The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly frowned at the decision of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to suspend the license of Daar Communication Plc, promoter of AIT and Ray Power FM until further notice. The Director-General of NBC, Modibbo Kawu, announced the development Thursday evening.

Kawu said the action was taken for failure of the broadcasting station, to abide by the broadcasting code. However, in a statement on Thursday, PDP claimed it was an attempt by “the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled federal government to cage the media.” The opposition party also claimed that Kawu was a card-carrying member of the APC and contested in the last Kwara State governorship election.

Full statement:

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns, in its totality, the unrelenting attempt by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled federal government to cage the media as being witnessed in the ferocious attacks on Africa Independent Television (AIT) by government agencies, particularly the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

The party says it is evident that the attack on AIT is targeted at intimidating and gaging the media, repress constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and stifle public opinion, mainly as related to the determination by Nigerians to retrieve the stolen Presidential mandate at the tribunal.

This clamp down on AIT as well as earlier siege on other media houses and journalists under the APC administration, ostensibly point to a plot to frighten and asphyxiate the media, shut down outlets perceived to hold dissenting views and ultimately foist a siege mentality on our citizenry to restrain their demand for fairness and justice in the polity.

The APC is mortally afraid that a free press will raise the red flag and expose its manipulations and any attempt to subvert the course of justice, especially in the Presidential petition, hence this desperation to strangulate the media and cow Nigerians from freely expressing themselves.

Moreover, the PDP invites Nigerians to note that the Director-General of the NBC, Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, is a card-carrying member and frontline leader in the APC who was also an aspirant on the platform of the party for the governorship of Kwara state. The PDP notes that there can be no democracy without a free press. To stifle the media is an invitation to fascism and a return to the era of obnoxious military Decrees 2 and 4, which must be resisted by all.

Our party, therefore, calls on Nigerians and the International community to unite in condemning this desperation to gag the media and repress free speech in Nigeria. The PDP also charges the media to remain professional and steadfast in their constitutional role of holding government and its institutions accountable and not be intimidated by oppressive forces that seek to subjugate Nigerians.

read more: https://gistok.ng/pdp-blows-hot-as-nbc-shuts-down-ait-ray-power-fm-exposes-kawu/

A Senator from Ebonyi State, Obinna Ogba, on Thursday, likened the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to late Nigeria’s military dictator, Gen Sani Abacha. Ogba, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said Saraki and Abacha shared a similar trait of being kind to others.

Speaking during the Senate’s valedictory session in Abuja, the lawmaker insisted that Nigeria never experienced the level of insecurity being witnessed under Abacha. According to Ogba: “I will liken Saraki leadership to that of Abacha. He is just like Abacha. I am one of those who believe that many people can say what they like, but Sani Abacha is a president that we have never seen. You may love him, and you may not like him.

“Abacha is a perfect man, no matter what they are saying about him. People who are condemning him today are doing worse things. During Abacha time, we didn’t have security problems like this. The man did and so many good things. “Wherever the man is, God will continue to bless him. He is the one that gave us Ebonyi state. God will continue to bless him and you too (Saraki). “In this chamber, you find the good, the bad, and the ugly, but Nigeria is represented here.

“What I noticed in this 8th assembly is that there are people who do not see anything good except in their zones.
We are not supposed to belong to any political party, zones, or religion here. “The earlier we changed that attitude, and it will be better for this country. Mr. President, I want to thank the leadership of the Senate.”

read more: https://gistok.ng/why-saraki-is-just-like-abacha-pdp-senator-ogba/

Shehu Sani, Senator representing Kaduna in the National Assembly, has reacted to reports claiming that the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi was planning to depose the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi ll. The Ganduje-led administration queried Sanusi for allegedly misappropriating the Emirate Council’s N3.4 billion.

It was gathered that the Emir was queried after the submission of a report by the State office of the anti-corruption and Public Complaint Commission who investigated him on the alleged squandering of the Emirate Council’s funds. The report which was submitted to the Government late Tuesday is said to have recommended for the immediate suspension of the Emir.

The Government has consequently handed down a query to the Emir through the Office of the Secretary to the Government, Usman Alhaji late Tuesday. GISTOK  reported that the Government is planning on the complete deposition of the Emir when a final report of its forthcoming panel of inquiry comes out indicting Sanusi.

However, Sani urged Ganduje to reconsider his move against Sanusi. In a tweet, the lawmaker wrote: “Power is temporary, and it’s vanity; I appeal to Kano Governor to reconsider and rescind the widely reported impending actions against Emir Sanusi Lamido.”

read more: https://gistok.ng/sen-shehu-sani-reacts-to-gandujes-plan-to-depose-emir-sanusi/

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday guaranteed the President-elect of the 74th UN General Assembly, Amb. Tijani Mohammad-Bande, of his help to actualize his vision. Guterres confirmed in his announcement soon after the race of Mohammad-Bande at the 87th entire gathering of UNGA in New York.

The duly elected President, who is Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the UN, rose through recognition at an occasion seen by world negotiators and government authorities from Nigeria. "It is my pleasure to praise Prof. Tijani Mohammad-Bande as President of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

"Prof Bande, you bring numerous significant and momentous capabilities to the activity. From your years as a changeless delegate of Nigeria, you realize the United Nations well. "What's more, from your deep going academic interest, you are a specialist in political theory and open organization.

"What's more, as a Nigeria and an Africa, you have valuable knowledge into the landmass' difficulties, for example, the Sahel and the Lake Chad bowl, and all the more comprehensively to the challenges, our reality faces over the six mainstays of our work – harmony, supportable improvement and human rights.

"We wish you well in your planning for this job in the months ahead. "Mr. President-elect, we as a whole, anticipate working with you, and you can depend on my help, as we endeavor to achieve our mutual objectives and maintain widespread qualities.'' In her comments, active President of the 73rd Assembly, Ms. Maria Espinosa, likewise saluted Mohammad-Bande, portraying him as the man for the activity.

"Amb. Tijani's profession and experience both as a researcher and a representative should work well for him and the General Assembly in a session that guarantees to be essential. "Amb. Bande is very much prepared to give the reliable and innovative initiative our August gathering requires as he positions himself to be significant in a world in the quick change.

read more: https://gistok.ng/un-chief-pledges-support-for-ungas-president-elect/

Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) on Friday said it had conveyed no less than two thousand of its men to guarantee consistency with the request by the state government to assume control over engine stops and carports over the state.

State Commandant of NSCDC, Dr. John Adewoye, owned this exposure through an expression made accessible to reporters in Ibadan, the state capital, by the Public Relations Officer of the order, Mr. Olusegun Oluwole. The state director of NSCDC said that it conveyed the officers in a joint effort with other security offices after the remedy of the association, to guarantee consistency with the administration's organization.

Oluwole, who talked in the interest of the commandant, said that the order had guided every single divisional officer to join their partners in all Local Government Areas to take over of every engine park with immediate impact.  The announcement stated, "The Oyo state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Dr. John Adewoye owned the expression while conveying his faculty over the state in a joint effort with other security offices after the Executive Governor of Oyo state Engineer Seyi Makinde today banished the exercises of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state.

"He guided every single divisional officer to join their partners in all Local Government to assume control over every unique engine park with immediate impact and expressed gratitude toward the state Governor for the choice taking to thwart emergency in Oyo state. "State Commandant task the divisional officers to keep up observation on all the administration properties in their purviews. "Oyo State Commandant guaranteed the general population of Oyo condition of adequate security of lives and properties.

"As the Muslims everywhere throughout the nation are getting ready for the finish of Ramadan fasting this year. The state Commandant of NSCDC, Dr. John Adewoye has to compliment them for the soul of giving, forbearance from transgression showed amid the Ramadan the period of blessedness and charged them to proceed in a similar vein even after the Eid-el Fitri festivity.

"Adewoye counseled the Muslim loyal to appeal to God for the accomplishment of the new organization in Oyo state, harmony, and solidarity of Nigeria. "He encouraged all Nigerians to be decent amid the Eid-el Fitri festivity and charged the overall population to volunteer data to Nigeria security and joint Defense corps by calling 07089419444, 07055565033, 07055565020, 09055533301 and 09055533303. "Commandant Dr. John Adewoye likewise wishes Muslim dedicated an upbeat Eid-el Fitri festivity."

read more: https://gistok.ng/oyo-nscdc-deploys-officers-to-car-parks-after-makindes-directive/

The present administration, in Oyo State, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde has assured the people of the state, that he will not renege on all its electioneering campaign promises. The Deputy Governor, Engr Rauf Olaniyan gave this assurance on Friday in Ibadan during the Jumat service held at Oja’ba Central Mosque as part of the events heralding the new government in the state.

He stated, “Governor Seyi Makinde is a man of his words, a man of honour who is very committed to every single promises he made during the campaign in order to make life meaningful for the generality of the people”.

The Deputy Governor reiterated the present administration’s determination to ensure that peace reigns supreme in all nooks and crannies of the state by not allowing any form of brigandage or lawlessness from any individual or group of people no matter how highly placed”.

In his sermon, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alhaji Abdul Ganiy Ajigbotomokekere called on the people and residents of the state to co-operate with the new government, while charging the government to ensure to ensure safety of lives and property throughout the state. The Jumat service was attended by top government officials led by the state Head of Service, Alhaja Amidat Ololade Agboola, PDP state Chairman, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha and other members of the party in the state. Church thanksgiving service is expected to take place on Sunday

read more: https://gistok.ng/makindes-govt-will-not-renege-on-our-electioneering-promises-olaniyan/

Representative Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has unveiled that Oyo State laborers have gotten May compensation so they could plan for the upcoming Sallah festivity. The representative who expressed this in an announcement marked by his Chief of Staff, Chief Bisi Ilaka on Friday, kept up that the activity was in consonance with his guarantee to improve life for the whole laborers in the State's administration.

"Oyo laborers have begun getting their banks' alarms so they can get ready for the anticipated Sallah celebration. This aligns with our crusade guarantee that we will do everything every step of the way to make specialists grin.

"Our organization has come to offer alleviation to the whole specialists of the State and separated from the brief installment of pay rates; this organization will see to arrangement of different motivations and working environment prerequisites to advance proficiency and drive individual and open development.

"Again, we emphasize our promise to a more prominent Oyo State, and it must be accomplished through an effective and gainful workforce. So we approach work to respond with a similar signal by giving unalloyed faithfulness and devotion to the administration of the State," he charged. The government has proclaimed Tuesday fourth of June and Wednesday fifth of June as an open occasion for specialists in the nation to praise the finish of the holy month of Ramadan.

read more: https://gistok.ng/sallah-makinde-pays-workers-salaries-for-may/