2018: Ekiti APC Elders Advice Fayemi, Oni Not To Contest

Ahead of the next year's (2018) governorship elections in Ekiti State, the state All Progressives Congress (APC) elders have advised the two former governors, Engr. Segun Oni and Dr. Kayode Fayemi not to contest.
It was recalled that, Engr. Segun Oni is prepare to officially declare his governorship intention on July 17, 2017. Prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have told him to shelve the
idea in the interest of the party.
The leaders also enjoined the formers governor of the state and Minister of Solid Mineral, Dr. Kayode Fayemi not to join

the
governorship race. They admonished the two former governors to emulate the first
civilian governor of the State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo by playing fatherly roles.
This bombshell was released in the presence of the three former governors of the State on Saturday at the premises of General Robert Adebayo in Iyin Ekiti. The three former governors are; Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Engr, Segun Oni and Dr. John Kayode Fayemi.
They are all leaders if APC in Ekiti State.
Blowing the whistle at the very crucial meeting was the veteran politician and pioneer Senatorial Chairman of Ekiti central under the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief
Femi Oyebanjo. He urged Oni and Fayemi to emulate Otunba Niyi Adebayo who had chosen to not to re-contest for the governorship again as a worthy leader of the party in the State. The Aro of Idao
popularly known as "The Boy" observed that God had already elevated the trio politically
and as such they should develop the upcoming generation.
Another prominent leader who spoke in a clear terms was Chief Tejioye from Ikun Ekiti in Moba local government. He described the position of the Deputy National Chairman of a ruling party as more honourable prestigious than coming to Ekiti to join the fray of governorship race which he said would heat up the polity.
It will be recalled that Engr Segun Oni first dropped the hint of joining the guber race at a feast organized by the Special Adviser to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu in his Ado country home early this year. Since then
many of his followers have engaged in a battle of wits with the supporters of another contestant over his dual status.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has never, at any time, declared any intention to contest the 2018 Governorship election. He had only maintained that the June 14, 2014 governorship election was an "uncompleted assignment".
However, there have been speculations that the minister is still eyeing the governorship
seat following the subterranean moves by some of his followers in making consultations with the leaders across the state over the possibility of Fayemi's joining the race.
This crucial meeting which was the first o its kind to deliberate on the 2018 governorship election was to be attended by two selected leaders from each of the 16 local government areas of the State but some supporters of governorship aspirants were sighted at the meeting. Some of them are: the Director General of Segun Oni's campaign Dr. Ife Arowosoge and Senator Tony Adeniyi.
The State Chairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe was not left out at this meeting while the Chairman of Afenifere Socio cultural group, Elder Yemi Alade, Efon Alaaye
Community leader, Chief Alake and Ado Ekiti Community leader, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi were also present.
Speaking at the occasion, Otunba Adebayo reiterated that he was neutral and that he had no vested interest in any of the governorship aspirants. He said that there would be a level playing ground for the aspirants. He called on the aspirants to first
of all develop the party on which platform they wished to contest because if there was no party there couldn't be an aspirant.
Many issues affecting the party ranging from national appointments to the running
of the party were discussed and the Minister assured them that members would benefit more dividends of democracy in the coming months.

See Complete List Of Nigerian Army Rank And Salary, You Will Be Shocked By How Much Nigerian Generals Recieve

The Nigerian

Army unlike the police is saddled with the responsibility of protecting the nation’s land territory against aggressive external invasion by foreign bodies. The Nigerian Army is the largest component of the Nigerian Armed Forces, and responsible for land warfare operations. It is governed by the Nigerian Army Council, it was formed in the year 1960 with its headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Just like the Nigerian police, navy and air force, the Nigerian army has its own salary structure too, it is way better than the Salaries of the Nigerian police, its not surprising as the Nigerian army has a greater responsibility when compared to the other arms of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

It would be worthy to note that these salaries are excluding allowances and bonuses.

The Nigerian Army: Monthly Salary Scale For All Ranks

1. Private

Monthly Salary – N49,000

Annual Salary -  N588,000



2. Lance Corporal

Monthly Salary – N55,000

Annual Salary -  N660, 000


3. Corporal

Monthly Salary – N58,000

Annual Salary - N696,000


4. Sergeant

Monthly Salary – N63,000

Annual Salary - N756,000


5. Staff Sergeant

Monthly Salary – N68,000

Annual Salary - N816,000


6. Warrant Officer

Monthly Salary – N80,000

Annual Salary - N960,000


7. Master Warrant Officer

Monthly Salary – N90,000

Annual Salary - N1,080,000


Nigerian Army Salary Structure for Commissioned Officers


8. Second Lieutenant

Monthly Salary – N120,000

Annual Salary - N1,440,000


9. Lieutenant

Monthly Salary -N180,000

Annual Salary - N2,160,000


10. Army Captain

Monthly Salary -N220,000

Annual Salary - N2,640,000


11. Major

Monthly Salary -N300,000

Annual Salary - N3,600,000


12. Lt. Colonel

Monthly Salary -N350,000

Annual Salary - N4,200,000


13. Colonel

Monthly Salary – N550,000

Annual Salary - N6,600,000


14. Brigadier General

Monthly Salary – N750,000

Annual Salary - N9,000,000


15. Major General

Monthly Salary – N950,000

Annual Salary - N11,400,000

16. Lt. General

Monthly Salary – N1 million

Annual Salary - N12,000,000

17. General

Monthly Salary – N1.5 million

Annual Salary - N18,000,000

NB: The commissioned officers in this case refers to the core officers that passed through the Nigerian Defence Academy and graduated successfully to become officers. For more information about the Nigerian army, be it recruitment, information on their short service or questions related to the force, visit their official website on http://army.mil.ng.

Evans And All That is To the Billionaire Kidnapper’s Arrest

So much has happened in the

  last week after the notorious kidnap kingpin, Chukwudi Onwuamadike (popularly known as Evans), was finally arrested. From Nigerians starting a social media plea with the hashtag freeevans, to him sobbing over the state of his prison room, and then to his wife begging Nigerians to help beg for her husband.

Not sure how someone this wicked and dangerous could win the hearts of Nigerians, so much that they want him released.

Reports have it that it was one of his most trusted girlfriends that gave him away.



Evans was one to always change his location, making it difficult for the police to lay hold on him, so a N30million reward was promised to anyone who gave any useful information on him. Hence, prompting three women believed to be Evans girlfriends, to give him away. They go by the names Amaka, Ijeoma  and Ngozi.

Amaka, who he was very fond of was the one the police used in catching Evans. On the day he was arrested, according to sources, he was said to be unaware that operatives had located his apartment in Magodo, when he contacted Amaka on Saturday morning.\

“He was said to have called her on the phone around 4:15am, without knowing that some policemen were with her and asked her to wait outside her compound to meet him.
She reportedly joined him later at the spot and as soon as she got into the car, he attacked her, threatening to kill her for not informing him about the police presence in her house.
Evans was said to have gotten angry and drove away with her in his Grand Cherokee SUV and they had an accident at Iyana-Ipaja area where he abandoned the vehicle, seized Amaka’s phone and asked her to go home.  It was from there that he picked a cab to his residence at Magodo to pick some few things towards travelling out of the country. After then, we swooped on him and arrested him inside his bedroom.”

Since his arrest, his wife and children who don’t reside in the country have been making videos asking Nigerians to beg and help free her husband. She has claimed she didn’t know he was into crime as he gave her the impression that he had no money.



Many of his victims have come out to speak; James Uduji, the Chairman of Cometstar Cable Manufacturing Limited was kidnapped by the Evans gang for for 42 days in 2015 and to get his freedom, he paid the gang $1.2m, the highest ransom ever paid by any of Evans victims. You see this man didn’t come to Lagos to count bridges.

While making his public speech, Evans made it clear that his mother was very well aware of what he did for a living and that he gave his witch doctor 10% of every ransom money he got, just to keep him in check.

Sadly his last mission proved to be a great error… Kidnapping the pharmacist and the owner of Maydon Pharmaceutical Company, Ilupeju, Lagos, Donatus Dunu.

Evans requested for one million euros to be paid as ransom. The family had given him N100million and were still in the begging process when Dunu jumped into his freedom.

Evans should be locked up for life. His mother is still on the run and people are clamoring for his release.

BREAKING NEWS: Fayose Defeats EFCC At Appeal Court

The Appeal Court sitting in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 dismissed the application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for injunction restraining the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose from operating his accounts in Zenith Bank Plc, describing the application as lacking in merit.

The Appeal Court said that; “EFCC did not come with clean hands on the application for injunction it filed because it suppressed material facts, for example that a similar application the EFCC filed was earlier refused by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti,” agreeing with Governor Fayose’s Counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) that the entire application filed by the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo was entirely unmeritorious.

On December 13, 2016, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti had ordered the EFCC to immediately unfreeze the accounts of Governor Fayose, saying the action of the EFCC was against due process and that the anti-graft agency did not follow the laid down regulations in freezing the governor’s accounts.

EFCC had appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court and sought an injunction, restraining the governor from operating the accounts pending the determination of the appeal.

Dismissing the appeal today, the Appeal Court, in a unanimous ruling delivered by Justice Fatima Omoro Akinbami said that the EFCC did not attach notice of appeal and the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti judgment of December 13, 2016, which ordered the anti-graft agency to unfreeze the governor’s account that the EFCC appealed against.

The court also said that the alleged damning intelligent report by the EFCC, which it claimed to have received concerning money purportedly paid into Governor Fayose’s account by Senator Musiliu Obanikoro was not provided nor attached for the court to see.

The appeal court agreed with Governor Fayose’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) that “Fayose, being a sitting governor covered with immunity under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution as admitted by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, has been shown to have been tried nor found guilty by any court of law such as to tagged his bank accounts as proceeds of crime.”

The court described EFCC’s claim on the receipt of an intelligent report concerning money purportedly paid into Governor Fayose’s account by Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as mere speculation, saying; “the court does not embark on speculation.”

The appeal court also held that since the EFCC had admitted that N80 million had already been withdrawn from the accounts, saying that Chief Ozekhome was right to say that the cat had already been completed and an injunction cannot be granted for act already completed.

Describing the judgment as another victory over tyranny, Chief Ozekhome hailed the judiciary for standing firm in protecting rule of law in the country.

He said EFCC must learn to act within the laws of the country and stop hiding under anti-corruption fight to commit illegalities.

I will defeat Buhari in 2019 – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, said on Friday he would defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.
The governor, who spoke at a meeting with political office holders at the Government’s House, Ado Ekiti, claimed he has the attributes to unseat Buhari in two years time.

Fayose boasted he would become Nigeria’s next president in 2019.

He said: “I have penchant for taking powers; that one in Buhari’s hand. I would take it. I’m going straight to that Villa. I’m the next president.

“I want to be the next president of Nigeria. My own won’t be this change that has brought nothing. We are going to represent the people well and tell them the truth.”
Fayose insisted that two former governors of Ekiti – Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi – would fail if they contest the 2018 governorship election in the state.

He added: “Just because Ayo Fayose has won a second term to become governor of Ekiti, some people also think they can come back now. But I want to tell them that it is not possible. I am the man wholeheartedly loved by Ekiti people because of the many developmental projects that have brought great infrastructural and developmental advancement to Ekiti.
“If you go around Ekiti, you will see my handiwork dotting various parts of the state. This is why I am the man who every Ekiti people will follow in 2018.”

2019: I will be president after Buhari – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Friday in Ado Ekiti, declared that he would become the next president of Nigeria.

The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, boasted that he would oust President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC, from power in 2019.

His words: “I have penchant for taking powers; that one in Buhari’s hand. I will take it. I’m going straight to that villa. I’m the next president.

“I want to be the next president of Nigeria. My own won’t be this change that has brought nothing, we are going to represent the people well and tell them the truth.”

‎2019: I will be president after Buhari – Fayose

Meanwhile, Fayose has said that irrespective of the outcome of the forthcoming Supreme Court ruling on the leadership crisis rocking the PDP, members will remain united.

Fayose said all stakeholders had resolved that the anticipated judgement of the Apex Court will be considered as a ‘No Victor, No vanquished’ position.

NYSC BATCH A STREAM Ll HAS OFFICIALLY RELEASE DATE FOR CAMP RESUMPTION.

NYSC Mobilization Time Table For 2017 Batch A, Stream II

1.On-line Printing of Call-up Letters
by stream II PCMs Starts from 28th June 2017
2. Delivery/Collection of Call-up Letters to Institutions (those that did not pay) Starts 29th June 2017

3. 2017 Batch A Stream II Orientation Course July 4th- 23rd July 2017.

Uniosun Management Declares Opportunity For Re-opening Of Portal

The management of Osun State University has through the school website declared an opportunity for Students to pay their school fees and do their registration after the closure of portal.

“As you are aware, the window for Late Registration closed at 12.00 Midnight of 12th June, 2017. As earlier decided, the rule of ‘No Payment, No Lecture’ is now in force. It is global best practice that School fees and Registration are done as at when due.

The Management has graciously approved that special opportunity be given for those students who have not paid and that the portal will be re-opened depending on the sizeable number of students that are ready to pay.

In the light of the above, students who are ready to pay should put down their names with their College Secretaries starting from Wednesday, 14th June, 2017 to Tuesday, 4th July, 2017, and thereafter Management would now decide to re-open portal if convinced that sizeable number of students are in the list compiled by the College Secretaries.

Thank you.

Ag. Registrar

Aregbesola appoints World Bank official, Olugbile, Technical Adviser.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has appointed Dr. Michael Olugbile as Senior Technical Adviser on Development Partners and International Relations.


Dr. Olugbile, before his appointment, was‎ with the Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice of the World Bank managing projects in Nigeria and also at the West Africa sub-region.

The Governor, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, stated that Olugbile in his new role will be responsible for overall supervision and coordination of all World Bank and other donor funded projects in the state.


The statement added that the new Technical Adviser to the Governor on development partners will head and work with a team in the newly created Program Delivery Unit (PDU) in the office of the Governor.

According to the statement, “Dr. Olugbile, in his new role will be responsible for overall supervision and coordination of all World Bank and other donor-funded projects in the state on behalf of Mr. Governor.

“In addition to overseeing existing projects, he has also been tasked with exploring opportunities to partner with donor agencies and other development partners to secure funding and technical assistance for projects across all sectors in the state”.

The Governor has therefore requested that all Permanent Secretaries and project coordinators to furnish Olugbile with the list of all donor-funded projects and contact details of project team members in their ministries, agencies or parastatals to the PDU located at the Technical Advisers’ block in the office of the Governor with appropriate project documents.

“In the same vein, all donors or development partners approaching any ministry, agency or parastatals should equally be directed to the PDU for attention of Dr. Olugbile”.

Please Pay Your School Fees, UNIOSUN VC Begs Students

The Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Labode Popoola has pleaded with the

students of the institution who have not paid their school fees to make the payment within the stipulated time or cease to be students of the university.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting comprising the management team of the university, UNIOSUN Parents Porum, staff unions and representatives of the students, the VC said majority of students owed school fees and threatens to implement the ‘no tuition, no exam’ policy if the debtors refused to pay.

Popoola said even if the entire students paid their tuition fees, the whole money would not be sufficient to pay the salaries of the staff of the university and the university could be at the risk of extinction if the habit and culture of non-payment of school fees by the students persist unabated.

His words “Even if all our students paid their school fees, we will have a little over N1billion revenue in a year whereas that money cannot pay salaries of our staff alone. Of course, we still need money to do other things including the municipal services on our campuses.”

“It is strange that many students refused to pay tuition fees and this is certainly not acceptable anywhere in the world. Any student that failed to pay school fees within the stipulated time would cease to be our student’s henceforth”, the VC said


Popoola said “We would be compelled to enforce the regulation which stipulated that any student that failed to pay school fees for 2 semesters will cease to be a student of UNIOSUN. We shall implement the ‘No school fees no exam policy’.

“We are in the 6th week of this semester; any student that failed to pay within the stipulated period will not be allowed to attend lectures from June 13. Please don’t come to classroom if you are yet to pay your school fees”, Popoola told the students.

The Chairman of the parents’ forum, Justice Jide Falola urged the students who have collected the schools fees from their parents to ensure that they pay it to the account of the university.

Falola who was represented at the meeting by the Vice Chairman of the parents’ forum, Mr Niran Ojo pleaded with management of the university to extend the deadline for the payment to enable the debtors make the payment.

Some of the students who spoke during the meeting said the economic recession hampered them from pay the school fees and pleaded with the management of the institution to extent the payment period.

In their separate remarks, the Chairman of Academic of Staff Union of University, UNIOSUN branch, Dr Abiona Oluseye, the Chairman of National Association of Academic Technologists, Mr Ismail Adeleke and the representative of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria University, Mr Obisesan Samuel also pleaded for the extension of the deadline for the payment and charged the students to ensure that they pay their school fess without further delay.

The ASUU chairman said it was unfortunate that some students didn’t see the payment of their tuition fees as a priority. He urged the students to pay the school fees so that the university authority would be able to pay the staff.

Some of the students that attended the meeting said if the management extends the deadline for the payment; a large number of students would pay their tuition fees and also pay for the late registration.

Prepare for your own sovereign States....ONAC O’odua Nationalist Coalition

Prepare for your own sovereign States....ONAC
O’odua Nationalist Coalition ,(ONAC) has called on Yoruba people to prepare for their own sovereign nation in the face of the lingering problems and conflict built around the national question that has stunted the growth of Nigeria for over a century.
This conflict has again reared its head, 50 years after a civil war that inflicted pain and misery on the Yoruba people apart from distorting the development plan of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo for the South West.
ONAC is made up of 18 Pan Yoruba groups including the Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC), Oodua Liberation Movement, (OLM), Oodua Republic Coalition, (ORC), Yoruba Revolutionary Congress, (YORC), Oodua Muslim-Christian Dialogue Group , (OMDG), Yoruba Students Nationalist Front, (YOSNF), Oodua Hunters Union, (OHUN) and 11 other groups. The statement was signed by Micheal Popoola, Oluwole Suleiman and Mrs Aduke Fadahunsi on behalf of the coalition.
The group called on Yoruba people in the territories of the Hausa-Fulani North to be guided by a strong sense of history and the fact that they will not be spared by those who claim to be their hosts. We advise them to begin to make alternative plans for the inevitable upheaval being promoted by the Fulani oligarchy.
The group said the North has always been the aggressor because of the region’s loss of power and the unhidden desire to make Nigeria the irreversible extension of the Fulani emirate. What we see is violent conflict of civilisations which can only be resolved when each region go her own way. In the bid to keep Nigeria as one country, millions of people have been killed and the lives of children wasted, the future pauperized and the potentials of Yoruba young men and women bottled or chained with fetters of iron.
“Today, we make the historic declaration that Yoruba people are ready for our own Oduduwa Republic. We have watched events these past days. The cloud is getting thicker. The poisonous rain appear ready to fall. It is time for the Yoruba people to be ready to defend our homeland from being seized by local imperial elements and their collaborators. We assert Yoruba self-determination and sovereignty. We shall work for it. We will actualize it,” ONAC said in the statement issued at the weekend.
The groups said the Yoruba people have suffered unprecedented hardship in the form of human and material destruction since 1960 when the country attained independence.
“Our leaders beginning from Chief Obafemi Awolowo were jailed on trumped up charges. 28 leaders of Yoruba were imprisoned unjustly. Chief M.K.O Abiola was murdered. The industrial bases built by Awolowo were destroyed by the military rookies appointed to control the South West region, our culture destroyed and the future of our young people put asunder. Today, many Yoruba people have become scavengers across the world fleeing from a hostile, bloodletting and malicious country that hold no promise of good and abundant life for the long suffering and exhausted population.
The group stated further “we call on Yoruba people all over the world to prepare for a sovereign nation for the people of the South West. We are over 50 million and far more than the population of 140 countries in the world. Yoruba will be the third biggest nation in Africa and about the 28th biggest nation in the world. We are big and knowledgeable enough to be a sovereign nation. We assert the Yoruba self-determination without any further delay.”
The Pan Yoruba group said with the position of Northern youths asking Igbo to quit the North, the outright demand for Arewa sovereignty by the Northern Elders Forum, (NEF), and the legitimate demand for Biafra by Igbo, the call for a Niger-Delta Republic “It is time for the Yoruba people to stand for Oodua Republic without any further delay.”
ONAC said the quit notice issued by the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, (AYCF) and the Northern Elders Forum, (NEF) was not against the Igbo alone but also against Yoruba since Igbo is not written on the forehead of residents in the North.
ONAC stated “ This is not the first time we have called for Oodua Republic. In April 2015, we organized a massive rally demanding for Oodua Republic. But today, this demand has become even more crucial than any other thing.
SIGNED
Oluwole Suleiman
Michael Popoola
Mrs Aduke Fadahunsi

Finally, Northern Youths Withdraw Quit Notice To Igbos, Say Nigeria Must Remain One

Acoalition of Northern Youth groups tagged, “The Kaduna Declaration”, which gave all Igbos residing in any part of North three months to relocate to their places of origin, has reversed the threat.

They had also directed northerners residing in the East to within three months relocate back to the North.

But in a u-turn on Wednesday, Comrade Yerima Shettima, President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, and Isaac Balami, Arewa Consultative Forum Congress, appealed to Nigerians not to panic.

In a video footage, Balami said the Northern groups had observed how the issue was “being discussed globally”.

He said the groups will create a platform to discuss the outrage and condemnation trailing the eviction threat.

His words: “This is not the time for us to discuss separation. We need to come together. Arewa is know for peace.

“It is obvious that the initial approach was not the best. We need to work together as a nation

“I want to tell Nigerians living at home and in diaspora that there is hope. This nation is going nowhere.

“Shettima here wants to assure that everything that he has done was in good faith. This is one Nigeria and we are going nowhere.”

Arewa Group Insists Igbos Must Leave Northern Nigeria, Despite Condemnation

The leaders of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, have said that the threat of arrest by the government of Kaduna State will not stop them from insisting that people of Igbo extraction should leave the north.


The group, a coalition of some northern groups, insisted on its stance that Igbos leave the 19 northern states within three months.
One of the leaders of the group, who read their declaration on Tuesday, Abdulaziz Suleiman, said they held a meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday after the threat of arrest and decided that “there will be no retreat, no surrender”.

Mr. Abdulaziz, the National Coordinator of Northern Emancipation Network, NEN, informed PREMIUM TIMES over the telephone on Wednesday evening that contrary to the position by Kaduna State government, they are not advocating violence.
“Our declaration did not mention violence at all. The Igbo have consistently insisted that they don’t want to be in Nigeria, let them therefore, go back to their places “They don’t believe in Nigeria, so, we also don’t believe in them,” he said.


Mr. Suleiman also accused Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State of playing politics over the matter.
“Where was El Rufai when the Igbos gave the Fulani ultimatum to leave their areas?
“Where was he when over 500 northerners were killed in Ile Ife? These people just politicise everything.
“Because he wants to run for President, he chose to ignore his people and appease the Igbo? Goodluck to him,” he said.

Like Mr. El-Rufai, the Nigerian government has also condemned the call by the northern coalition, assuring Nigerians that the threat by the group should be ignored.
“It is not new, but what I want to assure you is that the security agencies are on top of the situation,” the information minister, Lai Mohammed, said.

The call by the Northern group has also been condemned by Nigerians across ethnic and political divide, as well as Igbo groups like MASSOB and the Ohaneze Ndigbo with the latter cautioning Igbos in South-east Nigeria not to retaliate with a similar call.

ICPC to train local citizens on Inclusive Budgeting

 

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has concluded plans to train people at the grassroots to actively engage in budget processes as a tool for socio-economic development.

The project which will kick off this June, is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and will cut across the six geo-political zones of the country.

ICPC’s Spokesperson, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa, mni, who revealed this at the pre-execution meeting with Civil Society Organisation (CSO) in Abuja, said that the purpose of mobilizing the grassroots was for them to be able to take actions that can impact on the progress of their communities and to ensure that the budget responds to the needs of the people.

She added that the aim was to de-mystify the budget process to engender development at the grassroots level.

In her words, “The outcome should be a citizenry empowered with confidence, skills, knowledge to recognize their rights and accept responsibility to demand those rights through constructive engagement”.

Okoduwa, who also heads the Public Enlightenment department of ICPC, acknowledged the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to anti-corruption programmes in Nigeria.

In her address, the Country Director, UNDP, Mrs. Mandisa Mashologu, who was represented Mr. Segun Olusola, UNDP, told CSOs to recognise their role as very crucial in nation-building.

He reminded the participants that the project was approved based on the previous success stories that the ICPC/UNDP partnership on training the grassroots on their engagement in budget processes had produced.

Man apprehended with fresh human head, other parts in Osun

A 38 year old man, Rasheed Ajibade has been arrested by Osun State police command for being in possession of a fresh head of an unidentified woman.

Other parts of the woman found on him include her virgina, liver and intestine, two palms, lungs and blood.

Parading the man with the fresh human head dripping blood at the state Police headquarters, in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, said policemen on surveillance arrested the suspect at Oluode market, in Osogbo.

He said:  “He was bringing the fresh human head and other vital organs of his victim from Aagba, a community in Boripe local government area of Osun State. We want to establish the identity of the victim and get to know where and how the victim was killed.”

The Police boss, who assured that his men would get to the root of the dastardly act, said an accomplice to the suspect, who was in the vehicle, in which the human head was found escaped and efforts were ongoing to arrest him.

According to him, the fresh human head and other vital organs, severed from the body of the unidentified woman were found in one red colour Isuzu Rodeo Jeep, marked LSD 987 DJ after the suspect was arrested by the police.

Speaking to journalists, the suspect, Rasheed Ajibade, a native of Ikirun said: “I am an Alfa and herbalist. Somebody, who is known as Olorungbede came to me and said he wanted to do money ritual. I told him the materials for the job, which include fresh human head, private part of a woman and others and he said he would get it by himself.”

Ajibade, who said he was observing fasting, explained that “the man brought the fresh human head to me today. My plan was to keep the head and other parts in my place till the end of Ramadan fasting before using it for the money ritual.”

Speaking further, the suspect said the vehicle in which the fresh human head and other parts were found belonged to his brother, adding that “I did not kill the woman. It was that man that brought the human head and other parts to me.”

Ikere-Ekiti Ancient Tree Demolition: Olukere Warns Fayose

Ikere-Ekiti Ancient Tree Demolition:
Olukere Warns Fayose

Olukere of Ikere Ekiti, Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin has warned the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose over his attempt to demolish the ancient tree in the town.

Olukere said this today when one of our correspondents visit his palace at Odo-Oja area of the town.

Protest erupted on Monday when Fayose's give order to demolish the ancient tree.

There is historical object called "Ege" and "Mystical Tree" which belongs to Olukere, Ege is a fountain which has mystical powers to control flooding while the "Mystical Tree" is a place where Olukere worship Olosunta
Festival every year.

Trouble started when Fayose visited the ongoing Ikere road dualization to ascertain the level of work done and he gave order to demolish the historical objects which Olukere claimed he belongs to him and his forefathers.

As early as 07:00am today, youths  are still protesting over the demolition attempt.

According to Olukere: "Nobody can demolish the Ancient Tree because it represents the symbol of Olosunta, the branches of the tree can only be cut whenever Olukere dies, and I Olukere of Ikere, Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin is still alive, I will resist Fayose's order to demolish it, because if allow uprooted it will bring calamities, disaster and bad omen to the community".

"If Fayose likes, let him bring 1000 Soldiers, 1000 policemen, I will resist him, Nobody, No Governor, No President can demolish our Cultural Heritage". Olukere boasted.

Meanwhile, elders in the community had started perfomed some sacrifices and fetish objects beside the tree.

Details Shortly.......

Monarch, residents kick against plan to uproot sacred tree in Ekiti

Therewas tension in Ikere-Ekiti, headquarters of Ikere Local Council of Ekiti State yesterday over the move by a contractor handling a road dualisation project to uproot a tree considered sacred by the communityThe sacred tree is located in a historical site in the heart of the community.

An attempt on Monday by the contractor handling the project to uproot the tree was disrupted by the youths and traditional religion worshippers, who invaded the scene. Some irate youths held up traffic and lit bonfires at Odo-Oja area of the town.

The protesting indigenes claimed that the historical site known locally as “Ereja” was the source of Ikere Ekiti, and uprooting the tree would result in dire consequences for the community. They also claimed that the site of the tree was host to the annual Olosunta festival.


Governor Ayo Fayose, who visited the scene yesterday, appealed for calm, saying he would ensure that the traditional rulers of the community and Olukere of Ikere, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin, were sensitised on the need for the road dualisation project.

Residents had earlier in the day placed fetish objects made with a goat and pigeon at the site while palm fronds were also tied around the shrine to scare away agents of the contractors.

Some of them also formed a human shield round the shrine in a bid to frustrate any plan to demolish the site and uproot the tree. Addressing reporters at his palace, Oba Obasoyin who is the custodian of traditional sites in the town, said “cutting down the sacred tree and demolishing the Ereja was akin to passing a death sentence on him.”

Present at the briefing were the Alare of Are-Ikere, Chief Oguntuase Atitebi and the Elejoka of Ikuomoba-Ikere, Chief Benjamin Owolade. “It is when a king dies that the branches of the tree are cut off and I went to meet the governor that he should not pass a death sentence on me. The only way forward is that government should see reason with the people of Ikere and respect the people’s cultural heritage,” Obasoyin said.

The state government has insisted that the tree was obstructing the ongoing road dualisation in the town and must be cut down. It was learnt that Governor Ayodele Fayose led operatives of the state security outfit, “Operation Flush” to the town in the heat of the crisis.

Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi, said the road construction must continue because, for every developmental effort, people must make sacrifices.

“Houses had been demolished, now that it is the shrine, it is only proper that we relocate the shrine to a proper place. “With the necessary appeasement, the shrine could be relocated. All the gods in Yoruba land are for protection and not for death. We want to assure him (Olukere) that nothing bad will happen to him.

“The government will continue with the construction of roads, government must carry on with its responsibilities,” he added

Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Benue not part of Biafra republic - Fani Kayode replies Ken Henshaw

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has written an article in response to Ken Henshaw for allegedly including Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and other states in the map of Biafra.

Fani-Kayode said it was wrong for him to come up with such map without seeking the people’s consents.

The map included all the south-south states as well as Benue and some parts of Igala community are part of the Biafra Republic.

But, Fani-Kayode said since Mr Henshaw had not come out to deny the report, he was being disingenuous and unduly hostile to Nnamdi Kanu and the concept and spirit of Biafra.

His words: “He has made a point that appears to be valid but that point is based on a false premise. That premise is that the southern minorities would be compelled or obliged to be part of Biafra without their consent. This is false. It is not true.


“The truth is that each of the bordering ethnic nationalities, and even the Igbo themselves, must and will have their own referendum before going anywhere. It is entirely up to them what they do and where they go,” Fani wrote in an article entitled, ‘Nnamdi Kanu, Biafra and the False Premise’.

According to him, “The Biafra originators are simply asking for their own country and for an affirmative referendum to give it legitimacy.​ ​

“No-one can be made to join Biafra against his or her will or by force. It appears to me that this is obvious.”

Afenifere leader, Okurounmu reveals why Nigeria should break-up

Aleader of the pan Yoruba socio political organisation, Afenifere, Senator Femi Okurounmu, has warned that if the North remains resistant to restructuring of Nigeria, they will force it on them or break the country into two.

Okurounmu gave the warning while reacting to a statement credited to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, saying Nigeria cannot be restructured now until the constitution is amended.

Speaking with The Sun, Okurounmu, “I am not surprised by the statement of the AGF that the north will not support restructuring. The north does not want the status quo to change.


“They have always seen themselves as the only people fit to rule Nigeria. Anyway, we did not expect them to say otherwise; we must now force them.

“The people supporting restructuring are in the majority, hence, the minority cannot override us. And if they don’t want, we can then break Nigeria into two.

“They can go their own and we go on our way. That is the solution. We should stop asking them but force it on them, whether they want it or not.”