FocalPoint Reports

CDHR, MRA, 48 others petition UN, AU over Sowore Urge activist’s immediate release, analyst tasks judiciary on national interest Fifty civil society groups, including the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have written the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) over the continued detention of the organiser of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, by the Federal Government. Decrying his being kept in custody by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration amid a subsisting court ruling ordering his freedom, the groups demanded the immediate release of the publisher of the online news medium, Sahara Reporters. The African Action Congress (AAC) candidate in this year’s presidential election was arrested on August 3 this year by the Department of State Services (DSS) for galvanising Nigerians against some ‘challenges’ in the polity. A Federal High Cou...

Dickson accuses oil firms of sponsoring terrorism in Bayelsa Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has accused multinational oil firms of sponsoring terrorism through the award of pipeline security and surveillance contracts to a candidate of a major political party. The governor, who spoke on the forthcoming November 16 gubernatorial election at the weekend, alleged that the oil firms were operating like mafians and have maintained a firm grip on the oil-producing communities in the state to neutralise any form of resistance to their nefarious activities in the communities. He alleged that the contractors primarily engage dubious individuals who in turn inflict terror against the oil-bearing communities. The governor also accused the surveillance contractors of operating militia groups working under them to inflict terror on the society. “What has happened is that the oil companies are giving surveillance contracts to these young boys most of who are outlaws. I have sai...

Internal Crises Rucks Bayelsa  APC As Chieftains Battles Sylva Over Governorship Candidate The internal wrangling in the All Progressives Congress (APC), which led to the inability of the party to field governorship candidates in Rivers and Zamfara states in the last general elections, may repeat itself in the November 16 governorship election in Bayelsa State, if the party does not put its house in order. Already, members of the party are locked in a battle of intelligence with a former governor of the state and current Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, over the choice of David Lyon as its flag bearer in the forthcoming election. Lyon had emerged the governorship candidate of the APC having polled 42,138 votes to defeat five other aspirants in the primary election of the party conducted on September 5, 2019 by the APC Bayelsa State Governorship Primary Election Committee, chaired by the Yobe State Governor, Mai-Mala Buni. Lyon is believed to be the preferred c...

CAN President Aiding, Abetting Corruption By Visiting Osinbajo – Timi Frank By   Agency Report   Comrade Timi Frank A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank has called on the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle to stop denigrating Christians in Nigeria. Frank in a statement in Abuja also urged Dr. Ayokunle to face his priestly duties instead of using his sacred office to aid and abet corruption. He said it was a mortal sin for the CAN head to portray the highly reverred Christian body in the country as being pro-corruption through his recent comments. It could be recalled that Ayokunle, visited Osinbajo in Abuja on Friday and later spoke with reporters at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, where he met with top members of CAN. He declared Osinbajo innocent of the N90billion allegation against him without proof and vowed to mobilise ...

Senator Tinubu Insults Youths : Says Lazy Lagos Youths Always In My House For Free Money – Tinubu Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, the Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District and wife of a former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said youths of today are lazy and not ready to work. According to her, most of the youths in Lagos would come to her husband’s house, claiming “they want to enjoy Asiwaju’s money.” She, however, expressed displeasure that “most of these youths don’t want to work”, adding that “the moment you give them work to do, they fall sick.” Sen. Tinubu added that youths of nowadays are interested in making quick money, “but they don’t want to work before making the money.” She added that, “our youths are very rude because they want to be like all those people abroad.” Speaking on a Lagos Television program on Saturday morning, Tinubu said her New Era Foundatio...

Strike at expense of patients’ health unethical, Obasanjo tells doctors     FORMER President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday, appealed to medical practitioners in the country to always consider the health and lives of their patients first before embarking on strike. Obasanjo declared that the culture of doctors proceeding on strike and abandoning patients to their fate is even more unethical, advising them to fashion out another way to show their displeasure. The elder statesman made this known during the opening ceremony of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMD), at the Doctor’s House, Lukosi, Abeokuta. The ex -Head of State, who was the Father of the Day at the occasion, passionately appealed to physicians to make patients’ conditions a matter of priority while demanding better welfare from their employers. He said: “A major issue that I always want to talk about whenever I am in your midst, which I told you when ...

PDP blasts APC over attack on Dickson’s performance Youths from the Bayelsa State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) under the aegis of PDP Youth Network (PDPYN) have dismissed as “tissues of lies” claims of Chief Don Evarada, a former aide to Governor Seriake Dickson who rated Gov Dickson’s administration low. Evarada erstwhile Special Adviser on Urban Security to Dickson who defected recently to the All Progressives Congress (APC) had appeared on a national television alongside another chieftain of the party, Chief Indutimi Komonibo, to criticised the incumbent PDP government for poor performance. PDPYN in a statement signed by its spokesman, Ebibowei Seighaowei, said the duo laboured hard to spread lies about the Dickson administration to deceive Nigerians. The group alleged that Evarada was bitter against Dickson and the PDP because he was not made a cabinet member which he lobbied unsuccessfully for. It said no amount of lies would erase the sterling performance ...

Tacha said, ”You are a moron, remain there and don’t come out. clout chaser, old woman, you keep using your body to get everything you want. You have been using Ike to get what you want. You can’t stand eviction that is why you need Ike to help you.” Mercy did not keep quiet to all the insults showered on her; she said, ‘You are very stupid, you Instagram beggar. Go and treat your body odour before you talk to me, you stink. At least, I have a boyfriend (Ike) to get me what I want what have your boyfriend done for you?” BB Naija housemates Tacha and Mercy argued, exchanged words and almost fought after they had hot argument and physical confrontation. What led to the argument that almost led to a fight? Seyi called Mercy to come to the lounge so they can read Biggie’s scroll. This singular act triggered an the argument after Mercy who had her bath came out late for the reading. On the long run, it did not go down well with Tacha who rained insults at her. An excerpt from their exch...

Why we haven’t released Sowore —DSS The Department of State Services (DSS) has given reasons for the continued detention of the #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, after he had been granted bail. Spokesperson of the DSS , Peter Afunnaya said Sowore was still in custody because his legal team was yet to serve it with a copy of the court order granting him bail. According to Afunnaya on Thursday said the DSS as a law-abiding agency had the highest regard for the laws of the land and would not do anything to undermine law and order. “We have not received the court order. And his (Sowore’s) counsel is a very senior member of the bar and he knows the process to follow; this process has not been followed,” he said. Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, to immediately release Sowore or go to jail. Sowore had met the conditions for his bail handed to him on Tuesday by Ju...

Stop begging for government appointments, Amaechi tells women The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has urged the women in the maritime industry to stop peddling gender inequality as the reason they don’t get appointments in Nigeria, rather he urged them to focus on building their competence and lifting one another. Delivering his keynote address at the 2019 World Maritime Day celebration with the theme: “Empowering Women In The Maritime Community,” in Lagos on Thursday, Amaechi said the appointments were not about gender but about the class one belongs

Bayelsa graduates Declare support PDP candidate Diri Educated youths under the auspices of the Bayelsa Forward Movement (BFM) have declared support for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 governorship elections, Douye Diri. BFM Coordinator Alfred Kemepado, and other leaders of the group, also promised to work against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief David Lyon. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei quoted Kemepado to have made the declaration during a solidarity visit to the Government House, Yenagoa. Kemepado, who described the choices in the forthcoming election as a contest between good and evil, said that the enlightened youth populace would not allow Bayelsa to descend on a pitiable mission to Egypt after tasting the soothing air of restoration. Kemepado said that the Nigerian system created an unacceptable situation that foisted servitude and deprivation on the inhabitan...

OKOWA ENDORSES THE 2019 SHERIFF MULADE IJAW / ITSEKIRI PEACE AND UNITY CUP . COMMEND MULADE FOR PROMOTE PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE IN DELTA The state sports commission has given its backing to the foremost grassroots football competition in the riverine region as the second edition kicks off. The Delta State sports commission officially endorsed the 2019 edition of the Ijaw / Iteskiri peace and unity cup Football Competition at a ceremony held in Asaba. The body’s intent was made known when the chairman of the local organizing  committee Honourable Ken Nwamuocha led other members of the L.O.C on a courtesy visit to the chairman delta State sports commission, chief Tonobok Okowa.  Welcoming the committee, to the state capital, chief Tonobok Okowa commended  the hard work and dedication of members of the committee towards having a successful championship. “We acknowledge the huge awareness and keen interest that the Ijaw /Iteskiri peace and unity cup, Football ...

Buhari to governors: don’t fix Fed roads if you will ask for refund DUE to the huge amount requested by state governors after repairing Federal roads in their domains, President Muhammadu Buhari has asked them to stop fixing such roads. Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola stated this at a two-day interactive session with the Francis Uduyok-headed Ad Hoc Committee on Abandoned Federal Government Projects (Works) from 1999 till date. Fashola said: “What has happened to states; that’s another thing. The states submitted a bill of almost N1 Trillion when President Buhari was elected. He asked us to work out what was their entitlement and all of that. “Ultimately, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) certified about N454 billion. I don’t remember the exact amount now, except for two states. I think Cross River… There’s another state that didn’t have the documents at the time… Credit/ Source: The Nation

WORLD PEACE DAY: CEPEJ CALLS FOR  ACTION AS CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENS  ECONOMY, FOOD SECURITY, ENVIRONMENT, PEACE A non governmental organization, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, CEPEJ yesterday takes awareness campaign on how to mitigate negative impact of climate change to some schools in Delta State.  The national coordinator of CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, made the call yesterday in Warri Delta State, during the occasion to commemorate the 2019 International Day of Peace with the theme: CLIMATE ACTION FOR PEACE.  Sheriff Mulade noted that The worsening climate change has again been identified as the major threat to the nation's economy, food, environmental peace and security.  CEPEJ boss noted that the impact of climate change was responsible to the downward migration of cattle to the southern part of the country for grazing which often occasion farmers/herders clash that impact negatively on peaceful coexistence. The NGO also used the o...

GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION TRIBUNAL: DESOPADEC COMMISSIONER, PAUL BEBENIMIBO CONGRATULATES OKOWA WARRI - THE Commissioner representing Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo congratulated the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa on his victory at the Governorship Election Tribunal, calling on Deltans to support him. Bebenimibo made the call during a chat with some journalists in Warri weekend while celebrating Okowa victory with supporters. The Commissioner calls on the opposition to join forces with the Governor to move the State forward. According to him, "We are happy that his Excellency won, we knew he won the elections free and fair but the opposition has a right to challenge it in Court, now that the Court has decided they should join hands with Okowa to move the stare forward. "The State belongs to us all, we should not pull it down in pursuing personal goal. Development of the State is s...

Thunder Strikes 36 Cows To Death In Ondo No fewer than thirty six (36) cows were reportedly struck to death on Saturday by a mysterious thunderstorm on Oke Owa in Ijare community of Ifedore local government area of Ondo state. FPR gathered that the cows were struck by thunderstorm in the late hours of Saturday without any of them surviving. The cows were said to have died for desecrating the mountain where sacrifice is made every year by the town’s monarch. It was learnt that the herders reported the case to the monarch of the town after the unfortunate incident. The monarch of the town, the Olujare of Ijare, Oba Adebamigbe is always accompanied by chiefs to carry out the yearly sacrifice. The mountain is said to be a secluded place for the monarch.

VAT: Falana To FG Propose Money Bill Before Implementing Increase Femi Falana (SAN) Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, has called on the federal government to propose a Money Bill to the National Assembly before the implementation of the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT). Falana who spoke to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said the National Assembly (NASS) erred by inviting the Minister of Finance and the Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to clarify issues of VAT increment. According to him, provisions of the constitution states that the President ought to have presented a money bill to be passed by the National Assembly before the increment. “It’s illegal. Under a democratic dispensation, you cannot impose tax or increase tax without a law made by the National Assembly or the “In this case, it has to be realised that we are not under a military dictatorship. “By virtue of Section 59 of the Nigerian Constitution, a...

LAGOS: UN DIRECTOR, CALL FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE CHARGE GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT PROACTIVE CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION FOR PEACE A Nigeria based Non Governmental Organisation, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) on Friday had another impressive show in Lagos where the NGO commemorated the annual International Day of Peace in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre, UNIC, and Lagos State Ministry of Environment. The peace event drew participants from the academia, organized private sector, the media, military and para-military organizations, as well as youth corps members. Secondary school students who formed a larger part of the audience were sensitised on the need for them to become change agents in evolving a safer and sustainable environment. This year's outing featured speeches, paper and drama presentations, as well as various dance displays. At the occasion, pervaded by a convivial atmosphere, uniformed men, the civil society and students interac...

LAGOS: UN DIRECTOR, CALL FOR PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE CHARGE GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT PROACTIVE CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION FOR PEACE A Nigeria based Non Governmental Organisation, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) on Friday had another impressive show in Lagos where the NGO commemorated the annual International Day of Peace in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre, UNIC, and Lagos State Ministry of Environment. The peace event drew participants from the academia, organized private sector, the media, military and para-military organizations, as well as youth corps members. Secondary school students who formed a larger part of the audience were sensitised on the need for them to become change agents in evolving a safer and sustainable environment. This year's outing featured speeches, paper and drama presentations, as well as various dance displays. At the occasion, pervaded by a convivial atmosphere, uniformed men, the civil society and stud...

NGO PIND Foundation Brings Ijaw, Itsekiri Leaders Together, Agree to Permanent Peaceful Coexistence. A Non g overnmental organisation, Patnership Initiative in the Niger Delta, popularly known as  PIND Foundation, yesterday, brought The  Ijaw and  Itsekiri  ethnic nationalities together in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State to propose and agree on permanent peaceful coexistence. Leaders of the two ethnic group  came together under the Warri Multi Stakeholders Platform,  MSP , to sue for a Peaceful coexistence for the purpose of attracting sustainable development to Delta State . The NGO, PIND foundation provided the platform and resources for the Itsekiri and Ijaw leaders to seat with their youths and happily discourse what unites them. The Ijaw and Itsekiri youths also use the opportunity to talk about what they have in common.  An Ijaw Youth leader, Comrade Prince Benikoro who said, "Ijaw and Itsekiri love Eating Banga Sou...

NGO PIND Foundation Brings Ijaw, Itsekiri Leaders Together, Agree to Permanent Peaceful Coexistence. A Non g overnmental organisation, Patnership Initiative in the Niger Delta, popularly known as  PIND Foundation, yesterday, brought The  Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities together in Koko, Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State to propose and agree on permanent peaceful coexistence. Leaders of the two ethnic group  came together under the Warri Multi Stakeholders Platform, MSP , to sue for a Peaceful coexistence for the purpose of attracting sustainable development to Delta State . The NGO, PIND foundation provided the platform and resources for the Itsekiri and Ijaw leaders to seat with their youths and happily discourse what unites them. The Ijaw and Itsekiri youths also use the opportunity to talk about what they have in common.  An Ijaw Youth leader, Comrade Prince Benikoro who said, "Ijaw and Itsekiri love Eating Banga Soup prepared with sta...

Delta Community Celebrates as LGA Boss Perez Omoun Embarks on Agric Revolution in Patani  Patani LG Boss and the Commissioner for Agriculture ***Empowered 400 Youths, Men, Women With Starter Packs, Grant For Snail Farming People of Patani Community, Patani Local government area, Delta State, yesterday celebrate as their Local Government Chairman, Hon. Perez Omoun, presents starter Packs and grants to beneficiaries of Patani Agricultural Revolution Programme. The programme was organised by the Chairman to Empower Patani People With perquisite agro skill to rear snail and grass cutters for sustenance and commercial purpose. Speaking with news men at the council Secretariat, during the occasion of the flagging off ceremony of Patani agricultural revolution and presentation of starter packs and grants, the council boss noted said, "This programme is aimed at making Patani an agricultural economic Hub for snail Business and create job opportunities. Patani people are involved in...

Call Miyetti Allah To Order, South East Farmers Tells Buhari South East farmers under the auspices of Igbo Farmers Progressive Union (IFPU) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to order, insisting that no group should kill others in the country. Kelechi Isiodu, IFPU Director, New Media, in a statement made available to DAILY INDEPENDENT on Tuesday, noted that prior to the 2015 general elections, Buhari was named the National Grand Patron of MIyetti Allah. The union referred to statements credited to one Abdullahi Bodejo, Miyetti Allah Leader, and Kautel Hore, the association’s national president, in which they maintained that every state in the country deserved a RUGA. The union also stated that Bodejo had described the Fulani as the largest ethnic group in the country, and as such ought to be given places to settle all over the country. “We now request him to call them to order and arrest the rising tension in the land throug...

Aero Contractors’ maiden flight lands in Benin as airline reopens operations on Lagos-Benin route L-R: Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Osaze Osemwengie-Ero; Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Strategic Planning and Programme Management/Chairman, Programme Management Office, Uyi Malaka-Oduwa; Benin Airport Manager, Olatokunbo Arewa; Head, Group Operations, Aero Contractors, Peter Arome Omata, at the Benin Airport, in Benin City, Edo State capital. As part of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s sustained drive to open up Edo State to investors and tourists, commercial airline operator, Aero Contractors has reopened flight operations on the Benin-Lagos route, as the maiden flight arrived the Benin Airport on September 16. Commissioner for Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Osaze Osemwengie-Ero, who witnessed the arrival of the flight on Monday, said the airline has been assigned the official flight carrier for the 2019 National F...

HOSTCOM DELTA CENTRAL URHOBO YOUTHS BACKS OKUMAGBA AS MD OF  NDDC By Wilson Macaulay The Host Communities of Nigeria Pro ducing Oil &Gas  HOSTCOM Urhobo Ethnic Nationality Youth Wing Delta State Chapter over the weekend backed the appointment of Chief Bernard Okumagba as the MD  of NDDC Comrade Sweet Otiotio the Youth Chairman of HOSTCOM Urhobo Nation who spoke in a stakeholders meeting at the Conference Centre of the Petroleum Training Institute PTI Effurun  stated that president Buhari saw the stellar quality in Bernard Okumagba  before selecting him to man NDDC as the MD. Comrade Sweet Otiotio noted  during the interactive session that the agitations by some people against this laudable appointment is diversional and headlong against national interest in general and the Niger Delta in particular. Comrade Otiotio the Urhobo HOSTCOM Youth leader asserted in his speech that Bernard Okumagba is a man with good track record vested with the requisite ...

Delta 2023: Ibori, Delta Central Leaders, Harp On Unity Of Urhobo Nation, Commends Gov Okowa. By Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq ...Says Delta Central To Produce Governor In 2023 Leaders of Delta Central Senatorial District, some senior government officials from that geopolitical axis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including Senator Ighoyota Amori, Chief John Oguma, Mathew Edevbie, David Edevbie,  Hon Ben Igbakpa, Chief Aguoye James, Dr. Isaac Akpoveta, Hon Akpomiemie, Hon Chris Onogba, Hon John Nani, Terry Noah, all the party and council chairmen from Delta Central on Saturday September 14, 2019; held a crucial political meeting at the palatial home of the national leader of Urhobo Political family and former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori. The leaders at the end of the closed door meeting in Oghara, Ethiope West in South South Nigeria, declared that power rotation between the three Senatorial districts which commenced in 1999, cannot be subverte...

Youths Protest Against Cybercrime In Delta State     Some youths under the aegis of "Save Sapele Group" embarked on a peaceful protest in Delta State on Tuesday to condemn cybercrime and Internet fraud in the country. Speaking during the protest, one of the leaders said, “The protest was to condemn the activities of some misguided elements that engage in despicable activities such as Internet fraud, cybercrimes and kidnapping in Sapele. "We don't want ‘Yahoo yahoo’, we don't want Internet fraud, we say no to 419 and ritual killings.” They stated that Sapele was known for commendable activities and not illegal acts as being portrayed.

Agency Warns Kwara , Edo, Delta, Rivers,  Others Over increase Flooding , THE Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) on Monday said 13 states across the country would witness increased floods in the coming months. This, it said, followed the rise in the water levels of Nigeria’s two major rivers – Niger and Benue. The agency said water from six out of the nine countries that make up the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) has been pouring into the country and could lead to severe flooding in the listed states. The agency’s Director General Clement Nze spoke at a media briefing in Abuja while giving an update on the situation of flooding in the country. Nze said latest information received on September 6 from the headquarters of the NBA in Niamey, Niger Republic, confirmed steady rise into the Red Alert Zone up to 6.26 metres of the flood level of River Niger monitored in Niamey. The agency chief listed the states, which will experience more flooding from the two major rive...

Labour, FG meeting on new wage implementation deadlocked again Meeting of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) and the Federal Government deadlocked again yesterday, as they failed to agree over relativity and consequential adjustment for the implementation of the new minimum wage. JNPSNC general secretary of the Trade Union Side, Mr. Alade Lawal, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that the organised labour would decide on the next line of action on the issue of the minimum wage. “The meeting is deadlocked. We found out that the Federal Government officials are not serious about it at all. We are suspecting foul play or a hidden agenda somewhere. “We have decided to report the development to our principals, including the Labour unions. Nigerians will be adequately briefed of our next line of action very shortly, he said. Chairman of the Labour team, Mr. Simon Anchaver, said labour negotiating team had also resolved to write to the...

IJAW/ITSEKIRI PEACE AND UNITY CUP: 2.2Million CASH PRIZE READY AS TOURNAMENT TO PRODUCE TALENTED PLAYERS Ahead of preparations for the much talked about Ijaw/Itsekiri peace and unity cup tournament 2019, otherwise known as Comrade Sheriff Mulade peace and unity cup is ongoing and in top gear. Unlike the first edition which was held in 2017, this year's edition will have a new dimension as two centers will host the competition namely Ugborodo and Benikrukru communities both in Warri South-west local government area. Sixteen teams are expected to feature and battle for honours in the tournament, eight in each center as forms are already on sale in various locations as well as the office of Center for peace and environmental justice Ugolo which serves as the temporary secretariat of the Local organising Committee. Also the winner of the tournament this time around will go home with whopping cash prize of One million naira ( #1m) and Gold Cup. while the runners up will ...