Hi,
We were MIA last week. Did you notice? 👀. Sorry about the lack of notice. We needed an emergency out of office.
(I hope the sick rhyme makes up for the delay 🙇🏾)
The FG has declared Monday, June 13, as a public holiday to celebrate Democracy day (June 12), which falls on a Sunday this year.
In today’s edition
Election madness
Terrorism: Ondo, Zamfara and more
The struggle to get registered to vote
Measles, Meningitis and Monkey Pox
Everyday terrorism
Kaduna murders
While we prepare to celebrate democracy, insecurity continues to plague Nigeria like a terrible itch you can’t scratch. While abducted victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack are still begging the FG to rescue them, another 32 people have been reported dead from attacks across various communities in Kaduna.
Zamfara abductions
At least 20 were also abducted in the Furfuri community in Bungudu local government area of Zamfara on Sunday night. Two wives of a former Accountant-General of Zamfara State, Abu–Bello Furfuri were among those kidnapped. Both women were reportedly rescued, but the other victims remain in captivity.
Owo Massacre
At least 4 armed assailants interrupted mass in a Catholic church in Owo, Ondo State, opening fire on dozens of worshippers.
The shooting happened on Pentecost Sunday at around 11:30 am.
Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, the majority leader of Ondo’s State Assembly, went to the massacre scene and said he had seen at least 20 dead, including many children. He estimated the death toll at 70 to 100.
However, the Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said as of Tuesday midnight, the state records show that 40 people died and 80 were injured.
Jonatus Awolo, the catechist, told Premium Times that the attack lasted for 30 minutes.
He also said that thugs, believed to be community members, searched the dead's bodies and stole their belongings.
As the massacre continues to gain international recognition, the United States offered their condolences and help via a letter addressed to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, dated June 7, 2022, and signed by the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard.
Foundation for Investigative Journalism had a private interview with one of the witnesses who escaped death by a hair. Read here.
Meanwhile, the FG believes the attack was orchestrated and carried out by ISWAP.
Electoral Affairs
Tinubu becomes APC flag bearer
Shocking absolutely no one or their mother, Bola Tinubu is officially APC’s official flag bearer for the 2023 presidential elections.
APC held their presidential primaries on Wednesday. Tinubu faced off against current vice president Yemi Osinabnjo, the former minister of transportation Rotimi Amaechi and 11 others.
Many participants stepped down for other candidates while addressing the party delegates in their electoral speeches.
Tinubu polled 1,271 votes winning by a landslide with his closest opponent being Amaechi with 316 votes while Osinbajo had 235 votes.
Osinbajo then proceeded to congratulate Tinubu.
Read more about the APC primaries here.
Days after the primaries, Godswill Akabio—one of the multiple people who stepped down for Tinubu—‘coincidentally’ ‘won’ APC’s Akwa Ibom Senate ticket.
Kachikwu wins ADC primaries
Dumebi Kachikwu, founder of Roots Television, Nigeria is the official presidency candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
ADC held their primary elections at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
There were 10 aspirants, including 5 women and an individual with special needs, Dr Chike Okogwu, who stepped down after addressing the delegates.
The convention committee invited 2,040 delegates from across the country to elect the party’s presidential candidate.
According to the Guardian, Kachikwu secured 978 votes to win against Kingsley Moghalu and Chukwuka Monye, who polled 589 and 339 votes, respectively.
Atiku makes presidential promises
After winning the PDP primaries, 6-time presidential aspirant (running since 1999), Atiku Abubakar has released an economic agenda with a vow to end monopoly in the Nigerian infrastructural sectors.
Via his Twitter account, Atiku shared his presidential agenda, titled ‘The three guiding principles of my economic agenda’.
He highlighted a hospitable environment for businesses to thrive and wealth creation for Nigerians.
To achieve his goal, Atiku says he will go by 3 guiding principles:
“Reaffirm the critical nature of private-sector leadership while repositioning the public sector to focus on its core responsibility of facilitation and enabling the appropriate framework for rapid economic and social development”.
“Break government monopoly in all infrastructural sectors, including the refineries, rail transportation and power transmission and give private investors a larger role in funding and managing the sectors, thus emulating the benefits accrued in the oil and gas and telecom sectors.
“Allow the market greater leverage in determining prices. This way, we shall eliminate the persistent price distortions of the current exchange rate management policy. Government intervention, where absolutely necessary, will be done responsibly and judiciously.”
So far, the official contestants for president are Bola Tinubu (APC), Atiku Abubakar (PDP), Peter Obi (Labour Party), Dumebi Kachikwu (ADC), and Rabiu Kwankwaso (New Nigeria Peoples Party).
INEC has given all presidential candidates until June 17 to submit the names of their chosen Vice Presidents. Failure to provide the name of a running mate will render their submission invalid.
Please vote so you can help determine who wins
PVC woes
INEC accused of frustrating PVC Collection
Youths in Asaba, Delta State, accused INEC of frustrating their efforts to collect their PVCs.
Their spokesperson said they believe INEC officials were deliberately shutting their doors against them.
INEC, however, denied the claims of cruelty. The INEC Director of Publicity, Mr. Bukola Ojome told The Guardian Ng that they didn’t lock the gates. “you know we are operating under COVID-19 protocol. So, there must be a certain number of people that will enter inside the registration centre, which is a small room”, he argued.
Some on Twitter added to the conversation with pictures and personal stories.
Hoodlums attack market traders during PVC collection
Traders of Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, were attacked by hoodlums while trying to complete their PVC registration.
Market officials granted traders the day off to register for their PVCs, so most shops were closed for the day.
Because of this, there was a massive turnout of traders from the market at the registration booths. Unfortunately, during registration, attackers armed with machetes and sticks stormed the venue and attempted to cease the INEC machines. Thankfully, the traders overpowered the attackers.
Health news 🥲
WHO records over 1000 Monkey Pox cases in non-endemic countries
The Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus says more than 1,000 cases of Monkey Pox have been discovered in countries where the virus is typically not found (aka non-endemic countries).
Updates on the WHO website suggest that as of May 29, 2022, the United Kingdom had over 100 cases, the highest in a non-endemic country, followed by Portugal and Canada. In Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo topped the chart with 1,284 infections and 58 deaths between January 1 and May 8, 2022. Closely followed by DR Congo are Nigeria and Cameroon.
Ghebreyesus noted that the monkeypox virus has been circulating and killing in Africa for decades and that the world is only paying attention now that it is affecting people in western countries.
“It’s an unfortunate reflection of the world we live in that the international community is only now paying attention to monkeypox because it has appeared in high-income countries, he said.
“The communities that live with the threat of this virus every day deserve the same concern, the same care and the same access to tools to protect themselves”, he added.
Measles and Meningitis outbreak in Jigawa
There is a current outbreak of meningitis and measles in seven local councils of Jigawa State, which has claimed over 100 lives.
According to The Guardian, the affected councils recorded 57 cases of meningitis and 72 cases of measles.
While some communities complained about a lack of action from their government, the acting Commissioner for Health, Dr. Salisu Muazu, claims that he and other officials are doing their best to alleviate the situation. He says they have assigned medical personnel to the affected areas and are providing prompt logistics and proper medication.
State News
Suspension of academic union activities in Edo
Following the contrast protests by Ambrose Alli University (AAU) students in the state over the ongoing strike by academic unions, the Edo state government called for a suspension of all academic union activities.
The Edo State Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., said this rule applies to all allied unions operating in state-owned tertiary institutions. (so ASUU, Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics)
Ogie said the government expects all activities to resume in all state-owned institutions immediately.
Recognising that the point of the pause in activities is months of outstanding salaries, Ogie instructed the management of all institutions to pay salaries immediately.
But as if not listening to his own words, Ogie said the government will begin a “no-work-no-pay policy”. He added that anyone who doesn’t come to work will automatically be dismissed and their position will be advertised as vacant.
In response, the academic unions labelled the state government’s instructions as “lawless” and “undemocratic”.
In an interview with The Punch, the National President of SSANU, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed affirmed that it was not within the powers of any state government to proscribe the unions’ activities.
“As far as we are concerned, this is an action that is dead on arrival, it is null and void. Maybe the governor was not properly briefed that there is a need for a high-level discussion on this matter”, he said.
Power plant explosion in Ogun
There is currently a blackout spreading across several communities in Ogun State following a reported explosion of the Ota-industrial 33KV feeder.
The Punch gathered that there was a snap on the feeder caused by an explosion.
The explosion affected several transformers including those at Ilaro Town and Papalanto Town in Ogun, as confirmed by the Ogun region of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.
Now, many towns and villages in Ewekoro, Ifo, Yewa South, and Ipokia Local Government Areas are in darkness.
Other news
According to Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Buhari will address the country live broadcast at 7:00 am on Sunday - The Punch
Although Daily Trust reports the release of some captives from the Kaduna train attack, the family of the abducted train passengers urge Nigerians to not believe it according to The Guardian
Traffic queues spike in Abuja due to fuel scarcity and APC primaries - The Guardian
‘Ordinary president’ Ahmed Isah suspends ASUU donation campaign - Leadership
Political and finically motivated ethnic violence in Ebonyi State - Premium Times
CBN to introduce USSD code to improve the eNaira - Premium Times
INEC deploys more registration machines due to large turnout - Premium Times
CBN to sell N1.2 trillion treasury bills by Q3 - The Vanguard
FIRS embarks on nationwide tax campaign: - The Vanguard