GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike has again mocked his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi, this time, for allegedly neglecting the development of Egbeda, his mother’s village in Emohua Local Government Area during his time in power. Wike, at Egbeda on Wednesday to flag off construction of Akpabu-Egbeda-Omoku Link Road, noted as sad that Amaechi, former governor of Rivers and immediate past Minister of Transportation, would describe the new road project as unnecessary and a waste of resources. The incumbent governor referred to his predecessor, “You see, your mother is from here. You didn’t seem fit or necessary to do anything for your maternal home. Now, that our mother is not from here, are doing something to help your maternal home. You say it is unnecessary, it is a waste of resources. “When you have a bad child, he is a bad child. If he is not a bad child, he should thank us for removing shame from his face. Since you don’t have Shame, I will add more things for your maternal home.” He spontaneously announced a separate contract for the reconstruction of the internal roads within Egbeda, directing the State Commissioner for Works to ensure that the contractor handing the road being flagged off stays back to attend to the internal roads. On speculations over his presidential candidate of choice, as he continues to keep stakeholders in suspense, Wike responded that “If anybody likes, say what you want to say, that I am working for so and so person. “It’s their business. Say I am not working for a so and so person, it’s their business. Some of them who do not have 25 votes are busy abusing leaders. When you are finished abusing leaders (us), you will pay. “We are here talking to our people, they are there in radio stations and television houses. We are here talking to our people. When you are finished, by that time, it’ll be too late.” The governor reportedly left the Egbeda event in Oyo state for yet undisclosed official engagement

  Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not mean well for Nigerians. Tinubu spoke on Wednesday at a rally that was held at the Sani Abacha stadium in Kano state. The former governor of Lagos said while he and his party can make Nigeria better, the other parties and their candidates cannot. “We can make Nigeria better, safer, and more prosperous. We can educate our youths, feed our people, and put an end to fear. We can do these things. We can move you forward,” he said. “But the others cannot. They want to hold you back so that only they can move forward. They offer nothing but fake promises and easy answers that hold no water. All they can show you is how to hate your fellow Nigerian and reject your neighbour. “But they cannot show you how to protect our society, feed our people, provide jobs and care for those in true need of help. “Let me say this clearly and plainly. This campaign is about our collective march to a better Nigeria. Do we march forward? Or do we lose sight of the road? “We must march forward. But we cannot forget how they frittered away our commonwealth. For 16 years, they toyed with our lives and the future of this country. They spent $16 billion on electricity, but they procured darkness instead.” Tinubu also said the PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, do not fulfill promises. “Neither he nor his party can keep their promise. Tell me how they will keep their promise to the nation,” Tinubu said. “No wonder, their party is in tatters! Governor Wike was right when he talked about a lack of integrity, saying ‘look at the man and his history’. Their contribution to institutional-building is to create an electoral commission to rig elections.” The APC candidate added that his policies would revive the industries in Kano.

  Justice Maryam Hassan of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court Garki has quashed the allegations of false assets declaration against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Yakubu Mahmood. The Court also barred the Department of State Security (DSS), the police, and Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) from investigating him over his valid assets declaration. In an Originating Summon filed by one Somadina Uzoamaka against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Yakubu, the claimant sought, among other things, an order of mandatory injunction directing and compelling the INEC Chairman to step down pending the investigation and consideration of the various allegations against him by the various law enforcement agencies. The plaintiff also sought an order of court stopping the Yakubu from holding or assuming any public office for a period of 10 years. In his response to the allegation, Prof. Yakubu gave the court several exhibits to show the sources of money for the purchase of the properties which the plaintiff alleged were illegally acquired and insisted that his assets declaration was validly done. Delivering judgment, Justice Hassan found that the declaration of assets by Prof. Yakubu was lawful, valid and in compliance with the law and that he cannot be investigated by any of the security agencies listed by the claimant. The Court declined to grant any of the 14 prayers of the claimant, declaring that the INEC Chairman cannot be removed over “fabricated” allegations of false assets declaration. The judge therefore dismissed the claims of the claimant and allowed the counter-claim of the defendant.

  The Commissioner of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Sa’adatu Bello Kirfi, has resigned her appointment hours after her father was stripped of his traditional title as Wazirin Bauchi and removed as Bauchi Emirate Council member. The PUNCH earlier reported that Kirfi, a retired federal civil servant, Second Republic Minister and former Minister of Special Duties was for the second time in five years, stripped of his traditional title and removed from office as a Senior Member of the Bauchi Emirate Council. He was removed over his alleged “disloyalty and disrespect” to the State Governor, Bala Mohammed. His removal was conveyed in a letter addressed to him by the Secretary of the Bauchi Emirate Council, Alh. Shehu Mudi Muhammad, dated January 3rd, 2023 with reference No: BEC/ADM/20/VOL.XV and titled: “Removal from office as a Council Member and Traditional Title of Wazirin Bauchi.” He was first removed by the Bauchi Emirate Council in March 2017 for alleged “disloyal and unruly behavior” during the administration of Governor Mohammed Abubakar. But Sa’adatu, who is one of the children of the octogenarian, tendered her resignation as a Commissioner in the Bala Mohammed administration and member of the State Executive Council after his father stripped of his title. Her resignation was contained in a terse letter addressed to the governor through the Secretary to the State Government, dated January 4, 2023 and titled “Letter of Resignation.” “Your Excellency, I wish to humbly tender my resignation as a member, Bauchi State Executive Council and Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs Development, Bauchi State with immediate effect. “I wish to thank His Excellency the Executive Governor for giving me the opportunity to serve my State under your Administration,” she wrote in her letter.

  The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday received the last batch of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation machines. This was contained in a statement signed by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Wednesday. According to the statement, the commission created four airport hubs in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt to facilitate the smooth delivery of the machines. The statement read “In furtherance of the preparations for the 2023 General Election, the Commission, yesterday, 3rd January 2023, received the last consignment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation machines with 52 days to the election. “The Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, National Commissioners and senior officials of the Commission were at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to receive the BVAS. Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company and airport security officials were at the airport to receive the INEC team. “To facilitate the smooth delivery of the machines, the Commission created four airport hubs in Abuja, Kano, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. Over the last four months, several flights delivered the BVAS to the designated airports for movement to States of the federation ahead of the elections. With the arrival of the last flight in Abuja yesterday, the Commission has now taken delivery of the required number of the BVAS for all the polling units in the country and extra machines in line with our contingency provisions for all critical election materials. “The Commission appreciates the support of all Nigerians in its determination to conduct free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive 2023 General Election facilitated by the deployment of technology.”

  The Department of State Services on Wednesday announced the arrest of two men who carried out the deadly bombing which occurred on 29th December, 2022, near the Palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in Okene, Kogi State during the visit of the President Muhammadu Buhari to commission some projects in the state.   The DSS said in a statement made available to Vanguard by its Spokesman Dr. Peter Afunanya, announced that the masterminds of the Vehicle-Borne Explosive Device(VBIED)AbdulmumIbrahim OTARU (aka Abu Mikdad) and one of his associates, Saidu SULEIMAN were arrested on Tuesday on 3rd January, 2023. Afunanya said however that the major mastermind, who is a commander of the Islamic States in West Africa, sustained an injury on his leg while trying to escape. The statement said: “The (DSS) wishes to inform the public that it has arrested the mastermind of the Vehicle-Borne Explosive Device (VBIED) attack which occurred on 29th December, 2022, near the Palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in Okene, Kogi State during the visit of the President to commission some projects.   “The Service arrested Abdulmumin Ibrahim OTARU (aka Abu Mikdad) and one of his associates, Saidu SULEIMAN on 3rd January, 2023. OTARU sustained a gunshot injury on his left foot while attempting to escape. He is currently receiving treatment at a health facility. “During investigations, it was ascertained that OTARU was a high commander of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and either coordinated or was involved in the following dastardly operations: “The 24th June, 2022 attack on Nigeria Police Area Command, Eika-Ohizenyi, Okehi LGA of Kogi State. A Police Inspector, Idris MUSA was killed and two (2) AK-47 rifles carted away in that attack; “The 5th July, 2022 attack on Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje Area Council of the FCT; and 5th August, 2022 attack on West African Ceramics Ltd (WACL) in Ajaokuta LGA, Kogi in which three (3) Indian expatriates were kidnapped. It will be recalled that five five persons including one Indian, two policemen and two drivers of the company were also killed in the attack. The kidnapped expatriates were released on 31st August, 2022. “OTARU operated terrorist cells in and around Kogi State. Similarly, he and his gang had staged several kidnap operations in Kogi and Ondo states. Meanwhile, the suspects are in custody and will be prosecuted accordingly. “The Service reiterates its commitment to the safety of the nation. It assures to work assiduously with stakeholders including sister security agencies to tackle the menace of terrorism and other forms of criminality and threats to national security. It, therefore, calls on citizens to support it and other law enforcement organisations with relevant information and all the necessary cooperation required to achieve a peaceful country”.

L The people of Umuokpara Amagu Nachi, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, have been thrown into confusion as one Mrs Chinyere with her three children have reportedly gone missing. The middle-aged woman and her three kids were said to have been last seen at about 6:00 am on Monday, January 2, 2023. Community sources told our correspondent that family and friends have been going around the whole village and town in search of them with no success. The family in messages posted on various social media platforms with their picture have appealed to all Nigerians with information about their whereabouts to contact the family or report to the nearest police station. “Anyone with any useful information on their whereabouts should please call these phone numbers: 08039297726 or 07060708482,” the message read. When the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, was contacted for reaction, he said he had no information about the incident. “Please, my dear I don’t have this information, I am just hearing it from you. I will contact the DPO in-charge of the area to find out.”