Category: Lead

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, has said that he takes pride in his ability to have contested for the nation’s number one seat since 1993 without any controversy.

Atiku claimed that, unlike the President-elect and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, he is unencumbered by scandals of any kind. 

The former Vice President claimed his identity, comprising age, state of origin and educational qualifications has never been in dispute like Tinubu’s.

Atiku argued that Tinubu was constitutionally disabled from contesting election for the office of President.

Read Also: APC forum organises prayer for Tinubu’s inauguration

The PDP candidate said these in his reply to Tinubu’s response to the petition he jointly filed with his party before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

Tinubu, in his response to Atiku’s petition, accused him, among others, of being a serial loser of elections. 

Also, in his reply, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the election, Peter Obi accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias in its handling of the election.

Obi, in his reply to INEC’s response to the petition he filed before the PEPC, faulted INEC for taking sides with the winner of the election and his party.

He equally faulted INEC for filing a preliminary objection in support of Tinubu and the APC.

Obi argued that the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal had in the past, cautioned INEC against placing itself in a position “where imputation of partiality in favour of one party against another will be levelled against it.”

Details Shortly…

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the suit filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last governorship election in Adamawa State, Senator Aisha Dahiru Ahmed (Binani).

She sued to seek judicial review of the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse her earlier announcement as winner of the election by the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

Read Also:INEC, IG hammer REC, CP as court halts Binani

At the mention of the case on Wednesday, her lawyer informed the court about the notice of discontinuance filed by the plaintiff and prayed the court to strike out the suit.

But, in a ruling, Justice Inyang Ekwo elected to dismiss the suit.

Details Shortly…

The Ebonyi State Election Petition Tribunal has been directed to relocate to Federal Capital Territory Abuja with immediate effect.

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal, Monica Mensem gave the directive. 

Secretary of the Tribunal, Nyior Henry Sekulla announced this in Abakaliki on Wednesday.

He said that following the directive the election petition Tribunal office at the Ebonyi State Judiciary Headquarters in Abakaliki has shut down. 

Read Also: Benue court fixes May 5 for case against Ortom’s life pension bill

According to him, all processes relating to matters before the Tribunal will continue at Abuja.

He said: “The Honourable Justice Monica Dongban Mensem, President Court of Appeal – HPCA has through the Deputy Chief Registrar, Election Petition Tribunal (EPT) Headquarters Abuja, directed the relocation of EPT sitting here to FCT Abuja”

“Therefore, in compliance with the HPCA directives, the petitioners, counsel to parties and general public is hereby informed via this medium that, the EPT sitting here in Abakaliki thereby cease to operate in Abakaliki as at 26-04-23; filings of processes, taking of proceedings etc. shall henceforth continue at Abuja”.

On the reason for the decision to move the Tribunal to Abuja, Mr Henry said it is not within his powers to speak on the reasons.

He however noted that the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal and that of one other state is also affected. Ends

• President-elect,APC leaders meet
• Aspirantsintensify lobby

President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Asokoro residence was a hive of activities yesterday, the day after his return from over a one-month vacation in France.

His return raised the tempo in the battle for the position of Senate President.

Among those who visited the President-elect were two of the leading aspirants – Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom Northwest) and Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano Central).

Akpabio and Jibrin were believed to have lobbied Asiwaju Tinubu for support.

Other leading aspirants for the position are Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West), Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), Senator Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara West) and Senate President Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North). Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi, who was newly elected, has also indicated interest.

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu, who also visited the President-elect, is believed to have held exploratory talks with Tinubu on when the party organs will meet to decide on the zoning of the National Assembly principal offices. 

Adamu, who was also on a three-week vacation, resumed work yesterday. He held a four-hour meeting with some party officials at the secretariat in Abuja before driving to Tinubu’s residence. 

Since they collected certificates of return, senators-elect interested in becoming principal officers had been campaigning, many of them using media outlets and others lobbying quietly. 

Some have also been accused of spending excessively in a bid to actualise their ambition. 

The stake has now been raised because Tinubu’s return will speed up the process of zoning the offices.

It was learnt that the consensus option is being considered after the zoning formula might have been ratified.

Akpabio, a former minority leader, told reporters after meeting with the President-elect that he had a bright chance. 

He expressed confidence that he will succeed Dr. Lawan as Senate President. He said: “My records will earn me the Senate Presidency.”

A party source said after the preliminary talks between the President-elect and the national chairman, an elaborate meeting of key party organs would meet to fashion out a zoning formula in accordance with the principles of equity, fairness and religion. 

The source, a top member of the National Working Committee (NWC), said apart from zoning, other factors, including religion, voting patterns across the zones and the political base of the aspirants would be considered. 

The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) had suggested that the party should zone the Senate President to Southeast and Southsouth, which are predominantly Christian areas that produced Christian senators-elect. 

Sources close to the APC governors said since the number one and two citizens are of the same faith, they felt that the number three citizen should come from another faith for the purpose of compelling religious balancing. 

However, the forum also urged the party to zone the House Speaker to Northwest and Northcentral. 

In the past three weeks, Northwest stakeholders from the seven states have intensified their agitations for zoning of the top National Assembly offices to the region, hinging their clamour on the fact that the party garnered the highest number of votes from the region. 

Also, last week, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), led by Chief Edwin Clark, called for the zoning of the Senate President to the Southsouth to foster inclusion and equity. 

A party leader said the ruling party should speed up the process of fashioning out an acceptable zoning formula, warning that the overtures being made by federal lawmakers-elect to their opposition counterparts portend grave danger to “caucus cohesion.”

It was learnt yesterday that an expanded Southwest Caucus of the National Assembly, made up of outgoing and incoming members, is likely to meet with zonal party leaders and elders “to arrive at a joint decision on regional response.”

Prominent party chieftains who were at Tinubu residence yesterday include Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, Senator Emma Bwacha, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Senator Tanko Almakura, Senator Solomon Adeola, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who is deputy national chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Secretary of the recently dissolved APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) James Faleke and House of Representatives member Jimi Benson. 

A $15 billion railway project that will link the nine oil-producing states in the country  is in the offing.

The proposed project is a major component of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and United States-based Atlanta Global Resources.

Atlanta Global’s Director, Tony Akpele, told reporters at the sidelines of the NDCC Public-Private Partnership Summit 2023 in Lagos yesterday, that full details of the rail project would be made known in due time.

 The summit with the theme: “Rewind to Rebirth,” was organised  by the NDDC to harness ideas on other ways of funding infrastructure in the oil-producing states of  Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Umana; Senator-elect Adams Oshiomhole; Managing Director of the intervention agency, Samuel Ogbuku;  and Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Simbi Wabote were among prominent Nigerians at the event.

The summit also served as opportunity for the commission to highlight its challenges, achievements and  plans.

The commission revealed that 2,000 communities in five local government areas in Ondo State will begin to enjoy electricity supply from a  power plant to be inaugurated in the next few weeks.

Umana commended the  NDDC for adopting the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model as a vehicle for driving sustainable development of the nine NDDC states.

He explained that summit  was in line with Federal Government’s desire to harness the expertise and energies of all stakeholders and partners .

Umana added: “We  have  set in motion an era of accountability and transparency by publishing in national newspapers, a list of 2,506 completed projects executed by the commission under the Buhari administration from 2015 to 2022.”

The minister also explained that the process of recovering monies paid contractors of 4,000 cancelled projects had commenced.

The minister, who explained that the Federal Government approved the  implementation of some of the key recommendations of the Forensic Audit into the activities of the NDDC, also said that the White Paper on the Forensic Audit Report was being awaited.

His words: “As recommended in the report, contracts for 4,000 projects were cancelled for non-performance and the cancellation was published in the newspapers. The process for recovering money paid for the cancelled contracts has begun.”

He  assured that plan is fully on for the Niger Delta region to optimise the benefits from its abundant natural resources, especially oil and gas, which have contributed significantly to the national economy and development.

Umana noted, however, that  the Niger Delta faces many challenges, such as environmental degradation, poverty, unemployment, insecurity and underdevelopment.

He said: “The Federal Government recognises the need to address these challenges and to ensure that the people of the Niger Delta enjoy the benefits of their resources and potential.”

But Umana pointed out that the ministry and the NDDC alone would not be able to meet all the developmental needs and aspirations of the Niger Delta people.

He warned the management of the commission  against  engaging in political activities while carrying out their assignments. He said that that had led to conflict between the commission and host governors of the nine states.

NDDC Managing Director  Ogbuku  said that the commission decided to adopt the PPP model to provide alternative sources of funding for its key development projects and  programmes.

His words: “As part of our efforts to renew and reposition the NDDC, the Governing Board stepped up the collaboration with various stakeholders.

“We have started engagement with the key stakeholders, such as the oil companies who contribute three per cent of their operational budget to the Commission; the state governments; traditional rulers; Civil Society Groups; youth organisations and Contractors.

“We are showing in our operations, through our example and conduct, how diligence, due process and transparency are key ingredients to building confidence and trust among all partners and stakeholders. We are committed to not just being transparent, but we want to be seen to be transparent.”

Listing the commission’s achievements, he said: “In the coming weeks, some of our major projects will be inaugurated. Among this is the  132/33kv sub-station constructed by the Commission in Okitipupa, which will provide electricity for over 2,000 communities spread across five local government areas of Ondo State.”

The NDDC boss added  that “another key project that is ready for inauguration is the Ogbia-Nembe Road, which was jointly funded by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the NDDC.”

Wabote reiterated that the $50 billion Niger Delta Regional Master Plan launched in 2007 for implementation over a 15-year period was to transform the Niger Delta into a prosperous and peaceful region.

He said: “Various reasons have been adduced for the failure of the implementation of the ND Master Plan ranging from insufficient funding, frequent change in leadership, delays in budget approvals, and others.

“While these reasons are plausible, I believe there is opportunity to go back to the drawing board and put together a modified or an entirely new Niger Delta Master Plan for implementation.”

Oshiomhole, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman and now Senator-elect, advised the NDDC management to promote inclusive and sustainable development in the region.

“How can you talk of corporate governance where you have a sole administrator running the commission? The law states how NDDC should be governed,” he said.

Oshiomhole stressed that what Nigerians and the National Assembly expected was a commission working more efficiently and equitably to achieve its goals.

This, according to him, include proper corporate governance  framework which improves institutional capacity and reduces widespread and  systemic corruption to its nearest level.

• Air Peace waiting in Egypt for airlift

The Federal Government has deployed  40 buses to move no fewer than 2,400 stranded Nigerians out of Sudan today.

The plan to bring stranded Nigerians from the crisis-ridden Sudanese capital Khartoum back to the country yesterday failed because of logistics chanllenges.

Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, confirmed the new travel plan last night.

Dabiri-Erewa told The Nation that the convoy will take off from the border towns of Luxol and Aswan to Cairo, the Egyptian capital.

From there, Air Peace will airlift them to Nigeria.

Luxol to Cairo is about eight hours by road, while Aswan to Cairo is about 11 hours.

The government warned those remaining in Sudan not to embark on any risky journeys to the borders.

It also urged those affected to remain calm and maintain constant communication with the Embassy.

A joint statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said efforts were being made to rescue all citizens.

The statement was signed by a Director in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Janet Olisa and the Permanent Secretary of the Humanitarian Ministry, Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo.

It reads: “The honourable ministers…express concern over the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan and empathise with the entire civilian population in the country, including the Nigerian students, and other members of the Nigerian community caught up in the ongoing crisis between the Sudanese Army and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

“The honourable ministers note with concern that some of these students are trying to find their way to contiguous borders of either Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia or Chad on their own.

“In line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, the humanitarian sector, comprising FMHADMSD, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI)), is working very closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian Missions in the countries bordering Sudan, as well as with other relevant stakeholders especially the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Armed Forces, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and international humanitarian organisations such as International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to immediately evacuate these students and other affected Nigerian citizens.

“The ministers, therefore, urge parents to advise their wards that while concerted efforts are being made to evacuate them, the students should endeavour to remain calm and maintain constant communication with officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Sudan for instructions and updates.”

The ministers stated that the Embassy officials can be reached at +2348035866773, +249961956284, +2348063636862, +249961956274, and +2349066663493.

The statement adds: “They are also advised to guard against undertaking the journey to the border on their own, in view of the dangers involved.

“On this note, the honourable ministers emphasise that concrete plans are underway to deploy, very shortly, air transport to evacuate all stranded Nigerian citizens through the identified safe transit areas back home to Nigeria in safety and dignity.”

A Nigerian student in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, told the BBC she and others had been waiting seven hours for a bus to flee the city.

“We’re still hopeful,” the student said.

Temperatures there can reach 43C (109F) in the midday heat and drinking water is hard to come by; yet she says many fellow Nigerians are waiting outside in full sun to make sure they do not miss their chance to get home.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) urged the Federal Government to move quicker.

Its Vice President, External Affairs, Akinteye Afeez, said in a statement: “It is with a sense of disbelief and disappointment that we announce to the world that the Nigerian students in Sudan are still stranded and waiting for the evacuation team. 

“This is happening after the Nigerian Consulate officials in Sudan have instructed them to prepare for evacuation and after obeying several other directives to prepare them for a smooth evacuation. Now, they’re stranded and exposed to danger in their various places of convergence. 

“It is certain that if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not have the resources to cater for this evacuation, the Federal Government would not have instructed them to do so. 

“This, therefore, implies that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has intentionally intended to gamble with the lives of the Nigerian Students in Sudan and this is totally unacceptable.

“As a matter of immediacy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NEMA, within the next 24 hours, must look for every means possible to get the Nigerian students out of Sudan and back to Nigeria. 

“If these students are not evacuated within the 72-hour cease-fire agreement, all hell shall be let loose and we shall completely occupy the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until the students are evacuated from Sudan and brought back to Nigeria.”

A pan-Nigeria anti-sabotage organisation, The Natives, urged the Federal Government to ensure that no Nigerian life is lost in Sudan.

Supreme Leader of the Natives, Smart Edwards, in a statement in Abuja, called on all politicians across the party lines, well-meaning and high-placed Nigerians to use their contacts to ensure the safety of all Nigerians residing in Sudan, particularly in Khartoum.

“We are urging all the stakeholders to ensure that no life of a Nigerian is lost in the ongoing crisis,” Edwards said.

Uneasy truce holds amidst gunfire, shelling in Sudan

A ceasefire in Sudan appears to be holding, although there have been reports of new gunfire and shelling.

It is the fourth effort to stop the fighting which began on 15 April, with previous truces not observed.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the 72-hour truce had been agreed between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after 48 hours of negotiations

The latest ceasefire attempt started at midnight (22:00 GMT on Monday).

At least 459 people have died in the conflict so far, though the actual number is thought to be much higher.

Both sides had confirmed they would cease hostilities.

The reported temporary ceasefire in Sudan is a potential lifesaver for civilians who have been trapped in their homes without the ability to access food, clean water, and medical care.

ICRC calls for durable political solution to crisis

Street battles and the use of heavy explosive weapons in Khartoum have had a devastating impact on civilians and critical infrastructure over the last week, forcing many to flee or seek shelter.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regional director for Africa, Patrick Youssef, said: “Khartoum is a densely populated city of millions. When heavy explosive weapons are used, street corners become battlefields, and civilians pay the greatest price. Hundreds have been killed and thousands injured, a heart-breaking outcome of this violence.

“We welcome the reports of a ceasefire and urge the international community to help find a durable political solution to end the bloodshed. 

“It’s clear that this ceasefire must be implemented up and down the chain of command and that it must hold for it to give a real respite to civilians suffering from the fighting.”

But Tagreed Abdin, who lives 7km from the centre of Khartoum, said she could hear shelling from her home yesterday morning despite the agreement.

“The situation right now is that this morning there was shelling and gunfire,” she told the BBC.

The RSF has accused the army of violating the truce by “continuing to attack Khartoum with planes”.

An army spokesperson has told Sky News Arabia that the RSF was responsible for “storming prisons” following reports of gunfire at Port Sudan.

WHO warns of high bio-hazard risk’ after lab seized

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned there is a “high risk of biological hazard” after fighters seized a laboratory believed to be holding samples of diseases, including polio and measles.

The National Public Health Laboratory is near the centre of Khartoum and not far from the city’s main airport.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva via video link from Sudan, the WHO’s Nima Saeed Abid said technicians were unable to access the National Public Health Laboratory to secure the materials.

“This is the main concern: no accessibility to the lab technicians to go to the lab and safely contain the biological material and substances available,” he said, declining to specify which side had seized the facility.

Countries have scrambled to evacuate diplomats and civilians as fighting raged in central, densely populated parts of the capital.

A journalism icon and prolific writer Mr. Peter Enahoro has died. He died in London on Monday at 88.  

He was editor and administrator of  Daily Times, a newpaper that was once dominant in the country.

A popular columnist, Bunmi Sofola announced the death in a statement.

President Muhammadu Buhari, governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Godwin Obaseki (Edo) and House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila in a seperate statements mourned the passing of the legendary journalist.

 Sofola wrote:  ”Regret to announce the passing on of our iconic journalist Peter Enahoro “Peter Pan” today in London at the age of 88. RIP.

“Also known by the pen name of ‘Peter Pan’ because of his popular column in New African magazine under that name. He has been described as ‘perhaps Africa’s best-known international journalist.”

Born on January 21, 1935, the late Enahoro started his media career as an assistant publicity officer in the now-Federal Ministry of Information in 1954.

The Uromi, Edo State-born journalist, joined Daily Times in 1955 as a sub-editor at the age of 20. Three years later, he became the assistant district manager at the Rediffusion Services, Ibadan, Oyo State.

The deceased served in various editorial capacities at the Sunday Times and Daily Times before he left Nigeria in a self-imposed exile in the 1960s.

The veteran journalist wrote the famous book ‘How to be a Nigerian’. It was first published in 1966.

Mourning Enahoro’s passage, Sanwo-Olu described the death as painful, heartbreaking and a colossal loss to journalism and the media industry in Nigeria.

President Buhari noted that the late journalist courted the trust of the public with his fearless writings.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President urged those mourning him to reflect on his contributions to national development.

The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari extends heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and associates of Peter Enahoro, one of Nigeria’s foremost journalists, who died at the age of 88.

“The President believes that as a gifted and iconic journalist, author and publisher, Enahoro earned the public trust by his fearless writings, tenacity, and commitment to the pursuit of truth.

“The President recognises that the passion of the former Editor-in-Chief/Managing Director of the Daily Times, Assistant Publicity Officer, Department (now Federal Ministry) of Information and Pioneer Chairman, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission for public service was second to none, and he used his knowledge and mastery to mentor people, who have also added value to journalism practice in the country.

“President Buhari urges those who mourn the demise of this compatriot to reflect on his contributions to the country and build on the many honours credited to him for journalistic excellence.

“May the soul of Peter Pan rest in peace, the President prays.”

Speaker Gbajabiamila said that with the passing of Peter Pan, Nigeria has lost one of its finest journalists who lent their voices for the betterment of the country.

He said as a columnist, the late Enahoro used his pen patriotically, calling attention to the salient issues in the society.

Gbajabiamila prayed God to give the deceased family the fortitude to bear the loss.

In a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Gboyega Akosile, the governor said: “The death of our iconic journalist, Peter Enahoro, is a great loss to the media industry and Nigeria, as well as his family and friends. ‘Peter Pan’ will be greatly missed.

“He made lots of positive impacts during his lifetime, contributing meaningfully to the growth and development of journalism in Nigeria.

“On behalf of the Lagos State Government, I sympathise with the Enahoro family in Uromi, Edo State over the death of the veteran and accomplished journalist. I also commiserate with the deceased friends, colleagues, and journalists in Nigeria. I pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

Obaseki described him as a national treasure and quintessential media professional, who made insightful and critical commentaries on Nigeria, and its march to a free, fair and just society.

The Edo governor said: “I am deeply pained by the news of the passing of a renowned journalist and scribe, Peter Enahoro, self-styled ‘Peter Pan’ in his newspaper column, where he made insightful and critical commentaries on the Nigerian nation and its march to a free, fair and just society.

“Pa Enahoro, who hailed from Uromi, in Edo State, was sired by a lineage of politically-conscious parents, and as he grew older, he made a lasting imprint on journalism practice in Nigeria and internationally.

“He ventured into journalism at an early age, and rose rapidly to the highest positions in the field in the 1960s, becoming the Editor of Sunday Times at 23, and then Editor of Daily Times in 1966.”

According to him, the late frontline journalist conquered the local scene and launched an impressive international journalism stint that heavily impacted how the outer world viewed and understood the complexities of Nigeria today.

He said: “A quintessential columnist, his takes on Nigeria’s pressing and nagging issues were deeply thought-out and poignant, a reflection of his very mature political opinions and critical views of those in power at various times in the history of the country.

“He can be rightly described as a national treasure, who secured his place in history, in the feisty early years of Nigeria’s nationhood.

“Working as a newspaper editor, he spared none of the Premiers of Nigeria’s three regions at the time in his satirical pieces – he would engage in gutsy debates with the Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello; spar with the Premier of Western Nigeria, Ladoke Akintola, on topical issues, and Dr. Michael Okpara of Eastern Nigeria was not left out.

“Pa Ehanoro later went into self-imposed exile for about 13 years, during which time he worked at reputable international publications, bringing issues bedeviling Nigeria to the attention of the global community.

“He was a cerebral journalist, who deployed his intellect in the service of the country, providing and nurturing the space for healthy debates on national policies that impact the lives of the people.”

Obaseki also noted that it could be rightly stated that Enahoro’s engagements were a labour of love for the development of Nigeria.

He said: “The vibrant press in the country today owes much of its credit to Pa Enahoro’s bold and courageous skill with the pen, to hold those in power to account for their deeds.”

The governor also described the deceased as a thorough-bred Edo man, who spoke truth to power, and espoused noble virtues of diligence, hard work and intellectual rigour.

“Pa Enahoro will be remembered for his charm and candour, as well as his commitment to a society with a free, just and vibrant press, where everyone is free to express his/her opinion without let,” Obaseki said.  

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment of 12 Commissioners of Police to different State Commands across the Country.

The new Commissioners of Police are; Mohammed Usaini Gumel posted to Kano State Command; Haruna Gabriel  Garba; Federal Capital Territory, FCT Command Abuja; Tajudeen A. Abass, Delta Command; Oladimeji Yomi Olarewaju, Ogun Command; Taiwo Jesubiyi, Ondo Command and Julius A. Okoro; Benue Command.

Others are: Romokere Ibiani, Bayelsa Command; Mohammed Bunu, Yobe Command; Garba Musa Yusuf,  Kaduna Command; Garba Ahmed, Zamfara Command; Hayatu Kaigama Ali, Sokoto Command and Aliyu Musa, Katsina Command.

Read Also: IPOB condemns killing of five policemen in Imo

According to a statement on Tuesday by the PSC Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani: “Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, retired Inspector General of Police, called for greater dedication to national duty from the new State Command Commissioners”.

Arase said the new posting comes with a lot of commitment and innovativeness and demands total loyalty to the nation. 

He noted during this national transition period, the new State Command Commissioners must brace up for challenges in the course of their duties.

The PSC Chairman advised them to quickly settle down to duty and tackle the security challenges in their respective states of posting.

Anambra prophet, Bro Iyke Uzukwu on Tuesday said the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would deal with what those he referred to as cabals that have held Nigeria captive.

He said Tinubu would not allow himself to be manipulated like the outgoing President, Muhammadu Buhari who he said did not live up to expectations.

Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Nnewi, Uzukwu, who is the Spiritual Head of Soul Revival Outreach, Nnewi, urged Nigerians to pray for the President-elect, assuring he would have a successful tenure.

He also enjoined the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi to forget about their cases at Election Petition Tribunal, saying the case would go the way of the February elections.

He said: “Prayers should be made for the president-elect to end his tenure alive. He would be a successful president but unfortunately, there is this cloud of blood hanging on his government.

Read Also: Igbo leaders to Iwuanyanwu: align with Tinubu

“The implication of this is that a whole lot of politicians would be sacrificed for the success of his government.”

The fiery prophet further urged Tinubu not to remove fuel subsidy until the nation’s refineries were fixed and functional, noting that premature removal would cause both inflation and tension in the country.

Uzukwu also appealed to Western Nations to deport all Nigerians who have looted the nation’s economy, at the same time assist the country return the stolen funds home. 

“We keep hearing of Abacha loot all the time, but it is an open secret that it is not only Abacha’s administration that looted the treasury of the nation. Why is the international community silent on the loots perpetrated by other administrations?” he stressed.

Expressing disappointment over President Buhari’s purported intention to spend his retirement in Niger Republic, Uzukwu regretted his failure to fix nation’s refineries in eight years contrary to his earlier promise to the nation. 

He added, “President Buhari has never hidden his intention to run away from Nigeria after his tenure, as well as extending NNPC pipelines to Niger Republic and tarring roads linking Nigeria to Niger when many roads that would have alleviated Nigerian sufferings are left untouched. 

“He failed to fix the refineries in eight years contrary to his earlier promise to the nation. N2.4b is said to be missing in the nation’s cover at the moment. This is fast becoming President Buhari’s signature tune.

“This has always been Buhari’s exit plan and a major reason he didn’t do well as a president.”