News update

Obasanjo Visits Remi Tinubu In Lagos

A media aide to the President's wife, Busola Kukoyi, said Obasanjo came felicitating with her principal on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

By Paschal

Updated June 17, 2024

   

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Olusegun Obasanjo (L) and Remi Tinubu (R) in Lagos on Monday, June 17, 2024. Credit: X/Busola Kukoyi

 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday paid a visit to the wife of the President, Remi Tinubu, in Lagos.

A media aide to the President’s wife, Busola Kukoyi, said Obasanjo came felicitating with her principal on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

“Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the First Lady of the Federal of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu after receiving the Former President who came felicitating on the Sallah Celebration on Monday 17th June,” Kukoyi wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

In the buildup to the 2023 presidential election won by ex-Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu, Obasanjo endorsed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, as his preferred contestant for the poll.

“None of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline, and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job, particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge,” Obasanjo had said.

Tinubu had visited Obasanjo at his Abeokuta residence but the former President did not endorse the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The APC candidate trounced Obi and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the polls and was inaugurated as President on May 29, 2023. Obasanjo has been notably absent at many state functions that had past Presidents and Heads of State in attendance.

Obasanjo was first Head of State from 1976 to 1979. After his prison ordeal, he was elected Nigeria’s President from 1999 to 2007 on the platform of the PDP.

Trump says he may move Republican convention from Charlotte

David Jackson USA TODAY

Published 11:22 AM EDT May 25, 2020

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump raised the prospect of moving the Republican National Convention from Charlotte, N.C., on Monday, complaining that North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has maintained a lockdown of his state because of the coronavirus.

Republicans "must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied," Trump said in an early morning series of Memorial Day tweets.

Without an answer soon, Trump said, the Republicans will be "reluctantly forced" to "another Republican National Convention site."

Trump did not give Cooper a deadline, and added that "this is not something I want to do."

The GOP convention is currently scheduled for the week of Aug. 24.

Cooper, a Democrat, said science will dictate the re-opening of his state, including mass meetings like conventions.

“I know people want their lives and their livelihoods back,” Cooper told reporters last month. “And I have a plan to do that. But first, we need to hit certain metrics because the health and safety of North Carolinians is our No. 1 priority.”

More: Republicans moving 'full steam ahead' for 2020 convention in Charlotte, North Carolina

More: A virtual convention? Democrats weigh political challenges in the face of coronavirus

In a May interview with CNN, Cooper said: "This is not political. This is not emotional. This is based on health experts, data and science and that's it for everybody to see. No one is being favored or disfavored over the other."

Cooper spokesperson Dory MacMillan said Monday that "state health officials are working with the RNC and will review its plans as they make decisions about how to hold the convention in Charlotte. North Carolina is relying on data and science to protect our state's public health and safety."

The state, which is undergoing a phased re-opening of the state, currently does not allow gatherings of more than ten people indoors. The Republican convention is expected to draw up to 50,000 to Charlotte, the state's largest city.

The Democratic Party, which is planning to convene in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has already pushed back its convention from July 13-16 to the week of Aug. 17, and is considering scaling back those proceedings.

In his tweets, Trump accused Cooper of being in a "Shutdown mood," and that the Republicans cannot be guaranteed use of the arena and other convention facilities in Charlotte.

"In other words, we would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space," Trump said.

Trump has previously mentioned the possibility of moving his convention.

In an interview with The Washington Examiner, Trump said "we'll have a convention" and praised North Carolina. But he also criticized Cooper's administration of the state.

"It’s got a Democrat governor," Trump said. "so we have to be a little bit careful with that, because they’re playing politics."

Published 11:22 AM EDT May 25, 2020