2022 poll: Ex-Gov Segun Oni declares intention to return to Govt House

 

BY REBECCA AJANI

FORMER Governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, has declared his intention to contest in the 2022 Governorship election in the state.

Oni, a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, was the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the ruling All Progressives Congress before joining the PDP.

He made his intention to run for the Governorship seat public on Monday in Ado Ekiti, while opening his campaign office, named, “PDP family edifice”, in preparation for the forthcoming poll.

While suggesting that the PDP was one family in the state, the former Governor promised to work with Former Governor Ayodele Fayose and Senator Biodun Olujimi to reposition the party and ensure victory in the election.

“I have been in politics for long and I understand the importance of unity. Let all leaders play their roles. Politics is a team game,” Oni stated.

On why he named his campaign office, “PDP family edifice”, Oni said, “We want to tell Nigerians that there is a new formula in town, which is the formula of friendship, unity and oneness. I don’t believe in character assassination and exclusion; it is good for all of us to be together.

“Except the parameters change, I am interested in the governorship. Though, only God knows tomorrow; but as of now, yes, I am contesting and we are projecting that God will sanction it.”

According to him, Ekiti PDP is not afraid of the power of incumbency.

“At a time in history, Nigeria was being controlled by the PDP. But Nigerians changed their minds and voted for APC in 2015. If you look at the mood in town now, the people have changed their minds, going by what they are saying,” he noted.

“People are not inclined to have APC after the next expiry date in 2022 in Ekiti, that is, after Governor Fayemi. No government is undefeatable. President Donald Trump wanted to conquer America. He introduced Mafian styles, thinking that he could not be defeated. Where is he today? He is in Florida in retirement. That is the power of the people,” Oni argued.

He advised politicians to subject themselves to the will of the people in order not to destroy the system.

”All of us must subject to the will of the masses. No one should think he can perpetuate himself in power. In the Ekiti governorship poll, I won’t advise anybody to do anything funny. That won’t be in the best interest of anyone,” he said.

 

 

Herdsmen: Igboho arrives Ogun State

 

BY ABISOYE JOHNSON

YORUBA activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho, on Monday, arrived in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Igboho had promised to visit Ogun State in a video released last Thursday, following viral videos showing soldiers assaulting residents of some villages in the state, as they allegedly escorted herdsmen into the communities.

But it was not clear as of the time of filing this report if he was in the state to chase out alleged criminals amongst herdsmen, or for a dialogue with the state government, especially after Governor Dapo Abiodun’s invitation.

Abiodun had said he did not invite Igboho to chase out any ethnic group from the state but to nip any form of uprising in the bud.

A statement signed by his spokesperson, Remi Hazzan, said,“We as a government did not invite Sunday Igboho to tackle security issues in the state, Igboho made it clear to all media outlets that he would be visiting Ogun State and our decision to offer him consultation is to nip any form of crisis in the bud.

“Nobody is welcomed for confrontation in Ogun State.”

Details later…

-ThePoint

 

 

Doctor in court for accusing ex-Resident Doctors’ chairman of looting dead colleagues’ money

 

BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI

AN Ebonyi State-based medical doctor, Olinya Bartholomew, has been dragged to a Chief Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Abakaliki, for alleged defamatory publications on the social media, against a past Chairman of the Resident Doctors Association of the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching hospital, Abakaliki.

Olinya was arraigned on a three-count charge, in a suit numbered MAB/52c/2021, filed by the immediate past Chairman of the Resident Doctors Association, Osuagwu Chinedum, for accusing him of looting money meant for their dead colleagues, among other allegations.

During the arraignment, the defence counsel, Uchenna Emeh, called for all inventories relating to the matter from the prosecution to enable them defend the charge as required by law and for the bail of his cilent in most liberal terms.

Police prosecutor attached to the courts objected the bail application, saying the accused person might jump bail by traveling abroad.

Reacting, the trial Chief Magistrate, Chinedu Agama, held that the charge was just an allegation and granted the suspect bail in the sum of N100,000, and one surety, who must be a civil servant from Grade Level 12 and above.

The surety, the Magistrate said, must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, must swear to affidavit of means, and bring a letter of identification from his employer and the court to verify all details.

The matter was adjourned to February 22, 2021 for hearing.

Meanwhile , shortly after the court pronouncement, the Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in the area, Dr Banjamin Umezurike, appealed to the court to allow them settle out of court, which was graciously granted.

The charge read, “That you Olinya Bartholomew ‘m’ on 03/ /09/2020 at Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital, in the jurisdiction of this honorable court, did publish a defamatory matter against the person of Dr Osuagwu Chinedu Philip, whom you referred to in Abakaliki Medical Doctors (ARD) WhatsApp platform as a political nonentity whose aim as chairman of Resident Doctors Association is to destabilise Abakaliki resident doctors, knowing same to be false and with intent to bring Dr Osuagwu to public ridicule, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Vol 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.

“That you Olinya Bartholomew ‘m’ between 6/12/20 and 19/01/21 in the aforementioned magisterial district did publish defamatory matters against the person of Dr Osuagwu whom you severally accused of looting money meant for dead colleagues in the WhatsApp group platform of the Nigerian Medical Association, State and Zonal, Ebonyi State, knowing same to be false with intent to bring Dr Osuagwu to public ridicule and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 375 of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Volume 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

“That you Olinya ‘m’ in these period and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did call Dr Osuagwu Chinedum an “Osupikin” meaning son of an outcast in the Nigerian Medical Association Ebonyi State WhatsApp platform, knowing same to be false with intent to bring Dr Osuagwu to public ridicule and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code Cap 33 Volume 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”

 

 

This is new market road Onitsha one of major road with direct head to Onitsha Main Market

 

This is new market road Onitsha one of major road with direct head to Onitsha Main Market, the largest market in West Africa. From Iboku junction down to the market is terribly bad. The story has always been the same, BAD GOVERNMENT. For the last 22years of our democracy, it has been the tail of woes in our LGA, state and federal government, Corruption. We know the parties involved. This is election year in Anambra, we have another opportunity to change all the ugly stories. The African Democratic Congress ADC cares. This time let's do it for our state Anambra, give ADC a chance to rejig our state and provide prosperity, security and infrastructure, employment and countless opportunities for us all.

BREAKING! Former minister, Tony Momoh, dies at 81

 

FORMER Minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh, is dead.

Momoh, a veteran journalist, served as Nigerian minister during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida between 1986 and 1990.

He died at the age of 81 on Monday.

He was one of the founders of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Momoh was born on 27 April 1939 in Auchi, Edo State.

Details later…

 

 

UNIABUJA cautions protesters, as students block campus gate over unmet demands

 

BY BANYO TEMITAYO

THE Management of the University of Abuja has appealed to all law-abiding students not to partake in disrupting the 2019/2020 Academic Calendar, considering the amount of time lost to the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The institution said it was putting all necessary measures in place to address the demands of the protesting students, which it listed to include the reopening and extension of school fees payment portal, cancellation of late registration fee, and postponement of exams till March 8, 2021.

The aggrieved students had blocked the entrance to the university’s permanent site, preventing people from gaining access to the campus.

President of the Students Union Government of the institution, Oladeji Adebolawale, who led the protest, said the students would stop protesting when their demands are met, noting that there had been no violence.

“We have our demands, which are reopening of the school portal till the end of the session. No student should also be coerced to write to anybody in the school before he or she is allowed to pay school fees etc. If these demands are met, we will be okay,” he said.

The university’s management, however, issued a statement, signed by the Head, University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob, reacting to the protest.

The statement read, “This morning, Monday 1st February 2021, at 7:30 am, some students blocked the Main Gate of the University, preventing other students and staff from gaining access into the campus.

“The students said they were demanding the reopening and extension of school fees payment portal, cancellation of the late registration fee, and postponement of exams till 8th of March 2021.

“The University Management states that following the release of 2019/2020 Academic Calendar by the Senate of the University, the registration of students was to be done in four weeks.

“Following the expiration of this process, the University closed the portal in February 2020 in line with the 2019/2020 Academic Calendar.

“Yet after pleas from the students’ union, the Vice-Chancellor, in his magnanimity, twice directed the reopening, at different times, of the portal to accommodate those who didn’t register on time.

“In the last one week, a couple of meetings were held with the students’ union which again demanded the re-opening of the portal. The University administration held an emergency meeting with the union at 2.00 pm on Sunday 31st January 2021 and considered their appeal.

“Consequently, the portal was reopened on Sunday 31st January 2021 for registration, for another two weeks – till February 14, 2021, and the students were duly informed. Again, the late registration fee for those who had not paid their school fees as well as those who paid but did not register was waived; and the late registration fee of N5, 000 was to be refunded to students who had earlier paid.

“The University Management, is, however, surprised that while so many of our students were excited to be resuming to campus today after ten months at home, they were held back by some elements among students who are protesting the same issue that had already been addressed by the University.

“The University appeals to all law-abiding students to not partake in disrupting the 2019/2020 Academic Calendar, considering the amount of time lost to the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and Covid-19 pandemic; and that it is putting all necessary measures in place to address this unfortunate development. ”

-ThePoint

 

 

ADC to Buhari: The will to end terrorism more important than sacking service chiefs

 

BY AYO ESAN

THE African Democratic Congress has described the sack of the nation’s service chiefs as a step in the right direction, adding, however, that the most important thing is the will to end insecurity.

The National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralphs Nwosu, said the body language of those in charge of the All Progressives Congress administration did not reflect the will to truly end banditry, terrorism and senseless killings of innocent Nigerians.

He said Nigerians had, for long, called for the removal of the security chiefs but the Federal Government waited until it appeared the centre could no longer hold.

“Sacking the chiefs is a step in the right direction. However, making sure it is not the same old story is more important,” Nwosu said.

He made this positions public in a statement on Tuesday, in reaction to the announcement of the acceptance of the resignation of the service chiefs and the immediate appointment of replacements.

Nwosu noted that Nigeria never had it this bad in terms of insecurity, urging Nigerians to ignore the lies he said were being churned out by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.

The party said, “It is step in the right direction, though it should have been done a long time ago, in line with calls by Nigerians across ethnic groups, including state and federal lawmakers.

“The APC-led administration really had no choice than to save its face, considering what insensitive governance has reduced Nigeria to in terms of insecurity in the past few months.”

Nwosu added, “People are being killed daily, including those that should have a say in the security situation of the country. We have never had it this bad, forget about the lies being churned out by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.

“Our party, ADC, hopes this purported sacking of service chiefs is not to dress our wounds and continue with the statusquo. Changing the chiefs will not be enough. Having the will to end insecurity no matter who is involved should be our aim. The Buhari government still has time to act.”