July 2022 | Page 6 of 6

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INEC Office set ablaze by arsonists in Enugu State

An office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Enugu State, has been set ablaze by yet to be identified arsonists.

This development was confirmed in a brief statement on Monday by INEC National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye Esq.

Mr Okoye disclosed that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Mr. Emeka Ononamadu, reported that INEC Igboeze North Local Government Area office had been burnt.

According to the REC, the attack happened at about 11.48pm on Sunday the 3rd of July, 2022.

The arsonists are said to have overpowered the security guards, forced their way into the premises and set the INEC building ablaze.

Although no casualties were reported, 748 ballot boxes, 240 voting cubicles, office furniture and equipment were destroyed in spite of the best effort of the Enugu State Fire Service deployed from Nsukka.

According to Mr Okoye’s communique, the Commission is working to ascertain the status of voter registration machines for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise as well as uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) locked up in the fireproof cabinet.

He added that the incident has been reported to the Nigeria Police for investigation and further action.

“The attack, coming in the middle of the voter registration exercise and other preparations for 2023 General Election, is worrisome,” the INEC spokesman stressed.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Lawal Abubakar, has ordered a thorough investigation to unravel cause of fire outbreak in INEC office in Igboeze North Local Government Area.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Daniel Ndukwe, in Enugu on Monday.

Ndukwe said that the fire might have started from the back of the building.

He noted that the fire was put out by police operatives that mobilised to the scene on receipt of the information, with assistance from personnel of Enugu State Fire Service, thereby averting further damages within the vicinity.

“Consequently, the CP has assured that the command will do all it can to unravel the cause of the incident and take necessary action.

“The commissioner also enjoined residents of the area to support the police with credible information and intelligence in the ongoing investigation.”

The PPRO said that the area had been cordoned for preservation and further investigation.

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Burna Boy – Love, Damini Album

Burna Boy – Love, Damini Album Zip File & Mp3 Download Audio

Super Star, Grammy Award Winning artiste & Self-acclaimed Africa Giant Burna Boy has released his highly anticipated project “Love, Damini Album”.

The new compilation “Love, Damini Album” Comprises of 19 super amazing tracks with appearance from Victony, Popcaan, Ladysmith, Black Mambazo, Ed Sheeran, Khalid, J. Balvin, J. Hus.

However, Burna Boy has served “Kilometer” & “Last Last” as lead singles.

Download Burna Boy – Love, Damini Album & Enjoy!

Tracks

DOWNLOAD Burna Boy – Love, Damini Album Zp File

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Bandits abduct wife of Plateau village head, kill his son

Bandits have kidnapped the wife of the village head of Angwn Baraya village in Pyam chiefdom, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, Baba Yarima Jabi, and killed his son.

It was gathered that the gunmen attacked the community in the early hours of Sunday, July 3, shot the village head and his son before whisking away his wife.

The village head was rushed to a nearby hospital in the council area while his son identified as Chamsan, died on the spot .

A resident of the village, Ilya Samson, who confirmed the attack to ThePunch in Jos on Sunday said that after shooting the victims, the gunmen abducted the wife of the village head and fled into the bush.

“Our community in Pyam chiefdom, Mangu LGA, has once again been hit with another tragedy as heavily armed killer bandits last night attacked the residence of Elder statesman and leader of Angwan Baraya village, Jannaret Ward, Gindiri District, Baba Yarima Jabil,” he said.

“The bandits opened a barrage of gunfire at his residence around midnight and shot the community leader.

“After the attackers finished their operations unchallenged, he was rushed to a hospital in the locality but his son, Chamsan, who was in his late 30’s wasn’t lucky enough to survive the bullets that hit him as he died instantly

“The bandits also took away two women including the wife of the community leader and there has been no trace of her whereabouts at the moment. As I’m talking to you , we are on our way to bury the son who was killed during the attack which has thrown the community into mourning.

“Some security men came to the village after the gunmen had left and I’m sure this kind of thing would not be happening if we have a government that cares and that is why as a community ,we are calling on other Nigerians to consider the current insecurity in many parts of the country and ensure that they elect the right leaders in government during the 2023 elections.” he added.

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SERAP urges Buhari to use NASS allocation for ASUU’s demands

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “urgently recover missing N105.7bn of public funds from ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to fund the country’s public tertiary institutions, improve the welfare of staff members, and ensure that the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) return to class without further delay.”

SERAP said, “Pending the recovery of the missing public funds, we urge you to redirect some of the presidency’s budget of N3.6 billion on feeding and travels, and the N134 billion allocated to the National Assembly in the 2022 budget to meet the demands by ASUU.”

SERAP also urged him to send to the National Assembly a fresh supplementary appropriation bill, which reflects the proposed redirected budget, for its approval.

In the letter dated 2 July, 2022 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Meeting the demands by ASUU would confront the persistent and widening inequality in educational opportunity, and promote equal protection for poor Nigerian children.”

According to SERAP, “The apparent failure by your government to agree with the reasonable demands by ASUU, implement the good faith agreement with the union and to satisfactorily resolve the issues has kept poor Nigerian children at home while the children of the country’s politicians attend private schools.”

The ASUU accused the government of poor commitment to the payment of academic earned allowance (EAA); poor funding, the continued use of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System and refusal to adopt the Universities Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), among others.

SERAP said, “Meeting ASUU demands would also ensure protection against the harms of discrimination and educational deprivation.”

The letter, read in part: “The poor treatment of Nigerian children in the country’s public tertiary institutions is inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.”

“Widening inequalities in the area of education bear all the more dramatic consequences given the importance of education, as an empowering right, in giving the possibility to all to explore and realise their potential.

“If people have access to education they can develop the skills, capacity and confidence to secure other rights. Education gives people the ability to access information detailing the range of rights that they hold, and government’s obligations.

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

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Obasanjo rides “Keke Marwa” across Abeokuta, preaches self-employment

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday, July 2, engaged in commercial tricycle business as he rode and picked a male passenger around Kuto area of Abeokuta.

A statement by Mr Kehinde Akinyemi, Special Assistant to Obasanjo on Media, stated that he (Obasanjo) rode from his Pent House residence at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), through Kuto area, amidst greetings and jubilation from shocked onlookers along the road.

Akinyemi explained that the ride was meant to demonstrate the safety of the means of transportation; while also encouraging the youths to be hardworking and embrace self -employment.

“The president, along the route, stopped and picked a male passenger to demonstrate that riding in the tricycle is safe; if used properly and for people to learn how to start small and grow their craft,” Akinyemi said.

“When I recently gave out tricycles to 85 young people across the nation; I received some feedback that they were sort of inappropriate gifts…Some wondered if they were the best and suitable for young people.

“I have embarked on riding the tricycle to demonstrate to people that there is nothing bad in riding it and using same for commercial purpose.

“With tricycles and other small scale businesses, youths can be self employed and ultimately, become economically independent.

“There is nothing wrong in young people starting small. The Keke is secure and safe when handled professionally and with discipline.

“It is a wrongful societal classification to consider all Keke riders as miscreants…This has led many young people to avoid the virtue of starting small business.

“In fact, you can plan your business the way you wish and earn income that you can deploy to other investments.

“If you are able to get a second one, you can give that to someone else. So you become self-employed and you have also employed somebody.

“I remain committed to the economic empowerment of young people through initiatives that can generate employment. This is how we can increasingly address unemployment in Nigeria.

“I have always have passion for youth empowerment and employment. When I started establishing farms, do you think I can run the farm alone?

“Some of the people I employed on my farms are PhD. holders.

“There are Veterinary Doctors among them, Agric economists and many more that are well educated; including some of my children that have Doctorate Degrees who are still working with me.

“The other time I checked the people that are working with us directly on our various establishments, we have over 5,000 and most of them are youths.

“I have always had passion for youths because there is no substitute for employment,” Obasanjo was quoted as saying after the ride.

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Jos North Council Chairman wasn’t impeached, says Media Aide

The Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Executive Chairman of Jos North Local Government of Plateau Mr Philip Eplong has debunked the rumour that the sitting of the Legislative Arm of the Council held on Thursday impeached th council chairman Hon. Shehu Bala

Eplong, reacting to the viral rumour that had attracted attention of political bigwigs of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC at the state level, said the Legislative Arm held their normal sittings Which they deliberate on important issues affecting the council area.

He said: “I can feel the apprehension caused by the rumour that the sitting on Thursday has impeached the council chairman, Hon. Shehu Bala is not true.

“I want to categorically state here that there was no agenda to impeach Hon. Balaor whoever, and I call on Jos North Citizens to discard any fear or apprehension regarding this issue because it’s unfounded.

The Media Aide however condemned the attack on the Legislative Council by some hoodlums at the Council’s secretariat in Jos where some Journalist valuables were taken away.

He appealed to security agencies to immediately wade into the matter and apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly acts to serve as deterrent to others.

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INEC formally announces extension of voters’ registration exercise

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has told political parties in the country that it would not extend the July 15, 2022 deadline for the nomination of governorship and state assembly candidates.

Festus Okoye, National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, made this known in a statement on Thursday.

Okoye also stated that Continuous Voter Registration (VR) will continue nationwide.

According to him, the Resident Electoral Commissioners and Electoral Officers have been directed to continue with the exercise; pending further directives from the INEC.

”The INEC has consistently reiterated its resolve to continue to provide electoral services to the Nigerian people and register all eligible Nigerians that are interested in registering.

”The Commission has yet again deployed additional machines to areas of pressure and will continue to serve the people of Nigeria.

“By the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released by the Commission; political parties that conducted valid Governorship and State Assembly primaries; shall upload the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates between 1st and 15th July 2022.

“Political parties are advised not to wait until the last day before uploading the list and personal particulars of their candidates. The Candidates Nomination Portal will shut down at 6 pm on 15th July 2022.”

Therefore, he urged political parties who have challenges with uploading documents to contact the Commission’s Help – Desk; through the dedicated telephone lines or contact the candidate nomination centre at the Commission’s headquarters.