The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • APC deputy spokesman joins SDP for Kogi Gov poll

    APC deputy spokesman joins SDP for Kogi Gov poll

    The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Muritala Yakubu Ajaka has resigned his membership from the party.

    The resignation came on the heels of his inability to clinch the party’s ticket at the April 14 primary ahead of the November 11 Kogi Governorship Election.

    Though he did not state reasons for quitting the ruling party, a source close to him said Ajaka has moved to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to contest the November 11 Kogi Governorship Election.

    Ajaka’s resignation was contained in a letter dated April 17 to the APC National chairman Abdullahi Adamu, titled: “Notice of resignation as Deputy National Publicity Secretary and Member of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress APC.”

    The one-page letter reads: “As captioned above, I write to inform your good self and the National Working Committee NWC of our great Party, the All Progressives Congress APC, of my decision to resign my office as the Deputy National Publicity Secretary and also as a member of the NWC.

    Read Also: APC chieftain blames Obasanjo for abandoning Ogbomoso-Ilorin highway

    “This gesture is a consequential act to the resignation of my membership, a notice of which I have already communicated in writing to the Chairman of APC, Ajaka Ward 1 in Igalamela/Odolu LGA of Kogi State.

    “Kindly permit me to extol the exemplary brinkmanship, astuteness, sagacity and political dexterity with which Your Excellency, being supported by the current National Working Committee has successfully bonded the hitherto fragile fabrics of the Party; firmly enough to record the most eminent victories in the last general elections. Having proudly won the presidential election therefore, I have the utmost faith that the Party, under your able charge will help the incoming administration to upgrade the standard of governance for the greater good of Nigerians.

    “I also, by this medium wish to thank my fellow NWC members for their extraordinary camaraderie while we worked together. I hope that we are parting ways based on principle, only to meet again, in due course”.

    Though the former APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary did not disclose his next party, speculation in the state has it that, Muri as he is fondly called, has secured the governorship ticket of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the poll. 

    “I can tell you authoritatively that Muri has not only joined the SDP, but he has also secured the party’s governorship ticket for the next governorship election in the state come November 11,”  a source told The Nation. 

  • Nigerian Correctional Service gets new DCGs

    Nigerian Correctional Service gets new DCGs

    Six Assistant Controllers-General of Correction (ACGs) have been promoted to the rank of Deputy-Controllers General of Corrections (DCGs).

    The promotions were effected in the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Service Boards (CDCFIB)

    The Spokesman, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Assistant Controller of Corrections, Mr Abubakar Umar, stated this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    Umar named the promoted superior officers as Adbullahi Magaji, Ahmadu Adamu, Timothy Tinuoye, Marylaurene Melchizedek, Jerome Akinrujomu and Joseph Usendiah.

    Read Also: Repositioning the Nigerian Correctional Service

    He said the newly promoted DCGs were decorated with their new ranks by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, alongside their spouses.

    He reported Aregbesola as congratulating them on their new positions, urging them to redouble efforts to meet the mandates of the service.

    He reiterated that the Federal Government and generality of Nigerians expected them to bring their expertise and experiences to bear, to improve the fortunes of correctional administration in Nigeria.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the promoted DCGs have since been deployed to head various directorates of the service.

    Section 1 (3a) of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 provides a minimum of eight Deputy Controllers-General of Corrections, one of whom shall be responsible for the newly established non-custodial service directorate.

    (NAN)

  • Edo Chief Judge retires from service

    Edo Chief Judge retires from service

    Edo Chief Judge, Justice Joe Acha, on Friday retired from State Judiciary  service at the age of 65 years.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newly sworn-in acting Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, described the retiring Chief Judge as an epitome of integrity and  a jurist of unquestionable repute.

    Okungbowa was sworn-in earlier as acting Chief Judge on Friday by Gov Godwin Obaseki.

    A valedictory court session was held in honour of retiring Justice Acha at the state High court in Benin.

    Justice Okungbowa said retiring Justice Acha stood out as one who walked his talk, adding that he was a jurist of steel character, unbendable and  uncompromising in dispensing Justice to those who deserved it.

    Read Also: Ondo Seaport approval good parting gift from Buhari, says Akeredolu

    On his part, Prof. Faith Osadolor, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Justice, said retiring Chief Judge earned for himself the virtues of honesty, integrity, uncommon resilience and cerebral sagacity .

    Rev. Fr Edwin Omorogbe, during Mass at St Paul”s Catholic church,  said  Justice Acha was a devoted Catholic and a Papa knight of the Order of St. Sylvester (KSS).

    Rev. Omorogbe, during a sermon, said good people’s sorrow turned to joy no mater what.

    He said there was internal joy “when you do good and no matter where you find yourself, no one can take your joy that you feel and it’s natural”.

    He urged the judiciary to do good and feel the internal joy.

    Acha, however, thanked former governors Adams Oshiomhole and Lucky Igbenedion, the Secretary of Judicial Service Commission, Mr Julius Aikusr and others for their support.

     Acha was sworn in as acting Chief Judge on May 16, 2021 and was confirmed as Substantive Chief Judge on Oct. 6, 2021.

    He was born in  May 19, 1958 and clocked 65 years on Friday.

     Justice Acha hails from Okpekpe, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state and the first chief judge from Etsako East

    He is married to Christiana Acha with children and five grandchildren. 

    (NAN)

  • JUST IN: PEPC plans to consolidate Atiku, Obi, APM’s petitions

    JUST IN: PEPC plans to consolidate Atiku, Obi, APM’s petitions

    The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has hinted of plan to consolidate the three remaining petitions challenging the outcome of the last presidential election.

    The petitions are those filed by presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) Atiku Abubakar, the PDP; Peter Obi and LP and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

    At the resumption of the pre-hearing session in the petition by Atiku and the PDP on Saturday, Justice Tsammani asked lawyers in the case to address the court on whether the surviving petitions should be consolidated as provided in Paragraph 50 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2022.

    Read Also: PEPC rules Monday on Obi’s, Atiku’s request for live streaming, televising of proceedings

    The Paragraph states: “Where two or more petitions are presented in relation to the same 

    election or return, all the petitions shall be consolidated, considered 

    and be dealt with as one petition unless the tribunal or court shall 

    otherwise direct in order to do justice or an objection against one or 

    more of the petitions has been upheld by the tribunal or court.”

    Lawyers to parties however sought time to consult and report back to court on the issue, following which the court adjourned further pre-hearing session in the petition by Atiku and the PDP till Monday.

    The court is on the petition by Obi and the LP.

    Details shortly…

  • Akwa Ibom performs eight successful cardiac peacemaker implantation

    Akwa Ibom performs eight successful cardiac peacemaker implantation

    The Chief Physician to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Medicals, Dr. Akpabio Ignatius, has said Akwa Ibom has performed eight successful cardiac peacemaker implantation at various General Hospitals in the state.

    Ignatius announced three of such medical operations were carried out on Thursday at the General Hospital in Awa, Onna local government area of the state.

    He stated this during a parley with a team of medical experts who had earlier donated theatre equipment worth millions of Naira to the state.

    “The first peacemaker implantation carried out at the General Hospital, Awa took place on Wednesday, Feb. 15th till Thursday, May 18th.

    “Akwa Ibom have eight successful cardiac peacemaker implantation in the state since the facilities was procured by Gov. Emmanuel’s administration,” Ignatius said.

    Ignatius described the feat as unprecedented in the history of general hospitals in Nigeria.

    He said that Emmanuel’s administration had received more accolades for eight years of sterling interventions in the health sector across the state.

    He said the party was organised to appreciate the team of medical professionals, who has painstakingly contributed to the health sector achievements of this administration.

    Ignatius thanked the Governor for training the cardiologist, cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthetist, intersivits, radiologist, radiographers, cardiac unit and theater nurses and the procurement of ultra modern theatre that made the implantation possible.

    He also thanked the medical personnels for supporting the administration professionally to register the successes it had registered in the last 8 years.

    In his remarks, the cardiothoracic consultant at LUTH, Dr. Ezekiel Ogunleye, who led the surgery team for the pacemaker implant, said he wants to appreciate Gov. Emmanuel and his Chief Physician for the tenacity of making the pacemaker implant a reality in a general hospital in Akwa Ibom.

    Ogunleye said they started the pacemaker insertion in 1999 and since then they have never done the implant in any general hospital in Nigeria.

    “We started the pacemaker insertion in 1999, we have never done the surgery in any general hospital in Nigeria,” he said.

    He stated further that when the idea of the implant was nursed, there were conflicting thoughts whether or not the surgery would be successful.

    Another surgeon, who has also been partaking in the pacemaker surgery, Prof. Eyo Ekpe, a professor of cardiothoracic surgery, commended Gov. Emmanuel for putting the facilities on ground to aid in major surgeries in the state like the pacemaker insertion.

    Explaining the procedure, Ekpe said that for the implant to be successful, several machines has to be put in place in a theater.

    He mentioned that the C-Arm machine was one of the machines that has to be in a theater for such procedure to be carried out and that the machine is not common even in teaching hospitals in the country.

  • BREAKING: Atiku, PDP to call 100 witnesses for presidential petition

    BREAKING: Atiku, PDP to call 100 witnesses for presidential petition

    Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar and his party have announced plan to call not more than 100 witnesses to testify in their case before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

    Their lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN) disclosed this at the resumption of proceedings before the PEPC this morning.

    Uche said the anticipated 100 witnesses will include those already listed and those to be subpoenaed.

    Read Also: PEPC rules Monday on Obi’s, Atiku’s request for live streaming, televising of proceedings

    Lawyer to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said his client plans to call two witnesses, the President-elect, Bola Tinubu to call 39 in addition to those to be subpoenaed, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) plans 25 witnesses, in addition to those to be subpoenaed.

    Details shortly….

  • Video of how police harassed musicians trends online

    Video of how police harassed musicians trends online

    A video of how police officers harassed musician Seun Oluyole aka Sean Dampte and four others while on their way to a content shoot has been causing a buzz on the internet.

    Dampte and four artistes had a rough time in the hands of police officers along Oniru, Lagos.

    It took the intervention of a calmer officer to remedy the situation on April 14.

    The UK-based musician and others in a convoy of three cars were on their way to the Landmark beach at Oniru when the police officers stopped them.

    They were roughly exited from each vehicle and searched. With nothing found on them, the vehicle was also searched, leading to discovery of an art knife that Dampte bought in Kenya during his Africa Tour ’23, preparatory to his London concert scheduled for September.

    Read Also: Veteran musician Chris MBA dies

    When the musician asked why they were being stopped, the police officer became livid and threatened to put them in jail. When one of his team members wanted to make a call to an unknown individual, the angry officer went political, accusing youths of blaming the police for complicity in the last general elections.

    “I go change am for you now now,” he said, while a calmer officer appealed to the musicians to relax and be calm.

    The officer continued to shout and warned the musicians that more powerful Nigerians than Dampte were in jail and nothing would stop him from seeing them end up there too.

    He added no amount of begging, while inside the four walls, would set them free.

    Eventually the musicians were allowed to go while the knife, even when the receipt was shown to the officer, was seized.

    The video of the incident shot by a media crew member has been generating ripples on the internet.

    The “I Dey Consider” crooner is considering the threat posed by the police wondering why the brouhaha with the officers.

  • Nigerian-born Gbalajobi receives Queen Elizabeth II’s medal in Canada

    Nigerian-born Gbalajobi receives Queen Elizabeth II’s medal in Canada

    The Premier of Alberta, Hon Danielle Smith has awarded Nigerian-born Wale Gbalajobi, the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for his outstanding volunteer work and leadership in the community. 

    The award ceremony held at the Siksika room McDougall Centre was organised by the Office of the Deputy Premier and Minister of Skilled Trades and Professions. It took place on April 28 in Canada.

    The occasion was attended by esteemed guests, community leaders, and representatives from various organisations. 

    The event was to acknowledge and celebrate the charismatic Gbalajobi’s remarkable contributions in making the community a better place to live, work, raise families, and establish businesses.

    Read Also: Enwonwu’s statue of Queen Elizabeth II resonates in farewell

    Gbalajobi, deeply humbled by the recognition, expressed his gratitude. He stated: “I am truly honored to receive this award. It has been a privilege to serve my community, and I am grateful for this recognition.”

    The Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal Award is bestowed on individuals who have demonstrated exemplary dedication and commitment to improving their communities.  

    Gbalajobi’s remarkable volunteer work and leadership have made a significant impact on the lives of many, uplifting the community and fostering positive change.

    The Office of the Deputy Premier and Minister of Skilled Trades and Professions commended the amiable man for his outstanding contributions and extended their congratulations on his well-deserved achievement. They expressed gratitude for his continued dedication and emphasized the importance of individuals like  Wale Gbalajobi in building stronger and more vibrant communities.

    This  award ceremony served as a reminder of the power of volunteerism and community engagement. Gbalajobi’s recognition will undoubtedly inspire others to follow in his footsteps, contributing to the betterment of society and leaving a lasting legacy.

     Gbalajobi is a highly accomplished Nigerian-Canadian entrepreneur, financial consultant, and business leader. With degrees in Economics and Political Science from the University of Calgary, he has made significant contributions to the business and financial sectors in both Canada and Nigeria. 

    As the President of Aquafinancial Consulting Inc., he provides wealth management and financial advice to clients, utilizing his vast business experience and entrepreneurial mindset.

    His company helped coordinate the business meetings the round table with the Calgary Economic Development Council during the Olu of Warris trip to Calgary in 2022.

    Gbalajobi’s entrepreneurial endeavors extend beyond Canada’s borders, as he has helped facilitate the entry of Nigerian businesses into the Canadian market. Notably, he played a crucial role in introducing Oando to the business Exchangecommunities in Calgary and Toronto during its listing on the Toronto Stock, fostering cross-border collaborations and growth.

    His professional qualifications include the Canadian Securities Course (CSC) and the Partners, Directors and Senior Officers Certificate, Wale has earned esteemed designations such as the Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers (FICB) and the Professional Financial Planner (PFP). These credentials highlights his expertise in providing comprehensive financial planning services.

    Wale’s career began at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), where he served in various capacities, including Branch Manager. He became the first black person in Calgary to hold such a position at a major bank. Later, he served as the Country General Manager in St. Lucia, overseeing a portfolio exceeding USD 500 million.

    Throughout his career, Wale has been recognized for his achievements, receiving multiple CIBC Chairman’s awards and CIBC Achievers Awards for his exceptional performance within the global CIBC network.

    Beyond his professional pursuits, Wale is actively involved in community initiatives. He has chaired fundraising efforts for the United Way in Calgary, raising significant funds for local charities. He has also served on the board of Families Matter, a Calgary-based nonprofit focused on strengthening families. 

    Furthermore, Wale has held leadership positions in organizations such as the Nigerian Canadian Association of Calgary and the Igbobi College Old Boys Association of North America. He also advises various nonprofits in Calgary and the surrounding areas.

    He is happily married to Bernie Gbalajobi, a CPA and they have two children.

  • Nigerian Health Startup launches to bring online GP Consultations to Every Home

    Nigerian Health Startup launches to bring online GP Consultations to Every Home

    HealthTech entrepreneur Chidozie Felicitas Chiamaka has launched HealthSyn Nigeria, a new digital platform offering online GP practice and medical consultation services.

    The platform enables patients to connect with Nigerian-licensed doctors via secure digital channels, get real-time medical advice, and receive prescriptions or referrals all without needing to queue at crowded hospitals.

    “Healthcare should never have to wait. With HealthSyn Nigeria, we are giving Nigerians the power to consult a doctor anytime, anywhere, in the most affordable way possible,” Chidozie said at the launch event.

    HealthSyn’s service model is designed to address pressing challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare system, including overstretched facilities and a shortage of accessible practitioners. The startup joins a growing wave of African healthtech solutions that are redefining how patients interact with doctors through technology.

    Industry watchers say HealthSyn NG has the potential to expand access to primary healthcare, improve early diagnosis, and reduce strain on traditional hospitals, particularly in urban centers.

    DISCLAIMER

    This publication is subject to updates and revisions. Kindly note that the information herein may be modified or expanded over time to reflect new developments.

    November 5, 2023

  • Okotie begs IGP, seeks amnesty for Seun Kuti

    Okotie begs IGP, seeks amnesty for Seun Kuti

    Former presidential candidate, Rev Chris Okotie,has urged the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba, to have mercy on detained Afrobeat star, Seun Kuti. 

    The outspoken musician is in detention for allegedly slapping a Police operative during traffic alteration last week with the case generating uproar across the country. 

    In a statement issued in Lagos by his media adviser, Ladi Ayodeji, Okotie made a case for amnesty for the embattled music star.

    He said: “I would like to urge the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to demonstrate a paternal clemency towards Seun Kuti in his transgression against an authorised myrmidon of the law. “Anti-establishment is not acceptable under any guise, however, a humane superintendence is a mark of a great leadership.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Court remands Seun Kuti for additional four days

    “The youths have been under tremendous pressure to establish a new Nigerian social order and Seun’s abrasive conduct is a tangent from that trajectory.

    “I plead earnestly with the IGP to temper justice with mercy and exculpate Seun of all charges. Femi and Seun Kuti are artistic souvenirs bestowed upon us by the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and we truly appreciate the creative artistry demonstrated in their musical genre.

    “Please find sufficient grace in your heart to anesthesize the gravity of this provocation.

    “May the blessing of the God of heaven be vouchsafed to you in the plenitude of His Grace.”

    Okotie’s message came in the wake of the court’s  extension of Seun’s detention by four days.