John Mahama, president of Ghana, appeared to trade places with President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria in a gaffe on Tuesday.

During his inauguration speech, Mahama referred to Tinubu as Ghana’s president.

“Your excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, president of the Federal Republic of Ghana,” Mahama said while acknowledging dignitaries at the event.

Mahama’s error stirred acerbic and sarcastic reactions on social media.

“Did anyone else hear that President Mahama mistakenly referred to Nigeria’s President Tinubu as the President of Ghana? He has started again,” an X user tweeted.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, says his life is under threat because of his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The former governor of Anambra made the allegation after Felix Morka, national spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said, “Peter Obi has crossed the line so many times and has it coming to him whatever he gets”.

During an interview with Arise Television, Morka described Obi as an “irrational being” and slammed his public commentary.

The APC spokesperson labelled Obi’s claims as “ridiculous” and “deceptive,” criticising his 8-year tenure as Anambra governor for lacking legacy.

He added that Obi needs to figure out why he lost the 2023 presidential election and should stop being dishonest.

Obi, in his New Year message to Nigerians, criticised Tinubu and expressed concerns over “institutional corruption, mismanagement, poverty, hardship, and an escalating debt profile”.

He noted that “corruption has been deeply entrenched in government” while “nepotism has become the norm on Tinubu’s watch”.

He also demanded “vigorous, positive actions” from the administration to bring succour to Nigerians.

‘HAVE I REALLY CROSSED THE LINE?’

Reacting to Morka’s comments on his X page on Monday, Obi asked Nigerians if he has “crossed the line” after receiving threats against his life, family, and associates following his New Year’s message.

The LP chieftain added that he would continue to speak “truthfully,” noting that Nigeria is drifting towards authoritarianism and undemocratic practices, which, according to him, must be addressed.

“Have I really crossed the line?” Obi asked.

“I ask the question because my New Year message has now led to threats against my life, my family, and those around me.

“While I have received all sorts of messages, one Mr. Felix Morka has gone further to accuse me of “crossing the line” and has warned that I will face the consequences.

“I find it necessary to share this message again and urge everyone who has not seen it to watch. If I have truly crossed the line, I invite anyone to point it out, as I remain committed to upholding decorum.

“However, I will not be silenced in my resolve to speak truthfully, especially as our nation continues to drift toward undemocratic practices.

“We are increasingly transforming into an authoritarian and repressive regime, where freedom of expression is being systematically suppressed.

“May God help us create a better and freer society for the sake of our children.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state says there is an ongoing plan to impeach local government chairpersons in the state.

On December 17, the Edo state house of assembly suspended all 18 chairpersons and their deputies over allegations of misappropriation of funds.

Blessing Agbebaku, speaker of the house, said Monday Okpebholo, the state governor, filed a petition to the assembly over the refusal of the LGA heads to submit the financial records of their councils.

Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation, had condemned the action of the parliament, saying state houses of assembly have no powers to suspend or remove council chairpersons.

Last Friday, a high court in Edo state ordered the reinstatement of the suspended chairpersons and their deputies.

‘OKPEBHOLO WORKING TO IMPEACH LGA CHAIRPERSONS’

In a statement released on Tuesday, Anthony Aziegbemi, chairman of the PDP caretaker committee in Edo state, claimed that Okpebholo is “sponsoring meetings across the LAGs in a desperate bid to impeach the substantive chairmen”.

Aziegbemi alleged that Damian Lawani, chairman of the local government service commission; and Gani Audu, Okpebholo’s chief of staff, are “actively involved in these unlawful acts”.

“He (Audu) has been threatening and harassing councillors across the State, trying to force them to cut ties with the substantive elected local government chairmen, with the warning that their loyalty should be to the governor and nobody else,” the statement reads.

“Furthermore, Okpebholo has directed that under no circumstances must any council chairman be granted access to his office in the Council, ordering the Council Administrators to work in conjunction with all relevant security Agencies and their party thugs to achieve this devious plan.

“The plan we are aware is to lure or force the councillors to impeach the substantive chairmen (without recourse to the laid down process enshrined in our laws).“

“alter signatories to local government accounts as well as clandestine efforts to withdraw funds from local government accounts without a proper mandate”.

“There are also reports of illegal requests for sensitive council documents by unauthorized persons,” he said.

“This flagrant disregard for our judiciary and the subversion of the Constitution of our country is a serious threat to our democracy and if this lawlessness is allowed to continue, it will not only undermine the rule of law but will also create a dangerous precedent, weakening our entire legal and democratic system.

“What we are witnessing, and we say this with all sense of responsibility, is an attempt to unlawfully and illegally remove or overthrow an elected tier of government in Edo state, a component and federating unit of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, contrary to Section 1(2) of the Constitution and judicial orders. In other words, an attempted coup d’etat in the state.”