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Wike: Ondo Governorship Election Was Sabotaged |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State, Friday morning, gave reasons why his party, the People’s Democratic Party, lost the Ondo State Governorship election.

The Party’s candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, lost to the incumbent Governor and candidate of the APC, Rotimi   Akeredolu, by a margin of about 93,000 votes.

Speaking in an interview on an AIT programme, Wike said the party lost to sabotage within the Party.

He said one of the reasons the PDP lost was because there were members of the party in the state who sabotaged the party during the election.

The party, he said, lost because it went into the  election divided. There was no unity. The party  was not united. Wike said he tried to draw the Party’s attention to the situation.

He disclosed that it was exactly the same situation that he tried hard to avoid in Edo state  during the September 19 election.  In Edo, he said, everybody was brought in. They came together. And worked together.

He said that did not happen in Ondo. Because of the disunity, members of the party, he revealed, worked against the party’s candidate.

When asked if rigging did not contribute to the loss, he was of the view that rigging cannot quite take place where one is not popular. He gave an example with Rivers state saying: “They tried to rig in Rivers, but they did not support because they just couldn’t”.

Sterling Bank Partners Today’s Woman on Health Workers Fund

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

Sterling One Foundation has entered into partnership with Today’s Woman, a magazine of choice for the woman of style to help create awareness all over the world for its Health Worker’s Fund initiative using Giving.ng, a reputable crowd-funding platform.

As part of its annual giving month social initiatives, the magazine has chosen to support the Sterling One Foundation Health Workers Fund project.

The magazine stated that the reasons for the partnership is to acknowledge the fact that there is a need to fight for health workers who are on the frontline battling against the deadly corona virus.

The magazine most  health workers are on a hazard allowance of just N5,000 a month and we believe that they deserved more. They are constantly at risk so we want Nigerians to join us to move this up to N100,000 a month for three months,” the post said.

In their words, “We urge Nigerians to be a part of something bigger. Your N1,000 can go a long way. Think about it, if 10,000 people give N1,000 that would be a massive sum of N100,000,000 and that would mean 1,000 medical workers are sorted. About 111 health workers have benefitted from this fund, and many more still need our help.

You don’t have to be rich or influential to help out or spread the word. They need your help to keep doing what they do.”

 

Kidnappers Release Journalist’s Wife |The Source

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The Source
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Mrs OKoro

By Levi Chidi

Judex Okoro, the Sun newspaper Correspondent in Calabar, the Cross River state capital, has announced the release of his wife, Uduak OKoro, who was kidnapped three days ago by unknown gunmen.

Mrs. Okoro was abducted Tuesday night at Big Qua Town, near Apostolic Church, Calabar Municipal area council.

According to the journalist, his wife was released at 11:30Pm Thursday.

Okoro who is also the Chairman, Correspondents’ Chapel in the state said: “My wife has been released. She was released around 11:30pm on Thursday night”.

Speaking further, he said: “I thank Cross Riverians, my kinsmen and the NUJ for their solidarity. My wife was released unhurt”.

Though Okoro was silent as to how his wife regained her freedom, a credible source told this Magazine that she was released in an undisclosed location in Calabar South local government area, described as haven for criminals, after an undisclosed amount of money was paid as ransom.

Petroleum Minister, Stakeholders Meet On Nigeria’s Oil Future |The Source

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Bayo Bernard

The Minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Silva will headline a stakeholders’ webinar next week, organized by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, to fashion out way forward for the nation’s oil and gas sector, post COVID 19.

The theme of the event expected to draw big stakeholders from the oil and gas sector and beyond is” Perspectives of Operators and Industry Experts Post-COVID-19.

 Key players across the entire oil and gas value chain are expected to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sector as well as its reactions to global trends, government policies, funding dynamics, key challenges and potential shifts

Apart from the minister those expected to attend the event include the Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Dr. Lamido Yuguda, the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, apart from  It will key players in the sectors, from Nigeria and abroad who have been lined up for the august event.

They will analyse global trends and insights that will shape the future of the Nigerian oil & gas sector, provide recommendations for policymakers, and identify opportunities for long-term growth and expansion, the organizers of the webinar said.

Speaking about the webinar, Onyema, OON said, “The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt across diverse industries globally and the oil and gas industry is no exception.

“Today, the COVID-19 crisis has accelerated what was already shaping up to be one of the industry’s most transformative moments, the impacts of which will likely be felt throughout oil’s global supply chains and ripple into other parts of the energy sector.

“ Nonetheless, oil and gas will remain a multi-trillion-dollar market for decades given its role in supplying affordable energy.

“The question of how to create value in the new normal is therefore fundamental and one that we hope to discuss in this webinar. We envision that the insights gathered at the forum will lead to actionable solutions that can chart a more sustainable future for the oil and gas sector.”

 

State of the Nation: Speaker Warns of Imminent Collapse |The Source

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has disclosed that the 1999 Constitution is responsible for the myriads of problems facing the country, calling for a new constitution to be written.

Gbajabiamila, who spoke during the inauguration of the house ad hoc committee on constitution review in Abuja on Thursday, Gbajabiamila stated that Nigerians are suffering and much needed to be done by the government to ameliorate the pains, and save the country from imminent collapse.

“Many of our development questions lies in the pages of a new Nigerian constitution, ” the lawmaker representing Surulere, Lagos Constituency 2 said on Thursday, adding that the authorities must act now for the survival of the country.

He said “When you ask me what the state of our nation is, the honest answer is this: we are in a fight for the very survival of our country and the continuation of the Nigerian project.

“Recent global developments have exposed all our systemic weaknesses so that we can no longer pretend to ourselves that things are on an even keel and slow progress is enough to get us to where we ought to be yet are still so far away from.

“This ninth house of representatives has since committed to the cause of reform. Our commitment must neither waver nor wane on the matter of thoughtful and fair overhaul of our nation’s constitution.”

The speaker called on the political class to save the country from total collapse.

“The reality of our current circumstances and the now certain knowledge that only us can save ourselves imposes on us an obligation to act with greater determination and all the urgency this moment calls for.”

Gbajabiamila spoke on the heels of clamour, by different groups across the country for the country to be reformed.

Fayemi Praises Predecessor, Fayose, Commissions Ultramodern Market, Asphalt Plant |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The age-long Ultramodern Market in Ado Ekiti was commissioned by Governor Kayode Fayemi, on Thursday as part of activities marking his second year in office.

The market known locally as “Oja Oba” or “Erekesan” which boasts of modern facilities would boost commerce and other economic activities in the state capital.

The idea for the market was first conceptualized in 2012, during the first tenure of Dr Fayemi, but the construction was started by Mr Ayo Fayose’s administration. It could not be completed before the end of his regime.

Fayemi commended his immediate predecessor, Mr. Ayo Fayose for starting the project which was at 70 per cent completion level at the time the last administration left office, two years ago.

The Governor disclosed that he was determined to complete the project inherited from the immediate past administrations because of his resolve to give priority to abandoned projects, adding that his administration still retained the same contractor engaged by his predecessor.

He explained that the new market was purposely built to benefit the state describing it as “another eloquent testimony of impacting lives and building legacies for the benefit of the people.”

Some of the facilities in the market, according to the Governor, are 234 open shops, 738 lock up shops, two restaurants, two banking halls, two warehouses, a police post, a clinic and an expansive parking lot.

Describing the market as “befitting the state capital, the Governor said it would add to the aesthetics of the city and was part of the fulfilment of his administration’s Urban Renewal policy started during his first term in office.

Dr. Fayemi added that his administration has replicated similar market projects in every local government headquarter in the state to make commerce conducive for buyers and sellers and boost Internally Generated Revenue.

The Governor appealed to traders who still display their wares on the roadside to move into the new market to allow for free flow of traffic and for their personal safety.

“This project was conceived to make trading conducive, I expect our traders who display their wares on the road to move in to decongest our road.

“I enjoin market women to make use of this market and plans are afoot to engage professional facility managers to maintain this market.”

Speaking earlier, Ewi, Oba Adejugbe, said the people of his kingdom would be grateful to Governor Fayemi for keeping his promise to complete the market in view of  the inability of the last administration to hand it over.

The monarch who went philosophical by saying “man proposes but God disposes” said it was by divine arrangement that made Governor Fayemi to complete a the market and hand it over for the use of the people.

The governor, who also inaugurated two of the newly built model colleges, said the schools were put in place to decongest public schools and to open up new settlement in Ado to economic and Infrastructural development.

Dr Fayemi, explained that the model schools which were named after the illustrious sons of the State, Ayo Fasanmi, Prof ‘Banji Akintoye, Prof David Oke and Chief Deji Fasuan were part of the multifaceted efforts put in place to achieve a pupil friendly environment that would encourage enrolment of school age children in the State.

Strike: Aviation Unions Lockout Sirika |The Source

By
Uche Mbah
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Aviation Union Protest

By Uche Mbah

With the #EndSARS  campaign going on,  Aviation Unions, Thursday, began a one day strike to protest non-payment of allowances to their staff. This was after a week notice to the Ministry of Aviation that they are going to embark on a warning  strike to drive home their point.

On Thursday, the Unions prevented the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, from entering the Headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority, FAAN, at Freedom Square, where he was billed to hold town hall meetings with the Union officials and members of the FAAN staff to resolve the impasse.

They shut the gates of the headquarters against the Minister.

The Minister town hall meeting with the unions and members of staff was to resolve the pending issues, but he was prevented from doing so after the gates leading to the Airports Authority headquarters were shut by the unions. He was to address the workers directly instead of negotiating with the Unions.,

Members of  the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), had already upturned seats and disrupted the whole atmosphere singing solidarity songs when the Minister  arrived. The venue was blocked with vehicles locked with padlocks.

The unions were asking for the immediate release of aviation intervention funds, implementation of the national minimum wage, remittance of N105.3 billion actuarial valuation as 2016 to PFA’s, and reparation of 2020 actuarial valuation. Other demands are immediate remittance of all cooperative deductions, immediate payment of child education grant, leave allowance, furniture grant, gratuity Covid-19 palliatives, death benefits other claims.

NUATE President, Ben Nnabue, said they were only embarking on a warning strike:

“This is a warning strike and the Minister cannot come and talk to our workers directly without us. This action is just for today after which we will renegotiate with the management”, he said.

Present at the venue was the Managing Director of FAAN, Captain Rabiu Yadudu and Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA), Captain Musa Nuhu, and other directors of the industry.

An internal memo dated October 8 and titled “Invitation for a Meeting with the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika with ref: FAAN/HA/1A/400/19/Vol 4/39”, signed by the General Manager Administration, MD Musa had avoided the welfare issue, hinging the meeting on the impact of COVID 19 pandemic on the industry.

“It is an interactive session aimed at addressing the prevailing challenges facing FAAN in particular and the aviation industry in general, occasioned by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

“All staff are therefore enjoined to avail themselves of this unique opportunity offered by the honorable minister to present issues bothering their welfare among other challenges, offer suggestions that will move the organization forward.

“The meetings were scheduled to hold in the SouthWest (Lagos) on Monday, October 12, South-South/ South East (Port Harcourt) on Tuesday, October 13th; North Central (Abuja) on Thursday, October 15th and North West/East in Kano on Friday, October 16.’

The unions had urged FAAN staff to boycott the meeting.

Jonathan Consoles Governor Makinde Over Mother’s Death |The Source

By
The Source
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Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan

Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has commiserated with the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, over the passing on of his mother, Chief (Mrs) Abigail Makinde.

In a condolence letter to the Governor and the people of Oyo State, Jonathan prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed and encouraged Makinde to take solace in the fact that his mother was a conscientious woman who led an exemplary life.

In the letter, the former President said: “I am saddened by the news of the passing on of your dear mother which sad event happened on Thursday October 15, 2020.

“Although death is inevitable, the exit of a parent is always a painful experience. Even when God’s grace leads them to a ripe old age, their death elicits a discomforting feeling of loss that leaves grief in the heart of loved ones.

Mama led a life worthy of emulation and contributed her very best to the growth of our society. Her legacies and memory will not be forgotten, having nurtured her children, including Governor Makinde, to become accomplished and reputable citizens of our dear nation.

Your Excellency, I extend my deepest condolences to you and your family over this great loss.”

IGP Warns Officers Against Use Of Force on Protesters |The Source

By
The Source
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Abubakar Mohammed Adamu - IGP

The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, has warned all Police Officers across the country against the use of force on peaceful protesters. The IGP noted that citizens have  fundamental rights of freedom of expression, assembly and movement which must always be upheld and protected by the police.

According to a release by Force Spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba, the IGP  appealed to protesters to, however, continually conduct themselves peacefully and guide their ranks against infiltration by criminal elements.

The IGP stressed that the Force leadership has clearly heard the voice of the people and is irrevocably committed to doing everything within its powers to address the observed ills, punish any offending officers and promote a people-friendly police Force

Group Calls IGP Adamu’s Sack |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

A Group of Nigerian professionals at home and in diaspora, called ‘Fatherland’, with its head office in London, United Kingdom has called for the removal of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu as a first step to rebuild public confidence in the Nigerian Police,

In a statement signed by its President, the Group also called for a comprehensive, citizen-led reform of policing arrangements in the country to give the people proper protection from criminals, in or out of uniform.

“The IG should have resigned. There is a stream of innocent blood flowing across the land under his feet. The proper thing is for him to quit. If he fails, he should be sacked” Fatherland said.

The group applauded protesting youths for their exceptional display of bravery and resilience in the on-going struggle against police brutality.

The group said by the protest the youths have made it clear that they will not tolerate being treated less than citizens and, indeed less than humans, by their own government.

“It is in this same spirit of defending their fundamental rights to human dignity that they have joined others across the world as part of the worldwide Black Lives Matters movement”, the Group said.

Fatherland which recently held an International conference on the future of Nigeria said it is concerned about reports that this administration has, repeatedly, been making public announcements of the disbandment of SARs units within the Nigerian Police Force only to allow them to resurface each time.

Fatherland said it is troubled by images of men of the Nigerian Police Force shooting, with live ammunition, and in some cases killing, unarmed protesters calling for an end to SARS.

There are reports of hundreds missing, usually from police custody.

Fatherland condemned the violent attacks on protesters by the men of the Nigerian Police Force, and their hired thugs, intended to deprive citizens of their right to hold peaceful protests.

It said it believes that the events of the last week have shown that the relationship of trust and confidence that needs to exist between citizens, communities and security agencies has completely broken down.

“This is especially poignant and troubling, against the backdrop of President Buhari’s Independence Day address, in which he called for the citizenry to support government by providing the necessary community level intelligence.”

Fatherland said Buhari’s 60th anniversary celebratory speech said, amongst other things, that as a government, he remains committed to Nigeria’s constitutional oath of securing the lives and properties of the citizenry calling on the citizenry to also support the government by providing the necessary community level intelligence in addressing these challenges.

Fatherland regretted that two days later, on 3rd of October 2020, officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) murdered a 20 year old singer, Daniel Chibuike Ikeaguchi, popularly known as Sleek adding that in another outrage, Ifeoma Abugu, a 20 year old lady, who had just graduated and was performing her mandatory National Youth Service, was arrested in place of her fiance at his residence in Lokogoma, Abuja. Ifeoma was sexually assaulted and later died in SARS custody.

The group recalled that the ENDSARS protests commenced after the video of the musician’s corpse, lying on the road, in Elelenwo, in Rivers State, and a subsequent video of his father crying and seeking justice, went viral.

“The latest round of protests were sparked by a video recording of SARS officers dragging two young men out of a hotel in Lagos and shooting one of them. The call to protest has been answered by Nigerian youths in several states of the federation and echoed by young Nigerians abroad and members of the international community, including many celebrities.”

Fatherland said the viral, week-long, public protest, and the consequential international outrage, led the Inspector General of Police to announce, on Sunday 11th of October, the disbandment of SARS, after which President Buhari then made a statement pledging that the disbanding of SARS as the first step in the commitment to extensive police reforms promising he would ensure that all those responsible for misconducts are brought to justice.

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) is a department within the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Nigerian Police Force. Before the announcement of its disbandment, it existed in all 36 states of the Federation with many states having both State and Federal units.

The group said the unit has evolved into an opportunistic, predatory group targeting hapless citizens for extortions, even as kidnapping, robbery and criminalities escalated across the country. As a result of this brazen practice of extortion, the unit has become a big money spinner for young officers who beg and bribe superiors to be transferred to the anti-robbery unit.

“The unit is now out of control as it has taken to terrorizing the citizenry it was established to protect to the point that its members have become indistinguishable, both in their appearance and conduct, from the armed robbers they were mandated to deal with: Usually casually dressed, heavily armed with visible tattoos, sagged trousers, dreadlocks and visible earrings, they have assumed an identity designed to terrify and intimidate citizens.”

Fatherland said with the regular Nigerian Police Force already notorious for barbaric treatment of citizens manifesting in unlawful arrests and detention, extortion; extra-judicial killings; torture and rape of citizens, the SARS officers have managed to take these pervasive acts to new heights with the bulk of their victims being youths falsely tagged as fraudsters or yahoo -yahoo boys. Reports abound of young men and women being murdered based on totally arbitrary suspicions of them being fraudsters or criminals.

“SARS officers have been reported for framing citizens by planting controlled substances on their person or claiming to have found them in possession of firearms and replacing criminals with innocent individuals, among other heinous activities. Victims of harassment by the men of the SARS have mentioned that the suspicions of the officers are usually borne out of stereotypes and profiling owning phones perceived to be expensive, possession of laptops, driving expensive cars, having dreadlocks and tattoos. Even when persons arrested or accosted are able to explain their source of income and are not found with any incriminating evidence, they are not released. Rather, they are threatened with murder and/or lengthy detention in inhuman detention cells unless they are able to pay huge sums demanded by SARS officers” the group said.

It noted that a cynical pattern has emerged in recent years whenever SARS officers have committed atrocities triggering nationwide condemnation: the federal government and/or the Inspector General of police will simply announce that SARS has been disbanded without any meaningful action taken. Accordingly, the disbandment of SARS has been announced in 2017, 2018, 2019 and now, again, in 2020, only for members of the unit to resurface in different parts of the country continuing with their abuses of Nigerian citizens. In 2018, President Buhari instituted a Panel to investigate allegations of human rights violations by SARS and to recommend reforms but then neglected to implement the recommendations of that Panel.

Fatherland listed some of the  Nigerian youths who have been reported killed or missing in police custody since President Buharis announcement of the disbandment of this terror unit as follows:

Ogbomosho; Jimoh Isiaka – murdered; Mr Akeju Murdered; Ganiyu Moshood Alabi – murdered; Adeoye Taiwo – murdered; Surulere; Treasure Nduka – tortured; Felicia Okpara – tortured; Ikechukwu Ilohamauzo – murdered; Ademola Ojabodu – tortured; Ayorinde Ayinde – undergoing torture; In Benue state : Odido John Obogo – illegally detained; Ahile Shimadoo-Teravese – illegally detained; Ayuhwa Sonter Joseph – illegally detained.

It said the citizens should not become mere statistics but that the government must do justice..The group thanked members of the international community, and Nigerians in the Diaspora, for the concern and support which they have shown for the wellbeing of the youths in Nigeria and calls upon them to keep a close watch on the conduct of the Nigerian authorities.

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