Popular entertainer, Catherine Obianuju Udeh a.k.a DJ Switch has reacted to Lagos panel confirming that EndSARS protesters were killed at the Lekki tollgate on October 20, 2020.

The panel also indicted soldiers and implicated Nigeria’s security agents in the "killing and forced disappearances of harmless and unarmed youths protesting at Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2020". The Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel made the revelation in a 309-page report submitted to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Monday November 15.

Reacting to the report via Twitter, DJ Switch stated that those behind the act shattered many lives and also tried to destroy hers. She added that what the perpetrators tried to hide, has also been made public by them.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said the White Paper on it will be out in two weeks time and the committee to produce it will be chaired by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN.
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/11/16/endsars-see-dj-switchs-reaction-to-the-lagos-panels-report/

Manchester United football club of England are reportedly working behind the scenes to persuade former Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their new manager.

According to a new report by The Times, after a series of poor results and performances, many options are being explored to replace Solksjaer.

Zidane, who won two La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues during his time as a coach at Real Madrid, is the man they want to succeed him even though he is not fully convinced that United is the right place to jump back into management.

The report adds that the Red Devils’ signings of Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane – two players Zidane worked with at Real Madrid – will play key roles to convince him to make the move to Manchester.

United currently sit sixth in the Premier League despite spending £120million on new players in the summer, which has led to Solskjaer coming under scathing criticism from fans and pundits.

Zidane left Real Madrid at the end of last season and, after six months out of football, he could be set for his next challenge.

Zidane, 49, is a free agent after electing to step down as Real Madrid coach for a second time last May and can be hired without negotiating a compensation package.
During his playing days, he was largely instrumental to winning many trophies for Real Madrid as well as the 1998 world cup for France where they beat the then defending champions, Brazil 3-0 in front of hundreds of thousands of French fans. Zidane is originally from Algeria.
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/11/15/does-manchester-united-really-want-zinedine-zidane/

The Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), Fr. Ejike Mbaka has warned that there will be more trouble in the country if the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, dies in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The controversial Catholic priest made this known while calling on the congregation to pray for the speedy release of Nnamdi Kanu on Sunday November 14.

He also commended IPOB for calling off its Monday sit-at-home exercise, saying the danger of the order was becoming a problem instead of a solution.

Commending IPOB, Mbaka said: ”The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, the hero, Nnamdi Kanu, is expressing his empathy with the people of the Southeast over what they are passing through. He came to know that Igbos are suffering because of him. And he would not wish that suffering to continue. Therefore, nobody should stop anybody from going to his or her business any Monday.

“All of us should keep praying for his (Kanu) release, and work towards his freedom because if he dies inside that place, it will cause more trouble. If he comes out, he will come out as a hero.

”We don’t want him to die, because it is not Nnamdi Kanu’s issue, it is the issue that concerns the people that are suffering. Nnamdi is not asking the government to do anything for him; he is speaking for the Igbo people.

“And we that are affected and he is speaking on their behalf should do everything possible to see that it is well with him.

“Many were saying they saw me at Abuja some days ago, yes. My own is if I am with you, I am with you. I will not sit here to tell you why I am in Abuja but whatever will make my people to be emancipated I will do it. There are people working to see that Nnamdi Kanu is released and it’s not by sitting. at home that he will be released.

”Canceling sit-at-home does not mean that it is over, the poor masses are suffering. Most of the rich people don’t have business over here, we are punishing our selves. We thank the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, may God bless him.”
Fr. Mbaka courts controversy often and so embarrassed the Catholic Church that the Bishop of Enugu Diocese once banned him from openly commenting on political issues which he appears to be currently disobeying.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/11/15/see-what-fr-mbaka-said-will-happen-if-nnamdi-kanu-dies-in-custody/

Multiple Award-winning Nigerian superstar, Wizkid, has won the award for the Best African Act in this year’s edition of the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA)
Wizkid defeated the likes of Tems, Diamond Platnumz, Amaarae, and Focalistic in the tightly-contested category.
MTV base in a post congratulating Wizkid via its Instagram handle wrote: “HUGE congratulations to BIG WIZ @wizkidayo for winning Best African Act! From Lagos to the world.”
Wizkid is currently enjoying huge recognition from all over the world for his hit song ‘Essence’.
The song from his ‘Made In Lagos’ album has continued to trend on worldwide music charts all year.
The ‘Starboy’ is expected to release his next album soon as he proceeds with his world tour.
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/11/15/mtv-ema-2021-wizkid-wins-best-african-act/

Billionaire businessman, Obinna Iyiegbu, known as Obi Cubana has closed down his club ‘Hustle and Bustle’ in Abuja.
He announced this in a post on his Instagram stories.
The club was shut down following a tragic incident involving a female clubber who got electrocuted last night.
In a statement issued to the public the Cubana group wrote: “We are closed till further notice. This is due to the loss of our dear esteemed client.
“We are deeply saddened by this situation and need time to heal from it. Our prayers are with the families of the departed soul.
“I sympathize with the family on the unbearable loss. Kindly bear with us as we pass through this storm.”
Obi Cubana was invited by the EFCC where he was held over allegations of tax evasion and money laundering. He was released after spending three days in their custody.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/11/15/see-what-obi-cubana-did-to-his-abuja-club/

Ex President Olusegun Obasanjo will lead a soccer squad against Nigeria’s ex-internationals on Sunday at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta.
The free novelty match which is part of the Olusegun Obasanjo’s Foundation of the celebration of World Diabetes Day will kick off at 3 p.m., with Mr Obasanjo, 84, as captain of his team.
He will battle former Green Eagles Captain, Segun Odegbami, who will lead a team including Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, and Mutiu Adepoju among others.
Mr Obasanjo’s team, known as OBJ All Stars, is said to have embarked on training ahead of the event and is determined to defeat the ex-internationals at all cost.
Other activities slated by the Foundation as part of the World Diabetes Day include a free medical care and screening to hold from 9 a.m. at the car park of the marquee of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
The ceremony will be rounded off with a dinner by 7 p.m. at Marque events centre of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The World Diabetes Day is a global awareness campaign focused on diabetes mellitus and is marked on November 14 every year.
The theme for this year’s event is ‘Access to Diabetes Care: If not now, when?’
Obasanjo disclosed to the public that he has been living with diabetes since the 1980’s and harped on the need for effective medical care to contend with the ailment.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/11/14/obasanjo-to-captain-squad-against-former-internationals/

Lawal Usman, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), opines that the 2023 presidential ticket of the party must be zoned to the north.

He said the north should get the party’s ticket for strategic reasons.
Usman, a former Kaduna central senatorial candidate, spoke during an interview with NAN in Zaria on Sunday.
He said: “For the strategic interest of the party and the nation, the PDP must zone its presidential ticket to the north in 2023,” he said.
“For justice and equity, the north should be allowed to produce the president in 2023 under the PDP.
“The PDP was at the helm of affairs in Nigeria for 16 years, out of these, the south-west ruled for eight years under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the south-south ruled for six years through former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The entire north consisting of north-central, north-east and north-west only ruled for two years under late President Umar Yar’adua.”
Usman said the PDP has more supporters in the north than any part of the country, and as such, it should be a consideration for zoning.
“The population of the PDP supporters in the north-west, north-east and north-central is enormous and should be considered in zoning the presidential ticket,” he said.
“Added to this is the fact that the north has a traditional alliance with the south-east which dates back to early independence days.
“Strategically, for PDP to survive, we must win the presidential election in 2023 and this can only be done if we give the north the ticket.
“This is not because the north has the best candidates, no it is not, there are qualified people all over the country, but for the strategic reason of winning the election we must zone the ticket to the north.
“I believe that the PDP will win with landslide victory if it zones the ticket to the north.”
The PDP had its convention recently where it elected its officers and it saw Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the Chairman. Ayu hails from Benue which is in the North Central Zone of the country.
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/11/14/pdp-should-zone-the-2023-presidential-ticket-to-the-north-chieftain/

Deji Adeyanju, a popular socio-political activist, has raised an alarm over surreptitious moves to hike the pump price of fuel in Nigeria.
He alleged that they are planning to increase the price of fuel to N450 per litre.
In a series of tweets, the activist accused the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government of planning to kill
Nigerians with suffering and hunger, despite the promise of change.
He also lamented over the expensive cost of food under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
He wrote: “They are planning to increase fuel price to N450 per liter. The clowns that promised CHANGE in 2015 are determined to kill Nigerians with suffering and hunger.
“Bag of beans under corruption = N12,000, Bag of beans under integrity = N75,000
“Is integrity not wonderful?
“Bag of sugar under corruption = N8,000.
“Bag of sugar under integrity = N26,500.
“What Buhari cannot destroy does not exist.”
Recall that Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, had said fuel subsidy is costing Nigeria resources that should have been used for education and health.
She noted that it’s crucial for the country to exit fuel subsidy regime in 2023, stressing that fuel subsidy is a “major drain and waste” on Nigeria’s economy.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/11/14/see-what-price-buhari-plans-to-increase-price-of-fuel-to/

Popular music producer, Samuel Oguachuba, popularly known as Samklef, has said that he didn’t believe in heaven or hell because he believed that heaven is here on earth.
The talented producer took to his verified Twitter page on Saturday to share a series of tweets on his beliefs concerning religion.
According to Samklef, humans are gods and therefore, bear the same characteristics as God.
Sharing a picture of himself, he tweeted: “I don’t believe in heaven. I don’t believe in hell. But I believe in heaven on earth. If God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so are ye. Bright star from the east.”(sic)
He also called on Africans to “believe in themselves through God” rather than place their beliefs on religion.
“A lot of Africans believe in religion instead of them to believe in themselves through God,” Samklef tweeted.
He added, “Until all these men of God in Africa stop manipulating their congregations and start telling them the truth that they are their own miracle, Nothing good will come out of Africa. Black man, wake up. Return to yourself. God lives in you. Ye are gods.”
This belief by the artiste is a challenge to the established belief in the afterlife by many Nigerians who are either Christians or Muslims and even animists. No doubt it has been causing a lot of controversy on the bird app which has been banned by the Federal Government since June 4 this year.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/11/14/why-i-dont-believe-in-the-afterlife-samklef/

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has reaffirmed that he wouldn’t be leaving the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that his party affiliation would not affect the state’s development.
Obaseki, who spoke during a Banquet in Benin City, as part of activities for this year’s Alaghodaro Summit, said his government is committed to ensuring a progressive and prosperous Edo State where all citizens will live life to the fullest.
According to a statement on Saturday titled, ‘I’ve no plans to switch parties, says Obaseki’, the Peoples Democratic Party governor said, “No matter the persuasion to join any political party, I will not. I will continue to provide leadership for all Edo people. We don’t need to join another political party to develop Edo State to become a home for all.
“Our goal is to position Edo where it should be, as our State has been created to provide leadership for this country; that is how it has been and will always be.”
Obaseki said the Alaghodaro Summit has become a platform which his administration is using to prepare the youths of the Edo State for tomorrow’s leadership position.
According to him, “Our politics is being driven by data. We will continue to do our best as a government to make life better for our people who trusted us with their votes.
“In the last five years, we have been in the foundation laying stage for the development of Edo State. That era has passed and now, it’s time to move as fast as possible in developing the State as the challenges and barriers have been taken care of.”
It will be recalled that Obaseki was previously in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) but left the party after falling out with his predecessor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. He went on to win a landslide victory in the 2020 polls with the slogan ‘Edo no be Lagos’.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/11/14/will-obaseki-leave-the-pdp/

Annie Idibia, wife of Innocent Idibia a.k.a 2baba has apologized to both him and his family for the pains she had caused them in recent times.
In September she alleged that her musician hubby was cheating on her with one of his baby mamas, US based Pero Adeniyi who has three children for him.
She wrote on Instagram as she turns 37 today:
”The last 10 weeks have been the worst of my entire life. Yes the worst since I was born. I have gone from being so angry to being so broken and back to anger. And then Sadly which I am ashamed to admit suicide.
”I allowed my emotions to lead me into making bad decisions, allowed my anger and emotions, to make me act on something that’s wasn’t true cause I was kept in dark.
”I want to apologise to my husband, Inno. I am so sorry I threw you out there like I did (so unwise). That isn’t the kind of woman you married. I’m totally sorry for all the mental stress and heartbreak it caused you.
”So sorry I put both our families out there the way I did (I still be your smallie o). To my beautiful mothers, my amazing mother and my beautiful mother-in-law, I am so sorry I let both of you down.
“No mother should go through the kind of pain that you both felt. I am really sorry (I’m still your baby). I am far from perfect, but I have decided to choose peace, and I want to do better, given the chance.
”To both my families- The Macaulays and the Idibias, I am sorry for all the pain and disrespect towards both families. Please forgive me. Una No Fit Throw Way Una Pikin ooo.”
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/11/13/see-what-annie-idibia-said-to-2baba-and-his-family/

Popular Nigerian ‘Journalist’ Dele Momodu a.k.a Bob Dee means different things to different people. To some he is the archetypal grass to grace story whose palm kernels were broken for him by a benevolent spirit apologies to the late Professor Chinua Achebe. To others he is a mere glorified, competent hustler who managed to pass off public relations as journalism.
His Saturday Column in Thisday on November 6, 2021 captioned ‘‘The Unsolvable Jigsaw of the Ikoyi Tragedy’ was the zenith of insensitivity and sycophancy – the latter for which he is infamously known for.
Hear him “I had known Femi for over 20 years in London as an extremely gifted marketer. Femi’s tongue was honey-coated, and it was impossible not to like him,” Momodu said.
“We lost touch after I ended exile and returned to Africa, but he soon traced me to Ghana, and he came visiting. He was so happy to reunite with me. He told me how God had blessed him mightily and had made him veer into real estate in London. Femi was a genius who made stupendous gains from regenerating ghetto neighbourhoods in East London. He regaled me with tales of his exploits in the property business.
“He promised to build the classiest residential apartments in Africa. He said he was out to prove there was nothing the multinational construction companies were doing that his company can’t do. I have never seen such a level of audacity, determination and tenacity. Fourscore was a visionary and a missionary when it came to seeking to excel and do as well as his international counterparts at home and abroad. He had competed in their space, in their countries before, with moderate successes and did not see any reason why he could not replicate the same and attain loftier heights in his home country.
“If he made any mistakes, it was probably that he overstretched himself, but he was such an ambitious man, full of faith. And certainly not the greedy avaricious person that his traducers now suggest he is. In our country, mistakes are never excused, forgiven or forgotten. When you fail, you’re a villain and outcast. When you succeed, you’re a hero, genius and superstar.

“Out of the failing of Femi Fourscore would arise a Nigerian Neil Armstrong who will make building on the sea seem like strolling to the next street. That I believe is Femi Fourscore’s legacy, challenging us to believe that what may seem impossible is indeed possible by dint of hard work and if at first, you do not succeed, keep trying, because your time will come.
“I will never give excuses for Femi. He tried but he couldn’t unfortunately deliver on the tall and tough target he set for himself. I am pretty sure that it was not because he was cutting corners or taking risks. The block that fell was the one he intended to live in. No man would be prepared to be a kamikaze pilot in such a situation.
Momodu said the inquest and investigation ordered into the incident should be done diligently and not hurriedly.
“It must be painstaking and thorough. Such investigations cannot last thirty days as being directed by the government; I foresee that any credible inquiry must take months of arduous diligent work. Various possibilities including negligence, sabotage and even natural or human causes such as the over-dredging occurring in that vicinity must be considered. Dead men tell no tales. They cannot defend themselves, but records and logic abound,” he said.
“Those making claims and allegations which are easily rumpled will soon be exposed. I’d known that In February 2020 the third block was at the beginning of the foundation stage and the other two blocks were merely a few storeys gone. It is interesting that nobody who had any misgivings reported such to the Regulators. I say no more, other than that it is always convenient to cast aspersions when it seems there is no potential for the reply.
“What I know is Fourscore was a self-made man who depended on no godfather. Despite being a cousin of the vice-president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, he was too proud and self-reliant to approach the vice-president or anybody else for favours of that kind. He never sought for or got any government contracts. He relied on his own ability, marketing skills and funds.
“It has been most painful reading how some people reduced Femi’s epic struggles and vision to fronting for the vice-president. For me, this is one of the tragedies of this unfortunate saga. The worst of them would be the number of innocent casualties buried in the debris with Femi.”
Momodu’s excuse for exonerating his late friend is that the latter in his opinion which is unverifiable since dead men tell no tales is that he planned to live in one of the flats. Bob Dee forgot to tell us that his late friend who had been exposed to the best building practices in the UK, US and South Africa where the systems work chose to cut corners in his native home out of avarice and the defective system which is oiled through bribery and corruption.
He is not concerned that 45 people lost their lives due to the nauseating morbid greed of his late friend and that the deaths were avoidable. Would he have sung the same song if a close relation of his was either killed or lost in the rubble?
I am not amazed by his defensive outburst as he has made an unenviable career of worshipping the wealthy not minding the source of their wealth and so like the proverbial Abobaku continued to wax lyrical for Osibona even in his grave. The story would have been different if the developer were to be a plebian or mendicant. How tragic! Even the Holy Bible which Bob Dee claims to read as a ‘Christian’ condemns the practice of mammon worship as it warns sternly ‘What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?’
At over 60, he has shown no signs of slowing down and is still chasing ephemeral wealth which all mortals would ultimately leave behind since the world is a mere market place and no man’s permanent home. Does he have time at all for critical introspection about his legacies as he definitely wouldn’t be psychically around in five decades time if he is even lucky to live that long?
Old habits die hard and you can never teach an old dog new tricks! The advent and popularity of social media as well as the internet has rendered his Ovation Magazine obsolete and having gotten used to the good life acquired on the strength of sycophancy, it would be suicidal for him to stop it as there is no pension plan to fall back on.
We recall when popular artiste Davido called him ‘my boy’ before his apology. This underscores the silent contempt that the elite have of him despite their pretentious show of love.
In a decent clime, his column in Thisday would have been pulled down and he would have been made to apologize for his cruel remark and disgusting pr gimmick for his departed friend. Alas we are in a third world jungle made so by corrupt leadership pervasive everywhere including in the media aided by enablers like Bob Dee.
Tony Ademiluyi is the Co Founder of The Vent Republic and can be reached on anthonyademiluyi@yahoo.com and 08167677075
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/11/13/dele-momodus-insensitive-pr-stunt-tony-ademiluyi/

The most popular show among the Nigerian youths is the Big Brother Nigeria show. Housemates of both sexes are sequestered in a house with all their needs being supplied for a period of three months with all their needs being supplied. Critics contend that it is a lewd show with no value being added to the lives of the youths. These ‘impoverished’ youths spend billions of naira to keep their favourite housemates in the house with the organizers smiling home to the bank. Few Nigerian youths really know the origin of Big Brother and one isn’t surprised as history is an unpopular elective in the Nigerian educational curriculum. British satirical writer’s most prophetic work was ‘1984’ which mirrored how Big Brother monitored the lives of the then Soviet Union Citizens where they constantly lived in fear. They were even scared to think as Big Brother was so powerful that he even monitored their thoughts.
The Buhari regime has unwittingly immortalized George Orwell as an eternally relevant writer with its bid to monitor phone calls, text messages, Whatsapp and other social media accounts of Nigerians with the humongous sum of 4.87 billion naira which is part of the 895.8 billion naira supplementary budget approved by the National Assembly.
The attempted media monitoring agenda is an infringement on the fundamental human right of the right to privacy and it is tragic that this is happening in a so called democracy. Is it a priority? How will it translate into a better deal for the Man on the Clapham Omnibus?
One is not amazed as Buhari has an ugly antecedent of press muzzling. We would never forget how in 1984, his Decree 4 sent Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor to jail over a story on diplomatic postings which his government found offensive. The Twitter ban which has been in place for well over three months simply because his tweet was taken down shows not only his innate contempt for the media but his suspicion of a harmless supposed partner in progress which has led to his constant harassment and repression.
We live in extremely trying times where resources for developmental projects are scarce due to our fate being tied to the vagaries of our crude oil dependent mono economy. 4.87 billion naira is a gargantuan sum of money that can be put to good use. Imagine if it is pumped into the education sector which has never gotten the UNESCO prescribed 26% budgetary allocation, it will go a long way to preparing our young minds to be more globally competitive and help in drastically reducing the massive youth unemployment which the National Bureau of Statistics puts at over 33%. The under employment rate for which there is no official statistics may be under 50%. Our population is about 200 million and so the number of unemployed and under employed is far more than the total population of many countries combined. The remote cause of the current insecurity – most especially Boko Haram and Banditry can be traced to the collapse of our education especially in the northern part of the country. The Goodluck Ebele Jonathan led administration may have had its flaws but it tried to curb the Boko Haram insurgency with a potent counter terrorism measure by building many almajiri schools to ensure that the street urchins in the north otherwise known as almajiris had the opportunity to receive a relevant education. Why didn’t Buhari sustain that wonderful public policy which ironically had his kinsmen as the greatest beneficiaries? What about the beleaguered health sector? Health is wealth goes the age-long aphorism. We witnessed a strike by the resident doctors for well over a month with the Labour Minister uttering gibberish that the nation isn’t in short supply of medical doctors that it is not a bad idea for most to relocate abroad so as to guarantee a steady inflow of forex into the country. Buhari who promised in 2015 during his campaign to curb medical tourism has spent substantial time in the UK for his healthcare needs. The 4.87 billion naira could have been put to good use in the healthcare sector. The Plebians in the country die of preventable diseases and most of the citizens lack a health insurance with many turning into mendicants when an ailment strikes.
The implication of this media repression is dire. Sensitive information is usually exchanged on these platforms. Medical challenges, business secrets, confidential information etc get passed between couples, friends, business associates and colleagues. Unscrupulous government officials could use this information as a source of blackmail to extort money from hapless victims. Political adversaries could collude with the security agents to get dirt on their opponents and use it to frustrate their political ambitions. This unnecessary privacy intrusion would put everyone on the edge and turn the nation into a police state which is a negation of one of the core attributes of a democratic state.
I commend the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for taking the bull by the horn in taking the draconian Buhari government to court to quash this anti-people agenda. In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1240/2021 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, SERAP is seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining President Buhari and any other authority, persons or group of persons from unlawfully monitoring the WhatsApp messages, phone calls and text messages of Nigerians and other people.”
SERAP is also seeking “a declaration that any monitoring of WhatsApp messages, phone calls and text messages is oppressive and draconian, as it threatens and violates sections 37 and 39 of Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended]; Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; and Articles 17 and 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria is a state party.”
The Civil Society Organisation argued that, “The plan to monitor WhatsApp messages, phone calls and text messages is an arbitrary interference by the administration into respect for family and private life, the home, and correspondence. It also fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality. SERAP was quoted as saying that “The Buhari administration has legal obligations to protect Nigerians and other people against arbitrary interference and violations of their human rights. Monitoring of WhatsApp messages, phone calls and text messages would grant free rein to government agencies to conduct mass surveillance of communications of people. The mere threat of mass surveillance, even when secret, coupled with the lack of remedy, can constitute an interference with human rights, including the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.”
The group went on to say that “Privacy and expression are intertwined in the digital age, with online privacy serving as a gateway to secure exercise of the freedom of opinion and expression. Therefore, targets of surveillance would suffer interference with their rights to privacy and freedom of opinion and expression whether the effort to monitor is successful or not.” Joined in the suit as Respondents are the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, and Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
Other civil society groups as well as the media should lead a mass sensitization against the evil of this proposed plan by the sinister Buhari regime which has zero respects for the citizens’ rights to keep some things private.
Public spirited individuals and well meaning Nigerians both at home and in the Diaspora should come together in unison to ensure that collectively we can effectively battle this needless intrusion into our private lives and prove for the umpteenth time that good ultimately triumphs over evil.
Tony Ademiluyi is the Co Founder of The Vent Republic and can be reached on 08167677075 and anthonyademiluyi@yahoo.com

The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday confirmed eleven commissioner-nominees sent to it by Governor Godwin Obaseki as commissioner -designates in the state.
The nominees were screened and cleared by the House Committee on Rules, Business and Government House led by the Majority leader, Henry Okhuarobo.
Obaseki had in a letter dated September 28 addressed to the speaker, Marcus Onobun, requested the house to screen and confirm the nominees as commissioners in the state.
Also, the house also cleared and confirmed the nomination of Justice Joe Acha as the Chief Judge of the state.
Justice Acha’s confirmation was sequel to a letter by Obaseki and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie.
Those on the list include: Oluwole lyamu (SAN) (Oredo local government); Prof. Obehi Akoria, (Esan West); Dr Joan Oviawe, (Uhumwode); Ethan Uzamere, (Ovia South West) and Monday Osaigbovo, (Ovia North East),
Others are: Marie Edeko (Esan North East), Joseph Eboigbe (Esan Central), Moses Agbukor, (Etsako East), lsoken Omo (Ikpoba-Okha), Andrew Emwanta (Egor) and Mrs Otse Momoh-Omorogbe (Etsako West).
The Chairman of the committee, Henry Okhuarobo, presented the report of the committee on the screened nominees to the house for consideration.
According to the chairman, the nominees are competent, relatively young and physically fit for the state assignment.
The committee recommended that the nominees, having been found to be eligible, be confirmed as commissioners in the state.
The house unanimously in a voice vote confirmed the nominees as commissioners in Edo.
Governor Obaseki had been criticized for failing to constitute his cabinet more than a year after he was sworn in for a second term.
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/10/05/edo-state-house-of-assembly-confirms-commissioner-nominees-others/

The Senate on Monday kept quiet on the growing calls for restructuring following ethnic agitations for secession in the southern part of Nigeria.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said he would not make any comment on the issue when contacted by a The Vent Republic reporter in Abuja.
He simply responded, “I do not have any comment.”
The Committee on True Federalism set up by the ruling All Progressives Congress, had submitted its report to the party in 2018.
The report which is currently being studied by the National Assembly, recommended among others, stressed the need to dispense with the current pseudo-federal structure, which many Nigerians believe was an impediment to national cohesion and economic progress.
The panel led by Governor Nasir el-Rufai, specifically made 12 sweeping recommendations to save the fragile polity through true federalism.
Essentially, the APC Committee on True Federalism proposed the devolution of powers to the federating units and a measure of resource control.
In line with this, it recommended state police, which is to operate “alongside the federal police” and each force with its own defined areas of authority.
The committee views the current Exclusive Legislative List, which has 68 items, as a bastardisation of federalism.
Therefore, it recommended that some of the items therein, including prisons, labour matters and registration of business names, should be entrenched in the Concurrent List.
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/10/05/see-senates-reaction-to-calls-for-restructuring/

Human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari has destroyed the fabric of Nigeria.
The veteran legal practitioner noted that Buhari has failed in his tripodal policies through which he campaigned and won election in 2015 which are: Economy, security and anti-corruption.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria spoke at a human rights lecture organised by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, with the theme: Nigerian School Children; Insecurity and Human Rights, held in Abuja.
He pointed out that many children can no longer go to school, adding that more than seventy percent school children in Nigeria are out of schools.
According to him, from Jangebe to Chibok; from Dapchi to Kaduna between December 2020 till date, over 700 hundred school children have been kidnapped with some of them being killed or forced into marriage.
“[They were] not kidnapped in the forests but from their schools. It got so messy in Kaduna that the kidnappers demanded bags of rice, vegetable oil, salt, beans and other condiments to be cooking for their children pending when they will get enough money to get them released on ransom,” Ozekhome wailed.
He went on to say that Nigeria is currently a failed state and cannot even be called a country anymore, explaining that non-state actors such as Boko Haram, bandits and other terrorists now possess enough powers to challenge the government.
“Is that a country? Does any of you who have children living in hostels and dormitories sleep with your two eyes closed? Not knowing of when next they’ll strike? He queried.
“When President Muhammadu Buhari was campaigning for this office…I like my President but I do not like his governance style and policies.
“Policies that have impoverished Nigeria. Policies that have made Nigeria the poverty capital of the world, overtaking India. Policies that have made Nigeria that was until 2015 the biggest economy in Africa overtaking South Africa and one of the seven fastest growing economy in the world.
“His tripodal policies were on economy, security and anti-corruption. The bad news is that he has dismally failed in all of them. Security is worse right now…Boko Haram we used to have that time at least people were able to vote for him in 2015 and he won in the North East, showing that though Boko Haram existed, they were not so rampant to prevent people from voting.
“Boko Haram has since graduated, strutting around like a proud peacock. Armed banditry has escalated, kidnapping is the order of the day. In security, he has failed.
“In economy, I have already told you, we’re now the poverty capital of the world. What of anti-corruption? Go and check, we’re 168 out of 180 covered by Transparency International.
“In West Africa, we’re the 3rd most corrupt country. So where have the President and the government helped Nigeria? I had on television and in my write-up challenged Nigerians that anyone who can carry the Holy Quran or take up the Holy Bible or if you’re an atheist, pick up a piece of Sango Iron and say your life is better off today than you were in 2015.
“I challenge the person for a national debate but until now no one has taken up the challenge because everybody knows things are not right. The deaf can hear it; the dumb can speak it; the blind can see it and even the numb can feel it.
“So it’s not a question of whether you are in APC, PDP, APGA, Labour, Zenith or PPA. Hunger knows no strike, religion or nationality. The fact is that things are bad for everyone whether Muslims or Christian, atheist, old men, women, youth and children .
” Things are bad and it could be worse except Nigerians come together and go back to the drawing board. Some people are saying that Nigeria is a failing state and I say no. I don’t agree.
“If you asked me, with all due respect, I’ll say Nigeria is a failed state. Do you know why? It is because one of the greatest indices of a failed state is when non-state actors like Boko Haram, kidnappers, armed bandits have efficient and commensurate powers to match state actors like security forces. That’s a failed state.
“When Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers begin to tell the government, ‘this is what we want.’ Taking over lands and planting their flags as Governor Zulum of Borno State and Bello of Niger State have cried out that in some lands in their States, they have planted flags; they’re demanding for taxation; they issue identity cards and give pass to people to pass.
“We don’t need any other evidence of a failed state. It’s not about liking or not liking a government, it’s about saying the reality on the ground. Please Nigerians, let’s go back to the drawing board. If you like, bring all the helicopters and fighter jets you can, the truth is that the problem is more endemic than you can see.
“Because on the surface, it looks insecurity but beneath it is what we call social injustice and lack of egalitarianism…Nigeria is wobbly, gobbling and fumbling because it was not neatly packaged on the 1st of January, 1848 by Lord Lugard.
“It started with Lady Flora Louise Shaw on the 8th of January, 1897 in an article she wrote on Economic Times where she gave Nigeria her name “Niger Area”. And we agreed to live together. And if we agreed, let us live together in peace and unity. Let’s not always say ‘Nigeria is indivisible; it’s indestructible.’
“We don’t say that by words of the mouth, we nurture it. Pakistan and India used to be one country; Eritrea and Ethiopia used to be one country as well as Sudan and Southern Sudan. So it’s not by merely saying it, you have to nurture it.
“We must have peace and social justice… we are talking about the kind of peace and social justice Chief M.K.O Abiola preached…Let us reformat and reengineer Nigeria. Let’s make a new constitution for ourselves. A constitution that will be… Indigenous, owned by the people and respected by all and legitimate.
“Not a constitution that was imposed by the General Abdusalam Abubakar government when they were going back to the barracks. How many of you know that Nigeria actually contested the 1999 elections without a constitution? Nigerians never made the constitution by themselves but even if we’re to manage it, Section 14 of that constitution said that the primary purpose of the government is to provide welfare and security for the people, are we having it?”
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/10/03/buhari-has-murdered-nigeria-mike-ozekhome-wails/

The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has once more said it was time for the younger generation to take over power from the older ones when it comes to the Presidency.
According to him, since some elders have tried their best for Nigeria, and some also failed, it was the right time for youths to take over.
Bello said this during a courtesy call on him by executive members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors led by its President, Mustapha Isah.
He used the occasion to condemn agitation for a power shift to a section of the country. Bello noted that such calls were born out of ethnic sentiments and a breach of the constitution.
Bello said: “I began to prepare for the office of the governor in 2007 after the general election. I was getting myself prepared, waiting for the opportunity to present itself. So, my level of preparedness met opportunity, then I waited for no one, rather I struck, then God completed the rest.
The Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill that was signed into law by the President only substantiated or buttressed what I have long demonstrated or put into practice by myself and my team.
“Our elders have tried their best; you can’t do more than your capacity, and that is natural. Our elders have really done well, at least the founded this country, fought for the unity of this country, and some of the social amenities that you are seeing today and policies were inherited from them, it is now incumbent on us the young generation, to take the country from where it is today to the next level.”
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/30/see-the-change-that-yahaya-bello-is-advocating-for/

Popular artiste and DMW boss, Davido will on Wednesday feature on ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’, MTV has announced.
Communications Manager of MTV Entertainment Group, Lauren Woulard said this in a statement.
This follows the appearance of Grammy award-winning Burna Boy on the show on August 13, 2019.
“We are excited to share that Nigerian-American artist, producer & label CEO, Davido, will join Trevor Noah for an in-depth interview on “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” tonight at 11PM ET/PT,” the statement reads in part.
The statement hinted Davido will chat about his recently released third studio album, “A Better Time”.
It also disclosed the single father of three will share the inspiration behind “his unique and infectious Afrobeats sound.”
The Daily Show has played host to most influential government, arts, philanthropy, sports and cultural leaders and advocates including current president of the United States of America, Joe Biden, his vice, Kamala Harris; Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Dr. Anthony Fauci has appeared three times since the beginning of the pandemic.

SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/29/davido-to-feature-in-the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah/

Confirmed reports have it that Chike Akunyili was killed in the early hours of Wednesday while on his way to attending a memorial in honour of his late wife, Professor Dora Akunyili, in Abuja.
But a source close to the family, who preferred anonymity, has confirmed the killing but declined further comments.
More details later ……
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/29/breaking-chike-akunyili-husband-to-dora-akunyili-shot-dead/

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has appointed two Special Advisers and forwarded the names of 11 commissioner-nominees to the Edo State House of Assembly for confirmation.
In a statement, Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Osarodion Ogie, said the two Special Advisers are Crusoe Osagie, who has been appointed as Special Adviser, Media Projects and Sarah Esangbedo Ajose-Adeogun, who is Special Adviser, Strategy, Policy, Projects and Performance Management.
The commissioner-nominees whose names have been forwarded to the Edo State House of Assembly include: Oluwole Osamudiamen Iyamu, SAN; Prof. (Mrs.) Obehi Akoria; Dr Joan Oviawe; Osaze Uzamere and Monday Osaigbovo.
Others are: Marie Edeko; Joseph Eboigbe; Moses Agbukor; Isoken Omo; Andrew Emwanta and Mrs Otse Momoh-Omorogbe.
Osagie, a media expert, has over two decades experience in journalism and public relations practice. He served as Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy in Obaseki’s first term in office.
Ajose-Adeogun, a former member of staff of Shell, is an accomplished professional with over two decades of multidisciplinary experience in the oil and gas industry.
During her distinguished career in the oil industry spent in Shell Petroleum Development Company, and its other subsidiaries, she was involved in various transformation initiatives that generated sustainable value across social performance, information technology and local content disciplines.
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/29/obaseki-names-cabinet-at-last/

THE Caretaker/Extraordinary National Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress, has fixed the age limit of aspirants for the position of youth leader at all levels of the party structure at 35 years.
This, The Vent Republic gathered, was sequel to the adoption of a recommendation of the National Progressive Youth Conference, held in Abuja, in June this year.
A member of the Lobby Committee and Niger State Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Emmanuel Umar disclosed this during the Campus Conversation on Youth Participation organized by Yiaga Africa, at the Federal University of Technology Minna, on Tuesday.
He said: “Since a young person is within the age of 18 to 35, why are we having people over 35 as the youth leaders? Because we want that inclusiveness, we want participation and involvement from the youths.
“The youths during the conference recommended this to the caretaker committee and the Caretaker Committee has approved it.”
He said that the results of the recent ward and local government APC congresses have shown that the recommendation has since taken effect.
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/29/see-the-age-limit-of-apc-youth-leader/

Air Vice Marshal Sikiru Smith (retd.) has been abducted by masked gunmen in the Ajah area of Lagos State.

The masked gunmen whisked Smith away on Monday evening, September 27.

According to an audio released by his driver, Corporal Odichi, Smith was forcefully taken away while he was supervising work at a site in Ajah, Lagos State, and taken to a waiting speedboat that sailed towards the Ikorodu area of the State.

Lagos State Police Command PRO Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu said the command is aware of the incident and the force is "on it".

Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Sikiru Oladimeji Smith is a retired Chief of Communications Officer at the Nigerian Ministry of Defense.

Prior to his pre-retirement position as AVM Chief of Communications, Smith was Commander 401 of The Aircraft Maintenance Depot and Chief of Logistics at The Nigerian Air Force.

Sikiru Smith is also the author of the non-fiction book Civil Militia and Nigeria’s National security, unveiled in Lagos State in 2013.

Since retirement, he has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of his company, Double Wealth Ventures Limited.

He has an honorary doctorate degree in Defense and Strategic Studies.

He is also a cousin to a former Inspector-General of Police and current Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Musiliu Smith.

More details later ……..

Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/28/air-vice-marshal-sikiru-smith-abducted-by-masked-men-in-lagos/

Robert Sylvester Kelly, better known as R. Kelly, has maintained that he's not guilty after he was found guilty in sex trafficking trial.

The world famous artiste was found guilty of exploiting his superstar status to run a scheme to sexually abuse women and children over two decades.
Eleven accusers, consisting of nine women and two men, took the stand over the six-week trial to describe sexual humiliation and violence at his hands.

After two days of deliberation, the jury found Kelly guilty on all the charges he was facing.

Sentencing is due on 4 May, 2022 and he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The musician took to Facebook after he was found guilty to release a statement.
He wrote: "To all my fans and supporters I love you all and thank you for all the support. Today’s verdict was disappointing and I will continue to prove my innocence and fight for my freedom. #notguilty."
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/28/see-what-r-kelly-said-after-he-was-found-guilty-of-child-sexual-abuse/

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) spent a total of N905.27bn on petrol subsidy in eight months amid rising global oil prices, the latest data obtained from the corporation show.
With the international oil benchmark, Brent crude, nearing $80 per barrel on Monday (up 2.07 per cent at $79.71 per barrel as of 7:00pm Nigerian time), the landing cost of imported petrol and subsidy are expected to increase.
The subsidy, which the NNPC prefers to call ‘value shortfall’ or ‘under-recovery’, resurfaced in January this year as the government left the pump price of petrol unchanged at N162-N165 per litre despite the increase in global oil prices.
The Federal Government had in March 2020 removed petrol subsidy after reducing the pump price of the product to N125 per litre from N145 following the sharp drop in crude oil prices.
The NNPC, which has been the sole importer of petrol into the country in recent years, has been bearing the subsidy cost since it resurfaced.
Data from the corporation showed that it incurred N25.37bn subsidy cost in January, N60.40bn in February, N111.97bn in March, and N126.30bn in April and N114.34bn in May.
The subsidy cost rose from N143.29bn in June to N175.32bn in July but fell to N149.28bn in August, according to the NNPC.
“The August 2021 value shortfall of N149,283,084,869.20 is to be deducted from the September 2021 proceeds due for sharing at the October, 2021 FAAC meeting,” the corporation said in a document seen by our correspondent on Monday.
While marketers have continued to harp on the need to allow market forces to determine the pump price of petrol and do away with subsidy, it remains uncertain whether the discussions between the Federal Government and labour unions will lead to the deregulation of petrol prices.
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/28/petrol-subsidy-hits-n905-27bn/

Campaign posters canvassing support for the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, ahead of the 2023 general elections were on Monday displayed at strategic locations in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Although the posters did not specify the position Osinbajo was vying for it was however titled, ‘Osinbajo for all 2023.’
The posters which had the portrait of Osinbajo in a black suit, were sponsored by a group called ‘Osinbajo for All volunteer group.’
Residents of Osun state capital, who observed the posters in areas such as Oke Onitea; Lameco Junction; Dele Yes Sir junction; Abere Bus stop, Ilesa Garage Junction, Oke Bale Junction and Ataoja Palace entrance, amongst others, noted that the posters must have been pasted in the early hours of Monday.
They said there were no such campaign materials in the areas on Sunday.
When contacted, Peter Ogundeji, who identified himself as the National Coordinator of Osinbajo for All Volunteer Group, said his group was behind the campaign posters, but added that the Vice President had not mandated them to campaign for him.
More details later ……
SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/28/see-where-osinbajos-posters-flooded/

Global tech company, Google, marks its 23rd birthday today Monday, September 27, 2021.
Celebrating the milestone, a special Google Doodle of a chocolate cake graces the homepage of the Menlo Park, California-based multinational technology company.
A Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google’s homepages intended to commemorate holidays, events, achievements, and notable historical figures of particular countries.
Officially making debut in 1998, Google Incorporated is the brainchild of Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
Its most popular product, Google Search, has risen to become the most used search engine on the web.
Other products from Google include Chrome, Gmail, Meet, PlayStore, Maps, YouTube, Photos, Docs, Excel, and a host of many others.
Taking to its verified Twitter page, Google Doodle says, “Happy 23rd Birthday, @Google!”
Celebrating Google’s giant strides in the world of cutting-edge technology, the tweet adds: “Starting as a prototype in the dorm rooms of two computer scientists, Google now answers billions of queries from users worldwide in 150+ languages
“Celebrate with a slice of today’s sweet #GoogleDoodle.”
SOURCE:https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/27/guess-how-old-google-is-today/

An ex Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, on Sunday, September 26 said the plan of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is to remain in power in both Federal and State levels for at least 50 years.
He said this on Sunday while addressing newsmen in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Sheriff, a three-time Senator who is also a contender for the APC national chairmanship, called on stakeholders of the party to unite in an effort to remain in power after President Muhammadu Buhari’s exit in 2023.
He said: “Today, as a party, we are only six years in power, our aspirations are for the ruling APC to be in government in the next 50 years without interruption.
“Buhari brought that to the table and what are we going to face after the exit of His Excellency, the President? It is we the APC members especially the stakeholders that will tell the world that we are capable of getting their trust even when he finishes his tenure and leave the office.
“Doing that, you need all members. You need people who know the history of the party, where we are coming from, who know the history of Nigeria, someone who has been in different aspects of life and we need to work together, we need to build bridges across the country.
“Doing that doesn’t come on the platter of gold, we need to put in hard work. Therefore, I believe it is important for me to reach out to all leaders of our party; the youths, the women, different organizations to tell them that we must come together to get our party to run for the next 30, 40, 50 years by the grace of God.”

SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/27/see-how-many-years-apc-plans-to-be-in-power/

The Northern Governors’ Forum will on Monday (today) hold an emergency meeting to trash out issues relating to the Value Added Tax.
It was further learnt that the planned meeting, which would be hosted by the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, would be presided over by the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong.
The Coordinator of the Northern Governors Forum Secretariat and Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Professor Danladi Atu said this as some senior lawyers blasted the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, over his recent statement that no state had the power to lay claim to the collection of VAT in the country.
The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had in a judgment last month held that Rivers State had the power to collect VAT within its jurisdiction.
But the Federal Inland Revenue Service headed for the Court of Appeal to challenge the judgment. At the appeal court, Lagos State filed an application that it should be joined with Rivers State as a co-defendant in the appeal filed by the FIRS.
The appeal court ordered parties in the suit to maintain status quo pending the determination of the appeal.
Malami, in an interview with Channels Television on Friday, said collection of VAT in the country was on the exclusive legislative list, adding that only the National Assembly had the power to make laws on VAT.
He stated: “As you rightly know, the issue of the Value Added Tax is an issue on the exclusive legislative list. And the implication of being on exclusive legislative list matter is that only the National Assembly can legislate on it. The question that you may perhaps wish to address your mind on is whether there exists any national legislation that has conferred the power on the state to collect VAT. And my answer is ‘no’.
SANs berate AGF
But Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN on Sunday faulted Malami.
Ozekhome said contrary to Malami’s claim, VAT is in the residual list and is strictly within the purview of state governments.
He said: “He (Malami) is dead wrong. There is nowhere VAT is reflected as a matter within the exclusive or concurrent list in the constitution of Nigeria.
“If anything, it is residual and is strictly within the purview of state government in our federal set-up.
“As of today, there is a judicial pronouncement on it by the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, to the effect that only states can collect and administer VAT.
“That remains the legal position today. Until that judgment is probably set aside, that remains the law of the land. The mere statement the Attorney General cannot alter this truism.”
On his part, Adedipe warned that VAT is a serious constitutional issue and should not be politicised.
He said, “Is this in the 1999 constitution or a new one? Which number or section? Let him state it. It is not enough to say it.
“I am not aware that VAT is on any exclusive list of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Second, he is a defendant in the case, he should come to the court to come and put this across. It is not something he should give a press statement or side comments about. It is a very serious constitutional issue and therefore should not be politicised. Since we are before the appellate court, let us leave it there.”
Atu stated: “The northern governors will be meeting in Kaduna on Monday and I’m sure one of the items on the agenda is about the issue of VAT.”
Asked whether the northern governors would be going to court to join the FIRS in the suit against Rivers and Lagos states over the VAT collection, the forum’s coordinator said, “You will get to know the position of the northern governors on the issue because I’m sure their resolution will be made public after their meeting on Monday “
Apart from Lagos and Rivers states, Ogun State has also started the process of passing a bill on VAT in its House of Assembly.
While some stakeholders including the 17 southern governors supported the position of Lagos and Rivers states that states should collect VAT, some northern governors, including El-Rufai opposed it.

SOURCE: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/27/see-what-northern-governors-are-meeting-today-for/

Nigerian artiste, OritseFemi, survived a ghastly motor accident in Sapaade, Ogun state today, September 26.

The singer's car somersaulted a couple of times, which caused the front windshield to pull off, and left his car in a complete wreck. He was rushed to the hospital where he was attended to by medical doctors. Some of his aides also sustained some injuries.

“Thank you almighty. God you are wonderful” the singer wrote.

More details later …….

Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/26/see-what-happened-to-oritsefemi-today/

There are speculations on Saturday that many more banks will publish names and account details of customers who bought cheap forex from the banks for Business Travel Allowance and Personal Travel Allowance but did not embark on those foreign trips.
Reliable sources from some of the banks, who spoke to our correspondent, said this after the United Bank for Africa published the names of some individuals who benefited from the PTA but did not use it for the purpose they applied for.
The account numbers and Bank Verification Numbers of the defaulters were included in the publication by UBA.
Commercial banks had earlier sent messages to their customers to inform them that travellers who bought foreign exchange from banks for travel purposes but failed to embark on the trips two weeks after their scheduled travel dates must return the forex to the banks.
According to the banks, this was a directive from the CBN.
Defaulting customers who presented fraudulent travel credentials or cancelled their tickets and failed to refund the purchased PTA and BTA within two weeks, as stated in the signed customer declaration form, would have their identities and bank verification numbers published, the banks had said.
According to UBA, the beneficiaries whose names were published on its website committed the offence after applying with fake tickets or visas.
UBA, in its publication titled ‘CBN FX defaulters’, said, “In compliance with the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria mandating banks to publish the names of defaulters of the forex exchange regulation.
“Based on regulatory directives, the following customers cancelled their trips and failed to return the PTA availed to them despite several mails, text messages and follow-up phone calls.”
The bank added, “The customer(s) below presented fake visa to apply for PTA.”
Also, Fidelity Bank stated, “The CBN has instructed all banks to publish on their websites the names and BVNs of defaulting customers who fail to return the purchased PTA/BTA within the two-week period specified in the customer declaration form signed by them.”

Source:https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/26/many-more-banks-to-publish-list-of-forex-defaulters/

Eddie Hearn, promoter of Anthony Joshua has said that they will be a rematch between his client and Ukrainian born Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua lost his unified titles to Usyk yesterday when they fought in Tottenham Hotspur’s Stadium in London.
In the fight, the three judges scored the bout all in Usyk's favour 117-112, 116-112, 115-113.
Hearn said in a press conference: 'He will want to go back in that rematch, and he will be the underdog in that fight but he has just been beaten by a pound-for-pound great,' promoter Hearn said.

'Joshua lives and breathes boxing, he is already talking about training again and he will be in the gym and ready to get back in again.
'You can criticise Anthony Joshua, but he has just fought a great and he is fighting the very best, and tonight he came off second best.

'There is a new unified heavyweight world champion, but there is no point sulking about it and he must go back to the drawing board and rebuild.

'We will have enough time, the fighter in AJ says he will win the rematch but I had it close before Usyk ran away with it at the end.

'But he has to make changes and impose his style to win the rematch, or he will lose again.'
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/26/see-what-anthony-joshuas-promoter-has-to-say-about-a-rematch-with-oleksandr-usyk/

The reason why the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has been silent over speculations surrounding his 2023 presidential ambition has been disclosed.
Osinbajo’s silence on the possibility of running for the Presidency has been linked to his die-hard loyalty to the All Progressives Congress, APC, President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu, a source from the Presidency told The Vent Republic on the condition of anonymity.
The Vice President’s delay in declaring for the Presidency was also hinged on some powerful forces within the Presidency who feel he is becoming too powerful over some key actions he took while he was acting president.
Recall that Osinbajo had implemented some policies that Nigerians accepted while Buhari travelled abroad on medical grounds.
On February 7, 2017, while Buhari was in London, Osinbajo forwarded Walter Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for confirmation as the then substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Osinbajo’s decision was less than 24 hours to the expiration of Onnoghen’s three-month tenure as acting CJN.
Although it was Buhari who instructed him to send the name, there are reports that Osinbajo played a sturdy role in persuading the president to act because of the race against time.
Also, Osinbajo had set up a committee to force down the prices of food items as then Acting President.
He expressed concern at some of the inflationary rates of food prices, noting that the task force will explore options to promote the availability and affordability of food items to Nigerians.
Osinbajo gave the panel an ultimatum of seven days to report back to the council on measures that should be taken to achieve the objective.
Our source said his actions in Buhari’s absence angered the powerful elements in the Presidency, who see him as becoming too powerful, thereby misinterpreting most of his moves as they saw him as trying to outshine his boss.
Perceiving the situation around him, our source said, “The Vice president is cautious; hence his silence on some very controversial issues likes Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and Sunday Igboho.”
According to the source: “Osinbajo’s body language has never condemned IPOB and Igboho openly; all he does is to preach for Nigeria’s unity. All Osinbajo does to work on Nigeria’s economy, and the recent statistics by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics favours Osinbajo, and that is strategic. Most of Osinbajo’s powerful actions tend to be misinterpreted.
“Each time he takes a powerful decision, the Presidency feels he is becoming too powerful, so he’s cautious as he addresses issues on the peripheral and he speaks on advisory grounds.
“On the case of Igboho, he is treading carefully not to step on toes and offend the president.”
Another source within the Presidency said should Osinbajo be given a free hand, there would be conflicts with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Osinabjo, according to the source, may have conflicts with Buhari in the areas of Fulani herders and bandits because he would be forceful on them.
Christian communities have faulted Osinbajo over his inability to speak against what they termed pogrom or genocide against the Christian communities.
However, it was revealed that the Vice President’s silence was due to his fierce loyalty to Buhari.
“This was due to extreme loyalty to APC, his boss; Tinubu who recommended him to be the then-Attorney General of Lagos State and later the Vice President after recommending him to Buhari,” the source said.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/10/2023-presidency-why-osinbajo-is-keeping-mum/