Politics
House of Reps Refute Media Report on WhatsApp Group, Reaffirm Unity of Purpose Under Speaker Abba
By Hassan Taiye
The House of Representatives has denied a media report suggesting that discussions within WhatsApp groups of lawmakers represent official positions of the House or any of its caucuses, describing the reports as misleading and lacking in parliamentary context.
The position of lawmakers in the Green Cjamber was contained in a strongly worded press statement signed by the House Spokesman, Hon. Akin Rotimi, and made available to journalists in Abuja
According to the statement: “contrary to insinuations of an impending “showdown,” the House remains united under the able leadership of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
According to the statement: ” the 360 members drawn from every part of Nigeria, across diverse political, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, even as it also stressed that the House reflects the full heterogeneity of the nation.
Hon Rotimi in the statement further disclosed that Speaker Abbas deserves commendation for managing the 10th Assembly in a way that accommodates all views and opinion while forging consensus across national issues.
The statement also informed that Members in the green chamber are always free to express personal opinions in both formal and informal settings emphasising that individual expressions, when reported in isolation without balancing perspectives, cannot be taken as resolutions or official caucus positions in the peoples House.
He, however maintained that the House uneder Speaker Abbas strictly operate in line with established parliamentary procedures, noting that caucus leaders, committees, or individual Members may table issues formally for consideration by the leadership, and where necessary, for debate and resolution by the entire chamber.
The statement read in parts: “Informal conversations are normal in a vibrant democracy but cannot represent official positions,”.
The statement further adressed the issues raised in the controversial news media report noting that some of them conflated genuine concerns with sensationalism.
The House in the statement also responded to the allaged delayed in payment of contractors adding that the matter raised is a national challenge and not peculiar to lawmakers’ constituency projects.
He also revealed that the House Leadership, through the Appropriations Committees, has been in constant engagement with the Minister of Finance, with payments already underway to clear all outstanding obligations.
He further disclosed that lawmakers face immense pressure from constituents who expect nominated projects to be delivered promptly.
The statement also acknowledged the expectations raised in the report even as its also appealed for understanding, stressing that fiscal realities sometimes affect timelines.
The Lawmakers also emphasized that constituency projects remain vital in extending government presence nationwide maintaining that such is line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
On allegations surrounding recruitment into the National Assembly bureaucracy,Hon Rotimi who is also the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs also clarified that the exercise was the sole responsibility of the National Assembly Service Commission, NASC, maintaining that such is an independent statutory body.
Again, Rotimi further disclosed that the Speaker Abbas has already directed the House Committee on Public Service Matters to investigate the whole process and ensure fairness, equity for the purpose of ensuring strict adherence to Federal Character principles.
Meanwhile, the House Spokesman also used the opportunity to dismiss the rumour that the development was being unfairly concentrated in a particular region, describing such claims as false, divisive, and unhelpful.
He, however reiterated that lawmakers are always guided by principles of equity, justice, and fairness in handling disagreements within the chamber even as it’s also use legislative mechanism to resolve conflicting issues rather than speculative media reports.
Consequently, lawmakers in the House maintained that while the report was largely misleading, it underscored the passion of Members in advocating for issues that directly impact their constituents while reassuring Nigerians that the 10th Assembly and peoples House remains focused on its constitutional mandate of lawmaking, oversight as well as proper representation as it prepares to resume plenary this September with renewed commitment to addressing Nigerians challenges.
Politics
Tinubu Assures Investors Nigeria Is Open for Business, Welcomes Coca-Cola’s $1bn Plan
By Francis Wilfred
President Bola Tinubu has assured local and international investors that Nigeria remains open for business, saying his administration is implementing reforms aimed at creating a more predictable, competitive and investment-friendly environment.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) in Abuja on Monday, the President said the government is addressing key challenges facing businesses under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our message to investors, both Nigerian and international, is clear: Nigeria is open for business,” Tinubu said,
He noted that reliable infrastructure, efficient logistics, access to foreign exchange, stable regulations and a supportive tax system are critical to attracting investment and expanding production.
According to Yomi Odunuga, the President said ongoing economic reforms are designed to build a more productive and competitive economy, reduce dependence on imports, strengthen local manufacturing and create jobs for Nigerians.
Tinubu welcomed the Coca-Cola System’s proposed $1 billion investment in Nigeria over five years, announced in 2024, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in the country’s economy.
He said the administration is focused not only on the volume of investment attracted but also on its impact on employment, skills development, technology transfer and local sourcing.
“We are interested not only in the amount of capital that comes into Nigeria, but in what that capital does here,” he said.
The President also praised NBC’s continued expansion of production capacity, including new production lines in Oyo and Kano states, describing such investments as vital to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving policies, infrastructure and regulations to support businesses, while urging the private sector to complement government efforts through investment, innovation and job creation.
Tinubu further highlighted the importance of human capital development, commending NBC’s Supply Chain Academy for training over 1,400 young Nigerians and supporting women’s empowerment and community development initiatives.
He urged investors to take advantage of opportunities across Nigeria, expressing confidence that the country can build a stronger economy driven by local production, exports and globally competitive industries.
Politics
Kano Governorship: Accord Party Governorship Candidate Gashash Getting More Endorsement From Kano Electorates.
By Jabiru Hassan.
The movement for Democratic Protection and good governance (MDSG) declared it's full support to the Accord Party Governorship Candidate Ambassador Dr. Mukhtar Gashash in the forthcoming general elections.
In a chat with our correspondent in kano, the national president of the movement, Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali, stated that it is time for the people of kano state to bring new steward who is seriously planning to transform the state with highest regard.
He expressed his confidence that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash will do his best to ensure that kano state becomes more examplary at both sector without bias which is the task previous administrators failed to achieve.
Alhaji Dauda Mohammed Ali reiterated that " this time around, our movement is working day and night to make sure that Kano people mostly youths remained Committed to actualize real change in the state's politics, leadership and transformation under the Accord Party government".
He called on the people of kano state especially the eligible voters to vote Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash due to his Transformation plans for the progress of kano state and it's citizens at both Urban and rural settlements.
Responding to a question about Accord party's strength in kano state, Dauda Mohammed Ali disclosed that in today's democracy, competent candidates should be tipped for an elective positions not the popularity of the political parties stressing that Ambassador Dr Mukhtar Gashash has been found to be the best option for kano state due to his track record on competency, transparency as a real democrat.
Politics
Caught in the middle: Ortom’s silent dance between two camps.
There are growing questions about where Mr. Samuel Ortom, a former Governor of Benue State and a prominent figure in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), truly stands politically ahead of 2027.
Ortom was a key figure in the divisions within the PDP before the 2023 general elections and was widely associated with support for Mr. Peter Obi, who finished third in that contest. More recently, however, he has publicly expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The latest discussion began after a visit by Mr. Peter Obi to Benue State. Reports indicate that a vehicle said to belong to Ortom was used to receive Obi at the Air Force Base airport in Makurdi. It is not clear who authorized the use of the vehicle, and Ortom has not commented publicly on the matter.
During the same visit, Obi was reportedly prevented from travelling to Yelewata, where he had intended to condole with families affected by violence. Obi’s team attributed the blockage to supporters of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The Governor’s spokesman, Sir Tersoo Kula, denied any involvement by the Governor. He suggested the incident may have been staged to damage the Governor’s reputation, or that it could have resulted from disagreements within Obi’s own support base.
Ortom has not issued a statement clarifying his position on the 2027 elections or on the vehicle in question. Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
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