NEWS
IYC Rejects Call for Lokpobiri’s Redeployment
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has passed a vote of confidence on Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), described him as a great asset in the Tinubu led administration.The call was made in a statement in Yenagoa on Sunday by Amb.
Princewill Binebai, Spokesman Ijaw Youth Council (IYC). According to the IYC, after a series of meetings among the 9 leadership of the IYC, “We reject in its entirety the publication, calling for the redeployment of the Minister”. The spokesman said that the emergency press statement is not just a rebuttal but a position of the entire Ijaw Youth Council, covering all organs and structures of council in Delta, Edo, Ondo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Imo, Abuja, Lagos, UK, other chapters in the diaspora.All affiliate bodies of the IYC that such publication calling our respected leader in the Niger Delta region incompetent and heaping the blame on him on the fuel hike and other woes in Nigeria did not emanate from Council.”Consequently, the Ijaw Youth Council is using this medium to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all well-meaning Nigerians to completely ignore calls for Heineken Lokpobiri’s redeployment.”Lokpobiri is competent and doing his job very well. It will be wrong for anyone to have called for his redeployment on the basis of incompetence as there is no minister in Nigeria now that is more competent.”The IYC as a struggle platform established in 1998 was to protect the interest of the Ijaw people at all points in time and not to antagonise and attack the interest of the Ijaws and her respected leaders.”It is important to establish that Council has a well carved out channel of communication for which it is essentially the duty of the President and Spokesman of Council.”It is charged with the responsibility to convey the message of the Ijaw Youth Council to the public after due consultations as the case may be with relevant key stakeholders in Ijaw land,” it read.The spokesman said the founding principles of the Ijaw Youth Council forbid the IYC to fight against the interest of the Ijaw nation hence we must always stand to defend Ijaw people.”It does not really tell well to see that out of 45 ministers in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led Federal Government of Nigeria, the Ijaws only have one minister, which is Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri.”Hence it is totally wrong and condemnable to see an Ijaw son or daughter calling for his redeployment on the basis of incompetence and also blaming the hardship faced by Nigerians on our son who is working hard to make things right for Nigeria, Niger Delta and Ijaw nation.”We need to be mindful as no ethnic based youth group in Nigeria has ever come up to ridicule their own ministers or prominent sons in government and otherwise before the public.”This caution has become very necessary to prevent future blunders among Ijaw Youths. Our leaders need to be protected, and if erring.”They will be corrected indoors as other ethnic groups are doing. Others cannot be seen as saints while we paint our own as devils. This has to stop.”The IYC will continue to speak and defend the Ijaw nation and her people no matter what; hence Council is charging Ijaw Youths to concentrate more in building bridges of unity than creating unnecessary distractions.”That will derail the essence of the struggle for resource control and self-determination by any means necessary. Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri as State Minister for Petroleum Resources (Oil).”Is a step closer to our resource control agitation and calling for his redeployment on the basis of incompetence is not in the interest of the Ijaw nation.”Finally, as Ijaw people, we are not comfortable that we only have one Minister in the Federal Executive Council and we have been fighting and agitating for more political and economic inclusion in the Nigerian State, we cannot fight as Ijaw people to reduce our already disjointed political space in the Nigerian StateNEWS
New Medical Doctor Appreciates Ex-Reps Deputy Chief Whip, Hon Adekoya for University Sponsorship
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
A fresh graduate medical doctor from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, Dr Ogunmakinju Oluwaseun, has expressed touching appreciation to a former Deputy Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Adesegun Abdel-Majid Adekoya, for the full sponsorship of his university education.
Hon Adekoya is the founder of Prince Abdel-Majid Foundation (PAM Foundation), a non-governmental organisation engaged in uplifting Nigerians, especially the less privileged, children, youths and women.
In an open letter of appreciation, Dr Ogunmakinju Oluwaseun, said his dream of becoming a medical doctor would have been a mirage if it not for the support of Hon Adekoya who stood by him in the past six years.
He declared that Hon Adekoya, popularly known as Attacker from his football-playing days as a youth, took over the full sponsorship of his university education without allowing him to pay a dime.
He also added that through the mentorship of Hon Adekoya he was able to emerge as the President of OOU Students Union.
He declared that his stint as SUG President has already instilled leadership qualities in him.
Dr Ogunmakinju Oluwaseun wrote: “Dear Rt. Hon. Abdul-Majid Adekoya Adesegun, I write with a heart full of gratitude to sincerely appreciate you for being the sole benefactor of my academic journey.
“From my very first day in 100 Level to my final year in 600 Level, your generosity through the scholarship you granted me has been the bedrock of my success.
“Today, by the grace of God and through your unwavering support, I have emerged as a qualified medical doctor. This achievement is not mine alone; it is a testament to your belief in me, your investment in my future, and your commitment to empowering the next generation.
“Words cannot fully capture the depth of my appreciation, but I pray that the Almighty rewards you abundantly, grants you good health, and continues to bless your endeavors.
“Your kindness has not only changed my life but has also inspired me to be a source of help to others, just as you have been to me.
“Thank you for making my dream a reality.”
Ogunmakinju Oluwaseun added: “I wish to sincerely appreciate ATTACKER for taking full responsibility for my tuition fees from 100 Level to 600 Level — without allowing me to pay a dime.
“This rare and life-changing opportunity, made possible through the Prince Abdul Majid Foundation (PAM Foundation), is something I will forever hold in deep gratitude.
“Today, after 6 years of rigorous training, I proudly stand as a Medical Doctor, awaiting the privilege of taking the Hippocratic Oath soon.
“Beyond academics, the leadership lessons I gained under the mentorship of Rt. Hon. Adekoya gave me the edge to emerge as OOU Students’ Union Government President.
“And academically, I am proud to have made a Distinction in of of the courses I offered during my journey through medical school.
“Thank you for believing in me, investing in my dreams, and giving me the platform to grow both as a leader and a scholar.”
By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed deep concern over the reported extortion of over N56 million from farmers in Zamfara State by armed groups as well as the chilling video of an entire village in Ifelodun Local Government of Kwara State, completely abandoned to bandits.
The party noted that Nigeria, under President Tinubu and the APC is sliding into a dangerous new phase of state failure. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, on Friday, the party said a situation where farmers had to pay money to terrorists before they could gain access to their own farmlands, is not just a Zamfara tragedy, but a national warning.Abdullahi said that a situation where people had to abandon an entire town to bandits, in the very heart of the country, is not just a local challenge but an evidence of national surrender. “When armed gangs can collect N56 million from farmers for the ‘right’ to plant food, the issue is no longer about insecurity. It is about criminal elements contesting the right to govern a part of Nigeria. When criminals can tax citizens at gunpoint, it means the state has surrendered its monopoly of force and state authority is in retreat.” The statement said it is discouraging that this could be happening in a country with one of the largest defence budgets in Africa, yet its farmers were left to bargain with warlords for their survival. It recalled that in the same Zamfara state only a few days ago about 50 people were abducted in one swoop, saying that added to this is the eerie picture of an entire town where all the people, the young, the old and the infirm had to seek refuge elsewhere for fear of bandits attacks. Abdullahi said there were other cases which showed alarming pattern suggesting that other parts of the country considered safe may not be so for long. “The pertinent question therefore is whether the Tinubu-led APC government is still in charge and can still be trusted to do its most fundamental duty, which is to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians. “We recall that in November 2014, President Bola Tinubu, leader of opposition party at the time, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to resign over the Boko Haram Challenges in The North-East of the country. His words: “If you control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, why should any part of this country be under occupation? And you give us excuses every day. In any civilized country Jonathan should have resigned.”He said though the security situation that President Tinubu was using to campaign in 2014 had multiplied exponentially under his party and is currently enjoying great prosperity under his direct watch, no one is calling on him to resign. “The ADC does not want President Tinubu to resign. We only ask him to do his job. We also ask the pertinent question, why did the President think that the security situation in Rivers State warranted the declaration of state of emergency, but the one in Zamfara with industrial scale kidnapping and a direct challenge to the authority of the Nigerian State by way of bandit tax does not even deserve a direct comment from him,” the statement asked.It urge President Tinubu to drop whatever else that pre-occupied him and direct his attention to Zamfara State and other parts of the country menaced by bandits. “If the Tinubu administration cannot guarantee the safety of our farms and farming communities, if people could be forced to abandon their homes out of fear, then it has failed in its most basic responsibility. You cannot boast that you are in charge of your country while your citizens are negotiating their survival with criminals.”
The Oyo State Government has denied a notice currently circulating among pensioners concerning a supposed verification exercise. This is contained in statement in Ibadan on Friday by the Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Prof. Salihu Adelabu. Adelabu described as fake any message requesting pensioners to submit photocopies of their pension certificate, account details, and phone numbers to the ministry.
He urged pensioners to ignore such messages and remain vigilant against misinformation targeting retirees. He emphasised that the ministry would contact eligible individuals only when it is their turn to receive their benefits. The Commissioner added that all official information is communicated solely through recognised and credible channels. Adelabu advised pensioners to verify any suspicious message before acting, and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to retirees’ welfare. He said the government would continue to uphold transparency and due process in pension and gratuity matters. He also called on the public to share only verified information, saying protecting pensioners from fraud is a shared duty. (NAN)
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