News
Crowd besieged Ex-President Jonathan at birthday venue, shouts ‘good man’
Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan was on Sunday besieged by crowd of his admirers at a birthday in Abuja.
The birthday was organised by the former Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC) Osita Chidoka.
Security operatives were quick to
disperse jubilant Nigerians that held ex-president Goodluck Jonathan for some minutes, acknowledging his presence at the 50th birthday bash of the former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, in Abuja on Sunday.
Jonathan, had stepped out of the venue which hosted political heavyweight across party line by exactly 4.12pm escorted by the celebrant and some dignitaries but on entering his official car, the crowd hailing him, surrounded the convoy, preventing it from leaving for some time.
Shouting presido, presido, good man, come back, etc, they had stood their grounds until the security details intervened, dispersing them to allow the convoy leave, which almost resulted in stampede.
Speaking earlier during the reception, ex-president Jonathan had showered encomiums on the celebrant, describing him as a special person and gift to his state Anambra and the nation.
While advising the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government on how to tackle insecurity and corruption, he said that they require top quality programmes, advanced technology.
“The celebration of 50th birthday of Osita shows that he is a special person. So, it is a happy moment for all of us. Osita Chidoka is a blessing to the nation and those close to him know him very well.
“I didn’t know him until when I got involved in politics and get to Abuja as a Vice President and when I took over after I lost my President. I have seen in him as lots of talents, very talented and very strategic. And he is somebody that really go for a number of things.
“And look at how Osita has made this programme very unique. He is a gift to Anambra State, he is gift to Nigeria and we wish him well. Very unique date,” Jonathan said
On tackling insecurity, he noted: “The day you (Osita) were born was the day armed robbers were first shot in Nigeria, it speaks a lot. Very unique.
“Luckily you are not an armed robber. But gone were the days when armed robbers were being shot. Also is the crimes in the society, with the cases of armed robbery and others going on now shows clearly that bullets alone cannot stop it or other criminal activities in human beings.
“It requires top quality programmes of government, it requires technology, it requires a lot to stop armed robbery and all forms of crimes, including corruption that we talked about every day because it is difficult to stake a rule and thinks that that would solve the problems.
“As you are killing armed robbers, others are robbing the pockets in the same arena and that is the kind of society we are in today. Things are becoming more complex with the introduction of IT that is now ruling the world,” he quipped.
The ex-president further noted: “Osita has now call us to come and celebrate his 50 years on earth. He has achieved results. He became the Corps Marshal of FRSC and brought a lot of innovation, technology and ingenuity into the FRSC. He is somebody that can turn things around.”
In his vote of thanks, the celebrant had reflected on his life journey, paying special commendation to his former boss, Late Ojo Maduekwe and Arthur Eze, who he revealed did not only facilitate his appointment as the Minister of Aviation, but also played important role in his journey up the leader.
The celebrant who distributed over N6.5 million to children born across the country on Sunday and announced the N15 million donation from Arthur Eze to his church in Abuja, thanked President Jonathan, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngege, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe among others important dignitaries in attendance to celebrate him and with him.
The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has been summoned to the Nigerian Po,ice Force headquarters to face criminal investigation.
In a letter dated 4th April and signed by Commissioner of Police in Charge of Operations, Olajide Rufus Ibitoye, said he was directed by the Inspector General of Police to invite the Emir for questioning for violating Durbar ban.
A copy of the letter sighted by CAPITAL POST indicated that Sanusi led a Durbar processing to the Government House to pay homage despite the ban which the Police expressed security concerns.
The urged Emir Sanusi Lamido to appear on Tuesday,b8th April, 2025.
Sanusi reportedly led a procession in car as against the usual horses in which a 20-year old in the entourage was arrested and detained.
Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio has accused Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Elisha Abbo of being united I coordinated attacks against him lately.
He stated this following Natasha’s claims during a rally in her Kogi Central Senatorial District that he recruited the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to assassinate her outside Abuja.
At the rally on Tuesday 1st April, 2025 which was monitored by CAPITAL POST in Lokoja, Natasha accused the former Governor Yahaya Bello, having been contacted late in the night of March 12, 2025 to orchestrated ‘recall and assassination’ of her outside Abuja.
Natasha said she has intelligence reports that when she is killed in her Constituency, “it will look as if it’s her people that killed her.”
Though Bello was yet to issue a statement debunking the allgations or otherwise, Senate President on his part denied the allegation and described it as falsehood and inflammatory.
Reacting in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publici, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh on Friday, Akpabio accused former Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial, Elisha Abbo of toeing the similar part of blackmail, saying barely 24 hours later, on April 2, 2025, Elisha Abbo appeared on Arise Television to revive a previously withdrawn claim that Senator Akpabio “manipulated the judiciary” to secure his removal from the Senate.
The statement said: “Nigerians will recall that Mr. Abbo, in 2023, publicly retracted this same accusation and tendered an apology after acknowledging that his claims were founded on incorrect assumptions.
“His removal from office was the outcome of a constitutionally grounded judicial decision by the Court of Appeal, which independently determined that he was not duly elected to represent Adamawa North.
“In a further twist, Mr. Abbo also alleged that he was denied his entitlements by the Senate President. This, too, is categorically false. Entitlements such as salaries and allowances are processed strictly through administrative and legal procedures.
“The Senate President does not and cannot unilaterally approve or deny such requests. Any delays or rejections would have been based solely on due diligence and compliance with established protocols.
“The timing, tone, and striking similarity of these coordinated attacks point clearly to a politically motivated smear campaign. These individuals—backed by undisclosed interests—appear united in a desperate effort to undermine the credibility of the Senate and its leadership and intended to distract from their own personal and political shortcomings and failings.
“Senator Godswill Akpabio remains undeterred. As a statesman devoted to national unity, institutional integrity, and the rule of law, he will not be distracted by malicious falsehoods or inflammatory rhetoric.
“Regardless of the necessity for legal redress, formal letters of demand, seeking immediate public retractions, apologies, and compensation for reputational harm, are underway to be served on both Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Mr Elisha Abbo.
“We call on the Nigerian public in particular and the International Community to reject these baseless and provocative narratives. The Senate, under Senator Akpabio’s leadership, remains focused on its constitutional mandate: to promote legislative excellence, safeguard democratic values, and deliver meaningful progress for the Nigerian people”, the statement concluded.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has expressed heartfelt sympathy over the demise of Hon. Suleiman Muhammed, the Kogi East Zonal Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a condolence message to the family of the deceased and members of the APC in Kogi state, described the sudden passing of the APC Zonal chairman as a loss not only for the party in Kogi East but the entire APC family in the state.
According to the Governor “The late Hon. Suleiman Muhammed was a man of peace, humility, and one who demonstrated commitment to the service of the state and the APC as a party. He carried the aspirations of his people with dignity; his leadership was widely respected and his contributions deeply valued within and beyond the APC in Kogi East”.
“He was instrumental in strengthening party cohesion and promoting inclusive dialogue. His presence in every party engagement brought stability and thoughtful leadership to our consultations in the zone.”
Governor Ododo further noted that Hon. Suleiman’s calm temperament, sense of fairness, and ability to listen distinguished him as a unifying figure in the party.
The Governor also extends condolences to the family of the deceased, the leadership and members of the APC in the state, the people of Dekina local government area and the entire Kogi East Senatorial District.
He prayed that Almighty Allah (SWT) forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanatul Firdaus.
The late APC zonal chairman who served as the APC coordinator in Odu Ward 2 before becoming the zonal chairman of the party in Kogi East died at the age of 45 and has been laid to rest according to Islamic rites.
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