Fulani herdsmen’s presence unsettles Abia community

The presence of herdsmen in Ohuru Isi-Miri community in the Aba North Local Government Area of Abia has put farmers in the community, especially women into palpable fear.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gloom has descended on the community, due to the inability of people to cultivate their farms.

The presence of the herdsmen has sparked intense fear among residents, with many of them, especially women now shunning farming, to avoid getting raped or killed by herdsmen.

NAN learnt that the the herdsmen have found a home at an empty land owned by Nigerian Breweries, near Ohuru Isi-Miri town, making the place a no-go for people.

At a meeting in Aba on Thursday women from the community, pleaded with the Abia government to step in to dislodge the herders from their farmlands.

One of the women, Mrs Mercy Samuel, said she secured a land to farm in the community but that the presence of the herdsmen had prevented her from working on her farm.

“Please tell Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu to help us remove the herdsmen and their cows before they kill us.

“I cannot farm because of the menace of herdsmen. Each time I enter my farm, my heart misses beats and my body begins to shake.

“Government should please intervene to save our lives.”

Another farmer, Mrs Joanna Nwankwo, lamented that watching the animals destroy her crops had always made her sick and hopeless.

She pleaded with Ikpeazu to come to the rescue of farmers before herdsmen would wipe them out through destruction of their means of livelihood.

According her colleague, Mrs Peace Moses: “herdsmen have become a threat to our existence.

“They come into our farms to graze. If you look around the farm you will see how cows have eaten our newly planted crops, leaving nothing but stumps of crops.

“The maize and cassava you’re seeing should have reached maturity by now but constant grazing on our farms by herdsmen does not allow the crops to grow.

“We borrowed money to buy land and cultivate the crops but now that herdsmen have turned it to grazing field, I wonder how we can get money to pay government that lent us money to do farm work.

Other women, including Mrs Charity Bara, Uloma Okezie, Roseline Uduuko and Salome Samuel, took turns to speak on the development, pleading with government to come to their rescue.

They said that government should assist them with loans for them to start all over again during the next farming season.

- PM NEWS

Reps pass South East Devt Commission bill

The House of Representatives, Thursday, concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill to establish the South East Development Commission, into second reading.

Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun presided over the plenary when the bill was approved.

DAILY POST however reports that debate preceding the approval generated emotion as lawmakers representing the South East geo-political zone and those canvassing for 9th Speakership position seized the opportunity to explain how the zone has been neglected since after the civil war.

In their various contributions, Hon. Eucharia Anazodo (PDP, Anambra) said, “We need this bill to reconstruct and rehabilitate the zone from the civil war”.

Also, Hon. Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta), while speaking on how every part of the South East has been devastated by erosion and destruction caused by the civil war, explained that the commission will help to give the zone a sense of belonging.

The mention of the civil war, however, resulted in a point of order by Hon. Sanni Abdul (APC, Bauchi) who took exception to the reference of the unfortunate civil war and advised that Ossai should stick to the subject matter instead.

But the presiding deputy Speaker intervened as he quickly pointed out that the bill entailed environment under the need to develop the zone.

Lasun said, “There is a chunk of underdevelopment in the South East.

“The passage of this bill will help unite this country. Let us show them that they are part of this country. We should rise above ethnic sentiment and pass this bill.”

Eventually, the bill was passed and subsequently referred to the House committee of the whole for further legislative action.

- DAILY POST

National Assembly passes bill to make June 12 Democracy Day

The Senate on Thursday concurred with the Public Holiday Act (Amendment) Bill passed by the House of Representatives, which approved June 12 as the new Democracy Day.

This followed a presentation of conference report by Leader of the Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, at plenary on Thursday.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki put the conference report to a voice vote and it was adopted by the lawmakers.

NAN reports that in the bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives on Nov. 26, 2018, the current democracy date, which is May 29, was deleted and replaced with June 12.

On June 12, 1993, presidential election was held and adjudged to be the freest in the country’s history.

However, the results were annulled by the then Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.

In the process of reclaiming his mandate, one of the presidential candidate who was reported to have polled most votes, Mr Moshood Abiola lost his life.

NAN reports that 25 years after, President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018, announced that the nation’s Democracy Day would hold on June 12 of every year as against current arrangement where the ceremony holds on May 29.

The National Assembly however needed to amend the public holiday act to give the directive a legal backing, to make it binding.

Meanwhile, the Senate concurred with five other House of Representatives bills.

They are: Federal Capital Territory Area Councils Service Commission, Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Projects Development Agency Enugu PRODA, Data Protection Bill.

- DAILY POST

Weah, Drogba, Eto’o, Toure, others storm Lagos for Ambode testimonial match

African football legends both in Nigeria and abroad will on Saturday, May 18, storm the Agege Stadium in Lagos to feature in the testimonial match organised to honour the outgoing Governor of the Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode.

Among the stars that have confirmed their participation for the one day event include The President of Liberian and former World Footballer award winner, George Weah, Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o, Ivorian Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure also from Cote d’Ivoire, Diomansy Kamara, Peterside Idah, Geremi Njitap, Michael Essien, Lomana Lua-Lua, Samuel Eto, Didier Zokora, Kader Keita, Richard Kingston, Christian Karembu, El- Hadji Diouf.

Others include Peter Rufai, Finidi George, Mutiu Adepoju, Samson Siasia, Augustine Eguavoen, Joseph Yobo, Ike Shorunmu, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Jay- Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Emmanuel Amunike, Phillip Shuaibu (Deputy Governor, Edo State), Taribo West, Victor Ezeji, Tijani Babangida, Emma Okocha, Ifeanyi Udeze, Uche Okechukwu and Garba Lawal.

In a statement on Thursday signed by the Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, the event tagged ‘Match for Ambode’, is being organised to honour Governor Ambode for his laudable contribution to sports development in Lagos since he assumed office in 2015.

He said the organisers, a group of ex-internationals led by Waidi Akanni have promised to put up a memorable event, adding that all the African football legends who come for the match will have a taste of good hospitality of the government and people of Lagos State.

Tandoh added that the testimonial match would be spiced up with music from a-list artistes including Wizkid, Small Doctor amongst many others.

He also assured that adequate security before, during and after the event which starts by 10am on Saturday have been firmed up.

- PM NEWS

42-year-old docked over alleged handset theft

A 42-year-old woman, Esther Olajide, who allegedly stole handsets worth N202, 000, on Thursday appeared in a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

The police charged Olajide, whose address was not stated, on two counts of stealing and breach of the peace.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to both counts.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the prosecutor, ASP Clement Okoimose, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 12, at 2:22p.m. at French Language Village, Badagry.

Okoimose said that the defendant stole one iPhone six valued at N80,000 and a Tecno WX3P worth N72,000 which belonged to the complainant, Mr Chukwuka Yunaya.

“She also stole another Tecno phone valued at N50,000 from one Esther Efebumyi.

“All the properties worth N202,000.

“The defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace by pretending to be looking for someone and stranded,” he added.

He said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 285 and 166 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaiya, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Adekomaiya adjourned the case until June 11, for hearing.

- PM NEWS

Fayemi sacks 2,000 workers hurriedly recruited by Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has sacked over 2,000 workers hurriedly appointed by the immediate past Governor, Ayodele Fayose few days to his leaving office.

The workers were appointed by Fayose after the July, 2018 gubernatorial election.

The decision followed deliberations by the State Executive Council on the report of the committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, that reviewed irregular appointments made between 2014 and 2018.

The government said the recruitment exercise violated due process, The Nation reports.

It was gathered that the affected 2 ,000 workers comprises 600 teachers recruited into the Teaching Service Commission , 400 personnel employed into the State Universal Basic Education Board and 1,000 injected into the system through the Office of Establishment and Training, among others.

Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Values Orientation, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua who addressed newsmen on Thursday said the appointments were null and void because they were done hurriedly with ulterior motives and in bad faith.

He stated that the governor had directed the Head of Service, Mr Ayodeji Ajayi, to collate all available vacancies in the Civil Service, with a view to recruiting suitable and qualified Ekiti citizens into the Public Service, irrespective of religious and political affinities.

Olumilua, however, urged the affected workers to participate in the next recruitment exercise to be announced in due course.

“All appointments made after the Gubernatorial Election of July 2018, violated due process, are hereby cancelled and declared null and void.

“And all affected workers are advised to participate in the next recruitment exercise to be announced in due course”, Olumilua said.

According to him, “The officers reinstated into the Local Government Service Commission between October 16th, 2014 and October 15th, 2018 are to be reabsorbed by the relevant Personnel Board, and migrated to biometric payroll.

“All 272 officers employed by the Governor Fayose Administration, who are still on manual payroll, shall be considered for absorption into the Civil Service but on case-by-Case basis. Absorption will be conditional on availability of vacancies.

“The 169 officers recruited in 2014 but had their appointments terminated by the Governor Fayose Administration, shall be considered for re-absorption by the Ekiti State House of Assembly Service Commission, But on a Case-by-case basis. Re-absorption will be conditional on availability of vacancies in their previous offices of appointment.

“Officers dismissed between October 16th, 2014 and October 15th 2018 in the Ministries of Justice, Works and Transport, Environment, SUBEB, Teaching Service Commission, Hospital Management Board should go to the Office of Establishment to ascertain their current status.”

- PM NEWS

Sack of 2,000 workers by Fayemi is wickedness, political vendetta – Fayose

Immediate past Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has reacted to the sack of 2,000 workers recruited by him before leaving office by Governor Kayode Fayemi, describing his action as wicked and political vendetta.

Fayemi had on Thursday sacked over 2,000 workers hurriedly recruited by Fayose after his victory at the poll and shortly before handover.

Reacting to this development, Fayose, through his Media Aide, Lere Olayinka described the development as act of wickedness and extreme degree of political vendetta.

According to him, Fayemi had only succeeded in writing his name in the history books of Ekiti as one who inflicted pains and sorrow on the people.

“Fayemi has only demonstrated the wickedness in his heart by sacking Ekiti sons and daughters who were duly employed by the state government.

“It will be on record that the PDP government of Ayodele Fayose gave jobs to over 2,000 unemployed youths in Ekiti while the APC government of Kayode Fayemi sacked them,” a statement issued by Olayinka said.

The statement added that whoever applauded this show of wickedness would be reminded in future when actions of Fayemi would also be reviewed.

“As for those sons and daughters of Ekiti who have now become victims of Fayemi’s wickedness and political vendetta, they should place their hope in God and enforce their rights to seek redress in the court of law”, the statement said.

 - DAILY POST