COVID-19 Figures Are Low Because We Are In Sallah Mood, Says Mustapha |The Source

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August 6, 2020

By Uche Mbah

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has said that the low infection rate being recorded recently is because the country is in the Sallah mood, and that workers went for Sallah holidays and, therefore, the number tested nationwide is only about 2000. He also said the report on COVID 19 has been submitted to President Buhari and that the final phase of the lockdown may be lifted today (Thursday).

The second phase of the lockdown is ending Thursday.

Speaking to Journalists Wednesday after submitting the report, Mustapha said that fatigue on the part of COVID 19 workers may have contributed to the low figures.

Nigeria has recorded 304 cases of COVID 19 Tuesday, the lowest figures in two weeks.

“As for the content of the report, it will be premature for me to talk about it because we submitted a report, we have submitted recommendations and so we have to leave for Mr. President to take a decision”, Mustapha said.

“By the time I receive his approvals, non-approvals on the recommendations we have made, we will be able to speak to the Nigerian people tomorrow (Thursday),” he explained.

“If you noticed, as we celebrated those discharges, there has also been a decrease in the testing.

“In the last couple of days, we tested just barely 2,000 across the nation, but we have a testing capacity of much more thousands than 2,000.

“Another reason is that everybody is still in a Sallah mood, even the essential workers. Remember when I talked of fatigue, this is part of it.

“But I know that in the next couple of days, the testing will be rampant because people would have come out of the Sallah celebrations and come back to work.

“The sub nationals and local governments will begin to go into the communities to search because this is the point at which you have to go into the local communities and begin to search.

“If you don’t do that, so much is happening as a result of the community transmission that has been cascaded into the local communities that if you wait for it to present itself, it will present itself in a very explosive manner and we can get into a panic mode.

“We don’t want to have that. That is why are encouraging the state governments to go into the local communities to ensure that they search for those infected with this virus, test them, if they are positive, isolate them and provide care for them.”

WAEC Says News Of Fire Outbreak Not True |The Source

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The Source

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August 6, 2020

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By Chidi Onyewuchi

The West African Examination Council, WAEC, has declared there was no fire incident at its Abuja office.

It descibed the news carried by a number of Online Platforms, including this Platform as a misinformation.

In a statement, it said: “We wish to reassure all candidates, other stakeholders and members of the general public that all our security materials are in tact”.

However, this magazine can confirm that the fire outbreak, credited to have been at WAEC, was actually at the headquarters of the Economic Council of West African Commission, ECOWAS, mis-identified as WAEC building.

Gov. Wike Drags Thisday Newspapers To Court, Demands N7 Billion |The Source

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The Source

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August 6, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has dragged ThisDay Newspaper to Court.

He is asking for a whopping N7 Billion in a suit he slammed on the Newspaper.

The N7 Billion lawsuit against Thisday Newspapers is for an alleged libel written and published by the Newspaper on its Tuesday, June 23, 2020 edition.

Wike said the lead story captioned, “With Wike, Obaseki Meets His PDP’S Waterloo, Almost,” portrayed him as an unreliable friend/person.

Governor Wike, in the suit filed by his lawyer, Emmanuel C.Ukala, Esq, SAN, FCIArb, at the Port Harcourt High Court, noted that the defendants further portrayed the Rivers State Governor as a selfish politician and a person who meddled in and exerts subterranean influence in judicial matters in courts sitting in Port Harcourt, to achieve selfish political interest and that he is not a true democrat.

The Governor, under the flagship of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is seeking an order of mandatory injunction compelling the Defendants to withdraw, retract and recant the said libelous publication.

The retraction is to be published on the front page(and to devote the whole full front page to the publication of the retraction).

ThisDay Newspaper is also to publish an apology in the terms acceptable to the Claimant and with his prior approval at the back page( on the full-back page) in the same edition on which the retraction is published, in two consecutive editions of ThisDay Newspapers.

The Claimant is also seeking an order of injunction restraining the Defendants by themselves or by their servants, agents, privies, and associates from further publishing the said libel or any manner, however, and whatsoever continuing to circulate the said libelous publication concerning the Claimant.

Ekiti Debt Profile Is Rising, PDP Alleges |The Source

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The Source

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August 6, 2020

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By Ayodele Oni

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has accused the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, of plunging the State into fresh huge indebtedness, disclosing that between December 2019 and July 2020, the government has taken a loan to the tune of N25.5 billion.

But, the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) described the allegation as coming from those whose stock in trade is to misinform the people of the state, rather than address the internal wranglings in their party.

Secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee in Ekiti State, Prince Diran Odeyemi, who made this known in a statement said it was strange that the State Government could take N20 billion and N5.5 billion loans, with 20 and 15 years repayment plan without informing the people of Ekiti State.

The PDP disclosed that the N20 billion loan was secretly obtained from Access Bank in December 2020 and the State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was mortgaged to the loan for a period of 20 years.

“As for the new N5.5 billion, it was a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Agric loan and it was paid into the State Government account in Sterling Bank last month.

“The N5.5 billion has 15 years repayment period and as at today, N1 billion has been looted from it with the remaining N4.5 billion to be diverted into private pockets, with about 1,000 hectares of land to be cleared and the bush clearing already done by the State Government as justification,” the party said.

While condemning the All Progressives Congress (APC) Government of Fayemi for always plunging Ekiti State into debt, Odeyemi said it was appalling that Governor Fayemi is accumulating debts now, just the way he plunged the State into debt during his first tenure.

The party alleged that in May this year, the State Government said it had concluded arrangements to secure N2.5 billion loan.

“If this N2.5 billion is added to N25.5 billion, it will amount to N28 billion, meaning that within two years, Governor Fayemi has obtained N28 billion loan!

According to the PDP, “during his first tenure as governor, despite receiving over N46.4 billion from the Excess Crude Account and N2 billion as Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) fund, Fayemi took N25 billion bond, N31 billion commercial bank loan and left N15.5 billion warrants unpaid.

“Contractors were owed N21.3 billion while unpaid State Public Servants emoluments was N5.1 billion, with N709.9 million outstanding remittance to federal government.

“During his first tenure, Governor Fayemi squandered the loan that he took and he is doing the same thing now.”

Reacting to the allegation, the APC, through the director of publicity, Elder Sam Oluwalana, said the PDP caretaker committee should desist from feeding the people of the state with lies.

Oluwalana pointed out that it was fortunate that APC administration in the state is not as wasteful as being claimed by the indolent opposition PDP, insisting that the present administration has tried to be transparent and accountable to the people.

NDDC Brought N10 Billion To Halt My Re-Election – Wike |The Source

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August 6, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has sensationally revealed that the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is deep into politics.

Lending his voice on the recent revelations of corruption in the NDDC, Governor Wike said the Corrupt Practices were not news to him.

Proof: He alleges that the Commission invested over N10 billion to fight against his second tenure.

Wike: “They have, unfortunately, turned it to a different thing. NDDC is a cash cow for politicians. In my own election, NDDC brought N10 billion cash to fight against me”.

Wike made this revelation in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

He added that the NDDC has since lost focus from the initial mission for which it was established for, and has become a money making machine for some corrupt politicians.

“I have said before, and it is very clear, my concern is everybody knows that NDDC was set up for the development of the region,” he said.

His comments followed the ongoing probe by the National Assembly into the alleged fraud running into billions of Naira said to have been perpetrated by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC between February and May 2020.

He also accused the Commission of embarking on projects in Rivers without the consent of the state government.

“You cannot go to a state and begin to carry out projects without the permission of the state government, you don’t know what their plans are. You can’t come into my state to disturb my development plan, you must let me know,” Wike said.

According to him, technocrats, and not politicians, should be placed in charge of the Commission to enable it function effectively to change the narrative of what is playing out at the moment.

While explaining the role of Governors in the South-South, he said, “Under the NDDC Act, there should be a Governing Board made up of the governors.”

“Since 2015 we have been asking for that Board, but it was only last year that the President was able to constitute a governing board. But that is just theory.”

Between February and May, investigations were launched by lawmakers to probe the alleged fraud in the NDDC while President Muhammadu Buhari also ordered that a forensic audit be carried out on the Commission.

Since then, it has been one scandal or the other.

Terrorism: US Unsettles Presidency After Criticizing FG’s War On Terror |The Source

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Bayo Bernard

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August 6, 2020

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By Ola Samuel

The United States of America, USA has warned the federal government to provide leadership in the fight against terrorism failure which the deadly Alqaeda will take over some northern states.

Dagvin Anderson, commander of the US special operations command, Africa, said “no nation can come in and fix that problem for Nigeria. We can assist with that – and it’s the United States can assist, the United Kingdom, other countries can come in, many countries can come and assist with that partnership – but ultimately it takes leadership from Nigeria in order for us to focus our efforts.”

The Source learnt that the US’ Commander’s comment has unsettled the military and the presidency, particularly now that the administration has faced backlash at home over the worsening insecurity in the country.

Sources in Aso Rock say the administration is very careful not to upset the Donald Trump administration which has supported the federal government’s fight against terror, unlike his predecessor, Barack Obama which turned his back on the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The US warning also came on the crest of President Muhammadu Buhari’s call to security agencies in the country to route criminal groups across the country, particularly in the north east and north west where Boko Haram have stepped up attacks.

Anderson stated that the Nigerian military must take the battle to the terrorists as the US is prepared to partner with Nigeria in the sharing intelligence.

General Ishola Adeniyi, a former commander, Operation Lafiya Dole had blamed Intelligence failure for setbacks recorded by the Nigerian forces against Boko Haram.

He was later redeployed and now facing court martial.

The US said “ intelligence sharing is absolutely vital and we stay fully engaged with the government of Nigeria to provide them an understanding of what these terrorists are doing, what Boko Haram is doing, what ISIS-West Africa is doing, and how ISIS and al-Qaida are looking to expand further south into the littoral areas.”

Anderson said the US and other allies are not happy that Nigeria has failed to route the terrorists. The federal government must do more to convince her allies and take the front seat in the fight against terrorism, he said.

According to him “We as a community of international nations, keep thinking we have defeated them or we have put them on their back foot and that they’re just moments from disintegration.”

“I think there’s two factors in that. One, it goes to that each government has to focus on this and provide that focus for international partners to engage with,” the US general said.

“The other part of this is we can’t underestimate the threat these violent extremist organisations pose. We, as a community of international nations, keep thinking we have defeated them or we have put them on their back foot and that they’re just moments from disintegration.

“I think after 20 years we have seen they are very resilient organisations that, although small, they’re able to leverage social media and other forms of media to have an outsized voice and that they continue to recruit and they continue to find opportunities.”

“When it comes to Nigeria in general, Nigeria, obviously, is a critical nation to West Africa. It is a critical nation and we realize that Nigeria is a lynchpin.”

”For that to have an effect against the VEOs and to have an effect against these stressors, it really takes the Government of Nigeria to lead that effort and to build that energy to coalesce around.”

Meanwhile, the Federal government, the magazine learnt has been seriously rattled by US criticism and “are already preparing a measured response, to counter US position on our military,” a diplomatic source said on Thursday.

Fatai Adams Is Ondo PDP New Chairman |The Source

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The Source

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August 6, 2020

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By Ayodele Oni, Akure

A former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Fatai Adams has been elected the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in Ondo State.

Adams, from Akoko area of the state, where the position was zoned to, polled 1,343 votes in a contest against Dennis Alonge, former Chairman of Ose Local Government .

Mr. Alonge polled 369 votes.

Mr. Adams was the state Deputy Chairman of the Party before now

In his congratulatory messages to the new Chairman , the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, in a statement said the smooth conduct of the election was a good omen for the party as it prepares for the October 10 Gubernatorial election.

Jegede said: “Coming so soon after conducting a successful party primary, PDP has once again shown exemplary organisation and displayed that they are the party to beat in the state.”

“The result of the elections also shows that Adams, who is a former Deputy Chairman, obviously exhibited excellent leadership skills in the past which endeared him to the party faithful and convinced them that he was the right person to lead the party forward”.

Two governorship aspirants of the party, Dr Bode Ayorinde and Barrister Olusola Ebiseni looked forward to cordial working relationship with the new helmsman.

Dr Ayorinde, urged the new executives to work for the party’s victory in the October 10 governorship election as well a facilitate genuine reconciliation with the aggrieved members of the party.

Ayorinde, a former federal lawmaker added that the tasks ahead are enormous and all hands must be on deck to achieve the desired goal of emerging victorious at the poll.

Ebiseni in his own message, lauded the spirit of sportsmanship demonstrated by contestants who either made consensus possible in many cases or participated in the final election.

He commended organisers from the National level and State leadership of the party including the executive Committee for a successful tenure and Congress.

“We march unstoppable and triumphantly as a family towards the October 10, gubernatorial election,” he added.

Breaking: Army Says Zulum Lied On Attack On His Convoy; Says Military Well-Funded, Well-Equipped |The Source

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The Source

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August 5, 2020

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By Charles Igbo

The Nigeria Army has put a lie to the claims by the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, that his convoy was ambushed and attacked by the Military, and not Boko Haram insurgents.

The Governor and members of his convoy escaped death by whiskers when they came under heavy attack along the Bagu road. The Governor was smuggled into a Police armoured vehicle to escape.

But on escape, Zulum absolved Boko Haram of the attack, and put the blame on the Military. He said it was soldiers that laid the ambush for him, and that the whole stretch and Maiduguri city were free of the insurgents.

But the Military has denied the allegation, admitting that it was embarrassed by Zulum’s claims.

Speaking on a Channel Television interview segment, Major General John Eneche said they were worried by the Governor’s allegation but relaxed after their investigation, two days after.

He said from the Video, the sound of the gun, the environment, the mannerism of the attackers, there was no doubt that the insurgents were responsible for the ambush. “From the sound of the gun shots, you would know who uses those types of guns.”

Eneche also debunked the long held impression that the Military is underfunded, and had outdated guns and other operational equipment.

He said they had enough modern equipment, are well-funded, but would appreciate more cooperation from the public, in terms of intelligence gathering.

The attack on Zulum shocked not a few people, compelling President Muhammadu Buhari to order a rejig of the Security architecture in the country, during a meeting with Service Chiefs on Tuesday.

Breaking: Presidential Panel Rejects Magu’s Request |The Source

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The Source

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August 5, 2020

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By Charles Igbo

The Presidential Panel instituted by President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the activities of the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu has turned down his request to allow a Video recording of his submissions and/or interrogation before the Panel.

The five-man Panel, headed by a retired President of the Court of Appeal, the Hon. Justice Ayo Salami.

A report monitored on Channel’s Television Wednesday evening, quoted Presidential sources, close to the Panel, as saying that the Panel members promised Magu a fair hearing, after they turned down his request for a recorded video of his submissions.

It was not disclosed why he wanted that mode of interrogation, but his two Lawyers had, on different occasions accused the Panel of not being fair to Magu. They alleged that the Panel had not given their client copies of the petitions against him.

They, also, accused the Panel of inviting critics of Magu, and those being prosecuted by the EFCC, to give testimonies against him.

Trouble began for Magu when the Attorney General of the Federation, and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, petitioned the President, accusing Magu of corruption, misconduct, and insubordination.

He was arrested on the 6th of July, detained, and was admitted to bail after nine days. Magu has since been suspended from office, and another appointed in his place.

Breaking: Why Edo Deputy Speaker, Idiaye, Was Impeached; Allegations Of Bribery Reign |The Source

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The Source

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August 5, 2020

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By Akinwale Kasali

Perhaps he spoke too soon. He withdrew his loyalty from Governor Godwin Obaseki too soon, and pledged it to Obaseki’s opponent in the up-coming Governorship election.

With less than two months to the September 19, 2020, Governorship Election in Edo State, the Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Yekini Idiaye struck. He abandoned the Governor, and publicly backed Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC. He underated the powers of a Governor, or the anger of his colleagues who feel betrayed. For doing that, he has burnt his fingers, and now, lost his plum office. He has been impeached from office.

The impeachment came a few days after the former Deputy Speaker declared his support for Ize-Iyamu.

He had been with Obaseki, and was one of the Assembly members who backed him, and got sworn-in

He was impeached during the plenary session of the Assembly on Wednesday.

He, only, knows why he jumped ship. But Philip Shaibu, Deputy Governor of the state, alleged that he and another, were given the sum of N40 million, each, to support Ize-Iyamu. So, Shaibu called on his constituency –

Akoko-Edo Local Government Area (LGA) to ask their representatives at the House of Assembly, Hon. Idiaye and Hon. Emmanuel Agbaje, for their share of the N40 million given to each of them by the former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, to influence their support for the APC candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Addressing supporters in Lampese, Akoko-Edo LGA, Shaibu said the Deputy Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly and member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, Idiaye, and member representing Akoko-Edo Constituency II, Agbaje, were paid N40 million to influence their support for Ize-Iyamu.

“Hon Agbaje and Hon. Yekini collected N40 million each to throw their support for Ize-Iyamu. Oshiomhole also gave N5 million each to councilors to switch loyalty and support the APC candidate. I had a meeting with these lawmakers who demanded $10,000, but I told them Obaseki is not a governor that shares money, but uses such money for the development of Edo State. Use your Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to vote these corrupt leaders out of office.”

More drama is expected in the days ahead.