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Insecurity: Finally, Zamfara Asks All Citizens To Carry Guns

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

It is now official. In Zamfara, all citizens are free to carry guns. The State Government has given it an official seal. Once you are of age, and qualified, just apply for a licence to buy and carry a gun. Nobody will say no to anybody. Not the Commissioner of Police. Not anybody.

The State Governor Bello Matawalle, took this drastic and unprecedented action, following the escalating insecurity in the State. Bandits and terrorists run riot in the State. And, inspite of the spirited efforts of Security Agencies, to tackle them, like ants, they multiply by the day. When everybody carries a gun, the State Government reasoned, they can protect themselves from the monsters.

Following is the statement from the State Government on why it has become imperative for its subjects to carry guns, and the modalities for issuing it to them.

The statement was signed by Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, the Commissioner for Information.

“Following increase in the activities of bandits in various parts of the State and the Government’s commitment to ensure adequate security and protection of lives and property of the citizenry in the state, particularly during this rainy season, Government has resolved to take further measures to deal with the recent escalating attacks, kidnapping and the criminal levies being enforced on our innocent communities.

“This act of terrorism has been a source of worry and concern to the people and Government of the State. Therefore, in order to deal decisively with the situation in our respective communities, Government has no option than to take the following measures:

“A: Government has henceforth, directed individuals to prepare and obtain guns to defend themselves against the bandits, as Government has directed the State Commissioner of Police to issue license to all those who qualify and are wishing to obtain such guns to defend themselves.

“Government is ready to facilitate people, especially our farmers to secure basic weapons for defending themselves.

“Government has already concluded arrangement to distribute 500 forms to each of the 19 Emirates in the state for those willing to obtain guns to defend themselves.

  1. “People must apply from the Commissioner of Police, license to own guns and such other basic weapons to be used in defending themselves.

C.” A secretariat or centre will be established for the collection of intelligence on the activities of informants.

  1. “People are strictly warned and advised to make sure that any information or intelligence about an informant must be true and nothing but the truth, as all information on such informants must carry correct data on the suspects, including their pictures, correct names, address, occupation and witness to testify the genuity of the information given, as government is taking punitive measures against any one found as informant. Any person who give wrong information against anybody, will be served the same punishment with an informant and will be treated as such.
  2. “Government has requested the state House of Assembly to pass, as matter of urgency, the informants bill before it, to enable government take the drastic measures on informants as contained in the bill.
  3. “Government has ordered for the recruitment of 200 additional Community Protection Guards in each of the 19 Emirates of the state, making it 500 per Emirate, to increase their manpower and strengthen its force and capacity to deal with the bandits.

“To further ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of these measures, as well the proper implementation of these measures, government has also decided as follows:

  1. “Formation of a Special Committee to receive intelligence on the activities of informants.

This Committee has the following composition:

  1. Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe Sardau( Lamidon Kaura), SSG, as Chairman
  2. Alh Ibrahim Sulaiman, Chief of Staff to the Governor – Member
  1. DIG Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe, Commissioner Security – Member
  2. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, Commissioner Information – Member
  1. Hon Nasiru Masama, Commissioner Youth – Member
  1. Sani Abdullahi Wamban Shinkafi, Honorary Adviser to the Gov – Member
  2. Hon Abubakar Mohammed Dauran, Specie Adviser Security – Member
  1. Hon Sanusi Wanzammai, Commissioner, State INEC – Member
  1. Captain Mai Riga T/ Mafara – Memner
  2. Sani Gwamna Mayanchi – Memner
  3. Bello Bakyasuwa Soja to serve as the secretary to the committee and their terms of reference will be given to them by the office of the SSG on Monday.
  4. Formation of additional paramilitary unit to support control and command to properly and effectively reinforce the operations of our community protection guards CPG.

This newly established unit has the following structures and appointments:

  1. Retired Commissioner of Police Mamman Anka as Commandant – General
  2. Capt Aminu Mada rtd – Deputy Commandant General Operations
  3. Sulaiman Lawali Zurmi – Commandant Operations
  4. Bashir Nafiu Gusau – Commandant Mobilization.
  5. Alh Aliyu Na’ibi Karakkai – Commandant Surveillance and Intelligence.

“Other members of the Control and Command Centre of the Community Protection Guards are:

  1. Shi’itu Makera T/Mafara
  2. Bello Dankurmi
  3. Dogo Na Bukkuyum
  4. Re – constitutimg the State Committee on prosecution of banditry related offences.

Government has also reconstituted the state committee on prosecution of bandits related offences as follows:

  1. Dr Sani Abdullahi Wanban Shinkafi as Chairman
  2. Ibrahim Sulaiman

Chief of Staff to the Governor – Member

  1. Rtd Justice Nasiru Umar Gummi – Member
  2. CP Mamman Anka rtd – Member
  3. Engr Mamuda Aliyu Maradun – Member
  4. Rep of the Nigerian Army – Member
  5. Rep of the Nigeria Police – Member
  6. Rep of the DSS – Membet
  7. Rep of the Civil Defence Corps – Member
  8. Rep of Hunters – Member, while
  9. Barr Aminu Junaidu Kaura

Hon Attorney General and Commissioner for justice – Secretary to the committee.

“Furthermore, in view of the deteriorating security situation in Mada, Wonaka, and Ruwan Bore Districts of Gusau Local Government, as well as Yansoto emirate in Tsafe local government, His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Matawalle MON, Barden Hausa and Shatiman Sokoto, has approved the immediate closure of all.markets and Kara in these districts and Yandoto emirate indefinitely. In addition this, government has equally banned riding of motorbikes and selling of petroleum products in Mada, Wonaka and Ruwan Bore districts, as well as Yandoto emirate.

“Henceforth, all filling stations on the affected areas are hereby closed with immediate effect. Anybody found riding motorbike within the areas is considered as bandits and security agencies are thereby directed to shoot such persons at sight. Security agencies are by this announcement directed to ensure strict compliance. Anybody found violating this order should be dealt with according to the rule of law. Government would not condone any act where innocent people are being killed.

“Government is also using this medium to thank all those who honoured and respect the peace dialogue in what ever form. In the same vein, those who refused to honour and respect the peace dialogue are here by warned to allow peace within our respective communities. Government is hereby directing the military, police, civil defence and other security agencies to mobilise their operatives and take fight to the enclaves of the criminals with immediate effect.”

“Signed

“Ibrahim Magaji Dosara

Hon Commissioner for Information

Zamfara State.”

This medium could not confirm if the State Government got clearance from relevant authorities in Abuja before it took this decision of allowing and encouraging its citizens to carry guns.

Osun: PDP Slams Adamu, APC Chairman, Over Statement

By
The Source
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0
Senator Abdullahi Adamu

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has slammed the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, for ordering APC faithfuls to dig into the trenches in order to win the upcoming Governorship election.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP reminded Adamu that no election is war. It accused Adamu of inciting the people to go to war over the Governorship election which holds in three weeks time.

Said the PDP: “It is distressing that the APC has become so chaotic in the pursuit of its territorial occupation agenda that the National Chairman brews the Osun State Governorship election as a warfare in which the people must be conquered.”

Following is the full text of the statement.

Your Incitement Cannot Save Oyetola- PDP Mocks Abdullahi Adamu; APC Jittery Over Adeleke’s Popularity

“The National Chairman of the fizzling All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Abdullahi Adamu should know that his resort to incitement in the forthcoming Osun State Governorship election cannot save the colorless, rejected and sinking Governor Gboyega Oyetola from inevitable defeat in the July 16, 2022 poll.

“The PDP describes the statement by the APC National Chairman as reckless, irresponsible and shows the level of APC’s aversion to peaceful electoral process and disdain for the democratic right, freedom and sovereignty of the people of Osun State to freely and peacefully choose their leaders.

“It is pertinent to remind Abdullahi Adamu that election is not a warfare!  Directing his party members to “go down to the trenches” in the Osun State Governorship election and brazenly asserting zero tolerance for election defeat cannot find accommodation within the ambits of the law.

“Abdullahi Adamu’s comment further confirms that the APC is in mortal fear of Senator Adeleke’s soaring popularity, realizing that Governor Oyetola is no match for Senator Adeleke; a blunt reality for which the APC National Chairman has now become frenetic.

“It is distressing that the APC has become so chaotic in the pursuit of its territorial occupation agenda that the National Chairman views the Osun State governorship election as a warfare in which the people must be conquered.

“More provoking is Abdullahi Adamu’s brazen assertion that the APC has no apology for such an irresponsible, reckless and offensive “posture” against the sensibilities of the people of Osun State.

“Nigerians clearly observed the nerviness and dread of defeat written all over the APC National Chairman’s face while inaugurating and threatening the APC’s National Campaign Council on Osun Governorship Election not to come back crying in defeat; a fate that already awaits the APC on July 16.

“Abdullahi Adamu should know that the Osun State Governorship election is not about incitements, issuing of threats and grandstanding as a ruling Party.  He must understand that this election is a referendum on the monumental failure of the APC in Osun State and that the people are solidly behind Senator Ademola Adeleke in their resolve to liberate themselves from the stranglehold of the incompetent, vicious and inhumane APC administration in Osun State.

“Governor Oyetola in the last four years, displayed unparalleled incompetence in governance and ran the most ineffective and clueless administration in the history of Osun State.

“This is why the people of Osun State are determined to kick out Governor Oyetola and elect Senator Ademola Adeleke who, in any event, defeated Governor Oyetola fair and square in the September 2018 Governorship election.

“The PDP therefore cautions Abdullahi Adamu to retreat and rein in his thugs, political terrorists and band of riggers as they will be stiffly resisted by the people.

“The PDP also urges President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately call the APC National Chairman to order and advise him to accept the imminent defeat that awaits Governor Oyetola and the APC on July 16.”

The Ekweremadu Scandal: “How I was Picked At A Construction Site, Tricked To London – David Ukpo Nwamini

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
David Ukpo Nwamini and Ike Ekweremadu

By Adesina Soyooye

For the first time, “15 year old” David Ukpo Nwamini, the chap at the centre of the ordeal and scandal threatening to consume former Deputy Senate President, Dr Ike Ekweremadu, 60,  and his wife Nwanneka, 55, has told his own side of the story.

And what a story he told.

He said Senator Ekweremadu tricked him to London.

In a post on his Facebook page dated June 25, 2022, David said he was first approached by a man, Mr Okoro, where he was working as a labourer at a construction site in Lagos. Okoro asked him if he would like to go and work in London. The second time he came he took him. Finally he met the Senator. What they told him, he revealed, was that he was going to work in the Senator’s company in London. Nothing more.

An international passport and visa was procured for him. And he was taken to London.

He, also revealed that it was the hospital who reported to the Ekweremadus to the Police, not him.

Following is Nwamini, in his own words, UNEDITED. His post is titled My Journey To The UK.

“On one fateful day I met a man named okoro in a building site where I was working for my daily bread, okoro told me he like me, he want to help me achieve my dream because he saw me as a great person. He told me could you like to work in UK I just started laughing because I don’t have money for that, then I told him no am not interested and asked me why I told him I don’t have money for that.

“He just started laughing to me and told me he is going to introduce me to senator his company in UK need workers, so he could start my visa processing.

“I have no other option than to accept the offered, after two day the man came to the building site again and told me the senator wanted to see me so we could start the visa processing, then I dropped my shovel and head pan and went to bath immediately.

“Mrs okoro took me to unknown area where I haven’t been before, I was afraid maybe he is a money ritualist, I encouraged my self since I knew Mr okoro for a long time there will be no problem. Mr okoro hand me over to one young  man wearing a suit, he told me everything about  then I told him Mr okoro has already explain everything to me and I have accepted to work in UK.

“Next day these young man introduced me to another man immediately I saw the  man I greeted him, I don’t know his name then he told me he is the owner of the company that want workers in UK and ask me if am interest to work I said yes sir immediately with happiness all over my heart.

“Their later gave me a room on that mansion and snap me a passport photographs and told their will start my visa processing immediately. the kind of food I ate there my generation haven’t ate it before. I was so happy staying in that house. After a week their told me my visa and passport are ready their told we are going to leave tomorrow, I was taken to airport from there we land in UK I was taken to a hospital in UK.

“When we landed in hospital in UK I was told I must went for a medical test to check my health status, if I’m fit for the job I accepted without any question. I thank God for doctor harry who told me everything and I told him why I’m here and he later called police for my rescued. “

Tears, Anguish, Anger Mark Funeral Ceremony Of Gospel Singer, Osinachi

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Osinachi Burial

By Akinwale Kasali

The quiet Community of Amakpoke Umuaku in Abia State was enveloped in anger, anguish and tears flowed freely, rolling down the cheeks of family, friends and fans of Late Gospel Singer, Osinachi Nwachuckwu, as her remains were interred Saturday, June 25, 2022.

The late Ekwueme Crooner died on April 8, 2022, of alleged domestic violence prior to her death.  The circumstances of her death shook and shocked Nigerians.

Before it was gathered that she died as a result of domestic violence, reports had earlier suggested that she died of cancer.

On Saturday, April 9, 2022, reports emerged which suggested that she died of throat cancer. But it was  another gospel musician, Frank Edwards, who opened the pandora box. He posted that the Ekwueme singer suffered untold domestic violence before her death.

Taking to the social media network Facebook, Frank Edwards said “an unreasonable human put off her shining light.” He alleged that her husband abused and assaulted  her for which she  was hospitalized before passed on.

Frank Edwards wrote, “So that unreasonable human being finally put off a shining light.

“I won’t say much now, I’ll let the former NDDC director (AUNTY Joy Nuneih) who did everything possible to stop this from happening talk 1st, but it still happened. We tried to stop this.”

At about 11a.m on Monday, April 11, 2021, Peter Nwachukwu was handcuffed and escorted into the police van stationed in front of the Lugbe Police station in Abuja. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) said they were driving him to their house to provide evidence of the hospitals he claimed to have taken his deceased wife to for treatment.

An autopsy has now been carried out on the famous Nigerian gospel musician Osinachi Nwachukwu’s corpse to ascertain the real cause of her death. The autopsy became necessary after the late singer’s husband, alleged to have been responsible for her death, denied any wrongdoing.

Prior to the final internment on Saturday, a night of worship was held in Abuja on Thursday, June 23 while a Night of Prayer was also held in Isochi, Umunoci in Abia state on Friday, June 24, 2022.

Until her death, Osinachi was a chorister and lead singer at the headquarters of the Dunamis International Gospel Center in Abuja.

2023: Northern Group Nominates Yakubu Pam As Tinubu’s Running Mate

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Bola Tinubu and Yakubu Pam

By Akinwale Kasali

A Socio-Political Group under the aegis of National Inter-faith and Religious Organization for Peace, NIROP, has recommended Rev. Yakubu Pam as the running mate to the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Pam is the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC. He was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Group made this disclosure after a one-day roundtable discussion in Abuja, the nations Capital. They stressed that there is a need for a harmonious and balanced ticket for the APC in the Presidential election.

Bishop Sunday Garuba who spoke on behalf of the Christian Clerics at the meeting said the outcome of the APC primaries has brought to the fore the need for the APC to do all within its means to ensure a balanced presidential ticket that would stand the test of time and guarantee electoral victory.

He said the Nigerian Clerics Consultative Forum convoked the General Assembly to deliberate on the issue of a balanced and harmonious Presidential ticket that would guarantee electoral victory for the party.

Garuba said it was due to the various agitations on the choice of the Vice presidential candidate of the APC.

“This is informed by the need for a balanced ticket with the overarching objective of ensuring that the ethnoreligious balance of the country is achieved.

“The necessity of ethnoreligious balance cannot be over-emphasized, hence the various agitations within the APC on the need for the party to get it right regarding its Vice-presidential candidate.

“The consultative assembly allowed Christian and Muslim Clerics from various parts of the country to lend their objective voice to the Vice-presidential candidate of the APC.

“Deliberations on the suitability of a Muslim-Muslim ticket were scrutinized objectively by clerics in attendance,” he said

On the representative of the Muslim clerics, Sheikh Surajo Abdullahi at the meeting said the APC’s choice of Presidential flag bearer confirms Allah’s revelations regarding the personality that would lead Nigeria on the right track.

He described Aswaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a team player with an unflinching religious and ethnic tolerance, as evident in the fact that his wife is an ordained Pastor of one of the largest Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria

He urged the APC Presidential candidate to ensure that the choice of his running mate would reflect national balance and harmony.

He added that the choice of Reverend Yakubu Pam who is a well-respected Cleric from Northern Nigeria fits the bill as the Vice Presidential Candidate of the APC for his pedigree in advocating religious and ethnic tolerance in Northern Nigeria.

“Rev Yakubu Pam is well respected in Northern Nigeria and over decades served as the rallying point for peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Northern Nigeria

“Rev Yakubu Pam is a Cleric that has garnered  administrative experience with an unblemished record in service to humanity.

“Yakubu Pam is a team player whose nomination would give all a sense of belonging towards attaining electoral success” he added

Imo: Uzodinma Has No Issue With Catholic Church, Bishops, Says Govt

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma and new Bishop

By Charles Igbo

The Imo State Government has distanced itself and the Governor of the State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, a staunch Catholic, from an embarrassing, uncleared, undiscussed and unauthorised statement issued by an Aide to the Governor, to the effect that Uzodinma criticised the newly installed Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, the Most Reverend Lucius Ugorji and the Archbishop Emeritus, His Grace the Most Reverend Anthony Obinna, for not allowing him to use a lectern with the Governor’s seal to address the Congregation during the Installation Service of Ugorji on Thursday, June 23, 2022, at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri.

The Government, in a statement signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, denied any such issue between Governor Hope Uzodinma and the Catholic Church.

Emelumba emphasised that Uzodinma,as a Christian of the Catholic faith, holds the Church and its leadership in high esteem and, therefore, would never undermine their authority.

Emelumba noted that although the Church did not allow Governor Uzodinma to address the faithful with the Executive Seal of Government during the installation of Archbishop Lucius Ugorji,  the Governor did not see it as a slight either on his office or authority.

“To demonstrate that His Excellency was not in anyway bothered by that incident, he went ahead to host the Apostolic Nuncio and other Bishops that attended the ceremony to a State dinner, that same evening. So, there is no animosity to warrant the speculations of rift by the social media, particularly that of the opposition PDP,” the Commissioner said.

He noted that a personal opinion expressed by one of the Governor’s appointees  has since been retracted by the said individual.

According to Emelumba, “what the appointee expressed was her opinion and she has retracted same  to show that Government has no hand in it. Any other appiontee expressing an opinion on the issue is doing so in a personal capacity.”

Emelumba said the Governor has deep respect, not only for the Church, but for all religious leaders and would always accord them their due.

He advised the Media to learn to distinguish between Government’s official positions and mere personal opinion of some people who serve in government to avoid misrepresentation and misinformation.

Lady Chantel Chinyere, the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Networking and Communications had, on Friday, made an undiscussed and unauthorised statement to the effect that the Governor felt slighted by the lectern, incident, and so took a swipe at Archbishops Ugorji and Obinna.

Imo Government House sources told this medium on Friday that Governor Uzodinma, on reading the story,  was not only embarrassed, but furious over it, especially, as he took the lectern incident as nothing.

India 2022: Flamingoes In Difficult Group; Coach, Bankole Olowookere Optimistic

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Nigeria U-17 Grils Flamingoes

By Akinwale Kasali

The 2022 FIFA Under-17 World Cup Draw held at the FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, saw the Flamingoes of Nigeria grouped alongside Football Powerhouses, Germany, New Zealand and Chile in Group B.

This has given soccer fans and enthusiasts cold feet, putting into consideration  the teams the Nigerian Female Under-17 will trade tackles with at the global showpiece.

But Coach Bankole Olowookere remains confident that his  Girls will do the nation proud at the tournament.

Bankole said that all the Team needs is  to strategise and plan with the technical team ahead of the World Cup in India.

“It is not too early to start preparation and planning ahead of the World Cup. They (technical department) have always been impacting their knowledge to us.

“They are my father; they had a lot of experience that I need to tap from it,” he said.

He added the team’s success was a joint work of the entire team and the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and this will intensify as his Team now know their opponents at the competition.

“This is national work. It’s teamwork. We have to work together – the coaches, the players, the entire team, as well as the entire body of the NFF”.

“Our priority and our next assignment is to make sure that Nigeria does well at the World Cup,” he said.

The coach commended the team for making the country proud over their counterparts.

“The victory is not for us but to make the country proud, it was a tough journey up till now; we give God all the glory for the success,” he said.

He said Ethiopia was one of the fittest teams he had ever met on this journey.

“The second match was a tough one, we knew that they lost at home and they are coming to Nigeria for revenge.

“We decided not to give a chance to score, they are one of the fittest teams I have ever played in my life,” Olowookere said.

The Nigerian girls had a brilliant run in the qualification series for the competition. They overcame Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ethiopia en route to the tournament.

They scored 15 goals and conceded none in the process with Opeyemi Ajakaye striking six times as Nigeria sealed a ticket to India.

Africa’s other representatives, Tanzania and Morocco are in Group D and A respectively.

Morocco will also battle hosts India, the USA, and Brazil in the same group while Japan, Canada, and France complete Tanzania’s group.

The competition will run from 11th to 30th October. It was supposed to hold in 2020 but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Spain won the last edition in 2018. They are grouped alongside Colombia, Mexico, and China.

Below are the groups and teams for the U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022:

Group A: India, USA, Morocco, Brazil

Group B: Germany, Nigeria, New Zealand, Chile

Group C: Spain, Colombia, Mexico, China

Group D: Japan, Tanzania, Canada, France

Bread Scarcity Looms As Bakers Threaten Strike

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0
Lagos Bread Festival

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The price of bread may rise significantly in the next few days if the threat by bakers in the country to embark on strike is anything to go by. The strike has been scheduled to begin in three weeks. The price of bread, a major staple among Nigerians, apart from rice and beans has gone up in the last few months due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, which started in February following the invasion of the country by Russia.

Russia and Ukraine are world’s biggest exporters of grains including wheat, used in producing bread flour. The war has hampered the export of the product from the war thorn country, even as economics predicts more food scarcity if the war persists.

According to the umbrella body of bread bakers in Nigeria, the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, AMBCN the strike has become imminent due to the rising cost of flour, sugar and other ingredients used in the production of bread.

AMBCN said they will only abort the planned strike if the federal government intervened. The bread makers said they have been neglected by the government who has failed to listen to their calls to intervene over the rising costs bakery ingredients.

The association said this on Friday in a communiqué issued after a meeting of its national executive council in Abuja.

In the communiqué, signed by Mansur Umar, the national president of AMBCN, the bakers said they would embark on a nationwide strike from July 13, 2022.

The bakers said the cost of flour, sugar and other materials used in the bakery business had soared beyond the reach of many bakers, saying they are no longer making profits.

AMBCN said, “Increase in prices of bakery materials, especially flour and sugar having reached unprecedented levels, for example, flour is now between N25,000 and N27,500, so also other ingredients,” it reads.

“The National Wheat Cultivation Committee already constituted is yet to be inaugurated after over one year. NAFDAC, SON, and NESREA have turned the bakers into money-making machines by charging our members outrageous levies even at this very challenging moment.

“Consequently, the NEC in session resolved that all zones, state, Local Governments and units of our association should commence full mobilisation of our members nationwide to embark on withdrawal of services starting from Wednesday, July 13, 2022, for an initial period of two weeks.”

Since the beginning of the year, the price of bread has risen sharply by at least 40 per cent even as analyst doubts price stability in months ahead due to inflation and the war in Ukraine.

In March, the bakers warned that many of their members will not be able to remain in business due to the rising cost of bread ingredients and other raw materials, including diesel.

March, bakers complained that the hike in diesel price and exchange rate volatility caused many of its members across the country to shut down their business operation

Ondo Catholic Church Attack : Police Command Not Aware Of Arrest Of Suspects  – Spokesperson

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

There seems to be a break in communication between the Ondo State Police Command and the Amotekun Security Corps over the arrests of suspects linked with the attack on St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Owo early this month.

The South-west security network, Amotekun had on Thursday informed the world that those suspected to be behind the attack had been arrested.

Amotekun went ahead to claim that the operation which led to the arrest was jointly carried out with other security agencies in the state.

However, the state Police Command has denied, saying it is not aware of any arrest in connection with Owo church attack.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Funmilayo Odunlami, said the Command was not aware of claims by Ondo State Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps that some persons suspected to be involved in the attack have been arrested.

Odunlami confirmed that the command has been working with the state security outfit, but said the it was not involved in the arrest of any of the suspects even though it works in collaboration with the Amotekun Corps.

The police spokesperson, who distanced the command from the report of the arrest of suspects in connection to the Owo attack maintained that the information did not emanate from the police.

“I can confirm to you that we are still working round the clock to ensure the perpetrators of the attack are brought to book, but as I speak, no arrest has been made and we are assuring the public that they will not go unpunished.”

The state commander of Amotekun, Adetunji Adeleye revealed that “A number of people have been arrested concerning the owo attack and I am telling you for free that the last vehicle they used before they jumped into the bush has been recovered.

“We pursued them to that point and we are still pursuing them, we will get to the root of it. The suspects being paraded were arrested within the last one month  for crimes ranging from armed robbery, cattle rustling, kidnapping, fraud.”

2023: INEC Omits APC Candidates From Senatorial Election List

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The All Progressives’ Congress, APC has no candidates for three senatorial districts in next year election, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The ruling party is likely to suffer for wrong substitution of candidates, after submitting the names of Ahmad Lawan, Godswill Akpabio and Governor Dave Umahi, as senatorial candidates for their respective senatorial districts in Yobe, Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi.

The three APC stalwarts did not participate in the primaries conducted by the party and were not validly elected.

Those that won the elections include Udom Ekpoudom, Bashir Sheriff Machina and Austin Umahi, the younger brother of Governor Umahi who willingly stepped down for him after securing the senatorial ticket in Ebonyi state.  

But INEC has refused to include the names of Lawan, Akpabio and Umahi in the list it published on Friday, on the basis that they were not validly nominated for the positions, as they did not participate in their party’s primary supervised by the electoral body.

Recall that the three politicians were aspirants in the APC presidential primaries. They failed to participate in senatorial primaries in their respective states.

After they failed to secure the presidential ticket, the Abdullahi Adamu-led APC tried to smuggle their names in through the back door as the party’s senatorial candidates.

Speaking on the issue on Friday, Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner for Information and Voters Education said Lawan, Umahi and Akpabio did not emerge from valid party primaries conducted by the APC.

Since the candidates did not participate in the primaries, INEC said it has no obligations to publish their names, as doing so will contradict the Electoral Act. Any aggrieved candidate, it said can go to court for redress.

According to him, “If a political party submits to the Independent National Electoral Commission the name of a candidate that did not emerge from party primaries or did not emerge from valid party primaries, the commission is not obligated to publish the name of such a candidate.

“The final list of validly nominated candidates will be published by the Independent National Electoral Commission on the 20th day of September, 2022. And that is for presidential and National Assembly candidates.

“What the commission has published, as of today, complies with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act which says that the moment political parties comply with the provision of Section 29 (1) of the Electoral Act in terms of the submission of its validly nominated candidates, that the commission shall publish the personal particulars of such candidates in the constituencies where the candidates intend to contest election.

“In other words, for instance, for a senatorial candidate, if a senatorial district covers four local governments, we will publish the personal particulars of such a candidate in the four local governments.

“That is exactly what we have done. And we published the personal particulars of candidates that emerged from valid party primaries. And that is what the law says we should do.

“So, if the name of any candidate was not published or if the personal particulars of any candidate were not published today, the implication is that such a candidate did not emerge from valid party primaries.”

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