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Ooni Named Royal Father Of Largest Black Nation

Ooni named Royal Father of Largest Black Nation

The National Youth Council of Nigeria has named the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, as the Royal Father of the Largest Black Nation in the World.

The honour was bestowed on the Ooni on Tuesday at the Extra-Elective Congress of the NYCN held at the Calabar Municipal Local Government Headquarters, Calabar, Cross River State.

At the congress, which had as theme, ‘Harmonisation for Unity and Progress,’ the monarch expressed his unalloyed commitment to youth development and nation building.

The Ooni, who was represented by the Oore of Otun-Ekiti, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo and the Alapomu of Apomu, Oba Kayode Adenekan, said his decision to dedicate the ancient throne of Oduduwa to youth emancipation was to give the needed mentorship to youths towards prosperity.

According to Oba Adeagbo, “When the Ooni hosted you last year, he promised to open up doors of opportunities for you and even bring down barriers militating against your growth, a careful look at the beautiful promise shows that Baba has done a lot.

“Aside from those, the Ooni has been doing in the private to ensure that Nigerian youths are well placed in the society particularly towards attaining leadership positions nationwide, I am sure you all are aware of the security summit held recently in Abuja where the Ooni emphatically called for massive inclusion.”

Similarly, the Alapomu of Apomu said the appointment would further motivate the Ooni to do more in his services to the country through the youth.

“You have just done well by sending loads of appreciation to Baba through this appointment and I’m sure he won’t let you down.

“All that the Ooni is asking you for us unity, willingness to sacrifice for the growth of Nigeria and consistency. With these, I am confident that immeasurable successes would be recorded going further.”

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, in his address, described the Ooni as a unique gift given to Nigeria by God.

Dare, who was represented by the Director of Network and Social Mobilisation Department, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Amina Muhd Dauran, urged the Ooni not to relent in his efforts towards uplifting the youth of Nigeria.

“The Ooni has come at a time when the country needs efficient leadership and a strong unifying force in this trying time of our country. We pray that the Almighty God grants him a healthy long life to fulfill all the goodness in his heart,” he prayed.

Making the presentation on behalf of other members of the NYCN, the council’s president, Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, said the honour was beyond mere award, as it has been gazetted that the Ooni is the NYCN life patron.

“It was enshrined in the constitution because of the Ooni’s youthful disposition that he has shown over the years and this award is the highest award being given to a traditional ruler in Nigeria.

“We are proud to announce the Ooni to the entire world. This is a message that the Ooni whom we have recognised should be respected maximally across the world. We know he has the heart of the young people and we are proud to be associated with him for life,” Sukubo said.

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Bandits kill one, kidnap district head, eight others in Kebbi

Bandits have kidnapped Alhaji Isah Daya, the district head of Kanya under the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The bandits kidnapped the monarch and eight others when they stormed his village on Saturday, October 5, 2024.

The bandits also k!lled one and injured three persons during the attack.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Nafui Abubakar, who confirmed the attack, gave the name of the deceased as Sherriff Alhaji Almu.

According to the PPRO, a combined security team led by the police has launched a manhunt on the abductors of the monarch to rescue the abducted persons.

He noted that the Kebbi State Government has provided the needed logistics to tame banditry in the affected towns, particularly Kebbi South, Zuru Emirate.

The attack came a few days after bandits k!lled the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Suru Local Government Area of the state.

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FG mobilises Julius Berger to complete N820b road projects

The Federal Government has told Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to fast-track the completion of the rehabilitation of the 82-kilometre Section II of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway and the construction of the Bodo-Bonny road with bridges across the Opobo Channel, Route 430 in Rivers State.

Works Minister David Umahi said the government could not continually negotiate with the contractor over the same projects.

In a statement in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji, during a meeting with Julius Berger, represented by its Executive Director for Projects, Benjamin Bott, and the Head of Contract Management, Omonigho Brown, the minister stressed the need for contractors handling Federal Government’s projects to exhibit corporate nationalism in price negotiation in the face of the daunting economic challenges facing the country.

Umahi said the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its meeting on September 23, approved the re-scoping and downward review of the contracts.

He said: “We have Section II, which is 82 kilometres by two, which is the section that JBN Plc is working on.

“And so, if you check what FEC approved on September 23, FEC had approved that the total contract sum within the scope of Berger would be N740 billion. This means that if you remove N391 billion paid already, you now have about N340 billion remaining. This is the scope of their work for the 164 kilometres.”

The minister urged the contractor to mobilise for work on the four sections of the Abuja-Zaria-Kaduna-Kano project to finish the job within 14 months.

News

Police thwart plan by armed men to kidnap a foreigner in Anambra, recover four dead bodies

Police Operatives in the morning of Sunday, October 6th, 2024 thwarted the abduction/kidnapping plan of a foreigner by suspected armed secessionist members in Ogbunka village.

The Operatives courageously engaged the hoodlums in a gun battle and saved the VIP.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer who disclosed this in a statement said during the gun duel, two Police Operatives who were hit by bullet escaped with the foreigner.

He added that they are stable and are currently receiving treatment in a hospital.

Meanwhile, Operations are ongoing in the area for the possible arrest of the Armed men.

Also, Police operatives attached to Nimo Police Station responded to a distress call on 6/10/2024 by 8:25 pm of a suspected cult clash at Umuka, Nawfia. The Operatives upon arriving at the scene, found four lifeless bodies of young men in a pool of blood with suspected multiple gunshot injuries lying on the road.

The victims were confirmed dead by a doctor on duty and have been deposited to the morgue.

They were later identified as one Ebuka Nwaonkwube Ekenta of Mmimi village Nawfia, Nnatuanya Junior A.K: A Starboy of Mmimi village Nawfia, Aniemena A.K.A Osama of Umuariam Village and one Ahmed Auwal.

Information from eyewitnesses and some villagers reveal that the victims are known for their nefarious activities and are always in rivalry with another cult group in the area.

Furthermore, Joint patrol with Operatives of the Special Anit Cultism Squad (SPACS) has been intensified in the area.

In another development, the Commissioner of Police *CP Nnaghe Obono Itam* has ordered
immediate investigations into the gruesome murder of a 17-year-old girl suspected of being used for ritual purpose.

The girl’s lifeless body was found in a bush at Omasi village on 6/10/2024 by 4:25 pm and she was later identified as one Chinasa Adigwe from Umueje village and her private parts were cut off in a bush at Omasi Village before Police were alerted. The body has been recovered and deposited in a morgue.

The CP while condoling with the family, friends and Community of the deceased states that the Police shall do everything possible to make sure that those behind the barbaric act are arrested and justice served.