IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, dismissed the country’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Phil Goff, on Thursday after remarks he made that were perceived as critical of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Goff, speaking at a forum in London on Tuesday, appeared to question Trump’s understanding of history, drawing a comparison between the former president’s approach to Russia and Winston Churchill’s wartime leadership against Nazi Germany.

“President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?” Goff asked during a panel discussion with Finland’s Foreign Minister, Elina Valtonen.

In response, Peters issued a statement expressing disappointment in Goff’s comments, emphasizing that they did not reflect the New Zealand government’s stance.

“They do not represent the views of the NZ Government and make his position as High Commissioner to London untenable,” Peters stated.

Goff, a former foreign minister and Labour Party lawmaker, had been appointed as New Zealand’s ambassador to the UK in 2023. 

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions has ruled out live television coverage of the proceedings involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central.

Committee Chairman, Senator Neda Imasuen, made this known on Arise TV's The Morning Show on Wednesday, explaining that the decision was to maintain focus and avoid unnecessary distractions.

Akpoti-Uduaghan had earlier requested live coverage of the hearing following her dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seat allocation.

Imasuen assured that the senator would receive a fair hearing, emphasizing that her rights would be protected throughout the process. However, he declined to comment on allegations of sexual misconduct in the Senate, citing ongoing legal proceedings. 

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan resumed plenary at the Senate Chamber today, sharing a kiss with her husband before taking her newly assigned seat, which remains at the center of her ongoing dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Her return follows allegations of sexual harassment against Akpabio, which he has denied, further escalating tensions within the Senate.

Meanwhile, the Senate Ethics Committee, led by Senator Neda Imaseun, is set to investigate Akpoti-Uduaghan over claims that she violated Senate rules.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has dismissed rumors circulating on social media about her resignation, labeling them as "malicious speculation."

The speculation arose after a viral video claimed she had stepped down due to external pressure. However, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday by her media aide, Owupele Benebo, Odu refuted the claims, calling them false and misleading.

She reaffirmed her commitment to Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration and urged the public to disregard the baseless reports.

"The Office of the Deputy Governor of Rivers State categorically debunks the false claims suggesting that Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu has resigned," the statement read.

Odu emphasized that she remains dedicated to her duties and continues to support the governor in delivering democratic dividends to the people of Rivers State. She assured that her loyalty to the administration remains unwavering. 

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has summoned the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammadu Dingyadi, over the failure to constitute the board of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). The summons follows a petition filed by the Obasi-Pherson Help Foundation, a non-governmental organization, which raised concerns that despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointing a Managing Director for the NSITF, the board remains unconstituted several months later. 

The group described the delay as an "aberration," warning that the absence of a governing board has created room for "a wide range of illegalities" in the agency’s operations. Reacting to the petition, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Mike Etaba, stressed the need for the Minister to personally address the concerns raised. “The government is being indicted, so it is only logical that the Minister clears the air on the matter,” Etaba stated.

In a related development, the committee has also summoned the Managing Director of NSITF, Faleye Mayomi, over a separate petition alleging violations of project clearance regulations. The petition, submitted by the Advancement of Social Justice and Economic Development Initiative (ASJEDI), calls on the agency to account for actions that the group claims deviate from its mandate.

“Our duty is to serve Nigerians efficiently and ensure due process is followed. Inviting the CEO is necessary for him to clarify the issues at hand,” Etaba added. The House Committee is expected to hold a hearing in the coming days to address these concerns. 

President Bola Tinubu has celebrated former President Olusegun Obasanjo on his 88th birthday, recognizing him as an exceptional leader and statesman whose contributions to Nigeria’s development remain significant.

Tinubu highlighted Obasanjo’s key roles in Nigeria’s history, including his role in ending the Civil War in 1970, leading the country after Murtala Muhammed’s assassination in 1976, and transitioning Nigeria to civilian rule in 1979. He also praised Obasanjo’s return as a civilian president in 1999, which helped restore democracy.

Describing him as a global ambassador for peace, Tinubu acknowledged that while Obasanjo’s interventions in national affairs are sometimes controversial, they have shaped policies and held leaders accountable.

The President prayed for continued strength and wisdom for Obasanjo, emphasizing his ongoing influence in Nigeria and beyond.