PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

…Isolation Centres Filling Up Again, Says Governor …In-Bound Travellers Defaulting Isolation Protocols Risk Prosecution, Imprisonment Lagos State Government has raised the alarm of a possible third wave of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, following a sharp increase in the number of positive cases recorded in the last few weeks. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, imposed restrictions and sanctions after disclosing that the State’s daily cases of COVID-19 confirmation had shot up to 6.6 per cent over a period of one week. The development may not be unconnected to the careless attitude of air passengers from countries in the “high risk” zones and the complacency by the residents to follow the protective protocols issued by the Government after the end of the second wave. Sanwo-Olu disclosed that 18 percent of 50,322 air passengers of interest, who arrived in Lagos via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), could not be reached for COVID-19 status monitoring by EKOTELEMED

KDSG declares 12th July work-free day for late Bantex The Kaduna State Government has formally announced the death of former Deputy Governor His Excellency, Barnabas Yusuf Bala (Bantex). The state government has declared Monday, 12th July 2021 as a work-free day in honour of his memory and service to the state.   Architect Barnabas Bala, who served as Deputy Governor of Kaduna State from May 2015 to May 2019, died today in Abuja.   Malam Nasir El-Rufai has sent a personal message of condolence to the family, noting that it was a blessing to know Bantex and to work with him. The governor acknowledged his commitment to the progress of Kaduna State and prayed God to grant him peaceful repose and to comfort his family.   Signed   Muyiwa Adekeye Special Adviser to the Governor (Media & Communication) 11th July 2021. One more photo below.

President Muhammadu Buhari joins the government and people of Kaduna State to mourn the passing of Architect Barnabas Yusuf Bala (Bantex), a former Deputy Governor of the State during the first tenure of Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai. President Buhari believes that Architect Bantex, a true gentleman and consummate professional, will be fondly remembered for his many years of distinguished service in his home State, his patriotism to the nation as well as forthrightness in politics.   The President also affirms that the former Deputy Governor, who served as chairman of Kaura Local Government Council and member representing Kaura Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was a potent voice on peace, stability and progress at the State and National level.   The President extends his deepest condolences to the family of Bala, his friends, associates and many followers, who benefited immensely from his responsible stewardship as a public servant and political office holder.   Pr

 Press Statement July 11, 2021 Zamfara: PDP Cautions Police Over Gusau…Warns Banks, Others Over Dealings with Matawalle.  The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the reported attempt by the police to undermine the statutory powers of the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, given the decision of Governor Bello Matawalle to vacate his office by decamping to the All Progressives Congress (APC). PDP’s position is predicated on the reported harassment of the Deputy Governor by the police, including an unlawful and vexatious obstruction of a planned rally by the Deputy Governor, despite the statutory powers vested in a situation where the governor has vacated his office, in line with the extant ruling of the Supreme Court. Instead of harassing the Deputy Governor Gusau, the police, as agents of the law, should be providing him all the protection and privileges, particularly as the formal process for his official declaration given the vacation of office by Matawalle

 Immediate past Deputy Governor of Kaduna State is dead! It’s a VERY SAD DAY:  In Bantex, I have lost a dear friend and partner in the service of Kaduna State In the midst of trying times, I have received with utter sadness news of the departure of my friend and brother, His Excellency Barnabas Yusuf Bala (Bantex).  From our days as undergraduates in the 1970s to our practice as professional colleagues in the construction industry and eventually partners in a governance project, Bantex was consistently a dependable man of brilliance and imagination. He believed in the potential of our state and in the capacity of our people to work together for progressive attainments.  Together, we took on the task of providing new leadership for Kaduna State in 2015. He brought to his duties as Deputy Governor during our first term his unique insights as a politician with experience in navigating the diversity of our state. Bantex radiated hope and optimism in the future of our state, even when the c

 Southern States ready to Secede If Presidency goes North. Our Military Personnel will come back home.  In a recent interview with the Edo state Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shuaibu, he revealed that the 17 Southern States are ready to leave the Nigeria Union if their request that the presidency should be zoned to the South is not agreed to by the Northern elites.  He explained that the only thing the North has to offer Nigeria is their unproductive population which they use to intimidate the South,  while the resources of the country are domiciled in Southern Nigeria.  "They should go with their population while we go with our resources."  We will ask our ppl in the armed forces to relocate back home and leave their desert for them.  The middle belt peoples can join us if they wish to, they have good Agricultural lands that can supply enough food to our new country.  Ask if he was not afraid of being persecuted by the Buhari regime he declared that "no one can arrest

 For the first time since after his major surgery last week, Pope Francis delivered his Sunday angelus from the balcony of Gemelli Hospital in Rome.  Here’s an excerpt of his brief address: “In these days of being hospitalized, I have experienced how important good health care is, accessible to all, as it is in Italy and in other countries. A healthcare system that assures good service, accessible to everyone. This precious benefit must not be lost. It needs to be kept! And for this everyone needs to be committed, because it helps everyone and requires everyone’s contribution.”One more photo below.

  Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted a consignment of 26.150kilograms of heroin with a street value of over N6.5billion at the SAHCO shed of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos. The illicit drug had arrived Lagos in 25 parcels from South Africa through an Airpeace Airline flight on 30 th  June, 2021 and was detained for screening following reasonable suspicion of the content of the consignment. A follow up operation was subsequently carried out the following day, 1 st  July when narcotic officers of the MMIA command trailed the driver and a clearing agent that were assigned to deliver the consignment to the house of a baron, Tony Chidi Onwurolu at No. 132 Lateef Adegboyega Street, off Ago palace way by Grandmate bus stop Okota, Lagos. During the follow up operation, Tony Chidi Onwurolu who obviously mounted a counter-surveillance around his neighbourhood fled his home before the arrival of the team of operatives wh

  Born on the 11th of July 1942,Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, known professionally as Olu Jacobs, is a Nigerian actor and film executive. He has starred in several British television series and international films. Olu Jacobs has been hailed by many as one of the greatest and most widely respected African actors of his generation. His wife Joke Silver shared this photo on social media today with the caption ''  Celebrations galore....🎵🎵Joy joy joy 🎶with joy my heart is ringing 🎶Joy Joy Joy 🎺🎺His love for us is known.🎸🎷🎺🎹...HAPPY BIRTHDAY Sir J _olujacobs 🥂🍾🥂🍾🥂🍾 🥂🍾Here is to Good Health , sound mind ,abundance and a longer life. 💝💝💝   ''.One more photo below.

No fewer than 16 residential and commercial buildings in Ikeja and environs have been sealed and issued contravention notices by the officials of Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), for illegal development of structures in the area. The General Manager of LASPPPA, Tpl. Kehinde Osinaike, who led the enforcement team comprising of the Agency’s officials, Nigeria Police Officers and a Special Operations Team from the Governor’s Office, stated that the affected structures are located on Joel Ogunaike, Isaac John and Ladoke Akintola streets in Ikeja GRA among others. He said the buildings were sealed and issued contravention notices for putting up illegal developments, which contravenes the Ikeja Model City Plan and the Physical Planning Law in the State.  Osinaike emphasised that the exercise was necessary to ensure compliance by the property owners, noting that GRA is supposed to be a structured residential estate and part of the Ikeja Model City plan. “We have the I

The Lagos State Printing Corporation (LSPC) has named its Press Hall after the first Executive Governor of the State, Late Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande. Speaking at the unveiling of the commemorative structure, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, said the gesture was a good way to celebrate Baba Jakande for the good life he lived, the good legacies he left behind and for every service he rendered to Lagos, Nigeria and humanity in general. The Commissioner said that naming the hall after Baba Jakande is symbolic as it tells the kind of life he lived, declaring that "The symbolism in this hall being named after Baba Jakande is that whatever we do in life will be recorded for us and will be measured and be considered years later. All of the things Baba Jakande did is what some of us are enjoying today. He had a vision and the vision was actualised". Omotoso praised Baba Jakande for the feat attained in education, housing, human capacity

  President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the demise of Malam Muhammadu Ibrahim Maigari otherwise known as Muhammadu Musawa, his classmate in college and a prominent community leader.   “His passing away is a loss to all of us, his classmates, in whose hearts he had a special place. He was a complete gentleman and a selfless person who endeared himself to all who came close to him. My special condolences to his brothers, Alhaji Yazid Ibrahim, Senator Abu Ibrahim and Barrister Yahaya Ibrahim,” the President said.   The President also condoled with the Katsina Emirate Council, the government and people of Katsina State over the loss.   He prayed to Allah to grant forgiveness to the deceased.   Garba Shehu Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) July 10, 2021

Ecobank Nigeria has launched “Ellevate”, a gender-based proposition for women-owned businesses to reduce gender inequality in entrepreneurship and aid equal representation for women in the formal business sector. The Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan said the Ellevate product introduced to the nation’s financial landscape on Wednesday, is targeted at empowering at least 40 million women owned or women-managed businesses in the country. This he reiterated is part of Ecobank’s Group  objective as the leading pan-African financial institution to drive financial integration and contribute to the economic development of the continent by deepening engagement with women-owned businesses.   “Ellevate is designed by Ecobank to empower women-owned and women-managed businesses in Nigeria and indeed across all our Africa footprints, leveraging various unique financial and non-financial benefits. Ellevate promises an end-to-end partnership in which they could gain access to fin

  I {PINK REPUBLIC} have performed along side with him early 2000's and is so sad to announce that Popular singer, Lanre Fasasi better known as Sound Sultan, is dead.   The 44 years old ‘Jagbajantis’ crooner, lost it to his battle with cancer of the throat. Dr. Kayode Fasasi, in a statement on behalf of the Fasasi family, made the revelation. He said: “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our multitalented veteran singer, rapper, songwriter Olanrewaju Fasasi aka Sound Sultan. “He passed away at the age of 44 following a hard-fought battle with Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma.  “He is survived by his wife, three children and his siblings. We, his family, will appreciate the utmost privacy as we come to grips with this tragic loss.” In May, Sound Sultan had reacted to news about his cancer diagnosis by saying, via Instagram, “I must not ignore the massive show of love. Thank you all.  “I will tell you my story myself it will be true then not false.” .One more ph