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Post Date : December 26, 2020

Christmas: Uzodimma urges Imo people to observe COVID-19 safety measures

Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma has urged Nigerians to observe COVID-19 safety protocols as they celebrate the birth of Christ. Uzodimma gave the advice on Friday in Owerri in his Christmas message to Imo people. He urged them to pray for the healing of Nigerians who had contracted the virus. He advised Imo residents to recommit themselves to making the state better while ensuring that the “flame of the divine light that Christ symbolises remains aglow’’. The governor noted that Christmas would always be “symbolic and significant to the people `because it is a great testament to the triumph of light over darkness“. He advised Christians not to lose sight of the reason for the festivity, which is God’s love for mankind and urged them to shun hatred and divisive acts. “Jesus Christ heralds a new awakening and Christians should exploit the opportunity of this season to recommit themselves to making the society better and ensuring that the flame of this divine light is not extinguished. “Jesus Christ did not only come to illuminate the world but remains the undisputed light of the world, the reason he is worshipped, adored and glorified,” he pointed out. Source: vanguard

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Post Date : December 26, 2020

Revealed: How Prominent Residents Fled Kankara Before Attack

Some residents of Kankara Town have confirmed that few weeks before the Government Science Secondary School (GSSS) abduction, some prominent residents of the town relocated to other places, noting that bandits were seen on motorcycles entering neighbouring communities and transacting business in markets, Daily Trust Saturday reports. The recent abduction of over 300 students from GSSS Kankara has made the Katsina town infamous. However, what many do not know is that residents of the town have been living in fear of bandits that many prominent indegenes have fled their homes before the attack on December 11. It was also alleged that armed bandits were often seen riding into town to transact business in markets and mingle with locals. Some residents who spoke with Daily Trust in confidence confirmed that a sizable number of residents, especially those who were well to do, relocated to other cities for their safety and that of their families. A resident who pleaded anonymity confirmed that, “certainly that was the situation before the GSSS attack. “Most of the wealthy individuals and their families relocated to Malumfashi, Funtua, Katsina and Kano. “Though few others remained in the town.” On the issue of bandits mingling with residents in broad daylight, our source said it happened only in the villages and hamlets under Kankara, and not within the town. He explained that, “Those who are known to be among the bandits don’t dare come into the town even empty handed, let alone with weapons. “The moment they are identified, they will be arrested and handed over to the security agencies, and they know that, so they don’t come into the town at all.” Corroborating the above position, another resident said it was true that many prominent residents relocated to other places for fear of a possible attack. “When I say prominent people, I don’t mean only businessmen or wealthy individuals; even some traditional title holders and some political leaders, as well as other public office holders have kept their distance from Kankara. “Some of them come only occasionally and leave immediately after they are done with what brought them. “For instance, the member representing us in the House of Assembly could spend months without visiting the town. “Similarly, some traditional title holders who were born and bred in Kankara have now deserted the town; they come occasionally.” The source added that for over two weeks before the GSSS attack, the bandits went unchallenged from one village to another on a daily basis, killing people and robbing them. “For instance, a day before the Kankara attack, the bandits raided Yar Kuka village, killed about 10 people and kidnapped others,” he said. He, however, said the residents did not totally blame those who left because their safety and security were not guaranteed, and hence they could not risk living in the town, alleging that in the villages under Kankara, where the gunmen were seen roaming with their weapons, there was a kind of understanding between the bandits and the villagers that they (bandits) would not harm them as long as they did not make any attempt to expose them. “There was a time some of our friends went to one of those villages for a wedding ceremony and there they saw the gunmen carrying their weapons,” he said. Another resident of Kanakara, Sani Radda, said, “The issue with all sense of honesty is that no one who has the means to migrate to a safer place will want to remain in constant fear and anxiety. “If I have the means I will move my family away from this danger zone.” When contacted, the member representing Kankara in the House of Assembly, Hon. Garba Ya’u, said the allegation that he had deserted the town was untrue, adding however that as a member of the state assembly, which was in Katsina City “you don’t expect to see me in Kankara all the time. “Up until today, my family is in Kankara, in addition to other friends and relatives, so how do you expect me to desert the place? “Some of those alleging that we don’t go there would want to see us every day, which is not possible. “Others want to see you just for their personal reasons, and if they don’t see you, they raise all sorts of allegations. “It is true that for security reasons, one will not expose himself to danger, because as we all know, some of the bandits work closely with informants who are living in the town and the moment they sight you, they begin to make calls that you are around. “So, for that reason, sometimes we have to restrict our movements, but those who we work with know that I do go to Kankara and we do whatever we can to settle issues.” He added that as a lawmaker, he discharges his responsibilities by tabling the complaints of his constituents before the house and other relevant authorities and therefore called on his constituents to exercise patience and understand that it was the situation that warranted the restriction of movement, saying, however, that as a representative of the people, he was doing all he could to ensure that peace returned to the state. For those with no chance to escape Kankara, they will continue to live in fear until their town is secured from the menace of bandits. Culled from Daily Trust

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Post Date : December 26, 2020

Our New Equipment Will Destroy Bandits, Terrorists – CAS

The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, has assured that the newly inducted platform and other equipment by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for its operations will be the game changer against insurgents and bandits in the country. Marshall Abubakar stated this during a Christmas lunch organised for frontline troops at the headquarters of the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri yesterday. The CAS said, “I think what is important is that we are working round the clock to improve security in Nigeria with the support of the Federal Government. Only on Thursday we inducted additional platforms and we are hoping to address this problem. “Let me reassure us all that procurement of additional platforms such as the Super Tucano, JF-17, UAVs and other additional equipment would certainly be game changers for our operations. We are committed to ensuring the total elimination of insurgency, banditry and all forms of criminality in our dear country. “We have vigorously trained the requisite manpower to have capacity to operate all the sophisticated aircraft and equipment the Federal Government of Nigeria has provided for us. Therefore, we cannot allow ourselves to be taken unawares.” He noted that NAF had continued to contribute its quota in various internal security operations across the country aimed at combating all forms of criminality. He further said, “It is not easy to quantify our enormous contributions and sacrifices towards the war against insurgency. Christmas celebration is all about sacrifice. As such as military professionals, our sacrifices for the unity of Nigeria remains immeasurable. “We have intensified our anti-banditry and other security operations across the country. We shall not relent nor rest on our oars until we ensure the security of lives and property of Nigerians are guaranteed.”

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Post Date : December 26, 2020

Gunmen kidnap PFN chairman, wife in Kaduna

The Chairman of Penticostal Fellowship of Nigeria(PFN), Kaduna Apostle Emmanuel Egoh Bako and his wife, Cindy Bako, were kidnapped by gunmen at their residence in Albarka, Fadan Kagoma of Jema’a local government area of Kaduna State. It was gathered that the gunmen stormed their residence in the evening of Friday, 25th December, 2020. The state chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), Rev. John Joseph Hayab, confirmed the kidnap of the cleric and his wife on Saturday. He said the Christmas celebration came and gone with sad dust of abduction of a religious leader with his wife. According to Rev. Hayab, the Kidnapped man of God is also the Secretary, Southern Kaduna Christian Leaders Association. He lamented that the church has had enough of kidnapping of its members and ransoms being paid before getting their freedom. He described Apostle Bako as a very strong member of Jema’a network, a father to many, a front runner of peace, justice and unity in Southern Kaduna, calling on security agencies to help ensure their release from their abductors. When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, could not confirm the abduction incident.

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Post Date : December 26, 2020

Kukah to Buhari: You are leading Nigeria to darkness

Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev . Matthew Kukah, says the President Muhammadu Buhari has sacrificed the dreams of Nigerians on the altar of nepotism by allegedly pursuing Northern hegemony. The bishop also said Nigeria appeared to be heading for darkness under Buhari ’ s administration , noting that the government must explain the mystery behind the endless bloodletting in the country occasioned by insecurity . He described Nigeria as a rudderless country where the citizens travelled in a boat devoid of captain or crew and without any maps and destination in sight. Kukah said these on Friday in his Christmas message titled, ‘ A Nation in Search of Vindication. ’ The bishop said , “ This government owes the nation an explanation as to where it is headed as we seem to journey into darkness. The spilling of blood must be related to a more sinister plot that is beyond our comprehension. Are we going to remain hogtied by these evil men or are they gradually becoming part of a larger plot to seal the fate of our country? “ President Buhari deliberately sacrificed the dreams of those who voted for him for what seemed like a programme to stratify and institutionalise northern hegemony by reducing others in public life to second – class status. He has pursued this self – defeating and alienating policy at the expense of greater national cohesion . “ Every honest Nigerian knows that there is no way any non -northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done by his nepotism and got away with it. There would have been a military coup a long time ago or we would have been at war . The President may have concluded that Christians will do nothing and will live with these actions. ” Kukah maintained that Buhari’ s alleged nepotism and commitment to reinforcing the foundations of northern hegemony had dire implications as prominent northerners with a conscience had raised the red flag , pointing out the consequences of his nepotism on national cohesion and trust. He said against the backdrop of Nigeria ’ s endless woes, the country had become a nation embroiled in desolation with the prospects of a failed state staring the citizens in the face . He , however , urged Nigerians not to give up despite the pain , sorrow and uncertainty in the land, enjoining them to pray to God to save the nation . He added , “ Yes , our dreams have been aborted. Yes, our commonwealth has been stolen. Yes, our cancer of corruption has metastasised . Yes, we have been guilty of patricide, fratricide and attempted even suicide . Yes, we are hungry , angry , thirsty and starving. “ Yet, we stand firmly with the unshaken belief that no matter the temptations, the world has known worst times . These may be the worst of times, but for men and women of faith , they could be the best of times . We must stand firm and resolute because, our redeemer liveth ( Job 19:25) . ” The bishop pointed out that the recent abduction of Kankara schoolboys in Katsina coupled with the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Chibok , Borno State and Dapchi, in Yobe State , had further revealed the dangers children are exposed to in the northern part of the country. He added , “ The Almajiri is the poster child of the horrible and inhuman conditions of the northern child. It is a best -kept secret that the region refuses to confront but it has now exposed its underbelly. Now , what ( is the) next for the children of the North? “ We thank God that the children ( Kankara schoolboys) have been returned safely . This is the easy part. The challenge now is how to deal with the scars inflicted by a derelict nation which is still unable or unwilling to protect its citizens . Yes, we commend the federal and state governments for the rescue operation .

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Post Date : December 26, 2020

“They don’t have the required certificate –Kwara govt explains reasons for sacking 2,414 teachers employed by ex-gov

Kwara State government has explained why it disengaged 2, 414 teachers from the service of the State Universal Basic Education Board. The teachers ’ disengagement was announced in a statement titled, ‘ Kwara govt takes stand on 2019 SUBEB workers, offsets pending seven months ’ salaries. New employment portal opens January. ’ The statement was signed by the Press Secretary , state Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development , Mr Yakub Ali- Agan . The statement indicted that the sacked teachers were recruited in the twilight of the administration of former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. The teachers were employed to teach English, Mathematics , and science subjects in junior secondary schools in the state. However, the state government said although it had earlier screened the teachers and cleared 1, 658 of them , it was later discovered that the majority of them were not qualified to teach. The statement read , “ For instance, it was discovered that some of the 1, 658 [ teachers ] purportedly adjudged to be qualified did not , in fact they don’ t have the required teaching certificates . “ It was discovered that the teachers were engaged for subjects not covered in the executive approval, underscoring the unwholesome and impeachable nature of the entire process . “ Following from the above, the government has decided to start the employment process all over again in January 2021. The government will open a new application portal for all the 2, 414 and any other eligible persons to apply for SUBEB teaching jobs in relevant subjects to be advertised . This effectively nullifies the controversial employment process of 2018/2019. ” The statement further explained that the decision to sack the teachers was built on justice and fairness to everyone, particularly taxpayers, and children , whose future depended on the quality of teaching they received at the elementary schools. Meanwhile , the state governor , Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq , has directed the immediate payment of seven months ’ salaries earlier withheld from 594 SUBEB teachers since June 2020. “ The salaries were paid on Thursday night on compassionate grounds as their employment status remains unofficial, ” a government statement said on Thursday.

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Post Date : December 26, 2020

Bill Gates: We still don’t understand why COVID-19 numbers aren’t as high in Africa

Bill Gates, a co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), says the world still does not have enough data to understand why COVID-19 numbers have not been as high as predicted in Africa. The American philanthropist who invests heavily in healthcare in Africa said he is, however, happy to have been wrong about COVID-19 rates in Africa. “One thing I’m happy to have been wrong about—at least, I hope I was wrong—is my fear that COVID-19 would run rampant in low-income countries,” he wrote in his end of the year note. “So far, this hasn’t been true. In most of sub-Saharan Africa, for example, case rates and death rates remain much lower than in the U.S. or Europe and on par with New Zealand, which has received so much attention for its handling of the virus. Advertisement “The hardest-hit country on the continent is South Africa—but even there, the case rate is 40 percent lower than in the U.S., and the death rate is nearly 50 percent lower.” According to Gates, “more than 1.6 million people have died in the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 75 million cases and tens of trillions of dollars in economic damages”. The US has been the hardest-hit country in the world — while South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised nation, has been the most affected in Africa. Bill Gates had warned early 2020 that Africa could be the worse hit by COVID-19, stating at a conference that the virus would overwhelm health systems in the world’s poorest continent. Melinda Gates, also a co-chair at BMGF, said the developing world will be hard-hit, she added that she foresees bodies lying around in the street of African countries. But this has not been the case –and the world does not understand why. WE STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY Bill Gates said, “we don’t have enough data yet to understand why the numbers aren’t as high as I worried they would get” — but gave probable reasons Africa was not as affected as expected. “It helped that some countries locked down early. In Africa, another reason may be that the population is young compared with the rest of the world’s, and young people are less susceptible to the virus. “Another reason could be that its large rural population spends a lot of time outside, where it’s harder to spread the virus. It is also possible—though I hope this is not the case—that the true numbers are higher than they look because gaps in poor countries’ health care systems are making it hard to monitor the disease accurately.” Gates said one of his fears that have been justified is that “COVID-19 is having a ripple effect with other diseases. Last month, I was surprised to learn that it was only the 31st most common cause of death in Africa. By comparison, it has ranked number four around the world, and number one in America.” “Why does it rank so low in Africa? It’s not just the relatively low incidence of COVID-19 there. It’s also because shifting health workers to focus on the coronavirus disrupted efforts to detect and treat HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other diseases. As a result, COVID-19 stayed low on the list of health threats, but other problems came roaring back. “Another reason is that patients are more reluctant to go to clinics for fear they might become infected—and that means more severe conditions are going undiagnosed. In India, for example, the diagnosis rate for tuberculosis has dropped by roughly a third. With more undetected cases, more people will probably die from the disease. “This is another reason why the world’s goal should be to make sure that lifesaving tools reach—and are practical for—every country, not just rich ones.” Gates said 2020 has been a year of scientific advances and failures, “but there is good news coming in 2021”.

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Post Date : December 26, 2020

Gunmen kill 207 people in fresh Ethiopia attack, says rights commission

A total of 207 people were killed in a Wednesday attack by gunmen in western Ethiopia, the country ’ s Human Rights Commission said , more than doubling a previous count . The independent government body had on Wednesday said 100 people were killed in their sleep and crops burned in a pre – dawn assault in the Metekel area of the Benishangul -Gumuz region . “ 133 of the victims were adult men and 35 were adult women . Seventeen children , one of whom a six -month- old baby , and 20 elderly persons were killed, ” the EHRC said in a statement posted to Twitter late Friday. Mostly inhabited by ethnic Shinasha, Oromo and Amhara people — the last two making up Ethiopia’ s most numerous groups — the Metekel area has suffered a string of deadly attacks in recent months . Local leaders blame ethnic Gumuz people for the violence. Following Wednesday ’ s attack , “ effort is underway to identify the victims with the help of survivors and identity cards, ” the EHRC said . The body repeated its appeal for “ relevant authorities to provide urgently humanitarian assistance to the victims and persons displaced by the attack . ” It added that around 10, 000 had fled the Bekuji Kebele area and made for the city of Bulen , around 40 kilometres ( 25 miles) away, which is already sheltering “ thousands of displaced persons” . “ Bulen city is overwhelmed. The roads leading to the city are still teeming with displaced persons and their herds of cattle , ” one eyewitness told the commission. Regional authorities said on Thursday that troops had killed 42 armed men alleged to have taken part in the massacre , without giving details about their identities The massacre in the Benishangul -Gumuz region is very tragic , ” Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a Twitter post on Thursday, conceding the government ’ s efforts to solve the problem “ had not yielded results” . In October , he had said that fighters “ armed and trained ” in Sudan’ s neighbouring Blue Nile state were behind the violence and urged Khartoum to tackle the problem. Abiy claimed that the latest attack had been aimed at “ dividing the significant force ” deployed to the country’ s dissident northern Tigray region. There is no known link between the violence in Benishangul -Gumuz and military operations in Tigray. Thousands have been killed in the Tigray conflict , according to the International Crisis Group think tank , and more than 50, 000 people have fled over the border into Sudan . ( AFP)

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Post Date : December 26, 2020

Christmas Day: 10 dead in Kwara road crash

The Federal Road Safety Corps in Kwara, on Friday, confirmed that at least 10 persons lost their lives in an accident along Idofian-Ilorin road . The Kwara Sector Commander , Jonathan Owoade , told the News Agency of Nigeria in Ilorin that the fatal crash was a result of speed limit violation and wrong overtaking. Owoade said the crash , which occurred near the UNILORIN Sugar Research Institute , involved two vehicles and 27 people. He advised motorists to be patient while on the road , adding that they should reduce speed in order to stay alive. “ It is another sad incident occurring on the Idofian-Ilorin road axis. “ The fatal accident involved two vehicles – a commercial Nissan Vanette bus and a private Honda Accord car. “ Twenty -seven people were involved, sadly 10 died , nine of them burnt beyond recognition , while 16 persons sustained various degrees of injuries . One other person was rescued unhurt , ” the Sector Commander said . He explained that the response team of FRSC had taken the injured persons to the Kwara State General Hospital and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Some others were also taken to Ile Anu Medical Centre at Idofian. Owoade said the corpses have been deposited at UITH . He urged those travelling on the route to be careful and ensure that their vehicles are in good condition . (NAN )

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Post Date : December 26, 2020

Millions of Americans lose jobless benefits as Trump refuses to sign aid bill

Millions of Americans saw their jobless benefits expire on Saturday after US President Donald Trump refused to sign into law a $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package, protesting that it did not do enough to help everyday people. Reuters reports that Trump stunned Republicans and Democrats alike when he said this week he was unhappy with the massive bill, which provides $892 billion in badly needed coronavirus relief, including extending special unemployment benefits expiring on Dec. 26, and $1.4 trillion for normal government spending. Without Trump’s signature, about 14 million people could lose those extra benefits, according to Labor Department data. A partial government shutdown will begin on Tuesday unless Congress can agree a stop-gap government funding bill before then. After months of wrangling, Republicans and Democrats agreed to the package last weekend, with the support of the White House. Trump, who hands over power to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden on January 20, did not object to terms of the deal before Congress voted it through on Monday night. But since then he has complained that the bill gives too much money to special interests, cultural projects and foreign aid, while its one-time $600 stimulus checks to millions of struggling Americans were too small. He has demanded that be raised to $2,000 Why would politicians not want to give people $2,000, rather than only $600?…Give our people the money!” the billionaire president tweeted on Christmas Day, much of which he spent golfing at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Many economists agree the bill’s aid is too low but say the immediate support is still welcome and necessary. A source familiar with the situation said Trump’s objection to the bill caught many White House officials by surprise. While the outgoing president’s strategy for the bill remains unclear, he has not vetoed it and could still sign it in coming days. On Saturday, he was scheduled to remain in Mar-a-Lago, where the bill has been sent and awaits his decision. Biden, whose Novemeber 3 electoral victory Trump refuses to acknowledge, is spending the holiday in his home state of Delaware and had no public events scheduled for Saturday.

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