Author: The Nation

Not less than 38 shops filled with good of were razed by an early morning inferno at Bodija market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Monday.

The incident occurred at the Idi Igi lane where grinders are located in the market.

The cause of the incident described as mysterious by some traders remained unknown as of the time of this report.

The inferno, according to eyewitnesses, started around 4.30am as heavy smoke which later snowballed in a thick flame was noticed around ori-ile end of the market.

The incident, according to reports, led to pandemonium in the market as other traders who heard the news made their way to the markets to prevent criminals from taking advantage of the incident to loot their shops

It was gathered the goods in the affected shops were completely razed before officers and men of the Oyo State fire service could render any help.

Some of the traders commended the fire fighters for their timely response, stressing that, their efforts prevented the inferno from spreading to other parts of the market.

Victims of the incident lamented their losses and called for support from the state government and other well meaning Nigerians.

As of the time of filing this report, fire fighters have left the scene while some scavengers were seen around the affected shops.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Suspected scavengers storm razed Bodija market

When contacted, the Director of Operations, Oyo State Fire Service Agency, Engr Ismail Adeleke said the agency got an alert at about 5:30AM and had to swing into action.

He added the quick alert and timely response prevented the fire from spreading to other shops on the lane.

He however said the source of the fire could not be ascertained during preliminary investigation but confirmed that many goods, equipment and materials were ravaged but the inferno.

Adeleke said ”They call the place Idi-igi lane, Bodija market, Ibadan where there are lots of grinding machines, they grind pepper, yam flour and other things there too.

“The fire service received the distress call at about 5:35AM from one Mr Akeredolu Ayo, from Yemetu Police Station, the officer alerted us of the fire incident in Bodija market.

“Immediately, we deployed our personnel to the scene and on getting there, many shops were locked and fire had spread. We had to call for back up to help us tackle the inferno.

“The shops razed were about 37 out of the multiple shops there.

“We are yet to establish the immediate cause of the fire because investigation is still ongoing. We want to conclude our investigation before going public on the incident.”

The ongoing demolition of illegal structures and shanties at Fegge, Onitsha, Anambra State continued on Monday despite the weekly sit-at-home order in the State.

The taskforce team reportedly arrived Akunnia Njote waterways at Fegge area at about 11am where some structures erected on waterways were pulled down.

A resident of the area, Obinna Emeka, while reacting on the demolition exercise, applauded the efforts of government in addressing the flooding menace with its attendant environmental degradation.

“Because of the structures on the waterways, floods now pass through wrong channels, thereby destroying properties and risking of lives.

“I just pray the demolition process will continue despite obvious obstacles being faced by the task force in order to achieve the target of urban renewal of the state,” he said.

Meanwhile, state chairman of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme has lamented return of refuse dump sites in the state less than a month of evacuation.

He urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to intervene in order to avert the health hazards and epidemic spread looming in the commercial city and other cities in the state.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Suspected scavengers storm razed Bodija market

He said, “Clearing of waste bins and refuse is inevitable and ineluctable to avoid flooding, health hazards, erosion , obstruction, destruction of roads and blockage of drainage channels and roads due to torrential downpour currently at its peak.

“We commend the political will and relentless efforts of Governor Soludo to ensure safe, secured, clean and habitable homeland.

“Notwithstanding, there are still refuse dump sites in various parts of the state that need and deserve urgent and immediate evacuation as they constitute a threat to lives and health of the citizenry.

“We urge Governor Soludo to expedite actions towards evacuation and clearing of the refuse dump sites in various parts of the state”.

Our correspondent observed that business activities remained grounded as markets, banks, schools, courts, roads, offices, among others were deserted.

The ever-busy Onitsha end of the Niger Bridge, Onitsha/Owerri road, the notorious Upper Iweka axis, Ogbonmanu junction and Nnewi triangle were all deserted on Monday.

Elder statesman and former Special Adviser to late president Shehu Shagari, Alh. Tanko Yakasai, has said the Tinubu/ Shettima joint ticket for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will fly.

Yakasai, a founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), spoke in the ancient city of Kano.

He told reporters he is confident “the joint ticket is representational and will give victory to the ruling party.”

“This is not the first time a candidate or leader of this country and his deputy share the same faith.”

“When Major General Muhammadu Buhari seized power in 1983, his deputy who was the Chief of staff, Supreme headquarters, Major General Tunde Idiagbon were both Muslim from the north geopolitical region.

“Late Mashood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, a southern Muslim and his running mate, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, recorded a landslide victory in 1993 general election.

“Therefore, it’s not something new to Nigeria, and I’m particularly not disturbed that history has repeated itself, certainly it will work.“

“Tinubu is from the Southwest from a minority religion, if you ask him to take a minority Northern Christian, it will be minority ticket, and such arrangements negate the principle of participatory democracy.

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

“Northern population consist of 85 percent Muslims and in the principle of fairness, you must choose from the dominant faith to enable the ticket fly.

“Don’t forget, Christian faithful in the north consist less than 20 percent of the region’s population. Therefore Tinubu’s choice is representational, balance and fair to competing stakeholders in Nigeria.”

“Those canvassing for anything contrary to the existing arrangement want Tinubu to fail. A combination of minority from the south and the north can’t win a competitive election in Nigeria,” Yakasai said.

The elder statesman also explained why the choice of Tinubu’s running mate from the Northeast instead of Northwest where the voting block lies, is better.

He said: “From the military dictatorship to civil administration, the Northwest produced five heads of states, North Central produced three and apart from late prime minister Tafawa Balewa, the Northeast was nowhere near control of political power and I felt this time around, the region should be given the opportunity.“

The authorities of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have confirmed the authenticity of a leaked memo generating dusts on alleged fresh plots by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) to attack more locations in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

The Director of Public Relations of the Corps, Olusola Odumosu, who confirmed that the memo was real, told The Nation that it was unfortunate that such a security document could be leaked.

He said:”It is an intelligent report from the office of the Commandant, NSCDC FCT Command, addressed to the FCTA authority for necessary action to avert the impending attack.

“It was leaked by unknown people unfortunately.

“Security reports are crucial to ensuring proactive steps are taken to safeguard lives and property.”

There was an alarm raised by the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja branch of the NSCDC in the memo to the Permanent Secretary of the FCT on plans by ISWAP to attack some communities, especially Christians in the city.

The alarm came on the heels of the attacks on the Kuje Medium Custodial Centre, Abuja by Boko Haram insurgents.

The memo dated July 8, 2022 was signed by Peter Maigari, the FCT Commander of the Corps.

However, the memo got leaked, creating panic and anxiety in some quarters.

ISWAP claimed credit for the attack on the custodial centre leading to the death of four persons and with 16 others injured.

READ ALSO: Kuje jailbreak: NDLEA arrests wanted terror suspect with drugs

During the attack, 64 members of Boko Haram were freed by the terrorists.

In the letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the FCT Administration by the FCT Command of the NSCDC byMaigari, the Corps alerted of renewed threats of attacks by the ISWAP terrorists on targets in Abuja with special focus on Christians.

Titled: “Renewed threat of attack by ISWAP,” the letter said: “Certified intelligence reveals that members of the decimated terrorist group ISWAP have concluded plans to launch more coordinated and spontaneous attacks on selected targets within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and had declared war against Christians in Nigeria.

“Intelligence abounds that ISWAP terrorist group has claimed responsibilities of the Tuesday July 5, 2022 attack on Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, releasing their adherent members.

“The foregoing is to enable them hibernate in targeted communities (FCT) and re-strategise for further terrorist activities, especially on soft targets to keep the agenda of the group alive to the public.

“Taking into consideration the recent terrorist attack on Kuje medium security custodial centre good two hours without any security resistance indicated their readiness to carry out more coordinated attacks in selected cities/towns, security formations, schools, and worship centres in FCT, hence the released of their members for more formidable squad to achieved their dastardly act.”

The NSCDC recommended that “Against this backdrop, it is advised that counter measures be emplaced, and there is need to review existing security measures around such targets and other sensitive facilities with security formations, in FCT to frustrate the planned attack. This report is submitted for your information and necessary action.”

The founder of Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations Kyiv Ukraine, Pastor Sunday Adelaja, has declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be elected President.

Tinubu, he said, will win the 2023 presidency easily with a wide margin.

Adelaja, in a post on his verified Facebook page titled: NIGERIA, BEHOLD YOUR NEXT PRESIDENT” said the former Lagos Governor will win because of 10 reasons he listed.

According to him, Tinubu is a man of vision who transformed Lagos to the fifth economy in Africa and raised men to continue his “progressives ideals and works.”

He said Tinubu’s 50-year vision for Lagos is the exact template Nigeria needs to get out of economic doldrum.

By choosing Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate, he argued Tinubu has consolidated on his march to the presidency.

“With the picking of Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate, it’s obvious that this election is already predetermined. As things are Shettima will deliver the Northeast, while Buhari and his governors will deliver the Northwest to APC, we know Southwest will definitely go to Tinubu.

“If those three geopolitical regions go the way of Tinubu/Shettima, all other political parties would only be contesting for the second and third positions,” Adelaja stated.

Describing the former Lagos Governor as a raiser of men, Adelaja said he is more of a mentor than a godfather.

Read Also: Shettima: Lawan, APC North-East Caucus laud Tinubu

According to him: “We all know the evil of godfatherism in Nigerian politics but Tinubu is one of the only few ones who represents the positive reflection of the word. His own godfatherism is not to hold you down but to raise you up. This is the true meaning of mentorship without which no human endeavor is successful. Many blame him for it, please show me a better example not only in Nigeria, but anywhere on the continent. Guys, Tinubu is the best we have. Just take a look at all his products.”

He said the fact that Tinubu succeeded as Governor without the monthly federal allocation was a testimony to his economic management skills and ingenuity, pointing out even States that receive 13 percent derivation and fat allocations are not as financially buoyant as Lagos.

He dismissed the allegations of corruption and lack of educational qualifications against Tinubu, declaring ” Tinubu’s presidency is an idea whose time has come. No matter of character assassination will stop the train of his movement.”

“His results in Lagos show that the man Tinubu can deliver, I don’t doubt the fact that he will make a major difference in the role of Nigeria’s President. Of course he won’t resolve all our national issues, but he is capable of paving the way for a greater Nigeria.

“As things are now only death can stop the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigerian sixteenth President. If I were in the camp of Tinubu I’ll not rule out an attempt on his life by the forces bent on not letting his presidency become a reality. It’s not enough to pray for him, I will strongly advise that his security be beefed up accordingly. Nigeria cannot afford to have a repeat of the destiny of Moshood Abiola.”

President Muhammadu Buhari and nine All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors are meeting in his Daura country home in Katsina State.

They are Governors Aminu Masari (Katsina); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano); Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi); Abubakar Bello (Niger); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Hope Uzodinma (Imo); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna).

Read Also: Shettima: Lawan, APC North-East Caucus laud Tinubu

They were led to the meeting by the Chairman Progressives Governor’s Forum Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi state.

They drove into Daura’s private residence of the President at about 1 pm shortly after which the meeting started.

Details Shortly….