Politics

One-Day Lagos Governor Seeks Infrastructure Improvement In Schools

Published

5 years ago

March 29, 2021

The One-Day Governor of Lagos State, Miss Eniola Ajala, has appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to provide more infrastructure in the state’s public schools.

Ajala made the appeal while holding extraordinary meeting with the Lagos State Executive Council at the Exco Chamber at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

Being One-Day-Governor is an honour given to the winner of the New Era Spelling Bee Competition for public schools in Lagos, of which Miss Eniola Ajala won the 2018 edition.

She said there was need for infrastructure improvement, especially in the schools of all the winners of the competition, so as to create an ambient environment for learning.

Ajala, who was at the extraordinary meeting with her cabinet members, thanked Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s administration for the honour bestowed on the winners of the Spelling Bee Competition.

She also commended the governor for the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda of his administration and his efforts in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to her, members of the Lagos state executive council are good products of quality education and policies in the state.

She enjoined students to be focused, determined, prayerful and committed in order to overcome their challenges in life.

The One-Day-Governor, Ajala, is a student of Lafiaji Senior High School, Lagos Island, while her cabinet members included, Miss Grace Ikhariale of TinCan Island Senior High School, Tolu (Deputy Governor) and Miss Oluwatosin Akinbodewa of Iworo Ajido Senior Secondary School, Badagry (Speaker).

Other were Miss Eunice Adedotun of Agbde Senior School, Ikorodu (Commissioner for Education) and Master Ekene Ezeunala of Meiran Community High School (Chairman, House Committee on Education).

Reacting, Sanwo-Olu said his government was committed to quality education in the state, as education would continue to be a major stake on the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda in order to improve the learning outcome of students in public schools.

He said his government would continue to improve on the ambience of learning in public schools to bring out the best in students across the state.

Sanwo-Olu said that the competition was about excellence and to encourage students and youth population in Lagos State.

The governor urged students in various schools in the state not to rest on their oars to be the best, to persevere and be committed to reach their goals and endeavours in life.

He applauded Ajala for demonstrating confidence, knowledge, eloquence and pride, while admonishing her and cabinet members to be steadfast and not allow the little feats to get to their heads.

Sanwo-Olu promised to fulfill the requests made by the One-Day-Governor, among which were rewards for teachers, principals and infrastructural improvement in schools.

He also commended the Ministry of Education, as well the Office of Quality Assurance in the ministry for their efforts and tenacity in improving the education sector.

Sanwo-Olu also appreciated former First Lady and the founder of New Era foundation, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, who is currently representing Lagos Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly for initiating the Spelling Bee Competition.

He said the competition which had started for the past 20 years was not about race nor tribe but an excellence platform available to students of public schools in Lagos.

Speaking to journalists at the event, the Director General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, said the winners of the Spelling Bee competition would be sponsored on a tour programme to Finland.

“ Oluremi Tinubu, wife of a former governor of Lagos, Sen. Bola Tinubu, started the Spelling Bee Competition for public schools students and 20 years later, the programme still exists; that says a lot about Lagos State Government.

“To prepare for the Spelling Bee Competition takes a lot; it takes perseverance, hard work and consistency and that is what we expect our students to be able to do to prepare them for the future.

“It is good to know that all the winners of the One-Day-Governor and Spelling Bee Competition have succeeded in their various expected areas.

“We have people that are lawyers, Phd holders, doctors and professionals in other areas. We have those who are currently employed in Lagos State Government,” Seriki-Ayeni said.

Politics

Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice

Published

2 weeks ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials.

The protesters who gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, moved in a slow procession while clutching placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”

Amid tears and trembling voices, the children appealed for justice and access to their detained fathers, many of whom they said they had not seen for months.

The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja attended by no fewer than 20 wives and several children of the detained officers, including a two-month-old baby.

The families were accompanied by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.

At the briefing, the families lamented that the officers had been held for over 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives, describing the situation as a violation of their fundamental rights.

Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had thrown their households into uncertainty and emotional distress, noting that while allegations had been widely publicised, families remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.

The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.

However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers, allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.

According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, cited as the planned date for the operation.

Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.

The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Politics

APC Resumes Electronic Membership Registration Nationwide

Published

2 weeks ago

April 2, 2026

The Tide

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the resumption of its electronic membership registration exercise across the country.

In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said the exercise would take place in all wards and designated centres nationwide.

He called on existing members to update their records, while encouraging new entrants to join the party through the digital platform.

“As the electronic membership registration exercise resumes in all wards and designated locations nationwide, we urge existing members to validate their membership while new members are encouraged to register and join the progressive family,” Mr Morka said.

According to him, eligibility for registration is limited to individuals aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN).

The party said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise its operations by transitioning to a digital database that would enhance record accuracy and accessibility.

Mr Morka noted that the e-registration would “digitise the party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, and enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions.”

He added that the move is also aimed at promoting internal democracy within the party and strengthening its commitment to democratic innovation.

The APC had previously introduced electronic registration as part of broader reforms to streamline its membership system and improve organisational efficiency.

Politics

AKPABIO, DIRI, OBOREVWORI, OTHERS VOW TO REELECT TINUBU …AS GIADOM RETAINS APC ZONAL CHAIR

Published

2 weeks ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has declared that with the six South-South states now being controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the zone is set to return the highest votes cast for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

He stated this in Asaba, Delta State, at the party’s zonal congress, noting that the coming together of the governors of the region in the APC was made possible by its zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Victor Giadom.

Senator Akpabio also praised the outgone zonal chieftains of the party, saying they worked hard for the unity of the party and the zone.

“Now that we are complete and focused, we will be the geo-political zone in Nigeria that will turn out the highest votes in 2027 for President Tinubu.

“In the last 46 years or so, our region had not produced a senate president. But under President Tinubu, the South-South region is recognised. We thank the president for giving the South-South a senate president”, he said.

In his speech, the Bayelsa State Governor, and Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, Senator Douye Diri, described the APC adoption of the consensus option for electing its officials as the best way to foster unity and consolidation in the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He expressed satisfaction that politically, the South-South zone now speaks with one voice under the APC, stressing the need for the region to be part of the decision-making process at the national level.

The governor recalled that when he contested for the governorship in 2019, the delegate election process for primaries in the political parties made the exercise rancorous, saying

the slogan then was that without delegates, there will be no governor, but that that has since changed with the consensus mode.

“I like to align myself with the previous speakers on the unity of the South-South zone. In this region politically, the South-South now speaks with one voice. This is important because of the strategic nature of the zone.

“If you are not on the sharing table, in terms of decision-making process, you will be left behind. We need to be united that we will not allow petty divisions among us.

“Let us work together for the unity and protection of APC in the South-South and God willing, all our candidates will come out tops in the 2027 elections. There cannot be anything better than a united family.

“Let me congratulate President Bola Tinubu for his remarkable achievements so far. Political events such as elective congresses like this were usually filled with rancour and violence. But, today, we have adopted the consensus model to produce our party executives from the wards to the regional level”, Senator Diri said.

In their goodwill messages, the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and others all spoke on unity of purpose to be able to re-elect the President for a second term.

Meanwhile, Chief Victor Giadom was returned as the party’s zonal chairman alongside seven other zonal executives of the party.

Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, moved the motion for the dissolution of the immediate past zonal executive of the party and was seconded by his Bayelsa State counterpart, Abraham Ingobere.

In his remarks, the reelected zonal Vice Chairman, Chief Victor Giadom, said the gathering of the six governors of the region, lawmakers, ministers and other major stakeholders was an indication of the zone’s commitment to return all APC candidates in next year’s poll.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa