The Presidency has reacted to recent calls by individuals and groups for the restructuring of the country, labelling such requests as unwarranted and unpatriotic. 

This was disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement he made available to journalists on Sunday night.

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This followed requests by General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who had on Saturday joined other prominent Nigerians to call on the Federal Government, led by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to urgently restructure the country to save it from imminent breakup.

The pastor, who spoke at a symposium alongside the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; former Governor of Cross River State and former presidential aspirant, Donald Duke and a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, warned that it was either the country restructured as soon as possible or it broke up. “You don’t have to be a prophet to know that one,” he added.

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However, Shehu described such calls as “recurring threats to the corporate existence of the country” in his statement.

The statement further read, “The Presidency responds to the recurring threats to the corporate existence of the country with factions giving specific timelines for the President to do one thing or another or else, in their language, ‘the nation will break up.’

“This is to warn that such unpatriotic outbursts are both unhelpful and unwarranted as this government will not succumb to threats and take any decision out of pressure at a time when the nation’s full attention is needed to deal with the security challenges facing it at a time of the COVID-19 health crisis.

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“Repeat: this administration will not take any decision against the interests of 200 million Nigerians, who are the President’s first responsibility under the constitution, out of fear or threats especially in this hour of a health crisis.

“The President as an elected leader under this constitution will continue to work with patriotic Nigerians, through and in line with the parliamentary processes to finding solutions to structural and other impediments to the growth and wellbeing of the nation and its people.”

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Government won’t succumb to threats on restructuring —Presidency

The leader of INRI evangelical spiritual church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has given a strong prophetic warning as Nigeria celebrates her 60th independence anniversary.

Primate Ayodele warned that “God is angry with President Muhammadu Buhari’s government” due to some of the activities of his administration.

In a statement he released to newsmen, the clergyman said God will soon respond to the atrocities of the current administration with the division of the country.

He further added that disbelief in God, bloodshed, loss of lives, injustice and bad treatment of the electorates by those in government were some of the sins of the present government which has brought God’s anger on them.

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The Prophet then declared that he does not see Nigeria as one nation in 2035, and added that the vision 2050 that is being projected is fake.

Primate Ayodele reacted to the current clamour of some Yoruba groups for the secession of Oduduwa Republic, and made it known that Biafra and Oduduwa Republic are here to stay except God intervenes. He therefore urged President Buhari to be conscious and get a hold of his government.

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‘‘Nigeria will break, God is angry with Buhari’s government, Blood is too much, life has been lost and Nigeria is sitting on a gun powder, this government don’t believe in God, they believe in their wisdom, those in government are governing themselves, Buhari isn’t in grip of his government .

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“God is angry because there are lots of injustice, difficulties and bad treatment of electorates, God will soon respond, what will happen is Nigeria will be divided.  I am not seeing Nigeria as one nation in 2035, and vision 2050 is a fake vision.

“Biafra and Oduduwa nation have come to stay, nobody can stop it except God,’’ he said.

God is angry with Buhari, Nigeria will breakup – Primate Ayodele

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to resign from office as that is the only thing that would make Nigerians happy.

Fayose  said this was based on claims that Nigeria currently has nothing to celebrate as it marks its 60th anniversary.

These utterances were disclosed in a statement released by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka. According to the statement, Fayose insisted that Buhari’s resignation was the only thing that would make Nigerians happy as the country marks its 60th independence anniversary.

He also maintained that Nigeria was currently in coma and surviving on life support.

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The statement further read: “The only thing that will give Nigerians unspeakable joy as the country turns 60 will be the announcement of the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The country is presently in coma and on life-support, there is nothing to celebrate in a country bedevilled with insecurity, hunger, bare-faced corruption and bad governance.

“President Buhari’s resignation will serve as a life-restoring parting gift for Nigerians.”

Nigeria at 60: You should resign, Nigeria is in coma – Fayose to Buhari

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has threatened to sanction lecturers in Rivers State-owned universities if they resume lectures.

This was disclosed by the ASUU National President, Abiodun Ogunyemi, while reacting to the directive of the Rivers State Government that tertiary institutions, secondary and vocational schools should reopen on Monday, October 5.

Ogunyemi, who spoke on a radio, 92.3 Nigeria Info, in Port Harcourt, said ASUU had not exempted any of its branches from the ongoing strike.

“We have not exempted any branch of our union from the ongoing strike. Any branch that does that will be violating our directives and what we do in such situations is to take them through our procedure and apply appropriate sanctions.”

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In addition, the Port Harcourt Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Uzo Onyebinama, said that although the unions in Rivers State universities were on suspension for previously flouting the order of strike, it did not expect the members to resume classes.

ASUU threatens to sanction Rivers lecturers over schools reopening

A Federal High Court in Abuja has on Monday ordered Senator Elisha Abbo, a lawmaker from the PDP, representing Adamawa North, who slapped a nursing mother repeatedly at a sex toy shop on May 11, 2019 to pay the sum of fifty million naira (N50), to Osimibibra Warmate for assault. 

Abbo, who, at 41 is reportedly the youngest senator in the country, was said to have entered a sex toy shop around 6pm, with three young women to purchase adult toys. However, shortly after they began shopping for the toys, one of the three girls started throwing up. She vomited multiple times, prompting the shop owner to remark that the woman should have vomited outside and not inside her shop. Abbo, who was reportedly agitated by the sudden illness of the girl, was said to have accused the shop owner of poisoning the store’s air conditioner. 

The shop owner argued that if the air conditioner had been contaminated others in the shop would have also taken ill. Her opinion seemed to have angered Abbo, and the two had a heated exchange over the matter. The senator was said to have called a policeman who he then ordered to arrest the shop owner. The shop owner quickly called her father to inform him that Abbo had called police over the matter and that she was about to be taken away. The shop owner’s friend who had been standing nearby tried to intervene by pleading with the second man to take things easy but was slapped repeatedly by the lawmaker. 

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Days after assaulting the lady, Abbo apologized for the assault, adding that regardless of the provocation, his actions did not portray him a good ambassador of the Senate, the PDP and the youths of Nigeria. In his words: “It is with a deep sense of remorse and responsibility that I, Senator Ishaku Abbo profoundly apologize to all Nigerians, the Senate, the Peoples Democratic Party, my family as well as our mothers- the Nigerian women.

 “I personally apologize to Babra (the lady he reportedly assaulted) and her family for my action which has brought immense discomfort to our body polity.  

“l have never been known or associated with such actions in the past. Regardless of what transpired prior to my expression of anger, I am sincerely sorry and plead that all men and women of good conscience should have the heart to forgive me. To err is human, to forgive is divine. “To the Church of God everywhere in the world, I am sorry. As an Ambassador of Christ, much is expected of me. “My family and religious upbringing do not give approval to such conduct and for this, as a leader, I seek forgiveness before God and all those who feel offended by my action. 

“Indeed, this episode has taught me a very great lesson both as a private citizen and a public officer particularly as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria upon whom public confidence is reposed.” However, over a year later, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered him to pay N50M as compensation to a woman he assaulted. Disclosing this on Monday, Lugard Tare-Otu and Nelson who identified themselves as Warmate’s lawyers, confirmed the situation. 

Reacting to the news, Nelson said via his twitter handle: ”Remember that video of a Nigerian senator slapping/assaulting a young lady at a shop? Well justice was served today with the court slamming the sum of N50M against the Senator. I am delighted to have represented that young lady in this suit. We say no more to oppression.”
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Court awards N50m damages against Senator Abbo for assaulting woman in sex toy shop

THE Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has declared October 1 a sit-at-home day across states in the South-East region, described as Biafraland.

IPOB stated that the sit-at-home was in solidarity with its Yoruba brothers in the Diaspora who are agitating for Oduduwa Republic, and that the decision was also to avert what it called wild killing in the area by some terrorists.

The group said it had obtained some credible intelligence that terrorist groups planned to carry out attacks on people of the region intending to celebrate the Independence Day.

In a statement by the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB said its members would join its Yoruba brethren agitating for Oduduwa Republic, in public protests to mark the day.

The pro-Biafran group said a complete and total lockdown of Biafraland and other terror ravaged areas of the Middle Belt on 1st of October 2020 was sacrosanct, irreversible and non-negotiable.

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Part of the statement read, “We enjoin all Biafrans and every conscious Nigerian, especially those ethnic nationalities reeling from the triple double blow of state sponsored terrorism, bad governance and economic annihilation, to boycott every government organised ceremony designed to eulogise the failure that Nigeria has become.

“This is the time to let the world know how disastrously intolerable human existence is in Nigeria today.

“We, the global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra, wish to announce to all Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom all over the world that Biafrans across the globe shall observe a sit-at-home in Biafraland and where permissible in the Diaspora, join our Yoruba brethren agitating for Oduduwa Republic in public protests to mark October 1, 2020.

“If you want to see an end to terrorism and organised mediocrity, now is the time to register your anger by ensuring that you and your household sit at home on October 1, 2020.

“Do not risk the life and well-being of your children by allowing them to gather in groups in the open where terrorists may find it easier to blow them up or kidnap them. There is credible intelligence that terrorist groups are planning to slaughter our children should they venture out to celebrate or march on October 1st.

 We'll join Oduduwa Republic agitation in October 1 sit-at-home–IPOB

Felix Okpoh says he has resolved to be morally upright

Felix Okpoh, a Nigerian fraud suspect who is on the watchlist of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, has surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, in Lagos.

Okpoh, had been declared wanted by the FBI in 2019 along with Richard Uzuh, Alex Ogunshakin, Abiola Kayode and Nnamdi Benson, for their alleged involvement in a Business Email Compromise scheme that defrauded over 70 businesses in the United States of over $6m.

The fraud suspect allegedly provided over 40 bank accounts to his conspirators, which they then used to receive fraudulent wire transfers from their victims. On August 21, 2019, he was indicted in a US District Court, District of Nebraska, on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

However, in an unexpected turn of events, Okpoh, on Friday, turned himself in at the Lagos Zonal Office of the commission accompanied by his parents, Col. Garuba Okpoh(rtd.) and Chief Justina Okpoh.

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According to a statement by the Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, in Abuja on Tuesday, Felix stated during interrogation that he surrendered to the EFCC “out of the respect he had for his parents and his resolve to be morally upright.”

Uwajuren's statement read in part, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced an investigation of one Felix Osilama Okpoh, an alleged fraudster on the watchlist of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, for his involvement in a $6m internet fraud.”

Nigerian fraud suspect wanted by FBI surrenders to EFCC

The governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has mourned the death of the Commander of 25 Task Force Brigade of Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. D.C. Bako, who was mortally wounded in an ambush laid by Boko Haram insurgents.

According to a statement released on Monday by the governor’s spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, the sacrifice by Bako and other heroes, will not be in vain.

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The Colonel was confirmed dead by the Army from injuries sustained in combat around Damboa in the southern part of Borno on Sunday.

The statement by Mallam Gusau also read, “Bako was a true soldier who inspired his troops and led them to front lines with exceptional courage that was clearly out of pure patriotism. He fought very hard and very well.

READ UP HERE, Nigerian army commander dies in Boko Haram ambush

“He defeated many enemies of peace and protected many sons and daughters of Borno State to the extent that he gave his life defending the people of Borno. By the grace of God, the supreme sacrifices made by Col. Bako and many other heroes like him in the armed forces shall not be in vain.

“The death of our heroes, sad as it is, only reinforces our confidence in the strong will exhibited by our gallant troops and volunteers, that defending our country comes ahead of everything. The people of Borno will forever be grateful to the late Col. Bako and everyone like him.

“I share the grief of Col. Bako’s family and the families of all those who have died fighting for Borno. I commiserate with theatre command of operation lafiya Dole in Borno state, the Nigerian army and the entire Nigerian military over the loss of a warrior.

“May the gallant soul of Col. Bako rest peacefully with our God, who rewards good people with unending joy after death. Ameen.”

Gov Zulum mourns war hero killed in Boko Haram ambush

There was jubilation all over Benin City on Sunday as residents trooped out to celebrate the victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party over the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in the elections which held on Saturday.

This was even as some of them mocked a former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole, the major promoter and supposed 'godfather' of Ize-Iyamu.

A former member of the National Assembly from Kogi State, Senator Dino Melaye, also mocked Oshiomhole and the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Reports have it that Godwin Obaseki polled a total number of 307,955 votes to emerge winner of the poll while Ize-Iyamu scored 223,619 votes. It will be recalled that Obaseki had contested and won the governorship election on the platform of the APC in 2016, against Ize-Iyamu who was then the candidate of the PDP.

However, following Obaseki's fallout with Oshiomhole, who is also a former National Chairman of the APC, the former  lost the APC governorship ticket. Ize-Iyamu, who had defected to the APC ahead of the APC governorship primary election, was then given the ticket.

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While celebrating Obaseki’s victory on Sunday, Melaye said Oshiomhole had been reduced.

“Fellow countrymen and women, I salute you once again. I am reaching you directly from Edo. What  we used to have as Osho Baba has now been reduced, downgraded and degraded to Osho pikin. Nobody should call Osho Baba again, never! The only thing you now have is Osho pikin…..

“How can you expect that a man with the umbrella will not win during the rainy season? Definitely, the PDP won. APC, how market? Oshiomhole, how market?” Melaye said before bursting into a song to mock Oshiomhole and Tinubu, who had released a video ahead of the election, urging the people of Edo to reject Obaseki.

“The dollars brought in a bullion van to Edo have gone down the drain,” Melaye added.

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In addition, some of Obaseki’s supporters said Oshiomhole should relocate to Lagos to join Tinubu to help him cope with the shame of the defeat.

Obaseki’s supporters called Oshiomhole many unprintable names, saying he became too arrogant after the people of Edo State compensated him to win the 2007 governorship in the state.

While rejoicing on the streets, some of the youths said, “He (Oshiomhole) should relocate to be living with his godfather in Lagos.”

Edo residents, Melaye mock Oshiomhole after APC defeat

The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has been accused of plagiarism over the ‘Nigeria at 60 Logo’ which was unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday.

This was after it was discovered that the logo was first designed and unveiled by a Russian diamond mining company, Alrosa, in 2017.

In fact, Forbes edition of August 3, 2017 with the headline: “Russian Mining Giant Unveils 51-Carat ‘Dynasty’ Diamond” reported that Alrosa unveiled the exact logo, describing it as a collection of five diamonds produced at its cutting and polishing facilities.

“Russian diamond mining company, Alrosa, unveiled a collection of five diamonds produced at its cutting and polishing facilities. The centerpiece of the collection is the “Dynasty” diamond—a 51.38-carat traditional round brilliant-cut diamond, which the state-owned company says is ‘the purest of all large diamonds manufactured throughout the Russian jewelry history.’

“Alrosa said during the unveiling Wednesday in Moscow that it plans to sell the collection at an online auction scheduled for November 2017.

“In addition to its size, the 57-facet gem has been rated Triple Excellent (excellent in polish, symmetry and cut), D color (colorless) and VVS1(very, very slightly included), a clarity grading just below “flawless” and “internally flawless” meaning a tiny speck is visible at 10x magnification through the pavilion of the diamond.

“Sergey Ivanov, Alrosa president, said a diamond of this size and with these characteristics has never been produced in Russia and it has the potential to be most expensive diamond ever sold in the country’s history. Less than 1% of diamonds have these characteristics.” 

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Unveiling the logo, Buhari described the logo as an obvious depiction of Nigeria’s togetherness, a country of over 200 million people whose natural talent, grit and passion glitter like the precious diamond.

He said: “The selected option depicts our togetherness, a country of over 200 million people whose natural talent, grit and passion glitter like the precious DIAMOND we are.

“This, to me, is a special appreciation to our most precious asset – our people. Everywhere you go, Nigerians are sparkling like diamonds in the pack, whether in academia, business, innovation, music, movie, entertainment, fashion and culture.

“Furthermore, the neatly encrusted Diamond on the Nigerian Map symbolises our age of treasure, the worth of the Nigerian people with our sparkle to the admiration of the world.

“In the same vein, the pear green and dark green colours should respectively remind us of our warmth, welcoming spirit and love as well as the abundant wealth inherent in our human capital and the richness of our land.

“All these properties make us unarguably the most prosperous black nation in the world and Africa’s largest economy.”

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Meanwhile, the Nigerian agencies, Chain Reactions Nigeria, TBWA Africa and The Temple Management Company that jointly created Nigeria @ 60 logo has refuted rumours making the rounds that the logo, which has been appreciated and loved by both highly placed government officials and industry practitioners was never plagiarised.

The rebuttal came on the back of the rife rumours ring through the social media that the logo was lifted from a Russian Diamond company. The co-creators said, “The attention of Chain Reactions Nigeria, The Temple Management and TBWA Africa has been drawn to an unfortunate conversation in some sections of the online media regarding the recently unveiled logo for the Nigerian Diamond Jubilee Celebration (Nigeria at 60) by President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR)”.

Few hours after the unveiling of Nigeria at the 6th-anniversary logo, myriads of reviews poured in from different stakeholders across the country as expected. As envisaged, the views expressed are symbolic of our diversity as a nation. In fact, it captures what we are celebrating. The theme of the Diamond Jubilee Anniversary, TOGETHER, is all about how we have stayed together as a people despite our diversity.

Buhari Govt Accused of Plagiarism over ‘Nigeria at 60 Logo’

Popular Yoruba actor, producer and singer, Jimoh Aliu, is dead.

Aliu, a seasoned artist, producer, location designer, director, make-up artist and singer, who was popularly known as Aworo, died on Thursday at the age of 85 in at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti of medical conditions yet to be disclosed to the public.

One of his sons, Rasaq Aliu, confirmed the death of the actor to journalists. There are speculations that his remains will be moved to his home at the Adebayo area in Ado-Ekiti before being taken to his hometown at Okemesi-Ekiti in Ekiti West Local Government where he will be interred on Friday (today).

The deceased was born on November 11, 1939 in Okemesi, Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State.  Aworo , who was a Muslim, was also a tradionalist who learnt ‘Ifa’ divination from his father.

He began acting in 1959 when he joined the late Hubert Ogunde theatre group. He left the group to form his own in 1966.

He joined the Nigerian Army in 1967 during the civil war and left in 1975.

Some of his famous television dramas of the 1970s 80s and 90s include Arelu and Yanpin Yanrin and featured iconic characters like Fadeyi and Orisabunmi.

The late Aliu is survived by two wives, Bola and Folashade. He had children from the two women. He was married to a fellow movie star, Folake Aremu aka Orisabunmi, for over a decade before they parted ways.

Meanwhile, Aliu’s death has attracted reactions from his colleagues. Popular actor, Yomi Fash Lanso, said: “It’s the end of an era. It’s so pathetic and painful. We have lost another library of culture and tradition. We can only pray that God grants him eternal rest with the hope that we can continue to have such a revered veteran in Nigeria and Yoruba land because he was a human library with a fountain of knowledge.”

Another actor, Yomi Fabiyi, said: “Jimoh Aliu was a legend. He was one of the very few who could lay claim to pioneer status in acting and movie making in Nigeria.”

After years of success on the airwaves, the late Aliu was honoured with a National Merit Award of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) in December 2005 by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Veteran Yoruba actor, Jimoh Aliu ‘Aworo’ dies 

Hundreds of aggrieved youths went on rampage on Tuesday in Osogbo, Osun State capital, after operatives of the military joint task force (JTF) of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS chased a car hotly, leading to the death of two boys. 

It was gathered that the boys were involved in an accident after a hot chase by some officers of SARS. The accident occurred at the East bypass when the Toyota Corolla with registration number KUJ-553LY Abuja – conveying young boys whom the JTF allegedly suspected to be Yahoo boys, veered off the road during the chase and hit an electricity pole. Three of them were said to have been rushed to the hospital while one other died on the spot. 

Consequently, protests have broken out, and protesters reportedly set ablaze a police patrol van belonging to the Joint Task Force at Alekuwodo area of the city.

According to reports by NAN, the youths, armed with sticks and other dangerous weapons, attacked passers-by during the protest. However, the police reportedly shot sporadically into the air to escape being mobbed.

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The protesters also dumped a corpse believed to be that of the deceased in front of the state government house in Oke Fia while destroying a motorcycle in the process.

A vehicle belonging to the JTF was also damaged around Alekuwodo area by the protesters while many traffic wardens met on duty were beaten up.

The state police PRO, Yemisi Opalola, who confirmed the incident, said it involved men of the JTF and not the police command.

Gboyega Oyetola, the state governor, had on April 28, inaugurated the JTF to tackle the menace of illegal mining, kidnapping and cult activities in the state.

Protest in Osun as SARS chases young driver to death

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.