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The Person With The Ball In The Field Of Play Naturally Attracts Attackers: Okanga Is With The Ball Right Now

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By Evang. John Unogwu Oche
Lovers of football and players of football will agree with me that in the field of play, more attention is directed to the person holding the ball at that moment. Presently, the ball is with Okanga and his intention is to score a goal that will put smiles on all Enone faces. A goal that will bring unusual jubilations that has never been witnessed in the history of Enone.
Therefore, all Okanga supporters should watch out for wicked attackers whose interest is to injures Enone best player that will score the winning goal for them. Connotatively, Okanga is our best player in the political field of play as we speak. Now that we have gotten his type in Enone political field of play, benching him for any other player for no reason would be disastrous for all of us.
It is also pertinent to note that a good coach does not bench a good player when he’s already losing a match. Enone people had lost numerous matches and our hope of winning any match without Okanga for now has been dashed because of bad players we had been introducing for many years. And now that we have found a good player (Okanga), with excellent striking skills, we cannot afford to loose him. He’s now our collective hopes of restoration of every games we had lost in the past because of bad players with self-centred mentality and high level of selfishness coupled with wickedness.
Comfortably, the Enone people will make use of the newly signed striker from good governance Football Club. And he’s to play in the APC Football Club, to bring about the desired change in Enone political game. Thank God he have everything we are all looking for in Enone to effect this long anticipated change. One good thing with him is that, he’s a player that doesn’t miss scoring chances. With him Enone is rest assured for more wins starting from 2023 by the grace of God.

LP Says Tinubu’s Administration Lacks Solutions to Nigeria’s Problems

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According to the Labour Party (LP), President Bola Tinubu’s administration is incapable of handling Nigeria’s issues.
Abayomi Arabami, the national publicity secretary for the Labour Party, reportedly stated that the National Working Committee (NWC) was attempting to resolve internal issues inside the party.

Arabami praised Peter Obi, the party’s previous presidential candidate, in an interview with News Central on Tuesday for his refusal to join any political party in an attempt to gain power.

Because the National Working Committee is actually making a very wise move with the two party leaders—I believe Mr. Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti—we have all been able to recognize that the current administration is incapable of advancing Nigeria, and for that I am grateful to God that our reconciliation process is gaining momentum.

As a result, it is the ideal moment for us to insert the square peg in the square hole. We will all come to your circular table to give and take and to disappear. You will gain some and lose some when you attend a peace conference, you know. And that’s why our presidential candidate disqualified himself from most of these power-hungry individuals who have harmed our economy, even though they were in government before today. However, their government lacks direction when they are in power, whether they are members of the APC or the PDP.

He has to issue a policy statement because he is aware of it. He remarked, “Therefore, everyone who thinks, oh, we’re inviting, let’s all grab power without any focus.”

The former Labour Party candidate for governor, who supports executives led by Julius Abure, claimed that his earlier criticism of Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti was driven by political disagreements and shouldn’t be taken into account during the reconciliation process.

“Reconcilatory process,” I said. You will never imagine that the thirty Nigerians I’m going to name—Senator Akpabio, Daniel Bwala, and the former governor of River State—will ever be a member of the Bola Tinubu administration.

These individuals have been diagnosed with APC cancer. However, you and I witnessed the president saluting the former Riverside governor during the most recent presidential media chat. You know, the goal of a political party is to bring people together. Yes, you will have reservations. There will be disagreements between you. However, we must be able to put Nigeria before our own grievances,” he said.

He responded no when asked if the court matters involving Aburi and the executives led by Nenadi Usman will be dropped in order to promote reconciliation.

Read Also: Education Under Attack: Rep. Agbese Condemns Burning of Schools in Okpoga

“No, we’re stating that we’re working on reconciliation. Mr. Peter Obi has now been able to prove it by announcing to anyone approaching him that he will not participate in any kind of power grab. Those who seek to seize power without revealing their intentions, as demonstrated by the current administration,” he clarified.

Education Under Attack: Rep. Agbese Condemns Burning of Schools in Okpoga

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The Office of the Deputy Spokesman of the 10th House of Representatives has issued a strong condemnation following the malicious burning of two school buildings in Okpoga, Okpokwu Local Government Area. The targeted institutions, UBE JSS Ugwu Okpoga and Government Secondary School, suffered significant damage in what has been described as a heinous attack on education and the future of young learners.

Expressing outrage, Rep. Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesman of the House, labeled the incident as a disgraceful affront to humanity and the aspirations of the affected students. This act of arson, occurring for the second time in just a few weeks, suggests the presence of sinister forces intent on destabilizing educational progress in the region.

In his statement, Hon. Agbese called on security agencies to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure that the culprits are swiftly brought to justice. “This senseless destruction undermines the foundational values of our society, and we will not allow it to derail the hopes and dreams of our children,” he said.

As a dedicated advocate for education, Hon. Agbese emphasized his unwavering commitment to the educational development of his constituency. He highlighted his track record of prioritizing educational initiatives and vowed to rebuild the damaged schools within one year. “Education is the key to unlocking the potential of our children and transforming the fortunes of our community,” he affirmed.

In response to the destruction, Hon. Agbese announced plans to construct a state-of-the-art school facility in the affected area within the next 90 days. This modern facility will offer students a safe and conducive environment for learning, reaffirming the community’s commitment to prioritizing education despite the challenges.

Read Also: Nollywood Actress Doris Ogala Claims ‘2face Has Been Bottled Up, I Have a Lot to Expose’ – Annie Idibia

Beyond the immediate rebuilding efforts, Hon. Agbese urged community members, parents, and stakeholders to collaborate in safeguarding educational infrastructure and fostering a supportive environment for learners. He stressed the need for vigilance and a collective resolve to prevent further attacks.

The Deputy Spokesman concluded with a rallying call for unity and resilience, stating, “We shall demonstrate to the perpetrators that no one can defeat the future of these children. Let this incident strengthen our resolve to protect and nurture their dreams.”

This resolute commitment underscores the critical role of education in nation-building and the collective determination to ensure that children have access to quality education, free from fear and disruption.

The Office of the Deputy Spokesman reaffirmed its dedication to working with security agencies, community leaders, and relevant authorities to achieve justice and restore hope to the affected students and families.

Signed,
Toby Prince (SLA Media)
Office of the Deputy Spokesman, 10th House of Representatives

Nollywood Actress Doris Ogala Claims ‘2face Has Been Bottled Up, I Have a Lot to Expose’ – Annie Idibia

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According to Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, Nigerian singer Innocent Idibia, best known by his stage name 2Baba, and his wife Annie Idibia Macauley had long overdue divorce.
In an Instagram story post on Tuesday, Doris allegedly said that Annie used “juju” to maintain her marriage to 2face.
According to the movie star, Annie was not the victim as many people believed, emphasizing that 2Baba is the true victim in their tumultuous marriage.

In addition to calling on the singer’s family to save their brother, Doris Ogala expressed optimism that 2Baba and Annie will get back together.

The actress added that 2Baba’s musical career failed because he has been bottled up for so long and that the women who are backing Annie are witches.

The statement she made was a projection of their marriage. It is long overdue. Annie isn’t blameless, though. She didn’t want to lose 2face, though, so believe me when I say that she did whatever she did. That’s a juju tuzzle. She has a witch on her side, though, so the other one upgraded. 2baba is the victim here.

These women are wicked. Annie’s not a kid. These individuals only wish to irritate 2face. For a long time, Annie held on to 2face. For a long time, you have been suffocating this man. They will reconcile. You can bet me. I’ll suggest that 2face’s family save their brother. Hmm, this woman.

Read Also: Atiku Insists Elected Members Who Defect Must Vacate Their Positions

“I continue to grieve. I have a lot to share. Stella is the blogger for all of these witches. For so long, 2face has been kept in a bottle. They want to play the victim after my guy’s stage career ended. You all ought to wait for me. Evildoers.

Atiku Insists Elected Members Who Defect Must Vacate Their Positions

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Atiku Abubakar, a politician and businessman, has stated that elected members who defect to other political parties must resign from their seats and that party members cannot disregard party supremacy and regulations.

He participated in a national conference on bolstering Nigerian democracy on Monday in Abuja. The conference was organized by the National Peace Committee (NPC), the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), and the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA).

He asserted that those who disregard party regulations must face repercussions.

He said that election misconduct should typically be penalized rather than praised, saying, “That should not be open for discussion or debate when it happens.”

“These are essential for maintaining political integrity.” He went on.

Regarding coalition, he clarified that opposition parties need to understand that it is more challenging to overthrow a ruling party, regardless of how unpopular it is or how tired the populace may be of it.

“For the opposition to increase its ability to accomplish that objective, coalition building and outright mergers are essential. That is demonstrated by both our own history and international instances,” he continued.
He maintained that strong political parties, particularly opposition parties, are essential to the survival of democracy.

“Parties must possess the strength and democracy necessary to carry out their functions. Democracy is the antithesis of party ownership by or submission to particular great men.

Party dominance is essential. However, the way our parties are currently funded does not allow for party supremacy.

He said funding by governors and a few wealthy individuals is not a democratic model.

Read Also: NDLEA Discovers Cannabis Hidden in Duvet at Lagos Airport, Two Arrested

The music is determined by the person who pays the piper, as is well known. It is necessary to democratize funding. Parties require members to co-own and invest in them.

“When people start from the point of view that “Tinubu is rich or Peter Obi is rich or Atiku is rich, so I don’t have to contribute”, they surrender to the big man’s dominance of parties.

“In more effective democracies, parties and candidates raise funds from the mass of members and supporters.”

He urged citizens to invest in funding their political choices.

“When people invest in something, they tend to be more engaged with it. So, our people, especially party members need to be enlightened.

“The transition to truly democratised parties won’t be easy but must be begun. Could we consider some public (government) funding of parties during the transition period? Perhaps proportionate to each party’s elected officials in the legislatures to avoid parties springing up just to collect public funds?”, he quizzed.

NDLEA Discovers Cannabis Hidden in Duvet at Lagos Airport, Two Arrested

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National Drug Law Enforcement Agency agents have seized a shipment of cannabis, commonly referred to as “Loud,” that was headed for the UK while hidden in a duvet.

In a statement released on Sunday, Femi Babafemi, the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, said that the shipment had been stopped on Tuesday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos.
According to the statement, two suspects connected to the shipment—Adakole Sunday and Austin Balogun—were taken into custody right away when NDLEA officers found them.

The statement partially stated, “Six packages containing 3.50 kg of the psychoactive material were hidden within the duvet.”
The main agent who recruited Adakole, Austin Balogun, stated in his statement that he was paid N700,000 to ship the shipment to the UK, but that he only used a portion of the funds for export handling fees and the majority to pay for an apartment.

Read Also: Speculations Surge on Ganduje’s Removal as APC Chairman Post-Tinubu’s Appointment

Babafemi went on to say that “skuchies” and firearms were found at a hideout that was discovered during a raid in the Ikorodu neighborhood of Lagos.
When NDLEA agents raided the suspects’ hideout in Igbo Olomu, Ikorodu, Lagos, they found seven liters of skuchies, a new psychoactive substance made from black currant, cannabis, and opioids. At least two suspects, Joseph Oluwasegun Adewale and Biodun Adelakun, were taken into custody, he wrote.

Three locally manufactured double barrel rifles, one locally made double barrel pistol, one English-made handgun, one locally made single barrel rifle, three cartridges, one empty 9mm cartridge, and an iron-head axe are among the additional items taken from the pair.

On the other hand, another raid in Lagos’ Akala neighborhood of Mushin on January 19 reportedly resulted in the confiscation of 25.46 kg of laughing gas, a strain of cannabis, and 47 kg of skunk.

The operations apparently went beyond Lagos, as on January 20 Auwal Sani was apprehended in the Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State after 50,000 tramadol 225mg pills weighing 36.56kg were found on him, and on January 23 a 26-year-old suspect, Adepoju Taiwo, was apprehended and arrested in Ekiti State with 1.950kg of Canadian Loud.

The statement went on to say, “A Nigerien named Abubakar Lami, 45, together with two other people, Abba Sani, 35, and Auwal Aliyu, 32, were taken into custody by NDLEA agents in Gadar Tamburawa, Kano, and 125 liters of a novel psychoactive substance called’suck and die,’ along with 13.1 kg of skunk.

Suspects are arrested by NDLEA The NDLEA detains a suspect

“A team of NDLEA officers found and destroyed a cannabis plantation in Gefen Kasa, Dawakin Kudu council area of Kano State, and apprehended a suspect, 45-year-old Sabo Ali Muhammad, connected to the farm.”

Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), the NDLEA’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, reportedly praised the officers who participated in the operations and underlined the organization’s dedication to preventing drug usage and fighting drug trafficking.

Speculations Surge on Ganduje’s Removal as APC Chairman Post-Tinubu’s Appointment

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to designate Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Board has sparked discussions over how it will affect his standing as the party’s leader.
Ganduje, a former Kano State governor, was included on a list of 42 people appointed to federal boards and agencies, along with a number of members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC). This dual job may be a first step toward more extensive party reform, according to some, while others see it as a standard administrative choice.

The North Central zone views Ganduje’s new post as a chance to regain the APC presidency, which it has been vying for since Senator Abdullahi Adamu resigned.

Citing past zoning accords, stakeholders contend that the chairmanship need to return to the area.

“We are slowly approaching 2027. A party insider in the area told Daily Trust that Mr. President should reverse the chairmanship to the North Central.

“The President must correct this imbalance by restoring the chairmanship to the North Central,” stated Sale Zazzaga, the Chairman of the North Central APC Forum, in order to underscore this demand.

Additionally, the forum has sued Ganduje, claiming that his appointment breaches zoning agreements prior to the 2023 election.

Despite these rumors, reliable APC sources claim that Ganduje’s appointment has nothing to do with his responsibilities as the party’s chairman, just like that of other members of the National Working Committee (NWC).

Ganduje’s appointment, according to political observers, might be a component of a broader plan to get ready for a leadership change before the 2027 elections.

“These appointments could serve as soft landings for Ganduje and other NWC members ahead of their potential exit,” said APC chairman Chief Jackson Lekan Ojo.

Read Also: Lagos Assembly to Look Into Obasa’s Fraud Allegations After Resumption

In order to make room for a new leadership structure, he also proposed that the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) disband the NWC at its upcoming meeting.

The APC, however, has denied allegations that Ganduje’s chairmanship is compromised by his new position.

APC National Director of Publicity Bala Ibrahim called the accusations baseless.

Ibrahim said, “Ganduje’s responsibilities as national chairman are unaffected by this appointment.”

He called the rumors unfounded and charged that the detractors were trying to discredit Ganduje’s importance. “They come up with permutations that don’t happen every day,” he said.

He further emphasized that the North Central’s zoning concerns were without substance, noting that Prof. Kana, the region’s current National Legal Adviser, held the position.

Ibrahim said, “The critics should ask themselves if the legal adviser will also be sacked.”

Lagos Assembly to Look Into Obasa’s Fraud Allegations After Resumption

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The Lagos State House of Assembly has declared that it will look into claims of money mismanagement and fraud against former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.

The House spokesperson, Olukayode Ogundipe, revealed the information in an interview with The Punch.

He said the investigation will start as soon as Obasa returns to work at the Assembly.

“The other accusations against him will be addressed once he is physically present,” Ogundipe stated.

We have also heard additional reports regarding the various sums of money that he has been spending. We were unsure of how they obtained the records of those, but when he is sitting with us, we will take action with the ones we have.

“That will be expatiated when he’s on the ground, probably a committee will be set up to look into it or probably it will also be looked at by the leadership of the House,” the Assembly spokesperson said when asked if the Assembly would submit a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the former Speaker.

“Those procedures-based formalities will be strictly adhered to. When the time comes, you can be confident that the House will respond to that.

More than two-thirds of the 40-member legislative chamber impeached Obasa on January 13 due to allegations of financial offenses and malfeasance.

Obasa, however, has refuted these accusations, asserting that he is still the legitimate Speaker and that his dismissal was improper.

Ogundipe, the spokesperson for the Assembly, has insisted that Obasa’s dismissal was legal and compliant with the constitution.

According to him, the House will decide on the next course of action, including a potential investigation, once Obasa returns to his duties.

“I want to say that the process of his removal was constitutional, and the former Speaker, Rt Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, is still and will continue to be one of us,” Ogundipe stated.

As previously stated, the constitution is quite explicit regarding the procedure for bringing him in—the same procedure we used to dismiss him—should we wish to alter the guard. The procedure was properly followed, and we are aware of what we observed. We planned to switch guards, and we did just that.

FG Acts to Curb High Onion Prices

According to the Federal Government, certain farmers’ unscrupulous tactics are to blame for the onion crisis plaguing Nigeria’s market.
This was reportedly said by Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, following a meeting with the Nigerian National Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association (NOPPMAN) on Monday.
He said that although the meeting was spontaneous, it was required to discuss the concerning reports that there could be a 40% deficit in onion production this season, mostly due to the transfer of tainted seeds to farmers.
According to Kyari, investigations revealed that a NOPPMAN member was in charge of providing inferior seeds to marketplaces.

Read Also: EFCC Charges Enugu Lawyer in ₦12 Million Land Fraud Case

“I applaud the association for taking the initiative to address this matter by locating the offender and turning him over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for examination and responsibility.

“We discussed and decided on both short-term and long-term solutions to lessen the impact of this crisis, including the urgent distribution of high-quality seeds and fertilizers to affected farmers,” he said.

In order to minimize post-harvest loss, the government intends to build state-of-the-art onion storage facilities, the Minister of Agriculture clarified.

That would assist ensure sufficient and solve the product’s high cost, he noted.

In order to minimize post-harvest losses and guarantee a steady supply for the market, we are also expediting plans to build contemporary storage facilities. To increase onion preservation, creative approaches were also investigated, including the use of rice straws for packaging and better cold storage methods.

“We are giving warehouses top priority in order to hold available harvests and guarantee effective distribution, given the imminent market ramifications of the onion shortage. In the upcoming months, these actions will aid in keeping prices and supply stable,” he said.

EFCC Charges Enugu Lawyer in ₦12 Million Land Fraud Case

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Benjamin Nwobodo has been brought before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly committing a ₦12 million land fraud in Enugu State.
According to reports, Barrister Nwobodo was charged with five counts that bordered on forgery and obtaining by pretense by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court located in Independence Layout, Enugu State.
The third count of the charge states: “That on January 15, 2014, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, you, Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Nine Million Naira only (₦9,000,000.00) from one Wilson Ikeani Igwe under the false pretense of selling him three plots of land situated at Emene, Enugu State, a pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offenses Act, 2006.
“That on December 15, 2014, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, you, Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Three Million Naira only (₦3,000,000.00) from one Wilson Ikeani Igwe under the false pretense of selling one plot of land situated at Emene, Enugu State to him, a pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.” This was count four of the charge.

Read Also: Atiku Accuses APC of Paying Opposition Leaders N50 Million Each

After being read the charges, the defendant entered a not guilty plea.

In light of his plea, EFCC Chief Superintendent Chikezie Raymond Edozie, the agency’s attorney, asked the court to set a trial date and confine the defendant to the Enugu State Correctional Facility.

Nevertheless, the defendant, who said that he would be represented by counsel, applied orally for bail, which the court granted on the following conditions.

Two sureties in the amount of ₦25 million Naira are required under the bail terms, and one of them needs to own a landed property in the city of Enugu.

The other surety needs to be a blood relative and provide the court with three years of tax clearance.

Within seven working days of receiving the sureties’ information, the EFCC is required to confirm the sureties’ identities and residences, and both must depose and submit an affidavit of means.
Additionally, the defendant must turn in his international passport to the Deputy Court Registrar.

Based on self-recognizance, the court then allowed the defendant to return home, but it gave him ten (10) days to fulfill the terms of his bail or else the EFCC would arrest him and send him to a correctional facility.

The trial was postponed to May 13 and 14, 2025.