TheNewsGuru

Tag: Suspend

  • Just in: 72hrs after resignation, Benue Assembly suspends ex-Speaker, Dajoh

    Just in: 72hrs after resignation, Benue Assembly suspends ex-Speaker, Dajoh

    Barely 72hours after resignation from office, the Benue State House of Assembly has suspended former Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, for three months, for an alleged attempt to impeach Governor Hyacinth Alia.

    The suspension of Dajoh followed the motion moved on Tuesday by the lawmaker representing Kyan State Constituency, Terna Shimawua, and seconded by James Umoru from Apa State Constituency.

    Interestingly, Shimawua, who moved the motion, was one of those suspended last week Friday by Dajoh before his resignation as Speaker on Sunday.

    The Speaker, Alfred Berger, who ruled on the motion, reviewed Dajoh’s suspension from six to three months without the usual votes on such matters.

    In a new twist on Tuesday, the Assembly made a U-turn and confirmed the nomination of Timothy Yangien Ornguga as commissioner.

    Ornguga, a law lecturer at the Benue State University, was rejected last week by the then Speaker, Dajoh.

    However, the new speaker, Berger, while reading a letter from Governor Alia on Tuesday, screened five more nominees, including the law professor.

    The new speaker said the governor believed the two nominees — Ornguga and James Dwem — rejected by the former speaker have not been convicted of any crime despite the petitions submitted against their nominations, hence the appeal to clear them.

    Surprisingly, the lawmakers who previously opposed their confirmation unanimously kept quiet when the speaker confirmed the two nominees without the usual voice votes.

    The House also lifted the suspension on three political office holders, earlier suspended by the governor. They are the Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, Grace Adagba; the Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri; and the Secretary of the State Lottery Board, Michael Uper.

  • Just In: FG suspends approval for construction of fresh roads across Nigeria

    Just In: FG suspends approval for construction of fresh roads across Nigeria

    The Federal Government has suspended approval for the construction of new road networks across the country.

    This was revealed by the Minister of Works, David Umahi on Sunday in Calabar, where the Federal Ministry for Works convened a stakeholders engagement on the proposed alignment for sections 3A and design for about 97km Spur of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project with a segment from Cross River State to South-east and North Central part of Nigeria.

    According to him, the decision was a result of a directive by President Bola Tinubu, adding that the ministry will be prioritising the completion of ongoing projects in the country in the 2025 budget.

    He explained that the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway has section 3A, about 38km, joining from the Akwa Ibom axis through Cross River State.

    He added that there will be a spur of the same coastal highway, about 92km in Cross River State, making it a total of 130km to be constructed within Cross River State.

    According to the minister of works, the 92km spur in Cross River State will cross Enugu State, Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Abuja and Lagos states.

    The minister frowned at the poor handling of the existing contract of Odukpani-Itu federal road, directing that the first warning will be issued to contractors to return to the site or risk revocation of their contracts.

    On the Lagos – Calabar coastal highway project, Umahi, described the project as a significant initiative of President Bola Tinubu, aimed at enhancing connectivity and promoting economic growth along the coastal regions of Nigeria. “Once completed, the highway is expected to facilitate smoother transportation of goods and people, boost trade activities, and spur regional development,” he enthused.

    He said the project is one of the president’s legacies that would out-live his Administration and many others to come.

    On his part, the Cross river state, Governor Bassey Otu pledged his commitment to supporting the successful execution of the coastal highway project, as it portends great economic benefits for the state as well as the southern and north-central regions of Nigeria.

    Represented by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Peter Odey at the stakeholder’s engagement, the governor said his administration’s maximum cooperation and support towards the realisation of this crucial infrastructure development is inevitable, adding that the importance of a good road network to the economic development of the state, region and nation at large cannot be overemphasised.

    He directed the state commissioner for works to engage with the team from the Federal Ministry of Works, and to ensure that nothing inhibits the smooth execution of the project, which is scheduled to begin in Calabar axis in August this year.

    He also assured the minister of works, that the state government had secured the needed State Executive Council approval, to pay compensation to ease the right of way for the contractors handling the Odukpani–Itu federal highway.

  • ECOWAS suspends Niger from regional bodies

    ECOWAS suspends Niger from regional bodies

    The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS/CEDEAO) has officially suspended the Republic of Niger by all sub-regional bodies, until constitutional order is restored in the country.

    This is contained in a statement by the regional organisation, following the decisions taken at the summit of heads of state and government held on Sunday in Abuja.

    “Until the 64th ordinary session held on Dec. 10, 2023, the Conference of Heads of State and Government considered the situation in Niger as a coup attempt and continued to consider Mohamed Bazoum the President of the Republic of Niger, Head of State,” the statement said.

    “Due to this position, Niger was not suspended from ECOWAS’ decision-making bodies and members of Bazoum’s government were authorized to represent Niger in ECOWAS’ statutory meetings.

    The Dec. 10 summit recognised that Mohamed Bazoum’s government had effectively been overthrown by a military coup.

    Consequently, beginning from Dec. 10, 2023, Niger is suspended from all decision-making bodies of ECOWAS, until constitutional order is restored in the country,” the statement said.

    On Sunday, the ECOWAS leaders’ meeting in Abuja, asked the military junta of Niger, which came to power in a coup on July 26, to release the deposed president Mohamed Bazoum in exchange for the lifting of the sanctions imposed on the country.

    The proposal was, however, rejected by the leader of the junta, Omar Abdourahmane Tchiani, who reiterated that Bazoum would not be released.

    After the summit, the bloc presented the proposal to lift the sanctions in exchange for the freedom of the deposed president, also asking the junta to shorten the duration of the transition period, currently set at three years.

    Tchiani agreed to this last request, without however specifying by how much.

    The sub-regional body also announced the maintenance of sanctions against Niger.

  • Enugu APC: Why Ugo Agballah wants to suspend Onyeama, Chime, others

    Enugu APC: Why Ugo Agballah wants to suspend Onyeama, Chime, others

    The Enugu State APC Media Director of Independent Campaign Council (ICC), Chief Flavour Eze, has disclosed that the Chairman of the party in Enugu, Mr Ugochukwu Agballah, has concluded plans to suspend major leaders of the party in Enugu.

    Eze stated this in Enugu on Thursday in a statement he signed, saying that the leaders Agballah wants to suspend from the party includes, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama; former Governor of the state, Mr. Sullivan Chime; himself, among others.

    He disclosed that Agballah had subsequently convened a meeting on Thursday (today) at the party’s zonal office in Enugu, where he hopes to execute his last brand of tyranny in the party.

    Eze, however, said that the gloatig of Agballah had been APC’s albatross in Enugu state, stressing that the foundation members of the party in Enugu State were unfazed by Agballah’s recent unbridled verbal and media attacks on Onyeama; Former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani, and other founding members of the party by the embattled State chairman.

    Eze, an APC leader in Udi local government area, said that it was such a pity that Agballah who claims to be chairman of the party, rather than engage in canvassing votes for the party, chose to engage in imaginary fisticuffs as smoke screen for his incompetence and corrupt management of the party in the state.

    He alleged said that Agballah made good his business and gave opposition parties in the state victory in exchange for “porridge”, he bargained for and turned around to blame the founding leaders of the party for his incapacity.

    “Since 2003, Agballah, who is not a good follower went into governorship voyage but he failed woefully, repeated same failure in 2007 till he was mistakenly brought to APC where he has now exposed his frustration, avarice and ineptitude. So why lean on us?

    He stated that Agballah failed to vote for the governorship candidate of the APC on the March 18 election, and wondered who else could have voted for the candidate when the state chairman of the party betrayed the party’s mandate.

    Eze said that the Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, worked for the victory of the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, with multiple evidences of campaigns for the presidential candidate, but was restricted to work for the party’s victory in Enugu State because of the hostility of the state chairman.

    Eze further expressed surprise that Agballah was talking about COVID-19 palliatives in 2023, noting that the issue of an alleged palliative disbursement to opposition parties was a complete display of Agballah’s ignoramus and desperate search for unintelligent excuse for failure.

    On the real issues about the APC crisis in Enugu State, Eze said that Agballah was being chased by his own shadow, the problems he purposely created in his crave for monopoly of power and corrupt ineptitude.

    Eze said, “the real issues are that once Agballah was made the chairman of APC in Enugu with the support of the leaders of the party such as the Minister, myself and others, he quickly became intoxicated with power, refused to convene stakeholders meeting and started hobnobbing with presidential aspirants.

    He lampooned Agballah for struggling for the position of a Minister in a proposed government he worked against and urged Nigerians to treat him with ignominy.

  • APC Committee suspends Buhari’s minister

    APC Committee suspends Buhari’s minister

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Support Committee has suspended its National Coordinator, Senator Godswill Akpabio over what it describes as poor leadership.

    The committee is an umbrella body of President Buhari support groups.

    It had a mandate to galvanise support for President Buhari’s re-election in 2019.

    Addressing journalists after a meeting of the group’s National Executive Committee in Abuja on Saturday, spokesperson Kailani Muhamad said the group decided to suspend Senator Akpabio because he abandoned the organisation after his ministerial appointment.

    Senator Akpabio, a former Akwa Ibom state Governor, is the current Minister of Niger-Delta

    He was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2019.

  • Suspend all ‘Suspendables’ – Hope Eghagha

    Hope Eghagha

    The imperial and nationalist federal government of Nigeria has finally summoned the courage to do what it ought to have done eons ago by suspending the impervious, cantankerous, divisive and nosey Tweeter, that breezy all-comers social media platform giant created by an American capitalist to poke its big ugly Uncle Tom nose into all crannies of the wide world, whether invited or not, to rattle governments, remove governments, promote LGBTQ values, and give space to nincompoops and outlandish vituperative outbursts, who in the process display profound ignorance and undue bellicosity to hard working governments and officials in the name of freedom of expression and human rights!

    Indeed, as anyone can see even with half an eye, Tweeter, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and all the other platforms have inexorably fulfilled the Orwellian peeping Tom predictions in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four and should be dealt with in the language they will understand, the language of proscription and/or outright ban! What else can these platforms be but BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU? George Orwell was mightily right!

    Bravo to the highly sensitive and responsive federal government which has done what the powerful Donald Trump as the very President of America could not do! For good measure, the best president which America was unfortunate to have had so far, Donald J. Trump has wisely and boldly congratulated the Buhari regime on the feat of banning Tweeter in Nigeria! Can you beat that? Trump had something to congratulate Nigeria on. This is an excellent endorsement from a president who once insultingly described our president in terms that I will not deign to repeat here for decency sake and offend the presidency. The same man who called Africa as a place of ‘s..thole’ countries! Of course, if you snatch another man’s wife, you would get a congratulatory call from Satan himself! As we all know, ungrateful Nigerians have been using Tweeter to sabotage the dynamic, people-centered Aso Rock government ensconced in the magical and detached world of sleepy Abuja. To be sure, even former editors of the free press who work with the government have appropriately, loyally, and stoutly defended the temporary suspension of Tweeter. The language Nigerians understand appears to be the product of one spokesperson that was reported as saying that Nigerians require a strong hand to govern them, or something like that!

    When I ruminated on my essay topic for the week, especially after the beautifully sadistic ban on Tweeter by Abuja, a title which I had encountered as a boy about one Mbonu Ojike (1914-1956) a nationalist and onetime Vice President of NCNC leapt to my mind. As an Africanist, Mbonu, known as ‘Boycott King’ advocated ‘a reduction in consumption of Western goods’ with the slogan ‘boycott the boycottables! No doubt, the lust for everything foreign had been with us since our first contact with Europeans from the 12tn century or so. In the past, some of our kings sold their subjects in exchange for a mirror or gin or some trivia! Wish we had summoned the gumption to develop our indigenous technology we would not be depending on oil as the mainstay of our economy. If in the 1950s we could boycott foreign goods, the federal government’s order that Tweeter should be suspended would have been familiar territory.

    The purpose of this essay therefore is to celebrate the beauty of suspending Tweeter. I am also of the inane view that all other social platforms used for democratic mischief should be suspended forever. Not till further notice. Newspapers, TV stations, WhatsApp, Blogs, SMS and mobile telephones should all be suspended as we work on the unity of the country. Too much jagajaga! Ignoramuses calling for war as if war is a tea party. They all use social media platforms to preach hate. There is a language which Nigerians understand: force. Just forget all those niceties about democracy and free expression. Do votes really count in Nigeria? Can we beat our chests and assert with any degree of confidence that our votes brought in the governors, legislators and the president? What is this talk then about freedom of expression? Further proof is in Imo State. The governor my namesake Hope Uzodinma was enthroned by the Supreme Court. This of course is a legal seal to the beauty of illegality. It is to be celebrated. Is this not why Imo State has become an epitome of peace, ultimate tranquility, stability and rapid progress?

    Once in the checkered history of our beleaguered nation, I think it was between 1983 and 1985, by some rabid decrees, crafted by lawyers it became an offence for journalists to report any matter, true or false, which embarrassed a public official. It was in the days of military misadventure in governance. And so, anything was possible. Those khaki boys in misguided nationalism thought they could run a country like a military formation. But the house soon crumbled and Nigerians learnt some lessons. But we cannot compare that era with the times we live in. Those days of insane dictatorship are gone forever in any guise or form as Aso Rock has told some mischievous politicians who are instigating misadventure in the military.

    Presidential spokesmen are very important in government. They polish the dull and make the straight the crooked. They do damage control. They are also a gateway to understanding the mindset of the chief executive. Thus when a spokesman says that the nation needs a strong hand, the message is clear. Enough of the nonsense that is IPOB. Enough of the nonsense that Miyetti Allah. Enough of the nonsense that Boko Haram. Enough of the nonsense that is Amotekun. Enough of the nonsense that is ESN. Enough of the nonsense that is Fulani banditry. Enough of the nonsense that is kidnapping. Enough of the nonsense that is parochial and clannish appointments to the national patrimony. Boots have been worn in readiness to deal with moronic Nigerians who Tweet nonsense to abuse and insult the hard suffering leaders of the Nigerian State.

    As for newspaper houses, let them know that Daily Times and The New Nigerian, Radio Nigeria Kaduna, Radio Nigeria Lagos, could be resuscitated as mouth organs of the federal government. NTA and its sister stations nationwide are enough to tell us what we need to know about Nigeria and the world. All private TV stations should take note. No programmes or guests who are critical of government should be welcome in the studio. They should be suspended. The government itself should be ready to suspend all ‘suspendables! The nation has to move. And if the nation fails to move because of some bloody laggards in the corridors of power, the government should suspend the nation too! If things refuse to move after that, government should suspend itself for the sake of peace and allow dead bones to come back to life!

    Professor Eghagha can be reached on 08023220393 and heghagha@yahoo.com

  • Killings: Zamfara Governor Suspends Emir Of Zurmi

    Killings: Zamfara Governor Suspends Emir Of Zurmi

    Zamfara State Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle has approved the suspension of Emir of Zurmi, Atiku Abubakar Muhammad.

    This follows the killings in Kadawa village and allegations levelled against the Emir.

    Protesters, earlier in May burnt a section of the palace of the Emir of Zurmi, lamenting that security agents and the Emir, Atiku Abubakar, were not doing enough to protect them from incessant bandit attacks in the area.

    The state governor in the statement announcing the suspension of the Emir added that Alhaji Bello Suleiman (Bunun Kanwa) is to take charge of the Affairs of the Emirate immediately.

    The statement was signed on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government, Kabiru Balarabe.

    Also, a Committee has been set up to investigate allegations made against the suspended Emir, on his involvement in the escalating rate of banditry attacks in the Emirate.

    Those in the committee include Former Deputy Governor Ibrahim Wakkala (Chairman); Former Deputy Governor, Mukhtar Ahmad Anka; Zamfara State House Leader, Faruku Musa Dosara, among others.

    The Committee is given three weeks within which to complete its assignment and submit a report.

  • BREAKING: IGP suspends use of tinted vehicle windscreens nationwide

    The Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba has announced the immediate suspension of tinted vehicle windscreens in Nigeria.

    The IGP announced this on Monday during a meeting with senior police officers including commissioners and DIGs from across the states.

    While making the announcement, he reiterated that roadblocks remain prohibited in the country and warned that heads of commands must enforce it and key into the road patrol strategy as an alternative to roadblocks.

    The IGP also spoke concerning the arrest of high-profile criminals.

    According to him, some of the high-profile suspects in police custody include members of IPOB, kidnappers, and bandits who have confessed to committing some of the most heinous crimes in recent times.

    He stressed the need for the senior police officers to ensure discipline in their various commands.

    Some of the successes recorded by the Police Force in the last two months include the arrest of over 600 suspects including persons believed to have carried out an attack on Governor Samuel Ortom earlier in March, this year.

    The IGP’s meeting is the first of such he was confirmed as the Inspector General of Police.

    The Police Council last week confirmed Usman Alkali Baba as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), almost two months after he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Aside deleting Buhari’s tweets, Presidency lists others reasons for #TwitterBan in Nigeria

    Aside deleting Buhari’s tweets, Presidency lists others reasons for #TwitterBan in Nigeria

    The Presidency on Saturday said the Federal Government’s decision to “temporarily” ban Twitter wasn’t a “knee-jerk reaction” to the social media network’s deletion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweets.

    According to a statement signed by spokesman Garba Shehu, Twitter has long been accused of spreading “misinformation and fake news” which can have “real world violent consequences.”

    “The temporary suspension of Twitter is not just a response to the removal of the President’s post,” the statement said.

    “There has been a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real world violent consequences. All the while, the company has escaped accountability.

    “Major tech companies must be alive to their responsibilities. They cannot be allowed to continue to facilitate the spread of religious, racist, xenophobic and false messages capable of inciting whole communities against each other, leading to loss of many lives. This could tear some countries apart.”

    The Federal Government announced an “indefinite suspension” of Twitter operations in Nigeria on Friday.

    By early Saturday, users across the country started to experience difficulties in accessing the service and many resorted to using Virtual Private Networks (VPN).

    The decision to suspend Twitter has been criticised by many, but the Presidency in its Saturday statement insisted it was a justified move

    “. . . the removal of President Buhari’s tweet was disappointing,” the statement said. “The censoring seemed based on a misunderstanding of the challenges Nigeria faces today.”

    The tweet deleted by Twitter had referenced the Nigerian civil war, in which millions of Igbo died, many due to starvation.

    President Buhari had threatened to deal with IPOB “in the language they understand”, a statement many interpreted as a repeat of the civil war injustices meted out to Igbos.

    IPOB is a group, proscribed by a Nigerian court, seeking secession of a chunk of Southern Nigeria.

    “The tweet was not a threat, but a statement of fact,” Mr. Shehu’s statement said.

    “A terrorist organisation (IPOB) poses a significant threat to the safety and security of Nigerian citizens.

    “When the President said that they will be treated ‘in a language they understand,’ he merely reiterated that their force shall be met with force. It is a basic principle of security services response world over.

    “This is not promotion of hate, but a pledge to uphold citizens’ right to freedom from harm. The government cannot be expected to capitulate to terrorists.

    “IPOB is proscribed under Nigerian law. Its members murder innocent Nigerians. They kill policemen and set government property on fire. Now, they have amassed a substantial stockpile of weapons and bombs across the country.

    “Twitter does not seem to appreciate the national trauma of our country’s civil war. This government shall not allow a recurrence of that tragedy.”

  • JUST IN: NCAA suspends Azman Air with immediate effect

    JUST IN: NCAA suspends Azman Air with immediate effect

    Following a series of incidents involving Azman Air Boeing 737 aircraft, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended the operations of all the Boeing 737 aircraft in the fleet of Azman Air Services Limited, with effect from March 15, 2021.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director-General of NCAA, and made available to newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday.

    Nuhu said that the suspension was in pursuant to Section 35 (2) of the Civil Aviation Act, 2006 and Part 1.3.3.3 (A) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) 2015.

    He said that the suspension was to enable the authority conduct an audit of the airline to determine the root cause(s) of the incidents, and recommend corrective actions to forestall reccurrence.

    According to him, “NCAA regrets the inconvenience this action may cause the public, particularly to Azman air passengers, but the need to ensure the safety of air
    transport and protect the public interest, cannot be compromised.

    “The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority will continue to ensure airlines’ compliance to its regulations in the interest of safety and will view any violation(s) seriously.

    Azman Air was established in 2010, and began operations in 2014 with its first commercial flight to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, on 15 May 2014 from Kano. The airline began operations in Nigeria with 2 Boeing 737-500 aircraft for its domestic services. In October 2017, Azman Air leased a used Airbus A330 from an Egyptian charter airline (the now defunct Air Leisure) which would be used to fly to international routes to both the Middle East and Asia. The airline has since discontinued leasing the A330, and, as of 8 February 2020, is only flying domestic routes within Nigeria.