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Yenagoa—Four supporters of People Democratic Party, PDP, narrowly escaped death, after their vehicle was involved in a ghastly motor accident

Sources told Vanguard that the vehicle conveying them, a Toyota Camry, rammed into the rear of a stationery 911 truck, along the Ofoni stretch of the Sagbama-Ekeremor road in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

It was gathered that they were on their way to join the governorship campaigns in Ekeremor Constituency III.

The Toyota Camry they were travelling in was badly damaged, while the occupants were rushed to the hospital by sympathisers.

Meanwhile, Governor Douye Diri of the state has expressed gratitude to God for saving their lives.

Speaking through his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, during a visit to the accident victims at a private hospital in Yenagoa, Diri described their survival as God’s miracle and abiding grace upon his administration.

A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Doubara Atasi, noted that the governor also commended the hospital management and staff for giving the desired attention to the victims.

FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, has opened up on his controversial meeting with Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman.

Leading reporters gathered that the meeting has generated mixed reactions, especially within the Muslim community, considering the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine.

Controversial Kaduna-based Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has also called for Wike’s sack following reports of the meeting.

But in a reaction, the minister said he had no constitutional powers to determine Nigeria’s diplomatic relations with other countries, as such powers lay absolutely with the President and Commander-in-Chief.

“I have heard from various social media platforms that we had a meeting, that we are doing this and that with Israel. I am here acting on delegation of powers on behalf of Mr. President,” Wike announced.

“I cannot determine a relationship between a country and another country. So, it is difficult for anybody to say I am doing this, I am doing that.

“Any foreign body that wants to have anything to do with Nigeria, it is the Minister of Foreign Affairs who will write to me and state that these people want to see me; it is simple. And when they come, it is in my position to say look, we want to partner with you. Take for instance you are going into agriculture and we want to partner, then we tell you where exactly,” he explained.

The minister further clarified that his meeting with the Israeli Ambassador was for agricultural partnership in the interest of farmers in the FCT.

“In Abuja here, most of them have cultural farms and we say look, it is our own desire to help anybody who wants to invest in Abuja particularly in agriculture in order to employ our people and in order to get more revenue. It has nothing to do with another country. It doesn’t work that way.

“When our people begin to now think different angles and people may not understand that it is not correct. So I will like to use this opportunity to say look we have to talk to our people. In fact we must live harmoniously. We must live together to make sure that development is promoted”, Wike stated.

Former governor of Ekiti State and chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Ayodele Fayose, on Sunday, commended the performance of incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Fayose, who spoke at a special thanksgiving service at Cathedral Church of Emmanuel Okesa, Ado Ekiti to mark Oyebanji administration’s first year in office, said not only will Oyebanji successfully complete his first term, but he would also get reelection for a second term.

Fayose spoke on behalf of ex-governors of the state,  Niyi Adebayo and Kayode Fayemi.

He said, “We are all together for Biodun Oyebanji. I am not a member of your party (APC) and I will not be. I am with you (Oyebanji) hundred per cent.

“Where is Bisi K (Chief Bisi Kolawole, PDP 2022 governorship candidate)? We are going to support you (Oyebanji). You have come to visit me at my house seven times. You are doing it differently and you will get a different result. This church will pray for you and you will do it (governorship) a second time.”

In his remarks, Adebayo said Fayose’s assertion “is the position of we, the former governors. Thank you very much.”

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The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who spoke earlier, said, “I am looking forward to being the chairman of your (Oyebanji’s) re-election campaign,” adding that “the governor has earned the confidence and trust of the people for a second term.”

Bamidele, who represented the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said, “Governor Oyebanji is entrenching the culture of respect and the culture of performance. He is lucky to have Governors Adebayo, Fayose and Fayemi as mentors and advisers. What he is doing differently is that he is giving the state a new political order, uniting various groups where youths, women, and civil societies consider themselves as stakeholders.

Making his remarks,  Oyebanji said he counted himself lucky to be standing on the shoulders of the former governors, whom he described as “giants”.

“Today is about God in our life as people of Ekiti State.  It is not because I am the best person in the state or because I know how to do it; it’s not because I am the most brilliant, all is by the grace of God. For the little we have achieved, I give God the glory,” he said.

In his sermon, the Bishop of the Diocese of Ekiti, the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Rt. Revd Olusola Ajayi, hailed Oyebanji for making a positive impact in the lives of the people of the state in the last year.

The governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has refuted claims that he escaped an assassination attempt along Abuja-Lokoja expressway on Sunday, October 22.

Leading reporters gathered that the Kogi State commissioner for information, Kingsley Fanwo, had issued a statement alleging that Governor Bello was attacked thrice by “strange elements in military uniforms” on his way to an official assignment in Abuja.

But, reacting to his aide’s claim, Governor Bello described the claims as false and should be disregarded.

Governor Bello clarified that the incident was a minor disagreement between his personal security team and military personnel assigned to protect the road, emphasizing that there was no attempt whatsoever on his life.

He added that while there was a minor fracas between men of the Nigerian Police Force attached to his convoy and those of a military unit manning the highways, it was in the course of both units performing their lawful security duties.

The Governor who commended the security agencies for their joint contributions to the improved security of lives and property enjoyed by the citizens of Kogi State, however, called on the high command of the agencies involved to investigate overzealousness or unprofessional conduct by any of their men involved in the incident and apply the necessary sanctions.

The Governor called on citizens of Kogi State to ignore any attempt by political profiteers to use the incident to unsettle the polity as the state’s 2023 governorship elections slated for November 11 draw nearer.

He assured the state of both his safety and the adequacy of security arrangements to ensure that the elections are peaceful, free and fair.

Two children have been confirmed dead while two others sustained various degrees of injuries in a boat mishap that occurred in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger State.

The Overseeing Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) /, Alhaji Salihu Garba, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Saturday.

Garba said the incident occurred on Friday at about 6:00 pm when the boat engine caught fire due to a mechanical failure and inflamed a gallon of petrol stored inside the vessel.

He further disclosed that 145 passengers were in the boat, adding that they were from Danbo community in Kogi State.

Garba added that the passengers were on their way back from Katcha market when the incident occurred.

He said that the body of one of the deceased children had been recovered while the search for the remains of the second missing child was still ongoing.

Suspected ‘Kalare’ thugs in Gombe State, who specialise in snatching mobile phones, on Friday night, killed a 58-year-old woman, Aishatu Abdullahi, in her residence at Jeka Da Fari area of the state capital city.

The thugs were said to have stormed the woman’s house at about 9:45pm to rob her. She was stabbed her in the process of robbing her of her phone, which led to her death.

It would be recalled that just few months ago, the Kalare thugs raided the house of a popular Islamic preacher in the state, Sheikh Albani Kuri, with the aim to dispossess him of his phones and later murdered him when he refused to hand over the phone to them

Meanwhile, the Gombe State Police Command has expressed shock and dismay at the heinous crime and pledged to do everything in its powers to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Command, in a press release issued by its Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mahid Muazu Abubakar, on Saturday, said it has launched a full-scale investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify those responsible for the murder of the woman.

“The Command extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Aishatu Abdullahi and we want to assure the public that we are doing everything possible to apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime and bring them to justice.

“We urge anyone with information that could lead us in our investigation to come forward and give us the information,” the Police spokesperson said.

The Command also urged residents of the state to remain calm and vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or individuals to the Police.

Also, the state governor, Inuwa Yahaya, has condemned the gruesome murder the woman.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Isma’ila Uba Misilli, the governor directed security operatives to track down the killers.

“I want to make it abundantly clear that there will be no escape from justice for those responsible for this vile and vicious act. Our security agencies are directed to leave no stone unturned to track down the culprits to account for their heinous action,” he stated.

He conveyed the condolences of the government to the bereaved family.

Narrating the sad event, a friend to the victim said:

I thought it was a joke as I received a call from my friend Michael amajuoyi who leaves at Nnaze in owerri.

As he was crying shouting I’m dead oh I’m dead oh I ask him what happened the only I heard was comeoh please he end the call I have to drive out that night 1:30 am to his house on getting there I don’t have time to ask what happened I first of all put him in the car we move down to chibuzo hospital where the place him on emergency ward.

It was later I asked his wife with 4 kids what happened she said she has been suspecting her husband for a long time so last night he came home from business and went to bathroom to bath so she took his phone to play game on the process here comes a message that says:

“Thanks dear for the new phone it was really my dream phone for a long time. Good night and take care.”

So the woman drop the phone without asking the husband as he came out from bathroom. It was late midnight she slick to the kitchen and boiled hot oil and pour it on his back.

Now my friend is telling me that after surviving this he has to file for a divorce.

A trader at Lafenwa Market in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has cried out over the seizure of her wares by the female head of the market, known as the Iyaloja, Alhaja Sidi Owe.

The trader, Adetoun Oyenekan, told newsmen that the Iyaloja had in collaboration with the Babaloja pulled down her stall, leaving her with nothing.

According to Oyenekan, who sells baby toys and stationery, the goods carted away by the market leaders is worth over N1 million.

Speaking in an interview, Oyenekan recounted that the Iyaloja had on Thursday engaged her in a fracas by pushing her.

She explained that the brawl ensued after the market leader slapped her several times and she retaliated.

This incident, she alleged, led to the seizure of her goods and the demolition of her stand in Lafenwa Market.

“I was passing by in the market yesterday (Thursday) when the Iyaloja pushed me, I didn’t say anything. She did it the second time and I asked why? I told her to stop acting that way. She started saying all sorts of things.

“The next thing she did was to get a red and white tape to seal off my stall. I protested, I asked her to tell me what I did wrong.

“They carted away my wares worth over one million naira. She slapped me several times and I retaliated. She pulled down my counter. She was supported by the Babaloja,” she narrated.

Oyenekan said she had appealed to the Babaloja and also reported the case to the Gbagura community, but nothing had been done yet.

“I am hungry. I cannot sell anything since yesterday. I am hungry and so are my children. I can’t even send them to school. Please come to my aid,” she cried out.

Contacted, the Iyaloja denied slapping Oyenekan, saying “she was the one who slapped me.”

Our correspondent reports that the Iyaloja did not deny carting away the trader’s wares, saying it was the punishment for assaulting a market head.

Mrs Owe expressed surprise that a market trader could have the effrontery to slap the Iyaloja.

Her words: “I don’t know where a market member would slap the Iyaloja. Everything happened yesterday. The woman doesn’t greet me before now. I was supervising a culvert project at the market when she suddenly pushed me. She pushed me again when I went to meet a friend in the market. Everybody was surprised.

“Instead of dragging issues with her, I, as the Iyaloja, went to call the task force to seal off her stall with tape. When they were about to run the tape round her stall, she started cursing the task force, so they stood away. When the task force could not do it, I took the tape, thinking she would fear me a bit. But she pushed me again.

“As I was struggling with her, she slapped me. I said should I turn the second ear to you. She said she would slap me again if I turn the second ear to her. I turned the second side to her and everybody rose up, blaming her for what she did. So, we ran the tape to seal off her stand.

“I have informed the Iyaloja of Egba and she called the Babaloja. The right punishment for whoever slaps the Iyaloja was applied. Moreover, it has never happened before, and we have rules and regulations in our market.”

Asked about Oyenekan’s goods, the Iyaloja retorted, “If she wants to sue us, she should go to court. The market’s lawyer would respond.”

Mrs Owe was also asked to state what should be done to release the seized goods, she said the woman ought to have organised people to apologise on her behalf.

The Iyaloja emphasised that it was Oyenekan who slapped her and she did not retaliate, saying “let the tears that came out of my eyes when she slapped me judge her if she lied. If she asked you to publicise it, please do; we are ready.

“If she kills a cow for the entire market traders, they would eat; but if the entire market traders kill just one cow for her, she would not be able to eat it. Nothing would happen to her and me too.”

The Federal Government is reviewing and expanding the National Social Register to accommodate pensioners and ex-servicemen under its Conditional Cash Transfer scheme.

It is also removing beneficiaries who have excited the poverty line.

Leading Reporters gathered that the government was also taking out dead beneficiaries from the register and would disqualify those without National Identification Numbers and Bank Verification Numbers.

It was further gathered that payments would be made directly to the beneficiaries by the Central Bank of Nigeria and not through consultants, as the first batch of bulk payments would begin next week for five million households.

The Conditional Cash Transfer scheme is part of the National Social Investment Programme of the Federal Government, which is a project created to change the lives of millions of Nigerians living in extreme poverty, upgrade their standards of living and improve the economy.

In commemoration of the 2023 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on Tuesday in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu launched the disbursement of N25,000 to 15 million households for three months as a social safety net intervention.

The aim is to mitigate the impact of the recent fuel subsidy removal and help eradicate poverty across the country.

Providing further details on the initiative in response to inquiries by Saturday PUNCH, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Rasheed Olanrewaju, stated that the cash transfer scheme had been reviewed and expanded.

Asked if the Federal Government would use the old register used by the former President Muhammadu Buhari administration to transfer the money, he stated, “We are using a verified expanded register that has pensioners and veterans, as well as other vulnerable persons who were not captured.”

Confirming the position of the minister’s media aide, the National Communications Manager, National Social Investment Programme Agency, Jamaldeen Kabir, stated that beneficiaries who had exited the poverty line were being removed from the register.

Kabir said, “What he (Olanrewaju) told you is very correct, because the register is being expanded. First of all, it has to be verified so that those who are out of the poverty line will be removed from the old register.

“Those in the register, are they still within the poverty line or have they exited the line? The expansion will also include the wives of fallen heroes and pensioners.”

On when the cash transfer would begin, Olanrewaju stated that though bulk payments would commence from next week, some of those who had been verified had already started receiving payment alerts.

“The cash transfer (scheme) has been launched and once a household is verified, they get paid. The batches begin this month, next week to be precise; however, verified people have started receiving alerts,” he stated.

Also commenting on when the cash transfer would begin, Kabir said, “Actually, when the programme was launched at the Presidential Villa three days ago, some beneficiaries were presented with some cheques.

“So, before this month ends, the beneficiaries in the first phase will receive theirs, and this phase caters to five million households. So, we are expecting those five million households to receive money in the months of October, November and December,” Olanrewaju added.

On how many ghost recipients had been discovered, the minister’s aide stated that a lot of measures had been put in place to make the scheme credible, such as the introduction of the NIN and BVN.

“They may not be ghosts, but we have put in place many controls to make the process credible and clean. First, we looked for the NIN and BVN to match with in-person verification and biometrics. The process is from the CBN to the beneficiaries; there are no middlemen,” Olanrewaju stated.

Asked to state the number of dead recipients, he replied, “We have struck off many names following the verification. The final figure will be out in weeks; it may run into millions.

“Some are dead; some are no longer in that category (of the poor) and some could not be identified at locations given, so wait till we get the compilation ready,” he added.

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Asked to state those involved in identity theft, he said, “All these will be determined when the final report is out. For now, we will pay those fully verified and the names will be pasted in communities.

“Fifteen million households amount to about 62 million individuals, with an average of five persons per household.”

The humanitarian ministry stated that the determination of the Federal Government to eradicate poverty was in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which has poverty eradication, food security, economic growth and job creation as priorities.

At the launch of the cash transfer scheme on Tuesday, Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, enumerated various steps his administration had taken to ameliorate poverty in the country.

These, according to the President, include providing the policy framework and road map for poverty alleviation, developing humanitarian response and expanding the National Social Register to capture Nigerians living below $1.95 per day.

Other steps include restructuring of the National Social Investment Programme and repositioning it for quick and efficient delivery that is transparent, as well as partnering with the World Bank Group and other development partners to implement conditional cash transfers and business grants, among others.

The ministry stated that the government was also investing N100bn in the purchase of 3,000 units of 20-seater Compressed Natural Gas-powered buses for cheaper transportation.

It further stated that there was an investment of N200bn to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmland to improve food security.

The ministry added, “The release of 2,000 metric tonnes of grains from the strategic grains reserves to households across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The distribution of 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers and seedlings to farmers, who are committed to the nation’s food security.

“The release of N75bn to support 100,000 small and medium enterprises and start-ups. Renewed Hope Shelter Programme for the poor, refugees and internally displaced persons targeted at one million households.

“Business grants and loans for vulnerable market women, farmers and traders to expand their business, targeted at two million beneficiaries, among other interventions from various ministries through a multi-sectoral approach.”

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, recently stated that all stakeholders, including the private sector players, development partners and other nations, should support Nigeria in its drive to eliminate poverty.

She stated, “The cardinal goal of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is to give the poor and vulnerable Nigerians a new breath of hope, which is also in line with the SDG target”

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not relent until vulnerable Nigerians are completely pulled out of poverty by 2030.”

Edu said the conditional cash transfer was a proven way to alleviate poverty, as it would give households the financial support to start micro and small enterprises, provide basic health care and food, keep their children in school and attend to the immediate needs of the households.

She stated, “Mr. President, during the October 1, 2023, national broadcast, announced this intervention; we have gone through a thorough and rigorous process of verification for the National Social Register, giving us the lead way to begin payments.

“The beneficiaries are drawn from across all states in the country plus the Federal Capital Territory and it is being done in a transparent manner that is traceable and verifiable.

“Beyond this, the government will be providing low-cost shelter for the poor and internally displaced persons as a form of providing that cover for them.

“Several other interventions, including the rural vocational skills intervention, will be carried out on a country-wide scale. All of these are targeted at the various dimensions of poverty across the country.”

The Ogun State Government has said the campgrounds of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, and the Deeper Christian Life Bible Ministry in the state are open for residents displaced by the coastal floods currently ravaging the state.

The state Commissioner of Environment, Mr Oladimeji Oresanya, in a telephone interview with newsmen on Friday urged residents who were willing to leave the areas to contact the state emergency response teams and the National Emergency Management Agency, who would send their officials to help them leave.

Following the floods in the area occasioned by rising sea levels, rainfall and the release of water from the Oyan dam, no fewer than 100 landlords have had to abandon their homes, fleeing the havoc.

A landlord in the area, Mr Paschal Uchendu, said he had to flee his home on Friday (yesterday) so as not to be caught up by the issues.

In an interview with our correspondent on Friday, he said, “This one is even worse than the flood of 2019. From my assessment, this is the worst we have seen so far.  It has even cut off a section of the Warewa Road.

“People are leaving already. Most landlords left three days ago when it started. I personally left today (Friday) after the flood entered my house. The flood has covered everywhere in the area.

“We are about 20 landlords in my own area, and the houses there are over 100. You can imagine the number of families that have been displaced as a result of this problem.”

A landlord and Chairman, Riverview Estate Residents and Stakeholders Association, Mr Abayomi Akinde, said the floods had affected his estate tremendously, adding that a lot of homeowners have fled.

“A lot of havoc is being done at the moment. As I speak to you now, I am wading through water, not on the street, but in my living room. My entire house has been overtaken by the floods.

“I am lucky I have a space upstairs. Some are not as lucky. Everyone has fled. The only thing that has made me remain is that I cannot just leave my house like that.

“There are some people that the floods entered into their homes through the window. The water level is so high. It is a very devastating occurrence that needs not to have happened at all,” he said.

He noted that former President, Goodluck Jonathan, visited the area on October 20, 2013, and made a lot of promises to address the issue, which, according to him, has not been fulfilled.

“The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, also visited the area in 2019 and I had the honour to speak to him directly. He promised to fix the problem with infrastructure but nothing was done. All the measures taken are from resident associations and other political stakeholders in the area,” Akinde added.

Reacting, the environment commissioner, Oresanya, said residents in the area had since been advised by the government to evacuate their homes or elevate them to suit the terrain.

He, however, noted that residents who were willing to leave could call the state’s emergency centres on 08036401944 and 09010480056, adding that the emergency respondents would come to help evacuate them to the church hostels.

He said, “We have advised that people living around the coastal areas to either evacuate or elevate their homes or roads. This means they can raise their houses, floors, or roads.

“The government has made provision. Most of the churches around Ogun State have hostels that they can use, and they are open to the displaced residents.

“We have already discussed with the likes of RCCG, MFM, and others, and they have opened up their hostels for us in the state so that people who want to relocate can move to those areas temporarily for one or two months.

“The state emergency management agency, as well as NEMA, is on the ground to provide relief material to our people.”

He also added that he had gone physically to tell the residents of these coastal areas to leave as there was nothing the government would be able to do about infrastructure at this time since the floods were already here.

Speaking on the causes of the perennial flooding in the area, Oresanya said it was wrong to attribute it only to the release of water from the Oyan dam in the state.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, on Friday, allayed the fears of residents along the Ogun-Osun river bank following reports of flooding experienced in these affected areas.

He assured the residents of the state’s preparedness to contain any eventuality that may arise with the intensity of the flow of the runoff water from the upland into Lagos.

Wahab who made this remark while fielding questions from journalists during a press briefing on the recent flooding situation along the basin of the Ogun River and lagoon coastline held on Friday at the conference room of the ministry said it had become important that homeowners within these areas relocate immediately to higher grounds.