Politics

ASUU condemns FUTO promotion of Pantami, resolves to sanction VC, members

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has faulted the promotion of Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, as a professor.

The union after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Lagos on Monday, declared the promotion as “illegal”.

This was declared at a press conference addressed by the President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, on Monday.

He said, “You cannot be a minister and a lecturer in a university. It is an encouragement of illegality.

“Pantami has to quit as a minister and be tried for doing double jobs within the same federal system. He is not qualified. Pantami should not be treated as a professor.

“We have resolved to sanction ASUU members involved in his promotion and the VC of FUTO.”

Politics

Igboho drags Benin Republic to ECOWAS Court, demands $1m

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Embattled Yoruba Nation activist and freedom fighter, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has dragged the government of Benin Republic to the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) demanding $1 million as compensation for general damages for each day he has spent in detention in the country.

Filing the suit through one of his lawyers, Tosin Ojaomo, Igboho, asked for a declaration of court that the actions of the West African country regarding his arrest and detention was a violation of his freedom of movement, his right to an unbiased trial within a reasonable time, and violated his right to dignity as a person.

The suit which will be heard at a high court in Benin on Monday, according to Ojaomo, is seeking, among other reliefs, an order for the immediate and unconditional release of Igboho along with his Nigerian passport pending litigation and determination on damages.

“The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the “Banjul Charter”), Articles 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12(1), 12(2), 12(3), and 17(2). Article 3(2)(d)(iii) of the ECOWAS Treaty, Article 2(1) of the ECOWAS Protocol A/P.1/5/79 relating to Free Movement of Persons, Residence, and establishment, upon which Chief Adeyemo sought to escape the persecution by passing through the neighboring Republic of Benin (“Benin”), to take refuge in Germany,” Ojaomo said in a statement on Sunday.

Politics

Atiku speaks on zoning

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Former Vice President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, has added his voice to the issue of zoning of political offices in the country.

He said there is no place for zoning captured in the Nigerian Constitution which does not recognize its existence.

Atiku, on Friday during a meeting with members of ‘Let’s Fix Nigeria’ group who paid him a visit at his Abuja residence, said the country was blessed with people with the right attributes who could lead the country regardless of where they come from, and advised Nigerians to look for such people to take up the mantle of leadership at all levels.

Atiku also faulted calls that political parties should zone their presidential tickets to particular regions of the country, saying the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not recognise zoning.”

“Fundamentally, the Constitution says all of us can run for elective positions. The Constitution has not barred any one of us. There is no zoning in the Constitution; there is none. I was a member of the constituent assembly that drafted the current Constitution and there was nothing like that.

But then, as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, we felt that there should be a sense of belonging. We went and invented this zoning.

“Therefore, we went further to say there should be zonal representation. So, let me assure you that as far as I am concerned, I will observe and implement whatever will bring about the peace and stability of this country.

“Leadership is endowed by God. You can have a young man come and do better than an old man. So, it is an endowed attribute from God, therefore, we should try to look for such a person who has been endowed by God, who has those attributes and then give him leadership.

“As far as the unity of this country is concerned, we are more divided. Even when we fought the Civil War, we were never as divided as this. We never have a breakdown of law and order like this because when we fought the Civil War, it was confined to a particular location, in every other place, there was peace.

“We never had this kind of poverty where even the farmer cannot go to farm the food to eat, not to talk of commercial farming. So, I have never seen this country so bad, and it is going to be a daunting task for anybody to come and turn things around,” he said.

Politics

Gov Ayade says Nigeria very hard to govern, hints at joining presidential race

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The Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade has acknowledged that Nigeria is a very difficult and complex country to preside over, as evidenced by the antecedents of past leaders and the challenges therein.

Ayade made this disclosure on Thursday during a guest appearance on AIT programme, Politics Today.

According to him, “The system we have, even if you bring a saint, the best hand to run it, he will still have problems. Nigeria needs a strategic, long term plan.

“We need to change the political kinetics, focus on our local needs and customize the system to our Afrocentric philosophy. If we continue to depend on the so-called sophisticated, imported democratic pattern system, the majority will always take it, whereas they may not necessarily be the best sometimes.

We must reduce the amount of politics in our economy. We need courageous leadership. We need new orientation, new direction and new belief to emphasise hope for the Black race.”

Ayade further touted his credentials as the best presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 elections.

Nonetheless, he noted that his willingness to contest depends on the final decision of the All Progressives Congress regarding zoning of elective posts.

“Nigeria needs someone like me with uncommon intellect, vast knowledge in every subject under the sun, exposure, learning and international connections to change the country’s narratives.

“I think I am not somebody who likes to throw himself up, but nevertheless, if the party agrees that power should go to the South-South for equity and balance, I will run.

“If I come in as President, I will use the same intellect and magic used in Cross River to build endless factories without much of State’s resources. I will make it clear that I don’t have money to throw about.

“I can make a major difference if I become the APC candidate”, Ayade stated.

Politics

Nigerian govt responsible if anything happens to Ortom, group reacts to alleged assassination plot

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A group under the aegies of the Coalition of Southern and Middle Belt Youth Leaders Assembly (COSMBYLA), has called on the Nigerian government to investigate allegations of an assassination plot against Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

The group also called on the government to make sure nothing happens to the Governor due to his constant criticism of the FG as that could lead to the break up of the country.

The COSMBYLA was reacting to Ortom’s allegation on Wednesday that his intelligence team had discovered plots to assassinate him.

“Several attempts have been made to eliminate me, but God has protected me. I am not afraid of death and because of that, I have already written my will. I am not afraid of anyone,” Ortom had said.

In a statement on Friday issued by the coalition signed by Goodluck Ibem, the group said the Federal Government should be held responsible if anything should happen to Ortom.

“Information gathered have shown there was a meeting that was recently held to plan how to assassinate the Executive Governor of Benue, Dr. Samuel Ortom, and the security agencies have the details and they have not moved to arrest those involved in such despicable plan,” the group said.

Our country Nigeria is owned by all Nigerians and nobody or ethnic group or tribe, owns it more than the other.

“For one ethnic group (Fulanis) to target an entire state for extermination is vallainious and wickedness taken too far and we condemn it in its entirety.

We warn those actors who are killing Benue indigenes and at the same time, plotting to assassinate the Executive Governor of the state to steer clear now.

“We warn these evil actors to note that any attempt on Governor Samuel Ortom’s life will be totally resisted and it will lead to the disintegration of Nigeria.

“Ortom is a defender of the people; he has given a voice to the voiceless and we the youths stand solidly with him.”

Politics

Youth group warns Makinde against imposing candidates for 2023 election

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A group of youths in the Oyo state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has warned Governor Seyi Makinde and party leaders in the state against imposition of candidates for the election into the state’s House of Assembly.

The group, Democratic Advancement Forum expressed worry at how state governors handpick party candidates for the elections into houses of assembly rather than allowing them emerge as candidates on merit.

In a release signed by the group leader, Adebayo Komolafe, they said that some candidates were not popular in their constituencies as they did not secure their mandates by merit, but by lobbying.

The group argued that such representatives do not represent the interests of their people and they have nothing to show as tangible achievement in the last three years.

The release reads in part: “We are concerned about the growth of our dear state and we believe that having the right people in place will hasten the development and compliments the efforts of Governor Seyi Makinde who is striving hard to make oyo a better state.

“It is sad that some of the lawmakers cannot walk freely in their constituency nor hold town hall meetings with their people because they have nothing to show for the years they have spent at the assembly and it won’t do the party any good to impose such a person on the basis of an automatic ticket.”

While calling for a level playing ground, the group maintained that any attempt to manipulate the party’s integrity will jeopardize its chances in retaining power beyond 2023.

Politics

Kwara accuses past governments of siphoning public funds as AMCON seizes two properties

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The Kwara State government on Thursday accused past administrations in the state of siphoning public funds in the name of Shonga Farm.

The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Salman Jawondo (SAN), disclosed this at a press briefing in Ilorin, the state capital.

The government was reacting to the recent seizure of state properties by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in Abuja.

Also at the briefing were the state’s Commissioner for Communication, Bode Towoju, and Group Managing Director of Harmony Holding, Abdullahi AbdulMajeed.

Jawondo said the Shonga Farm Holdings established by former governor Bukola Saraki’s administration under its agriculture revolution programme started with huge loans of more than N5billion which the previous administrations failed to pay.

He said: “Nine out of the 13 autonomous farms have been sold out without remittances to the public coffers, even when the government is supposed to hold a paltry 10 percent equity in each of the farms.

“AMCON’s takeover of two state properties is to recover the bad loans that the farm owes a consortium of banks that invested in it dating back to 2007 because Shonga Farm Holdings could not pay back on the agreed timeline.”

Politics

Tambuwal charges Buhari on credible 2023 elections

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The Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, on Thursday challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the conduct of credible elections in 2023.

Tambuwal made the call in a chat with journalists after a meeting with the former Kaduna State governor, Ahmed Makarfi, in Kaduna.

He urged Buhari to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan by conducting credible elections next year.

The governor said: “That is becoming our national anthem, unity all the way. It’s only when we are united that we can have a very strong force.

“As I said before, the head of the electoral umpire INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has only one option. That option is to leave a lasting legacy. From my knowledge, he is from a very good family background.

So he needs to actually make sure that he did not soil his family history and his own personal history by ensuring he conducts a free and fair election.

“Even President Muhammadu Buhari himself, despite all the failures that we are seeing in this administration, the only legacy that is left for him is to ensure he conducts the free, fair and credible elections. Same way as President Goodluck Jonathan did ensure and handed over to him in 2015.”

Politics

Sen Olujimi accuses Ekiti PDP leadership of creating division, sidelining women

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One of the aspirants and the lawmaker representing Ekiti South in the National Assembly, Senator Biodun Olujimi, on Wednesday criticized the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDp) for creating division within the party.

Olujimi made this assertion via a statement while disclosing that the party leadership took stakeholders for granted before making crucial decisions.

“We have been in this business for quite some time. If it is the former governor that is sitting as a serving Senator, can you do what has happened to him, no?

“My gender has been affected. Beyond that, the fact that people take everybody for granted has also affected all of us. You can’t take people for granted.

“This is a business we came into voluntarily and when you are in it, people are supposed to build consensus, not to talk down on others,” the lawmaker said.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that Olujimi cited irregularities during the process of accrediting the delegates, and gender discrimination as the reason for dropping out of the party’s primaries.

The lawmaker had hoped to be the first female governor of the state, noting that the electoral team led by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom State was expressly prejudiced against her candidacy.

Olujimi said, “I pulled out because every other aspirant has full compliments of delegates from their local government. It pleased the party to give me only 12 automatic delegates in mine.

“I have six local governments in my district as a sitting senator. They gave full compliments of delegates to somebody in four of my local government. And the two that were left, including my own local government. They gave me 12 delegates out of 78.

“I feel maybe it is because of my gender or maybe the party feels I have not done enough for it. That is why they would have done that to me.

“So, when they’ve done that to me, it didn’t make sense to continue with the process.”

Politics

Gov Akeredolu is a threat to democracy in Nigeria —CNG

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The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), says Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, is a big threat to democracy in Nigeria following his comments that any party who fields a northern candidate for the presidency in 2023 will lose the election.

Akeredolu, who is also the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF), while receiving members of the Power Rotation Movement (PRM), in his office in Akure on Tuesday, had reiterated the need for parties to field southern candidates, insisting that it was the turn of the south to produce the next Nigerian President.

“Any political party that fields presidential candidates from the north would lose the election because such candidate would not have the support of the southern governors.

“Those pushing against power rotation in the country are toying with the existence of Nigeria,” he had said.

However, in a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, the CNG said the Ondo governor as well as the Southern Governors Forum should be cautioned as their stance was capable of threatening Nigeria’s democracy.

According to the CNG, as far as the North was concerned, “the idea that we would be directly or indirectly threatened or intimidated or blackmailed into yielding an office which ought to be settled democratically is not acceptable.”

For the avoidance of doubt, no amount of threats and intimidation from the South would change the minds of northerners regarding zoning,” the apex Northern group said.

“Any president to be elected should be done democratically and not by unnecessary empty expressions by anyone from whatever region and of whatever status,” the CNG added.

The group also warned that “persistent threats from self-appointed enemies of the North are unconstitutional and reckless,” adding that Akeredolu constitutes a threat to the nation’s democracy.

“They are empty threats that won’t work.

“The North will not be deterred by empty, provocative statements from Akeredolu and groups in the South, who believe in threats and hate campaigns as the hallmark or defining elements for elections,” the Northern coalition said.

Politics

NLC warns NASS against devolving labour issues to states, removal from Exclusive List

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned the National Assembly against devolving labour issues to the states amidst plans to remove it from the Exclusive Legislative List.

Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, issued this caution in Abuja on Tuesday through a statement titled “Labour on the Legislative Exclusive List.”

He noted that labour issues were presently domiciled in the Second Schedule, Legislative Powers, Part 1, Exclusive list, Item 34.

Wabba reiterated that national interest was paramount therefore, the labour should remain within the purview of the NASS.

”For the sake of our national interest, security and industrial harmony, labour should not be one of the items that should be devolved to the states,” he said.

Wabba also noted that the nation-states legislation on Labour drives substantially from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, protocols and recommendations and other instruments domesticated through the Acts of parliament.

As a result, Nigeria ratified the ILO Conventions 87 and 98, guaranteeing the right to organise and collectively bargain, after independence in 1960.

“Nigeria had since adopted all the core conventions in its capacity as a sovereign nation and regularly attends ILO organ meetings as a sovereign in line with international best practices.

”In the light of this, deregulating labour to the states will inevitably create intractable problems. At the membership level, the 36 states of the federation and FCT are no sovereign which is a basis for ILO membership of Nigeria.

”Secondly, a corpus of labour legislation across the 36 states and FCT will almost certainly create a judicial nightmare.

Thirdly, investors will be scared away as they will consider this as an unnecessary addition to the already hostile operating environment. At the level of workers who often act in the national interest, this will whittle down patriotic influence.

”In the light of this, we will strongly advocate against removing labour from the Exclusive Legislative List. Not even during the military era was this contemplated,” Wabba said.

Politics

Sen Lau replaces Bwacha as new Deputy Minority Leader in Senate

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced Sen. Shuaibu Lau (PDP-Taraba) as the new Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate.

This was contained in a letter read by the Senate President Ahmad Lawan during the plenary on Tuesday, signed by the PDP National Chairman, Mr Iyorcha Ayu.

According to the PDP Chairman, Lau will be the replacement for Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha who has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Following the defection of Sen.Emmanuel Bwacha to the ruling APC, the PDP Senate caucus has nominated as his replacement, Sen. Shuaibu Lau.

“Lau is from Taraba in the North-East geo-political zone of the country, where the position has been zoned.

The PDP Senate caucus has duly informed the National Headquarters of the party, in view of which we so communicate to you. We believe that Lau will be an asset to the leadership of the Senate.

“Thank you and accept the assurances of our highest regards,” he said.

The defection of Bwacha to the APC brings the number of APC Senators to 70, while the PDP has 38 and Young Progressives Party (YPP) has only one.

The Senator said that his decision to leave the opposition party was conveyed sequel to a point of order raised during plenary.

“In view of my desire for equal competition, and about my desire to enjoy the full operations of my fundamental human rights, Mr President.

“I want to announce this day, that as King Solomon said, there’s a time for everything; now is a time for me to leave the PDP.

Mr President, I say I have the opportunity to breathe freely because of deliberate isolation and huge division and factionalisation in the party in my state.

“Mr President, I had to leave because I seek to breathe better. This day, I announce henceforth my exit from the PDP, and to join the governing party because of the visible presence of the party in my Senatorial District,” he said.

Politics

Igboho will be released soon – Lawyer

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Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, will soon be released from detention in Benin Republic, according to human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi.

He made this known in a Facebook post while scolding Yoruba leaders for allegedly being selfish.

Igboho was arrested at Cotonou airport on his way to Germany alongside his wife in July 2021.

Olajengbesi, who secured the release of 12 Igboho’s aides arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service, noted that Igboho’s release would attract wild jubilation.

“Chief Sunday Igboho will be out very soon and there will be massive jubilation across the entire Yorubaland.

“He is no doubt a courageous man. This is very authoritative just that our Yoruba leaders should stop being selfish and allow good to prevail,” the lawyer said.

This comes after members of Agbekoya Worldwide asked the government of Benin Republic to free Igboho or they would use traditional means to get him out.

Politics

Sit-at-home killing businesses in South-East -Abaribe

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The Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, said on Saturday the continuous observance of sit-at-home order in the South-East has crippled businesses in the region.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ordered the sit-at-home in the South-East last year in a bid to force the Federal Government to release its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial for alleged treasonable felony and terrorism charges at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Abariba, who addressed participants at the investiture ceremony of the 16th President of Enugu Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Jasper Nduagwuike, in Enugu, decried the insecurity in the region and called for an end to the sit-at-home directive.

He said: “What is happening in the South-East is a tragedy. Every Monday people sit at home. When you go to IPOB they said they are not the one enforcing it. Nobody has an idea to solve it.

“When I and Ekweremadu personally visited Nnamdi Kanu at the Department of State Service (DSS) detention, he said never give an order for anybody to sit at home. It’s time we stop all this mess in the South- East and build our economy.

“Sit at home is killing the economy of the South-East as most businessmen are moving out of the region. Insecurity in the South- East is the biggest problem.

“We want to turn the South-East into a Catalonia of Spain. We want to turn it into a hub of the world. We want to turn the South-East into a Bavaria of Germany. In 2023, the South-East needs a leadership that will combat insecurity and restore the economy.”

Politics

The presidential candidate PDP desires in 2023 – Wike

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The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said on Saturday the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would give its 2023 presidential ticket to any individual with the desire to serve Nigerians.

Wike, who stated this at a reception organised in his honour by the Kalabari people in the state, added that some desperate politicians are already scheming for a candidate who would only work to meet the interest of a few in the country.

He said the Southern part of the country would make public its stand on the 2023 election soon.

The governor said: “The day the South will speak, Nigeria will shake.

“We believe in the unity of this country, but nobody can threaten us. Nobody should threaten us. We believe in the unity of Nigeria and unity of Nigeria must continue.”

“No amount of gang-up can make PDP give somebody who will want to run an election for the interest of some big men, and not for all Nigerians.

“Anybody who wants to be a candidate of PDP must be a candidate for the interest of Nigerians.”

Politics

End killings, violence, before Nigeria is consumed, Catholic Bishops tell Buhari

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Catholic Bishops of the Lagos Ecclesiastical Province, have told President Muhammadu Buhari to do everything possible to end the killings and violence in Nigeria before the country is consumed by them.

The Catholic Bishops, on Saturday, made the call at their first meeting in Lagos which drew participants from the Dioceses of Lagos, Ijebu-Ode and Abeokuta, urging Buhari to use “every resources at his disposal to put an end to the killings and violence across the country.”

At the end of the meeting, the Bishops came up with a communiqué jointly signed by the Chairman of the board, Revd Alfred Martins and Secretary, Rev Francis Adesina, where they condemned the incessant violence in every part of the country under a President who was a top military strategist.

“The persistent killings and violence in every part of the country is becoming worrisome,” the communique reads.

The continuous senseless killings of innocent people and violence across the country is really giving Nigerians serious concerns. And they are continuing unabated while the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is not doing much to curb them.

In the wake of the 2022 New Year, a priest of the Diocese of Abeokuta, Rev. Fr. Luke Adeleke, was killed by gunmen while carrying out his priestly activities.

“Very recently, it was reported that in Taraba State, a Catholic Church was razed to the ground for no reason. These and numerous other cases of violence have been the hallmark of our nation. How long would these be allowed to continue?

“The President should rise up to his responsibilities and stop these killings and violence before Nigeria is consumed by them.

Politics

Buhari appoints Olatunji as pioneer CEO of data protection agency

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President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Vincent Olatunji as the National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the newly established Nigeria Data Protection Bureau (NDPB).

The bureau was established by the Federal Government in a bid to ensure better protection of data and privacy in Nigeria.

The spokesperson for the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Uwa Suleiman, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Until his appointment, Olatunji was the Director of the Government Development and Regulations Department at National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

The statement read: “The successful implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria has significantly increased the adoption of data platforms and accelerated the datafication of our society.

“This has increased the importance of having an institution that focuses on data protection and privacy.”

Politics

We’ll use ‘juju’ to free Sunday Igboho if he isn’t released from Benin prison – Group

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Agbekoya farmers society of Nigeria has vowed to deploy traditional means to free detained Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Sunday Igboho, if the government of Benin Republic continues to detain him.

The association’s President, Chief Kamorudeen Okikiola spoke during a peaceful rally on “State of the Nation” in Osogbo, Osun State capital on Thursday.

He said that Igboho is not criminal, but a freedom fighter and he is being held illegally through the influence of Nigerian Government.

Sunday Igboho is not a criminal and we know he is being held illegally, Benin Republic Government has stopped taking him to court, hence, we demand that he should be released through legal means, if they refuse, we will use our magical power to get him out of the prison. I repeat, we Agbekoya, will get him out of Benin Republic detention and bring him back home”, Okikiola said.

Politics

Hoodlums attack Aregbesola’s campaign office in Osun

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Hoodlums suspected to be political thugs attacked the campaign office of the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, in Osogbo, Osun State.

The gunmen stormed the building shortly after a meeting by All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, shot sporadically and forced those at the premises to scamper for safety.

A section of the building was severely damaged during the attack.

The former governor’s campaign office had previously come under attack from criminals in the state.

The building, popularly referred to as Oranmiyan House, was attacked by thugs during a meeting of The Osun Progressives (TOP), a group loyal to Aregbesola in November last year.

The state has witnessed violent clashes between loyalists of Governor Gboyega Oyetola and the minister in recent times.

The spokesperson for the Osun State police command, Yemisi Opalola, who confirmed the incident, said police operatives had been deployed to the scene to access the situation.

Politics

‘Anti-graft war a marathon, not a sprint,’ Lai Mohammed tells Nigerians

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The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said on Thursday President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was doing well in its fight against corruption despite criticisms by Nigerians.

The Transparency International recently ranked Nigeria very low in its corruption perception index.

Mohammed, who stated this at a media briefing in Abuja, noted that the administration had implemented policies to fight corruption and ensure accountability.

He likened the fight against corruption to a marathon, saying graft was one difficult problem the government has been grappling with.

The minister said: “As you are aware, one of the three major policy planks of this administration is the fight against corruption, with the others, of course, being to tackle insecurity and also to revamp the economy. We will be having a series of thematic press conferences on these issues in the days ahead, with this one — on the fight against corruption — being the first one.

“It is common knowledge that one of the most difficult tasks for any government is to fight corruption because when you fight corruption, corruption will fight you back. This explains why naysayers have continued to belittle or dismiss the administration’s anti-corruption efforts.

“Let me say here that fighting corruption is a marathon, and never a sprint. Also, investigations, arrests, prosecutions and asset forfeiture — which are the immediate, visible indices by which many measure success in tackling corruption, constitute as important as they are, just a part of the strategies to combat corruption. There is also a more fundamental strategy, which I will describe as structural and governance reforms or if you like, institutional reforms.

“The Buhari administration has taken bold measures to streamline cumbersome bureaucratic processes in the implementation of government policies, check corrupt practices and ensure accountability in the implementation as well as delivery of these policies.”

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