₦airaland Forum

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/10/why-ill-be-visiting-nigeria-us-asst.html

The United States, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, Amb. Tibor Nagy Jr., says he cannot visit West Africa without first visiting Nigeria.

Nagy Jr. said in a transcript of his teleconference with journalists from across Africa on Tuesday, that he must visit Nigeria as the gateway to other African countries.

The U.S. assistant secretary, whose date of visit to West Africa is yet to be fixed, said the tour would afford him the opportunity to discuss some current challenges in Nigeria.

“How could I not be coming to Nigeria if I was going to West Africa?

“Nigeria has several very, very serious issues going on at the same time. We have the crisis in the northeast.

“We have the historical problems in the middle belt, which unfortunately, recently has led to serious loss of lives.

“We have an election coming up, which will be very, very interesting. So, Nigeria, of course, is in many respects the gateway to Africa,’’ he said.

Nagy Jr., who was a U.S. Diplomat in Africa for about 22 years, said that he was very glad coming back to a continent where he left his heart.

According to him, the three countries that he would be visiting were places he had served either as Deputy Ambassador or Ambassador.

“I am just delighted. I am, especially looking forward to getting back to what I like to call `the continent where I left my heart’ as quickly as possible.

“It’s a very, very cold morning in Washington, D.C., so, I cannot wait to return to the warmth of Africa.

“This time I am heading out to West Africa, and it is just coincidence that three of the places I will be visiting are places where I served, either as ambassador or deputy ambassador,’’ he said.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/daddy-freeze-attacks-bishops-oyedepo.html

Popular On Air Personality, Daddy Freeze has attacked founder and General Overseer of the Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, after the cleric shared a testimony on how one of his members raised to life a dead man.

Addressing his congregants, the cleric had said that one of his church members raised a dead man just by saying the name of Jesus.

But in a swift reaction, the On Air Personality who has been a critic of pastors in the country, reminded the Bishop of some students of his university who died right under him and where not resurrected.

Freeze wrote on Instagram, “Some good comedy. I can’t believe people still fall for this hogwash.

“The bishop should kindly tell us about the late Ms Imiefan Omokaro who allegedly drowned in a winners school pool in 2012 and Segun Michaels who also allegedly drowned within the covenant school.”

The Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the ruling of an FCT High Court sentencing former Governor of the State, Joshua Dariye to 14 years imprisonment.

Recall that the Justice Adebukola Banjoko-led court had yesterday found the former governor guilty of 15 of the 23 criminal charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

However, PDP, in its reaction described Dariye’s conviction as a landmark judgment and victory against corruption.

The Public Reactions Officer of the state arm of the party, Hon. John Akans said the time was ripe for the party to reclaim its stolen mandate from APC.

Akans told The Sun that the party decided not to drag the former governor to court when he defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC) with the mandate of PDP because it was established that he will not escape jail.

He said, “This is the hour we in the PDP have all been waiting for, the law has taken it course, it was a landmark judgment that has created an avenue for PDP to reclaim its stolen mandate.

“We gave Dariye overwhelming vote during the 2015 Senatorial elections in the state and he won the election under the platform of PDP but he disappointed the party by jumping to the ruling APC in search of refuge following his corrupt cases in court. No matter how long the case will take there must be a judgment day and today is the Day of Judgment.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/dariye-why-ex-governor-deserves-to-be.html

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/2018-why-ekiti-election-cant-be-rigged.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that the Ekiti State governorship election slated for July 14 cannot be rigged.

The commission said the notion peddled in some quarters that the election would be rigged ran contrary to the reality on ground.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ekiti State, Abdulganiy Raji, gave the assurance in Ido Ekiti on Tuesday during a Town Hall meeting entitled, ‘Vote not Fight’. The meeting was organised to sensitise the youth ahead of the election.

He said the election process had been digitalised and the voting exercise would be monitored electronically.

Mr Raji, represented by the Electoral Officer in Ido/Osi local government, Ajayi Olusola, said the commission had strengthened its system and made it technologically driven.

He said it would be difficult for anyone to tamper with the outcome of the election, given the security of the process.

“Go and get your Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). Your vote is your power and let me tell you that your votes will surely count.

“INEC is not partisan, we are fair to all parties. We are going to monitor the voting electronically. No one can rig election with the kind of ICT we have put in place and we are going to monitor the activities of parties to ensure that we have a peaceful poll,” he said.

The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Bello, who was represented by the Area Commander in charge of Ido/Osi, Ijero, Moba, Ilejemeje and Efon local governments, Adegbepa Adetoye, assured the voters that the command was resolute to provide adequate security of lives and property.

“On our side, we are going to be neutral. We are not going to take sides and we will ensure that we monitor the election in the most professional way to enforce compliance to rules,” said Mr Adetoye.

“Part of our duties is enforcement of law and order. We also owe it a duty to preserve the 1999 constitution and the Electoral Act. We are assuring our people that we shall be civil and neutral in this election,” he added.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/june-12-why-buhari-should-declare-mko.html

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declared the presumed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief MKO Abiola, former president.

Aregbesola said this while receiving officials of the African Development Bank, who paid a courtesy call on him at the Government House on Tuesday.

The governor commended President Muhammadu Buhari for revalidation of the historic event, saying the injustice done 25 years ago by the Babangida-led junta was now being addressed by another General, although a retired one.

He said Nigerians shunned religious and ethnic biases and voted massively for Abiola and his running mate, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, who were both Muslims, stressing that the event was a watershed in the political history of Nigeria.

Aregbesola said he had kept faith with June 12 adding that his administration had been recognising June 12 as the real Democracy Day since he assumed office.

The governor said, “We believe he must be declared the President and recognised as such with all rights and privileges accorded to him. But he has been recognised as a recipient of yet to be fully declared mandate through a posthumous national honour, the highest national honour reserved only for Presidents.”

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Ahead of June 23 National Convention of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna says Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is the next National chairman of the party.

El-Rufai said this on Sunday while commissioning the campaign headquartres of the immediate past governor of Edo State.

Oshiomhole had last month declared his intention to run for the National Chairman of the APC.

El-Rufai, who was joined by serving senators, some members of the NWC of the APC and many others at the commissioning of the campaign office in Abuja, describing him as a friend and brother.

He said “Oshiomhole is a brother, leader and friend and the next National Chairman of the APC by Gods grace.”

Meanwhile, Comrade Oshiomhole reiterated his confidence about his chances of winning the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship seat.

According to him, heavyweights in the party were solidly behind him.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/apc-convention-el-rufai-reveals-partys.html

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Former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, has described President Muhammadu Buhari as a failed leader.

He said the Buhari-led regime was a government of many failings, disconnected from reality.

Duke, who has declared his intention to contest the Presidency, said the Buhari administration was not ready for leadership and that was why it took the President nearly six months to appoint ministers.

The presidential aspirant said this during an interview with DW Africa.

When asked why he thought he would be a better President than Buhari, he said, “Because I see such obvious failings. I see a leadership that is steeped in the past; that has refused to evolve with a nation that is predominantly a nation of young aspiring people and still doing things the way they were done many years ago and did not work.

“I think our leadership in the country today is totally out of tune with the current reality of our nation. There is disconnect somewhere so when you have a leadership that blames its young people for instance of not striving enough or of being lazy, there is a disconnect because the tools to make them achieve their aspiration have not been provided.”

He said the health sector was in crisis adding, “The President, himself, receives treatment abroad. That is a sad state of affairs.”

When asked to state Buhari’s worst problem, he said, “They were not prepared for leadership. For example, it took six months to set up a cabinet. Where do you hear such? President Buhari came into office to fight corruption and insecurity.

“Let us look at the scorecard. Corruption is not dead. Prosecuting corruption is addressing the symptom and not the problem. The real problem is you have got to create jobs for people; you have got to strengthen institutions that make it almost impossible to engage in such an activity.”

Duke also faulted the government’s claim that Boko Haram had been defeated.

He said suicide bombings, kidnappings were still occurring mainly in the North-East.

“They have announced that the war is over and Bokom Haram has been defeated. We know it hasn’t been defeated. There are still bombings and kidnappings in the North-East. If you visit the IDPs, you will see that we are breeding the next generation of very disgruntled people,” the ex-governor said.

He said interests rates must be lowered to encourage entrepreneurship and job creation.

The presidential aspirant added, “You can’t grow your economy with the type of banking system we run where the interest rate is in the upper 20s. You need to have affordable credit which will enable small and medium scale businessmen to borrow and expand their businesses.

“Nigeria grew faster when we had regulation on interest rates; when the interest rates were in single digits. Secondly, we have to grow the economy at 15 per cent for 10 years to recalibrate the system.

“Nigeria ought to be a $2.5tn economy and not a $400bn economy.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/buhari-has-failed-nigeria-donald-duke.html

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has explained why it included Arabic in examination question for police recruitment.

The body said the questions were set by its workers who are Christians.

The board, however, insisted that contrary to insinuation that Arabic was made compulsory in the examination, no candidate was instructed or made to forcibly attempt any question in Arabic, explaining that the subject was included as dummy.

JAMB also explained that the examination was administered by some senior Christian staff among whom it disclosed, was a “deacon in one of the largest pentecostal churches in the country.”

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, gave the explanation, yesterday, when the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria, YOWICAN, led by its National President, Daniel Kadzai, visited him at the board’s headquarters in Abuja.

“The examination questions were incidentally set and administered by the directorate staff of the board, among who incidentally is a deacon in one of the largest pentecostal churches in Nigeria,“ he said.

He expressed concern over the continuous controversies trailing the police recruitment examination in the country.

He said: “I am worried over the misrepresentation of the whole scenario, which has continued to cause unnecessary tension in the country. It is worrisome that Nigeriahas degenerated to a level where we don’t trust each other anymore even amongst religious leaders.”

Insisting that Arabic questions were not part of the examination but were simply included as dummies to enable the software function properly, the JAMB boss said he was concerned over the enormous division among the various faiths in the country.

To this end, he called on Nigerians to put the country first in all they do, just as he urged them “to work as one indivisible entity otherwise the much clamoured development would elude us.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/police-recruitment-jamb-reveals-who.html

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/lagos-police-command-dismisses-5.html

The Lagos State Police Command on Sunday announced that it had dismissed five out of 92 policemen for various offences in the first half of the year.

The Command’s Spokesman, SP Chidi Oti, has confirmed that three of the five dismissed policemen were tried in connection with the Ojota incident where policemen reportedly tear-gassed a man.

Oti said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal, has dismissed the three police men, comprising an inspector and two sergeants, who were alleged to have sprayed tear-gas on Mr Ademuwagun Temitope Solomon which provoked severe asthmatic crisis in him.

“The incident took place at Chinese town, Ojota area of Lagos State.

Their names and service numbers were given as 220957 – Inspector Momoh Sulaiman; 429659 – Sgt. Emmanuel Monday and 434246 – Sgt. Adamu Usman.

The statement said they were tried in an orderly room which commenced on Saturday and were found guilty as charged.

“They were, therefore, dismissed and de-kitted accordingly. However, the dismissal proceeding of Inspector Momoh Sulaiman has been forwarded to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone Two for approval.

“Similarly, the command wishes to use this medium to release its half year disciplinary record for the period spanning from January to June, 2018.

“The officers were tried in a properly constituted orderly room and were found guilty of various offences against discipline which earned them appropriate punishments, depending on the charges against them.

“The breakdown of types of punishment awarded to deserving officers is: Dismissal-5, Reduction in Rank-4, Major Entry-43, Severe Reprimand-3, Extra Fatigue-4, Warning Notice-28, Discharged and Acquitted-5, Total 92.

“The Commissioner of Police said that this would serve as a deterrent to other policemen wishing to toe the path of infamy; that the Nigeria Police under the watch of the Inspector General of Police, have no room for them.

“He warned all serving police officers to be professional at all times in the discharge of their duties and shun corrupt practices,” the statement said.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/saraki-police-speaks-on-murder-of.html

The Nigeria Police has dismissed speculations that the gang leaders of the Offa bank robbery, with alleged links to Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, have been killed in custody.

Although other suspects were paraded two weeks ago, nothing has been heard of their superiors – Micheal Adikwu, a dismissed policeman, and Kayode Opadokun.

The two have not been allowed to speak publicly or paraded despite being in detention.

TITOPE BLOG recalls that Adikwu, in his confession, explained why he killed many people during the April 5, 2018 deadly operation.

Adikwu told operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) that he personally shot dead 20 persons, mostly policemen, in retaliation for his sack from the Force.

Speaking to journalists, Ayoade Akinnibosun, one of the suspects paraded by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, confided that Adikwu was their leader used his police connection to secure the arms and ammunition they used in the attack.

But reacting, Moshood stated that the suspected ring leaders were in police custody and helping with the investigation.

He told Thisday: “They (Adikwu and Opadokun) are alive, helping the police further in the investigation of the bank robbery, including the recovery of 21 AK 47 riffles carted away by their gang during the attack on the Offa Police Divisional Headquarters.”

Moshood challenged anyone that said the two suspects had been killed extra-judicially should produce their bodies. “Police don’t kill people, they protect people,” he said.

The spokesman also confirmed that Saraki’s written response to the allegations against him had been received by the investigators.

“I was told by the investigators that he has made a written response to the allegations by the suspects,” Moshood said, adding that he could not say more in order not to jeopardise ongoing investigation.

President Muhammadu Buhari has signed a constitutional amendment that stops a vice president who completes the term of a president from contesting for the office of the President more than once.

The same is applicable to a deputy governor who completes the term of a state governor.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.

The term of a President or a governor can be aborted by virtue of death, resignation or removal, thereby paving the way for the Vice President or deputy governor to take over.

Enang said the President also signed an amendment to the constitution that grants autonomy to state judiciary and state Houses of Assembly.

According to Enang, the President also signed an amendment that reduced the duration for determining pre-election matters in courts to ensure that such matters do not get into the time of the elections and do not linger thereafter.

He added that another amendment increased the time the Independent National Electoral Commission has to conduct by-election in case of vacancy from the present seven days to 21 days.

Enang said, “I just want to inform you that His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari today (Friday) assented to the Constitution Fourth Alteration Bill which grants financial authonomy and independence to the Houses of Assembly of the respective states and to the Judiciary of the respective states.

“Therefore, upon this signature, the amounts standing to the credit of the judiciary are to now be paid directly to the judiciary of those states and no more through the governors and from the governors.

“And then the amounts standing to the credit of the Houses of Assembly of the respective states are now to be paid directly to the Houses of Assembly of that state for the benefit of the legislators and the management of the state Houses of Assembly of that state. This grants full autonomy now to the Houses of Assembly and judiciary of states.

“Another Act which has come into force today is Constitution Amendment 21 which relates to the determination of pre-elections matters. It has reduced the date and time of determining pre-election matters to ensure that the pre-election matters in court do not get into the time of the elections and do not linger thereafter.

“The relevant section of the Constitution has also been amended by this Act, therefore amending the constitution.

“The other one is Bill 16 which is now an Act. The intent of that Act is to ensure that where a Vice President succeeds the President and where a deputy governor succeeds a governor, he can no more contest for that office more than one more time.

“The effect is that having taken the oath of President once, he can only contest one more time and no more. That is the intent of this amendment.

“The other amendment is Bill 9 now an Act which gives the Independent National Electoral Commission sufficient time to conduct by-election. It has increased the time from seven to 21 days and generally widen the latitude of the INEC to handle election matters upon vacancy.

“These four bills, added to the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Act, have now been assented to by the President and have now become laws.

“The Constitution of Nigeria 1999 as amended is hereby further amended by the assent of the President to these bills today.”


http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/breaking-buhari-signs-law-stopping-vps.html

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/obasanjo-attacks-buhari-over-saraki.html

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has thrown a potshot at President Muhammadu Buhari and his government over the travails of the Senate president, Bukola Saraki (Number Three citizen) and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara (Number Four citizen).

Obasanjo, in a statement by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Friday, highlighted how members of All Progressives Congress, APC-led government were being harassed.

He described alleged intimidation of Nigerians by the APC government as a joke taken too far, claiming that this has resulted in citizens living in fear of being killed.

The statement read, “This present Government has demonstrably exhibited apathy, and in some cases, encouraged by its conduct, daily loss of lives and property in many States of the country, the office cannot be indifferent.

“We are currently in a nation where the Number Three citizen is currently being harangued and the Number Four citizen is facing similar threat within the same Government they serve.

“There is a groundswell of our nationals that live in fear that they could be hounded, harassed, maimed or even killed as the battle for 2019 takes this worrisome dimension.

“For Chief Obasanjo, this is a joke carried too far and being someone who do not act on unofficial information.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/why-we-prayed-for-nigeria-to-be-in.html

The Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike has revealed that he prayed for crisis to be recorded in every part of the country in order to divert the attention of the federal government from the state.

Wike said this while speaking at an event organized by the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, in Port Harcourt.

The governor said he admonished people of Rivers state to pray against the federal government’s plan to declare a State of Emergency in the state.

He added that that the prayer point was for the federal government to be pre-occupied with tackling incidents of violence in other parts of the country so that Rivers state can be left alone.

According to him, “When there was so much insecurity in this state I was pleading with them but the Federal government refused to support me. Rather they were looking for an opportunity to declare a State of emergency.

“So, I came back home to tell my people to kneel down and pray; Let there be problems everywhere. So, they don’t talk about me again. They are now talking about Zamfara, Kogi, Benue, Taraba and Plateau.

“Let them come and declare state of emergency in Rivers state now. They have to go back and say God, sorry for what we have done to Rivers state.”

Speaking earlier, National President of NIPR, Mukhtar Suraj said the institute is working hard to clampdown on unregistered PR practitioners in Rivers state.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/breaking-osinbajo-escapes-tragedy.html

A chopper that was to convey Vice-President Yemi Osibanjo from the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada in Abuja, was forced to land, few seconds after take off on Thursday.

Osinbajo was in the school for the graduation ceremony of Senior Division Course 1/2018 participants.

The chopper had earlier taken the Vice President to the college for the ceremony.

The Nation reports that while taking off, it could not ascend beyond the tree level, before it emitted thick smoke and landed on the same spots few seconds after take off.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, had already departed from the venue with their respective convoys, when the incident happened.

Osinbajo later left the college by road.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/fani-kayode-reacts-to-nass-threat-to.html

​​ Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister has reacted to the threat by the National Assembly to commence impeachment process against President Muhammadu Buhari.

Recall that the National Assembly at a joint session, on Tuesday, threatened to invoke its powers against the President, if nothing was done to end the ongoing harassment and humiliation of perceived political opponents by the police.

Lawmakers also said President Buhari must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees and must ensure a strict adherence to the rule of law.

However, reacting, Fani Kayode writing on his Twitter Page said the National Assembly’s ultimatum to Buhari is coming too late.

He also criticized NASS for disclosing their intentions.

Fani wrote, ”The ultimatum given to @MBuhari by the NASS is too little, too late. You do not warn a snake before you crush its head. You simply take your aim and strike it with one powerful and lethal blow.

”@MBuhari has committed many impeachable offences. Stop playing games! Impeach him NOW!

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/how-ekiti-apc-shooting-happened-video.html

TITOPE BLOG brought to you how how the Ekiti shooting start.

The video of how the shooting that took place at a rally to kick off the campaign of the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate in the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi, has emerged online.

A former House of Representatives member, Opeyemi Bamidele, suffered gunshot injuries with at least five others injured during the shooting.

After the initial chaos over the shooting settled, the Ekiti State Police command clarified that the shooting was an “accidental discharge” from the rifle of the unnamed police officer who has since been dismissed.

In the video that has now emerged on the social media; courtesy of Lere Olayinka, the Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, that police report appears to be the accurate account as it shows how the shooting started.

In the video, Fayemi and Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, could be seen departing the APC secretariat in Ado Ekiti backed by security operatives amid a throng of eager supporters.

A few seconds into the video, just a few meters away from Fayemi and Akeredolu, the officer can be seen engaged in a physical struggle surrounded by a few unknown men who were shuffling him around in the crowd.

Even though the shooting was described as ‘accidental’, the officer appeared to have deliberately discharged his firearm to get the crowd off his back.

Watch video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OM6LwzakSQ

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/ekiti-guber-fayemi-breaks-silence-on.html



The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the July

14 election in Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday relived how he and other bigwigs of the party escaped being killed during the gunshot that occurred on Friday at a rally organized in his honour.

The former Minister revealed that he alongside Ondo State Governor, Barr. Olurotimi Akeredolu, ex-minister of Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele would have been killed, but for God’s intervention.

Fayemi vowed that the July 14 election would be the end of Governor Ayodele Fayose’s political reign in Ekiti state, expressing confidence that the party will work hard across the 177 wards to ensure that PDP is uprooted from the state.

He described Adeyeye’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC as a big boost to the party, saying his parting ways with Fayose would help the reclamation struggle against the present governor.

At the rally, a policeman had suddenly fired a gunshot, which hit Bamidele and five others, who are now receiving treatments in the hospital.

Fayemi spoke in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday when Adeyeye formally joined the party with members of Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM) across the 2,195 polling units in the state.

The APC candidate said, “We thank God that we are alive. What do you think would have happened if Governor Akeredolu, Adeyeye, Bamidele and I had died? It was possible for the bullets to have hit and killed all of us, but we thank God.

“We pray that God just prevented it. The unprecedented crowd we saw at Ikere Ekiti and how people were rushing out shows that Ekiti people were determined to fight a liberation war against Governor Fayose,” he said.

He assured PAAM members that Adeyeye remains a respectable leader of the party, who can’t be shortchanged in the political equation due to his political worth, if APC eventually wins.

Fayemi denied the allegation by Governor Fayose that he was coming to sack the teachers, saying his coming back will only add value to the lives of the civil servants.

“Let me assure you that we are all equal in APC, there is nothing called defectors. We are going to reward people on how they deliver their wards and units,” he said.

Speaking on Governor Fayose’s alleged degrading of Ekiti’s virtues of integrity and honour, Fayemi said: “Fayose is a coward, he only boasts in the open but a coward in the real sense of it. All he wants is to pull all Ekiti citizens down for him to be on top but his game is up”.

In his remarks, Adeyeye regretted that Fayose allegedly tricked him and others in 2014 that he was a changed person, only for him to get into government and turn a ‘despot’.

The ex-minister promised to deliver bulk votes for Fayemi in the election, saying, “the unprecedented winning of 2014 against Fayemi was made possible because of people like us.

“We knew Fayose’s tricks and his antics, he is a selfish and cunning person. That is why we are joining hands with like-minds like Fayemi to rescue Ekiti from him, because he has pauperized everybody.

“We decided to join APC because the party nominated a good person like Dr Fayemi as its candidate. Dr Fayemi is highly educated and exposed, he is not crude like our brother, we are going to deliver our votes for him.

“Governor Fayose said teachers and civil servants will vote for him even if he owes eight month salaries. He even claimed Fayemi is coming to sack teachers, these were all lies, that is his stock in trade.

“We gave him benefit of the doubt in 2014, thinking he would be a good person, but he turned out to be worse than before.

“As we speak today, Fayose is alone. He has no credible leader behind him. He is empty and naked and this coming election will expose his weakness.

“With the way he has carried himself, it was obvious that he came to loot Ekiti. But we thank God that we have a reliable opposition in Fayemi.

“This work is our own, we must do it with all our hearts. I know and I am confident that Fayemi won’t disappoint us, because he has the love of Ekiti at heart.

“We are talking to those who are aggrieved in APC to have a rethink, because working with Fayose would only make Ekiti worse. By all standards, you can’t compare Fayemi with Fayose”, he said.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/apc-see-full-list-of-new-fct-35-state.html

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on Monday sworn in new State Chairmen of the party.

He urged them to work for the re-election of the party, particularly President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 elections.

“On your (State Chairmen) laps lies the onerous responsibility of returning this party to office for a second term”, he said while inaugurating returning and newly-elected State Chairmen at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

“On your laps to a great extent also lie the return of our dear president to office so that the Change Agenda will have time to settle down to mature and become second nature to the people of our dear nation.”

While urging compromise among party stakeholders, the APC National Chairman also named the Party’s Deputy National Chairman (North), Sen. Lawali Shuaibu to head the APC reconciliation efforts following issues that arose from recently conducted ward, local government and state congresses.

Full list of the newly-sworn in State Chairmen.

1. Abia – Hon. Donatus E. Nwankpa
2. Adamawa – Alh. Ibrahim Bilal
3. Akwa Ibom – Hon. Ini Okopido
4. Anambra – Barr. Emeka Ibe
5. Bauchi – Alh Uba Ahmed Nana
6. Bayelsa – Jonathan L. Amos
7. Benue – Comrade Abba Yari
8. Borno – Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori
9. Cross River – Hon. Godwin Etim John
10. Delta – Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo
11. Ebonyi – Pastor Eze Nwachukwu Eze
12. Edo – Anslem U. Ojezua
13. Ekiti – No Congress
14. Enugu – Dr. Ben Nwoye
15. Gombe – Nitte K. Amangal
16. Imo – Dr. Hillary Eke
17. Jigawa – Hon. Ado Sani Kiri
18. Kaduna – Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekeda (Rtd.)
19. Kano – Abdullahi Abass
20. Katsina – Shittu S. Shittu
21. Kebbi – Arc. Bala Sani Kangiwa
22. Kogi – Abdullahi Bello
23. Kwara – Hon. Ishola Balogun Fulani
24. Lagos – Alh. Tunde Balogun
25. Nasarawa – Philip Tatari Shekwo
26. Niger – Engr. Muhammed Liman
27. Ogun – Chief Dikia Adebisi
28. Ondo – Engr. Ade Adetimehin
29. Osun – No Congress
30. Oyo – Chief Akin Oke
31. Plateau – Hon. Letep M. Dabang
32. Rivers – Ojukaye Amachree
33. Sokoto – Hon. Isa S. Achida
34. Taraba – Alh. Abdulmumini Vaki
35. Yobe – Alh. Adamu Chilariye
36. Zamfara – Alh. Lawal M. Liman
37. FCT – Hon. Abdulmalik Usman

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/again-court-refuses-to-stop-agf-ndlea.html

For the second time in one week, the Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to grant order of interim injunction against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) seeking to stop the two respondents from their plan to extradite a serving senator, Prince Buruji Kashamu to the United States for the purpose of trial in an alleged criminal offence.

Justice Babatunde Quadiri on Tuesday declined to issue injunction order against AGF and NDLEA when an ex-parte application was argued before him by counsel to the Senator, Mr. Olusegun Odubela SAN.

The judge said that in view of the sensitivity of the issue in dispute, merit of justice will not be served if the two respondents (AGF and NDLEA) are restrained on the extradition matter at the ex-parte stage.

Instead, he ordered the senator to put the AGF and NDLEA on notice on the pendency of the suit against them.

In his ruling on the motion, Justice Quadiri ordered the three parties in the matter to maintain status-quo pending the hearing on the originating summon filed by Kashamu against AGF and NDLEA on his planned extradition.

Kashamu had, in the ex-parte motion filed on May 18, prayed the court to restrain the AGF and NDLEA from arresting, detaining and extraditing him to the United States of America (USA) to face trial in drug-related charges.

The senator tendered a publication of Punch Newspaper of May 13, 2018 entitled: “AGF requests for extradition process on Kashamu” to establish an alleged fact that the AGF office was making move on his extradition.

He also told the Judge that one Shehu Abubakar, a staff in the AGF office was the person who informed him of the concluded plan by AGF and NDLEA to extradite him based on the judgments of the Court of Appeal delivered on May 4 which voided all restraining orders granted in favor of Kashamu.

Kashamu argued that twice, the courts in the United Kingdom have exonerated him on the alleged drug offence and that his fundamental human rights will be breached if the AGF and NDLEA are not restrained from taking further steps on the issue.

Justice Quadiri, while refusing to restrain the AGF and NDLEA, said he would prefer to give fair hearing to parties in the suit

The judge granted an order to serve the originating summon on NDLEA in the Lagos office on the pendency of the court action.

Meanwhile, hearing in the originating summon has been fixed for September 24 this year.

Another Federal High Court in Abuja had on May 30 refused to stop the execution of the two judgments secured by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice against the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial district in the Senate.

The court had held that granting the request by Kashamu to stay the appellate court decisions against him in an ex-parte application will be against the rule of law and natural justice.

In a ruling on the first ex-parte application filed against the AGF and the NDLEA, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed had rather asked the senator to put the AGF and NDLEA on notice in respect of his fresh suit.

Justice Mohammed noted that since what the senator sought in his originating summon was to prevent his extradition, it will be unfair against the AGF and NDLEA to put the extradition on hold without going into the merit of the whole issue as contained in the originating summon.

The Judge therefore declined to stop the implementation of the appeal verdict delivered on May 4 this year.

Kashamu had through his counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon SAN, in the ex-parte motion, argued that he was afraid and apprehensive that the federal government may likely pick him and extradite him to USA on the strength of the Court of Appeal Judgments.

He told Justice Mohammed that if the extradition is executed via the judgments of the appellate court, his fundamental right to freedom of liberty will be jeopardized.

The senior lawyer argued that if Senator Kashamu is picked by the federal government through the NDLEA; no court in Nigeria will have jurisdiction to save him because he (Kashamu) would have been flown to a foreign country.

Izinyon SAN insisted that there is likelihood now of his client being picked by the Federal Government and the NDLEA, adding that his fundamental human rights will be breached in the process.

But Justice Mohammed stood his ground that his court was not persuaded to stop the appellate court judgment but will rather wish that Kashamu puts both AGF and NDLEA on notice to show cause on why the two judgments against the senator should not be stayed from execution.

The Judge consequently fixed July 2 for the parties involved to appear before him.

The Court of Appeal had on May 4 cleared the coast for the federal government to extradite the senator, who had engaged government in a long drawn legal battle since 2014.

The appellate court, in a landmark judgment, voided and set aside all orders made by a Federal High Court between 2014 and 2017 restraining the government from proceeding with the extradition.

In a judgment in an appeal filed by the AGF, Justice Joseph Ikyeghi held that the orders granted Kashamu by Justice Okon Abang were invalid, nonsensical and unacceptable to laws because they were based on hearsays and speculations by Senator Kashamu.

The unanimous judgment was prepared by Justice Ikyeghi and was delivered by Justice Yargata Nimpar.

The court held that the hearsay that a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was instigating the extradition was not established under any law.

The appeal court said that an affidavit deposed to by the senator on the issue was worthless and not in compliance with Evidence Act because the senator himself claimed that he was told by several persons who were not called to testify in court.

Justice Ikyeghi held that Justice Abang in his two judgments on the issue erred in law by playing undue reliance on affidavit that offended Evidence Act to give judgment against the Federal government.

Consequently, the order of injunction stopping the extraction process was voided and set aside.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has spoken on the activities of the New Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, a group within the ruling party.

Oyegun said members of the nPDP are only looking for a good bargain themselves, adding that they (nPDP) cannot choose this time to dump the other political parties.

He said that the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and others were only acting like people who want the best for themselves. Oyegun ruled out any possibility of the group decamping to other parties.

Oyegun told reporters, “The process is still ongoing, and until we reach an understanding with them, it won’t be right to comment, but I think we have tended to read too much that is negative into their act.

“I just have a feeling that like all people who want the best terms for themselves, they will come out at a period which they feel is advantageous to them.

“Given the state of the polity, I suppose they chose this time not because they want to leave the APC; not because they were fed up with the APC, not because they want to cause trouble with the APC, but because they want a good deal for themselves given the totality of what is going on in the party.

“So, we have accepted their protest in good faith, and we are sitting down with them to work out something that will be mutually beneficial to both interests.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/what-saraki-dogara-other-npdp-members.html

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/army-rescues-58-boko-haram-sex-slaves.html

The Nigerian army on Monday said it rescued 58 women used as sex slaves by Boko Haram in Modu Kimeri, Bama local government area of Borno State.

Also, two pregnant teenage girls were among the rescued persons.

Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, Deputy Director Public Relations Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, disclosed this in a statement released in Maiduguri.

Nwachukwu said that the women were rescued by troops of 21 Brigade supported and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force deployed in Operation Lafiya Dole.

“The troops rescued the hostages during an extensive Clearance Operation on Sunday 3 June, 2018, to rid the general area of Bama, Modu Kimeri and Gulumba Gana of fleeing elements of Boko Haram terrorists who had escaped from the ongoing troops’ onslaught in the Lake Chad Islands and fringes of the northern borders of Borno State.

“The rescued hostages, comprising 15 men, 58 Women and 75 Children revealed during a joint profiling and interrogations by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and other security agencies, that the Boko Haram terrorists had sexually violated the females and used them as sex slaves.

“The rescued persons further disclosed that the men were not spared, as they were regularly engaged in forced labour while in the captivity of the terrorists.

“They will be promptly handed over to officials of Bama Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp for welfare and administration,” he said.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/abba-yaro-sworn-in-as-benue-apc-chairman.html

Winner of the May 19 state congress of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State, Comrade Emmanuel Abba Yaro, has been sworn-in as the State Chairman, Benue State chapter of the ruling party for a second term in office.

The swearing-in ceremony, which took place at the NEC Hall of the party national headquarters in Abuja Monday afternoon, followed the May 19 victory of the Abba Yaro-led EXCO, who were unanimously returned for another term in office.

Prince Yaro, while addressing journalists at the end of the inauguration expressed happiness, while thanking the party leadership for reposing avowed trust in his leadership.

He stressed that he will alongside other members of the State EXCO ensure another round of victory for Benue APC in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/firs-resumes-raid-in-lagos-seals.html

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Monday, sealed off two the premises of three companies in Lagos for failure to pay taxes.

The FIRS Enforcement team, led by the Assistant Manager (Legal), FIRS, Ruth Mandeun, sealed Giandan Nigeria Limited, situated at 21 Ladoke Akintola Street, Ikeja GRA, over tax debts totaling N47.779 million.

The agency also sealed Justeen International Limited over a debt of N24.779 million.

Speaking after the exercise, Mandeun said the defaulting companies will be re-opened only after they have cleared their arrears.

“It is quite upsetting for us to close down companies, but we just have to perform our lawful mandate.

“The two companies that were closed down today clearly defaulted in paying their taxes and they are fully aware of the repercussions.

“They will get to be reopened, but that is after they have cleared up their debts”, Mandeun said.

She added that the FIRS is committed to ensuring that all individuals and corporate entities pay their taxes promptly.

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/police-recruitment-names-of-successful.html

The Nigeria Police have released the names of successful candidates, who passed the nationwide recruitment examination conducted on Friday by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

According to the list published on the Nigeria police website, https://psc.org.ng/candidateslist/, the candidates were directed to proceed for the screening at the zonal police headquarters in their state of origin between May 31 and June 3.

Out of the 37,000 candidates that wrote the examination, about 5,107 candidates were shortlisted for the medical screening.

Out of the number, Kano State had the highest number of 308 candidates who made the recruitment process to the screening stage while Katsina followed suit with 238 candidates.

Oyo has 225 candidates, Akwa Ibom came fourth with 194 candidates while 189 candidates were selected from Borno State. Jigawa state also has 189 candidates.

cc:

lalasticlala, mynd44, seun

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/2019-why-pdp-will-get-overwhelming.html

Former governor of Akwa Ibom state and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, yesterday stated that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State will overwhelmingly be voted in for a second term in the state on the strength of his development strides.

Akpabio gave the assurance while commissioning 10 internal roads and 3 km Okposi Road in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, ONELGA, of the state in continuation of the celebration of three years of Wike’s administration.

Senator Akpabio said: “Nobody changes a winning team. Therefore, Governor Wike will enjoy the constitutional second term. This government believes in transforming the landscape of Rivers State.

“I am proud of Wike and his team. The Federal Government must hear that the projects by the Rivers governor have helped to protect the nation’s economy. Wike is sustaining the economy of Nigeria through projects that have enhanced peace in the oil bearing communities.”

Governor Wike, in his remarks, said: “We don’t play politics with projects. Once the projects are vital to the development of an area, we execute them for the benefit of the people.

“I promised the people of ONELGA that I will do everything possible to ensure peace returns to the area. Today, banks are functional in the town and the economy has been revived.”

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/ooni-of-ife-praises-buhari-while.html

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has urged Nigerian youths to support President Muhammadu Buhari for the betterment of Nigeria.

NAN reports that Ogunwusi gave the advice when he received a presidential aspirant of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Fela Durotoye, on Thursday, at his palace in Ile-Ife.

The royal majesty praised President Buhari for prioritising youth vanguard; as an exemplary good leader who loves youths; and for planning for brighter future for young Nigerians.

“No wonder he assented to the bill “Not-too-young-to-run” that will secure the future for the youths,” he said.

The Ooni charged the younger ones to come out for leadership position, and support the elderly ones so that the country can make progress.

Ooni however lauded the presidential aspirant for being courageous enough to indicate interest to contest, and advised him to be orderly as all eyes were set on him.

“You have shown the value of the culture by taking the right step to pay homage to the first stool created by God, confirmed sitting on as ordained by God.

“God is not a man that will lie. He has remained faithful from the inception of the world. God has endowed the contestant with spirit of humility and should keep it up,’’ he stated.

Ogunwusi eulogised the youths for upholding the pillars of peace, love and unity of the country.

He advised that it was time for them to gear up and fight for their future.

“Nigeria youths have been sleeping, but I believe your coming out will reawaken and gear them for more commitment,” he expressed.

Earlier, Durotoye appreciated the Ooni for the fatherly role he plays since his ascension to the throne.

Durotoye said that youths across the country and in the diaspora were proud of the royal father.

“We have learnt a lot from your exemplary leadership style which motivated me to contest for the post of President in order to deliver my colleagues from captivity,” he said.

cc:

Seun

lalasticlala

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/by-signing-not-too-old-to-run-bill.html

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has reacted to the signing of the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ bill by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fayose said by signing the bill, Buhari should remind himself that he was “Too Old To Run,” hence he should vacate the office of the President for the youths.

In a series of tweets, the governor said the country needs to be “totally returned to the youths who own the future of Nigeria.”

The tweet reads, “I commend the youths who championed the “Not Too Young To Run” agitation and urge them not to relent because it is not yet uhuru.

“We must totally return the country to the youths who own the future of Nigeria. Here in Ekiti, if you are above 40 years, you can’t be LG councillor.

“We must have a Nigeria where anyone who is qualified to vote can also be voted for, not this hypocritical signing of “Not Too Young To Run” Bill by the same President who said our youths are lazy and must not run against him in 2019.

“Today in Ekiti, the PDP Deputy governorship candidate is 39 year old. He became chairman of Ado LG at 35.

“On the contrary, the APC deputy governorship candidate is 74 year old. He was chairman of Ado LG 25 years ago.

“The future of Nigeria belongs to the youths and we must handover the country to them without restrictions.

“If at 18, you are old enough to choose, you must also be seen as old enough to be chosen.

“Lastly, our President who signed the “Not Too Young To Run” should be reminded that at his very old age, he is also “Too old To Run.” He should leave the stage for the younger generation of Nigerians.”

Recall that Buhari had yesterday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja signed the bill into law.




lalasticlala
Seun

Former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, has reacted after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill into law on Thursday.

Atiku, in a tweet posted on his official handle, said he welcomes the signing of the bill into law.

He also congratulated Hon. Tony Nwulu, who sponsored the bill.

“I welcome the signing of the #NotTooYoungToRun bill into law. I also congratulate Hon @tonynwulu who sponsored the bill.

“Importantly, today’s milestone is proof of the resilience & intrinsic hardworking nature of the everyday Nigerian youth who worked to make this a success,” Atiku wrote.

Buhari signed the bill on Thursday afternoon inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Recall that the President had in his Democracy Day broadcast on Tuesday, pledged to sign the bill “in a few days’ time.”


The bill, which was passed by the National Assembly last year, seeks to reduce the age qualification for elective office seekers across the country.


http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/06/atiku-reacts-after-buhari-signed-not.html

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/breaking-court-sends-ex-kaduna-governor.html

Ramalan Yero, a former Governor of Kaduna State, has been remanded in prison by a Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna.

Justice Muhammed Shuibu, on Thursday ordered that Yero be remanded in prison, pending the hearing of his bail application.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had arraigned Yero and three others on a four count charge of money laundering and bribery.

After ordering Yero’s remand, Shuibu adjourned the case to 6th June, 2018 for hearing on bail application.

CC:

lalasticlala

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/police-recruitment-psc-speaks-on.html

The Police Service Commission, PSC, has reacted to rumour that candidates participating in ongoing recruitment into the force wrote examination in Arabic.

Outgoing PSC Chairman, Mike Okiro insisted that the assessment was only based on aptitude and language test under the heading, “English Language test for 45 minutes”.

He explained, in a statement, that JAMB customized platform contained skeletons of other 22 subjects offered by the board.

The statement, which was signed by Okiro, read, “The instructions were that candidates should answer the questions in that section alone.

“On completion of the 45 minutes test, any candidates who rolled down would come across subjects listed in alphabetical order of the 23 subjects with the first 3 being Agriculture, Arabic and Arts.”

He dismissed as false the claim that “180 questions (instead of 60) were to be answered in English, Agriculture, Arabic and Arts in 45 minutes!!!

“The only Nexus among the three is letter ‘A’. The Nigeria Police Force does not require Agriculture, Arabic or Arts.

“No candidate was ever required to answer questions or assessed on any of the three subjects as shown by the results already released,” the PSC boss asserted.

CC:

lalasticlala

http://www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/transfer-news-real-madrid-set-price-tag.html

Real Madrid have informed Manchester United, Liverpool and other clubs interested in their forward, Gareth Bale, that he would not be sold for less than £200 million.

The Walsh man came off the bench to score two spectacular goals against Liverpool in their Champions League final in Kiev on Saturday.

Bale suggested afterwards that he would seek a move away from Santiago Bernabeu if he is not guaranteed more game time.

The former Tottenham player told BT Sport, “I’m sure we’ll sit down at the table and see what’s for the best. For me personally, I feel like I should be playing week in, week out and I haven’t been.

“I’ve been doing well, scoring goals, but I haven’t been playing as much as I would like so, as I said, I am going to have to sit down over the summer and seriously consider what we do next.”

Daily Star reports that Real Madrid are keen to keep Bale, but will permit him to leave if an offer of £200million is made

That could prove too costly for Manchester United, even though Bale has made Old Trafford his preferred destination should he leave the Bernabeu.

cc:
lalasticlala

www.titopeblog.com/2018/05/jang-moves-to-sue-efcc-over-alleged.html

The immediate past Governor of Plateau State and Senator representing Plateau North, Jonah Jang, said he holds no grudge against those behind his trivails, following his detention in EFCC and his incarceration in Jos prison for over two weeks.

Jang disclosed this while speaking with journalists after he was granted bail by a Jos High Court earlier on Thursday.

He said, “For over a week, I was kept in detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), deprived of the inalienable right to personal freedom and association.

“If the laws of our country are still potent under the current circumstances, my detention constitutes a gross abuse of the fundamental rights guaranteed me as a law-abiding citizen as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

“Where the constitution provides for an accused person to be charged to court within one day, I was held by the EFCC for over a week in flagrant disregard to the letters and spirit of the supreme document which legitimizes the very existence of our country.

“My lawyers have instituted a case at the FCT High Court and I shall pursue it to its logical conclusions,” he stressed.

According to him, “As a believer in Jesus Christ, I count it all joy to be found worthy of these trials and tribulations. I am aware of my fallibility as a mortal, but it has been a rare privilege by all standards of estimation, to be granted the opportunity to share the gospel of our Lord and Saviour to many souls I met in captivity. It was a remarkable experience to fellowship with brethren in that kind of condition.

“As Governor of Plateau State in the 8 years entrusted to me, my preoccupation was the welfare, wellbeing, and security of the people.

“My work was dedicated to opening new frontiers and elevating our state and people to a status commensurate with the expectations of a world which has changed tremendously. A testament of that can be easily identified in all 17 Local Government Areas of the State, and other strategic areas within the governance landscape.

The former Governor maintained that, “The burden I carry in my heart is not of grudges against those against me, but of gratitude for those who have endured difficult conditions to stand with me through this ordeal. I am convinced beyond doubts that your labour of love shall not be in vain.

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“May God bless you for remembering me in my hour of distress”, he stressed.