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Tinubu’s loyalists inaugurate 2023 campaign movement in Ibadan

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Former senators, political leaders and loyalists of former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, stormed Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to launch a campaign movement, tagged: “The South West Agenda (SWAGA ‘23),” for him ahead of the 2023 presidency contest.

The loyalists of Tinubu, who said that they launched the campaign movement in a bid to support his candidature, said that the former governor towered over others who may be interested in the bid.

It would be recalled that the loyalists had on Monday visited the palaces of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyeml III to seek the support of the monarchs for Tinubu’s candidature.

Those present at the launch included Dayo Adeyeye, who is the chairman of the planning committee, Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi, Oyetunji Ojo, Bosun Oladele, Rotimi Makinde, Kafilat Ogbara, Toba Oke, Deji Jakande, Gboyega Okegbemi and immediate past Secretary to Ondo State Government, Ifedayo Abegunde.

Others were Suraj Adekunbi, Prof. Abideen Olaiya and politicians from both the southern and northern parts of the country.

In a welcome address, Adeyeye pointed out that Tinubu towered above others jostling to occupy the coveted office, saying that Tinubu is the most experienced politician in the country to succeed Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

He maintained that 2023 election was already on the front burner of the national discourse.

“We are gathered here today to make our own contributions to the arduous and crucial task of helping to shape the future direction of our beloved country, Nigeria.

“For the discerning mind, 2023 election is already on the front-burner of the national discourse. The discussion right now everywhere in the country is about what should and should not happen in 2023. That being the case, it is imperative that we should be part of these national discussion and activities.

Also, a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, said Tinubu remained the best man for the plum job, having garnered experiences and built men while in the saddle as governor of Lagos State.

Akanbi said the Third Republic senator remained the most qualified political leader for the number one office in the land, saying that he possessed the intellectual capacity and good character.

Guardian

Anglican bishop suspended for allegedly having sex with wife of another priest

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An Anglican Bishop of Diocese of Ekiti West, RT Rev Rufus Victor Ajileye Adepoju, has been suspended for having a sexual affair with wife of one of he priests under his supervision.

RT Rev. Adepoju’s suspension was made known on Friday through a letter from the church authorities.

The letter of suspension also indicated that the clergyman admitted to committing the acts he was suspended for.

Itt also stated that Adepoju’s suspension from his office as Arch bishop of the Ekiti diocese would last for one year.

Recall that the suspended RT Reverend Rufus Victor Ajileye Adepoju was enthroned to the exalted seat of Arch bishop after about 32 years of priesthood in the Anglican Communion.

He became the Arch bishop at 54, as he was the most senior venerable in Ekiti Diocese at the time the first Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Samuel Oludare Oke, retired at the age of 7

FG orders telcos to block SIMs without NINs

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The Federal Government has ordered the mobile telecommunication operators (telcos) to block all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) without valid National Identification Numbers (NINs) after December 30.

The Spokesman of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Ikechukwu Adinde, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, said the SIM update exercise would take place from December 16 to December 30.

According to him, the decision was taken at a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, in Abuja.

Adinde added that the meeting was convened by the minister following an earlier directive on the suspension of new SIM registration by network operators.

He said the need to consolidate on the success of last year’s SIM registration audit and improve the performance of operators in the sector was exhaustively discussed at the meeting.

The NCC spokesman said: “Operators have been directed to require all their subscribers to provide valid National Identification Number to update SIM registration records.

“The submission of NIN by subscribers will take place within two weeks, from December 16, 2020, to December 30, 2020. After the deadline, all SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks.

“Violations of this directive will be met by stiff sanctions, including the withdrawal of operating license.”

CJN not positive for Covid-19 – Supreme Court

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed  the report that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, had tested positive for COVID-19.

The CJN, who was absent at the inauguration of 72 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria held in Abuja on Tuesday, was reported to have contracted the virus and receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In Justice Mohammed’s absence, the event was presided over by the highest-ranked Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour.

The Director of Information at the apex court, Dr. Festus Akande, who reacted to the claim in a statement, said no medical report has been made available indicating that Justice Mohammed had tested positive for COVID-19.

The spokesman had in an earlier statement dismissed a report that the CJN was critically sick.

He said: “In furtherance to the press statement earlier issued, I wish to state categorically clear that there is no medical report so far made available by anybody indicating that the Hon. CJN has tested positive for COVID-19

“Those peddling the rumour should go a step further to confirm from their sources and equally obtain the copy of whatever laboratory test result they are relying on.

“As of this moment of issuing this statement, no one has so far shown me or any other person in Supreme Court a copy of the test result they are referring to in the report.”

A justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, had said at the event that the CJN tested positive for the virus during the commissioning of the Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria headquarters in Abuja.

Exclusive: How Amnesty, Transparency paid over 2billion to CSOs to blackmail Nigeria Armed forces

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By Gabriel Amedu

Fresh facts have emerged on how Amnesty and Transparency International forged an alliance towards undermining the Nigerian Military. According to investigative findings, the plot was hatched by Amnesty International, while Transparency International was conscripted to give the plot the needed bite to succeed.

According to top security sources, the objective of Amnesty and Transparency International was to ensure that civil society groups in Nigeria are the face of the slander campaign while the real promoters are at the background monitoring events as they unfold.

“I can tell you that lots of monies exchanged hands. The exact figure I can’t quote, but it runs into billions of naira and traceable to Amnesty International and Transparency International. Some select lawyers were paid handsomely from the pool of funds, and they are meant to recruit willing collaborators in the plot to discredit the Nigerian Military.

Another source who pleaded anonymity stated that some Civil Society Organizations were recruited to issue press statements and conferences disparaging the Nigerian Military and accusing it of engaging in human rights violations in its operations in North-East Nigeria and other parts of the country.

“If you have observed that in the past months, some Civil Society Organizations have been very vocal in criticism of the Nigerian Military especially during and after the EndSARS protest across the country. The arrowhead of the group is a respected Nigerian lawyer and also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.”

“This lawyer was greased with a hefty sum of monies to lead the charge against the Nigerian Military and as such he has been very prominent in the media making quite weighty allegations against the Nigerian Military most of which were dictated and not a function of the reality on the ground.”

In a related development, investigative findings revealed that there is a grand plot by some vested interest to bring about political instability in Nigeria beginning from April 2021, and as such the Nigerian Military have been identified as a potential stumbling block to the actualization of the agenda, which was reliably gathered, is sponsored by Amnesty and Transparency International.

According to credible Intel analyzed by this medium, the Nigerian Military has been subject of ferocious attacks, from within and outside the country. And the recent being from the International Criminal Court (ICC) wherein it stated that the Nigerian Military would be investigated for war crimes in the prosecution of the war against insurgency. The line of thought is that if the Nigerian Military can be tamed, then the next rounds of political protest would be a smooth sail.

According to insiders in the security sector that unravelled the plot disclosed that substantial amounts of monies were wired through the accounts of one of the International NGOs in Nigeria domiciled outside the country to evade the prying eyes of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) domiciled within the Central Bank of Nigeria and the central coordinating body for Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Terrorist Financing and Counter-Proliferation Financing.

It was also revealed that tranches of monies were wired to the accounts of a law firm under the narration of payment for legal services. Upon interrogation by the security agencies, there was no record of the law firm representing the International NGO in any matter of dispute.

A source who is conversant with the antecedent of the lead counsel in the law firm confided that the lead counsel is a man of many faces and never to be trusted.

“Nigerians would be in for a shocker when the atrocities of the supposed lawyer of repute come to the open. He cuts deals not minding the implication for national security and those of us close to him; we have warned him times without number to tread carefully. His response has always been that who would feed his family?”

The source further added that the lawyer would jump at any given opportunity to make money.

“His greed is legendary. It has now become more of a curse because he quakes at the mention of money and goes all out about it. I recall there was a particular case where some monies were traced to his account, and he cleverly made some very despicable statements about the government that took the attention away from the findings. I can bet that the government has a dossier on him and waiting for the perfect time to come to the open.”

The above stated was corroborated by another source who pleaded anonymity, stated that the EndSARS protest was a significant harvest for the lawyer as he received mind-boggling sums of monies through proxies for him to act in support of the protest even with the knowledge of the agenda of the promoters.

“It was a reign of monetary harvest as lots of monies exchanged hands during the EndSARS protest. The lawyer, as we call him, was unapologetic in his approach. He told all that cared to listen that he was for sale to the highest bidder and that much was what played out with regards his role in the whole saga.”

The source further added that Amnesty International played a key role in the EndSARS protest and in conjunction with some select Civil Society Organizations that were recommended by the same lawyer.

“I can say authoritatively that Amnesty International relied on the opinion of the lawyer during the EndSARS protest. He was the one that made recommendations on the number of civil society groups to work with and imagine a situation where some of the civil society groups only exist on paper and not in reality.”

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Military has been subject of media scrutiny for the role it played during the EndSARS protest that rocked the country.

Why Goodluck Jonathan is an angel — Ganduje

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Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has described former President Goodluck Jonathan as an angel for conceding defeat to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 without pressure.

Speaking at an event in Abuja, on Tuesday, the governor said Jonathan earned Nigeria and Africa a good name among nations while commending him for revolutionizing the almajiri school system in the North.

“I agree with those who call you an angel for conceding defeat. I salute you for that. You have made a name not just for yourself, but for Nigeria, Africa, all developing countries, and for democracy. So, I salute you.

“We salute you for what you did in that regard. We are multiplying the new model of almajiri schools in Kano. That is an important legacy you left for us,” Ganduje said.

Jonathan had contested and lost the 2015 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Before Buhari’s victory was officially declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the former president had called President Buhari to congratulate him, an act that calmed the tension in the country.

Southwest Agenda 2023 (SWAGA ’23) Declares full support for Asiwaju Tinubu for ’23 Presidency

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The South West AGENDA 2023 (SWAGA ’23) has formally declared its supports for the former Governor of Lagos State and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu for the 2023 presidency.

The conference is ongoing at the Mauve21 Centre/Hotels, Ring Road in Ibadan, Oyo State on December 15, 2020.

Chairman of the Planning Committee of SWAGA ’23, Senator Dayo Adeyeye gave the opening speech their declaration for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

In his speech, he said: “President Myhammadu Buhari will, by the grace of God, complete his eight-year tenure. It should be the turn of a President from the South to take over from him. Who will that be? The answer is in the bosom of God Almighty. While the good Lord will dispose, our duty is to propose and work for our objective of having one of us in the South West as the next President of Nigeria.

“In the Southwest, our cause is buoyed by the fact that we have someone in our midst who towers above other aspirants to this highly exalted office. He is ready-made man for the job.
“It is therefore with high sense of responsibility and pride that we present Jagaban of Borgu to all Nigerians as the next President of Nigeria by the grace of God. This is the man for this times.

“We are not waiting for Asiwaju to come out and make a declaration to run. We have taken it upon ourselves to draft him and kick start the race.”

Senator Adeyeye Ogunlewe who was a former Minister of Works and a Senator said former President Olusegun Obasanjo was a product of the military, the military sponsored and made him the president. He therefore said, it is the turn of the Southwest to produce the president. The Southwest had the second largest votes in the country.

 

I was blind, now I see, says Melaye as he apologises to Goodluck Jonathan

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FORMER Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Dino Melaye, today tendered a public apology to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan over his role in ensuring Jonathan, and by extension the People’s Democratic Party, lost the 2015 presidential election.

While making a goodwill message at a book launch in Abuja, the Kogi -born politician said,  “I Senator Dino Melaye, I want to  say openly here that after many things that have happened and events that have unfolded in recent times, I want to say openly here that once I was blind, now I can see.

“In 2017, I was arrested eighteen times, there were more times in 2018 and between then and now, I have been taken to court for twelve different cases  and out of those cases, we have won eleven of them.   “And that only one that borders on attempted suicide.

“I wonder how someone like me who likes cars and love life so well would want to kill himself.

“President Goodluck Jonathan, I want to say that on behalf of all of us who shot blindly, we are sorry.

“The one that I later wondered why you did was that phone call.”

”I sometimes wondered that if you had not made that call, we would not be where we are today.

“But after I saw what is happening in America, where President Trump is saying ‘I no go gree’,  I can now see the reason for that call.

“There are very few people like you. I pray for that anointing,” Melaiye added

Melaye is the latest among prominent politicians who have apologised to the former president for working against his reelection in 2015.

Just last month, the Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, apologised to the former president for criticising him harshly during his tenure.

“I want to appreciate Mr. President (Jonathan). As they say, you never know what you have until you lose it. Nigerians now know that,” he said.

Ndume noted that Jonathan changed the political culture and landscape of this country.

“You don’t know how great you are in the eyes of those that were skeptical, those that didn’t know you and those that did not come close to you,” he added.

 

 

 

Eight die in Port-Harcourt as residents jostle for Christmas package

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AT least eight persons have reportedly died following a stampede that occurred in Port-Harcourt today, when some registered members of a charity organisation, Pitcoin, besieged one of its offices in Rumuodara, along the East-West Road, near Port Harcourt.

It was gathered that the organisation had invited its registered members to receive their Christmas package at the location.

Narrating how the incident happened, one of the members, said many people showed up for the package and were in a hurry to access the building.

She added that the situation led to a stampede, adding that people stepped on others in order not to miss out on the palliative.

“Many were injured in the pandemonium,” she added.

A viral online video shows some of the victims with bruises, while others have collapsed.

Some people were seen trying to rescue those who had collapsed.

Meanwhile, spokesman of Rivers State Police Command, Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident, saying the Commissioner of Police has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident.

He, however, said that two people, contrary to the eight widely reportedly by some media outlets, died.

Omoni, in a statement said, “I can confirm the incident of this morning, at an event centre, along the Rumuodara axis of the East/West Road, Obio/Akpor LGA, where palliatives were being distributed by INKSNATION, a Non-Governmental Organisation to her registered members from Ikwerre, Emohua and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas, when suddenly there was a stampede leading to the death of two people.

“Some sustained various degrees of injuries and are currently receiving medical attention.

“Meanwhile, the situation is under control. The Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Mukan has instituted an immediate probe into the unfortunate incident with a view to ascertaining the circumstances and bringing persons found culpable to justice.”

Coalition of Northern Groups fingered in plot to undermine Buhari, Armed forces across northern states

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The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has been found at the centre of a fresh plot to blackmail and undermine President Muhammadu Buhari and the Armed Forces of Nigeria across the north.

According to the Northern Patriots (NP), in disguise of fighting for the security of the region, the CNG secretly sponsors banditry.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja through Secretary-General, Samuel Daloba, the group revealed that the aim is to instigate a tribal war which would ultimately lead to a coup to oust President Buhari.

The Northern Patriots said it came to this conclusion after critically observing the recent activities of bandits in the northwest.

Recall that the CNG has launched countless scathing attacks on President Buhari and the nations Armed Forces, with many observers alleging a sponsored and political undertone.

While acknowledging security challenges confronting the region, the Northern Patriots noted that it is driven principally by the CNG members to steal and plunder.

The Northern Patriots, however, implored Nigerians not take heed to “lugubrious media assertions that are peddling false news about insecurity updates from the north”.

The group further admitted that the president has so far proffered solution to the security situation and assured that very soon, the CNG will be exposed.

Read the full statement below:

This press conference is scheduled on the dismal objectives on informing Nigerians of the activities of desperados and people acting under political instigation to undermine and blackmail President Buhari.

The Northern Patriots having critically observed the recent activities of bandits in the north to the activities of the coalition of Nothern groups and their plans which have been encrypted in the disguise of fighting for northern security.

The Northern Patriot’s state without mincing words that, It’s not special news that for more than two years now, northwestern Nigeria has faced devastating attacks from armed bandits, particularly in the states of Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Niger, and Sokoto. So many of these attacks are driven by many overlapping factors, including cattle rustling, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, illicit artisanal mining, youth unemployment, poverty, and inequality. This has been further compounded by the weakened, stretched, and demoralized security services, who are deployed in thirty-five of Nigeria’s thirty-six states and will soon enter the second decade of their war against Boko Haram, one of Africa’s deadliest terror groups. It is estimated that many of the armed bandits are of Fulani origin, as are many of the victims.

Banditry, which includes armed robbery, murder, rape, and cattle-rustling, is present in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Senegal and Mali. This shows that these security matters are not only faced in Nigeria alone but also other African nations.

Of lately, we have observed that banditry has been on the increase in northern Nigeria. This is a region we know that is with many security problems, chief among them being Boko Haram’s insurgency. While the northern patriots were chanting the eulogy of the president and Nigeria Armed forces for their undisputed strategic efforts in bringing Boko Haram activities to great decline, we are shocked by the uprise and resistance that banditry has taken over time, and these actions have begged the question “How are they getting support?”

We know that Boko haram has counted a lot of casualties, and felt decapitated in their technicality. Hence, they have resolved into using rural banditry as a supportive plan, this they have achieved by having a coalition with unpatriotic Northern Nigerians, who are being supported by Northern political desperados and persons under political instigation to blackmail president Buhari and to cause another trend of #EndSARS in northern Nigeria. They know that these are the people that have sufficient knowledge of the terrains and the security weak spots; these are the people that can easily be trusted to perpetuate their evil acts. For one thing, some of these communities are located in remote areas where there is little or no government presence. More importantly, households are in some cases separated by and interspersed with forest areas. This renders the people there vulnerable to banditry.

The Northern Patriots are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that this armed violence is driven principally by the criminal intent to steal and plunder. It is motivated by the selfish quest for economic accumulation in destabilizing the calmness in the Northern states. From the information we got from some disarmed bandits that went on unsuccessful operations, with the help of the Nigeria armed force that subdued them, they confessed to being paid and sponsored by some elite group, who do not have the country’s interests at heart.

It is heartbreaking to us, knowing that these bandits are no outsiders, but people in the same community and culture with us, that have allowed themselves to be used as weaponry for the cause disorderliness which is a menace to our security.

To this effect, the incidence and prevalence of rural banditry in northwest Nigeria raise a fundamental question about the hidden plans of National coup which some have been nursing in their heart. The state security machinery has so far failed to tackle the scourge of banditry and this failure stems from a lack of political will and operational challenges.

Unfortunately for them, Many Nigerians and Northern patriots are not oblivious of the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari has been relentless on his fight against banditry and insurgency. We can rightly say that billions of dollars have gone down in these great fights in other to achieve this monumental task, but these groups have been building strong resistances over time, which is fueled from hidden support being channelled to them from northern political desperadoes.

Therefore, it is inconceivable to believe that no efforts are being made to overcome insecurity, banditry is an insurgency in the northern state. The Northern patriots believe that all the vile incidents happening in the northern parts is, as a result, the efforts made by irresponsible savage northern beasts that also occupy the helm of security affairs in a bid to frustrate the President and to instigate tribal war in discrediting the Muhammadu Buhari.

We want to clearly state it to Nigerians that, the insecurity in Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari is at a great decline. The president has implemented grassroots community policing, where the people involved are properly trained, equipped, supervised and enriched by local personnel and intelligence under the supervision of Nigeria Armed forces.

Northern patriots are imploring other patriots in Nigeria to not take heed to lugubrious media assertions that are peddling false news about insecurity updates from the northern parts of Nigerian. We are pleased to tell you that the President is have made lots of impacts and have proffered solution to tackling banditry and insurgency. Very soon, the bad one will be fished out and made open for all to see.

We remain patriotic northern compatriots of this great nation.

God bless the president, God bless Nigeria.