5.4m Nigerians in Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi To Vote In Off-Cycle Polls — INEC

 

INEC materials

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday disclosed that 5,409,438 Nigerians are expected vote in the upcoming off-cycle elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Commission said soft copies of the complete register of voters for each state will be presented to the political parties participating in the elections on Thursday.

“For emphasis, 16 political parties are sponsoring candidates in Bayelsa State, 17 in Imo State and all the 18 parties in Kogi State.

“For the forthcoming elections, there are 1,056 862 registered voters in Bayelsa State; 2,419,922 in Imo State; and 1,932,654 in Kogi State, making a combined total of 5,409,438 registered voters for the three States.

“State Chairmen of political parties or their designated representatives are invited to attend the event which will take place at the Collation Centres in the State Headquarters of the Commission in Lokoja, Owerri and Yenagoa on Thursday 12th October 2023 at 10.00am,” the statement read.

The electoral body also said it has finalised preparations for mock accreditation of voters in the three states to test-run the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and upload of polling units results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

“The exercise will take place simultaneously in the three States on Saturday 14th October 2023 from 8.30am to 2.30pm.

“The list of designated polling units for each State has already been uploaded to our website and social media platforms.

“Lessons learnt from the exercise will be taken into consideration to ensure the seamless deployment of both the BVAS and IReV on Election Day. This is strictly a test-run and not the actual election.

“Once again, the Commission appeals to registered voters in the selected polling units to turn up with their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for the exercise,”the Commission added.

The elections are scheduled to hold on November 11.

Airlines Would Soon Start Compensating For Delayed, Cancelled Flights — FG

 

The Federal Government has stated that it will soon issue an order, compelling airline operators to commence compensation to passengers for delayed and cancelled flights not occasioned by natural occurrences.

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, made the disclosure during a meeting with airline operators in Abuja on Monday.

“On delayed flights, I want to speak for ordinary Nigerians who complain every day [about] delayed, cancelled flights. I know you have said all your reasons. You have blamed the government and a few things we do. But I also want to say that it is not all the time that it is government.

“At times, you say you were waiting for passengers to finish passing through the screening machine. At times, they have finished passing through screening machines. They are waiting in the lounge for five hours and you cancel your flight.

“So, you see, after some time, we will start implementing the provisions of the NCAA Act. You know, Nigerians don’t know there is compensation for delay. If it is an act of God, you cannot pay.

“But if it is human fault, the NCAA Act says you will pay. So, for all airline operators, while I have praised and supported you, I will also support Nigerians. You will pay them. After some time, I will put my feet on the ground. Pay them when you delay, cancel their flight,” he said.

The Minister also urged airline operators to establish reliable communication channels so that passengers can receive cancellation notices.

NYSC Laments Rejection Of Corps Members By North East Employers

 

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Monday, expressed concern over the rejection of corps members by some employers in the North-East region.

Garinvwa Ishaya, NYSC Director in charge of the Zone, stated this at a one-day Corps Employers’ Forum in Yola, Adamawa State, themed, “Deepening Corps Employers Participation towards Improved Welfare And Security of Corps Members.”

According to him, the trend was discouraging to the corps members and the scheme.

He furthered that they should be accorded enabling environments in their places of primary assignment to contribute to the social and economic development of the country.

“The scheme was established to add value to our socio-economic development as a nation, and it has made a tremendous impact in further uniting the country.

“We passionately appeal to employers to always accept corps members deployed to their organisations for the prosperity of the scheme and the nation at large.

“Employers are expected to make statutory welfare provisions for corps members to cover their transportation and accommodation,” he said.

The Director, therefore, urged state governments to provide decent accommodation for the corps members and sought the support of local council chairmen towards promoting the objectives of the scheme.

‘Don’t Lose Focus’ — Nnamdi Kanu To Lawyers, IPOB Supporters

 

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has urged his supporters in the pursuit of the Biafra Nation cause to remain dedicated to their ongoing tasks.

While giving the encouragement on Monday during a visit by one of his lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor, in Abuja, he emphasized that their journey is still ongoing.

Recall that Kanu has been held in the custody of the Department of State Service since June 2021 after his arrest by the Nigerian government led by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Recently, the Supreme Court set December 15 as the date for delivering its judgment on Kanu’s appeal, aiming to compel the Federal Government to release him from detention, as directed by the Appeal Court in its October 13, 2022 ruling.

At the time, the appellate court in its judgment discharged and acquitted the IPOB leader of all the charges preferred against him by the Nigerian government, and ordered immediate and unconditional release of Kanu.

Giving an update on his visit to Kanu, Ejimakor said, “I just exited from visitation with Nnamdi Kanu. I briefed him on our last outing at the Supreme Court, led by the new Lead Counsel, Kanu Agabi, SAN.

“He directed that the Legal Team and our people must stay focused on the many unfinished tasks at hand and that it’s not yet Uhuru.”

Ejimakor furthered that much work still remained to be done as far as Kanu’s case is concerned.

“It is also an expose of the slew of cases we still have pending on his matter. And that his continuous detention means that his case is not yet over. It’s an unfinished business,” he added.

‘They’re Terrorists’ — Shiites Condemn Israel’s Attacks On Gaza In Abuja Protest

 

Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), commonly referred to as Shiites, have demonstrated their support for Palestinians in the wake of Israel’s retaliatory assault on the Gaza Strip and Hamas fighters.

The Shiites protesters were observed displaying the Palestinian national flag at the well-known Banex Plaza and concluded their demonstration at the traffic light along Ahamadu Bello Way, Abuja.

They chanted anti-Israeli slogans and symbolically burned the Israeli national flag to convey their frustration. Israel had initiated the bombardment of the Gaza Strip shortly after Hamas initiated a surprise attack, resulting in the loss of lives among Israeli civilians.

The protesters urged Nigerians to speak out and stand in solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians while celebrating the successes achieved by the Palestinian people.

In a statement issued by the movement’s representative, Sheikh Sidi Munir Sokoto, the group said, “Palestine launched Al-Aqsa Flood to respond to the recent attacks by the Israel Occupation Forces on al-Aqsa mosque and the Gaza refugee camp

“We are demonstrating in solidarity with Palestine for the success recorded in the Al-Aqsa Flood operation against the state of Israel. Palestine launched Al-Aqsa Flood to respond to the recent attacks by the Israel Occupation Forces on al-Aqsa mosque and the Gaza refugee camp.

“Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, located at the heart of Jerusalem’s old city, is the third holiest site in Islam. Supporting the struggle for the freedom of Palestine is not only for Muslims alone, but for all people of conscience.

“Operation Al-Aqsa Flood was also in response to the Israeli Occupation Forces’ 16-year blockade of Gaza, raids inside West Bank cities over the past year, violence at al-Aqsa, increasing attacks by state of Israel on Palestinians, and the growth of settlements.

“Israel is in breach of international law, and the Palestinians are fighting to liberate their homeland from 75 years of Israeli oppression and terrorism.

“The Israel military and settlers are the terrorists, as they have been killing and abducting Palestinian women and children for many years, not the Palestinian freedom fighters who are demanding the right to return for those unjustly driven out of their homeland by the state of Israel.

“Armed struggle is legitimate under international law. Gaza has been under the Israeli siege since June 2007, which has caused a decline in living standards. Thus, we must condemn this injustice and oppression against the oppressed people of Palestine.

“Supporting oppressed people is human. Islam taught us that human beings are either our brothers in religion or in humanity. As said by Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied to a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

Lagos Govt Lists Markets To Be Demolished

 As part of efforts to maintain safe and healthy environment, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, disclosed that more markets like Jankara, Bombata and Pelewura will be demolished to allow for urban regeneration of the area.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the Governor made this known when he inspected some drainage channels on the Island part of the state.

Sanwo-Olu said: “We have come here on a drainage and regeneration call. The entire stretch of Idumagbo Avenue is always flooded during the rainy season because of human activities, especially from the markets around the area.

“They have built on the canals and prevented the free flow of water, so we need to do a total rebuild.

“Hence, to allow for proper regeneration of the Lagos Island, Jankara and Bombata markets have to go, it will be ground zero. This thus serves as a notice, that the markets will be cleaned to allow our urban regeneration plans. The design for the new market is ready.

“We will, however, give adequate notice to those in Pelewura market because it has more traders, but this serves as the first notice.

“These markets have outgrown and outlived a market in a modern city, so they must give way for urban models.”

Comedian AY Apologises To Davido Over Insensitive Joke

 

Comedian Ayo Makun, popularly known as AY, has tendered a public apology to Afrobeats singer Davido for making an insensitive joke about him.

AY has been facing backlash after a video of him shading Davido during his recent performance in Warri surfaced on social media.

He made Davido the subject of his joke as he commented on the singer’s multiple baby mamas.

Speaking in the viral video, AY said, “Davido, with his small prick, dey give people belle, belle, belle, belle. With my big Warri prick, 13 years belle no come.”

The joke did not sit well with many netizens who found it offensive and inappropriate, as they criticised him for making such personal and potentially hurtful remarks about the singer.

Following the backlash, AY took to his official Instagram page to tender an apology to Davido.

He wrote, “I am so sorry for telling that joke the way it came out in Warri. I shouldn’t even call it a joke anymore. It wasn’t funny like it was during my tour of Canada and US and you have every right to be angry after seeing how the blogs used it.

“Please know that it is always a learning experience for all of us in the entertainment business. I deserve any backlash coming my way for the joke that was badly delivered. No excuses at all, my Aburo. No reason am. I remain your number one fan, and I love you, @davido.”

Reacting to the apology, Davido took to the AY’s comments section to assure him not to worry.

He wrote: “Nothing spoil baba mi.”

IPOB: We Don’t Want To Exit Nigeria But FG Needs To Dialogue With Us — Igbo Leaders

 

The plot by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to dialogue with the Federal Government over a referendum has been rejected by some Igbo leaders.

Information Nigeria had reported that IPOB announced its intention to negotiate with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government on a peaceful exit of Biafra from Nigeria through a United Nations-supervised referendum.

The peaceful agitation for Biafra Independence started in 2012 without violence or criminality according to IPOB.

It however, claimed that the Federal Government has continued to attack its members.

“IPOB is ready to meet with the Nigeria government any day they are ready for negotiations on the Biafra referendum,” Emma Powerful, IPOB’s spokesperson, had said.

However, the South-East leaders who insisted on political dialogue to end agitations, maintained that no sensible Igbo person would want to exit Nigeria.

The leaders include a one-time Ebonyi State Information Commissioner, Abia Onyike; President-General of the Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders (COSEYL), Goodluck Ibem; political analyst, Williams Iheakolam and an Ohanaeze Ndigbo official as well as an elder statesman, who asked not to be named.

Onyike, who is also the acting secretary-general of the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), said it was imperative and urgent for the Federal Government to dialogue with all ethnic nationalities in the country to forge a way forward.

“That (referendum) has always been the view of IPOB, but does the Nigerian Government believe in such (referendum)? The answer is no.

“The problem now is that the right-wing coalition ruling Nigeria does not believe in negotiating with groups agitating for self-determination.

“Nigerian rulers should engage the Igbo and others seeking self-actualisation in dialogue since they have continued to show them that they are second-class citizens in the Nigerian federation.

”There should be a reconstitution of the Nigerian state. We should go away from this monolithic federation for regional autonomy, as was the case in 1960-1966. The present situation is too oppressive and suffocating,” he said.

Ibem of COSEYL said “it is the way Igbo are maltreated that gave rise to agitation.

”If the resources and political positions in the country are evenly spread, nobody sane would wish to exit Nigeria.

”It is because of injustice and unfair treatment that is the bane of separatist struggle all over the world. If things are done well everybody will be happy and feel part of the nation.”

Reacting, Iheakolam said he had submitted on several occasions that the solution to the crisis in the South-East could be solved through “political discussion.”

His words: “I am and have been one of the people who believe that the crisis in the South-East and the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu by the DSS will be solved through a political discussion.

“I want to urge the federal lawmakers and governors from the Southeast to cash into the opportunity to push for a discussion between the Federal Government and the IPOB.

“It was the same call that the elder statesman, (Sam) Mbadiwe made when some stakeholders from the southeast visited then President Muhammadu Buhari where he asked Buhari to hand Kanu over to him, which never happened.

”That alone could have helped to quell the agitation, nuisance and bloodletting as seen in the southeast by a splinter IPOB group.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that I know, knows that the only solution to the trouble in the South-East will be settled politically.

“The South-East has lost a lot, we need to come to a roundtable regardless of our political and religious affiliations to think the peace of the South-East first.”

The anonymous Ohanaeze official, told The Nation that Ohanaeze had been consistent with calls for the restructuring of Nigeria to end the marginalisation of some sections of the country.

“For us in Ohanaeze, our interest is for a better and equitable Nigeria, where justice and fair play will reign supreme.

“Ndigbo have had and are still having unmitigated hatred from other tribes in Nigeria, as a result of their industry and perseverance.

”So, we believe that a restructured Nigeria will solve some of these. That’s why we are canvassing for restructuring of Nigeria for the collective interest of the people. Any other call is not part of our mandate,” the official said

“We don’t want to exit Nigeria but the way things are being handled in the country, you will wonder if Ndigbo have committed an abominable thing that has made them second-class citizens

”What we need is equity, fairness and justice. Since 1976 till date no Igbo man has occupied any reasonable political position in this country.

“We are not asking for too much, let every political restructuring be balanced,” the elder statesman posited.

Ex-Militants Threaten Crisis As NNPCL Excludes Them From Pipeline Contracts

 

Ex-agitators in the Niger Delta have threatened violence following the alleged refusal of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to include Niger Deltans in the award of pipeline maintenance contracts.

The threat was made on Sunday in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Gershom Gbobo; spokesperson, David Tonye Banigo; National Secretary, Johnson Akpobari and National Director, Mobilisation, Goodluck Warikere.

It stated that it was insensitive and provocative for the NNPCL to award pipeline maintenance contracts to only northern companies.

“We will never allow such cheating, marginalisation, injustice, and insensitivity to occur in this new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose mantra remains justice, equity, and fairness.

“The NNPCL should know that its actions and conducts would determine the level of peace in the oil-bearing communities of the Niger Delta. We will not allow this provocative action of awarding pipeline maintenance contracts only to companies owned by northern cabals.

“What happens to all the Niger Delta indigenous companies? No northern company would be allowed to carry out routine maintenance on pipelines located in our territory,” the statement read.

They further warned that it was important for the NNPCL to engage Niger Delta firms “to create jobs for the youths and keep all stakeholders busy.

“We warn that there will be unrest and crisis if NNPCL fails to review this gross injustice. We are sure that international communities will understand that we are fighting for our rights.

“We must be involved in this. This is one contract that can be used to discourage pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta. Why will they give such contracts to people who are not from the region?

“Have they awarded any contract in the North to those of us from the Niger Delta? Is it feasible for us to go to the North and agitate for contracts? We call on Mr President, the National Security Adviser, Secretary to the Federation, and the Chief of Staff to intervene in this and stop this disrespect to our region.

“We are not saying that they should not award contracts to some of those northern companies. What we are saying is that they should award contracts to them in their domains and award contracts to us in our own domains.

“You cannot be taking everything from our environment through pipelines and still deny us the opportunity to maintain those pipelines.”

Meanwhile the NNPC Limited has denied reports that contracts for the rehabilitation of pipelines across the country were awarded to a “northern oil cabal.”

NNPC, on Sunday, said the selection was not conducted solely by the firm, as the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) were involved.

“To re-emphasise our commitment to transparency, NNPC subjected the selection process to a competitive tender guided by Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) standards, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission expertise, and the active involvement of a Transaction Advisor.

“We also had representations from NEITI and the Ministry of Justice in the project development team and the evaluation exercise,” a statement signed by the management said.

According to the agency, the report is fallacious and designed to bring the name of the firm into disrepute. The national oil firm said the process was transparent.

“NNPC Limited is deeply committed to adhering to the highest standards of transparency and global best practices in all our activities, and this includes our contracting process. These contracts, which were advertised, were awarded based on rigorous evaluation criteria and in line with industry norms,” the statement reads.

According to the NNPC, 17 oil firms were awarded the pipeline rehabilitation contracts.

The company said the list of the awardees that form a consortium shows that lot one was awarded to Oilserve Ltd, Chu Kong Steel Pipe Group Company Ltd, and Saudi Crown Oilserve.

Lot two, NNPC said, went to MacReady Oil and Gas Services, COBRA Instalicios S.A, Control Y Montajes Industriales & International De Pipelines, Iron Products Industries Ltd, Batelitwin Global Services Ltd, Bauen Empresa Constructora SAU, Sanderton Energy Ltd, and The Spanish National Association of Manufacturers.

Also, lot three was allocated to AA Rano, Zakhem Construction Nigeria, Bablinks Resources Ltd, VAE Controls S.R.O, while lot four was awarded to MRS Oil and Gas, CPPE Nigeria Ltd, according to the statement.

While the contract agreement is based on building, operating and transferring, NNPC said the agreement does not entail the transfer of control of the assets to the companies.

“Our objective is to enhance the integrity and functionality of the pipelines to facilitate the efficient transportation of crude oil to refineries and the distribution of its products across the country,” the oil firm said.

NNPC said it retains ownership of the pipelines, however, the selected partners will finance the rehabilitation.

Wole Soyinka Went To UI But Can’t Tender The Certificate – Don Pedro Obaseki

 

The Director of Researcher and Strategy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Don Pedro Obaseki, has revealed that Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka went to the University of Ibadan (UI) but cannot tender the school’s certificate.

Obaseki argued that Soyinka can not tender the certificate because he was rusticated from the school in the 50s.

The PDP’s chieftain made this known in a statement on Sunday after he was told that a classmate of President Bola Tinubu had come out to testify that the president was his classmate.

In an interview on AIT, Obaseki noted that the main issue is not whether Tinubu attended the Chicago State University or not, but whether he graduated or forged his school certificate.

He added that the school disowned the certificate and even went further to say they had never seen such a certificate before.

According to him: “Look, let me say this: you said he brought somebody that he attended school together; let me just use a very simple example: in the 50s, Prof. Wole Soyinka went to the University of Ibadan, but he cannot tender the University of Ibadan certificate because he was rusticated; he didn’t finish.

“So as a result of that, it is common public knowledge that he attended. It is not whether he attended or whether the person is a female or a male that attended; the issue is the certificate.

“The certificate, as shown in file 26, file 7, of the same deposition The man states clearly that they do not recognise it, and they even went there to say this was the first time during these proceedings that they have seen that certificate.”

Atiku Is Giving False Hope To His Funders, Supporters – Presidency

The Presidency has responded to the new evidence filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, against President Bola Tinubu at the Supreme Court.

Recall that Atiku presented the academic records of President Tinubu as new evidence for consideration in his appeal against the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court.

Speaking with The Punch on the issue, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, accused Atiku of misinforming the public out of desperation and selling lies to galvanize his base.

He said by ignoring last Tuesday’s deposition by the Registrar of Chicago State University, Caleb Westberg, Atiku is selling false hope to his funders and supporters, who are still disappointed in him for losing the February polls.

He said: “What Atiku is doing is simply misinformation out of desperation. He is selling a lie to galvanize his base. He is giving false hope to his funders and supporters.

“We know that he got support from different entities from within and outside Nigeria for his election, and he gave them false hope that he was winning the election.

“Most of his (Abubakar) supporters are disappointed in him that they wasted their money and efforts on him.

“So he’s trying to give those people false hope that he has a chance at the courts. If not, how can he give a different meaning to a deposition to any educated person can understand?

“We’re in the age of alternative truth where people only want to believe the lies they want to believe. And there’s nothing we can do about that. So, Atiku can psyche himself up by giving a psychic victory over nothing. He went to America on a voyage of discovery and came back with nothing.”

He added: “After all, he won’t be the one to decide his own case.

“In fact, just last week, the CJN said the court will not decide tonight on the basis of public opinion but based on the law.