Author: Taiwo Ismael

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MURIC commends Oyo TESCOM for admitting ‘error’ in its recruitment process

The Chairman of Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) yesterday reacted to the allegation of Christianising the CBT test held on Tuesday, 11 th August, 2020. The allegation was made by an Islamic human rights association, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Friday, 14 th August, 2020. MURIC alleged that Muslim candidates were made to answer questions on biblical stories.

But in a swift reaction, the Executive Chairman of Oyo TESCOM, Pastor Akinade Alamu, issued a press statement in which it explained that the incident was not deliberate. Oyo TESCOM blamed computer technicalities. It also said some Christian candidates were given questions on Islamic knowledge. TESCOM statement was signed by its Permanent Secretary, Grace Olabisi Oderinde.

However, MURIC has reacted positively to the development. In a statement issued on Sunday, 16 th August, 2020, the Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, commended the Executive Chairman of TESCOM for his exemplary behaviour. MURIC thanked Pastor Akinade Alamu for addressing the core issue raised by the human rights association.

He continued, “Pastor Akinade comes across as the type of leader we need in this country. Nigeria needs a leader who is sensitive to the feelings of the people. We need a leader who will not ignore complaints but who will confront them frontally. The solution offered by Oyo TESCOM to our complaint may not be perfect, but nobody can fault the military dispatch with which it was addressed. We thank Pastor Akinade Alamu for displaying high level maturity.

“Instead of abusing or threatening us, instead of hiring a fiction story writer or fraudulently forming a fictitious 24-hour ‘Islamic’ organisation to start a dirty fight (just what some have done to hide their glaring oppression of Muslims), Pastor Akinade Alamu studied our grievance and took time to come up with a panacea. He set aside religious differences. He addressed the message and not the messenger. His language was refined, civil, diplomatic and parliamentarian. This is really commendable.

“Here is a big lesson for the governors of Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti whose reactions to our criticisms have been undemocratic and nonconventional. The case of Oyo TESCOM and MURIC has proved that propaganda is not public relations. Leaders can stoop to conquer. Those in charge of public relations in public or private organisations must know this. Image makers must learn to respect the other side. Grandstanding and name-calling can only lead to the escalation of the crisis.

“MURIC will remain faithful to its motto, ‘Dialogue, Not Violence’. We are open to discussions before, during or after opening an issue. We are not rigid. Neither are we extremists. It is only our dectractors who want to give us a bad name. We will continue to peacefully coexist with our neighbours but on equal terms of mutual respect, i.e. without compromising Allah-given fundamental rights of Muslims.”

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The Ace Nollywood Actress, Omotola Ekehinde Contracts COVID-19

The ace Nollywood star, Omotola Jolaade Ekehinde has been diagnosed to have contracted COVID-19. The source of how she contracted the disease is said to be unknown as at the time of writing this report.

It was gathered by Oduduwa News that she has been admitted at the isolation centre in Lagos for medical treatment.

The movie star in May explained how she abandoned a thriving career in Music to focus more on Nollywood.

It was also learnt that Omotola Jalade has been exhibiting several high level symptoms of the disease and that Medical experts at the isolation centre are making sure that all hands are on deck to ensure that she responds to treatment as soon as possible.

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Sanwo-Olu Applauds Preparation for Senior School Certificate Exams

The Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo who spoke on behalf of Sanwo-Olu has expressed satisfaction with the level of readiness of secondary schools in the State Education District II ahead of the forthcoming West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

She commended the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary (TG/PS), Education District II, Mrs. Anike Adekanye, for ensuring that necessary facilities have been put in place within the schools visited, such as the construction of handwash basins with running water in strategic locations on the premises, in addition to the provision of soap and hand sanitisers for the students.

Speaking during her visit to schools in Bariga and Somolu Local Councils on Wednesday, the Commissioner explained that the inspection was aimed at having an on-the-spot assessment of the state of infrastructure and arrangements put in place by the schools towards the forthcoming WASSCE in compliance with stipulated health guidelines to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In their remarks, Mrs. Adekanye, the TG/PS of Education District II, and Mr. Rotimi Olowo, member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, emphasised the need to extend the visitation to other schools across the State before the commencement of the examination, such that no school would be left behind.

The schools visited by the Commissioner included Somolu Senior High School; Igbobi Junior High School; Archbishop Adelaja Senior Grammar School; Ajayi Crowther Memorial Senior Grammar School; CMS Girls Senior Grammar School; and Jagunmolu Girls Senior Grammar School among others.

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Make witches and wizards your friends, Ifa Priest, Elebuibon advises

Renowned Ifa priest, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, on Thursday has advised people to embrace witches and wizards whenever they seem them. He said this while hosting the maiden anniversary of Progressive Witches and Wizards Association in Osun.
During the meeting, Elebuibon charged members of the group to seek knowledge about themselves and use their natural powers to improve their individual fortune and help the country.

He warned Nigerians, especially traditionalists not to engage in the killing of fellow men to avoid impending punishment hanging on people behind bloodshedding in the country.

Elebuibon said, “Eledumare is displeased with the shedding of the blood of innocent Nigerians. And there is grave punishment for that. It is happening in the north and down south. Political leaders and heads of security agencies in Nigeria must work to put an end to this. If they fail to do that, the consequences will be too heavy for this country.”

In her remarks, the coordinator of the group, Oyelola Elebuibon, opined that people have an erroneous idea of what witchcraft means, saying members of the group are “good husbands, wives, and mothers, that would always work for the progress of their families and well-wishers”.

She urged the witches and wizards to be of good behavior and put up acts that would encourage people of other faith to seek more knowledge about them.

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Man sentenced to life imprisonment for defiling a 10-year old girl in Ondo

It was like a drama in Akure, Ondo State yesterday when the Magistrate Judge of High Court sitting in Akure sentenced a man to life imprisonment for defiling a 10-year old girl.

It was learnt that the convict was arrested by the team of the state police command for committing the crime at Iju town, in the Akure North Local Council in 2018.

The victim was said to be a daughter of the founder of a church which the paedophile attended in the community.

Prior to the judgment, it was learnt that the convict had been facing the trial for over two years while witnesses had been called by the court to testify on the matter in the court.

After the series of arguments from both prosecuting and defence counsels , the trial judge, Justice Samuel Bola, while delivering his judgment, said the defendant was unable to prove his innocence in the matter beyond reasonable doubt.

He also held that Adanlawo failed to give convincing evidence and testimony to prove his innocence. He sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment.

The judgment came few days after a state high court, presided over by Justice Bode Adegbehingbe sentenced a tricycle rider, Blessing Kingsley, to life imprisonment for committing a similar offence in Ondo town.

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Bayern decimates Barca 8 – 2 to reach CL semifinal

In an incredible Champions League encounter, Bayern Munich decimated an insipid Barcelona to reach the semi-finals, winning 8-2 in Lisbon.

The tone was set early on as Thomas Muller – making his 113th Champions League appearance – scored inside four minutes, but it was soon cancelled out by a freak own goal from David Alaba (7). The first-half floodgates then opened as Ivan Perisic (22), Serge Gnabry (28) and Muller (31) netted in quick succession.

Quique Setien bought on Antoine Griezmann at the break and there was a glimmer of hope for Barcelona when Luis Suarez made in 4-2 in the 57th minute, but it was short lived with half of Bayern’s goals still to come.

a sensational solo run from Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich (63) slotted home the fifth before a late glut of goals embarrassed an abysmal Barcelona even further. Not to be left out, Robert Lewandowski (82) saw his goal given after a tight VAR review.

Barcelona loanee Philippe Coutinho then netted a late double (85, 89), with the eighth and final goal drawing an angry reaction from a number of the Barcelona substitutes, who displayed more passion than any of their team-mates on the field over the 90 minutes.

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MURIC Condemns Christianization of Oyo TESCOM Examination

The Muslim Rights Concern Group MURIC has condemned what it terms as Christianization of ongoing teaching service examination in Oyo State.

The statement signed and released today to the PRESS by the President of the organization, Professor Ishaaq Akintola which reads: “Muslims who took part in the CBT examination organised by the Oyo State TESCOM were shocked when questions on Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK or BK) surfaced among the questions. They had earlier received information that candidates would be tested in Mathematics, English Language, Current Affairs, Knowledge of Teaching Education and the candidate’s special area. But to their dismay, they found questions on CRK like explaining how Moses was a shepherd to his father-in-law and how Elijah was thrown into the fire.

“These CRK questions have the potential of putting Muslim candidates at great disadvantage while Christian candidates are most likely to score high marks. This will eventually lead to the disqualification of Muslim candidates and the employment of Christian teachers. The bias becomes more pronounced when it is realised that no Islamic knowledge question was asked to create a balance.

“MURIC frowns at this lopsided arrangement. It is grossly unfair to Muslims. It should be noted that this is an exercise which has direct bearing on the welfare of the candidates’ families. The implications are far-reaching, including a calculated attempt to impoverish Muslim families while Christian families are enriched.

“We therefore reject the exercise. We call on the state governor to order TESCOM to conduct another CBT examination. We are astounded by the level of Christianisation going on in Oyo state agencies since the appointment of Christian chairmen and directors.

“We call the attention of Nigerians and the international community to this episode. It is a pointer to what has been going on in most South West states. Muslims have been turned into underdogs. Unfortunately those who complain among us are labelled as terrorists. We are threatened with assassination and blackmailed as receivers of funds from terrorist groups. All these in an effort to get those who oppose the persecution of Muslims out of the way so that the oppressors can continue in their evil ways ad infinitum.

“For the umpteenth time, MURIC affirms that threats of assassination, blackmail, character assassination, falsehood and forgeries aimed at implicating MURIC will not deter it from speaking for the oppressed and marginalised Muslims anywhere in Nigeria.

“In our concluding remarks, we denounce the imposition of bible questions on Muslims. We appeal to the governor of Oyo State to order a resit of the CBT examination on a level playing ground.”

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Baby Blue Angels Foundation Donates Alcohol-Based Sanitizers, Surgical Masks to Oyo Govt.

The Baby Blue Angels Foundation donates alcohol-based sanitizers, surgical masks to Oyo State Government.

The donation was made known today at the State Secretariat as part of the objectives of the Foundation to reach out to the less privileged, government agencies, MDAs, indigents and others in its bid to contribute and play a pivotal role towards nation building.

Motunrayo Omolara Ajadi who spoke on behalf of the founder of the Foundation, Ramata Agberemi Dabo while delivering the items today to the Ministry of Health as received by the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Bashir Bello and members of his staff gave the background and historical records of the Foundation as thus:

In her words, “Let me go back to the memory lane and give a brief historical background and track records of the Foundation. The Baby Blue Angels Foundation was initially established in the United States of America by our noble, soft-spoken and kind-hearted founder, Ramata Agberemi Dabo, with the main aim of affecting lives positively both in Nigeria and in the diaspora.

“The foundation was launched in Nigeria on the 23rd of December, 2019. It is amazing to know that before we were officially launched, we had already hit the ground running by reaching out to schools, hospitals, the less privileged within and outside Ibadan metropolis in our own little way.”

She further highlighted some of the past achievements and the vision of the Foundation. She said, on the eve of the official launching, they were able to donate an optimal hearing aids to the deaf and dumb unit of the Methodist Grammar School, Bodija, Ibadan and also distributed some gift items to the widows, aged, persons with disabilities and the less privileged individuals.

She was further quoted as saying, “on the 25th of December, 2019 which marked the Christmas day was another eventful day as Baby Blue Angels Foundation team visited hospital, specifically, Adeoyo Maternity State Hospital to donate gifts and money to mothers who gave birth on that day, as well as visiting the less privileged, orphanage homes and market women to donate gifts in order to bring succour to them so as to ensure that the festive period was glamorous for them. We also ensured that they maintained good hygiene by engaging them in health talks on health related issues while also stressing the need for lactating mothers to remain healthy and strong”.

She said, ‘in addendum to the health talks, they distributed quite a number of vitamin supplements to them immediately.”

The account of the past activities of the foundation further reads: “on the 14th of February, 2020 which happened to be another memorable day of celebrating love, the Foundation out of the love for social service and service to humanity donated 32 inches LG television to motherless home in Ibadan and alot of food items were also distributed to several households in commemoration of the significance of the day and also reached out to the motherless homes, Agodi Correctional Centre with alot of gifts such as towels, toiletries and personal items most especially for female inmates”.

She disclosed further that “In March, during the partial lockdown occasioned by the spread of COVID-19, alot of palliative measures were given to widows, adults and less privileged people in the outskirt of Ibadan and that they talked to them on the need to take care of their health while also stressing the importance of taking multivitamin to boost their immune system. She averred that, cash gifts were also distributed to them to buy the required vitamin thereafter.

Omolara, while speaking further, said, In April, the second batch of palliatives were distributed which included gloves and sanitizers to primary health centers and that on 13th of July, 2020 which was the second week of resumption day for pupils/students in terminal classes in Oyo State, Baby Blue Angels Foundation team presented tap-fitted buckets and sanitizers to Oyo State government through the Ministry of Education so as to contain the spread of Coronavirus.

She crowned her remark by saying that the above highlighted historical records of the achievements of the Baby Blue Angels Foundation were few out of many they have done in Oyo State.

She likened the decision to donate 500 alcohol-based Sanitizers and 1500 surgical masks to the Ministry of Health as an effort in complementing the efforts of the state government towards containing the spread of the pandemic and stressed the need for solidarity and collective efforts to flatten the curve of the disease. She however commends all stakeholders from the health practitioners to government agencies and the security agencies for their doggedness and commitment to ensuring the safety of all.

The Commissioner of Health, Dr. Bashir Bello while commending the kind gesture shown by the Baby Blue Angels Foundation thanked them for showing solidarity at this trying time and charged them not to relent in their task of service to humanity.

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BREAKING: Unemployment rate in Nigeria spikes from 23.1% to 27.1% – NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics NBS in its latest report has put unemployment rate in Nigeria at 27.1% in the 3rd quarter of 2020 as against the last figure which stood at 23.1%.

According to its Labour Force Statistics report released on Monday, the number of unemployed Nigerians went from 20.93 in 2018 to 21.76 million in the second quarter of 2020.

This means more than 17 million Nigerians have become unemployed since December 2014, while the total working age population has grown by almost the same number in those six years.

For the first time in the history of the revised NBS unemployment reports, the number of people in the labour force willing to work dropped.

The number of people in the labour force willing to work dropped by at least 10 million, according to NBS.

“A rise in the unemployment rate is not entirely equivalent to an increase in job losses. Rather, an increase in unemployment can occur as a result of several reasons, of which loss of an existing job is just one,” NBS noted.

The bureau stated that unemployment could increase due to “people previously outside the labor force (e.g students, housewives, etc)” deciding to join.

PwC had predicted that the unemployment rate in Nigeria would jump from 23.1 percent in 2018 to 35 percent in 2020 — but the current unemployment rate, according to NBS, stands at 27.1 percent.

The report also revealed that unemployment is prevalent among the age group 25 to 34, where over seven million people are unemployed.

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UNILAG Senate Rejects VC Removal, Calls For The Dissolution of Governing Council

The faceoff between UNILAG VC, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe and the Governing Council led by Wale Babalakin SAN has come with a new dimension. You will recall that Governing Council in its meeting held on Wednesday 12th of August announced the removal of the Vice Chancellor via a statement released and signed by the Registrar of the University who also doubles as the Secretary to the Council. In the statement, the Governing Council said its decision to remove the VC was based on the investigations bordering on serious wrongdoings, gross misconduct, financial recklessness and abuse of office levelled against the VC.

Meanwhile, the Senate of the University at its emergency meeting held yesterday has rejected the removal of the VC and claimed that the decision of the Governing Council did not follow the laws that guide the University system. The Senate further calls on President Muhammad Buhari being the visitor of the University to dissolve the Governing Council with immediate effect as its purpose and mandate of ensuring peaceful environment in the school has been defeated and failure to dissolve the Council might plunge the University into an unending crisis.

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