Premium Gist sees all, knows all
The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, met with some volunteer groups in Kano State.
Atiku posted images from the meeting on his Twitter handle.
He captioned the photos, “I am excited to meet with various volunteer groups in Kano just now. I’m very impressed with their zeal. As ONE, we shall get it done.”
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has sent a congratulatory message to gymnastics champion, Stephanie Onusiriuka.
Onusiriuka, 11, bagged a gold medal at the African Junior Gymnastics Championship in Pretoria, South Africa. In a statement on his Twitter handle on Tuesday, Obi said,
“Our Dear Stephanie Onusiriuka has just written her name in gold. Having won a Gold Medal at the African Junior Gymnastics Championship in Pretoria, South Africa at age 11. Hearty congratulations on achieving such a great feat.”
Excited crowd of supporters welcomed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to the town hall meeting in Toronto, Canada.
Obi has been touring overseas country to engage Nigerians in Diaspora ahead of the 2023 election.
Three informants linked to a kidnap for ransom syndicate that abducted the wife and two children of a serving Katsina lawmaker, Hon. Dr Ibrahim Aminu, have been arrested by the police.
Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi who confirmed the arrests, said the three key suspects confessed to the crime during the investigation. Adejobi said; “Acting on credible information, operatives of the IRT have arrested a deadly kidnap for ransom syndicate who kidnapped the wife and two children of a serving lawmaker Honourable Ibrahim Aminu in Katsina State.
“Sequel to the intelligence reports on the activities of the deadly criminal gangs by IRT operatives attached to the Operation Restore Hope of the Force in Yankwani village and Kurani town, the team swung into action and arrested the suspects in their various hideouts.
“IRT personnel arrested the key suspects Muttaka Ibrahim, Suleiman Rabiu, and Surajo all male natives of Bakori LGA for allegedly supplying the information that led to the assault on the lawmaker where his family members were taken into captivity.
“During investigation, Muttaka Ibrahim confessed to the crime saying that he and other gang members were informants to Sanni Tukur aka Abacha terrorising the people of the villages and towns in Katsina and Zamfara States.
“Other victims of the criminal syndicate include one Buhari Usman, also known as Fedeco, Nazaradeen Ibrahim, Amandallah Ahmad, Ibrahim Suleiman, Sumayya Nura, and Yahaya Bura who are currently in the captivity of the gang.
“The kidnappers, after kidnapping the wife of the lawmaker Rabi Yusuf and two of his male children all of Bakori LGA had demanded and received eleven million naira and ten million naira for his children at different times.”
Adejobi further revealed that one of the bandits’ informants, Muttaka Ibrahim, admitted that he got a payment of N130,000 from the gang leader, and also named one Yusuf Bala of Zaria as his accomplice.
The police spokesperson said;
“He also admitted that the bandits’ leader collected a total of six million five hundred thousand naira from the victims they kidnaped at Yankwani totarrating his ordeal, the lawmaker told Police investigators that he paid a total sum of thirty-seven million and five hundred thousand naira to the gang leader to secure his family member’s release from captivity.”
Adejobi added that the suspects are still undergoing investigation and would be charged to court if found culpable in the crime as alleged by the leader of the team.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has extended its ongoing strike again.
The decision was taken after the National Executive Council meeting at the union’s headquarters at the University of Abuja on Monday morning, August 29. The ASUU strike began on February 14, 2022, and was initially to last for 4 weeks.
However, on March 14, exactly one month after, ASUU extended its ongoing industrial action by another two months to afford the government more time to address all of its demands. The strike has now entered its 196th day.
The union is on strike over the inability of the Federal Government to implement previous agreements both parties entered into.
The lecturers’ agitations include funding for the revitalization of public universities, earned academic allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution, promotion arrears and others.
Yusuf Aliyu Bello from Kano was kidnapped by bandits who invaded a farm company in Anchau town, Kabau Local Council of Kaduna state The bandits invaded the company last week, killed a soldier and abducted Bello alongside a Zimbabwean national.
His family members shared his photos on Facebook, calling for prayers.
The dethroned Emir of Zurmi in Zamfara State, Abubakar Atiku, has died in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Atiku died in a private hospital following a protracted illness.
Recall that the deceased was dethroned along with the Emir of Dansadau, Husaini Umar on April 27, 2021, for allegedly aiding banditry in their respective emirates.
A family member, Sani Zurmi, who confirmed the death to Punch, said that the remains of the deceased were yet to be brought to Nigeria for burial.
“His remains are still in Dubai due to non availability of flight to bring the deceased back home for burial,” said Zurmi.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that he has no preferred candidate among those contesting the 2023 presidential election.
The former President said this while paying former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar a visit in Minna on Sunday August 28.
According to Obasanjo, he only has a national agenda. He said; “I don’t have a special candidate, I have a national agenda.
“I came to see my brother who has been a little indisposed. I had plans to visit him when he was still in London, but the day I arrived London was the day he returned home.“So that is why I decided to come and see him at home. He is very special so I had to come.
“If there is anyone who is indisposed, I will visit and I am still strong.”
The former President who was in a close meeting with Abdulsaam arrived at 12:30 and left at 1:13pm.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state, has said that Nigeria is currently on “drip and oxygen.”
The governor spoke at the Port Harcourt International Airport when he returned to the country alongside Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor, and Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia governor on Friday, August 26.
Recall that the PDP governors met with former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo and Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in London. They also met with their party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Speaking shortly after their arrival, Governor Ortom who has never hidden his disdain for the Buhari-led government said;
“We are looking at how we can harness ideas and put ourselves together to ensure that we get out of the present challenge we are in Nigeria today.From top to bottom, consider what has happened from 2015 and where we are today. So, what we are doing is a concern that we have for our country, Nigeria.
This is beyond partisan politics. We are looking at how we can come together and find a way of ensuring that Nigeria survives. Nigeria is on a drip, Nigeria is on oxygen and it is about how can we get out of this.
We have individually also had earlier commitments in Europe even if consultations are still going on because nothing concrete has been decided. The consultation is going on and will continue to go on. We are still going to meet here.”
Popular cleric, Apostle Anselm Madubuko has slammed activist Deji Adeyanju for continuously suggesting that Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi will come third in 2023 presidential election.
Recall that Adeyanju who reacted to photos of Peter Obi and former President Olusegun Obasanjo in a meeting with some Peoples Democratic Party Governors in London, claimed that the former President is supporting Obi and has been the one calling people and reaching out to international allies to fund the Labour Party Presidential candidate’s election.
Reacting to the claim, Apostle Madubuko asked why Deji hates Peter Obi. He also told Deji that “Obi will kill him before 2023” and that he is also “going down”.
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong has been released from prison after Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Ekaette Obot, sentenced him to 30 days imprisonment on 27 July, for alleged contempt of court after he objected to the presence of two armed police operatives inside the courtroom.
Media personality, Omoyele Sowore annnounced the release of Mr Effiong on Friday August 26.
Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday August 25, met with the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi and some Peoples Democratic Party Governors in London.
Although details of the meeting are still sketchy as at the time of filing this report, photos shared online showed Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state attended the meeting with his allies including Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, among others.
Here are the photos below……
The chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa has said that despite the number of Nigerians aiming to leave the country, there is also a significant number returning to the country.
Dabiri-Erewa, who spoke at a press briefing at the state house in Abuja on Thursday, August 25, said a number of persons are returning to Nigeria to invest in the agricultural and healthcare sector.
“We speak of “japa” as a one-way phenomenon, but we also have Nigerians constantly returning home. There are examples of Nigerians returning home, occasionally or permanently, to do interesting things, in agriculture, healthcare, etc.
The hospital where the VP was recently treated was set up by diaspora doctors. I’m not saying Nigeria’s not a challenging environment, but we must also acknowledge those who are coming back home to do impactful things” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa said the commission is making an effort to see that Nigerians in the diaspora are allowed to vote.
“The national assembly is still not interested in diaspora voting, but we will not relent and continue to engage with them.
Because I believe everyone should know that the diaspora should be able to vote. So we hope that we continue to engage with the parliament. There’s a big deal about diaspora voting” she said
Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, has asked presidential candidates to prioritize health and education sectors to enhance productivity.
Speaking at an event organised by the board and management of Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi Foundation (MAMF) in Lagos, on Wednesday August 24, Sanusi said Nigerian politicians, especially presidential candidates, must have a clear plan and utmost respect for the two sectors as they had failed abysmally.
The former Governor of Central Bank also noted that doctors and teachers have not been treated well, hence, the brain drain experienced in the sectors.
He said;
“Education and health are the foundation of the economy, if we don’t prioritize these sectors, then we are finished. The rate of brain drain is high because prepared budgets in the health and education sectors have been embezzled and mismanaged.
“You can’t treat your teachers and doctors as if they are nothing. That is the reason they are leaving the country in droves. We must reverse brain drain by respecting the demands of teachers and health practitioners.
“As a people and most especially as governments, we have lost our respect for the professions that should be respected. Teachers and doctors are not looking for money but the amount of money we invest in training our children in becoming doctors and teachers can never be earned in salaries in this country but people deserve a decent life and also respect.
“People want to serve but they also want to eat. They are humans who have basic responsibility, they want to educate their children. We have created an economy where everybody on a narrow salary is being impoverished.”
He also pointed out that while there is high inflation in the country where the average doubles every hour, salaries of doctors and teachers are not increased to accommodate the inflation leading to lack of motivation to serve the nations.
A corps member has lamented after his room at the Corpers’ lodge in Kundila area of Kano State, got flooded following heavy downpour. Sharing photos og his flooded room on Thursday, August 25, he wrote:
“Corps Members Are Suffering Somewhere In Northwest, Kano to be Precise. This is the Third Time this Flood disaster is Happening. This is my moom at our corpers lodge. Come be like say na me Serve Pass”
Ayo Adebanjo, leader of Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation has explained why he would be supporting Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
In an interview with Channels Television on Wednesday August 24, Adebanjo said he and Obi share same cause and he believes the former Governor of Anambra state is fighting for oppressed Nigerians. The Afenifere leader also stated that he won’t back any candidate that does not support restructuring
Adebanjo said;
“He (Obi) came to meet Southern and Middlebelt leaders in my house. It was an exchange of views; we believe in the same cause.“We are all partners in progress. The fight he is fighting is a fight for the oppressed.
“Restructuring was at the front burner; we should have a country first before we have any development plan. That is the pillar on which the Southern and Middlebelt leaders stand.
“Constitutional review, community policing, devolution of power and others are all embedded in restructuring. Where we have a constitution where everybody is dissatisfied, you won’t have peace and without peace, there will be no stability. These are fundamental.
“There is nothing new about restructuring; we are only saying let us go back to where we started before the military came. Where did we start? The constitution was made in 1964, endorsed by Awolowo, Azikwe and Sardauna, and was what we had until the military came in 1966 and imposed this constitution.
“This constitution is a fraudulent one and the government has never refuted it. They set aside the constitution before 1966, imposed this one and included all the things that were excluded that are causing confusion till today. We must go back to that constitution.”
No fewer than 91 students from Zamfara state who are on state-sponsored scholarships have been expelled by Cyprus International University over the failure of their state government to pay their tuition fees.
One of the affected students who spoke to BBC Hausa on condition of anonymity said.
“We started having the problem between the school and the Zamfara state government since our first year in school but we thought it could be resolved without raising our voices.
When the Zamfara state government sent us here (Cyprus), they had agreements with school. But from all indications, those or part of the agreements were obviously not fulfilled, hence the negative reaction of the school.
For example, when we were coming here (Cyprus), they told us that our school fees have been paid for a few years.
We were also told that we would be paid allowances of 100 dollars. But when we came initially, they gave us some money but not up to $100 as promised, and that was the beginning of the problem.
This is our third year in this country and the situation has gotten worst. It has gotten to the point that the school said they won’t tolerate us again, and had to send us out of school and also evicted us out of the hostel.
At the moment, we are homeless, devastated and don’t know what to do.We don’t have food nor do we have befitting shelter because the school has chased us out of the hostel.
Many of us have resorted to sleeping in Mosques and other unhealthy/unsafe places.
We don’t know where some of the students are now, but I believe that many of them have found their ways of survival. This is our second month of being in this inhumane condition here.”Also speaking, a female student of the university said
“We are 10 female students staying in one corner of where we found ourselves.
The worst of the situation is that we are faced with the arrest threat from the Cyprus Police and other law enforcement agencies because we have not paid for our resident permit for three years now.
So, we are under serious threat. We don’t even go out now to avoid being picked up by the police which could result in possible imprisonment that might last for years.”
Reacting to the development, the Zamfara state Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Dosara, said efforts are being made to resolve the pending issues.
“We are working to make the balance payment as quickly as possible.
Besides, the State Government had an agreement with Cyprus University that the remaining part of the money would be paid as soon as possible.
Also, these students should know from day one that some challenges might be witnessed in the studies abroad but that does not mean we have abandoned them.”he said
Seven suspects have been arraigned before a magistrates court in Osogbo, Osun State, over an attack on the convoy of Osun State Governor’s wife, Kafayat Oyetola.
Paul Omolola, 40, Rasaki Hammed, 19, Soliu Waheed, 21, Tiamiyu Bashiru, 30, Olayiwola John, 26, Mutiu Owoade, 28, and Tunde Ibrahim, 20, were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, conduct likely to cause breach of public peace, unlawful damage of convoy and assault.
Speaking in court yesterday August 23, Police prosecutor Asanbe Kayode said the defendants and others at large perpetrated the attack on August 19, around 8pm.
Kayode accused the suspects of damaging three convoy vehicles and injuring security aides.
Magistrate I. R Salami granted the defendants bail with two sureties each after they pleaded not guilty.
The case was adjourned till September 26.
Actor Kenneth Okonkwo has defected to Labour Party. This comes weeks after his resignation from APC following the party’s decision to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Okonkwo announced his defection on his Instagram page this morning August 24.
”It was an honour and a privilege to be welcomed into the Labour Party on the 23rd of August, 2022, at the Supreme God House, Apo, Abuja, by the entire executive of the FCT Labour Party, representing the National Executive of the Party.
I feel loved and cherished by the visit of these distinguished officials of this peoplecentric Party to our Chambers which culminated in my officially joining the Labour Party as a member.
This will enable me assist in my own humble way to the enthronement of His Excellency, Peter Obi, as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023 for the good governance of our dear country which is so blessed by God but has been so battered by bad leaders.
I thank the Dynamics Ambassadors for Peter Obi (DAPO), which I am its National Spokesperson, for facilitating this my membership of Labour Party for the enthronement of good governance in Nigeria.I enjoin all citizens of Nigeria to join in this movement for the actualization of this divine mandate of Peter Obi come 2023.”he wrote
President Buhari has strongly condemned what he calls “the unprovoked and cold-blooded murder of a Yobe State-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Goni Aisami, by a callous soldier he had offered a lift as confirmed by the Police.”
The Muslim cleric was hacked to death by two soldiers who he offered a lift at Jajimaji, the headquarters of Karasuwa local government council in Yobe state on Saturday, August 20.
Reacting to the incident, President Buhari in a statement released by Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, said ;
“this barbaric murder of a compassionate man by a soldier he had assisted has no place in our training as soldiers, and it negates the entire ethos of military life which is anchored on discipline and respect for the sanctity of innocent lives.”
”As the Commander-in-Chief, I am personally outraged by this criminal and wicked act by a law enforcement official trained to protect life.
By our training, we are guided by a code of conduct that frowns on this kind of reckless and criminal act. It is not in our character and training to put innocent citizens in harm’s way.
Of course, the action of this soldier is an isolated incident involving an individual, but it is capable of staining the collective image of our military.
This incident is capable of making our fellow citizens to be fearful of assisting soldiers, thereby destroying the bond of trust between our military and the civilians.
I call on the military authorities to punish the perpetrators of this heinous crime without delay, and flush out other elements with such criminal tendencies,” President Buhari said.
The President condoled with Yobe State Government, the people of the State, and the family of the victim of this tragedy.