The Ondo State Government has reportedly set February 23 and 24 as the dates for the burial of the state’s late governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

This decision was finalized on Monday by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa following a state cabinet meeting, which was not without its share of disagreements.

The meeting witnessed some discord over the composition of the burial planning committee, particularly concerning the exclusion of certain key figures.

Among those reportedly omitted from the committee was the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Princess Oladunni Odu, who expressed displeasure over her non-inclusion.

The late Governor Akeredolu, a significant political figure in Ondo State, left a notable legacy, and his burial is expected to be a major event.

The coming days are expected to be crucial for the planning committee as they work towards a ceremony that honors the legacy of the late Governor Akeredolu.

A source at the meeting who spoke with SaharaReporters said, “the burial has been fixed between February 23 and 24. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who also doubled as the Chairman of the Committee made the announcement on Monday.

“SSG (Odu) got wind that her name was not on the list of the committee and during a meeting with the governor, Aiyedatiwa, at the governor’s office, she raised her concerns about it.

“It became a whole lot of argument and charged at the governor for not including her on the list of the committee. But it took the intervention of other cabinet members at the meeting to calm the nerves of the woman. In fact, I’m aware that the meeting did not end peacefully due to the manner Odu behaved.

“Don’t forget that Odu also has eyes on the seat of the governor and she is ready to contest in the governorship race.”

Naija News recalls that the body of the late former Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, arrived in Nigeria from Germany on the 5th of January, 2024.

The body was received by his wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, his children, and siblings led by Prof. Wole Akeredolu, the immediate younger brother.

Senegal forward Sadio Mane has entered marital bliss with his longtime girlfriend, Aisha Tamba, in an intimate ceremony held in Dakar, Senegal.

The nuptial event unfolded on Sunday in Keur Massar, Dakar, the capital city of Senegal.

Captured in a post by Senegalese photographer Magvision, Tamba radiated elegance in her white gown.

In a separate video shared by Dakar Live, a Senegalese TV station, the bride was escorted into a vehicle, surrounded by members of the community showing their support and joy.

The footage also featured Tamba capturing moments with some of her family members.

Mane, adorned in a traditional white Arabian outfit, showcased cultural flair.

The Al Nassr player is presently in training camp with his Senegalese teammates, gearing up for the upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

Mané initiated his professional journey with Metz, the Ligue 2 club, at the youthful age of 19.

In 2012, he made a transition to Red Bull Salzburg, the Austrian club, securing triumphs in both the league and domestic cups.

Subsequently, Mané joined the Premier League club Southampton later that summer and then moved to Liverpool in 2016.

Departing from the Merseyside club in 2022, he ventured to Bayern Munich and is presently active in the Saudi League.

Mané’s exceptional prowess on the field earned him the title of African Player of the Year in both 2019 and 2022.

The Synagogue Church of all Nations on Tuesday countered the BBC documentary on the late Temitope Babatunde Joshua, known as TB Joshua, Founder of SCOAN.

SCOAN described the documentary as unfounded, noting that the characters interviewed in the report were unknown to the church.

The church in a statement signed by its Public Affairs Director, Mr Dare Adejumo, said the statement was aimed at disabusing public minds from the report.

The BBC on Monday released a highly controversial and damning documentary on the late TB Joshua, accusing him of various crimes, including rape against some members.

SCOAN said, “BBC World Services investigative unit, code-named Africa Eye came out this week with weird and strange episodes of atrocities against the late founder of SCOAN.”

It said that to investigate and publish or broadcast reports was a central kernel in journalism but to do so outside the ethics and fundamental principles of the profession was an aberration.

According to the church, journalism as a societal watchdog requires fairness, balancing and objectivity to command dignity honour, and respect as the fourth estate of the realm.

“BBC has compromised these lofty principles by descending into fictional narratives and propaganda, thus turning itself into a weapon for a hatchet job as gangsters in the gab of journalism with a destructive ulterior motive for personal gains against a perceived enemy.

“Only BBC can best explain why it woefully deviated from true journalism and chose to be dishing junks and feeding the public with stones called bread by its offensive and disenchanted reports of disgruntled elements.

“This, to say the least, is insulting to our professional and public intelligence. One thing is very obvious, hundreds of BBC charades cannot rubbish the indelible footprints of TB Joshua’s legacies on earth again.”

According to the Church, thousands of human beings have received dumbfounding miracles and tremendously benefited from the anointing and grace the Lord endued with His servant.

“Those beneficiaries are all over the place and cannot be disputed that are lining up and responding angrily to this imperialist broadcasting station.

”Many of them are in the UK the home base of BBC but which its jaundiced investigative eyes cannot see but only the obviously suborned narrators!

“Myriads of broken homes reconciled by TB Joshua are also crying foul of BBC’s broadcast of iniquity. Uncountable hopeless children drawn from different parts of the world; some brought by their parents while some were picked from drug joints or brothels who have gotten their destinies restored are also pissed off by the offensive reports.

”BBC has obviously shot itself in the foot by its compromise and roadside journalism.”

It said the BBC would not have lost anything if it had gone to the church even to disguise as visitors to have direct experience of what was happening in the church instead of relying on disgruntled and manipulated individuals some of whom were never known before in SCOAN.

”Some of those identified there are relics of homosexual and lesbian associates. My findings further show that everything the BBC put together is strange to SCOAN.

“One other clearly illogical thing in the charade is the BBC’s categorical statement that the man of God was involved in all the abuse for over two decades!

”How can that be in a nation governed by law? It shows the station’s crude disrespect and bizarre perception of Nigeria.

“Where were all those shameless interviewees in all the decades? Was it when the man passed on that they suddenly became awake or came back to their senses? Only a fool will have respect for such charlatans.”

According to SCOAN, this is not only shameful to hear but also insulting to see from the work of supposedly well-trained reporters.

It pointed out that it was all to call the dog a bad name so that they could hang it.

It added that It was obvious that the sponsors of the BBC hatchet job must have been envious of the continued growth of the church like the tree planted by the riverside.

“Thank God your report exonerated his only wife of any wrongdoings throughout the decades of your so-called investigated lopsided work.

“But did you think any wife at all can see and watch all those nonsensical and annoying scenarios you painted for decades and still kept silent? I am yet to read or see such a woman in the universe!

“This is illogical, irritating, incomprehensible, unfathomable, and satanically dubious and malicious.”

(NAN)

A professor of political economy, Pat Utomi, has lamented the lack of a functioning democracy in Nigeria.

Speaking on Tuesday during an interview on Arise TV, Utomi said Nigeria does not have any political party at the moment in the real sense of how democracy should work.

The political economist said what the country has been having since its return to democracy in 1999 is simply a platform for machine politics with the aim of grabbing power by all means and sharing the spoils of governance.

He added that it is of utmost importance to ensure democracy works in Nigeria with real political parties in place before the 2027 general elections.

In his words, “Nigeria is not a working democracy, and part of our efforts is to make our democracy work before people think about the next election. Countries don’t grow by waiting for the next electoral process; countries grow through the founding of political parties.

“I can say without any feeling of wrongness that we don’t have a political party in Nigeria today. What we have been able to couple together since 199 has been a platform for machine politics, where the game is to grab power rightly or wrongly and share spoils.”

As a solution, Utomi said he is working on a merger of all the front-runners from the 2023 general elections to present a common platform and put forward one person who can get the job done in 2027.

“My view is clear on this matter, let’s build a great party that can make Nigeria better. When we then build it, the people from different social movements, in addition to the political parties that come into this one party, subscribe to certain values and ideologies of how you make a nation happen, can then present those who seem interested can go forward.

“This is what Nigeria needs, and must have but shouldn’t be about some individuals advertising that they are the ones who should go forward, Nigerians will determine that,” he said.

The Federal Government has moved to tackle the issue of fake academic degrees in the country’s education system with the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee.

The Director, Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Goong, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja.

“Education Minister, Prof. Tahir Mamman, will this afternoon, inaugurate an inter-ministerial committee on degree mills,” Goong said.

DAILY POST reports that the issue of fake degrees has been trending in the country, following an investigation by a reporter, Umar Audu, with the Daily Nigerian newspaper on the activities of degree mills in Benin Republic and Togo.

The reporter disclosed how he obtained a degree within six weeks and even proceeded to embark on mandatory youth service under the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, scheme.

Audu, who reached out to the syndicate that specialises in selling degree certificates in December 2022, graduated in February 2023 and was issued a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication certificate from the Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies, Cotonou, Benin Republic.

The report which uncovered the illegalities perpetrated by some tertiary institutions in the West African states led to the Nigerian government imposing a ban on the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from Benin Republic and Togo.

The Education minister later said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration would further extend its searchlight to institutions in other African countries such as Ghana.

So far, no fewer than 10,900 Nigerian students studying in Beninois and Togolese universities are expected to be affected by the Nigerian government ban, according to statistics provided by the National Association of Nigerian Students in Benin Republic and Togo.

Also, the National Universities Commission, the regulatory body of universities in Nigeria, revealed that no fewer than 18 out of the 58 universities whose operations have been suspended in Nigeria are foreign-owned.

[DailyPost]

The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved judgment on the appeal by the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang.

A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Elphreda Williams-Dawodu had declared Nentawe Goshwe of the All Progressives Congress the winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.

The appeal court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Mutfwang and issue a fresh one to Goshwe.

Details later…

[Punch]

Suspended Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister Dr. Betta Edu has arrived at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Headquarters for grilling over alleged N585 million fraud in her ministry.

Recall that Edu was suspended on Monday by President Bola Tinubu.

The minister was accused of paying the humanitarian fund into a private account.

The N585 million was meant for payment of grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Cross River and Ogun states.

Edu is the first minister to be suspended from office since members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) were sworn in in August last year.

Details later…

[Vanguard]

A delegation, comprising Chief Dr. Dorn Cklaimz Enamhe, Prof John Undie, Dr. Isaac Ishamali, Dr. Mrs. Mary Mark Ogbeche, Dr. Mrs. Martina Ntino, and Mr. Roland Ugeh, representing the Who is Who of Cross River North, undertook a second visit to the displaced people of Belegete at the Obudu Ranch Resort on January 4, and 5th 2024.

During this visit, the group continued its commitment to supporting the Belegete IDPs. Notably, items presented to the community included wrappers specifically for women and mosquito nets, foams, and warm clothing, together with normal outing clothes. The terms also came with the medical team who are attending to the displaced families, carrying out tests, and giving treatment to them. These items were selected with consideration for the specific needs and challenges faced by the women, men, and children in the community.

Chief Enamhe reiterated the group's dedication to alleviating the suffering of the Belegete people. The focus remained on understanding and addressing the root causes of the crisis, mitigating its consequences, and engaging with government bodies to draw attention to the plight of the community.

The delegation emphasized the importance of cultural identity and regional unity, echoing the communal values passed down by their forefathers. By continuing their efforts, the group aims to reintegrate the Belegete people into the mainstream Cross River North community and provide them with a renewed sense of belonging.

In conversations with the residents, it became evident that the challenges faced by the IDPs extended beyond the initial crisis. The harsh weather conditions and inadequate supplies were reported to be taking a toll, leading to unfortunate deaths within the community. The delegation expressed solidarity with the people of Belegete and reassured them of ongoing support.

The Belegete community, despite its peaceful nature, found itself thrust into the complexities of a border region. Unfamiliar with the Ambazonian separatists, the residents were caught off guard by the violent attack on their village. Their readiness to return to their homeland demonstrated a strong desire to reclaim their natural habitat despite the hardships faced at the Obudu Ranch Resort.

In summary, the second visit of the Who is Who of Cross River North group reinforced their commitment to providing targeted assistance to the Belegete IDPs. The items presented, coupled with the ongoing engagement with the community, aim to contribute to the healing and eventual reintegration of the Belegete people into the broader Cross River North community.

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has warned that there is a growing cabal within the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Ndume raised the alarm on Monday when he commended President Tinubu for suspending the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, over the allegations of financial mismanagement against her.

The Borno South Senator, however, alleged that Edu is not working alone, but is in connivance with certain powerful individuals who have since formed a cartel in the Tinubu Presidency.

He added that Tinubu must act swiftly to dismantle them so the said cabal does not pull down his administration.

Senator Ndume, who made the revelation in a phone chat with Tribune, however, commended Tinubu for the boldness to suspend Edu, saying said the removal of the minister would send a strong signal to other ministers in Tinubu’s cabinet that their principal would not tolerate corruption.

He added that the President, by his singular action, has also gained the trust of Nigerians, who will now begin to take his administration seriously.

He said, “What President Tinubu has done is very timely. The suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is a welcome development. It will allow the relevant agencies to conduct a proper investigation.

“Some people in the same position Tinubu is in would not have acted. But as the leader in charge, he acted swiftly, and the minister has been suspended. We should commend the president. This is something Nigerians should commend.

“But the president should not stop there. There is an emerging political cartel within the corridors of power. The president must not act swiftly and dismantle the cartel.

“If they’re not stopped, they’ll be stronger and worse than the cabal. The president must not allow that to happen. I don’t think what the minister did was an isolated case. I don’t think she acted alone.

“The President needs to look deep and flush out those involved in mismanaging the funds meant for humanitarian assistance.

“We’re hopeful that the President will take more decisive actions in the future.”

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has refuted claims suggesting his involvement as a signatory in the company implicated in N438 million contract allegations linked to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu.  

A leaked memo circulating online indicated that a company, allegedly owned by Tunji-Ojo, received N438 million designated as ‘consultancy fees’ from Edu. 

• Reacting to the allegation in an interview on Channels TV on Monday, Tunji-Ojo  said, “I am not a signatory to the company.” 
• “And actually, I was shocked because the company in question was a company where I was a director. About five years ago, I had resigned from my directorship,” he added.  

Meanwhile, the minister confirmed his role in co-founding the company with his wife and attributed his resignation in 2019 from the firm to his political ambitions. 

• “I and my wife founded the company 15 years years ago. Well, in 2019, when I got to the House of Representatives I won the election precisely, I made a change, 
• “I had resigned as director of the company to hold office. 
• “Of course, and to the best of my knowledge, the public service rule does not prohibit public officers from being shareholders,” Olubunmi said. 

What you should know 

• The embattled minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, Betta Edu, was suspended by President Bola Tinubu after allegedly diverting more than N585 million to a private account.  
• Also, a leaked memo circulating online showed that a company, New Planet Project Limited, was awarded contracts worth N438 million as ‘consultancy fees’ from Edu. 
• The connection between the firm and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, raises concerns about a potential conflict of interest. It prompts scrutiny into whether the minister may have misused his position to secure the contract. 
• Meanwhile, Tunji-Ojo clarified in an interview on Monday that he is no longer a signatory of the company since he resigned from it in 2019 after winning the House of Representatives seat.  
• He therefore noted that there cannot be any conflict of interest, adding that he cannot be held responsible for the actions of the company he no longer runs.