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Tag: Nigerian news

  • NYSC rewards doctor, geographer for Lagos projects

    A medical doctor, Saudat Ayomide Aminu and a Geographer, Babatunde Ajiwokewu, who completed their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in June were honoured during the closing ceremony of the three- week orientation programme for 2019 Batch B Stream II corps members at the Lagos camp on Monday.

    Dr Aminu was presented with N200,000 for donating a library to Military Primary School, Ikeja while Ajiwokewu got N150,000 for training teenagers from two orphanages art skills they can use to make a living.

    The duo was applauded by the NYSC Lagos Coordinator, Mr Sunday Aroni, and the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Dr Yusuf Jimoh.

    Speaking on her project, Dr Aminu said she decided to donate a library to the school because of her love for books and the role reading played in helping her cope with loneliness and peer pressure.
    “I have a passion for books. It was a personal project for me. I found succour in reading when I was growing up. I was alone most of the time. During the transition phase of my life I read to find solace because we were living in a place where you could not just move out to meet people.

    “When we moved to a livelier area where there was more fun, I learnt the good sides and the bad sides. When I was able to mix, there were no external influences as I already had values I held on to because of the books I read. So I felt if I can introduce books to the children perhaps it would help them the way it helped me,” she said.

    Dr Aminu said she spent N69,000 out of her allowance to provide shelves and books for the library. She however got some publishers and others to donate books.

    Ajiwokewu trained orphans from Bethlehem Orphanage in Ikotun and Compassionate Orphanage in Igando to make craft, paper design, tie and dye, and stencil printing for three months.

    He said the beneficiaries can now produce bow ties, clutch purses, slippers, sandals, paper flowers for wall designs and tie and dye to earn an income.

    “I discovered that aside from looking at the orphans as less privileged, they deserve more than just being kept in a home where they are being looked after. I wanted to make an impact on their lives,” said the Geographer.

    Read Also: NYSC warns corps members against abuse of social media, indecent dressing

    In his speech, Aroni urged the 2,108 corps members beginning the primary assignment part of their service year to identify needs to meet in the communities they are posted to.

    “While you are in your place of primary assignment, respect the culture and traditions of the people and do your best to identify with their problems and aspirations. I urge you to identify areas of need of your host communities and mobilize community members to execute projects and programmes aimed at overcoming those challenges,” he said.

    Sanwo-Olu counselled the corps members to shun hate speech and other vices.

    “You should avoid and preach against hate speeches and other divisive tendencies capable of provoking unrest and threatening te unity and peace of our beloved nation,” he said.

    He also urged employers to accept and support corps members posted to their organisations “with necessary welfare facilities.”

  • Kim Kardashian in tears as she tests positive for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis

    Kim Kardashian was left in tears as she tested positive for autoimmune condition lupus as well as rheumatoid arthritis.

    According to physicians, lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks sufferer’s own tissues and organs.

    Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems, including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.

    Before her diagnosis, Kim, who also suffers from psoriasis, an autoimmune condition, had complained of aches, swollen joints and fatigue, Metro reports.

    “She began to fear the worst as she worked full steam ahead on her career and law studies, while at the time she was also expecting her fourth child, son Psalm,” Metro had reported.

    “Lately, my wrists have started to hurt again, but it’s definitely a different feeling than before. I feel this, like, in my bones,’ she reportedly said.

    Expressing fear for her life, 38-year-old Kim had said, “I just am, like, freaking out.

    “I have a baby on the way, I have law school. It just really can scare you when you start really thinking about how much this is gonna really change my life.”

    Read Also: Kim Kardashian shares adorable photos of children

    Metro reports that, after undergoing certain tests, it was confirmed that she had tested positive for lupus antibodies as well as rheumatoid arthritis – which affects the joints and causes pain, throbbing, swelling and stiffness.

    Her physician, Dr. Daniel Wallace, confirmed to her, “Your antibodies are positive for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.”

    However, he confirmed that the diagnosis didn’t mean that she conclusively had the disease, as he added, “Sometimes, you can get false positives in these screenings.”

    Meanwhile, her mother Kris Jenner and sisters Khloe Kardashian, and Kylie Jenner have expressed support for her.

    Kim said she would be finding out the test results later.

  • EFCC’s intervention gave credibility to 2019 elections – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has attributed the level of credibility recorded in the 2019 general elections to the involvement of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in monitoring the elections across the country to prevent compromises through vote buying and vote selling.

    The election management body’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Mr Mutiu Agboke, made the remark in Ibadan on Monday, during a “thank-you visit” to the Ibadan zonal office of the EFCC.

    He said “Your intervention in the 2019 elections is not something that can be wished away. In fact, it gave credibility to the conduct of the elections. I was monitoring the analysis of the elections on the radio one day when somebody said he saw for the first time EFCC men around Oluyole area and Ibarapa axis.

    “The point I am making here is that even while you were waging war against vote buying on one hand, we were still able to see in you, as an agency of government trying to checkmate vote compromises in other forms. That actually made the elections to be acceptable.

    “Apart from playing laudable roles during the buildup to the elections, throughout the exercise you were there. Your own computation during the collation was even more superb than what we were doing with the excel. I discovered that each time we were showing the results, you were the one telling me the margin between all of those figures. It is a commitment. It is not just because you are doing an official duty. It is a support. We thank you very sincerely. We thank all your personnel.”

    Agboke also specially thanked the acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, for agreeing to work with the electoral body to help discharge its duties to the satisfaction of most Nigerians.

    “The mandate given us was that we should collaborate and interface with all the agencies of government to deliver acceptable elections.

    “I know at the national level your chairman too was also interfacing with my chairman (Prof. Mahmud Yakubu) and that was what was responsible for the successes we recorded,” Agboke noted.

    While informing that the INEC has started preparing for the 2023 elections, the Oyo REC also informed that more than 700,000 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) belonging to prospective voters in the state are yet to be collected.

    “The commission is going to start the process of Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) very soon. Those who were unable to register will register. Those whose cards are still in our custody will be able to come and collect their PVCs. As I speak, we have over 700,000 PVCs uncollected,” he informed.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests 48 yahoo boys

    In his welcome address presented on behalf of the EFCC acting Chairman, the Commission’s Ibadan Zonal Head, Mr Friday Ebelo, appreciated staff of the electoral body ‘for putting Nigeria first’ in the discharge of their constitutional duties.

    According to him, all public servants should make such commitment their watchword in order to end well in their chosen careers.

    “I always tell my people that as the head of an agency of government or leader of a people, you must always remember that you have a name to protect. That should be the motivation for you to stand your ground at all times.

    “If you want to be compromised, you can be compromised. But if you can remember that you have a name to protect and you have a tomorrow ahead of you, you will guide against being compromised. That is the kind of commitment I saw in you and your team during the 2019 elections when I was working with you,” Ebelo noted.

    He also assured the INEC team that the EFCC’s door is always open to offer any assistance within its powers to help further sanitise the country’s electoral processes.

  • Burna Boy’s ‘Anybody’ featured in American TV series

    ‘Anybody’, a song by Afro-fusion star, Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy has been featured on American TV series ‘Ballers’.

    The series, which was created by Stephen Levinson, features Dwayne Johnson and tells the story of Spencer Strasmore.

    Strasmore is a retired NFL player who must navigate his new career of choice as the financial manager of other NFL players.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ‘Anybody’ is one of the songs off Burna Boy’s recently released ‘African Giant’ album.

    The singer confirmed the song inclusion in ‘Ballers’ by retweeting the announcement which was tweeted by @black_nino.

    He tweeted, “Anybody was used in Ballers S0503 @burnaboy. My lord is blown.”

    Burna Boy, who is also on an international tour, recently appeared on Trevor Noah’s show and Jimmy Kimmel where he performed his song.

     

    Read Also: Davido, Burna Boy, Nasty C lead 2019 AFRIMA Continental Nominees’ List

    NAN reports that in July, Burna Boy released an album titled ‘African Giant’, referencing the Coachella incidence.

    The album contains fan-favourites and some of the biggest 2019 hits including ‘Killin Dem’ featuring Zlatan, ‘Anybody’ and ‘Dangote’ alongside a titular track ‘African Giant’ and several international collaborations.

    Amongst the artists featured are Jorja Smith in ‘Gum Body’, Manifest in ‘Another Story’, Jeremih and Serani in ‘Secrets’, Damian Marley and Angelique Kidjo in ‘Different’, Future in ‘Show and Tell’ and YG in ‘This Side’.

     

    (NAN)

  • ‘We won’t allow imposition of Urhobo as Bayelsa deputy Gov’

    Ijaw youths on Monday told the Bayelsa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that they would resist his attempt to make someone from the Urhobo ethnic group a Deputy Governor in Bayelsa, the only Ijaw homogeneous state.

    The youths, who rose from their meeting in Warri, Delta State, vowed to mobilise people to vote massively against the PDP in Bayelsa if its running mate had questionable identity.

    The youths, who said they met under the auspices of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, said Bayelsa belongs to Ijaw people adding that they would only support known indigenes, whose roots are traceable to other states.

    The group in a statement signed by James Kombowei appealed to the people of Bayelsa to beware of PDP’s antics and wondered why the party leadership allowed the ambition of a few persons to colour its style of politics.

    He said: “We have observed what is happening in Bayelsa PDP and it is indeed a sad commentary. We don’t know Governor Seriake Dickson with this kind of politics. Despite the hullabaloo against his choice of the PDP candidate, he still gave him the ticket. Diri is a known Ijaw man and we are comfortable with him.

    “What we can’t allow is imposing anybody, whose lineage is linked to Urhobo on Ijaw people as a deputy governor. We are asking the PDP and the governor to drop the idea if they are nursing it. Anyway even if they don’t stop because they may be blinded by some ambition, we don’t have any qualms with that.

    Read Also; Crisis rocks Bayelsa PDP over choice of running mate

    “We only pity them. Thank God there is credible alternative elsewhere. So, we are asking all the Ijaw people in Bayelsa to reject the pair of PDP motivated by greed and direct their votes to other parties that have the interest of Ijaw people”.

    He urged Dickson to steer clear from those who wanted the downfall of the only homogenous Ijaw state by imposing an Urhobo man as the deputy governor of the state.

    He described the act as the shame of the century nurtured under the supervision of governor Dickson, adding that persons blindfolded by their personal and selfish political ambitions would always fail.

    He said the Ijaw people had resolved never to mortgage the only homogenous state to a non-Ijaw insisting that it was an abominable act to try to impose an Urhobo deputy governor on Ijaw people.

    “We will campaign round the Ijaw Nation especially Bayelsa State to elect only 100% Ijaw tickets. We will prefer to elect even an uneducated Ijaw person to govern over our Ijaw state than allow a non-Ijaw to lead our proud Ijaw nation.

    “We believe that Governor Dickson will not allow this evil which is clearly against the ethos and logos of the Ijaw struggle which he has always stood for”, he said.

  • BBNaija: Omashola wins Veto power

    Omashola Oburoh has won this week’s veto power of chance in the ongoing BBNaija season four.

    With this card, he gets to save and replace himself if he is put up for eviction.

    Omashola can also decide to another housemate with the privilege and put himself up for eviction.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Omashola clinched the card on Sunday night, shortly after Venita’s eviction.

    The challenge, which was the fastest so far in the game, saw Omashola win 100 Bet9ja coins and the save and replace privilege that comes with the position.

    The challenge was a simple one of unlocking a padlock from one steel wire mesh and placing the unlocked padlock on a stool next to the table of keys.

    There were 33 padlocks locked on the steel wire mesh with their keys placed randomly on the table.

    Read Also: BBNaija: Omasola’s blunt diary session sets social media platforms agog

    All the Housemates were asked to do was pick one and open a padlock. The Game did not go long as expected as Omashola unlocked a padlock in record time.

    Although Omashola was the first to unlock his padlock, he was closely followed by Mercy and Ike.

    The Icy pair have been doing quite well in house games recently. They both competed fiercely to jointly win the current Head of House title.

    Following his win, an excited Omashola, who escaped eviction on Sunday, shouted, “I get another week in the House.”

  • Crisis rocks Bayelsa PDP over choice of running mate

    The choice of running mate to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has thrown the party into crisis ahead of the November 16 election.

    The issue was said to have assumed a dangerous dimension following the insistence of the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, to zone the slot to his western senatorial district in order to pave the way for the incumbent senator representing the zone, Senator Lawrence Erwujakpor to emerge as the running mate.

    Despite earlier denials, Dickson was said to have perfected the process of making Erwujakpor, who hails from his Sagbama Local Government Area, a running mate to enable him realize his senatorial ambition in case PDP emerged victorious after the election.

    While most party leaders were said to have warned the governor against the plot describing it as political suicide, stakeholders from former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Eastern Senatorial District said they deserved the position for a sense of belonging in the party.

    The stakeholders under the auspices of Bayelsa East Forum for Justice (BEFJ) said having picked the candidate from the Bayelsa Central, it was natural to select a competent party man with requisite political clout and popularity from the East.

    Speaking in Yenagoa, the Chairman, BEFJ, Monday Eribo, described the feelers that the slot for running mate had been zoned to the West as sad and an attempt to deprive the people of the East what was due them politically.

    Eribo insisted that the plot was motivated by greed and warned that if not rescinded it was capable of handing over the state on a platter of gold to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Read Also: Ignore Oshiomhole’s ‘hostile’ comments, Obaseki orders aide

    He said: “So, we are therefore condemning and rejecting it and calling on our beloved Governor Seriake Dickson not to fall for such grievous political mistake. We are also calling on party leaders at the national and state levels to wade into the matter and on time.

    “We urge our flag bearer, Senator Douye Diri, to name his successor from the East. We understand he is under pressure at the moment but he should do the right thing if we must win the election and the right thing is what he knows.

    “Let us state categorically that the man they are planning to use as running mate, Senator Lawrence Ewrujakpor is a bad market at this point in time because he hails from Sagbama Local Government Area. If Ewrujakpor is a true party man we urge him to come out now and disassociate himself from the plan to foist him on us.

    “Let us remind our countryman governor that he must win the governorship election for our party first before talking about his senatorial ambition. Also, those clamouring for speakership from our zone should not forget that if we lose the election, their ambition of becoming speaker will hit the rock”.

    Also, Concerned Bayelsa PDP Stakeholders (CBPS) condemned in strong terms the decision of Dickson to zone the running mate of the party to his senatorial district.

    The concern stakeholders in a statement described the decision as an outrageous political mistake that would work against the PDP in the November 16 governorship election.

    In the statement signed by Chief Ere Opukiri and Omonibo ThankGod, the stakeholders rejected the governor’s action, saying it betrayed his earlier stance that he would not take the running mate to the West in the interest of justice and fairness.

    They wondered what had changed and called on the governor not to fall for the temptation of zoning the position to the West, especially Sagbama where he hails from.

    They maintained that if he went ahead with the decision, there would be mass exodus of members of the party, especially from the East, which would reduce the chances of the PDP to retain the governorship.

    They said: “We are shocked that Governor Dickson who was opposed to the ambition of Fred Agbedi to take over from him because of zoning will now make a u-turn to favour his kinsman from Sagbama.
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  • BREAKING: Ekwunife, Ubah triumph over Umeh, Uba

    Senators Uche Ekwunife and Ifeanyi Ubah have been declared the winners of the February 23, 2019 National Assembly elections in Anambra State

    Ekwunife of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Central Senatorial Zone defeated Sen Victor Umeh of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Read Also: PDP asks Buhari to quit over minister’s ‘plea for pardon’ on certificate

    Also, the Tribunal ruled in favour of Sen Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) against Chief Chris Uba of the People’s Democratic Party PDP in Anambra South Senatorial Zone.

    Details shortly…

  • Ignore Oshiomhole’s ‘hostile’ comments, Obaseki orders aide

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has ordered his aides not to reply what he described as “very hostile statements credited to our revered National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.”

    A statement signed by Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Barr. Paul Ohonbamu said the statement was an onslaught against the governor and government of Edo State and has been trailed by enquiries about the state government’s response to the attacks, from various stakeholders, both within and outside the country.

    Read Also: Oshiomhole blames Obaseki for Edo Assembly’s night inauguration

    Barr. Ohonbamu stated that Governor Obaseki instructed that no state actor, within the Edo State Government, should make any comment whatsoever or join issues on the ensuing hostile comments and discussions.

    He said, “Obaseki said he has chosen to pursue the path of peace and reconciliation in dealing with these issues in the interest of the good people of Edo State and our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

  • Updated: Tribunal sacks Ebonyi PDP Rep Member

    The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State on Monday sacked the candidate of representing Ikwo\Ezza South Federal Constituency, Lazarus Ogbee.

    The Court also declared the Plaintiff and Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chinedu Ogah winner of the election.

    Ogbee, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) was declared winner of the election conducted on 23rd February 2019 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    INEC had declared that Ogbee won with 31,296 votes while it allotted Mr Chinedu Ogah of All Progressive Congress APC, 27,700 votes

    But Ogah disagreed and proceeded to the tribunal where he urged the court to declare him winner.

    He alleged that there were deductions of his votes in some of the polling units and wards in the election.

    The tribunal headed by Justice Sika Henry Aprioku agreed with Mr Ogah and restored over 8000 votes earlier cancelled by INEC in some wards in the constituency.

    The court held that the final results of the election from evidence presented before it should be 36,238 votes for the APC as against PDP’s 33,263 votes.

    The Tribunal also directed INEC to immediately issue the APC candidate certificate of return and withdraw the one issued earlier to the PDP candidate.

    “It is the first respondent that won the majority of the lawful votes in Ezza south. The total number of votes scored by the petitioner(APC) and first respondent(Ogbe) for Ezza south/ Ikwo federal constituency is tabulated as follows; Ezza south LGA APC 8, 311, PDP 17,139. Ikwo LGA APC 27, 927 PDP 16, 127. The total votes for APC is 36, 238 . The total votes for PDP 33, 200 votes.

    “It is the petitioner that scored the majority of the lawful votes having scored 36, 238 votes as against the PDP candidate the first respondent who scored 33,200 votes. We entirely agreed with the petitioner that he scored the majority of the lawful votes from our own computation.

    “The certificate of return issued to the 1st respondent by the 3rd respondent (INEC) as representing Ezza south/Ikwo federal constituency is hereby withdrawn forthwith and must be issued to the petitioner, Comrade Chinedu Ogah as the winner of the election conducted on the 23rd of February, 2019 to the membership of the House of Representatives to represent Ezza South/Ikwo federal constituency”, the tribunal ruled.

    Read Also: PDP asks Buhari to quit over minister’s ‘plea for pardon’ on certificate

    Reacting Mr Chinedu Ogah expressed happiness over the judgment.

    “ It showcased that the mandate of the masses has been restored. This has shown what the tribunal can do. They really looked in the eye of the masses. They have seen that the masses voted for the APC”, Ogah said.

    Counsel to the PDP, Roy Nweze said the PDP and her candidate will appeal the judgment.

    “I want to say that I am not altogether disappointed with the judgment because I expected that it will be this way. We will start drafting the notice of our appeal today, he said.

    Counsel to the petitioner, Tofa Mba Okweni, SAN hailed the Tribunal for carrying out a correct and authentic computation of the result.

    “We looked at the entire result of the election when we reviewed the whole thing and found out that the polling unit result which forms the basis of the election were not what were collected at the ward level and we filed our petition challenging the result declared by INEC on the grounds that they did not collate the proper result of the election.

    “What they collated did not reflect the outcome of the election at the polling units. We then asked the tribunal which has power to do by the electoral act to re-compute the result of the election based on the outcome of the election at the polling units”, he said.