News

Edo: PDP, APC Trade Blame Over Gunshots, Death During Campaign

Published

3 years ago

January 20, 2023

Editor

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its counterpart-All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state have engaged in a war of words over the suspension of the PDP’s campaign in Edo central senatorial district as a result of the death of an individual in Ewu, Esan Central local government during its campaign on Wednesday.

A statement by the Director of the PDP Campaign Council in Esan Central, Anselm Ojezua said the party had to suspend its campaigns because of the incident for police to do its investigations and to avoid further possible incidents.

He said that “due to the unfortunate incident, the party has decided to suspend all political campaign rallies until the police come up with their investigation and findings.

But a statement by Godswill Inegbe for the APC candidates in Edo central called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the matter and avoid turning the area to a war zone.

Part of the statement read “Barely 37 days to the Presidential Election, which is the first round of the 2023 general election, the political atmosphere in Edo Central is in turmoil, because of the increasing violence and mayhem trailing the electioneering campaigns of a faction of PDP in Edo Central Senatorial District.

“Just yesterday, Wednesday, 18th of January, 2023, a life was lost in ward 07, in Ewu Kingdom, Esan Central LGA, while another life is in a medical life support system in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), as a result of the violence and maiming that took place during a political rally of a faction of the PDP in Edo Central” where it mentioned the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun and the senator representing Edo Central in the senate, Clifford Ordia as the leaders of the campaign.

The statement said the APC was worried that, if no urgent steps were taken by the relevant security agencies, “the attacks within the ranks and file of the factionalized Edo PDP leaders, will intensify as we approach the election date, and if this persists, there is no gainsaying that, violence in the pre-election period, such as we are now, will lead to voter apathy, as nobody wants to die, because of voting in an election.”

But Ojezua in a counter statement carpeted the APC’s statement saying “While the PDP campaign Council states unequivocally that the incident did not take place at the venue of the campaign but nearby, we are surprised however at the twisted narrative of the Edo Central APC to the incident.

“As a Peace loving political organization, we decided not to allow ourselves to be drawn into any diatribe with the APC. However, we call on all security agencies to look into the incident as it seems the adage, the witch cried yesterday, the child died this morning, is coming to play in this happening.

“While we have placed our campaign rally on hold to mourn the dead, we appeal to relevant security agencies to come to our aid as the failed APC has an agenda of mayhem and bloodshed.

“The PDP still remains a better alternative considering the abysmal failure of the APC to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.”

News

Shock As Adeleke Employs Roadside puff-puff Hawker As Govt House Chef

Published

2 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday shocked a female puff-puff seller during a rally in Osogbo by buying all her snacks with ₦50,000 and offering her employment as a chef at the Government House.

This happened when Osun public servants trooped out in their thousands in what they called an appreciation solidarity rally in support of the governor for his support and care since he took over state governance.

It was observed that the governor, who sat in the bus, had sighted the woman who was among the crowd cheering him.

He immediately beckoned to the woman carrying a plastic container filled with puff-puff on her head and asked how much it would cost to buy all the snacks.

The female hawker, who was visibly surprised and star-struck at the level of her proximity to the governor, found it difficult to even tell the governor how much she sold the snacks.

Surprisingly, Adeleke handed her a bundle of ₦50,000 to the cheers of the crowd.

The lucky woman knelt down in appreciation of the governor’s generosity.

Excited onlookers quickly rushed to share the snacks in the plastic already purchased by the governor.

The governor invited the vendor inside the vehicle where one of his officials questioned her academic background, and she revealed that she holds a Nigerian Certificate in Education.

Adeleke further asked about the dishes she could prepare and instructed his aides to take her contact details for employment as a chef in the Government House.

Confirming the development, the Commissioner II at the Osun State Civil Service Commission, Olaniyan Taofeek, shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “The moment Gov. Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller into a Government House chef.”

A Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Media, Oni Gbenga Lawrence, also corroborated the incident in a post on X, stating: “Moment Governor Ademola Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller to Government Chef… not only ₦50k but he invited her into his car and employed her as chef in the Government House.”

The Guardian correspondent, who was at the scene of the welcome rally, made efforts to interview the lucky vendor, but they did not yield as she was not allowed to alight from the bus throughout the event.
(The Guardian)

News

Katsina Govt Revokes Licenses Of All Private, Community Schools

Published

3 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

The Katsina State Government has withdrawn the operating licenses of all private and community schools in the state, with effect from August 13, 2025.

The announcement came through a circular issued by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and signed by Commissioner Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa.

The ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Malam Sani Danjuma, released the document in Katsina on Saturday.

According to the circular, the move is part of the government’s effort to strengthen quality assurance and standardization within the education sector.

“The withdrawal of licenses is aimed at ensuring that schools operate in line with approved standards and provide quality education to students,” Danjuma said.

The circular also outlined a review of fees for license application, registration, and annual renewal.

“Owners of affected schools are required to obtain fresh licenses by submitting proof of payment to the ministry on or before September 30, 2025.”

The statement also added that school operators have been warned not to increase tuition or other charges without government approval.

The ministry further promised to issue additional guidelines soon, including categorization of schools and the revised fee structure.

News

JUST IN: Oldest Missionary To Nigeria, Ruth Elton, Is Dead

Published

4 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

British-born Nigerian missionary, Ruth Elton, reputed to be the oldest missionary has passed on at the age of 91.

Ruth Elton, born 7 September 1933, was a British-born Nigerian missionary whose lifelong dedication to faith, healing, and revival left an indelible mark on communities across western and central Nigeria.

It was learnt that Elton died on Saturday at Sharon compound, Alafia Bamin Quarters in Ilesa, Osun State.

She was the only daughter of Pa Elton and her remains have been deposited at the mortuary.

Ruth Elton, daughter of Sydney Granville Elton (Pa Elton), who is referred to as one of the founding fathers of Pentecostalism in Nigeria, had approached a Kaduna court and nationalised as a Nigerian.

At old age and despite the happenings in Nigeria, she still held in high esteem her father’s prophecies that although Nigeria could be known globally for corruption, it would only for a while as new dawn would beckon when the country would be known worldwide for righteousness and prosperity.

Elton moved to Nigeria in 1937 with her parents and served as a Christian missionary across Egbe, Okene, Koton Karfe, and other parts of Kogi, Ondo, Oyo, and Osun States.

A naturalised Nigerian, having renounced her British citizenship in the 1970s, she embraced the country completely and became fluent in Ebira and Yoruba.

Elton, who remained single, believed that she had made a true mark in the country and apart from her missionary work, she saw her efforts in taming infant mortality, especially in Okene, Kogi State as a generational impact.

Relating her experience on infant mortality in the country, Elton recently noted that many newborn babies had passed on due to lack of proper care and hygiene, adding that the practice of force-feeding babies contributed to the challenges, especially in the face of poor awareness.