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JUST IN: Two Chinese Nationals Abducted By Gunmen In Osun State

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that some unknown gunmen went on rampage in Osun State and abducted two Chinese nationals on a mining site.

The State Police Command confirmed the incident through its spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, who disclosed in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday night.

He noted that a tactical team has been deployed to ensure safe rescue of the kidnapped persons and that the incident occurred in Okepa/Itikan village, Ifewara area of the state.

Two guards from a private company who were providing security for the Chinese nationals, were said to have been shot during the incident, and are now receiving treatment.

The statement read, “Consequent upon the incident of Monday, April 5, a gang of criminals, at about 4pm, attacked and abducted two Chinese nationals.

“The two men, namely Zhao Jian, 33, and Wen, 50, were working at a mining site in Okepa/Itikan Village, Ifewara, Osun State.

“The Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, immediately drafted a strong, combined reinforcement of Police Tactical units, JTF, and other security outfits, who embarked on the search/rescue operation.

“Two private guards attached to the Chinese nationals who were shot during the kidnapping operation, have also been taken to the general hospital for treatment.

“The police are on the trail of the perpetrators of the crime.”

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COVID-19: WAEC to shift May/June exams to August due to disruption of academic calendar

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Tuesday announced it’s intention to postpone the 2021 exam West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Nigeria.

WAEC’s head of the Nigeria national office Patrick Areghan said the coronavirus pandemic distorted the academic calendar so much that there is no guaranty the annual terminal examinations will be held on schedule.

“It will, therefore, not be possible to have the examination in May/June this year,” Areghan said. “A convenient International Timetable for the conduct of the examination has been released.”

Areghan said all stakeholders have been requested to keep their fingers crossed until they hear from WAEC on whether the exams will hold.

Meanwhile, ODUDUWA NEWS could reliably confirm the postponement of the exam to August from the report of Zoom Meeting organized by Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja  on Examinations Timetables on the 18th March, 2021 signed by the National Secretary of NAPPS, Comr Ajibade Augustine, gotten by our correspondents which reads in part:

“Meeting commenced with self introduction by 11.30am. Hajia Binta Abdulkadri Director Basic Education Federal Ministry of Education addressed us on the need for examinations bodies and stake holders to harmonise their examinations timetables for effective planning and conduct of National and International  examinations.

“The Permanent Secretary invited stakeholders to speak. After fruitful deliberations we came up with the following:

1.NABTEC exams will be  within 14th of June  to 9th of July, 2021

2. NECO exams will start on the 5th of July and end on 23rd August 2021.

3. WAEC to commence on 16th August  to September 2021 (6 weeks) We arrived at this date because WAEC examinations are written by some other West African countries. Hence a convenient dates to all the countries has to be picked at WAEC international meetings.

4. Tentative date for BECE is Friday 28th May  to end Thursday 11th June 2021

5. In attendance at the said Time Table Zoom meeting includes among others :

a. Federal Ministry of Education officers,

b. WAEC

c. NECO

d. National Business and Technical Examinations Board( NABTEB) Benin City.

e. National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Kaduna

f. States MOE officers

g. NAPPS

h. ANCOPS.

6. Detail Examinations timetable may be ready immediately after Easter break”.

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OPINION: We are all stakeholders – Adesina Julius

Democracy is a symbiotic relationship between a good leader that is answerable to his her followers and followers showing their support to the leader when they see the good leader positively affecting their daily lives. We as Nigerians castigated our leaders all the time for their ineptitude and sometimes gross negligence but have we ever checked ourselves to see if we we doing our duties to the community too as a Stake Holders in the success or failure of our Nation?. How many of us can answer the above question firmly?, Community Development Service (CDS) is a major theme and cardinal point of NYSC, l believe it was designed to cultivate the habit of selfless service to our immediate community not only during the service year but throughout our life time. But we have limited the CDS to just one year spent in serving our father’s land. We need to change our orientation on this.

Selfless service to our community is one of the social obligations we must observe religiously, and as we demand for accountability and stewardship from our leaders every now and then, we should also present our score card if not to the community, at least to ourselves. We need to assess ourselves and ask ourselves some rhetorical questions. Like what have I done for the past few years for the betterment and development of my community,? How can I help my community?, How can I help the government?. Gone are those good old days when members of our communities trooped out every weekend to engage in one community service or the other.

Though most of them have little or no formal education and neither are they really financially buoyant but through this selfless routine, bridges were constructed, blocked drainages were freed of debris, electric poles were erected, bushes were cleared, people were informed of the happening through community meeting that holds every week. There was love and unity.

It’s quite incredible that though there are more elites, more educated, more rich, more agile and strong people in our midst, it has not resulted into a more serene, organized, developed and progressive community.

The reason for this is not far fetched as these sets of supposed learned and educated fellows channel their resources to blaming and nagging elected and constituted leaders alone instead of realizing that they could also help their various communities.

These people can call for the head of the leader if there is a cob Web in their room, they do nothing that could benefit the community, many tarred road got washed by erosion due to their nonchalant and environmental negligence. They have turned drainages to waste bin and refuse dump sites, which subsequently prevent easy flow of erosion.

It baffles though unsurprising to find a dead animal roting and smelling around a community or an electric pole fell and nobody cares to take up the responsibility of the sanitation or calling the appropriate authority (PHCN for the pole) because is a community assignment which someone thinks is somebody job, and everybody thinks somebody will get the job done but at the end of day nobody did the job

As a stake Holders we need to set some pace, and maintain some degree of social standard which our leaders will be contesting and striving to attain such standard. As Ira Chaleff observed “Leaders rarely use their power wisely or effectively over long periods unless they are supported by followers who have the stature to help them do so.

Conclusively society/community are successful or not partly on the basis of how well their leaders lead, but also in great part on the basis of how well their followers follow. Surely improving the performance of followers should be worthwhile.

Adesina Julius Prestige write from Igbeti.

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Sanwo-Olu visits late Odumakin’s wife, says ‘death shocking’

The Lagos State Government has described the death of the late spokesperson of the Yoruba Pan-Cultural Group, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin as very shocking and a great loss to the nation.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, stated this today when he led other top government officials on a condolence visit to the Omole home of the Odumakins, describing the late Afenifere spokesman as a patriotic and genuine Nigerian who would be greatly missed.

Dr. Hamzat said, “Yinka was a genuine human rights activist and truly patriotic Nigerian. He will be missed greatly. May the good Lord grant him eternal rest”.

Expressing condolences on behalf of the State government, Dr. Hamzat noted that the demise of Odumakin is very painful and a big loss, bearing in mind that the deceased still has aged parents.

While praying that God gives fortitude to bear the loss, the Deputy Governor admonished the family to take solace in the fact that while alive he fought for the masses and contributed immensely to the call for a developed and better Nigeria.

Hamzat emphasised that COVID-19 is not a hoax and implored Nigerians to continue strict adherence to all safety protocols with the necessary caution, stressing that the Coronavirus disease is still very much with us.

Prayers were later offered for the repose of the soul of the deceased and the wellbeing of the family.

The State delegation, which also included the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, among others, was received by the widow, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin.

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Oduduwa Republic: Yoruba nation agitators set to hold mega rally in Ibadan

ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that some Yoruba Nation agitators have announced their intention to hold a massive rally in Ibadan to support an agitation for the proposed declaration of Oduduwa Republic.

This announcement was made through a twitter account @OdudwaRepublic on the evening time of April 5. The graphic released stated that the mega rally will be coming up on 17th April, 2021 at Ibadan.

They group also disclosed that the well known Professor, Prof. Banji Akintoye will be the father of the day.

Some of the reactions after the Twitter post highlighted below:

@lanskykevwe
Please I am an Urhobo boy I want to be eating chocolate made in Oduduwa Republic!!!!

@OAresa1
E ku Akin ni sise o,odua a gbe wao,àwón Alale a si mu odale

@OjomuK
Retweet dont be Tired…dont be A SLAVE to A TERRORİST TRİBE…

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JUST IN: Polytechnic workers embark on indefinite strike

The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has commenced an indefinite strike.

Anderson Ezeibe, president of the union, announced this at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday morning.

He said members of the union have agreed to shut all the Nigerian Polytechnics and Imonotechnics until their demands are met. This is coming despite the federal government’s move to avert strike action in Polytechnics.

ODUDUWA NEWS reports that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had on Monday evening, invited the ASUP for an emergency meeting following the threat to embark on another round of strike.

The emergency meeting, according to a statement by the Education ministry’s spokesman, Ben. Bem Goong, was scheduled to hold today, Tuesday, at 11:00 am in the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.

But Ezeibe, at the briefing, said the resolution of members of the union to shut down all Polytechnics across the country is now enforced effectively from 12:00 am of 6th April.

He said, “Today, therefore, marks Day 1 of the execution of the resolutions of our union as already, academic activities have been shut down in ALL PROGRAMS run in Polytechnics and like institutions across the nation effective 00:00 hrs of 6th of April, 2021.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the following demands were communicated to the government through the Ministries of Education; as well as Labour and Employment and indeed other ministries where our members offer services through various monotechnics.”

ASUP listed one of their demands as non-implementation of NEEDS Assessment report of 2014 in the sector nor release of any revitalization fund to the sector despite assurances since 2017.

The union also said the non-reconstitution of governing councils in Federal Polytechnics and many state-owned institutions has led to the disruption of governance and administrative processes in the institutions since May 2020.

This, according to the union, undermined the renegotiation of the union’s 2010 agreement with the government as such was unilaterally suspended by the government for over 2 years.

Ezeibe added, “The non-release of the 10-month arrears of minimum wage owed our members in Federal Polytechnics and non-implementation of the same in several state-owned institutions.

“This is despite a directive for the payment of these arrears since December 2019.

“Continued victimization of officials of our union as seen in Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu; Federal Polytechnic, Mubi; as well as Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

“This situation has degenerated to the clamping down and brazen illegal seizure of the properties of our union by the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa”.

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Ogun Police arrest 49-year-old man for defiling biological daughter

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old man, Ubong Williams Akpan, for unlawfully having carnal knowledge of his 12-year-old daughter.

He claimed to have committed the act because his wife is no longer attractive.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, on Monday, April 5, said the suspect was arrested on April 2 following a report lodged at Itele Ota divisional headquarters by the victim, who reported that her father had been abusing her sexually since she was seven years old.

According to Oyeyemi, the victim said the ugly act had been going on for the past five years, adding that when she could no longer bear it, she decided to complain to the police.

Oyeyemi said that upon the report, the DPO Itele Ota division, CSP Monday Unoegbe, detailed his detectives to the scene where the suspect was arrested.

He said: “On interrogation, he confessed to the commission of the crime claiming that his wife is appearing too old, and she is no longer looking attractive to him.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Edward Awolowo Ajogun, has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the Family Support Unit of Ota Area Command for further investigation and prosecution.

He also directed that the victim be taken to the general hospital for proper medical treatment.

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Edo 2020: Team Lagos coast into semifinals in Badminton

The duo of Anuolowapo Opeyori and Godwin Olufia has coasted into the Semifinals in the Team Event of the ongoing National Sports Festival taking place in Benin, Edo State, Nigeria.

Team Lagos defeated Team FCT (2-0) to set up Semifinals with Team Rivers at the Etete Gymnasium Center in Sapele Road, Benin City , Edo State.

Opeyori and Olufia are the defending champions of the Team Event having won Gold Medals at the last National Sports Festival in Abuja in 2018.

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EASTER: OYRTMA rescues 2 victims of auto crash in Ibadan

The Fast-track Emergency Rescue Operations Team of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) has rescued not less than two victims of an auto crash involving a lone Grey-colored Kia vehicle with registration number LND-813-GB at the Ojoo-Akinyele Road in Ibadan metropolis.

Our investigations revealed that the incident which occurred during the Holy Saturday of 3rd April 2021 was due to over-speeding, reckless and careless driving on the part of the driver which resulted into vehicular summersault with the driver and the lone passenger sustaining serious injuries.

It took the instantaneous intervention of our Rescue Team to save the lives of the victims who were immediately rushed to the hospital for proper medical attention and the affected vehicle removed from accident scene.

The Authority uses this medium to harp on the need for motorists to drive with caution and at approved speed limits to avoid such catastrophes of huge proportion noting that while speed thrills, it also kills.

The Executive Chairman, Mogaji (Dr.) Akin Fagbemi had prior the Easter festivities reeled out numerous operational changes of the Authority and proactive measures put in place to ensure an itch-free Easter period viz night and day traffic control, 24/7 emergency rescue operations, enforcement of Operation-One-Passenger Policy as well as collaboration with other sister security agencies.

Furthermore, he beseeched the people of Oyo State to remain vigilant, drive more carefully and support the drive of the Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration in ridding the roads of avoidable road crashes and loss of lives as he reiterated that the vigilance of everyone means safety for all while negligence of anyone portends danger to all.

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Gov. Fayemi Holds Meeting With NATA, Vows To Reposition Auto Industry In Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has today held meeting with leadership of Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association NATA in Ado-Ekiti.

This was contained in statement made available this afternoon via his Twitter handle which reads in part:

“During the Easter break, my wife Bisi and I, and the rest of team, took time to engage various stakeholder groups from across the state at our Isan-Ekiti country home.

“We were encouraged by the positive reception of government’s programmes and policies, and we had the opportunity to hear crucial feedback on areas we can improve on. Our belief in the power of collective wisdom has been reinforced, and I look forward to sharing some of the highlights of these meetings with you in the coming days.

“This morning, I met with the Ekiti State chapter of the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), led by their Chairman, Comrade Olusegun Olusoji. Amongst other things, we discussed how to position the Automotive Repair and Maintenance industry in the state to take advantage of emerging opportunities. I found them to be very engaging and optimistic about their prospects, and I am committed to working with them to achieve their goals.

“You would recall that the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) recently launched in Ekiti State, as the flagship state in the Southwest for the rollout of the scheme. NGEP has a strong automobile component and would facilitate the training of auto technicians to be competent in the retrofitting of vehicles and conversion from using the regular PMS to using auto gas – an alternative fuel, which is a cheaper, cleaner, and eco-friendly option.

“It is projected that about 5,000 youth from Ekiti State would participate in the NGEP training programmes, which would see the establishment of 20 micro distribution centres across the 16 local government areas of our state to enable people at the grassroots have access to affordable and sustainable auto gas and cooking gas.

“I share in the excitement of the leaders and members of NATA, and will work with them to remove any obstacle to achieving a virile and productive Automotive Repair and Maintenance industry in Ekiti state”.

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