Alaafin Appoints Femi Gbajabiamila as ‘Supreme Legislative Guide for the Yoruba Race’- 1st ‘AARE - BAASOFIN OF YORUBA LAND’

 

In an communication signed by the Alaafin on September 7, 2021 and official letter  presented on Thursday September 30, 2021 to the 4th Citizen of the country  by the emissary of the Alaafin led the members of the Oyomesi Council and leadership of the Oyo Development Association led by Bishop. Ayo Ladigbolu ; Alaafin writes: 

“Since your victory at the polls and subsequent swearing in as a member of Federal House of Representatives representing the good people of Surulere Federal Constituency of Lagos State in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 and eventual emergence as the Rt Hon. Speaker of the 9th National Assembly House of Representatives via an overwhelming 283 votes out of 360 members. “

“I have watched with keen interest your unquantifiable contributions on the floor of the House as a member with the highest number of Bills and Motions, to your rise from a Member to Minority Leader, Leader of the House and eventually the Rt. Hon. Speaker, and your Centrality in the federating unit Nigeria have placed you in the legislative realm just like our forefathers who were actively involved in nation building. “

“….Going by the above, you have demonstrated as a Legislator the uniqueness inherent in the Yoruba race participating effectively in nation building; you have participated in ensuring that the practice of separation power to check abuses of the Executive and ensure smooth running of government. “

“After due consideration and indeed consultation, the Alaafin in Council has identified you with the aforementioned attributes and considered you worthy of being honored. It is on this basis that I have decided on behalf of Yoruba land to pick you as ‘AARE - BAASOFIN OF YORUBA LAND’ “

“This new title bestowed on you is a clear reflection of your outstanding success as an astute legislator accomplished Legal Luminary, successful Representative of Yoruba race and Nigeria in general. With this title, you are placed in the rank of great Empire builders and defender of Yoruba race. The least I can expect from you in your new title is to put all the states attributes of yours for the service of Yoruba land and advancement of balanced system of government. “

Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi lll, CFR - the Alaafin of Oyo IKU BABA YEYE

Two toddlers mauled to death by hyenas in Kenya

Two children have been killed by hyenas at Baisa village in Kinango, Kwale County, Kenya.

The siblings, Lugo Nyale,2, Mbodze Nyawa, 1, were attacked at about 9:30am on Tuesday, September 14, while they were sleeping in their house 

Their mother, Mulongo Tsimba was burning charcoal few meters away from the house when the incident happened.

Kinango sub-county police commander, Fred Ombaka, who confirmed the incident said Mulongo tried to defend her children from the vicious hyenas but to no avail. 

She later ran for help from the nearest neighbours to rescue the young souls but the hyenas had already killed the two and fed on their brains.

The angry residents who responded to the cry of help decided to attack the hyenas and managed to kill one, the other disappeared in the bush.

Chengoni sub-chief, Jackson Chengo said two residents, Kalu Chiti,21, Mutuku Mutinda, 64, and the children's mother sustained serious body bruises.

The three are currently receiving treatment at Samburu sub-county hospital.

"In total, the animals have injured seven people in the past two days," said Mr Chengo. 

The bodies of the two children were taken to Kinango Hospital mortuary for postmortem.

The hyena carcass was sent to the KWS vet laboratory for further examination.

Kinango area has recently experienced increased human-wildlife conflict as drought intensifies.

Almost 90 percent of the Kinango water sources are reported to have dried up leading to water and food scarcity as animals and wildlife compete for the remaining crucial commodities.

Three days ago a herd of elephants stormed Mrunguruguni village within Kinango causing the disturbance.

Last year, a lion attacked and killed livestock in Sagalato and Boyana villages and injured others in Matuga.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala makes Time 100 Most Influential People list

American news magazine, Time, has named Nigeria's former minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Okonjo-Iweala, who is currently the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), was named alongside world leaders like United States President, Joe Biden, and Chinese President, Xi Jinping, in Time's September 15 publication.

Okonjo-Iweala is the only Nigerian on 2021 The Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the world.

She tweeted moments after the publication that she was "honored and privileged" to have made the cover of the magazine.

An appraisal written by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle applauded Okonjo Iweala's role in campaigning for equitable vaccine access across the world.

"What will it take to vaccinate the world? Unity, cooperation—and leaders like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala," wrote Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in the post accompanying Okonjo-Iweala’s selection.

"As the first African and first woman to lead the World Trade Organization, a 164-member group of nations that oversees trade across the world, Okonjo-Iweala took on the role of director-general this March at a watershed moment for our global health and well-being. Make no mistake, her job affects every person, family and community.

"As we face a constant barrage of vaccine misinformation, bureaucratic slowdowns across both government and industry, and the rise of variants that underscore the urgency of the situation, Okonjo-Iweala has shown us that to end the pandemic, we must work together to equip every nation with equitable vaccine access."

Prince Harry and Meghan added that their "conversations with her have been as informative as they are energizing. This is partly because, despite the challenges, she knows how to get things done—even between those who don’t always agree—and does so with grace and a smile that warms the coldest of rooms.

"The fragility of our world right now cannot be overstated. Just over a quarter of the nearly 8 billion global population is fully vaccinated.

"Achieving vaccine equity is a global duty of compassion for one another. Our hope is that guided by strong leaders like Ngozi, we can get there soon."

Wednesday's list also had names of leaders like U.S. vice president, Kamala Harris, Indian president, Narendra Modi, as well as influential figures like Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Dolly Parton, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex themselves.

We will keep borrowing. It is for the good of the country - APC tells PDP

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended the borrowing of President Buhari, saying taking the foreign facility “is for the good of the country”.

The party said this while responding to the criticism from the PDP over President Buhari's fresh application for a foreign loan. The President on Tuesday sent a letter to the Nigerian Senate seeking approval to borrow $4 billion and €710 million external loans.

Defending the fresh borrowing, the party in a statement signed by the secretary of its Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, said the borrowings under the APC-led administration were prudently and transparently utilised for the purpose they were secured for.  

According to APC, borrowings under the APC were hinged on genuine needs and based on the necessity to strengthen the foundation of the national economy to achieve the desired primary purpose of the government of uplifting the living standard of the citizens.

The statement in part reads;

“Borrowings by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government is for the good of the country as the money is used to develop critical infrastructure that is stimulating economic growth, generating jobs, reducing poverty, and improving the general well-being of the citizenry.

Unlike in the brazen looting days of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the borrowings are designed to finance the deficit in the 2021 budget to enable the realization of the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan that touches key sectors such as infrastructure development, boosting healthcare services, strengthening agriculture to deepen food security, more energy generation and continued tackling of the ravaging COVID-19 global pandemic.

From the forgone, it is abundantly clear that the borrowing is hinged on genuine needs and based on the necessity to strengthen the foundation of the national economy and achieve the desired primary purpose of the government of uplifting the living standard of the citizens.

It was in PDP’s era that loans to fund power generation, purchase arms and ammunition to fight a raging insurgency were misappropriated and diverted to fund PDP activities; and the borrowed money ultimately found its way to the pockets of cronies, friends and family members of administration officials. Nigeria is still servicing a $460 million loan taken from China to fund a phony Abuja Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) contract awarded in August 2010.

Nigerians should also reflect and recall that the PDP had in its 16 years of misrule pushed the country into a dark ditch of insolvency, and a period in which most state governments could not pay workers’ salaries, not even the minimum wage, or settle contractors’ bills and cater for patients in hospitals, to name a few.

In a welcome and commendable change, the Buhari-led administration through its economic management skills bailed out states to pay salary backlogs and embarked on large-scale infrastructure development projects that stimulated the economy and exited the era of insolvency and recession caused by the ineptitude of the PDP administration.

The APC welcomes the continued and multi-partisan cooperation which exists between the executive and legislature on national issues. This will ensure good governance, particularly in the area of economic development. The country and citizens are the ultimate beneficiaries.”

Yorubas in the UK storms Liverpool City to protest against the sale of firearms to Nigeria Government

Yoruba groups in the UK have organised a protest against Arms sale to the Nigerian government by any of the suppliers in the world.

According to their chants, the group claimed Arms and Ammunation sold to the Nigerian government end up not used to protect citizens but in the hands of Boko Haram and fulani terrorists engaged in acts of Genocide against the People from eastern and southern Nigeria.

The protest was led by Jeremy Corbin, it is the biggest arms fair in the world for buying and selling of firearms.

 

Troops arrest high profile Boko Haram terrorist in Borno

The Nigerian troops of Sector 2 Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have arrested a high profile Boko Haram member, Yawi Modu. 

The troops also raided Boko Haram Improvised Explosive Devices materials hub in Damboa and Gashua Local Government Areas of Borno and Yobe States respectively.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, September 9 in Abuja, said the operational feats were recorded following robust operations conducted by troops of OPHK.

"Following a tip off, a wanted BH/ISWAP terrorist, one Yawi Modu, who has been on the wanted list was nabbed along Damboa-Wajiroko road," the statement read.

____

Follow for more updates.

____

Bandits have developed escape routes from aerial bombardments —Gumi

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said bandits have over the years developed escape routes from aerial bombardments.

He said this in an article titled, ‘War Has Never Been A Solution Anytime Anywhere,’ issued following the offensive by the military against bandits and their hideouts in the north.

Gumi also warned that bandits will migrate to other parts of the country from any part that is on fire.

According to him, “By the way, what you may not hear is that the bandits over the years have developed escape routes from aerial bombardments. They told us: you can only kill our women and children with your attacks!

“Just yesterday, two contingents of banditry victims came to me that their loved ones were abducted by bandits in Kaduna suburbs – Rigachukun and Keke.

“An escapee engineer in the later said when he overheard and understood that they were strangers in the area as they were calling the locals to lead them, that gave him the courage to slip through densely grown maize plantations to escape.

“The point is that, if Zamfara is on fire for them, definitely it goes without saying that they will migrate to other areas. So, is the whole of Nigeria going to be under lock-up in incommunicado?

“As for the economic impact of the areas now under siege, it’s just a matter of time, you’ll hear them crying out.

“Already yesterday a man from Tsafe came begging because of economic stagnation, one would have thought that Gusau the capital is closer than Kaduna to beg.

“As for those cynics that have no value to add in the dilemma except vituperation, and abuses, we know that is the substance they are made up of. No qualms whatsoever! you don’t expect fragrance from faeces.

“So, what is the solution?

“Good Intelligence! Good proficient policing, engagement of the local herdsmen in policing, rehabilitation, reconciliation, and reparation of all victims of banditry.

“The good honest judiciary that protects people’s rights. Money and time well spent on these will surely kill the disease and heal the nation of this delinquency, crimes, and bad governance.”

_____

Follow for more updates.

_____

El-Rufai knocks JAMB for preferential treatment on Cut-Off Marks to Northern Candidates.

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has accused the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) of giving preferential treatment to northern candidates but called on the organization to stop.

El-Rufai said the board usually gives a lower cut-off mark to candidates from the northern region for admission to tertiary institutions.

He however for the sake of maintaining standards in the nation’s education sector said such practice must stop and all candidates must be treated equally.

According to him, the preferential treatment has been counterproductive as it has made northerners lazy, hence the need for JAMB to stop the act.

In his view, the sense of entitlement has made such candidates less productive and unable to compete both locally and internationally.

He made the submission during an interview with Channels TV on Monday.

He said: “The North has always been behind in education, we’ve continuously been the disadvantaged region right from independence even though we’re given preferences, JAMB scores and all that. That has not helped, in fact, it has made our people lazy.

“Against this differential JAMB and FG (Federal Government) scores, I think people should be encouraged to work hard and compete and we’re prepared to make our children in Kaduna State to be competitive, not only in the state, but globally.”

On the current closure of schools in Kaduna State, Governor El-Rufai noted that the decision is based on advice from security agencies over the criminal activities of Boko Haram terrorists and bandits.

He added that government should be able to start the gradual reopening of schools in the next two weeks as normalcy returns and the situation improves.

“The schools are closed now because, on the advice of security agencies, they need a couple of months to undertake massive security operations. They’re doing that. We’re confident that from the next two weeks, we’ll start the gradual reopening of schools.

“We’ve moved many of our students in rural areas that we’re not sure we can protect to urban schools, thereby increasing the congestion in urban schools that we can protect.”

“The continuous closure of schools is exactly what bandits and Boko Haram want and we’re not going to let them win but we must put the safety of our children and teachers first,” the governor added.

Masari shuts phone charging points in Katsina

Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State on Monday directed the shut down of mobile phone commercial charging centres in at least 18 Local Government Areas of the state for security reasons.

The affected councils are Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Sabuwa, Dandume,  Faskari, Funtua, Bakori, Dandume, Musawa, Matazu, Kurfi, Danja, Kafur, Maiadua, Kaita and Baure.

The Governor gave the directive while inaugurating members of monitoring and enforcement committees for the two ‘Security Challenges Containment Orders’ he signed last week.

The state Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba, is the chairman of the committee at the state level while the Divisional Police Officers were chairmen of the committee in the Local Government Areas where mobile phones commercial charging centres have been directed to shut down.

Masari said the shut down of the commercial charging centres was part of measures to curb security challenges and restore peace in the state.

He believed that the charging centres were assisting the bandits and their collabrators in the exchange of vital information and in the sabotage of security efforts.

The Governor added that other measures taken by the Nigerian Communications Commission will equally help in restoring normalcy in the affected communities.

According to the Governor, the terms of reference of the committee at the state level include among others; to monitor and ensure compliance with the Compliance order and to coordinate the enforcement of the order in the Local Government Areas affected by the order.

The committee was also directed to submit periodic progress report to the state government and” to identify and bring up emerging challenges for government consideration.”

The terms of reference for the Committee at the affected local Government Areas were also similar to that of the state.

The Chairman of the committee at the state level, CP Sanusi Buba, in his response, assured that with the inauguration of the committee, banditry, kidnapping and other crimes will soon come to an end in the state.

____

Follow for more updates.

____

#bandit #insecurity #katsina #podiumnews

Grim milestone: 23 states, FCT record 65,145 suspected cholera cases, 2,141 deaths

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has announced a total 65,145 suspected cases of cholera, including 2,141 deaths, representing a Case Fatality Rate of 3.3 percent reported from 23 states and the FCT, as of September 2, 2021.

The NCDC disclosed this on its Cholera Situation weekly epidemiological report pasted on its official website, on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was a 62 percent decrease in the number of new suspected cases in week 33 (2,127) when compared with the 3,098 cases in week 32.

According to the report, Bauchi with 855 cases, Katsina with 396 cases and Kano’s 306 cases accounted for 73.2% of 2,127 suspected cases reported in week 34,

The others were: Yobe (162), Zamfara (80), Niger (78), Borno (67), Sokoto (45), Kaduna (41), Gombe (21), FCT (18), Kebbi (17), Adamawa (15), Taraba (13), Nasarawa (10), Plateau (2) and Jigawa (1),”

It noted that the suspected cases were since the beginning of 2021, with children aged 5 – 14 years as the most affected age group for both male and female.

All the suspected cases, comprised 51 percent males and 49 percent females.

“23 states and the FCT have reported suspected cholera cases in 2021. 

These included: Benue, Delta, Zamfara, Gombe, Bayelsa, Kogi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Plateau, Kebbi, Cross River, Nasarawa, Niger, Jigawa, Yobe, Kwara, Adamawa, Enugu, Katsina, Borno, Taraba and the FCT.

“In the reporting week, 16 states plus the FCT reported 2,127 suspected cases – the NCDC said.

Out of the suspected cases, there were 32 Rapid Diagnoses Test (RDT), confirmed cases from Adamawa (11), Katsina (8), Kaduna (7), Borno (4), Taraba (1) and Yobe (1). There were 32 culture-confirmed cases from Yobe, (12), Adamawa (11), Katsina (8) and Borno (1).

The public health agency added that of the cases reported, there were 48 deaths from Bauchi (10), Kano (7), Katsina (6), Taraba (5), Zamfara (4), Sokoto (4), Borno (4), Niger (3), Nasarawa (2), Kebbi (1), Yobe (1) and Kaduna (1) states with a CFR of 2.3 percent.

“No new state reported cases in epi week 34. 

The national multi-sectoral EOC activated at level 02 continues to coordinate the national response Epi-Summary”, it stated.

It, however, said that the national multi-sectoral EOC activated at level 2 continues to coordinate the national response.

NAN reports that Cholera is a waterborne disease and the risk of transmission is higher where there was poor sanitation and disruption of clean water supply.

The wrong disposal of refuse and practices, such as open defecation, endanger the safety of water used for drinking and for personal use.

These lead to the spread of water-borne diseases such as cholera and without proper WASH, Nigeria remains at risk of cholera cases and deaths.

The long-term solution for cholera control lies in access to safe drinking water, maintenance of proper sanitation and hygiene.

Cholera is also preventable and treatable; however, it can be deadly when people who are infected do not access care immediately.

(NAN)

Erica Nlewedim Speaks On Her One Year Disqualification Anniversary.

Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Erica Nlewdim has spoken on her one year disqualification anniversary from the BBNaija show.

Nlewedim revealed that she has finally come to terms with what happened and has forgiven herself.

Podiumradiotv recalls that Erica had being disqualified from the big brother house after she disobeyed some house rules and threatened a housemate. The eviction had occured on September 6, 2020.

Erica revealed that she had healed and was feeling all better though when she had left the house she felt choked up and needed to impress everybody.

The Nollywood actress stated that she was constantly trying to outdo herself, until she decided to take a break and reflect on it all.

The main suspect, Chidinma Ojukwu in the murder trial of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Super TV, Usifo Ataga is to continue her trial in a High Court.

The main suspect, Chidinma Ojukwu in the murder trial of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Super TV, Usifo Ataga is to continue her trial in a High Court.

This is as the Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo on Monday said it would no longer handle the case but Chidinma and some others have a case to answer regarding Ataga’s death.

Podiumradiotv reports the decision of the lower court is based on legal advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Also based on the legal advice issued by DPP Director, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, 11 suspects were cleared of complicity in the murder of the Super TV boss while Chidinma and four others are to be tried in a high court.

Others set for trial alongside Chidinma include Adedapo Quadri and Egbuchu Chioma.

More details later…

Chizzi Alichi and Zubby Michael have blown hot over the recently released King of Boys movie.

Zubby seems to have an issue with the lead role of Sola Sobowale as he has stated firmly that a woman cannot be the King of Boys.

His colleague, however, did not take kindly to such words and said that a woman can do whatever she chooses.

Zubby replied that he won’t be having any discussion with her and he would rather speak to her husband. This infuriated Chizzy and she told him that he lacked manners and was not well brought up and she would rather speak to his mother and ask her to teach him some manners.

Man Who Wants His Family To Get Him A Wife Rescued After Attempting Suicide From Huge Mast

A Nigerian man on Sunday, September 5, was rescued after attempting to jump down from a telecommunications mast over his parent’s inability to marry him a wife.

According to reports, the yet-to-be-identified man due to frustration and depression climbed a telecommunications mast in the central area of Gombe city at the wee hours of Sunday, in protest of living as a bachelorr despite being an adult. 

However, it took the intervention of security operatives of the Fire Service, the police, and Civil Defence Corps to appealed to him, before he obliged, thus descending from the mast. 

Explaining his actions in an interview with BBC Pidgin, the man said, since the death of his father seven years ago, he has been the one shouldering the responsibilities of his mother and family members, and only recently started experiencing financial difficulties which had hindered him from settling down.

“After the death of my father, I shouldered the responsibilities of taking care of everyone in my family. The Gombe state government was supposed to pay us some money since my father was a staff of the government but the money didn’t come I’ve been wanting to settle down but can’t afford the cost. So I climbed the mast to threaten my family members to get me a bride.”

Gunmen abduct lawmaker’s about-to-wed sister

Gunmen on Sunday abducted Asma’u Tafoki, younger sister to the Deputy Speaker of Katsina House of Assembly, Dalhatu Tafoki.

Tafoki, who represents Faskari Constituency at the Assembly, confirmed the incident.

He said that the gunmen stormed his hometown, Tafoki, in the Faskari Local Government Area of the state around 1am on Sunday and abducted his about-to-wed sister.

It was learnt that the gunmen, on reaching the town, headed for the Deputy Speaker’s family compound where they initially abducted two ladies.

Members of the vigilante in the town reportedly engaged the gunmen in a duel during which one of the ladies escaped.

The gunmen, however, went with Asma’u.

The Deputy Speaker also confirmed that Asma’u was about to wed, adding that the gunmen were yet to contact the family for any demand.

He said the incident had been reported to the police.

Tafoki said, “The gunmen are yet to contact the family and make any demand.”

The Spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command, SP Gambo Isah was yet to react to the incident as of the time of filing this report.

Asma’u’s abduction occurred a few hours after gunmen abducted two sons and a wife of another member of the Assembly, Ibrahim Kurami on Saturday night.

Wizkid joins Justin Bieber on stage to perform Essence

Nigerian superstar singer, Wizkid, joined his colleague, Justin Bieber on stage during the Made in America music festival to perform the smashing hit song, Essence.

Beiber collaborated on the song’s remix which originally featured sonorous singer, Tems. The duo performed the song on stage together for the first time in Philadelphia.

Ever since the release of the song which is a track on Wizkid’s Made In Lagos album in October, it has become a favourite among music lovers.

Moreso the song has been breaking records and topping charts, especially on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

For instance, in July, Wizkid became the first Nigerian artist to have a record on the Billboard Hot 100 chart when Essence broke into the chart at No. 82.

Within days, it rose to No.70 and later to No.67 the next.

In August, the song shot up to the top 20 songs of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and also became the most Shazamed song in the United States for the week in review.

_____

For more updates.

_____

#wizkid #bieber #02arena #nigeria

Tonto Dikeh reacts as ex-lover, Kpokpogri accuses her of cheating

Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, has reacted to cheating allegations leveled against her by Prince Kpokpogri, her ex-lover.

Recall that Kpokpogri had on Sunday claimed that the actress cheated in their relationship.

He alleged that their relationship, which lasted for three months, was a living hell and accused her of sleeping with someone else in Lagos State.

He alleged that she begged for a second chance when she was caught.

Tonto in reaction said what the enemy planned for her is blocked by the Almighty.

“Friends who can sit down and entertain you gossip are an enemy in disguise. Run, run, run. I don’t care who you are, you have a problem with my friend, I am the last person you want to come explain nonsense to. That is gossip,” she wrote.

“Somebody needs to know that what the enemy planned for you is completely blocked. Forever blocked by the enemy.

“Not a little BLOCKED SIS. COMPLETELY BLOCKED. Sister/Brother IF YOU KNEW WHO YOU ARE YOU WILL WIPE THOSE TEARS AND WALK WITH YOUR HEAD HIGH.”

JOHESU threatens another strike, issues 15 days ultimatum to FG

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Association have issued the Federal Government a 15-day ultimatum, saying they will commence an indefinite strike over outstanding welfare issues with the union. 

Mr Biobelemonye Josiah, JOHESU’s National President, said this in a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, and other relevant stakeholders on Saturday in Abuja. 

Josiah said that the 15-day ultimatum was necessitated by the non-challant attitude of government to the plight of its members. 

According to Josiah, the welfare issues include adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHES) as was done with Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) since 2014, payment of all withheld April and May 2018 Salaries of our members and withheld Salaries in Federal Medical Center,  Owerri, JUTH and LUTH, review of the defective implementation of COVID-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowance, implementation of National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Consent judgment and other court judgments, increase in retirement age from 60 to 65 years for health workers and 70 years for Consultant Health Professionals. 

”Others are payment of reviewed hazard allowance in terms of payment that guarantee fairness and justice to all concerned, payment of actual 30 per cent consolidated basic shift duty allowance to Nurses/Midwives and others. 

”Payment of teaching allowance to members on CONHESS 7 and 8 (Nurses, Midwives and others) and proper placement of Nurse Graduates and Interns,” he said. 

JOHESU president also said others include payment of outstanding salaries of intern health professionals and all the Tertiary Health Institutions, proper implementation of the consultant pharmacist cadre for pharmacists in the public sector, among others. 

According to him, “you will recall that up till the time of writing this letter, the Federal Government has not deemed it fit to honour the Terms of Settlement entered into with JOHESU since September 2017. 

'This is especially the upward review of CONHESS Salary Structure as agreed, to be completed within five weeks from the date of agreement amongst other requests. ”Government did not deem it fit to address these key issues during the duration of the last seven days warning strike and has only met with JOHESU on July 12,” he said. 

Josiah said that it would also be recalled that on July 2020, that the Minster of Health agreed that a mistake was made by government in the payment of COVID-19 Special Inducement and Hazard Allowances. 

He noted that the shortfall was in the payment of 50 per cent Basic of Consolidated allowances to all those Health Workers. 

It was a mistake on the part of government and the shortfall shall be paid according to affected health workers. He added that up till the time of this letter, the shortfall has not been paid. 

To make matters worse, when the payment for June 2020 was made, government decided to again wrongfully pay 10 per cent of Consolidated Basic Allowances to our members affected by the shortfall of April and May 2020. 

‘This is in contravention of the spirit and content of the MoU signed on April 21, 2020. ”JOHESU, in compliance with the provision of Section 41 of the Trade Disputes Act Cap.T8 LFN 2004, is constrained to give the Federal Government of Nigeria 15 days ultimatum with effect from September 3. ”

This also is to inform you that with effect from midnight of September 17, all our members in the Federal Health Institutions shall embark on an indefinite strike action in all state and Local Government health institutions. 

”You are all placed on red alert for the strike, if the Federal Government foot drags in attending to our demands,” he said. 

Josiah, however, noted that JOHESU had shown maturity, selflessness and patriotism in the face of extreme provocations and government’s nonchalant attitude on the welfare of its members.

JAMB, 19-year-old candidate disagree over result, board vows prosecution

JAMB’s Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, who briefed journalists at JAMB’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday on the development, said exam body also handed over a 19-year-old candidate, Chinedu John, to the police over alleged result tampering.

According to Oloyede, John claimed he scored 380 in the examination conducted in June and was surprised to receive 265 from the board after the results were released.

According to Oloyede, the candidate claimed that his UTME scores from 2019 till 2021 were “altered” by the board, thereby denying him the opportunity to study his desired course – medicine.

The JAMB Registrar said, “Initially, the boy was given few minutes to come clean in a closed session with his father and lawyers about the results he was parading but he insisted that his original score from the examination was 380.

“At the Friday meeting, documentary evidence tendered by the board showed that John scored 265 and not the 380 he had claimed.”

“There was never any communication of 380 with this boy. Because this boy has accused JAMB, we are going to withhold his result until the investigation is concluded. We are going to request that our interactions with him be subjected to the public.”

Earlier, John had said, “The result I have been receiving is not the result I am entitled to. I wrote the first JAMB in 2019.

“In 2020, the same thing happened. I scored 343, but by the time I went to the portal to print, I saw 306. I used the 306 and it gave me admission to UI. But because I didn’t have Further Mathematics, I had to forfeit it.

“I decided to leave Medicine and Surgery for them in 2021, so I picked Petroleum Engineering. In 2021, JAMB issued me two results. I saw 380 the first time I checked and then the second time, I saw 265.”

But the board’s Public Relations Officer, Fabian Benjamin, claimed that the candidate confessed to the crime.

He said, “The candidate who was paraded for forging the board’s result has confessed after the board discovered that he saved his sister’s number on his phone as 55019 and used the phone to send the fake result to his phone.

“When he sends such results, they come as 55019.

“He pleaded for mercy that he had to do that when the result he got was not up to what could give him his desired programme.”

#jamb #student #score #medicine

DSS frees two more Igboho’s aides, holds female detainee (Lady K), another

The Department of State Services has released two more aides of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, alias Sunday Igboho, who have been in custody since July 1.

The DSS had during a midnight invasion of Igboho’s Soka house in Ibadan, Oyo State, arrested 12 of the activist’s allies and whisked them away to Abuja, where they had been kept in detention.

After a long dilly-dally, the secret police, in compliance with a court order, first released eight of the 12 detainees on Monday, August 30, 2021, holding onto the remaining four.

Those earlier released were Abideen Shittu, Abdullateef Onaolapo, Ayobami Donald, Olakunle Oluwapelumi, Dikeola Ademola, Bamidele Sunday, Raji Kazeem, and Taiwo Tajudeen.

The additional two freed on Friday are Tajudeen rinloye and Uthman Adelabu.

Those still in detention are Amudat Babatunde (female) and Jamiu Oyetunji.

The detainees’ lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, confirmed their release on Friday.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on August 4, 2021, granted bail to the 12 detainees.

They had met their bail conditions, including the provision of 24 sureties, but the DSS lawyer, Idowu Awo, had kicked against the bail granted by Justice Egwuatu to four of them, claiming that they were heavily involved in the alleged offence of arms stockpiling and other criminal activities of their boss, Igboho.

But three Senior Advocates of Nigeria – Femi Falana, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa and Ifedayo Adedipe – had said that the DSS was inviting anarchy and lawlessness into the country by not obeying the order for the release of the 12 detainees.

#igboho #detained #yorubanation #dss #released

Tears As Gunmen Kill Sowore In Edo

Suspected herdsmen have killed Olajide Sowore, the younger brother of Sahara Reporters’ publisher Omoyele, the activist said in a statement. 

Omoyele Sowore said his brother was killed by armed men suspected by witnessed to be herdsmen while travelling between Benin and Ondo on Saturday morning. 

He was studying pharmacy at Igbinedion University, Mr Sowore said, decrying his brother’s loss as a huge one for his family and friends. 

A spokesman for the police in Akure did not immediately return a request seeking comments from Peoples Gazette on Saturday morning. 

The development came as southerners are pushing to restrict herdsmen activities across the region. 

On Thursday, Ondo became the latest state to adopt a law against open grazing when Governor Rotimi Akeredolu signed the state’s anti-open grazing bill into law. 

The state has witnessed repeated deadly attacks linked to herdsmen. 

In 2019, Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Afenifere leader Reuben Fasoranti, was killed by suspected herdsmen along the same route where Mr Sowore was killed today. 

The police said they had made arrests in connection to Mrs Olakunrin’s death, both no suspect has been convicted to date. 

Mr Sowore described his late brother as selfless and industrious, saying his demise would leave a void in the prominent Ondo family. 

“You lived your life so that everyone could be alright but now assassinated by everything that’s not alright!” the publisher said.

BREAKING: Kidnappers shot dead my brother in Edo, Sowore mourns

Sahara Reporters Publisher and ex-presidential candidate has narrated how kidnappers shot dead his brother in the Okada area of Edo State on Saturday.

According to him, Olajide was killed in the early hours of Saturday on his way from Igbinedion University where he was studying Pharmacy.

Sowore, in a tribute on his Facebook page, described his deceased brother who almost clocked 50 as an “out-of-the-box thinker”

Details later…

FG knocks Amnesty International over stand on IPOB, others

The Presidency on Wednesday knocked the global human rights advocacy group, Amnesty International, accusing it of playing ‘domestic politics.’

This is as it said the organisation has no legal rights to operate in Nigeria, accusing it of allegedly legitimising the cause of the proscribed group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

This was contained in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled, ‘Why Amnesty’s Entreaties Should Be Ignored, by Presidency.’

The statement read in part, “Despite Amnesty’s self-proclaimed mandate to impartially transcend borders, unfortunately in Nigeria, they play only domestic politics.

“The international NGO is being used as cover for the organisation’s local leaders to pursue their self-interests. Regrettably, this is not uncommon in Africa. There is nothing wrong with an activist stance; there are claims of neutrality when all facts point to the opposite.

“Amnesty International has no legal right to exist in Nigeria. It must open a formal investigation into the personnel that occupies their Nigerian offices. They should reject the outrageously tendentious misinformation they receive and bring some semblance of due diligence to the sources they base their claims on. Currently, we see none.”

The presidency asserted that “the Nigerian government will fight terrorism with all the means at its disposal. We will ignore Amnesty’s rantings. Especially when it comes from an organisation that does not hold itself to the same standards it demands of others.”

It also said Amnesty International had decided to “side with terrorists, before the liberty of those they injure, displace and murder.”

It accused the human rights organisation of speaking the language of universal human rights while deploying it only in defence – even outright promotion – of those that violently oppose the Federal Government of Nigeria.

New COVID-19 variant may be resistant to vaccine – WHO

The World Health Organisation has identified a new variant of the COVID-19 — labelled as ‘Mu’ — saying it may be resistant to vaccines.

The world health body, in its epidemiological update published on Tuesday, noted that the variant had shown some resistance to the COVID-19 vaccines, but said more studies were required to make an informed conclusion.

While the Mu variant has not been recorded in Africa, it had been identified in cases across South America and Europe.

The WHO report read, “Based on the latest round of assessments, B.1.621 was classified as a VOI on 30 August 2021 and given the WHO label “Mu”. This includes the descendent Pango lineage B.1.621.1. This variant is known as 21H in Nextstrain nomenclature.

“The Mu variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape. Preliminary data presented to the Virus Evolution Working Group show a reduction in neutralisation capacity of convalescent and vaccinee sera similar to that seen for the Beta variant, but this needs to be confirmed by further studies.

“Since its first identification in Colombia in January 2021, there have been a few sporadic reports of cases of the Mu variant and some larger outbreaks have been reported from other countries in South America and in Europe.

“As of 29 August, over 4500 sequences (3794 sequences of B.1.621 and 856 sequences of B.1.621.1) have been uploaded to GISAID from 39 countries. Although the global prevalence of the Mu variant among sequenced cases has declined and is currently below 0.1 per cent, the prevalence in Colombia (39 per cent) and Ecuador (13 per cent) has consistently increased.

“The reported prevalence should be interpreted with due consideration of sequencing capacities and timeliness of sharing of sequences, both of which vary between countries. More studies are required to understand the phenotypic and clinical characteristics of this variant. The epidemiology of the Mu variant in South America, particularly with the co-circulation of the Delta variant, will be monitored for changes.”

The Mu variant is the fifth identified by the WHO — others are Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta.

Gunmen shoot Edo DPO in the eye, stomach

The  Divisional Police Officer of Igarra Police Station in the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Suleiman Muhammed, has been reportedly shot by suspected kidnappers on the Auchi-Igarra-Ibillo Road.

The incident, which happened on Tuesday around 7pm, led to commuters becoming stranded until a local vigilance group rescued the officer, who was left for dead.

A member of the vigilance group, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on condition of anonymity, said the DPO was shot in the eye, arm and stomach.

He added that his team recovered bullets and other cartridges from the scene of the attack.

The source said, “The DPO called us in the morning to go to a place where some suspected Yahoo boys had constituted a nuisance. Later, around 3pm, he told us that some suspected kidnappers were blocking a road, so we went there and chased them away.

“I was told that after inspecting the change of guard in the evening, the DPO left for Auchi where his family resides. The people laid an ambush for him after the MTN mast near Sasaro, and shot him several times. I believe they thought he was dead, so they abandoned him.

“Their gunshots made motorists going to and coming from Auchi to stop until we arrived at the scene in company of the police and rushed the DPO to the hospital. He was bleeding profusely because he was shot in the eye, arm and stomach. After stabilising him, he was rushed to the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital.

“On Wednesday morning, my boys and I went back to the scene and we recovered used bullets and cartridges.”

Another member of the team confirmed the incident and lamented the rising presence of kidnappers in the area.

The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Kontongs Bello, was said to be on an official assignment outside the state.

However, sources at the command said the police were awaiting official details of the incident.