A strike on a Gaza hospital killed hundreds of Palestinians, deepening tensions in the Middle East and raising the stakes for U.S. President Joe Biden as he flies to Israel on Wednesday to signal support for its war against Hamas.

Palestinian officials said an Israeli air strike hit the hospital, with the Palestinian Authority’s health minister accusing Israel of causing a “massacre”.

Israel blamed the blast at Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital on a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which denied responsibility.

Reuters could not independently verify the claims around the catastrophe, which has inflamed a region already in crisis since Hamas carried out an Oct. 7 cross-border rampage against communities in southern Israel in which at least 1,300 people died.

Palestinian ministry spokesperson, Ashraf Al-Qudra said rescuers were still pulling bodies from the rubble.

Al Jazeera carried footage showing a frantic scene as rescue workers scoured blood-stained debris for survivors.

Rescuers and civilians were shown carrying away at least four victims in body bags.

A Gaza civil defence chief gave a death toll of 300, while health ministry sources put it at 500.

Biden’s complex diplomatic mission to the Middle East was supposed to calm the region and shore up humanitarian efforts for Gaza.

However, after the strike, Jordan cancelled a planned summit with the U.S. president, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Abbas also cancelled plans to meet Biden, as Palestinian security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse anti-government protesters in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah as popular anger boiled.

Protests also took place at Israel’s embassies in Turkey and Jordan and near the U.S. embassy in Lebanon, where security forces fired tear gas toward demonstrators.

Before the hospital strike, health authorities in Gaza said at least 3,000 people had died in Israel’s 11-day bombardment that began after the Hamas assault, which caught Israel by surprise and led to nearly 200 people being taken to Gaza as hostages.

The Israeli military urged Gaza City residents to relocate southward on Wednesday, saying there was a “humanitarian zone” with aid available in Al-Mawasi, 28 km (17 miles) down the coast of the Palestinian enclave.

“The IDF calls on #GazaCity residents to evacuate south for their protection,” said a social-media post by the military.

Speaking to reporters as Biden flew to Tel Aviv, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Biden would put “tough questions” to Israeli leaders but did not give details.

Biden will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli war cabinet seeking to get a sense of Israel’s plans and aims, Kirby said.

“He also aims to get humanitarian aid into Gaza, where millions of Palestinians are surviving with scant food, fuel and water due to Israel’s siege.

“He’ll be asking some tough questions, he’ll be asking them as a friend, as a true friend of Israel, but he’ll be asking some questions of them,” Kirby said.

It was unclear what Biden could accomplish during his visit. Kirby said the U.S. president planned to speak with Abbas and Sisi on his way back to Washington.

“This sort of murky but horrific event makes diplomacy harder and increases escalation risks,” said Richard Gowan, UN director at International Crisis Group.

Biden has previously said the United States does not want the conflict to flare up into a wider war.

Iran, which supports Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Lebanon-based Islamist group Hezbollah have warned Israel of escalation if it fails to end aggressions against Palestinians.

The U.S. State Department told Americans not to travel to Lebanon after exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon’s south.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “horrified” by hundreds of people killed in Tuesday’s strike on the hospital.

Guterres appealed to Hamas for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages, and to Israel to allow immediate unrestricted access to humanitarian aid for Gaza. (Reuters/NAN)

The Benue State government has accused the immediate past administration of ex-Governor Ortom of operating 600 accounts.

Speaking when State Correspondents’ Chapel members of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid him a visit at his office in Makurdi, on Tuesday, Commissioner for Finance and Budget Planning, Michael Oglegba, said that was why Governor Hyacinth Alia froze all government accounts on assumption of office.

The finance commissioner said the governor was shown only 25 accounts when he took over office but information at the Nigerian Inter Bank System, however, showed that the state had over 600 accounts.

“When we came in, we asked for the accounts and bank statements and we were presented with about 25 bank accounts. A causal look at the Nigerian Inter Bank System showed that Benue Government had more than 600 accounts.

“So the Governor needed to freeze those accounts to know exactly what was happening,” he said.

Oglegba while commenting on the state debts profile, insisted that the Alia government inherited over N359billion debts which included that of the Local Government Arrears.

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi has offered N2 million each to 500 entrepreneurs into street hawking in different parts of the country.

Mr Nwifuru gave the money to the beneficiaries at the flagging off of the first batch of the state skills acquisition programme on Tuesday at Ochiudo Centenary City Secretariat, Abakaliki.

The governor assured that his administration was ready to tackle unemployment and empower the people across the 13 local government areas of the state.

He called for an urgent need for skills acquisition, noting that the state centre for skills development was open for the people to learn.

Offia Nwali, the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, said the beneficiaries, currently undergoing training in different skills, were into hawking in different parts of the country.

“The programme targeted 1,500 Ebonyi indigenes, but we are starting today with 500 for the first batch. So, we are doing it batch by batch.

“The beneficiaries have started receiving their money, and the governor has asked anybody that did not get the alert to call him on the phone, beginning today, Tuesday,” the commissioner added. (NAN)

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has berated the House of Representatives over its defence put up to buy new exotic vehicles for its members.

Recall that the Green Chamber had concluded plans to purchase brand new official vehicles for members amidst the hardship going on in the country, which has generated a lot of backlash.

But in a statement on Sunday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi, said the media reports on the acquisition of the vehicles are being exaggerated.

The lawmaker clarified that the vehicles distributed to members are not for personal use but utility operational vehicles tied to their oversight functions.

He said the vehicles attached to the lawmakers are expected to be returned after their tenure; however, members may be allowed to pay for the outstanding value of the vehicles and claim ownership after their tenure in the National Assembly.

Reacting in a post on her X handle on Tuesday, Ezekwesili described the statement released by the spokesman of the House as extremely ludicrous and duplicitous.

She said the Green Chamber had the audacity to spend scarce public resources on luxury cars at a time majority of the citizens cannot feed, transport themselves, or pay school fees and hospital bills due to the cost of living crisis.

Ezekwesili described members of the National Assembly as the biggest threat to the country’s democracy for planning to buy new exotic vehicles for themselves at this time of severe economic distress for the citizens and the country.

She wrote: “So that vexing news turned out to be accurate.

“I read the extremely ludicrous and duplicitous statement released by the Spokesman of the @HouseNGR on their insensitive purchase of 360 Toyota SUVs for themselves.

“You all had the audacity to spend scarce public resources on luxury cars at a time majority of your citizens cannot feed, transport themselves, pay school fees and hospital bills due to the cost of living crisis?

“At this stage, it is evident you want to continue with your serial bad behaviour.

“Since not even 1 of you fellows @nassnigeria @HouseNGR @NGRSenate saw the heartlessness of that decision to buy 360 new Toyota SUVs for yourselves at this time of severe economic distress of the citizens and country, please know that you all are the biggest threat to our Democracy.

“Just know that a day cometh and very soon too, when it will be your fed-up Nigerian Citizens and not the Military that will rise up and collectively chase all of you grossly irresponsible and insensitive people out of office. And very soon too.”

In another post, she wrote: “Crass behaviour all year round from an irresponsible political class.

Just because most of you rigged yourselves into public office @nassnigeria, you feel entitled to an indulgent life funded by the miserable public treasury of a country you badly govern, with the majority of poor people barely eking out a living.

“There’s a sell-by-date for this recurring rascality, and make no mistakes, you all will bring that date forward with your shenanigans.

“Incorrigible bunch of LawBreakers.”

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, over his statement on the 2023 presidential election.

Recall that Lawal had claimed that the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, won the 2023 election, while President Bola Tinubu came a distant third.

In a statement on Tuesday night, the APC spokesman, Felix Morka, said the former SGF needs counselling and pity because he is a failed politician.

Morka said after a long break from weeping over the electoral loss of his candidate, the former SGF is peddling gibberish, rather than learning from his political misadventure with equanimity.

He added that Obi’s defeat at the poll has affected Lawal’s psyche and his capacity for rational thought is based entirely on the figment of his warped imagination rather than on hard facts and figures.

Morka, therefore, challenged Lawal to give a detailed breakdown of his so-called “aggregated facts sourced from independent sources,” which he claimed proved that Obi won the election or forever keep mute.

The statement reads: “Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, emerged from his hibernation slinging incoherent aspersions on the person of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the exalted office he occupies.

“After a long hiatus leaking his wounds from the monumental electoral loss of his candidate in the last presidential election, Mr. Lawal unabashedly is out again, peddling gibberish, rather than learning from his political misadventure with equanimity.

“Clearly, the defeat of his principal, Peter Obi, at the poll has done incalculable damage to Mr. Lawal’s psyche and his capacity for rational thought as evident in his analysis based entirely on the figment of his warped imagination rather than on hard facts and figures. A clear sign of his disconnect from reality was his reference to the election held in May 2023, rather than February.

“We challenge Babachir Lawal to give a detailed breakdown of his so-called “aggregated facts sourced from independent sources,” which he claimed proved that Obi won the election or forever keep mute. That he did not provide these facts to help Obi prove his case before the Presidential Elections Petitions Court is a massive disservice if not a betrayal of his political principles.

“Babachir Lawal ought to have known that running a jaundiced commentary on a matter before the Supreme Court is the height of irresponsibility. But he is still nursing bitterness and vindictiveness over his failed dream of running on a joint ticket with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Indeed, Babachir Lawal is in dire need of professional counseling and deserves our collective pity. It is obvious he may never get over the pain of being tossed into the dustbin of political ignominy by President Bola Tinubu who, against all odds, defeated Mr Peter Obi who exploited our religious and ethnic fault lines in his campaign for the nation’s highest office.

“Thankfully, Nigerians across all ethnic and religious divides saw through Babachir Lawal’s and Peter Obi’s shenanigans and voted for the best candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.”

Morka also berated the Lawal for questioning the professional competence of President Tinubu’s appointees, saying that some of them are bigger than Lawal politically.

The APC spokesman described the former SGF as a lightweight politician who thinks himself a heavyweight and failed politician

He added: “Furthermore, it is very uncharitable for Mr. Babachir Lawal to call to question the professional competence of President Tinubu’s appointees, some of whom he cannot hold a candle to their political and professional accomplishments.

“Babachir Lawal is one lightweight politician who thinks himself a heavyweight. He failed spectacularly as a politician in his State of Adamawa where in three election circles he could not deliver his ward and local government in his Hong Local Government.

“Despite his legendary failure as a politician, former President Muhammadu Buhari in deference to diversity appointed him to the high office of SGF where he was unceremoniously sacked on account of very poor performance and dishonourable conduct. A man like Babachir Lawal is in no position to offer an opinion on the competence of President Tinubu’s appointees.

“We are convinced that these appointees would justify the confidence reposed in them by the President by delivering on the promises of the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration.

“And while they are it, we would admonish Babachir Lawal to concentrate on managing his farm and stop constituting himself into a needless distraction unbefitting of his age and status.”

The Nysome Wike -led group of five Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors made up of four former and one serving governor, held talks with President Bola Tinubu late on Tuesday, Vanguard has learnt.

It was gathered that the meeting was preceded by a meeting held at the Abuja residence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Nyesom Wike.

Soon after the meeting, it was gathered that Wike led his former colleagues to meet with President Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa.

Although details of the meeting were sketchy as at the time of filing this report at 10:45 pm, it was gathered that a working relationship between the president and the former governors was what was tabled.

A source privy to the meeting who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the issue said, “The G-5 PDP Governors first met in Wike’s residence for a few hours before heading to the Villa to meet with the president.

“Exact details of what was discussed isn’t available to me at the moment, but from discussions held during the initial meeting at Wike’s residence, it was all about finding accommodation for the former governors in the scheme of things and of course, how they can work together .”

The source noted that it was instructive that the former governors were meeting with President Tinubu barely 24 hours to the commencement of the Imo State PDP governorship campaign in Owerri and the growing tension over the occupant of the seat of party Secretary.

The former Governors who attended the meeting were: Nyesom Wike, immediate past Rivers State Governor and now FCT minister, former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, former Enugu State Governor, Ifianyi Ugwuanyi, his Abia State counterpart, Okezie Ikpeazu and serving Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

In exercise of powers conferred on the President as established in Section 3(6) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000, and in furtherance of the Renewed Hope mandate to reform key institutions and invigorate Nigeria's war on corruption, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new management team for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), pending Senate confirmation:

Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu — Chairman / Chief Executive Officer, ICPC

Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu — Secretary to the Commission, ICPC

The new Chairman of the ICPC is nominated for confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, following the President's approval of the outgoing Chairman's request to proceed on pre-end of tenure leave beginning on November 4, 2023, ahead of the expiration of his tenure on February 3, 2024.

The position of Secretary to the Commission does not require Senate confirmation and, therefore, by the directive of the President, the appointment of Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu as Secretary of the Commission takes immediate effect.

Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu has embarked upon many far-reaching reforms as the Attorney General of Jigawa State since September 2019 and holds Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees in Law. He was also named as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria-designate in October 2023.

Mr. Clifford Okwudiri Oparaodu is a lawyer with over 30 years of experience and has served meritoriously in the public service as a Member of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission and Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council.

The President implores the new management team of the ICPC to always be above board as they discharge their duties without fear or favour concerning all matters before them.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

October 17, 2023

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Alhaji Jalal Ahmad Arabi to serve as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for a term of four (4) years in the first instance.

The President has directed the outgoing Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, to proceed on 3-months pre-retirement leave as provisioned by Public Service Rule (PSR) 120243 with effect from October 18, 2023, leading to his eventual retirement from service on January 17, 2023.

The new Chairman / CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Jalal Ahmad Arabi, will assume office in acting capacity on October 18, 2023, and will continue to serve in substantive capacity for a fresh term of four years, beginning on January 17, 2023.

President Bola Tinubu has also approved the dissolution of the Board of NAHCON.

The President expects that the new NAHCON leadership will serve in reverence of Allah and with utmost adherence to the precepts of service according to the Holy Qur'an.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

October 17, 2023

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will always respond to the continued threats of annihilation of Israel by the enemies of the Jewish state by reminding them of the biblical story of Haman. Haman obtained an irreversible decree to kill all the Jews in Persia and confiscate their properties. But before the date of execution, God intervened and Haman, his sons and the enemies of the Jews were killed instead. You know the story very well. We will come back to it later. Yes, I so much admire the dedication, love and courage of Bibi (as he is fondly called) to the cause of Israel. He is always ready to do everything necessary to protect and advance the interests of the Jewish state, especially the policy of never to allow the people go through the threats and victimization of the past. I see Benjamin Netanyahu in the mould of Moses, Joshua, Gideon and Samson. And thanks to his family that gave Israel three indefatigable brothers – Yonatan, Benjamin and Iddo that served in the elite IDF Special Forces, sacrificing their comfort and life. They left the comfort as the children of an American professor and training in Ivy colleges, migrated and joined the Israeli forces in the 60s and have played exceptional roles in defending the Jewish nation and its people.

  Though this piece is not about the Netanyahus, but we will forever remember the sacrifice of the indomitable Yonatan ‘Yoni’ Netanyahu; that young Israeli Special Forces commander that successful led the rescue of about hundred Jewish hostages from  Entebe Airport, Uganda in 1976. That operation remains a reference in the study of rescue missions and special operations. Just go back and read the accounts again and watch the films. And you will be amazed by the professionalism, patriotism and courage exhibited by the planners and executors of that mission and what those guys could do as far back as the 70s. Ironically, only Yoni lost his life in that most-daring operation, but that was after terminating the terrorists, rescuing the hostages, sending them home. He and his men were retreating to board the plane and leave the place when he was cowardly shot by a Ugandan soldier hiding on the airport towers. The Jewish commandoes went back and cleared the place immediately and also inflicted an irreparable damage to the Ugandan Air force by blowing up most of the fighter jets and equipment on ground. Because of my love for the boldness and sacrifice of Yonatan. I dedicated my book / audiobook Power of Sacrifice to him. And it is now in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Finish, Swedish, French, Dutch, Chinese, Italian, German, Afrikaans, Indonesian, Greek, Russian, etc. Yes, there is no better time to remind the enemies of the Jews of God’s covenant of protection with his people than now.

  As you already know the Festival of Purim is an annual event to commemorate that spectacular, miraculous deliverance of the Jews from annihilation during the reign of King Ahasuerus of the Persian Empire in 5 BC. Haman; a Jew-hater was appointed a prime minister of the empire. And when Mordecai, a Jew refused to bow to him, the proud Haman got the king to sign an irrevocable decree to kill all the Jews - young and old, infants and women and confiscate their properties in a day. But God miraculously intervened when Esther and Mordecai mobilized all the Jews throughout the empire to fast and seek divine intervention. Their enemy Haman was hanged, Mordecai (a Jew) was appointed in his place, and another decree was promulgated that countered the first, empowering the Jews to defend and kill their enemies. God delivered his people from certain destruction. Since then the Jews have been celebrating this dramatic deliverance and display of divine power till date. Yes, Bibi was right to remind the enemies of Israel that the God of Purim is still alive to protect his people. And also that there is still today unwavering commitment, determined, patriotic and fearless Jews like Esther and Mordecai to sacrifice everything, including their lives to see that nobody, no nation, no interest or gang up will  ever be given that chance to humiliate or threaten the existence of Israel again. This has always been sufficiently demonstrated since the establishment of the modern Jewish State. And that policy remains unchanged. Touch Israel and you burn your fingers.

  But Haman is not the only example to be given to the enemies of Israel. Pharaoh messed with Israel and he, his commanders and horsemen perished in the Red Sea after the angels of destruction and death devastated his land. At that night of Passover, men and beast mourned and wept throughout Egypt. Sennacherib boasted and tried it. He even queried the ability of the God of Israel to deliver; comparing him with the gods of other nations that he had destroyed. I love the way God responded to this, “Who is it you have insulted and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel... Because you rage against me and your insolence has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will make you return by the way you came.” You know how he ended. Then, three nations came against Jehoshaphat and Judah. God took over the battle and the enemies in confusion slaughtered themselves. Not one person survived. What of the mighty and proud Goliath? After boasting, harassing and humiliating the Israelites for days, his head was cut off and his people defeated. And we can go on and on. Now, every enemy harassing you or the people of God will be displaced and cut off today in the mighty name of Jesus!  May God bless Israel! He has already told us that those that bless Israel (us) shall be blessed and those that curse them shall also be cursed. And I pray that there will soon be total love and permanent peace in Palestine!  

1. I am inspired by my long standing knowledge of the positive transactional leadership of the former Governor of Ebonyi State and current Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. David Nweze Umahi FNSE, FNATE, CON, GGCEHF and with his kind instruction, to state that the allegations contained in the trending video of a purportedly distressed woman linking Engr Umahi with a 9- year old debt is absolutely preposterous and nothing but a malicious propaganda of desperados who have vowed to stop at nothing in pulling him down for his uncompromising stand in reversing the ugly trends of road construction across the nation and thus abate the alarming sufferings of Nigerians on our road infrastructure.

2. For the records, the Hon. Minister of Works never had any transaction or business with such a lady either as a Governor for 8 years or as a Deputy Governor for 4 years or at anytime in the life of the business endeavours of the Hon. Minister of Works and doesn't not know the said woman. There was no communication or complaint or proceedings or even pre- action notice against the Hon. Minister in his previous capacities by the said woman, either directly to him or through the Police or Civil Society or through social Media or by any court, all these years untill now that the Hon. Minister is sounding strong on his wake up call for contractors to give Nigerians the best standard of road construction in line with the best practices as seen in advanced countries of the world. The Hon. Minster and his team are very much aware that falsehood, blackmail, sabotage and incitement are the next line of action of these enemies of the progress of Nigeria, and they are battle ready to defend the cause of our nationhood.

2. I am also minded to state that the allegations trumped up in that video and scenarios created are perfect examples of the punky thoughts of detractors which resonate deeply in the recent threats of blackmail and incitements by those who, for their pecuniary attachments, are opposing the introduction of the progressive policies in the Federal Ministry of Works, including concrete technology of 50 years guarantee, use of local raw materials and mobilization of our engineering labour force to the construction and designs of our road infrastructure.

3. This plot of detractors to use ' a socialite, business promoter and girl of many parts, as she claims, to paint unfounded picture of non-existing contract for supply of election promotion materials is absolutely and irresponsibly ridiculous and cannot in anyway discourage the zeal or diminish the passion of the Hon. Minister of Works in giving the road users the desired value for the huge investment on road infrastructure.

4 The members of the public are enjoined to discountenance the unfounded allegations of the said woman as part of the plans of the detractors to divert attention and derail the economic-diversifying innovations of the Federal Ministry of Works under Sen. Engr David Nweze Umahi.

Signed:
Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji ( former Commissioner for Information & State Orientation)