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Olumide Akpata: Further statement regarding unfortunate incident at University of Benin Senior Staff Club
Olumide Akpata: Further statement regarding unfortunate incident at University of Benin Senior Staff Club
I feel compelled to provide this further statement in respect of the deeply regrettable events that occurred at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Senior Staff Club on Friday, 12th April 2024, during my interactive session with some senior members of Staff of the University. While I had hoped to put this incident behind us, the situation has taken an unsettling turn that necessitates addressing it again, directly.
The facts of what transpired are sacred and no amount of obfuscation will change
them. To restate the facts:
(i) Neither I nor anyone from my team initiated or perpetrated any attacks.
(ii) Rather, we were the victims of what evidence increasingly suggests was a premeditated assault, potentially motivated by political interests.
(iii) This vicious attack was carried out by suspected hoodlums, some of
whom eyewitnesses report, were accompanying the President of the
Student Union Government (SUG).
(iv) The assault left a Lecturer seriously injured, and his life nearly taken by a brutal axe blow to the back of his head. My heart goes out to him and his family, and I once again unequivocally condemn this senseless act of violence.
As the attack unfolded, those present at the Staff Club will attest that upon realising that students may have been involved in the ugly incident, I immediately began pleading for leniency towards any such students.
As a former student myself, I understood the grave consequences such misguided actions could have on their futures. I made this same plea before the Committee investigating the said incident, hoping to protect any students who may have been involved.
However, emboldened by the apparent support of the highly-placed Edo State Government official who has been pulling the strings from behind the scenes and orchestrating mayhem, some of these students have continued an unrelenting campaign against me, fabricating accounts completely lacking in truth – all seemingly in a bid to gain perceived political advantage for their benefactor.
It is due to my genuine concern for the well-being of these students and indeed for their academic progress, that I call on their parents to urgently intervene in this matter and extricate their children from the clutches of the desperate politicians exploiting them. These politicians clearly do not have the best interests of the students at heart and are ready to jeopardise young lives for immediate political gain at the expense of the very education their parents have sacrificed to provide.
I make this impassioned plea to their parents in the light of recent publications allegedly originating from some of these students themselves.
I call on those desperate politicians who are so blinded by ambition that they do not mind endangering the future of our youth to kindly cease these reckless actions immediately. The lives and destinies of these students are infinitely more precious than any fleeting political agenda. If they insist on using young people as pawns, then they should deploy their own children rather than the children of others.
I also implore all those who value integrity, justice, and the prosperous future of this nation to condemn such reprehensible tactics in the strongest terms. These self-serving individuals cannot be allowed to jeopardize the future of our youth and imperil the very fabric of our society in their quest for power at any cost. We must stand united against those who would stop at nothing to gain or hold on to power even at the expense of the next generation. The path forward for a truly great society demands that we protect the potential of our young people as our most precious resource. Their well-being must remain paramount.
OLUMIDE OSAIGBOVO AKPATA
Edo State Labour Party Governorship Candidate
22 April 2024
Prince AbdulKadir Mahe, the Chief of Staff to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, is dead.
He passed away on Saturday morning, December 28, 2024.
He will be buried today at his home on Moro Street, Adewole Estate, Ilorin, after the Asr prayer.
The governor and others have sent their sympathies to his family and loved ones.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye confirmed the development also confirmed in a statement.
The statement said: “In total submission to the will of Allaah, we regret to announce the passing of the Chief of Staff to His Excellency, Prince AbdulKadir Mahe.
“He died this morning, December 28, 2024, as has been destined by Allaah.
“The late CoS will be buried today at his residence on Moro Street, Adewole Estate, Ilorin, after the Asr prayer.
His Excellency deeply mourns the death of Prince AbdulKadir Mahe, a perfect gentleman, community leader, urbane public servant, and a statesman.
“The governor commiserates with the Emir of Ilorin, Alh. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the immediate family of Prince AbdulKadir; government establishments; and cabinet members.
“We ask for the understanding of everyone at this mournful period as the government and family mourn the quintessential public servant.
“We pray that Allaah accept his return, ease his accounts, admit him to al-jannah Firdaus, and uphold his family upon goodness
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced planned power outages in certain areas this weekend to allow for maintenance work on its transmission equipment.
According to a statement by the General Manager of Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, the exercise is aimed at ensuring better service delivery.
On Saturday, December 28, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Gwagwalada and nearby communities will experience a temporary power outage. This is to allow engineers to perform maintenance on a 60MVA transformer and related switchgear at the Gwagwalada Transmission Substation.
Similarly, on Sunday, December 29, 2024, power will be interrupted in several areas, including Wuye, EFCC, Federal Medical Centre, Coca-Cola, Idu Railway Station, Citec, and Life Camp. The outage will occur from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. as engineers carry out work on another 60MVA transformer at the Kukwaba Transmission Substation.
In the statement, TCN apologized for the inconvenience caused by the outages and sought the understanding of affected customers. It emphasized the importance of the maintenance work to ensure the power equipment functions optimally. “TCN apologizes for the inconvenience this may cause, especially during the end-of-year season. However, it is important that maintenance is carried out as scheduled for optimal performance of power equipment,” the statement read.
* As train is delayed, NRC officials demand tickets
By Emmanuel Agaji
The much publicised tree train ride for passengers travelling to different destinations along the Itakpe/ Warri route may be a hoax as officials of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) at Itakpe, Kogi State, demand e-tickets and other evidence of payment for the trip.
Naojablitznews observed that upon arrival at the train station, travellers are accosted by the train operators to show their tickets to confirm their booking for the ride.
When a passenger shows his ticket, he is allowed to move into the Departure Lounge while those who had arrived on the assumption that the train ride was free are shoved aside , told to write down their names on a sheet of paper and stay under a canopy until those who paid for the trip have been allocated seats on the train.
The Federal Government had, a few days ago announced that Nigerians will enjoy free train rides during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The government also announced that transportation by road would be subsidised up to fifty per cent. However, these promises appear to have been mere propaganda.
The situation has left many travellers confused and stranded especially as
the train which ought to take off from Itakpe at t 2 pm on Saturday has not shown up at the station as at 3.16 pm.
Hundreds of passengers are currently stranded and waiting under the scorching heat of the sun as officials continue their discriminatory admission of passengers into the Departure Lounge.
There are fears that the train may not hit the station until about 4 pm and many passengers may not have space on it because of the perceived underhand dealings by the train officials.
While the officials of the Itakpe Train Station continue to plead for understanding over the delay of the train, their emphasis has been on how to cater for those who booked online for the trip and very little or no emphasis is made to reassure those who came for the free ride announced by the Federal Government that they were at the right place.
More details later
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