By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Labour Party presidential flagbearer in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has said that he did not exhibit any sign of desperation to make the leadership of the party believe he craves a ‘free ticket’ or ‘special treatment’ ahead of the 2027 election.

Obi, who spoke through his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, was reacting to a recent interview where the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, denied that the party was planning to field Obi, Abia State Governor Alex Otti and some 2023 candidates in the next poll.

The rebuttal comes a few days after the factional National Publicity Secretary of the party, Abayomi Arabambi, announced that the LP would field the former Anambra State governor to stop President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

When contacted to clarify if LP is truly planning to field Obi in 2027, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, debunked it.

While indicating that the narrative was flawed, Ifoh told our reporter that the report couldn’t have emanated from the Julius Abure camp.

However, when asked how Obi was taking the ‘no automatic ticket’ threat by Abure, Umar said his principal did not bother himself with such trivialities.

He said, “Our principal, Peter Obi, remains steadfast in his commitment to democracy and the well-being of all Nigerians. He has consistently championed the importance of good democracy, and healthy competition, recognizing that these elements are essential for a thriving democratic setting.

“It is crucial to note that Peter Obi has never sought a free ticket or special treatment. Instead, he has always emphasised the need for a level playing field, where individuals can compete fairly and freely. We urge our supporters and the general public to stay focused on the issues that truly matter, rather than being swayed by misinformed narratives.

“Peter Obi’s dedication to promoting good governance, economic growth, and social justice remains unwavering. Let’s work together to build a brighter future for Nigeria, one that is guided by the principles of democracy, fairness, and equality.

“Our principal’s actions and decisions will continue to be driven by these values, ensuring that Nigeria remains on a path towards prosperity and greatness.”

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has been accused of oiling his political alignment with the House of Representatives member, representing Ideato North Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere with N4.8 billion monthly.

The One Nigeria Movement (ONM), which made this allegation in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, said it could not longer keep silent in the face of gross and bare-faced use of money meant for the development of Rivers State to feed a single individual.

According to a statement by its Convener
General, Ahmed Sodiq-Mugoro and Secretary, Babatunde Aliyu, ONM, said, people of Rivers State must begin to hold the governor accountable and stop the looting being perpetrated, using the political crisis in the State as a cover.

The group alleged that each of the 23 Council Chairmen in the State are made to contribute N100 million monthly as “Political Development Fund” while N2.5 billion comes from Governor Fubara, making N4.8 billion.

This N4.8 billion is said to be meant for the Action Peoples Party (APP), under which the present Local Councils Chairmen and councilors contested the controversial Local Government elections.

Monthly, House of Representatives member, Ugochinyere, collects this sum of N4.8 billion on behalf of his party, APP.

It has therefore become important that the people of Rivers State begin to ask Ugochinyere what investment he made in the State that he is reaping N4.8 billion profit monthly.

… As NDLEA intercepts UK-bound drug shipments concealed in walls of crated cartons

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Attempt by a 24-year-old Thai lady, Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat, to smuggle 43 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 46.60 kilograms into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos has been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who arrested her after discovering the illicit consignment in her boxes.
The suspect who confessed to being a hired drug trafficker was arrested on Thursday 20th February 2025 during the inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways flight from Thailand via Doha, Qatar at the arrival hall, terminal 2 of the Lagos airport. She said the drug cartel, which recruited her promised to pay her $3,000 upon successful delivery of the illicit drug consignment in Nigeria.
Another bid by a drug trafficking syndicate to ship 68 parcels of Ghanaian Loud with a total weight of 42.2kg concealed in walls of crated cartons to London, UK, through the export shed of the Lagos airport was also frustrated by NDLEA officers on Friday 21st February. Three suspects: a freight agent and two dispatch riders were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the mastermind of the shipment, Samuel Bitris, was swiftly traced to his Exodus Estate, Ajah, Lagos home where he was arrested.
At the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers state, NDLEA officers on Thursday 20th February intercepted 49 cartons containing 49,000 pills of tamol, a brand of tramadol 225mg in a 40ft container during a joint examination of the shipment with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.
In Nasarawa state, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 22nd February arrested two suspects: Bello Adamu, 40, and Pius Azuka, 42 at Kokona/Keffi with 517kg of skunk, while two other suspects: Usman Ruwa, 43, and Yunusa Haruna, 45, were nabbed in a Toyota Corolla car conveying 62.7 kilograms of skunk along Sabon Asibiti road Kontagora, Niger state on Thursday 20th February.
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week. These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Maku Grammar School, Tapa, Oyo state; Comprehensive Secondary School, Orogwe, Imo state; Jama’atu Islamiyya Secondary School, Ankpa, Kogi state; and Owerri-Aba Primary School, Ugwunagba, Imo state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, PHPC, Niger, and Nasarwa Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.