Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, has slammed Benue State Deputy Speaker, Danladi Lami Ogenyi over her stand on the ongoing agitation for the creation of Apa State.
Benue Deputy Speaker, Lami Ogenyi, has fired back at Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, for accusing her of refusing to support the agitation for the creation of Apa State.
TVN reports that there are ongoing clamours across the country for the creation of additional states.
The people of Benue South have been agitating for the creation of Apa State from present-day Benue State.
Moro made this known recently during a recent virtual meeting with Idomas in the diaspora.
Speaking during the meeting, Abba said the draft got the endorsement of the nine local government chairmen in the senatorial district and ⅔ of members of the Benue State House of Assembly.
He, however, lamented that the Benue State Deputy Speaker, who represents Ado State Constituency, Danladi Lami Ogenyi, refused to sign “for reasons best known to her.”
Lami, in her response, claimed Moro has been avoiding her calls and attempts to form a synergy with him for the greater good of Idoma land.
Moro, in a statement by his media adviser, Emmanuel John Eche-Ofun, warned Lami to stop playing politics with an important agitation.
His statement reads.
This is just as the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro (Benue South), has sent a draft for the creation of Apa State to the constitution review committee to that effect.
The attention of the senator representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Moro PhD has been drawn to a tirade by the Deputy Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Lami Ogenyi against him over Apa State creation.
Hon. Lami’s vitriolic and insults-laced statement is in reaction to Senator Moro’s explanation at a virtual meeting with Idomas in the Diaspora when he was asked to tell the audience his efforts so far with Apa State creation. In his response to the probing question, the senator said a memo had been drafted in line with section 8 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and submitted through him to the Senate Constitution Review Committee. He stated that all the relevant signatories were required to sign the document except the deputy speaker. Senator Moro stands by the fact that all members of the Benue State House of Assembly irrespective of party affiliation signed the request except Hon Lami.
The senator is not a member of the Benue State House of Assembly and it was the leadership of the State House of Assembly from Benue South Senatorial District that organized the request.
Hon. Lami, by her position, is the second highest public office holder from Zone C at the state level, after the deputy governor, and is expected to have her signature on an important document as that advocating for the creation of Apa State. Senator Moro only reported the content of the memo. Nothing more.
In the poorly written and incoherent statement by Madam Lami, she said Abba Moro was supposed to reach out to her personally and not through a third party. As laughable as that claim is, Lami should know that Senator Moro was only a signatory to the said memo and he didn’t reach out to all the other stakeholders who signed the document as that wasn’t his responsibility.
Lami also went ahead to say that she didn’t understand the memo and didn’t want to sign any document that would be used to impeach his governor who, according to her, Senator Moro has been fighting. The deputy speaker’s hallucination of the request for the creation of Apa State being an instrument to impeach her governor beats Senator Moro’s imagination. But that goes to show why only she refused to sign the request in her imaginary fear that her governor would be impeached if Apa is created. That also shows the quality of representatives we elect.
On her allegation that Senator Moro refused to attend her Thanksgiving and fund-raising, the senator is not surprised because from Ado it’s always believed that he doesn’t attend their functions even when he may not have been invited.
“We want to urge Hon. Lami to think twice and retrace her steps. Her outburst is needless, unwarranted and very disappointing. She should look closely at Senator Abba Moro’s cycle of friends and associates and she will find so many former deputy speakers in there. She should not allow her current position to get into her head to insult the senator with who she has no meeting point.
“If Abba Moro wants to play politics, as alleged, it’s not with Hon. Lami, it would be with a more powerful and influential person. The deputy speaker remains a daughter to the senator and he will continue to see her as a daughter, and not a political opponent.
“We enjoin her to direct her anger and complaints to those who contacted her for her signature on the all-important memo and who she turned down, and not the senator who’s only a messenger and reporting proceedings to the good people of Benue South who inquired to know more from him about Apa State creation.”
Abba Moro blasts Benue Deputy Speaker, Lami for not supporting creation of Apa State
Abba Moro blasts Benue Deputy Speaker, Lami for not supporting creation of Apa State
Ndidi signs contract to remain at Leicester until 2027
Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has signed a new three-year contract with Premier League club Leicester City.
His previous contract expired last month, sparking rumors of his departure.
However, Ndidi has decided to stay at King Power Stadium, turning down offers from clubs both within and outside England.
“I feel great, I feel excited, I feel at home,” Ndidi told the club website.
Read Also: Ndidi, Iheanacho return to Premier League with Leicester
“That is the most important thing. I feel really happy to continue with the club. My family is settled here, and when everyone back home says ‘Ndidi’, they say ‘Leicester’ also.”
Ndidi joined Leicester from Belgian Pro League team KRC Genk in January 2017.
The 27-year-old has scored 17 goals and made 17 assists in 273 appearances for the club.
He played a crucial role in Leicester’s FA Cup and Community Shield victories in 2021 and was instrumental in their Championship title win last season, helping the Foxes return to the Premier League immediately.
The post Ndidi signs contract to remain at Leicester until 2027 appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.
Islamic group kicks against Samoa deal, urges FG to withdraw from pact
As controversy continues to trail the Samoa Agreement, a group under the aegis of the Islamic Forum of Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to withdraw from the agreement as it was signed without consulting relevant stakeholders.
Rising from a one-day meeting on Thursday, the Forum with headquarters in Kano, said the Samoa agreement signed by the Nigerian government without consulting the people, stands condemned and rejected.
A professor of law, Bayero University Kano and a member of the forum. Prof. Shuaibu Zunnurain said though LGBTQ+ is not explicitly written in the Samoa agreement, but said Gay and homosexual rights were enshrined using other terms.
The law professor said the 2018 agreement which had protection of the rights of Gay, Lesbian and transgender was rejected by 30 countries including Nigeria.
He said though the LGBTQ were removed in the new draft, terms like gender, and reproductive rights were actually meant to protect LGBTQ+ and abortion rights, explaining that framers of the 1999 constitution were sensitive enough to use the term sex instead of gender in section 42 dealing with non-discrimination against a person on account of his sex, ethnicity or religion.
He noted that the Samoa agreement has, for example, a provision that says ‘the parties’ reaffirms commitment to achieving gender equality, the full enjoyment of human rights by all’ and that the agreement shall take precedence over national or domestic laws.
Also speaking, a member of the forum, Prof. Babangida Muhammad, said for a long time in Nigeria’s history, Muslims, Christians, North, and South and people from across the political divide were united against the Samoa agreement.
He faulted the Samoa agreement for no concise definition of terms as is usually the case in any law, agreement or academic publication.
Another member of the Forum, Prof. Aminu Sagagi, advised parents to be vigilant and take more than a keen interest in what their children watch on social media saying the + sign in LGBTQ+ could mean something fundamentally contrary to morality, religion, culture and tradition.
The immediate past chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Kano State chapter, Reverend Father Adeyemo Samuel, said there is nowhere in the Bible that God allows gays or Lesbians.
“Any man that sleeps with a man should be stoned to death immediately,” the cleric said.
While calling on the meeting to say no to the agreement, Samuel said Gender equality also stands for lesbianism and homosexuality.
A lecturer with Bayero University, Kano, Dr Bala Muhammad, recalled how Reverend Idowu Fearon, as secretary of the Anglican Church rejected the ordination of a gay Bishop in London, saying Exit clauses in agreement like Samoa may make it difficult for countries to leave.
The meeting called on the Nigerian government to withdraw from the agreement because it is in conflict with political, economic, religious and cultural rights of Nigerians
Ministers meet Spanish firm over Nigeria airspace security
Following the quest to keep Nigeria’s airspace safe, a Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo and his counterpart in the Defence Ministry, Mohammed Abubakar, met the CEO of Indra Systema of Spain, José Vicente de los Mozos, and his team to boost the security framework within Nigeria’s airspace.
This was disclosed through a statement signed by a Special Adviser to the minister, Tunde Moshood, and made available to journalists on Friday.
According to the statement, the meeting was to discuss and assess their capability for Dual Surveillance Systems integrated with a Command and Control system for the military. This state-of-the-art system aims to boost the security framework within Nigeria’s airspace significantly.
Moshood said, “This visit underscores the Nigerian government’s commitment to enhancing the country’s airspace security and surveillance capabilities through the adoption of advanced technologies.
“The collaboration with Indra is expected to significantly bolster Nigeria’s air traffic management and defence infrastructure, ensuring the safety and sovereignty of its airspace.”
Others present at the crucial meeting were the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar; and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Engr. Farouk Umar, among other lists of Nigeria delegates.
According Online gathered that plans are in top gear to develop a centralised Air Traffic Management system at NAMA’s corporate headquarters.
This system is expected to streamline and enhance civil aviation operations across the country, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to adopting advanced technological solutions for airspace management.
The aviation minister who is still in Spain working on an itinerary together with other delegates may brief the press on his return to the country.
You cannot stop salaries, arrest chiefs arbitrarily – Ekiti govt warns Monarch
The Ekiti State Government, has resolved the escalating chieftaincy brawl in Odo Ayedun Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area of the state and directed the town’s traditional head, Oba Solomon Ajibade and his backers to halt alleged arbitrary arrests of Chiefs and withholding of their salaries.
The government’s troubleshooting intervention was sequel to a petition written by some chiefs, led by Obajemu of Odo Ayedun Ekiti, Chief Ayoposi Ayoola, against Oba Ajibade and the Ajagunna of Ayedun, Biodun Ogunyebi.
The accusations raised by the petitioners against the defendants include intimidation and harassment by way of reckless arrests and detention of subjects, stoppage of stipends to some Chiefs and neglect of traditional festivals in Odo Ayedun Ekiti.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, gave the directive on Thursday while presiding over the petition written by the aggrieved traditional chiefs.
Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, urged the monarch to deploy every means to forge unity among his subjects to foster peace in line with the advocacy of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration.
To quell the festering upheavals and disunity in Odo Ayedun, Mrs Afuye, urged the monarch to stop those instigating arbitrary arrests of subjects, initiate immediate payment of stipends to all alienated Chiefs and show interest in all traditional festivals as the leader of all religions in the town.
The Deputy Governor, who asked the monarch to stop the alleged diversion of stipends meant for the Chiefs to palace maintenance, appealed to the angry Chiefs to return and reunite with the monarch to move the town forward in all spheres.
“No town can witness peace when some people are being arrested anyhow. Let the Kabiyesi begin a process of reconciliation with all his Chiefs. You are a traditional ruler, you should take an interest in all traditional festivals, that is the essence of your being a monarch.
“Let me also emphasize this, you can’t use the stipends for Chiefs for any other purpose even if they are not performing their traditional roles. Try and settle all these matters for your reign to enjoy peace. When you are making these efforts, the angry Chiefs too must be receptive to your reconciliation moves”, Mrs Afuye stated.
Speaking during the parley, the petitioner, Chief Ayoola, lamented how his position was being allegedly undermined by the monarch, using his influence as the prescribed authority of the town.
Ayoola also accused the monarch of arbitrarily installing traditional chiefs without resorting to laid down traditions and customs, by way of circumventing quarter chiefs perceived as “non-conformists.”
Dispelling the allegations, the defendants, the duo of Oba Ajibade and Chief Biodun Ogunyebi, commended the government for the peace initiative,
The traditional ruler added that at no time did he order the arrest of anyone by security agencies on trumped-up charges as being peddled by the petitioner.
Specifically, Oba Ajibade, maintained that he hadn’t stopped traditional festivals in the kingdom, saying he has always been fair and maintained a strong affinity with Christians, Muslims and traditionalists in the town.
“There was nowhere I instructed anybody to arrest any of my subjects. Concerning the monthly stipends to Chiefs, those not paid were chiefs who refused to perform traditional roles and in the running of the town”.
You cannot stop salaries, arrest chiefs arbitrarily – Ekiti govt warns Monarch
Makinde presents staff of office to Olubadan
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Friday, presented the Staff of Office and the Instrument of Office to the new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin as the 43rd Olubadan.
The governor, who made the presentation at the ancient Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the state capital, said, “By the power conferred upon me as the Governor by sub-sections (1) and (2) of Section 20 of the Chiefs Law Cap 28 Vol.1 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000, I hereby present the Instrument/Staff of Office, which symbolises your authority as the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.”
The According reports that the seat became vacant after the demise of the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, who joined his forefathers at the age of 81 after ruling for two years.
Dignitaries at the coronation include the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland and former Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Ladoja; Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, who represented President Bola Tinubu; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Oyo State Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar; among others.
Details later…
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My message not cryptic nor coded – El-Rufai reacts to LG autonomy news
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai on Friday denied sending a cryptic message to unsettle President Bola Tinubu-led Presidency, following the Supreme Court judgement that granted autonomy to local governments in Nigeria.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that all federal funds for local government councils be paid directly into their accounts.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, who led a seven-member panel of justices, delivered the judgment in a suit filed by the federal government against the 36 state governors.
According to the judgment, henceforth, no more payments of local government area allocations will be made to state government accounts.
The court also prohibited the governors from receiving, tampering with, or withholding funds meant for local governments.
Furthermore, the court barred the governors from dissolving democratically elected officials for local governments and deemed such actions a breach of the 1999 Constitution.
But, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, posted the details of the Supreme Court’s judgement on his X page.
Reacting to the post, El-Rufai said, “From God, we all came and to Him, we shall all return.”
El-Rufai’s post had drawn backlash from some Nigerians who deemed it a cryptic message.
However, the former governor said his message was misinterpreted to mean a cryptic message by those obsessed with him.
Posting on X, El-Rufai wrote: “FRIDAY MESSAGE: It seems to me that my translation of “inna lillahi wa inna ilaihir raa ji’un “ meaning “from God, we all came and to Him, we shall all return” has been reinterpreted by those obsessed with reading me as a “cryptic message” to some unnamed persons.
“It seems to me that the reminder has unsettled some people and distressed a lot more. It is neither a cryptic nor a coded message. Just a reminder of the ultimate accountability and judgment of God, not that of infallible humans.
“I will end it here and today as I do not want to unsettle or distress anyone. Enjoy the weekend. -@elrufai”
My message not cryptic nor coded – El-Rufai reacts to LG autonomy news
Customs intercept 18,750 litres of PMS worth N13.2m in Ogun
The Nigeria Customs Service, Anti-bunkering Unit, said it intercepted 13, 750 litres of Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol in Ogun State.
The Coordinator of the NCS’s Anti-bunkering Unit, Husseini Ejibunnu, who disclosed this while addressing journalists in Ikeja on Friday, said that the consignments were intercepted in different parts of Ogun State.
Ejibunnu added that the duty-paid value of the seized petrol was N13.2m, stressing that the contraband was intercepted within three days.
“We seized a total of 760 jerry cans in 25 litres each equivalent to 18, 750 litres with duty paid value of N13.2m,” Ejibunnu said.
He stated that the successes recorded were a clear manifestation of the determination and resilience of the officers to achieve the goals set before them.
“It was a three-day operation, the first one was done at Imeko, the second one was carried out at Owode while the third was conducted at Ijowun,” also Ejibunnu said.
According to him, some of the seizures were brought to the FOU, Zone A.
The coordinator disclosed that a total of nine vehicles used as means of conveyance were also impounded.
“Seven of the vehicles are now in Lagos while two are parked at Abeokuta,” he said.
Ejibunnu said that two suspects were arrested in the previous operations while none was arrested in the recent operation.
He vowed that suspects who fled from the scene would be tracked down through the recovered vehicles.
He disclosed that the Comptroller General of Customs, Wale Adeniyi, is putting together a legal team that would handle all cases in court.
The former CAC in charge of FOU Zone A said that the interception simply shows the unit’s unwavering support of the plans and programs of the service for the greater benefit of our nation.
Speaking on the reason for the formation of the unit, Ejibunnu said, that it was set up by the CGC to ensure that Nigerians enjoy the full benefits of fuel price deregulation in line with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said that the activities of the unit cover all zones of the service
Federal govt evacuated willing Nigerians from Sudan – NiDCOM
Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, say the Federal Government has evacuated its citizens in Sudan willing to return home following the two-week expulsion notice Sudanese authorities issued to foreigners.
The Chief Executive Officer, NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa made this known on Friday in Abuja.
TVN had earlier reported that Sudanese security authorities ordered all foreigners to leave the capital Khartoum and the surrounding region.
They gave the foreigners two weeks to do so, according to a statement from the section of the police dealing with foreigners.
The police said foreigners should leave for their own safety amid the fighting still raging between government troops and the Rapid Support Forces, RSF, militia.
According to media reports, hostility towards foreigners, especially those from other African countries, has been on the rise following reports of foreign mercenaries in the RSF ranks.
A few days ago, more than 150 foreigners who did not have valid residence papers were detained.
A bloody power struggle has been raging in Sudan for over a year between de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former Deputy, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo.
The UN reports that the conflict has caused almost 10 million people to flee their homes, with risks of famine rife in the country.
Dabiri-Erewa said the war in Sudan had escalated and no one was left behind.
International aid organisation staff and diplomats still in the country left Khartoum after the outbreak of fighting and are now working from Port Sudan, where the situation is comparatively stable.
Federal govt evacuated willing Nigerians from Sudan – NiDCOM
Eight Chinese, Nigerian arraigned for illegal mining
The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally arraigned eight Chinese nationals and one Nigerian for their involvement in illegal mining activities in the Lokpaukwu community, Umuchieze, within the Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on Friday, said the suspects were apprehended by the Mining Marshals, an elite security outfit derived from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The marshals, under the operation, codenamed “Operation Hayakin Kogo”, were established by the minister as part of his 7-point agenda to clean up the mining sector.
“The establishment of the mining marshals is a crucial step in our agenda to sanitize the mining environment and ensure that Nigeria benefits fully from its mineral resources,” Alake was quoted as saying in a statement by his spokesman, Segun Tomori.
According to him, the trial of the suspects began yesterday before Justice J.K Omotosho at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He added that the prosecution filed a 3-count charge, including mining without lawful authority and obstruction of lawful mining operations.
The defendants are Shen Yongchan, Mo Baixian, Xiao Bin, Huang Xu Fa, Ma Bingli, Yang Jian, Li Peiyin, Que Wenyong, Hiyk Edward Desmond, and Wanda Company Limited.
After hearing pleas and arguments from both sides, the defendants were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre until the next court date.
“The ministry is committed to strengthening the operations of the mining marshals through the infusion of technology and more equipment to ultimately ensure that the nation reaps maximum benefits from its God-given mineral resources,” Alake said.