₦airaland Forum

There have been criticisms and speculations in Zamfara State that the federal government intends to make the vaccination compulsory considering its effort to inoculate the population against COVID-19 using the AstraZeneca vaccine. Although the Zamfara State government has not made any official statement regarding the exercise, there are insinuations among residents as many bluntly refuse to be vaccinated DAILY POST can report that the exercise has begun in many parts of the state especially in the state capital but many say they were forced to participate in the exercise against their will. A businesswoman named Mary, who spoke to DAILY POST, said she operates her business in a plaza owned by the federal government and it was made compulsory for everyone there to be vaccinated. “I want to tell you now that the whole plaza was put under lock and key so that everyone must participate in the exercise” she lamented. “Everyone that owns a shop there was forced to pay the sum of N2,000 each. They only gave us face masks and receipts to acknowledge our payments” Mary informed that the officials threatened to lock the shops of those who refused to participate in the vaccination exercise or pay the levied N2,000, pointing out that the exercise should be free of charge if the government actually wants to help. “The federal government was quick to initiate the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine but they could not initiate vaccine against banditry that bedevils the entire state” She criticised According to her, it became compulsory because if one refuses to abide by their rule he or she would lose his or her shop and would be jobless. “Actually I did not want to participate but it has become very compulsory. There are so many people doing their businesses without tension because they have their own shops or that they are operating in shops that belong to private individuals” But when contacted, a public commentator, Alhaji Ahmed Bakare said the federal government took a very wrong decision of making the vaccination compulsory instead of educating people on the advantages. Ahmed explained that many Muslims believe that the vaccination was against Islamic tenets, saying that the federal government ought to convince them of the importance of the vaccination rather than forcing it against their will or religion. “The Federal Government did not make extensive public enlightenment campaign before telling people to participate, knowing fully well that many people are unlettered” It is not clear though if the money collected from the shop owners was payment for receiving the vaccine or for other purposes as there were no government officials readily available to clarify that.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has ranked Nigeria as one of the countries worst affected by internet crimes in 2020.
The 2020 Internet Crime Report of the FBI Complaint Centre (IC3) listed Africa’s most populous nation as the 16th.
In a statement, Paul Abbate, FBI Deputy Director, said IC3 received a record number of complaints from Americans in 2020: 791,790, with reported losses
exceeding $4.1 billion. The figure represents a 69% increase in total complaints from 2019.
The FBI noted that Business E-mail Compromise (BEC) schemes continued to be the costliest. There were 19,369 complaints with an adjusted loss of approximately $1.8 billion.
Phishing scams had 241,342 complaints, with adjusted losses of over $54 million, while the number of ransomware incidents also continues to rise, with 2,474 incidents reported in 2020.
Through the Recovery Asset Team, IC3 worked with its partners to successfully freeze approximately $380 million of the $462 million in reported losses in 2020, nearly 82%. In addition.
The top 20 countries: 1. United Kingdom; 2. Canada; 3. India; 4. Greece; 5. Australia; 6. South Africa; 7. France; 8. Germany; 9. Mexico; 10. Belgium.
The rest: 11. Brazil; Philippines; 13. Italy; 14. Spain; 15. Netherlands; 16. Nigeria; 17. Pakistan; 18. China; 19. Colombia; 20. Hong Kong .

The Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSDC) Ahmed Audi has said that bandits in Nigeria have foreign sponsors.
Audi made this known on Wednesday during the training workshop for state commandants of the NSCDC in Abuja.
Audi noted that Nigeria is experiencing serious conflict and problems called asymmetric war which requires inter-agency collaboration among security agencies.
“Following how events are unfolding in our nation, we are experiencing a serious conflict that I think in the history of Nigeria, this is about the first conflict that will give us a serious problem and the conflict is called asymmetric war.”
The NSCDC boss called for all security agencies and Nigerians to work together to solve the insecurity before it gets worse.
“We have had in the past some semblance of this type of war but the proper manifestation of it is the one we are seeing now. An asymmetric war is a war that requires all hands to be on deck if we really want to deal with it and nip it in the bud.
“These guys are serious; these guys have international sponsors, so we need to come together,” the NSCDC boss warned.
Audi advised the security agencies to avoid rivalry or service supremacy, adding that collaboration is needed to win the war against banditry.
He, however, assured Nigerians that the NSCDC is working hard to rid the nation of the increased violence.

…tasks Journalists on professionalism, objectivity


By Levinus Nwabughiogu-Abuja
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has disclosed that the 9th National Assembly was faced with more challenges than the previous ones. He said the 9th Assembly came at an unprecedented time and has been through a long tough road with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic. He however said that with the cooperation of the media, the parliament meet up all the expectations of Nigerians.

Gbajabiamila, who spoke while unveiling the maiden calendar of the House of Reps Press Corps on Tuesday at the National Assembly, said he believed journalists have a lot to offer in Nigeria’s democratic journey. He therefore urged them to always uphold the tenets of the profession by showing professionalism and objectivity in their reportage. He said: “Each time I have the opportunity to talk to you, I always tell you, we should work and continue to hold our feet to the fire and that’s your job. You must do that but do it with a little bit of responsibility after investigation. “Let the Press Corps of the House of Representatives be different from any other Press Corps you can imagine. Different not just in the sense that you carry out your journalistic responsibility objectively and professionally; you have been doing that so far, but we need to cross that Rubicon with a little bit more and we will get to the promised land. “So, the 9th is saddled with a lot of responsibilities like no other Assembly has ever been saddled with. But I’m glad that with your support and cooperation, we are trying our best to meet these responsibilities and these challenges as best as we can. “There are still going to be challenges ahead and by God’s grace, we will meet them. We will continue with our symbiotic relationship and I hope that by the time we are done, this 9th Assembly and this 9th House Press Corps will be remembered for good.” He commended the leadership of the press corps for coming up with the maiden calendar, saying it was a landmark achievement. In a remark, the chairman of the House Committee on Welfare and Services, Rep. Wale Raji, said the Legislature recognized the importance of the press in covering its activities. He said the work of building a nation was a partnership among all stakeholders, journalists inclusive, urging them to ensure that they promote democratic tenets in their reportage. The chairperson of the press corps, Mrs Grace Ike, thanked the Speaker for unveiling the calendar, which she said was to document some major activities of the 9th House.

The Kano government, on Tuesday, confirmed three persons dead and 284 others infected in the outbreak of a strange disease. Commissioner for Health, Aminu Ibrahim- Tsanyawa, spoke to reporters at a press conference. The medical doctor said the infected persons had been admitted to 25 health facilities. Ibrahim-Tsanyawa noted that the disease, first recorded on March 10, was suspected to be caused by consumption of contaminated flavour and a brand of expired instant drink products. He said affected persons were identified in 13 local government areas; 101 of them had been discharged, with 183 currently on admission. The affected LGAs are Dala Gwale, Kano Municipal, Fage, Ungogo, Kumbotso, Tarauni, Bunkure, Rano, Dawakinjudu, Dawakin Tofa, Gwarzo and Danbatta. Ibrahim-Tsanyawa disclosed that the index case, a six-year-old girl developed abdominal pain, vomiting, jaundice and urinating blood (hematuria) after drinking water bought from a vendor. The vendor, according to him, sourced the water from a borehole at a cemetery in the metropolis. The assumption involves instant drink flavour powder and a variety of salt for industrial use (caustic powder). “Water, blood and different instant drink flavour powder samples have been taken for tests to pin down a diagnosis, ranging from food-borne disease, food poisoning, Lassa Fever, Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, Chemical poisoning to Toxix Hepatitis,” he said. Ibrahim-Tsanyawa noted that the ministry was still awaiting the results of samples analyses to establish the cause(s) of the infection and identify the disease. The health ministry is working with the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the State Consumer Protection Council (KSCPC). The state has deployed personnel and scaled up surveillance in the 44 LGAs to check the circulation of the suspected products.

A former Mimister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili has described Nigeria as a “broken State.”
According to her, Nigerians must renegotiate their existence, adding that the country does nothing but drag its citizens down.
The former Minister’s tweet may not be unconnected to the recent happenings across Nigeria, with hardship and insecurity taking a stronghold on the country.
“The Nigerian-State is dragging down Nigerians,” Ezekwesili lamented.
“The Nigerian-State is the greatest obstacle to Nigeria and Nigerians.
“The Nigerian-State is broken and cannot deliver more than it is currently doing. The construct of the Nigerian-State must be RENEGOTIATED. It must,” she added.
The government now seems helpless to the activities of armed bandits operating in the North West, with series of kidnappings being made on a daily basis.
Just yesterday, some pupils and teachers of Rema Primary School, Magajin Gari Ward 2, of Birnin Gwari Local were kidnapped.
DAILY POST reported a similar incident on Friday when 39 students from the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Afaka, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State were kidnapped by bandits.
The gunmen have since released several videos showing the abducted students being maltreated as they beg the governments to pay the N500m ransom being demanded by the criminals.
Activities of the bandits and Fulani herdsmen have led to scarcity of food since farmers can no longer have access to their farmland without being maimed, killed or kidnapped for ransom.

The Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha, on Monday met with a former president, Olusegun Obasanjo in Ogun State to discuss his 2023 ambition.
The former Imo State Governor, made this known last night via a tweet on his official Twitter page.
Okorocha said it was important to consult the elder statement with the aim of advancing the nation.
“I Paid a courtesy visit to Fmr. president Olusegun Obasanjo today at the Obasanjo Library Abeokuta, Ogun State. We must consult our elder statesmen from time to time to move the nation forward”, he tweeted.
DAILY POST recalls that Okorocha, on Thursday last week said he will succeed President MuhammaduBuhari in 2023.
He made the declaration when a group of youths under the umbrella of ‘Forward with Anayo Rochas Okorocha (FOWARO 2023)’ visited him in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
While speaking with the group, Okorocha said he had been in the presidential race for over 20 years ago, adding that he had contested three times but failed at the primary level.
He expressed optimism that 2023 would be different, saying he is going to win.

May God have mercy on all of us in dis country

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, has said Nigerians should hold the government responsible for banditry and general insecurity in the country. AYCF National President, Yerima Shettima said it is the sole responsibility of the government to provide security for Nigerians, but it has failed to do so. Speaking with DAILY POST, Shettima urged the government to ensure security agencies are adequately equipped with manpower. According to the AYCF National President: “The government should be held responsible. It’s the sole responsibility of the government to provide security which is key to the citizens. “Despite the fact that some of us are aware that the security agencies have been overstretched at one point or the other, we are saying they should consider additional manpower and provide the necessary equipment to encourage these agencies. “We must consider equipping the Nigerian Armed Forces. Intelligence gathering is key, but they need to build trust between them and the communities, so they can get more information about these criminal minded people. These criminal minded people are in the community and some know them very well.” In the North, the issue of banditry and kidnapping has been on the rise lately. Some students in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara States were abducted by bandits. While students abducted in some states have been released, those from Kaduna State are still with the abductors.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ADDRESSING ALLEGATIONS SURROUNDING MY JUST ENDED MARRIAGE TO FEMI FANI-KAYODE (FFK). My name is Precious Chikwedu, a graduate of the University of Calabar, Miss Untied Nation 2014, and a Nollywood actress since 2007. Naturally, I maintain a calm disposition when in crisis, being goal- oriented and not a talker of any sort. But I am now forced to respond to these allegations for my children, well-being, and career path. As a student, I lived a moderately comfortable school life with self-sustaining businesses. Upon graduation, I got a job in a construction company. I bought my first car as an undergraduate and have chains of businesses before meeting FFK. I was also into modelling and had several endorsements as an International beauty queen, in addition to my job; these are verifiable facts. My Financial Status Before Marriage I am from a middle-class home where my Dad provides for all my needs. Moreover, I have always been industrious and a provider rather than a collector. Before I met FFK, I worked in a quarry/construction company in Calabar and lived an extremely comfortable life. I could afford cars within my means, caring for my parents and siblings. I built my parents a house in Nanka, my hometown, in 2012 before heading over to Kingston to win the Miss United Nations title in 2014 The Gold-Digger I am tagged a gold-digger due to misconception, ignorance and some people relying on deliberately planted falsehood. It is unfortunate that when I met Femi in 2014, he already had his bank accounts frozen by the EFCC, and they remain frozen to date. He opened another bank account when he joined the Goodluck Jonathan campaign team in 2015. The present government initiated an investigation based on the campaign funds source. And his campaign account was frozen again. Common sense can show that he may have been financially constrained while I was with him. My relationship with Femi at the time we met was more of me caring and having a deep concern for him while he was UNDER EFCC PROSECUTION. However, it later transited into a supposed romantic relationship that became oppressive, obsessive and abusive. Femi turned into a control freak that tried to control even the very breath that I took. Femi posed as a lonely and abandoned man who gave his all to his loved ones but was left alone in his moment of need (EFCC trial). He spoke bitterly of a Regina, who he said fled to her country, abandoning him when President Yar'Adua's government ordered the EFCC to investigate him for money laundering. The court also mentioned her name. Marriage Under False Pretence I want to state clearly that my marriage to FFK was based on false pretence as he lied that he had divorced his last wife, Regina. I found his marriage certificate in 2016 during the EFCC raid at our then home. When I confronted him about this, he said that he is about starting Regina's divorce process and added that he had not seen her in the last ten years. He further explained that he never fancied her and that their relationship was that of a mother and son kind. At the time I left, he was technically married to her former wife. On Regina's claim that she gave her consent for me to be married to FFK, this is a ridiculous and blatant lie. How could she have permitted a relationship she only found out about through social media? This event happened precisely on FFK's birthday when he deliberately leaked my pregnancy photos after another argument between us and I had to leave the house. He did that to show the world that I was pregnant with his baby. Suffice it to say that we had agreed to keep the pregnancy private before then. FFK's Aggressive Behaviour While I was pregnant with the first child and later the triplets, FFK was habitually beating and mostly punching my stomach. Anytime he was angry and moody, describing my unborn babies as cockroaches or "a thing" that he will knock off my belly. In one of these attacks and kicking on my tummy, my late mom and my sister visited, and they threw themselves in between us to stop him from further attacks. In his anger, he hit my mum in the head. After that, FFK ended up accusing my sister of assault and got her detained at a police station for coming in- between his punches and me. Whenever I resist his humiliation and beating, he will deploy his bodyguards to wrestle me down. In most cases, he called CSP Aisha Yusufu, the then Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Asokoro Police Station. Who usually would come with her team to harass, handcuff, arrest or lock me behind the counter for hours until Femi was satisfied that I have been punished enough. My siblings were locked up countless times as well. He would always boast of his connections to the government and the system, saying nothing any member can do. During one of his domestic abuse with the DPAisha and her team from Asokoro police station, FFK instructed that they handcuff and strip me Naked. It was done in the presence of his domestic staff, bodyguards and attached VIP police officers. They injected me with a strange substance, and I lost consciousness. I woke up in a facility, which they later told me is a hospital, not knowing the number of hours or days I stayed there. My triplets were six months old at that time. As I say this, I am very afraid for my life. He keeps threatening me at every turn. I have since petitioned the Police but nothing has been done yet but I'm only trusting God. The Breakdown of the Marriage The intervention of family members and FFK'S social circle was one hold back factor that kept me in the relationship much longer. Notwithstanding how dangerous, especially from Femi's Mental Health challenges. I wanted to leave the marriage a long-time ago but could not due to the fear factor of FFK. He often lectured me on the crime of passion and how I will not live to tell the story or being looked at by another man. The fear of Femi losing it and hurting my children in retaliation for my leaving did not help matters. Moreover, the death of both my parents within a short space of time made me more vulnerable. The verbal and physical abuse increased upon my refusal to have another set of children he had instructed and further used his doctor. I planned to travel overseas for delivery during my pregnancy, a decision that made Femi uncomfortable. The doctor told lies that I have certain conditions like placenta previa in my early first trimester and made it unsafe to travel. Other events happened where bullet shells were planted in my shop, my siblings accused and locked up by SARS, and my passport seized by Femi also hindered me from travelling. I concluded that something was not adding up and decided to go for a second medical opinion. I had no medical condition and was misdiagnosed. FFK planned all these incidents to stop me from travelling overseas. I had a myomectomy on 31st July 2020; FFK disapproved of the doctor; after my surgery at the Hospital, he instructed the domestic staff not to give me food or drinks. Upon discharge, I arrived home to his usual stage- managed drama. I had no strength to deal with that at that point, so I picked my handbag and left with nothing to allow him to calm down, considering his mental health challenges. He shortly sent messages through friends to tell me never to put a foot in his property, or he would get me locked up for good. It was how he ended the marriage; I left with only the clothes I wore from the Hospital. He never allowed me to park my properties or take my children. FFK Media Story About My Parents FFK claims presented on social media that he took care of my parents for years, got my siblings jobs and a residential apartment. The truth is that FFK asked for my mother to be brought to Abuja to stop me from my frequent travels to the East. He could not get me to pay less attention to her as my mom and I was inseparable. My mother was already down with cancer a year before I met FFK. I had provided for her needs to help tackle it but based on her religious convictions, and my mom refused to get rid of her lumps. By the time she got to Abuja, her cancer had spread. Not denying that FFK made contributions to her chemotherapy and some hospital bills, but I funded most of the money from my savings. Furthermore, FFK was locked up in detention then. On burying my mom, FFK made his contribution, which Rev Okey Onyemachi received, my mother's brother. It was mostly money to tend to his high- profile guests and give them a comfortable sitting area. My family catered for the rest of the burial expenses. My Dad was in Abuja for treatment in late November 2019 and passed on on 7th January 2020. The apartment FFK claimed to have rented on social media was the house I rented in December 2019 before my Dad's birthday. It was because FFK refused to bring my Dad down to Abuja to care for him. He claimed that my father's people are responsible for the lack of financial flow, according to his prophets. Sadly, my Dad only spent a week in the house I rented for him before he got critically ill on the night of his birthday. After that night, my Dad was rushed to a hospital, where he eventually passed on. To date, none of my siblings got even a single referral from FFK for anything, let alone a job. As an in-law, FFK contributed 1.5 million Naira to my Dad's burial and later said that the money was part of my dowry. He grudgingly did it to allow (traditionally) him to mourn my Dad as an in-law. He had earlier refused to do the rights after our introduction in 2015, after my first son's birth. Allegations of Cheating My years with FFK were completely shrouded; I walked around with at least four police officers and three bodyguards. Friends avoided me even in church as I had a heavy security presence even during offerings and thanksgiving. He perceived every schoolmate, ex, cousin, or male voice as a potential lover over the phone. I have never had an extramarital affair as dubiously alleged. On the contrary, FFK brought strange women into our matrimonial home at the slightest opportunity. Claims of Cruelty to My Kids It is laughable to read the claims of cruelty from someone who has never raised any of his kids physically since I have known him. How can I be cruel to children that I took lots of pains to bear, to make an ungrateful man who complained about having no sons happy? Both births were IVF conceived, and I took needles for months before and after. I take my kids to school, church, playgrounds and shopping and every other thing that could make them happy as kids. I practically shared my days in his house on my social media pages out of boredom. People who followed loved my boys' love, as these memories still linger on my social media walls today. I love my kids, and they mean everything to me. I run an NGO that deals with education for the less privileged. I started with primary and secondary school projects as miss United Nations. My love for children has been traceable from time. My accuser is the one who deceived innocent children with a scholarship scheme that turned out to be a fraud. He offered scholarships to three hundred students for top schools in the Benin Republic through my foundation in May 2020. He did not send One kobo to any student or school. To uphold his honour, I went through the detailed vetting of another scholarship scheme in a better school. FFK abandoned these children and plan after making an empty promise and putting them through complete admission procedures. Suffice it to say that the school and I still bear the responsibility of seeing these kids through. I tried unsuccessfully to see my kids even at natural grounds, but Femi made it impossible. I refused to go back to the house to see them as every corner of the house, Toilets, Bathroom, Kitchen, Sitting room, Bedroom, the Gate, front of the House reminds me of Femi beatings, stripping me naked in presence of his workers, instructing his Body guards to beat me or using the Police to wrestle me down before putting handcuffs. These were the demons I have been battling including ignoring his lies and fabrications. An Indictment on his not so Intelligent Person Honestly, I have just bared my life of over 20years to the world, but then again, what can I say? I take complete blame for my wrong judgment on the choice of FFK based on empathy and naivety. However, I cannot help but wonder if all these frivolous claims of my indecent lifestyle as portrayed by FFK is not an indictment of his insecure mind. You cannot have a harlot for a wife and showcase her to the world almost every day with the best captions and poetry to go with it if she is not a fantastic soul. Except for cause, he hides the demonic atrocities he committed while trying to appear as an excellent husband. The FFK I lived with will have the said videos shared if any infidelity claims are distantly valid for ALMOST SEVEN YEARS OF MARRIAGE! After two heartbreaks, I made one wrong decision, believing that an older man will love and make me happy. All I did was love FFK, fight for him and gave him sons he never had. I did everything for him - I was his barber, editor, nurse (before and after he had his presumed COVID 19), chef, image-maker, and stylist without limit. Physical and verbal abuse was what I got for all these sacrifices. Lies, all sorts of inhumane treatment, and now attempting to keep my tender age children away from their mother. Precious Chikwendu Abuja, Nigeria. 11/03/2021

BEWARE. IT IS SNAKE SEASON!
DUE TO THE HEATWAVE AND HIGH TEMPERATURES CURRENTLY IN NIGERIA, SNAKES, ESPECIALLY COBRAS, SEEK REFUGE IN COOLER PLACES LIKE INSIDE HOMES.
SAFETY TIPS
1. Avoid leaving windows open for too long. Cobras and Mambas can reach heights that are very high.
2. Avoid leaving your front doors open for fresh air in the evenings. These reptiles are absolutely STEALTHY (too quiet). You won't hear or see them go inside your house.
3 Before sitting under the tree that has that cooling shade, check the branches that there are no snakes lurking in the branches.
4. Check your bed and surrounding before you go to bed, cobras are notorious for hiding under the sheets.
5. Avoid the age old trend of liking to chill outside of the house, with mattresses and wrappers in the evening. Most reptiles are nocturnal (hunt at night and more effective)
6. Not only snakes might bite you, but also the age old human enemy; the centipede (Mosithaphala),which is fast and very venomous.
7. Clear bushes round your house. They attract rats and mice which are the favourite snacks of the most dangerous snake’s favorite meal.
8. Buy snake repellent powder and pour it round your yard. You will definitely decrease the chances of a snake ever visiting your home by 90%.
Beware of confronting snakes that get into your homes. Some snakes can be killed easily, others like the black mamba are very cocky. If threatened, they will chase you at an alarming speed and give multiple bites while still on the chase; and bitten victims may not live to see the next forty minutes. So, just be very careful when trying to kill those snakes.
Stay well and be safe. It's snake season. It's very hot and they are highly active and get agitated and angry very fast.
Keep sharing as you may be saving lives.

Kennedy Ibeh, the member representing Obowo State Constituency in Imo State House of Assembly, has sponsored a bill to regulate the outrageous cost of customary marriages in Imo State. Ibeh, while presenting the bill for the second reading on Wednesday during plenary, said that the practice predominant in Igboland, had caused so many of the young ladies to remain single. According to him, “a suitor coming to pay for a lady’s dowry may find it tasking to settle for the English wedding which again demands for more expenses. “Part of the prayers of this bill is that once a suitor pays and completes the bride price of a lady, a clearance certificate should be issued to the groom by the father of the bride, who will present same to the traditional ruler of the community for the final issuance of Customary Marriage Certificate (CMC) at the cost not exceeding N1000. “No customary marriage in the state including the final stage of Igbankwu ceremony shall exceed the sum of N180,000 with exclusion of the bride price which shall not exceed N80,000. “It is quite unfortunate that this practice has caused so many of our marriageable ladies to remain single and men apprehensive of taking the bold step. This is wrong and we must discourage it at all costs. “This bill, if eventually passed into law in the state, will correct the anomaly. As you can see, our young men and women are not getting married because of the monetary involvement. It is about time this obnoxious practice was stopped,” he concluded.

The House of Representatives says it is broke and cannot afford to carry out its constitutional mandate effectively.
Rep. Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia), the spokesman for the House, said this when he spoke with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
The lawmaker said the budget of the National Assembly should be reviewed upward to enable it cope with the situation.
“Yes, the House is broke, I have said it before, and I am saying it again, and I am not afraid of saying it.
“This is the fact until Nigerians believe that the appropriation that was made for the running of the National Assembly, which was done when the exchange rate of naira to the dollar was 180 is less now than what it used to be.
“The dollar equivalent today has gone up to over N400, the purchasing power of the budget as it is now is weaker than it was ten years ago,” he said.
Kalu said that he had fought with the leadership of the House and I have asked the question.
“Why are you afraid to raise the budget of the National Assembly that will enable us to conduct our services efficiently and effectively.
“We appropriate for agencies to run effectively, and yet, we are in penury trying to run our own constitutional mandate, it is a disservice to Nigerians and the poor budget of the parliament is a disservice to Nigerians,” he said.
The spokesman explained that the N128 billion appropriated for the National Assembly was divided among all the agencies in the parliament, about 6,000 members of staff and lawmakers aides.
Kalu said that legislators needed professional experts to work with them to produce laws and motion that would address the needs of the people.
“If you go to the U.S., you see professors who are consulting and working directly with members of parliament,” he said.

The Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum, Dr. Salihu Lukman, has described the nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress as unnecessary. He said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday (today). Lukman, who was until his full-time foray into politics, a high-ranking member of NLC, said the method being adopted by organised labour to press home its demand was outdated.
He maintained that street protest will have no effect on plans by the National Assembly to consider the bill seeking to decentralise the minimum wage structure. Lukman said; “We are not saying they should not protest, but this protest is needless. I can guarantee that it is not going to stop the process in the National Assembly. It is not also going to take away the issue. “We need to work with them to develop this democracy and we can only do that if every constituent unit and citizens in those units can negotiate with the constituent governments and get results. “As it is, we are all frustrated and that is what we should be addressing. This ‘we against them’ that labour is creating does not exist.

“We should be applying ourselves to resolving the problems of this democracy. There are fundamental problems bigger than we can imagine.” According to him, a system that imposes the same minimum wage regime on states irrespective of their revenue generation and capacity to pay was not sustainable. He said it was no longer sustainable for poor states like Yobe and Zamfara to pay the same wages as Lagos and River. Lukman advised the NLC to improve on its negotiation skills to be able to constructively engage both the legislature and the executive on such matter
He also stressed that it behoves on the NLC to address the issue of productivity among its members in order to justify demands for wage increases.

Whoube99:
Every sensible person in this world is against bandits and banditry except sheikh gumi a.k.a. "the terrorists ambassador"

Hahahahah Lol

Controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, on Wednesday suggested ways the Federal Government can resolve the challenge of banditry in the North.

Gumi said the Federal Government should adopt the non-kinetic approach in tackling banditry and insecurity in the Northern part of the country.

In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, the cleric explained that the use of kinetic force was responsible for the current insecurity issue in the North.

He stressed that bandits feel, “everybody is against them,” hence they are vicious and aggressively fighting for survival.

According to Gumi: “Honestly speaking, there has to be a synergy of armed forces acting towards tackling insecurity. They should adopt the non-kinetic approach which should be about 80 percent because these people are ordinary Nigerians.

“Government should meet and dialogue with them because they are ready to listen. If the Government can apply the non-kinetic approach, it would have taken care of about 90 percent of the problem. So the 10 percent is where the kinetic comes into play.

“The use of kinetic force is what led to what we are having now. They think it’s an ethnic cleansing where everybody is against them, and they are fighting for survival, very vicious and aggressive.”

States like Niger, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina and Kaduna have witnessed the sting of banditry lately.

Several students and residents have been abducted and a few killed during their operations in these states.

Despite their abduction, the students have been released.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/dailypost.ng/2021/03/10/bandits-feel-everyone-is-against-them-sheikh-gumi/%3famp

Sule Lamido, a former Jigawa State Governor, has declared that there is no All Progressives Congress, APC, in Nigeria. According to the former governor and presidential aspirant in the 2019 general election, the ruling party has disintegrated Lamido said that the country was more divided under the APC-led Federal Government. He stated this on Monday during the commissioning of Rumuji-Ibaa-Obele- Isiokpo road in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. “There is no APC in Nigeria. To us, it is the Nigerian President for the Nigerian people,” he declared. Lamido, who lost the 2019 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential primaries in Port Harcourt, was the Special Guest of Honour during the commissioning of the Rumuji-Ibaa-Obele-Isiokpo road in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Monday where he made the claim.

Olusegun Bamgbose, a chieftain of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, has warned that Nigerians will storm the Presidential Villa and Government Houses soon to seek refuge. He noted that Government Houses at the moment seem to be the only places with assurance of security, as the situation in the country gets more worrisome and no respite. The senior lawyer is worried by the daily reports of abductions, kidnappings, killings and wanton destruction of properties by armed bandits, a situation which according to him, has almost crippled the economic activities in the country. “Farmers can no longer go to farms with assurances that they will not be killed or kidnapped,” he said while addressing embers of the NNPP in Akure, Ondo State on Monday. “Travelers have to embark on prayers and fastings before they travel. The crisis of Fulani herdsmen is yet to be resolved. “There have been clashes, attacks and killings almost on a daily basis. Nigeria is almost a jungle. There is lawlessness here and there. “Foreign investors are not forthcoming for fear of their lives. There is hardly a day without reports of banditry, herdsmen, gunmen and insurgency. “Millions have been displaced across the nation. Nigerians are living in fears as no one knows who will be the next victim. “The Buhari administration has failed to appropriately address the issues of security satisfactorily to the happiness of the citizens. “It’s obvious from this ugly scenario that Nigerians would soon storm Aso Rock and Government Houses for refuge. This is simply because they are safe havens for now. “It’s double jeopardy, the economy is bad as inflation hits hard on the hapless citizens,on the other hand there is high insecurity ravaging the land. “Buhari seems to be overwhelmed by the security challenges confronting us as a nation. This is certainly a very sad and unfortunate situation. “Where are we heading to, with all the resources at our disposal as a nation, we find it difficult to combat insecurity. Let’s tell ourselves the truth, our nation is in a serious mess. “We have certainly missed the mark. The Buhari I supported and voted for in 2015 is not the Buhari I see now. We cannot fold our hands and watch innocent Nigerians die everyday. “Let Buhari prove to us through his actions that he is the retired General we voted for. The time for action is now. Let Buhari prove himself as a retired General. The cabals should keep off because Nigerians voted for Buhari, not the cabals.”

+ Monday, March 8, 2021 Weekday of Lent 3 Today’s Rosary: Joyful Mystery SAINT JOHN OF GOD, Religious FIRST READING “There were many lepers in Israel, but none was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” A reading from the second Book of Kings (2 kings 5:1-15a) In those days: Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favour, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valour, but he was a leper. Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little maid from the land of Israel, and she waited on Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “Would that my Lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” So Naaman went in and told his Lord, “Thus and so spoke the maiden from the land of Israel.” And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten festal garments. And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.” But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry, and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when he says to you, ’wash and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he went clean. Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him; and he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel.” The word of the Lord. RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 42:2.3; 43: 3.4 (R. 42:3) R/. My soul is thirsting for God, the living God. When can I enter and appear before the face of God? Like The deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God. R/. My soul is thirsting for God, The living God; When can I enter and appear Before the face of God? R/. R/. My soul is thirsting for God, the living God. When can I enter and appear before the face of God? O send forth your light and your truth; They will guide me on. They will bring me to your holy mountain, To the place where you dwell. R/. And I will come to the altar of God, To God, my joy and gladness. To you will I give thanks on the harp, O God, my God. R/. VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL Psalm 130: 5.7 Glory and praise to you, O Christ. I wait for the Lord, and in his word I hope; with him is mercy and plenteous redemption. Glory and praise to you, O Christ. Gospel Like Elijah and Elisha Jesus is not sent only to the Jews. A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 4:24-30) At that time: when Jesus had come to Nazareth, he said to the people in the synagogue, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his own country. But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land; and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha; and none of them was cleansed but only Naaman the Syrian. When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. And they rose up and put him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong. But passing through the midst of them he went away. The Gospel of the Lord. Today's Meditation One of the first places Jesus went to begin His public ministry was His own home town. After entering the Synagogue and reading from the Prophet Isaiah, Jesus proclaimed that the prophecy of Isaiah was now fulfilled in His very person. This caused His townspeople to be outraged at Him, thinking He was blaspheming. So they shockingly sought to immediately kill Jesus by driving Him out of their town to the brow of a hill off which they meant to throw Him. But then something fascinating happened. Jesus “passed through the midst of them and went away.” The Father eventually permitted the grave evil of the death of His Son to take place, but only in His time. It’s unclear from this passage how Jesus was able to avoid being killed right then at the beginning of His ministry, but what’s important to know is that He was able to avoid this because it was not His time. The Father had more for Jesus to do before He would permit Him to offer His life freely for the salvation of the world. This same reality is true for our own lives. God does permit evil to happen, at times, because of the irrevocable gift of free will. When people choose evil, God will allow them to proceed—but always with a caveat. The caveat is that God only permits evil to be inflicted upon others when that evil is able to be ultimately used for God’s glory and for some form of good. And it is only permitted in God’s time. If we do evil ourselves, choosing sin rather than the will of God, then the evil that we do will end in our own loss of grace. But when we are faithful to God and some external evil is imposed upon us by another, God permits this only when that evil can be redeemed and used for His glory. The best example of this is, of course, the passion and death of Jesus. A far greater good came forth from that event than the evil itself. But it was only permitted by God when the time was right, in accord with God’s will. Reflect, today, upon the glorious fact that any evil or any suffering inflicted upon you unjustly can end in the glory of God and the greater salvation of souls. No matter what you may suffer in life, if God permits it, then it is always possible for that suffering to share in the redeeming power of the Cross. Consider any suffering you have endured and embrace it freely, knowing that if God permitted it, then He certainly has some greater purpose in mind. Surrender that suffering over with the utmost confidence and trust and allow God to do glorious things through it. God of all wisdom, I know that You know all things and that all things can be used for Your glory and for the salvation of my soul. Help me to trust You, especially when I endure suffering in life. May I never despair when treated unjustly and may my hope always be in You and in Your power to redeem all things. Jesus, I trust in You.

Nigeriabiafra80:
No he is dead And his ghost tormenting you

Good answer

Omoslim26:
this is somewhat funny they don't want the newest militant group esn to come and cause wahala for them

it's enough to worry about the ravaging armed fulani heardmen

to now add Esn which will draw the ever ready fg army wey no wan use ear hear ipob go be too much wahala for them sha

Lol

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) have been warned to steer clear of Benue State.

This followed the recent threat by Kanu to send ESN members to protect Igbo people living in Benue.

Kanu identified Ado and Oju Local Government Areas as places that need the presence of ESN.

In his reaction, Ado Local Government admonished Kanu to stop dragging Benue into “his self-seeking campaign”.

The Chairman, James Oche, told reporters on Saturday that the territorial integrity of the state would never be a subject of Biafra agitation.

He cautioned proponents of Kanu’s “inordinate ideology” in Benue to desist or face the wrath of the law.

On the IPOB leader’s comment about the “abduction” of 3 people, Oche clarified that they were arrested in connection with the murder of an elderly Fulani man, Mohammed Isa.

“It was an act that threatened the security of the area and made the Deputy Governor summon a meeting that was held yesterday in Makurdi with all concerned stakeholders.

“Kanu reportedly issued statements charging Benue Governor to protect ‘IPOB communities’ or he would send Eastern Security Network operatives to do so. He should stop insulting the sensibilities of Benue people.”

The LG boss assured that Governor Samuel Ortom was doing his best in terms of security.

He advised the people to remain calm and support the governor’s commitment to the full implementation of the Anti Open Grazing Law.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/dailypost.ng/2021/03/06/esn-benue-not-part-of-biafra-govt-warns-nnamdi-kanu/%3famp

The Leader of INRI Evangelical spiritual
church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has spoken
about the Anambra governorship election
coming up later in 2021.
The prophet has warned some strong
contenders in the election not to bother
wasting money on campaigns because God
has not backed their aspiration to become
governor in the state.
The man of God prophesied that Paul
Orajiaka, Andy Uba of the All Progressives
Congress, APC, Uche Ekwunife, Godwin
Ezeemo from All Progressives Grand Alliance,
APGA, cannot be governor come 2021.
In a statement to DAILY POST, Ayodele said
God has not anointed any of them to be
governor in the state.
He asked them to channel their money into
helping the less privileged and widows in
society.
“On Anambra 2021, I want to advise Paul
Orajiaka, Andy Uba from APC, Uche Ekwunife,
Godwin Ezeemo from APGA not to bother
about governing the state.
They don’t have God’s backing, instead of
wasting money in a campaign, they should
channel their money into humanitarian
activities like Giving the less privileged and
widows in the society”

Former Kaduna lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has cautioned governors seeking to run for presidency in 2023 after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure. ✕ Sani in a post on Friday warned interested governors to seek opinions of family members and predecessors before going into the race. His tweet read: “If you are a Governor in your second tenure, and some people are pushing you to contest for the presidency of this complicated country, seek the candid advice of your family who would bear the burden and consult your predecessors who were pushed by the same people.“ Recently, banners and campaign posters of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State as a presidential aspirant for the 2023 election surfaced in Adamawa State. The posters were seen on Thursday in some parts of Yola, the state capital. One of the posters reads, ‘For a Generational Change 2023; Yahaya Bello for President’ However, It is not certain if the governor would run for the said position in 2023. Bello had said that only God would decide if he would contest in 2023 or not.

RENOWNED northern Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, said if government could pardon coup plotters that committed treasonable felony, there was nothing wrong extending the same gesture to bandits. The Islamic cleric, while responding to the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna on Thursday, said there was need to forgive bandits for the country to have peace.
Gumi added, “Even those that instigated civil war, the civil war that millions of people died, were pardoned. I see no reason why we cannot accept their (bandits) repentance and give them amnesty.” Gumi added that he never betrayed soldiers of Christian faith before the bandits when he visited them. He noted that he was misunderstood by CAN because the video that went viral about his discussion with the bandits was distorted and the actual message was manipulated. Gumi said, “You ask why do we give them amnesty but they told us specifically that they are ready to drop their arms and they don’t want to be pursued with legal actions after they repented.
“If the country could pardon coup plotters who committed treasonable offences in the era of military administration, the bandits can as well enjoy similar forgiveness even better under democratic rule. “These people in the bush, who have taken arms; they are criminals. I wonder who is not a criminal. Since Nigeria forgave coup plotters, forgave those that killed. Even those that instigated civil war; civil war that millions of people died, I see no reason why we cannot accept their repentance.

“Since that is the bottleneck and it is only the Federal Government that can give them that leverage. Strangely, we found out that they are victims too. They were victims of profiling. So many of them were arrested and punished just for looking like herdsmen.”

* Says Wike has earned mandate for 2023 national assignment

By Egufe Yafugborhi

FORMER Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwanso on Tuesday underscored that governors, past and present, accord much respect to Governor Nyesom Wike for exceptional achievements in governance of Rivers state and rare boldness to speak truth to power.
Kwankwanso, while commissioning Rivers State Government’s completed Rumuogba 1 and 2 Flyovers in Port Harcourt, on the invitation of Wike, also rated his host as having earned Nigerians’ mandate to “proceed for national assignment” after his governorship era.

The former Defense Minister told Wike, “Governors today in this country, and those of us who have been Governors, especially from Northern part of this country, have a lot of respect for you. We love you and of course, we have several reasons for that.
“One, you have been working around the clock to make Rivers a better place for everybody. We see your projects, programmes on the media. Sometimes we are being informed by our people resident here in the state.
“We respect you, because most of the time you are on the ground here in Rivers taking care of the people of your state. Not all Governor’s can say the same. You work on the ground while many others with similar responsibility are in the sky.
“We respect you for the way and manner you maintain peace in Rivers. We had cause to speak to those indigenous here and those from other parts of the state or regions of the country, especially the Arewa community.
“I had series of meetings with the Arewa community before my arrival here and even when I came, I also had the opportunity to talk to them. And the feedback is to say thank you and keep on working, keep maintaining peace and order in Rivers. “Being governor is very serious, challenging assignment. It’s been a contract between you and your people for eight years. Now almost six years, it’s just two years left to be in the Government House, before you move forward for the national assignment.
“Many times we have reasons to come to Rivers to go round and see for ourselves the rapid development taking place here in the state. I came yesterday and had the opportunity of going round. I’ve seen the positive changes you brought to the state since 2015.
He further said, “For those of us, members of Kwankwansiyya Movement in this country, we also have a lot of respect for you. Though we rarely see you on the red cap, I am sure you have it in your mind because the way you do, say things shows you are no doubt a Kwankwansiyya.
“You are somebody who says things the way they are, not minding what others may think or feel. Please keep on moving and I believe the sky is the limit with this attitude and commitment to service of your state and the nation.”
Earlier on the occasion, Wike had reiterated that his administration, working in rapid infrastructures delivery as if it is his first tenure, would leave no project conceived under him uncompleted for his successor to handle.

“In the next two weeks, Julius Berger will come back and sign a contract with us (Rivers Government) for building of a cancer and cardiovascular diseases center. It will be the best in this country and will be completed in 14 months. We would complete all projects we initiated”, Wike further disclosed.

Over fifty persons were said to have been kidnapped by armed bandits along the Tegina-Minna road in Rafi Local Government of Niger state.
The incident, it was gathered occured, Tuesday, when the three commercial vehicles conveying nine passengers including the drivers ran into the road block at Kundu set up by the bandits.
A source told DAILY POST that the passengers in the three cars were kidnapped and conveyed to an unknown location and the vehicles were left by the road side.
Similarly, in a related development, armed bandits also attacked Gidigoro town in Rafi council and abducted some villagers, burnt five cars and went away with valuables.
Also, one person was killed and many others kidnapped when bandits unleashed terror on Manta town, Shiroro local government on Monday evening.
The bandits, gathered, also ransacked the houses of the villagers and stole their foodstuff and other valuables.
Efforts to get the reaction of the state Police Command failed as at the time of filing this report, as the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Wasiu Abiodun did not pick calls put through his line.
However, a senior government official who does not want the name mentioned, said up until this moment, nothing has been heard from the bandits for the government to know the identities of those abducted.
The development came barely one week after bandits released the abducted Kagara boys

Six persons have been reportedly killed by bandits in Igabi and Kauru local government areas of Kaduna state, security agents revealed.
Mr. Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner of Internal Security in Kaduna state,said on Tuesday that in Igabi local government area, armed bandits barricaded the Birnin Yero-Tami road and killed one Hussaini Suleiman Dari.
One Dahiru Saidu was left injured, and is now receiving treatment in a hospital.
At Gwada village, Igabi local government area, an attack by gunmen left two persons, Yahuza Sale and Garba Sule, dead.

In another incident, armed bandits invaded Ungwan Kure, and killed two residents, Mohammed Sani Suleiman and Yahuza Sale.

Similarly, armed bandits attacked Amawan Dadi Rugan Jauru settlements in Kauru local government area. One resident known simply as “Likita” was shot dead.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai noted the reports with sadness, and sent his condolences to the families of those killed, while praying for the repose of their souls. He also wished those injured citizen a quick recovery.

It appears the killing of innocent persons in Yewa axis of Ogun State is yet to come to an end. This is as another young lady has been sent to an early grave by individuals suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. Elizabeth Pascal was said to have been gruesomely murdered on Monday at CAC Olorunda, Moriwi Community of Imeko-Afon Local Government. DAILY POST gathered that Pascal had gone to the stream to fetch water for domestic use when she met her untimely death. On her way back from the stream, the young lady had encountered her assailants, who, it was learnt, did not hesitate before hacking her to death in cold blood. The Eselu of Iselu, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, confirmed the incident to DAILY POST on Monday night. Oba Akinyemi told our correspondent that Pascal was killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen, who have continued to terrorise the Yewa axis of Ogun State from time to time. According to the traditional ruler, the incident happened around 3pm on Monday. “Yes, it is true. The lady was killed today by Fulani herdsmen around Imeko Afon. She went to the stream and on her way coming she met the Fulani herdsmen and they killed her. It happened around 3 o’clock according to the report,” the Eselu stated. DAILY POST recalls that attacks on communities in Yewa have been going on for the past three weeks, even as the Governor Dapo Abiodun government makes efforts to stem the tide. To proffer a lasting solution, Gov Abiodun had visited some places in the troubled areas, with an assurance that criminal individuals would be dealt with. The Governor promised to deploy a security task force to the area in order to stop the killing of Ogun indigenes. But, Abiodun said those behind the killings in Ogun are not the peaceful Fulani people, who he said are traditionally herdsmen. According to him, the perpetrators of the heinous act are bandits, who the governor described as cattle rustlers. During his visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abiodun disclosed that relative peace is now being enjoyed in the affected areas. However, residents of the area said they were still under siege, with many relocating to neighbouring Benin Republic to seek refuge.

MansoryMX:
Some years back I turned down an opportunity of traveling to the US for this piece of garbage called Nigeria because I had hopes for the future. Right now! I see Visa to Ghana! I go rush am

Lol