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President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled a new Boeing 747-8 jet for Air Force One that the Qatari government donated last year as an “unconditional” gift to the US.

The US military first carried out modifications to the luxury jumbo jet, which is valued at an estimated $400m (£300m).

“This plane was transformed into a flying White House at a level of luxury that nobody’s ever seen before. The jet will lead a flyover “the likes of which we’ve never seen before,” Trump said in a speech at Joint Base Andrews on Friday.

The US Air Force said in a press release that the jet will begin initial commissioning flights – a “final exam” to test out the aircraft’s modifications – before it will be used to transport the president.

Modifications to the jet included upgrades in security, mission communications, logistics support, and advanced technology, the Air Force said. Any potential threats from the previously owned aircraft have been “neutralised”, it added.

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By Gloria Ikibah

The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has challenged the recent statement issued by the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, accusing the Minority Leader of exceeding his mandate and misrepresenting the position of the entire House on the country’s worsening security and economic situation.

In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, by Spokesperson of the caucus, Rep. Afam Ogene, the opposition lawmakers maintained that Parliament has a constitutional responsibility to scrutinise the Executive and should never be seen as defending government actions at the expense of the Nigerian people.

The caucus argued that the House Spokesman’s response to its concerns on insecurity and hardship failed to reflect the collective position of lawmakers and undermined the legislature’s oversight role.

“The Minority Caucus reminds the House Spokesman that it is the constitutional duty of Parliament to hold the Executive to account, emphasizing that the current President, while in opposition, rightly declared that ‘the buck stops at the President’s table.’ That constitutional position has not changed. Thus, the legislature must never look away when the country bleeds”, the statement read.

The lawmakers further accused the Executive of failing to fulfil several commitments made to Nigerians through Parliament, alleging that instead of demanding accountability, the House Spokesman had chosen to shield the government from criticism.

Restating its independence, the Minority Caucus declared that it would continue to speak on issues affecting citizens regardless of political pressure.

The caucus also faulted the use of the phrase “House Notes” in the spokesman’s statement, describing it as procedurally improper and misleading.

“The opposition lawmakers emphasized that the Executive has repeatedly failed to honour commitments made to the Nigerian people through the Parliament. But rather than demand accountability, the House Spokesman has chosen to defend the indefensible.

“The Caucus declares, unequivocally, that Parliament is not, and will never be, a lapdog of the Executive. We will keep speaking for Nigerians, even if the Majority Caucus elects to capitulate at the altar of blind partisanship, shredding the sacred doctrine of checks and balances, upon which democracy either bleeds or thrives.

“The deployment of the phrase – ‘House Notes’- in his statement is improper, misleading, and constitutes a flagrant breach of the collective privileges of Members. For the record, the last sitting of the House was on Monday, 15th June, 2026. The Minority Caucus addressed the media on Wednesday, 17th June, 2026. No subsequent sitting, meeting, or resolution of the House was convened to authorize a collective position on the matter”, the lawmakers added.

The caucus maintained that while the spokesman was entitled to represent the Speaker, House leadership or the Majority Caucus, he lacked the authority to speak on behalf of the entire legislature or attribute views to the Minority Caucus.

“While the House Spokesman is at liberty to speak for the Speaker, the House Leadership, or the Majority Caucus, he possesses no mandate to purport to speak for the entire House or to misappropriate the views of the Minority Caucus. Such conduct is a clear violation of established parliamentary procedure and an affront to the rights and privileges of Members of the 10th House of Representatives”, it further read.

The caucus insisted that its comments on insecurity were part of the National Assembly’s constitutional oversight function and argued that defending the Executive was outside the remit of the House spokesman.

According to the lawmakers, such actions only reinforce public perceptions that the 10th House is too closely aligned with the Executive.

“The matters raised by the Minority Caucus fall within the constitutional oversight functions of the National Assembly over the Executive. With numerous spokespersons in the Presidency, it is not the duty of the House Spokesman to embark on an unsolicited defense of the Executive.

“This conduct reinforces public perception of the 10th House as an appendage of the Executive. Sections 14(2)(b) and 88 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) mandate Parliament to ensure the security and welfare of the people and to expose corruption, inefficiency, and waste. The Minority Caucus will not abdicate this sacred duty”, the lawmakers noted.

The caucus disclosed that an emergency virtual meeting held on Friday resolved to demand a public apology from the House Committee Chairman on Media and Public Affairs over what it described as misrepresentation and contempt.

“To demand a public apology from the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, for misrepresenting the position of the House and for contempt of the Minority Caucus. Failure to render such apology within 72 hours will compel the Caucus to petition the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for appropriate redress”, it demanded.

It also announced plans to raise concerns over the implementation of the national budget when the House resumes plenary, claiming that poor funding of defence institutions is worsening insecurity.

“To formally raise, upon resumption of plenary, the issue of persistent non-implementation of the National Budget since 2024. The Caucus notes with alarm that defense and security-related Ministries, Departments, and Agencies have recorded less than 30% budget implementation. There is a direct correlation between the non-payment of local contractors, breakdowns of operational logistics, and escalating insecurity across the country. The Armed Forces can not sustainably prosecute campaigns against heavily-armed insurgents under such fiscal constraints”, the caucus asserted.

The Minority Caucus reaffirmed its commitment to speaking on behalf of Nigerians and defending the constitutional role of Parliament.

“The Minority Caucus will keep speaking out for Nigerians, as the Constitution demands. That is not partisanship; it is parliamentary duty. The legislature is the soul of democracy because of its sacred responsibility to the people. If the Majority Caucus chooses to forget this, the Minority Caucus will not continue to abdicate this sacred responsibility”, it stated.

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The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the August 15, 2026 election in Osun State, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, has boasted that he remains the candidate endorsed by President Bola Tinubu for the forthcoming poll.

Oyebamiji made the assertion on Friday during the inauguration of polling unit canvassers in the Ila Federal Constituency.

The APC flagbearer dismissed claims that President Tinubu had thrown his support behind Governor Ademola Adeleke, describing such reports as false and misleading.

According to him, reports linking the President with the endorsement of the incumbent governor were part of a propaganda campaign designed to confuse voters ahead of the governorship election.

Oyebamiji maintained that he remains the candidate backed by President Tinubu for the August 15 governorship contest and urged residents of the state to disregard contrary claims.

He alleged that those circulating the reports were deliberately attempting to misinform the electorate and create a false impression about the President’s position on the election.

The APC candidate also outlined his vision for governance, promising to uphold the principles of fairness, justice, transparency and accountability if elected governor.

He added that his administration would ensure equitable distribution of resources across all parts of Osun State.