Today's Headlines: Tinubu Should Probe Past Administrations From 1999–Nkpubre, Tinubu, Buhari, Dabiri-Erewa Mourn Nigerian Ambassador to France, Kayode Laro

Tinubu should probe past administrations from 1999 – Ex-PDP vice chair

Photo Credit: Punch paper

Former National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, South-South, Chief Edet Nkpubre, shares his thoughts with CHUKWUDI AKASIKE on Tinubu’s administration and why he left the PDP for the All Progressives Congress, among other issues

Why did you leave the Peoples Democratic Party for the Al/ Progressives Congress?

I moved from the PDP to the APC because I was no longer comfortable with what was going on in the PDP in 2015. In 2011, I was a member of the team that negotiated for former President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the 2011 presidential election. It was agreed that he should only contest for one term of four years. That one term was reckoned as his second term after the completion of Yar’Adua’s tenure. People like the new Senate President (Senate Godswill Akpabio), Chief Edwin Clark and some others encouraged Jonathan to go for the 2015 Presidential election.

When we agreed for Jonathan to run in 2011, he stood up and made an acceptance speech, saying that the constitution allowed Presidents to go for only two terms of eight years and that if he completed four years, he would have done six years. He said if he tried something else, he would be going beyond eight years in office. He thanked God for granting him the opportunity of becoming a President, a position that a great politician like Chief Obafemi Awolowo had tried to occupy without succeeding. Jonathan said he was satisfied with the decision.

Tinubu, Buhari, Dabiri-Erewa Mourn Nigerian Ambassador to France, Kayode Laro

Photo Credit: Thisday Live

President Bola Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa have expressed profound sadness over the news of the demise of Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Kayode Laro.In a statement issued yesterday by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, the President extended his deepest condolences to Ambassador Laro’s family, the diplomatic community, as well as the Government, and the people of Kwara State.

Photo Credit: Google

President Tinubu recognised Ambassador Laro’s tireless dedication to fostering mutually-beneficial diplomatic ties between Nigeria and France during his tenure, noting his commitment to diplomacy and the impactful role he played in ensuring the success of the President’s visit to France in June this year, which was the President’s first foreign trip following his assumption of office.

Having devoted himself fully to his duties during 35 illustrious years in service as a Nigerian diplomat, from 1983 to 2018, the President remembered Ambassador Laro’s profound grasp of geo-political intricacies and how he aptly harnessed his wealth of skill and experience in multilateral diplomacy to advance worldwide peace, security, and development.

Detained Niger president seen by doctor: entourage

Photo Credit: The Guardian Nigeria

Niger’s detained president was seen by his doctor on Saturday, his entourage said amid mounting concern for his condition, while Nigerian religious leaders met the officers who seized power last month to try to defuse the crisis.

The Muslim leaders visited the capital Niamey with the blessing of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, head of the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, a source close to the delegation told AFP.

ECOWAS has approved the deployment of a “standby force to restore constitutional order” in Niger as soon as possible, but scrapped a Saturday crisis meeting on the coup that deposed Mohamed Bazoum.

Bazoum, 63, was toppled on July 26 by his presidential guard, which has since held him and his family at his official Niamey residence.

The European Union, the African Union and the United Nations joined others in sounding the alarm for Bazoum on Friday after reports described worsening detention conditions.

Bazoum “had a visit by his doctor today”, a member of his entourage told AFP, adding the physician had also brought food for Bazoum, his wife and son.

“He’s fine, given the situation,” the source added.

Niger: DHQ directs service chiefs to compile war items, ECOWAS lawmakers divided

Photo Credit: Punch paper

In compliance with the directives of the Economic Community of West African States, the Defence Headquarters has commenced build-up preparations for the possible mobilisation of troops and equipment for a possible confrontation with the junta in Niger Republic, findings by Sunday PUNCH have shown.

However, the ECOWAS Parliament is divided over the use of military might to force the junta, which overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, out of power and to reinstate the Nigerien President.

The Nigerian military high command, it was gathered, had directed the service chiefs to compile and submit war requirements such as the number of personnel, equipment, logistics and financial costs to the Chief of Defence Staff.

One of our correspondents gathered on Friday that this was the preliminary stage in the planning process of amassing human and material resources required for the planned military intervention in Niger.

A leaked memo indicated that about two battalions would be required to prosecute the war against the junta in Niger Republic.

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