ORTOM: Benue people speak on defection, Buhari’s 2019 chances

 

 Finally, after much persuasion from majority of the stakeholders in the state, Governor Samuel Ortom midweek took a rather bold political step by defecting from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after months of protracted face-off with the leader of the party in the state. Suffice it to state here that the governor’s defection did not come as a huge surprise to pundits who have been following developments in the state, particularly since the beginning of the year when the killing spree by herdsmen in parts of the state took a worrisome dimension leading to the gruesome murder of over 500 innocent villagers in close to 18 of the 23 local government areas of the state. Gov. Ortom of Benue State The overwhelmed governor and people of the state had no option but to cry out against the pogrom which saw blood of innocent

2019: Adopt anti-vote-buying measures, stakeholders tell INEC

Ahead of the 2019 General Elections, some stakeholders, including registered voters in Abuja have charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to develop strategy against vote-buying. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) They told newsmen in separate interviews on Monday in Abuja, that such proactive measures had become expedient following complaints which the dimension of vote-buying in elections had assumed. According to them, years of commitment by the commission to deliver free and fair elections will amount to naught if vote-buying is now condoned. Dr Chidi Amadi, the Executive Director, Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group, who expressed concern over the

NDLEA Promises To Stamp Out Illicit Drug Abuse

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Anambra commend said it has instituted a frontal attack to tackle the issue drug abuse in the state .
It expresses regret over the rising spate of illicit drug abuse among the youths, reveals that the command has unearth the proliferation of dangerous drug known as meant among children of youth ages in the state.

The Anambra state commandant of NDLEA, Sule Momodu made this public while on advocacy visit to the Secretary to Anambra state government Professor Solomon Chukwulobelum, to drum up support on the work of the state Drug Control Committee.

Anambra Central: dismisses petition against Umeh

The Anambra Central Senatorial Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka has struck out a petition challenging the victory of Sen. Victor Umeh in the Jan. 13 Anambra senatorial rerun election.

The Tribunal made up of Justices H. A. Olusiyi, chairman; A. O. Ayoola, member 1 and A. U. Birnin Kudu, member 2 dismissed the five reliefs sought by the petitioner as lacking merit and his inability to proof his case.
The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were joined in the petition as second and third respondents.

PTAD recovers N16bn legacy pension funds, assets

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate has recovered N16bn of legacy pension funds and assets in the last one year.
The Executive Secretary, Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, made the disclosure at the 2017 stakeholders’ forum of pensioners in Abuja on Friday.
The legacy fund includes the liabilities and assets of pension funds of erstwhile pension offices and treasury funded pensions of parastatal agencies, universities and colleges of education.
She said the legacy funds and assets recovered were mainly from NICON insurance and that efforts were on to recover additional assets and funds held by insurance underwriters.

Pensioners lay siege to Osun secretariat over unpaid entitlements

Members of the Osun State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioner on Thursday continued with their protest over the alleged non-payment of their gratuities and pensions by the state government.
Hundreds of aged pensioners marched from the Ola Iya Junction to the State Civil Service Secretariat which is almost five kilometres away.

Some protesters with walking sticks were not deterred by the distance as they booed and jeered at the occupants of  campaign vehicles of the Chief of Staff, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, who is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the coming election in the state.

Why young actors struggle in Yoruba movie industry – Olushola Michaels

Emerging actor and producer, Olushola Michaels, has admitted that indigenous actors are not appreciated as much as their English-speaking colleagues in Nigeria.

Insisting he has all it takes to make an impact in the movie industry, the Ogun State indigene disclosed that the English-speaking actors get most of the big endorsement deals and accolades.

FG okays 10-year validity period for passports

The Federal Government has approved a 10-year validity period for Nigerian passports.
This followed a presidential approval to change the face of the e-passport 10 years after it was introduced in the country.
Currently, the passports have a five-year validity period.
The Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede, who said this in a report monitored on Channels Tv on Thursday, added that the extended validity period would reduce the stress Nigerians went through every five years to renew their passports.

“One of the reforms he (President Buhari) has approved is that we would improve the quality, security of our passport booklets.

I’ve had to refund money for shows that clashed with my studies – Osupa

Ace fuji musician, Saheed Osupa, has given an update on his academic pursuit at the University of Ibadan.
The artiste shocked many of his fans about three years ago when he enrolled for Political Science at the premier university.
In an interview with our correspondent, Osupa revealed how his family took the decision, saying they thought he was joking.

He said, “They thought it was a joke. Even my first born who just finished studying at the University of Ilorin called me on my matriculation day, which, coincidentally, was also his convocation day. He jokingly said, “Remember the son of whom you are’, which was what I told him when he first gained admission.”
Osupa added that his priority was with his education as he had even cancelled some shows because they clashed with his classes.

Killers of Benue Catholic priest sentenced to death

The two surviving kidnappers of a Catholic priest, Fr. John Adeyi, have been sentenced to death by hanging by a Makurdi High Court.

Adeyi, the Vicar-General of Catholic Diocese of Otukpo and Parish Priest of Catholic Church, Okpoga, was kidnapped by gunmen in 2016.
The cleric was later killed and his body dumped in a farm near Otukpo.

However, four kidnappers were arrested by the Intelligence Response Team led by ACP Abba Kyari few months after, but two of them later died in custody in unexplained circumstances.

In a verdict on Wednesday, the court found the two surviving suspects guilty and handed them the death sentence.

Reacting to the development, Kyari in a Facebook post noted that justice had been served.

“Glory be to God Almighty, the kidnappers and killers of Rev. Fr. John Adeyi of Otukpo Diocese Benue State, whom we arrested in 2016 after a serious manhunt in Bauchi, Benue and Enugu states have been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court in Makurdi, Benue State. Justice has been delivered to the kidnappers and killers of the innocent man.

“My unit, IRT has recorded her first death conviction since inception in 2015,” he posted.

The family of the late cleric applauded the judgment in a statement, but noted that the development reminded them of the sad loss of their son. It is gratifying, however, to know that the culprits did not go unpunished. May the soul of Fr Adeyi continue to rest in perfect peace with his creator,” the family stated.