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Finally FG Disbands SARS_Ada Nkong
Security

Finally FG Disbands SARS_Ada Nkong

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Following several protests across the states in which there has been loss of life, the Federal Government has disbanded SARS in the 36 states and the FCT according to a rreport in Vanguard. Details later

Abike @ 58: The other side of an Amazon _ Abdur-Rahman Balogun* The name Hon. Kafayat Oloruntoyin Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) is a household name in Nigeria and in the Diaspora. It is a name that means many things to many people. In the course of her sojourn on the surface of the earth since Oct. 11, 1962, it has been a harvest of sobriquet of names occasioned by her diligence, competence, intelligence, eloquence, substance and submissiveness to the will of her Creator, Allah. This ambivalence God- given nature of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, whom i gave ADE, made me to be at a loss on what else can one write on this amazing woman at 58. But, two recent striking events informed my choice of thought on what to write about her. First of which is her participation in five diaspora webinars on Saturday Oct. 3, 2020, especially the one hosted by the Nigeria Council of Muslims Organisations UK/Ireland as the special guest of honour on the concept of leadership in Islam. This was a programme put together by thousands of Muslims, who were Nigerians in the Diaspora in UK/Ireland to mark 60th anniversary of Nigeria. In the advertised poster, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa was robed in an Islamic wears adorning hijab and this became a subject of debate on a platform i belong whether she still identified herself with Islam, as a Muslim, or not? I decided not to respond therein despite the fact that four members of the platform drew my attention to it. I just smiled at their ignorance and prayed that there would be an opportunity in future to speak about it. Allah says in Chapter 2 verse 263 thus: ” *Kind words & forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury. And Allah is Rich (Free of all needs) & He is Most-Forbearing” .* Even though, Hijab is part and parcel of Islam as attested to in many verses of the Quran, it doesn’t qualify one for hell fire in as much as one upholds the five pristine pillars of Islam which is believing in oneness of Allah and His Prophets, observing Solat (Prayers), payment of zakat, fasting in the month of Ramadan and performing Hajj in one’s lifetime. All these, i can vouchsafe for Hon. Kafayat Abike Dabiri-Erewa that she is not deficient in living up to expectations. Allah says again in Qur’an 49 verse 13 thus :… *verily, the most honourable in the sight of Allah, is he who fear Him”*. It is only Allah who knows those who worship Him secretly and in the open. My second inspiration came from a list of topics i chose for myself to pick from and when i subjected it to internal opinion poll with my colleagues in my unit, 95 per cent of them advised me to pick *Abike @ 58: the other side of an Amazon.* The question begging for an answer is who then is an Amazon and why will ADE qualify as the Amazon of our time? An Amazon, according to dictionary meaning , “is a big, strong, warrior-like woman, someone who reminds you of the mythical Greek women-warriors, the Amazons”. Going through Hon. ADE, lifetime, her birth and family background, parentage, education, choice of Journalism and political career, through her family life and now a global phenomenon in the Diaspora, it is very apt to describe her as an Amazon indeed. Three instances will suffice here that qualifies this ageless grandma as an Amazon of our time. While at NTA, as a Corrrespondent specialising in investigative journalism, she used eight good years of her 15 years in NTA then to investigate Mary, the miracle baby, which was claimed by three different mothers and ensured the resolution of the matter by reuniting the baby with her original and biological mother. She didnt stop at that, she also ensured that the girl was enlisted among the 300 children on her scholarship scheme to university level. Mary is now a graduate and has completed the mandatory one year youth service programme of the NYSC. Similarly, out of the 12 years of three terms she spent in the parliament, House of Representatives representing Ikorodu federal constituency from 2003 to 2015, she led the sponsorship of Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission bill then, with other stakeholders among other bills, for over eight years from 2007 to 2015 until the bill was finally assented to by Mr President in June 2017. The last one here is the warrior and magic-like style with which she is directing the affairs of the newly established Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) within a year of its establishment as if it has been in existence for over a decade. Inspite of the paucity of funds, lack of office accommodation and challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, a list of over 46 achievements, and still counting, were recorded. Apart from over 350 national and global awards to her credit, she received many tributes and accolades recently by her admirers on her wonderful and amazing performance at the young Commission which earned her this applause from a defence analyst and an International Relations Expert, Omooba Rasheed Adesokan on reading the long list of achivements within a year: ” *Absolutely true, and this has nothing to do with blowing one’s trumpet, but* *merely informing we Nigerians about an unusual successful story of a* *member of the MDAs quietly making waves in a terrain where such is rare.* *What stunned the nay sayers (initially including this writer) was that besides,* *good command of English language, Nice dress sense and Physical attractiveness, where is her degree in International Relations, Diplomacy or Strategic Studies, without which we so wrongly* *assume she certainly could not fly in that office?* *But her exceptional performance has made us all ate our humble pie and we have since become her* *admirers* . *With admirable tact (beautifully deployed when her office was entered), first class inter-personal* *relationship and implicit support and confidence of* *Mr President, she has not only met but even exceeded the expectations of most* *Nigerians. The space, and not the sky is the limit* *though. She Infact reminded us all of late Major-General Joseph Garba, the Diplomatic Soldier, who performed so well as Nigeria’s External* *Affairs Minister, without an academic Degree in related fields. We pray she scores* *more successes, while not allowing distraction from unrefined small-minded* *people becloud her goals and vision for this great Country, Nigeria”.* It is Napoleon who said, ‘ *The world suffers a lot. not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people!* Abike has been speaking up for the voiceless, has been fighting for the powerless and has been helping the helpless in the society. She is truly “mother Theresa of our time “. Above quote wraps up the personality called Abike whom my Corps-member colleague, Rosemary Moribirin, describes as: *A-mazon* *B- eautiful* *I- con* *K- ind* *E-legant* All these accolades suit her as she adds another year on the surface of the earth on October 11. Happy Birthday Madam. May Allah (Subanahu Wah Taala) continue to elevate you and grant you your heart desires. Aameen. *Abdur-Rahman Balogun is the Head, Media and Public Relations Unit, NIDCOM Abuja.* Oct. 10, 2020.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFE STYLE

Abike @ 58: The other side of an Amazon _ Abdur-Rahman Balogun* The name Hon. Kafayat Oloruntoyin Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) is a household name in Nigeria and in the Diaspora. It is a name that means many things to many people. In the course of her sojourn on the surface of the earth since Oct. 11, 1962, it has been a harvest of sobriquet of names occasioned by her diligence, competence, intelligence, eloquence, substance and submissiveness to the will of her Creator, Allah. This ambivalence God- given nature of Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, whom i gave ADE, made me to be at a loss on what else can one write on this amazing woman at 58. But, two recent striking events informed my choice of thought on what to write about her. First of which is her participation in five diaspora webinars on Saturday Oct. 3, 2020, especially the one hosted by the Nigeria Council of Muslims Organisations UK/Ireland as the special guest of honour on the concept of leadership in Islam. This was a programme put together by thousands of Muslims, who were Nigerians in the Diaspora in UK/Ireland to mark 60th anniversary of Nigeria. In the advertised poster, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa was robed in an Islamic wears adorning hijab and this became a subject of debate on a platform i belong whether she still identified herself with Islam, as a Muslim, or not? I decided not to respond therein despite the fact that four members of the platform drew my attention to it. I just smiled at their ignorance and prayed that there would be an opportunity in future to speak about it. Allah says in Chapter 2 verse 263 thus: ” *Kind words & forgiving of faults are better than Sadaqah (charity) followed by injury. And Allah is Rich (Free of all needs) & He is Most-Forbearing” .* Even though, Hijab is part and parcel of Islam as attested to in many verses of the Quran, it doesn’t qualify one for hell fire in as much as one upholds the five pristine pillars of Islam which is believing in oneness of Allah and His Prophets, observing Solat (Prayers), payment of zakat, fasting in the month of Ramadan and performing Hajj in one’s lifetime. All these, i can vouchsafe for Hon. Kafayat Abike Dabiri-Erewa that she is not deficient in living up to expectations. Allah says again in Qur’an 49 verse 13 thus :… *verily, the most honourable in the sight of Allah, is he who fear Him”*. It is only Allah who knows those who worship Him secretly and in the open. My second inspiration came from a list of topics i chose for myself to pick from and when i subjected it to internal opinion poll with my colleagues in my unit, 95 per cent of them advised me to pick *Abike @ 58: the other side of an Amazon.* The question begging for an answer is who then is an Amazon and why will ADE qualify as the Amazon of our time? An Amazon, according to dictionary meaning , “is a big, strong, warrior-like woman, someone who reminds you of the mythical Greek women-warriors, the Amazons”. Going through Hon. ADE, lifetime, her birth and family background, parentage, education, choice of Journalism and political career, through her family life and now a global phenomenon in the Diaspora, it is very apt to describe her as an Amazon indeed. Three instances will suffice here that qualifies this ageless grandma as an Amazon of our time. While at NTA, as a Corrrespondent specialising in investigative journalism, she used eight good years of her 15 years in NTA then to investigate Mary, the miracle baby, which was claimed by three different mothers and ensured the resolution of the matter by reuniting the baby with her original and biological mother. She didnt stop at that, she also ensured that the girl was enlisted among the 300 children on her scholarship scheme to university level. Mary is now a graduate and has completed the mandatory one year youth service programme of the NYSC. Similarly, out of the 12 years of three terms she spent in the parliament, House of Representatives representing Ikorodu federal constituency from 2003 to 2015, she led the sponsorship of Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission bill then, with other stakeholders among other bills, for over eight years from 2007 to 2015 until the bill was finally assented to by Mr President in June 2017. The last one here is the warrior and magic-like style with which she is directing the affairs of the newly established Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) within a year of its establishment as if it has been in existence for over a decade. Inspite of the paucity of funds, lack of office accommodation and challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, a list of over 46 achievements, and still counting, were recorded. Apart from over 350 national and global awards to her credit, she received many tributes and accolades recently by her admirers on her wonderful and amazing performance at the young Commission which earned her this applause from a defence analyst and an International Relations Expert, Omooba Rasheed Adesokan on reading the long list of achivements within a year: ” *Absolutely true, and this has nothing to do with blowing one’s trumpet, but* *merely informing we Nigerians about an unusual successful story of a* *member of the MDAs quietly making waves in a terrain where such is rare.* *What stunned the nay sayers (initially including this writer) was that besides,* *good command of English language, Nice dress sense and Physical attractiveness, where is her degree in International Relations, Diplomacy or Strategic Studies, without which we so wrongly* *assume she certainly could not fly in that office?* *But her exceptional performance has made us all ate our humble pie and we have since become her* *admirers* . *With admirable tact (beautifully deployed when her office was entered), first class inter-personal* *relationship and implicit support and confidence of* *Mr President, she has not only met but even exceeded the expectations of most* *Nigerians. The space, and not the sky is the limit* *though. She Infact reminded us all of late Major-General Joseph Garba, the Diplomatic Soldier, who performed so well as Nigeria’s External* *Affairs Minister, without an academic Degree in related fields. We pray she scores* *more successes, while not allowing distraction from unrefined small-minded* *people becloud her goals and vision for this great Country, Nigeria”.* It is Napoleon who said, ‘ *The world suffers a lot. not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people!* Abike has been speaking up for the voiceless, has been fighting for the powerless and has been helping the helpless in the society. She is truly “mother Theresa of our time “. Above quote wraps up the personality called Abike whom my Corps-member colleague, Rosemary Moribirin, describes as: *A-mazon* *B- eautiful* *I- con* *K- ind* *E-legant* All these accolades suit her as she adds another year on the surface of the earth on October 11. Happy Birthday Madam. May Allah (Subanahu Wah Taala) continue to elevate you and grant you your heart desires. Aameen. *Abdur-Rahman Balogun is the Head, Media and Public Relations Unit, NIDCOM Abuja.* Oct. 10, 2020.

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NRC to Commence E-Ticketing November_Ada Nkong
Transportation

NRC to Commence E-Ticketing November_Ada Nkong

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The Nigerian Railway CCorporation (NRC) says the first set of people will be able to buy train tickets online by November. The just reappointed MD NRC ,Engr Fidet Okhiria made this known during an unscheduled visit to the Idu train station Thursday. Okhiria said plans are on to ensure the e- ticketing becomes operational as… Continue reading NRC to Commence E-Ticketing November_Ada Nkong

Sheikh Hasina to Lead Global Leaders at CVF Event_Ada Nkong
WORLD NEWS

Sheikh Hasina to Lead Global Leaders at CVF Event_Ada Nkong

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is to chair the virtual climate vulnerable forum leaders event to be cohosted by the Global center on adaptation tomorrow at 7.00pm. A release signed by MD Tohidul Islam ,Senior Information officer of Bangladesh ministry of foreign affairs stated that as current president of CVF, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be… Continue reading Sheikh Hasina to Lead Global Leaders at CVF Event_Ada Nkong

Buhari Approves Special Salary Scale for Teachers,Increases Years of Service to 40_Ada Nkong
EDUCATION

Buhari Approves Special Salary Scale for Teachers,Increases Years of Service to 40_Ada Nkong

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Pressident Muhammadu Buhari has approved a special salary scale for teachers. Minister of education,Adamu Adamu who represented the President at the 2020 world teachers day celebration in Abuja said this is to encourage teachers to do more. Adamu also disclosed the President's approval to increase the years of service of teachers from 35 to 40.

Trump and Wife Melanie Test Positive for Coronavirus_Ada Nkong
WORLD NEWS

Trump and Wife Melanie Test Positive for Coronavirus_Ada Nkong

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Following test carried out on President Donald Trump and wife Natalie after a close ally tested positive for coronavirus,President Trump Thursday tweeted that himself and his wife have tested positive but will get over this together. Melanie also said her husband and her had tested positive but are doing fine. Critics have made reference to… Continue reading Trump and Wife Melanie Test Positive for Coronavirus_Ada Nkong

NLC,TUC Suspend Strike Action_Ada Nkong
ECONOMY

NLC,TUC Suspend Strike Action_Ada Nkong

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Following a protracted meeting between labour leaders and the Federal government Sunday evening, the proposed strike action that should have started today has been called off. Our correspondent reports that the new electricity Tariff which is part of Labour's grievance has been suspended for two weeks and a committee set up to review the tariff.… Continue reading NLC,TUC Suspend Strike Action_Ada Nkong

Trump Insists Biden Take Drug Test Before Debate_Ada Nkong President Donald Trump demanded Sunday that his Democratic rival Joe Biden take a drug test either before or after the pair’s first debate on Tuesday, in his latest salvo against his opponent’s mental acuity. “I will be strongly demanding a Drug Test of Sleepy Joe Biden prior to, or after, the Debate on Tuesday night,” Trump tweeted. “Naturally, I will agree to take one also. His Debate performances have been record-setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy???” he continued, without offering any evidence for the claim. the US President said Sunday the Senate will “easily” confirm his Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett before the election, despite furious Democratic opposition to his bid to steer the court rightward for years to come. Trump has nominated Barrett, a darling of conservatives for her religious views, to replace the late liberal justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in a lifetime seat on the top court, potentially impacting some of the most partisan issues in America, from abortion to gun rights to health care. His decision to push her nomination through just weeks before the tense and potentially disputed November 3 election, in which polls show he is the underdog, has galvanized Democrats, who are calling for the decision to be made by the winner of the vote. His election rival, Democrat Joe Biden, has led the charge. “The Senate should not act on this vacancy until after the American people select their next president and the next Congress,” Biden said Saturday, just moments after Trump announced Barrett’s nomination. But Trump expressed confidence Sunday in an interview with “Fox & Friends.” “I think we’re going to have it done easily before the election,” he said. “I think it would be nice to do. Get it out of the way,” he continued, adding: “We have plenty of time.” Barring a huge surprise, Republican senators, who have 53 out of 100 votes in the upper house of Congress, are expected to confirm Barrett. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, has already announced that a vote will be held “this year.” Source: Channels TV
POLITICS · WORLD NEWS

Trump Insists Biden Take Drug Test Before Debate_Ada Nkong President Donald Trump demanded Sunday that his Democratic rival Joe Biden take a drug test either before or after the pair’s first debate on Tuesday, in his latest salvo against his opponent’s mental acuity. “I will be strongly demanding a Drug Test of Sleepy Joe Biden prior to, or after, the Debate on Tuesday night,” Trump tweeted. “Naturally, I will agree to take one also. His Debate performances have been record-setting UNEVEN, to put it mildly. Only drugs could have caused this discrepancy???” he continued, without offering any evidence for the claim. the US President said Sunday the Senate will “easily” confirm his Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett before the election, despite furious Democratic opposition to his bid to steer the court rightward for years to come. Trump has nominated Barrett, a darling of conservatives for her religious views, to replace the late liberal justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in a lifetime seat on the top court, potentially impacting some of the most partisan issues in America, from abortion to gun rights to health care. His decision to push her nomination through just weeks before the tense and potentially disputed November 3 election, in which polls show he is the underdog, has galvanized Democrats, who are calling for the decision to be made by the winner of the vote. His election rival, Democrat Joe Biden, has led the charge. “The Senate should not act on this vacancy until after the American people select their next president and the next Congress,” Biden said Saturday, just moments after Trump announced Barrett’s nomination. But Trump expressed confidence Sunday in an interview with “Fox & Friends.” “I think we’re going to have it done easily before the election,” he said. “I think it would be nice to do. Get it out of the way,” he continued, adding: “We have plenty of time.” Barring a huge surprise, Republican senators, who have 53 out of 100 votes in the upper house of Congress, are expected to confirm Barrett. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, has already announced that a vote will be held “this year.” Source: Channels TV

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Trump retweets Russian propaganda about Biden that US intel agencies say is intended to influence 2020 election_Femi Ehiabhi
ELECTIONS · POLITICS · WORLD NEWS

Trump retweets Russian propaganda about Biden that US intel agencies say is intended to influence 2020 election_Femi Ehiabhi

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President Donald Trump on Sunday night retweeted Russian propaganda about former Vice President Joe Biden that the US intelligence community recently announced was part of Moscow's ongoing effort to "denigrate" the Democrat ahead of November's election. Late Sunday, Trump amplified a tweet that contained audiotapes of a 2016 conversation between Biden and then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko --… Continue reading Trump retweets Russian propaganda about Biden that US intel agencies say is intended to influence 2020 election_Femi Ehiabhi