Politics : Imo attacks Gov Uzodinma was aware, DSS alerted police three times – Ex-Director, Amachree

 

Dennis Amachree, a former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services, DSS, has revealed that the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, was aware that the state’s prison and the police headquarters was about to be attacked.

Amachree also said that the DSS alerted the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, at least three times before the Monday attacks in Imo.

The ex-DSS Director spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Thursday.

Recall that some unknown gunmen had on Monday attacked the police headquarters and the Correctional Centre in Owerri and freed hundreds of inmates.

According to Amachree, “There was enough intelligence, enough actionable intelligence. Actionable in the sense that it allows for space for people to execute it, one week ahead of the event and of course, 72 hours before the event and then 48 hours before the event.

“So, three times, the Nigeria Police Force was informed by the DSS that this is going to happen because some suspects that are being geolocated around the area were found surveilling the prisons and the police headquarters, but you know in our lackadaisical way, when the intelligence came, they threw it by the side, and when something happens, everybody runs around.

“All security reports are shared with the governor in a state first. Then, it’s shared with other sister agencies like the police and the military, all of them got this particular report. So, the governor is very much aware.”

“Apparently, nothing was done [to stop the attacks]. You can see that the governor was referring to that particular report that it’s not IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra).”

Politics : 2023 Drop your presidential ambition – APC council tell Yahaya Bello

 

The North Central Council of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has called on Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to drop his presidential ambition.

Kassim Muhammad, the Coordinator of APC North Central Council asked Bello to drop his presidential ambition and support the zoning of the party’s National Chairmanship to the region.

He spoke at a press conference at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, on Thursday.

Muhammad said Bello must allow the North Central part of the country to produce the next president, in the interest of fairness.

Describing Bello as a democrat, Muhammad said he could abandon his ambition in the interest of political justice and equity.

He said: “The North Central Council is equally appealing to the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to have a rethink over his 2023 presidential ambition.

“We strongly believe that conceding the presidential ticket of our party, the APC to the southern part of the country would enhance equity and political justice. We believe that the Kogi State Governor is a true democrat who believes in one Nigeria.

“We are therefore appealing to Yahaya Bello to drop his presidential ambition, and join us in the campaign to ensure that the North Central produces the next APC National Chairman”.

Though he was yet to publicly declare his intentions to contest, his presidential campaign posters have been sighted in some states.

Bello had, however, assured that at the right time he would make his interest known to Nigerians.

Politics : Anti-Buhari Graffiti Demonstration of public resentment to APC misrule

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the appearance of anti-Buhari graffiti in some major cities in the country is a demonstration of public resentment to the misrule of the Buhari Presidency.

This was contained in a statement on Thursday.

The statement which was issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, the National Publicity Secretary of the party said it appears Nigerians have lost hope in President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC), given the devastation, violence, poverty and economic hardship that has enveloped the country under their watch.

“The party asserts that the graffiti which demands that “Buhari Must Go”, is a loud remonstration against the impunity, divineness, high level incompetence, massive corruption as high-level insensitivity of the APC and its administration to the sorry situation they have plunged our dear nation.” According to the statement,

“The Nigerian youths, by the graffiti, are demonstrating against the failure of President Buhari and the APC to take decisive steps to address the incessant mass killings, high-level unemployment, poverty and economic hardship that their administration has foisted on our country.

“The graffiti is also an open aversion to the looting of over N15 trillion by APC leaders at the time our nation is battling with 33% unemployment rate; at a time over 40 million Nigerian have lost their means of livelihood due to APC misrule and where most families cannot afford the basic necessities of life.”

The PDP stressed that “It is an open aversion to the reported looting of trillions of naira meant for the purchase of arms to secure our nation, at a time terrorists, bandits and kidnappers are having a field day ravaging our communities and killing our compatriots.

“Moreover, the use of political graffiti by citizens is a global practice to express themselves, particularly in a democratic setting.

“It is, therefore, a mark of intolerance, disdain and insensitivity to the plight of the people that instead of accepting and taking steps to address their anxieties, the APC chose to unleash their thugs to flog and dehumanize Nigerian citizens exercising their right to freedom of expression, as witnessed in Kogi State.

“The PDP rejects the pedestrian allegations of trespass as a basis for the attack on the youths, as anybody aggrieved in the direction being claimed, have the court as a lawful channel for redress. ”

“The PDP recalls how in 2014, President Buhari, then as Presidential candidate of the APC, led other leaders of his party to take to the streets and disrupted public activities in the exercise of such freedom and nobody hired thugs to attack or flog them in public.

“While urging Nigerians to remain calm despite these provocations, the PDP cautions the APC to note that its resort to suppression of freedom of expression cannot obliterate the fact that the people are only waiting for the next general election to flog them with their votes.” The statement further added

POLITICS : Be mindful of your utterances – Arewa group cautions leaders

 

The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has called on Nigerian leaders to exercise restraint in their utterances in the current circumstances facing the country.

A communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council, meeting by Emmanuel Yawe, National Publicity Secretary, expressed displeasure at the state of affairs in the north.

It condemned the activities of insurgents, kidnappers and bandits in the north saying that their activities were killing the peace and progress for which the north was noted for.

The forum said the utterances of some actors and leaders inflame regional, ethnic and religious passions out of the current situation in the country.

On the kidnap of students of the Federal College of Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna, the communique alleged that the Kaduna state government has not done much.

“The Forum regretted that the kidnapped students had remained in captivity and the Kaduna state government has not done much to get them released. The Forum agreed to take up their plight with the state government and the federal government too.”

“We also warn our youths who have suddenly started distributing messages on the social media calling on reprisal attacks on Ibos and their business interests in the north. We the Arewa Consultative Forum stand against all lawless acts of self-help and call on all northern youths to stop such evil plans,” the forum said.

The Arewa Consultative Forum said it believes in dialogue and consultation as a way of bringing peace and normalcy back to the troubled region and the country.

The forum, however, condemned the payment of ransom and called on the bandits and insurgents who are holding other citizens as hostages to desist from such ungodly acts.

It noted that no religion that is practised in Northern Nigeria permits such sinful acts like holding other human beings hostage for financial rewards.

Entertainment :This Episode Was Hugely Important To The Success Of 'Friends', According To The Creators

 

According to IMDB, "The One With The Embryos" is the best episode of the fourth season of Friends. The episode may actually be considered one of the most memorable of the entire series. While there have been countless fantastic episodes of Friends since the pilot first aired, even the creators of the show claim that "The One With The Embryos" was instrumental to the series' success. Here's why...

The Importance Of Having Stakes In The Competition

In an interview with TV Guide, Friends' co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, as well as their writing staff, explained why "The One With The Embryos" really defined why Friends was a great show. Additionally, they claimed that this episode was hugely important to the success of Friends as it authentically explored what made the series special. The episode, which was the 12th episode of the fourth episode and aired in January 1998, featured two main storylines; one with the competition between the majority of the cast that resulted in the loss of Monica and Rachel's apartment to Joey and Chandler.

"What's really fun about that episode is when that game starts, you don't think they're actually going to go through with the switch if the girls lose," David Crane said in the interview with TV Guide. "It feels like fake stakes or [what] we used to call 'schmuck bait'. You create some sort of storyline where you know so-and-so is never going to leave the show and all those things that they do on shows where you go, 'It's bullsh** stakes.' In this case, we went with, 'What if this is what's on the table and it actually happens?' And then they're in different apartments for almost the rest of the season. The discussion was if we do it, we have to stick to it. We can't just go, 'Oh, next week, they switch back.' If we're doing it, we're doing it. It felt crazy because that was Monica's apartment and yet, let's own it."

 How David Schwimmer Helped The Cast Of 'Friends' Earn More Money

The choice to actually give stakes to a storyline that could've just been about laughs made the show unique in comparison to most sitcoms. Even today, sitcoms don't seem to explore any genuine character stakes, even if they are just kinda funny ones like in the completion. Of course, losing her grandmother's apartment to Joey and Chandler was emotionally tough for Monica, which made it significant and memorable. The same goes for Rachel, who really didn't want to live in the boys' lesser apartment.

 

"On a typical sitcom, the idea is to go on a journey that takes you back to your starting point. That's in some ways what was fresh about Friends," Amy Toomin Straus, a producer and co-writer of the episode, explained. "We were allowed to do all kinds of crazy stuff. That's ultimately what's satisfying for the viewer. You're going, 'They're going to buy out of this.' [But] no, the fact that they switched apartments and it stayed that way for many episodes is exciting. And for the writers, it was like, yay! New stories! That is one of the most satisfying parts of writing on Friends: You could just go for it."

 Why Matt LeBlanc Hated The Joey/Rachel Love Story On 'Friends'

By not pulling their punches, the writers of the show had a chance to create new and dynamic stories for that plotline. But, more importantly, they were able to make similar decisions in subsequent seasons. Things like Chandler and Monica's relationship or Rachel getting pregnant weren't just gimmicky things. They didn't disappear by the end of an episode, or even a season. They had real stakes and impacted the trajectory of the entire show.

 

The Pheobe Storyline Made The Episode Heartfelt But Excemplified Why People Love Friends

The balance of that tug on the heart and the absurd comedy is what makes Friends special. Think about it... Almost every memorable moment on the show had both something emotional and absurd going on at once. This can certainly be said of Pheobe speaking to her embryos.

Without a doubt, "The One With The Embryos" is one of the best Pheobe episodes of Friends thanks to the authentic moments of Pheobe receiving the embryos from her brother and his wife and ultimately becoming pregnant. Not only was the writing for this storyline topnotch, but Lisa Kudrow's performance really made a splash. The Truth About Casting 'Friends'

"Phoebe's speech to the embryos is my favorite part of the show for several reasons. It plays in one shot. I think it's just the sweetest monologue, talking to a petri dish. That's my favorite scene," executive producer and director Kevin S. Bright explained to TV Guide. "I didn't want a cut. If we had a cut, it would've kind of spoiled it and I think it's the type of speech where she as an actor wants to show, 'I know this whole speech. You don't have to cut it up.' It probably took two takes. The [biggest] reason is my kids were born at the beginning of Friends, like right after the pilot. They were in vitro, so I had a connection to this episode as far as Phoebe's brother and his wife not being able to conceive. I think our best episodes are the ones where we do stories about things that are happening in the world that really affect people's lives, and sometimes be really tender about how they affect people's lives. And the ability to take a step back and have a laugh about it is a really incredible thing."

 

Too late for Nigeria’s disintegration – Renowned author, Awosika

 

Ibukun Awosika says the dissolution of Nigeria is not an option as the country “is already many decades too late to disintegrate”.

The Chairman, First Bank Board of Directors made the remark on Thursday in Kaduna at a Town Hall Meeting on National Security.

Awosika noted that those who fought for the independence of Nigeria did not come from the same tribe.

The renowned author said Nigeria comprises many tribes, ethnic groups, culture and tradition and the combination, according to her, long provided the opportunity to develop talents, diversity, natural and human resources.

“When you look at what Nigeria represents in terms of the size of market and population, the country is richly blessed”, NAN quoted her as saying.

Awosika said as a Christian, many of her family members, friends, business associates are Muslims and they live in peace and harmony.

She blamed the political leaders for not doing enough and for playing politics with the issue of Nigeria’s break up.

Awosika, however, warned that if the politicians succeed in destroying the country, there would be nothing left to govern.

The motivational speaker urged the political class to “review the approach of gaining power”.

News Nigeria inaugurates Police Public Complaints Committee, announces Special Investigation Unit

 

The federal government has inaugurated the Nigeria Police Public Complaints Committee (PPCC).

Police Minister, Muhammad Dingyadi called the body a “permanent structure” that will give Nigerians the opportunity to channel their grievances on the misconduct of police personnel.

The committee comprises the Ministries of Police Affairs, Justice, Police Service Commission, National Human Rights Commission, National Intelligence Agency, a non-government organization (CLEEN Foundation), Nigeria Police Force, Police Community Relations Committee and the Department of State Security Services (DSS).

Addressing the team, the minister said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the formation to perform PPCC oversight functions on the activities of police personnel and their interaction with the public.

The minister added that PPCC will have a sub-committee to be known as the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), a division of professionals.

He admitted that most complaints lodged at police stations and commands did not produce the desired solutions for aggrieved Nigerians.

“Once the PPCC becomes operational, I will expect it to swing into action by embarking on wide sensitization campaigns to enable Nigerians be aware of its existence.”

Dingyadi urged the committee to decentralize its structure to ensure that Nigerians have easy access at all Local Government headquarters.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Temitope Fashedemi, described the PPCC as an additional layer for the protection of people’s rights whenever there seems to be an infringement or abuse of power by police officers.