Former Governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Segun Showunmi, has called on the party chieftains to get serious and fix the ongoing crisis in the party.

Naija News reports that Showunmi made this call in a post via his X handle on Monday, stating that the party had failed to secure victory in three off-cycle elections, which clearly shows that the PDP has become its own enemy.

He said the party’s core principles and objectives have been broken, and there is a need to review operating manuals from wards down to states and the national level.

Showunmi state also called for the reformation of the opposition party and not to continue with assumptions; hence, they will not get big northern states.

The post read, “PDP, PDP, PDP!!! It is time to truly reform. After having 3 back to back elections that did not yield to forming a government, especially the last outing that has shown clearly that we have become our enemies. There is no point passing the bulk or blame game, no this is the time to get serious and fix our party.

“Our core principles and objectives have been broken, from our need to review our operating manuals from wards down to states to national, we can no longer get by the way we have done, it is not unusual for a 25 years organization especially a political party to ask itself pertinent questions around why do things happen they way they have for a while now, and how do we forestall a reoccurrence. (First written 21/08/23.)

“I have reason to return to it after our dismal performance in off-season elections. We must review our election management framework, we are due for a stricter audit and reverse logistics review of precisely who was assigned what and how did they the task.

“We can not pretend we don’t know that resources assigned are majorly diverted and that somehow it has now become fashionable to be careless with the day-of-the-vote activities only to come back and blame everyone but ourselves.

“We must rethink what we mean by campaigning where we gather our so-called members in rallies and excite ourselves by claiming we are campaigning, we can not be speaking to the converted who are quick to betray when there is a large pool of voters who don’t get persuaded to come out and votes.

“It is idiotic to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result. The attitude of our serving governors to elections needs to be compared with those of our rivals and we will see clearly where we lost or if it makes you happy where we were rigged.

“What type of relationships do we build with critical election stakeholders, students, civil societies, opinion moulders, strong boys as we prefer to call them who are local enforcers and protectors of their territories, what about with the security and with Inec or do we consider them the exclusive preserve of the ruling party.

“The business of assumption is over. There is no basis for us to be losing under the circumstances We are losing because we are not doing the right thing. Do not be deceived we can not win an election simply by playing up tribalism, for both parties now have national spread The big northern votes won’t just fall into our laps. We must run a stylized campaign to make them come.

“Yield this responsibility to those who are passionate and knowledgeable and watch our rivals crumble. They are made of clay feet almost like Goliath and I wearing the full armour of the holy spirit in the order of David will slay them. It starts with preparing ourselves That’s why I preach reformation of our party.”

A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, has condemned the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum over a report of meeting President Bola Tinubu.

Ologbondiyan challenged Damagum to issue a clarification regarding the alleged secret meeting with Tinubu.

In a statement he signed, the PDP chieftain urged the party leaders to rescue the party from the “stranglehold of Damagum and his backers if the party must be revitalised to perform optimally as an opposition political party.”

He said: “How can the head of the leading opposition party be accused of ‘nicodemously’ meeting with the President of the ruling government, and he would have no response to provide?”

Expressing concern over PDP’s loss in Saturday’s Ondo State governorship election, Ologbondiyan stressed that successive off-season elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun may suffer the fate of Kogi, Imo and Ondo States if the substantive National Chairman is not restored.

“It is reprehensible that the Acting National Chairman is supervising the dishevelling of the party.

“Amb. Damagun has the least of interest in working for the success of the party in any election,” he added.

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Myson Nejo, has expressed concern over the alleged vote trading that characterised Saturday’s poll in Ondo State.

While frowning over the development, Nejo, who came third in the election with 4,138 votes, maintained that he lost the election due to his refusal to buy votes.

According to him, those who could afford to buy votes from the electorate won the election.

Nejo, who stated this on Sunday, stressed that despite losing the election, he was satisfied with himself.

“I thank the good people of Ondo State for voting for me. Without giving them any money, they still voted for me. I want to believe that my vote is a valid vote because there was nothing like vote-buying or any unethical practices on my side. So far, I want to believe I’m a winner in this election,” he said.

On the issue of vote-buying during the election, Nejo pointedly stated that votes were being bought for as much as N20,000, describing the development as worrisome.

“People were buying votes for N20,000 or N15,000, and in my polling unit, it was N10,000 to N15,000. Because I didn’t have money and I told them I wasn’t going to give even a kobo to buy votes, I ended up with only two votes in my unit and about 40 votes in total.

“But I don’t care. People were calling me, asking for money in exchange for their votes, but I stood my ground. If they want to vote, they should vote. I wasn’t going to give a kobo to buy votes,” Nejo said.

Popular Nigerian rapper, Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike, also known as Phyno has stated that music is a jealous and tasking” career.

According to him juggling marriage and music together is incredibly difficult.

Sharing his thoughts on celebrities getting married, Phyno opined that most celebrities careers crash when they get married.

He stated this in a recent episode of the In ‘My Opinion’ podcast.

He said, “Check everybody, statistically, I feel so [most celebrities’ careers crash when they get married].

“Music basically is a jealous career. That’s why people drop out of school to face music. The ones that had to juggle the two, you have to give them kudos because it’s not easy. Sometimes, some people get to a certain fame level and rush back to school and come back to continue from where they stopped because you have to actually face one. Music is tasking; it takes all your time

“Another thing about music is that it is what you pass through that you put into it—life experiences—except if you use songwriters. But if you write your songs, you can’t be talking about happiness when you’ve got a girlfriend that’s stressing you.”

Famed Australian broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones was charged Monday with a string of alleged historical sex crimes, police said, after an investigation into the conservative radio shock jock.

The 83-year-old is a household name across Australia and for years held immense sway through his top-rating radio talk show.

In a colourful career, he has also coached the national men’s rugby team, been a speechwriter for an Australian prime minister and taught at one of the country’s most prestigious schools.

Detectives from a dedicated child abuse squad arrested Jones on Monday while executing a search warrant at his luxury Sydney Harbour apartment.

He has been charged with 24 offences against eight alleged victims spanning between 2001 and 2019, New South Wales Police said.

This included 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault against people who had been employed by Jones.

Jones has strenuously denied prior allegations of indecent assault, which surfaced in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper late last year.

“We will allege that the accused knew some of them personally. Some of them professionally,” state crime commander Michael Fitzgerald told reporters.

The youngest victim was 17 years old at the time of the alleged offence, Fitzgerald said.

“I wish to commend the victims and their bravery in coming forward.

“They are fully aware, as are the investigators, that the hard work is just beginning.”

Whether as a sports coach, aspiring politician, or radio heavyweight, Jones has spent decades in the public eye.

He rose to fame while coaching the Australian rugby side in the 1980s, leading the Wallabies to a rare “grand slam” over England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.

His feats as a coach and administrator earned him a place in Australia’s Sports Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 1989.

-‘Powerful, divisive’ –

However, Jones’ subsequent career as a radio talkback host cemented his influence in Australian public life.

At the height of his powers, politicians from both sides scrambled to stay friendly with Jones, who was right-leaning and had a hit radio show.

“Over 36 years, Alan Jones became one of the most powerful, divisive, and socially destructive voices the Australian media has ever produced,” academic Denis Muller wrote in 2021.

An Australian tribunal found that in 2005 Jones had incited hatred of Lebanese Australians, fuelling racially charged riots in Sydney.

He retired from his radio show in 2020.

Jones made several unsuccessful tilts throughout his career to win a seat in the Australian Parliament.

Thirteen Internet fraudsters have been sentenced to a combined 30 years in prison following their conviction by an Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, the state capital.

PUNCH Metro gathered from a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Sunday, that the judgements were delivered in separate proceedings between November 11 and November 14, 2024.

The statement noted that the convicts were arrested and prosecuted for their involvement in cybercrime activities, including obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents, among others.

The EFCC identified the convicts as Evbayakha Daniel, Goodness Esiuke, Joshua Edobor, Omorodion Bright, Afisi Nurudeen, Oviabor Aisosa Wellington, and Evbayekha Desmond.

Others are Nosakhare Evbuomwan, Osemwengie Miracle, Osawe Kluvert, Wisdom Adolor, Onyebuchi Goodness, and Promise Omoru.

The statement continued, “They were prosecuted on one-count separate charges bordering on obtaining by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime, and possession of fraudulent documents by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Commission.

“The charge against Evbayakha Daniel reads: That you, Daniel (m), on or about October 30, 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did have in your possession documents which you knew or ought to have known contained false pretence, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 6 and 8 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

“All the defendants pleaded guilty to their charges when they were read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel, F.A Jirbo, K.Y. Bello, Isa K. Agwai, and Salihu Ahmed to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, stating that they have become remorseful for their actions.”

It added that upon their guilty plea, Justice A.N. Erhabor on November 11 convicted and sentenced Evbayakha Daniel, Goodness Esiuke, Joshua Edobor, Omorodion Bright, and Afisi Nurudeen, to two years imprisonment with an option of N200,000 fine each.

It continued, “On Wednesday, November 13, Justice Aziegbemhin convicted and sentenced Oviabor Aisosa Wellington and Evbayekha Desmond to three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.

“On Thursday, November 14, the quartet of Nosakhare Evbuomwan, Osemwengie Miracle, Osawe Kluvert, and Promise Omoru were convicted and sentenced by Justice Aziegbemhin to two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 while the duo of Wisdom Adolor and Onyebuchi Goodness bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.”

The statement concluded that the court ordered the forfeiture of exhibits retrieved from the convicts, which included “phones, laptops, and balances in their respective bank accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria as proceeds of crime and to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour henceforth.”

A 22-year-old school teacher at the Blessed Peace School in Egbeda, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos state simply identified as Prosper has been arrested for allegedly s0d0mising a 10-year-old boy at the school.

It was gathered that before performing the crime, the suspect allegedly told the pupil to behave like a girl and take off his trousers after luring her to a solitary spot in the school.

Investigation by Punch also revealed that the suspect had enticed the survivor to the location on October 18, 2024, by claiming he intended to take him to a spelling bee and art competition where the survivor would earn millions of naira and possibly even travel abroad.

“The teacher r@ped the boy at the school, convincing him by saying he would be enrolled in an art competition where they would win a substantial amount of money,” an eyewitness narrated.

“He took the boy to a class and ordered him to act like a girl. He then told him to pull his trousers down and close his eyes. He p3netrated this boy and told him he should not tell anyone, assuring him that he would win the competition.”

A source familiar with the suspect’s arrest revealed that the suspect was apprehended on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, while attempting to commit a similar act with another pupil at the school.

“An 11-year-old boy, who is more outspoken, informed his parents that he no longer wanted to attend the school. When his parents pressed for a reason, he revealed that a teacher had been threatening him, warning that something bad would happen if he didn’t comply with the teacher’s demands.

“This led the parents, school management, and other teachers to question other pupils, though they initially found no leads. However, a teacher recalled that the suspect often showed particular interest in one boy, frequently buying him gifts and giving him preferential treatment.

“It was at this point that the survivor confessed that the suspect had lured him with promises of a spelling bee and art competition, claiming he would win N2m and be taken abroad. The school was unaware of any such competitions mentioned by the suspect,” the eyewitness said.

The suspect was initially taken into custody by the police at the Idimu Division before being transferred to the Police Gender Unit for subsequent prosecution.

In a telephone conversation with the publication on Sunday, Mrs Ololade Ajayi, the founder of DOHS Cares Foundation, a non-governmental organisation focused on combating gender-based violence and the key advocate behind the arrest, expressed concerns that the police officers at the Gender Unit were attempting to hinder the prosecution of the suspect.

“Since the case was transferred to the Gender Unit, it has not been sent to court. I visited their office last Wednesday to inquire about the case. When I asked why it hadn’t been transferred, the inspector in charge explained that the unit was still conducting a preliminary investigation and that the boy’s mother had not returned,” she said.

“I informed the investigating police officer that the family was financially struggling and offered to cover the transport costs to the crime scene whenever they were ready. She assured me that she would call on Friday.

“On Friday, I called her to check if they were ready to go so I could arrange an Uber to take them to the crime scene, but she told me she was going somewhere else and would not be coming. I suspect there may be foul play involved."

The head of the Idimu Police Division, Chief Superintendent of Police, Gladys Faniyi, confirmed that the case had been referred to the Police Gender Unit.

“I have referred the case to the Gender Department. If you need any information, please direct your enquiries to that department,” Faniyi stated.

The National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Kole Omololu, has stated that President Bola Tinubu’s brief tenure in office has already shown signs of surpassing the record of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In a statement on Sunday, Omololu highlighted the emerging benefits of Tinubu’s economic reforms, which he said have placed the nation on a path toward recovery, growth, and development.

“The president’s economic reforms give hope that the nation is on a trajectory of recovery, growth, and development,” Omololu said, countering recent criticisms from Obasanjo.

At a keynote address delivered during the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, Connecticut, USA, Obasanjo had described Nigeria under Tinubu as a “failing state.”

In his recorded lecture titled ‘Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria’, the former president accused the administration of perpetuating corruption, mediocrity, and incompetence, among other issues.

Omololu dismissed Obasanjo’s claims as “inaccurate and a reflection of his habitual attention-seeking,” arguing that Tinubu’s reforms have already begun addressing systemic challenges.

“The assertion that Nigeria is a failing state under Tinubu is incorrect and smacks of mischief. The president’s leadership has started yielding tangible gains, contrary to the former president’s pessimistic assessment,” Omololu remarked.

“This is typical Obasanjo grandstanding. As the late President Shehu Shagari wrote about him in his autobiography, ‘Beckoned To Serve,’ Obasanjo is an egotistical narcissist who cannot stand not being the centre of attention and the cynosure of all eyes. He will engage in serial acts of incitement to attract the spotlight to himself,” he stated.

Saying Obasanjo had persistently criticised his successors unduly, Omololu contended that Tinubu’s managerial, moral and anti-corruption records were shoulder above the former president’s.

The Afenifere chieftain said the president’s economic reforms, including the withdrawal of petrol subsidies and the unification of forex rates, were bold measures the former president did not dare to take while in office.

He said these measures had shored up the nation’s revenue and helped it to reduce its debt service ratio from 97% to 65% of income within 17 months.

He added that Nigeria, under Tinubu, had achieved a new record in its trade balance, with an unprecedented N14.07 trillion trade surplus by half-year 2024, pointing out that the administration’s non-oil revenue in one quarter was more than the total generated during Obasanjo’s eight years in office.

Omololu queried, “How can President Obasanjo talk of mismanagement when, on Thursday, March 28, 2024, the Nigerian Stock Exchange crossed 104,562.06 All Shares Index, a 39.84% increase year-to-date, making it the second-best performing exchange in Africa?”

The Afenifere chieftain also disputed the former president’s assessment of the president’s anti-corruption record, stating that the top global transparency rating agency, Transparency International, reported a more positive evaluation.

“Transparency International says Nigeria is less corrupt today than during the Obasanjo administration,” he said, adding, “Nigeria improved on TI’s Corruption Perception Rating this year, moving five places from 150 in 2023 to 145 in 2024. In contrast, under Obasanjo, Nigeria was rated the second-most corrupt nation in the world, with only Bangladesh ahead of us in 2002. Out of 102 nations, Nigeria was number 101.”

Omololu pointed out that Obasanjo and his deputy, Atiku Abubakar, publicly exposed themselves via a nasty public exchange exposing their dirty dealings.

Omololu said Obasanjo, who could not manage his deputy, Atiku, lacked the moral authority to accuse Tinubu of immorality and mismanagement.

“If you could not manage your Presidency, what moral authority do you have to call the man who has managed his government and party with almost military efficiency a mediocre?” he queried.