Horror In Plateau As 13 People Are Buried Alive

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November 12, 2024

By Adesina Soyooye

The people of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State and environs are engulfed in tears, pains, gnashing of teeth and sorrow. In one fell swoop, they lost 13 of their youths.

The youths, aged between 18 and 30 years lost their lives in a most horrifying manner. They were buried alive when a mining site where they went to eke out a living, albeit, illegally, collapsed and swallowed them.

A thoroughly devastated Chairman of Bassa LGA, Dr Joshua Riti, broke and confirmed the sad news on Monday in Jos, the Plateau State Capital.

The tragedy, Riti disclosed, occurred on Saturday.

The mining site which collapsed is located at the boundaries between Bassa, Jos South and Jos North LGAs. Bassa LGA alone lost seven of its sons.

Mourned Dr Riti according to a report: “This is an unfortunate incident. These young people were only out in search of a means of livelihood.

“They went out to put their energies to good use to sustain and meet up with the current economic hardship in the country but met their untimely death.

“I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy,” he said.

Recall that a similar incident in Adamawa State, a few days ago, claimed 30 lives.

Okpebholo To Scrutinize Obaseki’s Tenure With Toothbrush

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Adesina Soyooye

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November 12, 2024

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By Adesina Soyooye

As the new Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo takes his oath of office today, Tuesday, November 12, 2024, before a galaxy of his Party men and women, one thing is clear and, so, can be taken for granted. He will use a toothbrush to go through everything his successor Godwin Obaseki did.

Okpebholo gave notice of that when he received the report from a 25-man Committee he set up as soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared him the winner of the still controversial Edo Governorship election to look into, about, everything Obaseki did while in office.

The Panel, headed by a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr Pius Odubu, under Senator Adams Oshiomhole, handed over its report to Okpebholo on Monday. Snippets read out by Odubu as he handed over the report to an obviously excited and satisfied Okpebholo, all about condemned Obaseki, already, to the golgotha. He promised to carry out the recommendations of the Panel to the letter.

Odubu: “A snippet of some of our recommendations will suffice. We recommended a review of all Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on the management of the Central Hospital and Stella Obasanjo Hospital, both in Benin. We recommended that the local and foreign debts must be accounted for. All employment carried out in recent past should be cancelled.

“The incoming Edo Governor should investigate the true ownership of Ossiomo Power Plant and Raddisson Blu Five-Star Hotel in Benin City. The same with Museum of West Africa Art (MOWAA), Edo, at the site of the demolished Central Hospital, Benin City. We deserve to know the state’s equity in these companies, as the outgoing government went blank on these enquiries.

“We also demanded a comprehensive review of the World Bank-funded Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme, and that a probe should be instituted to uncover its rather opaque operations. All major contracts issued by Edo State Government under the Ministry of Roads and Bridges should be reviewed, as they appeared not to have followed due process, including payment advance awarded to the contractors.

“Obaseki’s government could not account for the number of teachers in Edo State. Hence, we demand a proper teacher head count.”

Okpebholo promised to look into the recommendations and act accordingly.

There is no love lost between Obaseki and Okpebholo. Obaseki, a few days ago let it be known that he knows the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, could pick him up as early as next week, but emphasised: “I am not afraid and would report to the EFCC on my own and by myself as soon as I am invited by the Commission.”

However, Okpebholo had since claimed that Obaseki has escaped from Nigeria, a claim that has been confirmed by not a few people to be false.

Edo Gov Inauguration: Shaibu ‘Happy’ To Return APC To Power

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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November 12, 2024

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Phillip Shaibu, the outgoing Deputy Governor of Edo state says he’s happy that he was part of those that returned the All Progressives Congress, APC, to power in the state.

Shaibu was one of the founding members of the ruling APC but later dumped the party, alongside the outgoing governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki ahead the 2020 governorship election in the south south state, following APC’s refusal to grant Obaseki the ticket to contest.

Obaseki later won the lection.

Close watchers of the state’s politics insist that Shaibu only supported Obaseki with the hope that the governor will in turn pull his weight behind him to be the next governor.

But not long after the election that fight broke out between them over who should succeed the governor.

The governor had told Shaibu that he cannot succeed him, that he had another candidate in mind.

The politician made the remark, on Tuesday on Channels television, barely few hours to the inauguration of Monday Okpebholo as the governor of the state.

Three months ago, Okpebholo won the governorship election under the APC after beating Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He’s billed to be sworn in today at an elaborate ceremony, at the Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, the state capital.

Shaibu, a PDP member worked against the candidate of his party in the election due to the power tussle between him and his principal, Obaseki.

Months after the election has been decided, the former political allies remained in the trenches, as they appear not ready to reconcile their differences.

Speaking today, Shaibu said he assisted Obaseki to become governor, and also supported him to return to power in 2020, even when the odds were against him to return to government house.

He said he fought other political allies in APC, including a former governor of the state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, to ensure that the PDP returned to power four years ago.

But today, he said “I’m happy that I’m one of the people” who returned APC to power.

Ahead the inauguration of Okpebholo, the PDP has accused the APC incoming administration of earmarking N5 billion for the ceremony. The PDP has denied the allegation.

UCH Power Outage: Health Workers Sends SOS To FG

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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November 12, 2024

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The Premier University College Hospital, Ibadan needs immediate help, the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU has cried out.

According to the Save our Soul, SOS, message sent to the federal government and well meaning Nigerians, JOHESU said the hospital is finding it difficult to provide essential held services because of power outage.

The company responsible for supplying power to the hospital, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBDC has cut its electricity for close to a months, throwing the hospital into utter darkness.

The chairman of the Union, Oladayo Olabampe said the power cut has affected the hospital, so much so that it could no longer render services to Nigerians seeking medical help.

The hospital power was cut by the IBDC due to the accumulated electricity bill, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.

The magazine reports that the dicso had earlier disconnected the hospital for owing more than N500 million in electricity bill.

But the union said the bill has become ‘alarming and outrageous” for the hospital to pay, blaming the problem on the decision by IBDC to put “UCH on band A which the hospital cannot afford.

The union said the hospital is billed between N70 million and N80 million monthly as electricity bill, saying this is too high, adding that UCH should be categorized as a welfare service.

The JOHESU chairman said the hospital should be moved to the more affordable Band B to save it from debt.

Olabampe said, “This is why the hospital management told the company to remove UCH from Band A and put it in Band B but it (IBEDC) did not.

“So, we now want government to prevail on IBEDC to return UCH to Band B where it can afford to pay.

“Philanthropists and well-meaning Nigerians should also come to UCH’s aid and support it.

“Sometimes, some patients don’t even pay because they cannot afford to pay their bills even after we have treated them.

“So, IBEDC should just cooperate with the UCH management to settle some part of the bill for now and reconnect us while the payment negotiation continues.”

Nigerian Man Declared Wanted In US For Allegedly Murdering His Child

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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November 12, 2024

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The United States government has declared a Nigerian, Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi wanted for allegedly killing his child, The Punch newspaper reports.

The US authorities said the alleged murderer was declared wanted after fleeing the country to avoid facing trial for his crime.

According to the details provided by the Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal, Don Freeman, and obtained from the agency’s website on Monday, Olawusi committed the alleged crime in 2017 after inflicting serious body injury on his child, which later led to his death few months after.

The US FBI said the alleged offender was arrested immediately after committing the crime, taken to court, after which he was released to allow for further investigations.

But not long after, Olawusi fled the US and has not been found since then to answer to his alleged crime.

As a result, the US government has now placed a $25, 000 bounty on his head for anyone who can assist the police to fish him out.

The US government has also placed him on the list of the 15 most wanted persons in the country.

Providing further details about the case, Freeman noted that Olawusi, who lived in Rhodes Island, US, was arraigned on two counts bordering on first-degree murder caused by inflicting bodily injury to a child and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

He added that the incident occurred on April 3, 2017, after police operatives and firefighters found the three-month-old child and rescued him at the hospital where it was discovered that the child had suffered injuries in 18 parts of his body. The discovery was said to have led to the arrest of Olawusi.

Upon his arrest, Olawusi was charged in court on April 20, 2017, but his whereabouts became unknown after he was released the same day while the trial was pending.

Freeman added that the infant died six months after being hospitalised as a result of the injuries he had allegedly sustained from his father’s abuse which prompted the prosecuting department to include a murder charge in the ongoing trial.

Freeman said, “A man wanted in Rhode Island on charges of murder, inflicting serious bodily injury to a child and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution has been added to the U.S. Marshals Service 15 Most Wanted fugitives list with an up to $25,000 reward being offered for information leading to his arrest.

“Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, 48, was charged in Providence with first-degree murder and two counts of inflicting serious bodily injury to a child after Providence Police and Fire personnel found his three-month-old son bleeding from the mouth and nose at a residence on April 3, 2017.

“The child was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated to regain a pulse. An examination at the hospital noted 18 injuries at various stages of healing, indicating a pattern of long-term abuse. These injuries included a skull fracture, subdural hematoma, significant brain injury, and fractures of the child’s ribs, clavicle, legs and arms. He was placed on life support but died six months later.

“Providence police arrested and charged Olawusi on April 20, 2017, with first-degree child abuse. He was released the same day and subsequently fled. The murder charge was added following the infant’s death on October 31, 2017.”

2027: Arewa Reaches Consensus On Jonathan’s Return

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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November 12, 2024

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Few years after he left office some Arewa leaders are calling on former President Goodluck Jonathan to run for the highest office in the country.

Under the aegis of Arewa Consensus For Jonathan, the northern opinion leaders said the country would bounce back with the return of Jonathan to power.

The ACJ made the during on Monday in Bauchi state, while addressing some journalists on the way forward for the country and the state of the nation.

The former president has not indicated interest in the office currently occupied by incumbent, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, even though some leaders of thoughts are trying to drag him into the race.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state recently said the former president is qualified to run for the office again close to a decade after he left Aso Rock, Nigeria’s presidency.

The Bauchi governor, one of those currently eyeing Tinubu’s job had disclosed that he will not run if the former president decide to throw his hat in the ring to contest the highest office in the land.

The governor said the former Nigerian leader will do a better job in turning around the country than the incumbent, Jonathan he said, will fix the economic and social problems facing the country if allowed to return to power.

Mohammed: “With regard to your call for me to present myself, I am still contemplating my chances as the leader of the opposition.

“I know there are good leaders within the PDP, especially my boss Goodluck Jonathan.

“I have always said that as long as Jonathan is around, I will not present myself for leadership of this country, unless he decides not to run.

“If we can persuade him to come forward, I will support him with my blood. Out of modesty, he is still not ready. I hope you will meet him and encourage him to run.

“He will do a better job because he has the experience. We know the prices of things; we know the level of inflation.

“During Jonathan’s regime, he was inclusive, addressing issues like the Almajiri system and creating initiatives for unemployed youths.

“His leadership recruitment was exemplary. We need leaders like him—young people with energy, foresight, and drive,” the Bauchi governor said.

Meanwhile, the former president’s wife Patience Jonathan had recently asserted that her husband had no interest in returning to the Nigerian Presidency.

Jonathan left power in 2015, after he was defeated in the election by the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari.

Uzodimma Wins Zik’s Award For Industrial Development

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The Source

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November 12, 2024

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Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has been nominated for the prestigious Nnamdi Azikiwe Annual Lecture/Award. The award ceremony will be held on 16th November 2024 at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

A letter from the organisers of the 5th Zik’s Annual Award Lecture indicated that Uzodimma is to be honoured as the most outstanding governor on industrial development and inter-ethnic relations.

In a statement in Owerri, the Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Declan Emelumba, disclosed that the governor was nominated based on his outstanding performance, especially in the area of industrial development and his activities in promoting ethnic harmony in Nigeria.

He added that the award vividly demonstrates the governor’s dedication and passion towards the overall development of Imo State and deepening national integration in Nigeria.

Striking Abia Judiciary Workers Suspend 10 Day Action

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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November 11, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Abia State Chapter, on Monday, November 11, 2024, called off its ten-day old industrial action .

A statement by the State Chairman of the umbrella body of Judiciary workers in the State, Chinedu Eze, said the development is sequel to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between JUSUN and the Abia State Government.

The Source reports that the Union had, on Friday, November 1, 2024, directed its members across the State to proceed on an indefinite strike action, pending when the Abia state Government will meet its demands.

The demands centred mainly on staff welfare, including the alleged exclusion of JUSUN staff in the new minimum wage implementation and non- payments of many years of gratuities and other retirement benefits.

The industrial action had severely disrupted Court activities, with all court premises across the state, under lock and key.

The MoU was signed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, on behalf of the Abia State Government, while the National President of JUSUN, Marwan Adamu, the Abia State Chairman, Eze and Assistant Secretary Chibueze Nwachukwu, all signed for the Judiciary workers.

Part of the MoU stipulates that no official or members of Abia JUSUN shall be intimidated, harassed or punished for participating in the strike action.

Of note is that the State Government has acceded to the demands of the workers to be included in the national minimum wage implementation in line with the CONJUS salary structure for the judiciary workers.

The MoU also made provisions for the Judiciary workers to be availed rice and other palliatives as in the case of other categories of civil servants in the State.

While also agreeing on the payments of retirement benefits and entitlements, the MoU, however, stipulates that a joint negotiation team be put in place to meet at regular intervals to iron out gray areas between the Government and the workers.

While commending the Abia State Government for its prompt response to the demands of the workers, the MoU called for an immediate suspension of the strike action.

COAS, Taoreed Lagbaja Goes Home Friday, November 15

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The Source

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November 11, 2024

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By Gideon Njoku

Late Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja will be buried on Friday, November 15, 2024.

Even though his constituency, the Military, has not released any date and/or details for his funeral, his elder brother, Moshood Lagbaja, disclosed that the remains of the late COAS will be committed to mother-earth in Abuja on Friday.

Lagbaja snr., reportedly, said this when the Old Boys Association of St Charles Grammer School, (SCOBA) Osogbo, paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family. The late COAS was a proud Alumni of SCOBA.

The SCOBA delegation presented a letter of condolence to the family on behalf of the Alumni Association.

Lagbaja snr. said that even though his late brother’s body has not been released to the family, he would be buried in Abuja with full military honours.

Both the family and the Traditional Ruler of the late COAS community, had, obviously, out of ignorance, requested the Army to bring back his body to his community, Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun State, for burial.

Born on February 28, 1968, Lt General Lagbaja was appointed the 27th COAS by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023.

Sadly, on November 5, 2024, Lagbaja’s passing was announced by President Tinubu in a statement.

The President said Lagbaja passed in a hospital in Lagos of an undisclosed illness. This was days after speculations and anxiety and denials over his health status.

Unconfirmed reports insist he died of cancer-related ailment.

Aged 56 at the time of his passing, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja is survived by his wife, Mariya and two children.

Tinubu Calls For Two- State Solution In Resolving Isreali-Palestinian Conflict

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Ayodele Oni

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November 11, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, proffered implementable solutions to end Israeli aggression in Gaza, warning that “the conflict in Palestine has persisted for far too long, inflicting immeasurable suffering.”

Addressing the extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit, which was convened to address the current situation in the Middle East, President Tinubu expressed deep concern about the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

A statement by the special Adviser to the president on media, Bayo Onanuga stated that the one-day summit was a follow-up to the Riyadh summit last year and was attended by Heads of State and Government of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States.

Reiterating Nigeria’s call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, President Tinubu affirmed the country’s support for a two-state solution where both Israelis and Palestinians can coexist in security and dignity saying this solution remained a viable part to lasting peace in the region.

”The conflict in Palestine has persisted for far too long, inflicting immeasurable suffering on countless lives.

”As representatives of nations that value justice, dignity, and the sanctity of human life, we have a moral obligation to collectively bring about an immediate end to this conflict.

”It is not enough to issue empty condemnations. The world must work towards an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza, which has persisted for far too long.

“No political aim, no military strategy, and no security concern should come at the expense of so many innocent lives.”

The Nigerian leader called on parties in the conflict in the Middle East to respect the principles of proportionality and the basic rights of civilians, consistent with global legal and diplomatic frameworks.

”In a rules-based international order, States have the right of self-defence. But self defence must take proportionality into account, in line with global legal, diplomatic – and moral – frameworks.

”An entire civilian population, their dreams and futures, cannot be dismissed as collateral.”

Explaining Nigeria’s principled and consistent stance on the two-state solution, President Tinubu noted that it stands as a beacon of hope, representing the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians to self-determination and peace.

”It is not just a diplomatic article of faith; it is a vision grounded in the principles of equality and mutual recognition.

”Achieving this vision requires a commitment to dialogue and respect for history. We all know this conflict did not begin on October 7 in 2023. It can only be resolved through principled compromise, based on appreciation of the proper context.

”This conflict, in the cradle of history, is so visceral that the ripples of division spread far and quickly. The corrosive impact of the images of endless violence, repeated on a billion smart phones around the world is huge. We need to find new pathways to peace, without delay,” he said.

The Nigerian leader commended King Salman of Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for convening the summit, describing it as a vital opportunity to renew diplomatic efforts and work toward a sustainable peace.

He assured that Nigeria, given its own experiences, would continue to support international efforts that advance peace and stability in the Middle East.

”Our own experiences, domestically and regionally, have taught us that identity politics are no substitute for respecting the nuances of diversity,” he said.

According to President Tinubu ”the path to reconciliation may be fraught with challenges, but it is through honest conversation that we can foster understanding.

”The international community has the opportunity to bring to bear new thinking on this most relentless challenge.

”It is our duty to engage in this dialogue with sincerity and resolve, recognising the complexities that each side faces.”

President Tinubu called for the establishment of a secretariat to implement the resolutions of the Summit.

In his opening remarks, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, including the targeting of civilians and the continued violation of the Al-Aqsa mosque.

He also condemned the Israeli ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from delivering relief aid to Palestinians and the displacement of Lebanese people.

He emphasised the importance of preserving Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Crown Prince highlighted Saudi Arabia’s role in promoting Palestinian statehood based on the 1967 borders, mentioning international recognition and the establishment of a Global Coalition with the European Union and Norway.

He urged more states to join the Global Coalition.