2023: Amosun To Declare For Presidency On May 5

 

A former Governor of Ogun State and Senator representing Ogun Central in the National Assembly, Ibikunle Amosun, is set to join the 2023 presidential race on May 5, 2022.

Naija News learned that the former governor will formally declare his presidential bid on May 5 at an event in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

It is understood that Amosun will run for the Office of the President of Nigeria on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor is reported to have consulted with stakeholders in the ruling APC regarding his 2023 presidential ambition.

“Everything is set. He will formally declare his bid on May 5,” a source told TheCable.

Senator Amosun will battle the party’s presidential ticket with the likes of VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo, APC national leader, Bola Tinubu, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Senator Rochas Okorocha, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, among others.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has formally made public his intention to contest the presidency in the 2023 general election.

Ngige declared his Presidential ambition today before a mammoth crowd at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Alor, Idemili South local government area of Anambra State.

The Minister described himself as an aspirant well equipped with years of administrative experience due to his 40 years of experience in the public service.

Ngige said he has a huge wealth of experience, capacity and energy as well as a large heart to accommodate the differences among Nigerians.

 

Updated: NAF Aircraft Crashes In Kaduna, Officers Feared Dead

 

An aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), has reportedly crashed in Kaduna State on Tuesday.

The trainer aircraft was said to have two pilots on board on a training session when the incident occurred.

Although authorities of the NAF are yet to react to the incident, reports identified Flight Lieutenants Alkali and Karatu as the pilots on board.

The recent development takes the total number of reported aircraft’s crashes to no fewer than five in the last 14 months where at least, 20 officers have reportedly died during these tragic incidents, including senior army personnel.

Notable among the crashes was the one involving the Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 others on May 21, 2021.

In February 2021, seven personnel died in a Beechcraft King B350i crash on their way to Minna, Niger State. The aircraft crashed after reporting engine failure, according to the aviation authorities.

In April 2021, a fighter Alpha Jet had disappeared in Borno State where it was used in the war against insurgency in the North East.

The authorities said the fighter jet lost contact with the radar while on an interdiction mission in support of ground troops in the state.

On July 2021, another Alpha Jet was shot down after it came under terrorist attack operating between Kaduna and Zamfara states.

However, the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, had survived but the aircraft was reduced to a wreckage after the incident.

 

Police IG Beefs Up Security In Schools, Colleges, Deploys Operational Assets

 

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba has ordered the review of police personnel and operational assets deployments to schools and colleges around the country.

Naija News reports that this is to ensure the protection of schools and colleges, particularly boarding schools, tertiary institutions, and its campuses in areas prone to security breaches around the country.

This was made known in a statement on Tuesday by Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

According to the police spokesperson, the directive was issued at the management meeting of the Force Management Team at the IGP Conference Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, on 19th April, 2022, while reviewing the general security in the country including the security of schools and colleges as a result of some isolated incidences reported in some schools.

IGP Alkali Baba equally directed all State Commissioners of Police, Tactical Commanders, as well as their supervising Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), to explore all available options and think outside the box to boost security in and around schools, colleges, and student-based communities.

He ordered detectives/operatives of the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) and the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) to ensure sustained surveillance and intelligence gathering activities within various school environments.

The IGP asked the Police Airwing to extend its aerial patrols to the six geo-political zones of the country.

Baba assured that all hands will be on deck to ensure a safe environment for all pupils and students in the various schools and colleges of learning within the country.

He further reiterated the commitment of his administration to diversifying resources towards sustainable security and safety of all and sundry in Nigeria.

 

JUST IN: Former Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso Picks NNPP Presidential Form

 

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has taken his aspirations for the 2023 presidency to the next level as he, on Tuesday, picked the nomination and expression of interest forms of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Kwankwaso paid the required N30m for the forms at the party’s National headquarters in Abuja in the presence of the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Rufai Alkali, the National Organising Secretary, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi and other members of the National Working Committee.

The former Kano governor accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing Nigerians.

Kwankwaso dumped the PDP for NNPP on the 29th of March, 2022 over what he described as ‘serious and irreconcilable difference.’

Barely 24 hours after his defection, Kwankwaso was named National Leader of the party and his loyalists clinched top positions of the new National Executive Committee effectively putting the party’s organs in his control.

 

Man Utd, Real Madrid, Others React As Ronaldo Loses Baby Boy

 

Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid, and other clubs have commiserated with Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner Georgina Rodriguez over the death of their newborn son.

Naija News had reported that the Ballon d’Or winner announced the death of one of his twins via his social media pages on Monday evening.

In a jointly signed statement, Ronaldo and Rodriguez confirmed the birth of a baby girl.

He wrote: “It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce that our baby boy has passed away. It is the greatest pain that any parent can feel.

“Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness.

“We would like to thank the doctors and nurses for all their expert care and support. We are all devastated at this loss and we kindly ask for privacy at this very difficult time.

“Our baby boy, you are our angel. We will always love you.”

Following the sad development, football clubs and players took to their social media accounts to console the 37-year-old forward over the death of his son.

Reacting, Manchester United wrote: “Your pain is our pain, Cristiano. Sending love and strength to you and the family at this time.”

In their reaction, Real Madrid wrote: “We deeply regret the death of one of the children that our beloved Cristiano Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodriguez, were expecting.

“Real Madrid joins the grief of the whole family and wants to show them all our love and affection.”

Juventus wrote: “Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Georgina and the whole family during this time.❤️”

Rival clubs, Liverpool and Manchester City also condoled Ronaldo and his partner over the death of their newborn baby.

Man City wrote: “Everyone at Manchester City sends our deepest condolences to you and Georgina.” 💙

“All of us here at Liverpool FC send our deepest condolences to you, Georgina and the family,” Liverpool tweeted.

“Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur sends our thoughts and condolences to you and your family 💙”

Hardship Hits Synagogue Businesses As Hoteliers, Others Put Properties Up For Sale After TB Joshua’s Death

 

Businesses within the vicinity of the Synagogue Church of All Nations are facing untold hard times since the death of its founder, Prophet T.B Joshua Naija News reports.

A visit to the ground revealed that many outlets, including hotels, eateries, convenience stores, and business centers, which used to be a bubbling ground with activities and sales are closing shop.

According to the reports, this is due to the fact that many of their customers who were mostly foreigners who flock the church, while T.B Joshua was alive for spiritual tourism no longer come around.

Hotels owners due to the low patronage experienced took loans from the banks after things went from bad to worse after the delay that occurred in reopening of the church following the controversies over succession which pitched late T.B Joshua wife Helen, with some of the junior pastors of SCOAN, celebrityplusonline reports.

Unfortunately, the hotel owners who smiled to the banks when the church was bubbling with throngs of people were unable to service the loans, which brought about heavy pressure from the bank to repay the loans. Others, who were not under heavy pressure to repay loans, and could not fund their business due to low patronage have put up their property for lease instead of an outright sale.

Despite the reopening of the Church to normal worship a few months ago, the situation has failed to improve and the plight of the business owners remain what it is.

This is because traffic has waned drastically at the once boisterous church.

 

Sterling Bank Apologises, Withdraws Easter Message That Compared Jesus To ‘Agege Bread’

 

Sterling Bank Plc has apologised to Christians for its Easter message that linked the resurrection of Jesus Christ to ‘Agege Bread.’

The Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, Abubakar Suleiman made the apology in a statement.

Suleiman said the message which had no ‘malicious intent’ has also been withdrawn with Immediate effect.

Sterling Bank had on April 17, posted an Easter message which reads “Like Agege Bread, He Rose.”

The bank was largely criticised for being ‘provocative and insensitive.’

The Advertising Practitioner Council of Nigeria (APCON) through its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, said the bank will face sanction for the “provocative Easter celebration advertisement”. “

But Abubakar who apologised on behalf of the bank and members of staff admitted that the content failed to fully account for the feelings of billions of Christians all over the world during.

He said, “On behalf of the management and staff of Sterling Bank Plc, I write to tender our unreserved apology to you and members of our nation’s Christian community for our Easter message of 17 April 2022.

“The content of infographics and the message it contained was insensitive and failed to consider the very sober nature of the event being commemorated, being the death of Jesus Christ.

“While the message had no malicious intent, there is no place for content that fails to fully account for the feelings of billions of people all over the world.

“Our honest intent was to join our millions of customers in Nigeria and worldwide to celebrate this solemn event., but our execution fell short on this occasion.

“Our policies are clear on what constitutes acceptable customer communication, and this message should not have been released to our customers. On this occasion, our editorial processes fell short of our policy standards.

“As a responsible institution, we immediately withdraw the offensive material and initiate a review of the circumstances that led to this failure. We will further sensitise our workforce to ensure this unfortunate lapse in judgement never repeats itself.”

 

Sterling Bank To Face Sanction Over Controversial Easter Message

 

One of Nigeria’s commercial banks, Sterling Bank will be sanctioned for a controversial Easter advertisement likening the resurrection of Jesus Christ to Agege Bread.

The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) made this known in a statement issued by its Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Olalekan Fadolapo.

In the statement, the council said it observed with displeasure the insensitive and provocative Easter celebration advertisement posted on social media.

The council said the advertisement was not submitted for approval by its panel and would be sanctioned for the “distasteful” message.

The statement reads: “The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) has observed with displeasure the insensitive and provocative Easter celebration advertisement by Sterling Bank Plc which compared the resurrection of Christ with Agege Bread.

“The distasteful advertisement was neither submitted nor approved for exposure by the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP), the statutory Panel charged with the responsibility of ensuring that advertisements conform with the prevailing laws of the federation as well as the code of ethics of Advertising in Nigeria.

“APCON will take necessary actions to ensure that Sterling Bank is sanctioned for the exposure of such offensive advertisement according to law and that no religious belief or faith is ridiculed or any blasphemous advertisement exposed in any guise.”

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Naija News reports that the bank in celebrating Easter posted an Easter message on social media platforms and also sent its customers via email.

The message, which has now been deleted and replaced with an apology post, contained a picture of a golden-brown bread divided into two with the caption ‘Like Agege Bread, He Rose!”

Following the development, the Easter message sparked public outrage on Twitter with most Nigerians condemning the bank for diminishing the essence of Easter, while some found the post amusing and catchy.

 

Bricklayer Declared Missing After Visiting Alfa For Spiritual Help

 

A bricklayer, Samond Akeju Ogunrinde has reportedly gone missing after visiting an Islamic cleric, Olaitan Apelu for spiritual consultation at Iyara in Ijumu LGA of Kogi State.

According to Daily Trust, the 36-year-old who hails from Iwoye-Ketu in Ogun State lives in Ekiti with his wife and two children.

Akeju’s elder brother, Muideen told the publication that he informed his family when he arrived at the Alfa’s residence on March 25 with the intention of returning home the same day. However, not only did the father of two refuse to return home that same day, he became unreachable on phone for hours which later rolled into days and weeks.

According to the elder brother: “When we contacted alfa to ask about our brother’s whereabouts, we were surprised to hear him say that our brother did not come to his house. The matter was immediately reported to the police at Iyara Division.”

Muideeen explained further that when the police stormed the cleric’s residence he had taken to his heels but his father was apprehended. The suspect was later arrested and the bricklayer’s mobile phone was found on him. However, the suspect denied knowing the bricklayer’s whereabouts.

The family’s lawyer, Amos Oghinan, said that the suspect had been transferred to the state headquarters in Lokoja, saying the suspect remained adamant.

Oghinan complained about the delay in charging the suspect to court.

He said: “Already, the alfa is overstaying his visit to the police headquarters, any human rights organization can complain about unlawful and long detention. To avoid this, the police should charge the case to court.”

The state police spokesman, William Aya, said he had not been briefed on the matter.

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