Actor Saidi Balogun and other supporters of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have held a peace walk ahead of his inauguration.
On his Instagram page, he shared a video of a solemn procession in honour and support of his swearing-in.
“Solemn Procession in honor and support of the 29th May swearing in of the incoming administration of His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in FCT Abuja,” he wrote.
Social media influencer, Ifunanya Excel has said she doesn’t want to get married or have children because it would “tie” her down.
In a recent interview with Yangi Media, she said: “I am very ambitious. And I know marriage and children will tie me down. I grew up in a certain kind of home where I and my siblings experienced a lot of emotional neglect from our parents. And because of that, I have grown to know what is expected of me as a parent. I know that if I’m going to have a child, I have to give my child 100 percent dedication.
“And looking at my life and my goals and the things I want to achieve, I know that I won’t be able to adequately be a present parent and also be chasing my dreams. So, I just think it’s best not to have any.”
Ifunanya said that people always say her mindset will change over time but she doesn’t believe that will happen.
She added that every day she sees reasons why her mindset on marriage and children will never change.
Stakeholders from different walks of life have accused Niger Delta leaders of lacking the political will to develop the region.
They lamented that Niger Delta leaders had refused to pursue the region’s developmental blueprint and to actualise their promises for the region.
They spoke at a Town Hall meeting tagged, “Niger Delta Regional Peace Building Strategy Implementation,” organized in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by the PIND Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affair.
Some of the participants also decried poor governance structure, unemployment and nepotism in the region saying there would be no development until the respective state governments adopted a model unque to the Niger Delta marine terrain.
The Programme Director of PIND Foundation, David Udofia, in his address emphasised the need to design and develop a Niger Delta Regional Peacebuilding Strategy document.
Udofia said the objective of the town hall meeting was to create a framework for continuous multi-stakeholders’ engagement and support the state governments in establishing a regional security outfit tailored to the region’s unique environment.
He said the outcome of the meeting would serve as a home-grown solutions and guide to the various forms of violent conflicts in a proactive, engaging, consultative, and inclusive manner.
He said: “The strategic document will provide the framework for the implementation of a Regional Peacebuilding apparatus. It also seeks the technical support of various partners, who are vested in promoting peace in the Niger Delta region and beyond.
“Historical tensions and a proliferation of armed groups (militant, criminal, and ethno-sectarian) contribute to the changing conflict and security dynamics in the Niger Delta region.
“While current conflict mitigation approaches show some results in the short term, they seldom focus on the conflict drivers nor are they prefaced with conflict analysis which is often a precursor to effective conflict management.
“The effect is that too often the conflict situation rears its head again resulting in deaths and destruction of properties, and the suppression of economic growth in the region.
“Any initiative aimed at addressing conflict should necessarily adopt an approach that views the issue from both a security and a peacebuilding perspective.”
In their recommendations, participants pushed for an harmonised and sustainable implementation of integrated regional master plan.
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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has described its former President Dr. Sunday Mbang as a great leader and a unifying force in the Christian community.
According to a statement by CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh: “The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is saddened to hear of the passing of His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Mbang, who served as the former President of CAN and played a crucial role as the pioneer co-Chair of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
“The late Emeritus Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria was a great leader and a unifying force in the Nigerian Christian community, and his contributions to the growth and development of the Church in Nigeria will always be remembered.
“Dr. Mbang was one of the most forthright and courageous faith leaders of our time who meant well for his country, Nigeria; thus, dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity. His commitment to the gospel of Christ and his unwavering dedication to the unity of all Nigerians irrespective of our diverse reality as a people will always be remembered as a shining example to follow.
“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, the Methodist Church Nigeria, and the entire Christian community in Nigeria. We pray that God will comfort and strengthen them during this difficult time.
“His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Mbang will be greatly missed, but his life and legacy which we celebrate will continue to inspire us to work for the peace and unity of our nation and the world at large.
“As we mourn the loss of this great leader, we are reminded of the words of Jesus in John 11:25-26: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die….” We take comfort in the fact that Dr. Mbang is now in the arms of our Lord and Saviour, and his memory will forever be cherished”.
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A Magistrate Court in Jos on Wednesday sentenced a 24- year-old student, Emmanuel Epke, to one month imprisonment for stealing two phones
The Judge, Shawomi Bokkos sentenced Epke after he pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him.
Bokkos said that the punishment was to serve as deterrent to others who may want to indulge in the same act.
The magistrate, however, gave the convict an option of N10,000 fine.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported on Feb. 28, at Anglo-Jos Police Station by one Ezekiel Agu, the complainant.
Gokwat said that the convict trespassed into the complainant’s house and stole two phones valued at N140,000.
“During police investigation,the convict was found with the two phones,” the prosecution counsel said.
The offence, he said, was punishable under the Plateau state penal code law.
(NAN)
Singer Simi has said she is so mad at her two-year-old daughter.
She said she is mad at her for dancing like her father.
Adekunle Gold and Simi got married in 2019 and had their first child Adejare in 2020.
She tweeted: “I am so mad my daughter dances like her father
Ondo Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has described the Federal Government’s approval of Ondo Deep Sea Port as an impressive parting gift from the Buhari’s administration.
Akeredolu, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, said actualising the port project was very important to his administration.
Akeredolu said his administration was determined and committed to actualising the project that would set the state on the path of economic prosperity.
“Our dream for this port of Ondo is to serve as a conduit for our goods, agricultural produce, and very soon, our bitumen.
“It is the goal of this administration to ensure that the potential of Ondo State is maximised and that all necessary infrastructure required to make this a reality is put in place to achieve this.
“We thank the minister of Transportation, Hon. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, for his interventions and commitment. Our state is very grateful for this yeoman service. History will be kind to him.
“We equally noted with candour, the role of the Minister of State for Transportation, our own, Prince Ademola Adegoroye. Your impactful struggles and efforts have started yielding enduring fruit of development. Indeed, you have proven to be a true representative of your people. Your doggedness is admirable.
“We also appreciate everyone who has, one way or the other, contributed to the process of getting this approval. It is just a phase. We expect that this development will renew our vigour and drive our passion to deliver the Port Ondo project.
“Like we say, we are planting a tree, under which shade we may not rest. Nevertheless, it is a worthy cause for the generation yet unborn. We are committed to any effort that targets the good of the next generation.”
The immediate past chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe, has called on Northerners from desist from politics and embrace agriculture as a business.
Ogbe said politics has never grown any society, adding the forum is worried about severe shortages of finance in the region.
In his valedictory speech on Wednesday as the outgoing chairman of ACF, the former Minister regretted that northern businessmen have to travel all the way to Lagos to access trading because of lack industrial growth in the zone.
Ogbe handed over to the former Minister of State for health, Arch. Gabriel Aduku after his three-year tenure expired.
“We are afflicted by very severe shortages in education, in finance , we have no banks here really, most of our banks were sold in 2003 to 2005 , so today it’s very difficult for a Northern business man to access trading, you have to go all the way to Lagos, we are not experiencing industrial growth , if we don’t have industrial growth we can’t create jobs even agriculture is in trouble because of this endless kidnappings and killings that is troubling us, we have to get the north back to business, politics is not a business, it has never on its own grown any society, so these are the concerns we have that is why am happy about what I saw in Sokoto , we are going to Kano and do the same.
“We have to add values to food we produce, the north produces ginger, soybeans, zobo etc, now the Libya have paw-paw , we now the largest rice producer in Africa, we did it , in 2018 we overtook Egypt, and Egypt is asking us to export rice to them now and we can do it but we have to organize ourselves. Political power becomes too important, a day will come when a big manufacturer or rice owner will not want to go into politics,” Ogbe said.
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The Oyo State Waste Consultant, Mottainai Recycling Ltd, has said it is adopting an improved technological based waste management system to enhance safe and habitable environment in the state.
Its Chief Strategy Officer Ms. Uloma Airhienbuwa, said the new method was deployed to seek quick solutions to environmental issues.
Speaking at a recent forum in Ibadan to commemorate this year’s World Earth Day, Airhienbuwa said the new technology was to tackle challenges in Oyo State’s refuse collection system.
She said with the new technology, which allows the company to track movement of its Accredited Franchisees’ trucks, the State will achieve a clean, green and sustainable environment in line with governor Seyi Makinde led-administration’s vision.
While calling for attitudinal change to check incidences of environmental degradation, Airhienbuwa appreciated continued support of Oyo State government to create enabling infrastructure to ensure effective waste management system.
She drew the attention of residents to imminent threats caused by environmental wastes but expressed optimism that the technology deployed into the waste management system will address the challenges posed by unwholesome waste disposal.
She however urged residents to take ownership of their environment by avoiding harmful environmental practices.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activities for eight months with immediate effect after admitting 232 breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules, the governing body has announced; Toney will be banned until January 16, 2024, and has been fined £50,000.
Toney’s suspension will start with immediate effect, meaning he will miss Brentford’s final two games of the season – at Tottenham on Saturday and at home to Manchester City on the final day.
An independent regulatory commission mandated Toney’s sanctions and he will not be allowed to train with his Brentford team-mates until September 17.
Toney will be banned until January 16, 2024, and has been fined £50,000 after he admitted to the alleged breaches.
Toney, 27, was charged with 262 breaches of FA rule E8 between February 25, 2017, and January 23, 2021. The FA withdrew 30 of these breaches and he admitted to the remaining 232.
The in-form who has scored 21 goals in 35 appearances for Brentford this season, will have the right to appeal the punishment.