FEATURES
Veteran Nigerian comedian, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popularly known as Alibaba ,and his wife Mary, have welcomed a set of triplets.
Alibaba announced the news on Monday through an Instagram post, revealing that the newborns, all boys, became part of the family two months ago.
The boys have been named Aaron, Alexander, and Andrew.
He wrote: “Mary and I are happy and overjoyed to welcome our three sons, Aaron, Alexander, and Andrew, into the Akpobome family.
“It’s been two months since they arrived, and as the days go by, we thank God Almighty for these three beautiful blessings.
“We also want to thank our sisters, brothers, friends, uncles, and aunties for all the support so far.
“We appreciate and thank you immensely for all your prayers, love, best wishes, and gifts.
“As we celebrate the essence of the resurrection power in this period of Easter, we join our faith with yours and pray that things of joy will never be far from you.
“God will make all that needs to arise in your favour in this holy period of reawakening.
“On behalf of the Akpobomes, again, thank you.”
As schemings for the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) slated for April 18, 2024 intensifies, the North Central Caucus of the party has set in motion arrangements to present a candidate to complete the term of the zone which was truncated after the former PDP national chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, was removed from office through a court verdict.
Recall that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), last week, fixed the Party’s NEC meeting for Thursday, April 18, 2024, after a National Caucus meeting slated for Wednesday, April 17.
Following the zoning of the national chairmanship of PDP to the North Central, the party’s national convention on October 31, 2021, voted Ayu, a former Senate President from Benue State, to occupy the seat.
Ayu was forced to step aside as a chairman after an order of the Benue State High Court, dated March 27, 2023 which restrained him from parading himself as chairman.
In keeping with the party’s constitution, the deputy national chairman, (North) Amb. Illiya Damagum from Yobe State, North East Nigeria, has since taken over as acting national chairman since March 28, 2023 (over a year).
However, there have been calls from various quarters, including the North Central, on the Damagum-led NWC to convene a NEC meeting to, among other things, receive the nomination from the North Central and approve a substantive national chairman from the zone.
LEADERSHIP gathered that party leaders from the North Central held a crucial meeting in Abuja last week where they insisted that a substantive national chairman should without further delay, emerge from the North Central.
They had also insisted that Amb Damagum should revert to his original position as deputy national chairman in line with the provision of the Constitution of the PDP.
The meeting which had in attendance members of the PDP North Central Zonal Executive Committee and respective state chairmen of the party from the six states of the zone and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), insisted on producing a replacement for the acting national chairman.
A source at the meeting hinted that the leaders mandated Plateau State governor, Caleb Muftwang, to convene a decisive meeting of the Zonal Caucus that would come up with the nomination for the party’s substantive National Chairman from the North Central Zone.
“With the exit of the former National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, our zone was expected to produce a successor, but this was delayed. The National Chairmanship is zoned to the North Central, and the PDP Constitution provides that a successor must come from the North Central. So the Constitution should be followed.
“We have held a series of meetings on the issue. This was also the reason State Chairmen from the North Central met in Abuja last Wednesday. We are unanimous in seeking a credible nomination.
I can confirm to you that names are being discussed; we are narrowing our selection and stakeholders will reach a conclusion on their choice before the April 18 meeting.
“We have mandated the governor (Muftwang) that he should call a Caucus meeting of our zone to enable us to come up with a replacement to take the mantle from Ambassador Damagum.
“We have raised this with Governor Muftwang in our meeting. The Constitution of our party needs to be followed so that our Zone (North Central) can serve out its term. The position is for the North Central and we insist on taking back our position at the NEC meeting”, the source said.
So far, former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam is said to be eyeing the chairmanship position.
The Nigeria Police Force said it will prosecute one Agunbiade Adekunle, a vigilante, for allegedly killing a handed over to him in the Itire area of Lagos.
It was gathered that Agunbiade who is the security guard at Shonde Street in the Itire area of the state, resorted to setting the vandal ablaze when he was caught in the act on the 25th of March 2024.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement stated that the security guard will be prosecuted as he advised Nigerians against jungle justice.
He said, “It is pertinent to understand that the act of taking the law into one’s hands has often been described and referred to as jungle justice. The act has globally been condemned for many obvious reasons, particularly as a parasitic hindrance to strengthening the criminal justice system.
“For instance, police operatives attached to the Itire Divisional Police Headquarters of Lagos State on the 25th of March 2024 received a report from a man who resides along Shonde Street, Itire, that a group of hoodlums were vandalizing his vehicle and he raised an alarm which led to the arrest of one of the vandals.”
Adejobi added that the vandal was handed over to one Agunbiade Adekunle who is the security guard of the street, but he in turn, resorted to killing the suspect by setting him ablaze.
He further stated “The guard has been arrested and will be charged to court for murder.
“There are other similar cases recorded across the country that have been condemned and hindered the smooth investigation and prosecution of many cases,” Adejobi said.
The Police spokesperson urged the public to shun jungle justice, mob actions, and other forms of extrajudicial killings.
He remarked that jungle justice is a criminal act and a grave violation of human rights that threatens the fabric of a civilized society, perpetuating a cycle of violence, prejudice, and lawlessness.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has disclosed that frantic efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
He said that while the court processes are ongoing, political solutions are being worked out.
Speaking at the special edition of “The Ben Kalu’s Mandate”, a radio programme of FLO FM, Umuahia, Abia State on Monday virtually, the Deputy Speaker said that it was deliberate to work behind the scene to realise the objective.
Kalu’s clarification came on the heels of an enquiry by the programme anchor, Wisdom Thomas if the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P), a recently launched initiative of the Deputy Speaker which calls for a non-kinetic measure to resolve the security challenges in the South East has abandoned the IPOB leader.
While calling for support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Deputy Speaker also hinted of a likely visit by the elders of Igbo land to engage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on familiar issues affecting the South East.
He said: “The Peace in South East Project (PISE-P) has reconciliation in the mix of what we are trying to achieve. We recognise the importance of our brother, Nnamdi Kanu in the peace agenda we are pushing. That’s the truth. And I have been very vocal about it. I am not hiding it.
“I have always told people that I will never deny Nnamdi Kanu. He’s my brother. We come from the same place and I will never be happy having him incarcerated when we can have him out and increase our pursuit towards peace. But we may not advance all the things we are doing behind our backs but I can assure you that all the powers-that-be in this country know that people like us are not sitting on the fence.
“We cannot go about this before the court. I am more interested in using a political solution towards resolving this. So, I am asking for one or two things from the federal government.
“The last time I was with Mr. President, I discussed with Mr. President the need for the elders of Igbo land to come, sit and engage with him. And I know that one of the topics that will come up there is our brother and also SEDC.
“As we are asking Mr. President to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for us and giving us the South East Development Commission, we must on the other show him loyalty by making sure that there is peace in our area. No violence, support his government.”
Speaking on the present state of the South East Development Commission Bill, Kalu said that the piece of legislation is at the conference committee stage where some issues regarding the confirmation of the commissioners are being resolved.
John Okeke, commander of the joint military force deployed to the Niger Delta, says troops have rescued the students abducted along the east-west road in the Ughelli area of Delta state.
The students were abducted after their Sienna vehicle was attacked on Friday evening as they returned from Calabar, the Cross River capital.
Speaking in an interview with NAN, Okeke said nine victims, including a corps member and naval rating, were rescued by the troops.
The commander said 10 suspected kidnappers were arrested during the rescue operation.
“In continuation to ensure safety of lives and property in the Niger Delta Region, the gallant troops of the Joint Task Force South South Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), comprising troops of Quick Response Force (QRF) of Headquarters OPDS, Land, Maritime, and Air Components, on Monday, April 1, 2024, rescued nine kidnap victims,” Okeke said.
“The freed victims were kidnapped on 29 March 2024, along Patani-Ughelli road in Delta state.
“During the rescue operation, 10 suspects were arrested. Among the rescued victims are a naval rating and an NYSC member.”
The commander warned criminal elements in the Niger Delta region to desist from their activities, adding that the troops will provide the security needed in the region.
He urged residents to always provide useful information to security agencies on criminal activities within their communities.
Chinedu Ogah, a member of the House of Representatives from the All Progressives Congress has said former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai is not a match for President Bola Tinubu.
This followed speculations that El-Rufai is planning to form an alliance with the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.
There were even some reports claiming that Obi and El-Rufai have formed an alliance to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.
Reacting, Ogah, the lawmaker representing the lkwo/Ezza South federal constituency of Ebonyi State and the chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, argued that Tinubu is no match among opposition politicians who are preparing to contest in the next presidential poll in 2027.
Speaking to newsmen, Ogah maintained that he has not seen any politician in the country that can contest against Tinubu because of his performance and track record.
He insisted that Tinubu is aware of the problems plaguing the country and is already making efforts to fix them.
He said, “President Tinubu is doing perfectly well; he is doing very well. You may hate Tinubu but he is doing well in his administration, tackling the challenges in the country.
“The President has made us legislators sit up and every legislator is busy in his/her constituency attending to the people’s needs because 2023 has shown that if you are not on ground, the people will vote you out.
“The rural people that were regarded as illiterates are now more learned than us and they now know how to vote and who to vote for in an election. If you are not representing well, the people will vote you out.
“So, the President is doing very well and that was why most of us were singing his praises to come into power because he knows the problems of the country and how to solve them, and he is solving them.
“Who is contesting against the President in 2027? Who will run against him? I have even endorsed the President for 2027 and I have not seen anybody that will match him. I have not seen anybody that will match Tinubu in 2027; forget the noise on social media some people are making. Is it El-Rufai who could not win Kaduna, his state, that will match him? He is not an issue if he is running.”
The Association of Bureaux de Change Operators of Nigeria has said that the recovery of the naira has led to a relative decrease in the prices of goods and services in the country.
The president of the association, Aminu Gwadebe, said this in a statement issued on Saturday.
He hailed the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria to allow Bureaux de Change to operate in the foreign currency market, adding that it was a major factor in the recovery of the naira.
The CBN banned the operations of BDCs in July 2001 as part of measures to stabilise the local currency.
ABCON had been championing the campaign for BDCs to be allowed to operate formally in the currency market.
The apex bank in February reinstated BDCs in the official forex market.
In the statement, the ABCON president said aside from monetary policy tightening that led to interest rate hikes and more investment in government instruments and clearance of forex backlog forward commitments, the recall of the BDCs had significantly boosted dollar liquidity at the retail end of the forex market.
Gwadabe noted, “The current development in the foreign exchange market has started reining in inflation as the prices of most necessities are becoming relatively lower in the market. On a most serious note, the positive impacts also include heightened confidence of the public in the local currency as it eliminates currency substitution behaviour, which has hitherto been adding pressure on our local currency.
“The reconsideration of the BDCs into the mainstream foreign exchange market has not only demystified illegal economic behaviours such as hoarding, rent-seeking, round-tripping, and FX holding positions but also led to the emergence of exchange rate convergence.”
He added that with the recovery of the naira, the price of international school fees had dropped by 15 per cent; the cost of medical tourism had been reduced by 20 per cent and prices of air fares for local and international trips had dipped by 25 per cent.
Gwadabe remarked that the success story was unending as the naira traded at 1,255/$ on Saturday, lower than the 1,269.77/$ BDCs were advised to sell.
Describing the ongoing market development as revolutionary, Gwadabe declared that a stable naira would attract more foreign portfolio inflows to the economy.
He averred that the gains of the CBN under the governor, Dr Olayemi Cardoso, in recognising the power of BDCs in securing stable exchange rates cannot be over-emphasised.
He also maintained that previous practices where Nigerians based in Dubai brought dollars home for sale at high rates had ceased, after the rapid recovery of the naira against the American greenback.
Going forward, he stated that prospects for forex earnings were promising, with foreign portfolio investments on the rise and over $1.5bn inflows a few days after the Monetary Policy Committee raised the interest rate by two per cent.
He declared: “It is our view that the collaboration between the BDCs, CBN, National Security Adviser, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, as well as support from the Presidency, helped in creating the opportunity for building the foundation of this achievement. Overall, the combination of these actions has induced an atmosphere of public calmness, confidence, hope and liquidity in the markets.
“We call, therefore, on the CBN to continue to calibrate the existing relationship between the BDCs and the apex bank to sustain the success story.”
The Federal Government, on Monday, announced that the new price of natural gas for power generation companies is now $2.42 per metric million British thermal unit, higher than the previous rate of $2.18mmbtu.
Nigeria generates over 70 per cent of its electricity from thermal power plants that are fired by gas. Therefore, the rise in the cost of the commodity may lead to a hike in the tariff payable by power consumers once the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission carries out another tariff review.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, an agency of the Federal Government, unveiled the new domestic base price and wholesale prices of natural gas for 2024 in an announcement on Monday.
The NMDPRA also pegged the cost of commercial gas at $2.92mmbtu, up from the previous cost of $2.5mmbtu. The announcement was signed by the Chief Executive, NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed.
Recall that the Multi-Year Tariff Order released by NERC in January 2024 for the electricity distribution companies was calculated based on the previous price of natural gas.
Therefore, going by the latest cost of the commodity, there is a high tendency for an upward review of power tariffs, as gas is a major component used in power production.
Gas producers including international and domestic oil and gas companies, have repeatedly called for the upward review in the price of the product, stressing that this would be an incentive to ramp up production.
In the announcement on Monday, Ahmed said the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 assented to by the President on August 16, 2021, and gazetted in August 2021, provided a clear regulatory framework for the determination of a market-based pricing regime for the domestic gas market.
The NMDPRA boss further stated that the latest action was taken in line with section 167, the third and fourth schedule of the PIA 2021, which mandated the regulator to determine the Domestic Base Price and the marketable wholesale price of natural gas supplied to the strategic sectors.
He said, “The DBP at the marketable gas delivery point under Sector 167(1) and other provisions of the PIA shall be determined based on regulations which incorporate among such other matters, the following principles.
“(a) The price must be of a level to bring forward sufficient natural gas supplies for the domestic market on a voluntary basis by the upstream producers.
“(b) The price shall not be higher than the average of similar natural gas prices in major emerging countries that are significant producers of natural gas.
“(c) Lowest cost of gas supply based on three-tier cost of supply framework. (d) Market-related prices tied to international benchmarks.”
The NMDPRA, therefore, emphasised that it had set the “2024 Domestic Base Price at $2.42/MMBTU and wholesale prices for natural gas in strategic sectors, following consultations with stakeholders and in compliance with the PIA and Gas Pricing Regulations.”
A 32-year-old suspected kidnapper, Roland Raymond has been arrested by the Adamawa State Police Command for the offense of criminal intimidation associated with kidnapping.
The suspect, who is a resident of Detti village, Ganye LGA, was arrested following a report by Alhaji Yahya Congo and Abraham Paul, who stated that the suspect called them via phone and demanded the sum of 600,000 Naira or risk being kidnapped.
Upon receipt of the complaints, the police in Ganye Division, in collaboration with hunters, swiftly mobilized and arrested the suspect at the point of collecting the demanded money.
Confirming the arrest, the spokesperson of the command, The suspect will be Charged to Court after investigation.
Controversial Nollywood actress, Nkechi Blessing has announced the birth of her child with boyfriend, Xxssive.
She claimed to have given birth to the baby two months ago.
She also shared a photo of her “son” expressing her love for him as he turns two months old today.
She acknowledged that her fans are shocked and promised she will be coming back to share her full testimony with everyone.
Her words: “My little miracle is Two months old today Daddy @xxssive and I love you dearly. Two months ago @xxssive and I welcomed a bouncing baby boy…I know you are all shocked..But the lord has done it finally. Coming back to share my testimony and I will be posting the full testimony video on my YouTube channel. kindly click the link in my bio to subscribe and turn on post notifications”
However, many people are suggesting it could be another April fool prank.
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Spokesperson for the Obi-Datti campaign organization, Yinusa Tanko has made a revelation concerning the crisis rocking the Labour Party.
He stated that the Party chairman, Julius Abure refused to obey advice given by Obi on how to resolve the party crisis.
Tanko’s comments come in the wake of the party’s national convention, which has sparked controversy within its ranks.
Peter Obi, who served as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, had apparently offered counsel aimed at forestalling the kind of discord now being witnessed.
Tanko critiqued the party’s recent national convention, highlighting it as a missed opportunity for broader participation.
He argued that the event, which saw Julius Abure reelected as the national chairman, lacked inclusivity and did not fully represent the party’s diverse membership.
The critique sheds light on the internal dynamics and challenges facing the Labour Party as it navigates post-election realities and internal governance issues.
He said in an interview on Channels TV, “His Excellency, Peter Obi, has made a concerted effort in trying to intervene at any point we have this particular issue and trying to improve.
“When the issue of the national convention came up, he (Obi) suggested to the national chairman that because we are bigger now, we need to have a wider consultation: meet with responsible and interested people such as the TUC and NLC, stakeholders, the Obidient group – young generation people who are interested in seeing Nigeria work. Meet with leaders who have different ideas that can midwife us into a greater height.
“All of these were the suggestions that he (Obi) made, and not only did he make those suggestions, he practicalised them because he met with the members of the National Assembly.
“He (Obi) met with the leadership of the party recently in Asaba trying to give them ideas on how he thinks certain things could be done and you could improve our situation but of course, you know how politics is, sometimes, people may be trying to encourage people, but they do something different.
“You can only take a horse to the river, but you cannot force it to drink water, so that’s exactly what Peter Obi has done, he has done so greatly to see if we can find a solution to some of the problems we find ourselves.”
He said while Abure has the right to contest the national chairmanship position again, it was only proper that the right things are done by opening the door for more people to be part of the process.
Tanko noted that Abure went outside an initial agreement to have an all-inclusive national convention which ought to start from the ward, local government and state levels before the national level.
He said that the convention held in Nnewi Anambra State that returned Abure as the party’s leader did not conform with that agreement and therefore was not acceptable to everyone within the party.
Asked if the crisis in the party could be a problem for Obi in the next election, Tanko said Obi is a brand of his own and that he and other people will always move with him wherever he goes to.
The All Progressives Congress stands to benefit if former Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai defects to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
This is according to the convener of the All Progressive Congress (APC), South-East Coalition, Francis Okoye.
Recall that El-Rufai made headlines last month over alleged defection moves from the APC and purported plans to contest the 2027 presidential election on the SDP platform.
In an interview with Legit, Okoye noted that the former Governor is at liberty to leave the ruling party, and it does not call for any worry or alarm.
Okoye said nobody knows if El Rufai wants to leave the APC, but if he does, it would further divide the opposition party and strengthen the ruling party.
The APC chieftain further painted a scenario where El-Rufai is the SDP presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso flies the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) flag, Peter Obi maintains his Labour Presidential ticket and the same with former president Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, such a scenario would make President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC winners in the 2027 election flawlessly.
He said, “For now nobody will say that El Rufai wants to leave APC or not but if he really wants to leave he is at liberty to do so.
“Former Governor El Rufai’s visit to SDP National Secretariat and former President Yakubu Gowon calls for no alarm. We in APC have nothing to worry about, rather it will strengthen us as a party. The visit is further dividing the opposition instead of making them stronger.
“Assuming in 2027 El Rufai flies the flag of SDP, Kwankwaso flies that of NNPP, Obi LP and Atiku PDP, it will mean a clean sweep of the poll for our party the APC. So worry not my brother. We are not perturbed at all”
Economic Hardship: No Religion, Tribe or Political Party Buys Food Cheaper In Nigeria Now – Peter Obi
AFOLABIMr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP has reacted to the ongoing hardship and hunger in the country.
He reminded Nigerians that no religion, tribe, or political party buys food cheaper in any market in Nigeria.
Obi said Nigerians should join hands in moving the nation from consumption to production for the good of society.
The former Anambra State governor gave the assertion in a post on his X handle on Monday.
According to the former presidential candidate of LP, Nigeria’s many challenges as a nation could be conquered by unity of efforts, collaboration, and mutual respect.
He said: “In continuation of my Easter Sunday activities yesterday evening, after sharing the Easter joys with the inmates of Onitsha Correctional Centre, yesterday, I was at the Central Mosque, Onitsha to pray with the Muslim Community in the City who are in the last ten days of the Ramadan fasting. It was heartwarming to see how they were able to judiciously deploy the little resources I gave them last year for the renovation of their mosque.
“I took time to remind them, and indeed every Nigerian, of the need to rise above religion and tribe, but in unity and brotherly love, continue to work hard for the development of our dear nation.
“Our many challenges in our nation can be conquered by a unity of efforts, collaboration, and mutual respect. As I have always maintained, no religion, tribe, or political party buys food cheaper in any market anywhere in Nigeria.
“We must, therefore, join hands in moving our nation from consumption to production, for the good of society. I shared my little Easter gifts, and Financial support with the community and appreciated them for their kind words, encouragement, and prayers.
“Together as one, we will build the New Nigeria.”
A US-based Ghanaian couple has been arrested in connection with the murder of their 5-year-old son who was badly beaten and succumbed to his injuries.
The couple, identified as Valerie Owusu and Emmanuel Addae, were convicted on March 22, 2024 nearly three years after Owusu’s son, King, was found dead in a home in Brentwood, New York City.
District Attorney Raymond Tierney in a press release said: “This little boy was beaten and suffered for days at the hands of these defendants, one of whom was his own mother, until he unfortunately succumbed to his severe and extensive injuries.”
According to witnesses, prosecutors alleged Owusu and Addae beat the child with “at least four different instruments” over a three-day period in 2021. The boy’s condition deteriorated, and he eventually lost consciousness.
Neither Owusu nor Addae called 911 or provided medical care for King, prosecutors said.