BBC journalists attacked at Mbaka’s residence

 

Ejike Mbaka, popular Catholic priest based in Enugu state, has been accused of assaulting a team of BBC journalists who visited his residence for an interview on Wednesday.

The journalists – Chioma Obianinwa and Nnamdi Agbanelo – were reportedly attacked by Mbaka and some men at his residence over a “negative” reportage about the priest.

The two journalists, accompanied by one Cajethan Obiekezie, also a Catholic priest, were said to have visited the AMEN prayer ground for a scheduled interview.

They, however, moved to his residence as the church service lasted longer than expected and while waiting in their car, they were reportedly surrounded by about 20 men.

The BBC quoted Obianinwa as saying the men seized their equipment and “threatened to kill them for writing ‘negative reports about Mbaka’.”

“Mbaka asked us to wait until the end of the programme for the interview. The men outside his house said BBC Igbo writes negative things about Mbaka and started beating Nnamdi, Solomon and Ndubuisi,” the reporter said.

“They gave them heavy blows on their heads and all over their body.”

Obiekezie, who had entered Mbaka’s house, came out with the priest but the latter reportedly joined in the attack, describing Obianinwa as “satanic.”

“This fired up the men to continue the attacks as Father Mbaka continued shouting and abusing us. He asked his men to seize our phones and cameras,” she was quoted to have said.

“They said they would kill us and nothing would happen. They removed my wig and tried to strangle Nnamdi. Father Obiekezie was telling them to stop but they attacked him too and seized his phone.

“At this point, Father Mbaka asked us to leave before his men killed us. He asked them to return our equipment and they chased us out of the compound. His men trailed us till we left the state to seek medical assurance and police help.”

Mbaka could not be reached for comments while there was no response to a message sent to the Adoration Ministries Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), his church.

- THECABLE

Paolo Rossi, Italy’s 1982 World Cup hero, dies at 64

 

Paolo Rossi, a former Italian football player, has died at 64 after a long battle with illness.

Federica Cappelletti, wife of the 1982 World Cup hero, broke the sad news on Thursday in a short post on her Instagram page.

“Per Sempre (Forever in Italian),” Cappalleti wrote alongside a picture of them together.

The former Juventus and AC Milan striker became a household name in Italy after leading the Azzurri to World Cup glory at Spain 1982.

His spectacular performance at the tournament earned him the Golden Boot — for finishing as the top scorer — and then the 1982 Ballon d’Or as European Player of the Year.

Rossi scored 20 goals in 48 appearances for the Italian national side.

Pablito, as his fondly called, was Capocannoniere of Serie A in 1977/78 season with 24 goals.

He won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1984, UEFA Super Cup in 1984/85 season, the European Cup with Juventus in 1985, and two Serie A titles in 1982 and 1984.

During his playing career, the striker represented Juventus, Como, Vicenza, Perugia, AC Milan and Hellas Verona until his retirement in 1987.

Before he passed on, Rossi worked as a pundit for Sky Sport, Mediaset and Rai.

- THECABLE

Hoodlums break into Ogun Assembly, steal mace

 

Some yet to be identified persons have broken into the Ogun State House of Assembly complex and carted away the mace.

DAILY POST learned that the hoodlums broke into the office of the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo overnight and made away with the mace, the Assembly’s symbol of authority.

Our correspondent reports that the State Assembly complex is located a few metres from the Ogun governor’s office.

Journalists who visited the assembly complex on Thursday afternoon were denied access by security agents.

The Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, has confirmed the incident.

Oyeyemi, who described the incident as unfortunate, said it is being investigated.

According to the PPRO, the hoodlums broke into the house through the ceiling and removed the mace.

However, he disclosed that the head of the mace had been recovered by the police but no arrest has been made.

Oyeyemi, however, said no arrest had been made but the police were on top of the matter to unravel the case.

“Yes, there is an unfortunate incident today in the assembly complex. The hoodlums broke into the assembly through the ceiling, and removed the official mace of the house,” he stated.

- DAILY POST 

Gunmen kill 16 Kano travellers; Ganduje reacts

 

It was a mixture of shock, emotion and anger on Thursday as the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, reacted to the killing of at least 16 travellers along the Abuja-Kaduna expressway.

The 16 travellers, from Dambatta local government area of Kano, were returning to the state after a business trip to Abuja when they were killed on the road which has become notorious for incidents of kidnappings on Wednesday, according to reports.

Governor Ganduje, in a statement issued on his behalf by Abba Anwar, his spokesman, condoled with the families of the deceased, while describing the news of the attack as shocking.

“We were shocked with the bad news of the death of 16 Dambatta indigenes on Abuja-Kaduna highway, who were travelling from Abuja to Kano, as a result of an attack from unidentified gunmen.

“The news is devastating and frustrating. We commiserate with the families of the deceased, the people of Dambatta local government, and the people of Kano state.

“May Allah accept their martyrdom and may He punish all the perpetrators of this heinous act. There is nothing more shocking than this. We urge people to pray fervently for the reposed souls. And we pray that may Allah give their families the fortitude to bear the great loss.

“On behalf of the government and people of Kano state, I am condoling with the families of the deceased and the people of Dambatta local government, over this tragedy. May Allah forgive all their wrongdoings and reward their good deeds.”

- PM NEWS

NCAA: Increase in air fares caused by COVID-19 pandemic

 

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says the recent surge in air ticket prices is an offshoot of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the presidential taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19 briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Musa Nuhu, NCAA director-general, said the aviation industry was badly affected by the pandemic as operations were on hold for months.

Nuhu added that the increase in dollar rate also affected the airlines as the cost of maintenance increased.

“As regards ticket prices, yes ticket prices have gone up astronomically over the last week or so. That is one of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

“The aviation, tourism and travel industry is one of the most devastating industries by COVID-19. Because, we had a short down for several months, the airlines were not making money and there are fixed cost that they have to deal with, they have to maintain the aircraft and unfortunately most of these aircraft are maintained outside the country.

“Two issues we have had, because of the short down they don’t even have slots to take their aircraft out and the dollar rate has gone up and they need to raise enough money.

“So the problem basically is that of supply and demand. The supply for airline seats internationally have significantly gone down while the demand domestically since we opened have gone up. So it’s simple basic economics 101, when the demand exceeds supply, the prices go up.”

On the issue of 300 sacked staff by Arik Air, the NCAA chair said discussions are ongoing to prevent the employees from losing their jobs.

Some local airline operators at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja had attributed the increase in fares to the current exchange rate.

Kehinde Ogunyale, Max Air station manager, said: “We need to catch up with the economy. That is why we increase the fare. If not, we may be left behind and will not be able to fund operations anymore”.

“The fare actually went up. From Abuja to Lagos last week, the highest fare was N35,300 (economy class) and N80,000 (business class). From Abuja to Lagos at present, the highest fare is N60,000 (economy class) and N98,000 (business class).”

- THECABLE

Reps move to allow states to build railways

 

A bill to alter the 1999 constitution to put railways in concurrent list scaled second reading in the House of Representatives on Thursday.

The bill sponsored by Babajimi Benson of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, was considered and passed for second reading.

The bill seeks to amend item 55 on the exclusive legislative list on the second schedule of the 1999 Constitution.

According to Benson, with the passage of the bill, states can build and run railways in their states if railway is removed from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list.

In his lead debate, he said that “there is a need to open up the space for many to participate in the railway sector.”

He added that states will generate more revenue for their Internally Generated Revenue and also create more employment opportunities for the unemployed.

The bill was voted on, passed for second reading and referred to the special Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. 

- DAILY POST

LASU jacks up school fees by over 120 percent

 

Lagos State University, LASU, has jacked up its school fees by over 120 percent beginning with incoming 100 Level students.

The school said the old students would continue to pay the initial N25,000 until they graduate from the institution while new students would pay the new increase of N67,048.50 per session.

LASU hiked school fees by over 500 percent during the administration of Babatunde Fashola in 2014 and series of protests and condemnation made the former governor to revert to status quo.

But a circular issued by the institution showed that the hike in school fees would kick-off with the new intakes.

The circular was titled, “2020/2021 online admission screening exercises (100-level – both regular without comprehensive entrepreneurship training and regular with comprehensive entrepreneurship training – and direct entry candidates”.

“Applications are invited from suitably qualified Candidates for the Lagos State University 2020/2021 Admission Screening Exercise – Regular Student without Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Training – for Candidates seeking admission via UTME (100 level) and Direct Entry (200 level).

“This online screening exercise is a mandatory requirement for entry into Lagos State University. The Tuition Fees for the Regular Student without Comprehensive Entrepreneurship N67,048.50 only per session.”

LASU’s spokesman, Adekoya Ademola said the increment had nothing to do with the satellites, as they would continue to pay their N25,000 till they graduate.

He said the incoming students were the ones that would pay the N67,048.50.

Ademola added that the new fees had been approved by the Governing Council of the University and the Lagos State Government has also keyed into it.

According to him, the school needed to get some funds to run the university, adding that the increment had been marginal, as it is not not exorbitant.

He said some parents and even the state government had commended the university for not skyrocketing the fees to an amount they could not afford.

- PM NEWS

ELECTION WAR !! Five killed in Ghana election violence

 

At least five people were killed in the violence that broke out during the December 7 election in Ghana.

The police confirmed the incident, saying over 60 violence-related incidents have been recorded since election day.

“Twenty-one of the incidents are true cases of electoral violence, six of which involve gunshots resulting in the death of five,” the police said.

Tensions are high over a tightly contested presidential race between President Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and John Mahama, presidential candidate of National Democratic Congress (NDC)–even though there are 10 other candidates.

Mahama, a former president, had accused Akufo-Addo of using the military to intimidate voters and overturn the election in his (Akufo-Addo’s) favour.

Both men have claimed that provisional results show that they won the election.

The development comes after independent observers congratulated Ghana for conducting largely peaceful polls

- THECABLE

Nigerian media ‘one of the most repressed’ in the world

 

Ayo Olukotun, a media scholar, says the Nigerian media is one of the most repressed in the world.

Olukotun spoke at a stakeholders’ forum on journalists’ safety and press freedom limitations in Nigeria, which held in Lagos state on Wednesday.

The event was hosted by the International Press Centre (IPC).

Olukotun, who was one of the discussants, said: “Nigeria is at the bottom in terms of press freedom. This is because of the infringement that occurs almost all the time in terms of press freedom. How real is press freedom?

“The Nigeria constitution is not explicit enough about the freedom of speech or abrogation of censorship.

“I think Nigerian journalist take the freedom themselves, the country does not give it to them. The political space should be liberalised; journalists must have the right to their work. We want to build a country where there is an unfettered dialogue between the ruler and the ruled.”

The event also featured a presentation of findings of a survey on the perception of stakeholders on the safety of journalists and press freedom in Nigeria.

According to the IPC, the survey undertook an evaluation of prevailing situation under which journalists and media professionals perform their constitutional responsibilities with regards to existing and emerging challenges that infringe on press freedom.

Participants in the survey were drawn across the print, broadcast, online media as well as academics, professional groups and media-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The outcome of the survey showed that a number of safety-related issues are of serious concern to journalists and other media professionals in Nigeria.

“Respondents overwhelmingly affirmed that press freedom in Nigeria is encumbered by individual and collective safety challenges for journalists with consequence negatively impacts on the journalism profession,” the report said.

“The structure of media ownership in Nigeria fuels institutional encumbrances across all categories of media organisations to the extent that commitments of media managers to safety concerns could not be guaranteed.

“The survey revealed that unfavourable working environment which manifests in poor remuneration, delayed/unpaid salaries, as well as poor welfare packages and incentives, constitute dominant concerns that aggravate insecurity in the profession of journalism.”

It recommended regular training and retraining of journalists on safety and press freedom related issues; setting up a safety help-desk for Nigerian journalists by International Press Centre (IPC); regular interface with the government to highlight concerns about press freedom and regular interface with the government to highlight concerns about press freedom, among others.

- THECABLE

I will never be Real Madrid’s Alex Ferguson – Zidane

 Real Madrid head coach, Zinedine Zidane, has insisted he would not stay long enough at the club, to become their version of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Zidane eased some pressure off himself, with a 2-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Wednesday night, sealing qualification for the Round of 16.

The Frenchman’s position had come under intense scrutiny, after one win in five games saw his team struggling in LaLiga and in Europe.

Madrid’s season now appears to be back on track, following back-to-back victories, beating Sevilla on Saturday and then Monchengladbach on Wednesday.

They face another tough test this weekend in a Derby against high-flying Atletico.

“I’ll never be Madrid’s Sir Alex Ferguson, that’s for sure,” Zidane said in his post-match news conference on Wednesday night.

“I don’t know how long I’ll be here, so I don’t even think about it. I think about the day-to-day and how lucky I am to be here at this great club.”

Ferguson spent 26 years as manager of Manchester United, while Zidane has been in charge at the Bernabeu for just four years, over two spells.

- DAILY POST

U.S Election: Melania Trump ‘wants to go home’

 

With U.S. President Donald Trump refusing to concede in the recently concluded presidential election to President-elect Joe Biden, First Lady Melania Trump ‘wants to go home’, the Washington Post reports.

It said, while Melania “publicly agrees” with the President’s sentiment, “the first lady tasked an emissary with discreetly finding out what was available to her in terms of budget and staff allocation for post-White House life.”

“She just wants to go home,” the tabloid quoted a source familiar with Melania’s mindset, adding that it might not “go over well” if the soon-to-be-former president announces his bid to clinch the White House again in 2024.

The media outlet reported that while there are ‘presidential perks’ for such things for the outgoing commander in chief, budgets to set up an official office and staff and cover some travel costs, there is nothing from the government for any first lady.

A first lady, it says, is entitled to a paltry $20,000-a-year pension, which is paid out only if her husband dies.

The first lady is said to be focused on her legacy and she is considering a book, though it would not be a memoir but “is toying” with the idea of writing a photo-centric book.

“Mrs Trump is focused on her role as the first lady. Monday she unveiled her most current effort in preserving the White House by announcing the completion of the tennis pavilion.

“She also recently unveiled a new piece of art in the newly renovated Rose Garden. Her office just revealed this year’s Christmas decor.

“Her schedule remains full with her duties as a mother, wife and first lady of the United States,” the first lady’s chief of staff Stephanie Grisham told CNN.

A source said that she is now focused on Mar-a-Lago “ensuring a smooth transition out of Washington for herself and her 14-year-old-son, Barron.”

The source further said that the First Lady is “already overseeing shipments of personal items to Mar-a-Lago from both the White House and her Trump Tower penthouse in New York City.''

Biden is being projected as the winner of the Presidential elections in the U.S. after he clinched the state of Pennsylvania to take him past the required 270 Electoral College-vote mark.

ANI/NAN

Soyinka: No one is in charge of Nigeria

 Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, says no one is in charge of Nigeria.

Soyinka made the comment on Wednesday in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, during the launch of his new book, ‘Chronicles of the Happiest People on Earth’.

Speaking on the state of the nation, the literature professor said the year has also been a pessimistic one for the country.

He said though there were natural issues that resulted in the “repugnant and negative” mood in the year, leadership also failed the country.

Soyinka insisted, as he said in June, that he does not believe President Muhammadu Buhari is in charge of the country. 

”With the turbulence that characterises year 2020, and as activities wind down, the mood has been repugnant and very negative. I don’t want to sound pessimistic but this is one of the most pessimistic years I have known in this nation and it wasn’t just because of COVID-19, no,” he said.

“Natural disasters had happened elsewhere, but how have you managed to take such in their strides? Was calamity as a result of human negligence or as a result of malignant activities when people find themselves under the control of other beings which I am afraid what most Nigerians find themselves in, it is like you don’t know from where the blow would descend. That is not the way a nation should be and that is not the way the citizens should exist.

“The situation has reached a point where you are not very sure of where you are going and where you will end it. As I had said before, you don’t believe, in many instances, that anybody is in charge. That, really, is a parlous condition for any nation.

“So, I am afraid it has not been a very good year for me generally.”

- THECABLE

FG lied about agreement on date to call off strike – ASUU

 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has denied that it reached an agreement with the federal government, to call off its ongoing strike on December 9, 2020.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, on Tuesday claimed that ASUU promised to call off their nine-month old strike before Wednesday.

Ngige further stated that the government has delivered on offers made to ASUU.

However, ASUU president, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, in a statement on Wednesday, made it clear that representatives of the union, don’t have the powers to suspend industrial action.

According to Ogunyemi, they must follow due process, which involves transmitting the outcome of negotiations to members and National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU for further deliberations and actions.

“To put the records straight, the Principal Officers and Trustees who constitute the core of representatives of ASUU at negotiation meetings with the government are not constitutionally empowered to suspend any strike action.

“Whatever comes out of an engagement with agents of the government is an offer that must be taken back to the branches through the various organs of the union,” part of the statement read.

He added that, “this trade union strategy of offer and counter-offer is continually deployed until the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU – consisting of all recognised chairpersons – finally approves what it considers an acceptable offer from the government. It is only then that any strike action by ASUU can be suspended.”

- DAILY POST

Pandemonium in Rivers as policeman shoots tricycle rider dead over N100 bribe

 Pandemonium broke out on Thursday, at Mgbuchi-Rukpokwuodu, Rukpokwu, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, as policeman allegedly shot a tricycle rider dead over N100 bribe.

PM NEWS reports that the immediate reason for killing the tricycle rider, popularly known as “School Boy” by the yet to be identified policeman, was uncertain.

However, various sources claimed that the deceased was shot dead at a close range by a policeman attached to a patrol team around 6.00am on Thursday due to his refusal to part with N100 bribe.

The Police patrol team was allegedly drawn from the Police Special Area Command, in Rumuodomaya headquarters of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

According to sources, immediately the police team found out that ” School Boy” was shot dead and his tricycle plunged into the gutter, they fled the scene of the of the incident to avoid reprisal attack from angry passers-by who witnessed the incident.

However, a few minutes after the news of of the death of “School Boy”, broke with videos in social media, there was spontaneous protests from the commercial tricycle operators who were joined by angry youths and residents.

The angry protesters blocked the Airport road, and major adjoining roads leading to the Port Harcourt International Airport causing heavy traffic with bonfires.

Protesters also tried to march to the Police Special Area Command in Rumuodomaya but were resisted by policemen who shot both teargas canisters and live bullets sporadically for several hours to ward them off.

In a Video that went viral immediately after the incident, relations and sympathetic onlookers were seen weeping over the corpse of the late tricycle rider.

SP Nnamdi Omoni, spokesman of the Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident and that the policeman who fired the shot that killed the tricycle rider had been arrested and demobilised.

As at the time of filing this report, shop owners in Rumuodomaya and Rukpokwu and those along Airport road hurriedly closed their shops, while commuters trekked long distances as vehicles were off the road.

- PM NEWS