Touched by the pitiable state of three children whose mother ran into a moving vehicle and was crushed to death, the wife of Enugu state governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, has undertaken to sponsor their education.

She announced that the scholarship is to be undertaken through her Custos Care Foundation, when she paid an unscheduled visit to Ogui Police station, Enugu, where the children were kept in custody.

It was gathered that the woman, whose identity was not known and was obviously suffering from depression, dropped her three children at the Police station, stripped herself naked and ran into a moving vehicle which crushed her to death, leaving the children who are below six years.

The eldest of the children, when asked about their father, said their father got lost. She could not give any other information about their family, their town or residential address.

It was also gathered that Mrs Mbah, on getting the information, went straight to Ogui Police station after the celebration of the 2024 International Women’s Day held on March 2, to see the children. She announced sponsorship of the children’s education from nursery school to university level and directed the immediate relocation of the children from Ogui Police station to a home where the state government will take care of them.

Mrs Mbah urged people who were depressed to seek help and go for counseling to avoid taking drastic decisions. She also urged the Commissioner for Ministry of Children, Gender and Social Development, Mrs Ngozi Enih,to intensify sensitisation and counselling of people, especially depressed persons to help them come out of the situation.

As part of efforts to actualize his plans of empowering the Nigerian Women under the Renewed Hope Agenda, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is to introduce a $100m World Bank Fund.

The $100m Fund Project tagged P-BAT Cares For Nigerian Women is to economically empower the Nigerian Women.

Speaking on the project at a press briefing, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, called on all Nigerians to support the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the Care of Nigerian Women.

The Minister who said that when a woman is taken care of, the Nation is also taken care of, pleaded with the Media and Nigerians to support the President whose plan is to put smiles on the faces of Nigerian Women.

According to her, “I am pleading with you to support Mr President who will be unveiling P-BAT Cares for Nigeria Women , and integrity Brigade”,

“So I am urging you all to support and partner with Mr President to achieve the Renewed Hope Agenda which is one of the things that will curb insecurity and save Nigerians”,

Barrister Uju revealed that the P-BAT Cares For Nigerian Women programmes are targeted at empowering women across the Country and improving their productivity in whatever capacity they may find themselves.

The Minister disclosed that, “The President will officially be launching the P-BAT Cares for Nigerian Women alongside other programmes like the Nigeria for Women project and the Integrity Brigade which I want all of you to be part of.

“As a people, let us start realising who we are because this is the greatest Nation in the whole of Africa.

“As members of the Integrity Brigade. you play a crucial role in helping us fight some of these challenges.

“Not just the Media, the Royal Father’s and the Religious Leaders are also part of this Vanguard that the President will be launching.

” But the Media is very important to me because it is only you that I can use to achieve our goals for this country through your enlightenment and publicity.

According to her, the Integrity Brigade will aid in preventing misappropriation and discourage counterproductive protests among women, with NGOs expected to play a pivotal role in disseminating information.

The Minister who called on the Media to closely monitor projects and programmes to ensure they reach their intended beneficiaries, reiterated Government’s commitment to sustainability and Women Empowerment.

“I am pleading with you to support Mr President who will be unveiling P-BAT Cares for Nigeria Women and integrity Brigade”,

“So I am urging you all to support and partner with Mr President to achieve the Renewed Hioe Agenda which is one of the things that will curb insecurity and save Nigerians”, She said

According to her the Federal Government (FG) intends to go after Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) and institutions using Donor monies for technical support, trainings, research and others.

Minister of Women Affairs said most of the Organisations are having millions of dollars allocated to them with the excuse of assisting especially Nigerian Women but the funds do not impact on Nigerians directly.

She said most organisations who apply for Donor Funding on behalf of Nigerians, spend a large sum of the money on consultancy fees, Technical support, Workshops, Research while Nigerian women who should be the original beneficiaries get nothing.

She disclosed that the Brigade, which would be formed under the P-BAT Cares For Nigerian Women Initiative, would be launched by President Bola Tinubu on Thursday.

The initiative would include P-BAT Cares For Women E-Market portal, National Women Helpline, Naija Save Nigeria Intergrity/Transparency Brigade and Nigeria be informed National Broadcast channel

Kennedy-Ohanenye said: “With the Intergrity Brigade, we want to make sure that every decision that will be made concerning Nigeria must be the one that will benefit Nigeria, we will not allow any decision that will not be beneficial to Nigerians.

“Even if you’re an NGO, if you want to write for support for Nigeria, it must be a support that will bring sustainability. We do not want support that you will use advocacies meetings, consultancies and syphon monies you brought on behalf of Nigerians.”

She warned those distracting government through protests and other upheavals to desist or face the wrath of Government .

The Minister who is passionate about the wellbeing and progress of the Nigerian Women appealed to the Media to join as partners in progress in enabling Nigerians to reap from the benefits of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The ex-Cool FM OAP counselled his gender not to look for a praying spouse.

Men have mouth to pray for themselves, he said, giving reasons.

Instead, he advised them to look for a lady who is sincere, devoted, kind, ambitious, and morally upright.

According to him, it helps reduce prayer points.

This is coming following the marital crisis between Israel DMW and his estranged wife Sheila Courage.

Taking to his Instagram page, he wrote,

“When searching for a wife stop searching for a praying wife, you have a mouth, pray for yourself (Mat 6:6) Instead search for an Honest, Faithful, Considerate, Driver, and righteous wife. E dey reduce prayer points”.

See some reactions to his post,

Bitcoin Chief wrote, “You’ve said it all

Oge Snazzy wrote, “You didn’t say it on time, juju already found Sheila and she has left him to be shouting online

Fikun Ademii wrote, “I used to tell people don’t put religion before life choices. Look for more qualities……”.

Avenue Official wrote, “First thing this man has ever said I’ll agree with. And probably the last thing. Although it is imperative a woman covers her husband in prayers. But that’s not the only criteria for choosing a partner. There are other crucial factors to consider.

A cloud of despair and grief has enveloped Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, following the untimely death of a brilliant fresh graduate of the tertiary institution.

The deceased, one Ezekiel Mary Ogechi, met her end on Tuesday in the most unfortunate and tragic circumstance after she was crushed to death by a tanker.

The incident happened in front of the institution just after the deceased, who studied accounting at the Polytechnic, completed her academic clearance that would see her get mobilised for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The joyous Ogechi, who was already relishing the prospect of serving her fatherland before the grim reaper struck, was said to be a straight-A student as she graduated with distinction in accounting and was also a source of inspiration for a her contemporaries.

It was learnt that she already received a scholarship from an organization to do a post-graduate course.

Narrating what transpired, a source who was privy to the incident disclosed that the deceased was knocked down by a tricycle before she was subsequently crushed to death by a fast moving heavy-duty truck.

“Unfortunately, she was hit by a tricycle while trying to cross to the other side of the road; before she could get up, she was then crushed by a fast moving truck,” the source said.

The incident has created apprehension and uncertainty in the school as other enraged students of the Polytechnic mobilised for a protest.

The tension was douse and frayed nerves were calmed after the students’ union stepped in to placate the seething students.

“The management of the Abia State Polytechnic and the Students Union Government of the institution saved the day as the angry students were begged to calm down,” Daily Post quoted the source to have said.

The Polytechnic has not yet issued a statement about the development as of the time of filing this report.

The spokesperson of the Abia State Police Command, ASP Maureen Chinaka, has also not reacted to tragic incident.

The Federal Government’s appeal against a Federal High Court of Abuja judgment stopping it from resuming the trial of former Abia Governor Orji Kalu and his company, Slok Nigeria Ltd., on money laundering accusations has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

A three-member panel of the appellate court ruled on Wednesday in two rulings that the two appeals the federal government filed were not competent.

Justice Joseph Oyewole, who wrote and read the majority rulings in both appeals, supported the objections made by Slok and Kalu, who is currently a senator.

The court found that the records of appeal in both cases were not properly compiled and certified as required under Court of Appeal’s Rules and Section 104 of the Evidence Act.

It held that even if the breach of the court’s rule was to be overlooked, the court cannot close its eyes to the non-compliance with the mandatory provision of the Evidence Act.

The court noted that the official of the trial court, who certified the records did not indicate his/her designation as required by the Evidence Act.

Lawyer to the Federal Government, Oluwaleke Atolagbe said, with the court’s decision, the appellant will refile new appeals to enable the appellate court deal with the substance of the case.

The appeals were against the September 29, 2021 judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja prohibiting the Federal Government from further prosecuting Kalu and Slok following an earlier judgment of the Supreme Court voiding the proceedings leading to their earlier trial and conviction.

This is a developing story…

Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor, has been served an impeachment notice from the Edo State House of Assembly.

Shaibu’s impeachment notice maybe connected to do with his confrontation with state governor Godwin Obaseki, which ended with him losing the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primary.

Earlier, Shaibu had said there was a plot to remove him from office and blamed it on his desire to become governor

He was elected during a parallel primary election conducted in his residence in Benin City, the state capital.

Asue Ighodalo was also announced winner of another PDP primary exercise which took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.

The embattled deputy governor had said: “Even as we speak, my team has been calling me that, ‘Look at what these people are doing’.

“They are saying they are going to impeach you, that you have gotten too far.’ They are threatening to impeach me.”

Kebbi Governor Nasir Idris has distributed 24 Toyota Jeeps to members of the House of Assembly.

Nasir Idris made this known as he shared photos on his X handle on Wednesday, March 6.

He wrote: “I am honored to fulfill my promise by distributing 24 First Class Toyota Jeeps to the dedicated members of the Kebbi State House of Assembly for their official engagements. Today, at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi, I personally presented these vehicles, expressing gratitude for the Assembly’s cooperation and understanding. The harmonious working relationship between the Executive Arm and the Assembly has been paramount.

“In the spirit of collaboration, I joined the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Usman Muhammad Ankwe, in a test drive of the Jeep allocated to him. Let this be a symbol of our commitment to serving the people of Kebbi State diligently.”

Last week, I asked the question which life we would love to live – biblical Abraham’s or Lazarus’s – and it drew a lot of comments. I must admit that it isn’t everyone who can connect with last week’s piece, hence today’s title of the deep calling out to the deep, which is taken from Psalm 42, written by the Sons of Korah. As the deer pants after the streams of water, so does the average Nigerian today pants after essential commodities, foodstuffs especially, for sustenance. As the Sons of Korah looked up to God for help and deliverance, so do poverty-stricken Nigerians cry unto their government and religious leaders for reprieve and succour.

I have seen on Animal world that when animals pant after water, they do not care for the danger involved in trooping into crocodile-infested waters to have a drink; or mind the pride of lions lurking around. In like manner did hungry Nigerians put their life on the line in a mad rush for Customs rice the other day. Seven persons were said to have died in the stampede that ensued before the poorly-executed exercise was hurriedly called off.

The Sons of Korah were downcast because they were in exile – and understandably so – but millions of Nigerians are downcast today right inside their own country. Call it internal exile, which is worse than external exile or “japa”. “Crestfallen and hurt” was how a bible commentator described the state of affairs of the Sons of Korah but note that they were warned but would not take heed – like us here in Nigeria, year-after-year, decade-after-decade. Like Rome’s king Nero, we fiddled while Muhammadu Buhari and his band of wanton troopers set fire on our roof, only to now wake up late in the day to disparage efforts aimed at putting out the fire!

My intention here today is to print some of the comments sent to me on last week’s piece; when I return, I will make some closing remarks and call it a day!

“Waaaooo. I can imagine how deep your imaginations and reflections were in this article. Your mind clearly traversed the cosmos and the heavenly places and you just got hooked in the midst of the flight as you tried to reconnect with our planet - this Earth, this our world of sorrow and joy, and of joy and sadness. But what you were saying in all these ruminations is that we can make our world a heavenly place; as in, we can make our society a better place. So, we don't really need japa if we think deeply and we stop worrying about a thing because there is a better day or a better time just around the corner if only we could see, especially because three little birds will knock at our door singing sweet songs and bringing melodies of joy and happiness. Thanks again for provoking our thoughts! I think at this point, many other writers will now agree that you are truly a man of deep insight, a genuine award winner in the real sense. As I recognize the quality of your mindset, permit me to say that we all have a duty to keep hope alive in the midst of the topsy-turvy our country is in today. - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

“BB, well done on this piece, which amplifies your erudition and giftings as a writer! More grace! - Apostle Bisi Olaoye.

“One understands your message on the dichotomy of the richness of the life of Abraham and Lazarus: one could be described as ‘double face’ richness, and the other, ‘single face’ richness, going by your explanation. One way of looking at the issue is, how feasible is it in the world to attain the kind of ‘double face’ richness of Father Abraham, i.e. to be rich in this world as well as in heaven? This line of thought is in consideration of the declaration of the Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 18: 24 & 25, thus: “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God’? Although one appreciates Jesus' response in verse 27 that ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God’. And in the light of your assertion that "whereas our own place looks more and more like hell", one could conjecture that most of our people would get "double face" tragedy, with the current look-like-hell situation in our country and still being indisposed to the ways of the Lord. This reminds me of a happening when we went out for evangelism in a locality during my secondary school days: As we came across people in squalid conditions of poverty, a white missionary could not help voicing out that his greatest concern and pity for the people was the possibility of their missing the kingdom of God (paradise) after death, after their pitiable suffering on earth, just because of their unbelief!” – Elder Olaitan Makanjuola.

“It seems to me that the church needs to go back and re-read the Scriptures. STEP ONE: Let it understand that Covid-19 was God's own way of reviving the church to understand the messages in John 4:23 and John 17:21, both speaking about the wall-less church, globalization and end-time worshippers who would do it in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. STEP TWO: The church for now should suspend dancing to hymns. Rather, it would do well to read them out. Let the church find out why Muslims recite or chant the Quran (written in verses like the Psalms ) rather than dance to its recitation. Singing has lost the purpose for which God ordained it (Deuteronomy 31: 19-30). STEP THREE: Let the church go back and re-read Acts of the Apostles 6:1,2,3 and 9. Daily ministration and the need to "SERVE TABLE" portend Governance: Providing the basic necessities of life for the people. Why has the church neglected its old habit of giving seeds to its congregations any time the rainy season was approaching while members equally provided farm yields during church harvests? … What is the church preparing for its congregations in the presence of starvation now ravaging the land? Psalm 23: 5 is not speaking to the wind when it states: "THOU PREPAREST A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MINE ENEMY ? Can you imagine a worse enemy than starvation and hunger? It is the same thing being emphasized in The Lord's Prayer: "GIVE US OUR DAILY BREAD while in the administration of tithes, the Bible in Malachi 3:10 stressed: "BRING YE ALL THE TITHES INTO THE STOREHOUSE THAT THERE MAY BE MEAT IN MINE HOUSE..." Unfortunately today, the church is using tithes to build structures and to purchase other luxuries, and not food for the hungry. Yet, the same church and its congregations wait for palliatives from governments! A case of the tail wagging the dog! – Olalere Fagbola.

“Hmmm. This is real food for thought! Though Abraham had his challenges when he was alive, generally, he was portrayed as a very successful man. Again, he was counted worthy in heaven according to the scriptures. This is like enjoying the best of two lives. Lazarus on the other hand suffered on earth before exiting to heaven to enjoy. I believe it is by choice but it is better to enjoy both on earth and in heaven. Your enjoyment on earth will largely depend on your decisions and ability to achieve your aims and aspirations. Your enjoyment hereafter depends on how you lived your life when you were on earth. The story of the rich man and Lazarus in the Bible teaches us to be kind and considerate to others when we have the opportunity. Lazarus’s circumstances presented an opportunity for the rich man to be kind”. - Pa E. K. Odeleye.

Those are the few comments that I can accommodate here today. Two institutions that should be of utmost help to the people in their hour of need are government and religious leaders; unfortunately, both have seemingly turned deaf ears to the cries of the people that their burden be lessened. Have they not both acted like Jeroboam, son and successor of king Solomon, who chose to whip his long-suffering people with scorpions whereas his father had whipped them with horsewhips? And are there better representatives than these two categories of the hypocrites and brood of vipers that Jesus Christ chastised in Matthew 23: 1- 39? They pile misery on the poor but neglect to touch the heavy burden even with one finger! The people get leaner but the government official/pastor/imam grows more robust!

But tell them: Revolution is loading! O Lord, send another Martin Luther to kindle a second Reformation in Your Church!

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has blamed the current economic hardship being faced by Nigerians on the last administration led by Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor alleged that Buhari supervised the printing and sharing of about N30 trillion.

Mutfwang stated this during the swearing-in of 22 Special Advisers and heads of government agencies at the Government House in Jos.

Mutfwang said Buhari left the country’s economy in terrible shape for his successor, President Tinubu.

“We are at a very difficult juncture in the history of this country and I’m an advocate that after the election you forget politics and face governance,” Mutfwang said.

“And even though the Federal Government is being led by a party other than my own, I owe you the duty to tell Nigerians the truth that this government inherited a worse situation than 1999.

“This government inherited an economy where we simply printed money up to the tune of N30tn and shared.

“This government inherited an economy where the crude oil we’re yet to take out of the ground had been sold in advance.

“So, when you’re talking about the fall of the naira, it’s not rocket science. We sold our future under the last administration.

“No wonder you’re hearing of riots today, people intercepting food on the way. We are lucky on the plateau that perhaps we have more food than many other states.

“And I pray that the time will not come on the Plateau that we will see this kind of riot for food, but it means we must roll up our sleeves and get to work.

“And that is why, for us as a government, when we announced one of the positions that talked about food security, people were laughing but it is a serious issue.”

The governor announced plans by his administration to set up a special agro-processing zone in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area in partnership with the African Development Bank to the tune of $300 million.

He called on the new appointees to brace up for the challenge to enable his administration to reverse the ugly situation for the good of the people.

“And to tell you that some of the appointees, I don’t know them, but because we want to get things done, we’re looking for the right people,” he said.

Former Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani, has felicitated ex-Nigerian leader, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for marking his 87th birthday on Tuesday.

The ex-senator said Obasanjo survived the Civil War that lasted between 1967 and 1970, and came out from imprisonment from 1995 to 1998 under former military ruler, Gen Sani Abacha.

The former federal lawmaker showered praises on Obasanjo for returning the country to the democratically elected government of the Second Republic in 1979.

Sani who made these known via his X account on Tuesday added that the former president is endowed with special strength even as he governed for eight years without seeking any medical tourism.

He wrote, “Obasanjo midwifed the second republic in 1979 where Shagari, Awo, Zik, Aminu Kano, Waziri Ibrahim and later Braithwaite strongly led that season. The great men all died and Obasanjo is still alive.

“With the exception of Jim Nwobodo and Awwal Ibrahim now an Emir, all the Governors of the Second Republic have died, Obasanjo is still alive.

“He was Nigeria’s President 17 years ago and he can still play soccer, dance and send missiles he calls letters. He survived the Civil War, survived the prison and survived the Presidency.”

“He served as President for 8 years without record of visiting any European country for medical reasons,” he stated.

Speaking about the octogenarian’s physical and mental stability, Sani said though he was a senior to Obasanjo when they were in the KiriKiri prison, he remained strong and resilient as an old soldier man.

Sani said, “I was his senior in Kiri Kiri maximum security prison in 1995, when we were all charged for treason and sentenced to life imprisonment and later reduced to 15 years by the Abacha military tribunal. In prison, he remained strong as an old soldier.”

“What could be the secret behind the resilience, enduring spirit and longevity of Obasanjo? Nigerian medical scientists should help us with this answer.”

“I know not of anyone who is detribalised and so passionate about Nigeria and the African continent than Obasanjo and some of his contemporaries,” he added.

“Happy 87th Birthday to Ex-President Obasanjo!” Sani remarked.