By George Edomwonyi

Mr Peter Obakhedo, former Editor-in-Chief of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who died in Lagos on June 15, was buried at Apana, Uzairue in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo, on Saturday.

In a funeral sermon entitled Compulsory Appointment, the officiating priest, Pastor Taiye Taiwo, charged Christians and adherents of other religions to realise that every beginning had an end.

According to Taiwo, since it is compulsory that everybody will die, everyone should get ready to meet his or her maker at the appointed time.

Make your decision while alive on where you want to be after death because the opportunity you have today is a gift from God; dont waste it.

Obakhedo came to this world and gave his best, through his profession, to humanity.

Everyone has his or her date with the creator. Everyone must be ready for that day, he said.

Mr Ephraims Sheyin, Head, Lagos Operations of NAN, who represented management at the burial ceremony, described the late EIC as a calm fellow and a colleague he enjoyed working with, especially in Kaduna.

Obakhedo was hard-working and humble. He gave his best to the agency.

Sheyin said that the news of Obakhedos demise shocked NANs Managing Director, Mr Buki Ponle,
and expressed NAN managements condolences to the family.

He quoted Ponle as urging family members of the deceased to take solace in the fact that Obakhedo lived well and served his fatherland with all his strength.

On behalf of the Managing Director and management of NAN who asked me to come and condole with the family of ObaKhedo, we pray the Almighty God to comfort the family and grant its members the fortitude to bear the loss, he said.

The late EICs eldest son, Mr Emmanuel Obakhedo, described his father as a man of integrity, who was not pretentious.

His yes was yes while his no was no. I am forever grateful for he remains a positive male role model in my life.

His warm presence and discerning guidance will be missed, he said.

NAN reports that the burial ceremony will end on July 10 with a thanksgiving service at Redeemed Christian Church of God, Province 3, Apana, Uzairue.

Obakhedo was born in Auchi on Nov 22, 1960 to the family of late Pa Andrew Obakhedo and late Madam Beatrice of Apana, Uzairue.

He joined the services of NAN in December 1989 and rose to the position of a Director in January 2019.

The deceased became NAN EIC in June 2020 and held the position until retirement in November same year.

He worked in various state offices of NAN as well as the Lagos Directorate of the agency, which he headed before becoming EIC.

Obakhedo, a 1984 graduate of University of Ibadan, who died at the age of 61, is survived by his wife, Catherine, three children and three siblings.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Ephraims Sheyin

Source: NAN News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it stands by the reports received from its state offices in relation to the party primaries for the Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts.

The commission stated this in a statement issued by Mr Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, in Abuja on Saturday.

Okoye said that the attention of the commission had been drawn to speculations circulating online on the outcome of some of the recent primaries conducted by political parties and related issues.

He said that in particular, the allegations intended to impugn the integrity of the commission in respect of the Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts respectively.

To set the record straight, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria mandates the commission to monitor the organisation and operation of political parties, including their finances, conventions, congresses and party primaries.

In line with its constitutional and legal obligations, the commission deployed monitors to the various constituencies and received reports of such exercise.

In relation to the primaries for the Akwa Ibom North West and Yobe North Senatorial Districts, the commission stands by the monitoring reports received from our state offices.

For this reason, the commission did not publish the personal particulars of any candidate for the two constituencies at variance with the state reports.

Right now, the commission is funtus officio in the two cases, he said.

Okoye added that aggrieved parties were at liberty to approach the Federal High Court and seek redress as provided in section 285 of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022

On the issuance of Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents, he said members of staff of the commission had been working hard, including weekends, to meet the deluge of requests received.

He said that as at Friday, the commission had processed 433 requests involving the certification 1,662,776 pages of documents.

The commissioner said that many of the processed CTCs were awaiting collection at the INEC Headquarters by some of the same applicants complaining of delay in its issuance.

Section 29 (4) of the Electoral Act provides that any person may apply to the commission for a copy of nomination form, affidavit, and any other document submitted by a candidate at an election.

The Commission shall, upon payment of a prescribed fee, issue such person with a certified copy of document within 14 days.

Persons applying for CTC of documents should endeavor to act timely and within the ambit of the law,he said.

Okoye said that INEC would continue to uphold the integrity of the electoral process, including the deepening of the deployment of technology to enhance the credibility of elections. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh/Julius Toba-Jegede

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Some youths under the aegis of the National Youth Forum (NYF) have urged the elites to exercise caution while commenting on the security challenges bedeviling the country.

NYF made the call in a statement signed by its President, Tanko Gambo and Secretary, Jamiu Adigun, on Saturday in Abuja.

The youth group said the statement was in reaction to the comment by a former minister who accused the military high command of failing to proffer solution to the nations security challenges.

According to the group, the former minister also accused the military of being part of a conspiracy to truncate the countrys democracy as well as ignoring an earlier warning on the Kuje attack.

It said the forum, however, commended the former minister for his concern on the situation, saying it reflected the current mood of the nation.

We as youths and students are concerned with what is happening in our dear country.

We are not here to defend anyone but, having studied the situation, we feel that caution and faith are needed to see us through these trying times.

Sincerely, like what our senior brother, the former minister, said, the situation is bad, but it is not hopeless.

The group noted that for some obvious reasons, the military would not come out publicly and say what it was doing to stem the security challenges, but that did not mean it had failed or not doing anything about it.

Just this week, we read that troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralisd some terrorists at Gamage in Borno.

We believe several efforts are being made to restore peace and stability in the country, it said.

The forum said that President Muhammadu Buhari had on several occasions acknowledged the efforts of the military and the successes from the renewed interservice synergy being marshalled by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor.

It dismissed the allegation that the military was working to truncate democracy, saying the military high command had time without number pledged loyalty to democratic rule in the country.

The forum commended the former minister for also acknowledging international dimension to the security situation, adding that the assertion might not be far from the truth.

It called for a united front to face the challenge head on, adding that countries across the world were facing different challenges.

Just this year, there have been more than 300 mass shootings in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive.

The shooting of July 4, parade in Highland Park Ill that left six people dead and dozens injured was one of 14 mass shootings over the long weekend.

There have been just over 100 since a rampage at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, which left 19 children and two teachers dead on May 24.

It acknowledged that the situations abroad might not be an excuse for mayhem in the country.

NYF insists that just like U.S. citizens, we must come together and quash the evil plans by enemies of the country.

We must not cause more harm in trying to proffer solution. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Bridget Ikyado

A U.S.-based Cleric, Pastor Keith Moore, on Saturday said countries success depends on the commitment and forward looking of leaders and the citizenry.

Moore said this as a guest speaker at the 2022 Impartation Conference organised by The Summit Bible Church, Abuja.

He said that leaders, whether spiritual, traditional or those in government, were all creation of God, adding that they deserved their followers loyalty, commitment and fervent prayers, for them to succeed in their onerous assignments.

Moore said that God had already endorsed their leadership before anybody could emerge as leader, as such the need to follow them.

According to the cleric, the call becomes imperative when one observes and considers the way and manner some Nigerians speak ills of their leaders.

The man of God counseled Nigerians to imbibe the idea of offering genuine pieces of advice to leaders rather than running them down.

He said that the coming of Jesus Christ would be more meaningful if we love one another and our leaders committed, transparent, honest and selfless.

Moore advised both leaders and the led to have a level of trust and commitment for societal and economic growth.

He said that as Christians the level of commitment a believer should have was to give his word and keep it no matter the cost. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chidinma Agu/Donald Ugwu

Source: NAN News

By Dorcas Jonah

Hajiya Lami Lau, the National President, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), has felicitated Nigerians and the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir.

Lau in her Sallah message, said every true Muslim, especially women, should be grateful to God for the privilege to celebrate the 2022 Sallah, regardless of all challenges

She said that the best way to demonstrate our gratitude to God was to share His blessings with neighbours and show love and kindness to all.

I want to use the occasion to urge all Muslim faithful Nigerians to be steadfast in working and praying for the peace, unity and progress of our beloved country.

The current challenges are painful but this is a passing phase in our historical process of nation-building.

Please do not be carried away by the pageantry of the Sallah celebration, but as mothers, we should use the occasion to reflect and extend our gestures and hands of support to the needy in the society. she said.

Lau emphasised the importance of peace, unity and tolerance amongst the diverse people of the country for growth and development to take place, noting that Nigeria diversity should be a source of strength rather than conflict.

As we join the rest of the world to celebrate this years Sallah, I enjoin you to replicate and demonstrate in your daily lives the lessons and virtues of sacrifice, forgiveness, piety, self-denial and genuine love toward one another which you learnt during the month- long fasting.

I urge you to also take out opportunity, cashing on the spirituality of this festive period to offer special prayers for the nation against the backdrop of the current security challenges.

As mothers, we should pray for all the children, mothers, fathers and brothers that are in the IDP camps as well as those that have been kidnapped.

We should also pray for the economic situation and to lift up our people before God, especially the downtrodden, she said.

Lau also called on Nigerians to pray for those that are struggling to make ends meet as well as the leadership of this country. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has launched a report on the root cause of the farmers and herders in the North Central area of Nigeria.

Dr Chido Onumah, Coordinator, AFRICMIL made this known at a roundtable on report of research on the farmers-herders crisis in North Central Nigeria organised by the centre .

According to Onumah, the report is the outcome of a research conducted by Dr Plangshak Musa Suchi and Dr Sallek Yaks Musa, both of the Department of Sociology, University of Jos, Nigeria.

For us in AFRICMIL, we have in the last five years been working with the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation to reinvigorate the vibrancy of our youth in asking questions and taking actions towards realising a better today .

Therefore, this research is of utmost importance in the sense that it speaks to concepts such as good governance ,orderliness ,justice and peaceful co-existence which we have been promoting to make citizens ,especially youths ,imbibe through our advocacy.

We also consider this report important because beyond serving as a vital references material, it will help youths who have mostly been the target of misinformation and tools for social unrests to be accurately informed .

This is on a subject that has been identified as one of the leading causes of violent conflicts in communities in the north-central region, he said.

Reviewing the report, Prof. Oshita Oshita, Executive Director, Ubuntu Centre for Africa Peacebuilding and Development Nigeria, said that the scope of the study covered Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states in North Central Nigeria.

Oshita said that the farmers and herders crisis phenomenon constituted an obstacle for stakeholders of peace, security and development as it stirs negative sentiments around occupational, cultural, geographic, political and religious dimensions of Nigerias diversity.

A number of socio-economic, cultural and political dynamics have adversely impacted the relations between the itinerant Fulani animal herders and their hosts, the sedentary farming communities.

The researchers identified the immediate triggers of the crisis in the study areas to include; the destruction of food crops by the Fulani herders and/or cattle rustling by other criminal elements.

Oshita said that while farmers attributed most of the incidences of crop destructions to the deliberate acts of mischief by the herders; the herders blamed the incidences of the conflict on the blocking of the marked grazing routes and diminished grazing areas.

He urged stakeholders to employ empirical, rational and economic planning parameters that focus on sustainable development and smart agricultural practices.

A Human Rights Activist, Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga, while presenting on the Root Causes and Consequences of Farmers-Herders Crisis and its Implication on Women and Girls in North Central said that women and girls bear the brunt of the crisis.

Ogunlana-Nkanga said that the gender perspective to the crisis exposes the social impact, economic impact and the political impact on women and girls.

She listed sexual violence, deprivation of livelihood, widowhood and singlehood, health, psychological disturbances, trauma among others as areas the crisis affect women.

She therefore, recommended deliberate gender- focused intervention strategies for women and girls while also considering security/peace plans, and provision of socio-economic infrastructures as measures to cushion the effect.

In her remarks, Ms AngelaOdah, Programme Manager ,Rosa Luxemburg, Stiftung ,West Africa said that the organisation was supporting AFRICMIL to find lasting peaceful resolutions to the crisis.

Odah said that report was a qualitative study carried out through interviews targeting various stakeholders that are directly affected persons living in idp camps by the farmers and herders crisis .

She added that although there were several causes of the farmers and herders crisis ,it could however be addressedif there was political will and if all stakeholders would unit to raise their voices to contribute to fostering peace.(NAN)(nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Bridget Ikyado

U.S. based preacher Keith Moore has advised Christians and Nigerians in general to shun lies and all forms of corrupt practices, for God to intervene and save the country from its prevailing challenges and other satanic devices.

Moore, a guest speaker at the Summit Bible Church Impartation Conference 2022, with the theme Glory to Glory, holding in Abuja, made the call in his teaching on Friday.

The cleric, who is the Founder and President, Moore Life Ministries and Faith Life Church in Branson, Missouri and Sarasota, Florida (U.S.) prayed for increased blessings for Nigeria.

He also prayed God to bless and increase the government with wisdom to lead the country in the right way.

The cleric said that putting God first was the only way a nation would breakthrough during crisis.

He said that the Lord had revealed to him that the solution to the problems bedevilling the nation was for citizens to stop telling and encouraging lies.

From the highest to the least Nigerians and as Christians, we should all stop telling lies. If we encourage lies, the society will be abused. If a nation wants tofight corruption, they shoulddiscourage lying.

If I tell lies in the presence of my fellow pastors or my followers, I have established lying. There is no corruption outside lying.

This is why the Holy Bible says Jesus is the way, the truth and the light. Whoever follows the footsteps of Jesus Christ does not tell lies, he said.

According to him, if someone has no reason to tell lies, he or she cannot be corrupted.

Lie is the mother of corruption.

He said that God expected us to be faithful, and faithfulness entails steadfastness, trustworthiness, reliability, dependable and these all have to do with been truthful.

He said there was no truth aside God.

Moore advised Christians to denounce the devil, the author of confusion, who wanted the society, church andnations in disarray, disorganised and deserted.

In his speech, Andy Osakwe Senior Pastor, The Summit Bible Church, also urged Nigerians to desist from lying, as its consequences may cause harm.

Osakwe said that saying the truth had rewards and blessings, even if not immediate.

He said that in Nigeria and with the challenges faced, the truth and more prayers were rather needed for best results. (NAN)()

BTT/IAA

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Source: NAN News

By Angela Atabo

President of Association of Radiation and Clinical Oncologist of Nigeria (ARCON), Dr Nwamaka Lasebikan, has expressed concern over the rise in cancer incidences and the poor management in the country .

Lasebikan made this known in a statement after the conclusion of a one day symposium on Friday in Enugu themed Optimising the Standard of Care for Breast Cancer in Nigeria.

The president said the symposium sought the way forward to cancer care in Nigeria.

She also expresses concern over the slow implementation of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines in Nigeria.

She said that the NCCN guideline was recently adopted by the Federal Ministry of Health as the standard of care for cancer management in Nigeria.

She however, expressed worry over the rising incidence of cancer and its poor outcome even with treatment attributing it, in part, to poor standardisation of evidence based care.

There is the need to close the care gap and generally improve both the quality of life and the clinical outcomes in patients with breast cancer.

This can be achieved through widespread implementation of the harmonised guideline to ensure that breast cancer care is optimal and standardised across Nigeria and Africa as a whole, she said.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, represented by Mr Uchechukwu Nwokwu, Associate Director, National Cancer Control Program, re-emphasised governments commitment to fighting cancer.

Government remains committed to providing adequate access to standardised cancer care in the country through programmes such as the ongoing Cancer Health Funds.

The Federal Governments adoption of the NCCN Harmonised Guidelines and the need for healthcare workers to abide by it remains key, Ehanire said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the symposium featured several lectures from seasoned experts in oncology.

NAN also reports that topics such as standardising breast cancer care through guideline adherence, some predictive and prognostic biomarkers in decision making for breast cancer were highlighted.

The West African College of Surgeons among other professors and Oncology consultants were also present .(NAN)(nannews.ng)

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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Source: NAN News

By Sumaila Ogbaje

A political and socio-economic advocacy group, Fusion774 has urged Nigerians to vote into power come 2023, candidate with impeccable track record in human capital, economic development and security.

The National Coordinator of the group, Mr Sadiq Jikta, made the call while addressing newsmen on the state of the nation on Friday, in Abuja.

Jikta said the news conference was convened to express the concerns on the economic and security situation in the country, especially at a time the nation is working toward electing new leaders.

He said that both the citizens and political leaders had failed to leave up to their responsibilities, adding that citizens must act fast to make things right towards achieving the country of our dream.

According to him, the upcoming 2023 general election is going to be an opportunity for us to elect leaders that have the capacity to deliver in terms of addressing the economic and security situation of the country.

When we are voting for leaders in the next election lets look at those with the trait of building people, those that has the track record in investing in people.
This is the future we are looking at; we have to get it right this time and we must come out and vote in numbers.

We have to get our Permanent Voter Card (PVC) which is our tool for working out good governance.

Our participation to make things right is going to be the choice decision we are going to make, while electing the right leadership.

We the Nigerian citizens deserve quality governance and we are responsible for it, he said.

Jikta said that Nigeria currently had poor human development index, saying that human resource development plays vital role in the prosperity of every nation.

He said that the nation would achieve a quantum leap, if it invest in human resources and address unemployment among the youth, adding that unemployment remained one of the pressing problems in Nigeria.

The coordinator however, challenged the political parties to convince Nigerians with their roadmap, manifestoes and issue based discussions and not trivialities.

The group will use this opportunity to urge the PDP as a party to base its campaign on issues that affect the life of Nigerians, not attack on persons, like the recent take on the Nigerias Ambassador to Benin Republic Amb. Tukur Buratai on issues that has been duly addressed by ICPC.

We at Fusion774 are using this opportunity to state our unalloyed position on supporting credible candidates with track record of good team selection, completed project, people oriented programmes, human capital building and enduring legacy, he added.

Jikta condemned the recent killing of military officers in Niger State as well as other happenings in Zamfara, Katsina, Plateau, South East and other parts of Nigeria.

He said the recent attack on Kuje Correctional Centre by terrorists leading to the release of suspected dangerous elements into the society had further heightening insecurity precipitation in the country.

He urged the government to live up to its responsibility and double effort to stem the tide.

The coordinator also urged citizens to play active role in addressing insecurity by providing useful information to the security agencies, while calling for more support for community policing or vigilante groups.

He said the group had continued to mobilise citizens from bottom top at local levels and sensitive them on the need for right leadership in the country.

The National Mobilisarion Secretary of Fusion774, Mr Mahmud Abubakar, called for character reformation and value reorientation on the part of the citizens to be able to choose right leaders. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: NAN News

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on Friday expressed regrets over its inability to transport 1,500 intending pilgrims for the 2022 Hajj.

This is contained in a statement issued by the commissions Assistant Director, Public Affairs Division, Mrs
Fatima Usara, on Friday in Abuja.

She said that the intending pilgrims were nine from Bauchi, 91 from Plateau and 700 from Kano State.

Usara also stated that the commission was saddened over it inability to transport an estimated 750 intending pilgrims from the Private Tour Operators sector.

She said that the commission acknowledged that it owed an unreserved regrets to the intending pilgrims for the 2022 Hajj for the hardships and disappointments experienced during outbound airlift operations to the holy land.

According to her, the commission offers similar apologies to the Federal Government, State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Private Tour Operators, and the public for any embarrassment the situation might have caused.

Sadly, in spite of all efforts to transport all Nigerian intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2022 Hajj, NAHCON was incapacitated in discharging this responsibility.

Majorly due to last minute setbacks that frustrated its plan to conclude transportation of pilgrims by June 27.

Unfortunately, the chartered flights option that gave so much hope to NAHCON and the Private Tour Operators leadership also became a failure as their IBAN accounts failed accreditation by the respective authorities in Saudi Arabia, she said.

Usara said that the numbers of affected pilgrims would not make it to Saudi Arabia before closure of Jeddah airport; hence they are sadly bound to miss this years Hajj.

She assured that all affected pilgrims would get refunded of their Hajj fares, adding that the commission would work towards improving its deficiencies ahead of 2023 Hajj operation.

NAHCON has learnt a lot of lessons and is determined not to have a repeat of the unfortunate situation.

Management knows that no number of apologies can pay for the disappointments some Muslim faithful are currently experiencing as a result. (NAN)
SSI/DE/SH

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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Sadiya Hamza

Source: NAN News