Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday declared that Nigeria’s political system is riddled with betrayals and dishonesty, stressing that loyalty remains a scarce commodity among politicians. Jonathan, who spoke in Benin City at the 70th birthday celebration of his former Chief of Staff and ex-Deputy Governor of Edo State, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, said his personal experience in office exposed him to the harsh realities of Nigerian politics. The former president described Ogiadomhe as one of the few allies who remained steadfast during his tenure, particularly during the 2015 elections. He said, “One of the few friends that gave up their…

…Says lawmakers mangled NDDC bill after collecting bribes … Alleges legislature wrecked budget system with self-serving projects Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has again taken a swipe at the Nigerian legislature, describing the National Assembly as the country’s “biggest corruption hub” and accusing lawmakers of deliberately sabotaging governance to enrich themselves. In his newly released book, Nigeria Past and Future: Contemplations on Nigeria’s History and Vision for Tomorrow, Obasanjo alleged that constituency projects, which lawmakers insert into the national budget, amount to “daylight unarmed robbery.” “Constituency projects by lawmakers at national or state levels are daylight unarmed robbery. All involved must…

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has declared that he possesses actionable intelligence on the hideouts of bandits terrorising the state but is handicapped because security agencies in the state take orders only from Abuja. In a viral video, the governor said he could end banditry in Zamfara within two months if he had direct control over the military, police, and other security operatives. “I swear to Almighty Allah, wherever a bandit leader is in Zamfara State, I know it. If he goes out, I know. With my phone, I can show you where they are today. But we cannot do…

A socio-political advocacy group, Egbe Ajosepo fun Itesiwaju Gbogbo Wa, has called on political leaders in Oyo State to zone the 2027 governorship seat to the Oke-Ogun region, warning that continued marginalisation could threaten peace and inclusivity in the state. The group’s national chairman, Dauda Olaifa-Alade, made the demand on Thursday during the maiden general meeting and community sensitisation programme held at the House of Chiefs, Ibadan. Olaifa-Alade lamented that in the past 42 years, the political structure of Oyo State had largely favoured one zone at the expense of others, leaving Oke-Ogun and other regions sidelined. “We must tell…

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has cautioned security agencies in the state to steer clear of political bias and remain professional in the discharge of their duties. Adeleke, who made the call on Thursday during the decoration of his Aide-De-Camp (ADC), DSP Ahmed Abdulraman, at the Government House in Osogbo, said the neutrality of law enforcement officers was critical to sustaining peace and stability in the state. The governor stressed that Osun, being the home state of President Bola Tinubu, must not be turned into a political battlefield, urging security agencies to provide a level playing field for all…

The Defence Headquarters on Thursday said troops of the Armed Forces neutralised several terrorists, arrested 85 criminal suspects and rescued 66 kidnap victims during joint operations across the country in August. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, disclosed this in Abuja while briefing journalists on the military’s operational activities. According to him, the feats were recorded across all theatres of operation, with troops recovering large caches of arms, ammunition, vehicles, motorcycles and explosives. “In the North-East, under Operation Hadin Kai, troops eliminated scores of Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters, arrested 15 suspects – including 13 collaborators, a gunrunner and…

The Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, has earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Law from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. The convocation ceremony, which held on Thursday at Friends House, London, was attended by top dignitaries, including Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, who joined the emir to celebrate what he described as “a significant milestone” in his academic journey. Sanusi’s thesis, titled “Codification of Islamic Family Law as an Instrument of Social Reform: A Case Study of the Emirate of Kano…

The Kano State Government has condemned the repeated deportation of Northerners from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, describing the action as unconstitutional and demeaning. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Disabled Persons, Hajiya Amina Sani-Abdullahi, in a statement on Thursday, said the government observed with concern that in the last four weeks, several citizens from Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, and Kaduna states had been rounded up and forcibly relocated from Abuja to Kano. She argued that the exercise violated the constitutional right of every Nigerian to live and work in any part of the country, provided they do not constitute…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that Nigerians will soon be able to register for their National Identification Number (NIN) and obtain voter cards at the same centres nationwide. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Wednesday when the management team of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) visited the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Yakubu explained that the move followed a new partnership between INEC and NIMC aimed at harmonising the collection of citizens’ biometric data. According to him, both institutions currently hold the largest databases in the country, with INEC focused on election records and NIMC…

The Defence Headquarters on Thursday ordered protesting retired soldiers to immediately vacate the premises of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja, where they had converged to demand the payment of their outstanding entitlements. The former soldiers, who voluntarily disengaged from service in 2024, had besieged the ministry earlier in the week, accusing the Federal Government of abandoning them despite their years of service to the nation. Their protest, which disrupted activities at the ministry, prompted a swift reaction from the military high command. Speaking on behalf of the Defence Headquarters, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye,…