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BREAKING: Presidency breaks silence over alleged plan by Tinubu to buy Presidential Yacht

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3 years ago

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

BREAKING: Presidency breaks silence over alleged plan by Tinubu to buy Presidential Yacht

The senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on media and publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has refuted reports that the president has requested a presidential yacht.

Nigerians’ reactions on social media to the N2.1 trillion supplemental budget Tinubu submitted to the National Assembly have generated debate, with some questioning some of the budget’s components.

According to the details of the budget, N5.09 billion was allocated for a ‘presidential’ yacht, N2.9 billion for sport utility vehicles for the Presidential Villa, and another N2.9 billion for the replacement of operational vehicles for the presidency.

The yacht was listed under the Nigerian Navy’s proposed capital expenditure of N42.3 billion.

Reacting to the criticisms that have followed the release of the budget details, Ajayi revealed that the president doesn’t need a yacht to perform the functions of his office.

He wrote: “It has become a pattern for some individuals, CSOs and a section of the media to pick one or two line items every budget cycle for sensational headlines, deliberately ignoring context in their reporting.

“The public that should benefit from good journalism, which should primarily educate and adequately inform, is left confused and miseducated due to the mischaracterisation of issues and misrepresentation of facts.

“The trending issues on social media since yesterday are two items in the 2023 supplementary budget. One is the provision for a presidential yacht in the supplementary budget by the Navy and the other is over N6 billion for vehicles to the State House.

“It is important to state clearly that President Bola Tinubu didn’t ask for a presidential yacht and I doubt he needs one to perform the functions of his office. From what I know, the request for a yacht, however named or couched in the budget is from the Navy and they must have operational reasons for why it is required.

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“The budget office should be in a position to also explain to the public why such expenditure should be accommodated now, considering the country’s economic situation. I must readily admit that the one reason our budgeting system has been a subject of public attack is the very simplistic way some of the line items are described by civil servants, who prepare the budget. Examples abound. Sometimes in 2016, an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project of the Ministry of Solid Minerals worth over N300m was captured in that year’s budget as a “website”. Naturally, it generated a massive controversy as people, rightly, asked to know the type of website that would be built with N300million.

“It is important to say that journalism should enrich public enlightenment and not create an atmosphere of siege. It is poor reporting to always reduce State House budgetary provisions to the President and Vice President. When the State House makes provision for vehicles, it is reported that the President will use all the vehicles or eat all the food when a provision is made for food and catering services. We have had such inaccurate reporting in the past.

“A President and Vice President cannot, for any reason, spend N20 million naira to eat in a year if it is about the food they will eat as first and second families. How much food can a person really eat? Yet, we will read headlines that Tinubu, Buhari, Jonathan or whoever the President is wants to spend N5billion on food and catering in a year when in actual fact such budgetary provisions are made to accommodate many state events, meetings, hosting of VIPs, foreign dignitaries, and even visits by other Heads of State, and bilateral and multilateral meetings that the State House will deal with in a given year.

He further stated: “It is worth stating that in August this year, President Tinubu as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS hosted two extraordinary summits of the regional body over the political crisis in Niger Republic. The two summits required catering services for the ECOWAS leaders and their delegations. Just this past Sunday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was on a State Visit to Nigeria with a delegation of top businessmen and women from Germany. The President hosted the visiting Chancellor and his delegation to a state banquet. The State House budget for food and catering services is spent on such events. It is not spent essentially to feed the President and Vice President.

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“On matters of vehicles, the N6 billion budget provision is not to buy vehicles for the President and Vice President alone. President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima are not using any new vehicles in their fleet. They are using inherited vehicles. There are hundreds of civil servants and political aides working at the State House who need operational vehicles. I am a senior aide of the President. I am using my personal car and at my own expense since I resumed work more than five months ago. Like me, virtually all the appointees of the President are using personal vehicles at their own expense for official duties. Most of the vehicles in the pool for various departments are run down. Even members of the State House Press Corps do not have functional buses to ease their movement. I know for a fact that a request for a new bus for the State House Press Corps is captured in the supplementary budget for vehicles.

“It is necessary to add that none of the political appointees has drawn any benefit and perks from the public treasury. I must add that in 5 months, we have not even received a kobo as salary because of procedural issues involved in capturing new appointees on the payroll via IPPIS.

“The presidency is a huge Bureaucracy with hundreds of staff. Any budget head for the State House is to run the system, not for the epicurean fantasy of a sitting President and Vice President. In this pageview-centric and social media age, it is easy to provoke public rage. It is also tempting for bloggers and quack journalists to take the easy road of sensationalism to attract traffic to their blogs and news websites. But good journalism, I believe, should be about substance and nuanced reporting.”

BREAKING: Presidency breaks silence over alleged plan by Tinubu to buy Presidential Yacht

(Nation)

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2027: ADC Faction Disowns Atiku, Rejects G-100 Alliance Amid Party Crisis

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October 17, 2026

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2027: ADC Faction Disowns Atiku, Rejects G-100 Alliance Amid Party Crisis
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar
2027: ADC Faction Disowns Atiku, Rejects G-100 Alliance Amid Party Crisis

ABUJA — A fresh leadership dispute has emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after a faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe disowned former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections and rejected any alliance with the G-100 opposition coalition.

The faction insisted that it would not allow its political platform to be used to advance arrangements it had not authorised, warning Atiku and individuals associated with the G-100 against presenting him as its flagbearer.

In a statement, Gombe accused some elements within the G-100 coalition and Atiku of allegedly attempting to pressure the faction into a political alliance or merger ahead of the elections.

He maintained that the faction would protect the party’s identity, organisational structure and political independence rather than surrender its platform to the ambitions of individual politicians.

“The African Democratic Congress is NOT, and will NOT, be in any alliance, merger, or coalition with any political party ahead of the 2027 general elections,” the faction declared.

Gombe also issued a direct warning to Atiku, urging the former vice-president to stop presenting himself as the faction’s presidential candidate or speaking on its behalf.

The development comes amid continuing divisions over the leadership and direction of the ADC as opposition politicians explore ways to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

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The G-100 initiative has been involved in discussions aimed at improving cooperation among opposition forces, including proposals for a common platform or a single presidential candidate capable of mounting a stronger challenge to the ruling party.

However, the discussions have encountered resistance from political figures unwilling to abandon their presidential ambitions in favour of a consensus candidate.

Atiku’s position within the ADC has also become a point of contention between rival factions. While the Gombe-led group rejects his candidacy, the faction led by former Senate President David Mark has recognised him as its presidential candidate.

The ADC’s publicly available announcements previously stated that Atiku won its presidential primary and that his name, alongside that of former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as running mate, was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The competing claims underscore the importance of distinguishing the Gombe faction’s position from that of the rival ADC leadership. The latest statement does not, by itself, establish that the entire party has withdrawn its endorsement of Atiku.

Meanwhile, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party’s discussions facilitated by the G-100 were focused on electoral cooperation rather than necessarily producing a single presidential candidate.

The clarification highlights the differences between efforts to coordinate opposition parties and proposals requiring individual candidates to withdraw from the presidential race.

For Atiku, who is seeking another opportunity to contest Nigeria’s highest political office, the controversy presents an additional challenge as opposition groups negotiate their strategies ahead of the 2027 elections.

The dispute also raises questions about the ADC’s ability to maintain unity while managing rival leadership claims, coalition negotiations and competing political interests.

With the election approaching, the resolution of the party’s internal disagreements could prove significant to its preparations and its prospects of presenting a united opposition front.

For now, the Gombe-led faction has maintained that it will pursue its political objectives independently and will not accept an alliance or candidate arrangement it considers unauthorised.

 

2027: ADC Faction Disowns Atiku, Rejects G-100 Alliance Amid Party Crisis

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16-Year-Old Girl Recounts Horror of Hookup Encounter, Says Man Threatened Her With Knife, Acid

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October 17, 2026

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16-Year-Old Girl Recounts Horror of Hookup Encounter, Says Man Threatened Her With Knife, Acid

16-Year-Old Girl Recounts Horror of Hookup Encounter, Says Man Threatened Her With Knife, Acid

A 16-year-old girl, identified as Christiana, has recounted a frightening experience during a purported hookup encounter, alleging that a man she met produced a knife and a bottle of acid before asking her to choose between the two.

The teenager narrated her experience during an interview with Sahara TV, in a video reportedly shared by online news platform Newsvista.

According to Christiana, her involvement in the hookup business began after a woman allegedly approached her with a promise of helping her secure employment. She claimed, however, that the arrangement led her into a potentially life-threatening situation.

Recounting the incident, the teenager said the encounter took a frightening turn at about 1 a.m. when the man allegedly brought out a knife and acid.

“He brought out a knife and acid at 1 a.m. and told me to choose one,” she said.

Her account has raised concerns about the risks confronting minors who may be lured into exploitative situations through promises of employment or other opportunities.

Christiana’s narration also highlights concerns about the vulnerability of young girls who may be exposed to violence and exploitation by adults who take advantage of their circumstances.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged incident, including the location where it occurred, how the teenager escaped and the identity of the man involved, were not established in the account provided.

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It was also unclear whether the woman Christiana accused of introducing her to the arrangement had been identified or whether the police had begun investigating the allegations.

The interview has generated reactions on social media, with calls for the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s experience to be investigated and for those responsible, if identified and found culpable, to be held accountable.

The incident underscores the importance of protecting minors from exploitation and ensuring that allegations of threats and violence against children are promptly reported to the appropriate authorities.

Parents, guardians and child-protection advocates have repeatedly stressed the need to provide young people with safe channels to seek employment and assistance, while encouraging them to report suspicious approaches and potentially dangerous encounters.

However, the allegations require independent verification, and no conclusion can be drawn about the identities or culpability of those involved without further investigation.

As of the time of writing, no official statement from law enforcement concerning the specific incident was available in the information provided.

16-Year-Old Girl Recounts Horror of Hookup Encounter, Says Man Threatened Her With Knife, Acid

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2027: Davido Says Nobody Can Force Presidential Candidate on Him, Claims He Defeated 17 Governors With Phone

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October 17, 2026

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2027: Davido Says Nobody Can Force Presidential Candidate on Him, Claims He Defeated 17 Governors With Phone
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Afrobeats star David Adeleke popularly known as Davido

2027: Davido Says Nobody Can Force Presidential Candidate on Him, Claims He Defeated 17 Governors With Phone

Nigerian Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has declared that nobody can force him to support a presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections, insisting that his political choices remain personal despite his uncle’s endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The singer made the remarks while reflecting on his involvement in the Osun State governorship election, where he campaigned for his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, against the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Davido also claimed that he confronted the political influence and resources of 17 APC governors during the campaign, saying he relied largely on his mobile phone and social media presence to mobilise support.

“I defeated 17 governors with all their power, with all their immunity, with all their aides, with all their escort commanders, with all their DSS, with all their billions. I defeated them with my phone,” the singer said during an interview with News Central TV.

The remark referred to his role in the Osun governorship contest and was Davido’s personal assessment of the campaign, rather than an independently established account of the involvement of 17 governors.

The singer’s comments have drawn renewed attention amid discussions about the political influence of celebrities and expectations that he might support a presidential candidate in 2027 following his involvement in his uncle’s campaign.

Davido said he had received messages from people urging him to replicate his support for Governor Adeleke at the national level. However, he rejected the suggestion that his participation in the Osun election meant he had already chosen a presidential candidate.

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“For now, I feel like I did what I had to do for the Osun people and my family. You can’t force me to have a presidential candidate,” he said.

He also made it clear that Governor Adeleke’s political decisions did not automatically determine his own position.

The Osun governor declared support for President Tinubu after his electoral victory, but Davido said his uncle might have personal or state-related reasons for the decision.

According to the singer, maintaining a cordial relationship with the Federal Government could be beneficial to a state administration seeking support and allocations. He stressed, however, that such considerations were for his uncle to make.

Davido further stated that he was not prepared to endorse any presidential candidate at the time of the interview and ruled out supporting the ruling APC, while leaving open the possibility that his position could change.

The singer recalled supporting political candidates in previous elections, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar when he was associated with the Peoples Democratic Party. He also referred to his involvement in earlier political campaigns linked to his late uncle, Isiaka Adeleke.

His latest position highlights the distinction between his support for Governor Adeleke in a state election and his personal decision about the next presidential contest.

Davido has also previously discussed the challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral process and questioned whether the country’s political system adequately protects voters’ choices. During the interview, he reflected on the difficulties of participating in politics and the responsibilities that come with seeking public office.

Despite his involvement in political campaigns, the award-winning musician has not announced a presidential candidate for 2027.

His comments come as political parties and prospective candidates prepare for the next general election, with public figures and entertainers likely to remain part of the wider debate over political participation and voter mobilisation.

For now, Davido says he intends to make his own decision rather than follow pressure from supporters or family members.

2027: Davido Says Nobody Can Force Presidential Candidate on Him, Claims He Defeated 17 Governors With Phone

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