WAFFI TV | Feature

Tinubu To Attend Inauguration Of Pope Leo XIV In Rome

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will leave Abuja for Rome on Saturday to attend the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV as the new head of the Roman Catholic Church. The trip was confirmed in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. Tinubu is travelling at the invitation of the Vatican and will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the installation Mass set for Sunday, May 18, at St. Peter’s Square. The ceremony marks the official start of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Bishop of Rome. He takes over from Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21. Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, was elected 27 days later by the Conclave of Cardinals. The invitation, signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, emphasized the significance of Tinubu’s attendance, calling the inauguration “a moment of particular importance for the Catholic Church and a world beset by tensions and conflict.” Pope Leo XIV also expressed a personal connection to Nigeria, stating: “Your great nation is particularly dear to me as I worked in the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos during the 1980s.” The President will be accompanied by a delegation that includes the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja; Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos; and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese. President Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja on Tuesday, May 20.

5/15/2025, 7:52:46 PM

Bill To Make Voting Compulsory Scales 2nd Reading At House Of Reps

A bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives. Sponsored by House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the bill was thoroughly debated during Thursday’s plenary session and received overwhelming support to move to the next legislative phase. Despite being Africa’s largest democracy, Nigeria continues to grapple with low voter turnout. Of the more than 93 million registered voters in the 2023 general elections, only about 27% turned out to vote. This persistent apathy has raised concerns about the legitimacy of elected leaders and the strength of democratic representation. To address this, the bill proposes mandatory voting as a way to boost civic participation and ensure more inclusive governance. Compulsory voting is already in place in countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, where turnout rates often exceed 90%. Supporters of the bill argue it would promote political accountability and civic responsibility, while critics warn it could infringe on personal freedoms and lead to coercion. During the debate, Speaker Abbas maintained that the legislation would strengthen democracy by ensuring citizens actively take part in leadership selection. He also noted that the bill would include measures for voter education, improved access to polling units, and clear enforcement protocols. Concerns raised by opponents included logistical challenges in rural and insecure regions, as well as doubts about penalizing non-voters without infringing on civil liberties. Nonetheless, the bill was unanimously adopted through a voice vote and forwarded to the relevant committee for further consideration.

5/15/2025, 3:46:17 PM

We Crushed Boko Haram In Weeks During Our Tenure~ Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has asserted that former President Olusegun Obasanjo decisively curtailed Boko Haram’s activities when the group first surfaced, attributing the success to strong political will. Atiku made the remark on Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting with stakeholders from Kogi East Senatorial District, led by former Kogi Deputy Governor Simon Achuba. In a video posted on his Facebook page, Atiku recalled that Boko Haram initially emerged in Yobe State in 2002, prompting President Obasanjo to consult him on the appropriate response. Atiku said, “You remember when the Boko Haram started in Yobe? It was actually in 2002. We were in office. The president sent for me. ‘VP, what do we do about this?’ Then I said, ‘Mr President, let’s call the Service Chiefs and give them a deadline. If they can’t put it down, then they should put down their uniform and go away. We will get some other people’.” He continued, “And he called the Service Chiefs, I was there, and gave them marching orders, and within a few weeks, they put down the insurgency in Yobe. It never came up again until we left office.” Atiku blamed the resurgence of Boko Haram and continued insecurity on the failure of successive governments to act decisively. “So, I will say there’s a lack of political will on the leaders. When they’re killing your citizens, how can you even eat? They’re killing your citizens and you don’t give a damn; that is the greatest irresponsibility by any political leader, anywhere. “So I hold our leadership responsible for all the insecurity that is going on all over the place,” he added.

5/15/2025, 1:55:38 PM

Trump Hints At Third Term Run In Qatar Troop Address

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump once again floated the idea of pursuing a third term in office—despite it being prohibited by the Constitution—during a highly politicized speech to American troops stationed in Qatar. Addressing uniformed service members at the Al Udeid Air Base, Trump also repeated the false claim that he won the 2020 presidential election against Joe Biden. “We won three elections, ok? And some people want us to do a fourth. I don’t know. We’ll have to think about that,” Trump said. He pointed to the sales of products advertising a 2028 run, but also suggested that the effort was intended to annoy his rivals. “The hottest hat is — it says Trump 2028. We’re driving the left crazy when you see that,” Trump said. The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution restricts presidents to two elected terms in office. In an interview with NBC News earlier this month, Trump acknowledged that he cannot run for a third term and mentioned Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as possible successors. Despite the military’s tradition of political neutrality, Trump’s address to the troops resembled a campaign rally in tone. Speaking to the service members—some of whom were seen smiling—Trump ridiculed President Biden, claiming he wouldn’t have had the stamina for a covert visit to Baghdad like the one Trump made during his first term. Throughout his trip, Trump repeatedly disparaged Biden in the presence of foreign dignitaries and business leaders, referring to him earlier on Thursday in Doha as a “stupid person.” He closed his speech to the troops with the Village People’s “YMCA,” a staple at his political rallies.

5/15/2025, 1:44:57 PM

DSS Drags Pat Utomi To Court Over Shadow Govt Formation

The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed a lawsuit against former presidential candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, at the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly attempting to establish a parallel government. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, lists Utomi—who contested the presidency in 2007 under the African Democratic Congress—as the sole defendant. The DSS accuses him of trying to unlawfully assume executive powers belonging to President Bola Tinubu. Utomi recently announced the formation of a 39-member shadow cabinet, claiming it was a response to the Tinubu administration’s alleged poor governance. While the Federal Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress condemned the move, Utomi defended it as a constitutional act. However, through its counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), the DSS described the shadow cabinet as illegal and an incitement to public distrust against the President. The agency argues that Utomi's initiative amounts to forming an alternative government, violating provisions of the 1999 Constitution. According to the DSS, Utomi used public forums, social media, and other channels to launch the shadow government in a bid to challenge President Tinubu’s legitimacy. The shadow cabinet reportedly includes roles such as an Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio headed by Dele Farotimi; a Policy Delivery Unit comprising Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Daniel Ikuonobe, Halima Ahmed, David Okonkwo, and Obi Ajuga; and a Council of Economic Advisers. The DSS warned that the initiative, if not halted, could erode public confidence, incite unrest, and threaten national security. It expressed concerns that such a move could inspire separatist groups and other unlawful actors to establish similar parallel structures, thereby destabilising the country.

5/15/2025, 8:19:03 AM

ASUU Threatens To Sue JAMB Over UTME Mass Failure

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) branch, has threatened legal action against the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over the widespread failure recorded in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Chairman of ASUU-UNN, Óyibo Eze, made this known while addressing journalists in Nsukka on Wednesday. Eze alleged that the mass failure, which predominantly affected candidates from the South East, was a deliberate move by JAMB to prevent children from the region from gaining university admission. He said, “My office has been inundated with protests, calls and visits by parents and the general public on this deliberate massive failure in the 2025 JAMB examination. “ASUU will challenge this result in High Court if JAMB fails to review the result and give candidates their merited scores. “JAMB knows that children from the South East must score higher before they can get admission whereas their counterparts in some parts of the country will use 120 JAMB score to get admission to read medicine in universities in their area. “In the JAMB recently released result, out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 examination, over 1.5 million candidates scored less than 200 and the majority of these are from the South East and Lagos State, where many Igbos reside.” He called on governors from the South East to rise up and challenge this injustice targeted towards preventing children from the zone from gaining admission into higher institutions in the country. “The governors in the zone should not sit and watch JAMB toy with academic future of our children. “I am not against the board punishing those found guilty of exam malpractice, but JAMB should not, because of these few candidates, fail the whole candidates in an exam centre,” he said. The ASUU boss said that it was unbelievable and unacceptable that in the whole University Secondary School, Nsukka, no candidate who sat for the exam scored up to 200 in the UTME. “This school has superlative students who have excelled in academics both inside and outside the school, how come all of them scored less than 200 in the exam. “Even if JAMB discovered one or two candidates for exam malpractice, is that enough reason to fail all others who have prepared very hard for that exam,” he stated.

5/14/2025, 7:02:14 PM

BREAKING: JAMB Admits To Errors In 2025 UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Wednesday acknowledged that certain errors impacted candidates’ performances in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made the admission during an ongoing press briefing in Abuja. “What should have been a moment of joy has changed due to one or two errors,” Oloyede stated. The UTME, a key requirement for entry into Nigerian tertiary institutions, assesses candidates in four subjects—Use of English (compulsory) and three others based on their intended field of study. Out of 1.9 million candidates who sat for the exam, over 1.5 million scored below 200 out of a possible 400, sparking widespread concern in the education sector. According to JAMB, a total of 1,955,069 results were processed. Only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) scored 320 and above, while 7,658 (0.39%) scored between 300 and 319. This brings the total number of candidates who scored 300 and above to just 12,414 (0.63%). Additionally, 73,441 candidates (3.76%) scored between 250 and 299; 334,560 (17.11%) scored between 200 and 249; and 983,187 (50.29%) scored between 160 and 199—a common admission benchmark for many institutions. Meanwhile, 488,197 candidates (24.97%) scored between 140 and 159; 57,419 (2.94%) scored between 120 and 139; 3,820 (0.20%) scored between 100 and 119; and 2,031 (0.10%) scored below 100. With over 75% of candidates scoring below 200, frustration has mounted, and some affected candidates have threatened legal action against the examination body.

5/14/2025, 4:23:37 PM

Systematic Failure Caused Wigwe’s Death~ NSIB

The Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has reacted to the findings released by the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of former Access Holdings Plc Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe, his wife, son, and three others. In a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, and sent to our correspondent on Wednesday, the NSIB expressed disagreement with the NTSB’s conclusion, which largely blamed the crash on pilot error. The bureau argued that responsibility for the tragic incident should not rest solely on the pilot but also on systemic failures that should have prevented such an outcome. The NSIB is Nigeria’s multimodal transport safety agency responsible for conducting independent and thorough investigations into transportation accidents. Its U.S. counterpart, the NTSB, performs a similar role. Over a week ago, the NTSB released its final report, citing “pilot disorientation” and a breach of flight regulations—particularly the decision to continue flying under visual flight rules in poor weather conditions—as key factors behind the crash. In its response, the NSIB also clarified that it was not involved in a joint investigation with the NTSB, contrary to reports suggesting collaboration. It stated that it was only kept informed of developments during the process. Interestingly, less than 24 hours prior, NSIB Director-General Alex Badeh had confirmed to *The PUNCH* that the NTSB had shared its final report with the bureau. However, when asked to comment on its contents, Badeh declined, emphasizing that the purpose of such reports is not to assign blame but to enhance safety in the aviation sector. Eventually responding to the report, the NSIB in its statement said, “It appears there were systemic issues, and the flight risk assessment should have indicated a higher risk. While it’s easy to blame the pilot, there is a system behind the pilot that should have mitigated these risks.” Also in February 2024, the NSIB said it offered its full cooperation to the NTSB in the investigation of the tragic crash that resulted in the death of the banker and five others. Speaking through the latest statement, the Director General clarified that, “ the NSIB did not work side-by-side with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board ” on the investigation of the accident, adding that “We were an interested party, and were kept abreast of the process by the NTSB, who led the investigation in the U.S.”

5/14/2025, 2:51:29 PM

FG Denies Alleged N71.2bn Student Loan Fraud

The Federal Government on Wednesday refuted claims of fraud in the student loan scheme. According to DAILY POST, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had earlier revealed plans to probe alleged discrepancies in the disbursement of loans under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The ICPC stated that preliminary findings showed that although N100 billion was released for the scheme, only N28.8 billion reached students, leaving N71.2 billion unaccounted for. In reaction, the National Association of Nigerian Students threatened to stage a nationwide protest over the alleged shortfall. However, speaking on the issue on Wednesday, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, insisted that no fraud had been uncovered in the scheme. He made this clarification following a meeting with Vice Chancellors, officials from the National Universities Commission, NELFUND, and the Federal Ministry of Education. The minister dismissed the ICPC’s statement as inaccurate. “Let me start by saying that there is no fraud in NELFUND. ICPC reported that the information was not correct. There is no fraud in NELFUND; we have issues that have to do with the timeline,” he said.

5/14/2025, 2:46:22 PM

Oshiomhole Dares Abati To A ‘Street Fight’ Over ‘Disrespectful’ Comments

Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has challenged Arise TV anchor and former presidential spokesperson, Dr. Reuben Abati, to a fight over what he called disrespectful and mischievous remarks made during a live broadcast. Oshiomhole threw down the gauntlet on Tuesday while speaking on Channels Television’s *Politics Today*, responding to a recent episode of Arise TV’s *The Morning Show* where Abati questioned former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa. “I was particularly shocked that a senior editor could ask the immediate past governor of Delta state, Okowa, mischievously, I must say, with all due respect, ‘did you get permission from Oshiomhole that your sins will now be forgiven before you decided to decamp to APC?’” Oshiomhole said. Oshiomhole, who is a former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress and ex-governor of Edo State, said he found it absurd that Abati would imply he had such powers within the APC. “How can you ask that? What is my status? I am in the legislature. Is the legislature responsible for the prosecution of anyone wrong in any way?” Oshiomhole questioned. Although he did not mention Abati by name during the interview, Oshiomhole’s references to the journalist’s past and political career pointed clearly in his direction. He also took a swipe at Abati’s past, referencing his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after his time as President Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesperson. “The man who made that statement was at a time invited by the EFCC after he was Jonathan’s spokesman, shamelessly. Thereafter, EFCC arrested him. Was I the one who granted him bail to leave PDP to go where he is?” he stated. Oshiomhole further accused Abati of deliberately refusing to acknowledge his role in labour movements, especially on May Day. “Even on Labour Day, he was saying some labour leaders who had been involved in picketing and fought for workers; he could not even credit me with the fact that I led the protest. This is a guy who wrote ‘Oshiomhole the people’s president’ when I was president of the NLC. “Rather than crediting me with that, he said when they leave NLC, they now go and become governors,” Oshiomhole said. The senator concluded with a direct challenge. “If you are angry because you wanted to be a deputy governor and you lost an election in Ogun state, is that the reason you are paranoid, that every opportunity you want to abuse me? If you want to abuse me, don’t hide behind the TV; let’s meet in the street and fight it out,” he said.

5/14/2025, 11:39:15 AM

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