North
Ayo Adebanjo: President Buhari not sincere about keeping Nigeria together
President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo, elder statesman and Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, have described Nigeria’s constitution as illegal. They spoke in a video conference organized by Governance Index titled: “Coronavirus Pandemic: Is it time to reevaluate the political structure of the country?” Opening the session, Nwodo said the constitution was given to Nigerians by a military government which was not elected, adding that in 1999, politicians went into the election without knowing the parameter that will guide the democratic process. He said the military wrote the constitution and abandoned regionalism. At the video conference which was the fifth edition of the weekly conference series: Covid-19: Turning a crisi...
Senator Lawan distributes palliatives to thousands in Damaturu, Yobe North
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has distributed food palliatives to thousands of residents in Damaturu and the six local government areas in Yobe North Senatorial District of Yobe State. The local governments are: Bade, Nguru, Jakusko, Yusufari, Karasuwa, and Machina, respectively. The gesture by Senator Lawan was aimed at providing relief to residents in Damaturu, the State Capital and his Constituency, who are affected by the lockdown policy following the spread of the COVID-19 disease. The distribution of palliatives was accompanied with the provision of infrared thermometers, chemicals for disinfection, spraying machines, hand sanitizers, face masks, hand gloves and boots. Also to be provided are Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) to some hospitals across the various local gove...
Presidency: Nothing wrong with taking more loans
There is nothing wrong in taking more loans to finance specific projects, the Presidency said on Sunday. It urged those criticising efforts in borrowing to develop the country, to desist. Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said Nigeria has more capacity to accommodate loans. He spoke while featuring on Southwest Political Circuit, a popular political interview programme on Ibadan-based radio station, Fresh F.M. Adesina called from his Aso Rock office to take questions on aspects of COVID-19 management and economic issues. He said that there was no need for Nigerians to raise concern about the country’s rising debt profile because the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is applying loans to the specific projects they are meant for. Although he pointed out that the huge debt, which th...
Newborn baby tests positive for coronavirus in Russia
A baby was born with the coronavirus in Russia’s Caucasus region, health officials were quoted by TASS news agency as saying on Sunday, to a mother who is also infected. The birth in the North Ossetia city of Beslan follows one in mid-April in Peru, which health officials there said was the second known case of a COVID-19 positive newborn worldwide. In North Ossetia, “a pregnant woman was infected by the coronavirus, and her baby was born infected”, a regional health ministry spokesman was quoted by the state agency TASS as saying. “They are now at home, their state is satisfactory,” the spokesman added. The head of the hospital’s maternity unit, Hassan Tagaiev, was quoted by local television as saying that 17 of 35 women who were about to give birth there had tested positive for COVID-19....
SMBLF asks Nigerian government to declare ‘invasion’ of South, Middle-Belt by Almajiris illegal
Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has called on the Federal Government to publicly declare the invasion of the South and Middle-Belt by teenagers, including Almajiris from far North, in spite of the ban on interstate movements imposed by President Muhammadu Buhari as illegal and direct the security agencies to immediately flush them out and ensure that they do not return. SMBLF made these demands on Sunday in a joint statement signed by Chief E K Clark for PANDEF, Chief Ayo Adebanjo on behalf of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief John Nnia Nwodo (Ohaneze) and Dr Bitrus Pogu (Middle- Belt Forum). The group, while making the demands, expressed outrage at what it termed complacency on the part of Nigerian security forces at the invasion of their areas by teena...
Edo APC leaders vow to replace Governor Obaseki during primaries
Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state have vowed to replace the incumbent governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, during the primary election of the party, saying no amount of blackmail and intimidation would cow them into submission. In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, the APC leaders said their views represent the several thousands of APC leaders, stakeholders and members In Edo State whose determination to replace Mr Godwin Obaseki in the forthcoming gubernatorial election is unwavering. Among those who signed the statement were a former Minister of State for Works, Engr Chris Ogiemwonyi, three former deputy governors, Dr Pius Odubu, Rev. Peter Obadan and Lucky Imasuen respectively. Others were Gen. Charles Airhiavbere Rtd, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Hon. Saturday U. Idehe...
Edo returns 108 northern travellers as three test positive for coronavirus
Edo State Government on Wednesday ordered the return of 108 travellers from the North intercepted at Irrua on Benin-Auchi road and Benin City by the state police command. Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, who confirmed the incident, said three of the travellers tested positive for COVID-19. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Chidi Nwabuzor, also confirmed the interception of the 84 others at Irrua by the police, adding that the state government had ordered that they be escorted out of the state to the south-West where they said they were going to. “Yes it is true a trailer load of human beings from Kaduna coming straight to Edo State were intercepted at Benin-Auchi expressway around Irrua. The operatives intercepted th...
