Cloned Nigerian Anchor

Author: Doris Israel Ijeoma

  • BREAKING: Nigeria Loses Former Minister of Science& Technology

    BREAKING: Nigeria Loses Former Minister of Science& Technology

    A former Abia State Governor, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu is dead.

    According to report, 72-year-old Onu died on Thursday morning at an Abuja hospital.

    One of his kinsmen in Ebonyi who confirmed his death to newsmen said the former governor had been ill for some time and his family had planned to fly him abroad after the Sallah break.

    “He has been sick for some time this year and his family said they would fly him abroad to get better medical treatment for him but he could not make it till then,” the source said.

    Onu, who hailed from Ebonyi State, was the first civilian governor of Abia State and Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation from November 2015 until his resignation in 2022.

    His friends and relations have thronged his Abuja residence since hearing the news to express their condolences to his family.

    After working as a teacher and later as a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Ogbonnaya Onu started his political career as an aspirant for a senatorial seat in the old Imo State on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

    He contested for the position of Governor of Abia State in 1991 under the umbrella of the National Republican Convention and won.

    He was sworn in as the first executive governor of the state in January 1992 and was the first chairman of the Conference of Nigerian elected governors.

    In 1999, he was the presidential candidate of the All People’s Party but relinquished the position to Olu Falae after his party merged with the Alliance for Democracy.

    Falae lost to Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party in the presidential election.

    Onu later became the national chairman of the All Nigerian People’s Party.

    In 2013, the ANPP merged with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and some members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to form the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party in Nigeria.

    In November 2015, he was appointed Minister of Science and Technology by then-President Muhammadu Buhari. He resigned his appointment in 2022.

  • How Late Kannywood Actress Saratu Gidado Fed Hungry Children During Ramadan Fast

    How Late Kannywood Actress Saratu Gidado Fed Hungry Children During Ramadan Fast

    In a heartwarming display of compassion, late Kannywood actress Saratu Gidado, affectionately known as Daso, was captured on video feeding hungry children during the Ramadan fast. 

    Her act of generosity touched many hearts, illustrating her commitment to helping those in need.

    Tragically, Saratu passed away after partaking in Sahur, the pre-dawn meal, just a day before the conclusion of Ramadan. 

    Her sudden demise has left her fans and the entertainment industry in mourning, as they remember her not only for her talent but also for her philanthropic spirit.

    Tributes have poured in for Saratu, with many highlighting her selflessness and dedication to alleviating the suffering of others, especially young children. 

    Her legacy of kindness will continue to inspire and uplift communities during this difficult time.

    Daso who died at the age of 56 was born on 17 January, 1968 in the city of Kano.

    She was particularly known for the comical roles she played as an aggressive and mischievous woman.

    She made her debut in 2000 in a movie titled Linzami Da Wuta, produced by Sarauniya Movies.

    Other hits that led to the late actress’s stardom include Nagari, Gidauniya, Mashi, and Sansani followed.

  • Kwankwaso Eyeing Governorship Seat for His Son – Political Scholar Alleges 

    Kwankwaso Eyeing Governorship Seat for His Son – Political Scholar Alleges 

    A political scholar in Kano state has raised concerns over former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso’s alleged plans to pave the way for his son to become the next governor in 2031.

    Speaking some journalists, the scholar highlighted Kwankwaso’s efforts to establish a political dynasty, citing the recent appointment of his son, Mustapha, as a commissioner by Governor Abba Yusuf.

    The scholar emphasized Kwankwaso’s significant influence in the current administration, from its conception to policy implementation, noting his close relation to the governor through marriage.

    Speculating on Mustapha’s political trajectory, the scholar suggested he could be groomed for governance and potentially succeed the current leadership or become a gubernatorial candidate’s running mate in the future.

    However, the scholar acknowledged the uncertainty of political outcomes, noting that unforeseen circumstances could alter these projections.

    His words: “We must not ignore the fact that this is the early days in an attempt to control power by a single family or associates of the same political group.

    “It is an open secret that Kwankwaso is very influential in the present administration. He has been pivotal to its conception, electoral victory, appointments, policy selection and policy implementation.

    “It is also incontestable that Kwankwaso is closely related to the state governor by marriage. The governor is his in-law. The political permutation is that Mustapha will be nursed in the act of governance and will come of age by 2031. By this time, he will be 47.

    “With the Kwankwaso that we know, chances are high that he will ensure that Mustapha, his son, succeeds the present arrangement or becomes the running mate to the governorship candidate of the party in the general elections.

    “Should that happen, it means that the governance of the state would have resided within the same clan or family for about 16 years or more, and will remain there for a longer time, depending on how Mustapha plays his cards in the years to come.

    “But, like I said, these are all potential possibilities. They are not yet realities. The future, especially in politics, is often bounded by uncertainties. Anything can still happen to change these calculations.”

    Mustapha Kwankwaso, born on March 24, 1984, in Kwankwaso village, completed his education in Cyprus before entering the political arena.

  • Retired Justice, Ahmad Olarewaju Belgore dies at 71

    Retired Justice, Ahmad Olarewaju Belgore dies at 71

    Ahmad Olarewaju Belgore, a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, has passed away at age 71 in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    It was gathered that he died after breaking his Ramadan fast on Tuesday, April 9.

    Belgore, born on April 18, 1953, graduated with an LL.B. (Hons.) in Law from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1978, and subsequently earned his Barrister-At-Law (BL) at the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos in the 1978/79 session.

    He was enrolled as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July 1979.

    Throughout his distinguished career, Belgore served in several prominent legal roles.

    He was a Judge of the High Court of Justice in Kwara State from August 1990 to 2006, and also served as the Resident High Court Judge of the Offa Judicial Division of Kwara State from August 1994 to September 1999.

    Additionally, he chaired the Special Tribunal for Miscellaneous Offences in Abuja.

    Belgore’s international experience included a secondment to the Judiciary of the Republic of the Gambia, where he served as a Justice of Appeal in the Gambia Court of Appeal, later becoming the acting Justice of the Supreme Court until December 2005.

    Upon returning to Nigeria, he was appointed as a Justice of the Court of Appeal on April 27, 2006, and was sworn in on June 8, 2006.

    Belgore’s contributions to the legal profession were further recognized with appointments to the Body of Benchers of Nigeria in October 2015 and as a Life Bencher in February 2021.

    He retired from his role as a Justice of the Court of Appeal on April 18, 2023, upon reaching the age of 70.

    His recent public appearance was at the fidau held for the late District Head of Ballah, Alhaji Salman Olarongbe Abdulkadir.

  • Hoodlums Burn Down Residence Of Former Nigerian Governor

    Hoodlums Burn Down Residence Of Former Nigerian Governor

    Hoodlums wreaked havoc in the Gboko area of Benue State by setting ablaze the residence of Late Aper Aku, the former Governor of the state. 

    The incident, which occurred on Monday, saw the occupants safely evacuated before the assailants touched the building. 

    Deborah Aku, daughter of the late governor, revealed that the police rescued them from the premises before the attack escalated. 

    The ordeal traces back to March when a man wielding a cutlass threatened the household, alleging his goat died after drinking water from their premises. 

    Despite reporting the issue to the police and pursuing legal recourse, the family faced another assault on Monday morning. 

    Armed with weapons, over 30 individuals besieged the house, vandalizing property, and killing their dog before setting the house ablaze. 

    The police, while able to rescue the occupants, were outnumbered by the assailants. Investigations are underway, with authorities urged to address the escalating security concerns in the area. 

    The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, emphasizing the need for further investigation. 

    Mkeenem Moses, Senior Special Assistant to the Benue Governor, condemned the attack, calling for swift action to prevent future assaults in the region.

  • Kano State Governor Appoints Nine New Special Advisers

    Kano State Governor Appoints Nine New Special Advisers

    In a move to bolster his administration, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has announced the appointment of nine additional special advisers, alongside key heads of government agencies. 

    The appointments were disclosed in a press statement issued on Tuesday by the governor’s spokesman, Sanusi Tofa.

    Among the appointees are Prof. Ibrahim Barde, appointed as Special Adviser for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR); Dr. Abdulhamid Danladi, named as Special Adviser on Diaspora II; Bello Kiru, assigned as Special Adviser on Water Resources; and Yusuf Shuaibu Imam (Ogan Boye), who has been reappointed as Special Adviser on Youths and Sports.

    In further restructuring, Dr. Nura Shanono has been shifted from Special Adviser for Water Resources to the role of Managing Director at the Water Resources Engineering and Construction Agency (WRECA). Similarly, Baba Umar has been reassigned from Special Adviser to Executive Secretary at the Private and Voluntary Institutions Management Board.

    Additionally, Nasir Muhammad has been appointed as Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Aminu Na’isa as Deputy Managing Director of the Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA), and Mukhtar Yusuf as Deputy Managing Director of the Water Resources Engineering and Construction Agency (WRECA).

    These appointments are effective immediately.

  • Katsina Government Declares Friday Work Free Day 

    Katsina Government Declares Friday Work Free Day 

    The Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda has declared Friday 12th April 2024 as work free day for the Eid-El-Fitr celebrations.

    According to Governor Radda, his government has also taken this step to enable workers in the state to fully enjoy the Sallah celebration with their families.

    The decision to declare the day also followed the good gesture of the Federal Government for extending the Eid-El-Fitr public holidays to Thursday 11th of this month.

    In a Tuesday statement, the Katsina State Commissioner of Information and Culture Bala Zango quoted the governor as wishing the good people of the state a happy and peaceful Sallah celebration.

    He further urged the good people of the state to be security conscious and pray for peace to reign in the state and the nation at large as they celebrate this year’s ED-FITR.

  • Atiku Dares Tinubu To Disclose Cost Of  Lagos-Calabar Highway Project 

    Atiku Dares Tinubu To Disclose Cost Of  Lagos-Calabar Highway Project 

    Atiku Abubakar, former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, calls out President Bola Tinubu to reveal the full expenses of the Lagos-Calabar highway project. 

    Atiku, questioning the lack of transparency, demanded clarity on the project’s total cost and its funding source, raising concerns over the awarded contract and expenditure distribution. 

    Tinubu’s administration has been facing mounting pressure to address these inquiries amidst allegations of non-competitive bidding and financial discrepancies. 

    Atiku emphasized the need for accountability and urges Tinubu’s administration to respond to the public’s inquiries with transparency, invoking the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act.

    He said:

    “The Tinubu administration cannot continue to respond to the public inquiry with insults. They must come clean on this project because Nigerians deserve to know the truth. I, therefore, present six posers to the administration.

    “1. How much is the total cost of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway? 2. Why is the project being funded by the Nigerian government despite being a PPP? 3. Why is the project taking off from Chagoury’s Eko Atlantic? 4. Why is N1.06tn being spent on the pilot phase, which is just 47km?

    “5. Why did the N1.06tn not get the approval of the National Assembly? 6. Why wasn’t there a competitive bidding for the project? 7. Finally, how did the Tinubu administration get the design as well as the right of way in just 7 months, since it claims the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari never touched the project?”

  • Blackout Looms As Electricity Workers Threaten Strike Over Tarriff Hike 

    Blackout Looms As Electricity Workers Threaten Strike Over Tarriff Hike 

    The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has strongly criticized the recent increase in electricity tariffs by the federal government. 

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced the tariff hike on April 3, affecting customers enjoying 20 hours of daily power supply.

    Under the new classification, customers in Band A will pay N225 per kilowatt-hour, a significant increase from the previous N66 rate. 

    In response, NUEE, led by its National President Adebiyi Adeyeye, has demanded a reversal of the hike, citing its disproportionate impact on those reliant on electricity for daily needs.

    Adeyeye emphasized the importance of government subsidies for electricity, pointing to examples from advanced countries like Germany and the United States. 

    He argued that the tariff hike disregards the economic struggles of Nigerian workers and threatens to exacerbate inequalities.

    NUEE warned of potential action, including the withdrawal of its members, if the government fails to address the issue promptly. 

    The union called upon all Nigerians to join in opposing the tariff hike and advocating for the prioritization of citizens’ well-being over corporate interests.

    “If the government fails to address the crippling cost of electricity, NUEE will not hesitate to take strong action, including the swift withdrawal of our members expected to be used by DISCOs to impose the tariff hike on the good people, to protect the livelihood of our members.

    “I, however, call upon all Nigerians to join us in raising our voices against this injustice. Together, we can force the government to prioritize the well-being of its citizens over corporate interests. Our unwavering commitment remains to safeguard the interests of our members and ensure equitable access to electricity for all Nigeria.”

  • Obasanjo’s farm, 27 feeders downgraded from Band A to E after FG increased electricity tariff 

    Obasanjo’s farm, 27 feeders downgraded from Band A to E after FG increased electricity tariff 

    The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, has made public the names of erstwhile Band A feeders downgraded to B, C D, or E.

    The Farm Feeder serving the Obasanjo Farm, owned by Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was downgraded from Band A to Band E in the list released by the IBEDC on Saturday, April 6.

    About 28 feeders under the IBEDC were downgraded in Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, and Osun States.

    In the list, some areas dropped from 20 hours of daily power supply to zero hours.

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has said this brought about the removal of those feeders from Band A to the band that fits their daily power allocation.

    Announcing the April 2024 supplementary Multi-Year Tariff Order on Wednesday, April 3, the Federal Government said it would no longer pay subsidy on electricity consumed by Band A customers, saying others would continue to pay the old rates.

    Band A customers, who were said to be enjoying electricity for a minimum of 20 hours per day now pay N225 kilowatt per hour.

    Here is the list of IBEDC Band A downgraded feeders:

    1. IBADAN: Bank Road 11kv Feeder – Magazine Road, Oba Adebimpe Road, Oke Bola (Now in Band B with 16 hours supply)

    2. OGUN: GTB 11kv Feeder: Only GTBank Training School, Oke Ilewo Abeokuta ( Now in Band B with 19 hours power supply)

    3. KWARA: Seminary 11kv Feeder: From High-school Area to Seminary, Randa area, Olomi area, Bowen Area, Takie Junction, Apake area, Star- Light area, Sabo area, Orita Naira Junction and Terminated at Bode-Eniafe Street (Downgraded to Band B with 16 hours power supply)

    4. IBADAN: Ami 11KV Feeder: Onireke, Jericho, Railway Quarters (Downgraded to Band C with 12 hours power supply)

    5. KWARA: Asa 11KV Feeder: Asa Dam, Ilorin (Downgraded to Band C with 14 hours power supply)

    6. OGUN: Homan 11kv Feeder: Daraju, Eagle Packages and NYCIL (Downgraded to Band C with 14 hours power supply)

    7. OGUN: Rite Food Quarters 11kv Feeder: Rite Food Quarters (Downgraded to Band C with 12 hours power supply)

    8. KWARA: Senior Staff Qtrs F20 11kv Feeder: Senior Camp Road (Downgraded to Band C with 15 hours power supply)

    9. KWARA: SF2 New Bussa 11kv Feeder: Ibadan Way, Wawa Garage Road (Downgraded to Band C with 12 hours power supply)

    10. IBADAN: State House 11kv Feeder: Ikolaba, Kuye, Road 214, Oniκοκο (Downgraded to Band C with 14 hours power supply)

    11. KWARA: Yidi 11kv Feeder: Asa Dam Road, Irewolede Road, High Merit Road (Downgraded to Band C with 14 hours power supply)

    12. IBADAN: Dugbe Awolowo 11kv Feeder: Old Bodija, Sango, and Veterinary (Downgraded to Band D with 11 hours power supply)

    13. KWARA: Government House 11kv Feeder: Agba Dam Road, Umaru Audi Road, Adelodun Road, Abdulkadir Road, Saad Alamu Street, Offa Road, Flower Garden, Idiagbon Street, Sayomi Street 2nd Avenue Street (Downgraded to Band D with 9 hours power supply)

    14. IBADAN: ONIREKE 11KV FEEDER: Link Reservation, Joe Berchort, Oba Akensua (Downgraded to Band D with 10 hours power supply)

    15. IBADAN: Oremeji 11kv Feeder: Oba Akinbiyi, Uncle Joe, Letmauk Barracks Road (Downgraded to Band D with 8 hours power supply)

    16. IBADAN: Anfani 11KV Feeder: Anfani Road, Ibadan (Downgraded to Band E with 5 hours power supply)

    17. KWARA: Basin 11kv Feeder: Umaru Audi Road, Fate Road, Fate Tanke Road, Gra Ilorin, Gss Ilorin, Mubo Strrt, Agric Estate, Sango Road, Alhaji Tunde Mohammed Road, Panat, Station Road, Catchment Road (Downgraded to Band E with 7 hours power supply)

    18. Oyo: Crown 11KV Feeder: Premier Rd, Oshuntokun, Adeyi, Awolowo Road (Downgraded to Band E with 1-hour power supply)

    19. OGUN: Farm 11KV Feeder: Main Obasanjo Farm (Downgraded to Band E with 7-hour power supply)

    20. OSUN: Gbongan Road 11kv Feeder: Gbongan-Ibadan Road (Downgraded to Band E with 0-hour power supply)