It was a mixture of disbelief, jubilation, human interest experiences and deep gratitude as ten customers of the telecoms network, Globacom, emerged winners of ten tricycles, popularly called keke Marwa, in the raffle draw event of this year’s Ojude Oba festival, held in Ijebu Ode.
Globacom is major sponsor of the annual festival.
The ten lucky winners were picked at the draw conducted by the Awujale of Ijebu , Oba Sikiru Adetona at the end of the colourful and boisterous age-grade and family parades complete with a durbar, masquerades and gun displays that was the main event of the festival.
Over a hundred customers were given raffle tickets as they purchased items from any Gloworld in the environs if Ijebu Ode , weeks before and during the main event of the festival.
The winners who took away the three-wheeled vehicles include: Isaac Olawale, Johnson Olakitan, Michael Adeniyi, Henry. Olayemi , Julius Agofure and Daniel Adebambo. Others were Kazeem Mustapha, Shola Gbilesanmi , Monsurat Sebiotimo, and Mr. Asiwaju.
Speaking to journalists after they were informed of their winning , all the winners expressed joy and excitement , some of them jumping, dancing and reeling out their plans for the vehicle they won from Globacom.
While Sebiotimo, a petty trader, said she purchased a device worth N5,000 and recharge card worth N50,000 from Glo, Olawale said he simply bought a phone for N3200 and recharge cards worth N1,800 from Gloworld, the network’s sales and service outlet in Ijebu Ode.
Olawale , a secondary school biology teacher in Ijebu Ode said he will use the tricycle for transportation. Another winner , Gbilesanmi said she would use the vehicle to transport her goods.
On her part, Sebiotimo narrated how she almost missed her prize as she was about leaving the Awujale’s Palace square, venue of the Ojude Oba, before the raffle draw winners were announced. Globacom said only winners at the venue qualified for the prizes.
Winner Johnson Olakitan, a building materials seller, explained that he used his last N5,000 to buy the phone that qualified him for the raffle. While winner Adeniyi Michael who works with the Centre for Grassroots Economic Empowerment (CGEE ) got empowered himself when he purchased a techno phone with N3,000 and some recharge cards. The tricycles were provided by Globacom.
The event was generally characterized by excitement and jubilation in a carnival atmosphere. Gifts and mementoes went round and there was something for everyone.
Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state, is his brother.
Speaking while receiving Obaseki at his Iyamoh residence in Estako west local government area of the state on Monday, Oshiomhole said the report of rift between them is the creation of people with personal interest.
He later told journalists that the private meeting he had with the governor was not unusual as he was in constant touch with Obaseki.
“From time to time, we have always been meeting. It is not an unusual visit, the meeting afforded me the opportunity to meet with my brother and with people I have worked with,” he said.
Obaseki said he decided to celebrate Sallah with his predecessor and to also honour him just as John Oyegun, the former APC national chairman, was celebrated by the state earlier in the day.
“There is nothing unusual about this meeting; today is Sallah and we have just finished celebrating with the former APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun in Benin City, and we decided to come here to celebrate Sallah with my predecessor,” he said.
Is the ‘battle’ finally over?
A misunderstanding between Obaseki and Oshiomhole had led to the factionalisation of the state assembly.
Nine lawmakers loyal to Obaseki were secretly inaugurated on June 17, leaving their colleagues in the camp of Oshiomhole stranded.
The national assembly had asked the governor to issue a fresh proclamation for the state assembly but he vowed not to.
Pro-Obaseki lawmakers later filed a suit to stop the national assembly from taking over Edo assembly over the crisis.
Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has arrived Delhi, the capital city of India for medical treatment.
The Shiite leader was received by medical doctors and wheeled into the hospital.
El-Zakzaky, who left around 6:30 pm on an Emirate flight, made a stopover in Dubai.
According to Channels TV, The spokesperson of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) informed El-Zakzaky and his wife made a stopover at Dubai International Airport at about 4:00 am on Tuesday.
Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, transmitted the final list of his cabinet nominees to the State House of Assembly.
This is coming four weeks after the Governor sent the first batch of the list to the lawmakers for screening.
Thirteen Commissioner- and Special Adviser-designates made the second list, which had already been transmitted to the legislature.
A statement by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said the second list had names of accomplished politicians and technocrats who “understand the current need of Lagos” and the development agenda of the Governor.
The Governor’s media aide said the selection process was rigorous, because of the need to constitute the best team that would serve Lagos in line with the Sanwo-Olu administration’s vision of delivering a city-state that will rank among the top most liveable cities in the world.
Below are names in the second batch of nominees:
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MR. OLADELE AJAYI
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MR. OLUWATOYIN FAYINKA
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MRS. YETUNDE AROBIEKE
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MR. OLANREWAJU SANUSI
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MR. JOE IGBOKWE
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MR. BONU SOLOMON SAANU
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ARC. KABIRU AHMED
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MRS. LOLA AKANDE
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PRINCE ANOFI OLANREWAJU ELEGUSHI
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MRS. SOLAPE HAMMOND
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MR. MORUF AKINDERU FATAI
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MRS. SHULAMITE OLUFUNKE ADEBOLU
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MR. TOKUNBO WAHA
BBNaija housemates, Tacha, Ike and Joe received strikes and warning for inappropriate behaviour displayed during the ongoing fourth season.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the surprise strikes were issued by Biggie, who echoed that he wanted housemates to realise the consequences for their actions.
Before issuing the strikes, he said, “judgement delayed is not judgement denied”, leaving shocked expressions on the faces of housemates.
Biggie gave Tacha a final warning for constantly being involved in fights in the House.
He warned that such hostility would only get her into more trouble as his House is not a fighting ring.
He also advised Tacha to take better control of her reactions when angry.
Mercy received a final warning for damaging Biggie’s property when she broke the Oppo Mobile phone at a Saturday Night Party.
Biggie warned Mercy to be in control of her temper and reaction regardless of other people’s actions towards her.
Meanwhile, Joe received his first Strike for provocation for making a volatile situation worse.
Joe got into a verbal argument with Tacha and left his couch to sit next to Tacha to provoke her.
He then removed her duvet agitating an already irritable Tacha.
Biggie asked Joe if agitating an already provoked person was a wise decision?
He cautioned him to promote peace, happiness and fun during his stay in the ‘Pepper Dem’ House.
After receiving a warning for other bursts of anger, Biggie issued Tacha her first Strike for serving it back to Joe when she hit him.
He advised that she should have handled herself better and diffused the situation by walking away.
He warned all the Housemates to control their temper or they will lose their place in his House.
NAN reports that if either Joe or Tacha receive two more Strikes they will be disqualified from Biggie’s House.
Ike, however, needs one more strike before he gets kicked out of the game as he was issued his second strike.
Ike received a strike for intent to attack a fellow Housemate (Seyi).
If he receives a third Strike he will be Disqualified from Big Brother Pepper Dem.
Biggie told Ike that he should use this opportunity to develop his self-control skills and cautioned all of the Housemates that in times of tension it is their responsibility to behave in a way that makes the House safe for all.
Meanwhile, ‘The Icons’ are up for eviction as they failed to pass the nomination challenge.
Voting has also commenced.
Nigerians spend over N730bn annually on sports betting and at least two billion naira is generated daily, recent research data shows.
Data also revealed that over 60 million Nigerian punters spend over N3,000 daily placing bet stakes. At least there are 50 betting sites in Nigeria with the number growing annually.
Respondents said they placed bets to generate quick and easy income, and turn their passion for football into cash.
Research statistics show that over 14 million bet stakes and payments are made over the internet every day. This, however, does not affect the rate of teeming punters at offline, physical shops.
28-year-old Fashion designer, Segun Mukoro, who bets at least once weekly, said it was the fastest way to double his income and although he might lose sometimes, the wins come big.
He said, “Yes I bet and I do so weekly, especially when there is a league playing. When you have been betting for long, it’s easier to know what odds to play and what teams to bet on.
“It is a guessing game and you get better with time. I know that it is addictive but I see it as an investment, a way to double my income,” Mukoro said.
Similarly, 23-year-old Eronini Kolapo explained that he used betting to augment his allowance as a student. He told NAN that he started for fun, at first but soon built a network from it.
Kolapo’s almost-perfect predictions made him a leader of his sport betting ring where his peers pay him extra to place ‘sure’ bets for them.
His model is not strange as website and online channels where predictions are sold to help punters maximise betting stakes, populate social media.
However, there are tons of fraudulent platforms.
30-year-old Noble Obioria sold his agro-business and combined the proceeds with his savings to purchase predictions from a fraudulent channel that swindled him.
He spent almost N1m trying to place a ‘sure’ stake with hope of making over N10m in return. (Punch)
The Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Kweku Tandoh threw caution to the wind last Sunday during the finals of the just concluded ITTF Challenge Plus Nigeria Open held at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
Tandoh who is the Chairman of the State Sports Commission governing council during the presentation of awards insisted that the Director General of the Commission, Gafaar Oluwatoyin whom we are reliably inform is to represent the executive governor during cannot present awards to the athletes ahead of him that he does not care he is representing the governor.
Our very reliable source told us that, He (Tandoh) said since the governor did not come no body can come and says he is representing him, not only did he refuse to acknowledge the governor representative but also insisted that Distinguish Senator, Opeyemi Bamidele can not be allowed to be part of those to present awards to the Table-Tennis players because he is not from Lagos.
However Senator Opeyemi Bamidele is a two terms commissioner in Lagos State during the tenure of the Leaders of All Progressive Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola. Ahmed Tinubu supervising the Ministry of Youths and Sports and later Information.
Tandoh was quoted saying Senator Bamidele who is currently representing Ekiti Central at the Red chamber can not come from Ekiti State to take shine off Lagos event.
Our reliable source said despite all pleads, Tandoh made sure that neither the DG, Gafaar Oluwatoyin, representing the governor nor Senator Bamidele were part of the presentation.
Nigeria’s Aruna Qudari won the Men’s singles in the Nigeria Open to retain his title.
Emeka Ihedioha, governor of Imo state, says probing the administration of Rochas Okorocha, former governor of the state, should be seen as an act to make Imo better.
Ihedioha spoke to journalists in Yola, Adamawa state capital, after he paid a condolence visit to Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of the state, over the death of his father.
The governor urged Nigerians not to see the probe as a witch-hunt as alleged by Okorocha.
He also added that the revelations about the recovery of N1.2bn and some properties by the state government from the administration of his predecessor did not emanate from him.
He said they were findings from the investigative panel that was set up to probe the past administration of Okorocha.
“I am not witch-hunting the former governor. There was a committee that we set up that is doing all those things, “he said.
“The findings of the committee have not been made known to me… obviously, this (probe) is to make Imo state better now.”
He added that his administration would not hesitate to implement the recommendations of the committee’s report as soon as it is presented.
In June, Ihedioha raised an eight-member panel to probe the probe the government of Okorocha.
The Presidency has declined to comment on a media report alleging the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, has been relieved of his appointment.
Until the latest report, Enang, like several other aides of the President, has continued with his appointment in the second term of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration without renewal.
Senator Babajide Omoworare, a former Senator from Osun state, is claimed to have replaced Enang as Presidential aide to the Senate.
It was also claimed that Enang has been redeployed to a ministry as SSA to the President.
But no government official was willing to confirm the latest media report.
When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha was in a better position to speak on the matter.
“SGF is in a better position to speak on that,” he stated.
Also several calls put through to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on Monday were not picked.
There was also no return call from the SGF as at press time.
Worried by the continued influx of fake and sub-standard Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders into Nigeria, a cooking gas advocate has warned that Nigerian homes may start experiencing `bomb-like’ explosions in their kitchens soon, caused by fake cylinders.
The warning, follows reports that N38 million worth of cooking gas cylinders have been impounded by the Nigerian Customs Service in the latest clampdown on importers of fake cylinders.
On Aug. 1, the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr Osita Aboloma, announced that hundreds of imported cylinders were impounded for failing to meet safety requirements.
Analysts say that N38 million is capable of bringing up to 1.8 million cylinders into the country. According to them, less than one million homes currently use LPG for their cooking in Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous nation.
The Federal Government has recently launched a campaign to ensure that up to 13.8 million households adopt LPG for their cooking in the next five years.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday, a former National Coordinator of the Women in LPG group, Mrs Nkechi Obi, expressed worry on the consequences of Nigerian homes contending with rampant cylinder explosions in their kitchens.
She warned that such explosions would be unavoidable as long as fake and sub-standard cylinders continued to be imported massively into Nigeria.
According to her, unrestricted importation of fake cylinders is a real and present danger because “it is like bringing explosives into homes, which can be deadly.
“More so, importing cylinders is harmful to the Nigerian economy and goes contrary to the quest by the nation to become self-reliant because cylinders are now manufactured here.
“Using fake cylinders also poses severe danger to our womenfolk, who face daily risk of death or injury in the event of explosion of fake cylinders in their kitchens.’’
Obi, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Techno Oil Group, argued that there was need for government to come hard on countries dumping fake cylinders in Nigeria.
According to her, market report shows that the TechnoGas brand of cylinders, manufactured in Nigeria command more acceptance and better quality, compared with cylinders imported into Nigeria, especially from China.
Obi, a long-time advocate of LPG adoption, lamented that continued importation of cylinders had been hurting Nigerian industrialists, engaged in cylinder manufacturing.
She stressed the need for customs, SON and the Department of Petroleum Resources to raise the stakes to discourage low-grade cylinders from entering Nigeria, to “save our lives’’.
The industrialist lamented that dominance of fake LPG cylinders was discouraging many people from embracing cooking gas, a development she described as affecting Nigeria’s LPG penetration drive.
Obi further expressed worry that in spite of the fact that Nigeria had more gas than oil, the nation had failed to exploit its gas resources optimally, resulting to more homes using fire wood and other unviable energy sources.
She said that Nigeria ought to depend more on LPG for cooking, to secure the environment, rather than destroying the fragile eco-system, in a bid to fetch firewood for cooking.
The Techno Oil executive vice-chairman posited that government should sustain incentives, including granting tax holidays to cylinder manufacturing companies, to make cylinders affordable and readily available to Nigerian homes.
“A Nigerian company, Techno Oil commenced production of LPG cylinders last February.
“Such initiative should be supported by government to ensure that the company thrives, to meet the cylinder needs of our country.
A NAN survey showed that most cylinders imported from China do not have certification by the China Inspection and Quarantine (CIQ) Company, the country’s agency responsible for product quality and standardization.
LPG advocates in Nigeria have advised the Federal Government to ensure that the CIQ certification is provided by importers before granting clearance approvals to cylinders imported into Nigeria from China.
On June 7, Techno Oil Group inaugurated a landmark LPG cylinder manufacturing plant at Ajah in Lagos. The plant, the building of which commenced in 2015, is the largest of its type in West Africa.
(NAN)
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