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Okpebholo freezes bank accounts, orders CP to end cult clashes
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Thursday, ordered the freezing of all state bank accounts with immediate effect, until further notice.
The governor warned commercial banks, heads of ministries, departments and agencies to comply with the order freezing the account immediately without delay.
The governor also asked the Commissioner of Police to halt the violent cult clashes in the state in 48 hours.
These were disclosed in statements by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, on Thursday.
In one of the statements, the governor warned that anyone, including heads of MDAs and civil servants who flouted the order on the accounts would be severely punished.
He said, “All bank accounts in all the commercial banks have been frozen. Commercial banks must comply with the order and ensure that not a dime is taken out of the confers of government until there is further notice.
“Heads of ministries, departments and agencies must comply with this order and ensure that there is a full compliance without any further delays.
“After the necessary investigations and reconciliations, the governor will do the needful and decide on the way forward. For now, this order stands.”
The governor asked the relevant government agencies to reverse the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to the Ministry of Works.
Okpebholo said since no bridges or good roads were constructed by the administration of Godwin Obaseki, it was, therefore, absurd to maintain such a name.
He ordered relevant government agencies to implement the new order and immediately reflect the new name.
“It is funny how you can call a government institution the Ministry of Roads and Bridges. Ironically, no single bridge was built by the same administration. Not even a pedestrian bridge.
“In the coming days, we will look at more actions taken by the previous administration and more decisions will be taken that will be done in the best interest of the state.”
On the cult clashes, the governor asked the police commissioner to instruct his officers and men across the various formations to immediately swing into action and halt the unnecessary bloodbath.
The statement read, “As the governor of Edo State, cultism cannot be allowed here.
We must end it very fast too.
“I have ordered the Commissioner of Police to halt the madness within 48 hours. All those involved in the killings should be stopped.
“Some associations that are causing trouble in the state, especially in Benin City, cannot be allowed to operate.
“They all remain banned, and the commissioner of police must ensure that his men carry out this instruction by giving teeth to this ban.
“Edo must be safe. That was one of my key priorities during the campaigns and I plan to ensure that we restore it at all costs. We will not fold our arms and allow them to create unnecessary tension.”
Speaking late night on Wednesday, the governor said his traducers tried hard to pull him down but God gave him victory at the September 21 governorship election.
Speaking at a thanksgiving service at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, he also recounted how he found a dead bat on his bed hours before he was declared the winner of the election.
He urged Nigerians to trust in God alone, irrespective of their challenges in life.
In his words, “I want to thank God. In this last election, while I was praising God, they (traducers) were busy operating from Arise. They were busy operating from Facebook. They were busy operating from Channels.
“But, I took the battle to God because I know the secret. A few days before the election, they said this guy (Okpebholo) was crazy when we gathered to praise God in this state.
“They asked, ‘What is he doing?’ They were there at Arise. But, I was listening to the voice of God and I won the battle.”
He said after the election on Sunday morning, he came to his room and met a dead bat on his bed.
“After the election on Sunday morning, I came to my room. I met a dead bat on my bed, without me shooting any arrow. But, the spirit of God was there. The arrow of God; the hand of God delivered me.
“I am grateful to the men of God that stood in the gap. I am grateful to those who believe that with God, all things are possible. And I will advise you to trust in God alone because he will do it for you,” Okpebholo said.
The governor disclosed that he did not consult any native doctor, or prophet or visit any native doctor to seek help throughout the electioneering period.
The thanksgiving worship service had in attendance prominent politicians and clergymen, among others.
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Just in: Tinubu exposes those behind deadly stampedes
President Bola Tinubu has accused organisers for the deadly stampedes that occurred during the distribution of relief materials in three states.
Recall in the past week, chaotic scenes in Ibadan, Anambra and Abuja led to the deaths of over 60 people, including children, as crowds scrambled for food items.
During a Presidential Media Chat on Monday, Tinubu described the events as a critical failure in planning and execution.
Condolences to those who lost a family member, but it is good to give. I have been giving out food stuff, commodities, etc. in Bourdillon.
“I am an organized person and that’s why I have been giving people food for the past 25 years and no incident has happened.
“Let this tragedy not affect us”, the Nigerian leader said.
The president also said he has no plans to reduce his cabinet or sack more ministers.
For the controversial tax reform bills, he said it has come to stay.
He also revealed he has no regrets removing fuel subsidy.
He declared utmost confidence in his security chiefs saying over the past decades, wanton killings has reduced drastically.
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Tinubu To Hold Maiden Presidential Media Chat Tonight
President Bola Tinubu will hold first presidential chat since assuming office on Monday night.
Accoding to a statement released by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the chat will be broadcast at 9 p.m. on the stations of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
All television and radio stations are requested to hook up to the broadcast.
“The first Presidential Media Chat with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be broadcast at 9 p.m. on Monday, December 23, on the Nigerian Television Authority and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.
“All television and radio stations are requested to hook up to the broadcast,” the statement.
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‘Putin waiting to meet me as soon as possible’ to end Ukraine war – Trump
The US President-elect took to the stage AmFest in Phoenix to talk about his contact with the Russian leader.
He told the crowd: “President Putin has said he want to meet with me as soon as possible.”
Trump went on to brand the war “horrible” and stated it needed to end. It is not known whether or not this meeting will take place in person. His comments at the event in the US come as Putin met with another world leader.
Putin held talks in the Kremlin today (December 22) with Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, in a rare visit to Moscow by an EU leader since Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Fico arrived in Russia on a “working visit” and met with Putin one-on-one. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia’s RIA agency that the talks would focus on “the international situation” and Russian natural gas deliveries.
Visits and phone calls from European leaders to Putin have been rare since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine, although Hungary’s PM Viktor Orban visited Russia in July. Orban’s visit drew condemnation from Kyiv and European leaders.Fico’s views on Russia’s war on Ukraine differ sharply from most other European leaders. The Slovakian PM returned to power last year after his leftist party Smer (Direction) won parliamentary elections on a pro-Russia and anti-American platform. Since then, he has ended his country’s military aid for Ukraine, hit out at EU sanctions on Russia, and vowed to block Ukraine from joining NATO.
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