The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • World Athletics C’ships: Ese Brume qualifies for long jump final

    Nigeria’s long jump queen, Ese Brume is in line to give the country her first medal at the 2019 World Athletics Championship when she competes in the final of the long jump event.

    The Commonwealth and African Games gold medalist led the qualification series by leaping a mark of 6.89m on her first attempt to qualify for today’s finals billed for the multi-purpose Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.

    She will however face stiff opposition from the likes of Tori Bowie of USA who came second in the qualification series with a leap of 6.54m.

    Read Also: 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships: Itsekiri eyes top spot in Doha

    Others include Romania’s Alina Rotaru (6.57), Great Britain’s Shara Proctor (5.54), Australia’s Brooke Stratton (6.43), Jamaica’s Chanice Porter (6.50) and Hungary’s Anasztazia Nguyen who leaped a distance of 6.41m.

    Another athlete, Tobi Amusan, also lived up to expectations by securing automatic qualification to the semifinals of the Women’s 100m Hurdles.

    Amusa, who also won gold at the 2019 African Games ran a new Personal Best (PB) of 12.48s, the fastest time in the Heat series.

    She finished top in heat 5 ahead of Jamaica’s Janeek Brown (12.61), Netherland’s Nadine Vesser (12.75), Poland’s Karolina Koleczek (12.78), Finland’s Nooralotta Neziri (12.92), South Africa’s Rikennete Steenkamp (12.97) and Australia’s Michelle Jenneke (12.98).

    Meanwhile, African record holder, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi Chukwuebuka Enekwechi finished 8th in men’s Shot Put final with a throw of 21.18m.

    Also, Nigeria’s representatives in the Women’s 4x400m relay, the quartet of Blessing Oladoye, Patience Okon George, Abike Egbeniyi and Favour Ofili finished 8th with a time of 3:35.90 in heat 1.

  • Kogi 2019: Lecturer injured in PDP, APC supporters’ clash

    A lecturer at the Kogi State University (KSU) Ayingba, Dr Usman Ogbo, was reportedly attacked in Ankpa on Saturday during the ‘Thank You’ tour embarked upon by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Engr Musa Wada.

    The opposition PDP had on Friday inaugurated its campaign committees in the capital, Lokoja, ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Ahmed Mohammed (APC- Ankpa 1) was said to have been in town and his convoy had cause to pass through the venue of PDP event, which may have sparked the skirmish.

    The convoy of the PDP governorship candidate alongside his supporters reportedly clashed with those of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) while the former was in Ankpa on a thank you visit.

    It was gathered that the clash may have erupted when some APC chieftains reportedly drove in their vehicles into the convoy of the PDP candidate.

    Read Also: Bello, Wada and battle for Lugard House

     

    The Kogi State Police Commissioner (CP), Mr. Hakeem Busari, while confirming the incident, said that one person was injured.

    The PDP Governorship Campaign Organisation, in a statement by the Director of Public Communication of the Campaign Council, Comrd. Austin Usman Okai, condemned the attack.

    It called on the Commissioner of Police, and the Director of State Security Services to immediately investigate the incident.

    Ogbo’s car

    ogbors car

  • Air Force strikes kill 10 insurgents in Kaduna forest

    No fewer than ten bandits operating in the forests near Birnin Gwari and Janko Hill in Kaduna State, have been neutralised by the Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI (OPHD) of the Nigerian Air Force.

    The operation, according to a statement by Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, was conducted following the directives by the OPHD Headquarters to resume kinetic operations against camps identified as harboring unrepentant armed bandits.

    The decision, he said, was taken in the wake of the attack on troops’ location at Sunke in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State as well as the increased migration of bandits towards the Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State.

    Daramola explained:  “The attack on the armed bandits was undertaken when a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter on armed reconnaissance mission over the Birnin Gwari general area spotted several bandits at the location and engaged them with its guns killing some of them. Some bandits were similarly tracked to Janko Hill and equally neutralized.

    Read Also: EXCLUSIVE: How Nigeria Air Force’s Failings Prolonged the War against Boko Haram

    “The objective of the renewed kinetic operations is to ramp up the pressure on the bandits with a view to ensuring the ongoing peace process is not scuttled.

    “Accordingly, the Air Component OPHD will continue to dominate the general area through armed reconnaissance missions to facilitate a return to normalcy in the Northwest of the Country.

    “All persons involved in armed banditry in the area are therefore strongly advised to renounce violence, surrender to security agencies and hand over their weapons”.

  • ICPC retrieves N900b stolen constituency funds

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC),has uncovered and retrieved over N900billion diverted constituency project funds siphoned by federal lawmakers in 12 states.

    Its Commissioner in Kano, Mr Zayyanu Danmusa, revealed on Sunday in Kano, while unveiling  members of an anti-corruption group drawn from the 44 Local Government Areas of the state,in collaboration with  Community for Peace and Corrupt Free Society, Nigeria(CPCFS).

    He explained  that most of the lawmakers connived with contractors and supervisory federal agencies to siphon funds budgeted for constituency projects meant to enhance the development of their respective communities.

    According to him, the fight against corruption should not be left alone  for ICPC and EFCC.

    The fight, he said, is a collective responsibility of Nigerians to expose as well as provide useful information on the activities corrupt practices.

    Danmusa said the Commission is in collaboration with different  civil society organisations for sensitisation, monitoring and prevention of the need of public to shun corruption.

    A board member of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC)  Hon. Dauda Yahaya Umar, who also chaired the Commission’s Constituency projects tracking committee,  called on Nigerians to disown, shun and stop celebrating corrupt politicians and public office holders.

    Umar regretted that the activities of corrupt leaders have continued to retrogress national development.

    Umar noted that President Muhammadu Buhari alone cannot champion the fight against corruption, “because you should expect Mr. President to carry gun or knife to get at every corrupt Nigerian.”

    He maintained that  members of the group,drawn from the Local Government Areas of the state, would serve as volunteers of anti corruption campaigns through monitoring implementation of constituency projects in their respective communities.

    “Our message is simple—Nigerians should    shun corruption. Nigerians should disown corrupt people and stop celebrating them.

    *By the time we boo corrupt leaders instead of hailing them, by the time we make them be on their own, they will have a rethink and begin to realise that what the havoc they are causing to our great country have severe consequences.

    “This is our country and we must do something to help Nigeria get of this mess called corruption.

    “I am not a politician but what we are facing as a people in Nigeria is pitiable, because of the activities of corrupt people.

    “This is why we initiated this platform to join hands with designated anti-corruption agencies such as ICPC to expose corrupt politicians and public office holders.
    “We are not stopping at that, we are taking the crusade against corruption to the communities.”

    He further stated that, “we are taking it to the door-steps of Nigerians. I must also tell you that Nigerians are responding positively because we have volunteers even at the grassroots who have taken our message very seriously and they are ready to help make Nigeria work again.”

    Read Also: Reps to strengthen EFCC, ICPC, says anti corruption laws not strong enough

    Umar explained that, “what we are really doing in this programme today is to re-jig the fight against corruption. Community leaders and opinion leaders across the country are here with us. We are raising a strong and formidable structure being led by 15 volunteers each from all 774 Local Government Areas in the country.

    “These 15 volunteers will also create a structure of 15 volunteers from each of the wards within their localities. You can see how the crusade is germinating right into the households of every patriotic Nigerian.”

    National Coordinator of CPCFS, Alhaji Baba Abdulsalam, stated: “In a nutshell, the entire exercise is all about trying to re-activate our structures.

    “We are re-activating and re-energising all the structures of our executives from state, Local Government Areas to the Wards.”

  • Kogi 2019: Time for Bello to go, says Engr. Wada

    Kogi Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Engr. Musa Wada has declared it is time for Governor Yahaya Bello’s APC-led administration to go.

    He said this was to avoid further plunging the state into more damage. The PDP flagbearer stated this while inaugurating the PDP Governorship Campaign Committees in Lokoja on Friday. He said that the state will cease to exist if Bello is given another term.

    Wada said that he has the capacity to pull the state out of the woods.

    He assured of regular payment of salaries and pension to workers and retirees, and all-round development across the state and in all the sectors, if elected.

    According to him, it would be disastrous to give the APC another term to experiment with the state.

    Read Also: Bello, Wada and battle for Lugard House

    He charged all the communities to work round the clock to deliver the state from poverty and lack, adding that all the necessary support that will enable them deliver on their assignments will be provided.

    The Director General, Engr. Musa Wada Campaign Organization, Hon. T. J. Yusuf, charged the committees to see their assignment as must -accomplished, pointing out that their success will ease the party’s victory at the forthcoming governorship election.

    He said the time to end the people’s plight and sufferings has come, through an overwhelming PDP victory in the November 16 governorship election in the state.

  • Troops kill three terrorists in night ambush

    Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

    The Army has stated that it neutralised terrorists and fatally wounded others following an ambush by troops of Special Special Response Area (SRA) in the Gwoza axis.

    Arms and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists.

    According to a statement signed by Colonel Ado Isa Deputy Director Army Public Relations 7 Division, the troops acted on credible intelligence.

    The statement reads: “Following credible information from some patriotic Nigerians about terrorists movement along Banki Road Junction, Pulka in Gwoza general area, troops of Special Response Area (SRA) Pulka under the Nigerian Army Super Camp Gwoza, in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force conducted a successful night ambush on Thursday 3rd October 2019, which resulted in the neutralization of 3 terrorists, recovery of 2 AK 47 Rifles and 2 motor cycles.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Nigeria Army, Police extremely Ill-equipped, says ex-US Marine

    “Unconfirmed number of terrorists were reportedly wounded during the ambush. There is no casualty on the Nigerian Army or Civilian JTF. Items recovered by troops include 2 X AK 47 rifles and 2 X bicycles”.

    It added that, “similarly, at about 2250 hours on 3rd October 2019, in what seems like a repraisal attack to avenge the lost of their members in the ambush conducted by the troops, some marauders/criminals woefully attacked the Delta Company Location of the SRA at Pulka. Consequently, troops swiftly responded by effectively repelling the attack, one bandit lost his life and one Ak 47 rifle was recovered. No casualty was recorded by the Civilian JTF or the troops”.

  • Suspected Yahoo boys, nightclub attendant die in Ondo road crash

    Two boys in their twenties believed to be Yahoo boys and a girl on Friday reportedly died in a ghastly road crash along Oyemekun road in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    The two boys and the girl were said to be returning from a night club before the unfortunate incident happened.

    The deceased female victim, it was gathered worked in the night club.

    It was learnt that the victims who drove in a Lexus car ran into a stationary truck and died instantly.

    The State Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Rotimi Adeleye, said that the accident happened between 4:30 am and 5:00 am.

    Adeleye, who said that five people were involved in the accident, said that FRSC operatives had deposited the corpses of those who died at the morgue of the state specialist hospital in Akure.

    Read Also: Five die, many injured in Ekiti road crash

    He said: “They were five in number inside a Lexus jeep vehicle and it was learned that they were coming from a night club this morning and were also on speed before they ran under a stationary truck.

    “Three of them died on the spot while the other two are under critical condition.”

  • My child will remain in public school despite kidnapping threat – El-Rufai

    Gov. Nasiru el-Rufa’i of Kaduna State says his child will remain in public school in spite the reported invasion of the state by kidnappers and Boko Haram elements.

    El-Rufa’i stated this while reacting to the abduction of six students and two teachers at the Engrave’s College in Kakau Daji area of Kaduna State on Wednesday.

    The governor, who spoke to State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday, said his child should not be safer or more protected than any other child in the state.

    “My child should not be safer or more protected than any other child in Kaduna State. I took an oath of office to protect everyone and my child is just only one of the two million children we have in Kaduna state primary schools and I have no intention of reviewing that.

    “For me taking my child to a government school was not only a commitment I made but a clear expression that I have enough confidence in the quality of our public schools for my child to attend.

    “We have already given directives that all the staff of our Ministry of Education who are in charge of managing our education system must have their own children in government schools,’’ he said

    On the abducted persons, the governor said the state government, parents and guardians of the victims as well as security agencies were doing everything possible to secure their release.

    Read Also: 2019: How to keep Kaduna calm

    El-Rufa’I dismissed the insinuation that parents were withdrawing their wards from schools following the reported abduction of the students and teachers at the Engrave’s College in Kakau Daji.

    The governor disclosed that the kidnappers had made contact with the parents of the students, demanding for ransom.

    According to him, the state government has assembled the affected parents and the relations of the teachers in one place.

    He said this was to ensure one line of communication with the kidnappers to facilitate speedy release of the victims, adding that the state government had no intention of paying ransom to the kidnappers.

    “We got intelligent report of the likelihood of this danger three months ago. Like I said, we put in place measures that I don’t want to go into details.

    “But any bandit that comes to Kaduna to try to do this has a very high chance of getting killed, that is all I can say; very high chance of getting killed,’’ he warned.

    (NAN)

  • You don’t deserve second term, APC leaders tell Obaseki

    A group of leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, known as the Edo Peoples Movement (EPM), has claimed Governor Godwin Obaseki does not deserve a second term of office.

    The group, in a statement signed by a former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Samson Osagie and former Speaker House of Assembly, Thomas Okosun, also asked the chairman of the APC in the state, Mr Anslem Ojezua, to resign his position for alleged failure to resolve the crisis bedeviling the party.

    The group’s reaction followed the declaration for a second term by Obaseki in Benin City on Thursday.

    Obaseki, according to the group, has not given a tangible and acceptable account of his stewardship, three years into his administration and is merely attempting to spoil the APC brand by employing ‘deceitful tactics’ to give Edo people the impression that he is performing.

    Read Also: The many sins of Godwin Obaseki

    It said: “Governor Obaseki exhibited the highest degree of infidelity to Edo people and the All Progressive Congress by abandoning projects he participated in sourcing funds for, and then turned around to blackmail the same government that started those projects.

    “Governor Obaseki is only dreaming to think that because he is the custodian of our collective patrimony he will intimidate us and hoodwink Edo people to shy away from giving him a run for our money he is amassing to run for second term.

    “Let this serve as notice to him that some of us are going to present ourselves for next year’s gubernatorial elections and by the time the array of contestants are unveiled, Edo people will not chose deceit over sincerity, rhetorics over substance and a government that has encouraged capital flight from the state over a government that will make sure the resources of the state circulates among its citizens.”

  • Lagos ISMAN gets excos

    The Lagos Chapter of the Islamic Musician Association of Nigeria (ISMAN) has elected executive members that will pilot the affairs of the association for four years.

    A statement by the association said the election held on Thursday at Atinuke Memorial Hall, near Cele bus stop on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

    Aliu Isiaq emerged as the Governor with Jeleel Ololade and Quazeem Yekeem as first and second deputies.

    Aminat Babalola Balogun is elected as Ameerah with Basirat Jawondo as Naibal Ameerah.

    ISMAN President Alhaji Damilola Mumeen Rasheed congratulated the executive members.

    Rasheed urged them to work together as a team with a view to promoting Islamic music and propagation of the Islamic Religion.

    Read Also: Govt reunites victims of Kaduna ‘Islamic Centre’ with families

    He called on members to cooperate with the excos in the advancement of a common cause and goal.

    The ISMAN president applauded all the members for the orderly manner the election was conducted and enjoined those that did not win to see it as the will of Allah, adding that it will be their turn another day.

    He thanked the representatives of the Performing Musician Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Comrade Monsuru Ewetade and the law enforcement agencies that ensured all went well.

    He enjoined other state chapters to ensure their elections are rancour-free