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ASUU: Govs Intervene, Ndume Demand Full Payment Of Lecturers’ Salary

By
James Orji
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Efforts are ongoing between state governors and federal government to pay the salary of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Governor Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa state has said.

Badaru, a governor of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC made this revelation during a meeting with the executive of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANs in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The university lecturers resumed last month from an eight-month-old strike following a deal brokered by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

But the decision by the federal government not to pay them for the period they were on strike, in line with its no-work-no-pay policy has threatened the truce reached by the two parties.

But hope may be on the horizon for the lecturers if the comment of the Jigawa governor is anything to go by.

Speaking to the university students leaders, the governors said the intervention is necessary in order to resolve the crisis once and for all, adding that the government will use legal means to end the problems in the nation’s ivory towers.

Meanwhile, Senator Ali Ndume has urged the federal government to cut the salaries and allowance of members of the National Assembly to raise funds to pay ASUU.

The Chairman Senate Committee on Army said there is an urgent need to find a lasting solution to the ASUU problem, adding that it was wrong not to pay the lecturers full salary because they embarked on strike.

According to him, “Even if it means that the National Assembly will reduce sitting allowances or be paid on casual allowances basis whenever they sit at the Lower and Upper chambers, by cutting the recurrent expenditure in the budget of the federal lawmakers to settle the ASUU arrears, let it be

“We only assemble twice or so in a week and get paid as such.”

“So why will the federal government cut university lecturers’ salaries because they went on legitimate strike? Constitutionally, they’re fighting for their rights and privileges.

“As a matter of priority and as a public servant in the legislative chambers, we do not work, so why don’t you just give us half salaries and then pay ASUU,” Ndume said.

I Have No Connection With Aggrieved PDP Governors; They Are Not Loyal To Me – Jonathan

By
The Source
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0

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, has dismissed as wicked and mischievous, the story that the five  PDP Governors who are at loggerheads with the leadership of the Party and the Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubarkar, have his backing, and are fighting his battle.

In a statement from his Media Office signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Ike Eze, Jonathan described the reports as bizarre.

The statement reads in full:

Our attention has been drawn to news media and social media reports linking former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s name to the current troubles in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with a false claim that the aggrieved PDP governors are demonstrating their loyalty to him. We would have ignored the strange tale since it is obviously baseless. However, we are offering this clarification because we have been reached by many Nigerians who are concerned that such fabrication with a vague and suspicious attribution could be given undeserved prominence on the FrontPage of some national dailies.

We are also not unmindful of the fact that, this being an electioneering season, bizarre tales are often contrived, propagated and weaponized to either smear others or deliver cheap political advantage to the purveyors.

Any Atiku Supporter Is An Enemy – Governor Ortom
The Five Governors at loggerhead with Atiku Abubakar.

First, we would like to make the point that it is not out of place if there were crises in a political party like the PDP and a former President who served under the party platform is called upon to intervene. That being the case, we initially did not see anything wrong with the headlines in some papers, indicating that the former President was being persuaded to help resolve the issues in the party.

However, we are dismayed that the seemingly purpose-minded headlines were only cast to mask the mischief of the sponsors of the story and hoodwink the unsuspecting populace. Our attention was called to provocative and insulting statements in separate but similar versions of the story in different news media, either claiming that “the whole thing we are seeing in the PDP … is orchestrated for President Jonathan,” or that “he (Jonathan) is encouraging Governors Nyesom Wike, Makinde, Ikpeazu, Ugwuanyi and Ortom to behave the way they are doing”, knowing that  “these five governors are fighting his cause.”

We believe that such duplicitous statements could not have emanated from the camps of those who truly wish the party well. It simply shows that the so called ‘sources’ of the story are not disposed to the peace and unity they pretend to be seeking in the PDP.

How could anybody turn around in 2022 to accuse Jonathan of bearing a grudge against the PDP when the former President had campaigned vigorously for the party and its Presidential candidate during the 2019 elections?

Those who insinuate that Dr. Jonathan is not happy with the PDP’s Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, because of whatever roles he played ahead of the 2015 elections forget that the former President actively campaigned for Atiku in 2019, attending the flag off of his campaigns in Sokoto and subsequently participating in the campaigns in some states like Rivers and Bayelsa.

The fact that Dr. Jonathan stood out as an exemplary politician who, throughout his political career, abhorred treachery and mean-mindedness, and played politics without bitterness, needs no gainsay.  Unlike many of his detractors, the former President has, out of office, progressed to a higher level of statesmanship, faithfully applying himself to causes that promote peace, love, unity and progress, across the entire west African sub-region.

It is Dr. Jonathan’s wish that the PDP is able to resolve its internal crisis, unite all members and have a good showing in the forthcoming 2023 elections. We wish to however point out that it will be difficult to achieve this aspiration if some forces in the party continue to engage in mudslinging, disinformation and manifest tendencies that negate the values that are dear to loyal party members.

Former President Jonathan had served this country meritoriously at both the state and federal levels. He has now been out of office for almost eight years and Nigerians have come to trust and love him for who he is. While in office, he had no enemies to fight. He still has no enemies to fight, now that he has become a private citizen.

Again, NNPC Justifies Our Positions On Mele Kyari-led Management Team – CNPP, Civil Society Coalition Say

By
The Source
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0

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and allied civil society groups, under the aegis of Coalition of the National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs), have said that the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited), Mele Kyari has continued to justify positions they held on the management team of the old and new NNPC.

The convener of the Coalition and CNPP’s Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, in a statement jointly signed by the National Secretary of CNCSOs, Alhaji Ali Abacha, urged “President Muhammadu Buhari to leave a better legacy in the petroleum industry by immediately sacking the current management team of NNPC Limited for gross incompetence.”

The coalition was reacting to media reports credited to the NNPC GCEO, Mr. Kyari, who absolved the company of any blamed for the persistent smuggling of petroleum products across the borders as well as the Mallam Kyari’s disclosure that his life was being threatened for working to reform Nigeria’s oil sector.

Noting that the comments credited to the NNPC boss were “fresh clear vindication of the CNPP and the CNCSOs on our positions on NNPC”, the coalition said that “the only option left for the NNPC GCEO Mallam Mele Kyari is to resign forthwith.”

The coalition added that by “blaming continued smuggling of petroleum products on sustained corrupt subsidy regime, with no individual or company undergoing diligent prosecution, the NNPC has proved beyond reasonable doubts that the management team of the company needs immediate replacement as they have ran out of profitable ideas.

“Today, the perennial petroleum products scarcity  occasioned by corruption and incompetence on the part of the NNPC management team led by Mallam Kyari remains an ugly part of the daily lives of poor masses in Nigeria who cannot afford a single meal per day due to high cost of food and other basic needs.

“Out of experience, Nigerians are aware that any marginal increase in the pump price of petroleum products results in obvious increase in food prices as movement of goods from one location to another depends largely on road transportation.

“This is why the secret in the pump price of petrol, and non-availability of fuel at most fillings stations, including those operated by the NNPC, remain the indelible footprints of incompetent managers of Nigeria’s petroleum resources.

“We were shocked that while speaking at a summit organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, Mallam Kyari insinuated that `as long as arbitrage is there, you will continue to have these issues and you cannot hold NNPC accountable for it because it is a value chain that involves everything and everybody.`

“This obvious expression of helplessness by the GCEO of NNPC Limited is the highest level of the display of incompetence by the managers of Nigeria’s oild industry as leadership is all about taking responsibilities and providing solutions to challenges.

“The trademark of the NNPC has been the manufacturing of excuses. Is NNPC saying that they cannot set up monitoring team and systems that will ensure that fuel lifted from their depots are delivered at the assigned destination in this computer age?

“Recently, the same NNPC blamed fuel scarcity in the country on the flooding of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. Today, the company has returned to the age-long tale of blaming smuggling for fuel scarcity, even when the Federal Government has all the security apparatuses to arrest such trends should there be such sabotage.

“The question is; why has NNPC not initiated any new refinery project if it thinks that fuel subsidy is a major problem?”, the CNPP asked.

On the alleged threats to his life by those who are opposed to changes caused by the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, the coalition said “the GCEO of NNPC gave himself out when he said that “There is threat to life, I can say this, I have several death threats but we are not bothered about this”.

“We therefore challenge the GCEO of the NNPC to make public any evidence of such threats to his life or present same to security agencies if indeed the threat to his life narrative is not another round of fabrication to seek public sympathy by shading crocodile tears.

“Why would those behind such criminal act as threat to the life of an occupier of such an important position in Nigeria’s economy not be apprehended and brought to book so that the country can reap the benefits of the Petroleum Industry Act?

“We recall that the NNPC has been severally accused of failing to met Nigeria’s OPEC quota in the international oil market, which the company conveniently blamed on oil theives.

“When accused of not refining Petroleum products locally, the NNPC management resorted to the known wasteful venture referred to a “Turn-Around-Maintenance” of the existing Nigeria’s refinaries.

“Since the life of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, Nigeria’s refineries remained comatose with no plans to build any new one because the huge budgets for subsidy and maintenance of irredeemable refineries end up in private pockets.

“Needless to mention the numerous uninvestigated allegations of non-remittances of oil revenues to the Treasury Single Account (TSA), subsidy payments without appropriation, illegal oil swap deals and sales, among economic sabotage from within.

“These are among the cases the incoming administration must confront to uncover the hands behind these dirty deals and sanitised the oil sector after May 29, 2023”, the Coalition stated.

Uzodimma Inaugurates APC Liaison Officers For Imo’s 305 INEC Wards

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma - Imo Civil Servant Promotion

The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has inaugurated 305 Ward Liaison Officers for the 305 INEC Wards in Imo State, charging them to defend the achievements of his Shared Prosperity Government.

Performing the ceremony at the Sam Mbakwe Expanded Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri on Thursday,  November 10, the Governor said their inauguration was a way of enhancing his administration’s inclusiveness, whereby more critical stakeholders are engaged to work and contribute their quota to the Shared Prosperity administration.

He reminded the Officers that before now Imo people were living in fear of insecurity in the rural areas but thanked God that the situation has been brought under control with relative peace now reigning in Imo State.

He said their appointment was also done to sustain the peace that has been achieved by the government in their environment.

The Governor told them that effective the day of their inauguration, they have become “part and parcel of government,” and challenged them “to go there and defend government programmes and activities alongside other party structures already on ground.”

The Governor told them that they are not accountable  to anyone but to him, hence they are “to report straight to his office,” explaining that by their appointments they are members of the Political Bureau.

He however cautioned them not to be disrespectful to their leaders at home, noting, there should not be conflicts in their domains.

He told them that if they need anything or lack anything they should feel free to tell government as government is their own.

Governor Uzodimma challenged them to start work immediately, reminding them that as government liaison officers, they should ensure they “get for government  accurate information of happenings in your wards, shine your eyes to know when enemies want to penetrate their area and bring such to the knowledge of the government so that government will intervene on time.”

The Governor assured them that if they “serve well they will be rewarded well.” 

He also told them that God is the one who institutes government, reminding them that as Liaison officers they are known by every security agency, be it Police, Army or Civil Defence, because they know you are there.

In his acceptance speech on behalf of his colleagues, Barr. Eke Uzoma said they are “elated to be part of the inclusive government and that by the appointment, the Governor has truly returned power to the people.”

He promised that they will put in their best by driving the achievements of the Prosperity Government to the grassroots.

Tension As FUOYE, Family Battle Over Landed Property

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Federal University, Oye Ekiti

By Ayodele Oni

Still trying to settle down for academic work after the end of prolonged strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, (FUOYE) is battling with another issue, which may lead to hostility with host community.

Some family in the host community, Oye Ekiti are laying claim to ownership of land, currently being occupied by the university community.

One of the claimants, the  Oguntuase Family accused FUOYE of encroaching on its land after it gave out substantial portion of the property free of charge to the university.

The spokesman  and secretary of the Oguntuase Family, Mr. Sunday  Oguntuase claimed that the family had conceded 37 hectares out of their property to the federal university.

The issue has generated serious fear and  tension within the university community as some unknown persons place fetish substances at the entrance of the university.

It was learnt that security personnel that were detailed to clear the fettish substances too could not do so.

This situation continued for almost a week before the vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Abayomi Fashina sought an audience with the traditional ruler of the community for possible reconciliation with concerned families.

An Aide to the Vice Chancellor, said all issues regarding land matters have been resolved stressing that the current claim might be a false alarm afterrall.

Special Adviser on Media, Wole Balogun, said “Oye Community and the university management have met and resolved issues relating to landed property of the University and the attacks by some members of Oye community and this means there is peace between the two parties.

“So whoever is now raising allegation of encroachment on their land by the university management may just be rasing false alarm.

“The landed property was given to us by the federal government and if any one is alleging that we intrude on their landed property, such family should approach the appropriate authorities of government.

“We have  also been having some members of Oye community disturbing construction works on going to develop the University and the University management has taken a civil step on this development.”

The aggrieved family also claimed that about 98 percent of  the remaining six hectares left for the family has been acquired,  thereby creating tension and anxiety in the affected areas, as well as the entire town due to large number of those involved.

“Apart from the 37 hectares, we have another 15 Hectares where our cocoa plantation is located but the school had to channel its major road through the land, thereby dividing the land with 9 hectares falling on the school, the remaining 6 hectares is left for the Oguntuase Family.

According to the family spokesman the remaining six hectares are already being encroached by the University.

ICPC Scrutinizes Constituency Projects Of Lawmakers

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

As part of its over sight functions, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has kicked off tracking of 33 constituency projects execution in Ondo state.

The projects, under scrutiny are those facilitated by some of the Senators and House of Representatives members from the State.

The exercise, which started on Tuesday at Ile-Oluji, Ikare-Akoko and Oka-Akoko in the South and North Senatorial Districts of Ondo state, aims to investigate fraudulent procurement practices in the award of contracts for the selected projects.

Mr. Osove Andrew, the Assistant Chief Superintendent Investigation, ICPC, who led the team to Ondo state, explained that the exercise was to ensure that all government funded projects are executed fully to their specifications and to make recoveries where the project costs are inflated by contractors or are poorly executed.

“The first project we visited at Ile-Oluji was an empowerment project that are already done. So to capture that kind of the project is not that very easy, but from the list, people that took the motorcycles were 124 and we can actually call them to ascertain, to make sure that they actually took the delivery of the motorcycles.

“Also the second project we visited which was the construction of fence of Muslim Primary School Ilepa, Ikare-Akoko, we can see that the fencing is good. But the gate has two bridges which need to be addressed.

“While the third project, road work  in Oka-Akoko is still under construction. One of the things that is of concern is that the contractor has over short his expected date of completion.

“But from the information we’ve gotten from the agency supervising the project, they told us that he has re mobilized to site last month and we are hoping that they will continue and complete the job.

“Above all, the essence of this exercise is basically to ensure that federal government projects assigned to communities have value for money.

“Value for money in the sense that, when project are signed they are done to specification and they are beneficial to community as expected at the point of allotment of those projects.

“So when projects are not done, when they are done, but not to specifications, those are the issue we are here to address.”

Clement Akerele, Chairman, Owese Community Development Committee, who spoke with journalists on behalf of the Oka-Akoko community said “actually this road project started  long time ago and we have been expecting its completion.

“The road leads to the Federal Medical Centre Annex in Oka. The condition of the road is too bad, we do find it difficult to transport patient to the hospital.

“We are appealing to the contractor handling the road project to gear up to complete the road for us, the road is giving us difficulties, we cannot transport patient from our community here to the FMC Annex in Oka.”

Lagos/Ibadan Expressway: Police Move On Kidnappers Ahead Xmas

By
James Orji
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Kidnappers Arrested in Zaria

The Ogun and Oyo state police commands have assured commuters plying the Lagos-Ibadan expressway of their efforts to curtail the activities of kidnappers on the ever-busy highway.

The magazine had earlier reported the fear of Nigerians on the danger posed by the criminals who have stepped up their nefarious activities on one of the busiest highways in Africa.

Last month, suspected kidnappers abducted some motorists, among them a former deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.

The don has since been released after paying over N50 million ransom, but other victims remain in the net of the kidnappers.

More Nigerians were however gripped with fear on Tuesday after suspected kidnappers attacked a commercial coastal bus very close to the Sagamu Interchange.

Not a few motorists plying the road have vowed to stop traveling on the road until it becomes kidnappers-free.

Speaking on Thursday, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the police commands in the two states are now collaborating to deal with the kidnappers and other criminals posing dangers to people on the road.

He explained that the police had earlier chased the kidnappers away but they returned recently to cause problems for motorists.

According to him, “I am only sure of the attack on Tuesday. But as I am talking to you, the Ogun and Oyo states Commissioners for Police are on the road for on-the-spot-assessment. We are there now; we are brainstorming on how best to solve the insecurity on that road.

“Don’t forget that these hoodlums used to be on the road until last year when our officers attacked and killed some of them and recovered three Ak-47 rifles from them, while some escaped with injuries.

“It was those that escaped with gunshot injuries that regrouped, and they have started launching attacks now; but we will never allow them.”

The criminals are expected to step up their activities ahead of the festive period, according to security experts, the police must ensure constant patrol of the stretch of the highway day and night to keep the kidnappers away.

Twitter: Musk Hints Of Bankruptcy One Month After Takeover

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Elon Musk, the new owner of the social interacting platform, Twitter has disclosed that the company could file for bankruptcy within a year.

Not a few twitter users in Nigeria are currently worried over the future of the company following what they described as some erratic decisions taken by the CEO in the last few days.

For instance, some users are not sure they will be able to cope after the new chief executive said some category of users will be charged for using the platform.

Musk took over the company less than a month ago and has taken some actions, including the sack of many employees for being unproductive.

The billionaire on Thursday gathered employees for an impromptu all-hands meeting at Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters, giving workers about an hour’s notice. It took place after Musk earlier that morning sent Twitter staff an email, his first company-wide communication since he took over almost two weeks ago. In that note, he ended remote work and warned employees that the “economic picture ahead is dire.”

Most of the questions during the meeting related to his email and the recent string of resignations of company leaders in the wake of last week’s mass layoff, including those heading up internal systems security, privacy and compliance. Yoel Roth, Twitter’s head of trust and safety, departed on Thursday.

One employee asked why Musk ended working from home, and the billionaire looked “visibly annoyed,” and “just shut her down” saying that’s the way the company will operate going forward, according to a person at the meeting.

Another employee asked Musk how he plans to deal with attrition at Twitter.

“I don’t know how to answer that, but I can tell you it’s about being hardcore,” Musk said, according to a person who witnessed the meeting. “A small amount of exceptional people who are highly motivated can do better than a smaller group of high achievers with moderate motivations. If you can’t perform hardcore, then Twitter is not for you.”

Musk floated the idea of bankruptcy after being asked by another employee what would happen if his plans to grow company revenue, right now based largely on building out a subscription business, didn’t pan out. One person who witnessed the meeting said people “weren’t expecting that.”

Bankruptcy is typically seen as a last ditch effort by companies, but it could be beneficial to Twitter since Musk loaded it with debt to fund his $44 billion leveraged buyout. Twitter now has more than $10 billion in debt. The interest payments on that may be so high that the company may struggle to meet those obligations, especially if advertisers are pulling back during a weak economy. Even before the deal, Twitter struggled to make a profit.

Bankruptcy would give Musk the chance to cut that debt load, and lower interest payments. The punishment for such a move would be that Twitter’s lenders and bondholders would likely take a large stake in the company, in return for giving up their right to be paid the interest and principal they are owed. The result would, in theory, mean that Musk and other investors in his deal would own a lot less of Twitter, but he could still maintain control.

The richest man in the world hasn’t shied away from the idea of bankruptcy in the past. In June, Musk said he was worried about keeping Tesla out of bankruptcy amid supply-chain issues.

Insider

Attack On Atiku: Victim Dies As Police Step Up Investigation

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Atiku's Convoy Comes Under Heavy Attack In Maidugiri

Amidst the bickering by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over the alleged attack on the convoy of Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Borno state, on Wednesday one of the victims of the attack was said to have died in the hospital.

Mohammed Ali Jajari, the PDP governorship candidate in the state made this known on Friday while speaking on Channels Television, saying other victims of the attack are still in critical conditions after sustaining various degrees of injuries.

The PDP candidate said the deceased died at 9pm on Thursday, even though he did not mention his name.

The PDP candidate was said to have been attacked on his way from the Shehu of Borno’s palace during the party’s campaign rally in the state.

Over 70 people were said to have been injured when Atiku’s convoy came under gun attack by yet-to-be-identified persons.

A slew of vehicles was also destroyed, an incident that is now under investigation according to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.

The PDP has called for a thorough investigations into the matter, after it blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC for the attack. The APC has denied the allegations.

Demanding an investigation, Debo Ologunagba, PDP spokesman urged the IGP to investigate the constant attack on its members by the APC hoodlums.

In a statement he issued after the alleged attack on Atiku, Ologunagba said the ruling party is afraid of the overwhelming support the PDP presidential candidate is receiving from Nigerians.

He said the APC cannot stop the momentum by simply unleashing violence on its members.

The statement read in part: “The attack on the PDP Presidential campaign train as it made its way into Maiduguri city amidst thunderous cheers by the people further confirms APC’s frustration, bitter envy and disconcertedness over the overwhelming popularity of the PDP and our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar in Borno State, the North-East Zone and across the nation; for which the APC has resorted to violence.

“Our Party has information about how agents of certain APC leaders mobilised the thugs with the aim to escalate violence in Maiduguri and prevent the PDP from holding its Presidential Campaign Rally in the State.

“Nigerians witnessed with horror how hundreds of APC’s armed thugs stationed at major roundabouts and intersections in the city of Maiduguri unleashed violence on the PDP Presidential Campaign convoy and innocent citizens going about their lawful activities in a gruesome attack that left over 70 persons gravely injured and hospitalised.

“This attack is consistent with APC’s habitual resort to violence in the face of rejection by the people as also witnessed in the attack on the PDP’s Presidential Campaign Rally in Kaduna State on October 17, 2022.

“APC’s barbaric and anti-social behaviour is contrary to the Peace Accord it signed on September 28, 2022 and constitutes a clear and present danger to democracy, our electoral process and the 2023 general elections.

“It is clear that the APC has since become confused, frenetic and chaotic following the daily mass exodus of its key members into the PDP across the nooks and crannies of the State as witnessed at the PDP Presidential Campaign Rally today in Maiduguri in support of Atiku Abubakar and in clear rejection of the APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima,” the PDP spokesma said.

How & Why Beautiful DSS Personnel Committed Suicide By Jumping Into Lagos Lagoon

By
The Source
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0
Adetutu

By Gideon Njoku

It has happened a number of times. So, when the news broke Thursday that a young lady in her late 20s or early 30s committed suicide by jumping into the Lagos Lagoon from the Third Mainland Bridge, people just sighed and said: “The usual. Signs of the hard times”

But a couple of hours later, when the identity of the young lady became gradually making the rounds, palpable shock was the reaction. It was followed by two simple questions: Why now? What happened?

In fact, the appropriate questions should have been: Why would a young lady, pretty as a rose, good job, with all her life before her choose to die in a most horrendous manner? Why would she kill herself by drowning?

Adetutu Marriage Proposal Event
Adetutu’s Marriage Proposal Event

Tutu, as she was known was a personnel of the Department of State Services, DSS. She worked as a non combatant personnel and had just been promoted to the rank of an Assistant Superintendent.

In addition, she was an award winner, represented the Service in a sporting activity, and had won the Director General’s award of the best non-combatant personnel. Because of her positive activities, she had the rare privilege of posing for a photograph with the  Director General, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, CFR.

As an icing on the cake, she recently got proposed to by her boyfriend. The marriage proposal was at a hotel in Lagos, with a number of her friends and family present. A source said the event  where her boyfriend knelt down and proposed held just last week.

A video of the proposal seen by this reporter showed a beautiful Tutu in a lovely black gown excitedly stretching her finger for her boyfriend, who wore white, and got down on one knee, to slip  the engagement ring on her finger.  Two young people, her joy knew no bounds.

So, what would make her commit suicide a few days later?

An unconfirmed source told this medium that Tutu was dumped by her boyfriend who had just proposed to her. Nobody could say why.

The shocked Uber driver whose passenger she was before she decided to plunge into the lagoon gave an inkling into what the problem was, thus confirming the story that she was dumped by her man.

He said while she was in the car, Tutu was having a very heated argument with a man he seriously felt was her fiancé. It was serious. When they drove up to the Third Mainland Bridge, the Uber driver said Tutu asked him to stop. He did not say if she told him anything. But he said he got down from the car, and plunged into the lagoon.

Hours after the incident, first responders were still scouring the lagoon either to rescue her, or pick her body.

A couple of people are blaming the Uber driver. Why did he stop on the bridge, especially, after he knew she was arguing with her man?, they ask. But others say: “Perish the thought. And they ask: What if she shouted that she was kidnapped by the driver because he refused to stop?

However, not a few people are blaming her. Said one devastated woman who pleaded anonymity: “She was stupid. Why would she commit suicide over a man? What about her family? Didn’t she have family? All she needed was counselling. Let the man go. Her family should not mourn her.”

Another interjected: “Her man would never have peace. Her manner of death will hunt him forever.”

Neither the DSS nor the Lagos State Police Command has issued a statement at the time of filing this report.

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