More than 48 hours after the Bayelsa governorship election, Governor Douye Diri has clinched a second term in office as the leader of the coastal state. “That Diri Douye of the PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” the Returning Officer for the election Prof Faruq Kuta said in declaring Diri the winner of the exercise after multiple breaks and adjournments. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate fought off his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart Timipre Sylva in a fiercely contested exercise in the oil-rich state. Diri, who came into power in 2020, got a total of 175,196 votes while Sylva polled 110,108 votes. The figures meant the PDP flagbearer beat his closest rival by 65,088 votes. The Labour Party (LP) scored a total of 905 votes to come a distant third While 18 candidates vied for the post, Sylva was Diri’s main contender. The immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum was contesting to return as the governor of the South-South state for a third time. He first became a governor from May 2007 to April 2008 before returning as the leader of the state between May 2008 and January 2012. But his third attempt to become the governor of Bayelsa State was a bumpy ride. About one month before the election, the Federal High Court in Abuja disqualified him from the contest. According to Justice Okorowo, since Sylva has served twice and five years as governor of the state, he would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again. He ruled that if the APC candidate wins and is sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state. In the wake of the ruling, INEC delisted him as a contestant for the exercise. But APC and Sylva challenged the judgment with the Appeal Court on October 31, 2023, later reversing Sylva’s disqualification. The 2023 election, however, ended in defeat for Sylva.

  The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria on Monday ordered their affiliates to withdraw their services nationwide from midnight on November 14, 2023. TUC President Festus Osifo disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday. Osifo said the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibility.” The strike is also to protest the battering of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and some other executives of the congress in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1, as well as the pending labour issues in Imo State. Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of a state-wide protest in Imo, as disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah. Although the police denied arresting Ajaero, stating that he was merely taken into protective custody to prevent a mob attack, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, accused the labour leader of meddling in the political affairs of the state. Details later…

  The Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, has revealed that the police high command will execute President Bola Tinubu’s directive for the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP security duties, and developing a community policing strategy, amongst others. The minister made the development known on Monday during a two-day management retreat at the Ministry of Police Affairs. While noting that the Nigeria Police Force and the Ministry of Police Affairs were at a critical juncture, and currently struggling with the consequences of decades of neglect that have hindered their ability to fulfil their constitutional mandate, she added that the ministry was committed to aligning its efforts to contribute to the realisation of Mr President’s vision for a renewed, highly effective NPF. Suleiman-Ibrahim said, “The Police Inspectorate Department, in particular, should evolve its operations to focus on robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning. Reports must be factual, practical, and evidence-based, and serve as critical tools for enhancing police performance. It must champion the review of the curriculum of the training institutions to ensure they are reflective of the evolving landscape of law enforcement, incorporating contemporary practices and international standards. “The Police Service Department has multifaceted responsibilities and must rise to the occasion by ensuring administrative optimization, making sure that relevant policies and procedures for the police are in place and up to date while also fostering the adoption of cutting-edge technology. It must be at the forefront of efforts to ensure we evolve an intelligence-led, technology-driven, inclusive, and community-based police force in Nigeria. “The Planning, Research, and Statistics Department must position itself as a knowledge hub, providing historical insights and conducting cutting-edge research to inform policymaking. By fostering partnerships with renowned research institutions and staying current with global trends, this department will play a vital role in shaping evidence-based strategies for the Nigerian Police Force. “As you are aware, our key mandates include developing and implementing a harmonized police reform report, amending the Police Act, executing Mr President’s directive on the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP security duties, and developing a community policing strategy, amongst others. We must not see these mandates as mere tasks but as transformative initiatives that can enhance internal security in Nigeria.” Meanwhile, in June, The PUNCH reported that following the establishment of the 40,000-man Special Intervention Squad, the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun announced plans to withdraw Police Mobile Force personnel from VIP escort/guard duties. Egbetokun who spoke during a meeting with Squadron leaders and Tactical Commanders at the Force Headquarters, said the development was to allow the police to take back its place in the ‘internal security architecture’ of the country. However, while clarifying the misunderstanding in regards to the IG’s directive concerning the proposed withdrawal of the Police Mobile Force from specialised escort and services for VIPs last Wednesday, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi noted that the NPF did not intend to strip VIPs (who are legally and statutorily entitled to police escorts) of their security details, noting that doing so would be unsafe and counterproductive. He said, “Get the message right: We understand that there has been some misunderstanding regarding the directive of IGP Olukayode Egbetokun about withdrawing members of the Police Mobile Force Unit from Specialized Escort and Services for VIPs. It’s crucial to provide clarifications to address this.   “First and foremost, let us be clear: at no point did the Force intend to strip VIPs (who are legally and statutorily entitled to Police escorts) of their security details. Doing so would be unsafe and counterproductive. Instead, the objective is to reassign the withdrawn PMF personnel to the recently established Special Intervention Squad. “For those who genuinely require specialized police escorts, this vital service will continue to be provided by other units of the Force, such as the Special Protection Unit. However, individuals who do not fall within and enjoy the legal framework for such security details would strictly be screened and their applications thoroughly assessed for consideration, if necessary. “To eliminate any misunderstandings, it’s crucial to clarify that the withdrawal of Police Mobile Force personnel does not equate to a blanket ban on all Police Officers from providing VIP escort services. This withdrawal pertains specifically to PMF personnel, who are just one unit within the broader Police Force. “We encourage everyone to read the full contents of our press statements rather than giving headlines whimsical meanings and spreading distorted information. For a comprehensive understanding of this matter, we strongly recommend referring to our press releases dated June 29, 2023, July 10, 2023, and July 24, 2023. These statements provide a clear and accurate perspective on this directive.”

  The Chairman Joint Senate Committee on the 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, Senator Sani Musa, said no federal agency would henceforth be allowed to spend the revenues they generate. Musa, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, has therefore directed all revenue generating agencies in the country to furnish his panel with details of remittances they had so far made this year. He further directed the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to collate details of the remittances and the list of those that were defaulting. Musa gave the directive at the ongoing public hearing by a joint committee of the Senate on MTEF chaired by him. The panel including the Committees on Appropriations; National Planning and Economic Affairs; and Local and Foreign Debts are engaging heads of federal ministries, departments and agencies on the 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy. Musa said, “The National Assembly is working hard to protect the economy of the country. “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for instance, is a Nigerian entity it must abide by the Nigerian rules, it must abide by the grund norms. When it is due to remit, it must do so. “No agency of the government should come before us to say they are exempted from remitting revenues to the consolidated revenue funds.” Musa added, “The Accountant General should take note of the agencies that had yet to remit their revenues to the CRF. “You should liaise with the Committee’s secretariat so that we could find time to reconvene like this to sort out those issues.” Musa was responding to a presentation by the Nigerian Institute of Legal and Advanced Studies and the Nigerian Maritime Academy on delayed remmitances to the CRA He insisted that the MDAs should present a breakdown of their revenue collection and remmitances from January to date to the committee. He said MDAs were aware that any action in breach of financial regulations was a breach of the law. He said agencies must work toward remitting the revenue due to government upon collection without delay. He also requested that all receipts of remittances be made available to the committee. Musa raised issues of disparity of revenue projections and remittances based on presentations of Nigerian Communication Commission and presentation by Office of Accountant General for the Federation. He also urged the Accountant General of the Federation to interface with MDAs for reconciliation of remittances made and revenue projections in the 2026-2027 MTEF and FSP.   He also requested for detailed breakdown of remittances arising from revenue collected from stamp duties by the MDAs. Musa said there was the need for proper reconciliation of the remittances in line with the nation’s financial laws and Fiscal Responsibility Act. The Accountant-General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein, said her office do engage the MDAs to reconcile their accounts and remmitances made to government in line with the financial laws. Also the Director -General of the Debt Management Office, Mrs Patience Oniha while responding to a question on new government loan request said Nigeria needs to challenge itself on revenue generation given its projection on debt services. Among the MDAs that presented their revenue projections for the 2024-2026 MTEF and FSP were Office of Accountant General of the Federation, Nigeria Maritime Academy, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. Others are the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, Development Bank of Nigeria, Debt Management Office, Office among others. The Nigerian Communication Commission Joint Matriculation and Examination Board and the Federal Mortgage Bank were asked to appear at another day for re- presentation of their expenditure and revenue projections. Earlier, the Accountant General said that the ministry was project an IGR of N3.1tn Detailing the ministry’s revenue details in three years, she said, “From the federation account, in 2020 the budgeted revenue was put N7.9tn, and the actual gross revenue was N8tn while net distribution was N7.6tn. He added, “In 2021 budget was N9.2tn while the actual gross inflow was N9.3tn and the net inflow was N7.7tn. “In 2022, the budget was N15tn, the actual revenue was N12.2tn, the net distribution was N8.6tn. “In 2023, the Revenue projection was N13,7tn, as at October, the total revenue inflow was N12.4tn” “Under the Stamp Duty, the budget for 2020 was N17.3bn while the actual was N119bn. The Accountant General added, “In 2021, the budgeted amount was N16.8bn, while the generated amount N33.94bn. “In the year 2022, the budget stamp duties was N16.8bn while the generated amount was N53.5bn. “In 2023, the budgeted amount was N44.46bn and the generated amount was N53bn. “For the IGR in 2020 was N871.3bn, while the actual amount N532.9bn” She stated, “In 2021, the budgeted amount was N1.06tn ehile the generated amount was N1.06tn. In 2022 the budgeted amount was N2.2tn while the amount collected was N1.39tn. “In 2023, the budget was N2.6tn, while actual amount was N1.42tn as st September 2023. “We can only project IGR for 2024 and we put that on 20% mark up of the budget of 2023 which is N3.1tn,” she added.

  A woman identified as Sughshater Ushahemba from Mbadyur council ward in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State has been accused of poisoning her 11-month-old baby. It was gathered from the community that the woman allegedly fed the baby with a substance believed to be a chemical in the early hours of Saturday. Another source quoted the woman as saying that the baby developed a high temperature in the early hours of Saturday and died. The woman was said to have been caught when she tried to bury the baby. But the Information Officer, Logo LGA, Paul Pevikyaa, who spoke to journalists on Monday, said the woman had earlier told people that the baby took ill around 12:31am and died after two hours. He said, “When the woman was interviewed, she (the woman) said when they were asleep, around 12.31am, the baby started having high fever and that the body was so hot that she gave up within two hours.   “She said that the mistake she made was at day break, she failed to inform her neighbours of what happened in the night because there is a strong belief that when you have neighbours and when you are having difficulties at night, at least you can call your neighbours to help you and they can be your witness. But she never did that.” The information officer, however, said that the woman later confessed to killing her baby because she was abandoned by the man who impregnated her. “So when day broke, she now attempted burying the baby. The baby was 11 months old,” he said. Pevikyaa added that the woman said she was impregnated by her boyfriend, and after she gave birth to a baby girl, the boy abandoned her with the child. “She said she had been suffering with the child, and that was why she poisoned the baby by giving her a chemical that is used to spray grasses,” Pevikyaa said. Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State Command, SP, Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, saying the suspect is currently in custody.

  Barely two weeks after a boat mishap claimed over 70 lives in Karim-Lamido Local Government Area in Taraba State, over 20 people said to be fishermen on Monday lost their lives after a boat capsized around Anyiin, in River Benue, TribuneOnline reports. Taraba State Water Transportation Chairman, Jidda Suleiman, told our Correspondent that the incident happened between Chinkai of Benue and the Anyeci area of Wukari local government area of the state. “The boat was conveying fishermen, comprising people from Ibi, and Wukari local government areas of Taraba. I was informed that the fishermen converged and boarded the boat to Kwara state in search of greener pasture, and along the way, they had an accident and over twenty people died. Twelve people out of the dead bodies are from Ibi while some are from Gareji, in Gindin Doruwa, Wukari LGA of Taraba. “It has been a tradition of our fishermen from Taraba that, once December, some will travel to Cameroon, some to Chad and other places like that to fish till August of the following year. “It is unfortunate that the usual tradition turned sorrowful this time. I wish to appeal to both the state and federal government to assist us with life jackets, which is the only solution to averting similar incidents”, Jidda narrated. While reacting, Taraba state governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas has condoled with families of victims of the Monday boat mishap in Ibi local government area of the state. Mr Emmanuel Bello, the Special Adviser to governor Kefas on media and digital communication, quoted the governor as describing the incident as most worrisome since it is coming barely a week after a similar incident that claimed over 70 lives in Karim-Lamido local area of the state. According to the statement, Kefas while praying to God to grant the souls of the departed eternal rest, disclosed that the state government was already working out modernities to end future occurrences of boat mishaps in Taraba. “Today’s boat incident is even more unfortunate since it comes on the heels of a similar one in Karim Lamido that threw the state into mourning. It is heartbroken, however, I wish to appeal that the government is already on top of the situation as various investigations are underway to unravel the remote causes of boat mishaps in the state. “I would soon personally tour the affected areas to meet with local stakeholders in the waterways transport sectors to ensure that the water transport system is safe for passengers. Measures are in place to face out old boats and introduce the compulsory use of life jackets among other life-saving measures”. Gov. Kefas mourned.

  Wawe Nokomari, has been arrested by the Adamawa State Police Command for allegedly shooting his friend, Ham Musa. The incident occurred on November 7 in Jabi community of Shelleng Local Government Area, leaving the victim critically injured. According to SP Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, the spokesperson for the state police command, the suspect, who is a father of eight, had consumed a popular locally brewed gin known as “burkutu” as well as sweeti and mafia before opening fire on his friend while they were working on a rice farm. The two men, who were both reportedly drunk, had a misunderstanding that resulted in the shooting. Nokomari was said to have borrowed the gun with which he shot his friend from a vigilante. The victim is currently receiving medical treatment and is said to be in a stable condition. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Afolabi Babatola, has ordered the state Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. Nguroje further disclosed that the Commissioner of Police had ordered the arrest of the vigilante who lent his gun to the suspect. The Police Command vowed to ensure that the suspect was brought to justice and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies. “The suspect has confessed to the crime and expressed remorse for his actions. He also pledged to abstain from drinking alcohol in the future,” Nguroje added.

  A driver evading arrest by traffic officials on Monday morning killed two road sweepers on the Gbagada-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos State.   Our correspondent, who was at the scene of the accident, gathered that the driver, whose name is unknown as of press time, was chased by officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) when the fleeing driver rammed into two members of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) at their duty post by the roadside. The situation led to a demonstration as passersby and motorists protested the killing of the street sweepers. Security agents including policemen have since arrived at the scene and tear-gassed protesters in an attempt to disperse them and quell the situation. Meanwhile, LAWMA confirmed the death of the two sanitation workers in a statement on Monday.   “LAWMA is working with security agencies to apprehend and prosecute the errant driver of the car, with vehicle number EPE 984 DV,” the statement read. “We wish to appeal to motorists for the umpteenth time, to drive with utmost caution on the highways, to avoid sad incidents like this happening to our sanitation workers or anyone in the course of their legitimate duties. “The public is urged to remain calm as appropriate steps are being taken and necessary measures put in place. “Our heartfelt condolences go to the families of the deceased, whom we love most dearly. May their souls continue to rest in peace.

  British leader Rishi Sunak on Monday sacked controversial interior minister Suella Braverman, as he reshuffles his top team ahead of a general election expected next year. Sunak had come under growing pressure to axe Braverman, an outspoken right-winger, after critics accused her of heightening tensions during weeks of contentious pro-Palestinian demonstrations and counter-protests in Britain. It was not immediately clear who will replace Braverman, who was appointed to the post when Sunak became prime minister just over a year ago. Following her dismissal, Braverman said “it has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as home secretary”. “I will have more to say in due course,” she added. The firing comes as the ruling Conservatives confirmed a major reshuffle of Sunak’s top ministers was underway — his first since becoming the country’s leader on October 25, 2022. “Here we go,” the party said on X, formerly Twitter. “Today @RishiSunak strengthens his team in government to deliver long-term decisions for a brighter future. Stay tuned for the latest.” The changes, set to be announced through the morning, are expected to reward loyalists and younger emerging MPs, after nearly 14 years in power takes its toll on the Tories’ popularity. The party has trailed the main Labour opposition by double-digit margins throughout Sunak’s time in power, and is widely tipped to lose the next election due next year. Braverman had stoked controversy throughout her tenure, taking a hardline stance on immigration in particular and regularly wading into so-called culture wars issues which are seen as dividing the electorate. The right-winger attacked her critics as liberal “tofu-eating wokerati” while saying shortly after she was appointed that sending asylum seekers to Rwanda was her “dream” and “obsession”. But her position became increasingly untenable after she last week wrote an explosive newspaper article, apparently without Sunak’s approval, accusing police of bias towards left-wing causes. It was blamed for stoking tensions ahead of a weekend of protests over Israel’s war in Gaza, which coincided with Armistice Day events, and prompted calls for her to be sacked. AFP