Today's Headlines: I Stand With Tinubu On Niger Republic – Doyin Okupe; Peter Obi Decries GSK Exit From Nigeria

I Stand With President Tinubu On Niger Republic – Labour Party Chieftain Doyin Okupe

Photo credit: SaharaReporters

A former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP)/Peter Obi-Datti presidential campaign council, Doyin Okupe, has expressed his support for the President Bola Tinubu-led Economic Community of West African Countries’ proposed military intervention in Niger Republic against the military junta who took over power in the country.

Okupe on Friday on his Twitter handle used the hastag #WeStandWithTinubuOnNiger while responding to the political situation in Niger Republic.

He noted that irrespective of who the president was, Nigerians and political leaders must unite in defence of the country.

According to Okupe, President Tinubu is fighting for the enthronement of democracy in West Africa, and it is a commendable act.

He said, “I did not ask that Nigeria should go to war. I condemn the military leadership in Niger; they disrespected the Nigerian President, and demeaned our country by breaking diplomatic relationship with us; despite the fact that we initiated a peace move by sending a high powered delegation consisting of a highly globally respected former Head of State.

“They had the audacity to rebuff our peace negotiators and went ahead to break diplomatic relations with Nigeria! Who are these unknown elements? I have no apology for this position. I have always spoken my mind on all matters of national interest. And freedom of speech allows me so to do – Fact. I am too old to change that just to please people or friends.

That was why I stood out boldly to support Obi against the run of play and against all my friends and political associates in the South-West. Obi never solicited for my support, neither did he lobby me. I did not ask for a kobo and I received none.

Peter Obi decries GSK’s exit from Nigeria

Photo credit: The Guardian

Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate, Labour Party in the 2023 election, has decried the exit of the Pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), from Nigeria after 51 years of operations.

Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State, made this known in his official tweets handle on Saturday morning in Lagos.

The Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Thursday, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a British pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, said in the coming months, it plans to exit Nigeria after 51 years of operation in Nigeria.

Photo credit: Google

Ministerial Nominees: Senate screens Keyamo, Salako, Mamman, four others (LIVE UPDATES)

Photo credit: Premium Times

The Senate will today continue with the screening of the ministerial nominees of President Bola Tinubu.

Altogether, seven nominees will appear before the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly in a session which begins at 11 a.m.

Those that will appear before the lawmakers today are Tahir Mamman (Adamawa), Uba Ahmadu (Taraba), Lola John (Lagos), Ishak Salako (Ogun), Bosun Tijani (Ogun), Festus Keyamo (Delta) and Mairiga Mahmud (Kano).

Mr Keyamo, a senior lawyer and minister of state for labour and employment in the preceding Buhari administration, and Mrs Mahmud were not originally part of the two lists earlier transmitted to the Senate by Mr Tinubu. Their nomination was announced by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, at the plenary on Friday.

Midway into the proceedings on Friday, the senate president read a letter from Mr Tinubu replacing one of the two nominees from Kano, Maryam Shetty with Mrs Mahmud. The president did not state the reason for the action in his correspondence to the Senate.

Rivers: Policeman shoots father of three dead, command begins probe

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An operative attached to the Police Mobile Force, 43 Squadron in Gombe State has allegedly shot dead a father of three near a popular bar in Elekahia, Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident occurred when the deceased identified as Olafuro Peterside went on an outing with his family.

It was gathered that the policeman who was in company of another (both from PMF 43-Squadron, Gombe) was on special duty in Rivers.

Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Saturday morning.

She however said from information available to her, the operatives shot into the air following an alarm raised by some residents that armed robbers were operating in the area.

Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, further said the two operatives at the scene of the incident had been arrested.

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