HelenIdo

The paramount ruler of Iwoland, His Royal Majesty Abdulrosheed Akanbi has urged the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu to reconcile with aggrieved Yoruba leaders, stakeholders and politicians ahead of the 2023 general elections. In his statement entitled ‘2023: Forgive Each Other, Oluwo Urges Yoruba Leaders, Politicians’, the Osun monarch appealed to Tinubu to avoid bitterness among Yoruba leaders which cost the presidential ambitions of the late old Premier of the Western Region, Dr Obafemi Awolowo and the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola. Oba Akanbi asked all Yoruba leaders to forgive one another and end the rancour among them, as he reiterated his support for Tinubu to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari next year. The traditional ruler said these in a statement made available to Vanguard on Monday, stressing that the appeal becomes necessary to have a united Yoruba family ahead of the 2023 general election. He noted such a move will make the election a free ride and write a new history for the Southwest region by promoting political unity and understanding among themselves for the former Lagos state governor to contest and win. The statement read: “I call on Yoruba leaders, stakeholders and politicians to write a new history of hope, brighter future and positive promises by forgiving each other. Without forgiveness, relationships will not give birth to promising children. I’m making this appeal with my crown to endure, entertain each other’s differences and cut the political curse on the Yorubas. “The late sage, Obafemi Awolowo tried. Then the late business tycoon, Moshood Kasimawo Abiola made a trial and won democracy for us. The same mistake must not be repeated again. This is not about political parties. It is natural to offend each other but divine to forgive. “The chance of one of us becoming the President of Nigeria is bright and promising. He might have offended you just as you also might have offended someone. Let’s heal the wound of enmity to move on and faster. This is the last chance should we want our children to forgive us. “I enjoin the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to approach the aggrieved Yoruba leaders, stakeholders and politicians for genuine reconciliation and harmonisation. The sacrifice is for all of us to make. The move should cut across party lines. This is a collective project to sustain the unity of Nigeria. It should jump political party affiliation. “The candidate is experienced, promising and virile to govern Nigeria on merit. He is a pride to Nigeria who must be encouraged by people of all strata to further display his administrative prowess as done when he was the governor of Lagos State.” Source; https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/08/2023-reconcile-with-yoruba-leaders-politicians-oluwo-tells-tinubu/

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, has mocked a plan by supporters of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), to hold a “two-million-man march” for him in the state. Supporters of Obi across the country have been holding these marches to show their solidarity with him. There was a march for the LP presidential candidate in Nasarawa state recently. In a tweet on Monday, el-Rufai who is of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said he hopes they have two hundred people in the streets of Kaduna for the march. The governor said they can only get the figure they are projecting by “importing” people to the state. Reacting to the tweet, Governor El-Rufai mocked the twitter user with laughing emojis adding that he hopes Obi fans can get up to two hundred people in the streets of Kaduna for the march. See his response below... Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai @elrufai In Kaduna? Not Kaduna Twitter? - I hope you get Two Hundred persons on the streets, including those ‘imports’ that can’t open their shops on Mondays, and came on overnight bus last night!! I jus’ dey laff, wallahi tallahi!! - @KadunaResident Source; https://www.thecable.ng/i-hope-you-get-200-el-rufai-mocks-obis-supporters-over-two-million-man-march-in-kaduna

As Kenya is moving closer on Monday to knowing the outcome of its closely-fought presidential election after days of anxious waiting, a former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has highlighted what he described as “urgent lessons” that the Independent National Electoral Commission must learn from the Kenya polls. The PUNCH reports, Monday morning, that Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto was leading with slightly more than 51 per cent of the votes against his close rival Raila Odinga – with 48 per cent in the presidential race, in the collation of results for the elections held August 9, 2022. Taking to his Facebook page Monday morning, Chidoka, in a post titled, ‘Kenya Presidential Election: Urgent Lessons for INEC,’ noted that the delay in Kenya’s collation of election results which was taking up to six days would not augur well for Nigeria. He said, “As of 6 am Nigerian time the Kenya Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission had tallied results from 253 out of 291 constituencies, Ruto is leading with 51.18% of the votes cast while Raila Odinga is at 48.14%. The winner needs 50% plus one vote to coast home. With 38 constituencies to go, the IEBC will likely announce the final result by midday today.” Chidoka, who is also a former Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps, said the upload of results from polling units in Nigeria was an excellent innovation but the country needs to go further and upload the following: Form EC 8B – the ward collation results from the Residential Areas and Form EC 8C – the Local Government collation results. “Upload the collated results for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate election after collation and declaration. “Upload the form EC 8D – state collation results as signed by party agents before proceeding to Abuja,” he added. “The delay in Kenya where all the poll stations results were online since August 11, and collation has taken about six days will not augur well for Nigeria,” he said. He noted that INEC was usually faster than the IEBC but “we are now confronted with a new system where parties can tabulate results from INEC uploads. “To improve transparency, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System backend should automatically collate the Polling Unit results for the ward level and print copies for validation and signing by ward agents of the political parties.” Chidoka noted that this would “ensure that the result at the backend of the BVAS is consistent with the result on the BVAS tablets.” “This is key for post-election issues,” he revealed. Source; https://punchng.com/what-inec-must-learn-from-kenya-elections-ex-minister/

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have uncovered no fewer than Four Hundred and Forty Two (442) parcels of Crystal Methamphetamine concealed in heads of fishes packed in cartons for export to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates through the SAHCO shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos. Director, Media & Advocacy of the agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement on Sunday, August 14, said the 11.90kg consignment was brought to the SAHCO export shed of the airport on Friday 5th August by a freight agent, Adekunle Oluwapelumi Paul, 32, from Yagba West LGA, Kogi State, who was promptly arrested upon the discovery that the seven cartons he presented for export contained parcels of the dangerous drug wrapped with foil paper and concealed in the heads of hundreds of smoked catfish. The following day, Saturday 6th August, another consignment containing 1.45kg cannabis concealed inside granulated melon and crayfish and packed among other food condiments going to Dubai, UAE was also intercepted by NDLEA operatives who arrested the freight agent, Ajisefini Lateef that presented the cargo for export at the SAHCO shed. The 39-year-old agent is from Abeokuta West LGA, Ogun State. Meanwhile, anti-narcotic officers at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu have arrested a 50-year-old Mgbeobuna Victor Eberechukwu for ingesting 77 pellets of cocaine. He was arrested on Saturday 6th Aug following his arrival from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia onboard an Ethiopian airline flight. The suspect who hails from Idemili South LGA, Anambra state passed out the 77 wraps of the illicit drug in eight excretions spanning four days. In Kaduna, three suspects: Saifullahi Sani, Salisu Nafi'u and Abdulrazaq Mamman, were arrested in Zaria on Thursday 11th Aug. with One Million One Hundred and Twelve Thousand Three Hundred and Fifty (1,112,350) tablets of Tramadol (225mg and 100mg) weighing 38.3kg, while in Kano, a female drug dealer, Saratu Abdullahi, 28, from Wurno council area of the state was nabbed at Hotoro with 541 blocks of cannabis weighing 245kg. In Lagos, NDLEA operatives recovered a total of 1,773.25kg cannabis sativa at Ebutte-Meta and Akala in Mushin areas of the state in separate raid operations between 9th and 10th Aug. At the Tincan seaport in Lagos, 86 parcels of cannabis indica (Colorado) weighing 43kg were recovered from a 40ft container during a joint examination with Customs and other security agencies. The illegal consignment seized on Friday 12th Aug came from Toronto via Montreal, Canada and concealed in two drums inside a Mercedes Benz SUV in the container. In Abia, two suspects: Nnanna Ijo, 58, and Orji Uguru, 29, were arrested on Friday 12th Aug. with various quantities of cannabis, heroin and cocaine at Nde-Agbai, Abiriba, a week after Nnanna was released from detention over a similar offence committed in June. While commending the officers and men of MMIA, AIIA, Tincan, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and Abia Commands of the Agency for the seizures and arrests, Chairman of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) charged them and their compatriots across the country to always remain steps ahead of the drug cartels. Source;

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old houseboy for the gruesome murder of his boss’ 13-year-old girl daughter after he impregnated her. The suspect, Munkaila Ado, allegedly impregnated the minor and connived with her mother to take her to Gombe State for an abortion. Spokesperson of the command, SP Ahmed Wakil on Saturday, August 13, 2022, said that two other suspects including a woman who administed the abortion substance, were also arrested for conspiracy. According to Wakil, after successfully aborting the four-month-old pregnancy, the suspect and his friend strangled the victim, burnt her body beyond recognition and buried her in a shallow grave at a nearby bush. The spokesperson said that the teenager’s father, who discovered that his daughter was missing and suspected his houseboy and his accomplice, reported the matter at the Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters. "On 10/08/2022 at about 0900hrs, One Alhaji Danladi Mohammed ‘m’ of Mai’ari Arewa village Pali lodged a formal complaint at the Divisional Police Headquarters Alkaleri that, on 04/08/2022 his biological daughter one Safiya Alhaji Danladi ‘f’ aged 13yrs of the same address left home suspected missing and that he strongly suspected his house boy one Munkaila Ado ‘m’ aged 27yrs and one Muazu Umaru aged 35yrs all of the same address to be the principal suspects on the whereabouts of his missing daughter," the statement read. "On the strength of that preliminary investigation commence, the scene was visited led by DPO Alkaleri and evacuated the victim to General Hospital Alkaleri, where she was certified dead by a medical Doctor "On interrogation, the suspect confessed that the missing girl was his girlfriend who was four-month pregnant to the knowledge of her mother but unknown to the father Alhaji Danladi Mohammed "He further revealed that he conspired with the mother of the missing girl and his accomplice Muazu Umar, took the victim to Gombe to procure an abortion, thereafter on reaching Gombe the victim was led to one Hajiya Amina Abubakar 'f' 50yr-old house in Jekada Fari behind specialist hospital Gombe where the victim was administered with some substances to cause miscarriage "Eventually on their way to mai’ari village along Akko LGA Gombe State, the two aforementioned suspects strangulate the victim, consequently, the victim fell unconscious and gave up the ghost, in the same vein burnt the body of the victim beyond recognition and buried her in a shallow grave at a nearby bush in Akko LGA Gombe state "Meanwhile, the two aforesaid suspects were arrested despite violating the human rights and dignity of the girl child. "The Command assured the general public will continue to be updated as the investigation unfolds "The Commissioner of Police Bauchi State Command CP Umar Mamman Sanda fdc directed that the case be transferred to SCID for discreet investigation." Source;

Data obtained from the National Universities Commission on Friday revealed that a total of 33 private universities were approved by the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) within 16 months. The period under review is January 2021 and April 2022. Sunday PUNCH reports that while 21 of the private universities were approved in 2021; 12 were approved during the present strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities. Prior to the establishment of the 33 universities, the total number of universities in Nigeria stood at 186 comprising 49 federal universities; 59 state universities and 78 private universities. Private universities established in 2022 include Pen Resource University, Gombe, Gombe State; Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, Borno State; Margaret Lawrence I -University, Delta State; Khalifa Ishaku Rabiu University, Kano; Sports University Idumuje Ugboko, Delta State; Bala Ahmed University, Kano; Saisa University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Sokoto State; Nigerian-British University Hasa, Abia State; Peter University Acina-Onene, Anambra State; Newgate University, Minna, Niger State; European University of Nigeria in Duboyi, Abuja and North-West University, Sokoto. Some of the private universities approved in 2021 include Opfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom; Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara; Maranatha University, Mgbidi, Imo; Ave Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa,;Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano.; Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo; Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River; and Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo. Others are NOK University, Kachia, Kaduna; Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau.; James Hope University, Lagos; Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano; Capital City University, Kano; Ahman Pategi University, Kwara; University of Offa, Kwara; Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa; Edusoko University, Bida, Niger; Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja and Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa, among others. Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, the Programme Director, Reform Education Nigeria, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin noted that while private universities have their benefits; they shouldn’t take the place of public universities. “The failure of the government to efficiently manage the public university system gave rise to the birth of private universities in Nigeria. While one cannot fail to admit the importance of private universities, it is very important to note that not everyone in Nigeria can even afford payment of fees in public institutions, not to talk of private fees who charge exorbitant fees. “However, the government should ensure that sanity is returned to the administration of our public institutions. For instance, ASUU has been on strike for months now and nothing has been done.” Sunday PUNCH reports that the strike by ASUU which started on Monday, February 14, 2022 entered its 180th day on Saturday, making it the second longest strike since return to democracy in 1999. The longest strike ever was in 2020 under the regime of Muhammadu Buhari. The National President, ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke could not immediately be reached for comments. Foreign education Meanwhile, the release of dollars for foreign education by the Central Bank of Nigeria increased by 13 per cent in quarter two of the year 2022. The period under review was between April 2022 and June 2022 according to the latest statistics made available by the apex bank. The figure is contained in data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria, calculated based on the data provided on the amount spent on educational service under the sectoral utilisation for transactions valid for foreign exchange. Within Q1 [January to March 2022], Nigerians spent $217.36 million dollars on foreign education. $60,202,730.84 in January; $69.9m in February 2022. There was a significant increase in March when a total of $87.26 million was spent. So far in Q2, Nigerians have so far expended a total of $246.2 million. $78.62 million in April; $82.70 million in May 2022 and $84.9m in June 2022 making a total of $462 million in 2022 altogether. Sunday PUNCH reports that education in Nigeria, especially in the tertiary education sector, has been marred by industrial actions by tertiary institution-based unions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union. Currently, academic activities in Nigerian universities are grounded on issues bordering on lecturers’ welfare. The data from the apex bank revealed that Nigerians remitted more than $462million to foreign academic institutions in five months without significant reciprocity in form of inflows from foreign sources to the local education sector. The huge net dollar outflows have dual adverse effects of underinvestment in domestic education and creating pressure on the naira exchange rate. The high demand for dollars to pay foreign educational institutions affects Nigeria’s foreign reserves and increases pressure on the exchange rate. Sunday PUNCH reports that the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation observed that about 76,338 Nigerians were studying abroad as of 2018, the highest from an African country. While commenting on the state of tertiary education in Nigeria, a Professor at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Victor Olumekun siad, “Education is an essential ingredient for national development hence the government needs to substantially invest in it. However, universities can then look for other sources to complement. “Unfortunately, our leaders have stolen more than enough to cater for their great grandchildren that are yet to be born. They can afford to send their wards to Oxford, Cambridge that charge in excess of #35,000 per session”. So far, the ongoing strike by ASUU seems to have no end in sight as the union has vowed to sustain its strike until the government meets its needs, The union is seeking for the release of more funding for universities; release of earned allowances; deployment of the University Transparency Accountability System for the payment of salaries and allowances of university lecturers; Renegotiation of condition of service among others. Source; https://punchng.com/fg-approves-33-private-varsities-in-16-months/

The lingering industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities has remained a bigger threat to the economic growth of Nigeria compared to COVID-19 pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine, Nigerian youths said on Friday. According to them, the strike action by the lecturers would slow down Nigeria’s economic recovery and growth plan, should the crisis continue unresolved. The youths stated this in Abuja during the event jointly organised and convened by Oxfam Nigeria and the Nigeria Youth SDGs Network to celebrate the 2022 International Youth Day with the theme, ‘Intergenerational solidarity: creating a world for all ages.’ The Head of Programmes and Influencing in Oxfam, Abdul-Aziz Musa, said Nigeria cannot solve its major present and future challenges without considering the input of the young people. He called on the government to address challenges of incessant strikes by ASUU. Musa said, “Nigeria is the largest black country in the world and the population of young people is much. If we have a population that is doing nothing, then that it is a time bomb and we are beginning to see the implications of that from increase in insecurity and crime rate. “We are just recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve had a global crisis of Ukraine, all that already is a strain. But for us, we even have another bigger one on top of all of this which is now this ASUU crisis and the implication is that we are going to take a much more longer time than this for us to recover as a country. “Well, looking at our young people, we really believe that the future is for the young people. That means we are denying them that future. If we deny them that future, then what future are we trying to create as a country for ourselves and prepare for the young people?” He stressed the need for youths to participate in decision making, especially as the 2023 general elections draw closer. “We regard the young people as a critical constituency that we need to work with us partners, as stakeholders and as our targets. Also in essence, we believe that if we cannot solve tomorrow’s problem without the input of the young people today and if we want the future we have to create it for ourselves”, he emphasised. The Convener of the Nigeria Youths SDGs Network, Diezani Ototo, expressed worry that ongoing strike by members of ASUU would not end until the Federal Government comes to agreement with the university lecturers. She said: “The strike is very worrisome, and the government has to do something about it; the truth is that this strike will not end until the government (either) agrees to come to a consensus. “I believe that one of the things that is very important is for the government and the Universities to come to a consensus as regards the amount that is bein asked for, it’s not too much. “I just believe that the government needs to do more for the Universities and the professors – people that work so hard.” Ototo observed that this year’s 2022 Youth Day highlighted the importance of leveraging the full potential of all generations and fostering equitable intergenerational relations and partnerships across all age groups. “The 2022 International Youth Day will further raise awareness on certain barriers to intergenerational solidarity, notably ageism, which impacts young and old persons, while having detrimental effects on society as a whole. “In Nigeria, young people continue to experience age-related barriers in various spheres, including institutions, justice and relationships. Ageism in political participation limits young people’s opportunities to contest, and contribute to the decision-making process,” she added. Source; https://punchng.com/asuu-strike-bigger-threat-than-covid-19-youth-group/

Some repentant insurgents were on the streets of Maiduguri, the Borno capital on Saturday morning, August 13, to beg for forgiveness from residents of the state as they carried out sanitation exercise in the communities. The sanitation exercise was organized by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in collaboration with the Borno state government. Some of the repentant insurgents wore T-shirts with inscriptions that read ‘Please forgive us’, ‘We have repented’, and ‘Let’s rebuild Borno again’. Speaking on the exercise, Mala Mustafa, a senior research fellow with CDD, said the exercise is part of efforts to prepare them for their reintegration process. He said 400 of the repentant insurgents have been mobilised for the exercise, with 50 of them participating this Saturday for a start in Maiduguri hajj camp. In July, Christopher Musa, theatre commander of northeast joint task force of operation Hadin Kai, said more than 67,000 insurgents have surrendered to troops so far. Source; https://www.ygist.com.ng/2022/08/please-forgive-us-repentant-insurgents-beg-borno-state-residents-as-they-conduct-sanitation-exercise-in-different-communities/

A father, over fifty-year-old, identified as Dauda Ibrahim from Idah in Idah Local Government Area of Kogi State has been arrested for alleged kidnapping and killing of his fifteen-year-old daughter, Sherifah for ritual purpose. The suspect who is said to be a staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Idah in the department of Works and Fire Services unit was alleged to have conspired with two other people, Isah Adams and one Adah to perpetrate the nefarious act. According to the report, the late Sherifah was said to have been kidnapped on August 4, 2022, at their residence in Okenya along Itayi street in the Igalamela/Odolu Local Government area of the State. It was gathered that the girl’s remains were discovered in a shallow grave a few days after her disappearance, with the body mutilated and some vital organs missing. The Kogi State Police command confirmed the incident, saying that the suspect and his accomplices have been arrested to that effect. The state command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ayah, who confirmed the incident said the Commissioner of Police, CP Edward Egbuka has directed that the matter be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department in Lokoja. “The commissioner of Police, CP Edward Egbuka, has ordered for an investigation into the case of an alleged kidnap, killing and disappearance of body parts of a young lady identified as Miss Sherrifah, a fifteen-year-old girl in Idah by her father,” he said. The Command’s PPRO assured that the police will conduct a thorough investigation into the matter to establish the circumstances leading to the kidnap and death of the deceased and arrest the culprits who perpetrated the act. Source; https://dailytrust.com/50-year-old-kills-daughter-for-ritual-purpose-arrested-in-kogi