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  • PDP holds elective congresses in 80 wards in A’Ibom

    PDP holds elective congresses in 80 wards in A’Ibom

    By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  has conducted special elective congresses to constitute new executive committees and fill vacant positions in 80 wards across 25 local government chapters in Akwa Ibom.

    This followed the creation of 39 additional wards by the State Independent Electoral Commission,(AKISIEC) in addition to the 329 already existing across the state last August.

    The congresses which held weekend at the affected ward centers was generally peaceful with stakeholders lauding the party’s leadership at the state for accommodating the interests of members.

    The state chairman of the party, Obong Udo Ekpenyong, while addressing stakeholders and members before the distribution of materials for the conduct of the congress, maintained that the Congress would be conducted in strict adherence to the PDP constitution.

    Ekpenyong explained that while the new wards needed properly constituted executive committees, it was important to get replacement for vacant positions left behind by  ward officers who either resigned to vie for positions in the October 31 local government election, or have moved to the new wards.

    The chairman tasked party officers involved in the exercise to uphold the democratic ideals of fairness, transparency, equity and peace which the PDP in state is known for.

    Stakeholders and members who took part in the congresses  commended Ekpenyong-led  leadership of the PDP for taking proactive measures to ensure that the  congress was peaceful and rancour-free across the 80 wards. 

    “What is happening today is very commendable. It shows that the current leadership has placed the  interest of the Party as utmost priority. As a person, I must confess that I am very impressed with the leadership of Hon. Udo Ekpenyong.” Mr Effiong Okon, a PDP member in Nung Atai Ube Ward 2, Okobo local council said. 

    In Uyo senatorial district, the congresses held in Uyo, Uruan, Ibesikpo Asutan, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium, Etinan, Ibiono Ibom and Itu chapters while it was conducted in wards across Ikot Ekpene, Easien Udim, Obot Akara, Ini, Ikono, Abak, Etim Ekpo, Oruk Anam and Ukanafun chapters in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

    In Eket Senatorial District, congresses held in wards across Eket, Esit Eket, Onna, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Oron, Okobo and Mbo chapters even as the party is set to fill candidates in the October 31 LGA elections for all 31 local government areas and 368 wards.

  • Domestic Refinery Owners back up FG on subsidy removal

    Domestic Refinery Owners back up FG on subsidy removal

    By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo

    The Domestic Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria (DROAN) has thrown their weight in support of the Federal Government removal of oil subsidy in the country.

     National Chairman of the association, Mr Godwin Sunday, made this known in a press conference  in Uyo weekend said the association was in full support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s  courageous stand in bringing the subsidy regime to an end.

    Sunday urged Nigerians to support the policy and the establishment of modular refineries in the country as this would enhance youth employment and bring an end to youth restiveness, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.

    “The oil sector, as we all know has been the major stay of our economy and contribute more than 80 per cent to the growth of our nation.

    “Therefore, as responsible citizens of this nation we have seen the need to join hands with the government to protect our major source of sustenance (crude oil).

    “We salute the courage of the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari for bringing the subsidy regime to an end. We applaud the government, and we are also appealing to Nigerians to support the government in this direction. 

    “We trust that better days are here because the resources that was used for oil subsidy will now be channeled into other developmental projects like education, health and infrastructure development.” The chairman stated.

    He said that the association was deeply concerned about the devastating effect of illegal oil bunkering on the ecosystem, planned to embark on sensitization exercise against illegal oil bunkering in the country and has acquired three speed boats to penetrate the Creeks for the exercise.

     “Considering the devastating effect on our environment which obviously is leading to the environmental pollution, degradation and even a negative effect on our ecosystem. We as a people, have unanimously aged that we cannot continue to steal what seemingly belong to us.

    “To deepen this commitment, we have acquired three speed boats with 75 horse power engine each to enable us penetrate the Creeks to carry out sensitization exercise tagged; “Operation Stop Illegal Bunkering in Nigeria.” Sunday explained.

    He appealed to the federal government to set up a Presidential Committee to look into the activities of artisanal oil refiners in the Niger Delta and appealed that individuals and organizations setting up modular refineries should partner with the association for easy and smooth integration of the artisanal refiners.

  • Flood Disrupts Water Supply In Kogi

    Flood Disrupts Water Supply In Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The General Manager, Kogi State Water Board, Engineer Muhammed Sagir Abdulsalam, over the weekend announced the suspension of water Supply to people in Lokoja the state capital and its environs due to flooding.

    This was made known in a statement signed the management and made available to Newsmen on Saturday in Lokoja.

    According to the statement, ” the facility of the water treatment plant has been affected and made the operation difficult by the Ravaging flood in Lokoja which compelled the management to suspend water supply to Lokoja, the state capital and it environs.

    While regretting the inconvenience the problem might have caused, the statement assured the general public that normal water supply would be restored as soon as Flooding reduce.

  • Ex- Kogi Gov. Debunks 50bn Salary Arrear Claim by Gov Bello Lied

    Ex- Kogi Gov. Debunks 50bn Salary Arrear Claim by Gov Bello Lied

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The immediate past Governor of Kogi state, Capt. Idris on Saturday described the claims of the incumbent Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello that he inherited over #50b salary arrears from his predecessors as a lie.

    The former governor while reacting  to Governor Yahaya Bello’s independent day broadcast, attributing his inability to perform due to the N50billion salary obligation left for him by past administration frowned that blaming past administrations for the failure or non performance of the present administration of Governor Bello was a sign of incompetence.

    Governor Bello had in a state wide broadcast to mark the 60th Independent anniversary of Nigeria on Thursday “said that the N50 billion salary obligations he inherited had impacted negatively on his ability to develop the state as he would have loved to.”

    Ex-governor Wada said that it was sad for the Governor to embark on a “blame game” and outright lies that he inherited N50 billion salary obligations when in actual fact, the bailout fund his administration applied for was paid to governor Bello.

    Capt. Wada explained that at a time, after he assumed office, allocation to Local government councils dropped. Stressing that when the opportunity for ‘bail out’ presented itself, the total amount due and owed to the LGAs he said was N45billion while it was estimated that by the end of his administration, the State Workers would be indebted to about N5.2b, making it a total of N50.3b.

    He noted that based on the adviced of the Nigeria Labour Congres  (NLC) the state was at time using two months allocations to pay for a month, pointing out that his administration was only indebted to two months salaries to the State workers before he handed over.

    Capt. Wada lamented that it was wrong after five years for the present governor Bello’s administration to be engaged in blame games for it’s failure even after he was given the bailout.

    “The fund was meant to clear salary arrears of Local government workers but was not released during my tenure rather, it was released to Bello which he refused to use for the purposes for which the ‘bail out’ was meant for”.

    According to him,”there are more pressing and important issues at hand begging for urgent attention than to engage in blame game for your incompetence”.

    “When I heard that vehicles, travellers and residents are stranded in Ganaja not being able to cross, I feel bad and I think that, that should be the major concern of any government, not to be engaging in frivolity of blame game and outright propaganda.”

    Captain Wada said that it is on record that no administration has exposed the state to more debts than the present administration which had subjected the state to a debt burden of about N120 billion without considering whether or not the state has the capacity adding that he left office with an indebtedness of about a billion naira.

    “Every action we took then concerning the finances of the state were subjected to serious scrutiny and debate unlike the present scenario when they just take decision without proper analysis.”

    According to him, “We know our limitations in terms of exposing the state to debt burden. We knew we cannot compete with Lagos or Rivers states in terms of borrowing, that was why we limited ourselves to what we had the capacity to borrow, but the present administration have gone ahead to expose the state beyond her capacity. That is unfortunate”. He added.

    The immediate past Governor said his administration was working on the Bye pass as an alternative measures for any unforeseen circumstances and the kabawa embankments for erosion control stressing that if the Projects had been completed, the agony people are facing now would have been a thing of the past.

  • Kano Hisbah arrests keke riders for indecent pictures, shaves ”un-Islamic hair cuts” [PHOTOS]

    Kano Hisbah arrests keke riders for indecent pictures, shaves ”un-Islamic hair cuts” [PHOTOS]

    Some officers of Hisbah in Kano has arrested some tricycle ‘keke” riders for adorning their Keke with photos considered obscene.

    They also forcefully shaved youths for ‘Un-Islamic Hair Cuts and arrested them for indecent mode of dressing.

    Some were also punished for wearing three-quarter jeans which is also seen as improper dressing.

    Sahara Reporters on Sunday, gathered pictures of Hisbah shaving the haircuts and punishment given to those found guilty of improper dressing.

  • #Revolutionnow convener, Sowore announces nationwide protest to end SARS

    #Revolutionnow convener, Sowore announces nationwide protest to end SARS

    Convener of #revolutionnow, Omoyele Sowore, has announced that there will be a nationwide protest against the ill-treatment of the operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) against young Nigerians.

    Sowore made this known on twitter on Sunday, October 4.

    In his tweet, he said, ”We are going to have a massive nationwide action for #EndSARS who is on board?”

    He disclosed the locations to be Police state head quarters in Lagos and Abuja.

    He wrote, ”Locations: @PoliceNG state headquarters in Lagos. Lagos has the most brutal longest-running killer #SARS in Nigeria @PoliceNGForce Headquarters in Abuja and all State Police Hqs will by fully #Occupy until SARS is disbanded and totally dismantled! #RevolutionNow @AmnestyNigeria”

    Meanwhile, Daybreak reports that some politicians and Nigerian celebrities have reacted to gruesome killing of Nigerians by SARS.

    In a tweet on Saturday, October 3, Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, described the killings as disheartening.

  • BREAKING: IGP bans SARS from stop-and-search, routine patrols

    BREAKING: IGP bans SARS from stop-and-search, routine patrols

    The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has banned the personnel of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad from routine patrols.

    He also banned and other Tactical Squads of the Force including the Special Tactical Squad, Intelligence Response Team, Anti-Cultism Squad and other Tactical Squads operating at the Federal, Zonal, and Command levels, from carrying out routine patrols.

    They were also banned from conducting other conventional low-risk duties – stop and search duties, checkpoints, mounting of roadblocks, traffic checks, etc – with immediate effect.

    In addition, no personnel of the Force is authorised to embark on patrols or tactical assignments in mufti.

    They must always appear in their police uniforms or approved tactical gear.

    The statement said,”Specifically, the IGP has warned the Tactical Squads against the invasion of the privacy of citizens particularly through indiscriminate and unauthorized search of mobile phones, laptops and other smart devices.

    ” They are to concentrate and respond only to cases of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes when the need arises.

    “The IGP notes that the FSARS and other Police Tactical Squads remain a critical component of the Force in confronting prevailing and emerging violent crimes in the country.

    “He however condemns every act of unprofessionalism, abuse of human rights and high-handedness by some personnel of the Squads.

    “He has therefore ordered the X-Squad and the Monitoring Unit to embark on immediate and massive nationwide monitoring of activities of Tactical Squads and other police officers on the road.

    “They are to ensure prompt arrest, investigation and prosecution of all erring police officers who violate these directives and other extant regulations of the Force.

    “The IGP has equally warned, that henceforth, the Commissioner of Police in charge of FSARS, Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands and the FCT as well as their supervisory Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police, will be held liable for any misconduct within their Area of Responsibility (AOR).

    “He therefore charged them to ensure effective supervision and mentoring of the personnel of the Tactical Squads under their jurisdiction.

    “Meanwhile, two operatives of the FSARS and their civilian accomplice operating in Lagos State, INSPR Sale James, INSPR Monday Uchiola and Okechukwu Ogbonna, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, for acts of professional misconduct including extortion and intimidation of innocent citizens.

    “The operational vehicle of the men has also been impounded and disciplinary procedure has already commenced against the defaulters.”

  • Trump’s Personal assistant tests positive for coronavirus

    Trump’s Personal assistant tests positive for coronavirus

    One of the White House aides who works closest to President Donald Trump has tested positive for coronavirus.

    Nicholas Luna, an assistant to the President, acts as one of his “body men,” whose job is to accompany the President throughout the day and night, putting him in close proximity to Trump, who announced early Friday morning he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive. The duties of a body man range from handling a president’s papers and speech texts to being ready with everything from briefing books to pens for autographs.

  • NYSC gives update on reopening of orientation camps

    NYSC gives update on reopening of orientation camps

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has insisted there is no official date for the reopening of camps.

    This was contained in a statement signed by the NYSC’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Adenike Adeyemi, in Abuja on Saturday.

    Adeyemi described reports that the orientation course will resume October 27, 2020 as fake.

    “It is imperative to state that the Scheme has ensured that all the COVID-19 safety protocols incidental to safe hosting of Orientation programmes are in place in all its 37 Orientation Camps.

    “Note also that some precautionary safety measures already adopted by the Scheme had earned it the commendation of the PTF,” the statement read.

    The NYSC expressed hope the Federal Government will soon give approval for the full resumption of camping.

    “While the NYSC sincerely appreciates the patience so far shown by the PCMs who have waited for over six months to be called-up for participation in the Scheme, it equally empathizes with them over the unanticipated disruption of their programmes, resulting from COVID-19 pandemic,” it added.

  • SBMC Is Making Efforts Towards Educational Progress In Kano State says Board Chairman

    By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

    The Kano state chairman schools base management committee(SBMC) Alhaji Tijjani Haladu Baraya has said that his committee is working selflessly to ensure that education is getting more progress in Kano state especially at present when the state government is facilitating conducive learning atmosphere under the stewardship of governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    He disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Kano, adding that SBMC is becoming a successful committee that is working for the development of education in Kano state since inception, he opined that members of the committee at all levels are doing a commendable job to ensure that all is well in Kano schools with emphasis on people’s participation.

    The chairman reiterated his committee’s determination towards successful implementation of all educationally related policies that are meant for excellent performance at both primary, post primary and tertiary institutions that remains the pillar of sound education despite some challenges due to Covid-19 pandemic.

    Tijjani Haladu Baraya commended governor Ganduje for bringing programmes that are meant for the development of education in Kano state especially nowadays when the world is changing through education, and thanked the state’s ministry of education, state’s universal education board and other sister organisations that are devoted to educational development that bears the same principles with SBMC.

    Alhaji Tijjani Haladu called on parents and guardians to be part of education development so as to boosts peoples participation in their localities in order to ensure that there is collective responsibility in education development across Kano state.