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Osun Gov Adeleke Heads PDP Campaign Council In South West

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ademola Adeleke sworn in as Governor of Osun State

By Ayodele Oni

The presidential campaign organisation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke into the campaign council as a member.

Adeleke is now the Chairman of the council’s South-West Coordinating Committee, according to a notice signed by the Director-General of the PDP presidential campaign organisation, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal.

Oyo state Governor, Seyi Makinde, a member of the PDP G5, oppose to candidature of Atiku Abubakar, had earlier been named as a member of the campaign but did not honour the appointment.

Adeleke, who is one of the supporters of Atiku,  was sworn in as Osun state Governor less than a month ago.

Tambuwal also named other PDP members to head strategic offices in the presidential campaign council of its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The Sokoto State Governor said the “appointments are with immediate effects”.

They include that of Senator Dino Melaye as Director of Public Affairs.

Appointments into the zonal coordinating committee are:

  1. South-East: Senator Theodore Orji (Chairman)
  2. South-South: Senator Duoye Diri (Chairman)
  3. South-West: Senator Ademola Adeleke (Chairman)
  4. North-Central: Senator Gabriel Suswam (Chairman)
  5. North-East: Darius Ishiaku (Chairman)
  6. North-West: Adamu Aliero (Chairman)

Zonal liaison desk officers were also appointed

Governor Ugwuanyi Is Deputy Chief Of Staff To Wike – Prof Odinkalu

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Professor Chidi Odinkalu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

By Adesina Soyooye

Professor Chidi Odinkalu has slammed Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for abandoning his State, and, instead working as an Aide to his colleague-Governor, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

Odinkalu, a Human Rights Lawyer, and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, lamented that while Ugwuanyi concentrates on his “new job” as Wike’s Deputy Chief of Staff, the people of the State are abandoned to criminal gangs.

Ugwuanyi is one of the G-5 Governors led by Wike. The five Governors are at loggerheads with the leadership of their Party and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar. They include, aside from Wike and Ugwuanyi, Samuel Ortom, Benue State, Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia State, and Seyi Makinde, Oyo State.

Since their leader, Wike, lost to Atiku in the Party’s Presidential Primaries, and also lost the Vice Presidential slot to Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, they have distanced themselves from the activities of the Party, and in more than words, are working against its victory at the Federal level in 2023.

To perfect that, in the past few months, they have hardly been in their States and have been junketting across Europe and across one another’s State.

However, while Ugwuanyi joins in this “business”, insecurity has, in an unprecedented manner, taken over his State. In recent times, armed gangs, cultists, kidnappers have been wreaking havoc in the State on everyday basis, almost, and blood flows.

Atimes, whole Communities have been held hostage and many killed randomly.

On Saturday, gunmen went on a shooting, killing and burning spree, in a bid to enforce the five-day  sit-at-home order declared by Finland-based Simon Ekpa in South-east States

In the past two days, for example, reports say not less than 10 people have been gruesomely murdered in Enugu.

In November, especially in the Agu-Amede Community, Eha-Amufu, Isi- Uzo, Local Government Area, about 10 people were reportedly killed in a single attack, and properties worth millions of Naira, destroyed.

Commenting on the sad situation on Saturday, Professor Odinkalu tweeted:

“Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has abandoned the state to cultists, criminal gangs, and killers while he relocates to work as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Wike in Rivers State. Enugu people have a choice to make.”

Enugu, regarded as the Capital of the South-east, like other South-East State, is gradually becoming one of the unsafest States in the Southern part of the Country.

Augustine Odoh, a Community Leader, was quoted by SaharaReporters to have said in all the attacks, there was no Government presence to help the people. Security Agencies were also absent.

He said: “Our people cannot confront them with bare hands. They come in their numbers with AK-47 rifles and other dangerous weapons, shooting and destroying houses for hours unchallenged.”

Ondo Communal Clash: Corpses Dropped At Monarh’s Palace

By
Ayodele Oni
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Idanre community, Ondo State

By Ayodele Oni

Some communities in Ondo state have been engulfed in crisis over the ownership of a parcel of land in their area.

Already, there have been casualties in the tussle between Koseru – Kajola  and Araromi villages in Odigbo local government area.

Early morning information released by one Sam Akinwale a social commentator claimed that several innocent people, including police officers and few Amotekun members have lost their lives in a crisis rocking Kájolà- Kòsèrü villages.

According to him, some set of Ìlàje people invaded the place claiming ownership of the land.

He stated that “We want to appeal to the Executive Governor of Ondo State to treat this matter with all urgency in order to save the lives of the innocent inhabitants of the communities.

“We learnt that those criminals who invaded the said place are still around and every villagers are running helter Skelter for their safety.

“Ondo state police commissioner, Head of Amotekun Corps, Head of Civil Defence Corps, and Commander of Nigeria Army in Ondo State must be contacted to save the innocent lives.”

However, the state police command, in a statement on Sunday said “Normalcy has returned to Kuseru Village, a community where there was a communal clash.

“On the 9th December, 2022, a case of Attempted Murder was reported at Kajola Division, that a woman Julianah Alaba Abejoye ‘f’ was shot by two (2) masked men on her farm at Ogbontiba via Kuseru with Locally Made Double Barrelled Gun and escaped.”

The statement, signed by the public relations officer,  Funmilayo Omissnya, explained that “She sustained injuries on the arm and thigh and was rushed to the Hospital for treatment.

“On the 10th December, 2022, at about 1000hrs,  in what seemed to be a reprisal attacks, Aiyetoro  Boys in their numbers attacked Kuseru Village, set ablaze the Motorcycle Parks, Killed Livestock, destroyed Motorcycles and cut down Plantain Trees.

“Police Contingents were Quickly dispatched to the scene, while on Patrol of the Villages,  Corpses of vigilantes were met at the

Palace of Bale of Kuseru Village who were said to have been allegedly ambushed and killed.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyediran visited the scene, urged all parties involved to sheath their sword and allow police carryout a thorough investigation on what really happened.

“He further ordered that the Area commander and DPO of the area should ensure all culprits involved in the Arson and Murder be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

“Tactical team of the command has been deployed to aid the activities of Policemen in the area.

“The CP is also using this medium to allay the fears of the residents around Kuseru ,Aiyetoro and Ago Alafia and Ondo State at large that nothing untoward will happen to them as adequate security is emplaced to ensure a hitch free celebration during this period.”

GTBank Assures Customers Of Improved Services

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Guarantee Trust Bank has assured its teeming customers that customer satisfaction remains the core of its banking services.

The new generation bank said in a message to its customers that it’s aware of waves of glitches across it’s electronic banking channel, and that efforts are on to address the problems to the satisfaction of customers.

The commercial bank said it’s deeply sorry for the difficulties customer are experiencing, assuring that the problems will soon be in the past.

The bank said in the message: “We would like to sincerely apologise for every inconvenience you have experienced whilst using our services recently.

“We know that we have not measured up on our service promise to you and for this, we are truly sorry.

“We have been working tirelessly to improve our service channels and as a result of this, we have not been able to serve you in the way that we are committed to doing. 

“We are working hard to fix all issues and ensuring that all services on our banking channels are fully restored.

“We know the trust you place in us when you choose to bank with us, and we do not take this for granted.

“Your satisfaction is at the centre of everything that we do, and your experience of our service is a measure of our success.

“Once again, please accept our most sincere apologies.”

Meanwhile, some customers who reacted said the bank still provides top notch services in line with it’s core objective as a top financial institution in the country.

Cash Withdrawal, Emefiele Acted Out of Revenge, Selfishness – Gov. Fintiri

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

While questions from many Nigerians, especially the poor, are being asked over the reasons for the policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria which limited cash to be withdrawn from banks, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri has provided an answer.

He asked Nigerians not to look further than the selfishness of the CBN, Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

Fintiri said that Emefiele is on a revenge mission, with politicians as his target.

Emefiele’s anger, Fintiri pointed out, stems from his unsuccessful run for the office of the President, under the All Progressives Congress, APC. Emefiele, Fintiri submitted, holds the Political class responsible for his failure to secure the ticket.

The CBN Governor had, to the shock of not a few Nigerians, sought to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in office.

To do that, he had, while still in office as the CBN Governor, purchased the forms for the APC Presidential Primary at the cost of N100m.

Outrage across political parties greeted Emefiele’s move, with quite a number of people asking him to resign from office or get sacked by the President.

The pressure forced him to drop his ambition. Now, Governor Fintiri says Emefiele  is on a revenge mission  against the political class. He said it  is  the reason the reason fir the initiation  of the  cash withdrawal limit.

Governor Fintiri spoke during his governorship campaign at  Kala’a,  Community in Hong Local Government Area.

Fintiri asked why the policy came shortly after Emefiele’s unsuccessful foray into politics, and dismissed it as a product of  retaliation.

Fintiri: “What is breeding poverty? Economic policies. Look at the one that is about to be implemented by the Central Bank which would further throw the country into poverty. Nobody is saying the economy shouldn’t be cashless, but take time and do it systematically.

“We shouldn’t do it as if some people wanted to be politicians and they were denied the opportunity, then they use their office to punish the politicians.”

He asked politicians not to act out of selfishness, but act in the interest of the people.

Fintiri is a PDP Governor.

Qatar 2022: Morocco Breaks 92 Years Jinx, Becomes First African Team To Reach World Cup Semi Finals

By
The Source
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Atlas Lions of Morocco

By Akinwale Kasali

No one gave them a chance. They proved bookmakers wrong.

The Atlas Lions of Morocco, against all odds has defeated Cristiano Ronaldo- Captained Portuguese National Team at the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

By this defeat, Morocco has become the first African Nation in the history of the FIFA World Cup to reach the Semi Finals of the World Soccer Showpiece.

An El-Neysri 42nd Minute strike was all the Moroccan team needed to break the 92 Year old jinx.

Though the victory was surprising as many had said the victory recorded by the Moroccans against Former World Cup Champions Spain and highly ranked Belgium was a fluke, but the Coach Walid Regragui side proved their mettle as a contender for the world fiesta.

Despite a 90th minutes red card shown to striker Omar Cheddiri, the Moroccans remained unperturbed as they defended their lone goal with their last blood to make history.

Sevilla Football Club of Morocco Goalkeeper, Mohammed Bono showed why he remains the undisputed number one for both Club and Country by denying Ronaldo and Joao Felix from getting an equalizer and stretching the match into extra time.

This is historic for Africa, as the Moroccans who are underrated and were classed as pushovers came top of their Group that had Belgium, Croatia and Canada, before humbling Spain and now Portugal, dashing the hope of Ronaldo who is probably playing his last World Cup, possibly sending him into retirement for the National side.

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, the Teranga Lions of Senegal and the Black Stars of Ghana were the only African team to have reached the Quarterfinals of the international showpiece in Italia 1990, Korea/Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010 respectively.

The Atlas Lions of Morocco will face the winner of the match between France and England in the Quarter Finals slated for Wednesday, December 14th 2022.

Imo Attack: “Friday Will Forever Live In Infamy; My people And I Are Very Upset – Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer, Ejimakor

By
The Source
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Aloy Ejimakor

By Charles Igbo

Alloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, is a very angry man.

Ejimakor’s current anger does not stem from the continued detention and prosecution of his Client by a Federal High Court, even after the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, had discharged and acquitted him. No.

His anger stems from an attack on his Community, Urualla, Ideato Local Government Area, Imo State, by gunmen.

The gunmen had, on  Friday, invaded the Afor Urualla market, and wreaked havoc.

Mindlessly shooting, they set ablaze market stalls, shops and vehicles. People screamed to high heavens and ran for their lives. There was no challenge, no help.

Reacting to the tragedy, Ejimakor lamented the evil that befell his Community, and declared his anger and that of his people. His house, he said, is five minutes away from the center of attack.

Said Ejimakor: “Today, (Friday), 9th December, 2022,  several armed men invaded my hometown, attacked my relatives, vandalised their properties and set fire to our main market, five minutes away from my house.

“It is a day that will forever live in infamy. I am very upset, my people are very upset.”

Ejimakor said he had no clue the group responsible for the attack, but the strong suspicion is that it came from those loyal to Simon Ekpa.

Ekpa, Finland-based, a former IPOB member, and self-proclaimed disciple of Kanu, now estranged from even Kanu, had, in a video, declared a five-day sit-at-home order in South-east States, beginning from 9th December 2022.

IPOB had countered him, and declared  there would be no sit-at-home. In a statement, Emma Powerful, its Spokesperson, asked people to go about their normal businesses, including the collection of their Permanent Voters Card, PVC’s, the reason it is suspected, for which Ekpa ordered sit-at-home, having said there would be no election in the Zone. IPOB promised to provide Security even in markets.

But with the number of attacks and killings in Imo State on Friday, Ekpa seems to have had his way on the first day. The gunmen who ran riot in the State were heard shouting: “Go home, there is sit-at-home.”

Sit-at-home, a baby of IPOB, was introduced by the Organization, to protest the detention and prosecution of Kanu, and pressurize the Federal Government to release him. IPOB, at the time, ordered that everybody must obey sit-at-home  every Monday and anyday Kanu was to appear in Court.

Seeing that it didn’t work, and that the FG couldn’t care, and that it was an added punishment to the Igbo, worsened by the violence and loss of lives which accompanied its implementation, IPOB canceled the exercise, unless when absolutely necessary.

But IPOB seems to have lost control of it, as Ekpa has continued to ignore IPOB’s cancellation and carries on with the sit-at-home order.

His recent five-day  sit-at-home order has been greeted with outrage.

Amotekun Needs Laws To Carry Arms, Prosecute Offenders – NUJ

By
Ayodele Oni
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Amotekun

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Zone B has called on the state government to equip officers of the Ekiti State Security Network code named Amotekun with modern facilities and necessary logistics that can enhance their operations.

The Vice President of the union, Ronke Samo gave the advice when she led other leaders of the Zone on a courtesy visit to the leadership of the corps in Ado Ekiti.

She lauded the corps for their consistent fight  against kidnappers and bandits in the state.

Mrs Samo also moved for the enactment of laws that would permit officers of the corps to carry weapon and prosecute criminals.

In his remark, the commander, Amotekun, Rtd Brigadier General Joe Komolafe thanked the NUJ leaders for their support in the promotion of the course of the corps.

He said:”We came in at a time the southwest region was battling with insecurity, but with much efforts and commitment we have been able to bring the situation under control.

“Since I assumed office, we have been able to arrest 79 kidnappers and handed them over to police for prosecution.

“Other arrest made are Robbery incident 29, armed robbery 9, 72 burglars, 8 cultists, 2 ritualists, 17 drug dealers, 4 rape cases, 6 cases of child trafficking and we have successfully settled 63 cases of farmers-herders clash.”

Komolafe, pointed out that the challenges of the corps include additional operational vehicles, offices and personnel, and called on members of the public to give necessary information to the corps to ensure arrest of criminals.

CDS, General Irabor, Denies Saying Military Under Pressure To Compromise 2023 General Elections

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor has denied making a sensitive statement attributed to him in both the conventional and social Media.

The CDS was quoted, on Wednesday, to have told State House Correspondents that the Military was under pressure to compromise the 2023 General Elections.

Not a few Nigerians were, at once, both aghast and shocked that such a statement came from Irabor. They wondered if the Military had, in the past, been in the habit of compromising elections.

They asked the CDS to come clean and name those  who  putting the Military under pressure and why the Military should give room for such a situation instead of arresting them.

But in a statement issued on Friday, the Military High Command distanced Irabor from the worrisome statement. The statement, signed by Major General Jimmy Akpor, Director Defence Information, said Irabor’s answer to a question put to him had been twisted and given a sinister interpretation.

The Military High Command said neither the Military nor other Security Agencies was under any pressure to compromise the 2023 General elections.

The Statement reads in part:

“The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to several headlines and news purporting to suggest that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor CFR, had alluded to the military (and other security agencies) being under pressure to compromise the 2023 elections.

“This impression was reportedly made during the 61st Session of the State House Briefing, which featured the Chief of Defence State on 8 December 2022. The Defence Headquarters however, wishes to say categorically that, this impression is not only erroneous, but false and a deliberate or inadvertent attempt to twist what was said, to convey a sinister meaning.

“It is pertinent to mention that the referenced briefing was broadcast live on Nigeria Television Authority – NTA Channel 419 on DSTV and Channel 46 on GOTV. After the briefing by the Chief of Defence Staff, one of the correspondents asked, ‘You have spoken on military neutrality in times of elections. Specifically, based on what the Commander-in-Chief directed. Just this week, the President gave a directive to the Armed Forces to remain neutral during the 2023 elections. But my worry is that, politicians have a way of piling pressure on security forces and we are witnesses to some of the things that occurred in the past exercises. Now, given this kind of scenario, where politicians or political actors try to pile pressure on your men, how far have you prepared to go to ensure that neutrality as directed by the President is protected?’

“In response, the Chief of Defence Staff said, ‘I am glad you reiterated what the Commander-in-Chief said or his directive to the Armed Forces. I am afraid you said you had to worry. Rather than worry, I would think that trust in our cause (is paramount), why? Of course, in our training, there will always be pressure from all quarters, wanting to induce security forces, not just the military, security forces. That is what criminal enterprise is all about, that is what someone that is wrong is all about.

“But, what makes the difference is, the professional approach in dealing with the issues, and that is what the military intents on doing. That is the reason why we have ramped up our training in that regard. Sensitisation, a lot of engagements across formations and units are going on daily. And then, moreso, to articulate the Code of Conduct for all our personnel, which has been done and distributed. So, what, why we should act before, during and after the elections? These have been codified in SOPs (Standing Operating Procedures) issued to them. And so, it remains the duty of commanders to ensure the directive as indicated, that the content of SOPs is adhered to by every personnel of the Armed Forces.

“So, my good friend, please seize from worrying, rather trust and also engage others to trust that we will keep faith with these desires that we have.”

“The Defence Headquarters chose to err on the side of verbosity by transcribing the entire response by the Chief of Defence Staff so that everyone can see the quantum misrepresentation of the Chief of Defence Staff’s comments during the briefing. The Armed Forces of Nigeria however, stands ready to aid civil authority in assuring free and fair 2023 elections.

“Already, ongoing military operations all over the country (in collaboration with the Nigeria Police and other security agencies), are creating enabling environment for electioneering campaigns to hold. These military operations would be escalated or re-calibrated when called upon to do so, to support the successful conduct of the 2023 elections.

“The Defence Headquarters therefore, seriously frowns on misrepresentation of the military leadership at any forum at this critical time of our nationhood.”

Railway To Link State Capitals – Minister Of Transportation

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government has assured that the ongoing expansion of railway network across the country will cover all the State capitals.

The assurance is part of the resolutions reached at the executive session of the 17th National Council on Transportation (NCT) in Abuja with the theme: “Transportation Technology and Innovation for Socio – Economic Sustainability.”

A statement on Saturday by a Media Aide in the Ministry, Ebenezer Adeniyan, stated that the Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, who presided over the session, said the target of the rail network expansion is to touch all the 36 State capitals in the country, in no distant time.

The Minister, who acknowledged the efforts of the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, in pushing for work on deep sea port for Ondo state,

added that this will become a reality in the life of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sambo gave assurances that the Ministry will implement workable and practicable policy initiatives that will advance the efficiency of the transport sector to play a critical role in the sustainable development of the economy.

He called for a more serious synergy between the Federal Government and the States, noting that milestones of the Government will come to naught unless the State governments are on board.

The Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Adegoroye, in his welcome remarks said: “this year’s theme is a call for a paradigm shift from the well-known traditional approach to adapting new innovative technologies that will revolutionize the movement of people and goods, transform the design and operation of Transportation systems.”

Adegoroye harped on the need to embrace imminent transition in the transportation sector that will impact positively on the Nigerian transport system, noting that with growth of new technologies such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, among others, if properly harnessed will guaranty an all encompassing national development for the country.

He added: “It is imperative that we join the moving train of Technology and Innovation by keying in and supporting initiatives and plans that will evolve new and digital technology.

“To facilitate the attainment of our new resolve, we need to invest in training and re-training of our personnel, acquire state-of-the art technology where necessary, imbibe innovative policies and support collaborations among relevant Agencies/Organisations.

“This will in turn improve the quality of live of Nigerians, provide job opportunities and foster economic development.”

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine and Land Transport, Senator Danjuma Goje, in his remarks, assured of the National Assembly’s support, noting that no country can attain development without viable and sustainable transportation system.

The 4-day 17th National Council on Transportation had in attendance State Commissioners for Transportation and their Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Agencies, Captains of industries and other relevant stakeholders.

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