TROOPS OF OPERATION SAFE HAVEN RESCUE THREE KIDNAPPED STUDENTS OF PLATEAU STATE POLYTECHNIC
Three students of Plateau State Polytechnic kidnapped yesterday Wednesday 12 January 2022 have been rescued
unhammed by troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN deployed at Barikin Ladi.
The trooos deployed at Nding Sesut a remote community in Barikin Ladi noticed an unusual movement of persons during patrols. Troops immediately conducted cordon and search in the general area that led to rescue of the three students at an abandoned poultry farm. The victims have since been united with their families.
Manhunt to apprehend the suspects is still on going.
While commending the vigilance and efforts of the troops, the commander Operation SAFE HAVEN, Major General Ibrahim Ali has commended the law abiding citizens who provided credible information to the security agencies.
He reiterated his resolve to make Plateau state a difficult terrain for criminals to operate.
Billionaire businesswoman, Folorunsho Alakija, on Friday, took to the streets of Lagos to preach the gospel.
Folorunsho Alakija according to Forbes is estimated to have a net worth of $1 billion as of 2020.
Before embarking on the evangelism, the philanthropist had taken to her Instagram page to share photos of herself and announced that she would be at Bode Thomas, Surulere.
She also urged her followers to join her as she preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mrs Alakija wrote : “In Mark 16:15 Jesus Christ commended us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”. I will be at Bode Thomas Surulere today to preach the wonderful gospel of Jesus. Hope to see you there.”
In a video shared online, she is seen with a microphone in hand urging people to accept Jesus Christ into their lives and be saved.
She was also wearing matching T-shirts with other men and women who joined her in evangelising.
Former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, has described the death of his former deputy and successor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala as a huge loss to him.
Ladoja, who is the Osi Olubadan, was impeached and removed as governor on January 12, 2006 and Alao-Akala was sworn in.
But in a condolence message to mourn the late politician, Ladoja said Alao-Akala did not betray him during the impeachment.
He said former President Olusegun Obasanjo removed him from office then and not his late forrner deputy contrary to the claims in some quarters
The former governor said his relationship with Alao-Akala which started in the 1970s long before they entered into politics remained cordial until the Ogbomoso-born politician died.
He said although they had occasions of political disagreements but such did not injure their personal relationship.
Ladoja said he was shocked to hear the news of Alao-Akala’s death, recalling that they were together at two separate functions in Ibadan recently, the last being the funeral of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
Ladoja siad, “We were very close. So close that I celebrated his 40th birthday for him in one of my houses in Apapa, Lagos. That was 31 years ago. He was introduced to me by a mutual friend, Tommy Oyelade. That was in the 70’s and since then we had been friends.
“He followed me on exile during the NADECO days when Sani Abacha was looking for those of us in the NADECO. He stayed with me in my house in England and we were going to my office together. We lived together for about a month.
“He came into politics through me. He followed me to the defunct UNCP. And when he wanted to contest as chairman, the Ogbomoso establishment opposed it and he was disqualified.
“When a new dispensation started in 1998, he came to me and said since I am the one he followed into politics and would not want to go to a different party. But given the circumstances of Ogbomoso politics, he would like to join APP and realise his ambition as council chairman . And I agreed with him to go to APP where he contested and won the council chairmanship election along with seven councilors out of 10, which meant that he proved his mettle.
“It was because of me that he left APP and joined PDP. He wanted to run for chairmanship again, but this was fiercely resisted by party members who had been in the party before him. But fortune smiled on him and I took him as my deputy.
He accepted me as his boss until his last day.
“On some occasions, we had different opinions, but such differences never went beyond the issues. The differences did not go into our hearts because we had some peculiar love for each other. Our boss-subordinate relationship lasted till he died.
“In fact, the last two times we met at functions, first at the anniversary of Alhaji Lam Adesina. He told me he would have to rush to attend other functions in Lagos that day. That was in November last year. At the burial of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, we also met. On both occasions, he took permission from me before leaving. He said he naturally would not leave me behind at any function.
“Maybe as a result of his training as a policeman, he loved taking and carrying out orders. He took orders from superiors without questioning them. When Alao-Akala addressed himself to an assignment, he carried it out with total commitment.
“Like I have said at several fora, it was not Akala that impeached me. It was [Olusegun] Obasanjo and his cohorts. Akala must have been put under pressure by Obasanjo and his cohorts. I don’t see Akala as somebody who betrayed me as my deputy. Whether he participated in the impeachment saga, he would have constitutionally taken over as governor.
“I commiserate with his wives,children and his political family.
As an older person, I should not go to his house now. But I have sent a delegation to Ogbomoso to condole with the family.
I pray that God will forgive his shortcomings. “
Dele Momodu, journalist and publisher of Ovation Magazine, has joined the 2023 presidential race, promising to fix the country.
Momodu declared his interest on Thursday when he met with Ayorchia Ayu, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the party headquarters in Abuja.
The former presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in the 2011 election said he is now better prepared to run, adding that he “won’t be intimidated by anyone who feels he or she can buy the whole of Nigeria with loads of cash fraudulently”.
“After due consultations with my family, friends and some stakeholders, I have arrived at the decision to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of our great party, PDP, if selected as the party’s candidate,” he said.
“I hasten to add that this is my personal decision, although I have received advice, encouragement and support from diverse quarters since I started my consultations.
“I, therefore, offer myself to the PDP as the best aspirant to turn the fortunes of our esteemed party and our well-endowed country around. In this regard, and with a deep sense of humility and profound respect.
“I urge the party not to consider picking its candidate based on the usual considerations which had spectacularly failed our country in the past. The mood of the teeming youths, and indeed every patriotic Nigerian, who we need to come out en masse to vote for our party, aligns with this view.
“It is for this reason, that I invite our great party, PDP, to accept that it must search for a veritable flag bearer with the requisite leadership and visionary qualities that Nigerians now earnestly yearn for.
“I’m convinced that the time has come to seriously challenge and dislodge those politicians who have held our country to ransom by kidnapping, hijacking and destroying the future of our younger generation and generations yet unborn.
“I’m better prepared now than at the time of my first foray into the fray in 2011, and I am fully ready and certainly capable for the onerous tasks and responsibilities ahead.
“I wish to place on record my firm promise and commitment not to be harassed, bullied or intimidated by anyone who feels he or she can buy the whole of Nigeria with loads of cash fraudulently and illegally filched and taken from the Nigerian people.”
Terrorists known locally as bandits on Thursday stormed Plateau State Polytechnic Barkin Ladi Campus and abducted two female students.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that bandits and herdsmen have in the last 48 hours gone on rampage in Plateau state, killing people and kidnapping several persons.
Recently, the terrorists kidnapped Dorcas, wife of Silas Vem, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor of Plateau State.
Mrs. Vem was abducted in front of her house, close to Government House in Rayfield, Jos while returning from an outing.
Another set of armed men also abducted a Director in the State Ministry of Health, Dr. Samuel Audu, in front of his house in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.
Mrs. Dorcas Vem and Dr. Samuel Audu were later released.
In another Plateau attack on Monday night, three persons were killed, while two others were injured at Tyana community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The deceased were said to have been ambushed and killed while returning to the community from Riyom town.
Marwa Applauds NAOSRE As Operatives Nab Skit Maker, Others In Lagos Raids
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa, ret’d, has applauded the supportive role of the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE to his administration in the year 2021.
Speaking during an interactive session with NAOSRE President, Comrade Femi Oyewale Wednesday afternoon, Marwa noted with satisfaction that NAOSRE has been an integral part of the agency’s struggle to exterminate the activities of illicit drug agents.
“With NAOSRE, there has never been a dull moment. We appreciate the leaders and members for their patriotic supports of our activities in NDLEA,” he stated.
However, Marwa who spoke through his director of publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi sought further co-operation in the year 2022.
He stressed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to make Nigeria a choice country to foreign investors can only be actualized when the media plays its noble role and key into NDLEA’s fight against illicit drugs and its peddlers.
He emphasized that NDLEA’s struggle to reduce the demand and supply of illicit drugs across the length and breadth of Nigeria is a task for all patriotic Nigerians including the media.
Earlier, the NAOSRE President commended the efforts of the agency. He urged Marwa and his men to deploy more technologies in its operations.
In his overview, Oyewale projected a positive outlook in the year 2022. He reassured NAOSRE’s continuous support to security agencies so that the critical objective of a safer Nigeria can be achieved.
Meanwhile, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in the early hours of Wednesday, January 12, arrested a skit maker, Sunday Joshua, popularly known on social media as De-General, following the raid of a notorious drug joint at Orchid Estate, Lekki area of Lagos state.
Acting on credible intelligence, narcotic officers stormed the drug joint in the estate, where three suspects were arrested with illicit drugs including 200 sachets of 225mg Tramadol and 1.5kilograms of cannabis Sativa. In the course of the operation, some persons including the suspected dealer ran away with bags suspected to contain exhibits.
A trail showed they ran into a house located at 2B Saula Akinlolu way, Orchid estate, which is the residence of 22-year-old Sunday Joshua (aka De General). The young men started to make noise to prevent a search. The operatives introduced themselves as officers of NDLEA and submitted themselves for search before entry. This was done and a search was conducted.
The search led to the recovery of drug exhibits including cannabis sativa; Tramadol 225mg, and some paraphernalia for drug use. This was after the suspect had requested to record on video the search, which the officers out of sense of civility allowed. The video trending on social media was the moment the suspect and his friends decided to disrupt the bid to conduct a search of the house.
In his confessional statement in custody, the suspect admitted ownership of the drugs recovered from his house.
The report classifies Wema Bank as number three in SME Banking, this is three-places higher than the bank’s 2020 classification.
Wema Bank has been consistent in her drive to support the growth and development of SMEs in the country. The bank has initiated several financial and advisory support programs to boost SMEs, some of which include: Single digit loans for women, uncollateralized loans for SMEs, quarterly SME webinars, access-to-market initiatives, and a plethora of other advisory and support services
In the last one year, Wema Bank pioneered the establishment of the first bank-led SME business school in the country, aimed at boosting critical knowledge and capabilities for SMEs at no cost to beneficiaries. The business school which enjoys the support of Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, Germany, has reputable consultants and organizations such as Ernst & Young, MTN, Microsoft, Google, Agusto, etc. facilitate at the program.
The KPMG survey ranked banks using the six pillars of customer experience excellence, including integrity (being trustworthy and engendering trust), resolution (turning a poor experience into a great one) and expectations (managing, meeting and exceeding customer’s expectations. The others were empathy (understanding the customer’s circumstances to drive deep rapport), personalization (using individualized attention to drive emotional connection) and time and effort (minimizing customer effort and creating frictionless processes).
In a statement on the survey report, KPMG said, “This year’s leaders show digital banking excellence and have adapted well to higher transaction volumes and complaints.”
Commenting on the bank’s KPMG ranking, the Managing Director/CEO, Wema Bank, Ademola Adebise, said it was an affirmation of the bank’s commitment to the growth and well-being of SMEs as critical contributors to the economy.
He said, “At Wema Bank, we recognize SMEs as an important part of the economy, and we are always on the lookout for their well-being. We are happy that the SMEs acknowledge our contributions, hence our ranking”
Speaking further, he stated that recognitions such as this are an invitation to do more. He therefore gave the bank’s unwavering commitment to intensifying its support to SMEs in year 2022.
Recall that in 2020, Wema Bank received the SME Bank of the year award from Business Day and in 2021, the bank has again received this recognition from KPMG as a customer experience leader in the banking industry. This is definitely a bank to lookout for in 2022.
The KPMG Nigeria Banking Industry Customer Experience Survey has been held annually for the last 15 years with the 2021 edition themed “Changing Customer, Changing Priorities”.
FIRSTBANKCONVENES NIGERIA ECONOMIC OUTLOOK WEBINAR FOR 2022, SETS THE TONE FORDELIBERATIONS ON CONTINUED ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND BUSINESS IMPACT
FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider has announced its “Nigerian Economic Outlook Webinar” convened to reflect national and global economic trends that shaped 2021, whilst forecasting the economic outlook of 2022.
The virtual event themed “A rearview look at 2021, lessons learnt-Outlook 2022” is scheduled by 1 pm on Thursday, 13th January 2022 via Zoom meeting. Click on the link https://firstbanknigeria.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zrF8VViyTp6wnzED_3IpWw to register and participate in the event. Registration is Free!!!
The webinar aims to set the tone for the year by providing an opportunity for participants to learn directly from economic experts to stay informed and knowledgeably empowered to make the right decisions in their socio-economic activities in2022 which will be impacted by the micro and macro-economic activities of the country.
With Nigeria’s economy projected to grow by 2.7% in 2022 as predicted by The International Monetary Fund (IMF) based on an expected recovery in crude oil prices and production, Nigeria will see economic activities normalizing. Key economic activities to watch out for in 2022 include the Global Market trends, removal of subsidies, and floatation of the Naira. However, recoveries in the oil sector and maximization of the e-Naira could help keep the parallel market in check.
Bismarck Rewane, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited and the event’s keynote speaker will lead deliberations at the event. Other speakers are Ini Ebong, Executive Director, First Bank of Nigeria Limited Treasury and International Banking; Opeyemi Agbaje, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RTC Advisory Services Limited, Olaitan Martins, Group Executive, Transaction Banking and Augustine Uddin, the Chief Economist, FirstBank.
Since the outbreak of Covid-19 over two years ago, the global economy has witnessed viral economic shocks that adversely affected socio-economic activities. These have left many individuals and businesses struggling to stay afloat amid the economic downturn. As a leading financial inclusion services provider in the country, FirstBank has remained committed to providing products, services and initiatives that have been crucial in mitigating the adverse effects of Covid-19 on individuals and households.
Speaking on the event, the Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications of FirstBank, Ms. Folake Ani-Mumuney said ‘being woven into fabric of the society for over 127 years means that we provide value, support and innovation–driven solutions for our stakeholders regardless of the challenges of the pandemic. Our commitment to nation-building is anchored partly on our thought leadership role designed to relentlessly drive growth and scale for all through engagements that showcase versatile subject matter experts endowed withexpertise, knowledge and valuable insights. The webinar provides a platform for cross fertilization of ideas and opportunities to learn and grow. Nigeria is a country rich in human and natural resources and these have helped in the reforms and resilience reflected in the economy in 2021′.
The COVID 19 pandemic brought disruption and challenges and largely Nigeria adopted measures to contain it. The pandemic also provided opportunities for rebuilding and facilitating economic transformation to close the gap with the rest of the world. These include innovations in information technologies (IT) which have been critical to ensuring business continuity and productivity among firms that have re-designed their work processes as well as telecommunications and payment systemsin the e-commerce sub-sector.
Whilst many of the current government policies are aimed at absorbing the shocks induced by the pandemic, it is important to note that an economy that seeks to recover and build resilience should be one that focuses on innovation and creativity in driving its goal.
The event is for everyone as discussants will have the economic outlook for 2022 dissected so participants are knowledgeably equipped to make the right decisions thereby better planningtheir business and financial activities.
Excitement as Emirates Super Jumbo Lifts Real Madrid For Spanish Super Cup
Real Madrid is all set for their epic match against Barcelona. The Emirates A380 emblazoned with the blue Expo 2020 “mobility” livery lifted one of the most popular clubs in global football all the way from Madrid, Spain, to defend their title at the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals on July 12.
Onboard this special charter flight, guests and players from the Spanish club experienced the airline’s signature inflight services to rest and unwind in complete comfort ahead of their much-anticipated match.
This included exquisite onboard gourmet meals and full flatbeds with premium bedding in First and Business Class, over 4,500 channels of the latest movies, TV shows and music on Emirates’ ice inflight entertainment system, and Emirates’ famous shower spa at 40,000 ft. above ground.
Emirates’ friendly and professional crew ensured the well-being of all onboard, with enhanced health and safety measures and the observance of protocols such as the wearing of masks.
Emirates is the world’s largest operator of the iconic double-decker A380 aircraft which attracts excitement from aviation enthusiasts and plane spotters wherever it flies. Customers also love the Emirates A380 experience for its spacious cabins and award-winning inflight products in all classes.
Since 2011, Emirates has been Real Madrid’s official main sponsor, bringing together two of the world’s most globally recognised brands in aviation and football.
With a global fan base of 500 million, the Spanish Club has established itself as a major force in sports, and has consistently played in the top division since its inception.
As the world’s largest international airline, Emirates continues to connect Real Madrid with fans and spectators from every corner of the globe, through various events that create moments of inspiration and joy.
THE OSINBAJO, TINUBU COMPARISON BY AYO OLADELE PETERS
It is implausible that either the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo or his handlers are unaware of the several obviously sponsored articles and other forms of indecent propaganda in both the traditional and social media projecting the competition for the All Progressives Congress’ 2023 presidential ticket as one between Osinbajo and the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Virtually all these write ups deliberately seek to de-market and portray Asiwaju in bad light while painting Osinbajo in rosy colors as the best candidate to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. That nobody within the Vice President’s camp has called these mischievous and shadowy characters to order is most unfortunate given Osinbajo’s well known antecedents as a protege of the former governor of Lagos State under whom he served for eight years as Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General as well as Tinubu’s undeniable role in his ascendancy to Nigeria’s number two position in 2015.
One of such feature articles in a recent edition of a national newspaper had the title, ‘Osinbajo, Asiwaju: The Race to Make or Mar APC’. It is of course legitimate for Osinbajo to seek to succeed his boss as the next President of Nigeria. But his handlers should sell his supposed aspiration on its own merit rather than seeking to compare the VP’s suitability with his former boss, mentor and benefactor in such a way as to impugn the latter’s image and credibility. If they have chosen such a tack without anyone from the VP’s camp to call them to order, then it is only right to meet them on their own turf on the basis of logic and facts. For instance, the write up in question dwelt at length on what it described as Osinbajo’s loyalty to Buhari during his tenure as Vice President as one factor qualifying him not to only succeed his boss but also for the latter to be favorably disposed towards him. This is an emotional argument.
Yes, loyalty is a commendable quality in politics and every other sphere of life. But it is not by itself either a necessary or sufficient condition to qualify anybody to succeed in a critical leadership position particularly at this delicate period in Nigeria’s political evolution. And since his publicists are wont to compare Osinbajo’s suitability to lead Nigeria come 2023 with that of Tinubu, it is pertinent to ask in what way the Vice President has demonstrated loyalty and commitment to Buhari, the APC or Nigeria better than Asiwaju. Tinubu’s key roles both in the formation of the APC and the emergence of Buhari as President in 2015 are well documented and incontrovertible. Even President Buhari has consistently and publicly acknowledged this on a number of occasions. Yet, after the APC’s victory at the polls in 2015, some elements within the party for their own selfish reasons sought to draw a wedge between Buhari and Tinubu.
They did everything to distance Tinubu from the administration and alienate him from the President personally with some degree of initial success. It is no secret that Tinubu had negligible impact on or influence in the administration for at least the first phase of Buhari’s first term. Yet, Tinubu never took this personal. Given his own political acumen and leadership experience, he knew the kind of complex environment and tremendous pressure under which Buhari was operating. He never hesitated to publicly commend the President’s positive sides and achievements while also offering advise on solutions to some of the knotty challenges confronting the administration. This was at a time when many ethnic champions were playing divisive politics and seeking cheap popularity by whipping up sectional emotions. Asiwaju never resorted to this even when he was subjected to all kinds of blackmail by some mischievous elements in the South West. His support for and loyalty to Buhari and the APC has been rock solid.
It was obviously in realization of this that President Buhari personally chose Tinubu to lead and coordinate the campaign for his second term re-election in 2019. The issue of loyalty can thus not be plausibly and credibly raised as a factor that gives Osinbajo and edge over Tinubu. The article under reference also posited without the slightest scintilla of logical or empirical analysis that Osinbajo enjoys better broad support across regions in the country as well as among the youths and the middle and educated classes. These are at best untested assumptions and unproven assertions.
Widespread political support across the component parts of a complex polity like Nigeria is a function of a politician’s political structures and encompassing network. Political structures are not impersonal organizational machines. They are made up of teeming numbers of people, of personal relationships and bridges forged by a politician over time. Ever since his emergence as a Senator representing Lagos West in 1991 with the highest number of Senatorial District votes in the country, Asiwaju has not looked back. He has consistently and continuously expanded his personal friendships, group networks and cross-regional bridges over the last three decades. Without any equivocation, it can be safely said that, no politician in Nigeria today enjoys his kind of committed friendships and relationships across ethnic, regional, religious and even partisan divides. This kind of attribute and asset does not come by sitting in the quietness of your abode, feathering your nest and pursuing your personal interest. It is a function of hard work, sacrifice of time, resources and energy as well as commitment.
The attempt to portray Osinbajo as having an edge in popularity with youths as well as the middle and professional classes over Tinubu cannot fly. It is a pathetic non-starter. No political leader in this dispensation has encouraged, empowered and inspired youths to participate in politics and occupy as well as excel in public office like Tinubu. The increase in the number of Local Governments in Lagos State from 20 to 57 under Tinubu, for instance, provided opportunities for scores of youths to experience leadership training at the grassroots level. The number of talented young people identified by Tinubu, offered public appointments and who are now accomplished leaders in their own right is innumerable. Professor Osinbajo himself is one talented professional who was identified by Tinubu and given an opportunity to serve Lagos State with distinction in his area of specialization – law.
It is noteworthy that Tinubu also backed Osinbajo with the appointment of a Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, the immensely gifted Mr Fola Arthur Worrey, who was also critical to the successes of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice under Osinbajo. We will recall that at one of the Asiwaju Tinubu’s birthday colloquiums, the governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, who delivered the toast, publicly stated that it was Tinubu who spotted him in the private sector and encouraged him to offer his services in the country’s public life. Beyond politics, there are numerous young, middle class professionals across diverse spheres of the private sector whose careers have been encouraged, promoted and boosted by Tinubu.
Osinbajo enjoys the clout and influence of public office as Nigeria’s Vice President. Anywhere he goes across the country, he will naturally be accorded the protocols and welcome attached to the office. This does not of course mean that he does not have his own admirers and supporters. But Tinubu since his exit from office as governor of Lagos State 15 years ago in 2007 has held no public office. The unprecedented admiration, friendship and loyalty he enjoys across the country today is thus not a function of the aura of public office and the sycophancy it breeds. This speaks volumes of the man, his character, his leadership qualities and the enduring nature of his relationships.
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