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Tokunbo Afikuyomi is back at the feet of Jagaban Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Published

5 years ago

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Killing for food has always been part of nature; while to provide food is a form of love. This, perhaps, sums up the relationship between former Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi and his political godfather and benefactor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And it was what came to the mind of many when Afikuyomi was sighted at the seventh convocation ceremony of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, where Tinubu was conferred with an honorary doctorate in Public Administration. 

Online and offline, there is a consensus that the bulky politician has gone back to the man who butters his bread underscoring the fact that some men would pawn their integrity for a bottle of champagne– particularly if they are fair-weather politicians. 

Indeed, there is no dignity in the life of a man living on a leash of another man’s cash. He will forever remain a sad excuse for man, a glorified errand boy whose lustre often extinguishes in the glitter of his benefactor’s wealth.

After a two-term stint as a senator, Afikuyomi threw his hat into the ring in the run-up to the 2007 governorship election but because Tinubu had anointed Babatunde Raji Fashola as his successor, he sought a different platform to actualise his ambition. Afikuyomi defected from the Action Congress to the All Nigeria People’s Party, ANPP, on which platform he contested and lost the governorship poll.

Shamefacedly, he returned to the party and was appointed Commissioner for Tourism. If Nigerians saw the appointment as a demotion of a sort – from a senator, governorship candidate to commissioner – Afikuyomi didn’t see it that way. For him, it was a means to remain in a political office. After the uproar that greeted his involvement in the acquisition of the Sunborn Yacht Hotel, he was quietly eased out after Fashola’s first term. Thereafter, he allegedly headed to Osun where he was an unofficial ‘Special Assistant’ to former Governor Rauf Aregbesola. But Osun is no Lagos and he soon relocated to London.

A few years after, he was brought back into the fold and was found worthy of some sensitive assignments, notably as Chairman of the state primaries of the All Progressives Congress held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, on May 2017. The primaries degenerated into an orgy of violence during which he was beaten blue-black by party thugs disgruntled with the leadership over the brazen imposition of candidates in the local government elections. He was also quite vocal in national issues especially as they concerned Tinubu.

Then, like a chameleon, he switched loyalty to former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. At the time, the APC leadership in Lagos State had made up its mind not to give Ambode a second term but Afikuyomi stuck by him, thinking that if he beat the party leadership at its own game and secure the ticket, the end of Tinubu’s hold on Lagos’ politics had come. But that was not to be as Ambode was successfully denied a second term.

Thereafter, Afikuyomi disappeared into thin air until he resurfaced in Ado-Ekiti.

Indeed, there might be a truism in what Tinubu was once quoted as saying; “Adiye ni Tokunbo, yin agbado fun, a pada,” literally translated to mean (Tokunbo is a fowl, throw grains of corn at him and he would make an about-face). Oops!!!

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Flight Disruptions Due to Multiple Bird Strikes – Your Safety Comes First

Published

21 hours ago

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February 28, 2025

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Air Peace regrets to inform the flying public of an unexpected disruption to our flight operations caused by multiple bird strike incidents affecting three of our aircraft within the last 24 hours.

The first incident happened yesterday, necessitating an air return. Additionally, earlier today, two of our aircraft also suffered bird strike incidents, resulting in the grounding of the affected aircraft for safety checks and necessary maintenance.

As a safety-conscious airline, Air Peace prioritizes the well-being of our passengers and crew above all else. In line with our strict safety protocols, we have immediately commenced the requisite inspections and maintenance procedures to ensure that the aircraft meet the highest safety standards before returning to service.

We sincerely apologize to our esteemed customers for the inconvenience these disruptions may cause to their travel plans. While we work to resolve the situation as swiftly as possible, we kindly seek your patience and understanding. Our team is actively reaching out to affected passengers to provide necessary assistance, including rescheduling and alternative travel arrangements where possible.

Please rest assured that every decision we make is with your safety in mind. We appreciate your trust in Air Peace and thank you for standing with us.

Air Peace remains committed to providing safe, seamless, and efficient flight services. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we navigate this unexpected situation.

For more information on flight schedules or any other customer concerns, please reach out to us at callcenter@flyairpeace.com. or visit our website and social media channels for updates.

Thank you for your continued trust in Air Peace.

Signed,

Dr. Ejike Ndiulo

Head of Corporate Communications

Air Peace Limited

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Natasha Akpoti accuses Akpabio of punishing her for refusing to sleep with him (Video)

Published

21 hours ago

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February 28, 2025

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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of punishing her in the senate for refusing his adances.

 

 

The Kogi Central Senator revealed this while speaking on Arise TV’s morning show on Friday, February 28, 2024.

 

“When we were at his house in Uyo for his birthday, he held my hand and offered to show me around his house. My husband was there, walking behind us.

 

 

 

When we got to a particular sitting room, he asked, ‘Do you like my house?’ I replied, ‘Of course, sir, every room, every living room.’ Then he said, ‘Now that you are a senator, I want us to come here at your convenience to spend time. You will enjoy it,” she said.

 

 

When asked to clarify her claims, she said, ‘My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him.”

 

 

On February 20, the lawmaker disrupted plenary by rejecting her assigned seat, defying Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s order, and repeatedly raising a point of order despite being overruled.

 

 

On Tuesday, the upper chamber referred her to the committee on ethics, privileges, and public petitions for disciplinary review.

 

 

In a statement on her X page on Thursday, the Kogi senator said she was ready to face the panel, but would not allow the matter to be handled behind closed doors.

 

Earlier, the Kogi senator filed a N100 billion defamation suit against Akpabio.

 

In the suit filed at the federal capital territory (FCT) high court, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that Akpabio and Mfon Patrick, his legislative aide, made defamatory comments against her.

 

 

The lawmaker asked the court to compel the respondents to withdraw the defamatory comments and apologise to her in a national newspaper.

 

 

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Lagos Speaker, Mojisola Meranda’s security Details  Restored— Lagos CP

Published

1 day ago

on

February 27, 2025

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The Lagos State Police Command has announced that the security details of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, have been reinstated.

 

Earlier report had it that the security escorts assigned to the Speaker’s office and her residence were withdrawn earlier on Thursday.

 

 

This raised questions, especially after the security details of impeached speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, were restored, leading him to storm the assembly complex and declare himself as speaker.

 

 

Obasa even chaired a plenary session with a small number of assembly members present.

 

However, in a press briefing on Thursday, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, confirmed that four security personnel who were previously withdrawn from the Speaker have now been restored.

 

 

He explained that the removal of security details from the Speaker and other Very Important Personalities (VIPs) in the state was part of an ongoing audit of Police personnel and firearms.

 

Jimoh also mentioned that this audit is not exclusive to Lagos, as similar operations are being conducted in other states’ Police Commands.

 

 

 

More to come…

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