The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu confirmed former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 election.
A source had confidentially confirmed to Vanguard earlier that Tinubu ahead of the Friday deadline by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu resolved to pick Senator Shettima to run a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Naija News reports that Tinubu had earlier submitted the name of Alhaji Kabiru Masari to INEC as a placeholder. There has been pressure since then on the former governor of Lagos State to consider picking a Christian as his running mate.
Speculations, however, ended on Sunday (today) after Tinubu arrived in Daura, Katsina State to pay homage to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Tinubu while briefing the press upon his arrival, said Masari has agreed to step down and Shettima is now confirmed as his standard-running-mate.
Naija News understands that President Buhari has been in Daura since Friday to celebrate the 2022 Eid-el Kabir festive with his extended family.
Eid el Kabir: Lagos Remains Safe, Speaker Obasa Says
– Promises more laws to protect residents
– Preaches love, religious tolerance among Lagosians
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa of the Lagos State House of Assembly has described the State as the relatively safest part of Nigeria adding that this feat was recorded following conscious steps by successive governments since 1999.
Dr Obasa said this on Friday in a congratulatory message to Muslims as they mark this year’s Eid-el Kabir.
The Speaker noted that the celebration affords Muslims a conscious effort to show love, sacrifice for one another and ensure a peaceful environment that should continue even after the period.
According to the Speaker, the peace enjoyed by Lagos residents and investors is the result of the passion of those in government to make the state habitable at all times.
“In relation to safety of lives and property, Lagos remains a shinning light, a good example of a government that works for its people. With all the arms of governmeent working together, we have achieved great feats in the area of security.
“Your representatives at the House of Assembly have never shied away from the task of making our dear state attractive and better for its residents. We have made laws and passed resolutions that have helped in this regard.
“The creation of the Neighborhood Safety Corps and other related agencies, the anti-kidnapping and the anti-cultism laws which prescribe serious punishments as well as our review of the criminal justice law of the State are perfect examples of our resolve to always ensure pro-people activities at the House.
“We are encouraged by the feedbacks we constantly receive from both residents of our state and our colleagues in many parts of Africa. We will continue to make Lagos a success,” Obasa said in the statement released by Eromosele Ebhomele, his Chief Press Secretary.
Thanking the residents of the State for being tolerant of one another irrespective of individual religious beliefs, he urged them not to relent in spreading love.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
AIG Assures Hitch Free Sallah Celebrations As NAOSRE President Scores Military Low On Security
The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun States, AIG Adeleke Adeyinka Bode, has charged Commissioners of Police in-charge of the two States to be proactive in the discharge of their duties in the protection of life and property during and after the 2022 Eid-el- Kabir celebrations
The instruction is contained in a statement signed by SP Hauwa Idris-Adamu, Zone 2 Police Public Relations Officer which was made available to the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE.
The statement added that the Zone 2 AIG has also deployed officers and men of Anti-Cultism Section (ACS), Rapid Response Squad (RRS),Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), Quick Intervention Unit (QIU), Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD),Counter Terrorists Unit (CTU),Police Mobile Force (PMF),Special Protection Unit (SPU),State/Divisional Motor Traffic Department (MTD) including Safer Highway Operatives and all patrol and guard officers to beef up security around worship centres, market places, business plazas, highways, relaxation centres, amusement parks, motor parks, shopping malls, recreation centres, remote and rural areas to ensure free flow of traffic as well as safer environment for the celebrations.
In his goodwill message, the president, National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, Comrade Femi Oyewale rejoiced with Muslims on the occasion of the Eid-al-Adha celebrations, urging Nigerians to continue on the path of spirituality and peaceful co-existence.
He explained that the commitment of NAOSRE members at ensuring cordiality between security agencies and citizens, using their various blogs to publicize the activities of security operatives has be encouraging.
He therefore urged excos and members of the frontline security media association to imbibe the lessons of the sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim and work for the unity, peace and security of Nigeria.
“This Islamic festival is a symbolic reminder to us that there will always be great rewards when we have abiding faith and patience in our beloved country Nigeria.
“Therefore, we must always strive to imbibe the patience and perseverance of Prophet Ibrahim, who held on tenaciously to his faith in Allah despite difficulties,” the NAOSRE President advised.
Oyewale however, frowns at the recurring phenomenon of insecurity that threatens and undeservingly plagues Nigeria into disquiet.
He noted that the issue of insecurity in Nigeria has become something of grave concern to all well-meaning citizens most of who continue to wonder how the country arrived at such a dastardly situation where no one is safe.
He expressed concerns that rather than abate, the problem is escalating and now totally out of control despite NAOSRE’s patriotic efforts at shoring citizens’ confidence in security operatives.
Oyewale wondered about the continued loss of confidence in Nigeria by investors who are denied exercising the constitutional privileges of going about their lawful business pursuits on daily basis.
“Across the 36 States in Nigeria, armed robbery, kidnapping, domestic crime, extrajudicial killings, herder-farmer conflicts, ritual killings and banditry have supported the growing level of insecurity and consequently retarded the country’s economic growth in the long and short terms overview.
“For the avoidance of doubt, about 1,743 Nigerians have been killed in Q1 of 2022 with Niger and Zamfara States topping the list of victims.
“Besides, as of June 1, 2022, the records of NAOSRE’s Intelligent and Research Unit, IRU, indicate that more than 35,000 human beings, residing in Nigeria have been killed since 2009 when Boko Haram launched its insurgency aimed at overthrowing Nigeria’s secular government and establishing an Islamic state.
“Yet, here is a country with about 223,000 active personnel in its Armed Forces. In addition to this statistics is the annual Global Firepower, GFP 2022 reports which ranks Nigeria, in its Power Index {PwrIndx} as 35 out of the 142 countries. The reports rated Nigeria on its 0.5745 scores which is considered good,” Oyewale stated.
But the NAOSRE President noted that in the face of all this, the country is structurally enmeshed in both vertical and horizontal crises of insecurity saying that the sheer audacity of untrained bandits to always overrun trained military personnel is worrisome.
Specifically, Oyewale emphasized that the unchallenged attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria on July 5, in which about 879 inmates reportedly escaped is the final statement that military operatives’ intervention and rescue duties have nosedived and Nigeria’s security system is all-time low.
“It makes mockery of military operatives’ celebrated gallantry at combating insurgency. This development has jeopardized the country’s economy even with approved 2022 budgetary spending of a whopping N1.52 billion on security operations,” Oyewale lamented.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, and other chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday paid a visit to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State was among the APC leaders that visited the governor, with former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose also present.
The APC leaders met with Wike at the private residence of the Rivers State governor in Port Harcourt.
The details of the closed-door meeting are not yet known, but it may not be unconnected with the 2023 presidential election.
Wike and his allies have been at loggerheads with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the decision to pick Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as the running mate of the party¡¯s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Following that decision, Wike and his loyalists, which include Governor Samuel Ortom, Governor Seyi Makinde, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Senator Jonah Jang, and others, have called for the resignation of the PDP national chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the Executive Governor of Rivers State just received Gov. Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Gov. Akeredolu of Ondo State, Gov. Fayemi of Ekiti State and other APC Chieftains for a meeting at his country home in Rumuepirikom, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. pic.twitter.com/FddKCMG4St
The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has begun uploading the biodata of terrorists and other criminals who escaped from the Kuje Medium Correctional Centre to the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) database.
Recall that members of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) had on Tuesday night attacked the facility freeing over 500 inmates, including top commanders of Boko Haram, Ansaru, and kidnap kingpin Wadume.
Speaking to The PUNCH on Thursday, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, said details of most of the escapees had already been uploaded.
He said the NCoS had circulated the names, pictures, and other data of the inmates to other security agencies and border authorities.
On if Interpol has gotten the data, Abubakar said, “They are working on it; the ones they uploaded are not too clear to my liking and the management’s liking. Hopefully, they should be through tonight.
“Yes, we have access to the (Interpol) database. Every inmate or suspect that is brought to our facility, we photograph him and have the details about him before it goes to our database.
“They are trying to upload it and work on it so we can have the details of the offences committed and have the next-of-kin and take appropriate actions.”
He said the service had alerted other security agencies to look out for the fleeing inmates, stressing that the only issue is that “we want to upload the information with their pictures captured for easy identification by this night (Thursday) or earliest tomorrow morning (Friday); by 8 am, we should be through.”
Another senior officer dismissed claims that there were no close circuit cameras at the facility.
He stated that there are cameras in Kuje prison, but the close circuit cameras are only meant to cover the facility’s interior.
“The prison has CCTVs; it is just that the cameras do not cover as far as the gate where the soldiers are. But within the walls, there is CCTV. The pictures of the fleeing inmates have been sent to Interpol,” he said.
Popular Nigeria singer and rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem on Thursday appreciated Nigerians for their support after news of being diagnosed with kidney failure made headlines.
It was earlier reported that the aide of the veteran singer, Myke Pam confirmed the development in a post on his Twitter account.
Pam in the statement noted that Abdulkareem will have a surgical operation at the end of July
Nigerian rapper, MI Abaga who also confirmed the health issue of Abdulkareem, solicited help from well-meaning Nigerians on behalf of the singer.
Abdulkareem in a video shared on his Instagram account appreciated people who reached out to him and his family.
The rapper said, ¡°this morning at the hospital
¡°Hi my people, this is me undergoing my weekly dialysis regime in high spirit and with a strong belief in the efficacy of your prayers, love and care!
¡°I sincerely want to thank and appreciate those who have reached out to me and my family in support.
¡°Your assistance, kind gestures, get well soon wishes and prayers are highly appreciated and therapeutic, to say the least.
BREAKING: Prophet Odumeje beaten as Church gets demolished [VIDEO]
Anambra State government has demolished the Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry owned by Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere alias ‘Odumeje’ in Onitsha.
This is inline with the Onitsha urban renewal plan spearheaded by Governor Charles Soludo.
The structure was erected along Nwagene stream and had to be removed.
Footage made available to POLITICS NIGERIA shows the moment Armed Taskforce officials manhandled and slapped the Fiery prophet as he attempted to stop the demolition exercise.
More to come……
BREAKING: Governor Soludo of APGA Party demolish Prophet Odumeje's church in Onitsha. The Indabosky beaten up and bundled out of the premises pic.twitter.com/CF3hygOSBH
— Chief Pigo Hedliger (@OfficialPigo) July 7, 2022
Billionaire businessman, Elon Musk, reportedly welcomed twins last year with an executive employee at one of his companies, Neuralink.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO had the children quietly with Shivon Zilis, an executive at the neurotechnology company which he co-founded. Neuralink develops implantable brain-machine interfaces.
The twins bring Musk’s total number of children to nine,
According to Business Insider, this was revealed when the paper obtained court documents filed to make the children’s last name Musk, while they kept their mother’s surname, Zilis, as a middle name. The documents were reportedly filed in April of this year and granted in early May.
Zilis began working for both Tesla and Neuralink back in May 2017, and currently holds the position of Director of Operations and Special Projects at Neuralink. Before she began working for Musk’s companies, she worked for a Bloomberg venture capital fund, as well as IBM. She was featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 list for venture capital in 2015.
This is the second set of twins for Musk, who previously had a set of twins with his ex-wife, Justine Wilson, back in 2004. One of the twins, Vivian, formerly known as Xavier, was granted a court request to drop her famous last name and change her gender from male to female. Her name was legally changed from Xavier Musk to Vivian Jenna Wilson.
The court documents state that Xavier listed the reason for the name change as “Gender Identity and the fact that I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape, or form.”
Musk’s other children with Wilson are a son Nevada, who died as an infant in 2002, and triplet boys Kai, Saxon, and Damian, who were born in 2006.
He also has two other children with musician Claire Boucher, aka Grimes, a son born in May 2021 named X Æ A-Xii (pronounced X Ash A Twelve), and a daughter, named Exa Dark Siderael Musk born in December 2021 through a surrogate.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Lagos State, Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor has debunked the report-making round that he has picked Nigerian actress, Funke Akindele as his running mate.
Jandor cleared the air on Wednesday evening following the report that he had selected the actress as his Deputy ahead of the 2023 governorship election.
The PDP governorship candidate in an interview with Vanguard on the trending report said, “I haven’t chosen nor announced Funke Akindele as my running mate.
“However, that stage will come in due course when an official public announcement will be made.”
It was earlier reported that Akindele was considered the Deputy Governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State.
Gbenga Ogunleye, the media aide to the governorship candidate confirmed that Akindele was nominated alongside four others whom he listed as Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Kolawole Vaughan, Adenike Shobajo and [Rasheed] Teslim-Balogun.
He said, “she was nominated alongside four other people, whose names are Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Kolawole Vaughan, Adenike Shobajo and [Rasheed] Teslim-Balogun. Jandor has not named anyone as his running mate yet.”
The Lagos State governorship election is scheduled for March 11, 2023, with PDP hoping to win the state.
Wema Bank Launches Leadership School to Re-skill and Groom Leaders
Nigeria’s most innovative bank, Wema Bank Plc, has launched the Leadership Development School as an addition to its Purple Academy to help in the overall development and transformation of its workforce.
Speaking at the formal opening ceremony of the leadership school, the Managing Director/CEO of the bank, Mr. Ademola Adebise, said organisations have a huge task to optimise performance and deliver value in contemporary times, pointing out that leadership is key in driving organisational success.
Adebise said we need good leaders to blend the various skills of the employees for the advancement of an organisation and its business success.
Speaking about the increasing complexity of the financial services industry, Adebise said both local and external macroeconomic dynamics have changed business models, and we need strong leadership to direct the workforce and lead the people to deliver.
He assured the public that the bank would continue to leverage local and international partnerships to make the leadership school the home of excellence.
The Chief Human Resources Officer of the bank, Mrs Lolade Ogungbenro, described the leadership school as a rich, inclusive, and innovative portfolio with an unrivalled ability to equip the bank’s diverse workforce with skills for the future of work.
“We have designed business and executive education for impact, and the academy is exploring new experiences and diverse perspectives that translate to significant returns on investment for the business,” she said.
The bank’s Head of Learning and Development, Oluwaferanmi Owolabi, corroborated Mrs Ogungbenro, saying continuous learning is essential because of the changing nature of work.
“Purple Leadership School is at the pinnacle of our Corporate University that seeks to fuel our current leadership, build resilience, drive succession with a high-performance pipeline and groom the next generation of leaders to thrive and excel in business in an ever-changing world,” Oluwaferanmi said.