BREAKING: Kidnapped Kaduna Students, Staff Members regains Freedom
Bandits have released the kidnapped six students and two staff members of Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic in the Zaria area of Kaduna State.
Society gazette had reported the bandits had attacked the polytechnic on June 11, 2021, kidnapping the students, staff members and killing one student during the operation.
But in an interview with Channels Television on Friday, the spokesman of the institution, Abdullahi Shehu, said the victims were released on Thursday night at an undisclosed location in Kaduna.
Shehu added that the kidnapped students and staff members were released after their parents and relatives negotiated with the bandits.
The spokesman, however, did not say specifically if any ransom was paid or not.
Shehu revealed that the school authorities will receive the students later in the day at a location where they were kept after their release.
The chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi has emphasized why the south must produce Nigeria’s next president by 2023.
According to the Governor, the southern region has been grossly marginalized in the affairs of the country and with the north completing 8 years of presidency in 2023, it is only logical to allow the next leader to emerge from the southern region.
Umahi submitted that leaders from the region won’t stop talking about their demand despite criticisms from some quarters that zoning should not be allowed.
The Governor made his views known on Thursday while addressing the Ebonyi State chapter of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Joseph Chukwu during a courtesy visit that took place at the old government house, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
Represented by his Deputy, Barr. Eric Kelechi Igwe, the Governor stated that there is no need to pretend about the polarization of the country along northern and southern lines.
According to him: “This country, we don’t need to pretend again. Whether you like it or not, it seems there is polarization; this one South, this one North.
“The north would have done eight years by 2023 as the president, is that not correct? And some of them are saying that it will be criminal for the North to continue to be president of Nigeria after 2023.
“And it is the turn of the South. And we said as Governors of the South, that Nigeria, remember that by 2023 we have it.
“The North has the population by this registration that recorded us low and they said it is unconstitutional and that nobody should talk about it.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has berated President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide, Lauretta Onochie, for allegedly lying at the Senate.
Recall that Onochie on Thursday told a Senate committee that she does not belong to any political party.
She stated this on Thursday while campaigning her way for appointment as the National Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Amid controversies on her nomination, Onochie denied been a supporter of any party including the All Progressive Congress, the party of her principal, Buhari.
But reacting in a statement the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan slammed Onochie for denying her life in a clear desperation to be appointed as a national commissioner in INEC.
Buhari govt crippling Nigeria, debt now N33trn from N12trn in 2015 – Moghalu
Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor, Kingsley Moghalu has expressed concern at the rate Nigeria’s public debt increased in the last six years under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Moghalu raised the alarm that Nigeria is now a dangerous, debt-induced fiscal cliff and accused the federal government of mortgaging the future of the youth.
“We have to stop further borrowing and start to manage the current obligations in order to avoid a sovereign debt default or, at best, a costly restructuring. Further borrowing will lead to a disastrous debt bubble bust”, he warned in a statement.
The presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the 2019 election said from $10.31billion at the end of June 2015, the total external debt increased to $32.85billion as at March 2021.
The Professor complained the total outstanding public debt stock increased by 173 percent in the same period, from N12.11trillion to N33.10trillion.
Noting that on the average, over N3.6trillion is being added to the public debt annually, the expert observed infrastructure investment used to justify it have grossly under-performed.
The ex-CBN chief said under a coordinated economic policy by a competent government, the debt capital outlay would have catalyzed private sector investments and sizeable foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into the economy.
He insisted public-private partnerships should be the dominant approach to infrastructure development in Nigeria, not contract awards that, from information available on projects in Ghana and Ethiopia, are “overvalued”.
The economist regretted that in the real situation of the incompetence of the government since 2015, businesses have been groaning and FDI inflows have decreased.
Moghalu said instead of delivering economic growth, the economy has been twice in recession, and when out of it, growth has been underwhelming at 2 percent.
His statement lamented how the national unemployment rate increased to 33.1 percent while youth unemployment has reached 42.5 percent in a few years.
Moghalu urged the government to focus on increasing domestic revenue, by expanding the tax base – not by increasing rates as has been done with the value added tax (VAT) – and by introducing reforms for ease of paying taxes while abolishing multiple taxation.
Police Commission Drops Ibrahim Magu, Promotes 24 CPs To AIG Rank
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 24 Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police.
The Commission, however, declined the promotion of former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, CP Ibrahim Magu.
Society gazette reports that this was made known by the PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, made this known in a statement on Thursday titled, ‘PSC Promotes 24 CPs, 35 DCPs, 52 ACPs, 50 CSPs, Drops Ibrahim Magu’.
Ani said the decisions were the highpoints of the Commission’s 12th Plenary Meeting held on Tuesday and Wednesday, which was presided over by the Commission’s Chairman, Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police.
“The Commission declined the promotion of CP Magu pending clearance from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Office of the Inspector General of Police,” the statement partly read.
Magu, who served as acting chairman of the EFCC from 2015 to 2020, was rejected twice by the Senate for confirmation.
He was later suspended along with several others for allegedly mismanaging funds of the commission, an allegation which he vehemently denied.
The former EFCC boss was probed for over three months by a judicial panel of inquiry led by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.
The panel made several recommendations but the report has not been made public to date.
Society gazette reports that the lying-in-state ceremony for late Prophet TB Joshua has began with people paying their last respect to the great man of God.
The first family of Prophet TB Joshua that includes his wife, children and in-law were the first to pay their last respect before everyone.
His widow, Mrs Evelyn Joshua was the first to go and she was really sober to have lost her husband.
In paying her last respect to him, she knelt down while their children and in-law followed.
The Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Chief Gani Adams, has disclosed that he warned Yoruba nation agitator Sunday Igboho Adeyemo that his methods are wrong.
Addressing a gathering in a video seen by Society gazette, the Yoruba high chief stated that most of the methods being adopted Sunday Igboho are wrong but he would not abandon him.
He faulted Igboho’s threat to forcefully reopen the borders, adding that claims that 1,000 policemen would not return if they invaded his house was uncalled for.
Gani Adams, however, appealed to traditional rulers, governors and leaders of the Yoruba race to rally around Sunday Igboho and save him from being prosecuted or killed.
“I beg the Ooni of Ife, the Alake of Egba and all other Yoruba leaders. If a son offends his father, the father will forgive him. Let us unite to use another method for our liberation. We are not saying we should adopt Sunday Igboho’s method,” he said.
“Most of Sunday Igboho’s method are wrong. I told him that his methods are wrong. But God has used him on the agitation for Yoruba Nation. He has played his own role and he will still play more roles. We should not let him be killed or persecuted.
“As the Aare Onakakanfo, I am begging you. Assuming he and his followers had not insulted me before, you will say that is why I’m saying this. But a leader without the spirit of forgiveness is an enemy of God. I beg the governors too.
“Sunday Igboho should caution his talkative followers so that they won’t put him into trouble.”
He stated that he warned the agitator that those people surrounding him are agents of a politician in Lagos, adding that he advised Igboho to train his trusted soldiers than to hire mercineries.
“You supporters, you have done enough. Don’t cause more damages to this freedom fight. Let the elders wade in. Even if any Oba or leader talk against you, don’t abuse them. Let’s begin to preach our gospel to win more souls,” Gani Adams said.
“You said you wanted to go and open border. That will be the beginning of war. You don’t need to say that. It will be counterproductive. You don’t have war materials, you were molesting the Army, counterproductive. You said if 1,000 policemen visited your house, hardly will 100 return. You don’t need all that. Propaganda should not be too much in self-determination.
“I beg all Yorubas, let’s rally round him and support him.”
Adams vowed to back Sunday Igboho, the same way some Yoruba leaders stood up for him during his ordeal in 2001.
The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji has rubbished reports that he collected the sum of ₦50million from the federal government to facilitate the arrest of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho.
Reacting on Wednesday, the prominent traditional ruler described Igboho as a son whom he is duty-bound to protect.
He added that it is ridiculous to suggest that at his age, he would be collecting money to betray others.
The Monarch spoke through his media aide, Mr. Adeola Oloko when protesters demanding the release of Yoruba Nation agitators arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) during their raid on Igboho’s residence stormed the palace.
The protesters also called on the federal government to stop witch-hunting Igoho himself, arguing that he has done nothing wrong.
“The protesters were here. Before they came, we have been hearing through news on social media that Kabiyesi received the sum of N50m for the killing of Igboho, or for his arrest to become possible.
“I want to seize this opportunity to inform the public Kabiyesi didn’t collect a dime from anybody. Sunday Igboho is a Yoruba man, he lives in Ibadan. He is a son of Kabiyesi Olubadan, and we are duty-bound to protect him.
“At 92 going to 93, what does he need much money for?” Oloko queried.
Meanwhile, Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has asked the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to go after major sponsors of terrorism and bandits in the country.
Speaking on Channels TV on Wednesday night, the governor stated that if Nigeria’s government could capture the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu in foreign country why can it not deal with bandits who are killing citizens across the country.
According to him, there are powerful sponsors who are arming bandits with weapons and it is the work of Nigerians security agencies to fish them out.
Society gazette reports that the body of Prophet TB Joshua has arrived the prayer mountain of the synagogue Church of all nations for the lying in state.
The one week long event for his burial arrangements started on Monday and will end on Sunday with a Thanksgiving service.
There was a commotion on Wednesday morning at the Choba Junction axis of the East/West Road in Port Harcourt after a man said to be mentally challenged stabbed a pedestrian.
Reports had it that the man perceived to be mentally ill, attacked the pedestrian after he refused to give him a helping hand.
Society gazette understands that the victim is in his early 20s, and was awaiting a shuttle to ferry him to Rumuokoro when the incident happened.
It was gathered that the mentally challenged man said to be popular in the area allegedly approached the young man for money but he ignored him.
Angered by the young man’s action, the said ‘lunatic’ allegedly brought out a knife and stabbed him. The victim immediately slumped and was rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.
Angered by his action, traders and motorists rushed and descended on the said lunatic a gave him the beating of his life.
