Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reignited the conversation on corruption in Nigeria, calling for stringent measures against politicians involved in financial misconduct.  Speaking virtually at the memorial lecture of the late Reverend Father Denis Joseph Slattery in Lagos on Thursday, the 87-year-old elder statesman demanded that corrupt public officials be prosecuted, stating that “thieves cannot provide just governance.” Delivering a speech titled The Imperative for Moral Rectitude in Governance, Obasanjo emphasized that accountability is the most essential quality expected of those in governance at any level.  He argued that those with compromised integrity cannot make decisions that serve the public…

Ahead of the highly anticipated Edo State governorship election set for Saturday, Governor Godwin Obaseki has laid out strict conditions for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to accept the election outcome, stressing that the process must be “properly conducted” for the results to be deemed credible. Obaseki, whose second term as governor comes to an end in November, made this assertion during a crucial meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and top security officials in Benin City.  The meeting, held to discuss security arrangements for the election, comes amid rising tensions and concerns over the…

Federal civil servants in Abuja were caught in a frenzy as long queues formed at the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, with workers scrambling to purchase 50kg bags of rice at a subsidised price of N40,000. The intervention is part of the Bola Tinubu-led administration’s efforts to mitigate the ongoing food crisis in Nigeria. In a video that surfaced online, tensions flared as civil servants engaged in heated verbal exchanges, pushing and shoving in an attempt to secure the discounted rice.  The chaotic scenes underscored the desperation of many Nigerians amid the rising cost of living…

The Lagos State University (LASU) has emerged victorious at the inaugural edition of the PR Fest 2024 Pitch Competition, securing the coveted top spot in a hotly contested event that spotlighted the strategic prowess of Nigeria’s future public relations professionals. Held on the opening day of PR Fest 2024, the competition saw two heavyweights of Nigerian tertiary institutions—LASU and Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech)—compete head-to-head in a test of creativity and communication expertise.  The challenge? To craft and present a comprehensive public relations strategy to position Lagos State as a leading global tourist destination by leveraging its cultural assets. In…

A commercial taxi driver based in Ilorin, Kwara State, Wahab Ajibaye, has voiced his frustration over the soaring fuel prices that have left him barely able to provide for his family.  Ajibaye, who claims to make N20,000 daily from his taxi business, revealed that the bulk of his earnings goes into fueling his vehicle, leaving him with just N3,000 to take home. In an emotional outcry, Ajibaye stated that despite owning his vehicle, the increasing cost of fuel has made it impossible for him to meet his family’s basic needs.  “I am buying fuel for N1,100, and I make N20,000…

Daud Olatunji  The Presidential Committee on Livestock Sector Reforms Implementation has proposed a pathway for the coexistence of both open grazing and ranching in Nigeria. Th committee declared  that a gradual transition is key to addressing the ongoing farmer-herder clashes. The committee, chaired by former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, presented its inception report to President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday. Speaking to journalists after the submission, Jega revealed that the report, which spans 152 pages, provides a comprehensive strategy for the Nigerian government to judiciously harness the livestock industry, aiming to…

Daud Olatunji  In a move aimed at further enhancing its mission of fostering strong community relations and promoting human rights, the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) National Headquarters has announced the appointment of two distinguished figures to key positions within the organization. The appointments, approved by the National Chairman of the PCRC, Alhaji Mogaji Ibrahim Olaniyan, were officially made public through a statement issued on Thursday, September 19, 2024, by Amb. Comrade Kunle Sodipo, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the National Chairman. The statement conveyed the appointment of Comrade Folarin  Olayinka, the Executive Director of the Human…

Enoch Oyedibu  An Ogun State-born Professor of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Beatrice Opeolu, who is also the Director of Bee Solutions and Consultant Services, on Thursday, distributed educational materials to  781 public primary school students in Imasayi, Yewa North  Local Government Area of the State. The materials included a dedicated school bag, six exercise books, and a water bottle for each student at Ansarudeen Primary School and Christ Church Primary School. The professor, who is based in South Africa, said the philanthropic exercise was her way of fulfilling her pledge to God and herself, as well as giving back to…

Enoch Oyedibu In the past six years, Ondo and Ogun States in Southwest Nigeria have collectively spent  over ₦10.733 billion on their respective government houses, according to audited financial reports and approved budgetary allocations from each state.  Despite facing economic challenges and high levels of debt, both states have continued to allocate significant funds to maintain their government houses, raising questions about the necessity of such expenditures. Ondo State has emerged as the larger spender, having allocated a staggering ₦8.7 billion from 2019 to 2024 for its Government House. Ogun State, on the other hand, allocated over ₦2.033 billion…

Daud Olatunji  A prominent sociocultural group, Igbo General Assembly (IGA) in Europe, has made a passionate appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.  The group argues that freeing Kanu would lead to an end to the persistent agitations and insecurity plaguing the Southeast region of Nigeria. The call was made during the 14th Igbo General Assembly, held in Sevilla, Spain, on Saturday.  Addressing the media at the sidelines of the event, the President-General of IGA, Chief Kingsley Ozo Ndibe, condemned the previous administration under…