Oshiomhole Wants Mele Kyari Arrested+VDM Leads Insecurity Protest+Private Jet Lands On Road|Ojy Okpe

Good morning viewers from across the globe.Today is Thursday, June 11th.The wait is over and the world's biggest stage is ready.The FIFA 2026 World Cup officially kicks off today with co -hosts Mexico facing South Africa at the legendary Estadio Azteca Stadium.And the first batch of 270 Nigerians repatriated from South Africa arrives in Lagos this morning.on a fully government -funded peace flight.

Let's dive right in.I am OG Okwe, and this is What's Trending.Deepa, let's see what you're talking about right now.We have been tracking your conversations on X, Facebook, our YouTube live feed, and of course, Leke Leke, and three stories are dominating your timelines this morning.At number one, a devastating attack on a school in Kogi State.A terrorist disguised in military uniforms invade a school during WIAC examinations, killing a vice principal, a 70 -year -old man and a six -year -old child as students fled for their lives.

Now at number two, a private jet lands on a concrete road under construction in Asaba Delta State and minutes later takes off.without authorization, a jaw -dropping aviation incident that has left Nigerians asking serious questions about regulatory oversight and aviation safety.And at number three,Senator Adamso Shomole is going viral after demanding the arrest of former NNPC Group CEO Mele Kiari, dead or alive, to answer questions about what happened to 210 trillion Naira.Trillion! an unaccounted fund.Now, here is where you come in.

Join the conversation.Use the hashtag, what's trending with Ojiope.Comment on our live feed and of course, leke leke.Tell me, which of these stories matters most to you?Because for the next hour, we're going into everything that has Nigeria and the rest of the world buzzing.But first, FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, leads his team in a victory dance in the rain after killing two terrorists and rescuing five kidnapped victims.

In Kabua, Abuja, Nigerians are celebrating online.Let's watch.

The general area is called Epazi.It was under Biazi and we are here.We brought the war to them.We are tired of waiting for them.We had our deployment here since about four days ago and we've been after them.Yesterday, we were lucky.

Yes, we've been sleeping here.If you look at the vehicle, you will see mats, bread, and other things.Yesterday, we even did a party.It's not that random, isn't it?And then we enjoyed ourselves.So we are happy being here.

The kidnappers have been coming in for days.We got a proper intel and we activated it.We came here waiting for them.We all ran against them.We neutralized some, and we got in some.They're here.

Just yesterday to this morning, we got them.Some actually escaped with a bullet wound, and then the victims were liberated.They didn't go with any victims.So we have mounted here and we are going to remain here.We are waiting for them, let them come.

This is exactly the proactive intelligence -led policing that communities across Nigeria have been demanding, and CP Sanusi and his team deserve real credit.Kudos.But with fleeing suspects still armed and at large in Bayezid Hills in Abuja, the operation is not yet over.And the commissioner is calling on the public and hospitals to report any suspicious gunshot wounds cases immediately.The pressure is on.Dr. Abate, good morning.

How are you this morning?Good morning.Ayomi J, our president.Good morning.Rufi on fire.Of course, you know how excited I'm about with this win.

Because what did I say?I'm on Omoloka.You know, congratulations to the...

Should I help you translate?Yes.I know what is Omoloka.Yes.

Policeman's daughter.And in another major security breakthrough, this time in the southeast, the DSS and the Nigerian army have raided two separate ESN armories in Enugu state, recovering a rocket launcher.RPG warheads, AK -47 rifles, grenades, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and most alarmingly, NYSC uniforms and lanyards.Security sources say the raids foiled planned attacks designed to create the false impression that terrorists had invaded the Southeast.Now, the discovery of NYSC uniforms is the detail that demands the most urgent attention, suggesting ESN was planning to disguise operatives as core members to infiltrate communities undetected.The Southeast has battled insecurity for years, and this discovery confirms the threat is real, armed and calculated.

Now, credit to the DSS and the Nigerian army.Nigeria must remain vigilant.I want to tie in all the insecurity stories together before we discuss.And now in Kogi State, where I highlighted earlier two developmentsmaking headlines and generating reactions.Terrorists swamped government secondary school in Kababunu local government area of the state on Wednesday, riding on 40 motorcycles, killing three people, including the school's vice principal, a 70 -year -old man, and a six -year -old child.

The Nigerian police and tactical teams acted swiftly, and the abduction attempt was foiled, forcing attackers to flee into the surrounding forest.Now, this is such an alarming detail, because obviously it's, again, a school kidnap.We had, you know, three innocent lives lost, but, you know, witnesses confirmed the death toll would have been far higher without the rapid security response.Now, joint operatives are still conducting bushcombing operations to prevent further attacks.attacks.Meanwhile, Yoruba nation activist Sonde Igboho is also making moves in Kogi State, touring communities on a familiarization mission ahead of planned forest operations across the Southwest, having already announced that his security team is actively clearing Yoruba -speaking parts of Kogi and Kwara of terrorists and criminals.

Dr. Abate, two different approaches to insecurity.One state, And the battle to rid Nigeria's forests of criminality is intensifying.I'd like your thoughts.You know, to begin with Sunday Igbo Ho, I mean, we have always called on, you know,community -led approach to this sort of insecurity.I don't know what your thoughts are on his approach.

Okay, let's start with Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igbohu.He came into public prominence in 2021 when he said he was going to, you know, raid Yoruba forest, Kogikwara, of forest marauders who were kidnapping and killing people and causing mayhem.He ran into trouble, 2022, when the Buhari government went after him and he had to leave the country.But eventually, he was rehabilitated by the Tinugu administration and brought back after his trials in the Republic of Dene.And now he's back in action.He's following the abduction of teachers and children, who are, by the way, three weeks later, still in captivity from Urire local government of Oyo State.

He has now declared the launch, the establishment, the formation of a group called Irwekun.security network.That would be like a leopard, since we don't have tigers in Africa.It means the tail of the leopard.Leopard's tail.And it says they are now operating in parts of Kogi and Kwara State.

And the video is just showing us, we're all going on a familiarization tour.Now, the fact that we have groups like ESN, that we have groups like Amoteku, we have a community guard in Benue, and similar groups that are non -state actors, even if Igbo Uiseyi is supported by the Tinubu administration, also speaks to the fact that the state agenciesare not, you know, they are overwhelmed.Let me put it like that.And, you know, if Ibuhu is going to get support from the state, then groups like ESN and similar other groups elsewhere, including the vigilante groups in the north, should also be given the same amount of support.We just hope that this emergence of these groups trying to help, since the federal government is always calling for collaboration, community approach to dealing with insecurity in the country, that they will not end up as militias.

and that they will not end up with a different kind of purpose in the long term.However, I think it's good that we celebrate the security agencies when they do well.You know, the DSS, the police and other agencies, the military, seizing arms and ammunition from the wrong hands.The problem is one of proliferation.of small arms and light weapons, and it speaks to the security of our borders.Who are the people who bring in this sophisticated weaponry?

Nigeria is signatory to the Convention on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Weapons, and yet these weapons, they get into this country through all kinds of means, land, air, and sea borders.So the very minimum that government can do is to fulfill its commitment to this Convention on the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, where even a member, Nigeria is a member of the regional committee on that.But that committee has continued to fail, especially with regard to Nigeria.And to the example of Ameda Sanusi, the LCT police commissioner, I think, yes, he hasHe spoke very well.If his statement fits the rhetoric, fits the facts that he put across, I think that's commendable.

Ahmed Sanusi was saying, we decided to take the war to them, but the war is so close.That place he mentioned, Bazin, is in Kubo area of Abuja.So there's one confirmation there that these terrorists, these bandits, they are right inside Abuja.And so he said they got intel, again, underlining the importance of intelligence.And he and his men decided to go there and wait for them for about five days, he said, and that they were proud to do it.And when the bandits showed up, they gave them the chase.

They killed some people.They said some of them were wounded, and they rescued some victims.So, it shows proactiveness.That's the online word.It shows gallantry on the part of Ahmed Sanusi and his men.And he spoke about leadership.

that he decided to lead the war.He calls it.Yes, that's an appropriate word.It's a war, you know, because he wanted to motivate his men and you see after they succeeded and they were singing and dancing in the rain.I'm a himself.He's not one of this uh belly commissioners of police or DPOs.

You see that it looks fit.So, it's a good advertisement.Correct.For the Nigerian police was no This is the kind of thing that we would like to see, you know, because the Nigerian army is overstretched.The armed forces are overstretched.I would argue that we are using our armed forces to do police work.

Can we support the police, encourage them, empower them further so that they can fulfill their objectives?

very robust analysis and I'll say again, kudos to our Nigerian security agencies, the Nigerian police force, the Nigerian army, the DSS this morning, Nigerians are celebrating with to a standstill last night.As activist Martins O'Shea, popularly known as Very Dark Man, led a massive protest to the Air Force base, demanding an immediate end to the nation's insecurity.VDM, who arrived at the Namdi Azikwe International Airport from China, was greeted by thousands of Rattel movement members who took over the airport and the Abuja Stadium overnight.The protesters marched on, chanting, Tinubu must go.Let's take a look.All right, the young people are out there demanding the immediate release of our abducted Nigerians right there at the Air Force Base.

You heard VDM saying, please carry your...and go out there.But there's more to this conversation about the young movement.Your thoughts?

The soul of Nigeria right now lies in the hands of the young people.We've often talked about what the status quo is now and how, unfortunately, the older generation have not really done well in managing Nigeria and taking us to the promised land.And why do I say young people?Their vigour, their passion, their energy, their intellect, their manpower.Nigeria has a large population of youth, of young people, and so this is important to note.protests, which I understand, and in Nigerian, BDM and the other Nigerians who are there, have a right to peaceful protests.

And as you can see, this was largely peaceful, just enunciating the hardship, the insecurity in the country, and even calling that if the president is not able to manage this, then he should go.But beyond this, Oji, we've often talked about the importance of your PVC.Correct.Your vote.One man, one vote.It's been said that based on the numbers of registrants for the next election, the young people are going to decide largely who will emerge because they make up a majority of the number of registered voters currently.

However, there are some people who are making a lot of noise on the show of this, but they don't have PVCs, whether online and as Dr Batu often say, Elections are not won on social media, not on X, not on Instagram, not on Facebook, not on TikTok.You can air your grievances through these channels, but the most important thing is that you must not dissociate yourself from the political electoral process.And that's why I always talk about voter apathy not being a solution at all.In fact, it actually makes the problem even worse.And so this is a call again to the young people in Nigeria, whoever it is or whoever it is that you support,or want to see as your next leader come 2027, be a part of that process.

Beyond protests, beyond complaints on social media, get to your ballot and ensure that you vote.And this is also highlighting, I've gotten a number of tags and messages around difficulties in obtaining or getting their PVCs, that INEC hasn't done well in that regard.And so this is also a public call to INEC.The people want to exercise their franchise.Please make it and Avenue provide an enabling environment for all Nigerians who desire to do so, to exercise their franchise.And so whatever the challenge is with regards to picking up PVCs, they should fix it.

We've had too many, I've had so many messages, people saying, let's highlight this issue, let's highlight these problems where people are unable.They will say, oh, system crash, technical glitch.They are not able to get their PVCs.Please let's get everyone their PVCs and vote for whomever you want to vote for at the next elections.

You know, Aneze Osakwe has a special explainer for that topic tomorrow, and we'll bring that to our viewers tomorrow.Now, this story is like something out of a movie.A private aircraft missed its approach at Asaba Airport on Wednesday morning, and instead of aborting the landing, it touched down on a concrete roadway still under construction in Oguashuku with four crew members on board.But here is where it gets even more alarming.Shortly after landing, the aircraft took off again, straight to Lagos, without any regulatory clearance.Let's take a look.

That's about it for taking legal land for roadway with the constructs.

was already airborne.Kayamo added that the NCAA has since grounded the aircraft, suspended the operator's permit, and placed the crew under security custody.He also added that a full investigation is underway, describing the incident as a serious breach of regulations, of course, and security.Look at this story, Rufai.Now, landing on a concrete road is alarming enough, but taking off from one without clearance is a different level entirely.And Nigerian aviation authorities are right to come hard on this.

And why I say taking off is a different conversation entirely.It's becausehave to actually talk to, you know, the other side to know whether it's safe enough to take off.This is a serious, serious security breach.It's not just endangering the pilot, you're endangering the people's lives, people on ground.Because what happens if it crashes on air with another plane?

There's no clearance.How did this happen?

Since people were going to stay in front of a plane that was about to move and they turned them into ambassadors, what do you expect?Lawlessness is our second name.Audrey, who are those on board?Who is the so -called VIP on board?Or was the plane flying empty?

No, four crew members.There were four people there on board as well.

I think they left.

They were passengers.

So who are the so -called VIP on board that had to go back?If they mention the name of the VIP, I will be happy.But in Nigeria, I know.Let's leave that aside.

Do you know what I want to say quickly about the landing?We don't know what happened and why it landed.

They are saying that it missed its way.That's what they are saying.But, Oji, who were the people on board there?Because those VIP, it's either their life means nothing to them.But I don't want to think an average Nigerian VIP, life will not mean anything to them.So it's just the level of lawlessness that pervades the air.

The fact that something like that happened, you didn't alert the authorities, you didn't alert the aviation safety authorities, there was no clearance, nothing of such happened, and then people left.But anyway, Minister Kiyamu sends the press out yesterday that he's arrested people who see the investigation, who will see where the investigation will come out.But you will see that the names of the people, the high and mighty that are passengers of that crew, because as a passenger once thathappened, I thought you would have triggered an alert and say, no, we can't go on this, and even calm down.But the passenger that stood while the plane left on the tarmac, they're going to say, it don't go, it never go, it don't go, it don't go, it don't go.And you put your life at risk.

What if, as the plane was taxiing, it ran out of road?It's still a road under construction.And some people, in all of this, Because they wanted to make it about politics and APC.They said, oh, it's because Umai is doing a, what's it called, road, what's it called, concrete road, that it just shows that they thought it was road and everything.This is not something to laugh about.It's an aberration of the, and you see, Kiamo should fight this because Nigeria just got accolades from IATA for airline safety.

And they are seeing this happen.Me, I'm just so concerned about the VIPs on board, or the passengers on board that aircraft, because it's not a small private jet.It's obviously a big plane.And the registration, was it an aerospace company?Was it a charter plane?Let's get all this information.

We're going to get to the bottom of this.We are waiting.Yes.

If names are mentioned, I'll be happy.But me and you know that this Nigeria, names will not be mentioned.

And Dr. Abati, no, before you add your footnote, I also want you to discuss this because he made a valid point, which is he said that you did you get a statement from the Ministry of Works or there was a story of the Ministry of Works saying that the plane might have thought that it was landing on a on their runway because now they're not only building roads for vehicles, they're building roads that are durable for even aircrafts to land.

Well, that was a footnote that I was going to give you because I'm interested in the next story.Yes.I will quickly read this.Yes.Which is that, yes, David Nwese Umayi, Minister of Works, this incident has given himbragging rights.

Because if this was one of those patched roads, and bitumen patched roads with potholes, the outcome may have been different.Correct.You know, there could have been a major accident.But this is concrete, cement.I hear they use cement to build these roads.It shows the durability of it, carrying such weight.

So the minister is entitled to his bragging rights.However, this is impunity! of the highest order.And I lie myself that this is a serious matter.It's not a matter that can be joked about, you know, that you sweep under the carpet.First of all, the Minister of Aviation Development has made the point that the non -commercial license permit for the particular aircraft has been withdrawn with immediate effect.Investigation is going on.

We live in a country of big men.Whoever the big man is, we want to know his name.Whoever the pilot is, we want to know.In fact, the license of the pilot may have to be withdrawn at the end of the day.And we, the long -suffering people of Nigeria, must hear the outcome of the investigation.It must not be swept.

under the, under the carpet.So that this kind of recklessness, this kind of impunity does not become a standard in the Nigerian aviation industry.Until one day they would land on inside somebody's compound and claim that they saw that the person has a large compound.

Unacceptable, but you know the NCAA has grounded this aircraft.Very good.It's grounded.So we'll follow up on the investigation.Let's now head to the Senate, where Edo North Senator Adamso Shomoliinto a dramatic fiery interaction with a former financial officer.

of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, UMA -ISA, where he called for the immediate arrest of the NNPC's past group CEO, Mele Kiari.Well, according to Osho Omole on Wednesday, Kiari must be brought before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, dead or alive, to answer questions about what happened to 210 trillion Naira in unaccounted funds between 2017 and 2023.Let's take a look.

Your reputation is for fraud.Can you sit down and say that people want their children to be...Mr Chairman, we need to make...When the Senator has the floor, please allow me to land, and I will land nicely.I listen, I hear you say people want their children to be employed in MPC.Yes, because it's a house of thieves.

And they want their children to benefit from it.Yeah, so let's say those things.Number two, because of the way in which the country and certain institutions have been run, they see themselves as bigger than Nigeria.I hold the view that the law is effective when it catches a liar, not when you depend on a rat or a rabbit, a man who stole a rat or a rabbit.That is the crisis of Nigeria.Mr. Chama, this committee must have the courage, the will to deploy its powers as initiated in the Nigeria constitution and issue warrant not tomorrow, today, and bring Meli Akari, even dead or alive, in law.

They will go and help these couples.Even if he's dead, we want to see the body.And it will account.And you should say, here lies a man who died without accounting for his alleged crime that rose into trillions of Naira.We are not talking of billions of Naira.At the time when the country is borrowing money, we have huge sorts of money that have not been accounted for.

There are serious issues not raised by laymen.He's joking.It's not for wrong, it's for righteous freedom.Happy Faith is a civic community.

Ayo, Oshomole cannot be more correct.Let me borrow Dr. Abati's words.Now, the CFO of NNPC, Umar Isam...

Copyright belongs to Professor Kiterewa.

Okay, okay.Cannot be more correct.Cannot be more correct.Now, the CFO of NNPC, Umar Isam, was seen there challenging the allegations, insisting that the 210 trillion Naira figure being discussed is misleading, especially compared with with what the company made during that period.Well, after a vote, the chairman of the committee ruled that Kiari should in fact be arrested and brought to justice.to the panel, your thoughts.

So where is Mele Kiari?I think that's a big question for a lot of Nigerians because this is not the first time that the NNPCL has had to be questioned by this committee with a number of questions raised around monies that have not been accounted for.If only we can get a percentage of the 210 trillion Naira OG, it would fund the 2026budget, which is just at 68 .32 trillion Naira.And so you can understand just how much money, based on this committee findings, has been funneled through the NNPC over the years, and that unfortunately we do not have any accountability for.Let me give the NNPC the benefit of the doubt, and let's assume that it is just a matter of reporting.

So let him come in the matter of integrity.to clear his name and for accountability purposes to Nigerians and explain what happened, if that is indeed the sum of money, because that money is outrageous in the nature.But beyond that is what happened.We've often talked about the fact that the NNPC is opaque, you know, reporting.Thankfully, that has changed under the Bayo Ndularwe leadership, because now they release quarterly reports, they release statements, they are able to give Nigerians at least updates regularly.But I believe that The Senate has done well in its oversight functions, but what we, like we said yesterday with the Ojo Uzo Kalu panel, is the same thing here.

We don't just want shouting matches.We don't just want, you know, this big display on TV and then we end here.We want a conclusive end to this matter, a full accountability report given to Nigerians, and for me, most importantly, would be how do we plug the leakages?How do we strengthen our institutions so that we are not coming back to the Senate like it's probing, missing money?Why should money be missing in the first place?Why are audits not done?

We don't want utter the facts.We want prevention rather than cure.That's why I feel that we should be going, and this is what these Senate hearings should be geared towards.How do we strengthen institutions?How do we increase accountability in institutions like the NNPC so that we don't have to come back to this kind of situation again?That's the importance of these kinds of hearings.

We cover money and also people.it from happening again.

So real quickly, I see a lot of grandstanding going on.At first, I would be surprised if you get to the end of this 210 trillion.

We can only ask.

The truth is you will not get to the end of it.You know why?Because the number itself is phantom.Let's be realistic.When you look at the NNPC books, and I think it was even Mele, I have a lot of things against Mele, all right?because this was mainly that promise in 2019 that I assure you that the refineries will work and it was planned that the refinery they gave us.

But the number is very phantom.It was mainly two that also started releasing the books of NNPC that we started seeing.And those books were seen over the years.So this phantom 210 million, it's not today, 210 million, it's not today.We always hear phantom numbers that when you see the numbers, they don't add up.Doctor, but you remember, what's it called, post stamp number, stamp duty.

You remember how they push up the phantom figure of stamp duty was a ridiculous amount.What came out of it?Nothing.So it's a lot of grandstanding.But I think also.What we should do is to give account of what those subsidies regime and the undercover recovery regime was.

That's what I'm always about.And that's why you see, that's why I have qualms with President Tinubu over removal of subsidies, because I see all of this noise we are making now at the National Assembly.What President Tinubu ought to have investigated about the subsidy regime before he finally started saying, Okay, we're pulling our subsidy and the corruption in the system that was perpetrated by NNPC.But what did President Inubu do?He kept Mili on for a couple of years now.Afterwards, he didn't keep Mili on.

So, in the end, Oji and Ayo, it's going to be a lot of grandstanding.At first, the number is phantom.NNPC has released their books over the years since that, I think 2019 or 2020 up to this time.The books are there in public.I don't think there's any 210 trillion surfacing anywhere.And I would be surprised if that 210 trillion exists.

Dr. Mbatti, you know the drill.Under your time, it was how much?$20 billion, they say.Did the money ever come out?that the CBN said that the NMPCR was not $20 billion.From there, when the audits came in, how did the number come?

Did it not reduce to about $10 billion at some point, or $5 billion?So it's not to give phantom numbers flying around in this country.

But we need accountability.

Very quickly, I was asked a question.She said, where is Mili Kiari?That's the right question.I think DZ newspaper already answered that question.I think in yesterday's paper.when, you know, there's a story about the arrest warrant that had been issued against the former Group Managing Director of NNPCL.

And what the story says is that Mr. Melekiari has already responded that one, he has not received any invitation nor has he cited any invitation from the Senate Public Accounts Committee.But now that they have brought up the matter, he had written on May 11, 2026, the story says, to say that he's attending to his health abroad, that he's receiving medical treatment abroad.

I'm not so sure when I say where the money comes from.No, no, no.

I'm just saying.But that, you know, he will be able to make himself available at any time that he's in the country and that he's not on the run.The second thing that the Disney story stated is that, look, Mr. Carey said, in fact, nothing untoward happened under his watch.That instead, he met an organization that he turned into a profitable enterprise and that he will be ready to defend himself whenever he's back in the country and he will make himself available.Another person, the former chief financial officer of NMPC, Uma Ajia.I think the story is also in the papers.

Uma Ajia is his name.Now, he has also responded to say that as the chief financial officer, he has whatever documents that they can ask for.And that in any case, you know, the figures, 210 trillion that the National Assembly is quoting, that these are figures from, you know, edited queries.And that he said categorically in what I read, that there is no money missing.If I went a step further, that is personally calling on the EFCC and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, to investigate thoroughly you know, their tenure under military and they will find that there is no money that is missing.So we have two sides of the story.

Senator Oshomole, who seconded the motion about all of this inquiry, you know, they said everybody is a thief in the NNPC and that the reason people want their children to work in the NNPC is because the NNPC is a house of thieves.Well, that may fall under the category of group libel.I don't want to imagine that everybody working in an NPC is dishonest or corrupt.After all, one or two or three of us, we have some people there that we know are just trying to build a career.Our son, the only is there.And we left.

So group like Libero, you know, has its own limitations.But the distinguished senator was speaking out of emotion and he received wisdom that some Nigerians, after all, some people on this table use the words that some appointments are juicy, some appointments are lucrative.

problem yeah the appointments and the you know politics and the the price we all have to pay as Nigerians because it is soenticing to be in these positions.People just want to steal.But the lack of accountability is hard to suffer.Yes.

That's even the most painful.

I mean, but, you know, the senator has spoken.They want to arrest Mele Kiari, dead or alive.Now to politics.

Publisher, You know, there was another story that we actually highlighted in our headline about, you know, the fire that broke out in the Senate.

I actually tried to put down the fire, but the alarming part of that story was that there was no water, no fire extinguisher.Come on, come on.

No drills.No drills.

The people I saw in the video, they were laughing.

Were they laughing?That's terrible.Some were laughing.No, it's scary, but no, that shouldn't be.

We should also now sanction the Senate and investigate them.Jimmy, they know how to shout at people.There it is.The question is, Is this not the same Senate that they use billions to renovate that we're talking about in the renovation fund?So in the renovation, they didn't add fire juice, they didn't add fire extinguisher to these rooms.That's the alarming part of the story.

It was the gas that was leaking and people were going in there.

What if the gas cylinder exploded?Those are the questions.All right.All right.All right.I'm glad that they're all safe, but there needs to be, you know, correct measures in place to avoid this sort of catastrophe.

Now to politics.Ovation publisher and ADC chieftain Dele Momodou has publicly nominated himself as running mate to ADC presidential candidate Atiku Agubaka, releasing a statement titledThe Attraction of an Atiku Momodu Ticket, arguing that this combination would represent the perfect blend of North and South experience and modernity Veteran politicians and technocrats, Dele Momodou also declared that the 2027 race will be a straight battle between Atiku and Tinubu, describing it as the battle of the titans and predicting that any third force, including Peter Obi's NDC, would lack the firepower to upstage either of the two elder statesmen.Let's take a look.

Peter believes and he has convinced himself and his supporters are convinced that he is the only Messiah in Nigeria.So my relationship with him continued.I knew that he may not agree to be VP, but if he has already convinced himself that he is superior to a former vice president, there is nothing anybody can do or say to him.

All right, Atiku is yet to announce a running mate since clinching the ADC presidential ticket.But Dele Momodou positioning himself publicly is a bold move.However, Nigeria's political history tells us that self -nomination rarely lands as intended.The biggest story here, though, is Ateku's VP calculation.And whoever he picks will say everything about whether the ADC can truly challenge President Bola Ametinubu in 2027.Dr. Abate, I know that Dele Momodu is your good friend.

I'd like for you to just quickly touch on this story.

Well, I said on this table the first time we mentioned that story.that R .M.M.Dele Momodou is interested in running, in being the running mate of Waziri Adamawa Atiku Abubakar, and I said it is a very legitimate ambition.and that he deserves the support not just of his own community, which is the media community.Because in this business of journalism, I've been around here, you know, writing here and there and speaking since 1985.

Journalists are their own worst enemies.We don't support ourselves while we end up promoting other people.And I think he deserves the support of his own constituency.and he has the experience, he has been a presidential candidate before, and he has also again helped to promote other politicians.However, the decision as to who to choose as a running mate in politics rests with the candidate himself, based on calculations.I've seen comments that, OK, this will ensure not -so -balance.

This will also ensure generational balance.And this will also strengthen the article ticket.But at the end of the day, every man is entitled to his own ambition.And it is for the candidate to say, well, this is the candidate that I choose.Bashonudile Momodou emerge either as a VP or in any other capacity, I think that we expect and he deserves the support of his own colleagues in this constituency.That's the burden that we will have if he emerges.

But it's still a question of if, because journalists will learn to promote themselves.You people are always saying, cho -cho -cho -cho -cho.I think that's your word.

Cho -cho -cho means us.

Us talking with us.I heard it from her.

I mean, when he when he talks third force.And I believe that we might even have a third, I'm not sure about a fourth force, but a third force in this race as well.I think it's too early to say that it would be a two horse race.I believe that the race is, the field is wide enough.And we have Mr. Donald Duke.from the PRP as well in that race.

So let's see what will happen in 2027.The 2027 race is on.Now, you know, earlier on the show, we told you we would read your comments.And so let's take a look at one reaction on the Kogi school attack.This is from Dr. Egede.On Leke Leke, he said, the attack on the Kogi school is not just news.

It's a warning.If states don't act now to protect our schools, we will raise a generation with learning phobia instead of learning passion.Our children deserve classrooms, not coffins.This has to stop.And that was a very strong tweet.Thank you very much.

Classrooms, not coffins.I mean, learning phobia, that is for me the biggest takeaway from that tweet.That's what our children, our children don't deserve that.They need to go into the classrooms feeling safe.And mothers need to be able to feel, mothers and fathers need to be able to feel safe taking their children home.home.

Now I guess we'll take our final story if we have time because we also would have loved to cover the repatriation of Nigerianfrom South Africa on that fully funded government airpiece flight, which has already touched down at the Lagos airport.We have our correspondent Fade Shola Shotinwa, who is actually powering up at the moment.And we also had, you know, our reporter out there in South Africa, Covering the story, Trude Njidongo is part of the whole crew covering the story.And if we cannot take that now, hopefully we'll take that during the course of our program here on Arise News.But the news is that our Nigerians have arrived safely.

And thank you.to the federal government of Nigeria, and of course, Airpeace Airlines.We'll take our final story now under milestones.On Wednesday, friends, family, and the Nigerian entertainment community gathered en masse to attend the service of songs in honor of the late Nollywood actor, Alex Okubo, who passed away last month after a battle with kidney cancer.Now, the service of songs marks the official start of Okubo's funeral rites, with mourners gathering at the Monarch Events Center in Lagos, dressed in all white as they collectively remembered Okubo's life and legacy.The event was attended by a number of actors and actresses from the Nigerian film industry, with the event also maintaining a deeply spiritual atmosphere led by Pastor Jerry Eze, Nathaniel Bassi, and Pastor Itwa Igodalo.

The service of songs was marked by heartfelt tributes, worship, and prayer to honor the life of one of Nigeria's most foremost entertainers of this generation.

Without you my friend, and I'll tell you about it when I see you again.We've come a long way from where we began.

Too soon, 40 years old.His soul continued to rest in perfect peace.I mean, it was also good to see the entertainment and Hollywood community come out to support this really, really great gentleman who lost his life suddenly with that kidney cancer disease.Your thoughts, Rafa, did you?Ayo, do you want to say something?

It was so difficult following, just to see the grief that engulfed the industry.And to hear, even more importantly, the testimonies of his person.The fact that he touched people in so many ways.And a big thanks to all those who put such a beautiful send forth for him.Thank you for honoring him.Thank you for honoring such a great soul.

A remarkable young man.Again, may his soul continue to rest in peace.On that note, I'd love to thank you all for your great analysis, as always, on What's Trending.Well, that's all I have for you on What's Trending today.Here we have See You Again from Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth in honor of Alex Ekubo.I'll see you all tomorrow.