The Leader of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA in Abia State, and member representing Aba South state constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Obinna Ichita, has urged President Muhamnadu Buhari not to jettison the appeal by respected Igbo elders and Bishops to free the detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Hon. Ichita who made the appeal in a media chat maintained that political solution remained the best option to resolve the issue of agitation for self-determination spearheaded by Kanu.

He said that contrary to misconceptions in some quarters, “Kanu is not the cause of Nigeria’s problems but part of the solution” to the core issues threatening the continued corporate existence of the country.

The lawmaker said that Nigeria should instead of persecuting or calling for Kanu’s head, see reasons in most of the germane issues he raised and look for a way of genuinely addressing them.

He, however, commended the Attorney General of the federation, Abubakar Malami for also putting the idea of a political solution to Kanu’s matter.

According to Hon. Ichita, “even if the President had not wanted to shift grounds over Kanu’s matter but because respected Igbo elders and Bishops are now involved, he should soft-pedal for their sake”.

He noted that the intervention by the Igbo leaders had a deeper meaning and wished the President could rightly decode the same and do the needful.

The lawmaker observed that the growing clamour for self-determination especially by Igbo youths is being fueled by “sustained marginalisation, political exclusion and brazen injustice against the race by the Nigeria state.”

He said that “Ndigbo are for peace and have sacrificed so much for the peace of Nigeria”, but regretted that “they are often misunderstood when they try to complain against injustice”.

Meanwhile, Kanu’s family has appreciated South-East leaders making both individual and collective efforts towards the release of their son.

Prince Emmanuel Kanu told our Correspondent that the family was grateful to well-meaning Igbo leaders and individuals for their various contributions in the efforts to secure freedom for the detained IPOB leader.

He noted that Hon. Ichita was among the first crop of Igbo political class to openly identify with the family even at the risk of their political future.

He commended the lawmaker and those like him for their numerous interventions towards achieving lasting peace and justice in the region without politicizing the process.

Ahead of the anticipated 2022 rollout of the Fifth Generation (5G) network in the country, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has organized capacity building workshops for media executives in the northern and southern divides, as part of efforts to support their continuous professional development of critical stakeholders in the telecommunications industry.

The workshops, which took place in Kano and Lagos recently with the theme: “5G Deployment and the Next Level of Nigeria’s Development,’ provided an avenue for media stakeholders to have better knowledge and understanding of the potentials of the new technology.

These workshops, in turn, are expected to position the journalists to be able to accurately report issues around 5G, through explanatory, incisive, analytical, and evidence-based reportage, while also being able to clarify misconceptions and misinformation on the new technology.

Through the workshops, the Commission believes journalists will be able to focus on how 5G will impact different sectors of the economy, including agriculture, e-commerce, e-banking, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), education, healthcare, tourism and hospitality, security, entertainment including the music and movie industries and other aspects of Digital Nigeria.

Speaking at the two workshops, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, in his opening address, said the theme of the workshops was most apt at a time when the Commission is on full throttle to drive the implementation of 5G deployment in the country, following the approval of the Federal Government on September 8, 2021.

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Delivering his address at the Kano and Lagos workshops through the Director Public Affairs, NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde and the Head, Online Media, NCC, Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan respectively, Danbatta, said the workshops were organised to equip the media stakeholders with greater insights and knowledge around 5G in order to improve their overall understanding of the new technology, its usage, opportunities and the benefits it offers for the overall development of Nigeria’s socio-economic life.

“As we progress in our journey of 5G deployment, the media has a critical role in the process by ensuring proper and adequate reportage of the programmes and activities of the Commission as it unfolds the 5G Deployment Plan of the Federal Government,” he said in his opening address.

The EVC said Nigeria’s promising 5G Plan has the objectives of ensuring efficient assignment of spectrum for 5G deployment, creating an enabling environment for investment in the telecom industry, ensuring effective deployment of 5G to cover major urban cities by 2025, among others.

“In line with the objectives of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2025 for a Digital Nigeria, and the positioning of Nigeria as an early adopter of digital technology in the growing global digital economy, the successful and timely deployment of 5G is crucial and it is expected that the roll-out of the 5G will be carried out in phases beginning with major cities in the country, where there is need for high-quality broadband,” Danbatta said.

The Commission also made technical presentations to journalists at the workshops focusing on how the Commission is setting the stage for 5G journey, in terms of requirements, deployment, use cases, and possible challenges which it is working with relevant stakeholders to tackle for effective implementation of 5G Deployment Plan for Nigeria.

While NCC’s Director, Technical Standard and Network Integrity, Bako Wakil, made the technical presentation to media stakeholders at the Kano workshop, the NCC’s Head, Fixed Network and Converged Services, Tony Ikemefuna, handled the delivery of the presentation at the Lagos workshop.

During the technical sessions in Kano and Lagos, the media stakeholders were adequately informed on 5G characteristics such as enhanced mobile broadband, ultra-reliable low latency and speed, explaining to them that 5G will facilitate several emerging technologies, including Internet of Things (IoT), Machine-to-Machine communication, among others.

The media professionals also used the opportunity to ask various questions and clarify conflicting issues bordering on security and health implications of 5G deployment

Twitter has withheld a tweet by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo for copyright violation.

On March 8, the vice-president posted a video in commemoration of International Women’s Day. Beyonce’s song ‘Run the World’ was used as the video’s audio.

Quoting the tweet that same day, a Twitter user @olayknowless, had asked Beyonce to report Osinbajo’s account for violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”).

“Ma’am @Beyonce, Nigeria’s current Vice President who has never properly done his job has used your song without permission, ask Jack your good friend to take care of his account In accordance with DMCA violation penalties,” the user wrote.

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The microblogging site took down the tweet afterwards, though the exact day this was done is not known.

“This tweet has been withheld in response to a report from the copyright holder,” Twitter said on the post.

The removal of the post went viral on Wednesday, shortly after the user who made the complaint discovered that action had been taken.

In June, Twitter deleted President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet where he threatened to treat Nigerians “misbehaving” in “the language they understand”.

In the tweet, Buhari cited the civil war and threatened to deal with those “bent on destroying” Nigeria through “insurrection”.

“Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand,” he had said.

The microblogging site deleted the message the next day after a public outcry.

The government on June 4 announced the indefinite suspension of Twitter in Nigeria afterwards.

The government, however, said the suspension had nothing to do with the deletion of the president’s tweet.

The Director ABN TV, Mr. Ifeanyi Okali has congratulated the Chief Executive Officer of Bovibes Entertainment, Chief Ibe A. J Boco on his recognition as traditional title holder of Okpote Umuwa 1 Of Abiriba Kingdom, saying the honour is well deserved.

Mr. Okali said the traditional title signifies the acknowledgement of Chief Boco’s humanitarian activities in lifting people from the scourge of poverty in his community.

Recall that Chief Boco, an entrepreneur was recently honoured with the traditional title Okpote Umuwa 1 Of Abiriba Kingdom by HRM Eze (Barr) Kalu Ogbu Enachoken of Abiriba Kingdom in Abia State.

In a congratulatory message on Thursday, Mr. Okali said Chief Boco has demonstrated commitment to impact the life of his community by rolling out empowerment programmes that have touched the lives of the people for good as well as philanthropic activities which have benefitted the downtrodden and less privileged in the society.

While congratulating him, Mr. Okali urged Chief Ibe A. J Boco to use the opportunity of the traditional recognition to add more strength and energy in what he has been doing in the past past.

According to Okali, more of Chief Boco will make the society a better place for everyone to live peacefully and harmoniously.

Chief Boco’s recent traditional title coincided with the 21st Coronation Anniversary of HRM Eze (Barr) Kalu Ogbu.

A reception and thanksgiving was also held at Chief Boco’s country-home in Ugwuezi, Abiriba which had in attendance family, friends and well wishers.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said Nigeria will partner with the Republic of Turkey in dealing with the current security challenges facing the nation.

According to his spokesman, Garba Shehu, Buhari spoke at a bilateral meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his Turkish counterpart, shortly before the official commencement of the 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit in Istanbul.

Mr Garba stated that President Buhari, during the meeting, acknowledged that Turkey had garnered a lot of experience dealing with security challenges of various kinds and Nigeria will latch onto that experience.

Buhari said: “Turkey has practical experience dealing with challenges over the years and Nigeria stands to gain from that.”

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Giving assurances that the relationship between the two states will continue to grow for the mutual benefits of both countries, President Buhari said he was pleased with the Turkish offer of support in the area of security and peace in Nigeria.

“I wish to express my appreciation for the special invitation for this meeting and to express my happiness with your offer of assistance in dealing with the challenges facing us.

‘‘I await the reports of officials and the ministers as they hold meetings with their counterparts. I assure you that I will endorse all their positive recommendations,” President Buhari assured Erdogan.

Earlier, the Turkish leader said that he was happy to receive President Buhari shortly after he paid an official visit to Nigeria.

“Turkey understands the challenges facing Nigeria and its needs, and we are ready to assist you to meet those needs especially in the area of defence.

‘‘I am happy Nigeria is stepping up cooperation with other nations in areas of defence and health, and we are ready to cooperate with you on these areas and more,” said President Erdogan.

Turkey, which has growing recognition in the world as a military power and had successes to show in Iraq, Syria, Libya and lately Azerbaijan, said it welcomed the Nigerian government’s decision to buy naval ships from their shipyard, noting that discussions are ongoing on how to strengthen the capacity of the Defence Industries Corporation (DICON) in Kaduna in line with an agreement signed during President Erdogan’s last state visit.