₦airaland Forum

A non-governmental organization, Save the Children, on Wednesday said that sexual assault referral centers in Kaduna State had received a total of 662 cases of abuse against women and children since inception in 2016.
The organisation also said out of the 25 rape cases received, children, were the most affected.

Isah Ibrahim, an advocacy advisor with the NGO made the disclosure in Zaria, during a two-day sensitization workshop on Violence Against Children.
The workshop was organized by the National Orientation Agency in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund.

“Out of the 662 cases recorded, 373 were received at Gwamna Awan specialist hospital, Nasarawa, 104 received at Sir Patrick Yakowa memorial hospital, Kafanchan, 114 cases at Yusuf Dantsoho specialist hospital, Tudun Wada and 71 received at Gambo Sawaba hospital, Zaria,” he said.

Read also: My daughter deserves appointment as Special Assistant — Gov Okowa

He said the centers provided medical consultation on individual cases and assisted with psychosocial management of the family while in crisis.

Ibrahim mentioned some major flashpoints of child abuse in Kaduna metropolis which include Tudun wada, Kakuri, Gonin Gora, Rigasa, Rigachikun, Sabon tasha, Nasarawa, Romi among others.

He, however, noted that the centers were faced with challenges of weak implementation of policies and limited working time, urging the state government to ensure proper implementation of the Child Right Act.

On her part, the centre manager of Salama sexual assault referral center, Kafanchan, Mrs Grace Yohanna, said the centre provided medical intervention and optional legal intervention for victims of abuse.

She stated that females were mostly affected in terms of abuse with 94 cases out of the 104 cases received at the centre.

“We have 79 cases of emotional abuse and 25 cases of rape; children were most affected in the rape case.

“That is why we want everybody in the community to be part of the war against all forms of violence against children; let’s be our neighbors keepers and report any case of abuse to the nearest center,” she said.

Yohanna who commended the government for providing such centers that support survivors of rape and other sexual abuse stated that the center needed more drugs.

She appealed to members of the public to speak up and report any case of abuse whether physical, sexual or emotional.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570619743/ngo-children-most-affected-kaduna-rape-cases

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President Muhammadu Buhari laid the 2020 Appropriation Bill before a joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday without hitches.
Buhari gets soft landing under Lawan, Gbajabiamila

It was not so when he presented the 2019 budget before the federal parliament in 2018. The clash between members of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party had marred President’s presentation of the 2019 Appropriation Bill.
Efforts to persuade the PDP lawmakers, especially those in the House of Representatives, not to disrupt the presentation earlier before the President’s arrival had proved abortive.

Buhari, who was displeased with the development, was forced to say, “The world is watching us and we are supposed to be above this.”

The then President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, were members of the opposition PDP. The party also had a significant membership of both chambers of the National Assembly.

Now, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; and Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, are of the ruling All Progressives Congress, who have also vowed to support the Buhari-led administration as much as they can.

When Buhari had a cold due to hard work

President Buhari began his budget presentation speech by urging the audience to pardon his voice as he had a cold, which he attributed to hard work.

“I will start by asking you to pardon my voice. As you can hear (my voice), I have a cold as a result of working hard,” he said.

The comment attracted loud laughter and applause from all those inside the chamber, including the President of the Senate, the Speaker, members of the National Assembly, state governors, members of the Federal Executive Council and leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, among others.

Gbajabiamila, who made the closing remarks, replied Buhari while sympathising with the President.

“I’m deeply sorry about your cold, Mr President, brought about by the hard work of your good self,” the Speaker said, which generated another round of applause.

Between Buhari and Melaye

The lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye, is known for being vocal and as a member of the opposition PDP, he has been critical of the Buhari-led administration and the APC government.

When President of the Senate appointed Melaye as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, it shocked some Nigerians.

However, as Buhari was heading out of the House chamber after the budget presentation, Melaye was one of those that stood along the isle to greet the President. The senator gave Buhari a clenched fist greeting, which the President had also given to the audience.

Buhari and Melaye exchanged pleasantries, details of which had not been known as of the time this report was filed. A photo of the moment, however, went viral on the Internet shortly after.

National Assemby’s workers turned back

Security in and around the National Assembly Complex was already tight long before the arrival of the President for the budget presentation.

Men of the Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Sergeant-at-arms manned all entry points to restrict access into the premises.

Apart from lawmakers and those accompanying the President, only accredited workers and journalists were allowed in. Names were checked on a list of persons per department and organisation, provided by the management.

Banks and other businesses were closed for the event, while many workers and guests without accreditation tags were turned back at the gates.

The security became more tightened few hours to the arrival of the President, when the Presidential Guards Brigade and Special Forces took over the operations, with movements in the building restricted to outer layers of the chambers.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570609079/2020-budget-the-other-side-buhari-presentation

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday has said that he is suffering from cold.
He, however, attributed his ailment to his hard work as the President of the country.

Buhari disclosed this while presenting the 2020 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja.
Immediately after observing protocols and before presenting the details of the bill, the President apologised for his voice.

He said, “Before I proceed to read the details of the budget, let me apologise for my voice.

“As you can hear in my voice, I have cold because I am working hard.”

The comment attracted loud laughter and applause from all those inside the chamber, including the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, federal lawmakers, state governors, members of the Federal Executive Council and leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress, among others.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, however, sympathised with the President on his cold.

“Mr President, sorry about your cold,” Gbajabiamila told the President while delivering his address shortly after Buhari presented the 2020 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570547209/have-cold-because-working-hard-buhari

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, has secured the conviction and sentencing of one Augustine Ighodalo to five years imprisonment for criminal offence bordering on retention of proceeds to the tune of $1,049,251.84.
Ighodalo was made to appear before Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
The anti-graft spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren in a statement disclosed that “The convict was arraigned on September 26, on a three-count charge bordering on “transfer of criminal proceeds to a nominee”, following intelligence received by the Commission from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI”.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570541761/man-years-prison-over-049-251-fraud

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Jigawa state governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, has appointed a special assistant to each of his three wives.

Of the 51 Special Assistants that were appointed by the governor, there is also a special assistant for street light as well as for population control.
According to a copy of the lists of the appointees obtained by Daily Trust, indicated that Sa’adatu Bashir Muhammed, is a special assistant to the first wife of the governor, while Mariya Muhammed Muktar and Aisha Garba are special assistants to the second and third wife respectively
Hassan Usman Bulama and Surajo Musa Gwiwa are Special Assistants to the governor on Street light and population control.

The responsibility of all the aides to the governor was clearly stated with the exception of the three special assistants to the governor’s wives.

Daily Trust reports that official responsibilities assigned to the offices of the wives of the governor are also yet to be made public.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570534125/badaru-appoints-special-assistants-three-wives-streetlight

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The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Walid Jibrin, on Monday, urged the All Progressives Congress to stop attacking former President Goodluck Jonathan.
A former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, in his recently published memoir, ‘For the Record’, had accused Jonathan of “sleeping on the wheel,” while terrorists were busy abducting the Chibok schoolgirls.

Jonathan, in his response, countered Cameron and insisted that his government sought help from the UK, the United States and Israel and engaged in other security measures to rescue the girls.
He also denied that his government was corrupt.

However, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement, accused Jonathan’s government and the PDP of negligence over the rescue of the schoolgirls.

But the PDP BoT chairman, in a statement, urged the APC to leave Jonathan alone, adding that the former president, by conceding defeat to President Muhammadu Buhari, who was the APC presidential candidate in 2015, saved Nigeria from calamity.

Jibrin said, “Jonathan saved Nigeria by conceding defeat in 2015 and therefore should be praised and never be disgraced by anyone. Jonathan and Mrs Patience Jonathan should be saved of any blame.

“The former British prime minister has taken the matter too far in his book. The Nigerian insecurity problems are serious to single out one particular individual for blame.”

But the Buhari Media Organisation said the rejection of foreign help to rescue the abducted Chibok girls by Jonathan reflected the nonchalance and irresponsibility that brought Nigeria into the mess the country found itself.

The BMO asked the former president to apologise to the nation and stop grandstanding on an issue where he was indeed caught sleeping at the wheel.

Its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju, and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, in a statement, stated that history would judge Jonathan for allegedly treating governance as a matter of ego, without respect for lives and property, as well as his disservice to Nigeria.

The statement said, “What other proof do Nigerians need to know that if Jonathan had been allowed an extra week in power, the country would have been in a worse state than Venezuela?

“Nigerians must appreciate the rescue mission embarked upon by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in the last four years. The country was a mess; governance was on auto-pilot with a President who was lukewarm towards his duties.

“The revelation by Cameron in his book shows how the country was being managed by an incoherent leadership intent on driving her to either a deliberate or an irresponsible crash and wreckage.

“Which sensible President and leader would ever miss.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570522101/chibok-girls-pdp-bot-chairman-urge-apc

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Big Brother Naija housemate, Tacha Akide who was disqualified from the show, has finally cleaned Davido’s tattoo from between her boobs. This was as a result of constant scolding from her esteemed fans.
Recall that the self-acclaimed, Port Harcourt First Daughter, a 23-year-old native of Cross River came into limelight after she got a tattoo of Davido’s DMW crest on her chest.

Tacha ignored the Big Brother final party on Saturday night, making it obvious that she has nothing to do with big brother again, she unfollowed Big Brother Naija Page on Instagram days after her disqualification. Kim Oprah was also not at the party.
Tacha, who is constantly being trolled on social media over her over reactive character and her alleged body odour, had on Sunday night released a stunning picture of herself on her Instagram page, a picture where the DMW’s logo had obviously vanished from between her boobs.

The reality TV star captioned the photo:

“Be you..

Everyone else is Taken”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570454884/tacha-clears-davido-tattoo-from-chest

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The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State in the last elections, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has faulted the claim that he was not serious about his governorship ambition.
Rather, Kashamu argued that it would be unreasonable for anyone to commit the kind of resources he committed to the electoral process without a plan to win.

Kashamu, who stressed that his ambition to become Ogun State governor was serious, said he joined the governorship race to fight impunity and injustice.
“I hate injustice with a passion. I can give anything to fight injustice. We put in our best. But the protracted court case had adverse effect on our supporters and mobilisation efforts. We thank God that the rule of law prevailed and we were on the ballot against the expectations of the lawbreakers,” a statement quoted Kashamu to have said in an interview.

Kashamu, who represented Ogun East in the 8th National Assembly, said he had in since gone back to his cotton and hospitality businesses after his governorship ambition hit the rock.

While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for signing financial autonomy for the local government areas, Kashamu said governors were killing the local governments.


“It is an open secret in Nigeria that governors had castrated the local governments by depriving them access to their statutory funds. This has turned into a serious economic strangulation at the grass roots.

“I salute President Buhari for having the rare political courage and patriotism to save the Nigerian masses through the NFIU monitoring of local government funds. I strongly believe that sooner than later the people will feel the impact of this initiative,” Kashamu said.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570434840/ogun-joined-gov-race-fight-impunity-says

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Plateau State Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 2019 election, Gen. Jeremiah Useni (rtd) has instructed his legal team to appeal the judgement of the governorship tribunal to reclaim his mandate.
Useni in a press statement on Friday through his media consultant, Hon Yiljap Abraham, said the ruling of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal provided many grounds of appeal.

He insisted that Governor Lalong gave false information on his certificate which the tribunal found as a fact but did not make consequential declaration.
“I am convinced that there are many grounds to appeal the judgement. I have therefore, instructed the legal team to take all processes with immediate effect and proceed on appeal against the tribunal judgement.”

Useni said he is further encouraged by the fact that the Supreme Court had last week upheld his interlocutory appeal against a Court of Appeal judgement which expunged the testimonies of 21 of his witnesses earlier considered by the tribunal.

He lamented that the tribunal did not avert its mind to the Supreme Court judgement which in turn affected judgement.

He said: “The bulk of the tribunal’s findings are in fact in favour of my petition, for example, the fact that Governor Simon Bako Lalong did indeed give false information on oath. But surprisingly, the tribunal did not give any consequential order to nullify his election.”

Useni appealed for calm among supporters and party faithful, and assured that he would resolutely deploy legal instruments to retrieve the mandate that the people of Plateau freely gave him in the polls.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570201096/reclaim-stolen-mandate-appeal-court-says-useni

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A housewife, Mrs. Odunayo Olaniyi, has faked her own kidnap and that of her 10-year-old son, seeking a ransom of half a million naira from her husband.
Consequently, a Chief Magistrates’ court sitting in Ilorin on Friday ordered that she be remanded in a correctional centre.

The Police arraigned Odunayo Olaniyi, Abdulrauf Folorunso, and Afolabi Adesina on three counts of self-kidnap, false representation and asking for ransom.
The Chief Magistrate, Ibrahim Dasuki, who gave the order, also remanded Folorunso and Adesina.

Dasuki adjourned the case until October 10 for hearing.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Nasir Yusuf, had told the court that on September 19, the complainant, who is also the defendant’s husband, Segun Olaniyi, who works at the Kwara Road Traffic Management Authority, Ilorin, reported the case at the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, Police Headquarters, Ilorin.

Yusuf said Segun told Police that he received a message from his wife, Odunayo, that she had been kidnapped.

He alleged that Odunayo also told him that their 10-year-old son had also been kidnapped and that the abductors were demanding for N500,000.

Yusuf said that during discreet investigation, the Police discovered that Odunayo, Folorunso and Adesina, had stage-managed the kidnap.

The offemce, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 9, 14, and 12 of the Kwara State Prohibition of Kidnapping Law 2010.

They pleaded not guilty.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570192681/woman-fakes-own-son-kidnap-demand-ransom

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The Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has promised to resettle indigenes of the state who returned from South Africa owing to xenophobic attacks.
The governor, who spoke during a reception organised for the returnees at Government House in Owerri, said his administration was interested in the welfare of the returnees.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Chibuike Onyeukwu, in a statement, said Ihedioha had set up an inter-ministerial committee to map out strategies for their resettlement.

The governor was quoted as saying, “We understand clearly the import of this incident. What the displacement has given rise to is that you have to start afresh, begin to adjust either to start a new life or otherwise.”

Ihedioha noted that a desk had been set up to articulate an implementable plan that would guarantee sustainable livelihood for them.

The governor said the committee, which would be headed by his Special Adviser on Diaspora Affairs, Prof Chudi Uwazuruike, “shall comprise the Ministries of Youths, Labour, Education and Health, to be supervised by the Ministry of Gender and Vulnerable Group Affairs, will work out basically how to help them resettle.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570185301/xenophobic-attacks-ihedioha-raises-panel-resettle-south

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General Alani Akinrinade, a former Chief of Defence Staff, has advised his former boss, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, to stop writing letters to sitting Presidents.

Akinrinade said Obasanjo should desist from public letter-writing, in a bid to make a point.

The former Army Chief spoke with reporters in Lagos, ahead of his 80th birthday holding in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Gen. Akinrinade worked with Obasanjo during the Civil War when the former President was the Commander of the Third Marine Commando.

He said since his former boss has unfettered access to those in power, letter-writing may not be a good option.

He also said whenever Obasanjo wrote his letters to the president, what came to his mind was how he handled similar matters when he was in the saddle.

Akinrinade pointed out that statesmen should consult with those in power and offer constructive criticisms, instead of going to the public.

He said, “If I have an opportunity to advise him, I will say he should not write letters again.

“Each time he writes letter, the question I ask is: when he was there, how did he do it? He should not write letters again.

“He has access to them and he can give his advice, instead of writing.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570105654/obasanjo-should-stop-writing-letters-buhari-gen

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Mr Benjamin Okoli, President, Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), said President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to that country would allay citizens’ fears of xenophobic attacks from South Africans.
Okoli said this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday while responding to a question on the association’s expectations of the visit.

He expressed the hope that President Buhari’s visit would help address issues bordering on the safety of lives and property of Nigerians, immigration permit, and balance of trade.
According to him, President Buhari’s arrival in South Africa should ensure that there is fair treatment of Nigerians who qualify for permit but are not given; we want that to stop.

“We expect President Buhari to look into matters of protection of Nigerian citizens here; to discuss with South African authorities on police brutality and killing of Nigerians living in South Africa.

“Quite a number of Nigerians have been killed by the South African police.

“So we expect President Buhari to demand an end to such.

“We expect discussions on immigration, whereby South Africans will no longer deny Nigerians permit, which is what we call xenophobia in visa-processing.

“People who qualify are not given because of nationality.

“We also expect the president to talk about how we can balance trade between both countries, so that South Africans will not continue to have an advantage over Nigerians,” he said.

He cited the UN survey report of 2017 which indicated that the total number of Nigerians living in South Africa was approximately 27,000.

Okoli explained that Nigerians in that country owned small businesses, whereas South Africans in Nigeria operated bigger companies that generated huge incomes in favour of the South African economy.

The NICASA president also said that the Nigerians largely affected by the xenophobic attacks in S0uth Africa were petty traders.

He said that adequate arrangement had been made for a town hall meeting between the President and NICASA in furtherance of discussions on issues involving Nigerian citizens living in South Africa.

He added that the names of Nigerians affected by the xenophobic attacks had been collated to enable them press charges for compensation.

“We expect the South African government to compensate Nigerians that were attacked in that country because they lost businesses and properties.

“Their businesses are not illegal; we have profiled them and we intend to go to court to seek redress,” Okoli said.


https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570102233/xenophobic-attacks-buhari-visit-africa-allays-our


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Imo State Police Command has arrested a 60-year-old man, Alexander Madu from Umuoziri Inyishi in Ikeduru Council area of the State for defiling nine-year-old Ijeoma Agu who lived with him.
Madu, who was arrested on September 24, was said to have severally defiled the victim before the case was reported at Ikeduru Police Division by one Mr. Chijioke Agu of Umuoziri Inyishi in Ikeduru LGA, Imo State, who is also the father of the victim.
The Commissioner of Police Rabiu Ladodo told newsmen in Owerri that the victim’s father reported a case of defilement against one Alexander Madu of same address.

Read Also; Gunmen kill man, girlfriend

“The complainant alleged that the suspect severally defiled his 9-year-old daughter one Ijeoma Agu who lived with the suspect and his wife at their house, whenever the suspect’s wife went to market until the victim finally opened up on September 23.”

Acting on the complaint, he said the suspect was arrested on September 24, adding that medical report from the Police Hospital Owerri, revealed that the victim was defiled.

However, the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded, he added.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570095092/year-old-man-nabbed-for-defiling-year


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The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has approved the termination of the appointments of about 250 Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants with immediate effect.
The Senior Special Assistant appointees covered all the eighteen local government areas of Edo State while the Special Assistant appointees cover one hundred and ninety two wards of the eighteen local governments.
In a statement, Secretary to the State Government, Mr Osarodion Ogie, said, “This development is in line with efforts to reorganise the governance structure to enhance efficiency in service delivery to Edo people.”

He noted, “Fresh appointments will be announced within the next 30 days.”

He said, “They are hereby directed to hand over all government property and documents in their possession to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570093069/gov-obaseki-sacks-250-special-assistants-other

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ALL Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday reflected on Nigeria’s journey as an independent nation and predicted a better future.
The one-time Lagos governor said: “What Nigeria overcame in the past has given us the confidence and courage to believe that we can achieve even more.”

His reflections were contained in his goodwill message to the nation on its 59th Independence Anniversary.
He said Nigeria has the wherewithal for its citizens to enjoy a democratic, prosperous and just existence.

The message, titled: “Nigeria @ 59: What we’ve overcome gives us confidence in a better future”, was released yesterday by his Media Office.

It reads: “Today we celebrate the 59th birthday of our beloved nation. We stand today with our feet planted firmly in the present but with our gaze both on the past and toward our future. Looking back at the last 59 years, we have faced steep challenges yet have marked great progress nonetheless.

“What we have overcome in the past gives us the confidence and courage to believe that we can achieve even more as we cast our eyes to the future.

“This day that we mark is truly a day to celebrate the independence of a nation of resilient, strong and industrious people who have decided to join together in common purpose that each of us may enjoy a democratic prosperous and just existence.

“As Nigerians, let us recommit our energies to building a better Nigeria and rededicate ourselves to the vision of our nationalists who saw greatness in this country and worked assiduously to advance it.

“The journey to our greater destiny has begun and I enjoin you all to support one another and President Buhari’s administration in this journey. I ask you all to remain committed to our highest national purpose so that we may continue to strengthen our national institutions and our very country.

“I congratulate all Nigerians on this 59th Independence Anniversary and urge you all to come along in the march to the Next Level.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1570011577/nigeria-has-better-days-ahead-tinubu

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A former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Charles Soludo, has said the rich in the country will also suffer if high poverty and unemployment rates are not tackled.
Soludo said this on Tuesday in Lagos while delivering a presentation on economic restructuring at a programme, tagged ‘The Platform’, organised by Covenant Christian Centre.

He lamented that the country had not been able to diversify away from oil and gas over the years despite efforts by successive governments.

“The alternative future that we see is one without oil and where exhaustible natural resources play very little role. The future will be driven by people – our youths – and technology,” he said.

Soludo, who was recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as a member of the new Economic Advisory Council, said the next, bigger-than-oil export earner for Nigeria would potentially be its human capital.

He said, “Nigeria earns almost as much from oil as it earns from remittances from the diaspora. But we cannot export illiterates in a world driven by the digital revolution. The easiest way to waste the future is to continue to churn out millions of semi-illiterates, largely unemployable citizens, most of whom see criminality as the only way to escape poverty trap or drug as the opium for solace.

“With an urbanisation rate of over five per cent, the conflagration that might ensue when hundreds of millions surge to the cities but can’t find jobs, housing, water, and food can only be imagined. Soon, I believe, the rich won’t be able to sleep because the poor, homeless and angry are awake.”

According to the ex-CBN boss, the county can have a smart population policy that encourages people to have a number of children that they can train and then also ensures that we have a reliable population census, using biometrics rather than political population figures.

“Whatever the case, the challenge is how to deliberately optimise the potential of the huge youthful population to be highly productive at home and competitive or exportable abroad,” Soludo added.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569940772/rich-nigerians-will-suffer-poverty-unemployment-persist

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President Muhammadu Buhari is billed to depart Abuja on Wednesday on a three-day State Visit to the Republic of South Africa.
The trip followed an invitation by President Cyril Ramaphosa, to discuss welfare of Nigerians, and find common grounds for building harmonious relations with their hosts.

The visit comes against the background of recent xenophobic attacks, the evacuation of hundreds of Nigerians and the exchange of visits by Special Envoys of Presidents Buhari and Ramaphosa.
While in South Africa, the Nigerian leader, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, will hold a town hall meeting with Nigerians living in the country, with a view to sharing in their experiences and reassuring them of Nigerian government’s commitment to working for the protection of their lives and property and promoting peaceful co-existence.

President Buhari and his host will preside over the South Africa/Nigeria Bi-National Commission, during which a progress report will be presented.

At the end of the meeting, both leaders will sign a joint communiqué.


President Buhari and his delegation including Nigerian business representatives will also participate at a South Africa-Nigeria Business Forum with their host counterparts.

President Buhari will be accompanied by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State.

Others are: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi (retd); Minister of Power, Eng. Saleh Mamman; Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arch. Olamilekan Adegbite; Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi; and Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum.

Also on the trip are: National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd); Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; and Chairman/CEO Nigeria Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

The President will return to Abuja on Friday.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569939552/buhari-visit-south-africa-over-welfare-nigerians

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Big Brother Naija, BBNaija 2018 housemates, on Monday night paid a surprise visit to the ‘Pepper Dem’ Final housemates.
The ex-housemates, Bambam, Teddy A and Rico Swavey paid the housemates a visit as they celebrated Independence Day in the arena games.

During their visit, Seyi was seen standing really close behind Bambam while taking pictures.
This did not go down well with Teddy A, her husband, as he slapped Seyi’s hand slightly from the back whispering to him to stay away from his wife.

DAILY POST recalls that Bambam and Teddy A got married sometime in August.

This incident has since stirred reactions from Nigerians on social media.

Here are some reactions from nigerians on Twitter:

@Dandy_mee “From the part I watched before going to bed, I was really uncomfortable with the way Seyi was getting close to Bambam. I guess Teddy A felt the same way too. Me I would have given him more than a snap because he totally acted like he had no regards for Teddy.”

@loocochi “It’s was just bants and jokes. And you know these housemates don’t know they are married. But notice how Seyi stepped back after he saw the ring? First off Teddy A over reacted with the slap ,also Seyi should have let the issue be.”

@Cryssie89 “But this Seyi jus confirmed what I initially felt about him! Like dude! It’s just like a lady coming to ‘playfully’ hit on my husband in my presence, and u expect me to smile like a dolor? Respect boundaries ma nigga.”

@Aleon116 “Seyi was actually getting too close to her,from all those jokes.”

@Clubdiddy “Is Bambam not aware she is married? If Seyi was getting to close for comfort, she could’ve told him, “I am married now o and my husband is Teddy A”. You can’t have that kinda ass and be thinking you won’t have guys following sheepishly. Lol. I believe Teddy A could’ve done better.”

@Kandel_Pariz “If TeddyA is Insecure with his woman I would respect 2BABA because Annie is constantly been peck by Ik ogbonna, even in his presence.. What Seyi did after was wrong by talking about Teddy after the Carnival.. He should know Teddy is always Jealous when it comes to Bambam.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569936214/bbnaija-teddy-slapped-seyi-monday-night

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Former Big Brother Naija, BBNaija, housemate, Rico Swavey, has reacted to the disqualification of Tacha from the current ‘Pepper Dem’ season of the reality show.
Swavey described Tacha’s disqualification as unfair, stressing that fellow housemate, Mercy should have also been disqualified.

In a tweet, Swavey wrote: “This is unfair. Both of them should’ve been disqualified!!
“Guys, remember this is just a game and Biggie has the final say. Please, enjoy the remaining 10 days of the game. Don’t get it twisted BIGGIE is always right.

“It’s like watching the final of the Champions League and Messi or Ronaldo get RED carded. I was enjoying the competition between them. I love them both and It would have been interesting to see the final score between them.”

Big Brother had on Friday disqualified Tacha over act of provocation and violence.

Tacha was sent out following her face-off with Mercy which saw both housemates hurl insults at each other.

The fight started when Seyi called Mercy to the lounge so they could read Biggie’s scroll.

But, Mercy, who had her bath came out late for the reading. This, however, did not go down well with Tacha who rained insults at her.

Mercy in return called Tacha a dirty girl with mouth and body odour which got Tacha furious as she dragged Mercy’s hair.

Biggie, after playing the clip of the housemates’ fight, said Tacha was found guilty of physical violence.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569857902/bbnaija-biggie-was-unfair-disqualifying-tacha-rico

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Nigeria is a country with rich history and culture. An anthem is an important rendition which represents the culture of the nation singing it. It is also a piece of music intended to be sung to express patriotism, love, or commitment.
This solemn patriotic song is officially taken by a country as an expression of national identity.

In Nigeria, there were several national anthems in the course of its history.
Nigeria used the British National anthem “God Save the Queen” as her patriotic song in 1914 to 1960.

However “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” was used as the first official anthem of the country, which was composed by Lillian Jean Williams who created the lyrics as well as Frances Berda who composed the music.

They celebrated the freedom Nigeria got from the UK.

This anthem was first introduced in 1960 and was sung continuously until 1978.

In 1978, there was a discourse on the need to chart a way forward for a new anthem; this therefore prompted the government to organize a contest for the “best lyrics” for a new Nigerian anthem.

As a result of this, the committee selected the best of all the suggested lines and phrases, and these led into the composition of a brand-new anthem.

Officially, the phrases and lines of five different authors were used in the song.

Eme Etim Akpan

John A. Ilechukwu

B. A. Ogunnaike

P. O. Aderibigbe

Dr. Sota Omoigui

After the certain time, the special committee picked their lines because they found it most suitable.

Their words were skillfully integrated into the composition that today revives the spirit of patriotism in the hearts of the Nigerians.

A retired Deputy Commissioner of Police and the Director of Music in the Nigeria Police Band at the time, Pa Benedict Odiase, took all the words and organised them in a song which we know today as the “Arise, O Compatriots”, unfortunately, he died in 2013 at the age of 79.

The Nigerian National Anthem remains on famous, awe-inspiring, passion-rousing melodious 2-stanza poem

National Pledge

The national pledge was written in 1976. Its author is Prof (Mrs.) Felicia Adebola Adedoyin born in 1938 as the second of six children.

She was a princess from the Iji ruling house of Saki, Oyo State.

Her children were familiar with the tradition of reading pledges as they passed this ritual at an American school and during studies at Accra Ghana.

Everyone knows that kids are inquisitive creatures. So they asked the mother why they did not read the pledge when they were in Nigeria. Felicia had to tell them the truth about the fact that their homeland did not have its own pledge.

This situation inspired her to write beautiful and patriotic words that we all say with pride today. Her work appeared in one of the publications of the Daily Times in July 1976. The article devoted to this topic was called “Loyalty to the Nation, Pledge”.

This newspaper was read by Barrister Adewusi who was a common friend of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo and the author.

In August 1976, Obasanjo got acquainted with the article and decided to introduce the pledge as he was the head of the state at that time.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569922126/nigeria-interesting-facts-about-nigeria-national-anthem

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Elozonam Ogbolu has become the second housemate to be evicted from BBNaija in a night of double eviction on the 91st day of the reality TV show.
As related by Biggie, since coming into the Big Brother House in the fifth week, Elozonam had had an interesting journey.

“Baby Hercules sure gave us some drama in his relationship and Arena Games performance,” Biggie said.
Elozonam is a 33-year-old self-employed television producer.

“He spent too much time at school, but this taught him to keep it moving,” BBNaija said in his bio.

“The highest point in his life was when he quit his job to start his company.

“When it’s time to press the ‘pause’ button on life, he likes to drive around in a beautiful car,” the bio added.

“What irritates you most about other people,” Elozonam was asked; and he responded, ” Body odour, talkativeness.”

Asked what he would do with the prize money, he answered, “I will produce a feature film.”

On why he would be fans’ favourite, he said, “They will like me because I’m playful. I think I’m funny and my looks.”

Here’s his journey through the Biggie’s House:

Elozonam had quite an interesting time in the #BBNaija Pepper Dem House. Watch his journey here.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569845388/bbnaija-elozonam-ike-evicted-from-big-brother

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The Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, on Sunday reiterated that he would succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in office.
The cleric said that was what he saw one year, seven months ago and the situation had not changed.

“I’ll probably be the first President preaching on Sunday,” Bakare told his congregation.
He, however, denounced social media reports linking his presidential ambition to the alleged scheme by the “cabal” in the Presidency to strip Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo of powers and render him irrelevant.

Bakare said it was mischievous for “cyberspace libertarians” to go and unearth the clip of his Sunday, February 18, 2018 sermon where he declared that he would be Nigeria’s 16th President, Buhari being 15th, and linked it to Osinbajo’s alleged current travails in the hands of the cabal.

“They need to understand that I am a one-man army; I don’t need to join anyone to do any evil and never will I; you will always know where I stand on issues. Those who pull others down in order to get up will never get up. We don’t play games here; we declare the word. And if there is any cabal of evil anywhere doing anything to suppress the people of this nation, God will frustrate the thoughts of the enemies; he will turn the wisdom of their horsemen back, in the mighty name of Jesus!” Bakare said.

Further dissociating himself from the alleged scheme against Osinbajo by the cabal, Bakare declared that “The VP, Osinbajo, will have the last laugh, – they think I’m stupid – except he has violated his oath.”

Bakare stressed that his ambition to succeed Buhari remained intact and it would happen without effort, bursting intermittently into a Yoruba song: “Ohun gbogbo t’Oluwa yio se fun mi, ko gba girigiri.” (Everything God has purposed to do for me does not require me to struggle).

He said, “(Some are saying) supposing it does not work; that is your opinion; when it works, I’ll invite you to the table. You think at this age I will deny things I said. It was mischief makers that took it from one year, seven months and then there was a publication in Tribune on Saturday and they circulated the thing on Sunday; even baba, Kabiesi Awujale said, ‘Ah, ah, the great pastor, you made this declaration and I don’t know anything about it?’ and I said, ‘Baba, it’s not true’. And he said, ‘But you said this on Sunday in your church!’ and I said, ‘Sunday, when?’”

Bakare said to those asking him on which political party he would run, he had been telling them “the one Joseph used when he came out of the prison.”

The cleric said the number 16 was significant for him, recalling that the staircase in his father’s house has 16 flights and a book he wrote in 1993 has 16 chapters.

“You think this is an overnight thing? Go to my father’s house and count all the steps; in that house there are 16 steps. And I say it to those who care to listen; when that time comes, get ready, I will reach my goal. I meant everything I said. It was deliberately so,” he declared.

In commemoration of Nigeria’s 59th independence anniversary, he said he would next Sunday make a nationwide broadcast during which he would audit Buhari’s government.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569835118/will-succeed-buhari-president-tunde-bakare

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A Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a Lagos farmer, Yesiru Onajobi, to 10 years imprisonment for raping and impregnating his 14-year-old daughter (name withheld).
Justice Sule Hassan convicted Onajobi following a six-year trial

The judge said the prosecution successful proved the charges of rape and unlawful canal knowledge made against the farmer.
Justice Hassan held: “The prosecution has been able to establish the charges against the defendant. “I have also listened to the plea of allocutos made by the defendant’s counsel, though, she did not say much.

“The offences that the defendant is charged with are very serious offences, consequently, I hereby sentenced you, Yesiru Onajobi to 10 years imprisonment on each count without option of fine.

“The terms of imprisonment are to run concurrently. However, the period spent in custody shall be deducted from the jail terms”.

Onajobi was arraigned by the National Agency for Prohibition and Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), on July 18, 2013.

The offences, according to NAPTIP, contravened Sections 13 (1) and 18 (a) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement Act 2003.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569585091/father-years-prison-for-raping-impregnating-daughter

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Cindy Okafor, one of the housemates of the 2019 Big Brother Naija reality TV show has been evicted.
She was evicted on Friday in a surprise eviction, that the organisers of the show announced on Thursday night.

Evictions were routinely done on Sunday nights on the show when the housemate with the lowest votes go home.
However, with the introduction of the surprise eviction, some of the housemates, who are up for possible eviction this week, maybe shown the exit between today (Friday) and Monday.


Housemates up for possible eviction this week are Cindy, Elozonam, Ike, Mike and Tacha.

Mike wielding the Ultimate Veto Power given to him on Monday put up the five housemates for possible eviction.

On Monday, the housemates had made their nominations first but their choices were swept aside by Big Brother’s decision to use the UPV without prior notice.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569578738/bbnaija-cindy-evicted-surprise-eviction

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Four senior lawyers on Thursday said Vice-President Osinbajo could not elect to waive his immunity because it was not about him but about the office of the vice-president, which he occupies.
A Lagos-based lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, says vice-president Yemi Osinbajo lacks the constitutional power to waive his immunity.

Effiong said this in a statement while reacting to Osinbajo’s vow to waive his constitutional immunity to pave the way for the “most robust adjudication” over an allegation that he took N90bn from the Federal Inland Revenue Service to fund the 2019 general elections.
The lawyer said the Supreme Court had ruled in the matter of Bola Tinubu vs I.M.B Securities Plc that a person holding any of the executive offices that has immunity cannot waive it.

He said, “Based on the extant constitutional regime, the vice-president Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, cannot waive his immunity. The Supreme Court decided in 2001 in the case of Tinubu v. I. M. B. Securities Plc that the constitutional immunity under section 308 of the constitution cannot be waived by the persons to whom the provision is meant to protect.

“In the said Tinubu’s case, former Governor Bola Tinubu decided to waive his immunity to defend a civil claim initiated against him. The Supreme Court barred the then governor of Lagos State from proceeding with the suit.”

The lawyer noted that immunity does not cover one from investigation, adding that there was no need for one to waive immunity in order to be probed by a law enforcement agency.

Effiong noted, “I wish to state that the immunity under Section 308 of the Constitution does not extend to criminal investigation by law enforcement agencies. This was the position taken by the Supreme Court in 2002 in the celebrated case of Chief Gani Fawehinmi v. Inspector General of Police.

“Provided the investigation does not result in the arrest or detention of the vice-president or compelling his appearance, he can be investigated.”

Effiong, however, said although Osinbajo could not be sued, he had the power to sue for defamation.

He said the law empowers anyone holding such an office to be able to sue to certain extent.

The lawyer stated, “However, it should be noted that notwithstanding the immunity clause, the vice-president has the right to sue for defamation of character. While legal proceedings cannot be initiated against him, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal have decided in several cases that the immunity clause does not prevent the beneficiaries from suing for defamation of character.

“In other words, Prof. Osinbajo can sue but cannot be sued. This was the position taken by the Supreme Court in 2007 in the case of Global Excellence Communications Ltd. V. Donald Duke.”

The statement of Prof. Osinbajo is political. Immunity does not cover investigation therefore the question of waiver does not arise in the circumstance.

Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe and Chief Mike Ozekhome, said Osinbajo could not elect to waive his immunity because it was not about him but about the office of the vice-president, which he occupies.

Adedipe said what Osinbajo proposed to do was like seeking to whittle down the constitutional powers attached to the Office of the vice-president.

He said the only way Osinbajo could waive the immunity was to resign from the office of the vice-president.

He, however, warned that if he does that, he might just be playing into the hands of those who actually want him out of office.

The SAN, who described the N90bn allegation as irresponsible and ludicrous, said it was regrettable that Osinbajo was a target of a smear campaign.

He described Osinbajo as one of Nigeria’s best minds and the kind of leader Nigeria needs in the 21st century.

Also disagreeing with Osinbajo, Ozekhome said, “He cannot waive criminal immunity because it was given by the constitution itself. It’s like saying grant me the right to breach the constitution. This has to do with the provisions of Section 308 of the constitution. You cannot waive a constitutional provision which applies to all people occupying that position and not to you alone.”

However, Ozekhome pointed out that though Osinbajo could not be sued by virtue of section 308 of the constitution, he needed not waive his immunity if he wanted to sue someone in defence of his right.

However, another senior lawyer, Mr Ajibola Oluyede, said the immunity was personal right rather than a public right and Osinbajo reserved the prerogative to waive it to stand trial and clear his name if he wished.

Oluyede said, “The idea that the person who occupies the office is powerless to waive the right which accrues to him by reason of his occupation is not correct. The right is not an amorphous right; it does not operate unless somebody occupies the office. It becomes a personal right of the person who assumes that office and not necessarily a public right. It is a personal right and he can waive it. He can say let them prosecute me, so, I can clear my name or that I am willing to commence proceedings against some people and I am willing to submit to any counter-litigation for the purpose of clearing my name for political reason or any other idea that is in consonance with the purpose.

“It will be different if he was trying to do that for the purpose of suing for contractual claim but I think in this case, he is taking that step for the right reason and there is no encumbrance restraining him from exercising that right, which is personal to him.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569571747/n90bn-osinbajo-can-drop-immunity-sans

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Nigerian record producer and entrepreneur, Michael Ajereh, a.k.a Don Jazzy, is celebrating one year of quitting smoking cigarettes.
The Mavin record boss who quit smoking last year after indulging in the habit for years, took to his Twitter handle @DONJAZZY to announce that he has kept to his promise.

Today makes it one year since I quit smoking. Clap for me pls ? hehe. ? pic.twitter.com/nFDJsy2bcr

— ITS DONJAZZY AGAIN? (@DONJAZZY) September 24, 2019

Responding to a fan who asked how he was able to quit smoking, said he was determined to quit the habit.

“I just stopped like that o. Cold turkey. Tho I started overeating sha. After like two months you will be alright.”

The post has already generated more than 21,000 likes and three thousand retweets.

Following Don Jazzy’s tweet, Nigerian Superstar, David Adeleke a.k.a Davido has also pledged to quit smoking soon.

The singer made the announcement on his Instagram page after he arrived at the city of Los Angeles, California in the USA.

Davido posted a short video of himself holding a pack of Malboro cigarettes with the caption, ‘Quitting soon.’

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569412429/don-jazzy-marks-one-year-not-smoking

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It all started as a mild correction during their workout session in the garden, and then, it escalated to a full-blown quarrel between Mike and Omashola in the Pepper Dem House.
Correction Gone Wrong
During their workout, Omashola pointed out to Seyi that he was not doing the workout right. This comment was ignored by Seyi who continued his routine. Later on, the trainer asked them to touch their calves but Omashola touched his ankles instead. This error by Omashola made Seyi tell Omashola that he didn’t even know where his calf is located.

The back and forth between these two didn’t go down well with Mike as he told both of them to stop bickering and face the workout. Omashola however, wasn’t going to have Mike play the peacemaker so he told him to shut up. Mike retorted by calling Omashola a groupie and with these statements, the boxing ring was swept clean for a fight to begin.

The Face-Off

The quarrel started properly in the locker room with Omashola blaming Mike for starting the whole issue. He kept yelling but Mike told him to face him like a man. Mike wasn’t done yet as he compared Omashola to a 15-year-old girl on heat.

As if remembering that this was a week of happiness, Omashola calmed down and reminded himself that happiness should reign. Well, we guess having a movie treat together does not guarantee a happily ever after.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569409953/bbnaija-mike-compares-omashola-year-old-girl

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A 57-year-old man, Adebayo Olowolayemo, was on Wednesday remanded in prison by an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defiling an eight-year-old girl.

Olowolayemo was said to have lured the girl into his house and had carnal knowledge of her.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Okunade, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on September 14 in Ifaki-Ekiti, Ido/Osi Local Government Area of the state.
Okunade, who painted the picture of how the man allegedly defiled the minor, said, “The victim was sent on an errand by her mother in the neighbourhood and the defendant saw her and lured her into his house and had carnal knowledge of her.


“The offence contravenes Section 31 (2) of the Child Rights Law Cap C7 of Ekiti State, 2012.”

The police prosecutor said the case file had been duplicated and forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

The court did not take the plea of the defendant.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Adesoji Adegboye, adjourned the case till September 27 for mention and ordered that Olowolayemo be remanded in prison custody.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569483561/year-old-man-defiles-eight-year-old

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Professor James Apam, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Kogi State, on Wednesday, attributed the preponderance of fake news and hate speech in the country to the political class and high rate of unemployment.

Apam, who stated this in Lokoja, during a meeting on “securing the votes from fake news and violence,” explained that the political class had formed the habit of churning out fake news in an attempt to outwit one another.
According to him, politicians have been exploiting the unemployment situation in the country to engage jobless youths to write and push out fake news and hate speech through social media.


The REC expressed worries over the increasing rate of fake news in circulation in the country, saying that it had been eroding the credibility of elections conducted in recent times.

He urged Nigerians to stop accepting election results announced on social media as the authentic results. He said that the Independent National Electoral Commission was the only body constitutionally recognised to conduct and announce election results.

The REC also expressed displeasure over the inability of political parties and their candidates to come up with clear-cut manifestoes to guide voters on how to make their choice.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569484864/kogi-rec-says-politicians-unemployment-the-cause

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A former governor of Oyo State, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, on Tuesday said his opposition to the third term bid of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo led to his impeachment in 2006.
Ladoja, in an interview with journalists in Ibadan, said Obasanjo rejected appeals by prominent Nigerians, including a late Yoruba leader, Pa Emmanuel Alayande, and a former Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Bola Ajibola, not to remove him.

According to the former governor, Obasanjo threatened to reduce him to “nobody” for daring to oppose his third term bid.
The Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, who will be 75 years old on Wednesday (today), recalled events that shaped his life and said, “There are successes and failures. There are triumphs and disappointments. And in the long run, I will say that I’m grateful to God that I can claim more triumphs than disappointments.”

Ladoja said he was lured into politics after he bankrolled the election of the late Chief Kolapo Ishola as the governor of the state in the Third Republic.

Ladoja said Obasanjo and not the late Lamidi Adedibu made the impeachment possible.


He said he was able to manage Adedibu until the third term issue cropped up, adding that the Ibadan late politician and him had a good rapport.

The former governor said the impeachment plot paved the way for selfish people. He stated, “There was one that actually made the impeachment possible. It was Obasanjo’s third term.”

He said, “I also made a mistake. When I heard about the third term, I asked Baba (Obasanjo) if it was true. He said it was not true and I said thank God.

“I said, ‘Baba, if not I would have said maybe you don’t know God. I said God made it possible for you to be President for eight years and I said this was a presidency you were not qualified for.’”

Ladoja said when Obasanjo insisted that he was qualified and he told him, “In a civilian government, the Presidency is meant for politicians and you are not a politician. They came to call you.”

The former governor said that he was satisfied that he told Obasanjo the truth, despite the fact that he did not like it.

Obasanjo said he would reduce me to nobody – Ladoja

The ex-governor stated, “When I got home in the evening, the Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, called me and said ‘ governor general , you came to Ota’, I said yes that I came to discuss with Baba (Obasanjo). He asked what I discussed with Obasanjo. I said I discussed the third term. He (Daniel) said, ‘ oh God, you have pinched Baba on his sore. Baba said he would turn you to nobody.’

Ladoja said Daniel told him to come early for a council of state meeting in Abuja in order to apologise to Obasanjo.

He said when he went to beg Obasanjo, he met a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Oyewole Fasawe, with the former President.

The ex-governor stated, “Baba didn’t allow me to talk. He said I had told you Rashidi, I would turn you to nobody. He was going and Fasawe was running after him, trying to tell him he shouldn’t have said that and I answered him, ‘if God permits you sir .”

Ladoja also disclosed that Daniel, the late ex-governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Agagu, an ex-governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and he begged Obasanjo on January 10, 2006 in Abeokuta.

He stated, “We didn’t take Fayose (then Ekiti State governor) along because he was Baba’s son. Agagu, Oyinlola, Daniel and I went to him. They (others) knelt down so I had to kneel down too. Oyinlola is a very good orator. He presented a very brilliant case. Agagu supported him. Daniel and I didn’t talk. He (Obasanjo) said ‘well, Rashidi, go and resign,’ I said ‘no.’ he said why and I asked, ‘why should I resign?’

According to him, Obasanjo threatened that he would be removed if he did not resign.

Ladoja said he told Obasanjo that nobody could get two-thirds in the House of Assembly to impeach him.

The ex-governor said, “Obasanjo said, ‘two-thirds my foot and got up.’ We were talking, when Bola Ajibola (a former attorney-general of the federation) came in and said ‘what is wrong with you people, you are leaders in your own right.

“He (Ajibola) said, ‘I have gone to see Segun (Obasanjo) to plead that he should leave you in peace because you have not done anything wrong. That in fact, everybody is praising your government.’

Ladoja said that Alayande also appealed to Obasanjo not to remove him, but the ex-President rejected the appeal.

He stated, ‘Baba (Obasanjo) came to Ibadan to see Baba Alayande on his birthday, I went with him, Baba Alayande also pleaded with him but before 7 0’clock on the 12th (January, 2006), I was called that the people were coming with police escort to come and do the impeachment. When we got the impeachment notice, we went to court. We told the chief judge then that the people did not have the mandatory two-thirds.”

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569399267/obasanjo-behind-impeachment-over-his-third-term

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The Federal Government will require about $100bn annually for the next 30 years to affectively tackle Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, has said.
A statement from the ministry on Monday reported the minister to have said this at a workshop on ‘Maximizing finance for development of infrastructure in Nigeria’, organised by the World Bank Group in Abuja.

She said the amount was based on the rapidly growing population and urbanisation, adding that the country’s infrastructure target for 30 years (2014-2043) would be directed at increasing the current infrastructure stock from 30 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product to at least 70 per cent by the 2043.
She said, “Nigeria requires an estimated sum of $3tn to bridge its infrastructure gap over a 30-year period. This amounts to roughly $100bn per year, with a total federal budget of less than $30bn for 2019 and the dependency of Nigeria’s income on oil revenue with unpredictable global price fluctuation, Nigeria no doubt lacks the fiscal space to self-finance the required infrastructure investment.”

She said the time had come for the government to start looking for alternative sources of funding infrastructure as budgetary funding alone could not address the funding gap.

Meanwhile, the World Bank has said it would assist Nigeria to mobilise private and public sector investments towards bridging the infrastructure gap.

In a statement on Monday, the World Bank acknowledged that Nigerias faces a $100bn annual investment gap in infrastructure.

The pledge to assist Nigeria close the infrastructure gap came at the conclusion of the visit of officials from the World Bank Group.

The officials included World Bank Vice President for Africa, Hafez Ghanem, International Finance Corporation Vice President for Middle-East and Africa, Sérgio Pimenta, and IFC Vice President for Economics and Private Sector Development, Hans Peter Lankes.

https://www.nairapark.com/news/1569315704/nigeria-needs-3tn-address-infrastructure-says-minister

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