Author Archives: News All Around

Abdullahi Usman Kuriga

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, has come haprd on those who staged a protest against the Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle.

A group of people were spotted at the Abuja office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, demanding re-opening of investigation against the former Zamfara governor.

Reacting to the development, the National President of the Ohanaeze Youths, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said the protest was in a chain of actions lined up to discredit the minister for standing with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Okwu recalled that he had earlier raised the alarm over the plot by some Northerners opposed to Tinubu’s leadership to slam Matawalle’s image, having seen him as the rallying point for Mr President in the North.

He said, “It is, therefore, not a surprise that early Friday morning, the same people recruited people from the outskirts of Abuja and moved them to the city centre to protest against the minister. 

“There was no doubt that most of the said protesters were ignorant of their mission to the EFCC office; they merely came to deliver on the job they were assembled to do.

“We therefore, once more retrait our advice to His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu not to be deceived by the same people who have vowed to truncate his second term in 2027.

“We urge Mr President to be wary of these desperadoes who are hellbent on destroying any good person around his government. They should not be given any space at all to thrive in their evil machinations.” 

“Once more, we stand solidly behind the Defence Minister and urge him to continue the good work he is doing, as could be seen in the improved security across the country,” Okwu stated.

He vowed that a time would soon come when “we will expose all those behind this desperate attempt to discredit the current government.”

The Kaduna Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations has described the Minister of Information, Alh. Mohammed Idris, as an exceptional and iconic professional whose transparent information management has impacted on public credibility and overall goodwill for the current administration.

In a statement issued by the Chapter Chairman, Haroun Malami in honour of the Minister’s birthday, it acknowledged that the Minister has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that, character, competence and credibility are the hallmarks of Public Relations practice, through his exceptional handling of government communication since he assumed office.

The Chapter described the Minister as an innovator with purposeful shift from the old norm, from his days as Kaduna state Chapter Chairman. It said Alh. Idris’ patriotism and service to nationhood in various capacities with laudable footprints and remarkable accomplishments is a testimony that, any endeavour identified with Public Relations makes a resounding difference in the outcomes.

“As you mark another milestone adding another year, it is our prayer that, Almighty Allah will strengthen you with good health and wisdom in your patriotic service to the nation. As a worthy ambassador of the Institute and an icon of the Chapter, we have no doubt that, Nigeria will be greater with your avowed commitment reenact and elevate public trust in governance and deepen citizens’ faith in our country”, the statement read, in part.

… Urges Tinubu to Intervene

As Nigeria joins the world to mark the Workers Day, the civilian staff of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), have used the occasion to protest what they termed unfair treatment and transparent payroll practices by the management.

The workers,who trooped out today at the premises of Ordinance Factory Complex , Kakuri , Kaduna with various placards with inscriptions such as :”Pay us our wage award”, “we are tired of management incompetence”, ” military said we are not special” etc complained about denied access to a critical program that promotes transparency and efficiency in wage distribution as regards the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

According to workers, the exclusion prevents them from receiving the recent wage increases implemented for IPPIS-enrolled employees.

The aggrieved workers during the protest raised concerns about the accuracy of their payroll data outside of IPPIS, said, ” To add insult to injury, the Deputy Director of Human Resources, Mercy Philip, curtly dismissed our inquiries, calling IPPIS a “no-go area” and suggesting they forget about enrollment altogether until she retires.

Speaking further about their concerns , the workers alleged : “Allowances for scarce skills (established in 2008) and transportation (introduced in 2015) were abruptly stopped without explanation, causing frustration and a sense of unfair treatment. This is they described as a reprehensible treatment of a dedicated workforce.”

” To confirm the maltreatment, the workers alleged that Director of Production Air Commodore, Ola Emmanuel in his address to some staff in the factory justified reasons civil staff have not enjoyed wage award . Stressing, We have not received a single month of the wage award since it was announced September 2023.

He also said that rather than questioning our management , we should go and ask the Accountant General and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defense and offices budget office and salary and wages commission to confirm why the non payment of the wage rewards .

They explained further,” We are owed eight months of minimum wage arrears dating back to 2019. Additionally, we haven’t received the N35,000 six-month wage award initiated by the federal government in September 2023. With a new minimum wage on the horizon, we are concerned that we may be left behind again.

“Unfortunately, our attempts to address these concerns through open communication with DICON’s management have fell on deaf ears.

“Management has brushed aside our concerns, and even the Employee Town Hall, promised by the Director General to be held every two months, has never been held. This lack of transparency is further hindering progress.

“We have held peaceful protests, first on July 3rd, 2023, and most recently the one we declared on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, demonstrating a commitment to finding solutions. As DICON is a non-union workplace, we are staging this peaceful protest on a symbolically significant day for workers’ rights: May 1st. This comes amid reports of a list being compiled to terminate the appointments of those believed to be spearheading the ongoing protests.

“Furthermore, it should be noted that the demoralization and potential dismissal of a highly skilled workforce with exclusive expertise in producing restricted goods like weapons and explosives poses a significant security threat. Disgruntled or desperate workers could be more vulnerable to exploitation or radicalization, potentially jeopardizing the security of these sensitive materials. Will laying off such a critical workforce not exacerbate security threats by placing sensitive expertise in uncertain hands?

The workers however, said the failure on side of DICON Management to meet the obligations to its civilian workforce has has negative impact on employees morale which raises serious concerns about fair treatment.

They urged President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to address the concerns regarding fair treatment; transparent payroll practices, and the timely resolution of these outstanding issues.

The Confederation of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups today came out strongly to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform  policies,as they will Nigeria greater. 

According to the support groups, so far President Tinubu has not only  demonstrated good knowledge of governance,he has also shown the  commitment to take drastic decisions through his reform agenda to take the country to a greater heights.

Briefing journalists on the State of the Nation ,the  Director General of Confederation of the APC Support Groups and National Chairman of Tinubu Shettima Network, Engineer (Dr.) Kailani Muhammad urged Nigerians to be patient with the Tinubu led APC government with hope that the future will be better and bright.

On the current  hardship, Eng. Kailani who acknowledged that Nigerians are groaning under hardship, expressed  optimism over the deliberate efforts made to provide succour and gave assurance that the pains are just for a short moment.

Speaking further,he said the Palliative measures taken to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy are  most welcomed, but advised it  strictly should monitored to avoid abuse by unscrupulous government officials.

He also applauded Tinubu for  inaugurating a Tax Review Committee , adding that the downturn review of tax and reduction of five percent on custom duties on some import items will surely have positive impact on the economy.

According to him, the issue of reviving the industries is one of the major factors that should be treated with urgency it deserves as a platform to create employment for teeming unemployed masses .

Kailani who noted that the issues of security is key to economic development, commended the President for appointing a man of good character such as  Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as the National Security Adviser,the suspension of CBN Governor.

Meanwhile, he urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to recognize capable leaders from the various support groups in the Renewed Hope agenda for appointment into positions of authority.Noting that they have good understanding about  the Renewed Hope agenda and could help in the proper implementation.

About the ordeal of the former Central Bank Governor, Kailani said , “The support groups  called  on Mr. President to shun  the call by some lawyers  for Emefiele to be released on grounds that he could run away.As far as we are concerned ,the Director General of DSS knows his job and should allowed to conclude his investigations.”

Stressing ,”The allegations of importation firearms is a grievous offence  and such individual involved shouldn’t be released and must  face the music. Those calling for his release are nothing but  enemies of Nigeria who want anarchy and chaos to prevail.” 

On the the 2023 election and the tribunal hearing , The Director General of the APC Support Groups  explained: “We took pains to campaign to the electorate to vote for Tinubu  and will not allow anyone to cancel it and order any rerun  .We have taken our destinies in our hands and we are watching with hope that  the court will do the right thing .

“The President scored  the  25 percent required votes  across 24 states out of 36 .FCT has never been an issue because it’s not a state .

“The argument of FCT as a factor to be won by Presidential candidate to validate his election does not hold water The argument surfaced in 1979 between late Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo on what constituted two-third majority of the 19 States then .The case was thrown out by the court as an insufficient grounds to void the election. 

“We are therefore calling on the tribunal to throw out all the cases filed against APC and our current President.” 

“The EU report and position on the elections shouldn’t distract the president from his dedication and commitment to reform and revive the Nigerian template.

“The unfounded and misplaced presentation by EU on the election  should not distract Mr. President in his quest to reform and revive the Nigerian template. 

“The EU should concentrate on global issues and should not be hell bent on installing its stooge for easy access to our richly endowed natural resources.

“We want to state here that Nigerians are for peace and don’t envisage some foreign imperialists to forment grounds that will lead us to war.As far as we are concerned,the only interest of external forces is to gain access to our resources ,in the event our centre can no longer hold.”

“We want to use this medium to  call on our lawmakers to forget about bullet proof cars and work on security architecture to be able to move freely.”

Mr. President, reports have it that your government so far saved over N1 trillion on subsidy removal, so then where is the money saved? Why do we have to go and borrow $800 million equivalent of N500 billion when we have N1 trillion saved already?

I hope all Nigerians would ask this same question too so that we can understand who is fooling who or maybe there’s something we are missing here.

Secondly, Mr President sir, you have tactically in our own eyes without blinking or negotiation increased allowances to your Lawmakers by giving them N70 Billion that we have no breakdown of what it is for, except for helping them in Constituency duties as your government puts it. It took you and the Lawmakers less than 48hrs to agree and passed the appropriation bills, so why has it taken your government more than 40days now and counting, to increase salaries for poor Nigerian workers who have been on N33k minimum wage even in the midst of inflation like the one the World has even known that we have going on in Nigeria presently?

Thirdly, Mr. President, you said you are unifying naira and dollar exchange rates, today dollar is sold for over N800 to a dollar, is unification to push naira up your agenda which in turn gives more money to same black marketers who are already making so much before now or you want Nigerians to actually benefit from your dollar unification? As it is today, Nigerians are hurting especially for those who have to do business in dollar amd change naira to dollar.

Finally, Mr. President, what’s your breakdown of how you are going to share your N8k palliative to 12 million out of 200 million Nigerians? Out of 200 million Nigerians, I am very sure that statistics will show you that 198 million Nigerians fall below the poverty line for real, so how would you pick 12 million out of that?

Please I would appreciate response Mr President. And I am sure many Nigerians are reading and also nodding their heads, waiting for answer to the pertinent questions.

Signed:
Faduri O. Joseph
Former Presidential Aspirant Labour Party and
Leader, Rescue Movement for New Nigeria.

There are heightened expectations globally as billions of people from around the world anticipate the upcoming healing crusade from Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.

Preparations are in top gear as people from all walks of life get ready for what may be the most exceptional three days of their lives from the 28th to 30th of July 2023 as Pastor Chris hits the airwaves to beam the power and presence of God through the Healing Streams Live Healing Services.

The services have continued to make tremendous spiritual impact globally in the lives of believers who have experienced the limitless transforming and glorious saving power of God as it releases people from the shackles of the devil, healing from diseases and turnaround from dire situations.

Undoubtedly, Pastor Chris arguably holds the world’s largest healing crusade, where miracles and wonders are a constant occurrence, with people all over the world waiting with expectation for each edition of the Live Healing Services as God moves across nations and boundaries. There are several testimonies of the miraculous which repeatedly confounded logical calculations and medical sciences, and prove the supremacy of God’s Word and the power in Jesus’ Name.

One such testimony is that of Quefengqin from China, who had a sudden awkward fall in 2019 that resulted in muscle and multiple bone complications for her. She was diagnosed with lumbar spondylosis, bone spurs, meniscus detachment, and ligament rupture.

These led to frequent headaches, swelling and stiffness of her knee joints, chronic pains in her waist, and more. All recourse to find a cure was to no avail until she came to the March 2023 Healing Streams Live Healing Services with Pastor Chris. Quefengqin received her healing as the man of God called her name and commanded health to her body. “I slept soundly that night and woke up full of strength. I no longer have to wear a strap belt; I can exercise now, and all the pain is gone,” she attests.

Like Quefengqin, many are set for a special divine encounter at the upcoming July 2023 edition of Healing Streams Live Healing Services with Pastor Chris. You can take a step of faith towards your miracle as you register now at healingstreams.tv/LHS.

Preparations are in high gear, starting with saints worldwide engaging in unceasing prayers toward the success of the program. At the just-concluded Global Day of Prayer with Pastor Chris Global Day of Prayer with Pastor Chris, he underscored the importance of prayer in effecting healing miracles and supernatural change in lives and nations all over the world. “Pray for the nations. Use the Name of Jesus in cutting off the power and influence of the adversary. Proclaim Jesus’ name and salvation will spring forth,” he said.

At the end of the program, Pastor Chris announced the upcoming edition of the healing services and encouraged the global audience thus: “Look, don’t miss this one. Plan for it. We’ve had several already and billions of people around the world have been reached with this amazing healing program.

It’s a big healing crusade to the ends of the earth. It’s huge and the beautiful thing is that so many get healed of all kinds of illnesses. We’ve got ministers, saints of God, and churches around the world working with us on this. That’s why we can reach billions.”

Now more than ever, the nations and their people need divine intervention and healing. No matter how grave the condition, every ailment will bow to the power of God at the healing services. Get involved by joining God’s people to fill One Million Prayer Clouds with power that will be released in torrents of faith, hope, and unending miracles. Find out how to activate the prayer clouds and get others to join you at healingstreams.tv/prayer.

The Healing Streams Live Healing Services will be broadcast in thousands of languages and you can participate from anywhere in the world in your preferred language. Simply go to healingstreams.tv or watch live on Loveworld Networks and other designated TV stations.

For more information, please send an email to info@healingstreams.tv or call centers: +27799675852 (South Africa), +234(1)8885066(Nigeria), +18327249390 (USA), +12896221634(Canada), +44(0)3331880710 (UK), +919650096633(Asia), +917794993762 (India).

*Advice opposition Presidential candidates to support Tinubu or become unpopular

*Insist his emergence was divine

While describing the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a divine project, the Northern Youth Leader’s Forum (NYLF), an umbrella body of over 43 groups from Northern Nigeria, has dumped it’s preferred candidate at the 2023 presidential polls and is rallying support for Jagaban.

NYLF made its position known in Abeokuta, Ogun State today, at a press briefing during a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom they are also lobbying to key into the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu project.

Reading the text of the briefing, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, National President, Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), the umbrella organization of Northern Youth Leaders, said Nigerians should support President Tinubu whom they described as the “Moses” for Nigeria.

“We want to let Nigerians know that President Tinubu is a child of necessity and his emergence as President is a working Process of Divine Project. God allows Tinubu to be President for a purpose towards fulfilling the divine destiny of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“Tinubu may not necessary be the Joshua that will take us to the Promised Land. But definitely he is the Moses that will mentor and set the pace for the Joshua to take us to the promised land and there we shall be,” Comrade Afiyo said.

He explained that it’s a privilege once again to address the press on their decision to contact all their Patrons and Elders especially former Presidents, Heads of State, Military Chiefs, Traditional and Religious Leaders to appeal for support and encouragement for President Tinubu’s administration.

“We have keenly and neoterically observed and experienced the emergence of President Tinubu as a divine intervention by God to free and empower His children and also lay a true foundation based on patriotism for the overall development of Nigeria.

“From the emergence of Asiwaju Tinubu during the primaries of the All Progressive Congress (APC), to campaigns and subsequent presidential election and to his pronouncements as the President elect and consequently sworn-in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you will agree with us that, it was the finger of God in action.

“This is a man that was opposed by the Presidency, Cabal, CBN, EFCC, NNPCL, Nigeria’s Godfathers, His party (APC), Christians, Muslims, leaders of his kinsmen and the International Community. Even INEC worked against him.
His opponents used his age, educational, financial and family backgrounds, his age and his health against him. He lost his state and the entire South east, South-south, north-west, north-east and north-central, but won the election and subsequently sworn in as President. This can only be the finger of God,” NYLF said.

According to the text of the briefing titled, “IT’S TIME TO SUPPORT THE DIVINE PROJECT” NYLF said that they observed with great joy, the President’s actions and inactions both covertly and overtly within the first one month of his administration and genuinely concluded that the ways of the Lord are indeed supreme and unpredictable and He can use anyone or anything to achieve his will and purpose

“Judging from his inaugural speech, appointment of Service Chiefs and other paramilitary heads and the unification of the exchange rate of the foreign currencies against the Naira, coupled with his pronouncements and body language, every reasonable citizen of This Country knows that at last, we shall laugh again.

“This is the reason why I am here to meet and to deliberate with the foremost Father and respected Leader, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR) to appeal to him to support President Bola Tinubu at least to liberate us from the grip of the senseless and wicked politicians, civil servants, Traditional and Religious Rulers parading themselves as our leaders.

“We consider and truly too, President Bola Tinubu as the King of Assyria that was sent by God to deliver His children from the Babylonian slavery. Consequently, we sincerely and honestly call upon our elders, especially our Patrons to sheath their swords and support President Tinubu’s government to succeed.

“To this end, we will like to state unequivocally that the entire Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) has unanimously decided to support this administration totally against our earlier standpoint and wait for the perfect will of God to be fulfilled,” they declared.

NYLF therefore, appreciated and thanked President Tinubu for his appointments especially those of the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defense Staff, Inspector-General of Police and Comptroller-General of Customs.

They appealed to the President to consider it as a matter of urgency and emergency, to initiate the process of their confirmation to substantive positions.

In view of their conviction, they adviced the opposition parties and their presidential candidates to continue and pursue their cases at the Tribunal with utmost decency but join hands with the Tinubu’s administration if they want to be popular or succeed in their future political endeavours because whether President Tinubu met all the requirements to be President or not, or he was illegally declared the winner and subsequently sworn-in illegitimately or not, God has spoken.

“When the supernatural declares it, all natural protocols, requirements and qualifications become irrelevant and illegal, because they must have been suspended by the supernatural declaration and they can only be restored by the supernatural authority,” they advised.

A group under the aegis of Oil Industry Transparency Solidarity League ( OLTRASOL) has expressed satisfaction with ongoing reforms by the NNPC management led by Malam Mele Kyari.

Chairman of the group Ibrahim Garba Gombe who made this known in a media statement at the weekend said only politicians with hidden agenda would fail to see the good in the ongoing reforms of the oil giant.

The group said the anti-NNPC and Kyari campaigners were unsettled by “the massive interventions of the Company in the educational, health sectors and the funding of infrastructural development projects”.

The statement explained that the current media campaign against the NNPC and Kyari were therefore designed by “persons scheming for Kyari’s seat as the GCEO of the NNPC, ignorant of the fact that it is a tenured appointment”.

The group said the ongoing reforms at the NNPC has led to exposing illegal refineries in strategic locations of the South-South.

The statement said ” the massive policing of oil pipelines in the Niger-Delta, with the cooperation of security agents has helped greatly in security the national assets of the oil giant.

A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has raised the alarm on the need to invite both the Managing Director of Access Bank and his counterpart at the Guaranteed Trust Bank (GTB) following the arrest and the ongoing probe of the erstwhile Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele.

Frank said the probe of the two bank leaders was necessary based on allegations that the duo were allegedly main accomplices in aiding the atrocious acts of subversion and misappropriation of public funds meant for the welfare of the Nigerian people.

In a statement signed and released Friday in Abuja, Timi Frank also appealed to the government of United Kingdom (UK) to cooperate with Nigeria security agencies to immediately invite the duo for questioning.

Frank claimed that invitation for probe had been sent to the two managing directors.

According to him, this key information also discloses that even when invitation from the Department of State Service has been extended to these individuals to report and answer to allegations bordering on their involvement with the erstwhile Governor of the CBN, active plans are underway to undermine the invitation extended to them whilst resorting to taking refuge in the UK specifically.

“It is important to note that even when invitations have been extended to these individuals to report on Monday the 3rd of July for questioning, the MD Gtbank who was sighted today chilling in the streets of the UK had repeatedly reaffirmed his unwillingness to return to the country for any such cross examination by the DSS.

“We are also aware that four other Managing Directors of tier one banks in the country have been fingered as direct accomplices and conduit for Mr. Emefiele with the Access and Gtbank MD’s playing the greater roles in aiding to defraud and fleece the nation fraudulently.

“Therefore, I’d like to call on the UK government to kindly assist the Nigerian government by disallowing any form of extended stay for these individuals who are currently in the UK for personal purposes.

“The UK government must be seen in aiding the Nigerian government by disallowing any corrupt individual, whether Private or Public servants by making the UK a haven for corrupt officials.

“As stakeholders in fighting for a corrupt free nation, we’re determined to do all we can in assisting the FG eradicate all forms of corruption in the Nigerian society.

“We must also note the acquisition of two private jets by the Gtbank Managing Director with a value of over $80million which is not officially captured anywhere in their books. This fraudulent acquisition must also be properly ascertained to determine the genuineness of such largesse.

Frank also called on the State Security Service (DSS) “to do all within its powers in fishing out and bringing the enemies of Nigeria to book. We have had enough of individuals taking the country for a ride and benefitting solely for personal agrradisement.

“I am convinced that the Department of State Service will take this information seriously and act accordingly in compelling these individuals to answer to their fraudulent roles in line with the provisions of the law.

“We have other key information at our disposal should the DSS oblige.”