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Nigerian Woman Makes History, Emerges First African Lord Mayor Of Leeds

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A Nigerian woman, Abigail Katung, has been announced as the 130th Lord Mayor of Leeds City in England, becoming the first person of African descent to hold the position.

The announcement was made following the Leeds City Council’s annual general meeting on Thursday night, as confirmed by a statement on the website of the council.

The statement read, “Taking over the role from Al Garthwaite, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung becomes the city’s 130th Lord Mayor and the first person of African descent to hold the position.

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“Councillor Marshall Katung will be supported throughout her tenure as Lord Mayor by her husband, Nigerian Senator and Lord Mayor Consort, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung.”

The statement further revealed that Katung was born in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, and arrived in the UK to study at the University of Leeds as a postgraduate student in the Politics and International Studies Department in 2000.

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It added, “Following the passing of her father in 1999, whom she credits as a ‘profound influence’ on her life, and with instilling in her an ethos of ‘education for service’, Councillor Marshall Katung resolved to honour his legacy and study in the UK.

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“Transitioning from student to professional life, Councillor Marshall Katung established her own business while also embracing the joys and responsibilities of motherhood to twin sons, who are now pursuing their own university studies.”

Katung was also reported to have held various roles within the Leeds City Council, including “chairing the scrutiny board for adult health and active lifestyles and the scrutiny board for infrastructure, investment, and inclusive growth.

“She was the lead member for faith and belief, chaired the hate crime strategic board and further education for 14–19 years, and is a food champion.

READ ALSO: Protesters Lay Siege To Villa, N’Assembly Over Sanusi’s Reinstatement

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“Breaking barriers, Councillor Marshall Katung became the first African to become a ward member of Leeds City Council when, in 2019, she was elected to represent the Little London and Woodhouse ward in the city centre. This is one of Leeds’s most culturally diverse wards, where over 82 languages are spoken. She was subsequently re-elected at the 2023 elections.”

As part of the tradition, Katung, who is said to be an avid athlete and coach and serves as a governor at Leeds City College, has chosen a charity to champion throughout her term.

Councillor Marshall Katung has chosen the Leeds Community Foundation. She chose this charity due to its wide-ranging support of small, local charities tackling critical societal inequalities such as food poverty, health inequalities, mental health, and digital inclusion, which are all causes close to her heart,” the statement read.

Expressing her gratitude upon her appointment, Katung emphasised her deep connection to Leeds and her determination to ensure that all voices are heard and celebrated throughout her tenure as Lord Mayor.

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She was quoted as saying, “It is with great appreciation and humility that I embrace the privilege of becoming this great city’s 130th Lord Mayor. Since arriving in Leeds in 2000, the city quickly became my cherished second home. It was not just the city where I lived, studied, and worked, it’s where I chose to raise my children and become a public servant.

“My appointment as Lord Mayor has been widely celebrated in the city’s African community and is a shining example of the enormous contribution international students make to UK society. As Lord Mayor of Leeds, I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure voices are heard from all areas of the city and every triumph is recognised and celebrated.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also congratulated the new Mayor of Leeds on her appointment, stating that her elevation is “a testament that Nigeria is not short of talents and excels wherever they may find themselves.”

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In a post on X.com on Friday, Atiku wrote, “I congratulate Abigail Marshall Katung, the 130th Lord Mayor of Leeds City, the first person of African descent to hold this enviable position, and her husband, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District. May her tenure be impactful.”

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Bullied To Death: How Blaise Felix, Was Electrocuted By SS3 Students

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At four years, Blaise Felix was already an orphan. That was in 2013 when he and his twin brothers lost their parents.

Since then, they had been in the care of their aunts and uncles who took up the responsibility of sending the young Felix to the Air Force Comprehensive School in Kaduna.

The super intelligent lad who had kicked against bullying was himself a victim as he was bullied and electrocuted by two students who were just a year ahead of him. Felix was in Senior Secondary Two SS2.

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His story was told by ace broadcaster, Inya Ode on her Facebook page. She said; “So, some days ago, I told you guys I would share something about Air Force Comprehensive School, Kaduna. Well, here is the story… And it’s a very sad one.

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“The last few days have been very difficult and so painful for our church family (Lux Terra Chaplaincy, Abuja). We lost one of our church sons on Wednesday, June 19.

“Blaize (Blaise) Felix was a super intelligent and brave 15 year-old SS2 student of Air Force Comprehensive School in Kaduna. He was the Assistant Head Boy.

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“He was orphaned when he was 4 years-old in 2013 and he and his twin brothers have been in their Aunt and Uncle’s care since then.

“One would think he had crossed the stage of bullying but no… This son of ours was electrocuted to death by two SS3 boys for no just cause. These young men, who were already on their way out of school, snuffed the life out of Blaize for reasons best known to them.

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“See eh… BULLYING IS REAL!!!
And this happened to us.

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“Well, the Air Force say they are investigating so we await the reports of this. But we all know that if this was a private school, it would have been shut down the day it happened.

“The picture below was from the last time Blaize was home, during the Easter Break. He answered a question on Good Shepherd Sunday (April 21, 2024) about Leadership.

“As the Assistant Head Boy, that day he made a commitment to never bully his juniors. Hmmmmmmmmmm! Yet, the same thing he fought against took his life.

“Well, God knows best and, difficult as it is, we COMPLETELY SURRENDER to His perfect will.

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“May his Amazingly Phenomenal soul rest in God’s perfect peace, and may all left behind to mourn him find strength and comfort in the HOPE of the Resurrection, we ask through Christ our Lord, Amen.

“All will be well… Through the Love of God our Saviour ALL WILL BE WELL.”
PUNCH

 

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[PHOTOS] Mohbad: Protesters Storm Nigeria High Commission In London, Demand Thorough Probe

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Some Nigerians on Monday stormed the Nigeria House, London to protest over the circumstances leading to the death of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad.

The protesters who displayed different placards and banners demanded justice for the deceased.

They also called on the government to carry out a thorough investigation into the cause of his death.

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In a video seen by our correspondent, the protesters decried the delay and eventual outcome of the autopsy result.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Abiodun Emerges Chairman Of Southern Governors Forum

They also called on the police authorities to investigate those who were with the late singer at the time he passed away.

However, their demand was conveyed in a letter presented to an official of the High Commission.

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Mohbad, a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, died on September 12 at the age of 27, with the circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversy on social media.

The Lagos State Police Command however inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the death on September 18, 2023.

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His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry, amongst others.

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His corpse was exhumed on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, tweeted in September 2023 that an autopsy had been concluded and the police were “awaiting results.”

In April, The PUNCH reported that the toxicology test carried out to determine the cause of the music star’s death had been concluded.

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The result was sent to the pathologist who carried out the autopsy to analyse and interpret it.

The PUNCH reported that the US-based lab refuted the claim by the Lagos State Government that the toxicology test was conducted at its facility.

READ ALSO::Lagos Cholera Cases Rise To 421

The revelation was in response to inquiries made by our correspondent, who embarked on a fact-finding mission to ascertain the musician’s cause of death.

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The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, while responding to inquiries via a live telephone call with Ahmad Isah, the anchor of an Abuja-based online programme, Brekete Family, sometime in February 2024, had said the toxicology test was being conducted at the NMS Labs in Pennsylvania, USA.

However, a pathologist while testifying before the Coroner’s Court on May 15, revealed that an autopsy couldn’t determine Mohbad’s cause of death due to the decomposition of his body.

Responding to PUNCH Metro’s inquiry on May 17, the Client Services Associate, Forensics Division, NMS Labs, Esther Dede, stated, “Unfortunately, we do not have a case for that patient.”

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PAP To Pay Attention To Impacted Communities, Victims Of Military Bombardment, Others, Says Otuaro

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The Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Dr. Dennis Otuaro says the programme under his watch would pay special attention to impacted communities, victims of military bombardment, families of fallen heroes, among other victims.

INFO DAILY reports that the Presidential Amnesty Programme was created as an interventionist programme to the intense agitation by Ijaw and Niger Delta youths.

The PAP boss spoke on Monday at the ongoing stakeholders meeting in Warri with the theme: ‘Fostering, Consolidating, and Collaborating for the Peace, Security, Stability, and Development of the Niger Delta.’

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READ ALSO: PAP Boss, Otuaro, Calls For Unity, Promises To Capture Stakeholders Not Captured

Otuaro, who stressed the need for cooperation and support by the ex-agitators to succeed in his administration, said: “The Amnesty programme is an opportunity for ex-agitators to benefit their family, children and other critical stakeholders in the region.”

He continued: “I’m not a stranger in the business. Some of our comrades died in the struggle and we need to carry their families left behind along.”

He added: “Some people have been trained but no empowerment after training while others have not gone for training at all.

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READ ALSO: JUST IN: Otuaro Promises Revamp In Presidential Amnesty Programme

“This programme can raise funds to support our wives who are into small scale businesses in the villages.

“We all are victims of the struggle, many of our people were not captured in the time of dropping arms due to fear. I will try my best to incorporate those people that have not benefited from the programme since 2009.”

The PAP boss, while reaffirming his commitment to repositioning the programme in order to accommodate more critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta, stressed: “My vision is to see that our people in the villages benefit from the programme. I’m going to do better, so that the Amnesty Programme would be judiciously managed for the interest of our people.”

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