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Tag: spokesman

  • BREAKING! Former Senate Spokesman, Ayogu is reportedly dead

    BREAKING! Former Senate Spokesman, Ayogu is reportedly dead

    Former Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ayogu Eze, is reportedly dead.

    It was gathered that the former Senate spokesman died in an Abuja Hospital after a protracted illness.

    A source who spoke to an online newspaper said the late Senator had been down, which prevented him from attending his child’s wedding ceremony earlier in the year, which was held in Lagos State.

    Ayogu Eze was a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, before he defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, where he ran for the Enugu State governorship election.

    Details shortly…

  • ‘I can no longer play partisan politics in Nigeria’ – Ex-PDP spokesman resigns from party

    ‘I can no longer play partisan politics in Nigeria’ – Ex-PDP spokesman resigns from party

    A former national publicity secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has resigned his membership from the party.

    Metuh’s resignation was contained in a letter he wrote to the PDP national chairman, Dr Iyochia Ayu, dated October 25 on Wednesday.

    He also said he has submitted his resignation letter to the ward chairman of the party in his home State of Anambra.

    According to the letter, titled “Resignation From The PDP”, Metuh said, “During my three weeks trip for medical and personal reasons, I came to the realization that I can no longer play partisan politics in Nigeria. The reason for this decision is that from my experience and the nature of politics and development in Nigeria, I believe that I will contribute more to Democracy and good governance in Nigeria by being non-partisan. Being Non-Partisan gives me the status to work for the strategic interest and well-being of the Nigerian people without the hinderance of partisanship.

    “In that regard, I write respectfully, to formally inform you of my resignation from the PDP and cessation of partisan politics.

    “I have duly enjoyed my membership of the PDP and remain proud of being the longest elected member of the National Executive Committee, one who won election to serve in several national positions at six (6) consecutive National Conventions of the Party. I will cherish the values and ideals learnt from the founding fathers at the inception of our nascent democracy.

    “Any future participation in politics will only be limited to non-partisan involvements in areas of sustaining and deepening democracy and governance in Nigerian and at the global level.

    “I pray you continue to insist on issue-based engagement in our political space as the country cannot afford the bitterness and divisions that may arise otherwise.

    “ In line with the constitution of the PDP, I have forwarded a copy of my resignation to my ward Chairman. May God bless us all.”

  • Ex-spokesman to IBB, Duro Onabule is dead

    Ex-spokesman to IBB, Duro Onabule is dead

    Ex-military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB)’s erstwhile Chief Press Secretary, Duro Onabule, has reportedly died on Tuesday at age 83.

    At the time of this report, the cause of his death was yet to be ascertained.

    Newsmen reports that a close family source confirmed the death, as the source disclosed that he was hale and hearty some days back.

    He was Popularly called  Double Chief, by friends and associates because of his position in the Babangida administration and possession of a chieftaincy title in his community, Onabule was the National Editor of National Concord from 1984 to 1985 before becoming Chief Press Secretary to Babangida.

    He was a presidential spokesman for most of the Babangida administration when the government punished newspaper and magazine publishers with temporary prescriptions to make them conform to the code of conduct set up by the administration.

    His scant profile on the web indicated that Onabule was born on September 27, 1939 in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state.

    He graduated from CMS Grammar School and School of Journalism, London. His first media work was as a Reporter for the Daily Express in 1961.  Three years later, he joined the staff of Daily Sketch. He spent some time with Daily Sketch before going back to his previous employer, Daily Express. In 1969, he served as the London correspondent of the Express. In the mid-1970s, he worked for the Daily Times, rising to become a deputy editor of Headlines magazine. When the late MKO Abiola started Concord Press, Onabule was appointed features editor. In 1984, he became the editor of Concord newspaper.

    Till he died, he remained active in writing and making profound comments on national issues. He was a columnist in The Sun Newspapers.

  • Section 84(12): House of Reps not aware of any judgment, says House Spokesman

    Section 84(12): House of Reps not aware of any judgment, says House Spokesman

    The spokesman of the House of Representatives, Ben Kalu has said that the House is not aware of the lawsuit seeking to remove a section of the Electoral Act barring political appointees from contesting in elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, declared Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, illegal. She declared the provision as conflicting with sections 66(1)(f), 107(1)(f), 137(1)(f) and 182(1)(f) of the 1999 Constitution.

    In his reaction to the judgment, Kalu stated that they were not aware of the lawsuit and cannot react to the judgement because it is yet to get a certified copy.

    He also said the Green chamber of the National Assembly has questions on who represented it in court.

    He explained that: “The House was not aware of this legal matter. The House was not served—whether we were a necessary party or not. It is important to note that it is out of place to comment on the judgement that we have not seen. We are only reading it on social media.

    “The Senate had treated the bill, but the House is still waiting for a legal opinion on the issues raised by the President.

    “We will like to know who served us, who represented us, when and all those technicalities”

    The house of reps spokesperson also said they will be interested in the interpretation of public servants because they believe political appointees are not public servants.

    He said:“Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution defines who a public servant is. It does not include political appointees. We must be able to differentiate between the two”

  • Enugu CP to sanction policeman for assaulting lady — spokesman

    Enugu CP to sanction policeman for assaulting lady — spokesman

    The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Lawal Abubakar, has ordered an immediate investigation and possible disciplinary sanction against a policeman seen engaging a lady in an altercation and physically assaulting her.

    The incident, spotted in a viral video circulating on social media, purportedly occurred while some police operatives were on duty at a checkpoint in Obeagu-Awkunanaw near Enugu, along Agbani Road, on Sept. 8.

    The CP’s order was contained in a statement issued by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Enugu.

    The commissioner condemned the conduct of the policeman as shown in the viral video, while warning police personnel against unprofessional conduct or disrespecting the fundamental human rights of citizens in the performance of their duties.

    He said: “Anyone found wanting, in this kind of shameful incident, will be made to face maximum disciplinary sanctions.

    “I also appeal to the assaulted lady and eyewitnesses to the incident to visit the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (State CIID), Enugu, to volunteer their statements, in order to facilitate meticulous and swift conclusion of investigation”.

    The commissioner also called on residents to promptly report police officers found conducting themselves in an unprofessional manner to the nearest police station.

    “Residents can call the command’s emergency hotlines on: 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202 or 08098880172 or alternatively send an Email to: contact042ppro@gmail.com,” he added.

  • EFCC did not detain Akpabio- Spokesman

    EFCC did not detain Akpabio- Spokesman

    Contrary to multiple online reports earlier in the week, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, was not taken into custody by the EFCC.

    His spokesman, Anietie Ekong, said it was actually Akpabio who sought an audience with the EFCC to discuss issues pertaining the transfer of funds belonging to the Niger Delta Development Commission.

    He made the clarification in Abuja on Saturday in a statement in which he said it was also untrue that Akpabio attempted to buy his freedom from custody by bribing EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa with 350,000 dollars.

     

    Ekong described the online piece entitled, “How EFCC detained Godswill Akpabio for two hours for attempting to bribe the new EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa with 350,000 dollars,’’ as libelous.

    He said the article was made-up and that there was no reason for the minister to bribe the EFCC boss as alleged.

    He explained that on Wednesday, April 14, Akpabio sought an audience with the EFCC chairman to discuss the transfer of funds belonging to the Niger Delta Development Commission.

    This, he said, was in respect of the three per cent statutory remittances from Oil and Gas Companies in the custody of the EFCC.

     

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the transfer of monies earlier paid by the International Oil Companies into the CBN and EFCC accounts since December 2020.

    “The EFCC chairman granted the request and the two officials met.

    “They had a robust discussion and the minister received very intelligent and useful input from the EFCC chairman on the ongoing NDDC forensic audit.

    “However, the discussion was inconclusive since the minister needed to attend a security meeting with select South-South and South-East leaders and governors at the office of the National Security Adviser on the same day,’’ he said.

    The duo agreed to reconvene later on the same day to conclude their interaction and they did with the meeting wounding up after more than one hour.

    Ekong added that there was no issue of detention, adding that Akpabio could not have carried 350,000 dollars into the office of the EFCC chairman as he went there without a bag or a container.

    He said the EFCC chairman gave useful and intelligent advice on the methodology of achieving success in the ongoing NDDC forensic audit.

    He noted that the minister also sought the cooperation of the EFCC to actualise recoveries of further 3 per cent levies due to the NDDC but still being owed by some oil and gas companies.

    Ekong also refuted the part of the online report that the meeting was arranged by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

    “For the umpteenth time, Akpabio did not bribe the Attorney-General with five million dollars as alleged to get Mr Effiong Akwa elevated to the position of the Interim Administrator of the NDDC,’’ Ekong said.

    He recalled that the appointment of Akwa was duly made by President Buhari in obedience to an ex-parte order of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    He explained that the court had restrained named members of the Interim Management of the NDDC from carrying out their duties until the application for an order of Mandamus was argued and disposed of.

    “In that suit, the court had ordered that the headship of the NDDC be handed over to the most senior Director pending the conclusion of the suit.

    “The most senior director at that time happened to be Akwa, who months earlier had replaced the deceased Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Chief Bassey Etang, who passed on in May 2020 after a brief illness,’’ he said.

    Ekong added that the originators of the suit did not replace the deceased Etang with Akwa as a party in the suit, hence his emergence as the Interim Administrator.

    He expressed dismay at the dragging of MAlami’s office and name into the appointment of NDDC interim administrator that was clearly a child of circumstance.

    Ekong expressed hope that his explanations would disabuse the minds of the general public against the falsehood peddled by the authors of the false and malicious publication.

    He advised the general public to discountenance the said publication, adding that it was propelled by persons whose stock in trade was politics of blackmail.

     

  • DSS releases sacked Ganduje’s spokesman Salisu Yakassai

    DSS releases sacked Ganduje’s spokesman Salisu Yakassai

     

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has released controversial ex-spokesman of Kano State Governor, Salisu Yakassai popularly called Dawisu.

    Elder state man and father to Dawisu, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai disclosed to this to the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC Hausa on Monday).

    “My son has has been released but he still in Abuja with his sibblings” Yakasai said.

    Dawisu has been in the custody of the Secret Police for three days following his twit criticising President Muhammadu Buhari on the recent kidnapping of the girls at Government Secondary School Kegebe, Zamfara state.

  • Why I lost faith in Buhari’s government – Arewa Consultative Forum Spokesman

    Why I lost faith in Buhari’s government – Arewa Consultative Forum Spokesman

    The National Publicity Secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum, Emmanuel Waye on Wednesday explained why he lost faith in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “How can I have faith in someone who presides over this kind of thing? I had faith in him when I followed him as a reporter and he chased away some foreigners who were coming to kill us,” he said.

    “When he was coming to be President, I had faith in him. I witnessed how successful this man was in chasing enemies out of our country in 1983. But now, 300 people kidnapped in his home state.”

    Waye said this on a monitored programme on Channels Television on Wednesday night.

    While noting that the entire north isn’t secured, Waye said no northerner is happy with the spate of killings and attacks in the region.

    For the Arewa forum’s spokesman, fear has gripped him now that he no longer feels safe travelling to his country home in Taraba State following the frequent report of killings and attacks.

    “I can’t go to my home state of Taraba. The whole place is in chaos, they are killing people every day. That one is not publicised because there is no oil in Taraba.

    “All over the north, there is insecurity. I have never felt unsafe like I feel now. What can I say? You have seen what is happening to our people,” he added.

    Insecurity has been a burning issue in the country following attacks and killings ranging from banditry, terrorism, armed robbery among several other security threats.

    The National Assembly had recently passed a vote of no confidence on the service chiefs, calling on President Buhari to replace them and overhaul the nation’s security architecture.

    Meanwhile, spokesman to the president, Femi Adesina recently said only the president has powers to assess, fire and appoint service chiefs.

  • Ex-PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh released from Kuje prison [Photos]

    Ex-PDP spokesman, Olisa Metuh released from Kuje prison [Photos]

    A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has been released from prison after about 10 months of serving a jail term.

    Pictures of Mr Metuh, leaving the Nigerian Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje in Abuja, the nation’s capital, were shared on Twitter by a PDP chieftain, Mr Ayodele Fayose.

    Fayose, who is the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, congratulated the former spokesman for the opposition party, saying, “Welcome back home Olisa Metuh, tough time don’t last…”

    Metuh was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), along with his company Destra Investment Limited, before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    He was charged with seven counts of illegally receiving monies to the tune of N400 million from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), under Colonel Sambo Dasuki.

    On February 25, 2020, Justice Abang convicted and sentenced the former PDP spokesman to seven years imprisonment.

    Dissatisfied with the decision of the court, Metuh approached the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal with an application seeking to set aside the ruling of the lower court.

    In his argument, he alleged among others that the trial Judge was biased and failed to accord him a fair hearing.

    About 10 months after the judgement of the Federal High Court, the appellate court agreed with the appellant that the trial judge was biased and quashed the judgement.

    In its judgement delivered on Wednesday last week, the panel of three justices, led by Justice Stephen Adah, ordered a retrial of the case.

    After reviewing the judgement of the appellate court, the EFCC said it would approach the Supreme Court to challenge it.

    A week after the appellate court delivered the judgement, Metuh was released from the correctional facility in Kuje, Abuja.

  • Ex-NCC spokesman, Tony Ojobo to receive African Achievers Award in UK

    Ex-NCC spokesman, Tony Ojobo to receive African Achievers Award in UK

    The immediate past Director of Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Tony Ojobo will on Thursday, July 11 receive the African Achievers Award as “African Public Affairs and Brand Executive of the Year” at the House of Commons, House of Parliament, United Kingdom.
    Ojobo who announced his retirement from the nation’s telecom regulatory body after 18 years of meritorious service in October last year was notified of the award presentation in a letter dated June 3, 2019.
    Aside receiving the award, Ojobo is also billed to make a special presentation.
    The letter reads in part:
    “It is with great pleasure that we invite you as an Honoree for the 2019 African Achievers Awards under the “African Public Affairs and Brand Executive of the Year ’’ category. This is in recognition of your exceptional leadership qualities and strategies that has created
    immense value for the telecommunication industry in Nigeria by engaging with stakeholders during your period at the Nigerian Communication Commission NCC. You have been active mentoring and proffering Public Relations solutions to the corporate world with your company Imagexetera and help incubate and nurture young inventors in Nigeria with your technology hub TechX.
    The Award Ceremony will be holding at the House of Commons, United Kingdom Parliament. The African Achievers Awards has consistently honoured great Africans in Leadership, Community builders, Young Achievers, to Captains of Industries across the continent.
    The Awards ceremony has fast become established as one of the biggest gatherings of influential and global African Achievers on the continent. Our Award ceremony has been rated by FORBES Magazine as one of the most prestigious award Ceremonies on the African continent.
    We are pleased to inform you that you will also make special presentation.”