Unknown Gunmen have kidnapped the wife of the Chief of Staff to Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, Mr Olugbenga Ale
This happened as the state is battling with the death of the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Israel Adeusi, who was killed by some gunmen suspected to be kidnappers at the Elegbeka area of Ose Local Government Area of the state on Thursday.
It was gathered that Mrs Ale was kidnapped alongside her driver and one other person along Ondo-Akure Expressway at the Owen area of Idanre Local Government Area of the state on Thursday night.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Tee-Leo Ikoro, confirmed the incident.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu has ordered the security agencies to fish out the killers of the first-class monarch.
Akeredolu, who visited the affected area where the monarch was killed in the company of top government functionaries, described the incident as a sad occurrence.
He said, “The security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police, have already been directed to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
Forty-seven cows were reportedly killed after a train derailed in Osogbo on Wednesday.
The Nation gathered that the train was heading for Kwara State when the accident occurred at about 3:09pm near Power Line, Osogbo.
Read Also: Passengers stranded as Kaduna/Abuja train breaks down in bush An eyewitness identified simply as Oredola said the train was heading for Kwara State, but when it got to Power Line, Osogbo, the last coach of the train carrying stones detached, derailed from the track and killed the cows.
One of the owners of the cows identified as Rabiu Ismail expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident.
“I am not happy about this incident at all. I have lost cows. The cows that died worth N10 millions,” he said.
As Nigerians gear up to face the impending hardship as a result of the recession already steering in the face of Nigeria, Niger state government has concluded plans to slash the salaries of civil servants in the state by 50 percent to be able to cope with the present economic reality.
But the Organized Labour in the state have vowed that any attempt to slash the salaries of workers would be met with stiff resistance and this has set the stage for a possible showdown between the government and the labour.
Indication to this emerged on Monday when Government told officials of the NLC and those of the Trade Union Congress at a meeting held in the office of the Head of Service that it can no longer afford to pay 100% salaries to workers effective from December, 2020.
Our correspondent gathered that the meeting was attended by all members of the State Executive Council except the Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello and his Deputy Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso as well as all the Permanent Secretaries.
The meeting was addressed by the State Accountant General Alhaji Abdullahi Saidu where the news was broke to them.
The Accountant General, it was gathered, told the gathering that there was a drastic decline in the state income from the Federation Account and Internally Generated Revenue as a result, the state is now in a financial mess, and therefore had no choice than to take this painful decision.
Aside the dwindling allocation from the Federation Account, Saidu disclosed that series of deductions from source had further depleted the income of the state.
The Accountant General further informed the meeting that one percent above 50 will shut the government into deficit about N1.7billion hence the decision to Slash the salaries by 50%.
Although the government promised that the 50 percent deduction would be refunded back to workers when the economy improves, therefore the organized labour should show understanding with government, this however fell into the deaf ears of labour Representatives at the meeting. It was gathered that the officials of the state NLC and those of the Trade Union Congress at the meeting, categorically told the government that it will not accept one percent less from workers salaries.
They were said to have told the government team that “Salary payment is a first line charge” as such whatever the government got it should pay 100% salaries and source for funds for other projects and programmes.
Worried by the development, Labour on Tuesday summoned an emergency Congress where the issue was put before the delegates.
The Congress rose from the emergency meeting held at the Labour house rejecting the decision of government but asked all the affiliate unions to return to their members to hold Congresses where the issue should top the agenda and gave the Unions till 6pm on Wednesday to submit in writing the decisions of the unions.
However as at 2pm on Wednesday no fewer than 28 affiliate unions in the state had returned their reports, backing the NLC in whatever step it will take to make the government change it decision.
The NLC and the TUC officials are expected to meet on Thursday where a final decision on the next line of action will be taken.
Efforts to get the comments of the state NLC chairman Comrade Yakubu Garba was abortive as he could not be reached on his cell phones neither was he in the office.
Also the Commissioner for Information Alhaji Mohammed Sani Idris could not be reached as he was said to have traveled out of the state for official engagements.
It could be recalled that Labour had in July this year embarked on three day warning strike when government slashed workers salaries by 30 percent, citing drop in revenue from Federation Account, occasioned by the outbreak of Coronavirus as it reasons.
Just In: The Ondo state house of Assembly has impeached the deputy speaker, Hon. Iroju Ogundeji, He was immediately replaced by Hon. Aderoboye @RotimiAkeredolu @OndoInformation @OndoStateGovt
Read the full letter by the Nigerian government below:
23 Nov. 2020
Mr. Jonathan Hawkins
VP, Communications
CNN Centre
Atlanta, Georgia
U.S,
RE: HOW A BLOODY NIGHT OF BULLETS QUASHED A YOUNG PROTEST MOVEMENT
Our attention has been drawn to an ‘investigation’ by CNN, entitled ‘How a Bloody Night of Bullets Quashed a Young Protest Movement’ and aired on 18 Nov. 2020, in which the international news organization said it had ”uncovered that Nigerian security forces opened fire on unarmed protesters” at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, Nigeria, during the #EndSARS protest.
We write to put on record that the report did not just fall short of journalistic standards, it reinforces the disinformation that is going around on the issue, it is blatantly irresponsible and it is a poor piece of journalistic work by a reputable international news organization.
In the first instance, the report did not live up to the most basic of the core principles of journalism – balance and fairness. According to the website www.ethics.journalists.org, ”balance and fairness are classic buzzwords of journalism ethics: In objective journalism, stories must be balanced in the sense of attempting to present all sides of a story. Fairness means that a journalist should strive for accuracy and truth in reporting, and not slant a story so a reader draws the reporter’s desired conclusion.”
Rushing to air such a momentous story without presenting the government’s side is inexcusable and indefensible. CNN said it contacted over 100 protesters and family members, but did not speak to one official of Nigeria’s federal government. While CNN said there was no response from the army and that officials of Lagos State would not speak in view of the Judicial Panel that is investigating the matter, it did not say what effort it made to speak with any official of the federal government.
The truth is that CNN did not even attempt to reach the federal government. Nima Elbagir, who presented the report and most probably led the investigation, is conversant with the Minister of Information and Culture, who is also the Spokesman for the Federal Government of Nigeria, yet did not say that she even tried to reach the Minister. It is therefore strange, to say the least, that she would rush to air such an important ‘investigation’ report without getting the government’s side. In other words, Nima, and by extension CNN, breached the most basic of the core principles of journalism – balance and fairness.
Another serious breach by CNN, in its ‘investigation’, is that the network relied heavily on unverified footages it harvested from social media.
CNN was not present at the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the incident. Neither its reporter nor cameraman was there, but it relied on eyewitnesses. Well, this is fraught with danger. While experts say eyewitness testimony is a potent form of evidence, it is also subject to unconscious memory distortions and biases, Unlike CNN, a reporter from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Pidgin Service, Damilola Banjo, was at the Lekki Toll Gate on the night in question, and was quoted as saying soldiers shot sporadically into the air and not at the protesters – a direct contradiction of the position taken by CNN who relied on second and third-hand information.
In airing its ‘investigative’ report, CNN conveniently forgot that on Oct. 23rd 2020, it emphatically tweeted, from its verified twitter handle, that the military killed 38 people when it opened fire on
peaceful protesters on Tuesday, Oct. 20th 2020. Almost a month later, the same CNN – after a supposedly exhaustive investigation – is now reporting only one death from what the world was made to believe was a massacre. Is CNN not embarrassed by this sharp climbdown? Has CNN owned up to this and apologized for its faux paz?
It is also interesting that while CNN obtained footage showing when the vehicles carrying soldiers left their barracks and arrived at the Lekki Toll Gate, it could not obtain any footage showing the bodies of those supposedly killed in the ‘massacre’. After all, forensic ballistic experts will most likely testify that firing military grade weapons into a crowd will not leave anyone needing a microscope to look for blood or bodies at the scene.
CNN has said it stands by its story, and that ”our reporting was carefully and meticulously researched”, This is baffling, considering that the story lacks fairness and balance, as we have pointed out, and that the organization relied heavily on manipulated social media videos. This resort to an escapist cliche seems more like a face-saving measure by an otherwise respectable news network caught in the blinding glare of ‘fake news and disinformation’ headlamps. Or how else does one explain the arrogant defence of an international news network that would not even respect the most basic principle of journalism?
One of CNN’s star eyewitnesses in its ‘investigative’ reporting is DJ Switch. Unknown to CNN, DJ Switch’s story on the Lekki Toll Gate shooting has changed several times. From claiming she counted 78 bodies of protesters who were supposedly killed by soldiers on the night of the Lekki Toll Gate incident, she has twice, at least, changed the casualty figure from 78 to 15 and then to 7, without a shred of evidence. CNN cannot pretend not to know that for anyone to act as a witness, his or her credibility must be unimpeachable. DJ Switch’s credibility does not meet that threshold.
In one of social media videos of DJ Switch that was used by CNN (see attached link 1), the lady (DJ Switch) claimed she and some unnamed persons carried dead bodies and dropped them at the feet of the soldiers. She also claimed she spoke to their Commander before the soldiers threw the bodies into the vans. Curiously, for someone who was streaming live on Instagram during the Lekki Toll Gate incident, there was not a single video or picture of the dead bodies. Not even Godson (Uyi), another CNN star witness whose video was also used by the network, or any of the hundreds of protesters, all armed with smart phones, at the scene recorded a video or shot a picture of dead bodies being carried away by soldiers.
Talking of Godson, despite claiming to have analyzed hours of footage, it is curious that CNN conveniently left out key parts of Godson’s 57-minute, 5-second video (see attached link 2). For example, 13 minutes, 40 seconds into the video, there were voices, in street lingo, in the background telling Godson that the gunshots were not from the soldiers (na boys dey shoot, that na local gun sound….it’s boys, meaning touts and hoodlums, who are shooting.
That’s local gun). Some 20 minutes,14 seconds into the video, Godson confirmed that the boys had brought out their guns and were shooting (local okah, he called it). Some 23 minutes, 14 seconds into the video, Godson said ‘wait, all these boys dey shoot’ (meaning gunshots rang out from the touts/hoodlums). CNN, in its rush to nail soldiers and tell a ‘radically different story’, conveniently left out these parts of the Godson video, which could have shown that armed hoodlums invaded the Lekki Toll Gate that night, and could have hit any of the protesters as they shot sporadically. This is clearly a ploy by the CNN reporter/presenter to manipulate viewers of its ‘investigative’ report and force them to draw the reporter’s desired conclusion! Another video showing an armed protester at the Lekki Toll Gate (see attached link 3) was apparently not among the footage reviewed by CNN!
It is shocking that all through its ‘investigation’, CNN did not for once mention the fact that six soldiers and 37 policemen were killed during the #EndSARS crisis, which also left 196 policemen injured, not to talk of the monumental destruction of government and private properties across the country. Instead, the network is fixated on the massacre that never happened. Are security agents not human beings too? Are they not entitled to the protection of their human rights?
For the record, this is not the first time that CNN has carried an inaccurate or hoax story about Nigeria. In February 2007, Nigeria accused CNN of staging one of its reports from the country’s Niger Delta region, showing gunmen holding 24 Filipinos hostage. Of course, CNN and its then Africa Correspondent Jeff Koinange flatly denied the charge, saying the network did not pay for any part of the report. Later, in an email reportedly sent to a friend, Mr. Koinange was quoted as saying: “Of course we had to pay certain people to get the story… You do not get such a story without bribing.” So much for denials!
As a form of remediation, Nigeria’s Federal Government demands an immediate and exhaustive investigation from CNN into its ‘investigative’ report on the Lekki Toll Gate incident to determine, among others, its authenticity, whether or not it met the basic standards of journalism and also the selective use of unverified social media videos to manipulate public opinion. While it is up to CNN to accede or not, please note that the Federal Government reserves the right to take any action within its laws to prevent CNN from aggravating the #EndSARS crisis with unprofessional, irresponsible, one-sided, inciting and sensational reporting that is capable of pitching Nigerians against themselves and setting the country on fire.
·As 16 Killed by ENDSARS Rioters get posthumous promotion
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni, has today, 23rd November, 2020 approved the promotion of Eighty-Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy Nine (82,779) Junior Police Officers to their next ranks. The promotion of the officers comprising 56,779 Sergeants to Inspector, 17,569 Corporal to Sergeants and 8,431 Constables to Corporal is part of the on-going efforts at boosting the morale of personnel and repositioning the Force for greater efficiency. Those promoted also include 86 junior officers negatively impacted by the ENDSARS riots – 16 got special posthumous promotion while 70 others injured during the violence arising from the ENDSARS protests were equally specially promoted.
The IGP, while congratulating the officers, charged them to see their promotion as a mark of additional responsibility and a call to rededicate themselves to their professional calling. He enjoined them to continue to carry out their duties diligently and in conformity with best practices and respect for the rights of the citizen. He noted that the promotion albeit, posthumously, of the officers who were killed by some ENDSARS protesters is a symbolic gesture in recognition of the ultimate price they paid in the service of the nation.
The IGP promised to work with all relevant agencies, organs of Government and other stakeholders in driving a successful reform of the Police for improved welfare and conditions of service towards better service delivery to the people.
DCP FRANK MBA FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FORCE HEADQUARTERS ABUJA
Borno State Government has refuted reports claiming there was another attack by Boko Haram on Governor Babagana Zulum and his security details.
Zulum’s spokesman, Isa Gusau, in a statement on Sunday, said Zulum travelled to Baga on Saturday, spent the day supervising the distribution of food items to 5,000 residents and returned to Maiduguri safely.
Gusau noted that while in Baga, his principal assessed major reconstruction and resettlement efforts with no hitch.
“As members of the public can testify, it is the culture and principle of Professor Zulum to say things as they are. In this case, it is what it is – no attack whatsoever.
Any media organization that wants further clarification may wish to contact the Nigerian military.”
Gusau expressed Zulum’s appreciation to all well-wishers across Nigeria.
“He gratefully commended the Armed Forces, Police and civilian volunteers for the relentless efforts in fully restoring lasting peace to Borno State” the statement added.
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday received a report of the presidential panel investigating the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu.
The report of the judicial commission of inquiry on the investigation of Magu, covers from May 2015 to May 2020.
The panel was set up in July this year to investigate various allegations of wrongdoing against Magu, a commissioner of police that was first arrested in traffic on July 6 by men of the Department of State Services (DSS) and whisked away to the Villa, where the panel was sitting.
The panel is chaired by a retired Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.
Magu’s suspension from office was announced July 10, by Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
22-point allegations against Magu titled “Flagrant Abuse of Office and Other Infractions Against EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu” had previously been submitted by Malami to Buhari.
According to Malami, “the Acting Chairman of EFCC is not acting in the overall best interest of the country and the policies of this administration due to its mismanagement and lack of transparency in managing recovered assets; diversion of recovered assets for personal enrichment; neglecting to investigate the P & ID case as directed by the President; flagrant disobedience to directives and to court orders due to the following;
“Final Report of the Presidential Committee on Audit Of Recovered Assets (PCARA):
mismanagement and lack of transparency in managing recovered assets: mismanagement of recovered assets and diversion for personal enrichment: an investigation of P&ID: failure to provide timely response on the investigation of cases/ individuals relating to legal/consultancy fees in The Paris Club Refunds to states & LGAs: threatening of judicial officers: and petitions against the acting chairman.
The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, on Thursday, dismissed reports that he has made all necessary arrangements to decamp from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rejoin the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ortom, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Terver Akase, also said that he was contacted by some notable persons to defect from PDP, but he declined the invitation.
He said, “We have read some mischievous statements by members of the opposition in Benue State insinuating that Governor Samuel Ortom plans to rejoin All Progressives Congress, APC.
“Those involved in the impish allegation are clearly doing so to soothe their stuck-up apprehensions.
“Why will Governor Ortom return to APC? To do what?
“It is true that the Governor was contacted by some notable persons to defect from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but he declined the invitation.
“Governor Ortom is the leader of PDP in North Central Nigeria, and he is enjoying a robust relationship with other leaders of the party in Benue State and the entire region. It is therefore ridiculous for anyone to insinuate that the Governor has the intention to leave PDP.”
International Cable News Network, CNN, said its report on the alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki toll plaza on October 20, 2020, was “carefully and meticulously researched”.
CNN stated this in a report on Thursday in response to comments by the Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, that the news platform practised “irresponsible journalism” by relying on fake videos sourced from social media to produce its report.
CNN had published an investigative report this week claiming soldiers fired live ammunition directly at protesters at the Lekki toll gate, a claim which Mohammed denied on Thursday.
“Like everyone else, I watched the CNN report. I must tell you that it reinforces the disinformation that is going around, and it is blatantly irresponsible and a poor piece of journalistic work by a reputable international news organization,” Mohammed told reporters at a press conference in Abuja today.
“This is very serious and CNN should be sanctioned for that,” he added.
The PUNCH reports that the minister also described the event of October 20, 2020 as a “massacre without bodies”, insisting that not a single body has been produced or a single family has come out to claim their family member was killed at the Lekki tollgate.
Reacting today in another story titled, ‘Nigeria threatens CNN with sanctions but provides no evidence Lekki toll gate investigation is inaccurate’, the cable news network said it stand by its earlier report on the Lekki incident.
“Our reporting was carefully and meticulously researched, and we stand by it,” CNN stated.
It added, “The report was based on testimony from dozens of witnesses, and photos and video obtained and geolocated by CNN. It painted a picture of how members of the Nigerian army and the police shot at the crowd, killing at least one person and wounding dozens more.
“CNN verified photos and videos acquired from multiple eyewitnesses and protesters using timestamps and other data from the video files. Video footage shows soldiers who appear to be shooting in the direction of protesters. And accounts from eyewitnesses established that after the army withdrew, a second round of shooting happened later in the evening.
“Prior to publishing the report, CNN tried multiple times to elicit comment from the Nigerian army and police. A Lagos State police spokesman declined to comment because of an ongoing investigation. While a statement from the Lagos State government said that there would be no comment while a judicial tribunal was underway.”
The Lekki incident has been condemned locally and internationally by civil rights organisations.
To God be the glory great things he has done. Hearty congratulations to the entire House of Oduduwa and Olori Silekunola who today birthed a Prince to the Royal throne of Oduduwa.
La Liga president Javier Tebas says he is "ready" for the exit of Lionel Messi - while criticising Manchester City, a club he believes could sign him.
Messi submitted a transfer request in August at Barcelona - who he joined as a 13-year-old - but backed down after they refused to sanction his release.
The forward had fallen out with Josep Maria Bartomeu, who subsequently resigned as Barca president in October.
Tebas wants Messi to stay in Spain but feels La Liga would cope without him.
He argued that the competition had continued to thrive following Neymar's 2017 departure from Barcelona to Paris St-Germain, and Cristiano Ronaldo's 2018 move from Real Madrid to Juventus.
"We would prefer Messi to stay in La Liga but Ronaldo and Neymar left and we have not noticed any difference," Tebas said. "We are ready."
The Argentina international, 33, would be available on a free transfer at the end of this season.
Tebas indicated that Messi's likeliest Premier League destination, if he went to England, would be Etihad Stadium - although club sources have pointed out that no-one at City has ever spoken about signing Messi.
La Liga's president has repeatedly criticised City, having previously made numerous allegations about their structure, including accusing them of financial doping, before they were cleared of serious FFP breaches by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in July.
He aimed more criticism at them when he spoke on Tuesday.
Tebas said: "It seems the only club in Premier League that talks about registering Messi is Manchester City, who compete outside the rules. I am not the only one saying this.
"I am not too worried about them. I have criticised what they do so many times. Doing it one more time makes no difference. City is neither affected by Covid or pandemics or anything because they are financed differently and it is impossible to fight against that."
City opted not to respond to Tebas' comments, although it is understood they are wrestling with the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic - limiting manager Pep Guardiola to a net spend of £31m during the most recent transfer window.
'Barca not considering insolvency proceedings' Tebas was speaking at the end of an hour-long presentation to outline the financial state of La Liga following the close of the transfer window on 5 October.
Of particular interest was the situation at Barcelona, who he said had reduced their budget by 43%. In July, the club revealed their debt had more than doubled from 217m euros (£194.5m) to 488m euros (£437.4m), amid annual losses of 97m euros (£86.9m).
One journalist questioned whether it was possible Barca might even have to go into administration, although Tebas rejected this.
"Barcelona are not considering insolvency proceedings," he said.
"Their debt might be slightly larger but they were perfectly solvent pre-Covid. But Covid has come along and taken away a lot of revenue. They are not so capable of repaying the debt, so their salary volume has to go down.
"That is the essential factor for most clubs. It is not because they were mismanaged earlier."
Barcelona are eighth in La Liga under new coach Ronald Koeman, having won three of their opening seven games.
Much of the problems at the club have been blamed on Bartomeu, who as he left the club in October, said he had signed them up to a European Super League.
This claim has received no backing from elsewhere, as Tebas pointed out.
"It was a clandestine league for the 10 minutes after Bartomeu said they had joined," he said.
"I feel sorry for Bartomeu. He said it but then no-one else said they were joining. This project is not viable financially for the clubs competing or the other clubs. It would really break the eco-system we have established."
Tebas said he expected transfer spending to remain low in January, but added that the financial limitations being put in place across Spain's top two divisions would make them healthier in the future.
Tebas said that, in reducing transfer spend by 66% to £392.6m, La Liga's clubs were being "much more responsible than the other leagues", citing the Premier League, whose clubs spent more than £1bn on new players.
The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed December 9, 2020, for hearing in a suit seeking to disqualify Tokunbo Abiru, candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming Lagos East Senatorial District bye-election.
The suit filed by Babatunde Gbadamosi, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the poll, is also seeking the disqualification of the APC for fielding an ineligible candidate.
Gbadamosi prayed the court to disqualify Abiru on the grounds that he registered twice and possesses two voter cards.
Gbadamosi said the act was a violation of Section 31 of the Electoral Act.
Counsel representing PDP, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), is praying the court for an order "nullifying, cancelling and voiding the nomination, submission and acceptance of the name of Abiru as the candidate of the APC for the by-election".
Counsels representing APC's candidate, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN) and Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), asked the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction and failure to meet the requirements of Section 285 (9) of the constitution.
At the resumption of proceeding on Monday, Justice Chuka Obiozor said he will hear all pending applications and substantive suit in the case.
Justice Obiozor also directed the lawyers to abridge the time for filing their processes before adjourning the matter to December 9 for hearing.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had fixed December 5, 2020 for the conduct of the postponed by-elections in 11 states.
INEC was forced to postpone the election following the outbreak of the peaceful #EndSARS protest.
The leadership of the House of Representatives is currently meeting with the heads of security agencies in the country behind closed doors.
The meeting, which began at about 2:15pm, is presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase.
Journalists and others were sent out of the venue as the meeting was about to begin.
The Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Correctional Service, among others, were represented by top officers.
Barring last minute change of mind, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State may have concluded plans to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to reports, Umahi sealed his impending move to the APC during meetings in October 2020 in Abuja with APC leaders, including President Muhammadu Buhari.
Umahi was elected governor on the platform of the PDP, and currently serving his second term.
The member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, on the APC platform, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, was the first to break the news in a statement commending Umahi for the “bold move”.
Umahi’s action confirmed the rumour when he, on arrival from Abuja, held separate closed-door meetings with members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, council chairmen, and PDP state executives among others, during which he reportedly briefed them on his planned defection to APC.
Apparently acting out Umahi’s script, members of the Assembly the following week held a press conference and gave the national leadership of PDP seven days to convoke NEC meeting and zone the party’s 2023 presidential position to the South East, warning of “dire consequences” if the party failed to comply.
The Ebonyi State Working Committee (SWC) of PDP 24 hours later (Tuesday, October 20, 2020 to be precise) also held a press conference making the same demand from the PDP national leadership. It warned that no other arrangement would be acceptable.
On why the demand was coming so early, the Ebonyi State PDP Chairman, Barr. Onyekachi Nwebonyi, said the body languages of the powers-that-be in the PDP had shown that they had no plans to give the presidential position to the zone.
The demands by the two institutions, analysts say, is a smokescreen to prepare ground for the impending exodus from PDP to APC in the state.
Nocturnal meetings at various levels in the camps of both APC and PDP have also been going on aimed at tightening loose ends in preparation for Umahi’s defection.
For instance, some APC stakeholders met recently in the Abakaliki at the residence of the member representing Ikwo/ Ezza Federal Constituency, Hon. Chinedu Ogah, to discuss among other issues, UMahi’s impending defection to APC.
Ogah was quoted to have said during the meeting that Umahi’s defection to APC would bring good tidings for the party ahead of the 2023 governorship election in the state.
Not done, the APC stakeholders last Sunday held another meeting at Saltspring Hotels Abakaliki, where they officially confirmed to party members in attendance that Umahi’s move had been concluded.
Senator Julius Ucha, the member of the National Assembly Service Commission, the convener, said it was held in conjunction with APC South East Mandate. He explained that the South East Mandate was a pressure group negotiating for the rightful place of the South East region in APC.
Ucha, a Senator who represented Ebonyi Central Senatorial district for eight years, told the gathering of APC stakeholders that “Governor of Ebonyi State is on his way to APC.”
He said: “When Mr. President of the Federal Republic visited Ebonyi State, I made a presentation to him that governors are very powerful, and it is difficult to underrate a governor in any state and my recommendation is that Mr. President should urge South East Governors to declare for APC. That was around 2016 or 2017. But today, I want to graciously announce in this APC gathering that the Governor of Ebonyi State is on his way to APC.
“This is not a joke; and that is why I said there is need for us to continue to pray that nothing will stop it.”
Also, speaking, Senator Anthony Agbo corroborated the statement of Ucha that Umahi was on his way to the APC, and described it as a big catch to the party in the state and at the national level.
“Ebonyi State has made a big catch; the APC in the South East has made a big catch; and the APC, in Nigeria has made possibly the biggest catch and that is why these leaders of South East Mandate is also invited to be present.
“And what is that biggest catch? That His Excellency the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, imminently, is crossing from PDP to APC,” Agbo emphasized.
Agbo, who was the Director General of the State APC Governorship Candidate in 2019, said Umahi was the best performing governor in the present dispensation.
“This is evidenced in the achievements of his administration in all ramifications. Whether it is road construction and whether it is in any manner of infrastructure and in any manner of leadership indexes. He is supposed to be the best Nigerian governor in this dispensation. And if we have such a governor and providence makes it that he has decided to crossover to our Party, APC, it is something that is worthy to be celebrated.
On his part, C. C. Ubah, the Chairman of South East Mandate, who hails from Imo State, said members of APC in Ebonyi State would soon begin to enjoy like their Imo State counterparts when Umahi would officially join the party.
Also, in a communiqué read during the meeting by the former Chairman of Ohaozara LGA, Mr. Chaka Nweze, the APC stakeholders resolved to give Governor Umahi a red carpet welcome to the party.
They described his imminent defection to APC as a welcome development and noted that they were eager to receive him. They also urged APC members in the state not to panic over the development as their interests would be fully protected.
On Tuesday, two very close aides to Umahi held a meeting with the 64 development center coordinators in the state, where modalities for the defection were discussed.
Sources at the meeting, disclosed that no date was fixed for the defection, although they were told that it was imminent. The coordinators were also told that there was no going back on the defection.
The coordinators reportedly pledged their support and that of their supporters in their various domains to the governor in whatever step he takes.
Also, the 13 local government chairmen who were present at the meeting also reiterated their support and readiness to defect with the governor.
It was gathered that the council chairmen and coordinators agreed to go back to their various councils and centres to begin consultations on the issue immediately.
“Wherever the governor and our leader goes we will go with him. We are very loyal and committed to the project,” one of those at the meeting said.
However, the PDP National Working Committee same day (Tuesday) moved to stop Umahi from leaving the party.
The NWC held a meeting with Umahi in Abuja apparently to persuade him from leaving the party.
But, sources revealed that the PDP NWC couldn’t persuade Umahi to rescind his decision, adding that the defection plan was still on course.
Umahi was reported to have told the PDP national leadership during the meeting that he was leaving for the APC, which he allegedly claimed, would protect the interest of the South East in 2023 presidential election, and that his decision was irrevocable.
Eze Nwachukwu Eze, the APC state chairman in the state, when contacted, said the party had been officially informed of Umahi’s plan by the Buni-led APC Caretaker Committee during a meeting attended by national leaders in Abuja.
He said: “I’m just coming out from a meeting held in Abuja where I was officially informed of Governor Umahi’s plan to dump the opposite party, the PDP for our ruling APC. So wait till the details will be made known to you in Ebonyi by tomorrow (Thursday).”
Sources claimed that Umahi had since obtained his APC membership form in his ward. But, the APC chairman in the governor’s LGA, Ohaozara, Victor Nnachi, in a chat with Sunday INDEPENDENT said he knew nothing about the alleged registration of Umahi in APC in his ward.
“As for the defection plan of Governor Umahi, I have heard about it but I’m yet to be officially contacted for his registration at the ward as required in the party constitution,” he explained.
Umahi, according to sources privy to the development, insisted that the 2023 presidential ticket of the PDP be zoned to the South East in the spirit of equity and fairness, but power brokers in the party seem to have a different plan.
The angry Umahi was quoted to have said: “He won’t remain in a party that has no future for the South East,” hence he has concluded plans to dump the PDP for the ruling APC.
The governor reportedly briefed his cabinet members in the last executive council meeting about his move to APC.
He was quoted to have told the council members that he would not force anyone to join him, but directed that those that wish to remain in PDP should resign their appointments.
Consequently, the Commissioner for Inter-governmental Affairs, Hon Lazarus Nweru Ogbee, on Thursday resigned. Ogbee was also the immediate-past House of Representatives member, representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency.
Investigations further revealed that Umahi would have since made his planned defection official, but for the violence that trailed the #EndSARS protests, which made the last one month a very odd time to undertake such a political move.
Another report has it that the planned defection has been blocked by the South-East bigwigs of the ruling party.
The move, it was gathered, was plotted by some members of the National Assembly and ministers from the South East.
These stakeholders were said to have made it clear to the Ebonyi State governor that the APC presidential ticket was not for grabs by him.
A source close to the Mala Buni-led APC was reported as saying that though the Ebonyi State governor is welcomed to the party, the APC cannot just give him the presidential ticket, adding that nothing indicates that the APC ticket has been zoned to the South-East.
The source said Umahi should be mindful of the treatment given to him when he purportedly nominated his brother, Austin Umahi as a ministerial nominee in 2019 and was dropped at the 11th hour, stating that the same fate might await him.
It was reported that the governor could be making a gradual U-turn to remain fully in PDP since APC leaders, both in the state and in the South-East caucus are not enthusiastic about receiving him.
It was reported that the APC leaders in the region like the Ministers of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, from his state; Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, from Anambra and Minister of State for Education, Chief Emeka Nwajiuba, from Imo State and others felt slighted as they were not consulted.
Members of National Assembly from the South-East also reportedly echoed the same sentiment of not being considered for consultation over the movement to the ruling party.
Whether Umahi is defecting to APC or remaining in his PDP will soon be known by everyone as the political drama unfolds.
I hear d price of petrol is set to go up again--for d umpteenth time this year--while wages & standard of living remain stagnant, regressive, or non-existent. Hey, Buharists, how is d "next level" thing working out for you? Well, it's just getting started.Ready for the long ride? https://twitter.com/farooqkperogi/status/1327296876824195073?s=19 Lalasticlala Mynd44
INEC RELEASES FINAL LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR IMO NORTH SENATORIAL BYE-ELECTION In compliance with an order of the Federal High Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has released an adjusted final list of candidates for the Imo North Senatorial District bye-election.
The adjustment became necessary on the premise of the court’s determination of the case between Lady Uchenna Onyeiwu versus APC and 4 others.
The information was contained in a document signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony, and made available to INEC Daily Bulletin.
As contained in the document, 14 political parties will field candidates for the Imo North bye-election. The parties and their candidates are: Accord party (A) – Ndubueze Chiwuba Patrick; Action Alliance (AA) – Emmanuel Ogueri; African Action Congress (AAC) – Nathaniel Chukwudi Uba; African Democratic Congress (ADC) – Chigozie Kennedy Onyinye; All Progressives Congress (APC) – Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume; All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) – Charles Chibuike Onyeirimba; and Allied Peoples Movement (APM)- Raphael Nnadozie Mbachu.
Others are: Action Peoples Party (APP) - Ernest Ndidi Ezirim; Labour Party (LP) – Okorondu Nwachukwu Sunday; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) – Okeafor Augustine Chukwujieze; National Rescue Movement (NRM) – Charles Okechukwu Amajouyi; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – Emmanuel E Okewulonu; Social Democratic Party (SDP) – Rita Ada Ibemere Okorafor; and Young Progressive Party (YPP) – Promise Anurika Nwadigos.
A Lagos State High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square presided by Hon. Justice Ogunjobi on 12th November 2020 has ruled in favour of fitness entrepreneur Maje Ayida over defamation lawsuit against Toke Makinwa.
The court in its judgment held that after careful consideration of the evidence before the court, it finds only the contents of page 54 line 11-16 and page 83, Line 1 of the 1st defendants’ book as Defamatory.
The Court thereafter granted damages of the sum of 500,000 Naira each to be paid by the 1st and 2nd defendants to any charity organization of the claimant’s choice. The court also granted an injunction preventing the defendants from producing copies of its book with the defamatory words in pages 54 and 83.
The court also gave the defendant 30 days from its judgment to delete and remove said defamatory words from unsold copies of the book in the defendant’s custody.
Recall that in 2017, an exclusive report that surfaced online said Ayida’s lawyers had written a ‘letter of demand’ to Makinwa asking her to stop the promotion and sale of the memoir titled On Becoming.
Maje’s lawsuit also mentioned that the book contained defamatory words, was misleading and had subjected him to public ridicule. Ayida, in the letter, asked Makinwa, among other things, to withdraw the book from circulation, recall all copies distributed and hand them over to him for destruction.
The letter also said a failure by the media personality to take back the words said in the book, and give a full-page apologizing to Maje Ayida in three national newspapers will lead to the commencement of legal action.
Bandits operating within Katsina and Zamfara States, on Monday, attacked the convoy of the Zamfara State Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Hon. Abubakar Dauran, killing his driver on the spot.
DAILY POST gathered that many persons were also injured in the attack.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred when the commissioner was coming from Katsina State where he had gone to hand over the 26 kidnapped minors rescued by Zamfara State Government to the Katsina State Government.
When contacted, the state police command confirmed the incident, saying that the armed bandits did not confront the commissioner and his convoy directly.
In a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Gusau, the state capital, the police spokesman, SP Mohammed Shehu, said the convoy was caught in a crossfire by two bandits groups.
“The government delegation led the commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Hon. Abubakar Dauran was caught in a crossfire between two warring bandits groups at Dogon Karfi, GidanJaji, along Zurmi – Jibiya road, in Zurmi Local Government area of Zamfara State,” the statement said.
Shehu appealed to the general public to always assist the security agencies with useful information that could lead to the arrest of bandits.
EXCLUSIVE: Bank documents expose how Lagos Speaker Obasa received N51.7 million 11 times on same day
Mudashiru Obasa’s financial records are laced with a laundry of suspicious transactions executed by businesses linked to him.
Lagos House Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has been conducting private and lucrative businesses since he was elected to the post in 2015, Peoples Gazette can report, in yet apparent disregard of extant code of conduct regulations for public officials that barred him from running commercial ventures as a top lawmaker.
Financial records of Mr. Obasa’s recently obtained by the Gazette showed how the politician executed a laundry of suspicious transactions using several companies linked to him.
On October 30, 2018, Mr. Obasa received exactly N51,680,672.91 each into his company De Kingrun Multipurpose Limited account in a string of eleven transactions on exactly the same day, bank documents seen by the Gazette showed.
The transactions, totalling N568,487,402.01, were the only activities that reflected on the account throughout that year, indicating that they were proceeds of an unexplained deal executed by the Speaker.
The suspicious funds were received through De Kingrun’s account number 1017424021 with UBA, which did not return a request seeking comments about the transactions.
Sahara Reporters had published a series of corruption claims against the Speaker since March, and the EFCC has called him in for questioning as part of its investigation into the charges. De Kingrun was amongst several companies Sahara Reporters linked to Mr. Obasa, but bank transaction details relating to the politician and his firms are just being uncovered by the Gazette.
Records also showed that Mr. Obasa’s De Kingrun firm has been receiving inflow from the Lagos State government accounts. Mr. Obasa’s telephone number 08033014094 is connected to the account and the Gazette has established through bank sources that he was directly responsible for the transactions.
In 2016, Mr. Obasa received four transactions each from the ministry of environment and Universal Basic Education in Lagos. Each of the four transactions from the environment office was N56,332,500.00 — all paid on April 21 and totalled N225,330,000.
Barely a week later on April 28, the Universal Basic Education paid N33,013,665.27 each in four transactions to De Kingrun, totalling N132,054,661.08.
It was unclear the nature of contracts that Mr. Obasa’s firm carried out for Lagos to justify N357,384,661.08 in eight transactions within seven days.
Mr. Obasa, his media aide and a Lagos government spokesman declined comments for this story. But the Speaker had pushed back against Sahara Reporters earlier in the year.
Although he admitted ownership of De Kingrun as an enduring family business, he rejected reports that the company received contracts from Lagos agencies, demanding through his legal representatives evidence of transactions between his company and Lagos.
On Thursday, the Gazette published bank records of six imprest accounts run by the Lagos State House of Assembly, which showed how Mr. Obasa supervised suspicious disbursements of N9.7 billion in 2019 alone.
Mr. Obasa was elected into the Lagos House in 2007, and has been Speaker since 2015. He should have been handicapped by the code of conduct rules that forbid elected and senior government officials from conducting private businesses, except subsistence agriculture, while in office.
But the regulations have rarely been enforced, despite widespread abuse by politicians and senior bureaucrats. In 2011, Bola Tinubu was arraigned over claims he violated code of conduct rules by operating foreign bank accounts as governor, but the case was summarily dismissed for irregular prosecution.
Court documents confirm CBN froze bank accounts of Rinu, Pamilerin, Gatefield, 17 other #EndSARS champions
The Central Bank of Nigeria obtained a federal court order to freeze 20 bank accounts linked to supporters of the #EndSARS campaign last month, court document obtained by Peoples Gazette showed.
Governor Godwin Emefiele filed an ex-parte court application to freeze the account on October 20, which was promptly granted by Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
Former attorney-general Michael Aondoakaa argued the case for the freezing of the accounts on behalf of CBN, documents showed.
The bank accounts blocked included those run by Gatefield, a public interest think-tank, and Bassey Israel, a pharmacist. Gatefield has already filed a lawsuit challenging the freezing of its account.
The banks that were ordered to freeze bank accounts of the #EndSARS champions included Access Bank, Fidelity, First Bank, GTB, Zenith and UBA.
There have been complaints from Nigerians that their bank accounts were frozen in relation to their roles in the #EndSARS campaign, with CBN being mentioned as the main culprit of the punitive measure. The CBN has repeatedly denied involvement in the freezing of bank accounts of #EndSARS protesters.
At about 01:15am today our officers on patrol around Funso Williams Avenue met a stranded lady with her kids in her suv. Her battery went flat. They helped jump-start the vehicle and she left the scene...
They followed her to be sure everything was well. Unfortunately, the vehicle stopped again. This time, it ran out of petrol. They assisted her with some petrol and then escorted her to the filling station in Maryland to get more...
...When asked where she was actually headed she told them Mile 12. Knowing how unsafe it was, they escorted her to a safe spot before carrying on with their patrol for the night. #TheGoodGuys
NORTHERN GOVERNORS MEET IN KADUNA, RESOLVE TO ENGAGE YOUTHS
The Northern Governors Forum has met in Kaduna and resolved to set up Youth and Civil Society Committee to engage Nigerian youths with a view to addressing thier pressing demands to put to rest their agitations. This was one of the decisions the Governors arrived at after an engagement with traditional rulers, members of the National Assembly, the Inspector General of Police Muhammad Adamu and Chief of Staff to the President Professor Ibrahim Gambari.
Below is the full text of the communique read by Chairman of the forum and Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong after the deliberations.
RESOLUTIONS OF NORTHERN STATES GOVERNORS’ FORUM MEETING WITH NORTHERN STATES EMIRS AND CHIEFS HELD ON MONDAY 2ND NOVEMBER, 2020 1. In furtherance to its resolution to further engage with the critical stakeholders of the North, the Northern States Governors Forum held a meeting today Monday 2nd November, 2020 at the Council Chamber, Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
2. The meeting was attended by His Excellency, the Senate President, of the Federal Republic, the Honourable Deputy Speaker and other members of the National Assembly, the Chief of Staff to the President, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, the Minister of Information and Culture, the Inspector General of Police, Principal Officers of the National Assembly, Chairmen of the Northern States Traditional Rulers Council led by His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto amongst others.
After extensive deliberations the following resolutions were arrived at:-
3. Appreciates the roles of Traditional rulers in containing the menace of Endsars protests in the north. Collectively agreed that traditional rulers be given formal roles in the governance architecture of the Country.
4. The meeting rejects and condemns the subversive actions of the Endsars protest. The superlative agitations and other change regime actions outside the ballot Box soon take advantage of the peaceful protests to push for their seperative agenda. The meeting endorse the indivisibility, indissolubility and oneness of the Nation.
5. The meeting took note of the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news. Therefore, calls for major control mechanism and censorship of the social media practice in Nigeria
6. Meeting raises attention on the need to keep strict watch on the Federal Capital Territory to guide against unwarranted and destructives protests to safeguard critical assets of the Nation.
7. Meeting ccommends the national Assembly and the Presidency in being proactive in addressing the issues of Endsars protests across the country.
8. Need to further push for amicable resolutions of ASSU strikes to enable students resume their studies.
9. Meeting resolved that there is the need for regular meetings of this nature. Calls for further engagement with other critical stakeholders such as Religious Leaders, Business community, youths leaders etc. Accordingly, the meeting approved the setting up of two major engagement committees:
(a) Committee on roles of traditional Rulers Membership: (i) Emir of Lafiya as Chairman (ii) Two Representative from the National Assembly; (iii) 1 Representative from each of the 3 zones (iv) 1 from federal Executive Council. (b) Committee on Youth and Civil Societies (i) Emir of Zazzau as Chairman (ii) 1 representative each from Geo Political Zones (iii) 1 each for the youth Geo political Zones (v) 1 representative of Women / Girls (vi) One each of Muslim and Christian Clerics (vii) Persons living with disability; (viii) Business Community (ix) Representative of the Inspector General of Police These engagement Committees are to commence work immediately.
10. Appreciates the role of religious leaders, such as the Ulamas, JNI and CAN for their positive interventions in resolving the Endsars conflicts.
11. Calls for collective effort in addressing the lingering challenges of the North e.g. Almajiri system, insecurity, illiteracy, poverty, etc.
12. Commends the roles of His Eminence, Royal Highnesses and other Royal Fathers in ensuring that the Endsars protests did not escalate significantly in the North by adopting sentimental issues such as ethnicity and religion, the Forum resolved to continuously engage with their Royal Highnesses in addressing this challenge.
13. Meeting noted and appreciated the far reaching efforts of Northern States Governors’ Forum in taking proactive measures to address the Endsars protest in the country and the North in particular. Equally Forum notes with satisfaction the actions taken by the Governors to revive the economic fortunes of the region particularly during the post Covid-19 period.
14. Forum appreciates the roles of National Assembly in engaging the youths and other critical stakeholders of the Nation in resolving the Endsars conflicts.
15. Forum appreciate Mr. President and his Cabinet for the quick intervention in meeting the demands of the Endsars protesters and resolved to give him the maximum support as he roles out measures to address the lingering challenges of youth unemployment, banditry and Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
16. The Forum also appreciate the roles of the youth for their response to the Endsars, in curtailing the spread of hooliganism, thuggery and other separatist tendencies.
17. Forum appreciates the major reforms going on in the Police Force and pledges to support Mr. President on this course.
18. The Meeting resolves to support the Nigerian Police Force to serve the Country better and calls for the strengthening of trust between the people and the Police.
19. The Meeting expressed concern over the low level involvement of relevant stakeholders in the implementation programmes of Government and calls on the relevant Agencies to review implementation strategies to make for maximum impact and benefits.
20. Condemned attacks on persons and properties of especially persons living in other parts of the country. Also condemned attacks and burning of places of worship in some parts of the country in the name of Endsars protests. His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong KSGG, Chairman, Northern States Governors' Forum. 2nd November 2020.
Politics › Gunmen Abduct Akeredolu’s Chief Of Staff’s Wife. Police confirms abduction by Kwanza(op): 5:16pm On Nov 27, 2020
