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PHOTOS: Lagos Muslims Protest, Petition Lawmakers Over

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Muslims, under the umbrella of the Lagos Muslim Community, have staged a protest over what they described as official marginalization in the list of commissioner-designates forwarded to the state House of Assembly by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The commissioners list released by Governor Sanwo-Olu allegedly has eight Muslims, and 31 Christians.

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Muslims in their hundreds converged on the state’s house of assembly complex in the early hours of Wednesday.

The protest had in attendance heads of various Islamic organisations and scholars among other Muslims faithful, displaying placards, which reads the inscription, “MUSLIMS SAY NO OFFICIAL DISCRIMINATION.”

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Addressing a large crowd of Muslim protesters at the venue, President, Muslim Community of Lagos State, Prof. Tajudeen .G.O. Gbadamosi, read a petition, which was submitted to the lawmakers.

President, Muslim Community of Lagos State (MCLS), Prof Tajudeen Gbadamosi reading the protesters speech to the Lagos State House of Assembly members, representing Speaker Mudasiru Obasa
Other prominent Muslim leaders at the event included the Convener, Joint Muslim Forum (JMF) Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad, Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) Member Lukmon Olumo; Chief Whip/Chairman Commissioners-Nominee Screening Committee Mojeed Fatai Adebola, LAHA Member Jubreel AbdulKareem and MURIC Director Prof Lakin Akintola, among others.

The petition, titled, “Petition on the Discrimination against Muslims in the Nomination of Commissioners,” reads, “We are here today to express our grievance and dissatisfaction against the blatant disregard for justice, equity and fairness in the proposed Lagos State’ Executive cabinet as contained in the list of commissioners nominees submitted by Governor Sanwo-Olu to this honorable House for your screening and confirmation.

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“As you are aware, the list is a classic case of discrimination and religious bigotry, as it has 31 nominees who are of the Christian faith and only eight (8) nominees who are Muslims. This is not a new development, especially since Governor Sanwo-Olu assumed leadership of this State, as a matter of fact, it is has been elevated to a level of official state policy to deny Muslims their deserved positions under the Sanwo-Olu adminustration.

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“For instance, in 2019, when Mr. Sanwo-Olu became governor, he appointed 14 Special Advisers, and only one (1) among them was a Muslim. Again, his State Executive Council, which had 43 members, only 14 were Muslims, and the remaining 29 were Christians.

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“Also, of the 23 commissioners, 10 were Muslims and 13 of them Christians. Only 15 Muslims, with 35 Christians, made up the body of 50 Permanent Secretaries in his first term. These are just a few among numerous ways in which the Sanwo-Olu administration deny Muslims in this state their rightful place and number in leadership.”

The petition further reads, “The Rt. Hon. Speaker and honorable members, we want you to note that this list from Governor Sanwo-Olu violates the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria particularly Section 14(4) and is further strengthened by section 192(2) both stating as follows.

“The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the peoples of the Federation.”

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“192(2) Any appointment to the office of Commissioner of the Government of a State shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the House of Assembly of the State, be made by the Governor of that State and in making any such appointment the Governor shall conform with the provisions of section 14(4) of this Constitution.”

It reads, “With due respect Governor Sanwo-Olu’s list clearly violates these provisions of the Constitution and we accordingly call upon this honorable House not to endorse any action that violates our national grundnorm, especially one which equally violates good conscience and natural justice.

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“The argument that Muslims have more elected officials in Lagos State in preposterous. This is even more so at a time when all the Six (6) Governors of the southwest are Christians and we the Muslims do not complain about this, because we recognise that they contested for offices and won.

“Why must Muslims in Lagos State always beg and fight for their constitutional rights especially since Mr Sanwo-olu became Governor? We recall with utmost sadness really, that until the Supreme Court ruled in favour of hijab for our school girls, successive Lagos Governments, never felt it should endeavor to align with the global best practice of accepting hijab in addition to abiding with the rule of law.

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“The historic pro-hijab judgement was delivered in March 2022 and globally acknowledged. However, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s government in its peculiar idiosyncrasy chose to ignore this until a year later, after ceaseless pressure was mounted by well-meaning individuals.”

We the Muslims of, and in Lagos State wish to categorically state that the entire leadership of the Muslim Community of Lagos State representing various Muslim organizations, unequivocally and unanimously reject the list of commissioner-designates of Governor Sanwo-Olu and we demand a reversal and review to reflect 60% in favour of Muslims in a fresh list.

“We call on the Lagos State House of Assembly to reject the list as similarly done in the Niger State House of Assembly, where a noticeably minority Christian population demanded a reversal of the list of commissioners to reflect fairness and equity to them.

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“We also call on you and the House of Assembly to impress on the government the need to respect the diversity of the state’s population and to appoint a more representative cabinet. We believe that this is essential for the future stability and prosperity of Lagos State.”

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Son Narrates How Mom Killed Dad With Pestle

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A 12-year-old boy, Ibukun Solomon, has narrated how his mother, Tayelolu, killed his father, Felix, with a pestle while he ewas sleeping, after a minor argument in Ondo town, Ondo State.

Vanguard gathered that the mother of three, reportedly killed her 65-year-old husband, a farmer, by hitting him thrice with a pestle while sleeping in their house, located at the Government Reservation Area, GRA, in Ondo town.

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Reports had it that the couple, in recent times, have been having a crisis and the wife always threatens to kill the husband and elope.

It was gathered that after another argument last weekend, the deceased went to sleep on the chair and the wife reportedly hit him several times with a pestle.

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Narrating how his father was killed, lbukun, told newsmen that “my mother killed my father with a pestle in my presence and took to her heels. She used the pestle to hit his head when he was asleep.

“Earlier on the fateful day, a minor argument had ensued between them that resulted in a fight. After the fight, my father went to lie on the chair and my mother hit his head with the pestle.

“He became unconscious and fell down from where he was sleeping. My mother used the pestle to hit my father’s head three times. He later died.

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“When my mother saw that my father was already unconscious, she hid the pestle at the back of our house and ran away.

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”I alerted some of the residents, who rushed my father to the hospital. But he later died. His corpse has been deposited at the morgue.

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“My mother had three children for my father and I’m the last child.”

Speaking on the ugly incident, a brother of the deceased said that the family members have mediated several times to settle the incessant fight between his brother the his wife.

He lamented that all their efforts proved abortive.

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According to him, “The woman had been threatening to kill her husband whenever they were fighting. And the deceased informed us about the threats. But we never knew she would carry out the devilish act.

“But this time, she took laws into her hands and killed our brother for nothing. She must be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.”

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Efforts to reach the state police spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, proved abortive.

But a top police officer confirmed to Vanguard that the fleeing suspect would soon be arrested and charged to court for murder.

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Fake Drug Manufacturer Operating In 13 States Arrested In Ondo

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A fake drug manufacturer, operating in 13 states in the country, under the name Brother Paul Legacy Foundation, has been arrested by the Ondo state task force against fake and counterfeit drugs.

The taskforce arrested the fake and counterfeit drug dealer, at the office of the organization, located at cultural area, in Ondo road, Akure, the capital state following a tip off.

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According to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs Folukemi Aladenola, the fake drugs organisation was caught with concoctions which they claimed can cure all kinds of ailment that are injurious to people’s health.

Aladenola said that the organization, operates in 13 other states in the country.

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The team got information that the organization was in town since June, treating all kinds of ailments at a price with the claim that they could treat all ailments such as cancer, low sperm count, diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis and barrenness and claimed to be registered with NAFDAC.”

She pointed out that the Ministry of Health would always protect the health interest of the people of the state at all times.

According to her, the state government has ensured that its people have unfettered access to healthcare delivery by increasing access to health facilities through the suspension of registration fees in all government facilities to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.

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The gesture of the government should prompt our people to access government health care facility but to our surprise, people still patronise these quacks and their prices range from N5000 to N10,000″.

“Instead of using this money to patronise quacks, you can get quality drugs at the government facilities in the state”

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“The era of out of stock syndrome is over, now our facilities now have enough drugs to cater for the health of the people at an affordable price. Now our facilities have been directed to get their drugs from this agency. If you don’t get drugs in these facilities, you can question this gap.”

Aladenola advised the people of the state to always access healthcare from qualified personnel and accredited government and private facilities while also emphasizing that the organization would be handed over to the appropriate authority to be sanctioned.

According to VANGUARD, the Permanent Secretary warned all fake drug dealers in the state would be brought to book.

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The representative of
NAFDAC, Mr Samuel Olatunji, said that the apprehended representatives of the Brother Paul Legacy Foundation were parading themselves to have NAFDAC registration on their product but it was discovered that their registration number was fake.

The Chairman of the taskforce in Ondo State, Olugbenga Lasekan warned those involved in the selling of fake drugs and adulterated consumables to desist, saying that anyone caught would face the law.

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Suspected Killer Of Rivers DPO Saved From Lynching, Detained

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…My boss, 2Baba, has over 40 guns—Suspect

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested one of the persons alleged to be involved in the killing and decapitation of the Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada Division in Ahoada East Local Government Area, Mr Bako Angbashim, a Superintendent of Police.

Meanwhile, the Ogoni ethnic nationality in Rivers State, where Angbashim served before his redeployment to Ahoada, has said they were not the people that killed five members of Angbashim’s family.

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It will be recalled that the family of Angbashim, four children and wife, were allegedly killed by criminals, allegedly forcing the slain DPO to go diabolic in the line of duty.

But, the Ogonis in a statement in Port Harcourt, yesterday by the Ogoni Peoples Assembly, OPA, said the slain DPO did not lose his family members in Ogoni land as insinuated.

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The leader of OPA, Rev. Probel Williams, said the deceased DPO had a very good and cordial relationship with the people of Ogoni when he served as the DPO of Bori, Khana LGA, adding that his family members would not have been killed in the area.

Williams said the support given to the deceased contributed to his crime-fighting success, stating that his presence brought sanity and restored security in the area.

However, the police in the state said they had detained one of the persons, involved in the killing of Angbashim.

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It said youths had arrested the suspect and were about to lynch him before he was rescued by the police and then detained.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the development, said the suspect was arrested by youths and was about to be lynched before police came to the rescue.

READ ALSO:Murdered Rivers DPO: Fubara Slams N100m Bounty On Suspects, Suspends Monarch

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My boss, 2Baba, has over 40 guns—Suspect

Speaking earlier to youths, who apprehended him, the suspect whose name was not disclosed, said his boss, 2Baba Gift David Okpala Okpolowu, popularly called 2Baba, had over 40 guns in his custody.

He said his boss had contacted a native doctor from the Ogoni area of the state, who helped them kill the DPO spiritually to enable them to defeat the gallant officer.

He said: “I will not lie, when they killed the DPO, I was not there. I was across the river. I will not lie, I have a conscience. When they brought the DPO, I did not see him. I swear. I don’t know where they buried him. But I know where they brought him from.

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“2Baba has over 40 guns since I went there. The person who supplies guns to him, he called the person on the phone, pays the person, and then they will supply the guns. I don’t know him.”

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