Abductors of a Deeper Life Pastor, Otamayomi Ogedengbe are demanding a ransom payment of (N30M) thirty million Naira

The kidnappers , we gathered contacted the family on Wednesday night.

A family member said the kidnappers refused to yield below N30m.

Recall that Pastor Ogedengbe was abducted on Monday evening after conducting Bible study at Irese area of Akure.

His wife, Yinka, said the kidnappers shot into the air before taking him away.

She said her husband health status is fragile.

The Ebierien Itubor-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State on Thursday claimed that their decision to open a parallel secretariat was because the secretariat controlled by the faction loyal to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, was opened with the proceeds of corruption.

Itubor faction alleged that the property housing the party’s secretariat at Bay Bridge area of Yenagoa, the state capital, was acquired under Sylva as Governor with the proceeds of corruption.

Speaking on the lingering crisis in the APC in the state, a member of the faction, Sunday Frank-Oputu, claimed that the opening of the new secretariat was the best thing that had happened to the majority of party members.

According to him; “As far as I am concerned, it is the best thing that has happened to Bayelsa State because the former secretariat which is on Mbiama-Yenagoa road, is a property acquired with proceeds of corruption under Sylva’s government.

“When Sylva was governor, he asked the Bayelsa State Capital Development Authority to go and buy that property with state money. The evidence are there. Former Governor Seriake Dickson even went to court over the property and the matter is still in court.

“The money was paid from Bayelsa State government’s account. We all know the party’s secretariat is not and has never been on the government’s property before. That is a government property that belongs to all Bayelsans. Bayelsa State government’s property belongs to everybody both APC members, PDP members and the rest of the people.

“Therefore, a party cannot claim ownership of it and be using it, it’s wrong. I am using this same medium to call on the Governor of Bayelsa State to immediately prepare to take over that property because it rightly belongs to the Bayelsa State government”, he stated.

The property is a proceed of corruption. APC, as a party that does not believe in corruption. It stands for truth and justice. We are saying that a secretariat is a wrong place for Bayelsa to keep its APC secretariat.”

Frank-Oputu, who is a chieftain from Southern Ijaw, however, said that the status of the old party’s secretariat and the circumstances surrounding its acquisition had led to many political misfortunes for the party.

He claimed: “One, do you know that in 2015, we narrowly missed the governorship when Sylva had already got over 80,000 votes in Southern Ijaw but INEC cancelled, and we lost it.

“In 2019, we even won it, it was declared, but a day to the swearing-in, that was when the victory of the APC was upturned. All those are bad things showing that where the secretariat is situated is a bad place because it was acquired with proceeds of corruption.

APC cannot stand on the corrupt ground to do anything and succeed because President Muhammadu Buhari is a man who has a clean record when it comes to anti-corruption. So, for us as a people and believers of Buhari’s system of governance, that secretariat is the least place anybody should expect us to stay.”

Efforts to get the reaction of Sylva were not successful as his mobile phone failed to connect. Also, a text message sent to his phone was not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu said President Muhammadu Buhari must consider the demand for a national dialogue and the establishment of state police.

Recall that two days ago, governors of 17 Southern States converged on Asaba, Delta State capital, where they made some resolutions and demands from the Federal government.

They had demanded a ban on open grazing in the south and urged the president to convene a national dialogue summit, among others.

In an interview on ARISE TV, Akeredolu justified the demands of the governors, saying some of their counterparts in the north are in support of their position.

He said it is highly unlikely that the presidency will ignore the governors because of their numbers.

According to him; “Getting a presidential buy-in might be some cause for concern, but 17 governors from the south. I believe that whatever we have said should be given some weight, it must be something that has to be considered. That means the presidency will look at it and consider it. The number is large. It is more or less like half of us.

“I know that if we had called our brothers in the Middle Belt, they would have signed up to this. I even know that there are some of our brothers even in the north that would have signed up to this communique, who also believe that the time has come for us to have dialogue.

“I know Mr President. It has to be considered. It must be considered. Because the number of governors involved are not one you can just push aside. When you talk about this dialogue, it is a matter of serious concern to us. It is not a parlour gossip. It is a matter that came from serious, in-depth discussion of governors”, he said

A former Chief of Defence Staff, Joshua Dogonyaro has died at the age of 80.

Joseph, the first son of the deceased, mdae this to newsmen on Thursday.

Saying, “Daddy has been sick for some time until yesterday when he had a stroke and we rushed him to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for medical attention.

“Unfortunately, early this morning (Thursday), around 3.00am precisely, he breathed his last.

“His death comes as a rude shock to us as a family. We are going to miss his love and warm as a grandfather, father, brother, uncle and supporter,” he said.

Joseph said the family was trying to cope with the shock of the general’s demise and would discuss the funeral arrangements soon.

He described his father as “a General who was so faithful and loyal to the nation, Nigeria.”

“He was a general who had no bias mind as a detribalised Nigerian. He served this nation faithful and identified with all Nigerians and Africa as a continent.

“We and Nigerians are going to miss him having served humanity in this country and Africa as a whole, ” Joseph said.

According to him, the corpse of the general has since been deposited at the JUTH mortuary.

Dogonyaro, a soldier and an administrator, was born on Sept. 12, 1940 in Vom, Plateau State, though a native of Taroh in Langtang North Local Government Area.

He had his early education at Boys’ Secondary School, Gindiri, and there after was enlisted in the Nigerian Army, 1964.

He was commissioned Second-Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, 1967; Officer Commanding, 1 Recce Squadron, NA, 1967-69; Quartermaster General, I Infantry Division (Main), N, 1969-70.

The late general became Chief Instructor and Adjutant, Rece Training School, NA, 1970 to 1972; Commanding Officer, I Recce Regiment, NA., 1972 to 1976.

He was appointed Principal Staff Officer, Headquarters, Nigerian Army Armoured Corp, 1976 to 1977; Commanding Officer, 24 Armoured Brigade, NA., 1977-79.

Between 1984 and 1985, he was made the Task Force Commanding Officer, 203 Armoured Battalion on the Peace-keeping Force in Chad; Director of Manning (Army), Army Headquarters, ‘A’ Branch, N.A and Director of Armoury, 1985.

He was also the General Officer Commanding 3 Armoured Division, N.A, Jos, 1985 to 1987; mm: Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC), 1985; General Officer Commanding 2nd Mechanised Division, N.A, Ibadan, 1987;promoted Major-General, 1988; Promoted Lt. General; former ECOMOG Commander; retired in 1993;

Dogonyaro also attended the National Institute for Policy and Suategic Studies, Kuru, Jos and obtained National Institute (mni) in addition to the Staff College (Psc) and Forces Service Star (FSS).