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We Will Keep Legislating in Line with Citizens’ Priorities – Speaker Abbas

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By Gloria Ikibah

The Speaker House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has reaffirmed that the 10th House remains dedicated to ensuring that its legislative agenda reflects the evolving priorities of Nigerians.

According to the Speaker, engaging directly with citizens remains central to this commitment, as it offers valuable insights for developing policies that effectively respond to pressing public concerns.

Speaker Abbas stated this on Friday in Zaria during a Citizens’ Roundtable convened with the House leadership for stakeholders across the Northern region. The event received support from the Ford Foundation in collaboration with Global Rights.

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Delivering the Speaker’s remarks, the Leader of the Northern Caucus, Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who also chairs the House Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) noted that the House has broadened its citizens’ engagement efforts to cover all geopolitical zones in the country.

He said, “We acknowledge that the voices of the citizenry are of paramount significance, serving as the solemn foundation upon which impactful legislations, transformative policies, and consequential decisions are made and enacted.  
 
“Our steadfast commitment to a flourishing democracy is deeply entrenched in the principle of active and meaningful civic engagement because we are convinced that a forum such as this, characterized by unfettered dialogue, the intellectual exchange of ideas, and incisive constructive critique, is vital in equipping the leadership of our nation to adeptly handle the complexities of governance, steering the state towards sustained progress and collective prosperity”.
 
Speaker Abbas stressed that having studied and identified the challenges of previous assemblies in actualizing people-focused agenda through adequate feedback mechanism, the 10th House decided to hear from the people directly.
 
“The roundtable, therefore, embodies our resolute dedication to cultivating a robust and symbiotic relationship between the House and the citizenry. It is proof that our determination to ensure that governance remains inclusive, reflective, and attuned to the aspirations of those whose mandate we are privileged to uphold.”
 
“This roundtable is evidence that our dedication to fostering a dynamic and symbiotic relationship between the 10th House and the people is yielding results.  Today’s event shows our resolve to engage directly with the citizenry, listening attentively to their concerns, suggestions, and aspirations,” the Speaker said.
 
He said the initiative, which began in December 2024, was borne out of the need for a shift in the legislative paradigm of speaking for the people to speaking with the people, with a view to cultivating their collective perspectives on issues of public importance.
 
“As reiterated during the maiden ‘State of the House’ on December 20, 2024, and the last roundtable in Abuja two weeks ago, we are not only elected to speak for the people but must also speak with them and amplify their voices. This gathering, therefore, validates our pledge to nurture collaboration, inviting participants to share incisive perspectives, propose viable solutions, and enrich our legislative agenda with their invaluable contributions. It is also an opportunity for us to share with them about what we have done as their representatives, both within and outside the chamber.   
 
Speaker Abbas thanked the people of Zaria Federal Constituency for trusting him with their mandate, saying that it is only proper to reciprocate their support by facilitating direct interactions where he can render accounts of his stewardship to them.
 
“As holders of people’s mandate and trust, I cherish opportunities to engage with my dear people and account for my stewardship. I sincerely want to appreciate the good people of Zaria Federal Constituency for trusting me with their mandate and sending me on errands for the past fourteen years as their representative at the Green Chamber. I am the Speaker of the 10th House today because of the Mercy of the Almighty Allah and the confidence that my dear people reposed in me.
 
“This forum now offers me an opportunity to say thank you to my constituents and also brief them on what I have been able to do for them in the past twenty-four months, some of which will be commissioned during my meeting with them tomorrow. I hereby invite you to join me to celebrate with my constituents tomorrow,” he said.
 
The event had in attendance representatives of Ministers, traditional rulers, the 19 Northern states, the Interfaith Council, civil society organizations, the academia, Farmer groups, market traders, students bodies, persons with disabilities as well as the Media, who expressed diverse opinions on the achievements of the 10th Assembly and the way forward on areas requiring actions and improvements.
 
Speaking at the event, the Programmes Manager of Global Rights, Mr. Edosa Eviarhe, said, “strong democracies are built on representative governance where the people have a say in how they are governed.”
 
He noted the expansion of the citizens’ engagement to include geopolitical zones was a noble idea that would make Nigerians to have the opportunity to be heard.
 
He urged the participants to bring out issues that they feel are critical to the growth and development of their communities to further enrich the focus of the legislative agenda of the House as the new legislative year commences.
 
There were goodwill messages from the representatives of the ministers of defence, power, and state for education, as well as the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kaduna State chapter.
 
The Ford Foundation, through the Global Rights, had on June 11 supported the House to organize the citizens’ roundtable in Abuja with a promise to do the same for the Northern and Southern regions. The one for the southern zone is in the works.
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Just in: Dangote Refinery slashes petrol, diesel prices

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has announced fresh reductions in the prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly referred to as diesel.

Information made available to an online medium on Saturday by a source familiar with the development showed that the refinery has lowered the gantry price of petrol by N25 per litre, bringing it down from N1,275 to N1,250 per litre.

The source also disclosed that the price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) has been reduced by N100 per litre.

The product will now sell at N1,700 per litre at the gantry, down from the previous N1,800 per litre.

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The latest price reduction comes about three weeks after reports emerged that Dangote Refinery had increased the ex-gantry price of petrol.

At the time, a credible inside source disclosed that petrol continued to sell at N1,275 per litre at the refinery, hours after reports claimed that the company had raised its petrol price by N75 amid fluctuations in global crude oil prices.

Source: gistcore

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KWARA 2027: A FOOD FOR THOUGHT AND A POINT OF DECISION

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My dear people of Kwara State,
Today, I speak not merely as the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), but as a concerned son of Kwara State who believes that our future can and must be better than our present. This is not an acceptance speech; it is a food for thought and a point of decision for every Kwaran who desires genuine progress, security, and prosperity.
I begin by expressing my profound gratitude to the leadership of our great party, the ADC, and to our members and supporters across the sixteen local government areas for the confidence they have reposed in me. I am humbled by this trust and fully aware of the enormous responsibility it carries.
But beyond politics lies a fundamental question: What kind of Kwara do we want to leave behind for our children and generations yet unborn?
Kwara State is uniquely blessed. By geography and history, we are the gateway between Northern and Southern Nigeria. This strategic location places us at the crossroads of commerce, agriculture, transportation, and investment. Yet, despite these natural advantages, our state has not fully harnessed its immense economic potential.
Under purposeful leadership, Kwara can become the logistics and commercial hub connecting the North and South. We can attract industries, agro-processing facilities, warehousing hubs, transport terminals, and investments that create jobs and wealth for our people. Our fertile lands can support large-scale agriculture and agro-industrial development, while our strategic location can position Kwara as one of Nigeria’s leading destinations for business and investment.
However, no economy can thrive where insecurity persists. Investors do not invest where there is fear. Farmers cannot cultivate their lands where they feel unsafe. Communities cannot prosper when criminal elements threaten lives and property.
Security, therefore, is not merely a government responsibility; it is the foundation upon which development rests.
As a scholar and practitioner in Defence and Security Studies, I possess a deep understanding of contemporary security challenges and the strategies required to address them. My academic background, combined with practical experience in public service, has equipped me with the knowledge necessary to formulate effective security policies for our state.
If entrusted with the mandate to serve, my administration will work closely with conventional security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders, vigilante groups, hunters’ associations, and other community-based security outfits to establish a comprehensive security architecture that protects every corner of Kwara State.
We shall strengthen intelligence gathering at the grassroots, improve coordination among security stakeholders, support lawful community policing initiatives, deploy technology where necessary, and ensure rapid response mechanisms to emerging threats. Our goal will be clear: to restore Kwara’s reputation as one of the safest and most peaceful states in Nigeria.
Kwara was once widely known for its tranquillity, harmony, and peaceful coexistence. We must not allow criminality, banditry, kidnapping, or external threats to define our future. Together with our security agencies and local communities, we shall reclaim every space threatened by insecurity and restore confidence among our people.
The ADC remains distinct because it is built on the principles of accountability, transparency, inclusion, and people-oriented governance. We believe leadership should be measured by results and service, not by propaganda and political patronage.
My candidacy represents competence, experience, independence, and a genuine commitment to the welfare of our people. I come without the burden of political Baggage, My commitment is to the people of Kwara State and to the vision of building a state where every citizen has an opportunity to succeed.
The election before us is therefore not merely a political contest. It is a defining choice between complacency and progress, between managing challenges and solving them, between unrealized potential and shared prosperity.
I firmly believe that Kwara can become a model state in Nigeria a state where security guarantees prosperity, where agriculture drives economic growth, where industries create employment, where education empowers our youth, and where government remains accountable to the people.
This vision is achievable, but it requires courage, unity, and a collective decision to embrace a new direction.
I therefore call on all Kwarans regardless of ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, or social status to reflect deeply on the future of our state. Let us rise above division and focus on competence, character, and capacity.
Let us choose leadership that understands our challenges and possesses the vision to transform them into opportunities.
Let us choose a future where Kwara’s strategic location becomes a source of wealth, where our communities are secure, where our youths are gainfully employed, and where prosperity is shared by all.
The time has come to move Kwara from potential to performance, from uncertainty to confidence, from insecurity to peace, and from promises to prosperity.
The choice is ours.
The future is ours.
The moment is now.

Hon. Zakari Mohammed
ADC Governorship Candidate, Kwara State.

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Rema finally reveals why he ended his relationship with girlfriend

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Nigerian singer Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has revealed why he ended his affairs with his ex-girlfriend, claiming that she was “quite manipulative”.

In an interview with YouTuber Korty EO, Rema said the relationship was “beautiful” but not always peaceful.

The singer lamented that sometimes when he returns home hoping to rest from the pressure of the outside world, his then girlfriend often greeted him with chaos.

He said he eventually walked away when he could no longer tolerate her excesses.

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“My romantic relationship was beautiful but a little quite manipulative. So much pressure. Knowing the world puts so much pressure on me but coming back home is where you want to feel relieved but when you come back home and you are getting more pressure, it’s a different story. For now, I’m done,” he said.

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