Delta: #EndSARS Protests Get Bloody; Policeman Killed, Another Injured; AK47 Stolen |The Source

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October 9, 2020

By Adesina Soyooye

The recent #EndSARS nationwide protest rocking Nigeria, triggered by the incessant killing of Nigerians, the youths in particular, by the SARS branch of the Police has turned violent. In Delta state, one Policeman has been murdered. another injured, and an AK47 stolen.

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, M.A Adamu, has condemned what he called the unprovoked and violent attack on policemen and the 8 to police operational vehicles and other assets by ENDSARS protesters in Ughelli, Delta State, on Thursday, 8^th October, 2020.

The incident, according to Force Spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba, resulted in the unfortunate death of one Police officer, Corporal Etaga Stanley attached to ‘A’ Division, Ughelli, Delta State who, he said, “was attacked and brutally murdered by the protesters also left another, Sergeant Patrick Okuone with serious body injury sustained from gunshot by the protesters.

“The protesters also carted away one (1) service AK47 rifle with breach no 56-2609008 and 25 rounds of live ammunition that was with the deceased at the time of the incident.”

The IGP, who described the incident as cruel and unwarranted, has warned that the Force will no longer tolerate any attack on its personnel or any member of the law enforcement community by any individual or group protesting under any guise.

The IGP, Mba said, noted that the protest by citizens remain a legitimate means for airing their concerns and views. It must, however, be carried out with all sense of responsibility and within the confines of the law.

The IGP, while condoling the family and friends of the late Corporal Etaga Stanley who paid the supreme price in the service of our dear nation, equally commended the officers of the Delta State Police Command for exercising restraint in the face of the immoral and unjustified provocation

Meanwhile, the IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police, Delta State to carry out a discrete investigation into the unfortunate incident, root-out the perpetrators and bring the killer protesters to book.

The protest has been on for days to protest the brutalities meted out to innocent youths in particular, by SARS. The SARS brutalities also attracted strong condemnations by the Vice President the leadership of the Nation Assembly and a broad spectrum of Nigerians.

In response, the IGP has barred SARS and other such outfits from some of their notorious activities, especially indiscriminate arrests, seizing and scrolling of people’s phones.

Protesters are asking for the scrapping of SARS, but Mba says its scrapping is not possible. It can only be reformed.

This will be the fourth time the Force Headquarters will take action against SARS. None has worked out. The killings continue. And so have the brutalities and the extortion.

Last Minute Negotiation Between Jegede, Ajayi Collapses |The Source

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Ayodele Oni

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October 8, 2020

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By Ayodele Oni

There are indications that a merger plan between Mr Eyitayo Jegede,SAN, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and Agboola Ajayi, of the Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP) has, finally hit the rock.

Last minutes pressure was mounted on Ajayi between Wednesday and Thursday to collapse his structure and team up with the PDP candidate, in a move seen as a plot to defeat the incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Akeredolu, the candidate of All Progressives Congress, (APC), is seeking re-election for a second term in office.

It was learnt that two prominent traditional rulers, a chieftain of ZLP and former governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and the top echelon of the PDP were involved in the marriage plan, but it could not materialize.

Early morning on Thursday, a former House of Representative member, Chief Joseph Adelaja, and ZLP chieftain, was the first to announce that the deputy governor has not stepped down for anybody.

Also later, the PDP candidate issued a statement confirming that he is still in the race.

A statement by the campaign organization, stated that “In a desperate move to deceive the general public, some dubious individuals are circulating falsehood that the PDP candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, has collapsed his structure. This is a lie from the pit of hell, created and existing in the imagination of day dreamers and enemies of Ondo State.

“In the last 72 hours, Eyitayo Jegede has received support from 11 out of the 16 other governorship candidates who collapsed their structures for him and the PDP. He has signed the Peace Accord confirming commitment to a violence-free election.

“Eyitayo Jegede is not only in the race, he remains the candidate to beat.”

48 Hours To Ondo Election, Free Food For Residents, As Group Flays NURTW Involvement in Election |The Source

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Ayodele Oni

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October 8, 2020

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INEC Logo

By Ayodele Oni

Residents of Ondo state were stunned on Thursday as some food items, meant for Palliatives during the Covid 19 rampage, resurfaced, and are being used to woo voters for Saturday’s Governorship election.

This is just as a Civil Rights Group, flayed the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) to hire buses owned by members of National Union of Road Transport Workers,(NURTW) to transport election materials, describing it as untidy.

Some agents of one of the political parties that is participating in the election had invaded major markets in Akure metropolis with sachets of indomie Noddles with inscription, ‘COVID-19’ which they were distributing to people.

Apart from this, the sum of N200 was being shared to the market women, some of who expressed surprise about the free food.

Some of those that spoke expressed disappointment that items meant to have been given to people to cushion effect of sitting at home during the pandemic are now being shared to woo voters.

The Co-Chair of YIAGA Africa, Dr Aisha Abdulahi during a briefing on preparations for the election obeerved that “although INEC has shown readiness to deploy its officials and materials early to the polling units, YIAGA Africa is concerned with the Commission’s reliance on NURTW members to transport election materials and personnel to the polling units.

“This is because in the build-up to the election, some members of the NURTW were reported to have endorsed some candidates in the election.

“The leadership of the transport union is a militant arm of one of the political parties participating in the election. This puts their integrity and neutrality to question.”

“Yiaga Africa fears that partisan and comprised NURTW members will deliberately cause delays in the commencement of polls in some areas by either refusing to deploy or give reasons to delay the process.

“INEC should ensure all election materials and personnel are deployed to the Registration Area Camps 24hrs before the commencement of polls.”

Assault: Gov.Makinde Replies Fayose; Calls Him Attention Seeker |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali

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October 8, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has responded to the allegations levelled against him by former Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, that he was the mastermind of the attack on him during the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship rally for Eyitayo Jegede, Wednesday, in Akure.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Taiwo Adisa, said that his Principal does not intend to join issues with the former governor whom he said appears perpetually desirous of hugging the limelight, even when the occasion doesn’t desire such grandstanding.

“I believe that ex-governor Fayose and his handlers need to look far away from Oyo state in search of their enemies.

“Governor Makinde has no link whatsoever with the incident Fayose’s aide was talking about.

“We expect all right-thinking members of the PDP to join the Governor of Oyo State in the prosecution of the noble and democratic assignment he is executing on behalf of the PDP in Ondo State at this time, instead of seeking to distract him one way or the other.

“The governor will, however, not be distracted either on the task at hand, or on the well-intentioned desire to join other leaders to rebuild the PDP in the South-West geopolitical zone”, he stated.

Fayose was making his way to the podium at the campaign ground when a hoodlum, ostensibly acting on instruction, moved towards him and removed his cap.

The PDP former Governor, however, alleged that Gov. Makinde and former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Bode George, were the mastermind of the plot.

How Edo Shut Tinubu Out Of Ondo APC Governorship Final Rally |The Source

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Adesina Soyooye

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October 8, 2020

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By Adesina Soyooye

Not a few people were surprised, on Wednesday, that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, APC National Leader, was conspicuously absent from the final Governorship rally of the Party in Akure, Ondo.

Absent, as well, was Adams Oshiomhole, who was recently sacked as the National Chairman of the party. But Oshiomhole’s absence pales before Tinubu’s.

There are reasons.

Tinubu answers the National APC Leader. The state at stake is a South-west state, a zone where he wields his greatest political influence.

For his alleged political aspiration in 2023, many allege, he needs Ondo state.

In deed. Ondo state Governor, and the candidate of the APC, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, made this point during the flag-off of his campaign, recently.

At that flag-off, Tinubu was the star. He overshadowed everybody. The Governor gave him more attention than he did to anybody else.

He was the one who commissioned a project, and he was the one who, the Governor, accompanied by Traditional Rulers, went to pay a courtesy call to in Akure. It was during that courtesy call that Akeredolu said that the outcome of the Ondo election would decide how serious the Yoruba is in their aspiration in 2023.

Many people were surprised at the role Tinubu played at that flag-off, considering that he was not in support of the Governor in 2016.

During Akeredolu’s first shot at the Governorship seat in 2012, Tinubu backed him against Dr Olusegun Mimiko, his former ally. But he lost to Mimiko.

In 2016, he ditched Akeredolu, and backed another candidate, Segun Abrams. But a combination, allegedly, of APC stalwarts, including some who were his boys, were too stormy for Tinubu. They swept Akeredolu into office. Tinubu lost.

In 2020, even though Abrams contested, Tinubu was more cautious. He said he had no favourite. He may have read the handwriting on the wall for, as soon as Akeredolu won, Abrams collapsed his structures with his, allegedly, on the orders of Tinubu.

So, why was Tinubu absent during the most important occasion, an occasion where both President Muhammadu Buhari, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, spoke to the mammoth party faithful from Abuja, and where a good number of APC Governors and Chieftains were present?

“Blame it on the Edo debacle”, a party chieftain, who pleaded anonymity, told the magazine. He said, “Given the backlash against the party after Tinubu’s unsolicited and unnecessary advisory to the Edo electorate, part of which caused the party the state, not many people wanted him in Ondo. He will be bad news. In Ondo he will not be a good poster boy. A victory in Edo would have accorded him a privileged position in Ondo. But after what happened, I think he spoke to himself, and calmed down.”

For Oshiomhole, he said: ” The mere sight of him will irritate many of us. It was his vindictiveness, and Tinubu’s inteferance that cost us Edo”.

In deed, in the days leading to the October 10 Ondo election, the APC took a different approach. The non-presence of both Tinubu and Oshiomhole at the final rally is one. The mega final rally which was held on Wednesday is another. None was held in Benin. Neither the President nor the Vice President was involved, as such, unlike in Ondo where both men were not only involved, but the President told the electorate to vote Akeredolu.

In Edo, that job was left for Tinubu and Oshiomhole. The party lost.

Nollywood Actress, Chacha Eke Reveals She Is Suffering From Bipolar Disorder, Fans Reacts |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali

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October 8, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Few days after announcing an end to her seven-year old marriage to Austin Faani, Nollywood Actress, Chacha Eke Faani, has taken to her Instagram Page to announce she is suffering from Bipolar Disorder.

The mother of three, in Video, announced to her fans that she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

It would be recalled that Chacha’s first video sparked rumour that she might have ended her marriage due to domestic violence, but her recent revelation of Bipolar Disorder raises doubt about what actually went wrong.

Some fans raised a poser that she might have been forced by family to make such announcement in other to protect the interest of her immediate family.

In the video she shared on Instagram, the Ebonyi born actress, denied reports that her marriage suffered domestic violence. She claimed her husband has never lifted a finger on her, or even shouted at her.

Her words: “5 days ago i made a video saying that my marriage to Austin Faani is over. That video came with a lot of backlash, with people saying i suffered domestic violence. That’s not true, Austin has never raised his hands on me.

“I am here at First Delta American hospital here in Asaba, i have been diagnosed of bipolar disorder” She said.

Meanwhile, some of her fans refused to believe her. They believe that her husband or family members had forced her to say she has bipolar to cover up the truth.

Delta: Anger Over N5,000 COVID-19 Fees; As Students Storm Government House |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali

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October 8, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-administration in Delta State is facing a storm from the National Association of Delta State Students NADESTTU, over a compulsory N5000 Covid-19 levy imposed on students in the State.

The students have been directed, by their leadership, to boycott the payment of the N5000 Covid-19 levy imposed on them by the Government, saying it is outrageous and uncalled for.

In a statement by Godwin Saturday, NADESSTU’s National President, the students described the levy as a blatant extortion, ill conceived and an irresponsible from the State Government.

He said: “We have consulted with all the critical stakeholders and sister organizations on this issue, and we vehemently say no to this extortion.

“We want to inform the students that we are prepared to resist the wickedness by all legal means possible and modalities are already in top gear to ensure our students are saved from this extortion.”

“We are by this notice directing all returning students in respective Tertiary Institutions in Delta State not to pay the COVID-19 levy slammed on them by their institutions.

“The National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSTU) worldwide, we received the news of this development in rude shock and disappointment that the management of these institutions are this insensitive to the plight and situation of Nigerians and students.”

“Due to the long holiday, the house rents of most students have expired, many parents have lost their jobs, other are challenged with salary cut and the economy is biting on low income earners yet institutions still went ahead to slam the students with an unjustifiable Covid-19 levy at resumption.”

“We shall not be responsible for those who have paid when this struggle is eventually won and we will not clamour for any refund if any student flaunts this directive by going ahead with the payment.”

“We also want all SUG Presidents, NADESSTU Presidents and all union leaders and stake holders to take note of this and help drive this message home to their students,” the statement reads.

Nigerian-UK Based Rapper, Olawale Hassan, Jailed For Rape |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali

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October 8, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

A-United Kingdom based Nigerian music-rapper, Olawale Hassan, Popularly known as Goldie 1, has been sentenced to 10 Years imprisonment for raping a woman in 2017.

By his irresponsible behaviour, Hassan has brought shame upon himself and his family, as well as hard-working Nigerians living in the United Kingdom.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, the 33-year-old, who lives at Falcon Avenue, Grays, Essex, attacked the victim in Southend in 2017, after claiming he was a music producer, Police officers said.

However, during his trial, he denied the three counts of Rape and one charge of assault by penetration.

Essex Police described him as “manipulative and calculated”.

Detective Constable Victoria De’ath, of the force, praised the woman, in her 20s, for her “courage” in reporting the attack.

It was gathered that Hassan targeted the woman while she was out with a friend in February 2017. She turned down his requests for her number and to accompany him to his hotel room before he promised to get her home safely after her friend left.

Instead, he parked his car on the seafront and locked its doors when she tried to flee, before attacking and raping her.

He later took her home after the incident, and the woman called the police to report the incident.

The Judge sentenced him to a-10 year jail term.

Explosion Rocks Baruwa Area Of Lagos |The Source

By

Uche Mbah

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October 8, 2020

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By Uche Mbah

An explosion has rocked the Baruwa area of Ipaja, Lagos. Thursday, sending people scampering for safety, and many trapped in their houses, engulfed by the raging inferno triggered by the explosion.

The Lagos State Environmental management agency, LASEMA, is on ground to monitor, and arrest the situation.

According to an eye witness account, the explosion happened around 6.00am at a gas facility in the area. The number of casualties is yet to be ascertained, but many houses have been destroyed, and properties worth millions of Naira lost.

Baruwa lies along the Ipaja-Ayobo road, and is close to Gowon, Shagari, and Jakande Estates at Ipaja new town.

LASEMA officials on ground claim that, so far, about eight people were killed and about thirty houses burnt, including a primary school and some lockup shops.

But eye witness accounts claim twelve fatalities. Many of the injured, however, are being evacuated to hospitals.

Fire fighters are working to put off the fire.

Baruwa has been having problems with pipeline leaks which has made water from their borehole undrinkable because it lies along gas pipeline route.

More details, later…

Fayose Assaulted, Pelted With Pure Water Sachet, Cap Removed At PDP Rally In Ondo |The Source

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Ayodele Oni

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October 8, 2020

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By Ayodele Oni

In an incident which reminded one of the fate which befell former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Chief Bola Ige, Ayo Fayose, former Governor of Ekiti state, was assaulted, and his cap removed by alleged thugs in Akure, during the PDP final Governorship rally on Wednesday.

He was, also. pelted with sachets of pure water at the venue of the rally for PDP,s Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN.

Just before Ige, who was also a former Governor of Oyo State was murdered in his bedroom in Ibadan, his cap was removed in a similar manner at a function, allegedly by sympathisers of Senator Iyiola Omisore, a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, with whom he had a deep political misunderstanding.

Omisore and a couple of others were arrested and detained after Ige’s murder. But they were all discharged and acquitted. He was to become a Senator thereafter.

At the time of Ige’s killing. he was President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Minister. His wife, a Judge of the Court of Appeal, died of heartbreak after the acquittal of everybody arrested over her husband’s murder.

Fayose, who had, of recent, been at loggerheads with some leaders of the PDP in the South west, had to be hurriedly hurled back into his car as some suspected thugs surged forward to physically assault him.

Dignitaries, including Chiefs Oyewole Fasawe, and Bode George, already seated at the podium, were watching as the ex-governor’s cap was removed by an attacker.

One of the attackers, who laced his body with various charms and amulets, had to be bundled out of the campaign area as he unsuccessfully tried to beat up Fayose.

After about 15 minutes, when tension died down, he was again invited by the master of ceremony to come and address the rally.

One of the suspected Thugs that Attacked Fayose

Reacting to the incident, a spokesman for the ex governor, Lere Okayinka, accused the Governor of Oyo state, Mr Seyi Makinde, and Chief Bode George as the masterminds of assault against his boss at PDP rally.

The former governor said despite the shameful act, he will not stop saying the truth concerning the running of the party in the Southwest zone and those who have failed to produce any result in Lagos State since 1999 will be made to retire.

He said he would make a formal report of the incident to the security agencies and the party’s relevant authorities, noting that it was not something to be handled with levity

“That’s how late Chief Bola Ige’s cap was removed in Ile Ife, Osun State then, and we all know what happened later.

“So this one will not be ignored and treated as one of those things.

“The masterminds had it all planned and they followed it up by celebrating what they saw as the success of their plot. They even capped it up by circulating the video.

“So it was not an accident, it was planned. But those who planned it only succeeded in advertising their political myopism because popularity of the brand Ayo Fayose, Osokomole cannot be rubbished by such childish act.

“That they must have seen in the reaction of the people at the rally and I am sure they know that they can’t get such loud ovation even if they spend all the money in this world.

“As for me, I am unperturbed and I must say it clearly that those new comers to the PDP and their old allies, who won’t mind soiling the image of the party to achieve their aims will not be allowed to succeed,” he said.

Fayose, had, a few days ago called on the PDP, Lagos State, to retire Chief Bode George from politics if they wanted the progress of the Party in the State.