How we're selecting beneficiaries of Covid-19 cash transfer palliative - Lagos Govt.

By News Proof 

The selection of beneficiaries of the Federal Government's cash transfer palliative to ease the effect of lockdown has begun in Lagos State. 

The state government said that the exercise had begun following a four-day training program for selected Local Government Councils staff on the modalities for carrying out the shortlisting exercise in various regions across the state.

Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, the state's Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment revealed that the exercise was designed to include education of indigent people on the deadly coronavirus pandemic and that the facilitators’ training had been by experts from the federal government.

Arobieke, who confirmed the shortlisting exercise while speaking to newsmen on Friday, stated that the program was being implemented through the administration of questionnaires which were prepared in line with World Bank standards.

She added that a total of 33 states of the federation had keyed into the shortlisting exercise and that the concept would help identify deserving beneficiaries and enable residents to benefit from the apex government initiative.

The commissioner expressed the satisfaction of the government on extension of the conditional cash transfer palliative program to the state, saying that disbursements would cushion the negative economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic on Lagosians.

She assured the people of the governor’s commitment to ensuring wellbeing of Lagosians and said that the registration exercise had been possible due to Sanwo-Olu’s insistence that residents also benefit from the federal government initiative.

Gov. Fayemi appoints man who denied son entering to his house without Covid-19 tests after sneaking to Ekiti

By Dansu Peter 

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has appointed a man, Mr. Adeoye who denied his son entering to his house after sneaking into the  state from Lagos.

The man who many see as a disciplinarian was appointed as Ekiti state Covid-19 ambassador by the governor.

Governor Fayemi made the announcement this afternoon on his Facebook page.

"This afternoon, I appointed Mr. Adeoye, father of the young man who sneaked into the state, as a COVID-19 Response Ambassador in Ekiti State. He will help to propagate the message as a member of the COVID-19 Task Force @Ekiti_COVID19 in the State," the post read

Revealed: Nnamdi Kanu's Clone to Address IPOB Members

By News Proof 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is reportedly set to use a clone of its leaders, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to address its members via online video streaming as the group, which has been outlawed as a terror organization, remains under intense pressure to prove that Kanu is still alive and had not succumbed to corona virus diseases as reported in some media.

IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, had released a handwritten note purportedly from Kanu announcing that “I will be LIVE here on Facebook, on this page at 7pm with no edited speech or digitally remastered video by the Chinese.” 

The assertion was in response to a report by online journalist, Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo, who had revealed that doctors in an Italian hospital have confirmed Kanu’s demise from COVID-19. She had exclusively reported the death of the deceased Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Abba Kyari, from COVID-19 two weeks before the announcement of his death.

A source familiar with the situation said “The senior layer of IPOB has weighed the situation and it is truly a precarious one because people are asking for Kanu to appear in person on video as audio messages could be faked by anyone with access to state of the art software. By a stroke of luck there had been a contingency plan long in the offing.”

Investigations revealed that the contingency plan referred to by the source may not be unconnected with the cloning of Kanu, whose DNA material was harvested by the scientist when he was on exile in Israel. The decision to create a clone was out of IPOB’s fear that he could be assassinated at any time and it would be then be left without a leader. The clone is now being put to use after he reportedly died of the virus.

According to the source, while not specifically making reference to a clone, “IPOB, being a superior and more dynamic organization, has taken care of all possible outcomes. People want to see Ohamadike Nnamdi Kanu on video, they will see him, and it will not be any photo trick, it will be superior science.”

Pressed further for details, the source only said, “Stand by and watch on the appointed time that our leader gave.”

Another source in the security circle who craved anonymity because he did not have the clearance to speak revealed that even the international counterparts of Nigerian security agencies are aware that the IPOB leader is deceased from COVID-19 in the worst case scenario and is certainly in no shape to anchor a video stream if he is still considered as being alive.

The source said, “At the very best Kanu is on life support and disconnecting him to make a video broadcast will certainly kill him. So, if IPOB says they are bringing Kanu to talk to people on video then it tallies with intelligence from the past that he might have created a clone of himself to evade arrest at that time.

“The update we have is that someone that looks like him have been working international consultants, voice actors, a movie director and a body language expert to recreate the persona of Kanu without anyone noticing. The brief if that whoever will appear in the said video stream will be shorter, bulkier and slightly fairer than the Kanu we once have in custody,” he said.

In his view, getting the biometrics of the person that will appear in the video is key to verifying their true identity. He also hinted that the recent social media postings purportedly from Kanu betray slight variations from his original posts, which further fuels concerns that someone else is posting messages on his behalf.

Covid-19: Lagos council boss, Samola begins massive distribution of nosemasks

By Dansu Peter 

Samola, as he is fondly called by his admirers has begun massive free distribution of nose masks in total and prompt compliance with the directive of Lagos state government to begin the use of nose masks statewide to stem down the spread of Covid-19 in the state. 

The state Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwó-olú had yesterday launched operation Mask-up Lagos. An initiative aimed at lowering the rapid spread of Coronavirus in Lagos State, thereby mandating all lagosians to begin the use of nose masks as from Monday, 27th April 2020. 

In swift compliance with the directive, the Council Chairman of Olorunda Local Council Development Area, in BadagryLocal Government  today  commenced massive distribution of free nose masks to residents in the council. 

According to a statement released by his media aide,Adeosun Wahab, the exercise commenced at the Council Secretariat premises where members of the Executive and Legislative arms as well as Special Assistants serving in the government of the day benefitted from the first distribution phase.

Samola, while addressing the beneficiaries, shed more light into the rationale behind the first distribution and the criteria that determined the first set of beneficiaries. 

In his words, "We are picking pace with activities to follow up on the resolutions of the State Government on the use of face masks under the leadership of our indefatigable Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Sanwoolu. It has been declared that everyone must henceforth wear masks in public.

"So while we are set to distribute free nose masks to as many constituents as we can manage, we have to lead by example too. We have to present ourselves as role models and by so doing, we protect ourselves and people we come in contact with too.".

Corroborating the submissions of the Chairman was Hon. Femi Bamgbose, Vice-chairman of Olorunda LCDA who encouraged the people to embrace the initiative. 

"These actions require total participation from the populace. This is something that we all have to form a firm resolve on. I encourage our people to embrace the use of face masks in addition to the practice of proper hygiene and social distancing."

Hon. Odu Joseph, The Secretary to the Government also sought to press-home the importance of forming a united force against the spread of the virus, positing that the battle against the notorious pandemic requires such dogged discipline and unity of purpose.

"What we have learnt so far is that we need to unite our purpose as a people against this notorious outbreak. We will need to be disciplined and dogged in our approach in order to wipe our society clean. And with the commitment displayed by our Chairman, there is no doubt, we can do it."

Also to be presented with the nose masks were some members of the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) led by the Education Secretary of Badagry Local Government, Alhaja Modinat Adebayo and some senior members of staff. 

Covid-19: How Local Herbs Cured Me of Coronavirus, Edo Assembly Speaker, Okiye

By Dansu Peter 

Frank Okiye, the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly has said he got cured of the deadly Covid-19 with the use of local herbs. 

 Narrating his ordeal after testing negative twice of coronavirus said he got cured due to early detection and the use of a certain local herb he did not name. 

His words :

“It is common knowledge that the virus has no cure or vaccine. It is not a death sentence. People should take the directives of the government and health experts on social distancing and other instructions seriously.

“What saved the day for me was early treatment. The test was carried out after I became symptomatic. It is better to know your status early enough,”

 “People should be cautious. We should comply with the directives of the state government to check the spread of the virus. I went into self-isolation after returning from the United Kingdom. Suspecting that I was exposed, I needed to save my family, so I contacted the Commissioner for Health who came with a team of medical professionals to inspect the place set up for my self-isolation."

“It was after I tested positive for coronavirus that I became a bit destabilised. After a while and with continuous interaction with people, I started overcoming the virus with local herbs and medication."

“I was placed on drugs to deal with the symptoms. A few days later, I started feeling better. Mine was with mild symptoms. I was not hit hard by the virus.”

Okiye is among the seven patients who have fully recovered and tested negative twice for the virus.

The speaker officially resumed for work on Tuesday, April 21, 2020, after necessary clearance

Photos from Abba Kyari's Burial in Abuja, Life Indeed Vanity

Covid-19: Badagry Baálè supports Sanwó-olú with packaged foods distribution to his community

By Dansu Peter 

In a rare show of responsible leadership, the Baálè of Iragon Thogli in Badagry Local Government, Chief Francis Sedowhe is set to distribute some packaged food items in support of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwó-olú'efforts to cushion the effects of the sit-at-home order in combat against the deadly pandemic of Covid-19.

The food items, according to his palace source will be distributed to the aged and the indigents in Iragon-Thogli town. 

Our source said the Baálè is of the opinion that the battle against the pandemic should not be left alone to the government, hence his decision to support the Lagos state government in his little way

Kogi West: I Acted On Hearsay Report, PDP Agent Tells Tribunal

By News Proof 

A witness in the hearing of the petition filed by Senator Dino Melaye, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the November 2019 Kogi West Senatorial election has told the State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting g in Abuja, that he acted on hearsay report after result from his polling unit was declared.

According to the witness, Ibrahim Jimoh, Ijumu Ward Collation agent, he said he was not at the venue of the declaration of result after votes were counted.

He said he relied on the report of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after the election.

But according to electoral laws, party agents must be available when results and counted before its is declared.

Jimoh told the Justice Isa Sambo led tribunal sitting at the federal high court in Abuja, that that he was not available when reault s were counted but relied on INEC report.

When asked by Dr. Oladapo Otitoju, counsel to the respondent in the petition, Senator Smart Adeyemi, if the ballot papers were counted in his presence, he said no, adding that he relied on INEC report and what other agents told him

According to him, election went on peacefully without violence.

When asked how he got to the result he said, ''I was not there. I was not on ground. Yes, It was the second agent that came to tell me the figure''.

Another witness, Ademola Samuel, a farmer, after adopting his statement on oath as evidence before the tribunal also said the election was without violence.

Samuel told the tribunal that he examined the results after the election but when asked to shed more light on his analysis of the examination ofbtge results, he said he acted on what he was told.

Further sitting of the tribunal has been adjourned to April 20,/2020.

Kogi West: I Was Not A Registered Voter, PDP Witness Admits

At the last adjourned date, a witness called by Senator Melaye, admitted that he was not a registered voter at the election.

The witness, who also served as a polling agent in the election said there was no violence in his polling unit.

He was given the registered but his name could not be found after 15mins. 

He later admitted that his name was not there and he was not a registered voters in that Unit.

Another witness, Abduganiyu Mustapha, a businessman, said there was no violence in the election against his claim in the statement he swore to before the tribunal.

When asked if there was violence during the election, he said, ''No, there was none in all the units I monitored''.

One of the witnesses also called yesterday, Kayode Medibi Friday, said there was no reported case of gun shot during the election.

According to him, no electorate was injured during the election.

When asked if there was a gun shot in his polling unit, he said, ''No, no disruption at all! 

He continued, ''People voted peacefully, results were counted under a conducive atmosphere.''