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APC chieftain: Senator Sheriff used his empire to handpick Kashim Shettima as Borno governor in 2011
File Photo A chieftain in the All Progressive Congress (APC) and a former law maker in the Nasarawa state House of Assembly, Hon. Dr Kassim Mohammad Kassim, has recalled how former Borno Governor Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff installed his successor, Senator Kashim Shettima in 2011. The former Nasarawa lawmaker, who is a stakeholder in the ruling party and a close allied told reporters in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa that Modu-Sheriff practically dragged Shettima from the banking sector and made him Governor using his vast networks and goodwill. Responding to an online publication that averred Modu-Sheriff is unfit to become national chairman of the APC, Kassim said: “The writer forget to mention how Senator Ali Modu Sheriff singlehandedly brought Shettima from the banking sector in 2007 and made...
Senate: National Assembly won’t gag media
The Senate has said it was not possible for the 9th National Assembly to stiffen the media in Nigeria with its current amendments to the acts which established the National Broadcasting Commission and the Nigerian Press Council. The Spokesperson for the Senate, Dr. Ajibola Basiru, who gave the assurance on Monday, said the amendments to the acts and other relevant laws should not be misinterpreted as an attempt to gag the freedom of speech and free press in the country. Basiru spoke in an interview with journalists at the sidelines of a two-day capacity building training for Media Aides to Principal Officers of the National Assembly, organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies in Abuja on Monday. Basiru said, “The freedom of speech is an inalienable right of ...
Ekiti 2022: Governor Fayemi’s performance‘ll make the job easier for APC – party chairman
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Akinlayo Kolawole, has disclosed that the performances of the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration would make next year’s governorship election easier for the party to win in the state. Kolawole, a former House of Representatives aspirant for the Ekiti North Federal Constituency Two in the 2019 general elections, made the disclosure in a chat with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, urging the party leadership not to take anything for granted ahead of the all important election. He enjoined every member of APC in Ekiti and beyond to show more interest in sharing the good news to the public. The APC stalwart reiterated commitment to his political aspiration, stressing that ” it is alive and kicking.” He said : ” You are all around an...
Cross River North: Senator Odey floors Joe Agi at election tribunal
The Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Calabar Friday, upheld the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Stephen Odey, in the Cross River North Senatorial District by-election. Delivering the judgment in a petition by Joe Agi (SAN) with number: EPT/CR/SEN/03/2020, the chairman of the three-man election tribunal, Justice Yusuf Muhammad, upheld the preliminary objection raised by Odey’s lawyer that the two grounds of petition were pre-election matters. The Tribunal, therefore, struck out the petition for lack of merit. The tribunal also held that Jarigbe Agom, who is the second respondent in the petition, was never cleared nor contested the December 5, 2020, PDP primaries. It therefore faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the wrongful iss...
Nigerian government urges increased awareness on violence against women, girls
The Federal Government on Thursday called for increased awareness on violence against women and girls aimed at ending the scourge. Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, Wife of the Vice President and founder, The Women’s Helping Hands Initiative, made the call at the launch of “Orange the World with Doctors,” in Abuja. Orange the World with Doctors is a plenary with medical practitioners initiated by UN Population Fund (UNFPA) aimed at ending Gender Based Violence (GBV) with doctors at the forefront. Osinbajo, who commended the UNFPA for the initiative, decried all forms of violence on women and girls, calling for stronger collaboration to end it. She reiterated the imperatives of strengthening Nigeria’s health system, noting that it key in fighting GBV. She said “I commend all who have joined hands in the...
WHO: 146 million Africans die yearly from tobacco-related diseases
The World Health Organisation has revealed that no fewer than 146 million Africans die annually from tobacco related disease. Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa said this on Thursday during a virtual press conference. Moeti said tobacco was the leading cause of preventable deaths in the world and emphasised that “smoking damages nearly every organ in the body.” The director also said that “globally, exposure to secondhand smoke kills more than 1.2 million people yearly.” She explained that the use of tobacco products other than cigarettes, such as vaporizers, was on the increase in Africa. Moeti said that quitting tobacco was the way to reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, stroke and other diseases, noting that it would also increase one’s life expectancy...
Don: Ekiti’s resources can make it self-sufficient
As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced June 18, 2022 as the date for the governorship election in Ekiti State, a security expert, Dr Oludotun Adetunberu, has called on the aspirants to be real and practical in their campaign promises in the overall interest of the residents. Adetunberu who was speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital harped on the need for potential aspirants to the number one seat in the state, prided as the land of honour to put in place structures and processes that would restore the lost glory of the state. The scholar, according to a statement signed by his media manager, Iyiola Oluborode emphasized that Ekiti State has resources that could make it self-sufficient if tapped into and well managed. He charged the leadership of all...
Danish director: Christian Eriksen spoke to Denmark players after on-field collapse
Christian Eriksen managed to speak to his Denmark team-mates from hospital after his on-field collapse, according to Danish FU (Football Union) director of football Peter Moller. Eriksen was stabilised in hospital after collapsing in the first half of Denmark’s Euro 2020 encounter with Finland in Copenhagen. The playmaker required extensive on-pitch treatment and the match was suspended after he was taken off on a stretcher, before it was resumed more than 90 minutes later. “He collapsed and got help and heart treatment on the field,” Moller told DR. “He was fortunately awake when he left the stadium. “We have been in contact with him, and the players have spoken with Christian. That’s the good news. He is doing well and they are playing the match for Christian. “Our thoughts are with Chri...
PDP: OGSIEC plotting to shut us out of Ogun council poll
The Ogun chapter of Peoples Democratic Party has accused the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC, Barr. Babatunde Osibodu, of meddling in the affairs of the party. Alh Sikirulai Ogundele, Ogun chairman of PDP said this during a press conference at the Ogun NUJ Secretariat, Okelewo, Abeokuta. Ogundele who was accompanied by some aggrieved members of the party, said there was a renewed calculated attempt by OGSIEC to keep meddling in the affairs of the party by deliberately obstructing the cause of justice as far as PDP’s participation in the forthcoming LG election is concerned. He said this was in spite of the fact that that the party had gone through a phase of robust reconciliation of all interests while verifiable documents have been submitted to properly guid...
2023: Delta governor cautions political office holders against distractions
Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has cautioned those who hold political appointments in his government against all forms of complacency or dereliction of duty because of their vested interest in the 2023 general election in the country. In a veiled reference to why he dissolved the state executive council and numerous senior political appointees, Okowa stressed that they should rather be preoccupied by the desire to redouble their efforts in contributing to the administration to enable it deliver on his electoral promises and finish strongly. The governor gave the charge yesterday at the Government House in Asaba while swearing in the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah, as well as eight special advisers whose appointments were announced last week. He ca...
NAF chief: Armed forces committed to end insecurity
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, yesterday declared that the Armed Forces remained committed to ending the crisis of insecurity ravaging the nation. He said the expected delivery of six A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets by the United States in July and two drones from China, would be a “game changer” in the war against insurgency. The position of the air force chief is coming on a day the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, sought the assistance of the Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, to provide security for train stations and railway construction sites across the country. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of 1,031 recruits of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Basic Military Training Course 41/2020, Amao affirmed that “the NAF in consonance w...
CAN: We never approached National Assembly on CAMA
File Photo Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has clarified its position on the controversial Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), disclosing that it has not approached the current National Assembly for any amendment on the Act. CAN General Secretary, Joseph Daramola, in a statement explained that the response was to contradict media reports quoting CAN President, Dr. Samson Ayokunle, as accusing the National Assembly of not assisting the Association when CAMA was being amended. Part of statement noted, “we want to make it abundantly clear that CAN President was not referring to the current National Assembly, because CAN never approached the federal lawmakers on the controversial law. “CAMA is not a product of the 9th Assembly but the previous Assembly (8th Assembly). It’s our expe...
