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Former Adamawa State Governor, Bala Ngillari, Says PDP, Dead, Awaiting Burial |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Bala James Ngillari

By Akinwale Kasali

Former Adamawa State Governor, Bala James Ngillari, who cross-carpeted to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2020, from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has labelled the PDP  a ‘dead Party’, awaiting to be taken to the graveyard.

Ngillari ascended  the Adamawa State Government Seat on the crest of the PDP, having served as Deputy Governor to former Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako.

He made this statements at the APC stakeholders meeting on Saturday in Yola, Adamawa State Capital.

The former Governor who defected to APC in 2020, was the PDP’s Adamawa North Senatorial Candidate at the 2019 general election.

” One of the reasons why I dumped PDP for APC is that PDP is a dying party. In fact, PDP is dead and it will be buried in 2023.

” Secondly, I don’t see PDP as an alternative for the future of Nigeria, because the contradictions in the party will make its members go to the graveyard and we will help them bury themselves.

” And the reason why I identified myself with APC is because of its laudable objectives that will take us to the promised land and give hope to our future generations,” Ngilari said.

He said that any nationalist who wanted the country to move to the next level should join APC as it has no alternative at present.

He said that there was hope for Nigeria and its citizens under the APC led Federal Government, urging progressive politicians across the country to rally round the party.

” I wish those who chose to remain in PDP well, ” Ngilari said.

He said that the APC currently has 90 percent followership in Adamawa, assuring that the party would take over the state in 2023.

“Adamawa has abundant natural resources. If properly harnessed, the resources would boost the economy of the state and the country at large,” he said.

He called on the people of the state to support APC for the future development of the State in all ramifications.

Nigeria: Covid-19 Cases Hit 100,000, PTF Reveals |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Boss Mustapha

By Akinwale Kasali

The Covid-19 Pandemic cases in Nigeria, has continued to skyrocket.

The Presidential Task Force, PTF, on Covid-19  led by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, revealed that Nigeria’s total confirmed cases surpassed the 100,000 mark on Sunday, with the discovery of 1,024 new cases.

According to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, confirmed cases of the virus in the country stand at 100,087.

It was reported that eight new deaths were reported on Sunday, taking the total deaths so far from COVID-19 to 1,358.

Benue State posted four deaths to take its toll to 15. The FCT had two deaths and now has 109 death toll.

The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has also gone into isolation for the second time within a space of five months, as he revealed that symptoms of Covid-19 is surfacing and he needed  to take Precautionary Measures and go into isolation.

Edo and Adamawa recorded one death each. Edo State which has the highest fatalities after Lagos’ 256, now has 120 deaths, while Adamawa State has 26.

Lagos topped Sunday’s infections with 653 cases, more than half of the national total.

So far, 80,030 survivors have been discharged since the pandemic broke out in February 2020.

New cases were confirmed in 16 States and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

See figures below:

Lagos-653

Plateau-63

Benue-48

Zamfara-45

FCT-42

Rivers-27

Ondo-26

Adamawa-26

Kaduna-22

Edo-18

Ogun-16

Imo-12

Kano-9

Yobe-6

Ekiti-5

Jigawa-4

Osun-2

100,087 confirmed

80,030 discharged

1,358 deaths

Nigeria’s External Reserves Hits $36b, Highest In 12 Months

By
Bayo Bernard
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Godwin-Emefiele-CBN-Governor

By Fola James

Nigeria’s external reserve has risen to close to $36 billion according to latest figures released by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN last week.

The apex bank said at the week end that the reserves rose by $461 million to $35.834 billion, the highest in six months after it plunged to an all time low of $35 billion dollars for the most part of 2020.

Figures released by the Bank indicate that the reserves rose from $35.373 billion at the close of last year to $35.834 billion as at January 7, 202, the highest in 12 months..

Thus the reserves have recovered from the nine weeks decline of $847 million to $34.825 billion on December 17th from $35.672 billion in October.

For most part of 2020, the nation’s external reserves remain stuck at below $36 billion, as the country faced a foreign currency crisis that has led to multiple devaluations of the national currency (naira), three times before the end of the year.

The CBN devalued the naira in March, July, and in August 2020, in the midst of pressure from the World Bank for the unification of the exchange rate, which is now between N380 and N386/$1.

As a way out of the plunging reserves CBN resumed forex sales to BDCs, but the situation barely changed as the reserves remain stuck at $35 billion.

At the beginning of 2020 Nigeria’s Forex reserves stood at $38.5 billion but fell by over $2 billion to 436 billion within the first quarter, as the country was hit by the corona virus pandemic which ravaged the economy.

Meanwhile, analysts have adduced the increase to the rise in crude oil price in the international marker. Nigeria’s crude was sold for $50 per barrel as the close of business last week.

COVID 19: NCDC Releases Frightening Figures, Over 100,000 Infected

By
Bayo Bernard
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0
coronavirus

Bt Tosin Olatokunbo

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC has disclosed that the number of COVID 19 cases in the country is on the rise, and has now hit over 100,000 for the first time since the pandemic broke last year.

The centre, on Sunday, said on its website that eight persons have also died of the virus between Saturday and yesterday, adding that 1,358 persons have now died from the pandemic. The agency urged Nigerians to take personal precautions to save their lives and stop the virus from further spreading.

According to the figures released by NCDC, Lagos recorded the highest number of cases while Akwa-Ibom recorded the least number of cases.

NCDC said ”Abia-11, Adamawa-27, Akwa-Ibom-9, Anambra-19, Bauchi-17, Bayelsa-21, Benue-11, Borno-36, Cross River-12, Delta-52, Ebonyi-30, Edo-119, Ekiti-7, Enugu-21, FCT-107, Gombe-38, Imo -17 and Jigawa-55.

”Kaduna-55, Kano-70, Katsina-27, Kebbi-13, Kogi-2, Kwara -31, Lagos-256, Nassarawa-13, Niger -13, Ogun -35, Ondo-41, Osun -24, Oyo -54, Plateau -46, Rivers -67, Sokoto-20, Taraba-7, Yobe-8 and Zamfara-5,” it stated. The public health agency said that the country’s active cases were 18,699, while only two states, Kogi and Cross River, had no active case of the infection as at Jan. 10.

The agency said over 80,000 persons has now recovered from the deadly virus, adding that more patients have been discharged after receiving treatment.

NCDC said “There are 613 COVID-19 patients discharged across Nigeria in the last 24 hours with the total number of successfully treated cases rising to 80,030. Our discharges today include 253 community recoveries in Lagos State, managed in line with guidelines.”

The agency said 1,025,560 people had been tested for the virus since it was first detected in the country 11 months back, with 13,976 tests carried out in the past 24 hours. The public health said that the 1,024 new cases were reported in 16 states and the FCT.

It added that Lagos State with 653 cases led the pack with Plateau and Benue following with 63 and 48 cases respectively, Zamfara-45, FCT-42, Rivers-27, Ondo and Adamawa-26 each. Amongst other states with new COVID-19 cases are Kaduna-22; Edo-18; Ogun-16; Imo-12; Kano-9, Yobe-6, Ekiti-5, Jigawa-4and Osun-2.

Oyo Crisis: NCC Chairman Calls On Makinde To Cancel Foreign Trip

By
Bayo Bernard
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0
Seyi Makinde
Governor Seyi Makinde

By Tosin Olatokunbo

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Adeolu Akande has called on Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state to do something about insecurity in the state before it gets out of hands.

Governor Makinde is on vacation abroad but Akande, who’s also the chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) said the governor must cut short his trip to tackle the problem of insecurity at home.

The PDP chieftain said the people of the state are seriously worried over the activities of kidnappers, herdsmen and thugry. He however urged well meaning residents to join hands with the governor to tackle the problem.

The PDP stalwart, in a statement on Sunday, said the problem the state is facing should receive a bi-partisan approach, noting that the governor cannot solve the problem alone.

Akande said the people of the state are “disturbed by the events of the past few weeks in Oyo State. While Ibarapaland, which used to be very peaceful, has become a haven for kidnappers to operate and assassins to kill, gang wars have not been abated in Ibadan and Oyo,” he said.

“In Okeogun and Ogbomoso, the stories are not different. It is now one day, many crimes. Like I said in my Christmas message to the people of our dear state, insecurity has assumed an alarming rate. It is neither time to blame anybody or fold our arms because of our political leanings and watch things degenerate. There is no doubt that Governor Seyi Makinde needs help and we have got to support him with whatever we have.

“In the present situation we have found ourselves, nothing can thrive and the state, especially its residents are bound to be at the receiving end. When there is insecurity, job owners flee and this will lead to job loss and dwindling IGR. This will lead to more insecurity as many jobless individuals may consider kidnapping and other vices lucrative to survive.

He applaud the governor for purchasing vehicles and platforms for the state security outfits to combat the menace, adding that the officials of various security bodies need to be well trained to face the rising wave of insecurity.

He said “Yes, Governor Makinde has purchased vehicles and distributed to various security outfits across the state. It is beyond that. They need equipment, they need motivation from both government and the governed, they need training and retraining and more.

“ It is sad that despite the fact that our governor has more than five former police commissioners as advisers, insecurity is rearing its ugly head. I am sure Governor Makinde has not made good use of our friend and former Lagos police commissioner, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, a super cop who led the flushing of the dreaded Badoo boys in Lagos.

“To those of us in the opposition, it is time we dropped our political toga and offer advise to the incumbent administration. Let’s deploy our network of connection to assist the administration as we don’t have any other place to call our state other than Oyo State. Governor Seyi Makinde should, as a matter of fact, be receptive to advise and assistance. Anything that is done to tame this insecurity will be to his credit. Nobody is competing with him as it is not yet election time.”

 

Gunmen Kidnap Petrol Dealer In Ekiti |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Kidnappers
Kidnappers

By  Ayodele Oni

Unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted the popular Ekiti petroleum dealer, Alhaji Sulaimon Akinbami.

It was gathered that Akinbami was kidnapped on Sunday night at Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

The State Police Command, in a statement, confirm the incident happened at about 2105hrs, as reported by the wife of the victim one Mrs Mariam Akinbami.

“She came to Odo-Ado Divisional Police Headquarters and reported that her husband, Alhaji Suleiman Akinbami, was kidnapped at the premises of his Petrol Station along Ijan/Ado Road at about 2030hrs on the same date. ”

According to her, four men quietly approached her husband,  ordered him into his Toyota Jeep, and whisked him away.

“Upon receipt of the information, the DPO led his team to the scene but the abductors had  already gone.

“Meanwhile, the Command has deployed a Special Team of Policemen to be assisted by the Amotekun Corp, the Local Hunters and the Vigilantes to comb the bush for possible tracking of the suspects and the release of the victims.

Ekiti Imposes Curfew, Bans Public Gathering Of More Than 20 |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Worried about continued increase in the  number of COVID-19 patients, the Ekiti State Government has imposed a curfew from 8.00 pm to 6.00 am, and has banned all gatherings of more than twenty people in the state until further notice.

These restrictions took effect Monday,  January 11, 2021.

The Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Mr Akinbowale Omole, announced these new guidelines in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, citing the alarming rate at which the second wave of COVID-19 is spreading in Nigeria, and elsewhere as reason for these drastic steps.

He said there was need for the Government  to be proactive and take decisive steps to secure the citizens from falling prey to the second wave of the pandemic that has claimed thousands of lives all over the world recently.

He urged the people to continue to observe the Covid-19 protocols strictly and also abide by the curfew and new restrictions placed on public gatherings by the State Government.

Mr Omole called on the people to ensure that they wear nose masks properly, wash hands with soap and use hand sanitizer regularly, as well as keep social distance to avoid contacting the virus.

According to him, the curfew placed throughout the State from 8.00 pm to 6.00 am will be strictly enforced except for those that can prove that they are on essential services.

“There is also a ban on all public gatherings of more than twenty people while Covid-19 prevention protocol should be strictly observed even in such gatherings.

“To allow faithfuls observe their religious worships, the government allows for two services to take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday accordingly and that all these services should not extend beyond 2.00pm on such days.”

He re-emphasized that all worship centers are expected to provide necessary facilities for hand washing, soap and hand sanitizer at the entrance and infra-red thermometers to take worshippers temperature before they are allowed in for service.

He added that the State Covid-19 Response Committee put in place by the State Government and other relevant enforcement agencies would be going round to ensure compliance with these directives and any person or group of persons caught violating the guidelines put in place to curtail the pandemic in the state will be prosecuted and sanctioned accordingly.

The Commissioner called on all top Government functionaries both at the State and Local Government levels, Local Government Chairmen, Kabiyesis and law enforcement agencies not only to obey Covid prevention protocols themselves, but also to monitor compliance and report any violation to the Covid-19 Response Taskforce promptly.

Omole assured that Government will continue to do all within its power to ensure that this second wave of the pandemic does not have a foothold in the state.

Boko Haram: Shekau Begs For Pardon Says Borno Pastor

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Elusive Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau is in a critical condition, an Anglican clergy based in Bornu, Desmond Yuana has said.

The reverend father disclosed this on the heels of revelation, last month, by a captured fighter, Mohammed Adamu, that the insurgent commander has been wounded in an air raid by the Nigerian Airforce.

Yuana said during a sermon he had a revelation that the boko haram leader’s condition has reached the point of death. Shekau now needs the prayers of all Nigerian to survive his ailment, the clergy man said.

Recall that the teenage boko haram soldier recently said Shekau could no longer walk effectively after being wounded, following an air raid on his hideout in Sambisa forest by the Airforce.

Shekau had recently claimed responsibility for the kidnap of scores of secondary students in Katsina state, last month.

In an audio tape released after the kidnap,  Shekau said: “Our brothers were behind the abduction in Katsina,” even though the state government later debunked the claim, noting that the islamist leader was merely seeking attention.

Shekau has been declared killed by the Nigerian military more than three times. On each occasion, he had debunked such reports, releasing more videos to taunt the Nigerian military.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the nation that the insurgency problem will be over by the end of the year.

The president who spoke on the commemoration of the yearly armed Forces Day celebration, said he has directed the armed forces to end banditry and insurgency in the country.

President Buhari Fails To Extend NDLEA Boss’ Tenure |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah

By Akinwale Kasali

Chairman of the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd), has bid the agency farewell following the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to extend his tenure as the boss of the Agency.

Abdallah was appointed Chairman  of the NDLEA on January 12, 2016.

The Adamawa  State born Abdallah’s tenure as NDLEA boss automatically comes to an end on Monday 11th January, 2021.

On January 7th, 2021, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, wrote a letter to the former NDLEA Boss to hand over to the Secretary of the Enforcement Agency, Shadrach Haruna, on or before, Sunday January 10, 2021.

The letter sent by the SGF, however, cut short the trip of Haruna, who travelled to United Kingdom to hurriedly return to Nigeria, to take the baton from Abdallah.

The failure of President Buhari not to renew the tenure of Abdallah came as a shock to him (Abdallah), who thought his tenure would be extended.

In A Controversial Election, Obiozor Is New Ohaneze Nd’Igbo President |The Source

By
The Source
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Professor George Obiozor

By Charles Igbo

In unarguably the most controversial and most disputed election held to chose the President of the apex Igbo Cultural Group, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor has emerged the President.

But Obiozor’s victory in the election held in Owerri, Imo State, on Sunday,  is dampened by the election on Saturday, by a factional group of Ohaneze, in Enugu, of Engr. Chidi Ibeh, a former Commissioner in Imo State as the factional President.

It is also mired by the withdrawal, in protest, of the some other contestants to the office, including the cerebral Chief Chris Asoluka, PhD, from the contest, pleading irregularities in the process.

Since the search for Chief Nnia Nwodo’s successor began, it has been engulfed in crisis and suspicion, with not a few stakeholders insisting that some people were bent on foisting Prof. Obiozor on the Igbo.

From the Ohaneze constitution, it is the turn of Imo State to produce the President. Obiozor was presented as a consensus candidate, to the disapproval of others who insisted it was a breach of the constitution.

But, apparently, the protest was in vain, as many  stakeholders, including the five state Governors in the South-east, lined up behind Obiozor.

During the election on Sunday, using the option A4 method, Obiozor polled 304 votes to emerge winner.

An erudite Professor of International Affairs,  and respected  diplomat, Obiozor, 78, was Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States of America. He was also the Nigeria High Commissioner to Isreal, as he was to Cyprus. Obiozor was also a former Director General of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, NIIA.

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