Abia Speaker Celebrates Deputy Governor As He Is Conferred With Abiriba Chieftaincy Title

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December 11, 2021

Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday, said the nation’s security challenge demand that leaders device smarter means of curbing the menace.

He added that the country must begin to manufacture its own weapon if it must quell insurgency as the sale of weapon to tackle terrorism has been politicised.

Speaking at the grand finale of Obafemi Awolowo University’s 45th convocation ceremony held at the school’s Amphitheatre in Ile-Ife, he said hope is on the rise, as some Nigerian companies have began manufacturing of military equipments.

“The Insecurity problem that we are experiencing, the rise of terrorism in some part of the country, the access to illegal weaponry by non state actors tells us that we must be smarter in policing the country using smart drones and surveillance equipment.

“The politicisation of means of purchase of weapons tells us that we must manufacture our own arms. Already, some Nigerian companies led by Profex, a Nigerian company is already manufacturing APC’s and exporting it to several African countries.

“Other companies and Government owned DICON, is manufacturing different types of ammunition. Yes, the challenges are much but the means to resolve it and the elements are here already. Young Nigerians are rising to the challenges facing the country.

“It is however said, right here in Ife, that it is effective economic planning and even more, effective implementation, that could help us to avoid a disaster and make phenomenal progress. And so, our National Development Plan 2021-2025, is an attempt to chart a path for the future, the future belongs far more to you graduands, so you need to pay more attention to it”, he added.

In his convocation lecture, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akerodolu, SAN, lamented over country’s faulty structural arrangement, saying the federal government need to unburden itself with too much power to douse rising ethnic national agitations.

Delivering a paper titled, “When Is A Nation? Exploring the socio-Political Crisis In Post Independence Nigeria”, he stressed that the diverse ethnic nationalities in the nation should be allowed to thrive on their own, noting that Items such as education, health care, judiciary, police, prison services and resource control should be on the Concurrent list.

He lamented that the states are almost entirely dependent on hand-outs from the Federal Government, saying no state is empowered to take independent decisions for the benefit of its people.

“Approvals must come from the centre on virtually everything. This Constitution vests all the lands in a State in the State Governor who holds same in trust for the people. The incessant attacks on farmers by criminal herders, who destroy the crops of these long suffering downtrodden members of the society, expose the impotence of State Governors.

“Strange elements have been invading states to prospect for mineral resources without recourse to the authorities. Farmlands have been destroyed and the people are constantly exposed to ecological disasters to assuage greed.

“Unscrupulous elements grant prospecting licenses to people who move into lands with marauders. The security of these States is compromised, heavily”, he said.

Vanguard

2023: Nigerian Vigilantes Back Gov. Yahaya Bello’s Presidential Bid

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December 11, 2021

The Vigilante Group of Nigeria has declared that they wanted Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to be the next President of the country in 2023, describing him as a true Nigerian, evident in both actions and character.

Speaking through its Commander General, Dr. Usman Muhammed, during the group’s courtesy visit to Governor on Saturday, he noted that Governor Bello’s contributions to VGN in Kogi state was highly commendable expressing that with him at the helm of affairs in the country similar gesture would be extended to the VGN National body in a bid to further enhance their capacity for efficiency.

The CG stressed that they were totally behind the Governor’s transition to Aso Rock in 2023 and had since began an advocacy campaign among its over 5, 000, 000 registered members all across the 36 states of the country canvassing for the governor and heralding his good deeds.

He assured that if the VGN was well positioned and equipped, it had all it takes both in human power and will to combat the challenges of banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other evil vices the country was currently faced with

Governor Bello in his response thanked the Vigilante Group for the show of love for President Muhammadu Buhari, the country, himself and for their continued services to their country adding that as long as we all continued to pray for the President, the Nation would experience progress.

He similarly urged citizens to reflect on the situation and circumstances of things before the president’s emergence in 2015 adding that despite the difficult, turbulent and treacherous circumstances, the president was still performing

Governor Bello however alluded that the responsibility of fixing the country lied on leaders from top to bottom and across religion, tradition and even at the various family institutions noting that every individual has a role to play in National Development.

He noted that the modest achievements in several highlighted areas in Kogi state ware combinations of the people’s resolve and leadership will suggesting that the only way we would continue to have a country was when the citizens resolved to ensure the unity, peace and progress of their country.

He reiterated that many of the security challenges in the country were either politically motivated or lack of political will by leaders to tackle them head on while he attested that the VGN was a ready made asset that was well organized and willing to serve the nation and if given the opportunity to lead, the group would be properly integrated into the security architecture of the country.

The Governor charged them to continue to work with their respective state governors and leaders irrespective of their political affiliation or religion affinity in a bid to secure the nation assuring that in due cause politicians perpetrating evil would be exposed.

Ebonyi State Civil Servants To Get Bags Of Rice, N10K As ‘Christmas Gifts’

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December 11, 2021

…….Pensioners, as well as students of higher institutions in the state are to benefit from the largesse.

Civil servants, including pensioners, in Ebonyi State, Nigeria’s South-East, are to receive two bags of 5kg rice and N10,000 each as “Christmas gifts” from the state government, a senior government official has said.

The Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government (SSG), Kenneth Ugbala, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abakaliki said the N10,000 cash would be paid into the salary account of the workers.

Mr Ugbala said the state governor, David Umahi, has approved the distribution of the cash and the bags of rice.

Local government workers, as well as students of higher institutions in the state, are to benefit from the government’s largesse, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mr Ugbala said the governor’s approval was in line with his “usual magnanimity” as “the father of the state”.

“All civil servants and pensioners in Ebonyi are to receive two bags of 5kg rice and N10, 000 to be paid into their salary accounts.

“All Local Government Area staff are to receive two bags of 5kg rice, tins of tomatoes, and N5, 000 to be paid into their salary accounts.

“All federal government-owned ministries, departments, and agencies in the state have been given Christmas palliatives through their leaders.

“Staff and students of both federal and state-owned tertiary institutions have also been given Christmas palliatives through their leaders,” the statement said.

The SSG thanked Mr Umahi for his “generosity for the people”.

(NAN)

Abia Speaker Congratulates Chief John Okiyi Kalu on His New Chieftaincy Title as Nwandugbom Abiriba

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December 11, 2021

The Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji has congratulated the Abia State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu on his conferment with the chieftaincy title, Nwandugbom Abiriba by the Enachioken-in-Council, tomorrow, Saturday, 11th December, 2021.

The Speaker who described Chief John Okiyi Kalu as “one of the best”, said he has over time demonstrated competence, loyalty and astute excellence in every duty under his mandate, and that the chieftaincy title conferred on him is a testament to his virtues.

Concluding the Abia Speaker said he trusts the title recipient not to rest on his laurels but to continue exhibiting those virtues that have endeared him to the people.

Ebony Photo Kingdom CEO, Wife Celebrate 5th Marriage Anniversary With Adorable Pictures

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December 11, 2021

The Chief Executive Officer of Ebony Photo Kingdom, Mazi Iheanyi Godwin Inyamah and his beautiful wife, Mrs Ijeoma Inyamah, the director Wendy’s Makeover has marked their fifth year marriage anniversary with adorable photos.

Among several other blessings, the couple have two beautiful kids, a boy and a girl in the five-year old marriage.

The couple were joined in holy matrimony on December 10, 2021.

Ebony took to his social media handles to share pictures of the 5th marriage anniversary where they expressed gratitude to God for the marital journey so far.

While praying God to bring stability to marriages experiencing one form of difficulty or the other, the duo encouraged couples to learn to love and tolerate each other.

They wrote, “We encourage them to stay in love and tolerate each other inorder to live in peace they must put God first in their marriage,try to communicate in every way possible. There is no formula for marriage for what worked for me may not work for another, try and understand yourselves and make God your all…

“Marriage is like buying a television with one channel, so you must make the program from the channel interesting else you will be tired of watching the program… May God bless every home and heal every home that is going through one or two difficulties and bless those who are looking for children so as to make their joy complete…. Happy Christmas.”

ABN TV Boss, Ifeanyi Okali Bags Distinguished Presbyterian Award (PHOTOS)

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December 11, 2021

Few days after his election as the Publicity Secretary of Ebem Ohafia Development Union Worldwide, EODU, the Director ABN TV, Ifeanyi Okali has been recognized with the meritorious award of Distinguished Presbyterian.

This award is coming from the Presbyterian Young People’s Association of Nigeria, PYPAN South-Central Synod.

According to the youth group, the award is in recognition of Mr. Okali’s contributions to the development of the youth ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria.

The award ceremony coincides will the 2021 Shabach Da Lord and 25th anniversary of the Association which took place in Umuahia on Friday.

Recall that earlier in the week, Mr. Okali’s timeline was flooded with congratulatory messages after he trounced 3 persons to emerge the National Publicity Secretary of Ebem Ohafia Development Union, EODU after a keenly contested election.

A youth himself, he had continued to champion the cause of development of young people through empowerment, education, and career counseling.

ABN TV Boss, Ifeanyi Okali Bags Distinguished Presbyterian Award (PHOTOS) — Ifeanyi Okali

His platforms, ABN TV and Radio have been readily available for the promotion of issues that border on the development of young people across the Southeast region and the country at large.

In Presbyterian Church of Nigeria Nigeria generally, he had used his platforms to promote the church’s programmes and policies as a deliberate effort to expand the gospel of Christ.

In his comment, Mr. Okali expressed gratitude for the award of recognition, promising to continue to do his best in promotion of agenda that borders on the development of youths.

How Bandits Bowed To Superior Firepower Of Soldiers In Kaduna, Abandon Kidnap Mission

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December 11, 2021

Bandits who stormed Sabon Tasha GRA in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State in the wee hours of Saturday fled when soldiers responded to a distress call.

The armed gang had initially set a house on fire after failing in its mission to abduct the owner.

Daily Trust gathered that the bandits invaded the community around 12:30 am Saturday but soldiers intervened shortly after.

They reportedly engaged the soldiers in a shootout but eventually bowed to the superior firepower of the troops.

A resident, who simply identified himself as Benjamin, said the bandits had set a house on fire and were about carrying out a house-to-house raid when soldiers arrived.

“We thanked God the Soldiers arrived on time, if not the story would have been bad because they (bandits) came to pick the house owner but fortunately ‎the house was empty and the bandits set the house on fire out of frustration,” he said.

Daily Trust also gathered that the bandits attacked the community two days ago and took away a man, his wife, and daughter.

Our correspondent also gathered that the gun duel which lasted for an hour between the soldiers and the bandits caused tension in the community.

The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Jalige Mohammed couldn’t be reached for comment at the time of this report.

Daily Trust

Insecurity: North Now A Human Abattoir, Take Power To Southeast -Arewa Groups

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December 11, 2021

The leadership of Arewa Concerned Civil Society Organisations of Nigerian (ACCSON) has said that in the interest of fairness and equity, the Presidency in 2023 should go to the Southeast since the Northern region has turned into a human abbattoir resulting from incessant killings under the incumbent administration.

The ACCSON frowned at a statement purportedly credited to one Alhaji Yerima Shettima, President of Arewa Consultative Youth Forum, saying that “It is too late for the 2023 Presidency to be zoned to the southeast”.

This was contained in a statement signed by Comrade Abdulsalam Mohammed Kazeem, Spokesperson,Arewa Concerned Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria (ACCSON).

ACCSON, umbrella body of over 40 CSOs, youth , students and women groups in the North, said it considered the said statement as a reckless one devoid of reason, empathy, and fairness.

“It is indecorous and even outrightly provocative and inciting in nature. We strongly believe that no genuine democrat with sincere national interest and who cherishes the spirit of unity and corporate existence of Nigeria will utter such insensitive comments at this critical political time in our country. “

“For the sake of the records and for posterity, the said statement by Alhaji Yerima Shettima does not, in any way, represent the recent position of our umbrella youth coalition, the Arewa Concerned Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria (ACCSON), that the Presidency of Nigeria in 2023 should be specifically zoned to the South East geo-political zone, in the interest of political equity and fairness.”

“We openly made this declaration recently during the inauguration of our group at the Arewa House in kaduna. Therefore, the statement by Shettima stands condemned in it’s totality by our group ACCSON, and we expect Nigerians and particularly the media to treat the statement purely as the personal opinion of Yerima Shettima, a former youth activist from our northern region.”

“The basis of our position on the said statement credited to Shettima are as follows:That the Nigerian National Youth Policy (2009) described a youth as a person between the ages of 15 to 35 years-old.

The African Youth Charter defines a youth as somebody within the age brackets of 15 to 35 years-old.

While the United Nations categorized such person as one who is between 15 to 24 years-old respectively.”

“So, going by the above definitions, Alhaji Yerima Shettima is not a youth and can not be classified as one. He is far above the age of 35 years, and as such, his statement remains a personal one and not that of the Arewa Youths.”

“It is noteworthy to restate here, that the position of our group, the Arewa Concerned Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria (ACCSON) calling for the rotational presidency among the six geo political zones of the country was as a result of our peculiar regional experiences. Both past and present crop of elected and appointed leaders from within our region have failed us completely. They have failed to meet up with the expectations of our people, and have continued to betray our trust, confidence, and respect for them.”

“For instance, from 1999 to date (which is 22 years now), the North West and North East Zones have produced president, Vice president, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senate Presidents, and Speakers of the House of Representatives. The North Central Zone alone has produced two Senate Presidents in 12 years; a Deputy Senate president and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. Our three zones of the northern region, in total, have produced more Ministers, Services Chiefs and Heads of Governments Agencies more than any other region, yet there is nothing on ground to show for it.”

“They only leverage on our population advantage, which though is an added advantage in a democratic setting. The said population is only useful to our region during electioneering period. The major benefit of a population advantage in economics is that it remains attractive to both the multi- national and trans-national companies that would want to site industries in such location in other to maximize their market and get very cheap labour.”

“Our northern region today has been reduced to a human abattoir, to say the least, where all our communities have been converted to a mass grave due to the failure of government at all levels. For instance, between October 2021 till date, over 150 citizens of northern extraction have been murdered by terrorists in Sokoto state alone, not to talk of Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Benue, Borno and Yobe States. Despite the claims by government that terrorism and violent insurgency is aggressively being fought, the north has remained a killing field.”

“Our country is about the highest importer of Arms and Ammunition in Africa and our region is seemingly the poverty capital of Nigeria, yet our people occupied and are still occupying the most sensitive positions in government from 1999 till Date.”

“We are not sycophants of government, but we are patriotic northerners too, with history of respect for constituted authority and for our elders”

“It is therefore the position of our northern umbrella youths coalition, the Arewa Concerned Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria (ACCSON), that since our people in leadership positions in Nigeria can not bring development, peace, progress, and prosperity to our region, let us try people of other regions, particularly the region or geo-political zone that has not produced a President or Vice president of Nigeria in other to further promote fairness, equity, unity or oneness of the country. Long Live, Nigeria!”

Vanguard

Rights Abuse: Court Concludes Hearing On Nnamdi Kanu’s Case

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December 11, 2021