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Ambode Apprehends ‘One Ways Offenders’

Posted on by The Elites

Irked by the flagrant abuse of the Lagos State Traffic Laws, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday evening came down hard on some recalcitrant motorists who drove against traffic along the Muritala Mohammed Airport Road, Ikeja.

Returning from Abuja where he had attended the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council, Governor Ambode was shocked at the manner some motorists drove ‘one way’ to beat the traffic along the Air-force Base inward International Airport Road, Ikeja.

He was particularly angry that one of the offenders, an army personnel, who drove a space bus with registration number JJJ 290 AC, would choose to blatantly contravene the law.

The Governor, on sighting the vehicle, alighted from his car and reprimanded the officer for showing a bad example contrary to what the Nigeria Army is known for.

Another offender, who drove a saloon car with registration number LSR 445 ER, also got some schooling from the Governor for breaking the law regardless of the dangers involved in driving against traffic.

Governor Ambode immediately ordered for the vehicles to be impounded, while also directing that the offenders be prosecuted in line with the provisions of the Traffic Laws.

 

Group Demands Lagos Assembly To Resume, Expediate Passage of 2019 Budget

Posted on by The Elites

The Lagos Liberation Movement, LLM rose from a special organizational session of its members across the nooks and crannies of the State on Saturday in Ikorodu calling on the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, to immediately reopen the House of Assembly, which has been under locks and keys since 2018. The call became imperative as Lagosians continued to anticipate the presentation of the State’s 2019 Appropriation Bill, to the Assembly for Consideration, by the State’s Executive, led by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

The LLM is worried, that further delay in the presentation and passage of the 2019 Budget, may be counterproductive and lead to a shutdown of governance and economic activities in the State.

The Movement noted that Lagos, which is the fifth largest economy in Africa is at a palpable risk of slowdown in its developmental strife if the Lagos House of Assembly does not quickly reconvene session to accept the submission of 2019 Budget proposal by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. It was observed with concern that since the return of democratic rule in 1999, Lagos State Government kept the enviable record of being the first amongst equal to submit its budget proposal before the last quarter of an operational year and passage of same before the end of the first month of the New Year. This has no doubt been responsible for the seamless economic growth of the State of excellence.

However, LLM is shocked to receive the news that even when the Commissioner for Budget and Planning in the State wrote the Assembly last year for a date when the Governor would address the lawmakers and submit the 2019 Budget, the Speaker responded that it would be impossible to reconvene the House at any determinable date because members of the House are currently busy with their various political campaigns for offices in this year’s general elections!

This is not only reprehensible but also highly condemnable and disrespectful to the indigenes and residents of Lagos state. This is much more so when viewed against the background that the over N1trillion budget is largely targeted at meeting the demands of Lagosians and promise of Governor Ambode to complete all the infrastructural development projects like the Agege flyover, Oshodi Transport Interchange, Lagos-Abeokuta BRT corridor among others, initiated by his administration. It is trite to emphasize that the refusal to reopen the Assembly and expedite the passage of the budget would not only affect the infrastructural developmental strides but also equally provoke monumental needless hardships and sufferings on Lagosians.

The LLM noted that the Speaker, Hon. Obasa and many of the members of the House of Assembly are not acting in the best interest of Lagos State that has bettered their lots, but rather working in cohort with other elements outside government to rubbish if not retard the developmental growth of the State.

The session called on well-meaning indigenes as well as Lagosians at home and diaspora to urgently intervene in this emerging, seemingly logjam of the State’s economy before it is too late.

LLM raised alarm that the House of Assembly is working out a script by the purported political Godfather of the State, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu and his cabal.

Investigations of the Movement revealed that the cabal has set up a Special Committee that oversees the disbursement of the State resources. Most of the disbursed funds are being funneled towards prosecution of the campaigns of the APC annointed candidate for gubernatorial elections, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. This is the reason why the Speaker and House of Assembly are dilly dallying with the passage of 2019 Budget proposal, possibly to be delayed till after the first quarter of the year.

Thus, it is manifestly clear that the Hon. Obasa led House of Assembly, in conspiracy with these desperate politicians, are implementing a grand, devious design to milk Lagos dry for the Gubernatorial elections without recourse or respect for the constitution or due process even passage of budget.

Should the Leadership of the State House of Assembly refuse to answer this subtle clarion call to reopen the assembly without further delay, we shall not hesitate to mobilize Lagosians for the necessary legitimate actions, to compel a reopening of the House of Assembly.

A Word Is Enough For The Wise !
SIGNED BY

Comrade Mark Adebayo (Convener)

Comrade Femi Lawson (Secretary)

With FirstBank’s Array of Exciting Educational Solutions, Your School’s Financial Needs Is At Your Fingertips

Posted on by The Elites

In its usual custom, First Bank of Nigeria Limited is supporting schools with their business requirements to promote preparations for the school year. This, the Bank achieves through its array of educational based products and solutions targeted at enabling schools acquire their required educational facilities to boost the continued expansion of their schools whilst empowering parents and guardians to seamlessly send their wards back to school.

The Bank’s educational products and solutions include the FirstEdu Loan, Operational Vehicle Loan, Term Loans for constructing new sites and extension of existing sites, Personal Loan against Salary (PLAS) and Salary Overdraft (SODA) which enhances parents’ capacity to pay their children’s school fees.

The FirstEdu loan is targeted at private Nursery, Secondary and A-Levels schools. The product offers opportunity for private schools to access flexible funding to meet urgent cash flow needs, replace old furniture and equipment, as well as refurbish dilapidated buildings and classroom blocks. With this product, school owners/proprietors can stay ahead of competition in providing educational services and support to the target population by maintaining acceptable standard infrastructure at all times. This product allows the customer access up to N10 million with no tangible collateral required apart from the domiciliation of school account with the Bank. This reduces the cost of borrowing to the customer and eliminates the challenges posed by the provision of additional demanding collaterals.

The Operational Vehicle Loan is targeted at registered businesses. It allows the entrepreneur to acquire brand new vehicles for the day to day operation of the business. Organisations can take advantage of this facility to purchase school buses in the case of school proprietors and even upscale their staff welfare schemes through provision of staff buses. The product terms and conditions is competitive .

Personal Loan against Salary (PLAS) offers customers in paid employment access to cash to meet immediate financial needs such as payment of school fees, medical treatment, holiday expenses, etc. PLAS has a flexible repayment plan spread up to 48 months for our customers’ convenience. There is no equity contribution or collateral requirement. The Salary Overdraft Account (SODA) is also available to customers who want short tenured overdraft to meet immediate financial needs. SODA can be dispensed as a one-off overdraft for 30 days with up to 40% net salary and a revolving overdraft for 90 days with 25% of applicant’s average previous 3 months net salary. Only a salary account will qualify one to access PLAS and SODA if one works with any of FirstBank’s approved list of employers.

FirstBank’s educational facilities are offered without collaterals. So as the new school term resumes, the Bank has the right products just for you and is poised to constantly provide the platform to support the life styles of its teeming customers. Customers and stakeholders are enjoined to visit any FirstBank branch for further information about its school solutions.

Pastor T. B Joshua Of The Synagogue Brought His People Light

Posted on by The Elites

By Bamidele Ademola-Olateju

I have not given up on Nigeria because the alternative is unthinkable. When the discos got their market segments, the people of Àkókó found themselves in darkness. Before the DISCOS were licensed, they paid their NEPA/PHCN bills. As soon as they were under a DISCO, they were cut off from the national power grid and plunged into darkness. They were told they have not been paying any money. Such a huge lie! Who were those in the NEPA/PHCN offices they have been paying to? The darkness lasted for more than a year. They had representatives and Senator in the NASS, yet none of them did anything to solve the problem. They have a governor, nothing was done. Last year, Pastor T. B Joshua intervened and paid N31million and power was restored.

On January 2nd, 2019 as his helicopter flew overhead, men and women started running towards his landing space to welcome him. Everyone I spoke with sees T. B Joshua as their liberator and he can do no wrong. A pastor delivered public good where government failed! No one has been held accountable for “eating” the money paid for months by four local governments. Not even an investigation into the matter was conducted. It is how impunity reigns in this country. The victims were held responsible for the crime they did not commit. I was told, Òkìtìpupa people were or are still in the same quandary. On this score, I thank pastor T. B Joshua for helping his people where government failed!

Gov Tambuwal and Wife, Hajia Maryam Mairo Welcome First Child

Posted on by The Elites

Wife of Sokoto state Governor, Hajia Maryam Mairo Aminu Tambuwal has been delivered of a baby girl. 

The baby arrived in the early hours of Wednesday, 2 January, 2019, at a highbrow hospital in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. 

It is the first child for Hajia Maryam Mairo and her husband, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who clocks 53 on Thursday, 10 January. 

 

Warning Alert: Fake 100 Dollar Bills Are In Circulation!

Posted on by The Elites

This is to alert the general public to watch out for counterfeit one hundred dollar bills that may begin to appear throughout the county. 

In one of the fake 100 dollar bills being circulated, the word ‘states’ is written as ‘STTES. And hundred is written as HUNDED. 

According to the United States Department of Treasury, an estimated $70 million in counterfeit bills are in circulation, or approximately 1 note in counterfeits for every 10,000 in genuine currency, with an upper bound of $200 million counterfeit, or 1 counterfeit per 4,000 genuine notes. However, these numbers are based on annual seizure rates on counterfeiting, and the actual stock of counterfeit money is uncertain because some counterfeit notes successfully circulate for a few transactions.

Pirates Hijack Genevieve Nnaji’s “Lionheart”

Posted on by The Elites

Many Nigerians home and abroad were thrilled when news that Genevieve Nnaji’s directorial debut film, “Lionheart” had been acquired by international streaming platform, Netflix.

The acquisition made the film, the first Nollywood film to achieve such a feat and everyone could not wait to watch the film that had gained such international buzz and acclaim as it even went on to premiere at the 2018 TIFF festival in Toronto.

In what can be described as the best way to kickstart the New Year, it was announced that “Lionheart” is coming home to make its cinematic debut in Nigeria come January 4.

As soon as this debut date was announced, many Nigerians eagerly anticipated the film despite the allegation by Nnaji that there is a ploy to prevent it from showing in cinemas by major distribution companies.

In what appears to buttress Nnaji’s allegation of a ploy, it is noteworthy that some major online platforms released the pirated copies of “Lionheart” prior to its cinematic debut. Research shows that some of these sites already had pirated copies of the film days before its official release. A quick check showed a particular site had released a pirated copy of the film on December 30, 2018.

Not only that, the film is currently being distributed on various online media platforms for streaming and download. A representative of Guardian Life reached out to Nnaji for comment but as at the time of publishing this report, we are yet to get a response from her.

It is noteworthy that the issue of piracy is one that many artisans have constantly complained about with many entertainers complaining about the adverse effect of piracy on their trade.

It would be recalled that just recently, the former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan released a book titled, “My Transition Hours” and shortly after the book’s release, he lamented about the issue of piracy forty-eight hours after its launch.  Taking to Twitter, he wrote,

“We have just been informed that a fake document contrived by mischief makers is being passed on as the e-version and hard copy of the just launched ‘#MyTransitionHours.

“Also, note that the e-copy of #MyTransitionHours is not being marketed, as such, the fake online version could only have been created by those out to deceive the unsuspecting public.

“We advise the general public to ignore such publication as the chapters and contents are not the same as the book publicly presented two days ago in Abuja. #MyTransitionHours.”

New York Set To Rename Street Housing Trump Tower Barack Obama Avenue

Posted on by The Elites

Thousands of people have signed a petition in New York City to rename the block in front of Trump Tower after former President Barack Obama.

A MoveOn petition started by Elizabeth Rowin is calling for the stretch of Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th streets to be renamed “President Barack H. Obama Avenue.”

The petition would require President Trump to formally change the address of his Trump Tower building, where his 2020 reelection campaign will be headquartered on the 15th floor.

The measure had nearly 4,300 signatures as of Friday morning.

“We request the New York City Mayor and City Council do the same by renaming a block of Fifth Avenue after the former president who saved our nation from the Great Recession, achieved too many other accomplishments to list, and whose two terms in office were completely scandal free,” the petition states.

A stretch of a freeway in Los Angeles was recently renamed after the former commander in chief.

For the street to be renamed, the New York City Council would have to approve the measure and Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) would have to sign off on the name change.

The council unanimously voted last month to rename a street after the renowned hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, as well as others after rapper Notorious B.I.G., signer Woody Guthrie and poet Audre Lorde.

*Reported by thehill.com

TRAGEDY: How Wedding Fatiha Became Bride’s Funeral Prayer In Bauchi

Posted on by The Elites

It was a tragic day in Bauchi on Friday, 28 December 2018, when a bride-to-be suddenly died a few hours to her wedding fatiha scheduled to hold on Saturday, 29th December 2018 by 11am at Gwallaga mosque. The families of Engineer Salisu Alhaji Boyi and Alhaji Abdulkadir Tataru had completed all arrangements for the wedding in Bauchi, but her funeral prayer was conducted in the same mosque, same time, because she died on the eve of her wedding.

Late Fauziyya was buried on Saturday, after the funeral prayer conducted at the Gwallaga Jumma’at Mosque that would have been the venue for her wedding fatiha.

Daily Trust Saturday traced the families of the deceased and the groom, who narrated what actually happened to late Fauziyya Abdulkadir Tataru, who was a Quantity Survey graduate of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State.

In his account, father of the deceased, Alhaji Abdulkadir Tataru said: “Fauziyya died after a protracted illness. She was ill for some time, soon after her wedding invitation cards had been distributed and all arrangements had been concluded for their wedding fatiha. Before Thursday, she stopped eating anything, and as a result, medical doctors put her on drip that Thursday and through Friday. When she asked for it to be removed, one of her sisters, who is a nurse, said they will do so only on condition that she agrees to take pap. She agreed and it was removed. She drank the pap, talked to everyone around in the house, but after Magrib prayer I was told that she passed away. From Allah we come and to him we shall all return.”

Alhaji Tataru said: “Late Fauziyya memorized the Holy Qur’an, and that she lived in peace with everybody. She also lived an exemplary life, was religious and attended both western and Islamic schools and had started her second degree in Quantity Survey.”

Fauziyya’s husband-to-be, AbdulJalil, said he met late Fauziyya as far back as 2008 when she was in Junior Secondary School at Ulul Albab School in Katsina State and he was in Senior Secondary School with her elder brother, Abdulmalik.

AbdulJalil said while in school, whenever her brother did something that upset her, he was the one who calmed her down and made sure that she was happy. “That is how we started before Fauziyya was transferred to Bauchi where she completed her secondary school at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University International Secondary School, Bauchi. She then went on to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and graduated as a Quantity Surveyor. She served in Maiduguri and later enrolled for her master’s degree.”

AbdulJali was shocked when he was told that Fauziyya died, but he did not dispute the information. “Because I know nothing is beyond Allah’s will. I went and saw her corpse. As Muslims, we believe in destiny, both good or bad. I believe what had happened to Fauziyya is our destiny and that is how Allah wants it. We can’t do anything except pray for her,” he said adding that the demise of Fauziyya became a milestone in his life.

“I will do my best to console myself and the people around me,” he said. “I will submit everything to the almighty Allah, because everyone has what God has decreed for him. I will never forget her and will continue to pray for her. I will continue to live and try to make progress in my life. I will not say I will not marry again, I have submitted everything to Allah. I will do my best to live a normal life by the grace of Allah.”

According to AbdulJalil, “The way she died and the circumstances is a lesson to all humanity. It is not a small thing, it’s a very big event that has happened. We have no choice but to believe and be patient with the will of God. May Allah forgive her and have mercy on her, and may her soul rest in perfect peace.”

Elder brother of Fauziyya, Abdul Malik Abdulkadir Tataru, who was a close friend and classmate to Fauziyya’s husband-to-be said they are seven in their family, and he is the first born, while Fauziyya was the second. He said since they grew up, he had not seen anyone quarrel with his late sister. “She is kind-hearted, and tries her best to put smiles on people’s faces. You never see her angry, and she works hard not to offend. We lost a rare gem but take it as being from God.”

Abdul also added that her husband-to-be is his friend and if Allah wills, he will marry from their house because he is now a relative.

Immediate younger brother of late Fauziyya, Sabi’u Abdulkadir Tataru, described her as the centre of unity in their family. “She was sick for about two weeks and I saw people posting on social media. She didn’t have the opportunity to participate in her wedding preparations, but watched people doing so,” he said.

Sabi’u said she was always the first person he contacted if anything happened to him and she always gave him sound advice. “We are all very close to her and she advises all members of our family,” he said.

Source: Daily Trust

 

Funke Akindele Gives First Glimpse of Her Twins

Posted on by The Elites

Fans went wild with joy when news broke that popular Nollywood actress and producer, Funke Akindele has welcomed a set of twins a couple of weeks ago.

Now the screen star and her husband, JJC Skillz are giving fans the first glimpse of their twin boys.

In a family photo which sees Akindele posing alongside her husband, the newly born set of twins and Skillz’s other children is an adorable one as the family is full of smiles.

The “Jenifa’s Diary” star shared the photo on her Instagram page

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsORlVxl8wM/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=12kwmlfcuw68x

It is noteworthy that the arrival the babies came a few years after a popular Lagos-based pastor, Olagorioye Faleyimu, said that Akindele, may not have children of her own, and might end up with another broken home. Responding to the prophecy, however, Skilz reaffirmed his love and commitment to his heartthrob saying she gave him a new life.