Headlines
N819.7m Unpaid Allowances: Presidency Summons Kogi Deputy Gov Over Face-off with Gov Bello
The Presidency on Friday summoned the Kogi State Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba, to the Presidential Villa, over the ongoing misunderstanding between him and the governor, Yahaya Bello.
Mr Achuba had complained that Mr Bello deliberately denied him his accumulated entitlements amounting to N819.7 million, and issued an ultimatum to the state government for the payment of the said amount.
According to him, the amount comprises travel allowances, hotel bills, outstanding monthly imprest, as well as allowances and salaries.
The deputy governor, who met with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, behind closed doors, did not reveal details of the deliberation when asked by anxious State House correspondents.
He, however, revealed that discussions were ongoing to resolve the `problems’ between him and the state governor who, he said, was responsible for the stoppage of his allowances for the past two years.
“Well, it is a private discussion in relation to my office. From my discussions with him, there is hope that all the issues will be resolved. With God, all things are possible,’’ he said.
On how he has been `coping’ as deputy governor without allowances and imprest in the past two years, Mr Achuba said: “Well, you know in life what sustains a man is God. So if your hope is in God, you will be very much alive.
“If you have money and don’t have God, you will be living like a dead person. But if you have God you can live, He is the one who provides to man.
“So, if one source closes, God opens another source for you to live. Supposing I was not a Deputy Governor, won’t I be alive?”
On whether he will support or contest against Mr Bello, who has since indicated interest in the governorship election slated for November 16, the deputy governor ruled out the possibility of doing that because of what he described as `unfair treatment’ being meted against him by his boss.
NAN
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
