RIVERS STATE GOVT ALLEGES SARS THREAT TO WIKE AIDE'S LIFE AS YOUTH PROTESTS

Rivers State Government, RVSG, has alleged threat by men of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to kill Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Social Media, Marshal Obuzor.

Rivers Youths after their protest march against SARs Brutality in Port Harcourt on Thursday.

The development Thursday provoked street protest in Port Harcourt by teeming youths in Rivers who called for end to reported recurring SARs brutality and extrajudicial murders across the state.

The SARs Operatives had on Monday, around Mandela Car Wash in Old GRA, Port Harcourt, reportedly entrapped and brutalised Obuzor and inflicted injuries on him with machetes and rods.

The victim, Obuzor, narrated to the protesters, including youth professionals and Rivers leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, gathered at the Port Harcourt Council secretariat, that SARS led by one Sgt Clever Kporoko left him with a ruptured ear.

Medical Examinations by consultants at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital is said to have indicated that Obuzor would require surgical procedures in France to correct the ruptured ear.

‘In Public view, they used machetes and rods to beat me and seized my phones. They repeatedly threatened to kill me. Even the Government Official who intervened was threatened with death. I was surprised that SARs has gotten to this stage where they don’t care that people are watching”, Obuzor said.

The protesters also matched to the Rivers State Police Command where they submitted the two petitions with assurance from the authorities to investigate the issues and any SARs operative found wanting liable to face the wrath of the law.

Obuzor had told the police authorities that the petition to the Rivers Police Commissioner demanded an end to SARS Brutality across the state, saying that enough is enough.

Adokiye Ogunobere, Publicity Secretary NYCN, Rivers chapter, said, “Rivers Youths write to formally register our protest on the illegal activities of operatives of SARS across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

OBASANJO, ONCE AGAIN, BLASTS NIGERIA’S LEADERSHIP, CONDEMNS SIEGE AGAINST SARAKI , OTHERS

Chf. Olushegun Obasanjo

Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo has again attributed Nigeria’s under-performance to the problem of leadership.

Speaking when he granted audience to a PDP Presidential Aspirant, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Thursday, the ex-President, however, said that he had not lost hope because God had blessed Nigeria with men and women of caliber who can stand their own in the world.

Chief Obasanjo, after listening to the speeches of Turaki and Boni Haruna (DG Kabiru Tanimu Turaki Campaign Organization), said “we are not short of leadership that can perform”.

The former President, who recalled that he consulted widely in 1998/1999 just as Turaki is doing now, revealed that he accepted to be drafted into the presidential campaign because of the need to unite the country.

“Listening to you, I believe you have got the concerns of Nigerians today in the area of security, economy and cohesion. Anybody who will lead Nigeria to the promised land will have my support,” Obasanjo said.

He condemned the siege laid to the residences of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, saying that was “embarrassed” by a number of things happening in the country.

“We are in a position to do better than what we are doing today”, he said.

Obasanjo further noted that what Turaki had been doing is to firm up and stabilize Nigeria’s democracy which, he believed is making some progress.

He explained that the statement he issued in January was not done frivolously, noting that a nation can be destroyed not necessarily when people are doing bad things but when people keep quiet when danger looms.

In his remark, Turaki who described Obasanjo as the ‘Father of Modern Nigeria’, said that it is people like him who speak truth to power that are working assiduously for a united country.

The aspirant stressed that there is need to take up the challenge of rescuing Nigerians from the plethora of problems such as insecurity, poverty, divisiveness and hopelessness confronting them today.

He said that with the support of respected leaders like Obasanjo “we know that we would be able to rescue our country as we have no other place to go.”

BBNAIJA’S CeeC SIGNS ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH NAIRABET

CeeC and Nairabet CEO Akin Alabi

Big Brother Naija Double Wahala 
housemate, CeeC Nwadiora has added another endorsement deal to her already growing list and this time, it’s with sports betting brand, NairaBET.

The sports betting platform took to their social media platform to unveil their latest ambassadorial addition alongside pictures from the contract signing event.

See tweets:

CeeC also confirmed the endorsement deal with a post shared on her Instagram page with caption;

The most powerful thing you can do right now is to be patient while things are unfolding for you. Another one in the bag, I love my new family!! Thanks @officialnairabet , looking forward to an amazing relationship.

Check out more photos

Photo Credit: @nairabet

GUNMEN ABDUCT 2 PRIESTS, 1 LECTURER IN KOGI STATE

There has been confusion in parts of Kogi as Rev Father Leo Michael, the parish priest of the St Michael Catholic Church, Obajana area of the state, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

Also reportedly abducted, according to the Nigerian Tribune, are a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and a lecturer with the Kogi state college of education, Kabba, Samuel Aronimu.

The details of the abduction of the pastor and the lecturer were still sketchy at the time of this report. 

But the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also quotes his colleague and diocesan chancellor in Lokoja, Peter Adinoyi, confirmed the kidnap to newsmen in Lokoja on Thursday, July 26.

Adinoyi said that the priest was returning to Obajana when he was kidnapped at a spot around the Irepeni village, Okene-Lokoja road. He said the matter has been promptly reported at the Irepeni police station.

The reverend father said that the army and the Department of the State Security (DSS) were also aware of the development. Adinoyi, however, said that the kidnappers, on July 25, called some members of the church to demand a N50 million ransom for the release of their priest.

According to him, the kidnappers later reduced the ransom to N20 million and further reduced it to N8 million. Adinoyi added that the kidnappers gave the church up till 1pm on July 26, to pay the ransom. They reportedly threatened to relocate the priest should the church fail to meet the deadline.

Adinoyi said that the church was unable to meet the deadline for the payment of the ransom demanded. He called on security agents to assist in rescuing the cleric from his abductors just as he decried the incessant kidnapping of the less privileged in the state, describing the situation as unfortunate. 

The spokesperson of the police command in Kogi state, DSP William Aya, said that he was not aware of the incident. He promised to find out and call back, but failed at the time of this report.

I HAVE JUST RECORDED A SONG THAT CAN CHANGE MY LIFE - DAVIDO

Davido, Nigerian Afro-pop singer, says he may have “just recorded the biggest feature” of his career.

During his acceptance speech for the BET best international act award in June, the ‘Fall’ singer told the foreign artistes in the audience that he is open to collaboration.

“And as I go on, I wanna talk about Africa. My continent has been so blessed to influence many cultures,” Davido had said.

“Come to Africa, eat the food, wear the clothes. Get ready for me, let’s collaborate. My album drops this year. J. Cole. Yo Quay, I’m waiting on that verse Quay.”

One month later, it appears Davido’s requests were heard loud and clear.

The singer took to Twitter on Thursday to ask for prayers from his fans, saying his new collaboration can change his life.

“Keep me in your prayers,” Davido tweeted.

“I might have just recorded the biggest feature of my career that can literally change my life.

“Also, I finally got a release date for ‘Nwa Baby’. Clear your playlist! Daddy coming!”The DMW head honcho’s last international collaboration was ‘Way Too Fly’, a song with US rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie.

Davido, just like his Nigerian counterpart Wizkid, is gearing up to headline his own concert the O2 Arena in January.

SEN. TEJUOSO DENIES SARAKI, RETURNS TO APC

Sen. Lanre Tejuoso, who Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, claimed left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday returned to APC on Wednesday.

Tejuoso, representing Ogun Central, announced his return at a meeting between APC Senators and President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock on Wednesday night.

While introducing himself to the President, he said: “Mr President, your son has returned home.” Also at the meeting was Senator Adesoji Akanbi, Oyo South, who Saraki also claimed had joined the PDP.

He emphatically denied the list of defectors as dubious the following day, saying he remains a member of the APC. His showing up at the meeting with President Buhari affirmed his faith in the APC.

Senator Shehu Sani from Kaduna, who has been blowing hot and cold about his political allegiance was also at the meeting, exchanging banters with his colleagues.

Those attending the meeting included Sen. Adamu Aleiro, Bala Ibn Na-Allah, Aliyu Wamako, Ibrahim Gobir, Kabiru Marafa and Abu Ibrahim.

Others were Kabiru Gaya, Barau Jibrin, Abdullahi Gumel, Ahmed Lawan, Ali Ndume, Abubakar Kyari, Baba Kaka Garbai, Aliyu Abdullahi, David Umaru and Abdullahi Adamu.

Sen. George Akume, Francis Alimekhina, Andrew Uchendu, Magnus Abe, Ovie Omo-Agege, John Enoh, Nelson Effiong, Andy Uba, Sunny Ugboji, Hope Uzodinma, Ben Uwajimogu, Yusuf Abubakar and Oluremi Tinub were also in attendance.

Other senators in the meeting were Gbenga Ashafa, Solomon Adeola, Tayo Alasoadura, Ajayi Boroffice , Yele Omogunwa, Fatima Rasaki, Olanrewaju Tejuoso and Yahaya Abdullahi.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, believed to be hobnobbing with the PDP, was among those who were not at the meeting.

With Tejuoso and Akanbi and Sani now firmly identifying with the APC, the party has now increased its majority in the Upper Chamber to 54, enough to dictate the direction of policy.

BREAKING: BUHARI’S IMPEACHMENT PLOT: APC REPS DISOWN SEN. IBRAHIM ON DOGARA’S INVOLVEMENT

Speaker Dogara

Members of the House of Representatives from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC have disowned Senator Abu Ibrahim in his allegation that Speaker Yakubu Dogara was part of a plot to impeach President Muhammad Buhari.

The members at a press briefing on Thursday told House of Representatives Correspondents that the allegation was a figment of Senator Ibrahim’s imagination.

Pledging their unalloyed support to the reelection bid of President Buhari, the members who converged under the aegis of Parliamentary Support Group, PSG, led by Hon. Abdulmumuni Jubril said that Speaker Dogara was with them in the movement.

“That’s just his personal opinion. That’s purely a Senate issue”, Hon. Jubril said in response to a question.

Recall that Senator Ibrahim, a close ally to President Buhari from Katsina State had in a chat with Journalists in Abuja on Wednesday called for the sacking of the both the Speaker and the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki from the APC, saying they can’t be trusted any longer.

He had said ” Saraki and Dogara should resign today or the APC should send them away. They are no longer APC members. The only reason why Saraki and Dogara have not left the APC is that they know that if they leave they will lose their seats.

“But we will force them to leave. Left to me, I will recommend to APC to expel them. They are no longer needed in the party. We will be cured of cancer if they leave. Me as Abu Ibrahim, I am asking Saraki and Dogara to leave APC today. I will meet Oshiomhole (Adams) to expel them. Let them leave APC, Saraki and Dogara should leave APC today.”