Efiok Cobham, A former Deputy Governor of Cross River has accused Governor Ben Ayade of deploying state funds in coercing his appointees to join him in the All Progressive Congress (APC)
Cobham who is the Chairman of the Cross River State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party caretaker committee alleged that Ayade was tampering with the 19 billion naira the state got from the Federal Government as refunds for repairing federal roads to fund his defection to the APC.
Efiok made the accusations, yesterday, at a press briefing with the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) in Calabar, the Cross River state capital, held at the instance of the Cross River PDP Caretaker Committee.
“Ayade’s defection to APC is to cost Cross River 2 billion naira. This is what Ayade needs to buy defectors from even his cabinet to follow him to APC.
“He can afford to spend 2 billion to fund his defection to APC, because he has ready cash from the N19b recently paid to the state as refund for federal road maintenance undertaken by former governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke,” Efiok said.
He further asked Ayade to make public the receipt of the 19 billion and ensure that the money is used in a way and manner that is beneficial to Cross Riverians.
On the invasion of the party secretariat, the PDP accused the APC of carting away vital documents and register of party members, a development it described, as “illegal, immature politics, unnecessary provocation.”
Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade last week Thursday, dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He formally declared for the ruling party at the Cross River State Executive Council Chamber, Governor’s Office in Calabar after a two-hour meeting with seven APC governors led by the party’s interim chairman and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni.
Civil servants employed by the Cross River State Government in 2017 and 2018 are staging a protest in Calabar, the Cross River state capital over unpaid salaries.
The protesters who have been gathering every day since Tuesday, 25th May 2021 in front of the Governor’s office say they will continue their protest until someone addresses them.
Speaking, one of the protesters who identified himself as David and the ‘leader’ of the protesters, said that the protest is a call on the Governor to do what is right.
“We are here to demonstrate peacefully against the injustice meted to us. For three years now and counting, we have not received a dime but we go to work every day.
” We have mothers and fathers here who can no longer cater for their families. we are pleading with the Governor. He addressed us on the 30th of September promising to pay us without arrears. His Excellency gave us his words. He told us that his mandate is to put food on the table and we accepted it. From that time until now nothing has been done.” He explained.
David said their situation has been made worse with the kidnap of the NLC Chairman, as the State Head of Service and all those with the powers to act on their matter have refused to give them audience nor address them.
He insisted that their employment followed due process, as “everybody here has their appointment letter. We passed through the process of civil service employment”. He said.
The protesters carried placards with different inscription including “let the wind of change bring a smile to us”, ” Ayade you ordered for our verification, pay us”, “We are living in hunger, Ayade do something” amongst others.
President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Major General Farouk Yahaya as Chief of Army Staff.
Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, Acting Director, Defence Information, announced this in a statement on Thursday.
Yahaya was the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and the incumbent Theatre Commander of the Counter terrorism Counter Insurgency military outfit code named Operation HADIN KAI, the statement.
The appointment follows the demise of the late Nigeria’s army chief, Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, killed in a plane crash in the north-western state of Kaduna.
The incident happened as the plane was trying to land in bad weather, the military said. Ten other officers, including the plane’s crew also died.
President Muhammadu Buhari said he was “deeply saddened” by the crash.
Gen Attahiru, 54, only took up his post in January in an overhaul of the military’s top brass.
It was part of the government’s plan to boost the military’s efficiency in fighting a more than decade-long jihadist insurgency.
The Nigerian Air Force said the incident happened as the plane was landing at Kaduna International Airport.
On Twitter, the president said the crash was a “mortal blow… at a time our armed forces are poised to end the security challenges facing the country”.
Hundreds of protesting Ijaw youths on Thursday shut down the Headquaters of the Niger Delta Development Commission Eastern By-Pass in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The protesters under the aegis of the Ijaw Youths Council, numbering over 700, all dressed in the council’s uniform.
They hoisted the Green-Red-Blue IYC flag in front of the commission’s secretariat, preventing any human and vehicular entry.
The ijaw youths mounted two tents in front of the main entrance of the newly-commissioned complex, singing and dancing to solidarity songs.
Assistant Secretary of IYC, Eastern Zone, Ibiso Harry, said the action was directed by the IYC President, Peter Igbifa, following the expiration of the deadline given to the Federal Government to constitute a substantive board for the NDDC.
The two residents of Byazhin area in Kubwa, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), kidnapped by gunmen have regained their freedom after allegedly paying N2 million.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had, on Wednesday, reported that the two men; Mr Ayodele Somorin and Mr Oladimeji Josiah, a carpenter, were kidnapped in their homes on May 21.
The armed men, who stormed the hilly area close to the Lottery Quarters and few metres away from Living Faith Church, Byazhin in Kubwa, shot sporadically before the two men were whisked away.
They were, however, released after spending about five days in the kidnappers’ den.
When NAN visited the area on Thursday morning, although Somorin and members of his family were not around with their door padlocked, Josiah was at home. Josiah, one of the victims, who looked pensive, described the experience as horrible. He said the other victim and his family were advised by their relations not to sleep in their house now.
When NAN contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Command, Mariam Yusuf, on the release of the abductees and the payment of ransom, she said she was unaware of the development.
Yusuf, in a telephone interview with NAN, simply said: “f I find out, I will get back to you.” NAN reports that Yusuf on Tuesday, confirmed the kidnap, saying the police had launched an operation with a view to rescuing the victims unhurt.
The acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Alkali Usman has said that the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) created a vacuum which is challenging efforts by the Police to tackle insecurity in the country from a position of strength.
The acting IGP stated this on Thursday at a presidential briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team at the statehouse in Abuja.
“The security situation of the country has been significantly stabilise from time to time but we think if it is stabilising then are isolated insurgency coming from these zones in terms of attacks on police facilities and police personnel, even all law enforcement agencies including the military,” he said.
“Therefore, we decided to, one, rejig the morale of our personnel, which has been a little bit dampened since the #EndSARS thing went.
According to him, the aftermath of the EndSARS protest equally dampened the morale of the officers of the force.
“With the proscription of SARS and establishment of SWAT, which has not been able to take off fully. We had a vacuum in tackling most of the violent crimes from our position of strength.”
The IGP also indicated that the police have recorded successes against secessionist groups and criminals in the southeast.
He noted that prosecution to ensure justice is served has remained a major challenge because of the ongoing strike by judiciary workers.
On the recruitment plan involving 10,000 new police personnel into the force, he disclosed that the process has reached nearly 70 percent completion as he assures that the exercise would continue to employ the Federal Character principle.
A day after he told the House of Representatives’ Committee on Recovered Assets that the recovered £4.2million Ibori loot had been returned to the Delta State government, the accountant-general of the federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, has recanted.
Idris added a twist to the matter Wednesday when his office issued a statement that there were issues surrounding the money and that until they were resolved, the fund will not be returned to the state government.
According to the AGF, the “£4.2million Ibori loot has not been properly resolved.”
In the statement signed by director, information, press and public relations, of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Mr. Henshaw Ogubike, he said the clarification became necessary to put the records straight following media reports on the money.
He said, “The money is still being awaited, after which the issues around it will be resolved before further action is taken.”
The state government had yesterday denied receiving the loot recovered from former governor James Ibori, which was returned by the United Kingdom (UK) government to Nigeria.
The government in a statement issued by Mr Olisa Ifeajika, chief press secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, said no money with respect to the recovered funds had entered the coffers of the Delta state government.
The President of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Peter Timothy Igbifa, has regained freedom. Igbifa was abducted on his way to the airport in Port Harcourt, one day to the the mass protest the youth body declared over President Muhammadu Buhari’s delay in constituting a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Igbifa said the gunmen that took him away had demanded a cancellation of the protest.
He said his assailants set him free on Wednesday night, noting that with the help of persons, who recognised him, he was able to get to the Bayelsa State Police Headquarters in Yenagoa where he was debriefed by the police commissioner.
The IYC boss said after a brief meeting with the police commissioner, he met with the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, who was worried over his ordeal.
He said: “I didn’t know the places they took me to because I was blindfolded. All they wanted me to do was to call off the protest. They wanted me to do a video asking the youths to back down.
“But I told them that I already did a video in the morning asking them to go ahead with the protest even if I was kidnapped, arrested or killed.
“They became frustrated when they saw the protest going on at many places in the region. I also told them that I won’t betray the principles of our struggle.
“I am more than ever determined to continue with the protest. My experience has not intimidated me and the protest will be more intensed
“Whatever meeting they held without me is null and void. I didn’t authorise the meeting and its outcome is not binding on IYC and the Ijaw nation. We have taken a decision and that is final. It is a board or nothing.
“What are they even doing in Abuja? I know the kind of pressure I faced and bogus offers I got to frustrate this protest, but I turned down all of them because I can’t betray my people and the Niger Delta must move forward. Therefore, they are on their own,” he added.
The Senator representing Lagos Central, Remi Tinubu, is being criticized for calling a woman a thug during the public hearing of the constitutional review on Wednesday.
The lawmaker in a viral video was involved in a shouting match with some Nigerians who attended the event at the Marriot Hotel in Lagos. Tinubu is leading the Senate Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution in the South-West.
Only recently, Nigerians condemned the verbal attack on Senator Smart Adeyemi by Senator Oluremi Tinubu after the latter said the current insecurity challenges in the country is threatening Nigeria’s existence.
Adeyemi is the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District while Oluremi Tinubu represents Lagos Central Senatorial District. Both lawmakers are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The plenary session on insecurity which lasted for over an hour had lawmakers complaining about the insecurity in Nigeria as well as possible solutions.
It was reported that residents queued to register before they were allowed into the venue of the event. However, when the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, came in through the back door, the front door was shut and the registration closed.
Those who were yet to register were said to have stayed in the queue, protesting their exclusion from the event.
Some lawmakers from Oyo State, who passed the queue and were about to be ushered into the programme, were allegedly followed by some residents, causing commotion.
Read some of the reactions on twitter Thursday following the altercation between Mrs Tinubu and a Citizen. Oluremi Tinubu from Ogun State, Nigeria,is the former first lady of Lagos State and currently a senator representng Lagos Central Senatorial District at the Nigerian National Assembly. She is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) political party.
Tinubu became the first lady of Lagos State when her husband, Bola Tinubu, was elected as governor. As first lady, she established the New Era Foundation, dedicated to establishing centres for “all round development of young ones and promote public awareness on environmental health and community service.”
“I will not apologise for what I said. I saw it and I said it”
Senator Remi Tinubu response to the people who wanted her to apologize after calling a woman “thug” for speaking too loud at the South West Constitution Review hearing. pic.twitter.com/dHMDvqGcvg
Tinubu was said to have shown up at the backdoor to allow the lawmakers in. However, a woman, who reportedly complained about being denied entry, was said to have decried the partial treatment and voiced out her frustration.
The senator, after beckoning on her and two others, reportedly called the woman a thug for speaking too loud.
The remark was said to have caused an altercation between Tinubu and those who heard her. Pastor
The management of Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil, has apologised to one of its female students who was assaulted and harassed by male students while passing through the male hostel.
In a statement issued by the Dean, Student Affairs Shehu Abdulahi Ma’aji on Wednesday, KUST management said the Abaya dress is decent and in line with the school’s Dress Code Act.
In a video going viral on social media on Monday, the female student clad in an Abaya dress was harassed and dragged by some male students who were shouting “mai Abaya” at her.
The victim was seen in the video trying to stop them from dragging her Abaya which is a full-length robe or a dress, only for the students to disperse and re-convene.
The university had also earlier been in the news after some of its students allegedly killed their colleague and ran away with his money that he collected from his parent to buy an Infinix phone.
However, reacting to the incident in the statement, the university condemned the incident and urged the female student to formally report to the authorities.
“The student Affairs of KUST Wudil has just received an informal complain through the social media of harassing a female student by its male colleagues for wearing an Abaya dress,” the statement read.
“Let me categorically state that for the benefit of doubt, under the “Dress Code Act” Abaya is a decent dress approved by the University authority. Thus, this student did not commit any offence for wearing her Abaya dress. The general student s should know they re not consituted authorities to harass, embarass, molest or take any disciplinary action on any student. They can only report to the Security Division or Student Affairs Unit. The students should note that students’ harassment is a offence as provided in the Student’s Handbook and is punishable with suspension or dismissal depending on the degree of offence.”
I, the Dean Student Affairs wish to apologie to this lady in particular and the general female students. I promised to take a serious action on this matter. However, I want this student to come forward and report this case to me officially or the Security Division of the Uiversity. The University Management has constituted a committee to investigate the circumstances that led to these ugly activities of the undesirale members of the clique of these males students who perpetuated this action. I call on these stiudents to urgently send their apology to the affected lady and the University befo the law take its course on them. Otherwise, they will be recognised as habitual offenders of such acts.”
The statement further stated that the incident hes been made popular to dent the image of the school and caused a bad relationship between the school management and the Student Representative Council.
It then gave a stern warning that it would not let anyone harass it well-abiding students because the students are its diamond assets.
“The Student Affairs of KUST-Wudli is greatly amused by this ugly development as the school authority is concerned. The school see this as a plan to dent its image and destabilised the ongoing peace enjoyed as well as to destroy the established good relationship with the Student Representative Council (SRC) and the entire students which is progressively moving the session towards completion successfully against the wish of antagonists.
‘It is in record that the University has established and maintained good records on its students on character and learning as shown recently in producing students with excellent records.
“Therefore whoever is behind this disdain will soon be identified In sha Allah as we will not allow anybody to harass our law-abiding students and put them into a state of despodency. I must put into record that our students are our diamond assets, irrespective of their religious inclination, ethnic belonging, gender and tribe as long as they carry ot their activities i and around the University legitimately. They are assured of free intimidation under their fundamental human right laws.”
Lagos State Government has announced an emergency 10-week partial closure of the Eko Bridge from Costain to Alaka in bound National Stadium.
The state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, said in a statement on Wednesday that the repair was necessary to complete the rehabilitation works at the opposite side of the bridge earlier embarked upon by the Federal Government, hence the need for a notice of routes diversion.
He said pending the commencement of the rehabilitation works, alternative routes have been made available for motorists to manage traffic during the period of repairs.
“Traffic from Apongbon to Alaka, Stadium, Inner Surulere or Ikorodu Road will be diverted to Eko Bridge to access Costain Roundabout to Iponri through Alaka and Funsho Williams Avenue,” he said.
“Similarly, motorists from Eko Bridge will have to navigate their desired destinations through Costain Roundabout to Abebe Village (by Nigerian Breweries Plc) through Eric Moore to Bode Thomas to Adeniran Ogunsanya, to access Shitta Roundabout by Stadium under bridge to Funsho Williams Avenue to Dorman-Long Bridge and Fadeyi-Ikorodu Road.
“Motorists can gain access to Apongbon through CMS Outer Marina Road to connect Ebute Metta Ikorodu Road to access their destinations.
“Motorists from Apongbon can pass through CMS to Outer Marina to Adeniji Adele, Third Mainland Bridge, Adekunle to Herbert Macaulay Way, Jibowu and Ikorodu road will also be available.”
The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN) has directed its members to increase prices of bread, biscuits and bakeries by 30 percent, citing higher cost of production.
According to the association, the price increase was necessitated by the sudden increase in the costs of production as well as prices of sugar, butter, yeast and flour.
The directive was part of the resolution reached at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association in Abuja on Wednesday.
National President of the association, Mansur Umar, who read the resolutions explained: “After considering the impact of the skyrocketed prices of baking ingredients/materials, for the survival of our noble business, which is presently bleeding, the association came to the conclusion to adjust our prices by 30 percent.”
The association further urged the Federal Government to reduce regulatory roadblocks in the sector calling for National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to be the sole regulator of bakeries.
It allso charged the government to take immediate steps towards reducing the high price of flour as it is killing the business.
“The incessant increase of prices of flour and other baking materials is responsible for the decision.
“In the last six months, one truck of flour that we used to buy at less than N6m is now N9m,” the association said in a statement.
