Posts

Showing posts from November, 2020

Boko Haram, EndSARS and a tale of two countries

Image
By Ladesope Ladelokun ORDINARILY , freezing the bank accounts of terrorists should be greeted with cheers for money is the oxygen that gives terrorism life. Little wonder it is argued in some quarters that we are halfway to bidding farewell to the eruptions of Boko Haram if the sources of funds are cut off from the killjoys that get a kick from the sight of bloodied and lifeless bodies.  However, not a few Nigerians were thrown off balance when government officials linked the funds found in the bank accounts of EndSARS campaigners to terrorist activities. But the campaigners neither bore arms nor sentenced innocent Nigerians to the grave like the dreaded Boko Haram. They only found potency in their only weapon - voices. Patriotism was the common denominator.  For years, long-suffering Nigerians waited for the Nigerian government to name and prosecute the sponsors of Boko Haram without luck. Interestingly, help came from the United Arab Emirates. Those who have raised eyebrows over the

LASG probes death of student flogged to death

Image
LAGOS State Government has vowed to investigate into an alleged beating of a secondary school pupil to death by a mathematics teacher in Elihans College, Isawo, Ikorodu, with a view to bringing the offender to justice. It, however, assured that it would leave no stone unturned to unearth the mystery behind the death. The suspect, identified as Mr Emma, was alleged to have beaten Master Boluwatife Omelaja to death for failing to answer correctly a mathematics question he was asked on Thursday, November 26. Giving an update when contacted, yesterday, Head of Public Affairs Unit of Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Kayode Abayomi said: “I can’t really comment on the issue but what I can confirm to you is that investigation into the incident has commenced by the Office of Education Quality Assurance that is handling the matter on behalf of the state government to determine the cause of the death, as well as, punish any offender who may be linked to it.” It was gathered that the decease

No agreement yet to suspend strike —ASUU

Image
THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has denied reports that it agreed to call off the ongoing strike after meeting with the Federal Government’s negotiation team led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige. The team had reportedly increased its offer for Earned Allowances EA to university-based unions and funding for the revitalization of public universities from N65 billion to N70 billion. It was reported that ASUU had agreed to call off the strike.  According to the report, the university teachers agreed to call off the strike after  government pledged to pay N40 billion for Earned Allowances and N30 billion for the revitalization of the university  system bringing the total payment to N70 billion.  It was further reported that government agreed to settle the arrears of salaries of the lecturers before December 31. The report also noted that ASUU was expected to report the agreement to its organs and then communicate their decision to the government

Construction of hospital in Sogunle: Ariyoh, Dawodu claim facilitator

Image
Chairman, Oshodi-lsolo LGA, Hon. Bolaji Muse-Ariyoh and member, House of Representatives representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I, Dr. Bashiru Dawodu have claimed facilitating the  construction of new primary healthcare centre brought to Shogunle community, by the National Primary Health Care Agency. On Tuesday November 17, 2020, Ariyoh laid the foundation of the site at Ogundele Primary School, in a ceremony well-attended by functionaries of the local government. Speaking at the event, Ariyoh said he facilitated the project through Lagos State government. He also claimed that it is an ultra-modern general hospital that will accommodate doctor’s quarters; adding that it will be the first general hospital the local government would have. Ariyoh said the hospital would be equipped with modern health facilities and Ambulance. According to Ariyoh: “Oshodi deserves to have modern functional health facilities that will be able to cater for the health challenges of the people beyond the

Goodnight Diego Maradona

Image
*Soccer legend dies at 60 FOOTBALL legend, icon, genius, Diego Maradona walked out of the pitch of life on November 25, 2020 at aged 60. The former Argentina striker, before his death suffered a cardiac arrest in his home in Tigre, Argentina. His death comes two weeks after surgery following a bleed on his brain. Maradona has suffered a long battle with his health with numerous trips to hospital as he turned 60 last month. The footie legend had spent eight days on a ward after he was admitted for an emergency operation for a blood clot on the brain. His lawyer Matias Morla described it as a "miracle" he was still alive just two weeks ago and described the surgery as the "most difficult moment of his life". Maradona's ex-girlfriend insisted shortly before his subdural haematoma was discovered that he needed urgent treatment for his 'real problem' - alcohol addiction. Rocio Oliva spent six years with the recovering drug addict and came close to marrying h

#EndSARS: Senate urges FG to compensate affected states, individuals, organisations

Image
*Asks FG to rebuild vandalised infrastructure in Lagos, Calabar, others *Seeks 1% VAT to repair Lagos, others affected by violence THE Senate has urged the Federal Government to urgently establish special economic assistance to Lagos State, other states, individuals and organisations affected by the violence that erupted during EndSARS protests that led to massive looting and wanton destruction of property. Consequently, the senate asked government to make available a financial grant-in-aid of not less than one percent of its Value Added Tax, VAT, as grant for the affected states. According to the Senate, the succour  from the Federal Government should be extended to other cities and states such as  Calabar, Benin, Uyo, Niger, among others, where incidents of equally large scale destruction and looting took place during the protests targeted at scrapping the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS. Urging the Federal Government to set up a visitation panel to assess the level of destruction o

How 19-yr-girl set ex-lover’s house ablaze, killed rival

Image
The Lagos State Police has arrested 19-year-old girl, Jemila Ibrahim, and her friend, Fatima Mohammed, of Monkey Village, Festac Area, Lagos, for setting ablaze the house of Jemila's ex-lover, Mohammed Yusuf, which claimed the live of her rival, Rabi. It was gathered that Mohammed Yusuf, an ex-lover to Jemila, had the hint of the fire incident and rushed to the house where he met his house on flame but managed to rescue Rabi, his new lover, from the inferno and took her to the hospital where she gave up the ghost. Mohammed had alleged his former lover, Jemila Ibrahim, of infidelity before they broke up; he later met and fell in love with his new lover, Rabi, that was caught up in the inferno. The duo, Jemila Ibrahim, and her friend, Fatimo Mohammed, of Monkey Village, who accompanied Jemila to commit the heinous crime, have been arrested by the police operatives attached to Satellite Division of the command. Confirming the arrest the spokesperson Lagos state police command, SP Olum

Lekki shooting: Lai Mohammed petitions CNN's VP

Image
*Says Cable's report lacks balance, fairness THE Federal Government of Nigeria has accused US Cable News Network, CNN, of 15 grave journalistic offences in its coverage of the reported shooting at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos. Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a petition addressed to Vice-President, Communications of CNN, Mr. Jonathan Hawkins, titled "How a Bloody Night of Bullets Quashed a Young Protest Movement," said the report did not live up to the most basic of the core principles of journalism — balance and fairness. He also claimed that CNN relied heavily on unverified footages it harvested from social media, adding that its reporters and cameramen were not present at the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of the incident.  The petition, dated November 23, 2020, reads:  "Our attention has been drawn to an ‘investigation’ by CNN, entitled ‘How a Bloody Night of Bullets Quashed a Young Protest Movement’ and aired on 18 November 2020, in which