Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on winning the US election. The Kremlin chief said Trump’s past remarks about Ukraine and restoring relations with Russia warranted attention.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday congratulated Donald Trump on his US election victory and said Moscow was ready for dialogue with the Republican president-elect.

Trump, who also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has boasted he could end Russia’s war in Ukraine within hours and has repeatedly criticized US aid to Ukraine.

What Trump and Putin said about each other

In his first public remarks since Trump’s win, Putin highlighted Trump’s remarks during the US election campaign about Ukraine and restoring relations with Russia.

“What was said about the desire to restore relations with Russia, to bring about the end of the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion, this deserves attention at least,” said Putin.

“I take this opportunity to congratulate him,” Putin said in remarks to the Valdai forum in the southern Russian city of Sochi.

When asked if he was open to holding talks with Trump, the Russian leader said: “Ready.”

Putin also praised Trump, saying the former president had acted like a “real man” during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July.

Trump also revealed he was prepared for some kind of conversation, telling NBC News in an interview that “I think we’ll speak.”

The 78-year-old said he had spoken to “probably” 70 world leaders since Wednesday morning but revealed that he had not talked to Putin.

A book by US investigative reporter Bob Woodward has asserted that Trump and Putin may have spoken as many as seven times during Joe Biden’s presidency.

Trump has repeatedly expressed admiration for Putin as well as other authoritarian leaders such as China’s Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.

Chief Edwin Clark, a respected Niger Delta elder, has demanded an investigation into the alleged misuse of oaths by lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to former State Governor Nyesom Wike.

The lawmakers are led by Martins Amawhule.

Clark has accused them of contradicting themselves about their party loyalties while under oath.

Clark, a chieftain in the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), released a statement on Wednesday.

He stated that Amawhule and his associates had given statements under oath, sometimes claiming they were members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and at other times aligning with different political affiliations. This, Clark said, is a serious matter that requires police investigation.

Clark’s statement also criticized recent court rulings on the Rivers State House of Assembly situation, calling the judgments “obtained by fraud.” He claimed that Amawhule and other lawmakers withheld essential information, which he argued influenced the decisions by Justice James Omotoso and the Court of Appeal.

The issue traces back to December 11, 2023, when Amawhule and 26 other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly left the PDP and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). Clark emphasized that this act violated Section 109(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution, which says that any lawmaker who switches parties without just cause should lose their seat. He argued that by leaving the PDP, these lawmakers effectively gave up their positions in the Assembly.

After the defection, Amawhule and his colleagues reportedly filed legal documents that contained contradictory statements about their party affiliations. Clark believes that this deception invalidates a January 22, 2024, ruling by Justice Omotoso. In Clark’s view, the court did not consider that the lawmakers should have lost their seats due to their defection.

Additionally, Clark voiced concerns over actions taken by Justice Okorowo, who halted efforts by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace the lawmakers after they defected. Clark pointed out that this decision came just before Justice Okorowo’s promotion to the Court of Appeal, raising questions about the judgment’s timing.

In the statement, Clark also expressed disappointment with the Court of Appeal’s recent comments directed at the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

Duma Boko Sworn In As Botswana’s Sixth President Amid Celebrations And Calls For Change

Duma Boko took the oath of office as Botswana’s sixth president today in a historic ceremony at Gaborone’s national stadium, marking a new chapter in the nation’s political landscape.

Boko, leader of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), won a decisive victory over the long-ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), ending its nearly 60-year reign.

Dignitaries from across southern Africa, including leaders from Madagascar, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, gathered alongside former Botswana presidents Festus Mogae, Ian Khama, and Mokgweetsi Masisi to witness the transition of power.

During his address, Boko, 54, pledged to serve with integrity, stating, “I will maintain the Constitution of Botswana and uphold the laws, and…serve the people without fear or favor.”

In his inaugural speech, Boko reflected on the significance of the moment, urging citizens to embrace the nation’s fresh start. “This is your story,” he declared. “Together, we usher in a new political dawn.”

Botswana’s recent election saw an 80% voter turnout, with youth constituting over a third of the electorate.

The UDC’s progressive agenda resonated particularly among young voters and those seeking change amid rising unemployment and economic challenges.

The UDC’s landslide win, securing 36 parliamentary seats, signals a shift in the nation’s political landscape and a new era for Botswana’s democracy.