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Breaking: Tinubu Returns, Limping

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The Source
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Bola Tinubu Returns to Nigeria

By Gideon Njoku

Finally, the National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria.

He returned Sunday morning, but with an obvious limp on his right leg.

He discarded the walking stick which he was seen using in London at the time President Muhammadu Buhari went to visit him.

Donning his signature cap, he wore a simple white caftan.

Tinubu has been in the United Kingdom, since July, 2021 attending to his health. He, allegedly, had a knee cap replacement, probably, the right knee. He missed out in many political and social activities.

His residence in London became a Mecca of sorts for Nigerian politicians, including National Assembly members, State Governors, and a delegation  from the Lagos State House  of Assembly.

It is expected that with his return, his Bourdillion, Ikoyi Lagos residence will witness a large number of politicians, and that political activities in the South-west, in particular, will pick up.

Even though Tinubu has neither confirmed nor denied it, he is very strongly speculated to be eyeing the Presidential seat in 2023. His campaign has since taken off by a number of groups and associates.

Last week, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, described Tinubu as the “Capon” of the South, and said they were waiting for him for direction.

It’s Fake News, Arthur Eze Not Dead

By
The Source
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0

By Gideon Njoku

The news was splashed on a couple of platforms that oil and money man, Chief Arthur Eze, popular as Ozoigbondu, was dead.

The news came early Sunday morning of September 26, 2021.

Not a few people, especially, in the South-east zone, and more especially in his Anambra State were shocked as they never heard he was ill. It worsened when there was no statement to either confirm or deny it.

But those who know him say that is not his style. He is not a man of too much protocol, and press releases. He has his own style which he deployed to the maximum Sunday morning.

A staunch member of the Anglican Communion, it is not known if he goes to Church every Sunday, especially during this time of COVID-19.

This Sunday, however, to make a point, he made a song and dance of it. Before he left for Church, a group of, mostly, young men came to confirm he was alive. And in a video which they posted, Eze was seen in an all-white outfit in a photograph with them, with one of them running commentaries.

“This is Chief Arthue Eze. He  is not dead. He is alive and strong. He is doing many things for us, and he will continue. He is strong. Look at him shaking hands. And now, he is entering his car, his Mercedes to go to Church.”

The show did not end there. It continued inside the Church where Eze was seen, along with others, going to give his offering. He did not dance as some other members of the congregation did. But an aide who also wore white followed closely behind him, and when it was Eze’s turn to  put in his own offering, he turned and took a fat, white, envelope from the aide and put it inside the offering bag. Point made.

Such fake news announcing the death of prominent Nigerians have become common. At times, it is political.

Weeks ago, it was that of Bauchi Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, the Senate Committee Chair of Foreign Relations. He was forced to say: “I am alive.”

For the records, the Senator is married to the immediate past President of the Court of Appeal.

Building Materials: Dare Babarinsa Challenges Varsities

By
Ayodele Oni
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Dare Babarinsa

By Ayodele Oni

Nigerian Universities of Technology have been challenged to come up with Solution to high cost of building materials and environmental problems in the country.

Chairman/Editor in Chief of Gaskia Media, Mr Dare Babarinsa, gave the charge while delivering 11th Registry Annual Lecture of  the Federal University of Technology, Akure, (FUTA).

The Publisher and Historian noted that “One area in which FUTA can help us find a solution is in the housing crisis.

“We have not been able to device a system where the cost of building houses would be affordable for an average man or woman.  Why can’t we find cheaper materials to build houses like the clay that were used to build African cities in the past?

“Why do we have to spend so much money to reinforce multi-storey building that would consume so much cement and other materials?  FUTA should lead the way to find better and cheaper ways to build houses for the common people.

“We have also realized that plastic bottles, sachets and other containers have become a serious environmental problem for us in Nigeria and the rest of the continent.

“Everywhere you go in this country, there is an empty plastic bottle starring at you.  We need to find a way to convert this problem into our own advantage.”

He also highlighted effects of incessant strikes on students and academic programmes of the university which include unnecessary extension of period of stay.

“One thing that is overshadowing the reputation of most public universities is the annual festival of strikes and industrial disputes.

“This has led to serious disruption in the lives of students and the expectations of parents.  Some students, in the wake of these serious disruptions, may end up spending eight years for a four-year course.

“I am sure this may not be the intention of those who are declaring industrial dispute. Some of these strikes are direct assault on the concept of university autonomy.

“If a university is not having a dispute with its workers, why should the workers go on strike because the employees of another university have a dispute with its workers?

“I am sure the issue may be more complicated than this simple illustration.  Nonetheless, let the wise ones in this citadel ponder on this within the theory and practice of university autonomy.”

Mr Babarinsa, who is also one of the founding Editors of Tell Magazine, stressed the need for proper information management for universities as they were being judged by whatever comes out of them.

“The university is a living entity.  It must manage its information within its various interest groups and the larger society.  It must defend itself and its reputation against assault from within and without.

“The university cannot escape its environment, but must try to dominate it and influence it positively.  In some instances, some university fully dominate their environment to the extent that they become synonymous with it.

“Thus when you talk in academic circles, Ibadan means the University of Ibadan, Ife means the Obafemi Awolowo University, Makerere means the University in Kampala, Uganda.  The same is applicable to universities in Cambridge, Oxford, Legon and other places.

“Knowledge is a universal product and every wise person is in search of it.  The university is expected to domesticate knowledge, seek to own it and help the world to apply it.”

He commended FUTA for some of its strides saying “FUTA is a stronghold for the storage and nourishment of knowledge.  It is a special nursery bed for ideas which can in turn be transplanted into the general community for the betterment of mankind.

“It has succeeded substantially in fulfilling its role and that is why it continued to be reckoned with in the comity of Nigerian universities.  We should not forget what the Founding Fathers of this institution set out to achieve.

“The founders stated that the vision of FUTA is “to be a world-class university of technology and a centre of excellence in training, research and service delivery.”

“In the year 2020, FUTA was ranked eighth among Nigerian universities, including the private ones by the Webometrics ranking agency.  This shows that it is indeed in the big league in Nigeria.

“However, on the universal setting Webometrics ranked FUTA as Number 2172. This ranking shows that FUTA might be big in Nigeria, but on the universal scale, it still has a long way to go.”

Joshua Outboxed; Loses To Usyk

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Anthony Joshua and Oleksander Usyk

By Akinwale Kasali

In front of his home fans and his fortress at the Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium in London, United Kingdom, Nigerian born British Boxer, Anthony Joshua, was pummeled and outclassed by the superior punches of Ukrainian Pugilist, Oleksander Usyk. He has dethroned

Joshua as the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

No one gave Usyk a chance, but the former Cruiserweight Champion showed what he got in his sleeves. He is now the  undisputed heavyweight champion as he put an end to the dominance of Joshua. He earned a unanimous decision with scores of 117-112, 116-112, and 115-113.

A more determined Usyk outmuscled and landed harder punches all through the fight, in total, landing 148  punches, which was the most by an opponent of Joshua in a fight.

In dramatic fashion, Usyk closed the show by landing 29 punches in round 12, most by a Joshua opponent.

This is the second defeat Joshua will suffer in his career after his loss to Mexican, Andy Ruiz over a year ago.

The Win by Usyk has caused an upset in the Heavyweight category, putting an hold to the fight between Tyson Fury and Joshua, putting him a pole position to challenge whoever wins between Tyson Fury and Deotoney Wilder rematch.

Joshua however has a rematch clause in his fight with Usyk, which could see him retain his title and await whoever wins the Fury/Wilder fight.

The defeat is no doubt a major setback for Joshua who is bent on becoming the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the world, but warnings by British Boxing Promoter, Eddie Hearn, of Joshua facing

his “toughest-ever fight” when he defend is WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles against Usyk has finally come to reality.

With Usyk becoming the new heavyweight champion of the world, it is a long walk for Joshua.

Also, the most anticipated British bout between Joshua and Fury may never come to reality if Joshua fails to defeat Usyk in the rematch and also, if Fury fails to defeat Wilder for the second time.

October 1: IPOB Locks Down South-east, Orders Flags Fly Half Mast

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

Again, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, has set the stage for a possible clash with the Nigerian State.

October 1 is Nigeria’s 61st Independence anniversary, but IPOB is set to make that day a no-event in the South-east.

To achieve this, the Group has decided to use its most potent weapon.

To that effect, its Leadership has ordered a sit-at-home order on October 1.

Meaning: there will be no movement on that day.

In addition, it has ordered all flags within the Region to fly at half mast as from Saturday, September 25, 2021, except those in Banks.

Even then, the Group says it will tell the Banks when to fly the flags in their premises at half mast, and threatened it would do it its own way if the banks refuse to comply.

Following is the IPOB statement signed by Mazi Chika Edoziem, and dated September 24, 2021.

“1st of October declared total shutdown in Biafra land. There shall be no movement in Biafra land on 1st of October being Nigerian Independence Day.

“Again from tonight all Nigerian flag mounted anywhere in Biafra land must be brought down, Banks exceptional.

“IPOB leadership will communicate to Banks directly and give them reason they must peaceful bring down zoo flag otherwise we do it ourselves in our own way.”

The now “popular” lockdown   – sit-at-home order- was introduced to be a weekly affair by IPOB to pressurise the Federal Government into releasing its Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is under custody and being prosecuted for alleged sundry offences, including treasonable felony and murder. It later reduced it to only the days Kanu would appear in Court. But it has not helped, as most people, out of fear stay home every Monday.

Not only has it resulted in violence and deaths, it has grounded, almost, the economy of the Zone.

NASS Minority Caucus Dismisses Buhari’s UNGA Speech As Disservice To Nation

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Muhammadu Buhari at NUGA

By Akinwale Kasali

The Minority Caucus in the Green Chamber of the Federal House of Representatives led by Minority Leader, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, has condemned the speech made by President Muhammadu Buhari in his address at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, in New York, USA, alleging he was neither truthful and factual.

The Caucus said his speech was not the true state of the nation, stressing that it is in complete disagreement with the ugly reality of the failures of the present administration in the country under the leadership of President Buhari.

In a Statement by the Caucus signed by Hon. Elumelu Saturday September 25th, 2021, it described the President’s Speech as a great disservice to the nation, saying that the address he presented to the world leaders was not in any way the true picture of affairs in Nigeria.

The statement by the Caucus stressed that it has extensively reviewed the address presented by President Buhari at the United Nations Headquarters and was perturbed by the claims of the President which are not in tandem with the reality of his administration’s failure economically, security-wise and the social ruins that have bedeviled the country under his watch.

It further added that the Caucus is aggrieved with the President for not presenting the true picture of affairs in the country – the human rights violations, corruption and incompetence in his administration; the excruciating hardship, escalated insecurity, national divisiveness and infrastructural decay under his watch -thereby blocking avenues for desired intervention in our various ailing sectors.

Part of the statement reads:

“The Minority caucus was alarmed by President Buhari’s report to UNGA that terrorists have been so weakened in Nigeria that they are now preying on soft targets, when in reality, insurgents have become so emboldened under his watch, that they are now attacking military formations, kidnapping and killing our gallant officers while overrunning communities and murdering our citizens without restrain.

“As representatives of the people, the Minority caucus is depressed that President Buhari’s speech did not reflect on the kidnapping and killing of students and school children in Nigeria.

“The speech did not reflect on the closure of schools and crippling of education in many parts of our country, where normal life has been destroyed by terrorists, neither did it show any empathy towards the victims of terrorism attacks

“Our caucus is worried that in reflecting on violent conflicts, Mr. President’s address conveyed no personal commitments that can guarantee an end to poor and undemocratic governance, human rights abuses, poverty, ignorance, injustice and inequalities, that are prevalent under his watch, even after identifying such as the causes of conflicts.

“Also, the minority caucus is shocked by the claims in Mr. President’s speech that his administration “built” isolation centers and emergency hospital wards, “all over the country” “in record time” in the fight against Covid-19; a claim that is in conflict with the infrastructural reality in the country.

“Moreover, our caucus is worried that Mr. President’s speech did not portray any decisive roadmap towards economic recovery and food security; had no personal commitment to end corruption in his administration; had no personal commitment to end borrowing or show a clear-cut plan to repay the huge debt being accumulated by his administration.

“The speech also lacked definite personal commitments towards credible electoral process especially as the nation approaches 2023 general election.

“The Minority caucus, after due consideration, urges President Buhari to always cross check the content given to him by his handlers so as to ensure that his position, especially on the world stage, captures the reality as well as aspiration prevalent in the country.

“This is because such addresses ought to serve as unblemished working document for interventions and solutions at various levels of governance”.

2023: INEC insists on Electronic Voting

By
Uche Mbah
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INEC Logo

By Uche Mbah

Despite objections from Northern elites and the rumpus being created at the National Assembly, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is still insisting it is ready to deploy electronic transmission as a means of collating election results baring legal backing to their position.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu released a position paper Saturday, which indicates that there is adequate infrastructure to launch electronic transmission of results.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC believes that it has developed adequate structures and processes to successfully transmit election results electronically”, an extract from the paper, tagged “Position paper 1 of 2021.

“Electronic transmission of results will improve the quality of election result management and that our engagement with stakeholders shows that the Nigerian public supports it. The technology and national infrastructure to support this are adequate. Consequently, if the choice was up to INEC, the Commission prefers to transmit election results electronically once the necessary legal framework is provided.”

Some politicians have cited epileptic service provision by telecom industries in the North as a reason for their opposition, declaring that the North is not ready for technologies of that nature. The National Assembly had indicated that it can only be possible if INEC obtained attestation from the Nigerian Communication Commission NCC and approval of the National Assembly, a position INEC claim is unconstitutional.

“Two guiding principles underlying the Commission’s application of technology are timeliness and relevance. These principles underscore the Commission’s belief that the time has come for Nigerian elections to transcend the cumbersome, tardy, and vulnerable manual transmission and collation of election results to electronic transmission.

“Recently, in the course of the National Assembly seeking to amend or repeal and re-enact the Electoral Act 2010, a national debate has arisen over the question of electronic transmission of election results. The controversy has revolved around the readiness to transmit by INEC and the capacity of national infrastructure for transmitting election results electronically. It is worthy of note that none of the sides in this controversy appears to substantially question the desirability of electronic transmission of election results. It seems that only the preparedness of INEC and the capacity of national infrastructure are questioned.

“Since INEC’s readiness has become a cardinal issue in these debates, the Commission has decided to articulate and make public its position and thinking on this question, particularly for two reasons. First, many Nigerians have called on the Commission to make its position public. Second, we hope that by doing so, some of the fervor that has tainted the discussions may recede and make common grounds and consent to chart a more progressive way forward…

“A decade is not a short time for the Commission to determine whether it is ready. Our position is not meant to support or undermine any side in the ongoing debates. Our understanding is that as a responsible corporate citizen, particularly one whose constitutional responsibilities are at stake, INEC should lend its voice to such a momentous issue of public concern. As such, INEC’s intervention in these debates, particularly through this Position Paper, should not be misconstrued as denuding the powers of any other agency or authority to perform its functions or to hold views on the issues in question that are contrary to those of the Commission.”

He showed examples of test runs of electronic transmission from all states of the federation, including the core North.

“The conclusion that the Commission draws from these diverse pilots conducted since 2011 is that the country is ready for electronic transmission of results. The national ICT infrastructure is also e purpose of electronic transmission of results. This is underscored by all the discussions we held with the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and the regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission the ten years-year periods of these pilots, but especially between 2018 and 2019.

“The Joint Committee (of INEC and NCC) also found that mobile networks adequately covered 93% of INEC Polling Units with the capacity to cover the outstanding 7%. The Committee went on to allocate Polling Units to the four major mobile network operators – Airtel, Glo, 9Mobile to transmit election results.

“A total cost implication of Three Hundred and Ninety-Five Million, One hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand Naira (N395,123,000) was worked out for covering the cost of SIM, system configuration and integration, system support and data bundle with one-year, validity.

“In addition, the Joint Committee made other technical recommendations, including the allocation of one terabyte (1TB) of data bucket per 10,000 SIMs per annum by the network operators and configuration of one Access Point Name (APN) and Virtual Private Network (VPN) “by all operators towards INEC platform to enhance security”. Such detailed work and recommendations involving the major MNOs and the NCC as the regulator of telecommunications in Nigeria, profoundly convinced INEC that electronic transmission of election results was possible for the 2019 General Election.

“However, INEC expected to receive a clear legal mandate for electronic transmission of election results with the Electoral Act amendment that was ongoing to commence implementation. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

“Based on the foregoing, INEC is convinced that the nation has the infrastructure to implement the electronic transmission of election and the capacity to do so and network coverage across the country is adequate and secure. This position is substantiated by the 2018 position of the people who should know namely, the MNOs, who informed the Joint Committee that they had provided such services to other customers, including the NCC which regulates telecommunications in Nigeria.”

Ekiti Obas Lead Protest Against Reelection Of LG Chairman During December Poll

By
Ayodele Oni
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Sola Olominu

By Ayodele Oni

Traditional Rulers in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti state have rejected a Chairmanship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) in the December Local Government Election.

The Royal Fathers advised the leadership of APC and Governor Kayode Fayemi to replace Mr Sola Olominu, who is seeking the Chairmanship ticket, for the second time.

The Traditional Rulers in a statement they signed, frowned at the attitude of Olominu who they noted is a mole, that is working against the interest of the party.

The concerned Traditional Rulers are: Oba Ajibade Fasiku, Elekole of Ikole Ekiti; Oba (Barr) B.A. Jemilehin,

Onise of Odo Oro Ekiti; Oba S.A. Fatoba, Alara of Ara Ekiti; Obu Adebisi Adelafe Ogunjobi, Olorin of Orin-Odo Ekiti; Oba ldowu Awe, Oloojebu of Oke ljebu Agege Ekti, Obu Ayodele Kupoluyi; Amuro of Temidire Ekiti, Oba Ezekiel Fatile; and Eleri of lkunri Ekiti.

The Monarchs said they have been enjoying the programmes and policies of the APC led Government in the State, adding that a re-election of Olominu for second term would be against their interest due to his utter disregard for Traditional authority.

They said to the Governor: “Our desire also is to support your administration beyond your tenure in office.

“Your Excellency, we want to use this medium to call your attention to the issue of eExecutive Chairman’s position of Ikole Local Government in the forthcoming Local Government Election.

“Even though, we want continuity of the All Progressive Congress at the state level, we totally reject the continuity of the present Executive Chairman of Ikole Local Government in office. His stay in office beyond his first tenure cannot serve the interest of your party.

“Your Excellency, we want to avoid a situation where it will be difficult for the Royal fathers of this Local Government to help your party during the forthcoming elections.

“We, therefore, urge you to give us another candidate that will be passionate, dependable, productive, reliable, hardworking, grass root politician that has regards for Traditional Authorities and development for the entire Local Government.

“In doing this, we want you to consider the political equation of the Local Government for future political benefit of the party.”

INEC First Quarter Report; Completed Registration Now Stands At Over A Million

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
INEC Logo

By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has disclosed that within three months of online registration exercise, it hit a target of over three million voters.

A report made available by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, stated: “Today marks the 12th week and the cumulative figures for the CVR exercise from inception show that the number of fresh online pre-registrants stands at 3,165,189 while 1,457,766 Nigerians applied for voter transfer, replacement of PVCs and update of their voter information records.

“Completed registrations now stands at 1,081,947 voters. Youths between the ages of 18 and 34 still constitute the majority with 771,770 (71.33%) completed registration.

“In terms of occupation, students form the largest category with 439,608 (40.63%). On gender distribution, 555,872 (51.38%) are male and 526,075 (48.62%) are female.”

He disclosed that the latest figures were for the first quarter, Week 12, which terminated on Monday 20th September 2021.

On the other activities of the Commission, Mr Okoye added that “As provided by Section 19 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the Commission is mandated to publish the register of voters for a period of not less than 5 days and not more than 14 days for public scrutiny during which citizen may make claims and objections.

“In compliance with the law, the register of new voters will be displayed in the Local Government offices of the Commission nationwide from 24th – 30th September 2021.

“The aim is to enable citizens assist the Commission by identifying ineligible registrants on the list ahead of the cleaning up of the register before adding the fresh registrants to the current register and the printing of their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for future elections.

“For clarity, ineligible registrants include foreigners and Nigerians below the age of 18. Nigerians should also assist the Commission to identify multiple registrants and deceased persons so that they can be removed from the register.”

He appealed to Nigerians for sustained cooperation and support to conduct free and fair elections of which a credible register of voters is the foundation.

Ezeiruaku, Assaulted Youth Corper, Redeployed To Lagos

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Chika Viola Anele

By Adesina Soyooye

Ms. Fidelia Ifeyinwa Ezeiruaku, the National Youth Service Corps member, who was assaulted and dehumanised by an unruly female Army officer, Lt Chika Viola Anele, has been redeployed to Lagos State.

Before her redeployment, she was deployed to Calabar, Cross Rivers State, where she was serving her Primary assignment at the 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar.

Her stay in Calabar went awry, and attracted  national outrage, when Lt Anele asked her to kneel down, and proceeded to pour dirty water on her which she  scooped several times from a container with a plastic bowl. She also hit Ezeiruaku with the plastic bowl a number of times, on her face with the bowl, as the helpless Corper moped in her complete humiliation.

Minister for Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, disclosed Ezeiruaku’s redeployment to Lagos when she reacted to the scandal.

In a statement, Tallen said she, the Minister for Youths and Sports, and the Director General of the NYSC, would take up Ezeiruaku’s case till the end to ensure that she got the desired justice.

The Corper, she said, asked for a redeployment to Lagos.

Tallen: “I want to reassure all Nigerians that alongside my colleague, Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, and the DG, NYSC, we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the Corp member gets the desired justice.

“I want to reassure all Nigerians that the Corp member will formally relocate to Lagos following her request to be deployed.”

The Nigerian Army has, already, taken immediate steps to institute an investigation into the shameful incident, and has taken a yet-to-be-made-public disciplinary action against Lt  Anele pending the investigation.

In a strongly worded statement, Army Director of Public Relations, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, described Lt. Anele’s action as deplorable, and embarrassing to the Army. While apologising to Ms Ezeiruaku, her family, NYSC and Nigerians, he said Anele’s action does not represent the Nigerian Army.

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