By Ismaila Chafe/Silas Nwoha

President Muhammadu Buhari has parted ways with an influential Catholic cleric, who previously described Buhari as messiah because the president refused to give him a juicy contract.

In a week the president endured the pain of bloody events in the country, controversial cleric, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka proclaimed that Buhari should resign or be impeached because of current unwholesome developments nationwide.

On April 30, the Presidency expressed shock over the sudden U-Turn of Father Mbaka, a die-hard supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is now asking the president to resign or be impeached because he failed to secure contracts from the presidency.

Presidential spokesman Malam Garba Shehu, who made the revelation in a statement, said that Mbakas outburst was because Buhari characteristically, refused to accede to Mbakas demands to secure juicy contracts from the presidency.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari, 78, has long been known for his anti-corruption stance and austere life style.

Buhari had started the week with condemnation of the killing of three of the students, kidnapped at Greenfield University in Kaduna State.

The president in a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, described the students as bright youngsters who were cut down in their primes by evil people.

My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls rest in peace, said the president.

He extended his condolences to relatives and associates of the murdered students, describing recurring incidents of kidnappings and killings in Kaduna State as barbaric terror attacks.

Buhari decried the utterances of some political and religious leaders, whom he said, seemed to be inciting and stokingpains and anguish for mourning families.

On April 24, Buhari expressed his condolences on the death of the mother of the Emirs of Kano and Bichi, Hajiya Maryam Ado-Bayero.

The president in a condolence message, described the passing of Hajiya Ado-Bayero as a great shock and big loss to the emirs families.

I have received the news of her death with profound sadness. She was a great and revered mother, who was a fountain of inspiration not only for her family but also others who had interacted with her.

On the same day, Buhari met behind closed doors with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa.

NAN learnt that the meeting was part of an ongoing strategic engagements with stakeholders, aimed at finding solutions to the nations current security and socio-economic challenges.

Speaking to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Gbajabiamila reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to continuing to assist Buhari as he works hard to find lasting solutions to current security challenges confronting the nation.

He disclosed that his discussion with the president centred on security and other matters relating to developments in the country.

On April 27, Buhari met separately behind closed doors with Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno and a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at his official residence in the Presidential Villa.

NAN learnt that Zulum used the opportunity of the meeting to update the president on security developments in Borno, while Tinubu thanked the president for his support during the 12Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Colloquium, held in Kano last March.

Buhari had earlier on the same day, held a virtual meeting with U.S. Secretary of State, Mr Anthony Blinken, where he pleaded with the U.S. government to reconsider relocating the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) from Stuttgart, Germany, to the Gulf of Guinea, nearer the Theatre of Operation.

The Nigerian leader noted that AFRICOM should be relocated to Africa to strengthen ongoing efforts to check insecurity in Africa.

He also pleaded with the international community to support Nigeria and the West African sub-region in tackling growing insecurity.

The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on the same day, represented Buhari at the commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

On April 28, Buhari presided over a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, where the Ministries of Petroleum Resources, Foreign Affairs and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Developmentmade presentations.

Those in attendance at the meeting were Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.

Other people, who physically attended the meeting include Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Finance, Zainab Ahmed, Justice, Abubakar Malami and Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffery Onyeama.

Others were the Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Mohammed Bello, the Minister of State Petroleum, Mr Timipre Sylva and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk.

The president also hosted a special envoy of the Zambian President, Mr Edgar Lungu, at the State House on April 29, assuring that Nigeria and Zambia would deepen collaboration for the good of their peoples and benefit of the African continent.

The Special Envoy, Mr Joseph Malanji, who is Zambias Minister of Foreign Affairs, thanked Nigeria for its big brother role in ECOWAS and the African continent, stressing that equity is when strong ones strengthen the weak ones.

On his part, Osinbajo participatedvirtually at the 2021 High-Level Dialogue on Feeding Africa, where he disclosed that

On April 30, the Presidency expressed its disappointment and sadness with Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue over accusations being levelled against Buhari by Ortom, following recent killing of soldiers and residents of the state.

The presidential spokesman said that no responsible government would take pleasure in the killing of troops and innocent citizens, taking refuge in an internally displaced peoples camp.

Shehu said that the president was deeply pained by the terrible acts of violence, happening not only in Benue but also in other parts of the country.

The spokesman quoted Buhari as again directing law enforcement agencies to go to any length to catch perpetrators of the crimes and bring them to justice.

Disturbed by reported cases of insecurity being experienced in some parts of the country, the president on April 30, again summoned a meeting of security chiefs to address the menace.

Buhari vowed that his administration would do all it would to defeat forces of evil marauding in different parts of the country and killing innocent citizens.

Those in attendance at the meeting included Mustapha, Gambari and the Minister of Defence, retired Maj-Gen. Bashir Magashi as well as the National Security Adviser, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno.

Also in attendance were the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, Chief of Army Staff; Lieut.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Naval Staff; Vice-Admiral Awwal Zubairu, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Ishiaka Amoo and the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba.

The meeting was adjourned to May 4.

Buhari also announced the reappointments of Otunba Segun Runsewe as Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture and that of Mr Folorunso Coker as Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation.

Both of them were given fresh four-year terms.

Alhaji Adedayo Thomas was also reappointed as Executive Director of the National Film and Video Censors Board for another term of four years.

According to the presidential spokesman, the president also approved the appointment of Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed as the Chief Executive Officer/Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria.

Ahmed was until his appointment, Director of Culture in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Bauchi State. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Desmond Ejibasc

Ugboma disclosed this on Sunday at a ceremony to celebrate the second anniversary of the hospital located at Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area, near Port Harcourt.

She said that the hospital had been providing free maternal healthcare services to both expectant mothers and new mothers without collecting any fee from them.

April 17, 2021 marked two years that this hospital was inaugurated out of the love that the OPM General Overseer, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, has for the less privileged and the downtrodden in the society

The hospital during the last two years had registered over 1,448 pregnant women for antenatal care; delivered 780 babies that included two sets of triplets and 23 sets of twins.

Every service in the hospital is rendered free of charge to pregnant women. They include: registration, obstetric ultrasound scan, antenatal, consultancy, blood, drugs and vaginal tests as well as caesarean deliveries.

On delivery, every woman is fed daily free of charge while each indigent patient is given a delivery pack containing: baby clothes and toiletries, she said.

Ugboma added the hospital used to give transport fare to the women after delivery making their departures from the hospital to their homes a thing of joy.

Speaking, the General Overseer of OPM, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, said that the hospital was built and run from the offerings and tithes of members of the church.

He said that aside the two free specialist hospitals operated in Ohunku, Abia and Port Harcourt; that OPM had also built 15 schools where students and pupils acquire knowledge free of charge.

We have also provided free accommodations to many in our estates and awarded scholarships to hundreds of students to study in both local and foreign universities.

OPM did all these and many more through the offerings and tithes from our members for the benefits of the less privileged, irrespective of their tribes and religion, he said.

Chinyere said that he was motivated to embark on the humanitarian works by his passion and commitment to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ who loves the poor and the suffering.

So, we decided to build the hospitals with the mandate to attend to pregnant mothers due to the alarming rates of maternal and infant mortality in the country.

We realised that these avoidable deaths are caused partly because many pregnant women and their husbands do not have access to quality antenatal services.

Because the husbands cannot afford to pay hospital bills, they were not registering their pregnant wives to deliver their babies there. Many pregnant women lose their lives and that of their unborn children due to lack of proper medical care.

So, we are happy that God is using OPM to touch the lives of the people as the hospital has delivered almost 800 babies in two years of operation, he added.

Chinyere, however, said the hospital was expensive to run due to the overbearing cost of running its electric generators 24 hours daily, to power medical equipment in the facility.

He said it cost the church over N1million monthly to run its electric generators alone, aside maintenance cost and staff salaries, among others.

So, we call on the government to immediately support us by restoring electricity back to this area, considering the many lives the hospital saves daily, he appealed.

Dr Matt Offeh, the President of OPM Divine Distributors, lauded the General Overseer for not emulating some pastors, who allegedly used funds realised by their churches to buy private jets and live luxurious lifestyles.

According to him, OPM which was founded in 2006 had invested hundreds of millions to build and operate the specialist hospitals at no cost to its patients.

One of the beneficiaries, Saratu Musa, a Muslim and a nursing mother of an 11-month-old baby, said she was delivered of her daughter without paying kobo to the hospital.

The hospital took care of me from the antenatal stage to actual delivery. They even fed me and my baby throughout my admission in the hospital, she said.

Mrs Happiness Kingsley, who is six months pregnant also, said that the hospital had met all her medical needs, including free antenatal tests, scans, checkups and drugs. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the commitment of his administration to freedom of the press, and urged media professionals to wield such freedom responsibly.

Mr Femi Adesina, the Presidents spokesman, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said Buharis reassurance was contained in a message to mark this years World Press Freedom Day.

The statement quoted Buhari as describing freedom of the press as an irreducible minimum in a democracy that will flourish, adding, however, that the freedom must be used responsibly.

Everything that is permitted must have rules of correctness, particularly in a polity seriously challenged as ours now.

The media must be sensitive to what we are going through as a country; anything that will exacerbate the situation and further inflame passions and emotions should be avoided.

The media needs to ensure that while informing, educating, entertaining and setting agenda for public discourse, it does not encourage incendiary words and actions that could further hurt our unity in diversity.

He maintained that licentious freedom was different from freedom with responsibility, and charged the Nigerian media to embrace the later, rather than the former.

The statement also quoted Buhari as pledging greater cooperation with the media to discharge its duties in line with the theme of this years World Press Freedom Day which is Information as a Public Good.

He charged those who manage information for government to make public interest their guide, while also encouraging the media to use the Freedom of Information Act to make its jobs easier. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abbas Bamalli
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State says, henceforth, teachers and lecturers working with the state owned institutions of learning will be retiring on attaining 65 years.

The governor announced this at the award night marking the 2021 May Day organised by the Kano State Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Saturday in Kano.

The Federal Government has since approved this for teachers and lecturers working in its institutions, hence, teachers in Kano State are also not left behind.

Therefore, our teachers and lecturers as from now on will start to enjoy such retirement age from 60-65, and years of service from 35-40 as the federal workers are enjoying, the governor said.

According to Ganduje, the state government has introduced so many policies aimed at improving the welfare of its workers.

He added, We have introduced a contributory health scheme for workers in the state and their families to have the cheapest health services.
I am happy that with your co-operation, today we have the best contributory health scheme in Nigeria.

We are also collaborating with the private organisations in the state to see how they can benefit from such schemes aimed at strengthening the policy.

The governor also said that the state government had introduced a health trust fund where five per cent of the states Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and one per cent from the earnings of local governments would be contributed.

And that will provide health services to our workers and the people of Kano State.

Ganduje added that the state government would serve as a guarantor for civil servants working in the state who would be willing to access loan facilities from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He also said that his administration had introduced free and compulsory primary to secondary schools education.

Through that, our workers will not have to pinch from their salaries to pay school fees for their children. he said.

Ganduje said that one important thing done in the state was ensuring peace and stability, security for workers, the citizens and everybody.

He said with that in place, the state would continue to be a place where everybody could flourish in harmony.

The governor also presented a letter of permanent and pensionable appointment to Khadijah Umar.

Umar who had been working as a temporary staff member for the past 15 years at Hotoro Health Care Clinic lost her legs in the course of duty.

Earlier, Mr Kabir Minjibir, the Chairman of Kano State chapter of the NLC, said the awardees were honoured for their hard work and adherence to the Civil Service rules.

He said that the NLC found it necessary to honour not only civil servants who were dedicated and committed to their duties, but also workers from the private sector.

The NLC is giving certificates of excellence to those that deserved to be honoured while some of them will go home with cash gifts ranging from N50,000 to N100,000 each. he said.

Minjibir also lauded the Gandujeled administration for effective security management in the state.

He said that had brought about minimal cases of banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.

He also commended the governor for efficient management of the first and second waves of COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

The governor has been up-to-date in the payment of salaries and pensions in the state, despite the economic turbulence being experienced in the country until recently when the economic situation began to bite harder, the chairman said.

Minjibir, however, described the theme of the 2021 May Day celebration: COVID-19 Pandemic, Social and Economic Crisis: Challenges for Decent Jobs and Peoples Welfare, as a symbol for continued struggle for the survival under the current economic hardship.

The chairman charged workers to continue to put in their best while discharging their duties.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Bola Ahmed-Tinubu Campaign Organisation who were present at the event also pledged to support Khadijah Umar with modern artificial limps. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Priscilla Osaje

Nigerian music star, Oluwatobiloba Anidugbe a.k.a Kizz Daniel has welcomed a set of twins as he marked his 27th birthday on May 1.

The renowned singer who could not hide his joy and gratitude to God, took to his Instagram handle@kizzdaniel to share the good news to his fans and well wishers.

According to the proud father of two boys, there is no better way to celebrate his birthday than announcing the arrival of his sons.

The One Ticket crooner, sharing a close-up photo of him holding his sons hands, the singer wrote: S , f BOYS

Atletico Madrid earned a 1-0 win at Elche on Saturday to move provisionally five points clear at the top of the Spanish La Liga with four games remaining.

Diego Simeones side survived a late penalty kick, missed by Fidel Chaves, as they battle for their first league title since 2014.

Atletico Madrid striker Luis Suarez came close in the opening stages and then the Uruguayan had a goal ruled out for a narrow offside.

Marcos Llorente fired the Rojiblancos ahead in the 23rd minute with his 12th league goal of the season from Yannick Carrascos cross.

Suarez had another ruled out for offside early in the second half as his team continued to dominate the game.

In the 90th minute Llorente turned villain when he handled the ball inside his own area and handed Elche a penalty kick.

However, Fidel Chaves fired it against the post to hand Llorente and Atletico Madrid a reprieve, while Elche are 18th and still in the relegation zone.

We got the three points and that gives us a lot of strength for what is to come, said Llorente.

Were always positive and theres not a long way to go anymore. We have to give everything.

Later Saturday Real Madrid, who are second, welcome Osasuna as they bid to cut Atletico Madrids lead back to two points, while third-placed FC Barcelona visit Valencia on Sunday.

Earlier, Kike Garcia scored a hat-trick as Eibar beat Alaves 3-0 to retain some slim hope of survival.

The Basque side are bottom and four points from safety, while Alaves, 16th, are only a point above the drop zone. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN News

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) moved provisionally back to the top of the French Ligue 1 on Saturday, thanks to a battling 2-1 win over Lens at the Parc des Princes.

Neymar scored the opener and crossed for Marquinhos to head in the champions second.

It was a good response to their 2-1 home loss to Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League this week.

With Kylian Mbappe missing through injury and Marco Verratti, Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera starting on the bench, PSG were made to work hard.

But it was a result which lifted them back above Lille at the summit, at the very least for a few hours.

Ignatius Ganago pulled a goal back for European hopefuls Lens, but Mauricio Pochettinos men held firm for a morale-boosting win.

This has come ahead of their second-leg clash with Manchester City in England on Tuesday.

PSG, who lost right-back Colin Dagba to injury before the 20-minute mark, had few early chances in spite of their dominance.

But Danilo Pereira tested Wuilker Farinez with a powerful header that was well saved by the Lens goalkeeper.

Lens had done well to keep Neymar quiet but gifted him the opener 32 minutes in.

The Brazil star slotted home confidently after Julian Draxler had pinched possession from Facundo Medina on the edge of the penalty box.

Pablo Sarabia should have scored a second after Neymars header from a fine Marquinhos pass, but Farinez produced a superb one-handed stop.

Also, Lens could have snatched an equaliser before half-time had Jonathan Clauss and Clement Michelin shown more composure inside the penalty box.

Lens began the second half well but PSG doubled their lead just before the hour mark, Marquinhos rising unchallenged to head in Neymars corner-kick from the right.

However, the visitors halved the deficit barely two minutes later, with Ganago hooking the ball through Navas legs after Arnaud Kalimuendo sliced an attempted overhead kick.

Neymar curled a free-kick off the right post, seemingly via the fingertips of Farinez, and Mauro Icardi saw a goal disallowed for a Marco Verratti offside.

But Lens could not capitalise on those moments of fortune.

Source: NAN News

By Martha Nuhu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) youths across the 17 local government areas of Plateau, have called on the party to zone the 2023 presidential seat to the North Central Region.

Dr Shendam Solomon, spokesman for the youths and a former APC youth leader, made the call while speaking with newsmen in Jos on Saturday, after an emergency meeting.

Solomon said that zoning the number one seat to the region would guarantee justice, equity and fairness, after the zone had been shut out since Nigerias independence.

According to him, 2023 offers the party leadership the opportunity to correct the injustice meted to the region.

We want to appeal to the leadership of the APC to zone the 2023 presidential seat to the North Central for justice, equity and fairness.

The North Central geopolitical zone has been shut out of the presidential seat since the nation got independence in 1960.

The injustice against the North Central is unfair, and 2023 offers the party leaders the opportunity to correct it by zoning the Presidency to North Central, Solomon said.

He also said the region had the most consistent political and social ideology that was pan-Nigeria, with successive leaders who had promoted unity and stability at every time in history.

Also, a youth from Jos North, Ibrahim Awulu, said zoning the presidency to the North Central would assuage the long years of being abandoned as a people and a region.

Awulu added that the region was a unifying factor in Nigeria and would bring about lasting peace in the nation if given the chance. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The National Assembly has restated commitment to good governance to enhance protection and welfare for Nigerians.

The Senate President, Sen. Ahmed Lawan made the commitment during his address at the 2021 May Day celebration on Saturday in Abuja.

Lawan was represented at the event by Sen. Godiya Akwashiki, Vice Chairman of the Media and Public Affairs Committee in the Senate.

The theme for the 2021 May Day celebration is COVID-19 pandemic, Social and Economic Crisis: Challenges for Decent Jobs, Social Protection and Peoples Welfare.

He appreciated Nigerian workers both past and present for their sacrifices for the progress of the country and saluted their tenacity of purpose for the effective running of the machinery of government.

The theme oftodays celebration is a complete one because it enables us to address some of the challenges before us as brought in by the COVID-19 pandemic and to how navigate away from it.

It additionally permits us to look at our great opportunities in the face of challenges and come to think of ways of improving the social protection and the welfare of the people.

The essence of a good government is the continued ability to improve protection and welfare of the people through appropriate policies and actions for the good of thecountry.

We are also ensuring that our efforts are not just a one off. We remain committed to improving on them. The security challenges are not insurmountable, he said.

According to the senate president, government has provided ways of surmounting the challenges, as hat the executive arm has met with the national assembly to mitigate these disasters.

Lawan stressed that some criminal elements had taken up wrong paths like kidnapping, insurgency and banditry for survival.

Those paths are not acceptable and we shall continue to confront these paths and make sure they become a thing ofthe past in the country

The national assembly and other arms of government are determined to ensure peace for the progress and development of our dear country Nigeria.

We shall continue to carry out our roles of making laws and over sighting. The interests of all Nigerians remain our priority. We wish the Nigerian workers a Happy Celebration Day, Lawal said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Christian Ogbonna

The Ebonyi chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned against any attempt by leaders toto politicise the countrys increasing security challenges.

The state Chairman of the congress, Mr Ikechukwu Nwafor, gave the warning, while speaking with journalists on the 2021 Workers Day celebration warningon Saturday in Abakaliki.

Nwafor said the theme of the celebration, which was low key in Ebonyi, is COVID-19, Social and Economic Crisis: Challenges for decent jobs, social protection and peoples welfare.

He commended the three tiers of government for their tireless efforts in containing the spread of the pandemic.

He also decried the rising level of theft and wanton killings in the country by bandits.

On this note, we appeal to the perpetrators of these evil acts and their sponsors to stop.
Government at all levels should not politicise the problem. They should close ranks across party lines when the lives of citizens, especially Ebonyi people, are involved.

We urge the government to be more proactive in addressing the situation in the state and country at large, Nwafor said.

On workers well-being, the chairman said the congress was committed to implementing any governments policy designed to improve their welfare. (NAN)

Source: NAN News