Metro
Gov Adeleke Receives DIG Alabi, Cautions Against Politicising Security
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has cautioned against politicization of security as it poses a serious threat to the nation’s democratic system.
Speaking while receiving the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Biodun Alabi at the Government House Osogbo on Thursday evening, the state Governor called on security agencies to avoid political partisanship and focus on impartial discharge of their state duties.
Stressing the need to deepen Nigerian democracy, the Governor emphasized the importance of respecting constitutional stipulations even as he described non-partisan security services as the insurance for a stronger democracy.
Governor Adeleke, who described Osun as “a sensitive state” said state governors and other elected officials have a duty in line with the constitution to create and ensure an atmosphere of peace for good governance, adding however, that “the service chiefs have a lawful duty to obey lawful directives.
“Nigeria as a federation specifically structured its agencies to maintain national stability. The state Governor is the Chief Security Officer. It will amount to an aberration for any service chief to disobey lawful directive for maintenance of law and order. Never should anything be done to undermine the state leadership.
“We must never politicize security. Our allegiance is to the constitution which spells out duties and responsibilities of all agencies and officials of state.
“On our part, we will not ask law enforcement officers to do anything illegal. As such we will not tolerate any security officer taking illegal action or obeying illegal directives from non-state entities.
“Our state is rated as one of the most peaceful in Nigeria. With our high literacy rate, our people know their rights. Their political literacy is super high. Osun is therefore a critical state for the unity and stability of Nigeria”, the Governor posited.
While commending the close partnership between the state government and the security agencies, Governor Adeleke said his government places high premium on law and order, adding “we know and understand the importance of the security agencies particularly the Nigerian police service.
“As a government, we provide strong logistics support for the security agencies to discharge their duties with ease. As we are doing much now, we will still be doing more in term of strengthening the operational capacity of the police and other security services”, the Governor told the DIG who was accompanied by top police officers
Speaking earlier, DIG Alabi said he was in the state as part of duty tour directive as issued by the Inspector General of Police, noting the visitation was to get a situation report for the improvement of policing in the country.
“ I am here to gather feedback on our performance so as to assist the force leadership to implement ongoing reforms. I bring best wishes from the Inspector General of Police as we assure you of our readiness to partner with the state government in her drive to sustain Osun’s records as one of the most peaceful states in the federation”, Alabi noted.
Both the Governor and the DIG hosted a mini-roundtable on the state of law and order in Osun State with the police chief promising to take feedback to the force leadership in Abuja.
Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has sentenced the husband of late gospel singer, Osinachi, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme found him guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased on April 8, 2022.
The judge sentenced Nwachukwu to death while sentencing him after the court had held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty.
Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), on behalf of the Federal Government, on a 23-count charge bordering on culpable homicide punishable with death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, spousal battery, among others.
In the course of trial, the prosecution called 17 witnesses, including two children of the late Osinachi, who testified as fourth prosecution and fifth prosecution witnesses, PW4 and PW5 respectively, while it tendered 25 documents as exhibits before the court.
The defendant testified for the defence and further called four other witnesses and tendered four exhibits in his defence.
Shortly before sentencing the defendant, counsel for Nwachukwu, Reginald Nwali, pleaded with the court to be lenient in its judgment, while the prosecuting counsel, Mrs Aderonke Imala, urged the court to give force to the law as stipulated.
Justice Nwosu-Iheme subsequently sentenced Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while he was sentenced to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18.
The court sentenced the defendant to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment on Count 11, while he was fined the sum of N500,000 and N200,000 respectively on Counts 6 and 7, respectively.
The late gospel artist who had several tracks, including Ekwueme died on April 8, 2022, at the age of 42. Her death triggered outrage in the country, with fans and Nigerians calling for justice for the singer.
In a heartwarming display of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Prostar Sport International, a renowned sports equipment and apparel company, has partnered with the ‘Pad Me A Girl Initiative,’ to promote menstrual health awareness and empower young girls.
The project enunciated by Gatmash Media has commended the company, renowned for providing high-quality sports dresses, has supported the initiative with customized shirts.
Theresa Moses, Convener of the Pad Me A Girl Initiative said “We’re thrilled to have Prostar Sports International on board this initiative. Their customized shirts will not only promote our cause but also serve as a symbol of solidarity with the girls we’re working to support”.
Mr. Paul Maduakor, CEO of Prostar Sports International said “At Prostar Sports International, we believe in empowering young girls and promoting menstrual health awareness. We’re proud to support the Pad Me A Girl Initiative and contribute to a more inclusive and supportive community”.
The shirts feature a bold design with the Pad Me A Girl Initiative’s logo. This is aimed to promote menstrual health awareness and obliterates stigmas attached to it. It was disclosed that the shirts are made from high-quality, breathable fabric for comfort and durability.
The initiative has made significant impact, and has reached over 2,000 young girls and women in Abuja and Benue IDP camps, and has provided reusable sanitary pads and menstrual health education, empowering girls to manage their menstruation with dignity.
The next phase of the project will kick off in June/July 2025, with plans to expand the initiative’s reachout and impact. Through the ‘Access PAD Me A Girl,’ PAD Bank, young girls will continue to receive free sanitary pads every month, empowering them to manage their menstrual health with dignity.
Zion Prayer Movement Outreach, a non-denominational ministry, on Monday opened the first ever Old People’s Home and Orphanage in Imo State.
The Seraphic Home, located in Mgbirichi, Ohaji Egbema, near Owerri, was commissioned by Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who described it as a watershed in the provision of care for the elderly, needy and less privileged.
Uzodimma praised the Spiritual Director of Zion Ministry, Evangelist Chukwuebuka Obi, for “thinking home” and bringing meaningful development to the state, adding that he was delighted with the choice of Imo State for such an impactful project.
According to the governor, “Evangelist Ebuka’s decision to expand the ministry’s operations in Imo has placed the state on a path to greater global recognition” —a vision he said he had foreseen when initially allocating land for the ministry’s headquarters in Ngor Okpala.
Evangelist Ebuka Obi, in his welcome remarks, said that the home was built to provide care for orphans and the elderly, especially those without anyone to support them. He invited the elderly with no caregivers to take advantage of the facility, which offers free accommodation and care.
“This state-of-the-art facility will provide a safe and nurturing environment for orphans and elderly individuals, offering them a sense of belonging and care. The home will provide shelter, food, clothing, education, and healthcare, and ensure that the residents receive the support they need to thrive,” Evangelist Ebuka disclosed. He said that the home would provide comprehensive care for old people and orphans free of charge, adding that more of such projects would be cited in other parts of the country.
The Seraphic Orphanage and Home for the Elderly will be a safe space for vulnerable populations to receive care and support and provide opportunities for community engagement and volunteerism and a platform for skills development and capacity building for caregivers and staff, Ebuka concluded.
Zion Ministry’s Seraphic Home foundation is a non-profit charitable organization with the objective of touching and impacting lives positively and promoting the welfare of others. It runs a whole range of programmes which support disadvantaged and impoverished families by providing scholarships for different levels of Education for over 60 children yearly as well as funding for patients who are unable to afford life-sustaining treatment and pay hospital bills for various health challenges.
