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“I support Twitter ban” – Says Regina Daniels husband, Ned Nwoko

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“I support Twitter ban” – Says Regina Daniels husband, Ned Nwoko

Billionaire Ned Nwoko has announced his support for the Twitter ban in Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Nwoko, married to popular actress, Regina Daniels, was reported to have made the assertions while speaking at a June 12 lecture organised by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Abuja Council had said, “on the current issue with Twitter in Nigeria, I wholeheartedly support the position of the Federal Government.”

Nwoko maintains that social media needs to be controlled and regulated in countries.

“There should be a measure of control and regulation for social media in countries where they have a presence,” he said.

PM News quoted him as saying, his reason for his support of the Twitter ban in Nigeria, Nwoko stressed that the social media platforms must pay taxes to governments and provide employment for some Nigerians for the over 100 million population that subscribed to their services.

The Buhari-led government had suspended Twitter indefinitely in Nigeria citing the persistent use of the platform for activities capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.

The government also noted that social media platforms must register and obtain licences to operate in Nigeria.

He is not the first person to back the ban of twitter in Nigeria, Former US president Donald Trump praised Nigeria’s government for banning Twitter after it deleted President Muhammadu Buhari’s post for breaching its rules.

“Who are they to dictate good and evil, if they themselves are evil?” Mr Trump said in a statement.

He urged other countries to ban Twitter and Facebook for not allowing “free and open speech”.

Mr Trump was banned from both platforms after the US Capitol riot in January. On 5 June 2021, the Nigerian government officially put an indefinite ban on Twitter restricting it from operating in Nigeria after the social media platform deleted tweets made by the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari warning the south eastern people of Nigeria predominantly occupied by the Igbo people of a potential repeat of the 1967 Biafran Civil War.

The ban was condemned by Amnesty International as well as the British and Canadian missions and the Swedish Embassy in Nigeria.

Information Minister Lai Mohammed says the ban will be lifted when once Twitter submits to local licencing, registration and conditions, the government. “It will be licenced by the broadcasting commission, and must agree not to allow its platform to be used by those who are promoting activities that are inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria.”

Gunmen kill 12, injure several others in Plateau attack

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Gunmen kill 12, injure several others in Plateau attack

Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have killed 12 people in an attack on Kuru community in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, Channels Television reports.

According to eyewitnesses cited in the Monday report, more than five other residents of the community were also injured during the incident.

The gunmen invadrf the community around 9pm on Sunday and fired sporadic gunshots.

The assailants thereafter went to some houses and shot at the occupants, leading to the death of some with others injured.

They said following the attack, the injured victims were taken to a primary healthcare facility within the community for medical attention.

Police authorities in Plateau have confirmed the incident, but they gave a lesser number of those killed by the gunmen.

Ubah Ogaba, Plateau police spokesman, confirmed the incident.

“The Plateau state police command received a report that 10 persons were shot dead in a drinking joint at Sabon Layi, Kuru in Jos South LGA by yet to be identified gunmen who drove in with a Hilux and shot sporadically,” Ogaba said.

“Personnel of the command and the military have been deployed in the affected area.

“The commissioner of police has ordered an immediate investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing and to bring the perpetrators of that dastardly act to book.”

Patrick Mandung, the district head of Kuru, who also confirmed the incident, said the gunmen moved from house to house shooting at people.

Mandung, who described the incident as “unfortunate” called on the government and security agencies to intensify efforts at securing the people.

“This is a very unfortunate situation; that 12 persons were murdered in cold blood for no reason,” he said.

“This is sad and disheartening; I condemn it in totality.

“I call on the government to be intentional and proactive in ensuring the safety of citizens.

“Security agencies must fish out the killers of my people and do all within their constitutional powers to put an end to this cycle of killings.”

Dachung Bagos, lawmaker representing Jos south federal constituency, also condemned the killings.

Bagos, who visited the scene of the attack, decried the spate of killings in his constituency and the state.

“This is very sad and unfortunate; that 12 able-bodied men were killed for no reason, he said.

“This is a failure to secure the lives and property of citizens. This is why we have been clamouring for state police because, with such arrangements, insecurity will drastically reduce.

“I don’t know if the government is waiting for this to happen to public figures before it beefs up security in our communities.”

Earlier in the month, Christopher Dega, senior special assistant on security matters to Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue, was killed in Plateau by gunmen.

Former Minister, Kemi Adeosun resurfaces with a grassroots charity initiative supporting the vulnerable

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Former Minister, Kemi Adeosun resurfaces with a grassroots charity initiative supporting the vulnerable

One factor responsible for the impactful implementation of the Social Investment Programmes of the Buhari administration over the years is the realization that you can’t reach Nigerians if you don’t have a plan for the grassroots, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

This realization then influenced the structure designed for the SIP and is largely responsible for the successes of the programme (which is now regarded as one of the biggest social welfare schemes in the continent).

Prof. Osinbajo stated this Sunday in Lagos at the inauguration of the Dash Me Store, an outfit of the Dash Me Foundation founded by the immediate past Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun.

The store is established to mobilize resources for onward distribution to vulnerable people in the society via grassroot charities.

According to the Vice President, “I am excited to be here for several reasons, but most of all because of Mrs Adeosun’s commitment to the notion that all service to man is actually service to God, and she took that very seriously.”

Prof. Osinbajo noted that “this is why, as Minister, she prioritized the Social Investment Programmes, when for the first time, the country voted almost N500B of our annual budget to welfare programmes which are called the Social Investment Programmes, which involved engaging 500,000 young men and women, and also giving microcredit to about 2 million traders and also a home-grown school feeding programme for 9.5 million children daily in public schools across the country.

“I am therefore really not surprised that she has decided to use some of her enormous talent and influence to establish an organization that raises funds and provides resources for indigenous grassroot charities working with orphaned and vulnerable children, disadvantaged youth, and victims of domestic violence.”

Speaking on the establishment of Nigeria’s first thrift-for-charity online store, Prof. Osinbajo said adding social enterprise to philanthropy with a structure that allows for resource mobilization for charity as well as creates the opportunity for people to earn a living in the process, should be the way to go.

His words: “what I think is happening here is that philanthropy is not like it used to be when all you needed was a good and kind heart and you didn’t need to plan or organize as you would a business for-profit.

“What Kemi and her team have done is to bring the new notion of social enterprise to this project. Philanthropy run with the discipline, attention to detail, and financial prudence of a successful business, and she can do all of that, and I am sure her team is imbibing that, given her background in finance in both private and public sector.”

Continuing, he said “the idea of this thrift-for-charity store is brilliant and the first of its kind in Nigeria. It is a unique model which does not just give to the needy in the conventional way of merely handing out donations.

“It is an innovative and structured way of aggregating donations to earn income to transform the lives of the vulnerable and needy while creating jobs in the process.

“I must say that your focus on funding grassroots charities is so crucial and I know that, having campaigned with you on behalf of our party, the APC all around Ogun and in every part of Nigeria, it is clear that you can’t reach Nigeria and Nigerians if you don’t have a plan for the grassroots.”

Earlier in her remarks, Mrs Adesoun said the idea of the store is to aggregate donations of different kinds for charitable causes, noting that Nigerians from different fields of endeavour and from across the country would be enabled via the online store to contribute to supporting the needy in the society.

She said the organization would work closely with charitable organisations in the grassroots to ensure that funds and other materials donated via the Dash Me Store get to actual beneficiaries.

Garba Shehu says Twitter is an agent of division in Nigeria

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Garba Shehu says Twitter is an agent of division in Nigeria

Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu has accused social media platform, Twitter of promoting division in Nigeria.

Speaking when he featured on Good Morning Nigeria, a programme on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), on Monday, Shehu justified the suspension of Twitter, saying the platform was being used to attack national cohesion and progress.

“I think in the last few days, we are seeing a firmer determination by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to tackle artificial divisions that are standing in the way of national cohesion and progress of the country,” he said.

“As I said, Twitter is one of them, but from the pronouncement of the president, in the interview he did on Arise TV and the one on NTA here, the speech he gave in Lagos and the broadcast he gave, I think they are suggestive of the fact that the growing heat in the country must not continue.”

Recall that the federal government suspended Twitter, on June 4, alleging that platform was being used for activities that “undermine Nigeria’s corporate existence”.

Just In: Bauchi Governor, Bala Mohammed appoints Aminu Gamawa Chief of Staff

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Just In: Bauchi Governor, Bala Mohammed appoints Aminu Gamawa Chief of Staff

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has appointed Dr. Aminu Gamawa as his new Chief of Staff. Gamawa was the immediate past Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning.

Governor Mohammed last Wednesday dissolved his cabinet including the Secretary to the State Government, Sabi’u Baba; his Chief of Staff, Dr. Ladan Salihu; 21 Commissioners, and his Special Advisers.

He, however, retained his Special Advisers on Security, National and State Assembly Liaison, Social Investment, and Media and Publicity.

The appointment of Gamawa as Chief of Staff was contained in a media statement signed and made available to journalists in Bauchi early Monday morning by the Special Adviser of Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado.

The appointment takes immediate effect.

According to Gidado, Gamawa holds a Master’s and Doctorate Degree in Law from Harvard Law School at Harvard University, USA.

“He hails from Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State. He is a legal practitioner, teacher, policy expert and public servant. He has worked across a wide range of organisations, government agencies, educational institutions and non-profitable entities.

“In 2019, Dr. Gamawa was appointed as Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Bauchi State,” he said.

The media aide added that the new Chief of Staff was also the State Focal Person for World Bank Projects, Chairman of Bauchi State COVID-19 Economic Recovery Committee 2020, Vice Chairman of Bauchi State World Bank States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS), Regional Representative of Technical Working Group on Subnational Ease of Doing Business, among other responsibilities.

The statement further said Gamawa, while at Harvard, was the Coordinator of Harvard Law School Graduate Forum (2011-2014) and a teaching fellow.

Gidado said that the former Commissioner presented many academic and professional papers at local and international conferences.

He stated, “Dr. Gamawa was in the year 2020 awarded with the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award.

“Until his appointment, he was the immediate past Hon. Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Bauchi State.”

‘No Soldiers were killed in Ohafia’ – Nigerian Army says

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‘No Soldiers were killed in Ohafia’ – Nigerian Army says

The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports that troops were on revenge mission in some communities in Abia following the alleged killing of six soldiers in a clash with ESN/IPOB terrorists.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Mohammed Yerima, in a statement on Monday, said contrary to reports, no soldier was killed in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Yerima also said the denied the allegation that residents of Elu, Amangwu, and Amaekpu in Ohafia LGA had embarked on mass exodus out of fear.

He described the allegation as baseless fabrication aimed at tarnishing the good image of the Nigerian army as well as creating distrust between the public and security agents in the state.

Mr Yerima explained that troops only carried out routine clearance operations in the area in line with the rules of engagement and respect for the fundamental human rights of citizens.

The director explained that the operation was aimed at restoring socio-economic activities which had been disrupted by criminal activities of IPOB/ESN elements who had attacked security agents and destroyed government infrastructure.

According to him, troops, in conjunction with personnel of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies leveraging on timely and accurate intelligence provided by patriotic citizens, are working tirelessly to restore normalcy to troubled spots and to rid the state of criminal elements.

“Consequently, we wish to reassure the good people of Abia of the safety of their lives and property.

“We also urge them to continue to report suspicious movements and activities of strange individuals or groups in their vicinity to the nearest security agency for prompt action,” he said.

Mental Health Activist, Nigeria’s Hauwa Ojeifo to address the United Nations

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Mental Health Activist, Nigeria’s Hauwa Ojeifo to address the United Nations

Nigerian Mental Health Activist and inaugural Marca Bistro Fellow, Hauwa Ojeifo, is set to give the opening address at the 14th United Nations Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Founded to help actualize the implementation of the articles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons Living with Disabilities (UN CRPD) in party-countries, the UN COSP is an annual conference adopted in 2008 by the UN’s General Assembly in fulfillment of Article 40 of the UNCRPD which provides for the establishment of a space where state-parties can discuss the implementation of the UNCRPD.

The fourteenth annual conference, holding from the 15th — 17th June 2021, will highlight an overarching theme titled Building Back Better which is set to examine the socio-economic impact of COVID19 on persons with disabilities.

Ojeifo, who is the Founder and Executive Director of She Writes Woman Mental Health Initiative, will set the tone of the conference by giving the opening statement. As the first person living with a mental health condition to appear before the National Assembly in that capacity, Ojeifo’s work at She Writes Woman has helped highlight the realities of persons living with mental health conditions in Nigeria while empowering them to co-create solutions that address these realities. Through She Writes Woman, Ojeifo has helped train sixty persons living with mental health conditions on strategic advocacy for pursuing rights-based approaches on mental health legislation. In this vein, her work in Nigeria helps highlight the aims and objectives of the COSP.

With the sub-themes of the conference exploring the rights of persons with disabilities and in-clusivity for persons with disabilities, Ojeifo will address all one hundred and sixty-three (163) signatories to the CRPD and the UN General Assembly, setting the tone for the three-day event. Ojeifo will join big wigs like the Secretary-General of the UN, Antonio Gutteres who opens the Conference with a statement of his own every year.

The event will be streamed live on YouTube from the 15th to the 17th of June for anyone interested in catching the discussions.

Family of 8, others kidnapped in Kaduna

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Family of 8, others kidnapped in Kaduna

Bandits Kidnap Family Of Eight, Four Others In Zaria
Channels Television
Updated June 13, 2021

Kidnappers have abducted a family of eight and four others in the Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The bandits also attacked other houses within the area and kidnapped four other residents.

The Kaduna State police command through its spokesman, Mohammed Jalige confirmed the incident on Monday.

He disclosed that four other kidnap victims were rescued by police operatives who arrived in the area during the raid and engaged the bandits in a gun battle.

The police spokesman also said security operatives have begun an aggressive patrol in the general area and along the Kaduna-Zaria highway with a view to arresting the bandits and rescuing those kidnapped.

The latest attack comes barely 48 hours after bandits attacked Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic also in Zaria, kidnapping eight students and two lecturers, as well as shooting another student to death.

‘We are not happy people are dying’ – Army begs Boko Haram, ISWAP to surrender

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‘We are not happy people are dying’ – Army begs Boko Haram, ISWAP to surrender

The Nigerian Army has begged Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists to seek forgiveness and reconciliation, saying soldiers and the public are not happy people are dying.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, Nigerian Army, Brig.-Gen. A.A. Eyitayo, made the call at a feast organised for journalists by the army on Sunday in Maiduguri.

Mr Eyitayo, who is also the commander of Sector 1, Operation Hadin Kai, noted that the recent military onslaught against the insurgents dealt a decisive blow on the terrorists leaving their remnants in disarray.

He, however, pointed out that the Nigerian military was not happy about the bloody insurgency.

This, he said, would avail them (insurgents) the opportunity to enjoy rehabilitation and acquire skills to enable them to live a useful life in society.

The GOC lauded the contributions of the media in the counter-insurgency campaign and urged it to enlighten the insurgents to see the light and repent from their wasteful ventures.

“We are not here for bloodletting. Nobody is happy that people are dying.

“Some of them (insurgents) are listening to the media, so it is good for us to appeal to them through the media to shun violence, turn up to seek forgiveness and reconciliation,” Mr Eyitayo explained.

According to him, the feast with journalists was to show appreciation of the media reportage of military operations in the state.

“For the past three months since I assumed duty in Maiduguri in this capacity, there has never been any bad report.

“This is to appreciate the media for positive reportage,” he said.

Mohammed Ibrahim, Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Borno, commended the GOC for carrying the media along and assured him of more support and cooperation.

Mr Mohammed also lauded the military and other security agencies involved in the fight against insurgency for their sacrifices. He urged the military not to relent, adding that North-East residents were behind them.

(NAN)

2023: Mikel Obi promises support for Yahaya Bello

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2023: Mikel Obi promises support for Yahaya Bello

Former captain of the Super Eagles team, Mikel Obi has pledged his support for any future political ambition of Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

He declared his support while on courtesy visit to the governor in Abuja on Sunday.

Obi said that it was time for the Youths to come out and take leadership positions across all boards for the betterment of Nigeria.

The governor, Bello has recently expressed interest in contesting for the seat of presidency in 2023 after he is done with his second term as Kogi governor.

In May, the governor had said “all Nigerians” were asking him to contest for the top job.

During the visit, Mikel praised Bello for “all the good things I have heard and read about him”.

He said the governor is the “person to lead the youths”, charging him to help the young generation pull Nigeria towards progress.

“It is an honour for me to finally meet his Excellency personally after all the good things I have heard and read about him from not just the people of Kogi State but from Nigerians,” the former Super Eagles star said.

“My main aim is to come here to show my appreciation and to thank him for all the things he has been doing for the people and also to support him in whatever future political positions he wants to go into.

“I would like to be there to support him, to be there by his side through this journey for him to achieve whatever he wants, which is for the betterment of Nigeria.

“What better person to lead the youths than him, because he has been doing all these good works and that is why I am here to see whatever way I can come in.

“To get the youths together to know and see how we can make things better for our country and how we can align to achieve all that.”

Reacting to the remarkk of Obi, Bello thanked his for the visit and his pledge to support the course for youth leadership.

He reiterated that it was time for the youths to take the opportunity that had presented itself.

He thanked the ace footballer for lauding his efforts in the state, noting that the security and welfare of his people and Nigerians remained his priority.

Mikel, who retired from national team duty in 2019, represented Nigeria for 15 years and made 89 senior appearances.

He played for Nigeria in two World Cups and was pivotal in the country’s triumph at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 34-year-old is currently signed with Stoke City on a one-year deal that is expected to be extended before it runs out in July.

Amnesty: Ex-militants threaten to sue FG over owed benefits

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Amnesty: Ex-militants threaten to sue FG over owed benefits

Some ex-militants in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo state have threatened to sue the federal government over unpaid benefits.

They alleged that their monthly allowances had not been paid for two years by the Presidential Committee on Amnesty Programme and threatened court action if the benefits were not paid within 30 days.

The former militants made the threat in a letter signed by their leader, Mr Deji Ehinmowo, and addressed to the Federal and Ondo State Governments.

They said said that the camp was invited to the Presidential Amnesty Programme by a letter dated July 16. 2009.

“Building on the initial invitation to the Presidential Amnesty Programme, you will recall that the 204 persons, whose names are annexed, were under the Mr Deji Ehinmowo’s wing in 2017 Presidential Programme conducted in Ondo State by the Federal Government.

“The exercise was jointly conducted with the Ondo State through the Amnesty Committee headed by the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, in collaboration with the Navy with other security agencies in attendance.

“As you are aware, the process of the Presidential Amnesty is a reflection in Nigeria of the United Nation’s prescribed process of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration adopted by the Nigerian Government.

“However, we are saddened and disturbed by the fact that the demobilisation and reintegration phase of the programme which entails the repurchase of arms, vocational training, educational pursuits and monthly benefits for the disarmed youths have been abandoned after two years when government engaged us.”

The former militants said they had banked on the promise of the government and had kept to all the terms of the Amnesty initiative.

“We strongly demand the full payment of our monthly benefits and arrears of same as well as the completion of other phases of the Programme.”

They said they had made several appeals in the past which had failed to yield the desired results.

The ex-militants urged the government to come to their assistance and save their families from untold hardship since 2017 when they dropped their arms and ammunition as directed by government.

The group said it would seek a court order compelling all the parties to comply with other stages of the Amnesty programme and payment of their monthly benefits if government failed to pay their benefits within 30 days of their letter.

Gunmen attack police station, kill officer in Akwa Ibom

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Gunmen attack police station, kill officer in Akwa Ibom

Gunmen on Sunday attacked a police station in the Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and shot dead a mobile police officer.

It was gathered that the officer was killed in the early hours of Sunday during a gun battle with the hoodlums which lasted several minutes.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Odiko Macdon, who confirmed the incident, said the Commissioner of Police, Andrew Amiengheme, has ordered men of the Operation Restore Peace to go after the fleeing members of the gang.

He said, “We got report of the incident in Ini LGA this morning. We arrested one of the criminals while others escaped with bullets wounds. We recovered three motorcycles and charms. But unfortunately, one of our men who participated in the operation was hit. He was taken to the hospital at Ikot Ekpene, but unfortunately, he gave up the ghost.

“As we speak, the Commissioner of Police Andrew Amiengheme, has ordered men of the Operation Restore Peace to arrest those who escaped with bullets wounds.”

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