11 additional senators and house of representatives members from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and one from Young Peoples Party, YPP, are set to decamp to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

While 10 of the decampees are from Akwa Ibom, two are from Edo and  Nasarawa- Neda Imasuen and Ahmed Wadada respectively.

This happened just as the ruling party admitted it was working to bring four other PDP governors into its fold despite accusations it was working to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

The APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, affirmed the lawmakers’ plan to defect to the ruling APC in an interview.

The PDP lawmakers who have pledged allegiance to the APC are Senators Ekong Sampson (Akwa Ibom South) and Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East), and House of Representatives members Okpolupm Etteh, Paul Asuquo, Alphonsus Uduak and Ime Bassey. Others are Martins Esin, Unyime Idem and Mark Esset.

Emmanuel Ukpongudo, a member of the YPP, is also reported to have chosen to throw his lot in with the APC.

The development comes on the heels of the defection of Governor Eno to the PDP last Friday. He cited the need to align the oil-rich state with the government at the centre.

Eno followed in the steps of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who dumped the PDP for the APC in April.

Leading the APC delegation, which received Eno into his new party, was Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma.

Former Chief of Army Staff, Retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has dismissed the report that he was attacked by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno.

Nationwide Reports had Monday morning reported an interview granted by the Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume on Channels TV where he narrated how Buratai narrowly escaped death in an attack by Boko Haram which he said happened in Borno State.

But in a statement by his spokesman and former army spokesman, Retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman on Monday, Buratai  described the purported report of an attack on the general as “mischievous and utterly false.”

According to him, the former army chief was not attacked in any way, contrary to what has been falsely reported by some online media outlets.

He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, he celebrated the Eid festivities peacefully in Abuja in the company of family, friends, and well-wishers and has remained within the Federal Capital Territory since then.

“This baseless rumour is a product of the reckless imagination of the purveyors of fake news, individuals whose sole aim is to malign him, spread fear, confusion and misinformation.”

Usman accused the fabricators of fake news, saying that they were not only mischievous but also deeply irresponsible and must be condemned in the strongest terms.

”I sincerely extend my heartfelt and profound appreciation to the countless patriotic and well-meaning Nigerians, friends, associates and admirers of His Excellency, who reached out with genuine concerns, prayers and goodwill.

“Your overwhelming show of love and support is deeply cherished and speaks volumes about the enduring respect and affection we are privileged to receive from across the country and beyond,” he said.
Usman reminded those he referred to as harbingers of fake news that truth would always prevail.

According to him, no amount of falsehood or malicious propaganda can tarnish the image of a man who had devoted his life to the service of this great nation.

Engr. David Umahi, the Honourable Minister of Works, has conveyed his profound felicitations to the Muslim Ummah on the commemoration of this year’s Eid-al-Adha celebrated all over the world.

Speaking during a ceremony hosted by him to celebrate the festival with Ebonyi State branch of the Hausa/Yoruba Muslim community in Abakaliki on Sunday , the Minister emphasized the need for all faiths to cultivate a sense of love, sacrifice, devotion, charity and humanity which are the values of the festival being celebrated.

He described the growing interfaith relationship in Nigeria as a product of the inspiring leadership of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which he said is truly inclusive and progressive.

Umahi said- “Barka da Sallah to all Muslim faithful and to the entire Nigerians. You’ve said it all, that the interfaith relationship is much much better now. I would say that it is at an excellent level now under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Surprising to Christians, Mr. President led a delegation to the Pope’s inauguration. That was very unique and the first of its kind. I’ve always said that we are serving one God in different ways.”

According to a statement by Hon. Barrister Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser to the Minister on Media, Umahi urged Nigerians to leverage on the shared values of Eid-al-Adha to deepen our commitment in fostering religious tolerance and social harmony, which are the hallmarks of nation-building

He commended the President of Nigeria for the manifest willpower of his Renewed Hope administration in unlocking the economic potential of each Geo-Political Zone through massive investment in infrastructure development.

He called on all Nigerians to rally round Mr. President in his efforts to provide enduring development and secure a shared future of social justice for our nation, noting that the rewarding stewardship of Mr. President would speak for him in the 2027 general elections.

He said- “The performances of the President will definitely see him through in 2027. We will stand with him. South East will support him. When I was governor, we had herdsmen problems. Do you still encounter the herdsmen problem as it was? That is one thing the President has done for the people of the South East. Today, we are being gradually integrated into the mainstream of the nation’s governance. What an Igbo man never had before, he is beginning to have it,courtesy of Mr. President.

“Once again, Eid Mubarak to all the Muslim faithful.”