Herdsmen have converted the Kwara State Complex Stadium Ilorin, into a fertile land for cattle pasture as weeds overtake a section of the facility.
This weekend, cattle were sighted grazing on grasses in parts of the complex.
Fresh and dried cow dung could also be seen on the asphalt within the complex.
The security officials manning the gate blamed the sports ministry for the deterioration in the condition of the stadium – and ‘for giving the herdsmen unhindered access’ to the 26,000-capacity sporting arena.
One of the security men described the presence of the herdsmen and their cattle at the stadium as “an embarrassment”, but noted that the security unit was helpless to stop them.
The Kwara State Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Ilorin, Kwara. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Kwara United F.C. and ABS F.C.
Nigeria’s main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, has rebuked the state government for increasing the fare for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) across various routes in the state.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu‘s led government had recently approved a flat rate increase for all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Standard routes to cushion the effect of the harsh operating environment, safeguard private partnership investment, and forestall the demise of formalized bus operations in the state.
A bus ride from Ikorodu – TBS will now cost N600 from N500, while Berger to Ajah is now N700, up from N600. Oshodi to Abule Egba will cost N450 from N350, and Abule-Egba-CMS-Obalende will attract a fare of N600.
The increase, according to the government, will be effective from Wednesday, 13 July 2022, stating that the increase is aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the BRT and standard route schemes.
The Governor further added that it would be providing support for the Bus Operating Companies in view of the continuous increase in fuel prices. This ensures that the increment to the passenger is kept at a minimum.
Reacting, PDP, in a statement released on Sunday through its State Publicity Secretary, Mr . Hakeem Amode, said the increase would add to the plight of the masses.
PDP said the incumbent government was not being considerate with the livelihood of the citizens who have suffered enough hardship already.
Amode stressed that the APC administration blaming the hike on the pump price of diesel from N187 to N830 and the unavailability of spare parts for the increase was not justifiable.
He said: “Sanwo-Olu-led APC administration has completely abdicated its responsibility to the people of the state and turned a blind eye to their predicament.
“The few ‘luxuries’ that the people benefit from the state are being taken away.
“Now is not the time for any form of increment, as the people of the state have suffered enough under this unsympathetic government.”
Amode urged the state government to immediately shelve the proposed increment on BRT fare so as not to worsen the citizens’ situation in the face of dilapidated infrastructure, insecurity, hunger, and a rise in crime, among other challenges being experienced by the people of the state.
The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar is mired in a fresh Certificate controversy following a discovery that his WAEC certificate bears a different name.
Atiku’s WAEC certificate bears the name ‘Siddiq Abubakar’.
According to documents displayed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Atiku did not provide information on his primary education. The 1965 West Africa School Certificate (WASC) result presented by him identified the student as ‘Siddiq Abubakar’.
POLITICS NIGERIA learned that Atiku holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom. From the documents seen, Atiku earned a Master’s degree in 2021 with GCE O’level results.
Attached to the documents was a sworn affidavit as Deputy Preventive Superintendent attached to Customs Preventive Station, Apapa Wharf, Lagos, where he declared to be addressed as Atiku Abubakar.
Reacting, a public affairs analyst said it was baffling and shocking that Atiku earned a Master’s degree in 2021 with GCE 0 level results.
“I would like to know how Atiku with zero academic or creative publications and with zero college level courses suddenly earned a Master’s degree? And the year 2021 is suspect. He quickly scammed Nigeria with a degree he obtained in 2021 because of the presidential election.
“Before someone without a Bachelor degree could earn a Master’s degree, he must have distinguished himself academically or in his field of endeavours by showing publications or unique writing samples.
“For example, a playwright called Nilo Cruz (Cuban-American playwright) was accepted into Brown University MFA in playwriting program in the early 1990s without a bachelor’s degree. But he earned Associate degree from Community College and distinguished himself as a talented playwright with numerous plays.
“And he was recommended into Brown MFA In playwriting program by another scholar/ playwright who had taught Nilo Cruz before.”.
FIRSTBANK LAUNCHES SINGLE-DIGIT LOAN FOR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES, REINFORCES ITS ROLE IN STRENGTHENING GENDER INCLUSION IN NIGERIA
The FirstGem fund (FirstGem loan) is a single-digit loan scheme, exclusively designed to put women at an advantage in contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.
The loan scheme covers female-owned or partnered SMEs in various sectors of the economy
Launched in 2016, FirstGem has been impactful in driving financial inclusion, influencing women’s empowerment through gender-advancement programmes like savings culture, financial literacy, wealth management and building an investment portfolio.
In furtherance of its role in promoting female entrepreneurship across the country, Nigeria’s premier banking institution and leading financial inclusion services provider, FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, has announced the launch of the FirstGem fund (FirstGem loan); a single-digit loan scheme, exclusively designed to put women at an advantage in contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.
The FirstGem loan scheme is designed for female-owned or partnered SMEs in the following sectors Food/Beverage processing & Packaging, Beauty and cosmetics, Confectionery, Catering & Restaurants, Transportation (Logistics) and Agric/Agro-Allied (retail value chain). With an interest rate of 9% per annum, FirstGem loan is a collateral-free loan that is available to the bank’s existing and prospective female customers. Based on eligibility, customers can access loans from N500,000.00 to N3,000,000.00.
Speaking on the loan Folake Ani-Mumuney, Group Head, First Bank of Nigeria Limited said, “we are delighted with the role our FirstGem product plays in creating an avenue to enlarge the business activities and endeavours of female entrepreneurs across the country. Our FirstGem value proposition offers real solutions to constraints encountered by female entrepreneurs and working professionals, as it exposes women to opportunities for the advancement of their business. We implore every female business-minded individual to take advantage of the FirstGem loan as it puts them at an advantage to contribute their quota to the national economy.”
Launched in 2016, FirstGem has been impactful in driving financial inclusion, influencing women’s empowerment through gender-advancement programmes like savings culture, financial literacy, wealth management and building an investment portfolio. FirstGem is designed specifically to meet the needs of the female gender, aged 18 years and above.
FirstGem is targeted at a broad spectrum of women, working professionals, entrepreneurs or market women through an array of benefits such as free business advisory services, access to finance, specialized training on business development initiatives (virtual and physical events), regular insights on business / investment opportunities and mouth-watering discounts at partner merchant outlets (spas, salons, grocery stores) offering lifestyle products and services.
Recently, FirstBank announced its partnership with CDC Group, the UK Government’s development finance organisation to economically empower women-owned and led businesses as well as local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The facility, which is in the sum of US$100 million will have a minimum of 30% allocated in the form of credit lines to women entrepreneurs.
The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has reiterated his decision to stick with Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa despite pressure to replace him.
Vanguard gathered in Abuja on Saturday that 13 governors and loyalists of the PDP are reaching out to Atiku to douse the tension.
While some are asking for Okowa to be replaced others are demanding a reconciliation which would make Atiku reach out to Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike.
However, Atiku, in a tweet on his verified Twitter handle @Atiku, on Saturday said: “Getting this country back on track will require all hands on deck.
“And I am excited to go on this journey with my vice-presidential candidate, H.E Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa @AIOkowa.
“Let’s come together as ONE towards a brighter future for all and one Nigeria.”
He subsequently attached a video of Okowa addressing Nigerians.
In the video, Okowa describes himself as an incurable optimist ready to work towards the insecurity plaguing the country.
Okowa said: “For me, being on the ticket with Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, is an opportunity to play a role in resetting the trajectory of Nigeria back to the path of growth, peace and prosperity.”
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday droved a tricycle (keke) as part of his 85th birthday celebration.
The elder statesman rode through some roads in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun, to pick up passengers.
The former president caught the attention of residents of the community who cheered Obasanjo and took photos.
Obasanjo who offered rides to citizens, moved through Moshood Abiola, NNPC Mega Station, and Kuto Market, among others.
The elder statesman’s action was part of his Free Keke Programme of the Youth Development Centre of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
Obasanjo called on young Nigerians not to leave Nigeria to those messing it up.
He said youths in the country should take advantage of the available opportunities to make an impact.
Obasanjo said, “Things are not what they should be but youths, individually and collectively, must make contributions to make things the way they should be.
“If you leave things to those who are messing it up for you and who are saying you are the leaders of tomorrow, you will never have that tomorrow.
“God has given you the innate ability to be what He wants you to be. If you make up your mind, God will help you and provide people who would help you.”
Scores of children were allegedly found in an underground apartment of a church in the Valentino Area of Ondo town, Ondo State, on Friday evening.
It was gathered that the children were allegedly kidnapped and kept in the underground apartment of the church.
A source said victims were over 50 while the police had rescued them and arrested the pastor and some members of the church.
In a viral video, the children were seen in a patrol vehicle of the police who took them to the police station.
In the one minute, 40 seconds video, a voice was heard saying, “They are kidnapped children found in the underground cell of a church in the Valentino Area of Ondo. The pastor and some members of the church have been arrested and were also in the patrol van of the police.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, said the victims had been taken to the Akure headquarters of the command.
“I don’t have the details yet but they are bringing the victims to the headquarters. I will give you the details as soon as I get it from the DPO,” the PPRO stated.
Video of the rescued children from Church underground in Ondo town onboard buses with security escort to Ondo State Police Command in Akure Via Phanciey pic.twitter.com/1mr1JzeT7S
The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party appears far from over as the presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar and the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu seeks to resolve the differences.
The likes of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, and the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose have expressed their grievances following the emergence of Ifeanyi Okowa as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.
The aggrieved members noted that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is the rightful person for the slot having gained the support of 14 out of 17 committee members put together to pick PDP’s vice-presidential candidate.
A source that spoke with Sun claimed that six governors elected on the platform of the party are against the presidential ambition of Atiku.
The source listed some of the governors who are unwilling to support Atiku as Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Samuel Ortom of Benue State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Ishaku Darius of Taraba and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.
According to the source, the trouble started when Ayu failed to zone the party’s presidential ticket to the south.
The source said, “When it was obvious that Ayu wasn’t ready to listen and zone the presidential ticket to the South, governors and other leaders decided to leave the contest open. But they agreed to support a Southern aspirant, but people like Okowa, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and other people, especially from the South-South, started working to ensure that a Northern candidate emerged.”
He added that when Governor Wike lost the presidential ticket of the party, party leaders agreed that the Rivers State Governor should be picked as the vice-presidential candidate.
The source said the six governors met with Atiku and other leaders to pick Wike as a popular choice but were ignored by Ayu and Atiku.
He noted that the six governors who were not pleased with his decision of Atiku have decided not to play an active role during his presidential campaign of Atiku.
Few months after the demise of Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo, one of the late monarch’s wives, Olori Kafayat, has passed away.
Although details of the queen’s death are still sketchy, POLITICS NIGERIA learned that she breathed her last on Friday night.
Olori Kafayat Adeyemi, who was the fourth wive of the late Oba Adeyemi III, was the mother of Prince Adebayo Adeyemi (D’Gov), the present Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Pensions Board.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who died in April, lived his life to the fullest.
He was a boxer, gym enthusiast, a dandy dresser, quite energetic (he embarked on a three-hour road walk on his 82nd birthday) and boasted of some of the most beautiful queens in his harem.
That his light-skinned oloris, all 18 of them, could pass for beauty queens was never in doubt.
