₦airaland Forum

Pastor Felix Ajide of King Jesus Praiseland Assembly has said that the ongoing Big Brother Naija season (4) show promotes immorality and is not good for the society.

Ajide told News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja that the show was pornographic in nature, adding that it had no moral value and advocated for its ban.

He said that the resources used in promoting the show should be used for the development of the society.

“The show should be banned because there is nothing to learn from the show, we are only watching immorality. If the western world is doing it, we do not need it here in Nigeria; we need deliverance in this country,” he added.

On the contrary, a Muslim woman, who pleaded anonymity, said it was not necessary for the show to be banned.

“Why should it be banned, it is optional for you to watch or better still unsubscribe that particular channel, if it is offensive to you.


“Most of the things people are complaining about such as the bathroom section are no more aired.

“It has also created opportunities to showcase our culture as well as give room for people to sell their products and give added value to their products,” she said.

The Muslim Rights Concern has labeled the reality show as ‘immoral, dangerous and bohemian’ and also wondered why the Ministry of Information and Culture is doing nothing over the show.

She, however maintained that the show had given room for employment, like the cleaners that keep the place clean and the hair makers among others.

She said that the show was an avenue to improve Nigerian economy such as in data buying.

She also described the show as a means where the house mates showcase what they are made of as well as a means of identifying their potentials.

She therefore advised the organisers of the show to ensure that housemates do not expose their nudity so as not to be seen as a pornographic show.

Also speaking, Chinonye Anokam, a civil servant, described the show as an avenue where Nigerian youth discover their hidden talents and realise their dreams.

Anokam said that the show was entertaining and described it as a place where potentials are harnessed as well as an avenue for promoting unity among Nigerians.

“Outside the social aspect of the show, there are other things to learn from the show such as how to live with people with different upbringing among others.

“You might not know the talent you have but the show presents the avenue where people discover their talents,” she said.

Anokam, therefore, suggested that the organisers of the show should have restrictions in the house in terms of relationship between the opposite sexes.

She, however, suggested that participants should focus on the core objectives of the big brother show.


Mr Mustapha Suleiman, a businessman, said that the show was unethical and supported the called for it ban.

He emphasised that there was nothing moral to learn from the show, adding that some participants on the show are living fake life.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/ban-bbnaija-now-it-is-evil-assembly.html

Thirty-nine-year-old Kenechukwu Eze, a native of Amoli Edem in the Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Wednesday, said his gang members killed one Emmanuel Agundu because he withheld the N18m they realised from Internet fraud. The money was reportedly paid into his Nigerian bank account.

Agundu, who was the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Udenu branch, was shot on August 15, 2018, at Obollo-Afor in the Udenu Local Government Area of the state by unidentified gunmen around 7pm, but he survived the attack.


However, on September 2, 2018, he was trailed to Uru-Uwani Edem in the Nsukka Local Government Area around 2pm and shot dead.

Although one of the gunmen was arrested and remanded in prison custody, Eze, a member of the five-man gang of Internet fraudsters based in Morocco, was apprehended on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, by the personnel of the Enugu State Police Command.

Parading the suspect at the state police headquarters alongside 18 were arrested across the state for various offences ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, car snatching, vandalism, cultisim, unlawful possession of firearms and murder, the state Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Balarabe, said Eze was arrested with the help of credible intelligence, adding that the police had been tracking him since Agundu’s death.

Balarabe said his arrest was part of the command’s efforts to rid the state of criminals.

“We are also striving towards reducing crime to its barest minimum through proactive measures without losing sight of the respect for human rights and the rule of law,” the CP stated.

Speaking to PUNCH Metro during the parade, Eze confessed that his group killed the legal practitioner, adding that the person who shot Agundu had been arrested and remanded in prison.

He said, “I didn’t know the lawyer in person, but one of our members brought him to join us in the business. His job was to supply a bank account to pay the money we realised into.

“So, we paid a total of N18m into the account he supplied and when we asked him to provide the money, he rebuffed us. Instead of making the money available for us to share according to our agreed formula, he started threatening to report the matter to security agents. That was why we decided to end it once and for all.


“I was arrested because of the death of that lawyer that we did a fraudulent transaction together. He spent N18m and was killed because of that. The person, who shot him, is already in prison. We were five in number; Emmanuel Ebonyi, one Valentine and his younger brother, Agundu and I.

“It was an online business ,but the barrister supplied the account that we paid into. We paid a total of N18m into his account and he kept all the money.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/we-killed-nba-chairman-for-withholding.html

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said it would support ranching business but such must be on owners’ private land.

This is just as it has challenged terrorists in the North including Arewa youths to do their worst after the expiration of the 30- day ultimatum they gave to the Federal government

IPOB said that although it is a peaceful movement, it would not allow any attempt to force the people to part with their ancestral land for any RUGA settlement.

It further said that cattle business had remained personal outfit in Nigeria and there was no trick the Nigerian government would employ to change the narrative.

In a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group said: “IPOB will support ranching business but in your own private land not forcing people to release their ancestral land to anybody or Fulani people.

“IPOB is a peaceful movement and must remain so but cannot allow anybody to trample on us by forcing our people to release their ancestral land to them. We are aware that cattle business remains personal business in Nigeria and cannot change today. We advise the Federal Government of Nigeria and those behind this evil plan to retrace their steps before they spill over, claim more innocent lives and become uncontrollable.

“The community ancestral lands are gifts from the Most-High God handed over to them to dwell on which must not be taken over under any guise by the government or Fulani.

“We challenge Fulani Islamist terrorists including their Arewa youths to do their worst after the expiration of the so-called 30-day ultimatum as was widely reported in every national and international media; we are anxiously and eagerly waiting for them in whatever shape they may want it.”

Relating the demand for land for Fulani Ruga settlement in the South East, to the demand by Satan for Jesus Christ to bow before him to possess riches, the group said they should forget about such settlement in the South-East.

“Following the consistent pressure in disguise from Fulani government of Nigeria and her security forces for our people to release their ancestral lands for Fulani Ruga settlement in Biafraland, it is exactly the same way Satan asked Christ to bow before him in order to possess the riches of the earth.

“Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt particularly Biafrans must understand that Ruga settlement is totally to fix Fulani with the indigenous people that will cause them harm in the near future.

“How can Fulani kill pregnant women, children, displace people from their homes and their God-given ancestral land and still government has the temerity to force them to release land to them.

“The use of force to establish Ruga settlement for Fulani in all the 36 states of Nigeria is a clear indication that Nigeria government is behind every attack on people by Fulani herdsmen since the year 2001.
“IPOB says no to it and that can’t happen on any Biafran soil. Ruga settlement for Fulani and National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP) are the same but cannot be allowed here in Biafraland no matter the high level they take it to because it is all about taking over our ancestral land by force.

“We cannot rule out that Igbo are much involved in the cattle business but don’t have herdsmen who live and wander in the bushes and forests across the country.

“We are still wondering why the Federal government and the Fulani people are desperate in looking for Ruga settlement in our land.

“We must do the needful to defend ourselves and our properties by stopping this aggression, violent incursion and land-grabbing no matter what it takes to do so.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/we-ll-support-ranching-business-but-ipob.html

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, asked Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, to issue a fresh proclamation for the inauguration of the state House of Assembly.

This is a sequel to the adoption of the report of the House Ad-hoc Committee on the Edo State House of Assembly crisis.

The House, also, directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to shut down the Edo State House of Assembly and provide adequate security “to allay further fears of intimidation and threat as alleged by members-elect.”

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/reps-ask-obaseki-to-issue-fresh.html

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said it remitted a total of N51.3 billion to Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), in the first quarter of 2019.

The remittance, according to the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC/CEO), NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, is in compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 (FRA 2007).

The payment represents “Payment on Account” in respect of operating surplus of N44 billion and N7.3 billion spectrum assignment fee collected, both of which were due to the Federal Government as at April 30, 2019.

According to the FRA 2007, such payments are to be made every year after preparation of Audited Accounts.

Specifically, Section 22, Sub-section 1 of the Act states that, “Notwithstanding the provisions of any written law governing the Corporation, each Corporation shall establish a general reserve fund and shall allocate thereto at the end of each financial year, one fifth of its operating surplus for the year.”

Section 22, Sub-section 2 of the Act states further that, “The balance of the operating surplus shall be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) of the Federal Government not later than one month following the statutory deadline for publishing each Corporation’s Account.”

Aside from remitting the operating surplus, Section 17, Sub-section 3 of the Nigerian Communication Act (NCA, 2003) also stipulates that spectrum assignment fees generated shall be remitted 100 per cent to the Federal Government.

The Section states that, “the Commission shall pay all monies accruing from the sales of Spectrum under Part 1 of Chapter VIII into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).”

Commenting on the remittances, Danbatta said the Commission had taken the initiative to be making payments on Account as it generates revenue.


Danbatta noted that through effective regulatory oversight by the Commission, telecommunications sector has witnessed phenomenal growth since 2001, making it an enabler of economic growth and development.

“To date, telecoms industry has positively impacted all the sectors of the economy including banking, healthcare, commerce, transportation, agriculture, education and so on, with increased quarter-on-quarter contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” He added.

Meanwhile a recent data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), showed that the telecoms industry contributed 10.11 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP in the first quarter of 2019.

This represents a 0.92 per cent increase over the first quarter of last year. This year’s first quarter contribution is also 0.26 per cent more than the figure (9.85 per cent) recorded in the last quarter of 2018.

“From 2001 till date, telecoms investment has increased tremendously from $500 million to over $70 billion, just as the Commission intensifies measures aimed to further facilitate investment growth in telecoms infrastructure to drive the economy, especially through the licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos).

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/ncc-remits-n513bn-to-fg-in-q1.html

Senator Dino Melaye built a chapel in Kogi State to honour his late Mother. He named it 'Comfort Melaye Chapel'.

More photos at https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/sen-dino-melaye-built-chapel-in-kogi.html

A suspected pickpocket arrested in Computer Village, Ikeja area of Lagos State has confessed to operatives of the Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS) that he made at least N18,000 daily selling stolen phones. The suspect, Lawal Daodu, 31, was arrested on Friday at about 5:00 p.m. when he unsuccessfully picked a phone from the pocket of a passerby in Ikeja Under-Bridge.

Lawal, who had before his arrest picked two android phones from passersby was removing another android phone from the pocket of another victim when the phone incidentally fell from his hand thus drawing the attention of its owner. He was promptly arrested by the RRS officers attached to the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) stationed at Ikeja Under-Bridge. Just as the suspect was explaining the source of the phones in his possession, one of his victims, who was trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening saw his phone in the suspect’s hands.

Lawal in his confession to the police explained that he operates in Computer Village, Ikeja and Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island. “On Friday, I was in Computer Village as usual. I have picked two phones in the morning, which I sold to my customers in Computer Village.

“In the afternoon, I resumed picking few phones. I was picking the third one when the owner raised an alarm, which attracted the attention of the RRS men. They arrested me and unfortunately, just as I was trying to prove my innocence, one of my victims identified his phone in my hand.

“I don’t operate every time. I go out at times twice in a week and I make at least N18,000 from pickpocketing. There were times I made more than that, especially, when I pick expensive phones. I started pickpocketing in 2017 and I have never been arrested before. I buy and sell cloth in Computer Village. I resort to pickpocketing occasionally.

“I sell the phones to Afeez and Lanre. They are street guys in Computer Village. I was trained by Bello. I have not seen him in a long while now,” he added. Commenting on the development, the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, said the suspect is assisting the police in the arrest of the buyers of his stolen phones in Computer Village, Ikeja.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/i-make-n18000-daily-from-pickpocketing.html

Former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has said that the greatest threat to national security was the rising wave of poverty that has remained unchecked among Nigerians.

In his reflection on the state of the nation, Atiku observed that the most dangerous dimension to the poverty ravaging the country was that the financial capacity of industrialists, businessmen and factory owners, who provide employment to the teeming youths, was also drastically reducing.

Atiku said there was an urgent and compelling need for institutions of the Nigerian State to understand that it is an appalling dereliction of duty to stand idly by and allow misery multiply in the populace.


In a statement by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, the former Vice President noted that the recent report by the United Nations Development Programme, published on July 11, 2019, which established that over 98 million Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty, was a frightening corroboration that poverty had become the fastest growing venture in Nigeria in the last four years.

Specifically, Atiku lamented the drastic reduction in the wealth of employment providers, noting that the situation was no longer a grassroots problem and was a confirmation that the failure of the nation’s economy over the last four years affected everyone from top to bottom.

“Four years ago, Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s richest man, was worth $25 billion. However, his net worth in 2019 is less than half of that. He joins thousands of industrialists whose wealth and their ability to produce, has eroded in recent years, and continue to do so.

“With the National Bureau of Statistics reporting a net job loss of over six million since 2015, we see that if industrialists have their wealth eroding, it affects their ability to create opportunities, which means that the trickle-down effect gradually dries,” he said.

The ex-VP stressed further: “The greatest national security threat Nigeria faces in 2019 is not Boko Haram/ISWAP or bandits. It is that we have created the largest wave of poverty in human history. And the world is noticing, hence Foreign Direct Investment is shifting from Nigeria to Ghana, making Ghana the top recipient of FDI in West Africa in the last year.”

And in the wake of the UNDP report, Atiku is saddened by the nonchalance of those he alleged led the country into the supposed poverty crisis.

He said: “It is as though they think that as long as they and their families are not amongst those 98 million extremely poor Nigerians, things can carry on as before. But that cannot be allowed to be the case.”

Atiku therefore called on all stakeholders who have the ability, including the Council of State, all former leaders, elder-statesmen, and especially the other arms of government, to “begin to collaborate for solutions, before the number increases from 98 million, to all 198 million Nigerians.”

“We must remember that we are stakeholders in the Nigerian project. Stakeholders who must speak up for those 98 million people who are losing their voices to poverty,” he added.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/rising-poverty-greatest-national.html

Turkish Cypriot media have reported the arrest of nine people in connection with the killing of Nigerian student Obasanjo Adeola Owoyale, living in Nicosia.

Obasanjo was declared missing on July 1. On 8 July, his body was found in the boot of his car, parked at a remote area of a dirt field. The odour oozing out of the car attracted passersby, who alerted the police.

The arrested suspects appeared in court in Lefkosa on Friday, after their arrests from an apartment building.

Police learned that the apartment was the last place Obasanjo, studying architecture at the Cyprus International University, had gone before he was killed.

Turkish media reported that he was severely beaten and wounded with a cutting tool and then thrown from the window of the apartment on the third floor.

Reports quoting Turkish Cypriot daily Yeniduzen said the police raided the building at 4am on Thursday, smashing into two apartments. Photographs showed bloodstains on some furniture in the house.

Police also found black plastic gloves with stains resembling blood on the floor.

It was gathered that the deceased was allegedly killed in a fight due to the issue of debt, according to reports.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/updated-late-obasanjo-thrown-down-from.html

The Presidency has declared that since the take off of N-Power, one of the social investment programme of the federal government in December 2016, that none of the beneficiaries has been owed. It also disclosed that so far the sum of N279 billion has been spent on the stipend paid to beneficiaries of the programme from December 2016 till date.

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Job Creation and Youth Employment, Office of the Vice President, Afolabi Imoukhuede, made the disclosure while fielding questions from journalists on Friday. The N-Power programme is one of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) introduced by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration towards creating jobs and ameliorating poverty in the land.

While giving the breakdown of the stipend disbursed, the presidential aide explained that N30,000 monthly was paid to the 500,000 youths engaged under the N-Power programme since December 2016.

According to Imoukhuede, the first batch of 200,000 youths have earned a total of N180 billion for 30 months from December 2016 to June 2019 with a monthly bill of N6 billion.


He further disclosed that additional N9 billion monthly bill was paid from August 2018 to June 2019 totaling N99 billion for the second batch of 300,000 youths engaged under the N-Power programme.

According to him, “It is very simple when talking about amount that has been invested. I am saying that in Batch 1, they started earning from December 2016, so roughly we invest N72 billion annually just for Batch 1 alone. That is aside from the gadgets that they get and aside from from all the sponsored trainings that they get.

“For instance, all the trainings on agric for N-Agro, training for health for those who are in health, we sponsor all of that through the federal agencies, ministry of agriculture and ministry of health.

“So direct on our people is N30,000 x 200,000 = N6 billion every month for the first batch which started in 2016. So they have been there for over two years, that is N72 billion multiply by two years or thereabout.

“But since August last year, the wage bill moved from N6 billion to N15 billion because it’s now 500,000 of them that earn N30,000 monthly. We have been on N15 billion for almost one year because by end of July it will be one year that we have been making that investment every month.

“So if you put it together that just tells you how much investment we have made and like I have said, we don’t owe anyone because the money is paid directly to them not through a proxy.”

The Presidential aide further explained that the scheme was designed to solve the problems of unemployment Nigerian youths were facing after graduation.

Imoukhuede speaking on the plans to recruit National Youth Service Corps members and beneficiaries of the N’Power programme to beef up the manpower needs of the Nigeria Police Force, said the proposal actually came from the managers of the programme. He said the SIP office actually supplied the data to the Nigeria Governors Forum, describing the beneficiaries as fully trained foot soldiers spread in all 774 local government areas in the country. The corps members and N’Power cadets are to make up for the inadequacy of the ongoing recruitment of 10,000 additional hands by the police.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/fg-not-owing-n-power-beneficiaries.html

The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, has said that more than nine million Nigerians lacked affordable housing.

The branch Manager, FMBN, Enugu, Mr Emeka Aroh, made the disclosure on Friday in Enugu at a one day seminar organised by a private company, Light Hill Housing Cooperative for multipurpose cooperative societies in the South-East.


Aroh said that for Nigerians to have adequate and affordable housing, they ought to have long term mortgage loans.

According to him, the 1999 Constitution Section 16 (1) stipulates that Nigerians should be provided with affordable housing.

But he noted that Nigerians lacked affordable housing at the moment as so many live in squalor.


“Long term mortgage loans have to be provided for Nigerians to be able to have affordable housing,” Aroh said.

In his remark, Chief Leonard Ugwu, a fellow of the Nigeria Institution of Surveyors, and also the Chief Executive Officer of Light Hill group, said that what they were doing is sensitisation and mobilisation of cooperative groups in Enugu.

Ugwu said they had just finished registering of their cooperative society which is into housing and is called Cooperative and Multi-purpose Society Ltd, which aimed to take the lead in making people to have their dream houses.


He said that they believed that other cooperatives had been all along acquiring landed property without making full use of them; adding that the essence of acquiring properties is to use it to alleviate the housing problem as it was one of the cardinal needs of man.

“If you come into the country with a population of about 200 million and only 30 per cent have access to decent living, it is poor, what happens to the remaining 70 per cent?

“Out of the 30 per cent that have decent housing, 10 per cent are politicians, while 20 per cent are the middle income class which comprises of senior civil servants and others.

`You can see the low income people are the ones suffering, the people who make these elite what they are, yet they do not have any good living; some sleep under the bridges, some stay along the streets, that is why we have high level of insecurity in the country.

“When someone does not have a befitting living, the person cannot think well and that is why we feel that we should come under the umbrella of cooperative societies and provide the needful to the populace.

“For any viable thing in this world, one person must take a lead and Light Hill Cooperative Society is taking the lead to provide affordable housing,” Ugwu said.

He said that the company thought of the comfort of building an estate where you have roads and drainage, you have trees, play grounds for recreation and other facilities.

“As a senior surveyor, I am taking estate development as a passion, we have demonstrated it in Vyvian Estate in Enugu and the Federal Government has certified that it is one of the best estates.

“We feel that people are dying out of ignorance, emphatically the South-East zone is one of the major contributors to National Housing Fund but the least assessors.

“We believe in individualism, the time for republican is gone, we want people that will bring in euphemism, and the only time you can think positively is the time you are comfortable,”Ugwu said.

Contributing, Dr Felix Onoh, a lecturer and cooperative consultant, said that he came to enlighten people on the benefits of cooperative society, especially housing cooperative.

Onoh said that one of the basic needs of man is shelter, describing shelter as the most expensive of the basic needs of man.

He urged the people to come together, mobilise fund together as a cooperative and do it by themselves.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/more-than-9-million-nigerians-lack.html

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) says it is working in synergy with the marine police and other agencies to provide safety on the waterways within the Lekki axis of the state.

Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, said this during an interactive session with the staff of LASEMA Safety Arena in Bolade – Oshodi in Lagos.

“LASEMA will actively complement the efforts of the state waterways’ agency, the marine police and other relevant stakeholders to ensure adequate safety of the commuting populace on the state’s waterways,’’ he said.

The General Manager also said that the Response Unit of the Agency on the Lekki corridor would serve as its marine response centre.


He said this was to enhance the presence of the agency on the waterways and reduce response time to scene of emergencies.

According to him, it will be solely dedicated to emergency surveillance and response on the waterways.

The LASEMA boss, however, decried the rate of boat mishaps in recent time.

He said that the situation was a wake-up call to all responders to re-strategise their operations and rise to the challenges of responding on time to emergencies.

“The LASEMA established act as amended in 2005 (Section 5 (1-4) mandates the agency to coordinate and integrate disaster management in Lagos State, and to successfully accomplish this task.

“The agency is venturing into new relationships and sharpening the agency’s network and linkages to ensure better-defined collaborations,” he said.

He said that the agency’s position was in line with the vision of the administration of the governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, which is to provide adequate safety of lives and property.

“This will be achieved through workable and achievable programmes and strategies, aimed at improving efficiency in the delivery of disaster management in the state,’’ Oke-Osanyintolu said.

He noted that the agency had established three zonal offices within the three senatorial districts of the state.

He added that it had appointed zonal coordinators and established unit bases at Cappa, Onipanu on Ikorodu Road and Command and Control Centre at Alausa.

Oke-Osanyintolu said: “This is to enhance timely response to emergencies and reduce challenges arising from over centralization.’’

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/lasema-promises-safety-on-lagos.html

Barcelona have signed France forward Antoine Griezmann from La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid after paying his 120m euro (£107m) buyout clause.

The 28-year-old World Cup winner has signed a five-year contract with the Spanish champions.

Griezmann joined Atletico from Real Sociedad in 2014 and scored 133 goals in 256 appearances.

He signed a new five-year deal in June 2018 but announced in May he would be leaving the club this summer.


https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/barcelona-sign-antoine-griezmann-from.html

Global music sensation, Beyonce Knowles has enlisted some African artists and producers on her upcoming executive-produced album, ‘The Lion King: The Gift’.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Beyonce, Donald Glover and Chiwetel Ejiofor star in the live-action version of Disney’s ‘Lion King’ which premiered on Tuesday.

Beyoncé also dropped a new track off the project, ‘Spirit’, which serves as a taste of what to expect.

The powerful, anthemic song will appear in the film, during a pivotal scene with Beyoncé’s character, Nala.

Speaking in a statement about what this album means to her, Beyoncé said, “This is sonic cinema, a new experience of storytelling.

“I wanted to do more than find a collection of songs that were inspired by the film.

“It is a mixture of genres and collaboration that isn’t one sound. It is influenced by everything from r&b, pop, hip-hop and afrobeat,” she said.

According to the statement, she revealed that all the music on the project has been worked on by the most interesting and talented artists.

She said that some of the songs were produced by the best African producers, in order to maintain authenticity in the storytelling.

NAN reports that although the artists and producers have not been revealed, the film and the album, ‘The Lion King: The Gift’ will drops on July 19.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/beyonce-enlist-african-artists.html

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has again faulted another claim Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, allegedly made during a recent event in Kaduna.

El-Rufai was quoted to have said at the event, “Our (northern) demographic superiority gives us (northerners) a powerful tool.”

But responding, Fani-Kayode said the governor’s demographic claim was false.

In a tweet on his official Twitter handle on Wednesday, the former minister replied El-Rufai:

“The north has no demographic superiority. To say it does is false. It is a fallacy. It is a delusion. Unless you count the cows northerners are fewer than southerners. If the South comes together the match is over.”

He also responded to another alleged claim by the Kaduna State governor, where he was quoted to have said, “We (the North) are generally considered to be more honest and less corrupt than other Nigerians.”

But Fani-Kayode faulting the governor wrote: “Northerners are perceived to be more corrupt than southerners and Middle Belters. The ethos of hard work, honesty, prudence, fiscal discipline and transparency is alien to the North

“To the northerner Govt. and access to Govt. funds is everything. Without access to such funds they would perish. Southerners and Middle Belters do not need to steal Govt. money to survive and neither are they fatalists. They work hard for their money and they dream big knowing that the harder they work the further they are likely to go. Unlike southern and Middle Belt leaders, northern leaders have always found it difficult to make a distinction between private funds and public funds. To the northern leader the two are one and the same.”

Denying that he was attacking the North because he hates people from the region, the former minster said, “Someone said I hate the North. This is false. I do not hate the north: I love the north as I do the south and MB and I want to make it a better place. I will however say this: any notable northern leader that attacks the south will get a response from me. For that I have no apology.”

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/northerners-are-more-corrupt-than.html?m=1

Countries that restrict media freedom must be made to pay a diplomatic price, British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt said yesterday, as he warned about a deteriorating situation in China and elsewhere.

He said China employed millions of people to censor content, produce fake social media posts and manipulate online output. “If we act together we can shine a spotlight on abuses and impose a diplomatic price on those who’d harm journalists or lock them up for doing their jobs,” Hunt said, without elaborating on the measures that could be taken.

China announced a new campaign last month to clean up its internet said in November it had shut nearly 10,000 accounts of news providers deemed to be posting sensational, vulgar or politically harmful content.

Hunt, underdog in the race succeed Theresa May as British prime minister, said countries should not “succumb to fatalism” in response to attacks on media freedom such as the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul.

His comments at a conference in London were echoed by Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, a British special envoy on media freedom. She criticised world leaders for shrugging off the murder of Saudi journalist Khashoggi, and criticised United States President Donald Trump.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/countries-restricting-media-freedom.html

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Governor of Ogun state, Olusegun Osoba has said those compelling President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the country are ignorant of the limitations of the President in a democratic setting.

According to Osoba who met with President Buhari on Wednesday, at the Presidential Villa, to present copies of his new book ‘Battlelines: Adventures in Journalism and Politics’, the National Assembly held the key to restructuring.

He said though the APC constituted a committee where thorny issues of how power devolution, true federalism could operate, recommendations contained in the report was yet to be transmitted to the National Assembly.


Osoba said, “I have said it, I am one of the founders of APC, I would not discuss in details because I have access, I am part of the presidency because the President is our President. But I can tell you, all this noise about restructuring, we APC put devolution of power, true federalism in our manifesto and we’ve moved far from there to where a committee was set up headed by the governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/buhari-lacks-power-to-restructure.html

Two persons are feared dead following a communal clash between Obudu in Cross River and Vandiekya in Benue state.

Hostilities were said to have broken out in the early hours of Wednesday when Vandiekya youths allegedly launched an attack on their Obudu neighbours.

Both communities have been engaged in war for decades over farmland, leading to wanton destruction of properties and subsequent killings.

A witness, John Agba, who spoke with our correspondent on phone, said trouble started when an Obudu farmer went to farm and was harassed and inflicted with machete cuts and he had run back home.

Agba said on getting home, his kinsmen in Obudu mobilised and launched an attack on Vandiekya community and equally wounded some people.

In apparent reprisal, the Vandiekya community invaded the border area in Obudu and caused some mayhem.

The invasion, however, escalated as it later developed into full-scale war, leading to the death of two persons.

It was learnt that the students of Federal College of Education (FCE), were said to have deserted the school for fear of attack.

Confirming the incident, the Permanent Secretary in charge of security matters in governor’s office, Dr Alfred Mboto, said: “We are aware of the clash between Obudu and Benue State; the police commissioners of both states have mobilised security to the conflict zone.

“We have not got any official report of any death so far. But I assure you that peace has been restored there. Besides, we are meeting to ensure it doesn’t re-occur.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/2-fear-dead-in-criver-benue-communal.html

The Akwa Ibom State Governor Mr. Udom Emmanuel has sympathized with flood victims in the state and ordered Ministry of Works, other relevant agencies to put remedial measures to reduce flooding in affected areas of the state.

Governor Emmanuel gave the directive while embarking on the spot assessment of flood affected areas in Uyo, the state capital.

Accompanied by the Secretary to government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, Head of Civil Service, Elder Effiong Essien among other aides of his administration, was conducted to the flood affected areas by the immediate past Commissioner for Works Mr Ephraim InyInyang-eyen.

The Governor explained that Uyo topography is prone to flood while blaming some of the incidents on indiscriminate disposal of refuse in drainage and obstruction of water channels through illegal buildings.

Mr. Emmanuel with his team visited Nkemba Street by Abak Road and discovered the drainage was blocked by accumulated debris and wastes.

He also visited IBB way, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Accountant General’s office as well as shelter Afrique Estate, Mbiabong Ayanya by Timber market all in Uyo metropolis.

Governor Emmanuel also made a brief stop over at the Ring Road 111,Construction site handled by Hensek Integrated Engineering Services where the MD of the company Engr.Uwem Okoko explained the extent of work done by his company.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/flood-gov-emmanuel-visits-victims.html

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, says closure over the death of Chief MKO Abiola will be achieved when some of the challenges faced in the country are confronted and eliminated.

Soyinka said this at a Wreath Laying Ceremony to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the death of Abiola, organised by Women Arise for Change Initiative (WA) at MKO Abiola’s graveside in Ikeja.

He was charged for treason in 1994 by the Nigerian government, because he had declared himself the lawful President of Nigeria. He died in custody on the verge of being released in 1998.

Soyinka said: “This is the first gathering in honour of MKO Abiola after the formal recognition by the federal government that he was duly elected, and that he is a past president of this nation.

“And all we are waiting for is the formal actualisation through symbolic presence of his photographs among other presidents, even though he was never sworn into office.

“We cannot escape the past, but we can confront the challenges of the present, which of course very often arise from the past.

“We are inching slowly towards closure. One of these days when we gather, we shall be rejoicing.

“At that time, we would have progressed towards the elimination of some of the abnormalities and contradictions in our country.

“We have the issue of security, obeying the law, which is one thing that equalises all. President Muhammadu Buhari should lead by example by obeying the dictates of the law, so that other Nigerians can follow suit.

“It is this refusal to obey the law that has made some sectors of the populace think they are above the law and are causing anarchy in the country.

“We have a responsibility as a people, and government should address the issue of education, youth unemployment and insecurity.

“Just when we thought we were dealing with Boko Haram, then come these nomadic herdsmen armed with AK-47, and gradually, the kind of harmonious relationships that existed between various productive arms of this nation begins to disappear.

“We find ourselves on a daily basis being threatened, killed, our women being raped and other productive arms like farmers being driven off their own territories.

“These are critical issues that we need to deal with head on and urgently, so that we begin to celebrate the memories of Late Abiola and what he stood for,” Soyinka said.

He described Late Abiola as a true leader and an icon of inspiration for Nigerians.

“MKO Abiola is one of those that belongs in that galaxy of stellar leaders who at the critical moments said No. Nelson Mandela was one of them, Leah Sharibu is another young example.

“MKO Abiola, when he was given a conditional release in detention, said No. This is an essential lesson,” he said.



Also speaking, a Human Rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, said that a team of lawyers was being set up to re-open the matter on the death of Abiola at the international court, so that justice would be served.

Falana decried the high rate of poverty in the county, saying that it contradicted the legacy of Late Abiola.

“MKO Abiola’s campaign was anchored on farewell to poverty, today a 100milliin Nigerians live in abject poverty.

” We, therefore, need to rededicate ourselves to taking our people out of poverty, tackle the problem of insurgency, banditry and kidnapping by addressing the high rate of out-of-school children.

“Abiola stood for justice for all. All Nigerians must benefit from the resources of the nation, ” Falana said.

In his address, retired Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, a former military administrator of Lagos State, said that Abiola would forever be remembered for his principles and for believing in true federalism.

“We are having so many problems today. 21 years after the death of MKO, we are still struggling to enthrone true federalism where every Nigerian will have a sense of belonging as a citizen.

”We urge the government to go back to how we became a country – a Federal Nigeria. That is the way forward, ”he said.

Also speaking, Alhaji Mohammed Fawehinmi, son of Late Gani Fawehinmi, commended President Buhari for being sensitive to the plights of Nigerians.

Fawehinmi urged President Buhari to urgently constitute his cabinet for a better economy.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, convener of the event, said that 21 years after the death of Abiola, he would continually be celebrated as a great son of Africa.

Okei-Odumakin urged the federal government to constitute a judicial commission of inquiry to unravel how Abiola died in custody.

She also called for the abolition of poverty in the country, saying that it was an issue paramount to late Abiola

Responding, Alhaji Jamiu Abiola, one of the sons of MKO Abiola, appreciated the Federal Government for declaring June 12 Democracy Day, saying that it was an unexpected miracle.

“I want us to be optimistic as a people because I know that the same federal government that was able to take that giant step will not stop at that. They will respond to the yearnings of Nigerians.

“The many challenges in our country today are as a result of decadence over the years and it will not be easy to tackle them in one day. Let us be patient with President Buhari.

“As we also clamour for restructuring, let us look inward and restore our thinking and ways of doing things. It is not just what the government can do, it is about what we can do as a people to better our nation, ” he said.

Also, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Abiola, another of the sons of Late Abiola, urged Nigerians to stop living in the past and plan for a better future for the younger generation.

“We should allow what happened in the past to be in the past. Let’s stop querying who killed Abiola. Let us talk about how to build a better Nigeria for our children.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/soyinka-falana-others-lay-wreath-on.html

S-East Native Doctors Demand Land From The North Says Amadioha Needs To Settle In The North
Igbo native doctors cries out- Give us land,Amadioha needs to settle in the north

According to one of the native doctor in Anambra state said that they also need land from the northern part to help grow their business and help people who are in the need of their magical power

Full report at

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/south-east-native-doctors-demand-land.html?m=1

A campaign group, 2021 Sunshine Project Integrity Movement, yesterday said Ondo State Governor; Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu would secure not less than 75 per cent of votes of delegates ahead of 2020 primary election.

The Director General of the group, Prof. Olu Aboluwoye gave the assurance at a news conference he addressed in Akure to kick start support for Akeredolu’s second term project.


At the conference, the director-general said activities of the governor for the past two and half years were impacting, stimulating, encouraging and inspiring.

Aboluwoye, who was supported by some commissioners and party chieftains, said the much noise being made by those who were uniformed about Akeredolu’s chances would not affect him (governor) during the APC 2020 primary election.

He said those who were complaining about Akeredolu’s administration were party members who were not being truthful about what they were benefitting from the administration.

He said the Sunshine Integrity Movement “has secured 75 per cent votes of automatic delegates ahead of the primary election in the year 2020. These delegates are very loyal and honest with impeccable character.

“In case the APC decides to use direct primary of choosing a candidate, we have secured the support of 70 per cent of loyal party members in the state.”

He described some party members and political appointees that said they did not benefits from the administration as liars, noting that those who got contracts from the government were not being honest with their followers.

“The 424 primary schools classrooms reconstructed were done by our people; some of those who got these contracts refuse to give something to their followers and instead had been complaining that they do not get anything.

“We have challenged some political appointees who had been complaining of not getting anything to pull out but they refused to do quit”, he said.

Aboluwoye said irrespective of the lies being peddled about, Akeredolu’s administration achievements in various sectors as road construction, health programmes, agriculture, education in the three senatorial districts are testimonies that would be appreciated in next year’s election.

He added that by the time all the industrialisation and economic efforts of the Akeredolu administration come into fruition, unemployment would reduce drastically in the state.

“Let me tell you, by the time Akeredolu completes his second term as the governor of the state, Ondo State will not go to Abuja every month to beg for money to run the state as Internally Generated Revenue of the state will be more than what is needed to run the state.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/akeredolu-will-secure-75-delegate-votes.html

National President of Miyetti Allah Kautel Hore socio-cultural organization, Alhaji Abdullahi Bodejo, has said that the Fulani herders can relocate to Sambisa forest.

He, however, added that the facilities for carrying out their cattle business must be provided.


Bodejo also said that they never requested for Ruga settlement in the first place, adding that the Fulani already have their Ruga.

“Whether Sambisa or anywhere, the Fulani can stay. The Fulani people do not fear Sambisa or any forest,” he told Sun.

“The Fulani are ready to stay anywhere there is bush but number one is that there must be water which their cows can drink and there must be grasses for their cows to eat. If Sambisa has all those facilities, you do not need to introduce it to the Fulani; they would go there and herd their cows.


“If you see any place where the Fulani do not go to, it is because such a place does not have water and grasses for the grazing of their cows. All the places like Enugu, Benue and Taraba, if Fulani don’t go there to fertilize their land, nobody will go there to farm.

“The Fulani have settled in many places including the Federal Capital Territory before the farmers came there. So, if the Federal Government could introduce the Fulani to the Sambisa forest, we are ready to go there. I will be the number one person who will go there.

“Nobody requested for Ruga settlement in the first place. The Fulani already have their Ruga. What is the meaning of Ruga?


“Is it not a place where you have the Fulani houses? So, we already have Ruga but I do not know why all the confusion about all the issues concerning the Fulani in this country.

“This is because we have grazing reserve areas and people are not talking about it. They initially talked about the cattle colony and from there, they now started talking about Ruga.

“They said they wanted to settle the Fulani in one place but did anybody tell them what they wanted to do? Nobody had any meeting with them on the issue of Ruga but I noticed that there are now desperate people who claim to be Fulani leaders by all means.

“You can imagine, for instance, a Fulani man who has about 300 cows and nobody told him that they want to settle him in one place and suddenly, you started hearing about Ruga on the TV, radio and social media.

“See how innocent Fulani people are being chased away in the South East, South South and other places as if they are not Nigerians. What caused these things is the issue of Ruga but the Fulani being chased away do not even know about the Ruga policy. Even we the Fulani leaders did not know about the Ruga policy.

“We did not know any plan for that by the Federal Government or the Ministry of Agriculture. I have cows for instance and they are staying in Ruga but we have a problem with the cattle routes.

“If they are serious, let them come and discuss with the real Fulani leaders and not those who claim to be Fulani leaders and they go behind to collect bribe and speak for our people. How do you think you can settle the Fulani in one place?

“How many factories from the cow value chain do we have in this country now? If you say you want to put the Fulani in one Ruga settlement, how can you put for instance about 10,000 cows in one place? Do you want to kill the cows?”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/ruga-settlement-give-us-sambisa-forest.html

Gov Wike says Rivers State does not have land to give for Ruga. But if they want water, he has water to give. Since they pipe Niger Delta oil up North then they might as well pipe water up North for the cows to drink

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/we-will-support-cattle-with-water.html?m=1




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utKuLE09vXA

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Catriona Laing, on Friday met with Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to discuss bilateral partnership, which focused on three key areas of common interest – technology-driven water transportation, investment and smart city initiative.

The governor, in company of his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, received the British envoy and her entourage in his office for the bilateral meeting, which was held behind closed doors. The envoy said the meeting was necessary, as it was in continuation of a dialogue with Lagos State government on areas of partnership.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, Ms Laing said discussion with the governor and his deputy focused on strategies to be adopted by the Lagos government and private sector partners to enable Lagos realise its aspirations to be a leading city in technology and innovation on the African continent.

She said: “There are three topics in particular that we discussed. The first is around the Governor’s vision and how the United Kingdom (UK) can support Lagos to achieve that vision. Technology is changing the world. Lagos is one of the few city-states in Africa that is well positioned to take advantage of the fourth industrial revolution around innovation, robotics and artificial intelligence.

“The governor is very clear on achieving this objective. He said his job is to provide necessary infrastructure, particularly power and broadband. At the back of that, the private sector will come in and support in that aspiration.”

The envoy said there was a discussion around the African Investment Summit holding in London next January in which 20 African countries, including Nigeria, would be participating. The summit, she said, would come with significant benefits for Lagos, because of unrestrained access to investors and finance.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/british-envoy-meets-sanwo-olu-seeks.html

Ndudi Elumelu, has said that six of his colleagues were not given fair hearing by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) before the party suspended them for one month.

Elumelu, who represents Anaocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency, was named Minority Leader by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Wednesday.

However, the announcement sparked off crisis in the minority caucus.

The lawmaker in a statement on Friday, said he was already out of Abuja for a funeral, when information got him that the PDP NWC had summoned him and six others to appear before it.

The statement read: “I’m surprised and shocked, that the National Working Committee of our great party, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) can sit and take a decision without giving room for fair hearing.

“I lost an aunty and left Abuja immediately after plenary in the House of Representatives on Thursday and travelled to Delta State. Although I left immediately after the sitting …. Secondly my gateman received the letter at 7.45pm and he called me at 8pm.

“I was informed by my gateman who received the letter from the party at 7.45pm and called me at 8pm. I tried to reach out to the other members named in the letter to see if they could be at the meeting and found out they were also out of town.

“Out of respect for the party, I directed my special assistant to write to the party and request a new date. I would have expected that if the date, we suggested was not convenient for the party, they would have proposed another day when we could have appeared before them.

I have great respect for the party and am ready to serve.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/pdp-didnt-give-me-fair-hearing-elumelu.html

The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2018 election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has congratulated Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his victory at the Supreme Court.

The former senator who represented the Osun West Senatorial District affirmed that his ambition was never a do or die affair.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, after the court ruling on Friday, Adeleke said: “The Supreme Court, being the apex court in the land, their decision, regardless of my disagreement and disappointment with same, remains final. As a democrat and law-abiding citizen, I accept the ruling no matter my misgivings.

“I wish Governor Oyetola well in the governance of Osun State,” Adeleke added.

He also expressed immense gratitude and appreciation to his teeming supporters, leaders and members of the People’s Democratic Party “for their massive support throughout the duration of the case and our high spirit and commitment to the cause of democracy which we championed from last year till date.

“In all circumstances, we must thank God Almighty. We gallantly fought a good fight in pursuance of a democratic cause. The ideals we fought for live on,” Adeleke stressed.

“Our ambition was never a do-or-die affair. We aspired to serve and deliver democratic dividends to the people of Osun State. Our ambition was altruistic. We wish Governor Oyetola the best in governance of the state,” he stressed.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/supreme-court-verdict-adeleke.html

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination candidate, Cletus Kokowa, for allegedly hiring a syndicate to upgrade his scores from 162 to 206.

The NSCDC arrested Kokowa on Thursday at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, where he confessed that he was asked to pay N10,000 for the upgrading.


Our correspondent learnt that Kokowa, with Registration Number 95329290ED from Bayelsa State, contacted the syndicate through a WhatsApp group a few weeks ago after he learnt that they could upgrade his score from 162.

The syndicate later sent a fake result notification to Kokowa, stating that his score was now 206. When his UTME result however remained unchanged on the JAMB portal, Kokowa’s father, Garen, wrote a letter of complaint to the board asking for the rectification of his son’s scores.

The board thereafter invited Kokowa to come with the two results as proof, after which he confessed on Thursday to have employed a syndicate.

The candidate’s uncle, an army officer, who declined to give his name, accompanied Kokowa to the JAMB headquarters.

The boy was afterwards handed over to the NSCDC.

Our correspondent gathered that Kokowa had checked his UTME result 15 times and found that he scored 162, but he was convinced that there was an error from the board.

Kokowa told our correspondent that although he knew upgrading scores was an offence, he did not believe he would be caught.

He said, “Those people sent a mail to my electronic mail inbox that they could help me to upgrade my score. I then sent them my registration number and e-mail address. When the results were released and I checked, they showed me 206. Then, one of them called me and demanded payment.


“I later went to check and I found 162. I was confused. I had heard that upgrading scores was an offence, but I didn’t really believe it. I did not tell my father and my uncle about the syndicate.”

The JAMB Registrar, Oloyede, said the board would ensure the arrest and prosecution of candidates discovered to have engaged in fraudulent practices before, during and after the examination.

He said, “One of the popular claims candidates usually make is that JAMB issued two different UTME results to them. But I said it was a lie because this result was processed via information and communication technology.


“When this boy came with his complaint, I asked for his records to be brought and we discovered that he had contacted fraudsters who gave him a fake result. We discovered that the result given to him was an imposition of another candidate’s result on his own.

“He is with the NSCDC and he will be handed over to the police for prosecution.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/utme-candidate-arrested-for-paying.html

The remains of 11 victims of Wednesday’s attacks by bandits on communities in Kankara and Dan-Musa local government areas were laid to rest in Katsina metropolis at a funeral ceremony attended by the Emir of Katsina, Dr. Abdulmumin Kabir Usman, on Thursday evening.

A Toyota Hiace bus and a Volkswagen Golf car were used to convey the bodies from the affected villages to Katsina as thousands of sympathisers thronged the palace for the ceremony.

The Chief Imam of Katsina, Muhammadu Mustapha, led the funeral prayers and the bodies were later interred at the Dan Takon graveyard.

Reports indicate that bandits had launched the attacks on about seven communities in the two local government areas, the latest in the spate of bloody campaigns by the hoodlums.

The wave of banditry in the state has remained seemingly insurmountable in spite of various security efforts involving the police and the army

The Katsina State police command had deployed members of the special squad referred to as “Operation Puff Adder” from the Inspector-General of Police, to various parts of the state, to check the activities of bandits and kidnappers, operating in at least eight out of the 34 local government areas.

The local government areas described as frontline locations collectively said to be a haven for bandits and cattle rustlers, in Katsina state are, Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Dan-Musa, Faskari, Sabuwa, Dandume, Kankara and parts of Kafur.

Last week, the Nigerian Army said through the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 8 Division, Sokoto, Brigadier-Gen. Abdulkarim, Oladapo Otiki, that it had designed fresh strategies including the deployment of drones, to combat banditry ravaging parts of the north-west zone of the country.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/tears-as-11-victims-of-armed-banditry.html

Akwa Ibom State government has vowed not to be deterred by some fetish injunctions placed by some communities trying to stop the construction of new roads, claiming that such development has offended their gods.

Some owners of properties on the right of way along the ongoing dualised Ekom Iman/Etinan road have resorted to the use of fetish injunctions against the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Works, with a view to scaring contractors away from demolishing their buildings, to allow for the ongoing dualisation project/flyover.

Our correspondent learnt that immediately the contract for the project was announced, they started controversies and problems in the payment of compensation.

The project which commenced at the early stage of Governor Udom Emmanuel’s first term in office, has continued to raise acrimony between the state Ministry of Works and the communities as the state government had vowed never to compensate for buildings constructed without approval and after the initial valuation.

As a form of protest against the planned demolition of their homes, some of the natives on the other had also refused to collect the amount of money made available to them as compensation.

But the immediate past Commissioner for Works, Mr Ephraim Inyangeyen, in his reaction, has vowed that the adoption of fetish injunctions would neither scare the Akwa Ibom State government nor deter its resolve to develop the state.

Inyangeyen who has been re-nominated as commissioner by Governor Emmanuel and awaiting clearance by the State Assembly, said the use of traditional yellow palm fronds known in local parlance as, ‘ayei’, red pieces of cloth and other concoctions fastened to properties marked for demolition could not restrain government or its agents from proceeding with the demolition exercise.

“This experience is not new. Similar situations have been witnessed in some parts of the state where people placed charms and idols of different shapes and moulds to prevent and intimidate government from carrying out its developmental projects, especially road construction,” he said.

Inyangeyen who described such as pettiness, however, advised the people who resort to such despicable antics to rather accept the compensation given to them for such property to enable them to relocate, repent and remove such injunctions which he considered to be powerless

He decried a situation where some people try to extort money from the government when road projects are awarded outrageous claims on tombstones, shrines, and shanties, some of which are hurriedly erected for such sinister purpose.

Inyangeyen, however, lauded officials of the ministry for setting the traditional injunctions on fire and progressing with the development of the projects so that the timeline for their completion could be met.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/akwa-ibom-govt-vows-to-demolish-juju.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ_9rqFDj-E

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has summoned Senator Elisha Abbo over his role in a CCTV footage relating to allegations of malfeasance that resulted in malhandling of a nursing mother who is a sales girl in a intimacy gadget shop in Abuja

Also, the presidential candidate of PDP in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the senator in question to make an open apology as his action was inexcusable.

The PDP in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, summoned Senator Abbo, stating that “the party as a law-abiding and upstanding party, detests and completely condemn such act of lawlessness and callousness as exhibited in the video and will therefore never condone it.

“Our party is also shocked that the harmless victim of the unprovoked assault is said to be a nursing mother, who ought to be protected.

“Though this is a personal conduct of an individual which has no bearing with the culture of our party, the PDP however holds that no responsible person will condone such an attitude”.

The spokesperson of PDP said that in the light of this, “the NWC has commenced investigation into the matter and summoned Senator Elisha Abbo in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP and code of conduct of our members.

“In the same vein, the party has taken note of the immediate action taken by the Senate.

“The PDP, at all levels of engagement, is reputed for her utmost respect and commitment towards the rights, safety and wellbeing of our citizens, particularly our women and cannot tolerate any callous assault on any Nigerian.

“The PDP therefore assures Nigerians that it will always stand on the side of justice and will never spare a thought in taking action on any of its members found wanting, particularly those elected or appointed into public office”.

In the same manner, Atiku called on Senator Abbo to apologise. In his verified personal tweet message, the former vice president said, ” I advise him to personally apologize and voluntarily go to the police by showing good example”.

He also called on his party, the PDP to take necessary action and ensure that the law takes its full course.

According to Afiku, “I have seen the alleged assault video involving Senator Elisha Aboo. The video is sad, inexcusable. I know the senator quite well. Buy the law is clear and leaders must lead by example”.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/pdp-condemns-assault-on-woman-summons.html