Posts

Posted on

2023: Osinbajo/Zulum Presidential Ticket Will Give Overwhelming Victory To APC – Party Chieftain

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Garus Gololo, has advised the party to field Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo, and Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, for an overwhelming victory in the 2023 presidential election.

Speaking in an interview in Abuja on Friday, Gololo said Osibanjo has displayed competence, loyalty, hard work and statesmanship to pilot the affairs of the country.

Gololo said, with dialogue and negotiation, power could rotate to the south, despite the fact that the north has the numbers, adding that the south might not pick it the way they are going about threatening the north.

“In politics, what you do when you want votes is to consult with people, dialogue and negotiate with them. For now, who are you fighting for? You can’t fight for Tinubu because already he is aged. He is already in UK hospital, do you want to be going back to London as we are going? We cannot take that thing again, we are okay.

“I can vote Osinbajo direct because he is a person of integrity, he is loyal to the president, he can do anything you think of and he is not biased. When he speaks anywhere, he represents Nigeria, not ethnic or parochial view. I respect him and can go with him.

“If Osinbajo is going with Zulum, before 12 O’clock, we would have seen the results. But if you pick Tinubu, who will he pair with? I understand he wants to run with Boss Mustapha, who lost his ward in Hong in 2019. His younger brother bought the form for State Assembly, but did not succeed, is that who will be vice president?”, he said.

On the agitation for power shift by the south and the attendant comments credited to Northern Elders Forum, Gololo threw his weight behind the north, saying the south should rather consult widely and dialogue with the north, rather than engaging in acts that would jeopardize their chances.

He said, “I am solidly behind them. I’m from the North. If you watch very well, the Governor of Ondo state, Akeredolu said if the party fails to zone the presidency to the South West, there will be no APC in 2023 in Nigeria. This is the same person, a sitting governor, who could not deliver his state to the president in 2019. A sitting governor who was defeated by PDP, and you are making this type of statement?

“He just entered politics by chance because he has no background, otherwise, he has no business in politics. Some of his utterances don’t make sense in politics. Party is supreme, no matter what. What matters in politics is whether you can deliver your ward. You cannot deliver your state as a sitting governor and you are saying there must be zoning. Zone to who?

“Left for people like him, Buhari would have lost the 2019 election. Already we know where we are going, we have the votes. Nobody can intimidate us using zoning. We have the votes and you have yours, let us go to the poll. We are not fighting, votes will determine who will be, simple”.

He stressed that “In politics if you have a candidate in mind you want to campaign for, you can go round, discuss with the people, hold meetings with the local community – the elders, youths, women. But you cannot come out directly, after signing “Anti-open grazing” law and talk of zoning. He signed Anti-grazing law, but he cannot sign votes, we will sign that for ourselves in 2023”.

Posted on

October 1: Ogun Govt Announces 3-Day Programme To Mark Independence Anniversary

The Ogun State Government has announced a 3-day programme of activities marking Nigeria’s 61st Independence Anniversary in the state.

The 2021 National Day celebration begins on Friday September 24 with a commemorative Jumat service at the Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta, at 1.00pm.

The anniversary train moves to the Cathedral of St Peter, Ake, on Sunday September 26 for an inter-denominational Church Service which begins at 10.00a.m

A special parade featuring members of the Armed Forces, the Police, Labour and trade Union Groups, children from Schools across the State, will hold on Friday 1st October 2021 at the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium, Kuto as part of the grand finale marking the end of the celebration.

The State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun urges all Nigerians, especially residents of Ogun State to embrace peace and work for the progress of the country, noting that no nation can become great without sacrifice by its citizens.

“Nigeria is a great country and will be greater if all her citizens reject ethnic and political divisions, religious bigotry and sectionalism” Governor Abiodun added.

Posted on

NSCDC Parades 8 Suspects For Currency Counterfeiting, Other Crimes In Ekiti

THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti State command has paraded 8 suspects for alleged currency counterfeiting, obtaining money by false pretence, breach of trust, criminal conversions and drug-related offences.

Items recovered from them include substances suspected to be Indian hemp, fake foreign and local currency, a Toyota Matrix car and four travel bags filled with items suspected to be some charms.

Three of them: Shittu Idowu, 47; Ogunkorode Kayode, 51 and Akinyemi Olumide Victor, 29 were accused of duping a complainant from Abuja about N6.7million.

One Abimbola Sunday, 30, was also paraded for using a stolen ATM card to procure an expensive wine worth over N485,000 at a popular hotel in Ado-Ekiti

The NSCDC boss in Ekiti, John Fayemi, also paraded one Ajayi Bose Bamidele, 28, who specialised in job racketeering and said to have collected the sum of N150,000 from an applicant with a promise for a job in NSCDC.

Others are two brothers: Otamini God’s power, 24, and Otamini Wisdom, 22, for defrauding a POS operator of about N150,000, and one Iyiola Abayomi, 30 for theft in Olorunda area of Ado-Ekiti.

Fayemi said they would be charged as soon as the investigation was concluded.

He urged the youths to shun all acts that could lead them to crime, saying the truth and hard work pay.

Posted on

Cholera outbreak: Oyo Govt launches prevention measures, urges residents to stay calm

Oyo State government, on Friday, reassured the residents of the state of its preparedness to prevent the outbreak of cholera in the nooks and crannies of the state.

Speaking at the press conference held at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Mufutau Ayoola, implored the people to ensure they properly dispose of their faeces and refuse, while improving on their personal hygiene henceforth.

He equally maintained that disease surveillance and notification officers in all the 33 Local Government Areas of the state have been put on red alert to institute preventive measures and sensitization of health professionals, with a view to promptly responding to outbreaks of cholera in our areas.

“The State Ministry of Health wishes to draw the attention of the members of the public to the need to prevent the outbreak of Cholera among the populace.

“Cholera is a water-borne illness which is highly contagious. It is an infection that is transmitted from person to person through faeces oral route, that is through eating food or drinking of water contaminated by faeces, especially where the source of drinking water has been polluted by flooding in unprotected wells as well as attending a large gathering of people during ceremonies such as wedding and funeral and contact with persons with cholera or who died of cholera.

“The disease often presents with frequent watery diarrhea and vomiting and it is common where people practice open defecation.

“Members of the public are hereby implored to always take some precautions and preventive measures. They should avoid drinking water from doubtful sources, e.g streams, wells that have been polluted by floodwater.

“Avoid dumping of faeces and refuse into streams and rivers. Ensure water from doubtful sources is boiled, and cooled before drinking
Regular hand washing after visiting the toilet, bathroom, and attending to anyone stooling.

“Washing fruits and vegetables well with clean water before eating. Cover all foods and drinks from out of reach of house flies.

“The disease surveillance and notification officers in all the 33 LGAS of the State and have been put on alert to institute preventive measures, and sensitization of health professionals in public and private hospitals to promptly respond to the outbreak of Cholera in the event of any occurrence.

“We want to also reassure the populace of effective preparedness for the prevention of outbreak of cholera and wish to implore the populace to properly dispose of their faeces and refuse and improve on their personal hygiene,” he said.

Speaking further, He added that suspected individuals should be referred to the nearest government hospitals for free and quality care service

He, therefore, urged the general public to alert the Ministry of Health by calling the hotlines – 09058704101, 08025245809, to report suspected cases.

Posted on

FG bans SS1 and SS2 students from participating in WASSCE, NECO, NABTEB

The Federal Government has stopped students in Senior Secondary School one and two from participating in external West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the National Examination Council (NECO), and National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).

The development was contained in a circular issued to principals of federal unity schools by the Federal Ministry of Education.

The circular was signed by the ministry’s Director, Senior Secondary Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, and confirmed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Ben Bem Goong, on Friday, September 24.

The circular read, “The ministry’s attention has been drawn to the flagrant disregard to its directive on (the) writing of external examinations such as NABTEB (NTC and NBC), WASSCE, NECO (SSCE) by SS1 and SS2 students.

Students who are involved in the practice find it difficult to settle down on serious studies. They become unruly and distract other students from achieving their goals.

Any student caught to have written any of the above examinations in SS1 or SS2 classes will be expelled from the college. All students must write these examinations after they have been duly registered for the examination by the college.

All students of Federal Unity College should adhere strictly to the content of this circular. And Principals are advised to bring the content of this circular to the knowledge of all parents of the college.”

Posted on

Policeman killed, scores injured as Okada riders clash with Lagos Task Force

A policeman was yesterday feared killed, while scores were injured, following a clash between commercial motorcyclists, popularly called okada, street urchins (area boys) and operatives of Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce), in the Ajao Estate area of the state.

ODUDUWA NEWS learnt that trouble started when Task Force operatives raided the area to clampdown on okada riders and their motorcycles.

The action led to a protest by okada riders with support of street urchins, who unleashed mayhem in the area, destroying cars and properties worth millions of naira.

The raid was part of the task force’s continued measure to put an end to okada riders’ penchant to disregard traffic rules and regulations in Lagos metropolist.

The area about 6:30p.m., most shops on busy Lateef Salami Street, Awoniyi Elemo, Asa-Afriogun and the popular Osolo way were closed, while commuters were stranded, as tricycles popularly called Keke Marwa were off the road, as operators scamper to safety.     But Chairman of the task force, CSP Shola Jejeloye,  in a statement issued yesterday by the Head, Public Affairs Unit, Femi Moliki, reiterated the unit’s resolve not rest on its oars until commercial motorcyclists’ penchant to disregard traffic rules and regulations is drastically reduced in the state.

According to an eyewitness under the condition of anonymity, okada operators are recalcitrant, as they have continued to operate on the expressway, and even park indiscriminately, thereby obstructing free flow of traffic.

He listed  Ikeja along on Agege Motor Road, 2nd Rainbow, Iyana- Isolo, Toyota Bus Stop, and Mile 2, along  Oshodi-Apapa expressway as areas the motorcyclists have continued to operate in total disregard to extant laws.

Giving a breakdown of motorcyclists impounded, Moliki said a total of 410 motorcycles were impounded between last week and Wednesday, September 22 on prohibited routes, while 300 were impounded last week and 110 seized on Wednesday.

He explained that operatives of the agency carried out enforcement in Isolo, Ojodu – Berger, Ojota, Lagos Island and Surulere last week, while the enforcement drive of the agency was also extended to 2nd Rainbow, where it seized 110 motorcycles on Wednesday.

Posted on

FG Considers Fresh Charges Against Sunday Igboho

The Federal Government may file a fresh action against Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo (also known as Sunday Igboho), following the judgment of Oyo State High Court which awarded N20 billion in damages in his favour.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, told NAN in New York that the Federal Government may file fresh charges against the agitator.

Malami said the position of the Federal Government on the judgment was about “law and jurisdiction”.
“As far as this matter is concerned, which court is it that has the jurisdiction to determine it? And as you rightly know, obedient to court orders and court judgments,” he said.
“But then you have to understand within the context of such obedience that there are associated rights and interests that are vested in the Federal Government.

“Inclusive of rights of appealing against a judgment, inclusive of right to file an application for settingaside the purported judgment and order.

“And indeed, inclusive of the possibility of filling a fresh action if indeed the jurisdiction of the court that was alleged to have indeed handed that judgment is an issue.

“So, we are doing the needful in terms of looking at the law as it exists and then working within the context of the law in ensuring that justice is done as far as the contending issues between the parties are concerned,” the minister was quoted as saying.

Posted on

Osun @ 30: Akeredolu, Akande, Oyinlola, Akala, Alaafin, others grace anniversary awards

Prominent Nigerians from all walks of life, on Thursday, converged on Osogbo, the Osun State capital, to felicitate with the government and people of Osun, as the State concluded its 30th anniversary celebration with awards presentation to distinguished citizens.

The event had in attendance former and sitting governors across Nigeria, including: Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun State Governor, Dr. Dapo Abiodun who were represented; former Governors of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former Oyo State Governor, Otunba Alao Akala; Former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake; first class traditional rulers, including the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi who was represented; Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Achebe, among other dignitaries.

This is even as the Governor of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, charged citizens to pull their collective strength to work, irrespective of their political differences and sentiments, for a greater tomorrow, saying that state-building is a collective enterprise.

Recall that the State had earlier announced that the Banquet and Awards ceremony would be the grand of the series of activities lined up to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the creation of Osun, where 28 distinguished and prominent citizens of the State would be honoured.

Describing the event as symbolic, Oyetola, who ensured a minute silence was held in honour of the first Civilian Governor of the State, the late Isiaka Adeleke, said it was deserving to pay tributes to the illustrious men and women who have held sway as leaders of the people.

He said: “We are here today because you all provided direction and showed distinct leadership in a manner that has earned our State its deserved recognition and reputation over the years. We are grateful to you all.

“This banquet and awards is designed to recognise and celebrate our distinguished citizens and friends of the State whose phenomenal contributions in the various fields of endeavour have made Osun proud and have helped to build the Osun of our founding fathers’ dream.

“They are eminent individuals whose contributions and legacies have inspired our people, especially our youths, to believe in our dear State and continue to fly its flag high.

“Twenty-eight persons have received awards in four categories at this event as follows: 11 recipients of Lifetime Achievement Award, 10 recipients of Osun Distinguished Citizen Award, 2 recipients of Legacy Award, while 5 persons got the Osun Merit Award.

“Knowing how blessed we are with the gift of highly-illustrious and accomplished men in all facets of life, we have resolved to continue to honour the best of us. This, we believe, will motivate our teeming youths to aspire high and achieve greater heights.

“On behalf of the government and the good People of Osun, I thank our awardees for their monumental contributions to our dear State, the nation and the world, and for leading lives that inspire us and our posterity to build a greater Osun.

“State building is a collective enterprise. Therefore, we all must, more than ever, pull our collective strength to work irrespective of our political differences and sentiments, for a greater tomorrow.

“We must consider it an urgent task to galvanise our diverse strengths, goodwill and resources to chart a pathway that delivers the Osun of our dreams. That is the least we owe ourselves and the generations coming behind us. We cannot afford to fail.

“I call on all to rise and let us build a better Osun that is reflective of our true potential as the cradle of humanity.”

Governor Oyetola also urged citizens to continue to collaborate with the government to achieve sustainable development promised and already being delivered.

He continued: “Let us drink and toast to our collective success and the avowed resolve of our administration to build a solid structure for trans-generational development in Osun.

“The journey to building a stronger and more prosperous Osun continues with greater resolve and hope from here. I invite you all to come on board”, he added.

Also speaking at the event, the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, commended the government of Osun on the awards, describing it as a welcome development because of its potential to ignite high hopes and hunger for diligence and excellence in the youths.

The honourees, under the Osun Lifetime Achievement Award, included: Chief Bisi Akande (former Governor, Osun State), Pastor Enoch Adeboye (General Overseer, RCCG worldwide), Sheikh Abdur’rasheed Hadiyatulla (President, Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria), and General Ipoola Alani Akinrinnade, rtd. (former Chief of Army Staff, Nigeria from October 1979 to April 1980, and then Chief of Defence Staff until 1981 during the Nigerian Second Republic).

Others in the lifetime achievement category are: Asiwaju Hammed Omidiran, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, Prince Tunde Ponle, Professor Olu Aina, Chief Akinwande Akinola, Engr. Joanah Olu Maduka, and Chief Dr. Benjamin Adigun.

The State, under the Legacy Award category, also recognised Dr. Folorunsho Alakija (Chancellor, Osun State University and dynamic philanthropist), and the late Madam Susanne Wenger (a culture and tourism icon).

The Osun Merit Award honourees included Emeritus Prof. Ademola Oyejide, Chief Nike Okundaye, Professor Oye Gureje, Professor Isaac Adewole, and Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN.

The Osun Distinguished Citizens Award honourees included Pastor Matthew Asimolowo, Alagba Yemi Elebubon, Brigadier General Leo Segun Ajiborisha (retired), Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, Asiwaju Khamis Olatunde Badmus, Prince Lawal Obelawo, Chief Moses Inaolaji Aboaba, Mr. Adewale Adeyemo, Mr. Kola Adeniji and Mr. Mike Awoyinfa.

Chief Bisi Akande, in appreciating the honours done past leaders, commended the government of Osun for recognising the services and labours of the former governors.

He observed that the journey into the position of power was filled with the good and the bad as the past governors have experienced series of challenges while in power such as labour unrest and difficulties in payment of salaries of workers with the state’s meager resources.

He congratulated and commended past governors for meeting these challenges despite the meager resources that accrued to them from Abuja and called on the people of the state to continue to offer the necessary support to the Administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in order to take osun to an enviable height.

“I congratulate my colleagues for having served the State and I congratulate the people of the State for having reached this height. I pray Osun will continue to grow from strength to strength and I pray all the past leaders will never have reasons to regret the services they have rendered to the State”, Akande said.

One of the high points of the event was the decoration of the former Military Administrators and Governors of the State since its creation in 1991 by the incumbent, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

Governor Oyetola was in turn decorated by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Posted on

Buhari Displayed Amazing Capacity To Forgive Fani-Kayode By Receiving Him In Aso-Villa – Femi Adesina

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed reasons why Fani-Kayode was received at the Aso Presidential Villa.

This was contained in a statement made available today by the Spokesman, Femi Adesina as read in part:

“Not a small ruckus has been caused by the defection of former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK), from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last week.

“An icing on the cake, or the salt added to injury (depending on which side you are), was his reception at the Presidential Villa by Muhammadu Buhari, father of the nation. The development has been rocking the polity for many days.

“FFK is by no means a miscellaneous personality, and whatever he does, or does not do, attracts loads of attention.

“He was a founding member of the APC, before he ported back to the PDP. And he did not leave quietly. He ruffled feathers and stirred up the mud. He became a rabid hater of his former party and its members.

“Between last week and now, vitriol poured by FFK on anybody with the slightest affinity to APC has been dug up serially. He has said things straight from the gutters, things that the natural man would call unforgivable and unpardonable. Against President Buhari, the first family, Yusuf Buhari whom he wished had died when the latter had an almost fatal bike accident, APC as a party, the government, leaders of the party, groups and individuals. Even this writer has suffered horrid descriptions from FFK in many write-ups.

“Yes, he even said he would rather die than return to APC, but last week, he returned—well and alive.

“Naturally, a lot of loyal APC members are hopping mad that FFK was readmitted into the party. And not only that, he got back at the highest level. Not at his ward in Ile-Ife, Osun State, but the triumphal entry was at the Presidential Villa, with President Buhari himself as the host.

“I understand the umbrage taken against the development by teeming APC supporters. It’s the natural thing to do. But then, having vented spleen, raised dust and almost brought down the roof, the next thing is to isolate the issues dispassionately. With the bile displayed towards President Buhari and his family over the years, how did the man find the grace to have received FFK? How was he convinced? Who did the convincing? What were the extenuating factors? How? When? Why?

“By agreeing to the readmission of FFK to APC as the leader of the party, and hosting him at the Villa, President Buhari displayed amazing capacity to forgive, to show mercy, and let bygones be bygones. How many of us can do that? Not many.

“Remember William Shakespeare in Merchant of Venice:
“The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blessed him that gives and him that takes…
It is an attribute of God Himself.”

“That was what Buhari did to FFK. He showed him mercy, dropping like gentle rain from heaven, when he could have otherwise spat into the sky, collecting the spittle with his own face. Was that not what me and you would have done? Confess. We would have told FFK to go to hell, and stay there. But Buhari didn’t. He displayed an attribute of God: forgiveness.

“One of the lies that had been serially told against the President was his alleged unforgiving spirit, a falsehood sold to Nigerians by anti-Buhari forces since the days of military rule. The lie traveled for so long, till it was eventually overtaken by the truth in one day. Nigerians saw through the facade, and elected Buhari as President in 2015. Re-elected him with wider margin in 2019.

“I have worked with the President for over six years. And I have seen amazing things in terms of accommodation and capacity to forgive. I have visited him at home many times in the evenings, only to find at dinner table with him people who had been abusing his forefathers on television earlier in the day. This President has a capacity to forgive, and forget. And make peace. That was what he displayed in the case of FFK. Nothing short of divine attribute, which me and you should covet and seek to approximate.

“True, the brother of the prodigal son in the Good Book was unhappy, after his sibling had engaged in riotous living, squandered his inheritance, and came back home in penury. And the father received him with glee, and slaughtered the fatted calf in celebration.

“The brother was indignant. He accused the father of bad faith, saying he had remained faithful and loyal, and not once did the father give him a goat to kill, and make merry with his friends.

“That is the case of the APC members who have been unhappy at the reception given FFK. He did not deserve it, they claim. True. But how many things don’t we deserve, but which eventually come our way? That is the inscrutable nature of God, and we should not begrudge ourselves, or anybody else. How many things have come your way, which you really don’t deserve? But God gave those things to you, nevertheless. Same with FFK.

“I think those screaming blue murder and lamenting the injustice and unfairness of it all should hold their peace. They have made their points, and should let things be. Enough! FFK is back, let sleeping dogs lie. He may stay this time round, as he claims to have had a Damascus road experience, which turned Saul to Paul.

“Many times, FFK has used unprintable words against me. He has deployed phrases from the nether region against me. But after writing those things, and we met in public places, he would embrace me, calling me his “friend and brother.” I agree, we are brothers, though I should hold giant sized grudges against him. President Buhari has shown us the way . To err is human, to forgive, divine.

“And come to think of it. Is it pleasant to swallow one’s vomit? Nah. But that was what FFK did. All those foul words against the President, the APC, the government, many people in government. He has swallowed them. Delicious? By no means. Pueh! You would feel like retching. So, let’s salute the courage of his conviction. It is rare, and not many people would do it.

“I welcome FFK back to APC. And I pray it is for an enduring time. I thank President Buhari for showing an astounding large heart. That’s how to be a father. He has confounded all those who peddle lies about him, and the balderdash about not forgiving.

“The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven. It has dropped upon FFK. May it always drop on us, for “it blesses him that gives, and him that takes.” Amen, somebody!.”

Posted on

Pastor Kumuyi Sends Message To Buhari Over Repentant Boko Haram Terrorists

Pastor Williams Kumuyi of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, on Thursday cautioned the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government over the handling of repentant Boko Haram members.

Kumuyi said the Federal Government should be careful on the matter.

He spoke during his arrival in Abuja for a 5-Day crusade with the theme, “Divine Solution Global”.

The Deeper Life Superintendent General said such action would help to restore peace in Nigeria.

According to Kumuyi: “Because of the past experiences, the government will have to look at the situation, look at real members that surrendered and their sincerity, and as we think about that together, it is a two-way program, which is like having the carrot and the stick, but sometimes we have to approach the carrot method so that there can be peace. The important thing is not to punish a culprit, the important thing is to have peace in our country.

“I believe that as we move to the next phase as a country and as individuals and family together, I believe that real independence from all the things that oppress, attack and torture our lives will come. We are going to have real freedom and solution for every problem,” Kumuyi said.

You cannot copy content of this page