POLITICS
Name the Terrorist in NASS—Rep Challenges Buhari

By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
The House of Representatives yesterday, reserved rulings on a petition brought before it against President Muhammadu Buhari, that he publicly called National Assembly legislators terrorists.
The decision to reserve its ruling on the matter followed a complaint of abuse of his privilege raised on the floor by Hon.
Ben Roland Igbakpa, under matter of privilege, who also asked the President to name the sponsors of terrorism in the National Assembly.Igbakpa said his point of order, was predicated on Order 6 Rule 2, and Legislative House Powers Act Number 17a.
He further cited Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which he said gave powers of lawmaking to the National Assembly, while Section 5, gave the Executive powers and 6, gave powers to the Judiciary.
He pointed out that no part of the Constitution said that any arm of government was higher than the other.
The lawmaker said that he listened to the Independence Day speech by President Buhari, and could confirm in paragraph 33, where he told the whole world that, “one of us is sponsoring terrorism.
“That means 469 members of this National Assembly are prime suspects”, he said, stressing that where he went for the burial of a colleague at the weekend, he was challenged over the statement by the President.
He said the worst befell him in the neighbouring Ghana at the weekend too, where he was quizzed for hours due to the statement.
Igbakpa said that the Ghanaian authorities told him that he was under watch, because there was a red alert that one of Nigerian lawmakers is a sponsor of terrorism.
The lawmaker who said after a long period of waiting, the officials came apologizing and asked him to proceed, worried that this was the kind of treatment the President’s statement was exposing them to.
He said the President should have been bold enough to name the lawmaker that is a sponsor of terrorism, rather than generalize, to expose them to hatred and disdain.
“My friends have been calling me to say, who among you is the terrorists sponsor? Stressing that the situation has become very embarrassing.
The lawmaker asked the House of Representatives and the Senate to redeem their image and ask the President to show boldness to name the lawmaker that is a sponsor of terrorism among them.
However, the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, refused members to speak on the matter, even when it was obvious that they wanted to air their grievances over the President’s comment.
Gbajabiamila said it was a matter of privilege and should not be debated, telling the petitioners that, “I will get back to you.”
POLITICS
Buhari Felicitates Tinubu at Midterm, Calls for Nigerians’ continue support

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated his successor, President Bola Tinubu, on his midterm, calling for Nigerians’ continue support for his administration’s efforts to address poverty and inflation.
This is contained in a statement issued by Buhari’s former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Wednesday.
Buhari also called for steadfast support for the All Progressives Congress-led government as it marks its second year in office, saying reforms would achieve success gradually, not overnight.
He warned that necessary reforms and desired changes must not fall victim to mettlesome domestic politics.
According to him, as the party and the government celebrate, the country should be reminded that leadership is a continuous journey.
Buhari expressed support for the ongoing efforts by the Tinubu-led administration to curb poverty and inflation, which, he said, had hit the poorest families.
Seeking Nigerians’ support for Tinubu-led administration, he said that the task of reducing poverty and inflation mustn’t be left only for the government.
“The private sector and all of us, as citizens, must join in all ways we can,” he said.
The former president urged Nigerians to remain optimistic and stay confident about the country’s future, saying ‘our expectations from our governments should not get heavy’.
While expressing his heartfelt felicitation to Tinubu on his two years in office, Buhari prayed God to keep and grant him the wisdom and care to continue to lead the country. (NAN)

President Tinubu Appoints Ex- Speaker, Enugu Assembly, Odo, as UNN Governing Council Member
President Bola Tinubu has appointed the former speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Eugene Odo, and Mr. Muhammad Tahir, as governing council members of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
The appointment comes as part of the President’s renewed efforts to reposition federal tertiary institutions for excellence and global competitiveness.
Odo served as a two time speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly between 2007 and 2015.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain also served under the previous administration of Muhammad Buhari as a governing board member of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
Also appointed were the governing councils members of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka.
The appointments were contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja.
Onanuga said President Tinubu charged the new council members to justify their appointments by ensuring that their respective universities move forward.(NAN)
POLITICS
PDP NEC Gets Under Way in Abuja

By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
All is set for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 99th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting today at the party’s Presidential Campaign Office, Legacy House, located in the Maitama District, Abuja. After a marathon meeting of the various organs of the PDP at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge, officials of the party have converged on Legacy House for the long awaited NEC meeting, which had been postponed for several times.
Security in and around the house has been beefed up with the deployment operatives from the Police, DSS and NSCDC. Many prominent members of the party, including its 2023 Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, were absent from the marathon meeting.The NEC, one of the highest decision-making organs of the PDP, comprises of Party National Chairman and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC), state governors, serving and former presidents, former vice-presidents, the chairman and secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT), principal officers of the National Assembly, state chairpersons, former governors, and founding members, among others. The NEC meeting is expected to address critical issues affecting the party, including strategies for upcoming political engagements, leading to the 2027 general elections.On Monday, barely 24 hours to the much expected NEC meeting, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) keep to its threat and sealed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat, Wuse Zone 5 for failure to ground rent, a situation the party described as temporary set back.However, reprieve came to the PDP and others who had their properties sealed as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, intervened and gave them 14 days to pay their ground rent.