Peter Obi Dismisses Claims of Accepting 2027 Vice Presidential Role

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has refuted claims that he agreed to become a vice-presidential candidate in the 2027 elections. The former Anambra State Governor addressed the issue via a series of posts on his official X account on Saturday, accusing certain groups of misinterpreting his recent interview.

Obi emphasized that his remarks during the News Central TV interview had been deliberately distorted by propagandists, and he reiterated his unwavering commitment to the Labour Party and Nigeria’s progress.

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Clarifying his stance, Obi stated, “I am not focused on 2027 when Nigerians are grappling with hunger, poverty, insecurity, and other urgent challenges.” He noted that he is open to partnerships, but only with individuals whose intentions align with advancing the country, not capturing state power.

Obi further stressed that his priority is to address pressing national issues, including bringing millions of out-of-school children back into classrooms and combating poverty. He categorically denied any agreement to serve as a vice president, saying, “For the avoidance of doubt, I never stated at any time that I would be vice president to anyone.”

Despite the rumors, Obi reaffirmed his dedication to Nigeria’s development, insisting that true progress can be achieved without necessarily holding political office.

Tjay Emerges as Week 7 Head of House in BBNaija, Gains Immunity

Tjay has been crowned the Head of House (HoH) for week seven in the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) ‘No Loose Guard’ season, becoming the second solo HoH of the competition.

The announcement followed the unpairing of housemates, marking the start of individual gameplay after weeks of competing in duos.

In the week’s challenge, housemates navigated through a maze of laser beams in the arena before transferring mini cubes from one bottle to another.

Tjay, formerly part of Team Beta with his close friend Ben, completed the task in record time, securing his position as the new HoH.

With this win, Tjay gains immunity from eviction for the week, ensuring his safety in the game as the competition heats up.

This victory comes after Onyeka became the first solo HoH in the previous week, following a string of duo HoHs, including Mbadiwe Twins and Team Ndi Nne.

As the show progresses, housemates are vying for the ultimate grand prize of N100 million, with the stakes growing higher each week.

NOA launches birth registration campaign in Gombe, urges community participation

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC), has begun birth registration sensitisation in Gombe State with a call on residents to embrace the exercise.

The campaign is being supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Speaking at the event in Gombe on Thursday, Mrs Adaline Patari, the state director, NOA, Gombe State office, said the move was to protect the future of children in the state.

Patari said the exercise was a nationwide birth registration social mobilisation drive, aimed at ensuring that every child in Nigeria had access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.

According to her, the drive is focused on registering all children aged 0-5 years and providing them with a National ldentification Number (NIN) free of charge.
She said that the birth registration drive would run from August to November 2024.

“Birth registration is a fundamental right of every child, and this initiative seeks to highlight its importance to the child, the family, the community, and the nation at large.

“Birth registration is the first legal acknowledgement of a child’s existence and is essential for safeguarding their rights and privileges for now and in the future.

“It is the key to unlocking access to basic services such as education and healthcare, which are crucial for a child’s development and future.

“Accurate birth registration is vital for national planning and development, as it provides the government with essential data to plan.

“By registering a child’s birth, families ensure that their children are recognised by the state, which is the first step in protecting them from abuse, exploitation, and statelessness,” he said.

The state director urged parents and guardians to visit the nearest NPC registration centres to register their children.

On his part, the State Director of NPC in Gombe State, Mr. Jude Maigari, said success in birth registration remained a collective efforts of all stakeholders, hence called for all shareholders’ support in this regard.

Maigari said the process was simple and free, requiring only supporting documents such as an immunisation card or an existing birth certificate of a parent or guardian.
He said during registration, every child aged 0-5 years would receive a NIN upon face capturing and birth registration.

He appealed to all traditional, religious and community leaders to drive the exercise in their communities, noting that the civic exercise would impact positively on the wellbeing of their people going forward.

On his part, Alhaji Usman Shettima, district head of Nasarawo and overseeing district head of Gombe pledged to support the drive for the benefits of the people.

Shettima appealed to leaders at the grassroots to ensure that their communities participate in the process.