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IPOB: Egbu Diocese Shifts Synod

By
The Source
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Geoffrey Enyinnaya Okorafor

By Charles Igbo

No thanks to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, The Diocese of Egbu, (Anglican Communion), has shifted the date for its 2021 Synod.

The Diocese usually holds its Synod, an annual event, and  the most important and glamorous congregation of the Stakeholders of the Diocese  every first week of November.

This year’s event had been scheduled to begin on Thursday, November 5, 2021, and end on Sunday, November 7, 2021.

With the theme, “I have Given You An Example…” (John 13:15), the star event is the Presidential Address to be delivered by the Bishop of  the Diocese, His Lordship, The Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Enyinnaya Okorafor. It was billed for Friday, November 5, at the venue of the Synod, the host  Church, St John’s Anglican Church, Naze, Owerri North Local Government Area, Imo State.

But the schedule has changed. And this is the first time that the dates of the events at the Synod would suddenly change.

The plan for the change began when IPOB suddenly announced it would lock down the South-east between November 5 and November 10, if its leader, Mazi  Nnamdi Kanu, is not released, unconditionally on, or before November 4.

Kanu is under the custody of the Federal Government being prosecuted for, among other things, alleged terrorism and treasonable felony at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Since the trial began, IPOB, a group seeking for an independent South-east to be known as the Republic of Biafra, had ordered  sit-at-home on the Monday of every week. It later restricted it to the days Kanu would appear in Court, but it has not worked. Every  Monday, the Zone still stands still, with violence visited on a few people who dare out.

It is avoid an ugly situation that the Diocesan Board of Egbu Diocese, after an Emergency meeting  on Tuesday, October 26, made adjustments in the programme for the Synod.

Said Bishop Okorafor to all invitees: ” Please, note that because of the IPOB threats of sit-at-home from 5th Nov, we’re constrained  to begin our Synod on Tuesday, 2nd November. We’ll, therefore, present our Address/Charge on Wednesday 3rd November at 10,30am.”

The venue, however, remains the same.

First Bank Appoints Seasoned Banker, Okonkwo Group MD/CEO

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Fola James

FBN Holdings Plc, the holding company of First Bank of Nigeria has announced Nnamdi Okonkwo as its new Group Managing Director.

This appointment takes effect from January 1, 2022, subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and the shareholders at the next Annual General Meeting of the Company.

This comes after the board of directors accepted the voluntary retirement of Group Managing Director Mr. U.K. Eke, MFR with effect from December 31, 2021, having served for two terms.

According to a notification Thursday, on the Nigerian stock exchange, the newly appointed managing director, has a robust experience in the financial sector spanning decades as a seasoned banker and administrator.

First, he served as the Executive Director for Southern Nigeria in Fidelity Bank. He was later appointed managing Director of UBA Ghana; Director, UBA Liberia and a Director of the Ghana National Banking College.

He has served in various leadership positions across other financial institutions including Broad Bank of Nigeria Ltd; Citizens International Bank, Nigeria; FSB International Bank Plc, Nigeria; Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Nigeria; and Merchant Bank of Africa, Nigeria.

Okonkwo recorded sterling achievements in many companies  including UBA Ghana, UBA Liberia, Nigeria e-government Strategy (Negst), Nigeria Interbank Settlement System Plc, Unified Payment System Ltd and as Chairman, Shareholders Audit Committee FMDQ, amongst others.

He was appointed managing director and chief executive officer, Fidelity Bank Plc on January 2, 2014, the position he held until December 31, 2020 when he retired from the new generation bank.

Plateau: Who is Speaker?

By
Bayo Bernard
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Governor Lalong

There is no end in sight to the impeachment saga in the Plateau state House of Assembly as two lawmakers are now claiming to be Speakers. Earlier today, Nuhu Ayuba Abok was impeached by eight out of the 24 lawmakers in the assembly who later elected Yakubu Sanda as the new speaker.

But in a swift reaction to his impeachment, Abok who held a plenary outside the Assembly,  with the maze the Assembly symbol of authority, few hours after he was removed as the state’s number three citizen said he remained Speaker. The impeached speaker alongside other lawmakers supporting him later suspended six lawmakers who impeached him earlier in the day.

On his part, Sanda has been trying to assert himself as the new speaker after he visited Governor Simon Lalong at the Rayfield Government House in Jos, the state’s capital, promising the state’s helmsman the cooperation of the new leadership in the Assembly.

The state’s helmsman is believed to have instigated the removal of the former speaker over disagreement on the governor’s leadership style, particularly the manner he has handled the ethnic violence rocking the state in recent times.

In August, the lawmakers had given the governor two weeks to address the spate of insecurity rocking the state.

Philip Dasun, Chairman, House Committee on Information conveyed the position of the legislators to the governor said the lawmakers would take necessary action if failed to carry out their resolution. .

“As an assembly with people at heart, we call on Plateau citizens to have confidence in us with renewed commitment.

“We have given two weeks to the governor to take action on the resolutions the House has forwarded on security matters and how to restore peace.

“We call on the Gov. Simon Bako Lalong to come up with a statement defending us as a people and to bring back renewed commitment to the cause of Plateau,” Dasun said.

But Governor Lalong has denied having hands in the leadership crisis now rocking the assembly, even though he insisted that 16 lawmakers impeached the former speaker, which confers legitimacy on their action. There are 24 members in the assembly.

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Abok: Impeached Speaker Holds Plenary

The governor in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Macham Makut said the assembly and the executive must work together to move the state forward.

He said, “the new Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Yakubu Sanda has led principal officers and some members of the House to the Government House to assure the Executive arm of its collaboration and cooperation in running the affairs of the State.

“The new Speaker was received at the Government House by the Secretary to the Government of the State, Prof. Danladi Abok Atu, on behalf of the Governor.

“Speaking during the visit, the Majority leader of the House Hon. Naanlong Daniel said they were at the Government House in line with the tradition of the House to introduce the new leadership of the House whenever there is a change.”

The statement added that the new Speaker emerged after 16 of the 23 members of the House signed the petition to impeach the former Speaker.

“The new Speaker emerged after 16 of the 23 members of the House signed the petition to impeach the former Speaker Rt. Hon. Nuhu Ayuba Abok over a series of allegations.

“The new Speaker Hon. Yakubu Sanda said the new leadership of the House will work in synergy with the Executive and Judiciary for the peace, progress and development of Plateau State.

“He said the House which now enjoys full autonomy will use its legislative powers to ensure that Government programs and projects impact the people at the grassroots level.”

 

Why Court Of Appeal Kept PDP Waiting On Convention

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Uche Secondus

By Akinwale Kasali

For the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its suspended National Chairman, Uche Secondus, the waiting game continues.

The Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, which had stated Thursday, October 28, to rule on whether the Party’s National Convention could go on as scheduled or not, has again deferred its ruling to Friday, October 29.

The Convention is scheduled to begin on Saturday, October 30, and end on Sunday, October 31, with the election of new Executive Council to run the affairs of the Party.

But on Thursday, it deferred its ruling, thus leaving both sides filled with anxiety.

This magazine gathered that  the ruling was adjourned till Friday because the PDP filed its response late.

Secondus’ had filed a suit seeking the stoppage of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP slated for Saturday October 30,2021.

The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt had on Tuesday reserved the ruling on the suspension of the PDP Convention  filed by Secondus, saying that it would give its verdict whether the Convention will hold or not.

This is despite the repeated declaration by the national leadership of the party that it has resolved not to be distracted by legal issues.

The appellate court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers had adjourned the matter on Tuesday following an application for joinder by interested parties.

The current imbroglio began with the suspension of Secondus as National Chairman by a High Court in a suit filed by some party leaders in his ward in Rivers State who accused him of anti-party activities.

Secondus’ travails and plot of his removal triggered a chain of events leading to preparations for the national convention.

On several occasions, former Senate Presidents, David Mark and Bukola Abubakar Saraki had tried to persuade Secondus and his nemesis Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, to make peace but failed,  leading to the crisis the Party is facing.

Ekiti, Kano Present Budget To Assembly

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ekiti Presents 2022 Budget

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti and Kano States on Thursday presented their 2022 budget to the Houses of Assembly.

While Ekiti proposed to spend  N100.7bn in 2022, Kano laid before the Assembly N196 billion estimate.

The Ekiti budget, christened “Budget of Legacy and Consolidation” was presented by Governor Kayode Fayemi in Ado Ekiti.

The budget is made up of N60.686bn recurrent expenditure and N40.067 capital estimates making a ratio reflection of 60:40 of recurrent to capital expenditures.

Dr Fayemi disclosed that the major objective of the budget was to ensure that all ongoing legacy projects including the State Cargo airport and the new Ado-Iyin road and other new road projects were completed to consolidate his administration’s plan to transform the state.

He added that the budget was designed to reduce unemployment, attract more investors, ensure smooth transition to the in-coming administration, increase the state’s internal generated revenue, improve security architectures, contain the spread of covid-19 third wave and reduce its negative impact on the livelihood of the people, among others.

“Rt. Hon. Speaker Sir, Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen, may I state that 2022 fiscal year is a watershed in the life of this administration on one hand, and in Ekiti State in general.

“It is a year of transition to a new administration. To this end, the primary objective of the 2022 Budget is to complete and consolidate on our numerous achievements and prepare a solid economic foundation for the in-coming administration.

“Therefore, only critical projects and programmes of short-term completion that will boost the economy of the State through attraction of more investors and mitigate against the risk of climate change have been considered in the 2022 Budget.”

A breakdown of the budget indicates that governance takes the largest chunk of N36.716bn representing 36 per cent, followed by Infrastructure and Industrial Development which take N28.056bn representing 28 percent.

Others are Knowledge Economy N19.716bn representing 20 per cent, Social investment takes N14.063bn representing 14 per cent while Agriculture and rural development takes N2.201bn representing 2 per cent.

While addressing the Lawmakers, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state proposed Budget of N196 billion for 2022 fiscal year to the State Assembly.

Tagged ‘Budget of Prosperity and Consolidation’ it has over N107 billion representing 55% as capital Expenditure,while the sum of over N88 billion  representing 45% was meant for recurrent expenditure.

According to the Governor, education being one of the top priority of his administration received the highest Allocation of over N51 billion, equivalent to 26 percent of the estimate.

The Governor explained that the sum of over N33 billion was earmarked for development and construction of Underpass, Flyover Bridges,and various Road Construction accros the State.

He maintaied that the Sum of over N15 Billion  was set aside for the Health sector, while Agriculture will gulp the sum of N5 billion.

Other sectors that received maximum attention include Enviroment, Commerce, Security, Tourism, Rural Development,water supply , Information and Transport among others.

We Want People Of Like Minds In PDP To Rescue Nigeria – Gov Aminu Tambuwal

By
Ayodele Oni
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PDP Governors in Ondo State to meet with Mimiko

By Ayodele Oni

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has disclosed that the mission of the four Governors of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) to Ondo state was to put finishing touches on the return of Dr Olusegun Mimiko to the party.

Governor Tambuwal, who briefed Journalists after a closed door meeting with the former Governor in Ondo town described the meeting as fruitful.

Dr Mimiko, a National leader of the Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP) is expected to formally declare his intention to dump his  party and join the PDP.

Governor Tambuwal said the visit was aimed at bringing like minds together to rescue the country from its current challenges.

“We are here in this very historic town of Ondo in Ondo state at the home of of our leader and brother, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, a former governor of Ondo state to re-invite him back to his political family, PDP.

“We have had a robust engagement with him and we are very hopeful that we are going to hear something very positive from him soonest.

“Our message is simple, let’s come back and reposition the PDP and work towards rescuing Nigeria. The urgency of the matter is now.

“The essence is for rebuilding the party towards ensuring that PDP is back to power in 2023.”

Dr Mimiko, who also spoke,  explained that he would carry along his political structures across the State, before taking final decision on his return to the PDP.

“This is the one of the series of interactions we had over two months ago and they have come, at least, to convince us why we should come back to join forces with them in PDP.

“We have listened to them, we will go back to our stakeholders meeting because it is them, stakeholders, that will decide before we will take our decision on it.”

Jail Break Aborted At Edo Correctional Centre

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

An attempted jail break at the Oko Correctional centre, Benin city, Edo state was foiled  on Thursday, by security agents.

There was reported sporadic shooting at the Centre, but eye witness confirmed that some of the prisoners were responsible while trying to escape through the fence.

Soldiers, police and vigilantes were drafted to the scene to calm down the situation.

Confirming the incident, Public Relations Officer, Edo State Command, DSC Aminu Suleman, in a statement said, “At about 12.30pm, some awaiting trial inmates, especially the recaptured escapees started a protest which led to a confrontation between them and the convicted inmates.

“Reinforcement was immediately mobilized from the State Headquarters to enforce law and order.

“The situation has been completely controlled and the Correctional Centre is calm. There was no escape of any inmates or death.

“Sister security agencies have showed solidarity by drafting their men around the outer perimeter fence to compliment Correctional Service Armed Squad personnel to ensure total security of the custodial Centre.

“The Controller, Felix Lawrence wishes to assure the general public that they should go about their normal business without any fear.

“Meanwhile, investigation into the incident has been instituted by the Controller to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the disturbance.”

Okonjo-Iweala To Son: I’m Proud To Be Your Mom

By
The Source
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Director General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is celebrating her son, Dr Uchechi Iweala for making a medical history in Maryland, USA.

Taking to Twitter, Okonjo-Iweala, who was two-time Nigeria’s Minister for Finance, told her son, “So proud to be your mum.”

Dr Iweala was one of the Surgeons in Maryland who performed the first successful lumber spinal fusion using a robot.

Hailing him, the proud mother said; “Congratulations Dr Uchechi Iweala on being one of the first spinal surgeons in Maryland to perform a successful navigated lumber spinal fusion using  a robot! So proud to be your mum! Keep it going!”

Dr Iweala is a fellowship- trained orthopaedic surgeon. He specialised in spine surgery.

He has two Masters degrees  from Havard, and majored in Robotic Spine Surgery, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Cervical and Lumber Disc Replacement, Spinal Fusion/Arthrodesis, Nerve Releases and more.

His father, Dr Ikemba Iweala, is  a renowned Family Medicine Physician.

Gov Ortom Insists No RUGA, No Grazing Route In Benue State

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has clarified that the position of the state on land allocation for grazing remained unchanged.

The Governor was reacting to the  listing of the State among 25 others that had applied for fund under the Federal Government Livestock Programme.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nathaniel Ikyur, stated that “It is on record that Governor Ortom has rejected all manner of coinage from the Federal Government in a bid to grab land from Benue State.

“When the Federal Government toyed with so many ideas, ranging from Open Grazing, Grazing Reserves, Grazing Routes, Cattle Colony, RUGA and lastly Farm Centres in the 109 Senatorial Districts across the country in a very suspicious manner, Governor Ortom rose up and opposed it.

“He rejected any of such policies being imposed  on Benue. He has not shifted from that position.

“The Benue State Government only accepted to key into the National Livestock Transformation Program (NLTP) because the National Economic Council (NEC), which has the 36 state governors as members, approved the National Livestock Transformation Plan which after series of engagement incorporated suggestions by stakeholders from the State.

“The NLTP provides that States are at liberty to adopt and implement  aspects of the plan that suit its peculiarities.

“Unfortunately, the Presidency rejected this, but would rather continue to dribble Nigerians.

“For us in Benue State, our peculiarities are that we have a ranching law and in the area of Livestock farming, our competetive advantages include indigenous cattle, piggery, goats and fisheries etc.

“All these have been captured in the Plan and Benue State has accepted the implementation of the Plan based on these conditions.

“Benue State has continued to reject the establishment of Cattle Colonies, Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlements and Grazing Reserves or any other form of coinage previously proposed by the Federal Government allegedly to curb farmers-herders’ clashes across the country because it had every tendency of subterranean plots to undermine the safety and lives of the indigenous people of the State.

“Benue State’s  position has therefore not changed.”

Prison Congestion: Hold States Responsible – Aregbesola

By
Ayodele Oni
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Rauf Aregbesola and Prison Officials

By Ayodele Oni

States have been identified as culprits in prison congestion as most offenders in correctional centres are awaiting trial suspects.

The Minister fo6 Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, who spoke through one of his Aides, Sola Fasure, in Ibadan, Oyo state, during a Radio programme, Thursday  stated that: “What we need more than anything else is for State Governments, because 99 per cent of most offenders are state offenders… They are the ones awaiting trial and occupying most of the spaces.

“The Federal Government had proposed at a time that they should build holding centers that the NCS will help them staff and manage.

“And then to accelerate the wheel of justice so that justice will be quickly dispensed. So that we don’t have awaiting inmates facing trial in custody for long.

“The State Governments can help tremendously along this line, building holding centers and accelerating the wheel of justice.

“As you are aware, more  percentage of all inmates in correctional facilities are awaiting trial. That really creates problem for accommodation.”

“The lawyers use adjournment to frustrate justice. The State Governments can actually do a review and eliminate adjournment so that justice will be quickly delivered.”

The Minister also spoke on the promise by the Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, that he would provide facilities including CCTV at Abolongo Correctional Center centre, which was bombed last Saturday by yet to be identified gunmen.

“With due regard to Governor Makinde, I am not sure if the Governor has such power that something of such nature should be done in a correctional facility.

“It would be taken as an advisory opinion. In the spirit of the moment, everybody is so concerned as some statement would be made but not necessarily because they are the right one to be made.

“There is an ongoing upgrade programmes of all correctional facility in the country. It is unfortunate it has not got to Abolongo before the incident happened.

“So the Federal Government is building a 3000-capacity facility in the 6 geo-political zones. Two are almost ready-the ones in Abuja and Kano. Each facility will have its own court. So the problem of taking suspects to court will be sorted.

“The issue of the upgrade of facility is squarely within the jurisdiction of the ministry of interior and the NCS. State government do not have holding centers of Correctional Facility.

“But like I said the other time, if the State Governments want to assist, they will make their intention known to the appropriate authorities. And the help will be greatly appreciated.”

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