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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Rapper commits suicide, says God is unjust

    Fans, friend and family of Nigerian rapper, Olanrewaju Pelepele have been thrown into mourning.

    On Friday, September 20, Pelepele committed suicide by drinking ‘Sniper’, an insecticide, at his apartment in Ikorodu. His neighbours later found his lifeless body and contacted the police.

    “So a close friend committed suicide this morning in Ikorodu, we’ve been waiting for @PoliceNG since morning to come for his body! Olanrewaju Pelepele RIP,” Debbie Mackanaki posted on Twitter.

    The deceased has been posting series of emotional messages and video on the internet with the #mylastmoment to narrate his disgusts for this life.  At exactly 10:46am, on September 11, the rapper explained that despite his 10 years of hard work in the music industry, he has failed to make it to the mainstream. According to him, this has made him sad. He then promised to commit suicide.

    “Its 6days now, if by 12:00am tomorrow, God doesn’t take my life, I will kill myself,” Pelepele said in the viral video.

    Read Also: Rapper, Olamide expects child with ex-lover Maria Okan

    He continued, “10 years ago, I told God to grant my fasting and prayer so that I can be successful as a musician. I told Him to take my life, if I didn’t blow after putting my energy. Here, I am today. God is just unjust and I’m not sorry to say,” he had written.

    The Eshu crooner, further, said that depression is an understatement as he did feel like he belonged to this world anymore.

    “I don’t feel any belonging to this world again because I feel tormented by life. Three years after my 10 years dead with God, Olamide saw the talents in me and signed me to his YBNL Nation record which is like a free ticket to success but everything just crashed. Why e go be me now, wetin I do from the beginning. I got depressed with everything and I don’t think there’s a reason for me to stay in this world.

    “Tomorrow will make it 7days of #mylastmoment note and I have already gotten this (he showed a sniper) to kill myself. God bless you all,” he said.

    Many people thought he was pulling a stunt until his lifeless body video surfaced online. He posted a picture where he was wearing a black shirt and face cap as he held his neck tight with his hands. He also did a free style to say goodbye to the world before taking his life.

  • Prof Akintoye and Yoruba leadership

    Since he was invested with the leadership of the Yoruba by a number of Yoruba self-determination groups, Prof Banji Akintoye, a historian and passionate south-westerner, has drawn flak from the Afenifere and some leaders of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political group. He used to be one of the leaders of the group and probably still is. But having been denounced by leaders like Ayo Adebanjo and Olu Falae for accepting the title and assuming the controversial title, it is no longer clear whether the eminent professor would freely associate with Afenifere anymore.

    Nobody can question Professor Akintoye’s brilliance and commitment. Nor is it unclear to most south-westerners that Afenifere had allowed itself to be so politicised that it no longer served as an umbrella body of the Yoruba of all persuasions. In fact, Afenifere spokesmen’s bitter recriminations and divisiveness made the split inevitable. The person that needs talking to is not the professor. It is Afenifere that must find ways of maturing out of their corrosive politics.

  • Femi Adesina takes on The Punch

    It was nothing more than a storm in a teacup. The Punch of Saturday, September 14, 2019 had reported what seemed like the president eating his words over how he felt while the judicial challenge to his electoral victory lasted, a retraction presidential spokesman Femi Adesina argued did not happen. Having previously indicated through a September 11, 2019 press statement by Mr Adesina that he was ‘unperturbed’ by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenge, because he was confident he had won the last presidential election fair and square, the president later told governors who felicitated with him over his judicial victory that he was actually on tenterhooks at a point during the trial. His anxiety, he confessed, was only mitigated by the fact that on September 11, he was presiding over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting as the tribunal judges read their decision. That FEC meeting, he confessed, saved him from being ‘in trauma’. It is not certain what he meant by trauma.

    But incensed that the Punch reporter had questioned the accuracy of his account of what the president said of his feelings, Mr Adesina stormed the State House press gallery last Tuesday and gave The Punch reporter, John Ameh, author of the September 14 story, a piece of his mind. Said the livid presidential spokesman: “What was that rubbish you people wrote on Saturday? Did you say that Mr President did not approve the statement? Let me tell you, if you want to last here, you had better be careful!” Nothing justifies Mr Adesina’s imperiousness, but he was obviously angry that Mr Ameh seemed to be questioning his capacity to portray the president accurately. The Punch reporter had no chance to respond to the fulminations.

    What is at the root of Mr Adesina’s anger is nothing more than the fact that he believes that Mr Ameh had questioned his proficiency with the English language. Hear him: “Referring specifically to judgment day by the tribunal, which coincided with the maiden meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), President Buhari had said: ‘It was a fabulous coincidence that it came almost the same time the first FEC meeting of this government was taking place. It lasted about the same time with the judgment. I thank God for that because I think I would have gone into trauma or something. So, I was busy trying to concentrate on the memos.’ An elementary understanding of the English language shows that President Buhari was talking specifically of the day and time of the court ruling, not before. Saturday Punch went further to say that the president’s remarks amounted to a retraction of his earlier statement, in which he said he had been unperturbed about the judicial challenge to his electoral victory. I was unperturbed all along… Was that referring to judgment day? A simple comprehension of English language indicates otherwise. It referred to the many months the case lasted in court. To further show malice and evil intent, the newspaper indicated that the president may not have been privy to the earlier statement that emanated from his media office. Who does that, for such a landmark development, without the consent of the principal?… If the Punch reporter and the editor (if he, indeed approved the mischievous story for publication) had so much challenge with the English language, they could have opted to write in their mother tongue. It could have served them better.”

    The controversy was not so serious and confrontational that Mr Adesina could not have laughed the insinuations off. But he chose to be testy and unsparing over a matter that called for perhaps a few witty remarks to disarm everybody. By bristling at the audacious report and believing that his language proficiency had been questioned, though there is no evidence of this at all, the presidential spokesman poured spoonfuls of boiling oil on the head of the Punch reporter. Yet, the president himself speaks and possibly writes mystical English, sometimes so imprecise and convoluted that it is hard to understand him. When for instance the president told the governors in the story under reference that he would “have been in trauma or something of that sort”, who could ever understand what on earth he was talking about? Was mere anxiety capable of eliciting trauma? Trauma over what? Is it any wonder then that certain heavy words are flung about so casually in the Villa, words like ‘treason’, for instance?

    Mr Adesina works in an environment at the Villa that has become decidedly illiberal and caustic. Even when nobody questioned him, he had become so schizoid that harmless words that contain no innuendos had, for him, become laced with arsenic. It was clear to the public that the problem with those reports was the president himself, whose widely fluctuating moods and glacial indifference to the politics of inclusiveness often led him to articulate widely fluctuating and misleading tenses and words. Surely Mr Adesina knows this. But having perhaps become immersed in the stentorian language that lathers Aso Villa, instead of making graceful and liberal  statements, Mr Adesina now sees himself more than before in that same offensive military mould that permeates and suffocates the corridors of power in Nigeria today. Even if Mr Ameh had been malicious, it was the job of Mr Adesina as a presidential spokesman to speak peace. He needs to be guarded in his words and moderate in his temper, speaking grace to everyone he interacts with. It will not make him less effective or less firm. He should apologise to Mr Ameh.

  • Kano/Jigawa customs impounds donkey skin, contraband worth N150.4m

    The Kano/Jigawa Area Customs Command has impounded large donkey skin and assorted contraband goods worth over N150, 462, 709.00, along Babura and Daura routes leading to Kano through Katsina State within one month of its operations.

    Giving an update on the seizures made by the command to reporters at his headquarters in Bompai, Kano, yesterday, the Customs Area Comptroller of the Command, Nasiru Ahmed, said his men and officers were able to intercept 678 packages of 25 kilogrammes of unfinished leather of donkey skin with a duty paid value of N70.1 million, which were prepared and labelled to be exported to China.

    Also, over 4, 114 jerry cans of foreign 25-litre vegetable oil were seized, valued at N56.5 million; 490 bags of foreign rice were also intercepted which value was put at N11 million.

    Read Also: Customs impound N501.6m worth of contraband

    Ahmed said his men were able to impound 19 units of assorted smuggled vehicles valued at N7.7 million, adding that 223 compressed blocks and a bag of Indian hemp estimated at N3.3 million, concealed inside a black Jeep heading towards Kano, was also intercepted.

    According to him, “This cannabis sativa which is called Indian hemp is part of the hard drugs our children are taking and it will be easy for them to engage in kidnapping and banditry. It is valued at N3 million; and we have concluded arrangements to hand it over to NDLEA.”

    Other items impounded include 110 cartons of foreign soap valued at N802, 340; 16 bags of 50 kilogrammes foreign sugar worth N328, 560; and 132 cartons of foreign spaghetti put at N570, 145.

    Ahmed said six suspects were arrested in connection with the smuggled goods and have been granted administrative bail.

    The Customs had earlier had a stakeholders meeting with the leadership of Kano marketers, where it urged them to stop patronising smuggled goods, pointing out that such action is detrimental to the economic development of the country.

  • NUJ to partner police in fight against fake journalists

    The Kano State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) is ready to partner with the Nigeria Police in the fight against fake journalists.

    Chairman of the council, Comrade Abbas Ibrahim, expressed the need for the collaboration, when he led other executive members of the union on a courtesy visit to the state Commissioner of Police,  Ahmed Iliyasu, in his office.

    Ibrahim, who expressed disgust at threats being posed by fake journalists ridiculing the profession, noted that journalism is a noble  profession of ethics and decorum.

    Read Also: NUJ President urges FG to tackle insecurity

    He called on the commissioner to enforce the relevant sections of cyber Act 2015 in curtailing hate speeches and fake news that are capable of causing chaos in the society.

    He hailed the commissioner for his track record in fighting crime and criminality in the state.

    In his remarks, Iliyasu noted that journalists are significant forces in making sure society remained in peace.

    He said: “Society will not develop in chaos and disorder,” noting that most conflicts emanate from hate speeches.

    He said the police will do everything possible to support Nigeria Union of Journalists in discharging its responsibilities, stressing that “Communication is integral part of society, it needs to be propagated according to the ethics.”

  • Okene-Lokoja road an eyesore, says Yahaya Bello

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has described the deplorable condition of Okene-Lokoja federal road as an eyesore.

    He therefore called on the federal government to immediately commence the rehabilitation of the road to alleviate the sufferings of commuters.

    The governor, who made the call on Saturday, while on his way to Okene, said his administration has intervened in the maintenance of the road in the past.

    He lamented that such maintenance work cannot stand the test of time due to heavy vehicular traffic on the road.

    Read Also: Yahaya Bello sprays money, causes gridlock in Abuja

    According to him: “Constant damage done to the road by heavy vehicles cannot be sustained through maintenance by the state government, due to dearth of funds.”

    He expressed displeasure over the hardship suffered by commuters on the road.

    “They are citizens who have fulfilled their civic rights by electing their leaders at all levels of government; therefore, they do not deserve to spend days on a journey they would have made in hours,” he said.

    He appealed to the Minister of Works and Housing, to, as a matter of urgency, look into the condition of Lokoja-Okene-Ekiti road, saying that “As the major road that connects the north and the southern parts of the country, the road suffers heavy traffic and so, millions of Nigerians suffer the deplorable condition of the road.”

  • Katsina NYSC wants more Army posting

    The Katsina State NYSC coordinator, Alhaji Ahidjo Yahaya, has called on the Nigerian Army to increase its number of personnel deployed to camps, which he said has been very inadequate compared to the number of corps members mobilised to the state

    He said: “Things were moderately controllable when NYSC was mobilising just about a hundred thousand plus, nowadays the scheme is mobilising between 350,000 and 400,000 corps members every year.”

    Ahidjo, who made the request when he visited the Brigade Commander in charge of the 17 Brigade Nigerian Army, Katsina State, Col. WB Idris, said increased security challenges in the state and other attendant pressure on the camp require that the army beefs up its number of personnel to ensure adequate security.

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

    He further told his host that he was in his office to thank him for the existing wonderful synergy between the Army and the NYSC.

    He also tasked the management of the scheme on the promotion and teaching of national integration, cohesion and nationality to corps members, particularly at orientation camps.

    Also, a corps member in the state has taken up the teaching of entrepreneurial development skills to primary school pupils.

    The corps member, Obinna Valentine Emeredike, serving with Government Science Secondary School, Ajiwa in Batagarawa LGA, told newsmen in Katsina yesterday, that having observed the noticeable failure in the provisions of quality education by successive governments in the state, particularly in the rural communities, he had no choice but to take up the challenge to bridge the existing gap.

    He noted that in most rural communities, many children drop out of schools for lack of funds, while a number of the population have become nuisance and threat to security in most of communities.

    “I have discovered that these drop-outs need basic entrepreneurship development skills to empower them and remove them from the streets so as to establish peace and security for rural dwellers,” he said.

    The basic skills taught by the corps member include: food processing, soap making, barbing skills etc, which he noted could help them engage in meaningful ventures.

  • Delta lawmaker to J/Berger: speed up work on Ujevwu bridge

    A member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representative, Rev. Francis Ejiroghene Waive has charged the management of Julius Berger to expedite action on Ujevwu Flyover Bridge in Udu local government area in Delta State.

    The lawmaker, while inspecting the failed bypass constructed by company at the foot of the flyover bridge in the Ovwian-Otor-Udu road, frowned that poor work done by the Julius Berger, noting that a world class construction can do such poor work.

    Read Also: Rely on construction sector for economic prosperity, Fed Govt told

    While decrying the sufferings his constituents who ply the road are going through daily, he tasked management of Julius Berger to urgently fix the bypass while working on the flyover bridge in order to reduce the suffering road users are passing through daily.

    According to him, “It is very sad that the good intentions of the federal government is being sabotage by the contractor, in Germany and other parts of the world you won’t see something like this.”

  • Abia lawmakers screen commissioners Monday

    The Abia State House of Assembly (ABHA) will on Monday, begin live broadcast of its legislative activities, through its social media handle.

    This is even as it has invited all the 24 commissioner nominees to the Assembly Complex for screening by lawmakers.

    Notable persons on the list were former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly,  Cosmos Ndukwe, former Commissioner of Works and one-time member House of Representatives for Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugwunagbo federal constituency, Hon. Eziuche Ubani, immediate past commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji, Dr, Hagler Okorie, former immediate past Accountant-General of the State, and Gabriel Onyendilefu.

    Read Also: Service chiefs upset Reps, shun meeting with lawmakers

    Other commissioner nominees include  Chimaobi Ebisike, Chief John J. Okoro,  Ugbaja Theophilus Odionyemfe, Onyema Wachuku, Chief Emeka Ikwuagwu, 11.  D. K Uduma, Barr Ekele Nwaohanmuo, Mrs. Ukachi Amala, Prince Ezekwesiri Ananaba, Dr. Solomon Ogunji, Chief Ikpechukwu Onuoha, Prince Dan Okoli, Barr. Suleiman Ukandu, Dr. Aham Uko, Chijioke Paul Madumere, Dr. K. C. K Nwangwa, Chief (Mrs.) Uwaoma Olenwengwa, Dr. Joe Osuji, and Engr. Emma Nwabuko.

    Uzoma Okoro, Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji in a chat with The Nation in Umuahia, the Abia State capital said that the essence of the live transmission of the plenary is to ensure that Abians in the State and elsewhere can be able to follow the activities of the House regardless of their locations.

  • Residents protest alleged SARS shooting in Ughelli

    Following the alleged shooting of a young man, simply identified as Mr. Patrick, by agents of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in Ughelli, Delta state, residents of the area have taken to protest.

    SARS operatives had reportedly pulled the trigger on the victim’s leg for refusing them access to his phone.

    The incident was said to have happened on Thursday morning, around Makolomi Street near Upper Agbarho area of Ughelli.

    The SARS team was further alleged to have left the victim at the scene with blood gushing out of his wounds.

    The Nation gathered it was policemen from the Ughelli station who later rushed the victim to the Ughelli Central Hospital, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.

    According to an eyewitness, “The young man did not do anything. SARS operatives who were patrolling the area on Thursday stopped the victim and demanded that he must open his phone for them but he declined.

    Read Also: Stray bullet kills cleaner as SARS, armed robbers battle in Lagos

    “The operatives started beating him until they collected the phone from him but he refused. He is a very humble boy in the area. When the incident was happening it was the women in the area that were bold enough to challenge them. When others were still flogging him, one of the operatives opened fire on his leg. They jumped into the vehicle and left.

    “It was other police officers from the Ughelli Police Station that came to rush to the man to hospital. He is there at the hospital as we speak.”

    However, the development has caused many people, including women and youths from the area to protest against the activities of SARS operatives and the alleged shooting of the victim.

    It was learnt that the protesters who set fire on tyres on major roads leading to the Ughelli Area Command, called for an end to SARS operatives, positing that several innocent persons have died from their onslaught.

    One of the protesters, who only gave his name as Igho called on police authorities in the state to ensure that justice is served the victim.

    He said, “We no longer move freely because of SARS in Ughelli. Once they see two or three youths walking together, the next thing you will see is SARS operatives searching their phones.

    “We cannot continue like this. The police authorities should investigate the incident and stop their men from maltreating people.”

    When contacted on the incident, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyinka Adeleke, said it was not clear if it was a policeman that shot the victim.

    “Somebody was shot, but we do not know if it was a policeman that shot the person,” the CP stated.