Tag: latest naija gists today

 

Joe Biden, the United States President, has ended his reelection bid, withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race.

The President announced Sunday that he is dropping out of his reelection battle with Donald Trump, in a historic move that plunges the already turbulent 2024 White House race into uncharted territory.

“While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden said in a letter posted on X.

pic.twitter.com/RMIRvlSOYw

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024

Details later…

 

A former presidential aide and writer, Reno Omokri, has tackled Dele Momodu, the Nigerian celebrity journalist and social commentator, following his advice to President Bola Tinubu on the economy.

Momodu, in an open letter to President Tinubu on Thursday, had urged the president to be frugal with the “scarce resources,” noting that Nigeria’s “economy has collapsed”.

“Nigeria is in big trouble. Our economy has virtually collapsed. And what’s the way out? You’ve been wasting too much money at a time that requires absolute frugality,” he said.

The letter read in part: “Please stop this reckless propensity for wasting scarce resources. Purchasing presidential jets, building outlandish monuments, distributing cash as palliatives, etc. are signs of a failed and careless government.

“If you can curb the excessive spending of your government, you will free up a lot of resources for serious development.

“Invest in vocational skills for our highly talented youths who can demonstrate their capacity for hard work.

“Invest heavily in local agriculture. Upgrade our institutions of learning. Giving cash to politicians to distribute is unhealthy and unhelpful… It is the height of cluelessness.”

Reacting, Omokri took to his X handle to attack Momodu in Tinubu’s defence.

The former presidential aide in a post titled, ‘Response To My Beloved Senior, Dele Momodu: Nigeria’s Economy Is Not Collapsing. Far From It!’, said: “I read your open letter to President Bola Tinubu, in which you said, ‘Our economy has virtually collapsed’, among other things.

“Respectfully, the facts do not support your assertions, and in your open letter, you did not provide any facts. Only opinions. So, please let me present some facts that contradict your opinions.

“Firstly, only yesterday, the International Monetary Fund projected that due to the reforms being undertaken by the current administration, Nigeria will have a 3.1% GDP growth rate in 2024.

“This is one of the best projections for an African country in 2024, and does not signal an economy that has ‘virtually collapsed.’

“Secondly, Nigeria had a record high of ₦6.52 trillion trade surplus in the first quarter of 2024. This has never happened before.”

Displeased with the attack, Momodu also took to X to criticize Omokri’s defense of Tinubu’s policies, emphasizing the difference between economic theories and real-life economic conditions.

While warning Omokri against blind support, he urged him to say the honest truth to prevent Nigeria’s worsening crisis.

In the rejoinder titled “Re: Urgent Message For President Tinubu,” Momodu schooled Omokri on the differences between economic and economy.

In response, Omokri tackled Momodu, alleging that his magazine had published over 50 articles praising Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state.

He wrote: “My egbon Dele Momodu has written over fifty publications praising Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun. And I do not begrudge him that. But is he saying the situation in Osun is better than the situation at the centre?”

Reacting, the celebrity journalist said: “RENO. I challenge you to quote the 50 times I praised GOVERNOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE. You’re desperately looking for justification for your TINUBU project. Awaiting your list MR TABLESHAKER…”

Not happy with the response, Omokri fired back, saying “Haba, egbon! Please go through your Instagram posts. Your social media is virtually a shrine to Governor Adeleke. It is beneath you to deny it. This is a notorious fact! Please, egbon, I make this an open challenge.

“If you have not used your social media profiles to praise Governor Adeleke at least fifty times, then take me to court! I will meet you there with documents. I am nothing if not a meticulous record keeper!”

Momodu then asked if Omokri was too lazy “to see quotation marks on my posts of press releases like I do with others.”

“I challenge you to post the 50 praises or keep quiet…,” he wrote.

Omokri replied saying: “Thank you for your feedback, sir. It is not that I am too lazy. How can anybody look at me and accuse me of laziness? I am slim, fit and very active in the boardroom, bedroom and newsroom. When you see a lazy person, you can tell by their body.”

He also posted a video himself at the gym doing pushups.

“Anyone accusing me of laziness should do this,” he captioned the video.

 

Charles Oputa, the maverick entertainer, who is popularly known as Charly Boy, has again taken a swipe at Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Laureate Prof for keeping mum amid the hardship ravaging Nigerians.

In a video clip posted on his verified X microblogging handle, Charly Boy recalled how Soyinka led a mass protest against former president Goodluck Jonathan during his tenure.

He recalled that Soyinka led the protest when Jonathan removed fuel subsidies “and petrol prices increased from N87 to N120.”

He wondered why Soyinka chose to remain mute amid the untoward hardship currently bedeviling Nigerians, accusing the Nobel Laureate of being a “tribalistic bigot.”

He said, “There was a time when Uncle Wole Soyinka cared deeply about Nigeria and Nigerians. He criticized leaders and personalities who seemed anti-Nigerian.

“As a social engineer myself, he was one of my heroes and I saw him as a mentor. But today, I look at him as a tribalistic bigot and I have lost all respect I once had for him.

“I remember back in the days, Uncle Wole paid the price for his radical activism, imprisonment and even exile at the hands of military dictators.

“Recently, I’m not sure where his loyalty lies because he has remained mute about this government.

“Uncle, was this recent renaming of the national theatre a reward for your muteness? I remember Wole led a protest when Jonathan removed the subsidy, and petrol prices increased from N87 to N120.

“He called President Jonathan a terrorist and his wife a ‘hippopotamus,’ saying that Jonathan almost damaged the economy beyond repair. That was when $1 was N190.

“Last December, Wole called Peter Obi unfit to lead this country and recently said that Obi must not run in 2027, a person who is not even in power.

“He maintained that he would not criticize Tinubu until a year after. It is now a year and a few months, but he remains mute.”

— Charly Boy Area Fada 1 (@AreaFada1) July 20, 2024

 

Olayemi Cardoso, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has revealed that the country’s external reserve increased to $36.89 billion as of July 16 2024 amid the banks’ policy interventions.

Cardoso disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during an engagement with the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions.

He noted that the CBN’s monetary policies and actions have stimulated growth and stability in Nigeria’s economy.

Cardoso added that the Naira is on a successful price discovery against the dollar and other FX as the gap between the official and Black market shrinks.

He said, “The spread between official and BDC rates has narrowed significantly from N162.62 in January to N47.22 in June indicating successful price discovery, increased market efficiency and reduced arbitrage opportunities.

“The stock of external reserves increased to 36.89 billion dollars as of July 16, compared with 33.22 billion dollars as at end-Dec 2023, driven largely by receipts from crude oil-related taxes and third-party receipts. In the first quarter of 2024, we maintained a current account surplus and saw improvements in our trade balance.”

Meanwhile, Daily Post reports that Nigeria’s external reserve stood at $35.9 billion as of Thursday, 18, July 2024, CBN’s data showed.

The development comes as CBN resumed the Naira defense through the supply of FX to authorized dealers amid a demand spike.

 

One of the masterminds behind the kidnap of the mother of ace political singer, Dauda Kahutu Rarara, has been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kano.

Daily Trust gathered that the operatives also killed one suspect in a covert operation.

According to a highly placed source in the Command, N26.5 million was also recovered in the process.

The source said, the Kano command’s tactical team based on reliable intelligence busted a gang of five bandits in Makarfi bushes where they were sharing the ransom.

“One Hamisu Tukur, is currently in custody with gun shot injuries, while Bature was killed,” the source said.

Daily Trust reported that the armed men had broken into the residence of Rara’s mother, Hajiya Hauwa’u Adamu, in Kahutu and abducted her about three weeks ago.

She however regained freedom after spending 20 days in captivity.

On Friday, July 19, some gunmen, ambushed and murdered the Gara of Chanchanji, HRH Tanimu Kunbiya, and his son, Yusuf, along the Takum-Chanchanji road in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.

PUNCH Online reports that the sad incident happened when the traditional ruler and his son were returning from a funeral event in Takum.

Governor Agbu Kefas, who confirmed the incident, has since directed law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly.

In a press statement issued by his media aide, Emmanuel Bello, the governor expressed his condolences to the bereaved family, the Chanchanji community, and the entire people of Takum.

“The death of the Gara of Chanchaji, HRH Alhaji Tanimu Kumbiya, and his son is a tragic loss. The manner in which they were brutally attacked is deeply saddening.

“I have ordered security agents to immediately investigate the circumstances and apprehend those responsible for this heinous crime.”

The governor urged the residents of Takum to remain calm, assuring them that the state government would leave no stone unturned in its efforts to bring the criminals to justice.

Also reacting to the sad development, the President General of Tiv Cultural and Social Association, Taraba State, Chief James Baka, in a statement, condemned the killing and called on the government and security agencies to diligently investigate the murder and bring the perpetrators to justice.

While expressing shock over the murder, the President said, “As a people, we are deeply saddened and concerned by this event. We urge everyone to remain calm and allow the security agencies to carry out their responsibilities effectively.

“We unequivocally condemn any act of criminality and will never associate with criminal elements. We appeal to His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas, the Governor of Taraba state, to deploy security forces to calm the rising tensions in the area.

The Tiv people of Takum have long coexisted peacefully with the Chamba and Jukun communities in the area. Never before have we witnessed such a grievous incident. We are committed to maintaining this harmonious relationship and stand united against any acts of violence that threaten our collective peace,” the statement reads.

A group, Arewa Indigenous Obidients Forum has backed Peter Obi to be Nigeria’s next President in 2027.

This is as the group lamented over hardship and suffering in the country.

Addressing newsmen in Kano, Coordinator of the Forum, Engineer Alkassim Awwal said they have set a clear vision to secure the presidential bid of Peter Obi in the 2027 election.

The Forum said while they mourn as Nigerians are plunged into unprecedented hunger, poverty and uncertainty, they share the guilt of other citizens in contributing to where the country was led to.

“We listened as Peter Obi literally begged Nigerians to listen to his vision, yet we dismissed it as one of many political talks that we have heard in the past.

“We now read the clear handwriting on the wall. We recalled the ethos of truth and sincere pledges to revive Nigeria’s economy and revamp our innate patriotism,” the coordinator said .

He noted that while Nigerians lost their steps, deepening poverty and biting lack is ravaging communities across the country.

“But o people in government, ceremonies and purchase of new air planes still holds sway, painfully,” he noted.

Ahead of 2027 election, the Forum said it will mobilize support from across the North and beyond for the aspiration of Peter Obi whom it described as a seasoned politician with proven record of service and vision to lead the country.

Awwal said the emphasis is on unity, cooperation and collective action in support of the Forum’s candidate, whom he said embodies values of integrity, competence and inclusivity.

The forum also extended felicitations to the former Anambra State governor as he marks his 63rd birthday.

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Some teenage girls trafficked from the eastern part of the country to Delta for pr0stitution, have been rescued by the Delta State Police Command during a raid at a hotel in Ughelli.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, July 18, 2024, said preliminary investigation revealed that one Chinyere lures the teenage girls from their parents with the promise to engage them as sales girls in Delta State.
 
 According to the PPRO, police arrested some suspects including a 36-year-old woman identified as Chioma Edafe, who runs the hotel.
 
“On 15/7/2024, acting on credible information received by the Command on the activities of one Chinyere (surname unknown) who specializes in trafficking women from the East and brings them to Ughelli Delta State for pr0stitution,” the statement read.
 
“Intelligence further revealed that she lures them by telling them that they are coming to Delta State to work as a sales girl in a restaurant.
 
“The Commissioner of Police Delta State CP Abaniwonda Olufemi who has zero tolerance for human/child trafficking detailed the DPO Ekpan CSP Aliyu Shaba to immediately work on the gathered intelligence and ensure that the hotel is located and the suspect arrested
 
“Consequently, on 15/07/2024 at about 1900hrs, one of the victims (name withheld) was located and she revealed the illegal activities of the said suspect Chinyere ‘f’ surname unknown currently at large.
 
“She further stated that the suspect deceived her parents to follow her down to Delta State from Abia State to be a sales girl in a bar with a salary of #30,000 monthly, however on 12/07/2024, she and two other young girls followed the suspect down to a town she later understood to be Ughelli but on getting to their final destination, they saw other teenagers. They were n3ked and were informed that it was pr0stitution they were brought for which they declined and as a result, they were immediately thrown out of the hotel
 
“Based on the information, a combined team of Surveillance stormed the hotel ‘Big Dafe Hotel’ by Ughelli/Patani Road, and arrested one Chioma Edafe ‘f’ 36yrs of Umuogbezea Community in Imo State who runs the hotel and Thirty-Five others among which Twenty-Three are all teenagers
 
“Serious manhunt for the main suspect, Chinyere is ongoing.
 
“In cases of distress, members of the public can reach the command either by reporting to the DPO in their area or call any of the following control room numbers; 08036684974, 08114895600, 08025666914.”

A 30-year-old South African man, Mxolisi Mvula who was found guilty of the murder of his 21-year-old girlfriend, Ntombikayise Phindile Nkhize, has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson, KZN Division, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, in a statement on Thursday, July 18, 2024, said Mvula killed Nkhize by repeatedly bashing her head into a brick wall.
 
“The Ntuzuma Regional Court sentenced Mxolisi Mvula (30) to a term of life imprisonment for the murder of his partner in December 2022 in the Lindelani area of Ntuzuma,” the statement read.
 
“Mvula was in a domestic relationship with the deceased and on the day of the incident they argued the presence of their mutual friend. He then asked the deceased to go outside with him where he assaulted her several times by bashing her head into a brick wall. When she fell to the ground, he continued to assault her until she lost consciousness and subsequently died
 
“Their friend witnessed the entire incident, but Mvula threatened to assault her as well, should she intervene. Mvula then fled the scene and was later arrested in the Bergville area
 
“In court, Prosecutor Kaystree Ramsamujh handed in a Victim Impact Statement (VIS) compiled by the deceased’s mother and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Princess Mlangeni.”
 
In her statement, the woman said, “The passing of my daughter was horrific, it is something I will never forget. It broke me and no one will ever take her place in my heart. The accused and the deceased never had a healthy relationship. It was toxic. They were always fighting.”
 
Mvula was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and by operation of the law, he was automatically declared unfit to possess a firearm.
 
Natasha Ramkisson-Kara added: “The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes this successful prosecution. We commend the effective working relationship between the police and the prosecution.
 
“The people of this country are crying out for individuals like the accused to be arrested and successfully prosecuted. The National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 calls for safer communities and this successful prosecution is a response to such a call.”
 

The assembly passed a resolution on Thursday, July 18, 2024, urging the Attorney-General of the federation and the Director-General, National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) to immediately investigate the corps member’s disappearance.

The assembly’s resolution followed a motion by Mr Okon Owuna, the Member Representing Akamkpa 1 constituency in the house.

Owuna told the house that Ojong, an indigene of Akamkpa Local Government Area, who was serving in Awka, Anambra, had not been seen since February 18, 2024.

“She attended the College of Health Technology, Calabar, and was posted to Anambra for the mandatory national youth service scheme,” he said.

He said that Ojong with NYSC Number: AN/2023/4309, a Batch A, Stream 2 2023 Corp Member, was supposed to have completed her service in March

“She was last seen on Feb. 18 on her way to her place of primary assignment in Awka.

“Her disappearance has thrown her family into confusion, trauma and grief, the NYSC authority has failed to take steps to trace her whereabouts”, he added.

Other lawmakers who spoke during debate on the matter, described the corps member’s disappearance as worrisome, and called for immediate investigation.

This happened just one day after the impeached deputy governor of Edo State was reinstated.

After his impeachment was voided by a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, July 17, Shaibu returned to Edo from Abuja on Thursday.

He was in company of  the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo, Sen. Monday Okpebholo and others.

They had just arrived the city from Abuja aboard a chartered flight when they were attacked on Airport Road.

The gunmen, in a vehicle at the exit gate of the airport, were said to have opened fire on the convoy, and the armed security details attached to the APC candidate and Shaibu returned fire.

Okpebholo was said to be hospitalized in an undisclosed hospital in Benin City though his current state is not known.

The incident forced shops and offices to hurriedly shot down, while majority of motorists abandoned their vehicles and scampered to safety.

A statement by Mr Godswill Inegbe, an aide to Okpebholo, said his principal was attacked by the gunmen.

“During the unprovoked attack, three mobile policemen attached to the security detail of Sen. Okpebholo were injured with bullet wounds, while one of the policemen has been feared dead,” Inegbe said.

According to him, Okpebholo is at this moment admitted in an undisclosed hospital in Benin for medical attention with other members of the entourage.

Watch videos from the sceneof the attack below;

Gov Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has debunked reports that he proposed to pay a minimum wage of ₦80,000 to workers in the state and local government areas.

The clarification comes in response to widespread online reports claiming that the governor had promised to implement the said wage increase.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fubara, Nelson Chukwudi, described the circulating reports as unverified and baseless.

He urged the public to disregard the misinformation and rely on verified communications from the Governor’s Office.

The statement read, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to claims circulating in an online media that the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has proposed to pay a new minimum wage of ₦80,000 for civil servants in the state and local government areas.

“Ordinarily, we would not have responded to this fake news, but for the wrong impression it would create in the minds of the public, especially civil servants in the state.

“Therefore, it is important to state that the unverified claims being circulated by Newsweekng.com, and titled: ‘Breaking News: Governor Fubara Proposes ₦80,000 minimum wage’ are totally false and misleading.

“The general public, and particularly civil servants in the state, are advised to discountenance the false claims in the online media platform. The Rivers State Government will make its position on the issue known in due course.”

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho has been urged to give President Bola Tinubu more time.

The Yoruba Council of Elders was reacting after he gave eviction notice to Fulani herdsmen in the Southwest.

YCE’s Secretary General, Chief Oladipo Oyewole, in a chat with Vanguard, said: “The YCE is fully aware of the active position of Sunday Igboho on his call for emancipation and liberation of the entire Southwest from the claws of Fulani jihadists and Fulani hegemony.

“But the Constitution of Nigeria protects the interests of all Nigerians in the land. Be that as it is, the YCE would want to give Tinubu’s administration a chance to normalise this national issue of the recently established Ministry of Livestock Development and the powers vested in the Ministry as pronounced by the Presidency.

“We feel that Igboho and indeed all self-determination groups and agitators should wait to see its effectiveness before executing forceful eviction and ejection of Fulanis from Yoruba soil.

“Therefore we, as children of Oduduwa, must be wary of not losing our integrity of acting with the common sense upon which we base our actions.

“Bola Tinubu is the President of the Federal Republic. YCE will not want to do anything to breed trouble for his administration without seeing a grave cause.”

“Sunday Igboho means well but he must wait to see the implementation of the new directive.

“As for the security of lives and property, let the Governors, who are the security officers, beef up their security apparatus to ensure safety. It is indeed their responsibility to do so,” the YCE scribe noted.

See Video Below;

@asa_hairs

💔😭How i lost my identical triplets 💔😭 the pain is too much💔😭

♬ original sound – Mirabel

Some netizens took to the comment section to condole with her and give her words of encouragement.