Chairman
Northeast elders asks President Buhari to sack service chiefs
The Coalition of North East Elders for Peace and Development, Monday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to sack his service chiefs, accusing the military of deploying massive strength during the #EndSARS protests in parts of the country, thereby leaving the zone at the mercy of Boko Haram, an Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists. According to the elders, scores of civilians were killed as a result of the strategic and operational blunders, which they argued, was avoidable, had greater tact been adopted. In a statement signed by the chairman, Engr. Zana Goni, the North East elders said pro-active intelligence would have revealed this lapse to the military high command, had the service chiefs not been lethargic in their responsibilities. Consequently, the elders, for the um...
Traders burn 10-year-old boy for ‘stealing’ food
A 10-year-old boy, Ifeanyi, was on Saturday thrown into a fire for allegedly stealing a small measure of uncooked rice in a market at Inikiri Benard village, Effium community, in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Newsmen gathered that the lad’s mother was late, while his father was mentally-challenged. A community source said, “The boy was thrown into a fire by two traders who accused him of stealing rice from a shop at the market to cook for himself and his father.” The Chairman of Human Rights Defenders, Ebonyi State chapter, Mr Sam Nweke, condemned the inhuman act meted out to the kid. He said, “HURIDE got a call from one Mr George Etamesor, on the grave abuse of this poor boy. This was because he was caught trying to steal some rice in their village market. They tied h...
#EndSARS: We suffered extensive damages – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that it suffered extensive damages, vandalisation of offices and facilities across the states during the destruction that trailed the EndSARS protests. The commission said the damages were also felt in areas where bye-elections has been scheduled. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who made the disclosure in a statement, said the commission as a result may have to consult stakeholders before agreeing on specific date for the bye-elections. Recall that the commission had at its meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) suspended the bye-elections indefinitely because of the security situation in the country at the time, promising to review same ...
US election: Oye Owolewa made Nigeria proud – minister
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on Thursday, described the feat achieved by 31-year old Oye Owolewa in the 2020 United States election as national pride. The minister tweeted, “Congrats are in place for the 31-year old Adeoye Owolewa for making Nigeria proud by being the first Nigerian to win a seat in the United States Congress.” Owolewa was on Tuesday elected as a shadow member of the US House of Representatives from the District of Columbia, making him the first Nigerian-American to achieve the milestone. According to election results on the website of the District of Columbia Board of Elections on Wednesday morning, Owolewa polled 81.59% of the votes, which represents 164,026 votes against Joyce Robinson-Paul, who scored 18,600 votes, and Sohaer Syed with 15,...
Lekki shooting: CCTV stopped recording after 8pm – LCC chief
Lekki Concession Company (LCC) has said that CCTV cameras at Lekki Tollgate stopped working at 8p.m. on Oct. 20, the day military men alleged shot at unarmed #EndSARS protesters. Managing Director of LCC, Mr Abayomi Omomuwasi, made the disclosure while testifying during proceedings of Lagos #EndSARS Judicial Panel on Tuesday. Led in evidence by his lawyer, Mr Rotimi Seriki, Omomuwasi said that the cameras stopped working due to network issues. “We never tampered with the surveillance camera, that is why we have footage until 8 p.m. when it stopped recording. “It was around 8.p.m. that we did not get any CCTV recording. It stopped recording because of network issues with the system. “The major cause is that we have the network that connects our cameras together at Ikoyi Link Bridge, Chevron...
Northern governors back social media regulation
The Northern Governors Forum on Monday expressed support for proposals to regulate the social media to check the spread of fake news in the country. The Forum expressed its support in a communique issued by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau, Mr Simon Lalong. This followed the governors meeting in Kaduna, which was attended by traditional rulers and other key stakeholders in the region. The meeting took note of the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news and called for major control mechanisms andcensorship of social media practice in Nigeria. It also expressed support for the reform of the police to strengthen their capacity. “Forum appreciates the major reforms going on in the Police Force and pledges to support Mr. President on this course. “The meet...
#EndSARS: PDP asks Lagos governor to resign
The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Lagos State chapter, has asked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to resign as he no longer enjoys the confidence of the people. Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Taofik Gani, on Sunday, said Gov Sanwo-Olu can no longer be trusted in the wake of the Nigerian Army’s disclosure that it was the governor that invited them to quell and disperse the #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll-Gate, where an unspecified number of people were either killed or injured. He said, “The PDP is of the view that it is more expedient for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to step aside now that the Nigerian Army has revealed him as the person who invited the soldiers to go quell the Lekki protests which have led to unfortunate fatalities and grievous injuries. Obviously, Lag...
Senator Ndoma-Egba: Attack on my house premeditated
Former Senate Leader and ex-Chairman, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has said that the recent onslaught on his abode in Calabar, Cross River State, was well planned by the perpetrators and those that may have prompted them. Ndoma-Egba, who spoke through a statement, lamented that despite assurances given by the security agencies that his house would be secured, there was no evidence of any security officer in the vicinity when the hoodlums carried out their nefarious operation for over four hours. “At about 2.am (local time, as I was abroad) on Saturday 24th October, 2020, I received a text informing me that there were plans by arranged hoodlums to attack my residence in Calabar, that of Senator Gershom Bassey and a hotel owned by Senator Joh...
#EndSARS: CRAN commiserates with NPF/civilians over attack
The Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), a body of journalists covering the security beat nationwide, has commiserated with the Inspector-General of Police Mr Mohammed Adamu, the entire Nigeria Police Force and Nigerians on their loss during the EndSARS protest. CRAN has described as unfortunate the loss of both human and material resources during the period of violence as a result of #EndSARS protest hijacked by hoodlums. In a statement, signed by Chairman, Public Communications and Ethics Committee, Mr Emmanuel Edom, he noted that ”Like all right thinking members of the society, CRAN strongly frowns at police brutality, but also notes that the unethical actions and inactions of a few should not be the yardstick to measure the entire force. We outrightly condemn the widespread k...
Water Resources Bill: Minister decries misinformation of Nigerians
The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, has said that Nigerians are being misinformed about the Water Resources Control Bill. The minister made the statement while interfacing with the House of Representatives Committee on Water Resources in Abuja, following the public outcry that trailed the passage of the bill. Newsmen recall that sequel to a motion of personal explanation by Rep. Benjamin Mzondu (PDP-Benue) the house withdrew the bill which had already been passed on the grounds that it was not gazetted. The minister recalled that the bill was presented in the 8th Assembly and there was a two-day public hearing with Rep. Aliyu Ahman-Pategi as chairman. According to him, there was no issue at all until some unpatriotic Nigerians gave bad and dangerous colouration, and tried t...
NAHCON mourns President of Hajj operators
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has expressed shock over the death of Alhaji Salihu Butu, Acting President, Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON). NAHCON Executive Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, said this in a statement by the commission’s Head, Public Affairs, Mrs Fatima Usara, on Friday in Abuja. Hassan said that the deceased demonstrated admirable leadership qualities during his life time, adding that NAHCON benefitted much from his wealth of experience. “Butu was always supportive of NAHCON’s policies that were in the best interest of the pilgrims, the nation and tour operators,” he said. The NAHCON boss said that the deceased would be remembered as an astute Hajj manager, who earned numerous awards in the course of his career. ” It is with hea...
Ondo governor approves second term inauguration committee
Ahead of his inauguration for the second term in office, Ondo State governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, on Friday approved the setting up of a 25-member committee. The composition of the Committee which includes the deputy governor-elect, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa as Chairman and Mr Kunle Adebayo as its Secretary. Other members of the committee include Tayo Oluwatuyi, Chief Olugbenga Ale, Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo and Wale Akinterinwa, including Donald Ojogo, Femi Agagu, Mrs Lola Fagbemi, Mrs Bunmi Ademosu, Dr (Mrs) Olawumi Ilawole and Mr Boye Oyewumi. Also, Toluwani Borokini, Chief Bukola Adetula, Jimi Odimayo, Mrs Renike Witherspoon, Mr Alex Kalejaiye, Olutayo Babalola, Alex Oladimeji, Tosin Ogunbodede, Olayato Aribo, Gbenga Omole, Revd. R.O.A Agboola, Alhaji Khaleel Fawehinmi, and Alhaji Jim...
