In order to establish their innocence, the shooters who broke into the home of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, must be apprehended, according to the CUPP.
CUPP encouraged the relevant security services to make sure that the shooters who broke into their Spokesman’s home were apprehended and brought to justice in order to establish their innocence and guarantee justice is done.
In a statement released by its co-spokesman, Mark Adebayo, the CUPP charged Imo state’s police, Department of Security Services, and state government with participating in a plot against Ugochinyere.
It would be recalled that on Saturday, January 14, 2023, motorcades conveying gunmen, arsonists stormed the residence of Ugochinyere, who is also the House of Representatives, PDP Candidate for Ideato North South federal constituency, at his hometown in Akokwa, where four persons were killed including his Uncle.
Speaking on behalf of the opposition parties, Adebayo accused the security agencies of being part of the attempt on Ugochinyere.
Insisting that the security agencies should prove their innocence, the CUPP said, “failure to do so, the opposition parties will be forced to review the continued stay in office of Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba over his nonchalant attitude and delay in arresting governor Uzodimma’s aide who threatened Ugochinyere and other culprits.
“Saturday January 14th, 2023, gunmen attacked the country home of the National Spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, with the sole aim of assassinating him. Weeks ago, Ikenga was openly threatened by one Chinasa Nwaneri who is one of the aides of the incumbent governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma.
“It’s been days since the attack yet nothing has been done, we are still calling on the the Nigeria Police and relevant security agencies to ensure that all the perpetrators of this heinous crime get arrested quickly for immediate prosecution and necessary punishment as stipulated by law. Does human life mean nothing to those who are supposed to protect us?
“We state unequivocally that we are holding the government Imo state solely responsible for this heinous crime and demand the immediate arrest of the Mr. Chinasa whose threats against Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere is already in the public domain and the Police authorities are aware of this but did nothing on the threats until he succeeded in carrying out his dastardly threats.”
The crisis afflicting the Edo State-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, has gotten worse as word has it that Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Executive Governor of Edo State and a visitor to the university, has allegedly ordered the immediate dismissal of an unspecified number of university employees due to the university’s recently completed fruitless staff biometrics verification exercise.
According to the report, the staff who are allegedly accused of disobedience and refusing to participate in the biometrics verification exercise, the staff who participated in the exercise but were denied printouts, and the employees who took part in the recently suspended strike of ASUU, NASU, and other unions are among the affected workers in the alleged gale of sack.
The Special Intervention Team (SIT) of the University which disclosed this at a meeting of the SIT/Principal Officers of the University and all staff of the University on the state of affairs of the University on Thursday, 12th January, 2023 at Ekpoma was said to have announced that all the workers in this category are no longer staff of the University
It was gathered that Mr. Austin Osakue, a member of the SIT, who presided over the alleged rowdy and tension-soaked meeting, revealed that the SIT has directed the issuance of sack letters to the affected staff.
He was said to have specifically disclosed that all staff with alleged multiple ages or conflicting affidavits of age declaration will be sent to the University’s Staff Disciplinary Committee without further delay.
Mr. Osakue who was said to have read the riot act to all staff of the University also threatened tough measures in the following weeks in the University, just as he was also said to have insisted that the meeting was not met to “massage the ego of anybody”,
Mr. Osakue allegedly vowed that certain category of staff whom he described as “agents of darkness” would be sent parking from the University in the coming weeks.
He was also alleged to have hinted that the State Government has no intension to review upward the present paltry 41 million naira monthly subvention to the University and disclosed SIT’s plan to hike school fees payable by students in the university to enable the university run without government monthly subvention.
According to him, the University’s College of Medicine and Faculty of Law have been identified by SIT as “centres of excellence” where students would pay school fees of more than N2 million per academic session with effect from next academic session.
Report further had it that workers who attended the meeting expressed shock over the attitude, character and behavior of Mr. Osakue who was said to have stood in for the Chairman of SIT at the meeting.
They described attitude of Mr. Osakue as a flagrant display of ignorance, coarseness, tyranny, oppression and suppression.
Reports also have it that many staff were not allowed to air their views on the critical issues or make suggestions on how to resolve the problems. Rather, Mr. Osakue allegedly embarked on bullying, intimidation and humiliation of staff, including Professors that attended the meeting. The reports said that the meeting ended abruptly and in fiasco as a result of workers reaction to the outburst of Mr. Osakue.
The workers described Mr. Osakue claims that SIT was on top of the problem of unpaid salaries in the university as a hoax, alleging that the vast majority of workers have not been paid salaries for several months.
Investigation revealed that no fewer than 350 staff of the university have had their salaries stopped on the arbitrary order or directive of the University’s SIT without any form of query or existing disciplinary action against the affected staff.
It was also discovered that no specific reason or explanation has been offered to the affected individual staff for the sudden stoppage of their salaries since January, 2022 and till date this category of staff are being owed 12 months salaries.
It was revealed that during the meeting, SIT did not sympathize with workers denied salaries by the University Administration for twelve (12) months or showed any commitment towards resolving the matter justly and amicably.
Rather, Mr. Osakue was said to have stated that the state Government has terminated the appointments of staff who participated in the recently suspended university unions strike and/or biometrics verification exercise issues.
Mr. Osakue allegedly described the issues of unpaid salaries and biometrics verification exercise as “no go areas” at the meeting against the expectation of workers that the meeting was designed to resolve the myriad problems and issue bedeviling the smooth administration, industrial harmony and progress of the University.
The Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, which is one of the first state universities in Nigeria, has been drowning in avoidable crises allegedly caused by the attitude, policies and actions by authorities saddled with the responsibility of managing the university.
In addition to the visible aberration in the administrative structure of the university causing the institution to take the form of a rudderless ship, the deliberate refusal and failure of the University Administration to pay the salaries of the vast majority of staff of the University for twelve (12) months (January 2022 – December 2022) for no justifiable reasons has provoked uneasiness in the University.
The University’s indebtedness of unremitted check-off dues and sundry deductions to the various staff unions and workers’ cooperative bodies in the University is in millions of naira.
Investigation also revealed that the pain, anger, hunger and demoralization of workers and the administrative profligacy in the University have placed the University on the precipice of total collapse.
Many stakeholders and concerned persons have expressed fear that if the university is allowed to remain in the hands of the SIT, the University will metamorphose to a glorified high school.
In order to prepare for President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state, the Lagos State Government has declared that traffic will be restricted on Monday, January 23, with a detour on the Island on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.
The State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has been deployed, along with alternative routes, to manage traffic flow during the two-day visit, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation said in a statement on Friday. The commissioner, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde.
“On the first day, which is Monday, 23,” according to Oladeind, who described the routes that will be manned by LASTMA Personnel: “movement around Lagos Rice Mill, Imota in Ikorodu, and the Lekki Deep Port Sea axis will be restricted.
“While on the second day, which is Tuesday 24, movement around Eko Hotels and Suites, Ahmadu Bello Way, J-Randle through to Broad Street and Outer Marina, will be diverted from 6.00 am to 3.00 pm.”
While pleading with motorists for their cooperation, Oladeinde highlighted the alternative routes made available as options for motorists depending on the desired destinations.
The options, according to the movement plan, will have motorists diverted from Ahmadu Bello Way, Ademola Adetokunbo and Akin Adesola Street to Falomo Bridge (Five Cowries Bridge), to Alfred Rewane Road to connect their desired destinations.
Motorists that are Onikan-bound from Ozumba Mbadiwe and Bonny Camp are enjoined to make use of Falomo Bridge (Five Cowries Bridge) or Awolowo Road.
The Transport Commissioner further stated that motorists from Awolowo Road heading to Onikan Roundabout, Tinubu Square or any other part of the inner Island will make use of Falomo Roundabout to link Alfred Rewane to further their journeys.
Another diversion option made available, according to the statement, is for motorists from King George V Road to connect Moloney Street and then Obalende for their desired destinations, or alternatively link Turton Street through Moloney Street to Lewis and Sandgrouse Streets.
For the motorists from Eko Bridge trying to link Marina, they will be diverted to Elegbata, Ebute Ero to Police Post to link the 3rd Mainland Bridge (Adeniji Adele) to further connect their desired destinations.
While stressing that all the adjourning streets leading to the dedicated routes for the movement of Mr. President will be temporarily closed, Oladeinde assured motorists of a well-mapped out strategy to minimize delays and inconveniences of road users.
Festus Keyamo SAN, the spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign committee, has launched a lawsuit against Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate for the general elections of 2022, before the Federal High Court of Abuja.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and Code of Conduct Bureau are other defendants in the lawsuit.
According to the writ of summons with the filing number FHC/ABJ/CS/84/2022, Keyamo claims that on or around December 2, 2022, a whistleblower by the name of Michael Achimugu went public and detailed in graphic detail some of the events that took place between him and the first Defendant.
The Plaintiff avered that the said Achimugu then made available to the public a Certified True Copy of an affidavit to which he swore capturing those events. The Plaintiff further averred in his statement of claim that he obtained the CTC of the said affidavit.
The statement of claim sighted by our correspondent has an alleged conversation between Achimugu and Atiku.
Specifically, the Plaintiff wants a declaration that the 1st Defendant is under a legal obligation to make available to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants, for the purpose of aiding their investigation, information available to him in respect of a certain bank account belonging to a company named Marine Float and other accounts of two undisclosed companies, which information he disclosed to a certain close aide of his called Michael Achimugu, as to how the said accounts were used as a “Special Purpose Vehicles” to secretly divert and misappropriate public funds between 1999 and 2007 when the 1st Defendant served as Vice President of Nigeria.
Keyamo is also praying for a declaration that the 1st Defendant is under a legal obligation to submit himself to the CCB, ICPC and EFCC for thorough investigation in connection with information available to him in respect of a certain bank account belonging to a company named Marine Float and other accounts of two undisclosed companies.
The Plaintiff is seeking a declaration that the CCB, ICPC and EFCC are under a legal obligation to invite and/or arrest, investigate and (if found wanting) prosecute the 1st Defendant in respect of information available to the 1st Defendant in respect of a certain bank account belonging to a company named Marine Float and other accounts of two undisclosed companies.
Among other reliefs, the APC spokesman wants, “A mandatory order compelling the 1st Defendant to make available information to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants, for the purpose of aiding their investigation, as well as an order compelling the 1st Defendant to submit himself to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants for thorough investigation in connection with information available to him in respect of a certain bank account belonging to a company named Marine Float and other accounts of two undisclosed companies.
“A mandatory order of compelling the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants to invite and/or arrest, investigate and (if found wanting) prosecute the 1st Defendant in respect of information available to the 1st Defendant in respect of a certain bank account belonging to a company named Marine Float and other accounts of two undisclosed companies, which information he disclosed to a certain close aide of his called Michael Achimugu, as to how the said accounts were used as “Special Purpose Vehicles” to secretly divert and misappropriate public funds between 1999 and 2007 when the 1st Defendant served as Vice President of Nigeria. No judge has been assigned the suit.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has asked medical personnel to keep a high index of suspicion for diphtheria by being vigilant and on the lookout for symptoms.The NCDC has responded to reports of instances of diphtheria in the states of Lagos and Kano, according to Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, the agency’s director general, who made the statement in a public health alert available to newsmen in Abuja.He stated that instances are currently being found in the states of Yobe and Osun, where the NCDC is actively monitoring the issue.According to information from the Kano State Ministry of Health, there have been 25 deaths as a result of the diphtheria outbreak, along with 58 suspected cases and six people who have been admitted.The NCDC states that diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium called Corynebacterium species that affects the nose, throat and sometimes, skin of an individual.The symptoms of diphtheria include; fever, runny nose; sore throat; cough; red eyes (conjunctivitis); and neck swelling.In severe cases, a thick grey or white patch appears on the tonsils and/or at the back of the throat associated with difficulty breathing.Adetifa said in addition to clinically suspected cases, there have been laboratory-confirmed cases, and the NCDC is working with state ministries of health and partners to enhance surveillance and response to the outbreak.He said people most at risk of contracting diphtheria are: Children and adults who have not received any or a single dose of the pentavalent vaccine (a diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccine); People who live in a crowded environment; People who live in areas with poor sanitation; and Healthcare workers and others who are exposed to suspected/confirmed cases of diphtheria.NCDC hinted that diphtheria spreads easily between people through; direct contact with infected people, droplets from coughing or sneezing, and contact with contaminated clothing and objects.It advised parents to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated against diphtheria with three doses of the pentavalent vaccine as recommended in the childhood immunisation schedule.However, individuals with signs and symptoms suggestive of diphtheria were also advised to isolate themselves and notify the local government area , state disease surveillance officer (DSNO) or the NCDC
There is no denying that attempts by the concerned parties to reach an agreement with the G-5 Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by the Governor of River State, Nyesom Wike, and consisting of Engineers Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Samuel Orthom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, on how to drop their differences and work together with the
This truth cannot be far off given that the governor of Oyo State, who was supposed to host the presidential campaign event, boycotted the event for no apparent reason or apologies for doing so.
Our correspondent gathered that Governor Makinde who is seeking second term in office under the PDP platform deliberately shunned the presidential candidate campaign of his political party that was held at the historical Mapo Hall Ibadan, on Thursday based on his stand with his colleagues who are members of the G-5.
Atiku Abubakar in company of his running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, national chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, chairman of the campaign council, Governor Emmanuel Udom, Director General of his campaign, Aminu Tambuwal, serving and former governors and members of the National Assembly and a host of other party members and supporters.
The G-5 Governors in their demands seeking for fairness and equity on sharing political positions of the party, this include and not limited to resignation of the chairman of the party Iyorcha Ayu who according to the aggrieved governors come from same geo political zone where the presidential candidate of the party emerged.
PDP G-5 Governors started feud with the party’s leadership over Dr Ayu’s refusal to step down, contrary to his promise to quit if the presidential candidate was picked from his geo political zone, the North. They have insisted that Ayu’s resignation is a condition for supporting PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in next year’s election.
One of the G-5 Governors, Okezie Ikpeazu, the Abia state Governor, in his recent interview said the philosophy of the G-5 governors was beyond the 2023 general election. The Governor said the agitation for inclusiveness was aimed at strengthening fairness and mutual trust in the country.
Ikpeazu maintained that a united Nigeria would be realized if there is political, economic and social harmony.
He said, “There are issues of integrity, keeping promises, making sure that if we say ‘after me, it’s you’, when that time comes, it happens. This will stabilize us as a country and engender social mobilisation sufficient to tackle our security problems, tackle the economic problems, and tackle other problems that confront us in this country.
“G-5 speaks to a new paradigm. It is beyond 2023. It speaks about a new paradigm. Ikpeazu said.
However, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in his address at the campaign promised to restructure the country of elected into power.
He said, “The people of the South-West have been known for agitating for restructuring, and by restructuring we mean giving more powers or autonomy to the states . It is one of our five pillars in our programme to make sure that we implement restructuring, meaning that more resources and more powers will be given to you so that you can develop at your own pace in your state as well as in your local government.
“We are committed to making sure that there are no more strikes in in our universities. It means that we will fund our universities, pay our teachers on time so that we don’t have any distractions to our academic activities.
“South-West is known also for business, that is why in our economic programme we are committed to making sure that the industrialization of the south-west is achieved and will have the support of the federal government. This is part of our commitments.”
“There are five major commitments that we made to the people of this country. For unity, we will make sure that there is inclusion for every part of this country. Every part of the country will be represented in our government, not like what the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is going. Atiku said.
Other prominent PDP leaders who accompanied Atiku to Ibadan campaign are the ex- national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, Idris Wada, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Dino Melaye, Nnamadi Sambo and Sule Lamido, Indidi Elumelu, Abdul Ningi, Bonie Haruna, Lyel Imoke, Yakubu Dogara and Philip Aduda.
While those who were in Ibadan to receive the party’s presidential candidate included Chief Wole Oyelese, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, Hazeem Gbolarumi, Prof Abiodun Raufu among others.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for president, has declared that if he wins the general election on February 25, 2023, fiscal policy will be the main focus of his administration.
The former governor of Lagos State recently stated during a meeting with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) that within his first 100 days in office, he would assemble a team of technocrats to work alongside him in running the government. He also stated that PMS subsidies would be completely eliminated and instead allocated to more deserving projects like housing, rails, roads, and infrastructural renewal.
“Fiscal policy will be the main driver of our reforms as monetary policy is a weaker and less effective instrument. Henceforth, we will not tie our budget to Dollar- denominated oil revenues
“We will tie our budget to the projected spending levels that will push the annual growth rate above 10%, and this will inadvertently reduce the unemployment rate and the economy will be doubled in seven years.
“On electricity, generation and transmission will be decentralised 100%, allowing for investors to explore all sources of energy and more lucrative tariff system for better ROI for investors,” he said.
The APC presidential candidate promised that his government would relax the restrictions on import and foreign exchange, which he said, has increased smuggling and round tripping that has stifled the economy thus far.
In continuation of this, Tinubu stated that his government would move to a unified exchange rate regime, thereby cutting the official and black market dichotomy.
“On unemployment for our teeming youths, we intend to focus more on the creative sector music, fashion and movies because this sector has the tendencies of reducing unemployment by 30 to 40%.
“To achieve this, the legal environment will be created to address piracy and copyright issues and give backing to the much-needed private sector funding to boost the sector, while the government will be providing the hard infrastructure needs to generate millions of jobs and foreign exchange for the country,” he said.
Tinubu explained that despite passing the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021, the nation has experienced “dwindling revenues from oil owing to oil theft and vandalisation. Reforms will be made to ensure 100% implementation of PIA by removing bottlenecks and working in a more coordinated manner using technology to drive the reforms.”
According to Tinubu, “Closing fiscal gaps, promoting domestic revenue mobilisation, implementing tax reforms, curbing institutionised corruption, optimising budget, and streamlining bureaucracy will be imperative for a new Nigeria.”
At Abagena village, across from the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Makurdi, on Thursday night, a group of people who appeared to be Fulani herdsmen shot and killed about eight people.
Among those killed by the herders who went on the rampage were a man, his wife, their four children, and their dog.
Sewuese Anene, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), of the Nigerian Police’s Benue State Command, verified the occurrence but stated that she did not yet know all the specifics of the assault.
Our correspondent also discovered that the herders had taken most of their victims’ heads following the attack, which occurred between 9pm and 10pm on Thursday.
We also gathered that many other victims were badly injured in the attack, while some of them that were shot in the chest have very slim chances of survival.
Among the bodies that were recovered, were the corpses of women and children, while the injured have been moved to the hospital for proper treatment.
There is an indication that Colonel Paul Hembah rtd, the Special Adviser on Security, to Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state may address newsmen on the attack later on Friday.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Prince Adebowale Adebayo, of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), were in Ibadan on Thursday for the South West Development Stakeholders Presidential Parley.
The South West Development Stakeholders Forum was in charge of planning the event.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Atiku’s running mate, Iyorchia Ayu, Governor Emmanuel Udom, the chairman of the campaign council, Aminu Tambuwal, the director general of his campaign, as well as current and former governors and members of the National Assembly, were all in attendance.
Prince Adewole Adebayo pledged 30 million young people in his speech for Nigerian youth.
He said, “I have travelled to other region and I have confirmed that they are not afraid of a Yoruba man to lead this country, they see us as people of integrity and they want someone with that can lead right, if I’m elected, I will address poverty.”
“I will also address the issue of insecurity, infrastructure, and effective and equal justice. I want to implore us that we should vote into power people of integrity that will not embezzle our collective efforts, let us vote into power people that have the love of the masses at heart.”
“I will fully support state police, government should be accountable for the masses, an accountable government will use the resources at his disposal to create wealth and job opportunities for his people.” Adebayo said.
In his own contributions, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar promised to restructure the country if elected into power.
He said, “I’m well and strong to lead Nigerian, I don’t mind giving a private company a tax waver to construct a rail transport system from here in Ibadan to Ogbomoso to ease the ways of doing business and this will not only boost our economy at the local and state level but also at the national level.”
“If restructuring is your priority, I will implement it, I’m far ahead of any other candidates in terms of restructuring and devolution of power.”
“I’m a private sector believer as far as our economy is concern, it is only the private sector that can bring prosperity and create jobs for our teeming youths, when I was in office as the vice president of this country, we had a successful government because it was private sector driven, so today, you have a private sector believer before you.”
“The APC government has succeeded in dividing us, they’ve divided us so much between the North and the south, they have divided us between Muslim and christians, I stand before you today and I’m promising to unite this country through balanced federal government appointment.”
“Insecurity is part of our restructuring issues, in other words, the issue of if we will have a state police or not will depend on our legislature, in united state, we have state police, local police, even regional police, and so on, I will surely propose the state police to our national assembly if elected but it depends on the national and state assemblies, that is why I’m urging you all to vite into power people that will give you good representation.” Atiku said.
According to the Atiku/Okowa campaign organization, the presence of Nigerians at the PDP’s presidential rally in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday in support of Atiku Abubakar, the party’s nominee for president, confirmed reconciliations and unity within the party in preparation for a resounding victory in Oyo, the South West, and across the other five geopolitical zones of the country.
In their joint effort to ensure the party’s victory at all levels of the upcoming general elections in February and March 2023, the Atiku/Okowa campaign noted, appreciated, and commended the unity, oneness of purpose, and consensus among the ranks of leaders, important stakeholders, and teeming party members with Governor Seyi Makinde.
The campaign, in a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan said, “the unity and single-mindedness witnessed at the Oyo Rally, just like in other states of the federation, further confirms that the PDP remains one big, indissoluble and indivisible family driven by the patriotic mission to rescue and rebuild our nation with Atiku Abubakar on the saddle as President.
“The people of Oyo State, and, of course the South West, are independent-minded, insightful, egalitarian and politically astute with unparalleled nationalistic outlook that cannot be swayed by parochial and narrow-minded sentiments.
“The action of solidarity by our teeming members and supporters in Oyo State, like in other States, have sent very strong signal to the weak and scavenging political parties that the PDP remains firmly united in the South West and other parts of the country.”
The campaign once again, commended the people of Oyo State; professional groups, community leaders, faith-based groups, traditional institutions, youths and women groups, student bodies, transporters, artisans, traders and all other very important segments of the State for their unwavering support and resolve to vote Atiku Abubakar as the next President of Nigeria.
“Our Campaign urges the people of Oyo State and Nigerians across board to remain united and resolute as they come out enmasse to vote and take a firm stand, within the ambit of the law and democracy, by protecting their votes to the very end and elect Atiku Abubakar in the overall interest of our nation,” the campaign said.
