“El-Rufai Is A Threat To National Security” – Primate Ayodele

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June 8, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has been labelled a threat to National unity by the Leader Of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele.

Ayodele lashed the former Governor following his recent statement against Christians.

According to Primate Ayodele, the former Governor in his statement justified his choice of Muslims to occupy relevant positions in Kaduna State because they are the ones who vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He added that the current Governor of the state, Sani Uba, will follow in his footstep and the coming one to prove that Islamic leadership doesn’t discriminate.

Reacting to the statement , Primate Ayodele described him as someone who will start a religious war in Nigeria with his careless statement.

He fumed at the statement and called El-Rufai a satanic agent and a representative of the Taliban Government in Nigeria.

Primate Ayodele stated that El-rufai has an agenda to Islamize Nigeria and that if President Tinubu allows him in his government, the country will plunge into a religious crisis that may lead to war.

He accused the former Governor of being the brain behind APC’s Muslim-Muslim Presidency and the religious crisis in Southern Kaduna.

Ayodele warned President Bola Tinubu against giving El-Rufai any position in Government to avoid the sudden collapse of the country.

‘’El-Rufai is satanic, he should not be trusted. The election in Kaduna was rigged in his candidate’s favor and God will take it back from him. How can he make such an insensitive statement, why is he mocking Christians? He is a religious hypocrite and a representative of the Taliban in Nigeria.’’

‘’The statement of El Rufai is unacceptable, we want a peaceful nation but El-Rufai is a threat to national peace. He is the one behind the Southern Kaduna crisis all this while. He should be warned or he will destroy Tinubu’s government. God will destroy his plans before his time and if Tinubu brings him in, he will destroy the government completely.’’

‘’El Rufai is an agent of satan and God will soon expose his plans. He lost Kaduna but the real winner will reclaim his mandate. El-Rufai is a devil who wants to enslave Nigeria and sell the nation to the Islamic Republic. We must rise against his evil agenda. He is a religious and ethnic racist. He is one of the backbone of Muslim-Muslim presidency in Nigeria and of course, Nigeria will soon see the repercussion.’’

‘’Tinubu should stop El-Rufai before he creates a religious war in this country. Christians are peaceful people, God will deal with El Rufai because he wants to create a fight in the country.’’

‘’If El-Rufai becomes anything in Tinubu’s government, he will burn the country, he will start a religious crisis and he has a devilish agenda that will soon be exposed.”, he said.

El-Rufai Under Fire; Southern Kaduna Group Challenges Its Proscription Under Its Administration

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Akinwale Kasali

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June 8, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has been criticized by Atyap Community Development Association in Southern Kaduna for proscribing the Group.

The Group challenged the immediate past Kaduna State Governor for its proscription saying that it didn’t follow due process.

El-Rufai had proscribed the Group less than 24 hours to his exit as Governor in the State, declaring the association as “unlawful society in the state.”

The former Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, who released a statement on the proscription order, stated that: “Atyap Community Development Association has constituted itself into a society that is inimical to the peace of the state and has been covertly involved in acts capable of endangering the peace, tranquility, harmonious coexistence and good governance of Kaduna State.”

Atyap community is in Zango Kataf Local Government Area, Southern Kaduna.

However, the association shot back at the former governor, describing the proscription as illegal, null and void, adding that the order was “immoral and oppressive.”

Samuel Achie, Chairman of the Group said the association was never served with any notice or instrument proscribing it.

He said: ”The news of a purported proscription of the Atyap Community Development Association in Kaduna State by the outgone governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, came to us as a rude shock, but not surprising, through a press release issued on Sunday, May 28, 2023 by Muyiwa Adekeye, his erstwhile press secretary.

“It is on record that the ACDA, especially during the tenue of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has never engaged in any unlawful activities even in the face of unnecessary provocation and attacks nor received any notice or complaint of any unlawful activities from the former Kaduna State Government or any quarters whatsoever that would have warranted any caution, not to talk of proscription.

“All these make the purported proscription not only illegal but immoral and oppressive, which is in tune with the hostile and vindictive posture of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to the Atyap ethnic nationality throughout his tenure as Governor of Kaduna State.

“The leadership of the ACDA shall take all lawful and legal steps to protect these rights. Members should, therefore, remain calm and law-abiding as we remain resolute in our resolve to protect our land and people from anybody who thinks they can come from nowhere and take our land.”

Polaris Bank: Sacked Workers Fate Hangs

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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June 8, 2023

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The National Union of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) has said the meeting held between it and Polaris Bank management over the sack of its members ended inconclusively.

Over 40 workers of the commercial bank were recently sacked by the management, among other contentious labour-related issues the bank is having with its employees.

The sack led to the picketing of the bank head office by NUBIFIE alongside members of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC on June 6, after which the management invited the Union to a meeting to resolve the issues.

But speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Mohammed Sheik, Secretary-General, NUBIFIE, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Wednesday that the meeting achieved nothing.

According to Sheikh, “We just finished the meeting, but unfortunately, the meeting could not conclude because of the fact that the demands we put across to them, the management said it may not be able to carry out the demands.

“The demand that went across was for us to have a level playing ground for negotiation.

“They are to first and foremost withdraw those sack letters and recall those workers; then we can now sit down and discuss on behalf of the workers.

“So, they declined and said we should go ahead and discuss what the sacked workers are entitled to.

“However, we told them that our principal gave us the mandate, that firstly, in order to commence discussion, they have to rectify the wrong that they committed.

“So, it is on the grounds that we left; so, there was nothing tangible that came out of the meeting.”

The labour leader said the union would hold a Congress to discuss and would arrive at what the next line of action would be.

“Stop Making Yourself A Stumbling Bock” – Group Warns INEC

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The Source

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June 8, 2023

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The Neo Africana Centre has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop constituting itself into a stumbling block at the Presidential Election Petitions Court but should, instead, act in ways and manners that can redeem its battered image.

The Centre’s admonition came in the wake of complaints by the Lawyers of the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, as well as those of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, to the effect that the Commission has been blocking them from having full access to the electoral materials that they need to tender at the tribunal in support of their petitions.

The public policy think tank said that having mismanaged an election that would have been a watershed in Nigeria’s electoral history, INEC still has an opportunity to redeem its image by ensuring that it cooperates with all the parties concerned in the matter.

In a statement by its Director of Public Affairs, Jenkins Udu, the Centre called on INEC to stop playing the hide and seek game that it is currently playing at the tribunal. It equally charged the commission to shun the temptation of persevering in its grievous sins.

Part of the statement reads:

“We have noted with concern the recalcitrance and uncooperative attitude of the Independent National Electoral Commission on matters relating to the petitions filed at the Presidential Election Petitions Court by aggrieved parties.

The Commission, from the outset, betrayed its biases and left no one in doubt that it would not allow those contesting the outcome of the presidential election it conducted to have their way. This open partisanship is most unbecoming of a public institution such as the Electoral Commission.

“We recall with regret that lawyers to the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 presidential election, Mr Peter Obi, have severally complained of evident lack of cooperation by INEC in their bid to have access to relevant electoral materials in support of their petition. A few days ago, one of the lawyers to Peter Obi told the tribunal that INEC is yet to grant them full access to the BIVAS machines.

“The following day, the legal team of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, also had reason to complain to the tribunal about the uncooperative attitude of INEC, even after collecting a whopping N6.69 million from them. The Atiku team said it was unable to tender certain documents in court because INEC was yet to release those vital documents to them. The tribunal was forced to adjourn abruptly on account of this.

“These developments are worrisome. They portray INEC as partisan in a matter in which it ought to be neutral. Even though its integrity has seriously been called to question by the mess it made of our elections on February 25, the commission still has an opportunity to redeem its image from the barrage of condemnations flying all over Nigeria. Rather than constitute itself into a stumbling block, INEC should give the petitioners all the necessary access they deserve. It is within their right, and the commission owes them this basic obligation.

“It is bad enough that INEC messed up the 2023 general elections. It will be worse if the commission leaves the public with the impression that it is bent on frustrating genuine efforts at righting its own wrongs.”

Ondo: SDP Asks Gov Akeredolu To Hand Over Duties To Deputy

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Ayodele Oni

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June 8, 2023

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Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State — Rotimi Akeredolu

By Ayodele Oni

After condemning the manner in which Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu was taken out of the State to an unknown place, allegedly over alleged failing health, the Social Democratic Party, (SDP) has demanded for a transfer of power to the Deputy as stipulated by Constitution.

SDP said in a statement on Thursday that the current vacuum caused by the Governor’s absence is unnecessary if the constitutionally required step is taken.

The statement, signed by the chairman, Stephen Adewale stated: “Ondo State and her friends must speak out on the increased level of uncertainty that hovered around the governance of our dear Sunshine State before it is too late.

“What began as a candlelight blaze is quickly snowballing into a sizable forest fire. And if we do not act quickly, history will not be kind to all of us who knew the incredible power of voice but chose silence.

“The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State understands Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s health condition, for which we have been praying for a speedy recovery.

“However, the State should not and cannot be left without a constitutional head in an acting capacity while he is away attending to his health.

“As we write this, our dear Governor has refused to hand over to his Deputy in an Acting capacity while his whereabouts remain unknown.

“In the past seven days, President Tinubu has met with the APC Governors’ Forum twice. During each of those meetings, matters of national importance were discussed.

“Nearly all the Governors were in attendance, and those who could not make it had their Deputies fill in for them.

“The only State that was conspicuously missing in terms of representation at the two meetings is our dear Ondo State.

“While he recuperates, therefore, we call on Governor Akeredolu to immediately hand over to constitutionally delegate power to the deputy in Acting capacity so as to keep the state running effectively.

“And if he is strong enough to preside over the affairs of the State as his people claimed, then it is well past time for Governor Akeredolu to show up and prove the doubting Thomases wrong.

“We also call on every relevant stakeholder and patriots in the state to ensure that unnecessary and avoidable constitutional crisis in the management and functioning of the State Government did not ensue.

“This is not the time for them to hide in their cocoon of imperturbability. This is not the time for the ‘Governor is getting better and everything is going on smoothly in the Ondo State’ nonsense spewed by APC apologists and many politicians who are abetting the governor to shirk his constitutional responsibility.

“Unknown to these praise singers and those who have chosen silence over talking, no one suffers adversity alone and misery often seeks new neighbourhoods to occupy.

“No matter how these silent stakeholders in Ondo might feel, we will all be touched in varying degrees should this issue be allowed to deteriorate.

“A prolonged uncertainty over the administration of Ondo State will cost the state untoward setback. There is no doubt about this.

“And that is why silence is dangerous now. Ondo State is in a rare moment in time when only genuine, exhaustive, and wide-ranging conversations can save the impending storm. This is the time to start the constitutional conversations.

“In the light of this, we implore Governor Akeredolu to safeguard his hard-earned reputation by handing over to his deputy in an acting capacity until he is capable of handling the state’s business.

“This is a duty and responsibility that Governor Akeredolu owes to himself, his party members, his family, and the good people of Ondo State.”

While confirming the Governor’s present state of health in a statement, the Commissioner for Information, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju declared that: “Though the Governor has been indisposed, he has been attending to State matters and delegating functions to functionaries of the Government, when necessary. We enjoin the members of the public to ignore the rumour. Aketi is very much alive.”

Senate Presidency: Tinubu Urges APC Senators-elect to Abide By Party’s Zoning Formula

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Akinwale Kasali

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June 8, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Following the scheming for the Senate Presidency , President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Senators elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to abide by the Party’s Zoning formula.

Making this strong appeal, the President, who is the Leader of the Party said that the Senators should respect and abide by the Zoning arrangements of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Party as announced.

The APC NWC had zoned the Senate Presidency to the South-South, and favoured former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, as the Party’s preferred candidate and Senator Jubrin Barau from North West as Deputy Senate President.

In a meeting with the 43 APC senators-elect led by Senator Akpabio at the Aso Rock Villa late Wednesday night, President Tinubu made a passionate appeal to every APC Senator-elect to toe the lines of the party’s zoning arrangement in electing their presiding officers stressing that this is the right thing to do in support of the renewed hope agenda of his administration.

In his words: “At this point of our history and challenges facing us as a new administration, all hands must be on deck to salvage the unpalatable situation facing the nation. We must see the situation as a pan-Nigerian Project for the Executive and the Legislature to work out solutions to the challenges of the nation” he told the senators-elect”.

He urged the Senators to be prepared for the task ahead in finding solutions to the myriads of national problems, which cannot be addressed by the Executive Arm of Government alone but by jointly working together of the executive and the legislature, adding that the Senators-elect present should reach out and pass the appeal to other APC Senators-elect, unavoidably absent, to toe the party line and put a leash on all personal ambition in favour of party programme and national interest.

“Talk to your colleagues that are not here to toe the party line and give the renewed hope agenda a chance to succeed. The elephant is big enough for all members and indeed Nigerians to have a share of the renewed hope in due course” he admonished”, he stated.

Senator Annie Okonkwo, 63, Dies

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The Source

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June 8, 2023

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By Charles Igbo

A prominent Anambra son, Annie Okonkwo, is dead.

Okonkwo died Wednesday, June 7, 2023, after an illness which kept him off the political and social circle for a couple of months.

The former Senator who represented Anambra Central Senatorial District in 2007, under the Peoples Democratic Party, was a very successful business man before he joined Politics.

Okonkwo hailed from Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area, and was the founder of Clemco Industries. He was, also, a known philanthropist.

He had, a couple of times, aspired to be the Governor of Anambra State, but he was unsuccessful on each occasion. But one of his sons, Uchenna Okonkwo, following his father’s footsteps, is now, a House of Representatives Member-elect for Idemili South Federal Constituency.

Dr Uche Nworah, a family friend, who had drank from Okonkwo’s milk of kindness. confirmed the news of his passing on Thursday, June 8, 2023, in a post on social media.

He wrote: “I just woke up to the sad news of Agunaechemba’s (Senator Annie Okonkwo) passing. Agu was a kind man, and a benefactor to many. A colossus in Community affairs and Nigerian politics. He was a pioneer businessman that inspired many Igbo people in the 80s, 90s, and in later years with his positive exploits at Clemco Industries, Reltel Wireless, and other chains of businesses. I am a beneficiary of his kindness and the kindness of the Okonkwos. He has finished his race on earth and will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with the entire Okonkwo family at this time.

May his soul rest in peace.”

Senator Okonkwo was last seen at a reception for Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, in the USA, and most recently in a photograph with his son, Uchenna, when he went to present to his proud father his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as a House of Representatives Member-elect.

Okonkwo was aged 63 years.

Zenith Bank: Massive Giveaway To Customers In Beta Life Season 3” Promo

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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June 8, 2023

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Zenith Bank Plc has launched the third season of its hugely successful “Zenith Beta Life Promo” to reward its customers with gifts from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024.

Within this period, twenty bank customers of Zenith Bank will be chosen through a bimonthly raffle draw, each receiving gifts valued at NGN150,000. Five lucky customers will also win a cash prize of NGN500,000 during the quarterly draws.

The promo is open to both existing and new Zenith Bank customers, who can qualify with the following criteria:

* Open a Zenith Bank account and maintain a minimum deposit of NGN5,000 throughout the promotional period;

* Apply for and collect a Zenith Bank Card, which can either be virtual or physical; and

* Download and register on the Zenith Bank Mobile App, or sign up for *966# EazyBanking.

Commenting on the promo, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said, “The Zenith Bank Beta Life Promo, now in its third season since it began in 2020, is our way of giving back to our customers and expressing our gratitude for their steadfast loyalty and support for the Zenith brand. It’s also a testament to our reputation as one of the most customer-centric financial institutions in the country, as this promo has allowed us to reward our customers throughout the federation with gifts over the past two seasons.”

During the Zenith Bank Beta Life Season 2 Promo, 480 customers of Zenith Bank received gifts worth NGN150,000 in the bimonthly draws. Furthermore, 20 customers received gifts valued at NGN500,000 each in the quarterly draws. Cumulatively, the gifts distributed during this season amounted to an impressive total of NGN82 million.

Zenith Bank continues to set itself apart within the Nigerian financial services sector through outstanding service offerings, unique customer experiences, and robust financial indicators. The bank remains a dominant player in the digital realm, consistently pioneering the deployment of innovative products, solutions, and a variety of alternative channels that ensure transactions are convenient, quick, and secure.

Among a plethora of awards, Zenith Bank was named Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards, Retail Bank of the year, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards and Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020.

N85bn Nigeria Air: Rights Group Calls For Sirika’s Arrest

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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June 8, 2023

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Hadi Sirika, the immediate past Minister of Aviation should be arrested for alleged fraudulent practices regarding the Nigeria Air, a human rights body, has said.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, described the handling of the Nigeria Air as a total fraud by the former minister.

HURIWA’s position comes after the House of Representatives and the Senate said the manner the former minister handled the deal amounted to a fraud.

The National Assembly took the position after the Managing Director of the airline told lawmakers earlier this week that due process was not followed with the establishment of the airline.

Reacting to the controversy, HURIWA the manner the Ministry hurriedly unveiled the airline few days to the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was very suspicious.

According to the group, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, in Owerri yesterday and made available to journalists, the former minister should be investigated and arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

HURIWA said the revelation by Capt. Dapo Oluimde, the Managing Director of Nigerian Air, that the deal between Ethiopian Airline and the former Minister was handled in an untransparent manner is enough for the anti-graft agency to swing to action, describing the Airline as “the fraud of the highest order”.

The statement: “The Interim Managing Director of Nigeria Air, Capt. Dapo Olumide, told legislators on Tuesday that the aircraft paraded as Nigeria Air plane belonged to Ethiopian Airlines and not Nigeria whereas Sirika paraded the aircraft as being owned by Nigeria.

“This is fraud of the highest order and the lawmakers have labelled it so, including the suspension of all activities regarding the sham called national carrier.

“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must swing into action now that both the upper and lower chambers have declared the project as a fraud. The anti-graft agency must swiftly arrest, investigate and prosecute the ex-minister if found culpable.

“There are a lot of questions that Sirika must be made to answer, including the whereabouts of the N85 billion splurged on the project.

“In fact, aside from that the so-called national carrier has not secured a single aircraft for its operations, it has also failed to secure Air Operating Certificate (AOC) from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) “, he said.

The Federal Government had in July 2018 unveiled the national carrier during the Farnborough Air Show in London.

According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, NBS, Over N85 billion has been allocated for its take off between 2016 and 2018.

Tinubu Directs NEC To Release Palliatives To Cushion Subsidy Withdrawal Hardship

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Ayodele Oni

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June 7, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Nigerians will soon be relieved from burden occasioned by withdrawal of petroleum subsidy as President Bola Tinubu directed the National Economic Council (NEC) to kickstart the process of working on interventions to ameliorate the impact of subsidy removal on the people.

The Economic Council is led by the Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The subsidy withdrawal has caused hike in transport fares, food items and other commodities, which prompted some states government to reduce working days for public servants.

Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents after leading some major oil marketers on a courtesy call on President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

According to him, the marketers were in the presidential villa to express solidarity with the president for his bold decision to end subsidy payment.

Tinubu’s action, he said, showed his determination and courage to remove the hemorrhage that had bedevilled the country for decades.

Abiodun admitted that while there would be some discomfort on the part of the people, the move would eventually pay off. He said that there could be no gains without pains.

The marketers announced their intention to donate 50 to 100 50-seater mass transit, at the cost of about N10 billion, Compressed Natural Gas, (CNG) buses as a way to support the initiative to succeed, calling on other well meaning corporate bodies to do the same.