Category: General News

 

 

 

Enugu:      Chief Hycienth Ngwu, former South-East Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), says Nigeria has the capacity to be the pride of the human race.

Ngwu, a founding member of the APC, said this on Thursday in Enugu to journalists while reflecting on the nation’s 63rd Independence Anniversary and the prospect of a great nation.

 

It would be recalled that Nigeria, as a nation, celebrates her Independence Anniversary yearly on Oct. 1.

 

He said, “With the right and positive mindset from our politicians, civil servants, professionals, artisans, and indeed, all Nigerians, our country will be the pride of the human race.

 

“I have no doubt on this conviction as we have produced the best and finest minds in all spheres of life and they are contributing immensely to human and socio-economic development all over the World”.

 

The APC stalwart called on all Nigerians to join hands with the APC focused national leadership and President Bola Tinubu to bring about the needed transformation to move the nation forward.

 

“As individuals and corporate entities, we must utilise the diverse potentials in our human and material resources to grow Nigeria economically, politically, culturally and socially.

 

“We are a blessed nation. I am convinced about that too,” he said.

 

On the reason to celebrate the anniversary from the colonialist, Ngwu noted that there was no gain-saying the fact that every being (human) appreciates being free to make own political, economic and social decisions.

According to him, this can only be guaranteed if one is independent.

 

‘So, if we truly understand this, then we have every reason to celebrate the day we got our independence.

 

“Recognising the value of authority inherent in independence is worth thanking God and our liberators from colonial domination.

 

“There could be nothing more cherished than this gift of independence,” he added. (Flowerbudnews)

The Ministry of Labour says the report that President Bola Tinubu would announce a wage award to workers on Independence Day is untrue.

 

This is contained in a statement issued Mr Olajide Oshundun, Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Labour on Wednesday in Abuja.

 

“The attention of the ministry of Labour and Employment has been drawn to reports circulating online claiming that the President will announce wage awards and palliatives to workers during his October 1st Independence Day speech.

 

“The report which is said to have emanated from a purported interview with the Director of Information in the ministry claimed that a last minute meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday between Federal Government and Labour to avert the proposed strike.

 

“We wish to categorically state that the report is false and misleading as at no time did the Director of Information make such disclosure,” he said.

 

He urged members of the public to ignore the report as it is a total fabrication of an interview by the reporter to suit the narrative of the interests best-known to the newspaper.

 

He added that, for the benefit of doubt, it is important to stress that the Director of Information at the ministry does not speak for the President.

 

The director said that he was also not involved in writing the speech for the President to warrant him making any categorical statement on its content.

 

“If and when the Minister schedules a meeting with Labour, the public will be adequately notified through verified channels.

 

“The said newspaper is advised to retract the story and maintain professionalism in its reportage to avoid misleading the public,”he said.(NA

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has notified the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Edo, Kwara, and 22 other states of 48-hour downpour beginning on Thursday.

 

In its weekly heavy rainfall forecast bulletin released on Wednesday, the agency told the residents to also expect flash floods.

Other states listed are Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Enugu, Delta, Bayelsa, Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kwara, and Benue.

The bulletin reads: “Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected within the forecast period (Thursday 28th and Friday 29th, September 2023) over parts of Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Enugu, Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa.

 

Other States are: “Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Kwara, Benue State and the Federal Capital Territory.”

The agency said other parts of the country will experience light to moderate rainfall.

On the likely impact of the rains, NiMet warned: “The expected moderate to heavy rainfall is expected to cause some flash flooding over their areas of occurrence.

“Strong winds should accompany the rains with the strongest winds expected over parts of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi State.”

 

The agency cautioned residents against driving through surface runoff waters, as they have strong undercurrents.

 

It identified slippery road surfaces and reduced visibility as other hazards that may be triggered by the downpou

The Nigerian Air Force has bombed camps housing members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its paramilitary wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Air Force spokesman Gabriel Gabkwet, in a statement on Wednesday, said several strikes were carried out on Tuesday at separate locations of the two eastern states.

 

 

 

He identified the locations as Mother Valley Orsumughu in the Nnewi South Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State and Aku Ihube in the Okigwe LGA of Imo State.

 

Prior to the operation, Gabkwet said troops had received intelligence of the planned disruption of civic activities across the South-East by the terrorists.

The operation, he said, was made possible following collaboration with ground troops and other security agencies that targeted locations believed to house some arms and ammunition of the militants.

 

“The strikes hit the target and were deemed successful following the ball of fire, fleeing terrorists at the location as well as feedback received,” the statement read.

 

“Efforts by the NAF and other security agencies at ensuring all Nigerians, irrespective of where they reside, are safe and free to conduct their activities without fear or being threatened will continue.

 

“While the determination of the security agencies is unwavering, the support of all Nigerians to the security agencies remains critical to defeating these criminal elements whose only intent is to sow fear and division among the citizenry,” the statement read

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, has relieved the heads of 21 parastatals, agencies, and government companies of the FCT Administration of their appointments with immediate effect.

 

Mr Anthony Ogunleye, Director of Press, Office of the Minister stated this in a press statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

 

Ogunleye identified the affected heads of the agencies as follows

1. Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Abuja Investment Company Ltd

 

2. CEO/Managing Director, Abuja Markets Management Ltd

 

3. MD/CEO, Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company

4. CEO/MD, Abuja Property Development Company

 

5. CEO/MD, Abuja Technology Village Free Trade Zone Company

 

6. CEO/MD, Abuja Film Village International

 

7. CEO/MD, Powernoth AICL Equipment Leasing Company Ltd

 

8. MD, Abuja Broadcasting Corporation

 

9. MD, Abuja Enterprise Agency

 

10. General Manager, FCT Water Board

11. Director-General, FCT Emergency Management Agency

 

12. Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare Board

 

13. DG, Hospital Management Board

 

14. Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board

 

15. Director, FCT Scholarship Board

 

16. Director, FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board

 

17. Director, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board

18. Coordinator, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Center

 

19. Director, FCT Health Insurance Scheme

 

20. Coordinator, Satellite Towns Development Department

 

21. Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council

 

The director of the press said that the affected appointees should hand over the affairs of their offices to the most senior officers in rank.

 

He added that appointments in the offices would be made in due course.

 

NAN

The only solution to the oppression and suppression of the Muslim woman of today is the strict application of the fundamental human rights of the woman as enshrined by the Qur’an and exemplified by Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.)

These were part of the submissions of Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman of the Department of Islam and Development Studies, Faculty of Arts, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, when she delivered the 35th Inaugural Lecture Series of the University with the topic “

Deconstructing The Notion Of Oppression And Suppression Of Women In Islam: Revisiting The Islamic Versus Universal Concepts of Human Rights” on Tuesday 26th September 2023, at the Assembly Hall of the University.

According to Professor Saadatu, the rights to freedom that the modern woman is glamouring today have been given to the Muslim women over 1400 years ago by Islam as proven by the Qur’an and Hadīth and in the formulations of the Sharī’ah. She noted that these rights pertain to marriage, divorce, property, inheritance, custody of children, and evidence of reward and punishments among others.

While affirming the rights of Muslim women, the Professor of Islamic Studies further opined that the Qur’an and Hadīth of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) have given the Muslim women unpprecedented rights that have not been given to them by any religious civilization or by any human rights organization including the United Nations.

Other topical issues discussed by Professor Saadatu during the lecture include the place of Gender in Islam, leadership roles in the family, women’s education, child and forced marriage, divorce rights, concepts of polygamy, women’s political participation, the veil (Hijab), challenges due to traditional cultures amongst a host of other issues affecting the Muslim woman.

In his remark, the visitor to the University and Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule represented by his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe said Nasarawa State is proud of Professor Saadatu Hassan Liman for being the 1st Female Professor of Islamic Studies from Nasarawa State and the second in Nigeria, he also congratulated her for successfully delivering the 35th Inaugural Lecture of the University.

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed remarked that the Inaugural lecture series affords Professors the platform to address national and topical issues and also to profess on areas they have conducted researches to the benefit of the general audience to understand and gain useful knowledge.

Notable dignitaries who attended the Inaugural Lecture include the founder and first visitor to the University, Distinguished Senator, Abdullahi Adamu, former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, former Governor of Bauchi State, Dr Ahmed Adamu Muazu, past and serving government functionaries, past and serving Vice-Chancellors and Heads of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, Royal fathers and dignitaries from all walks of life.

The high point of the event was the presentation of the plaque of honour to the celebrant by the Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Saadatu Hassan Liman was the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Administration.

 

Abuja:  A lawyer, Mr Donald Ayibiowu, has called on Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo not to make his deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, a scapegoat over allegation preferred against him by the state house of assembly.

Ayibiowu, an indigene of Okelusi Town in Ondo State, made the call in an open letter he wrote to the governor and a copy made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

The letter titled: “An Open Letter to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, in respect of the Ongoing Needless Charade Called Impeachment of the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Request for Leadership, Restraint, Caution and Focus in the Governance of Ondo State,” was dated Sept. 20.

The state’s lawmakers, during plenary, had alleged that Aiyedatiwa was involved in gross misconduct while in the office as an acting governor.

The assembly wrote a letter to the deputy governor, to respond to the allegation within seven days, signalling the beginning of his impeachment.

Ayibiowu congratulated Akeredolu on his quick recovery and return to Nigeria from his medical treatment abroad.

The Abuja-based legal practitioner said while Akeredolu was away, the state was left near rudderless by a combination of factors ranging from debilitating politicking, rumor mongering, sycophancy, etc

“One may be tempted to forgive the various dramatis persona in the light of the fact that your unexpected ailment may not have allowed you to give proper directives as to the governance structure type you want in your absence.

“Now that you are back and still recuperating in your Ibadan home, but in the light of your communication to the Ondo State House of Assembly that you have resumed work, one expects that you take charge fully of affairs of our dear Ondo, notwithstanding, the Shenanigans of family, friends and close political associates.

“The shocking news of the on-going pointless impeachment of your deputy, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is the least the people expects from our dear state.

“I dare say that your deputy should not be made the ‘scape goat’ for what the whole world can see glaringly as ‘fuji house of commotion’ in your absence.

“To participate, consent or authorise his removal would mean that you have taken side.
“Your Excellency, your approach should be to declare that ‘all have sinned and come short the glory of God’, because I believe you don’t even know who is right, wrong, true, good or bad,” he said.

According to him, you cannot be seen to want to adopt one sided narration of wrong doing in your absence.

“This move will be misunderstood by most people; it will obstruct proper governance, due administration and it will subject our state to another round of ignoble national odious and negative perception that comes with such exertion’” he advised.

He said if some of the power brokers within the state had scores to settle with Aiyedatiwa, they should rather do so privately and not fiddle with the peace and integrity of the state.

“I wish to place on record that I have been your ardent supporter from your days as NBA President and I don’t know your deputy in person, I have never met him in person or by proxy, neither do I intend to hold brief for him.

“I believe he may have, or harbor gubernatorial ambition after your tenure but I will like to tell you that the deputy governor, as Acting Governor, if he was very desperate, could have sack some of your appointees or could have radically alter the status quo in your absence.

“But he didn’t do any of these things, why not imply that he is a saint, no one his either,” he said.
The lawyer, however, advised that should the governor intend to proceed with the impeachment of his deputy, he should follow the law and respect the sanctity of court processes.
His words: “Mr Governor, the law is settled per the position of the Supreme Court in Inakoju v. Adeleke on the process and procedures for the removal of persons holding the Office of the Governor/Deputy Governor.
“You are a respected law scholar in Nigeria.
“Therefore, should it be politically expedient for your team to proceed with their action, counsel them to follow the law.
“So far, the public have not seen any cogent misconduct or clear-cut financial misappropriation or embezzlement attributable to the deputy governor to warrant this harassment.”

Ayibiowu urged Akeredolu to call the impeachment actors to order, focus on finishing strong, pull his team together, motivate them and concentrate on delivery his campaign promises to the people.(NAN)(www nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews