Former speakers of the houses of assembly in Ekiti and Ondo states have denied endorsing Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for the 2023 presidency.

At a meeting of serving and former speakers in Yoruba states in Ibadan, the former speakers, led by the Lagos House of assembly speaker, Mudashiru Obasa and the coordinator of former southwest speakers, titi Oseni, the former speakers denied endorsing the presidential ambition of the All Progressive Congress ,APC, national leader.

Five former Ondo speakers: Victor Olabimtan, Oluwasegun Bolarinwa, Ayo Agbomuserin, Abdusalam Olawale Taofeeq, Kenneth Olawale, and Patrick Ajigbolamu issued a statement on Sunday noting that Obasa was at the meeting to solicit the support of the former speakers, as automatic national delegates “for the aspiration of his mentor, Asiwaju bola Tinubu.”

The group noted that all candidates from the zone, including Tinubu, had a legitimate right to aspire to lead the country.  Former speaker from Ekiti State also said his governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, is equally interested in the presidency.  He said the group believes every eligible aspirant deserves equal right and opportunity.

Nigerian army chief, Tukur Buratai has applauded his troops for repelling Boko Haram/ISWAP attack on Friday after the terrorists invaded an army base in Marte, Borno state.  Their efforts were reinforce by air task force unit of operation Lafiya dole.  Buratai said the upperhand gained by the troops was a “good display of gallantry.”

He also said the troops’ heroic and patriotic actions resulted in the successes recorded.

Buratai’s reactions were captured in a statement by army spokesman, Brigadier General Sagir Musa.

The Network for Democracy And Development, NDD, says schools are not yet safe to reopen because of poor preventive measures put in place to tackle coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The group says the announcement by presidential task force on COVID-19 that schools reopen on Monday, January the eighteenth, is premature because the country is experiencing an increase in coronavirus cases.

The group made this declaration during a virtual press conference on Sunday. During which it also railed against plans by educational institutions to resume academic activities nationwide without adequate safety measures against the second wave of COVID-19.

NDD’s national coordinator, Tajudeen Alabede said federal and state governments have left students, pupils and staff, to their fate as adequate safety measures were not put in place by the government to contain the spread of the disease.

Alabede said, “the consequences of poorly regulated resumption plans amidst the rising cases of COVID-19 may be catastrophic,” end quote.

He further said the government should consider providing facilities for virtual classes, deploying health and security personnel to schools to handle emergencies, providing hand sanitizer and masks to students and staff, providing testing facilities for compulsory testing of all students and staff, and setting up isolation centers in all local governments.