PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 Obi, Otti’s panel lacks power to appeal judgment affirming Abure – LP The embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has dismissed the threat by the party’s caretaker committee, led by Nenadi Usman, to appeal last week’s judgment affirming his (Abure’s) leadership. In an exclusive interview during the weekend, the pro-Abure National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, contended that the Usman-led 29-man caretaker panel was unknown to law and thus lacked the locus standi to challenge the court’s judgment validating Abure’s leadership. Recall last week the Nenadi Usman caretaker committee met with the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, before deciding to drag Abure to the Appeal Court. The move came a few hours after the Federal High Court in Abuja declared the contentious national convention that returned him and his National Working Committee to office as valid. The court also compelled the Inde...

 PRESS RELEASE COMPTROLLER-GENERAL OF CUSTOMS MEETS WITH AfCFTA SECRETARY GENERAL AT BIASHARA AFRIKA 2024 TO ENHANCE INTRA-AFRICAN TRADE 1. The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, held a high-level meeting with the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, on the margins of the Biashara Afrika 2024 forum, hosted in Kigali, Rwanda, from 9th to 11th October 2024. This significant engagement brought together key stakeholders to discuss ways to enhance intra-African trade and foster deeper economic integration. 2. The meeting between the CGC and the Secretary-General provided a unique opportunity to refine strategies aimed at improving trade facilitation under the AfCFTA agreement. Discussions centered on addressing existing bottlenecks and encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the agreement, given their critical role in boosting intra-African trad...

 Nigerian bodybuilder Samson Dauda wins 2024 Mr. Olympia title, to receive $600,000 A new champion has emerged at the 2024 Mr. Olympia, as Samson Dauda, representing the United Kingdom and of Nigerian descent, claimed the top honor, winning the coveted Mr. Olympia title along with a record-setting prize of $600,000. The 60th edition of the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, drawing the world’s best bodybuilders to the stage in a showdown of strength and physique. For Samson Dauda, this victory is the culmination of years of hard work. Having started his bodybuilding career in 2014, Dauda has steadily risen in the ranks, finishing third in last year’s Mr. Olympia competition. His persistence and dedication paid off in 2024 as he finally claimed the top spot. Dauda is no stranger to success, having previously won the Arnold Classic, one of the sport’s most prestigious events. Samson Dauda was awarded his first Olympia title and the rich...

 OGSG Warns NURTW Against Breakdown of Law and Order ...threatens to restrict Union activities The Ogun State Government at the weekend warned members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) against any move that could lead to the breakdown of law and order in the state. The government said it would not fold its arms and allow the peaceful atmosphere existing in the state to be threatened by any group. The government's position was in reaction to an alleged plan by some members of NURTW operating in Ijebu Ode to challenge the decisions of the established leadership of the Union in the state and, in the process, embarked on a protest to drive home their position. Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, in a statement, warned the union members that the state government would not hesitate to restrict the activities of the union in public spaces if there is any attempt to breach the peace. The statement said: "It has come to the attention of the Ogun S...

 Anambra Unveils SME Support Plans By Chizoba Njaka  The Anambra State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Committee, in partnership with the Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA) and ANSIPPA, invites the public to an informative session titled "Financing the Future: Expanding Credit Opportunities for SMEs in Anambra State." This event aims to promote Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the state by exploring innovative financing solutions and sharing valuable insights. This was made known in an official documents released by ANSIPPA, at Awka, stating that the action is part of their commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment. It noted also that the session would provide valuable insights into expanding credit opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Anambra State. ANSIPPA further stated that the move is to ensure proper dissemination of information, as the session would be conducted in two formats: a physical event which will take...

 Nollywood Actor Saheed Balogun Family release official statement of the Death of their beloved daughter Zeenat  The actor posted the offica statement of the death of his first daughter Zeenat Balogun on his verified social media. On the caption posted a long with the statement uploaded on his verified handle said Balogun said  We extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone who reached out to my family during this difficult time.  We have been deeply moved by the overwhelming care, the heartfelt messages, and the many condolence visits.  Your presence, prayers, and acts of kindness have truly touched our hearts. The love and support from friends, neighbours, and even those we have not seen in years have been a constant source of strength  Your compassion has made this challenging period more bearable, and for that, we are immensely grateful. One more below. 

 Two men posed as utility workers to gain access to an elderly man's home and then took his life. This disturbing incident took place at Rochester Hills, a community outside of Detroit, Michigan.  According to authorities, the 2 men were driving a truck with a false utility company insignia. They visited the 72-year-old victim's home first on Thursday and returned on Friday when they carried out their disturbing plans. Authorities have stated once inside the home, the men restrained the man's wife with duct tape before taking the man's life. They believe it was a targeted attack as the man was a successful business owner. Police have been unable to determine his exact cause of death due to the extensive injuries he suffered. The wife was taken to a hospital where she is recovering from the ordeal.  No names have been released. Our thoughts are with her and all of the victim's family. Always be cautious. You can always call any utility company and ask them if they ha...

 UPDATE! The shooter has been arrested! The individual who took the life of hero Correctional officer, Brad McNew, is 27-year-old Demaurea Grant. He was arrested in Gastonia, N.C.  The nationwide manhunt is called off.  ------------------- Original Story-  Nationwide manhunt for man who took the life of an off duty correctional officer for intervening in domestic dispute.  At approximately 1:20 a.m. this morning in Jacksonville, Florida, the Sheriff's office were contacted about a violent domestic dispute that had fatal consequences.  According to reports the incident took place at a Love's truckstop near Jacksonville International Airport. The initial conflict involved a man and woman in a black Mustang. During the dispute the man exited the vehicle and placed a handgun on the hood. He then yanked the female out and slammed her against the car before throwing her to the ground.  It was at this point Brad McNew (a 24 year veteran of Jacksonville Sherif...

 University Entry Age: We’ll Make Provisions For Exceptional Students – Minister The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, says the Federal Government is considering options to address the 18-year age limit for university admissions. Speaking at the Ministerial Session of the 68th National Council on Education meeting in Abuja, Prof. Mamman explained that the Federal Government acknowledges that there are students who may be exceptionally talented and would make exclusive provisions for such talents. He also explained that the age limit policy only applies to admission into tertiary institutions and not O’level examinations. “There is a need to clarify yet again the misrepresentation on the issue of the 18 years age limit for admission to universities which was earlier mentioned,” Prof. Mamman said. “The ministry was only drawing attention to the age requirement for entry into tertiary institutions as enshrined in the National Policy on Education (6-3-3-4 System); the UBEC...

 STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT NIGERIA AND THE 2024 UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ELECTIONS: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT On October 9, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly elected 18 members to the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term.   The members elected to the Council are Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Cyprus, Czechia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Iceland, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Mexico, North Macedonia, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand.    The Council is an intergovernmental body within the UN system consisting of 47 States tasked with promoting and protecting human rights globally.   The election, conducted via secret ballot, determined which nations would fill three-year terms beginning on January 1, 2025, replacing members whose terms expire on December 31, 2024.    Among the outgoing members are Argentina, Benin, Cameroon, Eritrea, Finland, Gambia, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Luxembou...

 Shehu Sani faults Enugu mortuary tax, says the dead can no longer rest A former Senator, Shehu Sani, has expressed outrage over the recent decision by the Enugu State government to impose a mortuary tax on corpses stating that the move “finally means people can no longer rest in peace.” Sani stated this in a short post on the X platform, using @ShehuSani handle on Sunday. The State revenue agency had announced the sum of N40 as mortuary tax to be paid by owners of a corpse once it was not buried within 24 hours. The X post read, “Taxing Dead bodies in Enugu finally means people can no longer rest in peace.” Does Ben have a soft spot for Anita? | Zinwe's eviction, age drama between Topher and Anita0:00 / 0:00 PUNCH Online had earlier reported on Sunday that the Enugu State Government has clarified the controversial mortuary tax imposed on corpses in the state, stating that it was not intended as a revenue-generating measure but rather to discourage excessive storage of deceased bod...

 “Fulanis Among The Best Educated People In Nigeria, We Don’t Carry AK-47” – Emir Of Zazzau     The Emir of Zazzau, Nuhu Bamali, has made a bold statement regarding the Fulani people, arguing that they are among the most educated in Nigeria. The monarch rejected the association of the Fulani ethnic group with armed violence. Speaking at a cultural event organized by the Fulani Development and Cultural Organisation (FUDECO), Bamali addressed widespread accusations linking Fulani herders to banditry and violent crimes, which have fueled negative stereotypes. In his remarks, the Emir emphasized that a “true Fulani man” does not carry weapons such as AK-47s. He said, instead, the traditional Fulani herder carries a stick and a cutlass, tools for caring for their livestock, not for violence. He stressed that the portrayal of Fulani people as violent is a distortion of their values and traditions. “Carrying an AK-47 is not part of the core values of a Fulani man. A Fulani man i...

 Air strike kills at least 23 people in Sudan market A Sudanese network of volunteer rescuers said on Sunday the military carried out an air strike a day earlier on a marketplace in Khartoum, leaving 23 people dead, AFP reported. The market is near one of the main camps in the Sudanese capital, where the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting the military as part of a civil war that has killed thousands of people. "Twenty-three people were confirmed dead and more than 40 others wounded" and taken to hospital after "military air strikes on Saturday afternoon on the main market" in southern Khartoum, the youth-led Emergency Response Rooms said in a post on Facebook. Fierce fighting has raged since Friday around Khartoum, much of which is controlled by the RSF, with the military pounding the centre and south of the city from the air. Advancing towards Khartoum The military is advancing towards Khartoum from nearby Omdurman, where clashes erupted on ...

 Comoros to hold parliamentary elections January next year Comoros will hold elections to its 33-seat parliament on Janueray 12, according to a decree, although opposition parties have said they will boycott the poll, Reuters reported. The Indian Ocean archipelago, with a population of about 800,000 people, last had parliamentary polls in January 2020. In January incumbent President Azali Assoumani was re-elected for another five-year term, but the opposition rejected the results, alleging instances of ballot stuffing and of voting being ended before the official closing time. The government denied the claims. Assoumani's opponents accuse him of authoritarian excesses and suspect him of wanting to prepare his eldest son, Nour El-fath, to replace him in 2029 when his current term ends. Assoumani has been ruling Comoros since 1999 when he came to power through a coup. He has since won three elections.

  SpaceX catches Starship rocket booster on return to Earth Starship's Super Heavy booster has made its first landing in Texas. Screams and cheers erupted in the SpaceX control room as the arms closed around the booster, marking its safe return to Earth. Cheers and screams erupt in SpaceX's control room as Starship's fifth test succeeds. For the first time, Elon Musk's company has caught the Super Heavy booster - which sits at the bottom of the two-stage vehicle - as it returns to the launchpad in Texas. SpaceX in its fifth Starship test flight on Sunday returned the rocket’s towering first stage booster back to its Texas launch pad for the first time using giant metal arms. It is the latest novel engineering feat in the company’s push to build a reusable moon and Mars vehicle. Towering almost 121 meters, the empty Starship blasted off at sunrise from the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border. It arced over the Gulf of Mexico like the four Starships before it th...

  REASSURANCE REGARDING RECENT US DOJ REPORT  Air Peace Limited is aware of the recent media reports concerning our esteemed Chairnman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, and Chief of Finance and Administration, Mrs Ejiro Eghagha in line with the latest legal charges filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. We understand that this may have raised concerns, and we wish to address these reports directly. These charges levelled against our post-holders are part of an extended legal process stemming from earlier accusations of financial misdeeds that date back several years. While the charges have been expanded, it is essential to emphasize that both Dr. Onyema and Mrs. Eghagha remain innocent and these are mere allegations, and the case is still in court. Our legal team is fully engaged with the matter and is working tirelessly to ensure that justice prevails. We renmain confident that, through due process, the truth will be revealed, and our CEO and co-defen...

 Sunday Igboho Submits Petition To British Government For Yoruba Independence Yoruba Nation Leader, Sunday Igboho, arrived the seat of British Government today, at No 10 Downing Street, to submit a petition calling on the British government to support the independence of the Yoruba ethnic group from Nigeria. Igboho was said to have submitted the petition on behalf of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, the leader of the Yoruba Nation movement. The movement is seeking the immediate intervention of the UK Prime Minister and his government in their agitation to set up a country that will be predominantly owned by indigenous Yoruba people. This was disclosed by Igboho’s spokesman, Koiki, via his X page on Monday. He wrote: “At exactly 14:00 hrs Dr. Chief Sunday Igboho delivered a petition to the UK Prime Minister on behalf of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, leader of the YORUBA NATION movement, and Olayomi Koiki, his spokesman @10DowningStreet.” Igboho has been at the forefront of the actualization of a...

 Jigawa gov suspends aide over ‘premature’ statement on approval of N70,000 minimum wage Special Adviser on Salary and Pensions to Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, Alhaji Bashir Ado, has been suspended over an alleged premature statement on N70,000 minimum wage. A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mallam Bala Ibrahim, said “the government viewed with serious concern, a statement circulating in various sections of the media alleging that the governor has approved N70,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the state”. The statement stated that it sounds embarrassing and premature as the committee headed by the Head of the State Civil Service, set up by the government to advise on the appropriate wage, is yet to complete its assignment and submit a report. Ibrahim pointed out that as a result of the development, the governor has approved Ado’s immediate suspension, pending findings of a committee set up under the chairmanship of the state Attorne...

 Eggs may hit N10,000 per crate, poultry farmers raise alarm A crate of egg which currently sells between N5,500 and N6,000 may soon be sold at N10,000, according to Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN). Nigeria is currently experiencing one of its worst inflation in decades as prices of many commodities have skyrocketed. Speaking at a press conference to commemorate World Egg Day in Abuja, Secretary of PAN in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Musa Hakeem, called on the government to declare a state of emergency in the egg production sector. He warned that without swift intervention, the price hike would be inevitable, further worsening the already declining protein consumption among Nigerians. Hakeem attributed the looming increase to soaring transportation costs resulting from the removal of fuel subsidies, and escalating feed prices driven by feed millers. The sharp rise in production costs could push the price of a crate to N10,000, but we have kept it at N5,500 out of consi...

 Sachet water ban will lead to job losses – Lagos residents Some Lagos residents have expressed concerns over the proposed move by the state government to ban single-use plastics (SUPs) and sachet water saying that it will lead to loss of jobs and disrupt economic activities. The residents in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday appealed to the state government to have a rethink over the proposed ban. NAN reports that Mr Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, during a stakeholders’ workshop recently announced plans to ban SUPs and sachet water by January 2025. Wahab said the policy is designed to establish sustainable guidelines for managing plastic waste while protecting public health and the environment. He noted that styrofoam and single-use plastics take centuries to degrade, making the ban essential for environmental protection. Wahab said the Lagos State Government was working closely with the private sector org...

 SERAP urges Tinubu to reverse petrol price hike pending court verdict The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to immediately reverse the second increase in petrol prices in one month, pending the hearing and determination of the suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja challenging the legality of the powers of the NNPCL to increase petrol prices. According to a statement on Sunday by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation had last month filed a lawsuit against the President and NNPCL “over the failure to reverse the unlawful increase in the pump price of petrol, and to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL.” The statement read, “The latest increase in petrol prices makes a mockery of the case pending before the Federal High Court, and creates a risk that the course of justice will be seriously impeded or prejudiced in this case. ...

 How Kaduna Court Sentenced Man To 8 Strokes Of Cane For Stealing Goat A Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, convicted a 21-year-old scavenger, Ibrahim Usman, to eight strokes of the cane as punishment for stealing a she-goat. Ibrahim who admitted committing the offence, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, saying that he was misguided by his friends. The Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Chidi Leo told the court that the convict committed the offense on October 6 at Ungwan Rimi in Kaduna. Leo said the convict, who was caught by members of the vigilante group with the goat at Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna, could not give a satisfactory explanation on how he got it. He said the convict confessed that he stole the goat from his neighbour’s house when he was taken to the Police station for questioning and that the offence contravened the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017. Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, while issuing the verdict explained that the court was merciful with the d...

 DSS intervenes in NNPCL/marketers dispute The Nigerian National Petroleum Limited Company has formally agreed to permit oil marketers, who operate under the auspices of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, to commence the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from its depot at a lower price. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has also committed to issuing import and off-taker licenses to the oil dealers to either import fuel directly or purchase products straight from the Dangote Refinery in line with the government plan to fully deregulate the oil sector. This came after the association threatened to cease operations nationwide due to the high costs associated with loading petroleum products from NNPCL facilities. IPMAN had revealed on Thursday that the cost of petrol from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to NNPC was about N898/litre, but noted that NNPC was selling the same product to independent marketers at N1,010/litre...

 Yoruba Nation: Sunday Igboho submits petition to UK PM, Keir Starmer Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has submitted a petition to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, to consider the creation of a Yoruba nation. Igboho was said to have submitted the petition on behalf of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, the leader of the Yoruba Nation movement. The movement is seeking the immediate intervention of the UK Prime Minister and his government in their agitation to set up a country that will be predominantly owned by indigenous Yoruba people. This was disclosed by Igboho’s spokesman, Koiki, via his X page on Monday. He wrote: “At exactly 14:00 hrs Dr. Chief Sunday Igboho delivered a petition to the UK Prime Minister on behalf of Prof. Adebanji Akintoye, leader of the YORUBA NATION movement, and Olayomi Koiki, his spokesman @10DowningStreet.” Igboho has been at the forefront of the actualization of a Yoruba nation. Recall that Akintoye ha...