Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Emmanuel Oludare  The race for the Abeokuta South Local Government Chairmanship seat has intensified as Hon. Omolaja Ayodele Majekodunmi, the immediate past Chairman of the local government, declared his intention to seek re-election.  His announcement comes as 20 other aspirants vie for the same position under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Majekodunmi, who served as the Chairman of Abeokuta South Local Government until July 6, 2024, made his re-election bid public during a meeting with APC ward chairmen at Ago-Egun, Abeokuta, Isabo and Igbore where he met with the leadership and members of the party in the…

The Bayelsa State Government has announced a balance of N112.2 billion as of the end of July, which is being earmarked for major infrastructure projects across the state.  This was revealed by the Technical Adviser on Treasury and Finance, Timipre Seipulo, during the Transparency Briefing for May, June, and July. Seipulo highlighted that the surplus funds are dedicated to several significant projects under the Prosperity Government, including the ongoing construction of the Nembe/Brass, Yenagoa/Oporoma, Akaba/Okodi, and Glory Drive III roads.  Other key initiatives include the development of the New Yenagoa City project, New House of Assembly Quarters, and New Commissioners…

President Bola Tinubu has removed Jalal Arabi from his position as the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), following a probe into alleged financial mismanagement during the 2024 Hajj operations.  The President’s decision was made public by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, who also announced the appointment of Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman as the new head of the commission. Professor Usman, a distinguished scholar with academic credentials from the University of Madinah and Peshawar University in Pakistan, is well-versed in Hajj operations.  His experience includes leading the Kano State Pilgrims Board, where he managed the state’s substantial…

Former Senator Elisha Abbo, who represented Adamawa North in the National Assembly, has claimed that the monthly earnings of Nigerian senators are insufficient to meet the demands of their office, despite widespread public condemnation of lawmakers’ remuneration.  Abbo, who served from 2019 to 2023, made this assertion during an interview on Arise Television, where he reflected on his time in the Senate. Abbo disclosed that during his tenure, his salary and allowances amounted to N14.4 million per month, a figure that has reportedly increased to N29 million for current senators.  He emphasized that while these figures might seem substantial on…

A high-ranking Boko Haram Deputy Commander, Awana Alhaji Mele Keremi, along with nine others, has surrendered to the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.  The Chief Military Information Officer of MNJTF, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, disclosed this in a statement to newsmen in Maiduguri on Monday.  According to Osoba, Keremi, a notorious figure within the Boko Haram ranks, was closely associated with a prominent commander of the terrorist group and was actively involved in several terrorist operations along the Monguno-Baga axis. “In a major breakthrough in the fight against terrorism in the Lake…

Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, has urged residents to champion the protection of human rights, inspired by the veteran philanthropist’s dedication. Salako-Oyedele said this on Sunday  at the 95th birthday celebration of elder statesman Otunba Lana Akintan, held at Oja-Odan in Yewa North Local Government Area of the state. The event was  marked by the inauguration of the Otunba Lana Akintan Human Rights Foundation. Speaking amidst a gathering of distinguished public figures, including members of the House of Representatives and local royalty, Salako-Oyedele praised Pa Lana Akintan for establishing a Human Rights Steering Committee aimed at improving the lives…

Today, I, Afolabi Oladapo Ogundimu, declare my intention to contest for the Chairmanship of Abẹ́òkúta South Local Government. This decision follows personal reflection and extensive consultations with our party leadership, driven by a deep commitment to transformative change. As a proud Egba man, I recognize the truism that “ká tó fi ènìyàn jẹ́ oyè, ó ní láti jẹ ẹni irè!” Our local government deserves courageous, innovative leadership that delivers responsible and inclusive governance. Our dear local government has played pivotal roles in Nigeria’s and Ogun State’s development, thanks to our fathers and forebears, including: – Hon. Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, first…

Two out of 14 villagers abducted by bandits in the Gefe community of Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, have managed to escape after their captors dozed off in their forest hideout. A community leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, confirmed the incident .  According to the source, the bandits, under the influence of alcohol and Indian hemp, fell asleep, providing the opportunity for two of the victims to untie themselves and flee. “It was around 9:12 am when a chief from a neighbouring village contacted me, informing me that two people who had escaped…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ogun State have apprehended a 70-year-old man, Fidelis Egede, along with three other individuals for allegedly cultivating cannabis on six hectares of land.  PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  suspects were arrested on Tuesday, August 13, during a raid on the illicit farm located in Alaka village. In a statement released on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, disclosed the identities of the other suspects as Samuel Sylvanus, 31, Jato Samson, 33, and Francis Blessing, 28.  The NDLEA operatives reportedly stormed the plantation following intelligence reports, leading to…

Daud Olatunji A fresh controversy has erupted involving former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and renowned political economist Pat Utomi, following accusations that Amosun violated contract terms, leading to the controversial seizure of jets from Nigeria’s presidential fleet. Pat Utomi, in a statement on Sunday, accused Amosun of actions that not only led to the seizure of three presidential jets by a French court but also allegedly caused an Ogun indigene to commit suicide.  The dispute centers on a 2007 agreement between the Ogun State government and Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment, a Chinese company, to establish a free trade zone…