News

Uproar In Senate Over Oshiomhole’s Looting Comment

Published

10 months ago

July 26, 2023

Editor

… As Lawmakers Ask Oshiomhole To Apologise

There was a mild drama in the Senate, yesterday, during plenary session as the lawmaker representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Adeola, accused his colleague from the Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, of alleging that Senators in the 9th National Assembly looted their offices, carting away office furniture and equipment.

Oshiomhole, who spoke when he appeared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, had said that in spite of the presence of security operatives, television sets, carpets and chairs were looted by the immediate past senators and House of Representatives members.

The comment, however, led to a rowdy session in the Senate when the matter was raised during plenary.

Trouble started when Senator Adeola, who is the Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations, raised a Point of Order to express his displeasure over a television interview reportedly granted by Senator Oshiomhole.

Adeola called on Senator Oshiomhole to apologize to the Senate over his comment.

The lawmaker said: “A Senator appeared on the television addressing Nigerians that Senators in the 9th assembly looted their offices, chairs and tables were looted.

“He was addressing Nigerians about this Senate and knowing full well that a Senator cannot move anything outside the National Assembly without the approval.

“If anything you move is not in compliance and without the approval of the National Assembly, your severance allowances will not be paid. No Senator has looted and I feel that he has to apologise to the Senate for making such comments.”

On his part, Senator Adamu Aliero, who represents Kebbi Central Senatorial District, supported Adeola adding that Oshiomhole should tender an apology.

Aliero said: “The statement is misleading; I served in the 9th Assembly. The person should apologize.”

At this point, the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, (APC, Borno South) through a point of order moved that the Senate should resolve into a closed-door session to brainstorm on what he described as a very sensitive issue.

When the motion to go into the closed-door session was put to a voice vote, Senators opted that the matter be discussed in plenary by voting “nay”.

To douse the tension in the chamber, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, said: “Our colleague is new, he is not aware of the tradition of the Senate. I know anybody can make mistake and I know he will apologize for this mistake. Over 70 per cent are new in the 10th Assembly.”

In his remarks, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio called on the former Edo state governor to approach the chair.

After a brief talk with Oshiomhole, Akpabio called on the former APC chairman to state his side of the matter.

Oshiomhole, who was thereafter given the floor, said he has huge respect for the National Assembly adding that he indeed appeared on a respected national television station but said he defended the collective integrity of the Senate.

He said: “I have huge respect for each and every Senator not only in the 10th Assembly but every Senator because I know what it takes to win an election.

“I didn’t address the social media; I spoke with a respected TV station. The question was put to me by the TV host as to what justified the appropriation for the comfort of the National Assembly.

“That allegation against the Senate, in my opinion, I was defending the integrity of the Senate. I know we didn’t appropriate the funds for comfort. I want to repeat that I have huge respect for people in this Senate and not only in the 10th Senate but any Senator, as far as 1999, because I know the road to this place is not easy.

“At no time did I say Senators looted their offices. I only said offices were vandalised and that many Senators had to use their personal money to purchase basic items for their offices.

“I was defending the erroneous impression out there that we appropriated money to ourselves.”

Recall that the former Edo State Governor, Senator Oshiomhole had expressed shock over what he called the level of vandalisation of the properties of the National Assembly by former lawmakers.
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News

Nigerian Emerges First Black Woman To Bag PhD In Robotics At Michigan Varsity

Published

7 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Editor

A Nigerian woman, Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi, has made history as the first black woman to bag a PhD in Robotics at the University of Michigan in the United States.

Speaking at the university’s College of Engineering convocation, Dosunmu-Ogunbi, a daughter of Nigerian immigrants, spoke on the support she received in realising her aspirations.

She said, “I do not stand here on my own two feet alone. None of us got here by our individual merit alone, whether it be teacher, friends, family, mentors, or role models, we each have one or multiple people to whom we are grateful for making this moment possible.”

She added that she wants to be remembered as the University of Michigan’s first black woman to get a PhD in Robotics and she wants to use her knowledge in engineering to improve the lives of others.

She added, “A Michigan Engineer is one who does not just provide scientific and technological leadership, but is also one who is intellectually curious, socially conscious, creates collaborative solutions to societal problems, and promotes an inclusive and innovative community of service for the common good.

“We each have a solemn duty to make positive contributions to the world. Well, my reasons for becoming an engineer were initially frivolous, but they eventually moved into something more meaningful. I want to have a positive impact on the world.”

The University of Michigan Robotics Department website describes Dosunmu-Ogunbi’s journey as one shared by many PhD students who initially lack a clear vision for their final goals.

It added that Dosunmu-Ogunbi has been an active community builder in robotics, earning an MLK Spirit Award from the College of Engineering for mentoring and inspiration as well as being named an outreach ambassador by Robotics for three years, 2021–2023.

The Department also disclosed that she was named a runner-up in the
College of Engineering’s three–minute thesis competition and has been inducted into the Bouchet Society, which recognises outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes diversity in graduate education and the professoriate.

Dosunmu-Ogunbi is currently interviewing for faculty positions, the department revealed.

News

Delta Bloodbath: Relief As Army Withdraws Soldiers From Okuama Community

Published

7 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Editor

Soldiers of the Nigerian Army who have been laying siege on the Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State since March 14, 2024, following the killing of 17 army officers and soldiers on a peace mission, have been pulled out from the community.

Local sources from Akugbene and Okoloba communities in Bomadi Local Government Area told newsmen on Wednesday that “the military troops were sighted suddenly pulling out of Okuama community on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.”

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, while confirming the troops withdrawal from Okuama community, lauded President Bola Tinubu and the military high command for their interventions.

Oborevwori, at a media briefing, said that with the withdrawal of the troops, the people of Okuama could now safely return to their homes and begin the process of reintegration and rebuilding their homes and community.

The governor said, “My dear good people of Delta State, I have the pleasure to announce to you that, upon many deliberations and collaborations between the state government and the military leadership, the Nigerian Army has agreed to withdraw its officers and men from Okuama.

“I spoke with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, on Monday, 6th of May, and as of today, 8th of May, 2024, the military has withdrawn from Okuama.

“With this development, the people of Okuama can now safely return to their homes and begin the process of reintegration and rebuilding their homes.”

Although Oberevwori had earlier appealed to indigenes and farmers to move into a rehabilitation camp being set up for Internally Displaced Persons by the state government “for proper welfare as a first step towards their resettlement to their community,” Okuama leaders had reportedly expressed reluctance to yield to the governor’s call regarding IDPs.

The Chairman of the State Government Committee to manage the Ewu IDP Camp, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo, who affirmed that the governor had already released N10 million to the Committee to ease the take-off of the Camp site at Ewu Grammar School lamented the noticeable lack of willingness by the Okuama indigenes to move into the IDP camp despite the efforts being put in place.

News

Activists To Protest Reporter’s Detention In Abuja Thursday

Published

7 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Editor

Protesters have vowed to storm the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on Thursday, over the prolonged detention of a reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Daniel Ojukwu.

On Wednesday, flyers circulating on social media shared by activists, journalists and other Nigerians called people to “join us for a peaceful protest at the police headquarters Abuja on Thursday by 9am”.

Former presidential candidate and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, also shared the flyer on X which had the reporter’s image, captioning it “An end to #CybercrimeAct2015Now. Let’s all be there at 9 am tomorrow (Thursday).”

Human rights group, the Take It Back Movement, also posted on X, “We will be here tomorrow at 9 am, prompt! Join us. #FreeDanielOjukwu.”

The group’s coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, further confirmed to our correspondent in an interview, “We are rallying all our members to participate in the protest. This is democracy and the police are not bigger than the law.”

A lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, also wrote on X, “The protest at the Force Headquarters will also be an opportunity to protest against cybercrime levy.”

Ojukwu was picked up Wednesday, May 1, 2024, by the police on the streets of Lagos and was transferred to the Nigeria Police Force-National Cyber Crime Centre in Abuja on Sunday.

Widespread condemnations have trailed the journalist’s abduction even as the police maintain that a petition was filed against the journalist but have not given details.

The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, condemned the reporter’s abduction.

“The police cannot detain somebody for seven days under any law in Nigeria as we speak,” he had told The PUNCH on Tuesday.

FIJ on Monday reported that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria was behind the petition that led to the abduction of Ojukwu by the police.

According to the media house, the petition is in relation to FIJ’s coverage of alleged financial mismanagement in the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.

In one of its investigative pieces on the office, FIJ had reported how a sum of N147.1m reportedly meant for the building of classrooms and a skill acquisition centre was allegedly sent to the account of a restaurant.

But in a statement on its X handle on Monday, the OSSAP-SDGs denied the allegation, describing it as “false from the onset.”

The statement said the office “has been transparent in its operations and project implementation processes” and noted that “therefore, the assertion that our project was sponsored by a restaurant is false and baseless.”

The Director of the Cyber Crime Centre, Uche Ifeanyi, on Tuesday, told The PUNCH the bail conditions for the detained journalist who has spent seven days in custody had not been met.

“We’ve served them papers for bail conditions. I think the problem is they’ve not been able to meet up with the bail conditions. The person they brought on Monday could not even produce an ID card. They brought someone on Tuesday who is not a civil servant. You know how sensitive the case is. So, once they bring the civil servant of measure, we will know,” he said.

FIJ’s founder, Fisayo Soyombo said on Tuesday it was “insane” to keep the journalist for that long. “I can’t believe this is happening in a democracy. The law is clear. If you feel that something false has been published against you, the process is laid down, you go to court and institute a case. You can’t just pick someone in Gestapo style and claim the person has a case to answer.”