Buhari, UNILORIN Mourn Veteran Nollywood Actor, Prof. Ayo Akinwale’s Death |The Source

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September 15, 2020

By Akinwale Kasali

The Management of the University of Ilorin, is yet to come to terms with the sudden death of one of its Professors and Nollywood Actor, Prof. Ayo Avondale.

Prof. Abdulrasheed Adeoye, Dean, Faculty of Arts, of UNILORIN said the Institution has lost a great pillar.

He wrote, “TRANSITION TO HIGHER GLORY

“If life is not vanity upon vanity, then, what is it? Death is indeed wicked!

“With heavy heart and total submission to the will of the Almighty God, I announce the passing on to higher glory of Prof. Ayo Akinwale, of the Department of the Performing Arts, University of Ilorin. He died today, the 13th September 2020 at the Unilorin Teaching Hospital.

“May the Almighty God comfort the family and all of us.”

The versatile producer, academic, playwright and former broadcaster, Akinwale, was the producer of a popular movie, ‘Sango’.

He was, also, the pioneer board chairman of the University of Ilorin FM.

Akinwale was born to the Royal household of Pa Akinwale in the ancient City of Ibadan and attended St. Lukes Demonstration School, Molete Ibadan, Oyo State, and then proceeded to Methodist High School also in Ibadan, where he was introduced to Theater Arts.

In 1966, he acted as ‘Imodoye’ in a movie titled ‘Ogboju Ode ninu Igbo Irunmole,’ produced by one of his teachers and then moved to Molusi College in Ijebu Igbo, where he obtained his Senior School Leaving Certificate.

He proceeded to the University of Ibadan before commencing academic work as a lecturer at the Polytechnic Ibadan. He became the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Culture of the University of Ilorin, and he was also the Chairman of Oyo State Council for Arts and Culture.

Prof Akinwale had written several books and articles on Theatre Arts in Nigeria. Some of his publications include; ‘From Compound Space, to the Living Stage’ Nigerian Theatre Journal. Vol. 2, No. 1. (1998); ‘Theatre and Democracy in Nigeria’ Nigerian Theatre Journal. Vol. 6, No. 1, ‘Nigerian Playright’; Zulu Sofola (2005); ‘The Nigerian Theatre and Economic Viability.’ Arts Administration in Contemporary Nigeria; The Nigeria Broadcaster’ Media Nigeria; ‘The Theatre and Nigeria’s New Democratic Environment: A Sociological Overview,’ and many more.

He won the Best Indigenous actor award at the 4th Africa Movie Academy Awards.

He had featured in quite a number of movies as an actor and producer; he has produced many home videos in Nigeria.

He featured in movies such as; Sango, Ladepo Omo Adanwo, Clash of the Gods, Iranse Aje, Eti Keta among others.

Prof Akinwale’s contribution to the Theatre and Movie industry in Nigeria gave him the leverage of being assigned South-West Zonal Co-ordinator for the Abuja Carnivals, and also a judge for the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST).

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Akinwale family and UNILORIN on the passing of the Professor.

Buhari, in a message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, noted that the deceased contributions were outstanding to the development of the Performing Arts in Nigeria in a career spanning over four decades on stage, screen, lecture rooms and the airwaves.

According to him, the scholarly works of the accomplished thespian, playwright and versatile producer, preserved in films and published books, will continue to inspire and delight audiences in years to come.

Nigerian, Pearlena Igbokwe Makes History, Appointed Chairman Of America’s Universal Studio Group |The Source

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The Source

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September 15, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Nigerians in diaspora are making waves and hoisting, high, the nation’s flag.

A Nigerian-born Media Executive, Pearlena Igbokwe, has been appointed the Chairman of Universal Studio Group in the United States.

Universal Studio Group, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information for global audience, has made history by appointing the Nigerian. Igbokwe is, also, the first African, and the first female to be so appointed.

The Group, also, comprises of Universal Television, UCP and NBCUniversal International Studios.

According to a statement by Universal Studio Group, she will lead the company’s growing global television studio businesses and report directly to Jeff Shell, CEO, NBCUniversal.

Most recently, Igbokwe was president of Universal Television, where she oversaw all aspects of the studio business and achieved record volume for the legacy studio.

Some of the programmes under her purview include the critically acclaimed comedies “Russian Doll,” “The Good Place,” “Superstore,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” and “Little America,” popular dramas “Good Girls” and “New Amsterdam,” and Dick Wolf’s new “FBI” and “FBI: Most Wanted,” among many others.

She, also, served as Executive Vice President, Drama Programming, for NBC Entertainment, where she developed the top-rated new broadcast dramas.

Before joining NBCUniversal, Igbokwe worked at Showtime for 20 years, and was involved in developing a variety of hit series including “Dexter” and “Nurse Jackie.”

She was instrumental to the five-season run of the hit Showtime series “Soul Food,” a two-time NAACP Image Award winner for Best Drama Series.

Igbokwe currently serves as the Vice President of the Hollywood Radio and TV Society (HRTS) board and is a member of the Television Academy Executive Committee.

She moved to New Jersey with her family In 1971, at age six, and still sits on the Board of Directors of eBay, AFI and IAC/InteractiveCorp.

She is married, has two children and resides in Los Angeles, United States of America.

Kano: Falana Drags FG, State Govt To African Commission, Over Death Sentence On Musician |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali

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September 15, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana, SAN, has dragged both the Kano State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, The Gambia, over the death sentence issued to Kano singer, Sharif Yahya Sharif.

The death sentence on the 22 year-old musician for alleged blasphemy has generated controversy, bringing to fore the fight for supremacy between the Constitutional Law guiding the Nation, the Customary and the Sharia Law.

In the petition dated 8th September 2020, the father of Popular Musician, Folarin Falana, known as Falz, asked the Commission to exercise its mandates and authority under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and pursuant to the Commission’s order 100(1) Rules of Procedure, 2020.

Falana insisted that Nigeria has deliberately and willfully disregarded the request by the African Commission to the effect that African countries, including Nigeria that still retain the death penalty, should fully comply with their obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and guarantee every person accused of capital punishment fair trial.

The petition reads: “I am writing to you on behalf of Sharif Yahya Sharif to ask the Commission to consider this request for provisional measures. The request is submitted in conjunction with our communication on behalf of Sharif Yahya Sharif convicted and sentenced to death for blasphemy in Kano State of Nigeria.

“When the petitioner informed the Court that he could not afford and secure the services of a lawyer to defend him, the Court ordered the Legal Aid Council to assign him a lawyer so that the petitioner could enjoy access to legal representation.

“However, the order was disobeyed by the Legal Aid Council. The Legal Aid Council is the body established by law to provide legal support to indigent citizens especially in cases involving death penalty.

“An appeal at the Kano State High Court against the conviction and death sentence imposed on the petitioner has been filed, but we submit that the petitioner will not enjoy a fair hearing, as he continues to face imminent execution by hanging.

“Nigeria is a state party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights but there is a growing crackdown on human rights including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and attack on the rule of law.”

Condemnations have trailed the death sentence passed on the Musician, by a Kano Sharia Court, from across the world over a song which, allegedly, blasphemed the Holy Prophet, Mohammed.

While the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, rose in strong condemnation of the death sentence, the Kano branch of the NBA, commended it. Their members refused to take briefs for the appeal against the judgement, allegedly, fearing mob action against them by fundamentalists.

The hope that the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, would use his discretion and quash the death sentence was dismissed when Ganduje said he would gladly sign that the execution of the Musician be carried out.

After much delay, the Appeal was filed but there are fears that it will be an exercise in futility. Many think it is possible for any Court in Kano to overturn the death sentence, for fear of the wrath of fundamentalists.

Ekiti: How Gunmen Killed LG Director In The Presence Of His Wife |The Source

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Ayodele Oni

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September 15, 2020

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By Ayodele Oni

Fear and anxiety have gripped residents of Ado Ekiti as a senior local government official was shot dead by yet to be identified gunmen.

The incident, according to residents of Ijan road in the Ekiti state capital, occurred at about 10.00pm on Sunday.

The deceased, a Director at the state Local Government Commission, David Jejelowo, was found in the pool of his blood after the suspected killers had escaped.

The incident has thrown residents of the area into confusion forcing some of them to flee the area for fear of being arrested by the police.

Wife of the deceased, Olusola, explained that the deceased, herself, and other family members were relaxing in the sitting room when they noticed movements around the window.

As they attempted to scamper for safety, they started hearing gunshots, and the bullets hit the deceased.

She appealed to the police and other security agencies to fish out the killers of her husband, saying they should not allow it to go the way of previous cases in the state stressing that such killers must be brought to book to ensure justice.

Mrs Jejelowo pointed out that members of the family of the late Director were still wondering what Mr Jejelowo did to warrant his murder.

She added that help did not come early as the deceased was in the pool of his blood for over thirty minutes without any assistance before he was rushed to a nearby hospital and they were later referred to the Ekiti state University Teaching Hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The Ekiti state Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident saying that nobody has been arrested, but investigation was on- going to unravel the motive behind Mr Jejelowo’s killing.

Amendment Of Constitution, Useless; South East Region, Cheated |The Source

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The Source

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September 14, 2020

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By The Yoruba Summit Group

The regular meeting of the Yoruba Summit Group has ended. It undertook an in-depth review the state of Nigeria in relation to the interests and aspirations of the Yoruba Nation. Notable issues were appraised.

These included the Waterways Bill pending in the National Assembly, recurrent quest to amend the 1999 Constitution, the impending landmark 60th Independence Anniversary date of October 1, 2020, and the mechanism of our involvement in the polity of Nigeria as it is unraveling politically and economically under the watch of the Buhari administration.

As we were preparing this communiqué, Global Terrorism Index screams “Nigeria has Emerged as The Most TERRORISED Country In AFRICA…. Ranked 3rd Most TERRORISED Country In The World!”

We reiterate once again, the solution to Nigeria’s problems does not lie in the 2023 elections, neither does it lie in the charade embarked upon by the NASS under the guise of a Constitutional Review.

The YSG strongly believes that the current exercise to amend the Nigerian constitution is a needless, irresponsible and surreptitious gambit to distract the various Nigerian ethnic nationalities agitating for Restructuring, true Federalism or self-determination.

How can you ask people to submit memoranda to amend a fatally flawed constitution which ab-intio contains contrived clauses and entrenched imbalances which will nullify the aspirations of many major ethnic groups in the country, especially in the southwest?

There is an unfair representation of many ethnic nationalities in the NASS because of our flawed census figures and unfair geographical division of the country into states and local governments done by military fiat by soldiers of northern extraction following successive coups.

For example, the current situation whereby all the federal legislators in the South East Region, originally one third of the tripod that held Nigeria together, adds up to just the number of legislators in Kano State should not be employed to amend a constitution which requires a 2/3 majority vote of the National Assembly.

Similar distortions also exist in the South West when we compare the 20 Local Governments in Lagos to that of Kano with 44. As it is, the North has been given a virtual veto power over all the other regions combined. This shouldn’t be. That is why there is always the refrain “GO TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY” from the North whenever unfairness or imbalances in the polity are pointed out.

The totality of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution must be jettisoned and a fresh document produced, which will truly reflect the wishes of “we the people”.

Presently, every signal from the government, contradicts a desire for genuine change – from the President’s pronouncements since he came, his various actions, the way various bills being smuggled into and sometimes by the legislature into the NASS, particularly, the vexatious Water Bill, a very clear ANTI-RESTRUCTURING venture embarked by this administration and supported by same National Assembly, the evidence of which the chair of a committee had the audacity to call it, “A Done Deal”, with same National Assembly asking the people being dispossessed of their land to come with memoranda — To do what exactly? Accord legitimacy to illegality and fraud?

THE WAY FORWARD

The Buhari administration that has the Senate and the National Assembly under her control should set up a TECHNICAL CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE (TCDC) to work out within three months a new framework into a document as basis for all ethnic nationalities to live in peace as collaborative neighbours, using existing documents in the public domain.

The TCDC should have the mandate to produce guidelines that will facilitate the voluntary reconfiguration and realignments by ethnic nationalities, sub-ethnic nationalities, clans and communities as would later form the basis of their mutual accommodation to live together in a true federation or to actively seek self-determination in order to actualize their God-given human rights under international laws.

The outcome of the TCDC effort is to be the subject of a National Referendum in order to secure the consent of the Nigerian people.

The National Assembly is to adopt the Doctrine of Necessity once again, by making the Law with provisions on processes to guide the historic transition from the 1999 Constitution until the enactment of a new Constitutional order is attained. The new order shall be the basis of any further elections in Nigeria.

The YSG also re-affirms its earlier position that notwithstanding the ambition by a very tiny household in our midst, the Yoruba Nation and her peoples should not be part of another charade in the name of 2023 Federal Elections. We should not confer legitimacy to an exercise in futility at the end of which the gloating message of the conqueror shall be: “go to court.” We therefore wish our peoples to be wary of the insolent offers of Presidency positions, pitting South East against South West Regions. It is a ruse!

Nigeria at 60 on October 1, 2020

It is gratifying to see synergy of thoughts even among the fathers of the nation with the position of the Yoruba Summit Group.

President Obasanjo described the National Assembly’s fresh constitutional review exercise also as a waste of time and resources. He praised socio-cultural groups like NEF and Yoruba Summit Group for describing it as such. Quoting president Obasanjo, he said, “That ray of hope was somewhat manifested in the last 10 days or so when the Northern Elders Forum and Yoruba Summit Group complemented each other in their separate press releases on the Senate’s idea of inviting submissions from Nigerian public for constitution amendment which had been regular money-gulping activity by every National Assembly session since 1999, a veritable source of waste without end, calling Nigeria, a failed state.

Likewise General Dongoyaro, who described the present day Nigerian situation as, “Frightening and Unencouraging”!

The YSG, having considered the situation of our polity and the expressed yearnings of majority of well-meaning Nigerians, the clear alternative for everyone would be for self-determination quests to now proceed rapidly without any further restraint. It has become patently untenable for the Yoruba Nation to tolerate further incompetence and impunity as has been foisted by the Fulanis on all other Ethnic Nationalities across Nigeria.

YSG hereby calls on all political office holders of Yoruba extraction to heed the clarion call and yearnings of their peoples for self-respect and self-determination. History and practical imperatives of people’s action will harshly judge and treat all who as willing tools, collaborate with internal colonisers.

YSG hereby notify the United Nations, European Union and all foreign countries including UK, US, China, Russia etc and multinational lending institutions to cease and desist forthwith from any further disbursement on loans and even grants, as such subsequent disbursements shall not be countenanced as part of assets and liabilities of the Nigeria country that would most sooner than later be reconfigured or dissolved.

All our peoples, along with those of other regions are hereby advised to regard October 1, 2020 as a day of unhappiness and an anniversary of the Nigerian dream that has been reduced to rubbles and ashes. The mindless bloodletting perpetrated by AK-47-armed Fulani militia in the Middle Belt region and unchallenged incursions into all parts of Southern territories are abominations to civility, and a clear pointer to their flagrant disregard for human life. As there is nothing to celebrate on the occasion of 60th anniversary of “Nigerian Independence.”

YSG being a Federation of Yoruba bodies hereby enjoin all member groups to think creatively and execute passive, peaceful ways and means of asserting their human rights. This may include the wearing of RED BANDS on the wrist or shoulders in commemoration of the blood of the innocents that have been spilled. These activities should commence on October 1, 2020 and continue thereafter, until we secure victory.

We hereby affirm that we mean well for the Yoruba Nation and all other peoples across the territory of what is otherwise known as Nigeria, in seeking the face of God Almighty as we venture into the future with hope for better lives.

This Communique was issued out of the Regular Meeting of the Yoruba Summit Group, held on Thursday, 10, September, 2020. It was signed on its behalf by Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo, its Publicity Secretary

Fayose Blasts Buhari For Destroying The Economy |The Source

By

Bayo Bernard

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September 14, 2020

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By Tosin Olatokunbo

Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti state is one of the sworn enemies of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The former Ekiti helmsman hardly agrees with Obasanjo on anything, the latest of their disagreement, is his outburst against the ex –president over his comment on the death of billionaire Buruji Kasamu who died last month.

But the spate of insecurity across the country has brought the two antagonists together as both Obasanjo and Fayose have heaped the blame of incessant killings by criminal gangs on the failure of the federal government to rein in the perpetrators.

Obasanjo had last week criticised the Buhari government for being helpless in the face of clashes among ethnic groups in the country, adding that the country has become a failed state.

The former president spoke during a meeting organized by ethnic nationalities in Kaduna.

Barely a week after that incident, Fayose has also blamed the federal government for failure to pull the country from the brink of collapse, insisting that “only God will deliver Nigeria,” from her current predicaments.

Fayose said in an interview with Dele Momodu that the security situation in the country has never been this bad.

He also stated that the Buhari government has mismanaged the country’s economy.

According to him “Of all the Presidents, I don’t like Obasanjo ways, I tell you the truth; I don’t like his ways at all. Me and him we are not on the same page but Obasanjo is the only one-time Nigerian President that has helped this country here and there.

“The fact remains that if you look at the Obasanjo time, there are certain things he put in place and don’t forget, he saved this country a lot of money. He saved this country a lot of money. These people have squandered all we have. The way Obasanjo brought it down, they have taken it up.

“That was why what Obasanjo said today (Saturday), in a way, I agree with him. We don’t normally agree but I agree with him.

“When I started talking about President Buhari, even you, Dele Momodu, criticised me. Even you, Dele Momodu was looking at a saint in Buhari. Today, most of you now should cover your faces in shame, that you gave Nigerians a wrong road and a wrong path. It’s regrettable.”

Veteran Nollywood Actor, Prof. Ayo Akinwale Dies |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali

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September 14, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Tragedy has again struck the Nigeria make-believe industry, popularly called Nollywood. Veteran actor, Prof. Ayo Akinwale has died. He died on 13th September, 2020.

The Academic-turned Nollywood Actor was an astute Professor and Lecturer at the Department of Performing Arts, University of Ilorin.

The death of the veteran was announced via a statement released by Prof. Abdulrasheed Adeoye, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Unilorin.

He wrote:

“If life is not vanity upon vanity, then, what is it? Death is indeed wicked!

“With heavy heart and total submission to the will of the Almighty God, I announce the passing on to higher glory of Prof. Ayo Akinwale, of the Department of the Performing Arts, University of Ilorin. He died today, the 13th September, 2020 at the Unilorin Teaching Hospital.

“May the Almighty God comfort the family and all of us.”

The death of Prof. Akinwale is a big blow to the movie Industry and the University of Illorin, as his wealth of experience will be missed.

He appeared in so many Yoruba Nollywood films, English Soap Operas and Stage Plays.

The late Professor will be missed In the industry by upcoming Artistes and some who had drawn from his founatain of knowledge in academics and Nollywood.

FG Borrows $10 bn From World Bank In Six Months |The Source

By

Bayo Bernard

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September 14, 2020

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Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed,minister of finance

By Fola James

The Debt Management Office, DMO has disclosed that Nigerian government borrowed over $10 billion from the World Bank in six month, the highest external debt to any development partners.

According to the Office the total indebtedness to the World Bank Group now stands at $10.46bn

The breakdown of the country’s external debt stock as of June 30, 2020 indicates that her debt to the International Development Association and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development were $10.05bn and $409.51m respectively.

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association are both organs of the World Bank Group.

Other organisations of the multilateral financial institution include the International Finance Corporation, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

The World Bank Group and the African Development Bank Group are two prominent multilateral institutions that lend to the nation.

Nigeria’s total indebtedness to the multilateral institutions during the period under review was put at $16.36bn, representing 51.97 per cent of the country’s total external debt stock.

Also the DMO put the country’s indebtedness to the African Development Bank, AfDB Group at $5.896bn.

According to The Punch newspapers, the external debts of Nigeria to African Development Bank, Africa Growing Together Fund and African Development Fund are $1.325bn, $140,000, and $921.91m respectively.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government said it will not seek debt forgiveness from World Bank or any other international development partners.

The assurance came on the crest of worries over the nation’s debt stock which now stands at over N33 trillion, according to figures provided by DMO last week.

Presidency Calls Obasanjo Divisive Element, Says He Hates Buhari’s Government |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali

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September 13, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

The Presidency on Sunday came hard on former President Olusegun Obasanjo, calling him divisive element, and alleging he hates President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government.

The Presidency was reacting to Obasanjo’s speech on Friday where he said Nigeria, under Buhari had become a basket case, a progressively failing state, and had become very divided.

But the Presidency in its response implored Obasanjo to eschew his hatred towards the Buhari administration, and join it to achieve its aim of making Nigeria a prosperous country.

Obasanjo had, over the previous week, lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari, saying Nigeria was becoming the world capital of poverty and a badly divided country under him.

However, the Presidency, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Obasanjo was not honest in his criticism.

It dismissed the former President as a divisive element, saying his recent criticisms have shown his descent “from the lofty heights of Commander-in-Chief to the lowly level of Divider-in-Chief (to adapt the coinage of Time).”

The Presidency added that while Buhari is working towards uniting the nation, former President Obasanjo is trying to divide it.

The presidency urged him to join forces with the current administration in order to find a lasting solution to the myriad of challenges bedevilling the country.

The Presidency stated: “In his most recent statement former President Olusegun Obasanjo attempts to divide the nation while President Muhammadu Buhari continues to promote nation building and the unity of Nigeria.

“The difference is clear. From the lofty heights of Commander-in-Chief, General Obasanjo has descended to the lowly level of Divider-in-Chief (to adapt the coinage of Time).

“We hope that Chief Obasanjo would once again sheath the sword and rest the pretentiousness about the Messiah that has (mis)led him to pronounce often wrongly, as he disastrously did in the 2019 elections, about the life and death of Nigerian governments.

“As some commentators are already suggesting, Chief Obasanjo should, in accordance with his mantra as a statesman, get involved with problems solving, when and where they exist instead of helping the mushrooming of a poisonous atmosphere of ethnic and religious nationalism”.

It opined that Obasanjo has disappointed his admirers for lending his support to the actions of groups who insist on not being a party to the National Assembly constitutional amendment process.

“Surely, he must have disappointed many of his local and foreign admirers by showering commendations on a few extremist groups who have vowed to shun the invitation to the National Assembly to participate in the process of constitutional amendment.

“No doubt, he must have left those admirers confused in announcing the support for the boycott of a democratic process of changing the constitution, at the same time calling for dialogue and engagement.

“The fact that the process he ushered in under his administration with the dubious intention of amendments that sought tenure elongation failed-as did two other attempts by the successive administration of the same political party- does not in any way justify his dismissal of the exercise by the 9th Assembly as another waste of time and resources.

“To the credit of the All Progressives Congress-led 8th Assembly, the process of constitutional amendment was kick-started and carried through, paving the way for, among other benefits, the financial independence of local government councils, States Houses of Assembly and the country’s Judiciary.

“These changes have already been signed into laws by the President as mandated by the constitution.

“The recent decisions by the administration as they relate to subsidy withdrawal, helping to plug some of the most horrendous notorious holes and release of scarce resources for the more pressing needs of the people has also not escaped the ire of the former president.

“It’s a known fact that the withdrawal of subsidies had been on the wish list of the Obasanjo-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

“They failed in achieving these measures because; one there was a shared greed. They plundered the treasury as much as anyone could in the name of either subsidy or waiver with reckless impunity.

“Two, is to say it takes courage and rare statesmanship on the part of a leader to do as President Buhari to shun populism and seek the best interest of the people and the state, providing the kind of reform and development that Nigeria urgently needs.

“This President has run an administration focused on infrastructure and development. He has repaired our damaged relations with neighbours and our traditional allies such as the UK, US, China, Russia, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the others with lots of benefits to the country.

“It is a pro-business administration that has used diplomacy to unlock bilateral trade and investment.

“He leads a government that has liberalised the investment climate and market access by achieving reforms that have placed the country in the list of the world’s top reforming economies.

“Nigeria, which other nations had mocked and ridiculed for so many things that were wrong is today progressing at a pace reflecting its size and potential.

“With so much to show and many more coming, it is little surprise that President Buhari would be the object of envy and harsh unfair challenges by politicians who failed to deliver but continue to nurse ambitions of delighting the audience long after their curtain has been drawn.”

For the records, Obasanjo worked very hard to secure victory for Buhari in 2015, after three unsuccessful runs.

Ekiti Relaxes COVID-19 Measures; Resumes Full Academic Session |The Source

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Ayodele Oni

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September 13, 2020

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By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, says Nigeria is not yet out of the global COVID-19 pandemic, hence the need to continue to observe all necessary protocols.

In a broadcast Sunday evening in Ado Ekiti, Fayemi announced a review of the COVID-19 measures under which religious worship centres in the state can now hold services on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays as against previous arrangements.

Also, more classes in public and private schools are to resume academic activities as from September 21.

Affected classes are SS two, JSS three, and primary six, September 24; SS one,JSS two, primaries four and five, September, 28; JSS one, primaries one to three, October 19 while kindergarten and nursery classes will join them on November 2.

The Governor directed tertiary Institutions in the state to put in place necessary facilities and liase with the COVID-19 committee to confirm their readiness to resume as from October 2.

He pointed out that since the SSS 111 students were allowed to resume last month to enable them sit for their final examinations, there was no recorded case of the pandemic among the students.

However, the Governor explained that the increase in the number of recorded cases in the state in the last one month was due to a rise in the number of tests that were carried out.

He put the number recorded in the state from August 20 till date at 147, while it was 152 cases from March to August 20.

Owners of Events Centres can now put their facilities into use but on the condition that they must not accommodate more than 50 people to enable them maintain the social distance order.

The Governor called on security agencies in the state to redouble their efforts at enforcing the use of face masks, saying “until vaccines are discovered for its cure, Covid 19 will still be with us.”

Fayemi reiterated the commitment of his administration to ensure that more people in the state benefit from COVID-19 Palliatives from the Federal Government .

According to him, 200 businesses have so far benefitted from COVID-19 loan by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN).