BAMY BLOG

Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has directed the Leader of the House, Hassan Ado Dogwa to bring a bill that will amend the 1999 constitution to recognize Amotekun and other similar security outfits in the country. The Speaker stated this in his welcome address on Wednesday. In his speech, Gbajabiamila said that the emergence of Amotekun and similar security outfits was as a result of the manifestation gaps in the security architecture in the country. The Amotekun security outfit launched by the governors of the 6 southwest states has caused controversy, especially between the Federal government through the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the governors of the southwest states over the legality of the group. The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu has also intervened, calling for the warring parties to reach a compromise on the impasse. The intervention of Mr. Tinubu Culminated into the meeting

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Pablo Mari on loan from Flamengo. The Gunners will reportedly pay £4million to the Brazilian club now and £8million to make the deal permanent. “Spanish defender Pablo Mari is set to join us on loan until the end of the season. "The 26-year-old joins us from Brazilian side Flamengo, where he helped the Rio de Janeiro based team win the Brazilian Serie A title and the Copa Libertadores last year,” a club statement read. Technical director Edu added: “Pablo is an experienced player who will provide us with additional defensive quality. “We have been monitoring Pablo’s career for a while and we are very pleased to have reached agreement with Flamengo for him to join us initially until the end of our season. "Together with Mikel and his coaching team, we are all looking forward to seeing Pablo in an Arsenal shirt.”

The West African Health Organisation, WAHO, has confirmed that one suspected case of the deadly coronavirus has arrived Abidjan Airport, Cote d’ Ivoire. WAHO also said that it has stepped up surveillance measures at airports and other entry points into West Africa. In addition, WAHO, which is the institution of ECOWAS for health, said it established communication channels with member states to share real-time information on the outbreak, enhance communication between countries and strengthen countries’ surveillance capacity. It is said that this includes early detection of suspected cases through thermal camera surveillance at international borders. WAHO Director-General, Prof Stanley Okoro, said this in a statement released in Abuja, on Monday. “The case was immediately detected and isolated. A series of tests are now being performed to confirm whether it is a case of coronavirus or not. We have also implemented a regional laboratory network for access to rapid biological

Manchester United are ready to give Alexis Sanchez another chance to prove himself at the club, according to reports. Sanchez joined Serie A club Inter Milan on a season-long loan during the summer, after a miserable 18 months at Old Trafford. The 31-year-old netted only five times in 45 appearances, following his move from Arsenal in January 2018. Although he had not been expected to play for United again, the club has made a U-turn and are now planning to welcome him back at the end of the season. It is believed that United’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, has informed Sanchez and his agent that they have no intention of letting him join Inter or any other club on a permanent basis.

Nigerian music star Burna Boy has reacted to losing Grammys Best World Music Album to African legend, Angelique Kidjo. Kidjo won the Best world music album ahead of Burna Boy on Sunday. Angelique Kidjo, however, hailed Burna Boy after picking up the award. She dedicated it to him for “the immense work he’s done with to put Africa on the global map.” Reacting hours later, Burna Boy took to his Twitter page expressing his love and gratitude to Angelique Kidjo and his fans all over the world. He wrote: “I love you forever Angelique Kidjo ‘Mama Africa’ and every single person that rooted for me, I don’t take any of it lightly! The world get ready cause we’re all coming.

Popular market place in Sabo, sagamu Ogun State caught fire in the early hours of today,  The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, as many shops and properties are badly affected.  The fire has been reportedly put out, more details later. 

 It has been revealed that Ara Zobayan, the pilot of the helicopter that crashed into a hillside outside Los Angeles, killing former NBA superstar, Kobe Bryant and eight others, told air traffic controllers in his last radio message that he was climbing “to avoid a layer of cloud.” This was disclosed by Jennifer Homendy of the National Transportation Safety Board, an accident investigator. Recall that the Sikorsky S-76 crashed on Sunday morning, killing Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna and 7 others. Homendy further revealed that Zobayan had asked for and received special clearance to fly in heavy fog just minutes before Sunday’s crash and was flying at 1,400 feet (427 metres) when he went south and then west. Homendy was among the crew of investigators, which went to the crash scene on Monday to collect evidence, according to Al Jazeera. The investigator added that the pilot then asked for air traffic controllers to provide “flight following” assistance, but was told

Arsenal football club manager, Mikel Arteta has spoken on the club’s plans to sign defender, Pablo Mari from Flamingo. The Brazilian arrived London on Saturday for his medical with the Gunners technical director, Edu Gaspar, after a deal to sign him on loan with a view to a £7.5m transfer was agreed. The 26-year-old had his medical over the weekend, but a late hitch has seen the transfer stall. Negotiations are ongoing between the two clubs, but Arsenal are also considering new targets. Speaking after Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth in the FA Cup fourth round encounter on Monday night, Arteta said the Gunners will sign Mari if it is possible. Asked about Arsenal’s plans to sign Mari after Mustafi’s injury, Arteta was quoted by Arsenal’s official website as saying: “No. We had a very clear intention of what we wanted to do in the market with the resources we have and if we can do it, fine. “But his fitness [Mustafi’s fitness] won’t change anything.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ruled out the possibility of changing its name, ahead of the 2023 general election. Recently, Doyin Okupe, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan had started a campaign on social media calling for the change of name for the PDP. Other supporters of the party had also made a similar call, arguing that such move would help the main opposition party return to his dominant position. However, the spokesman for PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the decision not to alter the party’s current name was part of the discussion at the party’s 88th National Executive Committee ( NEC) in Abuja, yesterday. “The party insists that the PDP brand is still the best in the political firmament of our nation and as such, those canvassing for a change of name should forget it because we remain the Peoples Democratic Party,” he told reporters. The party’s mouthpiece added that the PDP has constituted a committee to review the conduct of the 2019 general el

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Kolapo Osunsanya, as the winner of a rerun election ordered by the Court of Appeal for the Ijebu-Ode/Odogbolu/Ijebu North East Federal Constituency. Osunsanya was sacked by the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Ogun State on September 9, 2019, following a petition filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Taiwo Shote. The tribunal also ordered a rerun within 90 days. Osunsanya had approached the Court of Appeal, having not satisfied with the judgement delivered by Justice Wakkil Alkali Gana, who upheld the petition of Shote and cancelled elections in Ward 5, Unit 5 in Ijebu Ode, Ward 10, Unit 3 in Odogbolu and the entire Ward 8 in Ijebu North East council areas. The tribunal held that INEC ought not to have declared Osunsanya as the winner of the election, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, bec

Head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, has revealed Victor Moses retired from international football for football and age reasons. Rohr stated this in an interview with French radio station RIG 90.7FM. The German also pointed to Victor Osimhen as the replacement for Odion Ighalo, who retired from the national team after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. "We no longer have a big star, because John Obi Mikel retired, that Victor Moses also retired for family and age reasons in particular … and even our top scorer, Odion Ighalo, declared his retirement after the AFCON 2019. “We managed to find a scorer with Victor Osimhen and other playmakers: we have Samuel Chukweze who plays at Villarreal, the little Samuel Kalu from Bordeaux who plays very very well with us – one of the best every time he plays with Nigeria – so we have a very, very young, promising team, and I might like to continue,” Rohr said.

A Mass Communication student Emmanuel Babalola of Gaposa who wrote a journal about the maltreatment given to Sowore sometime ago before his release. The story was published on the school journal and it led to the HOD's dismissal and some other school staffs. The student had since then been facing various harassment on grounds that the school rector claimed he wrote against APC government which he belongs to one politically. Emmanuel was recently arrested by some set of people who claimed to be NAPS with a Police officer accompanied by some cultists, it is believed that this was organized by the school Rector who is always mistreating the students and vandalising the school Staffs. Though Babalola was briefly moved to the DSS office at the Remo area of Ogun State, he was then paraded at the Magistrate Court, Abeokuta, from where he was remanded at Ibara Maximum Prison on a six-count charge of alleged breach of public peace and incitement of violence to which he pleaded not

Doyin Okupe, former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has written an open letter to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, over the controversial issues arising from the creation of Operation Amotekun. In his letter entitled, ‘Letter to the Vice President: Your Excellency, Amotekun and Related Matters,’ the former presidential aide noted that State Police was the best for the country. Osinbajo met with Southwest leaders on Thursday to find solutions to the disagreement between the Federal Government and the Southwest leaders over the new security outfit. This was after the National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC declared that Amotekun was not a threat to national security. Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State, made the declaration after the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, declared the new security force as illegal. Governors of States in the Southwest said they established the security outfit in order to

Six Corp members have been abducted and elections materials meant for Afafanyi and Igbonigoni House of Assembly re-run elections hijacked mid-sea along Etighidi River in Cross River State. Some thugs suspected to be armed hijacked elections materials and abducted the INEC adhoc staff as they were about taking materials to Afafanyi and Igbonigoni wards for the rerun election on Saturday. An eyewitness who declined giving his name alleged that the Corps members were accompanying the materials when suspected thugs allegedly abducted them and seized the materials. The INEC National Commissioner, in charge of Cross River and Akwa Ibom for the rerun election, Dr Mohammed Lekki later briefed newsmen on the incident. Speaking with reporters via phone, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) DSP Irene Ugbo said, “So far so good, the place is calm, we are moving from one polling unit to another, we have not heard of any issue of hoodlum attack, voters are voting peacefully, the se

There is an unusual calmness in Rochas Okorocha’s camp in Imo State given the first skeletal appointments of the new governor of the State, Senator Hope Uzodinma which did not favour his (Okorocha’s) boys. The former governor who had earlier given hope to his teeming footsoldiers about his contribution towards the emergence of the new governor was taken aback at the very first appointments of the governor which included the Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, Attorney General and Chief Press Secretary. Our correspondent in the state reports that the former governor has now resorted to political gimmicks where he massages the governor’s ego, pleading for acceptance in the full glare of the public. Worse still, his ALGON chairmen who were suspended by the immediate-past government and whose hope was rekindled by the emergence of the new governor, recently received the biggest shock of their life when the governor instructed that local government councils in the 27

Apostle Johnson Suleman of Omega Fire Ministries, on Saturday described Femi Adesina, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Media Aide as “insensitive.” Suleman made the remark while condemning Adesina for attacking the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, following its reaction to the murder of Reverend Lawan Andimi by Boko Haram. Andimi, the Chairman of CAN in Michika Local government area of Adamawa state was beheaded by the insurgents. However, Apostle Suleman in a tweet wrote: “Just saw the empty defense of Femi Adesina and his lashing CAN over the beheading of Rev indimi..such insensitive man is a presidential media aide? Certain positions should be given to people who have heads..even if they lack brains, we can manage ‘just head’. Reacting to Andimi’s execution, CAN had accused the Buhari-led federal government of colluding with Boko Haram to kill Christians. The body had also faulted Buhari’s reaction to the killing of Andimi. But, Adesina had lambasted CAN over their com

Just 12 hours to the rerun elections in Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom state, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state has announced its decision to withdraw from the race. It alleged a perceived bias of the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) in the state. In a press conference on Friday evening at the party’s secretariat in Uyo, the state Chairman of the party, Mr Ini Okopido said “APC has withdrawn from the re-run election in Essien Udim local government area as we are dissatisfied with the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state.” Okopido said both Senator Godswill Akpabio whose candidacy has been replaced with Ekperikpe Ekpo for the Senatorial District election and Nse Ntuen for Essien Udim State Constituency will not participate in the elections. He said the party has instituted a court process against INEC for failing to affirm the victory of Nse Ntuen as the member represe

Nigeria Christian Graduate Fellowship (NCGF) has blasted the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, for attacking the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), following its reaction to the murder of Reverend Lawan Andimi by Boko Haram. Andimi, the Chairman of CAN in Michika Local government area of Adamawa state by Boko Haram, was beheaded by the insurgents. CAN on Thursday rejected the reaction of President Buhari to the killing. President Buhari, who described the murder as cruel, inhuman and deliberately provocative, expressed sorrow that the terrorists went on to kill the religious leader while giving signals at the same of a willingness to set him free by releasing him to third parties. But CAN stated that Christians were tired of the usual press releases and condemnations which have failed to make any meaningful impact. Adesina in a post on his Facebook page on Friday accused the Christian leaders of labeling Buhari an “ant

Dr Boniface Okolo, the Director of Public Health, Enugu State Ministry of Health, has warned Nigerians to ensure environmental hygiene to avoid being infected by Lassa Fever and other deadly diseases. Okolo gave the advice against the recently reported case of Lassa Fever in Enugu in an interview with NAN in Enugu. He said that ensuring a hygienic environment would reduce the number of rodents that cause Lassa Fever, as well as other deadly infections. Okolo urged the public to fumigate their homes and make sure that the environment was kept clean. He added that, “dirty environment will definitely attract rodents into residential areas which often results into harmful human health conditions.” Okolo advised the people to avoid the consumption of contaminated foods, and to always cover foods and food items tightly, as well as wash their hands after every activity with soap and water. Lassa Fever has claimed dozens of lives across Nigeria. Scores more have been infected.