The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • ‘Perform or get the boot,’ Ebonyi’s Gov. Nwifuru warns political appointees

    ‘Perform or get the boot,’ Ebonyi’s Gov. Nwifuru warns political appointees

    Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi on Tuesday in Abakaliki charged commissioners and political appointees to perform optimally or get the boot.

    “The cliché: `to err is human and to forgive, divine’ will not apply in this administration,’’ he warned while swearing in the political appointees of his administration.

    He stressed that any appointee who erred would be fired without looking back.

    “You will leave office the moment I come and see lapses. I will never call you back to serve again and you know the number of people I called to serve.

    “There is nothing like to err is human, as no one is going to forgive you,’’ he added.

    Nwifuru, however, congratulated the appointees and urged them to take their work seriously.

    Read Also: Gov Nwifuru condemns forceful ejection of residents of govt quarters

    “The people are looking upon us and we have to show them our style of leadership,’’ he said.

    Responding on behalf of the appointees, Prof. Emmanuel Echiegu, Chief of Staff to the governor thanked him for appointing them and pledged that they would not disappoint the governor.

    “We need prayers from the people to enable us to succeed in our new endeavours,’’ he said.

    Nwifuru later assigned portfolios to the commissioners, four of whom served in the administration of the immediate past Gov. David Umahi.

    The returning commissioners are Chief Sunday Inyima (Capital Territory); Mr Ogbonnaya Abara (Infrastructural Development); Mrs Ann Aligwe (Human Capital Development) and Mrs Chinwe Okah (Budget and Planning).

    One of the new commissioners is Chief Nnanna Elechi, son of former Gov. Chief Martin Elechi, who was in office from 2007 to 2015.

    Another is Prof. Omari Omaka, the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) of Ebonyi descent. (NAN)

  • Group cautions on blackmail against Omo-Agege, Delta APC leaders

    Group cautions on blackmail against Omo-Agege, Delta APC leaders

    A support group, the Coalition for Delta Interest (CDI), has warned against what it called daily campaigns of calumny against immediate past Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State.

    Its convener and secretary Austin Kpedi and Eric Ikomi in a statement on Tuesday respectively said: ” Our attention has been drawn to different media publications and National Television programs where some groups of cheapjack speculators headed by an expelled chieftain of the APC are finding all possible means to get political patronage from President Bola Tinubu whose electoral victory they made no effort to contribute.

    These disparate elements who are rampaging the media with “Omo-Agege campaigned against Tinubu” were nowhere to be found in all APC campaigns, and meetings and thus failed to deliver their units for any APC candidates in the last elections. If these set of people were from Lagos State, they would also have accused Mr. President, His Excellency, Senator Bola Tinubu of working against himself because an opposition party defeated Mr. President in his Lagos State, a record which has not been broken for about twenty years.

    Read Also: Pipelines surveillance diversion: Ex-agitators seek Omo-Agege’s arrest

    ‘’While it is not necessary to duel on the rigorous grassroots campaign efforts of His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege alongside Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Rt Hon. Victor Ochei, Chief Ayiri Emami, and other leaders of the Delta State APC vis-a-vis the outcome of the elections, we need to state vividly that the 2023 general election in Delta State yielded unprecedented results that made Delta APC secure two out of the three Senatorial elections, one Federal Constituency election and seven State House of Assembly elections. The Governorship and other elections which were rigged by the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their conspirators, shall be reversed through the party’s petitions backed up with insurmountable evidence.

    ‘’As a group, we embarked on various pre-campaign activities including solidarity walks for His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege on different popular roads in Asaba, the Delta State Capital. We also participated in the One Million Man March for Tinubu and Omo-Agege as Coordinated by Chief Ominimini. It is pertinent to note that, the funding of these activities came from distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and other leaders of the party whose detractors are blackmailing their efforts.

    ‘’Those buying the blackmail from this set of helter-skelter politicians parading themselves as Delta APC members should demand their unit results in all the elections of 2023 to prove their commitments to the progress of the Party. Ms. Onochie, the recently sacked board Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission was alleged to have shared dollars to aid opposition parties’ victory in Delta State. She joined this maligning undertaking because it has been her stock in trade in earning appointment from the presidency”.

    The coalition urged the President and the National Leadership of the party to “be wary of this set of people whose mission is to reap from where they did not sow”.

  • Singer Skales, wife dedicate child

    Singer Skales, wife dedicate child

    Singer Raoul John Njeng-Njeng aka Skales has dedicated his child.

    Skales and his wife went to church last Sunday for the dedication with the singer sharing a video comprising the cute baby and wife during the ceremony. 

    Read Also: I stole school uniforms growing up, says Skales

    He wrote: “Baby Anaya goes to church!!! It was a beautiful dedication service yesterday, and I just want to glorify God for His goodness and mercies in our lives. Also, thank everyone that took their time out to be present yesterday, May God continue to be present in your lives, and for those that couldn’t make it, not to worry, we are still accepting gifts.”

  • Chef Dammy seeks financial assistance for bodyguards

    Chef Dammy seeks financial assistance for bodyguards

    Nigerian chef Adeparusi Damilola aka Chef Dammy has appealed for financial assistance to hire bodyguards.

    Chef Dammy became the talk of the town after she attempted to cook for 120 hours in a bid to break the Guinness World Record for individual longest cooking hours held by Hilda Baci. 

    Read Also: I was not after Guinness World Record, says Chef Dammy

    She begged Nigerians to hire bodyguards for her because she feels she is no longer safe. 

    According to her: ”It didn’t get anywhere, it’s not enough to get security. The money I’ve received is not enough to get soldiers that’ll protect me.

    “Honestly, you should please help me consider those factors if you want to gift me something. And I’ll appreciate it (Sic).”

  • Tonto Dikeh reacts to alleged with Iyanya by Yvonne Nelson

    Tonto Dikeh reacts to alleged with Iyanya by Yvonne Nelson

    Actress Tonto Dikeh has replied to her Ghanaian counterpart Yvonne Nelson who alleged she was having an affair with her ex-boyfriend Iyanya. 

    Yvonne Nelson, in her book, ‘I am not Yvonne Nelson’ alleged that each time she left Iyanya after visiting him in Nigeria, Tonto Dikeh would take over, sometimes spending nights with him. 

    She also said that she believed that Iyanya’s escapades with Tonto Dikeh was not an isolated incident as she also got wind of his romps with his female crew members.

    But controversial blogger Stella Dimoko Korkus refuted the allegation in a post on Instagram.

    She wrote: “Dear Yvonne…

    Your book is a lie from the pit of hell!

    There was never a time that TONTO dated Iyanya like you claimed in that figment of imagination you call a book.

    Read Also: Yvonne Nelson lied about Iyanya dating Tonto Dikeh – Stella Dimoko Korkus

    It’s been a long time and it’s a pity you targeted Naija celebs in your book but hey we all know doing what you have done is the fastest way to relaunch a sleeping career.

    ’’TONTO nah drama queen so u r banking on her response so that your book go sell out? I pray she ignores u totally and I pity those buying that compilation of fabricated lies.

    ’’Since you decided to go down memory lane, I hope say u include for the book say nah your ex friend husband u pass back go born pikin for? I hope say u add am and explain for the book why you thief the man even though say Una don scatter..

    ‘‘You Dey talk about cheating but forget say u sef cheat on the guy..

    ”Once again I say it with my full chest that TONTO and Iyanya were just friendly and did not date but if you insist make u show us photo of dem two for bed Dey nack cos u must hold evidence for hand before u go print nonsense Dey sell….

    ”I did my investigation years back after the Twitter brouhaha and I am doing this to set the records correctly. Abeg, Don’t export your lies from Ghana into naija please!

    ’’Iyanya please don’t bother with another response na traffic to sell book she Dey find!

    ‘‘God abeg!.” The blogger added.

    However, Tonto Dikeh, who has maintained an unusually quiet stance despite the weight of the allegation, simply liked the post shared by Stella Dimoko Korkus in reply to Yvonne Nelson.

  • Andrew Tate charged with rape and human trafficking

    Andrew Tate charged with rape and human trafficking

    Controversial influencer Andrew Tate has been charged in Romania with rape, human trafficking and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women.

    His brother Tristan and two associates also face charges. All have denied the allegations.

    The Tate brothers were first arrested at their Bucharest home in December.

    In March, they were moved from custody to house arrest following a ruling by a Romanian judge.

    The indictment deposited with the Bucharest court says that the four defendants formed an organised criminal group in 2021 to commit human trafficking in Romania, but also in other countries including the US and the UK.

    It names seven alleged victims who it says were recruited by the Tate brothers through false promises of love and marriage.

    Read Also: Andrew Enumanu Aileku: Unsung hero of confluence state

    The alleged victims were later taken to buildings in Ilfov county in Romania where they were intimidated, placed under constant surveillance and control and forced into debt, according to a statement from Romanian prosecutors.

    The defendants allegedly then forced the women to take part in pornography which was later shared on social media.

    One defendant is accused of raping a woman twice in March 2022, the statement adds.

    The trial will not start immediately and is expected to take several years.

    A Romanian judge now has 60 days to inspect the case files before it can be sent to trial.

    The media team for the Tate brothers said: “While this news is undoubtedly predictable, we embrace the opportunity it presents to demonstrate their innocence and vindicate their reputation.”

    It added that the indictment “allows us to present a comprehensive body of evidence, diligently collected and prepared over time, which will undoubtedly substantiate the brothers’ claims of innocence”.

    There are also separate charges still under investigation which could lead to a separate indictment, including money laundering and trafficking of minors.

    In 2016, Andrew Tate, a British-American former kickboxer, was removed from British TV show Big Brother over a video which appeared to show him attacking a woman.

    He went on to gain notoriety online, with Twitter banning him for saying women should “bear some responsibility” for being sexually assaulted. He has since been reinstated.

    Despite social media bans, he gained popularity, particularly among young men, by promoting what he presented as a hyper-masculine, ultra-luxurious lifestyle.

    BBC

  • US VP attends Davido’s Juneteenth 2023 performance

    US VP attends Davido’s Juneteenth 2023 performance

    With a memorable performance in front of the Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris and other notables, award-winning songster, Davido stole the show at the Juneteenth 2023 celebration.

    Before he got on stage after he was called, O.B.O was given a standing ovation by the crowd which burst into a loud scream on sighting him.

    From his fourth studio album, “Timeless,” the Afrobeats maestro gave an electrifying performance of several of his biggest hits, including Feel, Unavailable among others. He also presented smash tracks like ‘Fall’ from his previous albums.

    Presented by Live Nation Urban and Jesse Collins Entertainment, the event was a star-studded one with top international acts such as Miguel, Jodeci, Coi Leray,and many more taking the stage at Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday, June 19, 2023.

    Read Also: May you all find Christ, Tems manager tells Davido’s trolls

    The occasion was to commemorate “Juneteenth,” a national holiday in the United States that marks the abolition of slavery.

    Juneteenth, the newest federal holiday which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black had Americans celebrating over the weekend since the holiday was given federal status by President Biden in 2021.

    It rose in prominence following protests in 2020 over police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and other African Americans.

    Vice President, Kamala Harris welcomed Juneteenth revelers to Los Angeles by praising how far the country has come in its treatment of Black Americans while stressing that the fight for freedom was far from over.

    “America is a promise, a promise of freedom, liberty, and justice. The story of Juneteenth as we celebrate it is the story of our ongoing fight to realise the American promise is not for some but for all,” she stated.

  • FG moves to avert vessel withdrawal over high charges

    FG moves to avert vessel withdrawal over high charges

    President Bola Tinubu has made an urgent move to stop foreign oil vessel owners from fleeing Nigeria and withdrawing their services over what they see as excessive tax back charges.

    The multiple businesses received demands from Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), covering the period from 2010 to 2019 and range from $400,000 to $1.1 million per vessel, aggregating it to reach tens of millions of dollars.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Zacheus Adedeji, led government officials in an interactive session with shipping stakeholders at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he warned that Nigeria cannot afford not to have vessels move in and out of the country. 

    Speaking to correspondents after the meeting, he allayed the fears of the stakeholders within the oil and gas sector, spelling out the agreement reached to avert vessel withdrawal so as not to disrupt the flow of products.

    Read Also: BREAKING: FG, Labour resume dialogue over subsidy removal 

    He said the problem arose from the demand notice to the vessel owners issued in accordance with extant tax laws to make their remittances.

    The presidential aide assured that a technical committee has been set up to resolve the issues in contention. 

    He noted that no vessel would be arrested or detained as the committee works to reconcile the back taxes.

    Adedeji warned that Nigeria would not succumb to blackmail as it laws must be obeyed.

    “So, we have agreed to resolve this issue and what is the issue? There was demand notice, which was issued to the vessel owners or chattered, as it were, which is in accordance with the Nigerian tax law, that they should remit the tax deal to them, for the last ten years and that there were concerns about the timing of compliance or afraid of the enforcement. 

    “So, we’ve now resolved within ourselves to resolve this issue as quickly as possible, just to make sure that we don’t affect the flow of the products, in and outside the country. 

    “We also made it clear that Nigeria will not accept any blackmail by defaulters, who are not complying with our laws. We have laws and the laws must be respected and obeyed. 

    “However, we will not detain or arrest any defaulting ship or vessel because this is what is causing panic. 

    “We’ve sent them demand notice and then they’ve also come and the agreement is that we should give them time. So, we’ve agreed to set up the technical committee to resolve these issues. 

    “The technical committee will comprise the regulator, which is NUPRC, NMDRA, NNPC, Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Presidency, in the Office of Chief of Staff, SA Energy and SA Revenue and the Secretariat will be the Federal Inland Revenue. 

    “The technical committee will look at the concerns and reconcile the back taxes and set a process that will ensure compliance going forward. 

    “So, we’ve agreed to give the parties three months to come to the conclusion and we will also give a grace period of six months, when we will not enforce any of these laws, just to allow for reconciliation. 

    “In essence, no vessel or ship will be detained or delayed. So, we give this six months break for them so that they can reconcile with this technical committee that we set up. 

    “Nigeria, as you know, is open for business and we are business friendly, as you’ve seen from what we’re doing and what we will do. 

    “So, we are open, but that is not to say that anybody will take advantage of the country. We have the law and the law must be respected,” he said.

  • ‘Ebonyi Airport is fully operational, not abandoned’ – project coordinator

    ‘Ebonyi Airport is fully operational, not abandoned’ – project coordinator

    The Project Coordinator of the Sen. Chuba Okadigbo Airport, Onueke in Ebonyi, Mr Frank Ngwu, has said that the airport is fully operational and not abandoned as insinuated in the social media.

    Ngwu made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while reacting to insinuations on the social media that the airport is non-operational and had been turned into a ‘motor park’.

    Ngwu said that it was the viability of the airport that made the Federal Government take over the facility with necessary processes in progress.

    “It is difficult to see a newly inaugurated airport in Nigeria recording the volume of passenger operations as ours.

    Read Also: Ebonyi gets first female SSG

    “It would have taken other airports more than six months to be operational but ours has gone full swing since it was test-run less than two months ago,” he said.

    The project coordinator revealed that flight activities are recorded daily at the airport as three aircrafts conveyed passengers ‘to and from’ Abuja and Lagos, on Monday.

    “We however solicit patience from Nigerians because a journey of miles starts with a step.

    “We are deepening our passenger base with the commercial flight aspect steadily undergoing development.

    “We have signed several Memoranda of Understanding with corporate organisations to boost our commercial flight and cargo operations and the dividends would start yielding soon,” he said.

    He described the insinuations as “fabricated figments” of people who are still awed that Ebonyi will have an airport of such standard.

    A NAN correspondent who visited the airport reports that the atmosphere was serene with staff attending to the needs of passengers.

    The environment was neat, facilities well maintained though flight activities went on a low scale.

    A staff of the airport, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, expressed optimism that it would soon compete with others across the country on flight operations.

    “You can see that there is no motor park activity around this facility as a United Nigeria flight is being expected from Lagos with passengers inside its bowel,” he said.

    Mrs Jane Ifemenam, a passenger,said that she was impressed with facilities at the airport and urged its authorities to expedite action in attracting more passengers.

    “I am waiting to board a United Nigeria flight to Lagos and wish to state that there is room for improvement,” he said. (NAN)

  • PHOTOS: Shettima decorates Acting IGP Egbetokun

    PHOTOS: Shettima decorates Acting IGP Egbetokun

    Shettima decorates Acting IGP Egbetokun

    Read Also: BREAKING: Shettima decorates Acting IGP Egbetokun