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Nigeria Cannot Be Rescued Through Consensus Candidacy, Says Peter Obi

By
Uche Mbah
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Peter Obi

By Uche Mbah

A Presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has said that what Nigeria needs now is who will rescue it from its present challenges. That, he insists cannot be achieved through consensus candidacy.

The PDP has been undecided on the issue of consensus candidacy during the party primaries which comes up May 28 and 29, 2022.

Consensus candidacy is being championed by Northern aspirants, who appear bent on convincing the Nation of its usefulness within the party.

On Friday, the Northern Elders of the party chose former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, as their consensus candidates.

However, both former Vice President Atiku  Abubakar; and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, both aspirants, have distanced themselves from it. And so has former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, who in a statement asked Northern PDP members to ignore it as no key stakeholder is in support of it.

Speaking at a meeting with Chieftains of the PDP in Ondo state at their party Secretariat, Sunday, Obi

said Nigerians ought  not to allow the All Progressive Congress government to retain power, since it  has done nothing but move the country backwards.

“The children can no longer eat, we are at high level of misery, we cannot allow them to continue”, Obi said.

“If nothing is done to Nigeria’s problem, it will consume all of us. It will consume our children too.

“We must not talk about the consensus now, we must talk about who will work. Nigerians want consensus that will solve the Nigerian problem.

“We want someone that will take Nigeria from consumption to production level. We must elect somebody that can do the work. We are not talking about who will become the next president of Nigeria but who will start working for this country called Nigeria.”

In his reply to Obi, a  PDP Chieftain in Ondo and former Governor of the State , Olusegun Mimiko, said the PDP has competent and credible persons as Presidential aspirants.

2023: Group, Great Nigeria Conference To Meet In Abuja

By
Uche Mbah
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0
MAP of Nigeria

By Uche Mbah

Again, exigencies of the time have forced a unifying meeting of southern stakeholders to jaw-jaw on the thorny issue of zoning the presidency to the south.

This time, the convergence is limited to the Afenifere, a pan Yoruba cultural and socio political group led by Pa Ayo Adebanjo and leader of the Southern & Middle Belt Forum, Pa Edwin Clark.

Ohaneze Ndigbo, however, are not represented as a body. Instead, governors from the South-East region and some other stakeholders appear to hold court for the South east.

The meeting was billed to take place at the International Conference Center Abuja Monday.

They termed the conference the Greater Nigeria Conference, GNC.

Led by a former Governor of Enugu State, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, Senator Victor Umeh, and Senator Chris Anyanwu, among others, according to a statement Sunday from their Media Office signed by Collins Steve Ugwu, the conference is aimed at sensitizing Nigerians on the need for the Presidency returning to the south,and specifically the South east come 2023.

“The plannings are complete, the audience is ready, and more patriotic Nigerians are now selfless in championing the truth, that our country can only get better and faster on the wheels of equality, justice, fairness, and deliberate inclusion, for all her citizens, especially the Southeast people of Nigeria”, the statement read.

Governors of the South-east Region and diverse stakeholders are expected to storm the venue.

Aside from the nationalists,  patriots expected in Abuja from all over the country include governors from the Southeast region, including governor Hope Ụzọdịnma of Imo state.

“No one in Nigeria can deny the fact that Ndigbo is zealous, patriotic, and committed to the oneness of Nigeria. All that they demand is a level playing field for all of us to operate and compete,” he was quoted to have said.

“Most of the patriots who engineered the plan that made the Southwest region produce the presidential candidates for the two major political parties in 1999 are still alive and active in Nigerian politics. That same underlying love for the country that inspired them to do what they did for the Southwest in 1999, should inspire them to do the same for the Southeast in 2023.

“That simply is a factual foretaste to the many more of what Greater Nigeria Conference will put on the front burner, as they gather all the Presidential aspirants from Southeast before Nigerians to dialogue and persuade the election of one as Nigeria President in the spirit of Together We Can do better for this country.”

Explosion At Imo Illegal Refinery: President Buhari Orders Clampdown

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nation’s Armed Forces, Security and Intelligence Agencies to intensify the clampdown on illegal refineries.

The call followed the  roasting to death of scores of people when  an illegal refinery exploded at Abaezi forest in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.

President Buhari’s directive was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu.

Reacting to what he described as a “catastrophe and a national disaster,” President Buhari said responsibility for the loss of lives and property must squarely lie with the sponsors of the illegal refinery, “who must all be caught and made to face justice.”

He condoled with the families of the victims, the Ohaji Egbema community and government and people of Imo state, describing the incident as “trauma” to the nation.

The President urged community leaders, the Police, and the Secret Service never to allow the occurrence of the heart-breaking incident in any part of the country again.

The Imo State Government has declared the owner of the illegal refinery Okenze Onyewoke.

Jonathan Condoles With Makinde, Oyo People Over Death Of Alaafin

By
The Source
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Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with the Government and people of Oyo State over the death of the Alaafin of Oyo,  Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, describing the late traditional ruler as a great leader who recorded considerable achievements during his long and glorious reign.

In a condolence letter  to the Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seye Makinde, signed by his Media Adviser, Ike Eze. Dr. Jonathan noted that the late Alaafin was a skilled custodian of the tradition and culture of his people who had an eventful and epoch-making reign.

The former President stated: “I condole with the Government and people of Oyo State and other  family members on the transition to  eternal glory of the Alaafin of Oyo,  Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, after a long and glorious reign.

“Oba Adeyemi’s voyage on earth was full of notable achievements and epoch-making reign as a highly revered royal father. He was a great leader, bridge builder and a skilled custodian of the tradition and culture of his people.

“His journey back to his ancestors shuts the curtain on a glorious era in Oyo.  He will be greatly missed not only in Oyo State but across the nation for his wisdom, disposition to peace and unity as well as other patriotic traits which he daily exhibited.

“I commiserate with his family and the entire people of Oyo; I urge them to take solace in the fact that Oba Adeyemi lived a long and impactful life of service.”

2023: Lamido Chides Northern Elders, Rubbishes Saraki, Mohammed’s Endorsement

By
The Source
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By Gideon Njoku

A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, Sule Lamido has taken an exception to the endorsement of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, by Northern Elders of the Party, and former President Ibrahim Babangida, as consensus candidates for the North against the 2023 Presidential election.

The two men were endorsed  during a meeting held at the Minna home of Babangida on Friday, April 22, 2022.

Announcing the endorsement of Saraki and Mohammed, Professor Ango Abdullahi said they arrived at the decision after the screening of the candidates, having consulted stakeholders in the three Northern Senatorial Zones. He said what they did would make for a rancour-free National Convention, and advised both Saraki and Mohammed to have a meeting to decide which of them would represent the Northern PDP as its consensus candidate.

But Lamido, a former Governor of Jigawa State, has distanced key PDP stakeholders in the North from the endorsement, thus rubbishing the Minna meeting.

In a statement issued on Saturday, personally signed by him, Lamido said those who attended the Minna meeting and endorsed both Saraki and Mohammed as consensus candidates for PDP, North, spoke for themselves and not the Northern PDP.

He said having consulted key PDP  stakeholders in the 19 Northern States and Abuja, no stakeholder was in the know of such a meeting, or such an endorsement.

He said consultations are still on-going for a consensus candidate, if that will be possible.

Following is the text of Lamido’s statement.

“The attention of key stakeholders of the Northern States is drawn to the reports in the media that some Northern Elders have shortlisted two of our prominent and deserving aspirants as consensus PDP Presidential Candidates.

“Having widely consulted Party leaders across the 19 Northern states and FCT, it is hereby stated to our teeming Party members and the general public that what is reported in the Media is only the personal opinion of those who issued the statement and not the position of the PDP members in the North.

“Discussion are ongoing with all the aspirants in our party with a view to having a National consensus, if possible, or, at least, working towards having a smooth acrimony-free National Convention.

“The position of the Northern Elders is not only injurious to the North but equally injurious to the Northern Aspirants.”

Already, both former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, both aspirants, had, in separate statements, distanced themselves from the Minna consensus endorsement.

Alaafin Of Oyo: SW Govs Forum Mourns, Describes Passage As Big Blow To The Region

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Alaafin of Oyo Palace

By Ayodele Oni

Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi began his journey to eternity as the Chief Imam of Oyo, Sheikh Mos’ud Ajokidero and other notable Islamic clerics in Oyo and neighboring towns performed the funeral (Janazah) prayers on his remains.

The prayers, which was held outside the Aganju forecourt, took place few minutes before noon before the remains were taken to Baara, a five-minute drive from the palace, where Alaafins are lowered.

His popular Princes and Princesses like Babatunde, Skimeh, Bayo Adeyemi, Taibah Adeyemi-Agaba and others witnessed the last rites of passage .

Ṣalāt al-Janāzah is the Islamic funeral prayer; a part of the Islamic funeral ritual. The prayer is performed in congregation to seek pardon for the deceased and all dead Muslims.

The remains were committed to mother earth at exactly 4.00 pm, with symparthisers that bade one of the foremost Monarchs in Yoruba land farewell.

In a condolence message, Chairman South West Governors Forum, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, noted that another Great Iroko Tree Has Fallen.

The statement, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, states “Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, received the news of the transition of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, with a rude shock.

“Governor Akeredolu described the transition of the highly revered monarch to the world beyond as a big blow to the Oyo Kingdom; Yoruba race; and the country at large.

“We have lost a quintessential traditional ruler and custodian of the Yoruba culture. His contributions to the development and advancement of the country and Yoruba Land in particular are unquantifiable.

“He was a great pillar. A great giant who did not only represent our cultural values but also preserved and promoted the Yoruba culture. He was a repository of knowledge.

“With over five decades on the throne of his fathers, Oba Lamidi III was the longest-reigning Alaafin whose reign had been the most remarkable for the entire Oyo Kingdom. He was a symbol of Yoruba Unity.

“His commitment toward ensuring the unity of the Yoruba can not be forgotten in a hurry. He lived a life invariably imbued with candour and resplendence. He was royal to the end.”

The Governor expressed his condolences to Oba Adeyemi’s immediate family, the Oyo State Traditional Council, the Oyomesi, the people of Oyo Kingdom and the entire Yoruba race.

He prayed that the Almighty Allah will accept Baba’s soul and give him eternal rest in his blossom.

Lagos: Defiant On School Resumption Date, Says No Going Back

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Students - Education

By Akinwale Kasali

Controversy is trailing the resumption date for Schools across Lagos State.

The Lagos State Ministry of Education had announced that Schools in the State will resume on April 25th, 2022, as against the May 9th, 2022, Federal Government’s resumption date for Unity Schools across the country.

This has, however, led to calls from different quarters that the Lagos State Government should follow the resumption date stated by the Federal Government.

Following this development, the Lagos  State Government has insisted that both public and private schools across the state must resume on Monday, 25 April, in line with the harmonized academic calendar for 2022/2022 session.

The state government disclosed that the academic calender for the session had been fixed and that it would be necessary for all parties to adhere strictly to it, in other to avoid disruption.

According to the Government, all Proprietors and Administrators who are saddled with the responsibility of coordinating students’ affairs, must ensure that they resume on the stipulated date.

It maintained that the concerns expressed by Principals and school owners on public holidays, including Workers day, Eid-El-Fltr and Eid-El-Kabir, have been put into consideration and embedded in the calendar as well.

The Director General, Office of Education Quality Assurance for the state, Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, stressed that all school administrators must adhere strictly to the directives.

Seriki-Ayeni further cautioned the school owners and Principals as well as Teachers against disregarding planned resumption dates approved by stakeholders in the state.

She explained that the holidays which had started on Friday 8th April, 2022 ends on Friday, 22, April as stated in the academic calendar while the 3rd term begins on 25th April, 2022.

Meanwhile, the Education Assurance boss mandated teachers and proprietors to ensure strict compliance with the Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, aimed at ensuring safety within the learning environment.

In a statement,  Seriki-Ayeni warned students against involving in social vices as they prepare for their resumption and urged parents should monitor the activities of their wards at home.

According to the statement: “As schools resume, proprietors and school administrators must ensure strict compliance with the Lagos State safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. Schools are to also ensure full compliance with all safety protocols on their premises towards a safe learning environment as the state government is committed to the delivery of Quality Education.”

NURTW Crisis: Pandemonium At Iyana Ekoro, As Supporters Of MC Oluomo, Istijabah Clash

By
Akinwale Kasali
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NURTW Iyana Ekoro Clash

By Akinwale Kasali

There was pandemonium in Iyana Ekoro, Meiran Area in Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, as supporters of Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, who was recently appointed the Chairman of Lagos State Parks and Garages by the Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu administration and supporters of the Chairman of Tricycles Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria, TOOAN, Abiola Azeez, also known as Istijabah clashed

There were sporadic shootings in the area as shop owners closed shops, while passer-by and motorists scampered for safety.

Eyewitness report revealed that supporters of both men engaged one another in a fierce battle, brandishing guns and other dangerous weapons.

It was gathered that there was wanton destruction of vehicles, tricycles and degrees of injuries sustained by innocent people.

According to a Tricyclist who ran for safety leaving his tricycle behind, “I was attacked by some Agberos, who are supporters of MC Oluomo, they slapped and threatened to kill me because I had the poster and sticker of Istijabah, our Chairman,  on my tricycle”.

Activities in this area have been halted, as there was no presence of Police and other Security operatives at the scene as at the time of filing this report, despite the fact that Ile Epo Police Command was close to the scene of the violence.

For months now, MC Oluomo and Istijabah have been at loggerheads, leading to the suspension and removal of MC Oluomo as the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Lagos State Chapter.

It would be recalled that last week, supporters of both parties had also engaged in a free for all fight in Agege, and also in Fagba area of Lagos, down to Mainland and Lagos Island, as the leadership of the NURTW is not ready to relinquish power to MC Oluomo as stated by Lagos State Government who had ordered that activities in Lagos Parks and Garages must be controlled and supervised by MC Oluomo.

The power of dominance and control between the NURTW and the MC Oluomo led Lagos Parks and Garages is gradually becoming a menace to the State, as it has for weeks halted business activities due to violence and rioting from the two Groups.

How Ondo Police Command Saved Nine From Kidnappers Along Benin-Ore Express Road

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Benin-Ore Expressway

By Ayodele Oni

Singing and dancing for God’s divine intervention filled the minds of nine travelers that were rescued from kidnappers in Ondo State on Friday evening.

Ondo State Police Command through its Rapid Response Squad foiled the kidnap attempt of the Lagos bound passengers.

Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Funmilayo Odunlami explained in a statement that “The Ondo State Police has foiled an attempted kidnap of nine passengers on the Lagos-Ore expressway.

“On Friday, 22nd of April 2022, at about 6:30pm, the Police Rapid Respond Squad of the Command, who were on routine check on the highway, received a distress call that some People were being whisked into the bush by people suspected to be kidnappers.

“With the joint effort of Police men attached to Ore Division, all the victims were rescued, while a victim who had a matchet cut on his right finger was taken to the Hospital for treatment, an  Android phone belonging to one of the victims was also recovered in the bush.

“Effort is in top gear to arrest the culprits while the driver and other passengers have been allowed to continue their journey.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, Oyeyemi Adesoye Oyediran, is also using this medium to assure all road users in the state of adequate security within the command.”

Ooni Of Ife Eulogizes Late Alaafin Of Oyo, Describes Him As An Iconic Monarch

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Ooni of Ife- Oba Enitan Ogunwusi

By Akinwale Kasali

The revered Arole Oduduwa, the Ooni of Ife,  Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, is yet to come terms with the demise of the Alaafin of Oyo, Iku Baba Yeye, Lamidi Adeyemi III.

The Monarch from the Cradle of the Yoruba Race has described the passage of the Alaafin of Oyo as a loss to the  entire Oduduwa race worldwide.

In a statement by his Director of Media & Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, Ooni Ogunwusi,  who doubles as the Natural Head of Oduduwa Race Worldwide stated that the late Alaafin was a worthy elder whose entire lifetime was dedicated to the promotion of the prestigious Yoruba culture and advancement of humanity.

“We have lost a great icon, a great Monarch who saw Oyo through civilization and modern development without jettisoning the cultural sacredness of the throne first occupied by Alaafin Oranmiyan The Great.

“Ile Oodua Palace and the Ooni had a great working relationship with the late Alaafin who gave his best in resolving major conflicts in Yoruba land and uniting all sons and daughters of Oduduwa globally among other landmark achievements.

“The late Alaafin is one of the privileged elders who contributed to the growth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also saw the country through military and democratic eras with unquantifiable positive inputs.”

The Oonirisa who is also the Co- Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) recalled his last encounter with the late Oyo Monarch early last month when they both held a closed door meeting for peace and reconciliation with some frontline politicians of Yoruba origin at Ibadan where Alaafin made a promise to make his first visit to the Ooni before middle of this year.

He prayed for the soul of the departed Monarch, as well as the family to have the fortitude to bear his death and prayed that Oyo will be spiritually guided to complete the burial of the Monarch in full accordance with culture and traditions of their ancestors.

“While Oba Adeyemi would be greatly missed for his indelible imprint as a great descendant of Oduduwa, the Ooni hereby urges the entire House of Oduduwa worldwide to continue to pray for the deceased’s family and Oyo indigenes at this trying time.

“May the Almighty Olodumare also be with the OYOMESI at this critical time that may challenge the culture and traditions of their ancestors in the process of burial rites and process of selecting the next Alaafin. The position of Alaafin is too culturally important to be handled in a way that undermines our collective traditions and culture. Olodumare shall solidly stand with the OYOMESI and the entire Oyo kingdom,” the statement read.

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