Failure To Support Ikpeazu, Disservice To Abia – Speaker Orji

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October 5, 2020

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says appointment into government positions should be by merit, though the federal character principle is essential in creating a balance.

The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been criticised for lopsided appointments.

Speaking at a teleconference on Saturday, Osinbajo said if a position is reserved for a particular zone, the area should be able to produce the best.

The conference was organised by the Nigeria Leadership Initiative, a body led by Olusegun Aganga, former minister of industry, trade and investment.

“I need to make this point because time and time again, we get arguments around whether the appointment of persons into public institutions should be based on federal character. The dominant principle should be merit,” he said.

“Federal character is essentially affirmative to create a balance, but even if we are to create that balance, it should still be based on merit.

“For example, if we are to reserve an office for a particular zone, that zone should be able to produce the best.”

The vice-president said the country needs a value system that promotes economic development.

“I am focused on the existential role of values in the socio-economic development of any nation. The value system we need is the one that promotes our economic development. It must also be capable of engendering unity,” Osinbajo said.

On his part, Yakubu Gowon, former head of state, said progress made by any country through the exercise of political power and without a value system is not sustainable.

“Therefore, we need to have a value system that is shared by every component of society,” Gowon said.

“The society of today is different from the one we grew in where values such as patriotism, integrity, honesty, contentment, refusal to steal either privately or publicly, good neighbourliness, commitment to community, and seeking the common good were the order of the day.”

Police Officers Don’t Obey You – Ruggedman Reacts As IGP Bans SARS

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October 5, 2020

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Nigerian rapper, Ruggedman, has reacted to the ban of the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.

ABN TV had earlier reported that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Abubakar Adamu, in a press release on Sunday banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) from patrols and stop-search duties with immediate effect following alleged killings and harassment of youths.

Reacting, Ruggedman urged Adamu to take action and not talk.

According to him, some police officers don’t obey the IGP or any Nigerian law.

“We have read this before. Some of your officers do not obey you or any Nigerian law,” he wrote on Twitter on Sunday.

“We have pictures, videos, names & addresses of rogue officers and their victims. Deal with erring officers.

“They are everywhere committing more crimes against Nigeria. Take action, not talk,” he added.

https://abntv.com.ng/2020/10/endsars-some-sars-officers-will-protest-with-us-to-show-support-naira-marley/

#ENDSARS: Some SARS Officers Will Protest With Us To Show Support – Naira Marley

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October 5, 2020

Popular Nigerian singer, Naira Marley has announced that he would be leading a protest on Tuesday against the injustice meted out on Nigerians.

This is following the outcry and #EndSARS campaign on social media against harassment of youths by SARS operatives.

Naira Marley, who had earlier declined participation in any protest over the fear of going to prison, announced on his Twitter page that some SARS officials would join the protest.

Giving reasons, Naira Marley said the police officers and SARS personnel would come out to show support against their fellow colleagues and answer questions from Nigerians.

His tweet read: “On Tuesday we got some SARS personnel coming out with us. The ones that claim to only come out for big operations and not the dirty works on the road.

“They are coming out to show support and to answer some questions, we also got some police officers and soldiers joining the protest.”

Naira Marley, therefore, appealed to fans and those willing to protest not to fight with any SARS personnel.

“Don’t forget guys just in case you see any SARS or any forces there on Tuesday don’t start any fight. We are allowed to ask questions? But remember no fight, no vandalism. Peaceful protest. Thanks,” he added.

UNIDO Partners Abia Govt To Develop Industrial Road-Map

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October 5, 2020

United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO is partnering Abia State Government for the development of industrial policy and strategy, a framework that will serve as a guide for the industrial development of Abia.

Speaking during the public presentation and hearing of the industrial policy draft document in Umuahia, Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu said the programme was important as the government would not want to strike out a policy trust statement and pass it on to people without their input.

Ikpeazu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chris Ezem stated that the aim of the public presentation of the draft document was for the government to have the understanding and input of everybody from the industrial community to the document which will form the industrial policy thrust of Abia State.

Ikpeazu disclosed that he had given a marching order to the Commissioner for Agriculture to do everything to shore up the state’s stake with respect to her investment in the area of agriculture, adding that since the crude oil market is not doing well presently, the alternative is the agric business.

He thanked those that joined hands with the Ministry of Industry and UNIDO to produce the draft document which he said would go a long way in charting the state’s industrial road map.

UNIDO National Programme Officer, Dr Reuben Bamidele, said the place of his organization in the project was in the area of providing technical assistance to the government of Abia State to be able to craft a viable industrial policy to drive the industrialization agenda of the state.

Bamidele said UNIDO had assisted the state government with the technical capacity in terms of providing consultants who worked with the state government, industry stakeholders in Abia State and across the country to be able to come up with the draft that was presented at the validation workshop today.

Presenting the draft document titled, “Abia State Industrial Policy and Strategy”, Prof Fidelis Ogwumike and Dr Uchechukwu Ozughalu said the industrial policy identified the strengths, weaknesses; opportunities and threats (SWOT) of Abia State, premised on its analysis.

“The policy thrust of enhancing the manufacturing capacity of the state through leather and garments industry, for instance, is for government to put in place all that will strengthen the shoe and allied products and garments sector.”

Sen Smart Adeyemi Prepares Bill To Amputate Hands Of Those Convicted Of Corruption

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October 5, 2020

Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Smart Adeyemi(APC, Kogi West), said weekend he had concluded arrangements to bring before the Senate a bill on Mosaic/Shariah laws to fight corruption in the country.

According to him, those found guilty of corruption in Nigeria, irrespective of status and class, will by the laws, have their hands amputated.

He spoke at the 2020 Senate Press Corps Retreat organised by the leadership of the Senate Press Corps in Lokoja, Kogi State, on the theme “Democracy in a Federation: Roles of Media, States and Parliaments”.

Senator Adeyemi said by the time the arms of about 20 people were chopped off, nobody would want to steal again.

Smart Adeyemi said: “As I said on the floor of the Senate, if we want this country to be great, we must look at some Acts of parliament. More so, the ones that have to do with anti-graft agencies.

”I want my children to be happier than I am in Nigeria, and to do that there must be enough money to meet the needs and aspirations of the people.

“What am I talking about? Let us confront corruption. Very soon, I am coming back to the chamber to bring bills on ICPC and EFCC.

“I want us to introduce Mosaic law— what you call Shariah law. By the time you cut the hands of 10 or 20 people in this country, nobody will want to steal again.

“By the time you say two or three people should face serious punishment, and if you say that is too harsh, let us have mechanised agriculture of about 200 to 250 acres.

“Once you are involved in corruption, you will spend your life farming for us. “We must look at how we can make Nigeria a better place,” Smart Adeyemi added.

Meanwhile, the Senate has raised the alarm that the ship of the media is sinking very fast and warned that if something drastic was not done to revive it, it would totally capsize.

It, however, stressed the need for value re-orientation to be the major concern in the practice of journalism in Nigeria in consonance with the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Deputy Senate President, Omo-Agege Condemns SARS Atrocities, Calls For Thorough Investigation

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October 5, 2020

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has condemned the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

He expressed concern over the incessant cases of extrajudicial killings, harassment, illegal arrest, and extortion of defenseless citizens by some officials attached to SARS in different parts of Nigeria.

Specifically, the Deputy President of the Senate cited the alleged shooting of a man by operatives of SARS in his constituency in Ughelli, Delta State over the victim’s alleged refusal to allow the operatives to search his phone as well as another shooting of a youth in the town by men of the ‘Operation Delta Safe’ over the victim’s alleged refusal to allow the operatives to search his phone to buttress his argument on the need for comprehensive reforms and overhaul of security units in the country.

Senator Omo-Agege called on the police authorities to fish out the culprits for prosecution, stressing that this will serve as a deterrent to others.

While calling on security personnel to always maintain the rules of engagement, the lawmaker urged the youths in the area to exercise utmost restraint while the investigation is ongoing.

“Those who are authorised to bear arms and maintain law and order in the country ought to understand that such must be exercised with responsibility especially when human life is sacrosanct.

“I hope those who are quick at pulling the trigger would adopt strategies that would foster mutual understanding between them and those they are tasked to protect, in their bid to save the lives of Nigerians. It would be a depressing twist of fate for them to be listed among those contributing to the list of the dead in this challenging period globally,” he said.

Restructuring: We’ll Not Succumb To Pressure – Presidency

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October 5, 2020

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The Presidency on Sunday said it will not respond to comments suggesting Nigeria is on the brink of disintegration if it does not “do one thing or another.”

According to a statement released by Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, the President, Muhammadu Buhari will only work “through and in line with the Parliamentary processes to finding solutions to structural and other impediments to the growth and wellbeing of the nation and its people.”

Garba Shehu’s statement comes after the influential cleric, Pastor Enoch Adeboye on Saturday said restructuring must be done as soon as possible prevent a national disintegration.

“The Presidency responds to the recurring threats to the corporate existence of the country with factions giving specific timelines for the President to do one thing or another or else, in their language, ‘the nation will break up,’” Shehu’s statement said.

“This is to warn that such unpatriotic outbursts are both unhelpful and unwarranted as this government will not succumb to threats and take any decision out of pressure at a time when the nation’s full attention is needed to deal with the security challenges facing it at a time of the Covid-19 health crisis.

“Repeat: this administration will not take any decision against the interests of 200 million Nigerians, who are the President’s first responsibility under the constitution, out of fear or threats especially in this hour of the health crisis.

“The President as an elected leader under this constitution will continue to work with patriotic Nigerians, through and in line with the Parliamentary processes to finding solutions to structural and other impediments to the growth and wellbeing of the nation and its people.”

Woman Slaughters Her Two Children In Cold Blood After Husband Married 2nd Wife (Photos)

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October 5, 2020

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The police in Kano at the weekend launched a massive manhunt on one Hauwa, a middle-aged housewife suspected to have slaughtered two of her biological children at Diso quarters, Gwale Local government area of Kano metropolis.

The incident which occurred on Saturday afternoon was a climax of a broken relationship between Hauwa and her heartthrob, Ibrahim Haruna Aminu who took a second wife recently.

The two children at the centre of the tragic incident were identified as Yusuf Ibrahim, and his younger sister Zahra’s, aged 5, and 3 respectively.

A brother in law to the suspect, Sadiq Haruna Aminu told newsmen that relationship between his brother and his wife “snowball to deep-seated jealousy, and envy shortly after the latter swelled the family with a new wife” culminating on the horrendous act on Saturday.

Aminu revealed that ‘’the children were stabbed severally by Hauwa and this was confirmed by Zainab, the eldest of the children that are 10-years old.”

He explained that before now, Hauwa has no traces of mental illness, but couldn’t be ruled out now considering the magnitude of the dastardly act.

In his reaction, Malam Ahmad Bello, the ward head (Diso) told reporters that the incident occurred when the husband was away in a separate apartment with his new wife.

Bello who expressed shock over the tragic incident said it would have been ideal for Huawa to seek divorce instead of taking law onto her hands.

DSP Abdullahi Haruna, Spokesman, Kano Police Command while confirming the story said the command is already investigating the situation.

With Nnamdi Kanu, There’s No Hope For Biafra – Asari Dokubo

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October 5, 2020

The founder of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Mujihad Asari-Dokubo, has, again, attacked the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, saying he has derailed the Biafra struggle. Dokubo, who said he’s a Biafran and believes in Biafra struggle, maintained that the IPOB leader was not in any struggle for the restoration of Biafra republic.

The ex-militant fighter, who spoke exclusively to Sunday Vanguard in his country home, Buguma in the Kalabari Kingdom, Rivers State, opined that associating with Kanu was his greatest regret. “It gives me regret that in my life, I ever associated with a person called Nnamdi Kanu.

That when he was in crisis, I came out to defend him. In fact, my greatest regret is associating with Nnamdi Kanu. I can’t make peace with somebody like him. It’s a foreclosed issue because he has nothing to offer other than to derail our struggle,” he stated.

“With Nnamdi Kanu, there’s no hope for Biafra. Those of us who get close to him know he’s not fighting for any Biafra. Nnamdi Kanu is just one individual in Biafra, so, we shouldn’t make him important, he’s not. He’s just like everyone one of us.

“He’s not in any struggle. Whatever spell he has cast on the Igbo will be removed very soon and their eyes will open. When he was in trouble, all of us came out to defend him because an injury to one is an injury to all. We risked our lives by speaking in support of him, for him to be released from prison and for him not to be killed.

“Now, he sees those of us who fought on his behalf for his freedom as his followers. Some of us regret ever lending our voice. We would have left him to rot in jail because he’s caused more harm to Biafra struggle than anyone else.” When asked how Kanu has caused more harm than good to the Biafra struggle, the former President of the Ijaw Youth Council retorted,

“Listen to him! Don’t you listen to his broadcast? His insults to every Igbo person that disagrees with him? He has also extended his insults to other tribes including the Ijaw people.

“He’s attacking Ralph Uwazuruike and Nnia Nwodo (Ohanaeze leader). Now, he’s attacking Pa Edwin Clark who’s not a Biafran. Biafra is the former Eastern Region. Pa Clark has never been an Easterner but from the Western Region to Mid-Western Region. So he’s gone outside the Igbo to abuse Pa Clark, Isaac Boro, Ken Saro-Wiwa.

“How can you bring unity to the people by abusing and attacking their leaders? Is Biafra struggle an Igbo struggle? He’s making it an Igbo struggle. The Biafra Nnamdi Kanu is pursuing will be worse than Southern Sudan if he wants to promote Igbo hegemony over and above Ijaw hegemony, Ibibio hegemony, and so on.

“He’s power-drunk. We are not even done with the struggle, he’s assumed the position of leadership, calling himself the supreme leader.”

Speaking on how he fell out with the IPOB leader, Asari explained: “It was during the Anambra governorship election when he said there would be no election in the state and I disagreed with him. I said it would be a fatal mistake not to participate in the election. I told him it will be better to elect somebody who will have some form of sympathy, even if the person is not totally in the struggle than to elect an open enemy, who will use the state resources to support our enemies. He said no and declared that day ‘Ofe nsala’ day.

“Again, during the 2019 elections, I said let’s vote out President Buhari and let the person we will vote for also know that we are the ones that supported him, so that when the person is there, even if he’s not with us, he will know that we contributed to the removal of Buhari. He said no and started calling me saboteur. At the end of the day, Nnamdi Kanu came and said people should go and vote. He said he had signed, sealed and delivered documents. Over one year and five months after the election, we have not seen the signed, sealed and delivered documents.

“He didn’t tell us whom he signed the documents with and he did not do anything to apologize to those of us who believed that we had to participate in that election. Rather, he continued calling us names. I’m not a member of the PDP but what would have made me happy is that all of us worked together to remove Buhari. We did not do that, we failed.

“The truth is that the vast majority of Biafrans don’t want anything to do with Nigeria. Majority of us want to leave Nigeria. So, Nnamdi Kanu through Radio Biafra has been able to reach out to some of these people and has changed the Biafra struggle into a cult struggle, who go about attacking people who are opposed to them. Before my quarrel with him, nobody was against him but now, people are no longer afraid of him.”