Home Blog Page 2524

Cross River: Why PDP is in Trouble

By
The Source
-
0
Professor Ben Ayade

By Stanley Ekpenyong, Calabar

Cross River’s political firmament is not looking good for the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, following the defection of the State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, from the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The Governor defected to the APC on May 20, 2021, citing the need to sucket Cross River to the centre as his primary reason.

The intense passion and excitement among the people generated by the Governor’s movement to the APC appear a fatal blow to the PDP in the state.

“Unless a miracle happens, our party may not survive this tsunami. Never in our wildest dream did we contemplate this haemorrhage in our party.

“We thought Ayade was bluffing when he said that if he moved, Cross River would move with him”, a PDP top-notch from the Southern Senatorial district of the State lamented.

Another party stalwart who did not want his name in print also expressed surprise at the rate at which thousands of young Cross Riverians are registering in the APC following Governor Ayade’s defection “as if something is propelling them”

According to him, more surprising to his party, the PDP, is the fact that contrary to their projection, all the Commissioners, except four, followed the Governor into the APC and virtually all members of the 25- member House of Assembly are also with the Governor in his new party.

Essentially, it has been a broom revolution of sort in Cross River since Professor Ayade joined the APC. Apart from House members, Commissioners and political appointees who left with him, all the elected Chairmen and Councillors in the 18 Local Government Areas of the State have also joined the APC.

Some National Assembly members have equally defected.

All wards, Local Government and State structures of the PDP in the State have collapsed into the APC. Some APC members in the state now refer to the PDP as “defunct PDP”.

At a recent APC stakeholders integration dinner in Calabar which had in attendance several political heavyweights in the state, including former Senate Majority Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, Former Minister for Niger- Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, former Presidential aide, Obono Obla, APC Governorship candidate in the 2019 election, Senator Owan Eno, Senators Bassey Otu and Florence Ita- Giwa among others, the Governor had declared ” if you are not here ( in the APC fold), you are nowhere” in an apparent reference to what analysts have described as the dwindling fortunes of the Cross River PDP and the rapid acceptance of the APC in the state.

Meanwhile, delighted at the turn of the event, Ayade, speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, has thanked the people of the State “for their love and solidarity”.

“The State Governor, His Excellency, Professor Ben Ayade, notes with delight, the infectious broom revolution sweeping across the entire length and breadth of Cross River State since he joined the All Progressives Party (APC).

“His Excellency, particularly, salutes the love of millions of  Cross River youths who have so far, without prompting, taken up membership cards of the All Progressives Congress, APC in solidarity with him.

“His Excellency restates that no individual or group no matter how highly placed can stop this mass movement.

“Events of the past weeks show clearly it is a movement Cross Riverians have been yearning for. They only needed a trigger to ignite it.

“His Excellency recognises that no other love and appreciation for what he has done in Cross River these past six years can be greater than this massive solidarity”,  Ita said in a press statement.

The statement further stated that “His Excellency appreciates and thanks Cross Riverians for their understanding as to why he moved to the APC which is to socket Cross River to the centre.

“The effusive show of love Cross Riverians have showered on His Excellency has made him realise that the best investment anyone can make is an investment in the people.

“Consequently, His Excellency hereby announces that he will  further expand the frontiers of Government and put food on more tables as soon as certain discussions with the federal government crystalize”

Observers are of the view that the expansion of the frontiers of Government by Ayade, which saw him appointing thousands of people into his Government, especially the youth which has been termed “food on the table” by some social commentators, is the masterstroke that has triggered the broom revolution in the state.

Said a keen follower of the unfolding political reality in Cross River: “The truth is that there is no family in Cross River, no kindred and no village that does not have at least one of their sons or daughters as an appointee in the Ayade Government.

“Under such circumstances, do you expect such Appointees and those who depend on them for survival to abandon the man who puts food on their table?”

Imo: Finally, Police Unmask Unknown Gunmen; Suspect Sings Like A Bird – Source

By
The Source
-
0
Abba Kyari and his Team in Imo State

By Charles Igbo

There is a spark of light in the dark tunnel of the fight against the frightening insecurity in the State.

Finally, the Inspector General of Police’s crack team, the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Abba Kyari, seems to have gradually removed the mask from the faces of the “unknown gunmen” who have visited the South-East Zone, especially, Imo State, with unprecedented violence which resulted in a harvest of deaths and destruction of both Government and private properties.

Until now, speculations had been rife over who really are the UGM. Are they from the South-east? If so, why are they visiting so much violence on their own people?

A number of people insisted they were the Security Wing of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Eastern Security Network, ESN.The Nigeria Police believe so.

But the question has been: Why would IPOB destroy the South-east, a Zone, and a people it says it set out to liberate and protect?

IPOB had set-up ESN because, according to it, rogue Fulani Herdsmen had taken over the South-east, especially the farmlands, killing,maiming, raping, and destroying farmlands and everything on it.

However, a number of people insist that insecurity has worsened in the Zone since ESN. And they ask: If, indeed, the ESN was founded to protect the Zone, where are the rogue Herdsmen they are fighting? Why are they not arresting them? Why are the people of the Zone targets in their own Zone? Why are people’s private properties being torched?

But the IPOB/ESN consistently deny responsibility for the violence. They say it is the handiwork of those imported to destabilise the Zone so as to give IPOB a bad name. And people ask again, why then is the ESN not arresting them?

Both the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and the State House of Assembly, on their own, insist that the insecurity in the State is politically motivated. They point, for instance, at the torching of the Governor’s Country home, and recently, that of the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba. They say a couple of members of the main opposition party, and some disgruntled elements in the APC were responsible for the situation. They say a couple of them had sworn to  make the state ungovernable for the Governor.

But the Police are adamant in their belief that “It is the ESN at work.” Proof:

They point at the killings of Security Personnels, the torching of Police facilities and Correctional Centres and the consequent release of prisoners and detainees.

They also quote audio and video materials of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, ordering his people to kill Security Personnel and torch their facilities.

However, whatever, the mask is, gradually, being taken off. It started with the gruesome murder of APC chieftain and former Presidential Aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan in Imo on May 30, 2021. Gulak was on his way back to Abuja from Imo when he was murdered close to Imo Airport.

The Police identified those who killed him as ESN operatives. They said they had killed them, and their vehicles burnt down. Both the driver of the Cab which Gulak took, and Gulak’s friend, Mr Bernard, confirmed they recognised the killers. There were doubts as to the identities of the killers. But two arrests made recently by the police, especially, that of Sunday, June 6, 2021, seem to be pointing to the identities of the UGM.

The first was one of those who attacked both the Imo Police Command Headquarters and  the Federal Correctional Centre, Owerri on Easter Monday, in April 2021. He admitted to be an ESN personnel.

The second was when the UGM tried, again, in the morning of Sunday, June 6, to attack the Imo Police Command Headquarters.

Sources say they were on a rescue mission of some of their members, arrested by the Police, and who, they suspect could squeal on their operations under pressure.

They were repelled in a bloody shoot-out with Security Personnel made up of the Military and the Police.  Six of them were gunned-down, the most prominent, the leader of the group, Joseph Uka Nnachi, aka, Dragon. But the icing on the cake was the capture of a member of the UGM.

A native of Mbieri, Mbaitoli LGA, he gave his name as Stanley Osinachi. He said he was recruited as a member of the ESN by Dragon. He said their camp is located at Akabo, a Community in Ikeduru LGA. He identified their overall boss as Nnamdi  Kanu, and revealed that the instruction to them, from Kanu, through Dragon, was to kill Security Personnels, and torch Police facilities.

He also disclosed that they kidnapped a Female Police officer for the purpose of giving them information.

On Tuesday, the IRT, led by Kyari, took him, and stormed the Akabo camp. True to what he told the Police, the Female Police Officer was in their custody. She was, promptly, rescued and the ESN camp set on fire.

Police sources said Osinachi has been singing like a bird. The strong belief is that from his “songs”, the veil will finally be lifted off the faces and sponsors of the UMG.

On the day of his arrest, when his colleagues were killed, the Police recovered their operational vehicles as well as the following:

  • FOUR AK 47 RIFLES STOLEN FROM POLICE WERE RECOVERED
  • QUANTITY 2, 000 AMMUNITION RECOVERED

Four AK 47 Rifles with 2000 rounds of live ammunition and large number of  explosives were recovered from the scene.

  1. Assualt (AR) Rifle Breach N0: 03018058
  2. Assualt (AR) Rifle Breach N0: 070007055

III. Assualt (AR) RIFLE Breach N0: 5801297

  1. Six locally fabricated Explosive Devices
  2. Police Beret Cap
  3. 7 AK47 Magazines fully loaded

VII. 1 military cap

VIII. 1 military cardigan (Polo)

  1. 1 Silver Coloured Mini Bus with Reg N0: WAM-8673 B ABD
  2. I Hummer Bus with Reg N0: KED-382 X Ladden with Explosive Devices.

The Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Abutu Yaro, called on all those in possession of weapons stolen from Security Agencies to return them to the nearest Police Station or Military Installation not later than 12th  June 2021, to prevent the long arms of the law catching up with them.

Unity Bank: NYSC Members Win N10m in Corpreneurship Challenge

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0

By Fola James

Unity Bank has doled out N10 million to 30 National Youth Service Corps members in the fifth edition of the bank’s flagship business pitch competition, Corpreneurship Challenge, which held across ten states last week.

The 30 winners who won cash prizes totaling N10 million emerged during the final business pitch in the fifth edition of the contest for NYSC 2021 Batch A Stream II Orientation Course, which took place simultaneously across ten NYSC camps in Lagos, Ogun, Benin, Abuja and Akwa Ibom.

Other NYSC camps where winners emerged also included Ogun, Kano, Sokoto, Enugu and Osun.

The cash prizes included a N200,000 business grant for each of the second runner ups; N300,000 business grant for the first runner ups and a star prize of N500,000 for each of the ten winners.

Some of the winners included Monday Love Sheba, Adeoye Janet and Essien Nsikak in Bayelsa camp, while Agu Ogechukwu Lilian, Obichukwu Victor and Abiona Elizabeth emerged as the winners in the Akwa Ibom State camp.

In Ogun, Olisa Sofia, Chiamaka Goldleen and Ifeanyi Onoh emerged winners to claim the cash prizes. Ekpenyong Paul Gabriel also emerged as the winner in Sokoto.

The initiative attracted massive interests among the corps members, as over 1000 applications were received but only 100 were shortlisted for the pitching session from where the thirty winners emerged.

The contestants’ business plans which ranged from fashion, fish production, poultry farming, retail chains, piggery to beverages were assessed on originality, marketability, future employability potential of the product and knowledge of the business.

The Tomi Somefun-led lender debuted the Entrepreneurial Development Initiative in 2019, to specifically target corps members, as part of efforts to contribute to job creation in Nigeria. The initiative has produced 48 winners since 2019 when it debuted.

Speaking at the finale in Akwa Ibom State, the overall winner, Lilian Agu, a graduate of Mass Communication and Chinese Language from Federal Polytechnic, Oko expressed gratitude to Unity Bank for the opportunity to actualise her dream of establishing a fashion outfit.

“With this money, I plan to buy an industrial machine, rent a studio, buy a generator and buy some fabrics and start from there. Unity Bank has made my dream come true. I am not from a rich home and I have been dreaming and working hard to start a fashion business, but this grant has made that dream a reality. God bless Unity Bank,” she said.

Also, speaking during the finale in Akwa Ibom NYSC camp, the Divisional Head, Retail, SME Banking and E-Business Directorate, Unity Bank Plc,  Olufunwa Akinmade, said the competition has proved to have a great impact on youth empowerment in the country.

“The Unity Bank Corpreneurship has a very positive impact, not only for the corps members but for the entire youth population in Nigeria. It is a way to support the young men and women who are just graduating from the university to grow.

“You will agree that it is not easy today to come out of the university and get a paid job, and so at this tender age, it is good that they imbibe that culture of entrepreneurship, and then with the financial support that they get from Unity Bank and the knowledge that they have acquired through the competition, they will be able to grow from job seekers to employers of labour,” he said.

Twitter: Malami Uses VPN to Deactivate Twitter, Ortom Vows To Continue Tweeting

By
Uche Mbah
-
0

By Uche Mbah

Attorney general of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has officially deactivated his account on twitter.

Twitter has been down since the Federal Government banned the big Tech company from the Nigerian cyber space. Since then Nigerians have been only able to access twitter via Virtual Private Network, VPN.

Government has also outlawed the use of VPN in accessing Twitter, going as far as, allegedly, requesting the help of Chinese Government in erecting a firewall to block the use of VPN.

However, it appears that the Attorney General downloaded VPN in order to access his account and deactivate it, going against his own law.

Since the ban on Twitter, many Nigerians, still using Twitter have, allegedly, been daring the Government by tagging the Attorney General with their tweets in a bold move of defiance.

The General Overseer of the Redeem Christian Church of God, RCCG,Pastor Enoch Adeboye, had said his Church is protected by UN charter for free speech, and as such, the Church account will not be deactivated. Same is the case with Pastor William Kumuyi of the Deeper Life Ministry.

But Minister of Information Lai Mohammed, was quoted as saying that both Clerics may be prosecuted by the Attorney General.

Meanwhile, Benue state Governor, Samuel Ortom, has ignored the “stop tweeting” order by tweeting via his official handle Tuesday, calling the decision to ban twitter by the Federal Government “illegal”.

“The ban on twitter is not only illegal but is also an ill- advised move to divert the attention of Nigerians from the Federal government failure to tackle insecurity in the country. It amounts to suppression of fundermental human rights and gagging of social media.”

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had earlier twéeted through his official handle saying that the tweet was not going to be his last tweet. “Hopefully, this isn’t my last tweet”, he said.

Horror: IPOB Lawyer Reveals How Soldiers Killed, Injected His Assistant

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0

By The Source

They came with the mission of killing him. But when this proved impossible, they decided to kill in cold blood, his personal aide, who was injected with deadly lethal substance and his corpse burnt by the assailants believed to be Army and Police personnel.

This is the testimony of IPOB lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor whose home was invaded by suspected security agents on Sunday who allegedly killed his aide and burnt his body.

Recounting his ordeal in the hands of the security personnel who he said were mainly soldiers and policemen, Ejiofor said they operated like assassins who were sent on a mission to ensure that he’s taken out whatever it takes.

He escaped by hairs breath, he said, adding that the killer squad would have killed him if not for his bullet proof doors.

According to a statement on Tuesday, Ejiofor said he owes his life to well meaning Nigerians who kept in tough with him for the period that the invasion of his ancestral home in Anambra, lasted.

The statement read , “I must deeply appreciate the untiring efforts of my client, friend and in-law, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode for defying sleep at that wee hours of the night when he got the SOS from me, to alert the world and those that mattered on the bloody attack/invasion of my peaceful home by those whose primary duty is to secure lives and properties.

“I want to specially thank my people of good conscience, particularly the members of my noble Association (NBA), the erudite President of the Bar (Mr. Olumide Akpata) who was consistently checking on me and keeping touch at the hit of this turbulent hours.

“Very unfortunately, the well-planned premeditated attack on my ancestral home resulted in the brutal murder of my long standing personal aide, (Samuel Okoro, aka Gentle Biggy), who was shot and consequently injected with lethal substance before being set ablaze in my car, which the demons in uniform made away with on this black Sunday.

“But, be assured that I have more than enough evidence to demonstrate to the world that the uniformed invaders/assailants actually came to assasinate me and every living object in my ancestral home, unprovoked or the second time in less than two years, in the wee hours of Sunday, 6th June 2021.

“I had waited for 24 hours for those that invaded my home to tell the world their true mission to my peaceful residential home in Umunakwa Ifite, Oraifite, Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra State, but nothing is forthcoming. Hence, mine will be coming in stages as I had assured.”

Ejiofor added that he went home on Saturday because the Catholic Arch Bishop of Onitsha Province (Most Rev. Valerian Okeke) wanted to see him in a meeting which he thought would be a private one.

He said, “I honoured this invitation where His Grace raised a number of pertinent issues and consequently, commended me for my untiring efforts towards achieving peace in our region. His Grace prayed for me and equally offered further useful advise. We agreed for a formal meeting where major stakeholders will be notified and equally be represented. I left the Bishop’s court, but not until His Grace blessed me for the umpteenth time, and prayed for me and my friend who was in my company.

“I was in a deep sleep when the demons struck. The barking of my security dogs and sounds of gun in and around my home could simply tell me that there was danger and unusual movement in my peaceful home.

“Initially, I couldn’t fathom what the problem could be but what I know and can tell the public on this part of my press release is that they will hear it all with impeccable evidence to demonstrate the atrocities that were committed in my peaceful home by paid agents of darkness.

“I saw as it all happened, it was like a movie. I saw and overheard them directing my domestic staff who never resisted them in any manner to take them upstairs where their Oga was sleeping at the time, but my staff kept on telling them that ‘Oga is not in this house’. Shooting and heavy beating were simultaneously going on, the time was 2:30am in the morning. I saw Biggie on the ground being beaten and shot at, before somebody, presumably a medical doctor in their company, injected him with what I believe to be a lethal substance.

“The lifeless body of Biggie was dragged on the floor of my compound to my parked car. My driver who apparently was in possessions of my car keys at the time was ordered at gunpoint to produce to open the booth of the car where his body was dumped.

“Efforts by this band of murderers to access where I had hidden in order to finish the job for which they came proved abortive as they couldn’t breach the multiple bullet proof doors leading to where I took refuge. The native doctor they brought along with them, was armed with all sorts of charms and he was busy making incantations and directing them to where he felt I was.

“Midway into their murderous invasion of my home, their search for me was suddenly stopped and they consequently vanished with my harmless and innocent staff they abducted, including the lifeless body of Biggie. These evil men left my house around 3:45am having killed, vandalizmsed and terrorised my household for over an hour and 15 minutes.

“They stole my car and left my home along with over 15 Hilux vans, Toyota Hiace buses and Armoured Personnel Carrier, they came with. On getting to Okacha filling station in Neni, they dragged out my elder brother, Mr. Joel Ejiofor, who was equally abducted during the invasion and directed him to disappear from their sight.

“It was after my brother left, that my car was set ablaze with Mr. Samuel Okoro inside the car. He was not only killed by these soulless beasts, his body was burnt beyond recognition. I wish to ask those that directed this criminal and deadly invasion of my house, to tell me what crime Samuel Okoro committed.

“For the records, the late Mr. Samuel Okoro hailed from Ebonyi State and has been with me for the past four years. He was a brother, a dependable friend and a refined gentlemen. I will forever miss him.

“While struggling to control myself at this point in time, I am indeed broken and traumatised, not that I committed any offence known to law or that Samuel Okoro even did anything wrong, but because he was murdered in the most bizarre, barbaric, brutal and heinous manner.”

Ejiofor stated that the proscription of IPOB was still a subject of appeal, wondering why he was not invited for interrogation by security agents who tried to kill him.

He said, “The questions begging for answers which I want the invaders to answer are, who sent them to my ancestral home because they carefully monitored me until I moved in on that fateful day?

“I spent virtually a week in Abuja before returning home, why didn’t they arrest me in Abuja where I live or even invite me to appear before them for questioning if I was being investigated for committing any offence?

“Why my home for the second time? Why me? Who funded this bloody exercise? Who is actually after my life? Why the invasion of the residence of a Senior member of the Bar at such an ungodly hour of the night?

“From what I gathered, the sinister purpose is clear, the directive is clear, arrest him alive or dead and burn him alive. I will give further details on this subsequently.”

Insecurity: Speak-out, Uzodimma Challenges Leaders; Says, “Only Me Cannot Restore Security In Imo State”

By
Adesina Soyooye
-
0
Hope Uzodimma

By Adesina Soyooye

“Leaders must speak out. And the time to speak out is now. This is not about politics. If they are not doing  so, it means covertly or overtly, something is not adding up, and that, obviously, affects National interest.”

Imo State Governor has bemoaned the conspiracy of silence among leaders, especially, in the South-east, in the face of the frightening insecurity situation.

Like not a few people, the Governor wondered why they were neither speaking out, nor engaging their people, submitting that the situation should have nothing to do with politics. He challenged them to rise above partisan politics and show their love and concern for their people. He noted:

“Only me cannot fight insecurity in Imo State.”

He said that the time has come for all leaders in Imo State to join hands with the Government to restore security and peace  in the state.

A Press Release, signed by his Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser, Media, Oguwike Nwachuku, said the Governor spoke on Tuesday, in Abuja, with State House Correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari  on the state of insecurity in Imo.

“Only me cannot restore security in Imo State. I cannot guarantee security alone in the state. And that is why  I am engaging the traditional rulers, the Town Unions, the Church leaders, the youth and women, to ensure that together we brainstorm on how we can secure our state,” Governor Uzodimma said.

However, the Governor regretted that most leaders in the country in general, and Sout East in particular, are not speaking out as should be expected of them on the (in)security development in the country and the region.

He said it was expected that leaders who had held critical positions in Nigeria should have been at the forefront of the condemnation of the  criminality that is giving vent to insecurity in parts of the country and of late the South East.

Governor Uzodimma noted, for instance, that past Senate Presidents, House of Representatives Speakers, Ministers, Governors and the likes should have been holding town hall meetings with the people in their localities to draw their attention to the dangers of what criminal elements in our midst are doing to abridge the peace of the society

They must do so  in the spirit of patriotism and for national interest.

His words: “Leaders must speak out. And the time to speak out is now. This is not about politics.

If they are not doing so, it means covertly or overtly something is not adding up and that obviously affects our national interest.”

The Governor maintained that in the spirit of the sovereignty of our country everybody must get involved in solving the security problem confronting us, in National interest, or ensure that those causing the problem for everybody are made to face the law.

He reiterated, in the case of Imo State,  that if all the key players  come together the problem of insecurity will be over and the state restored to her peaceful status.

Local, Traditional Approaches; Panacea To Insecurity – Ondo Gov Akeredolu

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Rotimi Akeredolu - Ondo Communal Clash

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has said traditional and local approach should be employed to tackle insecurity.

According to the Governor,  crime is a local issue that should be addressed with a large dose of home-grown content.

He pointed out that Amotekun Security Corps initiative was a baby of necessity, conceived as a home-grown approach to solving the plethora of security challenges that have put the people on the edge.

Governor Akeredolu spoke on Tuesday in Akure, at the passing-out ceremony for the newly recruited Amotekun Corps officers.

The event was part of the activities marking the first 100 days of Governor Akeredolu’s second term.

The Governor also commissioned 20 new patrol vehicles to boost the operations of the state security network.

He unveiled the roadmap to internal and border security in Ondo state, assuring that the state shall become the safest and most secured in the country, if the strategies contained in the roadmap are religiously implemented.

Mr Akeredolu said Amotekun’s impact has been remarkable, adding that the security outfit has also given the people of the state hope in the management of security, despite that it came into being just a little over a year ago.

“It has further reinforced our long time view that State and community-based policing is the panacea to the country’s security challenges.

“Let me reassure the good people of Ondo State that our administration will leave no stone unturned as far as the implementation of our redeemed Agenda is concerned.

“The sixth goal of the Agenda which is “Maintenance of Law and Order for Adequate Security” is the reason why we are here today.

“I enjoin all the good people of Ondo State to lend your cooperation in terms of providing credible intelligence and financial support towards the success of this initiative.

“Today’s event is one of the milestones recorded by our administration in our attempt to redeem Ondo State from the shackles of poverty, disease, and underdevelopment.

“These cannot be achieved without a sense of safety and peace.”

Governor Akeredolu appreciated members of the State House of Assembly, for their tireless legislative support in making Amotekun a reality.

He also thanked the Traditional Rulers for their immense support and cooperation and the leadership of all the security agencies in the state for their cooperation in tackling security challenges.

President Buhari To Commission Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line

By Ayodele Oni

Barring any last minute changes, President Mohammadu Buhari is expected to commission the 156km Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail this week.

The project is implemented to facilitate easy transportation between the two major Cities.

The Legacy Awareness and Campaign team of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) disclosed this in a statement  in Abuja.

“This week, the President will commission the 156km Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail, the first double-track Standard Gauge Rail project in West Africa (and the first Standard Gauge Rail project in Nigeria to be started and completed by the same administration).

“This landmark commissioning is taking place nine months after he commissioned the 327km Itakpe-Warri Standard Gauge Rail, completed by his administration 33 years after construction began.

“The 168km Abuja-Kaduna Rail project, and the 42.5km Abuja Light Rail project, both inherited from previous administrations, were completed in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

“The second Niger Bridge, originally conceived decades ago, is now more than 50 percent completed and scheduled for commissioning in 2022, as is the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which has defied every administration since 1999.

“New International Airport Terminals have been completed and commissioned in Abuja and Port Harcourt, while those in Lagos and Kano are being completed.

“In addition, brand new Runways have been constructed in Abuja and Enugu, in 2017 and 2020 respectively”, the team added.

“It noted that from the start, President Buhari had promised to complete as many abandoned projects as possible, and he has worked hard to fulfill this promise.”

Osun First Lady, Kafayat, Emerges Southern Governors’ Wives Forum President

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Kafayat Oyetola - Osun State First Lady

By Ayodele Oni

The First Lady of the State of Osun, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola, has been unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Southern Governors Wives Forum (SGWF).

She was elected at the meeting of the Forum which held in Abuja Tuesday at the Edo State Governor’s Lodge.

Mrs. Oyetola replaces the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, whose tenure ended Tuesday in a very glorious manner.

Also elected into the Cabinet of Mrs. Oyetola are, the First Lady of Akwa Ibom, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, elected as Vice President; the  First Lady of Bayelsa, Mrs. Patience Diri elected as Secretary; First Lady of Imo State, Mrs.Chioma Uzodimma, Treasurer; while the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun and First Lady of Abia State, Mrs., Nkechi Ikpeazu, emerge as Welfare Officer and PRO respectively.

Delivering her acceptance speech, the First Lady of Osun State thanked her colleagues for the love displayed in unanimously electing her as the Chairperson.

She pledged to build on the harmony and achievements of her predecessor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, whom she described as a pragmatic leader who fostered unity among the First Ladies in the Southern States of the country.

The SGWF has already listed a number of women oriented and gender-focused programs and projects to be carried out across the country.

Twitter: CNPP Urges FG To Thread Carefully, Blames NASS

By
The Source
-
0
Chief Willy Ezugwu President SERG

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has called on the Federal  Government  to “thread carefully on its clandestine effort to gag the social media voices in Nigeria.”

The CNPP, in a statement signed by the Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, blamed the National Assembly for “allowing the President and members of the Federal  Executive  to continue to take actions that are detrimental to the wellbeing of the ordinary citizens and the young people in the country.

“The National Assembly has not only continued to be a rubber-stamp legislative chambers,  but also an arm of the executive, and has willingly surrendered its oversight functions. Unfortunately, they have slept on its Constitutional powers to check the excesses of the Executive.

“Today, rather than help the intermittently recessing economy and reduce unemployment in the country, which is the root cause of youth restiveness in the Nigeria, the Federal  Government  claims that National  interest supersedes economic interest. Is economic interest not part of our National  interest?

“The deleted President’s tweet that ignited the suspension of Twitter was part of the reasons we have severally called for the sack of key President’s information handlers, particularly Lai Mohammed and Garba Shehu who have continued to cause more harm to the President’s image than making it.

“The reasons adduced for the suspension or ban of Twitter have remained laughable as the Federal  Government  failed to exhaust other channels of communication. The action of the Federal Government amounts to killing an ant with the slag harmer.

“We are shocked that the action of the Federal  Government  has now worsened the employment deficiency in the country, according to media reports, yet the government is shopping for more unjustifiable reasons for her poorly thought out action.

“The CNPP calls on the Federal  Government  of Nigeria to exercise restraints in dealing with issues that affect the youths and those actions that could directly or indirectly widen the unemployment gaps in the country as the idle mind, they say, is the devil’s workshop”, the statement read.

1...2,5232,5242,525...3,080Page 2,524 of 3,080