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Tension over alleged plots to relocate Osun institution

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3 months ago

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Tension over alleged plots to relocate Osun institution

There is tension in Esa-Oke community in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State over purported plans to relocate Osun State College of Technology (OSCOTECH) to another town.

Youths in the community protested the alleged plots by the Osun State Government. They stormed the houses of chiefs and leaders of the community to warn against the plots, saying, “we may end up shooting ourselves.”

In a video sighted by The Nation, the youths visited houses of the chiefs in the community. The leader of the youths, addressing one of chiefs said: “We are going about to warn against the plan of government to relocate 10 out of 16 courses in OSCOTECH to Ibokun(community of Chairman Governing Board) and Ipetu.

 “If the government goes ahead with the planned relocation, it will not be easy for them. We are going to besiege the entrance of the school and all masqueraders of the community will join us tomorrow.

“The government can mobilise against us, we might end up shooting and hacking ourselves. They can kill us but we won’t relent in this struggle. The Governing Board chairman, Diran Odeyemi is behind this move and we are going to resist it.”

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But Odeyemi in a statement on Monday denied the allegation.

 He said: “We are not relocating any department away from the main campus of the College. What we plan to do is to expand our academic scope through mounting of new programmes without adding more burden to finances of the institution.

“The council plans to seek NBTE approval for a proposed Mass Communication programme. The new programme being proposed will require setting up of necessary facilities for teaching and practicals. In Ibokun, we have a broadcast station owned by Osun State Government that can be used for the training of students, after accreditation has been secured.”

Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole in a statement explained: “It has come to our notice that there is a mayhem at Esa-Oke township, surrounding the rumour that the State Government is planning to site a satellite campus of Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke at Ibokun.

“The general public is hereby called to note that this assumption is far from the truth unfounded and entirely baseless. It must have emanated from anti-government individuals who are enemies of peace, tranquillity and progress of the State.“

Tension over alleged plots to relocate Osun institution

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Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges

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3 mins ago

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May 9, 2024

By

Goodboy Sokari

Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges

A new speaker has emerged in Rivers State Wednesday May 8, 2024, to signal the much-awaited showdown in state’s deteriorating political crisis which seems to be here.

Already, hidden cards or fists are appearing every hour to show that both the Nyesom Wike camp and the Governor Siminalayi Fubara camp have been preparing for it.

The Wike camp through the Rivers State caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Tony Okocha yesterday gave go-ahead for impeachment action against the governor. The one they one the 27 defected lawmakers loyal to Wike initiated on October 30, 2023, failed when Gov Fubara fought back until a temporary ceasefire was achieved in Aso Rock with an 8-point agreement signed by both parties but largely observed in breach.

Now, it seems both camps have rearmed and may be ready for the final showdown that may make Rivers State tense in the coming days, to say the least.

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The APC has directed that impeachment begin immediately; the next day, the Fubara camp announced their own Speaker, Victor Oko Jumbo from Bonny; same day, hints emerge that screening of LGA caretaker committee members may be going on.

On the other hand, the local councils have staged protests saying their monthly allocations have been withheld. Pressure is thus mounting from that angle covering the 23 local council areas.

The purported screening may lead to appointment of caretaker committees of the 23 LGAs in the state who would get the monthly allocations and hit the ground running.

This action would provoke what the Wike-backed APC group said they would resist. They may begin their own action in the form of impeachment proceedings which the Fubara camp (Rivers State government) said they would resist.

These acts of resistance may plunge the state into violence and make it ungovernable. At that point, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has remained silent since the peace agreement, may unveil the sanctions he had threatened would descend on any person who breached the agreement. Each camp points to the other as the one breaching the agreements. Each clings to Tinubu as the favourite.

The battle seems timed to ensure that the one year anniversary is hindered.

Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges

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Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules

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4 mins ago

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May 9, 2024

By

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen

Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, intervened on Wednesday to halt a motion calling for the suspension of the controversial cybersecurity levy, which has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians.

Since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mandated all banks to deduct 0.5% of the value of electronic transactions from customers, Nigerians from various sectors have vehemently opposed the levy, labelling it an additional financial burden.

During Wednesday’s plenary session, Manu Soro, a lawmaker from Bauchi State, presented the motion, citing concerns about the timing of the levy’s introduction amidst Nigeria’s prevailing economic challenges.

Soro argued that imposing new taxes or increasing existing ones amid the current economic difficulties exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies and currency depreciation would only add to citizens’ financial woes.

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He called on the House to urge the CBN to retract the circular on the cybersecurity levy and halt its implementation immediately. Additionally, he urged the Minister of Finance to refrain from introducing new taxes or raising existing rates until the economic situation improves significantly.

However, Speaker Abbas advised Soro to temporarily withdraw the motion to allow the House leadership to deliberate on the best course of action to address the issue.

In a related development, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) threatened to shut down the economy over the plan to implement the cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions. TUC’s president, Mr. Festus Osifo, criticized the levy as illogical, particularly given the current economic challenges faced by Nigerians. He warned that its implementation could worsen poverty and deepen the economic crisis in the country.

Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules

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EFCC to arraign Sirika, daughter over fresh N2.7 billion contract scam

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13 hours ago

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May 8, 2024

By

Hadi Sirika

EFCC to arraign Sirika, daughter over fresh N2.7 billion contract scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will arraign a former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, before Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Maitama on Thursday, May 9, 2024.

Sirika, who served under former president Muhammadu Buhari, would be arraigned on six amended charges.

The former minister will be arraigned alongside three others, including his daughter, Fatima; Jalal Hamma and Al-Duraq Investment Ltd, for abuse of office to the tune of N2.7 billion.

As part of EFCC investigations into the financial malfeasance allegedly committed by the former minister, “including fraudulent contracts awarded by the ministry under his watch, had on April 23 detained him in Abuja’’.

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Sirika was invited by the Abuja Zonal Command of the commission on the alleged contract malfeasance and was promptly interrogated and detained at the Formella Street, Wuse 2 Zonal office of the Commission.

“The former minister (Sirika) was invited for questioning by investigators handling the alleged contract frauds under his watch in the ministry.

“He honoured the invitation and has been detained as I am talking with you,” an EFCC source said on the condition of anonymity.

The source also said that EFCC had been investigating the alleged contract frauds while the minister was in office, and he had even met with investigators before he was detained.

The arraignment was earlier slated to hold on Tuesday but due to EFCC prayer to amend the charge, a new date was given.

EFCC to arraign Sirika, daughter over fresh N2.7 billion contract scam

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