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Tag: Sunday Omoniyi

  • Happy 60th Birthday, Mr. Sunday Omoniyi

    Happy 60th Birthday, Mr. Sunday Omoniyi

    Dear Mr. Omoniyi,

    Warmest congratulations on your 60th birthday! This milestone is not only a celebration of your life but also of the many lives you’ve touched through your words, wisdom, humility and dedication to the craft of journalism. Your work in the media has earned you the respect of colleagues and admirers across generations.

    Read Also: Nigeria not a ‘genocide destination’, says minister

    As you mark this special day, may you be surrounded by the love of family, the admiration of friends, and the gratitude of all who value truth and integrity in public discourse. Sixty years of excellence is no small feat—your legacy continues to illuminate the path for younger journalists.

    Here’s to more years of sound judgment, good health, and fulfilling achievements.

    And here is to the next phase, the next phase in the midst of plenty!

  • Edo Pensioners hail Governor Obaseki

    Edo Pensioners hail Governor Obaseki

    The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Edo State Council, Comrade Pullen Noruwa has commended Governor Godwin Obaseki’s effort on the recently concluded pensioners verification exercise by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), adjudging it as the best the country has had.

    Comrade Noruwa gave this remark on Wednesday when he led the executive members of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City.

    He also expressed satisfaction at the hospitality of the process as participants were seen going home with extra packs of food, soft drinks and other items.

    Noruwa said the verification process was well organised and the welfare of pensioners was given due consideration during the process.

    The Chairman, however, appealed to the state government to review the state of the Edo State Pension Board by creating a Pension Bureau as alternative means to settle pension issues especially in cases of pensioners not able to access their files.

    Meanwhile, Governor Obaseki admonished pensioners to remain confident, adding that his administration is determined to pay all arrears owned to them.

    “I want to assure you that l am on your side. We have to make you comfortable; that is the service we owe you, as a government, having served the state.”

    The governor, who expressed optimism that the rest of the process would be successful, said the only way to nip a future crisis in the bud that may originate from non-payment of pension was to key into the contributory pension fund to grant the pensioners access to their pension fund as soon as they are retired.

    In addition, he noted that action was being taken to ensure the 2014 and 2015 pensioners’ arrears were settled, saying that the Heads of Local Government Administration had been instructed to generate revenue to settle their current obligations instead of relying on a bailout from the federal government.

    He also disclosed that pensioners would adequately be captured to ensure that the government addresses the issues of pension harmonisation.

  • APC chieftain welcomes Buhari back, calls for prayers

    APC chieftain welcomes Buhari back, calls for prayers

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Maiyanga Usman has welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari back to the country from his medical vacation in the United Kingdom.
    Mr Usman, who is also the Coordinator of Buhari Campaign Organization (BCO), also prayed for the quick recovery of President Buhari and wished him long life and prosperity.
    The APC chieftain, in a statement by Director, BCO, Mr Mahmoud Atta, called on Nigerians to remain positive and always pray for their leaders as well as peace and unity of Nigeria.
    The statement reads: “We are grateful to God for what he has done in our party and Nigeria as whole. 
    “We hereby felicitate and welcome President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical vacation in London, wishing him long life and prosperity in years to come.
    “We pray for your quick recovery Mr President and we will continue to pray for you till you get better.
    “We call on Nigerians to remain positive and always pray for leadership of the country to always succeed. The success of a leader is the success of the whole nation.
    “We pledge our unalloyed loyalty to the APC and urged the party to always go for the best while taking critical decisions.”
    Usman also pledged his support for the party. 
    He, however, urged Nigerians to continue to pray for President Buhari’s quick recovery, and for wisdom for the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in handling the affairs of the country.
    “We also call on Nigerians to continue to pray for President Buhari quick recovery, and for wisdom for the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in handling the affairs of the country,” the statement added.
  • Celestial members to pray for Nigeria

    Celestial members to pray for Nigeria

    The Pastor and Spiritual Head of the Celestial Church of Christ, Worldwide, Rev. Emmanuel Mobiyina Oshoffa will on Monday October 17, lead Celestial faithful from across the world to the church’s Holy City at Imeko Abeokuta, Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, to offer prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari, those in the position of authority and the Nation at large.
    The Reverend made this known in Lagos on Thursday through the Pastor’s representative, Ven. Superior Evangelist Abraham Ajose, while speaking with journalists.
    According to Oshoffa, as a result of the current unsavory situation in the country, the spirit of God has directed the church to observe a day marathon prayer for the Nation that will free her from its current woes. He stated that the hourly prayer session will cover 6:00am, 9:00am, 12:00pm, 3:00pm and end at 6:00pm.
    Aside from members of the Celestia church, Oshoffa stated that other people in whatever denomination they belong who truly love the Nation, as well as yearn for peaceful coexistence, unity and progress of the country, should converge at Imeko for the special prayer for the Nation.
    The Cele leader, who, further stated that some, people who see the indivisible power of God in the church are of the view that until the leadership crisis rocking the fold is resolved, the country will not get it right, hence the need to prayer.
    However, he assured the Nation that with the power of prayer, the country will bounce back from its low moment; “…and we shall all be blessed,” he added.

  • FCT: Kwali council chair seeks autonomy 

    Chairman Kwali Area Council of the Federal capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Mr. Joseph Shazin Kwali has called for autonomy of local government Councils across the country.

    Shazin said political interference has become a serious issue of concern, preventing chairmen of the councils from performing their constitutional mandates.

    He stated this on Monday when a Network of Civil Society Groups conferred him with the most active area council chairman in the territory, stressing that such freedom would enable them pass their laws without external interference.

    He noted that although the call for autonomy for local government has been a popular struggle, but according to him, some local governments which are not financially viable find it difficult to improve in lots of people at the grassroots especialy in terms of development.

    On the award, he pledged his commitment to do more saying, “The significance of this award is that some people recognises what I have been doing and this would ginger me to up to do more for my people. Most significantly, it tells me that whatever one is doing is being watched by some people we may not know.”

    However, the council chairman appealed to elected leaders in the nation, to continue to give dividends of democracy to the electorates to effect positive change based on the Change Mantra and the manifestos of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    On his part, the group’s National President Ayanfe Somoye said; “It is pertinent to note that the history of Nigeria cannot be complete without mentioning the courageous and outstanding contributions of Civil Society Groups before and after independence.

    “Civil society groups are stakeholders in nation building, and we remain dogged in our resolve at repositioning and rediscovering genuine commitment, aimed at better the well-being of Nigerian citizens for the purpose of achieving a holistic and everlasting peace and  economic development of our great communities, states and country at large.

    “We are aware that you have been working day and night for the sustenance of peace and unity among the various ethnic and religious groups in Kwali Area Council.”

    He stated further that, the organisation was aware that ‘honourable Shazin is a magnanimous and philanthropic leader to numerous indigent students in Kwali Area Council in particular’.

    He urged other Area Council Chairmen in the territory and beyond to be worthy leaders.

  • Stomach infrastructure program is way of life – Fayose

    Stomach infrastructure program is way of life – Fayose

    Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has described his Stomach Infrastructure Program as a way of life which he is not ready to jettison anytime soon.
    Fayose made this assertion while speaking with journalists after a special session with widows from across the state at Funmilayo Olayinka Women Development Centre, Fajuyi, Ado Ekiti on Tuesday.
    Promising to continue with his best in making the widows happy, the Governor assured them that he’ll ensure their quota in the poverty alleviation scheme whereby N5,000 will be paid to ten thousand beneficiaries is well protected.
    “It’s an ongoing thing, we didn’t just start today, today’s program is meant to alleviate the suffering of the people, to help them in keeping body and soul together,  this is the one for the widows, we have done for people in some other sectors that needs to be supported.
    “It’s a way of life, we are doing it continuously and we’ll not stop.
    The #5,000 monthly stipend we talked about, it’s about our poverty alleviation package of #5,000 per person, though it cannot go round at a time,  we will ensure we maximize the number of beneficiaries from the widow’s category, we’ll make sure they get the stipend, and on time too,” the governor said.
    Participants at the program went home with food items and some cash, they appreciated the government’s kind gesture and  urged the governor to make it a regular exercise.

  • “Edo PDP smarting from political anxiety disorder”

    “Edo PDP smarting from political anxiety disorder”

    • Hails Odubu, Osunbor, Esele, Agbomhere others

    The Edo State Chapter of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) may have been smarting from “political anxiety disorder” since the peaceful, free and fair primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which they had waited to benefit from but were soon disappointed, a statement endorsed by the Executive Director Media and Public Affairs, Governor’s Office said on Wednesday.

    It said, “The PDP thought they would reap from unresolved skirmishes resulting from the delegate elections of the APC but soon discovered that what unites the party is far greater than what divides. This is the disappointment convulsing the PDP and reeling it in political anxiety disorder.”

    The signed by Mr. John Mayaki said: “All our aspirants are the party men who know that it’s hard to oppose your own party’s nominee – in this case – the 2016 Governorship candidate of the APC – especially a well-prepared one at that.

    “I want to appreciate those who worsened their insomnia  – the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu – deserves great credit for his principled political stand for the party. Himself and other party luminaries who contested the primary election and bought into the result of the election and understand that they need to disappoint those who thought they would take their political careers to the dogs.

    “I commend Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor once more – just as Comrade Peter Esele and Chief Blessing Agbomhere. What about Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi and Bar. Kenneth Imansuagbon among others who sent out a strong signal about their genuine resolve to seek inclusion rather than division. They all acted sooner with great principle on a major moment, no one should miss – for the sake of the party”.

    “They have moved on”, Mayaki said. “This is in the spirit of equanimity and sportsmanship – this is remarkable and commendable. I believe their actions will advance the values of the party and the government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who would needlessly alienate anyone – and the man who is now the face of the party in the state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki – who openly courted them and all they represent.

    “These are men who have staked their time, resources and connections for the party that has better ideas for Edo people and the future of Nigerians just as they know how healthy and right for them to look beyond today, into the future – as patriotic and productive citizens.

    “Of course, this is why the PDP is at a fix and its defenders irritate more than the party itself. People who are professional apologists for the atrocious things that brought this country to her knees, not until it was rescued from them. Today, they want to reap where they have not sown and this is the anxiety causing them political disorder – by September 10, a well-aimed kick in PDP’s rear end would have had a lasting rest,” Mayaki said.

  • Edo APC, aspirants need to run scared, Mayaki warns

    Edo APC, aspirants need to run scared, Mayaki warns

    As the Governorship primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state is around the corner, the party “needs to run scared and eschew politics of blackmail, bitterness and internal bickering in other to avoid political bruises into the general elections”, the Executive Director, Media and Public Affairs to Edo State Governor, Mr. John Mayaki has warned

    Mayaki said the most crucial thinking of every progressive is to have an APC successor to the Comrade Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole who is aiming to assail an opposition candidate because, “I have no doubt the party’s primary contests would yield a pretty good sense of who the nominee will end up to be”.

    According to Mayaki, “The Comrade Governor has been very respectful of all the aspirants, while placing the interest of the party first. He is careful not to put his thumb on the scale, but at some point, the verdict is the verdict and that point is almost certainly here.

    “I expect Mr. Governor to formally stump and aggressively campaign for the party’s nominee among the aspirants, starting with a formal endorsement of the nominee’s candidacy immediately after the primary but not after blackmailing him”.

    The Spokesman said that the Governor, who sees an APC successor as critical to his legacy, is impatient to begin campaigning. He said, “Mr. Governor is taking nothing for granted”.

    “I want us to run scared the whole time as a party because we have a general election ahead of us. It is novel that a second-term Governor enjoys the popularity to be a potent force on the campaign trail, and equally have an eye on who succeeds him.”

    Mr. Governor is particularly enthusiastic, Mayaki said, about taking on the opposition party and whoever their presumptive candidate would be.

    Continuing, Mayaki said, “He (the Governor) has indicated he wants to spend a lot of time on the campaign trail, so when it’s time to do that, we’ll all go out guns ablazing.

    “We should begin to actively think through how to bring everyone together in the party; what works for the would-be party nominee, what works for the Governor, and how to utilize his strengths and his appeal.

    “A would-be nominee will earn Governor Oshiomhole’s endorsement and his active participation in the campaigns because he is particularly strong at making the economic argument for the party’s candidate. Besides, his position in the party and popularity made him ideally suited to counter any opposition.

    “No one really rewards politicians fighting each other in a general election”, Mayaki said. “The party needs to run scared. The party is full of attack dogs. Mr. Governor needs the support of everyone, including the aspirants having made us feel better about our economic future.”