G POLITICS: BUHARI ASKED US TO SANCTION OSHIOMOLE -OBASEKI

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has said the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, is not a member of the party.

Obaseki also said the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had directed the state APC to deal with the pro-Oshiomhole Edo Progressive Movement and the national chairman for anti-party activities.

The governor, according to a Government House statement sent to our correspondent on Thursday evening, said these at a rally  of the  APC members from the Owan East and West Local Government Areas in Sabogida-Ora earlier on Thursday

Efforts of the APC to resolve the crisis in its Edo State chapter have so far not succeeded with factions loyal to Obaseki and Oshiomhole insisting on their positions.

On November 12,  the crisis worsened as each of the two rival factions suspended Oshiomhole and Obaseki.

Obaseki had rejected a peace committee set up the APC National Working Committee late November on the grounds that the panel, headed by the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje,  was the brainchild of the Oshiomhole-led NWC

Again on  November 18, the APC set up a 10-member committee, headed by the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmed Lawan, but Obaseki opposed it, saying the National Assembly leadership was a party to the crisis in Edo State.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, had, in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday, said, “We can’t have a committee where we have parties in the dispute as members. It just doesn’t follow the cause of natural justice.

“ The National Assembly is in court as we speak with the House of Assembly in Edo State over the plan to come and take over the operations of the state House of Assembly and then the leaders of the same National Assembly that had wanted to take over the House of Assembly are now the head of the reconciliation committee. Senator Ahmed Lawan, the Senate President, with all due respect,  and other leaders of the National Assembly are hell-bent on taking over the Edo House of Assembly.”

On Thursday, the governor said the APC in the state was united, strong and formidable, stressing that members of the EPM were not members of the party.

The governor said, “The APC is one party.  Those that say they are in the EPM are not APC, including their national chairman, who we have suspended in Edo State. Those mistakenly elected into Edo State House of Assembly,  who are members of the EPM, have been thrown out and the Independent National Electoral Commission is aware and will soon announce a date for a fresh election, where we will have opportunity to elect credible representatives, who will represent us in the House.

“Any person doing anti-party activities, President Muhammadu Buhari has asked us to deal with them. We have been told to go back to organise our party.  That’s why we are here. As a ruling party in the state, we have done a lot for the Edo people, moving the state forward progressively, but the EPM are afraid of progress and will do anything to ensure we don’t get another term.”

Obaseki alleged that the  EPM members were trying to frustrate the good plans of his government for the people of the state.

READ ALSO: Wanted Obono-Obla attends social functions in Cross River

“Their intention is to discredit our administration, but the people of Edo know better,” he said.

Obaseki explained that his administration was achieving a lot in agriculture in the state, adding that government would soon commence work on the Sobe-Sabogida-Ora road.

Oshiomhole’s  plots have failed – Gov

The governor stated, “The support here today is massive and it speaks volume, further showing that the suspended national chairman’s antics will not work. He no longer has the support of the Edo people. The act of trying to create factions of the APC in Edo State can’t work.

“We are still intact, strong and united. Our politics in Edo State is transparent and can’t tolerate any act of dubiousness. If you are a progressive, you must be a real progressive.”

The Chairman of the Owan West Local Government Area, Frank Ilaboya, commended the governor for his achievements. He said the people of the local government would support him for a second term.

Also, the  Chairman of the Owan-East LGA,  Andy Osegwue, said the people were behind Obaseki because of his achievements.

Obaseki suffering from diarrhoea of the mouth – Oshiomhole faction

But the secretary of the Oshiomhole faction, Lawrence Okah,  said the governor was a political misfit and that the Edo people should ignore him.

He said it was very clear that the governor’s second term ambition had affected his sense of reasoning.

G ENTERTAINMENT: AFRICAN MUSIC CAN COLONIZE THE WORLD, FUJI IS ONE OF IT- SK SENSATION AT FINISHING TOUCHES WITH A BOMBSHELL.

Late 2019 Fuji has taken a differ dimension with a promising significance that 2020 Nigerian and the world at large should be expecting an inducing Fuji input that might give hip-hop a concern if care is not properly taken, Fuji might wanting to take over the music industry. This is a reminder of the likes of Fuji icon king Sunny Ade, Sir Shina Peters, late Rolling Dollars and the likes with also the presence of Fuji singer SK Sensation and with Banji Rainbwo who was also part of SK band was not excluded as they thrilled Lagos islanders at lekki in a concert organised by Finishing Touches located at Ajah close to Ogidan to a meritorious glamour of an unforgettable Christmas celebration whereby the sensitivity of his Fuji presentation was endowed for international export.
If we could take stock of the administration of past president Good-luck Jonathan, we would all agree that the music and entertainment industry was part of the GDP(gross domestic product) which added a growth in the rating of the Nigerian economy at world level. Nigerian music industry would not be completed if the Fuji music was left out, Obessere and more are part of this growth and with all indications, it is obvious that the government should invest in this sector to encourage more values in individuals lives by creating jobs and a pattern of modern way of colonization to the world through African culture and ways of life with entertainment.

America which is the number one leading country in the world today is an exemplification of how music helped in making positive impact in their system by colonizing other part of the world to use to their ways and understanding, this goes a long way for foreign policies and Nigeria can do same for we are blessed with the human capability and all we need is the government support.

G POLITICS: SOUTH WEST STATES PREPARED FOR AMOTEKUN SECURITY OPERATION IN 2020 TO CURB THE KILLINGS IN THE STATES

South-West governors will on January 7, implant Operation Amotekun, a security strategy meant to combat killings and kidnapping in the zone.

According to the the Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua, who stated in an interview recenctly that vehicles and equipment for the security outfit are ready.

He stated that the inauguration was delayed by the need for all the states to be adequately ready in terms of meeting certain requirements, mainwhile the governors had in September, after a meeting in Akure, that they would set up  an Operation Amotekun security motive due to the serial killings and kidnapping in the zone by Fulani herdsmen because report had it that some time in June,  certain gunmen who were suspected to be herdsmen, killed  Funke Olakunri, a daughter of the Afenifere leader, Reuben Fasoranti, on the Ondo-Ore road.

Therefore,there were cases of kidnapping, including the abduction of a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Prof. Olayinka Adegbehingbe, in May, at the Ikoyi/Apomu junction of the Ibadan-Ife Expressway in Ikire, a border town between Osun and Oyo states.

Also, a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and four others were kidnapped at the Ogbere area of Ogun State in August.

Various Leaders of  the Yoruba race from some ethnic groups such as the Oodua Peoples Congress and Agbekoya, had it in November with a statement that they were waiting for the South-West governors to request personnels from them so as to join the security outfit. During an interview with the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, had, on November 10 with Punch, he said, “The present stage is that the group is awaiting the response of the governors so that we can know the number of security personnel needed.”

But three months after the governors said they would start the operation, the security outfit had yet to be inaugurated despite the worsening security situation in the zone.

For instance, members of the Orin-Ekiti community in the Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State recently lamented that the invading herdsmen had vandalised farms worth N50m owned by 70 farmers in the area.

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Olumilua, in the interview with The PUNCH, said,  “Everything is set now. On the 7th of January, it (Operation Amotekun) will be launched obviously and all the states have to be on the same page. They were trying to be sure that all requirements were in place. Following his statement that at the moment all the states were ready with their requirements and January is slated for the commencement. It is not a matter of contribution of money but it is about equipment, vehicles and other things he said.

G ENTERTAINMENT: OPIZZY LAGOS STATE 2018 FIESTA WINNER STORMED EPE WITH A UNIQUE YORUBA CAROL TOGETHER WITH ALHAJI BENBELA A FUJI STAR.

The Epe residences in Lagos had an amazing experience with fuji and hiphop coral as the crowd could not help it but screamed for more when the Lagos Fiesta winner in 2018 Opizzy turned Epe into a mega stand still "what an an outragous young boy with a massive talent. Jaymax another Yoruba fuji hiphop  singer whom I will assure you that the indultry is waiting for for another turn aroung as 9nice turned the fuji into an internatinonal export, this guy is so perculiar, stylish and endowered with fuji hiphop, in fact he is a bomb is he perfomered various of his song the two uinque upcoming art caleed  Olabode Fasug and Tijani Shehu the music scene should not undermined took to stage with their astouninishing rap tune.

This shows that the level of creativity in Nigeria is fast growing which I would say there is no doubt that soon will might have a Yuroba Santa Claus, Alhaji Benbela a Yoruba fuji star turned the atmosphere around with fuji band perfomers thrilling the crowd with fuji highlife naturally traditional as he make a unigue use of the gonga and other African local instruement which I most say, it is only in Africa you can get such originality. The Christmas party commemorate the birth of our lord Jesus Christ which took place at Ontario Epe. The Epe axis in Lagos is set to be the future of Lagos due to the series of development attracted to the area with the likes of the international airport, seaport and even Dangote notable refinery are located in this axis.

MOTORIST EXPERIENCE KIDNAPPERS MENACE

Kidnappings on some highways across the country have reached a crescendo. CHUKWUDI AKASIKE and SIMON UTEBOR capture the shocking stories of some victims of this vicious crime

Throughout the night of May 16, 2019, Angela Nkereuwem, a 21-year-old lady from Mbo Local Government of Akwa Ibom State, diligently studied her Economics textbook in preparation for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination holding the following day.

 The next day being May 17, she woke up as the cock in the neighbourhood crowed to prepare her trip to a secondary school in Ikorodu area of Lagos State–venue of the examination.

She exuded confidence because she had read well. Her happiness knew no bounds and in that state of euphoria, she left for the exams centre. But what Nkereuwem did not realise was that trouble was lurking around the corner on that day.

Having finished her paper around 2.30pm, she left for their home in an estate in Ikorodu. She mounted a commercial motorcycle. Not quite five minutes into their journey, a black tinted Sport Utility Vehicle with four occupants on the vehicle pulled through and overtook the bike she was on.

As soon as the vehicle stopped, two men and a woman came out of the vehicle, seized her and used a handkerchief to clean her face. She lost consciousness at that point.

The motorcyclist who carried her to the spot she was abducted was allowed to escape by the kidnappers who appeared not to be interested in doing anything to him.

Nkereuwem said after her abductors used the hanky on her, she did not know anything again, noting that she woke up the following day in the kidnappers’ hideout in a forest along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The victim, who escaped by a whisker, said, “After the kidnappers blocked the motorcycle carrying me home and using a handkerchief to wipe my face, I did not know anything again. I woke up the following day in a thick forest where my captors erected a makeshift structure the next day by 1 am.

“When I woke up, I noticed that the place I found myself was strange. I did not want to talk so that they won’t know I had woken up. When I looked round, I saw other ladies in the vegetable state in that place. I started praying within me that their evil machination would not work.

“As I was praying, an elderly man among them asked those who kidnapped me to bring me to the shrine. I was taken to a shrine in the forest. After making all the necessary incantations, the elderly man, who was like their witch doctor, became furious, saying that my head refused the sacrifice.’’

The lady said she witnessed the killing of three females whose body parts were used for ritual purposes.

According to her, it was where they kept her to be killed the next day that the woman who cooks for the kidnappers came to set her free

DELTANS UNDERMIND THE VALUES OF CHILD RIGHTS- ALDEF

Arrows Leadership Development Foundation a child right NGO organization in Delta State Osubi Effurun -Warri, recently called on the awareness of parents, leaders and the society at large to not forego the importance of child rights in Delta State and the South South region since in comparison to advanced states such as Lagos, the state lacks the presence of child empowerment in-terms of producing Godly and good leadership.

Triumph- Abatan Oluwayomi the founder of the aforesaid organization did cited during his remark that the teenagers should be educated and enlightened with proper understanding of life following the advancement of the era we are which indeed is the third waves era where information and technology is the gate way to success and advancement of life. Stating to this effect are certain challenges he pinpointed especially that of the Niger Delta region which is the priorities of the leaders that are neglected by their nonchalance. Teenagers especially those for elementary and basic standard of education to making proper use of their brains with the understanding of the five senses such as the eyes, nose, ears, tongue and feelings relating to the kinds of things or environment of which they are attached to, for it goes along way to modding their future. Meanwhile, with his experience as a former personal assistant to bishop David Oyedepo and as well once a pastor of the Winners Chapel with divert experience from various countries, he emphasized that young people should be positive.

The chairman of Osubi community, Mr. Paul who was present at the function advised teenagers from ages 13 to 19yrs of age to  do the right thing in the society. Different packages and entertainment were displayed by various performers, a top gospel artiste at the event known as Evander Cleo cheered the crowd with hilarious rap tune by taking the stage to a differ ovation whereby other kids around were encouraged to display their skills especially using the gospel platform.

PETROLEUM TRAINING INSTITUTE BOOST SMEs THROUGH TRADE FAIR

Alexis & Cleopatra media limited to boosted the PTI Trade Fair by creating a platform for various SMEs to showcase their activities, the trade fair commenced this Monday morning being the first of July till Friday. Exhibitions are still ongoing as various SMEs( small medium enterprises) within the Warri and its environs to partake for since it is a medium for immense reach-out.
Good are sold at affordable rates whereby individuals are as well encouraged to patronize this event so as to getting cheaper products before it runs out on Friday.

Fact has it that SMEs is the threshold of any surviving economy in the world but here in Nigeria which to say this lucrative venture to boosting employment in the country is not encouraged by the government. History has it that no government in the world can guaranty its citizens with 50 or 60% employment with the empowerment of SMEs, for instance China is the world leading economy today because of commerce