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NIgeria @60: Former Lawmaker Comes Hard On Leaders, Says Nothing To Celebrate

Former Chief Whip of the Senate, Sir Rolland Owie Wednesday came hard on the current Nigeria’s political class and the military who he said have shown lack of capacity to lead the country and the military instituted corruption even as Nigeria celebrate 60th anniversary.
He said it is a shame that even after sixty (60) years of independence Nigeria has nothing to celebrate about, adding that it has been God that has been helping Nigeria.
While expressing optimistic that a new regime would be voted into government by 2023, he said Nigeria is only existing because God wants it to be.
Owie said; “Forty years ago the naira was 90 kobo to a pound and 60 kobo to a dollar and that same 1980, President Shehu Shagari’s government started building housing estates in all the state capitals, today, those housing estates have been abandoned. The naira today and dollar and pounds are not comparable. It is a shame, there is nothing to celebrate apart from that God still allows Nigeria to exist. Where is the metro line that Lateef Jakande started in Lagos during the UPN regime, abandoned. It is unfortunate.
“Where is Aladja Steel, where is Ajaokuta steel, where is Nigerian Airways, where is Nigerian National Shipping Line, where is Bacita sugar company, where is Iwopin paper mill? All gone into oblivion. It is a bad affair that children who inherited property from their fathers will destroy it.”
Talking about corruption in the country, Owie said, “Military regimes destroyed this country. They brought corruption into this nation. When Murtala Mohammed started dismissing civil servants ‘with immediate effect’, senior civil servants who tried not to be corrupt, waiting for their final retirement and benefits, were dismissed ‘with immediate effect’ those following them behind were shocked and that is why they were disappointed and now believed that they have to prepare for their future, that was how they brought corruption into the civil service as a result of the dismissal of top civil servants who tried not to be corrupt.”
READ ALSO: Edo Guber: Oyegun Carpets His Party, APC Over Loss
On security he said, “Where are we today that the convoy of a sitting governor will be attacked by armed bandits and security men including police and soldiers died, is that a country? One side of the country trying to dominate over another side of the country, is that what we should celebrate, impunity everywhere? A nation that has no security?
“The president comes from Katsina State, half of the local government in that state is under bandits. All the heads of security agencies are from one side. Where there is no justice, there cannot be peace, injustice gets to a level that God hears it and punishes the people who are involved. What are we celebrating but I believe God in his infinite mercies with what He did in Edo election, I know he will repair this nation in 2023 because as we are now, there is nothing we are only hoping on2023 when a responsible president will emerge like Yar’Adua who for only two and half years, he tried to turn this country around Jonathan built almajiri schools in the north, all those schools have been abandoned, nobody attends them. All our brothers in the north have all run from home to Abuja because they refuse to develop their own people so we have to change”
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Okpebholo Believes In Courage, Capacity Says Edo Poly Rector
The acting rector of Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, Dr Nosakhare Arodoye has promised to implement to the fullest the SHINE agenda of the state government.
Dr Arodoye said he was appointed by the governor to change the narrative of the Polytechnic from the present state to global standard with market-ready graduates and wealth creators within and outside Nigeria.
He spoke during the handover ceremony of the leadership in the state tertiary institution.
According to him, “the governor sent me here for development that will position this institution in a manner that will be productively and evidently attractive to all for visible intellectual results and deliveries.
READ ALSO:Abductors Demand ₦5m As Teenager Is Kidnapped In Edo
“I’m for greater impact, lesser noise, the governor as a game changer understands this hence he approved my appointment as a tool for change in Edo Poly. Governor Okpebholo believes in courage and capacity.
“The governor is not a cut to size, he knows how the academic environment works. You can see that his team is made up of global scholars and that is where I belong.
“I’m here to work, I’m going to teach, courses must be allocated to me. I go for what people run from as a progressive, just like the governor, you can see the turnaround of things affecting every area positively.”
Earlier, the immediate past acting rector, Engr. Sylvester Omoruyi briefed the new rector on the present state of the institution particularly the continuous support from the state government.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: Okpebholo Nominates Another 5 Persons As Commissioner-designates
He said Sen Monday Okpebholo has cleared the backlog of salaries as staff now receive their salary as at when due.
He noted that a total of twenty-two programmes have successfully been accredited with NYSC calling for various HND awarding departments.
On partnership, he said the polytechnic is currently in collaboration with Xianzi and Fuzhou Polytechnic in China where seven students are currently undergoing studies on student exchange programmes.
Before arriving at the polytechnic premises, Dr Arodoye had visited the palace of the Elawure of Usen, Oba Oluogbe III.
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JUST IN: Senate Confirms Amupitan As INEC Chairman
The Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Red Chamber confirmed Amupitan after a voice vote conducted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and after undergoing screening and answering questions posed by the lawmakers.
Amupitan had earlier arrived at the National Assembly complex earlier, exchanged pleasantries with Senators.
He was accompanied to the chamber by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, and other dignitaries.
READ ALSO:Why I Picked Amupitan As INEC Chair – Tinubu
At about 12:50 p.m., the nominee was ushered into the Senate chamber by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado, and was already seated ahead of the commencement of the exercise.
Amupitan was allowed into the hallowed chamber after the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved that Order 12 be set aside to allow visitors into the chamber, and he was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).
Senate President Godswill Akpabio welcomed Amupitan, his family members, and well-wishers to the Red Chamber, commending them for their presence.
Before introducing himself to the Senators for the question and answer session to take off, Akpabio disclosed to his colleagues that the nominee had been cleared by the office of the National Security Adviser after vetting.
READ ALSO:Meet New INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan
According to Akpabio, the office of the Department of State Services had also cleared him.
The Senate President also said that the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, having done a fingerprint search on him, cleared him and said that he had no criminal records with the police.
The screening exercise commenced at about 12:55 p.m. following Akpabio’s opening remarks, during which he outlined the procedures to be followed by the lawmakers in considering the nominee’s credentials.
The screening session focused on Amupitan’s vision for credible elections, his plans for institutional reforms within INEC, and measures to deepen the use of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process.
READ ALSO:Fire Ravages Residential Building In Oyo
Following his confirmation by the Senate, Amupitan will oversee preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and lay the groundwork for the 2027 general elections.
President Bola Tinubu had nominated Amupitan, a Professor of Law from the University of Jos, to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The President’s letter conveying Amupitan’s nomination was read on the floor of the Senate by Akpabio during plenary on Tuesday.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos, Amupitan, is widely regarded for his expertise in constitutional and international law.
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IPF Commends Tompolo’s Commitment To Security In Delta, Nigeria
Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has commended High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, for his remarkable commitment to improving security in Delta State, Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
In a press statement by its national president, Comrade Ozobo Austin, the IPF described Tompolo’s gesture towards Delta Security Trust Fund as a demonstration of his firm commitment to promoting peace, security, and progress in the atate, Niger Delta and Nigeria.
The group’s leadership lauded Tompolo’s philanthropic efforts, which according to them, portrayed his dedication to the well-being and prosperity of the country.
READ ALSO:IPF Wants NDDC MD Ogbuku, Others Probed
Recall that Tompolo promised continued support for the Delta State Security Trust Fund after making a handsome donation at the event held at the government house yesterday.
“The unprecedented donation and firm commitment to peace and security in the country by High Chief Tompolo are shining examples of his leadership and dedication to the development of Delta State, Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.
“We commend him for his vision and generosity, and we urge others to follow his footsteps in supporting initiatives that promote peace and security in Delta State and Niger Delta region.
“High Chief Tompolo’s support will go a long way in enhancing security measures in Delta state and contributing meaningfully to the overall development of the country,” the statement reads.
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