Metro

Bauchi: Obidients Hold One-million March, Declare ‘We’re Not Only On Social Media, We Are Real’

Published

3 years ago

October 1, 2022

Our Correspondent, Bauchi

The Bauchi supporters of the Labour Party (LP)’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have declared that they are not only present on social media but are also real and physically ready for the 2023 general election.

The supporters, who are popularly known as ‘Obedients’ were chanting this in Bauchi on Saturday during their one million man march for Peter Obi and his deputy, Yusuf Ahmed.

The supporters, who trekked 10 kilometers from the popular Wunti market to Rafin Zurfi, a community in Bauchi metropolis, were seen with placards with different inscriptions in support of their candidates.

Speaking to newsmen after the march, Mr Benjamin Edeh, Head of Media, Labour Party, Bauchi State chapter, said that the rally was a success, adding that the people of the state were at the rally to show the party true love.

“They want to show Peter Obi love, they want to show the Labour Party love. They are really in love with the movement.

“The rally was really a success as you can see that the crowd was very close to a million. It was massive.

“They say we don’t have structure, they say we don’t have money, but you can see the crowd,” he said.

Edeh also urged all the supporters to get their Permanent Voter Cards ready and make sure that their votes counted in the 2023 general election.

Similarly, the Chairman of the party, Mr Hussaini Saraki, said that they have proved critics wrong that the party has no strictures.

“The facts speak for itself, when you say we don’t have structure, today we have proved them wrong because we believe structure is not about building.

“Structure is not all about posters or billboards. Structures are the people and we have the people on the ground.

“And I am telling you this is because there was not much publicity about this event, some of our people in the rural areas are not here. But you can see that the crowd is so massive that each and everyone of you here is proud of it.

“We are sending a message back to those people who say we don’t have structure or we only exist on social media that we are real and that Nigeria belongs to the youth,” he said.

According to him, the party appreciated the way it was being underrated, adding that oppositions would be shocked with the outcome of the 2023 general election which would be in favour of the Labour Party.

“We are not going to use religion, ethnicity or any other factors to divide the country.

“We deliberately chose independence day for our one million man march because it was on that first day that Nigeria got independence from colonial masters.

“We want to use the same day to show that by God’s grace, today is the beginning of taking power from those who took it from colonial masters,” he said.

Metro

Lagos Woman Remanded For False Foreign Currency Declaration

Published

10 hours ago

August 14, 2025

Editor

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday remanded Ifunanya Phil-Olumba in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre over allegations of falsely declaring and failing to declare foreign currency totaling $14,567, £1,030, and CA$40 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had preferred three counts against the defendant, accusing her of making false declarations to the Nigeria Customs Service and failing to declare foreign currency, contrary to Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

At the resumed proceedings, before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, the prosecution, led by Okezie Chineye, called two witnesses.

The first prosecution witness, an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mrs. Stella Ogar, told the court that the defendant was intercepted during inward clearance from the United Kingdom.

According to Ogar, the defendant declared only CA$4,000, despite allegedly being in possession of CA$14,000, alongside other undeclared sums.

“We arrested her and handed her over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation,” Ogar testified.

The second prosecution witness, an EFCC operative, Felicia Paul, confirmed that the defendant was handed over to the commission by the customs.

She stated that the defendant was interrogated and opted to make a written statement, which the prosecution sought to tender in evidence.

However, defence counsel, Edwin Anikwem, objected to the admissibility of the statement, contending that it was not obtained voluntarily and was made without the presence of counsel, contrary to legal requirements.

However, Justice Dipeolu adjourned further hearing to August 19 for continuation of the trial.

The EFCC alleged that on July 22, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, the defendant falsely declared the sum of $4,000 while in possession of $14,567; failed to declare CA$40; and falsely declared £1,000 while in possession of £1,030.

According to the anti-graft agency, the offences committed contravened Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Metro

Two Varsity Students Die In Bayelsa Road Crash

Published

11 hours ago

August 14, 2025

Editor

A head-on collision between a truck and a commercial tricycle on the Yenagoa/Amassoma Road, Bayelsa State, has claimed the lives of two students from Niger Delta University, Amassoma.

The accident which occurred on Wednesday also left other passengers of the ill-fated tricycle critically injured.

Residents attributed the accident to absence of road signs and overspending by drivers as the crash occurred at a bend on the road.

The truck negotiated the bend at high speed, lost control and hit the tricycle at top speed, crushing it.

A trader, Godspower Okilo told The PUNCH on Thursday that the truck driver was moving too fast, and by the time he realised the danger, it was already too late.

He said, “The Keke (tricycle) had no chance of escaping the danger because the tipper was already close to it.
“We’ve been complaining about reckless truck drivers on this road for years, but nothing changes.

“The dangerous impact left the tricycle damaged beyond recognition. Good Samaritans rushed to the scene, pulling survivors from the wreckage and transporting the injured to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa.

“The bodies of the deceased were later evacuated to a nearby morgue.

“This incident has renewed calls for stricter traffic enforcement, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the State Police Command should intensify patrols, introduce speed breakers, and conduct regular safety checks on heavy-duty vehicles.”

Another resident of the area, Mrs. Ebike Ekain, said if the appropriate authorities do not act now, more lives will be lost to accidents in the nearest future.

The Yenagoa/Amassoma Road is without doubt the most dangerous road in Bayelsa State due to the number of accidents that occur every year.
The reconstruction of the stretch from the Etegwe Roundabout to Tombia Community resulted in several turns which motorists do not consider as they often drive at dangerous speeds.

The Federal Road Safety Commission usually dispatches an ambulance to the road which is stationed at Tombia Community and sometimes at the roundabout leading to Agudama-Ekpetiama Community.

Spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, DSP Musa Muhammad, who confirmed the accident, said investigation is ongoing to unravel the cause of the accident.

“Yes, an accident happened there and we are investigating the causes of the accident,” he stated.

Metro

OAU Medical Student Kills Self After Failing Exam Twice

Published

11 hours ago

August 14, 2025

Editor

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has confirmed the death of a part-two medical student, Ajibola Ibitayo, who reportedly committed suicide.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, on Thursday, stated that the student with the matriculation number: DEN/2021/023), committed suicide after failing his examinations.

Olarewaju said the results of examinations were released on Wednesday and it would have required Ibitayo to repeat Part Two for the second time.

“The entire community of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has been thrown into mourning following the death of a Part Two student of the Faculty of Dentistry.

“The student, identified as Ajibola Ibitayo (Matriculation Number: DEN/2021/023), committed suicide after learning that the results of the last semester examinations, released yesterday, would require him to repeat Part Two for another academic year.

“He had already been repeating Part Two during the last session.

“The student, whose father is a medical doctor, reportedly injected himself at his parents’ home in Ejigbo, Osun State,” the statement read partly.

Saddened by the development, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Simeon Bamire, appealed to parents and guardians to instil in their children and wards the understanding that temporary setbacks in the pursuit of success are part of life and not the end of it.

Bamire also urged students and young people to view failure as an opportunity to redirect their paths toward success and greater achievements.

He prayed that God Almighty would grant the parents, family, Faculty, College of Health Sciences, and the University community the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.