Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Fawaz Adebisi  The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has expressed his shock and grief over the death of his commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), Ibrahim Garba, who died in his sleep on Saturday in Maiduguri. The governor’s spokesman, Isa Gusau, confirmed the sad news in a statement he shared on the ‘Governor of Borno’s Facebook page. According to Gusau, the state commissioner of police was at the house where Ibrahim died in his guest house, and has commenced an urgent investigation into the cause of death. In his words, the governor received the news with intense shock and…

Daud Olatunji In a concerning turn of events, the Federal government’s revenue generation for the 2023 fiscal year has fallen short by a staggering N1.255 trillion in the first seven months of the year.  The 2024-2026 Medium Term Economic Framework (MTEF) prepared by the government paints a challenging financial landscape, with a significant disparity between budgeted figures and actual revenue collection. The government had initially projected a total revenue of N11.045 trillion for 2023, yet the actual collection stood at a mere N5.187 trillion, a substantial shortfall of N1.255 trillion.  This discrepancy is bound to raise questions about the country’s…

Daud Olatunji Renowned Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has vehemently expressed his belief that the Nobel Prize in Literature awarded to American singer Bob Dylan in 2016 was a grave mistake.  Soyinka’s unwavering stance on this issue was revealed during a recent interview with Turkish journalist Aysegul Sert in Paris, the excerpts of which were published in an article titled “Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka on a Lifetime of Art and Activism” on October 19, 2023, by Literary Hub. In 2016, the Nobel Committee honored Bob Dylan with the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature “for having created new poetic expressions within…

Daud Olatunji In a remarkable turn of events, President Bola Tinubu has displayed magnanimity by waiving the ‘No Work, No Pay’ order that had been instituted against the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).  The doctors had embarked on a 17-day industrial strike starting July 26 due to unmet demands, prompting the government to impose the contentious order on August 1. Following extensive negotiations between NARD leadership and government representatives, the resident doctors decided to call off their strike on August 12.  A breakthrough came on Friday when presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale announced that President Tinubu had invoked the Principle…

Daud Olatunji In a high-stakes operation, the Nigerian Navy Ship Beecroft patrol team successfully intercepted and apprehended 11 stowaways on board the Gwangzhou Highway Panama ship, which was en route to Ghana.  The daring act unfolded on Tuesday around 7 p.m. as these individuals were discovered in concealed areas of the vessel’s stern gate. The Western Regional Control Centre (WRCC) was promptly alerted, compelling the vessel to anchor within Lagos anchorage.  The operation was under the command of Commodore Kolawole Oguntuga of the Beecroft. Initially, four stowaways were taken into custody from the stern, but their information led to a…

Daud Olatunji The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is gearing up for the governorship elections scheduled for November 11, 2023, in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states.  INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu announced on Friday that the commission would deploy an impressive contingent of 46,084 staff to ensure the smooth conduct of these critical elections. In a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), Yakubu revealed that INEC had also accredited 11,000 observers from national and international organizations, showcasing a strong commitment to transparency and accountability in the electoral process. With non-sensitive materials already delivered to the three states, INEC aims to learn…

Israel Adeleke The Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has called on the federal government to allow Nigerians to purchase and possess sophisticated weapons like AK-47 and RPGs for their protection against bandits. The governor made this statement on Friday, October 20, during a media chat in Abuja, where he also stated that governors should not be held responsible for the security challenges in their states. He argued that if bandits can illegally acquire such weapons in the market, law-abiding citizens should also be legally permitted to do so. “We are moving towards that and seeking reforms within the federal…

Daud Olatunji  A dramatic and contentious incident unfolded at Lafenwa Market in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as a trader, Adetoun Oyenekan, raised her voice against the actions of the Female Head of the Market, Alhaja Sidi Owe, known as the Iyaloja.  The dispute escalated to the point where the Iyaloja, in collaboration with the Babaloja, not only confiscated Oyenekan’s goods but also dismantled her stall.  Oyenekan, who specializes in selling baby toys and stationery, claimed that her inventory, valued at over N1 million, was taken away by the market leaders. The conflict between Oyenekan and the Iyaloja began when, according…

Aminat Gusanu A 45-year-old man, Kehinde Olanipekun, has fled his home after brutally attacking his wife, Damilola, with a machete and a hammer.  The wife had accused him of having an illicit affair with his 14-year-old step-daughter. The incident occurred at Idashen community in Owo local government area of Ogun State. According to sources, the step-daughter had confided in her mother, who was away on a trip, that her step-father had been sexually harassing her for a long time. She said she was afraid to tell her mother earlier because she did not know how she would react. The mother,…

Israel Adeleke A gospel singer, Samuel Oguche, who goes by the stage name Onoja, has shocked his audience by making a dramatic entrance in a coffin. Oguche who shared photos of his unusual performance on his Facebook page on Friday said the event was titled, ‘Funeral Service – Death Of Self.’ The photos shared shows Onoja lying inside a coffin, which was carried by some men to the stage. He then emerged from the coffin and began to sing. According to him, the programme was meant to convey the message of dying to self and living for Christ. He wrote,…