NEWS : PDP National Youth Summit: Gov Ikpeazu restates commitment to welfare of youths

 

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has reiterated his government’s readiness to support, promote and stand with youths in governance by ensuring a youth-friendly State Executive Council.

The Governor disclosed that recent committees formed after the End SARS protests were all youth-based as well as the December 18th local government election flag bearers.

Ikpeazu spoke in a message during the PDP National Youth Summit which was held at Agu-Awka Anambra State on Friday.

Governor Ikpeazue was represented by the Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Chief Emeka Ikwuagwu.

Earlier in his speech, the PDP National Youth Leader, Rt.Hon.SKE Udeh-Okoye thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for all his concern towards youth engagements and his support for the summit.

The Abia State PDP Youth Leader, Hon. Onwuka Patrick Alozie who led over 60 youth leaders across the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State in his speech guaranteed that youths will be mobilised to ensure victory and take leadership by unity of purpose.

Also speaking earlier, PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus emphasised his strong belief in youths and charged them to be focused.

He assured them of his support and encouragement in ensuring youths take their rightful place in the centre of governance.

DAILY POST reports that Dignitaries present during the summit include, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Dr. Peter Obi, Col Austin Akobundu, Senator Ben Obi, Chief Ali Odefa, all state youth leaders in the South East and others too many to mention.

NEWS : BIAFRA ,Quote in support of Nigeria's Biafra state falsely attributed to Bill Gates

 

Multiple posts shared thousands of times on Facebook claim that Microsoft founder Bill Gates said Nigeria’s Biafra state could become the world’s second-largest economy within five years of independence and overtake China as a leader in technology. This is false; the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation told AFP Fact Check that he did not make the comments.

The claims were published in an article on Nigerian news site Konnect Press and shared more than 1,500 times on Facebook. The headline reads: “Biafra Nation will liberate Africa from slavery – Bill Gates”.

It claims Gates said that if “Igbos can be on their own as a nation within five years they will take over from China in terms of technology”. The article also claims that the “Biafra nation has the potential to become second in the world economy” and “will libThe article was promptly shared by pro-Biafra Facebook groups (for example here, here and here) claiming that Gates is ready to “partner with Biafra nation for technology development”. 

Calls for a separate state of Biafra are a sensitive subject in Nigeria after a unilateral declaration of independence in 1967 sparked a brutal 30-month civil war.

More than one million people died, most of them Igbos, from the effects of conflict and disease.

Despite renewed calls for independence over the years, President Muhammadu Buhari has said the country’s unity is non-negotiable.

Bill Gates did not say this

Gates often speaks about Nigeria, where he said his foundation has invested more than $1 billion in the past 20 years on vaccination projects and primary healthcare. But AFP Fact Check found no record of Gates making any of the comments attributed to him. 

Contacted by AFP Fact Check, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation denied the claims. “We can confirm that these statements were not made by Bill Gates,” a spokesperson said by email.

History of misinformation

Fifty years since the end of the civil war in Nigeria, pro-Biafra groups have resorted to using the names of global figures to further their cause. 

In 2019, separatists claimed French President Emmanuel Macron said Biafra is “the hope of West Africa”. The French foreign ministry in Paris told AFP Fact Check at the time that the president made no such comments, either on or off social media.

Pro-Biafra comments have also been falsely attributed to US President Donald Trump and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.erate Africa from poverty, shame and slavery”.

NEWS : Herdsmen attack Benue capital Makurdi, kill 4, injure many

 

Fulani herdsmen have attacked and killed not less than four people and left seven battling with various degrees of injuries at Tse-Angbande in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.

Governor Samuel Ortom who visited the scene of the attack on Saturday morning said the armed herdsmen in their usual guerrilla pattern struck by 11pm when the people were asleep, killing Timothy Emberga Akwa, Innocent Akwa, Terhemba Emberga Akwa and an in-law identified as Orban.

The Governor while condemning the barbaric act recalled that a few weeks ago, the herders came without cattle and killed a husband and wife at Tse-Tyohemba, in the same axis of Makurdi, saying that security agents trailed and apprehended three of the assailants.

He assured the people that security has been beefed up to ensure 24 hours vigilance in the affected area to prevent a reoccurrence of the ugly development and urged people of the affected communities to cooperate with security operatives.

The Governor while addressing the people at Adaka said enforcement of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state must continue no matter what armed herders do.

NEWS : End SARS, LCC MD reveals why he didn’t visit Lekki toll gate after shooting

 

The Managing Director of Lekki Concession Company (LCC), Abayomi Omomuwasan, has claimed he did not visit the toll plaza to ascertain the level of damage after the October 20 incident for security reasons.

On October 20, officers of the Nigerian Army arrived at the toll gate and reportedly opened fire at the #EndSARS protesters.

It led to destruction of property in the Lekki area and other parts of Lagos by suspected hoodlums.

Speaking on Friday while appearing before the Lagos judicial panel, Omomuwasan said he had to restrict his movements after the incident.

He stated this while being cross-examined by the counsel to #EndSARS protesters, Olumide Fusika.

“From the moment we were blackmailed on social media, I tried to restrict my movement for security reasons. For security reasons, from October 11, 2020, I didn’t go out,” Omomuwasan said.

Fusika then asked if the #EndSARS protest was so violent that LCC staff were attacked, which means Omomuwasan had to restrict his movement.

The MD said he could not give a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer.

Probing further, Fusika asked: “As MD, so you didn’t care. You mean you’re not curious to know the damage done to your property or the ‘arson’ committed around that area? You wouldn’t know the condition of the place on the morning of October 21st?”

Omomuwasan replied that he was given a directive not to go to the toll plaza at the time.

The case was adjourned till January 5, 2020, for further hearing and judgement.

NEWS : Niger govt mourns Nda-Isaiah

 

The Government of Niger State has commiserated with Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, over the death of Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, Chairman and Publisher of Leadership Newspapers.

Nda-Isaiah died in Abuja on Friday after a brief illness.

The state Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Matane, in a condolence message by his Information Officer, Tanko Lawal in Minna on Saturday said Nda-Isaiah would be remembered for his die-hard disposition to fighting the ills of the society.

According to him, Nda-Isaiah‘s death is a great shock not only to the media community but to the entire country, describing him as ‘‘an amiable and humble person’’.

“On behalf of His Excellency, Alhaji Abubakar Bello, Governor of Niger State, the government and people of the state, I want to convey my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of late Nda-Isaiah, Chairman and Publisher of Leadership Newspapers,” he said.

Matane also prayed that the good Lord would grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest and give the entire family, friends, and political associates he fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

NEWS : Police confirms murder of PDP chieftain in Oyo

 The Police command in Oyo State has confirmed the murder of Dr Fatai Aborode, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, by unknown gunmen.

DAILY POST reported that Aborode was killed on his farm along Apodun road, Igangan in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state on Friday.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, in a statement on Saturday in Ibadan said the deceased was robbed and shot by four unknown gunmen at about 5.50 pm.

“At about 1750 hrs of 11/12/2020, along Apodun road Igangan, one Alh Fatal Aborode ‘m’ of Igangan, was robbed and shot by four unknown gunmen.

“The victim was rushed to Olugbon hospital, Igboora where he was confirmed dead.

“Effort is on to arrest the fleeing assailants,’’he said.

NEWS : Benue Ortom visits victims of herdsmen attack in hospital, takes over medical bills

 Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom on Saturday visited victims of herders attack at the hospital.

DAILY POST recalls that armed herdsmen invaded the community last night and killed four persons, leaving many others severely injured.

The victims who escaped the attack are receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital,Makurdi.

Ortom, addressing newsmen during the visit said the State Government would take over the treatment of those injured and are being treated.

He acknowledged President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to security agencies to tackle terrorists operating in the country,

The Governor stressed that his administration would not relent until herdsmen attacks on his people end.