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“For 27 Days, I Ate Leftover Food, Was kicked Around, Stripped To My Pants, Neither Brushed Teeth Nor Took  Bath” – Abducted Anglican Archbishop

By
The Source
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Most Rev'd Professor Godwin Okpala

By Charles Igbo

Says “Nobody has visited me since I was released except Peter Obi

An Anglican Archbishop, His Grace, the Most Rev. Godwin Okpala, has narrated his hellish experience in the hands of kidnappers. He described what he went through as hellish and traumatic – something he would never wish on anybody. Those who kidnapped him, he concluded, were no human beings.

The revered retired Archbishop of the Anglican Communion, who was given a National Honour – Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON – by President Goodluck Jonathan, said his abductors had no respect for his status as a Cleric or his age. He said that even though they knew his status as a Bishop because he was in his cassock and collar, it did not bother them. They stripped him to his pants all through. They kicked him and treated like thrash all through. For the period he was in captivity, he never brushed his teeth, or took his bath. He fed on leftovers.

Mercifully, the Archbishop who spent both Christmas and New Year with his abductors was released on January 3, 2024, alongside his driver.

He seems in a better frame of mind now, and strong enough, which is why he was able to tell the story of his harrowing experience to Peter Obi, former Anambra State Governor, and the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party  when Obi paid him a solidarity visit at his Nnewi residence. Full of thanks to God for his release while he  received Obi, the Archbishop, surprisingly, revealed that since his freedom on January 3, nobody had visited him except Obi, not even the Governor of his State,  Anambra, Professor Charles Soludo, in whose domain he was kidnapped.

Okpala’s story:

“Throughout my stay, I never took a bath, brushed my teeth, or wore anything other than my pants.

“Those 27 days were hellish because the people were not behaving like human beings. They kicked us about like thrash.

“They kept us in a very thick forest and none of them cared.

“I was in my cassock and they knew that I was a Bishop, but they didn’t care. They pulled down my cassock, asked me to undress and I had only shorts, a shirt and my collar on.

“For the 27 days that I was with them, I didn’t take my bath, I didn’t brush my teeth. They were giving me water which I don’t know the source.

“They were giving me one meal a day and it was either rice or garri. The food was usually remnants from those they gave to boys who worked with them.

They have cooks who prepared food there.”

Appreciating Obi, Archbishop Okpala thanked him for having time to visit him, explaining that none other had extended the courtesy of a visit to him since his release.

Okpala: ”Since my return from the kidnappers’ den, no one has visited me until now”.

“Obi has, again, shown the humanity in him. I’m not the first person he is coming to see in this manner. I want to say thank you to Peter Obi who came to visit me after my travails.”

On same Thursday of Obi’s visit, the Nnewi Catholic Diocese on Thursday buried  Rev. Fr. Tobias Okonkwo, a Pharmacist and native Nnewi South Local Government Area. Okonkwo

was murdered on 26th December in Ihiala by yet to be arrested gunmen.The murdered Priest was the Manager of the Schools of Nursing, Midwifery, and Medical Laboratory at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Ihiala, Anambra State.

First Bank: Otudeko, Others Allegedly Stole N20bn; To Appear In Court

By
James Orji
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Oba Otudeko and Bisi Onasanya

Barring any last minute change, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is set to  arraign Oba Otudeko, a former Chairman of First Bank Holdings, FBNH and former Managing Director of First Bank, FBN, Bisi Onasanya over an alleged multi-billion naira fraud.

The EFCC claimed in a court document released to journalists on Thursday that Otudeko and Onasanya committed the alleged offences between 2013 and 2014 while they held sway at Nigeria’s premier commercial bank as directors.

The alleged fraud close to N20 billion , according to the court documents, was committed in tranches of N5.2billion, N6.2billion, N6.150billion, N1.5billion and N500million.

Other former employees to be arraigned alongside the former FBN top guns are Soji Akintayo and a firm said to be owned by Otudeko, Anchorage Leisure Limited.

According to the anti-graft agency, the accused will be arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the federal high court, Lagos on a 13-counrt charge on Monday January 20.

In the case file no FHC/L/20C/2025 by the counsel to the agency Bilikisu Buhari, the anti-graft agency accused the defendants of committing the alleged offence in contravention of various sections of the Anti-graft Act.

For instance, the agency accused Otudeko and others of obtaining the huge sums from the commercial under false pretence knowing full well that their actions contravened various Sections of the EFCC Act.

Count 1 accused Otudeko and others of obtaining “the sum of N12.3Billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for by V-TECH DYNAMIC LINKS LIMITED and Stallion Nigeria Limited, which representation you know to be false.”

In Count 2, it was alleged that the defendants, on or about 26th day of November, 2013 in Lagos, “obtained the sum of N5.2 Billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for by V TECH DYNAMIC LINKS LIMITED which representation you know to be false.”

The defendants,the EFCC said in Count 3 to have between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos, obtained N6.2billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for and disbursed to Stallion Nigeria Limited, which representation you know to be false.”

In the 4th count, they were accused of conspiring to spend the N6.15billion, out of the monies.

According to the Commission, the offences contravened Section 8(a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and was punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

Counts 5 and 6 read: “That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about 11th day of December, 2013 in Lagos, procured Honeywell Flour Mills Plc to retain the sum of N1,5 Billion, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: Obtaining by False Pretense and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(c), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

“That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO, AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about 17th day of December, 2013 in Lagos, converted to the use of Honeywell Flour Mills Pic the sum of N500 Million Naira Only which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: Obtaining by False Pretense and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2 (b)) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.””

Other charges are as follows: “Count 7. That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September, 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: uttering a forged document – titled “Letter of Application” with intent that it may be used by the First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Links Dynamic Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of same Act.

“COUNT 8: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September, 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court uttered a forged document titled “Letter of Application” with intent that it may be used by the First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Dynamic Links Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2)(c) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under same Act.

“COUNT 9 That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September, 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: making false document titled “AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE TO FIRST BANK” with intent that it may be used by First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Links Dynamic Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of same Act.

“COUNT 10: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September, 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court made a forged document titled “AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE TO FIRST BANK” with Intent that it may be used by the First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Links Dynamic Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under same Act.

“COUNT 11: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO AND STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA on or about 31st day of October, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured Abiodun Olatunji and Raymond Eze to transfer the sum of N6,200,000,000 (Six Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira Only), to STALLION NIGERIA LIMITED’s account number “2015708429” domiciled with First Bank, which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: Fraudulent False Accounting and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (c) and 15(2 (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

“COUNT 12: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO AND STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA on or about 11th day of December, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured Abiodun Olatunji and Raymond Eze to transfer the sum of N2, 090, 000,000 (Two Billion, Ninety Million Naira Only), from STALLION NIGERIA LIMITED’s account number “2015708429” domiciled with First bank, to Emmerado Logistics Limited’s account number “0688985010” domiciled with First City Monument Bank, which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: Fraudulent False Accounting and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (c) and 15(2 (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

“COUNT 13: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO on or about 3rd day of September, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst being the Chairman of First bank Plc indirectly had personal interest in a loan facility sought for by V Tech Dynamics Links Limited in the sum of N6,150,000,000.00 (Six Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only), which interest was not declared to the Bank and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(1) BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ACT 2004 and punishable under Section 18(2) of same Act.

OPINION: Trump, Again….

By
The Source
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Azu Ishiekwene
Mr Azu Ishiekwene

By Azu Ishiekwene

On the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 45th President of the U.S., on January 19, 2017, I wrote an article I could easily write now. It was entitled “A Memory of America on Obama’s Last Day.” With minor edits, it’s worth repeating as Trump happens again as the 47th President of the U.S.

Only exceptionalism could have offered that opportunity. Only exceptionalism could produce a Barack Obama and, eight years later,bring forth a Donald Trump—one neoliberal and the other a neo-anything-is-possible.

The peculiar aspect of the U.S. is that everything is extraordinary. If any doubt remains, the election of Donald J. Trump, who takes office on Friday as the 45th President of the United States of America, resolves the matter.

Everything about Trump is unsettlingly peculiar. He has weakened his party, exploited voters’ most basic instincts, ignored the media, and mocked U.S. allies. Nonetheless, he has secured a victory that has made him even more powerful and audacious. Everyone else, including the party and the nation, seems weaker, more bewildered, and divided.

In Trump versus the rest of the world, Trump is the indescribable enigma. The rest are demystified and stranded.

Donald Trump
Donald Trump

As the new Trump world order emerges, exceptionalism – once a distinctly American concept – assumes a different significance. I grappled with that word when I first encountered it from my lecturer, Ayo Akinbobola, many years ago in school.

Exceptionalism. How do I explain it? It’s that special quality for which most people love America; the idea that you can become whatever you wish to be, whoever you are, regardless of your background; that through hard work, persistence, and innovation, you can attain grace from grass; that America is the only place on earth that confronts its diversity with courage, not shying away from its own worst demons; that America is a land of both genius and demagogue, each pursuing theirpath, but within a system that also strives to protect the weak and vulnerable while, some would add, paradoxically creating its own weak and vulnerable.

I learned from my US-trained teachers in school and saw from the cowboy movies I watched growing up that this made America unique.

My first American friends embodied the generosity of spirit I had always heard about. Melvin and Paula Baker, whom my family and I met during a holiday in Florida over ten years ago, have consistently treated us like family, offering themselves and everything they have at our disposal whenever we visit.

Melvin and Paula are white, but colour or creed has never been a concern—whether we or they are visiting. Occasionally, I’m amused to see them sweating over a meal of peppersoup, even when it contains the mildest spices.

America is exceptional not because it is perfect but because, despite its flaws, people like Melvin and Paula made it extraordinary.

Then 9/11 happened. Fear took hold, and exceptionalism faced its most significant test since Vietnam. The political elite and the military leaders started a catastrophic war in Iraq by dressing up fear and suspicion as facts.

That changed everything. Al-Queda, the Taliban, ISIL and other terror franchises around the world were born by the mother of all wars from which America and the world have not recovered.

I felt the change around this time seven years ago when I visited the U.S. before Christmas. A young Nigerian man, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, had planted a bomb in his pants to bring down a commercial plane over Detroit. Coming at America’s vulnerable moment, there was a severe backlash from that incident.

During my visit in January 2010, many U.S. airports and border posts opened a black book for Nigerian travellers. The intrusive body searches at these airports and the cold, hostile stares at non-whites left me in no doubt that something was changing in America.

But Barack Obama’s election was supposed to halt the tide; it was supposed to send a message that America had not wholly forsaken exceptionalism, that if a black guy with a funny Muslim-sounding name could become president in America, you could be what you want to be – no matter who you are – if you work at it.

That’s Obama’s story, which he calls “the audacity of hope.” How else could someone born to a Kenyan father and raised by an Indonesian stepfather become a senator and then the 44th president of the United States?

Yet, some say that it is precisely this exceptional quality that is the trouble with America. They say it is exceptionalism that produced an Obama who is not black enough to meet black expectations, not white enough to be accepted by whites, and not brown enough to attract the sympathy of those inbetween.

Evangelicals regard him as the anti-Christ for endorsing stem cell research and despise him for his lateremarkson gay rights. Millions of Nigerians will also not forgive him for never once visiting the world’s most populous black nationduringhis eight years inoffice,opting instead to throw stones from Ghana, the country’s backyard.

It’s a deep bucket, but who can deny that America’s exceptionalism produced a miracle that Martin Luther King could only dream of?

Eight years ago today, America was on its knees, broken by a catastrophic terror war and greedy Wall Street.

Globalisation was also taking its toll and would become a significant factor in U.S. politics. To think that this was the moment when the country elected its first black president –when the lines of failure seemed to have fallen in the most unpleasant places – is hard to imagine now.

But it happened, and Obama made the most of his lemons. In several ways, he’s leaving America better than he foundit: jobs growing, the country cured of its addiction to oil, its economy in better shape, and its youth unleashed and innovating.

Obama is leaving without the scars of scandals that marred many of his predecessors. The dignity of his office is intact.

Only exceptionalism could have provided that chance. Only exceptionalism could produce an Obama and eight years later produce a Trump – the one neo-liberal and the other neo-anything-is-possible.

In the days ahead, no one is exactly sure what to expect – not pollsters, pundits, or even members of Trump’s cabinet. But we’ll see, one tweet at a time, just what is left of what has made America exceptional.

Ishiekwene is Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the book Writing for Media and Monetising It.

PDP Rejects Sack Of South East National Vice Chairman, Odefa

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Chief Ali Odefa

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday, January, 16, 2025, declared as null and void, the  purported removal from office of its South-east Zone National Vice Chairman, Chief Ali Odefa.

The Source reports that late 2024, some acclaimed stakeholders and chieftains  of the party in Ebonyi state, had announced the suspension and later, the expulsion of Odifa both from his office ,and as a member of the Party, citing alleged anti-party activities as a major reason.

The expulsion followed a  purported High Court ruling affirming the ealier suspension efforts .

The Ebonyi State Chapter proceeded  to replace him. with Goodluck Egwu .

But in a statement  issued by the National Spokesperson for the party, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP noted that the exercise, as  carried out by a the stakeholders, is not in agreement with the Constitution of the party .

According to him, going by the provisions of relevant sections of the PDP constitution, the State Working Committees, SWC, are not empowered to effect suspension, expulsion or any other disciplinary actions against a member of the National Executive Council NEC, of which Chief Odifa is one.

He noted that any disciplinary measures against such category of members must be approved by the NWC in line with the constitution of the Party

“The attention of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has been drawn to the purported removal, from office, of Chief Ali Odefa, as the National Vice Chairman, South East of our great party.

“The NWC categorically declares the purported removal of Chief Ali Odefa, and claimed replacement with another party member, Hon Goodluck Chidiebere Egwu, as null and void and of no effect, not being consistent with provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017) and laid down Rules of our great party.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no State Working Committee has the power whatsoever to expel, suspend or take any disciplinary action against a National Vice Chairman being a member of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party without due recourse to the NWC as provided by the constitution of the PDP.

For emphasis, section 57(7) of the Constitution of the PDP is clear in providing  that: “Notwithstanding, any other provision relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level, except the National Executive Committee, shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, Deputy Governors or members of the National Assembly”, part of the statement reads.

Convoy Attack: MAPOLY Students Demand Apology From Ogun Deputy Governor

By
Akinwale Kasali
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MAPOLY Students protest

By Akinwale Kasali

Students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State, have given a 24-hour ultimatum to Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Deputy Governor of Ogun State, to publicly apologize over the shooting by Security Operatives on the Students following the protest against the hike of tuition fee and the dissolution of the Student Union Government, SUG.

It would be recalled that on Wednesday, there was a violent clash between students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and Security Operatives attached to the convoy of the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Salako-Oyedele.

The Students were reported to have marched to the Governor Dapo Abiodun’s Office when the clash happened in the OPIC area of Oke Ilewo.

At a press briefing on Thursday, Francis Adeyanju, the Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Ogun Joint Campus Committee, asked the State Governor to thoroughly investigate the alleged shooting of protesting students by the Security Operatives.

Adeyanju said the claim by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, that the students attacked the convoy was inaccurate and false.

He said Akinmade’s statement on the incident was a deliberate attempt to give the students a bad name.

Contrary to the claim that the protesting students broke into the Deputy Governor’s convoy and attacked her with cudgels and other dangerous weapons, the student leader said it was the Security Operatives attached to the convoy that opened fire on the students.

Adeyanju said:

“The students, who were on their way to the Governor’s Office in Oke Mosan to present their grievances met the convoy of the Deputy Governor at Oke Ilewo and never surged towards her.

“Rather, they were singing and chanting the Aluta songs to let the Deputy Governor also know their predicament.

“Alas! The show of love and respect for the Deputy Governor by the students was misconstrued by the overzealous and trigger-happy security in her convoy who, instead of observing the situation properly, decided to open fire on the defenceless students.

“The first shot fired grazed the arm of a NANS Leader, while others scampered for safety.

“Having realized their folly, however, the convoy quickly made a U-turn. Nevertheless, gunshots continued to rend the air. It was the God Almighty who protected the students from lethal assault by these security operatives.

“We have video evidence and tell-tale signs to back our assertions. Onlookers who witnessed the event at Oke Ilewo yesterday can also testify to this.

“In fact, some of the vehicles in the convoy were damaged as they hit one another when the drivers were trying to make a detour after the security details fired volleys of live bullets at the students.”

Adeyanju who spoke on behalf of other Students demanded an unreserved apology from the Deputy Governor and a retraction of the alleged falsehood peddled against the students over the incident.

“We hereby, demand an apology from the Deputy Governor as well as retraction of falsehood  against the NANS, by her office, within 24 hours.”

According to him, failure to comply with their demands would lead to massive student protests in the State.

“Failure to comply with our demands, the NANS in Ogun State will mobilize en masse, students across the six zones of the apex student body and march in protest against the injustice, unwarranted and unprovoked attacks on students on peaceful protest by the convoy of the Deputy governor”, he said.

Military Loses Five Personnel In Operation Against Terrorists In Sokoto

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Soldiers on Duty - Nigerian Army

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The authorities of the Nigerian Military on Thursday, January ,16, 2025, confirmed the death of five soldiers  in operations targeted at the emerging terrorist group – Lukarawas –  in Gudu Local Council of Sokoto State.

A statement signed by Lt. Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, the spokesperson for the Fasan Gamma Joint Military Taskforce, however, informed that six insurgents, were equally killed by troops.

He regrettably acknowledged, that the  remarkable success recorded by troops during the operations was some blighted by the unfortunate loss of five personnel

According to him, apart from neutralizing some of the terrorists, troops were able to dismantle their operational camps, and recovered several weapons and ammunition.

Some of the recovered items, Abdullahi noted, include four AK-47 riffles, 160 rounds of 7.62mm, special ammunition and one box of 127 mm ammunition.

“Despite this success, the operation came at a heavy cost as five gallant soldiers tragically lost their lives in the line of duty”, he stated.

However, the military spokesman reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian military in rooting out all forms of  terrorist activities in the country.

While pledging to always ensure adequate protection of lives and properties, the military called for the unflinching support and cooperation of the members of the public  in the renewed efforts at defeating terrorism .

Police Barricade Rivers PDP Secretariat, As Fubara, Wike Loyalists Battle For Control

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Police on Duty

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Uncertainty and confusion reigned  supreme  on Thursday, January 16, at the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Rivers State Secretariat in Port Harcourt.

The intense struggle for   the control of the heart of the party by two contending groups, earlier in the morning, forced the Police to barricade the road leading to the Secretariat.

The Source reports that a Rivers State High Court had on Wednesday, January 15, nullified the recent Local Government and State Congresses of the Party held two months ago and   their outcomes.

The Court had cited a disobedience to a subsisting order halting the conduct of the said Congresses as a major reason.

Following the Court’s verdict, a faction of the party believed to be loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, appointed a Caretaker Committee headed by Robinson Nname-Ewor to run the affairs of the party.

An attempt by the Nname Ewor-led faction to take over the Secretariat was  countered by the Court-sacked executive led by Aaron Chukwuemeka.

The two groups’ insistence on exacting control over the affairs of the PDP, and its attendant threat to public peace, was at the root of Police intervention.

In their separate reactions, the two factions decried the situation on the ground, noting that it does not help the fragile peace in the State.

The Court-sacked Chairman, considered to be pro-Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Minister, urged Governor Fubara to place the peace and stability of the State above political and personal interests.

He lampooned the plethora of Court cases that have trailed the PDP in the State.

The embattled Chairman regretted that while his  Executives were still waiting to be served the purported court ruling, some people were rushing to cause anarchy by attempting to give effect to the order.

“While the party is yet to receive the court ruling, it nevertheless plans to appeal the decision once the records are available”, Kingsley Chuku, the Legal Adviser informed.

The sacked Executive Committee further accused the Interim Leadership of being moles planted to front for the All Peoples Party APP, perceived as an alternative political  platform for Governor Fubara.

However, while speaking on the development, Ewor, the head of the Interim Committee, informed that they have suspended the planned takeover of the Party’s Secretariat to allow tension  subside .

“The planned takeover of the Secretariat has been suspended to avoid the escalation of tensions.” Chukwuemeka stated.

But in the interim too, the faction has emphasized the need for the reinstatement of Governor Fubara as the PDP Leader in the state as a necessary pre-condition for peace.

The leadership of the party in Rivers has been under the FCT Minister, even after vacating office as the Governor on May, 29, 2023.

The development is seen as a clear departure from  what is obtainable in other states where the sitting Governor is acknowledged as the leader of the party.

Communal Clash In Osun: Gov Adeleke Imposes Dusk To Dawn Curfew

By
Ayodele Oni
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Governor Ademola Adeleke
Governor Ademola Adeleke

By Ayodele Oni

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday ordered that a curfew be imposed in the two warring communities of Ifon and Ilobu following an outbreak of yet another communal clashwith immediate effect.

The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement, explained that the restriction of movements of the people is to forestall further escalation of the crisis. The curfew will be from 7:00pm to 7.00am.

No fewer than two persons were said to have been injured in the renewed clash that rocked the neighbouring communities over disagreement on boundary of the lands.

Some stakeholders in the affected communities had called on the state government to take decisive actions to prevent wanton loss of lives and property that the communities witnessed last year when they clashed.

Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke also directed security operatives to take over the communities forthwith and ensure that there is no escalation of the brewing violent confrontation.

The statement:

“Following the outbreak of another communal clashes between the people of Ifon and Ilobu, Osun state government has taken the following decisions aimed at ensuring lasting peace in the warring communities.

“That a 7. 00pm to 7.00am curfew be imposed with immediate effect starting from today, Thursday, the 16th of Jan 2025 until further notice.

“That a contingent of all security personnel, comprising the Army, Police, and Civil Defence has been, accordingly, deployed to the warring communities to forestall further anarchy .

“That all stakeholders in the areas are advised to cooperate with the State Government to resolve the issues amicably at ensuring lasting peace.

“That an enlarged Committee of Stakeholders which shall consist of the representatives of the Communities, the Service Chiefs, the representatives of the State Council of Obas and other relevant bodies be immediately constituted to resolve the issue permanently.

“Finally, anyone or group of persons found or caught doing or instigating any further violence, knowingly or unknowingly, in breach of lasting peace would be made to face the full wrath of the law, via necessary prosecution, in line with the dictates of the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

NGF Backs Revised Value Added Tax Sharing Formular

By
Ayodele Oni
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Bola Tinubu With State Governors

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), has endorsed a revised Value Added Tax (VAT) sharing formular.

Under the new framework, 50 percent of VAT revenue will be distributed based on equality, 30 percent on derivation, and 20 percent on population.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the forum’s consultations, and made public on the NGF X account.

The Forum had earlier met with the Presidential Tax Reform Committee on Thursday in Abuja.

The Forum also stressed that there should be no increase in the VAT rate or reduction in the Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rate at this time to maintain economic stability.

It advocated for the continued exemption of essential goods and agricultural produce from VAT to safeguard citizens’ welfare and promote agricultural productivity.

NGF expressed support for the comprehensive reform of the country’s archaic tax laws, emphasising the need to modernise the tax system to enhance fiscal stability and align with global best practices.

The NGF maintained that the key resolutions were aimed at ensuring equitable resource distribution and economic stability.

Furthermore, the NGF recommended the retention of development levies for TETFund, NASENI, and NITDA in the tax reform bills, rejecting any terminal clauses for these funds.

The meeting also expressed support for the legislative process at the National Assembly to ensure the eventual passage of the Tax Reform Bills.

The communiqué, signed by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara State, underscored the importance of collaborative efforts to achieve a robust and inclusive tax system.

Over N400bn Lost, Millions Driven Out Of Business By Market Fire Outbreaks In 2024 – ASMATA  President

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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0
Alphonsus Udeigbo

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The President General of Abia State  Amalgamated Traders Association ASMATA, Sir Alphonsus Udeigbo, has called on Governments, Market developers and other relevant stakeholders to consider the construction of concrete buildings to halt incessant incidences of  infernos.

This is even as he advocated the compulsory establishment of functional fire-fighting stations in all Markets across the country for effective response to emergency situations.

Sir Udeigbo, who is also the Chairman of all Chairmen of Aba traders,  spoke on the heels of the fire incident that razed the popular Nnewi Spare Parts Plaza on Tuesday, January 14 ,2025 .

The unfortunate late night fire, left on its trail a monumental loss, with goods worth several billions of Naira lost.

In a statement issued on Thursday, January 16, Udeigbo described as worrisome, the spate  of fire disasters that  occurred at various markets across the country in recent times.

According to him, a conservative estimate has shown that in 2024, traders market users, and other stakeholders, lost over N400 billion to various fire incidents.

He blamed the ugly trend majorly on the poor modeling and construction of most of the markets. He lamented that most of the markets across the country were constructed without adequate attention to fire and other safety measures, including enough ventilation in the stalls.

Chief Udeigbo noted that it will make more security sense if concrete method is adopted in the modeling and construction of markets.

“The major problem facing most Nigerian markets today is the issue of haphazard and poor construction.

“It is a far better idea to use concrete roofing in market construction than the resort to roofing sheets.

“This is because in the event of emergency situation like a fire incident, it is difficult for the inferno to engulf significant portions of a market with concrete roofing.

“But in the case of zinc/aluminum sheets, once a stall/shop and or building is affected within minutes, a substantial part of the market is engulfed.

“Don’t forget the traders, small and petty traders, constitute a reasonable percentage of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises SME in the country .

“The incessant incidents of fire outbreak at various markets across the country and their attendant losses, have negatively affected economic growth and development of the country.

“From conservative estimate, traders, market users, and other stakeholders, are believed to have lost over N400 billion to several fire outbreaks.

“This is not good for a struggling economy like ours at this moment of economic hardship.

“I was the first person that embarked on concrete buildings at the  markets in 1993 in Aba. The structures are still having their integrity, almost, intact after several years.

“The best way to curtail all these fire outbreaks at our market is to adopt the non-kinetic approach  like the  use of concrete roofing in market modeling and construction”, the ASMATA President stated.

According to him, Government at all levels, and relevant stakeholders should not just insist on the availability of fire fighting equipment at the markets, but also ensure that they are fully functional and capable of responding to emergencies.

“In addition to the fire fighting equipment, there should be accessibility to allow for easy deployment of rescue measures in times of emergencies.

“The Situation at most of the markets, at the moment, does not allow easy intervention, and other rescue measures.

“That is the main reason why,  with every fire incident, you will be recording serious losses.

“Several millions of traders and other business owners have had to close shop owing to the effects of market infernos.

“When you juxtapose the huge monetary losses with the disturbing number of people who have been driven out of businesses by fire outbreaks you will agree with me that the  trend,  if not urgently checked, will further ruin the nation’s economy”, Udeigbo noted.

While commiserating  with all the victims of the Nnewi Plaza fire outbreak and other incidents across the  country, the ASMATA President sued for vigilance and safety consciousness on the part of traders across the country.

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