Author: Emmanuel Anthony

A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has renewed her call for the release of some Chibok and Dapchi girls kidnapped by Boko Haram. Her demand follows the release of 333 students of Government Science secondary school, Kankara, Katsina State. Recall the students were kidnapped from their school on Friday. The Katsina State government, however, confirmed their release on Thursday night. Welcoming their release, Ezekwesili said Nigeria is not being governed and shows characteristics of a failed state. Reacting on her Twitter page on Friday, she wrote, “We rejoice in the freedom of our innocent Kankara Boys! But, Nigeria is…

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The Federal Government has approved the commencement of Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State. The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini EmemObong, who disclosed this in a press statement on Thursday, said the approval was given during the Federal Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday. He said the approval came following the vigorous push by the Udom Emmanuel-led administration for the actualization of the vision, adding that the approval signalled the full commencement of business in the port. He thanked the President, Muhammadu Buhari and the vice president, Prof Yemi Obasanjo, as well as other relevant…

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French President, Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). The presidential Elysee Palace confirmed this on Thursday. The Presidency said Macron took COVID-19 test after symptoms appeared. The brief statement did not reveal what symptoms Macron experienced. “The President took a test as soon as he got first symptoms and would isolate himself for seven days. “He will continue to work and take care of his activities at a distance,” the statement added. Meanwhile, the United States Mission in Nigeria has issued a holiday security alert to its citizens and others planning to travel to Nigeria. The US Embassy…

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The leader of INRI Evangelical spiritual church, Primate Elijah Ayodele has revealed the location of the recently kidnapped Kankara schoolboys. Ayodele, in a statement on Wednesday, said they were currently between Niger Republic and Nigeria. He warned that actions should be taken as soon as possible in order to avoid deaths of the abducted students. The prophet said that God showed him where the children were being held hostage in a vision, and that it was a mere setup to terrorize Nigeria. “The kidnapped children are between Niger Republic and Nigeria, that is where they are, let actions be made…

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday presided over the 28th meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) from his country home in Daura, Katsina State. The President participated virtually from his home as the meeting took place at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Also, the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, and the National Security Adviser, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno were all present at the meeting. Other members of the cabinet present at the meeting include the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, Minister…

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Former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson was today sworn in as Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District. Also, Professor Nora Ladi Daduu’t representing Plateau South Senatorial District was sworn in. Daduu’t, a Professor of French at the University of Jos replaced the late Ignatius Longjan who died in February this year. Similarly, Cleopas Moses of Bayelsa Central and Adetokunbo Mukhail Abiru representing Lagos East Senatorial District were sworn in. Adetokunbo replaced Adebayo Sikiru Osinbajo who died in June 2020. All the newly inaugurated Senators participated in the bye-election that was conducted penultimate Saturday. In solidarity, the governor of Plateau State,…

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Some Nigerians from the Southern region have commended the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu for launching his own security outfit to tackle insecurity in the country. Kanu had launched the security outfit at the weekend via a live Facebook broadcast, which he explained, was necessitated by the current security situation in major parts of the country. At the beginning of the podcast, he said, “We have decided to take it upon ourselves to defend the land of Biafra. We are determined and persistent, and we are not going to stop until we eradicate every form of terrorism.…

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Members of the Electoral College are widely expected to formally recognise Joe Biden as the next US president on Monday, despite Donald Trump refusing to admit defeat. The Washington Post reports that results of the November 3 election have been certified by each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Biden won with a record 81.3 million votes, or 51.3% of those cast, to 74.2 million, and 46.8% for Trump. But in America, presidents are chosen by indirect universal suffrage, with each state allocating its electors to the candidate who carried the state. The results also confirm victory…

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The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has spoken about his visit to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCC), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, when he sought a second term. According to him, Adeboye assured him that all would be well. Obaseki revealed this on Friday night at this year’s RCCG Holy Ghost Congress which was held at the church’s headquarters on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. He said, “When it looked impossible and when men rose, He (God) came out to say that He is God and only He has the power. “About the time when the crisis…

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Prominent stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Enugu State, have commended the Mai Mala Buni-led National Caretaker Committee of the party for its choice of Dr. Ben Nwoye to pilot the affairs of the party in the state. The National Executive Committee (NEC), of the APC had earlier in the week dissolved all the State Working Committees of the Party across the 36 States of the Federation. In its stead, caretaker committees are to be set up for each of the States. Reacting to the development, the Enugu APC stakeholders said the choice of Nwoye as the caretaker…

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has proven that he is not in charge of the affairs of the country. The party’s national chairman, Uche Secondus, who stated this in Abuja rebuked President Muhammadu Buhari for snubbing the National Assembly. Secondus said Buhari has shown that nobody is in charge and the current federal government is broken. Buhari who was scheduled to address a joint session of the National Assembly yesterday had snubbed the lawmakers. The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami had disclosed that the National Assembly had no constitutional powers to invite the…

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Constitutional lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Mike Ozekhome, SAN has rubbished the statement by Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami that the National Assembly doesn’t have the powers to summon President Muhammadu Buhari. Recall that the House had asked Buhari to come and address them over insecurity. However, the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami in a well publicised statement yesterday stated that the National Assembly lack powers to summon Buhari, citing ‘exclusivity of security issues’ as that of the President. The House of Representatives had penultimate week, passed a resolution for Buhari to appear before it, following…

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A former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reformed Task Force Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, collapsed during the resumed hearing in his N2 billion money laundering trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday. The sitting was scheduled for the hearing of the defendant’s no-case submission, following the close of the prosecution’s case with nine witnesses on Wednesday. The defence lawyer, Anayo Adibe, was briefing the judge, Justice Okon Abang that his team was yet to receive the records of proceedings requested from the court’s registry when Maina’s collapse attracted attention from the dock. Prison officials immediately rushed to attend to…

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President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn-in Professor Mahmood Yakubu as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a second term. He was sworn-in on Wednesday. “We have clearly demonstrated in recent elections that elections are getting better and better and elections will continue to get better and better,” he said after the swearing-in ceremony which took place at the Council Chambers, State House in Abuja. The Senate had on Tuesday last week confirmed his appointment as chairman of the electoral body, a development the former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) describes as a “privilege.” “It is…

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An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Letep Dabang, has said the dissolution of structures in states was not well-received by some members. He said he believed the development was for the progress of the party. The National Executive Committee (NEC) gave the order on Tuesday at a meeting held at the State House, Abuja. Dabang, the immediate past chairman of the APC in Plateau State, appealed to all stakeholders to be patient. He admitted that the decision had infuriated some of his ex-colleagues. Dabang disclosed that the grouse of the former state chairmen was that they were duly elected and had not…

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In a bid to decongest the correctional centre in Ekiti State, the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola has granted pardon to 34 inmates in Ado Ekiti correctional centre. The freed 34 inmates were part of the 386, whose cases were reviewed during the CJ’s visit to the correctional centre in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday. 27 inmates, including a female, were set free unconditionally, while seven were granted bail on liberal terms. Addressing the freed inmates, Justice Daramola, advised them, “to learn from your past mistakes and go into the world with determination to redirect your psyches and do what is…

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British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson on Tuesday confirmed that the United Kingdom has commenced vaccination against COVID-19. Britain is the first country in the world to grant emergency use of the vaccine. The vaccine was produced by United States pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German firm BioNTech. “Today the first vaccinations in the UK against COVID-19 begin”, Johnson tweeted. The leader praised the National Health Service (NHS) and all the scientists who worked on the research. He also thanked everyone that have followed the rules to protect others. “We will beat this together”, the Prime Minister assured. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for…

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The House of Representatives has reacted to demands for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari. Kingsley Chinda, the member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency of Rivers State had joined the calls on Sunday. In a statement titled ‘Nigeria saddled with the circus’, Chinda called on constituents to compel their representatives to commence the impeachment process against Buhari. In a rejoinder on Monday, Reps spokesman, Benjamin Kalu, said his opinion has been misinterpreted as the voice of the entire Green Chamber. Kalu said his colleague’s stance does not represent the weakest opinion of the minority-caucus of the 9th House. “Even among the minority…

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The second wave of End SARS protest has commenced in Lagos and Ibadan. Ibadan is the capital of Oyo State. Demonstrators have returned to Lekki toll plaza, the scene of the military shooting currently under probe. Teams of policemen and soldiers are around to forestall a breakdown of law and order. Security has been heightened at other flash points in Lagos, Nigeria’s biggest city. On Sunday, the police reiterated its ban on gatherings, warning that such might be hijacked by unscrupulous elements. The End SARS protest initially commenced on October 8 in Lagos. The youth-led outcry spread to other states. For…

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Saturday arrested a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Abdon Dala Gin, during the bye-election in Dass State constituency. The anti-corruption commission, according to sources, arrested the PDP chieftain, who is a former Head of Service in the state, for having undisclosed sum of money in his car during election. Dalla Gin, who is also the Senior Special Adviser on Civil Service to Governor Bala Mohammed, was said to have been apprehended shortly after granting interview to a team of journalists at Bundot ward of Dass Local Government Area. Speaking…

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Former Borno State Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima, has said that it is too early for the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, to talk about which region of the country will be given the party’s presidential slot in 2023. Shettima stated that President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other leaders of the APC will resolve the zoning issue in due time. He noted this while speaking during a two-day mid-term retreat held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. Shettima appeared alongside the Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, and vowed that the ruling party will not disintegrate over…

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The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), has admonished the Western Nigeria Security Network, otherwise known Operation Amotekun from going against the rules setting it up. DAWN, which is the coordinating agency for Amotekun in a statement on Friday, stated that the security outfit was not setup to address irrelevant issues. The commission was reacting to the plan by some state commands of the Amotekun Corps to arrest persons with indecent dressing as well as those involved in the abuse of Yoruba language. According to the commission, the creative expression, culture and language of people living in the Southwest zone…

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Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council has vowed that the Igbos “will have a rethink” if major political parties fail to cede their 2023 presidential ticket to the South-East. They told the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) not to deny the region, their desire to succeed President Muhamamdu Buhari in 2023. Speaking to reporters in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, the Secretary-General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, warned those plotting against the zone. “It is our turn. Anybody destabilizing any party because of our interest is making a grave mistake”, Nnabuike warned. On Governor David Umahi’s defection to the APC, he…

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The Nigeria Police Force have come under attack for filing a suit to stop judicial panels set up by state governors to probe allegations of police brutality by men of disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The NPF in the suit filed through their lawyer, Mr. O. M. Atoyebi at the Federal High Court in Abuja, said that the state governments lacked the power to set up panels to investigate activities of the police force. The force told the court to stop the Attorneys-General of the 36 states of the federation and their various panels of inquiry from going ahead with the…

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The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday adopted a motion sponsored by Senator Jibrin Barau representing Kano North Senatorial district for the reconstruction and dualisation of Kano-Danbatta-Kazaure-Daura-Niger Road. The motion which was co-sponsored by Senator Baba – Kaita Ahmad representing Katsina North maintained that the road from Kano State to Niger would be of economic importance to the country. One of the prayers which was sustained after the debate was the provision of adequate funding in the 2021 budget. Meanwhile, the Northern Elders’ Council (NEC) has said that Boko Haram insurgents responsible for the recent killing of over 43 farmers in Zabarmari community in…

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Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party is the only hope Nigeria needs to survive and fully bounce back. Saraki made the assertions at the inauguration of the PDP National Reconciliation Committee in Abuja. He also insisted that PDP was the best platform to rebuild and unite Nigeria. Boasting that PDP has a governor in all the geopolitical zones of the country, Saraki said the chances of the party in 2023 are bright. According to Saraki: “It is obvious that the success of the PDP today is the only hope that Nigeria needs to survive…

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The Senate has advised that President Muhammadu Buhari should begin the replacement of service chiefs following the killing of 43 farmers. The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan told Buhari to immediately restructure the country’s security architecture in order to fight against insurgents and secure lives of citizens. Lawan said: “I Urge the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria to immediately initiate the transitionary process of phasing out the current over-stayed security chiefs and replacing them with new ones with new ideas and solutions; “I urge the President to take immediate steps to restructure, remodel and revamp the country’s entire security architecture…

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The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the second term of five years. Recall that the Senate had received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari to confirm the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for a second and final term in office. Following the request, the Senate Committee on INEC, led by Senator Kabiru Gaya, made the confirmation at plenary on Tuesday. Senators who spoke before his confirmation also described him as highly qualified for the job.

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Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Monday reacted to the backlash he received over his comment on Boko Haram’s killing of rice farmers in Borno State. Shehu had said the murdered farmers never got clearance from the military to go out farming. Speaking with BBC Hausa, Garba had said although he was not blaming the victims for the incident, the truth must be said. His remark had generated some mixed reactions from Nigerians who lambasted him for making such comments. Reacting to the backlash, the president’s spokesman explained that his remark was based on…

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Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Monday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to sustain the policy on the ban of rice importation and not succumb to any pressure. The governor made the appeal in Makurdi when the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed paid him a courtesy visit. Ortom said the state as the food basket of the nation, commended the president and the Federal Government for the policy which helped in boosting rice production and agriculture in general in the state. “The ban on rice importation remains a major milestone in the development of agriculture in…

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