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Ondo Burnt Card Readers: Gov Akeredolu Promises Assistance, Deputy Calls For Probe |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Akeredolu at INEC Burnt office

By Ayodele Oni, Akure

Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo state, Mr Rufus Akeju, has promised that the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) would investigate the cause of the fire incident in its Akure office which burnt over 5,000 card readers.

Akeju, while receiving Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who visited the scene of the incident on Friday, assured that the burnt gadgets would be replaced immediately by the commission.

Card readers are part of vital materials needed for the conduct of the Governorship election slated for October 10 in the state.

The Governor pledged to assist the  commission in replacing some of the burnt gadgets.

While inspecting the scene, he expressed shock at the unwholesome development noting that the fire must have been very serious following offensive smoke still emanating from the scene, sixteen hours after the fire outbreak.

Akeredolu maintained that the replacement of the destroyed gadgets, especially the card readers, would be at great cost, particularly,  in less than a month to the governorship election, hence  the state’s support.

Ondo Burnt Card Readers
Burnt Card Readers

The fire incident which occurred at about 8.30pm Thursday evening, destroyed the two containers where the card readers meant for the conduct of the Governorship election were kept.

In his reaction, Governorship candidate of Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP), and deputy governor of the state, Mr Agboola Ajayi, pointed out that the fire incident coming barely four weeks before the election, should worry every responsible and reasonable citizen of Ondo State.

In a statement by his Chief press secretary, Babatope Okeowo, the Deputy Governor called for the investigation of the incident, submitting  that those culpable should be made to face the wrath of the law.

“The question that readily comes to the mind of reasonable citizens is why did the fire target the store where card readers meant for the election were kept?

“The law enforcement agencies should ask if the intention of those responsible for inferno is to seek the postponement of the election, or the cancellation of the use of Card Readers for accreditation.

“The people of Ondo State are waiting patiently for the outcome of the investigation as they will not tolerate any ploy by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to subvert the wish of the electorate,” he added.

Money Laundering: How Customs, EFCC Intercepted Man With 2,886 ATM Cards On His Way To UAE |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Ishaq Abubakar arrestd by Customs with ATM Cards

By Akinwale Kasali

Ishaq Abubakar never had the premonition that he would ever get arrested.

But he met his waterloo on Thursday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.

The proactiveness and Security intinct of men of the Nigeria Customs  were his nemesis.

Abubakar was traveling to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He concealed 2,886 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and four SIM cards in noodles carton. He had already beaten Security operatives from Kano Airport where he flew in to Lagos to board an Emirates Flight.

The movement of the suspect raised suspicion, forcing a thorough security check on him which exposed him.

A statement signed by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said the suspect, Ishaq Abubakar, was arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and handed over to the EFCC Lagos zonal office, for investigation and prosecution.

The Commission quoted the Customs Deputy Comptroller, Enforcement, Abudulmumuni Bako, as saying the suspect came from Kano State and wanted to travel via an Emirate flight.

“The Cutoms Deputy Comptroller, Enforcement, Abudulmumuni Bako, who represented the Customs Area Comptroller, A. Ma’aji, said that the suspect, who claimed to have come from Kano to travel to Dubai aboard the Emirate Evacuation flight, was seen with someone who was assigned to facilitate his movement through the airport checks.

“Officers of the Customs Service intercepted the suspect with 2,886 ATM cards and four SIM cards, which he carefully concealed in packs of Noodles.

“This raised the suspicion of the officers who insisted he should be physically and thoroughly checked after the scan machine had revealed he was carrying parks (sic) of noodles,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Lagos zonal head, AbdulRasheed Bawa, who received the suspect on behalf of the Commission, assured that the Commission would investigate the suspect and others.

According to him, “We have taken over Ishaq and I can assure you that we are going to investigate the matter thoroughly and unveil everybody involved in the syndicate.

“There are a number of possibilities. There is an element of conspiracy, foreign exchange (FOREX) malpractices and money laundering, which will be unraveled after Investigations”.

Ooni Attacks Tinubu Says APC Leader Is A Power Monger |The Source

By
The Source
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Ooni of Ife and Bola Tinubu

The condition of the highly revered throne of the Ooni of Ife is being variously assessed again after an incident involving the Ooni and Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the coronation of the Oniru of Iru in Lagos became pictorial and video footage report massively circulated on the social media.

The picture and the video footage show the Ooni, in his usual modest disposition to life, pausing to show courtesy to Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the senator returning the courtesy rather uncouthly. Various commentators have taken to the social media to remark the incident from different cultural perspectives. Many have concluded that the Ooni’s humble posture while greeting the senator was rather lowly and unwarranted while many think otherwise. Several others held the opinion that Senator Tinubu was arrogant to have openly disrespected the Ooni.

Yet many applauded the humility of the Ooni and rebuked the senator for acting the lord of the manor in total disregard for the good gesture of the Ooni who, in traditional cultural terms, is his father and leader. The raging controversies surrounding the incident present an opportunity for the present writer to broadly remark public appearances of the Ooni and ways in which the public have been critically receiving the humble dispositions of His Imperial Majesty.

How should the Ooni make public appearance? No answer to this question can be satisfactory given that different circumstances in today’s world would always make different demands on the most ancient throne of the Yoruba people. Recall that gone are the days when the Ooni would live a life of total seclusion and still be able to oversee the affairs of the world placed under his watch. The hermetic universe is long gone! It is the era of modernity with its multifarious complications! It will not surprise if the simple commonsensical logic of the answer snappily offered here would not appeal to those who think the operative techniques of the institution of the Ooni should remain unchanging, the wild sweeping storms of modernity across the globe notwithstanding. Forget about assuaging the curiosity of such people. It won’t work.

Unfortunately, a motely crowd of commentators on the Ooniship stool is constituted of mischief-makers who simply rejoice in creating rumpus and nothing else. Such mischief-makers exist though in a number so infinitesimal but unfortunately as a potent force poised to pollute any environment of reason. This category of people makes the worse kind of abhorrence. And to say the least, it rudely assaults reason to find some Yoruba kings in this kind of category of commentators on the Ooniship stool as events in recent times have shown.

To avoid dealing broadly with proper and improper attitude towards the Ooni because of time and space, let us focus a little on the recent topical incident. Hopefully there will be time and opportunity to address the double-edged subject in greater detail in the future. The following are questions extrapolated from diverse commentaries on the latest incident involving the Ooni and Senator Tinubu: Was the Ooni duly invited to the Oniru’s installation? Must the Ooni be there even if he was duly invited? Why did the Ooni have to greet Senator Tinubu at all? If he must greet the senator, did he have to show him so much respect? Why did Senator Tinubu remain pompously seated as the Ooni greeted him? Has the Ooni not further desecrated the throne by taking bullshit from Senator Tinubu? And many more

In the whole of this, what I see as real issues are two: 1. The sincere concern showed by the scions of Oodua for the sanctity of their most revered stool which Ooni Babatunde Ogunwusi occupies. 2. How the concern showed by the Ooduans is felt and shared by the Ooni. Recall here again that the Ooni holds the position he occupies in trust on behalf of the Oodua people worldwide. Therefore, in the modest opinion of the present writer, Senator Tinubu’s attitude, whether deliberate or not, should not make a topical issue as much as the two issues highlighted if our concern with the safety of our most revered throne will be a serious one. This is because we all know the kind of mess modern-day politicians have always thrown up and how they revel in ignominy, being power-mongers.

As Ben Carson observes, politicians generally are the problem of society. Unfortunately folks have been conditioned to see them as solution to their problems. Nigerian politicians are the worst kind on the planet earth. Then, if we are to list top Nigerian politicians, who would fail to mention Tinubu within the first five. Nigerian politicians are unique for having the penchant to blindly exploit meager resources of the people regardless of the worsening condition of life of the people.

Rather than allow what seems a political bait of Senator Tinubu to attract attention for whatever private or political reason(s), the scions of Oodua who have stood up in defence of the stool of the Ooni should be applauded. The Ooduans should “move forward together” and avoid being distracted by baits of power-mongers and mischief-makers of any kind. It is important to learn from Henry Ford’s dictum: “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself”. The Yoruba need to uphold this philosophy of progress, particularly now.

Happily, before the recent massive defence of the throne of the Ooni, Chief Gani Adam had remarkably recognized the Ooni’s worthiness as father to all Oodua people. The occasion was the special session of Oodua festival 2020 for the Oodua People’s Congress’s members worldwide and Chief Gani Adam’s paying of obeisance as a mark of reverence for the Ooni was a spectacle to behold on the auspicious day. Chief Adam alongside his Oodua People’s Congress’ followership gave Yoruba history a bit of truer and more purposeful orientation. Suffice to say that what we need most especially at his time is more of such culturally and historically correct attitude.

What is being witnessed as reactions to the supposed belittling of the Ooni’s position by Senator Tinubu resonates with two instances of massive opprobrium in defence of the Ooniship stool not too long ago. The first was that of a great multitude of the Yoruba people that greeted the Oba of Lagos’ uncouth public disposition to the same Ooni sometime ago. The other one was that against an immodestly fabricated code of conduct that was supposed to guide how Wasiu Ayinde (the Fuji musician) would show regard to any Yoruba Oba after his controversial installation as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by the Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III. And what was the lie being sold to the public as a traditional code of conduct for the Fuji star? He was never to prostrate for any Yoruba Oba again! The two instances cited ignited the anger of great multitudes of the Yoruba people and served as test cases for the amount of value they attach to their traditional rulership institution. The authors of balderdash in both instances were forced to make quick amend.

From the illustrations here, the Yoruba have been rallying support for the Ooni while the throne has also proved to be a rallying point for the Yoruba across the globe in their bid to ‘move forward together’ in a purposeful manner. But will this trend endure? How can this positive development be sustained? Something tells me prospect for success in this regard would depend on how the Yoruba appreciate Ooni Adeyeye’s adoption of humility as a strategy of fatherly relation across different spheres of life. Many keen observers of Ooni Adeyeye will vouch for his conscious deployment of humility as a strategy of leadership. This is not difficult to know. His kind of humility is an attribute being strangely affixed to the throne of the Ooni. No doubt, Ooni Ogunwusi is an innovator of diverse interests – one driven by single-minded commitment to set goals. As a conscious innovator, he exudes readiness for the burden that goes with being innovative. This burden, in the words of Jeff Bezos, is “the willing[ness] to be misunderstood”. Severally, Ooni Babatunde the son of Ogunwusi of Giesi royal lineage of Ife has been misunderstood. Yet, the humble and amiable surrogate of all gods and goddesses of the Yoruba forges ahead, knowing quitters never win and winners never quits.

Let us strengthen the point being made with a recount of some instances of skepticism marking Ooni Adeyeye’s ascension to the most prestigious throne of the Yoruba. It was speculated that the new Ooni would be a stooge of the influential politician, Senator Tinubu. The speculation was that he would not be able to act in the full capacity of the Ooni, the father of all Yoruba and their kin known by other names both within and outside Nigeria. The reason adduced in reinforcing the speculation was that Ooni Ogunwusi would turn out to be slavishly indebted to the powerful politician whom the speculators believed was instrumental to his ascension to the throne.

But on the contrary, the Ooni has not only proved the speculation wrong but has achieved rare feats and promised lots more within less than five years, all like play like play. I mean in spite of ‘comedy skits’ that a commentator recently pointed out as the Ooni’s major preoccupation, Ooni Ogunwusi has moved mountains and plumbed the wild, all for the good of the Yoruba home and abroad.

The most laudable achievement of Ooni Ogunwusi, in the opinion of the present writer, is his proclivity to rally the Yoruba of all shades, home and abroad, for the unity and progress of their land and country. His impact and investment also cut across diverse areas such as cultural security and promotion, national integration and conflict resolution, international linkages for micro and macro-economic growth, political tolerance in spite of multi-party politics, youth development and empowerment, tourism development and promotion of academic researches, promotion of unity across Yorubaland and beyond, restoration of racial pride through direct diaspora relations, revitalization of valuable traditions, and heritage recovery and safekeeping. Just name it!

No doubt, Ooni Ogunwusi is a trailblazer and this has endeared him to many all over the world. His love for his Yoruba people has earned him his people’s love in multiple folds. This is beautiful story. Unfortunately not everyone enjoys stories laced with melodious tunes. Those who hate happy stories like this prefer the tragic versions. Where providence has not introduced tragic interludes or moments, they force one into it to please their sadistic ego.

Though this writer would not want to make a big issue of Tinubu’s supposed uncouth attitude towards the Ooni, it is discomforting that high profile individuals of Yoruba extraction could be found lacking in basic cultural norms. If those of Oba Akiolu and Senator Tinubu are known today, that the Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has not reciprocated the kind gestures of the Ooni and seems to be on an opposing side to the Ooni may be a pointer to more to come. Can we also pretend there is no ‘cold war’ between the Ooni and Governor Oyetola of Osun State? The connecting line of these oppositions reveals recurrent subterfuge which may mar Yoruba unity that we all have been clamoring for.

Finally, for those who blame the Ooni for being too humble and Tinubu for being very arrogant, my submission is that arrogance is an albatross and humility is not without its own burden. Whoever cares should learn. A leader who does not want to fail would constantly remember: “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other”, says John F. Kennedy.

Signed :

Opa Loogun Osin,

29, Edena Street,

Lafogido,

Ile-Ife.

Ondo: INEC Office Razed, 5,000 Card Readers Destroyed |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
INEC Office

By Ayodele Oni, Akure

A store housing card readers for the October 10 Governorship election in Ondo state, at the office of Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) was razed by fire late Thursday evening.

This is coming less than 30 days to the October 10 Governorship Election.

First hand information revealed that not less than 5,000 card readers, office equipment and forms for the election were razed by the fire.

It was gathered that the fire started around 8.00 pm, after majority of the work force had closed for the day’s job at the large containers’ compartment housing the card readers and other election materials.

Fire fighters, whose office is less than five minutes drive to the Alagbaka office of INEC, were watching helplessly as they lacked equipment to curtail the fire.

The National Commissioner, in charge of Information and Voters Education, Chief Festus Okoye, who has been in Akure for other official engagements and the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Rufus Akeju, described the incident as mysterious, and a setback for the election, which is a month away from now.

They however assured that it will not affect the poll as efforts would be made to replace those items that were destroyed immediately.

Arrest of Anti-Fuel, Electricity Tariffs Hike Protesters Highest Level Of Insensitivity – CNPP |The Source

By
The Source
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Chief Willy Ezugwu

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has described as the highest display of insensitivity to the plight of suffering citizens, the reports of arrest of Nigerians protesting the recent hike in price of petrol and increment in electricity tariffs in parts of the country.

Reacting to news reports that some citizens, including journalists, were hounded into detention by the Police, the CNPP, in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, advised President Muhammadu Buhari to “allow citizens to freely express their displeasure over government policies. That is the only way the government can understand the pains the masses have been bearing all these five years with hope that their lives would be better but have gotten worse.

“How on earth will you send armed policemen to forcefully dispersed protesting members of the public, who are already in agony over COVID-19 lockdown induced economic hardships?

“Even though there have been unprecedented hunger in the land since the last five  years as a result of complicated Nigeria’s economic woes, the lack of adequate COVID-19 palliatives for citizens was painful enough but now arresting these suffering masses who are merely telling the government that their pain is getting too much is insensitivity taken too far.

“The overzealousness of the security agencies could not allow them to distinguish between journalists carrying out their constitutional assignments from the protesting citizens exercising their legitimate rights.

“It is only a draconian government, which is desperate to hide its regime’s  atrocities, that can go this low.

“President Muhammadu Buhari’s admninistration, which should owe Nigerians enough gratitude for keeping faith and bearing the continued maladministration brought upon them by many selfish appointees, is now adding salt to their painful injuries.

“First, the government increased pump price of patrol from N87 to N145 per litre, then it increased Value Added Tax against all protests from 5% to 7.5%, leading to hike in the prices of food and other commodities in the market.

“At the same time came to the novel Coronavirus and the attendant national and international lockdown.

“While governments across the globe is providing palliatives for citizens, businesses and many sectors of their economy to cushion the hardship occasioned by the COVID-19 lockdown, the Nigerian government which claims to have spent over N30 billion in less than three months to fight COVID-19 is increasing fuel price and electricity tariffs simultaneously.

“No sensitive government does that. And to take the insensitivity to the highest new level, the government is arresting citizens for voicing out against the increment in fuel price and electricity tariff”, the CNPP noted.

NASU Breaks, Splinter Group Emerges |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

A splinter group has emerged from the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, (NASU).

It is known as the National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities (NANTSNU).

The pioneer National President of the new association, Mr Niyi Akinibi, in a statement at the end of an emergency meeting at Ile- Ife, explained that the new body was formed in order to allow University workers to have their own union like ASUU, SSANU and NAAT.

According to him, only NASU is not a University based union, as it is an amalgamation of Trade groups from primary and secondary schools, research institutions, teaching hospitals, colleges of education, polytechnics and universities.

Akinibi pointed out that members interest in the University system had been under jeopardy in NASU because the leadership of the union is not made up of workers in the University system.

“Those at the helm of affairs in NASU Headquarters lack the understanding of the system and the attendants predicaments it poses to members.

The statement reads, “We sincerely welcome you to National Association of Non- Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities (NANTSNU) platform. The decision to open this platform arose on the need to keep you informed on the reasons why we need to have our own University based Union like ASUU, SSANU and NAAT.

“You would agree with us that of all the Unions we have currently in the University system in Nigeria, only NASU is not a University based Union.

“Taking you through history, SSANU and NAAT were part of NASU in years back, but they left to form their own university based union because of the inconveniences posed to them in the system by their marriage.

“The time has come for us too to take a decisive decision about our future in the university system as we cannot continue to subscribe to a union that does not solely belong to our system.

“A number of issues which bothered on our continued existence in the university system are begging for solutions and answers because those at the helms of affairs are not part of us in the university system.

”Those at the helms of affairs in NASU Headquarters are only interested in our check off dues while our welfare and interest are left unattended to”.

Akinibi added that NASU has been personalised, saying it has become a one-man show being run like a family entity.

The statement added,  “There is high level of official rascality and corruption in NASU Secretariat.

“NASU is being run like a sole proprietorship as our employee-General Secretary, Mr. Peters Adeyemi,  has taken over the Union as his personal estate.

“NASU Employee-General Secretary, Mr. Peters Adeyemi, is perpetuating himself in office as life General Secretary of the Union having spent over 35 years as General Secretary.

Our Employee-General Secretary has clandestinely made 70 years as his retirement age when all NASU members would retire at 65 years.

“Since his assumption of office as General Secretary of NASU over 35 years ago, his renumeration has been personalised and shrouded in secrecy”.

Tension In Ondo Community, As Politician Is Hacked To Death |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Idanre community, Ondo State

By Ayodele Oni, Akure

Palpable fear has enveloped Idanre community, Ondo State, following the gruesome murder of a politician, who is a member of Zenith Labour Party, (ZLP) by yet to be identified assailants.

The incident led to the disruption of business and social activities in the community, on Thursday, when the news spread as residents trooped to the streets protesting the gruesome killing of the young man, simply identified as Taye.

Idanre is the country home of the Chairman of APC in the state, Mr Ade Adetimehin.

The incident, according to reports, happened late on Wednesday at Alade area of Idanre when alleged some suspected members of APC, allegedly led by one Sunday Ogundiroyo (Aka Agarahu) and Bola Akinniranye, invaded the community.

Taye’s murder has triggered political tension in Idanre and neighbouring communities as protesters made bonfires at different points on the major roads leading to the local government headquarters.

Sources revealed that the deceased was trailed to Alade area of Idanre by his killers, and brutally hacked to death.

An eye witness account, which was corroborated by the Police , claimed that “the deceased (Taye) was attacked and killed at Alade on Wednesday,  around 9:00 pm, and those who led the thugs to perpetrate the crime have ran for cover, but we have declared them wanted.

“When has it become a crime to be a member of an opposition party in this state? These sponsored thugs killed the man because he simply put on the face cap of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and was our main supporter in the community.

“The body of Taye has been deposited at the General Hospital in Idanre, and the police have begun  investigations into his killing.”

Mr. Ademehintoye Claudus, the Chairman of the ZLP in Idanre, who confirmed the incident, alleged that the thugs who killed Taye were sponsored by some chieftains of the APC who had been attacking members of the opposition parties in the Idanre community.

He said: “Taye was killed by the APC thugs yesterday because he was canvassing support for the ZLP being a member of our party.

“And what happened has also confirmed that the APC is calling for war in this election because members have been attacking us unchallenged.

“In fact, the party has broken the peace accord reached at the palace of the Monarch of Idanre with other political parties ahead of this contest.

“We have appealed to our members and supporters to remain calm even in the face of this provocation and asked them not to take laws into their own hands.”

The ZLP Chairman disclosed that they have informed the security operatives about the killing, adding that his party would seek justice for the deceased.

The Director of Media and Publicity of the APC in the state,  Steve Otaloro, when contacted claimed he was not aware of the incident, and promised to react after getting details of the incident.

Confirming the killing, the Public Relations Officer for the state Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police Teo-Leo Ìkorò said “There was political skirmish last night in Idanre during which one person was killed. It was a mob action.

“A detachment of Policemen has been sent to the town to maintain law and order.

“Investigation has commenced with intention to arrest the culprits involved in the incident.”

The Ondo State Governorship election is scheduled for October 10.

Ondo: Why Opposition Assembly Lawmakers Locked Out Of Plenary |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni, Akure

Ondo State House of Assembly is becoming a theatre of sort where various plays are acted, some of which have called the integrity of the Members to question.

Early this week, it was an invasion by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW), that took the law into their hands by preventing some Assembly members entry into the premises.

Before the dust raised by the denial of some Lawmakers, tagged anti- impeachment members, brand new cars by the executive arm, the leadership of the house again on Thursday locked out some Lawmakers.

Those that were prevented from participating in the business of the House are members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).

They include Festus Akingbaso and Rasheed Elegbeleye from Akoko north east and Idanre constituencies respectively.

As at the time the video showing the experience of the parliamentarians went viral, the leadership could not give any reason for denying the Lawmakers their right to take part in the day’s proceeding.

According to the viral video, the duo had arrived at the gate but were prevented from entering by security men.

The drama was revealed in a one minute, 30 seconds video.

In the video, the two lawmakers were seen making frantic effort to enter but were blocked by policemen at the gate.

The security guard claimed he was acting on the orders of the Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oloyeloogun.

One of the lawmakers put a call through to the speaker, Mr Bamidele Oloyeloogun, informing him about what happened at the gate,  yet the gate was not opened for them .

One of the aggrieved Lawmakers , Mr Elegbeleye, confirmed the video and said it was a deliberate act to shut them out.

“We were invited by the parliamentary secretary for the plenary session but on getting to the gate of the Assembly, it was locked, and the gatemen ran away. We were surprised about this, after all, we are not suspended, even those suspended have been reinstated by the court.

“So, we called the speaker he did not pick, we went back to our houses,  and on our way back, the speaker called us pretending to be unaware of our being locked out , but we did not return to the House”

The spokesman of the Assembly, Mr Gbenga Omole, said the Lawmakers were mischievous about the whole scenario, maintaining that no Lawmaker was locked out of the Assembly complex.

“These lazy Lawmakers are aware we are going on recess today, and they just wanted to make some noise as usual. Four Days ago, they claimed thugs prevented them. Today they said they were locked out.

“In the video, you can hear that they received the notice to attend Plenary. So, if they were officially informed and invited, how can they be locked out again, is that not contradictory?

The Ondo House of Assembly has been in crisis since some of them voted against the  impeachment of Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi.

Ajayi resigned from the APC without quitting the office of the Deputy Governor.

He defected to the PDP, with the strong belief that he would that HE would be announced the Governorship candidate. When he failed, he defected to the ZLP, and easily for annointed as the candidate without going through the Primary. Surprisingly, no member of the Assembly has joined him in the ZLP.

Nigerians Dumping Cheques for e-Transactions, Says NIBSS |The Source

By
Uche Mbah
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0
NIBSS

By Uche Mbah

Nigerians are gradually dumping the cheque system for online payment system in financial transactions as the data on cheque clearing through the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) is on continuous decline in favor of the e-banking system.

The NIBSS said cheque clearing for August 2020 stood at 392.965, a 34.23 percent fall,  compared with 587.515 volume of check cleared in the same period of last year. In 2018 it was even lower:  685.571 cheques cleared a decline of 42.68% from what was cleared in the same period of August 2020.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday published data showing  that 2,160,436,659 transactions valued at N263.78 trillion were done between April  and June this year.  Cheques transactions within the first three months of 2020 stood at 6,445,511 with a total value of N4.84 trillion.

Online transactions became more pronounced due to the influence of the lockdown, occasioned by the COVID 19 pandemic, and many Nigerians opted for international payments of their online business. It is estimated that a greater percentage of those who still use cheques are the elderly who are still steeped in analogue banking. Also, many Banking halls were closed during the lockdown.

In the first quarter of 2020, a total volume of 56,777,363 worth N67.48 trillion was transferred through NEFT, while in the second quarter, a total of 40,939,113 valued at N59.55 trillion was transferred.

This indicated that e-commerce, which the CBN has been trying to enforce through various policies, has been accelerated by COVID 19.

CBN has been trying to discourage cash transactions since 2014.

But Nigeria is still more of a cash-driven society due to the level of internet penetration among Nigerians, which is tied to poverty and literacy levels. But it may decline in anticipation of the often announced recession after the pandemic.

Nigeria’s economy had contracted 6.10 percent in the second quarter of 2020 from 1.87 percent growth in the first quarter of the year.

NUC Approves Take-off of Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences |The Source

By
The Source
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0
Imo State Univeristy of Agric

Imo State has become a proud owner of another University, making it two, when added to the Imo State University, IMSU.  

The Nigerian University Commission (NUC) has just approved the take off of the Imo State University for Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in October this year.

The approval underscores the efforts which the Imo State government made towards the establishment of a second university for the state.

 The NUC panel was recently in Imo State to carry out the necessary verification exercises on the state of the facilities, human and physical infrastructures.

The cheery news was communicated to reporters at the end of the weekly Executive Council Meeting at the Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri presided over by  Governor Uzodimma.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Declan Emelumba flanked by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Bernard Ikegwuoha, Commissioner for Health Dr. Damaris Osunkwo and the Chief Press Secretary/ Media Adviser to the Governor Mr. Oguwike Nwachuku, informed Journalists  that the  Executive Council is happy that something new is happening in the Education sector of the State.

Emelumba said that the Imo State University of Science and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo will take off by October when other universities would be resuming for a new academic session.

In the same vein, he informed that the Council has approved the immediate relocation of the Faculty of Engineering Imo State University, Owerri, to its permanent site at Okigwe, stressing that Government has put all processes and facilities on ground to ensure the immediate take–off of the faculty.

The Council also approved the construction of a modern Abattoir in Okigwe aimed at ensuring the hygienic processing of poultry  and other forms of meat as well as acquisition  of the Federal Government Silo and steps taken towards completing the project and making it functional.

The Commissioner also informed that in a bid to reduce the impact of community spread of Covid-19 in the rural areas of Imo State, the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) is in the 27 Local Government Areas of the State testing people for Covid-19.

 He said, so far, they have carried out reasonable number of testing in Njaba Local Government Area and reported that all those tested came out negative, and that Council prayed that the result from other Local Government Areas will be the same.

Emelumba said that the Council also approved the enactment of the law on Agricultural Agencies to help in facilitating Agricultural development in Imo State. Another Law is in the offing that will make Imo Housing Corporation effective and efficient in the provision of affordable houses for formal and informal sector, including civil servants. The laws, the government said, will soon be submitted to Imo State House of Assembly.

Council equally applauded Governor Uzodimma for inaugurating a strong Governing Board for the Imo State University that will move the institution to the next level considering the men and women of integrity that make up the Council.

Council, Emelumba noted, approved that the land provided for the residential purposed for Judges at Onitsha Road which has been encumbered by illegal occupants should be retrieved immediately and where possible, revoke the C-of-O given to those who have traded it out in exchange, as Government is determined to provide affordable houses for Judges.

The Commissioner for Information finally explained that the Council also approved the change of the State Ministry of Technology Development to Ministry of Science and Technology in line with its sister Ministry at the National level.

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