The Nation Newspaper

Tag: The Nation newspaper

  • Kenny Martins and divine call

    Many may not know it, but popular businessman, socialite and politician, Chief Kenny Martins, is not new to the ministry, the work of God. He was actually neck deep in the gospel ministry back in the 60s as a boy assisting his father, who was one of the earliest gospel ministers in Nigeria.

    Chief Martins, who appears to be toeing his father’s footsteps, is considering going  into ministerial work for the Lord. An inside source, who is close to the popular businessman, said it is long overdue, that it was actually what he set his mind to do many years back and which he has been doing from the side lines by contributing to the growth of the body of Christ.

    Our source said further that Chief Martins grew up in a proper Christian home with both parents being top ministers of God, parents who took up the mantle of propagating the gospel and making great impacts in the growth of Christianity in Nigeria. Our source told us that if the popular businessman decides to set up the big church ministry today, he won’t be surprised.

  • Ooni of Ife goes into seclusion as Olojo festival commences

    Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II,is in festival mood as the Olojo festival has taken off. In Ife, it is said that the Ooni has gone to commune with the Almighty. And he does this with fasting and prayer.

    The Ooni of Ife, this time around, has unlimited requests as his prayer points swelled. The Ife monarch wants a better Nigeria; he has, therefore decided to pray for the unity and peaceful governance of the country, among other numerous prayer requests he has taken to Providence.

  • NSCDC nab 20-year old woman for hawking N.3m naira notes

    A 25-year old woman, Oluchi Faith Imo was on Friday, arrested by the Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for hawking N398, 500.00 naira notes in Awka, Anambra state.

    The suspect was arrested in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with various denominations of naira around Dike Motor Park, in the state capital.

    Addressing newsmen in Awka, NSCDC Commandant, Anambra State Command, Mr David Bille, said the arrest was aimed at forestalling illicit sales of the country’s currency notes.

    He said, “A female suspect Oluchi Faith Imo, aged 20years was arrested by my personnel with a total sum of N398, 500.00 consisting of various denominations which she displayed waiting for customers.

    “The clampdown on the naira vendors and sellers is hinged on the CBN’s Act, Sections 20 and 21 that make it a punishable offense for any individual or group of people to hawk, sale or otherwise trade in the naira notes, coins or any note issued by the CBN.

    READ ALSO: NSCDC arrests kidnap kingpin in Borno

    “We have commenced full investigations into the matter to ascertain the source of the naira notes and once we are through, the suspect will be charged to court.”

    Bille assured that NSCDC and the CBN would continue the clampdown on the perpetrators which he said, was punishable under the CBN Act 2007 and carries not less than six months jail term or fine of not less than N50, 000 or both.

    ”Acts of spraying the naira notes at occasions, soiling and writing on the naira, squeezing the naira, as well as hawking and selling of the country’s currency notes, are abuses of the naira and are punishable by law,” he added.

    The NSCDC boss appealed to the general public to desist from acts of abuse of the naira, stressing that the currency was one of the symbols of Nigeria’s identity.

  • ‘My husband calls me barren” – Woman tells court

    A 40-year-old businesswoman, Temidayo Amosa, on Friday dragged husband, Omotosho, before an Igando Customary Court, for allegedly calling her a barren woman.

    Amosa told the court that she has been married to Omotosho,70, for nine years.

    ”In January 2017, my husband sent me a text, calling me barren. He ordered me to leave his house. He said he was no longer interested in me,” she alleged.

    “I pleaded with him to divorce me so that I can move on with my life, because age is no longer on my side, but he refused,” she said.

    READ ALSO: ‘My husband slapped me for asking him to wash plates’

    Amosa prayed the court to dissolve the marriage.

    Responding, Omotosho prayed the court to grant the petitioner’s prayer.

    “I do not love her anymore, please grant her request. I have six children and some of my children are abroad. I don’t even need a child from her,” the respondent said.

    After listening to the both parties, President of the Court, Mr Adeniyi Koledoye, adjourned the case until Oct. 24 for judgment.

    (NAN)

  • Video: Peter Okoye denies promising Tacha N60m

    By Samuel Oamen

     

    Superstar musician Peter Okoye has denied promising to give Tacha, who was disqualified on Friday from #BBNaija whether or not she wins the reality show.

    Okoye was seen in a live video promising to give the controversial the prize money whether she won or not.

    However, Okoye made another live video on Friday to debunk the promise.

    Read Also: BBNaija: Will Peter Okoye fulfill his promise to Tacha?

    He said he never promised to give Tacha any money.

    According to him: “I said I will teach her how to make N60million, I never said I will give her N60million.”

    Peter went ahead to pledge to give N10million to anyone who can provide a video evidence or a tweet where he promised Tacha N60million.

    WATCH VIDEO BELOW

     

  • Strike at expense of patients’ interest unethical, Obasanjo tells Doctors

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday appealed to the medical practitioners in the country to always put the lives and health of their patients first before going on strikes.

    Obasanjo declared that the culture of doctors proceeding on strike and abandoning patients to their fate is even more unethical, advising them to fashion out another way to show their displeasure.

    The elder statesman made this known during the opening ceremony of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMD), at the Doctor’s House, Lukosi, Abeokuta.

    The ex-Head of States, who was the Father of the Day at the occasion, passionately appealed to physicians to make patients’ conditions a matter of priority while demanding better welfare from their employer(s).

    He said: “A major issue that I always want to talk about whenever I am in your midst, which I told you when you came visiting is the issue of going on strike anytime you want to show your displeasure particularly, government Doctors.

    “My position is that since the care for your patient is a major ethical issue of your profession, abandoning them to go on strike is even more unethical. You should fashion another way to show your displeasure and not doing so at the expense of your patients.”

    Commenting on the conference themed: “The Importance of Supply Chain Management in Health Care System Straightening,” Obasanjo called for the resuscitation of the old central medical store system in order to boost availability of drugs in the country.

    “We used to have something like that in the past during the Western region. I don’t know whether we still have it. If we don’t, made this is time to return it or have something near it, which will bring efficiency and affordability to our drug chain system,” he said.

    Also, the Secretary to the State Governor (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi who represented the governor, Dapo Abiodun aligned with the ex-President and called for caution over tendency to resort to strike.

    Read Also: Obasanjo’s son to court: I haven’t served my wife divorce papers

    “I want you to look into what Baba Obasanjo has said on this issue of strike. You can get alternative for Taxi drivers if they decide to go on strike, yes, we have Okada drivers, but, this is not so for you. God made you so special to save lives and you should live up to the expectation. We can device other ways to save these lives it is very important,” Talabi said.

    The Ogun State chairman of NAGGMD, Dr. Olufemi Odusote, in his welcome address hinted that the theme for the 2019 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, “The Importance of Supply Chain Management in Health Care System Straightening” became imperative in view of the health challenges, which included manpower, brain drain, and general welfare of members and security challenges have made doctors vulnerable.

    “With the calibre of resource persons, including our highly revered Erudite Professor Ogunlesi as our guest lecturer, we are of the view that we are going to get solutions to these challenges confronting us as a body in the country.”

  • Gunmen kill policeman, seven vigilantes in Niger

    A policeman and seven members of the vigilante group have been killed by gunmen in Kusherki Community in Rafi local government area of Niger state.

    The gunmen were said to have laid ambush for the security operatives rushing to the village after receiving distress calls that it had been invaded by gunmen.

    The gunmen and security agencies exchanged gunfire that lasted for three hours which resulted to the death of the policeman.

    Policemen were said to have received a distress call that some gunmen stormed Lamba Waya village at Pandogari to rustle cows, prompting the deployment of a combined team of the Police Civil Defence and Vigilante group to track down the rustlers.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct NRC MD’s wife

    Witnesses said that the gunmen escaped with the rustled cattle, leaving seven vigilantes and one policeman dead.

    The Niger state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Muhammad Abubakar confirmed the incident.

    He said that some of the cattle rustlers were also badly injured and a combined team of the Police Civil Defence and Vigilante group has been drafted to the area with a view to apprehending the culprits.

    DSP Muhammad Dan Inna alleged that some of the cattle rustlers were killed while others sustained various degrees of injuries as a result of gunfire.

    “Our men are following the blood trails and combing the areas as we speak, ” he explained.

  • COZA: Fatoyinbo not ready to be helped, says ex-spiritual father

    Founder of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) Abuja, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo, is not ready to be helped to overcome his sexual weaknesses, his former spiritual father, Pastor Emmanuel Oset has declared.

    Oset, presiding pastor of Champions’ Church Ilorin, was reacting to the allegation of rape against Fatoyinbo by celebrity photographer, Busola Dakolo.

    Several women have also alleged the preacher had illicit sexual relations with them.

    The first allegation broke in 2013 when Ese Walters gave graphic details of how he had a long affair with the preacher, culminating in sexual relations while in the United Kingdom.

    Oset, to whom Fatoyinbo submitted until 2014, described his estranged spiritual soul as a man who cannot be helped by man or God.

    He spoke on Thursday in an interview on Arise TV.

    Read Also; Rape saga: Jealous pastors behind Fatoyinbo’s ordeal — COZA

    According to him:“Our Lord Jesus Christ knew that Judas had become a thief but it wasn’t Jesus who said so, it was John who said so. Not because Jesus was weak but because Jesus was hoping that this man would change,” he said.

    “You always find in the scripture, the purposes of God are redemptive. Before God comes with judgement in any case, you will see that he would have tried to get through to the person. It is when His love has been rebuffed and rebuffed again that He comes with judgement. That is God’s procedure.

    “God does not rule by force, he rules by love.

    “People have spoken. People spoke in 2013 but you can only help somebody who wants to be helped.

    “If somebody doesn’t want to be helped, even God will not be able to help him. His hands will be tight in that regard.”

    Recalling his efforts to bring Fatoyinbo to order in 2013 when Walters allegations became public knowledge, Oset said: “When in August 2013, news broke out online concerning him and his ministry, as somebody he was close to as an elder I thought it was my responsibility to get across to him.

    “I was preparing to go to the United States for ministry and after some efforts because it wasn’t easy to get through to him, his pastor in Ilorin here, I told him, get through to your boss and I want to share a thing or two with him.

    ‘’Eventually he succeeded, and he called me from Abuja. And I told him this news is all over the place and I want to hear from you and I want to also give you some counsel if need be.

    ‘’And he said he would get in touch. I said okay, I’m on my way to the US while I’m there if I want to get through to you how do I do it?

    “I thought he would just say sir you can get through to me using my email. Then he said his fear that time was that he was being bugged.

    “When I came back from the United States, I still tried to get across to him because my desire is always to please God. I am not saying this to impress anybody.

    “I wasn’t part of those already making comments on the issue. I just wanted to see how I could be useful in terms of helping him, but he didn’t show up.

    “I waited from August 2013 to April 2014. When he didn’t show up and he was coming to town, having meetings I was seeing his billboards in town, well, my wife and I said to ourselves we’ve done our bit.

    ‘’It was then I wrote him a letter and I said consider that we no longer have anything to do with you and your ministry. I didn’t post it, it was hand delivered by his pastor.”

  • No timeline to begin implementation of minimum wage – Labour

    The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) has said there is no timeline on when the Federal Government would begin the full implementation of minimum wage to workers on all levels.

    The General Secretary, JNPSNC Alade Lawal, said this in an interview in Abuja.

    Lawal said that he was hopeful that both the federal government and the organised labour would arrive at a decision soon.

    He said that negotiation with the government team may resume in a couple of days.

    Lawal said: “It is still as it was. On the part of labour we are talking to our people, we are briefing them. You can call it mobilisation if you like. With the way they are working behind the scene we may be back to the negotiation table in a couple of days.

    READ ALSO: TUC to FG: conclude discussion on new minimum wage

    “This is not something that somebody can put a timeline. It is negotiation and when you negotiate you have fair deal from your side that you believe should be the ruling wage. They have their positions base on the numbers in the books.

    “So when you have two sides of a coin and you are meeting you can’t put a timeline but I want to believe that if you follow the trends of discussions, follow the trends of development, follow the trend of sincerity on the part of government, you will agree with me that we are moving very close to either arriving t something or let us see how it goes.”

    He dismissed the payment of minimum wage to workers on levels 1-6, stressing that as far as labour was concerned, the federal government had not paid minimum wage.

    “As far as we are concerned they have not paid anything. It has no effect,” he added.

  • FG approves N600bn facility for power sector

    The Federal Government has approved a N600billion assurance facility for the power sector until June, 2020.

    The amount, which is contained in the 2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP), is as a result of the failure of the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP).

    The document added that additionally, an accountability framework has been finalised by the federal government which will guide the drawdown of a $2billion World Bank Facility to support the implementation of the PSRP over the Medium Term.

    The document said the federal government may consider a Tariff review over the medium term, subject to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) review of the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO).

    According to the MTEF/FSP: “A N600billion payment Assurance Facility extension has been approved by the Federal Executive Council until June next year.

    “In addition, an accountability framework has been finalized with conditions precedents which will guide the drawdown on the $2billion World Bank Facility (of which $1billion is a performance-based loan) to support the implementation of the FGN PSRP will be finalized over the medium term.

    “Tariff review shall also be considered over the medium term, subject to NERC’s review of the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO).”

    The document also revealed that the federal government maintains a N20billion balance in the Ecological Fund for emergency response in the event of an unforeseen natural disaster in any part of the country.

    “Aside flooding, there is no imminent natural disaster warning for Nigeria from any of the relevant agencies monitoring such. Nevertheless, the FGN maintains a N20billion minimum balance in the ecological funds account for immediate emergency response in the event of a natural disaster in any part of the country,” the MTEF said.

    The MTEF/FSP document noted that the federal government as a result of the failure of revenue generating agencies to meet non-oil revenue projection, is working on collection efficiency of major revenue generating agencies to be improved upon.

    READ ALSO: Federal Government eyes 45million tax net

    The federal government, the document said is carrying out ongoing efforts to improve Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) through a Performance Management Framework whole reviewing their operational efficiencies and cost-to-income ratios.

    “The FIRS is working to increase the tax payers database from the current 20million to 45million before the end of 2019.

    “In addition efforts are ongoing to improve GOEs revenue performance by full implementation of a Performance Management Framework for the GOEs whilst reviewing their operational efficiencies and cost-to-income ratios and generally ensuring they operate in more fiscally responsible manner,” the document said.

    On tackling insurgency in 2020, the federal government said it shall deploy its strategy of dialogue and military force in the event of upsurge in major security breaches.

    According to the MTEF/FSP document: “The mitigation action largely remains the same from previous year, a twin track approach of dialogue and military force shall be deployed in the event of an upsurge in major security breaches.”