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Bode George Reveals What He Will Do If Tinubu Ever Becomes President Of Nigeria by Folake(f) : 1:02 am On Feb 17

Bode George

Bode George

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, speaks with MUDIAGA AFFE on the state of insecurity in the nation, his plans to contest the 2023 presidential election, and the problems in his party, among others

You have shown interest to contest the 2023 presidential election. What are the motivating factors?

First, our party will have to agree if it is coming to the South-West or not. We have a highly cerebral group made up of seasoned Nigerians where we discuss issues on Nigeria and the South-West. The thought came out when people started talking about the South-West and in my part of the world, if some people are wishing you to do something, you do not deflect it. Although the time is still far ahead and nobody knows who will be alive or not, when this discussion came up, I got calls that this is what they were thinking. I did not tell them to stop, neither did I tell them to go ahead because these are things you will have to put into prayers and if it is the wish of the Almighty, it will get open to me. Like I told them, there is a myriad of problems in this country today and usually, in four-year term governance, you start political discussions at least during the third year. If you have a problem, you will start to address it from the top to the bottom. We just concluded an election process and it is not up to one year but the state of the nation gives me a lot of concern. I am talking as a Nigerian. The level of our civility, development and the level in which this country has achieved, the whole thing is crumbling.

What is responsible for that?

First, it is our nation and it has nothing to do with a political party. If you do not talk when issues are like this, then you have no right in the future. You may advise which may not take, but to be quiet is immoral and dishonest. Look at the recent rating by Transparency International on our corruption index, we have further plunged.  As a nation, how well are we respected internationally? I can tell you that it is almost zero.

So, what is responsible for the rising debates about the 2023 election?

They probably think that if they start early, there would be calmness in the minds of the people. Or are they afraid that the present administration should wind up and get out of the office? There are so many meanings you can read into it. Our major issue now is not about politics but the management of the country. All is not well. There is hunger in the land and hunger does not have a tribe. We are expanding the grudges between tribes and promoting divisive things. You cannot make suggestions without attacks from other quarters. What is responsible for this? However, let us resolve the issue of mistrust before we talk of any election. Why are we looking at ourselves as enemies? A divided house is a defeated house. Our nation must survive. I concluded that we would need to go and dedicate one week to pray to God Almighty because we have offended His dictates. Whether Muslim or Christian, we need to fast and pray.

You had also recently expressed desire to challenge the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in the next election. Why did you make a direct challenge?

It is a challenge. It would be the most illogical and most disruptive issue to have him (Tinubu) elected as President. If this happens, I will disown Nigeria to take the citizenship of Togo or any other country. Look, what this fellow did in my state, all the lies and the most painful thing was that on the day of the election (2019 election) two bullion vans drove in the daylight to his house and what did Prof Itse Sagay say, that he (Tinubu) had been a very wealthy man before. Where was he wealthy? If his (Sagay’s) conclusion was that, then something is wrong. Let us call a spade a spade and stop deceiving ourselves. So, if that is the way they want to do it, then I am ready to face him (Tinubu). Let us get out there because it would be the greatest disservice for our nation to have him contest as a presidential candidate.

But Tinubu is one of the pillars of the APC and people believe he can lead the country…

The APC to me is a congregation of strange bird fellows and you can see the effect. Nobody is talking for the party or the government, all you hear are a cacophony of voices and that is why the party is not working. So, if Tinubu is one of the leaders of the party, it means it is not working. I am convinced that Nigerians who voted the APC into government would be regretting it now. I am not saying this because I belong to another party, but the management of that party (APC) is archaic and it is rural in its concept. They can modernise themselves though. You heard what the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, once said that all those that have sinned before should come to the APC and their sins would be forgiven. Is that the kind of statement that should come from the national chairman of a ruling party? So, it (APC) is a congregation of sinful people. What is required in Nigeria is the provision of food, shelter, and good infrastructure, but the APC is now very far from providing that. Whether you are a rich or a poor man, we all fall into the same category and it is scary.

Your party is trying to realign ahead of the 2023 election. What are the best ways to achieve this?

Our party itself needs a remodelling. All is not well with the PDP unless we are deceiving ourselves. When they should have been out in the field before the Supreme Court judgment on Emeka Ihedioha (former governor of Imo State), they were asleep and suddenly they popped out- that is not the way to manage a party. If you have a case of that nature, we should have been all out to give him all the necessary support from the onset, not now trying to act when it is medicine after death. If we go on like this, we would be beaten stupid at elections. The PDP itself has a monumental problem and that is why I accepted this interview because I do not want to talk on the platform of being partisan. I want to talk as a Nigerian.

Specifically, as one of the leaders of the party in the South-West, what are you doing to bring the PDP together?

Fortunately, we have a governor (Seye Makinde of Oyo State) and we have resolved that there will be a meeting of elders by next Thursday (February 20) in Ibadan. This meeting will take care of all the things going on, positively and negatively, in the party.  The guy who is managing the party in the South-West has created some ripples in some states and when it comes to issues like these, we would concern ourselves with ‘righting’ the ‘wrong’ by doing what is just and fair. This meeting of elders in the South-West is to stabilise the zone ahead of the party’s national convention that will be coming up in April.

What is the problem of the PDP in Lagos that has made it difficult for the party to win elections in the state since 1999?

It is mainly attitudinal and the lack of cohesive and comprehensive electoral process. What normally happens is that when the people go for election, from the polling unit the results are hand-written to ward collation centre and from there to local government area collation centre before it gets to the state collation centre. So, cheating is unimaginable and undependable. That is why you find out that when a government makes policy, should it not be in the interest of the people? If they do not respect the people then it shows that they know that they would go back to the election to manipulate the result because of the archaic methodology that is adopted. That is all that is happening. It is not that our people do not win elections in Lagos State. Look at the last general elections, especially the presidential election; it is so mundane and illogical. We cannot continue this way and say the election is credible. Results are constantly being altered as they go from one collation centre to the other.

You had wished to contest the presidential election with Tinubu, are you not worried that the APC in which Tinubu belongs had been winning in your local government area all these while?

This is why I am telling you that the system of operation is very abysmal, terrible, and illogical and it does not make any sense. How many elections have we had that does not end up in the court? The technology is available with the use of the Permanent Voter Card. This would enable us to reduce the paper voting. I believe we have a long time between now and the next election for the electoral body to get things sorted.

So, are you saying with credible conduct of elections, you can win the APC in your Lagos Island LGA?

People will make up their minds. Who is happy in Nigeria today? Everybody is crying under the heavy storm. We are all at the precipice and my major concern is the electoral process. This is the 21st century and we are still carrying results from location A to B and C by hand, why would there not be complaints. Let us respect the will of the people and the only way this can be done is to make sure that elections are transparent, just and fair.  Look at what happened in Osun and Imo states where the court took over the role of INEC, adding and subtracting figures.

There is a general clamour that if the Presidency rotates to the South, it should be the turn of the South-East?

I had said it before that ideally, from our party, once it comes back to the South, it must go to the South-East. But, when we, in the South-West, were looking for some support, I was shocked about what some of their leaders in the South-East did. I was one of the first to express my belief in the zoning system based on the rotational level, but when it was our turn to produce the national chairman of the party, the South-East people abandoned us. However, as I Christian I have risen above that level, but it is just a reminder that you should be careful in life to be just, fair and rational because someday it would be your turn. So, ideally, when it comes to the South it should go to the South-East because they have never had it, but if the name Tinubu pops up in the APC, I would go all out to contest with him.

But some members of the PDP believe that the 2019 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, could still clinch the ticket in the 2023 election. If this happens, what would you do?

That was why I said baring all last-minute discussions, I believe in good thinking. I cannot stay off that because of personal things. Whatever they discuss or plan, I will go along with it, but there is a caveat.

What is the caveat?

Our party requires introspection because the management style currently being exhibited calls for a question. We would get worse than the APC if we are not careful. However, whatever the party decides, I will swing on it.

There was a change of leadership in the structure of the Lagos State PDP. Are you in support of the new state executive members?

I am not in support of that change. Those are the kind of things that I am talking about. The mismanagement and arrogance in the leadership style will take us nowhere. I was one of the party managers for 12 years, if we had mismanaged the PDP the way they are doing now there would have been no party. We are derailing like a ship without a rudder in a sea-state that is very bad. I believe that the elders and founders of the party must come together for us to have a closed-door discussion. The party is sinking. Although the case of Lagos PDP is in the court, that management style is bad. You cannot have a total power control. You must discuss with the elders of the party. Politics is all about discussion. You cannot just wake up from the wrong side of your bed and just take a decision. It is affecting everything. If you start taking illegal steps, of course, people would challenge you.  Did you consult? You did something illogical and illegal because you are managers of the party now, it cannot work. These are things that we must revisit to put our party and reinforce our platform, otherwise, it would keep wobbling. If you stand on a wobbling platform you cannot fly.

The state of insecurity in Nigeria had topped the front burner in recent months, as a former military officer, do you think our security agencies are doing well in the fight against kidnapping, banditry, and insurgency? 

 I have thought very deeply about this. Ideally, all those areas mentioned are all for the Police, but when the Police cannot cope with the operation, they reverse to the President to tell him that they cannot cope with it, then the military will come in. The way the military is set up, we are to fend off enemies of this country. If it is a matter between Nigerians, which side is the enemy? Unless they are doing things that are inimical to the stability and quietness of our country and it will be in a short-term operation with the military. A quick bang, finish the operation and move back to the barracks. Our training is different from that of the Police but right now, this issue of insurgency has made it also perpetual and I do not know where we are. People are still being murdered and people are not safe. So, I believe it is not a job for the government alone anymore if we are serious. The government must now open their doors and open up a national discussion. This is mistrust and it is getting out of hand. The lack of love that we once exhibited is no longer there. We are 100 years old as a country and people are going to the precipice to say we should go our separate ways. To me, separating is not the issue.

As a result of this insecurity, the six governors in the South-West came together to set up a regional outfit code named Operation Amotekun, was it a right step?

There is nothing wrong with the establishment of Operation Amotekun by the South-West governors. The reason why I am in support of the intervention is that the number of policemen for the population of this country is inadequate. How many policemen do we have at the moment that is policing over 200 million people? I learnt we have about 300,000 policemen right now, how can they be effective? So, if the state governments now adopt a concept like the Amotekun issue to have people doing community policing, there is nothing wrong with that. These people will come from the localities that they are operating and they will checkmate the activities of strangers. Community policing is such that the operatives will know members of their communities and that will be a deterrent to criminals.  You will know for instance that Fatai, who leaves next door, is a mechanic. This was what we had in place during the pre-colonial and colonial era.  We copied the American system of governance and we should know that the local government areas (counties) in the US have their Police. There is also the state Police and the Federal Police. So, the immediate surrounding is secured by those who are there.  They will not, for instance, get someone from New York to carry out the task of community policing in Florida. We can make it work in Nigeria. This central control of the Police was introduced by the military because of their style of government where the order is from the top to bottom, and it was appropriate for them.  But in a democratic dispensation, the power comes from the bottom, so it is bottoms up. We cannot have people sitting in Abuja and ruling over my local government area in Lagos, or other LGAs in Sokoto, Borno, Rivers or Niger, it cannot be effective. So, there is a need for us to devolve power and give to Peter what is Peter and to John what is John, otherwise, we are going to continue to swim in the dark. It is already affecting our image outside. Where is that giant of Africa today? We started the vision 20:2020 a couple of years ago, we are now in 2020. Are we among the 20 economically viable nations in the world today? So, for me, it has become imperative for us to discuss it.

With regards to insecurity, there was a recent call for the service chiefs to be removed, would you subscribe to that?

Let me do an analysis here.  Yes, it is the prerogative of the President to hire and fire them. Nigerians are now getting involved, is it the problems of service chiefs that is responsible for all these? The beheading of the local chairman of CAN in Adamawa State will you tie to the service chiefs? Their defined jobs are to defeat enemies of the country. What we have right now is the insurgency largely as a result of mistrust between people of different faiths and tribes. The service chief is just one man and a tree does not make a forest. It does not mean that if you change one man all is well. Those who are currently service chiefs have GOCs, Flag Officers and so on, it is teamwork and the joint team goes back to the number one citizen to report. If the number one feels their performance is below his expectation, he can fire them. Yes, there is also a need for morale-boosting by elevating those looking forward to being service chiefs too, but basically, it is either you clock 60 years of age or 35 years in service, whichever one comes first they retire you. If the President says you should stay on, you can stay on, but any day you leave, the system will collect back every kobo that you received after you had clocked your retirement age. I do not know the ages of the current service chiefs, but the issue is a collective responsibility. Their loyalty to the country must outshine everything they think of.

In the recently conducted governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states, there were complaints of heavy involvements of security operatives and people are getting worried that such development should be curtailed ahead of the 2023 general elections, what do you make of that?

If the electoral system continues that way, this nation will never get out of the doldrums. There are a lot of young people who are so versatile in this age of Information and Communications Technology; we should engage them to make us go fully electronic during elections. We still run elections in a semi-automatic manner. Why can’t we go the whole hog? Look at the United Kingdom, they recently had a general election and just a few hours after voting had ended, the result was already in the public domain. Why can’t we do that here or are they saying we do not have people with brains? Our electoral system is very faulty and people are still saying the process is good. God loves this country and I believe that we are stretching our luck beyond sensibilities. If we do the right thing the security operatives cannot assist people to snatch ballot boxes. The current electoral system is faulty and useless and we must do something about it. We still have enough time to build it up. I believe that voters could immediately vote with the Card Reader technology immediately after accreditation and this will be recorded instantly in the database instead of this thumb printing on ballot papers. All those results that they take from the polling units to the ward collation and state collations centres, the results will keep changing. The unfortunate situation is that we have these vice-chancellors who are being used as state collation officers to carry out these damages to the system. I remember the Osun State case where a Chief Returning Officer, a vice-chancellor who said they can go to court when vote-counting was still ongoing.

What is your position on the ban of okada and tricycles in some parts of Lagos State?

How can they (state government) do that? Let us forget about politics, the governor is my younger brother and his uncle is my friend. I talk to him like an elder. He should sit down and revisit that law. It is inimical to anything that makes any sense at all.  Most workers in Lagos work in the Island, how do they get to their offices early now? Must everybody buy a car? Which alternative employment do they have for the people that they have stopped from riding a commercial motorcycle? So, how do they survive? They are only expanding the kingdom of armed robbers. The number of people out of job is unbelievable and you are adding to it. Get the Amotekun to be in every area and they will monitor the movement of these people (okada riders).

***

Source: Sunday Punch

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Demolition: Ugwuanyi Should Not Be Crucified by Folake(f) : 2:47 am On Feb 17

By Mazi Omife I. Omife

I was with some of my friends the other day at Obiagu where the issue of demolition of illegal structures by the Enugu Capital Territory Development came up. Some spoke against the government action, which they said was inhuman and insensitive to the current economic hardship facing the masses by destroying the means of livelihood of so many people. Others supported the government action on the grounds that that was the only way to bring discipline and order in Enugu metropolis.

My take on the matter was that in as much as the demolition exercise was bound to affect the means of livelihood of many people, in the long run, it was in the best interest of the greater majority of the citizens if we recognize that illegal structures pose many kinds of problems, both social and environmental, some of which can be dangerous to lives and property.

Take for instance, in the recent past, Enugu metropolis was not known for heavy flooding which has now become the order of the day, even with the slightest rainfall, posing a serious threat to buildings and public utilities. And one of the major causes of this new phenomenon is the erection of illegal structures both within private and public spaces, against the original plan of the urban city, which causes blockage of water channels and drainages.

With the increase in population in Enugu and the increase in illegal structures, many of these water channels and drainages are being blocked, leading to heavy flooding. Every time there is rain, places like Liberty Estate and Ebeano Tunnel link road become dangerous spots for both vehicular and human traffic as well as residents in the area and a serious threat to the roads.

Apart from flooding, illegal structures also cause a serious obstruction on urban roads leading to heavy hold up, especially during peak hours at places like Abakpa Nike, Agbani road, Obiagu road, Artisan market area, Coal camp and other places.

In case of a fire outbreak, illegal structure often leads to avoidable loss of lives and property by preventing fire service vehicles from timely access to the scene. The recent Onitsha fire disaster is a perfect example.

Illegal structures also encourage crime in many areas such as Obiagu and Asata slum areas where make-shift shanties prevent police vehicles from reaching crimes for necessary intervention. Many illegal structures are also used for criminal or unlawful purposes including sale of illicit drugs and even wayside prostitution among other nuisance such as noise pollution.

I recall two years ago when I had a head-on the battle against one of such illegal structures operating a music shop beside Obiagu Council primary school, causing a serious distraction to pupils with double heavy loudspeakers. The teachers had become helpless, as they had pleaded with the operator to no avail. When I personally approached the shop owner, he also became defiant, claiming that he had a right to do his business without let or hinder. After my fruitless effort to engage him reasonably failed, I took the matter to the noise pollution department of the Ministry of Environment, which charged him to the environmental court after he failed to stop the noise nuisance and the court ordered him to relocate in addition to a fine.

It is important to recognize that illegal structures constitute a contravention of the law and for any government to look the other way when people disobey laws is to encourage a state of anarchy, especially when such disobedience becomes a serious threat to the safety of lives and property. It should be noted that the erection of illegal structures that block water channels are done by obstinate members of the public who flout rules and regulations of urban planning and defy the warnings and contravention notices from ECTD and the State urban planning agencies. These illegal structures pose environmental and ecological hazards to society, which no responsible government should ignore or condone. Which is why the recent demolition exercise was not the first time in the history of Enugu State as it had happened in all previous administrations since 1979 until date, the simple reason being that no administration worth its name will sit by and watch the lives and property of its citizens put on the line by unscrupulous citizens.

However, some blame should go to some unscrupulous government functionaries from the Ministry of Lands who collude with devious members of the public to make land allocations and approvals for property erection on areas that such structures are prohibited by law.

Such unethical actions and distortion of the approved urban master plan are a threat to lives and property. It is in this regard that the Government should investigate the claims of some victims of the demolition that they had approval for their structures from appropriate government agencies and deal with any government functionary found liable.

In the same vein, government should as well look into the citing of hazardous infrastructures such as fuel stations and communication masts, which currently litter Enugu metropolis to ensure they are not located in vulnerable residential areas as these also pose serious threats to lives and property in case of fire or collapse among other alleged health issues.

The bottom line is that the ECTD demolition exercise is for the good of the government and people of Enugu State for which the present administration should not be crucified. Although many people suffered the effect of the exercise, the general benefit of the demolition outweighs the collateral damage and should be seen as such.

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Police Arrest Suspected Aiye Confraternity Kingpin, Eight Others by Folake(f) : 4:17 am On Feb 17

The Police Special Strike Force on Social Miscreants has arrested a suspected Aiye Confraternity leader, Sikiru Samuel, 24, a.k.a Samora, and eight members of the gang in Ikorodu.

Lagos police spokesman, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday that one double barrel gun was recovered from the suspects.

Mr Elkana also said the police commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, had deployed more officers “to sustain the ongoing onslaught on cultists and other social miscreants in Ikorodu, Imota, Agbowa, Owutu, Ijede, Ipakodo and Owode Onirin.”

Other suspected members of the gang arrested are Adegboyega Ismaila, 19; Sunkanmi Shonubi a.k.a Napel, 19; Adigun Faruq, 18; Rilwan Akinwale, 30; Victor Uju a.k.a Zino, 18; Juwon Idowu a.k.a Lighter, 18; Rasak Adebola a.k.a Bobo, 20; and Kehinde Keshinro, 18.

Elkana alleged that the gang was responsible for series of violent attacks and gang violence in Imota and environs.

“One of such violent attacks happened on 12/02/2020 at about 0830hours which led to the death of one David Nwanga ‘m’ 30 years old of Araro Adamo area,” he said.

The suspects were handed over to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Yaba for discreet investigation.

The spokesman said the suspects would be charged to court.

Also, Elkana said that on Friday night a team of police officers from Oke Odo Police Station on patrol along Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway intercepted some hoodlums at Katangowa refuse dump smoking dry weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.

On sighting the police, Elkana said the suspects took to their heels.

Following a hot chase, five suspects were arrested with one double barrel short gun and three live cartridges.

He said the suspects would be prosecuted.

In addition, the spokesman said that on February 8, police officers from Oke Odo Police Station acting on credible intelligence arrested a notorious car snatching suspect, Yusuf Akinradewo.

The 33-year-old allegedly took a Mitsubishi Montero Jeep with registration number GGE 620 AQ to a man named Wasiu Ogunsola of Omolojuwo Street, Dalemo, Sango-ota, Ogun for purchase.

Elkana said that when the buyer demanded for the original papers of the vehicle, the suspect abandoned the vehicle and ran away.

He said police detectives eventually arrested the suspect and recovered another vehicle from him, a Toyota Camry saloon car with registration number AGL 480 EC, belonging to a man named Nurudeen Rasaki of Isiaka Adekoya Street, Igbogbo, Ikorodu.

The police spokesman said the owners of the vehicles have been contacted.

He added that the suspect would be charged to court, while the two recovered vehicles would be handed over to the owners on bond.

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Funke Akindele Becomes First Nollywood Act To gain 10m Instagram Followers (Photo) by Folake(f) : 5:17 am On Feb 17

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GistReel

Nollywood actress Funke Akindele has become the first Nigerian act to reach the 10 million followers milestone on Instagram. The make-believe merchant moves ahead of multi-award singer, Ayodeji Balogun also known as Wizkid who has 9.6million followers. Jenifer as she is fondly called now rank top with the likes Davido and Tiwa Savage in the […]

Bandits Killed Katsina Farmers Out Of Revenge – President Buhari by Folake(f) : 7:18 am On Feb 17

President Buhari has condemned the latest round of attacks on farmers by bandits in Damkal and Tsanwa villages in Batsari local government area of Katsina state, saying that killing people in the name of revenge is not acceptable.

33 people were reportedly killed in the attack carried out by suspected bandits in two villages in Batsari local government area of Katsina state on Friday February 14th.

The bandits who struck at the time of prayer around 6:30pm in Tsauwa and Dankar villages, burnt several houses, animals and properties in the attack.

Reacting to the incident, the President in a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu, warned that “no one in the country has a right to take laws into his hands by the way of self-help or revenge.

Local communities that catch bandits should hand over the suspects to law enforcement authorities instead of meting out capital punishment, leading to a cycle of revenge and counter revenge.”

He urged community leaders and the local authorities to continue their efforts in partnership with law enforcement agencies that bring the surrender of bandits, leading to peace between farmers and herders.

“The authorities must be allowed to investigate and deal with any breach that occurs. There is no place for violence in a decent society,” said the President.

President Buhari prayed that God will comfort families that have lost loved ones in the attacks and repose the souls of the victims.

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Instagram Blogger Leaks Photo Of Nina’s Husband; Claims She Had Audio Wedding by Folake(f) : 4:47 pm On Feb 17

Popular Instagram blogger, Gistlover shared screenshots of the messages she received from a lady, whose identity was kept hidden.

Nina and her mother-in-law

From the messages, it was gathered that reality television star, Nina Ivy is 4 months pregnant and she allegedly organized an audio wedding.

The unidentified lady, who sent the messages, also claimed Nina Ivy got pregnant for her husband, whose name is Tony and he wasn’t present at the reality star’s wedding introduction on Saturday.

The event took place in her hometown in Imo state.

The reality star took to her Instagram page to break the news to her fans on Sunday but she failed to reveal the identity or the face of the groom.

Unfortunately, another lady has released a photo of the said groom but she claims the man in the photo is the reality star’s cousin, who posed as her husband because Tony didn’t show up.

Nina Ivy is yet to respond to the allegations at the time of filing this report.

See screenshots below:

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14-Year-Old Boy Arrested For Stabbing Student To Death by Folake(f) : 5:18 pm On Feb 17

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in the stabbing death of a New York university student, authorities said Saturday, in a case that is being closely watched due to its racial dynamics.

Tessa Majors, 18, a freshman at Barnard College, was attacked by three teens as she walked through Morningside Park on December 11.

The park separates the prestigious Barnard College and Columbia University from Harlem, the predominantly black neighbourhood in Manhattan’s northwest.

Majors, who was white, was found just outside the park bleeding heavily, the criminal complaint said. She had been stabbed multiple times in the chest and died at a hospital.

Rashaun Weaver, 14, who is black, was accused of stabbing Majors. He had been wanted for several weeks and was arrested without incident Friday night.

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Weaver will be tried as an adult on second-degree murder and robbery charges, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said.

“We are confident that we have the person in custody who stabbed her, and that person will face justice in a court of law,” New York police chief Dermot Shea told a news conference.

Vance said investigators have video and DNA evidence and suggested the suspect had incriminated himself on an audio recording.

A 13-year-old alleged accomplice was also charged but will be tried in juvenile court.

The events evoke memories of the 1989 “Central Park Five” case when five black and Hispanic teens were wrongly convicted and sentenced to prison for the rape and assault of a white female jogger in the famous park.

Vance suggested the sensitivities of the latest case contributed, in part, to the delay in charging Weaver.

“We’re dealing with a 14-year-old and we will be very careful to safeguard all the rights that he has as we go forward with this case,” he said.

“I want New Yorkers to know that we are recommitting today to fairness in this case because only a fair process will result in true justice for Tessa Majors.”

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81-Year-Old Alaafin Of Oyo, Welcomes A Son With His Youngest Wife, Damilola by Folake(f) : 9:03 pm On Feb 17

Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, has welcomed a son With His youngest Olori, Damilola

olori

Olori Damilola

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, 81, has welcomed another son with his youngest wife Damilola.

The youngest Olori announced the news on Instagram with a photo of her son.

"Alliamdullillai on my new born baby boy congratulations to me. oba ti de," she captioned the photo.

Alaafin of Oyo, who is well revered for his virility, made several headlines in 2018 when he had 3 sets of twins with his wives within a space of 8 months.

Alaafin of Oyo, 81, welcomes a son with his youngest wife, Damilola

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BREAKING: Court Stops INEC From Deregistering 31 Political Parties by Folake(f) : 11:32 pm On Feb 17

INEC

INEC

Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja has restrained Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from deregistering 31 political parties.

Justice Chikere, in her ruling, said having failed to counter the application by the applicants, the affected political parties had the legal right which must be protected.

In an interlocutory motion with suit number: FHC//ABJ/ CS/444/19 between Advanced Congress of Democratic (ACD) and 2 others Vs. Attorney General of the Federation and another (INEC), the applicants had on Oct. 30, 2019, approached the court.

INEC had, on Feb. 6, deregistered 74 political parties . (NAN)

Details shortly…

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Kano Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje Appoints Special Assistant On Street Lights by Folake(f) : 12:33 am On Feb 18

Ganduje


Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has appointed one Auwalu Salisu Kingdom as a Senior Special Assistant on Street Lights in the state.

This was made known in an appointment letter signed by the Kano State Secretary to the State Government.

According to the letter, the new SSA on Street Lights has already commenced his work as the appointment was already effective as at Monday, February 10.

“This is to formally convey to you that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR has approved your appointment as Senior Special Assistant, Street Lights III with effect from 10th February 2020.

 “Your appointment into this position of trust and confidence was made upon careful assessment of your credentials, competence, track record of performance, dedication to duty, vast experience, patriotic disposition and expressed loyalty. It is hoped that you will employ these qualities to bear towards ensuring effective discharge of your assigned duties.

“As we move the State to Next Level of development, it is my sincere hope that you will live above board and justify the confidence reposed in you by the Government. I pray that God in His infinite mercy accord you the wisdom and determination to execute the assignment diligently and to the expectation of the administration. Accept my congratulations, please,” the appointment letter reads.

SSA

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Fr. Mbaka Finally Breaks Silence On Controversial Bayelsa Governorship Prophecy by Folake(f) : 1:47 am On Feb 18

Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has denied prophesying that the new governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, would only govern for two months.

Mbaka denied the allegation in a statement on Sunday by spokesman of the ministry, Ike Ugwuoke.

Mr Diri was sworn in on Friday 24 hours after the Supreme Court nullified the election of David Lyon, and his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, over the latter’s forged certificate.

Mbaka was in a report alleged to have made the prediction in “Delta State at the ceremony to mark his friend and colleague who clocked 68 years.”

“For the sake of justice and fairness, we challenge the originators of this false and mendacious report to mention the name of the so-called Fr Mbaka’s friend and colleague whose ceremony he attended in Delta State. The truth is that Fr Mbaka has not even been in Delta since this year,” the statement said.

“Fr Mbaka has never at any time, place or circumstance made any prophecy about Bayelsa or who becomes the Governor of the state or his duration in office. The report is obviously the handwork of mischief makers and wicked idiots who are on demonic and satanic assignment to damage Fr Mbaka’s reputation and brand him a false prophet.

“Fr Mbaka has been preoccupied with the charitable and miraculous works God has been using him to do in the ministry. He has been immersed in thanksgiving to God for the fulfilment of his prophecy on Hope Uzodimma becoming the Governor of Imo State and so he never attended any such ceremony in Delta State or anywhere else where he could have made such prediction as alleged by these satanic agents. During Fr Mbaka’s Sunday mass, he refuted this report himself publicly at the altar.”

The statement also read that “those who impersonate Fr Mbaka on the media should be careful else they are attracting the wrath of God upon themselves.”

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See Photos Of Dilapidated Primary School In Kebbi Where Pupils Sit On Bare Floor To Learn by Folake(f) : 3:03 am On Feb 18

building

The school

George Onmonya Daniel on Monday, posted photos of a dilapidated primary school in Suru, Kebbi state, where pupils sit on bare floor to learn.

"State of public schools across KEBBI State. This school is in SURU, Kebbi State. Do we have anyone in the house who knows the Kebbi State Governor?" he asked.

This is coming barely two weeks after one Muhammed Mubarak shared photos of the dilapidated Bayan Tsaha Model primary school in Birnin Kebbi. 

See More Photos Below:

Photos of another dilapidated primary school in Kebbi where pupils sit on bare floor

students

Photos of another dilapidated primary school in Kebbi where pupils sit on bare floor

Photos of another dilapidated primary school in Kebbi where pupils sit on bare floor

Photos of another dilapidated primary school in Kebbi where pupils sit on bare floor

Photos of another dilapidated primary school in Kebbi where pupils sit on bare floor

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Ex-SGF Babachir Lawal Slams Oshiomhole, Accuses Him Of Disorganising APC by Folake(f) : 3:17 am On Feb 18

Babachir Lawal

Babachir Lawal

Babachir Lawal, Nigeria's former Secretary to the Government to the Federation, SGF, has criticized the leadership of the All Progressives Congress under Adams Oshiomhole saying the party has become a 'funny organization.

Lawal made the remark while lamenting that APC members are not being carried along by Oshiomhole.

Addressing journalists in Abuja over the weekend, the former SGF said the Northwest and the Northeast have lost their privileges in APC after Lawal Shaibu and Inuwa Abdulkadir who are the national Vice-Chairmen of the party were suspended.

According to Lawal: “This APC is funny, as we speak, the chairman and his loyalists have suspended the deputy national chairman (north), the whole north, the chairman, national vice-chairman (north-west) which is the largest geographical zone with seven states has been suspended, he is no longer attending national working committee meetings.

“The national secretary of the party who is from the north, from Yobe, has left to become governor of Yobe state as we speak, there is no firm decision to his replacement.

“For more than one year or so. A very substantial part of the country is not represented in the decision making.”

The SGF stated that the APC National Chairman no longer carry members of the party along when it comes to decision making.

“I’m quite close to members of the NWC, they always complain about not being carried along so the chairman of a party is not an executive president where whatever you say is, you need to carry everyone along.

“That is the essence, a national vice-chairman north-east for example, he is for north-east and there are things unique to the area which he is aware of, which his own exco has brought to him for processing at the national secretariat. If he does not get the proper hearing and opportunity to present those things they are disenfranchised,” Lawal said.

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JUST IN: ‘Emefiele’ Bags Three Years Jail Term For N4.5m Fraud by Folake(f) : 5:33 am On Feb 18

A Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom has convicted a man impersonating governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to commit fraud of over N4.5 million.

Justice Agatha Anulika Okeke convicted Julius Nwalozie of one-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

Mr Nwalozie was on Friday sentenced to three years imprisonment without an option of fine.

Nwalozie, who was arrested on December 6 in Owerri, Imo State, pleaded guilty to the charge.

The one-count charge against the convict read: “That you, Nwalozie Onyebuchi Julius (alias Dr Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria) on or about 26th day of August 2019 in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, fraudulently impersonated one Dr Godwin Emefiele, the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria by using email address: [email protected], with intent to obtain money, property or any advantage from one Omar Deep and other unsuspecting persons, the pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) (b) (ii) of the Cybercrime (Provision, Prevention Etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (2) (b) (iv) of the same Act.”

The court also ordered that the convict is to forfeit his laptop, which was his instrument of crime, and N1million recovered from him to the Federal Government.

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“What is coming is better than what is gone” Damilola Adegbite says as she remembers that she got married on this day 5 years ago by Folake(f) : 6:17 am On Feb 18

Damilola Adegbite took to Instagram to remember her wedding to Chris Attoh which held on this day 5 years ago.

The couple split eventually and Chris Attoh went on to marry a woman who was later shot dead in the USA.

Choosing to look on the bright side, Damilola marked the anniversary by revealing she hopes for a better relationship in the future.

She shared a new photo of herself and wrote:

Fun fact: I got married on this day 5 years ago.

Dear Single Lady,

What is coming is better than what is gone. Be excited about the future. Just imagine all the possibilities. Not everyone gets a second chance. I wonder what my next boyfriend is doing now

"What is coming is better than what is gone" Damilola Adegbite says as she remembers that she got married on this day 5 years ago

Married Nigerian man calls out Google Maps for sending him a message inquiring about his stay at a hotel; says he was stuck in traffic outside the hotel by Folake(f) : 11:47 am On Feb 18

A married Nigerian man identified as Wilmot Bakare took to Twitter to call out Google Maps – a web mapping service, for trying to ”put him in trouble with his wife.”

According to Mr Bakare, he received a mail from the web mapping service inquring about his stay at Radisson Blu hotel. However, he was actually stuck in traffic in front of the hotel.

Hello @googlemaps, I wasn’t at Radisson Blu, I was stuck in traffic in front of Radisson Blu, let’s optimize this algorithm. I’ll be happy to help. These type of thinga can cause issues at home… lol!  Thanks for understanding. he wrote

Lol... Married Nigerian man calls out Google Maps for sending him a message inquiring about his stay at a hotel; says he was stuck in traffic outside the hotel

Lol... Married Nigerian man calls out Google Maps for sending him a message inquiring about his stay at a hotel; says he was stuck in traffic outside the hotel

“No one can change your name or turn your face away from me” Churchill writes lengthy birthday message to his son as he accuses Tonto Dikeh of keeping them apart by Folake(f) : 12:17 pm On Feb 18

Olakunle Oladunni Churchill took to Instagram on his son’s 4th birthday to write an open letter where he made a lot of revelations and accusations.

Sharing photos of King Andre, 4, Churchill wished him a happy birthday and said he wrote the note to “shed more light on the darkness created by bitterness.”

Churchill added, “The same blood runs in us, nothing can change that. No one can change your name or turn your face away from me. You are my blood and for ever you will be mine.”

This part of his statement is in reference to Tonto Dikeh giving her son her last name.

Churchill went on to claim that two days to King Andre’s second birthday, he won the judgement in court to have access to his son whenever he wanted, but in the presence of a nanny. He claimed that since then, Tonto has kept him from seeing his son by claiming Andre doesn’t have a nanny.

He vowed to take up the case in court to see that the court reviews the judgement again.

He wrote:

It is with the deepest and sincerest love, not just as a man, but as a father that I celebrate the one after my heart. Today marks the blessed day that my son King Andre breathe his first air in this world.
I therefore pray for the goodness of God upon your life to blossom, his protection, guidance and good health, continue to grow in the unprecedented grace of almighty God.

On this special day, there are some things I’d like to share….. even though my heart feel so heavy to say this but it’s basically to shed more light to the darkness created by bitterness… son its is very imperative to speak to you at this point.
It’s important to know that no child came into this world by the means of one entity; it’s always through the coming together of a man and a woman (parents). In addition, I want you to know that you have a father and he’s right here with you. I AM HERE FOR YOU IRRESPECTIVE OF CHALLENGES AND SITUATIONS between the union of my self and your mom.
The same blood runs in us, nothing can change that. No one can change your name or turn your face away from me, you are my blood and for ever you will be mine.

"No one can change your name or turn your face away from me" Churchill writes lengthy birthday message to his son as he accuses Tonto Dikeh of keeping them apart

He added:

I remembered winning the judgement in court to have access to you two days before your 2nd birthday in 2018. The court insisted that your mother should grant me access to see you whenever I want through a Nanny, you can even visit me on holidays and other special events, also I was given your international passport and all your credentials after showing payment proves.

The condition was fine by me as a caring father, even though I have always wanted to have you by my side all day and all night, play together, tell tales and assist in your home works, instill the needed discipline but the situations at hand couldn’t, because we need to respect the judgement to avoid contempt of the court.

Unfortunately my dear son, the agreement was breached by for flimsy excuses, I couldn’t forget in a hurry the the fun we had together the last time we met; but today I must reiterate that all the excuses for the denial is basically unacceptable to me because I can’t imaging the saying that you have no Nanny till this present moment simply because the court said we should always meet through the nanny.

I’m taking my time to see that the court’s judgement is handled without troubles, I hope the court will have to review those conditions again .
King, you are my son and the love that exits between us is immeasurable and inseparable.

This is my prayer for you:
– Nothing in this world will deprive you of your kingly entitlement, and nothing can change who you are.
– You shall not be used as a tool of envy or hate. You are a loved son of his father.
-You will grow and be nurtured in the way of God and nothing can dim your shining light.
– I pray that you shall live to be a king, and follow the Godly footsteps that I’m laying for you today. I named you KING ANDREA for a purpose; because you’re royalty.
-May the Almighty God continue to bless and keep you safe, my dearest son.

I love you with every fiber of my being.
_
I promise to continue the fight for you because it is a good fight and by the grace of God we wining.
All the best in your pursuits
Happy Birthday, Son.
Your Dad, Churchill.

"No one can change your name or turn your face away from me" Churchill writes lengthy birthday message to his son as he accuses Tonto Dikeh of keeping them apart

Who is the President of Nigeria? Reno Omokri raises question by Folake(f) : 7:18 pm On Feb 18

Reno Omokri, the former spokesperson to Ex-president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has raised question on who is the President of Nigeria.

He wrote via his Twitter handle, “Who is truly the President of Nigeria between Abba Kyari and General Muhammadu Buhari? One rigged himself into power, while the other is using the rigged power. Anyone who knows the answer should say, because Nigerians and Aisha Buhari don’t know the answer.”

“After the revelations in the NSA’s memo, General Muhammadu Buhari must demonstrate that he is in charge by sacking either the NSA, Major General Monguno (rtd) or the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. If none of them is sacked, then we know that Buhari is NOT in charge!” he added.

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‘My beauty is a curse, it drives men away’ – Lady cries out by Folake(f) : 7:47 pm On Feb 18

A beautiful lady is in a state of dilemma as she cannot understand why she drives away men instead of attracting them.

Hauwa said she lacks the ability to get or keep a man as they are all intimidated by her looks.

In a post making rounds on social media, the gorgeous lady described her beauty as a curse that has turned her into a lonely woman.

She admitted guys often tell her they are in love with her and would love to spend the rest of their lives by her side but as soon as reality checks in, they dash and never reach out again.

Their fear is dating Hauwa and living to see a better man take her off their grip.

This makes them feel unsafe and unworthy and they often try to guard their egos.

“They say with my beauty, another man can take me, and this can cause them trouble since they are not safe with me,” Hauwa reportedly complained.

Growing up, Hauwa always got a lot of attention from people around her who always claimed they were appreciating God’s creation. That disappeared as soon as she checked in to adulthood.

“Growing up, people always gave me special attention because of my beauty, I always enjoyed that thinking they were just admiring Allah’s work on me, but when I became a woman I began to think my beauty was more of a curse than a blessing on me,” Hauwa said.

The beauty had to watch as her agemates got married to men who were head over heels for her. For her, this reality never came to pass and she could just admire the idea of marriage from afar.

“I literally saw all my mates get married to a lot of guys tripping over their doorsteps, but the reverse was the case for me.

Men always distanced themselves from me citing that I am overly pretty and they know another guy would definitely take me from him because I would always be the topic of cynosure and so many eyes would be on me hence making me an easy take away. I am Hauwa, a Fulani girl from the Adamawa plains and these are my pains,” she sadly wrote.

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Gospel Singer Who Plotted To Kill President Found Dead (Photo) by Folake(f) : 10:03 pm On Feb 18

Rwandan gospel singer, Kizito Mihigo

Rwandan gospel singer, Kizito Mihigo

 

A Rwandan gospel singer, Kizito Mihigo who was in 2015 found guilty of plotting to kill President Paul Kagame, has been found dead.

A police statement said Mihigo, 38, committed suicide in a cell.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for formation of a criminal gang, conspiracy to murder, and conspiracy against the established government and the president.

Mihigo was granted a presidential pardon by Kagame in 2018 but was rearrested last week when crossing the border intoBurundi.

Authorities explained that this was a breach of the conditions of his pardon.

“He had been in a police cell for three days as police investigated why he was crossing the border illegally and cases of bribery”, Police spokesperson Eric Kabera said in the statement.

It added that Mihigo was allowed to meet family members and his lawyer. However, it is unclear whether he was held in solitary confinement.

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