President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mr. Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, a veteran broadcaster, as the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the appointment in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday.
He said Mr. Ilelah’s appointment is for a tenure of five years in the first instance.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged Nigerian youths to shun a nationwide protest being planned for Saturday, June 12, saying it is a plot to destabilise the country.
Society gazette reports that there is apprehension across the nation as some individuals have threatened to shut down the nation with the said protest, tagged #Buharimustgo.
But NANS said the protest is being sponsored by some people who it said are hellbent in disrupting the peace of the nation.
In a press conference addressed at the NUJ Secretariat, Okelewo, Abeokuta, the Ogun State Chairman of NANS, Damilola Simeon, said the students body would never be in support of any protest that would put the nation in jeopardy.
Simeon said, with June 12, “we must continue to appreciate the efforts of the founding fathers of Nigeria’s democracy, especially late MKO Abiola, the father of Nigeria’s modern democracy, who fought and even laid down his life for Nigerians to have the democracy we are now all enjoying.”
According to him, June 12 carries heavy symbolism for a country that is known for more years of military rule than democracy.
He said, “Going by this, we want to say that we are not in support of any planned protest on June 12.
“We want to state unequivocally, that we will not be part of any protest or ploy by anybody or group of individuals to disrupt the relative peace Nigerians are enjoying, nor would we join any protest whose aim is to cause the disintegration of Nigeria.
“As much as we are against the Federal government and President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration and its refusal to find lasting solutions to the myriads of problems confronting the country, we will not join in any protest or move that will further put Nigeria into destruction.
“We are not anarchists and we are not going to join in anything that will put the efforts of the founding fathers of Nigeria and those that fought for the unity and democracy of Nigeria in jeopardy.
“We are not ingrates and despite the current situation of the country, we believe a mass protest that will cause anarchy and weaken the already crisis-ridden security architecture of the country is not the solution to the problems.
“The glory of June 12 must not be rubbished by those inviting anarchy through the planned protest. The sacrifices of our founding fathers must not be compensated with rebellious acts against the country. We believe Nigeria will survive the current turmoil and anarchy is not the way to go.
“MKO Abiola is our true son in Ogun State and we should not allow selfish individuals or groups of individuals to destroy his legacies all in the name of a protest.
“The leadership of NANS and NAOSS, therefore call on all students in the State to shun the planned protest and embrace peace. We should not allow ourselves to be used by selfish individuals and groups to destroy the country.
“We appeal to those attacking police formations in the country to put an end to the act and embrace peace.”
The Nigerian government is currently negotiating a fresh $14.4 billion loan which is about N5.9 trillion to finance two rail lines in the country.
Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi disclosed this in an interview with Bloomberg.
According to the minister, Standard Chartered Plc, a British multinational bank will be funding the project despite previously announcing the state-owned Export-Import Bank of China.
The two rail projects include the upgrade of eastern line that links Port Harcourt with Maiduguri and the extension of the Lagos-Ibadan rail line to Kano.
“We’ve moved away from China in some of our projects,” the minister was quoted as saying by Bloomberg.
He also added that Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, is “overseeing the talks with the emerging markets-focused financial institution about arranging the infrastructure loans.”
In 2017, Buhari had announced that the state-owned Export-Import Bank of China “would shortly approve” a $3.5 billion loan to help start building the 1,400-kilometer (870-mile) standard-gauge line.
It is believed Nigeria’s decision not to borrow from China was made in order to limit the country’s vulnerability to China.
The Federal Government had been embarking on several rail line projects across the country in collaboration with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Chinese financed by stated owned Eximbank bank.
China Eximbank provided loan of about $2.3 billion for the standard-gauge railway segments that links Abuja to Kaduna, and another connecting Lagos to the city of Ibadan, as well as a metro line in Abuja.
China also contributed $5.3 billion to allow CCECC to expand the Lagos-Ibadan line to the northern commercial center of Kano, but as of January, the Minister stated that the financing had yet to be received.
Friends and family are mourning the demise of Ebenezer Ayeni, a gospel music producer reportedly killed by armed robbers in Oyo State.
Naija News learnt that the gospeller was attacked and shot at in Ibadan, Oyo state capital on Thursday, June 10.
A friend of the deceased who disclosed the incident on his social media account said Ayeni was killed just a week to be joined with his lover.
It was gathered that Ayeni was attacked while resting at his home. He is said to have survived the gunshot and was rushed to the University College Hospital Ibadan and another private hospital but was rejected as the hospital staff allegedly demanded a police report before they could treat his gunshot injury.
He, however, died hours later in the pool of his own blood, Naija News learnt. His body has since been deposited in the morgue.
Expressing his sadness on the sudden death of his friend, one MC ShayorComedian took to his Facebook page and wrote:
”Man of God like I used to call you, Ebenezer Ayeni NIGERIA HAS HAPPEN TO YOU TOO AND MY HEART BLEEDS.
“Your Government has failed you. UCH has failed you. NIGERIA has failed you
“I was still discussing with Bishop Shane Anifowose Oluwasinaayomi How we will dance and spray you money next week Saturday
“Your wedding clothe that I bought is ready.. I spoke with your wife to be she said I told her I was coming on Wednesday and I said yes.. said I should wake u up for her…… Baba wake up oo will still believe in miracle and God still answers prayers u can still wake up to surprise us.How do you want the young ones you are gathering and putting on the right path to feel?
“How do u want Bolarinwa Kehinde Ajipe feel who will feel that space you occupied in her Heart?
“And to all Nigeria youth out there na once person dey die, at this point I don’t care what happens to me again, as long as it won’t happen to my next generation let me do the fighting now and die and nothing happens to the people coming behind me #UchFailedUs #jraphahospitalfailedus #nigeriafailedus #Mcshayorsayyourmind
“Eben you can still wake up, my eye is full of tears right now and I can’t control my self.”
Another friend of the deceased shared:
Police embark on show of force ahead of June 12 protest
The police command in Oyo on Thursday embarked on a show of force in major areas of the state over an alleged invasion of armed bandits amid the proposed June 12 protests
The police command in Oyo on Thursday embarked on a show of force in major areas of the state over an alleged invasion of armed bandits amid the proposed June 12 protests.
Briefing journalists at the end of the patrol, the Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, said the exercise was to let the public be aware that their safety was the primary responsibility of the police.
There was a rumoured apprehension in the state that armed bandits had flooded it to cause chaos.
The police started the show of force from the command’s headquarters at Eleyele, through Egbeda, Monatan, Akinyele, Moniya, Beere, Agodi-Gate, Olodo, Iwo Road, among others.
Ms Onadeko said there was no truth in the rumour that bandits had invaded major towns, warning that unfounded rumours would not do anybody good in the society.
According to her, the police and other sister security agencies in the state are collaborating with local hunters and vigilance groups to protect lives and property.
She called on residents to stop creating unnecessary fear in public.
“Go about your normal businesses. Even, the June 12 issue, the police, and other security agencies are working harmoniously together with non-state actors to ensure that the state is safe,” Ms Onadeko said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Akinyele Livestock Market, Muhammed Sugaba, said there was calm and no ethnic discrimination in the market.
Mr Sugaba added that there was peaceful coexistence among various ethnic groups in the market, assuring the residents of a continuous relationship among the people in the market.
Also, Dauda Alamu, chairman of the Goat Sellers Association in Akinyele Market, said they were impressed and felt secure with the police patrol in the state.
(NAN)
PSociety gazette reports that the leader of Christ Apostolic Church, Prophet SK Abiara has visited the widow of Prophet TB Joshua who was called to glory last weekend.
Several sympathisers have gone to the deceased house to console his widow and the CAC Leader has just joined the list
Yesterday, the Lagos State Government was there to present a signed Console letter by the governor, also, several state government including the federal government have sent their condolence messages to SCOAN, His family and widow
Society gazette reports that a pastor in Kajola, near Osogbo, the Osun State capital, Olagunju Adetunji, was on Wednesday paraded by the state police command for being in possession of human hands and legs.
Also paraded alongside the 40-year-old pastor were Rasheed Ajani, Saka Akeem, Abiodun Adetimilehin and Adewumi Gbadamosi, a herbalist, for allegedly killing a teenager simply identified as Kehinde near a hospital in Osogbo.
The state Commissioner of Police, Wale Olokode, said acting on intelligence, operatives arrested the suspects at Oke Ayepe area of Osogbo and Kajola ljesha.
“The suspects were arrested with two decaying hands and two legs of one Kehinde, whose surname and address are still unknown. The principal suspect, one Adewumi Gbadamosi, confessed to the crime and said the victim’s head was given to one Olagunju Adetunji for rituals,” the CP stated.
Gbadamosi told journalists that he shot Kehinde dead while on night guard duty post in Osogbo, adding that after shooting, he dismembered him, took some parts and threw the remains into a river.
The 50-year-old herbalist explained that he gave the head to Adetunji and his friend, Saka, who had approached him for help because of poor patronage.
He also said Ajani, who was also working as a night guard, assisted him to carry the deceased after he had killed him.
But Adetunji denied receiving the deceased’s head from the herbalist, but admitted meeting Gbadamosi once in his church after his friend, Adetimilehin, brought him for spiritual help.
Olokode said the suspects would be arraigned before a court after investigation had been completed.
The president’s comment comes amidst the rise in the activities of bandits in some states in the two zones.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he has given the military and police a marching order to be ruthless on bandits in the North-west and North-central zones.
The president stated this in an interview on Arise TV, aired Thursday morning.
The president’s comment comes amidst the rise in the activities of bandits in some states in the two zones.
Thousands of persons, including students, have been kidnapped for ransom in different states in the zones.
These have made many farmers desert their farms. Some others negotiate with the bandits to go to their farms.
Marching order
In the interview, the president said Nigerians will see the difference in the activities of the security agents.
He said the country cannot afford another famine that could arise if the activities of the bandits are not checked.
“People of the same culture killing each other, stealing each other’s cattle, as I said, we are going to treat them in a language they understand.
“We are going to give the police and the military power to be ruthless and you watch it, in a few weeks time, they will be different.
The Federal Government through the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD, has begun the payment of the consequential adjustment to pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, DBS.
The Executive Secretary of PTAD, Chioma Ejikeme, disclosed this development through a statement by the Directorate’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Gbenga Ajayi, informing that the payment was in fulfillment of the promise she made following the announcement of President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of the implementation of the consequential adjustment to the pension benefits occasioned by the new minimum wage increase of 2019.
Ajayi recalled that Ejikeme promised that the upward adjustment of pension benefits would take effect from May 2021.
He said that while reacting to the messages of gratitude received from some pensioners, the Executive Secretary assured them of PTAD’s commitment to the welfare of the DBS pensioners.
Ejikeme, however, cautioned them against fraudsters who called pensioners pretending to be staff of PTAD, saying that no staff of the directorate would request for gratification before processing their pension payment.
She urged the pensioners to report such phone calls and other activities of the scammers to PTAD for adequate investigation and possible prosecution.
Pensioners under the Civil Service Pension Department, CSPD, Parastatals Pension Department, PaPD, Police Pension Department, PPD, and Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department, CIPPD, have begun receiving their accrued arrears.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has called various parties’ calls for Nigeria’s breakup “idiotic.”
He said this at the luncheon and investiture of Kehinde Isijola as the new chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Ogun State branch, on Wednesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He criticized proposals for secession at a time when Africa is working to reintegrate its political, social, and economic systems.
While stating that disintegration is not the solution, Obasanjo warned that if the country splits up, minority groups would suffer.
Pakistan, Yugoslavia, and Sudan, he said, are instances of countries that have split away but have yet to find long-term answers to their problems.
“If there is any Nigerian who does not feel worried about the country’s position, that person is a human being without being human,” Obasanjo stated.
“Any Nigerian who is human will be concerned, if not outraged, by the country’s current position. We’re concerned about the security situation, the economic situation, and our political position, and the drum we’re hearing is one of disintegration.
“I am a strong believer of one Nigeria, but not one Nigeria at any cost, but one Nigeria where every Nigerian can feel proud that he or she has a stake in this country.
“No Nigerian is born a slave in this country. No Nigerian is born to be oppressed in this country and those of us that have shed part of our blood and sweat for this country, we did that because we wanted a country where every Nigerian can claim as his or her own.
“I believe that if we talk among ourselves the way we should and if we change the narrative, I believe this is a great country. That we are not making Nigeria what God wants it to be is not the fault of God, but the fault of ourselves, particularly our leaders.
“One thing that gives us strength is our diversity. If all that we have is Republic of Oduduwa for those who said so, their position is understandable. If that is all we have, members of that country will be diminished compared to be a citizen of Nigeria. Citizens of Oduduwa Republic or any other republic from Nigeria will be diminished compared to citizens of Nigeria.
“In this age and time that we are talking about the reintegration of Africa for economic development, disintegration of any country will be almost idiotic. Even if we have Igboland as an independent country, Yorubaland an independent country and Fulani/Hausaland an independent country.
“And as a friend of mine in the military used to say then, what will become of the over 300 minorities – the Jukuns, the Gbasamas? Where will they belong? The only reason they can raise up their heads is because they belong to Nigeria. Are we thinking of them or are we are just being selfish? It doesn’t matter what we do, we will still be neighbours.
“We had seen it before, India was broken into India and Pakistan, they are still at war till today. Yugoslavia was broken into how many countries, they haven’t sorted it till today. Sudan was broken into Sudan and South Sudan, I don’t believe South Sudan is better for it and that is the truth.
“I believe it will cost us less to work for our unity, there are many things wrong, but those things are correctable if we make efforts to correct them and hold us together than what it will cost us to break up and be perpetually at war and all our money will be spent in building an army. I know what an army contains, I know what it means to keep an army, an army that may not be productive, let us think about it.”
