The All Progressives Congress (APC) has shifted the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for the Party’s 2023 candidate, Bola Tinubu.

The event earlier scheduled for Monday was postponed to Wednesday, September 28.

Bayo Onanuga, PCC Director of Media and Publicity, made the announcement in a statement Sunday night.

Members nominated to serve in the various directorates are to report at the campaign headquarters on the new date.

They are expected to participate in the special prayer sessions marking the commencement of the presidential election campaigns.

There would be a peace walk after the prayers; all nominees would be issued their letters of appointment on the same day.

“We know this is a call to serve our great party that will demand total commitment and sacrifice from all of us”, Onanuga said.

“It is the council’s strong belief that all members will work hard to deliver a resounding victory for our great party in the 2023 presidential election.”

The spokesman urged the support groups to continue their work and to formally register with the PCC immediately for proper harmonisation.

The presidency has reacted to an online report alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari had called for the removal of Festus Keyamo from the campaign council of the All Progressive Congress presidential flagbearer, Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, debunked the report, saying the news that President Muhammadu Buhari has called for the removal of Festus Keyamo, SAN as a spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council is fake news.

Shehu noted in a terse statement that both President Buhari and the Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu are happy with the job Keyamo is doing, and with the general set up of the impending campaign, which has already become an example for other parties.

“We are aware that conspiracy theories are being hatched with a ripple effect to defame our party leaders and hold back the campaign. Supporters of our candidates should not pay attention to “news” from these fountains of false narratives.

The online report had alleged that the President and members of the Aso Rock cabal called for the removal of Festus Keyamo as the spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC)/Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council.

The report also alleged that Buhari and members of the cabal accused Keyamo of always de-marketing the current administration despite being a serving minister.

The report said the President accused him (Keyamo) of always de-marketing his regime, describing the government in which he is a minister as a failed regime. He has been described as a loose cannon who is daily demarketing his regime as a failed regime. The cabal members are not happy,” the source said.

For instance, on Sunday, during an interview on Channels Television, Keyamo said Nigerians are hungry and can’t wait to have a new leader who would satisfy their hunger.

When asked to discuss the APC’s campaign issues for the 2023 elections, Keyamo said, “Nigerians are hungry, they want to see how that hunger will be addressed, not how their Christian faith or Muslim faith will be addressed.”

The Kogi State Government through its agency Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) has accused Dangote Cement Plc Obajana of forging its tax receipt.

The acting Chairman of KGIRS, Salisu Enehe, disclosed this on Monday during the ongoing investigative hearing by the State House of Assembly ad hoc Committee on revenue at the Assembly Complex in Lokoja.

Enehe was responding to the claim by the committee that the company had paid over 14 billion tax to the Agency between 2016 till date.

According to the state revenue boss, most of the figures the company claimed to have paid are totally incorrect, urging the company to check its record.

He said despite the billions of naira that company is making from the state monthly, it has failed to pay taxes that are due the state and Lokoja Local Government Area.

Enehe said instead of doing the needful, the Dangote company approached the court to stale payment of taxes that are legally passed by the state assembly and assented to by the governor.

He noted that the lack of tax payment has slowed down the development of the state.

Also speaking, the Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Gabriel Olofu, said Dangote company has refused to pay for business premises in the last two years.

Olusegun Ogunbanjo, the Head of Accounts of the Company told the committee that the company had paid N14billion tax from 2016 till date.

The Senate on Monday called on Nigerians to vote for only candidates that have a clear agenda to liberate the local government system in the 2023 general election.

Senator Olalekan Mustapha, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration, stated this at the second edition of the Local Government Economic Summit in Abuja.

Mustapha, who disclosed that the local government system in the country was in a mess and subservient situation, urged the electorate to vote for only candidates that would ensure local government autonomy.

He said, “As the general election draws closer, Nigerians should vote only for politicians that have a clear agenda to liberate our local government system by granting them full political and financial autonomy.

“What we’re seeing today in the various states is no political and financial autonomy.

“It’s so ironic for a local government not to have authority to fund development in their various localities without the approval of their supervising ministry.”

Mustapha added that if all the state governments pass the Bill on Financial Autonomy as approved by the National Assembly, rural areas will develop, and insecurity will be tackled.

The Labour Party has made clarifications on issues surrounding the party’s candidates for Abeokuta South and Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituencies in Ogun State.

After the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the list of National Assembly candidates last week, many members of the party in Ogun State were shocked that the names of some of their preferred candidates were nowhere to be found.

But while addressing members of the party at a meeting in Abeokuta, the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Abayomi Arabambi, had said INEC failed to update the list of Labour Party candidates in the two constituencies.

According to Arabambi, the names that still appeared on INEC list were used as mere place holders, saying that they have since withdrawn from the race.

Arabambi clarified that Tolulope Phillips is now the candidate of Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, stressing that the placeholder had submitted a sworn affidavit announcing his withdrawal from the race and the party on July 4, 2022.

“When we held our primaries, we had some people used as placeholders. There is provision for this in the electoral act. “We all know there is room for substitution. In Abeokuta South, we used Ogunfidodo Michael Tomi as the placeholder. He has withdrawn from the race. He stepped down for Tolulope Phillips. This means no one else can contest for the House of Representatives under the Labour Party in Abeokuta aside from Tolulope Phillips. He is our candidate for Abeokuta South,” Arabambi declared.

For Yewa South and Ipokia Federal Constituency, the National Publicity Secretary explained that the placeholder, Kuponiyi Oluwafemi Olalekan, has withdrawn from the election, stepping down for Tade Afolabi.

“Hon. Take Afolabi is the only candidate Labour Party has in Abeokuta South and Ipokia Federal Constituency. No one else,” Arabambi emphasised.

Speaking to newsmen the party’s spokesman disclosed that the matter of candidacy is being addressed, expressing confidence that “all our candidates will contest the elections.”

He said the list released by INEC cannot be the final list as ”the electoral act gives room for substitution of candidates till 90 days before the election.”

In his words, Phillips urged his supporters to remain, saying the omission of his name was mere administrative error.

“There is no need to be worried. Our people know who their candidate is. Due to some administrative errors, the names are yet to be substituted. But my name will be published in due time. Let’s just calm down. Our constituents know us and we are going to win this election. It is no more business as usual. Our party is intact and our people know us. No cause for alarm,” he said.

The Labour Party has made clarifications on issues surrounding the party’s candidates for Abeokuta South and Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituencies in Ogun State.

After the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the list of National Assembly candidates last week, many members of the party in Ogun State were shocked that the names of some of their preferred candidates were nowhere to be found.

But while addressing members of the party at a meeting in Abeokuta, the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Abayomi Arabambi, had said INEC failed to update the list of Labour Party candidates in the two constituencies.

According to Arabambi, the names that still appeared on INEC list were used as mere place holders, saying that they have since withdrawn from the race.

Arabambi clarified that Tolulope Phillips is now the candidate of Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, stressing that the placeholder had submitted a sworn affidavit announcing his withdrawal from the race and the party on July 4, 2022.

“When we held our primaries, we had some people used as placeholders. There is provision for this in the electoral act. “We all know there is room for substitution. In Abeokuta South, we used Ogunfidodo Michael Tomi as the placeholder. He has withdrawn from the race. He stepped down for Tolulope Phillips. This means no one else can contest for the House of Representatives under the Labour Party in Abeokuta aside from Tolulope Phillips. He is our candidate for Abeokuta South,” Arabambi declared.

For Yewa South and Ipokia Federal Constituency, the National Publicity Secretary explained that the placeholder, Kuponiyi Oluwafemi Olalekan, has withdrawn from the election, stepping down for Tade Afolabi.

“Hon. Take Afolabi is the only candidate Labour Party has in Abeokuta South and Ipokia Federal Constituency. No one else,” Arabambi emphasised.

Speaking to newsmen the party’s spokesman disclosed that the matter of candidacy is being addressed, expressing confidence that “all our candidates will contest the elections.”

He said the list released by INEC cannot be the final list as ”the electoral act gives room for substitution of candidates till 90 days before the election.”

In his words, Phillips urged his supporters to remain, saying the omission of his name was mere administrative error.

“There is no need to be worried. Our people know who their candidate is. Due to some administrative errors, the names are yet to be substituted. But my name will be published in due time. Let’s just calm down. Our constituents know us and we are going to win this election. It is no more business as usual. Our party is intact and our people know us. No cause for alarm,” he said.

As the current face-off between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government takes a new dimension, parents in Osun State have called on the Federal Government to do all within its power to bring a quick end to the imbroglio.

Speaking with DAILY POST on Monday in Osogbo, some parents laid the blame on the Federal Government.

Timothy Oluleke, whose daughter is an undergraduate of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, stated that she had to enrol her in a skill acquisition programme.

While stating that the strike was damaging to the students, he explained that many of the undergraduates had ventured into crime and unwholesome living.

He also blamed the government for the lackadaisical attitude towards the development of public education, alleging that some of the students have been co-opted into a grand scheme to be used negatively for the coming general elections in 2023.

“It is common knowledge that our government doesn’t give a d*mn about what happens to our children in public schools. We won’t blame them since most of them don’t have their children there.

“If you look at the whole thing, the issue of public school is not of importance to this present government,” he said.

On his part, Isaac Rotimi, a retired headmaster, lamented that both the ASUU and the Federal Government had not allowed a shift in their stance.

“ASUU is right in its fight. Their agitation is genuine. The Federal Government too may be right. It is just understanding that matters in this situation.

“Another problem is that the Federal Government has not been faithful. Several administrations have not been faithful and have not lived up to their promises to the union,” he noted.

Recall that the Federal Government in order to assert its authority had dragged ASUU to court, during which the court issued an order for the union to call off their seven-month-old strike.

On Monday, the Federal Government ordered Vice Chancellors of public universities to reopen the schools, but the order was later withdrawn.

A Northern-based Christian leader, AVM Monday Morgan has refuted claims that Christians in the North are in the minority.

He spoke Tuesday morning while discussing the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.

He explained that Christians are not in the minority in the North, stating that Christians in Adamawa and Taraba States are not below 80% and 75% respectively.

According to him, “In Plateau State, Christians are not below 85%, in Benue State, they are not below 90%, in Kogi State we speak 50-50, while in Kwara State, Muslim are 60% and Christians 40%.”

In Borno State, he explained that Muslims are 60%, while Christians are 40%; in Kaduna State, it is 40% – 60%, adding that in the whole of the north central and the north west, the Christians cannot be pulled by the side.

AVM Morgan noted that he saw the bluff of the APC campaign mouthpiece, Festus Keyamo, when the spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum said they were going to present their own bargaining chips to the parties.


Two people are feared dead in Enugu State following an attack, Tuesday morning, by unknown gunmen.

DAILY POST learnt that the gunmen attacked an Army checkpoint at Obeagu-Amodu road in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State.

This is not the first time gunmen were attacking security agencies along that axis. The frequent attacks led to the deployment of the combined team of security operatives.

However, it was gathered that the gunmen stormed the area again in two Lexus Jeeps and one Toyota Sienna bus around 7:25 a.m.

They reportedly opened fire at the combined team of the Police and the military.

Although the casualty figure is still unclear, a source said at least two persons died.

The police in Enugu State is yet to issue a statement on the reported attack.

As the 2023 presidential campaigns kick off tomorrow, politicians have been advised to shun campaigns of calumny and name-calling against their opponents.

A civil society group, the Movement for Nigeria’s Transformation, MNT, gave the advice over the weekend following a communique it issued at the end of its national executive committee meeting in Abuja.

The statement signed by its national president, Victor Edward Ogba, urged presidential candidates and their teams to engage in issue-based campaigns, which would address the topmost challenges of insecurity, economy and restructuring, among others facing the country.

The statement, however, noted that the conduct of some politicians so far seemed to be derailing the rule of decency contrary to the guidelines provided by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, and National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, for political advertisement, instead of dwelling on important issues.

The statement read in part: ”Against the background of the commencement of presidential campaigns scheduled by INEC time-table to kick off on September 28, 2022, the Presidential candidates for the 2023 election should shun malignant campaigns of name-calling, bad-mouthing and calumny against their opponents.

”The Presidential candidates and their allies/campaign teams should make their campaigns issue-based as several challenges begging for attention abound in the country such as insecurity, non-performing economy, poor basic infrastructure and even the fundamental problem of restructuring rank uppermost among others.

”Observation so far made reveals that the conduct of some politicians appears to be derailing from the rule of decency as even prescribed by INEC, ARCON and the NBC considering the mudslinging, name-calling, open display of anger and denial of access to expose campaign adverts tend to be their preferred political actions”, it said.

It also called on Nigerians not to lose hope but to believe in the country for a greater and brighter future.

Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has denied reports of an alleged rift with his predecessor, Sen. Seriake Dickson.

Diri said this while also denying allegations that his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, is disloyal.

A statement issued by his aide, Dr. Kola Oredipe, on Tuesday reaffirmed that he has implicit confidence in Ewhrudjakpo.

He described him as a worthy partner in the governance of the state.

A group in the Bayelsa Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Bayelsa Progressive Vanguard (BPV), had on Sunday decried the activities of the deputy governor.

The group had alleged that Ewhrudjakpo was working against the governor’s interest.

It had accused Ewhrujakpor of hobnobbing and meeting with aggrieved members within the ruling party and opposition party candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The group called on the leadership of the PDP in the state and national level to probe the deputy governor.

According to the BPV, if unchecked, the deputy governor will constitute the greatest threat to the fortunes of the party in the 2023 elections.

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) in Bayelsa State said its operatives apprehended 644 illegal migrants in the state.

DAILY POST gathered that the exercise, led by Comptroller Sunday James, wrapped up a five-day special operation tagged “Saukan Shaho” in the state to achieve the result.

According to the NIS, the special operation Saukan Shaho meaning the ‘Eagle has landed‘, which was sanctioned by the Comptroller-General, Isah Jere Idris, and supported by the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, led to the arrest of 44 Nigeriens, 35 Togolese, 20 Beninese and 6 Ghanaians, and many others screened and awaiting their country of origin.

The NIS Comptroller of the Bayelsa Command, Sunday James, while briefing DAILY POST in his office in Yenagoa, declared that the operations followed the laid down acceptable ECOWAS protocol and United Nations rules of engagement and respect for human rights.

He said the operation, however, led to the proper documentation of illegal migrants and migrants in the state with 89 expired travel documents renewed by the arrested illegal migrants.

He also mentioned that the other illegal immigrants had been guaranteed by their home countries of quick documentation, adding that the database of the NIS is more robust from the operation.

He commended Governor Douye Diri for his support and understanding that the operation was in the national interest and not targeted at any individual or tribe. He also explained that the command had to meet with the leaders of the Hausa community in the state to explain the purpose of the operation and not targeted at Nigerians.

He said the command embarked on the operation between the 9th and the 19th of September, 2022, and raided major areas identified by the intelligence unit, including the Ariettalin, Swali, Onopa, Azikoro, Okaka, Bayelsa Palm, Ogbogoro, Obele, Otiotio, Famgbe and areas where we have the Bureau d’change.

He also expressed concern over the movement of other illegal migrants escaping to neighboring states of Delta, Rivers, and Edo State and called for similar operations in those states to fish out those that escaped being screened in Bayelsa.

An Ikeja High Court on Tuesday sentenced the deposed Baale of Shangisha in the Magodo area of Lagos, Mutiu Ogundare to a 15-year jail term.

The traditional ruler was charged with faking his kidnapping and breaching of peace.

Recall that the former Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on July 13, 2022, suspended the Baale over a kidnap incident.

After five years, Justice Hakeem Oshodi, on Tuesday, sentenced Ogundare, having convicted him of a two-count bordering on breach of peace in the state and fake kidnapping.

Also jailed for the same prison term was his brother, Opeyemi Mohammed.

The court, however, set his wife Abolanle, free, having earlier absolved her of the charges earlier leveled against her.

The Northern States Christian Elders Forum, on Tuesday, warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, against using wealth and resources to cause division among Christians.

DAILY POST recalls that a group of bishops, who claimed to be Northern Bishops said to be part of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), had met with Tinubu in Abuja a few days ago.

Chairman, Northern States Christian Elders Forum, while reacting to Bola Tinubu’s politics, warned the APC to stop using monetary incentives to recruit and cause divisions amongst the Christians, especially in the North.

According to him, apart from the failure of the desire of the architects of the single faith ticket to cause serious divisions in the forthcoming elections, APC has resorted to clandestine ways of causing division in the body of Christ by recruiting hitherto unknown bodies to counter decisions taken by the umbrella body, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and its various organs.

The group pointed out that in December 2021, Tinubu met with a group in Abuja, sold the Muslim-Muslim Ticket, and warned that every patriotic presidential aspirant should avoid the same faith ticket to avoid polarisation of the nation further along religious lines.

He said before the commencement of the primaries, the forum warned presidential aspirants against the one faith ticket in Nigeria, begging for unity, inclusiveness, fairness, and justice.

“Because there was a long term goal and a purpose to be accomplished, APC went ahead with the single faith venture, with the aim of riding on the wings of divisive religious politics to victory,” he said.

The group expressed dismay over the show of shame the ruling party is involved in, following desperate efforts to attract public goodwill and acceptance by engaging strange Christian groups for endorsement purposes.

“We all know as Christians, Muslims, and people of other faith that unity, fairness, justice, and inclusiveness will engender national progress, rather than the war of divisive religious, political game, intended through the instrumentation of same faith ticket,” the forum said.

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, Hon. Femi Bamisile has urged the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, introduce weighbridges across Nigeria.

The development became imperative following the continued destruction of Nigerian roads by heavy and articulated vehicles plying the roads with excess loads as against the recommended ones which the roads were originally designed for.

The federal lawmaker who represents Ekiti South Federal Constituency II made the remark while featuring on a radio programme on Fresh FM 106.9 in Ado Ekiti.

According to him, the deplorable condition of roads across Nigeria and especially Ekiti State, is unfortunate, appalling, and regrettable, hence the need for necessary actions to prevent further damage of roads across the country.

“Introduction of weighbridges will ensure strict adherence of truck and other articulated lorry drivers to all rules and regulations guiding loading procedure. The move is also to discourage such drivers from engaging in excess or overloading, which in turn affects the durability of the roads and vehicles.

“Weighbridge technique which must be backed with a good legislation will make erring Drivers or Defaulters to be liable to fine which will also serve as another source of revenue for the government to repair damaged roads,” he said.

The former Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, explained that, though many roads needed urgent attention in Nigeria, fund crunch or economic doldrums across the world has made it difficult for the government to respond.

He added that the government had struggled to meet its responsibilities due to a lack of funds occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic which affected the global economy.

Bamisile noted that his Committee has been up and doing in its over-sight functions, especially at ensuring all Nigerian roads are motorable, but the bureaucratic challenge at awarding contracts by the federal government has been hindering the work of the agency.

“For instance, to fix some bad portions on Ado-Aramoko-Ekiti- Efon Alaaye Roads requires over N2 billion, but the approving limit of the Managing Director of FERMA is about N250million. Therefore, to fix such road, a proposal must be submitted to the Federal Ministry of Works for presentation at the Federal Executive Council meeting for deliberation and subsequent approval.

“Though, there are contractors who also create hardship for Nigerians through sub-standard jobs, hence the need for thorough scrutiny of all intending contractors before the award of contracts,” he said.

A bill to whittle down the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor’s powers sponsored by Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar representing Kwara North Senatorial District has scaled second reading in the Senate on Tuesday in Abuja.

The lawmaker sought an amendment to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act No. 7 for the governor’s power to be divested of appointment of anyone into the services of the apex bank.

In the lead debate, the lawmaker proposed that the new Chairman of the Board of the Central Bank will have powers to determine the salaries and allowances of members, as the Governor focuses strictly on administrative duties in the running of the Apex Bank.

Senator Suleiman further argued that the board would be responsible for the annual budget of the bankers’ bank, which he said is the global standard.

“A bill for an Act to amend the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act No. 7 of 2007 to enable the appointment of a person other than the Governor as the Chairmen of the board, divest the Board of the powers of determining and fixing salaries and allowances of its members.

“And considering and approving the annual budget of the Bank; and for other related matters, 2022.”

Reacting in her contribution to the proposed bill, Senator Betty Apiafi from Rivers called for a holistic amendment of the CBN Act, saying that the CBN governor went out of his way to contest for the presidency while in office in the 2022 presidential primary election.

She maintained that this would not happen anywhere in the world, given that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) materials were expected to be kept in the bank.

She said the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, having attempted to contest the presidency, has made Nigerians lose confidence in the bank storing the INEC materials.

The submission of Senator Apiaf echoed Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe from Abia, who spoke earlier.

Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, however, cautioned Senators to focus on the proposed amendment rather than dabbling into the alleged attempt by the CBN governor to contest as that wasn’t part of the general principles of the bill.

The bill, after being put up to vote on whether to be withdrawn or passed into second reading, scaled through.


Nollywood actor, Godwin Maduagu has announced that he is gay, and he is now living his truth.

The actor who had denied the allegation when his s*x tape leaked last year made this known in a viral video.

He was spotted in a video having s*x with a man.

Maduagu had said he was having suicidal thoughts and battling with the effect of the scandal.

However, in a new video on his Instagram on Tuesday, the actor included the rainbow flag, which is a symbol of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

He revealed that his close friends set him up and blackmailed him with the s*x tape.

Maduagu said he would have committed suicide if not for the words of encouragement from “my family”.

He urged Nigerians to stop blackmailing their loved ones.

“After getting a better life for myself, my close friends set me up, blackmailed me, and leaked my s*x tape. I became depressed and almost committed suicide.

“My family saved me by giving me words of encouragement and advice that kept me going. Look at me now living my truth because I’ve now gotten a strong thick skin.

“Love is love. Say no to blackmail. What will people say have killed a lot of people,” he said.

The management of Benue State University, BSU Makurdi has directed the immediate reopening of the school.

DAILY POST reports that BSU and other government-owned universities were shut down on February 14 following an industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

Efforts by the Federal Government to resolve the lingering issues with the university lecturers had proved abortive as the union insisted that their demands must be met before ending the 8-month-old strike.

However, a statement on Tuesday signed by the BSU registrar, Mrs Mfaga Modom, directed all staff of the school to resume with immediate effect.

According to the statement, “On the directive of the Vice-Chancellor, I write to inform all staff, members of the university community and the general public that the university will reopen with effect from Wednesday 28, September 2022”.

“All staff of the university are expected to resume regular duties from Wednesday 28, September 2022.”

The statement said the resumption date for all categories of students would be announced in due course.

When contacted by DAILY POST, the ASUU Chairman, BSU chapter, Dr Kwaehfan Tarmombo confirmed the directive.

He, however, said though lecturers would resume as directed but will not teach until the National chapter of the union calls off the prolonged strike.

He said, “that is what we were told but we are still on strike. We have been called to resume office but we are not going to teach. We are still on strike until otherwise”.

A bill has been passed into law in the Senate on Tuesday to increase Justices of the Court of Appeal from 90 to 110.

The passage followed a report submitted to the Red Chamber by the Committee Chairman on Judiciary, Human Rights and legal Matters, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi.

The bill, which recommended the increase in the number of justices, was earlier sponsored by Senator Chukwuka Utazi, representing Enugu North Senatorial district.

Utazi explained that there was inadequate manpower in the Court of Appeal, a development he said, was affecting the expeditious adjudication of matters filed before the Court, adding that it was justice brought to the doorstep of litigants, if the number of Justices were increased.

“This is necessary in order to eliminate delay in the justice delivery systems, as it relates to the adjudicatory powers of the court

“This proposed amendment undoubtedly is targeted at increasing the workload of the court and enhancing its effective performance,” he said.

According to him, stakeholders were unanimous on the needed number of justices, saying that the amendment of the Court of Appeal Act in that direction would accelerate dispensation of justice.

“The one salient improvement of this bill is the aspect that seeks to integrate virtual court proceedings which have become an integral part of our court proceedings.

“This also is in line with the guideline, given to courts by the Chief Justice of the Federation, as justice will no longer be delayed,” he said.

After various contributions in favour of the bill, Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan through a voice vote passed the bill into law.

Major stakeholders in Abia State have evaluated the growth and development of Nigeria as its 62nd Anniversary of her independence.

The stakeholders drawn from the political and business circle, also expressed divergent opinions on most of the fundamental and core challenges facing the country, as well as some of the laudable and monumental strides recorded through the collective efforts of patriotic citizens of the country across all divides.

While assessing the journey of Nigeria, a country widely-known as the most populous African nation in the world map since after her independence from the British rulership, the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, reminded political actors that the preservation of the peace and security of the people of the State must remain the major focus and that no ambition of any politician is enough to warrant or justify chaos and disorder in Abia State.

The Governor’s statement was contained in a message on Sunday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka.

Ikpeazu expressed his confidence in the future of Nigeria and believed strongly that the 2023 elections will mark a major turning point in the affairs of the country in the march towards sustainable development.

The Abia Chief Executive also noted with gratitude that this would be the last independence anniversary of his administration and further expressed his deepest gratitude to the people of Abia State for their immense support in the past years.

The statement quoted him as saying, “Governor Ikpeazu is grateful to the Almighty God for his benevolence to our country and to our state, especially at trying moments that have bedeviled our nation and buffeted us from practically all sides”.

Ikpeazu charged the entire people of Abia State to pray for sustained peace in the State, especially as electorates get ready to commence full blown electioneering campaigns.

According to his message, “the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has sent a message of congratulations to the people of Abia State on the occasion of the 62nd Anniversary of the Independence of our country, Nigeria. Governor Ikpeazu congratulates Mr President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on our 62nd Anniversary celebrations”.

However, while stating his position on development of Nigeria after 62 years of her independence during an interview with DAILY POST on Sunday, an indigene of Abia, from Ohafia Local Government Area and chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Chief Ibe Okwara Osonwa, noted that Nigeria has made progress and overcame many challenges in the past 62 years.

“The hope is that we emulate our founding fathers who made meaningful sacrifices for the country to become what they hoped would be a leading nation in the continent and the world at large.

“The truth is that our country has not always lived up to our expectations, and sometimes, it is hard not to be overcome by despair about the fact of where we are, close to perils on the horizon. Nigeria will get better and proper; only when we are united.

“As we celebrate our 62nd birthday as a nation, we are celebrating our indomitable spirit, our collective determination to triumph against all the odds. And we all can see that the odds and challenges are many. Yet, here we are, still striving with determination and passion, to meet and exceed the lofty promises of our fatherland,” he said.

Ibe Okwara, who doubles as the House of Representatives candidate of the Labour Party for Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency seat in the forthcoming National Assembly elections in 2023 in Abia State, maintained that Nigeria can only prosper and become a great nation if the citizens co-exist peacefully with each other, irrespective of tribe or religion.

His words: “It is now up to us as Nigerians to work together to fulfill the dreams of peaceful coexistence and abundant prosperity.

“It is my prayer and sincere wish that God heals and restores the glory of our land.