The National Industrial Court has ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to call off the ongoing nationwide strike and return to the classrooms immediately.
ASUU has been in strike for the past over seven months and several efforts made by the Federal Government to make them call off the strike hit the rock.
Details later…
Details shortly.
Governor Nyesom Wike of River State and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has angrily pulled out of the campaign Council of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Wike’s group, after a crucial meeting in Port Harcourt early morning today, September 21, vowed not to partake in Atiku’s campaign activities until the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.
This is even as tension is said to be mounting in the South South zone of PDP over alleged move to relocate the zonal secretariat from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In a statement by the zonal Organising Secretary, Ekom Akonjom, based on a communique issued after a meeting of the party, said that a zonal consultative meeting, which ordinarily should hold in the Rivers State capital is scheduled to hold in one of the nearby states.
The statement said that supporters of Governor Wike, consider the move to hold the proposed zonal consultative meeting outside Port Harcourt as an attempt to whittle down the influence of the governor in the affairs of the party in the zone.
Wike and his supporters have been on warpath with the national leadership as well as the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the aftermath of the nomination of the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as vice presidential candidate.
Source: The Nation.
President Muhammadu Buhari has sympathized with the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, over the death of her mother, Hajiya Zainab Sidi Ali.
In the condolence message to the minister, President Buhari described late Hajiya Zainab as a kind woman, with charity and service to humanity.
He said that the outpouring of testimonies over the good life of Hajiya Zainab, fondly called “Gogo,” reflected her wise counsels, diligence in business and envelopment of love for her children, orphans, neighbours and community, mostly of the underprivileged she looked after.
The President prayed that Allah will remember her investments of love on earth and grant her eternal rest.
mother (right), and daughter (left)
Hajiya Zainab Sidi Ali, mother of the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, is dead.
According to a post in Facebook, Hajiya Zainab died in the evening of yesterday, September 20 after a brief illness.
A family source who confirmed the death of Hajia Zainab said the burial (Janaiza) would be conducted today, September 21 before being buried according to Islamic injunctions.
Reacting to the death of her mother, the FCT minister of State said: “With gratitude to Allah and total submission to His will, we announce the demise of Haj Zainab Sidi Ali (Gogo).”
We, in the Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper pray that Allah will forgive the deceased all her sins and grant her Aljannatu Firdausi, and Dr. Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu as well as others she left behind fortitude to bear the precious loss.
Yakubu DogaraFormer Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called on Christians not to “waste” their votes for the Presidential candidate of his All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima in the 2023 election.
Dogara, who spoke yesterday, September 20 in Abuja at a Summit tagged: “Meet the Church,” insisted that the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC is “antithetical” to nation building.
The event was organized by the Nigerian National Christian Coalition (NNCC), with the theme: ‘The role of the Church in nation building.’
Dogara, who cited Matthew 25:14-30, said, ‘according to one of Jesus’ most significant parables, Christians must “invest everything God gives us, not waste it.”
He noted that APC had ignored warnings by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Catholic Secretariat, ECWA Church and many other church bodies, and adopted the ticket in a manner that negated the fundamentals of nation building, such as shared identity, values and vision.
“The APC adopted a same-faith ticket in a country that has never attained nationhood. These warnings were not only ignored but also dismissed in one fell swoop by the APC presidential candidate, who strangely believes that he can build a strong, secure and viable nation-state without first forging a shared identity, vision and value for our people, thereby enabling us transit from citizens of a country into a nation of people with strong shared identity and values
“In their convoluted posturing, they have placed state building ahead of nation building; a task never before achieved in history. And we need no seer to tell us that such endeavour is guaranteed to end in spectacular failure. No divided people have ever built any civilization.
“To demonstrate that the Church is right, it is not alone in condemning the same faith ticket. Other prominent Islamic clerics and Muslim leaders have also spoken in the same light. It is a good omen that both Christian and Muslim elites are not complacent over this matter.
“To this end, it will be easy to generate the needed elite consensus that is key to nation building. All nations are built by elite consensus, while all countries that failed at nation-building were destroyed by elite complacency.
“Granted that the Christians and Muslims will always disagree on some issues, there are, however, many things over which we are agreeable.
“It is enough to forge ahead with the task of nation building, based on those common issues we agree on. It must be noted that just as Muslims alone cannot build a nation out of Nigeria, so also Christians alone cannot.”
Dogara and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, as well as other Christian politicians from the north have publicly expressed opposition to the APC’s same-faith ticket.
Gov El- Rufai | Photo by ThecableThe Kaduna State Government has warned that it would not condone any attempt by any person or group to block the Kaduna-Abuja highway in the name of protest.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement today, September 20, said that the move by some people in the state to block the highway is unacceptable and a prelude to the breakdown of law and order.
“By this notice, individuals or groups planning to restrict citizens’ movements are advised to desist in the interest of public peace.
“While the Kaduna state government is not depriving citizens of the right to express discontent, public security and safety must always be the foremost consideration.
“The danger of barricading a strategic route like the Kaduna-Abuja road is better appreciated within the context of ongoing security operations covering the route and other areas of interest.
“Keen attention must also be given to the possibility of certain gatherings degenerating into violence.
“Citizens are therefore strongly advised against participating in such processions, particularly those which will impact the normal socio-economic activities of other citizens, or expose lives to unnecessary danger.
“Citizens may kindly be reminded that collective security should remain the first and most important consideration at all times.”
The commissioner advised individuals, unions and other groups to take note of the advisory and keep off the road.
File photo of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, campaigning in south-eastThe apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has expressed regrets the support it gave to the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in the 2019 general elections. The group identified such support as the cause of the current travails being faced by Igbos.
The National Publicity Secretary of the group, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, in a statement denying a social media video clip making the rounds, claiming that the group demanded payments from one Comrade Kennedy Iyere as a condition to support a Nigerian Presidential candidate from the South East, dismissed the claim as the most “fallacious, mendacious and callous of all the falsehoods aimed at tarnishing the image of the Igbo as the Judas category that values money more than human conscience.
Dr. Ogbonnia said that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo took the advocacy for a president from the South East of Nigeria to all parts of Nigeria, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III; Chief E K Clarke, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the British High Commission and so many other places.
He said that the delegations comprised the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Professor George Obiozor; the former President General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, former President General, Chief Gary Igariweh, the Secretary General, Ambassador Okey Emuchay; National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia.
Others included Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, HRH Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Professor Anya O Anya, Chief Simon Okeke, Professor Charles Nwekeaku, among others.
He insisted that the next president should be of South East extraction, saying that he wrote to Atiku to remind him that their support for him in 2019 was the cause of the current travails of the Igbos.
“I also wrote Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, reminding him that the current Igbo travails are as a result of our support to his candidacy in 2019.
“A simple search on the internet will reveal that Ohanaeze had made numerous press releases urging Nigerians and the international community to lend support to the quest by the South East for presidency.
“Several other Igbo activists and interest groups such as Nzuko Umunna led by Senator Chris Anyanwu, Arc Ferdinand Agu, etc were also at the forefront in the advocacy.
“On December 13, 2021, I personally addressed an Open Letter to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, reminding him that it is the turn of the South East to produce a president for Nigeria and urging him not to contest the 2023 presidency on the grounds of equity, justice and fairness.
“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo further propagated the advocacy to the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders (SMBLF) led by Chief E K Clarke, and Chief Nnia Nwodo as the Coordinator General. Other leaders of the SMBLF include Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the Leader of the Afenifere; Dr Pogu Bitrus, Leader, Middle Belt Forum, among others. Our gratitude goes to the SMBLF for their irrevocable position to support an Igbo of the South East for presidency in 2023. Similarly, we thank Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for receiving us in his Abeokuta residence about three times.
“I am inwardly delighted that the unwavering position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has gained a global momentum and unprecedented volcanic eruptions of human passions across the country. Above all, the Ohanaeze message has found expression, resonance and traction in the irrepressible power that is inherent in the Nigerian masses.
“In the social media clip making the rounds, orchestrated by one Comrade Kennedy Iyere, he alleged that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Chief Nnia Nwodo demanded payments from him to attend a meeting at Awka for a Nigerian president from the South East.
“The truth of the matter: In October 2020, Chief Damian Okeke Ogene, former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra State chapter was contacted by Chief Iyere to invite the seven state presidents from the seven Ohanaeze states.”
Ogene explained to Iyere that members would be coming to Awka from distant places such as Port Harcourt, Owerri, Aba, Ebonyi and that it would not be possible for them to go back to their locations on thes same day. Iyere promised to secure hotel accommodation for the seven persons, and that he would also pay for their transport costs.
“At the meeting in one hotel at Awka, Iyere was seated with White men and he highlighted the unbearable injustice to the Igbo by the past Nigerian leaders and the equity in a South Easterner to become the president of Nigeria come 2023.
“Paradoxically, we were very delighted and also curious that a non-Igbo and White men were championing an Igbo cause. At the end of the meeting, he pleaded with us to manage seventy thousand naira (N70, 000.00); that is, ten thousand naira each, as transport costs.
“Some of us refused the money while some others reasoned that it could be misinterpreted if we rejected the N10,000 each. I am rather shocked by the depravity and a kindergarten shenanigan with which Iyere painted his encounter with the Ohanaeze Ndigbo; that Ohanaeze Ndigbo demanded payment from him in order to support an Igbo for presidency.”
Names, ages and qualifications of 18 Presidential candidates of various political parties for the 2023 elections have been formally released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Also released are the names, ages and qualifications of their running mates.
According to the record of the INEC, apart from Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 70, who is running for the Presidency under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with his running mate, Kashim Shettima, 55, there is also Atiku Abubakar, 75, running on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Ifeanyi Okowa, 63, as his running mate.
Also on the INEC list is Peter Obi, 61, running under the Labour Party (LP) and his running mate, Datti Ahmed, 53, as well as Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, 66, for the New Nigeria Peoples Part (NNPP) with Isaac Idahosa, 57, as his running mate.
On the list too are the Presidential candidate of APGA, 67 years old Umeadi Chukwudi Nnanna and his running mate, 65 year old Mohammed Abdullahi Koli; 60 year old Kolawole Abiola of the PRP and his running mate, 49 year old Haruna Zego as well as 58 year Abdulmali Ado Ibrahim for the YPP with 44 year old Kasarachi Michael Enyinna.
INEC also released the names, ages and qualifications of those vying for the Senate and House of Representatives across the country.
Nurses in the services of hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, today, September 20, staged a carnival and beauty competition as part of Nurses’ Week, during which various activities, including Friday special prayer and Sunday services are held.
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered talking drums to be deployed for the celebration of juju music maestro and multi-instrumentalist, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, better known as King Sunny Ade, who turns 76 on Thursday, September 22.
A statement by Femi Adesina, special adviser to the President on media and publicity, said the President described Sunny Ade as an internationally renowned artiste, who is the first Nigerian to be nominated for Grammy in the 80’s.
The President recalled that the maestro played a significant role in the huge success of the country’s music industry, with influence across genres, including Hollywood, “where his songs were featured in many movies.”
The President savoured the height which “the talented guitarist” has attained at 76, saying that he is a gifted songwriter, producer and visiting professor of music at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife.
He thanked King Sunny Ade for taking Nigeria’s local beats to the world, exporting the rich culture and placing instruments like the “talking drum’’ on global spotlight for research and adaption.”
President Buhari said that the recognitions and awards received by the multi-talented entertainer over the years, including the national award, MFR, are well deserved, praying for his good health, strength and grace of more creativity.
