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  • Solomon Ogbeide: Obaseki commiserates with family, Bendel Insurance, NFF

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has commiserated with the family of Solomon Ogbeide, over the recent passing of the football veteran and coach, who had an illustrious career managing clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    In a statement, the governor said late Ogbeide contributed significantly to sports development in Edo State, carved a niche for himself in the NPFL and paid his dues in the footballing world with a career draped with laurels.

    He said, “I commiserate with the family of late Solomon Ogbeide, Bendel Insurance Football Club, Edo State Sports Commission and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) on the passing of Ogbeide, whose achievement in sports leaves an indelible mark in the history of sports development in the state. He was a great football tactician and veteran coach, who worked tirelessly for the development of the game, building teams that put up good showing in national and continental football championships.”

    Read Also: 2 die in Police/MASSOB clash in Onitsha

    He said the late Ogbeide was a refined gentleman, whose expertise and experience will be missed, noting, “On behalf of the people and state government, I send my condolences to his family and pray that God grants them the fortitude to bear the loss. They should be consoled by the fact that he led a boisterous life and made an indelible mark in his chosen field.”

    Late Ogbeide, before his death, was the Head Coach of Lobi Stars FC since 2017. He led the Pride of Benue to the group stages of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League this year, after helping the team win the NPFL title last season.

  • National interest will be utmost priority, says Fayemi

    Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has stated that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) under his watch will give utmost importance to national interest for the overall development of the country.

    Dr. Fayemi said his administration is ready to build on the commitment of his predecessors by ensuring that States have a strong partnership with the Federal Government as federating units.

    According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Yinka Oyebode in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, Fayemi pledge to establish harmonious inter-governmental relationship in achieving key national policy goals with clear objectives informed by local circumstances.

    He explained that his election as chairman and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal as Deputy Chairman showed that the Forum represents Nigeria regardless of political persuasion.

    The new chairman pledged that States would be more strengthened to make them become more dedicated to the citizens; adding that this will also become beneficial to the country at large.

    “My colleague, Aminu Tambuwal and I are delighted at the choice made by our colleagues this evening by consensus, the confidence reposed in us and in accepting this onerous responsibility that has been handed over to us, we promise our colleagues that we will step into the big shoes that Governor Yari will be leaving behind and build on the success story of this forum right from Governor Abdulahi Adamu through Governor Victor Attah, Lucky Igbinedion, Bukola Saraki and Governor Rotimi Amaechi before Governor Yari who so selflessly served this forum in the last four years”.

    Read Also: Buhari congratulates Fayemi on election as NGF Chairman

    “We will build on this commitment with strong partnership with the Federal Government as federating unit and thrash out issues as amicably as possible in the overall interest of our country.

    “This is something that all parties of different persuasions have done and as you can see, the leadership comprises myself from the majority party, the ruling party and Governor Aminu Tambuwal from the Peoples Democratic Party. What is most important is that this is unanimously chosen and we represent Nigeria regardless of our political persuasion.

    “What we are going to do will be in the overall interest of our country in ensuring that our states are continuously strengthened; our country derives the benefit of strong dedicated states to our citizens and our partnership with all arms of government – federal government, the legislature and the development partners working with us in the overall interest of Nigerians”, the governor said.

    Speaking further, Governor Fayemi hailed Nigerians for the 20 years of unbroken democratic rule in the country, saying that it is an affirmation that Nigerians love democracy and are determined to make it work.

  • Thai court suspends progressive party leader

    Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Thursday suspended the leader of the progressive anti-junta Future Forward Party’s status as an elected member of parliament while determining whether to disqualify him.

    The suspension came as the court decided to accept the Election Commission’s petition seeking the disqualification of rising political star Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, 40.

    The former auto-parts tycoon was accused of violating the election law over his holding of shares in a media company, among many other cases against him and his party.

    He has been charged with sedition for allegedly aiding anti-junta protesters in 2015, and computer crime for criticising the regime on Facebook in 2018.

    Read Also: Telecoms sector attracts $70b investment

    Thanathorn said the charges are politically motivated, and that the election was neither free nor fair.

    Since coming to power in a 2014 coup, the military has charged many dissidents with sedition and computer crime under harsh laws and has put many civilians in military detention.

    The regime postponed the election date at least five times before settling for March 24.

    It has been widely speculated that the election will only lead to semi-democratic rule thanks to the rubber-stamp Senate, which is expected to vote for junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha to remain in power as prime minister.

    The Future Forward Party has formed an alliance with six other parties, making up 244 MPs, just under half of the lower house, which will convene for the first time on Saturday.
    The parliamentary vote for the prime minister is expected next week.

  • BREAKING: Court convicts ex-NIMASA acting DG Obi

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday convicted a former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) acting Director-General Callistus Obi.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun found him guilty of money laundering.

    She adjourned until May 28 for sentencing.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Obi in April 12, 2016 on eight counts of converting N378,810,000 from NIMASA.

    He was charged along with Dismass Alu Adoon, Grand Pact Limited and Global Sea Investment Limited.

    Obi, a former NIMASA Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Service, took over from Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is also facing five separate fraud and theft charges.

    Read Also: Boroffice emerges APAS’s BoT Chair

    Count one reads: “That you, Calistus Nwabueze Obi and Dismass Alu Adoon on or about the 5th day of August 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: Conversion of the sums of N111,000,000, property of NIMASA, knowing that the said sums were proceeds of stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

    Obi, Global Seal and Grand Pact were said to have converted N42,755,000.00 on December 24, 2013.
    EFCC said Obi, on May 2, 2013, converted N25,000,000, as well as N46.3million being “proceeds of stealing” between April 1 and December 11, 2014.

  • 195 Nigerians return from Libya —NEMA

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 195 stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    Alhaji Idris Muhammed, Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office, NEMA, who confirmed the development to newsmen on Thursday in Ikeja, said this was the largest batch of voluntary returnees since the exercise began in April 2017.

    Muhammed said the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja at 8.20p.m. on Wednesday aboard a chartered Al Buraq Air aircraft with registration number 5A-DMG SEB.

    He disclosed that they were the 69th batch of returnees brought back by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the European Union (EU) under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees (AVR) Programme.

    According to him, after profiling, the breakdown of the new returnees shows that they comprise of 71 female adults, 25 female children and 17 female infants.

    Read Also: Flood: NEMA distributes seedlings, fertilizer to 10,000 Adamawa farmers

    “They also include 60 male adults, 12 male children and 10 male infants.

    “Among them were three male returnees with minor medical issues and seven pregnant women, ” Muhammed said.

    Welcoming the returnees, he advised Nigerian youths to look inwards and utilise the money they had set aside for embarking on perilous journeys, to set up good businesses in the country.

    “Since the EU closed their borders for irregular migrants, the journeys through irregular means have become wasteful and dangerous.

    “If you had used the huge amounts of money spent on these fruitless efforts in Nigeria to start a business, you would have been very successful in your endeavours.

    “Therefore, you need to strive and embrace the Federal Government’s enabling initiatives to empower the youths,” Muhammed said.

    One of the returnees, Mr Kehinde Obala from Badagry, Lagos, regretted his sojourn in the volatile North African country.

    The 66 years old man said he was a successful mechanic and pastor in Libya until the war broke out and he lost everything.

    “I had a church over there but everything I worked for were destroyed.

    “Ordinarily, I never thought of coming back to Nigeria but when I was assured and promised that I will be resettled when I return home that was why I came back.

    “I have wasted my life except IOM and government are magnanimous enough to help me start from the scratch,” he said.

    NAN reports that NEMA said as at March 15, 12,574 Nigerians have so far returned from Libya under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees Programme, which began in April 2017.

    NAN reports that NEMA said over 4,900 of the returnees have also been trained on various skill acquisition and empowerment training by IOM through special funding facilitated by the EU.

  • Two die in MASSOB anniversary celebration

    Two members of BIM/MASSOB were reportedly shot dead on Wednesday at the 19th anniversary celebration of the Chief Ralph Uwazuruike -led Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) otherwise called Biafra Independent Movement (BIM).

    The event also led to the arrest of no fewer than10 members of the movement, while about 15 sustained varying degrees of bullet wounds.

    Addressing newsmen in Onitsha, Ogbaru Regional Administrator of BIM-MASSOB, Mr Amadi Ifeanyi (aka Ochiagha), wondered why police would open fire on a non-violent organisation.

    He said: “We were hoisting our flag at about 2am yesterday morning at Upper Iweka axis in preparation for the anniversary when the police stormed the place in three Hilux vans and allegedly opened fire on us at a close range, which resulted in the killing of the two members instantly.

    Read Also: MASSOB condemns killings in North

    “They arrested 10 of us and over 15 got bullet wounds, even when they knew that we are a non- violent organisation struggling for a Biafran state”

    Amadi, who spoke through his Director of Finance, in Ogbaru, Ezeaka Martins, identified those killed as Innocent Okoye and Uche Ezinwanne, demanding for the release of their corpses.

    Also speaking, the Ogbaru Director of Security, Chuks Nnaedozie, gave the names of those injured and hospitalised as Clifford Nwankwo, Ndubuisi Ikpeazu Aloy Ibeh, and others yet to be identified.

    On his part, Regional administrator for Onitsha North, Christian Umeaka revealed that one of his members had not been seen since he was arrested by the police when he went to hoist the flag.

    “No amount of intimidation would stop us from struggling for a Biafran state,” he vowed.

  • Why I refused to sack cabinet ministers, by Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his decision to retain cabinet Ministers in the last three and half years in spite of pressures from some quarters is because of their unique skill, strength and leadership qualities.

    The president made this known during a valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

    He observed that the ministers, who exhibited spirit of teamwork, were more rational in making decisions aimed at tackling the numerous challenges facing the country.

    President Buhari described the cabinet members as “a reflection of the Nigeria we aspire to achieve.’’

    He said “You will recall that when we started this journey, our country was facing numerous challenges.

    “We inherited a broken economy which eventually went into recession in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2016. The situation was further compounded by insecurity and massive corruption.

    “Many would have given up. Indeed, many outside commentators said our situation was well nigh hopeless. However, we all came together and pushed forward to deliver our campaign promise to rescue our country from its parlous state.

    Read Also: Buhari shocked by Katsina killings

    “Although we all had a common vision, we frequently had heated debates in this room on the best way to achieve our goals. These differing views are what made the decisions we took all the more rational.

    “It is this quality that made me retain my cabinet for the full term. Each of you in this room has a unique skill and strength.

    “We are a reflection of the Nigeria we aspire to achieve – A diverse but tolerant nation where no one is silenced and where every opinion should be heard and considered.’’

    `I want you all to leave this meeting proud to have served your nation to the best of your ability.

    “You should be proud to have been part of the government that liberated the local governments previously under Boko Haram rule.

    “You should be proud to have contributed to our food security and economic diversification agenda which led to the revival of our rural agrarian economy
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  • PDP demands apology from Lai Mohammed over security allegations

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded apology from the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, for “misleading” the nation and heating up the polity with unfounded security breach allegations against the PDP and its presidential candidate in the February 23 elections, Atiku Abubakar.

    The PDP’s reaction followed the assurances on Monday by the Minister, that the country was safe for world leaders to attend the May 29 presidential inauguration.

    Alhaji Mohammed had earlier accused the PDP and its presidential candidate of plotting to set the nation on crisis with the view to disrupting the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    A statement Wednesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the Minister’s doublespeak has further exposed the fact that he, acting for the Federal Government, only conjured claims to create the impression that the PDP and Atiku Abubakar had set security breaches against the President’s inauguration.

    Read Also: PDP accuses Tinubu of attacking party

    Describing Mohammed’s allegations against the main opposition party as phantoms, the PDP accused the Minister of desperation to secure acceptance for the Buhari administration from Nigerians.

    The PDP stated that for the Minister to turn around to assure that the country was safe after raising the initial false alarm, showed that his claims were not based on any concrete evidence other than having “no reason to doubt” claims by other individuals.

    The statement said, “Moreover, the Minister’s claims that he relied on certain alarms fell flat as no agency in the country had ever accused the PDP, as a political party, or our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, of ‘doing everything possible to sabotage the Buhari Administration, generally overheat the polity and make Nigeria seemingly ungovernable’ as claimed by Lai Mohammed.

    “It is now clear that the whole essence of the misleading allegation was to heat up the system, attempt to cow democratic voices, divert public discourse from the rigging of the presidential election and scare the PDP and our presidential candidate from pursuing our stolen presidential mandate at the court.

    “We also have fears that Alhaji Lai Mohammed could have made those wild claims in a bid to pave the way to frame, harass, arrest and detain some opposition figures on trump-up charges.

    “Such antics have failed as Nigerians have seen through them and are resolute, behind Atiku Abubakar, in the determination to retrieve his mandate in the court, and no form of blackmail and intimidation will detract from that resolve.

    “By his fabricated claims, the Information Minister only succeeded in further demarketing our dear nation in the international arena, causing more damage to investors’ confidence in our system and exposing this administration as purveyor of fake news.

    “The PDP therefore invites Alhaji Lai Mohammed to apologise to the nation and desist from such acts of incitement”.

  • NGF chair: South-West govs endorse Fayemi, Dickson insists on slot for South

    Barely few hours to the election of a new chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), the South-West Governors Forum has endorsed Governor Kayode Fayemi for the office.

    Also, the Governor of Bayelsa State, and Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, the Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson on Wednesday insisted that the slot should go to the South.

    Dickson said next NGF chairman should come from the South with the end of the tenure of Governor Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara State from the North.

    As at 5pm, the PDP Governors Forum was meeting on who to choose between Fayemi and the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.

    The election of the NGF holds by 8pm.

    Findings by our correspondent revealed that different groups within the NGF had been holding consultations in the last 12 hours on Yari’s successor.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “By 8 pm, the NGF will meet to pick between Fayemi and El-Rufai. All the caucuses in NGF have been meeting including the APC governors who are trying to present a candidate.

    “So far, the South-West Governors Forum has thrown its weight behind Fayemi for the office. Some PDP governors have also come out openly to back the Ekiti State governor.

    One of the PDP governors is Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, who is also the chairman of the South-South Governors Forum.

    Dickson called on the 36 Governors of the Federation to adhere to the principle of rotation in the election of a new leader for the Nigerian Governors Forum.

    The governor said in a statement through his Special Adviser, Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said the decision on who should be the next Chairman of the NGF should be guided by the time tested principle of rotation between the North and South.

    He said the next chairman of the NGF should come from the South with the end of the tenure of Governor Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara State from the North.

    He said the PDP governors would not contest the position in consonance with the precedence that the NGF Chairman should be a ranking governor from the ruling political party.

    He said the PDP Governors would not make any move to endanger the time honoured principle guiding the emergence of the chairman of the NGF.

    He recommended that the new chairman should emerge preferably through consensus among the members of the NGF.

    Read Also: ‘I was blind, now I can see, thanks to Fayemi’

    He said, “I am calling on the governors who would assemble today to take a decision on the Chairmanship of the Governor’s Forum to be guided by the time tested principle of rotation between the North and the South.

    “Now that the Alh. Abdulazeez Yari, Governor of Zamfara State would be ending his tenure, we expect that the next chairman should come from the South.

    “The precedence is that the ruling party produces the Chairman. The PDP Governors have no desire to be disruptive and expect that a ranking Governor from the APC, the party with the majority would be the next chairman.

    He congratulated his Zamfara Counterpart on the successful completion of his tenure during which he collaborated with the FG to address a myriad of issues such as the refund of the Paris club money, and other issues affecting state finances.”

    “I wish him the very best in the Senate, where he has been elected,” he added.

  • Aviation Minister meets workers over indefinite strike

    Immediate past Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika on Wednesday invited the Aviation Unions to a meeting to address issues raised by the workers concerning faulty organogram and the non-constitution of board members at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    Aviation Unions are presently on strike thereby disrupting services at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority’s offices.

    The Unions are demanding a review of the organisation’s Organogram, approval of the new Condition of Service (COS) and the inauguration of Boards for the Authority

    In a statement, on Wednesday, spokesman of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye said the issues raised by the unions were, however, not within the jurisdiction of NCAA management.

    The statement reads: “Therefore, the Regulatory Authority will work with the supervising ministry to ensure that all issues are properly addressed to the satisfaction of all parties.

    Read Also: Aviation unions begin indefinite strike today

    “The Authority has absolute confidence that the meeting between the Honourable Minister and the Unions will provide amicable resolution.

    “!The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) hereby appeal to all aviation stakeholders who are not able to access services at our offices today to remain calm as normalcy will soon be restored.”