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'She's my world, beg her to marry me' - 2Baba continues to express love for lover, Natasha Osawuru
AFOLABI
Legendary singer Innocent Idibia, better known as 2Baba, has made a passionate appeal to Nigerians over his new lawmaker girlfriend, Natasha Osawaru.
The father of seven in a video via his Instagram page, confirmed his relationship with Natasha. He revealed that he loves the lawmaker and plans to marry her.
2Baba also made it known that she had nothing to do with the breakdown of his marriage to Annie, claiming he and his estranged actress wife have an understanding.
In a fresh post on his official photo and video sharing platform, Instagram, 2Baba for the first time boldly shared a photo of Natasha and urged netizens to help beg his new partner to marry him. He went on to describe her as his world. He simply wrote:
“Now this is my world. Make una help me beg am to marry me”.
See screenshot of 2Baba’s post below:
WITHIN NIGERIA reported that an earlier Instagram post announced the end of the African Queen hitmaker’s 13-year marriage to actress Annie. The post read:
“Hello to my beautiful people of all federations. Well, this thing I have to say is short but also long…I and Annie Macaulay have been separated for a while now, and currently filed for divorce.
“I would grant a press release soon to say my story. Not because it is anyone’s right to know about my personal life but because I love my people and I need them to know my innocence or offense. Stay blessed my people. I love you all.”
Shortly after, it was deleted and another post appeared on the same account, claiming that the page had been compromised. It read:
“My Instagram account has been hacked, efforts are being carried out to take back control. #onelove!”
However, in a surprising turn of events, 2Baba later released a video of himself clarifying the situation.
In the veteran singer’s latest reveal, shared on his Instagram story on Sunday night January 26, he confirmed that a controversial post on his social media page regarding his separation from his wife, Annie Idibia, was indeed made by him.
He disclosed that his account had not been hacked, contrary to the previous statement, and implied that the initial post about his separation was authentic. This earned him a barrage of backlash from many celebrities and netizens alike.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reviewed upwards the fees charged on Automated Teller Machine (ATM) withdrawals effective March 1.
In a circular, CBN Acting Director, Financial Policy & Regulation Department, John Onojah, explained that the revised charges will address increasing operational costs and enhance the efficiency of banking services.
Under the new rules, customers withdrawing from their own bank’s ATMs (on-us transactions) will continue to enjoy free withdrawals.
However, withdrawals from on-site ATMs (ATMs located at bank branches) will incur an N100 fee per N20,000 withdrawn.
For withdrawals at ATMs belonging to other banks (Not-on-Us transactions), an N100 fee plus a surcharge of not more than N500 per N20,000 withdrawal will apply.
The CBN emphasized that the surcharge is the income of the “ATM deployer/acquirer and must be disclosed to consumers at the point of withdrawal.”
This review marks the first change in ATM transaction fees since 2019 when the CBN reduced the withdrawal fee from N65 to N35.
According to the CBN, the updated fees are in line with Section 10.7 of the ‘CBN Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-Bank Financial Institutions (2020).’
The statement reads, “In response to rising costs and the need to improve the efficiency of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) services in the banking industry, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reviewed the ATM transaction fees prescribed in Section 10.7 of the extant CBN Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-Bank Financial Institutions, 2020 (the Guide).”
“This review is expected to accelerate the deployment of ATMs and ensure that appropriate charges are applied by financial institutions to consumers of the service,” the CBN added.
For international withdrawals using debit or credit cards, banks, and financial institutions are now allowed to charge a “cost-recovery charge equivalent to the exact amount charged by the international acquirer.”
Additionally, the CBN stated that the three free monthly withdrawals for Remote-On-Us (other bank’s customers/Not-On-Us consumers) will no longer apply under Section 10.6.2 of the Guide.
The apex bank has urged all financial institutions to ensure compliance with the new guidelines before the March 1, implementation date.
An Ogba Magistrate Court in Lagos State, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of 56-year-old policeman Owolabi Akinlolu at the Maximum Correctional Centre Kirikiri for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl in his office.
Owolabi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Ogudu Police Station in Lagos, allegedly raped the survivor in his office after promising to help recover her phone, which was stolen by one-chance robbers while she was returning from Ikeja with her grandmother and siblings.
Akinlolu reportedly summoned the teenager to his office on June 29, claiming they had apprehended the suspect who had stolen her phone two weeks earlier.
Upon arriving at the police station, the senior police officer allegedly locked his office door behind him and raped the teenager.
In July 2024, the survivor’s mother, Mrs Aramide Olupona, accused the police of attempting to cover up the case, revealing that the suspect’s wife and family had pleaded with her to drop the charges, as Akinlolu was set to retire in December 2024.
At the Magistrate Court 11 on Tuesday, the prosecution counsel, backed by a seven-paragraph affidavit, urged the court to remand the defendant, stating that the offence of defilement violates Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In response to the prosecution’s request, Magistrate O.O. Fagboun ordered the defendant’s remand at the Maximum Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until March 11, 2025, for trial and further proceedings.
Renowned leadership coach and former presidential candidate of the defunct Alliance for New Nigeria, Fela Durotoye, has revealed how he rejected an opportunity to siphon N5bn in a fraudulent government deal, despite immense pressure from an official who claimed to be a pastor.
Speaking on Tuesday, at the ongoing biannual conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Abuja, Durotoye recounted the experience, which he described as a test of integrity.
This is according to a Church Times Nigeria report on Wednesday.
According to him, the official approached him with a lucrative training contract, insisting that he had already been selected for the job.
The programme involved training people in all 774 local government areas of Nigeria within eight weeks, and Durotoye was assured that he fit the criteria perfectly.
Upon request, he prepared an invoice, ensuring the cost was strictly based on actual expenses.
His team calculated a fair price of N1.3 bn for the training.
But just three days later, a call from the presidency changed everything.
“I got a call congratulating me that I had secured the job.
“But they said the amount I was asking for was too small. They promised to add N700m to make it N2bn. Then they asked me to submit an invoice for N5bn,” Durotoye recalled.
Alarmed, he questioned the ethics of inflating the price, especially for a training centred on ethical leadership.
The official, however, dismissed his concerns.
“The man assured me he wasn’t ripping off Nigeria.
“He said he had served the country and deserved compensation. When I reminded him that the blessings of God make one rich and add no sorrow, he fired back, saying, ‘There is no sorrow in this one. You have been doing well for Nigeria. It is time for Nigeria to do well for you,'” Durotoye said.
As pressure mounted, Durotoye claimed he made a bold decision—he switched off his phone.
He added that three months later, news broke that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had arrested some presidency officials for stealing N426m from an ethical leadership training fund.
Reflecting on the ordeal, he emphasised the importance of strong moral values.
“Only your values can help you turn down corrupt tendencies,” he warned.
Durotoye also revealed details about his time serving under the Tinubu administration as Special Assistant to the President.
“I did not collect an official car, I did not collect a house, and I did not collect a salary for serving.
“It was difficult to get my letter out because, according to somebody in government, my refusal to collect those things would make it difficult to pin me to corruption,” he stated.
Despite the challenges, he said he encountered like-minded individuals in government who shared his commitment to integrity.
“When we have the right values, there won’t be corruption in this land,” he concluded.
Several notorious bandit leaders, terrorising Batsari, Safana, and Jibia LGAs of Katsina, have reportedly surrendered to the troops of the Nigerian Army.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, identified those who surrendered as Abu Radda, Umar Black, Abdullahi Lankai, Jijjige, and Dabar Musa Dan Gandu, who have all operated from the Jibia axis.
The publication quoted security sources as saying the bandits embraced the peace deal and surrendered following sustained military operations in the region.
Makama said the repentant bandits handed over their weapons to the troops and released several hostages they had abducted.
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According to the publication, the former bandits appealed to the government to provide them with alternative means of livelihood, requesting engagement in the construction of markets and hospitals.
They vowed to embrace peace and end their involvement in criminal activities, it added.
Their surrender was reportedly facilitated by the National Community for Security and Societal Advancement in Katsina (NCSOSACK), led by Hamisa Batsari.
On Monday, the defence headquarters (DHQ) said 800 former Boko Haram fighters who surrendered to the military are currently undergoing deradicalisation for onward reintegration into society.
Below are photos.
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Former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, has said he won’t opt for exile despite the many rumours that he might be arrested and tortured by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
El-Rufai, who had been locked in a battle of words with the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, said he won’t be intimidated by the current administration.
In a response to a post by an X user, Imran Wakili, on the alleged plot to arrest him, the former governor said he would return to Nigeria from Egypt before February 20, 2025.
He said: “I have been hearing these same rumours of arrest, detention and torture in some dungeon in the NSA’s office (where Emefiele was allegedly tortured to resign as CBN governor), since July 2024 when the so-called report of the Kaduna Assembly began circulating.
“They freaked out when we challenged the legality of the premeditated defamation and went to every length to compromise the judicial process, and this is continuing at the Court of Appeal.
“They have sent such similar messages of intimidation and threats through many of my friends, family and political associates because they want me to go on self-imposed exile. I will not.
“I have now put all my previous academic and language-learning plans on hold and will spend more time in Nigeria than ever before. Silence is no longer golden. Inaction has never been an option.
“The arrest, detention and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new in human affairs. I have been arrested and detained thrice in the past for expressing my views of previous governments.
“There is always a morning after the arrest or detention or torture, and political life continues. As for death, it is when Allah destines it, and it is ultimately the date of every human.
“For the attention of the pathetic characters that don’t sleep well whenever I am in Nigeria, take notice that I intend to return in time for the launch of former President IBB’s memoirs, in sha Allah, scheduled for February 20.
“We depend on no one but Allah. We fear no mortal but Almighty Allah. We always hope for the best but plan for the worst.”
Recall that El-Rufai was one of the northern powerbrokers who insisted that the APC presidential ticket for the 2023 general elections be given to a southern candidate, in line with the unwritten principle of rotation of power between the southern and the northern regions in Nigeria.
This was after the eight-year tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari, from the North-West geopolitical zone.
El-Rufai, who was Kaduna governor between May 2015 and May 2023, was vocal in his choice of ex-Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, as the flag bearer of the party in the last general elections.
The then Kaduna governor, alongside his northern colleagues, backed Tinubu against two other northern aspirants who were the then Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and ex-Jigawa State governor, Mohammed Badaru.
Tinubu later clinched the APC ticket and was elected Nigeria’s president during the February 2023 presidential poll.
However, El-Rufai fell out with the power brokers in the current government and was rejected by the Senate during the ministerial screening process.
The Senate cited security reasons from the Department of State Services, DSS, as one of the reasons for his rejection.
Since the August 2023 incident, El-Rufai has not been seen in a gathering of APC chieftains. The former governor has also not been seen around the Aso Villa, the seat of power, or near the president whom he vigorously campaigned for in the last poll.
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The mother of the trafficked child, simply identified as Rachael, a resident of Asaba, has confessed that she was lured into selling her eleven-day-old baby for N600,000.
Three suspects, all women, are in police custody at the Delta State Police Command as investigations into the crime continue.
“The father of the child abandoned me and the pregnancy. I was supported by neighbours and people of goodwill before I delivered the baby girl.
“Eleven days after delivery, I was introduced to a vendor who promised to help me but later took advantage of my distress and persuaded me to sell the baby. I did, and I was paid N600,000,” Rachael confessed.
Those who had supported her during the pregnancy became concerned when they noticed Rachael without the baby.
Upon inquiry, she admitted to the crime and was promptly arrested along with the contact who linked her to the vendor.
The vendor confessed to selling the baby for N3.5 million and giving the mother N570,000 after deducting N30,000, which she had previously lent her.
The third suspect, a woman from Delta, who bought the child, claimed she paid N4 million.
Parading the suspects, the Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, stated that they had all confessed to their involvement in the crime.
Edafe, in a voice note, said: “We have come to realise that the business of baby factories is on the rise, and we are going to fight it head-on.
“The other day, we apprehended three women who were attempting to transport three different children to Abuja via Asaba International Airport. Thankfully, they were caught and arrested.
“Today, we have three suspects. The mother of the child, who is just over a week old, handed the baby to one woman, who then sold the child to a third woman for N4 million, although she claimed to have received N3.5 million.
“The most shocking aspect is that the woman who sold the baby for N4 million—or N3.5 million, as she claimed—gave the mother not even up to N600,000.”
Meanwhile, the baby has been recovered and remains in the custody of the Delta State Police Command at the time of reporting.
Innocent ‘2Baba‘ Idibia has finally addressed the rumours surrounding his relationship with Natasha Osawaru, the deputy majority leader of Edo state house of assembly.
On Monday, the award-winning singer made a surprise appearance at the state house of assembly during a plenary session, sparking rumours about his relationship with Natasha.
The rumours suggested that Natasha might have contributed to his separation from his wife, Annie Idibia.
However, in a video shared on Instagram, 2Baba clarified his relationship with Natasha, emphasising that she has nothing to do with his current situation with Annie.
He also expressed his affection for the lawmaker, stating, “Yes, I love her. I want to marry her”.
The ‘African Queen’ hitmaker also defended Natasha, calling her a “young, brilliant, and amazing woman” who has been unfairly labeled as a “home breaker”.
“I said what I said. All of us will be alright… Honourable Natasha, I see she has been dragged, she has been called all sorts of names. She has been labelled as a home breaker. She is a young, brilliant and amazing woman,” he said.
“She has nothing to do with what’s happening between me and Annie. But I see everybody trying to allegedly want to rope her into everything. Yes, I love her. She is amazing, she is cool, I want to marry her.”
Annie, an actress and model, has been married to 2Baba since 2012, and they have two daughters together. However, their relationship has been plagued by rumours of infidelity and instability.
Last month, the singer announced that he and Annie had not been together for a while and were filing for divorce.
The news of their separation has continued to spark reactions from fans and celebrities alike.
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WHO IS NATASHA?
Natasha Osawaru is a 31-year-old politician and lawyer from Edo state. She is the daughter of Desmond Osawaru and Philomina Osawaru and the granddaughter of billionaire Gabriel Igbinedion.
Osawaru, who represents the Egor constituency in the house, is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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A former member of the Labour Party, LP, Kenneth Okonkwo has urged President Bola Tinubu, Peter Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step aside from contesting for the presidential seat in the 2027 election.
DAILY POST reports that the Nollywood actor-turned politician was a former spokesman of the LP presidential campaign team in the 2023 general election, working alongside Obi who flew the party’s flag in that poll.
However, after two years, Okonkwo has backtracked from his support for Obi, asking the LP chieftain, Atiku and Tinubu to step aside for other candidates in Nigeria’s next round of elections.
He stated this on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.
On whether he still wants the trio to give way for other candidates in the next general election, he said, “I said it and I maintain it because in Nigeria, people will not give you their mandate and you treat it with levity.
“You must do everything decisively to secure it. Unfortunately, nature has bestowed on us the duty that in Nigeria, you will not only win an election, but you have to fight for your mandate.”
He further stated that though he worked with Obi in the 2023 election, that is now in the past.
He said whatever happened in 2023 should stay in 2023, ruling out backing the former Anambra State governor in the next round of general polls in Nigeria.
DAILY POST recalls that Okonkwo, on Tuesday officially resigned from the party, saying his resignation from the party will take effect from February 25, 2025.
He cited internal rambles in the Labour Party as the reason he dumped the party, adding that he resigned on principle.
The former member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, ruled out returning to the ruling party.
He also accused the ruling party of failing to address the country’s challenges.
“I resigned [to leave APC] on principle,” Okonkwo insisted but gave only one condition to return to the party.
“Let me tell you, I will be the first person to admit if the APC changes today and is doing well for Nigeria,” he said.
The former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that his political adversaries are scheming to arrest, detain, and torture him in the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
Despite these threats, El-Rufai has vowed not to be intimidated. “I have received credible information that there is a plan to arrest Mallam Nasir El-Rufai upon his return to Nigeria, based on yet another fabricated allegation, as has become the norm,” he stated.
He expressed confidence in his imminent return to Nigeria, asserting that he has nothing to conceal and fears no one. El-Rufai further revealed that his friends, family, and political associates have been subjected to similar threats.
He believes his opponents aim to force him into self-imposed exile, a prospect he refuses to entertain. He has decided to pause all academic pursuits and dedicate more time to confronting his adversaries within Nigeria.
“I have been hearing these persistent rumours of arrest, detention, and torture in the NSA’s office—where Emefiele was reportedly coerced into resigning as CBN governor—since July 2024, when the fabricated report from the Kaduna Assembly began to circulate,” he noted.
“They panicked when we questioned the legality of their premeditated defamation and have since attempted to manipulate the judicial process, which is still ongoing in the Court of Appeal. Similar messages of intimidation and threats have been sent to many of my friends, family, and political associates because they wish to see me go into exile. I will not comply.
“I have now halted all my academic and language-learning plans to spend more time in Nigeria. Silence is no longer an option, and inaction has never been a solution.”
El-Rufai reflected on the historical context of political repression, stating, “The arrest, detention, and torture of perceived political adversaries are not new in human affairs. I have been arrested and detained three times in the past for voicing my opinions against previous governments.”
He added, “There is always life after arrest, detention, or torture, and political life continues. As for death, it will come when Allah decrees it, and every human must face that date.”
In a message directed at those uneasy about his presence in Nigeria, he declared, “I intend to return in time for the launch of President IBB’s memoirs, scheduled for 20th February, in sha Allah. We rely solely on Allah and fear no one but Him. We always hope for the best but prepare for the worst.”
El-Rufai’s relationship with the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, has become contentious following claims made by Hajia Naja’atu Muhammad, a former Commissioner at the Police Service Commission (PSC), in a viral TikTok video. She alleged that Ribadu had previously described President Bola Tinubu as corrupt during his tenure as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In response, Ribadu’s legal representative, Dr Ahmed Raji, SAN, stated that Ribadu has never held such views publicly or privately and claimed that the damage caused by the TikTok video was substantial.
However, Muhammad has maintained her stance, asserting she has no reason to apologise since the records are available. In a post on his X account, El-Rufai defended Muhammad, mocking Ribadu by suggesting, “Nuhu must have serious amnesia.”
He elaborated, “Nuhu appears to be suffering from profound amnesia. The Senate proceedings confirm that he made those statements in 2006. A Daily Trust report from February 2007 further corroborates this. The Federal Executive Council conclusions from 2006, which can be obtained from the Cabinet Secretariat of the SGF’s office, contain these allegations. During that special FEC meeting I attended, Nuhu’s EFCC made similar accusations against several officials in 2006. These records dispel any doubts.”
“This is to ensure that the morally flexible are reminded that silence is no longer an option in our national discourse,” El-Rufai concluded.
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FBN Holdings Plc, one of Africa’s premier financial institutions proudly announces change of its name to First Hold Co Plc. (FirstHoldCo). This naming convention will also be adopted across all its subsidiaries. This strategic transformation and rebranding marks a significant milestone in the Company’s journey to redefine its identity, unify its subsidiaries, reinforce its heritage, and strengthen its position as a leader in the financial services industry. The new name reflects a forward-looking vision rooted in a timeless legacy of trust, resilience, innovation, and exceptional service delivery.
The rebranding underscores FirstHoldCo’s dedication to innovation, customer-centricity, and operational excellence. It represents a commitment to providing integrated financial solutions that empower individuals and businesses while addressing the evolving demands of a dynamic marketplace.
Rooted in a legacy of over a century of financial expertise through its flagship subsidiary, FirstBank, First HoldCo Plc’s rebranding includes the retention of First Bank Nigeria Limited for the flagship business and adoption of new and unified names for its other subsidiaries in the Asset Management, Capital Markets, Securities, Trusteeship and Insurance Brokerage. FirstHoldCo intends to implement this name change across the Group, as soon as the necessary regulatory approvals are received.
Expectedly, this unified identity will amplify the Group’s visibility and position it as a dynamic leader in financial services, both locally and internationally.
Speaking on this milesone development, Group Managing Director, First Holdco Plc, Wale Oyedeji, stated that, “This transition to First Holdco Plc is a defining moment in our history as we chart a bold course for the future. The rebranding represents more than a name change; it is a renewal of our purpose, vision, and commitment to delivering world-class financial solutions to our stakeholders. It allows us to unify our identity across subsidiaries and geographies, creating a strong, cohesive brand that reflects our leadership position in Africa and sustains our global presence.”
“For our stakeholders, this transformation signals a renewed focus on excellence and innovation. It ensures that we remain steadfast in delivering long-term value while strengthening the trust and confidence that has defined our relationships for over a century. As FirstHoldCo, we are better positioned to meet evolving market demands, support our partners, and deliver on our promises in an increasingly interconnected financial ecosystem.”
Oyedeji continued, “Locally, FirstHoldCo’s unified brand structure will enhance operational synergies and improve the clarity of our offerings, allowing us to provide seamless solutions tailored to the needs of businesses and individuals across Nigeria. Internationally, it positions the Group as a formidable organisation, ensuring that we leverage opportunities in global markets to reinforce our role as a trusted partner in financial services.”
“Ultimately, this rebranding represents our strategic foresight and determination to remain ahead of industry trends, driven by innovation and a customer-centric approach. We are not just building a brand, we are shaping a legacy, one that balances heritage with progress, tradition with transformation, and local impact with global reach”
At First HoldCo Plc, as we embark on this new chapter, we reiterate our commitment to delivering customer-focused solutions, driving growth, and setting benchmarks for innovation and sustainability in financial services.
About First Hold Co Plc
First Hold Co Plc, formerly FBN Holdings Plc is a financial holding company and one of the largest financial services organisations in Africa with Headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria. It is a diversified financial services Group offering a broad range of products and services through its subsidiaries, across commercial banking, asset management, capital markets, trusteeship, and insurance brokerage to millions of customers.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has started monitoring funds allocated to local governments across Nigeria to ensure proper utilisation, its chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has revealed.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the National Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) at the EFCC headquarters, Mr Olukoyede said the commission was already tracking financial transactions at the local government level.
“We have a department called Fraud Risk Assessment and Control that is closely monitoring and tracking payments, contracts, and other releases to ensure that funds are expended on what they are meant for,” he said.
His remarks were in response to the NCYP’s calls for stricter oversight following the financial autonomy recently granted to local governments.
Isaac Abrak, leader of the NCYP delegation, expressed concern over the slow pace of development at the grassroots level, stating that effective financial management was crucial for progress.
“We come from the grassroots, and we understand the realities in our local government areas. We appreciate the President for granting local government autonomy.
„If local governments can achieve even 40% of their responsibilities, we will see significant progress,” he said.
Abrak also commended Mr Olukoyede for his leadership, describing his performance as a reflection of his Christian faith.
„We are proud of you. You have represented our faith with excellence,“ he added.
The youth leader also raised concerns over the growing involvement of young people in internet fraud, particularly in northern Nigeria.
„Cybercrime is spreading into the North, and we want the EFCC to intensify its operations in this region,“ he urged.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Adekunle Salako, yesterday urged the newly recruited staff of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Benin, to remain in the hospital where they have been employed and contribute their quota to the country’s growth rather than japa (leaving the country).
He appealed while touring the hospital facilities in Benin.
Dr. Salako said that the country belongs to them, and they must join hands to make it work, not by migrating to other countries.
“The President is committed to improving the standard of living of the average Nigerian. He is committed to ensuring that Nigeria transforms into a place we all can live comfortably and be proud of.
“So, for those of us who are newly employed, please let us remain committed to our country. Let us display patriotism to the government. Let’s not abandon our country and Japa, as they say, because of economic crises alone.
“I want to come back and see that all the newly employed people remain in the service of this hospital serving our country because nobody will come to build this country for us.
“If we don’t do it ourselves when we go, we still come back and meet it the way we have left it. Therefore, I encourage you to remain committed and patriotic and serve Nigeria intelligently.
“The reform that Mr. President is doing is for the betterment of our country. I can assure you that we are turning the corner, and things are getting better. Very soon, things will get much, much, and much better,“ Dr Salako said.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the National Orthopedic Hospital, Benin, Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, thanked President Tinubu for his efforts in assuring that health care remains a priority of his administration.
He said that no nation can develop without investing hugely in the health and education of its people.
Dr. Ugbodaga said that since this infrastructure came on board, they have done everything to ensure that the healthcare needs of Nigerians take centre stage, in line with the renewed hope agenda of the present administration.
The hospital’s CMD said that only a few things remain to be installed: the electrical fittings and the connection to the national grid, a few structural things to be done, and the final painting.
He said, “You will agree with me that all of these are very minor. So it is our plea, our minister, that with your full support, we are very hopeful that very soon, those few structural things that need to be done are completed in this hospital so that full clinical services will commence.”
On the part of the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Michael Ogbonmwan, while commending the federal government for siting the hospital in his community, offered his land as a parking lot for the hospital.
„Also, I want to remind the management that the open space
opposite the hospital, which was for my personal use. It was a means of livelihood for me. Now that the hospital needs it for packing space and beautifying the edifice, it is my prayer that the federal government and the hospital management put me on a monthly stipend to enable me to meet some of my personal needs.
„I want to draw your attention equally to the road links to the National Orthopedic Hospital, which must be fixed for easy accessibility.
„Finally, I want to announce to all and sundry and the hospital that the following compound has been donated to the National Orthopedic Hospital as a permanent site.
„I have discussed with my elders, and we have decided to work with the local government chairman to relocate the mini-market to another site where the community originally proposed for the market“, Ogbonmwan said.
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) faction led by Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa has called on the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to evict the current occupiers at the national headquarters of the union.
Baruwa made the call through a press briefing addressed by his legal representatives, Babaleye & Co., in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking at the briefing, the firm’s lead counsel, Barr Tolu Babaleye said: “The entire brouhaha began when Comrade Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa was sworn in as the President of National Union of Road Transport Workers in accordance with the Constitution of the Union in 2023, and an errant faction of the union led by Alh. Najeem Usman Yasin, a former president of NURTW being unsatisfied with the results of the election of the Union, decided to take matters into their hands by formulating a caretaker committee, utilizing some members of the Nigerian Police Force alongside some touts, to chase the legally elected officials from their office rather than take their grievances’ to the court (if any) for this to be resolved amicably.
“However, Comrade Baruwa being a law abiding citizen, rather than result to violence chose to go to the court to reaffirm the validity and legality of his presidency and condemn the illegal committee formed by the pained faction. Thus, a suit was instituted at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria and judgment was delivered in his favour on the 11th of March 2024 by Hon. Justice O.O. Oyewumi, (now of the Court of Appeal), dissolving the illegal caretaker committee.
“Being displeased with the judgment of the court, an appeal was entered at the Court of Appeal Abuja, led by the same Alh. Yasin wherein he sought to overturn the decision of the trial court.
“In a turn of events however, the Court of Appeal on the 8th of November 2024, dismissed the appeal of Alh. Yasin and affirmed the judgment of the National Industrial Court, barring Alh. Yasin and his cohorts from interfering in the day to day running of the union as led by Comrade Baruwa.”
Babaleye further added that “to our utmost surprise however, even before this decision of the honourable court could be celebrated by the victorious party, the news of the inauguration of Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo) as the national president of the union was announced in flagrant disobedience and disregard of the decision of the Court despite being aware that the tenure of Comrade Baruwa ought to run until 2027 as confirmed by the court.
“We have since then made several attempts to get the government to disregard this aggravating development including addressing several letters to relevant bodies of the government such as the Inspector General of Police, National Security Adviser, Director-General of State Security Service, Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Labour and Employment. However, till date, there has been no significant effort on their part to call these erring parties to order.”
While making their demands, Babaleye said called on the federal government to call “these usurpers and law breakers to order and prevent them from further maligning Comrade Baruwa as he is the only legally recognised national president of the union. He has won at all stages of courts and they should give peace a chance.”