criteria that prioritise parliamentary hierarchy and experience. Under the revised rules, only senators who have been in the national assembly would be able to contest for principal offices.
According to Channels TV, the new law stated that at least one of the two terms must be the immediate term before the nomination, a move that effectively narrowed the field of contenders.
The amended Order 4 of the Senate reads:
“Nomination of Senators to serve as Presiding Officers shall be in accordance with the ranking of Senators and shall be strictly adhered to.
“This means that only senators currently serving under the Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s leadership of the 10th Assembly who secured their re-election in the 2027 general elections would be able to contest for the Senate presidency and other principal offices.
According to the Senate, the development was intended to strengthen adherence to the tradition of ranking within the Upper legislative chamber
Daily voice.ng earlier reported that Senate President Godswil Akpabio has blamed the insecurity in the country on the upcoming elections, and predicted improvement after the polls.
However, some critics of the claim have challenged Akpabio’s views and highlighted the need for peace ahead of elections.
At the same time, public reactions have revealed mixed feelings on security and Akpabio’s optimistic outlook ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has filed fresh criminal charges against former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and seven others over alleged fraud and money laundering linked to a ₦10.8 billion CCTV security project in the state.
According to court documents filed at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on April 17, the anti-graft agency brought 11 counts against the former governor and the other defendants under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
A former Kaduna State Commissioner for Information and Chairman of Liberty Television, Alhaji Tijjani Ramalan, disclosed the development in a post on his Facebook page.
Ramalan said El-Rufai and the seven other accused persons would soon face the new charges.
The ICPC alleged that El-Rufai approved the award of an ₦8.68bn CCTV contract in December 2015 to a company it claimed lacked the required competence.
The commission also alleged that several large sums were received and transferred between 2017 and 2022 by individuals and companies linked to the project.
The firms mentioned include Singularity Network Security Limited and other companies allegedly connected to the CCTV security project.
Others named in the case include a former Kaduna State government official, Jimi Lawal; senior executives of IHS Towers; and five companies.
One of El-Rufai’s sons, Bashir El-Rufai, was also mentioned in the allegations but was not listed as a defendant.
The fresh charge is the third set of charges filed by the ICPC against the former governor since March.
El-Rufai is already facing separate corruption-related cases involving other state projects, including a light rail contract and severance payments.
He had denied wrongdoing in earlier court appearances.
Other agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), are also investigating or prosecuting him over separate allegations.
A statement by former President Goodluck Jonathan has been read before the Southwark Crown Court in the United Kingdom in the ongoing trial of Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The statement was presented during proceedings on Tuesday, according to BBC reports.
In the statement, Jonathan said it was not unusual for third parties to make payments on behalf of ministers during official overseas duties.
“Any properly incurred incidental or in-kind assistance from third parties would be recorded and reimbursed where applicable,” the former president was quoted as saying.
He also confirmed that he approved Alison-Madueke’s use of private jets for certain foreign trips.
Alison-Madueke, who served as minister of petroleum resources from 2010 to 2015, is standing trial alongside Olatimbo Ayinde and Doye Agama.
They are facing a five-count charge bordering on accepting bribes but have all pleaded not guilty.
Earlier in the trial, prosecutors accused the former minister of accepting luxury goods and access to high-end properties from individuals seeking favourable treatment in oil contracts.
They alleged that the benefits were provided in exchange for influence within the petroleum sector.
Counsel to Alison-Madueke, Jonathan Laidlaw, told the court that his client had no real influence over the award of oil contracts during her time in office.
Meanwhile, Nigerian businessman Igho Sanomi and Ghanaian businessman Kevin Okyere have denied allegations of bribery.
Their statements, read in court, indicated that payments made on behalf of the former minister were later reimbursed.
Okyere stated that he paid about £3,900 for items purchased by Alison-Madueke in 2014, adding that the money was later refunded in cash.
Sanomi also said items he purchased on behalf of the former minister were reimbursed, insisting that his companies secured contracts through fair competition.
The trial is ongoing, with further proceedings expected as the court continues to examine evidence and witness statements.
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