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Nigeria National Carrier To Take Off With Petrol Aircraft

By
Ayodele Oni
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Air Nigeria

By Ayodele Oni

More facts have emerged on the take off of the country’s national carrier, Nigeria Air, as promised by President Mohammadu Buhari.

Buhari, had during a ministerial retreat in Abuja, revealed that the national carrier will take off before the end of this year.

To this end, the Federal Government has ordered 20 new petrol aircraft for the national carrier fleet, Air Nigeria, out of which only nine have been delivered in preparation for the start of the airline in December.

Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, who disclosed this at a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, assured that Nigerian Air will start as earlier approved.

At the meeting held at the National Assembly Complex, Gbajabiamila expressed concern over the project saying that some issues needed clarification.

The Speaker declared “The issue of the national carrier is very important. It is something we are all paying attention to. We just want to make sure we get it right.

“There have been some misgivings. Some issues have been raised. But there are issues that need clarification.”

The Minister,  however said that President Muhammadu Buhari at the just concluded ministers’ retreat gave a marching order to ensure that the goal was achieved.

“When I came in as a minister, we didn’t arrogate to ourselves knowledge and wisdom. We believe in the stakeholders on whose behalf we are servicing.

“Having been made minister, I came out with a road map which in my little wisdom will help transform civil aviation in Nigeria.

“I ran it through the system within the ministry and we commissioned some consultants to conduct a market survey and see where we are as an industry at that time. We set out to concession our airports not to privatize but to concession the airports.

“We also set out to put a proper airline the size, capacity, dynamics and the population and the markets and the complexity of the nation, Nigeria and also set out a leasing company and develop the cargo terminals and so on.

“When I came to the House of Representatives, I found out that the act that was signed by Jaja Nwachukwu in 1963 was the act that we were using charging pounds and shillings in 2003.

“We hurriedly, as we were departing in 2007, got the civil aviation passed in 2006 with some imperfections.

“There were some important ones. roadmaps and to God be the glory that today we have done what we thought is good as an act.

“So, all these roadmap items are private-sector-led and driven. It’s intended to do the framework and the foundation and steer it in such a way that it will be beneficial to the people and make it a private sector initiative to which the government has some interests, understanding the civil aviation in value addition, improving the GDP and jobs.

“The national carrier is in the works and we have advanced significantly. Mr President in concluding the retreat has directed that this airline must work between now and December. And it will work by God’s grace.

“We have ordered 20 brand new training aircraft that use petrol. So far nine have been delivered. All these in the national carrier efforts.”

Explaining the reasons why the Federal Government should have a national carrier, Sirika stressed that they are giving every Nigerian the opportunity especially those in the aviation sector to participate in the airline so that the project can be workable.

“We have so far from all the submissions identified the partners, and the investors and we are currently negotiating and processing the AOC.

“We are twerking the business case in such a way it will give us an advantage and set in the most efficient manner. So, I want to commit here by the grace of God, between now and the end of the year, the airline will work.”

Ihedioha: Frustrations, Palpable Anger, Caused Agitations In SE; Cites His Case As Example; APC Quotes SC Judgement

By
The Source
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By Gideon Njoku

In a viral video, a former Governor of Imo State,who was, also a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, The Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, has cited his removal from office, as Governor, as one of the reasons for what he called palpable anger and agitations in the South-east.

“A man won an election. Unjustifiably, you took him out. That couldn’t have happened in a pure democratic setting. And so there is palpable anger in the land. There is frustration. And so that is what has given rise to a movement, given rise to frustration.”

But in another viral post, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has quoted a relevant section of the Supreme Court judgement which removed Ihedioha from office, as a way of telling him that no injustice was done to him.

Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was, in 2019, declared the duly elected Governor of Imo State. He was sworn-in on May 29, 2019.

But seven months into his Government, the Supreme Court removed him from office, and declared Senator Hope Uzodinma of the APC as the duly elected Governor. The SC cited over 300,000 votes that it said were deliberately not added to  Uzodinma’s votes.

While lamenting the root cause of agitations in the South-east, Ihedioha said the APC Government completely excluded the South-east from every aspect of governance and that the exclusion was enough to trigger the agitations.

His words: “In the South-east, there are agitations borne out of frustration that the APC administration kept the South-east out of governance. And, I mean, it is just very natural that our people should exhibit, show their frustration.

“A man won an election. Unjustifiably you took him out. That couldn’t have happened in a pure democratic setting.

“And so there is palpable anger in the land. There is frustration. And so, that is what has given rise to a movement, given rise to frustration.”

But the APC, obviously, in response, has posted a relevant aspect of the Supreme Court judgement which removed Ihedioha from office.

The portion reads:

“Vote due to the appellant Senator Hope Uzodinma and the APC from 388 Polling Units were wrongly excluded from scores ascribed to the appellant(to them),” the justices ruled.

“It is thereby ordered that the appellant votes from 388 Polling Units unlawfully excluded from the appellant vote declared shall be added and that the first respondent, Emeka Ihedioha, was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast at the said election.”

“His return as the elected governor of Imo State is hereby declared null and void and accordingly set aside.”

“It is hereby declared that the first appellant (Mr Uzodinma) holds the majority of lawful votes cast at the governorship election held in Imo State on March 9, 2019.”

“It is hereby declared that first appellant, Senator Hope Uzodinma, is the winner of the governorship of Imo State held on March 9, 2019.

“The certificate issued to the first defendant (Mr Ihedioha) is hereby withdrawn.

“It is hereby ordered that the certificate of return shall be issued to the first appellant, Senator Hope Uzodinma, forthwith and he should be sworn in as the governor of Imo State.”

In the past three years and counting, the South-east has been ravaged by, atimes, violent agitations by, mostly, youths which have cost loss of lives, and have grounded the economy of the region to zero, almost.

I know Those Who Attacked My Convoy – Apostle Suleman Speaks After Surviving Assassination Bid

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Founder of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman said he knows those behind attack on his convoy in Edo state.

The controversial religious leader   spoke after surviving an armed attack in Auchi, Edo State on Friday.

No fewer than seven persons were reportedly killed during the bloody attack, said to be an attempt by a gang of daredevil gunmen to kidnap Suleman.

A source explained that the echoes of automatic gun fire could be heard far away from the maddening scene of the incident.

The attack,o which took place at the popular Water tanker junction along Warrake Road, sub urban Auchi, caused pandemonium as people scamper for safety during the shoot out between the security details attached to the Auchi born Suleiman and the gunmen. It  lasted for about ten minutes,

The source added that the suspected kidnappers apparently laid a snare for the clergyman as he journeyed to Auchi through Auchi-Warrake Road, which is now very popular with motorists following the collapse of Benin-Auchi Road.

In a video posted on his Church ’s TV social media pages, Suleman said he will not be mentioning names of the suspects for now.

He said, “I just escaped an assassination attempt where seven people were killed. They opened fire on my car.

“My wife and my kids were there. The escort car with police, they killed the policemen. They killed the other people in the escort car, the bus, that were with us. They killed seven people.

“People who did this are expecting me to come out and mention their names, so they can come out and deny it but I won’t do that. The truth of the matter is, you can’t kill me, my life is in the hand of God, I’m a man of God.”

How Apostle Suleiman Escaped Death In The Hands Of Assassins; Three Police Officers, Four Others, Killed

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Attack on Apostle Johnson Suleiman

By Adesina Soyooye

Scandal-prone Apostle Johnson Suleiman, Founder of the  Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, on Friday, October 21, 2022, luckily, escaped brutal death by whiskers. That luck did not, however, extend to seven other people who were in his company. They were fatally shot.

The seven include three Police Officers and four others.

Suleiman, in a sad reminder, and a repeat of the fate which Anambra-born Senator Ifeanyi Ubah suffered about three weeks ago in Enugwu Ukwu, Anambra State, was ambushed by gunmen on his way to Auchi.

The gunmen opened fire on the Apostle’s convoy. By the time they were through, seven people were feared dead.

It is not known how Suleiman escaped death in the hands of the gunmen. Perhaps, like Senator Ubah, he rode in a bullet-proof  SUV.

Many people who reacted to the attack agree, and have dismissed the insinuation that he was saved by “anointing oil or stickers”

Said @SirDavidBent in a tweet: “Apostle Suleiman escaped that assassination attack only because he was in a bullet-proof car. Let’s not start any theatrics about “Blood of Jesus” or anything.”

Another tweet by @johnmoyewa read: “Apostle Suleiman could have been killed 11. Anointing oil didn’t save him. Stickers didn’t save him, and he was saved by bullet-proof car. Madira oops. Make Dem deceive you. R.I.P. to those who died”

Suleiman’s Lawyer,  Samuel Amune, confirmed the fatal attack and how and where it happened.

Amune told The Punch: “He was returning from a journey and he had almost gotten to the shores of Auchi when some assassins attacked him. Three of his Police Orderlies, among others, died. He traveled and just finished a program in Tanzania day before yesterday (Wednesday)

“He was returning to Auchi when the gunmen attacked him along Sabingida close to Warake. So, he had passed Warake, and was entering the boundaries of Auchi when the attack happened.”

During the attack on Ubah, six people, including four Policemen attached to him, and two of his Personal Aides were killed.

On Friday, same day Suleiman was attacked, Professor Charles Soludo, Anambra State Governor, announced that a number of those who attacked Ubah’s convoy, and fatally shot the six people have been arrested.

Attack On Atiku, Okowa: “Wike On His Own” – Ikpeazu

By
The Source
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Okezie Ikpeazu

By Charles Igbo

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has drawn a borderline between his support for Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, and any fight against Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, respectively.

Ikpeazu is one of the Governor – allies of Wike who have since the Presidential Primary of the Party where Atiku beat Wike, and the loss of the Vice Presidential slot by the Rivers State Governor, waged a war against the leadership of the PDP, and distanced themselves from the Party’s activities, including the Presidential Campaigns.

Led by Wike, the four Governors, Ikpeazu, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo), are demanding that the National Chairman of the Party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, must step down for a Southerner because both he and Atiku come from the same Northern region.

But not a few people see Wike’s leadership of the team, and his open romance with the All Progressives Congress, APC, as selfish. They ask: If Atiku had chosen Wike as his running mate, would Wike have led a group to fight the Party over Ayu?

Would he have been, almost, categorical in his hints that Atiku would lose the 2023 Presidential election?

However, Ikpeazu has distanced himself from any fight against the aspirations of Atiku and Okowa.

Answering a question during an interview session, Ikpeazu said much as he aligns with Wike in the fight for fairness and equity in the PDP, he would not join him in any fight that would jeopardize the chances of Atiku and Okowa at the Presidential polls.

Ikpeazu: “I am a Party man. I am not going anywhere. I will remain in the PDP. But it is good that I am in a place where I can ask those questions about what my people will naturally confront me with.

“I am not going to support Wike to battle Atiku or Okowa. But I will support Wike in principle to demand the inclusiveness of the South-east, the South-south and the South-west.”

For record purposes, the National Secretary of the Party, Samuel Anyanwu, is from the South-east, while the Vice Presidential candidate is from the Igbo- speaking area of the South-south.

Ikpeazu, serving out his two term tenure as Abia State Governor, is running for a Senatorial seat under the PDP. His main challenger is the former Minority Leader of the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, who suddenly decamped from the PDP to the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to enable him contest for the seat against Ikpeazu.

Abaribe had earlier stepped down from the Governorship race, under the PDP, when he got no support from Governor Ikpeazu.

Obi Crowned ‘President of the People’ In Benue; Enlivens Flood Victims

By
The Source
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0
Peter Obi visits Benue Flood Victims

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2023 Presidential Election has been crowned the President of the People by some agonizing Nigerians who are victims of the ravaging flood in some states of the Federation.

Obi clearly brightened the mood of the victims in Benue State on Thursday as he arrived in a canoe paddled by the jubilant youths to identify and sympathize with them. As they sighted him in the canoe the people forgot their pains and shouted ‘Obikererenke’, Obi’s popular campaign song, declaring him: ‘President of the People’ ‘Our President is here’ ‘You are our President’, ‘You will get all our votes’

The LP candidate who was moved to tears at the condition he found the people, sympathized with them and promised to assist in alleviating their excruciating hardship.

Recall that Obi had, during the week, suspended National Campaign to enable him visit and sympathize with those Nigerians going through intense pains as a result of the  natural mishap.

Obi had also called on his colleague-Presidential Candidates of the other parties to do same by suspending their campaigns for the national emergency.

He continues the visit to other flood areas in the country.

Anambra: Gunmen Who Attacked Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s Convoy Arrested; 15 Shops, Vehicles, Set Ablaze In New Attack

By
The Source
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0
Ifeanyi Ubah attack

By Charles Igbo

Professor Charles Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, revealed on Friday, October 21, 2022, that the murderous gunmen who attacked the convoy of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, have been arrested.

Soludo announced this heart-warming news just when the Amorka Community in Ihiala Local Government Area of the State came under attack by rampaging gunmen  Thursday night. In the attack which sent the villagers, passersby and motorists running for their dear lives, 15 shops were completely razed down, and a number of Vehicles set ablaze.

No reason has been adduced for the tragic attack.

Ubah miraculously escaped death about a month ago, thanks to God and his bullet-proof SUV, when gunmen ambushed, and swooped on his convoy  as he was passing Enugwu Ukwu Community. He was a target for assassination.

In the attack,  Ubah lost six people who included four security personnel attached to him, and two of his personal aides.

But speaking on Friday at Enugwu Ukwu, the same Community where Ubah’s convoy was attacked, Soludo, who attended a funeral ceremony, revealed that some of the murderous gunmen have been arrested while security agents are on the trail of those  still at large.

Soludo: “Three weeks ago, it was in this same Community that some elements chose to attack Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. I want to tell you that we have arrested a number of those involved in that attack. We are still on the trail of the remaining people.

“We will not let people like that define who we are. This is Anambra State, and we are peaceful people. We must embrace peace, even in the coming election. Anambra is peaceful. Anambra is safe.

“We have chased away bad elements in the State. The pockets of crime you hear are just a small number of tye bad elements left. They will not disappear in one night. Even in civilized places, there are still few bad element.”

The attack on Senator Ubah shook the South-east to its foundation, almost, confirming that nobody is safe.

PDP Rally In Edo: Govt Alleges Plan To Cause Chaos

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Edo State Government has warned trouble makers to desist from plans to disrupt the Presidential campaign rally of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), scheduled to hold in the state, on Saturday.

A statement in Benin by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie, said that the Government will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law to bear on any individual involved in the nefarious act.

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Col David Imuse, Rtd, had earlier alleged that Governor Godwin Obaseki was planning to coerce civil servants to attend the PDP Presidential Campaign rally.

According to the APC chairman, the plot by  Governor Obaseki to hide under the Supreme Court judgment in the case of INEC vs Musa cannot hold water because it did not anyway set aside or nullify rules 030422 and 030423 of the Public Service.

“The extant rules ban civil servants, whether on duty or leave of absence from offering himself/herself or nominating anyone else as a candidate for any elective public office, indicate publicly his/her support of or opposition to any party, candidate or policy and engage in canvassing in support of political candidates.

“Accordingly, in the overall best interest of neutrality, harmony, integrity and development of Edo Civil Service, all civil servants are strongly advised to reject and resist every attempt to drag them into partisan politics and endeavor to completely insulate themselves.”

But, Ogie noted that the Government will ensure that the thugs are not only apprehended, but tried and prosecuted in accordance with the State’s criminal conspiracy and public disturbance law.

“These individuals are hereby warned that the government will bring the full weight of the law upon any individual involved in this reprehensible act.

“We will ensure that they are not only apprehended, but tried and prosecuted in accordance with the state’s criminal conspiracy and public disturbance law.”

The scribe added that the unscrupulous individuals were intimidated by what he described as the momentum of the large and organic following that the PDP enjoys in the state, disclosing that the plot to cause chaos and discredit the rally was hatched at a meeting.

“These mischief makers plan to plant dissidents who will hold insignia and emblems of other political parties and make chants during the PDP campaign rally with the intent to create a false impression of crisis and disrupt the rally.

“The government is fully aware of this reckless plan which will clearly put the lives and property of Edo people in danger.”

Two factions of the PDP are laying claim to control of the machinery of the party in the state.

NDDC Appointment: Group Urges President Buhari To Comply With NDDC Act

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

A Group under the auspices of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to judiciously comply with the Act that brought into existence the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

PANDEF said that the procedure in the appointment of a substantive Board and Management of the NDDC should be followed to the letter, stressing that there was nothing to celebrate in the sack of the Commission ’s Interim Administrator, Effiong Akwa.

President Buhari had, on Thursday, announced the removal of Akwa and  replaced him with the most senior Director in the Commission, Engr. Emmanuel Audu Ohwavborua, an Urhobo man from Delta State.

Ken Robinson, PANDEF’s National Publicity Secretary said that appointment of a substantive Administrator for the NDDC is long overdue.

In a Statement by Robinson on behalf of PANDEF, he said, “We received the news of the sack of the Interim Administrator, and that is the third or fourth interim administrator for the NDDC in the last three years, since 2019.

“And so there is nothing one should be excited about, apart from saying that giving the inconsistencies of the government that they will follow this through and the NDDC will have a substantive board and management in the shortest possible time.”

The statement expressed worry about why the Federal Government is about to constitute a Board for the interventionist agency in the twilight of its administration.

“Why is it that about seven months to the end of the administration, you are appointing Management and Governing Council for a statutory Council? It means that the new administration will inherit whoever is appointed and obviously would be based on the recommendation of people in the corridors of power and may not follow merit.

“But whatever it is, they have promised to do what is right. They have said they are going to send nominees for the board and management to the National Assembly. We hope that would be done as quickly as possible, and that the Niger Delta people will have a board of the NDDC that is what it should be.”

The PANDEF said the Federal Government should strictly follow the guidelines of the NDDC Act in the appointment of the chairman of the new board.

“And that is one of the challenges that we have heard in terms of governance. Lack of adherence to the rule of law.

“The Act establishing the NDDC is explicit in terms of chairmanship of the board. That it rotates alphabetically. The last Chairman of the board of the NDDC was Edoma Egba, from Cross River State.

“So, if we follow that order, the next Chairman of the board of the NDDC should come from Delta State. Anything otherwise is a breach of the Act establishing the commission,” the statement stated.

India 2022: Nigeria Makes History, Defeats USA, Zooms Into Semi Final

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Nigeria Flamingoes at Indian U17 World Cup

By Akinwale Kasali

After a pulsating 90 minutes of encounter with football powerhouse, the United States of America, the Nigeria Under-17 Female National Team, the Flamingoes, made history, by booking a place in the Semi finals of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in India.

With the match deadlocked at 1-1, penalty was needed to separate the two footballing nation with the African powerhouse coming out victorious 4-3.

The Americans dominated the entire duration of the match as the Flamingoes were forced to defend all through the match having just a shot on goal throughout the duration of the match.

Nigeria took the lead in the 26th minutes courtesy of Omamuzo Edafe from the penalty spot after the Video Assistant Referee, VAR, spotted a foul on Amina Bello to award Nigeria the spot kick.

Before the half time break, USA equalized through Amalla Villarreal in the 43rd minutes.

In the second half, the Americans didn’t rest on their oars mounting pressure on the Nigerians but failed to convert their chances.

On several occasions, Flamingoes goalkeeper, Faith Omilana was called into action and she was equal to the task.

As the match was drawing to a close, Coach Bankole Olowookere replaced Goalkeeper Faith Omilana with Chikamso Jiwuaku who made two saves to give the Flamingoes victory and advance into the semi final stage.

Coach Olowookere stuck with the team that played Chile in the last group match,  with Faith Omilana in goal, Miracle Comfort Folorunsho, Tunmininu Adeshina, Shakirat Oyinlola and Miracle Usani in the defense,

Taiwo Afolabi, Blessing Emmanuel, Bisola Mosaku and Omamuzo Edafe in the midfield.

While Opeyemi Ajakaye and Amina Bello led the attack.

In an interview with FIFA TV after the match, Coach Olowookere said that the world should be prepared for more upsets as his team advances into the next stage.

The Flamingoes will face the winner in third Quarter Finals match between Tanzania and Colombia.

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