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Folarin Kehinde

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Impeachment Threat: Senator’s Threat Against Buhari, Laughable

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The recent statement by the Nigerian Senate of their plan to impeach the president is a charade and theatrics.

Our Lawmakers are jokers who are only loyal to their party and not to the masses.

They are comedians performing a show and the president is having a good laugh.

You know it’s all a joke because up till now, no notice of impeachment has been served in the rules and order book of the Senate.

Anything not noted down in the order book of the Senate is just mere words and should not be taken seriously.

When members of the Senate come on media to shout about impeachment without following due process or serving any notice of impeachment in rules and order, then know It is just for media clout.

If senators are serious about impeaching the president, they are precedents which they have to follow.

First, they can visit the president in the villa to discuss matters of national security with him. After a light dinner, they will tell him, Mr president in all seriousness our people are dying and we can’t take this anymore. We are giving you six weeks to tackle security issues or we will impeach you.

No president will be visited by over 100 senators on matters of security and just shrug it off.

Secondly, a motion of resolution by the Senate inviting the president to explain himself in the parliament needs to be passed. There the senators can ask him hard questions on his plans to combat insecurity in the country.

It is after all these steps have been taken, before any talk of impeachment would be taken seriously.

However, the senators know that yet they choose to make caricature of themselves and Nigerians.

The government has a fundamental responsibility to secure the lives and property of Nigerians.

The country has fallen so far off that Nigerians now are no longer ambitious or wishing for success. People just pray to be alive.

The fight on insurgency can be ended quickly without the need for IMF loans or international help if only our gallant soldiers are assured that they are fighting a caricature fight.

Seniors military and government officials have shown through their actions that they do not plan on ending the insurgency anytime soon.

The fight on insurgency has now metamorphosed into a lucrative business to fill the pockets of high ranking military officials and government officials, including the senators.

Many senators engage in business and arms deal with military officials. They do not want the insurgency to end.

If the military opens it mouth to talk about the number of senators doing business with them, only few senators would not be implicated.

This is extreme wickedness as soldiers are now demotivated because their sacrifices is business for their superiors.

We need to do better by developing a concrete plan to end the insurgency once and for all and give our soldiers the assurance that their sacrifices is not in vain and they will be rewarded at the end of the day.

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Nigeria Generates Less Than 6000 Mega Watts Since Independence – DISCOS

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Ever since Nigeria attained its independence till date, the country has been plagued with poor power supply as it has not generated up to 6000 megawatts (mw) of electricity.

This statement was made by the the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) has said.

The Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, ANED, an umbrella body of power distribution companies (Discos), Mr. Sunday Oduntan, disclosed this in Lagos at a one-day workshop for energy reporters and civil society groups.

The workshop centred on the topic: “Building Consumer Awareness and Strengthening the Customer Service Capacity Of Electricity Distribution Companies”, and was organised by ANED in partnership with McArthur Foundation.

Oduntan, who stated that Nigeria would require 200,000mw of power generation to meet the electricity need of its 200 million citizens, added that going by international standards, 1,000mw was needed to serve one million people.

Of Nigeria’s 13,000mw of installed generation capacity, only 3,500mw to 5,000MW was available for transmission to the final consumers.

With 28 generating plants connected to the national power grid, many suffer from recurrent challenges such as maintenance and repair requirements, trips, faults and leakages that make them unavailable for evacuation to the national grid sometimes.

Also, gas supply shortages caused by the inability of generation companies to pay for gas, sub-optimal gas pricing, as well as the vandalisation of gas transportation facilities leading to shutdown of gas plants were among the many impediments to power generation in the country.

“Since 1960, the country has not generated up to 6,000mw of electricity thus creating a huge gap in service delivery in the system.

“There are 28 power generation companies in Nigeria which comprise three hydro powered stations and 25 thermal stations currently operating below capacity and collectively generating an average of about 4,000 megawatts,” Oduntan said.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of the government-controlled and centralised Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which has been notorious for witnessing unending collapse of its grid with attendant nation-wide blackout, the ANED spokesman advised the federal government to hand over TCN to capable private people that can operate and manage it better.

Noting that TCN has contributed to the poor performance of the sector, he warned that failure to privatise the company would keep Nigeria perpetually experiencing power supply disruptions with attendant negative impact on homes and businesses.

Oduntan also criticised TCN for not having Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) since all these years of its operations, arguing that that was the reason it was hard for the company to discover faults seamlessly and in real-time from its office without someone physically reporting faults on its networks to it

SCADA is a digitalised system that enables prompt and more efficient monitoring of all activities on the networks and resolves issues detected on time.

He, however, exonerated the Discos for their inability to pay for electricity purchased from the Gencos, blaming that on what he described as energy dumping and, in most cases, inadequate supply to meet customer requirements.

He said the non-implementation of cost-reflective tariff in the power sector was a major impediment to the development of the sector and achieving steady power supply to customers nation-wide.

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2023 ELECTIONS: How INEC Secretly Destroyed 15.4 Million New Voters Card

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The International College of Democracy and Human Rights Scholars, a recently formed coalition of democracy and social justice experts operating in Nigeria and abroad, says it has made “a fresh shocking revelation that the Independent National Electoral Commission had in 12 months or July 2021 to July 2022 hatefully, mindlessly and discriminatorily destroyed whopping 15.4m of the 27.6m new voters’ registrations in Nigeria.”

It said in a letter to INEC dated 10 August, 2022 that the discovery was made during a “critical examination by the College of the INEC released official statistics relating to the 31st July 2022 abrupt termination of the CVR ahead of the country’s 2023 General Elections especial the Presidential segment. The 15.4m new voters registrations destroyed by INEC is more than the total winning votes (15,191,847 votes) of the country’s Presidential Election of February 2019 declared by the Commission and credited to the Presidency of Buhari/Osibanjo.”

The letter was addressed to Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, through the National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye Esquire. “The letter was duly communicated yesterday, 10th August 2022 through their official emails and WhatsApp. A physical copy has also been delivered at the Office of the INEC Chairman in Abuja,” the coalition said in a statement issued earlier today.

It explained: “The letter was a follow-up to the first letter by the College written to the Commission on 14th June 2022, a period of 27 days today. It must be recalled that the College had in its letter of 14th July 2022 investigated and identified 30 disenfranchisement and election rigging plots ahead of the 2023 General Elections particularly the President segment and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to publicly speak in admission to or against the 30 rigging plots with outlined plan of action to tackle them headlong. Regrettably, the Commission neither reached out nor publicly spoke or responded till date. The Commission also chose not to respond to any of the issues raised including our 16-point demands; thereby taking responsibility for hatching the 30 poll rigging plots. By the above, therefore, no explanations by the Commission concerning the letter will be entertained or accepted by the College.”

On “How INEC hatefully destroyed 15.4m of the 27.6m new voters’ registrations”, the coalition said:

“The College carefully studied INEC’s officially released statistics including its updates on CVR, starting from 28th June or end of June 2021 when the CRV commenced and 31st July 2022 when it was abruptly terminated and found that INEC deliberately, mindlessly, hatefully and discriminatorily engaged in massive disenfranchisement of tens of millions of enthusiastic Nigerians that trouped to INEC registration centers so as to be registered ahead of the 2023 Presidential Election. The destruction was also found to have been perpetrated on the grounds of ethnicity and religion. It was further discovered that the destroyed figure (15.4m new voters’ registrations) did not include those that logged unto INEC’s online voters’ registration portal but could not continue or conclude their registrations. To buttress the above, it was observed, for instance, that between January 2022 and 2nd June 2022, a total of 19.1m applicants were received by the Commission, out of which only 6.8m were validated as ‘successfully registered voters’. INEC had, for no just reason, shut down its online voters’ registration portal on 31st May 2022 and never opened it till 31st July 2022 when it abruptly terminated the CVR Exercise. Apart from several INEC top-shots descending so low to hatefully and discriminatorily mock the affected citizens, saying they: “suddenly wake up at their beck and call to be registered”, the Commission was maliciously found to have hidden under the cloak of “incomplete registration”, “multiple registrations” and “timed-out biometric capturing” as reasons for the massive disenfranchisement.

“Consequently, INEC’s hurried termination of the CVR on 31st July 2022 which is seven months before the Feb and March 2023 General Elections, contrary to the statutorily provided 90 days or Nov 25, 2022, is utterly suspicious  and strongly condemned. It is also a confirmation that the Commission is partisan and holding brief for a particular political party and its candidate and bent on massively disenfranchising tens of millions of citizens of voting age including 7m-11m that successfully did their online pre-registration and voters’ registration by 90% completion, remaining only physical biometric capturing. Therefore, what the sum total of the above means is that while tens of millions of Nigerian citizens of voting age worked hard under the rain and the sun and got registered by INEC, the Commission unscrupulously engaged in destruction of their registrations, to the tune of 15.4m and as if that was not enough, the Commission has further threatened to disenfranchise millions more between August and November 2022 repetitively using “elimination of multiple registrants” as a deceitful cover.”

On statistical proofs, the coalition had this to say: “According to Guardian Newspaper of 14th April 2022, quoting INEC Chairman (Prof Mahmood Yakubu),”1.39m or 45% of the newly registered voters were invalidated (disenfranchised) between 28th June and 31st Dec 2021 out of over new 3m citizens that registered”. The invalidated figure of 1.39m were accused by INEC of “incomplete and multiple registrations” and in January 2022 alone, according to same media report, “1.1m were invalidated” on same “grounds”. Between 1st Feb and 28th June 2022, according to This Day Newspaper of 28th June 2022, quoting official statistics of INEC, “only 8,631,696 of the 10,487,972 newly registered voters were successfully registered and 1,856, 276 invalidated or disenfranchised”. According to INEC statement of 1st August 2022, “7,043,594 newly registered voters who successfully completed their online pre-registration were invalidated on account of their failure to have their physical biometrics captured by INEC before CVR deadline of 31st July 2022” and that “out of 10,487, 972 successful online CVR registrants, only 3,444,378 were successfully captured in physical biometrics capturing”. Further findings made by the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, a network of 80 CSOs, as reported by Punch Newspaper of 3rd August 2022, indicated that “11million citizens who completed their INEC online registration forms were shut out from being captured biometrically and massively disenfranchised by the Commission”. The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room had spoken through Ene Obi and appeals made to the Commission to capture and enfranchise them fell on deaf ears till date.”

The letter was signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi (Criminologist-Researcher), Intersociety Board Chair; Prof Jerry Chukwuokolo (Academia); High Chief Prof Justice Chidi (Academia); Comrade Aloysius Emeka Attah (Chair, Southeast CLO); Barr Justus Uche Ijeoma (CSO); Dr Patrick Mbum (Academia); Barr Chinwe Umeche (Lawyers Forum); Rev Dr Ahaz Yaye (Religious Leaders Forum); and Barr Chidinma Udegbunam (Intersociety).

The coalition comprises 41 Professors, 20 Doctorate Degree Holders, 30 Lawyers, 19 Indigenous Northern Religious Leaders, 14 Eastern Nigerian Democracy and Human Rights CSO Leaders, Swiss and American Rights Campaigners, as well as other respected democracy and social justice advocates or campaigners.

Source: newsexpressngr

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Ehizoige Iyeomoan Wins EFCC Essay Competition

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

EFCC Confers Honour on Winners of 2021 Essay Competition: Law Student of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Ehizogie Iyeomoan, comes First

Following the successful completion of the #EFCCChallenge which commenced in 2021, winners of the 2021 EFCC Essay Competition tagged: How to Fight Economic and Financial Crimes to Make Nigeria Great were on 10th August, 2022 celebrated by the Management of the Commission. Ehizogie Iyeomoan, a final year Law student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, emerged the First Prize Winner. Omotoso Abiola Sodiq of the University of Ibadan came second while Zeenat Magaji of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, emerged the third best.

The EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa who rained encomiums on the winners for separating themselves in the service of the country, admonished other youths to tow the path of making Nigeria Great, instead of being a burden.

While assuring that the Commission will painstakingly look into the suggestions as contained in the winning essays he advised the winners to be good ambassadors of the Commission as he promised that though they are at various levels of their university education, the Commission shall nevertheless, offer them automatic employment once they are through with their education.

The five eminent Nigerians from the academia and the media who were carefully selected to screen and assess the over five thousand entries submitted were:

Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, Dean, Faculty of Mass Communication, Baze University, Abuja; Dr. Amina Salihu, Senior Programme Officer, MacArthur Foundation, Abuja; Dr. Chido Onumah, Coordinator, African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) Abuja; Mrs. Maupe-Ogun-Yusuf, Editor, Channels TV, Abuja and Mr. Ade Adesomoju, Head, Anti-corruption, Human Rights & Judiciary Desk, Premium Times.

Congratulations to Ambrose Alli University!

Congratulations to the Faculty of Law!! &

Congratulations to Ehizojie Iyeomoan!!!

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Four clubs Want To Sign Alex Collado The 23 Year Old Barcelona Attacking Midfielder

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Alex Collado left Barcelona B as their captain and one of the most well-rounded attacking midfielders to graduate from the youth reserves. However, life after that has not quite gone as planned for him.

Last season, he was sidelined due to a bureaucratic error from Barcelona that left him without a team for six months, from July to January. He was then loaned out to Granada, where he gradually became an important player, scoring two goals and creating one.

He was expected to receive some minutes this season under Xavi. The manager is reportedly a fan of the player, but also realises the overbooking in midfield and attack. As such, Collado is seeking a loan exit.

Albert Roge has reported that there are four teams interested in pursuing Collado’s signature. Namely, these are Olympiakos, Celtic, and two unnamed La Liga clubs.

Collado is stuck in two minds as he wants to play European football, but he also liked the experience of playing in La Liga with Granada. The next few days could be key to his future.

The versatile midfielder recently extended his contract with Barcelona until 2024, but wants to leave in search of regular game-time. He has communicated the same to Xavi, who is open to the idea of him departing on a temporary move.

source: www.barcauniversal.com

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Bishop Rejects Governor Ben Ayade Donation: Tells Him To Use It And Pay Salaries

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

A Video making rounds on the internet right now has shown the moment the Catholic Bishop of Uyo Diocese, John Ebebe Ayah, rejected a N25 million donation from the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade .

Governor Ayade made the move at the thanksgiving mass for Justice Emmanuel Agim Akomaye, who was recently promoted to the rank of Judge of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

As seen in a viral video, the governor donated the sum of N25 million to the church, then promised the Bishop a “whisper package”, which he pledged to give him personally.

The bishop however subtly shunned the governor, rejecting his money and asked him to use the money to pay workers’ salaries.

After announcing the donation of N25 million on behalf of the state government, he said, “You are our pride, the pride of Cross River North, the son of the soil, Bishop John Ayah, I will whisper my package to you later.”

Bishop Ayah retorted, “I want to talk. The governor is my brother; we are both from Cross River North. I want to appreciate the governor and tell him to package whatever he has for me, add to it and use it to pay the salaries of the workers.”

Media outlets had in May, covered the protest of Cross Rivers State workers over non-payment of salaries since 2018. They urged the governor to attend to their plight as they have been suffering for a long time.

The development is currently generating reactions on social media as many Nigerians lauded his courage, asking other clergymen to emulate Bishop Ayah.

The Video

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United States ‘Democracy’ Spreading Instability In Africa – South African Minister

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The South African minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor, has described the continuous conflicts in African countries as a consequence of external interference on the continent by the United States and other western countries.

She made this known in a Joint press availability with the United States Secretary of States Anthony Blinken, held in Pretoria, South Africa.

Minister Naledi accused the United States of trying to bully African nations into isolating nations like China and Russia which are at loggerheads with the USA.

A draft bill has been passed by the United States house of Representatives that seeks to penalize and sanction African countries who trade anything apart from grain with Russia. The passed bill is called ‘Containing Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act’.

While condemning the war by Russia on Ukraine, minister Naledi has called described the bill as ‘offensive legislation’. She opines that it is a bill that looks down on the sovereignty of African countries and its ability to choose who its want to relate with.

She defended South Africa’s neutrality on the conflict and called for the issue to be resolved diplomatically. She also berated the for giving lesser attention to the conflict in the middle east between Israel and Palestine. Saying all these conflicts should be giving same attention as no oppressed people is better than another oppressed people.

She said that Africa had a right to choose who it’s want to relate with and will not succumb to ‘patronizing bullying’ by the United States and other western powers.

In her words; ‘All nations are equal according to the United Nations Charter. Every nation can hold different opinions and are not under any obligation to make the United States enemies its own enemies’.

‘Though we might differ in economic might or ability to wield influence in other nations, African nations should still be treated with respect and should not be looked down upon.’

Minister Naledi went further to accused the United States of spreading instability in African countries in the guise of spreading democracy.

‘America comes to you, trying to teach you how democracy works when in reality, they are after your mineral resources in your country’.

The United States and other western powers are a destabilizing force only interested in exploiting the natural resources that can be obtained in your country.

We’ve seen this play out during the cold war era and most recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also in Africa, Libya has been on the receiving end of the brutality of western imperialist.

The minister opined that the presence of these mineral resources is what attracts the presence of the united states and other external influences who do not have the interest of Africa at heart.

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National Immigration Service To Punish Officials Who Extort Passport Applicants – Idris Jere

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The management of the National Immigration Service (NIS) has warned that any of its officers who is caught extorting passport applicants will be punished.

The comptroller general of the service, Idris Jere, gave the warning at the opening of a three day workshop for officers and servicom units of the NIS zone A Lagos. The workshop was organized by the assistant comptroller general of the immigration service Olakunle Osinaya, who is also in charge of the NIS Zone A Lagos.

Comptroller Idris said that extortions constitute impediments in the process of obtaining passports.

Mr Jere mandated all officers and men working in passport offices maintain a high level of discipline and professionalism in their conduct. According to him, NIS executes many statutory functions, including issuing passports and other travel documents.

He said these statutory functions called for discipline from people within and outside the service. The comptroller-general said the objective of the workshop was to drive home the need to respect the appointment system towards achieving excellent service.

“It is with this, among others, that henceforth, entrance into the passport offices would be based strictly on applicant’s ability to provide evidence of appointment and collection dates,” Mr Jere explained.

He also urged Nigerians to abide by NIS policies.

The NIS boss told the participants that the integrity of the appointment system of dates would be monitored and that any officer caught extorting applicants would face the music.

The appointment system allows a proper queuing management system. Mr Jere advised applicants that needed to obtain a passport to apply early to avoid unnecessary anxiety by logging on to the NIS portal (www.passport.immigration.gov.ng).

“After the login, the applicant should fill the application form, make payment, and choose a date and processing centre of their choice. The applicant would then proceed to the centre on the chosen date with the required documents,” he said.

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Seven Hostages in Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack Released

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train abducting over 61 people have released another seven hostages, including a family of six and a woman.

The identities of the released family of six are Abdubakar Idris Garba, his wife, Maryam Abubakar Bobo, and their eldest son, Ibrahim Abubakar Garba, who’s 10 years old.

Others include Fatima Abubakar Garba (7), Imran Abubakar Garba (5), and youngest Zainab Abubakar Garba, who is only one and half years old.

Abubakar Idris Garba, a staff of the National Assembly Service Commission, is the son of a former Military Administrator of Kano and Benue States.

Also released is a 60-year-old woman, one Hajia Aisha Hassan, who was said to have been released due to life-threatening health challenges that deteriorated recently.

Although Tukur Mamu, Publisher of Kaduna-based Desert Herald and Media Consultant to a controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, withdrew as one of the negotiators, he confirmed the release of the seven hostages to journalists in Kaduna.

Mamu said the seven were released following the intervention of his principal, Gumi.

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Adeboye Retires National Overseers, Renames Redemption Camp

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has announced some major changes in the Church top leadership.

The changes include the retirement of the Church’s National Overseer, Pastor Joseph Obayemi.

Pastor Adeboye made the information known while addressing RCCG ministers on Sunday, August 7. He hinted also that the person that would take over from him as the General Overseer will be a young man.

The RCCG which is currently celebrating its 70th anniversary was established in 1952 by Rev. Josiah Olufemi Akindayomi who passed on in 1980.

Before his transition, Akindayomi had given instruction that Pastor Adeboye who joined the Church in 1973 would succeed him as the General Overseer.

Adeboye stepped into Akindayomi’s shoes in 1981.

He has served in that position for more than 40 years and still counting.

In December 2016 Pastor Adeboye appointed Pastor Obayemi as the church’s overseer in Nigeria.

Obayemi was given an additional portfolio to serve as the Overseer of the RCCG in North Africa in 2021.

He was also addressed as an Officer in charge of Nigeria. But Pastor Adeboye announced his retirement along with some others during the ministers’ conference.

Obayemi is in his 70s.

Adeboye explained that the retirement age for all RCCG pastors will now be pegged at 70 years.

He said however that some of them may be given lesser roles after retirement.

Pastor Sunday Akande is to replace Obayemi as the RCCG National Overseer.

He will serve for a period of two years while Pastor Kalu Ndukwe will serve as the Overseer of the Africa Continent.

Adeboye said the position of the national overseer of the church will now be on a two-year tenure basis while the pastor occupying the position will operate from the redemption camp.

All churches in the camp would henceforth report to him. He will also represent Pastor Adeboye in special assignments.

Also affected by the changes is Pastor Johnson Odesola who had been in charge of the Administration and Personnel of the Church.

He was relieved of the two portfolios. Two pastors were appointed to handle the portfolios.

The new pastor in charge of Personnel is Julius Olalekan while Pastor Dele Balogun was appointed to take charge of Admin.

It is not yet clear the new designation of Pastor Odesola who also serves as the Overseer of the RCCG in the middle east.

The Redemption Camp according to Pastor Adeboye will henceforth carry the tag of a city just like the Vatican City.

He banned hawking and selling of goods along the roads in the camp saying such practice will no longer be tolerated. Offenders will be prosecuted while their goods will be confiscated. Indecent dressing in the camp environment will no longer be tolerated according to him.

Adeboye who clocked 80 early this year also named the ring road on the camp after the founder of the church, Pastor Josiah Akindayomi. Some other roads were named after some retired pastors of the church.

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