Elect leaders base on their political orientation and manifestos - Sen. Oguntola

The Senate leader of the osun state College of education Ila orangun Comrade Oguntola Damilare has said every individual across all works of life have the zeal to attain a greater height but none is ready to pay the price attached to it.

Comrade Oguntola maintained that to be a leader, there are stuggles  to pass through in order to be called leader.
"their must be stuggles you must have passed through you cannot just wake up and decide to lead others when you are still under training"

He urged  all aspiring  leaders to check themselves  very well so that they won't be mocked before declaring the ambition saying the nation has not seen the best but it's advisable  to prefer and select the BETTER over the GOOD.

"Also, I will advice you to Elect your leaders base on their political orientation and their manifestoes and not considering any other factor that may leads us to future regret.

Am not campaigning for any aspirants but am just advicing the electorates to decide their future themselves.

Finally, OSSCE ILA, is our own and let's look before we leap. "

23,834 traders benefit from TraderMoni in Enugu —Osinbajo

No fewer than 23 , 834 small - scale traders in Enugu State have benefitted from the Trader Moni scheme of the Federal Government, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said .
Osinbajo disclosed this on Friday in Enugu during the disbursement of the Trader Moni to beneficiaries of the scheme in the state .
The vice president said “ Trader Moni is very important to us . This is because if small businesses prosper , the nation will prosper . ”
Osinbajo said FG was also providing shared facilities to business groups as a way of encouraging economic growth .
“ What this means is that if a group of people are in one business venture , the Federal Government can provide them with some facilities to share , ” he said .
He said that apart from the empowerment scheme, FG had also assisted about 4 , 577 traders under the Market Money Scheme.
He said beneficiaries were drawn from market associations in the states .
“ Enugu State is one of the bests in terms of small businesses . We have received great support from here and our collective effort is to ensure that traders benefit from the programmes of the government , ” he said .
Earlier , Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi commended the Federal Government for its efforts in empowering traders across the country.
( NAN)

Taraba police killings:Army vs police saga

 Authorities of the Nigerian Army has disclosed that a joint investigation committee headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Force Criminal Investigations Department, DIG Mike Ogbizi have been tasked to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing of 3 police operatives in Taraba state.
 A statement from Army headquarters signed by Col Sagir Musa, Acting Director, Army Public Relations said, “The attention of the Army Headquarters has been drawn to the Press Release by DCP Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer, on the unfortunate incident that occurred on the 6th of August 2019 in which troops of 93 Battalion Nigerian Army Takum pursued and exchanged fire with some suspected Kidnappers who indeed turned out to be an Intelligence Response Team from the Police Force Headquarters Abuja on a covert assignment from Abuja resulting in the death and injury of some members of the Team.
“On the 6th of August 2019, the said Nigerian Army troops, while responding to a distressed call to rescue a kidnapped victim exchanged fire with the suspected kidnappers along Ibi-Wukari Road in Taraba State.

“The suspected kidnappers numbering about ten (10) and driving in a white bus with Reg No LAGOS MUS 564 EU refused to stop when they were halted by troops at three consecutive check points.
“The flagrant refusal of the suspected kidnappers to stop at the three checkpoints prompted a hot pursuit of the fleeing suspects by the troops.
“It was in this process that the suspected kidnappers who were obviously armed opened fire at the troops sporadically thus prompting them to return fire.
“In the resultant fire fight, four (4) suspects were shot and died on the spot while four (4) others sustained various degrees of gunshot wounds and 2 others reportedly missing.
“It was only after this avoidable outcome that one of the wounded suspects disclosed the fact that they were indeed Policemen dispatched from Nigerian Police, Force Headquarters, Abuja for a covert assignment.

“However, following inquiries from a Police Station officer who was asked by the commander of the Army troops whether he was aware of any Nigerian Police team being dispatched to operate in the LGA, the Divisional Police Officer of Ibi Police Division responded that he was not informed about any operation by the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters thus lending credence to the distressed call from members of the community that the suspects who turned out to be Policemen on a covert mission were rather suspected kidnappers.
“This incident is indeed quite unfortunate and could have been avoided through proper coordination and liaison as the Nigerian Police Force are partners in the fight against crimes such as kidnapping amongst myriads of other internal security threats confronting our nation of which the Nigerian Police is the lead Agency.
“In order to avert future occurrences of this nature, the Army Headquarters and the Force Headquarters of the Nigerian Police have agreed to constitute a Joint lnvestigation Panel to be headed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department, DIG Mike Ogbizi, to jointly investigate and report on the true circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.
“Therefore, until the Joint Investigation Panel concludes and submits its report, it will be premature to officially conclude and speak on the real circumstances that caused this unfortunate but very avoidable unfortunate incident.”

WHO IS WADUME?


The suspected Taraba kidnap kingpin is a petty fish trader, painter, politician, polygamist with many children and a philanthropist. His wealth status might have been exergerated because of his generosity and profligate spending.

He was reclusive until the last two years. His wealth, allegedly through kidnapping shot him into ‘prominence’.

He is at the centre of a disagreement between the Army and the Police following soldiers killing of three policemen and a civilian who were on an anti-kidnapping mission in Taraba State.

The incident is under probe following public outcry.

Who is he? His name is Hamisu Bala. His nickname is “Why Do You Mean?”, which many mistake for “Wadume.” He is a Hausa man whose great grand father migrated from Katsina state.

He was born and brought up in Ibi local government area of Taraba State. His late father, Bala, was Hausa, while his mother was Tiv, from Ukum local government area of Benue state.

He holds a secondary school certificate, having attended the Government Secondary School (GSS) Ibi. It was gathered that he was “not a brilliant” Arts student.

“He completed secondary school in 2004 and did not proceed to any tertiary institution,” one of his classmates told The Nation.

Bala, 35, suddenly became so rich that many believe he made it through ‘ritual’. His posh residence in Ibi was built only last year. Before then, he was a petty trader who specialised in buying and selling fish in Ibi.

“He was not even a big trader; he could only afford to buy only one or most of the time, half a basket of fish to sell at retail prices,” a source, who knows him well, said.

Bala was a painter who had partnership with his brother.

During the 2019 polls, he aspired to become a House of Assembly member, representing Ibi Constituency, on the platform of the Young Democratic Party (YDP). But, he did not make it.

After making money  Bala has been living the life of a philanthropist.

In the last two years, he reportedly built houses for his friends and donated hundreds of motorcycles and cars to young men and women. He is also believed to be generous to security agents.

“Sometimes he (alleged kidnapper) goes to tea sellers and settles the bills of tea drinkers. Then, he gives N10,000 each to the people,” a source in Ibi said.

Two of his wives have been under house arrest. His other two wives are in Mecca on pilgrimage, it was learnt.

So, how did police know Bala was a big time kidnapper to the extent of apprehending him? One of Bala’s accomplices, known as Kwarba, was apprehended by the police in Jalingo, over his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a Permanent Secretary.

During interrogation, Kwarba revealed that Bala was their leader. The police then allowed Kwarba to be communicating with Bala on the phone for over three days, as though he was not in detention. Based on their communication, the police were able to gather useful information.

It was during one of their conversations on the phone that Bala disclosed that he was coming to Ibi for Eid el Kabir celebration. On arrival in Ibi, Bala phoned Kwarba to inform him.

Operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) embarked on the journey. They got to the police headquarters  in Jalingo, before proceeding to Ibi, in a white Toyota Hummer Bus marked, LAGOS: MUS-564EU.

They were in mufti, and carried Kwarba along so that he could identify Bala. They met Bala at a coffee joint, at the junction to Government Lodge. Kwarba identified him.

To pull the wool over the kidnapper’s eyes, the policemen in disguise went out and told him they brought a bus for sale. Bala sought to know the cost of the vehicle so that he could buy it, but the policemen suggested they would step aside for bargaining.

It was when he (Bala) got into the bus that the policemen told him they were there to arrest him, after handcuffing and chaining his legs.

After arresting the suspect, the operatives drove into Ibi town briefly and began to drive carefully out of the town.

But while passing the coffee joint, (where Bala was picked) the suspected kidnapper forced his head out of the vehicle and shouted: “I have been kidnapped by these people.”

Soon, the news spread and some of Bala’s ‘boys’ began to chase the vehicle on  motorbikes. The operatives had passed the first and second check points, with only one remaining to pass.

Bala’s accomplices then called the military checkpoint where the bus was ambushed. They opened fire on the bus conveying the operatives and suspected kidnapper. The bus somersaulted into the bush, following the barrage of gun fire, as  the driver lost control of the wheel.

A source revealed that, after the killing of the three policemen and the civilian, Bala, who was handcuffed and chained in the legs, crawled and took refuge in the home of an old Jukun woman.

The following day, he called his army captain friend who came with three of his ‘boys’ in a red Tyoyota Corolla.

Our source alleged that the army captain cut the chains on the suspected kidnapper.

“It was around 7:30 am that he (Bala) was taken back to his home in Ibi in the red car,” an eyewitness said.

On getting back to Ibi, his neighbours and Ibi residents went into jubilation. It was gatherer that while the jubilation was on, Bala sneaked out of town. He has not been seen since then.

Preacher beaten for stealing phones in Ibadan

                           Durojaiye
 punchng. com

A self - acclaimed evangelist, Mr Akinjide Durojaiye, was on Thursday beaten to a pulp for allegedly stealing two new Tecno mobile phones from a shop within the Femi Johnson Building in the Dugbe area of Ibadan , Oyo State .
The 49 - year - old man , who claimed to be an evangelist at the Dominion Assembly , Ilare - Ijesa in Osun State , said he was in the shop , where mobile phones and accessories were being sold , to preach the gospel to all the people he found there.
Durojaiye claimed that he came from Ilare - Ijesa to Ibadan on an evangelisation mission, adding that the ‘ spirit ’ directed him to the shop to preach to the attendants and others.
He was said to have been apprehended by the attendants and other onlookers while trying to escape with the two phones valued at N70 , 000 .
One of the shop attendants, who gave his name simply as Tunde , said he did not notice when the evangelist pilfered the phones , which were on display , saying he and the others were already carried away by his preaching.
While being chased by the attendants and neighbours, Durojaiye was said to have hidden in a store within the complex , but was located by an attendant in another shop after which he was brought out and beaten , while the phones were recovered from him .
The self - acclaimed evangelist, who clutched a copy of the Holy Bible to his chest, attributed the incident to the work of the devil , adding that his attempt to get money to treat his seven - year - old son , who is on admission in a hospital in Osun State , pushed him into committing the crime .
Durojaiye , a father of four, said the son , whose name he gave as Oluwadurosinmi , jumped down from a two - storey building in Ilare - Ijesa and was hospitalised because of the injuries he sustained .
He also claimed that his wife had divorced him and left him to take care of the children alone .
The man was later released due to the intervention of some persons in the neighbourhood, who had thronged the scene of the incident .

Enugu sacks 10 teachers, suspends 200 for misconduct

   

                                            Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
The Enugu State government has sacked 10 secondary school teachers and suspended about 200 others for alleged misconduct .
Another 500 teachers have also had their salaries seized as a disciplinary measure to make the system functional.
The Chairman , Post Primary School Management Board , Mr Nestor Ezeme, who disclosed this on Wednesday when the state Assembly House Committee on Education paid him a visit .
He told the committee members that when the present administration took over , there was rot in the educational system but the board had to intensify efforts in supervision and monitoring of teachers .
“ Part of our job is supervision of schools , discipline of teachers and students , payment of their salaries among others. Our main duty , however , is supervision and we go for that three times a week. We visit schools unannounced and take the teachers and principals by surprise .
“ It has yielded results . When we came in , it was as if the system wasn ’ t running . A lot of teachers developed phobia for classroom . You would see teachers that had not been in school for two weeks . In some cases, the principal would make arrangements where some teachers would come on Monday , others on Tuesday and so on . But we have changed all that now , ” he explained .
He added, “ PPSMB is a very busy place with 10 , 800 staff both tutorial and non tutorial . It’ s a place you have to be on your toes 24 hours with over 292 secondary schools spread across the six education zones of the state . ”
He listed the zones to include Obollo- Affor Zone , Nsukka , Enugu , Awgu and Agbani zones with a student population of over 105 , 000 students .

FG’ll open power market to new investors –Osinbajo

• Current structure can ’t deliver government ’s promises , says VP




The Federal Government is creating policies that will open up the nation’ s electricity market to new investors in generation , transmission and distribution infrastructure, the Vice President , Prof . Yemi Osinbajo has said .
Osinbajo said on Thursday that resolving the power supply problem had been a top priority of the Federal Government in the past few years .
He , however , said the current structure of the market could not deliver on the government ’ s promises for power for domestic and industrial use , adding , “ A substantial change of strategy is being pursued . ”
Total power generation in the country stood at 3 , 586 . 5 megawatts as of 6 am on Thursday , data obtained from the Nigeria Electricity System Operator showed.
This confirmed The PUNCH ’ s report on Thursday that the Federal Government was considering repossession of 10 electricity distribution firms as one of the options to rescue the nation’ s beleaguered electricity industry .
This is coming ahead of the scheduled final performance review of the private firms that bought into the distribution companies carved out from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria .
However , document available to one of our correspondents shows that the Federal Government would require up to $ 2 . 4 bn ( N736 bn) to repossess the privatised distribution assets from the core investors if it finally takes the decision .
Giving clue that it could recover the assets from the core investors, the Ministry of Power , Works and Housing in a document sighted by one of our correspondents has described the co - owners of the distribution companies as ‘ failed investors. ’
Osinbajo, while speaking at the inauguration of a 2 x 60 MVA , 132 /33 kV substation built by Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited at Abeokuta , Ogun State, on Thursday , lamented the inability of the distribution companies to distribute available grid power to consumers .
He said , “ Today we have 13 , 427 MW of installed capacity, and an available capacity of 8 , 342 MW . The national grid has the capacity to transmit about 7 , 000M , an increase from less than about 5 , 000 MW in 2015 .
“ But distribution capacity in the 11 Discos are significantly low , hovering at around 4 , 000MW on average with a peak of about 5 , 400 MW . So despite the availability of about 8 , 000MW of generation and about 7 , 000 MW of transmission capacity, lack of Disco infrastructure to absorb and deliver grid power to end users has largely restricted generation to an average of about 4 , 000 MW . ”
According to the Vice- President , at the heart of that strategy is the Nigeria Electrification Road map aimed at deploying financing and technology on commercial terms agreed with transmission and distribution companies in partnership with the German government and Siemens .
On July 22 , 2019 , the Federal Government and Siemens signed a Letter of Agreement on the Nigeria Electrification Road map , a three-phase project designed to achieve 25 , 000MW of electricity in the country by 2025 .
“ Second is the opening up of the market to new investors in generation , transmission and distribution infrastructure, transacting directly with each other to serve willing customers including deploying off- grid power and using micro - grids , especially for deployment of solar power , ” Osinbajo said .
According to him , the policies and regulations meant to empower customers to get the services they want at prices they agree to include the Independent Electricity Distribution Networks 2012 ; the Mini -Grid Regulation , 2016 ; and the Eligible Customer Regulation , issued on November 1 , 2017 .
He said , “ The Electricity Distribution Franchising Regulation , which is still in public consultation preparatory to its issuance within a short period of time , sets out the rules for a distribution company to appoint or be compelled to cede consumers connected to a 33 kV or 11 kV feeder or a designated area to an agent or third party willing to make investments in lines , metering , transformers, other equipment and operations to serve the customers better at a mutually agreed tariff . ”
The Vice- President said these polices , when fully implemented, would enable the opening up of the market to new investors.
He described the inauguration of the transmission substation in Ogun State as an important part of the Federal Government’ s efforts to improve the supply and quality of power reaching the homes and businesses of Nigerians .
According to him , before the end of the year , new generation is expected from Gbarain (extra 115 MW ); Kashimbilla (40 MW ); Afam III Fast Power ( 240 MW ); Gurara ( 30 MW ); Dadin Kowa (29 MW ); and Kaduna ( 215 MW ) .
The Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer, NDPHC , Mr Chiedu Ugbo , said electricity supply to the parts of Ogun State along the axis of Ota to Abeokuta was initially via a double circuit 132 kV line into Ota from the mega 330 / 132 /33 kV Transformer substation at Ikeja West, which served as a marshalling station for several power plant inflows into Lagos .
He noted that a 130 MVA capacity substation was built at Ota for supply to Ota and environs , while a single circuit lower capacity 132kV line was built outside Ota to connect Abeokuta via an intermediate 132 /33 kV substation at Papalanto, within the premises of Lafarge Cement Company .
He said the Abeokuta substation was also equipped with 2 X40 MVA 132 /33 kV transformers for supplying Abeokuta and its environs , adding , “ Over time , all these facilities became overloaded and lacking capacity to cater to growing demand in these locations , necessitating government intervention through the NDPHC .
“ The NDPHC constructed a total of 77 . 5 kms high capacity 132 kV transmission lines , thus providing near quadrupling of the supply ( wheeling ) capacity out of Ota (from 70 MW to 250 MW ) and thereby eliminating supply constraints and attendant load shedding that had existed before at Ota, and Abeokuta , ” Ugbo added .
The Ogun State Governor, Mr Dapo Abiodun , commended the NDPHC for the successful completion of the project , saying, “ It is a major leap and a big development towards the Next Level agenda of the Buhari /Osinbajo administration . ”
He said the project would be a boost to his administration ’ s agenda of creating an enduring economic development and individual prosperity for the people of Ogun State .

Prisoners in Keffi fight for right to smoke

                          A prison in Nigeria


There was no jailbreak in the old Keffi Prison in Nasarawa state on Thursday, but rather a protest by inmates for the right to smoke cigarette.
Mr Emmanuel Okoro, the Controller of the Nasarawa State Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service, on Thursday made the clarification, refuting reports of a jailbreak.
Okoro said what happened at the prison was a reaction by some prisoners who were not allowed to smoke cigarettes within the prison yard.
The controller explained that the inmates were refused access to cigarettes because it was against the regulation of the service.
“These inmates here are for us to correct them; we can not allow them indulge in habits that will further expose them to more harm within the prison yard,” he said.
Okoro said that he visited the facility after the incident. He said that the inmates became aggressive until officials were able to restrain them and bring the situation under control.
According to him, no inmate escaped or got injured during the altercation with officials of the service.
“I was there and I spoke to some of the inmates and they told me that they had no plans for a jailbreak and all they wanted was to smoke.
Okoro, however, said the command would constitute a committee to immediately investigate the matter with a view to coming up with recommendations on how to prevent such rebellion in future.
”We are setting up a committee to unravel the remote cause of the clash.
“In a week’s time, we will get a better picture of what really happened. But mark my words, what happened was not a jailbreak,” he insisted.
The Controller also expressed dismay with the speed at which some newsmen jumped to conclusion and reported unverifiable stories without contacting the appropriate authority first.
He, therefore, urged reporters to verify information before going to press.

Atiku’s son-in-law, lawyer get N20m bail each

                                 Atiku Abubakar


By Olalekan fabayo

Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos has granted Abdullahi Babalele, a son-in-law of former Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar N20 million bail.
Oweibo also granted Atiku’s lawyer, Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, and third person N20 million bail each.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on Wednesday arraigned Babalele for allegedly laundering $140,000 in the build-up to the 2019 general elections.
Also, Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, said to be Atiku’s lawyer, was separately arraigned for allegedly laundering $2m, in connection with the polls.
Atiku contested against President Muhammadu Buhari on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Both Babalele and Giwa-Osagie were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Oweibo had adjourned till today to take their bail applications.
However, ruling on the bail application on Thursday, Oweibo granted Babalele bail in the sum of N20 million with one surety who must be resident in Lagos and owner of a property within the jurisdiction of the court.
Babalele is also to deposit his international passport with the court.
The judge ordered that he should be remanded at the EFCC’s custody until he is able to perfect his bail conditions.
Also, Justice Oweibo granted Giwa-Osagie and a third person N20 million bail each with one surety each who must own a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court in Lagos.

# RevolutionNow: Sowore shouldn’t have participated in 2019 elections if he wanted a revolution-Sen. Damilare Oguntola

A student activist and the Senate leader of the osun state College of education Ila orangun Sen. Damilare Oguntola says the presidential candidate of the African Alliance Congress AAC in the last general election Omoyele Sowore shouldn’t have participated in the 2019 elections if he wanted a revolution.
Comrade Oguntola says he believes in people’s rights to protest but not a revolution to overthrow an elected government saying Sowore has the right under the constitution to stage such decision but it shouldn't be few months after the electioneering process.
He faulted the Revolution now group under the leadership of Sowore for planning a revolution five months after he lost at the polls.

Sowore was arrested on Saturday, August 3, 2019 , by men of the Department of State Services (DSS)for spearheading a nationwide protest tagged #RevolutionNow; Day of Rage.
Comrade Oguntola stated this while speaking with newsmen adding that the activist, who is the Publisher of SaharaReporters, should not have participated in the 2019 elections if he wanted a revolution.

Those killing shouting “Allahu Akbar” are wicked, not Muslims – Buhari

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said people killing others while shouting “Allahu Akbar” are wicked and are not Muslims.
Buhari, who spoke when he visited Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) in eight local governments of Katsina State who were displaced by armed banditry, commiserated with the victims.
Buhari was at the camp to sympathise with the victims from Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Jibiya, Sabuwa, Faskari and Dandume local government areas.
According to him, ‘’All those whose activities is to kill people and saying “Allahu Akbar” are lying because God is not wicked. You can’t carry bomb or gun, sword or knife to go and kill innocent somebody and say “Allahu Akbar”. This implies that you either don’t believe in God or you don’t know what you are saying.
“There is a popular Hausa adage which says it’s the rat in the house that tells the rat outside that there is fish in the house, so within yourselves, your neighbours and even your relatives there are informants.”
“I am here to sympathize with the entire people of the state over the unfortunate incidents that have been claiming lives of innocent people,” he said.
The president said that the bandits that have been killing people should not claim to be true Muslims.
“Islam did not give individuals the right to kill others without following due process in the court of law.
“The Federal and states government will do everything possible to eradicate all forms of insecurity in the nation as soldiers and police have been given all the necessary support by the government.