Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has disqualified the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 11 governorship election, Timipre Sylva.

Justice Donatus Okorowo ruled that Chief Sylva, having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as governor of Bayelsa would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

This was sequel to the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/821/2023 filed on June 13, 2023 by Deme Kolomo, a member of the APC seeking disqualification of Sylvia, who was Minister of State for Petroleum Resources in the administration of Muhammadu Buhari.

As the campaign for the November 11 governorship poll in Bayelsa State reaches its peak, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted reports suggesting cracks within its ranks.

Secretary, media and publicity committee, of the party’s national campaign council and former spokesman of the party, Hon Yekini Nabena, implored the general public to disregard the reports of crisis, just as he chided the state governor, Douye Diri over the report 

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Nabena described as “sponsored media reports” the reports suggesting that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, and 2019 APC Governorship candidate, David Lyon, were working for Governor Douye Diri.

According to him, all suggestions of a crack in the camp of the APC in Bayelsa is a ruse.

He said the media report which quoted some unnamed sources is a propaganda sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cause disaffection within the winning APC team.

Nabena released recent pictures where both Lokpobiri and Lyon recommitted themselves before the APC national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to deliver Timipre Sylva and the party in Bayelsa

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo State.

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has approved the payment of a 28-year backlog of gratuity for pensioners in the Edo State Local Government Staff Pension Board.

In a statement, the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) and Permanent Secretary, Local Government Staff Pension Board, Osas-Ehigie Sandra, said a screening exercise will be held for the payment of pensioners on the payroll of the Local Government Staff Pension Board between 1979 and 2008.

She said: “This is to inform pensioners on the payroll of the Local Government Staff Pension Board, who retired between 1979 and 2008, that the governor has released funds for their gratuity, and that screening exercise will be held in the Local Government Staff Pensions Board premises, King Square, Benin City.

A statement signed by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, enumerated the new appointees as follows:

(1) Mr Fela Durotoye Senior Special Assistant to the President — National Values & Social Justice

(2) Mr Fredrick Nwabufo Senior Special Assistant to the President — Public Engagement

(3) Mrs Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe

Senior Special Assistant to the President — Strategic Communications

(4) Mr Aliyu Audu

Special Assistant to the President — Public Affairs

(5) Mr Francis Adah Abah Personal Assistant to the President — Special Duties

According to the statement, the President has further approved the secondment of Mrs. Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe to serve as the Communications Adviser to the President of the ECOWAS Commission.

He tasks all new appointees who are serving in the Media and Publicity Directorate to uphold the highest standards of decorum and decency in their engagements with all members of the public as they advance the President’s determined bid to renew the hope of Nigerians in a restructured economy and unified society that caters sufficiently to the needs of all.

The President reportedly followed the full tenets of Nigeria’s federal character principle and the supremacy of merit in this new appointment

Founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola has presented the  sum of N11,200,000 as empowerment for some farmers found to be most outstanding   across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.

The legal icon and foremost eduprenueur presented the cheques in the Institution during the weekend at the 9th edition of the grand finale of Aare Afe Babalola Agric Expo (ABAEX), now Afe Annual Farmers Exhibition (AAFEX).

Speaking with journalists, Afe Babalola said the goal of the Initiative, since its inception in 2014, is to revive the interest of the masses, educated folks, the rich, the academics, and others to invest in agriculture.

The legal icon noted that technology has come to stay in the contemporary world, hence the need for farmers to familiarise themselves with modern technologies for mass production of farm produce for the sustainability of food security.

To achieve this, he called on the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti state to assist and advise the 16 local government areas in the state to purchase Agricultural implements for farmers to hire.

He also tasked federal government to advise Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture to assist farmer cooperative societies.

In his words: “How many of us can buy this modern equipment? The modern equipment enable rich and highly educated people to engage in large scale modern agriculture, where as in Nigeria, we continue to use cutlasses and hoes, thereby making farmers in Nigeria to continue to use cutlasses and hoes, thereby engaging in small scale farming.

“State governments should assist and advise local government to purchase Agricultural implements for farmers to hire.

“We must put pressure on government to advise Bank of Industry, and Bank of Agriculture to assist farmer cooperative societies.

“The federal government should please encourage banks to give soft loans to Agric cooperative societies.

“Farmers must form cooperative societies and use their lands as security to obtain soft loans from Bank of Agriculture. The said cooperative societies can then buy modern agricultural implements which farmers can hire to enable them engage in modern agriculture.”

Giving the breakdown of the cash prizes, each LGA in Ekiti state received total sum of N575,000, which was shared among five winners, and amounted to N9.2 million across the 16 LGs.

Meanwhile, another N2 million was presented to the overall best farmer of the year 2023, Agbemuko Abiodun Olasebikan from Ijero LG, for his outstanding performance and contribution to the agricultural sector.

Other highlights include the empowerment of 32 youths on entrepreneurial skills, presentation of awards to notable individuals, where  Afe Babalola was recognised  as an “Outstanding Farmer” for his contribution to agrarian and agroforestry farming.

In his goodwill message, the representative of Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO, Abuja, Dr Olagunju Idowu hailed Afe Babalola’s giant strides towards the realisation of Social Development Goals (SDG) 2030.

He commended the legal icon for being in the forefront of eradicating hunger in Ekiti State, adding that the state has been outstanding in the whole Africa for its quest towards the eradication of hunger.

He thereby, urged the Nigerian youths to invest in agriculture as white collar jobs are no longer rampant in the country.

Some Nigerians have condemned the use of a jet in the presidential fleet by President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, to go on a private trip to Kano State to watch a polo tournament.

Polo is a ball game played on horseback, a traditional field sport and one of the world’s oldest known team sports, but is the exclusive reserve of the rich and members of the ruling class in Nigeria.

Leading Reporters learnt that Seyi embarked on the trip along with his friends on Sunday to watch a polo tournament in Kano and they were welcomed on arrival to the ancient city by the state government official

Leading Reporters learnt that Seyi Tinubu was likely attending the finals of the 2023 NPA Kano International Polo Tournament scheduled for Sunday at the Usman Dantata Polo Ground in Kano.

The Dangote Cup final between Golden Ranch and Agad/Rumbu was started by 3.30 pm on Sunday while the Muhammadu Sanusi Cup final between the ‘winners’ and the ‘rest of the team’ was scheduled for 4.30 pm.

Seyi Tinubu’s reckless private trip using taxpayers’ money amid hardship in Nigeria mirrors what happened in January 2020 when then-President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Hanan, took a private photography trip to Bauchi State on a presidential jet.

Jaafar Jaafar, a Nigerian journalist from Kano State and the founder of Daily Nigerian, wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, “Here’s Tinubu’s golden child, Seyi, traveling in a presidential jet to watch polo in Kano. But this trend did not start today.

“Buhari set the bad example when he allowed his daughter Hanan to travel in a presidential jet for a photo tour in Bauchi. Even if our laws are vague on this, one thing is clear. This is an offence to the moral code of leadership.”

Another user, @belloinuwa, who also spoke on the misuse of special forces units in the country said, “What about the misuse of a special forces unit as his bodyguards? See them in the pictures.

“The other day he went skateboarding in Abuja with them running by his side. This is just a continuation of the culture of impunity from the previous government, perhaps on an even grander scale this time.”

Another X user, @HGBashar wrote, “Buhari merely sought the title of ‘President’ without understanding or respecting the sanctity of the office.

“The audacity to let his daughter, Hanan, use a presidential jet for a mere photo tour in Bauchi was the beginning of this mockery. Now we see Tinubu’s protege, Seyi, hopping on the same jet for a polo match in Kano.

“It’s not just about the laws, it’s about ethics, morals, and respect for the position. Our leaders must do more than just occupy an office; they must uphold its dignity.”

Also, @EIderstateman said, “Gone are those days when public employees could confront political leaders without fear or favour and be reprimanded if they disregarded established processes, norms, and regulations. My Dad once sent a bill to Sir Ahmadu Bello for using an official plane for an unofficial trip.”

Seyi Tinubu in November 2022 in the build-up to the 2023 general elections attracted public outrage when he flew to Kano in a private jet to lead a rally in support of his father in the presidential election.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted dust haze and thunderstorms from Monday to Wednesday across the nation.

Local Lawmaker begs corps members to be patriotic and stop changing postings

NiMet’s Weather Outlook released on Sunday in Abuja predicted dust haze with visibility range of 1km to 3km and localised visibility of less than or equal to 1, 000m was anticipated over the northern region on Monday.

“There is prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba state later in the day. Thunderstorms are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa and Niger states in the morning while visibility values are expected to be between 2km to 5 km over the North Central states due to the dust in suspension.

“Thunderstorms are expected over parts of Kogi, the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa and Benue states in the afternoon and evening

“Thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Cross River, Rivers, Lagos, Delta and Akwa Ibom states during the morning hours,” it said.

The agency envisaged thunderstorms with rains over parts of Edo, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Ebonyi, Imo Oyo, Imo, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Lagos States later in the day.

The agency said that moderate dust haze with visibility range of 2km to 5km and localised visibility of less than or equal to 1,000m was expected over the northern region throughout the forecast period on Tuesday.

It forecasted hazy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue.

The agency envisaged thunderstorms over parts of Niger, the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi, Benue and Kwara states later in the day.

“Cloudy morning is expected over the Southern region with prospects of thunderstorms and rains over parts of Ogun, Ondo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Delta, Lagos, Cross River and Akwa Ibom states during the morning hours.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Ogun, Edo, Oyo, Delta, Osun, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Lagos states,” it said.

NiMet anticipated moderate dust haze on Wednesday with visibility range of 2km to 5km over the North throughout the forecast period.

It predicted cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine over North central region during the morning hours.

“In the afternoon and evening hours, thunderstorms are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, Kwara, Benue and Nasarawa states. Cloudy skies with sunshine intervals are anticipated over the Southern region in the morning hours.

“Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Edo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Imo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Lagos and Bayelsa states,” it said.

The agency said that moderate to heavy rainfall can lead to flash floods. The public was advised to take necessary caution, avoid driving and walking through flood waters.

It advised citizens to take necessary safety precautions as strong winds were likely to precede and accompany the thunderstorms.

“Disaster risk managers, agencies and individuals should be proactive, to avert loss of lives and property during the rainy season.

“All airline operators are advised to avail themselves of weather reports and alerts periodically from NiMet for effective planning for their operations,” it said