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Tinubu’s Govt Is Weaponising Poverty Against Nigerians – Atiku

Tinubu Govt Weaponising Poverty Against Nigerians – Atiku

Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Bola Tinubu-led government of weaponising poverty against Nigerians.

Atiku said this is why he was collaborating with other politicians to build a formidable coalition that would reduce poverty and stop the use of state resources to weaponise poverty in the country.

The former presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stated this in Abuja on Saturday at the 60th birthday lecture of the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, with the theme “Weaponising Poverty in Nigeria.”

Read Also:  I Told Tinubu I Won’t Support, Work With Him – Amaechi

According to him, “I want to say that what we are experiencing currently in Nigeria is state weaponisation of poverty. I say so because when I was growing up in the North, the most prosperous city or state was Kano State and incidentally, as soon as I finished my secondary school, my first location was Kano State. I never saw people sleeping outside. Then, there were no bridges or flyovers. I never saw people sleeping outside or outside the shops.”

“However, recently in Kano State where I visited, people were all over the state sleeping under the bridge, on the streets, because they are driven out by poverty and insecurity. There is a state agency in Kano responsible for providing support to such people and they started doing their work and enlightening people and removing people from under the bridges and outside on the streets. What happened? They were called from Abuja and were told to stop it,” Atiku added.

While speaking at the event, the celebrant and former minister of transportation, Amaechi, lamented the challenges brought by the current government, saying lack of capacity was one of the reasons why the Tinubu-led government has not performed well.

According to him, “The government said it has stopped the payment of about N5 trillion in fuel subsidy. The question is, what did they do with the money. If they had put it back into the economy, the issue of poverty would have reduced.”

Amaechi further stated that the issue of insecurity and poverty was a major problem in the country and that when he was the governor of Rivers State, he noticed the increase in crime rate was as a result of lack of money in circulation.

 

“When I was governor of Rivers State, I told my Commissioner of Finance, He is here. What did I tell you? I said ‘go and raise money, pay contractors, pay salary, pay money.’

And once you pay, insecurity will do what, go away. So it is about poverty. But currently, everybody wants their mass wealth and the major problem with Nigerians is that they don’t know how to protest,” he stated.

He also accused Nigeria politicians of playing politics of religion and ethnicity whenever elections come and that is why the wrong people always get elected into office.

According to him, “It is only during election that politicians begin to plan in the minds of Nigerians that they are either Christians or Muslims, playing ethnicity cards instead of capacity building.

“They came up with a Muslim-Muslim ticket and what have that led us to? They should have equally come up with a Muslim-Muslim market. Hunger knows no one whether you are a Muslim or a Christian. I always say, let’s put the country first on all we do.”

Also, speaking at the event, the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, said Nigeria was already in economic and security crisis and there was the need to tackle the challenges.

 

He lamented that Nigerian’s inflation is at over 30 per cent for years now, noting that even at 18 per cent inflation, prices double every year.

 

The Eastern Updates

Rihanna’s Father Ronald Fenty, Kicks The Bucket At 70

Rihanna's Father Ronald Fenty, Kicks The Bucket At 70

Ronald Fenty, the father of global music icon Rihanna, has passed away at the age of 70.

According to a source with direct knowledge, Fenty died in Los Angeles following a battle with an undisclosed illness.

On Wednesday, Rihanna’s younger brother, Rajad Fenty, was seen arriving at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Sources confirm that Rihanna was also present, though not visible in the photograph.

Read Also: Taylor Swift Becomes First Female Artist To Surpass 100Bn Streams

Ronald and Rihanna shared a complicated relationship over the years. The two were estranged for an extended period but eventually reconciled.

In February 2023, Ronald expressed his excitement about Rihanna and her partner, A$AP Rocky, expecting another child. He had shared his eagerness to be part of the baby’s life.

Ronald Fenty had three children—Rihanna, Rajad, and Rorrey—with his ex-wife, Monica Braithwaite. The couple separated in 2002, around the time Rihanna’s music career began to rise.

In other news, Former Hollywood power broker, Harvey Weinstein, has been moved out of maximum security prison, Rikers, to Bellevue Hospital.

Weinstein’s pleas to get out of the “hell hole” was granted by State Supreme Court Judge Paul Goetz, as he won a legal victory in his rape and sexual assault retrial in Manhattan.

He will now stay at the Kips Bay hospital until the conclusion of the trial.

“To not do so could lead to exacerbation of and further serious medical conditions, and possibly death,” Goetz explained about his decision.

Meanwhile, dozens more people were screened as potential jurors for Weinstein’s rape retrial on Thursday.

But selection has ended for this week with several slots yet to be filled. Selection will resume on Monday.

The panel started taking shape Wednesday, when five women and four men were picked for the redo of the landmark #MeToo-era trial.

 

The Eastern Updates

‘I Am Very Loyal To Tinubu’ – Reno Omokri Reveals

'I Am Very Loyal To Tinubu' – Reno Omokri Reveals

Former spokesman of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has expressed his unalloyed loyalty to President Bola Tinubu.

Posting on X, Omokri wrote: “I met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today and reaffirmed my full, unequivocal, and unwavering support for his Renewed Hope agenda and the goal of making Nigeria a better place for all Nigerians under his Presidency.

Read Also: Okpebholo Leads APC Victory March In Benin After Appeal Court Win

“By the grace of God, my prayer is for his Presidency to last for another six years and naturally end on May 29, 2031, after he must have served two terms in office, God sparing his life.

“Proud to have attended the commissioning of kilometre 30 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with President Tinubu, our beloved President and Omo Ologo.

“Happening Now: Supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda with the most honest individual in Nigeria, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, at the commissioning of Kilometre 30 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway by our great leader, President Bola Tinubu.

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rekindled my hope for a greater future for Nigeria. With him as President until 2031, God sparing his life, a new Nigeria is not just possible (pun intended), it is BATifically realisable.”

In other news, Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed that he once told President Bola Tinubu that he will never work with him.

Amaechi said he decided never to work or vote for Tinubu because the President lacked the capacity to govern Nigeria.

He disclosed this during an event to mark his 60th birthday in Abuja on Saturday.

Amaechi said: “I told Tinubu in Yola, I will not support you; I will not work for you. I did not work for him; I did not vote for him. It was the issue of capacity.

“Some of us who are here are also those who vote on an ethnic or religious basis. Innocent, uneducated people are manipulated to vote based on ethnicity and religion — that’s why we are here.

“When we leave here, we go to plot to go and grab power; no Nigerian leader cares for you.

“You that voted Muslim/Muslim ticket, let the Muslim market come out now. For us in opposition, if you want us to remove this man, we can remove this man from power.

 

The Eastern Updates

Nigerians Allowed Bandits Take Over Leadership – El-Rufai

Nigerians Allowed Bandits Take Over Leadership – El-Rufai

Former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai says Nigeria is in trouble because bandits have been allowed to take leadership.

According to El-Rufai, Nigerians keep repeating the same mistake of electing the worst people into leadership positions.

El-Rufai stated this on Saturday in Abuja while delivering a goodwill message at a public lecture with the theme, ‘Weaponisation of poverty as a means of underdevelopment: A case study of Nigeria’.

The occasion was organized to commemorate the 60th birthday celebration of former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

El-Rufai said, “Nigeria is in its biggest trouble since 1914, and that is why we are together working and conspiring to build a coalition to take Nigeria back on track because it is off track.

“It has turned to this level because we have allowed bandits, not the ones in the bushes, but the ones in the urban area, called the urban bandits, to take over leadership.

“I believe that the problem that we have is that we just get incompetent people, and we hand over leadership to them. Most of them don’t really know what to do. They just know how to grab power but don’t know what to do with it.”

The ex-FCT minister affirmed that Nigerians must stand up and vote for leaders who have the competence, capability, capacity and commitment to move the country forward.

In other news, The terrorism trial of Simon Ekpa, a municipal politician in Lahti, began on Friday at the Päijät-Häme District Court, with the Finnish prosecutor demanding a minimum sentence of six years in prison.

Ekpa, who is originally from southeastern Nigeria’s Biafra region and has been living in Finland since 2007, is facing multiple terrorism-related charges, including participating in a terrorist group and public incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes. The case marks the first time in Finnish legal history that such charges have been brought forward under this criminal framework.

According to the prosecution, Ekpa used his public platforms and writings to encourage violent activities linked to the Biafran separatist movement in Nigeria. State Prosecutor Sampsa Hakala stated that Ekpa’s goal was to instill fear among the population in Nigeria’s southeastern region and to unlawfully pressure the Nigerian government into withdrawing security forces from the area.

 

The Eastern Updates

Super Eagles Beat Jamaica To Win 2025 Unity Cup

Super Eagles Beat Jamaica To Win 2025 Unity Cup

Nigeria needed penalties to see off Jamaica in the final of this year’s Unity Cup on Saturday.

The game had ended 2-2 in regulation time.

Moses Simon opened the scoring with a fine finish off Cyriel Dessers’ cross, but the Raggae Boys levelled almost immediately through Kaheim Dixon.

Read Also: Amorim Clears Air On Leaving Man Utd Ahead Of Europa League Final

The Super Eagles again went in front, thanks to a fantastic solo effort from Samuel Chukwueze.

Again, Jamaica found an equalizer, with Jon Russell finding the back of the net in the 63rd minute.

This win means that Nigeria win the trophy for the second consecutive time.

In other news, Tottenham Hotspur have won this year’s Europa League, following a 1-0 win over Manchester United on Wednesday night.

Both teams came into the game looking to win the trophy that would have been a huge positive in a dreadful season.

Winning the Europa would also secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

And it was Spurs who scored the only goal of the match in Bilbao.

Brennan Johnson got on the end of a loose ball in the area to prod it past Andre Onana in the first half.

Manchester United dominated possession but struggled to convert it into clear opportunities, coming closest when Rasmus Hojlund’s header nearly equalized before being cleared acrobatically by Micky van de Ven on the line, and a 97th-minute save by Vicario from a Luke Shaw header.

Despite the match’s lack of fluidity, the significance for both clubs and their supporters remained high, with Spurs aiming for European silverware and United seeking a third consecutive season with a major trophy.

 

The Eastern Updates

 

Senate Hails Troops For Victory Over Terrorists In Borno

Senate Hails Troops For Victory Over Terrorists In Borno

The Senate, through its Committee on Army, has commended the Special Forces under Operation HADIN KAI for their recent counter-terrorism operation in Kukawa, Borno State, which led to the elimination of Boko Haram/ISWAP leader, Amir Abu Fatima, and his lieutenants.

In a statement signed by the committee chairman, Senator AbdulAziz Musa Yar’Adua, he noted that the precision exercise “marks a significant milestone in our collective fight against insurgency.”

Read Also: Informants More Dangerous Than Bandits – Katsina Gov

“This victory is a testament to the bravery and dedication of our troops who have steadfastly remained in the forefront. The successful operation demonstrates the military’s unwavering commitment to restoring peace and security in the North East.

“I applaud the strategic planning, intelligence gathering, and execution that led to this outcome, which was achieved without any casualties on our side.

“The elimination of Abu Fatima, with a N100 million bounty on his head, deals a severe blow to the terrorist organisation. This success will undoubtedly boost the confidence of our citizens and reinforce their trust in the military’s ability to protect them.

“I urge our security agencies to maintain this momentum, ensuring that insurgents are relentlessly pursued and dismantled,” Senator Yar’Adua stated.

While congratulating the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, and the entire Nigerian Army on the achievement, he reaffirmed the Senate’s support for the gallant troops and also pledged to continue working towards enhancing their capabilities.

“Together, we will triumph over terrorism and secure a brighter future for our nation,” Senator Yar’Adua, who is a retired military officer, stated.

 

The Eastern Updates

I Told Tinubu I Won’t Support, Work With Him – Amaechi

I Told Tinubu I Won’t Support, Work With Him – Amaechi
Chibuike Amaechi

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed that he once told President Bola Tinubu that he will never work with him.

Amaechi said he decided never to work or vote for Tinubu because the President lacked the capacity to govern Nigeria.

He disclosed this during an event to mark his 60th birthday in Abuja on Saturday.

Amaechi said: “I told Tinubu in Yola, I will not support you; I will not work for you. I did not work for him; I did not vote for him. It was the issue of capacity.

“Some of us who are here are also those who vote on an ethnic or religious basis. Innocent, uneducated people are manipulated to vote based on ethnicity and religion — that’s why we are here.

“When we leave here, we go to plot to go and grab power; no Nigerian leader cares for you.

“You that voted Muslim/Muslim ticket, let the Muslim market come out now. For us in opposition, if you want us to remove this man, we can remove this man from power.

“We want to submit to the opposition if the opposition will take us out of this problem.

“They are weaponising poverty by stealing the money they should have used to build hospitals and schools.

“The benefit of the fuel subsidy removal is in their pockets.”

In other news, President Bola Tinubu has described the unfortunate accident involving members of the Kano State contingent who were returning from the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Ogun State as a devastating blow to the nation.

In a condolence message by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, Tinubu said he received the news with deep sorrow and shock.

Tinubu said the Federal Government and his entire cabinet are with the government and people of Kano State at this trying time.

 

The Eastern Updates

 

PSG Batter Inter Milan 5-0 To Win First Ever Champions League

PSG Batter Inter Milan 5-0 To Win First Ever Champions League

Paris Saint-Germain put up a sensational performance, as they hammered Inter Milan 5-0 in this year’s Champions League final on Saturday night.

The Ligue 1 side dominated the game from start to finish in Munich, as they won the competition for the first time in their history.

PSG were ahead within 13 minutes, as Achraf Hakimi found himself free in the area to tap home Desire Doue’s low cross.

Desire then saw his effort deflect in off Di Marco in the 20th minute as the Ligue 1 champions raced into a two-goal lead.

Read Also: FIFA Targets $1 Billion Revenue From Women’s World Cup

The young winger put the game out of Inter’s reach with a composed finish, before goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Mayulu rounded off what was indeed a five-star showing.

For Luis Enrique, this is his second treble of his managerial career, as he had previously achieved it with Barcelona.

In other news, Tottenham Hotspur have won this year’s Europa League, following a 1-0 win over Manchester United on Wednesday night.

Both teams came into the game looking to win the trophy that would have been a huge positive in a dreadful season.

Winning the Europa would also secure a place in next season’s Champions League.

And it was Spurs who scored the only goal of the match in Bilbao.

Brennan Johnson got on the end of a loose ball in the area to prod it past Andre Onana in the first half.

Manchester United dominated possession but struggled to convert it into clear opportunities, coming closest when Rasmus Hojlund’s header nearly equalized before being cleared acrobatically by Micky van de Ven on the line, and a 97th-minute save by Vicario from a Luke Shaw header.

 

The Eastern Updates

Kano Sports Delegation Accident Is Devastating – Tinubu

Kano Sports Delegation Accident Is Devastating – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has described the unfortunate accident involving members of the Kano State contingent who were returning from the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Ogun State as a devastating blow to the nation.

In a condolence message by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, Tinubu said he received the news with deep sorrow and shock.

Tinubu said the Federal Government and his entire cabinet are with the government and people of Kano State at this trying time.

Read Also: Police Escort Killed My Sister, Not Bandits – Taraba Gov, Kefas

He equally condoled with the families and loved ones of those who died in the accident.

According to the Nigerian President, “This is a devastating blow to the nation. It casts a shadow over the National Sports Festival, a celebration of unity, talent, and excellence. It has long served as a platform for discovering and nurturing athletes who bring pride to Nigeria on both national and international stages.”

He paid tribute to the victims, saying their dedication and aspirations in their various vocations embodied the resilient Nigerian spirit.

“The greatest honour the country can accord them is to take concrete steps to prevent such tragedies in the future and improve safety standards across the nation’s transportation systems,” Tinubu vowed.

He also prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the departed and asked God Almighty to grant strength and comfort to the bereaved families.

Meanwhile, the President has expressed deep concern over the severe flooding in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.

The flooding, which occurred on Wednesday, led to the loss of over 100 lives and the displacement of numerous families.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the affected families and the good people of Niger State at this difficult time,” the President stated on his X handle on Friday night.

Expressing his grief, Tinubu said upon receiving the initial reports, he directed the immediate activation of the National Emergency Response Centre.

He said he has since been fully briefed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on the scale of the disaster and the urgent humanitarian needs.

Search-and-rescue operations are underway, and all relevant federal agencies have been mobilised to support the Niger State Government’s response. Relief materials and temporary shelters are being deployed without delay.

“I assure all those impacted that our government stands with you. We will continue to coordinate with the Niger State Government to ensure a swift, coordinated, and compassionate response—one that prioritises lives, restores dignity, and accelerates recovery,” the President said.

The number one citizen also directed security agencies to assist in emergency operations and mandated that NEMA and the National Emergency Response Centre provide continuous coordination and updates.

He called on all Nigerians to keep the people of Mokwa in their thoughts and prayers.

“In times of adversity, we draw strength from our unity, resilience, and shared humanity,” the President said in a personal statement.

 

The Eastern Updates

Finland Prosecutor Demands 6-Yr Sentence For Ekpa As Trial Begins

Finland Prosecutor Demands 6-Yr Sentence For Ekpa As Trial Begins

The terrorism trial of Simon Ekpa, a municipal politician in Lahti, began on Friday at the Päijät-Häme District Court, with the Finnish prosecutor demanding a minimum sentence of six years in prison.

Ekpa, who is originally from southeastern Nigeria’s Biafra region and has been living in Finland since 2007, is facing multiple terrorism-related charges, including participating in a terrorist group and public incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes. The case marks the first time in Finnish legal history that such charges have been brought forward under this criminal framework.

According to the prosecution, Ekpa used his public platforms and writings to encourage violent activities linked to the Biafran separatist movement in Nigeria. State Prosecutor Sampsa Hakala stated that Ekpa’s goal was to instill fear among the population in Nigeria’s southeastern region and to unlawfully pressure the Nigerian government into withdrawing security forces from the area.

“We have a lot of evidence of this person’s activities online and his communications,” Hakala told Finland’s public broadcaster Yle before the court session. “It paints a pretty clear picture of what we believe happened.”

Read Also: FG Lists Simon Ekpa, 15 Others As Terrorism Financiers

In court, the prosecutor further alleged that Ekpa coordinated from Finland, ordering weapons for armed groups operating in Nigeria. These charges include three alternative indictments under varying legal classifications related to terrorist involvement.

Ekpa has denied all charges.

His defense lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, emphasized that the trial would need to address whether his client had any real involvement in violent activities in Biafra. He also raised concerns about the reliability of information originating from Nigeria.

“The central question is whether my client was in any way involved in, or directing, the acts that occurred in the Biafra region,” Gummerus said, reiterating that Ekpa completely rejects the terrorism allegations.

In addition to the terrorism charges, Ekpa faces accusations of aggravated tax fraud and violations of Finland’s Attorneys Act, which are expected to be heard after the Midsummer holiday.

Friday’s court proceedings included a preliminary hearing in the morning, followed by the presentation of evidence in the afternoon, where the prosecution introduced social media messages Ekpa allegedly posted on platform X (formerly Twitter).

The court has reserved several days for the main hearing.

Ekpa, a former athlete who arrived in Finland in 2007, has also been active in local politics as a member of the National Coalition Party and served on Lahti’s public transport board.

The outcome of the trial could have far-reaching implications, not just for Finnish legal precedent, but also for international cooperation in addressing transnational terrorism and online incitement.

 

The Eastern Updates