Gbenga Adeyinka Commiserates with Oyo Former First Lady over Mother’s Demise
Veteran comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka De 1st, has commiserated with the former First Lady of Oyo State, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, over the death of her mother, Mrs Victoria Amudoaghan.
Mrs Amudoaghan who died last Thursday at 78 years, was a Catholic and member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos.
The late Victoria Amudoaghan was a very hardworking and enterprising woman, who was bornGbenga Adey at Kwale in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.
In his condolence message, Gbenga Adeyinka, who is one of Nigeria’s most sought-after Standup comedians and Master Comperes (MC), prayed for God to give the deceased family the fortitude to bear the big loss.
“It was in total subjection to the will of God that I received the saddening news of the passing of the mother to our dear former Oyo State first lady, Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs Florence Ajimobi, knowing that we have been created by God and that someday, we all will appear before our creator to give account.
“Mrs Victoria Amudoaghan was a good mother, she was an amazon in whom her beloved daughter saw virtues that she picked. She lived an accomplished life and she survived in health to see her children, grand-children and great grand-children.
“Although we do not mourn as those without hope, I must commiserate with the entire Amudoaghan’s family of Delta state, and most especially, Her Excellency, Chief Florence Ajimobi for the loss. It is my sincere prayers that the soul of the deceased be granted a good repose in the hereafter and that the family find the fortitude to bear the loss,” Adeyinka states.
‘How Obaseki Paid Edo PDP Billions Before Re-Election, Facing Challenges As Party Leaders Push For Juicy Appointments
‘How Edo PDP Received Billions From Obaseki Before Re-election, Still Want To Dictate Cabinet Appointees’
As controversy continues to trail Governor Godwin Obaseki’s refusal to name his cabinet almost a year after his re-election, details have emerged on why the Edo State governor has chosen to bide his time.
Recall that following his disqualification during the screening of governorship aspirants for the 2020 governorship election over discrepancies in his certificate in All Progressives Congress (APC), Obaseki had defected the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Obaseki who was first elected in 2016 on the platform of the APC was reportedly pushed out of the party by the former National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
But since his swearing in for a second term on November 12, 2020, Obaseki is yet to appoint commissioners and other aides.
The Edo state Governor has only appointed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief of Staff and a few aides.
This has however caused dissatisfaction among members of the PDP in Edo State who are expecting to be appointed into the Governor’s cabinet.
Sources within the now ruling party told Naija News on Friday night that PDP leaders failed to negotiate properly with Obaseki before giving him the party ticket.
While stating that the Edo governor allegedly paid billions to secure the party’s ticket in 2020, a source, who is an ‘old member’ of the PDP, stated that party leaders should have used that opportunity to negotiate for positions with Obaseki who was desperate at that time.
The source accused the Tony Aziegbemi-led PDP State Working Committee (SWC) and his predecessor of not negotiating political positions properly.
“When Obaseki dangled huge amount of money before them they forgot about negotiating positions before the election,” the source alleged.
“They are now expecting to hold Obaseki to ransom with appointments after they had collected the money.”
The source disclosed that Obaseki’s delay in naming his commissioners and aides is connected to PDP leaders’ push to get juicy appointments after allegedly receiving huge amount of money to hand over their guber ticket.
On if the delay in constituting the cabinet may be giving Obaseki a bad name, as many may see him as being too bossy, another source told Naija News that the governor “doesn’t care.”
“Members of the APC close to the governor had hinted on his character before his defection.
“Someone who clashed with a lot of people while looking for his second term ticket, what do you expect now that he has gotten it?” he asked.
The source revealed that some key men close to the governor who served during his first-time and were members of the APC are still active in running the administration.
According to the source, Governor Obaseki might make sure only those that defected with him to the PDP get all the juicy position when he finally decides to name his cabinet.
On if Obaseki may leave the PDP, the source stated that the governor is not plotting to leave the party but if he does the only losers will be the PDP.
“They have shown that all they care about is just the money. They would lose if Obaseki or Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu leaves the party,” he added.
Recall that reports had emerged on Monday claiming Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu had perfected plans to dump the PDP.
According to reports, marathon meetings were held outside the country last week between the Edo Deputy Governor and some party bigwigs in the country ahead of his planned defection
“Philip Shaibu is one man I admire as a political tactician and Maradona in the Edo political space. Quitting PDP may frustrate the developmental plans of the Obaseki’s administration due to his nuts and bolts experience as a voracious student of politics, as well as his sterling track record and pedigree as a fearless and charismatic lawmaker,” a source had to Vanguard.
According to the source, there are strong indications that the Deputy Governor may not join any other political party immediately after quitting the PDP.
But in an interview with NaijaNews, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Deputy Governor, Comrade Ebomhiana Musa, denied the report.
While admitting that Philip Shaibu travelled abroad for his vacation, Musa said his principal only spent time with his family.
According to him, the reports of his defection were only the figment of the authors imagination.
Why Well-To-Do Pastors Must Pay ‘Pentecostal Tax’ To Govt – Osinbajo
The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo on Friday charged religious leaders, especially well-to-do pastors, to pay their ‘Pentecostal tax’ which will go a long way in telling their stories, achievements and life experiences in the Ministry to affect generations.
He made this call in Lagos during the Public Presentation of the biography of the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry entitled “Kumuyi: Defender of the Faith”.
The Vice President asked religious leaders in the country to emulate early apostles of the gospel who also discharged the responsibility of paying tax, stressing that religious leaders in the country owe this as an obligation.
According to him, “For the successful preacher of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, there is a fourth tax. This is the Pentecost tax; the tasks to tell what you have gone through in ministry and this is a huge responsibility.
“The saints before us, discharge that responsibility. So we are beneficiaries of the Acts of the Apostles, the stories of the men and women who carry the gospel first to Jerusalem to Judea, to Samaria, and then to the end of the earth. Their stories continue today, and the baton has been handed over to our own generation.
“This Pentecost tax is one that we must all pay, it is one that men and women who preach the gospel must pay. It is not about personal reflections and personal aggrandisement. They owe an obligation and it is that obligation that produced the Book of Acts. So the book, ‘Kumuyi: defender of the faith’ just begins the work of discharging that tax, that obligation to tell the story of the missionary journey.”
Osinbajo further explained that every successful person must pay three forms of taxes including a Civic tax which is “the obligation of the successful to write their stories and share the histories of the phenomena they have become, in order to instruct, to admonish and to inspire the present and the future”.
“Every person, especially those who succeed in their endeavours owe society three forms of tax. The first is Income tax; personal income tax. The second is a Social tax, another name for that is philanthropy; the obligation of the wealthy or simply those who have to give back to society”.
Fuji music icon, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal better known as KWAM 1 on Friday paid a visit to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State who is currently in the United Kingdom for medical attention.
It is believed that the visit is to wish the former governor a quick recovery.
KWAM 1’s visit will be one of the numerous visits received by Tinubu since he left the shores of this country in July.
President Muhammadu Buhari in mid August visited him among other politicians including Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, former Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, Members of the Lagos state house of Assembly, Lagos state governors, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
According to speculations, Mr Tinubu who is the national leader of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has interest in the country’s number job in the next general elections in 2023.
Confusion As 2023 Campaign poster of Yahaya Bello, Fani-Kayode emerges Online
Photographs of a 2023 Presidential Campaign poster of Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello and Ex-aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode have emerged online.
The images are coming a day after FFK defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Although its currently unclear the source of the images, they have since gone viral with many criticizing the pair. It was earlier reported that FFK’s defection has generated so much controversy because he was one of the major opposition figures in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Fani-Kayode, who gained a lot of popularity for his opposition work, faced serious backlash over his decision. Popular Islamic cleric, Shiekh Gumi described him as the ‘Judas of Oduduwa’ while his former friend now political foe, Deji Adeyanju described him as ‘Unstable’ and ‘Unprincipled’.
However, Bello has since indicated interest in contesting for the Nation’s top seat in 2023. He has even begun consultations and is set to face other top contenders for the position.
‘Rivers VAT Controversy’: CJN speaks on supreme court Panel, Says ‘There won’t be External influence’
Ibrahim Muhammad, chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), says the panel which will hear an appeal by the Rivers state government on the value-added tax (VAT) controversy will be free from external influence.
Rivers is seeking a supreme court ruling setting aside an order of the appeal court which directed the state to maintain status quo on the collection of VAT pending the determination of an appeal filed by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Supreme court insiders had told TheCable on Thursday that there are plans to arrange a UK trip for the CJN before a panel is constituted to determine the appeal.
In his absence, Mary Odili, the No 2 in the supreme court hierarchy and former first lady of Rivers state, will appoint the members of the panel.
Reacting to the report, the CJN, in a statement signed by his senior special assistant on media, Isah Ahuraka, said all the justices of the apex court are independent and have integrity.
“It must be borne in mind that the supreme court justices are not only independent minded but also has the pedigree of integrity devoid of influences from within and outside. Times without number, the apex court panel came up with split decisions,” the statement read.
Ahuraka also said the CJN is healthy and thus, has no plan to travel to the UK for medical attention.
“We unequivocally state that the CJN is hale and hearty. Last week, he interrogated the seven chief judges involved in the granting of conflicting court injunctions, spanning over seven hours. This is just as he presided over the National Judicial Council (NJC) meeting on Wednesday and Thursday this week,” he said.
Popular Comedian Mr Macaroni Slams EFCC, Calls Them ‘Irresponsible’ For Forcefully Invading Popular Enugu Hotel
Popular Nigerian comedian, Debo Adebayo, popularly known as Mr Macaroni has slammed the anti-corruption agency, Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, for raiding a popular hotel in Enugu state.
EFCC raided a hotel in Enugu at the wee hours of today, 17th September, where they beat and harassed the owner after he obstructed them from causing chaos at his hotel.
According to reports, they came to the hotel with five different buses invading different hotels rooms, arresting everyone on board including suspected fraudsters and criminals.
Reacting to the reports, the 28 year- old internet sensation condemned outrightly the raiding of hotels, revealing agency with its method of forcefully invading hotels in search of fraudsters is ruining businesses and should be called to order.
He also noted that it was very irresponsible of them to harass harmless and non-fraudulent citizens because they were carrying out their jobs.
Read his post below “Nobody is saying the EFCC shouldn’t do their job. But raiding hotels every other day, thereby; harassing Nigerians who just happen to be at the location and also ruining businesses in the hospitality sector is highly irresponsible.”
Just In: Unknown Gunmen kill Chairman Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeder’s Association in Kaduna
Some unidentified gunmen have assassinated the chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Abdullahi in Lere LGA, Kaduna state.
According to the Director of Media and Publicity of MACBAN in Kaduna, Ibrahim Bayero Zango, the attack took place early Friday morning. He disclosed that the armed men stormed the Chairman’s house demanding N20m from him.
He told them he didn’t have before they whisked him away and shot him dead on Saminaka-Mariri-Zango highway.
Zango disclosed: “Early this morning, one of our members called to inform the leadership of the state branch of MACBAN that at about 1:00am (Friday), unknown gunmen attacked the home of the chairman of MACBAN in Lere LG and killed him.”
“When they arrived the house at about 1:00am, they demanded the sum of N20m from him in order to spare his life but he told them he had no such money.”
“Although he was able to raise N250,000 for the assailants, they took him to the back of the town along the Saminaka-Mariri-Zango highway where they shot him dead.”
Presidency ‘Planning To Make Fani-Kayode Minister, Drop Corruption Charges’
President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is planning to drop the corruption charges against the former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode following his defection to the All Progressives Congress.
According to Sahara Reporters, a source disclosed that the ruling party and the president are also planning to make Fani-Kayode a minister.
The source, while speaking on the defection of the former minister, said, “They are working on dropping corruption charges against Fani-Kayode and making him a minister.”
However, it was not stated the ministry which the Buhari administration is planning to give the former minister.
Naija News had earlier reported that Fani-Kayode on Thursday met with President Buhari and the Interim Chairman of the APC, and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Fani-Kayode while giving the reason for dumping the Peoples Democratic Party said he joined the APC to help unite the country.
There are speculations that Fani-Kayode dumped the main opposition party for the ruling party because of his corruption cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Recall that Fani-Kayode was arraigned in 2016 alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman; Danjuma Yusuf, and a firm, Joint Trust Dimensions Ltd over N4.9bn alleged fraud.
Fani-Kayode who was the spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign organisation for the 2015 election was accused of conspiring with the others to, directly and indirectly, retain various sums which the EFCC claimed they ought to have reasonably known were proceeds of crime.
The anti-graft agency had accused them of conspiring among themselves to “indirectly retain the sum of N1,500,000,000.00, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: stealing.”
According to EFCC, they also retained N300 million, N400 million, and N800 million, all proceeds of corruption.
Fani-Kayode was accused of directly using part of the money at various times.
For instance, he allegedly spent N250,650,000.00 between March 20 and 25, 2015.
He was also accused of making a cash transaction of N24 million to one Olubode Oke, said to still be at large, on February 12, 2015 “to Paste Poster Co of 125, Lewis Street, Lagos Island”.
The duo was said to have made the transaction without going through any financial institution, an act the EFCC claimed was contrary to sections 1(a) and 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
The former minister months later was rearrested and arraigned on five counts bordering on money laundering to the tune of N26 million.
According to the EFCC, Fani-Kayode allegedly received the sum of N26 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser (ONSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) in 2014.
There had been reports that political office holders join the ruling party to escape corruption charges levelled against them.
CBN investigating Oniwinde Adedotun, abokiFX founder, for ‘illegal’ forex trading
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is investigating Oniwinde Adedotun, the founder of abokiFX.
Sources within the apex bank told TheCable on Thursday night that Adedotun and abokiFX Limited are currently under investigation for “illegal foreign exchange transactions”.
AbokiFX is a web platform that reports movements in the foreign exchange market since as early as 2014. On Thursday, abokiFX reported that the naira was trading at 570 to the dollar at the parallel market.
An insider, familiar with the events, told TheCable that “unusual forex transactions” were found in his account, suggesting the promoters of the platform have been involved in illegal forex trading.
The apex bank is said to be investigating seven accounts belonging to Adedotun and abokiFX, vetting every forex transaction from 2019 till 2021.
Reports on social media claim that Adedotun is being investigated for foreign exchange rate manipulation, but another source within the bank said he could not confirm the rumours.
“There would be a lot more clarity after the next monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting tomorrow,” the source said.
AbokiFX, registered in Arizona, United States, is the 63rd most visited website in Nigeria as of September 16, 2021.
The apex bank had initially scheduled its MPC meeting for September 20 and 21, but had to reschedule to September 16 and 17, 2021 — but no reason was given for the move.
Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the CBN, will address the media on Friday to announce fresh MPC decisions.
