Following the political crisis over his continued absence from official duty, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has proceeded on a fresh medical leave outside the state.
Governor Akeredolu, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, also asked his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to take over power in an “acting capacity” while he was away on a medical trip.
In the statement, the ailing Ondo governor said a letter regarding his medical leave and a notice formally transferring power to Aiyedatiwa in line with the constitution would be transmitted to the State House of Assembly.
He revealed that the medical vacation would start by Wednesday (December 13, 2023) in continuation of his medical treatment.
“Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, will commence his medical leave on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, as a follow-up to his medical treatment.
“During his medical leave, Governor Akeredolu will prioritise his health and ensure a full recovery before resuming his official duties.
“A formal letter regarding the medical leave and a notice formally transferring power in line with the Nigerian Constitution will be transmitted to the House of Assembly.
“In the absence of Governor Akeredolu, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, will assume the responsibilities of the Governor in an acting capacity.
“Governor Akeredolu expresses his gratitude for the unwavering support and affection of the people of Ondo State. He assures them that his administration remains committed to the path of progress and prosperity for the people.
“As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a widely respected Nigerian, Governor Akeredolu has consistently delegated power to his deputy during his annual vacations. This practice was observed on April 1, 2021, April 1, 2022, April 3, 2023, and July 10, 2023, when he embarked on previous vacations,” the statement read.
The development came after President Bola Tinubu for the second time within a month summoned all the political actors in the state to a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, OFR, has signed the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) Bill, recently passed by the State House of Assembly, into law.
Governor Otti, speaking Monday after assenting to the bill, his first since assuming office May 29, 2023, said the establishment of the Greater Aba Development Authority was to give Aba, the commercial hub of Abia, indeed South East Nigeria, a special focus in terms of development.
“Everyone who had followed the process of the campaigns and elections would have remembered that we had said that we needed a special focus on Aba which is a commercial nerve centre of the State,” Governor Otti said in a tone filled with reassurance.
According to the Governor, Aba, beyond being a trading zone, is also an industrial base, where all kinds of light and heavy manufacturing; micro small and medium scale businesses are conducted.
“Virtually every street in Aba is a market, eventhough we are working at organising them, but it is a strength that we recognise,” he said, adding, “when we invest heavily in infrastructural renewal in Aba, it is because we recognise the potentials that Aba has and we believe that if we improve on ease of doing business, we attract a lot of businesses.”
He congratulated the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa; Deputy Speaker, Hon Austin Okezie Meregini; the leadership of the House and other members; and Members of the State Executive Council on the passage of the executive bill.
He stated that with the law now in place, Aba rejuvenation has got a legal backing to bring about the needed development in the commercial capital.
Earlier, while presenting the Bill to the Governor for assent, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, noted that the executive bill was passed into law by the State House of Assembly on 8th December, 2023.
Uwanna said that the Greater Aba Development Authority is now the first bill Governor Otti was signing into law and congratulated the Governor on achieving that feat.
Giving insight on the newly signed law, the Director General of the Greater Aba Development Authority, Mr. Uche Ukeje, described the law as a special vehicle that would drive the development of Aba to realise the Governor’s vision about the Enyimba City.
Ukeje, an architect of many years repute, described GADA as an integrator, that would coordinate all the efforts of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in a bid to bring the needed development in Aba.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Kenneth Kalu; Commissioner for Digital Economy and SME, Dr. Matthew Ekwuribe; Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr Ikechukwu Monday; and Senior Special Assistant on Legislative Matters, Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani, among other senior aides of the Governor witnessed the bill signing ceremony.
KAZIE UKO
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Abia State
December 11, 2023
All the war arsenals are steaming as Wike And his political son, SIM Fubara would lock horns in the grand arena of Rivers State.
You’d recall that 27 PDP House of Assembly Members Defected to APC in Rivers.
So funny how all these are happening not for the interest of the masses but for their own personal gain and sharing formula of the resources of the good people of Rivers state.
Meanwhile, SIM Fubara seems to look like a stubborn bone stuck in the throat of Wike and ready to pull an “Ngige vs Eselu Ubah” in Anambra stunt against Wike
Sim seems to be moving with his people… Alas, they would weep sentiments and start seeing it as Obiakpor vs Ijaws….
“Naso war they take start”…
Some wrote :
I understand that alot of people are bothered because the 27 House of Assembly Members that have decamped to APC might want to instigate a process of impeachment against Governor Sim Fubara, but why are we forgetting that these same guys were never doing the bidding of PDP in the first place?
They were just answering PDP by name. Their, hearts, minds and souls were never in PDP.
First, the State Party Chairman of PDP resigned & accepted an appointment with the APC, then we saw alot of other things following suit.
I understand that yes, Sim, as a first-time Governor, it is going to be very difficult for him, but there are a lot of instruments available to a Governor but it is not a banana republic either, as much as they will try to impeach him, I am aware and I am sure that Sim will not just fold his hands and allow them impeach him
So, the only regret here is that these guys are not ready for governance because all they want to do is to just instigate crisis in the State.
I am very certain that it is not easy to impeach a Governor.
A Governor has so much enormous powers . He can frustrate those House of Assembly Members. Taking Sim down as Governor will not be easy for the House of Assembly Members.
Democracy in Nigeria should be abolished as a matter of serious urgency….. These guys have successfully removed the citizens from the equation…… This can’t be a country or Democracy na…
Terrible things happen in Nigeria. We have lost the present and we want to lose the future.
I just left Transcorp Hotel Abuja after my news analysis at Arise News TV. As I stepped to the lobby of the hotel, I saw a bevy of pretty young girls in their early 20s crowded in a corner. There were all skimpily dressed as if there were commercial sex workers. The time was 10.30pm.
One of them rushed to greet me. “Good evening sir”. She was one of my students. I recognized her clearly because she had a slight disability and I paid attention to make sure she followed the coursework. I was shocked. I recognized three of those hotly dressed pretty young girls as fresh graduates of my department.
What are they all coming to do at this kind of Hotel at this hour and dressed in this manner? Of course, I think I know what it is. A Nigerian politician or man of means have arranged them for his pleasure and those of his friends and acquaintances. Everyday, our girls are disoriented by these politicians who have neither shame nor conscience because they have access to power and money.
We pride ourselves that we have a large youth population and that is a huge asset. But the truth is that we have a large hardware. The software is highly corrupted. Why do we intend to organize these adolescents into the life of immorality?
This reminds me of the experience I had as a special adviser to senate president. Once we went to open a new government house built by a Governor in one of the southeast states. The Governor arranged a special reception for us. When we got to the venue of the so-called reception, I was shocked. Tens of very young girls sourced from the nearby university – between 17-22 years- were already dancing with top government officials.
I screamed and accosted the majority leader of the State House of Assembly. He boldly answered “Man Sammy, these adolescents are our counterparts”. Wow. What? I requested to be taken back to the hotel. That was the end of the reception for me. I couldn’t believe that someone will arrange first year students for an entourage that has the Senate President and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education. We are finished.
These politicians have done more harms than you can imagine. They have destroyed the economy. They have destroyed infrastructure. They have also destroyed the morality and the viability of our human capital. How can such young girls who are debased that early rise up to be moral champions of tomorrow? How? Pretty difficult.’
The Central Bank of Nigeria has warned Nigerians to be wary of counterfeit naira notes in circulation amid reports of currency shortage in the country.
In a statement released on Friday titled ‘Beware of Counterfeit Naira Banknotes in Circulation,’ the apex bank advised Deposit Money Banks, Financial Houses, Bureau de Change, and the public to be vigilant and implement necessary precautions.
The Central Bank assures the public that it is working with law enforcement operatives to apprehend those responsible for circulating counterfeit currency.
The statement, in part, said, “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to the circulation of counterfeit banknotes, significantly higher denominations, by some individuals for transactions in food markets and other commercial centers across major cities in the country.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 20(4) of the CBN Act (2007) as amended, states that: “It shall be an offense punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years for any person to falsify, make or counterfeit any bank note or coin issued by the Bank which is legal tender in Nigeria.”
“The CBN is constantly collaborating with relevant security and financial agencies to confiscate fake Naira banknotes and arrest and prosecute counterfeiters. Members of the public are also encouraged to report anyone suspected of having counterfeit naira notes to the nearest police station or branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“Meanwhile, all Deposit Money Banks, Financial Houses and Bureau de Change and the general public are enjoined to be more vigilant and take all necessary precautionary measures to curtail the acceptance and distribution of counterfeit notes,” the statement reads.
The Canadian Government has increased its “cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants,” for international students from $10,000 to $20,000 starting from January 1, 2024.
The country’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller made this known in a statement on Thursday, December 7, 2023.
In the statement, Miller said from 2024, every applicant will need to show they have $20,635, in addition to their first year of tuition and travel costs.
The statement reads in part, “This change will apply to new study permit applications received on or after January 1, 2024.”
“Starting January 1, 2024, the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants will be raised so that international students are financially prepared for life in Canada.
“For close to two decades, study permit applicants for international students have remained at $10,000. This review, which takes effect from January 1, ‘will help prevent student vulnerability and exploitation.”
This is coming days after the government of the United Kingdom introduced tougher rules aimed at curbing regular migration.
The new rule is designed to make visa application more difficult for Nigerians and other applicants.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has faulted the claims of the Defense Headquarters (DHQ), attributing the reason for the air strike in the Tudun Birni community to terrorists embedding themselves with civilians.
The incident, which happened on Sunday, resulted in the deaths of over 120 people and injuries to several others in the Igabi Local Government Area.
But the Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, stated on Tuesday that the reason for the air raid was terrorists embedding themselves with the locals in the area.
However, Governor Sani, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, described the statement as “careless,” insisting that such claims need to be verified before taking such decisions.
“What happened in Tundi Buri is something that is unfortunate. But the fact that the chief of staff took responsibility is the reason why the community is calm.
“But to say that the terrorists are in the community is something that needs verification. I think that is a very careless statement when I heard it yesterday.
“If you visit the hospital and see what is happening, you would condemn statements like this.”
Governor Sani’s comments follow a condolence visit by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday to the affected community, where he stated that a probe would be initiated to forestall any future repetition .
“It is already directed by Mr. President; an investigation is being conducted to prevent a re-occurrence of the incident and we expect a report to be submitted in the shortest possible time,” Shettima said.
He also pledged that the victims of the incident would be supported by the federal government.
… we are focused on building group wealth – GGMCS President, Anaenugwu
It was a moment of tale of success stories as members of Good Governance Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, GGMCS, held 2023 end-of-the-year meeting in Awka, the Anambra State capital, during which they were given account of transactions for the year ending, and paid dividends from investments.
GGMCS is a group of like minds committed to reducing poverty through cooperative production.
Sharing testimonies of how GGMCS has positively affected their lives as members, Mr. Anthony Uchedike; a ‘wood worker’ from Imo State, and Mr. Chris Okonkwo; from Nenwe in Enugu State but resident in Awka, and who is into printing, said with 3% interest rate loans for members, GGMCS is worthy of emulation; as it has affected their lives positively.
They called on people who need to change their financial conditions to join the group in order to achieve their dreams.
Contributing, a staff of Federal College of Education, Technical, Umunze, Barrister Dr Augusta Asimonye; from Enugwu-Ukwu in Anambra State, called on more people to join GGMCS because it has a leadership that makes people think investment, and is prudent in management of resources, as well as timely in paying members dividends accruing from investments.
On his part his part, Engr Jude Ezechukwu; from Awgu in Enugu State, said he has enjoyed so much benefits from his investments in the group, urging others to join in order to better their financial conditions.
Earlier in her remark, a resource person and Divisional Cooperative Officer, DCO, in charge of Dunukofia Local Government, Mrs Pauline Uzoigwe, said much still needs to be done by the government to make cooperative societies more attractive and responsive to people’s needs in the state.
While observing that members of GGMCS are doing well as a group in terms of building wealth, and have great ideas for the future, Mrs Uzoigwe noted that character matters in accepting new members, adding that defaulting on loans remains a major challenge cooperative societies usually have, even as she encouraged people to join such groups to get financial assistance.
A founding member of GGMCS, Comrade Obi Emekekwue; from Oba in Anambra State, who recalled that the need for practical self-help motivated few members to come together for economic prosperity of more people, urged government to invest in the group in order to encourage industrialization; thereby affecting more lives positively
Addressing the gathering, the President of Good Governance Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Mr. Ndubuisi Anaenugwu, said GGMCS remains the last bus stop when one thinks or talks about cooperative society, adding that the vision of the group is to be the biggest and most efficiently managed cooperative society in Anambra State.
He described GGMCS as one focused on assisting members in building group wealth by bringing people together and giving them sense of direction in terms of financial training, and encouraged members to remain on the vision of GGMCS, assuring that their expectations will continue to be met; in line with government mandate.
Speaking further on success stories, Mr. Anaenugwu said many members have benefited from financial assistance, are doing well in their businesses, and have not defaulted in loan payment, thereby living up to the name – Good Governance Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
He noted that governments all over the world support cooperative societies, saying that Anambra State Government can help by giving GGMCS grant or loan at single digit interest to enable the group get land for agriculture and other industrial purposes.
Contributing, the Vice President of GGMCS, and Leader of Good Governance Ministry(GGM) Comrade Chinedu Asuzu, said the group is transforming good governance advocacy into action by helping to empower people through soft loans at 3% interest rate, thereby nurturing businesses and helping people realize economic ideas.
He assured that as they have met established target for the ending year 2023, they will do more in 2024, calling for the support of government, well-meaning groups and individuals in order to sustain investments in agriculture, housing estate and medical outreach programmes.
Free medical services, as well as sale of food and other items at cheaper rates featured at the event to showcase the products of Good Governance Cooperative.
All is set for the end of the year meeting for GGM Cooperative Society.In a statement signed by the Cooperative President – Ndubuisi Anaenugwu,the statement reads ”Ours is cooperative with a difference ,an ideologically driven cooperative.
GGM Cooperative is set to do the right thing,to set an ethical standard, a model worthy of emulation by all the progressive minded individuals.
GGM Cooperative has started building a viable economic institution that will stand the test of time . Kindly note this lines : Behind any successful institution,there are visionary and revolutionary individuals who are protesting against the status quo and are determined to make a great difference for posterity .
Therefore, GGM Cooperative is in threshold of history and history is in the making !
This is economic institution for the masses and I will encourage all to spread the message. Thank you as we get ready to close the year today ” the statement ended
Picture of a numb hand of a woman showing death or unconsciousness
It was double tragedy in Benin City yesterday as a wheelbarrow pusher killed a revenue collector with Oredo Local Government Council and immediately committed suicide.
The incident occurred on Mission Road in the Edo State capital
It was learnt that the revenue collector kicked the wheelbarrow pusher over his inability to pay the N50 daily levy while the angry wheelbarrow pusher suddenly drew a knife that was strapped to his waist and stabbed the revenue collector in the stomach.
While the victim bled to death from the incident, the wheelbarrow pusher also stabbed him
Policemen from Oba Market Division in Benin were informed, and they later evacuated the bodies to an undisclosed morgue.
