Crisis Hits NMA In Edo As Members Suspend Chairman, Secretary; Officers Fight Back

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August 20, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

Edo state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is enmeshed in leadership crisis as some members announced the suspension of the chairman, deputy chairman and secretary, Dr Udoka Imoisili, Dr Benson Okwara and Dr Collins Otoikhila respectively.

The decision was reportedly taken at the Annual General Meeting of the association in Benin city.

This was contained in a communique issued at the Business session of the 2023 Edo NMA Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference (AGM/SC) held at the Doctors House in Benin City, Edo state.

The communique, signed by Dr Iluobe Inegbenosun, Ag Chairman and Dr Emeka Okoh

PR0, read in part, “The AGM voted to suspend the trio of Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and Secretary, for refusing to carry out their constitutional duties as demanded by the AGM.

“A secret ballot was held, and 120 members voted to suspend the Chairman, Dr Udoka Imoisili, Deputy Chairman, Dr Benson Okwara, and Secretary, Dr Collins Otoikhila; 3 voted against and 3 abstained.

“The meeting continued with the adjusted and adopted agenda, and the following resolutions were reached.

“The Deputy Secetary, Dr Iluobe Inegbenosun should assume office as acting Chairman, NMA Edo State with immediate effect as prescribed by the Edo NMA R&R and the suspended officers should hand over the association properties in their possession to the acting Chairman within 48 hours of this meeting.

“Members took cognizance of the fact that all the committees of the association were constituted at a fraudulent and illegal State Executive Council (SEC) meeting where a quorum was not formed and the attendance list was doctored. Therefore, the AGM resolved to dissolve all the committees.”

“The financial report was prepared by the Suspended Chairman with little or no input from the financial secretary.

“There were several inconsistencies in the financial report with a total expenditure of N54,847,067.48 spent under one year without any tangible project and no auditing.The AGM therefore resolved to step down the financial report.

“The AGM expressed its displeasure with the failure of the suspended Chairman, for failing to solidarize with ARD members in Edo State during the NARD industrial action.

“The acting Chairman assured the AGM that going forward, Edo NMA will support all her members including the ARD.”

Reacting in a statement titled “Impersonation of the Office of Chairman and Secretary of Edo NMA” and signed by, Dr. Udoka and Dr. Otoikhila, the embattled NMA officers accused some members including officers of the Edo NMA of acting a pre conceived script with a view to causing chaos and pandemonium in the Association.

“Most galling and disrespectful action by these persons is the impersonation of my office and that of my Secretary, by the Deputy Secretary and the PRO, who have been going about falsely parading themselves as Acting Chairman and Acting Secretary with intent to deceive the doctors in Edo state.”

World Owerri Peoples Congress Gives Tuition Assistance Grant To 20 Students

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The Source

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August 20, 2023

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On 17 August 2023, the World Owerri Peoples Congress Incorporated put huge smiles on the faces of 20 indigenous Owerri students studying in Institutions of Higher Learning.

In keeping with its reinvigorated focus on the direct mission of grassroots development and capacity building through its Annual Tuition Assistance Grant Program WOPC executed the award of ₦100,000 each, to the 20 Owerri students in various tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

The grant was presented to the students on 17 August 2023, and executed through Fidelity Bank PLC, Owerri Branch.

A total of 27 applications were received out of the target of 47. This was following the publication in three local newspapers in Owerri, and two months of sustained social media advertising in platforms of WOPC and affiliate organizations.

Five applicants were dropped during follow-up interviews, being resident non-indigenes of Owerri, while two candidates were dropped for having no proof of College admission.

Applicants and awardees’ local communities include

Awaka, Emekuku, Ihiagwa, Irete, Nekeke, Obinze, Owerri Municipal, Obibiezena, Okolochi.

The WOPC expressed its profound gratitude to all its donors, especially patrons and members that pledged and / or donated to this cause.

The immediate past President of WOPC, Uzoma Iheanacho, PhD, assured that the Congress will continue the fine-tunning of the process with lessons learned for program improvement.

Dr. Iheanacho, also, asked members to fully support the new Executive, elected in July 2023, through their participation in “Operation JOM” – Just One New Member, and emphasised:

“Together, we can achieve so much!”

Edo: No Plot To Impeach Deputy Gov, Says Speaker

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James Orji

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August 19, 2023

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The Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, has described the alleged impeachment plot against the Deputy Governor of the state, Phillip Shuaibu as a rumour.

The Speaker spoke on Friday during a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki who has been accused by his deputy of trying to instigate the Assembly to remove him from office through impeachment.

Governor Obaseki has denied the allegation, even though he has also insisted that he will not back Shuaibu to succeed him in office.

The governor accused his deputy of planning a coup against him, saying he’s desperate to succeed him in office without his backing.

He accused Shuaibu of trying to defect to the opposition to achieve his governorship ambition.

Speaking during the meeting with the governor, Agbebaku said Obaseki has not discussed any plan to impeach his deputy with the Assembly.

He said, “Today, I want the Edo people know that there was nothing of such. I am the presiding officer of the house of assembly; I control the gavel. The gavel is like the AK-47 of the house.

“There was no time that the governor has called me to inundate me to say, ‘There must be an impeachment against the deputy governor.

“When I approached the governor, he told me, ‘What is the impeachment for?’ What has the deputy governor done that he wants to impeach him? There is nothing like that.

“On my own, I also called the deputy governor to say, ‘These are rumours. Please, disassociate yourself from this kind of rumour. The governor has no such plan.”

Meanwhile, those watching the state’s politics said they are not surprised by what is happening in the state, saying such is similar to other states in the country where state governors hardly support their deputies to succeed them.

Buhari Sad Over Death Of 36 Soldiers, Crashed NAF Helicopter

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James Orji

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August 19, 2023

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Former President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his heartfelt condolence to President Bola Tinubu over the killing of some army personnel by terrorists in Niger state last week.

The former president said he’s also sad over the crash of a Nigerian Airforce, NAF, helicopter in the state.

The gallant soldiers were ambushed in Zungeru, while the Air Force MI-171 helicopter crashed during a casualty evacuation mission on Monday in the Shiroro Local Government Area, LGA, of the state.

A group linked to a notorious terrorist leader Dogo Gide has claimed responsibility for the crash.

According to a viral video released by the criminals after the incident, they claimed to have shot down the helicopter with AK27 riffles. The DHQ, however, said investigation still is ongoing to ascertain what led to the crash of the ill-fated aircraft.

In a statement signed by Garba Shehu, the former president’s spokesman, Buhari described the killing of the army personnel as a great loss to the country and the armed forces.

The former president also expressed confidence that the nation’s armed forces will triumph over the terrorists, soon.

Buhari said, “I am saddened by the helicopter accident, following the tragic ambush in which we have lost our brave army personnel.

“My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope those injured recover at the earliest,”

“With the soldier-discipline in our troops, it is a matter of time before they overcome.”

It’s A Lie, Peter Obi Had No Meeting With Seyi Tinubu – Obienyem

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The Source

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August 19, 2023

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This is authoritative. Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 Presidential Election, had no meeting with Seyi Tinubu, President Bola Tinubu’s son.

Dismissing the story of a meeting between the two which is making the rounds on various Social Media Platforms as fake, Valentine Obienyem, Obi’s long time Aide, said it’s a lie from the pit of hell.

He backed it with a conversation he had with Obi over the issue as soon as he read it.

Following is Obienyem’s narration of his conversation with Obi.

The phone call with my boss on the purported “meeting” with Tinubu’s son

Val: Good morning Sir. Sir I know it is not true, but I need to confirm to be doubly sure. It is being circulated that you paid President Tinubu’s son a courtesy visit.

Peter Obi: (after a throaty laughter) Val, it appears you do not have anything doing. If that is the case, get ready now and go to Mr. Ifeanyi Orji’s house and represent me at his …

Val.: Ok. Sir. I know it was fake news but just to confirm.

Peter Obi: By now, you should know what I will do or not do. You know I can meet anybody if situation warrants, or depending on the subject matter. Today, there is absolutely no situation warranting such a meeting.

Nigeria Civil Service Union Foresees Social Unrest, Advises FG To Address Economic Problems

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Ayodele Oni

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August 19, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Civil Service Union, (NCSU) ended its 111 celebration in Abuja on Saturday with a call on the Federal Government to urgently address the various economic crisis in the country to avoid social unrest.

NCSU National President, Sunday Oluwole, and General Secretary, Ibraheem Bomoi, who spoke at the event pointed out that “Federal Government should see wisdom in some solutions proffered by the Organized Labour in Nigeria towards moving the nation forward.”

In a communique at the end of the celebration, with the theme, “NCSU @ 111 years in the place of history: The progenitor of nationalists and trade union movements in Nigeria,” the Union warned that the present situation in the country might snowball into spontaneous social unrest if not quickly addressed by the Federal Government.

The Union listed issues which required urgent attention to include: “bringing back to life the four monumental refineries, reversal of tuition fees increment, wage award to workers to address present economic hardship, upward review of living wage and rolling out sustainable impactful palliatives to mitigate the present economic hardship.”

The NCSU lamented that recent independent research showed that “critical issues affecting the country, ranging from fuel subsidy removal and its attendants effects on the entire populace had further increased the number of multi-dimensionally poor Nigerians to 187 million (out of over 200 million Nigeria population).

“The economic hardship has dehumanized the entire populace; there is high transportation cost, high cost of living, Nigerians are presently traumatized psychologically.

“The meeting hereby calls on Federal Government to address the issue squarely by fixing the four Nigeria refineries, rejig the economy with sound economic policy and review the living wage for workers.

“The meeting passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by Comrade Joe Ajaero and entire Organized Labour in Nigeria in consonance with their positions on the present state of the nation.

“The meeting expressed its reservation over the new trend of abuse of roles by the Nigeria Police and the Judiciary as manifested in their activities in recent time, gradually rendering Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment inactive in carrying out its statutory functions.

“The meeting also called on the office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation to desist from meddling with the right of unions to organize its members within the framework of their respective constitutional provisions especially as far as the tenure of its elected members are concerned.

“Consequent upon the above, the meeting advocated for the state of emergency to be declared to enable stakeholders in Trade Union movements arrest this ugly trend in industrial relations practices in Nigeria.

“The meeting discussed the genesis of crisis bedeviling the Union in the Federal Inland Revenue Services and called on FIRS management to extend its olive branch by obeying the court order that directed the management of FIRS to allow NCSU to operate in FIRS to allow fair weather industrial relations practices in line with international best practices.

“The meeting expressed the commitment of the national leadership of the Union, more than ever before, to begin empowerment programme that will guarantee self reliance of members to engage in trade work that can bring income to the family aside from monthly salaries.

“To this end, the union will focus on gender equity and equality while women empowerment will be used as a template to kickstart the programme.”

Actor Nkem Owoh, Buries Daughter 24th August

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The Source

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August 19, 2023

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By Charles Igbo

Celebrated and accomplished veteran Actor, Chief Nkem Owoh, popular as Osuofiasn, is presently, a heartbroken man. Fate has given him a raw deal.

As you read this, Owoh is putting finishing touches to the funeral arrangements of his lovely daughter, Miss Kosisochukwu Nkem Owoh.

Aged 24 years, the beautiful Kosisochukwu died on 28th June, 2023, after what her father said was a brief illness. His heartbroken family will bury her on 24th August, 2023.

Her body, deposited at the mortuary of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, mortuary, would be transported to his father’s compound, Umunevo Owonta, Umungwu Clan in Amagu Village, Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, where she would be laid to rest.

In an obituary announcement which he signed, titled Painful Exit, Owoh said surviving Kosisochukwu are: “Father, Mother, Brother, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles and numerous relations.

States Confirm Receipt Of Subsidy Palliatives As Kwara Gives Account

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Ayodele Oni

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August 19, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Kwara State Government has given a breakdown of the amount received from the Federal Government to the cushion hardship occasioned by subsidy withdrawal on petrol.

Governor AbdulRahman Abdurazaq, who is, also, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, (NGF), in a tweet, explained that “We have received N2bn out of the N4bn relief funds that the Federal Government released to states for the purchase of rice.

“This will be distributed en masse to vulnerable members of the public to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

“We await a balance of N2bn of the funds as well as N1bn worth of maize (40,000 bags) which the Central Bank of Nigeria is selling to each state from the national strategic reserve.

“It is however important to mention that 48% (N1,920,000,000.00) of the N4bn is a non interest loan that will be paid back over a period of 20 months at N120,000,000.00 monthly.

“Consequently, I have ordered the immediate purchase of rice in the value of the amount.

“For transparency and fairness to all, distribution of the palliatives will be overseen exclusively by a Committee headed by the Kwara State Police Commissioner Ebun Oluwarotimi Adelesi, who will be supported by the Emir of Shonga Dr. Haliru Yahya, religious leaders, civil society leaders, and other important stakeholders in the state.

“We also confirm receipt of the remaining three trucks of the bags of rice donated to our state by the Federal Government.

“The distribution has commenced through various channels of reaching out to the public, including lawmakers who represent the 24 state constituencies and other stakeholders in the state.

“I urge those we have saddled with the responsibility of distributing these palliatives to do so in the spirit of fairness to all, particularly to the most vulnerable persons, because it is simply impractical for everyone to get at the same time.

“Similarly, I appeal to members of the public to remain patient and calm as multi-layered steps are being taken in phases.

“These include huge interventions to support massive food production, local production of gas-powered vehicles, support for small and medium scale enterprises, manufacturing and other businesses, to boost the economy and ease the difficulties arising from the removal of fuel subsidy.

“I commend His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the several initiatives of the Federal Government to bring ease to the people. I reassure all Kwarans of our commitments to their welfare at this time and always.”

At the end of a meeting by the National Economic Council, (NEC) early this week, it was announced that each state including the federal capital territory, has been given N5 billion each as palliative to enable Nigerians absorb the effects of subsidy withdrawal.

Earlier, states had confirmed receipt of 3,000 bags of rice, as first consignment from the package put in place by the federal government.

Investigation revealed that distribution has commenced in various states with committee’s set up to handle allocation.

Fueless Vehicles On Way To Nigeria As Tinubu Approves Initiative Committee

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Ayodele Oni

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August 19, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Fueless vehicles are on their way to the country as President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI).

This is in furtherance of his commitment to easing the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians by reducing energy costs.

As a first step, the country is targeting over 11,500 new CNG-enabled vehicles and 55,000 CNG conversion kits for existing PMS-dependent vehicles, while simultaneously bolstering in-country manufacturing, local assembly and expansive job creation in line with the presidential directive.

Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, in a statement, explained that the landmark initiative, comprises of a Comprehensive Adoption Strategy.

“These include Empowering Workshops Programme, Nationwide Network of Workshops, Local Assembly and Job Creation as key points of emphasis with an initial focus on mass transit systems and student hubs in order to significantly reduce transit costs for the general populace in the immediate term.

“In line with the PCNGI’s determination to ensure a seamless integration of CNG utility within the current midstream and downstream energy, the PCNGI will facilitate the provision of workshops across all geopolitical zones and states with essential kits and comprehensive training for newly employed staff, to create opportunities for technical skill development and employment for Nigerians.

“The new nationwide network of workshops, to be established through the initiative, would ensure widespread access and demand side utilization of CNG technology and CNG-related expertise, to facilitate smoother transitions for vehicle owners at the wider benefit of the Nigerian economy.

“Under the aegis of the PCNGI, the following strategic objectives will be achieved:

“The development of new stakeholder-operated Intrastate Mass Transit systems built on CNG.

“Support for states to onboard new CNG buses as part of their Intrastate Mass Transit network (wholesale conversion, retro-fitting and new purchase).

“The deployment of CNG buses through existing Private Mass Transit operators, including new financing programmes for operators through an innovative asset finance programme.

“Incentivize investors to invest in CNG processing, distribution and utilization by providing incentives for enhanced investment and partnership.

“Deliver training and technology transfer to support the After-Sales Services and maintenance sub-industry to create sustainable jobs.”

The statement added that President Tinubu’s focus on assembling CNG-enabled vehicles within the country will stimulate economic growth, create employment opportunities, and bolster the nation’s automotive manufacturing capabilities.

The launch of this initiative also underscores this administration’s commitment to fostering a cleaner environment by reducing carbon emissions and promoting energy security through the utilization of domestic natural gas resources.

“I Was Warned Not To Marry Demola, That He Wanted My Money” – Socialite Farida After Failed Sui$ide Bid

By

Adesina Soyooye

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August 19, 2023

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By Adesina Soyooye

Owner of House Of Phreeda, a luxurious Beauty Palour in Surulere, Lagos, Farida Abdulkabir, has regretted her attempt to jump into the Lagos Lagoon in a bid to end her life.

She has, also, apologized to her children for putting them through trauma, and said she wouldn’t have forgiven herself if she had killed herself and abandoned her children. She had three children from a previous marriage.

Nigerians had woken up Friday morning to the disturbing video of the beautiful entrepreneur and socialite being restrained by good Samaritans from taking her own life by jumping into the Lagos lagoon.

She was, apparently, pushed into such satanic attempt by a heartbreak sparked off by the crash of her marriage to fellow socialite, Demola Okulaja. The lavish wedding, which according to reports quoting Farida, cost a whopping N100m, crashed after 41days. Demola, reportedly, walked out on her.

In her first reaction after being saved from a painful, shameful, sudden death, she apologized to her children for her action and said she wouldn’t have forgiven herself if she had succeeded in committing suicide. She disclosed she was pushed into the satanic attempt by her frustration when Demola walked out on their marriage. She revealed that she was warned by friends and family not to marry Demola as they felt he was after her money, but that she was blinded by love.

She reportedly said: “Friends and families warned me not to go into the marriage. They told me that the man only wanted my money but I was recalcitrant.

“It was love that pushed me into this. He told me that he was going to be with me, make me bore (sic) children for him.

“I am so sorry for putting my children into such a position. I would not have forgiven myself if I had abandoned them after committing sui$ide.

“I have forgiven my ex-husband. May God provide him with another wife.”

Farida and Demola had a messy separation, revealing ugly things about each other with some unprintable choice words to boot.