All Posts in "Day: November 8, 2022"

Kwara 2023: PDP Campaign Faults ANAP Polls

The Director General of the Kwara State Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Governorship Campaign Council, Prof. Alli Ahmad, has described the opinion poll said to have been conducted by one ANAP Foundation regarding next year’s
governorship election in Kwara as baseless, laughable and far from reality.

The Campaign Council said it could not waste its time brooding over the results of a warped opinion poll conducted by an organization that is popularly known for its usual bogus claims and inaccurate projections judging by previous opinion polls by ANAP.

Prof. Ahmad in a press statement he personally signed questioned the credibility of “ANAP foundation” and its modus operandi.

The party accused ANAP Foundation of colluding with the All Progressives Congress (APC) bandwagon of sycophants to deceive the incumbent Governor, Mr. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who he said had lost every atom of goodwill he ever had in the public sphere.

The statement said: “It is ludicrous to know that Mal. Abdulrazaq, having seen that his fleeting popularity continues to evaporate at an alarming rate has resorted to sponsoring dubious opinion polls, to keep up appearances of remaining afloat. This feeble and belated effort, is just too little, too late.

“It is unfortunate that our society is now rife with predators who take every opportunity to milk their unsuspecting victims dry. We in the PDP put it to Abdulrazaq that, Kwarans’ resolve to change him like a soiled diaper, would not be deterred by this fictitious report from a body, well known for its annual inaccurate projections.

“It is not surprising because this is the season of “political endorsement”, deceit, sycophancy and self-aggrandizement.
Like in Yoruba traditional folklore, we are told of the mighty elephant who was tricked to come and take over a Kingdom and throne. The elephant however was scammed in the end, and he plunged into a hunter’s pitfall camouflaged as a throne. We in the PDP will want to warn this governor not to allow himself be submerged by a pitfall unto the putrid deceit.”

Ahmad, who was the Speaker of the 8th Kwara State House of Assembly and former House of Representatives Member, said the PDP remains the most popular political party, and “we are firmly on course to take over power from the inept, rudderless, incompetent and mediocre APC administration in Kwara State. We will not be distracted by the shenanigans of any fly by night pollsters”.

admin by — November 8, 2022 in Politics 0
Cybercrime: How Court Jailed Ex – Convict, Others In Ibadan

A serving cybercrime convict, one Warith Ademola Hassan who was sentenced to six months community service by Justice Bayo Taiwo of the State High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State on Friday, July 29, 2022 has been jailed again for cyber-related activities in Oyo State.

Barely three months into six months community service term, Warith was arrested again and prosecuted by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, on fresh charges of internet fraud.

He was arraigned on November 2, alongside six others before Justices Omolara Adeyemi and Iyabode Yerima of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan on a separate one count charge each.

Other convicts, according to press statement by Mr Wilson Uwujaren
Media and Publicity officer of EFCC,are Adedayo Joel Olumide, Habeeb Gbolahan Amidu, Lawal Adesina Sherif, Ugbana Efemena Daniel, Obi Ogechukwu Frank and Osaze Bright Osayande.

They all pleaded “guilty” to the charges filed against them by the EFCC.

Justice Adeyemi convicted and sentenced Warith to three months imprisonment, Osaze to two months jail term and Obi to six months community service.

Justice Yerima sentenced Ugbana, Lawal and Habeeb to six months jail term each and Adedayo, six months community service.

Besides,Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, on November 3, 2022 convicted and sentenced one Sodiq Babatunde Kajero to two months community service for internet-related fraud.

The courts further ordered that the convicts restitute their various victims and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

admin by — November 8, 2022 in Law/Human Rights 0
I Prefer Death Than Support For Atiku’s Presidential Bid -Ortom

Ortom Opposes Atiku’s Presidential Bid

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has declared that he would not support the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as President of the country come the 2023 elections.

Governor Ortom made the revelation late Sunday night, when he hosted the other four Governors to a dinner party at the banquet hall of Government House, Makurdi on sunday

The counterparts of the Benue state governor were in the state to grace the flag-off of the PDP election campaigns for the 2023 general elections and commissioning of projects executed by the Governor Ortom administration in Makurdi slated for Monday.

He explained that he would rather die than to support Atiku whoes kinsmen have been killing his people, adding that just last week, herdsmen had killed another 18 persons in the state for no just reason.

According to him, “To hell with Atiku and anyone supporting him. They should go and tell him. You want me to be slave for a Fulani. It’s better I die. Anybody supporting Atiku is an enemy of Benue.My people are being killed and you want me to be quiet. My tenure ends in May (2023) and you can do what ever you want if you think you have the powers.

“I have written my will. When I gave it to my wife, she cried all night. If I die at 62.. many of my mates have gone long time ago and if I die today, I’m a fulfilled person. But let it be recorded that I died resisting the invasion and killing of my people.I will never support a Fulani man to become president. If there is another person who is ready to work with me and ensure the security of my people, I will work with him”, he stressed.

Commending Wike, who is the title holder of the “Eagle of Tivland’,. Ortom noted that when the state came under siege, Wike was the first person who roared and warned that if you kill Ortom, you have killed the whole Nigeria.

He added that :”He.(Wike) did not keep quiet when Benue was under siege. He visited with stakeholders from Rivers state and committed N250 million and subsequently he has committed over N700 million to Benue IDPs.

He condemned Benue sons, particularly those at the National Assembly who have been keeping mute over the killings in the state, threatening that “From tomorrow (Monday) I’m turning my venom on the National Assembly members from the state who are romancing with Buhari to kill the Benue people.”

He was convinced that as PDP launches its campaign, it was his firm belief that the party would win the 2023 elections, insisting that “Benue is PDP and PDP is Benue state.”

He warned those planning to rig elections in Benue to shelve such ideas, adding that it would not be condoned.

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesome Wike who spoke on behalf of his counterparts, said the G-5 were out to help Nigeria from imminent collapse.

He said, “The G-5 governors are the integrity governors and anyone can challenge us. We have come to give Governor Samuel Ortom solidarity support for the flag off of campaigns in Benue and to tell Benue people that we are with Governor Ortom; like or hate us we are with Ortom. You cannot break us. We are bonded together.Leadership is risk taking. Whether you like him (Ortom) or not, Ortom has shown leadership”, he argued.

Wike reiterated his call on Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman of the PDP to respect the agreement that he would resign if the presidential candidate of the party eventually emerges from the north.

He further advised Nigerians to be wary of politicians who do not respect agreements now that they were yet to get to office, stressing that they would not keep agreements or promises, when they eventually get into office.

admin by — November 8, 2022 in Law/Human Rights 0
Flooding To Worsen In 2023, Says NEMA

The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Abeeb Muhammed,has raised the alarm of a more disastrous flooding incident in 2023.

He also said that the refusal of state governors to heed its warnings of impending floods in 2022, caused the natural disaster in parts of the country.

He spoke on Monday when he appeates before the Senate Committee on Special Duties headed by Senator Yusuf Yusuf from ( APC Taraba state) to defend the 2023 budget proposal of his agency .

He advised that governments at all levels should be ready for the challenges ahead by establishing local emergency committees to mitigate the devastating impacts of floods and other disasters across the country.

“Despite the fact that states are collecting Ecological and other intervention funds from the federal government, some of them could not boost the standing committee on disaster management and when there is a disaster they look up to the federal government for assistance”, he said.

He added that before the 2022 flood disaster, NEMA wrote about four letters to all states of the federation on the need to set up a local emergency committee to mitigate the impact of floods but only four states heeded the warning.

He disclosed a bottom-up approach in disaster management where the local government is the first respondent followed by the state and if it is beyond what the state can handle, the federal government can then come on board.

“But it is surprising that if there is any disaster, local governments and states look up to NEMA without first providing preliminary support and the manpower and resources at the disposal of NEMA is nothing to write home about. Even what happened in Bayelsa and other states in term casualties can be prevented or minimised if proper arrangements are made” he said

The Senate Committee on Special Duties decried poor budgetary allocation to NEMA and promised to come up with a legislation that would put the agency under the presidency for optimum performance.

It also urged NEMA to get the states engaged and ensure that there are proper plans for people displaced by floods.

“It is high time NEMA go beyond distributing rice, beans and blankets to victims of flood but ensure that you partner with state governments to set up camps for flood victims ” Senator Lilian Ekwunife

Earlier, NEMA boss told the committee that only N774 million is earmarked as capital vote for the agency in 2023, N1.77 billion for personnel cost while a sum of N162 million is proposed for overhead cost in 2023 budget.

admin by — November 8, 2022 in Environment 0
Labour Party Stops Presidential Debates

The Presidential Campaign Council of the Labour Party says the party will longer partake in debates set up for presidential candidates contesting the 2023 elections.

The Director General of the Campaign Council, Doyin Okupe, who gave the hint on Monday in Abuja, said it was ridiculous for other contestants of Peter Obi, LP flagbearer to shun Opportunities provided for Nigerians to know their candidates ahead of the poll.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Okupe said that candidates who refuse to appear at such debates “have assumed the position of emperors and rulers, and not responsible politicians who are willing to serve and listen to the people, place their position of trust in critical jeopardy by their high horse of arrogance and non accountability.”

According to him, any presidential candidate “should think that they are doing the voting public and indeed all Nigerians a favour, by appearing in person, at these scheduled programs which are a fundamental part of the election season and process;” adding that the onus and the duty of presenting “his position, vision, policies and plans and responding to questions therefrom, is the responsibility of the presidential candidate, in first person, including the fact of being held accountable for his presentation.”

He emphasized that the LP candidate is prepared at any appointed time, “to engage the Nigerian people on his mission and vision for the people and country whom he seeks to lead competently and responsibly.”

“It is an established fact, beyond contradiction that Mr Peter Obi is currently the leading candidate in this presidential race , and yet he does not display the baseless and arrogant disposition of some of his co- candidates.To add insult to injury, yesterday at the Arise Tv Townhall Meeting, the Vice Presidential candidate who purported to represent his Presidential Candidate, sought to explain his presence under the obnoxious pretext that the ‘Presidency is one.’

“This is a blatant lie and to say the least a deceptive attempt to pull wool over the eyes of Nigerians.The Joint Ticket in a presidential election, and in a substantive Presidency, is a constitutional provision for temporary or permanent substitution, where the Presidential candidate is primarily incapacitated or otherwise critically unavailable.

“This primary duty of care and response cannot be relegated , delegated or avoided, as a matter of deception or evasion, as it encompasses the right of the people to full and total knowledge of what the candidate has in stock for them.With every respect to the office of the Vice Presidential candidate, this is a duty reserved for the person of each and every presidential candidate.

“We firmly and irrevocably call on the Nigerian people , in entirety, to reject any presidential candidate that habitually and deceptively treats the rights of the people to hear directly from him, with disrespect, dishonour and ignominy .Finally, Let us make it clear today, that these recurring acts will no longer be acceptable to the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation.

“While our candidates,Mr Peter Obi and our Vice Presidential Candidate Dr Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, are prepared at all times to engage other candidates ,and the Nigerian people , in any duly scheduled debates, Town Hall meetings and any other appearances as designated and scheduled . This election season, they will only be prepared to mount the podium, with their peers in this presidential race, and not with any surrogates or diversionary delegated representation .This stand is taken with the utmost respect for the rights and desires of Nigerians to full and direct information, and first hand responses and presentations , necessary for the best assessment of worthiness, capacity, capability, competence, character, integrity and disposition, as required to make the right choice in these coming elections.

“The APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu on Monday 22nd August 2022 sent his Vice Presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima to represent him at Nigerian Bar Association Annual Bar Conference. Again, Senator Shettima represented his Boss at an economic and general policy initiatives engagement organized by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry on September 13th and 14th 2022 respectively.

“Similarly, in November 6, 2022, both candidates of the two major political parties shunned the First AriseTV Town Hall Meeting, in what Okupe said was in “contradiction to the understanding reached with the organisers, about allowing only presidential candidates to attend the event, the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP was allowed to represent his Presidential candidate.Thus, LP explained that it “is our firm conviction, that anything short of the simple, transparent and honest adherence to this basic contract of responsibility, falls short of the standards of fair contest and engagement and can only be interpreted as mischievous evasion of the desired interface with the people.”

admin by — November 8, 2022 in Politics 0
Tinubu To Address Farmers’ Plights With Commodity Exchange Commission

Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinibu has promised robust agricultural policies, including the introduction of Commodity Exchange Commission (CEC) if elected President of the country next year.

Tinubu, who is visiting Niger state for the third time ahead of the 2023 general election has appointed the Governor of Kebbi state who is also the Chairman of Progressive Governor’s Forum (PGF), Senator Abubakar Bagudu as the Chairman of the Agriculture sub-committee.

He told his supporters that he is able and capable of making Nigeria better than it is today against the backdrop of speculations of being not in good health conditions.

Addressing the northern Agro-commodity group stakeholders, Senator Tinubu further hinted that the CEC which will be established immediately he assumes office will boost agricultural value chain of Nigeria not only for local food sufficiency but for export purposes.

He added:“Once I emerge President next year, I will immediately set up commodity exchange commission to carter for our teaming farmers”, Tinubu said, adding that for Nigerian agricultural products to compete with others in the international market, the produce must have quality that meets international standards.

Tinubu,who assured Nigerians of a renewed hope and prospects for better days ahead for citizenry said he will be on the side of the Nigerian masses in keeping to his electioneering campaign promises.

Meanwhile, the APC Presidential hopeful has announced the appointment of Kebbi state Governor, Senator Abubakar Bagudu as the Chairman of the Agriculture sub-committee who should immediately liaise with the Director-General of his campaign team, Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau state and his Vice Presidential candidate, Alhaji Kashim Shittima in fashioning out a workable Agricultural blueprint for his administration.

According to Tinubu, “I am with immediate effect appointing Governor Bagudu of Kebbi state to chair our agricultural sector and fashion out our blue print and road map towards Nigeria’s agricultural prosperity from next year, insha Allahu”

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state had earlier in his welcome address reiterated the importance of Agricultural value chain especially for the northern part of the country, Niger state in particular using the verse land space to its advantage.

“Northern Nigeria, and indeed Niger state in particular is the undisputed food lifeline of Nigeria”, the Governor boasts, adding that the administration under his leadership in order to consolidate the Agricultural sector initiated some policies by resuscitating 19 moribund irrigation schemes.

Bello also told his host and the gathering that he rehabilitated 300 km of rural access roads under its RAMP World Bank assisted programme, and gazetted 8 out of the 25 grazing routes in the state including the popular Bobi games reserve with over 36,000 hectares of land.

admin by — November 8, 2022 in Agriculture 0
NBC Orders Multichoice To License 52 Channels

The National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, has directed Multichoice to sublicense some of its channels to Metro Digital based on the provisions of the National Broadcasting Code.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital had on July 13th 2022 ordered the NBC to direct Multichoice Nigeria Limited to comply with the NBC Code by sublicensing requested channels to Metro Digital.

The Managing Director of Metro Digital, Dr Ifeanyi Nwafor, said NBC had on October 25th 2022 sent a directive to Multichoice to comply with the 6th edition of the NBC Code as amended, pursuant to Metrodigital’s request for channel sublicensing as ordered by the Federal Court of Appeal.

Speaking in Port Harcourt on Monday,Nwafor expressed optimism that Metro Digital will begin operations by next week, as they await Multichoice to obey the NBC directive, as ordered by the Appeal court.

He said they had requested for 52 channels from Multichoice, while regretting that the growth of Nigeria’s broadcast industry has been limited due to monopoly.

He commended the federal government and the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, for repositioning the nation’s broadcast industry to end monopolistic practices exhibited by Multi-choice over the years.

“The growth of the broadcast industry in Nigeria has been limited due to monopolistic practices of the dominant player in the industry. All indigenous companies licensed in the last twenty years did not succeed because of these practices which includes content exclusivity, warehousing etc

“The federal government of Nigeria realizing the danger and daunting challenges posed by these monopolistic practices took steps to address the problem through the amendment to the broadcast code.The code outlawed foreign and domestic acquisition of contents on the basis of exclusivity. Furthermore, licensees and broadcasters are obligated to sublicense channels to other licensees or broadcasters for commercially agreeable fees

“In tune with the foregoing, the appeal court sitting in Port Harcourt, in response to the appeal filed by Metro Digital Limited, ordered the regulatory body, NBC to execute its statutory functions in accordance with the provisions of the code. We are glad to announce today that NBC has complied with the order of the court.The end of monopoly in Nigerian broadcasting industry will enhance competition, innovation and quality of service delivery. The industry will experience rapid growth and the consumers will benefit from the competitive pricing that follows.

“We commend and appreciate the role played by the Federal government, the Minister for information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and NBC towards the repositioning of the industry and end the monopolistic practices that have held the industry down for a long time.We also like to commend the Nigerian judiciary for the thorough and painstaking job to ensure sanity and a level playing field in the Nigeria broadcasting industry. God Bless Nigeria”, Nwafor stated.

admin by — November 8, 2022 in News 0
Defamation: Two Kano Comedians To Receive 40 Lashes, Clean Court Toilet For 1month

Kano State Magistrate Court Monday ordered 20 lashes each to be administered on two Kano based Standup Comedians, Mubarak Isa Muhammad and Nazifi Muhammad Bala for defaming the character of Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on their Tiktok accounts.

In his ruling,Magistrate Aminu Muhammad Gabari,ordered the two entertainers to sweep and wash the toilets on the premises of the Magistrates Court located at No-man’s-land area of Kano for 30 days.

He further directed that 20 lashes each are to be administered in the public, and also sweeping and washing toilets of Justice Aloma Mukthar Court Complex ( No-man’s-land).

Magistrate Gabari, consequently ordered the convicts to pay a fine of N10,000 each for defaming the character of Kano State Governor. He also ordered them to pay another fine of N10,000 each for inciting public disturbance.

Senior Magistrate Gabari similarly administered non-custodial terms against the convicts, and ordered the convicts to produced a video on social media to tender apology to Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The convicts had pleaded guilty on two count charge of defamation and inciting public disturbance slammed against them.

Acccording to the first information report, the duo had on their verified Tiktok account defamed the Kano State Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The prosecutor, Barrister Wada Ahmad Wada Principal State Counsel, Kano State Ministry of Justice, applied for summary trial against the duo.

admin by — November 8, 2022 in Law/Human Rights 0
Abuja-Kaduna Rail Resumes Operation November End

Alhaji Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, Minister of Transport said on Monday that all obstacles to the resumption of full operations on the Abuja -Kaduna railway route has been removed.

Operations on the rail corridor was suspended sequel to the attack by terrorists on an Abuja-Kaduna bound train, in March, who also Abducted about 168 passengers, many of who paid millions of naira in ransom to secure to their freedom.

The minister, who addressed the press in the company of Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohamed on the Scorecard of the President Mohammadu Buhari administration in the Transportation sector, also declared that the safety and security of lives of users of the rail corridor has been prioritized, saying that constant monitoring, 24/7, all -year- round surveillance activity has been mounted on the route to forestall a repeat of the ugly incident.

He said,all activities on the stretch of rail up to Kaduna is available on monitors to the President, Director of State Services, other security agencies and Transport Minister at the press of a botton, adding that administration has equally ensured that non of those abducted following the attack is still in captivity.

He said these achievement could not been possible without the support President Buhari, who he said has also left indelible marks in the sector , in infrastructural provision, advancement of policy as well as security of the nation’s maritime borders.

In the railway infrastructure he said:”Within the period under review, the moribund commercial railway services in Nigeria were resuscitated by the administration ofPresidentMuhammadu
Buhari, locomotives and coaches were
procured and others refurbished the Abuja – Kaduna rail corridor commercial operation was flagged off in July 2016,the Warri – Itakpe corridor started commercial operation in April 2021,while the Lagos – Ibadan double track
standard gauge began commercial
operation in June 2021.

“In bridging the infrastructural gaps in the rail sector, the Warri – Itakpe standard gauge lines were constructed, remodelled and put to
commercial use.The Port Harcourt – Aba railway corridor was constructed and rehabilitated as well as the Lagos – Kano cargo and passenger services.Other railway corridors under construction include, Kaduna – Kano line; Kano – Maradi and the Port
Harcourt – Maiduguri lines”.

He disclosed that the administration has advanced action in the local manufacture and assembly of rail wagons in Ogun, expressing hope that the move will save scarce foreign exchange for the country.

Other areas he said the administration made giant strides include the construction of ports and provision ports infrastructure , stating that the Lekki Deep Sea Port is almost ready for commissioning.

Other areas, he listed include the Inland Waterways where he said massive investments in river and dry ports across the country would boost commercial and create jobs.

In his remarks, Alhaji Lai Mohammed maintained that All Progressives Congress (APC) government of president Buhari has made landmark achievement to campaign and seek the mandate of Nigerians again in 2023.

He described as absurd the claim by detractors that the APC government has not done much saying that the “Buhari administration is spoilt for choice in
celebrating its achievements”

“We have a lot of achievements to highlight and campaign with. Again we are spoilt for choice because of the sheer number of the achievements. And that’s why we have drawn up a tight schedule of appearances for Honourable Ministers to tell Nigerians the
achievements in their various sectors” he said

admin by — November 8, 2022 in News 0
Bandits Kill Masari’s Chief Cook

The Chief Cook to Governor Aminu Bello Masari, Alhaji Lawal Kanbarawa,has been killed by bandits in Katsina.

He was kidnapped on his farm while inspecting the harvesting of his farm produce.

Ahmed Lawal, the first son of the deceased who confirmed his father’s death to newsmen in Katsina on Monday, said that he was killed by the bandits after the ransom had been paid.

He added:”Our father was kidnapped in his farm along Katsina-Jibia international road leading to Niger Republic.Baba was lured to the farm by the caretaker of the farm when suddenly the bandits appeared and whisked him away in company with our brother who drove him to the farm”.

“The bandits later contacted the family and requested the payment of a ransom of five million naira which the family redeemed.However the bandits rather than released the deceased killed our father and set free our brother who broke the sad news of the demise of our father to the family”

admin by — November 8, 2022 in News 0