Month: September 2021

Raypower @ 27: Once Upon A Mustard Seed By Femi Akintunde-Johnson

Emporium Reporters

On Wednesday, September 1, 2021, Nigeria’s pioneer private radio station marked its twenty seventh anniversary without much pomp. In recognition of the dire times, the managers of the network radio enterprise organised a Zoom multicast session (Factfile) that I was graciously invited to participate as one of the speakers, alongside Prof. Olayinka Alawode, the Dean of the School of Communication, LASU – perhaps, there were more programmes. Well, I have chosen to memorialise the occasion with a rehash of my tribute a few years ago, in recognition of the great…

Nigerian Govt condemns Coup D’etat in Guinea

Emporium Reporters

The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed sadness over the apparent coup d’état that reportedly hit Conakry, the capital of Republic of Guinea in the West African country today Sunday 5th September. Alpha Conde, the President of the country, was said to have been captured by the soldiers.   The 83-year old president won a third term after tinkering with the constitution. Nigerian government in a press statement signed the spokesperson of Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs.Esther Sunsuwa on Sunday, 5 September, 2021,described the coup d’état as a clear violation…

ABIMBOLA, I KNOW WHAT THE DSS REALLY REALLY DOES AND WANTS By Dr. Peter Afunanya

Emporium Reporters

Abimbola, I have read your piece, titled, WHAT DOES THE DSS REALLY REALLY DO?, published on the back page of 2nd September, 2021 edition of the Punch Newspaper. By my nature, I do not like joining issues and I know the Department of State Services that I represent and speak for does not like same. The reason is not farfetched. For me, I believe that people who have made up their minds about certain issues will hardly see the other side of the matter even in the face of glaring…

Bandits abduct District Head in Niger

Emporium Reporters

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have kidnapped the district head of Wawa community in Borgu Kingdom, Dr. Mahmud Ahmed Aliyu. The PUNCH gathered that the district head was kidnapped in his palace around 9:30pm of Saturday by some gunmen. . According to a source, the abductors stormed his palace in their numbers, carrying guns and cutlasses; and went straight to his apartment where he had already retired. Aliyu is said to be the 16th Dodo of Wawa and a PhD holder in Environmental Science from a Malaysian university . He…

APC Congress: Gov. Bello commends hitch -free LG Congress, describes Kogi a perfect example of peaceful politics

Emporium Reporters

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has commended Saturday’s hitch-free Local Government congresses which witnessed the election of leaders of the All Progressive Congress across the twenty-one LG areas of the state. The governor in a press statement on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Muhammed Onogwu after the conclusion of the much peaceful exercise noted that the Kogi state has since become a perfect emblem of peaceful politics in the country. Governor Bello said the local government Congress just like the recently held ward congresses adopted a consensus system in…

FCT Police arrests notorious car thief,recovers exhibits

Emporium Reporters

The FCT Police Command has arrested one Badawi Abdullahi Ahmed ‘m’ 38years, a notorious car thief who specialized in stealing cars from where parked. The suspect Badawi Abdullahi Ahmed stole one blue Toyota Corolla with registration number FKJ 625 DV from where it was parked at Aguiyi Ironsi street Maitama on Tuesday 24th August, 2021. Upon receipt of the information, Police detectives from Maitama Division swung into action and trailed the suspect to Talata Mafara Zamfara state where he was intercepted and arrested in possession of the stolen vehicle. Exhibits…

Those ready to die for Buhari in 2015 are weeping today because of him — Abuja Imam, Sheikh Khalid

Emporium Reporters

Sheikh Muhammad Nuru Khalid is the Chief Imam, Legislative Quarters, Apo, Abuja. A cleric noted for speaking the truth to the authorities, he speaks, in this interview by Saturday Tribune Deputy Editor, SALIU GBADAMOSI, on challenges of insecurity in Nigeria, farmers/herders’ issues, crises in Plateau State, among others. Excerpt: Nigeria is currently facing a lot of security challenges ranging from terrorism and banditry to kidnapping. How do you think the country got to this point? They are also doing what they like in parts of Sokoto State. Look at the…

Gov Bello condemns Olajide Sowore’s killing, commiserates with family

Emporium Reporters

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has condemned the killing of Olajide Sowore, younger brother of former Presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore who was killed on Saturday in Okada, Edo state. The Governor in a condolences message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Muhammed Onogwu commiserated with the Sowore family stating that the death of Mr Olajide Sowore was indeed a painful one Governor Bello noted that evil men carrying out such an act of cowardice on a harmless citizen must be fetched out and brought to book added that no life…

Nigeria’s Cat and Mouse Fight With Amnesty International Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

“Where the cat is a kitten, the court is wretched… No man there would rest at night because of rodents, for we mice would destroy many men’s malt, and you rats would tear men’s clothes were it not for the cat of the court who can pounce on you. If you rats had your way, you could not rule yourselves” – William Langland, ‘The Parliament of Rats and Mice’. There is this bitterly hostile rivalry between cats, mice and rats that is as old as antiquity. Unable to find a…

Why Governor Badaru is Called Baba Mai Calculator in Jigawa By Habibu Nuhu Kila

Emporium Reporters

Many have sought to know why the governor of Jigawa State, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar is being called ‘Baba Mai Calculator’ by the citizens of the state. The phraseology is roughly translated to mean ‘the man who uses the calculator always.’   It may not be easy to explain the genesis of the name to someone who does not know the governor at close range, except, of course, for those who knew him before he became governor. Badaru has been an international businessman long before he joined politics. In fact, his…