The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Musa, has warned those he described as “evil people” calling for a coup in Nigeria due to the current economic hardship in the country.

Musa warned that the law will come for those calling for a coup in the country over the current economic realities.

He spoke after inaugurating the main entrance of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army and Officers Transit Accommodation, at the Division Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Army chief assured of the Armed Forces commitment towards the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

Musa said: “Whoever is making that call (coup) does not love Nigeria. We want to make it very clear that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are here to protect democracy.

“We all want democracy and we do better under democracy. And so we will continue to support democracy. And any of those ones that are calling for anything other than democracy are evil people and I think they don’t mean well for Nigeria.

“And they should be very careful because the law will come after them. We can see that with democracy a lot of things are happening in Nigeria. Yes we are going through trying periods, I mean in life nothing is hundred per cent.”

Musa said the Federal Government is focused on addressing the current economic challenges in the country and therefore appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience.

“Everybody goes through a trying period in life, and it is what you do with them. You can see the government putting efforts to ensure that we come out better.

“And it is when you go through difficulties and come out better you will really appreciate what it is to build a nation.

“And so we are going through our trying period, but I can assure Nigerians that it will get better,” he added.
https://www.otowngist.com/2024/02/hardship-well-come-after-you-chief-of-defence-staff-warns-evil-people-calling-for-coup/

A fun-seeking Lagos-based prophet, Oriyomi Remilekun, was said to have drowned during a beach hangout in the Ajah area of the state to celebrate this year’s Valentine’s Day.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased led some youths of his white garment church to the Avista Beach situated in the area on Saturday, February 17, to commemorate the Day.

A source privy to the incident told our correspondent that the picnic which lasted through the evening had ended when the whereabouts of the late Oriyomi became unknown.

The colleagues were said to have immediately launched a search for him but efforts to locate him proved abortive.

The source said, “The youths of the church parish at Gbagada were on a planned Valentine’s Day love feast at the Avista Beach Resort and they were 16 in number. They first lodged at a shortlet apartment very close to the resort where they had a party before later moving into the beach resort.

“Around 9pm, they prepared to leave and when they got to the car park, they discovered that Oriyomi was missing. When they asked his girlfriend, she said he gave her his phone, went in and promised to come back. They later went to the beach, searched for him and could not find him before they left.”

The colleagues were said to have returned to the beach on Sunday morning to continue the search but still could not find him. They later lodged a report at the nearest police station.

 When contacted, the management of Avista Beach confirmed the incident but told our correspondent that the remains of Oriyomi were washed ashore on a separate beach located in the community on Monday.

Speaking on Tuesday, a member of the management team who craved not to be mentioned due to the sensitive nature of the incident said, “On Sunday afternoon, we saw a group of people with police officers from Ogombo Police Station who told us they came to report that someone was missing at the beach. They invited us to the station and we wrote our statement. After that, the police invited the remaining colleagues. About three hours after they were invited, we got a call that a body had been found at Baracuda Beach Resort. The guys did not lodge at the resort and the body was not found there. They started the search around 9pm and that time in Lagos is just like early morning. Why didn’t they raise the alarm but instead went home that night? This is a beach resort where everybody comes and goes home.”

People familiar with the late prophet have mourned him while reacting to social media posts announcing his demise.

A Facebook user, Erinle Abel, who expressed sadness over his death wrote, “Honestly, I have never met a prophet that is gifted without blemish, humble in spirit and character, very active in the vineyard and respectful to both the young and old. Our meeting was during our harvest week and since then he had been a blessing to me. It is so unfortunate that you have to leave untimely. May God rest your soul and bless your church with more truthful prophets like you.”

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said he was not aware of the incident. “I am not aware,” he said.
https://www.otowngist.com/2024/02/lagos-prophet-drowns-during-valentines-day-beach-hangout/

The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, on Thursday cautioned President Bola Tinubu against listening to Vice President Kashim Shettima and Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s statement describing the recent protests against hardship as sponsored.

He informed Tinubu that Shettima and Akapbio are deceiving him because Nigerians are suffering and this informed their decision to storm the streets to express their grievances.

In a statement signed by his spokesman, Oluwatosin Osho, Ayodele berated the duo for being insensitive with the feelings of Nigerians and reducing their grievances to mere political talks when the government is supposed to be catering for the needs of its citizens.

He said: ‘’The country needs urgent action otherwise Nigeria will continue to experience difficulty. Tinubu should not mind those who are deceiving him, people are in pain and no one is sponsoring any protest.

“People are angry and feeling the heat of the economy. Tinubu should ignore any side talks that are not relevant to what is happening at this moment, everything is upside down.

‘’Tinubu should act before it’s too late. Akpabio’s statement about the protest isn’t a wise talk; it’s simply insensitive. Shetimma and Akpabio saying protests are sponsored is out of character.

“Nobody is sponsoring anything, the people are just hungry and these are what God said will happen in your government. Nigeria doesn’t deserve such irrelevant statements now. Instead of blaming people, your government should get to work.”
https://www.otowngist.com/2024/02/hardship-shettima-akpabio-deceiving-you-nigerians-are-suffering-primate-ayodele-to-tinubu/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and associates in the banking industry have agreed to work together to deepen capacity and build strong collaboration against financial crimes.

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, and chief executive officers of the body of banks met with the EFCC to examine various areas of collaboration in the fight against economic and financial crimes.

In a statement during the meeting in Abuja, President of CIBN, Dr. Ken Opara, said the collaboration of CIBN and the Body of Banks’ CEOs with EFCC emphasizes the commitment towards promoting ethics, professionalism, and transparency within the banking sector.

He added that all staff of banks now go through a mandatory Annual Ethics Certification Programme which is conducted by the institute to ensure ethics and professionalism is established in the banking sector.

According to him, the institute is working with the Body of Banks’ CEOs to institutionalize a collaborative capacity building program for the staff of EFCC to deepen their knowledge and competence in the area of banking and financial operations.

Opara noted that the program will also allow EFCC to share with bankers, insights on how to curb financial crimes, adding that it will help the anti-graft agency in achieving its objectives while promoting the growth of the economy.

Executive Chairman, EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede said the fight against corruption is a patriotic duty that must not be left only to the commission, but a collective duty of all.

He also welcomed the proposed collaboration between the commission and banks which is aimed at improving skills and competencies of the staff of the Commission as well as bankers.

Similarly, the chairman, Body of Banks’ CEOs, Mr. Lamin Manjang, applauded Olukoyede’s leadership for the efforts of the institution in embracing professionalism whilst prioritizing humaneness in the conduct of its operations.

He noted the significant progress made in combating corruption, as evident in EFCC’s adherence to international conventions and protocols aimed at proactively deterring corrupt practices through effective policies and inclusive stakeholders’ participation.

“This remarkable accomplishment reflects the commission’s unwavering commitment to upholding justice and the rule of law in our society,” Manjang said.
https://www.otowngist.com/2024/02/efcc-to-partner-with-banks-in-fight-against-financial-crimes/

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. The Trade Union Congress, TUC, has backed out of the planned two-day nationwide protest declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, over the high cost of living, inflation, insecurity, and hardship in the country. The Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, said on Wednesday that the decision to protest on February 27 and 28 as announced by the NLC was not taken collectively by both unions.

2. A fun-seeking Lagos-based prophet, Oriyomi Remilekun, was said to have drowned during a beach hangout in the Ajah area of the state to celebrate this year’s Valentine’s Day. It was learnt that the deceased led some youths of his white garment church to the Avista Beach situated in the area on Saturday, February 17, to commemorate the day.

3. The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has welcomed the decision of the national leadership of the party to conduct a rerun of the governorship election in the state which ended in a crisis. The APC Publicity Secretary in Edo State, Peter Uwadiae, said the party was ready for the rerun holding today (Thursday), adding that the state exco would speak further after the exercise.

4. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, will arraign the immediate-past governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed, for alleged N10bn fraud on Friday. Credible sources in the anti-graft agency said the ex-governor would be dragged before the Federal High Court in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

5. The naira gained marginally against the United States dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market on Tuesday, closing at N1,542.58/$ from N1,551/$ recorded on Tuesday. The rate represents a 2.9 per cent appreciation from the N1,598.54 traded on Monday and a meagre 0.58 per cent against Tuesday’s rate.

6. The Federal Government is expanding the scope of its direct cash transfer scheme which it plans to restart any moment from now, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, hinted yesterday. He said that 12 million more households would benefit from the direct payments of cash to further cushion the effects of the rising cost of living.

7. The Federal Government is trying its best to deal with the various problems and it should be given time for its efforts to manifest, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon said on Wednesday. Gowon, Nigeria’s war-time leader, who was head of state between 1966 and 1975, spoke at Aso Villa, Abuja, after meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

8. Federal Government workers have been paid N35,000 wage award for four months, the presidency said on Wednesday. The wage award is one of the measures introduced to soften the pain from removal of petrol subsidy.

9. The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the nomination of Dr. Kelechi Ohiri for appointment as the Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA. The Upper Chamber also confirmed Jalal Arabi as Chairman of the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, and three other commissioners for the agency.

10. President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of DCG Kemi Nanna Nandap as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS. Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesman, who announced this in a statement on Wednesday, said the appointment is effective from March 1, 2024.
https://www.otowngist.com/2024/02/nigerian-newspapers-10-things-you-need-to-know-thursday-morning-2/

The veterinary technologist in charge of the Zoological Garden of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Mr. Olabode Olawuyi, has been killed by a lion on the campus.

The management of the institution in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, explained that the incident happened when the deceased was feeding the animals in their den at the garden.

Olanrewaju said other members of staff who were at the scene of the incident did everything within their power to rescue the deceased, but the wild cat had already caused severe fatalities on his body.

The statement party read, “The management, staff, students and the entire campus of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, have been thrown into mourning following the untimely death of Mr. Olabode Olawuyi.

“A release by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that Mr Olawuyi, a veterinary technologist, who had been in charge of the Zoological Garden for over a decade, was attacked this afternoon, Monday, February 19, 2024, by a nine-year-old male lion when he was feeding them in their den at the Zoological Garden of the university.

“The other members of staff who were at the scene of the incident did everything within their power to rescue their boss but the wild cat had already caused severe fatalities.”

we gathered that on hearing the sad news, the management team, led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Simeon Bamire, abruptly ended their meeting for an on-the-spot assessment.

“Bamire was informed, on arrival, by the acting Director of the University Health and Medical Centre, Dr. Tirimisiyu Olatunji, that all first aid and medical efforts to save the life of the victim proved abortive.

“Saddened by this tragic event, the aggressive lion has been euthanised. Mr Olawuyi had been taking care of the lions since they were born on campus about nine years ago but, tragically, the male lion killed the man who had been feeding them.

The university said it had sent a delegation to the widow and children of the deceased, imploring them to take solace in God who gives life and also has the power to take life.

“Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident,” the statement further read.
https://www.otowngist.com/2024/02/lion-kills-oau-veterinary-worker-during-feeding/

Controversial Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem has claimed that comedian Seyi Law disclosed to him that his biggest mistake was supporting President Bola Tinubu.

He said the comedian apologised to the audience at a recent event he attended, and even denounced his support for Tinubu.

Speaking in the latest episode of The Honest Bunch Podcast, Abdulkareem said, “I was at an event yesterday and Seyi Law came up and said, ‘Abeg, make una no vex o! Everybody don curse me taya because I stand for Tinubu. I no dey im mandate again o!’

“I was like, ‘Seyi, how do you cope now?’ He said, ‘My brother, I messed up.’ He said no be say im collect anything. He said he made the biggest mistake.”

While Seyi Law is yet to react to Abdulkareem’s podcast comments, his claims are contrary to the comedian’s recent post on X where he urged Nigerians to be patient with President Tinubu and even declared that he would vote for the president again if another election comes up tomorrow
https://www.otowngist.com/2024/02/seyi-law-told-me-he-regrets-supporting-president-tinubu-eedris-abdulkareem/