Placing the 9th senate on the scale, one year after

For any legislature to excel in connecting the people to good governance and protecting them from power abuse, or become a truly institutionalized manifestation of the people’s will or sovereignty; it must be a very vigilant one as well as embody the truism that leaders are elected to create opportunities or provide solutions and not problems. In addition, the leadership of such parliament must be effective, responsive, courageous, visionary and creatively ambitious.

But to fairly judge and determine if a legislature is defined by these features there are certain principles that must be considered first. One of them is that organizations and individuals alike, are rated based on the quantum of knowledge and information about them in the public domain.

Also, there are categories of persons that have already formed strong opinions about organizations and individuals to the extent that despite availability of contrary-but-superior information, they are indifferent and or, uninterested in the affairs of such entities. In other words, they have made up their minds and determined to hold on to whatever narratives that suit their disposition about their targets. Then again, organizations and individuals at one point or another in their existence face some kinds of hostilities from varied segments of the public. Though all these stem from several societal factors interplaying to shape human perceptions about the social environment, they are chiefly sequel to past experiences and accumulated information over time |||READ MORE

George Floyd's daughter, 6, says she misses him: 'Dad changed the world'

Gianna Floyd, the 6-year-old daughter of George Floyd - who died in the custody of a Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on his neck for over 8 minutes -- said in an interview with Good Morning America on Wednesday, "I miss him."

Gianna's mother, Roxie Washington, praised Floyd as a loving and doting father.

A family video of Gianna on a family friend's shoulders holding his hands shows her saying "Dad changed the world." |||READ MORE

 

Pentagon chief on shaky ground with White House after breaking with Trump over protest response

Washington (CNN)Secretary of Defense Mark Esper is on shaky ground with the White House after saying Wednesday that he does not support using active duty troops to quell the large-scale protests across the United States triggered by the death of George Floyd and those forces should only be used in a law enforcement role as a last resort.

Speaking from the Pentagon briefing room podium, Esper noted that "we are not in one of those situations now," distancing himself from President Donald Trump's recent threat to deploy the military to enforce order.

"The option to use active duty forces in a law enforcement role should only be used as a matter of last resort, and only in the most urgent and dire of situations. We are not in one of those situations now. I do not support invoking the Insurrection Act," he told reporters. Esper also distanced himself from a maligned photo-op outside St. John's Church |||READ MORE

Killings: How to make law enforcement agents more accountable

On Thursday 28th May 2020, 16-year-old Tina was shot at Iyana Oworo Berger Bus Stop in Lagos by some trigger-happy police officers and she eventually died from wounds sustained as a result of the gunshot.

While we commend the leadership of the police force for its reaction to this killing in fishing out and arresting the killer cop as well as the assurance that he will be made to “face the full weight of the law”, we are however worried at the seeming rising wave of extrajudicial killings by law enforcement agencies in recent times |||READ MORE

Court sentences three to death by hanging for murder of ex-Niger Delta agitator, one other

PORT HARCOURT: Three persons, Dougbra Ogbe, Emmanuel Gladstone, Bere Matthew, have been sentenced to death by hanging by a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt for the murder of ex-Niger Delta agitator, Soboma George and a groundnut seller, Joy John-Ejims.

The three suspects were convicted of the three counts bordering on conspiracy and murder of George and John-Ejims preferred against them after murder of the duo in 2010.

Justice George Omereji, in his judgement, having convicted the defendants on the three charges, condemned them to death by hanging, directing that they be tied on their neck till they are confirmed dead |||READ MORE

 

 

392 killed as Military launches operation against fleeing bandits

No fewer than 392 bandits have been killed as the Nigerian Military launches ‘Operation Accord’ against bandits fleeing the North West and North Central parts of the country.

Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche, told journalists in Abuja, that Operation Accord “was preemptively planned by the High Command of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to handle this situation”.

According to him, “following closely, in the North West and North Central parts of the Country, the gallant troops through land and air offensives successfully neutralized 392 bandits since the commencement of Operation KATSINA, which seriously degraded the bandits and other criminal elements in the two zones. Consequently, those bandits that escaped resorted to reprisal attacks on civilian targets |||READ MORE

Hungry Rivers residents scramble for spaghetti at accident scene

There was pandemonium at UTC Junction, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday following an accident involving a mini bus and a trailer loaded with cartons of spaghetti.

Scores of hungry residents, who rushed to the scene of the accident, were seen scrambling for the spaghetti, which scattered on the road because of the impact of the crash.

The residents rushed to the scene with different sizes of bags and began to pack the pieces of noodles that littered the ground as they complained of hunger |||READ MORE

Rape: Activist Urges NASS To Enact Laws That Will Accelerate Trial Of Cases

Mrs Stella Ibe, a human rights activist, has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to enact a law that will accelerate trial of rape suspects.

The lawyer who made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nsukka on Thursday, said such law was necessary in order to reduce the increasing rate of the crime in the country.

She was reacting to the recent rape and killing of a 100-level Microbiology student of the University of Benin, Miss Vera Omozuwa, in a church in Benin, Edo |||READ MORE

Rivers, Cross River, Ondo, Osun, Bayelsa Get Refund Of N148bn Spent On Federal Roads, Bridges

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) at a virtual meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday approved the refund of about N148,141,987,161.25 expended by five states to rehabilitate some federal roads and bridges.

The beneficiary states include Rivers, N78,953,067,518.29; Cross River, N18,394,737,608.85; Ondo, N7,822,147,577.08; Osun, N2,468,938,876.78, and Bayelsa, N38,040,564,783.40.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting in Abuja |||READ MORE

 

When To Return To Dating After A Split

There is a good chance that you’re going to experience heartbreak at some point. When you do, you’ll likely feel the urgency to give up and never date again. This can be very problematic but you cannot give up yet. There are plenty of beautiful men and women out there so you should give it another shot.

However, you shouldn’t rush into another relationship immediately since you might not be ready yet. When should you return to dating after a split from your significant other? You’ll find out tips to solve this problem below.

No Universal Time

Ultimately, some people will be ready to move on quicker than others. If you were in a relationship for a few weeks, your heartbreak will likely pass much faster. If you were in a long-term relationship, it will take a lot longer for your heart to mend. So, you shouldn’t try to follow what other people are doing. If your girlfriend rushes back into a relationship after a day or two, you shouldn’t feel obligated to do the same. Make sure that you have plenty of time to heal before entering a new relationship |||READ MORE

 

 

Are You Feeling Lonely?

Loneliness is the feeling that we're separated from relevant relationships.

It's not completely dependent on contact. It's dependent on meaningful contact. That's why Christians can feel lonely even when surrounded by a group of non-Christians.

But Christians are unique in this regard. Loneliness is only a feeling for us, never a fact. We’re never truly alone because the Lord is always with us (Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 41:10).

So how can we deal with “feelings” of loneliness? |||READ MORE

 

 

 

Nigeria drifting towards disintegration under Buhari – Akwa Ibom elders

ELDERS under the aegis of Akwa Ibom Leaders Vanguard said it has observed that the continued lopsidedness of political appointments by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration which favours only Northerners was leading the country towards disintegration and anarchy.

The Leader of the group, Senator Anietie Okon, who made the assertion in a statement made available to newsmen Monday in Uyo, wondered why president Buhari does not see Nigeria beyond his immediate Northern enclave.

Okon said the sack of Mrs. Mary Uduk, Acting Director-General of Security, and Exchange Commission (SEC) and replacing her with a northerner instead of ratifying her appointment, was a clear case of nepotism the Buhari’s led administration has continued to pursue and damning the consequences |||READ MORE

PTF Reduces Nationwide Curfew, Orders Full Operation In Financial Sectors

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 has reduced the nationwide curfew from 10pm to 4am.

The National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu, announced this on Monday at the daily briefing of the task force in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He said, “Effective from tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2, 2020, the easing of the lockdown will be characterised by the following: The nationwide curfew will remain in place but the timing of this will be reduced to 10pm-4am.” |||READ MORE

Court sentences former Exxon Mobil engineer to 15 years imprisonment for raping tenant’s niece

Lagos – A Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere Monday sentenced an EX- Exxon Mobil engineer, James Onuoha to 15 years imprisonment for raping his tenant’s 14-year- old niece.

Justice Adedayo Akintoye sentenced him without an option of fine.

At the last adjourned date, on January 14, 2020, the court had adjourned the case until March 25, for judgment, after the parties adopted their final written addresses |||READ MORE

COVID-19: Boss Mustapha rolls new plan as second phase of eased lockdown ends

The Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, has said state governments, community and religious leaders will be responsible for the next phase of battle against COVID-19.

Mustapha, who is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, said the decision was due to the fact that Nigeria was currently experiencing community infection.

The SGF made the disclosure after he and members of the task force met President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Sunday |||READ MORE

 

COVID-19 in Kogi: Yahaya Bello declares total lockdown in Kabba Bunu LGA

Following the report of two index cases of Coronavirus in Kogi State by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has declared a total lockdown in Kabba/Bunu Local Government of the state.

The lockdown, according to the governor while briefing the press on Monday morning, will last for two weeks.

It will start from 12 am midnight of June 2nd to 15th June, 2020 |||READ MORE

Adeboye: good things coming after pandemic

GENERAL Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has prophesized that a lot of good things will happen in Nigeria after the lockdown imposed due to the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Adeboye, in a sermon during a live broadcast to his members yesterday through the DOVE Television monitored in Abuja, predicted that many babies will be born in early 2021.

The cleric, who informed Christians to rejoice during the lockdown, identified David and Elijah and Joseph in the Bible, as persons who became great as a result of lockdown in their lives |||READ MORE

 

Federal Govt hands over COVID-19 battle to states

THE Federal Government has pushed the battle to contain Coronavirus to states and communities, Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the pandemic, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said on Sunday.

According to him, the Federal Government will henceforth only provide supervision and coordination.

Mustapha, the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), spoke on Sunday at the State House after members of the PTF briefed President Muhammadu Buhari and discussed their recommendations on the next phase of the battle |||READ MORE

BREAKING: FG reduces petrol pump price to N121.50 per litre

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA ) on Monday announced the reduction of the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N121.50 from N123 per litre.

According to its guidelines price for the month of June 2020, the ex-depot price band is now N100. 13 and N108. 13 per litre while ex-depot for collection is N108. 78 and N111.78 per litre.

In a memo titled “A.4/9/017/C.2/IV/701 31“, the agency urged all marketers to operatensure within the indicative prices |||READ MORE

Food Security: FG to engage 774,000 youths within six months

Federal government is to engage 774,000 youths under the newly introduced Buhari Young Farmers Network (BYFN) through the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) in the next six months.

The scheme is part of the three-prone federal government efforts at ensuring a post-Covid-19 national food security. Other projects are Back to Farm and Providing farm inputs.

The Executive Secretary of the just revived NALDA, Prince Paul Ikonne who disclosed this on Monday in Abuja said the young farmers will be drawn from the 774 Local Governments in the country, with a pilot number of 100 per local Government |||READ MORE