IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asserted that the alleged silence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday’s gruesome terrorist attack and killing of innocent worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State confirms APC’s complicity and implicit support for terrorism in our country.

The PDP through its spokesman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba also stated on Monday that it is appalled by the lame and disconnected press statement by the Buhari Presidency which did not demonstrate any presidential empathy, concern, assurances and commitment expected of a Commander-in-Chief, who should be a Comforter-in-Chief in the face of such horrific terrorist attack on the country.

According to the PDP, the feeble and insensitive statement by the presidency is a further confirmation of the tacit sympathy for terrorism by the APC administration. “This is because in saner climes the President would personally address the nation on the gruesome murder of many citizens under his care. President Muhammadu Buhari’s personal silence is deafening and points to allegations in the public space that terrorists are enjoying tacit accommodation from the highest level of the APC administration.

“It is indeed unpardonable that as terrorists were murdering our citizens in Owo, President Buhari was busy in the comfort, luxury and safety of the Presidential Villa, having dinner with APC leaders and conducting political meetings aimed at perpetuating APC’s fraudulent, insensitive, inhumane and vicious government on hapless Nigerians.

“Such actions by the APC and President Buhari, who has woefully failed in his promise to lead the fight against terrorism from the front, continue to embolden terrorists to carry out more terrible attacks on our citizens.

Six Judiciary correspondents were on Tuesday, detained for over two hours on the order of Justice Chizoba Orji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Maitama. Justice Orji, insisted that journalists must get permission before they could cover her court. 

Consequently, she ordered her police orderly to seize a phone belonging to Ms. Wumi Obabori of the Africa Independent Television, AIT, and delete all the pictures and videos in it. Other reporters the judge subsequently walked out of the courtroom, were Mr. Godwin Tsa of the Sun Newspaper, Ikechukwu Nnochiri of Vanguard Newspaper, Austin Okezie of Raypower Fm, Kunle Olasanmi of Leadership Newspaper and a veteran journalist, Mr. Charles Ozoemena. Trouble started shortly after the judge stood down a matter and entered her chambers to prepare a ruling.

Immediately the court proceeding was suspended, the reporter from AIT attempted to record videos for her story, when a female Registrar of the court pounced on her, insisting that journalists have no right to cover the court. Frantic effort by the reporter to explain to the Registrar that journalists could take "cut-aways" (visuals) and pictures once the court is not in session, yielded no result, as the court official immediately summoned a police officer attached to the judge to arrest the reporter.

The policeman, Mr Gusar Dauda, who claimed that he had the authority of the judge, swiftly locked the main gate to the courtroom, pulled his gun and ordered all the journalists to surrender their phones. Despite the intervention of lawyers and litigants, the police officer and court officials stood their ground that no journalist would leave the courtroom without complying with the order. After a scuffle that lasted over one hour, Justice Orji re-entered the courtroom and summoned the AIT reporter to step forward. "Why were you taking pictures and videos in my court? Who gave you the permission to do that?", she fumed.

"My lord, I am an accredited judiciary reporter. It is a normal practice for us to take pictures and videos when the court is not sitting, even up to the Supreme Court", Wumi of AIT responded. "You don't have such right! If there is such permission, it must be in writing. Who gave you the permission? Show me the authorization?", Justice Orji added. At that juncture, other journalists in the courtroom stood up and took turns to identify themselves. 

"I don't want to hear from any of you. Now, where is the device you used to take the pictures and videos?", Justice Orji queried the AIT reporter. She, thereafter, ordered her orderly to delete all the pictures and videos in the phone, after which she told the court official to unlock the gate and walk all the journalists out of the courtroom.

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) have unveiled Guidelines that would improve insurance capacity in the oil and gas sector. The insurance guidelines affect submission of Insurance Programme by Operators, Project Promoters, Alliance Partners, and Nigerian Indigenous Companies in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry.

Speaking at the official signing and presentation of the NCDMB/NAICOM insurance Guidelines, in Bayelsa State, the Commissioner for Insurance, NAICOM, Mr. Thomas Olorundare said the initiative was informed by Federal Government’s drive towards enhancing local content and the need to develop Nigerian industries. The joint insurance guidelines is expected to enable the Board monitor utilization of insurance capacity within Nigeria.

The NAICOM boss further explained that the "joint Guidelines which is issued with the objectives of enforcing and strengthening compliance with the provisions of the referenced sections of the NOGICD Act and relevant provisions of the Insurance Act with respect to companies carrying on insurance business in the Nigerian oil and gas industry is to also enable the Board monitor utilization of in-country insurance capacity". 

He urged all operators, project promoters, alliance partners and Nigerian indigenous companies engaged in any form of business, operations or contract in the Nigerian oil and gas industry to continue to comply with the guidelines as demanded by relevant laws. Olorundare assured of the Commission's commitment to creating an "enabling environment that will consistently enhance increased capacity of the Insurance Institutions both financially and technically". 

For his part, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote said the Insurance Guidelines would address loopholes that have been identified by the Board in implementing the provisions of the NOGICD Act, particularly sections 49 and 50. "As we are aware, the combined provisions of sections 49 and 50 require all operators engaged in any form of activity or project in the Oil and Gas industry to ‘’insure all insurable risks related to its oil and gas business…with an insurance company, through an insurance broker registered in Nigeria.’’

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it only recognises the Labour Party faction that produced Peter Obi as its presidential candidate. This was contained in a statement issued by the National President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba.

“The leadership of the NLC and TUC recognize the leadership of the Labour Party led by Barr. Julius Abure, a former trade union leader and workers are part of the leadership,” he said in the statement on Thursday.

“The NLC and TUC are aware of only one presidential primary which was held in Asaba, Delta State on 30th May 2022 and produced HE Peter Obi as its presidential candidate and standard-bearer.”

Dumebi Kachikwu has been declared the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following the presidential primary held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Wednesday.

The Chairman of the Electoral Committee General Ekundayo Opaleye announced the result, noting that Dumebi polled 978 votes to emerge victorious over a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Prof Kingsley Moghalu who polled 589 votes.

Chukwuka Monye scored 339 votes while Princess Chichi Ojei got 72. A further breakdown showed that Evang. Ebiti Ndok Jegede pulled five votes and Lady Angela Johnson finished with one vote. While giving his acceptance speech, the presidential candidate promised purposeful leadership to rescue the country from the current challenges facing it, just as he extended the hand of fellowship to other contestants.

Two thousand one hundred persons were picked as delegates from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Twelve aspirants, comprising five women, and seven men, contested for the exalted position. Two of them were absent from the exercise, while an aspirant Mani Ibrahim withdrew from the race

WHO ARE YOU TO YOUR PEOPLE WHEN YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO THE CORRIDOR OF POWER? - OLU-IMO QUESTIONS POLITICAL NOISEMAKERS.

As written by Hon. Prince Maduba Francis (Olu-Imo)

It's about time we face reality and put the records straight, all the Political party's Candidate aspiring to represent our great Federal Constituency must be judged by his legacies, establishments and antecedents. 

Also their legacies must be verifiable,and it should be judged when they are not close to the corridors of Power. Can they remain what they claim to be to their people when they leave power or loose election?

Since this political reawakening period, I have been accessing those aspiring to hold the thrust of our Federal Constituency for uninterrupted four years, judging them by their legacies, and antecedents, I found all worthy to run.

The current occupant of the seat is also worthy to run but his days as a common man in the streets of Enugu before Rescue Mission Government made him is still unclear to us. Till date, it is still hidden and unknown to his people.

The Man called Dangote of Oguta, Hon. Prince Eugene Dibiagwu is a famous philanthropist known to many across the state. He is a business guru with a heart of impacting into People's life including those around him. Hon. Eugene has touch their lives one by one.

Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu's massive endorsement and acceptance didn't come by surprise, his Legacies and Human Capacity Building carved the niche for him. It is a well calculation of APC to concede the ticket to him, and his movement is tagged "RENAISSANCE MOVEMENT".

I stand with Eugene!

#Eugene2023.

#CAPACITY2023.