Today's Headlines: Putin Will Not Attend Prigozhin’s Funeral- Kremlin; US To Give Ukraine $250m In New Military Aid

Putin will not attend Prigozhin’s funeral, says Kremlin

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Russian President Vladimir Putin will not go to the funeral of Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died last week in a plane crash, the Kremlin said Tuesday.

Prigozhin — a Putin confidant turned “traitor” — was killed last Wednesday two months after ordering his troops to topple Russia’s military leadership, in what observers deemed the biggest challenge to Putin’s authority since he came to power.

The president’s presence is not envisaged,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday when asked whether Putin would attend the funeral.

There have been no public announcements of when or where Prigozhin, who was 62, will be buried.

“We have no information specifically about the funeral. The decision in this regard is made by family and friends,” Peskov added.

Putin last week described Prigozhin as a man who had made “serious mistakes in his life, but he achieved the right results.”

The Kremlin has dismissed speculation that it orchestrated the crash in revenge for Wagner’s march on Moscow in June.

US To Give Ukraine $250m In New Military Aid

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The United States on Tuesday announced a new $250 million military assistance package for Ukraine that includes equipment for clearing mines and obstacles.

Kyiv’s forces are struggling to make substantial gains in a counteroffensive launched earlier this summer that has run into tough Russian defenses including minefields, trenches and tank obstacles.

The assistance will “help Ukraine counter Russia’s ongoing war of aggression on the battlefield and protect its people,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

Also included in the package are air defense missiles, artillery rounds, anti-armor missiles and more than three million rounds of small arms ammunition.

The United States has spearheaded the push for international support for Ukraine, quickly forging an international coalition to back Kyiv after Russia invaded in February 2022 and coordinating aid from dozens of countries.

Osun community wants FG to caution Army Chief, Lagbaja over imminent communal clash

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Protesting members of the Ifon-Orolu community in the Orolu local government area of Osun state have charged President Bola Tinubu to caution the Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja from inciting communal crisis in the state.

The protesters, who bore placards with inscriptions such as, “Lagbaja don’t incite communal crisis in Orolu/Irepodun”, “Tinubu call CAS to order”, “We are in a Democracy not Military Dictator”, walk from the regent’s palace to Olufon’s palace.

Addressing newsmen in front of the palace, the Regent, who doubles as the Eesa of Ifon, Chief Babatunde Oyetunji said the community is not averse to developmental projects, but it will not allow its land to be taken forcefully for the sake of its neighbouring community.

“Our attention has been drawn to the visitation of some Federal Government officials led by unidentified top Officers of The Nigerian Army that were received at the Palace of His Royal Highness Oba Ashiru Olaniyan, The Olobu of Ilobu in Irepodun Local Government area, Ilobu, Osun State. Our people in Orolu Local Government area also sighted the convoy of the same top Military Officials moving around Opapa Village in Gbere Odofin area of Orolu Local Government and some part of Eleesi’s Family land in Orolu Local Government, Ifon-Osun.

“Regrettably, it was noted that the convoy did not bother to pay a courtesy visit to either the Chairman of Orolu Local Government or The Olufon Regent. Such failure is worth noting because it is unusual and inappropriate to tour the ancestral land of the Ifon-Orolu Kingdom without notification or paying a courtesy homage call to the relevant authorities of the kingdom. We have also since discovered that the surreptitious purpose of the visit was to make an assessment of the particular location, where a Military Structure (either hospital or institution) can be built.

NNPP suspends Kwankwaso over alleged romance with Peter Obi, others

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The Board of Trustees, BoT, of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, on Tuesday, suspended its candidate in the February, 25 Presidential election, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and one other member over alleged anti-party activities.

The suspension is to take effect for a period of six months in the first instance.

The BoT, which announced the suspension at a media briefing in Lagos, also suspended the National Working Committee, NWC of the party.

Recall that the NWC of the party on Thursday, Aug. 24, announced the suspension of the founder of the party, Dr Boniface Aniebonam and the National Publicity Secretary, Major.

The BoT, also appointed new national officers headed by Dr Agbo Major as acting National Chairman and Mr Ogini Olaposi as acting National Secretary with 18 others.

The suspensions were put to a voice vote by members of the party at its special general assembly, held at the Rockview Hotels in Apapa, Lagos.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting in Lagos, Secretary of the BoT, Babayo Abdulahi, accused Kwankwaso of hobnobbing with President Bola Tinubu, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr. Peter Obi, without the board’s authorisation.

Abdullahi announced that Kwankwaso had been stripped of the NNPP national leader status by the board.

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