Trump roasted on Twitter after saying Charlie Crist did a ‘good job’ governing Florida in dig at DeSantis

Critics say Trump campaign staffers 'should be fired' for video praising Crist. 

Former President Donald Trump has faced ridicule on Twitter after he praised former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat, in a dig at the current governor and his likely 2024 presidential rival, Ron DeSantis.

Trump, the front-runner in the current GOP presidential field, issued a campaign video Monday that suggested "sunshine and ocean" are what brought people from New York and other states in droves since the COVID-19 pandemic and not DeSantis’ policies.

"For those of you that didn't notice, Florida was doing great long before Ron DeSanctus got there," Trump said in the video, using his new favored nickname for the governor. "People are fleeing from New York to Florida and other places because of high taxes and out-of-control crime. It's really bad. Not because of the Governor."

"Florida was doing fantastically," he continued. "You had a governor named Rick Scott who did a very good job. Even Charlie Crist, a Democrat, did a good job, but he had very good numbers."

"Sunshine and ocean are very alluring," he added. "It's not too hard to work with those factors. So just remember Florida was doing really well long before Ron DeSanctus got there."

Former Rep. Crist was a Republican when he was governor but is now a Democrat after a brief stint as an independent. He was the Democratic nominee in the 2022 Florida gubernatorial election but lost in a landslide to DeSantis.

Conservatives and liberals alike roasted Trump for the video.

"Whoever helped Trump create this (even if you’re a friend of mine), should be fired," tweeted Seth Weathers, the CEO of Freedom Speaks Up. "Also, Trump should fire himself for participating in this."

"Remember when your administration was mad DeSantis re-opened Fla. during Covid?" Grabien founder Tom Elliott asked the former president.

"I don't want to say I warned ya, but I did," tweeted Jedediah Bila. "Ego is a very self-destructive thing."

"This is absolutely ridiculous," wrote Dave Rubin.

"I legitimately had to triple check this wasn't AI-generated," conservative Twitter personality Noam Blum.

"Whomever is advising Trump to praise Charlie Crist should be fired immediately," tweeted conservative pundit John Cardillo.

"Trump praises Rick Scott, Charlie Crist, sunshine, ocean and himself for Florida doing ‘really well,’" tweeted Washington Post investigative political reporter Josh Dawsey.

"He has no idea whatsoever how to attack DeSantis. None," tweeted senior CNN commentator Scott Jennings.

Trump released the video as he visited Iowa, the state that leads off the Republican Party’s presidential nominating calendar. He spoke Monday night at the Adler Theater in Davenport just days after DeSantis visited the state.

While Trump remains the front-runner in the Real Clear Politics national average of polls, DeSantis, who has not officially announced a presidential run, has significantly narrowed the gap. 

Jesse Kelly theorized Trump made the video because he thinks he "might be in trouble."

"Hardest part of a campaign is when you’re up in the polls, but not so far ahead that you think it’s over," Kelly tweeted. "That’s all you’re seeing here. Unforced errors cause he thinks he might be in trouble. It’s easy to be up big or down big. It’s hard to be barely ahead. You make mistakes."

Breaking: N200, N500 and N1000 Naira Notes Remain Legal Tender Till December 31, 2023 - CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the old N200, N500 and N1000 notes remain legal tender until December 31, 2023.

Isa Abdulmumin, the CBN spokesperson, announced the recent development in a statement on Monday.

Also, CBN said that the old notes shall coexist with the new notes till the December deadline.

Update from the CBN on Naira Notes

The statement reads: "In  compliance with the established tradition of obebience to court orders and sustenance of the Rule of law Principle that characterized the Government of President Mohammadu Buhari and by extension the operation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as a regulator, Deposit Money Banks operating in Nigeria have been directed to comply with the Supreme Court Judgement of March 3, 2023.

"Accordingly, the CBN met with the Bankers' Committee and has directed that the old banknotes remain legal tender alongside the redesigned Banknotes till December 31, 2023.

"Consequently, all concerned are directed to confirm accordingly"

Related article: How Nigerian Banks and inexperienced tech personnel contributed the harsh Economy under cashless policy of CBN. 

Tragedy: Gunmen Kill 35 In Katsina, Kaduna

No fewer than 18 people were feared killed on Saturday evening in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State, when terrorists clashed with local security guards.

This is just as the death toll of Saturday night attack on Ungwan Wakili community in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State rose to 17.

Residents of Kankara LGA told Newsmen that search parties were still busy looking for casualties in the communities where the clashes occurred as of Sunday to determine the exact number of those who could have been killed.

The residents gave the list of settlements where the clashes occurred to include Majifa, Gurbi, Danmarke, Gidan-Anchor, Gidan- Saika, Dan-Mangoro and Gidan-Sale.

Also, It was learnt that while five people were killed in Gurbi, 13 people were killed at Majifa, Makera and Gidan Jifau settlements.

A total of 18 other people said to have suffered injuries in the attacks are being treated at the General Hospital, Kankara as of Sunday afternoon.

According to residents, trouble started on Saturday during a wedding attended by terrorists at Majifa.

Photo Story: Osinbajo's Wife Hosts Widows Of Military Officers

Dola Osinbajo in a host with Armed Forces Widows | Credit: dolapoosinbajo

The wife of the Nigeria's Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, hosted the widows of fallen Nigerian Armed Forces personnel in Aguda House, Abuja to mark Women's Day.

Dolapo revealed this on her Instagram page on Sunday, as she shared photos from the event.

Captioning the photos, she said, "International Women's Day. Widows of the forces are honoured and hosted annually in Aguda house to mark Women's Day.

"From the Army, Police, Navy, Air force and Civil Defense, wives of our fallen heroes, those who paid the ultimate price, gathered to be honoured and appreciated. A time of conversations on emotional well-being, interaction and lunch."

APC Should Replace National Chairman, Adamu With Christian Over Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim Presidency – NWC Member

From left: APC National Chairman - Adamu, Vice President-elect - Shettima and President-elect Bola Tinubu.

The North-West Vice chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Salihu Lukman, has called for the replacement of the national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, with a Christian to assuage the Muslim-muslim Bola Tinubu’s presidency.

The APC candidate and president-elect in the February 25 presidential election, Bola Tinubu is a Muslim and his running mate and vice president-elect, Sen. Kashim Shettima is also a Muslim.

While Tinubu is from the South West region, Shettima is from Borno State, North East region. Also the national chairman of APC, Adamu is a Muslim; which means the pillars of the All Progressives Congress is currently with Muslim. 

Senior Nigerian Lawyer, Pius Akubo Rejects Appointment To Tinubu’s Legal Team

Pius Akubo SAN has rejected the appointment to be part of the legal team of President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to defend his win in the February 25 presidential polls.

Mr Akubo said he was unaware of the appointment, and there had been no official communication between himself and Mr Tinubu’s camp.

He said in a statement that, “In the last twenty-four (24) hours or so, the social media space has been agog with a trending unsigned letter in respect of appointment of Presidential Election Petition Legal Team by All Progressives Congress (APC) wherein my name is listed as number 10.”

Mr Akubo added, “With all due respect, I wish to state that I had no prior knowledge of the said appointment. As a matter of fact, I have not received any official communication on the subject matter hitherto. Suffice it to say that I was taken by surprise to hear of the said appointment vide social media.”

He however pointed out that he could not defend the former Lagos governor for personal reasons even if such contemplations were being made.

“In the circumstance and for personal reasons, I hereby decline the said appointment,” he added.

Adeleke Presents ₦‎1.528 Billion Bond Certificates To Retired Workers, Pay Outstanding Gratuity In Osun

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has presented a sum of N1.528 billion for retired workers’ bond certificates of both State and Local Governments while a sum of N350 million had equally been released as gratuities for retired staff of local governments, primary schools, secondary schools, tertiary institutions, civil servants, staff of parastatals, among others.

Adeleke made this known at the presentation of bond certificates to retirees in the entire public service held at the local government service commission, Abere.

He said “I apologize on behalf of the state government, to our pensioners, for the ill-treatment of the past. You had laboured hard to serve the state. It is unfortunate that the past government decided to ignore and deride your significant input and contribution to state development. Accept our apologies”.

“Since I took over the administration of this state, my constant focus is how best to resolve all outstanding workers-related debts. It is unacceptable for a government to treat its pensioners the way the past government had done. I had decided never to follow that path. Workers, in and out of service, deserve their due emoluments.”

Governor Ademola Adeleke has released bond certificate of 1.5bn to 373 retirees of Osun State and 350m as Gratuity

Here is a summary of Ademola Adeleke's Payments:

• 119 (Civil service, parastatals & Tertiary Institution) -  632m

• 62 (LG Serv Commission)  = 205m

• 92 (Pry Sch Retirees) = 621m

Gratuity = 350m

Osun Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has equally cleared outstanding 30 months salaries in February, 2023.

The payment was disclosed in a memo dated January 31, 2023, signed by K.N Akintola for the Osun Head of Service.

The memo titled, “Monthly payment of arrears of half salaries to contributory Pensioners (State and Local) who have not received their bonus with effect from February 2023.”