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Opposition Senators Oppose Tambuwal’s Candidacy As Minority Leader

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Opposition Senators have expressed their opposition to Atiku Abubakar’s attempt to impose Aminu Tambuwal as the Senate Minority Leader, citing Tambuwal’s history of betrayal and self-interest, vowing to vote for an alternative candidate.

Senators from minority parties are taking a stand against the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his endorsement of former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal as the Senate Minority Leader. These agitated senators refuse to accept Tambuwal’s imposition, drawing parallels to their previous resistance against Godswill Akpabio’s appointment by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Tinubu. A significant number of opposition Senators supported Senator Abdullazeez Yari during the contest for the top position in the Senate.

Opposition Senators’ Concerns

A PDP senator from Rivers State, along with a senator from the North and a ranking senator from the South West, have expressed their opposition to Tambuwal’s candidacy as Senate Minority Leader. Due to the sensitivity of the matter, they chose to remain anonymous while stating their readiness to support any alternative candidate. Their primary concern lies in Tambuwal’s track record of sacrificing his political allies for personal gain, casting doubt on his ability to provide effective leadership as the minority leader.

Resolute Stance

The group of Senators has unanimously resolved to vote for a different ranking Senator rather than the former Sokoto State Governor. They argue that Tambuwal’s actions against the PDP in the past indicate that he may use his position as minority leader to negotiate and seek reconciliation with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, whom he allegedly betrayed after being appointed Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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History Of Betrayal

These Senators are critical of Tambuwal’s political activities over the past decade. They question his trustworthiness, citing instances of treachery and betrayal towards Jonathan, Wike, Tinubu, and others. In 2019, Tambuwal defied the PDP and the incumbent President to disregard the party’s zoning arrangements, favoring his personal interests. He often employs ethnic and religious sentiments to his advantage. When Tambuwal became Speaker with the support of opposition elements, including Tinubu and Buhari, he exploited his position to undermine President Jonathan’s administration and the PDP. He subsequently defected to the APC, becoming governor after negotiating with Buhari, Tinubu, and Wamako. However, Tambuwal’s presidential aspirations within the APC remained unfulfilled, leading to his betrayal of Wamako, Tinubu, and Buhari. He realigned with Atiku and returned to the PDP, hoping to secure the party’s presidential ticket.

Contentious Senate Election

Tambuwal’s senatorial election in Sokoto is currently being contested, as he was eager to enter the Senate with the expectation of being rewarded with the position of Senate President. However, due to the PDP’s failure to secure a majority and the defeat of Atiku and Okowa, the plans changed. As a compensation, Atiku and the PDP sought to appoint him as the minority leader. Opposition Senators are rejecting this proposal, highlighting Tambuwal’s history of treachery, betrayal, and prioritizing personal ambition over party loyalty and friendship.

Alternative Candidate

In light of the opposition to Tambuwal, Governor Wike and his supporters are rallying behind a senator from the north central as an alternative candidate for the position of Senate Minority Leader.

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Matawalle, Defence Chief Visit Borno To Boost Counter-Insurgency

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The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, and Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Friday for a high-level operational visit to Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), the military’s counter-insurgency campaign in the North East.

The visit, according to a statement by Ahmad Dan Wudil, the minister’s media aide, aims to evaluate the troops’ operational readiness, boost morale among frontline personnel, and review strategies to restore lasting peace and stability in the region.

The statement underscored the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The trip comes amid growing concerns over resurgent attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.

Earlier this month, Governor Babagana Zulum warned that the security situation was deteriorating, with insurgents dislodging military formations in areas such as Wulgo, Wajiroko, and Sabon Gari.

Zulum urged the federal government and security agencies to act decisively to prevent a reversal of the gains made in the fight against insurgency.

“While we appreciate the tremendous support from the federal government and the military, the current shift in focus away from the North East risks undermining our progress,” Zulum said, highlighting the need for renewed efforts to curb the escalating violence.

The minister’s visit signals a renewed commitment to addressing the security challenges in Borno, where sporadic attacks have raised fears among residents and displaced communities.

Operation HADIN KAI remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s efforts to combat insurgency and restore stability to the troubled region.

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World Malaria Day: Caleb Danladi Foundation Renews Commitment To Fighting Malaria

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By Israel Bulus, Kaduna

As Nigeria joins the global community to mark World Malaria Day 2025, the Caleb Danladi Foundation has stepped up its efforts to combat the disease, with a special focus on protecting vulnerable populations.

Aligning with this year’s theme, “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” the Foundation facilitated the re-enrollment of hundreds of women, children, and other at-risk groups into the Kaduna State Health Insurance Scheme.

Founder of the Foundation, Captain Caleb Danladi, disclosed that the organisation fully funded the beneficiaries’ insurance premiums to enhance their access to malaria prevention and treatment services.

Speaking during Friday’s commemoration, Danladi lamented that malaria continues to claim countless lives, particularly in underserved communities.

“Healthcare is a right, not a privilege,” he said. “On this World Malaria Day, we reaffirm our commitment to saving lives through direct support, strong advocacy, and strategic investments in community health solutions.”

He emphasised the need for sustained investments in healthcare and a reimagined approach to delivering equitable services across communities.

Danladi also urged government agencies, healthcare workers, and development partners to strengthen collaboration efforts aimed at eradicating malaria, noting that safeguarding the health and dignity of Nigerians especially women and children is a shared responsibility.

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Trump’s tariffs will have minimal impact on Africa, says Okonjo-Iweala

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The Director-General (D-G) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stated that Africa would be minimally impacted by the tariffs imposed by the President of the United States of America (USA), Donald Trump.

Okonjo-Iweala made the remark during an interview with Nigerian journalists at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank in Washington D.C. on Friday.

She explained that only 6.5 per cent of Africa’s exports go to the USA, while 4.4 per cent of its imports come from the U.S., meaning that the impact on the continent would be minimal.

“The trade of the continent is very limited with the USA. We have done the analysis, and the impact on the continent as a whole is not significant,” she said.

However, she noted that Africa’s limited trade with the USA was also not ideal, as it hindered economic growth.

The D-G emphasised that Africa needed to focus on utilising its own resources to reach its full potential, as aid was declining, and the continent required more investment.

She pointed out that Africa must strengthen internal trade, citing Lesotho as an example.

In spite of Lesotho exporting 200 million dollars’ worth of textiles to the USA, the country faced challenges due to the shrinking U.S. market.

Okonjo-Iweala noted that Africa spent 7 billion dollars annually on importing textiles, suggesting that Lesotho should instead focus on selling textiles within African markets.

She also urged the USA to consider the effects of tariffs on least-developed countries, calling for a reassessment of the reciprocal tariffs in poorer nations.

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Okonjo-Iweala concluded that Africa needed more investments and should work towards boosting intra-Africa trade, which remained underdeveloped.

“We cannot trade more externally, where our trade is only 3 per cent of world trade, or internally, where intra-Africa trade is 16 to 20 per cent at most,” she said.(NAN)

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