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Ahead of the Osun State Governorship election on Saturday, CLEEN Foundation, a non-governmental organisation says it will deploy 60 Citizen Observers across the 30 council areas of the state to observe the conduct of security personnel deployed for election duty.
CLEEN Foundation in a statement issued on Friday, signed by Ag. Executive Director, Ruth Olofin, said that its Security Threat Assessment shows high expectations of a peaceful election in the state, with a widespread aggregate approval rating of 78.5%.

Olofin said that in line with the mandate of the Foundation in ensuring public safety and security, its Election Security Support Centre (ESSC) will be observing the conduct of security agencies deployed in Saturday's poll and other related incidences. 
Titled: "CLEEN Foundation pre-election Statement on the 2022 Osun State Governorship Election," the Ag. Executive Director said the foundation urged all election actors to advise their supporters to play by the rules for a more credible and peaceful election in the state.
The statement partly read, "CLEEN Foundation conducted an Election Security Threat Assessment (ESTA) in Osun State with three key objectives:
"To identify security risk factors that could impact on the election negatively; actors and actions that lead to violence; and mitigative strategies in response to identified threats.
"Overall, CLEEN’s Security Threat Assessment observed high expectations of a peaceful election in the state. This perception is widespread across the state, with an aggregate approval rating of 78.5%.
"More so, despite this positive outlook epitomized by the high optimism for peaceful elections, CLEEN Foundation also observed indicators that could constitute electoral risks that could trigger violence during the election. 
"These findings include the activities of party thugs (85.9%), the partiality of security agents (83.5%), widespread availability and
use of hard drugs (82.7%), broadcasting and publishing of hate speech (81.9%), the prevalence of misinformation and fake news (80.9%), poor training and low professionalism of security agents (80.4%), undue
influence of money (79.5%), partisanship, favouritism, partiality and sensationalism of the press (78.7%), lack of synergy among security agents (78.2%), activities of religious extremists, cultists, armed groups and ritualists (78.1%), poor synergy between INEC and security agents (77.1%), aggressive and excessive use of force (76.8%), conduct
of party agents (76%), exclusion and discrimination (76%), problems
associated with registration and accreditation devices (75.4%).
"Other factors identified also include; misinformation by CSOs (74.9%), abuse of social media (74%), miscarriage of justice (72.9%), failure of regulatory bodies to ensure adherence to media regulations (71.8%), activities of immigrants and unregistered voters (71.7%), citizens disaffection with government (70.6%), problems associated with continuous voter registration (70.3%), inadequacy or excessive presence of security agents (70.1%) and problems associated with the deployment of security agents (70.1%).
"CLEEN Foundation also observed that the political and security atmosphere in Osun State has remained tense, particularly with recent attacks on political party structures and candidates by thugs. The Foundation strongly condemns this hideous trend which is capable of destroying our electoral integrity and democracy. 
"We urge all actors to advise their supporters to restrain themselves and play by the rules for a more credible and peaceful election in the state."
It added, "Further, for CLEEN Foundation, security is crucial in the conduct of free and fair elections and the urgency for security agencies to build synergy becomes paramount. 
"Hence, CLEEN commends the synergy and cooperation currently witnessed between INEC and the various security agencies in the build-up to the July 16th election in Osun State. The Foundation appeals to all stakeholders to support security personnel to
achieve the uphill task of ensuring the safety of lives and properties at the election.
"In line with the above findings from the Security Threat Assessment
conducted by CLEEN, the Foundation recommends that key actors in the electoral processes particularly INEC, political parties, security agents, mass media and CSOs need to pay increased attention to the identified risk factors to tackle them headlong through the various duty bearers. 
"The early warning signs identified in the Election Security Threat Assessment report should be seen as a priority by appropriate
authorities to take early action. Synergy among these agencies is imperative to the peaceful outcomes of the election.
"CLEEN Foundation Election Security Support Centre (ESSC) will continue to observe the election and will release detailed preliminary and post-election statements on its observations. 
"We enjoin INEC, the law enforcement and security agents to maintain the highest level of professionalism in their conduct by guarding against any form of compromise that could scuttle the democratic process. We encourage
registered voters to go out and exercise their franchise toward a free, fair and credible election in Osun State come July the 16th 2022." 

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With hours to the Osun State governorship election, the Director-General of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Brig Gen Muhammad Fadah has warned corps members against engaging in electoral malpractices.
According to a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the NYSC, Eddy Megwa, on Friday, the DG directed that the corps members should have strict adherence to the electoral laws and avoidance of any action capable of endangering their lives.

The scheme said, “The Director General of National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier General Muhammad Kaku Fadah has warned the Corps Members that will perform election duties during the Osun State Gubernatorial Election to strictly abide by the electoral laws.
"He said anyone found wanting would be sanctioned accordingly.
"He stated this today in Osogbo while addressing the Corps Members who have undergone training as ad hoc staff by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
"General Fadah urged them to remain neutral and perform their election duties with diligence and as good ambassadors of the NYSC.”
"Your colleagues did it successfully in Ekiti and l believe you will also make us proud here in Osun State. Avoid sharp practices, avoid taking gratifications, don't take sides, play according to the rules of the game and be security conscious", he said.
General Fadah also visited security agencies in the state to canvas for security for the Corps Members on election duties.
At the Army Engineer Construction and Command in Ede, the DG commended the cordial relationship between NYSC and the military command.
Also at the State Police Headquarters in Osogbo, the Coordinating Deputy Inspector-General of Police, for the Osun election, Mr Johnson Babatunde Kokumo, reiterated maximum security for the corps members.
He commended the management of the scheme for mentoring corps members for national assignments.
"Corps Members are our children and our priority. We will not relent in our efforts towards ensuring their safety", he said.
Also in his remarks, the Deputy Controller General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr Mungadi Dauda Danladi on behalf of the Controller General of NSCDC, described Corps Members as invaluable assets in the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in the country.
He promised the readiness of the NSCDC for Corps 

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The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has begged the Indigenous People of Biafra to allow the 2023 general elections to hold in the South-East states.

SaharaReporters had reported that the spokesperson of IPOB, Emma Powerful, had in a statement, on Thursday stated that they would not compromise their agitations for Nigerian politics.

He also stressed that IPOB did not believe in “Nigerian elections”, noting that their agitations were still intact and nothing would change the group’s resolve towards the “fight to achieve Biafra freedom through peaceful non-violent globally-accepted practices.”

Powerful was reacting to a statement credited to controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Gumi, who alleged that IPOB agitation had slowed down in the South-East since Peter Obi picked the presidential ticket of the Labour Party.

But the Ohanaeze National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia, in an interview with PUNCH, appealed to iIPOB to sheathe their swords and avoid allowing their anger to consume them.

“We appeal to our brothers in IPOB to allow the election to hold. Their agitations are understandable but they must not let their anger consume them.

“Even during the turn of (Chukwuma) Soludo, they first refused but when we appealed to them, they listened. During the turn of (Willie) Obiano, we appealed to them, and they listened. This time around, we want to plead that they also listen to us,” he said.
 

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Across Osun State today, up to 1,955,657 registered voters are expected to exercise their franchise across the 3,763 polling units to elect a new governor for the state in a keen contest.
Meanwhile, some of the voters have vowed to collect greedy politicians’ money and still stick to for their candidates.

Soldiers, policemen and members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been sighted in strategic locations around the state capital and border towns.
The election, which will be contested by 15 political parties, is expected to be a straight duel between the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Other candidates in the race are the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf of the Labour Party, Goke Omigbodun of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Akin Ogunbiyi of Accord Party.
Meanwhile, residents who spoke with Daily Trust said their choice would not be influenced by money and other forms of inducement.
A resident, Kunle Ogundele said, “People will troop out for the election despite the security issue. We can see the police patrolling our roads and the sky to assure residents of maximum protection.
“People are ready to cast their votes despite the issue of vote buying. We will collect money from the opponents and still vote for our candidates of choice.”
Another resident, Demola Ahmed said, “As it is now, everything is settled and people are expected to come out en masse, especially with the heavy presence and constant patrol of the town by security agents.
“On the issue of vote buying or money politics, Osun will vote for who they really want and collect money from wherever they get it from. But the election is going to be decided more on party and personality. We are tired of suffering and want to vote for who we love and believe can meet our expectations.”
A trader in Osogbo, Folashade Bello, said the people already knew who they would vote for despite any inducement from politicians.
Mrs Grace Oguntuyi also said, “Security or no security, we will come out and vote for the right candidate. We need peace and progress in this state.”
More voters are expected to participate in the election than the 2018 poll when 767,444 electorates out of the 1,668,524 registered voters exercised their franchise. The election recorded 45.99 per cent turnout.
In 2018, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Oyetola as winner, having polled 255,505 votes against Adeleke, who had 255,023 votes at the end of a supplementary election, which held in seven polling units across four local governments amidst allegations of harassment and other forms of malpractice.
The INEC had scheduled the rerun after declaring the main election inconclusive, won by Adeleke with 353 votes after polling 254,698 against Oyetola’s 254,345. It stated that the margin of votes between Adeleke and Oyetola was less than the number of cancelled votes in seven polling units.
 

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Across Osun State today, up to 1,955,657 registered voters are expected to exercise their franchise across the 3,763 polling units to elect a new governor for the state in a keen contest.
Meanwhile, some of the voters have vowed to collect greedy politicians’ money and still stick to for their candidates.

Soldiers, policemen and members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been sighted in strategic locations around the state capital and border towns.
The election, which will be contested by 15 political parties, is expected to be a straight duel between the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Other candidates in the race are the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuf of the Labour Party, Goke Omigbodun of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Akin Ogunbiyi of Accord Party.
Meanwhile, residents who spoke with Daily Trust said their choice would not be influenced by money and other forms of inducement.
A resident, Kunle Ogundele said, “People will troop out for the election despite the security issue. We can see the police patrolling our roads and the sky to assure residents of maximum protection.
“People are ready to cast their votes despite the issue of vote buying. We will collect money from the opponents and still vote for our candidates of choice.”
Another resident, Demola Ahmed said, “As it is now, everything is settled and people are expected to come out en masse, especially with the heavy presence and constant patrol of the town by security agents.
“On the issue of vote buying or money politics, Osun will vote for who they really want and collect money from wherever they get it from. But the election is going to be decided more on party and personality. We are tired of suffering and want to vote for who we love and believe can meet our expectations.”
A trader in Osogbo, Folashade Bello, said the people already knew who they would vote for despite any inducement from politicians.
Mrs Grace Oguntuyi also said, “Security or no security, we will come out and vote for the right candidate. We need peace and progress in this state.”
More voters are expected to participate in the election than the 2018 poll when 767,444 electorates out of the 1,668,524 registered voters exercised their franchise. The election recorded 45.99 per cent turnout.
In 2018, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Oyetola as winner, having polled 255,505 votes against Adeleke, who had 255,023 votes at the end of a supplementary election, which held in seven polling units across four local governments amidst allegations of harassment and other forms of malpractice.
The INEC had scheduled the rerun after declaring the main election inconclusive, won by Adeleke with 353 votes after polling 254,698 against Oyetola’s 254,345. It stated that the margin of votes between Adeleke and Oyetola was less than the number of cancelled votes in seven polling units.
 

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The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission to be concerned about how women and people with disabilities will exercise their franchise during Saturday's gubernatorial election in Osun State.
The group made this call in a statement signed by Amina Suzanah Agbaje, the FIDA Nigeria National President, saying it had trained observers who would monitor and report on the electoral processes across the various local government areas of the state during the polls.

FIDA enjoined observers to conduct themselves creditably by remaining non-partisan as well as ensuring that their emotions were not clouded by sentiments whilst executing their roles as citizen observers across the selected Local Government Areas.
"FIDA calls on INEC to provide priority and be particular about persons with disabilities through enabling platforms as we count down to the Osun gubernatorial elections," the statement reads in part.
"FIDA Nigeria will observe the participation of women and persons with disabilities at the polls through trained citizen observers deployed across the 30 Local Government Areas of Osun State.
“An election monitoring tool has been developed and our approach in observation will be both qualitative and quantitative as we will leverage on partnerships with other civil society actors in documenting election incidences promoting violence against women and persons with disabilities at the polls.”
"FIDA Nigeria citizen’s engagement will be made possible through the establishment of a situation room in Oshogbo, the Osun State capital, and our National Secretariat where our Data Analysts will be documenting and analysing findings from our citizen observers through the help of civic technology," the statement added.

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President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that he closed the land borders for two years for the benefit of farmers who were the driving force of the rural economy.
The President said this Friday in Daura while speaking to the elected Local Government Council chairmen from the state.

He said his administration had taken various decisions including the closure of land borders to encourage local farming for the nation.
“I have a good understanding of the country and its people. That is why we instituted those agricultural policies. I said we must grow what we eat and eat what we grow.
“This is a country that was once dependent on foreign rice. We closed the border to foreign rice. I said why can’t we eat Nigerian rice, and with the policies put in place, Nigerians are eating home-grown rice,” he said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Garba Shehu.
Buhari also played up the successful implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), saying money had been saved from unscrupulous government officials.
“I found a tough man (Hameed Ali) for the job at the Customs. One day, he came to me and said that they had intercepted 20 fuel tankers about to cross the border. I said to him, sell the fuel and the tankers and put the money in TSA. Before this time, that money would have found its way to the numerous mysterious ‘government’ accounts.”
On the suggestion by Alhaji Ya’u Umar Gojo-Gojo, the Commissioner of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, who led the council chairmen that the agricultural policies of the administration be made into law to ensure continuity under the all incoming administrations, Buhari said such good policies will commend themselves to any government.
Gojo-Gojo commended the President for initiating several measures to transform agriculture in order to increase farmers’ income during the last seven years.
He told the President that before this time, Katsina people knew how to eat rice but had no inkling as to grow and process it.
The Commissioner also briefed the President about the security situation in the state, saying that the state’s amended security law had brought everyone into the mix- state government, local governments, traditional rulers and the ordinary citizens with each one playing their part in helping to reduce the worrisome security threats facing the state.

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Abike Dabiri-Erewa

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has said its chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, did not misappropriate monies budgeted in 2020 to attract Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora.
The coordinator of the Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria (GCSDN), Frederick Odorige had questioned the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire and Dabiri-Erewa, asking them to account for monies budgeted in 2020 to attract Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora. 

Abike Dabiri-Erewa DailyPost
He added that another N24 million was proposed to be spent on training and conferences. 
Dabiri-Erewa had conceptualised the framework for the Ministry of Health, to engage Nigerian health professionals resident abroad, he alleged.
Odorige questioned Ehanire and Dabiri-Erewa regarding how the funds meant to be used to attract Nigerian medical experts back to the country were spent.
“Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, under Abike Dabiri-Erewa, & Min. of Health- Osagie Ehanire, jointly proposed N234.6m to attract medical professionals from the diaspora,” he had posted on Twitter.
Reacting, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, 
Head of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols of NiDCOM described the accusation as baseless.
The statement read, “The immediate question that comes to mind is how NIDCOM, a statutory agency of government, will be responsible for the expenditure of a sub head in a totally different ministry?
“For the mere fact that a budgeting sub head on Diaspora is in the Ministry of Health budget does not translate or add to NIDCOM's budget, so where is the fraud in the Commission when such money was not domiciled in it and it has no expenditure control?
“Is there any evidence that such money was even released to the Ministry of Health let alone being misappropriated as alleged by the storyteller? Well, the Ministry will speak for itself.
“As for NIDCOM, it is practically impossible for the Commission to influence the budget of a ministry while struggling to have its own budget increased.
“If NIDCOM, struggling with a capital budget of about a N160 million naira has the power to influence or spend N234 millon, why would it domicile it in a ministry or agency it has no control over?
“While the said Hungary-based Frederick Odorige of one Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria whom Sahara Reporters quoted, is notorious for dark, spurious, ridiculously bizarre allegations and should ordinarily be ignored, we are responding to this because it borders on finances and we owe our esteemed diaspora community a proper clarification of facts.
“As a Commission, we shall remain focussed on our mandate as we look forward to another successful diaspora day scheduled for July 25.
“It is hoped that Sahara Reporters will give this rejoinder the same prominence it gave the initial report and also endeavor to verify such sinister, unfounded allegations.” 

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Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has declared that he would buy guns for the people of the state to defend themselves if terrorists ever attack the state again.

The governor made the declaration on Friday during a presentation of 50 security-fitted vehicles to all security agencies in the state, including the South-West Security Network codenamed Amotekun Corps.

Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu

Akeredolu, who recalled the killing of over 40 worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, on Sunday, June 5, lamented that the police could not do anything when the incident was reported to them because they had no operational vehicle, adding that Amotekun later chased the terrorists but it was late.

A report by Daily Independent quoted Governor Akeredolu as saying that “Protecting the life and property of our people is our priority here. Our own interest lies here.

“Any other incident here, we will ask our people to get guns to protect themselves. We will even get guns for our people to protect themselves. So, you want me to stay inside my house and someone will come and kill me there.

“If we are pushed to the wall, we will also encourage our people to get guns. We are talking to our traditional rulers to get us the traditional powers. I am begging you, nobody, state, the country can continue to witness this kind of insecurity.

“People will be on motorbikes and attempt to attack planes at Airport. How did they come in? Are there no people manning the place? What a country where you can’t get a plane, or train to travel and you dare not travel by road.

“Bandits save their people from the government and the government can’t save its people from bandits.

“Up till today, not all Chibok girls, now women, have come back. So, what are we doing as a nation? I am worried about security issues in the country, let’s discuss it. Is there no government that they have this leeway to operate just like that?

“We will smoke criminals out of their hidings. Where we arrest them, we will bring them to justice and where they resist arrest, we will send them to where they will get justice.

“Whether they like or not, we will get State Police, it’s just a matter of time.

“Governor Matawalle was pushed to the wall before he asked his people to arm themselves to protect themselves.”

Meanwhile, the governor commended the security agencies in the state for their sustained collective operations in spite of the flash of criminalities, noting that “Amotekun is not competing but cooperating with other agencies.”

Recall that shortly after the Owo church massacre, Governor Akeredolu had reeled out fresh security policies to further beef up security in the state.

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The Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has sought the approval of the state House of Assembly for a fresh N100billion loan.

Soludo's request is coming barely four months after he was sworn into office in March 2022. 

The House also yesterday passed the state’s 2022 revised budget presented by the governor last month.

This was revealed in a letter sent by the governor to the lawmakers, dated July 5, 2022, read at the plenary yesterday by the speaker, Hon Uche Okafor.

The letter stated that the loan would be used for the construction and refurbishment of key infrastructure in the state.

According to the speaker, the governor was seeking lawmakers’ approval to secure N100 billion Global Limit Multiple Term Loan Facility for the listed projects.

The request was later referred to the House Committee on Public Accounts, which is expected to report to the House on July 21, 2022.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers also passed the state’s 2022 Revised Appropriation Bill of N169.6billion.

The passage of the bill followed the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation led by Hon Obinna Emeneka during plenary.

Presenting the report, Emeneka, who represents Anambra East Constituency, said the revised budget was made up of N108billion capital expenditure and N61.3billion recurrent expenditure.

Emenaks said, “After a thorough scrutiny and review, we recommend that the size of the 2022 revised budget be retained except for little adjustments in some ministries, departments and agencies’ allocation.

“The sum of N169,621,744,131 be approved for the service of the Anambra State government for the year ending December 31, 2022, and for related purposes.

“The committee also recommends that subsequently, projects and contractors should be specified and funds released to MDAs to ensure effective budget performance.”

The speaker, Okafor after commending the committee for thorough scrutiny of the budget, conducted a voice vote and the report was subsequently adopted.

The speaker also directed the Acting Clerk of the House, Mrs Esther Anaetoh, to send a copy of the bill to Governor Soludo for his assent.

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The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has disclosed that 80 babies were delivered in its Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state in seven months.

This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Dr Emmanuel Shior, on Friday during the agency’s monthly distribution of relief materials to the IDPs.

He said that the deliveries were registered by the agency and most of the IDPs were staying with their partners and this accounted for the high number of births recorded in the camps.

“The agency is very strict on illicit sexual affairs in the camps. It is very difficult to control the tide of births in the camps, the IDPs are human beings.

“It is the nature of man, even when they don’t have food to eat, they have the desire for sex; that cannot be taken away from the IDPs. Most of them have their families at the camps.

“The aspect we try to control is unmarried people sleeping with each other; other unlawful sexual acts are also forbidden in the camps,” the SEMA boss said.

Shior, therefore, said that the agency would distribute 3000 bags of rice, 2000 bags of maize and guinea corn, 1000 cartons of noodles, bags of garri and beans to all IDPs in the state.

He said the relief materials would be distributed to IDPs in Makurdi, Guma, Logo, Agatu, Gwer West, Kwande and Okpokwu camps, among others.

The executive secretary said that the agency was doing everything within its powers to ensure that the IDPs enjoyed some level of comfort while in the camp.
 

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The International Press Centre (IPC), a media advocacy group, has called on personnel of the Nigerian security agencies deployed to Osun State for the July 16 governorship election to observe the sanctity of media in the election process.

The Centre in a statement signed by its Press Freedom Officer, Melody Lawal, said that in adherence to their constitutional rights, security personnel should accord journalists covering the governorship election their due rights and privileges to enable them carry out their social obligations.

“The security agencies should note that the media is a critical part of the electoral process and should be accorded due rights and privileges to enable them carry out their social obligations as partners seeking to ensure the credibility of the electoral process,” IPC stated.

Lawal also urged other electoral stakeholders to undertake their tasks in a very professional manner.

The IPC warning was sequel to the rising attacks on journalists by various actors including the security agencies and political actors in the country. 

Meanwhile, the Centre advised journalists on the governorship election duty to prioritise their safety and adequately integrate safety and security consciousness while performing their professional and constitutional roles.

“It is therefore very important for journalists covering the gubernatorial elections to be safety conscious in the discharge of their duties, and to avoid situations that may put them in harm’s way.”

IPC noted that the advisory was necessary as many journalists and other media professionals would be on the field for the governorship elections on Saturday, July 16.

The Centre noted that as part of initiatives to keep tab on the safety of journalists during the elections, cases of attacks or threats to journalists should be promptly reported.

Lawal further enjoined journalists to report any threats or act of violence against them to media professional bodies including the National, Zonal and State Chapters of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE).

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Osagie Ehanire, Health Minister of Nigeria

The coordinator of the Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria (GCSDN), Frederick Odorige has questioned the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire and the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, asking them to account for monies budgeted in 2020 to attract Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora. 

Also, N24 million was proposed to be spent on training and conferences. 

Osagie Ehanire, Health Minister of Nigeria

Dabiri-Erewa had conceptualised the framework for the Ministry of Health, to engage Nigerian health professionals resident abroad. 

Odorige questioned Ehanire and Dabiri-Erewa regarding how the funds meant to be used to attract Nigerian medical experts back to the country were spent.

“Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, under Abike Dabiri-Erewa, & Min. of Health- Osagie Ehanire, jointly proposed N234.6m to attract medical professionals from the diaspora,” he posted on Twitter.

Responding to the accusation, Dabiri-Erewa wrote, “N24m to be spent on trainings & conferences abroad. A NiDCOM without a board!‪ @gcsdn_org shall ask questions.”
 
“False.1.‪ @nidcom_gov cannot propose a budget for Ministry of health.‪ @Nidcom capital budget is 160m for the whole year. I will then propose 234 in another Ministry? Use your brains if you have any. Go report to your sponsors ! Next ??.”
 
Speaking further with SaharaReporters, the activist said despite finances budgeted to NiDCOM, there is no significant project to match the millions of naira allocated to it annually.
 
He added that Dabiri-Erewa has been running the commission like a personal estate because it’s the only government agency in Nigeria that does not have board members as required by the constitution.
 
“Monies are annually budgeted to run the affairs of Nigerians in the diaspora with little or nothing to show for it. I’m asking those involved to show how the money was released and spent.
 
“You cannot imagine the insultive defences by the Chairperson of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri. It may further interest you that NiDCOM is the only commission in Nigeria that does not have members of board as required by the constitution.
“All its administrative and financial affairs are run by the decision of only the Chairperson. Diasporans cannot vote to contribute to national policies yet we are being milked.”
The Ministry of Health had moved to engage Nigerian medical doctors, pharmacists, medical academics and other health workers from overseas, proposing to spend N234, 620,402 from the 2020 Budget for the purpose.
 
Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, in October 2019 told the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs that N173,020,401 would be spent on the “establishment and operationalisation of Diaspora Professional Healthcare Initiative, provision of logistics and implementation of Diaspora Professional Healthcare activities.”
It had proposed to spend N24 million on training and participation of the health ministry delegation to conferences involving health professionals among others.
The minister's breakdown of the 2020 budget to the committee had noted that the N173,020,401 would be used for the “establishment and operationalization of Diaspora Professional Healthcare Initiative, provision of logistics and implementation of Diaspora Professional Healthcare activities,” Vanguard had reported. 
The budgeted N24 million was to proposed to take care of the “Participation of Federal Ministry of Health’s delegation at the Annual Scientific Sessions and Trainings of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America (NANNNA), Medical Association of Nigerian Specialists Across Great Britain (MANSAG), Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists (CANPAD), Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association in the United Kingdom (NNCA-UK), Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas (NAPPSA) and International Conferences on Public-Private Partnership for Supportive Capacity Building.”

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Former Central Bank Governor, Charles Soludo

The Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led Anambra State government is set to demolish over 1,000 business shops at the Ochanja Market in the commercial city of Onitsha.

The shops were marked when the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Obinna Ngonadi, led a joint task force and building professionals to monitor various sections of the market on Friday.

Ngonadi, who presented the governor during the inspection exercise, said that the marked buildings were illegally constructed without government approval.
While addressing journalists, the Commissioner explained that administration of Soludo had the intention to decongest markets by making them inhabitable according to international standards.

He warned owners of illegal structures to quickly remove them or get ready to pay the state government for removing it.

The Chairman, Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Chike Maduekwe, disclosed that the State Materials Testing Laboratory would visit all the markets to test the structural integrity of their buildings so as to find out those to be spared with some amendment and those to be completely demolished.

News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

No fewer than 10,000 Christians from across the 19 northern states, on Friday, stormed Abuja, to protest the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by Bola Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The protesters, under the umbrella of All Christians Community of Northern Nigeria, marched to the Presidential Villa to submit a protest letter to the Nigerian government over the Muslim-Muslim agenda adopted by the APC.

The leader of the group, Moses Adams, said the decision of the APC regarding its presidential candidate was not the best for a diverse country like Nigeria.
He said, "Our sensibilities have been insulted by the ambition of a select few that have elected to throw caution in the wind. As you may be aware, Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state. The two major religions in the country are Islam and Christianity. And these have defined our way of life since the country attained independence in 1960. Successive governments in the country have respected the multi-religious nature of the country, especially during elections, to create a balance in the leadership of the country.
"We are therefore alarmed with the decision of the All Progressive Congress Party (APC) to disregard the Christian community in the choice of its vice presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential elections. Without mincing words, this is unacceptable and a recipe for creating sharp divides between the Muslims and the Christians in the country."
"Mr President (Muhammadu Buhari), since the return of democracy in 1999 in Nigeria, the tradition has been a Muslim-Christian or Christian-Muslim paring by all political parties. And this has to a large extent, ensured religious harmony in the country.
"However, the move by our party to adopt a Muslim-Muslim ticket is most insensitive and the height of discrimination against Christians in our country. This is on the heels that other political parties indeed reflected the religious balance in the composition of their presidential team" he added.
The Christian group further said the adoption of Muslim-Muslim ticket was a way of relegating and dishonouring Christians in the country.
"Your Excellency Sir, we the Christians in Northern Nigeria are displeased and angered by this insensitivity. By their action, the APC sent a strong message that Christians are not relevant in the scheme of things in the country.
"The APC has also displayed religious intolerance that would eventually bring about religious tension in the country if not reversed in the overarching objective of entrenching peace and tranquillity.
“As stakeholders in the APC, we know that there are credible Christians in the APC from northern Nigeria and other parts of the country who are dedicated and have outstanding credentials that could make the vice presidential slot.
"Mr. President Sir, we are tempted to mention that the move by the APC is intended to cause a crisis of unimaginable proportion along ethno-religious lines. And you must admit that this is not what Nigeria needs, in all fairness.”
"This despicable display aggrieves the Christian community in Nigeria by the APC in presenting a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 presidential elections.
"We are using this medium to appeal to your good office to intervene in reversing this ignoble move by the party’s Presidential Candidate. We demand that you invite the presidential candidate of the party to quickly retrace his steps immediately" the group stressed.

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Niyi Osundare

We are H-A-P-P-Y

We are H-A-P-P-Y

We know we are

We are sure we are

We are H-A-P-P-Y     

Happppppy!       

Niyi Osundare

              I

 

I come from the country

    Of the Happiest People on earth,

Where death sells at ten for one kobo

    And the Living envy the peace

 

 

Of the hastily dispatched. 

    Living every day on the edge of the knife

Suffering all night at the mercy of the bullet

    Taunted and tossed from wall to wall

 

Foodless, drinkless, and faint from fright

    Lean like a line from the book of pain  

Hunger has a seat in my little hovel

    My growling stomach is the devil’s drum

 

I count the stars from my lowly bed

    The lightest shower is riot to my roof

When geckoes snore in my bedroom wall

    The cockroaches tremble in their shining coats

 

I do not know when last a smile  

    Stumbled between my lips 

A shark can shuffle through the ocean of my tears. 

    Sadness lives in the furrows on my forehead

 

Yes, I come from the country

    Of the happiest people on earth

The thunder of our laughter 

    Rips through the ears of the world

 

 

 

                 II

 

 

I come from the country

    Of the happiest people on earth

Where rulers dance on the grave

    Of their people’s joy

 

Visionless, clueless, and gleefully rapacious  

     They gobble up the seed yam,

Their prodigal belches mocking the impotent

     Silence in a house of fleshless ribs

 

Our cars come from Asia

    Our phones from Finland

Our toothpicks from Hungary

     Our proud Constitution from the lordly West

     

 

Our laboratories have no labour

    Our libraries no books

Our classrooms have neither class nor room

    Mimic mammals that we are so proud to be

 

Too happy for original thinking

    We beg and buy others to think for us

Our universities happily shut down for months

    Our brains are on permanent sabbatical

 

Too happy to know

    The sobering weight of sadness

We are the giggling giants 

    Of the earth’s happiest country     

    

 

               III

 

 

Our enviable chaos

    Our fantastically corrupt propensity

Our globally certified incompetence

    Our preference for fast and easy wealth

 

 

Our act-first-think-later ‘philosophy’

    Our leave-it-to-God religiosity

Our world-famous disdain for Science

    Our unbreakable bond with the God of Unknowing

 

 

Our rabid aversion to Reason

    Our impatience with the through and thorough

Our seed-eater’s improvidence

     Our headless covenant with the here-and-now

 

 

Fifteen million Nigerian children out of school

    The straight and sure way 

From babyhood to bandithood

    And the trail of tears in our happy land 

 

 

Failing factories, booming churches

    The jobless join the hopeless

Miracle crowds on tenuous hopes

    Predatory pastors and their phantom faiths

 

Happy through them all

    Our eyes glow in the dark

Dancing and shouting in garish garments

    We the owambe* crowd of a happy nation

    

    

                   IV

 

Dapchi-happy 

    Laughing all the way from Chibok

Happy, happy massacres in 

    In crowded churches and teeming markets

 

Happy for robbers who strike at night

    And bandits who defile our noon

Happy at our army’s patriotic absence

    And the police who abandon their posts

 

Happy about the nation’s falling house

    Its quicksand foundation

Its shifty floor and cracking walls

    Its termite-ridden roof and dreadful aspects

 

Happy about the lies

    Which become our truth

Happy about the myth

    That supplants our mirror

 

Happy about rulers

    Incapable of thinking

Happy about the ruled

    Who prefer them so

 

“Big-for-Nothing-Country”:

    Our sobriquet from jealous nations

But who does not know

    We are the happiest people on Planet Earth?

 

 

*A lavish, sybaritic kind of party

 

                                          Niyi  Osundare

Opinion AddThis :  Original Author :  Niyi Osundare Disable advertisements : 

The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says the establishment of a trust fund for the scheme was meant to address infrastructural deficit.
The Senate passed the bill seeking to establish the trust fund in June 2022, while the House of Representatives passed the bill earlier in April 2022.

The Trust Fund established under Section 3 of the Act covers all corps members, personnel of the NYSC, orientation camps, formations, and facilities, and it is meant for the overall improvement and efficiency in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities.
A staff of the scheme had told SaharaReporters that the action was a grand plot to use the trust fund as a retirement package for top military officers, especially Director Generals who are always appointed from the army.
He had described the trust fund as a slush fund for the military, where monies are disbursed to top military officers at the behest of the Chief of Army Staff.
"The NYSC Trust fund will provide funding for these officers through proxies that would receive monies on their behalf. I can tell you there is excitement within the top echelon of the military, and they have consequently mounted pressure for its speedy passage into law,” the source had said.
Reacting, Eddy Megwa, the NYSC Director, Press and Public Relations, said the fund wasn’t meant for retired military officers but to address the infrastructural deficit besetting the scheme in the area of camp renovation and maintenance; upgrading, building and maintenance of corps members’ lodges, among others.
The statement read, “The decision to establish NYSC Trust Fund was conceived during a meeting held with some of the Scheme's stakeholders; notably: the thirty-six State Governments and FCT Administration; and thereafter strongly supported by civil societies, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) as well as Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
“Primarily, the Fund is purposed to address the infrastructural deficit besetting the Scheme in the area of camp renovation and maintenance; upgrading, building and maintenance of Corps Members' Lodges, among others.
“Statutorily, the Scheme as it were, has a tripartite funding arrangement - the Federal, State and Local Governments, with each having varying degree of responsibilities.
“Over the years, the Scheme has equally partnered governmental and non-governmental institutions in the area of providing start-up capitals to Corps Members to fund their business initiatives under the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme which is a direct answer to the often asked rhetorical question: After the NYSC what next?.
“The Trust Fund will provide funds to a greater percentage of Corps Members trained under the NYSC Skill Acquisition programme to start-up their businesses.
“It is appropriate to clarify that the Fund which passed public hearing, with civil societies, the academia, among others, fully represented is not a pool of slush fund meant to gratify the financial cravings of top military officers as erroneously stated by the writer of the story.
“While Management holds the media in high esteem as a worthy partner, it wishes to restate the need for writers to clarify issues pertaining to the Scheme with the managers before rushing to publish, in order to guard against misleading the public.”

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A political thug of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba, was on Friday arrested in Osun State by personnel of the Nigerian Army.
This is coming a few hours to the Osun State governorship election coming on July 16.

Asiri Eniba, who is the Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Osogbo Branch, was arrested alongside some other armed political hoodlums at Ojurin motor park, Old Garage, Osogbo.
"He was arrested along with two of his boys. He was released but placed under Nigerian Army's watch," a source confirmed to SaharaReporters.
The political thugs were caught with two guns, cutlasses and Indian hemp.
They were subsequently whisked away to the Army Barracks, Ede.
The NURTW boss and his boys were however released following intervention from some top government officials but placed under Nigerian army's watch.
On July 6, Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji, accused Asiri Eniba of disrupting the peace of Osogbo when thugs invaded his palace during the visit of Ademola Adeleke, candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Go and tell them and let Asiri Eniba know that I won’t tolerate disruption of peace in my domain,” the monarch had said.

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