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Calling For Ayu’s Resignation Is Achievable – Atiku Abubakar

By
Victor Alade
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0
PDP Transformed Ebonyi Into London, Will Do Same For Nigeria – Iyorchia Ayu
Iyorchia Ayu

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has stated that the demand by some political big wigs in his party, calling for the resignation of the National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, is achievable.

Atiku disclosed this when he met with PDP stalwarts in Ibadan, on Wednesday.

Wike had faulted the emergence of Atiku as the presidential flag bearer, Iyorchia Ayu, Chairman of the party, and Sen. Walid Jibrin, chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, all from the northern part of the country.

Wike accused the party of violating the principles of equity, fairness and balance, noting that the laws guiding the party has been trampled upon.

He insisted that Ayu should honorably do the right thing (resign), and allow a southerner become the party’s chairman.

Addressing the issue, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sen. Walid Jibrin tendered his resignation letter, paving way for a former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, (from South-East) to become the new BoT Chairman.

With Jibin’s resignation, Wike also insisted that the right thing must be done. He stated that Ayu must resign from his position.

However, supporting Wike today, Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde said: “The truth is that we do not have any issue either with our party or our candidate. If there are challenges they must be tabled.

“We are supposed to give hope to our people, we want them to listen to us.

“Our party wants to rescue Nigeria and our candidate is a unifier. He wants to restructure Nigeria

“Eight years of the All Progressives Congress have left us sharply divided. The issue is we must practice what we preach. If we want to unify Nigeria, we must unify the PDP first.

“If we want to restructure Nigeria, we must have the willingness to bring inclusivity to the PDP. Do we have the capacity? The answer is resounding yes.

“The message from the South-West PDP is the South-West is asking that the National Working Committee of the PDP should be restructured.

“We are asking the National Chairman to step down so that the South will be fully included. That is the message.”

But reacting to Makinde’s statement, Atiku said that is Ayu’s resignation is achievable through the constitution guiding the party.

His words: “I have no problem about anywhere any party member comes from but it must be done in accordance to the party’s constitution or regulations and practices.

“What governor Seyi Makinde is calling for is achievable under the party’s Constitution under the party rules and regulations and procedures. 

“This constitution must guide whatever changes we make, so that is why we cannot do anything outside that constitution unless it is amended.

“We do not say people should not have different views but all views must go through the party’s constitution, rules regulations and our practices”.

We Will Win 14m Votes For Tinubu, Says Group

By
Victor Alade
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0
We Will Win 14m Votes For Tinubu, Says Group
Bola Ahmed Tinubu

As the presidential election draws nearer, a group under the auspices of South-West Agenda for Asiwaju, has pledged to win 14 million votes for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress Asiwaju, Ahmed Tinubu in the election.

To achieve this, the group urged its members in all the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State to start mobilising support for the APC Presidential-hopeful and other candidates of the party in the 2023 general elections.

The group held a sensitisation walk in Akure, the state capital, on Wednesday which was attended by youths and some leaders of the group across the South-West region.

Speaking, the  National Coordinator of the group , Senator Dayo Adeyeye, said the walk was designed to galvanise more support for Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, ahead of the presidential election.

Adeyeye who is a former Minister of State for Works noted that the nation’s development was hinged on how competent youths were identified, in leadership roles, stressing the need to vote for the APC presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023.

He said,” Tinubu’s government will bring about all-round development to the  Nigeria. Tinubu has all it takes to tackle all the nation’s socio-economic and political challenges.”

He commended the state governor, Mr  Rotimi Akeredolu for his support for the Southern agenda, noting the Ondo state governor has been in forefront of the struggle for southern president in line with the power rotation arrangement in the country.

In his own, remarks, the National Secretary of the group, Mr Bosun Oladele explained that the rally was about SWAGA and not any political party.

“This is about SWAGA and not a political rally. Our rally is to sensitise the people of Ondo State about our man, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We started and launched this group in December 2020 in Ibadan and we now have chapters in the East, Delta, Kwara and North Central.

“This is not a campaign but just sensitization. We know it’s not yet time for political campaign. We know what the Electoral Act says about campaign,” he explained.

Supreme Court Declares Odii Ifeanyi As Ebonyi PDP Governorship Candidate

By
Victor Alade
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0
Supreme Court Cancels Rivers Local Government Elections
Supreme court

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, declared Chief Chukwuma Odii Ifeanyi as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi state.

The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-man panel of justices, vacated the judgement of the Court of Appeal that ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognize Senator Joseph Obinna Ogba as flag-bearer of the party for the 2023 gubernatorial contest in the state.

The panel which was headed by Justice Amina Augie, held that the appeal marked SC/CV/ 939/2022, which Ifeanyi lodged before the apex court, was meritorious and deserved to succeed.

Woman Robs Bank With Toy Gun To Pay For Sister’s Cancer Treatment

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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0
Armed Robber Kills Gang Member While Attempting To Rob Victim
Robber

A woman held up a Beirut bank Wednesday with a toy gun and walked out with thousands of dollars to pay for treatment for her ill sister, in a desperate heist cheered by many in crisis-hit Lebanon.

It was the latest in a series of heists in Lebanon, where the savings of depositors have been devalued and trapped in banks for almost three years amid a crippling economic crisis.

Sali Hafiz streamed a live video on Facebook of her raid on a Beirut branch of Blom Bank, in which she could be heard yelling at employees to release a sum of money while entrances to the bank were sealed.

“I am Sali Hafiz, I came today… to take the deposits of my sister who is dying in hospital,” she said in the video.

“I did not come to kill anyone or to start a fire… I came to claim my rights.”

In an interview with a Lebanese broadcaster after the raid, Hafiz said she managed to free about $13,000 of the $20,000 she said her family had deposited.

Cancer treatment for her sister costs $50,000, she said.

An AFP correspondent at the scene said gasoline had been poured inside the bank during the heist, which lasted under an hour.

Hafiz told media outlets she had used her nephew’s toy pistol for the hold-up.

Hafiz and suspected accomplices escaped through a smashed window at the back of the bank before security forces arrived, the AFP correspondent said.

She was still on the run, according to her relatives, while Lebanon’s General Security agency dismissed rumours she had fled the country.

Also on Wednesday, a man held up a bank in the city of Aley northeast of Beirut, the official National News Agency reported.

He was arrested, the news agency added, without specifying if he had taken any money.

Hafiz is a 28-year-old activist and interior designer, said Zeina who is one Hafiz’s five sisters.

She said the family had not been in touch with Hafiz since the heist and was not involved in its planning.

“She is wanted by authorities,” Zeina told AFP.

Hafiz instantly turned into a folk hero on social media in Lebanon, where many are desperate to access their savings and furious at a banking sector perceived as a corrupt cartel.

Pictures and footage of her standing on a desk inside the bank carrying a gun went viral on social media.

“Thank you,” one Twitter user wrote. “Two weeks ago I cried at Blom Bank. I needed the money for a surgery. I am too weak to hold a gun and take what is mine.”

Last month, a man received widespread sympathy after he stormed a Beirut bank with a rifle and held employees and customers hostage for hours to demand some of his $200,000 in frozen savings to pay hospital bills for his sick father.

He was detained but swiftly released.

In January, a bank customer held dozens of people hostage in eastern Lebanon after he was told he could not withdraw his foreign currency savings, a source at the lender said.

Local media reported that the customer was eventually given some of his savings and surrendered to security forces.

Lebanon has been battered by its worst-ever economic crisis since 2019. Its currency has lost more than 90 percent of its value on the black market, while poverty and unemployment have soared.

AFP

Blocking Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Is A Violation Of The Law — FG Tells NANS

By
Victor Alade
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0
NANS Urge FG To Ensure Exam Bodies Perform Statutory Duties Without Disruption

THE Federal Government, on Wednesday, said that the protesting members of the National Association of Nigerian students, NANS, that blocked a traffic-laden section of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway are “violating” the country’s law.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, stated this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to the Minister, the Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) recognises and protects citizens’ right to public protests but does not empower any Nigerian to “inflict pain and inconvenience on other people.”

The Ministet’s explanation came on the heels of the report that the protest embarked upon by NANS on Tuesday caused a gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, leaving motorists and passengers stranded.

The protesting students carried placards with different inscriptions and chanting solidarity songs as they lamented the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, that has prolonged for seven months.

They vowed to lay siege of the major highway and others to drive home their demand to end the strike.

But fielding question from journalists on the recurrent gridlock on the uncompleted sections of the highway, Fashola appealed for more patience from Nigerians saying that there is no alternative route in the already built-up areas.

He said “Once again, I apologise and empathise with commuters who need that place toA get on with their lives. It’s the place we left to the last really because it’s the most built-up area, the last six kilometers into Lagos; very densely populated and occupied. There’s very little room for alternative routes for people. So, you just have to bear with us.

“I also heard that some aggrieved students under the aegis of NANS are going to the road to protest. My respectful view is that is not helpful at all to the citizens.

“The right to protest is a very well-protected right in our Constitution, but it does not include the right to inflict pain and inconvenience on other people. And so, whilst the protests can go on, they should refrain from blocking the road in order to do their protests. That in itself is a violation of law.”

Electricity Workers Demand Reversal Of Power Sector Privatization

By
Munachi
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0
Only 10,692 Electricity Projects Fit For Use – FG

The National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, on Wednesday, urged the Federal Government to reverse the privatization of the nation’s power sector, describing new owners of the privatized companies as ‘hustlers’ and ‘hawks’ that have contributed poorly to the power sector.

This body also accused the new owners of deceiving the Federal Government into paying N2 trillion subvention, insisting that they have continued to impoverish Nigerians, leaving the country pillaged.

They claimed that despite recognizable improvements in the wheeling capacity of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, of 7,000 megawatts, the generation output has now dwindled below 5,000 megawatts.

They pointed to the activities of the new owners as part of the reasons why the Power Sector has almost gone comatose and the impoverishment of the average worker in the sector.

The Zonal Organising Secretary (Liaison), Engr. Kolade Ayodele, who spoke to journalists on behalf of his colleagues said Nigerians should also be worried even as electricity tariffs continue to rise without commiserate service delivery.

He said: “Since the privatization of Nigeria’s Power Sector in October 2013, electricity workers under the age of the National Union of Electricity Employees have been in the forefront of speaking out on behalf of the Nigerian people

“It is an undeniable truth that the Power Sector privatization has not added value to the lives of the ordinary Nigerians. The entire exercise which could be described as a charade has not brought any meaningful impact/improvement to the sector, rather, it has led the Nation to a huge setback.

“The infrastructural development by the New Business Owners in the Power Sector has almost gone comatose while the Socio-Economic status of the average worker in the Sector has continued to decline amidst prevailing harsh economic conditions. The same equipment inherited from Pre-Privatization has remained what drives the Sector as there are no visible attempts by the Generation Companies (GenCos) and Distribution Companies (DisCos) to upgrade and expand their capacities/networks.

“Nigerians were deceived into believing that the ‘Harvesters’ had the Financial/Technical muscles to improve power generation and distribution to Nigerians. Can Nigerians be told today that this purpose has been achieved? The answer was echoed in the print/electronic media by members of the National Assembly who even called for the total reversal of the entire process.

“Despite improvement in the wheeling capacity of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) which is still Federal Government owned to over 7,000MW, the generation output has been dwindling below 5,000MW.

He added: “Alas!, the ‘Hustlers’ who deceived the Federal Government into paying almost two trillion naira subvention to the owners of the new companies since privatization; are being used to call the union names in order to exploit Nigerians and sustain the current comatose situation. Their mission is simply to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it while they keep smiling at the banks.

“The same ‘Hawks’ who were gifted the DisCos and GenCos have sharpened their propaganda machinery through these same Hustlers that mid-wived the Privatization of the Power Sector just to distract/hoodwink Nigerians from knowing the real issues.

“Almost nine years of power privatization, the entitlements of some of the workers of the defunct PHCN have not been paid as they suffer untold hardship while some have been sent to an early grave due to frustration and lack of funds to attend to health challenges after being forced out of service under the guise of privatization.

“Similarly, the precarious work conditions have imposed hardship on existing employees in the sector as the generation companies have refused to sign Conditions of Service guiding Employer/Employee relations. Lack of workplace democracy, poor remuneration, lack of welfare packages coupled with being denied their fundamental Constitutional rights to belong/join the Union. They have simply become ‘glorified modern-day slave camps.

“Electricity tariff has continued to rise without making prepaid meters available to Nigerians despite the Federal Government’s directive to the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission and the DisCos.

“We are prepared to use our labour and sweat to liberate the sector and the country from the clutches of these “Hustlers’ in the power sector.”

President Buhari Commends CBN For Financial System Stability

By
Munachi
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0
President Buhari Commends CBN For Financial System Stability
President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday commended the Central Bank of Nigeria for diligently working towards achieving financial system stability in Nigeria.

President Buhari gave the commendation in his address at the 15th Annual Banking and Finance Conference.

It was organized by the Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the theme of the conference is: “Repositioning the Financial Services Industry for an Evolving Glocal Context.”

The President was represented at the event by the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.

Buhari said the theme was apt in view of the need to constantly adapt to internationally acceptable best practices to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the sector.

He also commended the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Security Exchange Commission, National Insurance Commission, and other stakeholders for their contributions.

He pledged the government’s support to the banking and financial sector of the country.

He said: “Let me seize this opportunity to commend the regulators of the industry (CBN, NDIC, SEC NICOM) for their diligent work which has ensured financial system stability in the country over the years.

“I wish to also assure the entire banking and finance community that government will continue to support the industry in all appropriate ways.

“Government will ensure that the sector continues to deliver on its mandates while creating value and innovation for its customers.”

The President called on Nigerians to exploit the country’s comparative advantages for economic growth and prosperity.

He said: “We need a Nigeria of the future that harnesses her strengths, competencies, and cultural diversity to tackle the challenges that plague her people.

“From climate change to pandemics, and insecurity.

“Government will continue to formulate and implement policies that are aimed at promoting self-sustenance in critical areas such as energy, agriculture, health, technologies.”

The conference was attended by stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who were both represented.

Lai Mohammed Lies About Defeating Insecurity — Expert

By
Alex Enemanna
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0
2023 Elections Freest, Most Authentic Nigeria Ever Held — Lai Mohammed
Lai Mohammed

A renowned security expert, Adejare Adegbenro, has faulted the “worst of insecurity is over” claim made by Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture.

The minister had last week said “the worst is over” while briefing newsmen on the security situation of the country.

Mohammed said while the country may still witness isolated attacks on soft targets by terrorists, the security agencies have battled the agents of darkness and recorded massive victories against the terrorists.

Reacting, Adegbenro in a statement submitted that the time is not right to make what he described as “bogus statements” about the insecurity situation.

He said the minister should call on every stakeholder to work in tandem for a safe Nigeria.

“How’s the worst over? As far as I’m concerned, Nigeria still has a lot of security gaps against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements.

“If the minister is being truthful, the best thing he could have said is we are working on it. That’s the appropriate thing to say. How many of them have gone to do on-the-spot assessments despite being in possession of bulletproof cars?

“It hurts me that the Nigeria that I see growing up is not the Nigeria I see now. When he said the worst is over, wasn’t there an attack barely 24 hours before grandstanding?

“The abduction of 32 passengers along the Ondo State axis on Oluku/Owo Road. Have they been released? Even after his statement, haven’t they attacked? At times, one cannot but wish for a benevolent dictator if such a person exists.

“However, we thank God that we are a very prayerful people. Left to this bunch of political class, Nigeria would no longer be Nigeria.

“Our security strength is about 1.2 million for over 200 million people, out of this, how many are being used by the Federal Government, agencies, VIP, VVIP. Deduct that and you will be amazed that quite a number of our security officers are protecting a few at the neglect of the majority doing what bodyguards should be doing.

“Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed. The Nigerian Army, Airforce, Civil Defence have been making tremendous efforts which we must commend but the Federal Government has to boost its morale with a better welfare package.

“Meanwhile, well-meaning Nigerians should also support them. We are all Nigerians and our tribe comes second,” he said

Be Vigilant Against Terrorists, Gani Adams Tells Yoruba Leaders

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, on Wednesday, urged leaders and stakeholders across the South west to be vigilant in keeping terrorists at bay.

Gani Adams said this at the second edition of Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, Dependable Security Team meeting held at ONTEC Event Centre, Abeokuta in Ogun State.

While addressing members of the group in Ogun state, he said the meeting is a strategic approach to combating terrorism in the south west,saying the group gathered 100 members each from each of the 57 local governments in the state.

He added that the meeting was first initiated in Lagos, to beef up the security and also strengthen the grassroots security network across the south west.

The Yoruba generallissimo said: “People often asked What is Aare doing to address the various security challenges bedeviling the region? This is the reason for this intervention move by our group to address the security deficit across the region.

“We are here to raise our voices against terrorism in the South West.Today’s gathering is based on the need to beef up security across the region.

“The security architecture has failed,and we can no longer live as if everything is normal.Nothing has changed.The North East,North West, North Central,and even the South East are not spared in the security conundrum.

“It is traditional role of the Aareonakakanfo to secure Yoruba land.It is our duty also as a group to complement the efforts of the south west government in curb the challenges

“So, I am ready to set the ball rolling whenever I am called upon by the south west governors as well as the traditional rulers in Yoruba land.

“OPC is always ready and the gathering is a big testimony of our structure, strength and resolve to solve the security challenges across the region.

“As far as the OPC is concerned, it is a call to duty,it is our strategic approach to defend ourselves and our region since it is obvious that the security architecture has failed to protect us.

“We cannot leave our fate in the hands of security operatives and agencies that seemed to have been overwhelmed by the raging spate of insecurity in the country.”

Adams reaffirmed the group’s support in salvaging the region, maintaining that the group’s dependable force strategic meeting is an on-going programme that will spread across all the states in the region and beyond.

He said: “The highest decision making organ of the Oodua People’s Congress,the National Executive Council (NEC) and National Coordinating Council (NCC) have concluded plans to build on the successes of the two previous editions of the programme both in Lagos and Ogun states respectively, to reaffirm the need for everybody to be vigilant and also be security conscious in whatever we do.That is the reason for this gathering.”

ASUU Strike: University Of Calabar Promotes 15 Lecturers

By
Munachi
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0
University Of Calabar Bans Water Ritual Practice On Matriculating And Graduating Students

Notwithstanding the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which has entered its eighth month, the University of Calabar has announced the promotion of 15 academics to the professorial cadre.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, announced this development at a Special Senate Session on Tuesday.

Obi said six of the academics were promoted as full professors, while nine others were promoted as associate professors.

Obi is the 11th vice-chancellor of the institution and the first female to occupy the seat.

She congratulated the new professors and charged them to regard their jobs as a service to humanity.

The vice-chancellor also challenged them to put in more effort to produce well-equipped graduates for the overall benefit of the nation.

 

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