Today’s Headlines: I won’t go everywhere with you – Tinubu excuses self from APC campaign tours ; Ex-President Obasanjo hails Eruani’s extraordinary vision on $1b Azikel refinery

President Bola Tinubu has told members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council not to expect him to accompany them to every campaign event ahead of the 2027 general election, saying he must remain focused on governance and the country’s economic responsibilities.

Tinubu spoke on Wednesday at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, where he urged members to take the party’s message to Nigerians across the states and local government areas while he continued to attend to matters of governance.

The president said he agreed with concerns that the demands of the campaign should not distract him from running the country, adding that Nigeria needed his attention at the moment.

“You’ve warned me not to allow the rigour of the campaign to distract me from governance, I hear you. I am in full agreement with your decision. Nigeria needs more attention now,” Tinubu said.

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has commended the President of Azikel Group, Dr Eruani Azibapu, for his extraordinary vision, entrepreneurial courage and monumental investment in the development of the $1 billion Azikel Refinery in Bayelsa State.

Obasanjo, who gave the commendation during his historic visit to the Azikel Refinery located at Obunagha, Yenagoa Local Government Area, where he performed the symbolic erection of the refinery’s Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), expressed satisfaction with the transformation of the refinery site since his earlier visit eight years ago, when he laid the foundation for the industrial development.

He applauded Dr Eruani’s determination and commitment to indigenous petroleum refining investment.

The Azikel Refinery is being developed as a full-scale petroleum refinery designed to produce Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), or diesel, and other refined petroleum products.

𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝’𝐬 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐲𝐨𝐦𝐢 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐳𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐲𝐨

The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the attack on hundreds of loyalists and supporters of the Accord Party governorship candidate in the state, Oriyomi Hamzat, by suspected hoodlums in Molete, Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation with PUNCH Online on Wednesday.

He said, “I am aware of the attacks. The loyalists of Hamzat were ambushed during a peaceful procession at Molete end of the ancient city.”

It was gathered that Hamzat, a radio presenter and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Agidigbo 88.7 FM, Ibadan, and his supporters were pelted with stones by unidentified suspected hoodlums in Molete, Ibadan.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗼𝗴𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗯𝗶

Vice President Kashim Shettima has taken a swipe at the former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, describing him as “the master of bogus statistics and incoherent economic prescriptions”.

Shettima spoke on Wednesday at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Calling Obi “my very good friend”, the Vice President mocked his habit of comparing Nigeria with other countries, especially Bangladesh.

Shettima stated. “He seems convinced that a size 36 shirt tailored for Bangladesh will somehow fit Nigeria’s size 52 frame.”

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