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2023: Wike, Makinde, Ikpeazu, Ugwuanyi, Ortom Shut Door On Atiku, Meet With Tinubu In London

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Aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors yesterday foreclosed any support for the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in next year’s election.

The governor – Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Sam Ortom (Benue) – also rejected peace overtures from Southsouth leaders, who appealed to them to retrace their steps.

Wike and other members of the Integrity Group said there was no room for a final peace deal with Atiku.

The governors, who left the country three days ago, said they will not leave a crucial meeting in London for any meeting in Nigeria.

But the G-5 governors met with the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday.

It was unclear if there will be more representations to the G-5 by other presidential candidates.

Report has it that the G-5 team shut its doors against Atiku because he has not yielded grounds on their demands, especially concessions to the South and  stepping down from office  by the National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

The removal of Makinde as the Southwest Coordinator for PDP Presidential Campaign allegedly angered the governors at the session in London.

The source said: “So far, the London meeting has succeeded in defining the position of the G-5 on Atiku. The governors have resolved not to work for the presidential candidate of their party.

“They will however, ensure the victory of PDP in other elections in their various states. The good thing is that the Presidential and the National Assembly Elections will come first on February 25, 2023.

“The governors were unhappy that they gave Atiku enough windows to  meet their demands, but he refused because he believes he can win without them.

“They claimed that the little trust between them and Atiku has waned. They foresee vengeance against them  if Atiku wins the 2023 poll.

“Where there is need for alliance in their states, they said they  are determined to prove to PDP and Atiku that they cannot be wished away.”

It was learnt that ahead of the final decision of the G-5 on Atiku, some South-South leaders hurriedly invited Wike to a meeting in Nigeria for a deal with the PDP candidate.

But the Rivers State governor, who is the arrowhead of G-5, said he will not be part of any fresh deal or talk with Atiku.

“Wike told the South-South leaders that it was late in the day to have any meeting with them on the Atiku-Okowa ticket. He said the London meeting was more crucial than the one in Nigeria.

“Some of the Southsouth leaders became helpless and may abandon their latest overtures.”

On a fresh shuttle being planned by a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, another source added: “The G-5 will not sit down with him because he has been biased from the onset. He pitched tents with Atiku. He has his reasons, the G-5 governors have theirs. Water and oil do not mix.”

It was gathered that the G-5 governors met with Tinubu in London.

However, it was unclear whether or not the governors will have audience with other presidential candidates.

One of the governors said: “It was part of the ongoing consultations with all stakeholders. We have said that we will make our position known in January. Don’t jump the gun.”

Since they arrived in London, the governors have been weighing options.

The five choices before the G-5 are as follows:

To endorse Tinubu or Obi and damn the consequences

A flat option: To support Tinubu or Obi with resources and the right environment to woo voters in the five states

Leave every governor to take any decision based on political exigency in each state or zone

Refuse to campaign for Atiku and allow the electorates in each state to decide who to vote for.

•Keep their game plan to themselves by waiting till the last minutes before making a pronouncement on their preferred candidate.

BIG STORY

US Agency To Probe Tesla’s ‘Full Self-Driving’ System After Pedestrian’s Death

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The US government is set to launch an investigation into Tesla’s “full self-driving” system following reports of four crashes in low-visibility conditions and the death of a pedestrian.

According to international media, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) made the announcement on Thursday, citing incidents where multiple Tesla vehicles encountered poor visibility environments, including sun glare, fog, and airborne dust.

In addition to the pedestrian’s death, another crash resulted in an injury, the agency stated.

Investigators will examine the capability of “full self-driving” to “detect and respond appropriately to reduced roadway visibility conditions, and if so, the contributing circumstances for these crashes.”

The NHTSA said the probe will cover approximately 2.4 million Tesla vehicles from the 2016 to 2024 model years.

The agency also plans to determine whether any other similar crashes involving “full self-driving” have occurred under low visibility conditions.

The NHTSA is also seeking information from Tesla regarding any updates to the system that may have influenced its performance in these environments.

“In particular, his review will assess the timing, purpose and capabilities of any such updates, as well as Tesla’s assessment of their safety impact,” the agency said.

Tesla has already recalled “full self-driving” twice following investigations by the NHTSA, which in July gathered information from law enforcement and the company after a motorcyclist was struck and killed by a Tesla using the system near Seattle.

Reports from the Associated Press indicated the recalls were due to the system being programmed to run stop signs at low speeds and other violations of traffic laws.

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Students Set Kebbi College Provost’s Residence Ablaze Over Alleged Extortion

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Students at the College of Health Sciences and Technology in Jega, Kebbi State, have “set the residence of the Provost, Alhaji Haruna Saidu-Sauwa, on fire” and “vandalised his vehicle.”

The protest began due to allegations that the college management “extorted N23m from the students” for “index registration for 250 graduating students.”

According to a source, the controversy started with a newly introduced Public Health programme initially affiliated with the Reproductive Health and the Public Health Association of Nigeria.

The college then merged the programme with the Department of Environmental Health, leading to a demand for an additional “N65,000 from each student for index registration,” on top of the “N30,000 already paid.”

In response to the allegations of extortion, the students resorted to violent actions, including “stoning vehicles and setting the provost’s residence on fire.”

Several staff members fled before security personnel arrived.

The provost, Saidu-Sauwa, described the allegations as “fictitious, baseless and mischievous,” denying any involvement in extorting students.

He stated that the college uses a “Single Treasury Account” where all funds are deposited, and “no one has access to the account, including me.”

He further claimed that the protest was fueled by an anonymous source attempting to discredit the college, urging students and staff to “exercise restraint” while the cause of the unrest is fully investigated.

Following the intervention of security agencies, normalcy has returned to the college.

The Kebbi State Police Command indicated that more details will be provided after a report from the Divisional Police Officer in Jega is available.

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Army Seeks Nigerians’ Support In War Against Terrorism, Says “We Can’t Do It Alone”

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The Nigerian army has urged the public to provide support in the fight against terrorism. Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, noted that Nigeria is facing “asymmetric warfare” with non-state actors operating in various parts of the country.

In a video message on Friday, Musa emphasized that while the army is dedicated to restoring peace, success requires a “whole-of-society approach.”

He mentioned that Nigeria has a significant history of peacekeeping efforts both in Africa and internationally. Musa outlined the country’s current security challenges, including “Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast,” “banditry in the northwest,” “pipeline vandalism and sea piracy in the south-south,” and IPOB’s push for “secession” in the southeast.

Despite these ongoing issues, the armed forces are fully committed to ensuring peace across the nation. Musa also highlighted efforts to enhance “troop welfare” and training, aimed at creating a sense of normalcy in markets, schools, and the economy, especially in affected regions.

He reassured Nigerians that the military is a professional force focused on fulfilling its mission to restore “peace and security.” Musa urged the public to continue supporting the “government, the armed forces, and other security agencies” in this effort.

He concluded by stating, “We cannot do it alone… Together, we will succeed.”

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