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Nollywood Actor, Big Larry Dies, Colleagues Mourn

September 14, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

In a shocking development, Nollywood Actor, Big Larry, has passed on.

The popular actor known for his comical role in the industry passed on Friday, and threw the Industry into mourning.

The news of his passing was announced on Instagram by film producer, Stanley Ontop.

According to Stanley, the exact cause of the actor’s untimely death is yet to be confirmed.

He wrote: “Breaking News: Nollywood actor Big Lary just passed away. Je nke Oma big. What caused his demise is yet to be ascertained. May your soul rest in peace, Big Lary. Nollywood Asaba Mourns. Shalom!!!”

Recall that Big Larry’s death comes just a few weeks after the passing of another Nollywood actress, Sharon Okpamen, following childbirth.

Meanwhile, fans and admirers of the late actor have flocked to the post’s comment section to pay tribute to him.

His demise has sent ripples of sadness across the Nollywood community, with many taking to social media to express their condolences.

Reactions from the entertainment world have been emotional and reflective of the shock felt by many.

Actress, Destiny Etiko expressed her disbelief with a single word: “Jesus.”

One Teoo wrote, “Ahhh this actor,” reflecting the collective sense of loss.

Didi Ezenwa shared, “Beyond shattered,” capturing the deep emotional impact of the news.

Real Charity Asuquo’s reaction was: “Jesus Christ. What!!”

The_micdibia simply stated, “RIP.”

De_great_mirabel commented, “Chai.”

Jennifer Ijeoma3 added, “Omoh this year wan carry everybody. May his soul rest in peace.

Since January 2024, Nollywood has lost a number of practitioners, including Mr Ibu, Amaechi Muonagor, Junior Pope, Sisi Quadri, and Ganiyu ‘Ogunjimi‘ Oyeyemi.

Others who lost their lives include Olofa Ina, Adejumoke Aderounmu, Saratu Gidado, Reginald Ebere, Ethel Ekpe and Onyeka Onwenu.

In May, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) announced a four-day fasting and prayer session with Jerry Eze, the Streams of Joy International founder, against deaths in Nollywood.

Rollas said “Actors cannot continue to die like chickens,” adding that prayers were needed to avert more deaths in the industry.

He urged Nollywood actors and their supporters to join the programme to “deal with this ugly reproach”.

The prayer session held at the M & M Center in Garki, Abuja from May 2 to 5.

“I Will Never Work With Fubara, Will Never Support Him” – Wike

The Source

September 14, 2024

By Gideon Njoku

The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, a Lawyer, has said he would never work with his successor in office, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Wike said this when he spoke Friday night on Channel Television’s live program, “Politics Today”, anchored by Seun Okinbaloye.

Governor Fubara, Rivers State’s Accountant General during Wike’s tenure as Governor, was hand-picked by Wike, above all others, to succeed him in office as Governor.

However, barely three months later, their relationship broke down so badly that majority of the House of Assembly Members, loyal to Wike, made an aborted attempt to impeach Fubara. It led to the torching and vandalization of the Assembly Complex.

Since the impeachment move which exposed the irretrievably broken down relationship, nothing has been the same again in Rivers State, politically. The House of Assembly is divided into two with two separate Speakers, presumably.

At a point, President Bola Tinubu, in whose whose All Progressives Congress, APC, Government, Wike, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, member, serves as a Minister, intervened to broker peace in an arrangement not a few people felt was condescending to Governor Fubara.

For instance, President Tinubu asked Fubara to reappoint his Commissioners, Wike’s loyalists, appointed for Fubara by Wike, who voluntarily resigned from Fubara’s Cabinet over the Governor’s problems with Wike. He also asked Fubara not to appoint any Local Government Caretaker Committee, something other Governors, including APC Governors, did. In addition, he asked Fubara to represent the State Budget, already passed by the Members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Governor, already signed into Law by Fubara, and already being implemented.

While Fubara quickly adhered to the first two, Court cases stopped him, till date, from representing the 2024 budget.

The two men – political godfather and political godson – as well as their vociferous loyalists have been at one another’s throat since. No intervention has worked. Peace is far.

What is surprising is that neither Wike nor Fubara has had the courage to make public what came between them. Even during the interview with ChannelsTV, the usually blunt Wike avoided answering directly when he was asked the question. He took refuge in emphasizing that after making Fubara Governor, it now boils down to “he refused to give me billions of Naira”. However, at the beginning of the crisis, Wike had said that Fubara wanted to interfere with his “political structure”, while Fubara hints at Wike’s dictatorship.

Sources, not independently confirmed by this magazine, insist that both men fell out because Fubara dared appoint the Commissioner for Information without referring and/or clearing with Wike. Said one of the sources: “No, money was not the problem. They agreed on N2.5b per month. The Governor kept to it. The problem was because the Governor dared appoint a Commissioner without clearing with Wike.”

Asked by Okinbaloye if he would support Fubara for a second term, given that as a sitting Governor Fubara has the first choice of refusal, Wike’s blunt answer was an emphatic no.

He said he would never work with Fubara, and dismissed him as ungrateful. He also said there was no law that gives anybody the first choice of refusal.

And asked if he would ever make peace with the Governor, his answer, again, was no.

He accused Governor Fubara of taking advantage of President Tinubu’s intervention to insult him. He hinted that Fubara disrespected the President by not adhering to the terms of settlement as advised by the President.

For instance, he said that Fubara refused to represent the budget and instead, triggered Court cases against it using some people.

“I am not stupid. I respected the President and agreed to everything, but what did he ( Fubara) do? He reneged. All those running around him now were against my making him Governor. Now, they remember they are Ijaw. They are Rivers Elders.

He, specifically, took on a former Governor of the State, Chief Rufus Ada George, Chairman of Rivers Elders Forum, and said he was earlier having meetings with APC people. “Is he a member if PDP? He should go and ask God for forgiveness over the activities of the ‘Bush Boys’ when he was Governor.

Instructively, for now, Wike does not have a good relationship with any of his Governor-predecessors. Chief Rufus Ada George. Dr. Peter Odili. Chibuike Amaechi. And now, his successor, Fubara.

Banditry: NCFP Urges President Tinubu To Sustain Recent Onslaught Against Terrorists

Akinwale Kasali

September 14, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

As the war against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping continues, the Northern Christian Forum for Peace, NCFP, has commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the recent successes recorded by the Military in the fight against banditry in the North West, particularly in Zamfara State.

The North-west has been the epicenter of those criminal activities which, in the past few, escalated.

In a press statement by the NCPF, signed its President, Bishop Sunday Audu Thomas, the Group praised the President for fulfilling his promise to combat banditry and terrorism in the region, and urged him to sustain the recent onslaught against the bandits.

It also noted that the killing of one of the most dreaded bandits, Kachallah Buzu, by troops in Zamfara was a testament to the President’s commitment to combating banditry and terrorism in the region.

The NCFP also commended the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, and Security Chiefs for taking the fight to the terrorists and bandits, and for their tireless efforts in protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians.

The group also praised the troops for their bravery and sacrifice, and urged them to remain committed to the fight against banditry and terrorism.

Bishop Thomas said: “The Northern Christian Forum for Peace (NCFP) wishes to commend President Bola Tinubu for the recent onslaught against bandits in the NorthWest region, particularly in Zamfara State.

“The killing of one of the most dreaded bandits, Kachallah Buzu, by troops in Zamfara is a testament to the President’s commitment to combating banditry and terrorism in the region.

“We praise the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, for his recent visit to the NorthWest region, where he reviewed the operations of the troops and harmonized their efforts to combat banditry.

“The renaming of Operations Hadrin Daiji and Whirl Stroke to Operation Kasar Yamma is a welcome development, as it will enhance the coordination and effectiveness of the troops in the region.

“The NCFP commends the security chiefs for taking the fight to the terrorists and bandits, and for their tireless efforts in protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians.

“We urge them to sustain the recent onslaught against the bandits, and to ensure that the momentum is not lost. We also commend President Tinubu for fulfilling his promise to combat banditry and terrorism in the region.

“The recent successes recorded by the troops are a proof that the President’s efforts are yielding results, and we urge him to sustain the tempo.”

It further emphasised that the fight against banditry and terrorism requires a sustained effort, and urged the President and the security agencies to remain vigilant and focused.

The statement concluded by reiterating the NCFP’s commitment to supporting the government and the security agencies in the fight against banditry and terrorism.

“The NCFP wishes to state that the fight against banditry and terrorism requires a sustained effort, and we urge the President and the security agencies to remain vigilant and focused,” Thomas added.

“We also urge the communities in the affected regions to cooperate with the troops and provide them with the necessary support and information to enable them to succeed.

“We praise the troops for their bravery and sacrifice, and we urge them to remain committed to the fight against banditry and terrorism.

“We also urge the government to provide the troops with the necessary equipment and resources to enable them to succeed”.

FG Lists Six Centres For Free CNG Vehicle Conversion In Lagos

Akinwale Kasali

September 14, 2024

Oluwaseun Osiyemi - Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation

By Akinwale Kasali

With the high cost of Fuel Pump Price, the Federal Government has initiated the free conversion of vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, under the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, PCNGI.

The initiative is aimed at providing relief to Nigerians, helping them reduce their fuel expenses and embrace cleaner energy for transportation.

The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government has, therefore, announced six locations in Lagos State where vehicle owners can receive free conversion of their vehicles to CNG under the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, PCNGI.

This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to promote the use of CNG as a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative to petrol.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, made this announcement via his official X handle on Thursday, inviting vehicle owners in Lagos to take advantage of the opportunity.

The free CNG conversion exercise is set to begin on Friday, September 13, from 3.00pm to 6.00pm at six designated locations across the state.

The initiative, tagged “Operation First Come, First Served,” will allow the first 50 vehicles that pass the inspection at each location to receive free CNG conversion kits.

Vehicle owners who successfully convert their vehicles to CNG will be able to refuel at ₦230 per Standard Cubic Meter (SCM) of CNG at any NIPCO station, which promises significant savings compared to the cost of petrol.

The six authorized CNG conversion centers in Lagos include: Femadec at Km 42, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Majek Second Gate Stop, Abiju Ibeju, Lekki; Portland at No. 1, Ojota Interchange Terminal, Bayo Shodipo, Ojota; Mezovest located at Km 23, Lekki-Epe Expressway, opposite Kilimanjaro, beside Libmat Motors, Ajah; Dana Motors at 117 Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Isolo; MBH Power at Km 5, Ikotun Road, Itamope, Ikorodu; Autogig located at Plot 144b Gbagada Expressway, Gbagada.

Beyond Lagos, the PCNGI will conduct similar conversion exercises in four other cities between Friday and Saturday.

Today, CNG conversions began in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and Ibadan, Oyo State, from 3 PM to 6 PM.

On Saturday, September 14, conversions will be carried out in Abuja and Kaduna, also from 3 PM to 6 PM.

The first 50 vehicles that pass inspection in these cities will also receive free CNG conversion kits, provided they meet the necessary requirements.

The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative was launched in August 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It aims to revolutionize Nigeria’s transportation sector by introducing over 11,500 CNG-enabled vehicles and 55,000 conversion kits for petrol vehicles, allowing for a gradual transition from petrol to CNG as a primary fuel source.

“Tell Me, Which PDP Governor Did Not Lobby For Position In Tinubu’s Government” – Wike

The Source

September 14, 2024

By Gideon Njoku

“Who in PDP Will Discipline Me?”

In an interview with Channels Television Friday night, Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, threw a challenge at his colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Speaking with the TV Station’s Seun Okinbaloye, Wike revealed, apparently, referring that there is no Peoples Democratic Party’s Governor that did not lobby for a position in President Bola Tinubu Government.

Wike, the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, worked strongly against his Party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in preference to the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, now President Bola Tinubu. He said they all lobbied for ministerial positions for one person or the other.

Wike had aspired to be the PDP Candidate, but he was beaten to a second position by Atiku, who went on to reject Wike as his running mate, in preference to the then Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowo.

Angered by Atiku’s snub, Wike, along with four of his Governor-colleagues, worked publicly and seriously against their Party’s Candidate, Atiku.

For his contributions to then Candidate Tinubu’s victory, Wike was rewarded with the high profile position of the FCT Minister.

Asked if it was not appropriate to call him a mole in PDP, he said he was clear from the beginning that he would work for Tinubu. In his defence, he said he wrote to the PDP – from Ward to LGA, State and National Levels – that President Tinubu had offered him a Ministerial appointment. One by one, he said, all of them endorsed the offer.

He then thundered: “Who in the PDP did not try to nominate names for President Tinubu’s appointments. Yes, they did. Let them come forward and say they did not do it.”

Wike does not, therefore, see his position in an APC Government as anti-party and went on to reveal that almost all of them wanted a piece of the cake – to be offered a position in President Tinubu’s Administration.

Reminded that PDP had set-up a Disciplinary Committee which already invited him, Wike chuckled, and asked: “Discipline who? Who will discipline who now?”

Asker if he was not an outsider in the PDP, Wike quipped: “No Governor in the PDP, no one born of a woman can claim that I am an outsider in the Party.”

“Edwin Clark Asked Me Not To Make Fubara My Successor – Wike

The Source

September 14, 2024

By Gideon Njoku

“If you want Ijaw, why Opobo man?” – Edwin Clark, according to Wike

The immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike has sensationally revealed that Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, was against his picking Sir Siminalayi Fubara as his, Wike’s, successor in office.

Recalling what he passed through in order to make Siminalayi Fubara his successor in office, Wike revealed Friday night that he hurt people, made enemies, appealed to Ogoni people, to calm down for the sake of Fubara.

He said he deliberately chose Fubara to succeed him in office in order to give an Ijaw son a chance to be Governor.

To Wike’s consternation, he said after doing that, what he gets paid with are ingratitude, insults, betrayal.

One of the things that, however, surprises Wike is the attacks against him by Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Clark. Wike had, on a number of times, come under the hammer of Clark over his political spat with Fubara. Clark had demanded, a number of times for Wike to leave Fubara, an Ijaw son, alone, to govern Rivers State.

But Wike, in an interview with Channels Television chided Clark. He said that he was surprised at Clark because the elder statesman was one of those who came to him and asked him not to pick Fubara as his successor.

Wike: “I really don’t want to respond to Clark. I have tried to restrain myself, but I am a human being. He, Clark, is shouting ‘Ijaw, Ijaw’ now. But he was the same person who was against my making Fubara my successor. He told me Eh, if you want to make an Ijaw man Governor, why should it be Opobo”?

For the records, Governor Fubara is from Opobo, Rivers State.

Wike also reminded his listeners, in case anybody was forgetting, that Clark is from Delta State, not Rivers.

So, he said: “I don’t know whether he is Ijaw leader or not. I am not Ijaw. I don’t know whether he is Elder Statesman or not. Age does not confer that. But this man who thinks only he knows everything, why has he not installed an Ijaw man Governor in Delta State?

“Ask him if he is a PDP member. Ask him to show you his PDP membership card? Ask him how much he has given to PDP, Rivers State”

Wike is, currently, the FCT Minister under an APC Federal Government.

Wike Confirms Edo INEC REC Is His Cousin, But Insists “Not Even INEC Chairman Can Influence The REC”

The Source

September 14, 2024

By Gideon Njoku

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has confirmed one of the fears of the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The PDP had claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Edo State is Wike’s cousin.

Explaining why the PDP and its Candidate, Asue Ighodalo, refused to sign the Peace Accord put together by the Peace Committee headed by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, both Governor Godwin Obaseki and the PDP State Chairman said, among other things, that the INEC REC, Dr. Anugbum Onuaha, is Wike’s cousin, and so would never organize a fair election in the State. They requested that the REC be posted out of the State to ensure fairness. They said he would be under the influence of Wike, and that given Wike’s non cordial relationship with Obaseki, it should be taken for granted that the REC would do Wike’s bidding.

Minister Wike, speaking in an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television, Friday night, confirmed that the Edo REC is his cousin. But he, also, noted, that the REC has been in Edo for one year and counting, and wondered why the PDP wants him out now.

Asked how fair that was, Wike asked: “So, do you want me to ask for my cousin to be posted out? Should I lobby for my enemy to take his position?”

However, Wike insisted that his cousin is a very strong character who cannot be influenced by anybody, including the INEC Chairman,

Professor Mahmoud Yakubu.

According to Wike, the Edo REC would rather quit his job than be influenced to do the wrong thing by anybody.

Wike: “Obaseki Came To My House To Ask Me To Support Asue Ighodalo”

The Source

September 14, 2024

By Gideon Njoku

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, visited him two times to solicit support for Asue Ighodalo to win the Edo 2024 Governorship Election.

Ighodalo is the Candidate of Obaseki’s Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Edo September 21 Governorship Election. He was Obaseki’s preferred Candidate among others, including his Deputy, Philip Shaibu.

Ordinarily, Obaseki soliciting for Wike’s support should be taken for granted. Apart from, supposedly, both men being members of the same Party, Wike led Obaseki’s Governorship Campaign about four years ago against, especially, the APC, and secured him his second term in office.

But for reasons not yet made public by either of them, they have since fallen apart and became arch political enemies.

While Wike dubs Obaseki “ungrateful”, Obaseki thinks Wike is power-drunk and brash.

Not a few people were, therefore, surprised when Wike, in an interview Friday night with Channel Television’s Seun Okinbaloye, revealed that Obaseki visited him two times with Ighodalo to seek support for Candidate Ighodalo.

Asked by Okinbaloye what his response was, he answered swiftly that he said no; that he turned down Obaseki’s request; that he told them he would not lift a finger to help.

And asked if he would then support the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Wike fired back: “Am I a member of the APC? I will remain neutral.” And noted that after helping Obaseki to become Governor, he was rewarded with insults.

Wike is the immediate past Governor of Rivers State.

Senator Melaye: LG Counters Expulsion From PDP, Says Letter Invalid

Ayodele Oni

September 13, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Ijumu chapter in Kogi State has issued a counter statement to deny the expulsion of the party’s former governorship candidate, Dino Melaye. It dismissed the letter as a forgery which lacks validity.

PDP Chairman, Ijumu Local Government, Olorunmaiye Olabode, maintained that “the purported letter of expulsion is a forgery and must be disregarded.

“Its careless and rushed composition reveals a mismatch between the day and date. Furthermore, such a correspondence aimed at expelling a vital member like Senator Dino Melaye—a key figure in the Party—cannot be treated with such negligence. No other PDP member in Kogi has contributed to the Party on a national level as he has.

“We challenge those spreading these falsehoods to specify any anti-party actions by Senator Dino Melaye.

“He has been instrumental in supporting the Party, covering the accommodation costs at the state headquarters, paying staff salaries, purchasing 10,000 membership cards last month to distribute among party members and newcomers, and donating 2 million naira to the party as recent operational funding.

“We assert for the record that bypassing due process to hastily implement such a malicious plan is a violation of the Party’s Constitution.

“We encourage all Party members in Ijumu and across the State to dismiss the unfounded claims of dismissal or expulsion against our steadfast, loyal, and committed State leader, who is unjustly targeted by agents of division.”

In a communique issued Friday in Lokoja, the party reaffirmed its commitment to the PDP constitution, guidelines, and regulations.

“We stand resolutely with the Party and its Constitution, as well as the Guidelines & Regulations issued periodically. It is a fact that no materials were delivered to Ijumu LGA to conduct the Ward Ad hoc Congress on July 27, 2024.

“We maintain that no LGA Congress occurred in Ijumu LGA to elect National Delegates. We did not participate in the so-called State Congress that was unlawfully conducted in Lokoja on August 31, 2024, recognizing it as a failed and deceptive arrangement.

“We are aware of a communique circulating that was fabricated by external adversaries of the Party, agents of destabilization who seek to undermine our leader in the State, His Excellency Senator Dino Melaye, the voice of the voiceless. Their goal is to trample on loyal Party members in Kogi State.”

A statement earlier also on Friday, had announced that the former senator was expelled for alleged anti party activities.

Melaye’s suspension was ratified by the executive committee of the party in Ayetoro Gbede, Ward 1 and was announced in a memo dated September 12, 2024.

The memo reads: “Ward Party Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ayetoro/lluagba ward 1 met on Friday the 12th of September 2024 to review the report of the disciplinary committee set up to investigate alleged anti party activities against Senator Dino Melaye, a member of our great party.”

According to the party, Melaye was invited to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the party on August 20, 2024 to answer to certain allegations of misconduct and anti-party activities, in line with the provisions of Article 57(4), of the PDP Constitution.

“However, he failed to show up, disregarding the invitation and the authority of the party.”

Anambra Bans The Activities Of Scavengers, Warns Of Severe Punishment For Defaulters

Suleiman Anyalewechi

September 13, 2024

Charles Soludo - Governor of Anambra State

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Anambra State Government, on Friday September 13, 2024, announced a comprehensive ban on the activities of roving scavengers, popularly known as “scrap/condemned Items dealers”.

The authorities cite the unwholesome activities of the dealers, particularly their alleged involvement in the promotion of theft of objects and materials, at public facilities.

The Source reports that of recent, many residents across the South East region of the Country have been vociferous in their condemnation of the criminal tendencies of most of those engaged in the business of buying and selling of condemned/scrap materials and objects .

Not a few are of the conviction that a large percentage of burglaries at both private and public homes are masterminded by the scrap/ condemned materials dealers .

Checks have also revealed that over 80 percent of the acts of vandalism wrought on public schools and other facilities are carried out by the scrap dealers.

A statement by the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu ,said the decision to prohibit the operation of the condemned items dealers in the State is a direct consequence of their nuisance of late.

The ban, the authorities insisted is also part of its responsibilities towards securing lives and properties of law abiding residents .

According to him, activities of the scavengers have become a source of huge concern to many residents who believe strongly that they are behind the spate of theft of metal materials from both private and public properties.

The statement, noted with concern that the notorious activities of the scavengers have constituted a serious threat to the economic growth and development of Anambra state.

Consequently, the Government has warned that any persons and groups seen indulging in and/or promoting the scavenging activities in the State will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

Similarly, persons involved in receiving and selling stolen properties will not be spared.

The authorities said the Ministry of Environment has been tasked with demarcating the activities of genuine scrap and condemned items dealers from those of the criminal elements.

The Ministry, the statement noted, will register and certify genuine operators, so that they will continue with their legitimate business activities.

The statement further appealed to the residents of the State to report any suspected scavengers to the appropriate authorities,for prompt action .

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