The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Southern, Middle Belt leaders reject Okowa as PDP VP candidate

    Southern, Middle Belt leaders reject Okowa as PDP VP candidate

    The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF) have rejected Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate to presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar.

    The foremost group, in a statement to newsmen in Warri, declared Okowa as a “betrayer of the trust reposed on him” for accepting the vice presidency nomination.

    The statement which berated the actions of the Delta Governor was signed by Chief (Dr.) Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, SMBLF/Pan Niger Delta Forum; Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Afenifere; Dr. Dru Bitrus, Middle Belt Forum and Ambassador (Prof.) George Obiozor, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide respectively.

    The Southern leaders said it was particularly “disappointing” giving the fact that Gov. Okowa is currently the chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, as well as a native of Owa-Alero, an Igbo speaking area in the state.

    The statement recalled that on May 11, 2021, the 17 southern governors, comprising those of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and PDP, under the Chairmanship of Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, reached a decision that the presidency should rotate to the south on expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, for “fairness, equity and justice”.

    Continuing it said: “And this very Governor Okowa was the host of that historic meeting. The Southern Governors later met again in Lagos, on July 5, where they reaffirmed their decision, and again in Enugu, on September 16, to restate the call that the presidency should rotate to the south in 2023.

    “It is essential to underline that the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF), applauded the meeting of the governors, given its significant representation and the gravity of the outcome; we followed up and issued a similar statement after our meeting in Abuja on the 30th of May 2021, asking that the presidency should rotate to the south.

    “And went further, on several other occasions, to caution political stakeholders from the South, including serving and former governors, ministers, senators, etcetera, not to, on any account, allow themselves to be appointed or nominated as running mate to any presidential candidate, if the presidency is not zoned to the south and that we will work against such person or persons.

    “It is, therefore, most unfortunate that the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who should know better, accepted his appointment as running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    “We do not have anything personal against Ifeanyi Okowo but his action is treacherous and tantamount to a despicable pawning of the political future of the people of Southern Nigeria.

    Read Also: Igbo youths hail Okowa’s nomination as PDP vice presidential candidate

    “Sadly, it is also now common knowledge that he spent extensive sum of money to lobby for the position. And that explains why he never made any statement when his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), thoughtlessly jettisoned the zoning principle, which has become established as a norm and an intrinsic part of the nation’s political trajectory.

    “It is difficult to fathom how a political party can claim to be on a supposed “rescue mission” with such false footings of unfairness, injustice, duplicity and gross insensitivity to national outlook.

    “It is regrettable that while most of Governor Okowa’s southern and northern counterparts have maintained gallant, patriotic deference to the unity and peace of the country, above blinkered political considerations, by their resolute stance on the rotation of the presidency to the south in 2023, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, of all people, would gullibly and slavishly capitulated to the bonbon of absurdity.

    “Thus, acceding to a situation whereby, one person rules for eight years and hands over to another of his stock, in a country of at least 360 ethnic groups. What a shame!

    “The people of southern Nigeria chimed at Asaba, Lagos, Enugu, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Umuahia, and Abuja, continuously, on the zoning of the presidency and warned that another northern presidency, after the eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari, would be injurious to the unity and peace of the country.

    “Governor Okowa has, by his action, betrayed the trust reposed on him by his colleagues; the southern governors, the entire good people of southern Nigeria and all well-meaning Nigerians.

    “He has made himself persona non grata, not only, with SMBLF but all citizens who treasure our oneness and yearn for a more united and peaceful Nigeria.

    “We, therefore, reject Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his Vice Presidency, and leave him to his lot, but let the world know that this is a betrayal of the highest order.

    “And that this is not a matter of loyalty to one’s political party, but rather a greedy, parochial and unpatriotic action, committed against the general interest of his State, Delta state, the Niger Delta region, and Southern Nigeria. It is, certainly, also not in the interest of the nation at large.

    “We commend the patriotism of all Nigerians who cherish our unity and progress as a country and further urge all such Nigerians; in the North and the South; young and mature, the high and mighty; irrespective of religion and tribe, to remain steadfast on the centrality of the presidency rotating to the South in 2023, in the national interest.”

  • ‘Ogun will kill perpetrators of Owo church attack’

    ‘Ogun will kill perpetrators of Owo church attack’

    Worshippers of Ogun, the god of iron, have poured curses on the terrorists that attacked St Francis Catholic Church on June 5.

    About 40 persons, including children, were killed while over 60 were injured in the attack.

    Olowo of Owo Kingdom, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, joined the ‘Ogun worshipers to invoke the curses.

    The ceremony was brief but the worshippers brought out various items through which the curses were invoked.

    Women had stormed the streets of Owo to rain curses on the perpertators.

    Read Also: PHOTOS: Funeral mass begins for slain Owo terror attacks

    The Olu Ode of Owo kingdom, Chief Dada Aderobagun, performed several rituals before the curses were invoked.

    An Ogun adherent, who pleaded anonymity, said the god killed its victims through several means.

    He said the victims could meet with accident or shot dead.

    The Ogun adherents said any item associated with the use of iron would lead to the death of the perpetrators.

  • Gani Adams writes UN, others over insecurity

    Gani Adams writes UN, others over insecurity

    Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams on Thursday demanded urgent intervention of the United Nation (UN) and other relevant international organisation’s over the spate of insecurity across Nigeria and Southwest in particular.
    Adams’ call was contained in a letter titled”: “Avoiding a replica of the Bosnian war in Nigeria”
    The letter, which was addressed to Secretary General of the United Nations (UN), Mr. António Guterres, European Embassies, African Union, United States State Departments, the International Association for Religious Freedom bin United Kingdom, Council on Foreign Relations and other international organisations, according to the Yoruba generalissimo, was the second in two years, insisting that Nigeria is in precarious situation capable of destroying the entire country.
    He wrote: “As you, and hundreds of millions of people globally, are aware, things are no longer normal in Nigeria. Dangerous and despicable things are happening in the world’s most populous black nation.
    “What happened in the defunct Yugoslavia that led to the balkanisation of that country is becoming like a child’s play in Nigeria.
    “Pitiably, terrorists moving from Northern Nigeria to the South are being embraced, encouraged and empowered by powers that be in Nigeria.
    “I am raising this alarm now because the effect of this dangerous trend may ultimately balkanise Nigeria and affect sub-sahara Africa.
    “Similar alarm was raised in the defunct Yugoslavia and sadly, nobody put in check the pogromists, whose actions, led to the massacre in that geographical location.
    “This lackadaisical attitude by those benefiting from this national malaise led to the Bosnian War which began in 1992 and lasted until 1995.It was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995.
    “The varied reasons for the country’s breakup ranged from the cultural and religious divisions between the ethnic groups making up the nation, to the memories of the Second World War atrocities committed by all sides, to centrifugal nationalist forces. Obviously, the grave factors that contributed to the dissolution of Yugoslavia, leading to the recognition of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia (including the regions of Kosovo and Vojvodina) and Slovenia, are still fresh in memories of historians.
    “In 1991, Bosnia and Herzegovina joined several republics of the former Yugoslavia and declared independence, which triggered a civil war in 1992 that lasted four years.
    “About 100,000 people were killed during the war and over 2.2 million people displaced, making it, up until that time, the most devastating conflict in Europe since the end of World War II in 1945.
    “In May 1993, the UN Security Council took the bull by the horn by seeking justice against those who committed atrocities during the war.
    “The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) at The Hague, Netherlands was created and it was the first international tribunal since the Nuremberg Trials of 1945-46, and the first to prosecute genocide, among other war crimes.
    “During the trial, 161 individuals who committed crimes during the war in the former Yugoslavia, including Radovan Karadzic, and the Bosnian Serb military commander, General Ratko Mladic (Butchers of Bosnia), were indicted for genocide and other crimes against humanity. Milosevic was later found dead in his prison cell in 2006”
    Adams, while citing the various atrocities perpetrated by the Fulani Herdsmen and terrorists, said the Yoruba in Southwest Nigeria are being pushed to the limit, noting that the Fulani in Northern Nigeria are now engaged in a war of attrition all over the country
    “Ironically, Nigeria’s President is a Fulani.The Fulani have been fingered in abductions, kidnappings and killings in the North. Now, they are gradually moving down South and the danger is that people in the South are already determined to engage them. This might lead to a full scale war.
    “In the last few weeks, these Fulani terrorists have expanded their evil network.
    “Deborah Samuel, a 200-Level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, was killed and her body burnt by some blood- thirsty fundamentals because, according to them, she was guilty of blasphemy. The killers are visible in a viral video seen by peace-loving people all over the world but the government only arraigned them for ‘disturbance to public peace.
    “Prelate of Methodist Church in Nigeria, Rev. Samuel Kanu-Uche, was kidnapped by, according to the highly respected man of God, Fulani boys and they collected N100 million cash arranged in five bags (about $166,000) before he was released. Security agents are stationed near the location of the abduction but they did not move against the terrorists.
    “Anglican Bishop of Jebba Diocese in Kwara State, Rev Oluwaseun Aderogba, his wife and their driver were kidnapped and the abductors demanded for millions of naira before their release.

    Read Also: ECOWAS decries rising insecurity, humanitarian crisis in Nigeria, others

    “The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Jos East, Plateau State and a Catholic priest, Rev. Father James Kantoma, was also abducted by Fulani terrorists. In a most wicked manner, Fulani terrorists wielding AK-47 assault rifles and explosives attacked the congregation at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, killing over 40 people. The Federal Government has traced the killing to ISWAP, although it has not told Nigerians and family members of victims how it intends to arrest the perpetrators.
    “Another evil traced to religious fundamentalism was that of a prostitute, Hannah Saliu, who was killed and her corpse set ablaze at Alaba Rago, Lagos because she had the effrontery to keep the Holy Quran in her room.
    “Those abducted in the Abuja-Kaduna train attack in March are still with the terrorists. Just a few of them have been released. It is unfortunate that government is begging non-state actors to stop kidnapping Nigerians.
    “It is generally believed that those in authority are helpless, complicit or both.Now, Nigeria is at the point of no return, showing all signs of a failed nation.
    “Instead of tackling these atrocities by Fulani terrorists, government officials are busy planning and strategising for the 2023 general elections. Something urgent must be done to avoid a final collapse of the country”
    Adams, stated further that the Yoruba are no cowards, insisting that the only language the Fulani understand is violence and people of South-West are ready for this.
    “The Yoruba are not cowards and will do everything legally possible to resist any attempt by Fulani terrorists to expand their territorial expansionist agenda to the Southwest.
    “It is clear the Federal Government has lost control of the situation because it can no longer keep its citizens safe, secure and protected. This inaction on the part of the government and aggressive killing agenda of the Fulani are already affecting Nigeria’s economy, which is the largest in Africa.
    “The way Butchers of Bosnia were left to commit atrocities for years before the United Nations moved against them, butchers in Nigeria are already on the rampage and something urgent must be done to stop them.
    “The repercussion of leaving them to continue to maim Nigerians, especially Yoruba, is better imagined. No part of Nigeria is safe again.
    The time for the United Nations to escalate this danger to a global concern is now”.

  • Man, 24, pleads guilty to stealing rolls of electric wire

    Man, 24, pleads guilty to stealing rolls of electric wire

    A 24-year-old man, Yusuf Bello, on Friday in Lagos pleaded guilty to stealing 15 rolls of electric wire.

    Bello was arraigned before the Magistrate, Mr L K. Layeni, on a count charge of stealing and he admitted guilt.

    Following his plea, the court ordered that he should be remanded at the Ajangbadi Police Station, pending review of the facts of the case and sentencing.

    The prosecutor, Dr Simon Uche, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 27 at the Iya Juwon area of Ajangbadi in Ojo, Lagos State.

    He said that the defendant stole 15 rolls of electric wire of different sizes belonging to one Mr Ifeanyi Ndibe represented by Mr Ibrahim Sulaimon.

    Read Also: Ex-convict bags seven years in jail for stealing phones, other valuables

    Uche said that the defendant stole nine rolls of 2.5mm electric wire valued at N155, 250, three rolls of 1.5 mm electric wire valued at N31, 500 and three rolls of 4mm electric wire worth N80,100.

    “The total sum of the stolen goods is N266, 850,” he told the court.

    The alleged offence contravenes the provision of Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The court adjourned the case until June 22 for review of facts and sentencing of the defendant.

    (NAN)

  • Igbo youths hail Okowa’s nomination as PDP vice presidential candidate

    Igbo youths hail Okowa’s nomination as PDP vice presidential candidate

    Igbo youths under the auspices of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) have hailed the nomination of Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar.
    In a statement on Friday, the OYC President-General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike and the Secretary-General, Comrade Obinna Achionye described the Governor as a great performer and true son of Igboland.
    The youths said: “Okowa is a true son of Igboland, a bonafide member of Ohanaeze; we cannot, therefore, rise against one of our own.
    “A former President-General of Ohanaeze, Late Ambassador Ralph Uwechue is from the same area as Okowa. They are our brothers by every standard and we cannot ditch them now simply because of political exigency.”

    Read Also: Atiku’s VP: Okowa’s choice, wise decision – PDP chieftain

    While noting that Ndigbo was not happy for not getting the PDP presidential slot, they asked: “should we now throw away the baby with the bathwater?
    “Having said this, we reiterate that Ndigbo are happy with his emergence as the vice presidential candidate of the PDP and will accord him all the needed support.
    “We urge Ndigbo to support him; we must be strategic this time and not put all our eggs in one basket.”

  • Rema’s ‘Calm down” breaks Wizkid’s ‘Essence’ You Tube record

    Rema’s ‘Calm down” breaks Wizkid’s ‘Essence’ You Tube record

    Afrorave artiste Rema has recorded an unprecedented music video feat with his first project of the year “Calm down”.
    The Mavin-Jonzing records signee before the super hit single release took to his Instagram page to share a video of where he was seen cruising in an open-roof car jamming the new song.

    Read Also: I love being underestimated, says Wizkid

    The official video for “Calm Down” released on Febraury 11, 2022 has over 71 million views on Youtube barely 2 million away from Wizkid’s global hit track “Essence” which enjoys over 73 millions upon its release on October 30, 2020.

    As such, in a span of four months, it has officially become the fastest Nigerian song to hit the 70 million mark view.

  • Embrace digital transformation, expert charges directors

    Embrace digital transformation, expert charges directors

    Mr Ademola Aladekomo, Founder, Chams Plc, an indigenous Information Communication Technology (ICT) firm, has charged directors on companies’ boards to embrace current trends in ICT to engender business sustainability.

    Aladekomo gave the charge at the 2022 Fellows’ Luncheon of the Institute of Directors (IoD) themed: “Innovation, Sustainability and The Future Role of Directors In The Nigerian and Global Economy.”

    Aladekomo said this was necessary because in the next 20 years, Africa would dominate the world by virtue of its large youthful population, vast natural resources and other dynamics.

    He noted that the value of an innovative, technologically driven company, was more than that of all financial institutions and other forms of businesses put together.

    The Charms boss listed five domains of digital transformation to include competition, customer, innovation, data and value, adding that Africa and Nigeria were virgin markets for the transformation.

    He said, “Strategic direction, corporate governance and accountability are the three key functions of directors to engender sustainability.

    “The volume and velocity of transactions these days are alarming, and one needs to be innovative to be at par with what is going on digitally.

    “It’s either you innovate or you die as there’s no middle ground to this as lack of innovation had led to the death, threat of relevance, and obsoleteness of many companies.”

    Read Also: Google celebrates Intl. SMB Month with ecommerce summit, digital marketing scholarships

    Aladekomo also advocated the conscious need for inclusiveness of diversity on boards to accommodate more youthful population, women and people with disability.

    According to him, with the dwindling population of developed countries, and the youth of Nigeria and Africa taking over manufacturing, health and technology, the future rests on them.

    He also tasked directors on the need to influence government on necessary constitutional amendments and favourable policies, bereft of corruption to the business environment.

    “Corporate bodies’ boards owe upcoming companies the duty of ensuring that the government of the day employs policies and corporate governance principles that would help businesses thrive and be sustainable,” he said.

    In her remarks, Dr Ije Jidenma, President, IoD, explained that the event was an advocacy forum where contemporary issues affecting leadership, corporate governance, management, ethics, and the overall economy were discussed.

    She said the event’s theme was apt in view of the multifaceted challenges such as COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the Russia-Ukraine war prevailing in the world.

    Jidenma said innovation was crucial to the continuous success of any organisation as it enhanced market position, increased sales and market share, reduced waste, saved cost, and increased productivity, growth and profitability.

    “There is, therefore, no better time to address the matter of innovation than now as organisations all over the world are concerned about sustainability and survival amid these issues.

    “The impact of these global challenges are so devastating that only innovative businesses will survive and thrive.

    “As business environment changes, driven by technological and social shifts, innovation is central to ensuring the development and growth, as well as sustainability of organizations.

    “Directors, as business leaders must be futuristic in their outlook and come up with new and creative ideas for business to thrive in this highly competitive environment,” she said.

     

    (NAN)

  • Baker industries launches as proptech to tackle real estate challenges

    Baker industries launches as proptech to tackle real estate challenges

    Baker Industries Limited has officially launched as a proptech company to drive integration of advanced technological innovations to proffer solutions to challenges in the real estate space.
    Its founder Folarin Bakare, stated this to stakeholders in Lagos last Monday.
    According to him, the idea was inspired by the need to address the looming challenges of the real estate industry; the illiquid nature, high transactional cost and problems stemming from fragmentation and centralization of data that should ordinarily facilitate real estate transactions
    Bakare said: “Baker Industries Limited’s products and services were specifically developed to proffer solutions to specific Real Estate challenges. Our product and services include purchase and sale of properties, building and construction, property verification, real estate advisory/consultancy and tokenization & fractional ownership of Real Estate.

    Read Also: 4Point allocates duplexes at Rose Gardens Magboro

    “The use of geospatial and blockchain technology will serve as integral pieces that will cause a transition from the narrative that real estate belongs to the elites, making it accessible to everyone.
    “At Baker Industries Limited, we don’t just run on passion, we have the smartest minds creating new technology to deliver industry innovation and transform the real estate industry.”
    Sharing more insights, Bakare stated the company’s vision is to make the dream of home ownership a reality for the everyday Nigerian.
    He added:“We identified many problems in the real estate sector and that is why we are stepping forward with our value proposition. A prosperous economy is one that allows fast paced peer to peer transactions. The technologies we are integrating at Baker Industries Limited will refuel the engine to drive the nation’s economy as more money can exchange hands at a faster rate with the innovation we bring onboard as one of the pioneering and truly innovative PropTech companies in Nigeria.”
    Baker Industries Limited will build products that will provide a simple and engaging user experience with fully integrated tools, thoughtfully crafted for real estate investors.

    Attachments area

  • FG approves upward review of freight rate

    FG approves upward review of freight rate

    The Federal Government has confirmed the approval of an upward review of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol freight rate.
    It emphasised the official price of the product remains N165 per litre despite the increased freight rate.
    The announcement is a confirmation of the story that The Nation broke a fortnight ago.
    The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), President, Alhaji Lawal Othman disclosed to The Nation that the government approved an increase of N10 per kilometer across board for the transporters.
    The government in January approved a freight rate of N25 per kilometer for the transporters.
    The Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Corporate Communications Department announced the new approval in a press statement yesterday.
    According to the statement, the upward review is to ameliorate the constraints associated with the supply of petrol nationwide.
    The statement that was silent on the figure, noted that the increase was due to soared cost of diesel that has affected the transportation of the product.

    Read Also: Companies responsible for contaminated PMS should take responsibility – NUJ

    The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari, has considered and approved the upward review in freight rate for transporters to alleviate the challenges associated with the distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) nationwide.
    “The approval was after due consultations with industry-wide stakeholders at the instance of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (the Authority).
    “The review was necessitated by the upswing in the global price of petroleum products especially Automotive Gasoil (Diesel) and its implication on the cost of transporting Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) nationwide.
    “Consequently, the Authority wishes to advise as follows that:
    “In line with the mandate of the Authority as prescribed in the PIA (Section 31(i)) to develop and enforce a framework on tariffing and pricing for natural gas and petroleum products, the transporters freight rate has been reviewed to reflect current market realities.
    “The revised freight rate takes effect from 1st June 2022 while still maintaining the current regulated PMS pump price of N165.00/Litre.
    “An Inter-agency Team is being constituted to ensure reconciliation and payment of outstanding transporters claims in line with established payment procedure under the Bridging Fund Scheme.
    “Meanwhile, NNPC, the sole supplier of PMS, has maintained over Thirty-Two (32) days sufficiency in-country.
    “We believe the increase in transporters freight rate will further encourage Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and other stakeholders to deploy more trucks to transport PMS nationwide to ensure adequate supply of the product.
    “The Authority assures the public of its commitment to building a strong and sustainable Midstream and Downstream Petroleum sector.”
    Ends

  • My America tour solely to showcase Africa – Davido

    My America tour solely to showcase Africa – Davido

    Award-winning singer Davido has stated the main aim of his American tour, “We Rise by Lifting Others.”

    Speaking during “The Daily Show” with Trevor Noah on the “We rise by lifting others Tour”, Davido said his latest song, Stand Strong” is to challenge himself, seeing he wants to do things differently.

    “I wanted to challenge myself. That’s why I did, “Stand Strong,” he said.

    Moving to the objective for his America Tour, Davido noted he would be showcasing Africa in its entirety.

    More importantly, to carry everyone (particularly Africans) along while at it.

    Read Also: Davido sets to release biggest club banger, summer song

    “With the tour, “We rise by lifting others” it’s basically me not only bringing myself to America but also bringing everything else. African food, African fashion.

    “On the tour, we are all wearing African designs

    “What I’m wearing was done by an African designer, Amakazbit. I’m only wearing African designers, I’m only eating African foods.

    “I’m having African chefs coming, do food back stage. African dancers. So it’s not just me. So, we coming together, we rise and we taking everybody with us”, added the DMW boss.

    The tour will see Davido performing in Brooklyn, Toronto, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles from the 16th to the 25th of June 2022.