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Davido Buries Son, Ifeanyi; Officially Pays Chioma’s Dowry

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Davido and Chioma

By Akinwale Kasali

Music Star, David Adeleke, popular as Davido, and his Chioma, have buried their son, Ifeanyi.

Ifeanyi, three years old, tragically, drowned in his family’s swimming pool, at their Banana Island, Lagos State home, when he wandered out from the house, and headed to the swimming pool area.

Both Davido and Chioma, whose dowry he has now, officially, paid, within their difficult and tempting period, were away to Ibadan for a family function when Ifeanyi drowned. He was left with his Nanny and, at least, seven other domestic aides.

His death,  and the manner of it, shook the country, broke millions of hearts, and attracted condolences for the couple and the Adelekes from the high and mighty in Nigeria, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, main Presidential candidates, several State Governors, top corporate  business people and celebrities.

The young Ifeanyi, who was named after his Uncle, Osun State Governor- elect, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Ifeanyi  Adeleke, was buried quietly, at a private ceremony in Lagos on Saturday, November 5. It was a heart-wrenching ceremony.

While, adhering to the Yoruba custom, Davido, his father Dr Deji Adeleke, his Aunt Dupe, his Uncle, Governor-elect of Osun State and a number of other family members, stayed home at Davido’s residence in Lagos, and absented from Ifeanyi’s funeral, his mother, Chioma, insisted  on “seeing my son off.”  She was accompanied by her own mother and some other family members.

Chioma’s parents arrived Lagos from the North where they reside.

Within the period, both Davido and Chioma, very much into each other, and much in love, decided to be each other’s back bone. Before family members, according to a reliable source who spoke to this medium, Davido said he was ready to pay Chioma’s dowry. That was done before  mourning but relieved family members, who agreed that their son’s death is a test of their love.

While Chioma is from Owerri, Imo State, Davido is from the popular and rich Adeleke family, Ede, Osun State. The two have been together since their University days at Babcock University, Ogun State. Ifeanyi was their only child.

Tinubu Group Attacks Emefiele; Calls Him Incompetent; Wants Him Suspended, CBN Probed

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

A support group for the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, has blamed the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, for the economic woes of Nigeria. The Group, South-South Agenda for Tinubu/Shettima, SSAT, has, therefore, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the Governor from office, and audit the CBN.

In blaming Emefiele, SSAT opined that Emefiele’s poor policies have painted the APC in unflattering colours before Nigerians.

In a statement, on Friday, signed by its National Coordinator, Bitrus Nta Oliver, SSAT called for the immediate suspension of Emefiele from office to enable the CBN Board and the Financial Reporting Council to audit the books of the apex bank without any interference.

The auditing of the CBN books, the Group submitted, will expose Emefiele’s alleged incompetence, and how much damage he has done to the CBN as well as Nigeria’s economy. It gave President Buhari 96 hours to adhere to its demands, or face a legal suit.

Said the SSAT: ” If we do not see any action by the President within the next 48 hours, we shall immediately launch a suit to compel the suspension of the Governor from office because, as the Chairman of the Board of the Bank, he cannot be a judge in his own case.

“So, he will have to step aside while the Board looks into the books alongside the Financial Council.”

A couple of weeks ago, Emefiele announced the redesign of three Naira denominations – N200, N500, N1000. He was surprisingly disowned by the Minister for Finance, Budget and Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed. She said neither she nor her Ministry was consulted, and that she read it in the  newspapers like everybody else. The Minister went ahead to condemn the redesign.

But she was, in turn, denied by the President who backed Emefiele and said he approved of it.

For the records, Emefiele is a card-carrying member of the APC, and had aspired to run for the office of the President under the Party.

Hundreds of millions of Naira later, Emefiele bowed under the pressure of condemnation, and chickened out of the race which Tinubu won.

Emefiele is from Delta State, South-south of Nigeria.

Why I saved money – Obi

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

Following some criticisms against Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, for saving money while he was a two-term Governor of Anambra State, Obi has offered the reasons why.

Following are his answers to the questions and criticisms.

“I saved N48,629,473,469 in local currency some of which we  tied to  specific  projects like  payment of 2-year salary of civil servants we employed for him ( his successor) not to be encumbered, Agulu and Onitsha Hotels, Awka and Nnewi Malls and some critical roads like the completion of the dualization of the Dual carriage road over which we had got permission to do so and be paid back by the Federal Government. We also left some for him to continue what we were doing aggressively”.

On the US$156 million (about N27 billion at that time and about N75 billion today when the  yields are added),  Peter Obi explained the purpose thus: “After our study of the Chinese phenomenal achievements as we were coming to the end of MDGs, we learned that the Chinese Regional governments were able to attract a number of investments because of the ability to contribute or partner with the investors in setting up productive facilities within their regions.

“For example, some of them effectively made equity contributions of 10-20%, which they were able to achieve due to their robust saving.

“So, our calculation was that if the state would be able to save a particular amount (US$18-20 million) as we did in eight years, up until 2030 at the average interest rate of a little over 6%, we would be able to achieve about a billion Dollars in savings and earnings. We would then use about 50% of this amount to attract investments, considering that the average Chinese Small and Medium Scale Enterprise(SME), for example, was set up with about two million dollars.

“Our goal was that if we would be able to invest 25% in each enterprise, which is $500,000, we would be able to achieve 1000 SMEs facilities scattered all over AnambraState, which would jump-start aggressive economic growth within the State, especially as income from oil is coming to an end”.

As Gov Akeredolu’s Mother Burial Rites Begin, Cleric Charges Children To Emulate Virtues

By
Ayodele Oni
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Akeredolu's Mother Burial Rites

By Ayodele Oni

Commendation Service for the late Lady Evangelist Grace Bosede Akeredolu (JP) was on Friday held at the Diocese of Ibadan (Anglican Communion), St Anne’s Church, Molete, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, led siblings and other family members to the well-attended Commendation Service.

He was joined by his wife, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu; members of the State Executive Council led by the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu; and several other dignitaries.

The Church auditorium of St Anne’s, Molete, Ibadan, was filled to the brim as friends, political associates, colleagues and other dignitaries joined the Akeredolu family for the service.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde said the remains of the late Lady Evangelist Grace Bosede Akeredolu (JP) arrived at the Church premises before 9am.

In his sermon,The Lord Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, the Most Rev (Dr)Joseph Akinfenwa, who led several other Bishops at the service, expressed joy that the deceased lived a fulfilled Christian life till the end.

In his sermon titled “Which is Your Choice”, he particularly congratulated the Governor and his siblings for surviving their aged mother.

The Bishop equally extolled the virtues of their late father, Jacob Akeredolu, who also served as Reverend in the church.

Bishop Akinfenwa told Governor Akeredolu and his siblings that their father and mother have passed the baton of faith to them, adding that they must be ready to take over from where their parents stopped.

Noting that the late lady Evangelist Grace Akeredolu had chosen the appropriate time to go, the Bishop said the nonagenarian succeeded in raising successful children.

He described both Rev Jacob and Lady Evangelist Grace Akeredolu as a man and woman of good characters who loved, feared and served the Lord and humanity in their lifetime.

“She was a Lady Evangelist and that means a lot. She served the Lord to the end,” the Bishop stressed.

He also admonished the children of the departed to continue in the good ways of their father and mother.

The Burial arrangements continue  with Service of Songs at St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Imola Street, Owo and burial on Saturday.

Nnamdi Kanu To IPOB Members: “Do These While We Await Supreme Court Ruling”

By
The Source
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Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has directed IPOB members on the seven rules they must keep while he awaits the ruling of the Supreme Court on his case.

The seven things were disclosed by Ifeanyi Ejiofor, one of Kanu’s Counsels, after a visit to him, on Thursday, at his Department of State Services’ detention facility.

Kanu is in the custody of the DSS on the orders of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which has been trying him for sundry issues bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism brought against him by the Federal Government.

But a couple of weeks ago, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, discharged and acquitted Kanu of all charges, based on the fact that it declared his extraordinary rendition from Kenya, in June, 2021, illegal, which it said renders any other charges against him null and void.

The Court ordered his immediate release from custody. The charges quashed by the Court of Appeal were eight, as the Federal High Court had already quashed seven out of the 15-count charges against him.

But an appeal against Kanu’s release, filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, for stay of execution of Kanu’s release, was granted by the same Court of Appeal.

Kanu appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court. It is the ruling of the SC that he is, now, waiting for. And while he does that, he has appealed to IPOB members to keep, strictly, to the following directives, according to Ejiofor.

“1. That this critical time calls for the greatest circumspect among his followers because the enemies are relentlessly exploiting the vulnerable, to sustain their status quo, and further blackmail the IPOB, ably led by Nnamdi Kanu, which is a peaceful self-determination movement.

“2. He has a hard stance in the condemnation of crimes and dissidents and reiterated that he has never condoned nor supported criminality of any form. Hence, the criminal elements who are involved in making lives unbearable to our people should be immediately fished out and dealt with as such. They have no place in IPOB’s peaceful self-determination movement.

“3. That the general public and indeed his people should be notified in unmistaken terms that nobody is receiving any instruction from him for the purpose of encouraging dissidents’ behaviours and accordingly, disassociates himself from any person(s) who is mischievously feeding the public with such blatant falsehood. Kanu stressed that he has since made his stance public, which position is clearly contained in a viral short clip, recorded during one of his appearances in Court.

“4. Kanu reiterated his call for total calmness in the entire South-East region and particularly queried the mental state of those who are relentlessly waging war against his people, the very people he had sworn to protect and make life better for.

“5. Kanu’s movement was founded on a peaceful bedrock, in consonance with the universally recognized rights of indigenous people to self-determination, as clearly encapsulated under the extant laws.

“6. That the activities of the dissidents/marauders who engage in criminal activities have further emboldened the Nigerian security agents, to unleash terror on innocent people of the South-East region. The court rulings in his favour might not go down well with the Federal government, thus asking his supporters to be peaceful and calm to avoid being blackmailed.

  1. “In conclusion, Kanu reminds Umu Chineke to note that the successive landmark victories he recently recorded in various Courts of competent jurisdictions against the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), may not have gone down well with his traducers, including the FGN. Hence, he insists that all hands must be on deck to enable saner minds to identify the real enemies in our midst, and those being used by the establishment to try to implicate and/or blackmail him.”

He added: “From every indication, it is very likely that a date will soon be assigned at the Supreme Court of Nigeria for the hearing of Kanu’s Appeal against the Order staying the execution of his judgment. We will not hesitate to inform Umu Chineke, through the approved channel once a date is given.”

PVCs Lost In Osun, Ogun Inferno To Be Replaced, As INEC Says Incident Will Not Affect 2023 Polls

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Against backdrop of attacks on offices of Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) the electoral umpire has insisted that there is no going back on next year’s general elections.

The Chairman of the Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, said the incident will not deter the Commission from conducting transparent and credible elections in 2023.

Mahmood spoke against the background of Thursday’s attacks on the commission’s offices in Ogun and Osun States.

Speaking during an emergency  meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security on Friday, Yakubu expressed worry, noting that if no urgent and decisive steps were taken, the attacks would intensify as we approach the election date.

“As we all know, a peaceful campaign heralds a peaceful election. We need to take decisive steps to stem the ugly trend.

“Nigerians expect a decisive action from ICCES. It is important that we move swiftly to apprehend perpetrators, prosecute them as required by law, and reinforce security around election officials and electoral infrastructure around the country.

“As we have stated on several occasions, an election is a multi-stakeholder activity involving not just INEC and the security agencies.

“The political class plays perhaps the most critical role in ensuring peaceful elections. We must all rise to the occasion. Nigerians are watching us. The world is watching us. We must never disappoint them.

“The Commission wishes to reassure Nigerians that we remain committed to delivering credible elections in spite of the challenges.

“The attempt to sabotage or weaken our resolve will not deter us from conducting transparent elections in which only the votes cast by Nigerians on Election Day will determine winners of elections.

“The Commission is taking urgent steps to repair the damage to the building and replace the facilities in the Ede South Local Government Area so that the office becomes functional again immediately.

“For Abeokuta South Local Government Area office, the destruction was total.

“Consequently, the Commission is relocating our staff to the old State office (also known as INEC Office Annex) in Oke-Ilewo area of Abeokuta.

“All activities involving the 15 Registration Areas (Wards) and 445 Polling Units in Abeokuta South Local Government Area will henceforth be coordinated from the new location in Oke-Ilewo.

“Similarly, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ogun State has been directed to compile the Voter Identification Numbers of all the 65,699 Permanent Voters Cards lost in the attack from our database and submit the record for immediate reprint.

“We want to assure affected registered voters in Abeokuta South that no one will be disenfranchised as a result of this dastardly act.”

Obi To Nigerians: We Are Not Here To Make False Promises

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Peter Obi

By Akinwale Kasali

Labour Party, LP, Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi says for the nation to achieve its potentials, it needs to undergo a rebuilding process.

The former Anambra State Governor, therefore, urged Nigerians to trust him and his Party in resolving, restoring and rebuilding the country.

He assured that under his watch, if elected president, Nigeria would change for the better.

Speaking in Aba, Abia State during the flag-off campaign of the governorship candidate of the party in the state, Alex Otti, Obi lamented that major industries that made up the centre of local production of goods in Aba and other major cities in Nigeria, were dying because of adverse business policies in Nigeria.

We are determined to rebuild Nigeria. We want to secure Nigeria and stop insecurity.

“We have visited the power Geometric Company in Aba and assured them that Aba will have constant light if we are voted into power. We will fix the roads such that a journey from Aba to Port Harcourt will be 30 minutes only.

“We are not here to make fake promises. I urge Abians to read the manifesto of our governorship candidate in Abia State, Chief Alex Otti, I can assure you that he will keep to all the promises made in that document.”

In the same vein, Otti in his speech urged Abians to insist on character, capacity and competency as factors that will determine their choice of candidates to vote for in the 2023 general election.

Otti implored the electorates to come out enmasse to exercise their franchise, stressing that Do not shun voting because every factor that encourages rigging of election has been expunged from the lexicon of the Independent National Electoral Commission. Cast your votes and insist that the results are uploaded to server before leaving your voting centre,” he added.

Nasarawa: Magistrates Protest Punitive Transfer, Calls For Reversal

By
Ayodele Oni
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Magistrate

By Ayodele Oni

Magistrates in Nasarawa state are set for war over what they described as interference in their duties by the state government.

The Magistrates Association of Nigeria (M.A.N) State Branch expressed its displeasure with the punitive transfer of a Magistrate, Aisha Abdullahi.

Abdullahi was reported to have  issued a bench warrant against the state commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport, Engr. Idris Mohammed.

This was contained in a statement in Lafia, after an emergency meeting of the association.

The statement which was signed by Mairiga Abdullahi, and Emmanuel  Gabi, the Chairman and Secretary states  “Sequel to the recent development in the judiciary particularly with regards to the Magistracy, the entire Magistrates and it executive frown at the recent transfer of one of its members (Aisha Abdullahi) whilst a subsisting bench warrant was issued against a Defendant.”

According to the statement, “the Magistracy and its executive are aware that transfer is a routine exercise in the judiciary, however, it notes that in this case, it has the tendency of dampening the morale of the judiciary.

“The recent transfer of Aisha Abdullahi is capable of dampening the morale of Magistrates and litigants when handling high profile matters.”

“The Magistrates are calling on the authorities to, in the interest of fair hearing, Justice, and harmonious co-existence, reconsider and reverse the recent posting of Aisha Abdullahi.

“Doing so will restore the confidence of Magistrates, litigants and the image of the judiciary at large.”

Flashback: Soludo Nigeria’s Worst CBN Governor – Okonjo-Iweala

By
The Source
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Charles Soludo and Okonjo Iweala

The Minister, in a statement by her Special Adviser on Media, Paul Nwabuikwu, said Soludo singlehandedly mismanaged the banking sector between May 2004 and May 2009 and plunged the country into  accumulation of liabilities that would cost tax payers about N5.67 trillion.

Soludo recently criticised management of the Nigerian economy under President Goodluck Jonathan, ranking the administration “F” on economic management.

Daily Trust reports that both Soludo and Okonjo-Iweala served under former president Obasanjo as members of his economic team.

Soludo said while Jonathan lacks achievements to point to, or clear future plans as he seeks re-election, his main challenger, the APC’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, also lacks specific plans on how to salvage Nigeria’s economy should he win election’s next month.

But the finance minister said in her reaction that Soludo had pandered to so many past leaders “that Nigerians are asking one more time – what position is Soludo gunning for now?”.

“There is definitely an issue of character with Prof. Charles Soludo and his desperate search for power and relevance in Nigeria. Nigerians should therefore beware of so-called intellectuals without character and wisdom because this combination is fatal,” she added.

“In fact, the banking sector was brought to its knees and required a massive bailout by Nigerian tax payers. This bailout was done by his successor (Sanusi) who cleaned up all the bad debts and transferred them to the newly-established AMCON, from where they are managed today”, she said.

According to her, after consolidation, the regulatory functions of the Soludo-led CBN were very poorly exercised. As governor, she argued, Soludo failed to adequately supervise and regulate the now larger banks – an anomaly in financial sector supervision.

“In fact, as every Nigerian knows, in his time there was very little separation between the regulators and the regulated which is a violation of a key requirement of central banking success. This led to infractions in corporate governance in many banks as loans and other credit instruments running to hundreds of billions of naira were extended to clients without following due process, and several of these loans could not be paid back. This massive accumulation of bad debts or non-performing loans as they are called in the banking sector meant that our banks were ill-positioned to deal with the global financial crisis when it hit,” she added.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala is, currently, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation

Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway: Gani Adams Wades In, Says Police Has Failed

By
James Orji
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Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams has urged Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state and Babajide Sanwoolu of Lagos states to allow the newly inaugurated Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, dependable and the South West Security Stakeholders Group, SSSG to flush kidnappers out of their hideouts along Lagos-Ibadan Express Way.

Kidnappers have stepped up their criminal activities along the express road in recent weeks, as Nigerians demand action from the governments of the three states.

The source magazine reported the kidnap of motorists, including a former vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan last month.

Also this week, suspected Fulani criminals attacked a commercial coastal bus with passengers, injuring many occupants of the vehicle.

Some of the victims later ascribed their escape to the grace of God.

Others Nigerians who spoke vowed not to travel on the ever busy expressway, until the criminals are cleared from the sorrounding bushes and forests.

Adam, by his position as the generalissimo of Yorubaland said his men are now ready to rid the express of criminal elements.

In a statement made available to the magazine signed by his Special Assistant on Media Kehinde Aderemi, the Aare Onakakanfo concern over the incessant attacks on travellers plying the road.

He said since the police had failed to honour the earlier arrangements to provide effective security along the road,it is pertinent to ask the governors to allow the OPC,and Amotekun and other security groups like the Hunters, Vigilante, Agbekoya, COMSAIC, Isokan Oodua under the auspices of  the SSSG to get rid of terrorists from the bushes.

Expressing worry at the increasing spate of insecurity along the road, Iba Adams stated further that the only way out of the quagmire is to allow the OPC to face the battle for the restoration of peace along the road.

“There has been an abnormal surge in cases of kidnapping along the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way.

The information at my disposal indicates the surge in the numbers of terrorists and kidnappers hiding at Sapade,a 62. km town to Ibadan.

“Kidnappers are now having a field  day, even as it is obvious that the police couldn’t help the prevailing situation.

“The situation is getting out of hand and I believe it is now  time for the three governors of Oyo,Ogun and Lagos to allow us flush the bandits out of their hiding place.

“The road is the most strategic road in the south west,we would not allow terrorists to set our region ablaze through constant attacks.

“I want to assure the governors that we will flush out the terrorists from their hideouts within three weeks.

“We can  also work with Amotekun to salvage the situation and secure the road and other  roads in the south west.

 Warning terrorists and bandits to stay away from southwest region,  he insists that the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way is a strategic road in the region and he would not fold his arms to see such facility to be taken over by terrorists that have been attacking travellers.

“Lagos-Ibadan Express Way is not Kano-Kaduna or Abuja road that have become havens for terrorists. So,the governors should allow us to rid them of this road”,he said.

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