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Bandits have raided some houses at Anguwar Maji in Jere town along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway and abducted 22 villagers.
This happened barely 24 hours after the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, visited the highway.
Jere, which shares a boundary with Tafa-Sabon -Wuse in Niger State, is located on the ever-busy Abuja-Kaduna Highway.
A resident of Anguwar Maji, Shehu Bala, who confirmed the latest abduction through a telephone conversation with our reporter, said the incident happened around 11pm on Sunday.
He said the bandits, who came in large numbers, invaded some houses and whisked away 22 residents, including five women.
“The bandits came in their large numbers as some of them wore army uniforms.
“They moved from house to house and woke their victims up before they marched them into the bush at gunpoint,” he said.
According to him, the bandits operated silently in the community for over an hour.
He added that they only started shooting sporadically to scare people from coming after them after leaving the community.
Bala, however, said one among the 22 kidnapped victims escaped from his abductors while being led into the bush.
The spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mohammed Jalinge, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.
Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and two-term governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole, has declared his intention to represent Edo North Senatorial district at the Senate.
Oshiomhole made the declaration during his 70th birthday at his country home in Iyamho, Etsako West local government of Edo state.
APC local government and ward chairmen had called on him to represent the district at the Senate
“I said until APC is fixed, you cannot talk of contesting election using the platform. I have been chairman of the party, I know the danger we face if we are not able to fix the party and this was completed and consummated on the 26th of March 2022, with the election of a new National Working Committee and National Executive Council under the able leadership of a former governor, a former minister and a current Senator, Adamu Abdulahi”.
“It is true that for sometime now, many of our people have asked me, why don’t you contest for the Senate seat? I answered that first, APC has crisis, let us fix the crisis and let there be convention.
“You can’t begin to discuss what kind of baby you are going to have when you are not married and we have done what we need to do and I am inspired by the position of the new leadership as it relates to retaining power in 2023.”
Oshiomhole said he was convinced that this is the time to proceed to the next step of the conversation of the person to lead Edo North in the senate by 2023.
“And it is time for me to join the race to represent Edo North in the Senate. I have also been examining myself because I do not want to go to the senate and sit down, listen to motions and collect salary at the end of the month,” he said.
He said he doesn’t believe in going to the senate to take a sabbatical because it is an important institution where men and women are elected by their people to contribute to affairs that affect them, adding that it has to do with how funds are allocated and ensure that the people of Nigeria get value for their resources and money.
“We lay more emphasis on the rotation of people but I am more concerned about even development. I have made it clear before as president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that democracy means that the leaders must listen to the people and if he deviates from what the people want, they have the right to interrogate the leader”
”If I did that as ordinary Nigerian, I believe that as a senator, your interest cannot be ignored in the red chamber in Abuja.
“By my antecedent, I am a believer that this country has come to stay and our business is not to lament the imperfections but dedicate ourselves to the challenge of fixing the nation so that we can create a nation where every citizen will have a basis to be proud that he is a Nigerian. With your mandate, if I get to the senate I will do that.”
Oshiomhole joined the senate race 24 hours after Francis Alimikhena, who currently represents the district, declared his intention to run for a third term.
Alimikhena was elected into the senate in 2015 when Oshiomhole was governor.
Twenty two (22) suspected cultists have been arrested in different parts of Ogun state within a spate of 48 hours, the State Police Command has said.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Monday by the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi.
Oyeyemi noted that the state police command had set up a special squad headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations to checkmate the disturbing activities of cultists across the state.
The police spokesman explained that the squad had swung into action and arrested no fewer than 22 cultists in different parts of the state.
Oyeyemi stated that the arrested cultists who had affirmed their membership of Aiye and Eiye confraternities were apprehended when the squad stormed their hideouts at Mayas in Lafenwa and Oju Ogbara in Sapon area of Abeokuta.
“Some of the suspects were also apprehended in Sagamu during the similar operation carried out by the squad.
“All the arrested suspects are currently being investigated to ascertain their roles in the cult war that engulfed the state recently which claimed the life of some cult members,” he said.
Oyeyemi noted that the State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole who commended the quick response of the squad had urged them to take the battle to the doorsteps of all known cultists in the state.
The PPRO added that the Commissioner had appealed to members of the public to cooperate with the team by giving them necessary information that would enhance their operation, saying that security remained everybody’s business.
Senator Muhammadu Dansadau, Chairman of the Mosque Committee where an Abuja Imam, Sheikh Nuru Khalid (the Digital Imam) was suspended, has said that the Mosque has finally expelled Sheikh Khalid for allegedly, not showing any remorse.
The Abuja Imam, however, was quoted as saying that he will rather be carrying load for pay than to stop telling the truth, according to a vanguard report.
Recall that Senator Dansadau had earlier announced the suspension of Sheikh Nuru Khalid before he subsequently said the ‘Digital Imam’ was finally expelled.
Senator Saidu Dansadau was acting in his capacity as the Chairman of Mosque Committee at the Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja.
He told journalists that the latest action on the Imam was a development from the episode of Saturday, April 2nd in Abuja.
A letter the Mosque Committee issued on Monday, signed by Dansadau and was issued to the Digital Imam, stated that a decision was taken to finally relieve the Imam of his duty because he had not shown any remorse over the issue, since his suspension.
In the letter, the committee told the Imam that he was conversant that inculcating good manners was imperative in Islam towards bringing up individuals with good attitude.
The committee, however expressed regrets that the Imam’s reactions after his suspension were not acceptable, talk less of expecting any show of remorse from him over his remarks.
The committee reminded the Imam of what was expected from leaders, pointing out that if the citizens felt bad rather than good from his sermons, it behoves on them to take the appropriate action on the Imam.
They said from all indications, the Imam had no intention of changing the tune of his last Friday’s sermon to be in line with how insecurity could be tackled in Nigeria.
Dansadau said Sheikh Nuru Khalid said in an interview that he had no iota of regret over his action.
“You can see why we cannot sit with him over the matter,” he said in an interview with the BBC Hausa.
“He cannot lead us in prayers. The religious tenet agrees if you cannot be led in prayers by someone, you can change the Mosque where you worship,” he said.
“A Mosque is a place of worship, not an arena to criticise government,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kaduna based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has condemned Sheikh Nuru Khalid’s sermon and described it as “sentiments overriding intellect”.
According him, the Abuja Imam was wrong for trying to discourage Nigerians from participating in the election to vote out bad leaders.
He said the action was, worse than kidnappers.
“It’s a case of sentiments overriding intellect. Calling masses not to vote out incompetent government by massive voting is worse than the few kidnappings and a misplaced judgment,” Gumi was quoted to have said.
Two million people will start receiving about N20bn from June this year as basic cash transfers and conditional cash transfers under the National Cash Transfer Programme, the Federal Government has said.
It was gathered that the Federal Government would pay the two million people N5,000 each under the basic cash transfer and an additional N5,000 under the conditional cash transfer. This implies that the government would be spending N20bn on the beneficiaries.
A March 2022 document on the strategic roadmap and activities of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Sunday, showed that the number of people receiving cash transfers from the government had been increasing.
The report stated that in 2018, a total of 19 states were covered under the National Cash Transfer Programme, as this increased to 24 states in 2019 and moved up to 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in 2022, covering 1.6 million people.
But the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, stated in the document that the number would increase further in June. Under the cash transfer scheme, the Federal Government supports poor and vulnerable households with cash on a monthly basis.
“By June 2022 we would be paying two million people N5,000 basic cash transfer and an additional N5,000 on conditional cash transfers, which is conditioned on good health-seeking/behaviour, school retention, and good water and hygiene conditions in their environment/homes,” Farouq stated.
She explained that the ministry designed and piloted a shock-responsive social register, called the Rapid Response Register to capture urban poor informal workers, who were daily wage earners, working across towns and cities, and impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown.
The minister said, “To date, of this one million targeted by the government, we have been able to pay the sum of N5000 to 850,000 beneficiaries digitally through the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, where each account is carefully validated by the system before payment.
“150,000 will be paid by the end of April 2022. Each of these beneficiaries is receiving six months of support in cash.”
Under the National Social Register, the ministry stated that 46 million persons in the 36 states and FCT, in 11 million households, had been registered as of 2022.
The ministry stated that the N-Power volunteer scheme provided temporary job opportunities for 498,602 graduates under Batches A and B, while 450,000 graduates under Batch C Stream 1 were also engaged.
It added that 390,000 others were being onboarded for Batch C Stream 2, and that there was presidential approval to enroll additional one million beneficiaries.
It further stated in the document that 174 of the 1,850 mobile agents trained, kitted, and registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria – Shared Agents Network Expansion Facility for agency banking achieved a transaction volume of over N657m between January 1 and March 25, 2022.
“The top 10 mobile money agents executed transactions totaling N300,095,545.06 and earned N1,852,499.00 between January and March 25, 2022,” the ministry stated.
The report indicated that 9.8 million pupils were being fed daily under the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, while 127,000 cooks had been engaged and 98 aggregators were supplying various protein products.
The school feeding programme is one of the four clusters of the National Social Investment Programme which seeks to provide one free daily meal to pupils on the programme.
The NHGSFP is designed as a collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments. The Federal Government is responsible for the release of funds, guidelines, policies, and monitoring.
The state carries out the day-to-day implementation including procurement of food items, and selection of cooks and vendors who prepare, cook, and serve the meals to the pupils.
The governor of a state so besieged by terrorists that he has asked residents to take up arms and defend themselves has described President Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s best president ever.
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina has repeatedly lamented the security situation in his state, saying security agencies are overwhelmed and residents should take up arms to defend themselves.
Nigeria operates a unitary security system with all the security agencies under the control of the Nigerian president.
Thousands of people have been killed or kidnapped by terrorists, also called bandits, in Katsina and other Northwest states in the past few years.
Amidst the worsening insecurity, another governor of a Northwestern state, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, suggested the hiring of foreign mercenaries to address the situation.
But the insecurity did not deter Masari from describing Buhari as Nigeria’s best president ever.
“Since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, the country has never had a better government and President like Muhammad Buhari,” Masari said.
The governor disclosed this on Saturday in Katsina during a rally organised by the beneficiaries of the federal government’s National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) in the state.
The rally was organised under the leadership of the Social Protection and Good Family Value Initiative (SPGFVI).
The rally was aimed at calling on the federal government and the national assembly to enact a law that would make the programme a permanent one.
According to Masari, Buhari has laid a significant foundation that if properly utilised by the next administration, will assist in removing many Nigerians from poverty.
“Therefore, with this initiative which no administration has ever thought of, the president needs more commendation and support to achieve the purpose of the programme.
“I wish to inform you that I am totally in support of this call for the president to make it law before the end of his tenure. By doing such, it will continue to reduce the challenges Nigerians are facing.
“It is unfortunate for someone to wake up in the morning, thinking of what to eat, how to go to hospital or take their children to school, but this programme has reduced such difficulties for people.
“And if a law is enacted and it becomes permanent, no government will come and stop it, and Nigerians will continue to enjoy the programme and it will continue to reduce unemployment,” he said.
Masari assured beneficiaries of the programme that their message will get to Buhari and the national assembly.
He further called on the beneficiaries to also write to their representatives at the national assembly on their demands.
Earlier in his remarks, the state’s Coordinator of the SPGFVI, Mustapha Bara’u, said their main objective is to ensure the wellbeing of Nigerians, especially the youths, elderly, physically challenged people, women and pupils.
According to him, that is why they developed an interest in the NSIP programme because it is directly related to one of their major objectives.
He explained that the rally was earlier held at the ward levels across the state, where their commendation letters were presented to the district heads for further transmission to the president.
General overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Enoch Adeboye on Sunday disassociated himself from partisan politics, the Guardian reports.
“I have said it before, and I will say it again, I am not and will never be a politician, I am a pastor – that is what God has called me to be,” Adeboye said at the April thanksgiving service.
“Please do not distract me. My assignment is to be a pastor; to pray for you, to pray for nations, including Nigeria.”
Adeboye’s reaction may not be unconnected to a recent circular by the RCCG for the creation of a Directorate of Politics and Governance in the church.
Political analysts suggest that the RCCG might be positioning itself to be politically active in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
Current vice president Yemi Osinbajo, a pastor in the RCCG, is rumoured to have the ambition to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari with the newly created department to mobilise support for his ambition.
Adeboye, who spoke extensively on the current state of Nigeria, said it would be unfair on other members of the RCCG who are members of different political parties for him to be partisan.
“In the Redeemed Christian Church of God, every political party is heavily represented; APC, PDP, APGA, Labour and other parties you don’t even know their name,” Adeboye said.
“I have never told you which party to vote for whether in secret or in the open.
“So it will be unjust to tell you to support one party over another.”
The cleric noted that Nigeria might be sliding gradually towards bankruptcy, citing cases of oil theft in the country.
“It is in the news that 80% of oil in Nigeria is stolen and taken out of the country. Who is stealing the oil?
“Who is buying the oil? Are you even sure that the people buying the oil have your interest? If these continue, we might be sliding to bankruptcy.”
Adeboye also expressed fears for the economic future of Nigeria, stating that the debt-to-service- revenue-ratio might pose danger for decades.
Gunmen have killed 10 persons and injured 19 others during a cultural festival in Chando Zerreci community in Irigwe Chiefdom of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports
Lawrence Zango, National Publicity Secretary, Irigwe Youth Movement, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Zango said criminals launched the attack on Saturday night during the annual ritual festival of ‘Zerreci’, which usually ushers the Plateau community into the new farming season.
Zongo, who condemned and described that act as ”sad and unfortunate”, added that the injured are currently receiving treatment at Enos Hospital Miango.
He called on the government at all levels and the security agencies to find lasting solution to the incessant attacks that usually lead to loss of lives and property.
”The government has a responsibility to promote and protect human rights, including the right to life, and a duty to protect civilians from attacks by taking effective measures to prevent and deter attacks on our people,” he said.
“The government must as a matter of urgency investigate the attack in Irigwe land and bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure that families and other victims are adequately compensated
“Brutal attacks on our communities are becoming rampant and frequent and this is unacceptable.
”Government must take more concrete steps to protect lives and property across Iregwe chiefdom and neighboring communities.”
Zango also appealed to the International community to come to the aid of the people and to support them and address the huge humanitarian challenges caused by the attacks.
Ubah Ogaba, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Plateau State Police command in the state, confirmed the attack, adding that the command had mobilised armed officers to the place to restore normalcy.
Ogaba, an assistant superintendent of police, called on residents of the area and Plateau in general to remain calm and law abiding, adding that security agencies are working seriously to ensure their safety.
Gunmen on Sunday killed two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ezinifite, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Silas Okolie, a resident of the area, told our correspondent that the gunmen operated from the Oko-Ekwulobia area, but could not say if the attackers also killed any residents in the area before they attacked the FRSC officials.
FRSC spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem, confirmed the attack in a statement on Sunday according to a Premium Times report.
He said the gunmen opened fire on the officials at about 2:45 p.m. while they were conducting routine patrol operations along the Igbo-Uku-Uga route in the Ezinifite area of the state.
“A team of patrol operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps comprising an officer, a driver and two other staff on patrol operations have been attacked by unknown gunmen leading to the death of two personnel with one sustaining severe injuries,” Kazeem said in the statement.
He said one official escaped through the bush while they rushed an injured team leader to the hospital.
The Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, decried the attack and condoled with the families of the deceased officials, Kazeem said.
Oyeyemi said the FRSC was working with the police and other security agencies to track down the gunmen.
The attack comes three days after gunmen killed a security guard and razed the headquarters of Nnewi South Local Government Council in the state.
Police officers and officials of other security agencies have been the target of deadly attacks in the South-east; attacks on FRSC officials appear to be a novelty in the region.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, a group leading the agitation for the creation of an independent state of Biafra from the Southeast and some parts of the Southsouth, has been accused of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the two regions.
The Senatorial Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Ogun West, Alhaji Mohammed Azeez has described as baseless the allegation that the National leader of the Party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was keen on imposing Senator Olamilekan Adeola on the district.
Alhaji Azeez stated this in a Press release received by Nigerian Newstrack, while reacting to a Guardian news story titled, "don't impose Adeola on Ogun West, APC leaders caution Tinubu" written by Azeez Olorulomeru, on Sunday.
The Chairman challenged the Guardian reporter to provide any credible means of identity of Chief Adegbite that spoke to him, describing the personality as nameless and faceless.
He said the story portrayed Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as undemocratic due to the baseless allegation of imposition of aspirant, stressing that Senator Solomon Adeola is a bona fide son of Ogun West Senatorial District who is qualified to vie for the Senatorial seat of Ogun West like any other indigene.
Below is the full statement...
The attention of the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC in Ogun West Senatorial District has been drawn to a vexatious publication in “The Guardian on Sunday” of April 3, 2022 titled “Don’t Impose Adeola on Ogun West, APC Leaders Caution Tinubu” at page 5 and repeated word for word in some online blogs.
Ordinarily, we would not bother to respond to expression of personal opinion by anyone under a democracy but we are compelled to join issue as not only was a credible medium as the Guardian was used to purvey falsehood by its reporter, the story further portrayed our party APC and our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as undemocratic in the allegation of imposition of any aspirant.
As the elected APC Ogun West Senatorial District chairman, I am not aware of any “prominent leaders of All Progressives Congress” from Ogun West meeting and asking our national leader, Asiwaju Tinubu “not to impose Senator Olamilekan Adeola, on them”.
The duly elected leadership of APC in Ogun West Senatorial District have equally not received any request to impose anyone in any position in the race towards 2023.
For the records, Senator Solomon Adeola is a bona fide son of Ogun West Senatorial District and we want him in the race alongside others for the Senatorial seat of Ogun West as he is eminently qualified to contest.
Furthermore, we have checked and asked around to know the identity of one “Chief Sikiru Adegbite” who spoke on behalf of the purported prominent leaders of APC in Ogun West Senatorial District and say with all emphasis that there is no APC leader, much less a prominent one, bearing that name and identity. We know ourselves.
On the contrary, we firmly believe that the said leader is fictitiously concocted by the reporter and his sponsors to purvey falsehood, discredit our party and national leader for no just cause. We challenge the reporter to provide any credible means of identity of his fictitious Chief Adegbite that spoke to him alone on behalf of nameless and faceless “prominent leaders of All Progressives Congress in Ogun West Senatorial District”.
Let me use this opportunity to advise all aspirants on the platform of our great party not to engage in blackmail and name calling in desperate gambit to get the tickets of our party. We are a party of progressives and democrats and will chose our candidates on the basis of our party guidelines, the popularity of the aspirant and the rule of law as applicable to all Nigerians. Every aspirant, particularly legislative aspirants, should conduct their campaign with decorum devoid of falsehood and unfounded allegations and leave the leadership and members of the party to decide who represents them in the race for 2023 election.
Signed:
Alhaji Mohammed Azeez
Senatorial Chairman,
All Progressives Congress
Ogun West Senatorial District
Ogun State.
3rd April, 2022.
More...
An officer of the Ogun State police command, one Inspector Kamarudeen Bello has allegedly paid the sum of N700,000 ransom to kidnappers to regain his freedom after being abducted by unknown gunmen.
The inspector was said to have been kidnapped in a mosque last Sunday around 8pm, while praying.
Nigerian Newstrack gathered that inspector Bello was kidnapped alongside two others by unknown gunmen after they invaded a mosque at Soyoye, Rounder area of Abeokuta.
Bello, whose wife gave birth four days before the incident, is reportedly the Imam of the mosque and he is attached to one of the divisional police headquarters in Abeokuta.
A source who pleaded anonymity told Nigerian Newstrack that “after he was abducted alongside two others, the kidnappers called to demand N5 million ransom for the release of each of the victims. But with pleadings and negotiations, the money was reduced.”
The source added that, “the wife of Inspector Kamarudeen was contacted with the phone number of one of the kidnapped victims.”
It was learnt that the kidnappers did not know that Bello is a police officer, as he was not in uniform or with any identity when he was picked up in the mosque.
“Most of us were scared when they kidnapped him; we didn’t want them to know he is a policeman. If they knew, they might have killed him over fear that he would aid their arrest,” another source stated.
Nigerian Newstrack further gathered that the policeman and others kidnapped with him have been released before the week ran out, after the payment of ransom.
“I don’t know how much each of them paid, but I think the police Inspector parted with about N700,000 before he was released,” it was gathered on Thursday.
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the abduction declined knowledge of any payment of ransom to the abductors.
He added that the police would not relent in dealing with kidnappers and other criminal elements terrorising the state.
Condemnations have continued to trail the suspension of the Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, Sheikh Nuru Khalid, over a sermon considered to be “anti-government”, the Punch has reported.
In the sermon, the cleric lambasted government over killings in Nigeria, advising Nigerians not to vote leaders who cannot guarantee the safety of lives and properties during the 2023 general election.
Though many Nigerians commended the Imam for speaking truth to power, the steering committee of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque accused Khalid of “inciting” the electorate against politicians.
Many Nigerians condemned the action of the mosque committee headed by Senator Saidu Muhammed Dansadau, describing the suspension as an “oppression”.
While calling for the reinstatement of the Imam, they urged Khalid not to be intimidated.
Khalid, popularly known as Digital Imam, had after hissuspension said, “God is the most powerful. He gives (enthrones) and takes away power (dethrones) from whomever He wishes”.
Reactions:
Senator Shehu Sani @ShehuSani:
Sheikh Nuru Khalid dusted the mirror the Clergies used to show GEJ and he showed it to the President and his colleagues couldn’t stand it.Khalid has demonstrated fidelity to his faith,to his conscience and to his conviction.
Many religious clergies lose their gospel voice or dilute their sermons when the oppressor is of their faith or denomination.
Reno Omokri @renoomokri:
The Chief Imam of Apo Jumat Mosque, Abuja, Sheikh Nuru Khalid, has been suspended for criticising Buhari over the Abuja-Kaduna train bombing. Yet, nothing has been done to the terrorists! They punish critics and victims.
Farooq Kperogi:
The mosque steering committee said the sermon was “inciting” and in violation of “Islamic tenets.” But when Muslim clerics all over the North used to routinely curse and preach against Goodluck Jonathan in mosques for his inability to contain the intensifying insecurity in the country at the time, which pales in comparison with what we’re seeing now on Buhari’s watch, it was neither “inciting” nor against “Islamic tenets.”
In fact, there is a famous video clip of Sheikh Isa Ali Pantami crying like a baby during a sermon where he blamed Jonathan for being singularly responsible for the mass deaths of northern Muslims in the country. Now, his eyes are as dry as the Sahara desert even when more northern Muslims than ever before are being murdered daily as a result of Buhari’s dreadful ineptitude and unconcern.
The hypocrisy is galling! When/if a southern Christian becomes president next year, I can bet you that criticising a president would no longer be considered “incitement” or a violation of “Islamic tenets.” I don’t know how these people are able to live with this quantum of disgustingly reprehensible double standards.
FS Yusuf @FS_Yusuf_:
So, a popular Imam in Abuja is getting suspended for criticising Buhari over the Kaduna train bombing? So, it would have been acceptable if he had come to the mosque to praise Buhari for the killing and kidnapping of passengers? What are you people actually telling the world?
Kescambro@lordkeke:
It’s a shame that all our so-called fathers of faith in this country are silent about the suffering of Nigerian people. Abuja envelopes and contracts have closed their mouths to the death, poverty and suffering of the people. Thank you Imam for speaking the truth, you are a hero.
Technokrat @maestro_chimex:
I heard that a Sheikh, The Chief Imam of an Abuja mosque was suspended for calling out the government over insecurity in Nigeria. This should teach us that the battle is between the masses and the political elite and not regions or religion.
Prominent leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun West Senatorial District have asked one of the party’s presidential aspirants, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not to impose a Lagos Senator, Olamilekan Adeola, on them.
According to a report by the Guardian Adeola, popularly called YAYI, has been working underground to emerge as the senatorial candidate of Ogun West in the 2023 general elections, amidst stiff resistance from a section of the party within the district.
Speaking on behalf of the party leaders in Ogun West, also known as Yewa, Chief Sikiru Adegbite, said it was unthinkable that Adeola, who started his political career in 1999, as a member of Lagos House of Assembly, and later became a member of the House of Representatives and now a second term senator representing Lagos West, is being pushed by Tinubu to become senator in Ogun West.
“It is an open secret that Adeola, who has some supporters running a strange ‘West to West Campaign’, is being prepared not to only emerge as Ogun West Senator in 2023 but to also take over from Governor Dapo Abiodun in 2027.”
The leaders, under the aegis of Ogun West Stakeholders Forum, after their caucus meeting yesterday, in Ilaro, said the plan for Adeola to move over to Ogun State will only lead to serious crisis in the party. The group allegedly claimed that there was no evidence that Adeola hails from Yewa.
Adegbite noted that: “The people of Yewa consider it an insult that a non-indigene, who is not electorally qualified here, will be imposed on them by the party’s leadership, when there are bonafide and loyal party members in Yewa.
Why will anyone ask Adeola to come from Lagos West to cause crisis in Ogun West? “When he started his West2West campaign and empowerment programme in Yewa, we thought he was gambling, but with allegation that Tinubu is his chief promoter, with the ultimate goal to becoming Ogun governor in 2027.
“It is true that we have not produced governor since 1976, when the state was created and we are determined to succeed Governor Abiodun, but not with a stranger, whose genealogy cannot be genuinely traced to anywhere in Yewa land.”
The group wondered how a serving senator in Lagos would also desire to hold the mandate of Ogun West at the same time.
“We hereby call on Tinubu not to encourage such a gamble that is immoral and illegal. We must express our dissatisfaction and disgust at this level.”
A middle-aged man, yet to be identified, was crushed to death by a truck that fell off Ojuelegba Bridge in Lagos on Saturday night.
The man was driving a Honda Accord when the truck fell on his car. Rescue agents brought him out of the wreckage, dead.
According to witnesses, it took some time to get the man out. But he was dead, when he was retrieved.
Accidents caused by falling trailers or unlatched containers are common in Ojuelegba.
No fewer than four of such incidents have been recorded in the past 12 months, because the bridge lacked side rails.
Several comments on Twitter criticised the Lagos State Government for not taking steps to stop the avoidable accidents.
“Every single year, containers always fall at Ojuelegba and no sensible person in government has thought to use their head. Bunch of fools across board”, wrote “the stoned Immaculate”.
“How is it this hard for Lagos state Government to stop these Ojuelegba accidents? Stop the .. trailers from using the bridge”, said @Collins_Okpe.
LagosTrafficreports suggested: “I think it’s time to stop Containers&Lorries from using Ojuelegba bridge. Lagos State govt must not witness another casualty again. A barricade will do”.