Fight For Soul Of PDP: Akinwonmi steps in as Acting Nat’l Chairman, suspends NWC meeting
The Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Yemi Akinwonmi, on Tuesday suspended the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting indefinitely.
Akinwonmi, who was the Deputy National Chairman of the party in the South-West made the move shortly after he took over the affairs of the party, following the suspension of the party’s national chairman, Uche Secondus.
Ripples Nigeria reported yesterday that a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, River State, on Monday ordered Secondus to stop parading himself as the chairman, or even a member of the PDP.
Explaining the reason for his action, Akinwonmi cited Section 35 (b) of the party’s constitution, saying it was a deliberate decision to allow for a broader consultation in the overall interest of the party, following the restraining order by the High Court, stopping Prince Uche Secondus from parading himself as the leader of the PDP.
Speaking in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, Akinwonmi said, “Our attention was drawn yesterday evening to a court order, which purports to restrain our National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, from summoning and presiding over the meetings of the organs of the party.
“In the foregoing circumstances, as Deputy National Chairman (South) of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, after the consultations and in exercise of the aforesaid powers, hereby deem it fit and proper to postpone the National Working Committee, NWC, meeting earlier scheduled for today until further, notice to allow for broader consultations in the overall interest of our part
“Section 35(3) (b) of the constitution of the People’s Democratic Party empowers me to summon and preside over party meetings in the absence of the national chairman.”
It would be recalled that before the restraining order, Secondus had scheduled the PDP NWC meeting for today (Tuesday) at the party’s headquarters, in Abuja.
However, in the court ruling yesterday, Justice Okogbule Gbasam barred Secondus from parading himself as a member of the PDP or its National Chairman, which includes preventing him from calling, attending or presiding over any meeting of the party, among others.
NDA Attack: Bandit Terrorists Demand ₦200m Ransom For Abducted Officer
A ransom demand of ₦200m has reportedly been made by the bandit terrorists who abducted a military officer during the attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) earlier on Tuesday.
It was gathered that the terrorists contacted the authorities of the academy and demanded the payment of the ransom as a condition that must be met before the officer is released.
It will be recalled as earlier reported by Naija News that the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has confirmed that bandit terrorists attacked its facility in Kaduna State on Tuesday morning.
The spokesperson of the NDA, Major Bashir Muhammad Jajira who confirmed the development in a statement said the unidentified gunmen breached the NDA security and gained access to its residential area.
He also confirmed that two officers were killed while one other was abducted by the terrorists.
“The security architecture of the Nigerian Defence Academy was compromised early this morning by unknown gunmen who gained access into the residential area within the Academy in Afaka.”
“During the unfortunate incident, we lost two personnel and one was abducted,” the statement read in part.
The officer that was abducted during the attack was also later identified as Major Datong.
A source quoted by FIJ on the matter has now provided more updates, submitting that the attackers have initiated contact and demanded N200m for the Major to be released.
“They have called to ask for N200million to free the Major,” the source said.
Commenting on the attack itself, the source quoted that the Army was helpless when the bandits attacked.
“The attack was ridiculous. They came, teased us, and left. Even the helicopter hovering in the bush could not track them,” the source added.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reacted to Tuesday’s attack by bandit terrorists on the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.
Reacting to the development, the DHQ, in a statement by the Director Defence Information, Major General Benjamin Sawyer said security has been beefed up within and in the surrounding of the academy.
He also conveyed the condolence message of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to the families and associates of the officers who lost their lives during the attack.
The DHQ added that a search and rescue mission for the officer abducted during the attack has been activated while further details will be released later.
Arsenal Set To Appoint Conte As Arteta’s Successor
Arsenal are considering appointing former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager, Antonio Conte as Mikel Arteta’s successor.
Arteta has overseen a bad start to the 2020/2021 season.
The Gunners have suffered back-to-back 2-0 defeats to Brentford and Chelsea in their first two league fixtures.
The UK Telegraph claims Arteta now has only five games to save his job and Conte is a potential candidate to take over at the Emirates.
Conte quit Inter after leading them to the Serie A title last term.
The Italian was linked with a return to the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, but a deal never materialised.
Conte won 51 of his 76 Premier League games in charge of Chelsea and oversaw their 2016/2017 title triumph, before he was sacked in 2018.
BREAKING: Nigerian Defence Academy confirms bandits’ attack, Death Of Two Officers
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) has confirmed Tuesday’s security breach.
A large number of bandits attacked the NDA campus in Afaka, Kaduna State, around 1:30am.
Lieutenant Commander Wulah and Flight Lieutenant CM Okoronkwo were shot dead.
Another officer, Major Datong was kidnapped while second Lieutenant Onah sustained gunshot wounds. He is receiving treatment.
In a statement made available to DAILY POST, Major Bashir Muhd Jajira, NDA Public Relations Officer said, “we lost two personnel and one was abducted”.
The spokesman disclosed that the bandits gained access into the residential area of the Academy in Afaka.
He said the NDA, in collaboration with the 1 Division Nigerian Army, Air Training Command and other security agencies in Kaduna, have commenced pursuit of the assailants.
“The NDA community and Cadets are safe in the Academy. We assure the general public that these unknown gunmen would soon be apprehended and the abducted personnel rescued”, Jajira added.
Shocking! Sanwo-Olu Declares 1,094 Travellers Missing From Isolation
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has raised an alarm that 1,094 returning travellers have run away from isolation centres in the state.
The governor made this known on Monday while giving an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in the state at the State House, Marina.
According to Sanwo-Olu, the absconded travellers are from red-listed countries such as India, South Africa, Brazil, and Turkey.
He stated that the 1,094 travellers are part of those 5,998 returning travellers identified by the state government as of Saturday, adding that 4,500 people who arrived from the red-listed countries have been successfully isolated.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that a total of 1,073 inbound passengers out of 88,847 who arrived in Lagos via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport between May 8 and August 21 have tested positive.
He berated Nigerians who run away from isolation, saying that those travellers absconding were directly putting the rest of the country at risk of the third wave of the pandemic.
The governor also condemned travellers disregarding the COVID-19 protocols on mandatory isolation put in by the Federal Government to curb the spread of the dreaded virus.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that as of Saturday, Lagos had recorded 70,563 cases, out of which 60,716 have recovered in-community and 4,387 are being managed actively in-community.
He added that over the course of managing the pandemic, about 5,551 patients have been admitted into various government facilities with 506 registered fatalities.
Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed that of these deaths, 135 have happened in the current third wave of the pandemic.
He blamed the emergence of the third wave on non-adherence to the laid-down health protocols designed to mitigate the pandemic.
The governor, therefore, informed the residents that they have a huge responsibility of contributing to the fight against the virus.
He hinted that the state government has taken substantial steps to arrest the third wave in its tracks, especially with the increased monitoring and enforcement exercise by members of the Incident Command structure.
PIB: Senate President, Lawan Finally Reacts To $10 million Bribe Allegation
Nigeria’s Senate President Ahmad Lawan has finally spoken an an alleged $10 million bribe offered to members of the House of Assembly to pass the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill.
Lawan debunked the report while addressing State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday.
He expressed dismay at the way and manner that some citizens had been spreading fake news and misinformation against the NASS and the government.
Sahara Reporters had reported that the leadership of NASS had been allegedly accused of taking bribe to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill.
According to Sahara Reporters, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila were paid in dollars to ensure the passage of the PIB which was signed into law on Aug. 16 by President Buhari.
However, the senate president said: “People say anything or everything about the President, about the administration, about members of National Assembly, they call us names and this is part of the intangible dividends of democracy.
“But we are determined to ensure that the space is wide open for everybody to say whatever he wants to say.
“But I will advise that don’t say things that are bad because people are in the habit of…and recently somebody said 10 million dollars was given to the Speaker and the Senate President to give to members of the National Assembly to pass three per cent host community development fund.
“That is funny, but also very serious.
“I really want to take this opportunity to take exceptions to those kinds of unwarranted, false and fake information being fed to the Nigerian public and the danger people will face with this is you cause unnecessary damage to the reputation of people.’’
Lawan recalled how he filled legal suit against someone (name withheld) who allegedly spread similar falsehood against him.
“I had an occasion to take someone to court because of this kind of thing about three months ago.
“But Nigerians are better judges than anywhere else. So, the freedom of expression is there, probably more than anywhere in the world, but I want to caution that Nigerians should always think positive about their leaders, administration and governments.
“And if they have issues they feel very strongly about, let them speak the truth and we are prepared to tell corrections, and that we feel should be able to make us do better,’’ he added.
On the massive surrender of Boko Haram insurgents, Lawan expressed satisfaction with the new strategies adopted by the armed forces and other security agencies in tackling insurgency in the Northeastern part of the country.
He said the massive surrender by members of the Boko Haram sect was a clear indication that the war against insurgency would soon be over.
Primate Ayodele Empowers Church Members With Tricycle, Hair Dryer (Video)
The Leader Of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Ayodele has surprised church members with another round of empowerment.
During the church service yesterday, a young lady who is passionate about her hair dressing business was called out suddenly to take custody of a brand new hair dryer to support and enable her grow.
In the same vein, a male church member was shockingly handed the key to a brand new tricycle while the service was going on to his greatest astonishment, all in courtesy of the popular man of God whose impact is being felt all over the world.
Just two Sundays ago, a crippled young man who has been struggling to replace his wheelchair was given a brand new modern wheelchair worth millions of naira during the church service.
Primate Ayodele is one of the men of God who has made giving sacrificially a lifestyle with the kind of antecedents he has when it comes to philanthropic works.
His annual Thanksgiving Day; February 14 needs no introduction anymore because he has defined it as a day of philanthropy with the massive gifts he churn out to the public without any form of segregation.
During the most recent thanksgiving which was on 14th of February 2021, two people were given cars, many were given tricycles, youths were empowered, several individuals were given house rents, academic scholarship was awarded, relief materials were given out, to mention a few.
No doubt, Primate Ayodele is a force to reckon with in the prophetic ministry yet he has continued to fulfil the message of Jesus Christ which talks about loving one another without regarding any form of differences.
Access Bank launches awareness campaign to combat E-banking fraud
As part of its continued commitment to educate and protect customers from e-banking fraud, Africa’s largest retail bank, Access Bank Plc, has launched an awareness campaign aimed at sensitizing customers on measures they can take to protect themselves.
The Access Bank campaign, themed ‘Banks Don’t Ask’, focuses on three key activities that account for most fraud incidents in Nigeria, phishing, SIM card fraud, ATM fraud and POS fraud.
From all indications, the rates of phishing, SIM card fraud, ATM fraud and POS fraud in the country has tripled in the past few years. Also, the sophistication with which these activities are carried out has evolved, resulting in unsuspecting customers being highly susceptible to these criminal activities.
Victor Etuokwu, ED Retail Banking Access Bank stated, “In the past few years, there has been a significant increase in the rate of internet-based and technology-perpetrated fraud”. He added “We want to ensure that our customers are not only protected but are also aware of the tactics employed by fraudsters. Access Bank will never request for personal banking information such as your 16-digit card number, password, PIN, BVN, CVV or One-Time Password (OTP). So, customers are also advised to never share this information with anyone even if they claim to be from the Bank”.
To report suspicious activities (phone calls, emails or text messages), customers can call Access Bank on 01- 2712005 or send a mail to contactcenter@accessbankplc.com. To prevent SIM card fraud in cases of lost or stolen devices, customers can simply *901*911# from any phone deactivate their USSD profile.
FIRSTBANK’S SPONSORED ”FIRST CLASS MATERIAL” CONTINUES TO EMPOWER AND CELEBRATE THE NIGERIAN YOUTH.
FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial services provider has again reinforced its commitment to Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship through its sponsorship of the docuseries ”First Class Material” from the stables of Linda Ikeji TV
Arguably Nigeria’s most valuable bank brand, FirstBank continues to pride itself as indeed the Bank of many firsts. First Class Material is a docuseries designed to celebrate Nigerians who are excelling in various fields of endeavour whether academic or non-academic. It is a programme that aims to chronicle the success stories of Nigerians who are distinct and exemplary in their achievements and importantly, a testament to the greatness of the West African country. This docuseries aims to make education, vocational training and skill acquisition trendy, attractive and fashionable to the nation’s human capital by celebrating and rewarding innovators and trailblazers in various sectors. First Class Material is a celebration of notable Firsts by Nigerians which underscores what FirstBank stands for. The essence of the programme is to have many more people informed and encouraged by the successes, thereby having these feats emulated in their chosen endeavours.
First Class Material aims to change the narrative about Nigeria and Nigerians by highlighting the great work Nigerians are doing in different fields, including Academics, Technology, Arts, Music, entrepreneurship, and many more. It also aims to inspire others to aspire to excellence and to see hard work, legitimate work, and diligence as something rewarding and deserving of emulation. FirstBank was the official sponsor of the maiden edition of First Class Material by Linda Ikeji TV and based on its success, the Bank is now also sponsoring Season 2 which will commence 3rd week in August.
This innovative partnership would have viewers exposed to Nigerians across the globe that have carved a niche for themselves by being exemplary and influential in their chosen endeavours and career path. Success stories of notable firsts and trailblazers would be highlighted, with viewers encouraged to go beyond limits and leave no stone unturned at making their dreams a reality. Like the first season, which showcased exceptional individuals, the forthcoming season promises to share truly inspiring stories of great feats and accomplishments by some of the most unassuming Nigerians, in the country and dotted around the world. FirstBank’s goal is to inspire the youth and encourage them to make informed choices, critical to securing their future whilst impacting mankind and society at large.
FirstBank, historically, has had diverse interventions in promoting thought leadership and promoting initiatives that will stimulate the advancement of skill acquisition and capacity building for the Nigerian Youth to equip them for a bright future. The Bank’s sponsorship of the Programme is in tandem with the noble objectives of the bank which includes building and instilling values into its customers. FirstBank’s core values of people, passion and partnership very much align with the vision of the First Material towards building the youth to become tomorrow’s leaders. With over 127 years of continuous banking operations, First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) is giving a good account of itself in this regard not only as a true financial powerhouse but also as a life enabler, helping Nigerians live better and achieve their dreams.
Apart from the First Class Material initiative and in the furtherance of the Bank’s long term commitment to promote youth development, professional excellence and education, FirstBank has also in the past and currently actively supporting various activities and initiatives in the youth segment. The bank partners with Eventful Nigeria Ltd for Fashion Souk, a platform that creates an opportunity for players in the fashion industry to exhibit and sell their wares to the thousands of event participants. The bank, also in a bid to ensure the sustainability of the industry, recently introduced fashion design loans specifically designed to offer financial support to the participants in the textile industry.
Through its First@arts initiative, FirstBank consolidates all its efforts in the arts, supporting the entire value chain of the creative arts, providing much-needed financing and advisory support, showcasing and facilitating the successes of the industry, and enabling customers to explore and access the wealth of opportunities the creative industry has to offer.
Achieving these and a host of many others have been implemented through strategic partnerships with organisations like the British Council, Duke of Shomolu Productions, Live Theatre Lagos, Freedom Park, Terra Kulture, and the Cross Rivers State Government (Calabar Festival), among others.
With the sponsorship of similar socio-cultural initiatives in the creative arts industry like Moremi, Makaliki, Oba Esugbayi stage drama, October 1st (a movie), the Calabar Festival and the recently concluded, The Voice Nigeria (Season 3) the Bank remains exemplary to expose the youth to a wide range of opportunities that are integral to the realisation of their dreams, as they contribute to the continued socio-economic development of their immediate environment and the country at large.
Indeed, FirstBank remains a noble brand close to the heart of the youths and the deliberate efforts made by the bank has indeed been a catalyst of socio-economic growth of Nigerian youths and the nation as a whole.
