Year: 2022

The Speakership crisis in Ekiti State, by Reuben Abati

Emporium Reporters

On October 16, 2022, former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State handed over power at a colourful ceremony attended by big wigs of the All Progressives Congress and others to Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, the former Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, who emerged as Governor-elect in the state’s June 18 governorship election. Fayemi had completed his maximum two terms as Governor. He served as Governor, 2010 -2014, and also from October 2018 to October 2022. In-between, he was Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development.   But since his departure in…

Wike introduces free school feeding programme, presents N550b 2023 budget

Emporium Reporters

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has presented a budget estimate of 550 billion naira for the 2023 fiscal year, the highest to be projected by his administration since assuming office in 2015.   The Governor who presented the appropriation bill to the state’s House of Assembly on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, also announced a free feeding programme for pupils in primary schools to increase enrolments.   Wike explained that his administration projected ₦351bn as Capital Expenditure for the 2023 fiscal year.   The Governor explained that in 2023 the State…

World Cup in Qatar, by Reuben Abati

Emporium Reporters

The 22nd edition of the FIFA football World Cup currently taking place in Qatar, the first-ever edition of the World Cup in the Middle East, is causing so much self-inflicted catarrh in the Western media due to the attempt by that wing of media practice to do everything possible to discredit the hosting of the World Cup by the Middle Eastern country. It has been said that Qatar “bought” the World Cup for sports-washing purposes, or that it is all about the money, and questions have been raised about LGBTQ+…

FHA moves to construct Smart City in Abuja

Emporium Reporters

The Federal Housing Authority FHA has concluded plans to build a smart city in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. The Managing Director of FHA, Senator Gbenga Ashafa stated this while on a working visit to the area with the Minster of State , Works and Housing, Alhaji Umar El-Yakubu located in Kabuso, Shishipe 11 in Abuja metropolis. The Managing Director said the Abuja model City is 11 km stretch and drive from the city centre ,with serene and natural endowments that will attract more development in the nearest future. Senator…

What politicians can teach labour leaders,By Owei Lakemfa

Emporium Reporters

INTRIGUING. I mean the topic leaders of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, FOBTOB asked me speak on. ‘Trade Union Leadership: Lessons to be learnt from or Taught to the Political Class.’ I know a lot of lessons politicians can teach labour leaders, but scratch my head what the latter can teach our tribe of political leaders. It is not really that they are two diametrically opposed societies. Parties and unions actually have similarities such as being mass-based organisations with members who are expected to pay dues. Also,…

Ekiti Assembly impeaches Aribisogan after one week in office, elects first female Speaker

Emporium Reporters

The Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, has been impeached.   Aribisogan on Monday, November 21, 2022, was removed from his seat after barely six days in office.   He was impeached and suspended indefinitely by seventeen lawmakers, for blocking the passage of the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Bill.     Aribisogan was immediately replaced by the Assembly Chief Whip, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba from Emure Constituency, who was unanimously elected new Speaker by all the 17 lawmakers present at a plenary presided over by the Deputy…

2023: Twenty-three persons slump at Tinubu’s one-million march rally in Kano

Emporium Reporters

No fewer than 23 persons were reported to have slumped among the crowd that generated gridlock during the one-million march rally for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Kano state.     The one-million-man march, which took place in Kano on Sunday, November 21, 2022, started from the Emir’s palace in the ancient city and reached its climax at the Government House cenotaph roundabout where Governor Abdullahi Ganduje received the support group.   It was led by Seyi Tinubu, the son of the presidential candidate…

NASENI; Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna’s Flare Towards Promoting Local Contents, By ABUBAKAR YUSUF.

Emporium Reporters

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure NASENI under Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna had witnessed a major turn around in the last few years away from mere policy framework to realising the potentials of skill development, acquisition, capacity building and local content development in recent times. This was occasioned by the appointment of an astute administrator, academic, with the combination of technocratic and bureaucratic experience spanned for many years, breaking the jinx of using the science based activities only for experiments, but by extension deploying it to ressolve myriads…

APU VC mourns KWASU VC, Prof Akanbi

Emporium Reporters

The Vice Chancellor, Ahman Pategi University,Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji said the news of the death of the 2nd Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University, Prof. Muhammad Mustapha Akanbi, SAN, was received with utter shock and complete befuddlement. He said Ahman Pategi University APU community is devasted. Allah knows best. Prof Adedimeji in a statement personally signed by him said; “As an individual, it is a personal loss as I have lost a benefactor, brother, leader and cheerleader. “A straight tree in the forest of men, Prof. Akanbi stood tall among his…

2023: POSN asks Tinubu to withdraw over alleged drug-related offences, perjury

Emporium Reporters

Peter Obi Support Network (POSN), has asked the presidential candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw from the race for alleged drug related offences in United States of America, and other allegations bordering on perjury filed against him at a High Court in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.   This is contained in a statement by the group’s Deputy Director of Communications, Emmanuel Adesuji, which was made available to newsmen yesterday.   The group said investigations in the public domain…