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Buhari Never Politicised Judiciary – Ex-Bayelsa Gov

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Former governor of Bayelsa State and serving senator, Seriake Dickson, has commended the late President Muhammadu Buhari for demonstrating political maturity by respecting opposition voices and refraining from using the judiciary as a political weapon during his administration.

Buhari died at a London hospital in the United Kingdom at the age of 82 on Sunday, July 13, 2025, after a protracted illness.

On Wednesday, the National Assembly held separate but emotionally charged sessions in his honour, during which lawmakers paid glowing tributes to the late president.

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The lawmakers called on President Bola Tinubu to immortalise him by naming a national monument after him.

READ ALSO:Nigerians Spent Over $3.6bn Annually On Foreign Healthcare Under Buhari

Reflecting on his shared moments with the late military head of state in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, Dickson noted that the former president deserved credit for his restraint, especially during moments of heightened political tension.

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Buhari didn’t discriminate between APC and PDP states; he did it for all. I spoke of how, in the 2015 general election, which, to my knowledge, remains the toughest governorship election in this country,” Dickson wrote.

“Buhari directed all security agencies and INEC to be fair. It was reassuring. He told me when he gave that directive, even though they didn’t comply on the ground, it was reassuring that the President understood the need for fairness and respect for the rights of the people.”

He stressed that even in 2020 when his tenure was up and his successor’s election was approaching, the late President allowed fairness to decide the game.

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READ ALSO:Inside £3,500 Per day Elite London Clinic Where Buhari Died

In 2020, when my tenure was up and my successor’s election was imminent, President Buhari also called for fairness.

“Even when the elections were leaked and results were written and announced, with his advanced team already in Bayelsa less than 24 hours to handing over, President Buhari never called the judiciary of Nigeria to influence their decision. He allowed the law to take its course,” the ex-Bayelsa governor said.

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Dickson recalled that after the courts ruled in favour of Governor Douye Diri, Buhari made light of the situation in a joking manner.

Later, when he saw Governor Diri, he merely cracked a joke that myself and the governor had better control of the judiciary, and then, he laughed,” Dickson said.

READ ALSO:UNILAG Sets Qualification Criteria As 2025 Undergraduate Admission Screening Begins

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The lawmaker noted that although he strongly disagreed with many of Buhari’s policies, the former president never targeted him or other opposition figures with hostility.

“I myself disagreed with Buhari’s politics and policies. I mobilised all South-South governors and led them to oppose the injustice meted out to Justice Onnoghen when he was sacked in the way and manner it was done. President Buhari never fought me for that or for the other governors’ involvement,” he said.

Dickson, who said though he once criticised the ex-President and even led protests against his government, however, praised Buhari for his non-partisan approach to economic interventions, particularly the financial bailout initiated in 2015 to help states weather a crippling recession.

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READ ALSO:JUST IN: FG Renames Nigerian University After Buhari

Buhari did not discriminate between APC and PDP states. He did it for all. His government, working with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, devised various ways of generating bailouts that helped all the states in Nigeria. Without that intervention, most states would have gone under,” Dickson stated.

He also credited the former president with giving clear instructions to security agencies and INEC to ensure fairness during the highly contentious 2015 governorship election in Bayelsa.

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The Senator extended his condolences to the Buhari family, the Government and people of Katsina State, the Daura Emirate, and President Bola Tinubu.

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Edo Activist In Police Net Over Alleged Assault On Abure

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Edo-based activist, Precious Oruche, popularly known as “Mama Pee”, has been detained following a heated confrontation with the factional National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, at the Abuja Airport.

The incident, which had since gone viral, had sparked controversy and conflicting accounts from both parties.

According to reports, the saga began at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, where Mama Pee allegedly confronted Abure as he prepared to board a Max Air flight to Benin.

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Eyewitness accounts said the activist approached Abure and accused him of being responsible for the hardships Nigerians are currently facing.

“Is this not Julius Abure? You’re the one frustrating Nigerians,” she reportedly told Abure in a confrontational manner.

READ ALSO:JUST IN: Supreme Court Nullifies Judgment Recognising Abure As LP National Chair

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Abure was responding by saying ‘how can…’ when Mama Pee interjected, saying, “In case nobody has told you, you’re the one frustrating Nigerians. Are you not Julius Abure? What are you now doing with Labour Party? Police are looking for you. You’ve destroyed the Labour Party, and you’re entering an aeroplane? May God punish all of you.”

Arriving at the Benin Airport, things took a more violent dimension as Mama Pee was allegedly attacked by a group of young men believed to be thugs loyal to Abure.

A video circulating online shows a scuffle at the airport’s exit, with several individuals attempting to drag the activist, before security and immigration officials stepped in.

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Speaking in one of the video recordings, Mama Pee claimed she was assaulted by the group.

“Look at them oh!!! See them oh!!! They want to beat me after I told Julius Abure that he is the one frustrating the lives of Nigerians, and then he brought thugs. He brought thugs to harass me. Look at them, can you see them,” she exclaimed.

READ ALSO:Why LP Zoned 2027 Presidential Ticket To S’East – Abure

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She further alleged, “I saw Julius Abure of Labour Party inside the Max Air, and I told him that you are the one frustrating the lives of Nigerians. You sold Labour Party, and then he called his thugs to wait for me at the airport in Benin.”

Another activist, Peter Akah—widely known as ‘Peter for Nigeria’—released a video calling for Mama Pee’s immediate release.

He appealed to Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, and the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika to intervene.

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Akah argued that the activist, who he described as a victim of political violence, had been wrongly turned into a suspect by the police.

Meanwhile, the Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has issued its own version of events, condemning what it termed an “unwarranted attack” on their chairman.

READ ALSO:Obi: Concerns as factional LP Chair, Abure, Visits Wike

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In a statement released by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party claimed Mama Pee accosted Abure at the Abuja airport in an unprovoked manner while he was boarding his flight to Benin.

The assault, which attracted a large population of onlookers, continued unabated on disembarkment at the Benin Airport while she continued recording the scene,” Ifoh stated.

He added that Abure had to be quickly escorted to safety by security agents, while the activist was handed over to police for questioning.

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The statement further alleged that Mama Pee, who is described as a known figure in the ‘Obidient’ Movement, bragged in one of her videos about her connections to top police officers.

“She vowed that she will not stop attacking Abure or any member of the Labour Party executive because according to her, ‘you have killed Labour Party and you are the reason why Obi is no longer in the Labour Party,’” Ifoh said.

He called for a thorough probe, just as he urged the Inspector General of Police to look into what they termed cyberbullying and political provocation.

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As of the time of filing this report, attempts to get a comment from the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Moses Yamu, were unsuccessful as calls were neither answered nor returned.

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Educationist Gets Guinness World Record For Largest Teachers’ Gathering

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Nigerian teacher and education advocate, Mr Seyi Anifowose, has officially entered the Guinness World Records for convening the largest gathering of teachers in history, a feat achieved at the “Let There Be Teachers Conference 2025” held on September 20 at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

A statement by 1 Million Teachers on Friday said the confirmation was announced via a Zoom call on Wednesday, September 23, by Rishi Nath, a representative of Guinness World Records.

Nath commended Anifowose and his team for drawing global attention to an issue that, according to him, “should be on the front burner of policy and dialogue nationally.”

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The record-setting event, powered by 1 Million Teachers, drew an unprecedented number of educators from across Nigeria.

READ ALSO:VIDEO: ‘New Record’, Guinness World Record Confirms Hilda Baci’s Largest-serving Of Jollof Rice

Organisers had projected attendance of 60,000 teachers, underscoring both the scale of the mobilisation and the urgency of the message: that Nigerian teachers deserve greater recognition, welfare, and policy support.

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“This is more than a number. It is proof that teachers matter. It is a victory for education, and it is a victory for Nigeria,” said Anifowose.

He explained that the choice of Tafawa Balewa Square carried symbolic weight. He said, “It was the same ground where Nigeria declared independence in 1960, and its use for the conference marks another proud national moment—this time celebrating those who build nations in classrooms.”

Anifowose admitted that achieving the milestone was not without challenges.

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READ ALSO:Canada-based Nigerian Sets Guinness World Record For Longest Leadership Lesson

“This is not just about breaking a record. It is about resilience. Teachers stood in the rain, braved the sun, and endured long verification lines but refused to back down just to achieve this record,” he noted.

He expressed gratitude to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for hosting the event and to his home-state governor, Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, for his encouragement.

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He also thanked teacher unions and education agencies at both state and federal levels for their support in ensuring the conference’s success.

Beyond the record, Anifowose emphasised that the next phase would focus on policy advocacy. He revealed plans to engage the National Assembly on reforms aimed at improving Nigeria’s education system and boosting teachers’ welfare.

READ ALSO:Customs Seize N905m Rolls Royce, Other Contrabands In Ogun

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Nigeria’s education sector has long grappled with underfunding, poor infrastructure, and low teacher morale.

According to UNESCO, the country faces one of the world’s most severe teacher shortages, with many classrooms overcrowded and educators underpaid.

Stakeholders have repeatedly called for reforms to strengthen the sector, improve teacher training, and make the profession attractive to younger generations.

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By securing this world record, Anifowose hopes to transform symbolic recognition into tangible change for teachers nationwide.

(PUNCH)

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Delta Sacks, Demotes Health Workers For Extorting Pregnant Women

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The Delta State Government has dismissed several health workers found guilty of extorting money from pregnant women and children under five, despite the state’s free healthcare policy for these groups. Others were demoted for related offences.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, disclosed this on Saturday during the flag-off of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives Project Action Plan at Ashaka, in Ndokwa East Local Government Area.

He said the ministry had intensified monitoring of hospitals to ensure that funds released for maternal and child healthcare were properly utilised.

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Health workers in the state have done well, but in every twelve, there is a Judas. We have received reports of some collecting money from pregnant women and children under five for drugs, while still forwarding the bills to the government for payment,” Onojaeme stated.

READ ALSO:Fuel Scarcity Looms As PENGASSAN Stops Gas, Crude Supply To Dangote Refinery

The commissioner stressed that the state covers the medical expenses of all pregnant women until delivery, as well as free treatment for children under five.

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We have demoted some of these fraudulent workers and sacked many within this short period. With continuous monitoring and the support of mothers, these practices will reduce,” he added.

Onojaeme urged residents to report any health worker demanding payment for maternal or child care, noting that the phone number of the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Health Monitoring would be made public for such reports.

He also revealed that the state’s maternal mortality rate had dropped from over 200 to less than 120 per 100,000 live births, expressing optimism that the MAMII Project would further reduce the figures.

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READ ALSO:Police Kill Two Suspected Kidnappers In Delta, Recover AK-47 Rifle The Delta

The representative of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr John Ovuoraye, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting states in lowering maternal and neonatal deaths.

He disclosed that 172 local government areas across 33 states had been identified as high-risk zones, including five in Delta, Ndokwa East, Ughelli North, Aniocha North, Udu, and Sapele.

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Ovuoraye noted that the MAMII Project, supported by President Bola Tinubu, is being implemented in collaboration with USAID, WHO, UNICEF, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank, and several European partners.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the MAMII plaque to Delta State and the inauguration of a task force to ensure effective implementation of the project’s action plan.

 

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