nairavsdollars:
No woman can accept what Alexx did. Never!

SmartPolician:
Being a woman under the Taliban leadership is miserable Joe Biden was right: The Afghan government collapsed too easily. The leaders weren't even ready to stay up and defend their country as if the US was imposing its leadership style on them.

mountmoriah:
You see what am seeing, africa is what this people want to islamize by all means, very soon, they will take africa because of lack of leadership, and weaknesses in our system, the muslims are jubilating all around the world as we speak.

They won't rest until they try their best to extend the rules of Mohammed.

Deborah98:
This constant battles and wars freaks me out like what are they really dragging? And when are all these going to end come to think of it is God in support of bloodshed and waste?

osamz007:
women and their trouble

dragunov:


I know that 85% of those bikes belong to our friends from the North.

There is palpable fear in Ekiti State over alleged secret plot by the State House of Assembly to sack some of its workforce under the guise of staff audit.

The list of affected workers, according to a close source within the inner circle of the Assembly Complex, who spoke with our reporter on condition of anonymity, had already been compiled.

The source who did not disclosed the exact number of workers to be sacked, said the House of Assembly Service Commission had decided to embark on the staff audit to legalize the alleged disengagement plan.

This came as the organised labour in the State condemned the alleged plan by the House of Assembly to sack some staff under the guise of staff audit.

The organised labour in a letter jointly signed by the Secretaries of Nigeria Labour Congress, Coms Taiwo Akinyemi, Trade Union Congress, Lawrence Kuloogun and Joint Negotiating Council, Gbenga Olowoyo, said the unions will resist any attempt to shove out some workers under the facade of staff audit.

In a letter dated 11th January, 2021 and addressed to the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Funminiyi Afuye, warned that sacking any worker at this point would strain the smooth and robust relationship between the labour and the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

The letter entitled: “Staff audit in Ekiti State House of Assembly Service commission, Need for caution’, expressed disgust over the alleged audit, it described as not being in tandem with the spirit of trust between the labour and government.

It stated: “It is very essential to inform you that the attention of the State leadership of the Organized Labour has been drawn to the activities of the House of Assembly Service commission through a letter dated 9th January, 2021, by Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PSSAN) in respect of Staff Audit report which is now before the House of Assembly Service commission.

“As a matter of necessity, the leadership of the Organized Labour fumed over any action under the guise of Staff Audit to disrupt industrial peace in the workplace among Public Servants in Ekiti State.

“There is no doubting the fact that the purported affected staff have been on the State integrated payroll solution system (I.e. Biometrics) captured since 2011.

“The sincere concern of the State leadership of the Organized Labour in Ekiti State is that all actions that may be tantamount to sacking of any worker (s) in any of the Arms of government or Ministry/ Department/ Agency (MDAs) will be vigorously resisted.”

The labour said it would not tolerate any act of victimisation against any worker as responsible leaders, urging the assembly to imbibe the spirit of negotiation.

“We hereby admonish the House of Assembly Service commission leadership and most expediently the Rt. Honourable Speaker to halt any action that may snowball into sacking of any worker.

“This is not the best of time for such inhuman action.”

But reacting to the claim, the Chairman, Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commission, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun described it as a monumental falsehood, saying there wasn’t any attempt to sack any worker.

The former Deputy Speaker said: “For the purpose of clarity, we are not sacking anybody. Staff audit is a periodic policy allowed by law to update our staff strength and ascertain our nominal roll.

“I don’t understand what the labour leaders were saying that the audit was intended to sack people. I want to say that this allegation was wrong. We never had the intention of sacking anyone under any guise.”

yinkus6750:
The government doesn't take anything serious.
Resolving the issues of endsars entails a critical analysis of the crisis, compensation to those that suffered losses, and reform of the police institution.

In continuation of government efforts to ensure sanity on Lagos roads as well as to rid restricted routes of defiant motorcyclists, the operatives of Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit over the weekend impounded 100 commercial motorcycles.

The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye, disclosed that the 100 motorcycles were impounded around Navy Town at Alakija, 2nd Rainbow and Festac Town, adding that the operation was carried out to halt the abuse of traffic laws by commercial motorcycle operators.

"The discouraging high statistics of motorcycle accidents and the compelling need to enhance safety on Lagos roads led to the promulgation of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reformed Law 2018", Jejeloye stated.
@jidesanwoolu @drobafemihamzat #LASG #ForAGreaterLagos

He noted that apart from dubious elements using motorcycles to perpetrate criminal activities, the influx of many illegal motorcyclists into Lagos without any traceable address and valid means of identification remains a huge security and safety threat to residents.

"In accordance with the Law, every motorcycle operator must wear crash helmets, be above 18 years, not ride on kerb/median/road-setbacks, avoid restricted routes, must not carry more than one passenger/pregnant woman/adult with baby/child below 12 years

"They must not install any musical gadgets, must wear an apron, not operate beyond 10 p.m, operate with a rider's permit and have their motorcycle registered with Government", he said.

He warned the general public, especially motorists, to ensure that their valuable items are safely kept while in traffic.

The Chairman solicited for the cooperation of all residents in providing useful security information about criminal activities to security agencies through the Lagos State free Emergency Toll Lines 112 or 767.

On Saturday November 14, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, returned to Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State, for the first time since the 2019 political losses he and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), suffered in the hands of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The former governor was actually in town to be part of the memorial prayer for his father, Senator Olusola Saraki. Bukola Saraki was not alone on that visit as he arrived just a day after his sister, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State for Transport, arrived in Ilorin, for the same purpose.

In 2019, Saraki, who had lord it over the state politically since 2003 when he rode on his father’s political strength to emerge as the governor, suffered a terrible bow to his political jaw as he not only lost hold of the state’s administrative structure in the Oto’ge revolution, but also lost his senate seat to the rampaging APC. Worst still, not a single candidate supported by him and his group won any seat. While the winners were still rejoicing and the losers sulking, the former Senate President sneaked out of town. And he was not to return till November 14, last year.

On arrival, Saraki received a heroic welcome from associates and supporters. A mammoth crowd of supporters and well-wishers besieged Ilorin International Airport to welcome Senator Bukola Saraki back home after the long break. The crowd moved with him into town as he rode in a motorcade to his family house. The political rally led observers to say there was more to Bukola Saraki’s homecoming than merely his father’s memorial. Today, stronger indications have emerged to confirm that the Saraki political family is preparing to launch a comeback in 2023.

“They are testing the waters. The opposition in Kwara is still formidable. What is needed is a leader to rally the various forces together. No doubt, Saraki is the best man to do that. His absence all these while left the stage for the APC to run riot politically. Now that he has re-entered the political space, be rest assured that the contest for 2023 has started in earnest. The grand entry he made following the huge mobilisation done by his allies and aides is meant to send the signals out that he is prepared to once again lead the charge against APC,” an analyst said.

2023 beckons

Not one to leave anybody in doubt of his political intentions, Saraki, shortly after the visit to Ilorin, promised to woo political stakeholders, youths, businessmen, among others, to the fold of the PDP, in its push for a return to power in 2023. He was speaking in Abuja, at the inauguration of the PDP National Reconciliation and Strategic Committee which he chairs. But the message wasn’t lost on the powers that be in Kwara as Oloye didn’t spare any anecdote in letting Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and his party, the APC, know that he is back and ready.

“We will go all out to reach our members who have one grievance or the other and seek to reconcile all of us. We will reach out to numerous key politicians who have left our fold and have indicated interest in returning to the PDP. We will reach out to all the youths looking for a party on whose platform they can contribute to the development of our country. We will reach out to those who create jobs in our country and want to support a party with clear and realistic economic policies.

“We will hold discussions with many other political leaders in other parties who have expressed the desire to join PDP but have held back until we put our house in order. Since political parties are vehicles for mobilising the citizenry around national goals, objectives and ideas; it is important for the passengers in the vehicle to be in harmony, stay together in peace and be focused on their destination and the best possible route to get there,” he said.

Apparently, Saraki’s return from his self-imposed political exile is reawakening his allies and party chieftains. More and more chieftains of the opposition party are finding their voices. Speaking recently, the state Chairman of the party, Engr. Kola Shittu said the PDP is now stronger and better than it was in 2019, and as such, is poised to return to government in 2023. According to him, the people also, having tasted both the PDP and the APC, are now wiser than they were in 2019. “With the way APC is handling things, we will return to power in 2023,” he said.

“APC came to power through propaganda and lies. They deceived the people. Now the citizens have seen the difference between our governors and their governor. So, come 2023, we will be back. We have the right plans. We have the needed strategies and our leader, Senator Saraki, is an intelligent man who knows what to do and what to say. The current governor is a businessman and the people have seen that the incompetence of the current government is affecting the state, he added.

Not a threat

But the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State says Saraki’s recent grandstanding shouldn’t be taken as anything serious by political pundits. According to the ruling party, the era of intimidating the voters with rented crowds is over. The APC boasted that Saraki will not in any way affect the chances of APC in 2023. “APC will floor other political parties in any election that is held in the state,” Chairman of APC in Kwara State, Bashir Bolarinwa said, insisting that Saraki’s domination of Kwara politics was gone for good.

“Let me say this for all to hear; we are not disallowing anybody from entering the state. Saraki’s recent grandstanding is not anything serious. We know that Saraki can no longer pose any threat to APC in the state. God that was with us yesterday is forever with us. Our members have no reason to entertain any fear. Saraki’s domination of Kwara political landscape is gone for good. His coming to the state or staying away will not in any way affect the chances of APC in 2023. APC will floor any opposition in Kwara come 2023,” he said.

Similarly, 74-year-old veteran politician, Kunle Sulyman, said neither Saraki, nor the PDP can stop the re-election of APC’s Governor Abdulrasaq in 2023. Sulyman, one of the founding fathers of PDP in Kwara State, said with his performance, the governor will retain his seat for the APC. “If Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq performs very well and I believe he is already performing very well and he will still do more, nobody can stop him. We are old in the game. The strategy for 2023 is already on, let them plan their own, we will plan our own.

“When you are looking at performance, you must examine how it directly affects the lives of the people. Within one year, there is no local government that the governor has not touched. Oro town, the road had not been motorable for many years. The governor has done it. He is already inviting investors to various tourist centres in the state where he had made the roads to these centres passable. Go to Offa, Kwara North and even in Kwara Central, our people are not blind, they are grateful.

“Tell me, for 16 years, when did we have that? I live in Adewole area of Ilorin for 10 years, there was no water but today, I can drink government water in my house, courtesy of AA and somebody will come and tell me he hasn’t performed when I knew a government which spent billions of Naira on water reticulation and I didn’t get water for 10 years. What about education; there is no school across the three senatorial districts that he has not rehabilitated; all these schools are now conducive for the pupils and the teachers and somebody will now say he hasn’t performed, are they blind? Somewhere in Yashikira in Kwara North, they used to have light but for about seven years, they didn’t have light and the governor provided solar energy for them,” he recalled.

The race is on

While addressing the crowd during his November homecoming, Saraki announced that the 2023 political game is now open in the state as he matter-of-factly declared that his homecoming should be likened to the commencement of the premier league. According to close aides of the former Senate President, he has his eyes on getting the PDP back into Government House. “Bukola is a man who loves the people of Kwara and he cannot fold his arms while they suffer. The current administration has failed and we are coming to change things,’ an aide said.

But some analysts believe the odds against the former Senate President are enormous. Abdulrazak Alabi, an Ilorin based political researcher, wonders what role the former governor will be playing come 2023. “The question many would ask is: what role does Bukola Saraki want to play in 2023 in the state’s politics? A godfather? He wants to return to the Senate? He wants to contest for president? No option looks good for him. Who wants another godfather to design their future? Not in today’s Kwara. People have moved on. If he wants to return to the Senate; it is his legitimate right. But he would be asked if there is no one else outside his family that is qualified for the office,’ he said.

However, some chieftains of the APC are perturbed by the ongoing moves by the PDP to position itself as an alternative to the ruling party ahead of the 2023 general election. Consequently, they are urging the APC to put its house in order before the election. Chief Rex Olawoye, former chairman of Ifelodun Local Government Area and immediate past Publicity Secretary of APC in Kwara, is worried that the crisis within the party, if left unresolved, would lead to disaster during elections. Today, Kwara APC is torn between loyalists of Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazak and those of the party chairman, Bashir Bolarinwa.

“I am of the view that only the national executive of the APC could resolve the cold war within the party in the state. Every attempt at resolving it at the local level had been fruitless. The headquarters of the party should timely set up a reconciliatory committee, so that we will not run a tattered party in Kwara. The governor has sufficient arsenal in his armoury to put the party together in Kwara. I am not talking about money alone, but recognition for all the members of the party. The lack of recognition made some of us defect from the political group of Dr. Bukoka Saraki,” he pleaded.

The federal government will begin work on the construction of the Ibadan-Kano rail project as soon as the Chinese government approves the sum of $5.3bn loan application, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has said.

Amaechi, stated this as a guest of the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Weekend Deal Programme, monitored by our correspondent in Abuja.

He said: “We are waiting for the Chinese government and bank to approve the $5.3bn to construct the Ibadan-Kano. What was approved a year ago was the contract.

“The moment I announced that the federal government had awarded a contract of $5.3bn to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC to construct Ibadan-Kano; they assumed the money had come in. No!

“Up till now, we have not gotten the money a year after we have applied for the loan; we have almost finished the one of Lagos-Ibadan. If we don’t get the loan now, we can’t commence,” he added.

The Minister added that upon completion, the Ibadan-Kano rail would link the Kaduna-Kano-Abuja-Minna-Ilorin-Oshogbo-Ibadan where cargoes could be moved to Kano from Lagos.

On the issue of wet cargoes on the road resulting in vehicular accidents, Amaechi noted that henceforth, cargoes would be conveyed from Lagos to Ibadan only.

He stated that when the Ibadan to Kano rail project is completed, wet and dry cargoes can be transported from Lagos to Kano.

“Nigeria should be more patient with the Ministry of Transportation over the issue of wet cargoes. Currently, we are trying to construct the railway into the seaports to enable us to transport either wet or dry cargoes to various destinations. The only wet cargoes that can go now is between Lagos to Ibadan.

“The moment we conclude that we will be able to move wet cargoes all the way to Kano from Lagos. We should also commence the construction of Port Harcourt to Maiduguri and be able to move cargoes from Bonny to Maiduguri,” he said.

On the funding of various rail projects across the country, Amaechi said the Ministry of Finance is in charge of funding and not the Ministry of Transportation, adding however that Ministry has a Presidential seal of approval to seek loans to fund rail projects for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.