Nigerian Newspapers
Honour my mother by ensuring peace, says Tinubu
The setting was awesome. Golden lights gleamed through the length and breadth of the hall, turning the expensive facility into a mass of gold. On the right side stood a live band. Beside it was a big stage, covered with purple satin clothing.
Welcome to the refurbished Expo Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of the special interdenominational service in honour of the late Alhaja Abibatu Asabi Mogaji, mother of former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Alhaja Mogaji’s huge portrait formed part of the giant size pictures hung at the back of the stage and also in strategic parts of the venue.
Guests were ushered in by a bevy of beautiful women clad in purple “old school” native dress.
Women traders added a unique touch to the gathering. They made a statement with their purple head gears on white iro and buba.
The choir, comprising men and women shone in their purple gown, entertaining the large gathering at intervals.
Asiwaju Tinubu and other dignitaries sat in the middle of the hall, facing the stage; the clerics beside them.
The two hours 30 minutes event began with a prayer. It featured choruses, an opening hymn, a Bible passage, testimonies and special prayers for the children, family, Lagos State, traders and Nigeria.
It was anchored by the trio of Revd Tunji Adebiyi, Revd Funmi Akitoye-Braimoh, both Governor Babatunde Fashola’s aides, and Mrs Yetunde Akinluyi.
Pastor Kunle Ajayi sent the crowd on to the dance floor after prayers. He thrilled the gathering with his saxophone.
Some of the officiating ministers showered encomiums on the deceased and Asiwaju Tinubu.
General Evangelist, Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide, Pastor Kayode Abiara, expressed satisfaction with the life of the late Alhaja Mogaji and urged God to grant the family the power to continue with the good example she had shown.
“God who gave us Mama will stand by us. We pray that He’ll save the family she left behind from any form of affliction and be with them always. We hope through Jesus Christ to get the blessings which you have given to the woman we are celebrating today to impact on us.”
The Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos Anglican Church, Revd Adebayo Akinde, said Mama set a standard for the children to follow and they should not be found wanting because the lessons are there for them to learn from.
The clergy, who called for the restoration of peace in the country through divine intervention, said if most leaders imbibe the example of Tinubu, the country would be better for it.
“Asiwaju has followers because he shares with people, communicates with them and does not close his door behind the people. He is always ready to share whatever he has with the people, no matter the discomfort it is going to cause him. This, we believe, are qualities of good leaders which the late Mogaji bequeathed to mankind.”
Revd Mercy Ezekiel urged all women to follow her example of being a good samaritan.
“When people die, we need to be comforted; God will comfort her family. This is a woman who passed on at 96; yet, people are still saying she is too young to die. They have said so because of the enormous impact she made in their lives. She had been catering for many people and had transformed their lives; reason they would not want her to go even at that age,” she said.
Other men of God who prayed for the repose of the late Mogaji called on those present to think of how they could make impact in the lives of mankind. According to them, they would gain if they live a selfless life and follow the teaching of Christ as Mama never discriminated.
Asiwaju Tinubu began his vote of thanks by urging the gathering to shout Halleluyah three times.
While acknowledging guests one after the other, he jokingly described Senator Chris Ngige as the shortest man in the hall.
“Chris, get up and shout Halleluyah,” Asiwaju said. The hall erupted in laughter. Ngige stood up and shouted “Halleluyah!”
The ACN leader said the best way to honour his mother was to embrace peace and imbibe the good example she bequeathed.
He said the late Alhaja Mogaji believed much in the power of prayers and always prayed for the country.
He explained that his mother, who believed in fairness, was instrumental to some of the policy thrusts of the administration of Lagos when he was the governor.
He said: “I remember when my mother had to urge me to pay school fees for some pupils who could not afford their examination money. I had to assist in this dimension and initiated the idea of paying WAEC fees for students.”
Tinubu recalled the role the late Alhaja Mogaji in his life, especially when he was in exile. She prayed for him and never discouraged him from the struggle.
“My mother never for once asked me to come back home, but few days to her death, when I was out of the country, when we spoke, she said ‘what was I still doing overseas and whether I won’t come home again’. I was worried by this statement and had to cut short my trip to be with her.”
“Her death has robbed me of a precious mother … no matter how I had fed, I must eat Mama’s amala. I thank God for the life of Mama; she was never at any point in time a burden to us. She was a blessing to us and passed on peacefully,” he said.
Present at the event were: Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; his Ekiti and Osun counterparts Dr Kayode Fayemi and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; ACN National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande; deputy governors of Osun, Lagos and Ekiti Otunba titi Laoye-Tomori; Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Prof Modupe Adelabu; governors’ wives – Mrs Abimbola Fashola (Lagos); Mrs Florence Ajimobi (Oyo) and Mrs Funsho Amosun (Ogun).
Also in attendance were Senators Tinubu; Ngige; Gbenga Obadara; Olorunnimbe Mamora; Ajayi Boroffice and John Akpaudoedehe; House of Representatives members Abiodun Faleke; Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Jumoke Okoya-Thomas; Oyetunde Ojo and Folasade; Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly Adeyemi Ikuforiji and Mayowa; former Inspector General of Police Alhaji Musiliu Smith; Prof Oserhiemen Osunbor; Chief Pius Akinyelure; Demola Seriki; Chairman, Toyota (Nigeria) Limited Chief Michael Ade.Ojo; Lagos former Deputy Governor Mr Femi Pedro; Lagos Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs Ademorin Kuye; his Transportation, Home Affairs and Culture counterpart Kayode Opeifa and Oyinlomo Danmole.
Also there were Alhaji Ibrahim Balogun; ACN National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Erelu Abiola Dosumu; Prof Pat Utomi; Mr Joe Igbokwe; Revd Samuel Ogedengbe; Dr Leke Pitan; Bishop Lanre Obembe; Revd Adewale Martins; Prophet Kayode Abiara; Prophet Gabriel Fakeye, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Pastor Ben Akabueze; one time Lagos Finance Commissioner Wale Edun, Hon Wale Oshun, former Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr Dele Alake; Hon Lola Akande; Mrs Derin Disu; Mrs Kemi Nelson; Comrade Olabode Ola; Alhaji Moshood Tijani (A.k.a Tijaco); Kehinde Bamigbetan; Yetunde Arobieke and Dr Samuel Adedayo.
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•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The people of the South East region have been urged to explore the power of negotiation and mutual settlement in the face of ongoing killings and security challenges in the zone because the east can not afford another war at present.
Stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone made the remark on Thursday, at the unveiling of the book, “Igbo, 50 years after Biafra,” written by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services, Joe Igbokwe, held at Ikeja G.R.A.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Cutis Adigba,
urged the people of the South-East to learn to build bridges across the country, so that they can realise their ambition of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Adigba urged leaders from the zone to discourage the move and agitation by some youths in the South East to go to war and secede out of Nigeria.
Also read: Banditry: Disregard viral video, Niger State gov’t urges residents
He said that Igbo have always found it difficult to rule Nigeria because they refused to build bridges across the six geo-political zones that made up Nigeria.
While describing the agitation as uncalled for, Adigba noted that after two decades that Nigeria returned to civil rule, the Igbo has predominantly identified with only one political party.
He maintained that remaining in one party can not advance the cause of the people of South East and cannot make them realise their objective of producing an Igbo man as president.
He maintained that the publisher of the book, Igbokwe played politics outside his state, so that the Igbo race can be integrated with one another race.
Adigba said the failure of the Igbo to reintegrate with other ethnic nationalities politically was responsible for the retrogression of the race in Nigerian politics.
Igbokwe, also addressing guests on the occasion, maintained that the Igbo are not advancing politically because they refused to be integrated into National politics, lamenting that, despite their success in business, they are not successful in playing politics at the national level.
Corroborating Dimgba, Igbokwe noted that there was the need for the Igbo people to stand up and build bridges so that their objective of producing the next president of Nigeria could be realised.
According to him: “I have decided to raise my voice, I hope my people will hear me while trying to quell the effect of the war, our people are spoiling for another war, mayhem is being unleashed in Igbo land, and there is palpable fear.
“Those who could speak have lost their voice, mindful of the consequences of their actions, I am calling on all Igbo leaders to speak up because all actions carry consequences, consequences of the silence will be too dastardly to sustain.
“Those silently supporting the wild wind should be careful or else they hand over to their children,” he said.
Igbokwe urged those spoiling for war to jettison their plan and embrace dialogue, urging them to learn from the South West region that despite the challenges faced after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, they did not go to war, and the region had the opportunity of producing two of her sons for presidential position in 1999.
“You have to build bridges to become president of Nigeria, but it is unfortunate the Igbo are burning bridges.”
Speaking at the event, Chief Uche Dimgba who is the coordinator of Igbo in All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, described Igbokwe as “a Frank, fearless and reliable leader, who based his views on issues and stand by his opinions, and we the Igbo have confidence in him and believe he can lead us aright.”
“He is a leader we Igbo believe in and we will follow him. If he can serve all the governors produced in Lagos State since 1999, he is a better man to follow because he possesses all the experience that can be of benefit to Igbo both at home and in the diaspora.”
The post Attacks on S’East: We must explore all options of negotiation — Stakeholders urge Igbo appeared first on Vanguard News.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
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Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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