The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, presidential candidate, Donald Duke, has said that the Nigerian government cannot afford the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, noting that it won’t go anywhere.

Featuring in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ on Tuesday, Duke argued against ‘unnecessary’ projects.

He suggested that the Nigerian government should rather prioritize investing in essential services like electricity and healthcare.

“Nigeria cannot afford the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. I don’t think the road will go beyond Epe.

“And I think the road serves other purposes because I drove once on the road, and all I saw was land reclamation and all that.

“There is already a road from Lagos to Calabar. I’ve driven from Lagos to Calabar several times. If the road is poor, fix it.

“There are some expenditures we make that do not reflect the realities of our circumstances.

“The amount spent on that road could be better spent providing electricity or upgrading the healthcare system.

“Last year, I think the capital budget that was released for health was barely 36 million naira, and this came from the minister himself.

“That’s pathetic for a country of 230 million people. Not to talk of the schooling system that is hardly funded,” he said.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is planning to freeze the bank accounts of the state government ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

This allegation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, on behalf of the governor.

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has reportedly destroyed a suspected terrorist enclave in Borno State, neutralising about 12 suspected insurgents during a precision airstrike carried out under Operation HADIN KAI.

The operation was reported by security analyst, Zagazola Makama.

According to the report, the airstrike was conducted on August 4 after intelligence revealed renewed terrorist activities around Chiralia, a densely forested area believed to have been used by insurgents as a hideout because of its difficult terrain and natural cover.

Makama reported that an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, ISR, platform was deployed at about 11:40am. to carry out an armed reconnaissance mission over the area.

During the surveillance operation, the aircraft reportedly identified suspected terrorists moving within the location alongside several concealed structures believed to have served as operational shelters, logistics bases and staging points for insurgent activities.

“After confirming the targets, attack aircraft carried out precision strikes on the identified locations, recording direct hits on the concealed structures,” the report stated.

A post-strike Battle Damage Assessment, according to Makama, confirmed that the suspected terrorist camp and its supporting infrastructure were destroyed, while about 12 insurgents were neutralised during the operation.

Makama further reported that secondary explosions and fires observed after the strike suggested that additional weapons, equipment and supplies stored within the enclave were also destroyed.

Military sources, according to the report, described the mission as an intelligence-driven operation that reflected the growing coordination between aerial surveillance and precision strike capabilities under Operation HADIN KAI.

The sources added that the operation is expected to weaken the operational capacity of the terrorist cell by denying it a safe haven and disrupting its ability to regroup, plan attacks and sustain logistics within the area.

Makama noted that although the overall security situation across the theatre remains relatively calm, military authorities believe the threat remains unpredictable because of the fluid movement of insurgents, adding that troops will continue sustained offensive operations against terrorist hideouts across the North-East.

Founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, says he does not see the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabi’u Kwankwaso going anywhere in the 2027 general elections.

Primate Ayodele said this in a video posted on X where he was addressing his congregation.

According to him, the NDC would have joined forces and formed a coalition with the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Recall that the duo left the ADC for the NDC in May, citing internal divisions and court cases.

Reacting, the cleric said, “You see the NDC party in Nigeria, assuming you can listen. Instead of you going as a solo party, you would have merged with the ADC and form a coalition.

“But you alone going solo, NDC is not in the calculation. They call it OK but I’m not seeing anything okay. I do not see ‘OK’ (Obi and Kwankwaso) going anywhere in the 2027 Presidential election.”

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Kenneth Okonkwo, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu’s inability to provide his primary and secondary school certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, disqualifies from being Nigeria’s president.

Okonkwo charged Tinubu to respect the Nigerian law governing qualifications into universities.

INEC had published credentials and other details of all presidential candidates contesting in the 2027 elections.

Tinubu had presented only his university certificate, while that of his primary and secondary were missing.

This has raised a widespread concern from Nigerians, raising fresh questions about his educational qualifications.

However, Okonkwo posted on X: “Nigeria has its laws that should be respected. No Nigerian is qualified to go to a University without 5 credits at the O’ Level.

“Tinubu purporting to be qualified for President by providing a foreign University certificate, which the University publicly declared did not emanate from it, without providing his secondary school certificate or its equipment disqualifies him from being President.

“The only reason our democracy is in peril is because of judicial rascality.

“Despite all warnings by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council (NJC), some judges have operated as an island on their own, interpreting the laws they made on the bench, bereft of the imprimatur of the legislature.

“The judges have usurped the powers of the executive and the legislature from the bench with the instrumentality of perverse judgement.”

Plateau State chapter of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria, GAFDAN, has refuted allegations made by a group called the Bokkos United Community Based Organizations, indicating that Fulani people have relocated to some communities in the council with the intention of launching attacks and occupying the affected communities.

In a statement signed on Monday by the State Chairman of GAFDAN, Hon. Garba Abdullahi Muhammad, the organization described the allegations as not only deliberately false but inciteful and a misleading attempt to pit the Fulani people against the local communities.

The statement made available to DAILY POST noted that the accusations, which have been widely circulated on social media platforms, inadvertently described the Fulani people as terrorists and criminal elements who have stealthily infiltrated communities in Bokkos with the aim of unleashing terror attacks.

Expressing his dismay at what he called a desperate display of misinformation, Muhammad said

the publication made sweeping allegations against Fulani people while also attempting to portray normal religious gatherings as evidence of criminal activity.

In the statement titled “Re-Rebutal of false, inciteful and misleading social media allegations targeting Fulani communities in Bokkos LGA,” the organization said it categorically rejects these allegations as baseless, reckless, inflammatory, and completely unsupported by any credible evidence.

Continuing, the GAFDAN Chairman said:

“It is deeply unfortunate that, at a time when the Government of Plateau State, traditional institutions, religious leaders, security agencies, and peace-building organizations are making genuine efforts to restore lasting peace across Plateau State, some individuals continue to circulate messages capable of reigniting fear, hatred, and mistrust among peaceful communities.”

He stressed that the publication did not present any verifiable facts or evidence of such incursions but instead relied on ethnic profiling by branding an entire ethnic group as terrorists solely because they are Fulani.

“Such generalizations are dangerous, unjust, and contrary to the principles of justice, fairness, and peaceful coexistence guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he added.

Muhammad further noted that it was even more disturbing that the accusing group attempted to portray Muslims observing their constitutional right to worship as proof of criminality.

“Freedom of religion is a fundamental right enjoyed by every Nigerian irrespective of ethnicity or faith. Suggesting that Friday prayers constitute evidence of terrorism is not only misleading but also promotes religious intolerance and deepens existing divisions within society.

“GAFDAN wishes to remind the public that duly constituted security agencies should handle security matters,” he added.

He also stated that where there is credible intelligence regarding criminal activities, such information should be reported to the appropriate authorities for investigation rather than disseminated on social media in a manner that stigmatizes innocent citizens and fuels ethnic tension.

“We are concerned that repeated circulation of unverified claims against Fulani communities has contributed significantly to the culture of suspicion, collective blame, and reprisals that have claimed many innocent lives across Plateau State.

“Lasting peace cannot be achieved through propaganda, misinformation, or inflammatory narratives,” he warned.

The GAFDAN chairman called on security agencies to investigate the origin of the publication and take appropriate action against anyone found deliberately spreading false information capable of inciting violence.

He further called on community leaders, youth groups, religious leaders, and civil society organizations to discourage hate speech and promote responsible communication.

“Members of the public should verify information before sharing it and avoid publications that could undermine ongoing peace efforts. All ethnic and religious groups in Plateau State should continue embracing dialogue, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence,” he emphasized.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has warned President Bola Tinubu that the people of the state will not accept any form of rigging in the upcoming governorship election.

Adeleke declared that the people of the state would go out en masse to cast their votes and would defend it to avoid rigging.

Addressing his followers yesterday during a campaign rally in a video, Adeleke said as the Chief Security Officer of the state, he is saddled with the responsibility of protecting the state.

He accused the police of being compromised, while lamenting killings in the state.

According to Adeleke: “President Tinubu, I’m passing this message to you, what do you want Osun State to do?

“We have endorsed you, what more do you want us to do? Why have we done that they are killing us? The police have been compromised, let them go and confront kidnappers.

“President Tinubu, I’m using this period to tell you, I’m the Chief Security Officer of Osun State, and I’m passing this message to you that Osun will not accept any rigging, we will go out en masse to vote and defend our votes.”

Adeleke warned Tinubu not to allow a repeat of the 1993 incident during the August 15 governorship election in the state.

“I repeat, let’s not allow what happened in 1993 to repeat itself. President Tinubu, Osun people and Accord Party has endorsed you as our presidential candidate, why are we suffering?

“Why is our money being kept? Oyetola needs to be called to order, people are just being killed, the blood of the innocent will cry out,” he added.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the rising political tension in the state.

While warning that Osun is “bleeding”, he urged the President not to allow the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, to plunge the state into violence.

Adeleke made the appeal in a statement posted on his official social media page on Monday after addressing supporters at a campaign rally in Olorunda Local Government Area of the state.

According to the governor, the loss of innocent lives linked to political violence in Osun has become a major concern, stressing that residents deserve nothing more than a peaceful and credible electoral process.

“At the campaign rally today in Olorunda Local Government Area, I appealed directly to Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Osun is bleeding, and our people will not be intimidated. His intervention is needed. The loss of innocent lives in Osun must stop. All we are asking for is simply a free and fair election,” Adeleke said.

The governor urged Tinubu to act in his capacity as the leader of the country by protecting Nigeria’s democratic values, recalling the President’s long-standing involvement in the struggle for democracy.

According to Adeleke, with the 2027 general elections drawing closer, the President should not allow his administration to be associated with actions capable of undermining the democratic process in Osun.

“Mr President must act as the father of this nation and help safeguard the democracy he fought for. I reminded the President that the 2027 general elections are also around the corner, and he should not allow his nephew, Mr. Oyetola, the Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, to ruin his name and the democracy he fought along with many others,” he stated.

The governor also warned against a return to the era of political violence, saying Nigerians, particularly those in the South-West, should never experience a repeat of the events that characterised the 1983 political crisis.

“It is our collective prayer that, as a country, we may never witness such incidents as the political violence of 1983, particularly in the South-West. Democracy works when the people freely choose their leaders, a demand that is not too much for the citizens of Osun State to make,” Adeleke added.

Adeleke maintained that the appeal was aimed at ensuring a peaceful political atmosphere and protecting the right of Osun residents to freely elect their leaders.