Author: Emmanuel Anthony

University of Ibadan (UI) has confirmed that Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, graduated from the institution. The Registrar, Mrs Olubunmi Faluyi, made the confirmation on Wednesday. A statement she signed noted that “Mr Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State graduated from the University of Ibadan where he studied Classics.” The school said the governor gained admission to the University in 1976. UI confirmed that he graduated in 1979 with a Second Class Honours, Lower Division. The statement assured that records of his admission and graduation “are intact in the archives of the University.” The National Chairman of the…

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Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has said that he is not quarrelling with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, as a person. “I do not have a rift with him (Oshiomhole) as a person. I just do not agree with how some decisions are taken, as it relates to the party. It is not in the interest of our party,” Mr Obaseki said in an interview with newsmen. Mr Obaseki said Mr Oshiomhole has been a disruption to the decision-making process of the APC in Edo state. “Our quarrel has been that we are doing things…

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National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, Olusegun Bamgbose, has said that though former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is constitutionally qualified to run in the 2023 presidential election, he is ethically and morally unfit and ineligible to contest. Bamgbose noted that there is a very strong indication that Atiku may likely contest again come 2023 following a hint by one of his sons, Adamu, who said that his father will try again, though the son has denied the report saying he was referring to himself. Atiku was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 general…

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Adamu Atiku Abubakar, first son of the former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has denied saying his father will contest for the presidency in 2023. Adamu who is the current commissioner of works and energy in Adamawa State said the media misquoted him in the interview he granted journalists last week in Yola. Adamu stated that his father is his lifetime mentor and a friend who aspires to be whatever God has purposed for him to be in this world. “The journalists totally misquoted me and that was not what I meant. I was trying to draw a…

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A Federal High Court in Benin City, Edo state, has stopped the All Progressives Congress and its national chairman from conducting any primary election in Edo State ahead of the state governorship election in September, pending the determination of the suit on June 11, 2020. This comes as the faceoff between Governor Godwin Obaseki and APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, intensifies over who will represent the party in the upcoming governorship election. The APC primaries had been slated for June 22. In a similar development, Governor Obaseki on Monday approved a request by the Peoples Democratic Party to use the Samuel…

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Founder of the Household of God Church, Chris Okotie, has rejected the guidelines issued by the Lagos state government for the reopening of worship centres. The Lagos state government had announced that religious activities will resume in two weeks. While Muslims will return to mosques on June 19, Christian worship would begin on June 21. Some guidelines were also announced by the state government to facilitate the reopening of worship centres and to curb the spread of COVID-19. They include the compulsory use of face masks; restriction of people below the age of 15 and above 65 years from services,…

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The Niger State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency fire the newly appointed Registrar/Chief Executive of National Examinations Council, Professor Godswill Obioma. The Council urged Buhari to remove Obioma and replace him with a candidate from the host community (Niger state) or Northern Nigeria. Making the call in Minna, the NYCN state chairman, Comrade Bello B. Shariff, said in the 21 years of NECO’s existence, the host state has been relegated to the background in appointing who sits at the helm of affairs of the examination…

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The Peoples Democratic Party has clarified that there was no truth in the rumours that Governor Samuel Ortom, Senator Gabriel Suswam and some other bigwigs of the party were planning to defect to All Progressives Congress. The party insisted that the claim was baseless and unfounded, stressing that those at the centre of the rumour were seeking attention. State Chairman of the PDP, Mr. John Ngbede, who clarified Makurdi observed that the rumour became rife after the recent security meeting called by the governor which attracted stakeholders from across political party lines. According to Ngbede: “It was after the meeting…

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that six governorship aspirants in Edo will be screened for its primary election. The exercise has been scheduled for June 22. APC National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement on Friday said the aspirants have bought, completed and submitted their expression of interest and nomination forms. They are Governor Godwin Obaseki, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Pius Odubu, Chris Ogiemwonyi, Osaro Obazee and Matthew Aigbuhuenze Iduoriyekemwen. APC said to ensure due diligence and transparency in the screening exercise and learning from recent shocking experiences, it was determined to avoid any lapses in the process. “Therefore,…

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The Presidency has revealed the likely date for the resumption of interstate movement. The ban was imposed weeks ago by the Nigerian government to contain the spread of Coronavirus. Bashir Ahmad, speaking on Thursday said that interstate movement is expected to resume alongside reopening of airports on June 21. His tweet read: “Interstate movement may resume on June 21, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr. Sani Aliyu, gave the hint recently, as domestic flights are also expected to resume on June 21.” Recall that the Chairman of the Task Force, Boss Mustapha, during the briefing…

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Edo State Commissioner for Information, Paul Ohonbamu, has resigned his appointment from Governor Godwin Obaseki’s cabinet. He announced his resignation in a letter addressed to Obaseki on Thursday. Ohonbamu explained that he decided to step aside as cabinet member and operate outside for the general good of Edo. He thanked the governor for the opportunity given to him to serve the state. “I am particularly delighted that His Excellency’s second term bid is firm and surefooted. Whether we shall meet again I know not, therefore, our everlasting farewell take. If we do meet why we shall smile, if not it…

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The United States of America’s Embassy in Nigeria has warned its citizens not to visit its consulate office in Lagos, over a planned protest against the murder of George Floyd. Floyd, an African-American man, was killed on Monday by a white Minneapolis police officer. His death has sparked protests across the US, with the American government imposing a curfew in over 25 states. On Tuesday, some Nigerians also protested at the US Embassy in Abuja. However, in an alert published on its website, the US Embassy advised its citizens to avoid areas surrounding the US consulate office building. “The U.S.…

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Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday commenced screening of career ambassadorial nominees in Abuja. Chairman of the committee, Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa in his opening address enjoined the first batch of the 42 nominees to see the Nigerian Senate as friendly and supportive of the Federal Government’s foreign policies that advocate external positive image of the country. Twelve out of the 42 nominees would be screened on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Senator Babajide Omoworare assured the committee of the nominee’s compliance with the Parliamentary rules, saying that others will make…

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Bayelsa Governorship Electoral Petition Tribunal has ordered the Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo to appear on Thursday with the original copy of a disputed certificate. Ewhrudjakpo, formerly a Senator representing Bayelsa West, is the deputy to Governor Duoye Diri. The Bayelsa Tribunal sitting in Abuja gave the ruling on Tuesday. This followed a subpoena on Ewhrudjakpor to appear with the original exemption certificate issued to him by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1998. The subpoena was issued on the request of Vijah Opuama, Liberation Movement (LM) governorship candidate in the November 16, 2019 poll. The complainant is challenging Ewhrudjakpo’s…

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A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja on Tuesday discharged former Kogi West Senator, Dino Daniel Melaye of criminal charges levelled against him by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF. The FCT High Court cleared Melaye of giving false information to police, as claimed by the AGF. He was accused of deliberately accusing the ex-Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, now Deputy Governor, David Onoja of plotting to assassinate him in April 2017. Melaye was accused of giving a false statement during a conversation with Mohammed Abubakar, son of Abubakar Audu, ex-Kogi governor. In…

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The Nigerian Government has finally lifted the ban on religious gathering across the country. The ban on religious gatherings had lasted for two months, a move taken to check the spread of Coronavirus. However, at the briefing of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Monday, Chairman of the task force, Boss Mustapha, announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the relaxation of the ban for four weeks. “The PTF submitted its recommendations and the President has approved the following for implementation over the next four weeks spanning 2nd – 29th June 2020, subject to review. “Cautious advance into…

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Controversies have trailed the recent abolition of pensions and privileges of former Governors, Deputy Governors, Speakers and Deputy speakers of Imo State as beneficiaries have threatened court action against the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma. It was gathered that some of the beneficiaries are very aggrieved and are making moves to drag the Governor to court. A beneficiary who spoke on conditions of anonymity said what the state government pays them as pension put together is not up to N7million as against the billions of naira it alleged to pay the ex-government functionaries. He wondered why Governor Uzodimma chose to repeal…

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The Niger State Police Command has invited the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Eng Mohammed Jibril Imam and his Executive members over a petition of alleged financial mismanagement against a member of the state working committee. A letter written by the state financial secretary of the party, Mohammed Idris to the state police commissioner, claimed there were no records for several funds received by the party. Idris had listed 11 sources through which monies were received but as the financial secretary, alleged he had no records of the expenses and incomes received by the party over time. Idris…

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The leader of INRI Evangelical spiritual church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to be prayerful. Ayodele said Buhari should “wake up” and take to prayer so as not to “lose another aide.” The clergyman, who made the call in his latest prophecy, also warned the new Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari to be prayerful. He said Gambari will step on toes because he wants to change things and some politicians will frame him up. Ayodele called for prayers to avert another death in the Presidential Villa. He said: “Buhari should wake up. He…

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Twitter is unrelenting in curtailing the excesses of U.S. President, Donald Trump, in mixing fiction with facts and outright spinning of lies. Just hours after Trump signed an executive order to control the social media firms, Twitter flagged another tweet by the U.S. President, in which he calls Minneapolis protesters ‘thugs’. In the tweet, Trump also threatened to send the military to shoot the protesters if the looting continues. “These THUGS are dishonouring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen. Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all…

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The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on Friday insisted that “President Muhammadu Buhari has led Nigeria backward by 60 years.” HURIWA maintained that the past five years of Buhari’s administration has been an embodiment of “inaction and systemic inefficiency.” It lamented that the state of human rights violations in the past five years has assumed epic proportions just as impunity, lawlessness and lack of respect for the sanctity of human life have become so widespread that many parts of Nigeria are currently in a state of civil war. HURIWA made the remark in a statement signed by its…

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The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has said he is qualified like every other Nigerian to contest for Senate or presidency in 2023. Ngige said this while dismissing reports that he was interested in contesting for the Anambra governorship election billed for next year. He spoke in his hometown of Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Sunday. Ngige, who was a former one-term governor of the state, however, declared that he has no interest in becoming governor because he’s on a national assignment as Minister. Ngige said: “Yes, there have been speculations that I…

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The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday, said it had “temporarily” suspended clinical trials of hydroxychloroquine, as a potential treatment for COVID-19. WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, while addressing a virtual press conference said that the WHO-backed trials had been “suspended while the safety is reviewed”. The decision has been taken after a publication indicated that the use of Chloroquine could increase the likelihood of dying. “It’s important to continue to gather evidence on the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine. “We want to use it if it’s safe and efficacious, reduces mortality, reduces the length of hospitalization without increasing adverse…

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The Kaduna State Healthcare Workers Unions and Associations have commenced a 7-day warning strike. The Kaduna State Government had rejected the planned strike action by the Congress of Health Workers Unions and Associations in the state. The state government said it has therefore introduced a register to be signed by those willing to work with the government, despite the salary cut-down. A communiqué issued and signed by Dr Danjuma Sule, Dr Emmanuel Joseph, Dr Sayyid Egbunu Mjhammed, Mr Ibrahim Abashe, Pharm. Bagu Great David, Ibrahim Lawal Suleiman, Ayuba Magaji, Nurse Ishaku Yakubu, Dr Stephen Kachi Akau, Dr Jinad Jibril Olawale,…

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Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has described the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal upholding his election as an affirmation of his landmark victory on November 16, 2019. In a statement by Onogwu Muhammed, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, he said the judgment affirming his landmark victory is a validation of the people’s mandate and an added impetus to his drive to do more for the good people of Kogi State. The governor in the statement lauded the tribunal for being upright and just and thanked the entire citizens of the state for support and prayer. The Governor noted…

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In a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus, President Muhammadu Buhari said that there is no need for government officials, political leaders, community heads, Muslim and Christian religious leaders and children to pay him Eid-el-Fitr homages at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He explained that his decision complied with the safety measures put in place in the Federal Capital Territory to guard against the spread of COVID-19. Buhari, who said he would spend the period at home with his family, also cited the directive of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, suspending Eid congregational prayers across the country,…

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Nigeria has recorded a breakthrough in the battle against coronavirus. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has successfully validated the first phase of the viral Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) extraction which would enable local production of cheap testing kits for COVID-19. The validation occurred in the laboratory of the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) in Abuja. Prof. Alex Akpa, NABDA Director-General, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the success was important to the African continent. He said the development “shall enable us to massively produce test kits so that more people would be tested for COVID-19, not only…

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The Cross River State Governor, Prof Benedict Ayade, has revealed why his state has not recorded any coronavirus case. Cross River and Kogi States are the only two states in Nigeria that have not recorded any cases since the virus found its way into Nigeria. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, according to NCDC, as at yesterday is 6677. But according to Governor Ayade, as soon as his government started seeing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic globally on television, it quickly responded by locking out the state against the virus. Ayade made the assertions during a guest appearance…

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There is an ongoing massive coronavirus testing in the Nigerian military and the Police in Lagos State. This followed the discovery that several officers and men had tested positive. Many of them reportedly contracted the virus while on medical duty. Some are among those receiving treatment at Isolation Centres in Lagos. The development was not unexpected as Lagos is the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria. As at Thursday, there’re 6,677 cases in total and over 2,800 are in the nation’s commercial hub. A Naval Lieutenant commander recently died from coronavirus. Rear Admiral Oladele Daji, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of…

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised an alarm of blackmail and smear attacks against the agency and the Chairman, Ibrahim Magu. Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Wednesday, said the EFCC has enough facts about the sponsors of such insidious campaigns. He said corruption will always fight back and that the agency was not surprised by the actions of “some overseas-based, politically-exposed and disgraced elements being investigated for unnerving acts of corruption”. EFCC noted that it was uncharitable to link Magu with the ownership of some buildings belonging to individuals with verifiable addresses. It describes as ridiculous,…

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