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Ekiti community protest the relocation of federal college of education

Dozens of residents of Omuo-Ekiti, in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State, trooped out on Saturday to protest against the relocation of the Federal College of Education (FCE) from their community.

The protesters, comprising both men and women, gathered as early as 9 am and barricaded major roads in the community, thereby paralyzing commercial and economic activities for several hours. The relocation of the FCE was said to be to Ilawe-Ekiti.

It would be recalled that the bill seeking the establishment of the Federal College of Education in Omuo-Ekiti was sponsored by Senator Biodun Olujimi, who represented Ekiti South senatorial district and was passed by both chambers of the 9th National Assembly.

However, on Friday, the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Ajibade Alabi, announced to the people of Ilawe community that the FCE had been approved for their community by the federal government, following his agitation dating back to 2016.

Some of the placards displayed by the protesters read: “On Omuo FCE we stand! No more! No less; this injustice must be redressed; Return Our FCE back to us; Don’t rub Peter to pay Paul; FCE belongs to Omuo Ekiti,” among others.

Travellers going to Abuja and those passing through the major highway in the town to Lagos, Ado Ekiti, and neighbouring Ondo State faced difficulties as the roads were barricaded.

As part of the protest against the alleged injustice, the Olomuo of Omuo-Ekiti, Oba Noah Omonigbehin, directed that all markets, shops, and other businesses must remain closed for the day.

The traditional ruler said he had participated in the public hearings by the Senate leading to the establishment of the school in both the 8th and 9th sessions.

“We presented a memo to the August legislative assembly. We wonder how someone who has not asked for anything would be given. I urge President Tinubu to correct this injustice and return the institution to Omuo Ekiti,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Chief Segun Akanle, a community leader, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, to intervene and return the Federal College of Education back to Omuo Ekiti.

Akanle, who described the citizens of the community as law-abiding, noted that Omuo Ekiti had been working for the establishment of the FCE for over ten years. He added that a bill establishing the institution had been passed by both the 8th and 9th National Assembly and was only awaiting presidential assent.

“We have 12 communities in Ekiti East, and there is no federal or state presence in any of them. A bill establishing a College of Education has been passed and is waiting for presidential assent before Ilawe people went through the backdoor to alter the location of the school,” he said.

“Why would the government establish two federal institutions in Ilawe and leave the remaining parts of the constituency? This is not acceptable. We have confidence in Tinubu to do the needful by righting the wrong and returning the Federal College of Education to Omuo Ekiti where it rightly belongs.”

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SHOCKING: Mexican mayor weds female reptile

As onlookers clapped and danced, a mayor of a small southern Mexico town entered into holy matrimony with a female reptile in a traditional rite to bring good fortune to his people.

Victor Hugo Sosa, mayor of San Pedro Huamelula, a town of Indigenous Chontal people in the Tehuantepec isthmus of Mexico, took as his betrothed a reptile named Alicia Adriana, re-enacting an ancestral ritual.

The reptile is a caiman, an alligator-like marsh dweller endemic to Mexico and Central America.

Sosa swore to be true to what local lore calls “the princess girl.”

“I accept responsibility because we love each other. That is what is important. You can’t have a marriage without love… I yield to marriage with the princess girl,” Sosa said during the ritual.

Marriage between a man and a female caiman has happened here for 230 years to commemorate the day when two Indigenous groups came to peace — with a marriage.

Tradition has it that frictions were overcome when a Chontal king, embodied these days by the mayor, wedded a princess girl of the Huave Indigenous group, represented by the female alligator.

The Huave live along coastal Oaxaca state, not far from this inland town.

The wedding allows the sides to “link with what is the emblem of Mother Earth, asking the all-powerful for rain, the germination of the seed, all those things that are peace and harmony for the Chontal man,” explains Jaime Zarate, chronicler of San Pedro Huamelula.

Before the wedding ceremony, the reptile is taken house to house so that inhabitants can take her in their arms and dance. The alligator wears a green skirt, a colorful hand-embroidered tunic and a headdress of ribbons and sequins.

The creature’s snout is bound shut to avoid any pre-marital mishaps.

Later, she is put in a white bride’s costume and taken to town hall for the blessed event.

As part of the ritual, Joel Vasquez, a local fisherman, tosses his net and intones the town’s hopes that the marriage may bring “good fishing, so that there is prosperity, equilibrium and ways to live in peace.”

After the wedding, the mayor dances with his bride to the sounds of traditional music.

“We are happy because we celebrate the union of two cultures. People are content,” Sosa told AFP.

As the dance winds down, the king plants a kiss on the snout of the “princess girl.”

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First Batch of foreign Scholarship students to depart Kano in September

Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf says the first batch of foreign scholarship policy will commence academic activities in various universities by September.

This is contained in a statement issued by his Acting Press Secretary, Mr Hisham Habib, in Kano on Saturday.

Yusuf announced this at the Government House while receiving the Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero, and members of the emirate council during a Sallah homage.

The governor restated the commitment of his administration to prioritising the education sector.

He also revealed that arrangements have been concluded to reopen the 20 institutes closed down by the immediate past administration.

Yusuf thanked the emir and appreciated the role of traditional rulers as custodians of culture and propagators of peace, stability and progress.

Earlier, Emir Bayero called for the provision of fertiliser to farmers at subsidised rate, revitalise tree plantation campaigns and water supply in the state.

He also called on the state government to provide an enabling environment for more investors for the development of the state. (NAN)

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Sack governors with fake certificate – Sam Amadi Urge tribunal

Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, has urged various Election Petitions Tribunal to declare unelected candidates with fake certificates.

Amadi claimed that the nation is dying under the weight of fake certificates being paraded by politicians, including professors, lawyers and doctors.

He argued that it is in the national interest to remove from office any person who forged any certificate.

In his verified Twitter handle on Wednesday, the social critic insisted that the court has a duty to protect public ethics.

He wrote, “Fake Certificates and National Survival.

“Nigeria is dying under the weight of fake certificates by professors, lawyers, doctors, politicians, etc.

“The least any tribunal, including PEPT, can do is to declare unelected any candidate with any fake certificate, in Lagos, Enugu, Oyo, etc.

“No nation- in Europe, Asia or America ever developed with pervasive certificate fakery. It is actually in national interest to remove from office any person- no matter how illustrious or well meaning, who forged any certificate. The court has a duty to protect public ethics.

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Details of Tinubu’s meeting with Guinea-Bissau President

Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu has revealed details of the president’s meeting with his Guinea-Bissau counterpart, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, earlier today.

Alake made the disclosure while addressing newsmen after the visit, which he described as a strictly private one.

According to him, the meeting was a cordial one between two African Presidents who are more like brothers.

He added that President Embalo pledged his readiness to cooperate with Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu at all times.

“It was a meeting between two African brother presidents, and it was very cordial. Of course, the visiting president appreciated the steps taken by President Bola Tinubu within the last one month.

“He said he is ready to cooperate with Nigeria and President Tinubu at all times, just as the rest of the world has commended him over his recent policies.

“They also spoke of the ECOWAS head of government meeting, which is imminently coming up, and also spoke on other areas of cooperation,” he said.

The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Alake, among others.

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Residents decry High cost of House Rents in Enugu, urges state Assembly to regulate, streamline the activities of ‘Agents’

The price at which house agents, in conjunction with landlords and landladies, give out their houses in Enugu today is quite alarming.

The issue of accommodation is something the government should show interest in, because a good number of residents are finding it hard to cope with paying the huge house rents largely because many are living from hand-to-mouth and can barely feed.

For some years now, the cost of housing in Enugu has been very high. It’s true that the cost of building materials is not for the faint-hearted, but getting a place to rest one’s head is becoming an uphill task in the city.

A public affairs analyst, Samuel Ugochukwu is asking the state house of Assembly to show interest in this regard.

Mr. Ugochukwu urged the house to make a law that will regulate the cost of house rents in the state.

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“House owners should be made to stick to reasonable house rents that the people can afford no matter the class they belong to”.

An entrepreneur, Kelvin Onovo, said the
government can also try to build low-cost houses for citizens which should be made accessible to everyone. He advised that private estate developers springing up everywhere around the state should be strictly monitored, as many of them are robbing people of their hard-earned money despite the hardship being faced already.

Onovo is also calling on governor Peter Mba of the state to send an executive bill to the state Assembly that will harmonise the rents and streamline the activities of house Agents who often demand more than 50% of the house rents itself from potential tenants.

No doubt, many people are changing their habitation due to increase in house rents, shop rents as well as office rents.

To get a two bedroom apartment in GRA, Independence layout, Ogui Rd, New Haven or Uwani will cost not less than between N500,000 and N550,000 per annum. If you add the percentage for agents, lawyer fee and caution fee sometimes, it may get to as high as one million naira.

In areas like Agbani Rd, Emene, Abakpa, Obiagu and Coal Camp, one may see two bedroom apartment that goes for N300,000 – N350,000 per annum. You can get a room and parlour self-contained apartment for N250,000,
These prices are devoid of the agent fees and the rest. How would the ordinary masses cope?

Worst is, only few workers will be able to afford living in a reasonably decent apartment owing to the current hard time.

A landlord who spoke to Daily Gazette correspondent on the condition of anonymity said he just increased his house rent from N150,000 to N280,000. “It is not the landlord’s fault that getting an apartment is cumbersome. They are house owners with the intention of making money.”

Many landlords fail to even acknowledge the fact that as much as they own their houses, the tenants also have some rights according to the law.

Some of them make outrageous rules like “no generator from a certain time of the day till another time, no visitors and many other inhumane rules.

With the high cost of feeding, the priority of most homes is to place food on their table, provide other necessities like clothing and education for the children, before talking about having enough to ‘save’ for other essential needs.

It is time for the government to act !

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Enugu Councilor Denied Wardrobe Allowance For Attending Lawmaker’s Inauguration

Aluagbo with Lawmaker representing Isiuzo constituency at the Enugu state House of Assembly Hon. Gabriel Eze

Report has emerged that the Councilor representing Umualor Ward in Isi-Uzo legislative house, Hon. Maxwell Aluagbo, was denied his wardrobe allowance for attending the inauguration of his brother who is the member representing Isi-Uzo constituency in Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Gabriel Lebechi Eze of the Labour Party.

Hon. Aluagbo was shocked when he learnt that 10 out of the 11 councilors in Isi-Uzo local government area have received their wardrobe allowance, leaving only him.

Investigation by Daily Gazette revealed that Maxwell Aluagbo became aware of the development when the leader of Isi-Uzo legislative council, Hon. Irenus Nnaji, informed members to write letter of acknowledgment of payment of wardrobe allowance and also to pay contribution for a thank you visit to the Executive Chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, for paying their wardrobe allowance.

“When I curiously enquired why my own wardrobe allowance has not been paid, I was told that the order is from Government House, Enugu” Aluagbo said.

Efforts by members and the leader of Isi-Uzo legislative council to convince Maxwell Aluagbo to write acknowledgment letter for the payment of the wardrobe allowance failed as he told them plainly that he will not write acknowledgment for payment he did not receive.

Is the honourable member representing Isi-Uzo constituency only representing Labour Party members that even his own brother should not attend his inauguration because he is a councilor in PDP led government?

As at the time of filling this report, efforts made by Daily Gazette correspondent to reach out to the executive chairman of Isiuzo local council area, Hon. Obiora Obeagu was fruitless as he was not taking his calls.

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Edeoga commends Ndi Enugu, LP supporters,  for their unflinching solidarity towards his mandate recovery

..Enjoin them to remain steadfast and law abiding as full trial commences at the tribunal

Labour Party Governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections in Enugu state, Barr. Chijioke Edeoga has applauded voters across all political parties, supporters and massive followers of the Presidential candidate of the Party, Peter Obi known as Obidients for their continuos support and solidarity since after the election and in his quest to recover his stolen mandate at the Election Petitions Tribunal holden in Enugu.

Edeoga made this commendation on Tuesday in his verified Twitter handle, urging them to be law abiding as the full trial commences at the Tribunal.

“I sincerely appreciate the support Ndi-Enugu and the Obidient family have given me and our great party @Ng Labour since the beginning of the electoral tribunal”

“As we head into the trial itself, I urge you to abide by the law as always and follow the process keenly.
Daalu nu.”

Daily Gazette recall that the Labour Party governorship candidate had gone to Court to challenge the outcome of the election over substantial non compliance with the 2022 electoral act.

Barr. Edeoga

According to Barr. Edeoga, Peter Mbah of the People’s Democratic party, PDP, was at the time of the election not constitutionally qualified to seek for election to the office of governor having presented forged NYSC certificate to INEC in contravention of section 182(1)(J) of the constitution. He is also challenging INEC’s declaration of Peter Mbah as winner of the governorship election without polling majority of valid votes as stipulated by law, among other issues.

Edeoga said he is confident that the Court will once again prove that it is the last hope of the common man.

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‘Pray for Tinubu’ – Gbajabiamila urges Nigerians

Chief of Staf to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila has said that no man can carry the weight of Nigeria alone, except with the help of God.

Gbajabiamila stated this while speaking on Wednesday after the Eid al-Adha prayer in Lagos.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives implored Nigerians to always pray for Tinubu.

“It is a difficult time for Nigeria but we will turn that corner. What the president needs from you today and tomorrow is your prayer.

“The weight of Nigeria is not the weight any normal or ordinary human being can carry except with the help of Almighty Allah.

“It is evident therefore that Almighty Allah is with our president. He is carrying the weight for him,” Gbajabiamila said.

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IPOB slams Britain, say it is hypocrisy to seek partnership with Southeast but turn a blind eye to Kanu’s continued detention

A pro Biafran movement, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Thursday told the British Government that it was the height of hypocrisy to turn a blind eye to the continued illegal detention of its Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to seek business partnership with the South East geo-political zone.

The statement is coming on the heels of the recent visit to the zone by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery.

The British envoy who was hosted in Enugu by the Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo, solicited business cooperation of Ndigbo for mutual benefits.

But IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, faulted the visit and position of the British envoy which it dismissed as hypocrisy.

The pro-Biafra movement argued that it was provocative for the British Government to overlook and do nothing about the plight of Kanu who has remained in illegal detention for over two years.

“It true that the British government considers Ndigbo and all of Biafra to be stupid, ignorant, and gullible to have forgotten our history so quickly.

“We particularly cannot imagine their hypocrisy in the continuous illegal detention of Mazi Nnamdi KANU and his extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria that is being swept under the rug while the British Government pretends that “all is well”. We are here to declare to them and the rest of the world that all is not well at all.

“The British High Commissioner, Dr. Richard Montgomery recently visited Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide, promising to partner with Ndigbo in business and development. Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner has not made any notable effort for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi KANU, a Biafran, and British citizen who is illegally detained in violation of Nigeria Court Orders in the worst place in the world, the Nigeria DSS dungeon in solitary confinement.

“Therefore, IPOB and the entire Biafra nation reject any partnership with the British Government or her affiliates until Mazi Nnamdi KANU is released and Biafra is restored as an Independent Sovereign Nation.”

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