Author: Platform Times Newspaper

By Biyi Oduyale  We thank God for the relative peace in the country in spite of the hues and cries. Nigeria as a nation has seen it all and weathered through a lot of storm in it’s almost 64years of sovereignty. Is it the post independence political crisis in the Western Region which surreptitiously prepared the fertile ground for the first military coup that also gradually snowballed into the Nigerian civil war? The pogrom in the North which was a direct precursor of the civil war? The civil war itself and the June 12 1993 ill fated election and…

President Bola Tinubu has acknowledged the unstable nature of Nigeria’s economy, highlighting the urgent need for long-overdue reforms.  In a live broadcast on Wednesday, commemorating the nation’s 25th anniversary of uninterrupted democracy, President Tinubu addressed the economic challenges and his administration’s efforts to stabilize the economy. “Our economy has been in desperate need of reform for decades,” Tinubu stated.  “It has been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundation of over-reliance on revenues from the exploitation of oil.” Tinubu emphasized that the reforms initiated by his administration aim to lay a stronger foundation for future economic growth.  He…

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday addressed Nigerians on Democracy Day for the second time since he assumed office on May 29, 2024. In his speech, the President honoured heroes of democracy, rallied Nigerians to support his administration’s efforts to strengthen the economy and informed citizens that a bill for a new minimum wage will be sent to the National Assembly soon, among other things. Read his full speech below: TEXT OF PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU’S NATIONAL BROADCAST ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNBROKEN DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA,DEMOCRACY DAY, 12TH JUNE, 2024 ABUJA My fellow Nigerians, let me begin…

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has issued a stern warning to traditional rulers in the state, urging them to refrain from allocating land for illegal mining activities and unauthorized selling of government land.  This admonition was delivered during the inauguration of the Olu of Ilaro and head of traditional rulers in Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, as Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers in the state on Tuesday. Speaking at the ceremony held in Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun emphasized the critical role traditional rulers play in promoting peace and unity within their domains.  He particularly stressed the importance of safeguarding…

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has facilitated the release of 110 inmates from the Kaduna Correctional Centre to  mark  June 12 Democracy Day. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  move aims to decongest the prisons and offer a second chance to deserving inmates. Governor Sani, accompanied by renowned human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, emphasized that the release of inmates is part of broader efforts to address prison overcrowding. He stated that of the 110 released inmates, 22 were pardoned under the prerogative of mercy powers granted by Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution of the…

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has addressed and refuted allegations made by a whistleblowing group regarding the detention of a high-ranking Army general, emphasizing the legality of his incarceration. The controversy stems from claims by the George Uboh Whistleblowers Network, a civil society organisation, which wrote to the Controller-General of the NCoS, Haliru Nababa, on June 10, 2024.  The group demanded the release of Maj. Gen. Umaru Mohammed, a former Group Managing Director and Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Army Properties Limited, from Kuje Prison, alleging that he was detained without a valid warrant. In response, the NCoS clarified…

In a landmark move to safeguard citizens’ data, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has imposed fines totaling N400 million on four major banks and three other institutions for data breach violations.  The announcement was made by the National Commissioner of the NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, during an interactive session with journalists to commemorate the first anniversary of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission Act’s signing by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja. The Act, signed on June 12, 2023, was introduced to advance privacy rights and other fundamental freedoms in both cyberspace and analogue transactions.  It grants Nigerians the right to seek…

The Department of State Services (DSS), has issued a stern warning to citizens regarding planned protests set to take place on Wednesday, (today)  coinciding with Democracy Day celebrations.  This caution comes amidst growing tensions and widespread dissatisfaction with the current state of the nation’s economy and governance. The government had previously declared June 12 as a public holiday to mark Democracy Day, a significant occasion commemorating the return to civilian rule in Nigeria.  However, this year’s celebrations are overshadowed by the planned protests, which the DSS claims are designed with “sinister objectives.” In a press statement issued by Peter Afunanya,…

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged President Bola Tinubu to foster a democracy where all citizens can freely express themselves without facing friction.  Jonathan’s appeal came during a one-day symposium commemorating twenty-five years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria.  The event, held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja, gathered prominent political figures and dignitaries. In his address, Jonathan emphasised the importance of building an inclusive democracy that transcends regional and religious politics.  “Together, let us build a Nigeria where every citizen has a voice, where opportunities abound, where the promise of a better tomorrow is not just…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of betraying the democratic principles and legacy of the late Chief MKO Abiola, subjecting Nigerians to a life of uncertainty and poverty.  This critique comes ahead of this year’s Democracy Day, observed on June 12th, which commemorates the struggle for democracy in Nigeria. In a statement released on Tuesday, the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, urged Nigerians to use the occasion to speak out against the harsh policies and anti-democratic tendencies of the APC government.  Ologunagba’s statement lamented the current state of the nation under…