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Zamfara PDP chieftain challenges Matawalle on infrastructural projects, security

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Mr Aminu Umar, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Zamfara State, has challenged Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle to name one capital project he has completed in his nearly three-year tenure.

Aminu Umar, the embattled Deputy Governor, Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Gusau’s principal private secretary, challenged the governor while speaking to reporters in Gusau, the state capital.

He claimed that things were not going well in the state and that the Governor had chosen to enrich himself rather than carry out development projects.

Read also:  NDLEA cocaine bust: Police halt further comments on Abba Kyari, arrested officers

He claimed that since taking office, the Governor has failed to complete any meaningful projects and has continued to cause confusion in a state that has been severely traumatized by terrorism.
Umar claimed that Matawallen could not take care of the Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) in the state, saying “these IDPs are now roaming the streets begging for food to eat while the Governor is claiming that he has constructed standard IDPs camps across the state” he said.

“Apart from the IDPs problem, there are other critical challenges bedevilling the entire state”

Umar also accused Governor Matawalle of crippling all the sectors in the state, saying that in the education sector, the Governor has refused to settle examination fees for WAEC and NECO students putting the teeming youths in uncertainty, jeopardizing their future.

He challenged the Governor to explain how he spent the sum of N31 billion naira security vote he collected in 31 months.

Mr Umar insisted that the Governor needed to give a detailed explanation on how he utilized the huge amount of money he received as security vote, cash allocation to his office, office of his principal private secretary and that of the Government House in 31 months.

The PDP Chieftain claimed that in 31 months of Matawalle’s administration he collected six hundred million naira (N600,000,000.00) as ‘security vote’ monthly, saying that he spends three hundred and fifty million naira as ‘cash allocation’ for his office, thirty million naira for the office of his PPS and thirty million naira as cash allocation to the Government House.

Read Also:  N10bn Fraud: Come clear on identity of military officer, group tells EFCC, NSA

He said ”the total amount comes to one billion and ten million naira monthly, if multiplied by 31 months it will be equal to thirty-one billion, three hundred and ten million naira, (N31,310,000,000) he alleged.

APC: Aspirants write Buni, planning committee to call off national convention

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With barely 6 days to the proposed national convention of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), the forum of aspirants has urged the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) to shift the Congress, for the sake of peace, unity and success of the party in the 2023 general elections.

The Mai Mala Buni led CECPC had fixed the national convention of APC for Saturday, 26th February, 2022, amidst many controversies and court cases rising from the conduct of state chapter Congresses and intention to halt the Saturday’s exercise.

Various wings, organs and stakeholders of the party had earlier advised Buni and his committee to sheath the proposed convention, but the Yobe Governor appears adamant to go ahead with the exercise, as planned.

The ‘Forum of Aspirants for 2022 National Convention’, in a strong worded letter of advice to Governor Buni and his committee on Saturday, urged him to “critically examine the various agitations in different states of the country”, adding that, “the feelers are not pleasant, and with the benefit of hindsight, it would indeed spell doom if the party goes ahead with the national convention under such circumstances”.

The open letter, which was signed by Barr. Maxwell Yakubu Gowon, an aspirant for national youth leader and Chairman of all aspirants forum, and Hon. Mohammed Bala Mohammed, aspirant for national secretary who also doubles as Secretary for the Forum; also faulted the Senator Abdullahi Adamu report, which they described as worsening situations in the party, rather than proffering solutions.

Read the full text of the open letter:

“Forum of Aspirants for 2022 National Convention

His Excellency
Mai Mala Buni
Executive Governor of Yobe State/Chairman
APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee

Dear Governor Mai Mala Buni,

Please Call off the National Convention Now!

Your Excellency, we bring warm greetings to your esteemed personality and our appreciation of your exceptional commitment as evidence in your leadership strides since you assumed leadership of the APC as the Chairman of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.

We wish to state that you have indeed demonstrated an unalloyed passion for service to the country in your capacity as the Executive Governor of Yobe state and the added responsibility on your shoulders at the party level.

We note with excitement how you have been able to reposition the party in record time by reconciling all warring factions that hitherto refused to shed their swords in the tussle for control of the party structure.

As a body with considerable standing in the affairs of the party, we are constrained to issue this advisory to you in light of the recent happenings in the party with regards to the forthcoming national convention slated for 26th February 2022.

This advisory is hinged on the facts before us regarding the suitability of holding the party’s national convention on the proposed date. We are duty-bound to ensure that the party avoids, by all means, necessary actions that would reduce its chances of electoral success in the forthcoming general elections.

In case you might not be aware, a lot would be at stake should the party go ahead with the planned national convention. The issues you have strived to resolve are still looking at us in the face, and it is common knowledge that all is not entirely well in the party.

We know that issues such as this are commonplace. However, it is our opinion that it would spell doom for the party should the party go ahead with the national convention now. We are concerned about the party’s future, and it would be detrimental if we do not bring to your notice the dangers of going ahead with the national convention.

In case you might be aware, the Abdullahi Adamu led Reconciliatory Committee did not help matters in the task assigned to it. Instead, it further complicated the issues at stake by refusing to look at issues holistically but instead relied on rumours and hearsays in coming to a conclusion in its report.

The implication of the above statement is that those that were meant to be reconciled ended up infuriated by the actions of the reconciliatory committee. The signs in this regard are evident for every well-meaning member of the APC to see. But they have elected in their wisdom to downplay these contentious issues in the report submitted.

This, in our opinion, is a great disservice to your efforts at positioning the APC for electoral success. As you may be aware, the public space has been flooded with narratives that paint the APC as a party of strange bedfellows whose interests are propelled primarily for self-aggrandizement.

Mr Chairman may wish to critically examine the various agitations in the different states in the country. The feelers are not pleasant, and with the benefit of hindsight, it would indeed spell doom if the party goes ahead with the national convention under such circumstances.

As a party, we must be mindful of the burden of expectation placed on our shoulders in providing credible leadership to the country. Suppose we can’t put our house in order. In that case, we do not have any moral justification for promising the country credible leadership because charity must begin from home.

We must also be mindful of the embarrassing litigations that have bedevilled the party at the state and federal levels. As embarrassing it is already, we would be doing ourselves a great disservice if the party leadership under your watch goes ahead with the planned convention.

It is common sense that the party is not in the proper position to hold a national convention any time soon. The security reports within our disposal confirm this worrisome circumstance that would make discerning minds circumspect.

Mr Chairman, you must be conscious that a lot is at stake in the party on the heels that party leaders from the North East and the North Central have rejected the chairmanship position of the party. This is indeed a red flag that the party must take seriously at the risk of making a charade of the national convention and its unpleasant consequences on the party’s electoral chances in the 2023 general elections.

We are of the firm opinion that as a party, our emphasis should be on the stability of the party before the elections and not the interest of a select few who are blinded by their selfish ambitions without recourse to the sensibilities of the party members that have sacrificed greatly for the growth of the party over the years.

It would be unfair if the expectations of loyal party members were not met. The implication of this is that it would rattle the foundation of the party and, if care is not taken, might see to the final disintegration of the party to the advantage of the opposition party that has been strategizing to capitalize on our shortcomings to attain electoral success.

Mr Chairman, this advisory is in the party’s best interest as we cannot afford to entertain any form of rancour in this critical point of our drive towards positioning the party for electoral success in the 2023 general elections.

The truth remains that the February 26 date for the party’s national convention is not realistic. Mr Chairman may wish to be reminded that should the party disintegrate, all fingers would point in his direction. The tendency for unsavoury remarks on his personality would not be in shortfall.

Mr Chairman, we are buoyed by the fact that your antecedent speaks volumes about the penchant for carrying all along in decision-making processes. And the issue of the national convention of the party should not be an exception.

The rational thing to do with the issues on the ground is to call off the planned national convention of the party, for now, to allow for complete healing to take place to put the party in a prime position to attain electoral success in the 2023 general elections.

We wish to inform you for free that should the party go ahead with the planned national convention, we should be prepared for an onslaught of unimaginable proportion that would rattle the very foundation of the party.

We strongly advise Mr Chairman to, without further delay, stop all preparations toward the national convention slated for 26th February 2022. We must first resolve the issues at hand as a matter of urgency. The urgency of now is staring at us in the face.

While we anticipate a favourable response, please accept the assurances of our highest regard.

Signed:
Hon. Maxwell Yakubu Gowon
Aspirant for National Youth Leader
Chairman, All Aspirants Forum.

Hon. Mohammed Bala Mohammed
Aspirant for National Secretary
Secretary All Aspirants Forum”.

Aregbesola urges APC members to vote in large numbers and peacefully in the Osun primary.

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coic
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Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior, has urged members of the All Progressives Congress to vote in large numbers in the party’s governorship primary election today.

He said this in a social media address on Saturday, urging people to remain peaceful.

Gboyega Oyetola, the Governor of Osun State, and Moshood Adeoti, a former Secretary to the State Government, are fighting for the party’s sole ticket.
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior, has nominated Adeoti, a former state chairman of the party.
My good people of Osun,
Good day to you all.
Another electoral cycle has rolled by and we are now in that season again in Osun. We should thank God for the democratic right to participate in the electoral process of electing our leaders.

As you all know, this is a two-staged process. The first is intra-party, meaning that our party, the All Progressives Congress, will democratically nominate its candidate. The second stage, inter-party, will take place in a state-wide election sometime in July, God willing.

For this first stage, I am appealing to all our party members to participate peacefully in the primary election taking place today. They should avoid any form of violence, brigandage, and disorderliness.
“Our party members, especially our supporters, should be resolute to cast their vote, not to be intimidated and scared away. But they should portray themselves and the party in the best form in comportment, organisation and promotion of societal peace and tranquillity.

Read Also: You should know that we are first a community of humans before we are a political community.

Our peaceful coexistence therefore supersedes every other activity.

The Nigerian and our party’s constitutions make provision for the expression of our preference and choice of leader every four years. This is the heart of the democratic process. It is an inalienable right we should take as sacred and exercise with every sense of responsibility.

I am also appealing to our members to push out the women and let them lead the process by coming out decently and peacefully. This is to demonstrate the customary dignity of women as matriarchs, mothers, wives, and daughters, which confers on them the special protection status from violent attacks from thugs and hoodlums.

Our overall objective is to have a transparent, free, fair and peaceful election.
I wish us all a peaceful, free, fair and successful primary election.
I thank you all.

Covid-19: Nigeria Will Begin Manufacturing MRNA Vaccines

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coic
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President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed Nigeria’s selection as one of six African countries to serve as manufacturing bases for the COVID-19 vaccine.

The President spoke on Friday in Brussels, Belgium, as part of the 6th Europe-Africa Summit’s Roundtable on Health Systems and Vaccine Production.
“I am overjoyed to learn that Nigeria has been chosen as a recipient of mRNA vaccine technology transfer,” he said. We will make the best possible use of the opportunity. Nigeria also offers to host the World Health Organization’s proposed bio-manufacturing training hub (WHO). We pledge to assist in getting the hub up and running as quickly as possible.

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“Accordingly, we are prioritising the manufacture of vaccines on the African continent and in the sharing and transfer of technology and intellectual property rights. We call on the European Union (EU) to support the World Trade Organisation (WTO) towards the conclusion of negotiations on intellectual property rights’ waiver to ensure that the manufacturing of vaccines can start early in Africa.”

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement, noted that with the addition of Nigeria to the countries earlier approved for the vaccine production on the continent, efforts by the Buhari administration to change the selection that the country considered unrepresentative of the needs, capabilities and population distribution in Africa had yielded the desired result.

President Buhari, who also called for collaboration to address the effects of the pandemic, commended the efforts of the foreign partners in making the COVID-19 vaccine available.

Read Also:  Alao-Akala: Osinbajo, Makinde, Others Storm Ogbomoso For Ex-Oyo Governor’s Burial

He, however, urged them to do more as less than 10 per cent of the African population had gotten the jab, stressing that it could negatively affect Africa’s developmental projections.

YABATECH Lecturers Seek Help Over Missing Colleague

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coic
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Mr Adeyinka Olamilekan, a lecturer at the Yaba College of Technology in Lagos State, has gone missing, prompting concern among his colleagues.

Under the auspices of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, the lecturers are concerned that Olamilekan has been missing for two weeks.

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This was revealed in a letter signed by the Union’s Chairman, Ojo Monday, titled “Notification Of A Missing Person.”

Monday stated that attempts to contact Olamilekan had been unsuccessful, and that the missing lecturer had last been seen on February 5, 2022.

Read also:  Alao-Akala: Osinbajo, Makinde, Others Storm Ogbomoso For Ex-Oyo Governor’s Burial

“Mr Adeyinka Ahmed Olamilekan was a staff of Yaba College of Technology in the Department of Agricultural Technology and resided in Odo-Iragunshi in Epe, specifically behind Cele 1 off Otodola farm road, Epe, Lagos State,” according to the notice.
“If you have any information about Mr Adeyinkn Ahmed Olamilekan whereabouts, please kindly contact Mr Rosulu Olamiji, HOD Department of Agric Technology Yabatech Epe Campus on 08026302972, ASUP General Secretary Comrade Akingbade Adekunle on 08036321288 or visit ASUP Secretariat Yabatech chapter office besides Auto workshop, Yabatech Lagos. We shall be grateful for all possible assistance in getting to the root of the issue.”

Alao-Akala: Osinbajo, Makinde, Others Storm Ogbomoso For Ex-Oyo Governor’s Burial

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On Friday, prominent Nigerians, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Seyi Makinde, descended on Ogbomoso for the burial of Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, a former Governor of Oyo State.

Between 2007 and 2011, Alao-Akala served as the Governor of the state.

The former Governor, an Ogbomoso native, died on January 12, 2022.

Read Also:  Osun Guber: The state under heavy security as APC committee seeks peace

According to our source, the former Governor, who was laid to rest on Friday, was a former police officer who also served as chairman of the Ogbomoso North local government.

Senator Ken Nnamani, former Senate President; Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare; and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti were among those who attended the burial.
Vice President Osinbajo while speaking at the burial, hailed the former Governor for being a humane and simple man, who played politics with an open mind.

“Everywhere Alao-Akala went in his days as governor, you would hear the chant of ‘Oyato.’ Of course, he really did many things differently in office.

“Alao-Akala practically demonstrated what is possible when you have creativity and compassion. Since his transition in January, I have read several glowing tributes to his memory and the common refrain running through all of those tributes has been the attestation to his uncommon generosity.

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Makinde while speaking, declared that the state government would immortalise the former governor.

He said a committee headed by his Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi has been put in place to work on how best to honour the late Chief Alao-Akala.

In Katsina, Police  Kill Two Terrorists, Recover AK47 Rifle 150 Cattle

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coic
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Two armed bandits were killed by the Katsina State Police Command, who also recovered an AK47 rifle and 150 rustled animals from the terrorists.

SP Gambo Isah, a state police spokesman, told reporters that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Mallumfashi mobilized his operatives after receiving a distress call.

Read Also:  Osun Guber: The state under heavy security as APC committee seeks peace

According to him, the bandits attacked the Gandu Karfi community, abducting four women and fleeing with over 150 cattle.

According to him, the DPO led a team of police officers who ambushed the terrorists’ routes, killing one bandit and recovering one AK47 rifle, four rounds of ammunition, 80 cows, and 70 sheep.

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He further stated that in another development, the DPO on Tuesday led a team of Police to Kankara where they engaged another group of bandits, killed one of them and recovered a motorcycle in the operation.

Drug Peddlers Allegedly Assaulted Man Who Allegedly Invited NDLEA To Bunk

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coic
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Drug traffickers operating between Nnewi and Nnobi in Anambra State have beaten a man unconscious for informing the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of their illegal activities in the area.

The ND­LEA had been chasing drug peddlers and their patrons around for some time, and they had also arrested some of them in the area.

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Over 25 drug pushers are said to have beaten the man identified as Ajapa, a chicken garnishee, at the Nnobi abattoir, where they descended on him and knocked him out.

Sources said the drug ped­dlers accused Ajapa of inviting men of the NDLEA to their bunk and hideout located close to the abattoir, a thing that pro­voked them to anger and made them to beat him as warning to deter him and any other hid­den informants from making the mistake next time.

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When we arrived, Ajapa had been rescued and taken to the hospital by some good Samaritans who had rushed to the scene.

Osun Guber: The state under heavy security as APC committee seeks peace

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coic
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The primary election committees of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State have asked for peace among the party’s governorship candidates.

This comes after the party’s organizing committee promised a free, fair, and credible primary election on Saturday.

Read Also:  Nwoba: Saraki demands release of PDP’s spokesman, blasts Ebonyi govt, Ebube Aguman

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the chairman of the committee and the governor of Kwara State, said this at a stakeholder meeting held at the party secretariat in Osogbo on Friday evening.

At the meeting, three aspirants for the APC’s governorship candidate in the July 16 election were present.
They are the incumbent state governor, Gboyega Oyetola; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuff and a former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti.

He said the committee was fully prepared to maintain peace, urging members of the party to conduct themselves peacefully.

According to him, “We came here with peace. Our party is a peaceful party and we are going to do everything to ensure that peace is maintained throughout the entire process. Fairness, equity, justice, credibility and peace are our watchwords.

“I want you all to come out peacefully and in large numbers to vote for your preferred aspirant. What we are looking for is peace and I can assure you that we will leave no stone unturned to ensure a peaceful, free and fair exercise.

The Secretary of the primary committee, Senator Julius Ucha said direct primary election was preferred by the party.

He announced that accreditation will commence by 8am while voting will start after the accreditation of the last person on the line.

Read Also:  2023: Nigeria’s next president must be chosen on merit, not zoning, PDP chieftain, Imasuagbon.

Meanwhile, there is the presence of heavy security in Osogbo, the state capital of Osun.

Security operatives comprised of the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, the Nigerian Correctional Service, Amotekun were present to provide security during the meeting.

In Benue’s Gwer West LG, five people killed

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coic
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In another attack in Tse Udeghe, Mabapa council ward of Gwer West Local Government of Benue State, four people were killed and several others were injured.

According to Naka, the herdsmen stormed the village at 4:30 p.m., heavily armed and in large numbers, with no resistance.

Read Also:  2023: Nigeria’s next president must be chosen on merit, not zoning, PDP chieftain, Imasuagbon.

The herdsmen militia killed one Iorwundu Ihyo and his son Shimayohol Iorwundu, as well as Chiahemba Orkenevihi and Nyinongu Orkenevihi, according to Council Security Officer Justine Chikpa.

The herdsmen have taken control of the eighth council ward in Gwer West Local Government.
Kate Anene, a police spokesperson, stated that she had not yet received the report of the attack from Gwer West.

Presenting the motorcycles to the military in Naka, Hon Mrs Igbabon urged the men of OPWS to deploy the motorbikes in areas their vehicles cannot access.

She however thanked Governor Samuel Ortom and the Special Adviser for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bar Ken Achabo for their support and assured that her council will continue to encourage any security operatives in the local government to fight the insurgency.

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Reviving the motorcycles, the Unit commander operation, Lt Adeola Oluwatosin, thanked the chairman for taken security as her priority and promised to use the motorcycles to ensure that the local government is secured.

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