kestor:
I see most people displaying their ignorance here. Capt. Hosa is a 'son' of the Oba of Benin, no Edo government can mess him up. The man is like Dangote (staking both ways), which is not new to anyone. Political urchins are just trying to misinform people like the ones above me.
Wait o, someone wrote a 'PRESS STATEMENT', signed it as Capt Hosa; sent it to Igbere TV avoiding other front line media outfits. Why? because he didn't think it would be published?
A character in the person of Capt Hosa, a Bini man we're all proud of; acting like a conquered slave just to paint Obaseki in a bad light? God forbid.
He knows whom to call to reset Obaseki's brain if that were true. We know whose handiwork, and thank God there are no polling booths online.
PS: I wouldn't be surprised if he issues a disclaimer in the coming days, should this insurbodination gain traction.

Chairman of Ocean Marine Solution (OMS) and Edo born billionaire, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, has raised the alarm over alleged plans by Governor Godwin Obaseki to burn down his farms, Igbere TV reports.

Igbere TV reports that the business mogul, fondly referred to as Captain Hosa by associates also said the governor is planning to revoke Certificate of Occupancy of his houses in Edo state.

In a personally signed statement made available to Igbere TV on Monday, Okunbo called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ask Governor Obaseki to leave him alone.

In the statement, Okunbo chronicled his chubby relationship with Obaseki that has now gone awry, support for his administration and sponsored attacks against his person and business interests by the governor.

Capt. Hosa said he was not looking for settlement of the issues the governor had picked with him in spite of his good intentions towards him and his administration.

“I wish to make this save-my-soul appeal to all well-meaning Edo indigenes and Nigerian citizens both at home and in the Diaspora to tell Governor Obaseki to stop these continuous attacks on me, my family and my business,” he said.

“I have been told how they intend to burn my farm and revoke the Certificates of Occupancy of all my houses in Benin City. I have already alerted the Police to this heinous plot. But, what have I done to deserve this bellicose treatment?

“My good people of Edo State, I have always wished for a state where we can have a desirable atmosphere to bring about investment opportunities and create employment for our teeming youth population. There is nothing I desire from the State Government other than to create enabling environment for me to bring investments back home, create opportunities for employment and, in the long run, retire peacefully in my old age.

“I call on our people to tell Governor Obaseki and his team to leave me alone to exercise my fundamental human rights and, in particular, allow me exercise my freedom of choice without intimidation and blackmail. I am sincerely worried about the desperation and intolerance of the Governor. I am honestly worried that these agents and hirelings may go beyond the limits of their mandate at the risk of my life and that of my family, including the destruction of my personal and corporate investments which have taken me decades to put in place. I have never before experienced this high level of intolerance, wickedness and envy from anybody in my life, until now from a so-called friend and fellow Benin Man.

“If, therefore, on the basis of my personal conviction and the exercise of my fundamental rights of association and choice, Governor Obaseki and his team carry through their threat to burn my farm and revoke the Certificates of Occupancy of my houses in Benin, it will be a worthy price to pay for my conviction and the courage of my choice. It is imperative for me to categorically state that if that, indeed, happens, it will only facilitate my resolve to excuse myself from Benin as long as this wickedness remains directed at my person, family and my businesses.

“My dear people of Edo State, I plead with you to save my soul from the hands of the Edo State Government. As it is, I cannot fight any government and even if I can, I am not interested in doing so and, if so pushed, will surely fight within the ambit of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Edo government should, therefore, be told to leave me alone. Today, those who are fighting me have the machinery of government to do so on spurious claims that I have been funding all activities of the opposition against the Governor.

“This press statement, which I have tried to make as detailed as possible, has become necessary in order to present my case to the good people of Edo state to enable them to know what I have been going through in my sincere effort to galvanise support for the Obaseki administration. It is pathetic that our State, under the Obaseki administration, has become a laughing stock, a butt of jokes about violence, disrespect for processes, rule of law and outlandish character assassination being the orders of the day. We must rise to reject these negative profiles.

“My dear good people of Nigeria and Edo state, in particular, IN CONCLUSION: if I could suffer all this injustice for no just cause, so you can imagine how many innocent citizens of Edo State that Godwin Obaseki and his agents would have been STANDING ON THEIR NECKS THAT CAN’T BREATHE.”

Captain Hosa Okunbo had come under heavy attacks from people believed to be agents of Governor Obaseki over his alleged support towards Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, candidate of the APC for the Edo 2020 gubernatorial election.

Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Sunday met behind closed doors.

Igbere TV reports that Gbajabiamila paid Senator Orji Kalu, a former governor of Abia, a private visit at his Abuja Aso Villa residence.

This is the second time the House of Reps Speaker would be visiting the Chief Whip since Kalu’s release from Kuje correctional centre.

Igbere TV gathered that Speaker Gbajabiamila arrived at 2pm and proceeded for a private discussion with Kalu.

Although details of the meeting were not made public, Igbere TV gathers the discussion which lasted for two hours centered on politics and the economy.

The clamour for Igbo presidency received a further boost at the weekend with a declaration by Abdulazeez Yari, immediate past governor of Zamfara state, that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would support a power shift to Southern Nigeria in 2023.

Igbere TV gathered that Yari, who was Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) as governor, also said he might vie for the office of the party’s national chairman should it be zoned to the North.

He said the ongoing reform of the APC at the national level would enable it to avoid a re-occurrence of the challenges that confronted it in the build-up to the 2019 general elections.

In an interview monitored by Igbere TV, Yari said it was expected that power would shift to the South after the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second and last tenure.

“As we have seen the nature of how our presidency will look like, it has to go South. The chairmanship may likely as well come to the North in preparation for that,” he was quoted as saying.

Asked if he was one of the leaders supporting power shift to the South in 2023, ex-governor simply declared, “Of course, that is how things are supposed to be.”

There have been calls from different quarters for a power shift to the South in the 2023 presidential election, particularly to the Southeast geopolitical zone.

Various interest groups including the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has declared its full support for Igbo Presidency ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

The group also declared its total support and preference for Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate and former Governor of Abia State, as president.

Coalition of Igbo Groups has called on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to resign or face impeachment, while also calling calling on the Peoples Democratic Party to immediately expel Senate’s minority leader, Senator Enyinnayah Abaribe, from the party.

This is coming following a leaked information and allegation from Mohammed Lawal, Special Assistant to the Former Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, that the duo conspired to jail Senator Orji Kalu, former Abia Governor.

In a statement obtained by Igbere TV on Saturday, the groups described the revelation as “one of the deadliest conspiracies uncovered in this political dispensation.”

The Igbo groups further called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to order an immediate investigation into the said allegations.

It said by the actions of the duo, they have made themselves the “greatest enemies of Igbos in the last 200 years, especially Senator Abaribe who is from the Southeast.”

The Coalition commended the “courageous decision” of Mohammed Lawal to “expose the treacherous nature of some untouchables especially Osinbajo”, who it said had been linked to many corruption allegations and Senator Abaribe, “whose 2023 Governorship ambition has exposed him to become a secret, serial blackmailer and ringleader of the rogue assignment to outwit his perceived political rivals in a bid to win the 2023 Abia guber poll.”

The statement jointly signed by Mazi Alex Okemiri (President, World Igbo Youth Congress), Dr Mrs Helen Ogbonnaya (leader, Southeast Women Professionals), Comrade Chidi Ugwujo (President, Igbo Students Union), was issued at the end of their monthly joint meeting with the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State on Saturday 18th July, 2020.

The Coalition said the meeting deliberated extensively on the allegations made by the ex-EFCC boss's aide indicting Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senator Bola Tinubu, Sir Emeka Offor, Senators Ken Nnamani and Enyinnayah Abaribe.

The Coalition presented a Resolution reached during the course of the meeting which includes;

“1) that President Muhammadu Buhari should set up a Special Presidential Committee to conduct an impartial, independent and forensic investigation into the allegations of Mohammed Lawal indicting Osinbajo and others, and having been allegedly indicted and abused his oath of Office as Vice President, Osinbajo should tow the path of honour and resign his position as Vice President and voluntarily submit himself for investigation or if he decides to hide under Immunity Clause of the 1999 Constitution to forestall being investigated, there should be a commencement of impeachment proceedings against him by the National Assembly,

“2) that the Coalition has cajoled Senator Enyinnayah Abaribe, the ringleader of the alleged rogue operation of political incarceration of Sen. Orji Kalu, who had portrayed himself as the self-acclaimed lone Igbo voice in the Senate but behind the scene, was actually drawing scripts for Magu-led EFCC to nail his fellow Senators from Abia State, especially Senator Orji Kalu and another Senator through corruption allegations as strategic plans to outwit his political rivals and avenge his political scores with them. We believe that Abaribe is on a vendetta mission to punish Orji kalu and T. A. Orji after his(Abaribe’s) impeachment as former Abia Deputy Governor in 2003 and the then 2003 PDP family led by the two Senators defeated Him(Abaribe) as the then 2003 ANPP Abia Guber Candidate in the Abia 2003 Governorship Election. It’s believed that Abaribe is resurrecting his guber ambition after 20 years by 2023, and needs APC as alternative platform but needs to checkmate these two powerful Senators from Abia through Magu-led EFCC for his political journey to Abia Government House. We are aware that since 2003, Sir Emeka Offor has been the political godfather of Senator Enyinnayah Abaribe, and we understand their roles, PDP Abia Disciplinary Committee Should investigate Senator Abaribe for the alleged anti-party activities and he should be expelled from party if found guilty by his PDP Ward Executives.”

Particularly, the Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro led Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide described the allegations against the Igbo leaders by Mohammed Lawal against Senator Orji kalu as “the height of injustice ever perpetuated against the collective interests of Southeast and the Igbo Spirit of ‘Onye Ahala Nwanneya’ (Be my Brothers keeper).” “There will be strict sanctions against any Igbo political leader, if found guilty of instigating any political witchhunt of another Igbo leader(s) through the EFCC.”

https://igberetvnews.com/1358531/orji-kalu-groups-call-osinbajo-resign-abaribe-expelled-pdp/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

The Senator representing Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Philip Aduda, on Wednesday, protested the exclusion of a non-career ambassador from the FCT zone, Igbere TV reports.

This was as the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan read a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari for the replacement and confirmation of two non-career ambassadors-designate.

Igbere TV reports that Buhari sought to replace the earlier nomination of Mr. Oboro Effiong Akpabio and Brigadier General Bwala Yusuf Bukar from Akwa-Ibom and Borno State, respectively.

But coming under Order 43 of the Senate Standing Rules, the FCT lawmaker lamented that the only FCT indigene presently serving as a non-career Ambassador in Sierra Leone, Hafiz Obada, was not re-appointed.

“For the ambassadorial nomination for the non-career, nothing has been said about the one for FCT. It has been silent and we have an Ambassador who is already sitting in Sierra Leone, his name is Ambassador Hafiz Obada. We don’t know what becomes of his fate because other states have been told to remain in their stations or they have been re-appointed.

“My issue is that is it at this time FCT will now lose an Ambassador. It is worrisome to me and the people of the FCT. Sitting here, names have been called for all other states except FCT and we have one.

“Now that particular non-career Ambassadorial slot for the FCT is being taken away from us and is being killed, otherwise we are also entitled to have, and that is what I have consistently said since this list came out.

“So, Mr. President, I hope something can be done to this to help the people of the FCT. We don’t get Ministerial nomination, we don’t get so many of these things, but the small ones that we have is about to be taken away which should not be so”, Aduda said.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan, in his remark described the lawmaker’s complaint as valid, saying it is constitutional for an indigene of the FCT to be appointed as a non-career Ambassador by the President.

“I sympathize with the FCT but I know there were twelve non-career Ambassadors who were retained. I don’t know if you have an FCT indigene among those twelve, probably you should check that to see if you would see any FCT indigene, but your complaint is very valid.

“What I’m going to advice is maybe we need to take more political action, so that it doesn’t always come like it is an after-thought. The FCT is to be treated like a state, that’s what the Constitution states, so you deserve one like any other state deserves”, Lawan said.

https://igberetvnews.com/1357422/senate-protests-exclusion-fct-buharis-ambassadorial-list/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

Righteousness89:
This Cable has won this Efcc battle!

Is this not the officer that was used to handle the officers that tried to handle the "Tunde" Pmb nephew in the quabble with the Security Details of the First Lady!

This is Cable Candidate!

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma has been appointed to replace suspended Ibrahim Magu as the new Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This was confirmed to Igbere TV, on Wednesday, by a police source familiar with the development. The report was further collaborated by a member of the Presidential panel quizzing Magu.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday approved the suspension of Magu, from office, as Acting Chairman of the EFCC.

Igbere TV earlier reported that Magu was suspended to allow for probe into heavy allegations levelled against him.

The suspension came a day after he was invited to face the Rtd Justice Ayo Salami-led probe panel, on various allegations against him, which borders on misconduct and financial irregularities.

In 2016, the Bukola Saraki-led 8th Senate declined to confirm the appointment of Magu over a Department of State Services (DSS) report which indicted him of corruption.

The new EFCC chair, prior to becoming FCT police boss, served as Deputy Commissioner of Police in the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (CIID) of the FCT Police Command.

Ciroma was also at a time the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Welfare) in the Finance and Administration Department at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

More details later...

https://igberetvnews.com/1357369/breaking-fct-police-boss-replaces-magu-efcc-chair/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

Sex-For-Marks: Randy Lecturers Risk 14-years Jail Term As Senate Passes Sexual Harassment Bill Into Law - Campus Gist

*The sexual offences identified include;

•sexual intercourse with a student

•demands for sex from a student or a prospective student

•intimidating or creating a hostile or offensive environment for the student by soliciting for sex or making sexual advances

•grabbing, hugging, kissing, rubbing, stroking, touching, pinching the breasts or hair or lips or hips or buttocks or any other sensual part of the body of a student

•sending by hand or courier or electronic or any other means naked or sexually explicit pictures or videos or sex related objects to a student

•whistling or winking at a student or screaming, exclaiming, joking or making sexually complimentary or uncomplimentary remarks about a student’s physique or stalking a student

**The bill was sponsored by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and co-sponsored by 105 other Senators.

***Sex Offenders risk 14-years jail term, with a minimum of 5 years, without an option of fine.

- Source: www.CampusGist.Com.NG

Two “key suspects” have been arrested in connection with the rape and gruesome murder of 100 level Microbiology student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa.

This was disclosed by the Edo state police commissioner, Mr. Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, when he played host to the UNIBEN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami at the Force headquarters, in Benin city on Monday.

In a statement made available to Campus Gist, the police chief assured that efforts were being made by the Force to bring all the culprits to justice.

Miss Omozuwa, 22, was raped and murdered right inside a Redeemed Christian Church in Benin city, on May 27, 2020 during her study hours.

Her death had stirred reactions from activists and notable figures, especially Nigerians on social media, seeking for justice and demanding a stop to rape in Nigeria.

Students of the University of Benin, friends of the deceased and members of the public had equally protested Omozuwa‘s death by taking to the streets of Benin city.

The University, in a statement, said it shares in the pain of the family of the victim. While commiserating with the bereaved family on the loss of their dear daughter, the vce chancellor prayed God to grant her soul peaceful rest.

A statement endorsed by the Public Relations Officer of UNIBEN, Benedicta Ehanire, Ph.D, noted that losing a child at this time compounds the hardship brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

https://campusgist.com.ng/2020/07/06/uwa-police-arrests-two-over-murder-of-uniben-student/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara says he is ready to go to jail if the All Progressives Congress (APC) can establish any form of links or connection between him and Hushpuppi.

This is coming barely 24 hours after the governing party, on Saturday, through its deputy spokesman, Yekini Nabena called for probe of Dogara, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Senator Dino Melaye.

The call by the APC followed the arrest of Nigerian alleged internet fraudster, Raymond Igbalodely alias Hushpuppi by the Dubai police and his subsequent extradition to the United States for trial.

Some pictures of Hushpuppi and notable PDP chieftains had gone viral following the development. This sparked some reactions on social media, including the APC linking Hushpuppi to the PDP chieftains.

But in a statement made available to Igbere TV via mail on Sunday, in Abuja, Dogara, a 2019 'Igbere TV Leadership Excellence Awards' awardee denied any links or connection to the alleged internet fraudster.

The former speaker said he has agreed to wave his rights for trial and ready to go to jail if the APC can prove its allegations. He, however, wondered why similar allegations were not levelled against some governors of the APC, who had appeared in similar photos with an alleged money launderer, Mompha.

The statement entitled, “The fatuous and infantile statement by the smellfungus called Yekini Nabena”, signed off and sent to Igbere TV by Turaki Hassan, on behalf of Office of Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara, reads;

“The statement issued by one Yekini Nabena on behalf of the All Progressives Congress (APC) desparetly seeking to link Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara to suspected cyber criminals on the basis of a group picture taken at a public event, is to say the least; infantile, rash and fatuous.

“This smellfungus, called Nabena should have known that it is share mindlessness to attempt to execute mischief and blackmail in plain sight before the public some of whom are better informed. Who is that fool that links people to criminal activity simply because they appeared in a group picture at a public event comprising of people from different walks of life?

*If appearing in a group photograph is what Nabena is now using to establish a link or connection to crimes or alleged criminals then why didnt he issue such a statement in the wake of the arrest of a suspected money launderer by name Ismaila Mustapha, AKA: Mompha whose pictures with notable personalities including some APC Governors are all over the social media? Is Nabena guilty of selective amnesia or share perfidy? Who is Nabena scared of? Who is he trying to fool?

“For the records, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara has agreed to wave his right to a trial and go to jail if Nabena establishes any form of links or connection between him and the alleged cyber criminal before the event where the picture was taken and after the event until now. For Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, that picture was just another picture among the thousands, if not hundred of thousands of such pictures with Nigerians from all walks of life.

“If the said Nabena is worth his salt, next time he speaks he should speak to issues affecting the welfare of our union which are well known to all discerning Nigerians. Nabena should or ought to know that there is no honour in speaking about group pictures taken at public events when the nation is bleeding and most Nigerian families are struggling and hurting.”

https://igberetvnews.com/1357046/im-ready-go-jail-im-indicted-hushpuppi-dogara-blows-hot/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Benue State University, Makurdi, Prof. Godwin Achinge, has tested positive for COVID-19, Campus Gist reports.

This was disclosed by the Benue state governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, at a press briefing at the Government House in Makurdi, on Saturday.

Mr. Ortom noted that Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Tony Ijohor and Chief of Staff, Mr Terwase Orbunde also tested positive to the virus.

This is coming barely 48 hours after the governor’s wife and one of his sons, including the state Head of Service (HoS) tested positive too.

Governor Ortom who lamented that a total number of 35 persons were confirmed positive in a test carried out a week ago, said he was proceeding on self-isolation.

Ortom said he would be carrying out another test in three days time, as advised by medical officers, even though the result of the test earlier carried out on him returned negative.

“My test result came out negative. But the medical officers said that another test will be carried out on me after three days.

“So, after this interaction I will isolate myself. I will be in isolation until I have clearance from the medical officers,” said Ortom.

The Benue state governor appealed to the people of the state to take preventive measures against Coronavirus very serious, insisting that the virus is real.

“COVID-19 is real and I enjoin my people to take the preventive measures seriously. I want my people to be alive and free from the disease.

“We have to stop the spread of the disease by maintaining all the COVID-19 protocols,” he said.

The governor while urging Benue people to avail themselves for testing for early detection, however said COVID-19 is not a death sentence.

http://campusgist.com.ng/2020/07/05/deputy-vice-chancellor-tests-positive-for-covid-19/

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate “criminal conspiracy linking” alleged internet fraudster, Hushpuppi, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership.

The governing party made the call in a statement signed and sent to Igbere TV via mail by its deputy spokesman, Yekini Nabena, on Saturday, following the arraignment of Hushpupi in the United States, on Friday.

The APC specifically called on the EFCC to investigate former vice president, Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki: former House of Reps speaker, Yakubu Dogara and Senator Dino Melaye.

The statement reads, “Reports of the criminal conspiracy linking the top echelon of the opposition PDP with Ramon Olorunwa Abbas also known as “Ray Hushpuppi” who was recently arrested along with associate(s) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and extradited to the United States of America to face trial over cyber-enabled fraud and Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes should be a matter of serious interest to relevant authorities in Nigeria.”

“We note that the EFCC has already declared the arraigned Instagram celebrity wanted over fraud allegations. However, the EFCC, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and other sister agencies must investigate money laundering reports linking some PDP leaders and financiers to the Dubai-based international criminal ring.”

Monetised elections

“That the PDP leadership turned Dubai into their “Strategic” meeting place ahead of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria and “Hushpuppi’s” affinity with ..the PDP leadership is not mere coincidence.”

“At different times, “Hushpuppi” was been photographed in Dubai meeting with the PDP’s 2019 presidential candidate, Atiku; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Dino Melaye among other PDP stalwarts.”

“While relevant authorities investigate the nature of their relationship and business partnership, we also challenge the PDP leadership to do same by opening up on the nature of the relationship, particularly the kind of services , the arrested “Hushpuppi” provided them.”

“In the leadup to the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, we renew our call against monetised elections and vote buying schemes which the PDP has serially deployed in elections.”

“We call on relevant authorities to up their guard to prevent this practices that threaten the sanctity of our elections. The people’s will and votes should determine elections, not illicit money used to buy votes.”

https://igberetvnews.com/1356942/hushpupi-investigate-atiku-saraki-melaye-now-apc-charges-efcc/

Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Kalu; President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Friday met privately in Abuja.

Igbere TV gathered that Senator Orji Kalu, a former governor of Abia, also met separately behind closed doors with Mr. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to Government of the Federation.

Although the reasons for their meeting could not be immediately ascertained, Igbere TV however learned both meetings lasted a couple of hours from 1pm Friday.

Executive Director of popular online medium Igbere TV, Emeh James Anyalekwa on Friday felicitated with his ABN TV counterpart, Mr. Ifeanyi Okali, on the occasion of his birthday.

In a statement which he personally signed and made available to journalists, Anyalekwa described the ABN TV boss as a “fearless journalist” who has remained undaunted even in the face of intimidation.

According to him, "My friend and brother, Mr. Ifeanyi Okali, ABN TV publisher is a professional who keeps sentiments and emotions far away from logic, which is why we have seen his media organization took an exponential growth."

Anyalekwa, who doubles as National President, Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, equally applauded ABN TV for its “unbiased” and “objective reportage” and for upholding professionalism in information dissemination.

"Your life symbolises the assured reward for single-minded commitment to the ideals of diligence, humility, perseverance, focus and dedicated service,” he said.

“On behalf of my family, members of staff of Igbere TV, I wish you many more productive years and may you and your media organization continue to soar and grow greater and from strength to strength, and grace to grace,” the Igbere TV boss added.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee has disqualified the governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki from participating in the Edo 2020 Governorship election.

Others disqualified from the race include, Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, a former minister and NNPC Director; and Mr. Mathew Iduoriyekemwen, a former lawmaker under the PDP and Obaseki’s core-loyalist.

According to the APC screening committee, the governor was unfit to qualify on the grounds that his Higher School Certificate (HSC) was “defective.”

The committee chairman, Prof. Jonathan Ayuba said they could also not ascertain the authenticity of Obaseki’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.

According to the chairman, the name on the governor’s NYSC discharge certificate bears ‘Obasek’ instead of ‘Obaseki’. He also said the governor was uncleared over his anti-party activities.

Those cleared to participate in the election include Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a former Secretary to Edo Government, Dr Pius Odubu, former Deputy Governor and Hon. Osaro Obaze, former council chairman.

The APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, however said aspirants disqualified have an option to appeal their disqualification at the party's Appeal Committee.

The APC has fixed its primaries for June 22, while the main election holds September 19. With this latest development, only Ize-Iyamu, Odubu and Obaze will now battle to clinch the party's ticket.

In a statement made available to Igbere TV, Governor Obaseki said he will not be appealing his disqualification. Rumours are rife that the governor may soon decamp to an opposition party to contest the election.

------
#IGBERETV #EDO2020

persius555:
The direct primary contravene the Covid-19 directives put in place by the government. Other parties were wise enough to settle for indirect primary.
But the party of the day prefers to throw all that in the wind because the deed must be done.

This says a lot about the APC. When a tyrant is in power, there's bound to be chaos.

If every other party decides to go for direct primary like APC, all efforts put in place in the last three months would just amount to a total waste of time and resources.

...as Channels delete false report on court ruling

As Channels Television deleted a post where it claimed that the Federal High Court in Benin City had granted an order restraining the APC and its National Chairman from conducting the party's internal primary after its earlier report was debunked by court officials and legal representatives as false and misleading, journalists have been told to be wary of how they report the All Progressives Congress primaries and governorship election.

The proceeding, according to official court records, ended with the court ordering the maintenance of status quo after it refused appeals by the legal representatives of Governor Godwin Obaseki and his loyalists who filed the injunction to grant the interim restraining order.

The judge, acknowledging the urgency and sensitivity of the matter, set Thursday, June 11 as the date for a full hearing before a verdict can be delivered on the matter.

Reacting to the development, Prince John Mayaki, the Director of Communication and Media, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu Campaign Organization said: "The error from otherwise thorough Channels TV is another reminder that media organizations must be careful in its reporting of issues surrounding the conduct of the APC primary and Governorship election in Edo State."

"For long, we have raised alarm on the formation of a propaganda unit by the embattled Governor, Mr. Governor Godwin Obaseki, where fake news and other misleading reports are manufactured and strategically distributed across the internet and forwarded to journalists with the intention of presenting a false representation of things."

"To avoid being caught in the web of the Governor's destructive and unprincipled politics, we are repeating our advice to media bodies and journalists to be careful in their management of any information from the Governor's camp and ensure proper checks before publishing."

"As court records show, Governor Obaseki failed today again at the Federal High Court in Benin. His interim injunction seeking to restrain the APC from conducting its primary because he is afraid of losing was refused by the court and a status quo was ordered. The court has said all sides involved should come and present their arguments on Thursday, June 11, and as people backed by the truth and legal facts, we confidently anticipate the date."

Lalasticlala Seun Mynd44

Cross River State Governor, Mr. Ben Ayade, has assured of quality health services and improved health sector to reduce morbidity and mortality amongst women and children living in the state.

Ayade gave the assurance on Saturday, January 18 during the flag-off ceremony of the 2nd round Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week in Calabar, Igbere TV reports.

The Governor, who was represented by his Commissioner for Health, Betta Edu, said the move was in a bid to ensure that pregnant mothers and newborns in the state are given quality health services.

He said the program is usually organized twice in a year to monitor the mother, pregnant women, and every child from 0-58 months in terms of nutrition, hygiene and immunisation and access to quality health care.

According to the Commissioner, the program aimed at targetting 856,000 children under five and pregnant women across the state, was idealized by his amiable governor, Mr. Ben Ayade.

The Commissioner said the Governor’s desire to organize the one-week health exercise was aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality in mothers, pregnant women, and children of age 0-5.

“The health week will feature routine immunization against childhood killer diseases, administration of Vitamin A for children, deworming of children, screening for acute malnutrition in children with appropriate referrals, provisions of antenatal care iron-folate for pregnant women, distribution of mosquito nets to pregnant and lactating women as well as health education on key health tips for household practices and HIV testing, amongst others,” he said.

“His Excellency, Senator Prof. Ben Ayade since his assumption of office has recorded some tremendous achievements in improving the quality of healthcare delivery services for people of the state and in this exercise, we would be covering over 856,000 children under five and pregnant women in the state,” the Commissioner added.

Igbere TV reports that the flag off ceremony held at the Primary Health Care Centre in Nasarawa Community, Ikot Ekpo, Calabar Municipality.

Meanwhile, the new Director-General of Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Janet David Ekpenyong has appealed to people of the state to ensure they utilize the one-week health exercise effectively to minimize maternal and infant child mortality.

Ekpenyong made the appeal at the flag off ceremony of the biannual Maternal Newborn, Child Health Week in Calabar, on Saturday.

He said, “I want to assure the community of immediate revitalization of the health centre to cater to the healthcare of the people in the community. His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade is very committed to drastically reduce maternal mortality and infancy through interventions such as State health insurance scheme "Ayadecare".”

On her part, the Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Ministry Of Health, Dr. Joseph Bassey, reminded the people that the essence of the program was targeted at providing necessary ingredients in immunisation that will keep the children safe from Diseases.

Also speaking, the President of the Medical Women Association, Dr. Bassey Nakanda, charged the people of the state to remain grateful to the Governor, Ayade, who she said has taken the health sector to the next level.

The Chief of Nasarawa Community, Alhaji Sani Sambo, thanked Governor Ayade for his commitment in the health sector, while calling on him to equip the Primary Health Care Centre in the community to meet up with all the required treatments.

Warns against smearing his name via ‘sponsored petitions’

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio says though he was no longer contesting the forthcoming January 25, 2020 rerun election in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, his party was however still in the race.

Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state, had written his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) to replace him following his withdrawal from the rerun election, citing “critical assignment” placed on him as minister.

A statement sent to Igbere TV on Saturday signed by Anietie Ekong, Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, said the APC had submitted the name of Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo as a replacement for Akpabio. This, he said, was acknowledged by INEC.

He said Akpabio, who is currently on inspection visit to some states in the Niger Delta to assess the projects executed by the Ministry under him, restated his position in Uyo that he would not be a candidate in the election because of “higher national responsibilities” as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

He, however, declared his full support for Ekpo, a former Member of the House of Representatives whom his party, the APC had picked as his replacement, having emerged as the runner up in the primaries, and urged his supporters and the people of Essien Udim to massively vote for him.

The APC had through the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the then Acting National Secretary, Hon. Victor Giadom in compliance with the requirement for 45 days notice to be given for the substitution of candidates, written to the Chairman of INEC, to submit the name of Ekpo as a replacement for Akpabio in the election.

“Senator Akpabio however aligns himself with the position of his party, the APC as expressed by the State Chairman, Hon Ini Okopido in a recent press statement that “As we prepare for the re-run elections in Essien Udim LGA, we are cautious and mindful of a re-run election superintended by Mike Igini. We have no faith in Igini’s impartiality as an unbiased and independent umpire. Igini is a compromised official and avowed enemy of APC. We are distraught and doubtful of a change of posture and therefore cautious to go into a fresh election while Igini remains the State REC. Only a foolish survivor would ask the same hired assassin to extract the bullet from his body.”

“It has been brought to the attention of Senator Akpabio of a sinister plot by some paid political jobbers and miscreants who appear jittery about the upcoming elections in Essien Udim LGA to write spurious petitions to security agencies and make all manners of wild allegations against Senator Akpabio.

“Having withdrawn from the contest to face higher national responsibilities, we caution political jobbers to desist forthwith from their planned smear campaigns against Senator Akpabio and unnecessarily heating up the polity”, the statement added.

The CPS warned that, “The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Akpabio will have no choice than to invoke the full weight of the law against anyone who engages in any plot to smear his name through sponsored, fabricated petitions. A word is enough for the wise.”

The Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar, Cross River State had voided the declaration of Peoples Democratic Party’s Chris Ekpenyong by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.

The Court also ordered fresh election to be conducted in Essien Udim, Akpabio’s Local Government Area which INEC subsequently scheduled the election for January 25, 2020, as previously reported by Igbere TV.