Encomium
- FRESH ONITSHA KILLINGS NOT IN CHURCH – POLICE
The police in Anambra has debunked the reports that gunmen on Sunday struck at the Assemblies of God Church on Oguta Road, Onitsha (Anambra State).
The Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, Princess Nkiru Nwode, in a telephone interview, said the Onitsha incident has nothing to do with the church. She said the attack was on policemen who were on foot patrol along Oguta Road in the commercial city of the state.
According to her, the attackers were hoodlums who disguised themselves as masquerades to dispossess innocent citizens of their belongings, and in the process killed a police man and injured some others.
The report had it that the gunmen had momentarily stopped at the Assemblies of God Church, but on sighting some policemen at the church, opened fire on them.
- CARRY HIM OUT OF THAT OFFICE – CHARLY BOY ADVICES BUHARI’S CHILDREN
Nigerian entertainer, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari’s children on how to handle their father.
Charly boy who spoke while vowing to continue the “return or resign” protest until President Buhari returns said,
“If the president was my father, I would carry him out of that office and get him proper treatment and rest.
“But we know that his hands are tied personally. He is not really the one running Nigeria, it is a cabal.
- PDP WILL NEVER RETURN TO PRESIDENCY IN 2019 – APC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will never recover because Nigerians would reject it in the race for the Presidency in 2019. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said this on Sunday while reacting to comments by chieftains of the PDP at the party’s non-elective convention held on Saturday.
He said the APC remained the preferred choice for Nigerians who would not be carried away by “rhetoric of those who short-changed them for sixteen years.”
According to him, restructuring was the most critical issue at the moment, but alleged that the PDP never believed in it.
- MAN MURDERED IN LAGOS BY MOB OVER N45, 000 SMART PHONE IN MUSHIN
A middle aged man has been murdered by a mob in Mushin, Lagos after he was accused of stealing a galaxy phone from a property by a tenant. His pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears as he was beaten and set ablaze by the mob.
Spokesman for the Lagos State Police command, Olarinde Famous-Cole, confirmed the incident and the arrest of Isiaka Kolawole, who is being interrogated at the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department. SCIID, Yaba.
He said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased was accused of stealing a galaxy phone from a house in Mushin and an angry mob lynched him.”
- ATIKU HOLDS SECRET MEETING WITH PDP LEADERS
Former Acting President, Atiku Abubakar has commenced secret talks with some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It was disclosed that the talks are centred around Atiku’s likely return to the PDP. A source who pleaded anonymity said, “The secret discussions are ongoing with a wing of the leadership of the PDP and this has encouraged the former vice-president to start consultations with critical leaders in the northern and southern parts of the country.
“Atiku has informed the PDP leaders who have approached him to guarantee him the nomination of the party for the presidential election before he can leave the APC, as he does not want to be messed up for the third time,” the source said.
- ASUU EMBARKS ON INDEFINITE STRIKE
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Sunday, August 13, 2017, commenced an indefinite strike across the nation. Biodun Ogunyemi, ASUU President, said the lecturers took the decision to declare the strike after deliberations at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja during the weekend.
ASUU listed the outstanding issues with the Federal Government to include: payment of fractions/non-payment of salaries, non-payment of earned academic allowances, non-release of operational license of NUPEMCO, non implementation of the provisions of the 2014 pension reform act with respect to retired professors and their salaries, removal of universities staff schools from funding by government and funds for the revitalisation of public universities.
- FOUR KILLED AS BUILDING COLLAPSES IN OWERRI, IMO STATE
A three-storey building collapsed in Owerri, the Imo state capital on Sunday, killing no fewer than four persons. It was also revealed that about six others were injured in the tragedy that occurred at 9 Egbu Road, by fire service junction in the capital of the state.
Although the State Emergency Management Agency is yet to issue an official statement on the incident, the landlord whom the state police command say is at large, added two more floors to the building without approval, causing a “structural” defect, according to reports.
Chris Ezike, the state commissioner of police, said no arrest has been made.
- OSINBAJO IS A MERE FIGUREHEAD – PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo as a “mere figurehead.”
Dayo Adeyeye, spokesperson of the PDP said, “The Acting President is not in charge of the country. He is not in charge of anything. This is why nothing is moving forward.
“How do you explain a situation where two of the ministers who were sworn in after much pressure from the people and the National Assembly have not been assigned portfolios?
“He is not in charge. He is a mere figurehead and cannot do anything. The cabals are still in charge. That is why nothing is moving forward in this country. The two ministers are just idle. They have no offices, nowhere to resume to and nothing to do. What is the essence of their being sworn in then? They are ministers without portfolios.
- TRANSPORT MINISTER, SENATE PUSH FOR ENHANCED RAIL SERVICES
The Minister of Transportation and the Senate Committee on Land Transport are pushing for the speedy modernization of railway projects across the country.
They say an improved rail services will enhance commercial activities and boost the Nigerian economy.
The Transport Minister gave the indication at the monthly inspection of the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway Line in Lagos and maintained that all the states will soon be connected to rail services.
In the same vein, the Senate Committee also visited the Railway Corporation to assess the project implementation plan for the recently approved loan request by the Federal Government from the China Exim Bank for the purpose of completing various railway construction projects across the country.
- OSINBAJO CONGRATULATES KENYAN PRESIDENT, UHURU KENYATTA, ON RE-ELECTION
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday congratulated Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on his re-election.
Osinbajo, in a letter he signed after the formal announcement of the election results over the weekend and addressed to the Kenyan leader, said: “I have the honour on behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to congratulate you on your successful re-election as the President of the Republic of Kenya.”
According to him, Kenyatta’s re-election bears testimony to his selfless service to Kenya and to the giant strides he has taken in the transformation of the country in the last few years.
