Politics

Kemi and the King: Badenoch meets Charles at Buckingham Palace

Published

2 months ago

February 3, 2025

The King and Mrs Badenoch have met several times before, most recently at Charles’s post-election reception for MPs at the palace last week.

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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch held a one-to-one audience with the King today after Charles reviving an old political convention.

The monarch welcomed Mrs Badenoch in the grand 1844 Room of Buckingham Palace this morning.

She is said to be the first opposition leader to have a formal one-to-one audience with a monarch in 19 years.

The last Opposition leader to be welcomed in a formal audience in the months after their appointment was David Cameron, when he met with the late Queen in 2006.

A royal source said: “It was a convention that fell by the way in latter years of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s reign and seemed a courtesy to revive in the new reign.”

It is not known why the tradition lapsed during Labour’s years in opposition.

The monarch welcomed Mrs Badenoch in the grand 1844 Room of Buckingham Palace this morning.

Mrs Badenoch, who was elected Tory leader in November, was pictured grinning as the smiling King gestured and held his arms out wide at the start of their half-hour meeting.

The last Opposition leader to be welcomed in a formal audience in the months after their appointment was David Cameron, when he met with the late Queen in 2006 (pictured meeting in 2010).

The King and Mrs Badenoch have met several times before, most recently at Charles’s post-election reception for MPs at the palace last week, and also in June 2023 at a King’s Award for Enterprise reception, when Mrs Badenoch was trade secretary.

Sir Keir Starmer met with Charles two days after Elizabeth II died, but the audience with the Labour leader was a joint one with other opposition leaders and part of the planned schedule of meetings in the aftermath of the Queen’s death.

The King holds a private weekly audience with the Prime Minister each Wednesday to discuss Government matters following Prime Minister’s Questions, with the conversation usually taking place face-to-face.

Although the King must remain politically neutral on all matters, he is able to advise and warn his ministers – including his prime minister – when necessary.

The King and Mrs Badenoch have met several times before, most recently at Charles’s post-election reception for MPs at the palace last week.

Last month it was reported that the environmentally conscious monarch ‘loves’ effots by Net Zero minister Ed Miliband’s to make the UK greener.

The Times reported that the King had praised Mr Miliband and his work to another senior Labour figure.

This is despite critics warning that they could be disastrous for the economy and could drive up domestic bills rather than reduce them.

Internally, Labour figures are also said to be nervous of his efforts at a time when they are being pilloried over a failure to yet turn round the economy.

Charles’s environmentalism is well-known. Last November, Mr Miliband was among ministers, campaigners and business leaders who attended an international sustainability reception he hosted at Buckingham Palace.

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Politics

Kano deputy gov reports back after peace-building mission in Edo

Published

3 hours ago

April 11, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has reassured northerners living in Edo State about their safety, following the recent violence that led to the deaths of several Kano indigenes.

He made these remarks shortly after returning from a fact-finding and peace-building mission to Edo.

Ekwutosblog recalls that Gwarzo led a high-powered delegation to the South-South state. The delegation included the Emir of Rano, Ambassador Muhammad Isa Umar, four commissioners, the Chairman of Bunkure Local Government (the area most affected by the incident), and the representative of the Edo community in Kano.

Speaking to journalists in Kano, Gwarzo revealed that the visit followed an earlier condolence mission by Governor Monday Okpebholo to the Torankawa Community in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano, where seven of the victims hailed from.

Gwarzo noted that the delegation visited the scene of the incident in Uromi, Edo State, where they were warmly received by both political and traditional leaders.

He described the reception as overwhelming, with a massive crowd, largely consisting of northerners, showing solidarity and appreciation.

“We met with the king of Uromi Kingdom and his senior chiefs. The Edo State governor personally accompanied us to the scene. It was a long journey nearly two hours from Benin but the turnout was incredible,” he said.

He commended the Edo State leadership for its proactive actions, including the disbandment of the vigilante group allegedly involved in the killings, the arrest of 14 suspects, and ongoing efforts by security agencies to apprehend those still at large.

“The Commissioner of Police in Edo State was transferred due to the incident, which shows the seriousness with which the state government is handling the situation,” the deputy governor stated.

He further disclosed that Kano had compiled a comprehensive report, documenting the victims and the extent of losses suffered, including properties destroyed.

He said the report has been formally submitted to Governor Okpebholo, who promised compensation for the victims and their families.

Gwarzo emphasized that justice remains the core demand from the Kano State Government and reiterated the constitutional right of every Nigerian to live and work peacefully in any part of the country.

“Nigeria belongs to all of us. The constitution guarantees every citizen the right to reside and earn a living anywhere in the country.”

“The governor of Edo has assured us that those responsible will be brought to book and that compensation will be provided. He made it clear that there is no animosity toward northerners in Edo. From what we witnessed, I can confidently say our people are very safe there,” he said.

He also confirmed that 26 individuals survived the attack, primarily from five local government areas in Kano.

Politics

Atiku, El-Rufai, Tambuwal visit Buhari in Kaduna

Published

5 hours ago

April 11, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Former Vice President and 2023 PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has visited former President Muhammadu Buhari at his residence in Kaduna.

The visit, which also included former governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Nasir El-Rufa’i (Kaduna), was captured in a video sighted on the Facebook page of Atiku Abubakar.

Although the specific purpose of the visit was not disclosed, Atiku described it as a “post-Sallah visit.”

In the post, Atiku wrote, “As the Waziri Adamawa, I was obligated to be in Adamawa during the Sallah celebrations. I held forth for the Lamido Fombina (Adamawa) in some of the activities of the Sallah celebrations. Today, I had the opportunity to pay a post-Sallah visit to His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2015-2023. It was a wonderful time with him. As usual, he cracked me up (to the extent that my ribs were hurting) with his peculiar humour. -AA”

The visit comes after governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) paid a similar visit to Buhari in Kaduna last week, amid growing speculation about political realignments and possible coalitions ahead of the 2027 elections.

Politics

Rivers govt debunks civil service recruitment announcement

Published

5 hours ago

April 11, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Rivers State Government has refuted a widely circulated social media announcement alleging that the state’s Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, approved the recruitment of 10,000 “graduates and non-graduates” into the Rivers State civil service.

On Thursday, social media platform “Facebook”, was flooded with the purported government notice, which falsely claimed that the recruitment exercise had been sanctioned.

The statement was reported to have been signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika.

However, in a statement issued by Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, Acting Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, the government described the information as entirely untrue and urged the public to disregard it.

The statement also clarified that any official communication on civil service recruitment would come from the Rivers State Civil Service Commission at the appropriate time.

The statement read, “The Office of the Administrator of Rivers State wishes to disclaim a purported Special Government Announcement spreading round on social media and other platforms stating that His Excellency, The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the recruitment of 10,000 qualified graduates and non graduates into the Rivers State civil service and that the recruitment portal shall be opened for application midnight of Sunday 13/04/2025.

“The statement is claimed to have been signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika.

“We wish to categorically inform the people of Rivers State and the general public that this is false and ask that this fake announcement be ignored.

“Appropriate information will be released by the Rivers State Civil Service Commission in due time.”