Tinubu made the pledge on Friday on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of Yar’Adua’s death.
Nigerian “President-elect”, Bola Tinubu, has pledged to take after the footsteps of the former President, late Umar Musa Yar’Adua in his administration.
Tinubu made the pledge on Friday on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of Yar’Adua’s death.
Yar’Adua was Nigerian president, sworn in on May 29, 2007. He previously served as the governor of Katsina State from 1999 to 2007.
In 2009, he travelled overseas for series of medical treatments but died on May 5, 2010, paving way for Goodluck Jonathan, his Vice, to become president.
In a tribute to the late former President, Tinubu described him as a good friend that would never be forgotten.
Tinubu in his tribute titled “We’ll Never Forget You” hailed Yar’Adua’s contribution to Nigeria’s democracy’, said he was prepared to follow the example.
Tinubu was quoted as saying, “Today, as always, I remember my good friend and brother in the struggle for democracy and good governance in Nigeria, the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who died on this day 13 years ago.
“May 5, 2010, may have long gone, but for some of us, the wound is still fresh. We remember the day as much as we remember the purposeful life lived by Mallam Umaru Yar’Adua.
“As a friend and political associate I cherish the fond memories of honesty, steadfastness, patriotism and excellence in public service left behind by the late Yar’Adua both as governor of Katsina State (1999 to 2007) and president of Nigeria (2007 to 2010).
“As I prepare to take the reins of leadership of this country on May 29, I am determined to follow the good examples set by leaders like Mallam Umaru Yar’Adua who showcased exceptional sense of propriety and selfless service to our dear country.
“Rest on, dear brother. May your soul continue to find peace with your maker. Amen.”
Sources revealed that against the persuasion of the “president-elect” Bola Tinubu who is said to be foisting Akpabio’s choice on the Red Chambers, Yari has refused to step down, signalling a fresh crisis among the senators and senators-elect, particularly under the ruling All Progressives Congress.
A former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, is presently on a collision course with former minister and former Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio over the Senate Presidency of the yet-to-be-inaugurated 10th National Assembly.
Sources revealed that against the persuasion of the “president-elect” Bola Tinubu who is said to be foisting Akpabio’s choice on the Red Chambers, Yari has refused to step down, signalling a fresh crisis among the senators and senators-elect, particularly under the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Akpabio and Yari are among the nine contenders for the Senate presidency of the 10th assembly which is expected to be inaugurated on June 13, 2023.
Another source revealed that one of the front runners, Senator Ali Ndume, was asked by the “president-elect” to drop his ambition and support the Akpabio/Barau ticket, which he reportedly obliged.
The source said that “The President-elect summoned Ndume and asked him to step down for Akpabio in the interest of national cohesion, fairness and religious balancing which he obliged.
“He also insisted that Ndume should be in the frontline to deliver Akpabio as the next Senate president. That’s how we started collecting signatures. Efforts to get the former governor of Zamfara State to step down failed.”
SaharaReporters recently exclusively published a story about how Senator Akpabio refused to honour an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the excuse of ill health.
The newspaper also reported that the EFCC had re-invited Akpabio over allegations of abuse of office and misappropriation of billions of Naira.
The EFCC earlier invited Akpabio to appear for questioning on March 29 but the lawyer representing the Senator-elect, Umeh Kalu (SAN), in a letter to the anti-graft agency said his client would be unable to honour the invitation due to his ill health.
The lawyer said Akpabio was undergoing treatment for pneumonia and cardiac arrhythmia and therefore asked the antigraft agency to pick another date.
According to the lawyer, Akpabio had already arranged medical appointments overseas.
However, SaharaReporters recently obtained another letter from the EFCC asking Akpabio to come to its headquarters in Abuja on May 9, 2023.
The letter titled, ‘Investigation Activities Re: Senator Godswill Akpabio’s Appointment Letter Of Invitation’ was signed by ACE II SM Ala, Head, CMU-1.
The letter reads, “I refer to your letter number dated March 27, 2023 on the above subject. In view of the above, you are kindly requested to inform your client Senator Godswill Akpabio to personally report for an interview with the undersigned through the Head, CMU-1 team on 9th May, 2023 at 5th Floor, EFCC Headquarters Plot 301/302 Institutions and Research District. Jabi, Abuja at 10:00am.”
According to sources, Akpabio is trying to use the endorsements by his colleagues as a ploy to blackmail the EFCC into backtracking on its move to investigate him.
One of the sources who spoke to to our correspondent said, “If Senator Akpabio does not have a hidden agenda and also skeleton in his cupboard, why is he trying to use the name of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu to hoodwink the Senators-elect to sign his phantom and ill-timed endorsement to become the sole candidate for the election for the office of the Senate President.”
The Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong has said the Northern Governors of the APC did not necessarily want the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to be President of Nigeria when they supported the power shift to the southern part of the country.
According to Lalong, who was also the Director General of Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign organisation, their push for a southern presidency was rather in order to promote the unity, peace and stability of Nigeria within the spirit of fairness, equity and justice which the late Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, stood for.
Lalong was speaking at the 9th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture on Leadership and Good Governance held in Lafia, Nasarawa State, a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Macham Makut, said on Saturday
The Governor said, “When I led my colleagues – the Northern Governors – to push for power shift to the South, it was not because we wanted Asiwaju to be President. Rather, we wanted to ensure that justice and fairness prevail in our nation for unity, peace and harmony. That is what we believe our revered father of blessed memory, Sir Ahmadu Bello, would do in such circumstances. Fortunately, the party delegates chose Asiwaju who was eventually accepted by Nigerians as he was unanimously elected”.
Lalong urged all Nigerians, both in the North and across the country, to support Tinubu as he takes on the mantle of leadership.
The governor noted that, because the late Sardauna lived a life of accommodation, tolerance, justice and fairness, his legacies have endured long after his demise and continue to inspire leadership in the region and country at large. According to him, the North is an important stakeholder in the Nigerian project and its contributions towards his election cannot be over emphasized.
“The Northern region needs serious attention in various sectors ranging from security, education, infrastructure, agriculture, economic revival and restoration of law and order in various areas that have been ravaged by insecurity.
“It is heartening to note that the Northern Governors Forum, under my leadership, has done a great deal of work on bringing our people together as one people with a common destiny,” Lalong added.
Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, said it was a privilege for his state to host the very important event, which reminds the region and the nation about the values that Sardauna lived and died for.
He said, although there have been challenges in the country after the demise of Sir Ahmadu Bello, some progress has been made which can be built upon to make the Northern region and Nigeria a better place.
Speaking on the topic “2023 Elections as Panacea for Search for Quality Leadership in Nigeria,” Kenyan Law Professor and pan Africanist, Patrick Lumumba, said the late Sardauna left behind several lessons for politicians which include his selflessness and sacrifice for the general good.
He said the question of unity and cohesion in Nigeria particularly after the 2023 general elections cannot be over emphasized because Nigeria plays a very key role in the stability of Africa being a giant in all ramifications.
Lumumba stressed that the sacrifices of founding fathers like Sardauna, who paid the supreme price, should not be left to go in vain but built upon for a greater Nigeria and Africa.
President Muhammadu Buhari in a message delivered by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, said it is important that Nigerians devote more attention to recruiting quality leaders who are capable of steering the nation in the right direction.
He also said the process of elections should also be looked at, and continuously improved upon to ensure that those who serve the people have their mandate and also enjoy their support.
Emir of Lafia, HRH Sidi Bage, said the lecture series is an opportunity to reflect on the dreams of Sardauna but also a way of putting critical national and regional issues on the front burner.
He thanked Governor Lalong, who as Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, worked hard to ensure that the traditional Institution is given a place in the governance of Nigeria much as it was during the time of the Sardauna.
Sonia, daughter of a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed sadness and guilt over the sentencing of her parents in an organ-harvesting plot suit in the United Kingdom on Friday.
A United Kingdom court on Friday sentenced Ekweremadu to a total of nine years and eight months imprisonment, while his wife, Beatrice, was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment for plotting to harvest a man’s kidney.
The third accomplice, a medical doctor, Dr Obinna Obeta, was jailed 10 years. Ekweremadu, 60, and his wife Beatrice, 56, wanted a new kidney for their 25-year-old daughter Sonia.
In an interview with BBC after the court judgement on Friday, Sonia said she felt guilty about the whole situation.
“I don’t think it will ever be the same again. And obviously, I feel guilty because I feel like all these have happened because of me,” she said, while holding back tears.
On how her parents have handled their current reality, the 25-year-old who admitted that she can’t speak about what they truly feel, said they are “quite calm”.
“They are quite calm, surprisingly. But I can’t really speak about what they are feeling. This is just from an outside perspective of me seeing them. They are okay, they are just neutral,” Sonia said.
On what she has learnt over the whole saga, Sonia said, “Life is just some dynamic. Like you’re one day in your house chilling and the next day your whole life is turned around, upside down.”
Speaking further on the court judgement, she added, “It’s sad. It’s been really hard to wrap my head around it. I understand the conviction. Personally, I disagree with it; however, that’s from a very biased perspective as their daughter, and I would obviously back my parents.
“However, the law has taken its course, and we just have to now move forward as a family.”
Asked about what she would be doing next, Sonia said, “My main focus is to try to help, specifically people with kidney conditions. This is just to show them they don’t need to be scared.
“I will continue to support my parents and siblings as well.”
Outgoing Governor of Kano State,Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje,has dropped the strongest hint so far about the chances of former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio emerging as the next Senate President.
Ganduje spoke in Calabar on Thursday ahead of a meeting yesterday of All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders agreeing on Akpabio choice for the job.
The APC leaders,including Bola Tinubu; the party’s National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu; Deputy National Chairman (North) Senator Abubakar Kyari; Deputy National Chairman (South) Chief Emma Enukwu; and the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore also penciled down Dr.Abbas Tajudeen, House of Representatives Committee Chairman for Land Transport from Kaduna State as the Speaker of the 10th House of Reps.
Akpabio is one of the dozen or so senators -elect aspiring for the office.
Also supporting him are many Senators- elect from across the political divide.
Also at yesterday’s meeting of the APC were the incumbent Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, current House of Reps Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege
Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi said yesterday that he had withdrawn from the Senate Presidency contest in favour of Akpabio.
Umahi said he took the decision after meeting Tinubu to intimate him about his interest in the position.
Tinubu,according to the governor ,however told him he was already committed on the issue.
A source close to the meeting said:”Conscious of the 2015 experience and the inability of the party to give aspirants direction, the President-elect is not disposed to the free-for-all rat race that the struggle for the Presiding Officers positions of the 10th National Assembly was gravitating to and he made it clear to the party leadership during the meeting.
“It will be recalled that a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party recently complained of unethical moves by some National Assembly members-elect jostling for NASS leadership to influence the process,a move that he said may hurt governance and the incoming administration.
“So, at the meeting, the President-elect told them his preference which the party leadership accepted and the meeting directed the National Working Committee and the leadership of the 9th Assembly to work out a modality of getting other aspirants to buy into the zoning and consensus arrangement.”
Ganduje,had on Thursday said an Akpabio Senate Presidency was a done deal.
“The Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will come from the South-south and it is no other person than the former governor of Akwa Ibom,” Ganduje said in Calabar during a meeting with his Cross River State counterpart, Ben Ayade.
He added: “The uncommon governor, the uncommon minister is going to be the uncommon president of the senate. So we have resolved that.
“I am giving you assurance, we are waiting for the D-Day that he will be the Senate President of Nigeria.”
Ayade expressed joy at the news.
“I want to thank you so much for zoning the Senate President to the South-South and to our brother from a neighbouring state who is also part of Cross River State,” the governor said.
“We want to thank you for this great opportunity because our dream of a Bakassi seaport is becoming very real.”
Chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari,was present at the meeting.
The Calabar statement came on the heels of the drama that played out at the State Banquet organised for President-elect Bola Tinubu in Port Harcourt by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.
On that occasion, Tinubu called out Akpabio to address the gathering.
To the surprise of all,the immediate past Niger Delta Affairs Minister was followed to the podium by about 40 Senators-elect including Alhaji Jibrin Barau who some people believe could be paired with him as Deputy Senate President.
Akpabio himself said the number could have been higher if all his ‘friends’ from the Senate had made the trip to Port Harcourt.
A video also trended on Twitter yesterday showing Akpabio as he introduced Senators-elect to Tinubu one after the other as he made to depart the city at the end of his two-day visit to Rivers State.
Political observers see the development as a strong pointer to where the pendulum is likely to swing when the Senate is inaugurated next month
Senate Presidency: Contest will be based on constitutional provisions – Yari
Former Zamfara State governor and an aspirant to the office of Senate President, Abdulaziz Yari, said yesterday that the contest for the position would be based on constitutional provisions and not instructions by anyone.
Yari at a meeting with the executives of the Tinubu Shettima Network (TSN), headed by its National Chairman, Dr Kailani Muhammad, in Abuja described the contest as senators’ business, backed by the constitution to choose their leader.
“The senate presidency is senators’ business and on the ‘D- day’ when we are going to elect our president, we will do the needful,” he said.
“When we do that, we are not for anybody. We are doing what the constitution says- that we should take our leader within ourselves.
“That is what the sections of the constitution stated very clearly. What is going to happen that day, it is going to happen based on the instructions of the constitution and not for anyone.
“So, we are going to exercise our constitutional rights there.”
He commended the TSN for supporting his cause to become the President of the 10th Senate, saying that the group’s work in the area of mobilizing support for his cause was commendable.
According to him, this is a special session we have with the TSN leadership. If we can recall four weeks ago, I was in their office where I declared my intention to contest for senate presidency.
“I was there to seek their support and all the executives of the body gave their commitments that they were going to give me support for this contest.
“And today, we are to review what happened from then to where we are here today.
“From what we have been seeing and receiving from the media shows clearly that the work is in progress and very excellent. So, the organisation is doing very well,” Yari said.
In his remarks, Muhammad said that the purpose of the meeting was to brief Yari how far the group had gone in terms of mobilisation, adding that it achieved over 70 per cent of the work.
He expressed optimism that the senator-elect would emerge as President of the 10th Senate.
Betara to colleagues: Keep faith with Nigerians as Tinubu takes over
Representative Muktar Betara (APC-Borno) who is eyeing the position of the House Speaker is intensifying his lobbying ahead of the election of the leadership of the Green Chamber.
Betara in a statement in Abuja yesterday asked Representatives-elect to keep faith with and be loyal to Nigerians as President Muhammadu Buhari prepares to handover to his successor Bola Tinubu on May 29.
He commended them for their resolve to serve their constituents, saying that power comes from the people to serve the masses.
His words:”We must all be resolute in our quest not only as parliamentarians, but as a united people to do all within our capacity to defend the democratic institution of the National Assembly.
“My speakership aspiration is driven by Nigerians, my colleague Reps-elect and APC members.”
Betara pledged that the 10th Assembly under his watch, would be one united, indivisible legislature that will work harmoniously with all arms of government.
The lawmaker expressed appreciation for the overwhelming support received from the members-elect and Nigerians at large across party lines.
He reiterated commitment towards healthy engagement of all members-elect ahead inauguration of the 10th Assembly.
According to him, the parliament remains the beacon of hope for all citizens, irrespective of religion, tribe, race and political affiliation.
The aspirant assured various stakeholders of his commitment to the ‘Nigerian Project’ and to democratic institutions if elected speaker.
The Betara’s Campaign Organisation,in a separate statement yesterday alleged that ill-motivated publications were being dished out on social media and some national dailies against him by some people.
It said Betara remained committed to the APC which he joined hands with other party faithful to build leading to the victory for the President-elect.
It said:”The ultimate purpose and vision is to ensure that the 10th House of Representatives will be one united, indivisible assembly that will work harmoniously with all arms of government.
It added that the 10th House of Representatives under Betara, will promote a legislative dispensation that will accommodate all opinions in the larger interest of all Nigerians.
Choices bind everything in life. The one taken by former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, in June 2022, has now earned him 10 years jail term.
A United Kingdom court on Friday sentenced Ekweremadu to a total of nine years and eight months imprisonment, while his wife, Beatrice, was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment for plotting to harvest a man’s kidney.
The third accomplice, a medical doctor, Dr Obinna Obeta, was jailed 10 years.
Ekweremadu, his wife and Obeta were found guilty at the Old Bailey for conspiring to arrange the travel of the victim, a young man, with a view to exploiting him for his body part.
The jury found they criminally conspired to bring a 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney.
The court heard that the young man was falsely presented as a cousin to Ekweremadu’s daughter, Sonia, in a failed bid to persuade doctors to carry out an £80,000 private procedure at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
The young man was said to have been offered an illegal reward of £7000 to become a donor for Sonia after a kidney disease forced her to drop out of a Master’s degree in film at Newcastle University.
Their conviction was the first verdict of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act in the UK.
Road to jail Ekweremadu, who has represented the Enugu West Senatorial District for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party since 2003, was arrested on June 21, 2022, by the UK Metropolitan Police for organ harvesting.
He was arrested alongside his wife, Beatrice. The duo was charged with conspiracy to facilitate the travel of another person for organ harvesting.
On June 23, 2022, the Ekweremadus were denied bail at the Uxbridge magistrates court in west London and remanded in custody by a UK court over the allegations.
Immigration probes victim’s passport The Nigeria Immigration Service began investigating the authenticity of the passport obtained by the victim, a certain David Nwamini, who was alleged to have been trafficked to the UK for organ harvest by Ekweremadu and his wife.
A trending picture of the victim’s passport, however, indicated that he was born on October 12, 2000. The passport with number B00569974 was issued in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on November 5, 2021 and would expire on November 4, 2026.
The NIS, however, denied reports that the passport issued to the suspect was fraudulently procured, adding that the service followed due process in issuing the document.
Ekweremadu’s lawyer claims The lawmaker’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on July 2, 2022 that the victim had offered to donate his kidney to Sonia, Ekweremadu’s daughter.
The lawyer added that the victim was not 15 years as claimed and that he had allegedly told his client that he was 21 years. He added that Ukpo had also allegedly told the British authorities that he was 15 years and that he did not want to return to Nigeria, after being asked to do so.
Nigerian officials’ solidarity A high-powered delegation led by a former Senate President, David Mark, was in court in solidarity with his erstwhile deputy when the Westminster Magistrate’s Court on July 8 remanded Ekweremadu and his wife in custody and adjourned the case till August 4, 2022.
Others were former Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe; former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba; and Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Adamu Bulkachuwa, and officials of the Nigerian High Commission.
Doctor’s connivance On July 23, 2022, a UK-based doctor, Dr. Obinna Obeta, was accused of conniving with Ekweremadu and his wife to traffic the victim into the country to harvest his kidney for their daughter.
Obeta, 50, from Southwark, south London, was charged under the Modern Slavery Act. He was charged with arranging the travel of the victim from Nigeria to the UK and accused of conspiring with Ekweremadu to arrange or facilitate the travel of the victim for exploitation.
Ekweremadu blames EFCC for ordeal The lawmaker on December 14, 2022, told Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was responsible for his travails at the London Court where he had been in detention over alleged organ harvest.
He told the Federal High Court that the EFCC wrote a letter to the London Court which made the foreign court refuse to admit him to bail.
Ekweremadu denies offering to buy kidney The lawmaker denied offering money to a prospective kidney donor to save his sick daughter.
But on February 22, 2023, that in body-worn footage shown to jurors, the trafficked victim appeared to be crying and distressed when he walked into the police station.
He said, “I don’t know anywhere, I don’t know where I am. I have been sleeping three days outside around, looking for someone to help me, save my life.”
He told the receptionist he had been brought into the country by a man he met in Lagos. “He carried me to the hospital to remove my kidneys. The doctor said I was too young but the man said if ‘you do not do it here, he would carry me back to Nigeria and do it there,’” he said.
However, on March 23, Ekweremadu and his wife were found guilty of organ trafficking in the UK. The duo alongside Obeta were found guilty of facilitating the travel of the young man to Britain with a view to his exploitation after a six-week trial at the Old Bailey.
Judgement But the long arms of the law on Friday caught up with the trio. While Ekweremadu bagged a total of nine years and eight months imprisonment, his wife was sentenced to four years and six months and Obeta was sentenced to 10 years in jail.
Assuredly, Ekweremadu, Beatrice and Obeta’s choices that landed them behind bars would create separate unforgettable moments for the trio.
Charles III on Saturday finally met his date with destiny after a lifetime as heir to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II, as he was officially crowned king in the first coronation in Britain since 1953.
At 12:02 pm, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the solid gold St Edward’s Crown on Charles’s head as a sacred and ancient symbol of the monarch’s authority.
Cries of “God Save the King” rang out from the 2,300-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey and trumpet fanfares sounded at the climax of the solemn religious confirmation of his accession.
Outside, ceremonial gun salutes blasted out across land and sea while bells pealed in celebration at churches across the country.
The build-up to the Christian ceremony of prayer and praise — steeped in 1,000 years of British history and tradition, with sumptuous robes and priceless regalia — has been mostly celebratory.
But even before Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla, 75, left Buckingham Palace for a rainy procession to the abbey, police arrested dozens of protesters using new powers rushed onto the statute book to crack down on direct action groups.
The anti-monarchy movement Republic — which wants an elected head of state — said six of its organisers were detained, while climate activists Just Stop Oil said 19 of its number were held.
Nevertheless, dozens of Republic activists held aloft banners on the route of the procession route, declaring: “Not My King.”
Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International voiced concern at the arrests. “This is something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London,” HRW said.
London’s Metropolitan Police has some 11,500 officers on the streets in one of its biggest ever security operations. It has warned that it has an “extremely low threshold” for protests.
As well as being the first coronation in 70 years, it was the first of a king since 1937. It was only the second to be televised and the first in colour and streamed online.
– Changes – Much of the two-hour Anglican service, in which Charles pledged “I come not to be served but to serve”, would have been recognisable to the 39 other monarchs crowned at Westminster Abbey since 1066.
But while many of the intricate rituals and ceremony to recognise Charles as his people’s “undoubted king” remained, the king sought to bring other aspects of the service up to date.
Women bishops participated for the first time, as did leaders of Britain’s non-Christian faiths while its Celtic languages — Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic — featured prominently.
A gospel choir sang for the first time at a coronation while a Greek choir intoned a psalm in tribute to Charles’s late father, Prince Philip, who was born on the island of Corfu.
As king, Charles is supreme governor of the Church of England and has described himself as a “committed Anglican Christian”.
But he heads a more religiously and ethnically diverse country than the one his mother inherited in the shadow of World War II.
As such, he sought to make the congregation more reflective of British society, inviting ordinary members of the public to sit alongside heads of state and global royalty.
In another change, the coronation themes mirrored his lifelong interest in biodiversity and sustainability.
Seasonal flowers and foliage were brought, from the wind-battered Isle of Skye in northwest Scotland to Cornwall at the tip of England’s southwest coast, to fill the abbey.
Ceremonial vestments from previous coronations were reused, and the anointing oil — created from olives on groves on the Mount of Olives and perfumed with essential oils — was vegan.
Charles was anointed out of sight of the congregation behind a three-sided screen in front of the High Altar to the strains of Handel’s soaring anthem “Zadok the Priest”, sung at every coronation since 1727.
– Opposition – Rishi Sunak — Britain’s first prime minister of colour, who gave a reading from the Bible at the service — has described the coronation as “a proud expression of our history, culture and traditions”.
But not everyone is convinced: polling indicates waning support for the monarchy, particularly among younger people.
Charles’s eldest brother Prince Andrew — sidelined due to his friendship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein — was booed as he headed to the abbey.
Another royal exile Prince Harry, who has criticised the family since leaving for the United States in 2020, attended the coronation on his own.
Overseas, Charles’s position as the hereditary monarch and head of state of 14 Commonwealth countries looks increasingly fragile.
Jamaica and Belize both signalled this week that they are moving toward becoming republics, while Australia, Canada and others may eventually follow suit.
Britons struggling with the soaring cost of living have meanwhile questioned why taxpayers should stump up for the coronation, with the bill estimated to be over £100 million ($126 million).
– Support – Yet the huge crowds of royal fans that have been building all week on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace indicate that the royals still have a central role in British culture and history.
Many of those camping out to watch have flown in from abroad, underlining the royal family’s untouched position as Britain’s leading global brand.
Christine Wilen travelled from Niagara Falls in Canada for the event.
“I’m very excited to be here, to be part of this history,” said Wilen, wearing a visor and sweatshirt in Canadian colours.
“It’s just too good an opportunity to miss,” said Nick Demont, 60, outside the abbey. “There’s a good chance I won’t see another one.”
The Sodeinde family members in an Ogun community have cried out over the illegal seizure of their land.
According to the Sodeinde family, a construction company, Laralek Ultimate Ltd has been accused of illegally occupying about five acres of the land belonging to the family since May 2022.
A member of the family, Sebil Sodeinde, told our correspondent.
In 2018, Laralek asked the family for permission to use their land for a couple of years. He said the land in question is along Siun-Kobape Road in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.
Sodeinde said when the family finally requested to take over the land, Laralek refused to leave.
According to him; “Around 2018, Laralek dropped their construction materials on our land along the expressway. Laralek is a construction company building roads for the Ogun State Government. The company told us they wanted to use the site as a temporary place to keep all their maintenance equipment,” Sodeinde said.
“The management of the company only told us that they wanted to use the land for a while and we didn’t disturb them. We had a lawyer who confirmed this from them.
“So, they finished the road they built for three years and refused to pack [up]. They are now doing some things with a lot of gravel on the site and we had to reach out to them to find out what was going on. They told us the same thing again; that they wanted to use the land for some time. We told them that they had already completed the road construction they were working on.
“At some point, we noticed that the company was trying to turn our land into a permanent construction site. They had even built some offices on our land. We sold part of our land to one Siun Club and we needed to use our land too. So, we instructed our lawyer to inform Laralek they needed to leave.
“After our lawyer met the company, the company claimed that the state government had handed the land to them.
“On hearing this, we took the matter to the Public Complaints Commission (PCC). The PCC then invited us but Laralek’s lawyer failed to show up.
“After a while, we eventually had an audience with the PCC and Laralek’s lawyer was in attendance. The PCC asked Laralek’s lawyer to produce documents to prove that the state government had handed the land over to Laralek, but he couldn’t provide it.
Since then, Laralek has failed to show proof of ownership. Up till now, the construction company has also not responded to us or the PCC.”
Several contact establishment with Laralek but the network service provider said that the company’s phone number was nonexistent.
Efforts to contact Adebiyi Olalekan, Laralek’s managing director, via LinkedIn, were also unsuccessful.
Odunola Abayomi, Olalekan’s lawyer, also declined to speak on the matter after he was approached by our correspondent on Thursday. Abayomi also refused to facilitate an interview that could allow Olalekan react to the family’s allegation.
Additional document from The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ)
Former vice president and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has chosen Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta as his running mate ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Peoples Gazette can report.
Mr Okowa. governor since 2015, was chosen from the ranks of serving governors and credentialed politicians in the South-East and South-South regions.
Mr Okowa was made the ultimate nominee after a fierce contest with Governor Nyesom Wike of Delta. The choice was believed to be in the best interest of the party as it seeks a return to power next year.
Mr Abubakar’s allies said he picked Mr Okowa because he promised to run a campaign based strictly on issues critical to Nigerians, and Mr Wike might derail that approach with his combative nature.
Fiery Catholic priest and Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has given reasons why Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, can never win the presidency in 2023.
The cleric who was speaking during one of his programmes in Enugu, described the former Anambra Governor as a stingy man, insisting that he would never become president.
Mbaka, who had in an earlier viral video apologised to Obi over scathing remarks he made about him during the 2019 elections, said he did that under duress because of his bishop.
He declared that Obi can only become the President when God ceases to exist.
According to the priest, it was better to have an old man as President than a ‘stingy young man’.
According to him: “A stingy man, that cannot give people his money, with this hunger ravaging the land, and you are saying he is the one you want. You want to die of hunger? Are you people insane? Where is the Holy Spirit?
“It is now that Atiku is seriously contesting for President; now that he is contesting without Peter Obi; it is now that he is serious.
“We want somebody that is serious. Unless Peter comes here to kneel, if he becomes president, he will close down this ministry. What we are doing is spiritual.
“Listen, a good old man is better than a young wicked man; Peter Obi is going nowhere as far as God lives. If Igbos want a representative, it is not someone like Peter Obi.
“I should not have talked but I saw my video going round everywhere as if Fr. Mbaka wholeheartedly came out and apologised.
“No, I didn’t apologise wholeheartedly, it was out of duress. I had to obey my Bishop. In obedience I had to; it is not of my volition. I did it because I am a Catholic priest, my Bishop said, do it, my own is ‘Yes my Lord’.
“I did not say he(Obi) is a bad man; I said he is a stingy man. A hungry man wants someone that is generous; the man has so much money, but he is ‘I, me, myself’. But that money will not be useful to him. I am very happy now that I have spoken out. That apology is a poisonous curse against Peter Obi.
“If he is wise he should have come here after that apology to say he is sorry but he waited. Anybody supporting him is wasting his money, he is going nowhere.
“He is my friend. When he was chased out of Government House, he knew the role I played to bring him back, but how did he pay me back? Night meetings we attended to bring him back, ask him, ask Eselu Uga, ask Archbishop Anikwenwa, they know where and how we did it and he was brought back.
“Ask Peter since then what he used to reward Adoration. If you like Peter Obi, tell him to come and ask for forgiveness. Let him come and redo what he did. There is an altar of God he blasphemed; he defiled an altar of God, the Holy Spirit.
“I called Atiku in 2019; he was in Dubai. I told him that there is a revelation on your presidential election; that you are going to be the President of Nigeria on one condition, that Peter Obi is not going to be your running mate. Peter Obi has incurred a curse to himself, which means that he is carrying a curse; if you want to be President, change him.
“Atiku responded that I cannot, Peter must be my running mate, we must win. You saw what happened. Atiku is still alive. That is why I said it is now that Atiku is preparing to be President.
“Never you quarrel with a prophet. If you must quarrel with anybody let it not be a prophet.
“I didn’t ask Atiku to give me one Kobo. But do what you should do. Without that, you fail. He took Peter and failed
“Just like during (Goodluck) Jonathan, I told President Jonathan. He was my friend then. I called him(that) God has shown that you are going to win this election but on one condition; Jega should be changed. If you change Jega you will win Buhari but if you don’t, Buhari will win you. Goodluck told me, ‘Fr. I will not remove Jega, we will still win’. He held on to Jega and failed. Then, people started saying that Mbaka was supporting Buhari”.
