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  • Obaseki celebrates with Prof. Ifidon at 80

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has extolled the leadership qualities of Prof. (Chief) Ehimigbai Ifidon, who clocked 80 years recently, describing  him as a legend and a patriotic Nigerian.

    The governor gave the glowing tribute at the 80th birthday anniversary of Prof. Ifidon in Owan West Local Government Area, Edo State.

    Obaseki, who joined other dignitaries to celebrate with Prof. Ifidon, noted, “We thank God for the life of our daddy as he celebrates 80 years in good health. I am from this area, my grandmother is from Uzzeba; one good thing we have with people from around here is longevity. The people live long here.

    “We thank God for Prof. Ifidon’s life and his contributions to his community and society. We are here celebrating an accomplished man, a man who has made his “mark in the academia and his community, state and Nigeria at large.”

    The celebrant, Prof. Ifidon, thanked God for keeping him to the age of 80, noting “Today’s ceremony is symbolic and what is more important is what one has achieved on earth. It is not how long but how well.”

    Read Also: Obaseki swears in three new commissioners

    Prof. Ifidon is uncle to former Inspector General of Police who also served as the immediate past Chairman of Edo State Private Property Protection Committee under Governor Obaseki.

    The Governor also joined the family of Prince Tony Omoaghe to celebrate the solemnisation of holy matrimony between their daughter, Princess Omosede Deborah Omoaghe and Eseosa Osemwegie.

    Other guests at the wedding include former Edo State Deputy Governor, Pius Odubu; former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.  Bright Omokhodion, amongst others.

  • Tinubu, Fashola, Hamzat, others urge Nigerians to unite for stronger nation

    National Leader of APC Bola Tinubu, Minister-Designate, Babatunde Fashola and other politicians have told Nigerians to overcome their divisive tendencies and unite to build a stronger nation.

    Tinubu, Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat and other leaders, including the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudasiru Obasa, made the call on Sunday in their messages to Nigerians.

    The politicians spoke to newsmen after the Eid-el-Kabir prayers they observed at Dodan Barracks in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    Tinubu said that Nigerians should learn to embrace peace, demonstrate love, eschew hate and be tolerant of one another.

    “Differentiation and stagmatisation is not going to help the country at this stage of our life as a nation.

    “What today teaches is all about sacrifices that we all must make, to really have our prayers answered.

    “No one was able to dictate to whom he would be born to, how you would be born and where he would be born. We are proud Nigerians and that is what should be paramount.

    “Let us be proud of our country, dedicate ourselves to the growth and prosperity of our country.

    “Yes, if we say things are hard, it means we will work harder to make it better, not to destroy what our founding fathers have done and put together in the spirit of one nation and one destiny.”

    He advised Nigerians not to forget the part of the first stanza of the old nation’s national anthem which states: “Though tribes and tongues may differ, in brotherhood we must stand”.

    Also speaking, Fashola described the season as the time to come together as a people and make sacrifices for the development of the country.

    Fashola, a former governor of Lagos State said: “this is the time to come together in the spirit of the season.

    “This is the time to sacrifice, to get behind our leaders and to come together among ourselves to build our country and make it what we expect it to be.”

    On his part, Hamzat reiterated the message of the Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Sulaiman Abou Nolla, on ending the security challenges facing the country.

    Read Also; Ganduje, Emir Sanusi preach peace, unity at Sallah

    “The imam had said it clearly: it is enough of all these killings. It is enough of these kidnappings and it is enough of all the bad things.

    “So, if anybody says Allah Akbar and you kill somebody, it’s either you are insane or you don’t understand Islam. Islam is a religion of peace.

    “So, the message to all Lagosians and to Nigerians is that we must live peacefully. All the religions–Christianity, Islam preach peace. We should live in peaceful environment.”

    According to the deputy governor, without peace, no progress and development can be achieved by anybody.

    “So, the fundamental thing is peaceful co-existence among all of us whether Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo or whatever.

    “All of us are Nigerians. We must live in peace and we must unite as a people,” Hamzat added.

    Obasa on his part, called on Nigerians to make sacrifices for the nation to move forward.

    “We must love one another and help each other. I believe if we live in tolerance, definitely, we will be able to build a nation of our own.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Muslim faithful in their hundreds converged at the prayer ground for the religious ritual.

    The prayers, which started at exactly 9:00 a.m., was led by the grand chief imam of Lagos State.

  • #BBNaija 2019: Team Enkay, Tacha, others win N1m cash prize

    Big Brother Naija 2019 Housemates Enkay,  Mike and Elonozam have earned one million Naira and an Oppo phone each as winners of the Oppo runway challenge.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the winners were announced during the eviction show on Sunday night.

    The five housemates had the most creative pieces from the fashion show, staged on Thursday.

    Housemates were asked to create a coordinated Neon Gradient-themed fashion line that reflected the 3D colour gradient of Oppo phones.

    Prior to the announcement, Team Enkay already earned the admiration of fans, some of whom said that the bare-chested Mike draped with a chain like jewellery over his shoulder was the team’s strongest point.

    For the first time in six weeks, there was no eviction on Sunday despite anticipation for the new twist Biggie was expected to introduce.

    Instead, winners for various tasks were announced, alongside performances from Fireboy DML and Victor AD.

    Read Also: BBNaija: Housemates stage epic fashion show

    Meanwhile, Tacha and Elozonam were announced first runner up for the ‘Munch it’ challenge, taking home one million Naira cash prize.

    NAN recalls that on Saturday, ‘Pepper Dem’ gangster couple, Mercy and Ike were announced winner of the challenge with two million Naira cash prize and a dinner date.

    The housemates continue to battle for the Grand prize worth 60 million Naira as the game enters the seventh week.

    NAN

  • 22 die in Bauchi auto crash

    No fewer than 22 persons were on Friday burnt to death in a motor accident involving a J5 bus, which had a head-on collision with an Opel Vectra  truck.

    The incident was said to have occurred along Potiskum – Sade road in Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi state.

    The Nation gathered the  J5 bus, which was conveying goats, was coming from Pokitsum while the Opel Vectra was coming Bauchi before they had a head-on collision, which caused fire outbreak.

    Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Bauchi, Abdulrazar Najumu in a telephone Interview with our correspondent on Sunday,  said: “The incident happened  onFriday around 9.30pm. It was a head-on collision between a J5 bus motor vehicle and the Opel Vectra”

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Kamal Abubakar, said: “Nineteen corpses were recognized by family members through the manifest in which they wrote their details at the motor park.”

    The Police Spokesman said that a mass burial was held for the deceased on Saturday at 9am at Darazo in Darazo Local Government Area of the state.

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Ajimobi preaches tolerance, sacrifice

    Former Oyo Governor Abiola Ajimobi has charged Nigerians to imbibe spirit of tolerance and sacrifice as Muslims worldwide celebrates Eid-el Kabir.

    He gave the charge on Sunday after the eid prayers held at Ansar-ud-deen Islamic Centre located along the Liberty road in Ibadan.

    The former governor, accompanied by some of his aides, had arrived the eid praying ground at exactly 8.45am for the prayer.

    Ajimobi urged Nigerians to live in the spirit of eid-el Kabir, which he said encapsulated tolerance, sacrifice and total submission to the will of Allah.

    He called on the people to cooperate with government at various levels to succeed, saying such was in the good of all and sundry.

    “You can never be a president, governor or minister without the approval of God. So, whoever God has elevated to such position, they must be supported.

    “Our people must support President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Seyi Makinde to succeed. If they succeed, we will make progress.

    Read Also: Eid-el-Kabir: Commuters lament shortage of commercial vehicles in FCT

    “Don’t wish Makinde bad, wish him well so that our state can progress. Though, he is in another party but serving the state. Let’s work with him and let’s support him. Let’s pray for him, let’s work with him so that he can succeed”.” he said.

    He added: ”Let’s continually appreciate God.  The spirit of the season is to believe in God and to be able to sacrifice. Whatever we do is sacrifice. Not just by slaughtering of rams. We must believe in our leaders. We were there.

    “There is always a yesterday for every leader. When you are there you give your best, fear God and not human beings. You can offend men but don’t offend God. The only regret is that I tried to be perfect in an imperfect world.

    “Let’s support the current governor, Governor Seyi Makinde for him to succeed. If he succeeds , we will make progress. Don’t wish him bad. Wish him well so that he can succeed. So that he can take our state up and up. It is another party but it doesn’t matter. He is for the state. Let’s pray for him, let’s work with him so that he can succeed”.

    On the vehicles allegedly taken away by some of his former aides, the former governor said:” When you are in government there are decisions you made.

    “When Adebayo Adelabu was leaving where he was working he was given eight vehicles. When I was leaving where I was working in the corporate world, I was given 14. When I came in, I didn’t meet any vehicle.

    “Those are old vehicles. They should go and find out from the civil servants who took the vehicles to workshops”.

    On debt profile of the state which Governor Makinde said is over N150 billion, Senator Ajimobi said:” We have the best debt profile. The USA is the number one debtor in the world. You must use people’s money to make money. In the Debt Management Office publication, Oyo is not in the first 10″.

    Sheikh Ma’aruf Hamzat, Chief Imam of Ansar-ud-deen Central Mosque, Liberty road in Ibadan,

    admonished Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of Prophet Ibrahim which were piety, steadfastness, perseverance and total submission to the will of Allah.

    The Islamic cleric in his sermon, recounted how Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) survived tribulations from his creator, saying no human being was above such trials from God.

    “Today, we are all beneficiaries of the piety, steadfastness and perseverance of Prophet Ibrahim and his family when they encountered tribulations from their creator,” he said.

    Eid-el-Kabir:
    L-R: ALGON Chairman, Oyo State, Hon Abass Aleshinloye; Hon Saheed Aderounmu; APC Secretary Hon Mojeed Olaoya; Ajimobi, Hon Murisiku Siyanbade; Bashorun Abdullahi Oladeji; Alhaji Lekan Jaji and Hon Taoreed Adeleke at the Ansar u deen praying ground, Liberty Stadium.. on Sunday
    L-R: ALGON Chairman, Oyo State, Hon Abass Aleshinloye; Hon Saheed Aderounmu; APC Secretary Hon Mojeed Olaoya; Ajimobi, Hon Murisiku Siyanbade; Bashorun Abdullahi Oladeji; Alhaji Lekan Jaji and Hon Taoreed Adeleke at the Ansar u deen praying ground, Liberty Stadium.. on Sunday

  • Ganduje releases 200 inmates at Sallah

    As part of his unique way of celebrating Sallah festivity through making special visits to Prisons, Children Remand Homes and VVF Centre in the state, Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has facilitated the release of 200 inmates from 10 prisons as part of prerogative of mercy programme.

    It makes of those released under his administration to 2,717.

    After Eid-Prayer with the Emir of Kano, His Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Governor went round a few places, including the Kano Central Prison as his tradition.

    He stated he was at the prison to facilitate the release of some of the inmates, after advising them to be of good character during and after their jail terms.

    According to him: “Some of you are released because of old ages, some because of illness and some of you are released after paying the fines put on their shoulders by different courts. After we paid on their behalf, they can now go and rejoice with their families during this Sallah festive period.

    “After our Prerogative of Mercy Committee went thoroughly through court records of some of you, we found out it could be good and encouraging if we could pay and pardon some of you. This is what we have been doing since our coming as a government.”

    Read Also: Kano gov dispute: Ganduje, Abba know fate October

    Comptroller of Prison, Kano, Magaji Ahmad Abdullahi, commended the governor for his immense contribution in beautifying and helping all the prisons in the state.

    While acknowledging five cattle and bags of rice sent to Central prison for the Sallah celebration for the inmates, the Comptroller said: “Since when your Committee on Prerogative of Mercy started discharging its responsibilities 2,517 inmates have so far been released. With another round of 200 inmates today, we are talking of 2,717 inmates in all. We are all thankful for that Sir.”

    All the released inmates were given N5,000 as fare to their respective residences.

    At the VVF Hostel  Kwali, Ganduje promised to put in place a modest skills acquisition centre to help victims become self-reliant after being discharged.

    The Hostel, according to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare,  Auwalu Umar Sanda, treated 825 female victims of VVF, from January .

     

  • Photos: Apostolic Faith Orchestra thrills worshippers at concert

    Orchestra of The Apostolic Faith Church West and Central Africa District on Saturday at church’s 2019 camp meeting concert in Igbesa, Ogun State.

  • AKTH accepts 49 international medical attaches

    Forty-nine international undergraduate students from European, Asian and African countries have been accepted for clinical attachment in various fields of medical sciences by the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital(AKTH).

    A statement by the hospital on Sunday indicated majority of the attachees were medical students who came for practical attachment with Professors and Consultants while others were pharmacy and nursing students.

    The  European students were from the United Kingdom, Turkey and Hungry while those from Asian countries were from China, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

    Students from African countries that were accepted for their elective clinical attachment in the teaching hospital were from Egypt, Republic of Benin, Uganda, Ghana and Sudan.

    A breakdown of the data on the clinical attachment contained in the hospital’s  2015/2016 Annual Report quoted in the statement  showed that 24 of the students were from the famous October 6 University, Cairo, Egypt; four from Batter Medical College Saudi Arabia while five students came from two Chinese Universities, the Liaoning Medical University and the Southeast University.

    Two of the students were from the Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom; three from two Universities in Turkey and one student from the University of Debrecen, Hungry.

    Three students were attached to AKTH from SEGI University, Malaysia.

    Read Also: Hospital installs 3500kg incinerator

    Universities in Africa that sent their students for elective clinical attachment to the hospital in addition to the October 6 University Cairo, include the Kampala International University and Cavendish University, Uganda; Afriford University, Cotonou, Republic of Benin and Sudan International University.

    The hospital also accepted 103 Midwifery Students from the Kano State College of Nursing and six from the National Open University of Nigeria for clinical attachment in the reporting period.

    Clinical  attachment  provides opportunity for medical, pharmaceutical and nursing students  to gain  overview of medical processes   by observing a professor or consultant in a relevant specialty at work.

    The attachment also contributes in showing that the attachees meet the standards of competence, care and conduct  expected of doctors, pharmacists and nurses.

  • Gunmen abduct College Provost in Benue

    Gunmen have abducted the Provost College of Education , Katsina Ala, Tsavwua Gborigyo.

    The provost was said to be travelling on Kwande – Vandeikya road when the gunmen waylaid his car and forcefully took him to an unknown location.

    At press time the management of the college said his abductors were yet to open discussion with the family.

    Katsina Ala is located in Benue north east senatorial zone and had been under armed bandits, who kill and rob with reckless abandon in the last three years.

    Read Also: Ortom seeks unity among Benue indigenes in U.S.

    Despite the heavy presence of men and officers of Operation Whir Stroke (Army troops) at road blocks in the yam town, criminal activities have been unabated.

    Kidnapping, armed robbers and killings have become daily occurrences in Katsina Ala town .

    The Nation gathered that most Igbo traders have relocated to other safe areas for business.

    Police spokesperson Kate Anene confirmed the report and said investigations had commenced into the incident.

  • Why I don’t take Holy Communion in other churches – Adeboye

    General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has declared it is an aberration to take Holy Communion during the day, which explains why he doesn’t take Holy Communion in other churches.

    Adeboye spoke at the Holy Communion service at the just- concluded 67th convention of the church at the new auditorium at the Redemption Camp.

    1, 850 pastors were ordained and 109 children born- 56 boys and 53 girls at the convention, which ended with so much excitement.

    Adeboye, who preached on the importance of the Holy Communion in line with the theme of the convention which is And God Said, noted it is an aberration for any church to take the Holy Communion in the day.

    He pointed out that it is the Lord’s Supper which by implication should be taken at night adding “the first time the Passover was taken in the Bible, it was taken in the night on the eve of the Israelites freedom from Egypt. Jesus also took it in the night with his disciples.”

    Read Also: Nigeria’ll come out great, march forward, overcomes its challenges- Adeboye

    He said that whenever he is invited to some churches and they are serving Holy Communion in the day, he would decline taking simply stating: “I am fasting”.

    Adeboye posited that taking of the Holy Communion at night is symbolic.

    He said: “Tears may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning. The night period is symbolic. It means the end of sorrow.

    “It means the end of suffering. It means the end of stagnation. The supper is taken in the night and not in the day.”

    He explained further the Holy Communion is a serious matter and should not be taken unworthily.

    “Many are eating it unworthily that is why they are experiencing so many things they should not experience.

    “You can’t come to the Lord’s Table and bear grudges and harbor hatred in your heart against your brother or sister. You will be doing yourself a great harm,” he said.

    In his sermon to the newly ordained Pastor of the church, the Assistant General Overseer of the church in charge of Administration and Personnel, Pastor Johnson Odesola challenged them never to despair as they go about in task of evangelising the world for Christ.

    He said that preaching the gospel message is task that must be carried out as Christians await the second coming of the Lord.