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Osimhen Breaks 24-Year Old Jinx, Crowned CAF African Footballer Of The Year …Oshoala Wins Too

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Victor Osimhen

By Akinwale Kasali

The moment was historic and magical as the crowd rose to its feet in Marrakech, Morocco  CAF President when Patrice Motsepe called out the striker’s name, writing him into the footballing history books forever.

Super Eagles Striker, Victor Osimhen has written his name in the history books of Nigeria football and in the African continent.

After 23-Year hiatus of winning the coveted award, Osimhen has broken the age long jinx for Nigeria. He became the first Nigerian to receive the CAF awards after ex-international, Kanu Nwankwo, in 1999.

Osimhen saw off competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Senegal’s Sadio Mane, and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, among others.

The 24-year-old, standing at 1.85m has indeed stood tall among his peers, with the award coming after a lengthy 24-year wait.

Speaking after he was named Africa’s Best, an elated Osimhen hailed the impact of Nigerian legend and 1994 CAF Footballer of the Year, Emmanuel Amuneke, who coached him at the U-17 level, as well as fans from the country among others.

“First of all, I want to say thank you to God for everything. Special thanks go to Mr. Emmanuel Amuneke; without him, I don’t think I would be standing in front of you guys holding one of the most prestigious awards in world football,” he told the gathering of the creme-de-la-creme of African football and beyond.

“It’s a dream come true for me. I want to thank everyone who has seen me through life’s journey. In achieving my dreams, in achieving my goals.

“I appreciate Nigerians for their support; I appreciate Africa for putting me on the map, for encouraging me, and for defending me regardless of my shortcomings.

“I also thank Emmanuel Adebayor for his encouragement. Salomon Kalou, I appreciate you. And every African legend that I have looked up to while growing up who inspired me. Didier Drogba, my role model, thank you so much. God bless you all.”

No doubt, his triumph is a sigh of relief for Nigerians who had waited anxiously for a day like this.

Osimhen registered 26 goals in the league, and Five goal in the UEFA Champions League, becoming the first African to win the top scorer award in the domestic Serie A league.

He later won the Italian league’s best striker prize and got included inthe Serie A Team of the Year, earning him a place in the hearts of the Neapolitans.

Super Falcons and Barcelona Feminina Team Forward, Asisat Oshoala defended the title she won last year, as she was crowned CAF Female Footballer of the Year for the Seventh Time, brushing aside, South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana and Zambia’s Barbara Banda.

Paris Football Club of France and Super Falcons Goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie was crowned the Best Female Goalkeeper in Africa, with the Super Falcons of Nigeria National Team named the Best Female Team of the Year.

President Tinubu Grieves With Families Of Kaduna Bomb Victims, Promises Thorough Investigation Over Incident

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Bola Tinubu

By Akinwale Kasali

President Bola AhmedTinubu has again commiserated with families of the victims of the recent  accidental tragic bombing in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State. The President said most of the victims tragically lost their lives while reciting the Shadada. They were observing Maulud, a central statement of faith for practicing Muslims.

The President assured that investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances which surrounded the unfortunate incident. Anybody found culpable will not be spared, he said.

The President made this known during his visit to Maiduguri, Borno State on Monday.

In his words, “They were Nigerians of profound faith and in the moment of the tragedy, they were reciting the Shadada. May God Almighty comfort their families as their nation grieves their passage into glory. May their souls rest in eternal peace,” the President prayed.

Speaking at the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi, the President pledged that the Federal Government will continue to do all within its powers to provide support and care to the families of all Nigerians affected by the remnants of insecurity in parts of Borno State.

“This is my most sacred responsibility and the trajectory of the larger effort shown by the ratio of victory over defeat has been sliding well in our favour since the new administration has resumed office. We are not satisfied yet. We are not satisfied until we reach the end of insecurity in Nigeria,” the President submitted.

The President, also, declared that under his watch, security issues would remain a top priority, but not limited only to battlefield concerns.

“We will provide better amenities and benefits to our gallant armed forces and their families. We are committed to this, and this is factored into the 2024 budget. We will ensure that our administration reflects the grateful heart of the Nigerian people in the way we treat those who make the ultimate sacrifices on our behalf,” the President affirmed.

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum acknowledged the steady improvement in collaboration between the security agencies and the Borno State Government.

“We have seen the close working relationship between our state and the security agencies. The results are speaking for themselves. We remain committed to the achievement of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the fight against insecurity anywhere it exists in Nigeria. We thank you for your leadership, Mr. President. We will continue to give all required support to the Nigerian Armed Forces,” Governor Zulum said.

On his part, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi urged the President to deliver his infrastructural interventions to areas that have been hard hit by insurgency over the years.

“We seek the revival of the Lake Chad Commission to provide succour to the large communities in the Lake Chad’s surrounding areas. We seek power projects and job creation initiatives for our unemployed youths. Governor Zulum has been performing beyond what is humanly possible but his resources are limited. Please assist him,” the Shehu of Borno stated.

ommending the Shehu of Borno for supporting the government of Borno State and the Federal Government in maintaining peace and stability in the region, President Tinubu promised to enhance the active involvement of traditional institutions in ensuring stability at the grassroots level across the country.

Lagos Attorney General Douses Tension, Says Landlord-Tenant Crisis To Be Resolved In 60 Days In Court

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The high rate of tenancy issues in Lagos State is set to reduce drastically as the Lagos State Government through the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Lawal Pedro has stated that the government is considering that landlord-tenant disputes be resolved within 60 days in court.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria noted that there is the need to maintain law and order in the State to boost investor’s confidence.

He said the Executive was working hand-in-hand with the Legislature and the Judiciary to create a state where law and order reign.

He said, “The issue of landlord and tenants will be given adequate attention to ensure that such matters in court do not last more than 60 days in our court. We are working towards ensuring that appeals on such matters do not deprive house owners of getting arrears of rent from their property.

“I can also assure you that the state laws will be enforced now to encourage economic activities and protect investments. It is when the law is properly enforced that development can come.”

Pedro said the state had begun moves to amend obsolete laws to reflect current realities.

“Our Law Reform Commission is already working towards reviewing some of the obsolete laws in the state. Through the state House of Assembly, we will be getting that down pretty soon.

“The focus of Governor Sanwo-Olu is to use the justice system to drive economic activities and investments in Lagos. We already have the Administration of Criminal Justice Law and we have reviewed our civil procedure laws and many others,” he said.

On the trend of demolition by the Government, the Attorney General said, “What does it take for a citizen to comply with the law? You are aware of the law and you choose to breach the law; when the long arm of the law is at work, you begin to cry foul.

Speaking further, Pedro said: “The media must begin to enlighten and educate members of the public on the need to obey laws.  Nobody is happy when houses are being demolished but unfortunately, in law, they are illegal developments.

“The first point we must harp on is that there must be voluntary compliance with the law. I can tell you from my own personal experience that in any building that is brought down, there would have been a contravention notice served six months earlier, hoping that the defaulter would stop.

“Somebody commences construction of a building, at the foundation level, officials ask for building approval and there is none; they serve a contravention notice and it is ignored.

“The person goes to the first floor and notice is served, at the third floor, a stop-work notice is also served but he continues. When the law is applied to bring down the house, he begins to appeal to sentiment.

“We must begin to advise residents to obey the law as regards building in the right places and getting the appropriate approvals.”

Rivers Crisis: “Call Wike To Order” –  Ijaw National Congress Urges President Tinubu

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Ijaw National Congress

By Akinwale Kasali

The defection tsunami that rocked the Rivers State House of Assembly during which 27 Lawmakers loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, has prompted the Ijaw National Congress, INC, to urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Wike to order.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his ‘Political godfather’ Wike, has been having a running battle which divided  thw Rivers State House of Assembly into two unequal parts, with Wike in control of the majority.

The INC had earlier appealed with both Wike and Fubara to bury their hatchet for the growth and development of the State. But the situation took a different turn following the defection of 27  Lawmakers from the PDP to the APC on Monday. Those who defected are Wike’s loyalists.

Sensing that impeachment is in the offing for Governor Fubara, the Ijaw National Congress has called on President Tinubu to prevail on Wike and his loyalists to stop their moves aimed at sacking the Governor Fubara.

The INC in a statement signed by its President, Prof Benjamin Okaba, on Monday, said it was curious that despite previous interventions by Tinubu and other critical stakeholders, Wike was bent on ensuring the impeachment of Fubara.

It condemned what it labelled as open support by security agencies for the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the state lawmakers loyal to Wike, whom they gave protection to hold a sitting against a subsisting court order requiring all parties to maintain the status quo and to take no official actions until further notice.

The statement read in part: “Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, we implore you once again to call Mr Wike and those Federal Government agencies and agents who are putting Rivers State at risk of anarchy, to order. Such elements are inimical to the stability of Nigeria sooner or later.

“ Mr Wike has also featured on several network TV stations where he made very provocative statements and scandalous claims against Governor Fubara; accusing the governor of attempting to ‘take over’ his ‘structure’, openly taunting him as an ingrate who is lacking in integrity as well as asserting without investigation that the governor masterminded the burning down of the hallowed chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Is Mr Wike at liberty to make scandalous, libellous and inciting comments without fear of sanction from the security agencies or even Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu?

“Is Wike the C-in-C of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, such that those on national assignments in Rivers State now act according to his whims and caprices or those he supports, in the push to impeach or make Rivers State ungovernable for His Excellency Governor Siminialayi Fubara, as he publicly boasted? As we glean from history, can law-abiding citizens suffer such intolerable lawlessness orchestrated by one man, indefinitely?

“We, therefore, submit to Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu  that Ijaw National Congress Worldwide, its affiliate bodies, substructures and activists are direly concerned by the impunity and indecorous conduct by a Minister of the Federal Government and the apparent connivance of those who ought to curb his excesses.”

The INC which is the apex pan-Ijaw socio-cultural organisation however commended Fubara for his calm and mature disposition in the face of insults and provocations by the FCT minister, noting that “such conduct is becoming of a civilised leader and statesman.”

It also lauded the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and other stakeholders who, the INC said, put the interest of the State above other interests.

It urged all Rivers people and well-meaning Nigerians to stand with Fubara “to protect our democratic institutions and ensure that justice and the will of the masses prevail.”

Cross River: Construction Firm in an N42bn Road Contract Controversy… Denies Allegation, Says “Govt Still Owing Us”

By
The Source
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Engineer Ibrahim Adesina Tiamiyu

Did a construction firm, Zeka Global Company Limited receive N42b as a contract fee for the construction of the Calabar-Odukpani dual carriageway? This is a poser many in Cross River would want an answer to.

Essentially, while stakeholders and critics in the state swear that Zeka received the whopping sum to undertake the road construction, the company insists it didn’t set eyes on any sum close to a billion for the project. The Firm said the allegation was a ploy to tarnish its reputation and set it on a collision cause with the people of the State.

Setting the record straight,  a Director in the construction firm,  Engineer Ibrahim Adesina Tiamiyu, disclosed that the contract was not even half of the figure being bandied by an online news portal.

According to him, “It is completely false and mischievous to insinuate that the cost of the contract was N42 billion. The actual cost of the project was N17bn.”

Offering insight into how Zeka Global Company Ltd was engaged by the Cross River State government, Tiamiyu said: “We came into the picture when other contractors were asking for cut-throat fees to handle the project and the government could not muster that. What Zeka did for Cross River State was more or less a  direct labour service which went a long way in reducing the cost of constructing the road.

The award or engagement letter issued to us was to function as a “Service Provider” under a direct labour arrangement with the state Infrastructure Company,  Infra-Cross. It was based on our rich profile that Zeka was engaged. Some contractors had charged the government about N60bn before the immediate past governor had to look in our direction that we should come in as a service provider.”

Senator Bassey Otu
Gov. Bassey Otu, Cross River state Governor

The Director lamented that despite their diligence and commitment to the completion of the project, “we are yet to be fully paid. The company is still owed a balance of N2bn. This is besides debts owed the company from projects executed outside the dual carriageway for the state government”

n official of the immediate past administration in the state who pleaded anonymity also dismissed the figure, describing it as a phantom.

His words: “purveyors of the phantom N42 billion contract sum were less concerned about fact-checking with the relevant ministries and agencies of government before speculating on the contract sum ”

Located on 147 Ndidem Usang Iso Road, the company which began the construction in 2020 finally completed and delivered the project in 2023.

Speaking on some failed portions of the road,  Tiamiyu disclosed that “normally in road construction, there is a period called Defects liability period where the road is open to traffic for six months to observe its behaviour. If there is a defect during the six months, the contractor returns to the site to fix or address whatever the defects are. So it’s not right to say the road has failed. It is mischievous to insinuate as such.

According to the Director, there are a lot of factors that could have caused a road to fail. He clarified that “the portion of the road that gave way was later discovered to be sitting on shale materials. That was what caused that particular portion to give way. And with what we have noticed, we are waiting for the rains to cease so that we can return to the site to get it fixed, despite that the shale materials we found were not captured in the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME).”

Corroborating Tiamiyu’s assertion, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Dr Godwin Akeke,  Director,  Civil, Ministry of Works, Dr Desmond Ewa, and Engineer Pius Okpa, Director, Inditek Partners and Consultant to the Cross River State Ministry of Works all agreed that “the issue on the portion of the road that gave way is not about the competence of Zeka as a company that handled the work. There were underlying issues which were not foreseen such as underground seepage of water, the presence of amco pipes buried under the ground and the prevalence of borrow pits. If these were not foreseen and were not part of the contractor’s design and schedule, the contractor would not handle them because they were not covered under the terms of engagement. So there will be a need for variation because he did not know that under seepage was taking place there. Against this backdrop, the portion of the road was likely to give way. However, since it is still within the defects liability period the contractor will go back to the site but with variation in the contract.

So the issue of competence does not arise. People are making insinuations simply because it is an indigenous contractor and they will do everything to discredit them.”

Tiamiyu, however, appealed: “We will greatly appreciate it if the government can pay us the outstanding balance of N2bn due to the company to help quicken our return to the site to fix the failed portion.”

IPOB: Will Supreme Court End Kanu’s Detention Woes Before Christmas? Ohanaeze Begs

By
James Orji
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Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo apex socio-political group, has called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, before Christmas.

The group’s Vice President, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene made the demand on Sunday as the Supreme Court is set to make a judgment in his case next week.

The question is whether the apex Court, which is set to rule on his matter will put an end to the IPOB’S leader’s more-than-two years detention predicament.

Ohanaeze also called for the arrest of Samuel Ekpa by liaising with the government of Finland where he currently operates, for promoting violence in the country.

Ekpa had made himself the IPOB’s defacto  leader following Kanu’s incarceration.

The IPOB leader had been detained in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, since July 2021  following his  arrest in Kenya by the joint Nigeria/ Kenyan security forces.

The courts had ruled that the federal government had no reason to keep him in detention.

The last being the Court of Appeal which ordered his release on October 12, 2022, saying his continued detention contravened local and international laws.

The Supreme Court will determine the federal government’s appeal on the issue on December 15.

Ohanaeze, however, called on the federal government to release him, saying peace will return to the restive southeast region if Kanu regains his freedom by the middle of this month.

Okeke- Ogene urges the Igbo to jettison rumours that southeast governors and other influential politicians were behind Kanu’s continued detention. Perish the thought, he said.

Ohanaeze said, “We don’t want to dwell much on the politics about the release of Kanu. If he is released on December 15, it is long overdue because competent courts of jurisdiction have on two occasions found him not guilty and also released him, but till now, nothing was done about it.

“So, we hope that the Supreme Court will equally do justice to it with the expectation that every Igbo man is expecting that President Bola Tinubu should know that the money and lives being wasted on the issue are not worth it. And he should, therefore, set the man free as a Christmas gift to the South-East if he truly wants peace to return to the region.

“The President should emulate former Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, who used the carrot and stick approach to stop the issue of militancy in the Niger Delta region. The average Igbo person is also facing the same situation.

“Kanu should be a free man from December 15 and anything short of that has dashed the hope of the whole of the people of South-East this Christmas. If he is not released, it will be a black Christmas in the region.

“We are not in the position to pre-empt the court but for now, we are looking up to the Supreme Court, if it is a country where the judiciary works, we don’t have to be afraid that the Federal Government would influence the judgment.”

“As far as we know, there is a group now using the agitation to cause insecurity in the region. First of Okeke-Ogene, however, berated the Federal Government for its inability to collaborate with the government of Finland to tackle the issue of the autopilot arm of IPOB, led by Simon Ekpa, who is generally acclaimed to be fuelling insecurity in the region in the name of agitation.

“If Kanu is released, we will hear from him and we will all join hands together to discuss these issues. And our people hiding in the bushes would come out and be rehabilitated.

“On Simon Ekpa and his group in Finland, we believe that the Federal Government is enjoying what they are doing, otherwise there is a diplomatic way of resolving the issue. It is a government-to-government collaboration and the Federal Government has not explored that avenue to resolve the situation.”

This is not the first time the umbrella Igbo group had called for Kanu to be released from detention, whereas the federal government had ignored such appeal on the grounds that the rule of law must take full course.

Ondo Amotekun Arrests 72 Year-Old Kidnappers’ Informant, Robbery Suspects

By
Ayodele Oni
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Amotekun in Ondo State

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Amotekun has arrested a 72-year old man,  Suleman Abubakar, who, according to it, is an  informant  to kidnappers.

Commander of the security outfit, Adetunji Adeleye, explained that “Abubakar, was employed as a security man, in an establishment.

“What he did was to give out the information of his boss to the kidnappers who came to kidnap him while he was communicating with them.

“When we arrested him, we perused his phone and found out that he has contacts with the same number they were using to negotiate. So, he gives information to Kidnappers.”

Another suspect, who is an ex convict, has succeeded in kidnapping nine persons and collected ransome.

“He was arrested around Ala/Dada/ Ago-Oyinbo axis. He successfully kidnapped over nine people and collected ransom.

“At a point in one of the villages, because they attempted to fight him, he led five other people back at night and burnt down the whole village. So, we have him in our custody and he’s also an ex-convict.

Sixty two other suspected criminals paraded were arrested across the 18 local government areas and local council development areas of Ondo State.

Adeleye stated that “The arrest of these suspected criminals arouse from distress calls received, surveillance activities of Amotekun men and all the security agencies in the state, inclusive of the police, the Civil Defense, the DSS and the Army, in various joint operations.

“This ember month patrol is strategic as we are determined to guarantee safety of lives and properties in Ondo State and for those passing through the highways of the state.

“Across the board, we were able to track down about 15 suspected kidnappers. Some of them with guns they use, the money received as part of the ransom and all they told those coming to pay ransom to bring along with the money.

“We have cigarettes, bread from Osogbo and another one from Ilorin because they gave them terms of how to package the ransom.

“But, the eagle eyes operatives were able to arrest some of them, especially, in the Ala/Dada/Ago Oyinbo axis of Akure North Local Government. We equally have some suspected kidnappers residing in and terrorizing the Elegbeka axis.

“We have another group that break into people’s houses during church service when they know that they would have gone out and we have those that steal goats.

“The vehicle over there was arrested yesterday fully loaded with goats and we went round Idanre and Ondo West local government where they like ‘Asun’. So, it will be easy for them to sell the goat but they were caught in the act.”

NTA’s Aisha Bello Laid To Rest

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

The remains of Aisha Bello Mustapha, the golden-voiced  Newscaster with the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, has gone back to Mother-earth.

The shocking death of the former Newscaster who passed away Sunday night was confirmed in a statement by her family. The statement disclosed that she would be buried by 1.00pm on Monday.

It reads: “Innalihali wa Inna Alaihin Rajiun. May Allah forgive our Mother Hajia Aishat Bello Mustapha.

“Mama, indeed, you are a very kind-hearted person. We will miss you and hope you are enjoying Rahma. Funeral prayer to be held in Central Mosque Abuja 1pm on Monday, 11th December 2023.”

She retired from the NTA after the mandatory 35 years service.

Rivers Governor On Way Out As 27 Lawmakers  Loyal To Wike Dump PDP, For APC

By
Ayodele Oni
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Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State

By Ayodele Oni

The days of Rivers State Governor, Siminalaye Fubara in office seem numbered as 27 Peoples Democratic Party Lawmakers, PDP, Monday morning dumped the Party and defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The Lawmakers who defected to the APC are those loyal to the Fubara’s predecessor, Nyesom Wike, currently, the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. They were those who unsuccessfully, tried to impeach the Governor weeks ago over his face off with Wike, who, incidentally was instrumental to Fubara’s Governorship.

Since then there has been no peace in the State and the State House of Assembly.

However, a new dimension was introduced on Monday when the  lawmakers loyal to Wike defected. Their defection effectively gives the APC control of the Assembly and, therefore, in a vantage position to impeach Governor Fubara.

The lawmakers who have been plotting the impeachment of Governor Fubara, disclosed their next political move in Port Harcourt.

Their resignation from the PDP, it was gathered, is part of the script by Wike to get Fubara out of office at all cost.

The crisis came into public light following the burning of the Rivers State Assembly Complex on 29th October.

In reaction,Wike, accused Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of orchestrating the burning of a section of the State House Assembly complex.

The rift among members of the State House of Assembly led to some lawmakers commencing impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara. This move was, however, halted following the intervention of President Tinubu.

Another group of Lawmakers from the Assembly, loyal to Fubara, have elected a new speaker, and continued with their sitting at undisclosed venues.

Peter Obi Urges Political Leaders To Shun Corruption, Show Good Example To Their Children

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Peter Obi

By Akinwale Kasali

Peter Obi, the Labour Party, LP, Presidential Candidate in the February 25th Presidential Election has urged the political class to shun corruption.

He stated that the leaders engaging in corruption are showing bad precedents for their children.

The Former Anambra State Governor noted that the increase in the number of youths involved in cybercrime is as a result of the political leaders who have shown bad precedents.

Reflecting on the International Anti-Corruption Day which was held on Saturday, the former Anambra State Governor in a long post on his X handle on Sunday partly wrote, “As the global community marked International Anti-Corruption Day yesterday, we need to soberly reflect on the effect of corruption in our society and on our country.

“Corruption has become the greatest threat to our national existence, especially our democracy, peace, and progress. It has immeasurably stunted our development as a nation.”

He added, “The gross abuse of the rule of law, and disrespect for our constitution are all resultant effects of the endemic corruption that has eaten through the fabric of our society.

“More sadly, is the fact that we the leaders, are not setting very good precedents for our children, by engaging in all forms of corrupt practices.

“The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, was recently reported to have lamented the huge percentage of Nigerian youths in cybercrime. The question we must all ask is where the children are learning such criminality from, if not from us the parents, especially we the leaders.”

He said he is committed to a corruption free society.

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