Na wa o

fuckJones:
over to you handle mop, come and masturbate

[quote author=ikeno post=129742772]This is dead on arrival nothing will come of it.same thing they did when they did their first upward increment the Senate and Court did there brouhaha to stop them rather dstv still went ahead with the increment.
When most of the senators are shareholders in dstv multichoice nothing will come out of it.[/qu

With you. Thy are toothless people.

A Pressure group within the Edo State Labour Party, under the umbrella of Shine Your Eyes Group, ( SYEG) Thursday in Benin has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leaders of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Edo State for adhering to the principle of fairness, equity in the choice of it governorship candidates and running mate.

The group in a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Jonah Ifada and Secretary Osagie Omoregie said the LP has murdered sleep in Edo State when the leadership of the party decided to go against the core principle of fairness, equity and justice by throwing a candidate from Edo South in a skewed primary.

Shine Your Group in an apparent reaction to a news report by the Benin Youth Council, (BYC), on Wednesday where it appealed to Barrister Ken Imansuangbon to sheath his sword and join hands with Olumide Akpata in his governorship bid said Akpata should rather step down to a more popular Imansuangbon to avoid embarrassment at the September governorship election in the state noting that it is not the turn of Edo South.

The group argued, “Look at what President Tinubu and the leadership of APC did in Edo State. They decided to abide by the principle of fairness, equity and justice which are fundamental to any development just like what the PDP did. The Labour party should have taken a cue from the APC.

“Are you saying Olumide Akpata is more popular than great and experienced politicians like Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Lucky Imansuen and others who decided to drop their ambition in support of zoning? Akpata should do the needful and step down for Imansuangbon now and save the Labour party from shame. Imansuagbon has vowed to fight his case to a logical conclusion”, SYEG noted.

Recall that Imansuangbon had gone to court to challenge the emergence of Olumide Akpata as the candidate of the Labour Party.

Imansuangbon, in his petition, stated that Mr Olumide Akpata committed offences ranging from giving false information to the acquisition of citizenship of another country, which is a grand departure from the Nigerian Constitution’s accepted norms

The educationist wanted the court to determine whether Akpata “has not supplied or otherwise given false information to the INEC within the meaning or contemplation of the provisions of section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022 read together with section 182(1) (a) and (j) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), among other allegations.

https://kakaakireporters.com/edo-poll-edo-lp-group-hails-tinubu-for-adhering-to-zoning/

Fresh facts about how Finidi George beat fan favourite Emmanuel Amuneke and other applicants to the Super Eagles job have emerged.

Monday, the Nigerian Football Federation approved the recommendations of its Technical Committee to appoint Finidi as coach ahead of over 60 other local and foreign applicants.

Some of the other coaches who applied are US U-19 coach Michael Nsien, Spain-based former Katsina United coach Henry Makinwa, Sylvanus Okpala and Daniel Amokachi. Former Cameroon coach Antonio Conceicao and Dutchman Danny Bujis also reportedly applied for the job.

A member of the NFF Technical Committee, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said some stakeholders had tried to influence their decision in favour of their candidate.

He said Technical Committee members, however, resolved to stick to their guns and pick the best candidate for the position no matter whose ox was gored.

“Some of these people think they are the masters of the game, but they don’t know that some of us have been in this game for some time too. Do you know they set up a WhatsApp platform to decide and influence who will become the coach of the Super Eagles. But we snubbed them,” our source said.

“It could have been the other way round and we would still move on and support whoever the NFF picked.

“We know that some candidates that were not picked for the job would complain, that’s life for you. The important thing now is to support who is there and see how we can qualify for the World Cup. Now we have a manager, he’s going to coach the team, he has the desire to coach and he’ll definitely sit down with the federation officials to sort out his contract.”

On how they arrived at Finidi as the best choice for Eagles, our source said with just weeks to the crucial World Cup qualifiers against rivals South Africa, they needed someone who had an in-depth knowledge of the squad, and not a new coach who would come with a new philosophy alien to the players.

He added that Finidi, having served for 20 months under Peseiro, emerged the right man for the job, while his knowledge of domestic and continental football as current NPFL champions Enyimba also gave him the nod.

Our source added, “Finidi, with due respect to him, has been on ground, and he’s in tune with the dynamics of the modern game, and that for us is a big plus. He’s working with Enyimba, won a league title for them, has coached on the continent and he’s been busy coaching in recent years.

“At the national team level, he’s been with the Eagles as assistant and we know we have some tricky World Cup qualifiers ahead. A new coach might come in with tactics that the players will struggle to adapt to. We don’t need that now.

“Also, as a coach who understand the domestic league very well, his experience in this regard will come in handy when selecting players for the home-based players.”

The Technical Committee member added monetary considerations also played a role in Finidi’s choice for the job.

“Who will pay a foreign coach $70,000 in today’s Nigeria? The money is just not there,” our source added.

Meanwhile, some of the applicants have spoken on the process that led to the appointment of the new coach.

Even though Emmanuel Amuneke described the process as “fair”, he admitted that there was no interview to select the best candidate for the job.

“There was no interview (for the job), neither was there any talk about the job with the federation. There was no contact from the federation nor was there an offer to take the job. They have chosen a new coach, who is one of us, we just need to move on and support him,” Amuneke said.

When asked if he thought the process of selecting the candidate for the coaching role was transparent, US U-19 coach Michael Nsien, who also applied for the job, said, “It depends on people’s standards of process. There weren’t interviews, which I think is basic, it would give the appearance (that it was transparent) at least.”

Nsien, a former U-23 national team star, is positive Finidi will get a competent backroom staff to work with.

“Hopefully he is surrounded with good staff,” he said.

Another applicant, Sylvanus Okpala, who won the AFCON title in 1980 as a player and as an assistant coach in 2013, declined comments on the process that saw Finidi emerge as the winner but congratulated the former Ajax star.

He said, “The important thing is that Finidi has been selected and he is there now. All he needs is the support of everyone to excel, but the biggest support he can get is the one he gives to himself to be successful and take the Eagles to where they belong.

“I feel okay with Finidi’s appointment as the new Super Eagles coach because all of us cannot be there and obviously only one person will be appointed among us. I congratulate him and I wish him the best, hoping that he will take the Eagles to the next level.”

https://punchng.com/how-finidi-beat-amuneke-others-to-eagles-coaching-job-2/

The Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal in Abuja has ordered that its interim order, restraining MultiChoice Nigeria Limited from increasing DSTV tariff, be pasted at the firm’s “corporate headquarters or any known address of the branches of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited across Nigeria.”

The chairman of the tribunal, Saratu Shafii, who made the order dated April 29, 2024, said the document should also be MultiChoice’s known email address, social media handles and any means of communication publicly known for MultiChoice.”

The interim order, restraining MultiChoice from increasing its tariff, was granted in favour of an Abuja-based lawyer, Festus Onifade, who is aggrieved by MultiChoice recent announcement to increase the tariffs on its DStv and Gotv packages effective from May 1.

In his suit, marked CCPT/OP/2/2024, Onifade listed MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission as defendants.

He sought “an order of interim injunction of this honourable tribunal restraining the 1st defendant whether by themselves, her privies, assigns by whatsoever name called from going ahead with impending price increase scheduled to take effect from 1st May 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“An order restraining the 1st defendant from taking any step(s) that may negatively affect the rights of the claimant and other consumers in respect of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

On Monday, April 29, the tribunal issued an order stopping MultiChoice from increasing its tariffs and cost of products and services scheduled to take effect from May 1.

The three-member tribunal, presided over by Shafii, gave the order following an ex parte motion moved by Ejiro Awaritoma, counsel for the applicant.

However, upon moves by the tribunal to serve Multi-Choice, the bailiff alleged that staff at the Abuja office of the company refused to receive service of the order and other court documents.

The bailiff claimed that one of the company’s top managers at the Abuja office refused to receive the documents and instructed that the documents be sent to the Lagos office, being the headquarters.

Following the bailiff’s feedback, the tribunal issued an order of substituted service on MultiChoice pursuant to Section 48 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018; and Part N, Order 14 Rule 11(1) of the CCPT Rule, 2021.

In the certified true copy of the order of substituted service, the Shaffi-led panel directed that the ex-parte order in suit number: CCPT/OP/2/2024, be pasted at the corporate headquarters or any known address of the branches of MultiChoice Nigeria Limited across Nigeria.

She also ordered that the documents be sent to the company’s “known email address, social media handles and any means of communication publicly known for Multi-Choice and shall also be pasted in the CCPT communication outlet.

Multi-choice had recently announced price increments across its DStv and GOtv packages effective May 1, 2024.

The pay-TV company had claimed the price hike was due to the cost of business operations in Nigeria.

https://punchng.com/dstv-hike-lawyer-to-paste-restraining-order-at-multichoice-office/

...untold suffering of Nigerians unacceptable, probe Kyari now

...to stage protest nationwide

Over 200 civil society groups under the auspices of Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Poverty in Africa (CoSGAPA), on Tuesday, demanded the sack of Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Engr Mele Kyari to resign over the biting fuel scarcity resulting in hike and its toll on Nigerians.

The demand for Kyari's sack or his resignation by the groups is on the heels of what they alleged as high level of incompetence and corruption in the oil sector, which according to them had compounded the hardship Nigerians are passing through.

Speaking during a world press conference held in Abuja, the National Spokesperson of CoSGAPA, Mr. Aderonke Adebisi, said they condemn vehemently the suffering of Nigerians which he described as man-made scarcity in a ploy to stage Nigerians against the Tinubu Government and portray the President in bad light to the world.

He said: We are really pained and suspect acts of sabotage to the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reposition and restore Nigeria's economy but unfortunately, the actions of the Group Chief Executive Officer, GCEO, Nigeriam National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, Engr Mele Kyari, tilts towards the way of a saboteur by allowing fuel scarcity to escalate and brought about untold suffering on Nigerians and their businesses.

The Civil Society groups also said it would mobilise her members across the nation for a nationwide protest to press on their demands for the resignation or sack of Engr Mele Kyari, the NNPCL GCEO and for a thorough investigation of key actors in the petroleum industry.

"The entire nation is engulfed with this scarcity that had negatively impacted the Naira appreciation, prices of commodities are now beyond the reach of Nigerians including high transport fares, inability to run their businesses, and the people are agitated because nobody is exempted.

In fact, we have come to see and know about the abysmal performance of Kyari and his team, whereby the NNPC Limited has become an epicenter of controversy due to the misguided actions of Mele Kyari, which not only undermine President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda but also cast a shadow on the credibility of the National oil company.

"We call on you Mr President today to demand Engr. Mele Kyari's immediate sack or resignation from office as GCEO of NNPC Limited due to his deficiency in character required of his office and in a government that promises to renew the Hope of Nigerians. The scarcity of fuel, necessitating indiscriminate hike in price across the country is a bitter taste for Nigerians to swallow. It is time for Mr Kyari to go. We say in clear terms, Kyari MUST go.

"It is in the best interest of our nation that Engr. Mele Kyari's alleged corrupt tendencies are addressed promptly to safeguard the integrity of this administration and ensure that the objectives set for the NNPC limited are pursued diligently and without any corrupt tendency.

"Therefore, we are issuing a 7-day ultimatum to the GCEO of NNPC Limited, Engr. Mele Kyari to resign from office or else we will storm the NNPC headquarters with our members to protest against you and across the country."

Meanwhile, he added that, "President Tinubu has indeed distinguished himself as man who truly loves Nigeria, his continued trips across the world to woo international investors to Nigeria can not work with persons like Mele Kyari and his cohorts who due to their selfishness has continued destroy the good image of our dear Nation with your corrupt ways."

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ordered the closure of Landmark Beach, Lagos starting from Sunday.

Umahi disclosed this on Saturday, during a press briefing held at Landmark Beach.

He said, “We want to start the demolition from this point, I continue to say that none of the infrastructure is affected, just the shanties, and I have directed that the beach should be shut down from tomorrow.

“The place is owned by people that are sand filling it, and at the end of the day, there is no more beach, so what we are doing is to pass our coastal road within the Right of Way of the Federal Government. Those who are playing politics with it can go ahead; my job is simple, which is to pass the coastal road.”

The minister asserted that from Wednesday oThursday, compensation would be paid.

He said, “From Wednesday/Thursday, I will pay the compensation, that is why I am still here and I will be here working through the week. For anyone (all that has been confirmed and deserving) being demolished, we would direct the payment to be made.

“I know that you must pay before you demolish, but this is President Bola Tinubu’s government, we have said we would pay compensation, and we are going to pay compensation.”

Umahi noted that the government’s commitment is to stay along the coastline, describing that they have gone through kilometers 13, 16, and 20 today, Saturday.
The minister asserted that from Wednesday oThursday, compensation would be paid.

He said, “From Wednesday/Thursday, I will pay the compensation, that is why I am still here and I will be here working through the week. For anyone (all that has been confirmed and deserving) being demolished, we would direct the payment to be made.

“I know that you must pay before you demolish, but this is President Bola Tinubu’s government, we have said we would pay compensation, and we are going to pay compensation.”

It is designed to connect Lagos to Cross River, passing through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states before culminating in Cross River.

Punch

https://punchng.com/lagos-calabar-highway-fg-begins-demolition-shuts-lagos-beach/

The Governor of Kogi State & Chairman of the Party's Ondo State Guber Primary Election Committee, HE. Ahmed Ododo has submitted the Committee's report to the National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja

https://twitter.com/OfficialAPCNg/status/1782838411935596833?t=fPFxwSO628b22jQajk0wdQ&s=19

A youth group within the Labour Party in Edo State under the umbrella of ‘Shine Your Eyes Group’, (SYEG), Tuesday has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and Professor Mahmood Yakubu for adhering strictly to the rule of law in deepening democracy in Edo State Labour Party’s candidates list ahead of the September governorship election.

The statement by SYEG came in reaction to an earlier statement by the Edo State chairman of LP, Kelly Ogbaloi who faulted INEC’s listing Oluyinka Faith Alufohai as the deputy governorship candidate to Olumide Akpata.

The group in a statement signed by its chairman, Comrade Jonah Ifada and Secretary Osagie Omoregie also knocked the Edo State chairman of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi over it rejection of INEC final list and reminded the party that what the electoral body has done was in accordance to the law and deserves commendation.

They also noted that what has become the lot and tragedy for the Labour Party in Edo State was a clear reflection of the shambled primary it conducted in the State where the wishes of party’s faithful was subverted by those entrusted to run the affairs of the party.

Ifada in a widely circulated statement in Benin noted, “Our attention has been drawn to the ranting by the Edo State chairman of the Labour Party, Kelly Ogbaloi, rejecting the nomination of Oluyinka Faith Alufohai in INEC announced final list of candidates as ludicrous.

“We want to state equivocally and remind Ogbaloi that INEC is not like the Labour party and that what INEC has done was in line with the rule of law and deserves commendation for being vigilance and thorough.

“We had warned the Labour Party to play by the rules of the game but they choose to bow to the weight of naira and dollars to subvert democracy and the wishes of our people.

“As stakeholders, we are however confident that the abnormality by the party would be corrected by the court as we have it on good authority that one of the aspirants, Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon has gone to court to seek interpretation of the constitution as regards issues in the party’s primary.

Recall that Imansuangbon in his petition stated that Barrister Olumide Akpata committed a horde of offences ranging from giving false information to the acquisition of citizenship of another country, which is a grand departure from the Nigerian Constitution’s accepted norms.

On the allegation of false information, Barrister Imansuangbon alleged that Barrister Akpata while filling INEC form EC 9 “stated his name to be Akpata Olumide Anthony which is different from and not the same as Akpata Olumide Osaigbovo” which he earlier stated on oath to be his name and under which he contested and reportedly won the primary election of the LP.


Imansuangbon wanted the court to determine whether Akpata “has not supplied or otherwise given false information to the INEC within the meaning or contemplation of the provisions of section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022 read together with section 182(1) (a) and (j) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”

On Akpata taking an oath of allegiance of Vanuatu, an independent and sovereign nation, Imansuangbon wanted clear interpretation of the Nigerian constitution to know if Akpata’s “claim on oath, in the said INEC form EC 9 that he has not voluntarily acquired the citizenship of another country is not or does not amount to false information, within the meaning of the provisions of section 29(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022, read together with section 182(1) (a) and (j) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria(as amended).”

On Oluyinka Faith Alufokhai, “who is parading herself” as the running mate of Barrister Akpata, the petitioner cited some information that she supplied in INEC form EC 9 which do not add up. The information includes that “she was born in 1981 and that she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate in the same year of her birth.

“Her name is Alufokhai Oluyinka Faith while her former name was Ikheafe and she obtained three certificates namely OND, HND and PGD the same year, 2005.”
https://kakaakireporters.com/edo-poll-group-slam-edo-lp-commend-inec-yakubu-over-list-of-candidate/

when dollars is involved?

sdeli:
The people wey get conscience.

Can same be said in Africa ?

congratulations

hslbroker2:
First to. Comment

Tesla has cut its prices again in a number of major markets - including the US, China and Germany - as the electric car giant run by multi-billionaire Elon Musk faces falling sales.

The move comes after it reported a sharp fall in its global vehicle deliveries in the first three months of this year.

A price war has been intensifying between electric vehicle (EV) makers, with particularly fierce competition coming from Chinese firms.

Tesla is due to report financial results for the first quarter of 2024 after the US market close on Tuesday.

In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Mr Musk said: "Tesla prices must change frequently in order to match production with demand."

In China, the firm cut the starting price of the revamped Model 3 in China by 14,000 yuan (£1,562) to 231,900 yuan.

Prices of the Model Y, Model X and Model S vehicles in the US were reduced by $2,000 (£1,616) on Friday.

There were also price cuts in many other countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according Reuters, the news agency.

BBC News has contacted Tesla for comment.

The company triggered an EV price war over a year ago when it aggressively cut prices at the expense of profit margins.

The firm has been slow to refresh its ageing models while rivals in China, such as BYD and Nio, have been rolling out cheaper models. Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi also launched its first EV last month.

Last week, Tesla announced plans to lay off more than 10% of its global workforce.

Over the weekend, Mr Musk said he would postpone a planned trip to India, where he was due to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, due to "very heavy Tesla obligations".

On Friday, the firm recalled thousands of its new Cybertrucks over safety concerns.

It is because their accelerator pedals currently risk getting trapped by the interior trim, increasing the possibility of crashes.

Tesla's shares have fallen by more than 40% since the start of this year.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1d4g8jz57yo

The Israeli military's intelligence chief has resigned, saying he took responsibility for the failures before Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Major General Aharon Haliva would retire once his successor was selected.

He acknowledged in a letter that his intelligence directorate "did not live up to the task we were entrusted with".

He is the first senior figure to step down over the attack, which were the deadliest in Israel's history.

Israeli military and intelligence officials missed or ignored multiple warnings before hundreds of Hamas gunmen breached the Gaza border fence that day and attacked nearby Israeli communities, military bases and a music festival.

About 1,200 Israelis and foreigners - mostly civilians - were killed and 253 others were taken back to Gaza as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel responded by launching its most intense ever war in Gaza with the aims of destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages.
More than 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza - most of them children and women - have been killed in the conflict, the territory's Hamas-run health ministry says.
A statement put out by the IDF on Monday said Maj Gen Haliva had "requested to end his position, following his leadership responsibility as the head of the intelligence directorate for the events of 7 October".

In his resignation letter, the general wrote: "I carry that black day with me ever since, day after day, night after night. I will carry the horrible pain of the war with me forever."

He also called for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry "that can investigate and find out in a thorough, in-depth, comprehensive and precise manner all the factors and circumstances that led to the difficult events".

"Everything I did during my service in the IDF was for the sake of the people of Israel and the State of Israel," he added.

Maj Gen Haliva's resignation had been anticipated, given that he had stated 10 days after the attack that he bore full responsibility for the intelligence failures of his directorate.
However, the announcement sets the stage for what is expected to be more fallout from Israel's top security officials.

The IDF's chief of staff, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, and the director of the Shin Bet security service, Ronen Bar, have both taken responsibility for failing to protect Israelis but decided to stay on for the war in Gaza.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that "everyone will need to provide answers, myself included". However, he so far refused to accept any direct responsibility.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said on X (formerly Twitter) that Maj Gen Haliva's decision to resign was "justified and honourable", but added that Mr Netanyahu "should have done the same".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68873227

Troops of Operation Lake Sanity III, under Operation Hadin Kai, have reportedly discovery an Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist bread production factory hidden within their den in Maisani, Timbuktu Triangle, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

According to intelligence sources quoted by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, on Monday, the Combined troops of 199 Special Forces Battalion, in conjunction with Hybrid Forces and Civilian JTF (Joint Task Force), stumbled upon the bread factory during an exploitation mission into the terrorists’ hideout on Sunday.

“The sources said that the factory was destroyed while items recovered include 2 Lister generating plants, 1 baking machine, and several baking materials,” Makama reported.

According to the report, the discovery came amidst a week-long clearance operation aimed at decimating the terrorists from their stronghold in the Timbuktu Triangle, an area comprising Buk 1, 2, and 3, Talala, Ajigin, Dusula, Abulam, and Gorgi – a region notorious for harbouring these extremist groups.
“Despite the complexity of the terrain, characterised by highly fortified camp mostly located under thick foliage and IEDs planted in several locations within the Timbuktu Triangle, the troops continued to maintain high fighting efficiency,” Makama stated.

https://punchng.com/army-uncovers-iswap-bread-factory-in-borno/

MP3GAGAdotCOM:


TUANKU Your name says it all..

You're a useless fool.. I'm not even Igbo to show how foolish you are.. I think you're the illiterate here, woo unto you and your illiterate kinsmen.

I'm from Igala, ur closest neighbours in Kogi state, so you can go and hang urself.

You're throwing shades at Tivs and Idoma forgetting that the Igalas have done worst. Every tribe have their bad eggs that doesn't mean everyone is bad. Just as you may be the wicked one in Igalaland or the good one.

The Full Story

Mrs Mary Aku, married to David Aku, son of Isaac Ityungu Aku, bought 6 plots of land from the Akaahan Adi family in Gboko more than 10 years ago. We built our house there and use the rest of the land for farming. Goats from the community have been ravaging our farm and destroying cassava. My mother went round to the houses of all goat owners and told them to tie their goats. This is as there is even an anti-open grazing law. She also has goats and pigs but she keeps them indoors and feeds them. They didn’t heed her advice. The goats kept coming to her farm. We then caught 2 goats and took them to the community youth leader to report the matter. He took he goats and returned them to their owners without settling any matter.
About 2 weeks ago, one of our neighbors came to threaten us in our house with a cutlass, saying his goat died after coming to our farm and if any of his goats died again, he will end us. We didn’t see any dead goat on our land. When my mother came back from work, we told her. She said if someone can bring cutlass to threaten people in her house and she goes to their house to ask them, they might stab her with a knife. As a law abiding citizen, she went to report to the Police. Two officers came to arrest he boy but the boys in the area resisted his arrest, stating that Police does not arrest in their area.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI6EeVklCdk?si=LjeH-3zrtN-TDbs-

The Police went back and told my mother that the case is now between those boys and them, no longer her. The Police then came on the 21st of March to arrest the two boys. They then told my mother to come to the station early in the morning.
By morning, the family of the boy that came to the house and started destroying things saying we kidnapped their son. The father promised to send us packing from the community, saying they sent someone out of the community before so we would be the second to leave. He then went to call one of the community chiefs to come.
We stayed indoors and didn’t go out. They tried to bring down our door to no avail. We called the Police and they came. They asked the father and the chief to come to the station, including my mother. When they went to the station, they arrested the father. They were taken to the State CID the next day which was a Friday. By Monday, 25th March, the case was in court. They were remanded, pending bail application. The Judge told them he would grant them bail so they can try to settle with my mother out of court and repay all damaged things. Meanwhile, the case was adjourned to 1st July so hat the long period will be used to settle the case else, the case would continue in court. They were granted bail on 2nd April.

On 7th April, we saw 2 dead goats on our farm. We didn’t touch them. This morning, the Ter Gboko community youths mobilized and came to the house in their numbers. We stayed indoors still. They didn’t talk to us or try to ask any questions, they started breaking all windows in the house, destroyed our car, went to the piggery we have, forced the door open and took away all our pigs. They also killed the dog. The sad they have sent someone (a banker) out of the community before so we are the second that will be sent out. We called the Police and by the time the Police came, the boys had left. As they saw the Police, they came and attacked the Police van. The Police ran for reinforcement. They came back but the boys still attacked them. They beat up 3 police officers and even collected weapons. This youth group was led by their leader, Mike Adi. The Police were able to move us out of the house to the station. While on our way to the station, the boys set the house on fire. We didn’t remove a pin. Only the clothes on our bodies and our phones. We lost every other possession. The house was razed down.

It was all smiles and laughter when inspirational cum gospel minister, Kenneth Okezie Samuel popularly known as Kenny Sam invited some of the biggest entertainment and music critic in his Abuja office on a private music video review.

The atmosphere was tensed as the producer (A Kaduna based) was prepared to receive the bashing of his life from the media gurus on hand.

The stage was set with some mouthwatering delicacies to energize everyone as the video was played.

Meanwhile, Kenny Sam has said his intention was to shoot a video that is different from what is obtainable in the industry and the coming of the young producer and director made everything easier for him.

The video wasn't what everyone expected like the conventional shoot everybody were used to. The producer’s idea was to synchronize his message with the talent and make viewers and listeners enjoy the lyrics while praising God.

After, hearing from the journalists on hand, he explained that the title of the song "The Difference" motivated him to do what he did.

He was applauded for his simplicity even after some asked some pertinent questions that concerns colours and images in the video.

Kenny Sam the Igwe Crooner appreciated those who made it and thanked them for their candid critique as it has shown that given young people the ability to think would differentiate them from the crowd. 

He also stated that "You will agree with me that this one is totally different by the time you are done listening."

'The Difference’ will be dropping audio and visuals on all social media platform Friday.

It's a must watch.


https://kakaakireporters.com/the-difference-a-unique-gospel-music-video-by-kenny-sam-to-drop-friday/

It was all smiles and laughter when inspirational cum gospel minister, Kenneth Okezie Samuel popularly known as Kenny Sam invited some of the biggest entertainment and music critic in his Abuja office on a private music video review.

The atmosphere was tensed as the producer (A Kaduna based) was prepared to receive the bashing of his life from the media gurus on hand.

The stage was set with some mouthwatering delicacies to energize everyone as the video was played.

Meanwhile, Kenny Sam has said his intention was to shoot a video that is different from what is obtainable in the industry and the coming of the young producer and director made everything easier for him.

Senny 

The video wasn't what everyone expected like the conventional shoot everybody were used to. The producer’s idea was to synchronize his message with the talent and make viewers and listeners enjoy the lyrics while praising God.

After, hearing from the journalists on hand, he explained that the title of the song "The Difference" motivated him to do what he did.

He was applauded for his simplicity even after some asked some pertinent questions that concerns colours and images in the video.

Kenny Sam the Igwe Crooner appreciated those who made it and thanked them for their candid critique as it has shown that given young people the ability to think would differentiate them from the crowd. 

He also stated that "You will agree with me that this one is totally different by the time you are done listening."

'The Difference’ will be dropping audio and visuals on all social media platform Friday.

It's a must watch.


https://kakaakireporters.com/the-difference-a-unique-gospel-music-video-by-kenny-sam-to-drop-friday/

James JighJigh Abi famously known as Jay Sound is one of most sought-after multi-talented Afropop musicians in Nigeria. The Benue State born artiste from Gboko local government area started musical career at a very tender age while following famous artistes like Oristefemi, Jumabee and others as their choreographer.

Speaking with Jay Sound, he said music has been the drive that has been keeping him alive while his passion for music has become a way of expressing himself.

"I choose Afropop as my genre of music because it was easy for me to express myself and most of my fans could understand what I'm dishing out. So far, I have done 17 good songs and composed close to 50 now.

Jay sound is not just a singer, he also does political songs for political parties and politicians. One of his songs was famous for ushering in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which he was contracted by the elsewhile Minister of humanitarian affairs, Betta Edu.

"I did political songs for different parties because I needed more ears and I needed to explore myself to add more credit to my portfolio. As an artiste doing those songs for them,it was a stepping stone for me to move and to know more personalities.

"I'm planing that this year, I need to meet more top notch superstars who has made more efforts in the industry especially Don Jazzy, Olamide, etc. They will reshape me and nurture my talent for a better tomorrow.

He also speaks on his challenges:
"The challenges I have faced as an artist is the reason I'm waxing stronger because if I'm to say all here I won't finish today...but the major one is not having your personal gadgets to wake up at night and record what comes between the silent time. Also, attending shows and end up trekking home countless times so the experience has kept me stronger" he added.

He concluded by thanking his fans for standing by him all these years , promising that he will not let them down.

He also promised them to keep hope alive as he's cooking something that they haven't heard and seen before in the music industry.


https://kakaakireporters.com/i-express-myself-easily-through-afropop-jay-sound/

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) saddled with the responsibility of managing and harnessing Nigeria’s oil and gas in what appears an attitude to a disregard for accountability that has helped undermine its country’s extractive sector, has refused to disclose contract deals, and has abandoned the Jos oil pipeline project.

Under the deal, NNPC awarded a contract to Macready Oil & Gas Service Company Limited. The contract is for maintenance of the Warri-Kaduna Crude Oil Pipeline (604km), Kaduna-Kano Products Pipeline (224.3km), Kaduna-Jos Products Pipeline (166.4km), Kaduna-Suleja Products Pipeline (170.8km), Kaduna Depot, Kano Depot, Jos Depot and Suleja Depot.

Our officials’ visit to the Jos depot located at Jingre, Basaa Local Government Area of Plateau State shows that there is no oil pipeline project going on. An indication that NNPC has abandoned the project it awarded to Macready Oil & Gas Service Company Limited.

A senior personnel who spoke to our officials at the Jos depot, said they are aware of the oil pipeline contract. He, however, pointed out that to the best of his knowledge, nothing has been done regarding any project execution in Jos.

The senior personnel who did not want to give detailed information regarding the project referred our officials to NNPC headquarters in Abuja Nigeria’s capital city for further inquiry and detailed information about the project.

Worse still, NNPC has since refused to provide information regarding the contract, making contract disclosure difficult. The corporation’s non-disclosure affects citizens’ ability to hold the state, institutions, and powerful individuals accountable for the way its natural resources are being managed on their behalf.

Divine Era Development and Social Rights Initiative (DEDASRI) and its partner Media Advocacy West Africa (MAWA Foundation) using the Freedom of Information (FOI) requested NNPC to disclose information about the contract it awarded to Macready Oil & Gas Service Company Limited for the maintenance of Jos Oil Pipeline and construction of Oil Depot in Jos.

An information request NNPC refused to release while hiding under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 as a justification for its refusal. NPC claims that under the Act, it is no longer a public institution, but a private company, and has since ceased to be an agency of government. Hence not under any obligation to respond to FOI requests and be accountable to the public. The corporation further pointed out that it cannot answer questions about its financial transaction dealings regarding contract awards because it is not a financial institution.

The non-compliance with disclosure by the NNPC on the way it manages the Nigerian oil and gas natural resources on behalf of the citizens has continued to be a major challenge in achieving extractive sector transparency in Nigeria. This is even as the Nigerian state has laws such as the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI Act), FOI Act, Petroleum Industry Act, Public Procurement Act, Fiscal Responsibility Act, etc that place the state under the obligation to make public access to extractive deal available to citizens.

NNPC’s non-compliance with disclosure in the extractive deal is a long-standing entrenched habit that can only be addressed through the participation of strategic stakeholders in the implementation of coordinated interventions that will encourage the Nigerian state to promote transparency in the extractive sector.

Advocates of open transparency in the extractive sector who spoke to our officials, said they are worried that attaining transparency in the extractive industry is becoming difficult. For instance, Mr. Michael Uzoigwe, Ph.D., former EITI Country Manager for Anglophone Africa pointed out that despite the availability of laws ensuring disclosure and transparency, the Nigerian state has continued to resist transparency in the extractive industry.

Efforts by our officials to speak to Macready Oil and Gas Service Company Limited were unsuccessful. Calls made to the company’s telephone did not go through and an email sent to its official email address got no response.

https://kakaakireporters.com/nnpc-refuses-disclosure-abandons-jos-oil-pipeline-project/

Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Senator Stephen Odey Ph D, has unveiled his new book titled, "OIL AND GAS: Pollution Abatement and Control Legislation in Nigeria".

The book launch was Chaired by Prof Enang Udah, who serves as the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Calabar.

The unveiling which took place in Calabar, the Cross River State capital city on Saturday, attracted notable personalities including his dear wife Mrs Monica Odey, the State Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC Cross River State, Alphonsus Ogar Eba Esq JP and former Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, Prof Zana Akpagu.

This is just as Sen Odey was awarded his second Ph.D. (Doctor of Law) at the 36th Convocation Ceremony of the Prestigious University of Calabar, where he also represented the Cross River State Governor, Sen Prince Bassey Otu at the epoch-making event.

PROFILE OF SENATOR STEPHEN ADI ODEY, A STATESMAN OF INTEGRITY AND SCHOLARLY DISTINCTION

Senator Stephen Adi Odey, hailing from Uchu-Yache in the Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria, is a distinguished figure renowned for his academic prowess, professional achievements, and commitment to public service. His journey of excellence began with a solid foundation in education, as he attended St. Christopher Primary School in Uchu-Yache and later Yache Community Secondary School Alifokpa and St. Thomas’s College Ogoja for his secondary education.

Continuing his academic journey, Senator Odey pursued higher education at the prestigious University of Calabar, where he obtained multiple degrees, including a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Law and Industrial Sociology, Master of Law (LL.M), Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Industrial Sociology, Bachelor of Law (LL.B Hons.), and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) Hons. His diverse educational background equipped him with a broad spectrum of knowledge and expertise.

Throughout his career, Senator Odey has held various positions in both public and private sectors, showcasing his versatility and dedication to service. He worked as a Senior Maritime Labour Officer at the Defunct Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council and later served in the National Assembly as a Personal Assistant and Special Assistant to the former Governor of Cross River State, Senator Professor Ben Ayade.

In addition to his professional roles, Senator Odey has been actively involved in academia, serving as an academic facilitator at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) since 2005 and as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Calabar. He is also a legal practitioner and the Principal Partner of Dr. Stephen A. Odey & Associates, a law firm established in 2012.

Senator Odey's contributions to education extend beyond the classroom, as evidenced by his appointment as the Executive Chairman of the Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in 2015. His exemplary leadership led to his reappointment in 2019, reflecting his outstanding performance and dedication to improving basic education in the state.

Also, in his role at SUBEB, Senator Odey served as the Acting Managing Director of the Cross River State Water Board Limited (CRSWBL), demonstrating his ability to juggle multiple responsibilities and excel in diverse fields simultaneously.

As a Federal Lawmaker representing Cross River North Senatorial District in the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Odey has continued to make significant contributions to national development. He has been appointed as a member of nine strategic Senate Committees, including Education, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Marine Transport, Environment, Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Interior, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Aviation, and Diaspora and NGO.

During his tenure in the Senate, Senator Odey has sponsored impactful bills and motions, addressing pressing issues such as the restoration and revalidation of the Safe Schools Initiative in Nigeria. His legislative efforts have garnered widespread acclaim and have been instrumental in shaping policies for the betterment of society.

Beyond his legislative duties, Senator Odey is a prolific author and scholar, with over 66 articles published in learned journals worldwide. He has also authored three scholarly textbooks and contributed chapters to reputable textbooks, further cementing his reputation as an academic luminary.

Senator Odey's exemplary leadership and dedication to public service have earned him numerous prestigious awards and accolades, including the Distinguished Award of Excellence for promoting educational enterprise and political landscape, the Excellence Award from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and the Professional Excellence Award from the Centre for Excellence in Professional Development (CEPD).

In recognition of his contributions to peace advocacy and leadership strategies, Senator Odey has been honored as an Honorary Fellow of The Institute of Universal Harmony and has received the Integrity Stewardship Award from the Centre for Save & Serve Humanity Organisation.

His commitment to advancing education and empowering communities has earned him the title of Literacy Champion and Grassroots Community Philanthropist, reflecting his impact on the lives of people at the grassroots level.

Senator Odey's remarkable journey of academic excellence and public service continues as he assumes the role of Commissioner for Education in Cross River State. With his unwavering dedication and passion for positive change, Senator Odey is poised to make significant strides in shaping the future of education and socio-economic development in the state and beyond.

In his personal life, Senator Odey finds joy in reading, writing, researching, traveling, making friends, and jogging. He is happily married and blessed with children, balancing his professional commitments with his pursuits with grace and determination.

In conclusion, Senator Stephen Adi Odey stands as a shining example of integrity, leadership, and academic excellence. His remarkable achievements and unwavering commitment to public service inspire hope and serve as proof of hope for future generations yet unborn.

The National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, led the NWC to the Party’s mega empowerment rally organised by Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah in Anambra State. Governor Hope Uzodinma was present at the event. Party officials also attended the Party's South East Colloquium & Awards Presentation.

https://twitter.com/OfficialAPCNg/status/1771925801182593306?t=dCSe9T4A1it0muTbtJjFmw&s=19

The management and staff of FirstNews have commenced a fasting and prayer exercise to seek divine intervention for the release of their editor, Segun Olatunji.

The latest effort is coming few days after, the media outfit wrote a letter to the Chief of Defence Staff, requesting him to help them locate Olatunji, who was whisked away from his Lagos home, a week ago.

In an internal memo, all staff of the organization were directed to "use tomorrow’s Sunday service to pray for the release of Segun Olatunji in your various churches. At this point, only God can secure his release."

The memo further read: "While we are still waiting on the authorities for positive response regarding his whereabout,
we have also decided to go spiritual by requesting all members of our staff to put in a special prayer request in their various places of worship tomorrow to call on God to intervene.

“Our request is a simple one: God, please bring Segun Olatunji back home safely to his family from the hand of abductors.

"This is a very trying period for us and the family. We are turning to prayer because all efforts to establish his whereabouts and those who are holding him captive have not yielded any result. We don’t know what to do and who else to turn to for help. It does appear that the only sure bet now is to seek God’s help.

"Since the incident occurred, we have all been praying individually for his safe return. But now we have taken the decision to call for collective, corporate prayers and fasting until he is released and safely returned to his family.

"This Sunday in all our churches, we are requesting all our staff to raise prayer alters to specifically intercede for his release. It will be followed by a prayer chain to continue throughout the week involving all members of our staff until God answers our prayers. We invite members of the public, including friends and family members of our editor, to join us in this prayer chain."

Lawyers in Nigeria, Friday, passed a vote of confidence and threw weight behind the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu on the heels of calls for his sack and resignation.

The lawyers said it is uncalled for some persons to be mischievous to go down so low to put out allegations they cannot substantiate rather they were out to run down the incredibility of INEC and blackmail its chairman.

The lawyers under the auspices of Consortium of Nigerian Lawyers, CNL, in a petition addressed to Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, UK, Rt Hon Rishi Sunak, through Her Majesty's High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery CMG, asserted that the malicious claims of bribery and corruption were propagated by faceless individuals.

The petition reads in part: “We, the undersigned Nigerian lawyers, write this petition with great concern and urgency regarding the unsubstantiated and fake allegations made against Mallam Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). We implore you to address this issue and rectify the damage caused to Mallam Yakubu's reputation and the sanctity of the electoral process in Nigeria.

“The allegations in question, as reported by the conspiracy-driven news outlets and social media, claim that Mallam Yakubu engaged in corrupt practices and has accepted bribes. These malicious claims were propagated by faceless individuals who lack any form of credibility or substantiation for their accusations. It is clear that these allegations are baseless and intended solely to tarnish the reputation of Mallam Yakubu and undermine the integrity of INEC.

“Mallam Mahmood Yakubu has dedicated his career to public service and has consistently demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to upholding democratic principles. His track record as the Chairman of INEC is commendable, with major strides made towards ensuring free and fair elections in Nigeria. We firmly believe that his leadership has significantly contributed to the democratic progress witnessed in recent years.

“It is worth noting that INEC, under the leadership of Mallam Yakubu, successfully conducted the 2019 general elections, which were internationally recognized as a significant improvement in Nigeria's electoral process. This recognition further solidifies his reputation as a competent and trustworthy election administrator.

“The recent protest organized against Mallam Yakubu by the United Nigeria in Diaspora (UND) a faceless Group without any means of identification or address and the call for Prof. Mahmood's resignation are deeply concerning. These unsubstantiated allegations and actions serve to erode public confidence in the electoral process and undermine Nigeria's democracy as a whole. It is crucial that we protect the institutions responsible for conducting free and fair elections and ensure that they are not subjected to baseless attacks.

“We call upon your office, in collaboration with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, to intervene in this matter and seek clarification on the allegations made against Mallam Yakubu. We urge you to issue a statement denouncing these false accusations and affirming support for the independence and integrity of INEC.”

However, the petitioners urged the British High Commissioner to Nigeria to engage relevant Nigerian authorities to investigate and bring the accusers to book over the spreading false information about the INEC boss.

“Furthermore, we request that the British High Commissioner to Nigeria engages with relevant Nigerian authorities to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for spreading false information about Mallam Yakubu. It is imperative that those who seek to undermine the electoral process through unsubstantiated allegations are identified and brought to justice”, it added.

Meanwhile, the lawyers acknowledged the fact that, “As legal professionals, we believe in the principles of due process, fairness, and justice. It is our duty to advocate for the rights and reputation of individuals when they are subjected to false accusations that have the potential to cause irreparable harm. We trust that you, as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, will prioritize the pursuit of truth and fairness in addressing this matter.

“Lastly, we urge you to stand firmly with the Nigerian government in their endeavors to strengthen democratic institutions and protect the integrity of the electoral process. It is through collaborative efforts and adherence to democratic principles that we can ensure a brighter future for Nigeria and its citizens.”

…urges UK Prime Minister, Sunak to intervene

A diaspora group, Nigerians in Diaspora for Good Governance, NDGG, United Kingdom Chapter, Friday, unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

This was contained in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of UK, and signed by Director, Information and Strategy, Obinna Nwachukwu, where they urged the UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, to intervene publicly over what they described as baseless accusations levied against Prof Yakubu.

The Letter reads in part: “We, the NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE (UK CHAPTER), are deeply concerned about the malicious attack on Mallam Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). We strongly condemn the allegations made against him by faceless individuals, including the call for his resignation or removal from office. Hence we want to pass a vote of Confidence on him

“It is disheartening to witness such baseless accusations being levied against a man who has tirelessly served our country in ensuring free and fair elections. Mallam Yakubu has demonstrated utmost professionalism, integrity, and dedication in his role as the INEC Chair. The allegations made against him lack transparency and credibility, as they come from anonymous sources.

“We urge you, dear Prime Minister Sunak, to intervene in this matter and publicly support Mallam Yakubu. As the Prime Minister of the UK, your voice carries great weight and influence. It is crucial that you defend the integrity of the Nigerian democratic processes and the officials entrusted with their execution.”

Meanwhile, the group in the letter also appealed to the Prime Minister “to investigate the origin of these false allegations and hold accountable those responsible for attempting to tarnish the reputation of Mallam Yakubu and the INEC. Nigerian democracy relies on public trust, and it is essential to eradicate any attempts to undermine this trust.

“We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with Mallam Mahmood Yakubu and demand an immediate end to the malicious attacks against him. We implore you to reach, President Tinubu, to take swift action to ensure justice is served.”

Traditional Rulers Back INEC Chair, Mahmood, Urge UK To Discard Visa Ban Calls

….express support for INEC chair’s performance

Traditional rulers under the auspices of Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council, NTRC, Friday, urged the United Kingdom, UK, to discard visa ban calls on the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu by some person.

This was contained in a letter addressed to the British High Commissioner, and signed by the some traditional ruler, HRH Oba Adekunle Adeyemi (Adara of Adara, Ogun State), HRM King Alfred Prince will (Amanyab of Bassambiri, Bayelsa State), His Eminence Emir Ahmed Yayale (Charanchi, Katsina State ), HRH Alhaji Muhammad Bubu (Lushi Takololo, Bauchi State), HRH Eze Obinna Opoji (Ama of Amajuoyi Kingdom, Imo State) and HRH Alhaji Audu Eleje (Elejuku of Eluku, Kogi State), where the Council pointed out that the calls by the group it described as faceless are being mischievous to blackmail Yakubu with their unfounded facts and malicious attacks on the INEC boss.

According to the traditional rulers the attacks and calls by the group it called United Nigerians in Diaspora, UND, sponsored by disgruntled politicians, who lost elections in 2023, and also with ploy to create disaffection among Nigerians.

The Letter reads in part: "We, the Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council, write His Excellency to address the malicious attack on Mallam Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It has come to our attention that a certain faceless group named United Nigerians in Diaspora Group sponsored by disgruntled politicians, who lost elections in 2023, have leveled serious allegations against the INEC Chairman. We are deeply concerned about these accusations by this faceless group and feel compelled to set the record straight.

"The allegations made by these politicians are baseless and unfounded. We believe that they are attempting to tarnish the reputation of Mallam Mahmood Yakubu and, by extension, the INEC. We vehemently reject these accusations and stand firm in our support for the INEC Chairman."

Meanwhile, according to the Council, the Yakubu-led INEC has made significant progress in "conducting free, fair, and credible elections in Nigeria. The electoral process has been streamlined, and voter confidence has been restored. The INEC has implemented innovative technologies, such as the use of biometric voter registration and electronic transmission of results, to ensure transparency and efficiency.

"Furthermore, the claims made by these disgruntled politicians are clearly politically motivated, aiming to undermine the credibility of the INEC and its Chairman. It is no surprise that these allegations have emerged now, following their loss in the 2023 elections. It is an attempt to shift blame for their defeat onto the INEC and distract from their own shortcomings."

The traditional rulers also unequivocally expressed their support for the INEC chair, "We, the Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council, stand firmly by Mallam Mahmood Yakubu and express our full confidence in his ability to lead the INEC effectively.

"His tenure has been marked by integrity, professionalism, and commitment to democratic ideals. The INEC, under his stewardship, has become a beacon of hope for the Nigerian electoral system."

However, the Council called on the alleged group UND to stop their unfounded and spurious allegations forthwith against the INE boss, and also respect INEC as an independent institution.

"We urge all United Nigerians in Diaspora (UND), politicians and their supporters, to exercise restraint and respect the independence of the INEC. It is essential for the peaceful coexistence of our nation that we uphold the democratic process and refrain from unfounded accusations and attacks.

Meanwhile, the traditional rulers also appealed to Nigerians to work together to strengthen democracy despite the challenges which other advanced democracies are also experiencing.

"We call upon all Nigerians to respect the rule of law and work together towards a better and stronger democratic Nigeria.

"In conclusion, we wish to inform His Excellency that we reiterate our unwavering support for Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and the INEC. We reject the malicious allegations made by UND and disgruntled politicians and call on all Nigerians to unite behind the INEC in its efforts to strengthen our democratic process. Let us remember that peaceful, free, and fair elections are the bedrock of our nation's progress and prosperity", it added.

The Coalition of about 300 Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, COCSON, Friday, vehemently condemned calls for the sack of Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu.

The Coalition made the condemnation during a press conference held in Abuja, where they said a particular group, United Nigerians Diaspora, UND, made the allegations with threats to storm streets of Abuja, Lagos and Kano to call the INEC chairman to resign or be forced out of office.

Members of the Coalition present at the press conference include; Change for impact; Hope Builders Restoration; Empowerment Solutions Initiative; Citizen Engagement Network; Education Access Initiative; Tinubu Nationals for Better Government; Poverty Eradication Foundation; Peace and justice Initiative; Transparency and Accountability Network; Advocacy for Media Freedom; Inclusion Now Project; Lets Build Nigeria Initiatives; Rural Development Association; Urban Renewal Association; Sustainable communities; Anti - corruption movement; Children's Right Advocacy Group; Peace and Rights Advocacy; Justice, peace and Equity Social change; and Urban Development and planning.

They said: "It has come to our attention that the 'United Nigerians Diaspora (UND)' has organized a protest, making unfounded allegations against Mallam Yakubu and demanding his resignation or disgraceful removal from office. We strongly condemn this attack on the credibility and integrity of an individual who has dedicated his service to ensuring free and fair elections in Nigeria.

"Mallam Mahmood Yakubu has demonstrated exceptional leadership during his tenure at INEC. He has been instrumental in driving significant electoral reforms, improving the electoral process, and strengthening the trust of Nigerians in the democratic system. His commitment to transparency, impartiality, and accountability in conducting elections is commendable and has contributed to the progress of our democratic journey.

"The allegations made against Mallam Yakubu by the UND Group are baseless, false, and defamatory. They not only undermine the efforts of INEC but are also detrimental to the democratic principles we hold dear as a nation. It is our duty as members of the civil society to ensure that such malicious attacks are condemned, and our democracy is protected.

"We call upon the UND Group and other parties involved to halt the spread of false information and engage in constructive dialogue with INEC and relevant stakeholders. It is crucial that concerns regarding the electoral process are addressed through appropriate channels and in a responsible manner.

"Furthermore, we urge the Nigerian public and the media to exercise caution and responsibility when reporting on such sensitive matters. The dissemination of inaccurate or unverified information can have serious consequences for our democracy, and it is our collective duty to ensure the preservation of truth and accuracy in reporting.

"In conclusion, we stand in solidarity with Mallam Mahmood Yakubu and no doubt affirm our confidence in his leadership at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). We commend his unwavering dedication to democratic values and the progress our nation has made under his guidance."

Diaspora Group Set To Protest FoR Resignation Of Mahmood, Akpabio Tuesday, Insists On Visa Ban

The United Nigerians in Diaspora (UND) has resolved to embark on an advocacy march to the United States (U.S) Embassy as well as the British High Commission in Abuja to protest against the recent visa ban on Tuesday 19th of March, 2024.

The group in a statement by the National Secretary, Mohammed Hussein are also demanding for the immediate sack or resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu over alleged corruption and irregularities during the 2023 general elections in the country.

It also called for the resignation or impeachment of the Senate President, Sen Godswill Akpabio over alleged N3.7 trillion budget padding, giving him 48 hours to resign and face immediate prosecution. Failing to do so, they called on members of the Senate to initiate impeachment proceedings against him, citing incapacity, corruption, and collision with the executive arm of the government.

The National Secretary of UND, Comrade Mohammed Hussein, stated this in a separate letter addressed on Wednesday to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery and the Chargé D' Affairs, U.S Embassy in Abuja, Mr. David Greene.

"We, the UND (UNITED NIGERIANS IN THE DIASPORA), are writing to bring to your attention the recent developments regarding Mallam Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). We have come across so many irregularities and corruption cases against the INEC Chairman hence we insist he Resign Or Be Disgraced Out Of Office.

"We shall embark on an advocacy March on Tuesday 19th of March, 2024 in Kano, Port Harcourt, Lagos and your Embassy/High Commission at Abuja to press home our demands

"As concerned citizens who value democracy, transparency, and accountability, we deem it necessary to raise our voices against any form of corruption or malpractice within government institutions. The allegations against Mallam Yakubu are deeply troubling and cause us great concern for the integrity of the Nigerian electoral process.

"We urge the UK High Commission and the US Embassy in Abuja to take serious note of these allegations and to initiate an investigation into the matter. It is essential that the reputation and credibility of INEC are maintained, as the free and fair electoral process is fundamental to a functioning democracy. Therefore, we implore the High Commission to use its influence and resources to ensure that this issue is thoroughly addressed and resolved. Mallam Mahmood Yakubu must be placed on visa ban to US, UK, EU States, UAE and other Countries.

"Additionally, we call upon the Embassy and the UK High Commission to closely monitor the situation to protect the human rights and personal safety of all parties involved. Given the sensitive nature of this issue and the potential for backlash and intimidation, it is crucial that appropriate security measures are taken and that those carrying out their duties diligently, are safeguarded from any harm or harassment.

"In conclusion, we believe that it is in the best interest of Nigeria and its people to have a transparent, credible, and accountable electoral process. We trust that the UK High Commission and the U.S Embassy, as a steadfast advocate for democracy, will utilize its influence to support the pursuit of justice and the protection of democratic institutions in Nigeria.

"Thank you for considering our petition and for your commitment to upholding democratic values.