The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Sokoto APC ward executives, supporters defect to PDP

    Sokoto APC ward executives, supporters defect to PDP

    Two opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) ward leaders and executives, Ummarun Hassan, Secretary; and Manu Abubakar, Assistant Treasurer of Dingyadi-Badawa ward in Bodinga Local Government Area (LGA) have joined the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State.

    The Nation reports that they defected alongside a number of their supporters

    The state’s PDP spokesperson, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal confirmed the defections in a statement on Friday.

    Sanyinnawal said the ward Public Relations Officer, PRO, Barno Akamawa and four others: Shehu Abubakar, Sani Modi, Sanusi Imam and Bello Alhaji joined the defectors along with their supporters .

    The state party Chairman, Bello Goronyo who received the decampees, assured them of their rightful and constitutional places as members on equal levels with all party members in the state.

    Read Also:Delta PDP chieftain Ekewenu decamps to APC

    “By this, I assure you of equal treatment as full members of our great party , PDP”, he said.

    While promising that they would be carried along in party affairs, Goronyo urged them to invest their wealth of political experience and exposure towards realising the desired victory for the party in the 2023 elections.

    The statement quoted the state’s Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Aminu Bala Bodinga, who is from same local government with the defectors, as saying he was convinced that their decision to join the ruling PDP in the state was a testimony to the Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal “good leadership style.”

  • BBNaija 7: Housemates go beyond to execute wager task

    BBNaija 7: Housemates go beyond to execute wager task

    For the sixth week’s wager, Biggie themed the task as Fools and Horses.

    The Level Up Housemates were tasked with developing a sketch or a comedy of no more than 45 minutes.

    Creativity

    The housemates had a play on real-life issues that face us on a daily basis. The first scene was of a store owner who suspected his assistant of pocketing some of his profit. Chomzy was very convincing in pretending not to know that the pants she sold cost N2000 more than what she gave Groovy for them.

    The mate’s creative juices really shone through as their sketch rolled on. All five scenes were snippets of interrelated stories that culminated in one message, “one day man go blow”.

    The underlying storyline was of Giddyfia who tried to find his way in life through a failed job interview that led him to a talent audition that he won.

    Read also:BBNaija 7: Hermes analyses housemates

    Ingenuity

    The simplicity in the mechanics of the housemaets’ sketch was what made it work.

    The different storylines that were told were, not only delivered in a way that we would easily understand but had comic elements woven into their story that made it memorable.

    Was it not Doyin the slay boujee slay queen who was too good for the restaurant that her boyfriend played by Chizzy took her to but wound up eating almost everything on the menu?

    The most hilarious part though was Giddyfia who had gone for a job interview, chasing the other applicants away and telling his interviewers, Daniella and Dotun, that he has 26 years of work experience even though he revealed that he was 24 years old.

     

    Life imitating art

    When all was said and done, the final message of the housemates’ play was to never give up in life. They told a story of how a person could get on top of life from absolutely nothing but courage and a little support from his friends.

    Giddyfia who was turned down by Daniella and Dotun during the interview relayed his story to Adekunle and Deji who discovered that he could sing and encouraged him to enter a talent show.

    On taking their advice, Giddyfia ended up winning the talent show with his catchy tune “one day man go blow” which all the Housemates sang along to.

  • BBNaija 7: Hermes analyses housemates

    BBNaija 7: Hermes analyses housemates

    One time BBNaija Level up HoH, Hermes believes that he has all his Housemates figured out and gives Allysyn his honest assessment.

    After living in the same House for 41 days, Housemates have interacted enough times to know each other.

    The master analyser of the House is Adekunle, but Day 41 introduced a new Housemate analyst; Hermes. During a Garden session with his new girl Allysyn, he gave a brief analysis of who the Housemates are.

    The conversation was kickstarted by his explanation to Allysyn about how bored he was.

    Most hours of the day do not have activities, and the only thing keeping him excited in the House is the Tasks because he never knows what to expect.

    Besides that, he was bored and Housemates have “characters that are not going anywhere”.

    He started with the Rider Chizzy, describing him as a focused guy that is vocal about what he wants. The self-appointed food guard was not shy to stop the previous Level 1 Housemates from touching their food.

    Hermes added that Chizzy does not care what people say about him, and he was not off the mark there.

    In one of his Diary Sessions, he said he was going to be “extra” in the House just to be a nuisance to the Housemates and get himself Nominated.

    Hermes described Adekunle and Doyin as intelligent, adding that Doyin had received a good education and is posh.

    She also did not want to participate in hard work, and at the beginning of the season, this frustrated Hermes.

    Read Also:BBNaija 7: Allysyn regrets closeness with Hermes

    During his HoH tenure, Biggie asked him who he would nominate in the House, and he chose Doyin. His justification was her lack of participation in housework.

    Dotun is a great guy, according to Hermes. He is quiet and disciplined, and the discipline has come through this week as he got the group together for rehearsals, even waking them up when needed.

    Deji, however, is a tactical guy for Hermes, but we are still yet to see the tactics make an appearance.

    Chomzy, Phyna and Chichi are hard workers. Chomzy was the first female HoH, and one of the top contenders when the House had Tasks.

    Chichi on the other hand is a woman that will do everything she can to ensure her wellbeing. Life has taught her that no one will do things for her and that she needs to do them by herself. Phyna also puts her all into everything that she does.

    Lastly is his analysis of the girl he chose. Allysyn, for him, has a lot of potential which she is shying away from because she feels like her light will make other people feel hurt. Her empathy toward people is keeping her from enjoying her life and that is one of her biggest challenges.

  • BBNaija 7: Daniella should learn how to speak to housemates, says Bella

    BBNaija 7: Daniella should learn how to speak to housemates, says Bella

    BBNaija Level Up housemate, Bella has advised fellow housemate Daniella to learn how to speak to other housemates.

    During a conversation with Sheggs and Daniella, Bella explained to Daniella that Rachel was not to be blamed for her reaction during the Squabble Task.

    Read Also:BBNaija S7: Dotun, Daniella pick Deji, Allyson for HoH showmax reward

    Bella said Daniella was harsh when delivering her directives on how the task was to be carried out.

    She also told Daniella that she needed to exercise a level of discretion on how she speaks to adults as her tone may come across as offensive.

  • BBNaija 7: Daniella, Doyin complain about Rachael

    BBNaija 7: Daniella, Doyin complain about Rachael

    BBNaija Level Up second deputy Head of House (HoH), Daniella and Doyin have expressed their dissatisfaction about rider housemate, Rachel.

    Both housemates in two different scenarios expressed their reservations about Rachael, who has made friends quicker with some of the guys in the house on her arrival than with the ladies.

    Read also:BBNaija S7: Dotun, Daniella pick Deji, Allyson for HoH showmax reward

    Daniella, who had an unsavory encounter with Rachel this week, relayed to Bella and Sheggz that during the Red Squabble Task on Wednesday, she overheard Rachel mumbling under her breath in disapproval of her directive.

    In the same vein, Doyin admitted to Big Brother during her Diary Session this week that she nominated Rachel for possible immediate eviction because she simply didn’t understand her and didn’t get along with her either.

  • Stakeholders to tackle vote buying, advocate sensitization of citizens

    Stakeholders to tackle vote buying, advocate sensitization of citizens

    Stakeholders in the electoral sector have called for sensitization of citizens, especially at the grassroots and schools to curb vote buying ahead of 2023.
    The stakeholders made the call at the “Policy Dialogue on Addressing Vote Trading in Nigeria: Lessons from Comparative Experiences”, organised by the Electoral Forum in Abuja .
    Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, Senate Deputy President, represented by his Chief of Staff, Otive lgbuzor, said vote buying had become a common phenomenon in Nigeria’s political system.
    According to him, vote buying has brought negative consequences to the country’s electoral system.
    Omo-Agege said vote trading was primarily driven by material context and immediate circumstances such as economic hardship, fear of intimidation or violence.
    “Trading on votes harms democracy, also discourages and dissuades honest people from entering politics because electoral success becomes associated with dishonest and unethical practices.
    “Since vote trading mostly relies on huge financial outlay, it provides a ready excuse for fraud and embezzlement and can lead to widespread corruption in the public sector,” he said.
    The deputy senate president said that voters and contestants should be sensitized to stem the ugly behaviour.
    He said it needed sustained information campaigns, community action and locally enforceable public commitments to collectively shun vote-buying.
    According to him, punitive sanctions are more likely to be successful than moralistic pleas.
    “Political actors who buy votes should face stringent consequences,” he said.
    Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said that the commission was using lessons from recent elections to understudy vote buying and engage relevant stakeholders to tackle it.
    Yakubu, represented by INEC’s National Commissioner, Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, said that the commission would intensify its voter education and sensitise the people more to dangers of vote buying.
    “Yes, we all know vote buying is linked to poverty but I think also that as soon as people begin to have faith in the electoral process, they will see the power that they have over those who are running for politics.
    “I believe that soon the story will change and the power will return to the people,” he said.
    Also, Prof. Adebayo Olukoshi, Chairman, The Electoral Forum, said that money in politics was a global challenge, especially insidious and criminal money which was very difficult to trace.

    Read Also: Omo Agege to Okowa: you can’t rescue Nigeria after destroying Delta

    “Therefore, other democracies around the world have moved away from elimination to regulation of the use of money in politics to ensure that it does not corrupt the integrity of electoral process.
    He said this ultimately allowed the electorate to exercise their choice in selection of those who presided over their national affairs.
    He said that the stakeholders were drawn from political parties, civil societies and key institutions involved directly or indirectly with the electoral administration to chart way forward in tackling vote buying ahead of 2023 .
    Also, Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matter, Aisha Dukku, said that vote buying remained a major threat to credible, free and fair elections.
    Dukku therefore, stressed the need not to delay in addressing vote buying and selling, aimed at enhancing electoral accountability and integrity.
    ”This can jeopardise the 2023 polls, judging by the happenings arising from the recent concluded governorship elections and party primaries.
    “In truth, if electoral offences commission is established to focus on specific objectives like the ICPC and the EFCC, it will have investigative and prosecutorial power to address the issues of impunity that is undermining electoral integrity.
    ” We should therefore, create awareness about electoral offences, sanctions and deterrence as well as promote dialogue among diverse electoral stakeholders,” she said.
    Dukku stressed that establishing an electoral offences commission was needed to sanitise electoral process as done in other best practices

  • Kaduna NNPP governorship candidate unveils running mate

    Kaduna NNPP governorship candidate unveils running mate

    The Kaduna State governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi, has unveiled Mr Sani Mazawaje as his running mate in the 2023 elections.

    Unveiling his running mate on Friday at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, Hunkuyi assured of the readiness of the party to strictly govern by justice, fair play and equity if given the mandate to lead the affairs of the state.

    He also said that every section of the state would be carried along to ensure peaceful coexistence.

    He said: “The state is sharply divided on religion and section, the essence of democracy by the people has been defeated in the state.

    “Kaduna State needs a leader with a strong political will to ensure inclusiveness to quickly give the people hope of togetherness and doing things as expected in an ideal society.

    Read Also: Kaduna guber: NNPP, Hunkuyi unveil Mazawaje as running mate

    “Presently as it is, the citizens of the state are in dire need of a leader that will unite and ensure equality in all spheres of governance to enable the people work together as a family for the overall development of the state.”

    He also decried the level of insecurity in the state, saying it had caused the loss of lives and property at an unimaginable proportion.

    He, therefore, urged the people to vote wisely in the coming general elections.

    In his remarks, Mazawaje said that the forthcoming elections provided Nigerians especially the citizens of Kaduna State another opportunity to vote in their large numbers for credible leaders.

    “The 2023 general elections provide eligible voters to vote in credible leaders into the affairs of governance to correct so many things that have gone wrong in Kaduna State and the country at large,” he said. (NAN)

  • BSN marathon bible reading holds

    BSN marathon bible reading holds

    Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) has concluded plans for the 20th edition of its annual Marathon Bible Reading scheduled to hold on Sunday, September 4, at Williams Memorial Methodist Church, Ago-Ijaiye, Ebute-Meta, Lagos.

    In a statement issued by The Manager, Media, and Public RR, (BSN), Benjamin Mordi, the programme, which will be declared open by the General Secretary/CEO of the organization, Pastor Samuel Sanusi, and will take place in Lagos and 18 other states across the country from Monday – Friday, September 5 – 9.

    Read Also:MFM investigates pastor over illegal deliverance centre

    He said that Marathon Bible Reading, which is designed to stimulate the dying culture of reading the Bible and encourage people to read the Word of God for their blessing and growth, allows the participants to read the Bible uninterrupted between 9am and 5 pm daily in their own languages at the different centres.

    Mordi added that the participants, irrespective of age, profession, or sex, will have a three-fold joy by participating. Apart from reading the Bible in their languages, they will help someone else hear the Word of God in a new way and join others in the continuous reading of the Bible.

  • Four dangers to watch out for in ‘Ember months’

    Four dangers to watch out for in ‘Ember months’

    Many Nigerians perceive the ember months — September, October, November and December — as synonymous with mysterious happenings.

    Within these four months left, a fever, or perhaps some sort of anxiety, grips most Nigerians.

    The ‘ember’ months are always the busiest on roads for many reasons and the air of festivity within these periods makes everyone ecstatic.

    From the religious perspective, many people believe these dangers or tragic occurrences are caused by evil spirits associated with these months.

    They argue the it is a season when prayers should be intensified to curtail the incidence of evil.

    While this fear for the ‘Ember months’ seems to be a natural phenomenon, it is important that we also pay attention to the dangers that have now been associated with what is now termed “ember months”.

    Fire Outbreak

    Fire is one of the major causes of accidents during Ember months because the air becomes dryer, thus encouraging chain reaction of fire.

    Ember months usually come with gradual subsiding of the rains and encroachment of the Harmattan haze.

    These Harmattan hazes fuel fire outbreak in marketplaces, offices, worship centers, farms, bushes

    Accidents

    In Nigeria, the ember months are known as a period of hectic activity on roads.

    People use this end of year period to engage in business and travel to visit loved ones living far away.

    Further analysis revealed that the top five causes of road accidents are:

    • Speed violation

    • Wrongful overtaking

    • Dangerous driving

    • Tyre burst

    • Brake failure

    Other factors that also cause road accidents during this period are: excessive speeding, overloading and impatient passengers making passive comments to the driver while driving.

    Many drivers place their safety at risk by overloading their vehicles.

    Kidnappings

    Although insecurity and kidnappings are not new in Nigeria, they are always on the increase during the ember months.

    Read Also: Lagos celebrates with procession to remember slave trade

    Kidnapping has evolved into a lingering, pervasive security threat, fast-paced and multifaceted criminal enterprise.

    It is now perpetrated by diverse armed groups and criminal gangs operating across the country.

    Young and old have been victims; others have had the gruesome experience of losing loved ones to these kidnappers.

    Robbery and other criminal activities

    Some of the most common types of robberies experienced in Nigeria are home robberies, car robberies and bank robberies.

    Today, armed robbery is not only one of the biggest threat in Nigeria, but also a social scourge

    Robberies can occur almost at any time, but tend to occur more often in anticipated settings and at expected times.

    All that is necessary is a motivated robber and an unwilling victim at the wrong place at the wrong time.

  • Two injured as bridge collapses in Osun

    Two injured as bridge collapses in Osun

    Two persons were injured when a bridge collapsed in Iragbiji, the headquarters of Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State.

    The Nation learnt that the bridge collapsed around Oke-Osun area of the Iragbiji on Wednesday as a commercial motorcyclist with a passenger was plying the affected portion.

    An eyewitness Adeosun said that the incident attracted many residents of the community to the scene who quickly rushed two victims of the incident to hospital.

    Read Also:Three arraigned for chanting war songs in Osun palace 

    “Leaders of the community later cordoned off the bridge with wooden pallets. The motorcycle of the victim was later lifted from the ditch.”

    Osun spokesperson of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kehinde Adeleke confirmed the incident.

    She explained: “The said bridge collapsed at the time when a commercial motorcyclist and a female passenger were on the bridge, the people around rendered help and the woman was rescued along with the motorcyclist, none of them died but they were seriously injured, the bone of the woman’s leg got broken while the bike man was severely cut, two of them were rushed to the hospital where they are presently receiving treatment.That particular area has been demarcated.”