France and Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba on Tuesday disclosed that robbers who stormed his residence last week stole his World Cup winner’s medal and some other things.
Recall that Pogba last week described the incident as his family’s worst nightmare after his house was robbed while his kids were asleep in their bedroom.
Pogba noted that the incident happened while he was playing against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last-16 tie with his wife in the stadium.
The midfielder further stated that his family has been stripped of their sense of safety and security.
The 29-year-old in an update on the incident noted that the medal he received after France won the World Cup in 2018 was also stolen.
Pogba said, “There were jewels from my mother, my world champion medal.
“What scared me the most was that my two children were at home with the nanny during this incident.
“She overheard everything, called my wife and security, then locked herself with the boys in a room. For several days, she was shocked. The main thing is that my children are well.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday officially declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidency in Nigeria.
As earlier reported by Naija News, the official declaration was done at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
According to Atiku, he has all the qualities that Nigeria needs in a leader and he is offering himself to serve as the next President of the country.
He boasted that he has the idea of what is needed to fix Nigeria and is ready to be a President who understands and inspires.
Below is the full speech read by Atiku during his declaration.
AS ONE PEOPLE WITH ONE FUTURE WE WILL BE ONE COUNTRY – ATIKU ABUBAKAR’S MISSION TO RESCUE NIGERIA
1. Introduction.
First, I want to thank you all for being here today and for all your enduring support. I know there are over twelve million Nigerians out there, who may not be here with us today, but they have been with us since the 2019 election. I know these numbers are growing every day. I want to thank you all for believing in our vision.
I want to thank you all for your bravery. Despite the disappointment in the last election, you still believe that this time around, it is possible. For me, I could say there was never a break. Since our last fight in the court, challenging the 2019 election results, I have received several calls and encouragements from you to contest again.
I have listened to your brave voices. Beyond the words coming out of your mouths, I could imagine your frustrations, yet you are hopeful. I admire you greatly for choosing hope over despair.
I know why you are doing this. You are doing this because deeply you believe something good is possible and is coming to Nigeria.
In the face of the worst division, you believe this country can still unite. In the face of economic hardship, you believe prosperity is coming. In the face of the worst insecurity, you believe peace is possible. I also share in your optimism; that is why I am here today to give you an answer.
2. The 2023 Election.
The 2023 election is not just like the usual elections; it is a referendum to decide whether we want greatness or continuous destruction. It is a choice between two paths: the path of unity and progress or the path of division and backwardness.
We need a new kind of leadership that will steer us to a positive path. In 2023, we want a President who has ideas on how to fix Nigeria. We want a president who understands, who inspires and is empathetic.
As the election is fast approaching, we should not be distracted from the devastating conditions we are in now. The ruling party wants to divide us; they want to divide us along the political, ethnic, and religious lines so that we forget to blame them for the rising inflation.
They want to distract us from holding them responsible for the insecurity and rising poverty. They want us to be facing each other and hating one another. We should focus on the issues, not our differences. Let us unite and fight our common enemies: the lack of unity, insecurity, poverty, inflation, and unemployment.
That is what this election is about. I have no doubt in my mind that we as Nigerians can do it. We have done it in 1993. We can do it in 2023. We must stand firm, get our PVCs, come out en-masse, cast our votes, and protect it against any manipulation.
I have contested for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria a couple of times in the past. My enduring persistence is borne out of my passion to rekindle the Nigerian dream that I was privileged to live.
Nigeria is a land of possibility. There is no challenging background that will make any Nigerian give up. I am a living witness to what is possible in Nigeria.
3. My Story
Who could have ever imagined, an eleven-year-old village orphan, who had to rear other people’s cattle to raise money to feed his family, would have the opportunity to go to school for free, rise through the cadre of a decent profession, establish successful businesses, and become the Vice President of this country?
That is the Nigerian dream and that is my story. That is the possibility I want to pass to you and your children. No matter your current circumstances, that should not limit your success in life. There should not be any limit to what you want to achieve if you are willing to work for it.
That is my dream for Nigeria. However, that is not possible without credible and visionary leadership, and that is what I want to offer to Nigerians.
4. The Declaration
You and I know that Nigeria is in dire need of visionary leadership. Our fundamental principles and purpose as a nation have never been challenged as it is today. Presently, Nigeria is a sinking ship; it must be rescued urgently. That is why I am happy to announce my candidacy for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
I offer myself to rescue the sinking ship. Under my captainship, this ship will sail to a brighter course by the grace of God.However, this journey is not mine alone. It is a journey I am taking for all Nigerians. It is also a journey to a destination I planned with my late great mentor, Major General Shehu Musa Yar’adua, and with my beloved compatriot, the late, and great, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. May their souls rest in peace.
These two gentlemen helped me find my path in politics, and as a group we had a vision to run Nigeria in a businesslike manner, where, as one nation, we would bid farewell to poverty, by understanding our differences, and harnessing them to do together what we would not be able to do separately.
5. My Plan
Under my presidency, I want to focus on five key areas: Unity of Nigeria, Security, Economy, Education and devolving more resources and powers to the federating units.
Since the civil war, the unity of Nigeria has never been threatened as it is today. Nigerians are losing hope in the oneness of this country. My fellow Nigerians, I am the unifier that is coming to bond the broken union.
We will open doors for dialogue to hear the grieving voices of all Nigerians. Under my presidency, there will be a new Nigeria, where everybody has an equal voice and is heard.
Throughout my life, I have never looked at Nigerians as divided people. In my eyes, all Nigerians are the same. When I see you, I don’t see Yoruba or Hausa or Igbo or Fulani or a northerner or southerner; when I see you, I only see a Nigerian, and I expect the best from you.
All Nigerians are equal and should be seen and treated equally. There is no unity without justice and fairness. That is why I will deliver leadership of justice and fairness.
Why is unity a priority? Well, we must work to strengthen our unity as my dear friend and brother, Chief Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, once said. National integration, he continued, will not come as a gift. It is the role of government to work very hard and promote it.
The APC administration has failed in its fundamental responsibility of protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians. The most significant human right is the right to life, which has not been protected under the APC administration.
Our military forces are fighting on the front lines without equipment and morale. That is not fair. If we get into power, we will increase the welfare of all security forces. We will use modern technology and intelligence to combat insecurity. We will also increase the number of personnel for our security agencies.
Why security? Because national security is the first sign of a functional government, and where it does not exist, we must not blame those who threaten it. We can only blame a government that allows it to be threatened. And if I am elected as your President, insecurity is one thing I will not tolerate.
All the macro-economic indicators are not favorable under the APC administration. APC inherited single-digit inflation; they now increased it to about 16%. When APC came into power, unemployment was around 9%; now, unemployment is more than 33%.
The Exchange Rate was N197 to a Dollar in 2015, but in the hand of APC, Naira suffered the worst devaluation ever. As we speak, the exchange rate is more than N400 to a dollar, the official rate.
That was not the change we wanted. If we get elected, we will create alternative sources of foreign exchange supply to Nigeria and reduce importation to increase the value of the Naira.
They said we should go back to the farmlands. How can you ask people to go to the farms while you have not secured the farms? People cannot go back to the farm because they are afraid, they could be kidnapped or killed.
Under my leadership, we will ensure absolute security because that is the number one condition for economic prosperity. We will provide access to mechanized farming systems and develop the agricultural value chain. We must diversify our foreign exchange sources through exports of processed agricultural products.
When APC came into power, Nigeria’s debt was N12 trillion, and now they increased it to N32 trillion. They still want to borrow more. Under my leadership, we will reduce government borrowing. Too much borrowing comes at the detriment of future growth.
We will operate a liberal economy that allows small businesses to grow through lower taxes and charges for small businesses and low-income earners. We will encourage the expansion of the private sector to spur economic growth.
For our population to have a positive impact, we must equip our people with modern competitive skills and provide the right environment for them to thrive. As Chief Abiola once said, “we in Nigeria must not allow ourselves to be left behind.” If you look at our present state, you will agree with me that the world, and sadly, even the rest of Africa have left us behind.
More than 100 million Nigerians are either unemployed, underemployed, or unemployable. How could our ever-increasing population be of added value if we do not create opportunities for our people?
I know how to create jobs. I built several successful businesses and companies within Nigeria, and as a result of which thousands of people are gainfully employed. If I can manage my businesses well, I can manage the Nigerian economy well.
Education should be given free to every Nigerian, at least up to the secondary school level. I know the value of education; if not because of education, what kind of value would someone like me, a poor child from a small village would have added to Nigeria?
That is why I established an educational community in my hometown, where I built schools from Kindergarten to University all in one place to provide education to the promising younger generation.
The success of any educational policy is not measured based on the number of bodies in classrooms or schools alone but also the quality and relevance of the education. That is why we will invest in improving access and quality of education.
Nelson Mandela once said, “No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated.”
Every Nigerian must have access to affordable and decent healthcare. No Nigerian should be afraid of falling sick just because they cannot pay for the hospital bill. We will strengthen our health care programs so that every Nigerian can have access to the required minimum healthcare quality.
Nigerians cannot afford to pay high petrol prices. That is why we must ensure sufficient refining capacities within Nigeria. If we do that, petrol will be cheaper because it is locally produced. In the meantime, we will protect Nigerians from higher petrol prices through a new comprehensive Energy Policy.
To provide an adequate and affordable electricity supply for every Nigerian, we will ensure sufficient investment in the sector. We will leverage renewable energies to power homes and commercial centers.
And that is why we must provide opportunity for our people. When the citizens of any nation have the opportunity to progress at their own pace, they themselves will help make insecurity a thing of the past. We must remember that terror only thrives where there is local support and crime flourishes where it is profitable.
If we introduce opportunities for Nigerians to express and progress themselves, we would have depressed the insecurity.
6. My Policy Document
As you are aware, I am a man of policy. I will never be that kind of a president operating based on impulse. My administration will be guided by a consolidated and timely policy document.
You and I will be working together to update and review my existing policy document. We should consolidate our ideas into a unified people’s policy that will reflect the realities and possibilities of the current time. The consolidated and reviewed people’s policy document will be announced in due course. It will also serve as an input into the PDP manifesto.
7. Style of governance
I am confident in my ability to deliver inclusive governance. I invite every well-meaning Nigerian to join me in rescuing Nigeria. I don’t have to be the most qualified Nigerian, but I should be wise enough to bring together the most qualified Nigerians to work with them even if I don’t know them previously. I will summon the best brains and work with them.
I would like to work more with young people. Young people are more agile, creative, and conversant with contemporary opportunities and challenges. I too, I feel like I am a 25-year-old. So, you can call me a youth too.
Our administration is going to be a transition of power from the senior generation to a younger generation.
We will cut down the cost of governance because leaders must sacrifice first for the benefit of the people. We will set our fiscal budget within a realizable and realistic level so that we can reduce government debts. We will support and actively engage the private sector in building infrastructure and creating more job opportunities.
8. Conclusion
In the end, this campaign is not about me; it is about you; it is about the future of this country. Let our stories be told for generations to come that we are the ones that rescued Nigeria when it was on the verge of fatal destruction. This is our last opportunity to write our names with the golden ink of history. It must be now or never.
This time around is different; our journey will not end at the poll; we will get to work and rescue Nigeria. I invite every Nigerian to join me in this mission to save our dear country. I believe together we can do it. This is what we owe to Nigeria and the future generation. I have never been this optimistic, and with your support and God’s grace, we will get to the promised land.
The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, did say that “after rain comes sunshine. After darkness comes the glorious dawn.” We have experienced rain, and darkness has enveloped us for too long. Now is the time for sunshine. The hour of our glorious dawn is finally here.
Let me take this opportunity to specially thank the executives and members of the North-East Business Community for not only encouraging me to contest once again, but also for going ahead to purchase the Expression of Interest and the Nomination Forms for me.
My appreciation also goes to all the members of TEECOM chaired by the High Chief Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to this project. I pray that God will crown our efforts with success.
AS ONE WE CAN GET IT DONE.
Thank you
God bless you
And may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
After more than four months in custody, Glory Okolie has been released from prison.
Okolie was accused of terrorism and being a member of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). She was detained and held in a cell by the Inspector-General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) unit of the Nigeria Police Force for more than 150 days.
Activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, who is involved in Okolie’s case, broke the news of the 21-year-old’s release via his official social media handles on Wednesday morning.
“Freedom at last. More than four months in custody, Glory Okolie has been released from prison custody.
“Glory okolie was accused of terrorism and being member of IPOB by IGP IRT headed then by Abba Kyari. Congratulations to us,” Gwamnishu wrote.
Okolie in the case filed at the FCT high court is asking the court to mandate Nigerian authorities to pay her the sum of N100,000,000,000.00 (One hundred billion Naira) as general and punitive damages separately ‘for infringing on her rights’.
According to a court document sighted by this newspaper, Okolie went missing on June 13, 2021, while running an errand in Imo state, “and never returned home on that day”.
The document reads in part: “That from the 17th June 2021, the family members started making all frantic search of the 1st applicant in hospitals, churches, and mosques, all to no avail.
“That the family members, in search of the 1st applicant actually approached the Owerri command of Nigeria Police Force, who charged the uncle of the 1st applicant, the sum of N50,000,00 to track vide telephone tracking the last known address of the 1st applicant.
“That the phone tracking above showed that the 1st applicant was detained by the respondent IGP IRT officers at their Owerri Tiger base unit of the respondent, and when the uncle approached this office, the respondent Owerri Tiger base unit denied.”
Lots of shops have been destroyed in a fire outbreak at Apongbon Market in Eko Bridge, Lagos State on Wednesday morning.
The fire incident, which is currently raging, has caused a gridlock on the Eko bridge and also crippled commercial activities around the Lagos Island area of the state.
Though the cause of the fire incident could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report, it was learned that goods worth millions of naira were destroyed by the inferno.
According to a source, the incident happened around 7 am, Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
But motorists have been urged to ply alternative routes following the reports of the fire which gutted some vehicles under the Eko Bridge.
“Traffic from Eko bridge has been re-routed to Ebute-Ero to link inner marina. Men of fire service and other security agencies are still on the ground. Therefore, CMS bridge and Eko bridge inward/outward Apongbon is close to traffic at the moment,” Lagos State Traffic Management Agency tweeted.
Police authorities in Lagos have warned personnel serving in the command against any form of extortion, human rights abuse, and incivility towards residents of the state.
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Abiodun Alabi, gave the warning on Tuesday during a familiarisation tour to Area G Headquarters in Ogba, and Area H Headquarters in Ogudu.
He stated that the Police High Command has provided several welfare packages for all cadre of personnel and worked hard to ensure salaries were upgraded.
Alabi stressed the need for personnel to reciprocate the gesture by effectively carrying out their duties in the most professional way.
He insisted that no policeman must request money for bail, saying, “If any of my officers ask you money for bail, report to the highest authorities.”
The police commissioner also warned police personnel against asking for frivolous documents from motorists. “Asking for car clearing documents is not your duty, leave it to customs.”
On the issue of tax deductions on salary, he explained that the government has agreed with the top echelon of the force that all forms of deductions from the police personnel should be stopped.
Alabi promised to address some of the challenges in some divisions under the command such as logistics, office space and accommodations, shortage of manpower, and working tools faced, by some divisions.
He commended the efforts of residents, especially the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), the Community Development Associations (CDAs), and the traditional institutions in supporting the command to achieve its set objectives.
The police commissioner also asked divisional police officers in the state to continue to strengthen such relationships which he described as livewire in information gathering and effective policing in their respective areas of coverage.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has again released additional 516.43 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit popularly referred to as petrol to Nigerians.
The release of the 516.43 million litres, which was done between March 14 and March 20 is in addition to the 1.82 billion litres distributed into the Nigerian market within a period of 28 days covering February 14 and March 13.
The release of the product is in line with the commitment of the NNPC management to address the supply gap being experienced in the distribution of petrol to Nigerians caused by several factors.
The NNPC had in recent times introduced several innovations to bring back normalcy in the supply of PMS.
The National Oil Company had last week advised about 48 retail stations to operate for 24 hours daily so as to increase the supply of petrol to Nigerians.
A breakdown of the 516.43 million litres showed that 80 per cent of all the evacuation took place at the top 30 high loading depots while the other loading depots evacuated less than 20 per cent.
It put the average daily evacuation during the week at 73.78 million litres.
The distribution is coming at a time when the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd have reached an understanding with oil marketers to resume loading and movement of Premium Motor Spirit from the depot.
The deal will bring to an end the transportation challenges being faced by oil marketers in the distribution of petroleum products across the country.
The understanding between the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC and the oil marketers followed the challenges being faced by some of them in the distribution of PMS as a result of the high diesel prices.
Crude oil is selling over $139 per barrel and as a deregulated product, when crude prices are high, diesel prices are expected to rise as well.
THE WHISTLER had reported that transportation cost had become too high for marketers because of high price of diesel which is not regulated.
Due to the unregulated nature of the price of diesel, the federal government does not subsidize the product, thereby making the price to be determined by the international market.
But in a bid to resolve the issue, the NNPC GMD, Mele Kyari issued a letter that the NNPC selling price to depot owners be adjusted downwards and the difference added to bridging cost paid to retailers.
In a tacit confirmation of the development, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners last Saturday called on its members to resume full lifting of petrol from the depots.
It said this followed the decision of the federal government to pay the 25 per cent increase in freight rate for petroleum products, which amounts to N11.87/litre, up from N9.5 per litre previously.
Some of the members have since suspended their services because of high cost of operation. Consequently, they demanded increased freight rate from the Federal Government.
NARTO National President, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman, urged members of the association to resume full operation in order to alleviate the current petrol scarcity.
Othman assured the members that the association is working hard on how get Automative Gas Oil (AGO) diesel palliatives from the Federal Government.
A mother of five, Aisha Tijani, has been arrested by the operatives of the Ogun Police Command for allegedly setting her 10-year-old daughter ablaze.
The suspect was arrested following a report lodged at Mowe divisional headquarters by one Moroof Ayinde.
According to DailyTrust, fhe complainant told the Police that he lives in the same apartment with the suspect who allegedly set ablaze her daughter.
According to him, the woman was upset because the daughter took a phone she (the woman) had seized from one of her children from where she kept it and gave it back to the child, from whom, the phone was seized.
The Police Spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi told newsmen in Abeokuta that following the report, the DPO Mowe division, CSP Folashade Tanaruno, quickly moved to the scene with the detectives and got the suspect arrested.
Oyeyemi said the victim, who had been badly burnt, was rushed to the nearest hospital from where she was referred to Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital for proper medical attention.
“On interrogation, the suspect, who claimed to have been separated from the father of the children, explained to the police that she didn’t know what came over her when she was carrying out the wicked act,” he said.
Oyeyemi said the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, had ordered the immediate transfer of the suspect to state criminal Investigation and Intelligence department for further investigation.
The Muhammadu Buhari-led government has cancelled the compulsory COVID-19 test for vaccinated travellers coming into Nigeria.
The Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, made this known during a press briefing on Monday.
He pointed out that in-bound fully vaccinated passengers arriving in the country will no longer be required to take a pre-departure PCR COVID-19 Test.
Mustapaha stated that fully vaccinated passengers on arrival would undergo a rapid antigen test at the airport by the Nigeria Centre For Disease Control (NCDC ), within the arrival hall of all the country’s point of entry and airports.
The PSC boss added that fully vaccinated passengers will not be charged for arrival rapid antigen tests at the airport.
The SGF revealed that the revised international travel protocols, would take effect on Monday, 4th April, 2022.
He said: “Passengers who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated shall take a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours before departure, or do a Day 2 and day 7 test on arrival. Such passengers will be expected to pay for their PCR tests through the travel platform.
“Rules that apply to fully vaccinated adults also apply to children aged 10 – 18 years; they will not be required to have pre-arrival PCR tests but will have a sample taken at the arrival hall but not charged.
“All passengers travelling out of Nigeria are encouraged to be fully vaccinated and to fully comply with COVID-19 protocols and requirements in their country of destination.”
The SGF said that the PSC continues to strongly recommend the use of face masks in enclosed environments, while n open spaced, the use of face masks was discretional.
Mustapha also said that the country still has the National Response in place as its continue to monitor global trends and adapt them with the situation in country.
He stressed that there had been a consistent decline in number of cases around the world but that does not give Nigerians the leverage to let their guards down yet because there were predictions of rebounds as Nigerians can see in China, South Korea, Germany, Vietnam, France, Hong Kong.
The Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), on Tuesday set aside May 9, 10, and 11 for the prosecution of a prime suspect in the murder of 22-year-old Bamise Ayanwole.
It was gathered that the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) driver, Andrew Nice Omininikoron, accused of killing Bamise, was arraigned on Tuesday morning before Justice Sherifat Sonaike on a four-count charge of conspiracy, murder, and two counts of rape. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Nice’s arraignment followed a legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr Jide Martins, recommending the prosecution of the 47-year-old.
Recall that Bamise went missing after boarding the BRT bus on February 26. She was said to have boarded the bus which was going to Oshodi at about 7pm at Chevron Bus-stop in Lekki.
Her lifeless body was discovered on Carter Bridge, Lagos Island, on March 7, triggering public outrage.
Nigerian billionaire businessman, Obi Cubana, has signed a deal with musician, Habeeb Okikiola also called Portable, as the brand ambassador of his new herbal drink “Odogwu bitters”.
The deal which was signed on Monday was revealed by Portable.
Based on the disclosure made known in a video, the deal which endorses Portable as a brand ambassador is valued N50m.
But both parties did not disclose the tenure of the deal.
THE WHISTLER could not independently verify the terms of the deal as of the time of filing the report.
The deal has however generated reactions on micro-blogging site, Twitter.
A Twitter user with the handle @Tee_Classiquem1 said, “Portable just signed a deal worth N50m with Obi Cubana as an Ambassador for his new herbal drink Odogwu bitters. It’s safe to say being an idamu adugbo is really paying off for his brand.”
For @Nycewizy, he said, “Obi Cubana is smart. Man wants to break the context that Odogwu Bitters is an Eastern Drink for just the Igbos. Signed the rave of the moment Portable as a Brand Ambassador for a whooping N50m? Smart move.”
Also, @oba2312 tweeted, “Obi cubana smart guy pushing odogwu bitters to the trenches, portable is the right person!”
Similarly, @ManLikeIcey said, “Portable is the most loquacious artiste in the street right now, making him a brand ambassador for a gin is a very exceptional decision, he’ll make more than that N50m Obi Cubana gave him.”
