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Doubts As FG Restates Plan To Pull P/Harcourt Refinery Back To Work

By
James Orji
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The Port Harcourt refinery will be ready by December 2023 as had been earlier scheduled, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has said.

The minister spoke after inspecting the refinery facilities to ascertain the level of work done.

The federal government started the repairs of the refinery in 2021 with $1.5 billion allocated for the project, which had earlier been scheduled to start working by December 2022.

The scheduled time for production in the 210,000 barrel per day capacity refineries has been shifted twice, raising doubts about the government’s seriousness in making the refinery functional

Recently, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration made a renewed commitment to pull the refineries back to work, as part of the agreement with organized Labour to shelve their nationwide strike over the removal of fuel subsidy and its consequential increase in the pump price of petrol.

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC had demanded the repairs of all the refineries in the country to ease the frequent increase in the price of fuel in the country.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to ensure that the refineries become functional, the minister said repairs are currently ongoing to beat the deadline.

He explained that other refineries in Warri and Kaduna, including Dangote Refineries will start work by the end of 2024, adding that the aim of the government is to ensure better supply of petroleum products in the country.

According to him, “Our objective is to ensure that in the next few years, Nigeria will stop fuel importation. The idea is to ensure that we complete these refineries on time to enable the people enjoy the benefits of deregulation.

“These things take time to do, but Nigerians should expect better supply of fuel and better economy. We believe that this projects will be completed as scheduled to renew the hopes of Nigerians.”

Meanwhile, Nigerians are curious why the Dangote Refinery has not started production, three months after it was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, the owner of the multi-billion dollar petrochemical refinery promised that production would commence by July this year.

NIMASA Deep Blue Assets Deployed To Patrol Maritime Domain

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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The Nigerian Navy says assets acquired by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, under the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, otherwise known as the Deep Blue project have been deployed across the South West, Central and Eastern Zonal operations to enhance patrol of the Nigerian maritime domain.
The Acting Fleet Commander, Western Naval Command and Commander Deep Blue Project, Commodore Victor Choji made the declaration, during a working visit by the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Mohammed Abdullahi to the Management of NIMASA. He added that the Nigerian Navy under the leadership of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla is fully committed to the success of the Deep Blue Project.
According to him, “The assets have already been well deployed. As we speak 5 armored vehicles are deployed in Port Harcourt and 3 in Bonny”.
Speaking further, he said the project team deployed 10 more vehicles there, in addition to a drone unit in Bonny and some personnel. He also hinted that during the last general elections in the country, the mere presence of deep blue assets in those locations provided the needed inference that was required.
Choji also said that in the Central Zone Command, the Navy has deployed 3 units of special mission elements in brass and two of the interceptor boats with the special intervention force elements in central command. “In Lagos, just last week, we got a directive that there is a requirement and we are about to deploy 2 interceptor boats to support the operations that are ongoing in Lagos Inland waters. I can state categorically that we have the full backing of the Nigerian Navy for the success of the Deep Blue Project”.
On his part, the Director General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, noted that the assets acquired by the Agency under the Deep Blue Project are all managed by a project team headed by a Commodore of the Nigerian Navy. He restated the Agency’s commitment to a robust relationship with the Nigerian Navy towards the economic development of the country.
“I believe that the Agency and the Nigerian Navy have a lot in common to ensure safety and security in the nation’s waters. While the Nigerian Navy takes care of the kinetic operations, NIMASA concentrates on non-kinetic operations, and the two will have to go hand in hand if we must succeed. If you look at the armed forces act, the Nigerian Navy has a role to play in ensuring the implementation and enforcement of the NIMASA and Customs & Excise act”, he said.
Jamoh expressed the desire of NIMASA to earn full value for funds invested and still investing in the operations of the Deep Blue Project. He also noted that the Agency is in constant liaison with the National Assembly to ensure an update of the nation’s maritime laws with particular reference to the Merchant Shipping Act to guarantee adequate punitive measures are in the law to deter criminalities on Nigerian waters.
While commending the Nigerian Navy for their efforts in tracking erring vessels which switched off their Automatic Identification System, AIS, in Nigerian waters, Jamoh called for improved synergy amongst all organs of Government in the maritime sector. Particularly, the Nigerian Navy and the marine arm of the Nigerian Police to quickly tackle head on; pockets of recent criminalities in the Lagos anchorage and inland waters.

Text of A Press Conference By The Leadership of The Labour Party, Addressed By The National Secretary, Umar Farouk On Friday August 25, 2023

By
The Source
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Peter Obi and Julius Abure

This conference is called purposely to clear the air on yet another attempt by some of our former members who rebelled against the party and who have gone ahead to shamelessly misinform members of the public on the huge progress being made to reposition Labour Party as one of the biggest political parties in Nigeria.

As you already know, the party surprised many Nigerians with the huge success it achieved during the last general election. The party became a house hold name, all to the envy of the older political parties. You also know how the ruling party, forced itself into power at the expense of the Labour Party and the entire Nigerians. We are still in the tribunal challenging both the process and outcome of the presidential election.

In order to ensure a subjugation of the Labour Party, the ruling party has deployed all manner of strategies to stifle the party, part of which was to sponsor insurrection amongst some suspended former members of the party, Lamidi Apapa and a few others. Their assignment was to ensure that no progress is achieved in the party.

The heavily funded dissidents have tried to mislead the courts and some section of the media to harass the party leadership but all have failed. Only recently, the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City affirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of Labour Party (LP).

Only yesterday, the Court of Appeal Owerri, which sat in Abuja, while giving judgement in the case brought before it by one Basil Maduka, one of the two aspirants that were deceived by the Apapa camp to participate in their illegal primaries also ordered that the status quo remains with Senator Athan Achonu as the validly nominated candidate of Labour Party for 2023 Imo governorship election. It noted that Basil Maduka has no locus to seek redress in the court as he is not known by the Labour Party.

For emphasis, you may recall that Apapa group had hoodwinked and arranged governorship primaries for two members of the Labour Party, namely Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu and Sir Maduka, after which Ukaegbu won the contest. Maduka was piqued by the outcome of the fake primaries and had gone ahead to challenge the emergence of Ukaegbu. He sued both Ukaegbu and the “Labour Party”.

Neither the authentic Labour Party led by Barrister Julius Abure nor its candidate Senator Athan Achonu was put on notice and were not aware of the situation. The case was decided on behalf of Ukaegbu against Maduka. The matter has nothing to do with the leadership of the party or the candidacy of Senator Achonu, a product of a properly conducted primaries by Abure led NWC.

Apparently Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu mischievously misinterpreted the judgment of the said Federal High Court delivered on the 23th day of June, 2023 by His Lordship, Hon Justice BO Quadirin Suit No FHC/OW/CS/28/2023, wherein it categorically held that from the totality of all the considered argument and authorities “the plaintiff Sir Basil Maduka does not fall within the definition of an aspirant as it never participated in the process leading to the primary election nor took part in the primary election of the 1st Defendant LP.”

With this judgement, the pro-Apapa choice, Chief Ukaegbu had gone to town declaring himself as the Labour Party candidate for the Imo governorship election. For emphasis, the court never pronounced him as the candidate of the Labour Party. No court has given judgement de-recognsing Barrister Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party up till today.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party appealed the Bayelsa court ruling on the ground that it lacks the jurisdiction to entertain a suit filed by the Apapa camp without putting the leadership of the party which is known to law into notice. Senator Achonu who was also not a party to the suit filed by Sir Maduka but on hearing about the matter before the Federal High Court, sought to be joined as an interested party. However, the Court of Appeal re-emphasized the implication of lack of jurisdiction in a Motion for leave to appeal as an interested party and held that the Motion was filed out of time hence it lacked jurisdiction.

To our greatest surprise Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu and his cohorts flooded the social media with yet another propaganda and falsehood that Court of Appeal has declared him the candidate of Labour Party, in a matter he was neither the Plaintiff nor Appellant. He also falsely and mischievously interpreted the judgement that Abure was no longer the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

Yesterday’s judgement laid to rest all those mischief as it reaffirm the earlier judgment that Chief Basil Maduka is just a meddlesome interlopper. The Appeal Court in Edo has since ruled that Abure is the authentic chairman of the Labour Party and everything done under his leadership, including nominating candidates for elections, is legal. It thus means that whoever that is not satisfied with the ruling of the Appeal Court is permitted under the law to approach the Supreme Court to seek a review of the Appeal Court judgement.

We took time to explain this trajectory because these men are out to ensure that Labour Party suffers immeasurably and they will stop at nothing from achieving the mandate of their sponsors.

In conclusion, we state categorically that Senator Achonu remains the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Imo state as no court has stated otherwise. That the Independent National Electoral Commission has since published his name as the party’s candidate.

That Chief Ukaegbu Ikechukwu Joseph is not the candidate of the Labour Party and that no court either Federal High Court or Court of Appeal ever declared him LP candidate. As well no court in Nigeria has accorded Apapa the status of the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

Senator Achonu has received very wide endorsement by Imolites who are tired of the high level of insecurity and maladministration in the state. Our national leader Peter Obi, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, the Labour Party  National Chairman Julius Abure and other stakeholders and party members have also filed behind him. We await victory at the November 11 polls and no gang up by some desperate politicians can stop an idea whose time has come.

Sign

Malam Umar Farouk
National Secretary
Labour Party
25-08-2023

Imo Civil Servants To Uzodinma: We Insist On Re-electing You”; “I Appreciate Your Fidelity, Says Governor”

By
The Source
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0

Enthusiastic Civil Servants in Imo State have resolved to reelect Governor Hope Uzodimma in November 11, insisting that under his regime, they have never had it so good in terms of attention given to their welfare by the government.

The resolve to re-elect Governor Uzodimma was communicated to him on Friday when he paid a working visit to the Imo State Secretariat on Port Harcourt road Owerri.

A grateful Governor Uzodimma had, however, reminded the civil servants, after commissioning the newly renovated walk ways to the 10 blocks of offices at the Secretariat, that he will not take their fidelity to him for granted as his friends.

After a careful review of the welfare situation of the Imo State civil servants in the years leading to Governor Uzodimma’s assumption of office in 2020 and now, the Head of Service, Barr. Raymond Ucheoma described the Governor as God sent.

“You are a messiah personified,” he said, adding that the Imo civil servants will forever remain grateful to the Governor for the  numerous things they have enjoyed under his tenure such as mass promotion of workers, 13th month salary payment, free transportation, free medical treatment, regular payment of salary, conducive work environment, training and retraining of workers, among others.

Ucheoma delightfully noted: “Our joy is rooted on the fact that Your Excellency has a Midas hand, in which whatever it touches changes for good. We are therefore indeed very grateful that our dear indefatigable workaholic Governor found time out of his busy schedule to visit the factory and milling machine of government policies in the State.

“Your Excellency, as workers in the Imo State Public Service, we have every reason to be thankful to you. During your maiden visit to the Secretariat in January, 2020, Your Excellency promised to make the office conducive for work. You kept this promise by re-roofing the 10 blocks of Offices. You also replaced toilet facilities and repainted the buildings. You rehabilitated the water scheme, repaired the four giant generator sets and caused the restoration of Public Power supply to the Secretariat.

“Furthermore, Your Excellency completed the abandoned walk way thereby connecting all the buildings in the State Secretariat.

“It is on record that Your Excellency, the Governor not only gave brand new vehicles to Permanent Secretaries but also provided free bus service for the workers of Imo State.

“Your Excellency, you streamlined the payment of workers’ salaries and all workers now receive salaries on the same date irrespective of work place. Your Excellency also approved waivers for employment of workers in some critical areas especially, in the Justice and Health sectors.

“Recruitment of Primary School Teachers has commenced in earnest courtesy of Your Excellency’s magnanimity. By Your Excellency’s benevolent approval, the backlog of workers promotion have been cleared with some benefitting from three promotions while most of them had two promotions.There is no gainsaying the fact that Imo workers have never had it so good.

“Under Your Excellency the Governor, the Imo State Public Service has undergone series of reorientation and training cutting across all the strata of the service as graciously sponsored by you. These trainings have impacted positively on the service delivery of individual staff and the system.

“We are grateful for the N30, 000 minimum wage already being paid to Imo State workers, the National Health Insurance Scheme which Your Excellency introduced for the workers, the increased minimum wage of N40, 000 and one meal per day which Your Excellency recently announced for workers in Imo State to cushion the biting effect of the removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria.

“You have indeed consistently maintained a worker friendly posture by the superlative relationship that exists between the Organized Labour and Government of Imo State. What more can a man do before he is crowned Lion Killer? You have done so much for Imo workers and we know that you will do more.

“In appreciation of these gestures and more importantly, I wish to also inform our dear Governor that the poor attitude to work which Your Excellency roundly condemns has changed. Imo workers now come to work early, stay till close of work and deliver assignments on target, at times, through personal initiative and resources. They now respond swiftly to the demands of their offices. This is another way of appreciating Your Excellency’s love and investment in the Service.

“In addition Sir, I wish to assure Your Excellency that the workers of Imo State will continue to support your administration and all your aspirations. There is no need to change a winning team and the reward for hard work is more work.

“Once again we thank Your Excellency for coming our way today. We are optimistic that as you have seen, you will also conquer whatever challenges you have seen for yourself today particularly, in addressing the present congestion of workers in offices. Perhaps I may need to point out that construction of the proposed seven floor office of the Head of Service right opposite this arena can ameliorate the problem. We believe you have come with packages as usual which when unveiled will gladden the hearts of Imo workers and spur them to do more.”

The civil servants who intermittently interjected during Barr. Ucheoma’s speech with solidarity songs for the Governor collectively resolved to return the Governor to office come November 11, 2023 so that they will continue to enjoy the benefits of his people-oriented welfare policies and programmes.

It was not only Barr Ucheoma who spoke the minds of the civil servants.

The Chairman Civil Service Commission, Lady (Dr.) Julie Onyeukwu, the Chairman Local Government Service Commission, Mrs. Rosemary Izuogu, the Chairman House of Assembly Service Commission, Barr. Lambert Orisakwe and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport,  Mr. Ogunsanya Abimbola, all acknowledged the Governor’s magnanimity to the civil servants, expressing their appreciation and preparedness to reelect him come November 11, 2023.

Governor Uzodimma who acknowledged the fidelity of the Civil Servants to his administration, said it was their support that encouraged him to fulfill all he promised them in 2020 when he assumed office, and the desire to do more.

He refreshed their memory on the things he  promised to do such as to reinvigorate and restore the dignity of Civil Service, to restore the years Civil Servants lost to the locust by way of regular payment of salary and benefits, to give the Civil Servants a comfortable environment to carry out their works, and more, all of which he has delivered.

Governor Uzodimma reminded them that he had even gone ahead to do things he did not promise such as payment of 13th month salary. “I want to tell you that I will still do more.”

He told them of his plans to increase the number of buses to the civil servants next week and noted that he “cares for civil servants and always want the best for them.”

“I feel fulfilled when Civil Servants ride on their executive vehicles to office. The civil service is the engine of the Government hence the need to elevate the working environment of the civil servants.”

The Governor observed that the regular payments of salaries and pensions have enhanced the economy of the State and promised that arrangement is in advanced stage to pay the gratuity of retired Imo workers.

He told the civil servants that Imo State has been recovered, meaning that it cannot revert to the old ways of doing things, “rather Imo should be good for all her citizens.”

Governor Uzodimma charged the Civil Servants to resist the temptation of being used by agents of the Satan to destabilize the government and the State all in the name of politics.

He warned them to be wary of temptations that will come their way as the Governorship elections draw nearer and  advised them to, no matter the threats, resist such temptations.

He promised that no civil servants will be victimised for exercising their rightful franchise and appealed, “please stay away from evil dowers. Imo State today is a new Imo and we will stop at nothing from recovering the State.”

He said: “the New Imo can be exemplified in Imo having more Universities where our children can gain admissions without much struggles. The new Imo has empowered Imo youths and will continue to empower them through the Skill-Up project.The new Imo is dredging Oguta to Orashi to the Atlantic Ocean, a project that will bring and generate a lot of economic activities and at the end create over one million jobs for the people of Imo State and beyond.”

He asked the civil servants to be mindful of pretenders who want to tell them how they will make Imo better without any proper plan.

The Governor insisted that the insecurity in Imo State is politically motivated. “It is the politicians.”

However, he assured that there will be enough security in Imo State for the November 11 election.

He advised the Civil Servants to shine their eyes and never lose sight of the government’s several welfare schemes for them, assuring that he will not leave the civil service behind.

Governor Uzodimma promised to erect a Civil Service Hall where big meetings of civil servants and the Governor can take place and charged the civil servants to continue to do the good works they are doing for the State.

On the current issues at hand which is subsidy removal and its consequences, he noted that he was aware of how prices of goods and services have risen astronomically, making lives unbearable, and informed the Civil Servants that Government will soon come to their rescue by giving them some palliatives by way of food items.

He said he had constituted a committee made up of the Head of Service and others to work out modalities for the distribution of the palliatives.

Earlier on arrival at the secretariat, the Governor commissioned walk way, visited some blocks housing the Civil Service/Local Government Service Commission/Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,  the Ministry of Works and that of Transport and Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Statistics as well the Office of the Head of Service.

The Deputy Governor Prof Placid Njoku, the Secretary to Imo State Government, Chief Cosmos Iwu, the Chief of Staff Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie, Commissioners, Special Adviser and other top government officials attended the event.

73 Police Officers Decorated With ACP Ranks, As Ondo CP Bows Out Of Service

By
Ayodele Oni
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Kayode Egbetokun - IGP

By Ayodele Oni

Seventy three Assistant Commissioners of Police, (ACP) in the Ondo State Police Command were decorated with their new ranks on Friday in Akure, just as the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State, Taiwo Jesubiyi, retired from the Police Force after 33 years of service.

The Inspector General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, who was represented,  tasked 224 newly promoted officers of the  Command to ensure justification for their new ranks.

Egbetokun, who was represented by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Ebong Ebong, Zone 17 comprising Ondo and Ekiti States, advised the new officers to do their best to justify their new positions.

He said 73 of the new officers were confirmed while the rest remained unconfirmed.

“To whom much is given, much is expected. Now that you are up there, you must take responsibilities seriously. Be professional in your duties, be civil but be fair. From today, be in charge in your duties.

“As from today, that playfulness as an inspector, remove it. Show that you are a senior Police officer. Maintain your dignity and pride.

“Take note, we are in ICT era of internet. So you must always be polite and civil to people you are dealing with. Take note that the IG doesn’t tolerate corruption.

“Do your best to ensure you don’t dent the image of the police with corruption. We will reward hardworking and efficient, than but will not spare the rod to punish erring officers.

“The excesses of the police are being checked so do your best and respect human right. Know the law and perform your duties

Earlier, CP Ondo State Taiwo Jesubiyi thanked God for the lives of the decorated officers.

He said promotion was from God and they had to work hard to justify their new ranks as it carried so much responsibility.

“From today, know what to say, where you go and what to do. You will be a mirror to junior ones.  Psychologically and socially, you have to change even morally.

“I beg you as an ASP, remember your family and carry them along due to the economic situation in Nigeria.”

Responding, one of the new officers, ASP Tobi Arowojolu, thanked the IG for approval and confirmation of their ranks.

He pledge the unalloyed support for the Police Force and promised to do their best in the discharge of their duties.

Gabriel Ariyo, Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC) Chairman, Ondo State, who bid the CP farewell and described him as a highly reliable and responsible friend, prayed for God to be with him.

DCP Chidi Uzota, on behalf of Police Officers’ Wives Association, glorified God for the life of the CP and described him as a steadfast man, who had the love of God foremost in his heart.

Mr Olayato Aribo, Commissioner for Agriculture said the CP’s stay was brief, but he recorded some renovations at the officers mess during his time.

He thanked God for the life of Jesubiyi and prayed for God to be with the CP always.

FUTA Students Protest Inadequate Facility At Health Centre As 500 Level Student Dies

By
Ayodele Oni
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Federal University of Technology Akure - FUTA

By Ayodele Oni

Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure,FUTA) on Friday staged  peaceful protest to express their displeasure over the death of a 500 Level student, Akeredolu Clinton Ayomide.

The protest led to gridlock of vehicular movement on Akure-Ilesa expressway for several hours, with many travellers stranded on the ever busy road.

FUTA management, in a reaction, explained that report from the health center indicated that the deceased was brought in dead and that the protest was directed at enduring that some equipment needed to be put in place at the health facility.

During the protest, One of the Students alleged that “the deceased had slumped while in his hostel, Akindeko Hall  and was rushed to the University Health, centre, a proposed University Teaching Hospital, due to the lack of basic amenities, he lost his life at the university clinic.”

The eye witness student, who is one of those who rushed him to hospital, reported that; “We rushed the guy to the health center around 8:30 pm, when we got there, there was power outage, and throughout the oxygen set up, CPR and injections they gave him, the light wasn’t restored, we had to use our flashlights, hard to believe that there’s no back up power supply.

“Also, Sequel to this incident earlier yesterday, the health center refused to attend to another student, a former FUTASU Vice President who was in a critical condition and needed emergency attention because she wasn’t with her Identity card and the Health Center Director said students should do their worst when accosted.

“The students are expressing their displeasure with a peaceful demonstration and calls on the government to come to their aid as there has been series of similar incidents in the past and demonstrations ended with unfulfilled promises.”

In its reaction, Mr Adegbenro Adebanjo, a spokesman for FUTA stated that “FUTA mourns the sudden demise of one of our students , Ayomide Akeredolu, who died on Thursday August 24, 2023 in the course of a sudden bout of illness.

“From reports pieced together, Ayomide Akeredolu slumped in his hostel and all attempts and medical intervention at resuscitation even at the Health Centre failed with the doctors recording that he was brought in dead.”

Quoting the doctor on duty , ‘The student was rushed to the Health Centre at about 8:50 pm on Thursday 24th August, 2023.

‘He was brought in dead. Efforts to resuscitate him through Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and oxygen therapy proved abortive.

‘He was subsequently taken to the UNIMED Teaching Hospital, Akure by the medical personnel on duty inside the University ambulance.’

“Understandably, his friends and colleagues are devastated by the sad Development. The management joins them to mourn at this very difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with our students and the bereaved family.

“May the Good Lord grant his soul eternal repose and give the family and friends the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

“However due to some perceived misgivings about services at the University Health Centre, students embarked on a protest on Friday August 25,2023 .

“It is important to point out that the protest was not directly related to the death of the student.

“The Representatives of the students, at a meeting with Management called at the behest of the Vice Chancellor, pointed out some lacuna in the process of accessing services at the Health Centre.

“The Management in the course of the meeting directed that immediate remedial measures be taken to address the lacuna and other issues raised by the students.

“The corrective measures will be reviewed from time to time to ensure that they are being implemented to the letter, and satisfaction of the students.

“Again we commiserate with the family of our beloved student and pray for comfort from the Lord.”

25 August – The Almighty Saved Me! – Ikeddy Isiguzo

By
The Source
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0
Ikeddy Isiguzo

A year today, I fell into a ditch in Abuja while walking. A ditch so deep that when I got on my feet I could only see the feet of passersby – it was that deep.

Though tribe and tongue differ, fellow Nigerians, in the main, Keke drivers, jumped in and pulled me out, ensured all my belongings were found and handed back to me: this phone, ATM card, pen, notebook, money, slippers, the frame of my broken glasses. This gesture entailed trips to the ditch to find anything I declared missing.

What a show of humaneness coupled with their questions about if I was well enough to continue my journey. I thank these first responders.

Even after I left a pharmacy where I had first aid treatment, I was unaware of the extent of the challenge ahead. Pains engaged in an intense competition in a race that granted me measured breathing with increasing difficulty.

My hand was dropping. Every breathe appeared a contest to pull it up which the hand’s heaviness resisted.

A few calls and messages unlocked and directed the immensity of humanity’s expansive goodness in my direction.

Sprouts of kindnesses flowed from many of you who insist you would be embarrassed if I mentioned your names. I respect your wishes. You were my angels.

These kindnesses made it possible for me to get the best medical care available within hours. A particular friend insisted that I should be taken to where I can get the best medical attention. He saw to it.

Cares, concerns, and more contributions from more sources sustained my months of post-surgical regime of medications, physiotherapy, and reviews.

I am grateful.

My right shoulder on which I fell, shattered. The impact of the fall also broke the elbow in two. The side of my face that brushed the ditch and mediated the fall was swollen and seemed beyond redemption.

The shoulder was neatly pieced together in hospital. I wear an implant to keep the elbow in place. I was writing with the hand within weeks and lifting a few things gingerly. The face was back to normal but it distorts my smile, so I smile less.

Physiotherapy and other exercises have helped the healing. I still avoid the vigorous handshakes that once delighted one. In some instances I offer the left hand with an apology.

I share these images not to elicit sympathy but to help you understand how inadequate my gratitude is. They are a mere glimpse of what happened.

The Almighty never left my side. The ditch was neat, without a thing that could have pierced vital organs or complicated the injuries.

Medical experts at the hospital after series of full body scans could not believe there were no other injuries. It could have been worse.

When my daughter, Chidalu, called and asked about my legs, I knew that I truly escaped more frightening circumstances.

I have since realised that the Almighty is kind to me, always. How many times have I passed places without accidents?

My gratitude to the Almighty who knows more than I dare imagine or even ask for. He sustained me and mine through the trial. He flooded you with the kindnesses you stretched to me.

I am grateful. Please celebrate with me.

May the Almighty be kind to you, always

PS: Something fell this morning, my phone – which already had the script and pictures for this piece – into a full bucket of water. Perhaps, it is its way of marking this day of gratitude. It’s the same phone with which I concluded the piece. I dried it (didn’t open it) covered it with uncooked rice, as I once read somewhere, pulled it out after an hour, and it has been working.

The Almighty approved this thanksgiving.

Isiguzo, an accomplished Journalist and Columnist, is a major commentator on minor issues

Ondo Moves To Boost Oil Palm Production, Enters Into Agreement With Private Firm

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Palm Plantation

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State government is intensifying effort to restore its lost revenue in oil palm business as the state synergizes with a private agricultural farm to boost palm oil production.

Secretary to the state government, Princess Oladunni Odu said in Akure that the state will not relent in giving unabated support to indigenous investors in its agribusiness sector, in order to secure its position as a leading producer of oil palm in Nigeria.

A statement by press officer in the SSG office, Debbie Funmilayo stated that Odu, made the remark while signing a memorandum of understanding between Ondo State government and Abbis Farms Nigeria Limited on the establishment and cultivation of 961 hectares of farmland for oil palm plantation in Ala Forest reserve, Ondo State.

Ala forest reserve is one of those plantations in the state that some farmers are accusing the government of forcefully ejecting them while bringing in foreigners.

The government scribe observed that the agreement was in line with the first Agenda of the Governor, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN.

She commended the strategic move of Abbis Farms to invest in the development of oil palm plantation in the State, which will in turn serve as a dual benefit for food security and employment opportunity for all.

“With the increasing demand for oil palm in various industries such as food, cosmetics and biofuel, Ondo State government is glad to partner with reputable investors in large scale farming to ensure continued production of reliable and high-quality supply of the product”.

Charging the investor, Princess Odu harped on the importance of professionalism in the delivery of the project in order to meet the growing demands for the supply of oil palm in the state and  emphasized the need for the implementation of best practices to minimize deforestation.

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman Abbis Farms Nigeria Limited, Chief Abiodun Adejo, said the company has a long-term vision of sustainable agriculture and has carefully selected the region to maximize productivity.

The Chairman assured commitment to conserving the environment to facilitate oil palm propagation and promised dedication to remain a key contributor to the Red Gold agenda of the state.

Power Play Between Sanwo-Olu And LAHA: APC Intervenes Over Nominated Commissioners

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Babajide Sanwo-olu and Obasa

By Akinwale Kasali

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress, Lagos State, have decided to intervene in the rejection of 17  Commissioner-nominees sent to the Lagos House of Assembly by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for confirmation.

In an embarrassing and unprecedented action, the House of Assembly rejected 17 out of the 39 nominees forwarded to it. Some of the nominees rejected include immediate past Commissioners Professor Akin Abayomi, and eminent Journalist, Gbenga Omotosho, who were in charge of Health and Information, respectively.

The list of the nominees was engulfed in controversy from the onset. While some Members of the House protested the non-representation of some Local Government Areas, a Muslim Religious Group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURUC, surprisingly introduced religion into the situation.

Its leader, Professor Ishaq Akintola, alleged that Governor Sanwo-Olu’s list was skewed in favour of Christians. He said only eight Muslims were nominated. The Governor is a Christian.

With the rejection of the 17, a Christian Group, Christian Rights Assembly, CRA, has blamed MURIC, insisting that the rejection was its handiwork.

In a statement signed by Pastor Eliashib James, its National Leader, CRA said the rejection of the nominees is capable of sparking off religious tension.

The Group noted that the rejection of the nominees was targeted at Christians, and wondered why nobody has taken note that in Lagos State Government, including in the Lagos House of Assembly, there are more Muslims than Christians.

The statement reads in part:

“We have watched in utter amazement the unfolding drama at the Lagos State House of Assembly where surreptitious moves are being made by the House leadership to stoke religious tension in Lagos state. Egged on by a right-wing extremist religious group known as Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) of one prof. Ishaq Akintola, the House of Assembly has manifested this by its rejection of a number of Commissioner-nominees in the State.

“We state without any equivocation that this is pure religious blackmail as contrary

to the propaganda of MURIC, which the House of Assembly latched on, there are. more Muslims in the government of Lagos than Christians.

For example, starting from the House of Assembly, there are more Muslims than Christians.

“This is the list of the 40 elected members of the 10th Lagos Assembly:

1.Hon. Mudashiru A. Obasa –Agege 01 (APC)

2.Hon. JubreelAbdulkareem –Agege 02 (APC)

3.Hon. Olumoh Saad Lukman Ajeromi Ifelodun 01 (APC)

4.Hon. Akanbi Oluwa Ajeromi Ifelodun 02 (APC)

5.Hon. Jimoh Orelope Alimosho 01 (APC)

6.Hon. Kehinde O. Joseph Alimosho 02 (APC)

7.Hon. Foluke Osafile Amuwo Odofin 01 (LP)

8.Hon. Tunde Fashina Amuwo Odofin 02 (LP)

9.Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda –Apapa 01 (APC)

10.Hon Aina Lawal –Apapa 02 (APC)

11.Hon. Solomon Bonus –Badagry 01 (APC)

12.Hon. (Engr.) Setonji David SamuelBadagry 02 (APC)

13.Hon. Tobun Abiodun –Epe 01 (APC)

14.Hon. Sylvester O. Ogunkelu –Epe 02 (APC

15.Hon. Noheem Adams Eti Osa 01 (APC)

16.Hon. (Engr.) Yishawu Olusegun Gbolahan Eti Osa 02 (APC)

17.Hon. Fatai Oluwa Ibeju Lekki 01 (APC)

18.Hon. Oladele Ajayi Ibeju Lekki 02 (APC)

19.Hon. Adedeji Temitope A. Ifako Ijaiye 01 (APC)

20.Hon. Emmanuel Olotu –Ifako Ijaiye 02 (APC)

21.Hon. Adeseyi Lawal –Ikeja 01 (APC)

22.Hon. Kasunmu Adedamola –Ikeja 02 (APC)

23.Hon. Gbolahan Ogunleye –Ikorodu 01 (APC)

24.Hon. Moshood Aro –Ikorodu 02 (APC)

25.Hon. Sanni Ganiyu B. –Kosofe 01 (APC)

26.Hon. Saheed Femi –Kosofe 02 (APC)

27.Hon Olumegbon Lawal Lagos Island 01 (APC)

28.Hon. Olanrewaju S. Afinni Lagos Island 02 (APC)

29.Hon Owolabi Ibrahim A. Lagos Mainland 01 (APC)

30.Hon. Rasheed Shabi Lagos Mainland 02 (APC)

31.HonAkinsanya A. Nureni Mushin 01 (APC)

32.Hon. Olayinka Kazeem –Mushin 02 (APC)

33.Hon. Olusegun Ege –Ojo 01 (APC)

34.Hon. Tijani Suraju O. –Ojo 02 (APC)

35.Hon. Oladapo Ajomale –Oshodi01 Isolo 01 (APC)

36.Hon. Stephen Ogundipe –Oshodi01 Isolo 02(APC)

37.Hon. Rotimi Olowo –Somolu 01 (APC)

38.Hon. Abiru Rotimi Lateef Somolu 02 (APC)

39.Hon. Elliot Desmond O. Surulere 01 (APC)

40.Hon. (Mrs.) Sangodara Mosunmola Rotimi Surulere 02 (APC)

“Similarly, there is the preponderance of Muslims over Christians among the 57 Local Government Chairmen in the State.

1.Yisa Jubril/Samuel Ayodele (Iba)

2.Wasiu Adesina/Sade Olabanji-Oba (Ikorodu Central)

3.Valentine Buraimoh/Maureen Ashara (AmuwoOdofin)

4.Usman Hamzat/Oluwatoyin Akerele (IfakoIjaiye)

5.Tijani Olusi/Akinyemi Eshinokun (Lagos Island)

6.Surah Animashaun/Sikiru Owolomanshe (Epe)

7.Sulaiman Jelili/Ibrahim Johnson (Alimosho)

8.Rasulu Idowu/Edna Uche-Ubochi (Ojo)

9.Rashidat Adu/Olusegun Ogunbiyi (Iru, Victoria Island)

10.Rasaq Ajala/Oluseyi Jakande (Odi-Olowo)

11.Rasak Ibrahim/Matthew Olaleye (Coker-Aguda)

12.Ramotullau Hassan-Akinola/Olanrewaju Moshood (Oriade)

13.Omolola Essein/Jubril Kolawole (Lagos Mainland)

14.Oluwaseun Gabriel/Samson Aromire (Apapa)

15.Olusesan Daini/Nuraini OkedinaMaja (Igbogbo Baiyeku)

16.Olusegun Onilude/Pedetin Kappa (Badagry Central)

17.Olusegun Odunmbaku/Bunmi Oluyadi (Ojodu)

18.Olufemi Rafiu/John Ogundare (Eti-Osa East)

19.Olufemi Okeowo/Adejinyan Ojora (Ifelodun)

20.Olatunde Folorunso/Monsuru Ogungbemi (Olorunda)

21.Olanrewaju Sulaimon/Adesegun Aluko (Ikorodu West)

22.Olanrewaju Apatira/Oluwayomi Lawrence (Itire-Ikate)

23.Oladotun Olakanle/Olufunke Hassan (Onigbongbo)

24.Oladele Oshinowo/Folake Kayode (Agboyi Ketu)

25.Oladapo Famuyiwa/Ajoke Obe (Agbado-Oke Odo)

26.Olabisi Adebajo/Adewale Hamzat (Mosan Okunola)Musbau Ashafa/

27.Abiodun Kareem (Oto Awori)

28.Moyosore Ogunlewe/Saliu Babatunde (Kosofe)Motunrayo

29.Gbadebo-Alogba/Femi Kabir (Ijede)

30.Monsuru Bello/Ayodele Ayodeji (Ejigbo)

31.Mojeed Balogun/Yomi Mayungbe (Ikeja)

32.Lasisi Akinsanya/Afeez Akinyemi (Igando-Ikotun)

33.Kunle Sanyaolu/Mutiu Adebiyi (Egbe-Idimu)

34.Kunle Agoro/Ayodele Benson (Imota)

35.Kolade Alabi/Zainat Kupouyi (Bariga)

36.Kayode Omiyale/Bolanle Ayeleru (Yaba LCDA)

37.IIsmail Akinloye/Lateef Adesanya (Eredo)

38.Henugbe Gbenu/Rauf Ibrahim (Badagry West)

39.Hammed Tijani/Coker Oladipo (Ojokoro)

40.Ganiu Egunjobi/Gbenga Abiola (Agege)

41.Funmilayo Akande/Olawale Olufemi (Apapa-Iganmu)

42.Fuad Atanda-Lawal/Akinbowale Macaulay (Ikoyi/Obalende)

43.Emmanuel Bamgboye/Tunbosun Aruna (Mushin)

44.Bolatito Sobowale/Omoshalewa Laguda (Ayobo-Ipaja)

45.Banjo Adebisi/Olawale Ameen (Ikorodu North)

46.Bamidele Yusuf/Muiz Dosumu (Surulere)

47.Bamidele Kasali/Oluremi Alogba (Lekki)

48.Babatunde Johnson/Kafila Akanni (Orile Agege)

49.Ayoola Fatai/Lucky Uduikhue (Ajeromi).

50.Almoruf Oloyede/Modupe Badmus (Oshodi)

51.Alade Folawiyo/Adejoke Balogun (Lagos Island East)

52.Adewale Anomo/Wasiu Dehinsilu (Ikosi Ejinrin)

53.Adesegun Bankole/Adeola Adetoro (Eti-Osa)

54.Adebayo Olasoju/Sadiq Saliu (Isolo)

55.Abolanle Bada/Olayinka Ogunleye (Ikosi/Isheri)

56.Abdullahi Olowa/Isiaka Olatunji (Ibeju)

57.Abdulhamed Salawu/Adekunle Ekinyemi (Somolu).

“Also, all the three Senators in Lagos state are Muslims. They are: Lagos CentralSenator Sanni Wasiu Eshilokunon; Lagos East:Senator Tokunbo Abiru; Lagos West:Senator Oluranti Adebule.

“Despite these, we Christians never raised an eyebrow. So why is the Lagos State

House of Assembly stoking religious tension by rejecting many Commissioner nominees on religious grounds, deceptively couched for the public as insufficient documentation?

“For a political party that has a Muslim/Muslim ticket and recently appointed new

Chairman and Secretary who are both Muslims, reeks of outlandish hypocrisy. We need to caution the Lagos State House of Assembly to stop this dangerous religious politics for the peace and progress of Lagos State.”

However, the Leaders of APC in Lagos have waded into the crisis between the Governor and the Assembly and assured that it will be settled amicably.

The Leaders, under the powerful APC-Governance Advisory Council (GAC), who spoke  through their Leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, said the situation stemmed from the “the side effects of the operation of democracy.”

He reportedly said: “We have been contacting and consulting with the leaders of the party. It is part of the side effects of the operation of democracy.

“The House of Assembly has its responsibilities. The Executive also has its responsibilities assigned to it by the constitution. The party is the father of the two.

“So, the matter is under control. It is a family issue. Very soon, we shall lay everything to rest.”

The Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, The Rt Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, is unarguably, the most powerful House of Assembly Speaker in Nigeria. In the past years, he had confronted two other Governors of the State – Babatunde Fashola and Akinwumi Ambode – over one issue or the other. Obasa is serving his third term as the Speaker of the most active House of Assembly in the Country.

NYSC Confirms Minister Is A Corper; HURIWA Slams Senate For Shoddy Ministerial Screening Exercise

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Hannatu Musa Musawa

By Akinwale Kasali

The newly appointed Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa is currently undergoing her compulsory National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, at Onyilokwu Onyilowa and Co., located at the old Banex Plaza, Abuja, the Nation’s Capital.

Making this disclosure is a Civic and Human Rights Group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, through its National President, Emmanuel Onwubiko.

In a Statement signed by Onwubiko, the Group alleged that it was wrong to be a Minister and a Serving Corps member at the same time.

In a statement titled: “You can’t be a serving NYSC Corper and Minister at the Same Time” HURIWA alleged that her NYSC posting details are FC/23A/505.

Lashing the Senate for allowing Musawa to “take a bow and go” HURIWA questioned the gesture by the lawmakers, some of whom, it hinted, had prior knowledge that there were unanswered posers over her NYSC status.

Onwubiko said, “The Nigerian Senate allowed Hannatu Musawa, then ministerial nominee, to ‘bow and go’ despite the controversy surrounding her National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) certificate.”

Musawa was the last ministerial nominee to show up for Senate’s screening during penultimate Tuesday’s plenary session of the Nigerian Senate.

HURIWA described as “despicable what was a routine with the Godswill Akpabio-led Senate, in which the then ministerial nominee Ms. Musawa was asked to ‘take a bow and go’ without being asked any questions about her academic qualifications, including the controversy surrounding her NYSC certificate which, as confirmed to HURIWA by a credible source in the NYSC, that the Minister is actually a Youth corps member.”

HURIWA also recalled that in 2020, the Senate under the leadership of Dr Ahmad Lawan, rejected Musawa’s nomination as a Commissioner in PENCOM.

It said, “Her failure to submit her National Youth Service (NYSC) certificate was cited as reason for her rejection. While it is compulsory for every Nigerian graduate to take part in the National Youths Service Corps for one year, graduates who are above 30 years are exempt from the national service.

”Section 13 of the National Youths Service Corps Act stipulates that any Nigerian graduate below 30 who refuses to make himself/herself available for the compulsory one-year service has committed an offence “and liable on conviction to a fine of N4,OOO or to imprisonment for a term of two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.”

HURIWA also condemned Musawa for her alleged display of obscenity by spreading crispy N1,000 notes to some local Hausa musicians at an event in which she was reportedly being celebrated over her appointment as Minister.

The rights group has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to investigate her and possibly arrest and prosecute the Minister ”for breaching the extant law which prohibits such abuses of the national currency of Nigeria.”

HURIWA also challenged the NYSC to compel the Minister to choose “between completing her engagement as a corps member under the NYSC and then bag her NYSC Certificate or to disengage from being a Youth corps member and then focus on her new task as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

HURIWA wondered why Musawa’s accurate status was not disclosed to members of the public even as the Senate “sensationally failed to screen her as it should.”

Onwubiko added: ”HURIWA wonders the kind of scrutiny being conducted by the Department of State Services so much so that it wasn’t disclosed that the Minister is actually a Youth corper…Years back, Musawa abandoned her NYSC in Ebonyi State but later showed interest to complete it in which she was mobilized this year and posted to a law firm in Abuja where she is as a corper before President Tinubu picked her as a ministerial nominee, she was confirmed by Senate without proper screening and sworn in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Minister of Arts.”

Meanwhile, the NYSC Public Relations Officer, PRO, Eddy Megwa, confirmed that the Minister is presently a serving Youth Corper.

Megwa reportedly said:  ”Yes, she is currently doing her compulsory one-year National Youth Service.

“She was mobilised some time ago when she was below 30 years of age, but she absconded from service.

”Some time ago, she came back and indicated interest to complete her service, and she was re-mobilised in line with the NYSC Act.”

When asked if it was proper for her to still serve even when she is above 40 years of age, the NYSC spokesman said that the scheme acted in line with NYSC Act because the reason for any Corps member not being able to complete his or her service may stem from natural cause such as ill health.

“A Corps member may fail to complete his or her service due to natural cause, for example ill health. If such a Corps member comes back to complete the compulsory one-year service, the scheme must re-mobilize such a person since we cannot just give out the certificate without completing the service.”

Also asked if her appointment as Minister contravened the NYSC Act, Megwa said “According to NYSC Act, it’s illegal for her to hold any government position in Nigeria. It contravenes the laws of NYSC Act.”

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