The Presidency has distanced President Muhammadu from what it described as a malicious campaign to drive a wedge between him and a staunch ally, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu using a reference he made on ARISE NEWS Channel interview that nobody would determine to zone and where the next President would come from.

Presidential spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement last night clarified that it was a mischievous attempt to drag the President into controversies and urged the citizens and especially the members of the APC should not fall for this.

“The ruling party, the APC, unlike others before it is a popular political party owned by its entire membership, hence Mr President was making the point during the 45-minute interview that neither he nor anyone in the leadership could impose their wishes on the party. This is a basic consensus that binds the entire party leadership.

Read Also: 2000 auctioneers apply as FG opens forfeited assets’ bidding

The party leaders remain firmly committed to the principles that succession must be through democratic norms and processes. The mention he made of Lagos was not a reference to the respected party leader, Senator Bola Tinubu as the opposition party’s predatory designs would put it in order to damage the excellent relationship between the two of them.

The President, the Asiwaju and the rapidly growing members of the party want a dynastic succession of elected leaders. The APC should not be distracted from its progress as a democratic party.”

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/lagos-mention-not-reference-to-tinubu-says-presidency/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday restated his earlier position that his government will deal with members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in “the language they understand”.

Buhari made this known while responding to a question during an exclusive interview on the Morning Show on ARISE TV.

He said, ”We will organise the police and the army to pursue them. We will respond to them in the language they understand, that is what we will do.”

The President however declined to answer a question posed to him regarding his stance on the Twitter ban.

“I will keep that to myself,” he said

The Federal Government had last Friday suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the micro-blogging and social networking service site in Nigeria, citing the persistent use of the Twitter platform for activities that were capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.

Read Also: Keep using Twitter, N/Assembly joint Minority Caucus tells Nigerians

The Twitter ban was announced by the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, two days after Twitter deleted President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet posted wherein he threatened to deal with secessionists “in the language they understand”.

The social media networking site had said the tweet violated the Twitter Rules.

The ban has attracted widespread condemnations as Nigerians described it as violation of rights of citizens and a prelude to dictatorship.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/president-buhari-insists-on-armed-response-to-insecurity-in-south-east/

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he will allow Nigerians to decide his legacy, adding that he hopes Nigerians would be fair to him.

Responding to a question during an exclusive interview on the Morning Show on ARISE TV, Thursday, Buhari said he would allow Nigerians to decide his legacy.

He cited security as one of the indices which Nigerians should use to appraise his stewardship. He said Nigerians knew the security situation, particularly in the Northeast, when he took over and the current situation.

“I hope they will be fair to me. I will not decide it myself,” he said.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/on-legacy-buhari-says-i-hope-nigerians-will-be-fair-to-me/

The United States Government has called for the immediate reversal of the suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria.

The call by the U.S. is the fourth intervention the country has made in a week after last Friday’s suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria by the federal government.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power said the suspension was nothing more than state-sanctioned denial of free speech.

Power noted that Nigeria has nearly 40 million Twitter users, while also saying that the country was home to Africa’s largest tech hub.

In a Facebook post by the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, Power said the suspension should be reversed immediately.

‘There are nearly 40 M Twitter users in #Nigeria, and the country is home to Africa’s largest tech hub. This suspension is nothing more than state-sanctioned denial of free speech and should be reversed immediately,’ Power said.

The United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria had last Saturday issued a statement where it said the suspension of Twitter’s operations was an infringement on the rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression.

‘Nigeria’s constitution provides for freedom of expression. The Government’s recent #Twitterban undermines Nigerians’ ability to exercise this fundamental freedom and sends a poor message to its citizens, investors and businesses. Banning social media and curbing every citizen’s ability to seek, receive, and impart information undermines fundamental freedoms. As President Biden has stated, our need for individual expression, open public conversation, and accountability has never been greater. The path to a more secure Nigeria lies in more, not less communication, alongside concerted efforts toward unity, peace, and prosperity,’ the United States said.

Closely followed by the statement was a joint release by the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Canadian High Commission and the Embassy of Ireland.

In the joint statement, the five missions expressed disappointment over the Federal Government’s decision to place a ban on Twitter’s operations in Nigeria.

Read Also: Kaduna Police foil kidnap attempts, rescue five victims

‘The diplomatic missions of Canada, the European Union (Delegation to Nigeria), the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America convey our disappointment over the Government of Nigeria’s announcement suspending #Twitter and proposing registration requirements for other social media,’ the statement partly read.

The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, had while responding to a question concerning the joint statement on Monday during a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the missions maintained their position.

‘We remain firm in our position that free access to the ability to express one’s self is actually very important, and perhaps even more important in troubled times,’ Leonard said.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/40-million-nigerians-use-twitter-reverse-ban-now-u-s-to-nigerian-govt/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government against harassing foreign envoys and other members of the international community for speaking out against the alleged infringement on the rights of Nigerians by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The PDP’s position is predicated on the summoning of the envoys of the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada among others by the federal government on Monday.

PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, Monday said “is alarmed by the development which smacks of intolerance towards the international community as obtained in Idi Amin’s dictatorial Uganda of 1971 to 1979.

The opposition party noted that ” there is no law or statute that prohibits foreign envoys from speaking out against the clear violation of internationally enshrined freedom of expression and right to social interactions as provided by Twitter and other social media platforms.

Continuing, the statement read “In fact, the defence of such rights is a fundamental duty which envoys owe their host nations and the international community.

“The PDP, therefore, cautions that any harassment or assault on foreign envoys places them at great risk as well as pitch our nation against other members of the international community.

“It is instructive for the APC and the Buhari administration to note that given the current downturn of our national life under their misrule, Nigeria cannot afford to be declared a pariah nation.

“The PDP is worried that the APC administration has been overheating our polity leading to escalation of insecurity, killings, bloodletting and violence in the country.

“Nigerians would recall that ahead of the 2019 general elections, one of the leaders of the APC, the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, had threatened that some of the foreign election monitors would be returned to their countries in body bags.

Read Also: Reps move to investigate Twitter ban, summons Lai Mohammed

“Our party, therefore, demands that the Federal Government should listen to the voice of reason, end its misrule and desist from infringing on the rights of Nigerians as being witnessed in the illegal and vexatious ban on Twitter.

“Already, the PDP is perfecting processes for legal action against the APC-led Federal Government’s suspension of Twitter and the directive to broadcasting stations to pull out of Twitter.

“In the same vein, our party is considering a directive to all our wards, local governments and state structure to commence peaceful civil protests against the suspension of Twitter, the spate of insecurity and the failures of the Buhari administration”.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/twitterban-pdp-cautions-apc-fg-against-harassing-foreign-envoys/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Q373O0Zas

The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has urged Nigerian mothers to raise children who will grow up to become good citizens.

This was part of her remarks during a courtesy visit by wives of state governors on Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Special Assistant to the First Lady on Media and Publicity, Aliyu Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement titled ‘Aisha Buhari charges women over national cohesion.’

Mrs Buhari was quoted as saying that the country needs patriotic, conscientious and productive citizens who will rally around a common vision of a great Nigeria and work together to achieve this vision.

She said, “Women, therefore, have an important role in promoting national cohesion and development; let us, therefore, play this part and propagate it to other women”.

The statement read, “Mrs Buhari commended the wives of governors for their humanitarian contributions especially to underprivileged Nigerians and charged them to consolidate their efforts into lasting legacies. She also commended them over their advocacy project against gender-based violence.

“Speaking earlier, the Chairpersons of the Northern Governors Wives Forum and the Southern Governors Wives Forum, Falmata Zulum and Betsy Obaseki, respectively took turns to commend the humanitarian and advocacy work of the First Lady through Aisha Buhari Foundation and Future Assured Programme, saying she has been a shining example to them.

Read Also: Insecurity: Buhari calls for synergy among security agencies

“They commended her specifically on the central role she is playing on the issue of gender-based violence.

“Erelu Fayemi, chairperson of the Nigerian Governors Wives Against Gender-Based Violence project, briefed the First Lady on the activities of the project saying the rampant nature of gender-based violence requires a concerted effort by all stakeholders, adding that states First Ladies have taken the frontline on GBV through this project, and are poised to attack the problem head-on.”

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/aisha-buhari-urges-nigerian-mothers-to-raise-productive-citizens/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwIMf7AfV5o

Constitution review: No need to adopt 60 years old 1963 constitution in 21st century Nigeria – Kalu, Reps’ Spokesman

The House of Representatives has kicked against the possibility of enacting a new Constitution or re-enacting the 1963 Constitution also known as the Republican Constitution for Nigeria.

The lawmakers argued that there was no going back on the ongoing amendments to the 1999 Constitution.

Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, in an electronic interview with journalists yesterday, described the Republican Constitution as archaic.

Kalu insisted that the 1963 Constitution had lost its merits when applied to the current realities in the country.

Kalu, in response to the calls by regional, socio-political and cultural groups for the abolition of the 1999 Constitution and a return to the Republican Constitution, noted that the 1963 Constitution was widely credited as “representing the basic understanding and agreement upon which Nigeria’s various ethnicities and regions came together to form the federation called Nigeria shortly after independence.”

Kalu said, “Despite these merits of the 1963 Constitution, Nigerians must acknowledge that law is made for man and not man for the law. The 1963 Constitution was ideal for a Nigeria that had just attained its independence and was still asserting its sovereignty and freedom from British colonial influence.

“Our country, and indeed the world, has evolved from the prevailing circumstances of 58 years ago and as such, we must focus on improving the current constitution rather than adopting a 6-decade old constitution.

“We must also acknowledge the fact that the 1963 Constitution was an imperfect document that had certain demerits.

Read Also: NBC orders TV, Radio stations to deactivate Twitter accounts

“Rather than replacing the 1999 Constitution with an archaic one, I am strongly of the opinion that a comparative analysis of the merits and demerits of both constitutions must be had in order to adopt that which worked from 1963 and expunge that which does not work in the current constitution.”

He added, “While the calls for a total constitutional overhaul are valid and understandable, we must acknowledge that the situation in Nigeria demands a quick review of the constitution as opposed to a total overhaul, for want of time.

“A review of the constitution has become necessary in the face of growing insecurity and threats exposing the fragility of the Nigerian state. Fortunately, the 9th House of Representatives has severally affirmed its commitment to reviewing the 1999 Constitution in line with the yearnings of Nigerians.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/constitution-review-no-need-to-adopt-60-years-old-1963-constitution-in-21st-century-nigeria-kalu-reps-spokesman/

The Federal Government has invited the envoys of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union in Nigeria to a meeting over their recent reactions to the suspension of the use of Twitter in Nigeria.

In a press invitation issued on Monday morning by the Crisis Monitoring and Public Communications Division of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and signed by Kimiebi Ebienfa said:

I am directed to inform that following the recent ban on Twitter by the Federal Government and Press Statement issued by some Heads of Diplomatic Missions Accredited to Nigeria on the subject matter, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency, Geoffrey Onyeama has invited the affected Ambassadors to a meeting today at 12 noon,” the invitation read.

Read also:No legal basis for prosecuting Twitter users, Nigeria’s senior lawyers tell Attorney General Malami

On Saturday in a joint statement, the EU, UK, U.S, Canada and the Republic of Ireland said banning systems of expression is not the way forward.
The statement was titled, ‘Joint Statement From The Diplomatic Missions Of Canada, The European Union (Delegation To Nigeria), The Republic Of Ireland, The United Kingdom And The United States Of America’.

It read, “The diplomatic missions of Canada, the European Union (Delegation to Nigeria), the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America convey our disappointment over the Government of Nigeria’s announcement suspending #Twitter and proposing registration requirements for other social media

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/twitter-ban-fg-invites-u-s-uk-envoys-others-for-a-meeting/

A mother of four in Ebonyi State, Nnenna Sunday has slaughtered her neighbour’s 2 years and 7 months old baby in the state.

Nnenna was said to have picked up a machete to fight the child’s mother, Favor Akata who is her neighbour when the child was killed.

The incident happened at No. 1 Unity FM Road, Abakaliki, the state capital.

Favour said there was no issue between her and the suspect.

She explained that on Friday morning while she was washing clothes in front of her house, she reminded the woman’s child that it was their turn to sweep the compound but the girl left without saying anything.

“When I was done with the washing and stood up to spread them, I saw the woman with machete standing very close to my doorstep. She said if I say I’m a woman I should come and continue washing the clothes. My son was just at the doorstep, I then rushed to go and carry my baby, but she got him before me. That was how she used the machete on my baby’s head, and she cut it almost into two places.

“The woman sometimes behaves insane, our landlord had given them quit notice but the husband refused to leave. There was a time she wounded the husband with a machete and we told him to take her to the village and remove the knife from their house, but he wouldn’t listen.

Read Also: Ex-President Jonathan mourns Prophet T.B. Joshua

“She has four children, but she didn’t start by killing them, it’s me that has only two that she came and killed one,” she lamented.

Police confirmed the incident. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Loveth Odah, said the woman has been arrested and would be charged to court for murder.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/woman-slaughters-neighbours-3-year-old-son-in-ebonyi/

The Presidency yesterday faulted the latest article on Nigeria published by the Foreign Affairs (Magazine) in the United States, titled, ‘The Giant of Africa is Failing’, which was written by John Campbell, an American diplomat.

The Presidency in its response through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said that John Campbell’s claims that Nigeria has become a failed state because of the various challenges bedevilling the country were false and distorted.

In a letter titled “Re: Giant of Africa Falling: Stating the Facts” Shehu wrote: “The latest article on Nigeria in Foreign Affairs titled ‘The Giant of Africa is Failing’ is unfair both to a magazine with such an esteemed pedigree and to its readers.

“Ambassador Campbell has been predicting the collapse of Nigeria for several years. He is of course entitled to his opinions, even where events consistently prove him wrong.

“But facts should not be bent to support distorted opinions. Let me give you one example.

“The authors write: ‘At an April meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Buhari reportedly requested that the headquarters of the U.S. Africa Command be moved from Germany to Nigeria so that it would be closer to the fight against jihadi groups in the country’s north.’

‘President Buhari did not request that AFRICOM move to Nigeria. The transcript of the call with Secretary Blinken is available on the State Department’s own website.

‘It’s not just a question of the invented addition of ‘to Nigeria’ with regard to AFRICOM. It sums up a piece that attempts – subtly but revealingly – to shift facts to suit an argument.

Read Also: “Corps members are part of our national defence policy. Where there is serious war, they can be trained” – NYSC DG says

Nigeria faces multiple challenges, not least of which is the dissemination of fake news and prejudiced opinion.

This is something we have come to expect from partisan blogs and politically motivated lobbies. It is still a surprise, and a disappointment, to see them joined by Foreign Affairs.”

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/presidency-faults-foreign-affairs-report-on-nigeria/

Senate Minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has condemned the approach the federal government is taking to resolve South-East attacks.

Abaribe in an interview on Arise TV on Thursday, condemned the arrest of innocent youths, especially young boys by security operatives in the South-East each time there is an attack on a security formation.

The senator stated that there is a need for security agencies to conduct an in-depth investigation, bring and try criminals involved in the acts in court.

He also insinuated that there are speculations that the attacks which are being done in quick succession in Igbo land were aimed at scuttling the proposal for an Igbo presidency.

“Civil engagement dictates that you investigate, apprehend and prosecute.

“We are happy that Nigerians are seeing that what is here is not an Igbo problem, but a criminal syndicate going around all parts of the county and the government needs to unravel this.

“If a criminal burn a police station, you do nothing and then go and arrest every villager that you see on the street; which is what is currently happening in the south-east, then you are not resolving the issue.

“What you’re letting everybody know is that it is us versus them, which is not a good way of building unity in the country.

Read Also: Farmer arrested for allegedly poisoning 9 wells in Yobe

“We have directed the inspector-general of police and other security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation not to just round up youths that you see, conduct extra-judicial killings and say you’ve resolved the issue.

“Suppose these attacks being done in quick succession in Igboland are meant to scuttle the proposal for an Igbo presidency — I hope you can also look at it from that perspective,” he said.

“All we are saying is, try to conduct a thorough investigation then we’ll know who is doing this, who their sponsors are and why they are doing it,” he said.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/south-east-abaribe-condemns-approach-to-resolving-attacks/

Former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has warned against the ethnic profiling of Igbo people, insisting they “are not killers”.

Okorocha stated this on Thursday, during the centenary celebration in honour of the former Premier of Eastern Nigeria, the late Michael Okpara, in Abuja.

“I appeal to all Nigerians to stop the ethnic profiling of the Igbo.

“They are not murderers, otherwise they won’t be in Kano or Lagos doing business.
“Indeed, we are passing through one of the ugliest moments of our history,” he said.

His comments come almost a week after the killing of Ahmed Gulak, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain.

Read Also: Ganduje seeks military intervention against bandits in Kano forests

Gulak, an ex-political adviser to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, was killed in Owerri, Imo State at the weekend.

Gulak, who conducted the APC primary election in Imo State prior to the 2019 general elections, had accused Okorocha of, among other things, taking him hostage and forcing him to announce the results in his favour.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/ndigbo-not-killers-okorocha-insists/

Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade says he left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the sake of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Ayade spoke with newsmen after meeting with Buhari behind a closed door in Abuja on Thursday.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents after the meeting, Ayade emphasised that he left the PDP for the sake of President Buhari, adding that the president’s virtues attracted him to APC.

‘`I moved into the APC because of my personal relationship with Mr President. I have watched him and I found honesty, integrity and I see his wish and commitment to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“To that extent, I have a leader that I trust.

“Opposition in the third world means let everything happen that will make the other party look bad.

“I am one of the strong Nigerian Governors, who has risen beyond party lines and ethnic lines by virtue of my education and exposure,’’ he said.

According to him, his decision to join the APC is generating a lot of concern for the PDP occasioned by the fact that it came as a rude shock.

“And sincerely, it is indeed a rude shock because until I defected, I was a very strong member of the party in truth and in spirit.

“And, the reality is that PDP had the best result in Cross River – of all the elected offices, all the chairmen of the council, all the counsellors, all the National Assembly members but one, all the chairmen of the local governments, all commissioners, all the appointees, all of them were PDP before I defected.

“So, in terms of performance of PDP, it should be highest performance in the last election in Cross River, which means of all the elected offices, except for one office, PDP cleared all.

“So, for such a governor who led PDP to such a victory, to defect to APC, definitely, it must come as a very, very rude shock,” he said.

The governor condemned the reported cases of attacks on public facilities by those he described as paid militia and bandits across the country.

He accused some unpatriotic politicians as sponsors of the attacks, kidnapping and killings of innocent citizens in some parts of the country.

Read Also: NECO appoints Ebikibina Ogborodi as acting registrar after Professor Obioma’s death

“The increasing insecurity in Nigeria as Nigeria suffers attacks from extraneous aggressors paid militia and bandits, the opposition party only celebrates that because they believe it gives them a chance to win in 2023.

“So, opposition becomes very cannibalistic. So, you rejoice over the bloodbath in your country, you rejoice over the level of insurgency and killings in your country just because you are playing opposition.

“The country is snowballing into a civil strife. We need to come together and support Mr President to overcome the insurgency which is characterized by external militias, who are paid for the purpose,” he stated.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/defection-i-still-respect-pdp-says-governor-ayade/

Inside Details: Police uncover alleged local AK-47 rifle production factory in Jos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hed7xM-Q97g

lord father!!!

Reports that Professor Godswill Obioma, registrar of the National Examination Council(NECO) was assassinated have been debunked by competent sources in Minna.

Both the police and officials of NECO said Obioma died a natural death and also reconstructed the timeline of his death.

According to senior NECO officials who spoke with our correspondent, Obioma arrived from Abuja on Monday morning, not Monday night.

NECO officials who visited him at about 9 a.m at his Dutse Kura quarters in Minna, were told by Obioma that he would soon report in the office.

But by 2pm, Obioma had not shown up, making another delegation to go to his home.

The delegation found him alone in his master bedroom, sprawled on the floor, face down.

He was stone dead.

His brother, who stayed in Minna was invited to see the body.

Read Also: Let’s tackle insecurity with traditional methods — Gani Adams

His body was thereafter evacuated to Abuja.

Both the police and NECO officials debunked the assassination story as fake news and the testimony of the wife, Elizabeth as cock and bull stuff.

Obioma, 67, was appointed last year May as registrar and CEO of the agency.

He hailed from Abia state.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/godswill-obioma-neco-registrar-was-not-assassinated-it-was-sudden-death-family/

Gov. Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger has urged residents of the state to continue praying, as it remains the best option for promoting peace in the nation as a whole.

Sani-Bello said this when he hosted top government functionaries, political office holders and others to iftar in Minna on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event which drew people of diverse backgrounds and culture is aimed at strengthening the bond with God as well as with brothers and sisters, particularly in the month of Ramadan.

Also at the event were lawmakers from the National Assembly, state executive council members, directors-general of parastatals, political appointees, heads of information and media organisations.

Others were imams forum, the leadership of unions and organisations.

Read Also: Bandits attack Mosque, abduct 40 Muslim worshippers

The event culminated with a special prayer session by key government officials, seeking God’s intervention in addressing the security challenges confronting the state in particular and the country.

Those that attended, appreciated the governor for the act of kindness and generosity in line with the teachings of the Quran and Hadith.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/governor-bello-calls-for-prayers-to-end-insecurity/

There was tension in Onitsha on Sunday following the discovery of a truck fully loaded with live bullets.

Security operatives immediately besieged the commercial city to scare away perceived invaders.

The truck fully loaded with cartons of live bullets fell into a ditch along the street, spilling its content.

The incident happened at the Awka Road in the morning as worshipers made their way to church.

A source who confirmed the incident said: “The truck fell, and the entire street was full of bullets. Some boys even scooped some with their hands and ran away, before security people arrived the scene.”

The source said the driver of the truck and his truck attendant abandoned the truck after the accident occurred, disappearing to an unknown destination.

But another source said the driver was arrested by the police.

“The incident attracted heavy security presence to the Awka Road area and Shoprite axis of the city this morning. The police first arrived in the area before soldiers came. They later brought a tipper and used a payloader to scoop bullets into the tipper.

Read Also: I can’t blame or question God – Pastor Adeboye speaks on son’s death

“The Tipper had to make three trips to carry all the bullets to an unknown destination before the truck was finally towed out of the ditch,” the source stated.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, denied knowledge of the incident, saying that he would find out and get back.

As of the time of filing this report, he was yet to get back to the reporter on his discovery.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/truck-conveying-ammunition-falls-in-onitsha-spills-bullets-on-street/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pub-oG-9wMk

We must look at the values Pantami adds to our economy, not his flaws, Lawmaker urge Nigerians


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_HUPmVn8Hk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjv1EJ7W6dQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQtg2r_x27k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t9_AJHmz_A

A member of the Nigerian Senate, Enyinnanya Abaribe, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to the UK for a medical check-up as morally wrong.

Abaribe, speaking on Channels TV on Wednesday, recalled how Buhari criticised medical tourism and assured them he would never travel abroad for medical check-up.

The lawmaker representing Abia South senatorial zone said Buhari’s medical trip shows an All Progressives Congress, APC, a government that says one thing but does otherwise.

He wondered why the president cannot have a medical check-up at the statehouse clinic, adding that COVID-19 was meant to enable the government to upgrade medical facilities in the country.

His comment comes at a time when President Muhammadu Buhari has flown to the UK for a medical check-up.

Abaribe said, “Buhari has not done anything wrong in the eyes of the law, he has the right to take care of himself medically but morally he has done everything wrong this was the president that told us that he would never go for checkup or trip abroad and condemned the huge amount of money spent on medical tourism before he was elected in 2015.

Read Also: Banditry: Buhari issues fresh orders, says bandits, collaborators must be crushed

“But shortly after he lived more abroad than in Nigeria. When COVID -19 pandemic started we were assured that medical facilities in Nigeria will be upgraded and there will be no need for our money spent abroad but we are surprised nothing has changed and he still depends on going abroad for medicals.

“One would have expected that the statehouse clinic would have minimum to do a check-up for him but what can we do we have seen an APC government that says one thing and does another.”

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/medical-tourism-apc-govt-says-one-thing-and-does-another-abaribe/

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has insinuated that the National Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu is likely to support his bid to emerge as Nigeria’s next president.

The Kogi State Governor said this while speaking to BBC

Yahaya Bello has been hosting different groups and individuals in Abuja and Lokoja, the capital of his state in a bid to gain support for his ambition to emerge as successor to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Tinubu has not officially declared interest in running for the president, but it is generally believed that he is a front runner for the presidential ticket of APC.

Also, some groups have been taking Tinubu for the 2023 presidency campaign across the country.

The less than 50-year-old Yahaya Bello has anchored his aspiration for the presidency on his age.

He told the BBC that young Nigerians are the ones pushing his 2023 presidential ambition.

He added that as a smart leader who is willing to be part of the emergence of a youthful president capable of driving the country to success, Tinubu will support his ambition.

“Our National Leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a revered and well-respected leader and mentor who is well respected by all, including me.

Read Also: Banditry: Buhari issues fresh orders, says bandits, collaborators must be crushed

“And I know reasons will prevail on him. He will be part of those who will make a youthful government in this country. I believe in his judgment. He is a nice man,” said Yahaya Bello.

Bello described Tinubu, as a revered, well-respected leader and smart mentor and a wonderful kingmaker who has mentored a lot of leaders in this country.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/2023-tinubu-wonderful-kingmaker-well-respected-leader-yahaya-bello/

Heads of Advertising Sectoral Groups (HASG) has reacted to pronouncements made by Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on the payment of fine for advertisements placed on foreign-owned media Channels and production of content abroad by advertisers.

The minister during NTA’s ‘Good Morning Nigeria’ programme on Monday stated that Nigerian brands running adverts during foreign matches must compulsorily advertise during Nigerian Premier Football League games.

The minister further stated that brands that create their adverts abroad but broadcast them on CNN and other international stations broadcasting in Nigeria will pay a fine of N100,000 each time such adverts are run.

Mohammed said this was one of the rules included in the Broadcasting Code which has been rejected by many in the industry.

However, the joint body of professionals across advertising, media-independent, out of home, and experiential marketing as represented by the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN), Media Independent Association of Nigeria (MIPAN), Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN) and the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) have kicked against such move.

According to a statement jointly signed by the groups, there are some merits in the bid to encourage and support local production of contents in a bid to support the local industries but has to be allowed to develop organically.

The groups also said the Minister should understand that advertisers put their advertising investment where the eyeballs of Nigerians are.

They also urged the minister to engage the industry players and practitioners more and explore collaboration on issues like this before making these pronouncements that can significantly impact the industry.

The statement read in part: “First it is important that the Minister should understand that advertisers put their advertising investment where the eyeballs of Nigerians are. The media decisions are driven by the consumers’ interest, passion, inspiration and aspirations.

“CNN and other international news channels are watched by Nigerians locally and internationally, the world is now a global village and Nigerians do not only live within our physical boundaries.

“Nigeria based news channels and contents developed locally are also consumed across many countries beyond our borders, with no special fines and levies imposed on companies who place adverts within them.

“While there are some merits in the bid to encourage and support local production of contents in a bid to support the local industries, the Minister must understand that there has to be allowed to develop organically.

“Also, many leading Advertisers are multinational companies who rationally seek to explore economies of scale in the production of materials, negotiation costs and broadcast of their contents which run across many countries. Even with this said, empirical information and trended data shows clearly that investment in local broadcast stations still outweighs that of foreign channels.

“There are many areas where the government can support the industry to grow, this includes funding in the areas of technical infrastructure, content development grants, and investment in tools of measurement of advertising effectiveness & efficiency etc. With the right support for the marketing communication industry, content development. Local media investment and media infrastructural development will grow and improve organically.

“The Nigerian music and entertainment industry, as well as the movie industry, did not emerge and become global by forced legislative fiats, but via organic growth and creativity of the practitioners. Production and content development capabilities are improving daily as technology and funding improve, these are the areas of support required for the local players and production industry to emerge and lead the world.

“The HASG as a body made up of Advertisers: Advertising Agencies, Media Agencies, Marketing Activation Agencies, Out-of-home Media Agencies and Broadcasting Company groups, would like the Minister to engage the industry players and practitioners more and explore collaboration on issues like this before making these pronouncements that can significantly impact the industry.

“Our sectoral group is made up of integrated marketing communications professionals and we should be engaged and consulted in matters relating to our industry as it is done with other professional sectoral bodies in Nigeria. We will continue to reach out and be available to support the Ministry of Information and Culture as well as its regulator, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) in moving the marketing communications industry in Nigeria forward.

Read Also: Lawan: I didn’t support tenure elongation for Buhari

“Finally we strongly appeal to the Ministry as well as the National Assembly, to engage and involve the professional practitioners of the various sectors of the marketing communications industry in the conversations on policies at the point of ideation, formulation and development of these policies. This is the best pathway to progressive and implementable legislation of policies and initiatives that will improve the well-being of the industry and Nigerians.

“The ministry and the communication industry in Nigerian can benefit more from working together and in addressing the key issues concerning the development of marketing, advertising and sponsorships in Nigeria when the capability and expertise of the professional players are leveraged.”

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/advertising-stakeholders-object-to-fines/

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s routine medical trips overseas is an indictment of his Presidency’s failure to fix Nigeria’s healthcare system.

The party stressed that the current administration has wrecked the country’s healthcare sector.

Buhari, who had departed Nigeria for the United Kingdom, UK, would meet with his doctors for a medical check-up.

Reacting to the trip, the former ruling party in a series of tweets, charged Buhari to fix the country’s healthcare system.

According to PDP: “It is indeed worrisome that under President @MBuhari, even the hitherto highly rated State House Clinic, has become so moribund that it cannot provide a simple medical check-up service for Mr President.

“While the @OfficialPDPNig has nothing against where any person, including President @MBuhari, seeks his or her medical services, our party is worried that the @MBuhari Presidency is taking no decisive steps to fix our healthcare system, ostensibly because Mr President can afford overseas medical treatment at taxpayers’ expense.

“The @OfficialPDPNig is disturbed that while Mr President jets out for medical treatment in well-equipped hospitals abroad, our hospitals and medical personnel are in very sorry situations while millions of our compatriots suffer, with many dying on a daily basis from conditions that have simple medical solutions.

Read Also: ‘You’re part of the rot Nigeria has become’ – Presidency tells Atiku

“Our party urges President @MBuhari

to show leadership by reflecting on the fact that millions of Nigerians cannot afford overseas treatment and have become despondent by his failure to take decisive steps to address our national healthcare needs.”

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/buharis-foreign-medical-trip-a-badge-of-failure-pdp/

Nigerians are better off together, says Buhari at Tinubu colloquium
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday narrated how he fought for the unity of Nigeria.

He spoke at the 12th Bola Tinubu Colloquium held in Kano.

The President, who participated virtually in the event to mark Tinubu’s 69th birthday, commended the celebrant for being an advocate of unity.

Buhari said despite occasional inter-ethnic tensions and diversity of ethnicity, culture, language and religion, “Nigerians are better together; even stronger together”.

The country’s leader said in the course of his career, he served in all parts of Nigeria, seeing first-hand the enticing possibilities of a strong, united nation.

“I fought for the unity of Nigeria during the civil war of 1967 to 1970, and I saw first-hand the unspeakable horrors of war, not just on fellow soldiers on both sides, but on the civilians: innocent children, women and elderly citizens that they left behind.”

“I have served with great comrades from all the nooks and crannies of our country. I have seen over and over again that their goodness or failings did not depend on ethnicity or religion.”

Buhari recalled Tinubu’s involvement in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate of the late Chief MKO Abiola, to his period as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.

Read Also: President Buhari never promised to make one Naira equal to one dollar – Presidential aide, Femi Adesina

He observed that the politician’s ranks of political collaborators, comrades in the struggle, cabinet members, his advisers, assistants and political associates, have always reflected a pan-Nigeria attitude.

Buhari said the objectives of the colloquium, which seeks to provide answers to national issues, further reflects the personal principles of Bola Tinubu in promoting the unity and welfare of the country.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/nigerians-are-better-off-together-says-buhari-at-tinubu-colloquium/

The Presidency on Sunday attacked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, saying he is part of the rot the nation has become.

The presidency was reacting to comments made by Atiku over huge cases of unemployment in Nigeria and for saying that Nigeria is fast degenerating to a failed state.

According to Atiku, “I have never felt so bad at being proven right, as I am by the report from Bloomberg Business on Saturday, March 27, 2021, that Nigeria is to emerge as the nation with the highest unemployment rate on Earth, at just over 33%.
“We warned about this, but repeated warnings by myself and other patriots were scorned. And now this. We are at a precipice as a nation and the truth is that all stakeholders and elder statesmen have to speak up on time, while there is still a Nigeria to save.

“This government obviously lacks the capacity to address our current challenges, and we must help them, not because of the government, but because of our people.

“In a situation where we are simultaneously the world headquarters for extreme poverty, the world capital for out of school children, and the nation with the highest unemployment rate on Earth, there is a very real and present danger that we might slip into the failed states index – God forbid!”
Speaking in an interview on Channels TV Sunday Politics, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said what Atiku said about 30 million Nigerians out of job was not new.
He said in the build-up to the 2015 elections, when the APC was campaigning, the figure that was used by Buhari was that a minimum of 30 million Nigerians was unemployed, particularly youths and that his government was going to do something about it.
He said that was in 2014/2015, saying that Atiku should not make it appear like a genie that just came out of the bottle, as the statistics had always been there.
Adesina stated that Atiku was in power for eight years, saying that now that he is in the opposition, one could not take whatever he said as the gospel.
Read Also: President Buhari never promised to make one Naira equal to one dollar – Presidential aide, Femi Adesina
He said the question is “when Abubakar was in government with President Olusegun Obasanjo, where did they take the country? Where did they leave the country?”
Adesina added that he had seen clips on social media where Atiku said some things they promised to do, particularly on power; and that some people collected some trillions and didn’t deliver.

“Former Vice-President is part of the rot this country became. He cannot exculpate himself; he cannot sit in judgment over anybody. He played his part for eight years and they left the country where they left it,” he said.

According to him, Atiku could not like Pontius Pilate, begin to wash himself clean of what Nigeria has become

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/youre-part-of-the-rot-nigeria-has-become-presidency-tells-atiku/

The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCD, has arrested a 65-year-old widower, Samuel Darisa, for allegedly defiling a ten-year-old minor, Bello Memunat Muhammed.

The alleged offence was committed at Agbadam area of Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

Parading the suspect at the command’s headquarters in Ilorin, on Friday, the Commandant, Mr Makinde Iskilu Ayinla, said the suspect was picked up, after a tip-off by a concerned neighbour who caught them in the act.

He said the suspect confessed to have committed the crime.

Read Also: NDLEA arrests 70-year-old bandits’ drug supplier

According to the commandant, “The minor consented to the illicit affair since it was not one time he had canal knowledge of the minor.”

The suspect is expected to be charged to court after the completion of investigations into the matter.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/65-year-old-man-arrested-for-allegedly-defiling-10-year-old-girl-in-kwara/