INEC To Conduct Supplementary Elections On April 15, 2023

 Arising from its meeting held today, the Independent National Electoral Commission has decided that all outstanding Governorship, National and State Assembly supplementary elections will take place on Saturday 15th April 2023.

A detailed official statement will follow shortly.

Wike To Ayu: I've No Other Job Now Than To Pepper U, The Fight Has Just Started

 AYU, THE FIGHT HAS JUST STARTED -WIKE

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared to Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who has been suspended by his political unit in Benue State that the fight against him in the party has just started.

The governor stated that it has now become unthinkable to allow any person who was unable to deliver his political unit, ward, local government or State to the PDP during the last general elections to preside over the party.

Governor Wike spoke on Monday during the inauguration of the remodeled Community Secondary School, Okoro-nu-Odo, in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the State.

The Rivers State governor accused Dr. Ayu of collecting bribe and the PDP experienced colossal failure in the 2023 presidential and governorship elections in Benue and across the country.

"Ask them, those who want to be chairman of this party (PDP), what do you have to give to the party now? Presidential election; you took bribe, and lost in your unit, lost in your ward, lost in your local government and lost in your State. Which party will you preside over now?"

Governor Wike said it was God who hardened Ayu’s heart not to resign when the G-5 governors and members of Integrity Group demanded for his resignation after the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the PDP presidential candidate.

He noted if Ayu had resigned then, his cohorts who were vehemently opposed to the zoning of elective and appointive offices would have used that as an excuse for the party’s abysmal performance in the just concluded general elections.

The governor said it will be morally offensive for Ayu to remain as the national chairman of the PDP after the catastrophic defeat of the party under his watch in his unit, ward, local government, State and national. According to him, the suspension of Ayu is the beginning of the fight to save the party.

"Those of you who are fighting that they have suspended him, you have not seen anything yet. The fight has started. Ayu, the fight has just started. If you know him, those of you who are close to him, tell him, Iyorchia Ayu, the fight has just started." 

Governor Wike insisted that instead of Dr. Ayu, using his position to strengthen the grip of PDP of Benue State, he allowed it slip off him. According to him, other PDP controlled States cannot sustain the party financially and tolerate him as their chairman.

"Will you preside over the one (Rivers PDP) I have secured victory for? You want to come and preside over this State (Rivers) so that we will begin to donate money to the party? You, bring your own State to the party too, so that your State can contribute money to the national. If you don't deliver your State, you can't preside over us. You cannot."

Governor Wike noted that already, some persons within the party are thinking and acting to side with Dr Ayu to fight back the suspension slammed on him. He warned such persons that they will be doing so to their detriment because they would have consequences to face.

Specifically, governor Wike said: "look at somebody who did anti-party, he is suspending people. The chief priest of anti-party, native doctor of anti-party suspending those who have worked hard for this party.

"All of you who are joining Ayu, be prepared. Now, I have no other job, the job I have now is to put more heat on them and I will continue to do that."

Governor Wike pointed out the nullity of the purported summoning of members of the National Working Committee of PDP to Abuja to meet and pronounce the suspension as illegal.

"If you like, let the National Secretary rush to Abuja. Let them meet this afternoon and say the suspension is illegal, you will see what you will face. You are calling us small boys, you will see what small boys can do to you."

Governor Wike stressed that those who thought they could toil with Rivers State and not be dealt with squarely can begin to lick their wounds because they have been "peppered".

Governor Wike also dismissed the claim by the former governor of the State, Chibuike Amaechi that he constructed five flyovers during his tenure and yet cannot list them for identification.

The governor restated that his administration, within four years, constructed 12 flyovers, handled by reputable construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, and went ahead to list the flyovers to clear any public doubt.

Governor Wike bemoaned the N50B squandered by the Amaechi administration on less than 2 kilometre monorail project that was never realised.

He wondered why Rivers residents still listen to such politicians when they come around to woe them to allow them fill spaces of political leadership when they failed on previous promises of providing democratic dividend.

Governor Wike thanked the people for voting massively to elect Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who is now Rivers State governor-elect.

Commenting on the project, governor Wike recalled the deplorable state of the school and said Rivers school children who school there will now have a conducive learning place to advance their education.

Inaugurating the project, governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Dave Umahi described governor Wike as a man who loves his people, which has informed the sustained delivery of projects across sectors to better their life.

He insisted that given such massive infrastructural revolution so delivered, it will be joke taken too far for any opposing political party to think and dare challenge to win PDP in Rivers State .

Governor Umahi corrected the impression in some quarters that Governor Wike worked against the victory of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi in Rivers State.

He explained that in 2019, it was governor Wike who tirelessly mobilised political leaders in South East to support the vice presidential ambition of Peter Obi after supporting him to win that slot.

Governor Umahi commended Ayu for not resigning when the G-5 governors and the members of the Integrity Group mounted pressure on him do so. According to him, if he had conceded to the demand then, it would have been difficult for the APC to win the last presidential election.

“I want to also thank very highly the suspended Chairman of PDP. You know, he did very well because if he had accepted to resign, it would have been very difficult for the APC. So, he is our man and I commend him very well. And I'm begging Wike they should lift the suspension so that he can suspend many more of your leaders. We love what he has done.

“And so we commend him and I think that Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) must know that he worked for him, and must also integrate him in the next administration. And, so all these set of people, Asiwaju/Shettima must know that God turned their hands, to work for him, to actualize the will of God and actualize unity, equity and fairness. And we are very grateful to God for that.”

The Ebonyi State governor also praised governor Wike, whose insistence that a southern Nigeria must succeed President Muhammadu Buhari paved way for the electoral victory of the APC is the south of the country.

“God directly and indirectly made Governor Wike very much available. And so, there is no way APC can conclude about the success of the election without mentioning Governor Wike. And I will be asking Asiwaju/Shettima to please bring Governor Wike to the core administration of the federal government. He has a lot to offer. He has a lot to offer for the unity of the country.”

Providing the description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Special Projects, Deinma Iyalla said the school, founded in 1982, over the succeeding years, suffered dilapidation until the intervention of governor Wike.

According to him, there are one numbered unit of six and three classrooms block, three numbered unit six classrooms block, a storey building housing science laboratory, library and ICT, 300 sister Assembly hall, administrative building, a quarters for members of the National youths service corps and water supply facility.

In his address, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chinedu Mmom noted that the premises once looked like an abandoned poultry farm but has been restored into a conducive educational facility.

On his part, Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, George Ariolu stated that the remodeled community secondary school is one in the series of magnificent projects governor Wike has delivered across the Rivers State.

According to him, the project now stands among other, as an eloquent testimony of governor Wike's untiring commitment towards the provision of quality learning facilities for Rivers students.

Kelvin Ebiri

Special Assistant on Media to the Rivers State governor.

March 27, 2023.

ISWAP Commander, Abu Muhammed, Executes Deputy Over Military Attack On Hideout

 A Commander of the Islamic State of the West African Province(ISWAP), Abu Muhammed, has executed his immediate deputy, Abu Darda, for enabling military operation into their camp in Mukdolo and Bone villages which led to the killing of 41 fighters including Abu-Zahra Munzir.

This is even as Troops of Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai have successfully repelled an ISWAP attack on a military formation in the volatile northeast of Kunnari near Burutai town in Biu Local Government Area, Borno State.

Buratai town is the home base of the former Chief of Army Staff, Retired Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai.

In the repelled attack, about 10 terrorists were eliminated. Sources have said.

The terrorists were said to have stormed the town at about 3 am, Monday, March 27, 2023, and attempted an attack on the military base.

It was gathered that Abu Darda was eliminated by the angry Commander in the presence of other fighters in Kajeri Dogumba village in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State. 

Intelligence sources also told Zagazola Makama, a Counter-Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad region that “Abu Muhammed accused Abu Darda of leading the failed attacks of March 19th, in Mafa which resulted in the killing of scores of the terrorists and capturing of two of their gun trucks.

The Commander said they had only three trucks but Darda’s failure led to their capture by the military, noting that he couldn’t watch his back as the military traced his footsteps to attack them in their camp while they were sleeping.

The Commander further said he was particularly pained because the military killed scores of his fighters and burnt his foodstuff and some newly acquired furniture meant for his wedding which was by the corner.

The Commander who is currently converging his fighters at Kajeri Dogumba, Bula Yagana Aliye in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State, vowed to revenge the killing of his fighters.

Recall that Troops of the Nigerian Army under the auspices of Operation Hadin Kai, stormed the hideout of the ISWAP terrorist group in Dikwa Local Govt of Borno State, killing 41 of the terrorists including a Commander, Abu Zahra.

In another development, Troops of Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai successfully repelled the ISWAP attack on a military formation in the volatile northeast of Kunnari near Buratai town in Biu Local Government Area, Borno State.

Sources said, “the terrorists were said to have stormed the town at about 3 am, Monday, March 27, 2023, and attempted an attack on the military base.”

An Intelligence source told Zagazola Makama, that the ISWAP came in trucks and motorcycles, shooting sporadically but a swift response from the troops put them in disarray.

He said the troops later overwhelmed the terrorists in a gunbattle and eliminated eight of them while others fled the scene.

“The gallant troops further chased the terrorists in their escape route and intercepted two other terrorists who were trying to fix their motorcycle after it broke down and gun them down. One soldier was however injured in the course of operation.” Said a reliable Source.

Emefiele Begs NLC To Shelve Protest Over Naira Scarcity

 The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on Monday appealed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, to prevail on the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over its planned protest slated for Wednesday.

Daily Trust had reported that the leadership of NLC had last Friday mobilised its affiliate unions and the State Councils to shut down offices of the apex bank nationwide over current cash scarcity in the country.

But at a closed-door meeting which held at the headquarters of Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja, Emefiele was quoted as saying the protest would hinder the progress of the apex bank if not averted.

The President of NLC, Joe Ajaero led other Labour leaders while Emefiele led the apex bank officials to the meeting that was later presided over by the Minister.

An official of the ministry, who attended the meeting told Daily Trust anonymously that Emefiele promised to ensure that all commercial banks were given enough cash from the CBN’s vault.

“You would notice that the CBN had since last Friday directed commercial banks to open during weekends so as to ease the issue of cash crunch. The governor (Emefiele) was here to talk to the Minister in order to prevail on the labour leaders.

“He (Emefiele) said the protest will disrupt a lot of things in the bank, hence his reasons to heed the minister’s call who is a Chief conciliator”, the official told Daily Trust.

None of the trio spoke to journalists after the closed-door meeting.

A statement is yet to be issued either by the apex bank or the ministry regarding the meeting as at when filing this report last night.

But the NLC President in a formal invitation to our correspondent said he would brief the press on Tuesday regarding the outcome of the meeting.

The President Of CONMEBOL Honors Lionel Messi With The ‘Baton Of Football’

 The World's Greatest footballer, Lionel Messi, has received the 'Baton Of Football' from the CONMEBOL president

“In the name of South American and world football, today we give you leadership and command of world football.”

A life-size Leo Messi statue is unveiled by CONMEBOL and will reside in their headquarters in Asunción, Paraguay 🌟

Domestic Worker Sentenced To Death For Killing Employer, Her Daughter In Lagos

 The Ikeja High Court on Monday, March 27, sentenced a domestic staff, Joseph Ogbu, to death by hanging for killing his 89-year-old employer, Ajoke John and her daughter, Oreoluwa John, 38, in Lagos, IGBERETV reports.

It was reported that the convict, who hails from Oju Local Govt Area of Benue State, brutally murdered the victims at their residence at Number 4 Ogunlana Drive in Surulere, on June 19, 2019, 24 hours after he was employed.

The defence counsel, Moses Enema, in his allocutus, prayed the court to have mercy on the convict.

However, the state counsel, Olarewaju Daud, urged the court to convict the defendant as charged.

Daud told the court that the convict committed the offences at 9:30 p.m. on Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos.

The prosecution submitted that the defendant killed Ms Oreoluwa by stabbing her. He said the defendant also robbed the deceased of her car, phones and Plasma TV while armed with a knife.

He also said the convict, armed with a knife, robbed the octogenarian of her Toyota Camry Saloon car with Registration No. FST 104 CW, LG plasma TV, motorway handset, Gionee handset, Nokia phone, i-Tel Phone and power bank.

The offence, the prosecutor said, contravened sections 222 and 297 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015).

Justice Modupe Nicole-Clay held that the prosecution had sufficiently proven the three-count charge bordering on armed robbery and murder against the convict. Nicole-Clay held that the defendant confessed to the crime as he admitted to living with the deceased and was the only witness of the incident.

"He killed Adejoke by strangling her and Oreoluwa by stabbing her to death. As the defence did not raise an objection to the admissibility of the confessional statement, there is no doubt that the defendant confessed to the crimes.

“I have considered the evidence of the security guard, an Okada man, one Yahya Ibrahim, the house help and a police Inspector.

The defendant could not explain what he was doing with all the stolen items he was found with at about 2:00 a.m. on the date he was arrested.

“The court is satisfied with the total evidence to establish the guilt of the defendant.

“This court has found Joseph Ogbu guilty of these heinous crimes, and you are hereby sentenced to death by hanging. May God have mercy on your soul,”

The convict prayed the court for mercy. “The mama no die for my presence. I beg for mercy,” the convict cried in pidgin English.

CCTV Footage Of Moment Victim Walked Into UK Police Station To Report Ekweremadu

 CCTV footage shows moment 21year old victim walks into a Surrey police station to report Ekweremadu.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice, and their doctor, Obinna Obeta will be sentenced on May 5 after they were convicted of organ trafficking, in the first verdict of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act in the United Kingdom.

The former deputy senate president, his wife, Beatrice, 56, and Dr. Obinna Obeta, 51, were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a young man to Britain with a view to his exploitation after a six-week trial at the Old Bailey.

They conspired to bring the 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney, the jury found.