Kidnapped Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Samuel Kanu-Uche, has regained his freedom.

The cleric was kidnapped alongside the Methodist Bishop of Owerri, Dennis Mark, and his (the Prelate’s) chaplain on Sunday.

They were kidnapped in the Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

Details of their release were sketchy as of the time of filing this report.

But a reliable source from the church confirmed their release Monday evening.

“To God be the Glory. His Eminence, Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche; his Chaplain, Abidemi Jeremiah Shittu and the Bishop of Owerri, Dennis Mark, have regained their freedom few minutes ago. Thank you all for your prayers,” the source said in a short message.

Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria had condemned the kidnapping of the clerics.

 

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Okorocha, a presidential aspirant in the ruling All Progressives Congress, was arraigned Monday morning on a 17-count charge of fraud to the tune of N2.9 billion.

Okorocha, who currently represents Imo West senatorial district in the National Assembly, is accused of conspiring with others, including a member of the APC and five companies to steal from public coffers, although he has since denied any wrongdoing.

The former governor’s scheduled arraignment comes three days after he lost the bid to be admitted to bail, pending the determination of a suit he had instituted against the Federal Government.

He had predicated his bail request on the ground that he was a presidential aspirant, stressing that his political ambition would be jeopardised unless he was granted bail.

But Justice Ekwo, in a brief ruling on Okorocha’s bail application on Friday, said he was not inclined to admit the applicant to bail.

Rather, the judge ordered Okorocha to put the Federal Government on notice to come and defend his detention.

Okorocha has been in EFCC custody since Tuesday last week following a mild drama that played out when a team of operatives stormed his residence in the Maitama area of Abuja to arrest him.

The team, who insisted that Okorocha must submit himself for arrest or honour a long-standing invitation to their office, later barricaded the residence of the presidential aspirant.

Following a series of drama at the scene, gunshots were heard as the anti-graft agency’s team broke into Okorocha’s house and left with the presidential aspirant to their office.

 

 

 

By Farooq Kperogi

With the help of Aminu Tambuwal, Atiku Abubakar has defeated Nysom Wike to win the PDP presidential primaries. I’ve seen people exultingly proclaiming that Atiku will give APC a bloody nose in 2023. That’s misplaced optimism. 

Your votes won’t count—like they didn’t in 2019—because INEC is anything but independent. It’s a dutiful, groveling poodle of APC and Buhari and has no capacity or willingness to provide a level playing field for all contestants.

I think there’s no point wasting billions to hold a presidential election whose outcome is already predetermined. INEC’s last-minute extension of the electoral timetable in response to Buhari’s instruction is all the evidence you need to know that that the 2023 election has already been decided.  I hope I'm wrong.

But recall that on May 5, INEC told political parties that pleaded with it to tweak its timetable that its “deadline is firm and fixed.” It repeated this on May 10 when IPAC again requested it to extend its deadline.

But Buhari traveled out of the country, called Mahmood Yakubu, and told him to bend his “firm and fixed” deadline. Yakubu then invited the same IPAC guys whose request he’d spurned and told them the “firm and fixed” deadline was now suddenly infirm and unfixed. 

If Buhari can unilaterally call the INEC chairman and direct him to loosen a “firm and fixed” deadline in order to give an unfair advantage to the APC, he’ll certainly tell INEC chairman whom to declare as "president" in 2023 irrespective of the actual outcome of the presidential election.

That was precisely what happened in the 2019 election, which Buhari lost by close to 2 million in spite of APC’s massive, in-your-face rigging in Borno, Yobe, Lagos, and Kano. As I write this, INEC has still not provided a comprehensive breakdown of the votes cast in the election like Jega’s INEC did in 2015.

They can’t because Yakubu just arbitrarily plucked figures from the air and assigned them to presidential candidates. That’s what might happen again in 2023, and the signs are already apparent.

Let’s use some of the billions that will be wasted on a pointless, predetermined coronation exercise fraudulently called a “presidential election” to settle ASUU’s demands. That way, we won’t lose twice.

But, seriously, what’s the point of “democracy” if something as basic as change of government through elections can’t be guaranteed, if the body charged with the responsibility to conduct elections can’t even perform a pretense of neutrality?

My illusions have been shattered because I’d thought that Yakubu had learned lessons from the electoral fraud he enabled in 2019, especially in light of the fact that this is his final term in office, which gives him the latitude to not be beholden to anyone-- and the freedom to not have anxieties about losing his job. 

At this point, I doubt there are many people who will miss this "democracy" when it is gone and replaced with something else.

 

 

 

 

 

Militants of Ambazonia, a separatist group in Southwest Cameroon, have killed at least 20 people in a community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Cletus Obun, a former member of Cross River House of Assembly and an aspirant of House of Reps for Boki/Ikom federal constituency, confirmed the incident, saying it happened on Sunday.

“I can confirm that the Ambazonian soldiers crossed the Nigerian border Sunday morning to attack their compatriots who fled into Nigeria and refused to join their forces to fight.”

“They killed 20 people. No one is sure yet if amongst those killed, there are Nigerian citizens.”

He said the remaining Cameroonians who also speak Bokye language of Boki people have now flooded Bashu community, not far from Danare, where Nigerian troops have a small camp.

Ambazonian militants regularly saunter into Boki, where there are many Cameroonians, to wreak havoc or unwind.

When contacted, Information officer of 13 Brigade of Nigerian Army Calabar, Tope Aluko, said they were yet to confirm the latest attack, which happened six months after a similar invasion in Taraba State.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha, had raised the alarm over how suspected Cameroonian militants gunned down the village head and some residents of Manga community in Taraba.

The lawmaker had said the Cameroonian separatists razed down the village.

Bwacha, who represents Taraba South in the Senate, said the separatists’ invasion threatened Nigeria’s territorial sovereignty as their motive is yet unknown.

He had said, “I rise this morning to draw the attention of our country men and particularly our security agencies to this unfortunate incident which undermines our integrity and sovereignty as a nation.

Takum local government houses the 23 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, and so Mr. President, it is my humble submission that the Nigerian Army should rise to the challenge and curb this wanton territorial expansion.

“Their (Separatists) motive is yet unknown, whether they want to expand territory or lay claim for Southwest Cameroon is not yet clear.”

 

 

 

Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Kanu, was on Sunday, kidnapped along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, the News Agency of Nigeria has reported. 

He was kidnapped alongside Dennis Mark, the Methodist Bishop of Owerri and the Prelate’s Chaplain, by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

Sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the clergymen were kidnapped in the afternoon while they were on their way from a programme in the council area.

The Police Public Relation Officer in Abia, Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

“It’s quite unfortunate. Efforts are on top gear toward his rescue as well as other priests with him.

“We solicit credible information from the public toward their rescue, please,” he said.

 

 

 

... intrigues as he secures PDP Presidential ticket defeating Wike, Saraki, others

Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has again emerged as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the premium times reports. 

Abubakar defeated 12 other candidates in a keenly contested presidential primary held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Saturday.

Of the 767 accredited ballots at the election, he polled 371 votes while his closest challenger, Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, came second with 237 votes.

Nigeria’s former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, scored 70 votes to come a distant third while Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, came fourth with 38 votes.

The only female in the race, Oliver Diana, and another contestant, Sam Ohuabunwa, scored one vote each.

A former President of the Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim, scored 14 votes while Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, scored 20 votes.

The other contestants – including former Governor Ayodele Fayose and Magazine Publisher, Dele Momodu – got zero votes.

Twelve invalid votes were recorded.

While Atiku’s victory at the primary is his second successive attempt, it also marked his fifth shot at the presidency. He has had other unsuccessful contests for the seat under both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his current party, the PDP.

The Adamawa-born politician also secured the ticket of the PDP in 2019 but lost at the general elections to the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.

The former vice-president will again face whoever emerges from the forthcoming presidential primaries of the APC.

Before voting commenced at the primary, a strong contender for the ticket, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, stepped down from the race and directed his supporters to vote for Atiku.

Some political analysts believe it was Tambuwal’s withdrawal from the race that tilted the race in favour of the former vice president.

The Sokoto governor, who also contested for the ticket ahead of the 2019 election, had campaigned aggressively and was widely rated among the top contenders for the ticket.

Party insiders said he had especially locked down votes from the Northwest geopolitical zone which has the highest number of delegates nationwide.

But for his withdrawal, he would have divided the votes of the north and possibly open the way for Wike to clinch the ticket.

In his acceptance speech after he was declared winner, Atiku described his emergence as the making of another history.

He said the election is the freest and fairest election in the history of the party.

Promising to unify the country, Atiku accused the APC-led government of fostering disunity among Nigerians across ethnic and religious borderlines.

“I also pledged to confront economic problems which were compounded by the APC government,” he said.

Atiku called on his fellow contestants to join forces with him and promised to cooperate with them in building the country.

“It was a well-fought primary election,” he added.

He seized the moment to appeal to aggrieved members to employ internal mechanisms to resolve all disputes rather than seeking redress in court.

 

 

31 people were killed on Saturday in  a stampede in southern Nigeria during an overcrowded church charity event where food was being distributed, AFP reports.

Shoes and slippers lay scattered on the ground after the disaster in Port Harcourt city in southern Rivers State when people tried to force their way into the event, say police and witnesses.

A local church organisation was offering food and gifts for the poor at the local Port Harcourt Polo Club when a "mammoth" crowd got out of control, Rivers State police said.

"Unfortunately, the crowd became tumultuous and uncontrollable and all efforts made by the organisers to bring sanity proved abortive hence, the stampede," the police said in a statement.

"A total of 31 persons lost their lives in the stampede."

Police said a criminal investigation was underway.

Representatives of the church could not immediately be contacted for comment.

Nigeria has seen several stampede tragedies over food distribution in recent years, including an aid agency food programme in north Borno State where seven women were trampled to death last year.

Saturday's early morning disaster happened as the opposition People's Democratic Party leaders were gathering in the federal capital Abuja to select their candidate for the 2023 presidential race, including hopeful Rivers State governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.

Port Harcourt is the main oil hub in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country and one of the continent's largest petroleum producers.

Despite its oil wealth, as many as four out of 10 Nigerians live below the national poverty level, according to a recent World Bank Report.

The Ukraine crisis has also pushed up the cost of food and fuel across the continent as wheat and gas supplies are impacted with aid agencies warning about worsening food insecurity in Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Results have been declared in today’s APC Senate Primaries in Ogun East and Ogun West with Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola YAYI emerging as winners.

Yayi, who is a Senator representing Lagos West, wrestled with Senator Tolu Odebiyi who is representing Ogun West, and Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State contested the ticket with Senator Lekan Mustapha (SLM) and Otunba Seyi Oduntan. 

Daniel ‘s victory was facilitated by the intervention of the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland ,Oba Sikiru Adetona who held a meeting with Daniel and Mustapha before the senator withdrew from the race .

Nigerian Newstrack gathered that at the commencement of the shadow election held on Saturday at Itoro Hall in Ijebu-Ode, the former Commissioner for health in the state Babatunde Ipaye, had announced that Senator Mustapha, had stepped down for Daniel.

The announcement reportedly made other aspirants to vacate the venue of the election, leaving behind only the former governor.

Meanwhile Lagos Senator, Adeola popularly known as Yayi polled 294 votes to defeat his main rival and incumbent Senator representing the zone, Tolu Odebiyi, who scored zero.

He won the Senatorial primaries held at Orona Hall, Ilaro, the Headquarters of Yewa South Local Government Area of the State.

The Lagos West Senator recently relocated to the state and joined Ogun West Senate race, in a sweeping movement tagged “West2West Agenda.”

The primaries was conducted by APC Senatorial electoral committee led by Dr Dapo Odukoya.

Earlier, Odebiyi had boasted that he was the only aspirant vying for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket in the ongoing party’s primaries for the zone.

Odebiyi, an ally of former Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, arrived the venue of the primary around 12:48pm with some of his supporters.

Speaking with newsmen, Odebiyi said he remains the only aspirant in the primaries.

He described his Lagos West counterpart as a “visitor” in the exercise.

He noted that each of the two other aspirants – Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade and three – time governorship candidate in the state, Prince Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka (GNI) had stepped down days earlier to take up House of Representatives tickets respectively.

He said: “I am extremely delighted that finally, we are having an opportunity to handle our primaries and more importantly, I am also excited for the people of Ogun West.

“For me, I don’t even think I have an opposition at this point in time. I am the only candidate for Ogun West.

“My two other brothers – Isiaka Abiodun Akinlade and Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka – who came out from Ogun West had accepted House of Rep slots.

“As far as I am concerned, I am the only candidate from Ogun West. Yes, we do have a visitor (Yayi) who is with us. We would accommodate him and listen to his views and at the end of the day, I believe I am going to triumph.”

OGUN WEST SENATE PRIMARY:

Senator Solomon Adeola YAYI:  294 votes

Senator Tolu Odebiyi : NIL

VOID : 1

 

OGUN EAST SENATE PRIMARY at a glance:

Ijebu ode;

OGD……53

SLM……2

 

Remo North:

OGD…50

Ijebu East:

OGD…….45

SLM…….1

 

Ikene:

OGD……..50

 

Ogun waterside:

OGD……..49

 

Ijebu North:

OGD…….43

SLM……..6

Prince Segun Adesegun………6

 

Odogbolu L/G

OGD………55

SLM……..20

 

Sagamu:

OGD…….69 Ijebu North East:

OGD…….36

Seyi Oduntan…… 11

 

 

 

 

Amidst speculations of dollar rain by Presidential aspirants of the Peoples'Democratic Party,PDP, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrived at the Velodrome of the MKO Abiola Stadium Abuja venue of the Party's National Congress to monitor proceedings.

Over a dozen officers dressed in their official red overcoats with EFCC boldly written behind were sighted moving around the delegate’s stand.

The officers arrived the venue around 4:40pm but the purpose of their visit is unknown.

 

 

Government at all tiers have been urged to encourage skills acquisition and vocational training in secondary schools, to be able to meet the urgent labour needs of the country as well as to prepare the youth for a better future. 

This advice was given by a National Youth Service Corps member, Igbagboyemi Odu while moderating a skill acquisition training organised with eleven other members to equip the Senior Secondary School, SSS1 and SSS2 students of Ayo Grammar School, Ipogun, in Ifedore local government area of Ondo State with knowledge on the production of tie and dye.

The twelve NYSC members who are Wariboko Stella, Odu Igbagboyemi, Gbadegeshin Kehinde, Aderoju Adewale, Ulokwe Chioma, Aboy John, Ugwuoke Lilian, Asogwa Kate, Wuba Anthonia, Udofia Enobong, Jirgba Benjamin and Adegoke Abolaji said the free tie and dye session was part of their contributions to assist government and empower the youth, as part of their community development services. 

While Igbagboyemi led the programme, Stella enlightened the students on types of skills and benefits of such trainings. Others were also available to facilitate the practical training as the students were made to produce their own tie and dye.

 The twelve Corp members expressed their appreciation to the school principal Mrs Modupe Ademoyewa and the school teachers for their approval, support and contribution to the skills acquisition programme.