Kogi Governor’s agents crippling my campaigns, ADC candidate alleges

The Nation Nigeria / Vincent Ikuomola

The Kogi State Chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the state government of planning to rig the forthcoming elections.

ADC also accused the government of plot to induce electoral officials with fund from public coffers.

Besides, candidates on the platform of the party also accused the state government of unleashing mayhem on oppositions.

They alleged that thugs sponsored by the state government have been hampering their campaigns.

Briefing reporters in Abuja yesterday, the Personal Assistant, Mr. Emeka Nzekwesi and the party’s Senatorial  candidate East, Dr. Victor Alewo Adoji said the actions of the state government have become unbearable and a threat to democracy.

Adoji has taken  Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and his ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, before the international community over the alleged attack on him and his supporters.

Adoji, who spoke  at a  news conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, also called on international protocols on civil and political rights, and other relevant bodies to promptly redress the overbearing attitudes of the state government towards opposition parties in the state.

“These acts has not only spelt out anarchy, it violets my political rights having fulfill the necessary requirements to contest for elective positions in Nigeria.

“But my determination to endear my candidacy to the electorate via peaceful and other legitimate electioneering endeavours have been hampered by thugs allegedly sponsored by the state government and its agents.”

Recalling the incidents of such mayhems  unleashed by thugs, Adoji said: “On the 10th of January, 2019, our Blimp, campaign material, stationed in Ankpa Local Government Area of the state was shot down by unknown gunmen at about 1am.

“ On the 19th of January, 2019, my supporters were attacked while on transit to Dekina town (Dekina Local Government Area) for the  zonal rally by thugs engaged by the ruling All Progressive Congress Party in the State. They were brutally injured and the buses conveying them were destroyed. The home of one of our supporters in Anyigba was invaded, and properties destroyed.

“Barely forty eight hours later, a group of well armed thugs

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Quality education requires over N2.5tr yearly, says Babalakin

The Nation Nigeria

UNIVERSITY of Lagos (UNILAG) Pro-Chancellor Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) has said Nigeria needs over N2.5 trillion yearly to provide quality education at all levels.

Babalakin spoke at the weekend at a fund-raising dinner organised by the Alumni of the College of Medicine, UNILAG. He was the chairman of the occasion.

The lawyer and businessman explained that the Federal Government did not have enough resources to adequately fund first class education and therefore, other sources of funding must be explored.

Babalakin said: “The College of Medicine, UNILAG, is a very good product to celebrate. But to keep the flag flying, to maintain the standards, we need substantial funding. Government alone cannot afford to fund education. To have quality education in Nigeria today at all levels, it requires between N2.5trn per year. That is close to 50% of total receipts of monies coming to this system, yet we cannot delay the funding of education.

“We cannot give low quality education because there is no money, so we must look at all sources. We must look at governmental sources, private sources and every other source to achieve the objective of funding a first class educational system. We have all it takes in terms of personnel and basic infrastructure. What we require is substantial funding. I look forward to a day when Nigerian universities will be sufficiently robust financially; a day when government funding will only be, at best, an addition.”

Babalakin reminded the guests of the good old days when the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, was one of the top five hospitals in the Commonwealth, which includes England, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Canada.

He said it was possible to have that high quality of education and performance again, if we make it a priority.

His words: “We have done it before and we can do it again. Between 1972 and 1975, UCH was the 4th to 5th rated hospital in the Commonwealth. So I don’t want you to place your ambition at the local level. I don’t want you to aim for the roof. Let’s start aiming for the sky. We have done it before. Let us have a vision that will take us out of this situation we are in; a vision that will reposition our educational system.

“Let’s have what we had as UNILAG students in 1978. About 20% of our law class did their A-levels abroad and came back to UNILAG to read law. That was how great the faculty was. Now you have so many people who think that unless they’ve gone abroad, they’ve not started education. We have to reverse this trend and we can only do so with the right resources. With the people I see here and the commitment I see here, I have no doubt whatsoever that we are on the right part and this is the beginning.”

Babalakin assured donors to the college that their funds would be judiciously spent and they would be invited to see the projects their funds were expended on.

He appealed to the Lagos State government to fix the road leading to the College of Medicine, which is in a deplorable state.

The pro-chancellor said he was impressed that the likes of Prof. Dapo Ashiru and Dr. Sunny Kuku, who left the College of Medicine a long time ago, were still actively involved in improving the college, adding that their enthusiasm was infectious.

The Provost of the College, Prof. F.E. Lesi, said the college had pioneered many great innovations but its major challenge was funding. He explained that funding was needed for capital projects and maintenance of facilities.

Lesi also identified space constraints as one of the college’s challenges and urged the Lagos State governor to look into it.

At the event were philanthropist and businessman Chief Adebutu Kessington and his wife; Chief Olu Okeowo and his wife; the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan and his wife; the Ajalorun of Ijebu-Ife, Oba Adesesan Oguntayo; Providus Bank Managing Director, Mr. Walter Akpani; and his wife/Managing Director, Northwest Petroleum & Gas Company, Mrs. Winifred Akpani, among others.

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EFCC arrests 19 suspected internet fraudsters

   Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) Port Harcourt Zonal Office have arrested six suspected internet fraudsters at their hotel hideout in Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt, Rivers.

   A Press Statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the commission’s spokesman, Mr Tony Orilade said they were arrested in a sting operation.
  
   According to the statement, the suspects comprises four men and two women; Oghenekewe Akinnawo, Kemka Amadi, Revelation Macaulay, Damilola Oyinloye, Mary Ndubuisi and Jennifer Vandi.
  
   Orilade said that their arrest followed series of intelligence report linking them to alleged fraudulent activities ranging from love scam on numerous dating sites, obtaining money by false pretences and other fraud still being investigated.

  “Several items were recovered from them at the point of arrest which includes three exotic cars, four iPhones, four laptops; one iPad, one iron sealed stamp; cheque books, car number plates and two un-used bullets.”

   In a related development, the Enugu Zonal Office of the commission has arrested 13 suspects for allegedly engaging in cyber crime and internet fraud. “Three of the suspects were arrested at Awka, Anambra State, following intelligence reports and surveillance carried out on them.
 
  “Six were arrested at Ngwo in Enugu State, while four were arrested at an estate in Abakpa area of Enugu State.

  “Items recovered from them include nine exotic cars, laptops, printers, cameras, phones, expensive drinks and other personal effects.”

   The Zonal Head of the South East Zone of the commission, Ahmed Usman said: “we have resolved as part of carrying out the commission’s mandate to stamp out internet scams among others to help in rebuilding the image of the country.”
 
  Apart from public corruption which affects us locally, and denies us access to basic social amenities, Nigerians are treated badly because of the activities of cyber criminals and this gives us a bad name internationally.
  “We are determined to stamp that out,” he said.