THESNOOP ONLINE

Month: August 2024

Obaseki Didn’t Make Me, I Made Him, Shaibu Boasts

The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has berated Governor Godwin Obaseki for failing to recognise him following his reinstatement to office by the court, boasting that he made Obaseki governor.
Shaibu, who was a guest on Friday’s edition of Channels Television’s political programme, Politics Today, said that it took former governor Adams Oshiomhole three months to convince him to support Obaseki to become governor.

“Obaseki was not a politician, even financially, Obaseki was not financially strong to even contest the election. Oshiomhole brought him and when Oshiomhole brought him, some of us argued that he could not be him. It took Oshiomhole three months to convince me and some of our supporters to support Obaseki.

“And when we decided because of the respect for Oshiomhole to support him, he did not bring money – we brought our resources and our friends to bring money and we brought our political capital to make him governor. So, when you are talking about deputy governors and governors, he is not the one that made me, I made him,” Shaibu said.

The duo have been at loggerheads over issues regarding the governorship election in the state.

Shaibu said he was asked to be Obaseki’s deputy to add political value to the party’s ticket because Obaseki was not a politician.

He said his principal tried to stop him from running for the 2024 governorship election by stopping finances due to him as deputy governor, adding that he has not received any cheque from the government for the past year.

‘Obaseki Lawless’
Following his reinstatement as the deputy governor by a Federal High Court, Shaibu announced that he was back to his role and directed his staff to follow suit. However, the Edo state government released a statement saying that Shaibu is impersonating the deputy governor.

Reacting to the accusation of impersonation, Shaibu said that Governor Obaseki has shown how lawless he is.

”The holder of the office of the governor in Edo state today is lawless, Godwin Obaseki is lawless. If he is not lawless, he will not say Philip Shaibu is impersonating because there is a valid court judgment that he has been served.”

”That is not the only court judgement he is not obeying and this is a governor that will not even follow policies of government that he initiated.”

Shaibu’s reinstatement
In a judgment a judgement on July 17, Justice Omotoso declared the impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly as illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void.

The court held that the said impeachment was in gross violation of the provisions of both sections 188 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The judge held that the impeachment was in gross violation of the Constitution.

Aside from restoring Shaibu, the court also ordered that his salaries and allowances should be paid to him from April when he was impeached as the deputy governor of the state.

The court issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Edo State House of Assembly from stopping Shaibu from performing the functions of his office.

Justice Omotosho also ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to restore his security details.

Meanwhile, the Edo State House of Assembly appealed the judgement of the High Court and has filed a motion for a stay of execution pending appeal.

The court verdict came about three months after the lawmakers impeached the embattled 54-year-old as the state’s deputy governor.

August 17, 2024
Court Declines Stay Of Proceedings In Rivers LG Election Suit, APC Challenges RSIEC’s Decision

By Unini Chioma

A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused an application for a stay of further proceedings in a suit challenging the decision of the River state government to conduct a local government election in October.

Justice Peter Lifu, in a ruling on Thursday, August 15, dismissed the oral application for a stay of proceedings made by defendants in the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/987/2024 filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Lifu held that since none of the defendants filed before the court either an application for a stay of proceedings or an application for a stay of execution of their court’s earlier interim injunction, the court couldn’t stay proceedings.

The judge added that seeking a stay proceedings without allowing the court to determine if the suit is a pre-election matter or not is premature.

He held that it was proper for the court to proceed with the hearing of the case because parties to the suit have filed their several preliminary objections and have joined issues.

The judge said in the absence of a motion for stay and a motion challenging jurisdiction, all processes having been filed, the court is minded to proceed with the hearing of the substantive suit.

Justice Lifu also dismissed the application filed by members of the state executive of the APC in Rivers seeking to be made parties to the case.

The judge said: “Joining the parties seeking to be joined will be superfluous because they are card-carrying members of the plaintiff (APC).

“Its involvement in the suit covers all its members. The application for joinder fails for lack of merit and it is dismissed.”

Upon the application for adjournment by lawyers to the defendants, which was not opposed by the plaintiff’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), Justice Lifu adjourned till August 29 for further hearing.

Defendants in the case are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Rivers State Electoral Commission (RSIEC), the Attorney General of Rivers State, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The APC is contending, in the substantive suit, that the RSIEC failed to fulfil legal requirements to conduct the local government election, which it scheduled for October 15.

The party argued that while RSIEC is legally bound to use the voter register compiled and kept by INEC for conducting local government elections in Rivers State, it failed to give a 360-day notice to INEC before the election date.

In a supporting affidavit, Tony Okocha, described as the acting Chairman of Rivers APC, said the suit was filed because the RSIEC allegedly failed to comply strictly with the provisions of the Electoral Act in respect of the management of the register of voters which it intends to release to Rivers electoral body for local government elections in breach and violation of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.

Okocha stated that it is only the voter register compiled, maintained, updated, and kept in the custody of INEC that RSIEC can obtain and use to conduct local government polls as RSIEC is not entitled to compile, maintain, update, and keep in its custody any separate voters register.

In a ruling on July 19 on an ex-parte motion by the plaintiff, Justice Lifu issued an order restraining INEC, from releasing voters register to the RSIEC for the conduct of local government elections in the state.

He also restrained the IGP and the DSS from participating or providing security protection for the RSIEC to conduct the election.

The judge ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum and to refrain from any act or take steps in furtherance of the conduct of the election pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

August 15, 2024
Trump’s Return To X Marred By Glitches As Musk Throws Softball Questions

What was intended to be a triumphant return to social media for Donald Trump turned into a technically flawed evening, as a much anticipated livestreamed conversation between Trump and X owner Elon Musk on Monday was delayed by technical issues.

The conversation, set to be a hallmark moment for Trump on a platform that once played a central role during his presidency, was postponed by 40 minutes due to what Musk later attributed to a cyberattack.

Despite the shaky start, once the dialogue began, it highlighted the growing friendship between the former president and the billionaire tech entrepreneur, with Musk pitching softball questions that allowed Trump to reiterate his well-worn campaign talking points.

The discussion, lasting over two hours on X’s audio livestreaming platform, Spaces, offered little in the way of new information about Trump’s political views.

Instead, it served as a platform for Trump to repeat claims that have become staples of his campaign.

He took the opportunity to attack Vice President Kamala Harris as a “phony,” criticising her and President Joe Biden for their handling of U.S. border security.

Trump also repeated his assertion that the 2020 election was rigged and claimed that the criminal cases against him were orchestrated by the Biden administration to undermine his candidacy.

Additionally, Trump alleged that foreign leaders were intentionally sending criminals to the United States.

Musk, who has been vocal about his contempt for the mainstream media, largely agreed with Trump’s assertions, offering praise and avoiding any challenge to the former president’s claims.

Musk, who acquired Twitter in 2022 and rebranded it as X last year, was clear about the non-adversarial nature of the conversation.

He stated, “I want to emphasise it’s a conversation, and it’s really intended to just get a feel for what Donald Trump is just like in a conversation.”

Towards the end of their discussion, Musk described himself as “moderate, if not moderate, slightly left,” and encouraged listeners who identified similarly to support Trump.

He also distanced himself from a traditional journalistic role, noting that his aim was not to conduct an “adversarial” interview but to help “open-minded, independent voters” simply “catch a vibe.”

The technical difficulties that delayed the conversation recalled similar issues during another political event Musk hosted last year, when glitches marred Ron DeSantis’s presidential campaign announcement on the platform.

While Monday’s conversation drew over a million listeners, according to X, the glitches and delays risked overshadowing the content of the conversation itself.

Trump used the discussion to further his ongoing criticism of Harris, mocking her for not holding a formal news conference and avoiding interviews with journalists.

He contrasted this with his willingness to engage in conversations, framing his discussion with Musk as part of his broader efforts to recapture political momentum and extend his appeal beyond his usual media platforms.

The conversation marked a notable shift in the relationship between Trump and Musk, who had previously been critical of each other.

Musk’s political views have evolved as he grew increasingly frustrated with Democratic policies on transgender rights, immigration, and what he perceives as the Biden administration’s mistreatment of Tesla.

This change culminated in Musk’s endorsement of Trump after the former president survived an

assassination attempt in July.

Musk, who co-founded a super PAC to support Republican ground efforts, has become a significant ally for Trump.

In return, Trump has softened his longstanding criticism of electric vehicles, particularly those produced by Tesla, though he continues to highlight what he sees as their shortcomings.

As Trump returned to X after a prolonged absence, posting campaign videos and attacks on Harris, the conversation with Musk provided a platform for both men to air their grievances and rally their supporters.

However, whether this appearance will bolster Trump’s campaign or Musk’s efforts to restore confidence in X remains to be seen.

A spokesperson for Harris’s campaign, Joseph Costello, was quick to criticise the pair’s discussion,

noting the technical issues and dismissing the conversation as serving only the interests of “self-obsessed rich guys who will sell out the middle class.”

Costello added, “Trump’s entire campaign is in service of people like Elon Musk and himself who cannot run a livestream in the year 2024.”

August 14, 2024
Lagos students rewarded for using technology to solve maths

Students in public schools across Lagos State have been recognized and rewarded for their exceptional use of the Darsel App, a technology-based platform that simplifies the learning of mathematics. The awards ceremony, held at the Education Resource Centre, in Ojodu, Lagos, celebrated students from the Junior Secondary School (JSS3) category who excelled in using the app to solve math problems.

The Darsel App offers a unique solution for both teachers and students, making mathematics a subject often perceived as difficult, more accessible and easier to learn.

Mrs. Wunmi Tolu-Alalade, the lead consultant for Darsel App and the implementation partner in Nigeria, highlighted the app’s impact over the past 15 months.

Over 100,000 students from 100 schools across the state’s six educational districts have used the platform, collectively solving approximately five million math problems in the 2023/2024 academic year.

“This state award ceremony is to appreciate and recognize the students who have utilized the Darsel learning platform, answering thousands of math questions correctly,” Tolu-Alalade stated.

She emphasized the importance of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, in enhancing students’ learning experiences.

“With technology development, especially in artificial intelligence, we need tools that students can practice with. Mathematics, being a unique subject, requires continuous support, and the Darsel App provides teachers with real-time feedback to help address students’ weak points.”

Tolu-Alalade also announced plans to expand the app’s curriculum to include all junior categories in Lagos State, from JSS1 to JSS3, in the upcoming academic session. She called for more partnerships to further enhance the learning of mathematics in the state.

Mr. Abolaji Abayomi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, stressed the importance of the event in adding value to teaching and learning, particularly in subjects like mathematics.

Darsel’s CEO, Mr. Abdulhamid Haidar, said education technology is the future. He thanked the Lagos State

government for the opportunity to integrate technology into teaching and promised to address challenges faced during the app’s implementation, such as the availability of Android phones in boarding schools and parents’ lack of knowledge about the platform.

August 14, 2024
Peter Obi meeting sparks P-Square reconciliation rumours

Just a day after a very public spat between the musical twins, Peter and Paul Okoye, a glimmer of hope has emerged.

The brothers were photographed alongside none other than Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s former presidential candidate.

The meeting comes on the heels of a tumultuous Monday, where Peter, known as Mr P, took to social media to address accusations levelled by his brother Paul, known as Rudeboy.

Paul, in a recent interview, claimed Peter had gone so far as to involve the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging a petition had been filed against him.

Mr P vehemently denied the claims, firing back with concerns of his own. He pointed fingers at a supposed secret company, Northside Music, allegedly belonging to their brother Jude and his wife Ifeoma.

Adding fuel to the fire, Peter accused Paul of consistently downplaying his role in their iconic group, P-Square.

But Tuesday evening brought about a change in tune. Rudeboy himself shared images of the brothers with Obi, captioning the post with gratitude for the former candidate.

While details of the meeting remain under wraps, the mere sight of the brothers together has sparked speculation of a reconciliation.

Have the Okoye brothers finally decided to bury the hatchet? Only time will tell but for now, fans are holding their breath, hoping this signals a return to the brotherly bond that fueled P-Square’s musical reign.

August 14, 2024
2024 UEFA Super Cup: Everything you need to know about Real Madrid vs Atalanta match

Real Madrid will meet Atalanta in the 2024 UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland by 8 pm.

The trophy is competed for between the teams that won the Champions League and Europa League before the new season kicks off.

Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Champions League final, and Atalanta crushed Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final.

Dani Carvajal, who scored a goal in the Champions League final, and Luka Modrić, a master of midfield, have the potential to become the first players to feature in five Super Cup titles.

With 15-time European champions Real Madrid’s biggest summer acquisition Kylian Mbappé expected to make his debut competitive game, there is a lot of curiosity and attention around this season opener.

Atalanta, who won their first major continental trophy with a thrilling 3-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final the previous season, stands in Real Madrid’s way to pulling in a surprise.

This is the team’s first Super Cup appearance. Even though La Dea is the underdog going into the match in Poland, they will undoubtedly be eager to keep shocking people, as they did in the 2023/2024 season.

Speaking ahead of the match, Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach said: “It’s going to be tough as always because it’s the beginning of the season. But we are going there with every confidence and conviction while bearing in mind all the challenges.

“Atalanta deserve to be there because they played an amazing Europa League campaign, knocking out top teams like Liverpool. They were able to win those kinds of games easily, even in the final. We respect this team a lot, but we hope to be at our best.”

Also, in the same light, Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta coach said: “It will be an extraordinary occasion for Atalanta, for Bergamo, for the history of the place.

“We are playing against the most decorated club in the world, against the team that has won the most in the world. To play a final like this, for this trophy against such an important club, would have been unthinkable until fairly recently.

“There’s a huge sense of pride. There’s no doubt it’s a high point, perhaps the pinnacle in the history of Atalanta.”

Possible Line-ups

REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Militão, Rüdiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Modrić; Bellingham; Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior.

ATALANTA: Musso; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolašinac; Zappacosta, Éderson, De Roon, Ruggeri; De Ketelare, Retegui, Lookman.

August 14, 2024
THE EndBadGovernance Protests – The Deceitful Role of Northern Elders

Northern elders have endorsed the nationwide protests.

The group, in a statement by Prof. Usman Yusuf, Hajia Najatu Muhammad, Mallam Salihu Lukman and Dr. Umar Ardo said the constitution protects the right of all citizens to assemble and to protest, adding that the cause for protest against the system is valid and justifiable, and affirmed their support for the youths in their resolve to exercise their right to protest.

The press statement read in part: “As you are aware, our nation has long been facing unprecedented challenges of insecurity, excruciating poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, diseases, high cost of living, all on account of bad governance and corruption in public offices.

“We acknowledge that the primary purpose of any government is to secure life and property, and enhance the welfare of its citizens. Any regime that cannot guarantee these basic rights loses all legal and moral authority of being in power, and would naturally incur the wrath of citizens. It can therefore only remain in office more by default than by public consent.

“This seems to be the state our dear country, Nigeria, is drifting towards. Over the years, successive governments at all levels, including the incumbent ones, fell short of delivering the requisite leadership. Consequently, Nigerians have been thrown into a state of social dislocation that has plunged citizens, especially the youths, into disillusionment, disappointment, frustration and hopelessness.

“To press home their legitimate demands concerning the cost of living crisis, insecurity and the worrisome drift in the ship of state, Nigerian youths have resolved to go on a 10 day nationwide protest from the 1st to 10th August, 2024.

“We, therefore, wrote this special text to state our position concerning this resolve to protest and the attitude of the government to it.

“First, we want to affirm the constitutionally protected right of all citizens to assemble and to protest. We also acknowledge that the cause for protest against the system is valid and justifiable. We wish to state clearly that we firmly stand by our youths in their resolve to exercise their right to protest.”

“They called on the federal government to be pragmatic in its approach to the resolution of the crisis if it hopes to amicably resolve and mitigate the risks associated with mass protests, and recommended that the government immediately takes to address the situation, which includes identifying and directly engage with the youth leaders and protesters to understand and address their grievances, noting that, outsourcing this responsibility to others, such as traditional, religious, labour, civil society leaders won’t work.

“They also warned against the use of state forces to intimidate, cajole and harass protesters, which they pointed can only further escalate an already volatile situation, citing the EndSARS protests as example.

They further advised the government to sincerely address the demands of the protesters by implementing meaningful reforms, demonstrating goodwill and a commitment to change by investing in youth development programmes, education, innovation, entrepreneurship initiatives.

“They also called on the government and its leadership to lead by example, by demonstrating sacrifice, integrity, accountability and transparency so as to inspire trust and confidence, adding, “having been in the trenches himself leading several protests, from the NADECO days to 2014, President Tinubu knows more than others the value of protest.”

August 14, 2024
”Tragic Murder of Ondo CEO: Domestic Staff Confess to Gruesome Crime, Attempted Cover-Up”

Two domestic staff of Mrs. Olakunbi Adene, the late CEO of Kitchen Country in Akure, Ondo State, confessed to causing her d3ath

One of the suspects revealed that he, along with the Driver & a Personal Assistant & another friend visited their boss’s house on that fateful Thursday.

Mrs. Adene had prepared a meal for them, which they ate before descended on her. They g3gged her mouth & used 2 large c¥tlasses they had brought to sev3r her head.

The generator was running between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., and its noise masked the sounds of the attack. They covered her head with a duvet and continued h3tting her, sev£ring her wrist and leg. The other two suspects used kn#ves to st3b her stomach, chest, and breasts, causing her intestines to spill out and leaving her body covered in sc3rs.

To cover their tracks and create the impression of a fire accident, the suspects lit the gas in the kitchen with matches, opened the gas cylinder, and attempted to make it explode. However, the gas cylinder did not explode as planned.

August 14, 2024
Paris Olympics Closes With a Colourful Peaceful Ceremony With Tom Cruise Abseiling

the Paris Olympics concluded with a spectacular and peaceful closing ceremony that captivated audiences worldwide. Held at the iconic Stade de France, the event was marked by vibrant displays of culture and unity, celebrating the spirit of the Games.

The highlight of the evening was an exhilarating performance by Hollywood star Tom Cruise, who descended from the stadium’s roof via abseiling, thrilling the crowd with his daring stunt. Cruise’s entrance was a fitting tribute to the daring and dynamic nature of the Olympic Games.

The ceremony featured an array of artistic performances, including music, dance, and theatrical displays, showcasing France’s rich cultural heritage. The finale saw a mesmerizing fireworks display that illuminated the Parisian skyline, symbolizing peace and global unity.

Olympic athletes from around the world joined in the festivities, reflecting on their achievements and the camaraderie developed throughout the Games. The closing ceremony not only celebrated the sporting excellence displayed but also underscored the unifying power of international competition.

As the Games drew to a close, the global community was reminded of the enduring values of peace, friendship, and respect that the Olympics represent. Paris bid farewell to the Games with a promise to carry forward the spirit of unity and excellence that defined this year’s Olympic celebrations.

August 14, 2024
EFCC Channels N50bn Recovered Funds to NELFUND, Allocates N2.026bn for Student Loans Across Six Universities
Correspondent reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has donated the sum of N50bn to support the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

This was disclosed by the anti-graft agency on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, when the Fund’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, led its management team on a courtesy visit to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

Sawyerr noted that the Fund, an initiative of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, was designed to provide funding for the education of indigent students.

The statement obtained on the EFCC’s website partly read, “He (Sawyerr) appreciated the EFCC for the N50bn injected into NELFUND from the proceeds of crime recovered by the commission

We are aware of the funds from the proceeds of crime extended to NELFUND. We are here to express our gratitude for the gesture. We also want the EFCC to exercise oversight on what we are doing,” Sawyerr said.

He added that the “youths constitute the most populous, restive but neglected segment of our population. President Tinubu identified this as a major problem and put in place a major solution to address the issue.”

In his remarks, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, commended President Tinubu for the initiative, which he described as a “policy issue against crimes.”

He also stated that the lack of parents’ educational support was a contributing factor to children’s involvement in financial crimes.

He said, “One of the main incentives for cybercrimes is the inability of parents to fund the education of their children. NELFUND is a policy issue against crimes. President Tinubu should be commended for initiating the Fund.”

The EFCC boss advised the NELFUND management team to ensure transparency in their dealings, which, according to him, would assist in the fight against corruption.

“Let your hands be clean. I repeat, let your hands be clean. The work entrusted to you is going to help the EFCC fight corruption. Let your systems and processes be transparent,” he urged.

Olukoyede tasked the NELFUND boss to give reports on the disbursement of its money to the EFCC while stressing his commitment to ensure the N50bn donation isn’t “re-looted.”

He said, “I will fight to ensure that money pooled together to support NELFUND is not re-looted. We want your management to be giving reports of your disbursement to the EFCC.

“Don’t sign what is not clear to you. Don’t give in to any pressure. Let your staff know that there is no money to share.”

Olukoyede called on Nigerians to ensure the success of the NELFUND initiative and that of the Tinubu-led administration.

On April 3, 2024, Tinubu signed the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2024, into law.

The registration for the programme took off in May with 1.2 million students in federal tertiary institutions across the country – starting the first batch.

On Wednesday, August 7, 2024, NELFUND announced what it described as a significant milestone, receiving the highest number of student loan applications within 24 hours since the launch of its portal on May 25, 2024.

Meanwhile, many universities have confirmed receipt of tuition payments for successful student loan applicants by the NELFUND.

Six federal universities, according to the chart from NELFUND, received N2.03 billion for the 2023/2024 academic session.

Each of the students will also receive N20,000 monthly, directly paid to them for their upkeep.

The universities already captured and the amount received are as follows:
- Bayero University (BUK), Kano, N853.8 million;
- University of Maiduguri(UNIMAID), Borno, N589 million;
- Federal University, Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina, N305 million;
- University of Ibadan (UI) Oyo, N201.1 million;
- University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara, N52.9 million;
- University of Benin(UNIBEN), Edo, N24.4million.
Over 30 federal universities are expected to receive payments for successful applicants.

The funds released cover the full tuition of over 20,000 students
August 14, 2024