Politics

UNICEF To Improve Literacy Of Nigerian Children

December 6, 2019 1:19 pm

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Friday said it would help improve literacy level among Nigerian children in rural areas through sensitisation and advocacy.

The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Mr Peter Hawkins, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the importance of literacy and education would be better understood through advocacy.

Hawkins said that for those in the rural areas to understand that they could be liberated from poverty through education, it had to be through advocacy and sensitisation.

According to him, those in the rural areas and local communities are often neglected in the areas …

Hundreds In Algiers Protest Elections Amid Crackdown

December 6, 2019 1:16 pm

Hundreds of people gathered in central Algiers on Friday in what could be a last large-scale attempt to pressure the country’s authorities to cancel the upcoming elections, amid a crackdown by authorities.

Anti-government rallies have been held every Friday and Tuesday since mid-February and the protests forced long-time ruler Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign in April.

Since then, demonstrators have been demanding for key Bouteflika-era officials to depart, and for an overhaul of the country’s political system, before a presidential election is held.

On Friday, protesters were shouting “the people want independence” and “the people want to overthrow the regime”.…

Uganda Govt. Releases Emergency Funds After Deadly Floods

December 6, 2019 11:51 am

Ugandan government has released 20 billion shillings (about 5.5 million U.S. dollars) for emergency response after deadly landslides and floods hit parts of the east African country.

Musa Ecweru, minister of state for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees, on Friday said the funds have been released under the ‘life-saving and rescue’ phase to address the landslides situation in the mountainous areas and in flooding areas.

At least four people were killed, five injured and over 6,000 people displaced on Tuesday after landslides triggered by torrential rains hit the three villages of Namasa, Naposhi and Shukururu in the eastern district of …

Double Registration: Court Decides Bello’s Fate Jan. 20

December 6, 2019 11:47 am

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, will on January 20, 2020, decide the culpability or otherwise of Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in an alleged double registration suit.

Justice Ekwo fixed the date to deliver his judgment in the suit filed by a governorship candidate in the recent governorship election in Kogi State shortly after parties in the matter adopted their briefs of argument.

The Social Democratic Party governorship candidate, Natasha Apoti had dragged Bello to court over alleged double registration, an act said to be offensive to the electoral laws.

Apoti, through her counsel, Mike …

DSS Officials Chase Falana As He Drives Sowore Out Of Court

December 6, 2019 9:15 am

Scores of heavily-armed operatives of the Department of State Services are currently chasing the vehicle of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and lawyer to activists, Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare, after he drove them out of the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The move follows the disruption of court proceedings by DSS operatives during the commencement of trial in a case brought against the activists by the Nigerian Government on Friday morning at the Federal High Court.

The secret police had made fruitless attempts to rearrest Sowore and Bakare inside the courtroom having only released them on bail …

Sango Resigns As Plateau PDP Chairman

December 6, 2019 7:22 am

Plateau State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Damishi Sango has resigned his position, following the directive of the National Secretariat based on the recommendations of Senator David Mark’s committee on crisis in the party.

Sango, former Minister of Sports, handed over to the acting chairman of the Party, Amos Gombi yesterday at the state party Secretariat, Jos, Plateau State.

He said: “The group of 16 has written the National Working Committee (NWC) withdrawing their petition and the NWC has formally written me a letter clearing me of all the allegations. I am now formally stepping aside as …

Otedola Donates ₦100m To Lagos STF

December 6, 2019 3:24 am

Philanthropist and business mogul, Femi Otedola, has donated ₦100 million to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), making him the largest individual donor. Zenith Bank took the lead for corporate donors with ₦300 mnillion.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu thanked the donors at an event tagged: ‘Transformational Security’, organised by LSSTF at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Tuesday.

Other top corporate donors on the list include Access Bank, First Bank, Xenon Construction Ltd. and Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).

The governor, while addressing the guests, said he was happy that other states had adopted the security trust fund idea initiated

…

Oshiomole’s Travail And The Burden Godfatherism

December 6, 2019 3:20 am

Godfatherism is a nasty and cynical phenomenon that has existed from time immemorial in every facet of human endeavor. However, in politics, it is a sui generis practice because it involves some tricks, intrigues and astute practice for its sustainability and survival. It is patently believed, factual, however, that for one to have a steady and meteoric rise in political career in Nigeria, one must be loyal to his political chi called godfather.

This loyalty must be unwavering and unqualified to the extent that even if one is called to come and take bullets on behalf of one’s godfather, a

…

Breaking: DSS Releases Sowore

December 6, 2019 2:05 am

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released the convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore was released after a federal high court in Abuja gave Nigeria’s secret police a 24-hour ultimatum.

The court also awarded N100,000 against the prosecution for failing to comply with court orders requesting the release of Sowore and for not serving the defense counsel with necessary documents early enough.

The penalty, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu said, must be paid to the defendants before the commencement of trial. The judge consequently adjourned hearing till Friday.

Police, Land-grabbers Clash In Ogun, 10 Arrested

December 6, 2019 2:04 am

Men of the Ogun State Police Command and some suspected land-grabbers clashed on Wednesday at Ewujomo village, via Igbosoro, Ogijo, in the Sagamu Local Government Area of the state.

The suspected land-grabbers had invaded Ewujomo and reportedly unleashed terror on the residents of the area over a disputed land but, were chased away by policemen attached to the Ogijo Police Station.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the clash in a statement.

Oyeyemi said 10 members of the land-grabbing syndicate were arrested by the police, adding that the suspects specialised in unleashing terror on innocent …

Ekiti Varsity Sacks 600 Over Illegal Appointment, Others

December 6, 2019 2:03 am

Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday said it has sacked over 600 members of staff over alleged irregular employment, overage and sundry other allegations.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Edward Olanipekun, said the decision of the university council followed adoption on Thursday of the audit report carried out by a group of external auditors.

Olanipekun, who addressed journalists on resolution of the council meeting in Ado-Ekiti, said the sacking would save about N200m for the university monthly.

He said that the general staff audit “was sequel to the findings in the Report of the Visitation Panel as accepted by the Government White …

INEC Sets January 25, 2020 For 28 Rerun Elections

December 6, 2019 2:03 am

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed January 25, 2020, for the conduct of the 28 outstanding court-ordered rerun elections across the country.