₦airaland Forum

Shawarmagirl:
Helinues and co, I dear anyone to show me pictures or video of any protest currently going on in South East. When I say SE no send anybody Papa to protest I know what I'm saying. If they mean to protest, Una know how e go be.

States That Refuse To Participate In Today Nationwide Protest

1. Kogi State
2. Benue State
3. Imo State
4. Abia State
5. Anambra State
6. Enugu State
7. Ebony State

1. Kogi State
2. Benue State
3. Imo State
4. Abia State
5. Anambra State
6. Enugu State
7. Ebony State

JagabanB:
lgb0s and telling bare faced Iies tho, SE is currently under siege from UGM, the fear of UGM is the reason u folks are not protesting.

States that didn't participate in the Nationwide protest

1. Kogi State
2. Benue State
3. Imo State
4. Abia State
5. Anambra State
6. Enugu State
7. Ebony State

Racoon:
See this stupid efulefu slave? And who the f.ck told you that these same anomalies you are shouting himself hoarse here have not been the same scenario since antiquity? Have the Igbo been free in this nation?

What the late Onyeka Onwenu said and appealed for the Igbos to go from their own country out of this contraption have been a recurrent decimal. So rest it. "Do you want to remain a well-fed slave or hungry free man"?

No. We aren't well-fed slaves and we aren't afraid.
You too know, if you will be honest but I doubt.
We are just wiser trying to use one stone to kill 8 birds.
All of you will be wondering, what's in the mind of this aggressive tribe, but only Igbos know that.
We don't need leaders to direct us, but we always agree in unison.

Let me just tell you two birds out of 8, not that I need to explain to an irrelevant being but for posterity's sake.

1) We aren't sellout. We love the South even though we know those who hate us.

2) We want other tribes to face your real enemies if you will ever grow the balls, but we all know what IBB said in the 1990s.

designking:
The south east region had almost zero participation in this hunger protest. Their region was so peaceful today.

But on Twitter and other social media platforms, they are fuelling the protest with more and more propaganda and gaslighting.

I love their strategy... The north is burning and it giving them so much joy.

The North better wise up before they use their hand to destroy their region.

We Igbos are not afraid to protest; rather, we are strategic and wise and have decided to sit at home and watch other regions to protest.
We aim to achieve multiple objectives with a single effort.
Our thoughts and motivations may be unclear to others, but we are united in our perspective.
I'll share two key points with you, not out of obligation, but for clarity.

Firstly, we prioritize loyalty to our region and people, despite knowing those who harbor hatred towards us.

Secondly, we desire for your group to confront their genuine enemies, though we acknowledge the challenges in doing so.

Mrexcell:
These are Obidients and ipob members.

Thunder fire you and your family

One year into President Bola Tinubu's administration, concerns have emerged about his economic management.
Despite his reputation as a strategist and builder of Lagos, his government's policies have led to high inflation, currency devaluation, and a decline in Nigeria's economic standing.
The decision to devalue the currency and remove fuel subsidies has been particularly contentious.
Critics argue that these moves were poorly thought out and have worsened the economic situation.
President Tinubu's struggles to address these issues have led to growing opposition and criticism.
Historical precedents suggest that governments that face such widespread criticism and discontent in their early days often struggle to recover.
The administration's chances of re-election in 2027 appear uncertain, given the growing number of critics and the increasing difficulty of defending its policies.

helinues:
Na so hardship reach your side that you want to be blaming government for everything?

When did you add FG as your next of kin?

https://www.nairaland.com/savenaijatoday/topics

One year into President Bola Tinubu's administration, concerns have emerged about his economic management.
Despite his reputation as a strategist and builder of Lagos, his government's policies have led to high inflation, currency devaluation, and a decline in Nigeria's economic standing.
The decision to devalue the currency and remove fuel subsidies has been particularly contentious.
Critics argue that these moves were poorly thought out and have worsened the economic situation.
President Tinubu's struggles to address these issues have led to growing opposition and criticism.
Historical precedents suggest that governments that face such widespread criticism and discontent in their early days often struggle to recover.
The administration's chances of re-election in 2027 appear uncertain, given the growing number of critics and the increasing difficulty of defending its policies.

Atiku Backs Planned #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Protest, Says Even Tinubu, APC Supporters Are Hungry.

Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed his support for the planned nationwide protest against hardship in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed his support for the planned nationwide protest against hardship in Nigeria.

Atiku, a former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday reminded President Bola Tinubu’s government that peaceful protests are a fundamental and constitutional right of Nigerians as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He berated President Tinubu’s government for accusing some opposition politicians and threatening to crack down on protests, saying that chasing shadows and contriving purported persons behind the planned protests is an exercise in futility.

According to him, it is obvious that Nigerians, including supporters of Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are caught up in the hunger, anger, and hopelessness brought by Tinubu’s government.

Atiku said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the rights of citizens to protest are enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and affirmed by our courts.

“Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as altered) unequivocally guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association.

“Chasing shadows and contriving purported persons behind the planned protests is an exercise in futility when it is obvious that Nigerians, including supporters of Tinubu and the ruling APC, are caught up in the hunger, anger, and hopelessness brought about by the incompetence and cluelessness of this government.

“It is deeply ironic that those who now seek to stifle these rights were themselves leading protests in 2012. A responsible government must ensure a safe and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights to peaceful protest.

“Any attempt to suppress these rights is not only unconstitutional but a direct affront to our democracy.”

The Federal Government, on Friday, announced that the first National Agricultural Land Development Authority Institute of Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship would begin operations in September this year.

It said the institute would be established in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, adding that the first institute would commence activities in Aba, Abia State in the next two months.

The Executive Secretary, of NALDA, Paul Ikonne, who disclosed this to journalists in Abuja, explained that the establishment of the institute was to support the growth and development of agribusiness in the country by transforming agriculture into a modern and appealing career path for the youth.

This, he said, is through a combination of practical training, specialised curriculum, cutting-edge technology and entrepreneurial education in the field of agribusiness and agronomic practices.

“This will enable the country to attain food security and ensure a stable and sufficient food supply for the nation in line with President Bola Tinubu’s food security agenda,” Ikonne stated.

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On the already established facility in Abia State, he said the campus is fully equipped with facilities needed to build a formidable agribusiness school.

According to him, the institute in Aba boasts a completed 600-capacity student sports complex, two administrative blocks, libraries and laboratories, and a clinic, among others.

Ikonne added, “We came up with NALDA Institute of Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship that has the approval of Mr. President. And today, that school is taking off in September. We have students that are going to start in September. The one in Abia is fully ready and commencing the 2024/2025 academic session this September.

“The one in Ogun is 99 per cent to completion and they will commence academic session by next year. The institute in Katsina is 89 per cent complete. So, these are projects that we initiated with the idea and knowledge that if we don’t catch them young into agriculture, agricultural production and agribusiness, we will lose farmers as the current generation of farmers is ageing and retiring.

“This is why we came up with the NALDA Institute of Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship from primary to secondary to OND level.”

Ddeliverer007:
Maybe this protest is Tinubu’s idea. I keep hearing protest, protest; but I no see date..

When is the protest starting??

The protest start from 1st of August to 30th

Former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to adjourn, indefinitely, the ongoing case instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).

He also asked the court to vacate its arrest order on him, pending the determination of an appeal he filed at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

Bello’s demands are contained in a letter written by Musa Yakubu, his Counsel, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN).

The letter was dated July 12 and addressed to the trial Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, ahead of Bello’s arraignment scheduled for Wednesday, July 17.

Bello is being tried for allegedly laundering N80 billion.

But, in his appeal against his trial, Bello has expressed fears over his fate if the case is left to proceed.

In the Appellate case with file no. CA/ABJ/CR/535/2024, Bello is seeking that the Warrant of Arrest he says was illegally issued against him on April 17, 2024, be set aside.

He also wants a return of the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, for re-assignment to another Judge.

The Appeal was filed against the decisions of the trial Federal High Court, Abuja, in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024.

The former governor is also seeking an order of the Appeal Court setting aside service of the EFCC Charge on him by substituted means, including the entire proceedings already conducted in the case.

In the letter, Bello requested that further proceedings in the charge be adjourned sine die, pending the determination of the appeal currently pending at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

The letter, a copy of which was sent to the National Judicial Council (NJC), and Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, was in response to a letter to Justice Nwite, by the EFCC, dated July 8, 2024 and filed on the July 10, 2024.

In the said letter, the EFCC requested for a variation of the earlier warrant of arrest issued against Bello, additionally requesting that the various security agencies be specifically directed to carry out the earlier arrest.

Responding to the EFCC’s application, Bello’s counsel urged the Court to decline the request and await the outcome of the appeal pending at the Court of Appeal over the said warrant of arrest and other related pronouncements of the trial Court.

Bello’s counsel made reference to the position of the law as contained in Order 4 Rule 11(1) of the Court of Appeal Rules, 2021 and the pronouncement of the Supreme Court in the case of Vab Petroleum INC V. Momah (Supra), and a litany of other cases.

“We respectfully urge the Court to set aside and expunge from its records, the proceedings of the 27th June, 2024, including any ruling, order or directive carried out in the face of the defendant’s appeal entered on the 24th of May, 2024,” he said.

He asked the court to “adjourn further proceedings in this charge sine die, pending the determination of Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CR/536/2024 entered by the defendant, and pending at the Court of Appeal, Abuja”.

The letter read in part: “The defendant to the Charge had, on the 17th of May, 2024, filed a notice of appeal against the ruling of this Court made on the 10th of May, 2024 refusing to discharge the warrant of arrest issued against the defendant.

“The defendant, pursuant to the said notice of appeal, compiled and transmitted record of appeal to the Court of Appeal and entered on the 24th of May, 2024, Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CR/536/2024.

“Notwithstanding the foregoing, the complainant has now filed the above referenced application seeking for the amendment of the warrant of arrest which was hitherto directed to the complainant only, to have it extended to the heads of other security and law enforcement agencies listed in the prosecuting Counsel’s letter.

“The court cannot countenance the application or do anything with respect to the aforesaid warrant of arrest or conduct further proceedings in this charge in view of the provisions of Order 4 Rule 11(1) of the Court of Appeal Rules, 2021 which is to the effect that: ‘After an appeal has been entered and until it has been finally disposed of, the Court shall be seized of the whole of the proceedings as between the parties thereto.

“Except as may be otherwise provided in these rules, every application therein shall be made to the court and not to the lower court.

“The warrant of arrest upon which the complainant’s application is predicated, is subject of appeal in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CR/536/2024 and, by the above reproduced provision of the Court of Appeal rules, this Court no longer has the jurisdiction to entertain any application or do anything touching on the warrant of arrest issued on the 17th of April, 2024 as the Court of Appeal has now seized of the matter.

“By virtue of the appeal entered by the defendant, the warrant of arrest, which is the subject of the complainant’s application, is now in total abeyance pending the determination of the defendant’s appeal one way or another.

“To take any contrary step to the provisions of Order 4 Rule 11(1) of the Court of Appeal Rules, 2021, would be tantamount to undermining the Constitutional guaranteed Appellate jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal under Section 240 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and against the grain of settled position of the law established by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“The apex court says, when an appeal has been entered, the lower Court no longer has the jurisdiction to do anything in the matter and ought to abide by the decision of the Appellate Court as any step taken by the trial Court in the face of such appeal is a nullity.”

The letter drew the attention of Justice Nwite to a similar case, also a criminal appeal, in which Justice Ismail Ijelu of the High Court of Lagos State stayed further proceedings, the Appellant having entered an appeal in Appeal No: CAIL/1159/2023 Between Chief Cletus Ibeto V. Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Appellant was challenging the warrant of arrest earlier issued against him, in the face of his preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the lower Court to entertain the charge filed by the complainant against him.

“The Complainant’s application to you, therefore, ought not to have been filed at all or, if need be, ought to be brought before the Court of Appeal, Abuja which has now seized of the matter.

“The Complainant’s Counsel, as a senior member of the Bar, is under a duty to have brought the appeal entered by the Defendant to the attention of this Court even during the proceedings of 27th of June, 2024.

“We, therefore, respectfully urge your Lordship not to be misled or hoodwinked by the Complainant into a head on collision with the Court of Appeal, but rather tow the above stated and well-established course of action.

“To do otherwise would be an affront on the hallowed principle of judicial hierarchy which is the very foundation of our legal system,” the letter read further

Burkina Faso's Military Junta Bans Homosexual Unions.

Capt Ibrahim Traoré's regime is spearheading an overhaul of marriage laws
Burkina Faso's military junta has announced a ban on homosexual acts, making it the latest African state to crack down on same-sex relations despite strong opposition from Western powers.

Homosexuality was frowned upon in the socially conservative West African state, but it was never outlawed.
Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala said the junta's cabinet had now approved legislation to make it a punishable offence, but he did not give further details.

The military seized power in Burkina Faso in 2022, and has pivoted towards Russia after drastically reducing ties with former colonial power, France.

Homosexual acts were decriminalised in Russia in 1993, but President Vladimir Putin's government has been cracking down on the LGBTQ community, including banning what it calls "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations".

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Burkina Faso's decision to outlaw homosexual relations is part of an overhaul of its marriage laws.
The new legislation, which still needs to be passed by the military-controlled parliament and signed off by junta leader Ibrahim Traoré, only recognises religious and customary marriages.
"Henceforth homosexuality and associated practices will be punished by the law," the justice minister was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.

Capt Traoré took power in September 2022 after overthrowing another military ruler, Lt Col Paul-Henri Damiba, accusing him of failing to quell an Islamist insurgency that has gripped Burkina Faso since 2015.

Burkina Faso was among 22 out of 54 African states where same-sex relations were not criminalised.
Unlike in many former British colonies, it did not inherit anti-homosexuality laws after independence from France in 1960.
Muslims make up around 64% of Burkina Faso's population and Christians 26%. The remaining 10% of people follow traditional religions or have no faith.

Many African states have been taking a tougher stand against the LGBTQ community in recent years.
Uganda is among those that have adopted legislation recently to further crack down on the community, despite strong condemnation from local rights groups and Western powers.

In May, its Constitutional Court upheld a tough new anti-gay law that allows for the death penalty to be imposed for “aggravated homosexuality”, which includes having gay sex with someone below the age of 18 or where someone is infected with a life-long illness such as HIV.

Activists said they would appeal against the ruling.
The World Bank has halted new loans to President Yoweri Museveni's government while the US has stopped giving Ugandan goods preferential access to its markets, following the adoption of the legislation last year.

Mr Museveni defended the legislation as preserving traditional family values, and said Uganda would not allow the West to dictate to it.

The daughter of Cameroon's president drew mixed reaction after she came out as a lesbian last week.
Brenda Biya, who lives abroad, said she hoped that her coming out would help change the law banning same-sex relations in the country.

Cameroon has been ruled with an iron-hand by her 91-year-old father, Paul Biya, since 1982.
In Ghana, parliament passed a tough new bill in February that imposes a prison sentence of up to three years for anyone convicted of identifying as LGBTQ+.

However, President Nana Akufo-Addo has not signed it into law, saying he will wait for the courts to rule on its constitutionality.
The finance ministry has warned him that if the bill became law, Ghana could lose $3.8bn (£3bn) in World Bank funding over the next five to six years.
Ghana is suffering a major economic crisis and received a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last year.

Federal Government Makes CNG Conversion Free For Commercial Drivers.
…50% for e-hailing taxis; …Targets 1m conversions annually.

The Federal Government has said it will be offering a 100 percent discount on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion to all unionised commercial drivers across the country, starting with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ride-share companies also known as e-hailing taxis like Bolt and Uber will also benefit from a 50% discount on conversion kits with free installation.

Michael Oluwagbemi, Program Director/CEO of the Presidential CNG Initiative disclosed this at the Official Signing Ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with five workshop owners to drive the initiative, in Abuja on Thursday.

The partners include; NIPCO Gas PLC, Portland Gas Limited and FIX IT 45.
Others are: National Institute of Technology, Calicut (NITC) and ABG Oil & Ava’s Limited

Oluwagbemi, said the initiative, championed by President Bola Tinubu and supported by the Conversion Incentive Program, aims to reduce transportation costs significantly by lifting the financial burden off commercial drivers.

He noted that fueling vehicles with CNG could cut costs by 40% to 70% compared to traditional fuels like diesel and petrol, adding that this reduction is expected to alleviate transport-related inflation and lower production costs for industries across the nation.

According to him, “The Conversion Incentive Program is tackling the barrier to Nigerian commercial transport entities operators to convert from PMS to gas. Most of them have said that the cost of conversion is expensive, and so what we are doing here today is basically to respond to that concern.

“What is the government doing about it? First and foremost, for commercial operators that are unionized, I talk about the members of RETEAN, NATO, NURTW, through their unions, they can benefit from almost 100% discount. That is, they will get the kit for free, and installation will also be done for them for free. And this is going to be done through these certified conversion workshops that we have begun to identify.

“We have identified about 123 of them. Five of them are here with us today that we are going to be working with here in Abuja. As we expand across the country, we are activating more of them at a time. Now that one.

“The second is rideshare operators. So if you are a vehicle that is operating under Uber, Bolt, LagRide, among the many different operators that we have in Nigeria today, you will be able to benefit also from this program with your companies. Today we have Bolt here with us to sign in, but we hope very soon to add the others. LagRide has already signed up. We are going to send their agreement next week.

“You will be able to benefit from a 50% write-off on the equipment, and then you get installation for free. So that means the government will pay these conversion workshops to install the equipment you will get at 50% off. And because of the arrangement we have with these companies, you will also be able to get to pay little by little.

“So you are not paying any money up front on day one. This is very important because we know the vast majority of Nigerians, many of us in this room depend on these ride shares aside from depending on the public mode of transportation. Now you will be able to benefit from the low cost of transportation that will be occasioned by the implementation of this program.

“We have about 20,000 plus kits that are immediately going to be available in the next three months through these programs. And we will be distributing them across the immediate states that have some CNG capacity or the other. As you know, as we have already publicised during our stakeholder engagement, those states today in Nigeria are about 23, but maybe even up to 25, because we are also extending CNG capacity to Kano and Niger states.

“So as a result of that, this will ensure that these states and the citizens within these states and the union operators, as well as the ride share operators within these states can be one of the participants of these 20,000 potential kits that will be made available under this program. I think that is a good thing for Nigeria. It’s good news for all Nigerians. And it’s just the beginning.”

President Bola Tinubu today has announced the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock Development as part of efforts towards resolving the lingering conflict between farmers and herdsmen across the country.

The President disclosed this during the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on Livestock Reforms at the Presidential Villa.

The Presidential Committee on Livestock Reforms is chaired by the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega and others.

The Committee is expected to propose recommendations aimed at fostering peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers while ensuring the security and economic well-being of all Nigerians.

Tinubu’s announcement of a ministry of livestock development comes 10 months after he approved the establishment of the presidential committee to address herders and farmers’ clashes and bolster the livestock and dairy industries.

He formed the committee after receiving a report from the National Conference on Livestock Reforms and Mitigation of Associated Conflicts in Nigeria.

Chaired by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, the committee presented the President with 21 recommendations, including the creation of a Ministry of Livestock Resources.

The President stated that the committee would collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to develop lasting solutions to the longstanding crisis between farmers and herders, ensuring the security and economic well-being of all Nigerians.

The conflict between herders and farmers in Nigeria over farmland and pasture is a serious and escalating issue, causing significant casualties and raising tensions, particularly in the country’s Middle Belt. Drought and desertification in the north have forced pastoralist herdsmen to seek grazing lands further south, leading to competition over resources and clashes with settled farmers.

These conflicts result in substantial loss of lives and livelihoods, undermine food security, enable the proliferation of small arms, displace large numbers of people, and divert resources intended for development. Vulnerable groups, such as women, children, youth, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and indigenous people, are particularly affected.

According to an AP report based on the latest data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, at least 2,600 deaths were recorded in 2021 in Nigeria’s north-central and northwest regions. This figure surpasses the number of civilian fatalities from Boko Haram insurgencies.

In 2019, the government of President Buhari approved the RUGA initiative promising it would bring about a significant reduction in the conflict between herders and farmers and was also expected to boost animal production.

However, despite these potential benefits, many Nigerians were unhappy with the move. It was met with widespread condemnation, with some Nigerians alleging that the initiative was a preconceived attempt to “Islamize” certain parts of the country. It was subsequently withdrawn by the Presidency.

My name is Aghogho Udi, a writer, journalist, and researcher, deeply intrigued by the political economy of Nigeria and the broader African context. My focus lies in shedding light on the intricate connections between macroeconomics and politics, offering valuable insights that foster comprehension of Africa's prevailing economic landscape and the world in general.

Edo Govt Gives Philip Shaibu Seven Days To Return 22 Official Cars.

The list of vehicles to be returned includes various models such as the 2021 model Toyota Landcruiser, Toyota Prado Jeep, Toyota Hilux Van, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Sienna, Jin Bei Hiase, Mitsubishi Pajero, and an armored Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep.

The Edo State government has issued a public notice demanding the return of 22 official government vehicles currently in the possession of former Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu.

The directive in a statement signed by Chris Osa Nehikhare, Hon. Commissioner of Communication and Orientation, sets a strict deadline for compliance.

"The former Deputy Governor is given a seven-day ultimatum from today to return the vehicles," stated Commissioner Nehikhare. He emphasised that failing to do so would prompt action from relevant security agencies tasked with retrieval.

The list of vehicles to be returned includes various models such as the 2021 model Toyota Landcruiser, Toyota Prado Jeep, Toyota Hilux Van, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Sienna, Jin Bei Hiase, Mitsubishi Pajero, and an armored Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep.

Each vehicle is identified with specific VIN numbers and details regarding their condition (brand new or pre-owned).

"These vehicles are essential for government operations, and their prompt return is crucial," Commissioner Nehikhare emphasised.

"The Edo State Government urges the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure the vehicles are retrieved and returned to official use without delay.

Shaibu was impeached in April by the State House of Assembly, putting an end to a prolonged conflict with Governor Godwin Obaseki.

The impeachment took place during a plenary session in Benin City, following months of strained relations between the two leaders.

The decision came after a seven-man committee, appointed by Chief Judge Justice Daniel Okungbowa, investigated allegations of misconduct against Shaibu. Majority Leader Charity Aiguobarueghian disclosed that the committee's report found Shaibu not guilty of perjury but culpable for disclosing government secrets, recommending his impeachment on those grounds.

With 18 out of 19 members voting in favour, exceeding the required two-thirds majority, the Assembly approved the recommendation and subsequently impeached Shaibu. Speaker Agbebaku instructed Clerk Yahaya Omogbai to deliver the impeachment notice to Governor Obaseki for final approval.

Meanwhile, Shaibu, who had contested the impeachment in court, denounced it as an assault on democracy, asserting his legal right to seek the 2024 governorship under the PDP.

Obasanjo Visits South-East Govs, Moves For Nnamdi Kanu’s Release.

The South East Governors, on Tuesday, hosted former President Olusegun Obasanjo who paid the governors a solidarity visit while they decided to meet President Bola Tinubu to press for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Addressing the media, after over seven hours of marathon meeting, the Governors of the region who were all in attendance also set up a burial committee by Former Senate President, Anyim, Pius Anyim, for the late minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.

According to the Chairman of the South East Governors Forum and Governor of Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, “The Forum commiserates with the family of Ebonyi, Abia, Imo and indeed the entire South East region and entire the family of Ogbonnaya Onu on the demise of His Excellency Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.

“The Forum received a delegation of the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and His Royal Majesty Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, who came on a solidarity visit to this Forum.

“The Forum deliberated on the reviewed report of the South East security and economic summit held in Owerri Imo state on the 28 September 2023 and agreed to implement the aspect of the report about security and economic integration of the South East region and affirmed its desire to put actionable plan on the key issues agreed.

“The Forum resolved to visit Mr. President to discuss all pressing issues concerning the South East region. The Forum also deliberated and resolved to interface with the Federal Government to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”

Other members of the Ogbonnaya Onu burial committee included the former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amechi who serves as the Secretary of the committee, and other Igbo leaders drawn from the Igbo-speaking states.

LadyExcellency:
The world doesn't revolve around Palestine. Their life expectancy is 75.5% and even with the bombing, it still has better infrastructure than any Nigerian city including Abuja.

Lie lie lie.

Travel and see

The Nigeria Football Federation has denied claims that Victor Osimhen was banned for playing for Nigeria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2SMaxmY2Is?si=onbR4gURpQmD8XZE


Eedris Abdulkareem drags Adeboye, Tinubu, others in new song, ‘Emi Lokan’
Nigerian singer Eedris Abdulkareem has criticised Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the senior pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, over his silence on the hardship in the country.

Eedris, in a newly released satirical song titled ‘Emilokan’, accused Adeboye of hypocrisy in the face of the hardship confronting Nigerians under Tinubu’s government.

Eedris mentioned that while Adeboye was vocal in criticising the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, he has remained silent over the hardships faced by Nigerians under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He said, “During Good Luck Jonathan, your voice was so loud, you vowed to stage a one-million-dollar match. Hunger and hardship under Tinubu’s government; you said Nigeria has a spiritual problem.”

Calling for a protest against Tinubu’s administration, Eedris said, “Baba, we need your one million disciples to protest against Tinubu’s government just the way you protested against President Jonathan.

“This is a very big hypocrisy; this is the time for you to speak the truth to power because hunger wants to kill Nigerians.”

He also claimed in the song that Emi Lokan [It’s my turn], a popular slogan used by Tinubu during his electoral campaign, has turned to Ebi Lokan [It’s hunger’s turn] as Nigerians complain of hunger across the nation.

“Emi lokan don turn ebi lokan Yorubas are screaming “’ebi panwao ooo”

Idris mentioned that while Adeboye was vocal in criticising the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, he has remained silent over the hardships faced by Nigerians under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He said, “During Good Luck Jonathan, your voice was so loud, you vowed to stage a one-million-dollar match. Hunger and hardship under Tinubu’s government; you said Nigeria has a spiritual problem.”

Calling for a protest against Tinubu’s administration, Eedris said, “Baba, we need your one million disciples to protest against Tinubu’s government just the way you protested against President Jonathan.

“This is a very big hypocrisy; this is the time for you to speak the truth to power because hunger wants to kill Nigerians.”

Speaking on the minimum wage demands of the organised labour, Eedris Abdulkareem said senators and house of Representative members should be paid N65,000, so “everybody would enjoy the suffering and smiling.”

Senegal Joins Oil-Producing Countries In West Africa, Produces Oil For The First Time.

It is expected to generate billions of dollars for Senegal and boost the country’s economy.

Senegal has become one of West Africa’s oil producing countries as the country started producing oil for the first time on Tuesday.

As President Bassirou Diomaye Faye promised that profits from the sale of the country’s oil and gas would be “well managed”, Australian energy giant Woodside described the oil production in Senegal as a “historic day” and a "key milestone" for the company and the country.

BBC reports that the Sangomar deep-water project, which also has gas, aims to produce 100,000 barrels of oil per day.

It is expected to generate billions of dollars for Senegal and boost the country’s economy.

The general manager of the national oil company Petrosen, Thierno Ly, said that the country had entered a “new era” when production began on Tuesday.

Ly was quoted as saying, "We have never been so well positioned for opportunities for growth, innovation and success in the economic and social development of our nation."

It was reported that Petrosen has an 18% stake in the project while Woodside owns the remainder.

Elected in April this year, President Faye has been keen on renegotiating the deal as part of reforms he promised during the election campaign.

The President, while speaking to students on Tuesday, said that the earnings from the oil and gas production would be "well managed", and that an “inter-generation fund” had been set up for the benefit of "your generation and those to come.”

The country’s move to renegotiate oil and gas contracts has been seen by some analysts as making investors jittery, but government supporters have reportedly said that it is vital for the West African state to increase its stake in projects so that the nation benefits from its natural resources.

A former opposition politician, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who was a key figure in the president’s election campaign, recently insisted that contracts signed by previous administrations were ”unfavourable” to the country, and would be reviewed.

Sonko was quoted as saying on Tuesday, "We're the ones who promised you we'd renegotiate the contracts, and we're going to do it. We've started



­

Just In: Russia Sending Nigerians, Other African Students To War For Visa Renewal – Report

Russia is allegedly sending thousands of migrants and foreign students to fight alongside its troops in the war against Ukraine for visa renewal, reports Bloomberg.

According to the Business news platform, the assessment was done by some European officials who alleged that the Kremlin is doing so to add extra manpower using the tactics first deployed by the Wagner mercenary group.

The report added that Russia has been threatening not to extend the visas of African students and young workers unless they agree to join the military, according to officials familiar with the matter.

Moscow has also been enlisting convicts from its prisons while some Africans in Russia on work visas have been detained and forced to decide between deportation or fighting, one European official said. Some of those people had been able to bribe officials to stay in the country and still avoid military service, said the official, who, like other people cited, spoke on condition of anonymity.

Russia’s practice of sending migrants and students into battle under duress dates back to earlier in the war, another European official said. Those troops suffer especially high casualty rates because they are increasingly deployed in risky offensive maneuvers to protect more highly trained units, the official added.

A spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.

According to reports citing Ukrainian intelligence, Russia has engaged in a global recruitment drive to enlist foreign mercenaries in at least 21 countries, including several nations in Africa. Army recruitment campaigns offer lucrative signing bonuses and salaries for those who’ll join up as contract soldiers. Recruiters have also targeted migrants and students who previously looked for employment in Russia, and in some cases have lured others over with promises of lucrative work before forcing them to train and deploy to the front.

Russia’s ability to mobilize far greater numbers of troops could become a significant factor in the war as President Vladimir Putin seeks to capitalize on a shift in momentum this year.

For now though, his forces have been grinding forward only slowly in northeastern Ukraine and suffering heavy losses, despite a shortage of troops and ammunition on the Ukrainian side.

The Russian military lost more than 1,200 people a day during May, according to the UK Ministry of Defence, its highest casualty rate of the war. Since the beginning of the invasion, Russia has seen some 500,000 personnel killed or wounded, the UK estimates. Bloomberg is unable to independently verify these figures.

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At a meeting with foreign media in St. Petersburg late Wednesday, Putin appeared to imply that about 10,000 Russian troops a month are being killed or wounded and that Ukrainian losses are five times higher.

While the Kremlin has failed to achieve a breakthrough on the battlefield, it has stepped up a bombing campaign against Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Western officials say those attacks appear designed to make the city uninhabitable.

As he seeks to maintain public support in Russia, Putin has so far resisted a full-scale mobilisation and Russia says it has been able to make up a significant share of its losses — in terms of numbers if not the standard of the troops — through a voluntary recruitment drive that has attracted tens of thousands of people.

The government in Kathmandu said earlier this year that it is aware of about 400 young Nepali men who have been recruited by Russia but many more have likely signed up without the government knowing. India’s decision to stop recruiting Nepalese Gurkhas for its army, ending a 200-year-old tradition, may have encouraged Nepalis to look for work in Russia and elsewhere.

A senior Ukrainian official said they have seen an uptick in the number of foreign fighters among the prisoners Ukraine has captured on the battlefield. Africans and Nepalis have been particularly common, they said.

Some of Ukraine’s allies have been considering sharing what they know with the affected countries, another European official said.

Group of Seven nations, who will hold a leaders’ summit in Italy next week, have been trying to persuade countries from the so-called Global South to offer more support to Ukraine. But many of those nations have instead remained neutral, while their populations have been a focus for Moscow’s disinformation efforts.

Reuters reported last year that the mercenary group Wagner had recruited several African citizens as part of a drive to enlist convicts from Russian prisons for its forces in Ukraine. The news agency traced the story of three men from Tanzania, Zambia and the Ivory Coast.

There are 35,000-37,000 African students currently in Russia, according to Yevgeny Primakov head of Rossotrudnichestvo, an organization devoted to spreading knowledge about Russia abroad.

“Every year we sign up about 6,500 students from Africa to study in Russia for free,” he said on Thursday at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Women Are Not Interested In The Right Man, But Only The Right Funder —Reno Omokri

He wrote:
Too many women, especially in Southern Nigeria, are not looking for, or interested in, nor will be committed to the right man. They are looking for the right funder. Someone who can fund their lifestyle.
They are not interested in love or affection.
They are just marketers of their bodily assets to the highest bidders and have lost all sense of shame.

Andrew to a large extent, their so-called beauty is manufactured.
Organic cream pano pano. BBL. Brazilian hair. And Mac foundation. To maintain their 'beauty' will cost you more than it takes to maintain your business.

As a man, avoid these girls. They are never going to be an asset to you. Because they demand your fiscal treasures, while the only thing they bring to the table is their bodily pleasures, which lose value with age. And anything that loses value over time is a liability.

You need a wife that can add value to you. Someone you can meet and ask her, 'What do you think about this deal?' or 'Should I buy that land?'.
You need a partner in progress, not a partner in fornication. And if you can't find such a woman in Southern Nigeria, my brother, go elsewhere without feeling guilty. A good wife from afar is better than a bad one nearby!

#RenosNuggets

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has categorically stated that the Obidient Movement is not a directorate of any particular political party.

This was as he revealed that “any individual or individuals claiming to be leaders of this non-existent directorate are simply not members of the broader Obidient Movement.”

Obi said this days after the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party named a ten-member directorate to oversee the activities of members of the Obidient Movement into the party’s mainstream.

In an apparent reaction, Obi said, “There may be a youth mobilization directorate in political parties but the Obidient movement is far beyond a particular political party. The Obidient Movement is a diverse and inclusive collective that transcends traditional political, religious, and ethnic affiliations.

“It is not domiciled within any particular party or headquartered in any particular part of the country. Its membership spans across Africa and the globe, comprising individuals from various backgrounds, including rural communities, and public, private, and corporate entities, united by a shared vision for a New and better Nigeria. Guided by the principles of adaptive and transformative change, progress, discipline, and democratic values, the Obidient Movement advocates for fairness, equity, inclusivity, and justice.

“It is committed to a strictly accountable and responsible code of government. Our members are committed to contributing to the realization of a better future for Nigeria through the New Nigeria project, anchored on loyalty, integrity, and democratic values.

“The Obidient Movement seeks to foster positive change through a commitment to integrity, honesty, and accountability, rejecting deceitful behaviours.

“We serve as a beacon of hope for a reimagined Nigeria, where leadership is grounded in character, capacity, competence, compassion and the well-being of all citizens.

“Let this serve as a clarification that the Obidient Movement operates independently of any political party, and its membership is not limited to any particular affiliation.

“Our focus remains steadfast on driving positive change and promoting a New Nigeria for all. This is who we are and will remain for all time. -PO”

BREAKING: Senate Passes Bill To Control, Regulate Cattle Rearing Ranching Business In Nigeria.

The Nigerian Senate has passed a bill to establish the National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission after a heated debate on Wednesday.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Titus Tartenger Zam representing Benue North West was meant to control and regulate cattle rearing ranching business across the country.

Explaining the general principles of the bill, Zam canvassed the need for the proposed Commission to manage, regulate, and preserve ranches across the country.

He said: “The proposed National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission is for management, preservation, and control of ranches throughout Nigeria.”

The bill, however, met stiff opposition from Senator Danjuma Goje from Gombe and his counterpart from Kebbi, Adamu Aliero.

Both Lawmakers and former governors argued that cattle rearing and ranching activities were more in the North than in other parts of the country, reasoning that lawmaking should be for the entire country and not for a section.

Goje specifically maintained that cattle routes begin from the far north and end in Lokoja as “the route does not extend to the South”.

In his contribution, Senator Hussein Babangida Uba, representing Jigawa North-West, called for extra caution in passing the bill, given its trail of controversies in the past.

Other Senators who supported the bill contended that the proposed Commission would manage the farmers/herders crisis, hence, it should be passed.

The bill was passed after it was put to voice vote by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

It was referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Judiciary and Legal Matters to be reverted in four weeks.

Nigerians on social media have descended heavily on former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, after he linked the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, with the nationwide strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

In a post on his Facebook page on Monday night, Omokri had lambasted the president of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, saying the strike was uncalled for and would lead to the death of many premature babies following the shutting down of the national grid.

He however, shot himself in the foot as he went on to say Ajaero was working in ‘cahoots ‘ with Obi to frustrate and sabotage the government of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“Do you know how many premature babies will die today because Joe Ajaero and his NLC shut down the National Grid? How many hospital emergency patients will perish? This is not a National Strike. This is a National Attack by the most politically exposed and partisan NLC President ever,” Omokri wrote.

“Ajaero is in cahoots with Peter Obi. And this is about 2027. Which country have you heard of where they shut down the National Grid as part of a strike? If there is a fire or emergency somewhere, what do we do? Nigerians ought to stand up against Joe Ajaero. He is taking the country down with him!

“How does shutting down the National Grid and putting Nigerians in darkness help the economy or workers? Aso Rock has generators. So does the National Assembly. Even Joe Ajaero has generators and is enjoying air conditioning.

“It is you that heat is finishing in your house. Meanwhile, factories cannot produce, and the economy is contracting.

“What you may not understand is that Federal civil servants are less than 0.3% of the population. If the NLC insists on an unreasonable ₦494,000 a month minimum wage, all that the FG will do is go on a massive sacking spree.

“The people who will suffer are the private sector, who employ more than 65% of Nigeria’s workers. Obviously, they will not be able to pay ₦494,000 a month and run their businesses profitably. So, they will increase prices for those not working and sack their workers, increasing unemployment.

“The NLC under Joe Ajaero knows that. They do not care. As long as they can sabotage the government and our economy to make Peter Obi look good, they will do it. It is all about 2027. It is not about you!”

But his post did not go down well with a lot of Nigerians who flooded his page to disagree with him.

Read some of the responses here:

Sammy Etuk: “Unfortunately, you are very laquacious in your pursuit of an appointment into Tinubu’s government that is working hardship on Nigerians.”

Idy Kabash: “Reno, I still don’t understand your obsession with Peter Obi. The man has shown tremendous maturity by ignoring all your attacks on him but you will never back off. It’s a big shame on an adult like you.”

D’Akmbert Tah: “The federal government should do the needful, Mr Reno. What’s so hard here, just do the right thing and we’ll all be alright. The federal government is the one being insensitive here.”

Comrade Jaochim Chima: “You be mumu man. I knew that Peter Obi’s name must be mentioned for this trash to be complete. Anuofia.”

Gregory Akemson: “But you never told us how many Nigerians died throughout this hard times.”

Victor Akanbi: “They should give them what they ask for… politicians are collecting millions of naira but give workers token, no health care etc.”

ERNY: “Suicide everywhere because of economy frustration. NLC want to add more.
Let the fuel subsidy be brought back the way old anthem was brought. Then you see things will Normalize and cost of goods will reduce drastically and Service cost will depreciate too.”

Abraham Yalaju: “But you have not said anything about how many people that have died due to hardship after the remover of fuel subsidy or does the govt also care about how many persons that have died since the remover of fuel subsidy due to inability to feed or pay hospital bill, high cost of living and how many businesses that have crumbled since this govt came into power.

“When it comes to buying of SUV JEEP and spending bogusly on national assembly members and ministers there will be money but when it affects the common people it does not concern the government even if the policy will lead to the suffering or death of the common masses like the removal of fuel subsidy without proper consideration on it effect on the poor.

“Your hatred for Peter Obi will make God to keep promoting him and exposing the foolishness of his enemies until they are finally destroyed.

“Reno advocate for national assembly members and ministers to start receiving minimum wage if they cannot yield to the request of NLC if you truly love the country.

“Nigerians are dying of hunger, insecurity, inability to proper medical care. You are not saying anything about it. The only thing you know how to do is to come on line to support evil and to speak against Peter Obi who don’t have your time. Nigeria is bleeding now. Enough of sentiment.”

Moses Okon: “This irrésponsible man will never talk without mentioning Peter Obi. Any bad thing in Nigeria you want to link it to Peter Obi just because you want to paint him bad after you join Tinubu to steal his 2023 presidential mandate.

“Obi refuse to give you money that is why you are attacking him everyday on all your post because your being paid by Tinubu and his cohorts to attack Obi, promising you lot of things which they will soon fail you.

“You want Nigerians to hate Obi for nothing. Look at you, you have failed already.”

Ogbu John: “Mr Reno do you know the price of a bag of rice or beans? You’re not with the masses but always supporting your pay master interest.

“If you are fighting the labor leadership over their stand you are fighting all the workers which you will not succeed.”

God’sbreath: “More than a year that Tinubu removed fuel subsidy. We see how hard things are now in Nigeria. Some goods are times 5 of how we used to buy them in past years.

“Reno didn’t make any post to advise FG to increase minimum wages. Now that people can’t bear it anymore you’re here talking what we don’t understand. You know how many people that died because of hunger? Common sense isn’t come sha. Rubbish.”

Benjamin Okoko: “But you never tell us the statistics of how many Nigerians who died because of hardship/hunger and insecurity?

“You know the bitter truth of the whole matter but you just decided to do away with it.

“A times peace can be gotten through some hard decisions for it’s a risk not to take a risk!

“Now it’s no longer Peter Obi but NLC president! Mind you some things you do say here may hurt you in the mean future Sir!”

Benjy Alfred: “Even Reno is outside the country enjoying the western government! We that heat is finishing in our house are not complaining.

“We have suffered numerous hardship and survived, Let NLC and FG come to one umbrella and agree on favourable minimum wage not pushing blames on Ajaero.

Six (6)Greatest lies in Nigeria.

1. Bail is free

2. One Nigeria

3. The court is the hope of the common man.

4. Police is your friend.

5. The youth are the leaders of tomorrow.

6. Education is the key to success.

Add your own

Imo Government And Egyptian Firm Madkour Sign Pact On Power Supply.

The government of Imo State has signed a pact with an Egyptian power generation, transmission and distribution company, Madkour Group, to solve the perennial epileptic power supply in the State.

According to a release signed by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor, Oguwike Nwachuku, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Madkour group, was signed in Government House Owerri yesterday to formalise months of partnership discussions between the management of the Egyptian firm and those of the Orashi Electricity Company of Imo State.

While the President of the Egyptian firm, Dr. Mostafa Madkour signed for Madkour Group, Valentine Obumeyan, the Acting General Manager of Orashi Electricity Company of Imo State signed on behalf of the State government. Both parties agreed to “set Imo State on fire” by January next year.

Addressing the audience at the signing ceremony, Governor Hope Uzodimma said his administration had already “assented to a law on power generation for the State and the law created Orashi Electricity Company Limited for Imo State.”

He said the Federal Government supported the State in the establishment of the company as a technical and financial partner.

“The need for partners became necessary because the business of power generation, distribution and transmission is capital intensive and it is not what the State can carry alone.

“This informed the coming of Madkour Group to partner Orashi Electricity Company Limited of Imo State as both technical and financial partners,” he said.

“As part of the deliverables, by January next year (2025) we will be able to generate, transmit and distribute our own power,” the Governor said.

Responding on behalf of the Madkour Group, the President, Dr. Madkour, thanked the Governor for trusting in their capacity and accepting to engage them in the partnership.

Drama as the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II and the deposed Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero held parallel two Rakat Friday prayer at their palace.
While Sanusi led his supporters to observe the prayers at the palace mosque, Bayero held the prayer session with his supporters at the Gidan Nassarawa, the Emir’s Guest house.

Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards 20230:05 / 1:00
Earlier, there was unease calm as supporters of the duo had speculated that they reportedly planned to observed the two rakat Friday prayer at the palace mosque and thereby calling on the ardent supporters to troop out en masse for the prayer session.

At the wake of Friday, what looks like an itinerary of the duo of Sanusi and Bayero surfaced indicating that the duo planned to observe the prayers at the different mosque.

Meanwhile, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Gumel has doused the tension in the state by debunking speculations that Bayero will observed the Friday prayer at the palace mosque.

CP Gumel in a statement by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna described the speculation as false and called on the residents to disregard it and go about their day to day activities.

“The Kano State Police Command is hereby advising all residents to disregard the false information circulating on social media that Emir Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero will lead Jumma’t Prayers at Kofar Kudu Central Mosque, Kano.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, further assured that all necessary security arrangements have been made for Alhaji Aminu Bayero to observe his Jummah Prayers in the Mosque where he lives at the Nasarawa Palace.

“The CP also assured that the Police and all other state security agencies will provide adequate security at the Palace where Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II is expected to observe his Jumma’at Prayers.

“Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore the false reports and misinformation circulating on social media and to go about their activities without fear of molestation or intimidation assuring that the Police will continue to provide the necessary security for ensuring that residents observe their Friday congressional prayers peacefully and without threats to their lives and property,” SP Haruna said.

Federal Government Approves First Aviation School In South East.

To address the dearth of manpower in the aviation sector, the Federal Government has approved the listing of Eastwing Aviation Training Institute under the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

Having met the technical evaluation by the FG, the Institute can now commence the process of admission of students through the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, and the students, upon completion of their studies, will be awarded national diploma and high national diploma, respectively.

Speaking on the approval, the founder and CEO of Eastwing Aviation, Dr. Christopher Edeh, urged youths to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the institution to achieve their dream of becoming pilots, aviation engineers, cabin crew or other functions found in the sector.

He said: “What this approval means for our youths is that every one of them now has the opportunity to explore this field, even if it means just coming to us for advice. The institution would encourage and help build the dream because we do not want you to stay idle after graduating.

“It has been my desire to give back to society considering what I have passed through from the day I joined the Nigerian Air Force.

“Being the first aviation school in the South-East region means a lot to us. It means that I am getting closer to my dream and I have reached that stage where society can benefit from me.”

Explaining the process of getting the institute certified, Edeh disclosed that he worked with former colleagues to realize the project. “Those who worked with me on this project were colleagues that we served together. They have been very supportive throughout this quest. It was purely a communal effort, what you would call ‘Wazobia’ and we are where we are today.”

The Eastwing Aviation Institute also recently established a non-governmental organisation to encourage less privileged youths who are talented and who meet the basic requirements but are not able to financially pursue their dreams.

According to the founder, “We are hopeful that the new dawn would encourage a huge turn up. Many people regard the aviation sector as rocket science; now we have brought it to their doorsteps. For interested candidates, there are many areas in this field they can fit in; go to airports, all you see are many people carrying luggage and we believe they can do more than that.”

Speaking further, Dr Edeh recounted: “A good example is one of the security personnel I worked with who was talented and hardworking. I realised this and encouraged him to do more for himself seeing that he has potential. Today, he is an aircraft maintenance engineer in one of the airlines.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received public praise from Senator Shehu Sani for tackling the problem of Northern Governors routinely moving to Abuja instead of staying in their respective states to serve their constituents.
Sani lauded the President’s observation and called it sound guidance in a post that was made public on his verified X handle. He also noted the significance of such a comment coming from the nation’s highest office.

“The President seems worried about most Northern Governors relocating to Abuja instead of staying in their respective states to work for their people.
That is a good observation and a wise counsel,” Sani remarked.

He contrasted President Tinubu’s direct approach with that of his predecessor, who, according to Sani, lacked the courage to address this issue openly.

Sani’s endorsement of the President’s stance underscores a broader concern regarding governance and accountability in the Northern regions of Nigeria.

The frequent absence of governors from their states has been a point of contention, with critics arguing that it hampers effective governance and development.

By highlighting this issue, President Tinubu has brought renewed attention to the need for local leaders to be more present and proactive in addressing the challenges facing their communities.

The President’s call for governors to remain in their states is seen as a push for greater accountability and a more hands-on approach to governance.
This directive is expected to encourage governors to focus more on local issues and development projects, ensuring that they are more attuned to the needs of their constituents.