Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed how he rejected an offer of political asylum from the United States despite warnings that he could be arrested if he returned to Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The former leader also recounted how he left the Nigerian Army to pursue farming before his return to the country led to his arrest and imprisonment under the administration of late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

Obasanjo shared the experience while discussing his encounter with Abacha in an interview featured in a video published by BBC News Pidgin on Tuesday.

The 89-year-old explained that he ventured into agriculture after leaving office as Nigeria’s military Head of State in 1979.

According to him, his farming business was progressing successfully until Abacha allegedly made plans to eliminate him.

Obasanjo said he had not intended to retire from the Army at the age of 42, but had reached the highest position possible in the military, having become a four-star general and Head of State.

He said, “When I was leaving government as military head of state, there was, I was leaving too early. I didn’t join the army to retire at the age of 42.

“Now I had to retire at the age of 42. At the age of 42, I had become a four-star general. There’s nothing else I can do in the army. I’ve become the military head of state. That’s the highest political office I could rise.

“So what can I do? I decided I would go into farming. It really was going well, and it went well until I was arrested. Abacha had decided that I must be liquidated; otherwise he would not be able to have his way.”

The former President further disclosed that he was unaware of the alleged plan against him until the American ambassador to Nigeria contacted him while he was travelling.

According to Obasanjo, the ambassador informed him that the US government had offered him political asylum because it anticipated that he would be arrested if he returned to Nigeria.

However, he said he rejected the offer because he believed he had committed no offence that warranted an arrest.

He explained that upon arriving in Nigeria, his passport was seized, and he headed to his farm, only to discover that security operatives had surrounded the premises.

Obasanjo said a plain-clothes police officer later approached him, claiming that an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) wanted him to assist with an issue.

He recalled rejecting the invitation, insisting that the AIG should personally come to his farm if he needed his assistance.

The former leader said he eventually drove himself to the police station, where the AIG informed him that he had been instructed to arrest him.

Obasanjo added that he was subsequently detained, and former US President Jimmy Carter later intervened on his behalf, leading to his placement under house arrest.

However, he said security operatives returned one night while he was playing squash at about 1 a.m. and took him away to prison.

He said, “I didn’t know that it was a decision of Abacha that some of us must not be kept free; otherwise, he would feel unsafe. I was put in a place. Then President Jimmy Carter came. He pleaded, and then they put me under house arrest.

“Then they came one day; I was playing squash at about 1 am. They came and said they were taking me away. And they took me away, and from there, I went to prison.”

Tanzania have made two changes to their squad ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying double-header against Nigeria, withdrawing Clement Mzize and Dickson Job due to injuries.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Taifa Stars have called up Azam FC winger Iddi Seleman Nado to replace the injured duo.

Mzize and Job, who both play for Young Africans, will miss the two encounters after suffering fresh injury setbacks. Their club reportedly requested that they remain in Tanzania for further medical examinations and treatment.

The Tanzania Football Federation’s Director of Media and Communications, Clifford Ndimbo, confirmed that the players had been granted permission to continue their recovery at Young Africans.

Both footballers had only recently returned to competitive action following lengthy spells on the sidelines. However, their latest injuries have ruled them out of the crucial fixtures against the Super Eagles.

Following their withdrawal, head coach Miguel Gamondi invited Nado, who joined the Tanzanian delegation that travelled to Uyo on Monday.

The 31-year-old winger has scored once in 11 appearances for the national team and will now have an opportunity to feature in the two-legged qualifying matches.

His inclusion brings Tanzania’s squad size to 22 players as they seek their first victory in the qualifying campaign.

The Taifa Stars have managed just one point from their opening two matches, recording one draw and one defeat, leaving them under pressure to improve their standing in the group.

Tanzania will take on Nigeria at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, November 13, before hosting the return fixture at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar on Tuesday, November 17.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced a ₦10 million financial incentive for every councillor who successfully delivers his political ward for President Bola Tinubu in the January presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Wike made the announcement on Monday while addressing political stakeholders, traditional rulers and other political actors in Kwali.

He explained that the initiative was part of a wider grassroots mobilisation strategy by the Rainbow Coalition to secure support for Tinubu ahead of the election.

The minister urged councillors to work with political leaders and mobilise voters in their respective wards, stressing that those who successfully deliver their wards would receive ₦10 million.

Wike said, “For the councillors, you have a task. I will hold a meeting with you again and I will now say the way I am going to mobilize you but I will give you a bet, like what is happening in the stars, it’s a competition.

“Anybody who delivers his ward, if you deliver your ward, that is what the Rainbow Coalition has decided to do as mobilization and support for Mr President.

“We have to start in the FCT. The Rainbow Coalition all over the federation, as a form of mobilization for Mr President to win this election, we are saying that any councillor that delivers his ward will come and take ₦10 million.

“We want to mobilize for Mr President. So, go to your wards, go and see your leaders. I know only you cannot do it but we are using you as instrumentality to your leaders. Go and meet your leaders and say, ‘Look, there is something that has come. We must not allow this thing to go. Let’s deliver our ward for Mr President’,” he urged.

Meanwhile, the FCT minister also addressed concerns about the welfare and remuneration of councillors in the territory.

The Chairman of the National Councillors Forum of Nigeria (FCT Chapter), Gambo Hamza, had raised concerns over their earnings, disclosing that councillors receive a monthly salary of ₦260,000.

Reacting, Wike described the amount as unacceptable and promised to engage the Permanent Secretary and relevant administrative offices to review their remuneration.

He also pledged to explore ways of addressing bureaucratic challenges affecting efforts to improve the welfare of councillors and strengthen local governance.