G-5 GOVERNORS SILENT ON CHOICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
The five aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), failed to name their preferred presidential candidate in Oyo State on Thursday.
The governors, otherwise known as the Integrity Group, were in Ibadan, the state capital, for the campaign flag-off of Governor Seyi Makinde.
The campaign, which was sheld at historic Mapo Hall, attracted a huge crowd of PDP members and supporters from across the state.
Despite the heightened expectations of the memembers the governors did not announce their preferred presidential candidate.
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike appealed to the members and supporters to vote for all the candidates of the party for the National and State Assembly elections but did not give the same directive on the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
AFRICA’S MONKEYPOX CASES MOSTLY IN NIGERIA – WHO
The current situation report on Monkeypox by the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that Nigeria accounts for 63 per cent of Monkeypox disease burden in Africa.
According to the report, the total number of confirmed cases of Monkeypox disease in Africa between January 1, 2022 and January 1, 2023 is 1,200. The total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria in the same period is 756.
It is also gathered from the report that the total number of deaths on the continent stands at 15. Nigeria accounts for seven.
The WHO report which was published on Thursday, showed that from January 1, 2022 through January 1, 2023, a cumulative total of 83,943 laboratory-confirmed cases of Monkeypox and 75 deaths have been reported to WHO from 110 countries/territories/areas in all six WHO Regions.
From December 26, 2022 through January 1, 2023, eight countries reported an increase in the weekly number of cases, with the highest increase reported in Mexico.
OKOROCHA SAYS, “I’VE NOT JOINED PDP”
The Senator Representing lmo West senatorial, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, on Thursday debunked the rumour that he has joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The former governor of Imo State said he was still a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okorocha had appeared in a viral photo with former governor Emeka Ihedioha at a burial ceremony of mother of one of his aides Pascal Uju.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemeodo, the Senator said he could not have joined PDP in a burial ceremony.
POLICE NABS COUPLE, HERBALIST IN OGUN FOR RITUAL KILLING
Taiwo Ajalorun, his wife, Salawa Ajalorun, and six others have been arrested by men of Ogun State Police Command for allegedly selling human parts.
The suspects who had allegedly killed three persons before they were arrested reportedly sold legs for N30,000 and human heart for N50,000 to their buyers who used them for money rituals.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed this incident on Thursday.
In a statement, Oyeyemi said the couple and six other suspects; Lukman Oladele, Kayode Ibrahim, Bello Akeem, Alebiosu Adebayo, Fatai Rasheed and Fatai Jimoh were arrested on Wednesday.
Oyeyemi also stated that the suspecs were arrested for kidnapping, killing and dismembering of a 26-year-old mother of two, Oyindamola Adeyemi.
According to him, the suspects were apprehended following a report lodged at Obalende divisional headquarters; Ijebu-Ode by one Ojo Omolara.
Omolara reported that her neighbour, Oyindamola Adeyemi, left home on the morning of Wednesday 28th of December 2022 but didn’t return home and her phone has since then been switched off.
TINUBU GIVES REASONS WHY OBASANJO CANNOT RECOMMEND PRESIDENT
The Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said former President Olusegun Obasanjo was not qualified to recommend or endorse anyone as President of Nigeria because of his failures.
Tinubu said this on Thursday in Edo State while speaking at the APC Presidential Campaign rally held at the University of Benin Sports Complex, Ugbowo Campus, Benin.
The APC flagbearer said Obasanjo failed to develop the country when he had the opportunity, but rather was fighting his then Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and were accusing each other of spending the country’s money for their personal comfort.
Tinubu also noted that after spending $16billion on electricity, Obasanjo and the PDP government could not deliver electricity for Nigerians to make even popcorn.
Tinubu recalled how he brought Enron Power to generate electricity and solve the power problem in the commercial nerve centre of the country but the project was frustrated by the Obasanjo-led PDP government.
PUTIN ORDERS ‘TEMPORARY’ CEASEFIRE IN UKRAINE
Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the country’s Defence Minister to order a ceasefire in Ukraine over Orthodox Christmas.
The ceasefire will kick in for 36 hours starting at noon on January 6.
Orthodox Christmas is traditionally celebrated by many on January 6 and 7.
Putin made the announcement in response to an earlier call by Russian Patriarch Kirill for guns to go silent over the Orthodox holiday.
FG PUNISHING NIGERIANS WITH FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL – SOWORE
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has said Nigerians are being suffered with the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
During an interview on Arise TV on Thursday, Sowore said Nigerians shouldn’t pay more again for fuel and it should be their right.
When asked if he would keep the subsidy despite the deficit budget that might be inherited, he noted the fuel subsidy should not be removed, adding that the policy was only working for the rich.
OLISA AGBAKOBA STATES WHY EFCC SHOULD NOT BE IN EXISTENCE
Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, has said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) ought not to be in existence.
According to Agbakoba, the anti-graft agency currently operates outside the provision of the Nigerian constitution.
At a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, the former NBA President said the EFCC is a creation of the National Assembly and does not have the power to interfere with the activities of state governments.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stressed that the 1999 Constitution only provided one police force for Nigeria. He added that since the anti-graft agency was not a branch of the police, it could not perform its functions.
Agbakoba emphasized that the EFCC remained a federal establishment created by the National Assembly, adding that under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution, the powers of government were divided into two; the federal and the state.
OSUN ASSEMBLY SPEAKER SAYS, “OYETOLA WILL RETURN AS GOVERNOR IN JULY”
The Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, has predicted that the election petition tribunal will return former governor Gboyega Oyetola to his seat.
Mr Oyetola was defeated by Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the July 2022 governorship election and was sworn in in November.
The former governor told supporters who welcomed him back in Osogbo that God revealed to him that he will return as governor of the state.
At the Inauguration of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council in Osogbo on Thursday, the House Speaker also echoed Mr Oyetola’s declaration.
Mr. Owoeye said Mr Oyetola will return as governor of the state before 5 July.
CURFEW IN IKARE OVER COMMUNIAL CLASH
Following clashes at an annual carnival in the community, the Ondo State government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Ikare-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko Northeast Local Government Area.
The state government said on Thursday that the curfew was with immediate effect.
According to a statement by Olabode Richard, the chief press secretary to the Governor, the decision to impose the curfew was taken at a State Security Council meeting presided over by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
The escalated violent clash in the town since Tuesday, has continued unabated, despite the meeting held by Government and the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh and Owa Ale of Iyometa, Oba Adeleke Adegbite.