The President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Imo State.
Buhari landed at the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri, the state capital where he was received by dignitaries.
The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, in a post on Facebook, stated that the President is in the state to commission some projects.
He wrote: “It is with a heart full of gratitude that I, on behalf of the good people of Imo State, welcome His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to the Eastern Heartland on a working visit to commission some of our completed people-oriented projects.
“Mr President, we are delighted to have you in Imo State on this august occasion despite your tight schedules and it’s our pleasure that while in Imo State, you will enjoy the hospitality and conviviality of our people.”
More details later…
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/09/breaking-president-buhari-arrives-imo-state/

According to Punch Newspaper, The Naira extended its slide against the dollar on Wednesday, dropping to a new all-time low at the parallel market in Lagos.
The naira has been falling steadily since the start of this month amidst the lingering scarcity of foreign exchange in the country, despite the rise in forex reserves.
The value of the naira fell against the US currency at both the parallel market and the Investors’ and Exporters’ forex window on Wednesday.
The local currency, which stood at 526/$1 at the end of last month, fell to 535/$1 at the parallel market on Wednesday from 532/$1 on Tuesday. It has lost 5.73 per cent of its value since August 4, when it closed at 506/$1.
The naira dipped to 730 against the British pound sterling at the parallel market from 727/£1 on Tuesday, while the euro rose to N629 from N626.
At the I&E window, the naira weakened by 0.20 per cent to 411.50/$1 on Wednesday, according to FMDQ Group.
No less than 55 per cent to 60 per cent of Nigerian forex transactions are traded at this window, which is used by the Central Bank of Nigeria and most exporters and investors, according to Financial Derivatives Company Limited.
It serves as not only a source of price discovery but also a barometer for measuring potential and actual CBN intervention in the market. Some of the exchange rate determinants are balance of payments, capital inflows and trade balance,” the FDC said.
The country’s forex reserves, which have risen consistently since August 25, have gained over $1bn in 13 days, according to data from the CBN.
The reserves, which fell to a record low of $33.09bn on July 12, jumped to $34.49bn as of September 6, the highest level since May 14, the data show.
The naira had strengthened to 506/$1 on August 4 after plunging to 525/$1 at the parallel market on July 28, a day after the CBN stopped foreign exchange sales to Bureaux de Change.
The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, had on July 27, at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting, announced the stoppage of forex sale to the BDCs, saying they had turned themselves into “agents that facilitate graft and corrupt activities of people who seek illicit fund flow and money laundering in Nigeria.”
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/09/see-how-much-the-naira-currently-exchanges-for-the-dollar/

Three people said to be workers of erstwhile President, Olusegun Obasanjo have been abducted in Ogun State by unknown gunmen.
They were kidnapped on Wednesday evening at Kobape, a community under Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The abductees, who The Vent Republic learnt were members of staff of Obasanjo Holdings in Kobape, were reportedly accosted while driving on the road.
A source disclosed that the company’s Financial Controller, the Group Auditor and the Group Store Manager were the victims of the incident.
The source who craved anonymity, hinted that the trio were abducted around Seseri village after their Hilux vehicle was shot at by the gunmen.
They were reportedly dragged into the bush and taken to an unknown destination.
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta.
According to Oyeyemi, the incident happened around 6pm on Wednesday.
He said: “Yes, the kidnapping happened around 6pm on Wednesday. There is one Obasanjo farm around the area in Kobape.
“Our men have begun searching for them and we will ensure they are rescued.”
In the same vein, a retired lecturer of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, Fasasi Olanigan, was also kidnapped along Abeokuta-Imasai in Ogun.
It was gathered that Olanigan was taken away by the kidnappers, who left his car by the roadside.
At the time of filing this report, our correspondent could not immediately confirm whether or not the kidnappers have reached out to the families of their victims for ransom.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/09/guess-what-gunmen-did-to-three-of-obasanjos-workers/

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, September 8 knocked his Ebonyi State counterpart, Dave Umahi, who said that God will give Nigeria a president “who has a good heart” like President Muhammadu Buhari for the good of this country” in 2023.
Umahi had made the statement on Monday while addressing State House correspondents after meeting with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), at Aso Villa in Abuja.
But speaking on Wednesday, Wike, in a veiled reference to Umahi, said that his colleague had lied, adding that the President himself knows that God won’t give the country another leader like him in 2023.
The governor spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, the state capital, while addressing business owners in the state on the controversy around Value Added Tax.
Wike, who complained about the injustice in the country under Buhari and the worsening security situation, insisted that business owners in the oil-rich state must begin VAT remittances to the state government beginning from September.
The governor said Rivers generated N15bn in June 2021 but got N4.7bn while “Kano produced N2.8bn in June but Kano also got N2.8bn. Sometimes you don’t want to believe these things exist”.
He added: “That was how a governor was saying that he prays that Nigeria gets another President like Buhari.
“I said what has gone wrong with him? You mean there shouldn’t be (a) psychiatric check on the governor? Sycophancy.
“And you know that President knows that you are telling lies to him. He (Buhari) knows.
“It is unfortunate. May God help us.”
Wike and Umahi have been daggers drawn since the latter’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress in November 2020.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/09/wike-to-umahi-never-again-will-another-president-like-buhari-emerge/

The Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has accused the state Governor, Hope Uzodimma of governing the state from exile.
This was contained in a statement signed by the state PDP spokesperson, Ogubundu Nwadike, in Owerri, on Wednesday, September 8.
The opposition party described the scheduled visit of the President Muhammadu Buhari to Imo today (Thursday), as a mockery of the citizens of the state.
The statement read: “We received with mixed feelings the news that President Muhammadu Buhari will visit Imo State on Thursday, 9th September, 2021.
“Ordinarily, a presidential visit is a grand event. It is something every state looks forward to given the fanfare and camaraderie that come with it.
“Presidential visit is also significant because it does not come easily. It usually provides the president an opportunity to share the success story of any state being visited. In the light of the foregoing, the people of Imo State are expected to be elated at the prospect of the visit of the president.
“But we note with regret that these familiar feelings and moods are absent in the case of the presidential visit to Imo state. Rather than being expectant and elated, the people are actually wondering what the president is coming to do in Imo State.
“Their feeling of loss and consternation derives from the emptiness and despondency that pervades the atmosphere in the state. In recent months, Imo, once a land of peace, was forcibly turned into a theatre of war.”
The PDP said the there was nothing to celebrate with unknown gunmen enjoying a free reign across the state forcing residents to live in perpetual fear.
In response, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on print media, Modestus Nwamkpa, described the PDP as a party made up of “physically displaced persons.”
Nwamkpa said that the state was witnessing massive development on account of Governor Uzodimma’s visionary leadership which made the PDP envious as they have nothing to offer.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/09/see-where-governor-uzodinma-governs-imo-state-from-pdp/

Liverpool striker, Mohammed Salah wants the club to pay him £500,000-a-week so he can become the highest earner in the Premier League, the UK Mirror reports.
Reds boss, Jurgen Klopp has already confirmed the club is in talks to extend Salah’s contract.
The Egyptian’s current deal has less than two years left to run.
The 29-year-old is already one of the highest earners at Liverpool and a new deal would make him the best paid player in the club’s history, eclipsing Vigil Van Dijk’s new £220,000-a-week contract.
Ronaldo agreed a two-year deal worth £480,000 a week on his return to Old Trafford last week.
More details later …….
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/05/see-how-much-salah-is-demanding-for-at-liverpool/

The wife to a member of Katsina State House of Assembly, Dr Ibrahim Kurami has been abducted by suspected bandits.
Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna Senator raised the alarm on Twitter in the early hours of Sunday.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to save Katsina State from the hands of bandits following recent incidents of kidnapping in the state.
His tweet read: “While the elder brother of the Katsina state Secretary to the Government is still in the hands of bandits, the terrorists have struck again this night and kidnapped the wife of a member of State House of Assembly Dr Ibrahim Kurami.
“It’s time for the President to save Katsina state.”
The worsening state of insecurity in Katsina and most parts of North has continued to cause panic in the nation.
Katsina State is the home State of President Muhammadu Buhari and has been under severe attack by bandits as well as terrorists. It is so bad that the Governor, Aminu Masari has called on all residents there to arm themselves against the frequent attacks which have been vehemently criticized by some Nigerians.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/05/breaking-bandits-abduct-katsina-lawmakers-wife/

Ex Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has described the ruling All Progressives Congress as Nigeria’s biggest error.
Atiku who made the statement on Saturday in Yola, Adamawa State, at an event where prominent APC stalwarts defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, also urged Nigerians to totally reject the APC.
He called on APC members to leave the party because of what he described as its woeful performance, saying mass defection from the party signalled the coming interment of the APC.
He said: “We have done a big mistake before by floating a party called the APC. But from today, I am calling on you the Adamawa people to leave your parties and join the PDP because it is the future and the masses, party. APC is Nigeria’s biggest mistake.
“It was PDP that gave back life to Adamawa State after it was slayed by the APC, ushering the state into her present state of infrastructural development.
“Our schools are now better and our health institutions are in superb shape. I pray that this event will mark the beginning of the internment of the APC.”
During the event, prominent ex-members of APC, including a former secretary to Adamawa State Government, Kobis Thimnu; Chief Daniel Bwala; Sali Bodes; Umar Bello; Nedo Geofrey and Philip Gutuwa were received by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri into the PDP.
Fintiri assured the defectors of fairness and a level playing ground.
Canvassing support for Atiku’s presidential aspiration, the governor urged stakeholders in the PDP in Adamawa to work round-the-clock to sell his candidature outside the state.
He maintained that Atiku is the messiah that Nigeria has been earnestly waiting for and that his time will soon come.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/05/why-apc-is-nigerias-biggest-error-atiku/

Howard University has officially renamed its College of Fine Arts after the university's late alumnus and actor, Chadwick Boseman.

The university which has now disclosed the first look at the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts on Instagram, had announced in May 2021 that it would rename its college of fine arts after the Oscar-nominated actor, who graduated from the university in 2000.
Boseman spent considerable time advocating for the college to be reinstated, both while attending the school and after he graduated.

The University wrote:

"Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts Installation. Yesterday, the letters were installed over the now official Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts. An icon in his own right who has left an immeasurable legacy for the next generation. Thank you Mr. Boseman."

Reacting to this, the late actor's wife, Simone Ledward Boseman said;

"I am extremely pleased that Howard University has chosen to honor my husband in this way and elated that Ms. Rashad has accepted the role as Dean.
"Chad was a very proud Bison — both Howard and Ms. Rashad played integral roles in his journey as an artist. The re-establishment of the College of Fine Arts brings this part of his story full-circle and ensures that his legacy will continue to inspire young storytellers for years to come."

Boseman passed on Aug. 28, 2020, at the age of 43. The Black Panther star passed away at his home surrounded by family after a private after years of battling with colon cancer.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/04/howard-university-renames-one-of-its-colleges/

Olajide, the younger brother of Sahara Reporters’ Publisher and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has been murdered.
Sowore announced this in a Facebook post on Saturday, adding that the Divisional Police Officer of Okada Police Station confirmed the death to his family.
The activist said his brother was killed by suspected herdsmen operating as kidnappers.
The deceased is said to be in his late 40s.
According to him, the deceased was killed on his way from Igbinedion University in Edo State.
The police had yet to officially react to the student’s death as of the time of filing this report.
Sowore posted: “My immediate younger brother, Olajide Sowore was today shot and killed near Okada in Edo state by reportedly herdsmen/kidnappers on his way from Igbinedion University in Edo State where he is studying Pharmacy.
“They snuffed out the life of yet another real human being! Rest In Power, “Dr. Mamiye!”
“This act in itself will not delay their day of justice.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/04/breaking-sowores-younger-brother-shot-dead/
Read Also
“I travelled widely with you and our father as a little kid. You were the most loved robust kid I ever first knew. You, Mr. magnet had no enemy!
“You, Mr. Sunshine Foundation who made everyone happy.
“You, the boy who snuck out his older ones to parties, taking all the blames when our disciplinarian father found out.
“You, the guy who was an out-of-the-box thinker who decided school wasn’t for you and created your own genre of music and then turned around to go to school after you almost turned 50!
“You lived your life so that everyone could be alright but now assassinated by everything that’s not alright! Saddest day yet!”

Tuface may have talked some sense into her head; when last has she acted a movie?

Follow www.theventrepublic.com for hot news and incisive analysis.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday declared Valentine Ozigbo as the validly nominated candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State.
A three-member panel, presided over by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, unanimously upheld the two appeals filed by Ozigbo and the PDP (CA/AW/223/2021 and CA/AW/234/2021).
The appellate court, in two judgments delivered on Friday, set aside the July 19, 2021, judgment by Justice Justice A.O. Nwabunike of the Anambra State High Court sitting at Awka, declaring Senator Ugochukwu Uba as the authentic candidate of the PDP in the governorship election.
The court also awarded N10 million cost against Senator Uba.
More details later ………
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/03/breaking-appeal-court-declares-ozigbo-as-pdps-gubernatorial-candidate/

England condemned the racial abuse targeted at some of her players when they played and defeated Hungary 4-0 in Budapest in a World Cup Qualifier.
Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham were both racially abused.
Charges related to racism and other discriminatory conduct.
But home supporters were allowed in to the 67,000-capacity Puskas Arena in Budapest against England as this match falls under FIFA jurisdiction.
The tone was set at kick-off when England's players were loudly booed as they took a knee to protest against racism.
Hungary's players and their head coach Marco Rossi had asked the supporters to respect England's gesture before the match but the message fell on deaf ears.
The first half was otherwise uneventful on and off the field - but in the second half, Sterling was pelted with paper cups and bottles when he opened the scoring for England, while a flare was thrown on to the pitch after Harry Maguire put the visitors 3-0 ahead.
England manager Gareth Southgate had ice thrown at him by fans during his post-match interview with BBC Radio 5 Live. He said: "I've heard reports of racism, which I hadn't heard during the game.
"Everyone knows what we stand for as a team, and that's completely unacceptable. It has been reported. Our head of security has spoken to the players and taken their statement. We will deal with it in the right channels.
"I believe that people have been filmed and we have to hope it's dealt with the right way.
"The world is modernising and although some people are stuck in their ways of thinking and their prejudices, they're going to be the dinosaurs in the end because the world is changing."
England captain Harry Kane, one of the scorers in a dominant 4-0 win, said: "I'll talk to the boys. We'll have to report it. If it's the case, then hopefully the authorities can come down strong."
The Football Association said in a statement: "It is extremely disappointing to hear reports of discriminatory actions towards some of our England players.
"We will be asking Fifa to investigate the matter. We continue to support the players and staff in our collective determination to highlight and tackle discrimination in all its forms."
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/03/england-vs-hungary-why-english-players-were-racially-abused/

According to Punch Newspapers, the naira plunged to a fresh record low against the dollar, the British pound sterling and euro on Thursday amid the lingering scarcity of foreign exchange in Nigeria.
The value of the naira fell against the US currency on at both the parallel market and the Investors’ and Exporters’ foreign exchange window.
The local currency, which stood at 526/$1 on Tuesday, fell to 530/$1 at the parallel market on Thursday from 528/$1 on Wednesday.
The naira dipped to 720 against the pound at the parallel market from 717/£1 on Wednesday, while the euro rose to N620 from N616 on Wednesday.
At the I&E window, the naira weakened further to 411.67/$1 on Thursday from 411.50/$1 on Wednesday, according to FMDQ Group.

Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/03/how-naira-collapsed-before-pounds-and-dollars/

Embattled former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus on Thursday faulted his suspension, saying that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) has the power to discipline him or any member of the National Working Committee (NWC).
He said those who purportedly suspended him acted contrary to Article 59 (3) of the PDP Constitution, which is clear on the party’s disciplinary measures.
But, defending the suspension, Rivers State PDP Chairman Ambassador Desmond Akawor said the party chairman was ousted because of his refusal to pay his dues in the last four years.
Akawor, who spoke in Port Harcourt, said Secondus jeopardised his party membership, following his refusal to pay dues.
He said Secondus worked against the interest of the party in the state by dividing members of his Ward 5, including issuing a directive that the former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Davies Ikanya, whose defection to PDP was considered a big harvest, should not be registered in his ward.
He said: “On June 5th, I wrote a letter to all wards that they should furnish us with the names of the party members that are dead and party members that have not paid their dues including those that had defected for one reason or the other.
“Among the wards that responded was Ward 5 in Andoni. And it clearly showed that he (Secondus) had not paid his dues for the past four years. It is an offence in our party.
“For six consecutive months, if you have not paid your dues, your membership of the party is questionable. That issue was kept pending because we had to approach the national to present some of these issues.”
The members have no option than to go to court and that was the only option.
“I mentioned that at the ward level they set up a committee inviting him to come and defend those allegations, which if he doesn’t he remains suspended.
He said Secondus further kicked against the decision of the Southern governors that the next president should come from the South.
Akawor said for deciding to run for a second term in office, Secondus was prepared to rock the boat and work against the collective interest of the South.
He said: “The southern governors took a decision that the presidency should come from the South as an individual or a politician he should have known that it is now time to come home.
“The position he is occupying is on behalf of the South, he didn’t go there as an Andoni man. he went there because the chairmanship of the party was zoned to the south.
“If southern governors have taken a decision that they desire the presidency to come from the South he should have known that there is no point trying to rock the boat by kicking and running for second term.”
Secondus, in a statement by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, maintained that Article 59(3) of the PDP Constitution states clearly that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party can discipline the National Chairman or any other National officer of the party.”
He urged members of the public and the media to be wary of agents who were out to distract the main opposition party from its focus of rescuing Nigeria.
Last week, the PDP Ward 5 in Ikuru town, Andoni, Rivers State suspended Secondus from the party.
His suspension was announced by the Ward Chairman, Mr. George Christopher, at the party’s extraordinary meeting in Ikuru town. He said 11 of the 17 executive members endorsed the suspension.
Christopher accused Secondus of not bringing development to the area, despite being in a strategic position of influence.
He added: ”The ward 5 executive of the PDP in Ikuru town on Aug. 31, discussed issues affecting the party.
“The ward executive suspended Secondus after a duly constituted meeting convened by the Secretary on the instructions of the Chairman in accordance with the party’s constitution.”
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/03/why-secondus-was-suspended-rivers-pdp/

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expelled the party’s Caretaker Chairman for Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Alhaji Sulaiman Adamu, for making insulting statements about President Muhammadu Buhari.
The party’s Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) ratified Adamu’s expulsion from the party at its 16th meeting on Wednesday in Abuja.
A statement on Thursday in Abuja by CECPC Secretary, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, said the expulsion was with immediate effect.
The official statement said: “The CECPC received and deliberated on the report of his (Adamu’s) infractions and recommendations of the seven-member disciplinary committee set up by the Adamawa State Working Committee to investigate the offences committed by Alhaji Adamu against the interest of the party.
“Recall the viral video in which Alhaji Adamu made unwholesome utterances against President Muhammadu Buhari, the Leader of the party.”
APC also said Adamu “was also found guilty of bringing the image of the party to disrepute, thereby creating doubt about his leadership quality and loyalty to the party”.
It added: “The CECPC calls on party members to always demonstrate self-discipline and restraint by desisting from acts and utterances that are inimical to the interest of the party.”
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/03/why-apc-expelled-chairman/

Eight days after gunmen attacked the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, the search for Major Datong is still on.
He was kidnapped by unknown gunmen, who murdered two officers in the academy’s premises on August 21.
According to the Nation Newspaper, NDA authorities which hitherto remained silent on the fate of the abductee, said in a statement yesterday that they had received encouragement from the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt-General Faruk Yahaya in their efforts to ensure the safe return of the officer.
Its Public Relations Officer, Major Bashir Jajira, said Gen. Yahaya also approved the deployment of six “gun trucks and other operational enablers” in the institution for the enhancement of its security.
The statement partly reads: “The COAS paid a visit to the NDA on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 over the recent security breach in the Academy.
“In his welcome address, the NDA Commandant, Maj.-Gen. I. M Yusuf, briefed the COAS on the security breach in the Academy on August 24, 2021.
“He also expressed his appreciation to the COAS for his encouragement and support for the academy before and after the incident, particularly the efforts being made to ensure the safe return of the abducted officer.
“He particularly thanked the COAS for upgrading the Academy’s demonstration battalion to a full-fledged battalion, provision of six gun trucks to the Academy, posting in of more instructors and staff members, and the provision of other numerous operational enablers to enhance the security of the academy and its environs.
“The commandant informed the COAS that these support measures have really boosted the morale of the staff members and the security of the academy.
“The commandant also briefed the COAS on the new security measures being taken in collaboration with 1 Division Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies in Kaduna State to prevent any future security breach in the academy.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/02/why-nda-is-yet-to-find-abducted-major/

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday, September 1 accused the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, of being a traitor.
He also threatened to sue the minister for defamation of character and libel.
Ortom issued the threat while addressing journalists at Government House, Makurdi.
He was responding to allegations of malfeasance levelled against him by the minister at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.
The governor described Akume’s allegations as “unfortunate and amounts to a betrayal, back-stabbing, double-crossing, selling out of Benue people, treachery, greed, unfaithfulness and falsehood.”
The governor dismissed the minister’s allegations as lies.
Ortom said: “The Minister for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume levelled several allegations of killings and several others against me. I do not want to join issues with him. But I have the mandatory right to put the records straight.
“I want to say that all that Akume said were just mere lies just for him to secure his meal ticket from his paymasters but I will not be deterred.
“I remain committed to the people that gave me their mandate to lead them. My first commitment is to the people, all politics is local. My locality is Benue State and not Abuja.
“To send the message to the entire world, I decided to do something so that Akume will justify or prove all those allegations that he put out to defame me and give me a bad name. He will prove all his allegations before a law court for the world to know who is telling the truth.”
Akume had at a press conference in Abuja, on Monday, accused the governor of “corruption, ineptitude and disrespect to the president.” He also called for a declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
The minister also alleged that over N500bn accrued to the state from federal allocation since Ortom took office.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the PDP, said contrary to claims by its All Progressives Congress counterpart, Ortom had a lot of respect for the President Muhammadu Buhari
State chairman of the party, John Ngbede, said this at a press conference at the party secretariat, in Makurdi.
He said: “Governor Samuel Ortom has tremendous respect but this respect cannot exempt the President from discharging his constitutional responsibilities or the governor from respectfully calling on him to live up to the duties of his office.”
It will be recalled that Ortom some months ago nearly escaped assassination when he was attacked in his farm by some alleged Fulani herdsmen. He physically had to run for his dear life. He has been in the news recently when he granted an explosive interview to Channels TV criticizing the government on the insecurity issue in the country especially in the north.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/02/how-akume-sold-benue-people-ortom/

The Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has distanced himself from campaign posters linking him to the 2023 presidential election.
The posters which have gone viral on social media, contained pictures of Akeredolu and the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, with the logo of the All Progressives Congress.
In one of them, there was an inscription titled, ‘Save Redeem Nigeria 2023.’ The poster also indicated that a group, New Reform Nigeria Group was the sponsor.
However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Richard Olatunde, in a statement, said Akeredolu had nothing to do with the “pseudo campaigners.”
The statement read: “In the last two weeks, campaign posters and fliers urging Governor Akeredolu to contest the next presidential election have dotted a section of the social media.
“The latest poster depicted an Akeredolu/Buni joint APC ticket. Alhaji Mai Mala Buni is the governor of Yobe State and doubles as Chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.
“Undoubtedly, development is no less a needless distraction. Even though Mr Governor’s constitutional right, qualification and competencies are not in doubt, this particular campaign does not represent in any manner, his immediate political disposition.
“For emphasis, Governor Akeredolu who has just been re-elected wishes to be left to focus on deepening good governance in Ondo State.”
It will be recalled that Akeredolu won at the Supreme Court defeating his arch rival Eyitayo Jegede SAN by a slim margin. He recently signed the anti-grazing bill into law.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/02/why-i-have-no-presidential-ambition-akeredolu/

Ansu Fati has been handed the enormous responsibility of taking over from Lionel Messi as the new No 10 at Barcelona.

Before now, there had been some suggestions that teenage midfielder Pedri could be handed the iconic jersey number. But in a video released on social media on Wednesday, September 1, Fati, who previously wore the No 22 shirt, was presented with his new shirt number for the 2021-22 season.
Messi's shirt number has been vacant in the Barcelona squad since the six-time Ballon d'Or winner saw his contract expire. He has since joined Paris Saint-Germain in France.
In a statement on Barcelona's website they detailed how 'record breaker' Fati is the perfect player to be tasked with filling the huge gap left by Messi.
Ansu Fati has a new shirt number. After wearing the No 22 then No 17, the young Barca striker will proudly wear the number 10 shirt - a famous jersey previously worn by legends such as Leo Messi, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo,' the statement read.
Just six days after his debut for the first team he became the youngest ever player to score in the league for FC Barcelona. He is a record breaker who will now wear the magical No 10 shirt.'
He is currently recovering from an injury.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/01/see-who-is-wearing-messis-number-10-shirt/

Some PDP leaders paid a visit to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, in his Abuja residence on Tuesday, August 31 amidst reports he plans to defect to the APC.

The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Yemi Akinwonmi led a delegation of party leaders consisting of Daisi Akintan, former caretaker secretary of the PDP in the South-West and the secretary of ex-officio forum and a member of the National Executive Committee, Mrs Helen Taiwo, to visit Jonathan.

The three-member team met with the former President behind closed doors, Punch reports, adding that the visit was designed to acquaint Jonathan with current happenings within the party and seek his advice on how best to find an amicable solution to the crisis.

According to the publication, a source privy to the meeting said; "The South West team were with the former President to appeal to him not to abandon the party.

"They also appealed to him to show more than a passing interest in the affairs of the party by becoming more actively involved in the activities of the party. The former President assured the team that he would not abandon the party."

This comes after a chieftain of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, Barr. Olusegun Bamgbose, said that former President Goodluck Jonathan will defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC, anytime from now.

Bamgbose told Daily Post: "The carrot they are dangling at him Is the possibility of handing over the APC presidential ticket to him. Jonathan has agreed in principle to cross over to APC before January 2022, he said quoting an insider in the former President’s camp.

"He has been brainwashed by some APC stalwarts that he is the most qualified Southerner to take over from Buhari, having honorably accepted defeat in 2015.

"They have been able to convince him that it’s time for payback for what he did in 2015.

"This is why Jonathan has not been showing any interest in the internal squabbles in his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

"Other things being equal, Jonathan will cross over to APC with a Governor, Senator to convince the APC that he is still politically relevant.

"APC has plans to unsettle PDP in order to politically neutralize them against 2023. It’s most likely that the PDP will break into factions soon."
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/09/01/why-pdp-leaders-visited-goodluck-jonathan/

An ex National APC Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that he had great hopes for Nigeria and is not scared of the country’s continued existence.
He said that the 2023 elections will go on smoothly and God will not abandon the people of the country.
Oshiomhole said this at the fundraising and Investiture of Mrs. Victoria Unuoarumi as the 10th President of Rotary Club, Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday.
The former Edo State governor said democracy in Nigeria, a nation of over 200 million people, had come to stay.
He said, “I have hopes not fears for 2023. People like to talk about their fears but for me, my life is about hopes.
“I think that by 2023, God will not forsake a nation of 200 million people. Our democracy has come to stay. It is not perfect – a couple of things could be done to strengthen it – but we could move on and get on with the job,
“I strongly believe that God, in His infinite power will help Nigeria to sustain democracy as we move through 2023. As an optimist, I always say that with all the problems that Nigeria has, Nigeria is still much more than the sum total of all these problems.”
In response to a question from reporters about whether he had regrets for his actions which led to his removal from office as the APC national chairman, Oshiomhole said, “No. Life is all about regret. I am a very happy man. Or do you see me looking sad? I might look small but not sad.
“The judgment quashing my removal was not actually delivered last week. It was on July 2, 2020, about two weeks after I was removed from office. The only reason I decided to publish it was because I saw comments suggesting that people were not aware that the case was dismissed.
“I had addressed newsmen shortly after my removal and said that regardless of the legality or illegality of my removal, I accepted what happened in good faith and resolved I would not contest it. I promised to remain committed, do what I can as a party member to support the party.
“You know in law, you can decide as I have done to sleep on my right. And as I took that decision to sleep on my right, it has remained sleeping. I have decided for the purpose of party chairmanship to sleep on my right and it remains happily so.
“You can see that I have been active since I left office because I don’t think I need to be a chairman to remain relevant. I didn’t join the party to become chairman but because we wanted to form an alternate platform capable of taking PDP out of power and that objective was achieved. It does not matter how it all went, but the important thing is that the primary purpose was not for me to be chairman.”
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/08/29/i-have-hopes-and-not-despair-for-nigeria-oshiomhole/

The Defence Intelligence Agency has declared Commodore Kunle Olawunmi (rtd) wanted over an explosive interview he granted to Channels TV where he alleged that many Boko Haram sponsors were now in the government at different levels.
Sources told The Vent Republic that he has been asked to report to their headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday with his international passport which may be seized.
The Professor of Global Security Studies had said, “It is an aberration; you don’t attack the Nigerian Defence Academy and get away with it. In 2017, I carried out an investigation by the Minister of Defence that wanted me to check what was going on with the training and the security there (NDA). I remember I spent about a week in the NDA with the commandant and the staff but something struck me: every Friday, the gate of NDA is thrown open and everybody has access to pray in the mosque.
“On Fridays, you are going to see the same thing happening across all military formations in the country. If you go to Defence Headquarters, I served at the Defence Headquarters as the Deputy Director, Defence Administration, between 2015 and 2017, throughout my two years at Defence Headquarters, I received visitors twice because of the strict security architecture there but every Friday, the gate of the Defence Headquarters is thrown wide open for everybody to come in and observe Juma’at.
“That is the time the terrorists have the time to profile our security environment. It has always been the case. I have served the military intelligence for the past 35 years. Our problem is religion and socio-cultural.”
Olawunmi had added that he was a member of the Intelligence Brief at the Defence Headquarters during the leadership of the then Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin (retd.).
The intelligence expert said he told the then CDS that the centre of gravity of the Boko Haram insurgency ravaging the North-East and spreading to other parts of Nigeria was the sponsor.
“I told General Olonisakin then that the centre of this problem cannot be solved the same way we solved the problem of the Niger Delta. The Niger Delta problem was solved during (Ex-President Umaru) Yar’adua basically by me and I told them that we can’t use that same template for Boko Haram.
“I told General Olonisakin to look at the centre of gravity of the problem. I was made a member of the committee in 2016-2017 including former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru that died.
“I told them that the centre of gravity of Boko Haram in Nigeria is the sponsors of the programme. It was beyond us because the job we needed to do was kinetic but we cannot resolve the issues of sponsors of Boko Haram that were in Buhari’s government that we know them. That was why we couldn’t pursue that aspect that could have resolved the issue because we need to arrest people.
“Recently, 400 people were gathered as sponsors of Boko Haram, why is it that the Buhari government has refused to try them? Why can’t this government bring them to trial if not that they are partisan and part of the charade that is going on?
“You remember this Boko Haram issue started in 2012 and I was in the military intelligence at that time. We arrested those people. My organisation conducted interrogation and they (suspects) mentioned names. I can’t come on air and start mentioning names of people that are presently in government that I know that the boys that we arrested mentioned. Some of them are governors now, some of them are in the Senate, some of them are in Aso Rock.
“Why should a government decide to cause this kind of embarrassment and insecurity to the sense of what happened yesterday (Tuesday at the NDA)?”
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/08/28/breaking-defence-intelligence-agency-declares-commodore-olawunmi-wanted/

Popular Nigerian singer Paul Okoye a.k.a Rudeboy has broken his silence since his marriage to Anita, his wife of seven years collapsed after she filed for a divorce and demanded alimony.
Rudeboy spoke to popular media personality Do2tun in an exclusive interview where he said:
“…And like I always tell people, it is so unfortunate that family problem which I think is nobody’s business to know, but it’s so unfortunate that Psquare has to pay the price for it,” he said.
“One thing I promise myself not to do, let the Okoye family just have the peace that I think they are having now. I hate waking up anytime and just see people saying things you know, whatever that happened is just a thing of choice and one thing you need to do is to try and respect people that wake up one day and say they don’t want to do anymore, okay.”
“I am a family man and sometimes when I see issues and it goes to the media, I will be like I wish one person can just zip it. You know why? People will get tired but you see when you talk, you know. So, for me, it’s like I think we’ve rested for more and we are the highest, even ‘Boys II men no reach that level.”

Source:https://theventrepublic.com/2021/08/28/rudeboy-breaks-silence-since-marriage-crash/

Nobel Laureate and veteran human rights activist, Prof Wole Soyinka has said that Sunday Igboho is a freedom fighter and not a criminal. He made a plea for his immediate release.
He spoke with journalists at Freedom Park in Lagos where he said Sunday Igboho had the right to agitate for a better deal for his people. He said Igboho’s agitation was peaceful and as such shouldn’t be criminalized. He also criticized the invasion of his private residence by the DSS.
He said: “I refuse to accept that Igboho is being chased because he peacefully demonstrated his position vis-a-vis the destiny of this nation, which is a fundamental human right of any body.
“Somebody calls for secession, calls for a separate state, I don’t consider that, and nowhere does it deserve to be called a criminal act.
“As long as it is done peacefully, collectively, within the ambit of the law, you don’t now criminalize that action.
“And in addition, commit criminal acts against such an individual, which is what the government, the security forces did by raiding Igboho’s home in the middle of the night, killing two of his own people, then claiming, without a warrant or anything, they found weapons in his home.”
Igboho is currently locked up by security agents in Benin Republic.
The freedom fighter was arrested recently in Cotonou while trying to travel to Germany.
Igboho had fled Nigeria to Benin Republic after he was declared wanted by the DSS.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/08/28/why-sunday-igboho-should-be-released-wole-soyinka/

Burna Boy made a grand entrance at the o2 arena in London which was the venue of his sold out show.
The Grammy Award winner arrived in a spaceship which got his fans cheering to the High Heavens.
The Afrofusion star first graced the stage of The O2 arena alongside British superstar Stormzy at the BRIT Awards in 2020, but returned for his first-ever headline show on Friday.

Some Nigerian music stars like Omah Lay, Ruger and Rema also performed at the show.
Burna Boy’s mother and manager, Bose Ogulu praised his performance which has gotten people talking of the possibility of a second grammy award in the nearest future.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/08/28/how-burna-boy-arrived-for-his-london-show/

The Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore and other activists stormed the premises of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) over the query it issued to Channels Television.
The Vent Republic had earlier reported that the NBC queried Channels TV over a query it issued to Channels over an interview it granted to Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.
In the live update monitored by The Vent Republic, Sowore who adorned a black top with “Justice” written boldly on it with other activists, stood at the entrance of the commission’s office.
Some members of staff of the commission seen leaving the premises of the agency queried the presence of Sowore and others at the entrance.
They also cautioned them to stop recording, stating it was prohibited.
But Sowore responded: “We are here because of channels TV, we are on solidarity with them”.
Some other members of staff of the Commission were seeing hurriedly leaving the premises.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/08/26/breaking-sowore-and-comrades-storm-nbc-over-channels-tv-query/

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) wrote the Sunrise Daily Crew of Channels TV on Tuesday, August 26 over inciting comments made by the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom who was a guest of the show anchored by Chamberlain Usoh.
This was disclosed in a notice of infraction signed by the Commission's Director-General, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, and addressed to the television station.
Ilelah alleged that Ortom made “inciting, divisive and unfair comments” which were not thoroughly interrogated by the anchors highlighting sections from the NBC code which the interview contravened.
The letter reads: “The National Broadcasting Commission monitored the broadcast of your programme Sunrise Daily between 7 am and 9 am on Tuesday, August 24, 2021.
“The programme which had as a guest, the Executive Governor of Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom was observed to contain inciting, divisive and unfair comments which were not thoroughly interrogated by the anchors. These negate the following provisions of the Broadcasting code:

“Section 1.10.4: The broadcaster shall ensure that its Presenter ....shall handle it with professionalism and sound judgment to ensure that it does not lose focus or lead to unfair treatment or institution.
“Section 3.1.1: No broadcast shall encourage or incite to crime, lead to public disorder or hate, be repugnant to public feelings or contain offensive reference or organization alive or dead.
“Section 3.1.1(b): the broadcaster shall ensure that all sides to any issue of public interest are equitably presented for fairness and balance.
“Section 3.11.1(a): the broadcaster shall ensure that language...likely to encourage or incite to crime or lead to disorder is not broadcast. Section 3.12.2: the broadcaster shall not transmit a program that incites or likely to incite to violence, among the populace, causing mass panic, political and social upheaval, security breach and general social disorder.
“Consequently, Channels Television is required to explain why appropriate sanctions should not be applied for these infractions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Your response should reach the Commission within 24 hours of receipt of this letter.”
Olawunmi, a professor of Global Security Studies, said he was a member of the Intelligence Brief at Defence Headquarters during the leadership of the then Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/08/26/inside-story-of-why-nbc-queried-channels-tv-over-controversial-interview-with-governor-ortom/

A leaked memo from the Defence Headquarters on the critical assessment of the kidnap and murder at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has revealed that the bandits may have gained access into the academy through a loose barbed wire fence along the Kaduna International Airport road in Afaka.
According to Daily Trust, the leaked memo on Wednesday showed that the bushy areas around the officers’ quarters to the fence area gave the bandits easy concealment to escape.

The memo read, “Further assessment revealed that the bandit’s escape route leads across the airport road to an open farm/bush area near Gidan Gado village in Afaka. The bandits are believed to have escaped either to Buruku and Maguzawa axis or the Riyawa axis in Igabi which is known as notorious bandits’ hideouts.
“Consequently, there is need for a robust clearance operation along those areas. Although there is a frantic joint effort by troops and other security forces in the state with a view to rescuing the kidnapped officer.
“It is strongly suggested that the security arrangements in NDA need total overhauling, this is with a view to averting future recurrence as monitoring continues,”
The memo, however, mentioned that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor had visited the academy on August 24, over the incident.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/08/26/how-bandits-succeeded-in-attacking-the-nda/

A woman dubbed "fart queen of the internet" has disclosed how she has made thousands of pounds by farting on camera.

The woman, named Lush Botanist, disclosed to a Channel 4 documentary that she got into the side hustle after being asked by someone online to fart on camera.

Surprisingly, it ended up being one of her most popular videos and things soon escalated when another viewer offered her money to fart.

Speaking to Channel 4, she said she has so far made $25,000 (£18,100) from farting on camera and she can charge up to $175 (£123) per fart.

She said she has changed her diet to get the best quality farts.

She said: "Parmesan makes my farts smell extra sulphur.

"But mozzarella gives me those big bubbly farts."

She explained that to make her farts sound the best they possibly can, she perches right in front of a microphone.

She said: "My farts get so loud that sometimes they blow out the mic."

Lush also makes a lot of money by farting in jars and sending them out to her customers.

In one clip from the Channel 4 documentary, she also reveals how she sells fart lollipops. The fart lollipops are created by Lush farting on a lollipop of customers’ choosing.

The strangest request she has ever received was to fart on a miniature figurine from a model train set.

Since Channel 4 shared a clip from the documentary to Facebook, viewers have been commenting in their hundreds of thousands.

Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/08/26/strange-how-woman-makes-a-fortune-with-her-anus/

Imo State Governor Senator Hope Uzodinma has said that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is powerless in Imo State where he governs.
Addressing State House correspondents after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday August 25, the Governor stated that IPOB's sit-at-home order did not work in his state because only a constituted authority like his government can give order on when people can stay away from their work or businesses and they will obey.

Uzodinma added that because people in the state did not obey IPOB’s orders, it made normal activities to flourish in the state.

He said;

“Even the people on their own called off the sit-at-home order. In Imo State, it is not being observed. People are doing their businesses.
“Most people in Imo are business men and women who depend on their daily activities and income to feed their families. So, they cannot afford to sit at home idle and allow hunger to ravage the state.”
We recall that IPOB gave an order for sit-at-home every Mondays in protest against the arrest and extradition of its leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu allegedly from Kenya. The order has been very effective and it seems the government is afraid of the growing popularity of the secessionist body.
Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/08/26/why-ipob-is-powerless-governor-hope-uzodinma/

A zoo in Antwerp, Belgium, has prohibited a woman from seeing her favourite chimpanzee because their relationship is interfering with the chimpanzee’s ability to bond with his fellow primates.

Adie Timmermans, a regular at the zoo's primate enclosure, was told this week by the Antwerp Zoo that she would be banned from seeing Chita, a 38-year-old chimpanzee she calls the apple of her eye.
I love that animal, and he loves me," Timmermans said to Belgian news channel ATV, adding she had been visiting Chita every week for four years.

Timmermans described her interactions with Chita as a "real relationship" and said her bond with the chimpanzee was like "having an affair."

She shared clips of herself pressed up against the glass of the monkey enclosure, "kissing" Chita through the glass and waving to him.

Timmermans says it isn't fair that she has been banned from seeing Chita, while scores of other people are allowed to. She said the chimp is "all" she has in her life.

"I haven't got anything else. Why do they want to take this away from me?" Timmermans told ATV tearfully. "Other dozens of visitors are allowed to make contact with Chita, but why not me?"

But Antwerp Zoo spokeswoman Sarah Lafaut, who manages the zoo's mammal collection, had a good reason for the ban.

"When Chita is constantly surrounded by visitors, the other animals ignore him and don't consider him part of the group," Lafaut told ATV.

Lafaut added that as a result of Chita's interactions with Timmermans and other human visitors, he spent all his time outside the zoo's opening hours sitting in isolation, completely shunned by the rest of the primate troupe.

"An animal that is too focused on humans is less respected by its peers," Lafaut said.

Source: https://theventrepublic.com/2021/08/25/why-a-woman-was-banned-from-the-zoo/