News
Kola Adesina Mourns Chief Of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Group Managing Director of Sahara Group, Dr Kola Adesina has added his voice with other well-meaning Nigerians in expressing sadness over the sudden death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who died on Tuesday after a brief illness in Lagos.
Dr Adesina who is also the Chairman of AXA Mansard Insurance Plc made the message of condolence to the families of the deceased senior officer, the military and the entire nation.
The business mogul described Lagbaja as his “dear friend” and a patriot who died with his boots on. It is recalled that Lagbaja was one of Dr Adesina’s high profile guests during the celebration of his 60th birthday anniversary in Victoria Island, Lagos, in August 2024.
In a recent social media post seen by VERACITY DESK (veracitydesk.com), Adesina said:
“Nigeria has lost an exceptional soldier; a true patriot who dedicated his life to fighting for the unity and progress of our nation and its people.
“While he faced his personal battles, he always put the nation first. He was a selfless Nigerian until the very end.
“I pray that God grants his wife, his children, his family, and the entire nation the strength to bear this colossal loss.
“Rest well, my dear friend Lt Gen Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.”
News
Igbos to boycott Arise TV over Abati’s uncouth statement
The Indigenous People of Biafra lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on Ndigbo to boycott Arise TV until its anchor, Reuben Abati, tenders an unreserved apology.
The former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Abati, recounted during a morning programme how a former minister could not buy land for his wife in Igbo land.
Abati’s statement that Ndigbo does not sell land to non-indigenes generated condemnation from the people of the South East region.
Most X users of Igbo extraction accused Abati of committing ethnic bigotry against the group.
In reaction on Friday, on his X handle, Ejiofor alleged that he had previously taken on the former presidential spokesman for his alleged anti-Igbo statement.
“When I confronted Abati frontally on a live television interview (TheMorningShow) a few years back about his deep-rooted hatred for Igbos and our struggle for freedom from enslavement within Nigeria’s political arrangement, I was fully seized of the disturbing facts of his ethnic bigotry. It is inborn in him; thank God he could not hide it any longer,” he narrated.
The IPOB lawyer demanded Arise TV’s owner, Nduka Obaigbena, mandate Abati to apologize to Ndigbo. He called on South East indigenes to boycott the station if Abati failed to tender a public apology.
“Reuben Abati must tender an unreserved public apology to Ndi Igbo, but if Nduka Obaigbena condones his anti-Igbo sentiment (Igbophobia), then, this should be a convenient point for Igbos to boycott, in its totality, the promoting of all programmes on Arise TV platforms,” Ejiofor stated.
News
Minimum Wage: Our deadline remains December 1 -NLC insists
The national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has insisted its December 1, 2024, deadline for state governors to implement the new minimum wage remains unshakeable.
The Labour Union who disclosed this in a statement issued by NLC’s Head of Protocol and Public Relations, Benson Upah warned that non-compliance with the directive will not be tolerated.
Ubah emphasized that the ultimatum remains unchanged, urging state governments to finalize agreements with labour unions before the deadline, noting that states like Sokoto, Zamfara, Taraba, and Plateau have taken significant steps to comply.
Explaining further, he stated that Sokoto has initiated wage adjustment proposals, while Taraba and Plateau recently approved an N70,000 minimum wage.
Similarly, Zamfara state has put in plans for implementation after verifying its workforce.
However, states such as Cross River, Osun, and Imo remain in negotiation or unresponsive.
This has raised concerns about meeting the deadline set by NLC.
The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) continue to monitor compliance across the nation, advocating for fair wages amidst rising inflation.
News
Indian man wakes up on funeral pyre
An Indian man awoke on a funeral pyre moments before it was to be set on fire after a doctor skipped a postmortem, medical officials said Saturday.
Rohitash Kumar, 25, who had speaking and hearing difficulties, had fallen sick and was taken to a hospital in Jhunjhunu in the western state of Rajasthan on Thursday.
Indian media reported he had had an epileptic seizure, and a doctor declared him dead on arrival at the hospital.
But instead of the required postmortem to ascertain the cause of death, doctors sent him to the mortuary, and then to be burned according to Hindu rites.
Singh, chief medical officer of the hospital, told AFP that a doctor had “prepared the postmortem report without actually doing the postmortem, and the body was then sent for cremation”.
Singh said that “shortly before the pyre was to be lit, Rohitash’s body started movements”, adding that “he was alive and was breathing”.
Kumar was rushed to hospital for a second time, but was confirmed dead on Friday during treatment.
Authorities have suspended the services of three doctors and the police have launched an investigation.
AFP
-
News19 hours ago
Reps Demand Details Of Project Undertaken From Ministry Of Solid Minerals In 2024 Budget
-
News24 hours ago
Simon Ekpa to Face Extradition, DHQ Declares
-
Education23 hours ago
BREAKING! END of road for Fubara as FG halts allocation
-
News24 hours ago
Oil theft: DHQ rubbishes Tompolo’s allegation against Navy
-
News19 hours ago
PDP leaders, critical stakeholders endorse Hon. Teejay Yusuf for National Chairman
-
News24 hours ago
SEE Black Market Dollar (USD) To Naira (NGN) Exchange Rate Today, 22 November 2024
-
News23 hours ago
Enugu ready to provide evidence against Ekpa, hails arrest
-
Metro2 hours ago
BusinessDay Journalist Finally Regains Freedom From ‘One-Chance’ Kidnappers In Abuja