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  • We must create tomorrow’s leaders today – Gov Ikpeazu

    We must create tomorrow’s leaders today – Gov Ikpeazu

    Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has described the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) as a veritable platform that can motivate the youths and enjoined the Council to avail the youths of business prospects through education and mentorship.

    Governor Ikpeazu was speaking when he received at the Government House Umuahia, a delegation of the South East leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria.

    He said that the State’s investments in the development of youths are key, adding that, “we must create leaders of tomorrow today”.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Abia State, further said that his conviction is to try to imbibe in youths the possibility of excelling even in difficult situations.

    The Abia Governor said he would want to see youths that can excel, pointing out that he sees in Abia youths the capacity to become great and add to the economy of the nation.

    Ikpeazu urged young people to look inwards as everything they need to survive is available within their immediate environment and stressed the need for Abia youths to sustain their resilience and hardwork they are known for.

    He reassured that his administration will continue to take deliberate steps aimed at preparing young people for the challenges of leadership.

    According to him, his administration has invested heavily in the youths of the State in various ways including availing youths of opportunities to hold top positions in his government.

    Governor Ikpeazu approved the request of the State Council of the NYCN to incorporate the Abia Youth House into the planned remodeling of the Nsulu Games Village.

    Speaking earlier, the State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Emeka Ikwuagwu who described Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as a youth friendly Governor, highlighted many of his achievements geared towards youth development, including Education for Employment programme (E4E), establishment of Abia State Homeland Ministry, TMASS among others, all of which have employed thousands of youths in the State.

    The Commissioner assured that the Ministry will continue to prioritize youth matters in the State to aid youths to achieve their potentials.

    In his speech, the State Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Abia State Chapter, Comrade Sylvanus Smith who said that the South East leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria was in Abia State for its stakeholders meeting and thanked the Governor for changing the narrative of youth empowerment to youth development.

    He appealed to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to sustain the financial support being given to the State Ministry of Youth & Sports as well as encourage the social State investment Office to reach more youths among other requests.

  • Better to have Amotekun with fewer errors than rampaging armed herdsmen- HURIWA

    Better to have Amotekun with fewer errors than rampaging armed herdsmen- HURIWA


     
     
       The foremost civil rights advocacy group-: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA ( HURIWA) has dismissed the trenchant criticisms trailing few instances of human errors in the operations of the south west of Nigeria -based Amotekun security outfit.  

    The rights group which argues that the few human errors are mere teething institutional problems that will be resolved with better strategic finetuning of training and improvement of manpower capacities of Amotekun security platform, urged massive support for the body because it is better to have home-grown institutional mechanism to protect lives and property than to permit the hitherto uncontrollable rampage and killing of citizens living in the south west of Nigeria by the rampaging bunch of determined armed herdsmen whose origin are mired in politics and deceit. Moreover, the Rights group said the Federal Attorney General and minister of justice Abubakar Malami SAN had stated that his office couldn’t prosecute Armed Fulani herdsmen because according to him, there is no case file against them. 
     
         In a statement by the National coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National media affairs director miss Zainab Yusuf, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA ) said those at the forefront of irrational criticisms of Amotekun because of the few but avoidable human errors, are suffering from ‘intentionally deceitful  amnesia’  because if they think deeply how the south west came under incessant massive attacks and violence by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen , they would have seen that the errors were the less of the two evils. 
     
      Besides, the Rights group backs the order made by the Ondo state Governor Barrister  Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu ( SAN ) on armed herdsmen to quit south west forests , said it expected the rest of the country such as South East, North East, North Central and South South to Embrace the Example set by the South west by replicating similar law- based institutional body to protect the lives and property of their people to complement the efforts of the regular policy institution. 
     
         “ we also do expect that with Better training, retraining and a purified system of recruitment, Amotekun will become a shining example on how the state legislature working in partnership with the executive Governors should protect the lives of their people. “
     
    The Prominent Civil Rights Advocacy group-:HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) affirmed thus: “ We support Amotekun 100% and we think it is better than allowing armed Fulani herdsmen to continue to carry out genocide and be left to operate by the Nigerian police which has so far failed to prosecute a single of those armed Fulani herdsmen responsible for the killing of over 6,000 farmers all over the country in the last five years. Those now raising their compromised voices against Amotekun,  are they saying they are happy with the constant spilling of blood of the innocent attributed to armed non state actors and particularly the armed Fulani herdsmen?”
     
     
       The Rights group said the south western state’s legislature were right to pass the law Setting up the AMOTEKUN SECURITY OUTFITS IN THEOR STATES  because it is in total compliance with section 4 (7) of the constitution thus; “The House of Assembly of a State shall have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the State or any part thereof with respect to the following matters, that is to say:- 
    (a) any matter not included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part I of the Second Schedule to this Constitution. 
    (b) any matter included in the Concurrent Legislative List set out in the first column of Part II of the Second Schedule to this Constitution to the extent prescribed in the second column opposite thereto; and 
    (c) any other matter with respect to which it is empowered to make laws in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.”
     
    HURIWA  recalled that the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, had asked all Fulani herdsmen in Ondo State to vacate forest reserves within the state. He also issued a seven-day ultimatum to the herdsmen.
    The governor gave the ultimatum on Monday while meeting with leaders of Hausa/Fulani and Ebira Communities in the state.
    The meeting held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s office, Alagabaka, Akure, the state capital.
    Mr Akeredolu said the activities of the herdsmen have long been causing a threat to security in the state.
    He also shared his statement on his official Twitter handle.
    “Today we have taken major steps at addressing the root cause of kidnapping, in particular, and other nefarious activities detailed and documented in security reports, the press and debriefings from victims of kidnap cases in Ondo State.”
    “These unfortunate incidents are traceable to the activities of some bad elements masquerading as herdsmen. These felons have turned our forest reserves into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransom and carrying out other criminal activities.”
    “As the Chief Law and Security Officer of the State, it is my constitutional obligation to do everything lawful to protect the lives and property of all residents of the State. In light of the foregoing, the following orders are hereby issued:

    1. All Forest Reserves in the State are to be vacated by herdsmen within the next 7 days with effect from today, Monday 18th January, 2021.
    2. Night-grazing is banned with immediate effect because most farm destruction takes place at night.
    3. Movement of cattle within cities and highways is prohibited.
    4. Under-aged grazing of cattle is outlawed.
      “Our resolution to guarantee the safety of lives and property within the State shall remain utmost as security agencies have been directed to enforce the ban.
      “In its usual magnanimity, our administration will give a grace period of seven days for those who wish to carry on with their cattle-rearing business to register with appropriate authorities.”
      HURIWA said every right thinking citizen of Nigeria should applaud the South West governors for standing up to defend their people. 
  • Heavy Fire Outbreak Wrecks Sokoto Central Market

    Heavy Fire Outbreak Wrecks Sokoto Central Market

    By Muhammad Goronyo, Sokoto

    Just this morning as people wake up preparing to reach their areas of marketing, heavy fire smoke was seen in the Sokoto Central Market.

    When contacted on the action taken to stop the menace of the havoc, the Acting Director-general of Sokoto Fire Service, Sani Muhammad Budah said all vehicles within the metropolis were directed to the market.

    He added that the source of the outbreak is not yet known, “we are after stopping the menace of the outbreak before going into investigation, a great number of shops are involved, you know lives and wealth, some marketers would not be patient, they would try to go into their burning shops and may cause dangers which may eventually lead to death “,averred Budah.

    Some of the good Samaritans around trying to assist remove some movable items especially within atampa brocade and rubber shops could not move closer as heavy smoke locks every entry into shops.

    One of the unanimous atampa brocade shop owner said it was only two days ago he purchased over two million naira worth of materials and along with what was in the shop were consumed by the inferno.

    As at the time our correspondent sent in this report the inferno, men of the state fire  service were doing their best to bring the disaster to the end.

  • One feared shot as Kaduna residents protest outrageous electricity bills

    One feared shot as Kaduna residents protest outrageous electricity bills

    One person was shot while a car and several bicycles were burnt after a peaceful protest organized by residents of Kafanchan in Kaduna State over outrageous electricity bills and epileptic power supply, turned violent on Monday, January 18.

    The protesters in their numbers stormed the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC), Kafanchan business office carrying placards with inscriptions: ‘Stop charging us high’, ‘Stop the blackout’, ‘Give us stable power supply.

    Some of the protesters lamented that power supply in the area was not commensurate with the ‘high billing’ they usually received monthly. They maintained that the power situation in Kafanchan had deteriorated in recent times and called for an end to excessive billing by KEDC.

    The protest however turned violent when the security agents in their bid to contain the protesting, fired a shot that hit the back of one of the protesters. A car and several motorcycles were burnt afterwards.

  • Gov. Yahaya Bello rejects COVID-19 vaccine, says it’s meant to kill

    Gov. Yahaya Bello rejects COVID-19 vaccine, says it’s meant to kill

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has falsely claimed that the Covid-19 vaccines are meant to kill people and he discouraged its use.

    The increase in coronavirus cases in Nigeria has led to demand for vaccines to curb the spread of the virus.

    The federal government had announced that Nigerians will receive the coronavirus vaccine by January 2021.

    However, in a viral video, Yahaya Bello questioned the authenticity of the vaccine and condemned its use.

    Bello questioned why there is no cure for HIV and many other diseases troubling mankind yet a vaccine for coronavirus has been created after only 1 year.

    He said: “Vaccines are being produced in less than one year of COVID-19. There is no vaccine yet for HIV, malaria, cancer, headache and for several other diseases that are killing us. They want to use the (COVID-19) vaccines to introduce the disease that will kill you and us. God forbid.

    “We should draw our minds back to what happened in Kano during the Pfizer polio vaccines that crippled and killed our children. We have learned our lessons.

    “If they say they are taking the vaccines in the public allow them take their vaccines. Don’t say I said you should not take it but if you want to take it, open your eyes before you take the vaccines.”

  • Bishop Kukah bags Pope’s special appointment on human development

    Bishop Kukah bags Pope’s special appointment on human development

    Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese , Mathew Hassan Kukah has been appointed as a Member of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Human Integral Development by Pope Francis

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Director, Social Communications Catholic Diocese of Sokoto Reverend . Father Christopher A. Omotosho and made available to newsmen

    According to the statement the appointment was contained in a letter to Bishop Kukah dated 11th December, 2020, and signed by His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Turkson, the Prefect of the Dicastery.

    By this appointment, Bishop Kukah will join other members of the Dicastery drawn from different regions of the world to advise and promote the holy Father’s concerns on issues of justice and peace, human rights, torture, human trafficking, care of creation and other issues related to the promotion of human dignity and development.

    The appointment, which is renewable is for an initial period of five years. The Council will be formally inaugurated on a later date.

    The Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development* was created on January 1, 2017, when four Dicasteries, namely, the Pontifical Councils for Justice and Peace, Cor Unum, Pastoral Care of Immigrants and Itinerant People and Health Care of Workers, were all merged by the Holy Father.

    This appointment adds to Bishop Kukah’s string of national and international engagements within the universal Church.

  • One feared dead, scores of cars burnt as tanker explodes in Ogun

    One feared dead, scores of cars burnt as tanker explodes in Ogun

    One person was feared dead while scores of vehicles got burnt in a tanker explosion that occurred in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    The incident occurred around 8:15 am on Tuesday on the Presidential Boulevard Road around Guarantee Trust Bank opposite Lawson Group School, Kuto, Abeokuta.

    The explosion, which reportedly involved a 33,000-fuel laden tanker, happened due to a break failure.

    Our correspondent, who was at the motor park close to the scene observed that the tanker which was coming from Sagamu-Siun-Oke-Mosan Road climbed the overhead bridge but suddenly lost control while descending from the bridge .

    The tanker hit a motorcycle which was in motion and rammed into some commercial vehicles waiting for passengers at the end of the bridge.

    Shortly after it rammed into the scores of the vehicles, it exploded.

    The fire which spread to a few offices around the place caused panic as many motorists started making reverse to avoid being caught up in the explosion.

    There was anxiety over the fate of some pupils who were in the vehicles around the place and in the school premises opposite the scene of explosion.

    As of the time of filing this report, some officials of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps were seen at the scene controlling the traffic.

    Officials of the fire services were still being expected at the scene.

    Details later…

  • Policeman prostrates, begs for mercy at Ogun #EndSARS Judicial Panel

    Policeman prostrates, begs for mercy at Ogun #EndSARS Judicial Panel

    A police sergeant, Adeleke Olalekan, on Monday, prostrated before the Ogun judicial panel of investigation, begging for mercy.

    Reports had it that Adeleke was said to have accompanied one CSP Gbenga Megbope to the Judicial Panel sitting at the Magistrate Court 1, Isabo, Abeokuta in respect of a petition filed against him.

    When CSP Megbope was answering questions at the panel, the sergeant was seen making gestures, pointing fingers and speaking disrespectfully in a manner suggestive of threat at panel members from where he sat.

    A member of the panel, who saw Olalekan’s reactions, quickly raised the alarm and he was invited to come and explain what was described as contempt against the panel.

    However, Sergeant Olalekan, who escorted his supposed boss to the panel from Ibadan, could not explain his actions.

    Without much ado, he was booked for appropriate punishment as stipulated under the Commission of Inquiry law.

    Reeling out the law against the offender, the Panel Chairman, Justice Solomon Olugbemi (rtd), said, “any person who commits an act of contempt, whether the act is or is not committed in the presence of the Commissioners sitting in Commission, such person or persons shall be liable to summary conviction before a court of competent jurisdiction to be convicted and punished according to the tenet stipulated in the law”.

    Hearing this, the policeman wasted no time as he prostrated, begging the panel to forgive him.

    Olugbemi stated that the Police Sergeant ought to be recommended for trial at the Magistrate court, but he was let go because other members of the panel had also pleaded on his behalf

    The panel refrained from recommending him for trial, warning that it would no longer tolerate any act of contempt against it or any of its members.

  • Kano State bans Event, Viewing Centers over rising Covid-19 cases

    Kano State bans Event, Viewing Centers over rising Covid-19 cases

    Kano state government has announced the imposition of a fresh ban on the activities of viewing and event centres across the state following increasing COVID-19 cases.

    The state commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba, disclosed this in a statement.

    He said the measure was part of decision at a stakeholders meeting held at the Africa House, Kano on Monday.

    According to him, all civil servants in the state have also been directed to stay at home pending further instruction.

    Muhammad Garba explained that workers on essential services such as the healthcare service providers, fire service, water board, teaching staff, security guards and the media are exempted from the ban.

    The commissioner reaffirmed government’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders that included the Ulama to ensuring compliance with the COVID-19 Protocols.

    He also warned that security agents who were part of the stakeholders meeting would not hesitate to take stern measures to ensure compliance with the directive.

  • Bishop Kukah gets Vatican appointment

    Bishop Kukah gets Vatican appointment

    Pope Francis appoints Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah as Member of the Vatican Congregation for Promoting Integral Human Development.

    By Joyce Babayeju

    The Catholic Pontiff Pope Francis has appointed Most Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto as a Member of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting of Integral Human Development. The appointment was contained in a recent letter signed by His Eminence, Cardinal Peter Turkson, the Prefect of the Dicastery.

    A statement issued by Fr Christopher A. Omotosho Director, Social Communications
    Catholic Diocese of Sokoto stated that by this appointment, Bishop Kukah will join other members of the Dicastery drawn from different regions of the world to advise and promote the Holy Father’s concerns on issues of justice and peace, human rights, torture, human trafficking, care of creation and other issues related to the promotion of human dignity and development. The appointment, which is renewable, is for an initial period of five years. The Council will be formally inaugurated on a later date, it added.

    This appointment adds to Bishop Kukah’s string of national and international engagements within the universal Catholic Church. He was first appointed a Consultor and later a Member of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, Vatican City and served under three Popes. He is currently, Chairman of the Dialogue Committees of both the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). He was a member of the official Delegation of the Holy See that met with the Emir of Qatar when the country opened diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 2002.

    In 2016, Bishop Kukah was nominated by the Vatican to represent Africa on the Advisory Board of the Vienna-based, King Abdulazeez International Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue (KAIICID). KAIICID is the fruit of the collaboration between the governments of Saudi Arabia, Austria and the Holy See for the promotion of worldwide dialogue between world religions. Bishop Kukah comes to the Dicastery on Promoting Integral Human Development with a lot of experience in the areas of human rights, justice and reconciliation.