₦airaland Forum

Chelsea striker Timo Werner has credited Thomas Tuchel with his recent uptuck in form, saying the new boss ‘explains things easier’ than sacked Frank Lampard.

The former RB Leipzig, now Chelsea striker, 24, has endured a topsy-turvy season since his £47.5million move last summer – even going on a 14-game Premier League goal drought before his strike against Newcastle last week.

And Werner believes his ability to communicate more clearly with Tuchel has been crucial, having recently called the new boss’ arrival a ‘fresh start’.

Werner told Sky Sports: “When you have a new manager it is, every time, a new beginning for everybody, so it was a new beginning for me as well.

“I said, ‘OK, I missed so many chances, I missed so many points and maybe I will start now.’

“I understood the old manager very well, it was not because of the language.

“But I think when you can talk German to someone, you can explain some things easier.

“Maybe he [Tuchel] would explain things easier than the old manager, for example, because it can be different when you talk to someone in your own language.

“Maybe misunderstanding a word can make a sentence completely different.”

The Chelsea striker continued, “I think he has changed me in this way to give me his trust and change my confidence.

“I don’t care about the missed chances or the past.

“I want to look to the future to get the team back to the top and to score goals.”

Earlier this week, Werner revealed he’s finally starting to feel ‘at home‘.

Werner told German magazine Kicker: “His arrival was a fresh start for me and the other German players.

“Even though I have been practising my English a lot I haven’t always been able to express myself the way I wanted.

“I had to be very careful not to be misunderstood.

“Of course that is no longer a problem [under Tuchel]. I’m starting to feel at home a little bit.

“During the difficult times, it was a relief for me to be able to talk at times with my national teammates, Kai Havertz and Antonio Rudiger, about other matters besides football.

“At the start, I thought that I could carry on doing my usual thing. But you never have an easy game in England.

“The players are all over six foot tall, strong and quick – including the defenders.”

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/tuchel-explains-things-easier-now-than-former-boss-chelsea-striker-werner.html

A South African businessman, an ex-boyfriend believed to have received a heartbreak from his former girlfriend has taken a step further to pay her in her coin.

The lady whose estranged boyfriend had demolished the house he built for her ex after she broke up with him.

Surprisingly, the lady has therefore been pictured posing on the debris of the demolished building.

Recall the Ex-boyfriend allegedly demolished the beautifully furnished house he built for his girlfriend after she broke up with him.


The video which captured the moment the house was being demolished found its way to the internet and stirred reactions online.

Watch the video that captured the moment the house was demolished below,


The said lady who seem to be unbothered by the development has now embarked on a full-blown photoshoot session on top of the remains of the building, posing in different styles and smiling for the camera.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/lady-poses-debris-demolished-house-ex-boyfriend-built-her-video.html

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Ogun State chapter, has called on the Federal government to immediately arrest and prosecute an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, for allegedly promoting banditry in the country.

Ogun State chapter of the students’ body said it was not pleased with the manner in which the Federal Government is treating Gumi like a Messiah.

National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, claimed that Gumi should be treated like a “criminal” for supporting armed bandits who have been kidnapping and terrorising the country.

Recall Gumi has in recent times been meeting and negotiating with bandits, while also stating that most bandits are not criminals.

On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari joined some northern governors in saying all bandits should be treated like criminals.

In a statement by the Chairman of NANS in Ogun, Damilola Simeon, it was alleged that Gumi was justifying the criminal activities of armed bandits in the north.

Gumi, a renowned Islamic cleric had accused the Nigerian military of triggering the raging banditry in parts of the North.

The Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, who claimed to have been meeting with bandits in forests across Northern states, alleged that non-Muslim soldiers had carried out orchestrated killings in some communities, precipitating anger.

But, NANS described Gumi’s claims as baseless and false.

The NANS chairman expressed fear that Gumi’s recent comments and attitude could embolden the bandits and further jeopardise the peace and unity of the country.

The student leader called on the military and other law enforcement agents to investigate him for his association with “criminals and enemies of the State.”

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the arrest of Gumi for his alleged support and association with armed bandits.

“Gumi should be treated as a criminal and not as a Messiah. His acts have further exposed the military and the entire country to further attacks by marauding bandits,” the statement read in part.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/banditry-arrest-sheikh-gumi-now-nans-buhari.html

Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi said abductors of the Zamfara schoolgirls were not the bandits he recently met but a splinter group.

Zamfara Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran, confirmed the abduction but could not confirm the number of the students abducted as at press time.

However, Gumi told The Nation, that he may also help in reaching out to bandits who carried out the Zamfara schoolgirls adbduction.

The Islamic scholar, who appeared to have reached out to the bandit leaders he recently met, stated categorically “They are not the ones that abducted the girls. It is a splinter group.”

When asked whether he would be going to Zamfara to meet the bandits for talks and plea for release of the school girls, Sheikh Gumi simply said, “maybe”.

Recall a few weeks ago the news of the Kagara boys’ kidnap hits every one in the country.

The spate of kidnapping in Nigeria though criminal is becoming a norm, perhaps this not unconnected to government carefree attitude towards nipping this ill in the bud.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/zamfara-schoolgirls-abduction-sheikh-gumi-reaction.html

Halilu Sububu, a bandit leader, says the daily attacks in Nigeria are due to a breach of agreement. He spoke through a video released to Daily Trust TV at his enclave in Sububu forest located between Zamfara and Sokoto States.

The forest borders Sabon Gari in Sokoto, and Shinkafi and Maradun in Zamfara.

Halilu Sububu also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to personally visit them for a conversation.

He further demanded that the Hausa, Yoruba and the Fulani be treated the same way.

“It (agreement) has been breached. You have asked for armistice, an agreement was reached but you left that person in a forest with a gun and nothing to substitute.

“What do you expect? How do you want that person to survive? All the promises made to us, none of it was fulfilled.

“Enrol the young ones in school…we should be treated the same way. Give them jobs with the government, put them in schools.

“The President should personally come and preside over the talks. When he was campaigning, he traveled all over, why would he not do it now?”

The notorious bandit leader pointed out that there is no day civilians are not killed in Zamfara, Niger, Kaduna, Sokoto and Katsina States.

“He (Buhari) does not take these peace talks seriously, and everyday people are being killed”, Sububu said.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/bandit-leader-halilu-sububu-buhari-talks-video.html

Some herdsmen have been accused of setting a solar power station ablaze in Awowo, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The setting a solar power station ablaze occurred on Tuesday, causing confusion among members of the community and residents of Abeokuta.

A report that surfaced on social media on Tuesday night claimed that Awowo was “attacked” by herdsmen, who wanted to set the community on fire.

This generated tension in Ogun, considering the proximity of the area to Abeokuta, the state capital.

But, the Alawowo of Awowo, Oba AbdulGafar Olasukanmi Tijani, said the community was not attacked by herdsmen.

Oba Tijani confirmed that it was true that Fulani cattle rearers burnt down a £15,000 worth solar power system, which he erected in his community.

However, the traditional ruler said it was not an attack, but an accident from careless cattle rearers who set the bush on fire and allowed the fire to get out of control.

The monarch recalled that his community was attacked in December when some people were kidnapped by suspected herdsmen.

“We were not attacked. It was careless cattle rearers. Their cattle don’t have anything to eat so they set the bush on fire; and you know there’s harmattan, so they could not control the fire. That’s what happened. It’s not that we’re attacked.

“Though we were attacked in December last year. They kidnapped four people. This one that just happened was an accident,” the Alawowo said in a telephone interview.

The monarch told our correspondent that the community has been living peacefully with the herdsmen, saying there are laid down rules and regulations.

“We have peacefully lived together because we hold meetings from time to time. I have warned them not to leave their area for other places. This one that happened, the owner of the cows was living somewhere and took his cattle to somewhere else to go and rear,” the monarch said, adding that the police have been informed.

Oba Tijani maintained that he would not be able to confirm whether or not the owner of the cattle would take responsibility for the burnt property.

He appealed to residents to remain calm, urging them not to nurse any fear.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/herdsmen-set-solar-power-station-ablaze-ogun.html

After an unprecedented romance was played for about ten (10) years, a 91-year-old woman has married the love of her life, a 73-year-old man in a grand wedding.

The woman identified as Evelina Meadder tied the nuptial knot to her long-term boyfriend Calgent Wilson, a 73-Year Man friend in a grand wedding in Jamaica.

According to a report by the Mirror, the newly-wed’s love story could be traced to 2009 when Evelina fell sick and Calgent, a farmer, took care of her until she recovered.

Evelina revealed that ever since they became an item, he would talk about them getting married but it was when he had been drinking so she would laugh it off.

They have finally tied the knot and we wish them a happy married life.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/10-years-dating-woman-91-marries-73-year-man.html

Chelsea will host Atletico Madrid at the Stamford Bridge without Mason Mount and Jorginho for the return leg of their Champions League tie with after picking up an early booking in Bucharest.

The duo were shown a yellow card either side of half time and now both will be missing from the team for the return leg at Stamford Bridge next month.

Mount and Jorginho were two four Blues players who were walking a disciplinary tightrope after picking up two yellow cards in the group stage of the competition.

Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech are the other two. Both Kovacic and Jorginho started for Thomas Tuchel’s side in Romania while Ziyech is on the bench.

UEFA rules state that three yellow cards in the competition equal a one-game suspension, meaning if any of them were to be booked against Diego Simeone’s side they would be forced to sit-out the second-leg in west London.

Mount, Jorginho miss next game
Kovacic , Mount, Ziyech and Jorginho all picked up two bookings each during the Blues’ group stage campaign, meaning they will have to watch themselves if called upon by Tuchel to feature in Romania.

Fortunately for Thomas Tuchel and those in danger of running the risk of facing a ban, the cards system is reset following the last-16 stage, meaning should Chelsea get past Atletico over the two legs and progress to the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 2014, the other three in question will be stripped of the yellow cards they have picked up earlier on in the competition and be given a clean bill of health.


In the event of any of those players picking up a red card, or indeed anyone else within the Chelsea squad, they would face the usual sanctions of a ban, even if the Blues do progress to the last-eight of the competition.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/atletico-madrid-vs-chelsea-mount-jorginho-out-return-leg.html

Duncan Mighty is hellbent on proving his ex-wife wrong over alleged evil plots against him as he has shared a purported audio of her confession.

Recall that a few months ago, Duncan Mighty took to Instagram to allege that his estranged wife, Vivien, connived with her family members to try to inflict him with an illness through diabolical means just so they can inherit his properties.

The Nigerian artiste has now shared an audio recording which captured the voice of his estranged wife. In the purported audio, she confessed that she consulted a fetish woman, who instructed her to bring his personal items and money to perform some diabolical rites.

According to her, she proceeded to seek spiritual help because she was having concurrent dreams in which she saw her husband cheating on her. The dreams troubled her mind so she decided to opt for fetish actions that will rekindle her husband’s love for her.

Sharing the audio, Duncan Mighty wrote,

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/duncan-mighty-ex-wife-confession-juju-plot.html


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vT_1mcjDCk

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the appointment of the nation’s immediate former Service Chiefs as non-career ambassadors-designate.

The confirmation of the nominees followed consideration of the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The former Service Chiefs confirmed are: General Abayomi G. Olonisakin (Rtd), Ekiti; Lt. General Tukur Y. Buratai (Rtd), Borno; Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete E. Ibas (Rtd), Cross River; and Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar (Rtd), Bauchi.

Also confirmed was Air Vice Marshal Muhammad S. Usman (Rtd), Kano.

Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa, in his presentation said their appointments were made in line with section 171(40) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

According to him, “their experiences as Service Chiefs and in the military where they rose to the highest ranks in their careers have made them eminently qualified; and that the nominees were very knowledgeable and articulate in their response to questions directed at them by the Committee.”

Bulkachuwa, however, disclosed in the report that, “the Committee received petitions against their nominations as Non-Career Ambassadors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but the petitions were dismissed.”

The Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, while coming under a point of order, demanded explanation as to the rationale behind the dismissal of the petition against the nominees by the committee, particularly against the backdrop of the Senate resolutions in the past calling for their removal as Service Chiefs.

Recall President Muhammadu Buhari on February 4, asked the Senate to confirm the former Service Chiefs as non-career ambassadors.

Responding, the Senate President pointed out that the Senate resolution demanding their removal was in no way related to President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for the Senate to confirm them as Ambassadors-Designate, adding that, “these are two separate roles.”

“Without prejudice to what the executive will do, where we need to fight the Boko Haram insurgency and banditry, because of their experience in the field, they should be able to interact very closely and sufficiently to advise and create the atmosphere for working together, for partnership and cooperation between Nigeria and those countries.

“So, I think on that scope, the nomination cannot be nullified because we said they should be changed,” Lawan said.

The nominees were, thereafter, confirmed after a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, to that effect and seconded by the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe.

The Senate President in his remarks after the nominees were confirmed advised the Executive arm of government to deploy them to countries where their experiences as former military officers would be required.

Lawan said, “The nominees that we have just confirmed are nominees that have served this great country to the best of their ability as Service Chiefs and today, they have been confirmed as Non-Career Ambassadors.

“Our appeal to the Executive is to make sure that we utilize their experiences as Military men to the best because we should be able to post them to countries where they can be much more useful in their engagements as Ambassadors.”

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/former-service-chiefs-senate-confirmation-non-career-ambassadors.html

A photo of a Yoruba man making rounds on social media currently shows a Nigerian man wearing what seems as protection on his waist in broad daylight.

The man in the photo obviously was not in the country as the photo reveals as he could be seen closing his luggage while a white man was standing by him.

The charm worn by the man is reportedly called ‘Igbaadi’ in Yoruba which is translated in English as ‘Protection Belt’ and the photo since surfacing on social media has sparked an uproar as many are giving diverse opinions to it.

Could it be a charm? Is this a result of the prevalent insecurity in the country?

Recall a northern governor has called on Nigerians to protect themselves. The Nigeria Minister of Defence has made the same call that Nigerians should rise up and defend themselves in the face of the damning insecurity bedeviling the country.

See photos below;

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/see-yoruba-man-spotted-wearing-waist-broad-daylight-photos.html

In the words of Chinua Achebe, he who pays homage to the great paves the way for their own greatness. But what manner of greatness will such a gesture attract if it always comes when the great is no more?

Why is it common in African societies to pay respect to the great only after their death? Why do we have to wait to name cities, parks, streets, institutions after the death of an icon? Why not when they are alive to relish the glory?

It is commendable that the Lagos State Government has renamed Lagos State University (LASU) in honour of the late former governor, Lateef Kayode Jakande, who governed Lagos State between October 1st 1979 and 31st December 1983. The new name of the university is Lagos State Jakande University (LAJU).

The gesture followed calls from the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Unit, and a university Don, Dr.Tayo Popoola, that a reputable state institution should be named after the former governor.

Jakande died at 91. In the last few years, his birthdays were marked with some level of fanfare with the state government showing remarkable presence. Why did the Lagos State Government not show him this gesture when he was 90 or even when he marked his 80th birthday?

While one can never really understand why we offer medicine after death in African societies, foremost Senegalese writer, Mariama Ba, attributes it to “a disturbing display of inner feelings that cannot be evaluated”. In her book, So Long A Letter, she asks the question: how many of the dead would have survived if, before organizing these festive funeral ceremonies, the relative or friend had bought the life-saving prescription or paid for hospitalization?

The renaming of LASU to LAJU is worthy immortalisation, but isn’t this is a case of offering medicine after death, especially for someone like Alhaji Lateef Jakande whose contributions to improving Lagos and the lives of Lagosians are innumerable.

Sad as it looks, it seems ex-Governor Lateef Jakande might have yearned strongly for this move. Unconfirmed reports have it that the late elder statesman left a message for the present Lagos State Governor about something that will make him glad if it was done for him. Sanwo-Olu led a delegation of top government functionaries in the state to the Fidau (Islamic funeral prayer) ceremony held for the late Jakande at his Ilupeju residence.

Before the prayers commenced, Sanwo-Olu held a meeting behind closed doors with the deceased’s family members, during which a close confidant of the late Jakande, Engr. Kamal Giwa delivered two messages left for the Governor by the deceased. One of the messages was a personal ambition, which the late Jakande wanted to be fulfilled before his death.

While it has not been stated what the content of the message was, there are strong speculations that the change from LASU to LAJU was one of them. It is not too tidy that naming an institution after Alhaji Jakande came after his death because this is someone everybody acknowledges as one of the best governors Lagos has ever seen and, probably, even in the whole of Nigeria. His immense contributions in education, housing, transportation, and infrastructure are there for everyone to see. What he has done for Lagos State is quite numerous.

In this regard, some states in the country showed good examples in their actions. For instance, when the oldest surviving former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah marked his 80th birthday, the state government under Governor Udom Emmanuel named the only airport in the state after him. This was even more remarkable as the former governor was a member of the opposition APC.

When ex-Governor Jakande was celebrating his 90th birthday, recall that the longest road at the Lagos State University was rechristened as Dr. Lateef Kayode Jakande Road. The road stretches from the school’s main gate, through the Eyo masquerade junction, up to the Faculty of Management and then the students’ hostel at the extreme. This was done to honour the patriarch.

Many commentators, however, believe the entire institution should have been named after him at that time. It is not enough to simply rechristen a road in the university after him. It is on record that he mooted the LASU initiative in 1981. Apart from this, his contributions in education are massive, and he changed the overall narrative for education in Lagos State from the days of the shift-system, launching as many as ten schools in a day.

It is equally worthy of note that the names of institutions are always hard to change, especially when they have become very popular. For instance, when former President Goodluck Jonathan wanted to change the University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University in honor of the late M.K.O Abiola, it met with stern opposition from different quarters. Students, Alumni groups, and even lecturers were against it. Everybody knew that M.K.O Abiola was an icon in Nigeria’s democracy but many stakeholders felt that was not enough to alter the name of an institution that had become so popular to honour it.


https://thejournalnigeria.com/lasu-laju-closing-barn-horse-bolted/

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has on Saturday, said that the Federal Government will never pay a ransom to secure the release of the abducted students and members of staff of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State.

Recall that the Nigerian government has been accused of paying a humongous amount to secure the release of kidnap victims. The most recent is the Kankara boys' kidnap where some argued government offer huge money as ransom to criminals.

The Information Minister, Lai Mohammed made this known during an interview on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily’.

Mohammed said that the Federal Government was only out to employ kinetic and non-kinetic (measures) to secure the release of the kidnapped victims. He maintains government will not pay ransom to kidnappers.

He further revealed that the government won’t tolerate any form of criminality in the country.

“Bandits all over the world work with the psychology of people. Deliberately, they target women and children because this is what will attract a lot of global outcries.‌

“Criminality in any form will not be tolerated by the government. At the same time, the government has a duty to look at the underlining causes of some of these criminalities in order to address them.

“Also, the government won’t be paying ransom to secure their release. All I can tell you is that, as of today, the government is on top of the matter. We are mapping out other roots that can be used to ensure they come back safely,” he said.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/kagara-kidnap-govt-never-paid-ransom-release-mohammed.html

The bus in which Wikki Tourists players and officials were travelling, burst into flames on Thursday morning.

In a Twitter post, one of the Wkki Tourist players confirmed the sad incident. No report of casualties as at the time of filing this report.

They were on their way to Uyo for their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash against Dakkada FC.

The cause of the fire outbreak was not immediately ascertained.

However, the bus did lose two tyres at Hawan Kibo, a town near Jos, Plateau State just before the fire started and the players got out of the bus.

Following goalless draws against Lobi Stars and Sunshine Stars in their last two NPFL fixtures, Wikki Tourist were looking forward to ending their uninspiring form against the Akwa Ibom-based team.

After 10 rounds of matches in the current campaign, Wikki Tourists occupy 10th spot in the log having garnered 13 points.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/npfl-vehicle-conveying-wikki-tourists-players-burns-ashes.html

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC has given approval to Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for use in the country.

NAFDAC Director-General, Dr. Mojisola Adeyeye made the disclosure while briefing journalists on Thursday, in Abuja.

She said that the vaccine can be stored at 2 to 8-degree centigrade.

AstraZeneca vaccine was recently approved by the World Health Organisation, WHO.

The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, also known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, or AZD1222, is a viral vector vaccine.

Recall there’s been some confusion over the efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine, because of a dosing mistake in one of the early trials. But what’s clear is that its efficacy with a standard, two-dose schedule is 62%.

In another report, AZD1222 vaccine has an efficacy of 63.09% against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

However, the NAFDAC boss said the body got the dossier of the vaccine a week ago and its safety committee went to work immediately to evaluate its safety and efficacy for Nigerians.

She said there are three additional vaccines undergoing evaluation, but the evaluation on Astrazeneca shows that the vaccine is effective against the UK variant of the virus which has been reported in Nigeria.

Dr Adeyeye disclosed that the South African variant has not been reported in Nigeria, adding that the agency has over 30 herbal medicine undergoing review for listing.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/nafdac-gives-approval-astrazeneca-vaccine-use.html

At least one person have been confirmed dead as bandits stormed the Government Science College Students in Niger in the early hour Wednessday.

Scores of other students at Government Science College (GSC) Kagara, in Niger State, have been abducted by bandits.

The armed men stormed the school in military uniform Tuesday night.

PRNigeria reports that GSC has close to 1,000 students.

The attackers overpowered the security guard on duty, before whisking away a number of them.

It was gathered that some escaped after the raid.

A headcount is being conducted at the school to ascertain the actual number of missing students.

Tracing of the bandits’ movement has commenced, while NAF aircraft is hovering to track the location of the students.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/bandits-kill-one-kidnap-government-science-college-students-in-niger.html

The Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has admonished President Muhammadu Buhari to create an Commission that will regulate the activities of herdsmen.

Malami made the recommendation in Abuja on Tuesday while speaking as a special guest of honour during the Peace, Unity, and Security Lecture Series at the ECOWAS main auditorium.

According to Malami, the crisis between the herders and farmers must be tackled squarely as it was becoming a pressing issue.

“Nigeria is predominately agricultural in nature and by geography. To that extent, there is constant mobility of herders across the different belts of Nigeria. It is perhaps time to consider the setting-up of a commission for pastoralism regulated by law,” the Minister said.

“This might provide recipes for resolving protracted farmer-herder conflicts. The commission may even engage in or facilitate in-depth analytical studies with a view to providing lasting solutions for the benefit of people and the country,” he explained further.

He said the Buhari government is committed to supporting initiatives and programmes that would help resolve the lingering crises between farmers and herdsmen in the country.

Malami pointed out that the better approach towards putting an end to the crisis over the short, medium and long terms is to allow the stakeholders to play a part in coming up with solutions at the conception, implementation and monitoring faces.

Malami also recommended the creation of regulated grazing reserves to replace the “Burtali” or “Hurumi” pastoral system.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, had during the week called on President Buhari to either suspend or query the Minister over his alleged refusal to prosecute arrested criminal Fulani herdsmen across the country.

The call came after the presidency asked the Nigeria Police Force to publish the list of herders undergoing trials across the country.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/establish-an-commission-herdsmen-malami-admonishes-buhari.html

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has described Yekini Nabena, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as an impostor.

Mohammed did made the submission in response to a statement credited to Nabena on the ongoing membership revalidation exercise of the APC in Kwara State.

Lai Mohammed had once called for the cancellation of APC revalidation in Kwara State over alleged irregularities.

Mohammed had said the revalidation exercise did not meet guidelines laid down by the national body of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

However, Nabena countered the stance of the minister.

Nabena charged Mohammed to submit to the authority of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Kwara State Governor over matters of the party in the state.

Reacting, Mohammed, in a statement he signed stressed that the All Progressives Congress, APC has no position of Deputy National Publicity Secretary, hence Nabena should be ignored.

According to Mohammed: “My attention has been drawn to the statement credited to one Yekini Nabena, who was described as the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on the ongoing APC Membership Registration in Kwara State.

“The said Nabena must have been speaking for himself, as the APC National Caretaker Committee, as presently constituted, has no position like that of Deputy National Publicity Secretary.

“As things stand, therefore, anyone claiming to be the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC is an impostor, hence I will not dignify such a pretender with a response.”

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/yekini-nabena-impostor-apc-lai-mohammed.html

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has dismissed a suit seeking an order to restrain Mr. Mohammed Adamu from parading himself as the Inspector-General of Police, IGP.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the ruling on Tuesday following a motion exparte with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/106/21 filed by Maxwell Opara, a legal practitioner and argued by Ugochukwu Ezekiel, his lawyer.

Arguing the motion, Ezekiel informed the court that the application was brought pursuant to Section 215, 216 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Section 7 of the Nigeria Police Act 2020 and provision of the court.

NAN reports that Opara had sued President Mohammadu Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adamu and the Ministry of Justice as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

However, Justice Mohammed ruled that since all the defendants had already been served with the originating process in the suit, it would be unfair to grant the exparte motion when the defence had within thirty days to respond to the main suit.

Mohammed said such an order would be contrary to the provision of the law.

“The prayer one is hereby refused,” the judge ruled.

Mohammed said prayer two of the plaintiff should be a notice to the defendants.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Adamu was represented by Alex Izinyon, SAN, while the 1st, 3rd and 4th defendants were not represented in court.

The judge, however, adjourned the matter until February 24 for a continuation of hearing.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/court-decides-ruling-restrain-igp-mohammed-adamu.html

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has warned the Buhari-led Federal Government against any attempt to increase fuel price in the country.

A statement by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja on Saturday, lamented that Nigerians were already faced with economic hardship following the November 2020 increase in the price of petroleum to N170 per litre, adding that further hike in fuel price would worsen the situation.

He said that Nigerians might not survive a further hike with its attendant increase in the cost of goods and services.

“This will worsen the current economic situation, where over 90 million citizens live in abject poverty, with an alarming 23 per cent unemployment rate and many more living below N500 a day,” he said.

He said there was no justification in comparing Nigeria’s pump price with those of other countries whose citizens have better purchasing power.

“With a N30,000 monthly minimum wage, which represents N1,000 daily wage, compared to countries like Saudi Arabia with a monthly minimum wage of 3,000 Riyals; a daily pay of100 Riyals (N10,161).

“There is no foundation to base fuel price in Nigeria with that of Saudi Arabian where citizens earn ten times higher.

“Our party, therefore, rejects any contemplation towards fuel price increase,” he said.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/pdp-warns-buhari-fuel-price-hike.html

The Bauchi State chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, has called on the Federal Government to allow all Nigerians to have access to firearms.

Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmed, Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN in Bauchi State, said Nigerians should carry firearms to protect themselves amid the spate of insecurity.

Ahmed made the call in response to a comment by the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed defending herdsmen carrying AK-47.

Mohammed had said herdsmen carry AK-47 and other forms of arms to protect themselves in the forests.

Reacting, Ahmed said Nigerians should be allowed to defend themselves because the government had failed in providing security.

Recall there have been recent herdsmen attacks on Nigerians in different parts, most recently in the southern part of the country.

” The government has become irresponsible. That is why a Fulani man has become an outcast in his own country.

“All his wealth has been crippled to activities of cattle rustlers. What do you expect him to do?

“Let everybody protect themselves, let everybody carry arms. You don’t allow a few bandits to come and ruin you, kill you, kill your family as few people cannot be terrorizing everybody,” Ahmed told The Nation newspaper.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/nigerian-govt-irresponsible-nigerians-firearms-miyetti-allah.html

The former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh has said that PDP platform can save Nigeria from collapse.

The former party National Publicity Secretary made the claim while hosting members of PDP platform National Working Committee (NWC) in his Abuja residence, on Thursday.

The former spokesman insisted that the opposition party was Nigeria’s option to ensure unity, stability and development.

He lamented that Nigerians were losing hope because they have been through a lot.

Recall Metuh has been on trial over a N400m allegation of fraud involving the former National Security Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki.

He said: “At this point, the PDP platform remains the viable option to restore hope in the polity, revamp the faith Nigerians have in our nation and save her from collapse.

“Despite my travails and challenges, my confidence in the ideals, values and principles of the PDP, as enshrined by our founding fathers, remain unshaken and it is clear that the party can rescue our nation from her current dire straits.

“Our nation has passed through a lot and the citizens are losing hope in the polity.”

Recall Olisa Metuh was recently released from Kuje prison after a ruling by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja admitting him to N250million bail. This makes Metuh is now a free man.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/pdp-platform-save-nigeria-collapse-metuh.html

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesome Wike has given detailed narration into how the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC allegedly duped the State of N400 million.

Governor Nyesome Wike said the State Government was duped over a failed partnership to develop the Mother and Child hospital in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Wike made the revelation while addressing visiting House Committee on NDDC, led by Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday.

“NDDC fraudulently duped us over the Mother and Child hospital. They had an agreement with the State government to build a regional hospital called Mother and Child hospital. They agreed that it will be N1.7 Billion Naira,” Wike told the House Committee.

“State government was to bring N800million, NDDC N900 million. The state government at the time paid their N800million. NDDC mobilised the contractor with N400 million of the N800 million we brought, then abandoned the contract, and the contractor left the site,” he added.

Wike said when his administration came on board, he stopped the partnership and demanded a refund of the N400 million, and according to him, “it became a problem. Politics came in.“

The Governor further claimed that NDDC mandate governors are being sidelined by the Commission, noting that the ruling party on federal level dictates what happens in the Commission, making the NDDC act as a state on itself and refuses to interface with the Governors to strategically develop the region.

He said since the inauguration of the NDDC Advisory Council last year, the President Muhammadu Buhari government has ensured that the governors remain sidelined in the affairs of the commission.

“Even when we are inaugurated, we were not involved in anything that happens in NDDC. Which is most unfortunate,” Wike lamented.

https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/see-how-nddc-duped-rivers-govt-of-n400m-nyesome-wike.html

Cross carpeting or defection in Nigerian politics has now become rampant. Politicians both at State and Federal levels decamp to the winning party as the quest for power swells. This affirms the words of former US President, John F. Kennedy, that in politics, ‘there is no permanent friend or enemy, but permanent interest’.

The term, cross carpeting, was coined in Nigeria. Although it is more popular among Nigerian politicians, it occurs in countries with “mature” democracy. In other countries, it may be termed decamping, defection, floor crossing and so on. Many also refer to it with the derogatory term, ‘political prostitution’. In this regards, political defectors are usually called political prostitutes.

Going through history, one can say that party politics in Nigeria began in 1923 with the formation of the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) by Herbert Macaulay. The Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) was later established before the 1938 election.

Since then, the number of political parties have continued to increase, from 7 that took part in the 1979 elections to a whopping 93 registered political parties as at 2020.

In February 2020, INEC deregistered 75 political parties on grounds of failure to meet electoral requirements. Although the 75 parties are still in court, the deregistration brought down the total number of political parties to 18 at present.

Even with the numbers of political parties in Nigeria, the two major parties in the country are the All Progressive Party (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). These two parties hold almost all key political positions in the country.


Politicians keep scrambling for the top in their political career and there is always movement from smaller political parties to the major ones. The power tussle between the two major parties is also one thing analysts cannot ignore.

In Africa, the frequency of cross carpeting is alarming, unlike in the Western world where party switching is a rare phenomenon. For instance, in the American Congress, it is argued that only 20 defections have happened from the 1940s to 1990. Even when it happens in the western world, it is for an ideological cause or disagreement on the pursuit of specific policies. Personal interest are always peripheral.

However, cross carpeting in Nigeria can be traced back to the 1951 election where 20 members of the then National Council for Nigerian (NCNC) defected to Action Group (AG).

Since then, politicians have developed the passion for defecting. For instance, Aminu Tambuwal, the current governor of Sokoto state has defected several times. Tambuwal started with ANPP, defected to DPP, swung back to ANPP. Later in 2007, he dumped ANPP for PDP and then to APC. Right now he is back in PDP. Also, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki was in PDP in 2011 but in 2014, he switched to APC, along with 10 others including some governors. Few months before the 2019 election, Saraki dumped the APC for PDP, declaring his presidential campaign for the PDP presidential ticket.

Seven years ago, intra-party crisis in PDP led to the defection of 5 governors and 37 House of Representative members to APC. In 2014, there was an allegation by the APC that 5 members that decamped to PDP did that on grounds of financial inducement.

In recent times, during the last Edo state governorship election, Godwin Obaseki decamped from APC to PDP. In November 2020, Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi defected from PDP to APC. There are speculations that party members of the PDP at the House of Assembly will join Umahi in APC. The PDP has however stated that no single lawmaker in the house will defect with the governor.

Just last week, seven (7) lawmakers from the Allied People Movement (APM) in Ogun State switched to APC. And just recently in Edo State, 2 APC lawmakers cross carpeted to PDP.

On February 1, 2021, there was an open invitation from the All Progressive Party to members of other parties. This was after the party revealed that PDP and other parties have indicated interest to join APC in the ongoing membership registration and revalidation. The party’s Caretaker Chairman in Lagos, Alhaji Tunde Balogun made this call in an interview with newsmen.

“Our doors are open to all members of political parties who want to join us. We expect some PDP members, who really are willing to join us in developing Lagos to do so. Many of them have been showing interest and we are prepared to register them from the PDP to the AA and others. We are happy to accept them among the progressives,” Balogun noted.

Notwithstanding, the major danger of cross carpeting is a dozy opposition: one that threatens democracy for that matter. An opposition that fails to play its role of checking the excesses of the ruling party will fail to question the government and hold them accountable to the public. This is because a senator who knows he is likely to defect to the ruling party is unlikely to speak out on the shortcomings of that ruling party.

This political culture has shown that political parties in Nigeria lack distinct ideologies and the interest of the general public. Most probably, what is being manifested here is politicians chasing the national cake and whatever party that serves as a ladder to achieve that is a ‘must join party’. Is this trend a boost on the country’s democracy? Or is it a menace to the stability of politics? What does it hold for the 2023 election?

Late Balarabe Musa, leader of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), in an interview with NAN emphasised that political prostitution can destabilise the country’s political development. He further noted that the mindless manner in which politicians defect needs to be checked to grow stability within the polity.

Balarabe Musa didn’t mince words by describing the trend as ‘mindless’. This is because although the constitution backs cross-carpeting, that same constitution also made provision for conditions a politician can cross carpet. However, Nigeria politicians seem to have abused the constitutional provision for freedom of association and choice.

Speaking on the allegation of the PDP lawmaker in Ebonyi state defecting to APC, PDP noted that ‘As democrats, we concede Chief Umahi’s right to join any political association of his choice. However, as Federal Lawmakers we are not unaware of the Supreme Court’s decision that candidates are products of political parties. What it means is that political office holders are not at liberty to migrate from one political platform to another, particularly when there is no division in their party’.

With Nigerian politicians, this is the opposite of the above statement as they migrate at will, even without any intra-party crisis.

https://thejournalnigeria.com/2023-politicians-scheme-higher-stakes/

As the world comes to embrace democracy as the best way of changing and retaining governments, there are still a lot of wear and tear standing in the way of transparent democratic processes across various climes. Some of these attritions stem from manipulation of the electoral processes. In Nigeria, part of this challenge includes legislations to empower the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

There have been several transitions in the experimentation of various models in the conduct of elections in the country.

For instance, former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attiharu Jega during his tenure came up with some technology that provided solutions to some of the identified problems in election management that were being done manually. Thus, the Smart Card Reading Machines, Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and Electronic Data Capture were introduced with a view to forestall the many infractions of ballot-box stuffing and collusion with politicians. The essence was to allow unimpeded stuffing of ballots.

The introduction of PVC and Smart Card readers, to a great extent, dealt some decisive blows against election rigging.

Nigeria, even as deregistered parties are still in court, may have over 90 registered political parties contesting the coming Anambra and Ekiti elections, as well as the one in 2023. How does one conduct transparent elections with over 90 political parties participating without proper technology?

Interestingly, the world has become so dependent on technology that one cannot discuss elections and not mention the role of technology;.

According to the Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye, the Commission has scheduled the Anambra Governorship poll for November 6, 2021.

Till now that the electoral umpire is preparing for the Anambra State Governorship election, the Electoral Reform Bill has not been passed into law.

With a remarkably distracted National Assembly, there is an aura of uncertainty about the chances of passing a new bill by the Senate and House of Representatives before the Anambra State election.

Earlier, the presidency had explained its decision not to assent to the last electoral bill of 2019 on grounds that parts of the laws usurped the powers of the regulatory body, INEC.

This is coupled with the fact that there wouldn’t have been enough time to get legislative backing to supervise the process, and voters would have been confused.

INEC announced on November 4, 2020, that another round of voters registration will begin in the first quarter of 2021 and end six months before the general elections in 2023. Before this announcement, plans for switching to electronic voting were revealed last September.

The Commission also said they need to control the spread of the coronavirus by limiting physical gatherings necessitated by the announcement to ensure scheduled election timetables are not disrupted, as is the case with the elections in Edo and Ondo States.

INEC boss, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, also recently expressed concern about the inability of Nigerians in the Diaspora to carry out their civic responsibility. There appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel that such voting, which could only be done electronically, would happen soon.

Yakubu gave a thumbs-up to the commission; saying that the commission can now upload polling unit level results in real-time on Election Day to a portal for public view.

He noted that these are significant innovations that can deepen the transparency and credibility of elections and the electoral process in Nigeria.

Specifically, e-voting has been identified by most analysts as one of the most dependable voting systems that can strengthen democratic institutions, but the country’s electoral laws and the Constitution have not been amended to enhance its full usage.

https://thejournalnigeria.com/2023-elections-e-voting-option/

In time past, popular pastors were known for salvation, healing, signs and wonders. The invitation was for the public to come and see the lame walk and the blind see. It was total war against the kingdom of darkness. Those were the days of old.

These days some men of God are more involved in the “miracle” of pulling down skirts than of making the blind see and the lame walk. With the nefarious activities of people like Onyeze Jesus, one can only wonder who can really be ascribed as a true man of God. The same type of amazement is conjured when one thinks of the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Suleman, and the avalanche of scandals that have continued to trail his ministry.

No man of God has had more controversies and scandals surrounding him in recent times, than Apostle Johnson Suleman. Only recently, a fellow man of God accused Apostle Johnson Suleman of sleeping with his wife, Faith Edeko.

The pastor identified as Mike Davids, who previously worked for Johnson Suleman alleged that the apostle and his wife first had sex at a hotel where he had lodged her. Davids said he forgave his wife when she confessed her first sexual encounter with the apostle out of guilt, but that she still continued the affair thereafter.

Pastor Davids revealed that he left the church in 2019 after his relationship with Suleman turned sour. He alleged that he started receiving threats from the apostle, and that his wife subsequently left him, taking their three children with her to Abuja, where she now heads a branch of Suleman’s church in Utako, an outskirt of Abuja.

Pastor Davids laments: “Apostle Johnson Suleman has damaged my life. I have not seen my wife and children for two years and Apostle Johnson Suleman says if I ever go near them, he will have me taken out. I have a video where he said he will make me disappear. I don’t want to lose my life.”

Many men of God have become more preoccupied with the things of men than the things of God. The myriad of stories flying, of pastors and priests neck deep in activities opposed to what they preach and the faith they uphold, raise a lot of eyebrows. Such misdeeds as adultery, which should be alien to the Christian faith, as well as rape, infidelity, lies and threats have now become commonplace among men of God.

These allegations do not only shake the foundation upon which Christianity stands, they send shivers down the spine of every believer.

General Overseer of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA), Biodun Fatoyinbo, made a statement during one of his church services. According to the pastor, “in the midst of repeated allegations, the truth is established”. This follows the saying, repeat a lie and it becomes the truth. The very words he preached were used against him in his controversial case with Timi Dakolo’s wife, Busola Dakolo, over allegations of rape.

If one were to go by this statement from the COZA pastor, Apostle Suleman might be found wanting. This is because controversies trail him on a regular basis. Apart from this recent one, the three scandals associated with the apostle have the names of ladies like Stephanie Otobo, Danielle Okeke and Queen Esther.

In 2017, Apostle Suleman was at the center of a roiling sex scandal involving him and Stephanie Otobo, a Canada-based night club stripper and dancer.

Otobo, otherwise known as Kimora, released on the internet a set of damaging lurid Snapchat shots allegedly of herself and the pastor whom she claimed impregnated and dumped her. She said she lost the pregnancy after she was given a concoction to drink by Suleman.

Otobo who said they were both involved in a relationship since 2015, accused him of lying that he had divorced his wife and would marry her instead. She added that the man of God invited her to Europe, where he severally slept with her, even after church programmes. Although Suleman denied the charge, accusing Otobo of blackmail and being a tool of political persecution, more damning revelations by the Canadian stripper further raised questions, eliciting answers as to the definition of the exact relationship between them.

With his alleged compromising nude pictures, which went viral on the web, the Canada-based stripper not only exposed the pastor but also stripped him virtually of all public respectability and reverence he had.

As for Daniella Okeke, the 32-year old actress, rarely known to be a controversial figure, instantly became one after she was romantically linked to the sex-scandal of the Apostle and Stephanie Otobo.

Daniella was accused of having benefited from the cleric’s benevolence, for whom she got pregnant. The news was that Mr Suleman acquired a N160 million duplex located in Mende Maryland, Lagos and a $76, 000 brand new Mercedes Benz 450 GL for her.

Barely a week after the allegations by Stephanie Otobo made the rounds, a lady who identified herself as Queen Esther, came out to say she was in a relationship with the General Overseer between August 2013 to April 2014:

“I was an usher in his branch church, but I had a sexual relationship with him as he lured me into it in order to solve my spiritual problem and limitations to success in career and marriage, but after the sex he didn’t solve the problems for me, instead he started making proposal for us to marry.

“I dated Apostle Suleman while I was a member in his church, he was my pastor, spiritual director and mentor, aside from being a boyfriend, from August 2013 to 2014 April,” Esther added.

She said she decided to end the relationship after Suleman’s wife, Lizzy, found out about the illicit affair. According to Esther, “Many ladies are victims of Johnson Suleman but they are afraid to come out publicly because they fear the consequences attached to their public stand against him, which is a possible spiritual attack and destruction on their life and destiny,” she said.

Reports also have it that “a top official of the Kaduna State government confirmed that they received a request for protection from Ms. Esther, but added that the government does not want to be involved in the matter.”

Esther claimed that the videos, phone calls and text messages they exchanged during the relationship mysteriously disappeared from her phone immediately after the relationship ended.

“But if police can retrieve my text messages and phone calls from MTN service providers between the month of August 2013 and 2015 May, that will be enough to prove him guilty of oppression and threat to life,” she added.

The previous scandals which are not different from the current one with allegations of things as a threat to life appear to place Apostle Suleman in a very tight situation.

However, it is proper to have a balanced perception that for some genuine men of God, there are bound to be evil conspiracies to bring them down. Such men of God, probably including Apostle Suleman, are not immune to the devices of the devil to bring down their ministry and the entire Christian faith to disrepute.

Details>> https://thejournalnigeria.com/johnson-suleman-manner-apostle/

Agitations for Igbo presidency has been on for quite a while. Talks of an Igbo presidency have received the backing of a few stakeholders and groups in the political space. Some Igbo and pro-Igbo political influencers believe that it is time for the South-east to bear the presidential mantle which has somewhat eluded them since the Nigerian civil war, over 50 years ago. They equally believe that agitations for secession will be quelled should an Igbo candidate emerge as president in 2023. With about 15 months to party primaries for the presidential elections, Nigerians are asking, where are the serious Igbo contenders?

Ohanaze and other Igbo leaders have made calls that the APC and PDP should field candidates from the South-east for the 2023 presidential elections. However, how many Igbo politicians or stakeholders have really indicated the zest or made serious moves to go for the presidential mantle?

The potential candidates for the presidential tickets under the APC are Vice-president, Yemi Osibanjo, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of APC, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, and Nasir el-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State.

Under the PDP, they include Atiku Abubakar, Vice-President, Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State, Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State, and Bukola Saraki, former president of the state. There are also moves to get former President Goodluck Jonathan into the race, who is still eligible for another term, having served one term in office. Reports about a bipartisan move by some groups in Northern Nigeria to return Goodluck Jonathan to power have further intensified the support for the former president.

From the above speculations, one sees only one serious-looking Igbo candidate from the two major political parties in the person of Peter Obi. With the coasts becoming very clear for politicians from the South, many politicians looking forward to this now have that opportunity of a lifetime to take a calculated shot at the number one job in Nigeria. Despite some level of support and backing, the clamour for Igbo presidency has received, Nigerians are yet to see any serious contender.

Peter Obi, who is seen as the biggest fish for the position, stated that it was not true he was planning to contest the presidential elections. He even added that the reports were becoming a distraction to him. When it gained traction online, Obi immediately distanced himself from a poster with his picture as the presidential flagbearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming presidential election in 2023.

Even the other candidates from the other zones are equally cautious. When quizzed about the possibility of him picking the APC ticket to represent at the presidential polls in 2023, Rotimi Amaechi stated it was too early to consider the 2023 presidential elections. His words:

“The best conversation to have now is how to deliver on the railway, maritime as it pertains to the responsibility assigned to me by the president.

“Why not allow me to complete the responsibility that has been given to me by the president which is being the minister of transportation.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan also described as too early the talks about him returning as president.

Other names from the South-east like Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, Dr. Chris Ngige, Orji Uzor Kalu, Ike Ekweremadu, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Ifeanyi Uba, and Kingsley Moghalu have indicated little or no significant zest for the post of President.

Governor Dave Umahi who decamped to APC because there was an upswing of opinions in some circles in the PDP, especially among the Igbos that they should field a candidate for the 2023 presidential elections, stated categorically that his defection was not in any way a matter of living out the fantasies of his presidential ambition. According to the Ebonyi State Governor, his role was that of a lighthouse and forerunner:

“There are a lot of qualified persons from the South-east. Some people say I was promised a lot of things by the APC, there was no such discussion. APC never promised me any position. They never promised the South-east any position.

Details>> https://thejournalnigeria.com/igbo-presidency/

December of 2019 was very normal as Nigerians were giving and receiving gifts, as well as yuletide packages, not knowing that what will forever change their lives and the rest of the world was already brewing up in faraway China. “The deadly package” from Wuhan turned the location from a sleepy town into a name the world may never forget.

Initial reports in the mainstream media spoke of a deadly virus that looks like flu and kills faster than HIV/AIDS. At first, people generally from all nations of the world felt it was being overrated, but the entire world was caught unawares with the speed at which this deadly virus penetrated nations. Everyone started counting their losses. Italy was the first European nation to be badly struck by the virus and the blame game started. Almost immediately, the world started seeing it. Nations began to stop flight from China and other high risk countries. The World Health Organization started doing research to clearly identify the virus

On January 23, 2020, the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee advised that “all countries should be prepared for containment, including active surveillance, early detection, isolation and case management, contact tracing and prevention of onward spread of 2019-nCoV infection, and to share full data with WHO.” On January 30, 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 to be a public health emergency of international concern.

The story in Nigeria came alive that fateful day in February when the index case was detected in Nigeria. Then, the contact tracing, preventive measures, awareness and other moves to curb the virus started. One of the most early challenges was the contact tracing that should reveal the individuals the Italian had come in contact with before his hospitalization and/or isolation.

To many Nigerians, isolation, quarantine, personal protective equipments and other general words or phrases made popular by this virus only exist in dictionaries, not in their daily lives. Government was quick enough to open the previously built isolation centre which came to be during the Ebola epidemic. Some form of kudos should be given to the Lagos State Government for its timely response, not forgetting the governor, as at that time was still rallying round for support for the victims of the pipeline explosion that occurred at Abule Ado which rendered thousands homeless.

It is said that Nigerians are the most difficult to lead in the world but is this entirely true? Well, to a certain extent.

The people of Nigeria may be difficult to lead as Coronavirus came and it met immediately with the traditional Nigerian disbelief. Many Nigerians blatantly refuse to believe that the virus was real. Many disregarded warnings and asked to see isolation centers where cases are kept. They were ready to go any mile to prove that the Nigerian government is lying about the existence of the virus in Nigeria. When one engages some in conversations surrounding the virus, one will hear all sorts of things like, “it’s a virus for the rich”, “it cannot be contracted by someone who drinks alcohol”, “it cannot survive under Nigeria weather”, etc.

The first responsibility the government has after making provision for isolation centers was to create awareness about the virus, how it operates, its nature, how it can be contracted, how citizens can protect themselves with specific preventive measures. The government, not minding the hostile nature of majority of its citizens towards these policies, made very impressive efforts to enlighten the public on everything they needed to know about the virus, leaving no stone unturned. Creating awareness was not left to the government alone to handle. Media houses and organizations all joined in the campaign.

Many nations had started securing its territories; airports shut down, schools closed, club houses closed, other public places closed, people are told to stay home, companies quickly adopted working from home, only people whose work is classified as “essential” are allowed to step out. All sporting events and activities stopped. Meanwhile in Nigeria, the numbers had started increasing. Safety measures became a national anthem yet most Nigerians defied the warning.

Refusing to adhere to safety measures is not peculiar to Nigeria. Italy was the most struck European nation and the cause is not unknown – the people ignored all warnings and continued with their daily activities even when their government told them to stay home. This was a single mistake that caused Italy a lot in human lives. Nigerians were reading this online, watching it on TV, yet they chose to believe the virus is not in Nigeria.


Details>>> https://thejournalnigeria.com/covid-19-protocols-nigerians/

This unprecedented... And it must be condemned by all

vegafbs:
Buhari Appoints all Former Service Chiefs as Non-career Ambassadors

Details >>> https://www.ngtimes.net/2021/02/buhari-appoints-former-service-chiefs-non-career-ambassadors.html