Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Sunday 24th July 2022
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 24/07/22
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African Action Congress’ Presidential Candidate, Sowore Publicly Declares Assets
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has publicly declared his assets ahead of the 2023 general elections.A civic organisation, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had challenged the activist to publish details of his assets and to publicly commit to rejecting vote-buying and electoral bribery before and during the elections.
“Dear ?@YeleSowore? Ahead of the February 2023 presidential election, we’re again calling on you to show leadership by urgently publishing details of your assets and publicly rejecting vote-buying and electoral bribery before and during the elections,” SERAP had tweeted.
I have 2 used cars: a Toyota Camry & Lexus RX 350, a home in my village worth maybe N5m, three iPhones, a Galaxy Note 10 Lite (if you could call those assets), SaharaReporters Media Group ( donâ??t know the worth as of today), a four bedroom bungalow in New Jersey & nothing more!— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) July 23, 2022
Responding, Sowore said he had two cars, a house in his hometown in Ondo State worth N5million among other assets.He added that he had never operated any offshore account(s) or worked with a tax haven to hide any asset.“I have 2 used cars: a Toyota Camry & Lexus RX 350, a home in my village worth maybe N5m, three iPhones, a Galaxy Note 10 Lite (if you could call those assets), SaharaReporters Media Group (don’t know the worth as of today), a four bedroom bungalow in New Jersey & nothing more,” Sowore said.“The Federal government of Nigeria froze my bank accounts since 2019 after I was arrested over ?#RevolutionNow? protest on August 3rd 2019. A ?@gtbank? account I operated in Nigeria had N4,800 left in before my arrest, I managed to open a ? @kudabankhelp? with N463.00 as of this evening.“I reject vote-buying on or before 2023 election date. I also recently opened a ?@capitalone? US bank account that has in it about $300, I have a ?@ZenithBank? campaign account for the ?#Sowore2023? Presidential account. I have nothing more besides financial support that I occasionally get from friends and family (if those count as assets).“I have never operated any offshore account(s) or worked with a tax haven to hide my assets. These are the assets I have in my entire life.”
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E2%80%93-northern-elders-forum 2023 Elections Will Determine If Nigeria Would Sink Or Not – Northern Elders Forum
The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) says the 2023 general elections would the most decisive since the country returned to democratic rule in 1999.NEF spokesman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, stated this on his verified Twitter handle on Saturday.
Baba-Ahmed said the 2023 elections would show if Nigerians have decided to reverse the journey to destruction.He pointed out that the next general election would show if Nigeria would sink towards destruction.Baba-Ahmed added that Nigerians would decide the fate of the country at the polls next year.He said, “2023 elections are the most decisive since 1999. They will show whether we have decided to reverse the journey to destruction, or we will sink irretrievably towards destruction. Will you be part of those who will decide, or will you watch others do it. Register and vote. Seven days left.”
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PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Challenges APC Rival, Tinubu To One-hour TV Interview
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, to an hour-long Television interview.SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Tinubu camp lambasted Atiku, saying he was ill-prepared for the Nigerian presidency and bungled a TV interview, and couldn’t address specific issues thrown at him.
Reacting to the allegation of Tinubu Campaign Organisation that he was not prepared to lead the country because of some of the issues discussed during his last Television interview, the former vice president dared Tinubu to take up the challenge.“‘We would like to challenge Bola Tinubu to subject himself to an hour long interview, like the Waziri did, and if he is able to be as articulate and mentally present as our candidate, then he can talk. Until then, we will only want to remind him and his yes men that they are not in a position to point fingers when they have not sat on the hot seat,” Atiku said in a statement which Paul Ibe, his Media Adviser, issued on his behalf.Ibe added that the former vice president was “amused to read the knee jerk response from the Tinubu Campaign Organisation to the wave making interview granted by Atiku Abubakar.”He said the Tinubu campaign “exposed its gross desperation and vacuousness by citing the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) 1999, to declare Waziri Atiku Abubakar’s stance on engaging in a side business while he was a young custom officer as a breach of the law. It is pertinent to educate the Tinubu campaign organisation that Nigeria is not under a military regime and our Constitutions are not retroactive in nature.”“Atiku Abubakar has earned Master’s degree from Anglia Ruskin University. We challenge any of the present Presidential candidates to present an equal or higher degree. Moreover, his university attendance is a matter of verified record. Can we say the same about some other persons?”
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PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Challenges APC Rival, Tinubu To One-hour TV Interview
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, to an hour-long Television interview.SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Tinubu camp lambasted Atiku, saying he was ill-prepared for the Nigerian presidency and bungled a TV interview, and couldn’t address specific issues thrown at him.
Reacting to the allegation of Tinubu Campaign Organisation that he was not prepared to lead the country because of some of the issues discussed during his last Television interview, the former vice president dared Tinubu to take up the challenge.“‘We would like to challenge Bola Tinubu to subject himself to an hour long interview, like the Waziri did, and if he is able to be as articulate and mentally present as our candidate, then he can talk. Until then, we will only want to remind him and his yes men that they are not in a position to point fingers when they have not sat on the hot seat,” Atiku said in a statement which Paul Ibe, his Media Adviser, issued on his behalf.Ibe added that the former vice president was “amused to read the knee jerk response from the Tinubu Campaign Organisation to the wave making interview granted by Atiku Abubakar.”He said the Tinubu campaign “exposed its gross desperation and vacuousness by citing the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) 1999, to declare Waziri Atiku Abubakar’s stance on engaging in a side business while he was a young custom officer as a breach of the law. It is pertinent to educate the Tinubu campaign organisation that Nigeria is not under a military regime and our Constitutions are not retroactive in nature.”“Atiku Abubakar has earned Master’s degree from Anglia Ruskin University. We challenge any of the present Presidential candidates to present an equal or higher degree. Moreover, his university attendance is a matter of verified record. Can we say the same about some other persons?”
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Delta State Ex-Governors, Ibori, Uduaghan, Others Shun Okowa’s PDP Rally Amid Party Crisis
The lingering crisis rocking the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), following the party’s primaries especially that of the governorship is yet to abate.SaharaReporters learnt that former governors, James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan on Saturday shunned the party’s “Mega Rally” held at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, stadium, Ozoro, headquarters of the Isoko North Local Government Area of the state.
Also conspicuously absent at the rally were an aggrieved senator representing Delta South senatorial district and former governorship aspirant, James Manager, the state deputy governor and former governorship aspirant, Kingsley Otuaro, former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Peter Mrakpo among other stakeholders of the party. The party in the state has been divided into two camps and engulfed with crisis following the PDP primaries where Okowa was accused to have secretly supported and imposed his preferred candidate on the people across the state.A chieftain of the party in the state who pleaded for anonymity said, “One faction is being led by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who has thrown his weight behind his anointed governorship candidate and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori and the second faction is being led by the former governor James Ibori whose anointed governorship candidate and former Commissioner for Finance, David Edevbie is being frustrated by Okowa.“Okowa has vowed that over his dead body should Edevbie, his immediate past chief of staff be the governor of the state. The current crisis if not properly handled will consume the party in the 2023 general elections.”With what is happening now, the party has no governorship candidate for the 2023 general elections because of cases in court bothering on the discrepancies in academic credentials of the state governorship candidate and speaker of the state house of Assembly, Sheriff.”
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E2%80%99-nationwide-protests-says-buhari-government-exploiting PRP Backs Nigerian Labour Congress’ Nationwide Protests, Says Buhari Government Exploiting Nigerian Students
The People’s Redemption Party, known as the Real PRP, has expressed support for the Nigerian Labour Congress nationwide protest to demand an end to the lingering Academic Staff Union of Universities’ (ASUU) strike.The real PRP in a release on Friday by its national chairman, Comrade Abdulmajid Yakubu Daudu, said the Nigerian government was exploiting the Nigerian students, and it was necessary to “mobilise, organise, and march against de-education, and for the fulfillment of ASUU’s genuine demands.”
The party described the Muhammadu Buhari-led government as a “failed and reactionary federal government” while calling for all Nigerians to join the mass action.“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria embarked on a legitimate total strike on the 14th February 2022. It did so after several appeals, diplomatic efforts and warning strikes to draw the attention of the federal government to the union’s demands, and to the government’s own responsibility to respect agreements sealed under its authority. Further, the academics, as usual, engaged in broad consultations with stakeholders and its general membership, all in an effort to stave off the last option in industrial relations: strike. Though these efforts were not perfect, they carried the support of the majority.“The demands of ASUU were not necessarily new or unknown to their employer, the federal government, via its education ministry. If there was anything new in the package, it had to do with roping university salary administration with the single treasury account system adopted by the federal government. Here the snag was a choice between the state imposed Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and the union’s preferred University Transparency Account System (UTAS). Both sides were agreed that the payroll and personnel information system needed improvement. In sum, ASUU’s demands, among other things, centred on: improving facilities, funding, payment of withheld salaries and allowances; a new salary package; and ASUU proposed electronic payment system (UTAS), as against that imposed by the government (IPPIS). “The PRP is aware of the hushed fears of government, that acceding to ASUU demands will trigger copycat strikes in the entire higher education sector and outside it. Already polytechnics are on the move, so are monotechnics and sister institutions. All are justified in this struggle for sector survival and improvement under a generalised system of state education sector exploitation and ‘de-leveraging’, as opposed to systematic leveraging of for-profit higher and sub-higher institutions owned by cronies and ‘vulture capitalists’. Even here, the less influential amongst these have come under the hammer of extortionist taxation, while operators in underclass neighbourhoods have to invent multiple charges to stay in the school business and still make profit at the parents expense.“Although previous administrations have underperformed in their handling of industrial relations in the higher education sector, this administration has outperformed most in its insensitivity, incompetence, and sheer lack of good faith to resolve the issue. So third party participants in the negotiations have observed and categorically stated. The tortuous negotiations between ASUU and the federal government’s team have not just dragged on for too long, but amount to regime sabotage of the nation’s development. Children of ranking public office holders, as ordinary folks are quick to point out, school abroad where there are no ASUU strikes and lost semesters.“While we in the real PRP declare our unflinching support for the ongoing ASUU strike and for NLC`s solidarity protest coming up on the 26th and 27th of July 2022, we view the Nigerian student as among the most oppressed and exploited in the world, both by government and a few odd actors amongst the teaching and administrative fraternity in the higher education sector. This, however, is no time for blame game. The fight at hand is a good fight. Let’s network, mobilise, organise, and march against deeducation, and for the fulfillment of ASUU’s genuine demands by a failed and reactionary federal government and the exploitative social system that it represents.“Recall that in this struggle for salvaging the university system, some have, in the long wait, passed on, while others, especially students, may never return back to campus again, futures permanently altered. For this reason alone, it is justified to hold an unaccountable government accountable, in the only language it understands: mass protest. “We call on all real PRP members nationwide to join the protest on the 26th and 27th of July 2022.”
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E2%80%93-governor-wike-says I Will Tell Nigerians Actual Truth About Atiku Presidency – Governor Wike Says
The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that he will soon reveal the “actual truth” about the recent happenings in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and his relationship with the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.The governor, in a statement by his Special Assistant Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said it had become pertinent for him to speak and reveal to Nigerians all that had transpired in the PDP since the emergence of former Vice President, Abubakar, as the presidential candidate of the party.
“On Atiku, I will speak soon and Nigerians will know the actual truth of all that has transpired in the PDP in recent times,” Wike said.SaharaReporters on July 6 reported that the governor also rejected the call for him to have one-on-one meeting with the Atiku, over the lingering crisis on the choice of running mate.The PDP has been enmeshed in deep crisis since Atiku picked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as running mate for the 2023 general elections.The crisis has also degenerated to some members of the party calling for the resignation of its National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.Wike, who came second in the party’s primary election, had asked Atiku to rather meet with his team for peace talks on the terms proposed to the party, especially as it concerns the resignation of Ayu.The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, had suggested that Atiku should lead a reconciliation team to Wike, but Wike indicated that he would depend on the advisory from the “Strategy Team.”Also, a BoT member of the party, Waziri Adamu, had suggested that Wike should be appointed as Director-General of the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation.Meanwhile, Wike who rejected the one-on-one meeting with Atiku cited lack of faith in any personal agreement with Atiku.A source had said, “There is no likelihood of Wike having one-on-one private discussion with Atiku. Shortly after the primary, the governor had a side meeting with Atiku in Abuja and nothing was adhered to.“He was shocked that Atiku has not told Nigerians what transpired between him and Wike after the primary and how he arrived at Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as a running mate.“Since there was no full disclosure, Wike has directed that fresh talks with Atiku should be with his strategy team members, who will come up with an advisory for him.”
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Chief Of Staff To Lagos Governor, Tayo Ayinde, Allegedly Linked To Over N500million Land Scandal
Tayo Ayinde, the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has been accused of gross impersonation, assault over a landed property belonging to Chief Adetunji Omisore and one Tajudeen Mohammed, at No. 4, Ladoke Akintola Street, GRA Ikeja.It was gathered that Ayinde, in a bid to forcibly obtain the land, worth N500million, destroyed properties worth millions of naira, by using the police and other security forces to assault the landowners.
“The incessant issue of Lagos State officials meddling in the affairs of landowners and their wanton and indiscriminate destruction of properties among other vices was brought to the fore following an unauthorised demolition and sealing off of a property, belonging to Chief Adetunji Omisore and one Tajudeen Mohammed, at No. 4, Ladoke Akintola Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday July 19, 2022. #4Ladoke.“Fingered in this allegation playing prominently in this saga is the Chief of Staff to the Lagos State governor, Tayo Ayinde, the owner of Watercrest Hotel and numerous choice properties around the Lagos metropolis, who lives opposite the above-mentioned address, precisely occupying No.5, Ladoke Akintola Street, GRA Ikeja,” a source said.It was learnt that the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LSBCA) served the owner and developer of the said property a seven-day demolition notice on Friday, July 15, 2022.On Monday, July 18, the developer approached the general manager of LSBCA, Gbolahan Oki, who was recently reinstated after he was suspended by the governor, for clarification on the illegal action.“Note that the property in question is under the authorisation and jurisdiction of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the source added.Oki was temporarily booted out when a high-rise block of luxury flats under construction in the neighbourhood of Ikoyi collapsed, killing at least 42 people in November 2021.“The owners’ efforts to prove to the agency that they have the approved documents on the said land fell on deaf ears as the owner was kicked out of the office of the general manager and ordered to send the document through official channel the following day.“However, without waiting for the 7 day notice to lapse, on Tuesday, July 19, the agency moved caterpillar and Black Maria to the site to begin demolition of the over N500million investment as early as 6am in the morning, barricading the property while the workers were assaulted.“Not only were those who made attempts to record the illegal activities of the policemen attached to the governor’s office beaten, their gadgets were also confiscated.“It took the intervention of the Presidential Committee on Lease in Abuja to put a stop to the demolition after frantic calls were made to them. By then, a new six-bedroom bungalow, a penthouse, the reception of the hotel building among other things had been leveled down on the 3800 square metres property,” he said.An official at the Lagos State Building Control confirmed Ayinde gave Oki directive for the demolition of the structure.It was also alleged that after the sealing of the property when demotion was halted by the Nigerian government, the Chief of Staff, who is also a close ally of the leading presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, allocated a portion of the property to a construction company.The company was awarded the contract for the reconstruction of the road covering the whole stretch of Ladoke Akintola Street, as site office.“From all indications, it is becoming glaring that Tayo Ayinde’s activities are allegedly adding to the long list of nefarious state-backed land-grabbing nightmares,” the source added.
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E2%80%98chieftaincy-title%E2%80%99-given-bandits%E2%80%99-leader-aleru Zamfara Government Committee Probing ‘Chieftaincy Title’ Given To Bandits’ Leader, Aleru Demands N3.2million As Allowances
The six-man committee set up by the Zamfara State Government to investigate the circumstances leading to the turbaning of notorious terror kingpin, Ado Aleru as the Sarkin Fulani (the chief of the Fulani) has demanded N3.2million to finance its activities.Aleru was recently turbaned as Sarkin Fulani (Chief of Fulani) of Yandoto Emirate by the Emir of the emirate, Aliyu Marafa.
Yandoton Daji is one of the two new emirates created by the Zamfara government in May.The turbaning ceremony was held at the palace of the suspended Emir and was attended by the council chairman of Tsafe Local Government and the state Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, DIG Ibrahim Mamman Tsafe (rtd).The bandit leader was the arrowhead of a deadly raid on Kadisau, a community in the Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, where about 52 people were killed.He was declared wanted by the Katsina Police Command in 2019 with a bounty of N5 million put on his head.Reacting to the event, Governor Bello Matawalle suspended the Emir and inaugurated a committee to investigate the circumstances leading to his action.The committee has Yahaya Goro as chairman and Musa Garba as secretary.The members are Yahay Kanoma, Muhammed Magaji, Lawal Zannah, Isa Moriki.However, Secretary of the Committee, Bukkuyum in a letter to the government requested funds running into millions of Naira for two weeks’ sitting allowances, stationeries, refreshments and other miscellaneous procurements.“I humbly write to apply on behalf of the above-mentioned committee for the release of funds to finance its activities which have since commenced today Thursday, 21st July 2022.“The total amount requested hereby is Three Million Two Hundred and Ninety-Three Thousand Eight Hundred Naira (N3,293,800.00) only.”A breakdown of the committee’s demand includes a N420,000 sitting allowance for the chairman, which is a daily fee of N30,000 for 14 days.
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WHO Declares Monkeypox As Global Health Emergency As Over 70 Countries Record Cases
Monkey Pox
The World Health Organisation, on Saturday, officially declared the Monkeypox disease as a global health emergency.The global health body noted that it activated its highest alert level for the growing Monkeypox outbreak, making the virus a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Monkey Pox
Discovery Magazine
Monkeypox, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease (i.e. an infection transmitted from animals to humans) that is endemic in areas in and near tropical rainforests in Central and West Africa.“It is caused by the Monkeypox virus which belongs to the same Orthopoxviral genus and Poxviridae family of viruses as the Variola virus (Smallpox virus), the Vaccinia virus (used in smallpox vaccine for eradication programme), and the cowpox virus (used in earlier generations of smallpox vaccines) and some other viruses.While addressing the press, the WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, noted that the decision came as a result of the rise in cases of the Monkeypox virus.“We have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly, through new modes of transmission, about which we understand too little,” Tedros said. “For all of these reasons, I have decided that the global Monkeypox outbreak represents a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.”The PUNCH reports that, globally, no fewer than 16,000 cases of Monkeypox have been reported across more than 70 countries so far this year, and the number of confirmed infections rose 77 per cent from late June through early July, according to the WHO data.Reports from Nigeria, according to the NCDC, confirmed 101 cases of Monkeypox in 2022, its highest figure since 2017 when the disease re-emerged.
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