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Attacks against Akpabio over Ningi’s suspension affront on Tininu’s govt- CSOs

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A coalition of civil society organisations have described the criticism of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio as an affront on the administration on the credibility rating of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu saying the decision to suspend Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi was in good faith to restore public order and discipline in the Senate.

Rising-Up for a United Nigeria (RUN), Guardians of Democracy and Development (GODD) and Partners for a Legislative Agenda for Nigeria (PLAN) a coalition of Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) with interest in monitoring political developments and policies across the country have called on Senators to eschew divisive tendencies and support the Senate President in the discharge of his duties for the overall development of the nation rather than the tilting towards regional segmentation of the Senate.

This is coming after media reports indicated that some interest groups in the north have begun a clandestine move to agitate and protest the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi, Senator Representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District over the unfounded claims he made in his Senate budget padding allegation.

Addressing the Media via a press statement signed by the trio of Amb. Solomon Adodo, Mallam Suleiman Musa, and G. C. Oluoha Esq., Conveners of RUN, GODD and PLAN respectively, the group cautioned against the existence of splinter groups and blocks in the Senate which are to say the least detrimental to unity in the Red Chambers and Nigeria at large, with a call for their immediate disbandment.

According to the statement, “the Senate is the highest legislative body in Nigeria. The presence of blocks such as the Northern Nigeria Senators’ Forum which Ningi chaired before his uncharitable outing is nothing but a divisive body that should be scrapped. The Senate should not be about North and South. It cannot afford to allow factions and parochial interest groups to dominate its ranks especially now that the country needs unity to survive more than anything else.

“The agitations from interests groups with their varied threats and hate against the no-nonsense personality of the Senate President makes bare, the insidious motives of these blocks. The fact that Senator Ningi spoke on behalf of the Northern Senators’ forum, alleging a plot against the North speaks for itself. What Senator Ningi did actually went beyond the bounds of his legislative office and duties. He deserves the suspension and no group should try to intimidate the Senate and indeed Nigerians”.

On the issue of budget padding which was unanimously and roundly debunked for lack of facts to back up Senator Ningi’s claims, the Coalition observed that, as a Senator, Ningi had no moral justification to attack a budget he actively participated in its passage.

“The 2024 budget was passed on the floor of the Senate, in the presence of all Senators and the Media. There was nothing like budget padding. The fact that Ningi who is now playing the ostrich was actually present when the budget was passed has come to expose the barefaced lie of a possible padding. Why didn’t Ningi raise objections on the floor of the Senate as to his suspicions whilst the budget was being deliberated upon? Why did he not approach the Senate Committee on Appropriation to table his complaint rather than going to the press to make his bogus accusations which he has now denounced?”, the statement queried.

The Coalition also outrightly accused Senator Ningi’s outburst as “a deliberate attempt by him and his cohorts to embarrass the Senate President, distinguished Senators and the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a desperate attempt to diminish the credibility rating of the current administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the government”.

It further called on Nigerians to disregard those bent on destabilising the current administration urging all patriotic citizens to rather support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Senate on this year’s epic budget “as they work harmoniously in restoring Nigeria’s lost glory and charting a course towards economic recovery and prosperity”.

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Starship to leave for Mars at end of 2026 – Elon Musk

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Elon Musk has announced an ambitious timeline for SpaceX’s Mars mission, revealing that the company’s massive Starship rocket is set to depart for the Red Planet at the end of 2026. The mission will include Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, as part of the spacecraft’s payload.

“If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely,” Musk posted on his social media platform, X.

The Starship rocket—considered the world’s most powerful—is central to Musk’s long-term vision of colonizing Mars. However, significant technical hurdles remain before this dream becomes reality.

NASA is also counting on a modified version of Starship to serve as the lunar lander for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade. But before SpaceX can proceed with interplanetary travel, it must demonstrate that Starship is safe, reliable, and capable of complex in-orbit refueling—an essential requirement for deep space missions.

SpaceX recently encountered a setback when the latest test flight of Starship ended in an explosion. While the booster was successfully caught in its orbital test, the upper stage failed, tumbling out of control before the live feed abruptly cut. The incident mirrored a previous attempt.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated an investigation before Starship can fly again, adding another layer of scrutiny to SpaceX’s ambitious timeline.

Despite these challenges, Musk remains optimistic, continuing to push forward toward his goal of making humanity a multi-planetary species.

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Obi donates N20m to Colleges of Nursing in Ahiara and Ihiala

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The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has donated N20 million to two Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Imo and Anambra States. The beneficiaries are Holy Rosary College of Nursing, Ogbe, in Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Mbaise, and College of Nursing Sciences, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.

Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, presented N10 million cheques to each institution during his visits on Friday. At the Holy Rosary College of Nursing, he handed over the cheque to the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev Simeon Nwobi, at the college’s construction site. Similarly, at Our Lady of Lourdes, Ihiala, he presented the donation to the Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Miss Anigbo Chisom Mary, in the presence of excited students.

Highlighting the significance of his donation, Obi stressed that healthcare and education are critical to national development. He commended the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara for investing in nursing education, describing it as a vital step in securing Nigeria’s future.

“My Lords, what you are doing is a great service to our country,” Obi said. “This donation is not a favour but a recognition of your efforts in nation-building. I will always support this project because it is about securing a better future for Nigeria.”

Obi further urged the government to prioritize quality education, including the prompt payment of teachers’ salaries. He emphasized the need for free and accessible education at the primary and secondary levels, both in public and private schools.

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Tinubu’s administration not running govt in secrecy — AGF Fagbemi

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The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, stating that government affairs will no longer be conducted in secrecy.

Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting on the Application of the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) in Awka, Anambra State, Fagbemi urged Nigerians to use the Act to demand accountability from their elected and appointed officials. The event was organized by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Represented by Garba Sunday, a lawyer in the ministry’s FoIA department, Fagbemi emphasized that the FoI Act empowers citizens to access government records and information without providing reasons for their request. He encouraged public officeholders to disclose their activities to foster trust and dispel rumors.

“The Act also provides for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to access government records. However, while the law guarantees access to information, there are exemptions and conditions that must be met before certain records can be released,” Fagbemi stated.

He commended the Anambra State government for actively implementing the Act, allowing citizens to stay informed about governance. He further called on Nigerians to exercise their right to information and participate in governance, adding that transparency leads to good governance.

“We appreciate the efforts of organizations like Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) and CTA for making this town hall meeting possible. The purpose of the FoI Act is to promote **transparency, accountability, and good governance—**not to be used as a tool for blackmail or political attacks,” he added.

In her remarks, CTA Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi, lamented that many Nigerians remain unaware of their rights under the FoI Act, despite its enactment over 14 years ago.

“The Act allows citizens, including women, youth, and people with disabilities (PWDs), to track budgets, monitor government programs, and expose corruption. However, those who passed the law have done little to educate the public about its importance,” she stated.

Nwadishi highlighted that the town hall meeting aimed to empower marginalized groups to use the FoI Act in holding government institutions accountable. She also noted the work of the Strengthening Accountability and Governance in Nigeria Initiative (SAGNI) in promoting transparency in the Federal Capital Territory, Anambra State, and Edo State.

As calls for transparency and accountability grow louder, stakeholders emphasized the need for public institutions to proactively disclose information and for Nigerians to actively demand their rights, ensuring that governance remains open and inclusive.

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