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Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has labelled the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy as a distraction from the more urgent issues confronting the nation.
Recall that the apex court, in a landmark ruling delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, ruled that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to continue to receive and seize funds allocated to LGAs in their states.
It maintained that the “dubious practice,” which has gone on for over two decades, was a clear violation of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
In a video released on Saturday, Makinde highlighted the imperative to tackle the fundamental issues of productivity, hunger, and discontent in Nigeria.
His words: “So the judgment of the Supreme Court, there is local government autonomy, financial autonomy, and all of that, and I will still say it, I think it’s just a distraction. We must face the real issues that we have.
“And the issue that we have is that we are not producing enough. We are not productive. Whatever it is that we are sharing in Abuja, which is what this FACC is all about, Whatever is in Abuja, share it with the local government. Is that our problem?
“Maybe it is a part of the problem, but yes, we want to have value for what is being shared. But our real problem is productivity.
“So now this is going to be the discussion for the next maybe one month or so when the issue of hunger and anger in the land will still be under the table. It’s a big issue.
“The Federal Government is saying now we need to import food. It’s a big shame. Yes, it’s a big shame on this country. We cannot feed ourselves. And then they are saying we should go back to those things that will allow us to bring confidence back to our people and to ensure that this country is back on the path of growth and progress.”
Media
LG Autonomy; There's hunger in the land, S'Court judgment a distraction- Makinde [Video] pic.twitter.com/FNljMFNI0b
— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) July 13, 2024
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has lamented that the President Tinubu administration has done nothing to alleviate the nation’s petroleum problem, but instead made it worse.
The student body stated that rather than increasing fuel availability, the subsidy removal has caused scarcity and immense sufferings for Nigerians.
DAILY POST had reported the hike in petrol pump price in Ogun, Lagos, Abuja and oher parts of the country.
It was gathered that while major marketers sold petrol below N650, the independent marketers sold between N750 and N800 per litre.
Expressing their dissatisfaction, the students in a statement signed by the NANS National Clerk of the Senate, Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo on Saturday, in Abeokuta, lamented that queues in petrol stations are becoming alarming despite the promises made by President Bola Tinubu.
He said, “This crisis has continued to persist despite the removal of fuel subsidy which has brought untold hardships to Nigerians.
“Nigerians are experiencing unprecedented hardship and going through hell before they can get to buy fuels.
“Queues have been a common thing at petrol stations across the country despite the promise by President Bola Tinubu that fuel will queues will disappear in the country after the removal of subsidy, but that has not been the case.
“The exorbitant cost of petrol has led to a sharp increase in transportation fares, caused a surge in the prices of essential goods and services. The increased cost of transportation and production is being passed on to consumers, exacerbating the already high cost of living.”
The student body demanded that the President and NNPC act quickly and forcefully to address the problems before Nigerians are forced to the breaking point.
Four persons have been rescued alive from rubble of the collapsed two-storey building located beside Cupid Hotel, Sultan Dansuki Road, Phase 2, Site 2, Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, Abuja.
Of the four persons rescued alive, two of them have been taken to the Kubwa General Hospital.
FCT Emergency Management Department said efforts are on to search for other persons who may be trapped in the collapsed building by the combined activities of security agencies and spirited individuals.
The FCT Emergency Management Department, National Emergency Management Agency, FCT Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, the Civil Defense Corps, and the Nigeria Police are on the ground at the incident scene.
According to a statement by Head Public Affairs, FEMD, Nkechi Isa, the collapsed building is a residential house that contains 45 self-contained rooms.
Nkechi further disclosed that it was previously used as a hotel before it was converted for residential purposes.
The Acting Director General of FEMD, Mrs Florence Dawon Wenegieme, who is at the incident scene, said search and rescue efforts would remain ongoing until the last person is removed ‘if at all there is still someone trapped in the rubble”, The Nation quoted.
The Director-General of FEMD said the use of substandard building materials by some developers was one of the reasons for the re-occurring collapse of buildings.
Mrs Wenegieme called for strict compliance and action against developers who use substandard building materials. She said most cases of building collapses can be avoided if developers use standard materials.
Nollywood veteran, Binta Ayo Mogaji, aka Mama Insurance, has opened up about having her first child at 40.
Appearing on the ‘Talk To B’ podcast, she revealed that she underwent surgery to remove one of her fallopian tubes due to an ectopic pregnancy.
The movie star said that despite having just one fallopian tube, she gave birth to her child through a natural process.
She recalled that she had made up her mind to adopt a child if she didn’t have her own child after turning 40.
She explained that she gave birth to her son a few weeks after she turned 40.
Mogaji stated that at the time, she didn’t want to get married, and the father of her son was also not interested in getting married as well.
The actress said, “Unfortunately enough, the pregnancy was ectopic. They took me to seven different hospitals. The doctor said he wasn’t sure I could survive until the next day. The operation took them, like, seven to nine hours. Some of my colleagues who visited me at the hospital were crying.
“The surgeons had to remove one fallopian tube. But I’m living with one and I had my child through natural birth.
“I stopped looking for a husband; I wanted to make a baby. I said if I don’t have a baby until I’m 40, then I’ll adopt a child.
“[My partner], Jibola came shortly before I was 40 because I had my baby six weeks after I became 40 years old. But he didn’t want to get married as well.”
“I withdraw my respect for you” – Charly Boy reacts to renaming of National Theatre after Soyinka
AFOLABI
Veteran singer and social activist, Charles Oputa, aka Charly Boy, says he will no longer accord respect to the Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka.
Charly Boy, a staunch critic of President Bola Tinubu made the assertion in a post on his official X handle on Friday while reacting to the renaming of the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos after Soyinka.
President Tinubu in a tribute he wrote to celebrate Soyinka in commemoration of his 90th birthday, announced the renaming of the facility after Soyinka.
Reacting, Charly Boy in his post, protested against the move, saying the “Mighty have fallen, for beans”
He wrote, “Uncle WOLE I henceforth withdraw all the respect I once had for you.
“When late Jimmyjohnson talked about you in the 90s, I thought he was only yabbing you.
“Wow! How some of our MIGHTYs have fallen, for beans, ewa, dodo, is it for rice’?
Analysis of data on the admissions conducted for the 2022/2023 admission session in Nigerian universities, polytechnics and other tertiary institutions of learning revealed that 88 institutions conducted admissions outside of the Central Admissions Processing System popularly referred to as CAPS.
According to JAMB, admissions conducted outside CAPS are illegal, null and void.
JAMB had in 2017 introduced the Central Admissions Processing System where all tertiary institutions upload the admission status of candidates offered admission in the institutions.
CAPS has centralised and automated admission processes between candidates and their chosen tertiary institutions.
In 2020, JAMB warned institutions to stop offering admissions to candidates through their own portals.
The board described the practice as a flagrant abuse of the automated Central Admissions Processing System.
In April 2024, the board noted that it would no longer condone illegal admissions conducted outside of the CAPS.
The board in a bulletin warned candidates to desist from accepting admissions offered by the institutions without going through it.
In the statement titled, ‘Cessation of illegal/irregular admission’, JAMB reiterated that all applications of admissions to first degree, national diploma, national innovation diploma and the Nigeria Certificate in Education into full-time, distance learning, part-time, outreach, sandwich, etc., must be processed only through JAMB.
In a report tagged, ‘Compiled assessment of institutions on compliance with the 2022/2023 admission guidelines’, the board noted that it scored institutions who complied fully with admission guidelines 10 points; those with partial compliance, five points, while those institutions who failed to comply were awarded zero point.
Under the section for the conduct of full admissions on CAPS, our correspondent observed that 88 institutions failed to comply.
Some of the institutions are the University of Uyo, University of Abuja, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Yaba College of Technology, Plateau State University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Coal City University, Crawford University, Crescent University, Ebonyi State University, Rhema University, Borno State University, Chrisland University, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Alvan Ikoku College of Education, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu University.
The Edo State Police Command has paraded three suspected cultists in Benin City alleged to be members of the Maphite confraternity.
According to a statement by a media aide to the governor, Crusoe Osagie, on Friday, the police commissioner, Funsho Adegboye, paraded the suspects, identified as Eyefia Godbless (30), Imuetiyan Ewemade (30), and Emeka Okpaja (22).
The trio were reportedly apprehended at Ubiaza Community, Off Sapele Road in Benin City, where they were allegedly planning to avenge the killing of a fellow member.
“We have the full backing of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun on the fight against cultism and we are not joking with it,” Adegboye was quoted stating.
He added that Governor Godwin Obaseki and his executive team are also supporting the initiative to rid the state of cultism and criminality.
The police recovered several items from the suspects, including an automatic pump action gun, 11 live carriages, three green berets, and a Maphite constitution.
According to the Commissioner, the suspects made confessional statements affirming their membership in the cult group.
Adegboye emphasized the dangerous nature of the weapons seized, stating, “This is an automatic pump action gun which is as deadly as AK 47 which has a bullet that can kill several people, unlike AK-47 which can kill just one person. According to the suspects, the gun was purchased for about N700,000.”
The Commissioner used the opportunity to appeal to the youth, urging them to gainfully engage themselves in profitable and positive activities adding that crime, cultism, and internet fraud do not pay.
In addition to the three cultists, the police reported other recent arrests. These include five suspects apprehended at a cultist hideout along Siluko road, where two pump action guns, two locally made single barrel guns, and 20 live cartridges were recovered.
In a separate incident, one Osayande Tony was arrested with a pump action gun and two cartridges while driving a Mercedes Benz C300 Saloon car.
The police also have in custody one Apalobi Daniel from Powerline, Ugbiyokho, Benin City, who allegedly strangled his wife to death during an argument. The suspect is expected to be charged in court soon.
“At same Siluko road, Rapid Response Squad intercepted one Mercedes Benz C300 Saloon car with registration number YAB 389 BG, driven by Osayande Tony ‘M’ 48 years and was arrested with one pump action gun and two cartridges,” Adegboye added.
Adegboye further reiterated the commitment of the Edo State Government and the police, in collaboration with other security agencies and the press, to continue sensitising the public about the dangers of cult groups and criminal activities.
A yet-to-be-identified woman and her son, known only as Chukwuemeka, have allegedly beaten a 14-year-old boy named Testimony to death at their home on Delta Street, Ayanre, off Ibiye bus stop, Badagry, Lagos.
Our correspondent gathered that the deceased was reportedly beaten for allegedly misplacing N1,000 note given to him by one of the suspects to buy items at the market.
Multiple sources who spoke with our correspondent said that the deceased teenager was allegedly beaten for several hours starting at 11 pm on Wednesday, before succumbing to his injuries around 1 am on Thursday.
One of the neighbours who spoke with our correspondent on Friday said, “This young boy was beaten to death by his guardians, who were not his biological parents. The neighbours tried to intervene, but the doors were locked from the inside.
“Around 6 am this morning (Thursday), he (the deceased) wasn’t responding to his name, so they rushed him to a nearby hospital. The hospital didn’t have oxygen therapy, so they brought him back home, which aggravated the boy’s condition.
“The woman then called her prayer partners in the church to start praying for miracles to happen before the boy finally gave up the ghost. The police came exactly around 5.10 pm on Thursday to pick up the woman, who was the main suspect in the brutalities shown to the deceased.”
Meanwhile, Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the state police command, said he could not confirm the incident when our correspondent inquired about it.
“I cannot confirm that now,” Hundeyin wrote in response to our correspondent inquiry on Friday.
However, a one-minute and 32-second video shared with our correspondent by another eyewitness, who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter, showed the lifeless body of the boy with severe bruises, covered with a cloth in the apartment.
One of the men suspected to be behind the camera was heard saying, “This is the dead boy with bruises,” while others were screaming in disbelief.
Popular dancer and choreographer, Kafayat Shafau, aka Kaffy, has said that some ladies now use dancing as a cover for prostitution.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday Beats, Kaffy said, “Dance is not a hustler’s game, because a lot of girls are disguising prostitution by using dance. They would rather sell the sex side than the skill side. My only consolation is that the industry is growing so big that there is room for those kinds of people. Dance is an art form but sometimes, we cross the line, because of the sensual expression. I also do it, but there is a line I cannot cross, and clothes I cannot wear. One doesn’t need to be naked to be sexy or sensual, unlike what some people think.
“My advice to potential dancers is that they should choose their path, and be true to it. Don’t let pressure push you to a path you never originally wanted. You don’t have to alter your body, and there is more to dance than music videos and clubs. You can be a dance executive, coach, science, dance injury prevention, therapist, and many other things.”
Kaffy also disagreed with the popular notion that women don’t support women as much as men support their ilk. She said, “Women not supporting women is not the situation. Men go to war to fight against their fellow men. Forget ‘bro code’, it is perception and what is popularised that makes it look like men support men more. I think men also tear men down; it is a human thing. Women are just more emotionally expressive, so you can detect when a woman doesn’t like another woman faster than a man who doesn’t like another man. A man could be smiling with his friend until the last minute and stab him in the back. But, once a woman walks into such situation, her energy changes towards the person, and it’s easy to know that something is wrong. Both genders have the capacity to not support one another.”
Reveals how she became an Evangelist
Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor popularly called Mama G, has taken a quick swipe at the root causes of incessant deaths among Nollywood actors, blaming it on the carelessness and negligence on the part of the actors.
The veteran actress made this assertion, while in a chat with our reporter during the week in Lagos.
She also revealed why she broke down in tears at the funeral rites of the late comic actor, John Okafor popularly known as Mr. Ibu, which took place in his home town in Enugu state late last month.
According to Mama G, “ When you are doing something you are enjoying, you wouldn’t bother to take care of your health. Once there is life in you, you keep doing what you are doing. And it’s something that pays back on your body.”
“Some people are so careless that when they are sick instead of going to the hospital for a proper check-up, they prefer to visit a chemist or a pharmacy to buy a pain reliever. It’s no longer safe with me. I don’t know how many people are thinking like myself. That’s why I blamed it on carelessness. We are trying to put smiles on the faces of people while forgetting to take care of our health, “ Mama G added.
On why she broke down in tears at Mr. Ibu’s burial, Mama G said it dawned on her that the actor was gone forever when she went close to his corpse and called him by the name she used to call him, but he didn’t respond.
“At that moment, I broke down in tears. It’s not because I was expecting him to respond, but it was when I realized that this man is gone forever,” she said.
She, however, advised her colleagues to learn to go for regular check-ups and curtail some of the things they do that are detrimental to their health.
Speaking further, Mama G, who’s currently an Evangelist, recalled how she had an encounter with her maker, who transformed her life and asked her to work for Him.
Narrating the encounter, she said ‘It was in 2016 when God called me to work for Him. Then, I used to be a teacher in the church, but I didn’t climb the pulpit. It’s not something I can explain, God asked me to separate myself so that He wants to talk with me. I thought somebody was talking to me, but I discovered it was a voice coming from somewhere. It took me time to accept to submit myself for 21 days and it was extended to 30 days. My son reminded me that the owner of my life is asking me to separate myself for 21 days and I didn’t want to yield to his call and that He may make it 100 days.
“At that point, I quietly went in, and by the time I came out from those 30 days, I became a changed person. And how I knew He was the one who called me, he created a platform for me to appear on stage to give a testimony of What He did with me for 30 days. While I was giving the testimony, people started falling under the anointing.
And after the encounter, other pastors and evangelists started inviting me to their programmes. That’s how I became an evangelist,” she narrated.
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The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has lamented the leadership situation in Nigeria, submitting that the country is being led by “kakistocrats” – a government run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens and “kleptocrats” – government by people who use their power to steal their country’s resources.
Ndume added that though President Bola Tinubu himself may have good intentions, those around him do not mean well.
The Borno federal lawmaker made the submission during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday.
He said: “The government is also populated by kleptocrats, but unfortunately that is not what the president is up to; he really meant renewed hope, but you can only do that when you have people around you that are on the same type of thinking.”
Ndume expressed concerns that the citizens are faced with the challenges of hunger, poverty and rising inflation, with the country facing a dangerous trend.
Speaking about the recent government policies, such as the cybercrime levy, which faced public opposition, the lawmaker said, “When the president realised that he had not heard about it, he quickly suspended it.”
He highlighted the significant challenge of hunger and food scarcity, mentioning that inflation has risen to 40%.
“In some places, even with your money, you won’t find the food items you want to buy, which is very dangerous.”
He noted that the growing challenges of food crises and food insecurity, which have made the United Nations (UN), and World Food Programme rank Nigeria as a hotspot, is a thing of concern.
“For people like me, I have to be scared because I’m 64 years old with 10 children, 20 grandchildren, and I don’t have a passport or visa to anywhere,” he said.
Ndume also criticised the limited access to the president, stating that even some ministers and ranking lawmakers have no access to Tinubu. He contrasted this with former President Obasanjo’s administration, where any senator could see the president within 24 hours.
“I’m the chief whip, and if the chief whip can’t have access to the president, the new senators won’t have access either,” he said.
He expressed concern that the president is “caged in” whereas, “The president needs people who will realise his dream and tell him when something is wrong.”
The Senate Chief Whip, who expressed support for the fuel subsidy removal of the Tinubu government, however expressed concerns about its implementation. He recounted sending messages to people in the presidential villa about public anger, only to receive responses blaming the opposition.
“When people in power start responding like that, then I’m worried for the president and myself; there’s a problem out there,” he concluded.
Eddie Murphy and Paige Butcher are officially married.
The Oscar nominee, 63, and the Australian model, 44, tied the knot after first getting engaged in September 2018. The two also share an 8-year-old daughter, Izzy Oona, and a 5-year-old son, Max Charles.
Murphy and Butcher got married on Tuesday, July 9 in Anguilla during a small private ceremony in front of family and close friends. Butcher wore a corseted gown adorned with lace designed by Mira Zwillinger, while the groom wore a white Brioni suit.
This marks the second marriage for Murphy and the first for Butcher.
The news of their nuptials comes less than a month after Murphy and Butcher stepped out together during the Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F premiere in Los Angeles on June 20. At the Netflix event, the two were joined on the red carpet by his daughters, Bria, 34, Shayne Audra, 29, and Bella Zahra, 22 — whom he shares with ex-wife Nicole, 56.
Murphy’s Beverly Hills Cop costar, Judge Reinhold, recently told PEOPLE, “He’s crazy about his kids and his family. He’s a family guy at heart. Truly is. He really is.”
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In 2012, Murphy and Butcher began dating. The pair welcomed their first child together, Izzy, on May 3, 2016. The couple then welcomed their second child, Max, on Nov. 30, 2018, two months after getting engaged.
While Butcher doesn’t often do interviews, she spoke about her then-fiancé on the red carpet at the 2020 Golden Globes.
When asked what he whispered to her on the red carpet, Murphy told Extra, “I told her how wonderful she looks.” Butcher then chimed in, saying, “He actually says that kind of stuff all the time. He’s very, very sweet and romantic.”
Three years later, Murphy thanked Butcher, along with his children for their “love and support,” when he was given the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the same award event.
Murphy, who is a father of 10, is also a parent to Eric, 34, Christian, 33, Myles Mitchell, 31, Zola Ivy, 24, and Angel Iris, 17.
The World Bank Group young professionals programme (YPP) has opened for application.
The group announced the opening in a statement on Thursday.
According to the statement, the application will open on September 1, 2024, and remain open until 11:59 pm on September 30.
The World Bank said the programme is aimed at recruiting young professionals from around the world with various academic and professional backgrounds relevant to its operations and those of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).
The WBG YPP is a two-year leadership development programme at the beginning of a five-year employment contract with either the World Bank, IFC or MIGA.
The selected professionals would start the program in Washington DC, where they would engage in intensive training — on the job and in the classroom — learning the fundamentals of leadership and development operations across institutions.
“YPs are full-time employees, making significant contributions to their respective unit’s work program, while building networks and knowledge across the Bank Group through the YPP,” the organisers said.
“They often join field missions, where they work on the frontlines of WBG operations, learning key aspects of our work and directly engaging with our clients.
“Through the WBG YPP curriculum, YPs develop the foundational knowledge to contribute to our business and the competencies to lead. Activities range from leadership and professional development workshops to networking, mentorship and conversations with WBG leadership.
“YPs engage in intensive training on the policies, products and operations of the World Bank, IFC and MIGA. This aspect of the WBG YPP curriculum ensures that YPs know how to operationalize joint WBG solutions to development challenges, and how to retain and apply this knowledge for years to come.”
Are you interested in the World Bank Group young professionals programme? Click here to apply
