Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has clarified that Nigerian traditional rulers are not opposed to the upcoming nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.  Speaking on TV programme  on Tuesday, Ogunwusi emphasized that the right to protest against issues such as hunger, misgovernance, and economic hardship is a fundamental right of all Nigerians.  He noted that even President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged this right. “We traditional rulers have never said that people shouldn’t go to the streets to demonstrate; it is their right,” Ogunwusi stated.  He added that he, alongside the Sultan as co-chair of the National Traditional Rulers Council, recently met…

Over 100 hoodlums  have assaulted a bus loaded with palliatives intended for journalists, resulting in three injuries.  The incident occurred as the vehicle, belonging to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Cross River State Council, was en route to the NUJ Secretariat in Calabar. The palliatives, meant for journalists as part of a distribution phase, were collected from a government warehouse on Barracks Road.  This distribution was facilitated by the Director of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), Rev. James Anam. Upon receiving the information, journalists swiftly moved to transport the food items. The attack happened  when the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has summoned Malam Jalal Arabi, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), to its headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.  This summons comes as part of an ongoing investigation into the disbursement of N90 billion allocated for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage. Arabi is expected to meet with EFCC officials at 10 AM today to provide a detailed account of how the substantial sum was utilized.  The EFCC is probing into the distribution of thousands of dollars intended for Nigerian pilgrims and is particularly concerned about claims of financial mismanagement and alleged mistreatment…

The Nasarawa State Police command has apprehended three individuals suspected of stealing 96 bags of 50-kilogram rice from a businessman in the Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area.  PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the incident occurred during the transportation of the goods from Nasarawa State to Abia State. The Commissioner of Police, Umar Nadada, disclosed the arrest during a briefing at the command’s headquarters, where he paraded a total of 31 suspects arrested for various crimes.  Nadada narrated that the suspects were part of a larger group of approximately 15 armed men who intercepted the rice-laden truck after it developed a mechanical…

The Borno State Government has said that no fewer than  6,900 suspected  Boko Haram fighters would be made  to face transitional justice. This announcement was made by the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo, during a recent event in Maiduguri. The event, a best practice dissemination and learning programme organised by the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, highlighted the state’s ongoing efforts to manage the aftermath of the Boko Haram insurgency.  According to Gambo, since the mass surrender initiative began in 2021, approximately 200,000 Boko Haram terrorists and their families have laid down their arms…

Daud Olatunji Today, we extend our warmest birthday wishes to Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, a distinguished public servant who has left an indelible mark on Ogun State’s communication landscape.  Recognized by many as arguably the best Commissioner for Information the state has ever had, Olaniyonu’s tenure is remembered for its remarkable impact and dedication to transparency and public engagement. Olaniyonu’s commitment to effective communication and information dissemination set a high standard in public service.  His ability to bridge the gap between the government and the people, ensuring that citizens were well-informed about state policies and initiatives, earned him widespread acclaim. His…

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, has embarked on  a peaceful protest against the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ayodeji Agboola.  According to Abiodun Adedeji Lamina, Chairman of SSANU at OOU, the protest is in response to the Vice-Chancellor’s unilateral actions, which the union claims are illegal and detrimental to the university community. In a statement, Lamina accused Professor Agboola of attempting to change the university’s laws without proper consultation or approval.  “This is not the first time; this is not the second time. We have written several letters to him, urging him…

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has expressed heartfelt condolences to the family, government, and people of Imo State following the passing of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. The announcement, made through a press statement from the Sultan’s Media Team on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.. Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who also served as the Chairman of Champion Newspapers, was hailed by the Sultan as a long-time friend and influential figure in both the sports and media sectors. The statement read  that their   acquaintance dates back to the days of the Sultan’s military…

Magistrate Abimbola Morakinyo of the Magistrate Court 6 in Isabo,Abeokuta, Ogun State,  has refused the application of the police to remand suspected land grabber, Kehinde Lateef Kudaisi, at the Ibara Correctional Centre in Abeokuta. The State Special Task Force Committee on Anti-Land Grabbing had on Wednesday 24th July 2024 arrested Kehinde Lateef Kudaisi over allegation of land grabbing at Oloparun village close to Rounder, through police officers at the Sabo-Ilupeju police station in Abeokuta, the State capital. The police thereafter presented Kehinde Kudaisi before Magistrate Abimbola Morakinyo on Monday 29th July 2024 with an application requesting the order of…

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has criticised a planned #EndBadGovernance protest targeting President Bola Tinubu’s administration, declaring  that the rally’s organisers have ulterior motives.  Fayose expressed these concerns during a television interview on Monday, where he argued that the protest, set for August, had a political undertone. Fayose pointed out that during the eight-year tenure of Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, there was no similar protest specifically addressing hunger, despite widespread economic challenges.  Buhari, a former military head of state from Katsina State in North-West Nigeria, served as Nigeria’s democratically elected President from May 2015 until May 2023, when he…