There was pandemonium at Gate Bus stop, Ipaja, Mosan Okunola, Local Council Development Area of Lagos State as Area Boys and Motorcyclists, mostly the Hausa, engaged in a free for all fight, leading to the death of one person.
The said Area Boys are said to be ticketers and touts working for the Mosan Okunola LCDA.
According to eyewitnesses, the Motorcyclists had turned the estate to their park, causing traffic, as there is always congestion in the area, halting vehicular movement.
This, the area boys tried addressing which led to a fight as the Motorcyclists weren’t ready to adhere to the instructions given that they should leave the estate.
The Hausa Motorcyclists were said to have regrouped and unleashed mayhem on the Area Boys with dangerous weapons leading to the death of ene person.
The killer of dead person said to be known as Ola Federal,was apprehended.
It took the intervention of men of the Nigeria Police from Area P and Area M Police Divisional Headquarters to restore normalcy.
In a statement by the Police, it said, “Our officers responded to the violent fights that broke out in Baruwa/Gate area of Ipaja today.
Calm has been restored to the area. One person was confirmed dead.
“The killer and other suspects have been arrested while intensive patrols of the area is going on.
“Lagosians are urged to go about their lawful duties, especially in the axis as their safety and security is being made top priority”.
Former Kano State Governor and stalwart of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has showered praises on former President, Olusegun Obasanjo’s Government for leaving behind a military that was capable, disciplined and ever ready to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
Kwankwaso, who spoke on Channels Television said that he is very much shocked and surprised over what is happening in the country.
The former Minister of Defence during Obasanjo’s administration said that the Military incapability is a reflection of leadership failure of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
According to Kwankwaso: “It is very unfortunate that all of us in this country have to find ourselves in this problem. The issue of security, not only in Nigeria but all over the world is key,”
“And that is why our constitution and every other constitutions that I know put a lot of emphasis on the issue of security of lives and property.
“I’m so happy that I had the opportunity to become the Minister of Defence during the second tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and in that office I had the opportunity to work together with the Military. I believe that we left a military that was capable and disciplined and ever ready to defend the territorial integrity of this country.
“I had the opportunity to visit them all over the world, especially here in Africa and other parts of the world where they had reasons to be for operations and they did it successfully and they all returned back. Now what we are seeing today, in my opinion, is a reflection of leadership. They [the military] are trying their best…
“So, put all this together, what we are seeing today, my humble self and many other people who are associated with the military and other security agencies, are very much shocked and surprised that some of these things are happening, happening not too far away from here in Abuja.
“Happening between here and Kaduna and many other parts of this country. I believe this is the time to advise the government to do whatever they can to get better improvements so that people can have confidence in this country”, Kwankwaso said.
Pan-Igbo sociopolitical pressure group, the South East Revival Group (SERG), has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to, immediately, release popular socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest, for alleged tax fraud and money laundering.
In a statement signed by its President and National Coordinator, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the SERG said “the arrest of the Cubana Chief Priest is part of the deliberate harassment of Igbo sons and daughters for political reasons by the EFCC.”
Chief Willy Ezugwu, SERG National Coordinator
Arrested at the Lagos airport on Thursday, the Cubana Chief Priest is being quizzed by anti-graft operatives while the Commission is said to be on the hunt for his alleged accomplices.
However, the SERG noted that “money laundering and tax evasion allegations against the Cubana Chief Priest were the same allegations leveled against Obinna Iyiegbu, known as Obi Cubana, by the EFCC when he was arrested last year.
“Arrest of rich Igbos is now a fallout of an obvious script being executed by the EFCC as the Commission is now allowing itself to be used as agent of mischief against Igbos ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“When has the EFCC become a tax collector in Nigeria? If there is a tax evasion allegations against the Cubana Chief Priest, let the appropriate tax authorities take him to court.
“The EFCC is fund of arresting south east business moguls and keeping them in custody to source for evidence with which to nail them each time electioneering activities are ongoing.
“The detain-and-source for evidence tactics now seems to be a policy of the EFCC against South easterners who have continued to struggle to remain in business despite harsh economic conditions in the country.
“It is painful that the South East, which is without any reasonable federal government presence, will have her prominent citizens detained under any pretence for political reasons.
“These are people who have no other means of survival than trading and provision of services since the region was abandoned after the civil war in 1970.
“The SERG hereby demands immediate and unconditional release of Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest by the EFCC.
“We warn the EFCC to desist from harassing south easterners on fabricated allegations of money laundering and tax evasion just like they did to Obi Cubana at the pick of the Anambra State governorship election”, the SERG stated.
The Spokesman for the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Emma Powerful, has indicted Simon Ekpa and group called, “Autopilot” as the brain, allegedly, behind unrest in the South-east.
Powerful claimed that the self-proclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, Ekpa and his gang are responsible for the criminal activities across the South-east region, distancing IPOB from the illicit act.
He informed the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, who recently decided to give amnesty to the Group, that the IPOB is not responsible for the criminal activities in the region.
The Separatist Group in a statement said, “We, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to tell Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State that IPOB is not responsible for the criminality in the Southeast, including Anambra State. The Governor should know that our enemies are committing atrocities using our name in their desperation to blackmail IPOB.
Simon Ekpa
“It is a certain Simon Ekpa and his criminal gang called Autopilots that are carrying out threats against people’s lives because of non-existent Monday sit-at-home. They are criminals, kidnappers and robbers. These people disturbing the peace of our people are not IPOB members. They should be treated as criminals. IPOB doesn’t shed blood. We are a peaceful movement.
“We wish to reiterate once again that IPOB has cancelled Monday sit- at-home order and anybody or group enforcing the relaxed order is neither from IPOB nor from IPOB volunteer group. Any Governor in the region who deemed it fit to stop non-existent Monday sit-at-home order in the region is free to do so.
“Anyone caught adding to the pain of our people in the name of enforcing Monday sit-at-home order will be treated like the enemy that he or she is.
“We, therefore, warn these agents of darkness using the name of IPOB to enforce a non-existent sit-at-home to desist because if we lay hold on them.
“Why should such unpatriotic elements be inflicting pain on our people and dragging our image to the mud?
IPOB remains a non-violent movement and our peaceful approach for Biafra restoration has not changed.
“It will be recalled that IPOB leadership called for the Monday sit-at-home, and the same IPOB leadership has cancelled it.
“Nobody was given the mandate to enforce the same suspended sit-at-home using the name of IPOB.
“The only day sit-at-home will be observed in Biafraland is when our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is appearing in court, and we shall as usual make it public for all to know.”
The group added: “We hereby direct community leaders, market leaders, church leaders, and other institutions of authority in Biafra land to arrest any hoodlum trying to enforce any sit-at-home on Mondays and hand them over to IPOB.
“Such criminal elements must be treated in a language they understand.
“Again it has become imperative to state that IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has nothing whatsoever to do with the recent attack on Nnewi South Headquarters/Secretariat”, the statement reads.
The anger was unmistakable. And most people agree, justified. It was sister against sister. Or, okay, half sister against half sister. But it was all in the family. The late Chief MKO Abiola’s family.
Hafsat Abiola-Costello, many agree, looked for trouble, her half sister’s trouble, and the trouble of many Nigerians.
Hafsat is the Director General of the Presidential Campaign of Yahaya Bello, Governor of Kogi State.
Bello is aspiring to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari when the President’s tenure expires on May 29, 2023.
Neither the Abiola family nor anybody bothers with that. A brilliant, capable woman, Hafsat is free to work for anybody. But in her first public outing on the job, Hafsat seems to have put the wrong foot forward. She committed what many see as a sacrilege.
Hafsat Abiola Costello
Speaking on why she accepted to lead Bello’s Presidential aspiration campaign, Hafsat said she did because Bello has same character as his late father, MKO Abiola.
The obvious lie, according to people, outraged not a few people. They were shocked, and since then, condemnation against Hafsat’s comparison has been coming like claps of thunder. They say she mis-spoke. They say she has insulted her father’s name and memory. They say she owes the entire Abiola family and Nigerians who appreciate what her father stood for an unreserved apology.
But, perhaps, none was as outraged as Hafsat’s half sister, Tudun Abiola.
A lawyer, Tudun is a presenter at Arise Television. A daughter of Mrs Bisi Abiola, MKO Abiola’s third wife, Bisi, Tudun was stung that Hafsat equated their father to Bello.
Hafsat is the daughter of Abiola’s second wife, Kudirat, who was murdered while fighting for the actualisation of her husband’s Presidential mandate, and his release from an unjustified jail.
Speaking on Arise Television, she could barely contain her shock and anger. She said her half sister has run their late father under the bus. And abused his name and legacy. She spoke of her heartbreak and disappointment that Hafsat could dare such comparison. She reminded Hafsat that she had no permission to denigrate the Abiola name and legacy as that name does not belong to her alone. “It is our name”, she fired.
Following, some of what Tudun said about Hafsat’s comparison of their father with Bello.
“Dr. Abati, ( a co-presenter on Arise Tv) you did warn me that all kinds of characters would be coming on here, that I should brace myself. But I was quite dismayed with your interview yesterday.
“I have come to expect certain things from that Individual, but just because it is not surprising, does not mean it was not staggeringly inappropriate.
“I am referring to my half sister, Hafsat, who is the DG of Yahaya Bello’s campaign, and her making comparison to my dad.
“There were a lot of political players in his team, and not one of them decided to throw their father under the bus for the sake of their principal.
“Come out and talk about your principal, his antecedents and stands for the future of Nigeria and leave daddy out of this.
“It is not her right, because it is not her name. It is our name.
“It is the name of future Abiolas yet unborn who should be proud of the legacy. My father was tortured because according to the United Nations, it sees solitary confinement as torture. He was tortured and then, he was murdered and has left his legacy only for it to be abused in this fashion.
“And I did say that I was quite consistent because we had another gentleman on the show talking about another person he was campaigning for, and using my dad to score point. For me, it is unfortunate, being his child, everybody should just leave his name out of this.
“This is dishonesty. False equivalent, expuntation of a genuine struggle.”
Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 1993 Presidential election was locked up by the Military regime of the late General Sani Abacha after the election was cancelled by the Regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
It is a humiliation no woman prays to be given by her own husband, especially, in public. But the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, gave it to his wife on Saturday while declaring his ambition on Saturday, April 2, 2022, to run for the office of the President in 2023.
The Presidential aspirant forgot the name of his wife.
A man of many wives, the youthful Bello didn’t need to mention the names of his wives while declaring his ambition. But he chose to. And, in doing so, committed a blunder, shamed himself, and one of his wives.
As he reeled out their names, he got stuck when he got to wife number three.
Confused, he had to be reminded of the name of his own wife – Hadiza – by one obviously embarrassed supporter.
Since the incident, many are wondering and asking questions. They are asking if he has the capacity to, just in case, rule Nigeria. They say that he has given an inkling into what he would have in stock for Nigeria if he ever realises his ambition. They are asking how he would remember the million problems Nigeria has. They are asking if he would even remember the names of his Cabinet members. Or the names of States, their capitals or their Governors.
In the game of Football, what happened to Bello is called “own goal.” In his first public appearance as a Presidential aspirant, Yahaya Bello scored a goal against himself.
One cheeky fellow insists Hadiza, wife number three, whose name he forgot, should demand for a public apology, or “keep him out of the odzer room for sometime as punishment.”
In more civilised climes though, women would regard that as an insult, and force him to withdraw from the Presidential race – even before it starts.
Hafsat Abiola Costello, the daughter of late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, whose election in 1993 was annulled by the Military Junta of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has come under strong criticism.
The Convener and Director General of Kudirat Initiative For Democracy, KIND, received knocks and jabs following her submission in an interview session. This follows her appointment as the Director General of Governor Yahaya Bello’s presidential ambition. She said her Principal possesses the same qualities like her late Father.
Several Nigerians have described this statement as unpleasant considering the status Abiola attained while he was alive compared to what Yahaya Bello has done in Kogi state.
Several reactions have trailed her submission with former Senator Representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Sani Shehu, saying; “The profile of Sister Hafsat in the struggle to sustain the legacies of her father is unquestionable; but comparing Bello to Abiola is oddly unconscionable and Bogus.
Another Twitter user said, “I agree. MKO Abiola the coup financier was a “hero of democracy” the same way Murtala Mohammed the genocidaire was a “founding father.”
For David Hundeyin, he said, “It’s death that has sanitised and deodorised the stench surrounding these execrable men from Nigeria’s past”.
Aminu Ibn Massaga, who was surprised at the statements of Hafsat said, “MKO Abiola’s daughter really said that Yahaya Bello has same qualities with her father? Maybe we should send our gratitude to IBB for annulling that election.
Another Social Media User said the Standards are so low we have people now comparing MKO Abiola with Yahaya Bello. Is Yahaya Bello ready to die for his priniciples – assuming he has any?
For Ayo Sogunro, the campaign marriage between Hafsat Abiola, a Harvard Graduate and Yaya Bello reminds him of the Chude-Debola rebranding for President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Politics is such a beautiful thing because it pays little attention to morals but interests.
Where your heart is, so shall your pocket be also. Hafsat Abiola disrespected the late MKO Abiola by comparing her dad to the Kogi thief!”
Other comments are below;
…must you drag your late dad to your greedy-selfish-poverty-Pocket filled mission???
Hafsat why?
The only place left for Yahaya Bello is prison to answer all the corruption charges.
— Otunba GCFRN (@beninghone) April 3, 2022
Seeing Harvard and Cambridge trained children of MKO Abiola and Chief Remi Fani Kayode doing hatchet job for someone like Yahaya Bello will always be awkward to me.
— Odun Ola (@abbide) April 3, 2022
Hafsat Abiola, MKO Abiola’s daughter says she’s leading Yaya Bello’s presidential campaign because Bello shares some similarities with her late father. And to think that some of us have been looking at Bello with ordinary eyes fah. Issorite
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered all telephone service providers in the country to block subscribers who have failed to link their telephones line to the National Identification Number, NIN.
The federal government said it took the decision after shifting the deadlines for the linkage several times. It said the government could no longer wait for the NIN-SIM Policy implementation can proceed.
In a statement released on Monday by the Issa Pantami-led Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the administration said the blocking of the registered SIM cards should take effect from April 4, 2022.
According to the statement, “It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, gave the directive for the implementation and commencement of the exercise in December 2020, as part of the administration’s security and social policies.
“The deadlines for the NIN-SIM linkage has been extended on multiple occasions to allow Nigerians to freely comply with the Policy. The FG also took into consideration the passionate appeals by several bodies – Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Civil Societies, Professional Bodies and a host of others for the extension of the deadlines in the past.
“Accordingly, Mr. President graciously approved the many requests to extend deadlines for the NIN-SIM linkage. At this point however, Government has determined that the NIN-SIM Policy implementation can proceed, as machinery has already been put in place to ensure compliance by citizens and legal residents.
“The implementation impacts on Government’s strategic planning, particularly in the areas of security and socio-economic projections.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the implementation of the Policy with effect from the 4th of April, 2022. Consequently, the Federal Government has directed all Telcos to strictly enforce the Policy on all SIMs issued (existing and new) in Nigeria. Outgoing calls will subsequently be barred for telephone lines that have not complied with the NIN-SIM linkage Policy from the 4th of April, 2022.
“Subscribers of such lines are hereby advised to link their SIMs to their NINs before the Telcos can lift the restriction on their lines. Affected individuals are hereby advised to register for their NINs at designated centers and thereafter link the NINs to their SIMs through the channels provided by NIMC and the Telcos, including the NIMC mobile App.”
“Professor Pantami especially appreciates President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) for his tremendous support. He also commends the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Dambatta, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Azeez Abubakar along with their Management and Staff, as well as other notable bodies whose efforts have seen to the monumental success of the exercise.
“The Minister also extends his thanks to the telecommunication operators for their support towards the success recorded.
“The Honourable Minister also emphasized that enrolment for the NIN is a continuous exercise and NIN is a precondition for service in Telcos, banks, Nigerian Immigration Service, and for several other government services. He also encouraged Nigerians and legal residents to visit NIN registration centres for the enrollment and issuance of valid NINs.
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra state has pleaded with the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB militants to lay down their arms in exchange for pardon.
Since he became governor last month Soludo, a former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor has sued for peace from the militants, who last week agreed to end the weekly sit-at-home in all the five states in the south east.
As part of the governors’ efforts to stop people from observing the sit-at-home order, Soludo had recently threatened the state civil servants with sack if they continued to abandon their offices.
None of the threats seemed to have worked so far in Anambra and other south east states where residents have continued to observe IPOB’s order not to leave their homes.
For instance, violence has continued in neighbouring Imo state where suspected members of IPOB and its militant arm the Eastern Security Network, ESN have continued to unleash mayhem on their communities.
Last week, the Imo state Police Command successfully repelled a deadly attack by suspected members of the proscribed IPOB, on the Mbieri Police Division, barely few days after the militants burnt down the home of a commissioner in the state.
Governor Soludo said he’s now prepared to offer amnesty to the aggrieved militants who are demanding for the State of Biafra, in exchange for their weapons. Surrender your guns, Governor Soludo, who promised last week to lead other four other governors from the region to President Muhammadu Buhari to demand the release of detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu said.
The governor disclosed this during an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, while speaking on the spate of violent attacks in the five states in the region.
The governor said there is need to harmonise peace initiatives among all the factions of the agitators.
He stated further that, “Within the agitation movement, we have to agree that there are now factions. There is the one led by one guy in Finland called Simon Ekpa. IPOB has come out to accuse that group of being behind much of the criminality in the South-East,” Soludo said.
“A lot of them in the bush out there are having camps here and there. They come out to kidnap and kill. Once we isolate all the groups that are not involved in this, then we can focus on the criminals.
The only way out of the problem, the former CBN Governor said is to pursue peace with the militants, noting that violent attack on the agitators by government forces cannot lead to peace.
He explained that the agitation for a separate state of Biafra from Nigeria cannot be killed through the barrel of the gun.
According to him, “We have also offered them some kind of amnesty. Come out, give us your guns, we are prepared to give you training in whatever skills, even if we have to raise resources to empower you to become useful partners in the development of society.”
“A time comes when you realise that you cannot shoot an ideology with a gun. When you see it exclusively as a law enforcement matter, then you miss the point. You’ve got to engage them.
“We are taking it very seriously with an open manner to engage everyone and believing that everyone has some contribution to make. To the criminals, we are offering them an olive branch to repent,” the governor said.
Lagos, Nigeria, April 1, 2022: Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has recorded 35.7 per cent growth in Profit Before Tax for its 2021 financial year to close the year at N38.1bn according to the bank’s recently issued financial result.
The result indicates that the bank grew Gross Earnings by 21.6 per cent year-on-year, YoY (23.2 per cent QoQ) to N250.8bn driven by a combination of 60.3 per cent growth in non-interest revenue (NIR) and 15.2 per cent increase in interest and similar income.
The growth in NIR reflects the significant increase in customer transactions resulting in 84.9 per cent growth in trade income, 48.1 per cent in account maintenance charge, and 47.2 per cent increase in digital banking income.
Commenting on the Bank’s impressive performance, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc noted, “We closed the financial year with strong double-digit growth in profit and across key balance-sheet lines, which reflects the disciplined execution of our strategy and capacity to deliver superior returns to shareholders. Profit before tax grew by 35.7 per cent to N38.1bn from N28.1bn in 2020FY, which translates to an increase in RoAE to 12.5 per cent from 10.5 per cent in 2020FY.”
