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Association of Traditional Leaders/Yoruba Obas in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have condemned and rejected separatist agitations and hate speeches aimed at dividing the country.

The association also kicked against the decision of the southern governors to ban on open grazing in southern states, saying that such decision is not the solution to the current insecurity in parts of the country.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Friday at the end of their meeting in Abuja, spokesperson for the group, Oba Dr Adebayo Aladejobi Magbote 1, said the association believes in one united and indivisible Nigeria and is strongly against any move to divide the country.

Aladejobi said Nigerians should be free to move, live and conduct their businesses in any part of the country of their choice, which is in line with the rule of law, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He charged security agencies in the country to do the needful by ensuring that those who commit crime in any part of the country are arrested and punished according to the dictates of the constitution.

He said, “We members of the association believe in one united and indivisible entity called Nigeria. We believe that Nigerians should be free to move, live and conduct their legitimate businesses in any part of the country.

“Rather, the various security agencies in the country should do the needful by ensuring that those who violate the constitution are arrested and punished according to the dictates of the constitution, instead of a total ban on open grazing.”

A 300- level Agricultural Science Department of the University of Ilorin, Olajide Omowumi Blessing, has been allegedly raped to death.

The deceased, who hails from Oke-Opin in Ekiti local government area of Kwara state, was said to have been raped to death in her Tanke, Ilorin home on Tuesday.

The deceased was said to be staying with her elder sister at Tanke area before her death.

Kwara Police Command spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the incident, adding the Command has launched a manhunt on the perpetrators.

Okasanmi gave details of the incident: “The deceased stayed with her elder sister. The elder sister came back from work at about 06:00pm on Tuesday, saying that she had tried severally to reach her on phone but couldn’t as the phone kept ringing.

“She came back from work to meet the door of her apartment locked and couldn’t gain entry despite repeated knocks on the door. She then called some neighbours who helped to break open the door.

“They all met the deceased lying dead on the floor when they entered with her two hands tied to the back and her mouth gagged. She was met naked, bruises were noticed on her private part, her mouth was covered among others.

“Also, a note said to have been written on a piece of paper was placed on her chest containing a message, “Unilorin doesn’t forgive”.

“The people later informed the police at F’ Division Police Station, who discovered the dead body, snapped the picture, and took the corpse to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) for autopsy”.

He informed Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Bagega, has directed immediate investigation and arrest of the attackers.

Reacting to the development, Hon. Ganiyu Abolarin, representing Ekiti constituency in the Kwara Assembly, decried the growing insecurity in the State, demanding immediate investigation, apprehension and prosecution of the culprits.

He said: “I am deeply concerned about increasing cases of rape and brutality against the girl child in Nigeria.

“This gruesome murder of Olajide Blessing, who was allegedly raped to death in her home at Tanke, Ilorin, is one death too many.

“The action of the culprits horrific, condemnable and should not be condoned by any society.

“I, therefore, urge security agencies to speedily investigate, arrest and prosecute the culprits.

“The perpetrator(s) of this dastardly and barbaric act must be brought to justice, we must all seek justice for late Olajide Blessing.

“We must ensure that all the culprits responsible for this barbaric act are swiftly brought to justice. This nonsensical act of raping must stop in Nigeria. I want to extend my condolences to the family and friends of the victim.

“While I commiserate with the bereaved family on the loss of their daughter, I prayed God to grant Blessing’s soul peaceful rest. I also want to urge all our young people to be wary of the company they keep and the places they visited.”

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Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, (aka Sunday Igboho) has declared support for people of Igbo.

Igboho made this known while reacting to President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet threatening to shock Nigerians who are out to destroy his Government.

DAILY POST had reported that Nigerians had called for the suspension of Buhari’s account for saying ‘individuals or groups who want to destroy his government will be treated in a language they will not understand.

Following the development, on Wednesday Twitter deleted the comment, saying it violated its rules.

Reacting, Igboho in a post via his Twitter account warned that no attack on Igbos will not be tolerated.

According to him, “any attack on an Igbo is an attack on Nigerians.

“I feel bad when I see poor helpless people being slain in the southeast. They are also my brothers and sisters .

“We are all human . I am a Yoruba man, any attack on an Igbo is an attack on Nigerians.

“No Nigerian is more Nigerian than any Nigerian,” he wrote.

The Oluwo of Iwoland in Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, on Wednesday, warned that South West will suffer if Nigeria breaks up now and begged youths agitating for the Yoruba nation to calm down.

He said this during the official presentation of the Osun Youth Policy Document of the State Ministry of Youths by the State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, in Osogbo, the state capital.

The monarch lauded Oyetola’s administration for its good plans for the youths in the state and urged the youths to cooperate with the government to deliver rather than agitate for a breakup.

Oba Akanbi said only Lagos can pay the salary of its civil servants without waiting for money from the federal government, saying that other South-West states cannot pay salaries of their workers and that majority of people in the region were civil servants.

‘Youths are important’

Speaking at the event, Oyetola said youths are very critical to his administration’s sustainable development and explained that the Osun Youth Policy Document was developed to empower the young people in the State.

The newly-unveiled Youth Policy Document has four components -Youth Empowerment, Youth Engagement, Youth Entrepreneurship and Youth Education.

Oyetola said his administration had enunciated a clear policy framework to ensure that an enabling environment is created for the youths to maximally realise their creative and productive potential.

He said the Osun Youth Policy Document contains a commitment by the government, the youth of the State and the society in pursuance of youth development and growth.

He said, “As captured in the Policy, youth development is holistic and integrated, requiring the support and active involvement of all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Youth Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and the Public Sector, Private Sector and Philanthropists.”

Oyetola, who described youths as the most productive, efficient and energetic segment of the population, said his administration had invested tremendously in them as part of efforts to build a virile and sustainable economy and ensure all-around growth and development.

APC inherited insurgency from a clueless PDP Government

The ruling All Progressives Congress APC has recently gained a lot of political capital from the political misfortunes of the country’s main opposition, the People’s Democratic Party PDP.
The topsy turvy nature of Nigerian politics is such that politicians can easily move from one political party to another without legal encumbrances.

Towards the end of last year, Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state had led the way. In 2021 however, there have been some high-profile defections into the APC, among which are;

January 28

Seven APM lawmakers in Ogun defected to the APC. The lawmakers were Modupe Mujota representing Abeokuta North State Constituency, Musefiu Lamidi from Ado-Odo/Ota II and Amosun Yusuf from Ewekoro State Constituency.

Others were Ajayi Bolanle and Ganiyu Oyedeji from Egbado South and Ifo II State constituencies, and Ajibola Sikiratu and Ademola Adeniran from Ipokia/Idiroko and Sagamu II constituencies.

February 15

Iyiola Omisore, a former deputy governor of Osun state defected from the SDP to the APC.

February 16

Otunba Gbenga Daniel, a former Governor of Ogun State and campaign manager for the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in 2019, Atiku Abubakar, ditched the opposition for the ruling party.

February 23

At the House of Representatives, member representing Ondo East/West Hon. Abiola Peters Makinde left the ADC for APC.

Just days before then, Hon. Blessing Onuh and Hon. Yakubu Abdullahi announced their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

While, Onuh who represents Oturkpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency of Benue, joined the APC from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Abdullahi who represents Bauchi Federal Constituency, also dumped the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) for the APC.

February 23

All the three lawmakers elected on the platform of the African Democratic Congress ADC in the Ogun State House of Assembly defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Lawmakers who announced their defection during plenary included Jemili Akingbade, who was also the former Minority Whip, Adegoke Adeyanju, and Wahab Haruna.

March 12

On this day, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and party chieftain in Ogun State, Hon. Dimeji Bankole left the PDP and pitched tent with the APC.

March 17

Lawmaker representing the Egbado North/Imeko Afon Federal Constituency of Ogun State, Jimoh Aremu, moved from the African Democratic Congress ADC to the All Progressives Congress APC.

March 26

On this day, Yobe state Governor and Chairman APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, received the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Onyeabo Azubike Ihejirika (rtd) CFR, “Dike Abia” into the party.

Gen. Ihejirika was formally presented to the chairman by the Jigawa state Governor and Chairman APC Strategy and Contact committee Alh. Abubakar Badaru and Hon. Farouk Adamu Aliyu.

April 13

Samuel Tsebe, the member representing Akwanga South constituency in Nasarawa Assembly, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party PDP for the All Progressive Congress APC.

May 19

On this day, Member representing Apa/Agatu federal constituency in Benue state, Hon. Godday Samuel today visited Yobe state Governor and Chairman APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee Hon. Mai Mala Buni.

The federal lawmaker had fruitful deliberations with the Caretaker committee chairman pertaining to his preparation to join the APC from his current Labour Party.

May 20

It was on this day that the Cross River state Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade officially ditched the Peoples Democratic Party PDP for the APC.

Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, mocked the congratulatory letters sent to him by the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and the governorship candidate of the party during the September 19, 2020 governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu claiming he only saw the messages on social media.

Speaking to supporters at the Benin Airport and Ring Road while on a victory dance, Obaseki who spoke in pidgin English said “Is it today we won the election that they are just congratulating us?

“If you want to congratulate us, are you not supposed to put it in your letterhead and sign it? Is it through the internet you congratulate?”

He said victory signaled the end to godfatherism in the state and freedom for Edo people. “For us in Edo, this victory means freedom and emancipation; it means that we must rededicate ourselves to our people because democracy is all about the people.

“Democracy is not about an individual or godfather. We have defeated the godfather finally in Edo, in our quest to take Edo to where it should be.

“They threw all sorts of trash at us, but by the grace of God, the verdict of the Supreme Court is just the final straw. All the court cases that we have gone through, all the challenges we have faced in the last two years, we have won every one of them.

“This is by the grace of God: I will not say it is my own doing; it is God that has led us through all of these challenges. But I believe that what is more important is the meaning of this victory. For us, we must rededicate ourselves to the work, which we have started for Edo people.

“We cannot look back. At this time of the life of this country, we are faced with major critical challenges and as if we knew, we had started repositioning our state. The people who are fighting us are the same fake people that are pulling this country down even at the national level,” he noted.

Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected the congratulatory message sent to the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 19, 2020 governorship election in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Ize-Iyamu had in a letter to the Governor on Monday, May 31, 2021, surrendered to Obaseki and congratulated him.

Ize-Iyamu also went ahead to make a passionate appeal to the Governor to kindly consider the case of the 14 lawmakers-elect who absconded from the House and refused to be sworn-in, following a disagreement over who should be elected Speaker.

He further begged the Governor to intervene on the issue of elected Local Government Chairmen, Vice-chairmen, Councilors and Supervisory Councillors, who were suspended and removed from office.

But, the Edo PDP in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, rubbished Ize-Iyamu’s message, accusing him of making demands after his “unwarranted, unnecessary, mindless and malicious court cases have collapsed.”

He said Ize-Iyamu lacked locus standi to make the demands, adding that it would have been better and more honourable for Ize-Iyamu to have remained silent.

Nehikhare said: “Now that it is clear that the APC booby traps of unwarranted, unnecessary, mindless and malicious court cases have collapsed, we have entered the season of congratulatory messages.

“Edo PDP thanks all Nigerians especially Edo people that have congratulated us and of course His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki on the resounding victory he recorded at the Supreme Court on Friday, May 28, 2021.

“We were pleasantly surprised to stumble upon a letter from Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the APC candidate in the last governorship election, who incidentally, would have been the main beneficiary had the Supreme Court ruled against Governor Obaseki, PDP and by extension, a vast majority of Edo people. The letter was addressed to Governor Obaseki and obviously deliberately leaked and is trending on social media.

“The letter though titled CONGRATULATIONS, was more of a wish-list of unmerited and contemptuous demands.

“In an attempt to justify his reasons for going to court, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu proffered alternative facts.

“He claimed that he and his party didn’t go to the Tribunal but he failed to inform Edo people that he connived to be added as a respondent in the tribunal cases contrary to law and asked to be returned as Governor. He tried to be clever by half! And besides, when he lost, together with his party, they filed separate appeals which they both lost again! FACT!

“It is contemptuous and akin to busybody status for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to appeal for an out of court settlement in the case of the 14 former members-elect of the Edo State House of Assembly who voluntarily abdicated their seats and when those concerned haven’t asked for it.

“As a matter of fact, the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, in a well considered judgement, declared the actions taken by the Assembly against the 14 as proper.

“We are therefore constrained to question Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu’s locus for this request as well as the request made for the former council chairmen and councillors. Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu is crying more than the bereaved!

“Frankly speaking, the size of our victory in the last governorship election imposes a very special responsibility on us: To be a Government of high ideals and hard choices. Not popular for one time but remembered for all time. Not just a better government than previous, but one of the great, radical, reforming Governments of our history. To build an Edo, not for a few, but for all the people. And it will require Resetting . Hard choices.

“After carefully perusing the letter addressed to the Governor, we are of the opinion that it would probably have been better and more honourable for Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu to have remained silent.

“We may have said we have forgiven, we didn’t say we have forgotten! In our considered opinion, we don’t think the Governor, His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, should dignify the letter with a response or reply.”

FORMER governor of Edo state and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has congratulated Governor Godwin Obaseki on his recent victory at the Supreme Court over his alleged certificate forgery.

A letter written by Oshiomhole to Obaseki and made available to newsmen by his media aide, Victor Oshioke reads: “Congratulations on your victory at the Supreme Court which has effectively laid to rest all matters arising from the last election.

“As I had repeatedly reminded you during our several meetings, our relationship has through the years developed beyond being friends to being brothers of different parents. Whatever happened is unfortunate and I believe God has reasons for everything.

“I have put all behind me and moved on. As I have consistently advised, please be magnanimous in victory. You are the Governor of all Edo people regardless of political leanings. Once again, congratulations Excellency! Please accept the renewed assurances of my very best wishes and high regards.”

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has generated N799 billion revenue between January and May 2021, a record-breaking feat in the history of the service.

The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Joseph Attah, disclosed this on Monday while addressing newsmen in Abuja.

Mr Attah said that the revenue was higher compared with what was realised in the same period in 2020, adding that there is positive difference of N226.1 billion.

This, he added, was possible due to strict implementation of all extant rules governing imports, exports and excise in the country.

He noted that the strategic deployment of officers and automation of the processes and regulations also contributed to the feat achieved.

According to him, increasing inclination of officers and men to put national interest above selves also responsible for the improvement of revenue.

He said other reasons were robust stakeholders sensitisation, increasing level of compliance from stakeholders and improved working relation with the National Assembly.

The spokesperson added that the management under the leadership of Hameed Ali had continued to take strategic actions that would impact positively on national economy and security.

A Nigerian Air Force ATR 42 aircraft heading for Owerri, Imo State, to aid military operations in the South-East region, crash-landed in Akure, the Ondo State capital, SaharaReporters has gathered.

SaharaReporters learnt from top NAF sources that the crash-landing of the ATR 42 occurred about two weeks ago – a week before the late Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, died in a similar NAF jet crash in Kaduna State.

It was gathered that military authorities covered up the incident and failed to make it public to avoid national embarrassment.

Top sources released the photograph of the ill-fated ATR 42 to SaharaReporters, adding that the aircraft was conveying some Special Forces personnel to Imo State, some of whom were reportedly injured after the crash.

But there was no casualty according to sources, which made it easier for the NAF authorities to be silent on the incident.

“It was an ATR 42 and we were going to Imo State. The aircraft crashed-landed the next day; the authorities are hiding the incident. The crash occurred in the morning. It was a solely military affair and they prevented anyone of us from taking photographs of the incident.

“It crash-landed at the Akure airport two weeks ago but they hid it. About 15 to 20 personnel were on board to the South-East.”

In about three months, the NAF jets have crashed in the North-Central, North-East, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and now South-West regions, raising fears about the maintenance culture of the military aircrafts.

SaharaReporters last Friday reported that the families of two Nigerian Air Force pilots – Flight Lieutenant John Abolarinwa and Flight Lieutenant Ebiakpo Chapele – are still in the dark about their loved ones onboard an Alpha Jet which went missing since March 31.

The NAF has yet to provide an update on the location of the missing Alpha Jet NAF 475 which believably crashed on March 30 in Borno State as well as on the bodies of the late pilots, giving the families a great concern.

“The families are in distress. Nobody is talking about the two pilots on the Alpha Jet. The NAF’s investigation is taking forever. Now that another crash of bigger national importance has happened, the authorities may not even revert to the missing jet in Borno State, so as not to put up too many negativities into the public domain,” a source had said.

The fighter jet went missing on Wednesday, March 30, around 5pm, amidst fears that it might have been captured or shot down by the Boko Haram terrorists.

The Alpha Jet, a light attack jet and advanced jet trainer aircraft, has played a significant role in Nigeria’s counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East theatre of operation.

It was acquired by NAF in 2014 from the United States of America air force.

The last update the NAF gave was on April 2, when the NAF authorities said that intelligence gathered so far indicated that the jet might have crashed although it had yet to know the whereabouts of the jet or the two pilots on board.

Military sources had said at that time that the jet crashed in the Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, although the NAF did not confirm the location.

It will be recalled that in February 2021, a NAF Beechcraft King Air 350i Surveillance Aircraft also crashed in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

The outcome of NAF’s supposed investigations into the crash had yet to be made public.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during last year’s election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has called on members of‎ the party in the state to come together to reorganise and position the party to win again in Edo.

Ize-Iyamu, a former Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), made the call Saturday in a statement, titled: “Because we were gallant, our hope is alive,” which he issued as a fallout of Friday’s judgment of the Supreme Court which favoured Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was absolved of perjury and forgery of his first-degree certificate from the University of Ibadan (UI).

He said: “Yesterday (on Friday), the Supreme Court, by its judgment, brought to an end our struggle for the office of the governor of Edo State that commenced in September 2020.

“I thank all our supporters and loyal party men and women for your unwavering commitment and sacrifice to the advancement of Edo State. I urge you to be law-abiding and to be of good cheer.

“What matters most is that our party, the APC, stood up for what we believe in. We stood up for the placement of our people at the epicenter of governance, which is a sharp departure from the norm. As such, let no grievances and no embittered feelings impair the force of our efforts.

“Let us look forward to our coming together to reorganise and position our party to win again. This is in service to our beloved state.”

APC’s governorship candidate also thanked God for the opportunity to seek the office, stressing that to Him be all honour and glory.

Hon. Sele-oge Tom, half brother to the lawmaker representing Delta South Senatorial District at the Senate, Sen. James Manager, has been stabbed to death over a land dispute with a family member at Ogriagbene community in Bomadi local government area of Delta state.

The incident occurred on Friday, generated chaos in the community with retaliation by the son of the deceased, who butchered the killer of his father while also sustaining an injury to his hand.

According to a community source who pleaded anonymity, the deceased, who was a former Councillor and brother to Sen. Manager, maternally, was in a feud with a paternal family brother over a small piece of land at the community waterfront.

“They fought over a family piece of land today (Friday), and after they were separated from the fight, the other one went home and came back with a dagger and stabbed Sele-oge on the rib.

“His son, seeing his father stabbed, also went home and came back with a machete and butchered the assailant.

“They were both rushed to the hospital at Bomadi, the local government headquarters, but Sele-oge gave up the ghost on the way and his remains had already been deposited in the morgue of the Bomadi General Hospital.

“While the other one is in a critical condition in a private hospital at Bomadi”, he said.

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams on Thursday said the Yoruba nation agitators are ready to go any length, even die in the push to actualize the dream of Oduduwa Republic.

According to him, the South-West reserves the legitimate right to struggle for Oodua Republic and some people are determined to pursue it.

Adams, who is also the former leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) stated this while lamenting that the Yoruba Nation Republic struggle has been hijacked by top politicians in the region.

“It is unfortunate that some people are determined to weaken the spirit of the agitators. Unfolding events in the last few weeks have shown that some prominent politicians have hijacked the struggle for the actualization of the O’odua Republic.

“It is an attempt to distract us from the true and original intention of the struggle.

“But I want to say it here that the struggle to seek a new nation is the legitimate rights that we are determined to live and die for and we wouldn’t waiver in our beliefs and determination to liberate our race,” he said.

Shuaibu Ibrahim, director-general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says the scheme is “critical to the unity of the country”.

He said the scheme is not a waste of time, adding that its relevance in integration and national cohesion must not be underestimated.

The brigadier-general spoke on Wednesday in his office in Abuja.

He said NYSC has been a useful tool for the socio-economic development of the country through the deployment of corps members to states outside their base.

He said the corps members contribute in many ways to the lives of residents of their host communities.

“NYSC is not a waste of time, wherever corps members are posted to, they have been adding value in order to be remembered with good legacies,” Ibrahim said.

TheCable had on Monday reported that the house of representatives is considering a bill seeking to scrap the scheme.

BREAKING: Hansi #Flick will become the new Germany national team head coach following @EURO2020 ✍️

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The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and a pro-independence movement in western Cameroon, ‘Ambazonia Governing Council’ (AGovC), have agreed to exchange weapons and personnel to help them achieve their common goals “Freedom”.

Created in 2012 by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB had over the years condemned the Nigerian government for its poor investment, inequitable resource distribution, marginalization, and heavy military presence in the region.

The group therefore demanded for the restoration of an independent state of Biafra in the South East through an independence referendum.

On its part, AGovC, fights to carve out Cameroon’s English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions into a breakaway state called Ambazonia. Grievances of Anglophone Cameroonians date back to 1961, when the region was granted independence from Britain.

However, forming alliance with each other, Foreign Policy, an American news publication, said: “The scope of the alliance will include joint operations and training bases, Capo Daniel, the deputy defense chief of the Ambazonia Defense Forces, the military wing of the Ambazonia Governing Council said.

“The groups will work to secure their shared border and ensure an open exchange of weapons and personnel, representatives of both the Ambazonia and IPOB movements said.”

When contacted to react, Emma Powerful, said: “It’s true. We are growing day by day. We need to strengthen ourselves”.

Photo: VP back in Abuja Saturday evening after a trip to Lagos, where among other things, he had his Medical Check-Up like he does annually. Also some amateur shots show VP's wife visiting several families of military officers who died since Friday's very sad air crash. Condolences

There is unexplained tension in the air as the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, was seen at the Reddington Hospital, Lagos, setting tongues wagging as to the reason the number two citizen was there.

The furore generated by the VP’s presence at the Reddington Hospital is even made worse following his absence at the funeral ceremonies of the the late Chief of Staff, Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru and 10 other officers, who died in the ill-fated military aircraft that crashed in Kaduna.

According to reports, the Vice President’s convoy was seen entering Reddington Hospital Lagos yesterday (Saturday) around 10am and remained there till around 2pm.

Since it is not in the Vice President’s character to miss occasions of great magnitude, people who know him well have become quite baffled, and asking the question, is the Vice President I’ll?

The nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.51 percent in the first quarter of 2021.

Q1 2021 Real GDP grew 0.51 % compared to 0.11% in Q4 2020 & 1.87% in Q1 2020

Kassim Afegbua, Spokesman to Former Military leader, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida(IBB) has reacted to his reported expulsion from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stating that he will seek legal redress on the matter.

In a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA on Saturday night, Afegbua disclosed that he is yet to receive a letter to that effect. He also criticised the national chairman of the opposition party, Uche Secondus adding that his time as leader of the party was up.

The statement read;

“First and foremost, it is a blatant lie that I was ever invited to any disciplinary committee. The state chairman is just acting the script of one Uche Secondus who is desperately making effort to carry out a misplaced political vendetta because of my petition to the EFCC to seek accountability and transparency. Secondly, a so-called state disciplinary committee cannot shave my hair in my absence, knowing full well in their heart of hearts, that no invitation was extended to me to answer to any query whatsoever. When some executives sit down in the comfort of their homes to generate an expulsion of someone you have not tried, in line with the relevant provisions of the party’s constitution, it goes to show how hollow and pedestrian the party has become in the hands of a few who see it as their meal ticket.”

“Once I get the letter, I will immediately instruct my Lawyers to seek legal redress of this absurdity, just to make the point that illegality should not endure. Linking my purported expulsion on the basis of my role in the September 2020 election is not only ridiculous, laughable and draconian, it exposes the dubiety of a self-serving system that leaves a sour grape in our mouth. It is not only anachronistic to note that a party that is in opposition, that ought to apply the best and finest tradition of legality and justice in handling issues of internal democracy, is, by its nebulous action, caught pants down in charting the path of self-aggrandizement. This kind of stereotypical verbiage is only possible in a party run by jungle justice and persons of warped intellect buoyed by obtuse reasoning.”

“If this ridiculous, laughable and purported expulsion is meant to dissuade me from pursuing my call for transparency, accountability and probity in the management of the party’s resources, let it be known that I will pursue my call to a logical conclusion. No amount of gestapo or arm-twisting strategies or tactics can blur my vision to take the party’s leadership to the altar of accountability in the management of public finances, as captured in the PDP. Whether as a private citizen, bona-fide member of a party or voter, I have the inalienable right to raise concerns whenever I suspect that there are foul plays. Instead of subscribing to their oath of office to live above board, and by extension submit to the investigation presently ongoing by the EFCC, the Edo chapter of the PDP is being railroaded, armtwisted, cajoled and prevailed upon to embark on illegalities that cannot stand the test of justice and fair play.”

“I need to re-emphasise the point that the Uche Secondus-led leadership of the party has outlived its usefulness and become grossly incompetent to lead the party in the face of our present political emanations. A virile opposition that is desirous to make an impact in the forthcoming elections cannot, by any stretch of imagination, parade the present lacklustre leadership.”

“My call remains unequivocal, altruistic, holistic and utility-driven. No amount of blackmail and ambush can dissolve my resolve to follow the path of good conscience in pursuit of public good. The procedure for expelling any member is well captured in the party’s constitution, from the Ward, Local Government and State Working Committee, after exploring all the issues raised and the member, being made to provide response to the issues. Waking up from your dream and expelling any member without following the procedure is barbaric, ridiculous, illegal, self-serving and utterly reprehensible.”

The 80th Passing out Parade of the Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria where Chief of Army Staff Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru was billed to attend has been cancelled after he died in a plane crash on Friday.

Attahiru was billed to be the Reviewing Officer at the PoP in Zaria on Saturday, Daily Trust has learnt.

But he alongside 10 others died when their military plane crashed on Friday at the Kaduna International Airport.

“The COAS was to arrive in Kaduna on Friday and sleep over at his guest house. He was then expected to pay homage to the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali on Saturday before proceeding to the depot for the PoP,” a source said.

However, a source within the depot who pleaded anonymity said, “Everything has been put on hold till the remains of the deceased are laid to rest.”

Daily Trust reports that 4,198 recruits passed out at the 79th edition of the recruit intake in July, 2020.