PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

         Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has pledged to keep speaking out on the invasion and ongoing killings in the state until the people of the state got justice. He spoke today when a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, South South Zone, led by Archbishop God-Dowell Oyibo Avwomakpa, visited him at the Peoples House in Makurdi. He said if those saddled with the responsibility of protecting life and property had  acted promptly on reports which he made about threats to invade the state the invasion and subsequent massacre could have been averted.Governor Ortom reiterated his call for the resignation or sack of the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, for his unprofessional conduct of taking sides with the invaders and lack of capacity to stop the killings.According to the Governor, the sacking of communities and killings had continued after the burial of the 73 victims adding that several security operatives had been killed and their rifles taken

            Senate President Bukola Saraki took to social media few minutes ago to write '' I join all Nigerians in condemning the killing of innocent and defenseless citizens in Birane village, Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State. ‬ ‪Such senseless acts have no place in our society. Our security agencies must do all that it takes to find and prosecute the perpetrators''.

         The attention of the National Social Investment Office (NSIO) has been drawn to misleading media reports alluding that “massive fraud has hampered the National Social Investment Programmes” of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The National Social Investment Office (NSIO) under the Office of the Vice President wishes to restate that the intervention programmes are recording significant successes across the States were we have deployed. It has become expedient to state that the reports remain a regrettable exaggeration of the attempt by the Special Advisor to the President on Social Investments, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, to update the media about the progress of the programmes, while reassuring the press that some of the challenges being recorded in a few States are being tackled effectively and transparently. It is pertinent to state that following the presentation made to the National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday, 15, February 2018, the Special Advisor addressed State

        Gentlemen of the press It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Idiroko Axis of Ogun Area Command at this propitious time when we have set the ball rolling in our quest to mitigate the menace of smuggling to the best of our ability. On the 7th February, 2018 between 0800-0900hours while on routine patrol along Ibeji River around – Idogo – Ifoyintedo axis of the Command, my Officers intercepted a Toyota Highlander (2014) suspected to have been smuggled into Nigeria. In the process, an Officer received a life threatening injury from smugglers on his arm and fingers, although he is responding to treatment. Full scale investigation is ongoing to ensure that such mindless, irresponsible and unpatriotic criminals are brought to book to face the full wrath of the law. However, Officers will continue to exercise their functions in line with the rules of engagement with caution, but will respond appropriately on armed smugglers and economic saboteurs in a life threatening encounter. 

       Dignitaries that graced the book launch written by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Kpotun-Idris, the book titled, "Security and Justice, The Pathway for peace and Reconciliation in Nigeria" at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. 15th February, 2018.More photos below.

      The Ogun State Government has advised prospective land buyers in the State to verify from the Ministry of Agriculture or Bureau of Lands & Survey, the authenticity of any land they are interested in purchasing before making payment to anyone. The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Adepeju Adebajo, who stated this in a statement, said the verification was imperative to prevent prospective land buyers from b eing swindled by land grabbers who would deceitfully sell government land at a cheaper rate to them. It added that the purchase of such land that falls under acquisition would not guarantee the buyer any legal right of ownership but results to waste of money or end up making multiple payments in form of punitive charges. The statement also warned land grabbers to stop their illegal act of selling government land to the unsuspecting members of the public, as any of them caught would face the Anti-Land Grabbing Law of Ogun State. In the meantime, all investors on go

         Taiye might have just showed some Igbo guys how to rock the IsiAgu traditional attire and own it. The groom stormed Nnokwa in Idemili South Local Government, Anambra to marry his bride Linda. The couple met online on MySpace and have been dating ever since. After the "Igbankwu nwanyi" in Anambra, the couple came all the way to Lagos and did their Yoruba traditional wedding at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos.More photos below.

       The Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, yesterday said no fewer than 220,000 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) are yet to be collected by the owners in the state. Orji made the disclosure during a visit to Obi of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Achebe, lamenting that the level of voter apathy had dropped significantly following the modifications of the services being rendered by the commission. He explained that the commission had succeeded in restoring the confidence of the electorate which was evident in the massive turnout of voters in the November 18 governorship election adjudged by many to be free, fair and credible. He said the visit to the monarch was to solicit his support, especially in the area of sensitising his people on the need for the eligible voters to get registered and obtain their permanent voters cards. According to Orji, the commission has, in addition to the registrat

       The Kwara State Government has denied claims by a group that workers in the State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are paid in cash. The State government said that all categories of workers in the State are paid through electronic means, via their individual bank accounts. The statement said with reference to the State Ministry of Justice and other MDAs, only travelling allowances and other petty transactions are cash-based while all other payments are done electronically. It also noted that the State government has embraced e-payment, which is in line with the Federal Government's cashless policy. The statement maintained that this has eliminated manual processes in payroll computation, reducing fraud improving efficiency and maximizing utilization of existing work force. It added the electronic system has also eliminated ghost workers and illegal recruitment of workers, thereby reducing personnel cost.

            PHOTOS: As part of its ongoing Operation DEEP PUNCH II, the Nigerian Army is consolidating its hold on Sambisa Forest, by building roads and other facilities. It has just constructed a borehole in Sabil Huda in the Forest, for the use of troops and adjoining communities.More photos below.