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Twitter Ban To Be Lifted After Fulfilling All 12 Conditions – FG

The Federal Government has said the suspension of Twitter has not been lifted because the company has met 10 out of the 12 conditions given it.

The government however raised the hope of Nigerians that it is a matter of time before all issues with Twitter are resolved.

But it clarified that the suspension of Twitter had nothing to do with issues bordering on President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made the clarifications while responding to a question from a participant at Nigeria International Partnership Forum in Paris.

Most investors at the forum were eager about the circumstances behind the suspension of Twitter.

Mohammed, who spoke in fluent French, caught the audience unawares.

The lady participant, who asked the question was perplexed and caught off guard by the Minister’s mastery of French.

But Mohammed took time to explain why the suspension of Twitter was not yet lifted.

He said:”I want to categorically say that Twitter was not banned by Nigera, it was only suspended. So, Twitter was never banned, it was suspended.

” Also, the suspension has nothing to do with President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The correspondences between us and Twitter have reached advanced stage. I want to say that the correspondences and the exchanges have been fruitful.

“But we have a few more issues to resolve. Out of about 12 conditions, Twitter has been able to meet 10.

“Very soon, all issues will be resolved in a way that it will be good for both our country and Twitter.”

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Gov Akeredolu Tasks FG To Devolve Power To States For Effectiveness

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has said the hue and cry about restructuring which has pervaded the entire country is about devolving power to the states to make them function effectively.

Governor Akeredolu, who declared that he doesn’t believe in the disintegration of the country, said the fiscal policy and over-centralisation of power in the hands of the Federal Government has turned the country into a unitary nation.

The Governor spoke on Tuesday while playing host to officials of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission, NSSEC, who are in the state for a One-Day Advocacy and Sensitisation Workshop on the establishment of the commission with Education Stakeholders in Southwest States of Nigeria.

Lamenting that putting many items in the exclusive list has concentrated too much powers in the hands of the federal government, Arakunrin Akeredolu noted that the unity of the country is based on sustainable true federalism.

He identified over centralisation of structures of governance as a major reason for the unending agitations for restructuring.

Arakunrin Akeredolu therefore called for devolution of powers to enable the states function effectively as federating units within the federation.

The Governor advised the NSSEC to limit its operations to curriculum formulation, monitoring and implementation rather than wholesale take-over of secondary schools administration in the country.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Benjamin Abakpa, said the sensitisation to the geopolitical zone was to get policy makers acquainted of reasons why the commission was set up by the federal government.

He said regulation of Secondary School Education, intervention on areas of needs and setting minimum standards are critical objectives before the commission to actualise, in a bid to strengthen the post-primary level of education in the country.

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Oluwo: There are only two festivals in Islam, there is nothing like Odun Olohun – Wazeer of Yorubaland

The Wazeer of Yorubaland, Sheikh Muhammad Yahqub, said there are only two recognized festivals in Islam, anything aside that is not permissible in the religion.

Before the event, the Wazeer of Yorubaland came out publicly to urge Oluwo to reconsider his stance on the celebration of the planned Odun Olohun. However, Oluwo proceeded with the event as different religious leaders and personalities graced the event.

In his words, Sheikh Yahqub Muhammad narrated that his closeness with Oluwo won’t stop him to say the truth when it comes to the commandment of Allah. He said Oluwo has done exemplary things as a Muslim king in Yorubaland, however, the truth is that Odun Olohun is not part of the religion. He urged Oba Adewale Akanbi to ensure the festival celebrated should be the first and last of such.

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Oyo Muslim Community Alleges TESCOM Of Using Muslim Students For ‘Daniel Kolenda’ Crusade

In recent times, there has been allegation that the Teaching Service Commission of Oyo State, TESCOM has connived with Daniel Kolenda Crusade team to coerce Muslim students for its forthcoming crusade in Ibadan.

The Muslim Community of Oyo State (MUCOYOS) has accused the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), of forcing Muslim students to listen to Christian preaching.

MUCOYOS noted that Muslim students were being forced to attend Christian crusade in preparation for a programme aimed at receiving a German Christian crusader, Evangelist Daniel Kolenda.

MUCOYOS specifically pointed out that it was disheartening that on Friday 29th October, a crusade team was at Sasa Community High School, where Muslim students were deliberately disallowed from observing Jum’at service.

The group in a statement signed by the duo of Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni (Chairman) and Alhaji Murisiku Abidemi Siyanbade (Secretary-General) alleged that the Muslim students in other schools in Ibadan were kept on a special christian evangelization assembly against their faith.

The duo alleged that the crusade team were sent to the schools with the approval of the TESCOM Chairman, Mr. Akin Alamu.

They then advised that the TESCOM Chairman should stop forcing Muslim Students into Christianity.

The statement read: “For some time now, preparations have been in top gear to receive a German Christian Crusader, Evangelist Daniel Kolenda (successor of Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke), coming to Ibadan for a big crusade, tagged ‘Great Gospel Crusade’

“What’s bad about crusades? Nothing, really. But it is gross abuse of office for Pastor Chairman and Church Elder Permanent Secretary of Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), to watch, while for over two weeks now, the crusade teams have been going round schools in Ibadan to forcefully bring out students, coercing them to listen to christian preaching.

“This is very disheartening. On Friday 29th October, a crusade team was at Sasa Community High School, where Muslim students were deliberately disallowed from observing Jum’at by keeping them on a special christian evangelization assembly, specifically organised to mobilise them for the Kolenda crusade. Same has been replicated in many schools in Ibadan.

“It is unimaginable that we still find ourselves in this kind of situation, all because we have a Pastor TESCOM chairman, who is either forcing school principals to implement this crusade, or he is simply looking the other way or; just flagrantly disregarding the extant circular of the Ministry of Education outlawing devotions at school assemblies.

“The system is so bad that, the event is not even happening during the morning assembly, but rather, special assemblies are called when the students should be in class. Everyone is complaining that Oyo State is not doing well in public examinations. Are we not making it worse when precious teaching time is spent on evangelization?

“This is impunity.

“TESCOM Chairman should stop forcing Muslim Students into Christianity. It is not acceptable.

“H.E. Governor Seyi Makinde, please call TESCOM Chairman to order.”

Meanwhile, Alamu while reacting, described the allegations as malicious.

Alamu, who spoke during a telephone conversation on Tuesday night said that he does not have time to respond to such allegations.

He said, “That is malicious. That is malicious and I do not have time to react to such.

“I am not ready to respond to such allegations.”

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2023: PDP Group Endorses Wike for President

A group, Cross River Renaissance Movement, has endorsed the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, to contest for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party come 2023.

The group said their support was based on the fact that Wike fights for the poor and the weak.

The pressure group which draws its membership from the Cross River State House of Assembly, immediate past commissioners, said this in a communique issued at the end of its meeting in Calabar, on Tuesday.

A former River State Commissioner for Water Resources, Gabe Odu-Oji, who read the communique said, “Against the background of the clarion call and passionate expectation of Nigerians for good and enduring leadership; having been dissatisfied with the rudderless leadership provided by the APC in the last six years, resolved amongst other issues, to call on leadership of the PDP to present a man with character and content as flag-bearer for the party’s presidential ticket in 2023 in order to further strengthen the faith of the people in the Nigerian polity.

“The group notes in particular, the sterling leadership qualities and developmental strides of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and after a careful prognosis of the political situation in the country, characterised by high-level insecurity across board, rising banditry, the proliferation of secessionist groups currently threatening the very fabric of our national unity, hereby calls on His Excellency, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, to declare for the 2023 presidential election in order to salvage Nigeria as clearly demonstrated in his outing as Governor of Rivers State.”

The group described Wike as “a nationalist who truly believes in the unity and indissolubility of Nigeria and has clearly demonstrated this in his uncompromising stance against separatist agitations and his liberal posture as demonstrated during the Sokoto inferno.”

Source: Punch News

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Fuel Scarcity Panic: We have over 1.7b litres of petrol, says NNPC

The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited yesterday advised consumers not to engage in panic buying of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as it has over 1.7 billion litres of the product.

Its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Malam Garba Deen Muhammad, made this known in a statement.

He said: “The public is hereby advised not to engage in panic buying of Premium Motor Spirit, more commonly known as petrol.

“The NNPC has over 1.7 billion litres of petrol in stock and more product is expected to arrive into the country daily over the coming weeks and months.

“It is, therefore, unnecessary to entertain any fear of scarcity of petrol throughout the festive season and beyond.

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INEC Announces Charles Soludo As Anambra Governor-Elect

Charles Soludo, the former Governor of Central of Nigeria, and the Governorship candidate of APGA at the just concluded Anambra Governorship Election has been declared Governor-Elect of the State

Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar (UNICAL) and Returning Officer, Anambra governorship election, Prof Florence Obi, announced Soludo as the Governor-Elect at exactly 1:51 am.

Obi announced the votes polled by the political parties as follows; APC, 43,285; APGA, 112,229; PDP, 53,807, among others.

She also stated the total number of valid votes in the election as follows; 241,523; rejected votes stood at 8,108, while the total vote cast in the election was given as 249,631.

Obi said: “This is the moment we have been waiting for. I want to use this opportunity to thank the chairman of INEC and his team for this opportunity given to me and my university to partake in this Anambra 2021. I thank the service chiefs, the people of Anambra State, we remain very grateful.

“Allow me to read this form EC8E, which I have completed. I Prof Florence Banku Obi hereby certify that I’m the returning officer of the Anambra governorship election held on 6 and 9 of November.

“That Charles Chukwuma Soludo of APGA, having certified the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner of the election,” Prof. Obi said.

Former chairman of APGA, Senator Victor Umeh, while reacting to the victory said the election was transparent, and is the best election so far held in the state.

“We have again won the state, despite the fact that some people boasted that they will win the state. This is to tell them that APGA is on ground, and it is not just about boasting of winning, but doing your homework well. I urge them to concede victory to our party and the candidate, because the people made a clear choice.”

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Man set ablaze for alleged kidnapping in Ibadan

One man identified to be alleged kidnapper was set ablaze very closed to Jogor Centre, Ibadan.

“The delivery made bike-man chase him into the gutter and the man ran underground prompting bike-men and angry people to set fire to materials, the eyewitness said.

Another eyewitness explained that, “the mad man tried crawling into another underground but couldn’t withstand the heat which made him go out eventually”.

“He was beaten and ran into the compound of Jogor center where he was brought out, beaten and set on fire”.

Among the items recovered included ATM cards, knives, and the names of six people who were seen in the list.

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Twins Detained Over N215,000 Hospital Bill

Twin babies (a boy and a girl) born on October 22 at Supreme Royal hospital in Lagos, have been detained by the hospital management over unpaid balance of N215,000 bills.

According to the mother, Sadiat Alao, she gave birth through Caesarean section, which she didn’t planned for and was billed N350,000.

She, however, said the father of the twins had been paying bit by bit, but was unable to offset the bill.

She said: “He has not showed up for over one week because of the balance and the more we stay in the hospital, the more we will continue to incur more bills.

“I am begging kind-hearted Nigerians to come to my aid because of these twins.”

Efforts made to talk to the Medical Director proved abortive as we were told he wasn’t available.

Sadiat can be reached via 08172024662

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