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TINUBU: I will Unify Nigeria and priorities Institutional reforms and development programs
President-elect Bola Tinubu has promised to hit the ground running and unify the country upon his assumption of office on May 29, pledging to ensure positive relations with the United States.
The incoming Nigerian leader gave the assurances during a telephone conversation Tuesday night with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Tinubu said that among his immediate priorities would be to deliver institutional reforms and development programs to deepen democratic institutions and bring help to poor Nigerians.
He expressed determination to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and faithfully serve the people as their president, according to a statement by spokesperson Tunde Rahman.
During the talks that lasted about 20 minutes, Tinubu spoke about his eventful sojourn in America in the 70s, where he graduated with honours as an accountant in 1979.
He also recalled how he was granted asylum by the US when, due to his determined struggle for democracy in Nigeria, he was forced into exile by the late General Sani Abacha’s military junta.
While affirming his democratic bonafide, Tinubu expressed his absolute belief that the result of the elections, which he clearly won, reflected the will of the Nigerian people.
The former Lagos governor said he would work to unite the country and ensure that Nigerians are happy and enjoy the benefits of democracy and progressive good governance.
He said without national unity, security, economic development and good governance, Nigeria would not become a better place to live or play her proper role in the comity of African nations.
Tinubu urged the US to factor in Nigeria’s important place in Africa and provide assistance in the areas of security and economic investment in order for the nation to lead the way and be a shining example to the rest of the continent.
In his remarks, Secretary Blinken assured that Nigeria should expect a good and mutually-beneficial relationship with the US.
He promised to play his part in bringing a sustained and cordial relationship between the two nations to fruition, saying a democratic and peaceful Nigeria is important to the United States as it is to Africa.[tps_header][/tps_header]
OLUTAYO AMOO- LAGOS.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Prime Minister Xi Jinping.
The meeting is part of the China-Africa Collaboration Summit expected to attract more foreign direct investment to Nigeria.
Among those attending the meeting are prominent officials of the Chinese government’s economic team, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum led by its Chairman, Governor Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara State, and Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani.
Others in attendance are members of the economic team of President Tinubu’s administration and other cabinet members.
The Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, had last week informed journalists at the State House, Abuja, that one of the reasons for the official visit would be the interaction between both leaders on behalf of their countries.
He had stated, “Mr. President will also meet with his Chinese counterpart in the person of President Xi Jinping, where several MOUs will be signed.
“The MOUs will involve agreements in deepening cooperation, in green economy, in agriculture, in satellite technology development, in media enterprise development and promotion, as well as blue economic development and national planning cooperation.
“This is going to be part of a broader engagement where the two heads of state will discuss matters of mutual interest across, not just the economy, but also on issues of national, regional and international security.”
The meeting also comes amidst recent reports of seizure by a Chinese company of some aircrafts belonging to the Nigerian government.
All the Chiefs of Defence Staff of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are meeting at the Defence Headquarters Abuja, except Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
The meeting is chaired by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who is the chairman of the ECOWAS committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff.
Present at the meeting are the Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, Chairman Senate Committee on Defence Ahmed Lawan, Chairman House Committee of Defence, representative of the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa and service chiefs, and the Chief of Defence Staff of ECOWAS countries.
OLUTAYO AMOO
The organizer of ongoing protest against hunger and others in Osun State have suspended demonstration over the upcoming 2024 Osun Osogbo festival.
The decision was reached after presenting protest letter to Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, which was received by his deputy, Kola Adewusi at state secretariat.
Adewusi assured the protesters that the governor would deliver the letter to President Bola Tinubu and also do everything possible to continue delivering dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
The protesters under the aegis of coalition for concerned Nigeria Citizens, Osun state through Comrade Adetunji Ajala during a news briefing at NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Osogbo declared that the demonstration is suspended indefinitely because of the upcoming 2024 Osun Osogbo Festival which grand finale slated for Friday.
Ajala said: “We, the coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens, the organizing body of the EndBadGovernance protest in Osun state, wish to address the public and the media regarding the ongoing protest, which began on the 1st of August 2024 and marks its 6th day today.
The protesters under the aegis of coalition for concerned Nigeria Citizens, Osun state through Comrade Adetunji Ajala during a news briefing at NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Osogbo declared that the demonstration is suspended indefinitely because of the upcoming 2024 Osun Osogbo Festival which grand finale slated for Friday.
Ajala said: “We, the coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens, the organizing body of the EndBadGovernance protest in Osun state, wish to address the public and the media regarding the ongoing protest, which began on the 1st of August 2024 and marks its 6th day today.
“Since the inception of this peaceful protest, we have made our demands clear, seeking immediate action from our leaders to address the pressing issues affecting the citizens of our beloved state and country.
“We acknowledge the recent address by the President of Nigeria; however, we express our profound disappointment as the President speech failed to address any of our specific demands. Despite this setback, today we successfully presented our demands to the Governor of Osun State through the deputy governor and secretary to the state government who told us that the governor will forward our demands to the federal executive Council.
“Furthermore, we reviewed the security situation vis-a- vis the Osun Osogbo festival presently ongoing at Osogbo. It is worthy of note to establish that protest is incidentally taking place in Osogbo which is of concern.
“Considering the safety of the influx of tourists coming for the global Osun osogbo festival and the possibility of hoodlums disguising as tourist and unleashing attacks on peaceful protesters amidst other security concerns, we consider it imperative to put the protest on hold today 6th August, 2024.”