PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

         STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE Federal government agencies in the Presidency have held consultations for the 2021 budget. The Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr Tijjani Umar, led the 2021 budget bilateral meeting between Government Agencies under the Presidency and officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning. The virtual meeting took place on Saturday, September 12, 2020, at the conference room of the State House administrative block. It was attended by Chief Executives and key budget, finance and accounts staff of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). According to the State House Permanent Secretary, "the prepar...

         Press Statement (13th Sept. 2020) The attention of the leadership of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has been drawn to yet another invitation extended to the former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr Obadiah Mailafia, to report to the Plateau State office of the Department of State Service (DSS) on Monday September 14, 2020 for yet another session of questioning. We are worried that this is the third time that the nation’s secret police is inviting Dr Obadiah to appear in its Jos office over a radio interview he granted. It is now undoubtably obvious that these series of summons are aimed at not only intimidating the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), but also throwing him into an abyss of frightening uncertainties in a bid to force him into silence. This is not the first time a prominent Nigerian would come up with what Dr Mailafia came up with in his radio interview. That the DSS ha...

         The family of an accident victim are asking for help in locating him after he was reportedly driven to the hospital by an unknown man who volunteered to help with his bus. Daniel Igwe was involved in a road accident on Sunday 6th September 2020 at about 7:00pm along Ajah, Lekki Expressway and no one has been able to locate him since then. According to eye witnesses, Daniel was knocked down by a lady who refused to stop. He was subsequently driven to a nearby hospital where he was given first aid treatment and adviced to go to the general hospital for full treatment. An unknown man agreed to convey Daniel in his bus and took him away. Nothing has been heard from the man who reportedly took him to the hospital. Neither has the family been able to locate Daniel after searching most of the general hospitals in Lagos. Igwe's family is soliciting for help in locating him. "Please if anyone has any information about his whereabouts, kindly contact us on any of...

         The Administration of Governor Bello Matawalle has called times without number to examine the role of bitter politicians in the complexity of escalating rates of banditry in the state. In spite of the unparalleled efforts of Governor Matawalle in bringing lasting peace to the state in the last one year, pockets of insurgency continued to persist. Upon Intelligence report, Governor Bello Mohammed once had a cause to  issue former Governor Abdulazeez Yari a stern warning against inciting upheavals whenever he visited home. For those who thought Governor Matawalle was being political with the issue, it has now become crystal clear that the hands of bitter politicians are at work in the zig-zag path to finding a lasting peace from the menace of banditry and other criminality which, before the coming of Matawalle, was a comfortable ally of the previous administration in the state.  If Matawalle was magnanimous enough not to cause the arrest of form...

         PRESS RELEASE Pres. Buhari Prevented Nigeria From Becoming Failed State - FG President Muhammadu Buhari's assumption of office in 2015 prevented Nigeria from becoming a failed state, after a long stretch of rapacious and rudderless leadership, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said. In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister said President Buhari came into office at a time that a swathe of the country's territory was under occupation, a period when many Nigerian towns and cities, including the capital city of Abuja, were a playground for insurgents and a moment that the nation's wealth had been looted dry, with little or nothing to show for the nation's huge earnings, especially in the area of infrastructure. He said it is therefore a cruel irony that those who frittered away a great opportunity to put Nigeria on a sound socio-economic footing, at a time of financial buoyancy, and those who planted the seed of...

        RE: Viral video of a man in Police “uniform” smoking shisha - Police Commence Investigations The Nigeria Police Force has commenced investigations into the viral video showing a man wearing what appears to be a Nigeria Police “uniform” smoking shisha. The investigation will amongst other things seek to forensically establish the authenticity of the video, the true identity of the man in the uniform - whether he is in fact a policeman, an impostor or an actor in a movie scene. However, while not being prejudicial to the ongoing investigations, it is necessary to state that the character exhibited by the man in the uniform is not a true reflection of who we are as a regimented law enforcement agency - our trainings, discipline, norms and tradition. Meanwhile, members of the public with useful information that can assist police investigations are enjoined to provide same via the following; pressforabuja@police.gov.ng, or DM on our social media platforms. DCP FRA...

         More chieftaincy crises are brewing in Anambra State, (its a matter of time) because of a government that takes delight in creating parallel traditional rulers in many communities. A state where one of the criteria for recognition as a traditional ruler is for the candidate to be a loyal party member of ruling party, or governor's sycophant. A government that issues Certificate of Recognition as a means of political patronage to individuals who lacks popular support of the communities they seek to rule. Recently, Twelve traditional rulers who supported Arthur Eze's agitation against the non-conduct of local government elections were arbitrarily hammered with one year suspension, with threat of outright removal. Others were bribed with brand new Jeeps for their seeming loyalty. More of such time bombs waiting to explode include, Awka, Aguleri, Alor, Ukwulu, Isulo and many others. This looming anarchy could be prevented now. A stitch in time, saves nine. ...

        The Lagos State Government has announced dates for the resumption of Public and Private Schools after the closure that resulted from the global COVID-19 pandemic a few months ago. According to a statement issued, today, by the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, the Ministry is adopting a phased approach to the reopening of public schools in Lagos State in order to enable them to meet COVID-19 physical distance rules and safety protocols. She explained that the present set of JS3 and SS2 students in public schools in the State are to resume classes from Monday, 21st of September, 2020, so as to allow JS3 students who are already in an exit-class to revise and prepare adequately for their forthcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) organised by the Lagos State Examination Board and scheduled to hold between Tuesday, 6th October and Monday, 12th October 2020. The Commissioner added that the resumption will also afford ...

          In his most recent statement former President Olusegun Obasanjo attempts to divide the nation while President Muhammadu Buhari continues to promote nation building and the unity of Nigeria. The difference is clear. From the lofty heights of Commander-in-Chief, General Obasanjo has descended to the lowly level of Divider-in-Chief (to adapt the coinage of Time). Before responding further to the unfair attacks on President Buhari and his administration by the former President, it is important that we categorically state that contrary to the assertions by a few analysts, the recent speech in which President Buhari advised West African Presidents against tenure elongation beyond constitutional limits has been consistent with his long held views on the need to adhere to the rule of law. Even though he tried it and failed, the recent uptick in the number of such leaders proposing to do, or actually carrying on in office beyond term limits is sufficient to cau...

         Press Release The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress ( APC)Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday, condoled Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, on the death of his 23-year old daughter,Sadiya. Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State said: " We are here to thank God for you . In everything, He has taught us to bring grateful and faithful. " Whatever He allows to happen to us, we must should thank Him . Bereavement is not easy , particularly of a daughter, but that is the way God wants it. " If we lament more than this we will be sinning, hence, we must accept it as an inevitable act of God. " God knows what to do and we should accept it faithfully. We have been asked to faithfully accept all what He ordains, in time of sorrow and happiness." Tinubu who prayed for longevity and happiness for Senator Wamakko and his family, also prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased. Responding, Senator Wamakko commended the APC National Leader ...

       A strong and influential member of a notorious terrorist and gang leader late Terwase Akwaza AKA Gana, who identified himself as ‘Major’ in the group has disclosed that the battle continues even as their leader is no more. He said that late Gana had a premonition that he was going to die and handed over all his powers to the next person to him in the gang before coming out to embrace the amnesty at the Akume Atongo stadium in Katsina-Ala. Major who gave his other name as Aondohemba spoke exclusively in Tiv language to our Correspondent in Keffi on Friday evening while he was heading to Abuja to console the wife of the late gang leader, whom they all regarded as their mother. “We warned him not to come out, we told him that the said amnesty was a ploy to get him, he agrees with us but said he has made up his mind to surrender and that he was tired of staying in the bush. “He told us that he was coming out from the bush to honour the Bishop of Gboko , Bishop Wil...

          By Ayaba Ashiat Folashade Adeyemi ( Mama Triplets). I grew up in Sabo area of Oyo. Many things have changed now because of exposure and development. It was quite interesting growing up in that environment. I attended Stephen Alayande College of Education. How did you meet him? I met him for the first time when I was on an excursion to the palace. During the excursion, I asked him so many questions. Probably that was where he took interest in me. I requested to have an interview with him to know more and develop the project I was working on. I was just 25 years old then. We became familiar and he later proposed marriage. What was the reaction of your parents to that? When I told my mum about it, she was a bit apprehensive. I quite understand why she was. I am from Isale Oyo, and the relationship between the Alaafin and the people of Isale Oyo was not very cordial then. On the other hand, my dad, an Isale Oyo man, was unperturbed. He said, ‘If your marr...