News
Edo Agog as Ogbona Community Receives Multi Million Modern Security Structure, Equipment Provided by Peter Dunia , Ogbona Youth Forum
Etsako Land, courtesy of Ogbona community and Peter Dunia is wearing a new look over the construction of the start of the art Divisional Police Headquarters due for commissioning by the inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun .
The event scheduled to hold on Saturday will attract dignataries from all walks of life
The unique event will bring to an end the activities of criminals and criminalities approached with sophisticated equipment in the area .
“All is now set for the inauguration of the new Divisional Police Headquarters and ICT-Data Centre, by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, in Ogbona community, in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State, tomorrow, Saturday, December 21.,”
“The ulta-modern DPHQ and ICT-Data Centre were built by Ogbona Youth Forum (OYF) in collaboration with a frontline indigene of the community and an accomplished oil and gas magnate, Mr. Peter Omoh Dunia, alias Peter Black.”
The ultra-modern DPHQ and fully equipped ICT-Data Centre were ready for inauguration by Egbetokun, as at the time newsmen visited the areas on Friday.
Also expected at the ceremony are the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, top functionaries of the Federal and Edo State Government as well as top brass of the various security agencies and leaders and traditional rulers of the various communities in Etsako land.
Findings revealed that the task of building a divisional police headquarters in Ogbona, was initiated by OYF before Peter Dunia joined forces with his kinsmen to accomplish the target.
With the involvement of Peter Dunia, the scope of the community interventionist project was expanded to include an ultra-modern ICT-Data Centre.
The DPHQ was kitted with modern furniture and round the clock power supply. An effective close circuit camera has also been installed to monitor movement around the police station.
The ICT-Data Centre, is being manned by experts who would train the police personnel in the areas in the management of the facility.
It was learnt that the ICT-DATA Centre was designed to process and manage information on crime, especially in eliminating crimes and tracking down criminals in Ogbona Police division and its environs.
The facility is also expected to serve as data bank to the police and other security agencies operating in Ogbona and its environs.
Journalists who were conducted round the facilities by Peter Dunia, in commpay of leaders of OYF, on Friday ahead of Saturday’s opening ceremony, were satisfied about the state-of the-art edifice.
The edifice was a cyncosure of all eyes as indigenes of Ogbona and neighbouring communities, besieged the scene.
The indigenes expressed happiness over the gesture, which they said would go a long way to bring crime to zero level in the area.
They hailed the leadership of OYF and Peter Dunia for the gesture.
Finishing touches were being put on the DPHQ and the ICT-Data Centre in readiness for tomorrow’s opening ceremony by the IGP.
The policemen attached to Ogbona DPHQ wore colourful uniforms.
They were in top spirit as they anxiously awaited their superiors led by Egbetokun from the Police Headquarters in Abuja and Edo State Police Command.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) Muahammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111 has commended the developmental strides of Sokoto state governor, Ahmed Aliyu, just as he assured of the support of traditional institutions in the state.
Sultan who admonished other governor’s to also borrow a leaf from governor Ahmed Aliyu who ensures that resident communities enjoys equal benefit from everybody, added that, Nigerians should project what unites us moe than that which divides us.
“In Sokoto, we appreciate what the Governor is doing and we’d like to assure him of the support of the traditional institution so that he can continue the good work he’s doing of transforming our State.
“The Governor and our security agencies are doing their best and this has made the state to record tremendous improvement in the fight against banditry,” the Sultan averred.
While adding that governor Ahmed Aliyu deserves special commendation for the massive distribution of food items during the just-concluded Ramadan fast, Sultan urged Nigerians to always be law-abiding and desist from any act that may jeopardise the long lasting peace the country is enjoying.
Registering his displeasure over how the social media is been used negatively to promote and sow seed o discord, the Sultan said, some unpatriotic citizens use social media to spread falsehood, misinformation and provocative statements that can destroy the peaceful atmosphere the country is enjoying.
He, therefore, called on the security agencies in the country to be watchful of the unpatriotic citizens trying to create chaos in the land.
Speaking during his
Sallah homage on governor Ahmed Aliyu at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Lodge, Sokoto, Sultan
said, “”In Sokoto all Nigerians are treated as indigenes, an act that gives Nigerians residing in the State a sense of belonging.
Sultan equally stressed the need for for state governors to give much emphasis in protecting the lives and property of their subjects, describing security as the basis upon which all societies could progress.
Responding, governor Ahmed Aliyu reassured his administration’s determination to do everything humanly possible to make the state safe and secured.
He blamed unemployment especially among the youths as responsible for the insecurity being recorded in many parts of the country.
According to Aliyu, many youths have joined informants’ groups so as to be getting stipends to make ends meet.
“This administration has so far trained and graduated thousands of youths and women in different trades so as to make them productive members in the society.
” I want to assure you that we would soon embark on another massive skills acquisition programme to engage more unemployed youths in our modest attempt to reduce restiveness among our youths,” he vowed
Gov. Aliyu further reassured the people of the state that his administration would continue to prioritize Islamic affairs, adding that more Mosques and Islamiyya schools would continue to receive the desired attention from the state government.
He thanked the people of the state for their fervent prayers and support to his administration and called for it’s sustainance.
Sterling Bank has made a groundbreaking move by eliminating transfer charges on local transactions, aiming to create a more equitable banking experience for Nigerians. The question now arises: will other financial institutions follow this lead?
On April 1, Sterling Bank announced the removal of transfer fees for all local digital transactions, positioning itself as the first major bank in Nigeria to implement such a policy. Initially, the announcement faced skepticism, with many believing it to be an April Fools’ Day joke. However, Sterling has since reaffirmed the policy’s legitimacy and immediate implementation, signaling a significant evolution in the industry’s customer service approach.
Obinna Ukachukwu, the Growth Executive overseeing the Consumer and Business Banking Directorate, stated, “We believe that accessing your own funds should not incur a penalty. This decision transcends financial implications; it reflects our core values.”
With this new policy, Sterling customers can now make free transfers for all local transactions via the bank’s mobile app. This initiative is anticipated to yield considerable savings for individuals and small business owners who frequently engage in transfers.
“We may not be the largest bank in Nigeria, but we are certainly the most audacious,” Ukachukwu declared. “Sterling Bank is committed to the future of Nigeria, and we are backing our fellow citizens with more than just words.”
Sterling Bank has a history of prioritizing customer welfare, having previously offered financial assistance to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This latest initiative has garnered widespread public support, igniting conversations on social media and prompting calls for other banks to adopt similar practices.
“We take pride in leading this transformative change,” Ukachukwu concluded. “We hope to inspire others to rethink what customers truly require from their banks, not only in terms of services but also in values.”
On Wednesday, the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, convened in Abuja, dismissed the Action Alliance’s (AA) petition aimed at overturning the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi and comprising a three-member panel, determined that the petition, filed by AA and its National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, was without merit.
The tribunal concluded that the issues raised in the petition were pre-election matters, falling outside its jurisdiction to adjudicate.
The petitioners claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had excluded their legitimate candidate from the governorship election held on September 21, 2024. They argued that, in contradiction to several court rulings, INEC recognized a candidate who had not been validly nominated by the party.
Furthermore, the petitioners contended that INEC’s failure to publish the name of their party’s rightful candidate constituted a significant violation of Section 134(1)(b) of the Electoral Act.
In addition to these claims, they asserted that Governor Okpebholo, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not receive the majority of legitimate votes and that the election was tainted by corrupt practices.
As a result, they sought the annulment of the election; however, the tribunal panel denied their request on Wednesday.
The panel upheld all preliminary objections raised against the petition. The respondents, including INEC and Governor Okpebholo, argued that the National Chairman of the AA lacked the standing to file the action, as he did not participate in the gubernatorial election.
They also asserted that the petition was barred by statute, as it involved pre-election issues that exceeded the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
It is noteworthy that AA’s candidate, Mr. Tom Iseghhi-Okojie, withdrew from the race in favor of Governor Okpebholo just days before the election.