Home Blog Page 2439

2023: Factional Ohanaeze Endorses Tinubu ‘As The Man Nigeria Needs’

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0
Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Muhammedu Buhari in London

By James Orji

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo-social cultural group has described Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu as a forward-looking leader and unifier that the country needs at this time to unite all her people.

The former Lagos State Governor is in the United Kingdom where he’s recuperating from an undisclosed ailment. The Igbo group, who described the APC National Leader as a friend of the people of the South East, prayed for his quick recovery so that he can return to the country ahead the 2023 election.

Some considers the group’s position as a subtle endorsement of the politician, mostly described as the strongman of Lagos politics, for the presidential race, contrary to the views of leaders of the Zone that one of their own succeeds President Muhammadu Buhari. This, obviously, will no go down well with some Igbo-centric people who believe it is their turn to rule the country, analyst say.

Ohanaeze’s Deputy Secretary-General, Dimm Uche Okwukwu, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday said Tinubu is rallying point for the south as the country prepares for the critical election.

The group’s scribed said the former governor deserved accolades for doing so much for Igbo, particularly, for being the first state governor to appoint South Easterners to his cabinet.

Okwukwu said the APC stalwarts represents many things to different people in the country, but that for Igbo he’s a benefactor.

According to him “to Nigerians in general, he is one of the authors of this democracy we enjoy today. He put in so much energy as chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, to make sure that Nigeria was returned to democracy in 1999.

“To Yorubas, he is a home-grown leader. Southern Nigeria sees him as a patriot and foremost unifier. “Igbo people see Asiwaju as their protector. We remember that as governor of Lagos State, he appointed an Igbo man from Anambra State, Ben Akabueze, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget for eight years, 1999-2007.

“The import of his gesture was not lost on Igbos all over the world and we are very proud of Asiwaju. Indeed, we call him “Nwanne di na mba,” a brother in foreign land.

“Ndigbo pray God Almighty grants Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu quick recovery, particularly now that Nigeria is in serious transition. We need him for the unification of the Southern bloc of Nigeria.

“We need him to mentor the younger generations. Nigerians need Asiwaju to inspire them. We need him to guide us in the right path of democracy. Nigerians want him home in good health,” he said.

The APC stalwarts is believed to be nursing a presidential ambition, though he has not publicly said so. His London home has recently become a Mecca of sort for many politicians in the country, including President Muhammadu Buhari.

Some politicians and groups have been calling on him to join the presidential race. The admonition, by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, many say may be another endorsement of Asiwaju quest to succeed President Buhari.

Fayose Queries President Buhari’s Anti Corruption War

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0

By Akinwale Kasali

Former Ekiti State Governor and strong critic of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration,  Ayo Fayose, has queried the  President Muhammadu Buhari, over his acclaimed anti corruption war.

The two term Governor  took to his official Twitter handle, positing eight questions to the present administration.

Fayose asked the President what had happened to the report on the US$43 Million discovered in an apartment at Osbourne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos few years back.

He added that the President has failed to tell the populace what  happened to the allegation of award of US$25 billion contracts without following due process made against Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, former Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources?

Stressing further, he questioned President Buhari on what has happened to the Department of State Services (DSS) indictment for corruption of Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Mr. Abubakar Malami, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Investigative Panel set up by the President Muhammadu Buhari?

He also asked him to tell Nigerians the owner of LEGICO Shopping Plaza, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, inside which the EFCC claimed that it found US$448.8 Million cash?

“Who brought the Five Sacks in which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claimed that it found NGN49 Million Cash to the Kaduna Airport? What happened to the Probe Panel on the alleged NGN500 Million bribery said to have been paid to the Chief of Staff (COS), Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abba Kyari by MTN?

“What happened to the report submitted on the fraudulent reinstatement of Abdulrasheed Maina, The Pensions Thief?

“Is the President going to use the All Progressives Congress (APC) Broom to sweep the report on Abdulrasheed Maina, The Pensions Thief, under the carpet just as he did to others before it?”

Fayose said Nigerians need to get answers to the above questions raised, urging Nigerians to spread it and let it become viral as the whole world needs to understand what is happening in Nigeria under President Buhari administration.

Ever since President Buhari came into the saddle in 2015 and re-elected in 2019, Fayose has consistently queried his policies, especially, on insecurity that is a menace in the country and his fight against corruption, which he often says is hypocritical.

Kogi Joins Oil Producing States As Buhari Approves RMAFC Proposal

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Yahaya Bello
Yahaya Bello

By Ayodele Oni

Kogi State has joined the league of oil producing states, thus becoming the tenth on the roll.

Governor Yahaya Bello broke the news to State House Correspondents in Abuja while on a thank you visit to President Mohammed Buhari.

He  expressed the state Government’s ’s appreciation to President Buhari for the recognition of Kogi as one of the Oil-producing states in the country by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAFC).

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Bello, Mohammed Onogwu, said in a statement on Wednesday that the issue of   the resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex, also in Kogi State, was discussed with the President.”

Governor Bello was quoted in the statement as saying that “The aim of my visit to Mr President this afternoon was to thank him for the recognition of Kogi State as one of the Oil-producing States in the country.

“We also discussed the issue of Ajaokuta Steel Complex, which Mr President said all efforts are ongoing to ensure the Steel Complex comes up before the end of his administration.”

“With the recognition of Kogi and Anambra, the age-long oil wells dispute that resulted in unwarranted killings and destruction of property between two communities of Odeke in Ibaji local government area of Kogi and Aguleri in Anambra state has come to an end, while commending Mr President for the peaceful resolution of the dispute.

“The Ibaji oil crisis had been on for a while and has led to large scale destruction of property with the loss of many lives.

“The Odeke and Aguleri communities of Kogi and Anambra states laid exclusive claim to the ownership of the oil in the disputed area which has been finally resolved in favour of both states.

“By history, the exploration of crude oil in Ibaji Local Government Area which comes under Anambra Basin in geological terms started in 1952 in the villages of Odeke, Echeno, Ihile, Anocha/Uchuchu, Omabo, Ikah, Iregwu and Ujeh all in Ibaji community of the present-day Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State.

“Between 1952 and 1986 three companies namely; Shell BP (now SPDC), ELF (now Total Fina Elf) and AGIP Energy have drilled 25 exploration wells, 2 appraisal wells and 8-core drill wells in the entire Basin out of which majority of the wells fall into Kogi State.

“Since the assumption office in 2016, Governor Yahaya Bello who always work in silence understudied the disputed area and with deft political approach pursued the matter which remained unresolved by his predecessors to a logical conclusion.”

Why Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Sued For The Enforcement Of His Fundamental Rights

By
The Source
-
0
Aloy Ejimakor

By Aloy Ejimakor

Today, (September 7, 2021) I secured an Order from the High Court of Abia State to serve by substituted means, an Application for enforcement of the Fundamental Rights of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which I recently brought before the High Court of Abia State.

The next hearing date is set for 21st September, 2021 in Umuahia.

The material issue is the unbroken chain of infringements that began with the 2017 extrajudicial attempt on Kanu’s life in Abia State; his involuntary flight to safety/exile; his abduction in Kenya and his extraordinary rendition to Nigeria.

We believe that these supervening issues have complicated Kanu’s prosecution and thus must be judicially dispensed with before any further prosecutorial action can proceed.

Accordingly, I have placed the following reliefs before the Court:

1: A DECLARATION that the military invasion of the Applicant’s building and premises at Isiama, Afaraukwu Ibeku, Abia State on 10th September, 2017 by the Respondents or their agents is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amount to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right to life, dignity of his person, his personal liberty and fair hearing as guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of Chapter IV of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (hereafter, CFRN) and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (hereafter, the Charter).

2: A DECLARATION that the arrest of the Applicant in Kenya by the Respondents or their agents without due process of law is arbitrary, illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amounts to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right against arbitrary arrest, to his personal liberty and to fair hearing as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter.

3: A DECLARATION that the torture and detention of the Applicant in Kenya by the Respondents or their agents is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amounts to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right against torture and to fair hearing, as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter).

4: A DECLARATION that the expulsion of the Applicant from Kenya to Nigeria by the Respondents or their agents and their consequent detention and planned prosecution of the Applicant in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 (Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Nnamdi Kanu) is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amount to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right against unlawful expulsion and detention, and to fair hearing, as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter).

5: AN ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining the Respondents or their agents from taking any further step in the prosecution of the Applicant in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 (Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Nnamdi Kanu) pursuant to said unlawful expulsion of the Applicant from Kenya to Nigeria.

6: AN ORDER mandating and compelling the  Respondents or their agents to forthwith release the Applicant from detention and restitute or otherwise restore Applicant to his liberty, same being his state of being as of 19th June, 2021; and to thereupon repatriate the Applicant to his country of domicile (to wit: Britain) to await the outcome of any formal request the Respondents may file before the competent authorities in Britain for the lawful extradition of the Applicant to Nigeria to continue his prosecution in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 (Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Nnamdi Kanu).

7: AN ORDER mandating and compelling the Respondents to issue an official Letter of Apology to the Applicant for the infringement of his fundamental rights; and publication of said Letter of Apology in three (3) national dailies.

8: AN ORDER mandating and compelling the Respondents to pay the sum of N5000,000,000.00 (Five Billion Naira) to the Applicant, being monetary damages claimed by the Applicant against the Respondents jointly and severally for the physical, mental, emotional, psychological and other damages suffered by the Applicant as a result of the infringements of Applicant’s fundamental rights.

Ejimakor, ESQ, is the Special Counsel to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu

Again, OAU Sacks Lecturer Over Sexual Harassment Of Female Student

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0

By Ayodele Oni

The Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU) Ile Ife, has dismissed another lecturer for alleged sexual harassment of a female student.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju explained that the decision was taken in the avowed determination to rid the University of any form of sexual intimidation, harassment and, or coercion.

The statement reads “The Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has dismissed another lecturer who was found guilty of sexual misdemeanor against a female student.

“The decision to dismiss Dr. Adebayo Mosobalaje, of the Department of English Language, in the Faculty of Arts, was taken by the University Council at its last sitting on Monday 7th September, 2021.

“Having exhaustively deliberated on the report of the Joint Committee of Council and Senate, which investigated the case of sexual harassment against Dr Mosobalaje, the University Council, unambiguously declared  its zero tolerance to sexual harassment in any form or guise and, accordingly,  applied the appropriate University sanctions for such an offence as contained in the University regulation.

“It would be recalled that almost two weeks ago, the University Management formally inaugurated an “anti – sexual harassment policy” where their excellencies, Erelu Bisi Fayemi (the wife of Ekiti State Governor) and Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola (the wife of Osun State Governor) presented papers while a former Vice Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Professor Yemisi Obilade, was the main speaker.

“At several fora, the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, had reiterated the commitment of his administration to uphold the “Zero tolerance policy” for Sexual harassment and other social vices.

“The Council of the University, Chaired by Owelle Oscar Udoji, has also pledged to support policies that promote mutual co- existence between all the members of the University Community.”

Just less than two years ago, there was a celebrated case of a female student who accused one of her lecturers of scoring her with low marks for refusing his sexual advances.

After a Committee set up by the University found the lecturer guilty, he was dismissed.

Leave Ondo Or Obey Our Laws, Government Replies Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Government has again reminded members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders, (MACBAN) of the need to steer clear of the State forests if they are not ready to obey laid down rules.

Ondo State has joined the league of those that have signed into law, the anti grazing bill. MACBAN, specifically, threatened that the law would not work.

The State Government described a statement credited to the Secretary of the association, Alhaji Saleh Hassan as “uncouth, uncultured and, evidently, deracinated vagrant, left no one in doubt as regards the level of support certain criminal elements, like him, enjoy, deplorably.”

In a statement, Special Assistant to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Special Duties, Dr Doyin Odebowale stated that “This man admits, without qualms, that members of his association have been frustrated to the point of taking to banditry and other forms of criminality to “fight poverty”.

“He makes too much weather of a cultural practice associated with an ethnic group and expects all other ethnic groups to accept such backwardness and adjust, accordingly, or be ready to face the ceaseless onslaught of the denizens of the forests, even those from other countries, who must rape, rob, maim, kill and despoil in response to “climate change”.

“They claim to be above the law of any State in the Federation. They warn of the imminent breach of peace and promotion of pervasive anarchy, if they are not allowed to ravage the sweat and toil of the long-suffering farmers who, apparently, don’t count for much in the scheme of things in their estimation.

“They thank the Federal Government and ask its functionaries and the National Assembly to ensure that they continue to kill, maim, rape and dispossess the indigenous owners of their land.

“Any ethnic group, truly indigenous to the geo-political space known as Nigeria, should not be desperate to appropriate other people’s lands to assuage banditry, rape and robbery.

“It is indulgence taken too far for a group of private businessmen to seek to take over people’s lands because of the mistaken belief of support for banditry.

“There is no ethnic group which does not parade an array of professionals in all walks of life. There is no ethnic stock bereft of sound and principled agents of advancement in a transitional society.

“No cultural practice permits criminality. Banditry, rape and armed robbery should not be attributes of a people. Personal businesses must not become the prime occupation of a Government of a geo-political space with multi ethnic groups.

“Various communities live with painful memories and indelible scars. We refuse to become slaves in our land. We defeated treachery and unbridled arrogance.

“We are not prepared to cede any part of our ancestral heritage to enjoy “peace and progress” offered by associations of bandits, robbers, kidnappers and rapists.

“Saleh and his sponsors should be content with the resources within his local environment if he is indeed indigenous to Nigeria.

“No part of our land will be given to foreigners who cling to a dubious regional protocol as an instrument validating dispossession.

“Let him practice his cultural practices on his father’s land. His likes will not be permitted to operate with impunity in Ondo State. We will defend our land.

“Ondo State has a law which prohibits open grazing. The Government has a responsibility to implement the law for the benefit of the people of the State and those, who may share in their aspiration for development of their God-given space.

“The people of Ondo are hospitable. They will, however, be unable to tolerate and condone invasion of their lands. No bandit will operate in Ondo State under any dubious guise.”

ACF Loses Head Of Administration

By
Uche Mbah
-
0
Mohammed Sani Soba2

By Uche Mbah

The Head of Administration, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Soba, reportedly, slumped and died while he was in his office, on Saturday, September 4, 2021.He was 72.

A statement to that effect has been issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the Northern Sociocultural groups, Emmanuel Yawe.

Soba was a retired Permanent Secretary with the Kaduna State Government before he took up the job with ACF as Head of Administration on a contract basis.

Born in 1949, he left primary school in 1964 after which he went further to obtain additional qualifications both at home and outside Nigeria in various fields especially administration and legislative studies.

He was once the Clerk of the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

“His death was grieved by all at the secretariat of ACF where he held sway as an Administrative Head until his sudden death,” the statement said.

There Is Need To Make Nigeria Liveable; Nigerians Live In Fear – Ondo Gov, Akeredolu

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Rotimi Akeredolu and Ambassador Godknows Igali

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has emphasized the need to make the country livable for the people so as to harness their talents for national growth.

Governor Akeredolu said in order to achieve Nigeria’s goals for Science and Technological advancement; the country must be made conducive for living, particularly for the young ones.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor stated that he spoke on Tuesday, while receiving members of the Governing Board of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) led by the Chairman, Ambassador Godknows  Igali, and the Vice Chancellor, Professor Joseph Adeola Fuwape, in Akure.

Speaking on the growth of Science and Technology in the country, Governor Akeredolu said: “For us in science and technology, we need to do more. Japanese, Chinese and other developed countries send people to where science is the best.

“We have heard of countries that send their people to the USA to train on Science and Technology.

“They didn’t stay there. They went back to their country to develop it. Commitment to one’s country is key. But we need to make this country a livable place so that the young ones will be confident and have hope to live in this country.”

Governor Akeredoku, who stressed that the people are living in fear, noted that something must be done urgently to address the situation and restore hope to the minds of the people.

“Look at what is happening in Zamfara. They try to clothe it and call them bandits. They are terrorrists. So, the growth in science can not be based on just your charge but the conducive environment in the country,” he said.

He emphasised the need for the country to embrace modern ways of animal husbandry, describing open grazing as old and now illegal in the state.

“Today, I can say there are modern ways of animal husbandry and we have to take the bull by the horns. We are not afraid to take decisions.

“Modernity has taught us that you can extract more milk from cows in a modern way better than when you take them from one place to another. It is about science. People have developed that science.

“I’m happy when I see Mr President go to Katsina and visit his cows. They are well kept. Technology of animal husbandry, we must embrace it.”

Governor Akeredolu described FUTA as one of the leading Universities in the country, particularly in terms of research.

“We take pride in FUTA and its achievements over time. And I have had serious connections with FUTA not only as a Governor.

“We have strong relationship with FUTA. FUTA for us is one of the leading universities of technology in Nigeria if not the leading. One of our lecturers won the best researcher award in the country.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the institution, Ambassador Godknows Boladie Igali, lauded the strides of Governor Akeredolu, adding that the state is poised to get to the top place in the country.

“Seeing the transformation, especially the urban renewal, it is tremendous. Your focus on education, we know what you are doing on Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (OAUSTECH).

“Since you assumed office, you have done a lot and you have shown yourself to be a friend of the university. You helped us established the tech hub. You have helped the University in terms of some external works.

“Thank you for the efforts that were put in to get the approval for the medical college. We will be able to get serious research into the medical science.”

He reiterated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to the growth of Science and Technology in the country.

Strike: Only Illegally Recruited Doctors are Owed – Ngige

By
Uche Mbah
-
0
Chris Ngige

By Uche Mbah

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige has denied owing the striking members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, or other health workers in the country, saying only those who were illegally recruited are not receiving salaries.

Health workers have been on strike to press home a coterie of demands, a situation the Minister  described as unfortunate.

The fallout of the strike is the mass exodus of Nigerian Doctors to Saudi Arabia. The Gulf country had cashed in on the strike to organize interviews at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja. Crowds of medical doctors who were seeking to leave the  Nigeria besieged the recruitment centre.

Saudi Arabia moved the recruitment to its online portal, thereby accentuating the brain drain.

Speaking during the opening session of the meeting of the Presidential Committee on Salaries with the leadership of the Joint Health Sector Unions in Abuja Tuesday, Ngige said those not paid were those not captured by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.  Therefore, their payments were not provided for by the Budget Office. But due to the Presidential waiver, he said the doctors will have their appointments regularised.

“NARD (National Associations of Resident Doctors), goes about telling Nigerians that Government owes them salaries and that Government is not taking the problems in the health sector seriously. But this is not true. It is incorrect”, Ngige said.

“No doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or any other health worker, including the drivers, is owed monthly salary; the Government pays as and when due.

“The truth is that NARD doctors fail to tell Nigerians that their colleagues who are owed salaries are the ones illegally recruited and were, therefore, neither captured by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation nor were their payments provided for by the Budget Office of the Federation.

“Monthly salaries are done as and when due for those legitimately employed by the Federal Government but not to those illegally employed and who need their appointments regularized and captured in the finances of government for payment. This takes a process which is not accomplished overnight.”

Part of what is being owed Doctors are their Covid 19 allowances and minimum wave adjustments, which the Minister said efforts to settle them are ongoing.

According to him, Federal Government has already budgeted N37.5billion for hazard allowance.

On his part, The Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, condemned the strike action by the health workers, referring to harsh economic realities under which the Government is operating.

The Minister of State for Finance, Budget, and Planning, Clement Agba, lamented that the budgetary expenditure of the Government is increasing while revenue continues to decrease.

Six Days after, Terrorists Free Katsina SSG’s Brother, Invades College Of Education

By
Uche Mbah
-
0
Kidnappers
Kidnappers

By Uche Mbah

78 years old Kabir Muhammed, a brother to the Secretary of the Katsina State government, Dr. Muhammed Inuwa, has been released by his abductors.

This is as they also invaded the Katsina College of Education, Dutsinma, and abducted the three sons of the Deputy Provost. Reports say four heavily armed bandits stormed the College  on September 6, around 11.30pm, broke into the home of Dr. Isma’ll Ado Funtua, and abducted his three sons.

Reports indicate that the Katsina SSG’s elder brother may have been released on a trade off as the leaders of the abductors was known to security agencies, who, sources said, also abducted the father of the ring leader and sent a message to the abductors that the father of their leader was abducted.

Muhammed was abducted Wednesday while working on his farm in Damsu Council Area of Katsina state, President Buhari’s home state.

Only recently, a retired top Security officer, had alleged that the sponsors of Boko Haram are known, and belong to the highest places in the country, including the National Assembly and even the Presidency.

Recently, also, reports showed that the United States Government said it  would expose the names of Boko Haram sponsors.

Coincidentally, there appears to be more positive activities in the fight against terrorists after the said US statement. Almost soon after, the Federal Government wrote the Telecom companies through the Nigerian Communications Commission, and asked them to shut down Telecom activities in Zamfara state.

The Companies complied,  resulting in  network downing in the State and other neighboring states.

Unfortunately, this has an adverse effect that parents of kidnapped students, and other relatives of kidnapped victims can no longer communicate with their abductors, thereby keeping them in the dark.

The brighter side is that the abductors cannot negotiate again for ransom, unless they leave the zone.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Secretary to the Katsina State Government, Kabir Yar’Adua, has confirmed the release of his brother, saying that no dime was paid as ransom. It was learnt that the abductors capitulated when their informers were arrested including the father of the ring leader, who was released in exchange for the abducted.

Sceptics believe that if the abductee was an ordinary person, the release could not have been this quick.

1...2,4382,4392,440...3,074Page 2,439 of 3,074