News
US Congress Certifies Trump Win Four Years After Capitol Riot
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Donald Trump capped a historic political comeback on Monday as Congress certified his election victory, in a remarkable turn from four years ago, when a mob he had summoned to Washington ransacked the US Capitol.
The president-elect spent much of his campaign facing prosecution over the 2021 insurrection, when his supporters — fueled by his false claims of voter fraud — rioted to halt the certification of his defeat to Joe Biden
But Trump, 78, was voted back into office in November and Monday’s ceremony went much more smoothly, even with a major winter storm blanketing the capital and much of the country in snow.
“Donald J Trump of the state of Florida, has received 312 votes. Kamala D Harris of the state of California has received 226 votes,” Harris herself declared to assembled lawmakers after the counting was complete.
Harris — who oversaw the certification as part of her vice-presidential duties — said the official count “shall be deemed a sufficient declaration” for Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance to take their oaths of office on January 20.
The ceremony marked the final blow to efforts to have the Republican leader face justice over the riot, the culmination of a multi-pronged alleged criminal conspiracy that prosecutors said Trump led — before they dropped all charges upon his election.
Trump has vowed to pardon an unspecified number of the rioters — around 900 of whom have admitted federal charges from trespassing and vandalism to assaulting police — describing them as “hostages.”
In a Washington Post op-ed, Biden slammed Trump’s allies for downplaying the violence of 2021 and urged Americans to be “proud that our democracy withstood this assault.”
“We cannot accept a repeat of what occurred four years ago,” he said. “An unrelenting effort has been underway to rewrite — even erase — the history of that day.”
Indiana conservative Mike Pence had Harris’s job — certifying his own defeat alongside Trump — in 2021 when, in a desperate bid to cling to power, the then-president demanded that he reject Biden’s victory.
Lawmakers in both parties have occasionally used the certification process to challenge elections, but more than half of House Republicans rejected the results in 2021.
– ‘Emotional trauma’
No Democratic leaders followed the Republican example this time around and there were no objections to certifying Trump’s victory — a process that took barely half an hour.
The former reality TV star was impeached for inciting the 2021 insurrection after delivering a raucous speech outside the White House early in the day, demanding that supporters march on the Capitol and “fight like hell.”
Thousands attacked the citadel of American democracy — battering police with metal bars and flag poles, smashing windows, sending lawmakers running in fear and chanting “Hang Mike Pence!”
Four people died — two from heart attacks, one from a potential overdose, and a rioter fatally shot by police as she tried to force her way into the House chamber. Four police officers committed suicide subsequently.
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has vowed to investigate the House committee that probed the riot and found that Trump had instigated it after the failure of a host of other schemes to overturn an election he knew he had lost.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement the Justice Department had over the last four years charged more than 1,500 people suspected of involvement in the “unprecedented attack on a cornerstone of our system of government.”
The certification — which launches a two-week countdown towards Trump’s January 20 inauguration — was designated for the first time as a national security special event, with 500 National Guard personnel on standby.
But the federal government and Washington public schools were closed Monday with up to a foot (30 centimeters) of snow expected.
“Four years ago today, our nation watched in horror as a terrorist mob stormed the Capitol grounds and desecrated our temple of Democracy in a violent attempt to subvert the peaceful transfer of power,” Democrat Nancy Pelosi, who was House speaker at the time of the rebellion, said in a statement.
“The January 6th insurrection shook our Republic to its core — and left behind physical scars and emotional trauma on members of our congressional community and our country that endure to this day.”
AFP
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Senator Manu Haruna of Taraba Central Senatorial District has completed a motorised borehole project in Budowa of Garbachede, Bali Local Government Area, as part of his commitment to provide clean and accessible water to communities across the district on Wednesday.
This is coming barely one week after Senator Manu flagged off massive distribution of hospital equipment throughout his district and over 2,000 bags of fertilisers to over 14 farmers associaions.
This project aims to alleviate water scarcity and improve the well-being of residents by ensuring they have a reliable source of potable water.
Senator Manu’s vision for widespread access to clean water reflects his dedication to improving the standard of living for his constituents. By facilitating similar borehole projects across Taraba Central, he is addressing one of the fundamental needs of rural communities.
His efforts continue to demonstrate his responsiveness to the needs of the people, ensuring sustainable development and improved public health.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
NAHCON said it has successfully paid for 26,287 pilgrims’ spaces with an additional 26,000 spaces reserved to be fully secured by 13 February.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has secured pilgrim space in the Masha’air camps in Saudi Arabia for the 52,000 Nigerians projected to participate in the 2025 Hajj.
NAHCON spokesperson, Fatima Usara, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Masha’ir are the three sacred camps where pilgrims observe crucial Hajj rites. They are Muna, Arafat and Muzdalifah and hold significant importance in the Hajj pilgrimage.
Mr Usman, a professor, led the NAHCON delegation to Saudi Arabia for the finalisation of payment and contract signing in order meet the 14 February deadline.
According to Mrs Usara, the commission has made significant progress in securing accommodations for Nigerian pilgrims.
“As of Wednesday, NAHCON has successfully paid for 26,287 pilgrims’ spaces in Mashair, with an additional 26,000 spaces reserved to be fully secured by 13 February.
“The 26,287 fully secured spaces cover the pilgrims’ deposits so far received. 52,000 intending pilgrims are projected to participate in the 2025 Hajj.
“This proactive move to reserve space in Mashair, led by NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, ensures compliance with the 14th February deadline laid by Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MOHU) for finalising contract agreements by Hajj participating countries before the closure of the Nusuk Masar contracts’ portal,” the statement said.
Read full statement
NAHCON Secures Mashair Space for 52,000 Intending Pilgrims Ahead of Deadline
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has successfully paid for 26,287 pilgrims’ spaces in Mashair and reserved another 26,000 to be fully secured by the end of business tomorrow 13th February 2025 pending awaited remittances. The 26,287 fully secured spaces cover the pilgrims’ deposits so far received. 52,000 intending pilgrims are projected to participate in the 2025 Hajj.
This proactive move to reserve space in Mashair, led by NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, ensures compliance with the 14th February deadline laid by Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MOHU) for finalizing contract agreements by Hajj participating countries before the closure of the Nusuk Masar contracts’ portal.
As part of this effort, Professor Usman had signed an agreement on Friday, 17th January 2025, at NAHCON’s Ummul Judd office in Makkah. The signing followed wide consultations with key stakeholders, particularly the Forum of State Chairmen, board members and representative of the presidency who were part of the delegation. It would be recalled that Professor Usman acknowledged the collaborative role of Malam Idris Almakura, Alhaji Faruku Yaro Aliyu, Malam Abubakar Salihu from the States Forum and Malam Ameen Amshi, representative of the Presidency in the screening and selection process.
Hence, after the successful engagement of the service provider early in the year, and to prevent any last-minute setbacks, the NAHCON Chairman Professor Usman sought and received approval from Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima to travel to Makkah and finalize this critical contract—an essential requirement for uploading visas scheduled to commence on the 19th of February.
Professor Usman expressed profound appreciation to the Vice President for his support, confidence, and non-interference in the Commission’s operations, which have enabled swift and decisive action in preparing the grounds for a smooth Hajj process for 2025 Nigerian pilgrims. According to the NAHCON Chairman, the Vice President’s quick response to request to travel to Saudi Arabia to resolve any bottlenecks has paid off well with the reservation now put to rest.
Professor Usman urged intending pilgrims to follow NAHCON news outlets for updates and to remain calm as all efforts have been put in place to ensure that they experience a convenient and hitch-free Hajj this year.
News
Senate hails FG for approving N4.2trn for construction of Calabar coastal way, other projects across Nigeria
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Senate on Thursday hailed the Federal Government for approving N4.2trillio for the construction of Calabar coastal road and other major road projects across Nigeria.
The motion, moved by Senator Mohammed Danjuma (Gombe Central), acknowledged the significance of this investment in addressing Nigeria’s deplorable road infrastructure, enhancing economic growth, and improving national security.
However, the Senate expressed concerns over the limited allocation of projects to the North-East region.
According to reports from ThisDay (February 4, 2025) and Daily Trust (February 5, 2025), the approved projects include the Lagos-Calabar Highway, Third Mainland Bridge rehabilitation, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Auchi-Edo Section, Benin Airport Area Section, roads in Anambra, Abia, and Enugu States, Lokoja-Benin Road, and Musasa-Jos Route.
The North-East was allocated only two projects: Yola-Fufore-Gurin Road (₦11.81 billion, Adamawa State) and Karim Lamido Road (₦7.68 billion, Taraba State).
Senator Danjuma noted with concern that the North-East region was excluded from the Renewed Hope Super Highway Project, stressing that several critical roads, including the Bauchi-Gombe Road, Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri Road, and Yola-Mubi Road, remain in dire need of rehabilitation.
Following deliberations, the Senate commended the Federal Government for its commitment to road infrastructure, called for urgent rehabilitation of all deplorable roads nationwide, and urged the inclusion of the North-East region in the Renewed Hope Super Highway Project to ensure balanced economic growth.
The motion was adopted by the Senate, reinforcing the need for fair infrastructural development across all regions of Nigeria
Photos: Senator Manu facilitates overhead borehole to Bali LGA
Hajj 2025: NAHCON secures Mashair for 52,000 Pilgrims
Senate hails FG for approving N4.2trn for construction of Calabar coastal way, other projects across Nigeria
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