Insecurity: Obasanjo Says Nigerians Not Safe On Trains, Roads, Airports

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April 3, 2022

Few days after receiving call from youth organisations in Abia to join the governorship race of the state, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji on Sunday received nomination and expression of interest forms from a group, Concerned Critical Stakeholders of Ikwuano/Umuahia to join in the House of Representatives race in 2023.

A delegation of Concerned Critical Stakeholders of Ikwuano/Umuahia led by the chairman of Abia Warriors FC, Chief Emeka Inyama presented the forms to the Speaker in Umuahia on Sunday.

Inyama said the group’s decision to buy the forms for the Speaker despite growing calls by notable groups for him to join in the race to succeed Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu in 2023 is borne out of his visible track records as a legislator, Majority Leader and now Speaker of the state Assembly.

“We have a different plan for you and we are appealing to you to accept this call. First, it’s because of the good works you have done as a legislator.

“As a Speaker, within months of your ascension to power, you gave a touch to the secretariat and edifice of the House of Assembly, making it look like a small London.

“You have continued in your youth empowerment programme, to touch the lives of youths, and widows across the three local governments of Abia North and South and Ikwuano not your constituency alone

“It is on record, that you have built a youth facility, stadia across the three local governments and each of them has a capacity of minimum of 1,000 seaters.

“We want to commend you and I make bold to say that in the next five to ten years, the Ronaldos, Messis will come out from there. If this happens, families will be blessed, jobs will be created, opportunities will be given.

“We are aware of the stability you have brought in and present Assembly through your visionary leadership. You have given support to the Governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu,” he said.

Inyama said all the stakeholders have met and discussed extensively, finding it necessary to urge to Speaker to serve his people in the House of Representatives.

He therefore urged the Speaker not to ignore their call, saying time has come for him to move ahead.

In a remark, the member representing Umuahia South State constituency, Hon. Jerry Uzosike, said the Speaker remains the hope of Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, and assured him of the continued support of the people.

Responding, the Speaker thanked the stakeholders for the gesture, saying it is an expression of confidence and trust in him.

He however appealed to the group to allow him a little time to consult critical stakeholders in the federal constituency before taking a decision.

Some of the stakeholders present at the form presentation include, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Charles Ogbonna; Chief Emma Nwabuko; Umuahia North Council boss, Ugochukwu Njikonye; and ex-Labour Leader, Lucky Akabuike.

Others are former Ikwuano Council boss, Mrs Ngozi Orji; former member representing Ikwuano state constituency, Hon. Wisdom; among others.

Watch The Full Video Below….

Senator Kalu Urges APC To Reveal Presidential Zoning Formula

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April 3, 2022

APC Extends Invitation To Sen. Kalu For First Post-Convention NEC Meeting — Senator Orji Uzor Kalu

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) to reveal the zoning formula of the party ahead of the 2023 primary elections.

Senator Kalu Urges APC To Reveal Presidential Zoning Formula — Senator Orji Uzor Kalu

This was even as he revealed that he would only run for the office of the president if the party zones it to the Southeast.

The former Governor of Abia State, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the revelation has become extremely important as it will help to direct aspirants on the right path to follow and in accordance with the demands of the party.

Kalu, in the statement he personally signed on Sunday, noted that the pattern used in conducting the last party convention was commendable and should be emulated in future contests in the party.

Kalu said: “As the presidential primary election approaches, the issue of zoning is once again central and, as usual, contentious. The party is gearing towards making forms available for different elective positions and it is important that the party, as a matter of urgency, reveal her zoning plans for intending aspirants.

“The zoning of offices is very important as it will not only shown light on the path of contenders, but also save the party from unnecessary disagreements and litigations after primaries.

“My earlier calls and that of other political leaders, stakeholders, opinion moulders, amongst others for the need of sensitivity to the Southeast region that have been excluded from the presidency should be a concern to all well meaning Nigerians with conscience.

“The year 2023 is really a good time to tweak our democratic experiment and create everlasting history in such a way that shows sensitivity to the country’s cultural uniqueness and make all regions feel a sense of belonging. It is time to strengthen the unity of the country by making a Southeasterner president of Nigeria. There is absolutely no better time for it than now.

“In our country today, having built a formidable spread across regions, I consider myself the most de-tribalised Nigerian with rich experience in economy, business, politics, security and sports to lead the people and manage the economy. I shall be running for the office of the president if the party zones it to the Southeast.

“However, in the absence of the zoning to the Southeast, I understand the supremacy of the party and shall abide by the decision of the party,” The Senate Chief Whip said.

On the unity of the country, Kalu encouraged Nigerians to do away with tribalism and all factors that prevent the achievement of national unity in Nigeria.

“Despite that Nigeria is facing serious challenges in the maintenance of security and national unity, we should understand that we are made to stay together as a society. I believe in the unity of this country because we are better as one.

“If the potentials of the citizens of the country are adequately harnessed, we will see more reasons to embrace each other and win together. We are therefore required to stand strong and forget all other factors such as tribalism, hatred among the other factors that prevent the achievement of national security and unity in Nigeria,” Kalu stated.

Buhari Best President Since Amalgamation Of Nigeria — Masari

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April 3, 2022

Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State says “since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, the country has never had a better government and President like Muhammad Buhari.”

The governor disclosed this on Saturday in Katsina during a rally organised by the beneficiaries of the Federal government’s Social Investment Programme (NSIP) in the state.

Reports have it that the rally was organised under the leadership of the Social Protection and Good Family Value Initiative (SPGFVI).

The rally was aimed at calling on the Federal government and the national assembly to enact a law that would make the programme a permanent one.

According to Masari, President Buhari has led a significant foundation that if properly utilised by the next administration, will assist in removing many Nigerians from poverty.

“Therefore, with this initiative which no administration has ever thought of, the President needs more commendation and support to achieve the purpose of the programme.

“I wish to inform you that I am totally in support of this call for the president to make it law before the end of his tenure. By doing such, it will continue to reduce the challenges Nigerians are facing.

“It is unfortunate for someone to wake up in the morning, thinking of what to eat, how to go to the hospital or take their children to school, but this programme has reduced such difficulties for people.

“And if a law is enacted and it becomes permanent, no government will come and stop it, and Nigerians will continue to enjoy the programme and it will continue to reduce unemployment,” he said.

Gov. Masari assured the beneficiaries of the programme that their message will get to President Buhari and the national assembly.

He further called on the beneficiaries to also write to their representatives at the national assembly on their demand, so that they can pursue the issue at their levels.

Earlier in his remarks, the state’s Coordinator of the SPGFVI, Mr Mustapha Bara’u, said their main objective is to ensure the wellbeing of Nigerians, especially the youths, elderly, physically challenged people, and women and pupils.

According to him, that is why they developed an interest in the NSIP programme because it is directly related to one of their major objectives.

He explained that the rally was earlier held at the ward levels across the state, where their commendation letters were presented to the District heads for further transmission to the President.

NDLEA Seizes N5bn Worth Of Tramadol, Exol 5 At Lagos Airport, Abuja, Edo

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April 3, 2022

No less than 9.5m tablets of pharmaceutical opioids: Tramadol and Exol 5 worth over N5bn have been seized at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Edo State by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

Of the figure, 214 cartons of Tramadol 225 under 10 different brand names, which translate to 9,219,400 tablets weighing 6,384.5kgs, with an estimated street value of N4,609,700, 000 were transferred on Tuesday 29th March alongside 85 cartons of dried Khat leaves with a total weight of 1,327.35kgs by the Nigerian Customs to the MMIA Command of NDLEA as a symbol of the synergy between the two law enforcement agencies.

Spokesman of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said on Sunday in Abuja, that about 228,740 tablets and capsules of Tramadol and Exol 5 were also intercepted on Friday 1st April at the Abaji area of the FCT.

According to him, the truck conveying the drugs was loaded in Lagos heading to Kano.

“Though the truck driver escaped into the bush during the search of the vehicle, two of his assistants; Usman Abdulmumini, 23 and Aminu Ahmad, 22, were arrested,” Babafemi said.

8.15kgs of cocaine seized
At the Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), a Brazilian returnee, Nnanna Anayo Michael, 39, was arrested during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Doha to Port Harcourt on Tuesday, 29th March.

Nnanna, who hails from Ekwusigo, Anambra State, was arrested with 73 sachets weighing 8.15kgs of cocaine, which is the largest seizure of such at the airport since it began international flight operations years ago.

During a preliminary interview, Nnanna said he departed Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sunday at midnight en route from Qatar to Port Harcourt.

He also claimed an unidentified person in Sao Paulo gave him six bed sheets in which the drug was concealed to deliver to another unidentified person at Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

The 73 cocaine sachets were hidden in 4×1 feet factory sewn colourful bed sheets.

Five of the bed sheets contain 12 sachets each, while the sixth bed sheet contains 13 sachets.

An immediate follow-up operation led to the arrest of 50-year-old Monday Alaisu, who travelled from Lagos to pick up the drug from Nnenna.

He was arrested at the airport’s car park where he was waiting to receive Nnenna with the latter’s photograph taken at the Brazilian airport and his international passport’s Data Page in his hand.

Also, three drug joints were raided at Wire Road, Benin City and Uromi town in Esan Central LGA where 188 pinches of Cocaine and Heroin were recovered with five suspects arrested.

In another raid in Okada town, a patent medicine dealer, Harrison Odion, was arrested with 70 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup; 9,638 Tramadol capsules; 16,843 tablets of Exol-5; 80 tablets of Diazepam and 62 ampules of Diazepam injection.

Meanwhile, seven drug dealers were arrested in raids in parts of Kano State with 80kgs of codeine and pentazocine injections seized from them.

Those picked in Rijiyar Zaki, Brigade, Yan-Kaba, Tudun Wada, Karfi, Ungogo and Nassarawa areas of the state include Muhammad Adamu; Abba Sani; and Auwalu Muhammad, among others

Jega Weeps Again, Says Governance Absent In Nigeria

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April 3, 2022

In what appears to be a regular criticism of the Federal Government’s incompetence to deal with germane issues of governance in the country, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, on Saturday said government at all levels have abandoned governance.

He made the comment at the National Convention of the People Redemption Party (PRP) which was held in Abuja.

“Our government at the at the state, local and federal level have long abandoned governance,” he said. “And no country can develop without good governance, without good people driving good governance.

“So I urge us to go back and realise that the work of ahead of us is a lot; it may even seem difficult, but it is not impossible to do it.”

Professor Jega is a member of the PRP.

The party is hoping to increase its membership base to 30,000 in each of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

At Saturday’s Convention, the party swore in new national executives.

The PRP prides itself as the oldest political party in Nigeria, having been initially registered in 1978.

According to the party’s National Chairman, Falalu Bello, the PRP is in merger talks with other political groups, however it does not plan to change its name or logo.

Insecurity: Despite Buhari’s Incompetence, Nigerians Should Not Give Up — Obasanjo

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April 3, 2022

COVID-19: Obasanjo Offers Former Residence For Isolation Centre — Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has been overwhelmed by the insecurity.

There have been a series of attacks across the country but Monday’s attack on a Kaduna-bound train sparked a nationwide outrage.

At least nine persons were killed, 21 passengers were declared missing after terrorists bombed the train, which was 30 minutes away from its destinantion.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State had vowed to hire foreign mercenaries to fight against terrorists if the Federal Government does not end the ongoing spate of terror attacks in the region.

Reacting, Obasanjo described the attack as a “serious situation.”

He spoke at his penthouse residence, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while receiving a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Dr Ugochukwu Williams, and his team.

Obasanjo expressed concern that Nigerians “are no longer safe on the road, in the train and at the airport,” calling for a concerted effort of stakeholders to stem the tide of insecurity in the country.

The former President said the present administration has been overwhelmed by the situation, but Nigerians must not allow the situation to overwhelm the country.

He said “So, if anybody comes to say I want to see you, I want to talk to you, I will say ‘you’re welcome’. This is because I believe very strongly, and I have said it publicly and I will say it again that the situation we are in this country is not a situation where one man will say yes, he has a solution, unless we are deceiving ourselves. I believe we need to sit down collectively and look at the situation.

“A situation where you are not safe on the road, you are not safe in the train, you are not safe at the airport, that shows a very serious situation.

“I believe that all right thinking Nigerians must know that we have a situation that has overwhelmed the present administration, but we should not allow that situation to overwhelm Nigeria.”

He, however, wished Williams well in the pursuit of his presidential ambition.

In his remarks, Williams, flanked by House of Representatives aspirants from Plateau and Imo states, said he had visited Obasanjo for consultation on his presidential ambition.

He described Obasanjo as a leader who is passionate about peace and unity of Nigeria.

The young presidential aspirant said he was on a mission to “rescue Nigeria”, which he said has been deviled with insecurity and other socio-economic challenges.

If elected, Williams vowed to end “money bag” politics, provide jobs, tackle insecurity and other challenges in Nigeria.

Gov. Soludo Vows To Lead Negotiations For Nnamdi Kanu’s Release

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April 3, 2022

Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra, has given the assurance that he will lead his brother governors in the Southeast to engage the Federal Government on dialogue to handle insecurity situation in the zone.

Soludo said that an expeditious release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), would cushion the insecurity impasse in the zone.

Soludo said during a one-day Peacebuilding and Security Dialogue, held in Awka on Saturday in response to the deteriorating security challenges in the region.

He endorsed the Communique of a joint body of traditional rulers and clergy to declared Monday, April 4, as a Day of Prayer at all churches and places of prayers for forgiveness and reconciliation.

He said Kanu should be tried expeditiously, according to the law, and be convicted or freed instead of being kept under indefinite detention.

The governor pointed out that justice delayed is justice denied.

He said the State government would open rehabilitation centers for those who dropped their arms and set up a truth and reconciliation panel to investigate and placate those who lost their lives and property in the course of the struggle.

Soludo said he is ready for total engagement with all parties, including the aggrieved, in the quest for peace.

He called on all genuine agitators to drop their arms and leave the forest while warning criminal elements taking advantage of the situation to hold the people to withdraw or face the full force of the law.

“We will engage with the good, the bad and the ugly, we will not discriminate against anybody.

“We need more engagement than force in solving the problems, we need peace and security in our land to make progress, we can’t continue to cut our nose to spite our face.

“All churches should announce the Monday prayers,” saying “they will also signal the end of Monday sit-at-home order that had lingered for months,” he said.

In their 8-point Communique, the body of traditional ruler and Clergy in the Southeast called on the Federal Government to free Kanu unconditionally to douse the tension in the region.

The Communique which was read by Igwe Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, condemned the Monday sit-at-home directive which started on Aug. 9 last year, describing it as self destructive and inimical to progress of the region.

The joint body regretted that even when the IPOB, under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu, had withdrawn the other since Aug. 24, killings, abductions and burning of property have not stopped.

The Communique was signed by Achebe, His Grace Archbishop Valerian Okeke of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese, Igwe Lawrence Agbuzu, Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, His Grace, Most Rev. Chibuzo Okpoko for Bishop and Archbishop and Prof Solo Chukwulobelu for the Anambra government.

Achebe said that they have proposed meetings with the presidency on the problem of the Southeast but had not received a response from the federal government.

He said the agitation was caused by perceived injustice against the Southeast and that only a constructive engagement would address the problems which were further hurting the people.

The body called on all injured, aggrieved and victims of the insecurity in the Southeast in the last three years to embrace the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Anambra government.

According to the body, “we recognise that there is country-wide agitation for restructuring of inter-ethnic and inter-governmental relations in Nigeria, with a view to greater inclusiveness.

“We therefore share the genuine concern over the political and economic marginalisation of the Southeast Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria, a major plank of the agitation by the IPOB.

“We call for constructive and continuous dialogue by all parties as a more sustainable solution to overcoming the challenge and win the hearts and minds of the people.

“We join our voices to the call for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government in order to douse the current tensions across the Southeast.

“We call on all criminal elements masquerading as working under the instruction of IPOB or ESN to cease and desist from further acts of violence and criminality or face “theism” placeable force of law and order.

“We call on all who may have taken up arms in the belief that their grievances could be achieved only through armed struggle to lay down their arms.

“We declare Monday, April 4th, 2022, as a Day Of Prayer For Peace for Alaigbo (Igboland) and implore Anambra residents and all religious congregations to join in this important day of prayer at Cathedrals, Churches and prayer houses across the area by 11:00 am,” it said.

The peace dialogue had representatives from the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, Town Union leaderships, Traditional institutions, Religious institutions, security agencies, youth groups, women groups, Ohanaeze, among others. (NAN)

I Rejected Millions Of Naira To Cut My Dreadlocks — Veteran Singer, Daddy Showkey Reveals

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April 3, 2022

Nigerian veteran singer, John Asiemo, popularly known by his stage name Daddy Showkey, says he had rejected an offer of millions of naira to cut his dreadlocks.

I Rejected Millions Of Naira To Cut My Hair — Veteran Singer, Daddy Showkey Reveals — Daddy Showkey

Showkey spoke as a guest during the ‘Sempe’ Sunday service recently held at the God Bless Nigeria Church led by Pastor Tony Rapu.

Sharing his life story during the service, Showkey said, “Today, people call me ‘Daddy Showkey’, but they don’t know my story. If I can be an example to others, there is no one here that cannot be used as an example. I used to be called ‘John Pako’. I cannot believe that people would want to relate with me now.

I promised God that if he moved me from ghetto to grace, I would never cut my hair. I challenged God that if he could make me successful, I would keep my hair as a covenant with him. Truly, God has overdone it over and again. I did not keep the dreadlocks to be a ‘rasta-man’. It is because of the covenant I have with God. I have been offered millions of naira to cut my hair but I refused because I had made a covenant with God.”

The Ajegunle-born artiste also stated that he attended the service in order to use his story to encourage others.

He added, “I am here because I know the only way one can change another life is by sharing one’s story with that person. Someone asked me when I had an encounter with God. I had an encounter with God a long time ago. I told the person they don’t listen to my music because all my songs are testimonies. I have never smoked Indian hemp since I was born. God has a reason for choosing me to be a testimony.

TCI Trains 200 Abia Health Workers On Administering Reversible Contraceptives

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April 3, 2022