Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), has issued a stern warning to Northern political and community leaders, urging them to reclaim the region’s fading values of humility, unity and selfless service as insecurity and socio-economic decline continue to destabilise Northern Nigeria. Speaking through former military administrator, Col. Lawal Gwadabe (rtd.), at the 2nd Hassan Katsina Memorial Conference in Kaduna, Babangida said the North was facing “mounting, complex threats” that require urgent, collective action. He said the ideals of the late General Hassan Katsina should serve as a moral compass to guide the region’s rebirth. “The legacy of General…

The immediate past Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado, has accused powerful interests of orchestrating his arrest in a bid to frustrate an ongoing multibillion-naira corruption case involving former Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and members of his family. Rimin-Gado, who spoke after regaining freedom on Saturday, said he was detained for over 24 hours by a heavily armed squad of police operatives who claimed to be acting on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police. He insisted that his arrest was not only unlawful but a clear attempt to intimidate…

An atmosphere of fear and uncertainty has gripped Sokoto metropolis following the transfer and detention of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto Central Correctional Centre, with residents describing him as an “unusual prisoner” attracting unprecedented security attention. Kanu, who is serving a life sentence after a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him, was relocated to Sokoto under the authorisation of Justice James Omotosho, who granted the DSS powers to hold him in any facility across the country — a decision some legal experts have criticised. His arrival has since altered the daily rhythm of Yar Marina, the city’s…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied filing any fresh legal action against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing reports suggesting he “just filed” a N200bn suit as false and misleading. Akpabio, in a statement on Saturday by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, said the defamation suit being referenced was instituted over three months ago, contrary to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s public claims. “The claim that the matter was ‘just filed’ is false, misleading, and intended to distort public understanding of the case,” Udom said. According to him, the case only appeared to have resurfaced recently because normal judicial processes and administrative delays slowed…

Senator Ali Ndume on Saturday faulted President Bola Tinubu’s newly released ambassadorial list, insisting that the composition violates the Federal Character principle and risks inflaming ethnic tensions across the country. Ndume, who represents Borno South, urged the President to withdraw the list immediately and send a fresh set of nominees that reflects “the spirit and letters of the Constitution.” The Presidency had earlier forwarded the names of career and non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening. But the former Senate Leader, in a strongly-worded statement, warned that the list “is in clear breach of Section 14(3) of the 1999…

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has praised the pace of work on the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway after joining the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, on an inspection of ongoing construction across Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. Showunmi, who issued a detailed statement on the visit, said the delegation—which included senators, members of the House of Representatives, presidential aides and political leaders—witnessed “unprecedented activity” on the project, describing the site as “a synchronised environment where men and machines worked with purpose.” One of the most dramatic moments of…

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has dismissed reports linking him to terrorism financing, describing the allegation as “entirely fabricated” and aimed at destroying his reputation. Emefiele, in a strongly worded statement on Sunday, said the claim was a deliberate act of mischief orchestrated by unnamed individuals bent on misleading the public. He said, “Categorically and unequivocally, I say that this claim is entirely fabricated, baseless, and a deliberate attempt to malign my name, mislead the public, and sow confusion for motives best known only to the publishers and their sponsors.” According to him,…

Nigerian gospel singer, Shola Allyson, has revealed that she is married but no longer lives with her husband, describing her marital journey as far from the “happily ever after” many people expect. Allyson, 54, spoke during an interview on Oyinmomo TV, where she reflected on her love life and the realities behind her long-held image as a singer whose hit album Eji Owuro celebrated love and companionship. In the candid interview, the singer disclosed that she and her husband now live separately after years of trying to sustain the union. “I’m married, but I’m not in my husband’s house. We…

Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has resigned from the opposition party, ending decades of political engagement with the PDP. Ologbondiyan announced his exit in a statement posted on on Saturday, attaching a letter dated December 5, 2025, which he addressed to the Chairman of Okekoko Ward 09, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State. In the letter titled “Notification of Membership Withdrawal,” the former PDP image-maker said his decision followed a personal review of his role and participation in the party. “It is now imperative to bring your attention to the fact that…

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya (retd.), has dismissed as false, malicious and “entirely concocted” an allegation linking him to suspected terrorism financiers, vowing to take legal action against those behind the claim. The allegation, credited to retired Maj.-Gen. Danjuma Ali-Keffi and published by Sahara Reporters, alleged that the former army chief had associations with individuals involved in terror funding. But Yahaya, in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, said the publication was not only reckless but driven by vendetta. He said: “At no point in his career — before, during or…