by Editor MediaOrchid on 04:01 in News


Yet another incident of Rape and Murder of a lady has been recorded in Idi-Ori Area of Shasha in Akinyele Local Government Area in Oyo state.


The 21 year old female recently got admission and celebrated her matriculation on the 14th of February 2020 as a National Diploma student in Business Administration at Oke Ogun Polytechnic in Oyo state.


On Saturday 13th June 2020, Grace Oshiagwu was attacked, Sexually assaulted and killed at a church where her parents reside in Idi-Ori Area of Shasha which is under Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan.
People living in the community have expressed fear and worry owing to the fact that weeks ago, an 18yr old Barakat was raped and Killed in Akinyele.

Also, about 10 days ago, Azeezat Shomuyiwa a post graduate student in University of Ibadan who was seven (7) months pregnant was also raped and Killed in same Akinyele, Local Government Area.

There have been speculations over the death of Grace that; besides Raping and Killing her, her killers perhaps have plans to perform some sort of rituals as her body was found with her hair shaven off.

Her corpse has been deposited at Adeoyo state hospital Ibadan for autopsy while the police has commenced investigation.

https://www.inform.ng/post/oyo-undergraduate-raped-and-murdered

Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has commiserated with the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi over the death of his elder brother, Charles(Dede) Amaechi.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt today, Governor Wike described the demise of the deceased as a great loss not only to the family but the entire State.

He prayed God to grant the Minister and his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Wike’s condolence message is coming a few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari condoled with the Former River governor over the loss.

The Amaechi family is yet to issue an official statement on Burial arrangements


https://www.inform.ng/post/wike-reacts-to-death-of-amaechi-brother

The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress has upheld the disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki by the party’s screening and appeal committees for the Edo State Governorship primary.



It also announced the expulsion of one of the three aspirants disqualified by the panels.

National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole announced this after the NWC met to review the screening and appeal committees reports.

The party expelled Mathew Iduoriyekenwen after citing relevant sections of the APC Constitution.

Details soon

https://www.inform.ng/post/obaseki-remains-disqualified-from-edo-race-apc

June 13, 2020

Press Statement

Shooting In Villa: PDP Alarmed, Charges President Buhari to Speak Out

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is alarmed by the reported shooting and security breaches within the precincts of the Presidential villa following a reported degenerated squabble among family members and officials of the Buhari Presidency.

The PDP is deeply worried that the protracted spat between the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and aides of President Muhammadu Buhari has now degenerated into violent combats, raids and free use of firearms within the Presidential villa.

The party described as distressing, the report that a members of Mr. President's family were at scene of the assault against one of President Buhari’s aides, during which the First Lady’s security details were alleged to have resorted to the use of firearms.

Our party is disturbed by such ugly situation in the Buhari Presidency, which has already heightened apprehensions in the public space over the apparent failure of security architecture and central command system in the presidency leading to such reckless and irresponsible breaches.

The chaotic situation in the Presidential villa only points to the failure by President Buhari to provide a leadership that can guarantee orderliness in governance and effectively ensure the security of our nation.

The PDP notes that such leadership failure at the highest level has further exposed why our nation has been bedeviled by myriads of security and economic problems under President Buhari’s watch in the last five years.

More worrisome is that the Buhari Presidency had failed to speak out on the frightening situation so as to reassure Nigerians and douse the tension in the polity; especially at this critical time when our nation is facing serious security challenges.

The PDP therefore calls on President Buhari to take immediate steps to restore order in his Presidency and shield our security system from the division and power tussle among persons close to him.

Our party also demands for an immediate inquest into the security breaches as well as the alleged violation of COVID-19 ban on inter-state travels by officials and relations of Mr. President, which was reported to be part of the immediate causes of latest disturbances in the Presidential villa.

Furthermore, the PDP urges the National Assembly to save the nation by wading into the persistent infighting in the Buhari Presidency especially as those in charge of the Presidential villa has not demonstrated the required capacity to engender the needed orderliness for productive governance.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

https://mobile.twitter.com/OfficialPDPNig/status/1271787377875390470

The International Police (INTERPOL) on Friday confirmed the arrest of suspected Nigerian international fraudster, Raymond Igbalode, popular known as Hushpuppi.




The Commissioner of Police (CP) INTERPOL, Garba Umar, who confirmed the arrest to The Nation, said plans are underway to extradite Hushpuppi from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) back to Nigeria to face alleged multiple fraud charges.




Umar disclosed that the INTERPOL is also on the trail of other accomplices in the alleged fraud who are resident in Nigeria to bring them to justice.

“It is true that Hushpuppi was arrested by the INTERPOL. We are currently working on bringing him to Nigeria to face charges of fraud.

“Some of the offences were committed here in Nigeria and he has to answer for them. He is not alone in it; there are accomplices in the country who we are currently on their trail,” said the CP.

The Nigerian big boy who was arrested alongside his close friend, Mr Woodbery, were also accused of hacking into the United States (US) unemployed database and impersonating citizens qualified for unemployment funds.

He and his accomplices in Nigeria, Dubai and other countries allegedly defrauded the US of over $100 million meant for Native Americans in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic

https://www.inform.ng/post/why-we-arrested-hushpuppi-interpol

Less than three weeks ago, David Kampani spoke before a group of security agents, government officials and his Adara kinsmen on the need to stop the tit-for-tat killings between Adara and Fulani natives in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Sources at the meeting told Daily Trust Saturday that Kampani’s peace sermon did not go down well with some of his kinsmen as many of them began to make angry faces and soon began a subtle protest, saying their son was selling them out before the government and security operatives.



By Saturday, June 6, 2020, the subtle protest was backed by action when the youths of Adara went on rampage, attacked and killed Kampani, Ayuba Zagi and Danladi Shekarau in Doka village, while Jumare Anthony was killed at Kallah village, all in Kajuru Local Government Area.

Sources from the area told our correspondents that the victims were accused of betraying their brethren to favour the Fulani in the area. To defend their action, the attackers claimed that Kampani had been sighted by many Adara youths assisting in putting out fire on a Fulani settlement, which was attacked and set ablaze over a week ago. That allegation had earned him and others a death sentence.

One of our sources, who is from Adara and feared that revealing his identity could jeopardise his safety, said, “They were lynched on the allegation that they were working as informants for the Fulani. Some of us reject this injustice as an agenda of hate against our brothers who have refused to join the bandwagon of hostilities in the area.

“All the victims were peace ambassadors and law-abiding citizens of Kajuru and Kaduna State. No one has come forward to tell us what offence they committed; but they have been stereotyped and tagged betrayers of Adara,” he said.

The killings created tension in Doka, forcing the village head, Jonah Luka to flee the community, along with his scribe, Bitrus Danmori, after a tip-off that the mob was coming for him.

“You know that three people were killed in Doka and one in Kallah. When the mob apprehended Ayuba Zagi, Danladi Shekarau and David Kampani in Doka, they dispatched others to get the traditional ruler but found out that he had fled the community. We learnt that they escaped through a bush and fled to an undisclosed location,” the source added.

The Kaduna State police command, through its public relations officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, has since confirmed the mob action and said five persons had been arrested and transferred to the police headquarters in Kaduna. He said the suspects were assisting the police with useful information.

The national president of Adara Development Association, Dio Maisamari, also confirmed the incident, but told Daily Trust Saturday that the association condemned jungle justice in all forms and ramifications.

“We have been told what happened. We condemn criminal activities, whether from Adara or Fulani. We were told that some of the suspects have been taken to the police station, so our view is that justice should take its course so that there would be no jungle justice again,’’ Maisamari said.

On their part, the Fulani community in the area had since denied that the victims were their informants. The youth leader of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Nigeria (MACBAN), Yusuf Ahmed, said the allegation that the four people killed were spies of the Fulani were unfounded. Ahmed said it was typical of Adara youths to tag anyone seen with a Fulani man as a traitor.

“What happened to those youths was only because they were not in support of the violence in the area, so they were tagged Fulani sympathisers. There are some areas in Kufana district of Kajuru that a Fulani man dares not visit, especially places like Doka and Kallah villages because even if they know him personally, he may be killed,” he said.

However, our correspondents gathered that it is same for the Adara people who say their people are constantly attacked and killed by the Fulani and would most likely be killed as soon as they cross into a Fulani community.

Last week Wednesday, nine Adara people, including women and children, were killed in Tudun Wadan Doka when attackers, the residents said were suspected Fulani herders, sneaked into homes in the early hours of the morning and killed their victims.

The chairman of Kajuru Local Government, Cafra Caino, in an attempt to stem the tide of attacks, had announced the recruitment of 1,000 Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and tasked them with the responsibility of security surveillance.

Caino said the move was part of a new strategy in the fight against insurgency in the area as members of the CJTF will complement the conventional security apparatus in providing effective security network to bring an end to recurring attacks.

He said Kajuru had over 1million unused hectres of land with some difficult terrains, pointing out that the emergence of the CJTF, as obtained in other troubled parts of the country, was to help curtail social vices in communities so as to create a conducive environment for development.

But despite these efforts, Daily Trust Saturday gathered that there is still tension in Doka village and parts of Kajuru, where hostilities between Adara and Fulani have threatened peaceful coexistence for years.

The killing of the four youths is seen as only a symptom of what has become years of hostilities between Adara and Fulani communities. Major towns in the local government area, such as Kasuwan Magani, have faced decades of ethno-religious crises that have claimed hundreds of lives and rendered many homeless.

For the families of David Kampani the other three victims, all they want is justice as they insist their relatives were not traitors but simply peace ambassadors.

“We are aggrieved, and at the same time, scared. Our brothers were stereotyped and presented as traitors of Adara. All we want is justice, and hope that security agents would ensure that those responsible are brought to book,” one of Kampani’s relatives said.

He said many people had fled Doka village to Kasuwan Magani, either to evade arrest or for fear that the fate of the four victims may befall them.

“If this matter is not taken seriously, then anyone can be pronounced a traitor and killed at will by a selected group. It is barbaric because the perpetrators have made themselves accusers and judges,” he added.

As at Thursday, police sources in Kajuru told our correspondent that the village head of Doka and his scribe had not returned and were seeking police protection.


https://www.inform.ng/post/from-preaching-peace-to-the-grave-the-story-of-4-kajuru-men

The governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP would win the September 2020 governorship election in Edo State.

The governor disclosed this to journalists Tuesday night shortly after receiving the results from the electoral officers who supervised the ward delegates election to select 3 delegates each in the192 political wards in the state that will elect the governorship candidate on June 19th to fly the party flag in the September governorship election in Edo State.

Governor Fintiri who is the chairman of the committee that was assigned by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) to conduct the ward delegates election, said the assignment has been concluded and that by his assessment every thing was successful .

He congratulated the delegates who emerged in the ward congresses and enjoined them to vote wisely in order to ensure that the party have a good candidate with impeccable character, who the Edo electorate know is not a thief to fly the party flag and win the election for the party.

He also thanked all the PDP members in Edo State for standing by their party. According to him “Edo has always been a PDP state haven won the previous presidential election in the state. Presently they have two Senators out of three and four house of Representatives members. Therefore I have no doubt in my mind that this time around it would be victory for the party”.

https://www.inform.ng/post/pdp-will-win-edo-2020-governorship-election-governor-fintiri

The Edo State Government has reiterated that all political parties in the state must obey the regulations spelt out in its gazette, aimed at curtailing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), in the conduct of their primary elections ahead of the September gubernatorial election in the state.

The Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, made the call while receiving his Bayelsa State counterpart, Sen. Lawrence Ehwujakpo, who is in the state for his party, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) ward congresses.

Shaibu, who commended the PDP for following the guidelines in the gazette, urged all other political parties to follow suit as the regulations will help in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 and keep Edo people safe.

"We got a letter from your party, the PDP, requesting to make use of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for its primary election. Governor Godwin Obaseki approved the request because the party obeyed the rules and regulations set by the Edo State Government.

"I therefore use this opportunity to tell other political parties to obey the gazette in the state, which is now a law. Just as you have obeyed, we are asking and calling on other political parties to obey the law. Any political party that disobeys the law will not hold its primary election in the state as the gazette must be respected.”

He continued: "The life of Edo people is more important than the political ambition of any politician or wishes of political parties. We need to be alive to play politics; we need to live to vote and be voted for in the election. The rules to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the gazette must be strictly followed to keep Edo people safe at this period.”

Shaibu commended the Bayelsa State Government for the unity, progress and development the people are enjoying, noting that the Governor Godwin Obaseki led-state government is also ardently pursuing the development and progress of the state.

“Development does not have a political party, neither does progress. But parties exist to act as vehicles to actualize the wishes of the people in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We would fight for the development and progress of Edo State. No element or person will stop our progress because Edo people come first in the agenda of this administration. We will stand against anything that will stop progress and development in the state," he added.

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Sen. Ehwujakpo commended the developmental strides of the Obaseki-led administration, assuring of his state’s continued support for the progress in Edo State.

"We associate ourselves with progress and development. Your administration is fighting to ensure that the development of the state continues, which is commendable,” he added.

https://www.inform.ng/post/edo-state-deputy-governor-asks-parties-to-emulate-pdp

ellapius:
u have 13 children already why getting pregnant again.

Make she no knack ni?

A 34-year-old housewife, Hauwa’u Sulaiman, of No. 70 Alfadarai in Zaria, also a mother of 13, gave birth to a set of quadruplets at the Gambo Sawaba General Hospital, Zaria, on Friday, June 5.

Sulaiman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Zaria that she had now been blessed with 17 children, adding that the set of the new quadruplets she was recently delivered of was her eighth


https://www.inform.ng/post/mother-of-13-gives-birth-to-quadruplets

…Ortom seeks review of ECOWAS free entry protocol

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday said he would no longer keep the Minister for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, at arms’ length but continue to work together with him for the development of the state.

Besides, the governor implored his teeming supporters and those of Akume to look beyond their previous political animosity by putting the interest of the state above any other interest. Governor Ortom bared his mind when the former governor led some top members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to pay him a condolence visit at the Government House over the demise of his younger sister.

“As Minister (Akume) and I here as governor, will continue to work together. We have always complemented each other and thank God for making him minister and me governor; and thank God we have all accepted that we will use the privilege positions we have courtesy of Benue people to ensure we advance the good cause of the state.

“It is said that when two elephants fight, the grass suffers and the grass are the masses of Benue and so when elephants don’t fight, it means the people will enjoy, so this is what this relationship is talking about.” Ortom appreciated God for giving him the wisdom to bring aggrieved Benue people together irrespective of political differences.

The minister whose delegation was led by former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Steven Lawani, described the loss of the governor’s younger sister, Doose Ortom, as painful and unfortunate.

He expressed Akume’s sympathies to the entire Ortom Adorogo family and prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest. Meanwhile, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday added his voice to the call for review of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on free entry for membercountries in order to stop the influx of foreign herdsmen into the country.

He made the call in Zaki- Biam, Ukum Local Government Area of the state during the inauguration of the reconstructed Zaki-Biam Yam Market. Governor Ortom urged the Federal Government to stop armed herdsmen from freely entering Nigeria even as he also called for the arrest of leadership of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, for making inciting statements and taking responsibility for killings in Benue State.

“As one of the ways to halt these attacks, we call on the Federal Government to stop the continued free entry of armed herdsmen from other countries into Nigeria. We believe the time has come for the Federal Government to revisit the protocol on free movement of people among ECOWAS member countries.”


https://www.inform.ng/post/gov-ortom-vows-to-work-with-minister-akume-to-develop-benue

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that only zoning will determine the fate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 general election.

Atiku contested the 2019 presidential election on the platform of the PDP but lost to candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari.

His son, Adamu Atiku who is the commissioner for Works and Energy in Adamawa State, while presenting the score card of his ministry yesterday said, “In 2023, my father will be aspiring to the number one office in the land because he has been an astute, strategic, master politician for almost four decades.”

But while addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said, “The PDP has not come to discussion in respect of zoning. I want to leave it at that.”

In a related development, the PDP said Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and other aggrieved chieftains of APC are at liberty to join the party ahead of the September 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo State.

Ologbondiyan however, dispelled claims in some quarters that the PDP gave Obaseki stringent conditions for joining and securing the party’s ticket including asking for huge sums of money ahead of the polls.


https://www.inform.ng/post/pdp-zoning-arrangement-will-determine-atikus-fate-party

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it will monitor the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, noting that if market forces are truly allowed to determine the prices of petroleum products, Nigerians will not be buying fuel for a price beyond N70 per liter.


The party assured that it is studying the
ongoing procedures by the Federal Government on the deregulation process to ensure that it is not manipulated against the interest of the ordinary Nigerians.

Consequently, the PDP invites the Federal Government to immediately declare and surrender the proceeds of the overcharges on pump price of fuel price since the fall in oil price in the international market and direct such to the benefit of Nigerians.

The PDP also calls on the Federal Government to immediately recover the over N14 trillion exposed to have been stolen in the oil sector in the last five years of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, and direct same to the development of the oil and gas sector.

Our party holds that if the stolen N14 trillion, made up of alleged N9 trillion detailed in the leaked NNPC memo as well as alleged diversions of subsidy funds, is recovered and injected into our economy, such will revamp our refineries, push prices further down and create more jobs and employment opportunities for our citizens.

Nigerians are aware that prior to his emergence as the President, President Muhammadu Buhari had declared fuel subsidy a fraud, but five years after, the government which he heads, watched over a subsidy regime that has been exposed to be replete with corruption.

Our party insists that the Federal Government should not use the deregulation process to sweep the issues of overcharge in the pump price of fuel as well as allegations of corruption in its subsidy regime, under the carpet.

The PDP therefore calls in the National Assembly to immediately set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the sleazes in the oil subsidy regime in the last five years and clean up the oil and gas sector so as to ensure a transparent deregulation in the industry.

Signed:

Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary

https://www.inform.ng/post/we-will-monitor-deregulation-process-says-pdp

The Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, has hinted that schools may reopen in the country after the ban on interstate movement has been lifted.

The minister stated this during a briefing by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday.

While restating that the government has not published any date for school reopening, he said the ministry will not want to lead Nigerians into danger.

Nwajiuba said, “We want to open when it is safe to do so. We have heard about neighbouring countries that opened and shut. We have heard about cases spiking with children getting into school. Of all the things I will like to do, I will not like to experiment with your children.

“We want a situation where once we are sure it is safe, we can then take them into school.

“I have just finished a meeting with the representatives of WAEC and NABTEB and I understand how that worries our parents at the moment and how anxious our children are to know what next.

“As soon as those in charge of the blockade lift it because there is no way we can open our schools if teachers can’t come. So, we are looking at somewhere after the interstate lockdown is lifted. Because we will need that kind of openness for the children to move.”

The Federal Government had in March shut all schools in the country as part of measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.




https://www.inform.ng/post/school-will-reopen-after-interstate-travel-ban-is-lifted-minister

Ahead of the September 2020 governorship election in Edo State, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant has claimed that he had been told by God he would emerge as the state governor.

The PDP aspirant, Kenneth Imasuagbon, made the claim when he appeared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, on June 7.

“I will be governor. God has told me that. No man born of woman will stop me. I can tell you I’m unstoppable. I have God and I have Edo people backing me,” be said.

On whether God was specific on when he was going to become the state governor, Imasuagbon responded, “Time and season belong to God. God knows when it will be but I’m applying myself to time.

“I will not stop running to be governor of Edo state until I reach my goal. Make no mistake, I am a very resilient person. Those who know me from my school days know me (for that). I am a courageous man. My courage is as strong as steel.”

Further saying that he had better credentials above other PDP aspirants, Imasuagbon said he had impacted on the lives of most people in the state and would do more if he emerged the state governor


https://www.inform.ng/post/god-told-me-that-i-will-be-edo-state-governor-pdp-aspirant

The Lagos state police command has arrested a police Sergeant whose name has not yet been revealed, for allegedly stabbing an Inspector, Francis Adekunle, to death and injuring another victim while under the influence of alcohol over the weekend.

The erring officer who is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Yaba, lives in the same compound in Oke-Odo with his deceased colleague and other tenants. Several complaints have been made about how he drinks to stupor and attacks people in the process.

The Nation reports that over the weekend, the Sergeant went berserk after drinking alcohol at a nearby liquor store and returned to his compound in Oke-Odo. The Sergeant reportedly picked a quarrel with one of his neighbors, and was chasing the man about with a cutlass when the Inspector, said to be attached to the Special Protection Unit (SPU) 2 Ikeja, intervened.  It was in the process the Sergeant pounced on the inspector with the machete, leaving several cuts on his legs and body.

It was gathered that the victim was rushed to the hospital where he died this morning Monday, June 8.

A police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity, demanded justice for the deceased Inspector.

“He drives a fully tinted Toyota Camry car with no plate number. He was reported at the Okeodo, Ile Epo Police Station for his previous actions but nothing was done to call him to order before he perpetrated this evil act. I saw Inspector Adekunle in the evening on his hospital bed. He was still alive then. Unfortunately, I received a call from his brother, Ojo Adekunle that he just passed on.

The doctor also confirmed his death. I am using this medium to appeal to the CP Hakeem Odumosu to do the needful and prosecute this killer Sergeant that has been terrorising everyone in the vicinity. This kind of character should not be in the Nigeria Police,” an officer said

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Lagos state police command, Bala Elkana, said an investigation into the incident has commenced.

“This did not happen in the barracks. They both stay in town with other civilians. They were neither on duty nor anywhere near police facility when it happened. I have to correct that impression because a lot of people have been calling me to say it happened inside barrack.

No matter where it happened, a crime was committed and the suspect is in custody. I will issue a statement soon on this incident” he said

 https://www.inform.ng/post/drunk-police-sergeant-kills-colleague-injures-others

A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mr David Babalola, has said the sitting of the Bayelsa State Election Petition Tribunal is an affront on the ruling of the Supreme Court which determined the governorship of the state.

The apex court on February 13th had declared Douye Diri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and his running mate, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, as the duly elected governor and deputy governor respectively.



This followed the disqualification by the Supreme Court of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, David Lyon, and running mate, Biobarakumo Degi-Eremienyo, over the latter’s falsification of his name on the documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mr Babalola, who spoke to journalists to Lagos, argued that it was unconstitutional for the Bayelsa Deputy Governor to personally waive his immunity from the trial in order to appear before the election tribunal.

He faulted the rationale behind the tribunal inviting Ewhrudjakpo to answer allegations bordering on his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exemption certificate.

‘I recall that the Supreme Court in disqualifying the APC candidates in the last governorship election clearly stated that only the issuing authority of any certificate can alter or make any correction on the certificate. In this instance, the issuing authority, which is the NYSC, had admitted at the tribunal that it misspelt the deputy governor’s name and at the latter’s instance had gone ahead to effect the correction.

‘This fact was what the DSS relied upon in its testimony before the tribunal to clear Senator Ewhrudjakpo of any wrongdoing.’

The legal practitioner said legally there is no duly constituted tribunal for Bayelsa in respect of the November 16, 2019 governorship election.

‘By law, the constitutional six months for filing and determination of the election had elapsed. See Section 285(6) of the 1999 constitution as amended. 180 days is the lifespan of any election tribunal from the date of filing the petition. Sub-section 5 of Section 285 says the petition must be filed within 21 days from the date of declaration of the result.

‘How can there be a valid petition against the current holders of the office of governor and deputy governor of Bayelsa State in the light of the above?’

He reasoned that the Court of Appeal cannot by any stretch of the imagination constitute an election petition tribunal for Bayelsa when same had since been extinguished by virtue of the fact of parties.

Babalola further stated that the allegation of fake NYSC exemption certificate against Ewhrudjakpo was no longer tenable as it ‘is no longer a live issue being a pre-election matter, which by Section 285(9) ought to have been litigated within 14 days of the occurrence of the event.’

He cited the Supreme Court pronouncement on Atiku vs Buhari where it stated that the issue of qualification is a pre-election matter.

Babalola maintained that by the authority of the Supreme Court’s pronouncement, the election tribunal ‘is completely robbed of jurisdiction to entertain the claim.’

The legal practitioner was insisted that the deputy governor cannot waive his immunity to appear before the tribunal, adding that no court can compel his appearance.

‘The only way such immunity can be waived is only when he resigns from office. There cannot be a deputy governor in abeyance. For the avoidance of doubt, see Section 308 of the 1999 constitution as amended,’ he said.

https://www.inform.ng/post/lawyer-faults-tribunal-on-bayelsa-state-deputy-governor

It was an anti-climax on Thursday before the Bayelsa State Governorship Election Tribunal in Abuja as a petitioner suddenly changed his mind at the presence of Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo, whom he requested as a witness.

The tribunal had issued a subpoena on Ewhrudjakpo at the instance of the candidate of the Liberation Movement (LM) in the November 16, 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa, Vijah Opuama, who is challenging Ewhrudjakpo’s qualification to stand for the election.

He alleged that he (Ewhrudjakpo) submitted a forged exemption certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the election.

On Tuesday, the tribunal ordered Ewhrudjakpo appearance after his lawyer,Chukwuma Machukwu Ume (SAN) withdrew his earlier application, challenging the propriety of the subpoena and indicated that his client would appear before the tribunal.

At the mention of the case, the court was informed about Ewhrudjakpo’s presence in response to the subpoena served on him.

But, before the Deputy Governor could be invited to the witness box, petitioner’s lawyer (at whose instance the subpoena was issued) Pius Danba Pius said he noticed an error in the subpoena and wished to withdraw it.

Pius noted that the subpoena was intended for the Deputy Governor to only tender document but not to attend court and give evidence.

The petitioner’s lawyer said he has filed a fresh application seeking to correct the error.

He said: “I would like to apologise to the witness for bringing him all the way from Yenagoa to court on a subpoena that was never intended.

“I equally apologise to the Inner Bar and indeed, the Bench, as no human is above error.”

Responding, lawyer to Governor Douye Diri, Chris Uche (SAN) expressed disappointment at the turn of event.

He described the development as “a deliberate act of disrespect and the highest form of abuse of court process.”

Uche said the petitioner had, on two occasions, refused to proceed with the case the on grounds that the Deputy Governor “must come here in person, to testify as the petitioner’s witness.”

Uche noted that despite the restriction inter-state movement and local flights, “the petitioner subjected the Deputy Governor to this serious ordeal and exposure to risk and hardship.”

Lawyer to Ewhrudjakpo, Ume prayed the tribunal to compel the petitioner to proceed to question the deputy governor on his allegations.

Ume said, in the alternative, the tribunal show award N5 million cost against the petitioners.

Ruling, the tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo said: “the tribunal cannot dictate to a party how to conduct his/her case.”

Justice Sirajo proceeded dismissed the subpoena and rejected the request by Ewhrudjakpo’s lawyer for cost.

The petitioner later took the witness stand, gave oral evidence and tendered documents in support of his case.

Lawyers to the respondents indicated their intention to cross-examine him on a later date on the grounds that they did not prepare for him.

At the conclusion of Opuama’s testimony, the tribunal’s Chairman adjourned till June 9 for continuation of hearing.

While exiting the tribunal’s sitting venue, Ewhrudjakpo spoke with journalists and described the petition as,among others, an attempt to embarrass him.

When asked about his experience before the tribunal, Ewhrudjakpo said: “You don’t need to tell a deaf that the market is closed.

“What has just played out is that there are some persons in this country that should be respected, people like us, who don’t( have skeleton in our cupboard, but are being painted black, because some people have access to the media.

“That is why I waived my immunity, I drove by road, slept in Lokoja last night and in today. One miscreant feels he can malign me.

“I have come here to prove to the whole world that my certificates are intact, authentic; I have never altered any documents. And, I will take the appropriate actions as far as this issues are concerned, because defamation has come into this issue,maligning has come into this issue, label has come into this issue.

“You don’t expect Deputy Governor to leave his state, to come hear and, only for you to get a rethink. This shows that the petition, like I have always said, is frivolous; it is not only deceitful, it is being sponsored by some persons, who don’t want Bayelsa to progress.

“Otherwise, there was no basis for this petition. NYSC exception is not a qualification to contest election in Nigeria. The requirements for contesting election is very clear.

“So, of what use is the NYSC exception certificate, that has become a major issue in the press and sensation?

“I am here today to tender the original copy of the certificate that they claimed was forged,” he said, and proceeded to reach into a file he had with him, fetched a document, he said, was the original copy of the exemption certificate.

The Deputy Governor also brought out another document, he said, was a copy of the letter he wrote to the NYSC, requesting for an alteration in his name.

He denied altering his certificate and expressed displeasure about the report issued on the case by the DSS

He added: “It is unfortunate that an agency like the DSS is allowing itself to be dragged into politics. It is very, very unfortunate. When the time comes, we will take the appropriate action. But glory be to God that prosperity has vindicated us that we didn’t forge anything.”

When asked if he will sue for defamation, the Deputy Governor said he will await the conclusion of the case.

 https://www.inform.ng/post/petition-withdraws-petition-on-sighting-bayelsa-deputy-governor

Abdulhameed is notorious for reckless spending and fights dirty with anyone, who challenges him, according to those close to him.

Managing Director of Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, Mr Aliyu A. Abdulhameed, on Wednesday dismissed another staff of the organisation, Olusola Omole, in a bid to conceal the monument corruption taking place under his watch. 

Omole was head of a technical unit with responsibility across the 36 states of the federation before he was removed. 

Abdulhameed is notorious for reckless spending and fights dirty with anyone, who challenges him, according to those close to him. 




Omole got into trouble with the NIRSAL boss after he was sighted walking alongside the former Head of Internal Audit, Olalekan Olusanya, within the premises of the agency. 

Our correspondent reliably gathered that Omole was not given the chance for fair hearing before his dismissal on Wednesday.

Omole was accused of violating NIRSAL's confidentiality and secrecy agreement. 

He was never issued a query or made to face any disciplinary panel over the allegations before his dismissal. 

NIRSAL is a $500m non-bank financial institution, a creation of the Central Bank of Nigeria mandated to manage agribusiness-related credit risks in Nigeria.

Aliyu had been siphoning money from the establishment since he was appointed to office in 2015.

Insiders informed SaharaReporters that this was not the first time Aliyu would sack people for doing nothing wrong. 

In July 2017, seven employees of NIRSAL, who were all employed three months earlier, were sacked unceremoniously after the MD alleged that they were not be loyal to him.

https://www.inform.ng/post/nirsal-md-dismisses-staff-to-conceal-multibillion-fraud

…NASC Panel Recommends Sack Of Clerk

The crisis rocking the National Assembly has taken another dimension as leadership put modalities in place to replace the current Clerk, Alhaji Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori.

It was gathered that the committee set up by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), the body statutorily charged with the responsibility of appointing persons to hold any position in the National Assembly, has recommended sack for the Clerk.

This is even as it was gathered that the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila have position themselves to bring in replacement.

The problem of Omolori, it was gathered, started when it was alleged that he usurped the powers of NASC to extend the tenure of some senior staff of the National Assembly, an exercise which he allegedly benefitted from.

Findings revealed that the alleged controversial exercise carried out Omolori, the retirement age for civil servants in the National Assembly was moved from 35 to 40 years. The retirement age was increased from 60 to 65 years.

According to details of the controversial document, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani-Omolori and about 150 officers are expected to remain in office for another five years, despite attaining the legal age of retirement.

It was gathered that the newly-inaugurated board of the NASC, upon resumption, set up a Committee to re-examine the implementation of the controversial Harmonised Retirement Age of the Staff of the National Assembly Service.

The committee set up by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), it was learnt has submitted its report and has yanked off the controversial five-year tenure enlogation of the Clerk, Sani-Omolori and over 150 other senior staff.


Among the recommendations was the immediate reversal of the contentious tenure elongation exercise carried out by the Sani-Omolori led National Assembly.

If the recommendations of the Committee are implemented, the Clerk who clocked 35 years in service in February, maybe forced to proceed on a compulsory retirement, preparatory to his retirement.

But ahead of the decision of the NASC, it was gathered that there is already alignment and re-alignment among the political leadership of the National Assembly.

The leadership it was gathered has begun consideration of some persons as beneficiaries of appointments to occupy the position of Clerk and other positions in the National Assembly hierarchy.

Specifically, it wad learnt that the Senate President, Lawan and the Speaker of the House Representatives, Gbajabiamila have already positioned themselves to have the positions filled by persons from the North East and South West respectively.

It was gathered that the current permanent Secretary in charge of legal matters for National Assembly, Bala Mohammed Yabani (Yobe State) has been reportedly tipped as the next Clerk to the National Assembly, while Arc Olatunde Ojo Amos (Osun State), who is the current Permanent Secretary, Estate and works/Procurement is among the two persons reportedly tipped to be the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly.

Another person being considered for the position of the DCNA is Adebanjo Ademola who is a Director in the National Assembly. He is former liaison officer in Lagos.

Meanwhile, the Chairmen of National Assembly and Commission chapters of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Sunday Sabiyi and Ojemeri Oisamaye, in a letter addressed to the chairman of NASC), Ahmed Amshi, have asked that the Commission to cancel the tenure elongation exercise carried out by Omolori.

Part of the letter reads: “We strongly implore the Commission to invoke its powers, in line with Sections 6(, 7(1)(b) and 19 as well other relevant sections of the NASC Act, 2014, to holistically review the conditions of service and streamline the irregularities found therein.”

https://www.inform.ng/post/crisis-brews-in-nass-over-continuous-stay-of-clerk

Ondo Democratic Initiatives (ODI) a research group in Ondo State whose survey and find­ings revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari would lose Ondo State in the March, 2019 General elections and Governor Yahaya Bello’s suc­cessful outing in Kogi State in the last elections has disclosed another research finding.

This time, the survey is on the most preferred and most favoured among the teeming aspirants jostling to unseat Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in the forthcoming Guberna­torial elections scheduled for 10th of October, 2020.




As gathered from the Re­search Head of the group, Dr. Akinwale Ogidi, the compre­hensive exercise narrowed down on the two major politi­cal parties in the State, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The survey report reveals that Akure-born politician and lawyer, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) of PDP and Owo-born politician and United States trained lawyer, Chief Bukola Adetula of APC are the two most preferred and favoured candidates to fly the flag of their respective parties in Ondo State.

The report further indicated that majority of Ondo State in­digenes are no longer desirous of a conventional politician to govern the State. This resolve is reached with the belief that a departure from conventions would bring usher in a new dawn that would orchestrate and propel real development and better quality of life for the people in the State.

Dr Ogidi said their findings observed the pulse of indi­genes in the State across the 18 Local Government Areas by engaging contemporary norms and theories of objectivity in socio-political research to ar­rive at what he described as “a just and fair assessment”.

The people of Ondo State are tired and done with stereotyp­ical politicians who have mas­tered the art of vain promises during electioneering cam­paign and woeful and inhuman promises on assuming office, the report concluded.


https://www.inform.ng/post/jegede-adetula-are-most-preferred-for-ondo-guber-group

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has vowed to delete the names of its members who would receive appointments from Adamawa state government.

The state APC said it was against the constitution of the party for its members to accept appointments from opposition parties.

Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recently appointed advisers and assistants and constituted the boards of several commissions and parastatals.

Some members of the opposition APC in the state were among those the governor extended the appointments to.

However, in a statement on Wednesday by the state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mohammed Abdullahi, the party said:

“We refer to the recent appointments released by the PDP government in the state that featured the names of some members of our great party and wish to draw the attention of the appointees to Article 9.5 of the APC Constitution which states that any party member that accepts a political appointment from any political party or opposition government ceases to be a member of APC.

“While we commend the loyalty and faithfulness of our party members who rejected the appointments offered to them by the PDP government, all those who accept the appointments will have their names removed from the party register.”

The party alleged that the appointments was part of PDP’s moved to destablise the APC in the state.

“The APC is keenly watching the PDP government’s fruitless efforts in trying to cause commotion and disunity within the APC family. This attempt has failed and will ever fail.

“We, therefore, urge our members to remain resolute and focused in supporting the Buhari Administration as we further unite to take over power in Adamawa State in 2023,” the statement read.
https://www.inform.ng/post/adamawa-apc-to-expel-members-serving-in-pdp-government

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed confidence that the party would coast to victory in the forthcoming senatorial elections in Bayelsa West and Central.



According to the party, the party structure under the leadership of former governor and Minister of State, Petroluem, Chief Timipre Sylva with the support of Bayelsans in the two senatorial districts would deliver the seats to the party.

The APC in a statement by the state Publicity Secretary, Mr Doifie Buokoribo reacting to claims by a chieftain of the party, Mr Famous Daunimigha that the APC structure under Sylva is weak to record any electoral victory in Bayelsa said Bayelsans should disregard Daunimigha’s comments which it said is not in tune with reality.

The party while accusing Daunimigha of striking a deal with the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to discredit the leadership of the APC in the state added that no amount of sponsored attacks against the state leader of the party and the Minister of state for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva would affect the chances of the party in the forthcoming senatorial bye elections.

Buokoribo who said Sylva is and remains the leader of the party in Bayelsa State declared that the party is fully prepared to take part in the next round of the senatorial bye elections with formidable and capable candidates that would ensure victory for the party the party to victory as it did in the last gubernatorial election.

The party emphasized that there are records to show that stakeholders of the APC and its leadership of the party have been meeting to strategize and chart the way forward for the party and that Mr Daunimigha’s ignorance of this only shows that he is not a true committed and faithful member of the party.

On the issue of suspension, the party says its actions were in line with the party’s constitution, as they were made to follow due process of suspension of erring anti-party members, noting that it was to further send a clear signal to deviants masquerading in the party, especially those working against the collective interest and aspirations of the party.

https://www.inform.ng/post/apc-will-floor-pdp-in-bayelsa-senatorial-rerun

Former France international, Emmanuel Petit has claimed that Senegal against all odds used witchcraft to secure a 1-0 victory over France at the 2002 FIFA World Cup that held in South Korea and Japan.

Senegal would go on to shock France 1-0 thanks to a fiasco in the 18-yard box that gifted Papa Bouba Diop a 30th minute easy tap-in; a victory nearly all of Senegal’s over 10 million citizens at the time didn’t see coming.

Emmanuel Petit who was part of the French squad that crashed out at the group stage after managing to get only a point from a bore draw against Uruguay believes Senegal used witchcraft on his side.

He attributed this to the fact that despite his side seeing numerous chances and being in possession of the ball for a larger part of the match, they could not get a win or even grind out a draw which was a fulfillment of the prophecy of a Senegalese who spoke with him a year before the World Cup.

Petit recounting the events that took place said: “A year before the Senegal-France match in 2002, a Senegalese told me” “The marabouts have contributed. I’ll tell you an anecdote: a year before the world cup in Korea, I’m on a beach in France. I see a street vendor who comes to see me and whom I knew.

“He looks at me seriously and says to me: ‘you know the world cup which is played in a year, France will play Senegal and will lose by a goal to zero because our marabouts are very powerful in Senegal. You’ll see’. It came to my mind and I thought maybe France has been marabouts, “he said in an interview with Record.

“We were very unlucky in this match. We hit the posts and the crossbar several times. Only that goal was missing, ”he added.

Senegal got to the quarter final of the World Cup before losing in extra time to Turkey via a golden goal.

https://www.inform.ng/post/senegal-used-juju-to-beat-france-in-2002-world-cup-petit

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has approved the extension of the appointment of Justice Maurice Eneji as the Acting Chief Judge of Cross River State by another three months.


The approval was contained in a letter to the state governor, Sir Ben Ayade, dated May 29, 2020 and signed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dr I.T. Muhammed.

It stated that the extension of Justice Eneji’s appointment shall take effect from June 3rd, 2020 and end on September 2nd, 2020 in accordance with the provisions of Section 217(5) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

Consequently, His Excellency the governor, Sir Ben Ayade has approved the extension of the appointment of Justice Eneji as the state Acting Chief Judge by three months.

Signed
Christian Ita
Special Adviser Media and Publicity to Governor

https://www.inform.ng/post/njc-approves-extension-of-justice-enejis-appointment-as-acting-chief-judge-of-criver-state

Contrary to the widely reported opposition against the return of former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) by former Governor Ayo Fayose, the party's caretaker committee in the state has revealed that the two former governors were interested in the peace and progress of the party in Ekiti.

Speaking during a chat with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, Committee Chairman, Hosea Agboola, disclosed that while demonstrating his commitment to peace and progress of the party, Fayose also offered to provide the Committee with contacts of all aggrieved stakeholders and former members of the party.  

He described Fayose and Oni as best of friends who were committed to the success of the party in the 2022 Governorship Election.

Fayose was recently quoted to have said that Oni and his supporters were attention seekers rather than being assets to the PDP in Ekiti .




Relaying the committee’s experience with Fayose at his private residence in Lagos, the caretaker chairman disclosed that  Fayose advised the committee not to leave any stone unturned in their assignment by ensuring that all frayed nerves were calmed.

“Not everything said by politicians during a crisis should be taken as the true position of things. There are certain things we called political gimmicks. I am even surprised that when we met Fayose, he was the one who suggested that we see Segun Oni and other aggrieved leaders of the PDP,” Agboola said.

Speaking further Agboola said: “Fayose even promised to supply us with the contacts of the aggrieved leaders of the party. 

Agboola said the Committee would work hard in the pursuit of its peace mission to bring back former Minister of Works, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye and others who left the party in the state.

“The fact that former Governor Segun Oni has just rejoined the PDP is the greatest achievement of this committee.

“We are going to reach out to former Minister of Works, Dayo Adeyeye and others who left before the July 14, 2018 governorship election and bring them back to the party.

“We will never be partial because our mandate and terms of reference are to bring the all factions within the party together. We are to bring those who are aggrieved together to be one family so that we can return to how we were in 2002 when former Governor Fayose was contested and won election in Ekiti. We are here to bring the family together and makes everybody be on the same page.” 

On the steps taken so far in mending fences beteeen Fayose and Senator Biodun Olujimi, who have been embroiled in crisis, Agboola said the trouble shooting mission is yielding  good results.

“This Committee was set up without bias. We have visited Governor Fayose, Senators  Olujimi and  Duro Faseyi and what all of them were pushing for are peace and unity, nothing more.

“We were surprised about what Senator Olujimi said. She said she won’t allow the ruling party to continually harass Fayose and accuse her of corruption. If she had hated him that much, would she have said that?”

About the legal action instituted against the party on the contentious ward executive, Agboola added: “We are reaching out to those who instituted the court action on how to bring them together and resolve the issue.”

He said the position of the NWC would soon be communicated to the party about the ward Congress, saying: “We are going to conduct future elections under the atmosphere of peace. We are not anticipating any problem.

“The party belongs to all the party members, not anyone from the ward to the national level. Whoever wants to come is welcome. PDP is a brand. It remains the only party where you can contest  without belonging to any clique or godfather.”

 https://www.inform.ng/post/fayose-asks-us-to-make-peace-with-oni

The Governor of Edo state, Mr Godwin Obaseki, says he is upbeat about the forthcoming governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ruling party had fixed June 22 for the exercise.

On Monday, the APC National Working Committee adopted direct primary for the primary election.

Obaseki presented his Expression of Interest Forms to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday as well.

After the meeting, he spoke to State House correspondents about the election, his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, and his rival, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

The governor said he visited the president to formally inform him and solicit his support.

Obaseki disclosed that Buhari was welcoming when he showed him his forms.

“He looked through it and teased me that he will not have to go through this again, he wished me good luck and assured me his support.”

Obaseki stated that the APC crisis in the state “is not from Edo but from outside. The person I am contesting against (Ize-Iyamu) is not in Edo, he is in Abuja.

On Oshiomhole, APC National Chairman, Obaseki said the former governor took his current position because he was not properly guided.

He assured that he will continue to pursue peace for the sake and interest of Edo people.

Confirming that the relationship is still frosty, Obaseki said he was doing his best “to try and make it warm just for the sake of Edo people. Whatever it will take to have peace, whatever it will take not to lose lives in Edo, I am committed to.”

Obaseki added that he has the endorsement of APC Governors.

He said all of them had decided and agreed that “when you have an incumbent governor particularly if he is doing well, they should run around and support him. It is a common practice all over the world”.

 https://www.inform.ng/post/ize-iyamu-is-not-a-member-of-edo-apc-he-is-in-abuja-obaseki

A former governorship candidate of PDP in 2016 governorship election and aspirant for the October 10, 2020 governorship election in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, has declared that the purported defection of the state’s Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would boost the chances of the party.

Mr Jegede, who was PDP candidate in the 2016 governorship election and former commissioner for justice in the state, said this yesterday when he led some party chieftains across the state to the party’s secretariat in Akure.

He noted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would collapse if the deputy governor eventually dumps the party to join forces with the PDP in the October 10, 2020 governorship election in the state.

According to him, “if APC was and is good, Agboola Ajayi would not have left the party. And if the PDP was and is bad, he would not say he is coming to join it. So, the fact that he is leaving and he is interested in coming to the PDP has demonstrated again that the APC is collapsed and he (Ajayi) needs to look for a good house.

“He has found out that PDP is a good house. So, he is welcome because we are looking for people. The party’s constitution is very clear. He would go to his ward and register.

“He will go to the National Working Committee (NWC) and seek for waiver. When he finishes with that, he will come here and pay administrative charges and when he is done with that, he will pay for a nomination form if he wants to contest.

“When he is done with that, he will now go and campaign and explain to the people what he is bringing afresh to the PDP and the electoral delegates will decide who will fly the flag of the party.”

The former state’s attorney-general and commissioner for justice expressed dissatisfaction over the administration of the state under Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

He lamented that all the Social Investment Programmes (SIP) inherited from the immediate past administration of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko were run aground, inflicting more hardship on the people.

“The opportunity is waiting for us and the people of the state are also waiting for us, even APC people are waiting for us,” Jegede said.

Party chieftains in his entourage were a House of Representatives member representing Akure South/Akure North Federal Constituency, Adedayo Omolafe; Mrs. Banke Sutton, the immediate past Chairman of Micro Credit Agency; former commissioners, former House of Assembly members, House of Assembly candidates in the last election, among other party stalwarts.

https://www.inform.ng/post/ondo-apc-will-collapse-if-ondo-deputy-governor-defects-to-pdp-jegede

Youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, under the auspices of Ekiti APC Youths Congress (EAYC), have described the refusal of the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to allow chairmen of the 16 Local Councils in the State to appoint supervisors and advisers as a disservice to members of the party who laboured to put him in office.

According to a press release issued on Monday, by the youths on Monday, and jointly signed by Mr. Tope Ogunkuade and Comrade Tunji Adeleye, EAYC Coordinator and Secretary respectively, the youths said they were miffed that statutory appointments of supervisors and advisers are yet to be made more than five months after the Council Chairmen assumed office.

They said members and supporters of the party in the State are suffering, noting that governance should not be for the privileged few as being done by Governor Fayemi, because his election was the collective efforts of all members of the party, especially those at the grassroots.

According to the youths, Elected local government chairmen were sworn in on January 1, 2020, this is June 1, 2020, appointment of supervisors and advisers, that are statutory have not been made.

In local government administration, supervisors are like commissioners and in Ekiti, each local council is entitled to five supervisors and two advisers, making seven.

With Governor Fayemi's refusal to allow the Council Chairmen to make these appointments, 112 members of APC are being denied opportunity to benefit directly from the party's control of government in Ekiti State and this is sad.

The statutory salary of a supervisor is close to N300,000 per month and one can imagine what that would have done in the lives of 80 members of our party, if they were not denied this opportunity by the governor.

Also, these supervisors are entitled to Personal Assistants, making another 80 that would have at least been getting something to sustain themselves, no matter how small.

2022 governorship election is drawing nearer, how do we win that election if our members at the grassroots level are being treated with contempt as being done by Governor Fayemi?

We wish to call on well-meaning stakeholders in the party to appeal to Governor Fayemi to allow our council chairmen to make statutory appointments, as well as appointment of other aides so that our members, especially the youths can also enjoy the benefits of having their party in government.
https://www.inform.ng/post/apc-youths-chides-governor-fayemi

Former Ghana international, Samuel Osei Kuffour has disclosed that he will be excited to see his son play for the country's national team but has urged him to work hard to earn a call-up.

The former international is one of the best players to have ever played for the national team, the Black Stars.

However, Osei retired from the national team after the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Speaking to Joy Sports in an interview, the Bayern Munich legend revealed that one of his kids is currently playing in England and is eager to play for the Ghana national team.

According to him, he cannot use his influence as a country legend to help him earn a call up adding he must work hard to earn to his call up on merit.

“I want him [junior] to choose what he wants to do. It depends on him [to choose the country he plays for] but my influence will play a major role. Yesterday we were just texting," he told Joy Sports.

“I posted my picture of 20 years ago on my status. He said ‘daddy I have seen that picture’. It was Ghana against Cameroon in 2000. He told me ‘I would love to be in this jersey one day’. I told him that God willing, he will be there but he has to put an effort.

“He needs to work hard for it. He cannot get it on a silver platter because his dad is Sammy Kuffour. It doesn’t work like that. He said he understands.

“He can play in the midfield, he can play as a centre back so I watched him playing and I was really impressed. Don’t you think Abedi Pele is happy right now [seeing his children playing for Ghana]? I will be happy if it happens with mine,” he added.

Kuffour won his first cap as a 17-year-old in a game against Sierra Leone on 28 November 1993. He had previously been part of every national team – junior, youth and Olympic level – and became the full squad's captain at the age of 23.

Kuffour had burst onto the international scene at age 13. At the junior level, he was a member of the Ghana side that won the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Italy and the one that was runner-up to Nigeria in the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Japan. At youth level, he appeared with the team that finished second to Brazil during the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship in Australia.

Kuffour became the youngest Olympic Football Champion of all-time when he collected bronze at the 1992 Olympics just before his 16th birthday. He was also a member of the squad that reached the quarterfinals at the same level in 1996.

Kuffour also made one appearance for his country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, against Italy. After a costly mistake in that first match, a 0–2 loss, he was dropped for the next three games as Ghana bowed out in the round-of-16 against Brazil.
https://www.inform.ng/post/i-wont-influence-your-callup-to-black-stars-ex-ghana-international-tells-son