Aisha Yesufu

A human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, has said the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso should have agreed to be the running mate of Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi. 
Yesufu noted this in an interview with Sunday PUNCH. 

Aisha Yesufu
According to Yesufu, Obi is more competent and has wider acceptance than Kwankwaso. 
On the alliance talk that collapsed between NNPP and LP, Yesufu said, "Obi should have been the candidate and Kwankwaso the running mate. This is not about age or who is older. With what is on ground now, Peter Obi is more competent, and we have had eight years of a northerner being a president, so it’s only fair for the presidency to move to the other part of the country to maintain a balance. 
"If they win the election, with the current arrangement, it would go back to the North and Kwankwaso could contest. Also, if you look at it in terms of the reach right now, Peter Obi has a wider reach than Kwankwaso."
Citing the case of former President Barack Obama, who had Joe Biden, who was way much older than Obama as his Vice President in the United States of America, she said the 2023 presidential race should not be about age and self interest. 
"I think at every moment, it should not be about our selfish interest; it should be about what is good for the nation and people should be able to read the mood of their environment. Something is going on; the Nigerian youths are rallying round Peter Obi, so there is a momentum that is being built around him." 
She, therefore, warned politicians saying Obi has no political structures to win the 2023 presidential election to have a rethink because they are doing that at their own peril.
According to her, Nigerians supporting Obi are taking ownership of the movement already, funding his campaign without waiting for him to bring money.

"People are supporting him and they are taking ownership of the movement. It’s not even an Obi’s movement. It’s a movement that has taken a life of its own, and they are saying enough is enough of just waiting that the politicians would do the right thing. 
"What have the structures they have had all these years produced other than bloodshed, mayhem and grief. People are tired of that and they want to build their own structures and they are doing it. So, it’s at their own peril to think Peter Obi doesn’t have structure and his supporters are only in the social media.
"People are talking to one another, they understand that they are the structure and they are putting in their all. For years, I have been saying to people that whatever we do, we must ensure we are putting our money where our votes are and it is so gratifying to see Nigerians do that."
 

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A Nigerian female activist and co-founder of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu, has lambasted Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State over the rising cases of insecurity in the state.
Yesufu, who took to her Twitter page on Sunday to vent her anger said the governor has been busy moving from one conference to another, speaking Queen's English while the kidnapping and killing of people in the state keep rising.

Yesufu, who asked Governor Obaseki if he is not concerned about the monstrous activities of criminals in the state, lamented that despite the alarming rate of kidnappings and killings in the state, the Obaseki-led government has failed to address them.
She wrote, “The insecurity in Edo State is on a high level but @GovernorObaseki is busy speaking Queen's English from one conference to another. 
“Kidnapping and killing of kidnapped victims is at an alarming rate. Yet torchlight is not being focused on it.
“Is the Governor concerned?”
 

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There are indications that the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate for the 2023 elections, Bola Tinubu has finally settled for a Muslim - Muslim ticket, by picking former governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima as his running mate.
SaharaReporters gathered that Tinubu had wanted to pick the incumbent governor of Borno, Babagana Zulum as the running mate but he reportedly pleaded that his mentor, Shettima should rather be picked.

A source in the APC told SaharaReporters that Bola Tinubu had gone to Daura, Katsina State to inform President Muhammadu Buhari about his final choice.
Tinubu earlier named Kabiru Masari as a placeholder for Tinubu and his party to decide on who would be the vice-presidential candidate.
 
"Tinubu has picked Kashim Shettima former Borno State governor as his running mate. He has travelled to Daura to inform Buhari.
"I was thinking he might pick Zulum the current Borno State governor. But Zulum was begging Tinubu to pick his mentor Kassim Shettima," the source said. 
The News Agency of Nigeria, also reported in one of its bulletins on Sunday that the vice presidential candidate would be unveiled to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the leader of the party in his hometown in Daura, Katsina State on Sunday (today).
President Buhari has been in Daura since Friday for the Eid-el Kabir celebration. 

However, efforts made by SaharaReporters to reach Tinubu's media aide, Tunde Rahman for comments were not successful as he neither answered his calls nor replied a text message sent to his mobile phone. 

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Residents of Nteje community in the Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State have described the labelling of their youths as members of Eastern Security Network, the militant wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as preposterous.
The residents who staged a peaceful protest against such labelling by security agencies on Saturday described it as part of a plan by security agencies led by the Nigerian Army to massacre more unarmed youths across Igbo land. 

They said while the killing of Igbo youths in the South-East is going on, Boko Haram and Islamic State In West African Province (ISWAP) are ravaging North Nigeria, including the nation's capital, Abuja.
SaharaReporters had exclusively reported that dozens of unarmed young men were gruesomely massacred by Nigerian Army troops in Ogbaru communities between June 28 and 29, 2022, allegedly under the pretext of looking for unknown gunmen wreaking havoc in the South-East. 
The residents of Nteje l said to be predominantly youths, assembled at the divisional headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force in the community, from where they marched with banners and placards through the Onitsha/Enugu Expressway to Awkuzu junction before ending at Amaokpo, Orukabi village square, Ifite Nteje.
According to The PUNCH, the leader of the protesters, Chinedu Okechukwu, said the reason for the protest was to dissociate themselves from the frivolous allegations that Nteje youths were members of the ESN.
Okechukwu said a faction in the community sent a petition to security agencies labelling them ESN members, a situation that made the military invade the community and start shooting indiscriminately, thereby killing and injuring some of them.
He said, “A faction in our community labelled as members of the ESN in a petition they sent to the security agencies.
“Acting on this frivolous petition, DSS operatives and some army personnel came to our place on June 16, 2022, and in the course of the operation, shot some people and rough handled our President-General.
“As of today, two of these persons, Oluebube Anukwu and Chinazaekpere Areh, who had gunshot injuries, have died with others still lying very critical in the hospitals.”
Okechukwu disclosed that land-grabbing was at the centre of the dispute rocking the community.
He, therefore, appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to urgently intervene in the matter.
“Many of us no longer sleep in our houses because some people engage security operatives illegally to harass and intimidate others in order to bring buyers to sell lands belonging to others.
“We even gathered that some of the land grabbers brought bulldozer now and are clearing lands belonging to others because the atmosphere is tensed since after the June 16 invasion of the community by the military,” he added.
Addressing the youths at Amaokpo Orukabi village square, Ifite Nteje, a senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, commended the youths for their thoughtfulness in embracing peace in the community.
“Why police joined you in this peaceful march is to send the signal that we want peaceful co-existence amongst various warring groups in Nteje.
“Youths, all over the world, are agents of peace and development, but the reverse has been the case here for close to 10 years now.
“People have been fighting each other, and some have been killed, maimed and property valued at millions of naira destroyed, all in a bid for one group to exercise dominance over another,” he said.
The senior police officer said, “It is regrettable that the proximity of Anambra State International Passenger/Cargo Airport Umueri to your community rather than being a blessing has turned into a problem.
“Stop this bloodletting, emulate Aguleri and Umueri people and make peace so that enduring development will be recorded in your community."
 

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The first Nigerian university teaching hospital, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, has yielded to pressure and stepped down the implementation of the proposed N1,000 electricity bill per day for every patient in the hospital.
SaharaReporters reported how the management of the hospital last week in an internal memo titled, ‘Approval for the recommendation to add utility fee to service charged patients in the hospital’, signed by the UCH administrator, Wole Oyeyemi and dated June 21, 2022, approved a mandatory N1,000 electricity charge per day for every patient in the hospital.

The hospital cited recurring power outages in the hospital, high cost of electricity tariff and inflation in the price of diesel as reasons for the charge.
However, Nigerians faulted the development while the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a civil rights organisation threatened to sue President Muhammadu Buhari if the hospital implemented the order.
But in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital by the hospital’s spokesperson, Mr. Toye Akinrinlola, during the weekend, the hospital denied ever charging patients electricity fees.
The statement which quoted the Director of Administration of the hospital, Stephen Oladejo, as saying that there was never a time the hospital charged such a fee, however, did not deny the internal memo where heads of units in the hospital were mandated to implement the proposed electricity fee.
Rather, the hospital stated that it was more concerned with adequate healthcare delivery to Nigerians.
According to the statement, UCH said that the memo being referred to was an internal document which was not implemented after a thorough review from internal mechanisms for such issues and had since been withdrawn.
It insisted that there was no point in time the hospital charged electricity fees on patients and “We are assuring the public that we shall continue to deliver effective and efficient healthcare to Nigerians, irrespective of status.” 
 

 

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fani kayode

A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has again attacked Nigerian military and called for their sacking following their failure to curb insecurity in the country. 
Fani-Kayode's latest attack followed a statement released by the military, which described the former minister as playing to the gallery in his criticism of the military. 

fani kayode
Fani-Kayode had called for the sacking of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya and all the military high command over the worsening insecurity in the country.
He was reacting to reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) warned the military about the attacks on a Kaduna-bound train in March and Kuje Correctional Centre by terrorists, but that no actions were taken by the military to avert them.
But the military spokesperson, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, in a statement on Saturday, described the allegations as unsubstantiated. 
He said Fani-Kayode had also claimed that soldiers were withdrawn shortly before the prison was attacked, adding that the former minister was not in any position to know whether the DSS notified the military of any attack.
“It is sad that Fani-Kayode is ignorant of whose responsibility it is to guard prison,” he said, adding the former minister was only seeking attention. 
Akpor said Fani-Kayode’s attack does not honour the sacrifices of the gallant officers and soldiers that paid the supreme price defending the country. 

However, Fani-Kayode in his response to the military statement on Sunday, said, "Given the gravity and seriousness of the deteriorating security situation in our country I did not know whether to laugh or cry when I read through it. 
"I would advise strongly that the military High Command and Defence Headquarters spends its time facing up to and fighting the terrorists that have turned our nation into a functional killing field and horrendous bloodbath and abattoir over the last few years and attempt to carry out their constitutional role of protecting us from enemies within and without rather than trying to engage me in a press war or cow me into silence. 
"They mentioned my so-called "antecedents" so let me say this: if they knew anything about my real antecedents they will appreciate the fact that attempting to threaten or intimidate me into not pointing out and exposing their abysmal failures can never work. 
"For the record, I have nothing but respect and admiration for the ordinary rank and file and junior and middle rank officers of our Armed Forces who have sacrificed so much, including their lives, and who continue to do so even without the necessary backing and support that they need and deserve from the present Military High Command. 

"Many of them have fought hard and died on the front line of battle in the most gallant way despite the difficult circumstances they have found themselves in and the uninspiring and poor logistical and moral support they have been offered by their senior colleagues. 

"Worse still thousands of our civilians have been kidnapped, butchered and subjected to the most horrendous acts of evil and violence by the numerous terrorist organisations that have invaded and plagued our land. 
"All this yet we are supposed to sit by idly and clap for our military field and operational commanders when things are clearly going wrong? 
"Call it "rabble-rousing" if you like (as they did in their press statement) but the overwhelming majority of Nigerians are appalled and disgusted with the degree to which our security situation has degenerated and are demanding that the Military High Command either goes or does far better. 
"Their glaring and embarrassing failures are as repugnant to them as it is to me. 
"Nigerians are also utterly disgusted at the disdain and contempt with which they carry out their duties and their utter insensitivity to the plight of their own soldiers and the concerns of our people. 

"They speak of my so-called "ignorance" but is there anything more ignorant than attempting to compel a civilian not to criticise the leadership of the Armed Forces of his country where and when they have failed woefully in their duties and obligations? 

"We criticised, risked all, suffered to no end and fought military rule for 7 long years when their predecessors in office and very senior colleagues annuled the June 12th election and held power from 1993 till 1999 but now that they have left office and we are in a civilian dispensation they believe we dare not or cannot legitimately criticise them when they get it wrong? 

"Such delusion and self-serving, self-seeking and vain fantasies beggar belief. 

"The truth is that I have no business with any serving military officer but rather with the serving Minister of Defence who though a civilian like me, you must report to under the constitution. 
"As a former Minister myself and out of respect for his office and person, I will formally and privately raise my concerns and the issue of what I consider to be your glaring incompetence and lack of patriotism and professionalism with him.
"I will also give him my recommendations. 

"This is the best that I can do in the circumstances and that way I would have at least satisfied my conscience and be able to sleep at night. 

"It is left to him and President Muhammadu Buhari, our President and your Commander in Chief, to exercise their discretion and do what they want with it. They can either take the necessary action or not." 
Fani-Kayode said he has "no respect for the leadership of the Armed Forces as presently constituted and neither am I compelled to do so by decency, morality, the constitution or the law". 

He continued, "The truth is that I am disgusted by their poor performance and utterly ashamed of their shameless impunity. 
"A citizen complains about the fact that our people are being killed and instead of showing remorse for the dereliction of their duty they are spending their time issuing puerile, infantile and meaningless press statements and trying to rationalise their recurrent and consistent failures. 
"If you want our respect then do please better. If you do not want to be criticised then work harder. 

"If you do not want people to demand your sacking or resignation then do your job and stop seeking to intimidate, attack, discredit or undermine those that criticise you. 
"I am not an enemy of the military but rather a true friend who is candid and courageous enough to speak the bitter and plain truth even where others dare not. 

"I am merely saying what millions are thinking and know. 

"Again I am merely a concerned citizen who is genuinely worried about the way things are going in our country when it comes to security and other matters. 
"When the leadership of our Armed Forces have got it right on past occasions I have commended their gallantry, professionalism and courage and this is on record. 

"Given this when they do not rise up to the occasion and their performance is below expectation I reserve the right to criticise them, point out their shortcomings and call for their resignation or removal. 
"That is the way things work in a nation which prides itself on free speech and given the fact that this is a democracy with laws and a constitution. 

"We are not under a military dictatorship and the Military High Command or Defence Headquarters who speak for them cannot silence us or expect us to remain silent when they get things wrong. 

"I believe that if they had any honor and integrity they would have resigned for their abysmal performance rather than spitting in the wind, beating their chests and pretending that all is well. 
"Given the fact that they have refused to do this, I once again call on President Muhammadu Buhari, as I did in my video, to retire them and appoint Service Chiefs that can do the job properly and meet the expectations of Nigerians. 
"For this, I offer no apology and I stand by everything that I said in that video including the assertion that the leadership and rank and file of the DSS, NIA and NPF have continued to give the necessary intelligence, confront and tackle the terrorists and do their job as best as they can but the Military High Command have not. 
"Others may be intimidated and compelled to remain silent but I will not. 

"Numerous Governors, including the Governor of Zamfara state, have publicly and privately called for Nigerians to arm themselves whilst others, like the Governors of Kaduna state and Niger state, have called for greater efforts on the part of the military to seek out, uproot and confront the terrorists. 
"Other Governors, like the Governor of Ondo state and indeed ALL the Governors of the South West, have gone as far as to demand that the states and zones have their own Armed militias and police because you have not been able to protect the people. 

"Such is the level of angst and anger in the land and it is essentially a referendum on your performance. 

"If all was well not one of these respected individuals or anyone else have cause to complain or demand more from you. 

"Instead of rectifying the situation the only thing you can do is issue a press statement telling me not to complain? 
"Do we not have the right to call a spade a spade? 
"This is especially so when lives are involved and so many have been lost. 

"Should we suffer this indignity and pain in silence? 
"Are these incessant attacks and slaughter of innocent people not a disgrace to our nation and to our Armed Forces? 
"Have we lost all sense of pride, dignity and self-respect that our soldiers and civilians are being killed and kidnapped by motorcycle-riding rag-tag bandits and we should just remain silent? 

"Can we not tell you when we are tired, fed up and had enough of your failures? 

"Instead of showing remorse and assuring us you will do better in the future you issue angry and insolent press statements in an attempt to silence and intimidate. 

"The truth is you have simply put salt in our wounds and added insult to injuries. 

"And whether you like it or not I will continue to point out the failures of our military High Command without fear or favour because they are meant to work for us. 

"We do not work for them. Rather we pay and maintain them with taxpayers' money and they do not pay or maintain us.

"They cannot impose a culture of silence on us and neither will we accept it. 
"Most importantly in a civilian dispensation, the military are subordinates of the political class and the people and are meant to live up to expectations.

"Where they do not we can and must protest and demand their removal. 

"They are not above the law, they are not superior to those of us that are not in the military and neither are they immune from criticism or lawful and legitimate sanctions. 
"Permit me to end with this. 


"The way to honor the families and assuage the hurt and pain of our fallen heroes in the military that the Defence Headquarters referred to in their press statement and the loved ones of those civilians that have been massacred by terrorists all over the country over the last 7 years is to fight the terrorists with everything you have got in a disciplined, patriotic and honest manner and utterly crushed them.

"It is not by issuing angry and nonsensical press statements to members of the public and concerned Nigerians feigning affection for the families of the victims of your own incompetence and all those dear and gallant soups that we have lost."  

 

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A teenage girl who identified herself as Chidimma, serving as a home help in Warri, Delta State in the South-South region of Nigeria, has cried out over how her mistress beats her almost every night for refusing to lick her private parts and suck her breasts.
In a video clip that is two minutes, 38 seconds long that was seen by SaharaReporters, Chidimma, who said she is from Imo State in the Southeast region of Nigeria, insisted that she wished to return to her parents as she could no longer endure her mistress' cruelty and sexual assaults.

She, however, did not mention the name of her mistress and efforts to get it were not successful as of the time of filing this report. 
The 10-year-old girl who spoke in pidgin English said, “My aunty came to our village and told my parents that she wanted someone who would be taking care of her children because she is not always at home. I agreed to follow her but sometime after we came to Warri, when I wanted to sleep in the night, she would come and wake me up and ask me to suck her private parts and her breasts and if I refused to lick them, she would slap me. 
“Sometimes if I refused to do it when I was sleeping, she would come to me and march on me with her two legs and ask me to stand up. She would then force me to suck her private parts and I would climb on her to suck her breasts which have chicken pox.
“When I finished sucking, she would ask me to bring my torch and insert it in my private parts. But when I could not do it, she forcefully pushed me out, shouting at me and asking why I could not do what she wanted me to do at my age. 
“I was worried that at my age, this woman wanted to deflower me. My mother never taught me anything like that.
“For three months now, whenever I am sleeping in the middle of the night, she would wake me up and force me to do that and when she notices that her children are looking at us, she would shift her body away from me. I am 10 years old but she has made me look as if I am 13 years old.” 



 

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The kidnapped 13-year-old daughter of Pastor Daniel Umaru has been freed after a huge ransom was allegedly paid to her kidnappers, SaharaReporters learnt on Sunday.
The kidnappers had killed the cleric, killed her two sons and kidnapped her only daughter last week. 

The kidnappers had shot the cleric, killed his two sons and kidnapped his daughter last week.

Meanwhile, the remains of the two sons who were shot dead on an ill-fated night have been buried by wailing relations and friends of the family.

On July 7, 2022, SaharaReporters reported that gunmen shot Pastor Umaru, gunned down his two sons and kidnapped his 13-year-old daughter in Adamawa State.
The sons died while the pastor was taken to hospital where he has been fighting to survive.
The mother of the deceased children was said to have suffered trauma following the tragedy that befell the family. 
SaharaReporters learnt that the gunmen stormed the residence of Umaru of the 'Eklesiya Yan'uwa A Nigeria' (EYN); also known as Church of the Brethren, at Njairi in the Mubi Local Government Area and carried out the dastardly act.
A family source, however, told SaharaReporters Sunday morning that the kidnapped minor was set free by her abductors after collecting a huge ransom.
But the source did not disclose the amount paid as ransom.
 "We paid money, a huge amount, of course, before they released her to us on Saturday evening, just after her two brothers were laid to rest at the EYN Church headquarters in Kwarhi.
"As of now, both her parents are fighting for their lives at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola, due to gunshot injury and trauma," the family member said. 

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has raised the alarm over planned attacks by the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on selected targets in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
It also said that the Islamic terrorists had declared war against Christians in Nigeria, saying that was why they attacked the Kuje Correctional Centre and released some of their fighters to sustain the attack.

NSCDC disclosed this in letter with Ref: No; NSCDC/CMDT/FCT/INT/VOL.X/188 addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration and was by FCT Commandant, Peter Maigari.
 
The letter obtained by Leadership which SaharaReporters sighted on Sunday, was dated July 8, 2022, and titled: "Security Alert: Renewed Threat Of Attack By ISWAP Terrorist On Targets within The FCT".
The letter reads, "Certified intelligence reveals that members of the decimated terrorist group Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) have concluded plans to launch more coordinated and spontaneous attacks on selected targets within the federal Capital Territory (FCT) and had declared war against Christians in Nigeria.
"Intelligence abounds that ISWAP terrorist group has claimed responsibilities of the Tuesday 5th of July, 2022 attack on Kuje medium security custodial centre, releasing their adherent members.

See Also Exclusive EXCLUSIVE: How Terrorists Attacked Kuje Prison With Massive Firepower, Preached For 20 Minutes, Gave Us Transport Fare And Ordered Us To Leave – Escaped Inmate 0 Comments 1 Week Ago
"The foregoing is to enable them hibernate in targeted communities (FCT) and re-strategize for further terrorist activities, especially on soft targets to keep the agenda of the group alive to the public. 
"Comment: Taking into consideration the recent terrorist attack on Kuje medium security custodial centre for good two hours without any security resistance indicated their readiness to carry out more coordinated attacks in selected cities/towns, security formations, schools, and worship centres in FCT, hence the released of their members for more formidable squad to achieved their dastardly act.
"Recommendation: Against this backdrop, it is advised that counter measures be emplaced, and
there is need to review existing security measures around such targets and other sensitive facilities with security formations, in FCT to frustrate the planned attack.
"This report is submitted for your information and necessary action sir."

Last Tuesday, ISWAP terrorists attacked Mike Correctional Centre, freeing hundreds of inmates, including Jihadists held at the prison facility. 

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Ladoja

The former governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, has said that he has no time to fight traditionalists or bother himself about Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election as he sees nothing wrong with having a President and Vice President belonging to the same religion.

Rather than worry about Muslim-Muslim ticket, the former governor appealed to Nigerians to embark on prayers for the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, so he would not be treated like late MKO Abiola. n

Ladoja

In the 1993 presidential election in Nigeria, Abiola, a Southwestern Muslim, who contested for president with a northern Muslim, Baba Gana Kingibe, as his running mate, won the election but died in prison in 1998 without getting to the Presidential Villa as the election was annulled by the military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida.

Speaking at his home country in Bodija in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, shortly after this year’s Ed-el-Kabir prayers, Ladoja maintained that Muslim-Muslim ticket is not his problem and should not be an impediment to electing leaders in the country.

According to him, sentiment over same religion ticket does not make sense because Ismail and Isaac who are the originators of Muslim and Christianity were siblings but it is only politicians who cause crisis with such tickets.

Ladoja said what matters to him is how Tinubu would be treated if he eventually wins the presidency, Daily Trust reports.

The ex-governor said, “There are many factors involved in electing a president. Whoever wants to be president and those working for him have to work very hard. In fact, they will need more prayers as they are consulting. With all these efforts, God has the final say on who becomes president. Chief MKO Abiola who was a Muslim was elected along with his vice, also a Muslim.

“We only pray that if Tinubu wins, it will not turn out like that of the late MKO Abiola. I don’t see anything wrong with a Muslim-Muslim ticket because I don’t intervene in religious matters. Muslims and Christians are from the same father. Some people are following Ismail while some are following Isaac, who are siblings. So, what is now my own to be fighting for one among them? I don’t have time to fight with traditionalists.

“It is only God that knows his servants, so why must we fight over religion? All religions, including traditional religion, preach love and good character. It is only politicians that usually cause crisis with religion.” 

 

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The Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has said the President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa will resign effective on Wednesday, July 13, 2022.
Earlier on Saturday, Rajapaksa was forced to flee his residence in Colombo as thousands of protesters laid siege to the compound, RT reported.

However, the parliamentary speaker announced this in a televised statement on Saturday night.
According to him, “to ensure a peaceful transition, the president said he will step down on July 13.” 
The announcement came hours after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe declared that he would also be willing to step down, paving the way for an interim government followed by-elections.
Sri Lanka, a nation of over 22 million has been rocked by protests for several months, with the unrest driven by soaring inflation and shortages of food, fuel, and medicine. The country defaulted on its foreign debt in May, and fuel rationing was introduced earlier this month, with armed troops deployed to filling stations.
The economic crisis has been blamed partly on the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting fall in tourism revenue for the island nation. However, Rajapaksa’s government has been fiercely condemned for its policies of lavish spending and careless tax cuts, while printing money to pay off foreign bonds.
Government changes didn't also allay the public anger and protests continued through May and June after the president’s brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, stepped down as Prime Minister, handing the job to Wickremesinghe. 
Earlier on Saturday, a crowd of protesters believed to number around 100,000 swooped on the presidential palace forcing the president to leave. He was, however, “escorted to safety,” according to government officials.
With his whereabouts unknown, the demonstrators forced their way into the building, where they raided its kitchen and swam in his private pool.
Video broadcast on Sri Lankan television and social media showed the protesters entering the President's House -- Rajapaksa's office and residence in the commercial capital -- after breaking through security cordons placed by police. Images show demonstrators inside the building and hanging banners from the balcony, as well as swimming in the residence's pool. Some used the shower and took pictures on the President’s bed. 
Protesters then also breached Wickremesinghe's official residence in Colombo, known as Temple Trees, according to local media reports, while video of protesters entering the gates to Wickremesinghe's residence circulated on social media on Saturday.
Demonstrators also broke into Wickremesinghe's private residence, on Fifth Lane, and set it on fire, according to his office. Live video streamed by local media and seen by CNN showed the residence engulfed in flames as crowds gathered at the scene.
Wickremesinghe was not there at the time it was breached. He had been moved earlier to a secure location, his office said.
If both Wickremesinghe and Rajapaksa resign, under the Sri Lankan constitution, the speaker of parliament will serve as acting president for a maximum of 30 days.
Meanwhile, parliament will elect a new President within 30 days from one of its members who will hold the office for the remaining two years of the current term.
According to the Sri Lankan news outlet Newsfirst, after Rajapaksa leaves office on Wednesday, Parliament will likely choose a caretaker president, and Speaker Abeywardena will likely take over as prime minister.

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The Nigerian Defence Headquarters, Abuja, has denied the allegations by a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode in a viral video that soldiers at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, were withdrawn a few minutes before the terrorists’ attack on Tuesday night.
The military authorities said the allegations in Fani-Kayode’s video were intended to smear the military and create bad blood between service personnel and the military high command.

A statement by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, made available to SaharaReporters on Saturday, said that Fani-Kayode's claims could be part of a calculated attempt to cause division and rivalry amongst all government agencies that have been working collaboratively in addressing issues of insecurity in the country.
In the statement titled: "Re: Unsubstantiated Allegations Against The Armed Forces Of Nigeria By Mr Femi Fani-kayode In A Viral Video In Circulation," General Akpor described the former Minister as a known Rabble-Rouser and attention seeker, while noting that his claim was nothing more than sheer ignorance.
The statement partly reads, "The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to a video produced by Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, wherein he made wild and unsubstantiated allegations against the Armed Forces of Nigeria, regarding the recent spate of terrorist attacks particularly, the attack of the prison in Kuje - Abuja on 5 July 2022.
"Ordinarily the video and its maker would have been ignored, considering the antecedents of the person behind it as a known Rabble-Rouser. However, in the interest of members of the public who might be misled by the deliberate falsehood and the sensibilities of service personnel and their families who have been paying dearly to keep Nigerians safe, it has become urgent to respond to the video currently circulating in the social media.
"Among other allegations, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode claimed that the Department of State Security (DSS) informed the military about the impending attack on Kuje Custodial Centre and even the previous attack on the Kaduna - Abuja rail service. He also claimed that soldiers were withdrawn shortly before the prison attack. In all these allegations, Mr Kayode is merely playing to the gallery.
"He is not in any position to know whether the DSS notified the military of any attack or not. It may not be impossible that such a claim is part of a calculated attempt to cause division and rivalry amongst all Government Agencies that have been working collaboratively in addressing issues of insecurity in the country."
It added, "The claim that soldiers were withdrawn from the Kuje Correctional Custodial Centre before the attack is laughable. It is sad that Mr Kayode is ignorant of whose responsibility it to guard prison.
"Mr Fani-Kayode further claimed that the military took no action on the recent Shiroro terrorists’ attack, which resulted in the unfortunate death of some soldiers, some policemen and members of the public. This is also an attempt to smear the military and create bad blood between service personnel and the military high command.
"A despicable statement that dishonours the sacrifices of the gallant officers and soldiers that paid the supreme price whilst responding in defence of the civilians and the mining community. What a shame! Mr Kayode is encouraged to pay more attention to the weekly briefs by Defence Media Operations. Defence Media Operations gives weekly briefs/updates on operations being conducted across the country; press releases on military operations are also made when the need arises.
"Mr Fani-Kayode is also called to refresh himself on the constitutional roles of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. In all, subordination to civil authority is key. It is pertinent to state that, the Nigerian Armed Forces have toiled to sustain and nurture our democracy, hence the same military cannot contemplate a coup detat, as alluded to by Mr Kayode in his video."
General Akpor, however, maintained the commitment of the Nigerian Ministry to uphold the tenet of democracy.

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The three winners of a reality Television show organised by the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos State, have lamented that they have not been paid their N50million prizes since 2019.
SaharaReporters was told that the reality TV show competition was organised by FIIRO under the leadership of the past Director General, Prof Gloria Elemoin, with the support of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology under the leadership of the former minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and in collaboration with Lashonne Limited headed by Mr. Lanre Shonekan.

The competition designed to discover and support young industrial entrepreneurs with fresh business ideas and plans financially had 20 participants selected for the final stage, out of which, three participants emerged including Adewale Adebola as the winner, Ajiroghene Omanudhowo as the first runner-up and Sanni Ibiyemi Pedro as the second runner-up.
According to terms of the competition, the winner was entitled to a sum of N25million prize while the first and second runners up were to go home with N15million and N10million respectively.
But three years later, FIIRO and its partners have refused to pay the winners their prizes.
The winners told SaharaReporters that they had written several letters to FIIRO and its partners and held several meetings over the unpaid prizes but nothing came out of their efforts as they had continued to be ignored.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, one of them said, “We have written letters to FIIRO but no response. We have also had several meetings and no response still. We are being ignored by all parties involved in this programme despite all the letters, appeals and meetings.
“Families and friends voted with money towards our winning and most of them believe we have been paid while that has not happened till date. Now over three years, many people are already assuming we were paid and that we have mismanaged the funds and that is detrimental to our reputation.
“We demand that we should be paid and if not, the government should at least publicly come out to say they have not paid us.”
The winners lamented that the funds, if paid, would have gone a long way to help them grow their businesses but “the government has totally ignored us.”
The winner, Adewale Adebola lamented that recently, an estate project wanted to utilise the technology he pitched at the competition but unfortunately he had not been able to kick it off since FIIRO refused to make the payment.

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The three winners of a reality Television show organised by the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos State, have lamented that they have not been paid their N50million prizes since 2019.
SaharaReporters was told that the reality TV show competition was organised by FIIRO under the leadership of the past Director General, Prof Gloria Elemoin, with the support of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology under the leadership of the former minister, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and in collaboration with Lashonne Limited headed by Mr. Lanre Shonekan.

The competition designed to discover and support young industrial entrepreneurs with fresh business ideas and plans financially had 20 participants selected for the final stage, out of which, three participants emerged including Adewale Adebola as the winner, Ajiroghene Omanudhowo as the first runner-up and Sanni Ibiyemi Pedro as the second runner-up.
According to terms of the competition, the winner was entitled to a sum of N25million prize while the first and second runners up were to go home with N15million and N10million respectively.
But three years later, FIIRO and its partners have refused to pay the winners their prizes.
The winners told SaharaReporters that they had written several letters to FIIRO and its partners and held several meetings over the unpaid prizes but nothing came out of their efforts as they had continued to be ignored.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, one of them said, “We have written letters to FIIRO but no response. We have also had several meetings and no response still. We are being ignored by all parties involved in this programme despite all the letters, appeals and meetings.
“Families and friends voted with money towards our winning and most of them believe we have been paid while that has not happened till date. Now over three years, many people are already assuming we were paid and that we have mismanaged the funds and that is detrimental to our reputation.
“We demand that we should be paid and if not, the government should at least publicly come out to say they have not paid us.”
The winners lamented that the funds, if paid, would have gone a long way to help them grow their businesses but “the government has totally ignored us.”
The winner, Adewale Adebola lamented that recently, an estate project wanted to utilise the technology he pitched at the competition but unfortunately he had not been able to kick it off since FIIRO refused to make the payment.

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The abductors of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers have reportedly released seven more victims from their custody including Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, son of the Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum and former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Ango Abdullahi.
This is coming after more than 100 days that they were abducted by the terrorists.

According to PUNCH, the release of the kidnapped passengers was disclosed by Malam Tukur Mamu, one of the negotiators and Media Consultant to bandits’ advocate and Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi.
Mamu while announcing the release of the seven victims on Saturday said that their freedom came through efforts and negotiations with the terrorists.
Those released according to Daily Trust are; Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, a Pakistani, Muhammad Abuzar Afzal, Muhammad Daiyabu Paki, Bosede Olurotimi, Abubakar Zubairu, Alhassan Sule and Aliyu Usman.
Speaking on the release of the victims, Mamu said, “I want to assure the nation that everything that was achieved today was singlehandedly initiated and arranged by me with the full support and prayers of my principal, Sheikh Gumi.
“That is why I keep emphasising that the government has the power to end the agony of these innocent victims in one day. This is just one individual that sacrificed his life and even integrity. There is no military solution to the current security debacle in Nigeria.
“When you sincerely engage these guys, even though wicked with misguided religious beliefs, they are listening. I have sufficient evidence to prove that they do listen. It is this power of engagement and sincerity that resulted in the release of these seven victims.
“In whatever I do, I don’t need or require any reward from anybody but from Allah and I hope the nation we sacrificed our lives for will recognise us.”
Mamu said that the released victims had been handed over to the military and were currently on their way to Kaduna.
He further explained that “The location they (abductors) gave is remote, sensitive and risky. There was a military checkpoint before penetrating the forest. My team was stopped by the soldiers but when they told the military our mission they contacted the GCO and he immediately gave approval for them to proceed.
“And after the victims were successfully evacuated, travelling through over 40 kilometers in the forest, they were given a military escort back to Kaduna at the checkpoint.”
Recall that terrorists attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, killed at least eight persons and kidnapped over 60 others.
The terrorists had demanded that the Nigerian government release their children in Adamawa State Correctional Centre or they would kill all the abducted passengers in their custody. 

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Two pupils have reportedly suffocated to death while others lost consciousness inside their school bus in the Aguda area of Lagos State.
SaharaReporters gathered that the incident happened on Friday when the driver of the unnamed school bus, Odunsa Mandala, was taking the pupils back to their homes after the close of school.

It was reported that the pupils repeatedly complained to the driver that they were not comfortable but Mandala allegedly ignored them until most of them lost consciousness.
The driver, however, raised the alarm when he saw the condition of the pupils and they were rushed to a nearby hospital, while some of them were rushed to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital and others taken to Randle hospital.
Meanwhile, two of the pupils lost their lives.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident on Twitter said, “Yes, the driver has been arrested but the young souls are already gone, sadly so. A school bus driver ignored repeated complaints from the kids he was taking home that they were not feeling well. Some of the kids went unconscious, two eventually died.
“Schools need to up their game in recruitment and pay more attention to job fit. Parents too need to do thorough background checks of schools and crèches before entrusting their kids into their care.
“Meanwhile, the relevant regulatory agency has been notified of this act of gross negligence. Security is everyone’s business.”

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Two pupils have reportedly suffocated to death while others lost consciousness inside their school bus in the Aguda area of Lagos State.
SaharaReporters gathered that the incident happened on Friday when the driver of the unnamed school bus, Odunsa Mandala, was taking the pupils back to their homes after the close of school.

It was reported that the pupils repeatedly complained to the driver that they were not comfortable but Mandala allegedly ignored them until most of them lost consciousness.
The driver, however, raised the alarm when he saw the condition of the pupils and they were rushed to a nearby hospital, while some of them were rushed to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital and others taken to Randle hospital.
Meanwhile, two of the pupils lost their lives.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident on Twitter said, “Yes, the driver has been arrested but the young souls are already gone, sadly so. A school bus driver ignored repeated complaints from the kids he was taking home that they were not feeling well. Some of the kids went unconscious, two eventually died.
“Schools need to up their game in recruitment and pay more attention to job fit. Parents too need to do thorough background checks of schools and crèches before entrusting their kids into their care.
“Meanwhile, the relevant regulatory agency has been notified of this act of gross negligence. Security is everyone’s business.”

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A cleric, Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has described the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), as noisemakers who cannot win presidency in the 2023 general elections.
Primate Ayodele said this on Saturday while addressing journalists in his church in Lagos State during the release of his annual prophecies, “Warnings to the Nations,” Daily Post reports.

The cleric who had earlier in May said that Obi could not be Nigerian president said, “Peter Obi is a noise maker; he can’t make a single difference. Saying Obi will win the election is zero.
“Kwankwaso is also a noise maker; he can’t win the election. Tinubu, Obi, and Atiku can’t restructure Nigeria.”
Ayodele went ahead to tell Nigerians that the 2023 general elections wouldn’t solve Nigeria's problems, saying that only restructuring could resolve the country’s problems.
He said that “Nigeria will still be having the same problems we are having. The solution to our problem is not the 2023 elections; it will still put us in the same problems, if not worse. 2023 elections will put us where we are with insecurity and the economy. And the solution to our problems is restructuring; we will have freedom the day Nigeria is restructured.”

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it stands by the reports received from its state offices on the conducted primaries while urging aggrieved aspirants to approach the court for redress.
INEC particularly referenced Akwa Ibom North-West where Godswill Akpabio, a former minister, could not win senatorial seat and Yobe North where the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, could not participate in the primary and lost to Bashir Machina.

Akpabio and Lawan – who both participated in the APC presidential primary which they lost – had mounted pressure on the All Progressives Congress leadership to manipulate their names into the list of candidates – a development which has been causing ripples in the respective senatorial districts.
INEC in a statement issued on Saturday, by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, said it stood by the reports from its state offices which recognised the elected candidates.
Titled, "Clarification On Issues Relating To Candidate Nomination And Release Of Certified True Copies Of Documents," the electoral body said it advised that anyone applying for CTC of documents should endeavour to act timely and within the ambit of the law.
On the issues of Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts, Okoye advised the parties to go to Federal High Court to seek for redress, adding that the Commission "stands by the monitoring reports received from our State offices."
The statement partly read, "The attention of the Commission has been drawn to speculations circulating online on the outcome of some of the recent primaries conducted by political parties and related issues. In particular, allegations intended to impugn the integrity of the Commission have been made in respect of the Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts.
"To set the record straight, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria mandates the Commission to monitor the organisation and operation of political parties, including their finances, conventions, congresses and party primaries.
"In line with its constitutional and legal obligations, the Commission deployed monitors to the various constituencies and received reports of such exercise. In relation to the primaries for the Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts, the Commission stands by the monitoring reports received from our State offices.
"For this reason, the Commission did not publish the personal particulars of any candidate for the two constituencies at variance with the State reports. Right now, the Commission is funtus officio in the two cases.
"Aggrieved parties are at liberty to approach the Federal High Court and seeks redress as provided in section 285 of the Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and sections 2915) and 84114) of the Electoral Act, 2022."
It added, "On the issuance of Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents, staff of the Commission have been working hard, including weekends, to meet the deluge of requests received. As at Friday 8th July 20122, the Commission has processed 433 requests involving the certification of One million, Six Hundred and Sixty-Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Six (1,662,776) pages of documents. Many of them are awaiting collection at the INEC Headquarters by some of the same applicants complaining of delay in issuance of the CTCs.
"Section 29 (4) of the Electoral Act provides that any person may apply to the Commission for a copy of nomination form, affidavit, and any other document submitted by a candidate at an election and the Commission shall, upon payment of a prescribed fee, issue such person with a catified copy of document within 14 days. Persons applying for CTC of documents should endeavor to act timely and within the ambit of the law."
Okoye, however, pledged that INEC would continue to uphold the integrity of the electoral process, including the deepening of the deployment of technology to enhance the credibility of elections.

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A civic group, the Concerned Nigerians for the protection of Human Rights and Rule of Law initiative, has condemned petitions by supporters of Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, aiming to ban divergent and dissenting voices against their preferred candidate.
The civic group in a statement by its spokesperson, Theophilus Abu Agada, berated Peter Obi’s supporters for calling on Twitter and other social media platforms to ban critics such as Reno Omokri, Omoyele Sowore, Deji Adeyanju, Sega Awosanya and other divergent voices.

The group said, “It is the duty of Big Tech companies to moderate content that could lead to violence or illegal activity and not individuals writing petitions against opposition voices they consider as threats to their political agenda.
“The attempt by Peter Obi’s supporters to stifle free speech is anti-democratic and should be condemned by all and sundry. Free speech is one of the building blocks of every democratic society and as a group; we call on Obi’s supporters to stop threatening people who are indifferent about the candidacy of Mr. Peter Obi.
“The Nigerian Constitution protects the right to free speech and freedom of association. Incidental to these constitutional guaranteed rights is the right to support or oppose a candidate in any election. To hold otherwise, as Peter Obi supporters seek to do, will only take us back to the dark days of military regimes where free speech was criminalised and freedom of assocation was subject to the whims and caprice of the military dictator.
“May that day never return where dissenting voices will be de-platformed simply for having dissenting opinions. We are equally calling on those inciting violence and pushing ethnic and religious agenda to desist forthwith.”
The spokesman also reminded Obi’s supporters that the UN Resolution on Human Rights frowns at persons or governments who interfere with the right of individuals to seek, receive and impart information through any means of communication and digital technologies, through measures such as the removal, blocking or filtering of content, unless such interference is justifiable and compatible with international human rights law and standards.”

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