Abiodun Appoints Selimot Ottun as Ogun New Head of Service

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June 22, 2020

Selimot Ottun ogun head of service — New Head of Service, ogun State, Selimot Ottun.

Idowu Sowunmi

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has approved the appointment of Alhaja Selimot Olapeju Ottun as the new Head of Service in the state.

Ottun’s appointment was coming after the former Head of Service, TPL Amope Ajibola Chokor, bowed out of the public service of Ogun State over the weekend.

An accomplished psychologist, community development expert and administrator, she becomes the fifth woman to occupy the office and the 17th Head of Service since the creation of the state.

While wishing Ottun success in her new assignment, Abiodun said he believed that she would put her vast knowledge in the management of the state’s civil service to good use in her new assignment.

Ottun comes into her new position with impeccable pedigree and service record.

Until her appointment, Ottun was Permanent Secretary in the Bureau of Political Affairs and Administration. She previously served as Permanent Secretary at Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism between 2015 and 2019.

A 1985 graduate of Psychology from University of Ibadan, the new Head of Service also earned a Post Graduate Diploma in Integrated Development from Pan African Institute of Development, Bua in Cameroon.

Ottun had coordinated many Community Development and Gender Programmes for the state government and was also the state Director of the United Nations Gender Development Programme between 2009 and 2015.

The new Head of Service has over the years proven to be an asset in different leadership roles she was saddled with. She’s also known to have used her network and creative ingenuity to adapt to changes in public sector management.

Ottun is happily married and she is the President of Remo Secondary School, Sagamu 1973/78 set.

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Updated: Buhari meets Progressive Governors over APC crisis, Giadom consults Presidency

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 22, 2020

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Buhari and Bagudu — President Muhammad Buhari and Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu

Idowu Sowunmi

President Muhammadu Buhari Monday held a closed-door meeting with some Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The meeting, which took place inside the Presidential Villa in Abuja, has been described as Buhari’s intervention with the sole aim of finding lasting solution to the current crisis rocking the ruling party.

Ahead of the Monday meeting, the President had Sunday evening met with the Senate President, Dr. Ahmed Lawan, who hinted of Buhari’s readiness to intervene and resolve the party’s crisis.

Those at the meeting include the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu; Chairman of Northern Governors Forum, Mr. Simon Lalong, and Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting on Monday, Bagudu said the governors visited Buhari over crisis rocking the APC.

Kebbi State governor said the meeting discussed “steps to support unify and bring about a peaceful resolution in our party, the APC.”

According to him, “Mr President listened attentively and discussed with us and he gave us all the assurance we need to know that a resolution of contentious issues will soon be arrived at.

“Mr President has shown that he is a democrat. He is not running the party. Yes, he is the party leader, he allows party organs to do and decide what should be done.”

APC has been in a leadership crisis since last week after the Court of Appeal Abuja upheld the suspension of Adams Oshiomole as its National Chairman.

While Victor Giadom, a suspended Deputy National Secretary, is insisting he is the acting National Chairman of the party, the National Working Committee approved the appointment of former Oyo State governor and APC Deputy National Chairman, Abiola Ajimobi, as the acting chairman of the party.

Due to Ajimobi’s ailing state, the party approved the appointment of Hilliard Eta, APC Vice Chairman (South-south), as the acting chairman pending the time Ajimobi would fully recover to take over the mantle of party’s leadership.

Meanwhile, Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Victor Giadom is believed to have initiated consultation with APC governors and relevant offices in the Presidency ahead of upcoming Emergency National Executive Council (NEC) of the party.

According to Independent, findings suggest that APC governors and the presidency have asked Giadom, one of the Acting National Chairman claimants to submit to the government documents relating to the last Emergency NEC of the party which was suspended at the last minute in March this year.

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Aig-Imoukhuede, PSHAN unveil new initiative to improve PHCs

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Abuja Bureau

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June 22, 2020

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Idowu Sowunmi

Founder and Chairman of Africa Initiative for Governance, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, in collaboration with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) have unveiled a new initiative geared towards significantly improving Nigeria’s healthcare system at the grassroots level.

The innovative strategy, which was in furtherance of a vision from an earlier stakeholders’ roundtable, entailed delivering one Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas at global standards.

Under this private sector-driven initiative, universal health access would be provided for low-income citizens residing in rural and urban areas through the Adopt-a-Health Facility Programme (ADHFP).

ADHFP, according to PSHAN Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sonny Nwarisi, would be sponsored by a group of Angel Investors and other institutions.

He said these “Angels” would each take responsibility for one or more PHCs – they would build and operate the PHCs for the period of adoption under strict rules and guidelines.

ADHFP is a multi-impact initiative with several benefits including: Saving lives, Improvement in health outcomes, Job creation, and Gender empowerment.

Aig-Imoukhuede and PSHAN recently initiated ADHFP design phase which would be handled by Vesta Healthcare Partners, a global healthcare consultancy firm.

This consultancy engagement was expected to deliver key programme components such as: legal and regulatory framework, public private partnership framework, PHC facility and management standards, financing arrangements, governance arrangements, supply chain management, and technology and systems.

The design phase would involve active participation of notable development-focused organisations like: Global Citizen, ABCHealth, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), MTN Nigeria Plc, Dangote Group, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, Stanbic-IBTC Bank, PwC, Cisco, Ford Foundation, Nigerian Stock Exchange, and Flying Doctors Nigeria.

Others are: Africa Practice, Cedar Advisory Partners, GBCHealth, Health Federation of Nigeria, Health Law, Eti-Osa Local Government, JNC International Ltd, Johnson & Johnson, Justice in Healthcare, Lagos State Government, MSD for Mothers, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), ONE Campaign, PharmAccess Foundation, Women-At-Risk International Foundation as well as Lagos State Government and the Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals among others.

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Edo: Giadom says Ize-Iyamu APC primaries Victory is illegal in a letter to INEC

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 22, 2020

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Ize Iyamu apc 2 — All Progressives Congress (APC) Edo 2020 Governorship Candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu

All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu has emerged the flagbearer of the party in the September 2020 Edo election.

Ize-Iyamu, who has been touted as the preferred candidate by political observers was declared winner of the primary election by Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma after the end of the exercise on Monday.

Ize-Iyamu, a former 2016 Edo governorship candidate in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was said to have won the direct primary election with a total of 27,838 votes to defeat Dr. Pius Odubu who scored 3,776 and Osaro Obazee who got 2,751 votes.

Meanwhile, an Acting Chairman of the party, Victor Giadom has distanced himself from the primary election held within the APC Edo chapter on Monday.

The letter dated June 18 and sighted by Echotitbits indicates that the erstwhile National Secretary of the APC, Giadom, who leveraged a court judgement in his favour to declare himself as the Acting Chairman of the party wrote to inform the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the exercise lacks authenticity.

Giadom had in the letter, which also copied the Inspector General of the Police, Director General of the DSS and Chairman of Edo APC, advised INEC not to lend support or recognition to the said primary election.

How we avert multiple fire explosion on Kara bridge – Lagos Fire Service

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 22, 2020

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Idowu Sowunmi

The Lagos State Fire Service has explained how it successfully averted an escalation of a fire explosion involving three tankers and one trailer on Kara Bridge along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in the early hours of Sunday.

Lagos State Fire Service and other first responders like Ogun State Fire Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, National Emergency Management Agency and Federal Road Safety Corps had swiftly moved to the scene of the incident in order to avert multiple fire explosions.

Speaking on the incident, the Acting Head, Lagos State Fire Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, said the quick and timely response by the agency ensured that the fire disaster was effectively contained before it escalated.

“Lagos State firemen responded to a fire call at about 0046hrs on Sunday, 21st June, 2020 at Kara Bridge and quickly reached the location where some vehicles were already engulfed by fire.

“Nevertheless, our firefighters were able to contain the situation from escalating before it was finally extinguished a few hours later.”

Adeseye added that one of the tankers involved was conveying gas, while two others were filled with Premium Motor Spirit (petrol).

She explained that the firemen were on standby until the gas leakage from one of the vehicles in the accident stopped in order to avert further havoc and chaos.

“The fire incident was a delicate operation that required the use of chemical foam compound to avoid explosion,” she noted.

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Photo: Twin tanker explosion on Kara bridge kills one

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 21, 2020

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Tanker 18 — Men of the Federal Fire Service battle to put out fire from a twin tanker explosion on Kara bridge. Sunday, June 21, 2020.

One person has been confirmed dead in the fire resulting from an explosion involving a petrol tanker, a gas truck and a cement transport truck at the Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Many residents within the area were startled when the explosion took place at about 1 A.M on Sunday morning.

At the time of filing this report, it was yet to be made clear what stirred the explosion.

Men of the Federal and Lagos State Fire Service arrived the scene swiftly to douse the flames, a task which has continued for hours, thereby causing heavy traffic jam on both sides of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

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Osinbajo commits to prosecuting rape perpetrators as Correctional Service commissions operational vehicles

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 21, 2020

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Women protest against rape in nigeria — Nigerian women protest against incessant rape. Photo Credit: CNN

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the National Economic Council (NEC) will remain a platform to encourage State House of Assemblies to domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act of 2015 and the Child’s Rights Act of 2003.

The Vice President made this commitment when he participated in a National Human Right’s Commission (NHRC) virtual meeting on the scourge of rape & sexual – gender based violence in Nigeria and the way forward.

In his remark, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said: “We will work with all actors to detect and punish the perpetrators of these sickening acts and work even harder to prevent their occurrence.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, from the State House, participates in a virtual meeting with the Nigerian Human Rights Commission (NHC) to end rape. Friday, June 19, 2020.

“We will continue to use the platform of the National Economic Council to encourage States yet to domesticate the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act of 2015 and the Child’s Rights Act of 2003 to do so”, the Vice President state.

Prof. Osinbajo noted that gender based violence, rape and sexual assaults are a blemish on our collective humanity and dignity as a people and a nation.

Recent rape incidents of Uwavera Omozuwa, a 22-year-old Microbiology student of University of Benin, who was at a Church where she was reported to have visited for the purpose of reading and later died at the hospital; Barakat Bello, thereafter killed in her home in Ibadan and Jenifer, an 18-year-old girl molested in Kaduna had sparked anger from women across Nigeria.

The sad incidents saw concerned women troop to the streets in an organized protests across the nation to renew calls for a system that ensures perpetrators do not escape punishment.

In another development, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has commissioned newly procured operational vehicles for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) to further increase the agency’s capacity to discharge its duties.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola commissions newly purchased operational vehicles for the Nigerian Correctional Service

The commissioning, which was led by the Minister on Friday in Abuja, brings to a total of 451 operational vehicles purchased by the NCS in the last five years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

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Saraki welcomes Obaseki to PDP, says Oshiomhole has met his Waterloo

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 19, 2020

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Saraki and Obaseki — L-R: Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki

Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has welcomed the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and congratulated him for taking a good step in the right direction.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Saraki noted that the bigger commendation and appreciation should go to the leaders of the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the various levels for the sense of sacrifice, patriotism and devotion to the progress of the party demonstrated by them in the process of welcoming Obaseki into its fold.

“I also thank Obaseki’s colleagues, the PDP Governors, for their role and for ensuring that while bringing him into the party, they carried along the local chapter and refrain from just unilaterally taking decisions without the input of the leaders of the party in Edo State. The process our Governors adopted in working with the local chapter to bring in the Governor is a better approach than the system in many of the other parties where the National Working Committee (NWC) would simply just give him a membership card.

“That is why my appeal will, at this point, go to all of us, the leaders and stakeholders, who gave assurances that agreement will be honoured, we need to ensure that the NWC of our party plays its own supervisory role by making sure that those agreements entered into by the Governor and the local chapter should be kept, particularly since I am very sure they are all lawful and in the interest of peace and development of the state. That is the only way to keep our integrity intact.

“At this point, it will be odd if I fail to comment on the situation that led to the change of party by Governor Obaseki. While I have kept my cool and ignored all the verbal attacks directed at me by the suspended chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, I have always known that a day like this would come when his masquerade will dance naked in the market.

“The truth is always constant and no matter how far falsehood travels, the truth will catch up with it one day. Oshiomhole can fool people for a long time but he cannot fool the people all the time. What is happening to him now is a moment of truth. This same man who was garrulously proclaiming the end of the political career of some other people is now about to meet his Waterloo.

“He has continued to use his mouth to divide his party and I believe there is a lesson for all politicians to learn from the fate of the suspended APC chairman. No autocrat can successfully pretend to be a Democrat. The true character of a man will come out one day”, he said.

Saraki further stated that all lovers of democracy should be interested in the emergence of a healthy and strong party system and organisation which would provide viable platforms for people to aspire and provide quality leadership to the country.

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Justice Dongban-Mensem sworn-in as substantive President of Appeal Court

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 19, 2020

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Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Mohammed swears in Justice Dongban-Mensem as President of the Appeal Court of Nigeria

Idowu Sowunmi

Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem was Friday sworn in as the 7th substantive President of the Court of Appeal by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Mohammed.

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony which took place at the Supreme Court Complex in Abuja, Mohammed charged Dongban-Mensem to uphold the credibility and integrity of the Appellate Court.

CJN tasked the new president to live up to expectations and ensure a very cordial relationship with her colleagues on the bench of the Court of Appeal.

Noting that the Appellate Court has the largest number of Justices in the Nigeria, Mohammed urged Dongban-Mensem to always uphold her good character, behaviour and hardwork.

“From my personal experience, workload in the Court of Appeal, especially in the divisions is the highest. It is a home of work. It is a home of cooperation. But with your experience, hard work and zeal, you will not find your new status difficult.

“If you sustain your good character and conduct, your tenure will definitely be an excellent one. Try to be yourself and do not allow others derail you. Remain what we know you for,” Mohammed said.

In her remarks, Dongban-Mensem, who expressed joy over her confirmation as the substantive President of the Court of Appeal, promised Nigerians to do her utmost best in ensuring that justice is upheld at the Court of Appeal.

She assured to build on the legacy left behind by her predecessors.

The swearing-in ceremony was witnessed among other eminent personalities like Governors Aminu Tambuwal, Simon Lalong, Abubakar Bello and Abubakar Bagudu of Sokoto, Plateau, Niger and Kebbi states respectively.

The event was also witnessed by the National Coordinator for Special Marshal in Nigeria, Sini Titsi Kwabe, with some other Special Marshals.

Monica Dongban is an active member of Special Marshal, a volunteer arm of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Dongban-Mensem was born on June 13, 1957 to the family of M.B. Douglas-Mensem; a retired Appeal Court Justice.

She hails from Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State. She got both her LL.B and LL.M degrees from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State.

She was a Visiting Lecturer on Press Law at Catholic Media Centre, Kaduna from 1988-1992 and Part-time Lecturer at University of Jos between 1989 and 1997.

From 1990-1993, Justice Dongban-Mensem served as Deputy Chief Registrar, Superior Courts and Protocol Affairs, and was appointed Judge, High Court of Justice, Plateau Judiciary from 1993-1996.

Dongban-Mensem transferred her service to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Judiciary in 1997, where she served until she was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2003.

She was sworn-in as the Acting President, Court of Appeal, on March 6, 2020, by the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Until this recent elevation, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem was the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, and Life Member of Body of Benchers.

Her leisure is writing, reading, golfing , working with children, women and the elderly. She is a mother of four children and two grandchildren.

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Updated: Obaseki joins PDP, makes deal to have aspirants step down

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Tobiloba Kolawole

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June 19, 2020

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Godwin-Obaseki-of-Edo-state-1-696x609 — Governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki

The embattled Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has formally joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Governor said in a statement just before 3pm on Friday that his decision to pitch tent with the PDP will advance his political ambition.

“I have officially joined the PDP to advance my ambition to seek re-election as Governor of Edo State. I, as always, remain committed to engendering good governance and sustainable development of our dear state”, Governor Obaseki Stated.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party has granted Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, a waiver to fly the party’s flag in the September 19 governorship election in the state.

It was gathered that in an attempt to accommodate Obaseki and Shaibu, PDP leaders have pleaded with other aspirants vying to get the party’ ticket to step down for the governor.

A statement by the former Senate President and leader of the PDP, Bukola Saraki suggests that it took more than pleading to get Obaseki and his deputy a waiver to contest under the umbrella party.

While Saraki welcomed Obaseki to PDP, he emphasised how imperative it is to abide by deals and agreement made by all parties, which apparently formed the behind-the-scene transactions that gave Obaseki and Shaibu a smooth run to the umbrella party’s governorship ticket.

“That is why my appeal will, at this point, go to all of us, the leaders and stakeholders, who gave assurances that agreement will be honoured, we need to ensure that the NWC of our party plays its own supervisory role by making sure that those agreements entered into by the Governor and the local chapter should be kept, particularly since I am very sure they are all lawful and in the interest of peace and development of the state. That is the only way to keep our integrity intact”, Saraki emphasised.

Obaseki was disqualified by his former party, All Progressives Congress, from seeking re-election on the grounds that he possesses “defective academic qualifications.”

He later announced his resignation from the APC and joined the PDP on Friday.

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