NEWS : Nigerian govt officially declares second wave of COVID-19

 

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, on Thursday, officially declared the second wave of the virus in Nigeria.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, stated this during the daily media briefing.

Mustapha, who has tested positive himself, was represented by Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika.

According to him, Nigeria has entered a second wave of infections and stands the risk of losing the gains from the hard work of the last nine months.

Mustapha said the PTF believes that “if we do the right things, adhere to the Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) and step up our testing and detection, loss of lives will be minimized and the rising curve will begin to flatten out.”

According to him, while the country in the last two weeks on the one hand, received cheering news of the COVID-19 vaccine on the other hand, “we have witnessed spikes in number of infections at home and abroad. The real threat is upon humanity and the progress made in the global health sector in the last five decades or more.”

He said Nigeria’s cumulative numbers in the last weeks of 49-51 showed: “Week 49 – 1,843; Week 50 – 3,918 and Week 51 (Mon-Wed): 1,889.

NEWS : COVID-19, Sanwo-Olu shuts down all schools, gives new directives to religious centres, civil servants

 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Governor, has directed that all private schools and government institutions in the state be shut down indefinitely.

The Governor also directed all public servants from Grade Level 14 and below, except emergency workers and first responders, to work from home for the next two weeks, with effect from next week Monday.

This forms part of the public health directives issued by Sanwo-Olu on Friday, as the state government prepares for a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

A statement issued by the governor reads: “All Places of Worship (Churches, Mosques, etc.) must ensure that no gathering exceeds two hours, and also that no gathering exceeds 50% of the maximum capacity of the Venue.

“All public servants from GL 14 and below, except emergency workers and first responders, are to work from home as from Monday, December 21st for the next 14 days – in the first instance.

“All schools must shut down with immediate effect, and until further notice.”

POLITICS : Kankara abduction shows Buhari govt in ‘blood business with bandits, terrorists’ – PDP

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday said the revelations trailing the abduction and release of students by bandits have further exposed the President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress, APC-led government as a party in league with bandits, insurgents and terrorists ravaging our nation.

PDP said the revelation has exposed that the Buhari-led APC government was in what it termed “blood business with bandits, insurgents.”

PDP reacted to a report by the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle that the Fulani apex socio-cultural organisation, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, negotiated the release of students abducted from Government Science Secondary School in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The students, who were abducted last week Friday, were last night released by bandits.

Reacting, PDP’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan said such revelation indicated that the Buhari-led government has become the mouthpiece of bandits, kidnappers and terrorists.

A statement by Ologbondiyan said: “Such revelations further explain why the APC has been acting as the mouthpiece of bandits, rationalizing killings and

kidnapping, showing express sympathy to terrorists, refusing to condemn acts of terrorism but attacking any person or groups that dare to

criticize the activities of these bandits or demand unconditional release of abductees.

“The posers are; why is the APC always showing sympathy for and canvassing understanding for bandits, insurgents and terrorists?

“Why is the APC not always forthcoming in condemning acts of terrorism and banditry but only issuing lame and patronizing press statements

after being prodded and called-out by well-meaning Nigerians including the PDP?

“This is particularly against the backdrop of reported declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari that the abductors and tormentors of our 600

traumatized and brutalized students were rather “settled”; a statement that does not only confirm that the Buhari Presidency cannot combat

terrorists but also explains why banditry, kidnapping and acts of terrorism have become a thriving bloody business under the APC.

“It is imperative to state that the APC’s sympathy for acts of terrorism had led to escalated attacks on our compatriots in the last five years.

“It is also very worrisome that our government under the APC can no longer battle bandits and insurgent and now has to rely on nascent

groups coordinated by APC leaders to negotiate and pay ransom to assailants.

“Such devious designs have elevated acts of terrorism to a per-second affair in our nation under the encouragement of the APC.”

PDP urged Nigerians to hold the APC responsible for the escalated act of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism ravaging the country.

“Perhaps, the time has come for Nigerians, whose loved ones have been kidnapped or killed by kidnappers or bandits, to approach the APC for redress,” he added.

POLITICS : Otukpo/Ohimini, David Mark’s daughter dumps APGA for APC

 

The lawmaker representing Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency of Benue State in the House of Representatives, Blessing Onuh, on Friday, officially decamped from the All Progressives Grand Alliance to the All Progressives Congress.

Onuh, who is the daughter of former Senate President, David Mark, was formerly in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but decamped from the party to APGA after she lost the party’s primary for the House Seat to her uncle, Johnson Egli Ahubi.

Although, she later defeated her uncle at the general election.

Onuh’s decamping ceremony at Otukpo, Benue State on Friday was attended by the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, former Benue State governor and Minister for Special Duties, Sen. George Akume, Rep. Zainab Gimba and others.

However, Sen. David Mark still remains a chieftain in the PDP.

POLITICS : Abia Electoral Commission suspends LG poll in Umunneochi

 

The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, has suspended the local government election in all the wards in Umunneochi LGA of the state.

The State Electoral Commission said it called off the exercise following the disruption of smooth distribution of electoral materials to polling units by people suspected to be thugs.

ABSIEC, in a release signed by its Chairman, Professor Mkpa Agu Mkpa, however, announced tomorrow (Saturday) 19th December, 2020.

In the same vein, Chinenye Nwaogu, Special Adviser to the Governor and State Focal Person on Social Investment Programme, commended Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his passion to deepen democracy and ensure grassroots participation in governance.

He posited that for the Governor to have the courage and determination to conduct the second round of elections into the local government shows his commitment to encourage participation of people at the grassroots in the democratic process.

Nwaogu stated this after casting his vote at Eziala Nsulu Ward 3 Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

He further lauded the leadership of the State Independent Electoral Commission led by Professor Mkpa Agu Mkpa, for conducting a free, fair and credible election.

The Governor’s Aide thanked the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for fielding a lot of young persons in this election, harping that it was in line with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s avowed commitment to mainstream youth participation in the entire political process.

POLITICS : APC plotting to increase insecurity in Northwest – PDP alleges

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday alleged plot by the Governor Mai Buni-led All Progressives Congress (APC) National Caretaker Committee to heighten insecurity in the Northwestern part of the country.

PDP alleged that the APC plans to use an “impostor to destabilize the Northwest states, particularly Zamfara state, create space for violence and blame it on Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle.”

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan made the allegation in a statement he signed and issued.

According to Ologbondiyan: “Our party has also noted series of devious statements against Governor Matawalle by the APC, a party that has been exposed to be encouraging acts of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in our country.

“The APC has been distraught since their roles in emboldening acts of terrorism have been exposed by our party and now seeks to use an impostor, as spokesperson, to trigger violence, heighten insecurity and blame it on innocent Nigerians.

“Our party charges Nigerians to hold the Governor Mai Buni-led caretaker committee responsible, should there be any sudden wave of acts of terrorism, kidnapping and banditry in Zamfara state.

“Also Nigerians should hold the APC caretaker committee responsible should there be another mass abduction in any other state of the Northwest or any other part of our nation for that matter.

“Our party cautions the APC to end its evil enterprise with the lives of Nigerians for their selfish interest.

“The fact remains that the APC has been exposed for what it is, a soulless mob and party of political bandits, which is responsible for the escalated terrorism, wanton killings, kidnapping and ravaging of communities in our country.

“Now that the APC has been exposed, the PDP charges Nigerians to be at alert, remain united in resisting the APC and its antics and continue to give useful information to our security forces, even as they collectively work hard on opportunities offered by democracy to rescue our nation from the stranglehold of the APC.”

NEWS : BREAKING, Edo Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowan Kidnapped

 

Unknown gunmen have reportedly abducted Anthony Okungbowan, the Edo State Head of Service.

Okungbowan was abducted in Benin-City, the state capital, on Saturday.

The Head of Service was said to have been whisked away to an unknown destination at gunpoint by the gunmen.

As at the time of filing this report, the abductors have not contacted any member of his family or made claim for payment of ransom.