Home Blog Page 2393

President Buhari Kick-starts Ranching In Home State, Approves Fund For Take Off

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Muhammadu Buhari

By Ayodele Oni

In a swift move, perceived as a trap to track dissenting States against cattle ranching, President Muhammadu Buhari has favoured Katsina State with a sum of N6. 25 billion approval to establish and develop ranching projects in the state.

Katsina is the home state of President Buhari and predominantly occupied by the Hausas and Fulanis.

The State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari broke the news at the commissioning of Zobe Regional Water Scheme.

According to him, already a sum of N5 billion has been released to the State for the take off of the Ranch.

Elated Governor Masari announced that “Mr President has graciously approved the sum of N6.25 billion for ranch development purposes in Katsina State.

“Part of this amount, N5 billion is already in the account of the state government and within few weeks you will see advertisements calling for interested companies and consultants that will participate in construction.”

The Federal Government has been dangling the option of establishment of cattle ranching before state governors as an option to roaming and destruction of farmlands by Fulani herdsmen.

Some States, especially in the southern part of the country have vowed to do everything possible to frustrate cattle ranching in their domains.

It was of their view that the move is an opportunity to take over community lands by the itinerant Herdsmen.

The Southern Governors, at its meeting in Lagos, early this month, set a timeline of Wednesday, 1st September, 2021 for the promulgation of the anti open grazing law in all member States.

They had earlier, at a meeting in Asaba, Delta state, in May, resolved to ban open grazing in their respective states, a decision which generated reactions from the Attorney General of the federation, Mr Malami.

APC Congresses To Produce Consensus Candidates

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0

By Ayodele Oni

The All Progressive Congress, (APC) National Caretaker Committee has foisted on all levels of the party consensus arrangement in picking members of their Executives.

Rather than seeing the forthcoming Wards, Local Governments and States Congresses of the party as a war, the party charged members to see the contests as purely ‘family affair.’

National Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party and Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni disclosed this on Friday in Abuja at a meeting with the Forum of State Caretaker Chairmen of the Party.

The Chairman, who was represented the National Secretary of the CECPC, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe said that the States were called to ensure they were on same page with the National leadership of the party.

“This very exercise is so important for the progress of this party and we must get it right. A lot depends on you seated here. No hoarding of forms shall be tolerated.

“The party urges all stakeholders to encourage consensus arrangements because this is a family affair. It is also a constitutional provision in our party.

“The Local organizing Committees and selection of ad hoc officials should be done in consultation with all the stakeholders in each state.”

Earlier in his remarks, Akpanudoedehe, who hailed Governor Buni for the successes recorded by the party in recent times, said “at a time when some of the leaders of other parties are telling us that their own National Chairman is a liar, we in APC are blessed to have a very focused leadership, calm and collected, who is honest and is achieving tremendous results, day by day”.

Chairman, Forum of APC State Caretaker Chairmen and Caretaker Chairman of APC in Borno state, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, lamented what he called “use and dump” method of the party leaders, especially the state governors.

“We are very happy; we are proud. You people who are steering the party, we are proud of you. Why I said this is that the Caretaker Committee brought three executive Governors into our party.

“But let me also declare my anger and my worry. Why I said this is that -publicly I am saying this – we are not happy with some of our governors, they used the Chairmen and dumped them.”

He, however, commended the successful implementation of the CECPC’s mandate to bring peace, reconciliation and reposition the APC.

He hailed the successful membership registration, revalidation and register update excercise which has seen the APC swell its membership to over 40 million

National Bureau Of Statistics Upbraids Nigeria Of Inflation Figures

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
NBS Logo

By Ayodele Oni

The National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS) has released figures for the month of June, as it disclosed that urban inflation increased by 18.35 percent from the record of the preceding month of May.

The Bureau noted that Nigeria’s inflation rate reflected a marked increase in urban inflation across Nigeria’s urban centers in the months of June in contrast to the preceding month of May 2021.

The increase, it explained, however, did not positively reflect on the overall national inflation which dipped marginally.

The ‘Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report for June’ released Friday in Abuja by NBS indicated that prices continued to increase in June.

The report outlined that “The CPI measures the average change over time in prices of goods and services consumed by people for day-to-day living.

“On month-on-month basis, the Headline index increased by 1.06 percent in June 2021 This is 0.05 percentage points higher than the rate recorded In May 2021 (1.01 percent).

“The percentage change in the average composite CPI for the twelve months period ending June 2021, over the average of the CPI for the previous twelve months period was 15.93 percent, representing a 0.43 percentage point Increase over 15.50 percent recorded in May 2021.

“The urban inflation rate increased by 18.35 percent (year-on-year) in June 2021 from 18.54 percent recorded in May 2021, while the rural inflation rate increased by 17.16 percent in June 2021 from 17.36 percent in May 2024.

“On a month-on-month basis, the urban Index rose by 1.09 percent In June 2021, up by 0.05 points compared to the rate recorded in May 2021 (1.04 percent), while the rural index also rose by 1.02 percent in June 2021, up by 0.04 percentage points over the rate that was recorded in May 2021 (0.98) percent.

“The corresponding twelve-month year-on-year average percentage change for the urban index was 16.54 percent In June 2021.

“This is higher than 16.09 percent reported in May 2021, while the corresponding rural inflation rate in June 2024 was 15.96 percent compared to 14.94 percent recorded in May 2021.”

Zamfara APC: Yari Accuses Buni Of Destabilising Party By Dissolving State Executives

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0

By Akinwale Kasali

Yobe State Governor and Chairman, Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governor Mai Mala Buni, has received knocks and criticism  for dissolving the party executive in the state.

Former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, condemned the action taken by the APC Caretaker Chairman, saying it was a move to further destabilize the Party in the State.

Addressing his supporters  from Zamfara Central Zone at his residence in Talata-Mafara, he cautioned the incumbent Governor, Bello Matawalle, to be careful about political sycophants who may lead him astray because of their personal interests

Yari however called and pleaded with APC members in the state to remain calm and united, and always be committed to the progress of the Party in the State.

His words “We will reclaim the state, come 2023. Some people were saying I would leave the APC. That is their own speculation. I was one of the 10 founding fathers of the APC. I will not leave the party, no matter what”, he said.

It would be recalled that ever since Governor Bello Matawalle joined the APC from the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, there has been issues between Yari and Matawalle over who controls the structure of the Party in the State.

According to the APC leadership, the structure of the Party has been ceded to Matawalle to the disappointment of Yari.

Both Matawalle and Yari have been staunch enemies, and this was vivid for all to see in the build up to the 2019 election in the state, which saw Matawalle emerging as Governor following the Supreme Court ruling that brought him to power.

Fidelity Bank Boss Charges Women CEOs On Performance

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0

By Fola James

Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, the managing director/ chief executive officer of Fidelity Bank Plc has challenged women to aspire higher as the world is for them to conquer.  Noting that her appointment as CEO has challenged her to leave behind good legacies for up coming women, the bank’s chief executive said she will not disappointment women looking up to her as a role model.

She said this in her congratulatory message to the newly appointed managing directors of FCMB and GT Bank Yemisi Edun and Miriam Olusanya respectively.

Both were appointed by the management of the two banks, during the week, to lead their respective banks.

Onyeali-Ikpe who came to office on January 1 following the retirement of Nnamdi Okonkwo from the bank, said the banking sector will experience tremendous turn around at this time that women are leading top banks in the country.

“I congratulate my fellow CEOs, Olusanya Miriam of GTB and Yemi of First City Monument Bank Limited on their appointments, she said adding “that we will redefine the financial landscape and through the force of example, encourage other young ladies to see that the impossible is untried.”

Since she assumed duty on January 4, the Fidelity Bank boss has been up and doing in her quest to take the lender beyond the enviable point left by her predecessor. The initial fear that she will be unable to fit into the big shoe left by the former managing director, has suddenly disappeared in the face her professionalism and astuteness as CEO, financial experts say.

Aisha Buhari Cup: Waldrum Name 25 Players For Tournament, Recalls Oparanozie

By
The Source
-
0
Randy Waldrum

By Akinwale Kasali

Super Falcons of Nigeria Coach, Randy Waldrum, has opened camp at Vienna, Austria, for the Aisha Buhari Cup competition.

Interestingly, Coach Waldrum has recalled striker, Desire Oparanozie  into the Super Falcons fold after a long absence from the team.

The Super Falcons  are camped at the Event Hotel Pyramide in Vienna as they get ready to host the United States of America, Ghana, Morocco, South Africa and Cameroon for the six-nation tourney that will take place in Lagos in September.

The competition is organised in honour of Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and it will be a week-long event in the South-western part of the country.

Waldrum handed debut call-ups to the Ijeh sisters (Josephine and Evelyn) who both play for Sweden’s BK Hacken alongside Leicester City’s Ashleigh Plumptre who declared her intention to represent the nine-time African champions in June.

The Aisha Buhari Cup is expected to get the Super Falcons ready for the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ghana in October, after they failed to register a win in three matches at the US Summer Series last month.

Captain of the team and Barcelona Football Club of Spain’s  best, Asisat Oshoala is a notable absentee from the team at the training camp in Austria, which is expected to last for eight days.

At the Invitational series weeks back at the United States of America, the Super Falcons lost 1-0 and 2-0 to Jamaica and the USA respectively, playing a 3-3 draw with Portugal, to end the tournament with just a Point.

FULL SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (CD Pozoalbense, Spain); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Patience Okeke (Bayelsa Queens); Yewande Balogun (California Storm, USA).

Defenders: Glory Ogbonna (Edo Queens); Osinachi Ohale (Madrid CFF, Spain); Esther Ogbonna (Edo Queens); Chidinma Okeke (Madrid CFF, Spain); Onyinyechi Zogg (FC Zurich, Switzerland); Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash Reserves, USA); Megan Ashleigh (Leicester City, England); Josephine Ijeh (BK Hacken, Sweden)

Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna United, Sweden); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Mowaninuola Dada (Watford FC, England)

Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Francisca Ordega (Levante UD, Spain); Gift Monday (FC Robo Queens); Joy Bokiri (Bayelsa Queens); Uchenna Kanu (Linkopings FC, Sweden); Ebere Orji (Sundsvall DFF, Sweden); Ini-Abasi Umotong (Lewes FC, England); Evelyn Ijeh (BK Hacken, Sweden); Desire Oparanozie (FC Dijon, France

Crisis Hits Osun EndSARS Panel As Members Disown Report

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Osun State EndSARS Panel

By Ayodele Oni

There are indications that the Osun state EndSARS Panel is engulfed in internal wranglings. This has stalled its proceedings.

Already, seven members of the Panel of Inquiry, set up by the State Government to investigate police brutality and extra-judicial killings have disowned alleged recommendations submitted to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

The 15-member Panel was set up by the governor in the wake of the #EndSARS protest which rocked the country.

The aggrieved seven members have already forwarded a petition to Governor Oyetola, urging him to reject any report by the panel.

The seven members that endorsed the petition, dated July 15, are Dr. Wasiu Oyedokun, Abayomi Ogundele, Abdulrahman Okunade, Comrade Ayo Ologun, Comrade Oluwasegun Idowu, Comrade Ismail Abdulazeez and Comrade Teslim Salahudeen.

It was titled “Notice of Inconclusiveness of Resolutions of the State of Osun Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality.”

It reads in part: “We, the undersigned, are constrained to, by this means, inform Your Excellency that, till date, the Osun State Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, of which we are members, has not concluded works on its proposed recommendations.

“This notice to Your Excellency is informed by the information we had, to the effect, that a copy of a purported report of the Panel’s works has been submitted to Your Excellency.

“We wish to state, unequivocally, that if the information is true, the purported report did not emanate from the panel, as we did not conclude upon any report and indeed did not append our signatures to any.”

Alleged Witch Hunt: Globacom Boss, Adenuga In The Storm, As Estranged Lover Raises Alarm

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Mike Adenuga and his Love, Nora Johnson

By Akinwale Kasali

Chairman of Telecommunication giant, Globacom, Mike Adenuga,  is presently in the eye of the storm.

His former Secretary and alleged lover, Nora Olumide Johnson has raised alarm and  cried out that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been asked to evict her from her house over allegations of graft she committed in her former office.

It was gathered that Johnson was accused of over invoicing on purchase of vehicles, inflating air ticket fares in local and foreign currencies in excess of One billion naira (N1billion).

This, then, prompted the interim forfeiture of some properties and bank accounts on the orders of Justice A.M. Liman on February 16, 2021, following an application on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria by the EFCC.

However, on March 21, 2021, Ms Johnson and the other respondents: Babajide Aremu Johnson, Olabose Ibrahim Falobi, Steve Nnamdi Izebu, Steve Ibem and Bakoliza Limited went to court to suspend or stay execution on Justice Liman’s order.

They had sought the following: an order to discharge the interim order of forfeiture of assets, an order discharging the final forfeiture and any other orders as deemed fit by the court.

In his judgment after hearing J.O. Adeyemi Esq Counsel for the Applicant/Respondent and V.C. Nwokafor Counsel for the 1st, 2nd and 6th Respondents/Applicants, Justice Allagoa ordered that the motion of Ms. Johnson and the other respondents dated March 12, 2021 is “hereby set aside.”

The judgment delivered on July 15, 2021 stated further: “That the order of Justice Liman stands in all its ramifications” and “That the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are entitled to take possession of all that property subject of the Order of my Lord A.M. Liman on 16th day of February, 2021.

But when the EFCC went to carry out the order, Ms Johnson made a huge scene, accusing Adenuga of a witch-hunt because she walked away from an intimate relationship with him.

2023: Lagos Assembly Backs Southern Governors On Rotational Presidency

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Mudashiru Obasa

By Akinwale Kasali

The Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa-led House of Assembly has solidly backed the Southern Governors Forum on its demand for rotational Presidency.

The Southern Governors had, a couple of weeks back, said that come 2023, a Southerner must emerge as the President of the country. Their decision was not acceptable to some groups in the North.

Following this development,

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have declared their support for the resolutions reached by the Southern Governors.

It would be recalled that the Southern Governors also declared that they should be informed of any operation likely to be carried out in their states by security and law enforcement agencies.

While supporting the unity of the country, the Governors condemned what they called selective administration of the criminal justice. Among other demands, they called for the establishment of State police.

In a motion moved by Hon. Akeem Shokunle (Oshodi/Isolo 1) under ‘Matter of Urgent Public importance’, the lawmakers agreed to commend the Governors for the efforts they have made so far for the progress of the country.

The Assembly also called on Speakers and lawmakers of the concerned States in the southern part of the country to support the demands of the governors.

Concluding the debate on the matter, Speaker of the House, Obasa, said: “We need to commend the southern Governors for their efforts to resolve issues troubling our unity. This is the second time they are meeting. Every point in their communique is important.”

He added that the Governors are supposed to be the chief security officers, yet they are rendered powerless in relation to security of their states.

The Speaker said that it was important that the resolutions of the Governors on rotational Presidency, State Police, ban on open grazing, sharing of resources to the states and others should be accepted by the Federal Government.

Earlier, lawmakers who contributed to the debate, commended the unity among the southern governors urging them not to relent.

The Speaker later directed the Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, to inform the Chairman of Southern Governors Forum, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the National Assembly about the position of the House.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers earlier in the week held a minute’s silence in honour of Sumbo Ajose, treasurer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State who reportedly died on Tuesday.

Speaker Obasa, while commiserating with the family of the deceased and the party, said the late Ajose was a loyal party member adding that her death remained a huge loss to the APC.

The Speaker also used the opportunity to advise his colleagues to live their lives ensuring they serve well in whatever capacities they find themselves.

UBA: Robbers Attack Ondo Branch

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0
UBA office

By Fola James

The management of the Kennedy Uzoka-led United Bank of Africa, UBA is still counting the misfortune that befell the commercial bank after gunmen, in a commando-style attacked one of its branches in Ondo on Thursday.

The armed robbers attacked the UBA Ilara-Mokin in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, branch, killed three persons, including a journalist and policeman, after which they made away an undisclosed amount of money. UBA is the only new generation bank in the community.

Apart from those killed during the operations, scores were said to have also been injured by stray bullets.

The yet to be identified assailants broke down the bullet-proof door of the bank with dynamite before they gained entrance into the banking hall, leaving the staff and customers shocked, while security personnel of the bank took to their heels.

The deceased journalist, Bunmi Afuye was working with one of the state-owned radio station, Orange FM before his appointment as the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of Elizade University Ilara-Mokin less than a month ago.

On his part the policeman was killed during the explosion of the dynamite.

The state police command said it has launched a manhunt for the armed robbers.

1...2,3922,3932,394...2,982Page 2,393 of 2,982