Senate Not Planning To Impeach Its President, Akpabio

October 16, 2024

Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has denied media report that it is planning to impeach its President, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
In a statement today, October 16, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, described the impeachment story as fake news and a figment of the reporters imagination and ethical deficit.
An online publication, OrderPaper Nigeria, had on Wednesday, authored a story titled: “DSS Takes Over National Assembly Amid Impeachment Speculations Against Senate President Akpabio,” and has been disseminated by other media outlets.
Eseme Eyiboh stressed that the speculation and misinformation circulating about an alleged impeachment plot against the Senate President “is the handiwork of fifth columnists who are perpetual merchants of misinformation and purveyors of mischief.
“As a Head of one of the Arms of the government, the President of the Senate categorically denies these baseless claims and reaffirms his commitment to transformational leadership of the Senate particularly and effectively collaborates with the other arms of government. There is no crack in the Upper Chamber and no Senator or Caucus is plotting any impeachment against the President of the Senate. Every Senator is focused on raising the bar of Legislative Agenda and Nation building.
“The allegations are nothing but a desperate attempt to create division and discord among the esteemed senators. It’s unfortunate that some individuals would resort to spreading falsehoods to promote the invidious reins of their blackmail enterprise.
“Senator Godswill Akpabio remains focused on the implementation of the 10th Senate’s Legislative Agenda and working tirelessly to address the pressing National issues of growth and prosperity.
“The Senate President will not be distracted by these unfounded rumours and wants to assure the public that his commitment to Nigeria’s progress remains unwavering.
“We therefore urge the public to disregard these baseless claims and instead focus on the meaningful work being done by the Senate to improve the lives of all Nigerians.”

Ex Clerk Of National Assembly, Mohammed Ataba, Loses Mother

Greenbarge Reporters

October 16, 2024

Queen, Hajiya Sefinatu Mohammed Sani Omolori, mother of the former Clerk of the National Assembly, Barrister Mohammed Ataba Sani Omolori is dead.
An announcement by Alhaji, Dr. Ahmed Abdulmumeen Okara on behalf of the Family said that the Queen died, aged 85, in the early hours of yesterday, October 15, after a very brief illness
Queen Sefinatu was one of the wives of the late Ohinoyi (first class chief) of Egbiraland in the then Kwara State and now Kogi State, Alhaji Dr. Mohammed Sani Omolori, who reigned for over 40 years.
The Queen, whose remains were buried yesterday in Okene, was survived by many relations and children, including Mohammed Sani Omolori Ataba, who holds the senior traditional title of Ciroma of Egbiraland.
Queen Sefinatu has been described variously as “a rare mother, a very kindhearted Princess, with a sense of forbearance and above all, very accommadative.”
The announcement said that the third day Fidau prayers has been scheduled for Friday, October 18, 2024 at the residence of Mohammed Sani Omolori Family on Lafia Street, Okene, Kogi State from 9:00 am.
We at the Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper and hardcopy magazine in Abuja, wish late Princess peaceful rest in the bosom of the Lord and pray that Allah forgives all her shortcomings and admit her in Aljannatu Firdausi, and grant those she left behind the fortitude to bear the loss.

National Grid Collapses Again, Throws Nigeria Into Darkness

Greenbarge Reporters

October 14, 2024

The Nigeria National grid has recorded another collapse today evening, October 14, throwing the country into darkness.
The Spokesperson of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Emeka Ezeh confirmed the grid collapse in a statement today evening, saying that the general system collapse occurred at 18.48 hours.
The Disco said that the development had led to a loss of power supply across its franchise.
“The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) wishes to inform her esteemed customers of a general system collapse that occurred at 18:48 hours today, 14th October 2024. This has resulted in the loss of supply currently being experienced across the EEDC network.
“Consequently, due to this development, all our interface TCN stations are out of supply, and we are unable to provide services to our customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States.
“We are on standby awaiting detailed information of the collapse and restoration of supply from the National Control Centre (NCC), Osogbo.”
Also, Eko Distribution Company confirmed the grid collapse, saying: “Kindly be informed there was a system collapse at 18:48hrs which has resulted to a loss of power supply across our network.
“We are currently working with our partners as we hope for speedy restoration of the grid. We will keep you updated as soon as power supply is restored.
“Kindly bear with us.”
It was noted that power supply was interrupted at about 6:50 pm today.
In August 2024, the grid recorded partially which resulted in a blackout. The national grid also collapsed in July this year.
Data from the Transmission Company of Nigeria showed that the country’s national grid has collapsed about 227 times in the last 14 years.
This happened even with the hike in electricity tariff in April by 240 percent which has worsened the hardship Nigerians are faceling.

Libyan Football Federation President Resigns Amidst Maltreatment Of Super Eagles

Greenbarge Reporters

October 14, 2024

The President of the Libyan Football Federation, Abdelhakim Al-Shalmani, has announced his resignation during a regular meeting of the Federation’s General Assembly.
According to The Libya Observer, an English and Arabic online newspaper based in Tripoli, Libya, in a post today, October 14, via its website, the decision was made yesterday.
Al-Shalmani’s resignation comes amidst the growing tension over the maltreatment of the Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles. They were subjected to some challenges during their trip to Libya for a crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
The Super Eagles were reportedly left stranded at the airport for over 14 hours without access to food, Wi-Fi, or proper accommodations, leading to widespread condemnation from Nigerian officials and fans.
The maltreatment of the Nigerian team has drawn sharp criticism and calls for accountability, raising questions about the readiness of Libyan authorities to host international sporting events.
In resigning, Al-Shalmani was quoted to have said:
“I do not want to be part of the failure in Libyan sports.”
Addressing the assembly yesterday, Al-Shalmani reflected on the challenges faced during his tenure.
“We faced difficulties during the previous period. I thank all members of the General Assembly, and I forgive everyone from all segments of the sports sector.”
Despite the circumstances leading to his resignation, Al-Shalmani stood firm on his record of service.
“I have a history in the International, Arab and African Federation, and no one can deny that.”
The resignation came at a turbulent time for Libyan football.

Tinubu Condemns Libya Over Ill-Treatment Of Super Eagles, Happy Players Are Back Home

Greenbarge Reporters

October 14, 2024

President Bola Tinubu has condemned what he called “the inhuman treatment endured by the Super Eagles of Nigeria at a Libyan airport,” even as he welcomed them back to Nigeria.
“The harrowing experience of the national football team at the hands of their hosts and the Libyan authorities prompted the Nigerian Football Federation to withdraw the Super Eagles from the scheduled match on Tuesday,” the President observed, in a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
President Tinubu insisted that the Disciplinary Board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) should conduct a thorough investigation and recommend appropriate action against those who wilfully violated the organisation’s Statutes and Regulations.
Tinubu commended the proactive coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development in addressing the unfortunate episode and ensuring the safe return of the players.
He also applauded the players for keeping their spirit alive despite the excruciating ordeal in Libya.
He acknowledged that football has remained the unifying power in bringing nations and people together, viewing the treatment of Nigerian citizens “as unsportsmanlike and inhumane and a stark contrast to the spirit of the game he deeply appreciates.”
President Tinubu called on all lovers of the round-leather game and administrators to unite and work collaboratively to prevent and overcome such incidents in the future.

Super Eagles Ordeals In Libya: African Football Ruling Body Wades In

Greenbarge Reporters

October 14, 2024

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), the African Football ruling body, has waded into the ordeals to which the Nigeria’s senior football team, the Super Eagles are being subjected to at Al Abraq Airport in the remote part of Libya, by the Libya Football Federation (LFF).
The Super Eagles players are in the country ahead of tomorrow’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) return leg match in Benghazi.
Reacting to the situation, CAF said that it viewed the disturbing and unacceptable experiences of the Super Eagles at an airport in Libya in a very serious light.
A statement from CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt said: “The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) has been in contact with the Libyan and Nigerian authorities after it had been informed that the Nigerian National Football Team (Super Eagles) and their technical team were stranded in disturbing conditions for several hours at an airport that they were allegedly instructed to land by the Libyan authorities.
“The matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations.”
The Nigerian delegation had been left stranded at Al Abraq Airport in Libya for the past 16 hours.
Source: Prompt News

AFCON 2025: Nigeria Angry With Libya Over Bad Treatment Of Super Eagles Players

Greenbarge Reporters

October 14, 2024

Nigeria is angry with Libya over the bad treatment it meted out to Nigerian Super Eagles players who were in that country to participate in the second leg match in the ongoing African Cup of Nations Football competition.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who made the position of Nigeria known today, October 15, condemned Libya authorities for subjecting the Super Eagles players to road journey, which she said is most dangerous and totally not advisable because of the current situation in the country.

The team left Nigeria on Sunday to Libya for its return match but had their flight diverted to an innocuous airport far away from the venue of the match. The implication of the diversion will now be another three hours of road travel to the main venue of the match, not minding the risk of road travel in Libya , considering the situation of the war-torn country.

Dabiri-Erewa said that the safety of Nigerian players is paramount to the country, and was optimistic that the Ministry of Sports and the NFF will advise appropriately.

The NiDCOM boss, in a statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, called on CAF to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves.

Already, the players, the pilots and others on board the flight had been stranded and subjected to inhuman treatment at the airport for over 13 hours without water, food, rest and other means of communication.

“The team was delayed at an airport in Libya for more than 13 hours without any tangible reason”

The Super Eagles flight was redirected air Bourne on Sunday and they were required to travel by road to their destination.

However, there was no provision made for them by the Libya authorities and all efforts to make alternative provisions by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) were frustrated.

Dabiri-Erewa appealed to the Super Eagles to remain calm why the Nigerian Football Federation will decide the next line of action.

Nigeria Was Not Disgraced At UN Human Rights Council Election – Presidency

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2024

The Presidency has denied media report that Nigeria was dosgraced at the United Nations Human Rights Council elections on October 9.
In a statement today, October 13, the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga said that Nigeria did not even contest for the position but supported other African countries.
The United Nations General Assembly elected 18 members to the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term. The members elected to the Council are Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Iceland, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Mexico, North Macedonia, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand.
But social media went to town at the weekend, with the story that Nigeria contested for the post and could get only three votes, a sign that the world did not believe in the country’s human rights portfolio.
However, in the statement Onanuga said that the three votes were cast in error because Nigeria was not even on the ballot.
Read Onanuga’s statement:
The Council is an intergovernmental body within the UN system consisting of 47 States tasked with promoting and protecting human rights globally.
The election, conducted via secret ballot, determined which nations would fill three-year terms beginning on January 1, 2025, replacing members whose terms expire on December 31, 2024.
Among the outgoing members are Argentina, Benin, Cameroon, Eritrea, Finland, Gambia, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Montenegro, Paraguay, Qatar, Somalia, United Arab Emirates and the United States.
According to a report on the meeting published by the UN, Argentina, Cameroon, Eritrea, India and Somalia, which had served two consecutive terms, were ineligible for immediate re-election.
Also, Albania, Algeria, Brazil, China, Ghana, Japan, and South Africa will continue serving on the Council.
In the African regional group, the endorsed candidates—Benin, Gambia, Kenya, DRC, and Ethiopia—successfully secured all five available seats.
There was no competition in the African regional group, as the continent fielded the same number of candidates as available seats.
Contrary to information circulating, Nigeria was not snubbed in this election, as some reports have falsely claimed.
The country did not stand as a candidate for this cycle of elections, just like it did not stand for election in 2023 when a Nigerian medium sensationally reported that the country earned three votes.
The same lie was rehashed in the erroneous report in circulation. Again, we restate that Nigeria was not on the ballot in the election held on 9 October. Whatever vote was recorded for our country must have been cast in error in the secret balloting by some countries which thought Nigeria was on the ballot.
For those conversant with elections into international organisations, especially to prestigious bodies like the Human Rights Council, countries vying for positions usually receive regional endorsements.
The regional bloc endorsed Benin and Gambia, both members of ECOWAS, for the 2025-2027 term.
Given Nigeria’s continued leadership in fostering African unity, the nation focused on supporting the endorsed candidates to promote collective African representation.
This has been the hallmark of President Bola Tinubu’s leadership on the continent. This strategic approach aligns with Nigeria’s long-standing diplomatic efforts to ensure Africa speaks with a united voice on the global stage.
The media should cross-check their information before rushing to press. There was no sign this was done with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or our country’s mission in New York.
As Nigerians, we should not be quick to disparage or drag our country, especially on international matters.

As Igboho Takes Yoruba Nation Agitation To UK, Prof Lugga Asks North To Prepare For Separation

Greenbarge Reporters

October 13, 2024

As Yoruba separatist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho, reportedly submitted a petition to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, to consider the creation of a Yoruba nation, leader of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) in Katsina, Professor Sani Abubakar Lugga has advised the North to prepare for the possibility of separation from Nigeria.
Igboho, who was said to have submitted the petition on behalf of Professor Adebanji Akintoye, the leader of the Yoruba Nation movement, sought the immediate intervention of the UK Prime Minister and his government in their agitation to set up a country that will be predominantly owned by indigenous Yoruba people.
Igboho’s spokesman, Koiki, via his X page, wrote: “At exactly 14:00 hrs Dr. Chief Sunday Igboho delivered a petition to the UK Prime Minister on behalf of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, leader of the YORUBA NATION movement, and Olayomi Koiki, his spokesman @10DowningStreet.”
Igboho has been at the forefront of the actualization of a Yoruba nation.
Recall that Akintoye had earlier accused the Nigerian government of trying to cajole Igboho into withdrawing from the agitations.
The octogenarian said, during the agitator’s travails in Benin Republic, a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai (retd.), had used his influence as an envoy to sneak a paper to Igboho in prison, promising him billions of naira if only he would renounce his agitations for a Yoruba nation.
He, however, said that Igboho refused to sign the paper, which was later taken away by Buratai.
He said: “Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, came to him in the prison, promising him billions of naira if he would just sign a paper that Buratai brought.
“That he (Igboho) should say he had renounced the Yoruba Nation struggle, that he didn’t want the Yoruba Nation struggle anymore, that he had opted out of it.”
And at a recent community engagement, Professor Lugga, who is also the 5th Wazirin Katsina, called for unity among northern Nigerians in light of potential self-determination movements.
According to him, the increasing secessionist sentiments from the South, should ginger the North to prepare for the possibility of separation from Nigeria.
He spoke about the proactive measures taken by southern states to address security challenges, like the formation of regional security outfits, saying that the North has not adopted similar strategies despite facing significant insecurity.
Professor Lugga warned that if the South were to succeed in breaking away, the North could face dire consequences without adequate preparation.
This was even as the CNG’s National Coordinator, Jamilu Charanchi, echoed Lugga’s sentiments, emphasizing the urgency for community-led initiatives to tackle Nigeria’s socioeconomic and security issues.
He criticized the current leadership for focusing more on elections than on the nation’s future, calling on the communities to take control of their destinies through collective action.

Tinubu, Buhari, Others Sympathize With NNPCL Boss, Kyari, Over Daughter’s Death

Greenbarge Reporters

October 12, 2024

President Bola Tinubu and the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, as well as others, have sympathized with the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kolo Kyari over the death of his daughter, Fatima Kyari. Fatima died yesterday, October 11, at the age of 25 after a protracted illness.
President Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, expressed shock at the death of Fatima, even as he sympathized with the rest of the Kyari’s family on the irreparable and painful loss.
This came even as the statement by Garba Shehu, spokesperson to former President Buhari, quoted his boss as saying: “I am shocked and deeply pained to learn about the passing away of your daughter, Fatima.
“It is very painful to accept that she has left the world at such a tender age, but Allah, who gave her to you, knows best. My deepest and most heartfelt condolences are with your family in this hour of intense grief.”
In the statement by Onanuga, President Tinubu prayed for the repose of the soul of Fatima and urged the Kyari family to stay strong at these trying times.
Also, Vice President Kashim Shettima, in a statement by his Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, prayed for the peaceful repose of the late Fatima, and asked God to grant the family the strength to bear the exit of their daughter.
The Vice President led other mourners at the funeral prayers, which were held at the Annur Mosque in Abuja.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, also joined in commiserating with Mele Kyari.
In a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, Senator Barau prayed to Allah to grant Fatima peaceful transition and to grant Malam Mele Kyari and other members of the family the strength to bear the passage of Fatima.
“I wish to convey my condolences to the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Malam Mele Kyari, and other members of his family over his daughter, Fatima, passing at 25 today.
“My thoughts and prayers are with Malam Mele Kyari and other members of his family during this trying period of Fatima’s passing.
“May Allah SWT grant Fatima Aljannatul Firdausi and give Malam Mele Kyari and other members of his family strength to bear this irreparable loss.”

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