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New Year Auto Crash Claims Life Of Ondo Governor’s Aides |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Tosin Ogunbodede

By Ayodele Oni

An early new year tragedy has hit government of Ondo state as a top Aide of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu died in an auto accident.

Early reports indicate that Mr Tosin Ogunbodede, the  Chief of Protocol to the Governor  and his driver lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident.

The accident, according to reports, happened along Ilesha/Akure express road, while returning from an engagement.

The other person with them in the vehicle, whose identity is still unknown, sustained varying degrees of injuries.

He is currently on danger list at the Wesley hospital in Ilesha, Osun State.

Marriage Scandal: Pressure Mount On CBN To Sack FCMB Boss

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Fola James

Serious pressure is being mounted on the Central bank of Nigeria, CBN to sack the Managing Director of the First City Monument Bank, Adam Nuru, over an illicit affair with a married woman, which later led to the death of the husband, one Tunde Thomas, as no fewer than 1500 persons have signed a petition for the commercial bank boss to be sacked.

Moyo Thomas, mother of two and a staff member of FCMB, was said to have had a romantic affair with Nuhu, which produced two children.

Her husband reportedly died of depression on December 16, 2020, after he found out that Nuru allegedly fathered their two children and not him.

The deceased husband suffered a cardiac arrest which later led to his death, report said.

A petition initiated by friends of the deceased, on Thursday had accused Nuhu of causing the death of Thomas, demanding his sack by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, warning that effort to sweep the allegation under the carpet will be resisted.

The Petition read in part “This is a case of gross misconduct based on ethical grounds and an unjustifiable economic oppression by the elite (Adam Nuru) against the underprivileged in the society,” the petition, which has already garnered over 700 signatures, reads.

“The MD has been doing everything possible to sweep this case under the carpet. We implore the Central Bank of Nigeria, as the apex regulator, and the board of FCMB to investigate this for the integrity of the bank and Nigerian banking industry.”

Meanwhile, FCMB issued a statement on Friday, signed by Diran Olojo its spokesman, where the bank said investigation has commenced on the matter.

The bank said “We are aware of several stories circulating across several media platforms about our bank’s Managing Director, Adam Nuru, a former employee, Ms Moyo Thomas, and her deceased ex-husband, Mr Tunde Thomas,” the statement read.

“While this is a personal matter, the tragedy of the death of Mr Tunde Thomas and the allegations of unethical conduct require the bank’s board to conduct a review of what transpired, any violations of our code of ethics and the adequacy of these code of conduct ethics. This will be done immediately.

“We enjoin all our stakeholders to bear with us as we conduct this review and to please respect the various families involved.

“Our Board of Directors are reviewing all aspects of this report and once they are done with their review, we will revert to you.”

 

Rescued Bishop Chikwe, Weak; Driver Hospitalised |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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His Lordship Moses Chikwe

By Adesina Soyooye

The abducted and, now, rescued Auxiliary Bishop of Owerri Catholic Diocese, His Lordship Moses Chikwe, is stable, but weak because of his experiences in the hands  of his abductors. His driver is, also, hospitalised because of a deep matchet cut he received from the hoodlums who abducted him and his boss.

These were disclosed in a release, personally, signed by the Archbishop of Owerri  Catholic Archdiocese, His Grace, Anthony Obinna.

Bishop Chikwe was abducted, along with his driver on, Sunday, December 27, as he drove out of his premises at Site and Services, World Bank area Owerri.

His abduction was greeted by an outrage. On Wednesday, the Catholic Women of the Diocese shut down Owerri in a peaceful protest asking  for his release.

Finally, Bishop Chikwe was rescued on New Year’s day, January 1st, and, he arrived his residence at about 10.00pm.  Obinna, in the release, said he arrived Chikwe’s residence at 10.45pm, and met a weak man, with an unbroken spirit. But the Archbishop said the Bishop’s driver was not around because he was rushed to the hospital over  deep matchet cuts he received in the hands of the kidnappers.

The Archbishop said the rescue operation which culminated in the release was made possible by the Imo State Government, using a combination of the Imo Police and the DSS Commands, as well as the Chief Security Officer, Anambra State Government.

In its own reaction, the Imo state Police Command said the rescue operation was as a result of a sting operation.

At the time of writing this, it was not yet confirmed if any ransome was paid, or where they were rescued from.

But a few days ago, a fake story had gone viral that the Bishop had been killed and beheaded in a forest in Nkpo, Anambra State.

That gives an inkling that perhaps, the Bishop must have been rescued from somewhere in Anambra State.

Super Eagles Striker, Osimhen Is Covid-19 Positive |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Super Eagles of Nigeria and Napoli Football Club of Italy forward, Victor Osimhen has tested positive for the Covid-19 Pandemic.

The former Lille Metropole Football Club of France Striker is the latest Nigeria footballer to test positive to the deadly Pandemic following the Club’s announcement that its high profile  attacker has contracted  the virus.

Acording to the Italian club, the 22-year old returned from Nigeria where he had celebrated the Yuletide and tested positive for the virus.

”The Club can confirm that Victor Osimhen has tested positive for COVID-19 following his return to Italy,” the Napoli statement read on Twitter

The Club, also, confirmed that Osimhen was not in contact with the rest of his team mates and was asymptomatic.

The Nigerian Striker is expected to go into isolation and would miss some matches for his Club.

A New Nigeria Means Power Must Be Decentralized From The Centre |The Source

By
The Source
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By Bode George

The year 2020 was, indeed, Annus Horribilis and at once Annus Miserabillis. It was a very terrible year on all fronts.

No nation was spared from the terrible pandemic whose scourge still festers across the globe with increasing venom.

Here at home, we equally confronted the cankerworm of banditry, kidnappings, the Endsars protests that triggered ruin and bloodletting.

Our nation is still challenged with the burden of inequitable obviousness in the machineries of the state . Our Republic is still much skewed, imbalance, distorted by a constitutional arrangement that does not augur for national cohesion and growth.

The composition of power must yield ultimately to a true , genuine structural equity where everyone will have a sense of belonging and where every state can develop along its own natural path with the resources on its ground.

It is interesting that from the North to the South, voices are now coalescing that Nigeria needs a new constitutional arrangement. This is gladdening. I do not seek a dismemberment of our nation.

But I am resolved, just like millions of our compatriots , that the stronghold of the center must be loosened for a decentralization that favors state autonomy Along the line of a United States of Nigeria where the states are allowed comprehensive sovereign powers as reflected in the very constitution of the United States of America which we copied without thorough tidiness.

Let us revisit the document of the 2014 Constitutional Conference which in totality is quite enlightening about how this nation can be redesigned along a true, fair, equitable, civilized federation.

This is the real task before us all now. It is even more important than the 2023 presidential election. This present platform is wobbly.

It is unjust. It is unfair. It has to give way for a new structural vision without which the continuity of the Nigerian Union will be fraught with festering maladies . Let us start on a clean slate where justice, representative evenness define our democratic space .

I wish our nation well as we grapple with a new, progressive idealism in the journey towards a new democratic nation.

 Chief George a PDP Chieftain, is the Atona Odua of Yorubaland

Dame Julie Nwariaku Dies of COVID-19 |The Source

By
The Source
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Julie Nwariaku

By Adesina Soyooye

Abia State has lost one of its most accomplished women.

And so has the Anglican Communion in Nigeria.

Dame Julie Nwariaku, nee Onum, is dead.

She passed-on Friday, reportedly from complications from COVID-19.

Nwariaku, an accomplished Civil and Public servant held  high profile positions, at different times, both at the State and Federal levels.

She was a former Honourable Commissioner at the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offenses Commission (ICPC).

In the Anglican Communion, she a strong parishioner of the All Saints Anglican Church Wuse. And was, also, a Committee member  of the Anglican International Academy, Abuja.

Born on 30th July 1942 in Kaduna, Kaduna State Dame  Onum-Nwariaku  hailed  from Asaga Ohafia Local Government Council of Abia State.

She attended Our Lady`s Primary School in Kaduna between 1948-1950, Ohafia Girls School, Asaga Ohaifa, Abia State from 1951 to 1952 and St Stephen`s Primary School Umuahia where she obtained her first school leaving certificate in 1955. She enrolled at Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls School Elelenwa, Portharcourt, Rivers State between 1956 and 1962 and University of Ibadan from 1963 to 1966.

It was there that  she had both her Higher School Certificate and a B.Sc (Hons)in Economics.

Nwariaku started her working experience in the public service as a Research Assistant, Economic Development Institute, University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1967. She was Administrative Officer in various Ministries in the defunct East Central States from 1970 to 1980. She rose to the position of Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in Imo State 1981-1982, Ministry of Education Imo State 1982-1983 and Ministry of Community Development and Cooperative Imo State in 1982. She also held the position of Permanent Secretary in Ministries of Economic Development( Cabinet Office), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Commerce and Industry all in Imo State between 1984 and 1988.

Between 1988 and 1992, she was the Director- General Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Finance, Commerce and Industry in Imo and Abia States.

Before her appointment as Honourable Member of the ICPC in July 2007, she was Executive Director in Progress Bank of Nigeria from January 1993 to March 1995.

Nwariaku was also the Chairperson African Union Advisory Board on Corruption from January 2011 to January 201, and served  as Chairperson and member in various Presidential Committees and Task Forces.

She was aged 78 years

Insecurity: Buratai Vows To Shame Boko Haram, ISWAP |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has revealed that Year 2021 would be a different year as the Nigerian Army will shame and disgrace the Boko Haram and Islamic States for West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists.

Buratai gave the assurance at a sit-out night to usher in the 2021 New Year at the TY Buratai Institute for War and Peace, Buratai, in Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.

The Army Boss stressed that troops of the Nigerian Army had done a lot in the fight against insurgency in the North East in 2020, adding that they are committed to decisively deal with all forms of insecurity in the country.

He, however, urged the troops to dedicate themselves to the task of eradicating terrorism by maintaining the tempo in 2021 with more determination and action to end the insurgency in the country.

Buratai, also, called for dedication to work with more discipline and courage, adding that the Military had the responsibility to solve the nation’s problem of security.

According to him, they must work hard to win the confidence of Nigerians.

He added that the people trusted and believed in the Nigerian army to address the issues of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of Insecurity.

“I am very optimistic that 2021 will be different, totally different with remarkable difference from 2020.

“I want you to see it as a challenge and a task that must be done because we are the one that can do it because Nigerians believe in us and believe that we can do it.

“You should go into the year with full conviction that we can do better to address the insecurity in our country,” he said.

The COAS, however, promised officers that they would enjoy a lot welfare packages in 2021.

He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his support for and confidence in the Nigerian army during the preceding year.

For weeks now, Buratai has been on operational visit to the troops in the North East theatre of operations.

Gov Fayemi Rekindles People’s Thrust In His Administration |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has assured the people of the state that this year would witness rapid development in all sectors of the economy.

In his new year broadcast, the Governor noted that “the indices point to the fact that this New Year, 2021, promises to be more exciting and impactful than the previous year.

“I, therefore, welcome you all to our year of recovery and restoration in Ekiti State, which is in line with our quest to leave Ekiti State better than we met her, impacting lives and building durable legacies.

“The past year, 2020, would forever be remembered as the year the whole world lived in palpable fear, occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The world experienced the unimaginable and lived with uncertainty, all through the year. COVID-19 ran the global economy aground and altered plans and projections at all levels of governments, organizations, and had a profound impact on households and individuals.

“In Ekiti, we had our own share of the not so pleasant experience as the second State in Nigeria to record a confirmed case of COVID-19 after Lagos State. Responding to the challenges created by the pandemic took a lot of courage, decisiveness, and collaboration.

“Today, I address you with a strong conviction that despite the challenges we have faced in the past year, we are making progress towards accomplishing our goals for Ekiti in the five pillars of our developmental agenda.

Dr Fayemi stated that health, education, transportation, security and well-being of the people would be touched in the new year, while new programmes aimed at putting the state on sound economic footing would come on board.

“We recognised that transportation infrastructure is a crucial factor in improving agricultural productivity and creating new markets for agricultural produce, enhancing the quality of life of the people, facilitating interaction among geographical and economic regions, and opening up new centres of economic activities.

“Therefore, in addition to the routine maintenance of the existing road networks, we are also working on some roads critical to our local economy across the state.

“In response to the clamour of our people on the need to reinforce the current security architecture in Ekiti State, the Ekiti State Security Network, codenamed “Amotekun” was created to strengthen security within Ekiti State and in synergy with other South West States.

“Amotekun is already functional in Ekiti State and will be strengthened to deliver on its mandate with increased training, technology and equipment, going forward.

“We have also continued to support our various security institutions – the police, military, SSS, civil defence, road safety corps, NDLEA and immigration with logistics and coordination.

“The new year will witness the launch of our Safe City project as well as other initiatives aimed at boosting security and safety in the state.

“In our deliberate effort to bring government closer to the grassroots, we revisited the issue of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) that were created from the existing Local Government Areas in the State, on Thursday June 26, 2014.

“The new council areas were created then after due process that included the conduct of a referendum by the State Independent Electoral Commission and consideration of the outcome of the referendum by the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

“Unfortunately, the previous administration abandoned the project. The decision we took as a government in 2014 that earned us applause from majority of Ekiti sons and daughters, is therefore being revisited.

“The process of creating additional LCDAs is ongoing. The quest to create more LCDAs is not driven by political coloration, but for the socio-economic wellbeing of our people.  I enjoin Ekiti-kete to work with the committee put in place for this purpose, for us to have a just and enduring outcome.”

PDP Slams Buhari’s New year Message As Uninspiring

By
Bayo Bernard
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Muhammadu Buhari

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari new-year address to the nation the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has described the speech as uninspiring.

The president had during his national broadcast, touched many challenges confronting the country and his government’s plan to address them, including a promise to rejig the security architecture for better performance.

Buhari said “Re-energizing and reorganizing the security apparatus and personnel of the armed forces and the police with a view to enhance their capacity to engage, push back and dismantle the operations of both internal and external extremist and criminal groups waging war against our communities in some parts of the country,” will be the focus of his government going forward.

The PDP said the speech contained lame excuses and empty promises. adding that the country is fast heading to a failed state.

The statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP National Publicity read in part “As a president, President Muhammadu Buhari has not demonstrated the capacity to play his own part, as he claimed, having failed to find a solution for the security and economic challenges that pervade our nation under his incompetent and lethargic watch,” the PDP said in a statement on January 1, 2021.

“The myriads of lame excuses in Mr President’s address again underlines our national misfortune of weak leadership that is unable to resolutely confront and vanquish bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and vandals who are now holding our nation hostage, ravaging our communities, kidnapping and beheading our compatriots without restrain.

“The situation at hand requires more than an armchair commander in chief who only dwells on excuses for manifest failures. President Buhari’s New Year address only points to the fact that our nation is in dire need of a leadership that is willing, able and ready to engage from the fronts.

“On the economy, Mr President failed to articulate a definite economic recovery blueprint. He had no clear strategies to shore up the value of our naira, repay and end our foreign borrowings, revamp our external reserves, give hope to foreign investors, move promises of job creation from the perpetual drawing board and guarantee food security, health care among others.

“Mr President had the opportunity to redeem his administration by taking steps that will address high costs of food, education and housing deficit; address the high price of fuel, multiple taxes and tariffs that bear pressure on businesses and families as well as how to enhance national productivity and grow our Gross Domestic Produce (GDP).’

The party said, more Nigerians are getting frustrated describing government’s handling of the EndSARS protest as one of its fault lines, adding that that Buhari’s administration is highly repressive.

Ekiti Govt Infiltrates Workers, Frustrates Planned Protest |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti state government may have succeeded to stop the planned peaceful protest by workers in the state public service over unpaid remunerations.

The workers under the eagis of the three industrial unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), Trade Union Congress, (TUC) and the Joint Negotiating Council, (JNC) had resolved, during their meeting last Thursday, to embark on peaceful protest on the first week of January to press home their accumulating demands.

But feelers from the state on Friday disclosed that government had punctured the planned action as the workers have now changed their mind.

The action, it was learnt, initially, had jolted Governor Kayode Fayemi, who was out of the country, when the decision was reached.

Fayemi resurfaced in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, the last working day of the year, and remained in office late, during which he was said to have held discussions which various Stakeholders.

During the parley, the Governor reportedly told the unions that there was no way the state government can afford to pay the new minimum wage as from this month as demanded by the workers.

It was further gathered that the state will need about N170 million monthly, going by the agreement reached during negotiation, an amount government cannot afford.

Fayemi, was said to have bluntly told government team at the negotiation to return to the drawing board and ensure that the amount is reduce to about N100 million.

A former chairman of the NLC in the state and now a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) has been meeting with the representatives of the workers and discouraging them from going ahead with the planned protest.

Government is expressing reservation that the protest, coming early in the new year may be hijacked by hoodlums, like the endSARS protest and turns violent.

Apart from this, it may embarrass government and possibly attract negative criticisms of the present administration.

While the under current moves are ongoing to nip in the bud the protest, government was said to have fingered the hand of a former governor of the state in moves to rally the workers against the administration.

A source within government revealed that it was during the tenure of the former Governor that workers’ salaries were not paid and deductions not remitted, thus leaving the present administration with huge outstanding wage bill.

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