Femi Adesina, who served as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, revealed that Buhari was initially unwilling to congratulate Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara after they controversially became Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2015.

Adesina shared this in a tribute to Buhari, reflecting on his early experience as the president’s media aide and the difficulty of balancing loyalty with professional duty.

He explained that the incident happened just nine days after he took up the role of presidential spokesman.

According to Adesina, Saraki and Dogara emerged as leaders of the National Assembly against the preference of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Although their emergence was viewed as defiant, it still adhered to constitutional norms.

“I told the President we needed to congratulate them. He balked. But I stood my ground. He said no, I also said no. I said it would portray him as undemocratic,” Adesina wrote.

He noted that Buhari later agreed to issue the statement, making only a small addition to the final version.

“At the end of the day, he reasoned with me and the statement was written, with him just adding one word,” he stated.

“Keeping to his word is part of the famed integrity. Argue with me. If you have a better point, I’ll agree with you.”

Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation International, has said that “everyone is afraid” of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar.

He made this remark while giving reasons for leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to join the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Momodu also confirmed that he would be backing Atiku in the 2027 presidential election.

During an appearance on Channels TV on Thursday, Momodu stated that his endorsement of Atiku stems from a strategic understanding of Nigeria’s political dynamics.

He said: “Everybody is afraid of Atiku, and that is exactly why I, Dele Momodu, support him.

“The fear the ruling party has for him shows he remains the most formidable opposition figure today.

“When everyone is trying to discredit or silence a man, it means he’s the one they truly fear.”

Momodu previously ran for president in 2011 and took part in the PDP presidential primaries in 2022.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has officially opened Nigeria’s first local government-owned radio station.

This groundbreaking station, situated in Mushin Local Government, highlights the critical role of information dissemination to the public.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, inaugurated the station during the commissioning of various legacy projects implemented by Mushin Local Government Chairman, Emmanuel Olanrewaju Bamigboye, at Oliyide Street, Mushin.

A post on the official Facebook page of the Lagos State Government praised the development, calling it “laudable and worthy of emulation by other Local Government Areas.”

The statement says: “Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has commissioned the first Local Government-owned radio station in Nigeria (Ishokan 106.7 FM), operated by the Mushin Local Government, emphasising the importance of information dissemination to the people.

“The Governor, who launched Nigeria’s pioneering local government-owned radio stations through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, today at the commissioning of other legacy projects executed by the Chairman, Mushin Local Government, Hon. Emmanuel Olanrewaju Bamigboye, at Oliyide Street, Mushin, Lagos, said that the launch is laudable and worthy of emulation by other Local Government Areas.

“According to Sanwo-Olu, ‘It’s always good to communicate with our people. So, we must appreciate the Chairman of the Local Government for building these notable projects. First, getting all the federal agencies in one place, so that if you need anything, you are not running from one place to another. Secondly, establishing this radio station, and many other projects, including roads, markets, and others, is a real achievement,’ said Sanwo-Olu, adding the residents should be excited about having such a political party and Chairmen who are commissioning infrastructures that some states cannot do.

“The Governor stated that the State is progressing under the All Progressive Congress (APC) adding that, as roads are being commissioned, Primary Healthcare, Schools, Administrative blocks and so many more are launched. This implies that the party is a progressive one, urging the people to unite and be able to stand on the President’s mandate.

“He reiterated further that to be able to stand on that mandate, every resident must possess a voter’s card, stressing that those who are yet to possess the voter’s card should ensure they go out when the registration process commences, as the prosperity of the nation strongly depends on the reforms and policies of the president.”