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Utomi Recounts Harrowing Lagos–Asaba Trip, Accuses Police Of Rampant Extortion.

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A former presidential aspirant, Pat Utomi, has strongly criticised the Nigerian Police Force after recounting a distressing 15-hour journey from Lagos to Asaba, blaming poor road infrastructure and rampant extortion by security operatives.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to Nivo News, Utomi narrated his experience in a post shared on social media, explaining that a trip which should ordinarily last a few hours was prolonged due to deplorable road conditions and repeated police checkpoints demanding money from commuters.

He disclosed that the vehicle departed Lagos at 5am and only arrived in Asaba shortly after 8pm, despite having no mechanical issues. Utomi noted that the journey to Benin City was completed by 10:30am, a drive he recalled used to take about three hours in the past, but lamented that it took an additional six hours to cross Benin alone.

Utomi described the conduct of some police officers along the route as crude and unjustifiable, citing instances where motorists were questioned simply for driving vehicles with Lagos registration numbers in Edo State. He said many commuters were forced to part with money just to proceed, only to be further delayed by impassable roads and protests by communities over electricity supply.

He expressed concern that festive travel conditions had deteriorated significantly, adding that the combination of extortion, bad roads and social unrest made movement unnecessarily torturous for citizens.

Meanwhile, Utomi has also dismissed fears that Nigeria is drifting toward a one-party system amid increasing defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress. Speaking during an interview, he maintained that the country’s political landscape would remain competitive and pluralistic.

The economist argued that it was unrealistic for all political parties to collapse into the ruling party, stressing that the APC would still face strong opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections. He reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s multi-party democracy, declaring his readiness to stand alone if necessary to ensure its survival.

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Security Scare As Tinubu’s Convoy Is Stoned In Abuja.

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Some angry residents of Abuja on Friday pelted the convoy of President Bola Tinubu with stones during his visit to the nation’s capital.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The incident occurred as the President arrived at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Area One, Garki, Abuja, to observe the Jumat prayers.

Videos of the incident circulating on social media showed some residents chanting “Ba mayi,” a Hausa expression that translates to “We don’t want” in English.

Security operatives attached to the President’s convoy made efforts to prevent the situation from escalating as the vehicles moved away from the area.

The incident comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a related development, Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has disclosed that opposition leaders are holding active discussions on forming an alliance to challenge President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

Makinde said he was willing to work with any opposition candidate whose participation in an alliance would provide the strongest opportunity to defeat the ruling party.

The governor expressed confidence that there was still sufficient time for opposition leaders to reach an agreement, adding that discussions were ongoing to achieve their common objective.

He also confirmed that he remained open to working with either former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, if such an arrangement offered the best chance of defeating the APC.

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Nigeria Beat Tanzania In AFCON Qualifier As Arokodare Delivers Double Strike.

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Alhassan Yusuf gave Nigeria an early lead in the second minute after connecting with a pass from Ademola Lookman in the Group L encounter.

However, Tanzania drew level in the 32nd minute through Alphonce Mabula Msanga, who converted an assist from Novatus Miroshi.

Nigeria suffered a setback shortly before the break when Lookman picked up an injury and was replaced by Moses Simon in the 45th minute.

Head coach Eric Chelle made two changes at the beginning of the second half, bringing on Tolu Arokodare and Moses Usor, who both contributed significantly to the victory.

Arokodare restored Nigeria’s lead in the 52nd minute with a header from Wilfred Ndidi’s cross before extending the advantage eight minutes later.

The striker completed his brace in the 60th minute, calmly converting a pass from fellow substitute Usor to put the Super Eagles firmly in control.

Nigeria held on to their two-goal advantage until the final whistle, securing all three points.

The victory moves the Super Eagles to second place in Group L with six points from three matches, one point behind leaders Guinea-Bissau, who have seven.

Madagascar sit third with two points, while Tanzania remain at the bottom of the group with one Point.

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‘You Disrespect The Law And Presidency You Seek’ – Keyamo Takes On Peter Obi, NDC.

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The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has criticised the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and his supporters over their decision to sing Nigeria’s former national anthem at a party event.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The controversy followed the refusal of some NDC supporters, including Obi, to sing the current national anthem during the party’s town hall meeting in Lagos on Thursday.

A video that went viral on social media showed Obi, the party’s Lagos governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, and other attendees singing the former anthem, Arise, O Compatriots, which was replaced by Nigeria We Hail Thee.

Reacting to the incident during an interview on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Keyamo described the action as disrespectful to the law and the office of the president, which the NDC is seeking to occupy.

The minister said Nigerians would ultimately decide whether the conduct reflected the responsibility and maturity expected of individuals aspiring to political leadership.

He argued that although some people might applaud the action as an act of political defiance, it could cost the party the support of moderate and intellectually inclined voters.

Keyamo said, “Like they say of APC, they say it’s only mad men that will vote for APC. So let me return the campaign slogan, it’s only irresponsible people that will vote for that type of party called NDC that defy national symbols, it’s only irresponsible that will vote for them.

“For me, it is left for the Nigerian people to decide whether these human beings you have now seen disregarding national symbols, disrespecting the law and disrespecting the office of the president that they so crave whether they are responsible enough to aspire to that office.

“They have lost the cerebral and the in-betweens. They have lost them by that action. Maybe those who are downright irresponsible, they will hail them and they will vote for them. But we’ll see on election day how many Nigerians are irresponsible.”

However, when asked whether singing the former national anthem amounted to a violation of the law, Keyamo said he was unaware of any specific penalty attached to the action.

He explained that although the current national anthem was adopted through legislation, the absence of a prescribed punishment meant that singing the former anthem did not automatically constitute a punishable offence.

He added, “There’s no penalty that is prescribed by law. No penalty. The law just says this is our new national anthem and then you should think we should all abide by it. It becomes a crime when there’s a penalty attached to it.”

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