Rollingz Reports

06/08/2022

06/08/2022

As the president backs his ex-rival in elections, his deputy says he is fighting dynastic rule.

03/08/2022

13/06/2022

Gunmen Abduct Anglican Bishop, Wife, Driver In Oyo


Gunmen have abducted an Anglican Bishop, Reverend Oluwaseun Aderogba of Jebba Diocese, Kwara State his wife, and driver.

The victims were abducted on Sunday along the new Oyo/Ogbomoso Expressway in Oyo State.

The Police Public Relations of the command, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident in a statement.

He explained that one Reverend Adekunle Adeluwa reported the incident at Atiba Divisional Police Headquarters.

According to Osifeso, preliminary investigations revealed that the victims’ vehicle developed what seemed a mechanical fault while traveling from Yewa in Ogun State to Jebba in Kwara.

He added that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations of the Command has been directed to take over the operation that would lead to the rescue of the victims.

“All the tactical teams of the Command Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Ambush Squad, Puff Adder, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), and Conventional Police personnel along with local hunters and vigilantes are all involved in the rescue operations,” the command’s spokesman said.

“Meanwhile, a discreet investigation led by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) is simultaneously been vigorously embarked upon to ensure that the victims are rescued unhurt.

“While enjoining members of the public to report any suspicion to the nearest Police Division or formation, credible and timely information, the General Public are assured of their safety as they go about their lawful activities.”

13/06/2022

13/06/2022

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday joined other Nigerians to mark the 2022 Democracy Day celebration in Abuja.

Besides the President, who arrived the Eagle Square, around 10:12am, other dignitaries who graced the event were former President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Also in attendance were Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila; Deputy Speaker Idris Wase; the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad; and the Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.


Others were the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd); the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor; service chiefs, ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, captains of industry, as well as other Nigerians from all walks of life, including students.

Also at the Eagle Square for the ceremony was a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, who was the running mate to the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Aare M.KO Abiola.

However, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was not at the ceremony, having departed on Sunday evening to participate in the annual summit of the Africa CEO Forum in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan.

Also not sighted at the event was the Abiola family, the patriarch of which was the icon of the June 12 Democracy Day celebration.

President Buhari was received at venue of the ceremony by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, and the State Chief of Protocol, Lawal Kazaure.

On arrival at the venue of the event, President Buhari inspected the parade immediately and was followed by military/police march past in slow and quick time.


The event also involved combat march display by the Nigerian Army Women Corps as well as the combined silent drill display by the Armed Forces and Police.

The event also witnessed Democracy Day playlet, cultural troupe display, showcasing Nigeria moving forward from the six geo-political zones.

Also featured were the combined band/silent drill display by the armed forces and advance in review order.

President Buhari also signed the anniversary register, followed by the parade commander leading three hearty cheers.

07/06/2022

: Voting To Commence At 6pm

The over 2,000 delegates of the All Progressives Congress are expected to start casting their votes to elect the party's presidential candidate in the 2023 election by 6:00 p.m on Tuesday (today).

According to a schedule issued by the party, the voting would start after speeches by the aspirants and the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) at the Eagle Square venue in Abuja.

Result is expected to be announced at 10:00 p.m

07/06/2022

APC Governors Summit Names of Five Southern Presidential aspirants To Buhari

Governors who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have submitted the names of five presidential aspirants to President Muhammadu Buhari to select a consensus candidate from.
A reliable source revealed that the governors submitted the names in the early hours of Tuesday, Daily Trust reports.

The names, according to the source, included that of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, Governor Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti State) and Governor Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State).
The governors had after meeting with the President said they would return to the villa after meeting with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and other stakeholders.
“They picked one from South-East, one from South-South and three from South-West geopolitical zones in line with their position that power should shift to the South,” he said.
He said the president is expected to pick from the list.
The presidential primary of the party holds today.
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan was named as the consensus candidate by the National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu. This was, however, punctured by the presidency.
The ruling APC National Working Committee had also said it was not part of the endorsement of Lawan, as the consensus presidential candidate of the party.
The NWC in an interview had said the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, who made the announcement spoke for himself, while they (the committee) stood with the position of the Northern governors and of the President that the presidency should go to the southern region in 2023.
“We are full briefed by our chairman and he told us the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, is the consensus candidate of the party but it is not an issue that has been discussed on the floor of the NWC. You are all aware that about two days ago, the northern governors had a meeting that the leadership of this country should go to the south. So, the NWC are with the governors. Just some minutes ago, the northern governors went to the president to say they are still on what they said with regards to power shift to the south.
“The chairman and all of us are entitled to our opinion. This decision was never taken by the NWC,” Sulaiman Argungu, the National Organising Secretary had said.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Buhari also denied that he endorsed Lawan, which was in contrast to an earlier proclamation by Adamu.
No fewer than 13 Northern Governors of ruling All Progressive Congress after their meeting on Monday also confirmed that Buhari had no preferred candidate in the party primary election that started in Abuja.
The governors had revealed this shortly after meeting with Buhari at the State House in Abuja.
Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong who spoke to newsmen after the meeting, added that the northern governors had agreed that power should shift to the South.
They had also met with the National Working Committee of the party.
The President’s meeting with the APC governors from the north is the fourth parley in his effort to have a harmonised position prior to the convention.
Those present at the meeting are the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, chairman of the Northern governors Forum and governor of Plateau State, Simeon Lalong, Abubakar Baduru (Jigawa) and Babagana Zulum (Borno).
Others are Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Bello Matawale (Zamfara), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Yahaya Inuwa (Gombe), Abubakar Bello (Niger), and the Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni.
Despite Buhari’s denial, SaharaReporters learnt that he indeed confided in the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, that Lawan was his choice but never instructed him to make it public.
“Buhari will deny that he anointed Senate President, Lawan as consensus candidate. Although Buhari confided in Adamu, that he prefers Lawan, he didn’t tell him to announce it.
“Governors had pigeon holed Buhari by asking the presidency to go south and El- Rufai got wind of it and leaked their position to the press to pressurize Buhari not to to endorse Lawan,” one of the top sources had revealed.
Earlier, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced Senate President Ahmed Lawan as the consensus presidential candidate of the party.
Adamu made the announcement at the meeting of National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday in Abuja.
His adoption of Lawan as consensus candidate is against the position of 11 APC northern Governors, who endorsed that power must shift to the South after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
Adamu told the National Working Committee that he arrived at the choice of the Senate President after consultation with Buhari.

Sahara Reporters

04/06/2022

04/06/2022

I Didn’t Mean To Insult Buhari - Tinubu Withdraws His Boastful Speech

Presidential aspirant and national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has claimed his statement in Ogun State wasn’t meant to humiliate President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Tinubu had on Thursday while meeting with delegates of the APC in Abeokuta said he made Buhari, Osinbajo and Abiodun President, Vice President and governor respectively.

“You have not heard this from me before. This is the first place I am saying this,” Tinubu who addressed the delegates in Yoruba said.

“If not for me that led the war front, Buhari won’t have emerged. He contested first, second and third times, but lost. He even said on television that he won’t contest again.

“But I went to his home in Katsina, I told him you would contest and win, but you won’t joke with the matters of the Yoruba.

“Since he has emerged I have not been appointed minister. I didn’t get nor request a contract. This time, it’s Yoruba turn and in Yorubaland, it’s my turn.

“The second time, he picked another Igbo, (Edwin) Ume-Ezeoke, Nigerians didn’t vote for him. And he said that even if he went to bring the Pope to run as his deputy, Nigerians won’t vote for him, but he said, ‘You, Bola Tinubu, you have six governors, you have never lost an election before, come and be my deputy.”

“He knew all the calculations then favoured us, that is why he wanted me as his deputy, but I told him to let us build the party first. And when we finished building the party after we brought in people from the PDP, (Bukola) Saraki now saw that those from the PDP would not get anything if Buhari, a Muslim, became the president and I, also a Muslim, became his deputy. He won’t get the Senate president because the Senate president cannot also be a Muslim; that was how they started the campaign of calumny against me.

“And I told them that I have a candidate that is a Christian that I could nominate so that the party would not break. That was how I nominated Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. I surrendered my right to him (Osinbajo).

“I was asked to submit three names, Yemi Cardozo, Wale Edun, and Yemi Osinbajo, but I told them if I submit three names, they would play a game, they might make it four and pick the fourth one. I gave them one name and that was Osinbajo.”

The former Lagos governor is currently being criticised over the comments.

Reacting in a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said he only went down memory lane to provide specific instances when he brought his political clout and strategic skills to assist individuals, groups and tendencies in the party to gain political power.

The statement read, “It is on record that the leading presidential aspirant in the forthcoming primaries of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu addressed the national delegates of the party in Ogun State, with Governor Mr.Dapo Abiodun in attendance.

“In his effort to convince the party delegates to vote for him at the primaries, he went down memory lane to provide specific instances when he brought his political clout and strategic skills to assist individuals, groups and tendencies in the party to gain political power.

“These factual references are already in the public realm. They have been reported and analysed in the media in the last eight years. They are therefore, matters of public knowledge. While we recognise that recent unexpected interventions in the time table and the heat generated by the proximity of the event might have led to some anxiety, this campaign organisation believes that the main thrust of Asiwaju’s presentation, was that his huge contributions to the formation and electoral success of the All Progressives Congress should count in his favour as a true party man who desires to be the flag bearer.

“Since the video of the speech he delivered in Yoruba hit the social media, varied interpretations have been given to the speech, which in the main was about Governor Abiodun, who in the true tradition of Yoruba culture bowed to his leader after Tinubu’s short speech.

“The Tinubu campaign is not surprised why the opposition in the APC have decided to turn and twist the statement.

The former Lagos governor, a great party man remains the man to beat at the party’s convention on Monday. We are least surprised that he is the target of well-calculated and most unkind virulent attacks.”

31/05/2022

Former President Goodluck Jonathan is not on the list of presidential hopefuls expected to be screened by the All Progressives Congress (APC)⁣
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In April 2022, after supporters besieged his Abuja residence to ask him to contest the 2023 presidential election, Jonathan had not given a definite response.⁣
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“You are calling me to come and declare for the next election. I cannot tell you I’m declaring. The political process is ongoing. Just watch out,” he had said.⁣
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Days after, a northern coalition bought the APC presidential expression of interest and nomination forms for him, but the former president had denied approving the purchase.⁣
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Despite ongoing speculations on him contesting, the former president is still yet to make any definitive statement on if he will seek a return bid.⁣
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On March 27, 2022, APC granted Jonathan a waiver to contest in primary elections. On the same day, a federal high court sitting in Yenagoa cleared Jonathan to run for president.⁣
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Felix Morka, APC spokesman, had said 28 presidential forms were purchased, but three persons — Chris Ngige, minister of labour; Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum: and Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) — did not submit their forms.⁣
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A form was also purchased for Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), but he had said he was not interested in contesting.⁣
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Below are the names of the presidential hopefuls for screening as listed by APC.⁣
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1. Chukwuemeja Uwaezuoke Nwajiuba⁣
2. Badaru Abubakar⁣
3. Robert A. Boroffice⁣
4. Uju Ken-Ohanenye⁣
5. Nicholas Felix⁣
6. Nweze David Umahi⁣
7. Ken Nnamani⁣
8. Gbolahan B. Bakare⁣
9. Ibikunle Amosun⁣
10. Ahmed B. Tinubu⁣
11. Ahmad Rufai Sani⁣
12. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi⁣
13. Oladimeji Sabon Bankole⁣
14. John Kayode Fayemi⁣
15. Godswill Obot Akpabio⁣
16. Yemi Osinbajo⁣
17. Rochas Anayo Okorocha⁣
18. Yahaya Bello⁣
19. Tein Jack-Rich⁣
20. Christopher Onu⁣
21. Ahmad Lawan⁣
22. Ben Ayade⁣
23. Ikeobasi Mokelu⁣
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Credit

05/01/2022

Tinubu's Presidential Ambition Suffers Setback As Buhari Plans To Hand Over Power To Jonathan In 2023

President Buhari, it was reliably gathered, has in fact reached out to his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, on taking over power from him and was already working with some of his most trusted lieutenants to actualise this plan, Saharareporters reporting.

Against widespread belief that President Muhammadu Buhari was preparing to hand over power to a former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in May 2023 when his second term in office elapses, SaharaReporters has reliably gathered that the current occupier of A*o Rock Villa, Nigeria’s seat of power, was already looking in another direction.

President Buhari, it was reliably gathered, has in fact reached out to his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, on taking over power from him and was already working with some of his most trusted lieutenants to actualise this plan.

A trusted source around the President told SaharaReporters that the idea had already received the backing of some prominent politicians from the North including state governors as the arrangement will enable power to return to the region in 2027 when Jonathan would have served out his single four-year term after previously occupying same position from 2011 to 2015.

President Buhari and Jonathan had met last Thursday and according to the source, modalities of this new arrangement were discussed at length with further meetings to take place in the coming weeks to cement plans to help achieve the target.

“Pressure came from two Northern governors for President Buhari to allow Jonathan to complete his term and return power to the North for another eight years beginning from 2027,” the source revealed.

“It is for this reason that Buhari had requested Jonathan to see him last Thursday following conclusion of discussion with the two governors, one of which is Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and APC Caretaker Committee Chairman.

“This same Buni worked against Tinubu's interest in the electoral act to ensure Buhari did not sign it.

“Tinubu had hoped to ward off challenge from Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi and others to get the APC presidential ticket through direct primaries.

“Buni is also working to organise national convention to create substantive national executives, all a ploy to ensure a Jonathan candidate.

“He's masterminding a likely micro-zoning to the South-South to ensure Jonathan is the sole aspirant during the primary.

“Following the successful meeting on Thursday with Buhari, Jonathan has also moved swiftly to hold a strategic meeting with South-South ministers and will hold a national ministers' meeting under his government afterwards as a prequel to formal declaration.

“The meeting which held under the South-South 2023 Presidency group headed by Jonathan's associate, Mr Dikivie Ikiogha, took place at Mrs Patience Jonathan's Aridolf Hotels and Spars.

“If the plan goes well, Jonathan will choose a serving Northern governor as running mate. The most likely candidate for that will be Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State,” the source revealed.

The latest development will surely come as a huge blow to the aspirations of Tinubu, who has been desperate to become President of Nigeria since serving two terms as governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.

The APC stalwart has been romancing President Buhari since helping him to defeat Jonathan in 2015, refusing to criticise his administration’s failures in a desperate bid to have the latter hand over the reins to him during next year’s election.

However, top power brokers close to Buhari see the former Lagos governor as politically unpredictable and therefore have been working against his interest.

But to help push through his ambition, Tinubu and his men have created scores of groups to mobilise support to help make the dream a reality.

For instance, in October 2021, the South West Agenda for Asiwaju was formed in Lagos to help sell Tinubu as a viable candidate to every part of Nigeria.

Headed by a former Minister of State for Works, Dayo Adeyeye, SWAGA said emerging President of Nigeria in 2023 will be the best way to repay Tinubu for all his contributions to political development in the country.

In November 2021, another group, Patriots of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was established in Abuja to further push the former Lagos governor’s ambition of succeeding President Buhari in office in 2023.

On January 1, 2022, Director-General, Tinubu Support Groups Mgt. Council, Abdulmumin Jibrin, said the former Lagos governor will contest the 2023 election because he had more experience to run Nigeria than the others eyeing the position.

“The issue of Bola Tinubu contesting is a done deal. He is going to contest the election; he’s going to be on the ballot paper.

“The person who has an edge over all of them, that we can hand over the ticket to and perhaps go back home and sleep, is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,” Jibrin said.

In December 2021, Tinubu disclosed that he would consult widely before making a decision on whether to run for the Presidency or not.

“I will effectively and widely consult, particularly brainstorm with my friends and find a date to come out openly and tell Nigerians,” he had said at the time.

Like Tinubu, there are dozens of other groups also currently drumming support for Osinbajo ahead of the 2023 election.

According to one of such groups, The Progressive Project, the Vice President had all it required to effectively run Nigeria after Buhari leaves office next year.

TPP’s Director of Operations, Alhaji Usman A. Usman, said, “We made critical assessments far beyond mere partisan considerations and all rational indicators throw up the name of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as being most qualified and most adequately prepared to undertake such assignment.”

But despite these ongoing efforts by loyalists of Tinubu and Osinbajo to market their principals, Buhari’s new stance might have thrown both men under the wheel.

Though Buhari’s new choice – Jonathan – has continued to distance himself from talks of his return to A*o Rock Villa in 2023, events of recent times strongly supports the notion of him taking over from the incumbent – an outcome that greatly benefits Buhari’s nepotistic agenda of returning power to the North in 2027.

Source: Sahara Reporters