The Harbingerngr News

The peace accord brokered between the  Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, by speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, involves payment of a part of the eight months' salaries withheld by the government. A copy of the draft agreement, endorsed by Gbajabiamila and ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, revealed to the pressmen, showed that after visiting President Muhammadu Buhari, the speaker met the national leadership of ASUU and agreed to the payment of a part of the withheld salaries. Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, however, dismissed insinuations that the speaker committed government to offsetting the arrears of salaries owed ASUU members during the strike. But the fifth item in the resolution in the document on the meeting between the speaker and ASUU leadership, dated October 12, 2022, and titled "Withheld salaries," read:  ''The no work no pay policy of government remains

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, may be constrained to invoke articles of its constitution to contend with threats to its electoral fortunes by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his four aggrieved colleagues, a senior party leader, who pleaded anonymity, has revealed. It was gathered that the new thinking within the party leadership is unfavorable for platitudes. The party leader, who spoke in confidence, said: “Wike and his group have already caused the party damage with their conduct and utterances as things stand.  Section 58 (1) of our party constitution is clear on the powers to discipline errant members at any level.” The section referenced reads: “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the party shall have power to disciple any member who says or does anything likely to bring the party into disrepute, hatred or contempt, (f) engages in anti-party activities.” However, the party leader explained that the process and procedures as contained in the document, does not

By Olu Fasan PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has a victim mentality. He takes absolutely no responsibility for anything that goes wrong under his watch. Instead, he treats legitimate and fair criticisms of his leadership failure as harassment. More likely, he’ll see this piece on the shocking levels of multidimensional poverty in Nigeria, fostered under his government, as harassment. To mimic Shakespeare: He does protest too much, methinks!  Last week, in a documentary shown at a private event to mark his 80th birthday, President Buhari was asked whether he would miss anything about the presidency. He replied: “I wonder if I’m going to miss much. I believe I’m being harassed.” He continued: “I believe I’m trying my best, but still my best is not good enough because there are people around who think they can intimidate me to get what they want.” Well, Buhari may congratulate himself for “trying” his “best”, but his “best” is simply not good enough! In true democracies, leaders are judged by

Arewa Decide 2023 Naka Sai Naka, a Northern group, has called on supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to join hands  to dislodge the present government under the leadership of the All Progressive Congress, APC at both the federal and state levels. The Chairman of the group, representing 19 Northern states, Rabi'u Hussaini, who made the call while addressing newsmen in Kano, lamented that most Nigerians placed great expectations on the APC government but have been disappointed, hence the resolved to wrestle power from the party. According to him, "We have gathered tens of thousands of Atiku's supporters to prove to even the doubting Thomases that Kano would stand still for Atiku in readiness of casting millions of votes for him at the polls. We have no iota of doubt that all the votes in Kano belongs to him. "Bloc support for Atiku in Kano during the forthcoming presidential polls in Kano is imminent. I can confidently tell you that the electorates in the c

  THE body of the second missing fun seeker, Abraham Adesanya, who drowned on Monday at Baracuda Beach in Lagos State, was recovered yesterday by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA.“The first body was discovered on a beach in Ajah on Tuesday. “It will be recalled that the two yet-to-be-identified missing persons, who were among fun seekers who had thronged the beach on Boxing Day, drowned while trying to rescue another person during a failed rescue attempt of a third adult male. “The lifeguard at the beach reported that the victims had ventured beyond the red line, where solo rescue was prohibited, and he could not save them. "While giving the update on the unfortunate incident, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the recovery of the bodies. According to Oke-Osanyintolu, the first body was located and recovered along the coastline at a neighbouring community (Okun Mopo) on Tuesday e

Late Omobolanle Raheem. ...As reps move motion to ban policemen from alcohol, substance consumption Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba, has recommended the immediate suspension of the police officer who shot a female lawyer dead, on Christmas day, in the Ajah area of Lagos. Following the tragedy, the House of Representatives, yesterday, moved for the total ban of police officers from consuming alcohol and other hard substances capable of inhibiting their sense of reasoning and capability to carry out their duties. The recommendation for the suspension of the policeman, Drambi Vandi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, attached to the Ajah division, according to the IGP, was to create an enabling environment for necessary legal procedures that will ensure justice in the case, without interference, while the Force awaited detailed report on the incident.  While noting that the suspension was in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force, the Police boss in a stat

Seven persons lost their lives, while five others sustained injuries in an auto crash at Gunu village, Munya Local Government Area of Niger State, on Tuesday.  The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Niger, Mr. Kumar Tsukwam, yesterday, in Minna, said that the accident involved a Toyota Camry and a VolksWagen Sharon car.  "Twelve persons were involved in the accident; seven of them died, while five sustained injuries. "We recovered the sum of N36,200, one bag of yam, a Nikon Camera, two chargers and a cord, wedding invitation cards, a flash drive, one phone battery, four keys, pictures and a small bag. "The injured victims were rescued and taken to the nearest hospital for treatment while the dead were deposited at General hospital mortuary, Minna. "The vehicles were handed over to the police at Munya Divisional Police Office,'' he said. Tsukwam blamed the accident on speeding and loss of control on the part of one of the drivers and advised motorists to always

...Says it'll bring pain to Nigerians THE pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, urged the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, to rethink its recent decision to increase the minimum insurance cover from N5,000 to N15,000, noting that the rationale behind the hike “is difficult to fathom." According to the directive issued by the insurance commission, last Thursday, private car owners who were paying N5,000 premium per vehicle for N1 million Third Party Property Damage, TPPD, limit, are now to pay N15,000 for N3 million TPPD, while staff bus owners are to pay N20,000 premium per vehicle for N3 million TPPD.  The increase is to affect other brands of vehicles that are supposed to take insurance coverage.  The commission warned that failure to abide by the new directive by insurance firms “shall attract appropriate regulatory sanction.” Afenifere, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Jare Ajayi, stated that a review of service charges

•They destroyed our farmlands, raped our women — Residents •They enter our community  through Edo — Monarch •Police keep mum as Akeredolu vows to flush them out RESIDENTS of Ijagba, Imoru and Arimogija communities in Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, yesterday, fled their homes to neighbouring towns and villages, over incessant attacks by suspected marauding herdsmen. It was gathered that the herdsmen had warned residents of the communities, who are mostly farmers, to vacate their farmlands peacefully, adding that failure to do so would make them lose their lives.  It was said that the residents, out of fear, fled their homes to neighbouring towns and villages, to avoid being murdered by the marauding herdsmen. A resident from one of the communities, who spoke with newsmen in confidence, alleged that the armed bandits have been terrorizing them for over two weeks despite reporting them to security operatives. The community member, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said: “I

Tinubu, Atiku and Obi. 2022 is a year of high-wire politics and intrigues Given the historic events that shaped the political landscape, it is a year that will not be easily forgotten. It has been a year since new terminologies entered Nigeria’s political lexicon Terms like Olule, Egbe kini yi wa,  Emilokan,  Obidient, and Atikulate , which arose from the activities of leading politicians, have come to stay. One of the major political issues that shaped 2022 was the emergence of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, as presidential candidates. While Tinubu is running on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku is gunning for the Aso Rock job on the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; and Obi is contesting on the platform of the Labour Party, LP. Atiku, 76, is one of the oldest presidential candidates on the prowl, and his aspiration dates back to

•Abducted middle-aged man found dead two days after, in Awka Sixteen people were reportedly kidnapped in an attack on Anguwan Pa Community, in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Monday. According to a resident of the community, the bandits stormed the area at about 7.30 pm and surrounded the village. "Fifty-three people were kidnapped but 37 of them escaped and returned home, yesterday, leaving 16 others in captivity," he said.  He said that "the bandits are now attacking small villages with less population. We didn't expect that the bandits will attack Angwan Pa because, after the attack on Anguwan Aku on Sunday, soldiers were deployed to condone the area." "The bandits came around 7:30 pm yesterday and surrounded the village. They usually come in very large numbers and well armed. They will just sneak into a community, and before you know it, they had surrounded everywhere. "If you run, they will shoot you and kill you. They don't u

Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, has assured that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress , APC, presidential candidate, won't disappoint Nigerians, if elected as president, because he has capacity to deliver. Yahaya stated this when he paid a visit to the palace of Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, the Lamido Gona, in Amada community of Akko Local Government Area, LGA, of the state. He said that President Muhammadu Buhari performed credibly well in terms of delivering good governance to the people of Nigeria. "We need consolidation, that's why we are going to vote for Tinubu.Tinubu has promised to continue with the good works of Buhari by ensuring good governance to the good people. "I assure you he will not disappoint," he said. Yahaya said his visit was to thank the community for its support to his administration as well as to seek for its prayers before proceeding to various wards for campaign. He urged the people of the emirate to vote for APC candidates in

AS the 2023 general elections gather momentum, Governor of Sokoto State and Director General of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, Aminu Tambuwal, has charged Nigerians to vote out the All Progressives Congress, APC. Tambuwal gave the charge on Tuesday during the inauguration of PDP PCC in Ekiti State. Dr. Eddy Olafeso, who represented Governor Aminu Tambuwal, at the inauguration urged PDP members to work together to defeat APC and its beneficiaries in the country. Olafeso said Nigerians have witnessed the worst Christmas ever in history, and urged the electorate to use their PVCs to defeat the APC  and vote for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates   of the PDP in the 2023 general elections. Olafeso, who inaugurated the State campaign council and the state campaign management committee, condemned the leadership styles of the APC, who according to him, have plunged Nigeria into numerous pr

A coalition of 50 Igbo socio-cultural groups has pledged to deliver no fewer than six million votes to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwu-Olu. The group, which is known as G-50, agreed to work to ensure that the governor succeeds in his bid for a second term, following  Sanwo-Olu's relationship with non-indigenes in the state. Addressing newsmen in Lagos, the group's Coordinator, Dr Festus Uchenna, said: "Sanwo-Olu is intelligent, humble and detribalised. As a group, if we had one million votes before. We are determined to make it six  million votes, and the only way to do this is by working together." On his part, Mr Jude Ezenwafor, said Sanwo-Olu's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and the #EndSARS protests were remarkable. "The G-50 is rooting for Governor Sanwo-Olu's re-election because of his record of good governance. We are convinced that he has done so well as seen in his m

Femi Gbajabiamila  •Your govt should reflect national character — Islamic cleric SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the political pedigree of the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu stood him out from other candidates. Gbajabiamila said Tinubu has done what none of the other presidential candidates has ever done when he served as the governor of Lagos State for eight years from 1999 to 2007. Meanwhile, an Abuja based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Mohammed Idris has urged Bola Tinubu, to unite the country when elected. Idris in a chat with newsmen, in Abuja while reacting to the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket,  asked the candidate of the APC to do everything within his power to make sure that he calmed perceived frayed nerves across the country to a calm spirit where the citizens would be harmonious within themselves, so that there would be an easy co-existence when elected. Speaking during a meeting with leaders o

Atiku, Tinubu and Obi. *Integrity Group moves to London, *Atiku sure of victory despite G-5 threat Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar and his campaign have expressed optimism about his prospects on the 2023 elections, despite threats by five aggrieved governors of the party to undermine him. Spokesperson of the Atiku-Okowa Campaign Organisation, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan said that the facts on ground support the campaign organisation’s confidence of a sweeping victory for Atiku at first ballot. G-5 Governors move to London He spoke as the Governor Nyesom Wike-led G-5 Governors relocated to London to perfect their endorsement plan for a yet to be named presidential candidate. Feelers from the G-5 camp indicated that members are torn between declaring support for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and that of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi. A reliable source within the G-5 Governors camp, said: “The governors are

•From left: Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi; mother of Omobolanle Raheem, killed by a policeman, on Sunday; husband of the slain lawyer, Gbenga Raheem, and others, during a condolence visit to the mother and widower in Lagos. •Says shed hawked oranges to train her in school •I watched my wife gasp for breath —Widower •Take action against killer cop, Buhari orders IGP •Lagos Attorney General to lead prosecution team in trial; Presidential candidates, PSC react OMOBOLANLE Raheem, the female lawyer who had her life snuffed out by a bullet from an AK 47 service rifle allegedly fired by a policeman on Christmas day in the  Ajah area of Lagos,  was pregnant with twins, according to  Cable.   This was revealed by her bereaved mother, Mrs Salami, yesterday, when the Lagos State Commissioner of Police paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family. “ She recalled in tears how she hawked oranges to train her in school “This is just as late Bolanle’s widower, Gbenga  Raheem,  na

...As FRSC warns against dangerous driving NO fewer than 20 persons have been confirmed dead and six others injured, in a fatal crash on Lagos-Ibadan expressway, and in Mokwa, Niger State. The Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, in a statement, yesterday, in Abuja, on behalf of the FRSC Acting Corps Marshal, Mr. Dauda Biu, attributed the crash that occurred at 06.30am, along the Ibadan-Lagos route, a few minutes before Guru Maharaji Ji area, Oyo State, to wanton violation of speed limit and indulgence in dangerous driving. He said that the Mokwa fatal crash occurred at 3.30 a.m while a lone crash also occurred in Otukpo at about 11.35 a.m. on Tuesday. "According to a preliminary investigation conducted into the fatal crashes, the Ibadan avoidable accident is a lone crash that involved a Toyota bus with number plates TRK 135 ZY. "While the Mokwa crash involved a trailer transiting from Lagos which had a head-on collision with a bus and the