Today’s Headlines: I’ll Withdraw From Atiku, Campaign For Tinubu If-Amaechi, Obasanjo, Jonathan, Gown Pay Tribute To Chaplain Okoye

Rotimi Amaechi, the African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate running alongside Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 elections, has declared that he would step down from that ticket and instead campaign for President Bola Tinubu if petrol prices fall to ₦600 per litre.

He made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, framing the condition as a test of the current administration’s economic claims.

Amaechi stated that if fuel prices drop to that level, he would personally go to a petrol station the next morning to buy fuel and would withdraw as Atiku’s running mate while publicly supporting Tinubu. He invited skeptics to bring cameras to his house to document the action, emphasizing that the issue is one of believability and whether any prices or living costs have actually improved under the ongoing reforms.

Former Nigerian leaders Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Yakubu Gowon have paid tribute to the late Rev. William Okoye, who served as chaplain at Aso Rock under two presidents and was a former General Overseer of the All Christians Fellowship Mission. The tributes were delivered at a Night of Tributes held at the National Christian Centre in Abuja, with Okoye’s burial scheduled for the following week in his hometown in Anambra State.

Obasanjo described Okoye as a statesman of faith and fearless voice of truth who offered wisdom beyond spiritual duties during their time working together from 1999 to 2007. Jonathan recalled Okoye’s integrity and service as chaplain during his presidency, while Gowon praised his leadership, humility and pioneering role in the Nigeria Prays movement.

Okoye had also held positions on the Presidential Advisory Council on Youth Affairs, represented the FCT at the National Political Reform Conference, and served in leadership roles within the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria. His wife and other Christian leaders, including the CAN president, also spoke of his life of integrity and commitment to Nigeria’s spiritual and national wellbeing.

Twenty-one shops and a vehicle were destroyed in a fire that broke out at the Kugbo Furniture Market in Abuja on Friday.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that no lives were lost in the incident, while emergency responders recovered some valuables from the affected shops and prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the market.

The National Emergency Management Agency confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its Abuja Operations Office Press Unit on Friday.

The agency said its Emergency Response and Ambulance Bay received a distress call about the fire at about 11:15 am, prompting the mobilisation of the Federal Fire Service and other emergency response stakeholders to the scene.

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has backed the N2bn endowment fund and charity initiative of the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria, Lagos Metro Council, describing it as a sustainable model for supporting vulnerable Nigerians and empowering future generations.

He stated this recently at the unveiling ceremony of the N2bn endowment fund & charity initiative at St. Leo Catholic Church, Ikeja, Lagos.

Themed “Investing Today, Sustaining the Mission, Empowering Generations,” the Lagos APC governorship candidate called for stronger partnerships between government and religious institutions to address social challenges and build lasting institutions.

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