BREAKING: Gospel singer, Sammie Okposo is dead

Gospel singer, Sammie Okposo, has died.

The news was confirmed to DAILY POST by a close source.

He simply said: “Bros don go”, which in local parlance means “he is dead”.

There are speculations that Okposo slumped and died.

Okposo’s death comes months after he was embroiled in an adultery scandal.

The ‘Wellu Wellu’ crooner, in a lengthy Instagram page, urged Nigerians to pray for him.

He admitted cheating on his wife when he travelled to the US in late 2021.

The 51-year-old also suspended himself from all ministry work until full restoration as he sought forgiveness from God. 

2023: Peter Obi endorsement divides Northern Christians

Some prominent Northern Christian leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have distanced themselves from the endorsement of the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal.

The group led by a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said Northern APC members never took any decision to endorse Obi.

The group noted that the decision to endorse Obi was that of Lawal.

A few days ago, Lawal had disclosed that the group, after much consultations, opted for the LP presidential candidate.

The group vowed not to support the APC due to its Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

They lamented that APC should have picked a Northern Christian presidential running mate and not a Muslim.

However, a statement jointly signed by Dogara, Simon Achuba, Albert Atiwurcha, Prof Doknan Sheni, Mela Nunge (SAN), Gen. Ishaya Bauka (rtd), Prof Ibrahim Haruna, and Mrs Leah Olusiyi, dismissed the endorsement.

They said the group was yet to disclose its decision on who to endorse in 2023.

“We want to draw the attention of the general public to the recent position canvassed by our Chairman, B.D Lawal as the position of our group.

“We wish to state that necessary consultations have been concluded, and based on manifestly unassailable empirical data, the group is poised to adopt a position which will be made known to the public at an interfaith event to be held very soon.

“Suffice to say that no one in the group, including the chairman, has been mandated to speak to the public about our position at this material time. Based on our modus operandi, our position was meant to be presented to the general public at the event referred to above. That has not changed,” the group said.

2023: Atiku promises $10b for youth employment at Kwara campaign

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has promised $10b for the prosecution of youth employment and empowerment of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises if elected president in the 2023 general elections.

He made the pledge in Ilorin on Thursday at the flag-off of his presidential campaign for the North Central geopolitical zone, held at the Metropolitan Square along Asa Dam Road.

Atiku further promised to address the issues of insecurity and the poor economic situation of the country.

He urged the party supporters and people of Kwara State to vote massively for PDP in the bid to rescue the country and reset it for positive growth and development.

The presidential candidate said: “We shall be in Osun State on Sunday for the inauguration of a brand new governor of our party, which will kickstart the takeover of the South West by the PDP in 2023.”

In his speech, former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, charged Kwarans to put the party back to power at both state and national levels by voting for Atiku Abubakar and Yaman Shuaib Abdullahi respectively.

He said APC has failed at both the state and national levels, hence the need for the rescue operation to liberate Nigerians.

Dr Saraki said the people of the state have now seen the difference now between the two dominant political parties as the APC has failed to fulfil promises made to Nigerians and the people should make a better choice in voting for all the candidates of the PDP contesting all political positions in the 2023 general elections.

“It is time for us to kick out an incompetent and non-performing government like the APC and vote for PDP to reset Nigeria,” he declared.

Director-General of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council and Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, described the large turnout at the flag-off as impressive and urged that it should be translated to the victory of the party at next year’s elections.

He said the huge crowd that attended the campaign flag-off “is a powerful message to the APC in the state that the state belongs to PDP and the party is set to start the resetting agenda from Kwara State.

“We are set to hit the ground running to reset Nigeria from the poor economic situation, insecurity and unemployment as soon as we capture political power in February, ” he said.

National chairman of the party, Senator Iyorcha Ayu, described the PDP as one united family that would remain indivisible, adding that the party was ready to capture political power for the good of the country.

Chieftains of the party at the flag-off included, the vice presidential candidate of the party, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, and Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State, former Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Governor Obaseki of Edo State and spokesman of the party, Dino Melaye among others.

I’d have become trillionaire – Soludo speaks on taking bribe to criticize Peter Obi

The Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, has denied taking a bribe to publicly criticize the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi.

According to him, he would have become a trillionaire if he indeed accepted the bribe.

Last week, Soludo wrote a lengthy essay, in which he claimed Obi would never emerge the president of Nigeria.

He also claimed that Obi’s investment in Anambra is now worth close to nothing.

Obi, in response, claimed he was a trader while Soludo was a professor and should do better in the state.

However, Soludo and Obi met at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Thursday during the Thanksgiving mass conducted for Most Rev. Paulinus C. Ezeokafor.

The two men were seen embracing each other while exchanging pleasantries.

Soludo insisted there was no rift between him and Obi, only political differences.

“There is no rift between Obi and me at a personal level. Nobody snatched each other’s wife. What appears to be the rift between us is fundamental political differences. Nothing else.

“So for those forging blackmail and all that, including the one they said I collected bribe to say what I said, I asked them to bring it so I will use it to construct roads. If Soludo is into bribery, I would have been a multi-trillionaire now,” Soludo explained. 

I will protect Igbo businesses – Tinubu vows

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has vowed to protect businesses of the Igbos if elected as president.

Tinubu made this promise on Thursday during the APC presidential campaign rally in Ebonyi. 

The former Lagos governor also said he would not tolerate any form of discrimination against the Igbo people.

“I believe in the entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbo. I encouraged a lot of Igbo businesses and investments in Lagos and will even do more if I become president,” he said.

“If elected, there will be no discrimination. Igbo interests will be respected and protected. I will also encourage policies to aid commerce and support south-east states to reach their full potential.

“I will engage the leaders of the south-east in a heart-to-heart discussion on all issues agitating their minds. If elected, I will address all issues and policies that tend to hinder their commerce and enterprise.

“I will work with businessmen and women and encourage them to make the south-east the Taiwan of Africa.”

On his part, David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, said people of the state should follow Tinubu because he “knows the road”.

“He has shown that he loves and trusts Igbo and our people,” Umahi said.

“He has been here since yesterday. He slept here in Abakaliki and ate our food. Only a man who loves you eats your food.”

Respect sanctity of Nigeria’s institutions by obeying court orders – Ohanaeze to govt

The Zonal Coordinator, South-South Youth Wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mr Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, has advised government at all levels to respect the sanctity of Nigeria’s institutions such as the judiciary by obeying court orders rather than seeking to thwart them.

Arthur-Ugwa gave the advice in a release which he signed and made available to newsmen in Owerri on Thursday.

This, he said, would help restore the confidence of Nigerians in the country uphold the sanctity of the judiciary and give the country pride of place in the comity of nations.

” Nigerians are not fools. Flagrant disregard for the sanctity of the Nation’s judiciary through disobedience to court orders can heat up the polity.

The Ohanaeze youth leader who frowned at the use of social media to spread divisive content called on Nigerians, especially politicians and youth leaders to unite the country through their speech, rather than divide it.

He warned that any drift from issue-based campaigns in the buildup to the 2023 general elections could spell doom for the country.

He called on those in positions of authority to realize the power of their words and use their positions to unite rather than attack sections of the country.

” Nigeria’s unity remains more important than ethnic or religious leanings and our political leaders must come to terms with this.

” No reasonable person will encourage crisis in any form, either through the use of social media or through divisive, inciting words, as Nigeria’s unity is already fragile enough.

” As the elections approach, we must desist from all manner of inciting utterances. History will only be fair to us if we learn from it,” he said.

JTF arrests two suspected kidnappers in Ekiti, recovers ransom

A Joint Task Force, JTF, established to protect Kogi/Ekiti border area arrested two suspected kidnappers that held four victims hostage for days.

The JTF, made of combined forces of the military, police, Amotekun corps and local hunters, under operation Eradicate Bandit at the Borders of Rural Ajoni Communities (EBBORAC), also recovered part of the N3 million collected from the victims.

A school principal, two teachers and a nurse were last week abducted at Irele- Ekiti, in Ajoni Local Council Development Area of Ekiti State, and taken to an unknown destination by gun-wielding abductors.

Three of the abductees were later freed upon payment of N3 million ransom, while one of them reportedly escaped from the abductors.

The chairman of Ajoni LCDA, Hon. Michael Ogungbemi, told journalists, in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, that the suspects were nabbed during a joint operation inside the sprawling forest at the Irele-Kogi border area.

Ogungbemi said the operation became so intense that the kidnappers hurriedly freed three victims from captivity, which provided a lead for the JTF to proceed with the combing of all forests in the axis.

“When they knew that the operation was closing in on them, three victims in their possession were suddenly released this afternoon. This further provided a lead for the operation.

“Part of the ransom collected from the victims was recovered and the released victims are now in the hospital receiving medical treatments.

“The JTF also succeeded in apprehending two suspects, who are now undergoing interrogation and investigation by the police,” he said.

The Commandant, Amotekun Corps in Ekiti State, Brig Gen. Joe Komolafe, confirmed the arrest.

Akomolafe added that those arrested are now in police custody, while the freed victims have received adequate treatment in the hospital.

“I can confirm to you that two suspects arrested are being held by the police. Regarding the freed victims, they were initially taken to the hospital, but they have reunited with their respective families,” he stated.

I’ll iron out my differences with Obi soon - Soludo

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state has said that reports of the alleged rift between him and his predecessor, Peter Obi, who is also the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), is mischievous.

Speaking at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Awka, during the Thanksgiving mass for Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor in celebration of his 70th birthday on Thursday November 24, Soludo, who had in an article titled: ‘History beckons and I will not be silent,’ dismissed the chances of the Labour Party flag bearer in the 2023 presidential poll, said he would soon be meeting with Obi to iron out their rift which he said was essentially political.

He also debunked claims of being paid $28 million to run down the Labour Party presidential candidate. 

Soludo said; 

“Today is very special. When we came into the service, it was the first time, my brother, Peter Obi and I are meeting in a public event and in a Catholic Church which two of us belong to. I think it was divine.

“When I came in, I quickly went to where he sat and hugged him, people watched with bewilderment as if we’re acting drama. Is it not the same people quarrelling?

“Let me tell you, we spoke two times, just last night. We’re brothers. You know I’m not one of those politicians that speak from two sides of the mouth. I can’t pretend. I’m a politician, but also wants to make heaven. I’ll keep saying the truth.

“There’s no rift between Obi and I at a personal level. Nobody snatched each other’s wife. What appears to be the rift between us is fundamental political differences. Nothing else.

“So for those forging blackmail and all that, including the one they said I collected bribe to say what I said, I asked them to bring it so I use it to construct roads. If Soludo is into bribery, I would have been multi trillonaire.

“On the fundamental differences we have, we are going to meet in the next few weeks. We’ve agreed to discuss and iron out our differences. Unfortunately, he’s left. We must get it done. Anambra is for all of us.”

Also appreciating God for sparing the celebrant’s life to attain 70, Soludo said Ezeokafor has been of great influence on him and his government, especially in the area of prudence and patronage of locally made products.

Soludo added; 

“You changed my thinking when you visited my village house in 2019 and rejected the foreign wine offered to you in the place of palm wine. Today in Governor’s lodge, the highest wine served there is palm wine.

“I was also humbled by the moderate type of car you drove to my house. You told me you chose not to go with a vehicle far above the average of those you’re pastoring. I think this is exemplary.

“When you see me drive Innoson cars, that’s part of the inspiration I got from you. If not for security, I would have been riding bicycles to work.

“We’re taking the prudence you taught us to the next level because when we came in, it cost us over N137m to clean offices. Now, it cost barely N11million. I can only promise to take the message to the world.” 

Attack on Obi is attack against Nigerians – Group reacts to man caught with dagger in LP Oyo rally

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has condemned the action of a yet-to-be-identified man who stormed the Labour Party campaign rally with a dagger in Oyo.

It was reported that a video of a man caught with a dagger at the campaign ground in Ibadan the Oyo State capital has been making the rounds on social media.

A tweep, @BishopPOEvang who first posted the video, alleged that the suspect was standing where the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi was expected to pass.

He wrote, “How we unarmed a guy who was not a security personnel today. He was standing on the way @peterobi would pass. @BishopPOEvang noticed it and called in secretary operatives”

Reacting, COSEYL in a statement issued by its president general, Goodluck Ibem accused supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC of plotting to harm Obi.

The statement reads partly: “We warn those assassins who parade as politicians to bury such evil thought of planning any evil on Peter Obi because there will be dire consequences if any little scratch touches Peter Obi’s skin.

“Peter Obi is the face of the new Nigeria which Nigerians are waiting for to move them to the Promised land.

“We, therefore, demand an independent investigation of that young man who came with a dagger to assassinate Mr Peter Obi in Ibadan LP rally and was arrested by the security operatives.”

Efforts by DAILY POST to reach the Oyo Police Command for reactions proved abortive as the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso failed to pick up his calls. 

National Assembly passes students loan bill

The two chambers of the National Assembly, on Wednesday, passed the Students Loan Bill, which would enable students in higher institutions of learning to gain more access to financial assistance.

The bill, which was sponsored by the House of Representatives speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, was titled ‘A Bill for an Act to provide for easy access to higher education for Nigerians through an interest-free loan from the Nigerian Education Bank established in this Act with a view to providing education for Nigerians and for other purposes connected thereto.’

The bill seeks the establishment of the Nigerian Education Bank, which will have the powers to administer, coordinate, supervise and monitor the management of student loans in the country. It will also receive applications for student loans through higher institutions in Nigeria on behalf of the applicants and screen the applications to ensure that all requirements for the grant of such loans under the Act are satisfied.

Also, the bank shall have the powers to approve and disburse to qualified applicants and ensure compliance in respect of disbursement, and monitor academic records of grantees to obtain information on their year of graduation, national service, and employment to ensure that grantees of the loan commence repayment as at when due, among other functions.

According to the Act, all students seeking higher education in public institutions of higher learning in Nigeria shall have an equal right to access the loan without any discrimination arising from gender, religion, tribe, position or disability.

The House of Representatives had earlier this year passed the bill and forwarded it to the Senate for concurrence. With the Senate’s concurrence, a copy would be produced and transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent. Once it is signed into law, Nigerians will begin accessing the loans.