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Regulate Access To Misguided Information On Internet, Cleric Tells FG

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Abiodun Swears In 18th Head Of Service

… As Abiodun Urges Nigerians To Engage In Acts That Promote Nation’s Security, Peace, Unity

An Islamic scholar and Judge of the Shari’ah Court of Appeal, Kwara State, Abdur Raheem Ahmad Sayi, at the weekend, called on the Federal Government to devise a technology to regulate access to a deluge of misguided information on the Internet, particularly that capable of fuelling security and religious crises in the country.

The cleric, who observed that the unfettered access by Nigerians, especially the youth, to the loads of “misinformation” on the cyber space has contributed immensely to the existing security challenges in the country, warned that failure by the government to do the needful might spell doom for the unity of Nigeria.

Justice Sayi made this call in his lecture at the 2012 Special Ramadan Iftar programme, organised by the Ogun State government, held at the Arcade Ground of the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.

The theme of the programme was “Threats to National Security and Unity: Religion as a Panacea or Problem.”

The cleric said that the Internet could be educative, entertaining and informative, but promoters of hate and disunity in the country had used it to spread messages of discord and fake news among Nigerians, hence government must find ways to curb the menace before it was too late.

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According to him, the country is atop a keg of gunpowder and if no efforts are made to check the social malaise, “what Nigeria is currently witnessing in terms of insecurity will be a negligible fraction of chaos that will come.”

The judge, however, urged leaders of Islam and Christianity in the country to desist from preaching about prosperity alone, but inculcate the core values, tenets and teachings of love and unity of mankind, in the minds of their adherents.

He further charged the religious leaders to use religion as an instrument to foster unity and oneness, rather than to promote discrimination, hate and disharmony.

He also urged media practitioners in the country to continue to play a pivotal role in reversing the trend of insecurity, by imbibing and practising responsible journalism, which according to him will go a long way in preserving societal peace and unity of Nigeria.

In his address, the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, said the special Ramadan Iftar programme was a symbolic one being the very first to be hosted by his administration, after COVID-19 pandemic prevented the state to organise it last year.

He noted that the programme was in appreciation of the fervent prayers, solidarity and support his government had enjoyed from the Muslim community in the last two years.

While describing the theme of the Iftar programme as apt and instructive, especially when considering recent challenges to security and unity not only in Nigeria, but around the world in general, Abiodun urged the people, irrespective of their religious persuasion to always engage only in acts that promote security, peace and unity of Nigeria

According to the governor, “neither of the two major religions in the country supports banditry, insurgency, kidnapping or rebellion against the state.”

He further noted that “the leaders and followers; government and people, have the responsibility towards the security and unity of our nation. Otherwise, our actions and inactions without responsibility towards one another become threat to national security and unity.”

Highlighting steps taken by his administration to restructure and reinvigorate the security mechanism in Ogun, Abiodun said that the Security Trust Fund was reconfigured and made private sector-led, adding “we made huge investments in patrol vehicles and communication equipment for our security agencies in the state and initiated regular meeting of the State Security Council that had been in limbo before the inception of our administration.”

He also said his administration had created initiatives to fully and productively engage the hitherto restive youth via the development of Ogun State Job portal, a database of unemployed or underemployed youth, Anchor Borrowers Scheme and FADAMA GUYS.

“In my inaugural speech about two years ago, I made a commitment that ours is an administration that will observe all elements of good governance – that we will be fair, just, equitable, open, transparent, accountable, inclusive and obey the rule of law. Two years down the line, I am proud that even our worst critics will readily admit that we are a promise-keeping administration with manifest delivery of electoral promises across the state. It is also generally acknowledged that we have been even-handed in our dealings with all parts of the state and the strata, regardless of religious belief, political persuasions and ethnic affiliations.

“Again, I reiterate that I may have been elected on the platform of a great party, All Progressives Congress (APC, of the Christian faith and from a part of our state, I am and will continue to act as governor of all good people of Ogun State. This is an element of the tripartite covenant between me and God on one hand, and between me and good people of Ogun State who have entrusted me with the mandate.

“Let me, in particular, reiterate, here, that all abandoned projects that have direct bearing to the economic prosperity of our people will be completed. We are also aware that when we complete the projects some people would claim that those projects were not initiated by our administration. But, the fact remains that we intentionally complete the inherited projects because, if we do not, they would decay or become a waste of the commonwealth of the people of Ogun State. As an administration, we will never let the commonwealth of the people rot away or go to waste. As we complete the inherited projects, we are also initiating and completing our own projects, in furtherance of the Building our Future Together Agenda in our dear state”. Abiodun stated.

The governor, however, enjoined the Muslim faithful to take full advantage of the Holy Month, particularly the last ten days, to harvest the bountiful divine benevolence, seek forgiveness and pray for security and unity of the country.

“We must use this period to double our efforts in our obligations to our Creator and our responsibilities to fellow men and women.

As an administration, hosting of the Ramadan Iftar will be sustained not only to ensure peace, security and unity, but towards the development of our dear state and to constantly remind ourselves of the social and spiritual contract we owe the people to fulfil”, he submitted.

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BREAKING:Chicago State University Unable To Grant One Request By Atiku As It Releases Tinubu’s Academic Records

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Senator Withdraws Support For Tinubu Over Choice Of Muslim Running Mate
President Bola Tinubu

The Chicago State University (CSU) was unable to meet one request by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar as it finally released to him the academic records of President Bola Tinubu.

Atiku requested the documents to back his allegation of forgery of CSU certificate against Tinubu. It would mean Tinubu was not qualified to run for the election, which he won, if the allegation is successfully proved against him.

The university, on Monday, presented to Atiku’s legal team, a cache of documents connected to Tinubu’s education at the institution and copies of certificates with redacted names issued to other persons about the same time the Nigerian president finished from the school in 1979.

It also contained Tinubu’s admission records, and a letter dated 27 June 2022 confirming that he attended the university from August 1977 and June 1979 majoring in accounting. The letter said Tinubu was awarded Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with Honours on 22 June 1979.

The District Court in Northern Illinois, had in its judgement delivered on Saturday, given the university up till 12 noon on Monday to deliver the documents to Atiku.

The judge, Nancy Maldonado, gave the other after dismissing Tinubu’s objection in the judgement.

Ms Maldonando dismissed Tinubu’s objection to the 20 September decision of a magistrate judge of the court, Jeffery Gilbert.

The judge fully affirmed Gilbert’s ruling, ordering the CSU to release Tinubu’s academic records as requested by Atiku. She insisted Atiku had the right to have access to the records.

Complying with the court order on Monday, the university produced four sets of documents copies which went viral online on Monday.

In a deposition detailing its compliance with the court order, the university confirmed it was able to grant three of Atiku’s four requests.

Responding to one of the requests it granted, the university said, “after diligent search”. it was able to locate and produce seven different certificates for Bachelor of Science degree it issued in 1979.

Atiku had apparently requested the documents to compare and contrast them with the one presented by Tinubu as his for the 2023 presidential election.

The university also handed to Atiku’s team, documents relating to Tinubu and certified by an official of CSU, Jamar C. Orr, a lawyer.

The university similarly produced, “after diligent search”, copies of three other diploma certificates issued to other students other than Tinubu in 1979.

This was in response to Atiku’s request for “true and correct copies of any diplomas issued by CSU (other than to Tinubu) that contain the same font, seal, signatures, and wording (other than the name of the recipient and the specific degree awarded)”. Atiku sought these documents to compare and contrast them with the one Tinubu claimed to have obtained on or about 22 June 1979.

But the university said it was unable to locate “a copy of the original diploma it prepared for Tinubu in 1979” as requested by Atiku.

This was the kernel of Atiku’s request which is at the heart of the issue he intends to use the documents for in his legal challenge of Tinubu’s victory at the 25 February presidential election.

The university said it “does not in the ordinary course keep copies of student diplomas, and after diligent search cannot locate a copy of the original diploma it prepared for Mr. Tinubu in 1979, hence has no documents responsive to this request.”

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Group Commends Ogun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s Verdict

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Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun

A Civil Society Organization, Advocacy for Peace and Good Governance, has commended the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal for its verdict on  the March 18, governorship election in the State.

It would be recalled that the tribunal, on Saturday, unanimously validated the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun, as it dismissed all the grounds canvassed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Ladi Adebutu in their petitions.

The group stated that the verdict was a victory for democracy and affirmation of the people’s choice.

The group, in a statement signed by it’s National Coordinator, Waheed Sulaimon, on Saturday in Abuja, described the judgement as explicit without any ambiguity, saying it was a true reflection of what happened across Ogun State on March 18, 2023.

The group noted that the tribunal delivered its verdict based on the facts and evidence presented before it, as well as the credibility of the electoral process.

It lauded the judiciary for its impartiality in the ongoing election petition-related cases across the country, adding that Nigerians have always reposed their confidence in that arm of government.

The group, therefore, urged all parties involved to accept the decision of the tribunal and join hands with Governor Dapo Abiodun, to work towards the development of the state.

It also called on all stakeholders in the Ogun State project to rally round the governor to make the Gateway State among the best in Nigeria in terms of economic prosperity, political stability and social cohesion.

The group also lauded Governor Abiodun for his commitment to good governance and efforts at ensuring the security of lives and property, as well as his unwavering political will to speedily develop the state.

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BREAKING: Tribunal Sacks Nasarawa Governor Sule, Declares PDP’s Ombugadu Winner

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Nasarawa State Governor Abudullahi Sule

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Monday declared David Ombugadu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the state’s last election.

This was after the tribunal nullified  the election of Governor Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Delivering the judgment virtually, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, declared Ombugadu as the lawfully elected governor of Nasarawa State.

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