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Post Date : June 17, 2022

Owo massacre: We’ve failed our people, Akeredolu says at funeral

  The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, failed to withhold his emotion on Friday at the funeral mass for victims of the terror attack at St Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo, Ondo State. Akeredolu and his wife, Chief Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu attended the funeral mass held at the Mydas Resort and Hotel, Owo. The teary governor while recounting the terror attack, lamented that the government failed to defend the victims of the attack. “We have failed to defend these people. Not because we have not tried, but because these forces on the other side are evil and they have support. They will not triumph over us forever,” Akeredolu said. The governor noted that something must be done in the country, adding that the security architecture of the nation needs rejigging. “When I see the sea of heads that are here it speaks volumes. What has happened to us in Owo in Ondo state is indescribable. A lot of words are used to qualify it. Dastardly, horrendous. But I still believe there are words to use to describe it but I am still short of those words. “We have just 22 (deceased) in this hall. A few of them have been buried. Because the relatives couldn’t wait till today. But as at the last count, these animals came to the church and murdered 40 people,” the governor said. But in a swift response, the Bishop of Ondo Catholic Diocese, Dr. Jude Arogundade, declared that Akeredolu has not failed in protecting his people. Arogundade said: ”You didn’t fail. You are a strong soldier. Your determination to protect those who voted you into power is unquestionable. This was done by cowards. You have tried your best.” The cleric wondered why the people of the country need to beg for state police, despite the endless attack and killings. He thanked the governor for accepting to designate a memorial park in honour of the victims, stressing that those who created the situation that made the incident happen has blood on their hands. Meanwhile, the expansive hall of the Mydas Resort and Hotel was filled to the brim as families of the victims, people of Owo, and other sympathizers thronged the venue of the funeral mass. Members of the State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. David Bamidele Oleyelogun also attended the service. Also, Members of the state executive council, led by the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, were present at the funeral mass. Other dignitaries at the funeral mass included: Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Engr. Ade Adetimehin; and Chieftain of the APC , Chief Olusola Oke,SAN, The local government chairmen were also led by the chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Ondo State chapter, Hon. Augustine Oloruntogbe. The PUNCH reports that Akeredolu had on Thursday warned the Federal Government that its inability to secure life and property in the country would soon leave citizens with no choice but to arm themselves in self-defense. Akeredolu, who gave the warning while delivering the keynote address at the meeting of the Attorney-Generals of the 36 States of Nigeria held in Lagos, said the police were overwhelmed. The governor asked the police to “close shop” if the Federal Government could not meet their equipment needs. Akeredolu insisted that the police had failed in their constitutional role of protecting Nigerians. “We will carry arms very soon, Oga Malami (the AGF), there is no other way, the police have failed,” the governor declared.

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Post Date : June 17, 2022

Southern, middle belt leaders hit Okowa over VP candidacy

  The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) has criticised Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta governor, for accepting his nomination as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice-presidential candidate. Okowa was, on Thursday, announced as the running mate of Atiku Abubakar who won the PDP presidential ticket. The southerrn and middle belt leaders said it is unfortunate that Okowa accepted the offer despite a warning to southern political stakeholders not to accept nominations as vice-presidential candidates if the presidency is not zoned to the south. The statement was jointly signed by Edwin Clark, SMBLF leader; Ayo Adebanjo, Afenifere leader; Dru Bitrus, president-general of the Middle Belt Forum; George Obiozor, president-general of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide.   “It is essential to underline that the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF), applauded the meeting of the governors, given its significant representation and the gravity of the outcome; we followed up and issued a similar statement after our meeting in Abuja on the 30th of May 2021, asking that the presidency should rotate to the south,” the elders wrote. “And went further, on several other occasions, to caution political stakeholders from the South, including serving and former governors, ministers, senators, etcetera, not to, on any account, allow themselves to be appointed or nominated as running mate to any presidential candidate, if the presidency is not zoned to the south and that we will work against such person or persons. “It is, therefore, most unfortunate that the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who should know better, accepted his appointment as running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”   The elders said they have nothing personal against Okowa but his acceptance of the vice-presidential slot may be bad luck for the political future of the people of southern Nigeria. The SMBLF also alleged that Okowa spent “an extensive sum of money to lobby for the position”. “And that explains why he never made any statement when his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), thoughtlessly jettisoned the zoning principle, which has become established as a norm and an intrinsic part of the nation’s political trajectory,” the statement reads. “It is difficult to fathom how a political party can claim to be on a supposed rescue mission with such false footings of unfairness, injustice, duplicity and gross insensitivity to national outlook.”   The elders said Okowa’s action is a betrayal of the trust reposed on him by his fellow southern governors. “We, therefore, reject Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his vice presidency, and leave him to his lot, but let the world know that this is a betrayal of the highest order,” they said. “And that this is not a matter of loyalty to one’s political party, but rather a greedy, parochial and unpatriotic action, committed against the general interest of his State, Delta state, the Niger Delta region, and Southern Nigeria. It is, certainly, also not in the interest of the nation at large.”

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Post Date : June 17, 2022

Gunmen kill policemen in Enugu

  Unknown Gunmen has on Friday killed a Police officer and set Ablaze police patrol vehicle in Nsukka area of Enugu State. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the Police officer was killed at Umanu junction while the police patrol vehicle was set ablaze along Ibeagwa-Ani road in the area. A source who pleaded anonymity revealed to NAN that the gunmen stormed the area and started shooting sporadically in the early hours of Friday. “I quickly rushed to my doors to ensure that all of them were well locked. “I switched off all electric lights in my house and told my wife and children to keep quiet because I thought it was armed robbers,” he said. The source confirmed that when the shooting stopped, he joined other residents to rush to the scene of the incident only for them to meet the lifeless body of a police officer who was killed during a gun duel between the police team and the gunmen. Another source who witnessed the burning of the police van at the Ibeagwa-Ani Road said he was in a public transport when he sighted the police vehicle going up in flames and five armed men who masked their faces were watching the vehicle burn. “Our driver quickly reversed and drove to a safer distance where we watched until the gunmen zoomed off shooting sporadically. “When we reached the scene of the incident the van had already burnt to ashes, we stopped like other road users for some minutes and continued our journey,” he said. Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Daniel Ndukwe said there was an attack on police operatives in Nsukka today but the details are still sketchy.

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Post Date : June 17, 2022

ASUU: CNG Threatens Shutdown Of NASS, Highways, Airports

  The Students Wing of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has threatened to shut down the National Assembly, major highways and airports in the 19 northern states and Abuja to protest the government’s handling of the demands of the academic and non-academic staff unions which has grounded university education in the country for months. Addressing journalists on Friday in Kano, its national coordinator, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, said the “protracted closure of our Universities and Colleges of Education has exposed the children of the poor to violence and exploitation with early marriages, more idle minds recruited into militias, sexual exploitation of girls and young women, teenage pregnancies, and child labour, already becoming more common.” The coalition condemned “the levity and condescension with which the Federal Government is approaching the indefinite closure of universities and associated Institutions, especially with the recent shameless admission by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed that the complexities of the situation are beyond comprehension.” In view of this, the coalition said it has resolved among others to mobilize all its 19 Northern states chapters to collaborate with other students and parents and civil society organisations to petition traditional and religious leaders as well as security agencies in these states on its worries and line of action. “As a last option, in case of failure of these decent moves to yield positive results and ensure the reopening of Universities, we shall mobilize students and parents to massive zonal protests that would entail the shutting down of activities in all states and national assemblies, all political party offices and all major highways, airways and railways,” it said.

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Post Date : June 17, 2022

Your days are numbered – IPOB tells criminal gangs in South East

  The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Friday warned the rampaging criminal gangs in the South East region that their days are numbered, just as IPOB vowed to apprehend the hoodlums. IPOB’s lead counsel Ifeanyi Ejiofor while speaking with newsmen in Owerri gave this warning after they visited Nnamdi Kanu at the detention facility of the Department of State Services, DSS, in Abuja, last Thursday. They described the action of the hoodlums as sacrilegious and an attempt to label IPOB a bad group. Also, the group urged the residents to continue to expose them and their activities for sanity to return to the zone. According to IPOB, lead legal team, “Consistent with the prevailing Court-Order, Our team of lawyers conducted today’s routine visit to our indefatigable Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (Ohamadike Ndi Igbo).Onyewuu was briefed on the positions of all pending legal actions instituted on his behalf, as well as those we are defending across all courts, including our yesterday’s superlative outing in Ebonyi State High Court. “Onyendu was particularly enthused with our legal prowess and extraordinary feats so far recorded. He reminded us that our professional services in this regard, especially those directed towards rescuing UmuChineke entrapped in various detention facilities across all the states is a divine mandate, which will be remembered by posterity. “All strategies towards a successful outing, come 28th June 2022, were comprehensively reviewed, and it is our conviction that there shall be Victory, come 28th June 2022. “Onyendu was also briefed on the level of compliance with his directive for total sanity on our land, which is yielding the desired result. The community efforts of our people who have taken it upon themselves to confront these criminal gangs/evil elements desecrating our land, and the extraordinary feats being recorded in these volunteer services were equally shared. “Onyendu insists that every form of crime and criminality in our land must be completely eradicated, and proceeded to urge our people never to relent in fishing out the criminal elements, who are mainly strangers on our land. Onyendu commended UmuChineke for their peaceful conduct and resoluteness. The efforts of those aggressively working towards the bad labelling of his peaceful movement have come to halt. The facts speak for themselves. “We seized the opportunity offered by the visit to brief Onyendu of the barbaric act of the criminal gangs who kidnapped my Aunty a week ago, and her subsequent release.” “It is pertinent to note that the criminal gangs, who engaged in this sacrilegious act, in active connivance with some locals have nothing to do with IPOB. They are pure criminals who would soon be apprehended. To this end, Onyendu declared that the days of these monsters are numbered. Nevertheless, we continue to thank the highest God for the gift of life. “Onyendu reiterated his confidence in the ability of those who are steering this ship on his behalf, particularly in restoring total calm and sanity on our land, which is in line with the ideology of his peaceful Movement. He remains profoundly grateful,” IPOB said.

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Post Date : June 17, 2022

UK Govt Shuts Down Nigerian Pastor’s Church Over £1.9m Fraud

  The U.K government has shut down Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church, commonly known as SPAC Nation, owned by Pastor Tobi Adegboyega over an alleged £1.87 million fraud. The evangelical church which was founded by Pastor Tobi Adegboyega was wound up in the public interest in the High Court on Tuesday, June 9, 2022, the U.K government announced on Friday, June 17. According to a statement posted on the country’s website, the Official Receiver has been appointed as liquidator of the company. “The court heard that SPAC Nation was incorporated in 2012, a charity set up to advance Christianity. Much of its charitable work was based in London, working particularly with vulnerable people, youth, and offenders. Initially, the church group received positive reviews and media attention. But by late 2019 SPAC Nation was subject to media scrutiny following allegations by former church members they had been financially exploited by senior church personnel. Investigators interviewed pastor Dapo Adegboyega and he said that the church group had over 2,000 members and 200 ordained ministers and pastors but failed to provide any supporting information. Further enquiries found that SPAC Nation either failed to comply or only partially complied with statutory requirements, including providing data to support claimed donations, and accounting records in support of £1.87 million of expenditure. The company’s financial statements in the two years to 31 December 2019 set out £610,000 of rent expenditure. However, the company did not have a single base of its own and would hire venues across London to hold services, at significant expense. Salvation Proclaimer Ministries Limited was wound-up after the court concluded the company operated with a lack of transparency, filed suspicious or incorrect accounts, and was insolvent at the time of the hearing. It was also recognised that the company provided inconsistent information to the Insolvency Service and Charity Commission, and failed to deliver up adequate accounting records,” the statement reads.

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Post Date : June 17, 2022

Military retires 316, warns against subversive elements

  The military on Friday retired 316 senior Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) with a charge to them not to fall prey to subversive elements who may want to make use of their expertise.   The personnel comprising 283 from the Nigerian Army (NA), 27 Nigerian Navy (NN) and six from Air Force (NAF) were discharged from service after a three-month intensive reintegration to civil life and entrepreneurship trainings at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi. Thanking them for their unblemished service, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Lucky Irabor reminded them that the country was facing myriads of security challenges and required their loyalty even in retirement. He urged the retirees to use the available feedback mechanisms to report criminals lurking around, who may want to use them to foster their ill intentions. CDS, Gen. Lucky Irabor (left) and NAFRC Commandant, AVM Idi Lubo CDS, Gen. Lucky Irabor (left) and NAFRC Commandant, AVM Idi Lubo “It is our expectation that after your graduation, the service and this centre will continue to get positive feedback as you gallantly soar through post service life. Be bold and courageous, remain disciplined and focus, the sky is your beginning “It is important at this point to let you know that the level of insecurity is high in our nation. So, as you retire into the larger society, please beware of subversive elements within your environment and do not associate with them in any form. Your loyalty to the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Federal Republic of Nigeria is non-negotiable. “You will from now on take full charge as planners and executors of your personal daily activities. This may sound exciting and promising but beware; you need to properly manage your freedom and make good use of your resources in order to be successful. “The society will expect a high moral standard and discipline from you. You will also have to prove in your relationships that you passed through a highly disciplined system. As our ambassadors, always remember that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains your primary constituency. I believe in your capabilities to do us proud,” said the CDS. He urged the retirees to be proactive in their conducts to avoid or overcome post service challenges, adding they should utilise the various skills garnered during their pre-retirement training for peaceful and productive economic life. On the gains recorded in fighting insecurity, Irabor said collaborations with relevant security agencies were very effective and better than it used to be. He added that they were trying to go beyond government security agencies partnership to engaging other security stakeholders in a more meaningful manner to escalate the achievements currently being made. “The armed forces and other security agencies are collaborating very effectively and much more than we have had in the past. “What we are now trying to do is beyond the government security agencies and it is necessary to engage with other security stakeholders in a more meaningful manner so that progressively we will be able to escalate the achievements that we are having currently. “Only yesterday (Thursday), I spoke to the press and some reporters were there in Abuja for you to be kept abreast as to what we have done in the last two weeks. “Essentially, we have made huge progress and of course there still remains a lot more to go and we will make everything possible such that the state of peace will incrementally improve. It is a very important exercise that the nation will go through and it will be peaceful,” said the CDS during an interview with reporters. Aside the discharge ceremony, The Nation reports that the defence chief inaugurated a state-of-the art diagnostic centre built beside NAFRC hospital with medical equipment donated by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oludayo Amao who was represented at the ceremony by NAF’s Chief of Logistics, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Olatokunbo Adesanya. Photo caption: 1) From left: CDS, Gen. Lucky Irabor, his wife, Mrs. Anwuli Irabor, NAFRCOWA Coordinator, Mrs. Naomi Lubo and NAFRC Commandant, AVM Idi Lubo…yesterday. 2) CDS, Gen. Lucky Irabor (left) and NAFRC Commandant, AVM Idi Lubo…yesterday 3) Group photograph

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Post Date : June 17, 2022

2023 Presidency: Ekweremadu Says South East Won’t Vote For Peter Obi

  Former deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has said that the South East region will vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and not one of her sons and the candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi who’s candidacy is spreading like wildfire in the youth Constituency. Ekweremadu who represents Enugu West Senatorial zone at the Red Chamber said the South east will have to be very dynamic in their political decisions said Okowa will protect the Igbo interest as much as Obi. “I come from the south-east, I can assure you that South East will vote PDP, I can guarantee that. No doubt that Peter is our son, ask ourselves, can Peter win the presidential election? Can East afford to throw away their votes? Can we afford to be sentimental in matter that concerns our people our children and our future? The answer is no! “So we don’t intend to do a thing which we will regret in the future. While we believe that Peter is ably qualified, we believe that the future of our people lies in PDP at least in the next 8 years. So, we need to take that decision as the leaders of our people and we’re going to seat down with them and explain to them. “Okowa is one of us, so, there’s no difference between Okowa and Peter in terms of protecting the interests of the South. We are going to give the people of the South East the opportunity of meeting with Okowa so that he will also speak to them for we are going to be on ground to talk to our people. Ekweremadu who contested for the governorship ticket of the PDP who was speaking shortly after the emergence of Okowa as the running mate of Atiku Abubakar earlier, expressed satisfaction with the choice of the Delta Governor. “I’m very very excited, it means that PDP will win,” he said while responding to questions on the choice of Okowa. “There’s no better choice at the circumstance than Senator Okowa, he has distinguished himself as a performing Governor. As a parliamentarian, he was very quintessential, he made friends across the country. So he’s very dynamic. He’s a patriot and a pan Nigerian. “He’s going to bring a lot of value to the Atiku ticket,” headded.

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Post Date : June 17, 2022

Shina Peller dumps APC, faults party’s internal democracy

  A member of the House of Representatives from Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency, Oyo State, Shina Peller, has dumped the All Progressives Congress. The lawmaker announced his defection on his Twitter page on Friday. He added that he would be announcing his new party on Tuesday after due consultations. Justifying his defection, Peller claimed that “the party style of democracy in Oyo State kills my conscience”. He added that his continued stay in APC would be at the detriment of interest of his supporters, particularly the youths. He wrote, “I’ve tried my best for APC, the party style of democracy in Oyo State kills my conscience and I’ve to put my people’s interest first. I’ve realized that the youths and the people will continue to be at the mercy of few at the top. I’ll announce my new political party on 21|06|22.” There had been several rumours that the lawmaker would be defecting from the ruling party after he lost the Oyo North Senatorial ticket of the APC to Senator Fatai Buhari, But the lawmaker recently faulted the reports, describing his purported defection to another political party as mere “rumours”. However, he said until he personally announces his exit from the APC via his verified social media platforms, any report of defection remains mere speculations and should be disregarded. He said, “My attention has been drawn to an unfounded report going viral that I have defected from the All Progressives Congress to New Nigeria People’s Party. Also, while some speculate that I am now a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, some conclude I am now in Accord Party. This is nothing but a rumour and should be regarded as one by all as I still remain a member of the APC until I announce otherwise via my verified social media handles. “That I honoured Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeyan’s invitation to his house doesn’t mean I have defected to NNPP. Alhaji Olopoeyan is a family friend, and the fact that we belong to different political parties doesn’t mean I should start playing politics of bitterness with him. I am not that kind of a person and won’t turn to one for political reasons. “It would be recalled that about a week ago, one of the chieftains of our party in Oyo State, had also alleged that I am being secretly positioned by the Peoples Democratic Party to be a running mate to Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde in the 2023 Oyo State gubernatorial race. This is also not true, and the recent announcement of Bayo Lawal as a running mate to Governor Makinde has further rendered the allegation baseless. “That I commended Governor Makinde on a project that is beneficial to my constituents shouldn’t make one conclude that I am now a PDP member. Also, Engr. Seyi Makinde is not a governor to PDP members only, but a governor to everyone in Oyo State including myself. I haven’t defected from APC to any political party, and even if I am going to do so, that would be for the people of Oke Ogun in Oyo State to decide,” Peller had said in a statement.

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Post Date : June 17, 2022

Ukraine To Introduce Visas For Russians – Zelensky

  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Friday that Kyiv intends to introduce visas for Russians from July 1, four months into Moscow’s invasion of his country. “Ukraine is introducing a visa regime for citizens of the Russian Federation,” Zelensky said on his Telegram account. He said the requirement would take effect on “July 1, 2022”, according to a government decision that he expected “today.” The move will end visa-free travel for Russians that began when Ukraine became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said the move was being taken because of Russia’s invasion that began on February 24 and to bolster his country’s defensive efforts. “Due to the full-scale war launched by the Russian Federation, we need to strengthen the control over the entry of Russian nationals into our territory. Security is a priority.” The two neighbours share a border stretching almost 2,300 kilometres (1,400 miles) and share extensive family links. But the number of Russians travelling to Ukraine fell sharply after Moscow’s 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula, which unleashed a war with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine that was backed by the Kremlin. In 2013, 10.8 million Russians visited Ukraine but a year later, that figure plummeted to 2.5 million. And between 2015 and 2019, it further dropped to some 1.5 million a year, Andrey Demchenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s border guards, told AFP. In 2020 and 2021 as the Covid pandemic took hold, the number of Russian travellers did not exceed 500,000 a year, he said. Ukraine, where Russian is widely spoken and which has lived through two pro-democracy revolutions since 2004, has also become a popular destination in recent years for liberal Russians fleeing the authoritarian regime of President Vladimir Putin. By the end of January, nearly 175,000 Russians had residence permits in Ukraine, migration officials told AFP. But that number is likely far higher as, until now, Ukraine has never had a visa regime with Russia.

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