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Gunmen Abduct BUK Student In Kano, Demand N100m Ransom

Gunmen Abduct BUK Student In Kano, Demand N100m Ransom

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 300-Level female student of the Bayero University Kano.

The student, identified as Sakina Bello, was said to have been abducted around the Janbulo and Rijiyar Zaki areas of the Kano metropolis on Tuesday.

The abductors were said to have contacted her relations on Wednesday morning and demanded N100 million ransom.

When contacted, the spokesman for Kano State Police Command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed the incident.

He said the Police had received a report of a missing person around 3pm on Tuesday and started investigating the matter immediately.

He said that the Command had since swung into action with a view to tracing her whereabouts.

Also commenting on the issue, the BUK spokesman, Lamara Azare, said the university has not been on session since July and will resume on November 1.

“We are not on session. We have no student residing on campus at the moment, and we have not received any incident of abduction of any student,” he said.

Senate Confirms Buhari’s Controversial EFCC Board Nominee

Senate Confirms Buhari’s Controversial EFCC Board Nominee

The Senate, on Tuesday, confirmed the appointment of the nominees for the Secretary and Board members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari.

One of them was Yahaya Muhammad, who was said to have started his primary school before he was born.

The Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, however, cleared the nominee and others in the report presented by Senator Suleiman Kwari (Kaduna North).

Earlier, Senator Hassan Hadejia from Jigawa North East, had said that the Curriculum Vitae submitted by Muhammad indicated that he started school before he was born.

Hadejia said, “Let me bring to the notice of the House, certain discrepancies in the report that are contradictory, especially with regard to one of the nominees, Alhaji Yahaya Muhammad, on page 8.

“The nominee, according to the record before us, started his primary school before he was born. There is also an overlap in the sequence of his educational experience because here, he was born on 29th September, 1969 and he started his Central Primary school in 1968.

“He was in Borno Teachers College from 1975 and 1988 while simultaneously he was in the College of Administration Studies from 1980 to 1981.

“If these are typographical errors, Mr (Senate) President, maybe we should have them corrected for the sake of our record.”

The Senate, however, confirmed the appointment of Muhammad.

Also, George Ekungu from Cross River State was confirmed as Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Also confirmed by the red chamber are Luqman Muhammed (Edo); Anumba Adaeze (Enugu); Kola Adesina (Kwara) and Yahaya Muhammad (Yobe) as board members of the EFCC.

Kwari had told the senators that the nominees were thoroughly screened and found worthy of holding the positions.

The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, who presided over the plenary, congratulated the nominees.

Post-Brexit: Johnson Vows ‘Long Overdue’ Revamp Of UK’s Economy

Post-Brexit: Johnson Vows ‘Long Overdue’ Revamp Of UK’s Economy
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers his keynote speech at the Manchester Central convention centre on the final day of the annual Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, northwest England, on October 6, 2021. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has rallied his Conservative party faithful on Wednesday, vowing a far-reaching overhaul to wean the UK economy off cheap foreign labour after Brexit.

Shrugging off panic-buying at petrol stations, bare supermarket shelves and retailers’ warnings of a bleak Christmas to come, the Tory leader says the short-term pain is worth it.

“We are dealing with the biggest underlying issues of our economy and society,” he is expected to say in his conference-closing speech, according to excerpts released by the party.

“The problems that no government has had the guts to tackle before.

“Because we are embarking now on the change of direction that has been long overdue in the UK economy,” Johnson will say, vowing no return to the pre-Brexit model of “uncontrolled immigration”.

Instead, British businesses will have to invest in their workers and in technology to push the country “towards a high-wage, high-skill, high-productivity economy”.

But it will take time to transition. In the meantime, the government has grudgingly agreed to a limited number of short-term visas to lure truckers and poultry workers from Eastern Europe.

For opposition parties and poverty campaigners, Johnson’s commitment to “levelling up” unequal growth also jars with the ending on Wednesday of a weekly boost to benefits for the lowest-paid workers.

As the Prime Minister put the finishing touches to his speech, protesters nearby condemned “Tory lies” and loudly played the Soviet/Russian national anthem.

Johnson’s attempt to draw a line between his administration and previous governments which lacked “guts” overlooks the fact that the Conservative party has been in power since 2010.

In contrast, finance minister Rishi Sunak — seen by many observers as the heir apparent to 10 Downing Street — is stressing continuity with the Tory tradition of fiscal rectitude.

Climate Silence
The government blames the acute labour shortages afflicting the UK economy not on its hardline approach to Brexit but on the coronavirus pandemic.

But the supply crisis risks undermining themes that Johnson is set to emphasise in his conference speech, including levelling up economic growth across the UK and “Global Britain” after the EU divorce.

He is also expected to talk up Britain’s action on climate change and the need for global coordination, ahead of convening the two-week COP26 climate summit in Scotland from October 31.

Touring exhibitors’ stands at the conference on Tuesday, Johnson rode an e-bike, climbed aboard an electric tractor, and played with a puzzle to assemble a zero-carbon energy house.

But at the Tory gathering as a whole, the topic of climate change has been relegated to the backburner.

Sunak said on Monday it would be “immoral” to bequeath pandemic-driven debt to future generations, but made no mention of saving those generations from a burning planet.

The omission was a “damaging sign” ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, commented Rebecca Newsom, head of policy for Greenpeace UK.

“Coughing up more cash for green infrastructure now would save enormous costs later and create millions of new jobs across the UK,” she said.

Neither did Foreign Secretary Liz Truss reference the C-word — climate — in her speech on Sunday, while vowing to support “greener” growth and “clean infrastructure” in developing countries.

The B-Word
In contrast, the B-word — Brexit — has been a recurrent theme for delegates of Johnson’s party, adamant that current problems associated with the EU split will pass.

Brexit minister David Frost admonished the “anti-transport, anti-car” lobby’s “anti-growth ideologies” and “persistent miserabilism”.

Interior Minister Priti Patel used her own conference speech on Tuesday to promise tougher action against climate protesters who have been blockading roads around London.

The Prime Minister mocked the demonstrators as “irresponsible crusties”.

But Johnson’s COP26 president, Alok Sharma, denied the party was soft-pedalling climate change with less than a month to go before he welcomes delegates from around the world to Glasgow.

“Cabinet colleagues actually understand why it’s vitally important to get this right,” the former business minister told a small audience on the margins of the main conference.

National Assembly: Buhari To Present 2022 Budget Tomorrow

National Assembly: Buhari To Present 2022 Budget Tomorrow
President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari will, tomorrow, present the 2022 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly.

Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, dropped the hint yesterday when he referred to the Nigerian leader’s submission of the revised 2022-2024 Medium Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF) to the Committee on Finance for consideration.

The Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola-led panel was mandated to report back today.

“You will have to report back to us latest tomorrow (Wednesday) to enable us to use it as a predicate for the budget presentation on Thursday,” Omo-Agege said.

Buhari, in a letter to the upper chamber dated October 4, 2021, explained that the revision was necessitated by the need to reflect the new fiscal terms in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, as well as other critical expenditures in the 2022 budget.”

According to him, the underlying drivers of the 2022 fiscal projections such as oil price benchmark, production volume, exchange rate, GDP growth and inflation rate, reflect emergent realities and macroeconomic.

Besides, the President forwarded the revised national economic framework for consideration and approval by the House of Representatives.

He offered some explanation for the decision.

Prior to his return yesterday from the inauguration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia for a second five-year term in office, Buhari pledged Nigeria’s support for South Sudan’s political and economic stability.

He made the pledge during a bilateral meeting with President Salva Kiir of South Sudan.

Buhari also promised to back to all efforts at bringing long-term stability and prosperity to the continent.

“Nigeria will contribute its quota as much as possible to the development of South Sudan. Take us into confidence and ask us what we can do,” he added.

Stressing the need for cooperation among developing countries, the Nigerian leader said with the right investment in education, an improved economy and healthcare, things would surely improve.

On the developments in Guinea and Mali, President Buhari reiterated that African leaders must support efforts at restoring civil rule in both countries.

The President expressed concern that as long as Libya remains unstable, the proliferation of arms and other problems in the Sahel region would continue.

In his remarks, President Kirr, who acknowledged Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa, appreciated the country’s effort in the liberation struggle of South Sudan.

He also commended the First Lady of Nigeria for assisting in the education of many South Sudanese girls.

“In West Africa, ECOWAS intervenes immediately whenever a country has a problem. That should be adopted in East and Central Africa,” he said.

The pair was among the several African leaders that attended the event.

Full List As Cardi B, Lil Baby Win At BET Hip Hop Awards 2021

Full List As Cardi B, Lil Baby Win At BET Hip Hop Awards 2021

American rappers, Cardi B and Lil Baby, were part of the big winners at the BET Hip Hop Awards 2021 which was aired on Tuesday night.

Cardi B bagged three awards for “WAP”, which also featured Megan Thee Stallion. The song was named song of the year, best hip hop video, and best collaboration.

According to Billboard, the award ceremony was pre-recorded on Friday at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, but was aired last night.

Lil Baby was another notable winner for the night who bagged hip hop artist of the year and best duo or group (with Lil Durk).

See full list of winners below:

Hip Hop Album Of The Year

Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler, The Creator — Winner
A Gangsta’s Pain, Moneybagg Yo
Culture III, Migos
Good News, Megan Thee Stallion
Khaled Khaled, DJ Khaled
Savage Mode II, 21 Savage & Metro Boomin
The Off-Season, J. Cole

Song Of The Year

“WAP,” Produced by Ayo & Keyz (Cardi B Feat. Megan Thee Stallion) — Winner
“Back in Blood,” Produced by YC (Pooh Shiesty feat. Lil Durk)
“Late At Night,” Produced by Mustard (Roddy Ricch)
“Laugh Now Cry Later,” Produced by G. Ry, Cardogotwings, Roget Chahayed & Yung Exclusive (Drake feat. Lil Durk)
“Up,” Produced by Yung DZA, Sean Island, DJ Swanqo (Cardi B)
“Whole Lotta Money (Remix),” Produced By London Jae, Beatgodz, Tee Romano (Bia feat. Nicki Minaj)

Hip Hop Artist Of The Year

Lil Baby — Winne
Cardi B
Drake
J. Cole
Megan Thee Stallion
Tyler, the Creator

Best Hip Hop Video

Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP” — Winner
Cardi B, “Up”
Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy”
Drake feat. Lil Durk, “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Lil Nas X, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”
Saweetie feat. Doja Cat, “Best Friend”

Best New Hip Hop Artist

Yung Bleu — Winner
Blxst
Coi Leray
Don Toliver
Morray
Pooh Shiesty

Best Collaboration

Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP” — WINNER
21 Savage & Metro Boomin Feat. Drake, “Mr. Right Now”
Bia feat. Nicki Minaj, “Whole Lotta Money (Remix)”
DJ Khaled feat. Lil Baby & Lil Durk, “Every Chance I Get”
Drake feat. Lil Durk, “Laugh Now Cry Later”
Pooh Shiesty feat. Lil Durk, “Back in Blood

Best Duo Or Group

Lil Baby & Lil Durk — WINNER
21 Savage & Metro Boomin
Chris Brown & Young Thug
City Girls
Future & Lil Uzi Vert
Migos

Best Live Performer

Tyler, the Creator — WINNER
Busta Rhymes
Cardi B
DaBaby
Doja Cat
Megan Thee Stallion

Lyricist Of The Year

J. Cole — WINNER
Benny the Butcher
Drake
Lil Baby
Megan Thee Stallion
Nas

Best International Flow

Little Simz (UK) — WINNER
Ladipoe (Nigeria)
Nasty C (South Africa)
Xamã (Brazil)
Laylow (France)
Gazo (France)
Dave (UK)

Video Director Of The Year

Missy Elliott — WINNER
Cole Bennett
Colin Tilley
Dave Meyers
Director X
Hype Williams

Producer Of The Year

Hit-Boy — WINNER
DJ Khaled
Metro Boomin
Mustard
The Alchemist
Tyler, The Creator

Hustler Of The Year

Saweetie — WINNER
Cardi B
Drake
Lil Baby
Megan Thee Stallion
Yung Bleu

Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse

Jay-Z, “What It Feels Like” (Nipsey Hussle feat. Jay-Z) — WINNER
Cardi B, “Type Shit” (Migos feat. Cardi B)
Drake, “Havin’ Our Way” (Migos feat. Drake)
Lil Durk, “Back in Blood” (Pooh Shiesty feat. Lil Durk)
Megan The Stallion, “On Me (Remix)” (Lil Baby feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
Roddy Ricch, “Lemonade (Remix)” (Internet Money feat. Don Toliver & Roddy Ricch)

Impact Track

Nipsey Hussle feat. Jay-Z, “What It Feels Like” — WINNER
Black Thought , “Thought Vs Everybody”
Lil Nas X, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”
Lil Baby & Kirk Franklin, “We Win”
Meek Mill Feat. Lil Durk, “Pain Away”
Rapsody, “12 Problems”

I Am Hip Hop Award

Nelly

Rock The Bells Cultural Influence Award

Tyler, The Creator

Literary Critic: Adichie Is ‘Probably Too Young’ For Nobel Prize

Literary Critic: Adichie Is ‘Probably Too Young’ For Nobel Prize
Chimamanda Adichie

A Swedish literary critic, Jonas Thente, said he hopes that Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie is awarded a Nobel Prize in October 2021.

Thente, a literary editor and critic at Dagens Nyheter in Sweden, however, said he fears that the 44-year-old Adichie is “probably too young” to be awarded a Nobel Laureate.

The youngest laureate to date was Rudyard Kipling, who was honoured at the age of 41 in 1907.

Organisers of the prestigious award will name a winner of the prize on Thursday.

The event did not hold in 2018 after a #MeToo scandal – on gender imbalance – caused the 2018 prize to be postponed.

Swedish Academy has promised new criteria that would lead to a more global and gender-equal literature prize.

Since then, two women have taken home the honour: Polish novelist, Olga Tokarczuk, for 2018, and the American poet Louise Gluck last year.

But the 2019 winner, Austria’s Peter Handke, was a controversial pick.

His pro-Serbian positions extended to backing Serbia’s former president Slobodan Milosevic, who was on trial for genocide when he died in 2006.

Thente’s stance aligns with that of critics who have pointed out that some non-Western writers are available for the Nobel prize.

Kenya’s Ngugi wa Thiong’o is regularly mentioned as an African author worthy of the prize, as are Somalia’s Nuruddin Farah or Mozambique’s Mia Couto.

South Korea’s Ko Un’s star may have faded following accusations of sexual assault, but India’s Vikram Seth and China’s Can Xue, Yan Lianke and Lao Yiwu (pen name Lao Wei) have also been cited as potential winners.

Caribbean-American Jamaica Kincaid and Maryse Conde of Guadeloupe have also been touted for the prize.

Major Western countries have all had several winners, France topping the list with 15.

But the world’s two most populous nations, India and China, have only one each, not counting the Chinese-born naturalised French citizen Gao Xingjian.

Caribbean-American Jamaica Kincaid and Maryse Conde of Guadeloupe have also been mentioned.

Thente submits that Swedish Academy might not be able to “stay away from scandal” because “the prize is more unpredictable than ever.”

Ekiti House Of Assembly Confirms Adeyeye As Chief Justice

Ekiti House Of Assembly Confirms Adeyeye As Chief Justice

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed Justice Oyewole Adeyeye as the substantive Chief Judge of the state.

The confirmation was consequent upon adoption of the report of the House Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters Chairman, Tajudeen Akingbolu, during plenary led by the Speaker, Mr Funminiyi Afuye.

Akingbolu, who said ‘the committee found the new chief judge worthy and fit for the job”, called on members to expeditiously confirm him.

The Speaker, Afuye, had earlier read a letter dated October 4 from the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, requesting confirmation of the acting CJ following the retirement in May 2021 of the former CJ, Justice Ayodeji Daramola.

Justice Adeyeye, while addressing the House, had promised to ensure that justice administration would be given its necessary attention.

The National Judicial Council had earlier recommended the confirmation of Justice Adeyeye as the substantive CJ of Ekiti State to Ekiti State Government, for ratification by Ekiti State House of Assembly and approval of governor.

Justice Adeyeye was appointed acting CJ in June 2021 following the retirement of former CJ of Ekiti State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, on 31st May, 2021.

South-South Governors To Face FG, North At Supreme Court On VAT

South-South Governors To Face FG, North At Supreme Court On VAT
South-South Governors at a meeting

As some Northern states today joined the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in its appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court empowering Rivers State to collect Value Added Tax (VAT), the South-South Governors’ Forum, also known as the BRACED Governors’ Council, yesterday, resolved to join the suit in solidarity with Rivers and Lagos states.

BRACED is an acronym for the six states in the South-South zone: Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states. Governors from the region declared their unequivocal support for the decision of states to collect VAT.

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, while reading the communiqué at the end of the meeting, which lasted more than five hours at Government House, Port Harcourt, disclosed that the regional security outfit of the zone would be launched soon.

The crucial meeting was attended by five of the six governors from the zone. In attendance were Godwin Obaseki (Edo State), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa-Ibom), Douye Diri (Bayelsa) and the host governor, Nyesom Wike.

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State failed to show up and did not send a representative. Sources close to the Council attributed his action to Ayade’s recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking further, chairman of the forum noted that the BRACED Commission had established their state security organs and the forum has approved it as the regional security architecture.

Part of the communiqué read: “After an extensive deliberation, the Council resolved that the President and National Assembly should take necessary measures to review some unfair aspects of the recently signed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to ensure fairness and equity. It urged that the amendment should include a clear definition of host communities and that the trustees should be appointed by state governments.

“The Forum called upon the President and the Federal Government to uphold the law establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by appropriately constituting its Board. In addition, it expressed the hope that the Federal Government would make the forensic audit report public and deal justly and fairly with the report, with a view to strengthening the capacity of the NDDC to meet its obligations to the people of the region.

“The Forum regretted that the President and the Federal Government had generally failed to give reasoned consideration to requests made by the region during the dialogue with a special federal delegation led by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to the President. Notable among the requests were the relocation of NNPC subsidiaries and IOCs headquarters to the Niger Delta and the completion of a number of federal projects in the region, notably roads.”

Reacting, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the South-South people, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), described the resolution of South-South governors to join in the VAT/FG dispute at the Supreme Court as a welcome development. National Chairman of PANDEF, Chief Emmanuel Ibok Essien, spoke yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

He said: “The governors’ resolution on joining the suit is a welcome development. And the implication is that when the Supreme Court makes its pronouncement it will affect all the states that joined in the suit. And if that pronouncement is in favour of the states, it means that automatically they will all benefit from the judgment of court.

“Those states will start collecting VAT, on their own. But if they are not joined as a party to the suit, they will not be beneficiary of the judgment given. It means they will now have to go to court again on their own. Therefore, PANDEF’s advice to all the Southern states is that they should join as a party to the suit.”

Meanwhile, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday said the demand by federating states for a sharing formula that is just, fair and equitable is not controversial but very straightforward to reflect the contribution of states to the common purse.

He made this known at the opening of a two-day Southwest zonal public hearing on Review of Revenue Allocation Formula organised by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in Lagos.

The governor said the states also want a revenue formula that enhances the capacity of states and local governments to deliver high-quality services and the full dividends of democracy to the greatest number of Nigerians.

To this end, the governor demanded for one per cent share in the revenue allocation formula, maintaining that the special status of the state and its prosperity directly or indirectly has multiplying effects on the Southwest region and the entire country.

Lagos State government also proposed that the revenue sharing formula should be 34 per cent for Federal Government, including one percent for FCT; 42 per cent for state governments; 23 per cent for Local Governments and one per cent for Lagos State (Special Status) as against the current revenue allocation formula, which are 52.68 per cent, 26.72 per cent and 20.60 per cent for Federal Government, 36 state governments and 774 local governments respectively.

Sanwo-Olu said the review of the current revenue allocation formula is long overdue, noting that the best way to guarantee national progress and development is by paying attention to sub-national development because the national is a summation and a reflection of the sub-national.

He said the call for a special status for the state, which has been re-echoed at different fora and at various levels and tiers of government, cannot be over emphasised, especially against the backdrop of the current economic situation of the country, aftermath of the #EndSARS protests a year ago, and the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, for which Lagos has been the national epicentre.

“Lagos State is no doubt the nation’s commercial capital, and population centre. The level of funding required to service the state’s social and public infrastructure is so significant that it will be difficult to bear the burden for much longer under the present arrangement. It will actually be unfair to expect the state to bear this heavy burden on its own. It is, therefore, necessary to give due consideration to all the variables that support our advocacy for a special status.

“The call for a special status for Lagos is not a selfish proposition; it is in the best interest of the country and all Nigerians, for Lagos, which accounts for about 20 per cent of the national GDP and about 10 per cent of the nation’s population to continue to prosper,” the Governor said.

Justifying the need for Lagos State to be accorded special status, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos is more than just another state in the Nigerian federation, noting that there is no tribe in the country that has no significant stake in Lagos State.

He said: “As the former capital of the country for 77 years (compared to the 30 years that Abuja has been the Federal Capital Territory), Nigeria’s largest metropolis still bears the heavy brunt of being home to all Nigerians; irrespective of age, class, gender, religious affiliation or tribe.

“Also, Lagos was the epicentre for this virus, the same way it was for the Ebola virus some years ago. The management of these unforeseen occurrences comes with huge responsibilities and financial commitments on the part of the State Government,” he said.

IN another development, governors and leaders of the Southeast zone will today gather at the Government House, Enugu State, for an emergency meeting over the high rate of insecurity in the zone.

The increasing insecurity in the area has caused several deaths, including last week’s killing of Dr Chike Akunyili, husband of the late Information Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili, in Anambra State.

A memo sent by the Ebonyi State Governor and chairman of Southeast Governors’ Forum, David Umahi, stated that the leaders would in the meeting reach some decisions to “salvage our region that is currently battling with the high rate of insecurity.”

Umahi stressed that the meeting would be attended by governors of the five states of the zone, Ohanaeze leaders and heads of religious and traditional institutions. Umahi begged his colleagues in the zone to endeavour to be present and not send representatives.

He wrote: “Your Excellencies and our highly esteemed leaders, in consultation with our governors and President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, where a decision for an urgent meeting to be called was reached, may I, therefore, invite you for an emergency meeting of Southeast governors, some leaders of Ohaneze, some of our political leaders, some of our religious leaders and some of our traditional leaders.

“Our Leaders begged that I request all governors of Southeast to be present at the time and not on representative capacity so that together we should reach some decisions to salvage our region that is currently battling with the high rate of insecurity. May I, therefore, request that you please endeavour to attend this meeting for the sake of Ndigbo.”

Giving an insight into the agenda of the meeting, a source said: “As you can see, it is very obvious that the governors have received all manner of insults for not being firm and sincere in the establishment of the so-called Ebubeagu security outfit. You will agree with me that this vacuum they created led to the formation of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) by IPOB.

“If you check around the states, the people have accepted ESN because there is no alternative to that. When we talk about the renewed insecurity in the Southeast, anybody who wants to tell himself the truth will tell you that since the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, and the governors playing selfish politics with it, we have been having sit-at-home, which has caused several deaths and arson.

“I think the governors will have to put an end to this and that is by discussing his arrest and giving assurance that he would be released. They are not happy that they only enjoy three working days in a week with no end in sight for the sit-at-home.”

Russian Acting Crew Blast Off To Make First Movie In Space

Russian Acting Crew Blast Off To Make First Movie In Space

A Russian actor and a film director have rocketed into space on a landmark mission to make the world’s first movie in orbit.

Actor Yulia Peresild and director Klim Shipenko blasted off on Tuesday for the International Space Station (ISS) together with cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, a veteran of three space missions.

Their Russian Soyuz MS-19 lifted off as scheduled at 08:55 GMT from the Russian space launch facility in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, and successfully reached the designated orbit.

Peresild and Klimenko are set to film scenes of a new movie titled Challenge, in which a surgeon, played by Peresild, rushes to the space station to save a crew member with a heart condition.

After 12 days on the space outpost, they are set to return to Earth with another Russian cosmonaut.

Hours before takeoff, the trio arrived at the launchpad clad in heavy spacesuits, waving to crowds as they boarded the spacecraft.

“For me, space is alluring, welcoming and has no boundaries,” said Peresild, who was chosen from 3,000 candidates for the role.

Shipenko, who has made several commercially successful movies, described their fast-track, four-month preparation for the flight as tough.

“Of course, we couldn’t make many things at the first try, and sometimes even at a third attempt. But it’s normal,” he said.

The 38-year-old director said he will finish the shooting on Earth after filming space episodes.

Shkaplerov and two other Russian cosmonauts on board the station are said to have cameo roles.

Russia’s state-controlled Channel One television, which is involved in making the movie, extensively covered the crew’s training and launch.

“I’m in shock. I still can’t imagine that my mum is out there,” Peresild’s daughter, Anna, said in televised remarks minutes after the launch.

Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos, was a key force behind the project, describing it as a chance to burnish the nation’s space glory.

True to a pre-flight tradition religiously observed by cosmonauts, the crew said that on Sunday, they watched the classic Soviet film “The White Sun of the Desert”.

Shipenko and Peresild are expected to return to Earth on October 17 in a capsule with cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, who has been on the ISS for the past six months.

“Not only do we need to make a film, we need to come back to Earth alive,” Shkaplerov said.

2023 Presidency: Northern Group Kicks Against Zoning

2023 Presidency: Northern Group Kicks Against Zoning

Opposition against the zoning of the 2023 Presidency continued on Monday with a coalition of over 60 Northern groups describing it as undemocratic.

The CNG warned that any political party which takes any step to block the window for the possible emergence of a northern Presidential candidate will be rejected.

The organization also threatened to revoke the property of any person in the north who may decide to obey the one-month sit-at-home directive issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra.

Spokesman for the group, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said this at a press conference with the theme: “Our stand on the threats of destabilization from Southern Nigeria,” held in Abuja.

He said, “We have seen a new statement by IPOB directing all Igbos living anywhere in Nigeria which includes the North to participate in the sit-at-home order for one month.

“What we are saying is that the Igbo in the North are not threatened. On our part, we are going to hold any trader that complies with IPOB directives in the North.

“We will definitely take steps to ensure that his business place is revoked because we have no problem with Igbo here doing their businesses peacefully.

“But if they comply with that order, it means they are also with the people that are actually challenging the state. We do not want any Igbo man to comply with that in Northern Nigeria.”

According to him, no conspiracy in whatever form would “stop the North from fielding a Northerner for the presidency in the PDP in 2023 irrespective of its recent body language that tends to block a northern candidacy by quickly zoning the national chairmanship position to the North which is unacceptable.”

The CNG further said, “We find the renewed desperation by the South to threaten northern people’s right to franchise a deliberate attempt to bastardize democracy, cause greater instability in the guise of a contentious, undemocratic power shift arrangement and therefore downright unacceptable.

“As evidence of an agenda to impose a nonexistent zoning arrangement on the North that has its root and pattern in our history, recall that the Peoples Democratic Party which initiated the idea of zoning had itself literally bungled it at all subsequent elections since 1999.”