MR MACARONI DECLINES SANWOOLU'S INVITATION FOR PEACE WALK

Nigerian comic skit maker and actor, Debo Adedayo better known as Mr Macaroni has declined an invitation for a peace walk by the Lagos State Governor, South-West Nigeria, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Sanwo-Olu in his speech during a press conference specifically invited Folarin Falana (Falz), Debo Adebayo (Mr. Marcaroni), Dele Farotimi, Temitope Majekodunmi, Segun Awosanya (Segalink), Adedotun (Just Detoun), Seun Kuti, Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu and Commander of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), CSP Yinka Egbeyemi and others to join him in the “historic march for our dear Lagos.”

Sanwo-Olu said, “Our administration is ready to facilitate better communication between the youths and the state’s security machinery to resolve issues before they become intractable.

“To quicken recovery and engender a better understanding, I will lead ‘A Walk for Peace’ in December to herald the healing of the land.

“I have extended an open invitation to the youths, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society groups, students and the media, as well as other stakeholders to join me in this peace walk”.

Mr. Macaroni said: “I humbly decline the invitation of Mr Governor. The Government themselves set up a panel. The panel has made recommendations.

“I believe that genuine peacemaking will begin by first implementing the recommendations of the panel. Then we can begin to trust the government.

“Mr Governor has said it in his speech that to be a Centre of Excellence, we have to be a Center of Truth. Before there can be healing, the government has to be sincere. There must be acceptance of wrongdoings and willingness to correct them.

“The last walk wey I do, na so dem bundle me, strip me naked, brutalize and dehumanize me. I no carry gun, I no carry weapon. As dem dey beat me, dem dey ask why I dey disturb Mr Governor. Now dem say make I come do walk. For another round of beating??

“Abeg o. If I wan lose weight, I go go gym. Same peaceful Walk wey Nigerian Youths do wey dem kill them? Some are still in prison.. Some have gone into hiding. Their lives no longer theirs all because we decided to walk against police brutality.”

SUNDAY IGBOHO WINS, COURT ORDERS DSS TO PAY N20 BILLION FOR DAMAGES

 High Court sitting in Ibadan on Friday has ordered Department of State Security (DSS) to pay a sum of Twenty Billion Naira (N20billion) for the unlawful invasion and damages of Chief Sunday Adeyemo’s house in Soka area of Ibadan on July 1.

In a judgement delivered by Justice Ladiran Akintola, the court awarded the sum as exemplary and aggravated damages against the secret police in the suit filed by Igboho in which he is seeking N500 billion damages for the invasion.

The court also declared the invasion illegal and tongue-lashed the DSS for acting based on what he described as “arbitrary aggression and prejudices” from his agitation for Yoruba Nation.

2023: FEMI FANI-KAYODE JOINS APC OFFICIALLY.

FORMER Minister of Aviation during the President Olusegun Obasanjo government, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode has formally joined the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

He was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari by the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the APC, and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Mr. Fani Kayode said that he was led by the Spirit of God in his decision and that he joined the APC to help for the unity of the country, adding that he was against anything that would cause the disintegration of Nigeria.

He informed that he was instrumental for the exit of three Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors to the APC.

The governors he mentioned were Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Ben Ayade of Cross River State and Bello Matawale of Zamfara State.

He further said that he has friends across party line and was wooing the governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde and the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed to join the ruling party.

EFCC REVEALS MEDICAL CONDITION OF CHAIRMAN AFTER SLUMPING IN ASO ROCK

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has issued a statement on the collapse of its chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa at an event in Aso-rock on Thursday morning.

Bawa made headlines after he hurriedly stepped off a podium while speaking during an event organised by the NIMC. He struggled to walk back to his seat and slumped into his chair.

In a statement sent, the commission assured Nigerians that Bawa was ‘hale and hearty’ and will soon be back to work.

“The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa is hale and hearty.”

“This clarification became necessary following an incident today September 16, 2021 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja where he was giving a goodwill message to the National Identity Day celebration, felt unwell and had to return to his seat.”

“He has since received medical attention and is due back at his desk.”

WE WILL CELEBRATE IF GOODLUCK JONATHAN DECIDES TO JOIN US – APC SPOKESPERSON

APC’s deputy national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena made this known to The Guardian amid speculations that the former President had dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Nabena who hails from Bayelsa state insisted that there is no iota of truth in such speculation to the best of his knowledge.

“As at this moment, there is nothing like that. If the former President Jonathan decides to join the APC, it can’t be a hidden event. We will naturally celebrate it,” Nabena said.

“As a chieftain of the APC, I am aware that anybody who wants to join the party would start from the ward level. To the best of my knowledge as a Bayelsan, I am not aware of anything like that yet.”

Jonathan, who lost his reelection bid to the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 poll was at the helm of affairs of the country on the platform of the PDP between May 2010 and May 2015.

2023: JONATHAN SPEAKS ON DEFECTING FROM PDP TO APC

Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to rumours of defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Following reports that former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan is planning to join the ruling All Progressives Congress, he has reacted.

While reacting, Jonathan denied rumours of defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Jonathan camp made the fresh denial on Wednesday after rumours emerged again that the Bayelsa born politician has dumped the PDP for APC.

Severally, there have been rumours that Jonathan will dump the PDP for APC and contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the ruling party.

On Wednesday, the rumour mill went into overdrive that he has finally joined the APC, sparking anxiety from various quarters.

The former president’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze said there is no truth in the defection rumours.

He added that his principal is very busy with other activities and should he decide to defect, it will be communicated through appropriate channels, and not the rumour mill.

“The report is Fake News, if he defects it would be announced through the proper channels."

“This is a man that’s very busy with other things,” he said.

GOVERNOR MAKINDE DISSOLVES CABINET

Governor Seyi Makinde today dissolves his cabinet according to the press release issued out and duly signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa.

PRESS RELEASE

Governor 'Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Tuesday, announced the dissolution of the state's Executive Council.

Those affected include Chief of Staff (CoS) and 17 Commissioners.

The Cabinet was constituted on August 14, 2019, following Makinde's historic victory in the March 9, 2019, election.

The remaining Council members who were not affected include the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Head of Service (HOS) and the Director General of Due Process office.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Makinde announced the dissolution of the Executive Council after a meeting of the body on Tuesday, which lasted about five hours. 

Governor Makinde, according to the statement, expressed the gratitude of the government and the people of Oyo State to the Council members, and wished them well in their future endeavours. 

The governor equally praised the dedication to duty and the commitment of the council members to the cause of taking Oyo State from Poverty to Prosperity.

The statement said: "His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State, 'Seyi Makinde, announced the dissolution of the State Executive Council, with effect from Tuesday June 29, 2021.

"Governor Makinde, after a prolonged meeting of the Council, told members it was time to retool after two years.

"He therefore wished the ex-Commissioners the best in their future endeavours."

 

Signed 

Taiwo Adisa 

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde. 

June 29, 2021.

BUHARI APPOINTS BALARABE SHEHU-ILELAH AS NBC DIRECTOR GENERAL

President Buhari has appointed a veteran broadcaster Balarabe Shehu Ilelah as the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who announced the appointment in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said Ilelah’s appointment is for a tenure of five years in the first instance.

He takes over from Prof Armstrong Idachaba who was appointed on Acting capacity since February 2020 following the suspension of Mallam Is’haq Modibbo Kawu.

NANS SUSPENDS JUNE 12 NATIONWIDE PROTEST

National Association of Nigerian Students NANS has suspended its planned protest.

The President, National Association of Nigerian Students, Sunday Asefon had lamented the worsening insecurity in the country and the ripple effects on students who fell victim to kidnapping and banditry at will.

Asefon bemoaned the kidnap of over 200 students of Islamiyya School in Rafi Council area of Niger State and said NANS had relocated its national headquarters to the North Central State pending when the students would be released, adding, “Nigerians have to come together to see what can be done on the issue of insecurity”.

He said: “I hereby declare June 12, 2021, as the National Day of Peaceful Protest to call on the government to act decisively towards addressing insecurity in our schools, campuses and also announce a proactive measure or strategy towards ensuring safer schools.”

In a statement released by the President of NANS, Sunday Asefon, he said the planned protest was aimed at decrying the insecurity in the country and the repeated abduction of students from schools across the country.

Asefon said intelligence they have gathered suggests that some politicians with “different agenda” have perfected plans to hijack the protest which they are against. 

“You will recall I had addressed a press conference in Ado Ekiti on 1st June 2021 where I had decried the growing insecurity in the country and the unfortunate development around our school and campuses resulting in the kidnapping of our students and sometimes even death.

“In the last week, I have met with the Inspector General of Police, other security agencies, held series of meetings with student leaders across the country. While everyone agreed that the context of the planned protest is genuine and we reserve the right to protest, the palpable tension surrounding the date has come under special scrutiny. Let me reiterate that our plan protest was never part of the Buhari Must Go Campaign or Secessionist Campaign, our planned protest was borne out of our genuine concerns for the safety of our students.

“However, some politicians with different agendas to ours have concluded plans to hijack the protest to ventilate their political opinions and sentiments. While every Nigerians reserve the right to their opinion and the right to protest, it will be dangerous to our members if the protest is hijacked as the security agencies have shared with us credible intelligence in this regard. When some of these political players discovered that we have seen their plans and their initial solidarity with us is fake and an avenue to use our platform to ventilate their divisive agenda, they resulted in blackmailing us with lies and fake news on their platform.

 

“Having considered the current security realities and the danger to the lives of our members in case of possible hijack of the planned protest, I in consultation with all the structures of NANS, therefore, announce the suspension of our proposed protest for June 12. The suspension of the protest is necessary to avoid a clash of interest and clash with security agencies that are on red alert to protect the nation’s infrastructures from security breaches on the proposed date as a result of many other protests slated for the date. We intend to protest for better security and improved welfare for our students, we must therefore not put the life of any of our students at risk to ventilate our grievances.

“While the cause of the protest remains, we believe the suspension of the protest to a later date is necessary for us to have all attention directed at our protest and not share attention with different groups protesting for different reasons. Please kindly note that our protest on better security for our schools, campuses, and Nigerians is not CANCELLED, rather SUSPENDED and a new date will be announced soon. 

“As leaders, we are confronted with two different difficult choices; we have chosen the one we considered the best for the interest of our members. We cannot afford any of our students to be shot or wounded while protesting legitimate causes because of infiltrations or hijack. We take full responsibility for this suspension as we promise to announce a new date for our planned protest.

“I, therefore, call on all our structures across the country to suspend the planned protest for a later date that will be announced soon after due consultation with student leaders across the thirty-six states of the federation including the FCT.

“If our voices must be heard clearly, we must ensure that no other interest other than ours takes the center stage in our protest.” The statement read.

IBARAPA INSECURITY: OYHA SPEAKER, RT. HON. OGUNDOYIN DONATES 15 BIKES TO INDIGENOUS SECURITY OUTFITS.

"As part of our swift measure to end the unfortunate tread of insecurity in Ibarapaland, today I donated fifteen motorcycles to our indigenous security bodies (Amotekun, OPC, Vigilantes, Local Hunters etc) in Ibarapa East, Central and North Local governments", said Ogundoyin.

Ogundoyin who is representing Ibarapa East State Constituency had earlier promised to support every local and communally setup security structure, outfit or strategy during his urgent security meeting in the region after the Sunday bandits’ attack on the people of Igangan in Ibarapa North Local Government.

The attack which happened at the wee hours of Sunday when residents of Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government had retired to bed was allegedly masterminded by bandits and suspected herders in which about 21 residents lost their lives, some injured and properties burnt including the palace of the Ashigangan of Igangan.

While presenting the motorcycles to community leaders and heads of local security bodies at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Eruwa, Ogundoyin said, “We are donating these motorcycles to improve the mobility of our indigenous security personnel- Amotekun, OPC, local Hunters, vigilance groups and enhance their operation as they continue to compliment the efforts of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies in securing lives, properties and our territories from bandits and criminals.

“A peaceful community cannot be overemphasized. If our societies are not secured, who will utilize the infrastructures that we are providing as government? Who will attend the free schools or even engage in their various economic activities and businesses.

GOVERNOR SEYI MAKINDE COMMISSIONS ILAJU GARRI PROCESSING FACTORY.

Governor Seyi Makinde, FNSE on Wednesday afternoon commissioned a garri processing factory in Ido local government, which had been dumped for many years. The governor took to his Twitter handle to make the announcement.

"This afternoon, we commissioned the Ilaju Garri Processing Factory in Ido LGA. This facility is one of the many assets of the state government which had been left moribund for years. The resuscitation is led by Ido (Ibadan) Cooperative Society and supported by our administration."

"With this resuscitated facility, our people at Ilaju can make more money from processing their cassava. We will continue to collaborate with the private sector to revive moribund state-owned assets which can be put to good use and provide value for our people."

IGANGAN: I WILL DO EVERYTHING TO MAKE INSECURITY THING OF THE PAST, SAYS MAKINDE

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, FNSE on Tuesday, declared that he would do everything within his powers to safeguard the lives of residents of the state, noting that the government would do everything possible to prevent a reocurrence of violent attacks on Igangan and other communities in the state.

Governor Makinde made this declaration in Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government, where he visited the families of Sunday's attacks, stating that the state would empower local security guards and vigilantes in addition to other measures taken to ensure that insecurity becomes a thing of the past in Ibarapaland.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Governor Makinde, who was in Igangan with top government functionaries and the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, deplored the loss of lives.

He added that the government has been able to identify areas where there are lapses, calling on the people to give his government the opportunity to address the situation and put in place the right architecture that will enable them to return to their normal lives without fear.

“I have told your chairman that all the vigilantes and security guards, the government will be responsible for them. This is your government, please give me the opportunity to do the needful so that a meeting like this would not come up again."

“I urge you to give me that chance to make the issue of insecurity here becomes a thing of the past. Don’t take laws into your hands."

We have identified where there are hitches. We are supposed to be going to our farms by now because of the favourable weather. Hold me accountable, I have nowhere to go.

“I believe there are some certain things we put in place, which we think would work but unfortunately, they did not work. Please, give me some time, everything will be resolved.”

IGANGAN KILLINGS: BAYO ADELABU CONDEMNS KILLINGS, URGES OYO GOVERNMENT AND SECURITY OPERATIVES TO BE MORE PROACTIVE

The Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Chief Adebayo Adelabu has described the recent killings and destruction of properties of people in Igangan as an unfortunate incident capable of aggravating the ethnic crisis in the state and the country at large.

Chief Adelabu who incidentally is the former Chairman, Oyo State Security Trust Fund during the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi led administration, said the recent killings in Igangan in Ibarapa North Local Government of the State is worrisome and deserves urgent attention.

According to Femi Awogboro, one of the Media Aides to Chief Adelabu, he said his Principal is so much concerned about the unfortunate development in Igangan and the entire Ibarapa land. Adelabu charged the State Government and the security operatives to be more proactive rather than reactionary in their response to security challenges in the state.

"It is high time the Oyo State Government stepped up its strategies toward improving the security architecture in the state and ensure effective synergy among all the security outfits. The State and Nigeria at large are currently facing security challenges which deserve collective efforts of all", Adelabu stated.

The 2019 Governorship Candidate of All Progressives Congress said the attack on Asigangan Palace and some other places could be preventable if the security operatives and state government acted promptly on the classified information at their disposal. 

While admitting that even though, security challenge had been a nationwide issue, Adelabu said Oyo state had always been, in a way shielded for some years especially during the Ajimobi's administration. The various unfortunate security lapses have been pronounced to an abominable level in the past two years, precisely since the commencement of the current administration. This can't just be a mere coincidence but a non-partisan fact that points to the non-challant attitude of the Seyi Makinde led government in the handling of security issues in the state.

To buttress this point, he emphasised the fact that recent events in Igangan and environs should have earned the entire Ibarapa zone a special security attention, probably this attack on Igangan could have been prevented coupled with the intelligence report of planned attack as recently mentioned by the head of the Amotekun corps. 

"This singular attack on Igangan has vindicated the All Progressive Congress party and other stakeholders in the state who had condemned the security architecture and strategy of the present government", he emphasised.

"I will therefore appeal to the state government to immediately organise a security summit and call for help from all, as this should not be politicised as innocent lives are involved", he concluded

Chief Adelabu also commended the local security operatives especially the local hunters in the area for their dogdeness towards curbing the further spread of the incident.

Also, he commiserates with the people of Igangan and prayed to God to give the families of those who lost their lives in the incident the fortitude to bear the losses.

NUC APPROVES THREE NEW UNIVERSITIES IN DELTA STATE

The National University Commission (NUC) gave approval for three new Universities in Delta State, yesterday. The approved universities are the Delta State University, Agbor; Denis Osadebe University, Asaba; and the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.

The approval was given by the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, when the Delta State Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, led top state government officials to present the strategic documents of the universities at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

With the NUC’s approval, Delta State now has the highest number of universities in Nigeria. This is because in addition to the university that has already been in existence, the state now has four universities.