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10th NASS leadership: APC faces crisis over zoning of Senate President and Speaker

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The zoning crisis that has been plaguing the All Progressives Congress, also known as the APC, has taken a new and unexpected turn. Stakeholders within the party are now singing conflicting tunes, and the various zones are putting forward new demands to the party hierarchy.

On Monday, the APC National Working Committee, also known as the NWC, zoned the Senate Presidency of the forthcoming 10th National Assembly to the South-South, while the Speakership of the House of Representatives was zoned to the North-West. Both of these zoning decisions were made. Additionally, the party allocated the position of Deputy Senate Presidency to the North-West, and the position of Deputy Speakership to the South-East.

In particular, the party decided to adopt the zoning template and candidates proposed by its President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and to settle on Senators Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jubrin for leadership positions in the Senate, as well as Messrs. Abass Tajudeen and Ben Kalu for leadership positions in the House of Representatives.

While some interested parties stand behind the move made by the party, others are opposed to it and call for it to be examined further.

However, there is currently discord within the NWC regarding the micro-zoning of the positions. Yesterday evening, it became clear that the zoning template did not receive the approval of each and every member of the NWC in a unanimous vote.

Although many of the members did not outright disagree with Tinubu’s choice of geopolitical zones, it was said that they were opposed to the micro-zoning of the leadership positions within the organization.

“In fact, some of us were of the opinion that any resident of the zones to which a specific office has been allotted is eligible to run for that office. We did not want to be in a position where we would have to give positions to specific individuals. Because of this, we also suggested that there should be additional consultations,” explained an irritated member, who requested that his name not be mentioned for fear of the potential consequences of doing so.

He voiced his concern that other aggressive candidates, particularly those running for the House of Representatives, might band together to produce a formidable challenge to the candidate who had been chosen by the majority of voters, Tajudeen Abbas.

Why the North-West should hold the Position of Senate President

Some APC stakeholders in the North-West are dissatisfied with the allocation of slots for the speaker of the house and deputy president of the senate. According to them, the North-West gave Tinubu the highest number of votes among the two senators-elect from the zone who are competing for the seat. The current chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Jibrin representing Kano-North district, and former governor Abdulaziz Yari are vying for the seat. Tinubu received the most votes.

Insisting on producing the Senate President, a North-West APC stakeholder said, “Tinubu, candidate of the APC in the 2023 presidential election, is now the president-elect courtesy of the magnanimity and loyalty of the North-West, which gave him the highest votes in the election followed by the South-West.” Tinubu was the candidate for the APC in the 2023 presidential election. He is now the president-elect courtesy of the North-West. Therefore, there would be no chance of Tinubu becoming president if the North-west did not support him.

“To deny the North-West the leadership of the Senate would be analogous to testing the region’s and its people’s loyalty, and in the end, it would come with severe political repercussions.”

18 senators-elect from the North Central region kick

In a similar fashion, Senators-elect hailing from the North-Central zone have spoken out against the APC zoning template, asserting that it will not withstand the passage of time.

The senators-elect from the various political parties who objected to the zoning arrangements for the 10th National Assembly leadership wrote a letter of protest to the National Working Committee (NWC) that was led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu. In the letter, they demanded that the party immediately abandon the zoning arrangements, which they deemed to be inadmissible.

According to them, the geopolitical zone located in the north-central part of the country did not produce any presiding officers.

18 Senators-elect put their names on the letter that was sent out by the newly elected lawmakers. The letter was titled “Resolution of the North Central Caucus of the 10th Senate on NASS Leadership Zoning.”

The following is a portion of what was written in the letter: “We the North-Central Senators-elect Caucus met on Monday, May 8, 2023, and decided as follows:
“That the North-Central as a geopolitical zone in Nigeria has paid its dues in the political stability of the country and shall continue to do so, but where we see the open denial of our rights and privileges, we will have no option but to voice out in the interest of the zone and the people we represent,” the statement read. “That the North-Central as a geopolitical zone in Nigeria has paid its dues in the political stability of the country and shall continue to do so.”

“It is important that you are aware that we have made a firm decision to provide our full support to the incoming administration of President-elect Asiwaju Tinubu for the purpose of making Nigeria a better place.

This is not possible unless all parties involved are treated fairly and justice is served. It is known that the North-Central region contributed 41% of the votes that led the APC to victory; consequently, we deserve it just as much as anyone else does.

“After reviewing the proposed zoning structure that was made public, our caucus has come to the conclusion that the allocation of the positions of Deputy Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 10th National Assembly to a specific geopolitical zone of the country (the North-West) is unfair and unsatisfactory. As a result, our caucus hereby votes to reject the proposed zoning structure.

“The customary practice has always been that each of the country’s six geopolitical zones will be allotted one of the six positions available.

“Now that the South-West and North-East have produced the President-elect and Vice President-elect respectively, it is only fair and natural that the positions of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives should be shared among the other four geopolitical zones, that is, the North-Central, South-South, South-East, and North-West.

“As a follow-up to the aforementioned, we as a caucus are calling on the APC to immediately retract its earlier decision, which schemes us out of the power-sharing formula of the country, and cede the position of the Deputy Senate President to the North-Central Zone in order to ensure fairness, equity, and justice for a smooth 10th Senate,” the caucus said in a statement.

Tinubu is advised by Kawu to steer clear of sycophants.

In the meantime, Suleiman Kawu, who will represent the Kano South Senatorial District as a representative of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has cautioned Tinubu not to let sycophants trick him into making a poor choice regarding the leadership of the National Assembly. Kawu was elected to his position on the platform of the NNPP.

Yesterday, while speaking to members of the media in Abuja, Kawu stated that the only way that members of the 10th National Assembly could face the challenges that are currently facing the country is if they had the Constitution as their guide.

Kawu stated that “We are in touch with 109 senators and I will assure you that we have a serious number to stop imposition in the Senate or in the House of Representatives.” Kawu made this statement after noting that the majority of the newly elected lawmakers were already discussing working against the zoning arrangements announced by the APC.

N-Central is adamant that they should get the Speakership slot.

Additionally, a portion of the North-Central zone is advocating for the position of Speaker of the House. During a rally that took place yesterday at the APC National Secretariat, Dr. Ben Amodu, who is leading the North Central Democratic Coalition, made this demand known to the crowd.

He stated that “Today, the North Central Democratic Coalition elected to use this occasion of a rally to impress upon the NWC of the APC to activate all necessary mechanisms towards ensuring the speakership position for the 10th National Assembly is zoned to the North-Central region.” He went on to say that “Today, the North Central Democratic Coalition elected to use this occasion of a rally to impress upon the NWC of the APC.”

“Our region has been a consistent supporter of the APC, and we have contributed immensely to the success of the party in each election,” he said. “Our region has contributed immensely to the success of the party in each and every election.”

Amodu warned that failure to meet their demand would have political repercussions, and he stated that the North-Central region is an important bloc in Nigerian politics. He accused the APC of marginalizing the zone, and he warned that failure to meet their demand would have political repercussions.

“In the event that the North-Central is not carried along, it might send a strong message to the region that might come with some political consequences, as the case may be,” he said. “In the event that the North-Central is not carried along, it might send a strong message to the region that might come with some political consequences.”

Oyebanji, Ekiti Senators-elect back Akpabio

However, the governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has stated that the state is committed to a unified and formidable 10th National Assembly, as well as the decision of the APC National Working Committee to zone the position of Senate President to the South-South region.
The announcement was made by the governor in Abuja, where he was also hosting Senator Godswill Akpabio and several senators-elect at the time.

At the meeting, there were also elected senators from the state of Ekiti present. Their names are Opeyemi Bamidele, Yemi Adaramodu, and Cyril Fasuyi.

Governor Oyebanji, when speaking with members of the media, stated that the decision made by the NWC regarding the leadership of the 10th National Assembly will not be changed.

Oyebanji stated, “In Ekiti State, we are committed to a united National Assembly, and we are also committed to the decision of the NWC of the APC with respect to the zoning, and you can attest to the fact that all of the Senators are here with me just to have dinner with Akpabio. We are also committed to the decision of the NWC of the APC with respect to the zoning.

We are supporting his aspiration in accordance with the instructions given to us by the national body of the party. We are in this together; we are not only supporting him, but we will publicly identify with him as well, and I have done that.

I’m prepared Akpabio

In addition, Senator Akpabio shared his thoughts, saying, “I had the opportunity to practice law for the past 36 years, I had the opportunity to serve in the executive branch as a commissioner, and I also had the opportunity to serve as governor for eight years.” I have served in the Senate in the past, and I was a leader in the Senate. I also had the opportunity to serve as a Minister. Today, by the grace of Almighty God and the decision of the National Working of our Party, I will have the honor of serving as a Senator-elect and a potential candidate for the presidency of the Senate.

“I’m ready to offer my full support to the incoming President, Tinubu, in his efforts to be successful. Despite the challenging conditions in terms of the economy and everything else, it looks like things are going to turn out well for Nigeria at this moment. We are going to do everything in our power to develop sound policies that will make it possible for people in Nigeria to put food on their tables and also generate job opportunities in an effort to cut down on banditry and increase national security. “We will unite the country, and we are resolute in our commitment to do so,” he stated.

A group from the South-East of the APC applauds the party’s decision.

In a similar fashion, the South-East/Igbo APC Progressives Roundtable, also known as SIAPRO, accepted the decision of the party leadership regarding the zoning template but sought deliberate measures to integrate the zone into the overall scheme of things within the APC and within Nigeria.

Read Also: Low registration: NECO reschedules entrance examination

“We have seen the zoning arrangement for presiding officers and portfolios for the 10th National Assembly as prescribed by our great party, the APC,” the group wrote in a letter addressed to Tinubu, APC National Chairman, Senator Adamu, and APC governors, governors-elect, and national officers. The letter was signed by Dr. Uche Diala, director general; Mr. Emmanuel Molokwu, national secretary; and Mr. Charles Okoye, national publicity secretary. Even if we have some reservations about it, as true members of the party we will accept it out of complete loyalty and respect for the party’s position as the dominant group. We are confident that the party will make the decision that, in its judgment, is best for both the party and the nation.

“Without equivocation, South East and Igbo APC progressives are very concerned about how South East and Igbo APC progressive foot soldiers, who have given everything they had to give at the risk of their lives, properties, and livelihoods, will be treated in the future. Everyone is aware of the manner in which we have been dealt with over the past eight years. Despite this, we persevered, kept believing, and fought on because of our loyalty to our country and our convictions.

“We were able to observe the process that was used to form the previous Presidential Campaign Council. But despite everything, we continued to have faith and gave even more for the love of the country and the APC. This included making a contribution that was not insignificant to the success of our great party and Tinubu in the election that took place most recently.

“We have been watching how certain lists have been flying around recently, and we have quietly observed the composition and make-up of those lists as far as South East/Igbo APC Progressives are concerned. Recently, certain lists have been flying around, and we have been keeping track of them.

“We have also been reading how some of our fellow progressives essentially lump Igbos into the same basket as IPOB and Obidients without so much as showing any sensitivity for South East/Igbo APC Progressives, who defied all odds, vilification, and attacks from their kinsmen, but still kept believing and fighting for the good of Nigeria, the party, and the progressive cause.

“We cannot continue to pretend that we are unaware of or do not see what is taking place, nor can we maintain our silence,” she said. “If we truly desire and mean it that we seek deeper integration of Igbo and the South-East into the APC and back into the mainstream of the mainstream of the Nigerian national and political life, then deliberate and sincere action needs to be taken to ensure that South-East/Igbo APC Progressives who have been in the trenches since 2015 are not left behind once again.”

Gbaja’s men go after members-elect for signatures

In response to the demands, lawmakers who are believed to be loyal to Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, have begun a lobbying drive to collect signatures from members-elect.

The new information emerged in the wake of what a member of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) referred to as a “deliberate ambiguity” in a press statement that was issued by the party.

A member of the NWC, who requested anonymity in order to speak, stated that “the entire scenario is completely different from what it used to be.” In most cases, we divide the available positions up into areas or zones and then consider allowing interested parties to compete for those positions. In contrast, in this instance, all that was required of us was to accept what they said had been decided upon, and we (the NWC) were not invited to participate in the decision-making process in any way.

“Therefore, seeing as how that is what they want, we have returned it to both them and the general public so that they can start digging deeper into whatever ambiguity they can find. This is due to the fact that we were very deliberate and cautious in our correspondence because we are not infants.

“At this point, it is up to the various stakeholders to pursue any intervention, interpretation, and clarifications at any level,”

Recent Joiners to the New Dawn Movement

At the time this story was being written, a gathering of first-year students opposed to Tajudeen Abbas was about to get underway under the auspices of the New Dawn.
The purpose of the meeting was supposed to be the collection of signatures, but out of more than 200 new members, only about 23 of them showed up, and a few of them decided not to sign their names.

Wase, Ado-Doguwa, and a few others get together.

In the meantime, in response to the letter sent by the party’s NWC, aspirants for the House of Representatives, including Messrs. Yusuf Gagdi, Sani Jaji, Idris Wase, Alhassan Ado-Doguwo, Aliyu Betara, and Sada Soli, gathered in Abuja yesterday for a strategic meeting.
Candidates for a position in the National Assembly insisted that they would not change their stance on the issue of zoning for the position.
Following the conclusion of the meeting, one of the hopefuls offered their thoughts, saying, “Yes, we are moving forward together.”

The newly elected members of the NASS will vote on who will preside over the body. PDP or LP?

In the meantime, in response, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) dismissed the APC zoning arrangements yesterday, describing them as an internal party matter of the party.

Both Mr. Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary for the PDP, and Mr. Obiora Ifoh, National Publicity Secretary for the LP, gave their respective points of view regarding the topic in separate responses.

The zoning of the APC is an internal party matter—PDP

Ologunagba is quoted as saying, “I’m not a member of the other party, what they decide to do in this case is their business, and we will do our own.”
It was gathered that the party was trying to first put its house in order before making its stand on the issue public. Despite the fact that he did not commit to the specifics of what plans the party has to thwart the APC’s move to control both chambers, he was a noncommittal as to the details of what plans the party has.

According to a loyalist of the party who was in the know about the situation, “Our party is just being tactical.” The fact of the matter is that we need to get our act together in order to prevent a repeat of what took place during the most recent elections in some states. During those elections, some of our leaders, particularly governors, worked against the interests of the party. We must do everything in our power to prevent this from happening again.

Read Also: Bello-Williams, ADC candidate, denies withdrawing from Kogi governorship race

“Many consultations are currently taking place, and some of the alliances that were formed by some of the G-5 governors with the ruling party are still active and could potentially come into play.”

— Leo Tolstoy It’s a waste of time and effort.

On the other hand, the spokesman for the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, expressed confidence that members-elect, particularly those elected on the platform of opposition parties, would use their numerical strength to assert themselves in order to provide Nigerians with a leadership that will truly representative. He said this in response to a question from a reporter.

Ifoh said, “When speaking to its members, the APC has made its pronouncement, which is within its right.”

“Our members and members of other opposition parties, who together form the majority are not bound by the APC’s decision as such, they will vote for men and women with capacity,” he said. “Our members and members of other opposition parties”

 

Obaseki congratulates Adeleke as Supreme Court confirms guber victory

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coic
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The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has sent his congratulations to the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, following today’s judgement by the Supreme Court that confirmed Senator Adeleke’s victory in the 2022 election for the governorship of Osun State.

Obaseki praised the decision of the Supreme Court as “a triumph of justice” in a statement, praising the court for honoring the will of the people of Osun State.

According to him, “I congratulate my friend and brother, the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, over the verdict of the Supreme Court which validated his victory in the 2022 Osun State Governorship election.” Senator Adeleke is currently serving as the Governor of Osun State.

“The judgement is a victory for those who believe in fairness. The highest court in the land has once again shown its support for the people by confirming the elections. During these elections, the citizens of Osun State cast their votes overwhelmingly in favor of electing Senator Ademola Adeleke, the candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to the position of governor.

It is a victory for the good, and the people of Osun State may rest well knowing that their cherished governor will provide exceptional governance.

“With this verdict, Osun State will continue to enjoy the good dividends of democracy, and they are assured of responsible and quality governance.”

 

El-Rufai discloses position he will not accept in Tinubu govt

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Nasir el-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna, stated that if Bola Tinubu’s administration offers him the position of minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he will not accept it.

El-Rufai made this statement on Tuesday at a policy discussion and book launch in Abuja.

He was well-known for demolishing illegitimate structures while serving as the FCT minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The governor claims he will never “repeat class” and says he can suggest “young people” for the position.

I won’t be traveling to Abuja, even if offered. As I’ve already stated, I never repeat a class, and there are plenty of young individuals I can recommend who would perform better than I did.

“This is beyond my years. Get a young person with blood in his veins or a young woman because I’m too old to do demolition, El-Rufai stated.

 

Drug overdose kills 300-level FUO student in Bayelsa

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coic
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According to reports, a student who was enrolled in the Petroleum and Gas Engineering program at the Federal University, Otuoke (FUO), located in Bayelsa State, was found dead from an apparent drug overdose.

The student, Job Alawari Kei, who passed away at the age of 19 is only known by his first name. It is believed that he took a drug called Colorado (Colos).

Some students on this campus claim that the youths who are involved in internet fraud and are more commonly referred to as Yahoo Boys are the primary consumers of the drug known as Colos.

The student who spoke on the condition of anonymity stated that the deceased student was said to have “cash out” on an internet deal and wanted to celebrate by getting “high,” but the drug that was handed to him by his friends was what ultimately caused his death.
Already, the death of the student, which occurred just a few weeks after the death of another 200-level student of the Federal University of Otuoke identified as Bright Akhere, at a swimming pool located at the Renew Empire Hotel in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has triggered concerns over the rate of student involvement in drug use and internet fraud.

Read also: Missing organs from Kenyan cult deaths – Police

According to the opinions of a few of the other students, the majority of the fatalities that have been reported in the past half-year have been caused by drug overdoses and dishonesty on the internet.
“We are very concerned. Even the girls are using drugs with complete abandonment these days. One of them expressed their frustration by saying, “And the school authorities are not bothered because we stay off campus.”

One Joseph stated that individual students should exercise caution before becoming involved with illegal substances; however, “the newly elected SUG led by Comrade Saturday Emomotimi Charles has to launch an aggressive campaign against drug abuse within and outside of the campus.”

The Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Asinim Buswat, released a statement on Tuesday confirming the tragic incident. In the statement, he said that the student who passed away had become unsteady after consuming illegal substances and had to be rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Public Relations Officer (PPRO) stated, “On May 3, 2023, at approximately 2200 hours, one Job Alawari Kei’m’ 19 years, a student in the Petroleum and Gas Engineering Department of Federal University Otuoke, became unresponsive after consuming illegal substances. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors determined that he had already passed away.

“The body has been brought to the hospital so that an autopsy can be performed. The investigation is still in progress.

Mercy Ekott, the Public Relations Officer of FUO, was contacted about some of the measures the institution is putting in place to address the death of students due to drug abuse. In response, she stated that the institution has not yet held any management meeting to that effect, but that they have organized several orientation programs especially for all freshmen on the dangers and consequences of drug abuse.

Read also: Bello-Williams, ADC candidate, denies withdrawing from Kogi governorship race

“When celebrating and participating in other social activities, students should do so in a more responsible and sober manner. That orientation ought to be adopted by them. Every first-year student participated in the orientation program that was offered. Therefore, we had impressed upon them. She voiced her opinion that “they ought to be more responsible.”

Messi agrees to join Saudi Arabia club a ‘done deal’

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According to a source close to the negotiations, Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will play in Saudi Arabia for the upcoming season as part of a “huge” deal. This information was provided to AFP on Tuesday.

“This contract is unique in every way. It is very large. We are just putting the finishing touches on a few minor details at this point,” added the source, who was not authorized to speak to the media.

When questioned about the remarks, Messi’s current club, Paris Saint-Germain, simply stated that he is still bound by his contract until the 30th of June.

According to a different source within PSG’s organization, “if the club had wanted to renew his contract, it would have been done earlier.”

PSG, which is owned by Qatar, gave the 35-year-old former World Cup winner a one-week suspension for making an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia, where he works as a tourism ambassador.

Following in the footsteps of his fiercest rival Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi is rumored to be moving to the oil-rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo made headlines in January when he signed a massive deal to play for Al Nassr, a club in the Saudi Pro League.

According to Forbes, Ronaldo will be the highest paid athlete in the world if his contract, which runs through June 2025 and is rumored to be worth more than 439 million dollars, remains in effect.

According to the source, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world and has assets worth more than 620 billion dollars, is providing financing for both of the transactions.

Read Also: Missing organs from Kenyan cult deaths – Police

“The discussions didn’t last nearly as long as the ones with Ronaldo did. As we are now aware of the steps necessary to sign players of the highest caliber, the source stated that.

“It was Saudi Arabia, and not a particular club, that brought him here. There is only one source for the money: the PIF.

On the field, the arrival of Ronaldo has not had the kind of impact that Al Nassr had hoped it would have.

They are no longer in contention for the King’s Cup or the Super Cup after falling from the top spot in the Saudi Pro League table and being eliminated from the competition.

In April, the French coach Rudi Garcia left his position.
– PSG protesters –
After a glorious era at Barcelona, during which he won four Champions League titles and ten La Liga titles and is still worshipped by the fans, Messi, who will turn 36 in June, has had two lackluster seasons in Paris. This comes after he had a glorious era at Barcelona, during which he won ten La Liga titles and four Champions League titles.

PSG won the Ligue 1 title with relative ease thanks to the contributions of the record seven-time world player of the Year, who scored just 11 goals in his first season with the club but joined a potent attack that also included Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

Even with the legendary Argentine in the starting lineup, Paris Saint-Germain was not able to advance any further in the Champions League and was eliminated twice in the round of 16. This prevented them from achieving their goal of winning the tournament for the first time.

The tensions finally came to a head at Paris Saint-Germain a week ago, when protesters dressed in black set off flares and chanted insults directed at Messi, Neymar, and Marco Verratti, an Italian midfielder.

Messi’s career-crowning moment occurred in December, when he led Argentina to a breathless World Cup final victory over Mbappe and France in Doha to fill the biggest gap in his resume. These angry scenes contrasted with Messi’s career-crowning moment at the time.

At the ceremony for awarding the trophy, the emir of Qatar dressed him in a traditional bisht robe as a visual reminder of the wealth from fossil fuels that is flowing into football and into Messi’s bank account via PSG.

Read Also: Bello-Williams, ADC candidate, denies withdrawing from Kogi governorship race

Nevertheless, Messi is also a highly compensated tourism ambassador for Qatar’s neighbors and sometimes rivals Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest oil exporter and is attempting to diversify its largely single-stream economy. Qatar is a country that borders Saudi Arabia.

Low registration: NECO reschedules entrance examination

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coic
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The 2023 entrance examination for gifted and talented children into Federal Government Academy Suleja has been rescheduled by the National Examinations Council (NECO) from Saturday, May 13 to Saturday, June 10.
This was revealed in a statement issued by the council’s Head of Information and Public Relations Division, Mr Azeez Sani, on Tuesday in Abuja.
Following a request from some stakeholders for an extension of the registration period, Sani said the examination was rescheduled to allow more candidates to register.

Read Also: Bello-Williams, ADC candidate, denies withdrawing from Kogi governorship race

“The Federal Government Academy Suleja is a training ground for shaping Nigeria’s gifted and talented children.”It offers tremendous opportunities for exceptionally gifted students to develop their potential in the interests of nation-building and technological development.
“The students benefit from federal government scholarships such as tuition, external examination fees, boarding, feeding, uniforms, and basic textbooks,” he explained.

As a result, he urged candidates, parents, guardians, and other relevant stakeholders to take note of the new exam date.

In Bayelsa, Corps Members Mark NYSC’s 50th Anniversary With a Unity Rally

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coic
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Corps members from Bayelsa State held a unity rally in Yenagoa, the state capital, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

In spite of the obstacles that it has had to overcome over the years, the National Youth Service Program (NYSC) has continued to serve as a leader in the promotion of national unity, integration, and development.

At the unity rally, which was held in Yenagoa and began at the Peace Park, which is located directly across from the Government House, staff members and corps members from the state praised the program for its successes over the course of its existence.

Mrs. Okpalifo Obiageli Charity, the state coordinator, stated that the event was part of a series of programs that were put together by the directorate headquarters to celebrate the scheme while she was raising the flag to start the rally.

Since the corps was established on May 22, 1973, Okpalifo said that the theme “NYSC: Five Decades of Fostering National Unity and Integration” was appropriate.

Read Also: Bello-Williams, ADC candidate, denies withdrawing from Kogi governorship race

She emphasized that the NYSC has remained the champion of national unity and integration, and she enjoined the corps members to uphold the virtues, values, and ideals of the NYSC. She also emphasized that the NYSC has remained the champion of the NYSC.

She highlighted the contributions that the corps members had made over the past fifty years in the areas of education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture, and she gave the program a very high score in terms of its impact on national development.

Corps member Ogugua Clinton Chidera – BY/22B/2207, who spoke on behalf of the corps members, expressed happiness that they are part of this historic event marking the 50th Anniversary of the NYSC. He also assured that they will continue to serve regardless of whether it is sunny or raining outside. The corps liaison officer (CLO) Yenagoa was corps member Ogugua Clinton Chidera – BY/22B/2207.

Bello-Williams, ADC candidate, denies withdrawing from Kogi governorship race

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Dele Bello-Williams, the African Democratic Congress’ candidate for governor of Kogi State, has sworn not to resign for anyone before the state’s governorship election in November.

The clarification followed claims made in some state-wide circles that Bello-Williams had resigned in favor of Leke Abejide, who is running on the same party platform but under the ADC banner in a different faction.

No one has held negotiations with him, he said in a telephone interview with our Lokoja correspondent on Tuesday, and “nobody can force me to step down for another candidate at this crucial time.” even if negotiations were to take place.

Dele Bello-Williams declared, “I bought my form and contested a legitimate primary election. Other candidates also bought their forms, so I don’t see any reason why I should go and negotiate with someone else and thereby betray the confidence of my supporters throughout the state. Never once did I consider that.

“I’m competing to win. I’m not prepared to leave for anyone yet.

He continued, “I have a grassroots base and supporters; I didn’t show up alone to run.” In order to save the state, my people urged me to run for the position. Because they are greedy, some people specialize in spreading rumors. They are not concerned with aiding the general population. My commitment to bettering the common people’s lives in Kogi State is unwavering.

I strongly believe in God’s will and am a man of principles. Regardless of the haughtiness of supposedly powerful men, God gives power to whomever He pleases. Let the rumor mongers continue in their foolishness; I have my priorities straight. They most likely turned to this rumor-mongering strategy because they were uneasy, perplexed, or unsure of both their candidates and themselves. By accident, they have admitted that I am the most trustworthy contender in this contest.

In order for another candidate to run, he dared anyone or any group to provide evidence that he had resigned. Throughout the campaign, he promised to support his supporters and the state’s citizens and to be completely transparent about all of his team’s decisions.

In order to stay focused on the task at hand, he urged his supporters to ignore “the malicious stories about stepping down in secret.”

Bello-Williams also emphasized the need for Kogi state to have a governor who is knowledgeable about making decisions based on the best available evidence because these decisions will ultimately transform the lives of the state’s residents. He emphasized that effective leadership is not solely about financial gain, stressing the importance of integrity, experience, and commitment to the position. He also noted that he has a strong global brand and reputation for successfully leading teams and projects.

“I am the best candidate to lead Kogi State in the upcoming election. He emphasized, “I haven’t resigned.

 

Missing organs from Kenyan cult deaths – Police

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coic
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An additional round of exhumations is scheduled to begin on Tuesday after autopsies on bodies discovered in mass graves connected to a religious cult in Kenya revealed missing organs and raised concerns about forced harvesting, according to investigators.

It has been dubbed the “Shakahola forest massacre” after mass graves were found last month close to the coastal town of Malindi on the Indian Ocean, shocking the deeply religious Christian majority nation.

The majority of the bodies, according to police, are thought to be those of followers of so-called pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, who is accused of ordering their starvation death “to meet Jesus.”

According to the chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor, although starvation appears to be the primary cause of death, some of the victims, including children, were strangled, beaten, or suffocated.

Some of the corpses had their organs removed, according to court documents filed on Monday. Police claim the suspects were involved in forced harvesting of body parts.

The bodies of some victims who had been exhumed had missing organs, according to post-mortem reports, chief inspector Martin Munene stated in an affidavit submitted to a Nairobi court.

Without elaborating, he said that it is “believed that trade on human body organs has been well coordinated involving several players.”

Munene claimed that prominent televangelist Ezekiel Odero, who was released on bail on Thursday after being detained in connection with the same case last month, had received “huge cash transactions,” allegedly from Mackenzie’s followers who had sold their property at the cult leader’s direction.

More than 20 bank accounts belonging to Odero must be frozen for 30 days, according to a Nairobi court’s order.

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki announced on Tuesday that a total of 112 people had been identified as dead. Kindiki had traveled to Malindi to oversee the restart of exhumations, which had been put on hold last week due to bad weather.

“Search and rescue efforts for persons suspected to be holed up in the bushes and thickets have been going on,” Kindiki stated.

There have been concerns about how Mackenzie, who has a history of extremism and prior legal issues, was able to elude law enforcement.

The former taxi driver surrendered on April 14 after police entered Shakahola forest, where about 30 mass graves have now been discovered, acting on a tip-off.

The father of seven, who started the Good News International Church in 2003, is being detained by the prosecution for an additional 90 days while they finish their inquiries.

Yusuf Shikanda, a senior principal magistrate, promised to make a decision on the petition on Wednesday.

 

Lawan asserts that Buhari signed 104 of 162 Senate bills

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coic
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The 9th Senate passed 162 bills to the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), who reportedly signed 104 of them. This is according to Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

 

According to Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the 9th National Assembly performed significantly better than the five that came before it since 1999.

The 9th Assembly’s presiding officers also bemoaned how some Nigerians misunderstood and mischaracterized the 9th National Assembly, calling it a rubber stamp body.

The National Assembly management and National Institute for Democratic and Legislative Studies organized a welcome dinner for senators and members-elect for the tenth National Assembly at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Hotel Continental in Abuja. Speaking separately, the pair said the performance of the ninth National Assembly, which was driven by good governance, resulted from a cordial working relationship with the executive branch of government.

In particular, the Senate President stated in his speech that as of July 2022, 874 bills had been introduced at the first reading stage, of which 162 had passed to the third reading and 104 had received the concurrence of the House of Representatives and the President.

“From the beginning, the 9th Senate was conscious of the detrimental impact of ongoing conflict with the Executive and the consequent impact on legislative activities,” he said. We both understood that effective and efficient service delivery to the public depends on having a good working relationship.

“As of July 2022, the Senate had received a total of 874 bills, of which 162 had been passed. Interestingly, President Muhammadu Buhari has signed 104 bills from the 9th Senate, which is much higher than the previous assemblies’ totals of 31 for the 4th Assembly, 98 for the 5th Assembly, 52 for the 6th Assembly, 60 for the 7th Assembly, and 74 for the 8th Assembly.

“This method of communicating with the executive has given rise to misunderstandings, which have caused many to label the 9th National Assembly as a “rubber stamp” body. However, our goal in favoring a harmonious and collaborative relationship with the executive was to better serve Nigeria by creating a secure environment for national development.

“There is no question that this has worked out well for the clients we serve. The 9th National Assembly has made more laws than its predecessors, which can be attributed to the smooth working relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government.

According to Lawan’s well-articulated legislative agenda, the 9th Senate gave security, corruption, youth employment, poverty alleviation, education, access to health care, gender equality, economic growth and diversification, and oil and gas production top priority.

He claimed that in order to address the numerous issues facing Nigeria, they focused on various timely legislative interventions.

The 9th National Assembly overcame conventional challenges by forging political consensus and deft political brinksmanship, breaking numerous “jinxes” and accomplishing numerous “firsts.”

Lawan pointed out that the 9th Senate had concentrated its efforts on legislation that would improve the lives of Nigerians.

 

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