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Presidential aide defends Tinubu’s Falcons rewards, cites BBNaija N150m prize money

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Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, has defended the national honours and financial rewards given by President Bola Tinubu to Nigeria’s Super Falcons following their victory at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, Onanuga took a swipe at critics, who claimed the rewards were either excessive or insufficient.

He drew a comparison with the ₦150 million grand prize offered to the winner of the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality show.

He wrote, “When you remember that Multichoice, the organiser of the BBNaija reality show, is offering the winner ₦150 million grand prize, you wonder why some Nigerians are unappreciative of President Tinubu’s rewards to the Super Falcons.

“President Tinubu has rewarded excellence, creativity, hard work, soccer artistry, and the undying Nigerian spirit.”

Onanuga’s comments came hours after Tinubu hosted the victorious team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

At the event, each player and member of the coaching crew was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

In addition, Tinubu announced a cash reward of the naira equivalent of $100,000 for each player and $50,000 for each member of the technical crew.

He also promised three-bedroom apartments for all team members in the Renewed Hope Housing Estate located in the Federal Capital Territory.

Onanuga’s comparison between the Super Falcons’ rewards and BBNaija’s prize money ignited a flurry of mixed reactions on X, with many Nigerians weighing in on the appropriateness of the gesture and the analogy.

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One user, @Wale_Abdul, questioned the use of foreign currency, asking, “Why is he gifting them in dollars? The richest countries in the world won’t ever make such gifting to athletes who collect salaries.”

Another, @Bolanle_Juwon, echoed the sentiment, writing, “Why dollars and not the equivalent in naira? The Nigerian government should, as a matter of urgency, do away with the line of promoting another nation’s currency.”

@Daroking expressed skepticism about the gesture, saying, “Which one is ‘Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’ for our president’s name? Well, as much as I’m happy for them, everything is politics. We have underpaid soldiers and police who also deserve better.”

@Ezekwem_Franklin offered a broader critique, stating, “I’m not against the gift, but that amount is too much for a country whose citizens are living in abject poverty, infrastructural decay, and insecurity. This wasn’t thoughtful from President Tinubu; it’s not a good way to buy favour.”

However, some users welcomed the President’s gesture to the team.

@Ghali_Ismael praised the move, saying, “Alhamdulillah Rabil Aalameen for HIS blessings upon us at all times and places. To say the least, I am very impressed with the way Mr. President rewarded the team. Congratulations once again.”

Similarly, @Official_dharmy argued that the comparison to BBNaija was misplaced, noting, “BBNaija is private money. Falcons played for the country. It’s not the same. The comparison doesn’t work.”

@SirDavidBent asked, “Why is it so hard for the government to do the right thing without comparing it to a TV show?”

Meanwhile, @IAm_Emma_Eze expressed support for the recognition, tweeting, “Let’s be fair, Tinubu’s gesture to the Super Falcons deserves applause. Some presidents ignore sports achievements entirely.”

See also  Why Sowore is being detained – CP

And @NenyeVibes added, “BBNaija gets private funding. Falcons represent national pride. Both deserve rewards, but one shouldn’t be used to justify the other.”

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Wike, Adeleke, Soludo, others make APC revised campaign council list

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The revised All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council list for the 2027 general election has named the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo; former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; and Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, among its members.

Under the revised list made available to journalists on Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu will head the campaign council, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, serving as vice-chairmen.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq are also listed as vice-chairmen.

The council names Senator Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General, with Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu among the deputy directors-general. Senator Adams Oshiomhole is listed as Deputy Director-General, Mobilisation.

Other officials include Femi Gbajabiamila, who will oversee administration; Ibrahim Kabir Masari, in charge of logistics and operations; former Speaker Aminu Masari, Deputy Director-General, Parliament Mobilisation; and David Umahi, who will oversee infrastructure mobilisation and sensitisation.

James Faleke will handle election planning, coordination and monitoring.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as secretary of the council, with Senator Ajibola Basiru as deputy secretary and Hadiza Bala Usman as assistant secretary.

The council has also appointed zonal campaign coordinators and co-coordinators across the six geopolitical zones.

Those listed include Governor Bassey Otu and Victor Giadom for the South-South; Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and Tjeoma Arodiogbu for the South-East; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Prince Oladiran Iyantan for the South-West; Muazu Bawa Rijau and Niger State Governor Umar Bago for the North-Central; Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani and Garba Datti Muhammad for the North-West; and former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff and Idris Suhaibu for the North-East.

At the state level, the list names governors and other political figures as campaign coordinators. They include Ahmadu Fintiri for Adamawa, Umo Eno for Akwa Ibom, Chukwuma Soludo for Anambra, Babagana Zulum for Borno, Sheriff Oborevwori for Delta, Hope Uzodimma for Imo, Abba Kabir Yusuf for Kano, Dapo Abiodun for Ogun, Ademola Adeleke for Osun, Nyesom Wike for Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory, and Dauda Lawal for Zamfara.

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The council also includes former governors and party chieftains as advisers.

They include former APC national chairmen Adebisi Akande and Abdullahi Adamu; former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; former Osun State Governor Iyiola Omisore; Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo; Senator George Akume; former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba; and Wale Edun. Obafemi George is listed as an adviser on media.

The Directorate of Election Planning, Coordination, Monitoring and Mobilisation, established ahead of the 2027 general election, has Faleke as Deputy Director-General, with Stella Okotete and Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat serving as Secretary I and Secretary II, respectively. Audu Maikori is also listed as a secretary.

Other members of the directorate include Soares Omotola, Bashir Dabo, Sheriff Mohammed Usman, Jibrin Bancir, Ayoola Peter Olajolo, Abubakar Sadiq Sada and Princess Folasade Ogunbiyi.

In the Directorate of General Logistics and Operations, Masari has been appointed Deputy Director-General, while Adeniyi Tinubu and Barr. Yakub Bashir Bello will serve as deputies. Prof. Kabiru Isa was named secretary.

Members of the logistics and operations directorate include Ekene Nwokoro Ogbonaya, Prof. Vincent Weli, Ambassador Olusola Iji, Amina Bello, Ahmed Zibiri, Annabel Isenyo, Terrence Kuanum, Prof. Latif Babatunde Ayeleru, Amarachi Ejike, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa and Prof. Shuaibu Abdullahi.

Others are Senator Bello Tukur, Senator Adegbonmire Adeniyi Ayodele, Taiwo Adebowale, Sunusi Muhammad Abdullahi, Wasiu Olaomo Ayeola, Chief Isaac Ijwo, Garba Gololo Mohammed, Biodun Ogunbi, Ayuba Ganiyu Adele, High Chief Edem Duke, Yusuf Capt. Buba, Oden Ewa, Prince Ademuviwa Adex, Makinde Peter Abiola, Chief Solomon Ogba, Senator Lawal Hassan Dan Iya, Ambassador Kelvin Peter, Maggadas Mohammed Muazu and Victor Agwu.

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The appointments form part of the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election campaign.

Source: punchng.com

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Wike declares self Tinubu FCT ‘campaign commander’ ahead of 2027 elections, read details

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Monday declared himself the field commander of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the FCT, pledging to coordinate the president’s campaign in the territory and Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike made the declaration at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, where he unveiled a cross-party mobilisation strategy involving members of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party to secure Tinubu’s re-election.

The meeting also saw PDP National Assembly candidates in the FCT declare support for their APC counterparts, with Wike saying the coalition had agreed to work together for Tinubu’s re-election and the success of APC candidates in the National Assembly elections.

“For the Presidency, all of us have agreed that it is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I will coordinate the FCT and Rivers State. So you can imagine how important it is.

“I am in charge of the FCT election. I am the commander of field operations as far as the FCT election is concerned,” the minister said.

The meeting was attended by APC and PDP stakeholders, including party chairmen, serving and former senators, National Assembly candidates and political leaders from the FCT’s six area councils.

Tinubu
File photo: President Bola Tinubu. State House

Wike said the gathering was intended to establish a common political front ahead of the elections, regardless of the parties to which the participants might belong.

“I want to let all of you know that we are going to work together. Nobody should say, ‘I am PDP’ or ‘I am APC.’ For the purpose of this election, we are together,” he said.

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The former Rivers State governor cited the 2024 Edo State governorship election as an example of how political alliances could influence electoral outcomes.

He claimed that cooperation between elements of the APC and PDP had helped prevent the incumbent governor from installing a successor, arguing that political differences could be set aside when stakeholders shared a common objective.

Wike, however, clarified that the coalition’s arrangement was primarily focused on the presidential election, leaving participating parties to determine their positions on other contests.

Making a case for Tinubu’s re-election, the minister challenged political leaders to identify any of the FCT’s six area councils that had not benefited from infrastructure projects and institutional reforms under the current administration.

He cited the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, the appointment of a Head of the Civil Service from within the territory’s workforce and the creation of the Women Affairs and Youth Development secretariats as evidence of the administration’s achievements.

According to Wike, the reforms had created opportunities for career progression among FCT civil servants and expanded participation in governance.

He also listed road construction and rehabilitation, school renovations, police stations and other public facilities among projects being executed across the territory.

The minister expressed confidence that the administration’s performance would provide a basis for mobilising FCT residents to support Tinubu in 2027.

Wike also defended the President’s economic reforms, acknowledging that some policies had imposed hardship but arguing that difficult decisions were necessary to address longstanding economic challenges.

“Changing the economy of a country is not like a prayer,” he said, adding that the benefits of economic reforms might not be immediate.

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He further expressed support for the proposed establishment of state police, describing it as an important measure for addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

Source: punchng.com

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2027: PWD group pledges five million votes for Tinubu, Kano gov

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The Society for People with Disability Forum in the North-West has pledged to mobilise five million votes for President Bola Tinubu and Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf in the 2027 general elections.

The forum announced its endorsement of the two leaders on Sunday during a sensitisation programme in Kano aimed at encouraging persons with disabilities to participate in the elections.

The forum’s National Chairman, Yarima Suleiman, said the endorsement was based on what the group described as the contributions of the All Progressives Congress-led governments to the welfare of persons with disabilities.

“As a forum, we are committed to mobilising five million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in the 2027 general elections.

“Today, we call our people with disabilities from 19 states, including Abuja, to show our interest in voting for President Bola Tinubu for a second term, for what the APC has done for us,” Suleiman said.

He cited the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and the appointment of a Senior Special Assistant to the President on disability matters as some of the initiatives the group considered significant.

Suleiman said the forum expected greater representation in government if Tinubu won re-election in 2027.

“I am assuring you that if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wins the 2027 election, we are going to get more appointments in the Federal Government,” he said.

He added that the group was seeking the implementation of a five per cent appointment allocation for persons with disabilities across ministries, departments and agencies.

The chairman also claimed that the forum had reached an agreement with Yusuf on appointments in Kano State in exchange for its support for his re-election bid.

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The forum’s state chairman, Sa’adu Ibrahim, said members had benefited from welfare programmes introduced by the Federal and state governments under the APC.

He urged persons with disabilities to participate actively in the 2027 elections, saying the group intended to reciprocate what it described as government support by voting for APC candidates at both levels.

In his remarks, Yusuf reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to disability inclusion. He was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and People with Special Needs, Hajiya Amina Sani-Abdullahi.

The governor said his administration had introduced practical interventions to improve the lives of persons with disabilities, including providing wheelchairs to people with spinal cord injuries and promoting para-sports.

“We have provided wheelchairs to spinal cord injury patients, restoring mobility, independence and dignity,” he said.

He added that para-sports activities had created opportunities for persons with disabilities to showcase their talents, build confidence and participate in recreational and competitive sports.

“Persons with disabilities should not be treated merely as beneficiaries of government policies but recognised as active contributors to the state’s development,” he added.

The forum’s endorsement comes as political mobilisation gathers momentum ahead of the 2027 elections. Its pledge to mobilise five million votes represents the group’s stated target, rather than a verified estimate of its membership or voting strength.

Source: punchng.com

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