An elderly female Nigerian pilgrim from Sokoto State has died in Madinah, Saudi Arabia a few days to the commencement of 2019 Hajj rites.
Dr Hamidu Liman, Head of Medical team, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, made the disclosure while speaking with journalists in Madinah on Tuesday.
Liman, who did not identify the deceased, said she had an ailment before embarking on the trip. He said she was referred to Al Ansar hospital, Madinah, where she died, four days ago.
According to Liman, the deceased was buried in Madinah after her family was contacted.
“The deceased developed an illness from Nigeria, we attended to her but when her condition did not improve, we referred her for special attention at Al Ansar hospital, Madinah.
“We lost her in the hospital four days ago.
“I would advise intending pilgrims to ascertain their health status before embarking on pilgrimage because it involves lots of energy-sapping activities.
“They are urged to do physical exercise before embarking on pilgrimage, to ensure they are physically fit for the exercise,” he said.
Liman said that three other pilgrims had fracture; one with pathological fracture while two others accidentally fell on the floor due to slippery tiles and were treated.
He identified major health challenges confronting Nigerian pilgrims to include fatigue, headache, hypertension and asthma.
He said the commission had established four health centres in various locations in Madinah to handle pilgrims’ minor ailments.
The head of the medical team said pilgrims with special medical cases were referred to tertiary hospital for further medical attention in agreement with Saudi Government to treat such cases free of charge.
The police on Monday arraigned a security guard, Michael Nwaogwu, before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba for allegedly stealing from the offering box of a church.
It was gathered that on July 17, 2019, Nwaogwu allegedly stole N2,385 from the offering box of the St. Dennis Catholic Church in the Akoka, Bariga area of the state.
According to the prosecutor, Godwin Oriabure, another guard, Musa Ayay, who discovered that the offering box had been tampered with, confronted Nwaogwu, who confessed to the crime and upon a search, the money was allegedly found in his underwear.
Nwaogwu was arraigned on one count of theft.
According to Oriabure, the offence contravenes Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (revised).
The presiding magistrate, Oluwatoyin Ojuromi, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N30,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Ojuromi ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendant.
She adjourned the case till August 19 for mention.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a suit filed by Sen. Samuel Anyanwu challenging the emergence of Gov. Emeka Ihedioha as the Imo state governor.
Justice Jonn Okoro, in a lead judgment, held that the appellant failed to prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The appellant has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the allegations made against the 1st respondent, therefore the case is hereby dismissed and cost of N200,000 awarded in favour of the first and second respondents.
Anyanwu had approached the Court seeking to nullify the victory of Ihedioha.
He urged the courts to declare him the authentic winner of the primary election.
He accused Ihedioha of engaging in over-voting, thuggery, which he alleged, swayed the polls in favour of Ihedioha who is now the governor of the state.
Ihedioha had in the primary election on October 1, 2018, got 1,723 votes to defeat Anayanwu who got 1,282 to come second.
The court of Appeal in Owerri, Imo State had struck out the suit challenging the emergence of the Imo state governor, Emeka Ihedioha, as the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the state.
The suit which had earlier been struck out by the Owerri Federal High Court was filed by senator Samuel Anyanwu, who contested the primary election with Ihedioha.
In dismissing that suit, the jurist held that Anyanwu was unable to establish his allegations saying that the petitioner did not bring enough evidence to convince the court.
Sequel to reports that Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) members had been coopted into the security architecture of Ondo State, a lot of questions and anxiety now trail the development.
Many people, especially the Yoruba of the South West, have queried the propriety behind the inclusion of Fulani in the security system as volunteers when the indigenous Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) were not offered such opportunity.
Some members of the Fulani vigilante, who were with identity cards and with arms and ammunition, were identified around the North Senatorial District of the state, creating a lot of fear and misgivings among the people.
Fuelling more suspicion against the MACBAN and their expansionist tendencies is the strong evidence that their activities may well be beyond Ondo State, as the ID cards of the members read ‘Ondo State Chapter’, suggesting there are other state chapters.
Some have criticised Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for conscripting Fulani vigilantes in the state security system, but the man said he was not aware of the group’s full deployment and recognition with identity cards, even though there were initial talks on how to collaborate to secure the state.
Some have twisted the account of renowned lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, when he stated his observations and encounter with the so-called vigilantes on his way out of the state.
According to him: “It is quite true that I was in Akure, Ondo State from Friday, 19th July 2019 to Sunday, 22nd July, 2019 for my mother’s investiture as the Iya-Ijo (Chief Matron) of our home Church, Christ Anglican Church, Oke-Ifira-Akoko, Ondo State.”
“On my way back to Abuja on the 22nd day of July 2019 in the company of some security men, we saw two men at the highway around Akoko, Ondo State carrying dane guns.”
He disclosed that the men identified themselves as members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Vigilante group whose operation is known to all the security apparatuses in the area.
“Also, they willingly showed us their identity cards, which had their names and designations. Some other security men came to corroborate their claims,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State commissioner of Information and Orientation, Mr. Donald Ojogo, admitted that the Akeredolu-led government was in the know of the development, but distanced the state government from the ID card and other complexities involved.
According to him: “Various claims have been made as regards the activities, duties as well as the supposed mandate of these men in question. It is pertinent to recall that at the height of the incessant kidnap cases, the Ondo State government took some far-reaching drastic measures, including a marching order to the law-abiding Hausa/Fulani leadership in the area to fish out criminal elements among them.
“The Hausa/Fulani leadership was directed to select a handful of trusted men amongst them who could serve as tour guards in the thick forest as security agencies prepared to comb the forests.”
The commissioner, who said the measure yielded results, however, warned that; “while government appreciates the efforts of those who volunteered to provide information and serve as tour guards to the security agencies in the ongoing operations in the area, it will not tolerate any unauthorized move by any group to take an undue advantage of the current state of insecurity in the country.
“Government, having been unaware of any such identity card carrying persons in the name of a vigilante group, has directed security agencies to get to the root of the matter and apprehend any such person or group of persons operating in that manner.”
Whereas the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams had recently alleged a plot to implicate some Yoruba leaders and militia groups over insecurity in the region, he accused some top government functionaries of sponsoring the Fulani.
While paying a condolence visit to the Afenifere patriarch, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, whose daughter was killed recently, Adams said: “We have to be careful not to go into their own trap. We have to be careful. It is good you see me in circulation to walk with you.
“We don’t want a situation where we walk into their trap because we realise that this ugly incident is being coordinated beyond our own scene. There are some forces behind them.”
“How can ordinary Fulani be holding AK 47? In our findings, AK 47 rifle goes for about N1m and with many bullets. So, we are looking beyond ordinary Fulani herdsmen.”
Adams, who is a co-founder of the Yoruba militia group, OPC, however, lamented that the Yoruba are not proactive to resist any aggression rather they prefer to react despite warnings.
A retired Commissioner of Police, Barr. Samuel Adetuyi wondered where the Fulani vigilantes derived their authority if both government and the police are not aware of their deployment. “So, where did they derive their authority? My appeal is to the Federal and State governments to deal with the situation according to law.
“My worry is the complications that situations like this can engender. Supposing other organisations come out with their own vigilantes? This is a recipe for chaos. The consequences of inactions or wrong actions certainly may be grave and may hit at the basis of Nigeria’s unity.”
Appraising the situation from the point of view of a technocrat, he added that, “constitutionally, only the Police is saddled with the responsibility for the internal security of the country. But of course, other security agencies have joined the Police in this task.
“Their roles have the approval of the government. But to have vigilante in this manner has the potential to further worsen the already fragile security situation. I believe that the government must act very fast and disband them. A stitch in time saves nine.”
Adetuyi, who was at the 2014 National Conference to represent the Nigeria Police Commission said: “Government must be open and transparent in this matter. Considering the current security situation, anything that can easily be misinterpreted must be avoided. If there is a need for the vigilante, it must draw membership from the locals. But if others are required, then the Police department must manage and control them. No group should be allowed anywhere as vigilante without being registered and under the operational control of the Police to check abuses.”
The Southwest governors, none-the-less have iterated their commitment to deal ruthlessly with people perpetrating crimes in the geo-political zone, assuring that the security architecture would be beefed up in August to tackle crime.
The Chairman of southwest Governors’ Forum, Akeredolu, stressed this after an indoor meeting with his colleagues, last Monday.
Other governors were: Mr. Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Engr. Seyi Makinde (Oyo). He hinged the envisaged improvement on the security summit held recently in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, adding that the technical committee of the summit had submitted their report for implementation.
“We have received the reports of the technical committee and the governors of all the states in Western Nigeria, we have now discussed the technical committee report and we are set to take immediate action on the very key areas recommended to the governors.
“From next month, our security architecture would have changed. From what we have now, that commission is going to do some work for us and thereafter we will all implement it to ensure there is a security of life and property in Western Nigeria. We are assuring our people that we are prepared, and we will deal ruthlessly with anybody who comes within our space to commit any criminal act. But the details of what we want to do cannot be discussed in the open.”
Mr. Ayo Owolabi, father to Channels Television reporter, Precious Owolabi, killed by stray bullet during the Shi’ites, police clash last Monday, has demanded a probe of Garki Hospital over alleged poor handling of the emergency.
Precious Owalbi alongside a senior police officer was killed during the Shiites and Police clash
Speaking on Sunday during a condolence visit to the family by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Kaduna, Owolabi blamed the doctor, who was supposed to perform surgery on his son, for being absent after he was initially stabilised.
The Vice President was accompanied by Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Ibrahim Shuaibu, top security chiefs and traditional leaders, to the family.
“There is nothing anyone can do in a situation like this. One has to take it as one of those challenges of life. I felt pained.
“The only thing that made me sad outside the event was that, when I learnt about what happened immediately after he was shot.
“He was taken to the first hospital where they said they could not handle his case and was referred to Garki hospital where he was attended to and was stabilised.
“But the doctor, who was supposed to do surgery on him, was far away. Possibly if he was available, the boy’s life would have been saved and that would have saved us from this agony we found ourselves in for the past one week.
“I would have loved to find out why the doctor was not around. And what step has the management of that hospital taken on that doctor’s action.
“I saw the boy in a video sitting down, holding his tommy and bleeding. But the doctor to do the surgery was nowhere to be found,” Owolabi said.
Precious Owolabi has been buried in Wusasa cemetery, Zaria in Kaduna state.
Osinbajo, during the visit to the family, described the death as great loss to the nation and a national tragedy that would never be forgotten in history, The Nations reports.
Former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaji Abdul Rafiu Ogunleye, is dead.
Alh Abdul Rafiu Ogunleye was deputy governor during the administration of Chief Olusegun Osoba.
He died Monday morning at his home town, Itele, Ijebu, at the age of 79.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has expressed sorrow over the demise.
Abiodun, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kunle Somorin, described Alhaji Ogunleye as an astute administrator and a politician per excellent, who contributed immensely to the socio-economic and political development of Ogun State.
The Governor attributed the development currently being enjoyed by the people to the efforts of people like the deceased, who worked tirelessly to ensure that the State attains its current status.
He said he had hoped that the former Deputy Governor would live longer so that his administration “would continue to tap from his wealth of experience for the benefit of the people of the State”.
Abiodun urged the family to take consolation in the fact that Alhaji Ogunleye lived an impactful life that benefited thousands of people, praying Almighty Allah to give them the fortitude to bear the loss and grant him repose in Aljanna Firdaus.
Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade has declared Tuesday, July 30th 2019, as Public Holiday to enable people of Cross River plant one million trees in the State.
A press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ayade stated, “This is to remind Cross Riverians and all those who reside or do business in the state, that tomorrow, Tuesday July 30th, 2019 has been declared a public holiday by His Excellency, Senator (Professor) Ben Ayade.
“The holiday is to encourage every Cross Riverian and residents of the state to take part in the Green Carnival during which about one million trees will be planted” he said.
Consequently, the Chief Press Secretary explained that individuals, schools, homes, churches, mosques, ministries, government agencies and departments, banks, hospitals and all business premises must plant trees tomorrow.
There are indications that all is not well in the South-West chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the ministerial list submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate last week.
A credible source in the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party said Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the party, failed in his bid to ensure that his allies and foot soldiers made the list despite several efforts he made to get them into the president’s cabinet.
He said contrary to the impression being created that many of the nominees from the South-West are Tinubu’s choice who may be crucial to his rumoured 2023 presidential ambition, most of them are not his recommendations.
According to him, “I think the president really meant what he said when he promised to appoint only people he knows. He was indirectly saying that he will not allow some power brokers foist their loyalists on him like they did in 2015. One of those affected is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu whose nominees were rejected by the president.
“In Ekiti, what many did not know that it was Governor Kayode Fayemi that nominated Otunba Niyi Adebayo. Because of his relationship with Tinubu, many thought it was Tinubu that nominated him, but the truth is that Tinubu actually submitted the name of Dele Alake, who served as commissioner for information under him but it was rejected.
“In Lagos, Tinubu also wanted Yemi Cardoso, a former commissioner for budget and economic planning, but the president settled for Olorunimbe Mamora while also retaining Babatunde Fashola.
“Despite winning Ogun State for APC despite the strong resistance from the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the president also snubbed Tinubu who wanted Wale Edun, a former commissioner for finance during his tenure as governor of Lagos, but settled for Lekan Adegbite, a loyalist of Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
“The same also applies to Oyo State where Tinubu nominated Abiola Ajimobi, the immediate past governor of the state, but President Buhari settled for Sunday Dare, an executive commissioner (stakeholder management) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Though Dare is one of Tinubu’s boys, the impression in the presidency is that he is more of a technocrat and will not have the kind of political influence someone like Ajimobi will have.
“He didn’t even nominate Rauf Aregbesola, former governor of Osun State. So, I think people are wrong if they say Asiwaju Tinubu’s loyalists dominated the list. The development is already unsettling leaders of the South-West APC but they are trying to manage it so as not to create the impression that things have fallen apart and the centre can no longer hold for them”, he said.
However, speaking with Daily Independent, an official of the South-West APC, said those insinuating that most of the appointees are not Tinubu’s loyalists are displaying ignorance as majority of them are his allies.
He also said rather than bother about who nominated who, Tinubu’s major interest is the national outlook and is pleased as long as the nominees have capacity to deliver and assist the president and the party to deliver on their promises to Nigerians.
He said, “If they are saying most of those names are not Asiwaju Tinubu’s nominees, are they his allies or not? In any case, what Tinubu is concerned about is the national outlook.
“These nominees who are currently being screened by the Senate, are they good choices? Do they have the capacity to deliver and assist the president in his next level agenda? If they have the capacity to deliver, then Asiwaju Tinubu has no problem with that.
“If you go to Benue, is George Akume not Tinubu’s ally? If you go to Kwara, are you saying Lai Mohammed and Gbemi Saraki who both played a leading role in the ‘O To Gee’ political revolution, are they not Tinubu’a allies? Go to Sokoto today, the ministerial nominee, Maigarai Dingyadi, is a close associate of Ibrahim Wamakko, who is also Tinubu’s ally. Go to Zamfara, the ministerial nominee, Sadiya Umar Faruk, played a key role in the merger of APC, are they now saying she is not Tinubu’s ally?
“Those saying Tinubu was sidelined are just displaying crass ignorance. If you go to Ekiti and you say Otunba Niyi Adebayo was nominated by Governor Fayemi, is Adebayo not an ally of Asiwaju? Have they forgotten that Tinubu helped in facilitating his emergence as the Deputy National Chairman of APC?
“If you go to Oyo and say Tinubu played no role in the emergence of Sunday Dare, have they forgotten that Dare is Tinubu’s immediate past Chief of Staff and media adviser, who highly regards Asiwaju more or less as his own political godfather?
“So, those are the issues but like I said, to Tinubu, what is important is that he is pleased with the nominees as long as they are competent and will assist the president in delivering on his agenda”
The Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, says to stop the farmer-herder violent crisis in Nigeria, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration should ban herdsmen from taking their cattle to the southern region of the country for grazing.
He stated this at a wedding ceremony of the son of Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya — Ibrahim Khalil — in Sokoto State on Saturday.
“There is no better way to improve their lives if you don’t prevent their migration from the North to the Central and Southern parts of Nigeria. That movement should be banned, otherwise the Fulani would continue to suffer and the security problem in the country would continue,” the governor said.
Ganduje added: “We cannot ask a state to implement Ruga where the indigenes are not Fulani. It is for states that can cater to the Fulani and improve their herdsmanship.
“That is why we are developing grazing area or Ruga in Kano State so that the Fulani can be in one place, they can be educated and enjoy all the social services like other people of the state, including health, justice and security. So that the type of herdsmanship they are doing will be improved and they can produce more cows, more milk and prosper economically.”
The African Action Congress (AAC) has reaffirmed Mr Omoyele Sowore as its National Chairman, while expelling Mr Leonard Ezenwa, former Treasurer and Secretary of the party.
Mr Joshua Adeoye, AAC Deputy National Secretary, read the resolution after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party on Saturday in Abuja.
Sowore is the National Chairman and the 2019 Presidential candidate of AAC, while Malcolm Fabiyi is the Deputy National Chairman of the party and both were suspended by Ezenwa’s faction.
Adeoye said allegations against Sowore leading to his purported expulsion from the party were manufactured, adding that there was no case of financial impropriety against him.
Adeoye noted that Sowore as a candidate declared campaign money, adding that he carried the people along as money was being spent up to the end of the campaign.
“The NEC outrightly rejects, cancels, reverses and totally repudiates the purported suspension of Sowore and Fabiyi from their offices.
“The NEC hereby affirms and reinstates Sowore as the one and only national chairman of AAC and Fabiyi as the deputy national chairman of the party.
He said that all actions carried out by Ezenwa in the name of AAC including documents signed or authored by him ” are dismissed, set aside and nullified forthwith”.
According to him, Ezenwa’s expulsion followed his failure to appear before the NEC to defend himself in line with article 80 of AAC constitution which found him guilty of the alleged offence.
The highest decision making body of the party called for immediate arrest and prosecution of Ezenwa for alleged forgery and perjury among others criminal acts.
AAC had been involved in leadership crisis leading to the removal of its presidential candidate by a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged financial impropriety.
Mr Inibehe Effiong, the National Legal Adviser of the party, however, said the party was not joined in the case filed by Ezenwa, adding that the person who also filed the case at the FCT High court was still unknown.
Mr Murtala Adamu, Niger state Chairman moved for adoption of the resolution of the NEC, while Mr Rotimi Ogunlana, Chairman, Oyo state seconded the resolution.
