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Engr. Buba Galadima was a close confidant of President Muhammadu Buhari before their relationship turned sour. This interview brings the remaining areas he spoke on that have not been captured in the cover story captioned “Buhari may be alone in 2019 - Buba Galadima.” Excerpts: Why do you think President Buhari allows certain people around the government despite increasing complaints from various quarters? I don’t know, maybe he’s comfortable with those he has now, and it’s his prerogative. But for us, Nigerians, we’ve the right to criticize him because we elected him to do certain things for us and if he’s not doing them, we would educate the people to tell him that he’s wrong. Why do you think the chieftains of the APC, such as Tinubu and Oyegun and then Atiku and El-Rufai are trading words in the media? We’re a party that’s in government but have you ever in the history of Nigeria seen where in the secretariat of the ru...

There were strong indications yesterday that 11 former ministers during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan may soon join the All Progressives Congress (APC). It was also learnt that there is pressure on ex-Governor Jolly Nyame, Senator Andy Uba and some Senators in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to shift base to the APC. An opposition governor is yet to make up his mind on whether to defect to the ruling party. The planned defection of the 11 ex-ministers is all part of the ongoing realignment of forces. Some of the former ministers are said to be looking for soft landing because of ongoing investigations by the anti-graft agencies. A few others opted for defection because they are unsure of the future of the PDP. The defection of a former Minister of Transport, Umar Idris, from PDP to APC last weekend was regarded as a “pilot test” for the ex-ministers, who are mostly from the North. It was however gathered that Idris, whose defection shocked ma...

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), delivering his speech during the presentation of the Y2017 Budget Estimates to the House, at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, November 29, 2016. With him are Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa (behind) and the acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Adebowale Sanni (left). The Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday presented the 2017 budget proposal of N813 billion to the House of Assembly, assuring that the budget would be judiciously implemented to continue the infrastructural renewal and the enhancement of Lagos as one of the foremost tourism and investment destination in Africa. Mr. Ambode, who tagged the budget “The Golden Jubilee Budget” as it coincides with the State’s 50th Anniversary, said it would focus on physical infrastructure, while social sectors especially health, education, youth and social development would get adequate attention. “In the cour...

Some ICT stakeholders have expressed mixed reaction to the proposed increase in the cost of data by some telecommunication operators from Dec. 1, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. NAN recalls that some telecommunication companies have been sending out messages to subscribers that they will increase data rate from Dec. 1, in line with the Nigeria Communications Commission’s order. Mr Olusola Teniola, the President Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) said that with the increase, other telecom companies would jerk up their prices, which would adversely affect subscribers. He said that operators would also increase the cost of megabytes, which consumers could not afford at this time of economic recession. “So what we are saying at ATCON is that no taxes should be applied in this industry and if there any taxes, it should also include other sectors. “Already, the cost of data will go up in December and subscribers will not be getting as much data as th...

Ado Ekit – Prices of foodstuff were forcefully reduced at markets in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday by a taskforce led by the President of the Market Women’s Association, Chief Omowaye Oso. The team visited the Oja Oba and the Bisi Egbeyemi markets, both in the state capital. Oso ordered the stoppage of foodstuff sold at exorbitant prices, after which, she personally sold to buyers at lower prices. Buyers had accused the sellers of deliberately selling at excessive prices on the excuse of the non-appreciation of the American dollar. Some of the commodities forced to sell at reduced prices included garri, beans, local rice and palm oil. Consequent, a measure of garri, which used to sell for N200 was reduced to N100. A 20-liter container of palm oil which sold at N22,000 was reduced to N15,000, while a measure of local rice, which initially sold at N500 was reduced to N400. Oso said she had henceforth ordered that small measure of Okro and locust beans be sold at N20 as against N...