News
My life now under heavy threat after my new year message – Obi alleges
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has alleged threat to his life following his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in his new year message.
Obi’s allegation follows a statement credited to the national spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, in a recent interview.
Morka was quoted to have said that “Peter Obi has crossed the line so many times and has it coming to him whatever he gets”.
In his new year press conference on Thursday, Obi had lamented the political, economic and security, healthcare situation in the country.
The former Anambra State governor said that the political, economic and security situation of Nigeria is worsening daily, despite government’s contrary positions and claims of improvement in different spheres of human endeavour.
“Our national challenges are visibly worsening. Our nation and its fortunes are in clear reverse. The indices are clearly indicative of our decline; thus our national indices tell a disconcerting story,” Obi said.
“Nigeria remains one of the poverty capitals of the world, with over 100 million people living in extreme poverty and more than 150 million in multidimensional poverty. The situation has deteriorated significantly over the past 18 months under the current administration.
“As a nation, we have fallen from being the largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of $574 billion and a per capita income of over $3,500 in 2014, to now ranking fourth on the continent. Our current GDP is less than 50% of what it was a decade ago, standing at approximately $200 billion, with a per capita income of barely $1,000.”
Reacting to Morka’s statement in a post on his X handle on Monday, Obi asked if he has “really crossed the line” after receiving threats against his life, family, and associates following his New Year’s message.
He challenged anyone who thinks he has crossed the line to point it out to him where he did, expressing his commitment to upholding decorum.
The former governor also vowed not to be silenced in his resolve to speak truthfully, especially as the country “drift toward undemocratic practices.”
His post reads, “I ask the question because my New Year message has now led to threats against my life, my family, and those around me. While I have received all sorts of messages, one Mr. Felix Morka has gone further to accuse me of “crossing the line” and has warned that I will face the consequences.
“If I have truly crossed the line, I invite anyone to point it out, as I remain committed to upholding decorum. However, I will not be silenced in my resolve to speak truthfully, especially as our nation continues to drift toward undemocratic practices.
“We are increasingly transforming into an authoritarian and repressive regime, where freedom of expression is being systematically suppressed. May God help us create a better and freer society for the sake of our children.”
News
Enugu State Government System Hacked, Over N1 Billion Stolen — Police reveals
Police authorities on Tuesday, revealed how a cyber criminal hacked into the system of the Enugu State Government and stole the whooping sum of N1,097,700,300 from its coffers.
The police said it took the swift intervention of the operatives of its departments, National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), to trace the hacker and recover the stolen money.
The spokesman of the Force, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja during a press briefing, gave the name of the suspected hacker as Onuma Osita.
The police image maker told newsmen that the hacker had already been taken into custody while the funds estimated to be $754,977 had been recovered and returned to the state government purse.
Adejobi said, “NPF-NCCC investigated a report by the Enugu State Government against one Onuma Osita who defrauded the Enugu State Government of over N1bn in a procurement fraud.
News
Cabal in Tinubu gov’t more dangerous than Buhari’s –Dalung
Solomon Dalung, a former Minister of Youth and Sports, has said that the cabal in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government is more dangerous than that of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Dalung stated this during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today.
He said that Tinubu is surrounded with an ambitious and sophisticated cabal, saying the president would suffer the most.
Dalung added that Buhari was a stranger in his own government, because of the cabal which surrounded him.
He stated that Nigerians faced untold hardship, saying he expected the president to be compassionate.
He said, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabal was made up of people who were not quite informed, who had little experience in politics, public administration and governance. Their activities were more or less limited to their parochial understanding of power relations and helping themselves with public funds.
“But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabal is made up of a sophisticated and ambitious group of people, who have a long history of power. They are experienced and educated. So, they have sound knowledge of what power is.
“And since they are ambitious set of people, the presidency will suffer more than that of President Muhammadu Buhari, because of their capacity to manipulate power, their capacity to also build either security barricade around the president or block information from getting to the president except what they wanted and those they want to access the president.
“These cabals are masters. Therefore, they may be more dangerous than any cabal in the previous administrations to the best of my knowledge.”
News
Sad! Gov Alia mourns Prof Orkar, elder brother of Major Gideon Orkar
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has mourned the death of the first Professor of “Zwa Tiv,” (Tiv Language) Prof. Kpamor Orkar.
This is contained in a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula in Makurdi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Orkar was the elder brother of Maj. Gideon Orkar who was sentenced to death by the Ibrahim Babagida military regine for his involvement in a coup plot to unseat him.
Orkar died at a private hospital in Abuja, on Sunday, Jan. 5.
Alia said Orkar would always be remembered for some of the finest Tiv literary publications, authoring several books written in Tiv language.
The governor described the late Orkar as a great community leader, father and builder of many, adding that his influence as a politician and public servant, extended far beyond his immediate family and professional circle.
He said Orkar’s public service, excellence, knowledge, wisdom, guidance, and mentorship has shaped many generations, and would continue to inspire many to strive for excellence.
He prayed to God to console his immediate family, the people of Makurdi Local Government Area and Benue as a whole, and to equally grant Orkar eternal rest.
NAN reports that Orkar was a former councillor representing the Ugondo/ Mbasambo council ward of Gwer gocal government area in 1978.
He was a member of the Benue State House of Assembly representing Yonov District Constituency of Makurdi local government in 1979.
He also served as commissioner for Works and Transport in the former governor Aper Aku’s administration.
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