Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared the newly inaugurated Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI) as more than a training centre—calling it a continental movement to reclaim Africa’s future through principled and people-focused leadership. Speaking at the formal inauguration of the Institute’s Governing Board at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, on Tuesday, Obasanjo said the Institute represents a personal and continental turning point. “OOLI is not just an institution; it is a movement,” he said. “A movement to reclaim the African leadership narrative and invest in a new generation of prepared, ethical, and visionary leaders.” The Institute, which has…

The Federal Government needs at least ₦880 billion every year to maintain Nigeria’s road infrastructure, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, told lawmakers on Monday. Goronyo made the disclosure while appearing before the House of Representatives committee probing the alleged non-remittance of the five percent user charge on petrol and diesel, which is statutorily meant for federal road maintenance under the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Act. He stressed that the road network plays a critical role in Nigeria’s commerce and unity, saying, “Our roads are the lifelines of commerce and social integration. Their maintenance is not merely…

The House of Representatives has slammed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for the chaotic conduct of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), describing the process as an embarrassment to Nigeria’s education system and demanding the resignation of the agency’s head. The lawmakers grilled Amos Dangut, WAEC’s Head of National Office, on Monday following reports that students in some centres wrote their English Language paper late at night—under the illumination of torchlights and phone flashlights—due to hours-long delays caused by alleged question leakages. “The exams held under those conditions were not credible. They fell short of our standard,” Dangut…

Former Governor of Abia State and Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, has revealed that he gave former President Olusegun Obasanjo $1 million in 1998 and personally financed the running of Abia State during his tenure as governor. Speaking during a television interview on Monday, Kalu claimed he also contributed over N500 million to the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but was left unrewarded by the political system he helped build. “I gave President Olusegun Obasanjo over $1 million in 1998 when the dollar was just $84 to the naira. I also gave the PDP over N500 million…

In a dramatic turn of events, a middle-aged man, Idris Adamu, on Monday voluntarily surrendered himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over his alleged involvement in a ₦9 million job scam. The suspect, who reportedly arrived alone at the EFCC’s Gombe Zonal Command around 1pm, requested an audience with the Acting Zonal Director, DCE Sa’ad Hanafi Sa’ad, to confess to his alleged crimes. According to a statement by EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, issued in Abuja, Adamu admitted to defrauding several unsuspecting job-seekers by falsely promising them employment in federal government agencies. “I came to repent of my sins…

Zamfara State was once again thrown into mourning on Sunday as a Nigerian military airstrike reportedly misfired and killed no fewer than 20 members of a local vigilante group in Garin Mani, a community in Maru Local Government Area. The tragic incident, which occurred amid heightened insecurity in the state, happened shortly after suspected bandits launched a deadly raid on the village, killing several residents and abducting over 50 farmers working on their fields. Eyewitnesses recounted how the gunmen stormed the village around midday on motorcycles, shooting sporadically and causing chaos. In response, local vigilantes mobilised to pursue the attackers.…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State made him cry following a deep sense of betrayal. Wike, a former two-term governor of Rivers, made the revelation on Monday during his monthly press briefing in Abuja. He said he was overwhelmed with emotion after watching past videos of Fubara praising him, only to later turn against him. “When I go back in my quiet moments, I play the videos of the governor’s speeches—what he said, what he did to me—I weep,” Wike said. “Was it necessary? This was somebody who…

The Delta State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old woman, Joy Temitope, for allegedly stealing a two-month-old baby boy from a young mother in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area of the state. Spokesperson for the command, SP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the incident on Monday, said the suspect deceived the 20-year-old mother, drugged her, and absconded with the infant. According to Edafe, the incident occurred three months ago, but the suspect was recently apprehended following a sustained intelligence-driven investigation by police operatives. “The suspect, Mrs Joy Temitope, aged 49 years, lured and deceived a 20-year-old girl who had a…

Balqees Adeniji  In a bold move to bolster grassroots economic empowerment, the Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, has disbursed N100,000 each to 250 market traders drawn from across Egbaland, with an emphasis on financial inclusion and long-term business sustainability. Speaking to journalists in Abeokuta after the event, Senator Salisu described the initiative as part of his ongoing constituency empowerment programme, which he said has already benefited students, youths, and traditional institutions in Ogun Central. “This is not just about handing out money,” Salisu stated. “We have deliberately designed this intervention to move our market…

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that he will spearhead the re-election campaign of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, promising to deliver both the FCT and Rivers State for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Wike, a prominent member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made this declaration on Monday during a live media chat in Abuja. He dismissed ongoing speculations surrounding his political loyalty and role in the coming polls, insisting that his support for President Tinubu is unambiguous. “I have told you before — is it because I am…