Politics

‘Certificate forgery allegation laughable, unfounded,’ says Reps spokesman, Kalu

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The Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, on Friday, described allegations that he forged his academic certificates as an orchestrated plot to tarnish his image.

Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, stated this in a statement in Abuja.

He was reacting to an alleged certificate forgery and impersonation suit filed against him by one Okechukwu Ezeala.

The plaintiff had in the originating summon alleged that names in Kalu’s primary and secondary school certificates which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2019 elections are completely different from his present names.

But the House spokesman expressed optimism that he would be vindicated on the matter.

He said: “Maybe the name Rep. Benjamin Kalu is so sparkling clean for a politician who is rising. So, this is their way of attempting to sprinkle imaginary dents on my image.

“As a lawyer, I should have confidence in our judicial system and they have not failed me previously. They won’t start now.

“It is sub-judicial to begin to discuss the content of the matter in detail. Let’s be patient and allow the court to take a position on this.

Again, my constituents, friends, and family should not worry as it will end in praise for what God cannot do does not exist. They shall gather and take counsel but it shall not stand. Only the counsel of God shall stand.

“Let them dent my image. I am confident the truth will clean it. After all, when I signed for politics, I signed for smear campaigns like this.

“I have my eyes on the ball, it does not matter how threatened they are. I am going for the goal and not perturbed at all. They know this and that’s why they are paying all media platforms to discuss my simple change of name as illegal.

“The last I checked, it is within my right to choose how to be addressed and to document it legally as prescribed by law.

So, because I changed my surname, it makes my certificates forged certificates. Quite laughable.”

Politics

Kaduna govt captures 2.4m poor, vulnerable persons on social register

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Kaduna State government has captured 2.4 million poor and vulnerable persons in the state’s social register.

The Coordinator of the State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU), Planning and Budget Commission, Nina Yakwal, disclosed this at a one-day workshop on the State Social Register and Rapid Response Register (RRR) held in Kaduna.

She said the people were captured in 607,974 poor and vulnerable households across the state.

According to Yakwal, the figure was 300,000 higher than the 2.1 million individuals captured from 524,424 households in April.

She said: “Out of the figure, 1.2 million individuals, representing 52.1 percent are females while 1.1 million or 47.9 percent are males.

“Also, 49,922, representing 2.1 percent of those captured in the register are persons with disabilities.

94. 5 percent of the poor and vulnerable people captured in the register reside in rural areas while only 5.5 percent live in urban areas.”

The coordinator stressed that the State Executive Council had directed the use of the social register as the primary source of data for all interventions in the state.

Yakwal added: “The state government is also working to scale up National Identification Number registration of identified poor and vulnerable individuals in the register to promote inclusion at all levels of social protection delivery in the state.”

On the RRR, the coordinator said 51,181 people had been captured in the urban and semi-urban areas of the state.

She added that about 500 applicants had been sampled for validation.

Politics

Kanu’s lawyer accuses UK of working with Nigerian govt to ‘kidnap’ IPOB leader in Kenya

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Ifeanyi Ejiofor, one of the counsels to incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the United Kingdom government of working with Nigeria and other security agencies who facilitated the ‘kidnap’ of the Biafra agitator in Kenya

Ejiofor made the disclosure on his Facebook page on Friday while stressing that the British Government has not visited Kanu in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his arrest.

“When I talk about a collaboration between the British Government and those that kidnapped our client in Kenya, I meant every word spoken there.

Thankfully, force of law has been activated through judicial process, before the British Court to ensure that their statutory obligation over their Nationale is asserted, without further ado.

“In this political/media trial of our client, I see a handful of compromised socia media platforms, who are ostensibly feeding fat from the national treasury.

“But the majority of distinguished media houses are guided by good conscience in their reportage. We must definitely commend them,” he said.

Ejiofor also debunked claims that the British High Commission has provided assistance to Kanu, saying that despite several assurances by the Commission that they will provide consular assistance for Kanu who is their citizen, they have not followed through with their promises as they are yet to visit the IPOB leader.

For your information, neither the British High Commissioner in Nigeria nor any one representing/acting for them has visited our client Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at DSS detention facility, where he is currently being held incommunicado. I can authoritatively confirm this position to you today.

“Stop believing the falsehood being dished out in the public space by mischief makers. The purveyors of fake news have always been at it.

“May Chukwuokike continue to strengthen and protect him in this trying time,” he wrote

Politics

IBB hints at who should be president in 2023

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Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) has spoken about the state of the nation amidst preparations for the upcoming Presidential elections in 2013.

IBB ahead of his eightieth birthday anniversary this month, expressed his confidence in the country’s capability to be great due to its human and natural resources.

He spoke on his visualization of who should emerge as president of Nigeria from the 2023 presidential election.

He hinted at a few unnamed individuals, whom he said were in their 60s, had the capacity to become president and could effectively run the country.

He said such a person should be able to transverse the different parts of the country and make friends everywhere, as well as be able to listen to the people and communicate effectively with them at every level.

The former military President made this assertion during an interview with Arise Television on Friday, focusing on the state of the Nation.

That Nigeria has refused to progress and achieve the dreams of the founding fathers was because Nigerians no longer believed in the future of their own country, he opined.

The former leader, who accused the Nigerian people of creating and at the same time, destroying their own country, identified bad leadership as yet a major reason for the socio-economic challenges facing Nigeria.

Regarding leadership, IBB said, “If you get a good leadership that links with the people and tries to talk with the people; not talking on top of the people, then we would be okay.

“I have started visualising a good Nigerian leader. That is, a person, who travels across the country and has a friend virtually everywhere he travels to and he knows at least one person that he can communicate with.

That is a person, who is very versed in economics and is also a good politician, who should be able to talk to Nigerians and so on. I have seen one, or two or three of such persons already in his sixties.”

When asked if the person could emerge victorious in the 2023 presidential election, the Minna-born former military leader said, “I believe so if we can get him.”

He also reiterated his staunch belief in the unity of the country saying, “I do believe in the future of Nigeria, but Nigerians don’t believe in the future of their country. They created and they destroyed.”

Politics

Late President Yar’Adua’s son, Aminu, remanded in prison for allegedly killing four people

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A Magistrate Court sitting in Yola has remanded Aminu Yar’Adua, the 36-year-old son of the late former President of Nigeria, Musa Yar’Adua, in prison custody for allegedly killing four people in an auto crash in Yola.

The former president’s son, who is a student of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, was charged to court for allegedly causing the death of the four persons by dangerous driving on 23 June 2021.

According to the police First Information Report (FIR) tendered in court by the prosecutor, Insp. Zakka Musa, the accused had while driving along the Yola bye-pass on 23 June 2021, rammed into six people as a result of overspeeding.

The court which sat on Thursday heard that four of the victims died, while the two others were injured in the accident. The victims were said to hail from Sabon Pegi, Yola South Local Government Area of the state.

The FIR stated, ”Those that died in the accident were identified as; Aisha Umar (30), Aisha Mamadu (32), Suleiman Abubakar(2) and Jummai Abubakar (30), while, Rejoice Annu (28) and Hajara Aliyu(27) sustained injuries.”

According to the prosecuting officer, the relatives of late Aisha Umar, Suleiman Abubakar, and Jummai Abubakar had demanded the sum of N15 million from the defendant as compensation.

However, when the FIR was read to the defendant as prayed by the prosecutor, he denied committing the offence, claiming the allegation was false.

With the development, the prosecutor prayed the court to adjourn the matter, to enable him to duplicate the case file and forward it to the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

The Magistrate, Jummai Ibrahim granted the prosecution’s request and adjourned the matter to 19th August 2021, for further mention, and ordered that the ex-president’s son be remanded in prison custody until then.

Politics

Borno Gov, Zulum, to meet CAN over violent clash that led to death

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Following a violent clash on Thursday between officials of the Borno State Geographical Information System (BOGIS), and worshippers at a branch of EYN Church in Maiduguri, which led to the death of a worshipper and several injured, the state Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, is scheduled to meet with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Maiduguri on Friday.

The meeting, according to the Governor’s Special Adviser on Relations and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau, in a statement made available to Ripples Nigeria, is part of the Governor ’s efforts to intervene in the crisis as well as curbing future occurrences.

To this end, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has ordered security agents to immediately investigate the incident, and has also condemned the firing of gunshots by a member of the security task force as well as some people who hurled stones at the task force during an encounter yesterday,” the statement said.

Governor Zulum has commiserated with families of the dead and those injured.

“He also commiserated with the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Borno State, Bishop Mohammed Naga, the Christian community and leadership and family of the EYN Church in Borno State.

“Gov. Zulum has also invited the CAN leadership for a meeting scheduled for 5:30pm today (Friday) at the Government House in Maiduguri.

“He has also directed the Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur, to visit the hospital where the five injured people are receiving treatment, to empathise with them and also take over the cost of their treatment.”

According to a security operative in the state, the crisis reportedly arose from a misunderstanding when officials of BOGIS, alongside a joint security task force, went to the church for regulation of land administration and urban development measures, some of which have affected worship centres (mosques and churches) built without compliance with the laid down rules and regulations.

Politics

We are saints when compared to the level of corruption in Nigeria today —IBB

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Former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida fondly referred to as IBB, has launched a scathing critique on the present state of corruption in the country.

Ripples Nigeria had repeatedly reported how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) uncovered pilfered funds linked to various members of the political class without major indictments.

IBB who stated this during an interview on AriseTV which held on Friday, opined that military leaders were “saints when compared to the level of corruption in Nigeria today.

He was reacting to insinuations that corruption thrived under his administration.

I sacked a governor for misappropriating about N300,000. But now you have people who have stolen billions of naira walking the streets. They are taken to court and come out.”

He further highlighted how the political class has contributed to the downward spiral of the country due to its impunity.

“Nigeria’s problem is leadership. There is a disconnect between leadership and followership.

“The leaders need to understand Nigeria and Nigerians.

Speaking in the vexed issue of restructuring, the former leader said “Restructuring means different things to different Nigerians. The people at every level have to participate in deciding how Nigeria is to be governed.

“We have to rewrite the narrative. Nigerians don’t have core values as a people, and the politicians have to play a role in this direction.”

Politics

Sultan of Sokoto decries insecurity, high cost of living, in Nigeria

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The Sultan of Sokoto and President, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has decried the lingering insecurity threats and the high cost of living in the country which in turn has led to things not improving in every sector.

The Sultan made the observation in Gombe State on Thursday during the 3rd Conference of the Da’awah Coordination Council of Nigeria (DCCN), which is an amalgamation of about 52 Da’awa groups in Gombe.

In his speech, the Sultan lamented the high cost of living insecurity bedevilling the country, and said
“action must be taken by political leaders and elite to address the issues.

We must tell ourselves the home truth and stop deceiving ourselves that things are getting better. The truth is, things are not getting better.

Therefore, the earlier we know things are not getting better the better for us, so that we can sit down and find means and ways of solving our problems.

“We must work hard to tackle the insecurity, hunger, poverty and all the negative things afflicting our great country.

“We have problems, yes we know we have problems and I have said it before that things are not just normal and right in this country, but we can make things normal and right by Allah’s wish, so we have to work hard.

“People are suffering and we have few people that have so much and too many people that have nothing, yet we are not helping the poor,” the revered monarch said.

Abubakar therefore, advised the government to get adequate food supply and store, so as to sell at a much subsidised rate to the common man.

“Without food, the country cannot experience peace, security and development. And without development we are just a bunch of people sitting down,” he added.

Politics

Health workers suspend strike in Abia

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Health workers under the umbrella of Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) in Abia State on Thursday suspended their strike in the state.

JOHESU announced the suspension of the strike in a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting with the state government and signed by its chairman in the state, Okoro Ogbonnaya; the secretary, Aligwe Chidi; and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof. A. C. B Agbazuere.

The health workers embarked on an indefinite strike a few months ago to protest the non-payment of their salaries and non-implementation of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) approved by the Federal Government, among others.

The communiqué read: “After an exhausting meeting between Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, Assembly of Health Professionals, Abia State council, and Abia State government represented by the Chief of Staff, Prof. A.C.B Abgazuere, it was resolved as follows:

JOHESU and Assembly of Health Professionals, Abia State Council commend Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on his giant strides in the state health sector and congratulate him on his recent award as Vanguard’s Governor of the year 2019.

That payment of CONHESS should be implemented as directed by the governor while paying next salary of Hospitals Management Board, HMB, Local Governments Healthcare Workers, Social Workers in Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development. JOHESU Exco is permitted to monitor implementation and revert to the Chief of Staff

– That government should take steps to sustain regular payment of subventions to Abia State University Teaching Hospital, ABSUTH, and Hospitals Management Board, HMB, and also constitute a team comprising more labour leaders to look into the affairs of ABSUTH and HMB with a view to finding solutions.

That government should take immediate steps to commence payment of pension and gratuity to scheduled ABSUTH staff.

“At the end of the deliberations, JOHESU and the Assembly of Health Professionals, Abia State Council resolved to suspend the strike action. Should government renege on this agreement, JOHESU, Abia State Council shall have no other choice than to resurrect the suspended strike action in accordance with Labour Laws.”

Politics

Inefficient govt behind separatist agitations in Nigeria – Nnamani

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Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, on Thursday, identified inefficient government structure as the major cause of the growing separatist agitations in Nigeria.

Nnamani, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, stated this at the 2nd Quarterly Lecture of the APC Press Corps held at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.

He said no right-thinking person would want the country to disintegrate when things are working effectively.
He urged Nigerians to work together and ensure that the country remains a very prosperous and indivisible entity.

Nnamani said: “I have a simple definition of restructuring, and that is making something more efficient than you met it. If we must tell ourselves the truth, the structure of our government is neither efficient nor effective. We should make our government more efficient and more effective.

And I will give one example. Why should the federal government be concerned about issuing driver’s licenses? I spent quite some time in the United States. When I was in Iowa, I had Iowa, driving license. When I moved to Washington, I had a Washington driver’s license.

“When I went to New York, I had a New York driver’s license. Why should we spend time here in Abuja issuing somebody a license in Sokoto?

Something can be done more efficiently and that also implies restructuring. Restructuring does not mean dividing our country. Because the more united we are the better we are as a country.

“And people who are agitating for a separate nation, I think that if Nigeria is made more efficient nobody in his right sense will be saying it should be divided.

Urging the nation to think of restructuring as an option for sustained development, he said efficiency would unleash the innate ability of the Peoples and help the state develop the strength.

“Every state in Nigeria has something unique that few countries are blessed with. Nigeria is blessed. It is for us to discover our own strength and emphasize it and make it better.

“Let us not be afraid of restructuring. It simply means how can we make our country more efficient

“Any reasonable person who witnessed the Biafran war with Nigeria will never preach anything near war. You won’t wish your enemy to go through that. So for those who were not born then, who takes delight in pronouncing war, it is not African magic, that you stay back and watch.

It is a thing you may not come back. And those shouting war, under three weeks of the battle they are gone. So nobody will wish our country another war.

Politics

Why Nigerian govt is rehabilitating refineries – Sylva

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The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, on Thursday, explained why the Federal Government is working hard to rehabilitate the country’s refineries.

Sylva, who featured in a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, said the federal government is not in the best position to manage the refineries.

He, however, assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would hand over the refineries to professional managers.

The minister’s statement came just 24 hours after the federal government approved contracts worth $1.4 billion for the rehabilitation of the Warri and Kaduna refineries.

He said: “I will agree with you that government is not the best manager of refineries and that is why this time, we are actually going to have professional managers to manage the refineries. We are not going to manage the refineries at all.”

Sylva dismissed claims that the government planned to sell the refineries in their present state.

He added: “We believe that we should get the refineries back to life before we decide on the option of whether we are going to privatise or sell all the refineries.

“If we try to sell the refineries which you call dead refineries, you will be the one first person to say we are selling dead refineries to people.

.“We want to sell live refineries; refineries that are working and I think that is the fairest thing for the government to do. This is why we have decided to get all our refineries working. We want to prove to you that we can get these refineries working.”

Politics

BON advocates ban on importation of analogue TVs

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The Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) has called on the Federal Government to ban the importation of analogue television sets into the country and reduce the cost of set-up-boxes.

This was contained in a statement issued and jointly signed on Thursday by BON’s Chairman, Mrs Sa’a Ibrahim and its Executive Secretary, Dr Yemisi Bamgbose, in Abuja.

Ibrahim disclosed that this resolution was a sequel to the position of the BON’s Central Working Committee (CWC).

“We call on Federal Government to ban importation of analogue TV sets into the country while the cost of set-top boxes should be made affordable.

Also, the process of establishing the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters should begin immediately with a committee to work on modalities for it to begin.

“We calls for a complete review of the digitisation process specifically in the area of legal framework as the only document available remains the government white paper of 2012.

“That document does not capture contemporary technological development; it is deficient in addressing decade-long issues that have emerged since its issuance,’’ Ibrahim said.

Politics

Secession not solution to Nigeria’s challenges —Gov Ganduje

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Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has warned that secession is not the way out of the current challenges afflicting the country.

Ganduje said this at the 2nd quarterly public lecture series of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Press Corps on Thursday in Abuja.

He recommended dialogue as a panacea that should be embraced by secessionists to address perceived grievances.

The theme of the lecture, which was attended by APC chieftains, members of State Executive Councils, and legislators, was: “Sustaining A United and Indivisible Nigeria: A Myth or Reality”.

Let me repeat here that Nigeria is a united and indivisible country; our Constitution has taken care of that, I don’t see secession as the way out of the current challenges afflicting the nation.

“Instead, advocates of secession should have a change of heart and I recommend dialogue as a crucial option for addressing their problems.

“Besides, there is a National Assembly where some of the grievances can be addressed,” Ganduje said.

According to him, dialogue is a far better alternative that costs less than consequences of the wedge that had been erected to frustrate more flow of conversations between government and citizens to arrive at a national consensus.

He said that Nigerians have to devise solutions to the challenges such as the huge infrastructure deficit, shrinking oil revenue and looming food insecurity.

Ganduje said it was important at this time that the media was used for the promotion of peace and stability in the country.

He however noted that while democracy gave citizens the right to air their views, this should not be translated to grievances, violence or bloodshed.

“While the unity of Nigeria should be discussed, the agitators must be strongly cautioned to channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters.

“This should be done without perpetrating acts that could be interpreted as an attempt to enthrone instability and dismember the country,” he said.

He added that those on the streets of South West or South Eastern states, carrying dangerous weapons, attacking security personnel and formations as well as innocent citizens should be cautioned.

The governor stressed that such persons should be cautious not to become cannon fodders for mischief-making.

He also advised the media not to be used to promote fake news and hate speeches, saying that in the course of its duty, the media should ensure strict observance of the ethics of the profession.

Politics

Amnesty claims security agents killed over 110 persons within three months in South-East

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Amnesty International has bemoaned what it claims were extra-judicial killings of Nigerians in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria.

According to the body, no fewer than 115 persons have been killed in the South-East by security operatives between March and June.

This was contained in a report issued on Wednesday by its Country Director, Osai Ojigho entitled, ‘Nigeria: At least 115 people killed by security forces in four months in country’s Southeast.’

It further noted that relatives of the victims denied the deceased were part of the ‘unknown gunmen’ that were attacking security agents.

In the report, AI revealed that some hospital sources revealed that all the victims deposited by the police had bullet injuries, adding that at least 21 security personnel were also murdered within three months in Imo.

The evidence gathered by Amnesty International paints a damning picture of ruthless excessive force by Nigerian security forces in Imo, Anambra and Abia states,” Ojigho noted.

The report further noted, “Nigeria’s government has responded with a heavy hand to killings and violence widely attributed to the armed group calling itself Eastern Security Network, the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra, a pro-Biafra movement.

“According to government officials, the ESN killed dozens of security operatives and attacked at least ten public buildings, including prisons and police stations, from January to June. In response, security forces comprising military, police, and Department of State Services have killed dozens of gunmen, as well as civilians, where attacks have been committed.”

Politics

Delta police parades two fake ASP, 17 others

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The Delta State Police Command has arrested two fake Assistant Inspectors of Police, Bankole Odusi and Samuel Idowu for impersonating police officers and unlawful possession of firearms (improvised gun).

Parading the suspects along with 17 others at the Police headquarters in Asaba on Wednesday, for crimes including kidnapping, murder/ritual, cultism and robbery among others, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ali said his primary assignment was to provide adequate security for the good people of the state.

He said, “RRS operatives while on stop and search duty at head bridge Asaba, intercepted a Ford vehicle with two occupants one Samuel Idowu and one Bankole Odusi wearing police uniforms.

Upon search, a toy Beretta pistol was recovered from them. On interrogation, they initially said they were police officers but later admitted to being spy police.”

Furthermore, Mohammed said the command is not relenting in its tireless efforts to fight crime and criminality, to sustain the force, and ensure that the criminally minded individuals will not see the state as a haven.

Meanwhile, confessing to the crime, the suspects said they are spy officers attached to a bank in Lagos Island.

“We work as spy officers in a bank in Lagos. Our boss sent us to deliver a vehicle Imo State. It was on our way to Imo State that the police intercepted us at Head Bridge. Our crime is that we wore the police uniform.”

When asked how they got the uniform, the suspects said they got the uniform at the Police Central Store.

Politics

Nigerian security agents disguise as gunmen in South-East – IPOB

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Wednesday accused the Nigerian security operatives of carrying out the attacks in the South-East.

In a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group cautioned those behind the killing of innocent people in Okporo and Umutanze Orlu in Imo State to “stop the ethnic cleansing or brace up for mass resistance by the people.”

IPOB also accused the security agents of burning houses in the South-East and blaming their actions on unknown gunmen.

It challenged the Nigerian Police Force to immediately release the people they arrested and tagged as Eastern Security Network (ESN) operatives or charge them to court.

The statement read: “The Nigerian Police should stop parading innocent people and tag them ESN personnel because there is nobody looking or missing in IPOB; parading innocent people and tagging them ESN shows that Nigeria Police and Army have failed and don’t know their job.

“Since Nigeria abandoned their duty and focused on dishing false information to the public, we are out to expose them. Those you paraded to the public are not ESN members. Nigeria must stop ridiculing itself in the world because everyone is watching their activities.

If this secret genocide is not halted, both the perpetrators and their sponsors will be dealt with in no distant future.

“It is regrettable that some shameless politicians would connive with the oppressors to kill their own who committed no crime other than demanding their freedom from the Nigeria contraption.

“These Efulefus and evil politicians decided to sponsor Nigeria Army and Police to attack innocent Biafrans in Orlu and other places in Biafra land to implicate IPOB and ESN.

“We are warning politicians and traitors amongst us supporting this evil agenda to call it quit or brace up for the wrath of the people.

“It is ridiculous to think that IPOB which has been operating for many years now will suddenly start killing.”

Politics

Nigerians encourage impunity with their inactions – Soyinka

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The Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, blamed the poor state of the Nigerian economy and worsening insecurity on the citizens’ inactions.

Soyinka, who stated in a brief speech he delivered at the 24th edition of the Wole Soyinka Lecture Series organised by the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity), said Nigerians allowed whatsoever is happening in the country today to continue by refusing to take to the streets.

He said: “I am absolutely certain that we would agree that one of the major reasons for the dilemma we are undergoing in this country right now is that we permitted, we nurtured, we even encouraged either by actions or inactions, the mindset of impunity both in leadership and among the people.

“We didn’t take to the streets to protest it, to denounce it, to warn of the consequences. Oh yes, there were warnings here and there but they were not concerted and structured.”

Politics

FG approves $11.17bn rail project in Nigeria

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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the release of $11.17billion for a rail project in the country.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja.

The project, which is expected to be completed in six years, will link Nigeria’s coastal cities by rail.

Mohammed said the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, presented two memos detailing the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding and consolidating on the rail project.

He said: “The first one has to do with the Kano-Jibia rail and the other one has to do with the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail.

“Actually, what was approved today was funding to ensure that work starts immediately on those two rails.

“And then, also, another memo that was approved today was the ratification of the president’s approval for the award of contract for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Standard Gauge.’’

Politics

Actress Danjuma brands colleague a fraudster over failed deal

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Nollywood actress, Caroline Danjuma, has branded her colleague, Nikky Ufondu, a fraudster over a failed business deal.

Danjuma said on Instagram Wednesday that her former business partner defrauded her of a huge sum of money.

She said Ufondu allegedly lured into a business deal that has now split the pair.

The actress wrote: “If I am not hurt I will be lying. It would have been better if I was robbed by whom I do not know at all. Someone I held in high esteem and spoke well of.

“Do I have to wash our dirty bits in public before you do the needful? Do I have to be wicked to you? Return what is rightfully mine @nikkyu @geminiluxuryhomes.”

Politics

Embattled Secondus blasts PDP youth leader for insisting on chairman’s resignation

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The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has reacted to threats by the party’s National Youth Leader, Ude Okoye, that he (Okoye), would resign from the party if Secondus does not resign as the party chairman.

Secondus who addressed Okoye’s threat and calls for him to resign, advised the national youth leader to stay true and “obey to his sponsors” rather than fixating on him.

In a statement signed by his media adviser, Ike Abonyi, in Tuesday, Secondus questioned Okoye’s rationale in asking for his resignation.

The media office of the National Chairman has described as unfortunate the statement from the party’s National Youth leader calling on the National Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, to resign from his position.

The media office wonders why it took the national youth leader three and half years before realizing that the national chairman is incompetent or that he is enriching himself.

“The agenda of Hon. Ude- Okoye and his sponsors are to take this party back to Egypt but they have failed because the party is focused and unwilling to look back as they match towards regaining power.

The party structure is intact and anybody who allows him or herself to fall to the inducement for an interim administration in the party will be disappointed because the stakeholders are not ready to go backwards any longer.

“The media office advised media houses to look out for anti-democratic operatives who think they can use the money to destroy this party and play into the hand of the inept ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC,” the statement read.

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