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Former Super Eagles coach, Finidi George, on Sunday, reacted to the viral video of Victor Osimhen on social media, where he denied accusations of faking an injury to avoid participation in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Naija News had earlier reported that Osimhen, on Saturday, in an Instagram Live, disclosed that the claims about him staging an injury to skip national team duties were false.
In the video, Osimhen addressed some rumours linked to Finidi George, claiming that the former Enyimba gaffer said that he won’t beg him [Osimhen] to play for the Super Eagles.
Osimhen attacked the former Super Eagles coach, stating that he has lost respect for him.
The controversy prompted Nigerian sports journalist, Colin Udoh to seek clarification from both the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and Finidi George.
Udoh reached out to senior NFF officials, who confirmed that Finidi never accused Osimhen of feigning an injury.
Udoh also revealed that he reached out to Finidi, who refuted ever making such a statement and expected Osimhen to have handled the situation differently.
Udoh said on Instagram, “So I called a couple of people who were at that meeting between Finidi, the NFF, and the minister to find out if what is alleged to have been said was actually said, and so these people are usually very, very senior and reliable people and I was told categorically that Finidi did not say the things he’s alleged to have said.
“He did not say he wasn’t going to beg Osimhen. He did not say that Osimhem was not committed. in fact, he did confirm when he was asked about Osimhen’s absence that he called him from Germany, and that’s why he was excused.
“It was when the issue of player’s commitment was raised; that’s why he said he would not beg anybody to play for the Super Eagles, but he did not mention any player by name, specifically.
“And so, I also called Finidi himself to ask him if that was the case and he also confirmed to me that he never said any of those things.
“In fact, he corroborated what the other gentleman had told me and that he would have no reason to call out any player, whether in public or in private, and that he would address issues with the players themselves if there were any issues.
“And then, as soon as the video was brought to his attention, he said he reached out to Osimhen and let him know that one, he never said those things, and two, even if he had, Osimhen should have reached out to him first to find out if he did say, what he was alleged to have said, rather than going, public with such disrespect.”
Operatives of the Nasarawa State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC have arrested a gang of kidnappers responsible for the abduction and murder of Comrade Daniel Umaru Lagi, the father of former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Innocent Lagi.
The Commandant of the corps, Ismaila Abdullahi, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, June 15, 2024, said the suspects were arrested in a sting operation in collaboration with the troops of the Nigerian Army, Operation Whirl Stroke of the Nigerian Army.
Mr Abdullahi added that the suspects have confessed to the crime and will be charged to court for prosecution upon completion of the investigation.
LIB reported that the deceased, who was also the father of Professor Theophilus Lagi, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) was killed on Sunday, June 2024 a few days after his abduction.
Late Lagi was kidnapped in Wamba on Tuesday, May 28.
"A pastor told me she is behind my predicament" - Woman says after setting her 86-old-old mother ablaze in Ondo
AFOLABI
A 45-year-old woman, Abiodun, popularly known as “Iya Sunday,” poured petrol on her 86-year-old mother and set her ablaze in Ondo State, alleging she is behind her predicament.
The incident occurred at Surulere, an area opposite Anglican Cathedral Church in the Ondo West local government area of the state on Friday, June 14, 2024.
It was gathered that the victim, whose name is yet to be confirmed, sustained first-degree burns, affecting her from head to toe and currently receiving treatment in a hospital
According to an eyewitness, the daughter of the octogenarian visited her mother at home around 5 am on Friday, alleging the old woman of being behind her spiritual predicament before setting her mother on fire.
“What happened between them before the incident we don’t know, but the suspect has been arrested by police at the Enu-Owa division for further investigation,” the eyewitness said.
The suspect, Abiodun, while speaking on the incident confirmed she set her mother on fire and did the act intentionally because she was told that her mother was behind her predicament.
"I went to my mother’s house around 4 a.m. and sat outside. When it was 5 a.m., I called out my mother from the house. Immediately after she came out, not knowing what was happening, I poured petrol on her body and set her on fire.
"I went to one pastor for prayer, and he told me that my mother is behind what is happening to me. I did not believe it at first. My mother also took me somewhere to see a woman. After my mother left, the woman also told me the same thing.
“I burnt my mother because of what I heard from the pastor and the woman, that I can only be free from bondage when my mother is dead.”
A police source at Enu-Owa police station who confirmed the incident said the suspect has been arrested and the case would be transferred to the Police headquarters in Akure for further investigation.
Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has called on the church to question the wealth sources of politicians making donations to support evangelism.
Osinbajo spoke on Saturday at the inaugural lecture in honour of the late senior pastor of Fountain Life Church Taiwo Odukoya.
The lecture titled ‘Strengthening the Christian voice in government or public office’ was held at the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Osinbajo admonished the church to teach good values that Christians can hold on to when they find themselves in public service.
“How often do those who receive money from politicians and from other sources ask the source of the money? the former vice-president asked.
“So the question is not how many Christians are in government, business, or professions? The question is, what are they equipped with?
“What are the relevant principles of the gospel that they know and apply in their daily and professional or public lives?”
Tolu Odukoya, associate senior pastor of the church, said the lecture would carry on the legacy of empowerment of her late father.
“It is with great joy and a sense of gratitude that I welcome you all to the inaugural Daniel Odukoya lecture,” Tolu said.
“Today marks the beginning of a significant tradition in our church, a tribute to my father, our father, the founding father of the Fountain of Life Church.”
Ben Akabueze, director-general (DG) of the budget office of the federation, who delivered the lecture, emphasised the need for Christians in power to uphold good tenets.
“In today’s world, governments operate in a diverse and pluralistic society, thus diversity is reflected not only in the cultural and ethnic background but also in the multiplicities of world views,” Akabueze said
“Christianity co-exists alongside other faiths and circular perspectives, these diversities necessitate a respectful and collaborative approach to governance.
“It is important for Christians to engage with respect and understanding towards other faiths, which should not mean compromising one’s belief but rather, finding ways to express such belief.
He urged Christians in power to ask for forgiveness and retrace their step when they derail.
“I encourage each of you to step into leadership roles, your presence and voice in these spaces can make a profound difference,” he added.
“No one is invaluable and leaders will make mistakes, Christians in public office should demonstrate humility and the willingness to seek forgiveness.”
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to “ensure that his government’s proposed bill on new minimum wage for Nigerian workers is entirely consistent and compatible with Nigeria’s international obligations to promote and advance the right of workers to an adequate living wage.”
The president had in his Democracy Day Speech on June 12 stated that “We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine the new minimum wage as part of our law for the next five years or less.”
In the letter dated 15 June 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “the reportedly proposed level of the minimum wage in the executive bill is grossly inadequate and falls short of the requirements of international human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.”
SERAP said, “The executive bill should reflect the international standards that Nigerian workers should be provided, at a minimum, with a living wage, in accordance with costs of living.”
According to SERAP, “As you and your government know, Nigerian workers face many human rights challenges. Most of the people living in poverty work, yet they do not earn a wage sufficient to afford an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families.”
The letter, read in part: “Any proposed minimum wage that fails to guarantee a life in dignity for Nigerian workers and their families would be entirely inconsistent and incompatible with international standards.”
“Successive governments have persistently and systematically violated these guarantees. Millions of Nigerian workers remain poor due mainly to low wages and a lack of social security and social protection.”
“If your government sends to the National Assembly any bill which fails to meet the requirements of international standards, and the bill is then passed into law, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
“The proposed recommendations are not unrealistic, as they are based on Nigeria’s international human rights obligations. Human rights are not a matter of charity. Upholding Nigeria’s international obligations regarding the right of workers to an adequate living wage would protect the purchasing power of workers in poverty.”
“The preparation of the executive bill provides you and your government an important opportunity to respect, protect, promote and advance the rights of Nigerian workers to an adequate living wage and fair remuneration.”
“We urge you to take concrete steps to defend the rights of Nigerian workers to an adequate living wage.”
“This would ensure that the proposed executive bill protects not only against absolute poverty but also against relative poverty, as a source of social exclusion.”
“Your government has legal obligations to reflect these guarantees in any executive bill on the new minimum wage to be sent to the National Assembly.”
“The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights imposes clear legal obligations on your government to ensure and uphold the right of Nigerian workers to an adequate living wage that would ensure a decent standard of living for the workers and their families.”
“We urge you to put the country’s resources at the service of human rights, and to advance Nigerian workers’ right to an adequate living wage by immediately cutting the cost of governance and implementing bold transparency and accountability measures in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).”
“We urge you and your government to urgently propose cuts in the huge budgetary allocations to fund security votes, jumbo salaries and allowances paid to members of the National Assembly, and unlawful life pensions to former governors and their deputies.”
“We also urge you and your government to immediately and fully recover missing public funds from MDAs, as documented in the several reports published by the Auditor-General of the Federation.”
“These would enable you and your government to effectively comply with Nigeria’s international legal obligations regarding workers’ right to an adequate living wage.”
“Article 27 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969, to which Nigeria is a state party provides that ‘[A] party may not invoke the provisions of its internal as justification for its failure to perform a treaty.’”
“The minimum wage setting must take into consideration the relative living standards of other social groups and economic factors, including the requirements of economic development.”
“This means that the level of wages to be proposed in the executive bill takes into account the current cost of living in the country, to ensure that it is sufficient to enable the worker and his or her family to enjoy other rights such as health care, education and an adequate standard of living.”
“SERAP urges you to ensure that the proposed executive bill sets the minimum wage at a level that corresponds to the ‘living wage’, allowing Nigerian workers and their families to achieve an adequate standard of living.”
“We would therefore be grateful if the recommended measures are reflected in the proposed executive bill.”
“According to our information, you stated in your Democracy Day Speech on June 12 2024 that your government is finalising an executive bill on the new minimum wage which is set to be sent to the National Assembly.”
“Under article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 7 (a) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, all Nigerian workers have the right to a remuneration which provides them, as a minimum, with fair wages and a decent living for themselves and their families.”
“In the preamble of its Constitution, ILO calls for ‘an adequate living wage’, and in the Declaration concerning the aims and purposes of the International Labour Organization, ILO affirms its ‘solemn obligation’ to promote ‘policies in regard to wages and earnings, calculated to ensure a minimum living wage to all employed and in need of such protection’.”
“In article 3 of the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131), ILO requires that minimum wage setting take into consideration ‘the needs of workers and their families, taking into account the general level of wages in the country, the cost of living, social security benefits.’”
The family of the late Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Super TV, Mr Usifo Ataga, has raised the alarm that some powerful people were out to compromise the outcome of investigations into the circumstances leading to his death.
It was alleged that those behind the moves might be working surreptitiously to extricate the main suspect in the case, Miss Chidinma Ojukwu from complicity in the murder trial.
Ojukwu and one Adedapo Quadri are currently standing trial for the gruesome murder of Ataga in Lagos on June 15, 2021.
Also docked for the murder is the cousin of Ojukwu, one Chioma Egbuchu, who is accused of stealing Ataga’s iPhone 7 after his (Ataga’s) murder.
A source familiar with the court proceedings stated that the general feeling amongst family and friends is the alleged notion that the trial may be compromised with respect to the autopsy and forensic reports, and the investigation generally.
The source claimed that the family’s suspicion became stronger from the testimony of a former Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Professor John Obafunwa.
Family members monitoring the trial were said to have alluded to the testimony of Prof. Obafunwa at a sitting of a state High Court at the Tafawa Balewa Square that the samples he gave to perform a post-mortem examination on the body of Ataga, were possibly manipulated having been delayed for over a year before it was returned to him, setting off alarm signals to their fears.
According to the source, the family felt that the investigators were tardy, and for a long time, the Lagos State Government kept promising that it would do all that was necessary to ensure the proper investigation of the matter including paying for proper forensic analysis outside the country.
“Apparently and to the dismay of the family, this did not happen as the government kept procrastinating and the case only moved ahead after the family of the late Ataga paid for the forensics to be done overseas”, the source disclosed.
Speaking to reporters after the last hearing date, Counsel from A & J law firm, Ms. J. Ugegbe, holding watching brief on behalf of the Ataga family stated that “the family is urging relevant authorities to ensure that justice prevails at the end of the day for their son and brother, who was gruesomely killed in his prime by some heartless and soulless individuals.
“For the family, it is their firm belief that justice can only be attained through meticulous and diligent prosecution of the case and one of the means for attaining that is through forensic approach and this is the reason why the family is calling for caution by all,” she said.
A 32-year-old man, Olumide Yerokun has been docked in an Iyaganku Magistrate’s Court, Ibadan, for allegedly parading himself Ayo Olu (Esq), a lawyer.
Yerokun, whose address was not provided was arraigned in court on Friday.
He was charged with impersonation and obtaining money under false pretence.
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Insp Sikiru Opaleye told the court that the Yerokun allegedly committed the offence on June 5, at about 6. 25 p.m, at Jericho, Eleyele area, Ibadan.
He alleged that the defendant with intent to defraud falsely represented himself as lawyer Ayo Olu (Esq).
Opaleye alleged that also on June 3, the defendant fraudulently represented himself as a solicitor to PA Opadiran and served quit notice on Mrs Idayat Akapo and two others, while fraudulently presenting himself as a lawyer.
He alleged that the Yerokun represented himself as a legal practitioner by preparing, signing and serving statutory notice.
The Prosecutor further alleged that sometimes in December 2023, at about 12. 30 p.m at Adepoju street, Ibadan, Yerokun did present himself as a legal Practioner to PA Opadiran.
He alleged that the Yerokun fraudulently obtained the sum of N25, 000 from Mrs Akapo as a legal fee for preparation of Tenancy agreement.
He said the offences contravened Sections 484 and 419 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.
She thereafter adjourned the case until Aug. 14, for hearing.
Mrs Folasade Aladeniyi, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan chapter, Mrs Folasade Aladeniyi appeared with some members of the branch on the said case.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman, Anti- Touting and Ethics Committee of NBA, Ibadan, Mr Segun Popoola, said the association seriously frowns at such acts.
Popoola warned that the association will not fail to ensure the Prosecution of anyone who is found guilty of such acts. (NAN)
Kogi, Ekiti and Kwara states have retained the position of states with the most expensive food items as food inflation rose to 40.66 per cent in May.
This was disclosed on Saturday in the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The statistics hub revealed that Nigeria’s inflation rate surged to 33.95 per cent in May 2024, up from 33.69 per cent reported in April 2024.
This shows a minimal 0.26 per cent point rise, suggesting a slower rate of price increase compared to the previous month which rose by 2.14 per cent.
The report said, “In May 2024, the headline inflation rate increased to 33.95 per cent relative to the April 2024 headline inflation rate which was 33.69 per cent. Looking at the movement, the May 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.26 per cent points when compared to the April 2024 headline inflation rate.
“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 11.54 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in May 2023, which was 22.41 per cent. This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in May 2024 when compared to the same month in the preceding year
“On the contrary, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in May 2024 was 2.14 per cent which was 0.15 per cent lower than the rate recorded in April 2024 (2.29th per cent). This means that in May 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level is less than the rate of increase in the average price level in April 2024.”
The major contributing items to headline inflation in May 2024 include food and non-alcoholic beverages by 17.59 per cent, housing, water, and electricity, gas & other fuel contributed 5.68 per cent while clothing and footwear stood at 2.60 per cent.
Revealing the rate of increase in the country’s food inflation, NBS revealed that the May food inflation rate reached 40.66 per cent on a year-on-year basis.
The sharp rise in food prices has been attributed to a range of factors affecting various food categories.
The items contributing most to this inflation include Semovita, Oatflake, Yam flour pre-packaged, Garri, Bean, Irish Potatoes, Yam, and Water Yam, amongst others.
Food inflation on a Year-on-Year basis was highest in Kogi (46.32 per cent), Ekiti (44.94 per cent), Kwara (44.66 per cent), while Adamawa (31.72 per cent), Bauchi (34.35 per cent) and Borno (34.74 per cent), recorded the slowest rise.
Subsequently, on a Month-on-Month basis, food inflation was highest in Gombe (4.88 per cent), Kano (4.68 per cent), and Bayelsa (3.62 per cent), while Ondo (0.02 per cent), Yobe (0.95 per cent) and Adamawa (1.02 per cent) recorded the slowest rise.
Rwanda head coach, Thorsten Frannk Splitter, says he will be relying on Gernot Rohr for essential information to claim the scalp of the Super Eagles in their 2026 World Cup CAF Qualifying Group C match day 5 fixture on March 17, 2025, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
After four rounds of matches, Rwanda are surprisingly topping the group with seven points, the same as South Africa in second place due to an inferior goal difference, and the East Africans can now fancy their chances at maiden World Cup qualification by adding Nigeria to their conquest list.
Rohr led Benin to a historic 2-1 win over Nigeria at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, on June 10, and Splitter feels the Franco-German, who coached Nigeria for almost six years before being appointed by Benin, is the right man to advise him on how to beat Nigeria.
“I am very sure we (me and Gernot Rohr) will have a phone call before; it may be two or three, and if he can tell me something, I will be stupid not to take it. For that, we will try to be in contact; if possible, we can help each other; for sure, we will do it,” the Belgian tactician told Brila FM on Saturday.
Rohr was carried shoulder-high by Cheetahs players after Jodel Dossou scored on 37 minutes to cancel out Raphael Onyedika’s 27th-minute opener for Nigeria, and Steve Mounié scored the decider three minutes into added time of the first half to give Benin their first victory against their illustrious neighbours in Ivory Coast.
Nigeria are stuck in fifth spot on the log with miserly three points in for matches, and the three-time African champions will look to revive qualification hopes when the series resumes early next year, which will see them host Zimbabwe on March 24 on the back of the Rwanda trip.
This will be under a new coach following the resignation of Finidi George on Saturday, June 15, shortly after the Nigeria Football Federation announced its decision to hire an expatriate technical adviser to boss him.
Operatives of the Abia State Police Command have rescued three abducted children from their abductors in Anambra and Delta States.
The command’s spokesperson, ASP Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, adding that the rescue mission led to the arrest of five suspects, including a Reverend Sister.
The statement read, “On May 10, 2024, the Abia State Police Command received a report that three male children, namely: Gideon Osinachi (eight years old), Obioma Divine Osinachi (six years old), and Israel Osinachi (four years old), were abducted by an unknown cyclist from Amoba Okoro village in Ikwuanno LGA of Abia State.
“The children were taken away by the cyclist who was hired by their grandmother to take them to their home after the children had visited her.”
It added that Obioma was later rescued on May 21 at Ekwulobia in Anambra State, and Gideon was rescued at Nkpor in Anambra State on May 23.
Israel was reported to have been rescued in Warri, Delta State, on June 13.
“We are happy to announce that all three children have been rescued and reunited with their family,” it added.
The statement added that during the period of investigation and rescue efforts which lasted from May 10 to June 13, four female suspects and one male suspect were arrested in connection with the crime.
It read, “The suspects were arrested variously at Amawbia and Nkpor in Anambra State, as well as Warri in Delta State. They include Reverend Sister Pauline Alozie (female), Chizoba DJ (female), Glory Umuna (female), Mrs. Georgina Nonye Okoye (female), and Philip Ibe (male). They are in custody and will be charged in court very soon.”
In the statement, the command appreciated the collaboration of various stakeholders towards the rescue of the children.
PUNCH reported in April that the Ebonyi State Police Command dismantled a child abduction ring, culminating in the rescue of six kidnapped children.
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A former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, on Saturday, berated the extravagant lifestyle of Nigeria’s President, Governors and National Assembly members in the country.
Recall the president had said in his Democracy Day speech that the N62,000 proposed was negotiated in good faith.
However Ezekwesili on a Saturday In a post on X formerly twitter, said their financial extravagance was a provocative approach and an insult to citizens.
Ezekwesili who is also the Founder of the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG) said, “It appears like the latest hobby of the #nassnigeria and the #NGRPresident and #NigeriaGov is to engage in the serial provocation of hard-pressed citizens who are barely managing to keep heads above water in this crisis-economy.
“In a season of famine and leanness when public officials should set the example of fiscal prudence, the sensibilities of our citizens are daily assaulted with the self-indulgent lives of politicians- many of whom were in fact not credibly elected into office.
“As they say in my place, ‘use your tongue to count your teeth’ because a day shall soon come when at the rate you’re all going with public resources, ‘water go totally pass garri’. He who has ears…..”.
She added, “This democracy belongs to the Nigerian People and not to an insignificant percentage of our population known as politicians.
“One day soon, the people will stare down at you all that think Nigeria exists to give you a luxurious life at the expense of the country.
“The tone deafness towards the pain and anger in this land is not normal and can never sustain. That’s for sure”.
Businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, recently granted an interview to BBC Igbo, where he spoke about the insecurity in the South-East region of the country where he hails from. According to him, that was what led to his relocation to Lagos State NAOMI CHIMA brings excerpts
What can be blamed for the killings and insecurity in the South-East?
It is jealousy and envy that caused everything that is happening in the South-East. If you say you do not like a particular government, do you go and kill your brother because of that? No! You should rather wait for when it is time for election, then you can vote that person out. You should not about hating or killing your brother, because you don’t like him, or because he is supporting a particular government, or the police. How can you kill your brother, because he is a policeman or a soldier? In a state without the police and military, who will maintain peace and order there?
Why did you relocate your business to Lagos State from Owerri (Imo State)?
I left the South-East, and relocated to Lagos State because some of our wealthy Igbo brothers are now scared of coming home. Usually, whenever they came home, my business was always flourishing. That is because those who live in Owerri usually buy just beer and little champagne. But, when the big boys who live in Lagos and Abuja come home during the weekends, they usually buy lots of drinks; and I will ultimately make so much money.
For instance, after Christmas in those days when business was booming in the South-East, after every Christmas sale, I would usually buy a new car or start a new business (because of the huge profit recorded). But, business has now become so slow. And, just like the Igbo saying, you will have to move around with your wares to be able to make sales. That was why I packed my bags and relocated.
It is also a way of bringing the things that those who travel home come to enjoy at my place in Owerri here to them in Lagos State.
How has the rising insecurity in the South-East affected the drive of Igbo people?
All the bad Igbo people and kidnappers who are working to spoil Igboland are just foolish. In the area of real estate, things are no longer how they used to be. Before we started having insecurity issues in the South-East, people like Kennedy Okonkwo, the billionaire founder and CEO of Nedcomoaks Limited; and socialite, Emeka Okonkwo, aka E-Money, had mansions in their hometown, and that caused a lot of competition among us. Everyone was ‘pushed’, and there was a hunger in our hearts to go home and erect those kinds of edifice in our father’s compound. The Igbos like competition; we are each other’s inspiration.
What is the impact of the situation on the wealthy people who usually visit their hometowns?
What these evil people have succeeded in doing is to make sure that we no longer see the wealthy people at home (in the South-East). When they see a wealthy person, they would kill him, and say he was a bad person. And, that has caused wealthy people to stay away from home. This has caused hunger in the land. There is great hunger in the South-East now.
What is your advice to people in the Diaspora on how to curb the tension in the South-East?
My appeal to my brothers (in the Diaspora) is this, “Let us not forget our home. We cannot run away from the evil people; they should run from us instead. You people should be coming home”. And, to our brothers at home, “You people are expected to protect the home, because it is the rat inside the house that tells the one in the bush or outside that there is fish in the kitchen”. So, it is some of those at home who burn down their brothers’ houses because of envy. We know that some people are not good, just like it is everywhere; even outside the country. But, it is something we should treat and approach with wisdom. It is not something that requires us to carry guns and machetes.
Our heritage is getting destroyed. We have our own culture, but we cannot project it from afar.
What are some of the things that used to make going home interesting?
Sometime ago, in my village, there was a festival called ‘Ofeke Day’, observed on January 1. It was the most interesting festival at that time. But, things like that no longer exist. We need to come together, and agree to bring the South-East back. There are a lot of great things in the South-East. You can imagine that people now host traditional marriages in event centres in Lagos State, or Owerri town. Is that good? When there is a funeral, the dead would be buried like a thief, in a hurry, and the people will run to somewhere safe for the reception. That is not how we used to live. Before, whenever the corpse of a popular or wealthy person was coming home, there would be a lot of festivities, including gunshot salutes, and masquerade parades, with so much excitement. But, those days are gone and dead. We are gradually losing our heritage and culture.
What approach do you think can end these problems?
Let us go back to our roots and repair our states. Whatever is spoilt can be repaired. We should stop running, because running will not help us. Rather, running will spoil everything completely.
A couple has been sentenced to lengthy prison terms after being convicted of human trafficking and operating a brothel.
The 34-year-old Nigerian national, Jude Ikenna Ijegulu, and his 29-year-old partner, Elizabeth Botes, from Centurion in Pretoria, received their sentences in the Pretoria High Court.
In addition, Ijegulu was sentenced to two life terms for two counts of rape and an additional two years for being in the country illegally.
This was according to South Africa Broadcasting Corporation.
SABC news on Saturday reported that the court ordered that his name be added to the National Register of Sexual Offenders.
National Prosecuting Authority’s Gauteng spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana says they welcome the sentences.
He said, “From November 2016 to September 2017 the two ran a brothel in Centurion where they kept two women. The man raped the two women, supplied them with drugs as well as physically and sexually assaulting them.
The couple would also instruct the two victims to render sexual services to clients. The Judge found that the two violated the Human Trafficking Act. The man enslaved the two victims and fed them drugs.”
Says N40,000 in 2015 now equivalent to N500,000
A former member of the National Assembly, Dr Farah Dagogo, has lamented the value of the Nigerian currency saying, “the value of ₦40, 000 in 2015 is equivalent to over ₦500, 000 in today’s Nigeria.”
He also charged the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, to come up with workable economic policies that will ameliorate the sufferings and hardships the majority of Nigerians are experiencing.
Dagogo described the current living standards and situations in the country as ‘grim’, raising concerns that all indicators point to ‘ further pains for the citizenry’
Dagogo who represented Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives while in office.
In a special Eid-ul-Adha message to Muslims faithful across the country, the former Federal Lawmaker wondered why the people would continue to languish and wallow in so much misery amid the country’s abundant natural resources.
He said this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday morning by his media aide, Ibrahim Lawal, and sent to newsmen.
The statement reads, “Today, yesterday and especially in the past year, the people’s purchasing powers have reduced drastically. Never has this country witnessed this level of hyperinflation in its history, not even during our civil war. It is a grim reality.
“The value of ₦40, 000 in 2015 is equivalent to over ₦500, 000 in today’s Nigeria in 2024. Crisss-cross the costs of goods and services during this period and vis-a-vis the reality of today and we all will come to that sad realisation. That was why labour was justifiably demanding for a living wage.
“The inconsolable unavoidable truth is that the value of the money most people are getting or earning in 2024 is not too different from that of 2015, but the purchasing powers have practically gone out the window.”
He added, “Anti-people and inhuman economic policies have helped put the people in a terrible state. Money that could comfortably procure over 10 50kg bags of rice in 2015 can only buy one now, yet no improvement in the real money in the hands of the people.
“Something has to give way, this cannot continue. These sufferings and hardships have to be remedied. Unfortunately, optics point to further pains for the citizenry.”
While taking a cue from the central message of Eid-ul-Adha, which also means festival of sacrifice, Dr Dagogo salutes Nigerians for their sacrifices and resilience over these difficult periods, especially in the past one year.
The ex-federal legislator, however, challenged the government to be above board and “walk the talk of renewing the citizenry’s hope.
“The government promises, pledges and policies, as of now, are mere cosmetics without any corresponding positivities on the majority of Nigerians.
“It behooves this government to walk the talk of renewing the citizenry’s hope. The much-touted renewed hope should reflect its literary meaning and not renew hardships and suffering as being experienced all across the country, ” Dagogo added.