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“Nigerians Take Anything, Don’t React To Anything, Vote For Thieves, Forgers” – Rotimi Amaechi, Says Instead They Choose To Commit Suicide

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

Immediate past Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has literally described Nigerians as cowards. He said Nigerians are docile, not shocked by anything or any situation, and takes anything.

He lamented that instead of protesting, they choose to commit suicide. He then added, “I am praying for you everyday that you should continue to commit suicide so that by the time I wake up one day, all of you have died so that I can now reap the benefits of your death…”

Amaechi spoke in Lagos on Friday where he delivered a lecture at the Niche Newspapers Annual Lecture.

In a video which has gone viral, Amaechi, while answering a question on the sidelines, on the Certificate forgery allegation against President Bola Tinubu, said he had stopped talking because Nigerians don’t react to anything.

He wondered what the big deal is about certificate forgery against Tinubu,  and asked them to tell him which politician in Nigeria who does not steal or forge certificates.

Why should he talk, he asked, when Nigerians neither talks nor reacts to anything.

He lamented that in Nigeria, serious issues which  could easily lead to mass protests in other countries are ignored because Nigerians, according to him, take nothing seriously.

Said Amaechi: “Nigerians don’t react to anything. Has any politician told you he is not a thief? You are shouting ‘forgery’; forgery, Which politician told you he didnt forge? Which politician told you they went to university? Which politician told you she served in NYSC? And which politician told you he has his certificate?

“Nigerians know, and still vote for them, so what’s your problem? No, tell me, what’s your problem? Tell me, why should I speak when there’s already nothing new?

“Nothing bothers Nigerians, so why should I waste my time? I chose to stay in the house quietly. I chose not to speak again because Nigerians will do nothing.

“Nigerians are committing suicide. Instead of finding solutions to your problems, you’re committing suicide.

“I’m praying for you every day that you should continue to commit suicide so that by the time I wake up one day, all of you have died so that I can now reap the benefits of your death by taking those things.”

Amaechi has been loudly silent and quiet since he was defeated by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He was not reinstated as the Minister for Transportation, thereafter.

To worsen it, Amaechi has been completely sidelined by the APC, rendered irrelevant both locally and  nationally, even though he founded the Party in Rivers State. He has been dethroned as the leader of the APC in Rivers State by the immediate past Governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike, now FCT Minister. Wike succeeded Amaechi as Governor of Rivers State.

For the records, Wike is PDP, but has assumed the leadership of both APC and PDP in the State.

“I Will Hand Over To Owerri Zone In 2027”, Uzodimma

By
The Source
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0

Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has challenged the leaders in Owerri zone to unite and forge a common front to enable them succeed him in 2027 when he would have served out his second term in office.

The Governor reiterated his determination to handover to Owerri Zone at the end of his second tenure in 2027 based on the Imo Charter of Equity and overwhelming support his administration has got from the zone for his re-election.

Governor Uzodimma gave the assurance at the Owerri Zone youth and women endorsement rally held at Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square, New Owerri, on Friday, October 27, 2027.

He recalled that the Imo Charter of Equity is for unity, peace and fairness to all the zones and that he will use his office and political networks to implement it.

He urged the zone to unite for peace, to attract local and foreign direct investments to the area, noting that “unity will bring prosperity, cure poverty, provide jobs that will engage the youths and reduce violence in the zone and Imo State in general.”

He called on the youths to shun violence, vandalism and destructions “because such behaviour will not bring anything good, rather it will bring destruction and stigmatisation to them.”

Furthermore, the Governor appealed to Owerri zone leaders, youths and women to tell those sponsoring violence in Imo State to stop and allow peace to reign. “The youths should shun violence and those engaged in it because they are not our friends,” he said and pledged to continue to uphold the Nigerian project “because Nigeria is our heritage and Imo State will not abandon her heritage.”

He pleaded with everyone to unite in order to reap the gains of bigger Nigeria.

The Governor recalled how he met Imo in shambles when he took over office, “devastated and in turmoil” in 2020 before he was able to recover it from the cemetery, “revived it and today the narrative has changed.”

Governor Uzodimma further recalled how he recovered the State Secretariat, reconstructed Owerri Relief Market road in addition to the reconstruction of the three main road corridors leading in and out of Imo State when there was scarcity of funds to do that.

Regardless, the Governor hinted that his administration has reduced the debt profile of Imo State from N320 billion to N148 billion as well as increased the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N600 million to about N3 billion per  month.

The Governor said he has discovered that the major problem of insecurity and youth restiveness was unemployment hence he decided to create both skilled and unskilled jobs for Imo youths.

He said that the first set of 15,000 unskilled jobs and 20,000 Digital skilled jobs through the Cohort 1 and 2 Skill-Up Project have been created.

Also, he said his administration has transformed the health sector by rehabilitating the 305 primary healthcare Centres, acquired mobile health clinics and built three brand-new General hospitals in the oil producing Local Governments of the State.

He decried the reckless way land grabbing has been elevated to a religion, and however promised that by the end of this month the IGIS will be activated and people’s lands taken away wrongly returned to them.

Concluding, the Governor thanked the people of Owerri zone, especially the youths and women for their enormous support and appreciated them for coming out en mass to show their solidarity to his re-election.

Earlier, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Imo State, Dr  Macdonald Ebere said that the “Governor has done well in all sectors of human endeavours in the State,”  adding that “all Local Governments in Owerri Zone are standing up in his support because already God is with the Governor and nobody will take it away from him.”

The Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Chief Henry Njoku (Haritex) told the Governor that all youths and women in Owerri Zone are with him, “especially as they have firm believe in the implementation of the Charter of Equity which will guarantee the zone the Governor of Imo State by 2027.”,

He pointed out that based on the works of the Governor which Owerri zone has benefitted from a lot of Imo people will remember him when he leaves office in 2027.

On behalf of the nine Honourable members from the nine LGAs of Owerri Zone, the Majority Leader in the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kanayo Onyemaechi said that by “November 11, 2023 no vote will drop from the entire votes of Owerri zone.”

In a resolution/communiqué read for Governor’s endorsement on behalf of the youths and women in Owerri zone, the member representing Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Hon. Akarachi Amadi noted that Owerri zone has faith in democracy and unequivocally in support of the re-election bid of Governor Hope Uzodimma.

He said the Charter of Equity as enacted by Imo State Elders Council is a welcome development and  highly accepted in its entirety by all the youths and women of Owerri zone.

The resolution added that “Imo Charter of Equity as a panacea for political peace, harmony and rotational Governorship will be fully abided by, in its entirety by Owerri zone, hence the entire leaders, youths and women of Owerri zone hereby endorse Dist. Senator Hope Odidika Uzodimma as Owerri Zone Sole Governorship Candidate for the Saturday, November 11, 2023 Imo State Governorship election.”

Hon Amadi, listed all other conditions which include that, all candidates of Owerri zone extraction to immediately shelve their ambition for Governor Hope Uzodimma to complete his constitutional two terms of office that will terminate in 2027, that the zone agreed to give the Governor 100 per cent votes in the entire 104 wards of Owerri zone for his re-election.

Highlights of the rally were the presentation of Award to Governor Uzodimma and wife, Barr. (Mrs.) Chioma Uzodimma.

Atiku To Speak On Supreme Court Verdict

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Candidate in the 2023 Presidential Election, Atiku Abubakar, is set to address the Media on Monday, October 30th, 2023, on some crucial national issues.

Since the Supreme Court verdict which affirmed  President Bola Tinubu as the duly elected President by the Apex Court, Atiku has  yet to comment on the verdict.

According to a statement by the PDP Publicity Office issued Saturday, Atiku’s address will centre on issues of serious importance to the nation.

The statement reads: “The Presidential Candidate of our great party, the PDP, in the February 25, 2023, presidential election and former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Wazirin Adamawa, will address a crucial press conference on issues of serious importance to the nation.”

The Supreme Court on Thursday, September 26, dismissed the suits filed by Atiku and the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, as without merit on all grounds.

Abia University Expels 12 Students For Criminal Offences, Investigates Se$ual Harassment Among Staff

By
Ayodele Oni
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Abia State University

By Ayodele Oni

Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) has expelled 12 students, while four others were suspended for various offences which run contrary to their matriculation oath.

The decision to discipline the students has been ratified by the university’s senate during its 266th regular meeting.

Management had earlier considered and approved the recommendations of the Senate Security Committee after thorough investigations for the different cases in which the students were found liable.

Those expelled were found guilty of stealing at gun point, cultism, illegal possession of firearms, de-marketing the University, and examination malpractice

The Vice-Chancellor,of the university, Prof Onyemachi M. Ogbulu, in a statement, reiterated  zero tolerance of his administration for all manner of criminality by students.

According to him, the Senate Committee is also investigating alleged cases of extortion and sexual harassment by staff and assured that anyone found guilty of the alleged offences will be punished in accordance with the extant regulation of the University.

Survivor Of Edo Boat Mishap Narrates Ordeal, Counters Government’s Claim, Says Eight Persons Died

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

A survivor of a boat accident at Gelegele, in Edo State, Mabel Sule, has countered the claim by the Edo State Police Command that only one person died.

Sule, while giving account of the incident, explained that eight persons got drowned in the accident, adding that she was lucky to have survived the mishap, which occurred while the traders were on their way to Ekehuan market

She said that she had to swim with her baby to safety after the boat she was travelling with 26 other traders capsized last Thursday.

She said, “As we moved out of the shore of Gelegele, the engine of the boat developed a fault. The tide swayed the boat and it hit two badges stationed in the river, which resulted in the boat capsizing and getting stuck under the badge.

“I was carrying a one-and-half-year-old baby when it happened. I struggled to swim with my baby under the badge and hit my head against it several times before I eventually swam out under the badge.

“Also, everyone started scampering for safety by swimming, but unfortunately we were under the badge. Some people didn’t survive it as they were unable to swim out.

“I was carrying my baby on my lap when the accident happened and I held the baby with my one hand and used the other hand to swim. But as I was swimming and trying to raise my head above the water, I hit my head against the badge three times.

“I went deep again and started swimming until I saw brightness of the sky; that was when I raised my head. I thought my baby was already drowned, but fortunately, he survived.”

She noted that she lost all her stock, adding, “I am left with nothing as I speak with you. Plantain worth over N200,000 that I was taking to Ekehuan market to sell all perished in the river.

“I want the Edo State Government to help me so I can go back to my business. I am pleading with well-meaning Nigerians to help me. I need to feed to feed my children.”

Cultists Strike At UNIBEN, Kill 500 Level Student

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

A Friday evening clash between two rival factions of groups suspected to be cultists, has claimed the life of a 500-level student at the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

Unconfirmed report from the university stated that the death toll may be more than that as members of the groups were said to be driving round the campus and shooting sporadically.

Three other students, who sustained various degrees of injury during the attack, were said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

It was gathered that the incident happened on Friday evening when the rampaging cult group stormed the Anatomy Department back gate to kill their target before they proceeded to Physical Science and Laboratory Department.

It was gathered that the deceased student was shot at a close range in his car, while the three others were shot while they were trying to escape.

The incident caused panic among the students and staff on the campus as they scampered for safety.

According to sources, the fight began in Ekiadolor area, a suburb of the school, some days ago during which about three persons were allegedly killed. It later spread to the Ugbowo campus of the institution.

A viral video of the incident showed a red car with bullet holes. The body of a man was seen removed from the car and taken to the back of a pick-up van.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said he was yet to be informed about the incident.

“I am yet to be briefed of such an incident. When I get the brief, I will let you know, but for now no information.”

Some months ago, a final-year student at the Hall three hostel of the university was shot dead in his room by gunmen.

South East Deliberately Excluded From Supreme Court – Justice Muhammad, JSC

By
The Source
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By Gideon Njoku

The just retired Supreme Court Justice, The Honourable Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, has lamented the non-representation of the South-east Zone of Nigeria in the Supreme Court.

In a mind-blowing speech he delivered during a valedictory to mark his retirement from the Bench after a 47-year journey in the Judicial Service, Justice Muhammad said that the exclusion of the Zone is deliberate. And, he put the blame squarely on the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola who, he also accused of brazen abuse of power.

He said the deliberate exclusion of the South-east is a result of the “absolute powers vested on the office of the CJN.” The present CJN, Ariwoola, he revealed, runs  a one-man-show as he is not in the habit of consulting with his brother Justices. Ariwoola, he said, exercises absolute power, and absolute power, he reminded his audience, corrupts.

With his retirement, he said the Zone where he comes from, North Central, will  suffer same fate as the South-east.

Jusice Muhammad: “My Lord Hon. Justice Ejembi Eko JSC, who also represented the Zone, (North Central), retired on 23rd of May, 2022. It has been a year and five months now. There has not been any replacement.

“With the passing of My Lord, Hon. Justice Chima Centus Nweze, JSC, on 29th July 2023, the South-east no longer has any presence at the Supreme Court. My Lord, Hon. Justice Sylvester Nwali Ngwuta JSC, died on 7th March 2021. There has not been any appointment in his stead for the South-east.”

The result, he said, is that only four geopolitical Zone – the South-west, South-South,  North-West and North-East are represented in the Supreme Court. Each of those Zones have its full representation of three Justces. He lamented this strange situation and and submitted that “It is deliberate.”

His words: “Appropriate steps could have been taken since to fill outstanding vacancies in the Apex Court. Why have these steps not  been timeously taken?

“It is evident that the decision not to fill the vacancies in the Court is deliberate. It is all about the absolute powers vested in the office of the CJN and the responsible exercise of same.”

The Supreme Court, as it stands today has only ten Justices instead of its full complement of 22.

He, also, called for the divestment of powers vested in the office of the CJN.

“As presently structured, the CJN is Chairman of the NJC, which oversees both the appointment and discipline of judges, he is equally Chair of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), the National Judicial Institute (NJI), the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) that appoints Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

“In my considered opinion, the oversight functions of these bodies should not rest on an individual alone. A person with absolute powers, it is said, corrupts easily and absolutely.”, he said.

Justice Muhammad, JSC, bowed out on Friday, October 27, 2023.

Alaba Lawson, Iyalode Of Yorubaland Is Dead

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Chief Alaba Lawson

By Akinwale Kasali

The Yoruba Race has been thrown into mourning following the death of Chief Alaba Lawson, the Iyalode Of Yorubaland and Egbaland.

The former National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, NACCIMA, prominent educationist, and founder of the popular Alaba Lawson Group of Schools, died in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital in the early hours of Saturday, 28th October, 2023.

The news of her passing was contained in a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of Abeokuta Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture AbdulRahman Maku.

The statement by NACCIMA and ABEOCCIMA partly read: “We regret to announce the demise of NACCIMA past President and ABEOCCIMA Matron and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, MFR, JP (Iyalode of Yorubaland) which occurred in the early hours of today, Saturday 28th of October, 2023. Burial arrangement to be announced later by the family. May God Almighty grant repose to the soul of Iyalode”.

Lawson was born on January 18, 1951, and was a Nigerian business magnate, entrepreneur, academician and champion of women’s upliftment and empowerment.

She was, until her death, the Iyalode of Egbaland and Chairman, Board of Trustees, of ABEOCCIMA.

Kidnappers Raid Abuja Estate, Abduct Couple

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

ByAyodele Oni

Residents of Grow Homes Estate at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are counting their loses after suspected kidnappers struck at the estate and abducted three persons.

The incident will be second time within a year after gunmen attacked the estate and abducted nine persons.

The recent incident, which took place around 9pm on Friday night, had a couple and another man taken from separate apartments in the estate.

It was gathered that the gunmen escaped through the bush track which links the community to another village.

Residents explained that after storming the area around 9pm, the gunmen shot sporadically into the air to scare people away.

A member of the vigilante group stated that “On Friday, around 9pm, we vigilante, heard a gunshot. After hearing the sound, we and some Nigeria Mobile Police (MOPOL) officers searched around to locate it.

“On our way, we saw one of us. He told us they were kidnappers, numbering over 20. He was shot in his hand. At that point, we heard another gunshot. They were shooting at us, while the officers were shooting too.

“We had to stop the counter attack because of their number. They took away three persons; a couple and a man. The kidnappers haven’t contacted anyone yet.”

A resident of the area, Bello Mohammed, said the kidnappers disconnected the alert systems of the houses attacked before whisking their victims away.

Controversy Trails Nomination of Akpabio’s Aide As INEC REC

By
James Orji
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0

Controversy has engulfed the recent nomination of a new Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, from Akwa Ibom, Mr. Etekamba Umoren, as a result of his relationship with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and also for being a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress, APC,  in Akwa Ibom.

Umoren is a former aide of the Senator Akpabio, who had served the Senate President as a Chief of Staff during his time as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and also one of his top aides as Governor of Akwa Ibom state.

President Bola Tinubu has recently appointed him as one of the new RECs, according to a statement by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale.

This development has elicited ill feelings within the People’s Democratic Party, PDP,, which was expressed through a statement protesting his appointment. A group, the PDP Aborigines Initiative, in a statement said “The appointment of Mr. Etekamba Umoren as Resident Electoral Commissioner will erode the trust Nigerians have on the electoral body.”

In the statement signed by its National Coordinator, Shaibu Abubakar, the group said Mr Umoren is a member of the All Progressives Congress, and as such should not be made to play the role of an umpire in any elections.

He equally said Mr. Umoren’s membership of the “APC is not hidden as he defected officially from the PDP in 2018, with his boss, the Senate President, Dr Godswill Akpabio.

“Umoren has served as Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government and Chief of Staff to Akpabio as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

“We call on President Tinubu to reverse that appointment as his government does not need this controversy at this period that it ought to focus on delivering good leadership to the whole nation irrespective of political affiliation.” Abubakar said.

Another statement by an Abuja based and Akwa Ibom born financial expert and public policy analyst Celestine Mel, said the appointment of Umoren who he referred to as a “highly partisan operative who will stop at nothing to project the partisan inclination of his master, into the electoral management body, does great harm and diservice to this country and this democracy.”

Mel said further: “The electoral system is like the banking system. Both thrive on trust. Participants surrender themselves to the process because they perceive that it will be fair. The moment participants suspect that either of the operatives could deal unfairly, the trust is broken, irrespective of whether or not there was any intention to be unfair. With this appointee in INEC, the perception of unfairness, injustice and inequity to different political parties is already established. The simple reason is that the nominee will be perceived to more loyal to his benefactor, who is on top of the political value chain, than Nigeria his country.”

He likened Umoren’s nomination to that of Mrs Lauretta Onochie for a similar role by the Buhari administration, and urged President Bola Tinubu to “please rescind the decision and seek non-partisan professionals for this sensitive assignment, if only he is interested in preserving whatever is left of the battered image of the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

A State House release signed by Ajuri Ngelale, named Umoren as one of the RECs appointed by President Bola Tinubu in pursuant of the “powers vested in him by Section 154 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, Amended) and Section 6 of the Electoral Act (2022),” for a term of five (5) years each, subject to the confirmation of the Nigerian Senate.

Others appointed with Unoren were Mr. Isah Shaka Ehimeakne from Edo State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola from Ekiti State,  Abubakar Ahmed Ma’aji from Gombe State,  Shehu Wahab from Kwara State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi from Lagos State, Aminu Kasimu Idris from Nasarawa State, Prof. Mohammed Yelwa from Niger State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha from Rivers State, and Isma’ila Kaura Moyi from Zamfara

According to the release, President Tinubu “expects the new appointees to abide by the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct in the discharge of their duties, in accordance with his determination to facilitate the establishment of a new and sustainable standard of transparent, fair, and conflict-free electoral conduct.”

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