Category Politics

RYNI News : By Omotayo Stephen . O
24 July 2025

In a moment that marks a turning point for governance in Northern Nigeria, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State was awarded the prestigious title of “Governor of the Year in Human Capital Development” at the 2025 Blueprint Impact Award Series, held in Abuja on Tuesday, July 22.

The award, conferred by Blueprint Newspapers, recognised the Governor’s bold and data-driven reforms that have placed Kogi at the forefront of human capital development in Nigeria. Receiving the award on behalf of the Governor, Hon. Ismaila Isah, Special Adviser on Media, described it as a “testament to leadership that puts people first.”

In just over a year in office, Governor Ododo has radically shifted the trajectory of the state through targeted investments in education and healthcare. His administration’s commitment of ₦1 billion to cover public students’ external examination fees has led to a staggering increase in school enrolment and retention—earning Kogi the lowest out-of-school children rate in the entire northern region, as confirmed by recent national statistics.

“This recognition goes beyond the individual—it reflects the collective vision of an administration that believes human capital is our greatest asset,” Hon. Isah stated. “The Governor’s policy direction is not only bold but measurable, and this award reflects the results.”

But it doesn’t end in the classroom. Governor Ododo’s government is also revitalizing over 300 primary healthcare centres across Kogi’s 21 local governments, ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable populations have access to essential health services. This simultaneous investment in health and education is shaping what experts are calling a new model of integrated development in sub-national governance.

The Blueprint Impact Award Series is one of Nigeria’s most respected governance recognitions, honouring public officials who demonstrate exceptional leadership and tangible achievements in nation-building.

According to the organisers, Governor Ododo’s approach stands out for its clarity, consistency, and community impact. “Kogi State has become a beacon of what is possible when leadership is rooted in compassion and strategy,” the award citation noted.

As dignitaries applauded at the award gala in Abuja, a new narrative for Northern Nigeria was being quietly written — one in which data-backed policy, inclusive development, and visionary leadership are no longer aspirations, but realities.

With the wind at his back and a state inspired by progress, Governor Ododo is proving that real leadership is measured not in promises, but in lives transformed.

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RYNI Media: By Omotayo Stephen . O
22 July 2025

In a swift and emphatic response to viral falsehoods, Mohammed Babangida, the first son of former military president General Ibrahim Babangida, has categorically denied rejecting his recent appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

A counterfeit letter, purporting to show Babangida declining the prestigious role, has been widely circulated on social media, sparking confusion and speculation across political circles. The letter, signed under dubious credentials and quoting fake contact information, claimed that Babangida turned down the appointment due to “personal and professional considerations.” But his media team is not having it.

Speaking on behalf of the Babangida family, Alhaji Mahmud Abdullahi—media aide to Mohammed Babangida—slammed the letter as “a fabricated piece of mischief, designed by disgruntled elements intent on derailing public trust.”

“The letter is entirely fake. It bears a forged signature and false contact details. Mohammed Babangida did not, and would not, reject an opportunity to serve his country,” Mahmud declared. “In fact, he has gratefully accepted the appointment and has conveyed his deepest appreciation to President Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him.”

Reinforcing the statement, Mr. Determine Saka, Lead Partner of Lambert & Curtis Nigeria Limited, described the publication as “not only fictitious, but a desperate act of mischief-makers seeking to sow discord for their own selfish agendas.”

Mohammed Babangida, a respected businessman and public policy enthusiast, was among several appointees named last week in President Tinubu’s sweeping reforms to reposition key federal agencies. His appointment as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture is seen as a strategic move to revive Nigeria’s agricultural sector and empower rural economies.

Sources close to the Babangida family confirmed that the viral letter caught them off guard, but they are undeterred. “We remain committed to transparency, national unity, and upholding the dignity of public service,” Mahmud noted.

The family has also indicated that an investigation is already underway to uncover the origin of the forged letter. Legal action may follow.

“This is not just about one man’s name—it’s about protecting the integrity of national governance,” Mahmud added. “Nigeria must not become a playground for digital forgeries and political sabotage.”

As social media continues to fuel the spread of disinformation, the Babangidas’ prompt rebuttal underscores a growing challenge in Nigerian politics: separating truth from viral fiction. But this much is clear—Mohammed Babangida is not walking away from service. He’s stepping up.

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RYNI Media: By Omotayo Stephen . O
21 July 2025

Tensions are brewing in the corridors of Nigeria’s National Assembly as the Senate has issued a stern warning to suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, cautioning her against what it described as an “unlawful attempt to forcibly re-enter the Senate chamber.”

In a strongly worded statement released in Abuja yesterday, the Senate, through its spokesperson Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, raised concerns over reports that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is allegedly plotting to storm the Red Chamber tomorrow—despite a subsisting six-month suspension handed down in March over allegations of misconduct.

According to the Senate’s statement, contrary to Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims, “no enforceable court order exists mandating her recall prior to the expiration of her disciplinary suspension.”

This development follows the recent ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, which, while questioning the proportionality of the suspension, stopped short of ordering an immediate recall. Rather, the court issued what the Senate described as a “non-binding advisory” suggesting a review of the Senate’s Standing Orders and disciplinary framework.

“The judgment neither invalidated the Senate’s action nor compelled any reversal,” Adaramodu clarified. “In fact, the court upheld that the Senate acted within its constitutional authority and did not violate any legal provisions in suspending the senator.”

More damning still, the court found Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt and imposed a N5 million fine, alongside a mandatory public apology—requirements which the Senate claims remain unmet.

“It is legally unsound and politically provocative for the senator to act as though she has received a green light to resume legislative duties,” Adaramodu added. “Such conduct could undermine the dignity of the Senate and erode the sanctity of due process.”

The statement warned in unequivocal terms that any attempt by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to force her way back into the Senate chamber would be met with firm resistance, stressing that the legislature is “not a theatre for political drama nor a battleground for personal defiance.”

While acknowledging the court’s opinion on possible reforms, the Senate insisted that any decision regarding the senator’s recall will be made “at the appropriate time and in accordance with laid-down procedures.”

Until then, the message from the nation’s upper legislative house remains clear: stay away and respect the process.

As political watchers brace for what could be a showdown at the National Assembly gates, one thing is certain—Tuesday at the Senate promises to be anything but routine.

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RYNI Media: By Omotayo Stephen . O
20 July 2025

In a harrowing episode that underscores the deepening crisis of political violence in Nigeria, Chief Jude Ezenwafor, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Anambra State, narrowly escaped death after a calculated assassination attempt in Abuja late Friday night.

The attack unfolded in the highbrow Wuse 2 district, a neighbourhood known more for its calm than chaos. Ezenwafor’s convoy was returning from what aides described as a “routine evening engagement” when unidentified gunmen launched a surprise assault, riddling his vehicle with bullets before vanishing into the night.

Witnesses reported the staccato burst of gunfire echoing through the streets, followed by the squeal of tires and the eerie silence that so often cloaks tragedy. “It was like something out of an action movie,” said a resident who lives a few blocks from the scene. “We heard gunshots—loud, rapid—and then nothing.”

Chief Ezenwafor was swiftly rushed to a private hospital under heavy security. Doctors say he sustained multiple gunshot wounds and underwent emergency surgery. Two members of his security detail were also injured in the attack and remain hospitalized. Though he sustained injuries but the PDP flag-bearer is reportedly stable and conscious.

Speaking briefly from his hospital bed in the early hours of Saturday, the visibly shaken politician recounted the ambush. “It was a near-death experience,” he said. “I was just heading home when we were attacked without warning. I’m currently in the hospital, and the doctors are preparing to operate to remove the bullets. It was clearly a deliberate attempt to eliminate me.”

Though the motive remains unconfirmed, analysts are already linking the assault to the rising tide of politically motivated violence as Nigeria hurtles toward the 2025 general elections. With no arrests yet made, the FCT Police Command has launched a manhunt for the assailants and promised a full-scale investigation.

The PDP wasted no time in condemning the attack, describing it as a “cowardly act of desperation” and warning that Nigerian democracy is under siege. Party officials have called for enhanced security for all political candidates and a firm response from law enforcement.

As tensions rise, the attempted assassination of Ezenwafor serves as a grim reminder of the dangerous path Nigerian politics is treading. The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many Nigerians demanding justice and calling for reforms to protect candidates and voters alike.

Ezenwafor’s supporters, meanwhile, remain hopeful that this near-tragedy will not deter him from pursuing his political ambitions — but rather, embolden his resolve.

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RYNI Media: By Omotayo Stephen . O
17 July 2025

In a sweeping gesture of national remembrance, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renamed the University of Maiduguri to Muhammadu Buhari University, immortalizing the late Nigerian leader barely days after his passing.

The announcement was made during a special Federal Executive Council session held Thursday, July 17, in Abuja, convened in honour of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died on Sunday, July 14, at the age of 82 in a London hospital. He was buried two days later at his Daura residence, amid tears, tributes, and the presence of dignitaries from across the nation and beyond.

President Tinubu described the renaming as a symbolic gesture to immortalize a leader whose life, reshaped the Nigerian political landscape. He hailed Buhari’s “unwavering commitment to nationhood, integrity, and service,” adding that his legacy would now live on through the minds and futures shaped within the walls of the newly renamed Muhammadu Buhari University.

The renamed institution — now Muhammadu Buhari University stands as a citadel of tertiary learning in the heart of Nigeria’s northeastern region.

The announcement has stirred waves across the social and political spheres of the country, triggering a mix of admiration, debate, and national reflection. Whether seen as symbolic or strategic, one truth remains: Buhari’s name is now etched not only in Nigeria’s history, but in the future of its education.

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RYNI Media: By Omotayo Stephen .O
15 July 2025

In a dramatic yet unsurprising move, Cameroon’s long-serving leader, President Paul Biya, has announced on sunday his intention to run for an unprecedented eighth term in office, extending a reign that began over four decades ago.

The nonagenarian leader made the announcement via X (formerly Twitter), posting in both English and French:
“I am a candidate for the 12 October 2025 presidential election. Rest assured that my determination to serve you is commensurate with the serious challenges facing us. Together, there are no challenges we cannot meet.”

In a formal statement titled “Declaration of Candidacy for the 12 October 2025 Presidential Election by His Excellency Paul BIYA,” the president described his decades-long leadership as a “sacred duty,” while acknowledging that “much remains to be done.” He claimed his decision was driven by widespread calls from across the nation and the diaspora urging him to stay the course.

With Biya at the helm since 1982, Cameroon has seen over four decades of uninterrupted rule, making him one of the world’s longest-serving leaders. If re-elected, his next term could take him close to 100 years of age by its end.

Though he remains the figurehead of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM),
Biya’s latest bid comes amid growing unrest within his political circle. Two of his key allies—Employment Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary and former Prime Minister Bello Bouba Maigari—have left his camp to pursue their own presidential ambitions under the FSNC and NUDP, respectively. Both parties had been long-standing supporters of Biya’s CPDM.

The race is also heating up on the opposition front. Maurice Kamto, Biya’s most prominent challenger from the 2018 election, is back in the ring, along with Cabral Libii, a strong voice from the Cameroonian Party for National Reconciliation (CPNR). However, the opposition remains fractured and unable to rally around a single candidate—an advantage for Biya in a system known for heavily favoring incumbents.

Despite his enduring grip on power, public frustration remains high. Youth unemployment, inflation, inadequate infrastructure, and ongoing separatist violence in the Anglophone regions continue to fuel discontent.

Candidates have until July 21 to declare their intentions, but one thing is certain: Cameroon’s 2025 election promises to be both historic and deeply divisive.

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RYNI Media: By Omotayo Stephen .O
13 July 2025

A monumental figure in Nigeria’s modern history has taken his final bow. Muhammadu Buhari, former military head of state and two-term civilian president, passed away peacefully on Sunday in a medical facility in London at the age of 82, marking the quiet end of a man whose leadership stirred both admiration and debate.

The announcement came via his longtime aide and former presidential spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, who stated, “The family of the former president has announced the passing on of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London. May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus.”

Buhari, who once bestrode Nigeria’s political and military arenas with austere discipline and nationalist fervor, leaves behind a complex legacy that spanned nearly five decades of public service—marked by military command, political resilience, and historical milestones.

Born in 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari’s journey from a northern town to Nigeria’s seat of power mirrored the nation’s own turbulent post-independence trajectory. Revered by some as a no-nonsense patriot and reviled by others as an unbending autocrat, Buhari’s life and leadership left no Nigerian indifferent.

Rising to prominence as a Major General in the Nigerian Army, Buhari first held sway over the nation as a military Head of State from January 1984 to August 1985, following a coup that promised a crusade against indiscipline and corruption. His time as a military ruler was as decisive as it was controversial, earning him both respect and criticism in equal measure.

Nearly a decade later, he was tapped by the late General Sani Abacha in 1994 to head the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), where he supervised infrastructure and development projects that left a lasting imprint on the nation’s economic landscape.

But it was his tenacity in the democratic arena that defined his latter years. After three failed presidential bids, Buhari finally achieved victory in 2015, under the All Progressive Congress (APC), unseating incumbent Goodluck Jonathan—an unprecedented democratic transfer of power in Nigeria’s history. He was re-elected in 2019, completing his second term in 2023.

His presidency was marked by battles on multiple fronts— insurgency, economic downturns, anti-corruption efforts, and rising youth agitation. Through it all, Buhari maintained his trademark composure, winning both praise and criticism for his quiet, sometimes distant, style of leadership.

Decorated with the nation’s highest honours—Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), among others—he also bore military medals such as the Defence Service Medal and Forces Service Star, and was awarded the Congo Medal and the Global Seal of Integrity.

As condolences flood in from world leaders, African presidents, and ordinary citizens, the nation stands at a reflective crossroads. Whether seen as a disciplined reformer or a reluctant democrat, one truth remains unshakable: Muhammadu Buhari was a man who defined—and defied—his times.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.

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