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Post Date : September 19, 2024

Abure shuns Edo campaign, accuses Obi, Otti of betrayal

Ahead of the Saturday, September 21 governorship election in Edo State, the Labour Party, on Wednesday, held its final mega campaign rally with the party’s leaders, such as Peter Obi, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, Nenadi Usman, Aisha Yesufu, among others, in attendance, canvassing support for the party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata. However, the embattled National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, and members of his disputed National Working Committee, were absent. On Wednesday, the Abure camp, at a press conference in Abuja addressed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, accused Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, of betrayal, following the appointment of a caretaker committee, led by Nenadi Usman, to lead the party. Ifoh accused Obi and Otti of teaming up with the Independent National Electoral Commission to frustrate Abure and his NWC. Ifoh lamented that rather than stand by the party in its trying moment, the two party leaders betrayed their trust by openly dancing ‘Gwo gwo gwo gwon’ with the electoral umpire. “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo” is a popular folk music by nonagenarian highlife artist, Mike Ejeagha, which went viral this year on social media. Ifoh said, “The party is miffed by the actions of our leaders including our former presidential candidate and our only governor who should be defending the party at this trying moment. They ought to know that the LP is going through challenging times over its role in defending both leaders during the 2023 general election. Our leadership went to the trenches with Obi, cascading through the nooks and crannies canvassing for votes. “For the benefit of hindsight, not a few Nigerians will forget how we accommodated some of these leaders when they were denied tickets in their former political parties. Many who suddenly sought the head of Julius Abure to be served on a platter were rolling on the floors, begging for tickets. Some couldn’t even afford to pay for the nomination forms. The same LP leadership stood by our then governorship candidate in Abia through thick and thin, snubbing all sorts of pressures, weathering the political and judicial storms to ensure that victory was achieved. Today, these leaders are now dancing ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ with us. What a shame, what a betrayal.” The drama comes barely one week after the party dragged INEC to court to stop the commission from granting recognition to the newly installed Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee. Two days ago, the media was also awash with INEC’s counter-affidavit to the effect that the tenure of the Abure-led executives has expired to justify its attempt to confer legitimacy on the 29-member committee inaugurated by Obi, Otti and the party’s stakeholders. But Ifoh vowed on Wednesday that the ‘illegal arrangement’ wouldn’t stand, stressing that the committee members were handpicked by factions of the party in the most undemocratic fashion. He also accused INEC of trying to destabilise the party by taking sides and attempting to undermine the LP leadership. “As you are aware, the party has since sued INEC challenging its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. However, INEC had in a counter-affidavit, filed in response to our suit argued that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Julius Abure, is invalid, stressing that it does not recognise the party’s March 2024 National Convention. “Every Nigerian alive knows the role INEC played in the 2023 general election and how the electoral will of the people were dashed. It amazes us that those who suffered from this INEC’s ineptitude in 2023, are now joining forces with the commission against the party leadership. For these leaders, there is no qualm to leverage on the INEC’s standpoint of illegality to attempt to seize the leadership of the party. “We sincerely want to advise these leaders that INEC is and can never be the model on which to launch their annexation agenda. The 2023 saga is still fresh. In one breath, we demonised INEC. In another, you are seen fraternising with them. I ask, where was this loyalty when INEC failed to protect the will of the people in 2023? Let us not be fooled. INEC has not changed, and come 2027, they will once again serve you the portage with the same dish,” he stated.

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Post Date : September 19, 2024

DAILIES TOP STORIES: Tinubu may merge MDAs, scrap humanitarian ministry

Thursday 19 September 2024 Edo poll: INEC deploys 5,000 BVAS, 18,000 ad hoc workers Cameroon dam release: States plan emergency shelters Lagos orders demolition of police barracks over imminent collapse Customs intercept N265m hard drugs in Lagos Strike: SSANU, NASU give FG three weeks to pay salaries EFCC besieges Kogi gov lodge, plans Yahaya Bello’s arrest Borno flood donations hit N17bn, Obasanjo sympathises with victims Makinde rejects new tax bill, says people hungry IPOB won’t force Igbo to resign from Nigerian Army – Spokesman Enugu requests 4,000 policemen for LG poll Court decides suit seeking Ganduje’s removal Sept 23 Politicians Who Speak Ill Of Nigeria Don’t Deserve To Be President — AGF FG Eyes $1.5bn Revenue From Halal by 2027 Aviation Workers Suspend Planned Protest Over 50% Deductions PenCom: Pension fund assets increased to N20.79trn in July Edo Guber: CDS, Police, NSCDC warn troublemakers Major marketers begin lifting petrol from Dangote Refinery Demography Positions Nigeria To Lead $7.7trn Halal Market – Shettima Zamfara Boat Mishap: 10 Bodies Recovered, 22 Still Missing Abure’s tenure as LP Chairman terminates in 2028 —Spokesperson PDP governors split over bid to sack party chair Damagum Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

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Post Date : September 18, 2024

FactCheck: Did Nigerian Government Only Donate RICE To Maiduguri Flood Victims?

Claim An X user claimed the Nigerian government only donated RICE to the Maiduguri flood victims. Verdict This claim is FALSE.Credible media organizations in Nigeria reported that the Nigerian government donated ₦3bn on September 11, 2024. Full Text The Maiduguri State flooding began in early September 2024 in Borno State, Nigeria, after the collapse of the Alau Dam on 10 September. According to WikipediaOnline, the Maiduguri and Jere local government areas were particularly affected: according to the National Emergency Management Agency, over 70% of the residents in Maiduguri were displaced. At least 30 people died. The United Nations refugee agency in Nigeria described it as the worst to hit the city in thirty years, affecting over one million people. West Africa has experienced some of its worst flooding in decades. According to the United Nations, over 2.3 million people were affected in 2023, three times more than in 2022. An X user, @OWallelle claimed that the federal government only donated RICE to the flood victims in Maiduguri. In a post on X, @OWallelle wrote, “Donation and Humanitarian Aid To Maiduguri Flood Victims: •UN – $6million•UAE – 5 tone of foods•Dangote – N1.5billion•Dantata – N1.5billion•Sen. Bala – N250million•Atiku – N100million Donation and Humanitarian Aid To Maiduguri Flood Victims. UN – $6millionUAE – 5 tone of foodsDangote – N1.5billionDantata – N1.5billionSen. Bala – N250millionAtiku – N100million Federal Government – RICE pic.twitter.com/BNNPye1QnX— Ahmed Munir Adam (@OWallelle) September 17, 2024 •Federal Government – RICE The post generated 244k views and more than 1.7k reposts. Verification When this Fact Checker typed a keyword , “FG donates… to Maiduguri flood victims “ into Google search, a report by Channel Television confirmed that the federal government donated over N3.bn to Maiduguri flood victims on September 11, 2024. According to the report, while donating cash to displaced persons taking refuge in the Bakassi IDP camp along Biu, Damboa road in Maiduguri, Governor Zulum said food items and other basic necessities will be provided, while vendors have been contracted to feed the displaced persons in the camp. Prof Zulum also confirmed receipt of a flood intervention fund of ₦3bn from the Federal Government which will be used in addressing the challenges of the flood. See this similar story Here and Here. Aside 20,000 bags of 50kg rice, Nigeria’s information ministry disclosed that 20,000 cartons of spaghetti, 10,000 jerry cans of vegetable oil were also donated to the flood victims. Conclusion The Nigerian government didn’t donate only RICE to Maiduguri flood victims.

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Post Date : September 18, 2024

REPORT: ‘Over 150,000 Maiduguri Children In Dire Need Of Aid’

Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria says that over 150,000 children have been displaced by flooding in Borno State and are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. The Country Director of SCI, Duncan Harvey, made the disclosure Wednesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen about his visit to Maiduguri to evaluate the situation and provide assistance to the affected population.He said that over 300,000 people had been registered in at least 26 relocation sites as of 14 September, adding that up to 30 sites had been set up, while registration was ongoing. He said, “So we can estimate that around 150,000 of the people living in those camps are children, and therefore that’s a very real cause of concern. We need to protect those children, provide them with health and nutrition, make sure they have access to clean water, and also ensure that they have appropriate care in place.” He said more than 400,000 persons were affected by the floods in the state with 37 deaths and 58 people injured. He said Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps were overcrowded and unsanitary, noting that the scale of partners’ services was not keeping up with the numbers. The SCI country director said that the flooding happened at the height of a food and nutrition crises, lamenting that “in addition to the immediate need for food and clean water for IDPs, water- borne diseases and malaria are major risks. Open defecation in the camps is widespread.” He called on Borno State and the federal governments to ensure that humanitarian actors are supported and encouraged with enabling approaches and systems that help speed up response programme for children, families and communities in urgent need. He said SCI was providing urgent rescue service, life-saving response and rehabilitation for the affected communities in the state. “SCI’s urgent response plan to the crises includes but not limited to Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to the affected households, setting up health and nutrition outreach services to the affected households, rehabilitation of sanitation facilities, and conducting hygiene promotion and community awareness, child protection in emergencies through setting up mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) help desk to provide psychological first aid and psychological support to children and caregivers in the camp among others,” Harvey said.He stated that SCI was also working in collaboration with the state government and other humanitarian actors.

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Post Date : September 18, 2024

N80.2billion fraud: EFCC says Yahaya Bello still wanted despite meeting face to face with ex Kogi gov in its office

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says embattled former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is not in its custody. In a statement on Wednesday, EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale said the ex-governor remains wanted “for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges”. “Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is incorrect. The Commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody. “Bello, already declared wanted by the Commission for alleged N80.2billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest,” Oyewale said. The stance of the anti-graft contradict the position of the Bello’s Media Office that the former governor has honoured the invitation of the EFCC. He Was Asked To Leave Without Intergration A statement by the Director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, Ohiare Michael, on Wednesday, said the former governor honoured EFCC invitation “after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies”. Michael, however, did not provide further details or photo of the ex-governor’s visit to the EFCC. In a follow up statement he released later, Michael maintained that Bello honoured the invitation of the anti-graft agency but was asked to leave by officials without interrogation. According to him, the former governor was accompanied to the EFCC office by his successor, Usman Ododo. “We reiterated the former Governor’s great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, and stressed that, all the while, he only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process. “The EFCC did not, however, interrogate him as officials told him he could leave. We don’t know what this means yet. As we write, HE Alhaji Yahaya Bello has left the EFCC office. He was accompanied there by the Governor of Kogi State, HE Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo,” the statement read in part. Background Earlier in April, the EFCC declared Bello wanted for alleged financial crime to the tune of N80.2 billion. The EFCC had stormed Bello’s residence in the Wuse area of Abuja and attempt to arrest the former governor whom the Commission later confirmed was whisked away by his successor, Usman Ododo. The matter has been in court but the former governor has not appeared before the trial judge despite many adjournments. Bello served as the governor of the North Central state from January 27, 2016 to January 27, 2024, when he handed over to Ododo, his fellow party man in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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Post Date : September 18, 2024

BREAKING: UN demands end to Israeli occupation of Palestine

The United Nations member states formally demanded, in a non-binding resolution on Wednesday, an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories within 12 months. The resolution, which Israel has warned could incite violence, is based on an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, which deems Israel’s occupation since 1967 as “unlawful.” There were 124 votes in favour, 14 against, and a notable 43 abstentions. Details to follow… AFP

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Post Date : September 18, 2024

Yahaya Bello has honoured EFCC invitation, says media office

The media office of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain has honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ohiare Michael, director of Bello’s media office, said Bello “today, honoured the invitation” of the anti-graft agency. Michael said Bello made the decision “after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies”. The EFCC had charged the former governor with alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of N80.2 billion. The commission declared Bello wanted after several attempts to arrest him proved unsuccessful. On August 20, the court of appeal in Abuja ordered Bello to surrender himself for arraignment. Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, had said the court’s ruling was a “vindication” of the EFCC’s stance that Bello must face trial. Bello’s media office said the former governor who has “great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, had, all the while, only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process”. “The case has been before a competent court of jurisdiction, and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing,” the statement reads. “It is important for the former Governor to now honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear. “The former Governor believes firmly in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development; and supports the fight against corruption in the country. “It is on record that he was the first Governor of Kogi State to put in place an anti-corruption mechanism to check graft and ensure that the resources of the State work for the people of the State. “He was accompanied to the EFCC Headquarters by high-profile Nigerians. “It is our hope that the Commission will be as professional as necessary and respect his fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” The media office added that details of Bello’s engagement with EFCC operatives will be disclosed later.

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Post Date : September 18, 2024

Nine killed, thousands wounded in Hezbollah pager explosions

Hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded across Lebanon Tuesday, killing at least nine people and wounding around 2,800 in blasts the Iran-backed militant group blamed on Israel. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the wave of explosions, which came just hours after Israel announced it was broadening the aims of the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attacks to include its fight against Hezbollah along the country’s border with Lebanon. The blasts “killed nine people, including a girl”, Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad said. He added that about “2,800 people were injured, about 200 of them critically”. “This was more than lithium batteries being forced into override,” said Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute. “A small plastic explosive was almost certainly concealed alongside the battery, for remote detonation via a call or page.” Israel’s spy agency “Mossad infiltrated the supply chain”, he said. The influx of so many casualties all at once overwhelmed hospitals in Hezbollah strongholds. At one hospital in Beirut’s southern suburbs, an AFP correspondent saw people being treated in a car park on thin mattresses, with medical gloves on the ground and ambulance stretchers covered in blood. “In all my life I’ve never seen someone walking on the street… and then explode,” said Musa, a resident of the southern suburbs, requesting to be identified only by his first name. The 10-year-old daughter of a Hezbollah member was killed in east Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley when his pager exploded, the family and a source close to the group said. A son of Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Ammar was also among the dead, a source close to the group told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Tehran’s ambassador in Beirut was wounded but his injuries were not serious, Iranian state media reported. Hezbollah blamed Israel for the blasts. “We hold the Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression,” the group said in a statement, adding that Israel “will certainly receive its just punishment for this sinful aggression”. On Wednesday, the group vowed it “will continue” its fight in support of Gaza. The United States, Israel’s main backer, was “not involved” and “not aware of this incident in advance”, said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. The afternoon blasts hit Hezbollah strongholds across Lebanon and dealt a heavy blow to the militant group, which already had concerns about the security of its communications after losing several key commanders to targeted air strikes in recent months. A source close to Hezbollah, asking not to be identified, told AFP that “the pagers that exploded concern a shipment recently imported by Hezbollah of 1,000 devices” which appear to have been “sabotaged at source”. After The New York Times reported the pagers had been ordered from Taiwanese manufacturer Gold Apollo, the company denied any link to the products. To date, Israel’s objectives have been to crush Hamas and bring home the hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the October 7 attacks. “The political-security cabinet updated the goals of the war” to include “the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. Since October, the unabating exchanges of fire between Israeli troops and Hamas ally Hezbollah in Lebanon have forced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border to flee their homes. Not formally declared a war by Israel, the exchanges of fire have killed hundreds of mostly fighters in Lebanon, and dozens including soldiers on the Israeli side. On Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned that failing a political solution, “military action” would be “the only way left to ensure the return” of displaced residents to the border area. Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem said at the weekend that his group had “no intention of going to war”, but that “there will be large losses on both sides” in the event of all-out conflict. Major airlines Lufthansa and Air France on Tuesday announced suspensions of flights to Tel Aviv, Tehran and Beirut until Thursday as tensions in the region soared. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived back in the region at dawn on Wednesday to try to revive stalled ceasefire talks for the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. After months of mediated negotiations failed to pin down a ceasefire, Washington said it was still working with mediators Qatar and Egypt to finalise an agreement. US officials have expressed increasing frustration with Israel as Netanyahu has publicly rejected US assessments that a deal is nearly complete and has insisted on an Israeli military presence on the Egypt-Gaza border. The October 7 attack on southern Israel that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Militants also seized 251 hostages, 97 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel’s retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,252 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, which does not provide a breakdown of civilian and militant deaths. On Tuesday, UN member states were debating a draft resolution demanding an end to the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian territories within 12 months. General Assembly resolutions are not binding, but Israel has already denounced the new text as “disgraceful”. AFP

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Post Date : September 18, 2024

Sokoto probes ‘diversion of N16.1bn’ under Tambuwal

The Sokoto state commission of inquiry has commenced an investigation into the sales of the state’s shares worth N16.1 billion during the administration of Aminu Tambuwal, the immediate past governor. The shares were sold by the Sokoto State Investment Limited. Amanzi Amanzi, a lawyer, told journalists on Tuesday at the end of the panel’s session that the commission was called upon to investigate the sale of government shares unaccounted for between 2018 and 2023. “In 2018, the accountant-general of the state transferred all government shares to Sokoto State Investment Limited through an official letter,” Amanzi said. “Between 2018 and 2023, these shares were sold, but the proceeds are unaccounted for. This commission has been called upon to investigate the sales and trace the whereabouts of the funds.” Amanzi alleged that N16.1 billion was unaccounted for from the sales of the shares, adding that N4 billion out of the amount was distributed to private and corporate accounts without justifiable cause. The lawyer added that the commission received memoranda from individuals and corporate bodies, raising concerns on various issues, including land disputes, encroachment, and other related matters.

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Post Date : September 18, 2024

INEC Rejects Abure As Labour Party’s National Chairman

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refused to recognise Julius Abure as the National Chairman of Labour Party, despite retaining his name on its website, on the list of political party chairmen. This new revelation is contained in a counter-affidavit filed in the Federal High Court Abuja, in response to Labour Party’s suit, challenging its exclusion from INEC’s refresher training for uploading party agents, ahead of the Edo and Ondo states governorship elections INEC insisted in the document that Abure’s tenure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party expired in June 2024. The Labour Party has been entangled in a fresh leadership tussle since June this year, when the party’s congress in Anambra state extended the tenure of the Julius Abure led executive. The outcome of that congress has been questioned by many within the party, including the former deputy chairman, Callistus Okafor, the governor of Abia State Alex Otti, and the 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi who recently jointly held a national Congress to try to resolve the impasse

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