Olubadan Removes Oladoja As Mogaji, Asks Family To Present Replacement

 

Barely six months after he was suspended for land grabbing by the Olubadan Advisory Council, the Mogaji Akinsola of Opopo Labiran family compound, Ibadan, Wale Oladoja, has finally lost his title as the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, has directed the family compound to present another person to fill the vacant position with immediate effect.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Olubadan Advisory Council presided over by Oba Balogun at his Alarere residence, on Saturday.

The meeting had in attendance representatives of the Association of Mogajis of Ibadan land led by the President, Chief Asimiyu Ariori, and the Assistant Secretary-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Suleiman Raufu, who represented Barr. Niyi Ajewole, the President-General of the Council.

A statement made available to newsmen by the Personal Assistant on Media to Olubadan, Oladele Ogunsola, said the big axe fell on Oladoja on account of his recent media outbursts, which was considered disrespectful to the Olubadan stool and by extension the traditional institution of Ibadan land.

The Olubadan Advisory Council described the media reports credited to the deposed Mogaji as divisive, disparaging, insulting and unbecoming of a supposed leader, who is expected to be urbane and cautious in deeds and actions.

Recall that Olubadan Advisory Council had suspended Oladoja over inhuman execution of supposed court judgement on a land matter and for which he threw out some residents of Akinsola village in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, a conduct the Council described as untoward and a breach of peace.

At Saturday’s meeting, the council recalled that the suspension placed on him then did not last long because of his perceived genuine remorse and principally, because of Olubadan’s peaceful disposition.

“The recent outbursts by the same person have shown him as somebody without no iota of respect for constituted authority and any failure to bring upon him the full weight of the Council’s power would amount to condoning of indiscipline.

“To drive home the point, the Akinsola Family which produced him in the first instance was subsequently asked to present another person to replace him as the Mogaji of the family if they are still interested in having a substantive Mogaji.

“The deposed Mogaji was invited to the meeting but failed to show up on an excuse that his mother died about 24 hours to the meeting, an alibi that failed to convince the Council. 

Members, who spoke on his excuse described it as a gimmick to evade interrogation on the allegations against him and said they could not be swayed by such antics,” the statement said.

It quoted the members as saying, “a person of his character and his love for social media could nrrMouthpieceNGRot have hidden such a very important incident from the public through social media announcement. 

What’s more, he had made two different posts on the social media today without any faint reference to the said news of his mother’s death. His refusal to honour the invitation is like adding salt to an injury.” source MouthpieceNGR

Tony Elumelu gives solution to Nigeria’s electricity issues

Tony Elumelu, the chairman of Transnational Corporation (Transcorp), has urged the federal government to restructure the electricity industry and sell transmission lines to boost the country's flagging economy.

Tony Elumelu said that the low level of production in the nation is caused by a bad supply of energy. Photo Credit: Tony Elumelu, Sirisak Boakaew Source: UGC

He stated in a Bloomberg interview that the industry's growth is hampered by a lack of liquidity in the electrical market and inadequate transmission lines.

Elumelu, also the chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), said that a bad energy supply causes a low production level in the nation.

He stated:

“The currency crisis is a sign of many things. As a country, we can’t produce well enough despite our natural resources. The reason is lack of electricity,”

Need to attract investors

Nigeria sends less than a third of the 13,000 megawatts of electricity it generates to the grid, leaving most Nigerians dependent on home generators.

Elumelu said the way out is for President Bola Tinubu's government to attract investors to develop the nation's enormous gas reserves to fuel power stations and allow the private sector to manage the transmission lines.

Experts recently emphasized that Nigerian electricity companies need new investors to revitalise the industry as they are now short of an estimated N2 trillion ($2.5 billion) in capital.

In an interview, Olu Verheijen, an adviser to President Bola Tinubu on energy, said the companies are over-leveraged and under-capitalised.

According to Bloomberg, due to poor pricing, inconsistent revenue collection, and a decaying national system, most people in the most populous country in Africa now generate their electricity with loud generators, while Nigerian government has paid over $120 million to offset some of the debts owed to gas firms to enhance electricity generation.

The director of Decade of Gas Secretariat, Ed. Ubong confirmed this at the ongoing 7th edition of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2024) in Abuja on Thursday, February 29, 2024.

He said the government is also working on a scheme to curtail failures in the system.

Cross River schools shut down as measles cases emerge

 

 A measles outbreak has been confirmed in two schools within the Akpabuyo local government areas of Cross River state.

Dr. Henry Ayuk, the State's Health Commissioner, verified the outbreak, specifying the affected institutions of Navy Secondary School and Penniel Primary School.

. Photo Credit: Pius Ekpei Utomi Source: Getty Images

The State Rapid Response Team from the Ministry of Health has been mobilized and sent to the affected area.

Additionally, vaccination efforts are underway in the affected areas and neighbouring local government areas as a precautionary measure.

He mentioned that the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency is increasing efforts in regular immunisation to strengthen herd immunity.

Emphasising the contagious nature of measles, particularly among children without immunisation, parents and caregivers are urged to participate in routine immunisation drives for their children actively.

In response to the outbreak, the management of the Nigeria Navy School has shut down the institution and instructed parents to collect their children from the boarding facility promptly a circular from the school reveals:

“Good morning dear parents/guardian. This is to inform you that the school is vacating today due to some prevalent circumstances.

"The second-term academic activities will continue upon the return of the students. The date of return will be communicated.

"Please note that all SS 3 and JSS 3 students are to check for regular updates on WAEC, NECO, and BECE information.

"To this end, parents/guardians are kindly requested to pick up their children/wards with effect from today Fri 8 March 2024.

"Thank you and God bless.”

Attempts to reach the School Commandant, Capt FI Uchieme, were fruitless as his phone number was unreachable.

Okon Bassey, the Chairman of the School's Parents-Teachers Association, acknowledged receiving the message about the children being sent on vacation.

However, he stated that he had not been able to communicate with the school administration regarding this matter.

Given the circumstances, Bassey expressed confidence in the school management's decision-making process.

He emphasised that he still needed to clarify why the school was closed.

The health department emphasised in its announcement that it's crucial to promptly report any signs of Measles, such as rashes and coughing in kids, to the closest medical centre. They also stressed the importance of avoiding self-treatment.

Forensic expert confirms Emefiele forged Buhari, ex-SGF's signatures

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seconder and a forensic document examiner, Bamaiyi Haruna, has said that the analysis conducted on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) document for the release of $6.2 million in February 2023 was forged.

Haruna made the confirmation on Thursday, March 7.

 Photo Credit: Boss Mustapha/EFCC Nigeria/Godwin Emefiele Source: Twitter

The EFCC had alleged that former governor of the CBN Godwin Emefiele, in connivance with one Odoh Ocheme, now on the run, obtained $6.2 million from the apex bank. They have claimed it was a request by the SGF "vide a letter dated 26th January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/."

The commission had alleged that the former governor of the CBN, in January 2023, forged a document with the title "RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS," dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.

The commission had alleged that the former governor of the CBN, in January 2023, forged a document with the title "RE: PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE ON FOREIGN ELECTION OBSERVER MISSIONS," dated 26 January 2023 with Ref No. SGF.43/L.01/201.

At the last court sitting, the former secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha, explained that former President Muhammadu Buhari did not authorise the document and that it was not from his office.

The former SGF also informed the court that the Buhari's administration had no business with foreign election observers.

On his part, Haruna, the sixth prosecutor witness on the matter, explained that the real signatures of President Buhari and the former SGF were analysed with the ones on the documents, and they were not the same.

 Emefiele had threatened the Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, over alleged defamation.

Through his lawyer, Emefiele asked the Senate president to apologise publicly or face an N25 billion defamation suit.

Akpabio said on Sunday that President Bola Tinubu inherited an economy damaged by Emefiele when he was the CBN governor.

French billionaire now no 1: Meet top 10 richest men in the world and net worth

The ten richest people in the world, as of Thursday, February 21, 2024, are worth over $1.44 trillion.

This is according to data from the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, which is a daily tracker of the world’s richest people.

 Photo credit:Thierry Monasse Source: Getty Images

The data showed that as of Thursday, March 7, there are no billionaires in the world with a net worth of $200 billion. 

Jeff Bezos to become the world's wealthiest individual, boasting a net worth of $197 billion.

This development marks Arnault's ascendancy to the top spot, overtaking Bezos.

 Jeff Bezos surpassed Elon Musk in rankings for the first time since 2021.

However, Bezos' fortunes took a swift turn as his wealth plummeted by $755 million within a 24-hour period, bringing his current net worth to $196 billion.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as well as the head of X (formerly Twitter), now finds himself in third place with a net worth of $189 billion

Here is how much the top 10 richest men in the world are currently worth.

Earlier reports  indicated that Otedola has been ranked the 4th richest man in Nigeria amid bullish Nigerian stock performance.

According to the latest update of the Forbes Billionaire Index, Otedola has a net worth of $1.2 billion after making over $6 million on Thursday, January 11, 2024.

Otedola is now behind only Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, and Abdulsamad Rabiu on the Forbes Billionaire list of richest men in Nigeria

Tinubu suspends REA managing director over N1.2bn fraud

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the green light to the indefinite suspension of Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, the managing director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), and three of its executive directors.

This development was confirmed by the president's spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement released on Thursday, March 7.

Photo Credit: Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad/Bola Ahmed Tinubu Source: Facebook

As contained in the statement made available to journalists these three executives were listed as: Olaniyi Alaba Netufo — Executive Director, Corporate Services, Barka Sajou — Executive Director, Technical Services and Sa'adatu Balgore — Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF)

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has instructed a thorough investigation into the officials' actions regarding the fraudulent misuse of funds totalling more than N1.2 billion in the last two years.

It was also gathered that the anti-corruption agencies have already recovered some of this money.

The statement also revealed that President Tinubu had approved the appointment of temporary persons to manage affairs at the REA.

The List of temporary appointees are:

Abba Abubakar Aliyu — Managing Director/CEO, Ayoade Gboyega — Executive Director, Corporate Services, Umar Abdullahi Umar — Executive Director, Technical Services,  Doris Uboh — Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF) and Olufemi Akinyelure — Head of Project Management Unit, Nigeria Electrification Project.

President Bola Tinubu has called on all officials in his administration to prioritise transparency and accountability while carrying out their responsibilities.

He emphasises his commitment to prioritising Nigerians' needs for effective governance and quality service delivery over the personal agendas of those entrusted with serving the Nigerian populace.

 

Disaster management: NEMA lauded by Tinubu's advocates for due diligence

Wednesday, March 06, 2024 at 7:53 PM

The Renewed Hope Ambassador of Nigeria (RHAN) has commended the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for its proactive and transparent approach in fulfilling its responsibilities.

The President Bola Tinubu advocacy group has also praised NEMA's effective interventions in managing emergencies and disasters nationwide.

Members of RHAN at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, March 6. Photo Credit: Segun Adeyemi Source: Original

During a press conference, the groups expressed these sentiments, highlighting NEMA's consistent performance and successful fulfilment of its duties over time.

Daudu praised the agency, highlighting its crucial involvement in responding to emergencies and disasters in the country.

He acknowledged the presence of outstanding leaders within NEMA who have skillfully managed its operations with dedication.

The group said:

"The various Director Generals that stirred the ship of NEMA from the era of Sani Sidi to the current dispensation of Ahmed Mustapha Habib have provided sterling leadership qualities in managing the agency's affairs," he added.

"They have motivated staff members of the agency to discharge their duties effectively. The leadership of NEMA over the years has encouraged staff member training through participation in various training programs both locally and internationally. This has paid off. 

"The introduction of transparency and accountability in managing the affairs of the agency has ensured the effective utilization of the resources of the agency in fulfilling its strategic mandate."

The report highlights that attention was given to staff well-being, with numerous benefits offered to enable them to perform their roles efficiently.

The current director general received praise for effectively leading NEMA and elevating the agency to its current status.

Nevertheless, the report emphasises that the agency could achieve even more with significant support from key stakeholders, the government, and the public.

Meanwhile the Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) emphasised the significance of Nigeria's economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu, stating that any prudent investor would recognize the country's potential.

Following Tinubu's visit to Qatar, IMPI, represented by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju, highlighted the positive impact of these reforms and predicted promising returns in the near future.

President Tinubu recently visited Qatar for partnership and investment opportunities. Photo Credit: NESG Source: Twitter

It said:

"President Tinubu reinforced his commitment to going the whole hog with the implementation of these policies when he publicly declared during his visit to Qatar that: “This economy, we will grow it, and we will feed ourselves out of penury…if it’s corruption, we must exterminate it no matter how hard it is fighting back.

"We find this declaration instructive. It affirms the President’s unwavering commitment to seeing through the reforms he has undertaken to implement.

"We also agree with the President’s call on Nigerians to persevere at this time because, according to him, nation-building requires perseverance and patriotism to succeed.

"It is to these two value orientations that we call the attention of Nigerians."

The policy research organisation also highlighted its endorsement of the President's market-oriented strategies, asserting that they offer the most advantageous choice for the nation

Adelabu fumes over poor power supplyl

 

Following epileptic power supply across the country, the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, on Wednesday, March 6, threatened to revoke the licenses of distribution companies for non-performance.

. Photo credit: Bayo Adelabu, Prime Business Africa Source: Facebook

In a lengthy post shared on his X account on Wednesday, Adelabu lamented over "the deteriorating electricity supply across the country".

Adelabu disclosed that despite efforts to improve the situation, the power supply in the country continues to decline.

The minister attributed the cause of poor electricity supply in Nigeria to the non-performance of some distribution companies and vandalism of power infrastructure in Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.

To address the situation, Adelabu said he has summoned the “Chief Executives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), as well as the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), to a crucial meeting.”

He added that the meeting is aimed at discussing the worsening power supply in their respective regions and to collectively find lasting solutions.

The minister tweeted thus:

"As the Minister of Power, I am deeply concerned about the deteriorating electricity supply across the country. In response to this pressing issue, I have summoned the Chief Executives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), as well as the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), to a crucial meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the worsening power supply in their respective regions and to collectively find lasting solutions.

"It is disheartening to witness the decline in power supply despite the concerted efforts to improve the situation.

"Moving forward, I am committed to holding all distribution companies accountable for their performance. Willful non-performance will not be tolerated, and severe consequences, including license revocation, may be imposed. Additionally, I have instructed TCN to prioritize repair works on damaged transmission towers and power lines to improve supply in affected regions."

Meanwhile, residents of Aba, the commercial city in Abia state, are in a celebration mood following the 48 hours of uninterrupted power supply.

Some sections of Aba have been enjoying uninterrupted power supply after one out of four turbines at the Geometric Power Plant was switched on on Sunday, February 25.

The plant was launched 20 years after the project was initiated by a former Minister of Power, Barth Nnaji. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commissioned the power plant on Monday, February 26.

Governor Alex Otti said the commercial city is now open to national and international businesses.

2024 poll: Haley quits US presidential race, paving way for Trump-Biden rematch

On Wednesday, March 6, Donald Trump's final Republican rival, Nikki Haley, threw in the towel after a thumping defeat in the “Super Tuesday” primaries.

 Photo credit: Nikki Haley, President Joe Biden, Donald J. Trump Source: Facebook

As reported by CBS, the former United Nations Ambassador Haley suspended her 2024 presidential campaign on Wednesday, clearing the path for former President Trump to win the Republican nomination.

This came a few hours after Trump won commanding victories across nearly all the states holding Republican nominating contests on Super Tuesday, according to CBS News projections.

 Exit polls showed Trump leading Haley among broad segments of the GOP electorate, with voters saying immigration and the economy were their most important issues.

In short remarks at her campaign headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina, Haley did not endorse Trump, the front-runner for the nomination and the last remaining major candidate. She acknowledged that he would likely be the nominee and said she wished him well but stopped short of supporting him.

"It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him," Haley said. "And I hope he does that."

Haley in a post shared on her Facebook page clarified her position.

She wrote:

"I end my campaign with the same words I began it from the Book of Joshua. I direct them to all Americans, but especially to so many of the women and girls out there who put their faith in our campaign.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. For God will be with you wherever you go.

"In this campaign, I have seen our country’s greatness. From the bottom of my heart – thank you America."

Trump posted on social media that Haley got "TROUNCED" and pointed to Vermont's open primary for her victory there.

"At this point, I hope she stays in the 'race' and fights it out until the end!" Trump wrote.

Following Haley's decision, Trump is on track to reach the necessary 1,215 delegates to clinch the Republican nomination next week.

Lagos community clash leaves several dead, injured

A crisis broke out in Ibeshe area of Lagos, leaving an unspecified number of persons dead and several others injured.

Photo credit: Benjamin Hundeyin Source: Facebook

The altercation erupted on Monday night, March 4, and lasted till Tuesday morning, March 5.

It was said to have led to the destruction of houses and loss of lives.The clash involved residents from Ibeshe Riverside and Ibeshe Seaside.

Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos police spokesperson, confirmed that police actively addressing the situation.

"We have sought assistance from the Navy, and they are collaborating with us to quell the violence." He added .

Our source observed that unlike communities in Nigeria's northcentral region, communal clashes are not common in Lagos state. However, there are notable cult cases, which often lead to fatal violence

Lagos is one of the states in Nigeria with a strong security system. Despite that, the state is not resting on its oars. 

In December 2023, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu unveiled a plan to bolster security infrastructure with the announcement to raise N7 billion in support of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).

The following month, a prominent billionaire, Femi Otedola, donated N1 billion to the Fund.

In a related story, there was tension in Lagos as some cult groups said to be students of Community Senior Grammar School and Ikotun High School in the Alimosho local government area of Lagos state clashed.

Some policemen nearby intervened to restore calm as the groups from the two schools fought, but it worsened the situation as the cult boys reacted angrily to the officers' move.

Abuja Residents Criticise Motorcycle Crushing

 

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Some Abuja residents have kicked against the incessant crushing of motorcycles impounded by the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) and security forces.

 The authorities have consistently crushed motorcycles seized from traffic offenders, especially those caught in areas the bikes are banned.

Records from the FCTA show that hundreds of thousands of motorcycles have been destroyed in the last two years alone.

The residents, while reacting to the recent round of destruction in Abuja noted that the destruction should be replaced with stiffer fines or the auctioning of the motorcycles for use in areas they are not banned.

Some opined that the heavy fines would discourage riders from veering into areas where their presence was outlawed, associated with the perpetuation of insecurity involving motorcyclists.

“It will be recalled that many of the crimes committed in Abuja are mostly carried out on bikes; in which something must be done to prevent such crimes from happening again ".

Meanwhile, Dr Abdulateef Bello, the Director of the Department of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), has said that plans are underway to crush more than 130 impounded vehicles that failed integrity tests.

He revealed that the vehicles would undergo standard verification with those below minimum standards crushed, while the owners could face mobile courts and penalties in accordance with the law qtrevenue for the FCT.

Responding to allegations, Emetu encouraged the public to report any misconduct by DRTS personnel, assuring that such cases would be thoroughly investigated.

He reiterated the importance of public collaboratiod ln nsj lol, emphasising that motoriysts are key stakeholders and treated with respect.

Responding to suggestions that fines be increased instead of crushing impounded vehicles, Emetu emphasised that fines were already being implemented within the legal framework.

He pointed out that the effectiveness of fines had been limited, with many traffic violators failing to comply.

The spokesperson emphasised the commitment of DRTS to its primary goal of ensuring safety on the roads and urged the public to engage constructively with the agency to address concerns.

On allegations of corruption and misconduct of its personnel, Emetu acknowledged that enforcement entities often face public skepticism.

He encouraged the public to report concerns about staff behavior instead of confronting them, highlighting the readiness of the office to address public inquiries through its SERVICOM channel. (NAN).