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Abia: Protesting Medical Personnel Threaten To Block Govt. House Gate With Corpses Over 24 Months Debt

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

For celebrating last Christmas and New Year in hunger, medical personnel in public service in Abia state, took a step forward to press for payment of their 24 months salaries.

Medical and para medical staff of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba (ABSUTH) on Thursday barricaded the gate leading to the Government House Umuahia.

Aside backlog of salaries, report has it that another 13 months arrears for doctors and other staff of Health Management Board are outstanding.

The protesters took off from the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia before proceeding to the Government House Gate, with placard and chanting solidarity songs.

The chairman of the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Isaiah Abali, who led the explained that the doctors in the employ of the State Government are facing a lot of hardship due to  many months of unpaid wages.

Speaking earlier, NMA Secretary, Dr Daniel Ekeleme, stated that “Land lords no longer accept Abia doctors because we can’t pay house rent any more.

“Some of us can no longer pay our children ‘s school fees. Feeding has become a big challenge now, all because Abia State Government has refused to pay us.

“Abia doctors are the least paid in the country. Out of the 36 states, Abia is the only state where doctors are owed for years.

“We have begged, we have made appeals but they fell on deaf ears; now we are here so the world can hear us. Doctors are dying in Abia.

“Next time we will come with the bodies of some of our members who have died as a result of hardship. Is it a curse to be a doctor in Abia?”

For the records, along with four of his colleagues, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been junketing Europe and other States in Nigeria for many months.

“Don’t Handover A Sick Country To A Sick Man” – Peter Obi; Adds: We Don’t Want Those Who Can’t Stand For 30 Minutes

By
The Source
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Peter Obi at UNN

Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, in Enugu, in continuation of his countrywide campaigns arrived his alma mater, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, with a warning to Nigerians. “Don’t handover over a sick country to a sick man”, he told the excited crowd of Academics who trooped out  to see and listen to him.

Obi, during his interaction with the UNN business School and other egg heads of the great institution warned, “This country is sick and should not be handed over to a sick person. I am not saying that anyone is sick. We have been here for over two hours, we don’t want people who can’t stand for 30 minutes”

He also said that character and trust should be things to look out for in this recruitment era to avoid plunging this country into further mess, pointing out that the identity of whoever wants to lead this country must be thoroughly examined with nothing to hide.

“In United States during election, they go for debates, somebody once asked Barack Obama questions that are personal and he answered. But here in Nigeria, somebody wants to contest election, we don’t know his real age, we don’t know his name, we don’t know the schools he attended. Nobody knows his real identity and he is pushing to lead everybody”

The former Anambra state Governor said that what we need for the job of Nigeria’s President are character and people we can trust.

“My name is Peter Obi, I can say I went to CKC, went to University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Both the VC today, the DVC today, these are my school mates. We came into University the same year and left the same year. The people I went to school, I can see them here today, my seniors and my juniors. How come we now have people who do not have classmate. This is very important”

The LP standard bearer said that everybody shouldn’t have to go to formal education but their record must be straight. “Afe Babalola once told me he never had the opportunity of going to a formal school. There is nothing wrong in that. There are so many people who have done well in life and never went to formal school”.

Obi spoke on the issue of corruption and said Nigerians should watch out for person’s antecedents not on what they claim they will do. “If you say you will fight corruption, let’s go to the road you have passed and see what is remaining there after you left”

He reiterated his earlier position that, “this year’s election must be based on competence as it requires physical and mental energy, not a retirement job.”

We Shall Help Nigeria Fight Insecurity – Spanish Government

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Jose Manuel Albares

By Akinwale Kasali

The Government of Spain has pledged its commitment to assist Nigeria in tackling the insecurity in the country.

Its Foreign Affairs Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, said that the rising state of insecurity in Nigeria is pathetic, stressing that the Spanish Government will not leave any stone unturned in assisting the most populous Black Nation in tackling the menace.

Albares, led a delegation to the Nigeria Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, in Abuja,  on Thursday. He noted that his first visit evolves around bilateral and economic cooperation, and  added that the existing relationship between both countries will be improved upon.

The Spanish Minister commended the efforts so far by the Federal government in curbing insecurity, stating that it is ready to extend a helping hand to address the root causes of insecurity.

He said “Nigeria is one of the great regional actors, the first economy of the continent and an absolute pillar to ECOWAS. My visit is to give a new impetus to the relationship that is already strong and restate the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Spain in which five Memorandum of Understandings were signed and three treaties on judicial cooperation. Thanks to the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs as the visit was a success.

“My visit today, firstly, is on bilateral cooperation in which we have been working successfully. The economic field and cooperation is the absolute centre of our relationship. Spain is one of the best clients of Nigeria in the world. Very specifically, we are the second client of Nigeria in the world. We have been one of the largest clients in gas and petroleum for a long time. We want to continue to strengthen that energy relationship but the bilateral relationship is getting deeper. Most aspects have been covered.

“Security, is a common challenge to Nigeria and as a country, we want to offer our support to Nigeria in this challenge. We want to express officially our solidarity with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism. We commend Nigeria’s efforts in the fight against violence and terrorism and at the same time, we want to help Nigeria address the root causes of these conflicts. We are improving our relationship for the interests of the two countries in many other fields.”

Onyema in his response appreciated his counterpart, saying that both countries will continue to work together, especially in the area of the economy.

“We are very close and deep economic partners. Nigeria is one of the primary suppliers of oil and gas and petroleum to Spain. We want to diversify our economic cooperation. Spain is a big player in the European Union and globally, so we want to see increased trade. We are particularly delighted as you spoke on insecurity. Not just military security but food security.

“Spain is a huge investor in Africa in the agricultural sector. Food security and agriculture are major priorities of the Nigerian government. We are delighted to see the cooperation in that area.

“We are delighted in the cooperation that we have in addressing insurgency and terrorism in the Sahel. We will continue to work together alongside the global community to address the security challenges we are facing in our sub-region.”

Gov Akeredolu Suspends Ondo Poly Governing Council Chairman

By
Ayodele Oni
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Banji Alabi

By Ayodele Oni

For dishonouring constituted authority, Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has directed the Chairman, Governing Council of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Mr. Banji Alabi, to vacate office temporarily until he is ready to tow line of honour.

The order followed the report of the Visitation Panel that Alabi refused to honour its invitation on several occasions.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde in a statement on Thursday disclosed that the Governor announced the suspension while receiving the report of the seven- member Visitation Panel to the Polytechnic.

According to the Governor, “the Chairman stands suspended until I hear from him.”

Submitting the Panel report in Akure, the Chairman, Prof Olabode  Koriko, appreciated Governor Akeredolu for finding it necessary to constitute the Panel.

Prof. Koriko applauded Governor Akeredolu for releasing about N1.6bn bailout to the Polytechnic, adding that the commitment of the Governor to reposition the Polytechnic and restore its lost glory is commendable.

The Chairman revealed that the Panel in the course of its assignment, held meetings and had interactions with relevant stakeholders from the Polytechnic and the host community at different locations in Owo before arriving at its recommendations.

“Rufus Giwa Polytechnic until recently remains a model of institution in the South-West over the year, however, poor management of human and material resources appears to have eroded the gains of the past and turned the once famous citadel of learning that has produced very successful men and women in the society to a shadow of its self.

“Your decision to set up the Visitation Panel at this auspicious moment could therefore not have come at a better time and is no doubt altruistic.

“It is expected that at the end, your desire to emplace probity and accountability in the management of this great citadel of learning would be realized.

“The assignment which spanned a period of three months, commenced with the inauguration of the Visitation Panel by your good self on 21st September, 2022.

“The Panel in the course of the exercise met at different locations in Owo and Akure during the three months duration of its assignment, critically perused all the items listed in the 7-point Terms of Reference , met with the relevant stakeholders, collected Memoranda from Staff, students and the Community.

“It also executed an extensive verification of staff and accounts of the Polytechnic, reviewed the laws of the Polytechnic, critically analyzed the content of the submitted Memoranda, other materials and oral evidence available to it to arrive at its recommendations.

“The Panel also had extensive interaction and meetings with Principal Officers of the Polytechnic, union bodies, Chiefs of the host community, and of course the petitioners who were often invited to the Panel sitting for interrogation while a comprehensive inspection of facilities of the Polytechnic (including buildings, vehicles, ventures etc) diligently executed.”

Receiving the report, Governor Akeredolu appreciated all members of the Panel for their labour, with a promise to look into the report.

The Governor, who expressed worry over what he called downward slide being observed in the Polytechnic, said the report would guide government on what to do.

“Coincidentally, I am from Owo, I was inundated with several complaints here and there. A number of them I am not able to solve. I asked questions and got answers that probably were not correct, I can’t understand.

“I got information that several people have been recruited and when I ask, they will say no. Then why is your wages going up? Why can’t you pay?

“We have intervened on one or two occasions and we gave money with specific instruction to pay salaries. At the end of the day you cannot still complete salary payment. I’m sure your report will contain this.

“Management, yes, there might be some problems with human and material resources but as I always say when they come and meet me, I know from verifiable facts that  the Rector has attracted enormous funding to that place either through TETFUND or others, because of his connection. You can’t take that away from him.”

The Governor also declared that it has become more desirable now to turn the Polytechnic to university, noting that there is no going back.

He stressed that the Polytechnic has all it takes in terms of facilities to become a university.

I ‘ve Accepted Pressures To Return As Leader Of Yoruba Group – Prof Banjo Akintoye

By
Ayodele Oni
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Professor Banji Akintoye

By Ayodele Oni

Prof. Banji Akintoye is back as leader of Ilana Yoruba Group after withdrawing his letter of resignation.

Prof Akintoye resigned his position last week, claiming old age and that some politicians from south west are frustrating efforts to make dreams of the group come to reality.

According to the professor of history and former senator, he withdrew his resignation letter following interventions by some Yoruba leaders.

Ilana Omo Oodua has been in the forefront of agitation for the Yoruba Nation both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

Akintoye had earlier resigned and handed over the baton to his deputy, Prof. Wale Adeniran.

A few days after, Adeniran also resigned, citing “credibility issues based on finances.”

Some concerned leaders of the group also issued a statement rejecting the resignation letters of both Prof. Akintoye and Prof. Adeniran.

But in a letter, on Wednesday, entitled: “MY HUMBLE RESPONSE TO THE REQUESTS THAT I SHOULD WITHDRAW MY LETTER OF RESIGNATION”, he said he accepted to withdraw the letter.

“Three weeks ago, I wrote to inform Ilana Omo Oduduwa that I was resigning from my leadership position in the organization.

“I made it clear that my resignation was due only to the need for me at my advanced age to trim off my responsibilities in Ilana in order to devote my energies to pressing challenges in the higher spheres of our Yoruba Self-determination Struggle.

“Since then, I have received from all sections of Ilana messages or letters rejecting my resignation and urging me to continue to make the sacrifice of leading Ilana.

“In the course of the past week, I have been visited for the same purpose by leading persons representing the Elders Advisory Council, the Ilana Secretariat, and the two formerly differing sections of Ilana.

“I have also had the honour of being visited by Prince Peter Bamgbade who is recognized in the whole Yoruba Nation as a major influence for reconciliation and harmony among Yoruba people.

“Further to the above, a coalition of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide (IOOW) affiliates groups both in the diaspora and homeland converged in Ibadan a few days ago to revalidate and reaffirm my leadership of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide (IOOW) and also urged me to withdraw my resignation as leader.

“I thank Prince Bamigbade for his goodwill interventions in the family of Ilana. In this circumstance, I hereby give up my earlier resignation decision and announce my return to my leadership position and role in Ilana.

“I appreciate the fact that in the course of appealing to me to return to my Ilana position, various sections of Ilana have accepted the need for greater harmony in Ilana, so that Ilana may return to its well-known unity and strength in our nation’s self-determination Struggle.

“This has made me very happy indeed, and it has given me serious encouragement to return fully to Ilana.

“As I now return, I expect cooperation, mutual respect, brotherliness and disciplined conduct from all our members at home and in the Diaspora.

“As a disciplined self-determination organization crucial to the realization of our collective resolve to exit the contraption called Nigeria, there is an immediate need to harmonize and unify all the tendencies in IOOW.

“I hereby use this opportunity to announce the dissolution of all IOOW factions largely brought about by infiltration of our rank and file by adversaries within and without.

“To the glory of God, the Yoruba quest for self-determination is now in its final step towards victory. As is common to struggles in the final stages, the tensions are high, and the need for responsibility and discipline are very high.

“I am confident that Ilana will be a leading contributor to the discipline that will move our nation’s whole struggle to ultimate victory.

“We shall soon welcome our ORILEEDE YORUBA, where our Yoruba people will live in peace and security, and where our Yoruba Nation will quickly become a nation of prosperity, power and beauty in the world.

“Let us give thanks to God for giving us His light and strength for these final steps of our journey to our ORILEEDE YORUBA.”

2023: Tinubu Is Old, But Better Than Atiku, Obi- Fashola

By
James Orji
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0

Raji Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing has dismissed suggestion that the presidential candidate of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu is too old to be the president of Nigeria.

Tinubu, a former Lagos state governor, believed to be over 70 years old , is a frontrunner in next month’s presidential election. Other top runners in the February 25 poll are Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi of the PDP and Labour Party, LP, respectively.

Apart from Obi who just clocked 61, the other top candidates are above 70, which their critics say make them ineligible for the country’s top job after the incumbent exits office in May this year.

Speaking on TVC on Thursday, Fashola, a former Lagos Governor said Tinubu’s age should not be a constraint for him to be president, noting that in spite of his age he’s still better than other candidates who he said have no solid record to show from their public service.

Responding to a question on whether the APC pesidential candidate is the best person to occupy the Nigrian presidency, the minister said “I have no doubt about that.”

Fashola said he “worked with him for 14 hours everyday as his chief of staff,” and can testify to his capacity to rule the country .

“He’s much older now but when compared with what is obtainable on the other sides,” Tinubu is better.
The minister said Tinubu is being underrated by only mentioning his achievements as Lagos Governor, saying that his legacies in the area of Transportation, internal revenue etc have been replicated by many state governments in the country.

“All his policies have gained resonance among his utmost critics. Which among the other candidates have these records? Fashola said.

As governor of Lagos state, Fashola was almost dropped from running for a second term in office, following his alleged clash with Tinubu, who singlehandedly made him governor amidst protest by other parties leaders in the state the time.

Following the appointment of Fashola as Minister by President Muhammadu Buhari, he was rumoured to have joined some hawks in the presidency who worked against Tinubu’s interests, to ensure that he did not get the APC ticket to vie for the presidency.

Fashola has since become one of the ardent supporter of Tinubu for the pesidency after the former Lagos helmsman declared his interest to run, and later won the APC presidential ticket.

“I will vote and campaign for him,” the minister said in today’s interview with TVC.

First Bank MD Warns Of Spike In NPLs From N1.5trn

By
James Orji
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0

The managing director/ chief executive officer of First Bank Nigeria, FBN Limited, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, has warned that bank customers are likely to default in their loan payment this year if they are not closely monitored by their banks.

Adeduntan told Thisday that the situation could pushup the Non-performing loan, NPL, figures as businesses are hit with  economic headwinds in the new year.

According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, figures the value of 12 banks NPL stood at over N1.5 trillion as at June 2022.

The First Bank chief executive said more collaborative effort is needed between commercial banks and customers to mitigate the problem of NPL amidst economic uncertainty projections for the country this year by those closely monitoring the nation economy.

According to Adeduntan “To prevent rising NPLs, businesses and their bankers will have to collaborate more and ensure timely flow of information to prevent surprises.

“Banks on their part will have to improve monitoring of their loan portfolio to quickly identify early warning signals for attention before a full-scale loan deterioration.

“Overall, businesses and their bankers must approach 2023 with a partnership mindset to ensure that a win-win outcome is achieved despite the anticipated macroeconomic challenges.”

He pointed out that expectedly, rising cost of debt and contracting demand would exacerbate the challenges that businesses would face this year, particularly for players operating in small-margins sectors of the economy.

He expalined that macro economic problem such as surging inflation, reduction in disposable income, fall in demand for essential commodities and services will further dip leaving most customers frustrated.
In spite of this, Adeduntan said more business opportunities will open in the financial sector for keen players to be exploited.

Such areas, he said include payments, digital security, mergers and acquisition, M&A, opportunities, partnership across segments and consumer lending.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria’s renewed drive on cashless policy has provided an opportunity for players in the financial services industry to enhance existing digital product offerings and create more attractive product offerings that will further reduce frictions in the payment process. This will help to reduce the financial exclusion gap, increase fees and commissions revenues, and improve overall viability and stability of the financial system,” he said.

“Increasing adoption of digital payments platforms will necessitate increased requirement for the security of payment channels. Thus, opportunities exist for players in the financial services industry to leverage robotics and artificial intelligence to improve security protocols on digital payment channels.”

“With the anticipated pressures on earnings, opportunities exist for big and liquid players to gain additional scale and market share through outright acquisition of fringe players with the right strategic fit.

“There is also an opportunity for two or more small and/or medium size players to merge their operations/businesses to obtain scale advantage.

“The growing number of Fintechs and licensed Payment Service Banks also presents an opportunity for improved partnerships across various categories of players in the financial services industry for both mutual and industry-wide benefits.

“Tightening financial conditions of the average household will create opportunities for consumer loans in several variants such as buy-now-pay-later (BNPL), salary advance, consumer asset finance, etc. The industry is already witnessing a rising trend in the creation of digital consumer loan product offerings. This is likely to intensify in 2023,” Adeduntan said.

NPLs has remained the bane of many banks in the country. For instance, financial analysts had blamed the collapse of defunct Diamond Bank majorly on huge NPL, which stood at over N700 billion by the time it desolved into Access Bank Plc.

You’re A Wobbly, Wonky, Narcotic-Devastated Presidential Candidate – Atiku Tells Tinubu

By
The Source
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0

By Gideon Njoku

The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu,  as corrupt and unfit to hold public office. He called Tinubu corruption personified.

Atiku did not also spare Tinubu’s alleged health status. He said the APC is trying to sell “a wobbly, wonky and narcotic-devastated Presidential Candidate” to Nigerians.

These strongly-worded words were contained in a statement signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, the spokesperson of the Atiku- Okowa Campaign Organization.

The reaction was sparked off by a statement by the Tinubu/Shettima  Director of Communications, Bayo Onanuga, where he challenged Atiku to make public his health status.

The Atiku Campaign described Onanuga’s statement as ludicrous and “a failed attempt by Tinubu, the famed Lagos property stripper, who has gained notoriety as corruption- personified, and the living example and the artful dodger, aimed at trying to impugn the impeccable character and integrity of the incoming  people’s President, Atiku.

The Statement, released Wednesday evening, reads in part:  “It is imperative to observe  that our campaign had focused on issues and refrained from Tinubu’s appalling health issues prior to this ignoble public dance of tge Tinubu/Shettima Campaign.

“However, since Tinubu, himself, has opened the channel for Nigerians to examine his ill-health, we have no further option than to expose that the APC candidate must be suffering  from manifest Parkinson disease, accompanied with incontinence.

“For clarity, Parkinson disease is a brain disorder, memory problems, as well as general mental and physical weakness which are all being witnessed in the APC Presidential Candidate.

“This, perhaps, accounts for the desperation, the endless gaffes, the articulation errors, the incoherence, the many blunders and disconnection from reality for which Asiwaju Tinubu has become the butt of weird jokes among Nigerians and internationally.

“It is rather unfortunate that the APC Presidential Candidate who cannot stand  erect or walk up an elevation unaided, who is plagued by visible tremor of the hands, who palpilates at the slightest physical exertion and who is reported in the public space as being challenged by incontinence could attempt to speak on the health status of any Nigerian.

“Moreover, some medical professionals have associated certain cases of nerve cell death with narcotic use and unhealthy lifestyle and our campaign urges Tinubu to examine himself in that regard.

“Furthermore, Nigerians find it incongruous that the tarnished Asiwaju Tinubu who is badgered by a smelly  criminal past including the $460,000 forfeiture sentence for narcotics related offence by a Court of competent jurisdiction in the United States; alleged looting of Lagos State treasury, and stripping of her property; cases of forgery, impersonation, perjury, inconsistencies in name, age as well as questionable educational background, ancestry and genealogy could attempt to speak on corruption and integrity.

“Asiwaju Tinubu should rather hide his face in shame given his maladourous activities for which well-meaning Nigerians have dissociated themselves from his Presidential Campaign.

“In any case, Nigerians are aware that Tinubu is not ethically, physically and mentally fit to hold office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, unlike the decent, honest, physically, mentally and emotionally fit Atiku Abubakar, who exhibits the manifest readiness, intellectual alertness, capacity and experience to lead our Nation at this critical time.

Those pushing Emilokan’s candidature cannot claim to be unaware that he is not fit to preside over a country of 200 million people. They just don’t wish Nigeria well.”

The Presidential election will be held on February 25, 2023, and the new President   inaugurated on May 25, 2023.

APC Enugu Party Bigwigs Boycott Tinubu’s Presidential Rally

By
Uche Mbah
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Bola Tinubu in Enugu

By Uche Mbah

Candidate Tinubu dismisses Nigerians leaving the Country over hardship as “suffer-suffer”

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC,  Enugu State Chapter, came to a head Wednesday, January 11, 2023, when virtually all the big names in the State boycotted the rally organized by the State chapter of the party for the benefit of their Presidential flagbearer, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Tinubu was in Enugu to canvass for votes in his quest to become Nigeria’s President come 2023.

Though the party bigwigs  were at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport to receive Tinubu, they all left en mass to the home of Sullivan Chime, former Governor of the State.

Tinubu, however, addressed the rally at the Michael Okpara square, the venue settled for, after initial controversy about using the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium.

Those who boycotted the rally include Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, former Enugu Governor, Sullivan Chime, former Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly,  Eugene Odoh, former Secretary to the Enugu State Government,  Onyemuche Nnamani,  Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, the immediate past chairman of the Party in the State, Ben Nwoye, and Juliet Ibekaku who works at the Presidency.

The stakeholders were to later brief journalists in their bid to justify their absence at the rally.

Speaking on their behalf, Sullivan Chime, immediate past Governor of the state under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, blamed the State Chairman Ugochukwu Agbala, for their action, which was meant to send a “clear signal” to Aso Rock, which has largely ignored their protests against the Chairman.

He lamented that the situation took them to Aso Rock where they led a peaceful delegation to protest his appointment and imposition by the South east APC leader, Governor Hope Uzodinma. According to him, nothing has come out of that protest.

“We received our Presidential candidate at the Airport. We believe in him, he is the best.”, he said.

“However, we were not there at Okpara square because of internal crisis within the party in Enugu state. The party had been in disarray, since the imposition of someone who is not a member of the party as the Chairman.

“The Party leaders went to Abuja, complained, but nobody took them seriously. The issues continued. So, we have to distance ourselves from the local chapter of the party.

“We will ensure that he (Tinubu) gets more than the required 25 percent. Enugu must be counted” he concluded.

Part of his grudge was a violation of the unwritten principle of zoning, where both the Governorship candidate and his deputy are from the same senatorial zone.

Pledging that they will work towards victory of the party while distancing themselves from the organization of the rally,  former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, lamented that the party has been hijacked by an “external body”, apparently referring to Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma. He insisted that this made the Chairman to boldly run the party as a sole administrator. He complained that prominent people have been sidelined in the party.

Prior to the rally, a Group, the Concerned Enugu All Progressives Congress, APC Members, had claimed the Chairman of Enugu state chapter of the party,Chief Ugochukwu Agballah,  embarked on massive renting of crowds from neighboring states  for the rally. The group, which appears to work at cross purposes with the official APC in the state, claims that the Chairman was desperate to impress Tinubu with the crowd but, according to them, he is actually “killing the party”.

In a statement issued by its Leader and pioneer Deputy State Chairman of the APC in Enugu, Comrade Adolphus Ude, Tuesday, in Enugu, the group faulted the confidence of the Chairman who, according to them, could not grow organic crowd for the party.

“Faced with the reality of an empty venue, the Chairman of the APC in Enugu State has embarked on a crowd-shopping drive to deceive our national party leaders, particularly our presidential candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.”, the statement read.

“We can authoritatively disclose that Agballah and the governorship candidate, Chief Uchenna Nnaji, have engaged contractors to ferry rented crowd from Ebonyi, Anambra, Abia, Imo, Benue and other nearby states to come here and answer Enugu people at tomorrow’s rally for Asiwaju and Senator Shettima in order to save themselves the impending embarrassment of an empty venue. The national leadership of our party and the people of Enugu State should watch out of this fraudulent act by Agballah and his cohorts.

“It is a shame that they still have to shop for crowd beyond the borders of Enugu State even after they settled for Okpara Square, which is a very small venue compared to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium. But can the people they are mobilizing to Enugu tomorrow cast votes for our party during the general election? The answer is ‘No’.

“But we have an overwhelming population in Enugu, which if harnessed will give our party the support and result Asiwaju needs in Enugu State. In fact, there is no result we cannot achieve if the stakeholders and the leaders of the party come together in Enugu. But this is exactly what Agballah cannot deliver and does not also want”, the statement said.

Meanwhile, at the rally, Tinubu appealed for South- east votes, promising to make Igboland an industrial hub if elected. He also said he will revive the coal mines in Enugu if elected. He took a swipe at those running away from the Country.

“Those who are running to overseas are ‘suffer, suffer.’  We have been there.  Anybody who tells you that you cannot do something, pray you can do it,” he said.

Court Tells Unmarried Police Women: “Feel Free To Give Birth Without Marriage”; Awards Victim Five Million Naira

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Woman Police Officer

By Adesina Soyooye

Unmarried Nigerian Police Women on Wednesday, 11th January, 2023, had cause to celebrate. They have been released from bondage. They, finally, have their freedom to get pregnant out of wedlock, and have their babies.

“Finally, the inexplicable discrimination between us and our male counterparts has been thrown into the dustbin where it rightly belongs”, said a married female Police Officer.

She added: “I almost lost my husband over that. We dated for three years, and for those three years, because of the crude Police Regulation, and to the anger of his mother, I didn’t get pregnant. She even refused to understand why we could not get legally married, and asked her son to look elsewhere. She said I was playing a double game.”

Known in the Police as “Regulation 127 of the Nigeria Police Regulation made pursuant to the Police Establishment Act 2020”, it forbade unmarried Police Women from getting pregnant, a discriminatory situation not extended to their male counterparts. Any such Police Woman was summarily dismissed from the Nigerian Police Force.

But on Wednesday, the Honourable Justice D. K. Damulak of the Nigerian Industrial Court, held that such action was not only discriminatory but illegal.

The case which gave the Police Women their freedom   was sparked off by the dismissal of Miss Omolala Olajide on 26th January, 2021 under the leadership of former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

Miss Olajide, who was serving at the  Ekiti State Police Command, fell foul of the Police rule when she got pregnant outside marriage, less than one year after enlistment into the Nigerian Police Force. She was, actually, still on probation.

In dismissing  then Constable Olajide from the NPF, the then Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command,  Babatunde Mobayo, told Journalists that she violated Section 127 of Police Act and Regulations.

But Miss Olajide went to Court to challenge her dismissal from the NPF. She told the Court that her dismissal was discriminatory since her male counterparts do not get  dismissed or punished in anyway under similar circumstances.

Hon Justice Damulak, in the  judgment delivered at the Akure Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court agreed with the dismissed Constable. He  held that: “The Police regulation which permits the dismissal of unmarried pregnant police women is discriminatory, illegal, null and void as it violates section 42 of the Constitution and article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Ratification and Enforcement Act which abolished discrimination on basis of gender”.

The Police Regulation, the Judge said, “cannot stand as it is not applicable to unmarried policemen who impregnate women.” He, therefore, set it aside.

Damulak: “The Court accordingly, finds and holds that the provision of Section 127 of the Police Act and Regulation 127 thereof, which applies to unmarried women Police Officers getting pregnant while in Service but does not apply to unmarried male Police Officers impregnating females while they are in Service, are discriminatory against unmarried women Police Officers by Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. If any law is inconsistent with the provision of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall to the extent of its

inconsistency, be void.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the case of the Claimant succeeds in part only in terms of prayer B which is A Declaration that the provisions of Regulation 127 and section 127 of the Police Act which is against women Police Officers getting pregnant before marriage but does not apply to male Police Officers impregnating women before marriage is discriminatory, illegal and unconstitutional as it violates the Claimant’s Fundamental Right under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the said provision is hereby declared null and void and struck down.”

Justice Damulak awarded N5 million in “aggravated damages to Miss Olajide for the violation of her fundamental right to freedom, from discrimination.”

But the Honourable Justice rejected her prayer for reinstatement as a Police officer. He upheld the submission of the Police Counsel, Mr. P. S. Abisagbo,  that she could not be reinstated as she was on probation at the time of her dismissal from the Nigeria Police Force.

Damulak who relied on many judicial authorities and, especially, the case of Women Enlightenment and Legal Aid v Attorney-General of the Federation where the Federal High Court struck down the police regulation that placed a three-year ban on female recruits from getting married.

Mrs Funmi Falana of the Falana & Falana’s Chambers who handled the case of the three-year ban before marriage, was full of praises for Justice Damulak but noted that the Court should have reinstated Olajide, having declared the Police Regulation under which she was dismissed as discriminatory and illegal.

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