The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has emerged as the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September gubernatorial election in Edo State. He was announced after ratification by party delegates following the withdrawal of his main rival, Kenneth Imasuagbon. With this development, Mr Obaseki will face his main rival, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the main election. SOURCE: The Nation Newspaper 

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has prepared a proposal, which includes guidelines that would ensure safe and efficient conduct of its operations. The 2020 Batch ‘A’ Stream One OrientationCourse was suspended after a week, as part of the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria. However, NYSC is looking to reopen camps across the country and has made necessary consultations, in a bid to achieveng . This was contained in a statement on Tuesday, issued by the NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, Adenike Adeyemi. According to Adeyemi, the Director-General of NYSC, Brig. General Shuaibu Ibrahim, made the comments when the DG of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja. “Conscious of the possibility of the further or complete lifting of lockdown, the strategies mapped out by the NYSC management had taken care of various scenarios, and would be presented to the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 ...

The Kingmakers in Epe-Ekiti community in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State have elected a 31 year-old PRINCE AYODEJI WILLIAMS ADESOYE, as the new  Elepe of Epe-Ekiti. One of the kingmakers, Chief Olajide Dada, the Ejemoye of Epe-Ekiti, confirmed the choice of Adesoye as the oba-elect to Journalists on tuesday in Epe-Ekiti. Dada said that Adesoye emerged as the Oba-Elect at a traditional rite on Monday evening under the supervision of Chief Araba Awo of Ijero Kingdom. The Oba-Elect, who hails from AROWOSAPO RULING HOUSE, emerged winner amongst the five other contestants. Adesoye is the 15th to fill the vacant stool in the community, following the demise of OBA EMMANUEL AGBELEOBA, who joined his ancestors on NOV. 30, 2018. Journalists report that Adesoye was born on Sept. 27, 1988. He attended the then University of Ado-Ekiti and University of Ibadan, for his first and Masters Degrees in Philosophy. He was a lecturer at the Osun State College of Education, I...

The Federal Government has declared that schools in Nigeria will remain shut. The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 made the announcement on Monday. The government says it is better to remain cautious as far as schools are concerned. The PTF explained that the decision followed expert advisory. Also, the PTF has asked the Aviation industry to develop protocols for the resumption of domestic flights. The possible date of resumption is June 21. Furthermore, all interstate movements remain prohibited, but the haulage of goods and essential travels are permitted. SOURCE: DAILY POST

ABUJA, Nigeria  - The Nigerian Government has finally lifted the ban on religious gathering across the country. The ban on religious gatherings had lasted for two months, a move taken to check the spread of Coronavirus. However, at the briefing of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19 on Monday, Chairman of the task force, Boss Mustapha, announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the relaxation of the ban for four weeks. “The PTF submitted its recommendations and the President has approved the following for implementation over the next four weeks spanning 2nd – 29th June 2020, subject to review. “Cautious advance into the Second Phase of the national response to COVID-19; application of science and data to guide the targeting of areas of on-going high transmission of COVID-19 in the country; “Mobilisation of all resources at State and Local Government levels to create public awareness on COVID 19 and improve compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions withi...

Pastor Enoch Adeboye  of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, on Sunday, predicted what will happen in churches next year as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown. Adeboye, who is the General Overseer Worldwide of RCCG, said pastors should be ready for naming ceremonies in the next nine months due to the lockdown. He said pastors would be going from house to house to name new born babies. Papa G.O. as he is popularly referred to, made the remark while speaking on the topic: “Things you must do during lockdown.” He also urged people to pray, read the bible, meditate and position themselves to receive instruction from God during the lockdown. According to Adeboye: “A lot of great things are going to come out of this lockdown. “Let me advise those of you who are pastors, you are resting now, I am busy. “Get ready because early next year, you’ll be having a lot of naming ceremonies. “You will be going from house to house naming newborn babies as a result of the lockdown. “God speaks...

By: ESAN FEMI WILLIAMS  "A child at the age of seven had been sexually abused countless times a week by a street uncle. Because of her street uncle's threats of further mishandling, the child was curbed from revealing the wrongful conducts to others. Her parents became aware of the unlawful, sexual acts against their daughter only after the child attempted suicide. By that time, it was too late. The street uncle circumvented prosecution because the statute of limitations had expired, hence barring the commencement of the criminal proceedings." Of what essence are laws being made without adherence, application, and judicial amendments when the need arises? Child abuse is described as any act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, and sexual abuse or exploitation. The scenarios highlighted above, are repeated occurrences in our society today. Child abuse in Nigeria and the world at larg...

RIVERS, Nigeria  - Businesses in Rivers State can now open passively as Governor Nyesom Wike has cancelled the planned total lockdown on Obio-Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government areas of the state. Governor Wike in a broadcast said the decision was reached by the Security Council after far-reaching review of the COVID-19 situation in the state. Though, no direct pronouncements were made about the re-opening of businesses, the Governor in his address directed that measures put in place against COVID-19 in the state be exercised by, “shops, hotels, restaurants, churches, banks, business places and shopping malls,” which were hitherto barred from opening. The Governor also said all borders remain closed just as he announced compulsory use of facemasks. Governor Nyesom Wike, however, warned that the COVID-19 Task Force and security agencies have been directed to arrest and prosecute defaulters of the new measures introduced by the Rivers State Government. “The pattern of infection...

ANAMBRA, Nigeria  - A 12 years old boy has reportedly escaped from the home of a family into which he was trafficked by unknown persons. The Anambra State Police spokesperson, SP Haruna Mohammed who disclosed this on Tuesday said the boy was trafficked to Anambra from Benue State, but escaped from the home where he was taken, and later brought to the police by a good Nigerian. Haruna said, “On 22/5/2020 one Gabriel Tehrile ‘m’ aged about 12 years from Egbeji Zakibiam in Benue State was brought to Nnobi Police Station, Idemili South LGA by a good samaritan. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the child was brought from Benue State to Anambra by his traffickers last week but the boy ran away from the supposed guardian and all efforts to contact his relations have proved difficult.” Haruna solicited the help of the media for the publication of the picture of the boy to help his parents or guardian locate him and take him back home. He said, “In view of the foregoing, you are kind...

The Federal Government of Nigeria has described as ’embarrassing to government’ the leaking of  official state documents by public officers, threatening to dismiss anyone found culpable of the misconduct. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, (HOS) Dr. Folasade Yemi–Esan, gave the warning in a circular dated May 22nd, but made public Monday by the Director of Information, Olawunmi Ogunmosunle, in a statement. Dr. Yemi–Esan, noted in the circular that the federal government is being embarrassed by leaks of its official documents, adding that perpetrators will be sacked from the service. The internal circular was addressed to the Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice President, Ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Permanent Secretaries, and Service Chiefs/Inspector-General of Police, among other officials. It stated: ‘The attention of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation has been drawn to the recent unfortunate ...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that it will pilot the use of Electronic Voting Machines at the earliest possible time and work towards its full introduction in major elections starting from 2021 due to the challenges Coronavirus pandemic has posed on the conduct of elections in Nigeria. Although the commission specifically emphasised in the ‘Policy on conducting elections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic’ released on Monday, however, it looks obvious it would deploy full-scale use of e-voting during Anambra state governorship election, which is one of the major election coming up next year. Worried by the rising cost of conducting frequent bye-elections, especially in consideration of the Supreme Court position that votes belong primarily to political parties, the Commission promised to engage with the legislature and other stakeholders to explore ways of responding to it. In the policy signed by the electoral umpire chairman, Prof ...

ABUJA, Nigeria  - The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has confirmed that the 2019 Batch B Stream 1 Corps members will pass out on May 28. This was contained in a statement signed by NYSC’s spokesperson, Adenike Adeyemi, on Monday. It noted that there will be no ceremonial parades due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Certificates of National Service will be issued to qualified Corps members at the Local Government level. “A full complement of NYSC Officers have been mobilised for the distribution and shall do so from ten service points in each of the Local Government Councils. “As a precautionary measure, the distribution shall be staged for ten days in the first phase, to remove anxiety from the concerned corps members, in addition to making the activity seamless and less cumbersome,” the statement read in part. #OGENEAFRICAN NG

LAGOS, Nigeria  – The residents of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State have cried out to the government to come to their aid as floods submerge their community. Following the heavy downpour on Eid-el-Fitr day, Sunday, May 24, 2020, a majority of the residents were forced out of their houses as the flood took over the streets and their apartments. At Oju-Elegba Road, Dalemo Alakuko, the residents complained that the road which was recently constructed by the Lagos State Government was not properly done, causing a heavy flood. Some of the residents who spoke complained that the dual drainages on both sides of the road were not well constructed, while the canal supposedly built to channel water out of the community was poorly done by the contractor who handled the project. The road construction project was started by the former Lagos State Governor, Akinwumi Ambode but was completed by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration. A resident whose apartment was sub...

                 (CAPTION: EDO STATE APC DEPUTY                       CHAIRMAN, SHAIBU) A fresh crisis is brewing in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the party’s governorship primaries in Ondo and Edo states. Deputy National Chairman of the party (North) Sen. Lawal Shuaibu, Wednesday through a statement accused his National Chairman Adams Oshiomohle of the absence of transparency in the build-up to the two primary elections in Indians Edo state respectively. “With regards to Ondo and Edo primary elections, there is already an absence of transparency. The regulations issued that will guide the processes are already in violation of Article 20 (v) on page 76 of the APC constitution as amended where only the National Executive Committee is the only organ that SHALL approve such guidelines and regulations which includes the mode of nominating our candidat...

By: Esan Femi Williams  It was indeed a scene I never wished to miss. Chief Cosmos is a widower and a retired pharmacist, who has a pharmaceutical shop at the front of his house. He is also one of the oldest landlords in Williams street, with an old stricken building, but with the highest rent. However, he has the best well-water in the whole street, which serves a larger number of the street dwellers. Chief Cosmos is so rich but will never spend a dime to manage and maintain his house. The same attitude he had towards his children and deceased wife is the same attitude he has towards anything that pertains to spending money. Chief isn't poor at all. Even his monthly pension allowance as a retired senior pharmacist is enough to cater for him and his entire tenants, if possible. He'd rather spend on roadside chicks and his so called Baby Mamas. His two children, having survived under harsh situations and sordid realities had traveled abroad, forgetting him in Nigeria...