SOUTH EAST DIGEST

Olayinka Owolabi The Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) Chairman, Offa Local Government, Offa, Hon Jare Thomas Olatundun has congratulated the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kwara State Chapter,, Hon Folaranmi Tajudeen Aro, on the occasion of his Birthday Anniversary on Saturday September 25th, 2021. In a congratulatory message, issued by the Director, Jare Media Team, Olayinka Owolabi to mark Hon. Folaranmi's  birthday, Hon. Olatundun commended the Party Spokesperson for exhibiting exemplary leadership virtues and commitment to the ideals of democracy. Olatundun described Hon Folaranmi Aro as a leader of impeccable disposition. The Chairman remarked that since his emergence as Party Publicity Secretary for Kwara State Chapter of the ruling APC,, Folaranmi Aro has left no one in doubt as to his capacity to handle matters of state interest, development and progress. "I therefore charged you to continue in your quest to provide leadership in th

Olayinka Owolabi A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, has passed on at the age of 64. The former deputy governor, who was the Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress in the 2019 election, was a known government critic and had advocated for public sector and exchange rate reforms. Despite losing, he remained an ardent government critic and got into trouble with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, when he alleged that a northern governor was a Boko Haram commander. This earned multiple invitations by the Nigeria Police Force, forcing him to recant his statement. Mailafia, was said to have died at midnight after a brief illness. Mailafia was born on December 24, 1956, in the Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He later graduated top of his class at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1978 with a B.Sc. Honours Social Sciences degree (Politics, Economics, and Sociology). He also has an M.Sc. from the same inst

Olayinka Owolabi A former Minister of Aviation during the President Olusegun Obasanjo government, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The former PDP chieftain was introduced to President Muhammadu Buhari as the newest member of the ruling party on Thursday during a visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He was led to the meeting with the President by the APC National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, as well as Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State. Mr. Fani Kayode said that he was led by the Spirit of God in his decision and that he joined the APC to help for the unity of the country, adding that he was against anything that would cause the disintegration of Nigeria. He informed that he was instrumental for the exit of three Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors to the APC. The governors he mentioned were Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Ben Ayade of Cross R

Olayinka Owolabi Anambra State Government has commenced palliative work on the Amansea axis of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway. The failed Amansea portion of the road has been a dread to motorists, plying the road, resulting in massive breakdown of vehicles, especially the articulated ones. The development has also increased traffic drastically on the Old Enugu-Awka road, as motorists seek alternative routes, causing gridlock that keeps them stuck in traffic for hours. A journey to Enugu that normally takes 2 hours, now takes an upward of six to seven hours due to the very bad road. When our correspondent visited the road today, a caterpillar was on ground, breaking and spreading the stones used to fill up the hollow created on the failed spots. In a chat, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Works, Mr Emeka Ohuoha said the palliatives followed a marching order given to them by the State Governor at the State Executive Council meeting of last week, to make the road passable. Mr Ohuo

 Olayinka Owolabi Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi on Friday called for the establishment of a federal ministry to address the grievances of bandits and killer Fulani herders terrorising the country. Mr Gumi’s statement came days after Katsina Governor Aminu Masari openly admitted that Fulanis are the bandits and herders responsible for the widespread killing and abduction across the country. Mr Gumi, a self-appointed intermediary in the ongoing crises of banditry and killer herdsmen, said in a Facebook post on Friday that bandits should be rehabilitated like Niger Delta militants, adding that declaring war against bandits would be futile. “Some said we have tried amnesty but it didn’t work. You didn’t try amnesty but tried amnesia. Amnesty without rehabilitation, reconciliation, and reparation is no amnesty,” Mr Gumi said. “Ask the former Niger Delta Militants who killed security men in the past what an amnesty is. What stops us from having a federal ministry of Nomadic Affairs where

  Olayinka Owolabi The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has ordered all parties to maintain status quo and refrain from taking action that would give effect to the judgement of a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt that allowed the Rivers State government to collect Value Added Tax (VAT), pending the hearing and determination of the instant suit. A three-man panel of the appellate court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani gave the order on Friday while ruling on an appeal filed by the Federal Internal Revenue Service (FIRS). The court also ruled that the motion of joinder by the Lagos State government be heard and gave the applicants two days to file their written addresses. Similarly, the respondents have been given two days to file their response, while the applicants were given a day to reply on the point of law.

  Olayinka Owolabi The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised Mr Valentine Ozigbo as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the governorship election in Anambra State. INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. He explained that the decision was taken at the meeting of the electoral umpire during which a number of issues were considered, including a court order and the general preparations for the November 6 poll. Okoye said, “The commission was served with two judgements of the Court of Appeal (Awka Judicial Division) in respect of the candidature of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Anambra Governorship election. “The court has ordered the commission to recognise and publish the name of Mr Valentine Ozigbo as the governorship candidate. Earlier, the party had substituted its deputy governorship candidate within the deadline provided

Olayinka Owolabi President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Imo State. Buhari landed at the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri, the state capital where he was received by dignitaries, including the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Dave Umahi. Addressing journalist at the airport, the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, stated that the President is in the state to commission some projects. “It is with a heart full of gratitude that I, on behalf of the good people of Imo State, welcome His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to the Eastern Heartland on a working visit to commission some of our completed people-oriented projects. “Mr President, we are delighted to have you in Imo State on this august occasion despite your tight schedules and it’s our pleasure that while in Imo State, you will enjoy the hospitality and conviviality of our people.” The Imo State Government said Buhari visit to Imo State would advance the socio-economic well-being of the people of the state and the South-Eas

 Olayinka Owolabi Ahead of President Buhari’s Planned Visit in Imo State Biafra on Thursday 9/9/21, the Indigenous People Of Biafra has kicked against Thursday’s planned visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to Imo State. IPOB in a broadcast on Monday evening declared Thursday as a Sit-at-home protest over the president’s visit. IPOB the Head of Directorate of State DOS Maazi Chika Edoziem  have declared total shut Down in the entire southeast, adding that residents are to observe a dusk to Dawn curfew, stock your homes with food items so as to avoid being a scapgoat. Part of the statement read “The Imposter Muhammadu Buhari having held our Leader Maazi Nnamdi Kanu in DSS Custody in Abuja is not Welcomed in any part of Biafra Land”. “Therefore this Thursday will be very dangerous for those who have ears but could not hear, Do not allow stray bullet to take your life kindly stay at your Home till Dawn”. “Preparations are Underway, details will remain private, sorry for the Traditional rul