Fantastic

Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has hailed the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, over the giant infrastructural strides of his administration in the state.

Soyinka who commended Akeredolu for his good works , also congratulated the people of the state for electing Governor Akeredolu as their Governor.

The Nobel Laureate, who was in the state for the 2019 Fagunwa Study Group International Conference, was personally driven and conducted round some projects of the Akeredolu’s administration in Akure, the state capital.

The Governor and other members of the state executive Council alongside Soyinka were at the 'A'Division/NEPA as well as the ongoing dualisation of NEPA/Oluwatuyi round about.

Soyinka said "the fact shows the light", explaining that it took him some time to recognise the A'Division/NEPA and NEPA/Olukayode ongoing dualisation project because of the serious infrastructural transformation that is going on in the area.

The Nobel Laureate who disclosed that he has been on constant visit to the state in the course of his literary work, observed that governor Akeredolu has changed the face of the state.

� Nguher Gabrielle Zaki

THE Ondo State Police Command, yesterday, dispelled insinuations that security agencies in the state planned to sweep the rape case against soldiers under the carpet.

Police
Some soldiers were alleged to have raped a 300 level student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko at a military checkpoint.

Spokesperson of the Ondo Police Command, Mr. Femi Joseph, in a statement, said: “The Ondo State Police Command wishes to announce to the general public that the alleged rape case against a soldier attached to the 32 Artillery Brigade Akure is currently under investigation.

“The command in synergy with our military counterparts will leave no stone unturned to ensure that justice is served in this case.

“We, therefore, wish to inform Nigerians that there is no attempt whatsoever to sweep the case under the carpet as being insinuated by some people.”

Speaking on the Tuesday bank robbery in Iju, Akure North council area of the state, the Police spokesperson said that the timely intervention of police detectives foiled the robbery.

Joseph said: “The robbers who used dynamites to force their way into the bank succumbed to the superior firepower of our men by escaping into the bush with some of them suffering bullet wounds.

“Our men are on the trail of the suspects who were forced to abandon the two vehicles they came with.”

The Nigeria National petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said yesterday, that it was working with its partners to grow the national reserve to 40 billion barrels by 2025 and improve crude oil production to three million barrels per day.

How 100 million Nigerians can be lifted out of poverty(Opens in a new browser tab) The corporation also disclosed plans to attract capital through massive investment across its value chain to drive the ambition. NNPC Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, made this known in his remarks at the opening of the 2019 Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition, NAICE, in Lagos yesterday. He said:

“NNPC, with our partners, are driving the national aspiration to grow the national reserve to 40 billion barrels by 2025 and improve crude oil production to three million barrels per day. “To achieve this ambition, huge investment is required across the value chain.

We have to attract investments to deploy improved technology in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons from inland as well as the ultra-deep offshore basins. “We have to open up the midstream, complete all critical gas development projects targeted to deliver about three billion scfd to gas market, ensure the close-out of investment decision on NLNG Train 7 and improve domestic utilisation to improve power generation and industrial growth.

“Nigeria is still a net importer of petroleum products due to the current state of our refineries, and the long absence of private investment in the refining sector. We require more investments to revamp and expand our domestic refineries and associated infrastructure to support the growth of the downstream sector and guaranty energy security to the nation.

” He noted that the industry had been significantly challenged by several factors, ranging from lack of adequate fiscal policy, regional security, market volatility, sabotage, to theft, among others. He, however, said lack of data gathering continued to pose serious challenge to the industry, adding that “today, no data provided by the corporation or any other source is seen to be accurate.” Explaining the benefits of digitisation which, among others, will bring about efficiency and improved production and cost effectiveness, he said, “We will, therefore, fix our refineries, help Dangote refinery come on-stream, and also intervene in facilitating modular refineries, and at the end, we stop product importation.”

Raysleek:
I also need money to feed my family but I can't rob a bank

The Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police Force has declared the planned #RevolutionNow protest an act of terrorism.

The police have warned Nigerians to stay away from the ‘RevolutionNow’ protest planned for August 5 by Omoyele Sowore and other Nigerian rights activists, saying the demonstration would amount to a felony and terrorism.

Police chief Muhammad Adamu said in a statement Saturday afternoon that the ‘RevolutionNow’ protest could incite anarchy in Nigeria, warning that anyone who may want to join it to have a rethink.

The social media have been awash with preparation for the protest on August 5. Mr Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, has been the main figure of the planned demonstration.

Mr Sowore and organisers said the demonstration would be peaceful, and they released a list of demands that they saw as necessary to take Nigeria out of its current malaise.

Nigeria is currently ranked to have the highest number of extremely poor people in the world, with the World Bank expressing fears that the country’s huge population could linger in multi-dimensional poverty.

Insecurity has also afflicted the country in recent months, with Boko Haram, killer herdsmen, armed bandits and deadly kidnappers having a field day.

The Buhari administration and security forces said they had been working heavily to address the multi-faceted crises, calling on citizens to be patient for the efforts to yield the desired result.

Mr Sowore and other members of the ‘RevolutionNow’ protest said Nigerians should ignore further excuses and take to the street in peaceful demand a better society for themselves and future generation.

At no time did the ‘RevolutionNow’ activists call for violence, and they drew inspiration from recent peaceful demonstrations in Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, and other parts of the world.

The full demand of the protesters, which they said would be pursued peacefully, was published early Saturday by PREMIUM TIMES.

Armed officials believed to be personnel of the SSS, in the early hours of Saturday, took Mr Sowore into custody allegedly in connection with the coming protest.

A witness, who identified himself as Mr Sowore’s driver, said the officers left in a manner typical of deadly kidnappers.

Lagos-based human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, called for Mr Sowore’s immediate release, saying a call for revolution “is not treasonable under any guise.”

However, the organisers of #RevolutionNow said the protest would go on despite Mr Sowore’s arrest.

In their statement, the police acknowledged Nigerians have a constitutional right to speech and peaceful assembly, but warned, still, that the protest planned by Mr Sowore should be scrapped because it may turn violent.

The statement claimed that a video had been circulating online that called for violence during the ‘RevolutionNow’ protest, although the video was attributed to a name not known to be associated with Mr Sowore or any of the multiple leaders of the planned march.

The full statement of the police as released by Force Headquarters spokesperson, Frank Mba, is reproduced below:

The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a video circulating on the social media by the ‘Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria and others’, inciting Nigerians, home and abroad, to join a planned ‘revolution’ march against the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Monday, 5th August, 2019 with the sole aim of forcing a regime change in the country.

The Force wishes to state unequivocally that the call amounts to treasonable felony and acts of terrorism and will therefore not stand idly-by and watch any individual or group in the society cause anarchy in the land.

While acknowledging the rights of Nigerians to embark on protest, the Force wishes to note that such rights should not translate to a violent and forceful change of government which clearly is the meaning of ‘revolution’. Needless to state that Nigeria is a democratic republic and has well-defined processes for change of government, exercised periodically during various cycle of elections.

The Force therefore warns the organisers, sponsors, allies, supporters, associates and sympathisers of the group ‘Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria’ to, in their own interest, steer clear of any such planned protest, demonstration, acts of incitement and proposed “revolution”, as the full wrath of the law will be brought to bear on any individual or group engaged or found participating in the above planned criminal act.

Parents and guardians are therefore enjoined to impress on their children and wards not to allow themselves to be used in whatever form by any person or group of persons to cause breach of law and order in the country.

The police will work with other law enforcement agencies and positive minded Nigerians to protect, defend and secure our public peace and space.

Source:
https://www..com/talk/topic,395473.0.html

An animal-rights activist is urging people not to kill mosquitoes, but instead to let the insects bite them.
Aymeric Caron, who is also a French TV presenter, says the insects suck human blood to obtain protein for their eggs and should not be swatted in the prcoess.

He said that killing mosquitoes is “embarrassing for anti-specists who realise they are being attacked by a mother trying to nourish her children,” according to the Independent .

Anti-specists are people who argue that all species should be treated equally.

Mr Caron, who describes himself as an anti-specist, says he always allows himself to be bitten by mosquitoes, except in Africa, where there is a risk of catching malaria.
In a video, he said: “One can consider that a blood donation from time to time to an insect who is only trying to nourish her children is not a drama.”

But British animal protection workers have said his comments are “a step too far” and “an unhelpful distraction”.

Caron also said it was better to use natural mosquito repellents like citronella, lavender oil or garlic, to wash regularly and avoid using perfumes.

Some suspected killers of Enugu State Catholic priest, Rev Fr Paul Offu, were reportedly arrested by the police on Saturday.

However, the number of the suspects arrested could not be ascertained as of the time of filing the report.

The state Commissioner of Police, Sulieman Balarabe, who confirmed that they had made some arrests in connection with the killing of the cleric, refused to disclose the number of suspects arrested.

Offu was killed along Ihe-Agbudu Road in Awgu Local Government Area of the state on Thursday night.

His killing came barely five months after Rev Fr Clement Ugwu, the parish priest of St Mark Catholic Church, Obinofia Ndiuno in Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state was killed.

Offu’s killing on Friday sparked a protest by Enugu Diocese priests, calling for the government to protect life and property in the state.

The protesters marched to the office of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, demanding justice.

Meanwhile, Buhari has ordered a manhunt for the killers of Offu.

Offu was serving at St. James Greater Parish Catholic Church, Ugbawka, Enugu State.

The Presidency, in a statement by Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, on Saturday, said the President condemned the attack and condoled with the parishioners and family of the cleric.

The statement said, “President Buhari expresses deep shock and dismay over the killing of another priest, ordering a thorough manhunt for the killers and their immediate prosecution.

“The President commiserates with government and people of Enugu State, family of Rev Fr. Offu and members of the parish and all Christians.”

It said Buhari described the killing as “barbaric and unwarranted’’, adding that his administration would step up the fight against “lawlessness and recklessness.’’

The President said, “The entire nation is shaken by the horrible assassination of this priest.

“The administration will continue to guarantee freedom of religion and protect places of worship as well as the lives of citizens wherever they live.”

The statement further said Buhari directed the security agencies to “act swiftly in their investigations and bring the perpetrators of the ‘horrific crime’ to book.”

He also urged all religious leaders to “pray for peace, healing and security of the country.’’

The Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN has urged the authorities of the Nigerian Army to immediately hand over to the Police for urgent prosecution, the soldiers arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a University student at the Akungba-Ikare military checkpoint.

Mr. Governor particularly finds the alleged offence callous, mindless and heartaching that it was said to have been committed by soldiers whose presence ought to be a succour to the people, especially the vulnerable, in the face of the heightening wave of violence and insecurity in the country.

It should be noted that the Government of Ondo State under Arakunrin Akeredolu, SAN shall do all within its powers to fight this bizzare menace of rape in the State. Rapists, or those who wish to traverse this ignobly desecrating path will find Ondo State too hot as a refuge for such nefarious act. Government shall be firm and decisive, the Governor says.

The Governor describes as heart-warming, the arrest of the alleged perpetrators of this case involving the soldiers at the Akungba-Ikare checkpoint. This is even as he salutes the swiftness of the Brigade Commander who ensured the seamless apprehension of those allegedly involved.

Reassuring as this effort appears, Governor Akeredolu is unequivocal and unwavering in his insistence that the suspects be handed over to the Nigeria Police for immediate prosecution. The full weight of the law must be tested in this particular case to serve as a deterrent to others who seek to undesirably, take advantage of the unprotected.

Signed:
Donald Ojogo,
Hon. Commissioner for Information and Orientation

God have mercy on this country

Companies begin full operations at Ore Industrial Park


The Ore industrial Park located in Ondo State is gradually assuming the status of an industrial (Linyi) City which hosts 65 percent of the industries in China as various companies recently established at the Park have commenced operations, The Hope can reliably report.

Among the visible companies are the Cassava/Ethanol Company, Agrochemicals, Papermills, Medium Density Fiber Board, Plantation, Textile Industry and We-wood.

Speaking with our correspondent at the Park, the Business Development Manager of We-Wood, Mr. Jack Sun said that the industries are already rewriting the history of the state industrially and setting it on right footing.

He noted that about 10,000 workers have been engaged by the companies apart from contractors working on construction projects at the Park.

His words: “The state government is setting the state on the right footing industrially. Apart from the companies already operating at the Industrial Park, before the end of this year, a company that will produce milk and a motor assembly plant will spring up here.

Sun said the Motor Plant will be first of its kind in the country as various parts of automobiles would be imported to be assembled at the Park.

He said experts who will man the motor assembly are being trained, while work is ongoing on the site to be used.

According to him, the two companies when they also take off will not only contribute to the development of the state, but will also provide more job opportunities for the people.

He disclosed that the partnership between Ondo State Government and the Linyi City of Sandog in China has been cemented with the provision of security at the Ore Industrial Park and the prevailing peace in the state in general.

The Manager noted that if Ondo State has been embroiled in crisis, it would have been difficult to set up the companies.

“Apart from the state being peaceful, the security measures put in place by the state is helping investors to move into the state,” he added.

He promised that the welfare of workers in the companies would be made a priority and that their salaries would not be delayed.