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Despite COVID-19 Pandemic, INEC Insists Edo, Ondo Elections Dates Remain

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states slated for September 19 and October 10 would be met despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also said the timetable and schedule of activities for the elections still stand.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in a statement said the commission will issue policy framework for the engagement of stakeholders tomorrow.

READ ALSO: Just In: INEC Directs Ondo, Edo Offices To Reopen

Festus restated the commission’s resolve to provide the requisite innovation in conducting elections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying it is committed to fulfilling its constitutional responsibility of conducting elections, but without jeopardising the health and well-being of citizens.

He said the timetable and schedule of activities for the elections still stand.

READ ALSO: INEC Deregistered 74 Political Parties (See Full List)

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Tinubu’s Presidency Can’t Stop Struggle For Yoruba Nation – Sunday Igboho

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Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has reaffirmed his movement’s committment to achieving an independent Yoruba nation despite the emergence of a Yoruba president.

Igboho made his position known in an interview with The PUNCH.

When asked about shelving the sovereignty effort after President Bola Tinubu, a Yoruba man, took office, Igboho said his Ilana Omo Oodua group began agitating long before Tinubu’s election.

“We haven’t dropped the agitation for the Yoruba nation despite the emergence of President Bola Tinubu. We have been on this agitation long even before Tinubu clinched the presidential ticket of his political party, the All Progressives Congress.

READ ALSO: Sunday Igboho Regains Freedom After Two Years

“Our agitation is not predicated on the election of a Yoruba man as the President of the country. Tinubu is a Yoruba man and his becoming the President can’t stop us from the struggle for the realisation of the Yoruba nation,” he said.

While less visible recently, Igboho said his group is still actively furthering the cause, adding that the United Nations receives periodic updates on progress being made.

You may think that you haven’t heard from us or seen much of us recently, we are still on the project and the United Nations is aware of our activities. We have submitted correspondence and letters keeping the world body abreast of our progression in the struggle for Yoruba,” he noted.

READ ALSO: ECOWAS Court Orders Benin To Pay Igboho 20 Million CFA institute Over Unlawful Detention

He also dismissed critics questioning his leadership or impact under the new Tinubu administration.

Igboho responded to accusations that he lacked the standing to spearhead the self-determination struggle.

“Nobody is exclusively vested with the power in this struggle. We have leaders like Prof. Akintoye, but my critics cannot determine the requirements for leading this peaceful, legitimate campaign,” he declared.

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Cops Filmed Demanding Money From Foreign Biker Arrested – Police

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The Oyo State Police Command said it has apprehended the policemen sighted in a now-viral video demanding money from a female biker who was on a tour of Nigeria from the Netherlands.

The command, in a post on X on Thurday, said the operatives will face disciplinary actions.

“Viral video portraying the regrettable misconduct of certain policemen along Moniya-Iseyin Road has been accessed. All those involved have been apprehended for immediate disciplinary actions. Supervision will be increased. Please report any misconduct to Xsquad on +2348023535470,” the post read.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Policemen Demand Money From Foreign Female Biker

In the video, the officers had flagged down the biker, asking her where she was from and where she was heading.

Police arraign 25-year-old farmer who allegedly killed, buried mother
The Dutch replied that she was from the Netherlands and she was on her way to Abuja, apparently surprising the two officers.

READ ALSO: APC’ll Produce Next Anambra Gov, Ganduje Boasts

Interacting with the biker further in pidgin, the officers said: “Wetin you bring come? Wetin you won give me. O yah give me something nah.”

The tourist appeared not to comprehend the officers’ message until they clearly said, “Give me money, money,” to which she asked, “Why?”

The 1:26-minute video drew reactions from Nigerians who felt embarrassed by the policemen’s actions.

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Workers Panic As Lagos Waterworks Sacks 450

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Employees of the Lagos State Water Corporation are currently in a state of anxiety as the state government sacked 450 casual workers last week Thursday.

The PUNCH learnt on Thursday that the affected staff members were shocked when they were served with sack letters on Tuesday and given an ultimatum to surrender all the government property in their care.

It was learnt that the decision to sack the workers jolted some of the staff members who were not affected by the exercise.

Some of the workers who spoke with our correspondent who visited one of the state waterworks on Thursday expressed fear that they might suffer a similar fate.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Late Alaafin’s Son, Abdulfatai Is Dead

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a staff member told PUNCH Metro that many of the laid-off staff members had spent several years working with the corporation.

She said, “Nobody knew this was going to happen. We were all shocked that a large number of people could be sacked in a day. Currently, these waterworks no longer have casual workers.

“One of my friends was affected by the decision. She has a family she is taking care of. She doesn’t even know where to start. She left the office weeping last week. Even if they are going to sack anyone, they should have given people more time to find alternatives.”

Meanwhile, The PUNCH further probe showed that the workers were laid off due to a claim that the state government wanted to undergo restructuring despite the current shortage of staff.

READ ALSO: NJC Sacks Osun Judge, Rejects Adeleke’s Request To Suspend CJ

“We don’t have enough staff. As big as this place is, only one person is left to clean it. There were many of us at the maintenance units before. But now there are just the three of us left,” one employee said on condition of anonymity.

“They said they are restructuring, but how many staff will need to be sacked before this is accomplished?” another source queried in a separate interview with The PUNCH.

However, when contacted for his reaction, the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Water Corporation, Kehinde Fashola, confirmed some workers were laid off because they breached the contract of agreement.

READ ALSO: Local Festivals To Attend In Nigeria During December Holidays

“The government found out that the Lagos Water management contract staff members have not been in accordance with the contract appointment law. Some of them have been contract staff for 10 years and some for five years, which is not in accordance with the country’s labour law.

“The normal time is two years. So, the government is trying to correct any abnormality without any bias,” she said in a telephone interview on Thursday.

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