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Confusion As Buhari Sacks Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Management

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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There was confusion among power sector operators on Tuesday after President Muhammadu Buhari fired the management of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company as a result of the strike embarked upon by the AEDC workers the preceding day.

Officials of the Federal Ministry of Power said the management of AEDC had been replaced with an interim governing council, stressing that the directive came from the Presidency.

“Indeed, the management of the AEDC has been dissolved through the initiative of the BPE (Bureau of Public Enterprises),” the Deputy Director, Press, FMP, Austin Asoluka, told our correspondent in Abuja.

He added, “A new interim management team formed by NERC (Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission) has been put in place.”

But many operators in the sector viewed the move by the government as confusing because the government’s shares in power distribution companies is 40 per cent each, while private investors in the firms control 60 per cent shares.

However, it was learnt that the strike by workers of the AEDC on Monday was embarrassing to government, after their industrial action grounded power supply in the nation’s capital and five other states for about 10 hours.

ABN TV reported on Tuesday that power supply was grounded on Monday in Abuja, Nasarawa, Kogi, parts of Edo, Niger and Kaduna states following the strike embarked upon by workers of AEDC.

Both the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the management of the AEDC confirmed that the strike by the in-house union of the power firm led to the blackout witnessed in most states that got their supply from the Disco.

Although the strike was eventually lifted on Monday night, it was initially embarked upon due to the failure of AEDC to pay outstanding entitlements to its workers.

Also confirming the sacking of the AEDC management, the media aide to the Minister of State for Power, Ofem Uket, said Buhari approved the move and a new interim governing board had been appointed to oversee the day-to-day operations of the firm.

READ ALSO: After Truck Rammed Into Pupils, Mob Attacks Policemen, LASTMA Officials In Lagos

He said in a statement that the dissolution of AEDC management was “following the recent industrial action embarked on by its staff over non-payment of arrears of pensions, allowances, salaries and promotion.”

The statement added, “The sack of the management team conveyed by the Presidency to the Federal Ministry of Power takes immediate effect.”

The Minister of Power, Aliyu Abubakar, and Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, had earlier intervened through dialogue with the Ministry of Labour, BPE and NUEE to resolve and call off the 14-hour strike.

The statement further stated that a Memorandum of Understanding was jointly signed by the power ministry, NERC, BPE and NUEE, as the Federal Government ordered the suspension of the strike and that the outstanding entitlements would be paid within 21 days.

But operators in the power sector described the development as confusing, stressing that it might lead to litigation.

Reacting to it, the Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network, Tomi Akinbogun, said, “I sincerely think this is uncalled for. Does it mean that if there’s any disagreement with staff or labour issues in a Disco, government takes over, even before the investigation is conducted?

Another operator in the sector, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “I do not have the full details of the facts leading to this action. But I see this as a political move which may not be correct.

But another industry player argued in favour of government, saying, “Was the AEDC management dreaming, don’t they understand the strategic importance of the FCT especially with regards to security?

“How could they allow that lockdown of power supply to happen? They could even face treason. Pray that the security agencies do not come up with any serious security breach due to the power shutdown, in which case they (AEDC) would have known that there is no absolute freedom given to anybody or company to behave recklessly.”

DSS Advises FG On How To Tackle Insecurity In Nigeria

By
Alex Enemanna
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The Department of State Security (DSS) has offered the Federal Government an advice on how to bring about peace, harmony and social order in several localities.

The Director-General of the secret police, Yusuf Bichi, who spoke in Abuja at the grand finale of the 2021 Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge, specifically said engaging youths meaningfully and address the issues of discrimination against women would bring lasting peace Nigeria deserves.

Bichi, who was represented by the DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, appealed to the government to partner with various individuals and organisations who will take many youths away from the streets and engage them.

According to him, what the Ugwumba Leadership Centre is doing to ensure many youths are financially independent, is one of the ways individuals can assist the government to tackle security challenges.

The DSS official said, “If you resolve the problems of the youths for instance, or if you resolve the issues of discrimination against women, you would have resolved the issues of insecurity.

“Today, we are aware that our country is facing security challenges and it is not peculiar to Nigeria, world over, countries are facing different dimensions of challenges. It is not just combating the security challenges, empowering the youths through Small Scale Enterprises, is the way to go”.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the programme, the former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, admonished youths to be passionate in whatever they are doing, adding that one can become successful doing what others may consider as menial.

Daily Trust

2023: Atiku Best For Nigeria — Dokpesi

By
Alex Enemanna
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The Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, has solicited the support of North-Central People’s Forum for the presidential ambition of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in 2023.

He stated this when he led other Nigerians supporting Atiku’s 2023 presidential aspiration on a courtesy visit to Forum’s secretariat, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Dokpesi said that their support for the ex-VP’s presidential ambition was borne out of his laudable achievements, particularly in the areas of governance, youth empowerment as well as ethnic and religious tolerance, among others.

He also told the Forum that a vote of confidence has been passed in Atiku, stressing that Nigerians want him to contest for president in 2023.

“The challenges we are facing today as a country are complicated. The hope of the younger generation is totally dashed. Our hospitals are rather described as graveyards right now. Our schools are closed and we have over 14 million children out of school.

“Today, you hear agitations for the dismemberment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Those agitations are coming from all sections of the country. The economy, I dare also say, is in shambles right now.

“All these put together are created by the type of leadership we have in the country. They are a result of how we have organized and managed ourselves. They were not made by God

“Therefore, looking at the challenges that we have, we conducted some polls across the nation, bearing in mind the circumstances that we are experiencing in the country.

“We asked Nigerians: How do we get out of this quagmire? For me, Nigeria must remain united. There are no problems that are insurmountable, and cannot to be resolved.

“So, if we want to resolve the matter, I am going to call on this Forum to, in the interest of this country and the generations yet unborn to make the necessary sacrifice and view the situation dispassionately and not based on sentiments.

“We have set out the criteria, and have identified the issues, and said that the kind of leadership we need in this country must be a courageous, fair, tested and proven leadership with cognate experience in the management of the affairs of the conclusion, rightly or wrongly, that the person that has the quality to unite Nigeria at this point in time is Waziri Atiku Abubakar.

“We must put a square peg in a square hole. We must not allow some people who want to disintegrate this country to succeed,” he said.

The media mogul maintained that he was supporting a northern presidency in the 2023 elections because they had been marginalised with the death of former President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua in 2010.

Dokpesi, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, argued that it will not be fair and just should power return to the South in 2023, even though the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari would have done eight years.

According to him, his support for northern presidency was in line with the PDP agreement during the party’s convention in 2006.

He said, “2023 is still the turn of the North based on the PDP agreement and calculation. The records of the PDP are there. Some people said why should we bring a Fulani man again, and I said have we not been living with Fulani people? I was brought up by a Fulani man, Bamanga Tukur.

“Nigerians must unite and deal with element brought into the country for destabilisation. We are here to plead and cry to the leaders of North Central not to relent in their sacrifices for the country.”

Responding, the National Chairman of the North-Central People’s Forum, Arc. Gabriel Yakubu Aduku, said that stakeholders of the organisation would meet and take a common position on the matter.

Aduku said that though the Forum had a non-partisan mandate, it was concerned about the welfare of the people and had no doubt on Atiku’s capacity to be the next president of the country in 2023.

“A person like Atiku Abubakar means a lot to this country. We are non-partisan, but we are concerned about development. Our interest is in how the people of the North-central, which have been alienated by past administration or the convenience of political parties, will benefit,” Aduku stated.

Vanguard

Don’t Associate IPOB With Any Crime In South East, HURIWA Tells Army

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned comments credited to the Nigerian Armed Forces in which it blamed the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) for the crimes in the South East region.

It urged the Army to listen to President Muhammadu Buhari, who at the recent Chief of Army Staff (COAS) conference urged the Nigerian military to boost its strategic intelligence gathering capacity and infrastructure.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said it was a shame that a nation’s military could depend on primitive conjectures and unscientific methods to carry out its constitutional responsibilities to Nigerians.

It recalled that about a week, IPOB, had in a statement, alleged that some Fulani herdsmen were planning to attack some towns in Anambra and Imo states.

HURIWA said the secessionist group accused Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma of being behind the planned attacks, urging concerned residents to be vigilant and resist his antics.

It said the civil society community had watched with shock and embarrassment that the Nigerian Armed Forces had failed to activate intelligence gathering and capacity for prompt, transparent, open and verifiable investigative activities to ascertain the real suspects of the violence that had engulfed the country.

Onwubiko lamented that the country had witnessed killings and attacks on strategic national security infrastructure, which he said, amounted to terrorism of the highest calibre in the South East, but the Armed Forces ascribed all the crimes and violence to the IPOB.

“We are patriotic Nigerians, who believe in the sovereignty of the country, but we are saddened and disappointed that an Army that the nation has invested trillions of United States dollars on to set up in many years could sit in their offices far away from a crime scene and guess which groups or persons committed a crime even without forensic investigation.

“This is an embarrassment and a shame of monumental proportions that defy logic and good reasoning. We want our Armed forces to wear their thinking caps and start doing proper soldiering built upon intelligence and forensics as obtainable in civilised climes. “ he added

After Truck Rammed Into Pupils, Mob Attacks Policemen, LASTMA Officials In Lagos

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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0

Pandemonium broke out along the Ogunusi Road, Grammar School Bus Stop, in Lagos on Tuesday afternoon when the driver of an articulated truck lost control and rammed into over 20 pupils.

The pupils were on their way home after school activities and had wanted to cross the road when the truck ran over them.

A mob immediately chased him to the Ogba area before the police apprehended him. The angry youths also burnt the truck.

The mob, comprising angry youths and passersby, clashed with policemen at the scene who tried to maintain law and order.

It was also gathered that the mob attacked some policemen and descended on officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, even as police officers fired teargas canisters to disperse the mob.

Also, emergency responders including operatives of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency reportedly turned back from the scene in the ensuing riot.

The incident grounded vehicular movement as motorists deserted the road and stranded commuters trekked long distances.

LASEMA, in a situation report after the incident, confirmed the development.

It was titled, ‘Situation Report on the truck accident at Ogunusi Road, Grammar School bus-stop, Ojodu Berger,’ signed by LASEMA director-general, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.

The statement read, “The Agency received a distress call at 2:56 pm about a truck accident at Ogunusi Road, Grammar School Bus-stop, Ojodu Berger.

“However, the information gathered from LASTMA and NPF Officials at the scene revealed that an unidentified truck lost control and rammed into students returning from School.

“The incident led to severe injuries to some victims, others were discovered dead.

“This unfortunate incident provoked some bystanders into taking laws into their hands by attempting to lynch NPF, LASTMA officials, and other first responders at the scene, destroying vehicles and other properties.

“The number of fatalities and casualties could not be ascertained as at the time of reporting.

“The attack by the miscreants led the Emergency Team to head back to base as the scene was insecure and unsafe for rescue and recovery operations.”

Also, spokesperson for the police command in the state, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said, “Students, in reaction, attacked the Ojodu Police Station wanting to carry out jungle justice on the arrested suspect (driver). In the process, the rampaging students destroyed some vehicles parked at the Police Station.

“The violent students and hoodlums who joined them were dispersed professionally. However, normalcy has been restored. Investigation into the fatal motor/pedestrians accident has since commenced.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps has said that its officers were not involved in the cause of the crash, saying that its officers were only called upon by passersby to help intervene after the crash had happened.

After Training 600 Youths In Agriculture, Don Lulu Takes Empowerment Scheme To Isiala Ngwa, Targets 15,000

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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0

A philanthropist and founder, Don Lulu Foundation (DLF) Mayor Lucky Igbokwe aka Don Lulu has indicated readiness to train youths of Isiala Ngwa and Abia Central Senatorial District on various empowerment skills to reduce poverty and foster self-reliance.

This is coming few days after about 600 youths from Ohuhu land successfully completed their six months skills acquisition programme on identified areas of agriculture.

He noted that the scheme will cover no fewer than 15,000 young persons in the three Senatorial Districts of Abia.

ABN TV reports that the philanthropist revealed his intention during his visit at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Eze P. N Okpanku, Eze Udo 2 of Mbutu Amairinisii ancient kingdom and immediate past chairman of Isiala Ngwa South Council of Ndi Eze.

This is in continuation of his ongoing engagement with traditional rulers and stakeholders in the three Senatorial Districts of Abia.

“In continuation of my exchanges with traditional rulers and stakeholders in the 3 senatorial zones of Abia state I touched base at the palace of His Royal Majesty, Eze P. N Okpanku, Eze Udo 2 of Mbutu Amairinisii ancient kingdom and immediate past chairman of Isiala Ngwa South Council of Ndi Eze.

“After a colorful reception, led by Prince Nduoma Political, I told the traditional ruler and wife, Dr Ugoeze Chioma Okpanku PhD, of the successful rollout of the first batch of 600 graduands in the Don Lulu Foundation (DLF) Rural Youth and Women Development Programme (RYAWDP) through Agriculture, after their 6 months intensive training on various identified agricultural skills in Ohuhu Land, Umuahia.

“I expressed desire to extend the same empowerment to the community and to over 15,000 other Abians spread across all the senatorial zones” Don Lulu said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Traditional Ruler had welcomed and offered royal blessings to Don Lulu, praying for the success of the initiative.

Shortly after that, the philanthropist was also a guest at the grand wedding of the daughter of Isiala Ngwa South PDP Chairman, Sir Edwin Ihejirika where he joined well wishers to pray for the success of the marriage.

2023 Presidency: Arewa Youths For Orji Uzor Kalu Urges Senate Chief To Contest, Set To Launch Campaign Team In Kaduna

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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Sen. Kalu Hails Muslim Ummah At Eid-El-Fitr, Urges Peaceful Co-Existence
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu

A socio-political group, Arewa Youths for Orji Uzor Kalu, AYOUK, has called on Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu to declare his intention in contesting for office of the President ahead of the 2023 election, saying the former Abia governor has the leadership pedigree to occupy number one office in the land.

National Coordinator of AYOUK, Comrade Yakubu Arigu Muhammad says it has become important for Sen. Kalu, representing Abia North to heed to this clarion call following a series of endorsements he has bagged in recent times ahead of the big political year from across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja at the weekend, Muhammad noted that Kalu is the appropriate person to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, judging by his national appeal and managerial skill.

READ ALSO: 2023 Presidency: Group Holds Rally In Delta, Declares Support For Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu

The group also announced its readiness to launch a campaign team in Kaduna by December to kick-start the activities marking Sen. Kalu’s participation as a candidate in the 2023 election.

“What we need is a result-oriented leader with a proven track record that can sustain and consolidate the gains recorded by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“If we say equity, then power should go to Southeast. It is not going to be easy, it is not going to be a dash. But then, Kalu is a true nationalist; a pan Nigerian who is loved by all.

“Kalu is someone who formed a new party in 2007 and won Abia and Imo. He was endorsed by Ohanaeze Ndigbo as far back as 2007. Definitely, he is loved by his people in the Southeast and we love him over here.

“All that I am doing is for the interest of Nigeria. Personally, I’ve never met Senator Kalu, but I’ve read and studied him and his antecedents. I’m convinced he is the best presidential material from the Southeast.

“Nobody should underrate the Igbos in 2023. Don’t forget no one gave the 25-year old newly elected National Youth Leader of PDP any chance. The youths are now wiser and we shall do our best to rescue Nigeria by having the right kind of person. We are ready to support Kalu who is an Igbo man to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Recall that Progressive Nigerians Initiative (PNI), a group of Nigerians based in South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, India, China, and the United Kingdom had endorsed the former governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu for President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The group in a statement signed by its Director General, Hon. Yuccee Uwah, emphasised that Kalu represents the most potent force for the advancement of Nigeria.

The group said, “In 2023, there’s no doubt that Nigeria needs a President who will consolidate on the infrastructural gains of the current Buhari administration but most importantly better manage the country’s diversity, rejig the economy and deal conclusively with insecurity.

“The next President of Nigeria should wield the capacity and unfettered commitment to heal the bruised and battered national umbilicus.

“Kalu understands Nigeria and knows what will be required to address the complex issues in the 21st century including addressing the challenges facing Nigerians in the Diaspora.

“Coming from different backgrounds, ethnicity, language and training, the group explained that its decision is built on the yearning for Nigeria to fulfil her vast potentials and take her place among the advanced democracies and economies – a prospect which has been denied her for nearly 60 years by poor leadership

“Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is an opportunity for Nigerians, as a people, to choose to get it right. Nigeria’s dismal story will change if we accept the obvious: that failure does not convert to success the more we repeat the errors leading to it”.

The group also highlighted the candidate’s thorough and clear thinking about Nigeria and his practical solutions which are available in his books, writings and interviews over the years.

“Senator Kalu is a result-orientated leader, patriot, thinker, businessman, and investor, whose deepest desire is to bring Nigeria into line with modern development thinking and growth. At home in Nigeria, North, South, East, West, and abroad, Kalu demonstrates his understanding of the challenge of advancing Nigeria through fearless economic thinking, robust political re-engineering, and strong administrative structures. We wholeheartedly endorse him for the presidency of Nigeria in 2023,” the group said.

The group also enjoined Nigerians to support a trained and experienced leader with a global view, one who will seek the most qualified and most prepared Nigerians to serve the country, and with the commitment to take the nation forward.

Truck Rams Into Schoolchildren In Lagos, Crushes Many

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

Several schoolchildren are feared dead after a truck rammed into some students in the Ojodu area of Lagos State.

The incident occurred at Grammar School Bus-Stop along the Ogunusi Road on Tuesday afternoon when schoolchildren were returning to their respective homes.

Channels Television gathered that the driver of the vehicle lost control before hitting the unspecified number of students.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, confirmed the incident to Channels Television via a telephone interview.

Although he said two students have been killed so far and others injured, eyewitnesses at the scene gave conflicting accounts.

While some claimed about 13 students were feared dead, others said 17 schoolchildren died.

They were said to have been crushed while waiting to cross to the other side of the road.

The truck driver, the police commissioner explained, attempted to escape after hitting the schoolchildren.

But the driver was later arrested by operatives attached to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ojodu who went after him after he fled the scene.

A mob pelts a police van with stones at the scene of the accident involving a truck at Grammar School, Ojudu, Lagos State on December 7, 2021.

Upon his arrest, a mob tried to lynch the driver but they were resisted by the police who took him into custody.

Angered by the action of the security operatives, the crowd began to pelt the police van conveying the driver.

This led to tension and panic in the area, causing a gridlock while the police reportedly fired teargas to disperse the crowd.

The situation was later brought under control.

Sen. Kalu Not Leaving Our Party — Abia APC

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

The Abia State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has denied social media reports that Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, is planning to leave the party.

Abia State APC Publicity Secretary, Hon Okey Ezeala, said in a statement: ”We in the Abia State family of our great party, APC,  To the best of our knowledge, the Senator representing Abia North on our party platform is going no where. This is authoritative.”

When contacted, Hon. Maduka Okoro, Special Assistant to Sen. Kalu on Media and Publicity described Mr. Ezeala as an impersonator masquerading as Publicity Secretary of Abia APC.

He said Mr. Ezeala lacks capacity to make comment on whether Sen. Kalu will is intending to stay or leave the APC.

He said the former Abia governor has not made any comment on his political move, cautioning Ezeala to stop making unguarded utterances while wearing the cloak of APC spokesman in Abia.

At Our Meeting, Buhari Assured Me Of Security Of Imo Indigenes, Nigerians — Uzodinma

By
Alex Enemanna
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0

 

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed door with Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, the governor said he updated the president on security and socio-economic developments in his state.

He said, in response to his presentations, President Buhari pledged to do more to ensure adequate security of life and property of all citizens in the state and across the country, ahead of the yuletide season.

According to him, steps are being taken to address security challenges in the South-East region of the country.

He said: “Prominent among the issues we discussed is the increasing insecurity in the South-East.

“Despite the activities of bandits and unknown gunmen in the area, you recall that the correctional facility in Owerri, Imo State capital was broken and over 1800 inmates were released.

“Since that time they have been on rampage committing all sorts of crime like kidnapping and armed robbery among others.

“There is need for us to really clean up the state because this period of Christmas is so important to our people and we want to ensure that those coming home for Christmas will have a condusive atmosphere to enjoy and celebrate the season.”

Uzodinma also revealed that he sought for presidential intervention for more funding and personnel, to help the state government address the prevailing security challenges.

“I asked for support with additional manpower and also some kind of funding to support the security situation in Imo State and the President graciously approved,” he said.

On the recently concluded gubernatorial election in Anambra, where he served as the Chairman of the campaign council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the governor said he explained to the President how they tried their best to win but did not get the desired result.

“On Anambra election, it has come and gone and other things may be post-election activities.

“I was able to explain to the President how we tried to win the election; we campaigned vigorously and we also converted a lot of people to APC but the election was greeted by voter apathy because of the high level of insecurity in Anambra.

“Other decisions and positions would be taken by the leadership of the party. I have done my part as the Chairman of the campaign council,” he added.

According to him, the national leadership of the party and its candidate, Andy Ubah, are to decide whether or not the declaration of Prof. Charles Soludo as the winner of the election will be challenged in court.

He also dismissed the assertion that the governing APC may not be voted back to power in 2023 due to the prevailing economic and security situations in the country.

According to him, many people are joining the party as Nigerians are happy that President Buhari is performing well.

“The mood of the country is that the president is doing very well.

“The mood of the country is that APC given the peculiarly of the times when insecurity has taken over the globe, where Covid-19 has ravaged every place in the world from one variant to another variant, yet we are able to come out from recession.

 

 

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