2023 Election: ‘He Lacks Capacity To Unify Nigerians’ – Group Tackles Atiku Over Sectional Comment

-

October 17, 2022

National Stadium, Lagos Tracks Installation Commences

The Federal Government’s bid to restore the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos to its old glory has received a major boost with the commencement of the installation of the tartan tracks last week.

A top official of Kyle Next, one of the contractors handling the rehabilitation of the edifice confirmed the laying of the tracks has commenced and could be completed in four weeks with the newly installed facility in place.

Track technical specialist Joseph Ayinla of Ideal Sports, a sports facilities installation and management company, revealed that the tracks will be laid in stages.

“The first stage that we commenced last week is the Elastic layer(E-layer)stage which will be followed by the Sealant stage to make the tracks impermeable to water and other fluids. The third stage will be the coating stage.

“After all these have been done, a certified World Athletics tracks marker will then do the markings. There will be a 9 lane running track and the strip for jumps, which is for long and triple jumps,” disclosed Ayinla, who was part of the team that laid the last tracks at the stadium in 1998, twenty-four years ago and has been involved in the laying of such facilities in some other top class arena in Nigeria and beyond.

Already, there has been the installation of a digital scoreboard and a revamping of the football pitch of the stadium by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development through the Public-Private Partnership(PPP) arrangement and the Adopt a Pitch initiative put in place by the Sports Minister Sunday Dare.

On the rehabilitation of the terraces, the Minister confirmed that progress is being made in sourcing the funds needed for the project.

He said, “Our Adopt a Pitch arrangement with Premier Lotto for the Lagos National Stadium covers the pitch, tracks, and scoreboard and that is on course. We are also making progress in sourcing the funds to fix the terraces.”

Only last week, work began on the re-grassing of the pitch of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium(formerly called Liberty Stadium)in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The other high point of the sports infrastructure development drive of the Federal Government in the last three years has been the restoration of the playing turf of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja after many years of neglect.

Gunmen Kidnap Two Sons Of Scrap Dealer In Kwara, Demand N20m Ransom

By

ABN TV EDITOR

-

October 17, 2022

Gunmen Kill Resident, Abduct One, Hijack Car In Abuja

Gunmen have abducted two sons of a scrap dealer, Mr Lukman Aliyu, in Aseyori community, Alagbado area of Kwara State.

ABN TV gathered that over six hoodlums invaded the residence of the victims around 12 midnight and shot sporadically in the process.

While speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, Mr Aliyu and his wife, Sarat, confirmed the incident and said those abducted were Quadir, 15, and Muideen, 12.

“I don’t even know how I survived because they came raining bullets on the house. I hid my wife and five children in one of the rooms and ran elsewhere but they used cutlasses and axes to destroy the door beneath to gain entrance. They took two of the children and hit my wife on the chest terribly in the process.

“They took away four phones and have contacted us demanding 20 million naira ransom. This is the third kidnapping incident in weeks in the area and residents have abandoned their properties for fear of being kidnapped,” Aliyu added.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, said the case might not have been reported at the command headquarters. He promised to get back to our correspondent but was yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

The Alagbado community, located at the outskirts of the town close to Okoolowo, had come under several kidnapping attacks in the last one month with some of the victims killed in the process.

Israel’s Intention To Supply Arms To Ukraine Will Destroy Relations With Russia – Medvedev

By

-

October 17, 2022

Israel's Intention To Supply Arms To Ukraine Will Destroy Relations With Russia - Medvedev — Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev

Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev warned on Monday that it would be a mistake for Israel to supply weapons to Ukraine.

“Israel seems to have decided to supply weapons to the Kiev regime. That would be a very rash decision, for it would damage all the interstate relations between our countries,” Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel.

He said Israel might as well recognize [Stepan] Bandera and [Roman] Shukhevich, as its heroes. Bandera was the leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), and Shukhevich led the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). Both organizations are outlawed in Russia.

On Sunday, Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Nachman Shai said his country should follow the example of the US and its NATO allies and start providing military assistance to Ukraine.

Labour Party Senatorial Candidate In Ebonyi Kidnaped By Gunmen

By

-

October 17, 2022

Imo Gunmen Abduct Ideato LG chairman, Two Others — Gunmen

Gunmen, on Sunday, kidnapped the Labour Party senatorial candidate for the Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Mr. Linus Okorie.

It was gathered that Okorie, who arrived in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, from Abuja on Saturday, was to meet with his supporters on Sunday in the Onicha Local Government Area of the state.

He was said to have been kidnapped while driving out of his Abakaliki residence on Sunday.

ABN TV reports that Okorie is also a former House of Representatives member from Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency, Ebonyi State,

In a statement on Sunday night, the Director of Linus’ CaringHeart Foundation, Dr. David Ogbonna said, “Hon. Linus Abah Okorie was kidnapped early this morning on his way to his house in Abakaliki by gunmen known to be men of the Ebubeagu Security outfit allegedly sent by the Onicha Local Government Chairman.

“The available information confirms that he’d been severely tortured to a near-death situation, made naked, and pictures of him taken by his abductors.

“The information available at this moment confirms that their end-point motive is to torture him to death and dump his body at Ebonyi river.

“His phones are currently with the team commander of his abductors.

“A professional tracking done on his lines reviewed Okoja Road, near Police Headquarters, as his current location. The second line showed Ebunwana, Edda.

“We’re believing that his abductors may have kept his half-dead body at old Government house where the previous actions of the indicted militia group usually take place.”

Meanwhile, the incident has generated tension in the Onicha council area, as youths in the area are said to be agitating for a protest and mounting roadblocks on strategic roads.

The Chairman of the Onicha LGA, Chidiebere Uzor, has, however, debunked allegations that he had a hand in the incident.

In a statement, his Special Assistant, Akpuru Anioke, said, “The attention of staff, management, and peace-loving indigenes of Onicha LGA has been drawn to a malicious allegation leveled on our Executive chairman, Hon. Chidibere Uzor, by one Ogbonnaya David from Ohaozara LGA.

“I, on behalf of our amiable boss, wish to categorically inform the general public that the executive chairman of Onicha LGA has never and will never involve in the abduction or arrest of any law-abiding citizen.

“Our peace-loving chairman did not arrange for the alleged abduction/arrest of Hon. Linus Abba Okorie as timidly accused by the named room divider. Hon. Linus Abaa Okorie and Hon. Chidibere Uzor are true and patriotic sons of Onicha Igboeze, and I am vehemently convinced that one cannot plan any evil for the other irrespective of differences in their party ideologies and practices.

“Information on public space has it that Hon. Linus Abah Okorie and three other drugs paddlers were arrested and not abducted by the state security architecture on drug-related case and has been handed over to NDLEA for other necessary actions. For more information, one can contact the NDLEA office at Abakaliki.”

Also, the Onicha council boss, Uzor, in an interview with journalists, said, “I have nothing to do with it. He was not kidnapped. I learnt his City Hub was being used by ‘mkpurumuri’ and ‘loud’ dealers. He is harbouring drug dealers and so he was arrested by security agencies led by NDLEA.”

But the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in Ebonyi State denied knowing Linus’ whereabouts, saying he was not in its custody.

The State Commandant, Iyke Uche, said, “We never arrested (him) or was anybody with that name handed over to us. There is nobody like that in our custody.”

‘I’m Mobilising For PDP’ Dotun Babayemi Promised

By

-

October 17, 2022

'I’m Mobilising For PDP' Dotun Babayemi Promised — Dotun Babayemi

A former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Dotun Babayemi, on Sunday, promised to work for the victory of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and other candidates vying for positions on the platform of PDP at the 2023 polls.

Babayemi spoke on Sunday in Gbongan at the 25th remembrance service in honour of his father, Oba Solomon Babayemi, the Olufi of Gbongan.

Speaking further, he described the PDP as the party that could bail the country out of its doldrums, adding that he would not relent in his efforts at ensuring the success of the party at the coming elections in 2023.

“PDP is the only party that can take the country out of its current woods. In this vein, I am doing everything necessary at wards, local governments, and state levels as well as the South-West, to ensure the emergence of the PDP come 2023,” he said.

A statement by the spokesperson of Babayemi Campaign Organisation, Kayode Oladeji, also noted that the homilist at the service, Bishop Oluwagbemiro Fabuluje, condemned Babayemi’s kinsmen in the PDP that supported his expulsion from the party.

Encouraging Babayemi, he enjoined him not to be deterred by the turn of events saying, “To you Omooba Dotun Babayemi, I will implore you to keep your vision and hope alive; don’t be discouraged, pursue it. God has given you a vision for Osun State and it will surely come to pass. It may not yet be your time, but your time will surely come and you will surely get there by the grace of God.”

Air Peace Ready To Operate Direct Flights To Israel – Allen Onyema

By

-

October 17, 2022

Air Peace ready to operate direct flights to Israel - Allen Onyema

Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema has affirmed the readiness of the company to operate direct flights to Isreal.

This was made known by Onyema when he paid a courtesy visit to Yakubu Pam, executive secretary, of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) in his office in Abuja over the weekend.

The airline’s founder was accompanied by Michael Freeman, Israeli ambassador to Nigeria.

He said Air Peace desired to kick off flights from Lagos to Tel Aviv in order to ease the burden of connecting flights on intending pilgrims from Nigeria.

On his part, Pam said: “Having a direct flight to Israel by a Nigerian airline will curtail the issue of high expenditure and reduce abscondment.”

“Our joy is that our own person, a Nigerian, will be the first to have this opportunity to airlift pilgrims directly to Israel”.

Pam added that it would drastically reduce the cost of flights, as he expressed gratitude to the ambassador for considering it imperative to pay a courtesy visit to NCPC.

“We are very humble to receive you here in your capacity as one who represents the entire country of Israel in Nigeria,” he said.

He further explained that NCPC was set up primarily to coordinate and supervise the movement of Christians to Israel and other holy places around the world.

Pam commended the ambassador for his zeal and doggedness in charting a way forward for Christian pilgrimage and also applauded Onyema for his national humanitarian interventions.

On his part, Freeman thanked the NCPC boss for all his efforts in advancing the cause of the Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria.

He expressed delight in working with the NCPC.

“We have a true partnership to grow together,” Freeman added.

Implement #EndSARS Panel Report, CSOs Urges Gov. Soludo

By

-

October 17, 2022

Your Host Can’t Respect You If Your State Isn’t Prosperous, Soludo Tells Anambra Indigenes In Lagos — Charles Soludo

Civil society organizations have urged the governors in the Southeast to implement the panel report ahead of the second anniversary of the #EndSARS campaign.

The groups expressed concern that more than eight months after the judicial panel on police brutality’s report was delivered to the governors, it has still not been put into practice.

Mr. Vincent Ezekwueme, Secretary of the Civil Liberties Organisation, told journalists in Awka on Sunday that only the implementation of the report will alleviate the region’s current insecurity and tension.

Ezekwueme, who served on the Anambra #EndSARS panel, recalled that the Anambra report was given to former governor Willie Obiano on March 15, 2022.

He said Nigerians and the global community are inquisitive and eager to know how the petitioners will be compensated.

He said, “Anambra State received the highest petitions of 310, which is the highest in the country. For justice to be seen to have been done, victims of police brutality should be adequately compensated in line with the N699,000,000 recommended by the penal

The Justice Veronica Ngozi Umeh-led panel presented a thorough, articulate, and conscientious report that, if judiciously implemented, will assuage the agony, pains, and sufferings of the victims, petitions, and their families. Notably, if the petitioners are not compensated, the aim of the government in establishing the SARS end-SARS penal will be defeated.

“Governor Chukwuma Soludo should urgently do the needful as we mark two years of horrendous incidents that led to the deaths of many youths.” Their sacrifices shall never be in vain, hence the ineluctable and inexorable need to vote for credible leaders in the 2023 general election.”

Also, the Anambra State Civil Society Network, led by Comrade Chris Azor, said that instead of implementing the recommendations, the government set up what it called the Truth, Justice, and Peace Commission.

Therefore, Azor, who was a member of the #EndSARS Panel, urged Soludo to act upon the Judicial Panel of inquiry report submitted in March 2022.

“The state government, in its effort to address security challenges in the state, should, as a first step, act on the report to ameliorate the various injuries suffered by victims and their families.”

“This should be fundamental towards achieving the desired peace and security in the state and indeed the Southeast region,” Azor added.

Sack Irabor Over Destruction Of Vessel Used For Oil Theft, Falana Tells FG

By

-

October 17, 2022

Nigeria Practising Plutocracy Not Democracy — Falana — Femi Falana

Lawyer and activist, Femi Falana has asked the federal government to sack the chief of defence, Lucky Irabor over the destruction of an illegal oil bunkering vessel.

Recall that a private pipeline surveillance team, Tanita security services led by a former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo last week arrested a vessel used for crude oil theft off the Niger Delta creeks.

The vessel was however set ablaze without proper investigation by officers of the Nigerian Navy.

Speaking after the national security council meeting in Abuja on Friday, Irabo defended the destruction of the vessel, adding that it was caught in the act and the instrument of operation was set ablaze as there was no need for investigation.

However, citing section 111 of the armed forces act, Falana said the justification of the chief of defence was criminal conduct and it is trite law that only the federal high court is empowered to order the interim or final forfeiture of any vessel that was used for conveying stolen crude oil.

According to him, Irabor’s response was a deliberate attempt to cover up the involvement of military personnel in the serious crime of oil theft as there is no provision in the rules of engagement that authorises military personnel or security operatives to set fire or destroy vessels loaded with stolen crude.

“Indeed, the chief of defence staff is not unaware that under the service law the burning of a ship or vessel by a military personnel is a serious offence which attracts life imprisonment without an option of fine,” he said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, section 111 of the armed forces act provides as follows: Arson- A person subject to service law under this act who willfully or maliciously sets fire- (a) to a public building, dwelling house, an office or any structure whatsoever, movable or immovable, whether completed or not, occupied or not; or (b) to any vessel, ship, aircraft, railway track or wagon or vehicle or thing; or (c) to a mine or working, fitting or an appliance of a mine, is guilty of arson and liable, on conviction by a court-martial, to imprisonment for life.”

Falana, therefore, asked that the chief of defence resigns or be sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also added that other person involved should be arrested and charged with arson.

“In view of the gravity of the offence that is being covered up by the military oligarchy, general Irabor ought to resign his appointment to prevent the sabotage of the ongoing operations designed to expose the perpetrators of oil theft in the Niger Delta region,” he added.

“If the general decides not to call it quits, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, President Muhammadu Buhari should not hesitate to fire him. After all, by authorising the engagement of non-state actors to carry out the constitutional duties of the armed forces, the President has lost confidence in the leadership of the armed forces.

“Furthermore, the president should order the chief of army staff to ensure the immediate arrest of the military personnel who set the vessel on fire to charge on and allied offences before a court martial.”

Russia “Won’t Be Able To Break Us,” Zelensky Insist After Monday Drone Attacks

By

-

October 17, 2022