Author: straightnewsng.com

By Gbenga Oshinowo It has become increasingly obvious that Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State is obsessed with pride and loquaciousness that would lead him to self destruction. The banker turned “politician” who has remained a study in arrogance is a proof to the fate pride holds for its victims and a confirmation of the truism that pride goes before a fall. Recently, Governor Emmanuel seems to have flown off the handle. He appears to be led by some rage that depicts desperation, immaturity and lack of tact. The ease of his predisposition to outburst and infantile comments suggest…

In continuation of its foreign exchange restriction on 41 items popularly known as ’41 items policy’, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Monday increased the number of items banned from accessing foreign exchange to 42 as it imposed foreign exchange ban on fertilizer importation. The ban was announced by Ahmed Umar, the Director, Trade and Exchange Department, CBN, in a circular titled: “Re: Inclusion of some imported goods and services on list of items as ‘Not Valid for Foreign Exchange in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market”. The circular stated: “In the continued effort to sustain the achievement recorded from the…

The World Bank-sponsored State Employment and Expenditure for Result, SEEFOR, Monday, said it has budgeted $70 million (about N25.27billion) for its intervention in public works in youth engagements next year for the Niger Delta States. The states are Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States. Task Team Leader of SEEFOR in Nigeria, Parminder Brar stated this in Benin City, Edo State at the opening session of a four day interaction among the four states on Integrated Financial Management Information System, IFMIS. He said out of the total amount, Edo State would get $18.2m (N6.5b) for the year 2019. Brar said “The…

Anglican Bishops in the country have lamented the spate of attacks by armed herdsmen in the country with a call on President Muhammadu Buhari to proscribe them as they pose a terrorist group. The Bishops accused the Federal Government of embarking on a “selective prosecution” in its anti-corruption fight, noting that the All Progressives Congress, APC, led Federal Government was “fighting a set of people while those with corruption charges against them are treated as saints.” They made their position in a communique by Revd. Edafe Emamezi, Bishop, Diocese of Western Izon at the end of the first session of…

Ahead of the 2019 general election, Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Monday, inaugurated its campaign council with a call for issue-based campaign. The council Prof Sam Oyovbaire as Chairman, Chief James Ibori, Vice chairman and Chief Solomon Funkekeme, Director General, DG. Speaking during the inauguration of the campaign council, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa charged members of the PDP run issue based campaign. Expressing confidence that the PDP has successfully executed projects that would earn it victory in the 2019 general election, Okowa said, “First, I want to thank the party for putting up this campaign council and…

The Cross River State Government, Monday, inaugurated a centre that will help women and underage girls address all gender-based violence to target the 17 local government areas of the state. At the inauguration of the centre sited at the Cross River State Women Affairs, Calabar, Mrs. Linda Ayade, wife of the Cross River State Governor, said with the inauguration of the centre, deviant behaviours such as wife battering, sexual molestation and a host of other gender based violence would become a thing of the past. Mrs. Ayade’s urged women residing in the state to report all gender-based violence to the…

By Gbenga Oshinowo Just as investors expect returns on investment, someone who does kindness expects a return of appreciation. It is both natural and scriptural. Even Jesus, after performing the miracle of healing 10 lepers with only one returning to express gratitude asked, “What about the other nine?” It was a poignant acknowledgement of the sin of ingratitude by God. In an encounter with a friend, he made a statement that was in every ramification profound and instructive. He had said that one does not need to be happy to be grateful rather, one needs to be grateful to be…

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has extended its ultimatum and suspended planned shutdown of petroleum depots for another five days, until the Federal Government pays all the outstanding debt which it owed the marketers. DAPPMAN had directed all its members to shut down operations at midnight of Sunday, December 9, 2018. This is even as Mr. Umar Ajiya, Group Managing Director (GMD) at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Monday, tweeted Nigerians should go about their normal businesses as adequate arrangements have been put in place by the NNPC and PPMC to ensure that there is…

The Federal High Court in Lagos, Monday, adjourned the trial of Mr Paul Usoro (SAN), the President of the Nigerian Bar Association on alleged money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to December 18. The EFCC has filed filed 10 counts against Usoro and four other persons of converting and laundering N1.4 billion belonging to Akwa Ibom government before Justice Muslim Hassan. Usoro had Monday, arrived at the court for his scheduled arraignment on money laundering charges. However, Usoro maintains that he is innocent of the N1.4 billion money laundering charges brought against…

Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio clocked 56 on Sunday. As a commissioner, governor and now a Senator, many see him as performer. He has courted the love of many and attracted the odium of others alike. Across the gamut of the society and all spheres of life, he has a larger-than-life image.    Despite vilifications and vituperations, he is one of the most talked about, popular politician and internet sensation in Akwa Ibom and Nigeria as a whole. Though he has his weaknesses like all who populate this planet, he remains a hero, mentor, role model and pillar to many. On…