APC will not govern Nigeria beyond 2023- Makinde vows

Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared that the bad governance and maladministration of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will not extend beyond 2023, as Nigerians have become tired of the party and would kick it out of power at the polls.

Makinde, who stated this on Wednesday, during the inauguration of the South-West PDP Zonal Executives, held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, said that the redemption of the country has begun from the South-West geopolitical zone.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted him as saying that the unity of the PDP will secure victory for the party in the South-West and Nigeria.

The governor, who emphasised that the APC cannot be allowed to rule the country beyond 2023, said that there is the urgent need to address the challenges of insecurity and economic recession, which have been rampant under the APC government.

He said: “I want to thank you all for the peaceful transfer of power in South-West PDP. I want to also congratulate you, the Chairman and other zonal executive members of the South-West PDP and pray that you will steer the ship of the party to a fair haven.

“As I said before we started voting at the congress, it is a family affair and our intention was not to defeat ourselves but to bring forward our best materials, which we can use to defeat APC. And I am glad that our best materials for the South-West are seated right before me.

“We need to show the entire country that we are ready to take power back at the centre. I was reading in the newspaper where a national leader of the APC said that the APC will be in power beyond 2023. I want to say it is a big lie.

“Let them hear that from this South-West PDP Congress, the redemption of Nigeria has started. Nigerians are tired of all the misgovernance of the APC at the national level. Is it insecurity? Is it economic meltdown? Is it the aloofness of the entire leadership of government at the national level? Is that what is giving them the assurance of continuing beyond 2023? No, Nigerians will not take that.”

The governor equally charged the new executive members to bring aggrieved members back to the fold.

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Boko Haram lures residents with N20,000 each - report

Many families in Geidam town of Yobe State have received N20,000 each from Boko Haram fighters loyal to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Daily Trust reports.

Experts with knowledge of how the factional group operates said the unprecedented move was to entice the residents to join the group or see them in good light.

The outlawed group had taken over Geidam since Friday, April 23 and used some families as “human shield”, making it difficult for the Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to tackle the invaders and for the ground troops to recover the town.

Sources said while security forces succeeded in getting into the town on Monday, three days after the invasion, the fighters of the outlawed group were still in the town up till Wednesday.

Many families have moved to Damaturu, the state capital, while others have joined their extended families and acquaintances in Dapchi, Babban Gida, Gashua and other towns.

Abba, a resident of Geidam, said: “Some people are still living in Geidam have received the N20,000 from Boko Haram as Ramadan gift.

“Some families willingly collected the money while others collected it out of fear…They don’t want to be flogged or killed if they reject it,” he said.

A woman, who doesn’t want her name mentioned, said the terrorists were also preaching to the people.

“It is a dangerous dimension for now because they would end up recruiting our children. Government should confront them,” she said.

Security expert Salihu Bakhari said: “treating people well is one of the membership drive strategy of ISWAP in contrast to what Abubakar Shekau does.

“The federal forces must not allow the terrorists to remain in Geidam, they should flush them out so that we would not have a repeat of what is happening in the Lake Chad region. More than 70 per cent of the residents have vacated their houses which is good. However, those remaining in the town could be influenced by the terrorists who have started enforcing some of their so-called laws including leading them in prayers,” he said.

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DSS allegedly invites Bugaje after criticising Buhari on AIT

Security agencies on Wednesday detained a former national secretary of the defunct Action Congress, Dr Usman Bugaje, for allegedly criticising President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s handling of insecurity in the country.

It was learnt that Bugaje was invited by the secret police after appearing on a programme aired by the African Independent Television.

He was said to have been quizzed at a unit in the Office of the National Security Adviser before he was later released.

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Political party offers Tuface, Omotola, Ahmed Musa presidential, governorship tickets

As INEC announces the schedule for the 2023 general election, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has offered free tickets for presidential, governorship, and other elective positions to Tuface, DJ Switch, Omotola Jelade-Ekeinde, and football star Ahmed Musa.

Voice of Nigeria reports that Ralph Nwosu, the party’s national chairman, disclosed this while receiving a certificate of endorsement of ADC as a party for Nigerian youths and women.

Mr Nwosu explained that the party’s decision to opt for celebrities for the 2023 general election was part of measures to encourage youth involvement and participation in politics, adding that entertainers have done more for the country than elected politicians.

The party believed that the 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality succeeded because of celebrities’ endorsement and involvement.

One of which was Instagram comedian Mr Macaroni and Dj Switch, a disc jockey who witnessed and live-streamed the military allegedly shooting of #EndSARS protesters in October.

The party’s chairman assured the celebrities that they could vie for any elective position in the country on ADC’s platform provided they meet the constitution and INEC’s requirements.

Also, Mr Nwosu praised Super Eagles skipper Ahmed Musa for taking an unusual decision to return to NPFL side Kano Pillars, despite playing in Europe and Asia for many years.

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Again, secondary school students clash in Osogbo

Some students of Osogbo Grammar School on Wednesday allegedly disrupted learning activities at another school in Osogbo and left some mates injured.

It was gathered that around 1 pm on Wednesday, some students of Osogbo grammar school stormed the Government Technical College Osogbo and unleashed mayhem.

Operatives of the Department of Security Services (DSS), police and men of Amotekun was sighted at the Technical school when Daily Post visited the school.

Efforts to get the reaction of the school principal failed as he denied interview with journalists.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Osun state, SP Yemisi Opalola could not confirm if their is any arrest made on Wednesday as at the time of filing this report.

The clash had been built up since Monday when the students attacked themselves in the school premises.

Meanwhile, students of the said schools had on Tuesday attacked each other with clubs and stones.

The students had on Tuesday in the Old Garage area of Osogbo. Three of the students were arrested.

They later unleashed mayhem at Old Garage area and some men of the Hunters Group of Nigeria arrested three of them and handed them to the police.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Jamiu Olawumi on Tuesday confirmed that three of the students were arrested.

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Cristiano Ronaldo r.a.p.e accuser demands £56million

Former model Kathryn Mayorga who accused Cristiano Ronaldo of r.a.p.e is claiming for £56million in damages.

Mayorga accused Ronaldo of s.e.x.ually assaulting her in a Las Vegas hotel room after meeting on a night out in 2009 when she was 25.

Ronaldo vehemently denies the allegation.

However, newly-released court documents showed that Mayorga wants £18m for “past pain and suffering”, £18m for “future pain and suffering” and £18m in punitive damages, the Mirror reports.

The 37-year-old’s expenses rack up to £1.4m.

That includes legal fees of £1.1m.

And it means the grand total is a whopping £56.5m equal to two years of the Juventus star’s salary.

In 2010, Ms Mayorga accepted $375,000 £270,000 – as part of an out-of-court non-disclosure settlement.

But three years ago, Ms Mayorga filed a civil lawsuit in Las Vegas saying she had been “mentally incapacitated” when she agreed to it.

And she claims she signed it under duress.

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Police debunk viral attack news on UNIABUJA

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police Command has refuted viral messages on social media claiming that bandits attacked the University of Abuja.

The police advised Abuja residents to disregard what it described as a rumour.

A statement issued by spokesperson Yusuf Mariam said: “The FCT Police Command wishes to debunk the viral message in some sections of the social media purporting that the ‘University of Abuja has been attacked by bandits.

“The Command wishes to state categorically that there is no record of such an incident as at 2200hrs of Tuesday 27th April,2021, hence members of the public are enjoined to disregard the message which is not only mischievous but  intended to cause tension amongst residents”.

Commissioner of Police Bala Ciroma, according to the statement, has ordered uninterrupted patrols around schools within the FCT.

Mariam said: “The Command urges residents to remain calm, law-abiding and verify every information they receive to avoid causing panic amongst members of the public.”

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Federal Government approves poverty reduction strategy

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the National Poverty Reduction With Growth Strategy submitted by the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

The decision was taken at the weekly meeting of the council presided over by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the meeting said Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, who headed PEAC, is to chair the steering committee to provide overall guidance for implementation.

Apart from approving the implementation of the strategy, Adesina said FEC also approved that it be incorporated into the Medium Term National Development Plan 2021-2025 and Agenda 2050.

The presidential spokesman added that the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was directed to prepare a bill for submission to National Assembly to make the implementation of the strategy sustainable.

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Chimamanda Adichie pens emotional tribute to mother... ‘How Does A Heart Break Twice?’

Chimamanda Adichie, has penned an emotional tribute to her late mother, Grace Adichie, who died last month at the age of 78.

Adichie’s mother passed on about eight months after her father, James Adichie, who died last June at the age of 88. The late Professor of Statistics reportedly died from complications of kidney failure while his wife died after a brief illness.

In a Facebook post late Wednesday, the multiple award-winning writer said her “heart break twice”.

In the piece titled, ‘How Does A Heart Break Twice?’, the author wrote, “How does a heart break twice? To still be immersed in grief, barely breathing again, and then to be plunged callously back into a sorrow you cannot even articulate. How can my mother be gone forever, and so soon after my father?

“She made history as the first female registrar of the University of Nigeria. She was a permanent board member of the Anambra State Basic Education Board ASUBEB.

“On Friday she was at work, in her ASUBEB office in Awka. Her lovely assistant Mimi said she seemed a bit tired. Still, back home after work, she walked the half mile to St. Paul’s Church for Stations of the Cross. On Saturday, she spent time in Louisa’s shop, outside the gate of our house in Abba, watching the cars and people on the dusty road. On Sunday, her driver drove her to Mass. Sunday evening she was unwell. She was taken to a private hospital in Awka. We were worried, but a few hours later, she was better, sitting up, eating rice. On the phone I told her, “We love you, Mummy, try and rest.”

Adichie further narrated, “The next morning, the doctor sent an update to say she was doing even better. But moments later, he took the sudden bewildering decision to transfer her to the Teaching Hospital, and she was hastily moved there. He claimed the Teaching Hospital had better facilities. “Do my children know I’m being transferred?” she is said to have asked. Two hours after she arrived at the Teaching Hospital, she died. It was March 1st, my father’s birthday.

“How does a heart break twice? As the days have passed my disbelief has grown. This perpetual astonishment of grief: Did it really happen? My mother is gone forever? How is it possible?

“We were planning for my father’s iyipu-akwa, to mark the end of the formal mourning period, and now I cannot believe that we are planning a funeral. Again.”

“How does a heart break twice? You discover emotions you cannot name. There is an emotion more hollow than sorrow. There is an acceptance drenched in disbelief. Language fails. Clichés come startlingly alive: the heart is truly heavy, it is no mere metaphor.

“The mornings so dark you cannot get up from bed, the erratic pulse, the anger, the surprise, the tiny moments of forgetting, the regrets, the doomed attempts at escape. But the pain is waiting. The pain is inescapable.

“The desperate longing to turn back time, just to see her again, hear her laugh one more time, hug and kiss her. Even if just to say goodbye, even if just to have the chance to say goodbye, to say thank you for everything you did for me and everything you were to me, to say I love you, again.

“The questions. Why so soon? Why like this? Has the universe not given us our own fair share of pain for now?

“To have loving parents, an entire life propped up by them, and in months to have it all end, so abruptly, with such unbearable finality. O kwerom edi,” she stated.

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Baba Ijesha may be released Friday - Police source

A senior officer at the Lagos State Police Command has confirmed to Punch Metro that a directive had been given for the release of Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju Omiyinka, aka Baba Ijesha, from custody.

The source said due to the ongoing strike by members of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, courts had ceased from sitting and the suspect could not be detained indefinitely without trial.

The source, however, said investigation into the recent allegation against Omiyinka revealed that he did not defile the victim, adding that when she was questioned, the victim confirmed the same.

The senior police officer stated, “There was no case of defilement, people are just talking out of sentiment. They are not talking from the point of law. We interviewed all parties involved in the case for three hours today (Wednesday).

“The mother complained that her child was at the age of seven when she was defiled and the child pointed at Baba Ijesha. But the case was not reported until she was 14 years and under the law, the case has become statute-barred.

“Regarding this new case, the CCTV footage has been assessed and nowhere was it captured that Baba Ijesha defiled her. The footage only showed him touching the victim’s body but it never showed him having any s3xual intercourse with the girl. The girl also confirmed the same thing.

“So, in law, it is a case of indecent assault and not s3xual harassment, and it is open to bail.  So, can we continue to keep him when the offence is subject to bail and when there is no court sitting? That is against his fundamental human rights and the police do not work on sentiments. Directives have been given out for his release on bail.”

The source, however, said that despite granting Omiyinka bail, investigation would continue, adding that the command had also sought legal opinion from the state Ministry of Justice.

The source added, “A test was recently done on the victim and it was discovered that she had penetration. Is it the penetration of seven years that is still evident now, and who penetrated her then? Is there any medical report linking the man (Omiyinka) to the crime?

“The CCTV footage never showed Baba Ijesha defiling her, but he confessed to touching her body indecently and apologised, and the girl confirmed the same.

“Investigation is still ongoing and we have instructed them to conduct a medical examination on the victim at a government recognised medical facility. We are not specialists in the field and we have also sought legal opinion from the Ministry of Justice.”

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17-year-old girl drowns in Asa River, Ilorin

A 17-year-old girl drowned on Wednesday at Asa river, along the Harmony Estate bridge, Kulende area of Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

The spokesman of the state fire service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, disclosed this in a statement in Ilorin on Wednesday.

He said a team of firemen was summoned to the scene of the incident through a telephone call at about 13.09hours on Wednesday.

The spokesman, however, expressed sadness that the victim was rescued dead by the firemen.

Her body, he added, was later transferred and handed over to the DPO of ‘E’ Division, Kulende estate area in Ilorin.

Director, state fire service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, sympathised with the family of the victim over the incident.

He prayed God to console the family ocer the irreparable loss.

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Insecurity: Pastor Adeboye calls for prayers for Nigeria

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has asked  Nigerians of all tribes and tongues to pray for the country and the rest of the world.

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Adeboye begged God to show mercy on Nigeria and heal Africa’s most populous country.

“Keep praying for Nigeria and the rest of the world in these difficult times. It is our prayer that God will have mercy on Nigeria and heal our land in Jesus’ Name,” he said.

His call followed series of attacks in the country, ranging from kidnapping to banditry, terrorism to militancy, cultism to calls for secession among several others.

Keep praying for Nigeria and the rest of the world in these difficult times.
It is our prayer that God will have mercy on Nigeria and heal our land in Jesus Name. pic.twitter.com/0P3bvjxvWh

— Pastor Adeboye (@PastorEAAdeboye) April 28, 2021

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Assassins kill Lagos socialite month after chieftaincy case victory

A Lagos-based socialite and contender for the Badore chieftaincy stool, Chief Rasak Jikoji, has been assassinated.

Punch Metro gathered that Rasaki had a month ago celebrated a court ruling in his favour on the chieftaincy stool.

He was said to be with his personal assistant on Sunday, April 25, 2021, when he was attacked and shot dead.

Punch correspondent gathered that the assailants also smashed his skull open with a big stone.

The 60-year-old was rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, and the matter was reported at the Langbasa Police Station.

The victim’s aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said the attack happened around 3pm at the deceased’s house on Jikoji Court, Unity Estate, Badore.

He stated that the late socialite had invited him the previous day, adding that on getting to the house, he observed that Rasak was having a meeting with some persons.

The aide said Rasak later led his guests to a piece of land in the community.

The aide stated, “He joined them in their car, while I drove his car behind them. About 15 minutes later, he came down from their car and entered his car. He said we should return home.

“As we were approaching the gate, he wound up the glass. I was about to park when I saw two men coming towards the passenger’s side. One of them covered his face and the other had a gun.

“I believe I heard one of them say, ‘It is you that wants to become Baale’. They tried to shoot twice, but the gun did not go off. They came in front of the car and tried to shoot again.

“I put the car in reverse and tried to speed off. The road was not good and in our attempt to flee, the car ran into a ditch. Chief asked me to run out. I opened the door before they got to us. As we were running, they caught up with him.

“The second guy, who was chasing me, later went back. I looked behind and saw that chief had already engaged the other man who had the pistol. I believe that the gun fell at a point. But the guy, who went back, picked a stone and smashed it on his head. The other guy picked up the pistol and shot him.”

The aide said the suspects later escaped in a tricycle that he had earlier noticed on the premises without suspecting anything.

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