Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has inaugurated 25 power bikes procured by the Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA) to control traffic.
Inaugurating the power bikes on Sunday in Kano, Ganduje said the bikes would be used to ensure that road users comply with traffic regulations.
He said the bikes would enable KAROTA personnel to move quickly to monitor traffic, trace violators and go around the city to fish out those smuggling illicit and substandard goods into the state.
The governor urged KAROTA officials to redouble their efforts in controlling traffic and apprehending those who break traffic rulesHe further urged them to ensure that those suspected to be carrying illegal items were traced and arrested.
Ganduje commended KAROTA Managing Director, Baffa Dan’agundi, for the initiative.
Dan’agundi had earlier stated that the agency bought the power bikes with the fund it saved from removing ghost workers from the pay list.
“Sometimes, we see a lot of things happening on the road, we see criminals carrying items in their vehicles but there are no vehicles to quickly trace them to their destinations.“However, with these modern power bikes, we will be able to arrest more criminals,” Dan’agundi assured the governor.
The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, has grounded a private chopper belonging to Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God at the Lagos Airport.
It was learnt that the aircraft, AgustaWestland AW139 chopper, with registration number 5N-EAA, was suspended from flying over two weeks ago, following the expiration of some of its papers and spare parts. The suspension, officials said, would also allow the regulator to conduct vital safety checks on its safety-critical components, especially some spare parts due for replacement.
Adeboye had, last Saturday during a special meeting with all ordained ministers of the mission at the RCCG, Region 21, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, called for drastic action against corrupt practices in all facets of Nigeria.
The RCCG leader, who flew a chopper to the venue, said he arrived late for the meeting because someone had requested a bribe from him to fly his helicopter.
He said he had decided to embark on the trip via his chopper to avoid a possible gridlock on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, SundayPUNCH, reports.
The 79-year-old mathematician-turned-preacher said, “I don’t give excuses because I have discovered long ago that only failures give excuses. But you must pray for Nigeria.
“Something must be done about corruption in this nation. All I can say is that I am this late because somebody wanted a bribe. And you know if you are expecting a bribe from me, you have to wait forever.
“But the devil has failed. And the devil will continue to fail. I decided to come by helicopter so that there won’t be a traffic jam that would tie me down on the expressway because I know what the devil could do.
“Then, I ran into something else. But by the grace of God, we are here.”
Although Sunday PUNCH could not ascertain who requested the alleged bribe from the revered servant of God, investigations by the paper revealed that the cleric’s chopper was suspended from flying by the regulatory authority over safety issues.
Multiple aviation sources confirmed that Adeboye could not fly his chopper with registration number 5N-EAA to the Ibadan programme but had to fly another aircraft reportedly belonging to Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel).
A top official of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, who is close to the operations of the two choppers belonging to the servants of God, said, “The team relating directly with Daddy G.O. should have told the man of God on time that the NCAA had not cleared his chopper and, as such, it couldn’t go on the Ibadan trip.
Pastor Adeboye
“They shouldn’t have waited till the last minute. The NCAA (aviation regulatory agency) we have now is different from what it used to be. A new man in charge always insists that things must be done properly as far as the safety of lives is concerned. The church’s protocol team should have told him that the NCAA has not cleared the aircraft and it may not clear it within a short time because certain procedures must be followed. As such, an alternative arrangement should have been made.”
The NAMA official, who chose to speak on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk about the matter, further said, “On that last Saturday morning, when it later became obvious that the jet was not cleared to fly, they had to make an alternative arrangement with Bishop Oyedepo’s chopper. They had to quickly begin that process by filing the flight plan, etc. It was Bishop’s aircraft that Pastor Adeboye later flew to the event. He could not use his own.”
A top official of Omni-Blu Aviation, the airline operating the chopper for Adeboye, confirmed the development.
The official, who chose to speak on condition of anonymity, said a letter from Italy-based Leonardo, the manufacturer of Adeboye’s AW 139 helicopter, requesting the NCAA to grant a time extension on some spare parts that are due for replacement came late.
The spare parts due for replacement have been ordered from the manufacturer but they have yet to be shipped into Nigeria because they are usually produced on demand, according to Omni-Blu Aviation.
He said, “The NCAA that we have now is different from what it used to be. It always insists on a standard. We don’t want any disappointing situation for anybody, especially for a globally reputed servant of God like Daddy G.O.
“It appears the man of God was not properly briefed. But we thank God an alternative arrangement was made to rescue the situation. Safety is first and paramount. No life is worth toying with, how much more that of a servant of God like Daddy G.O. As an airline, we won’t compromise safety no matter the pressure.”
The Omni-Blu official denied knowledge of any bribe request, either by the airline or aviation officials.
He, however, said it was not impossible that some people might have cashed in on the situation to demand a bribe.
“You know some people don’t fear God no matter what. They can even go to the extent of asking a servant of God for a bribe. So, it is not impossible. But on our part, I am not aware of such.”
As it stands, it is uncertain when Adeboye’s chopper will be allowed to fly.
However, findings revealed that the NCAA had directed maintenance and safety checks to be conducted on the aircraft.
As such, the operator has secured a date for this at Aero’s maintenance hangar.
When contacted for comments, the Director-General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, confirmed that the regulatory agency had suspended flights on the aircraft for safety reasons.
According to him, the NCAA does not often deal directly with individuals or owners of aircraft but the operator.
In this case, he said the NCAA only had business with the operator of the aircraft, Omni-Blu Aviation.
Nuhu said, “There are safety-related issues that must be resolved before the aircraft will be approved for resumption of flights. Safety is the paramount consideration in all approvals given by the NCAA. No matter what, we must not sacrifice safety for flights; that is the whole idea.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for RCCG, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi, said the matter was already resolved.
He said the church would not want to take issue with the aviation authorities on the bribery allegation.
Olubiyi said, “We will not want to take issue with the aviation authorities but I can assure you that an amicable solution is being found to the issue.”
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has called on the Presidency to disclose the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying Nigerians have the right to have that information. The PFN also faulted Buhari over his recent trip to the United Kingdom for medical check-up amid various challenges in Nigeria’s health sector.
Its National President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke at the end of the body’s National Executive Council meeting in Lagos, said as a public servant, the president is answerable to his people.
Describing the attitude of politicians in the habit of going abroad for medical treatment as selfish, the cleric criticised the government for its failure to provide world-class hospitals for Nigerians.
He said, “Stop hiding the health status of the president, tell the whole nation so we know what to do. For some weeks now, our president has been out of the country on health ground. However, a few things give us concern about Mr President’s travel.
“We feel the nation is not being told all the truth about the health of Mr President. We asked the federal government and the presidency to leave the card on the table and tell us what is happening to our president.
“Mr. President is no longer a private person, he belongs to all Nigerians and we need to know what is happening to him so that we know what and how to pray.
“We are also concerned that whenever Mr President needs a health check-up, he goes out of the country. To us, that is a very major security risk. Does it mean that our president is safer in the hands of a foreigner than in our hands?
“Supposing those people in an attempt to undermine our nation, try to play games with our president, what can we do?
“Why should our elected officials be going abroad for medical treatment when they can inject the money into our health care system and bring it up to par with the nation they are going. Nigeria is blessed with intelligent medical personnel.
“The challenge is that we are not creating an enabling environment for them to practise. How many Nigerians can afford to travel abroad for medical treatment, federal government should please rise up and invest in our health care sector and bring our health system to a world standard.”
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed worry over recent attacks on security formations in Imo, Benue, and other parts of the country.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and NGF Chairman made the concerns known at a briefing with newsmen at the end of the forum’s meeting on Wednesday night, April 14, in Abuja.
“NGF members are particularly worried following what happened in Imo state, the attacks on the correctional facility and the police command headquarters.
“The release of prisoners, and successive acts of violence and insecurity across the country, and the killings of soldiers at Benue.
“The forum has expressed its worry that it is time for us to revisit comprehensively, the nature and depth of this security crisis.
The crisis would have gotten worse if states had not been taking the actions they have been taking individually and collectively.
“It is the steps taken at the state level that have managed to reduce the depths and the enormity of the security challenges. Nonetheless, it’s still a worrisome development for us
“We feel we will need a special review of the entire gamut of the security issues that we are dealing with.
“We need to further engage the federal authorities both at the political level and federal authorities at the security level, in order to deal with this multifaceted challenges of security that we’re faced.”
In the first week of April, unknown gunmen launched multiple attacks on police formations in Imo State.
The attack occurred at the Mbiere Divisional Police Headquarters in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state.
Two similar attacks, including the one at the police headquarters and the prison headquarters in the state, have taken place before now.
The second attack was carried out a few hours after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, accompanied by the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, visited the state to assess the damage done to the police headquarters.
During the last attack, the gunmen reportedly freed some suspects from the police detention facility and also carted away phones belonging to suspects and police officers.
A police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the incident but said the officers on duty repelled the attack.
The attack has brought to six the number of police facilities targeted in the state between February and April.
Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, has asked the federal government to end the current monetary rascality and stop playing the ostrich.
The governor had said Nigeria is in huge financial trouble, alleging that the government printed about N60 billion to support the federal allocation for March.
But Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, dismissed the claim as false.
Ahmed said the distribution revenue is public information and that there was no way the government would have printed money without public knowledge.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Obaseki said he does not want to join issues with the finance ministry.
He advised the government to “end the current monetary rascality” so as to prevent the economy from further degenerating.
“While we do not want to join issues with the @FinMinNigeria, we believe it is our duty to offer useful advice for the benefit of our country,” Obaseki said.
“The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, should rally Nigerians to stem the obvious fiscal slide facing our country.
“Rather than play the Ostrich, we urge the government to take urgent steps to end the current monetary rascality, so as to prevent the prevailing economic challenge from degenerating further.
“We believe it is imperative to approach the Nigerian project with all sense of responsibility and commitment and not play to the gallery because ultimately, time shall be the judge of us all.”
The US will continue to support Afghanistan after withdrawing all US troops, but not “militarily,” President Joe Biden has pledged.
“It is time to end America’s longest war,” he said in a speech from the White House room where US airstrikes there were first declared in 2001.
The pull-out is to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the 11 September 2001 terror attacks, officials say.
At least 2,500 US troops are part of the 9,600-strong Nato Afghan mission.
The number of US troops on the ground in Afghanistan fluctuates, and US media report the current total is closer to 3,500.
US and Nato officials have said the Taliban, a hardline Islamist movement, have so far failed to live up to commitments to reduce violence in Afghanistan.
In Kabul, Afghan officials say they will continue peace talks in preparation for the withdrawal.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani tweeted that he had spoken on the phone with Mr Biden on Wednesday, and that the country “respects the US decision and we will work with our US partners to ensure a smooth transition”.
He added that Afghanistan’s defence forces “are fully capable of defending its people and country”.
What did Biden say?
“We cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in Afghanistan hoping to create the ideal conditions for our withdrawal, expecting a different result,” said Mr Biden, the fourth president to oversee the war.
“While we will not stay involved in Afghanistan militarily, our diplomatic and humanitarian work will continue,” he continued, adding: “We will continue to support the government of Afghanistan.”
Mr Biden also pledged to continue providing assistance to Afghan defence and security forces – including 300,000 personnel, who he says “continue to fight valiantly on behalf of their country and defend the Afghan people, at great cost”.
He also paid his respects to the victims of the 11 September 2001 attack which triggered the US invasion of Afghanistan.
“We went to Afghanistan because of a horrific attack that happened 20 years ago,” he said. “That cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021.”
“We have to focus on the challenges that are in front of us,” said Mr Biden, citing the threat of cyber attacks and rising tensions with China.
“We already have service members doing their duty in Afghanistan today whose parents served in the same war,” he added.
“We have service members who were not yet born when our nation was attacked on 9/11. War in Afghanistan was never meant to be a multigenerational undertaking.”
Later on Wednesday, Mr Biden will visit Arlington National Cemetery, where some of the 2,488 US troops who died fighting in Afghanistan are buried.
What is the withdrawal timeline?
Mr Biden’s plan pushes back the 1 May deadline agreed to by the Trump White House.
The deal signed in February 2020 said the US and its Nato allies would withdraw all troops by May 2021 if the Taliban upheld its promises, including not allowing al-Qaeda or other militants to operate in areas it controlled and proceeding with national peace talks.
Although the group stopped attacks on international forces as part of the historic agreement, it has continued to fight the Afghan government. Last month, the Taliban threatened to resume hostilities against foreign troops still in the country on 1 May.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says hackers recently gained access into its intranet site and altered the profiles of its ad hoc staff.
JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, made this known on Tuesday while addressing journalists in Abuja.
He said over N10 million which was set aside as allowance for the ad hoc staff was diverted.
According to Oloyede, the board uncovered the fraud after a careful investigation, which led to the arrest of one Sahabi Zubairu from Takum in Taraba state, among several others.
On how the fraudsters gained access to the profiles, Oloyede explained that they used Key Logger, a software that allows access to the profile of anyone who has logged in using a public cybercafé even after the person has logged out and gone.
He said that the site wasn’t for application to become JAMB ad hoc staff, but for JAMB ad hoc staff to supply their account details and names for payment of their allowances.
Oloyede said Zubairu deleted the names of the original ad hoc staff and their telephone numbers and substituted them with his, adding that those affected include code numbers 313 and 312, among others.
He said that at least ten scammers paraded by JAMB before journalists on Tuesday, admitted to the crime and said they were lured into it by Zubairu.
he US government is set to issue a wide range of sanctions against Russia, according to reports.
The move would be retaliation for cyber-attacks aimed at the US, including alleged interference in the 2020 presidential elections.
The sanctions, expected as soon as Thursday, target more than 30 Russian entities and include the expulsion of at least 10 individuals from the US.
Diplomats will reportedly be among those targeted.
The administration of US President Joe Biden is also expected to issue an executive order barring US financial institutions from purchasing ruble-denominated bonds from June, sources told BBC partner CBS News.
The sanctions would come at a tense time for US-Russia relations.
In a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, Mr Biden said the US would “act firmly” in defence of its national interests.
Mr Biden also proposed a meeting with Mr Putin “in a third country” that could allow the leaders to find areas to work together.
In a televised interview last month, he replied “I do” when asked if he thought Mr Putin was a “killer.” He said the days of the US “rolling over” to the Russian president were done.
Last year, cyber-security researchers identified a hack in a piece of software called SolarWinds — an intrusion that gave cyber-criminals access to 18,000 government and private computer networks.
Intelligence officials believe Russia was behind the attack. The hackers gained access to digital files of several U.S. government agencies, including the Treasury, Justice and State Departments.
Microsoft president Brad Smith said in February the SolarWinds hack was “the largest and most sophisticated attack the world has ever seen”.
In a report last month, US intelligence agencies concluded the Russian president likely directed online efforts to help Donald Trump win a second term as US president
The US has also publicly warned Russia against aggressive actions in Ukraine. Russia is reportedly beefing up its military presence on Ukraine’s’ eastern border.
“The hostility and unpredictability of America’s actions force us in general to be prepared for the worst scenarios,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters last week, anticipating the new sanctions.
The Oodua People’s Congress has lashed out at a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), for making fraudulent money from the Boko Haram insurgency war and buying choice houses for himself in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. The OPC said the probe of Dambazau was swept under the carpet; otherwise, he would have been exposed as a key sponsor of the Boko Haram terrorism.
Earlier, the former army chief and minister had equated the OPC group and others to the terrorist organisation, Boko Haram.
The OPC President, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi, said Dambazau and his likes should realise that there is no Federal Character in terrorism.He said, “The South-West has never bred any terrorist organisation, least of all OPC. These are people who feel that the tragedy they brought upon their part of the country should be duplicated in the South. But it won’t work, not even with the backing they are giving killer Fulani herdsmen.
“Northern leaders have treated Boko Haram like a pet snake and allowed it to grow stronger instead of killing it once and for all. What they should realise is that there is neither Federal Character nor Quota System in terrorism. The North should call a spade a spade and demand its leaders to bring this ugly Boko Haram insurgency to a close.
“It is no longer a secret that Generals like Dambazau turned the fight against Boko Haram into an ATM. Dambazau and the others exploited the Boko Haram insurgency to amass massive blood money that allowed him to purchase choice houses in places like Abuja, Dubai and the US. His tenure was characterised by several acts of corruption that have been swept under the carpet.”
Afolabi said OPC would continue to partner with security agencies in the South-West to tackle criminals and criminalities.
“A case in point was the last #EndSARS protests. OPC operatives guarded the police stations and prevented several of them from being burnt down. Several Divisional Police Officers, personnel and men are living witnesses to our action on that occasion.
“Where was Dambazau when people were dying for June 12 and democracy? Hundreds of OPC warriors paid the supreme price for the democracy under which Dambazau became Chief of Army Staff (2008 and 2010) and Minister of the Interior (2015 to 2019).”
The federal government has denied claims by Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki that N60 billion was printed in March to support allocation to states.
Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, while answering questions from state house correspondents on Wednesday, described Obaseki’s comment as untrue and sad.
During a recent Edo transition committee stakeholders engagement, Obaseki had lamented over Nigeria’s debt, saying that the country is in huge financial trouble.
“When we got FAAC for March, the federal government printed additional N50-N60 billion to top-up for us to share.
This April, we will go to Abuja and share. By the end of this year, our total borrowings is going to be within N15-N16 trillion. Imagine a family that is just borrowing without any means to pay back and nobody is looking at that, everybody is looking at 2023, everybody is blaming Mr. President as if he is a magician.” he had said in a viral video.
However, debunking his claims, Ahmed said Nigeria’s debt is still within sustainable limit and efforts are on to improve revenue generation capacity.
She said; “The issue that was raised by the Edo State Governor for me is very, very sad. Because it is not a fact. What we distribute at FAAC is a revenue that is generated and in fact distribution revenue is a public information. We publish revenue generated by FIRS, the customs and the NNPC and we distribute at FAAC. So, it is not true to say we printed money to distribute at FAAC, it is not true.
“What we need to do as I have said several times is to improve our revenue to enhance our capacity to service not only our debt but to service the needs of running government on day to day basis. “So our debt currently at about 23% to GDP is at a very sustainable level. If you look at all the reports that you see from multilateral institutions.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has arrested Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo State.
EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed to The Punch on Tuesday that Okorocha was arrested in Abuja.
Uwujaren, however, declined to comment on the reason for the arrest of the lawmaker representing Imo West in the senate.
When asked, the EFCC official said; “It is true, he (Okorocha) was arrested today in Abuja but we are not giving details.”
Okorocha, who governed Imo from 2011 to 2019, had been accused by the state government of various corrupt practices including diversion of public funds, although he has denied any wrongdoing.
An activist, Oluwatosin Adeniji, has accused RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, of pocketing an #EndSARS grant which she claimed Sowore collected in her name in 2020.
Adeniji, a known associate of Sowore and a member of his #RevolutionNow movement, said while she was in police custody last November, the Sahara Reporters publisher applied for the grant on her behalf, without her knowledge.
She and five others were arrested in front of the National Assembly complex, Abuja, last November for staging an #EndSARS protest. They were remanded in prison but later released on bail.
Narrating her ordeal on Tuesday, Adeniji, with Twitter handle @callmerahila, said Sowore and his lawyer, Tope Akinyode, applied for a grant in her name but the funds were not released to her.
She wrote, “@YeleSowore, it’s sad that you of all people could take advantage of my predicament. I went to prison last year November over #EndSARS but you decided to apply for a grant in my name without informing me, before, during, and after the application was made.
“Fast forward to January, I found out that a grant was applied for in my name but since you @YeleSowore was in detention I had to ask your lawyer @TopeAkinyod because I found out that he was the lawyer involved in the process.
First, you admitted that a grant was applied for in my name through the late Innocent Chukwuma but you are not sure he submitted the application till his death. You also raised concerns that it is possible that the late Innocent submitted the application and someone went behind your back to get the funds. This sounds absolutely unbelievable, especially coming from a man of your kind who would cross seven seas to unravel a mystery.
“I really feel oppressed and sad that after giving my commitment to serve in your movement for years to fight a system of oppression, the same you is this person dishing out all this oppression and lies just to get away with it.”
Sowore, has, however denied Adeniji’s claim.
He tweeted; “I never applied for or received any grants in her name or her behalf!”
”A RESPONSE: @callmerahila reached out to me earlier claiming a grant app was written in her name and I have confirmed to her that nothing of such existed. Further I volunteered to refund her if any grant was collected on her behalf without her knowledge!
”Without prejudice to any further action she will take! Pls note that this response is not intended as an attack on @callmerahila, she’s been a committed member of our movt over these yrs and assisted me in the last two years in particular while I was unjustly detained. Thanks!
Lastly, if anyone knows of any foundation that issued a grant on her behalf without her knowledge kindly reveal it to the public so that she can get her rightful entitlement. I never applied for or received any grants in her name or her behalf!”
The South-East governors on Monday disclosed plans to give legal backing to the formation of the region’s security outfit codenamed Ebube Agu, which they launched on Sunday.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Ebonyi State, Uchenna Orji, while speaking to newsmen in Abakaliki, said each of the five states in the zone would enact a similar law to establish the outfit in its area of jurisdiction.
According to Orji, although the law would be similar, each state government would still be in charge of the operatives in his state.
He said, “There will be commonality and similarity of law across the states but it would still be manned by the state governors individually. Ebonyi State will also join other states to enact a law to legalise the operation of the outfit in the state.”
The governors of the region had in a communiqué issued on Sunday after a meeting in Owerri, announced the setting up of the regional security outfit to battle the rising insecurity in the zone.
Meanwhile, security experts had attributed the clamour for the regional security outfits in the country to the neglect by the police and the Federal Government.
The Senate resumed plenary on Tuesday, April 13, after a fortnight break, and adjourned sitting till Wednesday due to the demise of two lawmakers
Ripples Nigeria had reported that the Senate suspended all items for consideration on the senate’s order paper and will not sit until Wednesday April 14.
During the plenary, the lawmakers held a minute of silence in honour of Haruna Maitala, who represented Bassa/Jos North federal constituency of Plateau, and Suleiman Lere, who represented Lere federal constituency of Kaduna.
Maitala was killed in a crash on April 2 and Lere died four days later on April 6.
The decision to suspend plenary was carried out in line with the tradition of the National Assembly, following a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, and seconded by the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Abdullahi added: “Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, I rise in accordance with our tradition, to move two motions: one for the suspension on all other items scheduled for consideration on the order paper today; [And] also another motion for this Distinguished chamber to observe one minute silence in honour of the departed, I so move.”
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, while putting the motion to a voice vote which was unanimously supported by Senators, described the demise of the two lawmakers as “another sad development in the National Assembly”.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Monday, said that he had to present his driver’s licence before being allowed into the venue of the PDP South-West zonal congress holding in Osogbo
Makinde made the disclosure while addressing newsmen on his arrival at the venue of the congress.
“Before I was allowed to enter into the venue, I had to show them my driver’s licence,” the governor said, adding: “we know quite sure that there must be ghost voters here.”
Ripples Nigeria gathered that the governor arrived at Children’s Development Initiative Foundation (WOCDIF), venue of the congress, at exactly 12:13 pm.
According to Makinde, getting it right at the zonal level will assist the party to perform well at national level.
He said: “This is a zonal congress and its outcome will have effect on our party at national level. If we get it right in the South-West, be sure that the future is bright for the PDP at national level.
I want to assure you that we will put in our best and it will in turn assist us at national level.
“The message for every participant is very clear, which is getting it right at the zonal level,” he said.
Makinde, who noted that the accreditation of delegates started two hours behind schedule, said it was better to start late and get the best result at the end of the day.
“The process is going on well despite the fact that accreditation started two hours behind schedule. But, it is better late than to rush through the process and have challenges.
42 aspirants were cleared by the PDP screening committee on Sunday, to contest for the various positions in the zone.
The congress will be attended by 743 delegates from across the six states in the zone.
Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello has said that he wants to run for the seat of president in 2023 because the youths are calling on him to do so.
He stated this in an interview with BBC, noting that not only the youths but women as well have come forward to ask him to take over the mantle of leadership.
Nigerian youths, Nigerian women, and Nigerians generally across board are calling on me to run for President seat in 2023” he said.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday, says the annulment of the June 12, presidential election presumably won by late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, was caused by hatred.
Obasanjo said Abiola was his schoolmates at the Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta
He lamented that the cancellation of the June 12 election had robbed Egbaland, the rare opportunity to have three of its prominent sons occupy the seat of the president, at different times.
The former president spoke on Sunday in Abeokuta during the investiture of Obasanjo as a Trustee of the Abeokuta Club, a sociocultural organisation of Egba people of Ogun State.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has asked striking members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to ensure that judicial budgets are not under the control of judges.
Falana made this call via a statement issued on Sunday, on behalf of the Alliance on Surviving Covid19 and Beyond (ASCAB).
According to him, this would build a transparency mechanism into the management of funds for the judiciary.
“It will allow judges to concentrate on the discharge of their core constitutional mandate of administering justice in an atmosphere of independence and impartiality in line with international best practices,” he said.
The group also expressed support for the ongoing nationwide strike.
It said the strike was meant to actualize the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) “which require that any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government or state government shall be paid directly to the heads of the courts concerned.”
Ripples Nigeria had reported that JUSUN embarked on a nationwide strike last week in order to press home their demands for full financial autonomy amongst other issues.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has revealed that it is optimistic about winning the Nov. 6 Anambra governorship election and revamping the state.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said this in a statement issued by Assistant Director (Head of Unit), Publicity Department, PDP, Richard Ihediwa on Sunday.
Ologbondiyan, playing host to a coalition of Anambra youths under the aegis of Anambra Youth Initiative For Good Governance, in Abuja, said the “PDP presents the hope for the state to rebuild and realise its full potentials”.
He said that the victory of the PDP in the recent Abia National Assembly by-election was a signal that the South East was for PDP.
According to him, the assemblage of leading aspirants and the surge of the people to the PDP, clearly indicate their resolve to elect the next governor of the state on the platform of the PDP.
The reality of the direction the Nov. 6 governorship election in Anambra will take is already manifest.
Ndi Anambra are very industrious, resourceful, and inventive people and they have collectively realized that they can only achieve their full potentials on the platform of the PDP.
This is particularly given our robust manifesto and wealth creation principles of inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, massive infrastructural development and empowerment of the people.
“Across our nation today, it is only PDP governors that are commissioning legacy projects,” he said.
According to him, projects upon projects are being commissioned by the party on daily basis in line with its manifesto in different states of the federation.
He said that the states included Rivers, Bauchi, Sokoto, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Benue, Abia, Adamawa, Edo, Oyo, Cross River, Zamfara, Enugu, Taraba, and Delta.
Ologbondiyan added that PDP states were opening new development and investment frontiers in critical sectors, including agriculture, aviation, energy, power, healthcare, education, real estate manufacturing, and massive industrialisation.
“This is why Ndi Anambra have firmly resolved to rally on our platform to revamp and move their state towards realizing its full potentials in all spheres of life,” Ologbondiyan stated.
Governors of the South-East region on Sunday held a meeting in Owerri, the Imo State capital over the security situation in the zone.
The meeting was made known by the Imo State Government in a tweet, saying “Southeast Security Summit currently ongoing at Owerri, Imo State. All 5 South-East Governors present at the meeting.”
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