Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:
(1) Business mogul, Femi Otedola, has donated the sum of N5bn to the Cuppy Foundation, a philanthropic project of his daughter, Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy.
Mr Otedola, who was represented by another one of his daughters, Tolani, made the announcement during the ‘Gold Gala’, an event by his daughter at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on Sunday evening, to a standing ovation from guests in attendance.
Tolani said, “My father, Mr Femi Otedola, has been at the forefront of supporting worthy causes. It is in this spirit that he will be donating the sum of N5bn to the children of Borno, Adamawa and Katsina through Save the Children.”
(2) Ekiti Women Contribute N250,000 To Fix Deplorable Federal Roads
Frustrated by abysmally low patronage from travellers, a sizable number of roadside traders in Ekiti State have contributed N250, 000 to rehabilitate fix federal roads in the state, especially between Efon Alaaye and Ado Ekiti.
The traders, who are predominantly women hawking such farm produce as yams, banana, plantain and corns on federal roads, lamented that they had been excluded from the fiscal plan under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Some of the traders expressed their concern in separate interview with on Friday, narrating how abysmally low patronage from commuters in the state compelled to contribute N250, 000 to fix federal roads in the state.
Operating along the highway at Efon Alaaye farmstead in Efon Local Government Area, the traders said they had to task themselves to carry out palliative works on the roads when it started affecting their businesses adversely.
(3) Akpabio In Dilemma As Appeal Court Rules Rerun In Essien Udim
The minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has to decide whether to resign his recent appointment and pursue his ambition to return to the senate or to remain as a minister.
His dilemma
follows the ruling of Appeal Court ordering a rerun of the national
assembly election in Essien Udim local government area.
The Appeal
Court sitting in Calabar, ruled that a fresh election be conducted
within 90 days in Essien Udim local government, as a result of
irregularities which both petitione and respondent parties admitted in
their separate addresses.
Although the ruling was clearly in favour of the minister, his supporters found it hard to celebrate because the odds are stacked against their principal.
Going into the rerun, Akpabio is expected to register a minimum lead of 38,056 margin to upturn the election of Senator Chris Ekpenyong.
Furthermore, the minister is expected to resign his appointment under the law to be eligible to contest election. This is clearly not what the former governor wants.
(4) I Sold Bread For 13 Years Before Becoming Gov ― Gov. Makinde
Oyo state governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, on Sunday, said his decision to declare free education in the state was in recognition of the huge part that education had played in his successes in life.
Making reference to his humble background, which involved him selling bread by the gate of Adeoyo state hospital, Ibadan for his first 13 years in Makinde held that only by being educated did he make headway in life.
Makinde, who spoke during the 80th thanksgiving service of his mother, Mrs Abigael Makinde, at St Paul Anglican Church, Yemetu, Ibadan, on Sunday, said he also wanted residents of the state to gain the benefits of being educated hence his declaration of free education.
He, therefore, urged parents to be much concerned about the education of their children or wards.
“For the first 13 years of my life, where we lived was not more than five minutes to where we are now. My mum was a telephone operator in the state secretariat. At Adeoyo State Hospital here, I and my brother Muyiwa also used to help her sell bread by the gate of Adeoyo State Hospital.
“What can propel a child who used to live some five minutes away from here [Yemetu] to become a governor of Oyo state is education. And that is why we have declared that free and qualitative education has come to stay in Oyo state,” Makinde said.
(5) I Am Ready To Sacrifice My Life In Serving Edo People – Gov Obaseki
Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, has said he is ready to sacrifice his life in the serving Edo people to ensure good leadership. Obaseki said this on Sunday at the thanksgiving service organised by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to mark his three years in office.
He
made it known that the mandate he is carrying on behalf of the people
was divinely given to him by God for the service of the people and the
state and not few individuals.
He said, “I have no doubt that
as long as His mercies endureth with us, we are committed to use every
drop of our blood to work for the people of Edo State. People say is Edo
worth dying for? I say yes, Edo is worth dying for. And if we have to
die for the service of Edo state, so be it. But I am sure God will not
let it happen that way.”
The governor also commended the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II for the fatherly role he played in helping his administration achieve many feats in the state. Earlier, speaking on the topic: “His mercies endureth forever,” the state chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Oriname Oyonnude Kure noted that when the righteous rules, the people rejoice. He said, “You have done well in infrastructural development, job creation, education sector, youth empowerment among others. We urge you to continue to break new grounds.”
(6) The Christian Association of Nigeria has described as troubling, the news concerning Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, which is claiming that the Vice President is being relegated by the ‘’power that be’’ in the Villa. Special Assistant on Media and Communications to CAN President, Rev. Adebayo Oladeji, said Osinbajo, had not told CAN about any rift between himself and the President, but was quick to say that, there would be no smoke without fire.
(7) The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has charged Nigerian Muslims to pray for Allah to touch the hearts of leaders in the country to be sensitive to the deteriorating plight of the poor. Prince Secondus said in a Sallah message to Nigerians that the worsening condition of Nigerians calls for an intense prayer to God for the much-needed succour, as under the current Buhari government, Nigerians should depend entirely on God for survival.
(8) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila over the failure to account for security votes since 1999. The suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1369/2019 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja is seeking leave to apply for judicial review and an order of mandamus to direct and compel Buhari, Ahmed Lawan, and Femi Gbajabiamila to disclose details of allocations, disbursement and spending of security votes by the Federal Government, 36 state governors and 774 local governments between 1999 and 2019.
(9) The Christian Association of Nigeria has described as troubling, the news concerning Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, which is claiming that the Vice President is being relegated by the ‘’power that be’’ in the Villa. Special Assistant on Media and Communications to CAN President, Rev. Adebayo Oladeji, said Osinbajo, had not told CAN about any rift between himself and the President, but was quick to say that, there would be no smoke without fire.
(10) Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has issued new conditions to the Nigerian government before he can have a dialogue over the agitation for Biafra. Kanu, in a statement signed by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said he was ready if the federal government will consider a referendum on self-determination for the Biafran people. He also insisted that the meeting should take place at a neutral venue and be organized by the United Nations.
