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The breakdown of relations between Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, took a new turn on Monday, September 18, with the governor’s decision to bar his estranged deputy from the Government House.

When Shaibu arrived a his office on Monday morning, he saw that the gate to the deputy governor’s office at Dennis Osadebey Avenue and the main door leading to the storey building were both secured with chains and hefty padlocks.

He and his aides waited for about an hour before leaving. Shaibu, during that period reportedly made frantic phone calls to his principal, Governor Obaseki but to no avail.

An assistant to the deputy governor who made the pictures available to the public anonymously disclosed that his principal had some discussions with the Commissioner of Police and the Director of State Services, informing them of how he was locked out of his office.

According to him, there was no official communication to the effect that the deputy governor’s office had been locked.

Shaibu was consequently said to have summoned the Camp Commandant at the Government House, SP Ibrahim Babatunde, questioning why he was locked out of his office.

“He said it was a directive from above adding that the CSO in government house, Wabba will be in a better position to explain”, the aide said.

Shaibu was said to have put calls to Wabba Williams who promised to come to the scene, but never came all through the period Shaibu waited.

Four people have reportedly died from a cholera outbreak in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State over the weekend.

According to report, a source who pleaded anonymity and resident within the Local Government confirmed this unfortunate incident

Pressed further to mention the communities affected, the source declined but said “I can tell you that we have four casualties already and efforts are already ongoing to deal with this emergency, that is the much I can say for now”

However, in a statement signed by Dr Tomi Coker, the Special Adviser to Gov Dapo Abiodun on health and made available to journalists on Sunday evening, the state government alerted the residents of the state to the outbreak of Cholera in the local government.

The statement says “There is an Outbreak of Cholera (Aarun òní gbá méjì) in the Ijebu North Local Government area of Ogun State. Cholera is known to occur during raining seasons and may also be associated with poor environment and personal hygiene.

“It is commonly present with stooling with or without vomiting leading to dehydration. Cholera can result in death if the severe dehydration is not promtly corrected.We implore all citizens of Ogun state to;

“Please Report all cases of Stooling with or without vomiting to the nearest government health facility and notify the LGA DSNO (08069788449).

“Ensure proper personal and environmental hygiene. Citizens should wash their hand frequently (before and after using the toilet or eating). Use water from clean sources, treat water before use and boil before drinking.

“Wash and cook food thoroughly before eating. Prevent open defecation

Please be careful of the food and water you take, because cholera is caused by water or food contaminated with faeces. Thank you all for your Support and Cooperation”, the statement concluded

Asked to confirm the number of casualties, Dr Coker said “Good evening. I am yet to get the full situation report.”

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Delu Bulus Yakubu as the pioneer national coordinator and chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA).

A statement by Anjuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, on Thursday, said the appointment is subject to senate confirmation.
The National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) (Establishment) Act, 2023, was signed into law on May 22, 2023.
Yakubu holds a Masters degree in agronomy from the State University of Bio-Technology in Kharkiv, Ukraine, with over 15 years worth of working experience in Social Investment Programme management.

President Tinubu was quote to have said he expects the new appointee to convey the highest level of efficiency, transparency, and qualitative service delivery at NSIPA, in his determination to actualize the Renewed Hope agenda of his administration.

President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, September 17, approved the nomination of Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim as Minister of Youth and Mr. Ayodele Olawande as Minister of State of the ministry.
The new nominations are subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said.

He said: “President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim to serve as the Minister of Youth, pending her confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The President has further approved the nomination of Mr. Ayodele Olawande to serve as the Minister of State for Youth, pending his confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim is a young medical doctor and most recently served as the President of the Progressive Young Women Forum (PYWF). She has also served as the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Mr. Ayodele Olawande is a community development expert and youth leader in the governing All Progressives’ Congress (APC). He most recently served in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Innovation from 2019 to 2023.

“President Tinubu charges the above-mentioned nominees to ensure that they consistently reflect the dynamism, innovative zeal, and unyielding productivity that are synonymous with the young people of Nigeria as they discharge their duties.”

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has said ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo ordering traditional rulers in Oyo State to stand and greet Governor Seyi Makinde, at a project inauguration in Iseyin, Oyo State, was tantamount to desecration of Yoruba traditional stools.

A short video of Obasanjo, who spoke in Yoruba language, had surfaced on the Internet, expressing displeasure to the monarchs for not rising to greet Makinde, describing the action of royal fathers as disrespectful to the office of the governor.

Reacting, Oba Akanbi, in a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Alli Ibrahim, on Saturday, September 16 condemned the former president’s action and demanded a letter of apology from him.

Noting that Yoruba monarchs could not be treated as uniform men who would be ordered around, the Oluwo blamed the royal fathers who responded to Obasanjo’s order.

The statement partly read, “I trust myself and my stool. In death, there are certain things my soul will not take let alone when alive, active, and kicking. I only blame the monarchs who stood in obeisance to such an ignoble and desecration of traditional institutions from the old man. Respect should be earned not demanded.

“Traditional rulers respect their subjects too. There is a way respect is accorded to people of old age and position by monarchs. Kingship is an institution of God. As such, relating with kings requires a high sense of modesty, courtesy, and respect.

“The display by the former president of Nigeria, General Obasanjo was an affront, an intentional desecration and sacrilege against revered stools of Yorubaland. An injury to one is an injury to all. Yoruba traditional rulers are not uniform men anyone can command at will. I don’t blame him, those royal fathers who stood up to obey such an embarrassing direction are to be blamed.

“The show by the former general is condemnable. Yoruba traditional institutions demand an apology for the open desecration to molest and bring down the institution. He needs to prove himself as a core Yoruba man with an apology letter. Kings are not toddlers. We are fathers. He will never dare that against the Northern Emirs.”

Not less than 67 persons have been announced missing by the Gombe State Police command between January to September.

In an interview with our the Punch, the Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahid Abubakar, on Saturday said the cases were reported across the 11 Local Government Areas of the state.

Based on checks carried out by Punch correspondent in August only about 65 persons were declared missing, with the present inquiry bringing the number to 67 in September.

According to Abubakar, the cases are from January 2023 to September, adding that efforts were on to recover the victims.

“From January to date we have 67 cases of missing persons reported at the Headquarters,” he said.

Abubakar disclosed that although some of the missing persons have been found by their family members, stressing that the command under Commissioner Oqua Etim, is committed to securing residents.

According to the Police Spokesperson, “Let me add that some of the persons lost have been found. The cases were majorly reported by their family members and some of the missing persons have since returned home. I wish to reassure you and many other residents of the state that Gombe is safe as Commissioner Oqua Etim and his men are committed to securing the state and her people, there is no need for worries,” Abubakar added

The founder of Peace House, Bro Gbile Akanni has the newly installed Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye to refrain from marrying more wives

According to him, the new monarch must refrain from marrying more wives while advising him not to be materialistic in his new position.

Akanni, Leadingreporters gathered, gave the warning while preaching at the first public appearance of Oba Olaoye on Thursday, September 14.

The event which was monitored online by our reporter garnered large turnout who watched as Bro Akanni stood in front of Oba Olaoye preaching the gospel of Christ.

His words; “God has brought you here to be a blessing to the people. Here is the word of God to you. This is not the word of man. God is saying the king must not acquire wives. That is what God is saying.

“The king must not acquire silver and gold. If the blessings come, let it be for the people of the town. We pray that the people of Ogbomoso will experience something new in your time,” he stressed.

“Those who are hungry will be fed during your time. God who blesses us abundantly will rain his blessing on us.”

A United Arab Emirates (UAE) official has contradicted the claim by the Nigerian government that it has lifted the visa ban imposed on Nigerian travellers.

According to CNN, the official from the Gulf state disclosed this in a chat.

“There are no changes on the Nigeria/UAE travel status so far,” the source asked not to be named was quoted to have said.

Presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, had claimed that the visa ban was lifted after President Bola Tinubu met with Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, his UAE counterpart, on Monday.

Daily Trust had reported how President Bola Tinubu proceeded to Abu Dahbi, UAE capital, from India, where he attended the G-20 Summit.

In a statement issued after the meeting, Ajuri had said, “President Bola Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, have finalised a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers.

“Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay.”

But the UAE authorities were silent on these issues in a statement they issued after the meeting, fueling suspicion among Nigerians.

In its statement, the Middle East country said Nigeria and the UAE would work together to reinforce their ties and explore opportunities for further bilateral collaborations.

Apparently reacting to the controversy created by his initial comment, Ngelale had said officials from both countries needed more time to finalise agreement details, a pure contradiction of his previous statement that the issue had been resolved.

“Given the agreement struck between the two Heads of State, there is need to allow cabinet officials from both sides to work out the finer details and finalize the cross-sectoral agreements,” he said, adding that “Everyone can now allow the process to work itself out organically, devoid of speculation.”

Asked to react to the visa ban and flight resumption issue during the Aviation Africa Summit in Abuja on Thursday, Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said there was no timeframe.

He had said: “So, we are beginning to work out all the tiny details. I have met with Emirate before I left UAE, and we are working out the details. We cannot say the time frame. Kicking off an airline operation again on a route, does not mean you will go and grab one empty plane sitting in a place.”

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Dattijo served as Commissioner of Budget and Planning under immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

The president also sacked all the deputies that served under Godwin Emefiele, former governor of CBN, who is in custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Presidential spokeman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, announced this in a statement on Friday.

Ngelale said President Tinubu had approved the nomination of four new Deputy Governors of the CBN, for a term of five (5) years at the first instance, pending their confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

Aside from Dattijo, under nominees are: Mrs. Emem Nnana Usoro, Mr. Philip Ikeazor, and Dr. Bala M. Bello.

The appointments are subject to confirmation of the Senate.