Month: October 2023

Housemate, Seyi Awolowo has won the Veto Power of chance badge in the ongoing BBNaija season four.

We report that this was the second time Seyi won the badge, weeks after the controversy that trailed his first win.

In July, Seyi failed to use his chance card to save himself from nomination, causing Biggie to ban him from participating in the challenge till the end of the show.

He was also fake-evicted alongside Tacha as part of punishment for refusing to use the power of the card. Soon after, Seyi was returned to the house and allowed to participate in future challenges.

On Sunday night, he joined the other housemates to test his chance at winning the coveted badge.

As usual, the Veto Power Game is a Game of Chance with each Housemates having an equal probability of winning.

For having the least amount of marbles at the end of the Game, Seyi has become the Veto Power Holder for this week.

There were twelve stools with a silver cup on it. The Housemates were to pick a stool and stand in front of it for the game.

Once they chose their playing stand, they were not allowed to change or swap position. Housemates were to pick a card from the magic hat which housed two types of cards.

The first type of cards was those with single digits’ zero to six while the second type of cards had the instruction “pass two marbles to the person next to you.”

Having understood the rules of the Game, the Housemates proceeded to pick a card and place the corresponding number of marbles into their cups.

In the first round, the Housemates with the most marble were eliminated. In this case, it was Ike and Mike.

The process was repeated in the second round and the Housemates collected marbles which were added to the previous ones they had.

When this round was over and the scores tallied, Venita and Omashola were out of the game for having the most marbles.

The third round saw Frodd, Seyi, Tacha, Cindy, Khafi, Elozonam, Mercy and Diane go through the card and marble process again.

At the end of the third round, there was a tie between Seyi and Tacha. Both Housemates had three marbles each which made the game extend into another round.

This time, Seyi won as he had the least amount of marbles. With his position, he also earned 100 Bet9ja Coins and bonus coins for his teammates.

The Veto Power Holder will make a Save and Replace decision on Nomination Night on Monday.

Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina delivered a solid serving performance to beat American Madison Keys 7-5 6-4 on Sunday and secure a spot in the U.S. Open quarter-finals.

Keys, who finished runnerup in 2017, struggled with her backhand and Svitolina won 92 per cent of her first serve points.

She also did not face a single break point during the 75-minute clash under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights.

With the win, Svitolina is the first Ukrainian woman to reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals since Kateryna Bondarenko in 2009.

Up next for Svitolina will be Briton Johanna Konta, who upset Czech third seed Karolina Pliskova earlier on Sunday.

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEBP), has decried the rampant sale of donkey meat in the Federal Capital Territory.

Malam Baba Lawan, Director, AEPB, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, also decried the unhealthy state of meat brought into the FCT for sale to residents.

Lawan, in a statement signed by Malam Muktar Ibrahim, Head of Information and Outreach Programme Unit of AEPB, said that the situation had become “totally unacceptable”.

“There is no guarantee of the health status of the meat brought in from the states, unfortunately the jurisdiction of FCT inspection and regulatory agencies does not extend to other states,” the statement said.

Lawan directed the Department of Monitoring and Enforcement to seize and destroy any fresh meat from outside brought for sale in FCT.

“We are determined to protect public interest and not to run anyone out of business.

“We don’t want any economic loss to anyone but there is no going back. The policy has already been approved by FCT Administration. What we want is to upgrade the meat value chain.

“As a budding world class city and capital of Africa’s most populous nation, Abuja attracts a lot of local and foreign dignitaries, therefore, it deserves nothing but the best, especially in food quality.

“Thus, the meat that is consumed in the FCT must meet global food safety standards,” he declared.

The statement also quoted Dr Regina Adulugba, Director, Veterinary Services, in the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, as saying that it was unacceptable that FCT should be left behind while other states had since upgraded their Meat Haulage Policy.

`As soon as ministers settle down, the FCTA will declare an emergency in its Abattoirs and slaughter slabs to ensure that every animal slaughtered in FCT is healthy and safe for human consumption.

“Many of the butchers bringing in fresh meat into FCT today operated in the FCT before absconding to the states.

“It is quite disturbing that their movement out of FCT coincided with intensification of meat inspection and supervisory rules in FCT.

“They are free to operate in the states, but FCT should never be turned to a centre for dumping unhealthy meat. We won’t allow that,” the statement said.

The Presidency on Sunday described as false and untrue that President Muhammadu Buhari turned his back on Daura community in Katsina State, which was hit by massive floods on Aug.29.

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, said contrary to the allegations a pre-assessment relief materials were dispatched to the victims within 48 hours of the floods.

He said that, in addition to the initial relief materials provided to the victims, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had concluded arrangements to provide more assistance to the victims.

He said: Contrary to the allegations that President Muhammadu Buhari had turned his back on the people of Daura, we can confirm that pre-assessment relief materials were dispatched to the victims within 48 hours of the floods.

”Ten trailer loads of building materials including zinc, planks and cement, as well as tons of grains, cereals and other edibles have so far been delivered.

”The flood victims also received blankets and mattresses.

”Materials were delivered to and signed for by stakeholders while the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar welcomed the prompt emergency response from NEMA officials”.

According to him, NEMA has equally promised that in line with establishment practices all over the country, as soon as the assessment of the damage to the flood-ravaged communities is reported upon, more food items and building materials would be dispatched.

By Muhammad Nur Tijani

Kano State Government on Sunday said it would reach out to private organisations ready to invest in promoting Dambe traditional boxing.

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje said this during the opening of Gawuna Dambe championship organised by Mazaje Trado, at Bayero Square, Sabon Gari, Kano.

Ganduje, represented by his Deputy, Dr Nasiru Gawuna, said it was time the Hausa traditional boxing get the due recognition it deserves.

“It is widely known that professional boxers are today counted among the wealthiest people in the world, so, we need to assist our players too to aspire to that level by giving them all the necessary support.

“We are going to sit down with organisers in mapping out new strategies to boost the game and encourage our boxers.

“We want them to be used as model of advertisements by both local and international companies because of their talent in boxing,” he said.

The governor stressed that “it is important to engage the youth in sports and other forms of disciplines that will stop them from social vices and crimes and become self reliant.”

He announced that he will personally declare the next edition of Ganduje Dambe Championship.

Serena Williams charged into the U.S. Open quarter-finals on Sunday but it may have come at a price as the six-times champion suffered a right ankle injury.

Williams, who twisted her left ankle during a quarter-final loss at the Australian Open, said she did not think the latest injury serious but added it was too soon to tell.

“I usually know if it’s horrible early on. I mean, I had a really bad ankle sprain in January. I was like, instantly, ‘No, this can’t happen. I’m finally healthy,’” Williams said after her 6-3 6-4 win over Petra Martic.

“But I’ll see tomorrow. So far I’m good. I have been managing it. We’ll see tomorrow.”

Williams rolled her ankle in the fifth game of the second set, having raced to the net and landed hard on her right foot after a backhand volley that sailed long.

Seeded eighth, Williams took about 15 seconds to get to her feet but won the next two points to earn a crucial break for a 3-2 lead and then took a medical timeout so a trainer could look at her already-wrapped ankle.

Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, later told reporters that Williams was not in too much discomfort.

“It doesn’t seem — there is the video, but what is more important is how she feels and how the ankle looks. The ankle looks okay,” said Mouratoglou.

“She doesn’t feel much pain. She feels, but it’s acceptable. And we will know tomorrow when it’s going to be cold.”

Williams, who is seeking a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title and her first since the 2017 Australian Open, will face China’s Wang Qiang in the quarter-finals.

(flowerbudnews) The senator representing Kano Central, Ibrahim Shekarau, has lambasted the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for allegedly demolishing mosque in Rivers State.

The senator, who is a former governor of Kano State, also said the governor is irresponsible for declaring Rivers State a Christian State.

In a statement he personally signed, Mr Shekarau said the aim of the “reckless”, “rabble-rousing” governor was to ignite religious crisis in the country.

READ FULL STATEMENT

MOSQUE DEMOLITION: Wike’s Condemnable Bahaviour

All rational and conscientious citizens of this great country, Nigeria should join in condemning the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike for recklessly demolishing the Rainbow Town Central Mosque located at the Trans-Amadi Area of Port Harcourt, and for irresponsibly declaring Rivers State a “Christian State,” and claiming to owe no apology to anyone.

Muslims and other right-thinking and peace-loving citizens of this country should come together to condemn, in strongest terms, this irresponsible, reckless, rabble-rousing Governor whose apparent aim is to ignite a religious conflagration, the kind of which has never been seen in recent times.

If a Muslim Governor were to come out openly and declare his state a “Muslim State” and proceed to demolish a church for any reason, all hell would have since broken loose in Nigeria, and sections of the Christian community would have since rushed to the “international community” and even the United Nations seeking protection against Muslims.

The action of Governor Wike is a pointer to his being induced by other than rationale brain waves, as no leader in his right senses would contemplate stoking these embers of discord in a country so religiously, ethnically and regionally charged as Nigeria.

We must repeat that were a Muslim Governor to be reckless to utter even half of what Governor Wike uttered, the fragile peace holding in this country would have since been jeopardized because of the intolerant nature of a section of the citizenry. Yet here we are, with the added tragedy of a cohort Christian clergy lining up to bless and endorse Governor Wike’s action.

Nigeria belongs to all, and no state in Nigeria could claim to be mono religious. It only takes a responsible leadership to carry everybody along. When I held sway as governor of Kano State between 2003 and 2011, we encouraged and guided the people to lead their lives according to the tenets of Islamic Law (Shari’ah). But we neither became power-drunk to demolish Churches nor disregarded the provisions of section 10 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to declare Kano an Islamic State. Our fair dealings with every section of the community earned us commendation, even from Kano State Chapter and National Body of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), at different occasions. These Christian leaders are a still alive today to attest to my claim. It may interest Wike to learn that Mr. Tala Ilo from Bayelsa State and Mr. Chris Chibuzor Azuka from Anambra State, (both, born-again Christians) were special advisers in my administration.

Wike’s claim that Rivers is a Christian State is pathological. It suggests that not only are the people of Rivers State 100% Christians, but Muslims and adherents of other religions from other parts of Nigeria cannot make Rivers State their home. It also insinuates that Rivers State operates a government, a constitution of its own, different from the Nigerian Nation. It means Rivers State does not recognize or protect the interests of people like Alabo Mujahid Dokubo Asari, Alhaji Isa Boaima, Alhaji Sani Okiri, Alhaji Ahmed Sani Pe, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Pepple, Alhaji Sulaiman Akani, Alhaji Ibrahim Orlu, Alhaji Musa Brown, Chief Hassan Douglas and Alhaji Mustapha Wakama who are all Muslims and productive citizens of Rivers State.

This is not the first time this Governor would show his reckless side in utterances and actions. It could be recalled that last year, he threatened his own Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) hierarchy that they either hold the party’s convention in Port Harcourt or, as he vowed, risk his destroying the party. Rather than risk the wrath of this single, reckless and irresponsible individual, the party’s leaders sheepishly acquiesced and danced to his whims by going to Rivers for their convention.

These actions and utterances of the Rivers Governor manifest the highest forms of irresponsibility by a so-called elected official in this polity. It is an attempt to truncate this nation’s democracy. It is a serious security threat. We therefore call on the Government at the Centre and all security agencies to call Governor Wike to order, and to hold him responsible for any breach of the peace that his actions and utterances could cause in this country.

In the end, I call on the Muslim community in Rivers State and Muslims throughout Nigeria to remain calm and law-abiding. Let us not copy Wike’s despicable attitude and unruly behaviour. Unlike him, other Christians are fair-headed and peace loving. Let us not lose our sense of decency, as two wrongs do not make a right. We shall however encourage Rivers State Muslim Community to be firm and focused; to pursue their constitutional right in the court of law as they did and won their cases in the past. This time, they will demand the rebuilding of Trans-Amadi Mosque and the payment of compensation. They will also demand Governor Nyesom Wike to unreservedly apologize to Nigerians.

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) The Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said Nigeria’s diversity ought to be seen as a blessing because “the true wealth of any nation is its human capital.”

He said having discovered that diversity was a driver of economic growth and development, countries like the United States of America and Canada had opened their doors to talented immigrants from different parts of the world.

Osibanjo said it was also this understanding that made a former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, to look beyond Lagos State while constituting his cabinet in 1999.

He said this decision by Tinubu was instrumental in the economic prosperity of Lagos State since then.

Osinbajo said this in a lecture titled, “Promoting national cohesion as a means of promoting progress and prosperity,” which he delivered on Tuesday as part of events marking the 70th anniversary of the Lagos Country Club.

Using Tinubu’s case as an example, Osinbajo argued that Nigeria had a lot to benefit from its plurality and urged the citizens to reject the notion that the country’s diversity was its problem.

He said, “It is clear that when we create spaces for migratory talents to flourish without discrimination, there is an economic multiplier that results in an ever-increasing radius of growth.

“Perhaps there is a little more to the prosperity of Lagos. If you look for example, even in contemporary times, the conscious decision of Bola Tinubu, then governor of Lagos State, to appoint commissioners from everywhere in Nigeria, in my view, is partly responsible for the peerless progress that Lagos State has made over the years from 1999.

“In 1999, he appointed Mr Wale Edun from Ogun State as Commissioner for Finance; Rauf Aregbesola from Osun State as Commissioner for Works; Fola Arthur- Worrey from Delta State as Commissioner for Lands; Ben Akhabueze from Anambra State as Commissioner for Budget and Planning; Lai Mohammed, who was then Chief of Staff, from Kwara State; and I, from Ogun State, as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

“Of course, he was opposed by Lagos indigenes, who felt that by virtue of indigeneship, they were qualified to be commissioners and should be appointed and the argument is always valid that ‘why should anybody come from their own state and be commissioner in our own state?’

“But during that period because the then governor sought for the best talents that he could find, he didn’t restrict the search to the indigenes of Lagos State, Lagos undertook fiscal, judicial and environmental reforms that have made the state a model for the rest of the country.

“If you look at what has happened, even just looking at fiscal reform alone, today, Lagos State’s IGR is greater than the combined total of 31 states of Nigeria.

“How did that happen? A fiscal reform took place because Tinubu took the best minds that he could find. If that best mind was in Anambra State, Tinubu took it.”

(FLOWERBUDNEWS) The media in Adamawa, has been commended for sensitising the public on efforts by the state’s Ministry of Health to contain the cholera outbreak in Yola Metropolis and environs.

The Director of Public Health in the ministry, Dr Bwalki Dilli, gave the commendation on Friday in Yola, at a meeting to review activities of Journalists Against Polio (JAP) in the state.

Dilli said the recent outbreak of cholera in Yola North, Yola South and Girei local government areas of the state, was being effectively managed with the support of partners such as the media, WHO and UNICEF.

He said the media, through JAP members, provided timely information to the public, particularly on hygiene, which helped contain the spread.

“Public health cannot succeed without information communication, and the people that drive it are the journalists,’’ Dilli said.

He therefore, called for collaborations between JAP and the Ministry of health, in mobilising the public on issues in the health sector.

The Surveillance Officer of World Health Organisation (WHO) in Adamawa, Dr Jerry Pantuvo, also commended the media for its role in preventing escalation of the outbreak.

Pantuvo, however, said the media needed to do more, particularly in the area of attracting government attention to real causes of cholera in some communities.

He noted that the major causes of cholera outbreak were open defecation, poor sanitation practice and overcrowding in houses.

He said WHO, on its part, was assisting the state in the control of cholera by setting up treatment centres and mobilising search teams to identify cases in affected communities.

According to Pantuvo, WHO is also coordinating response to the outbreak for effective control.

He said that in 2018, WHO gave cholera vaccination in Mubi Zone, which went a long way in curbing recurring incidences’ of cholera outbreak in the area. (NAN)