“IPOB and ESN will not enforce the sit-at-home but Biafrans must not endanger their lives. For your safety, please sit at home on Thursday, May 30, 2024, and honour Biafran heroes and heroines. Do not endanger your lives,” the statement added.
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Samuel Ibiyemi: Rotimi Makinde condoles with family, associates of Late Nigerian NewsDirect Publisher
A former member of the House of Representatives who represented Ife Federal Constituency in the 7th Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Makinde, had said that he received with a heavy heart the news of the sudden death of Mr. Samuel Ibiyemi, the Publisher of the Nigerian NewsDirect Newspaper
The former legislator described the late publisher as an accomplished journalist, diverse entrepreneur, and politician, he says Ibiyemi’s forage into the business of journalism and newspaper publishing, no doubt, boosted the success of the critical industry of journalism in Nigeria and particularly in South West.
“The robust feat of my dear brother and an illustrious son of Ile-Ife, Samuel Ibiyemi gave our dear region an edge not only in national politics but global outreach. It also helped in providing employment for a large chunk of our army of unemployed youths,” said Makinde.
Makinde Tuesday night, in a press statement made available to newsmen, condoled the family and friends of Samuel Ibiyemi.
“I want to use this opportunity to condole his family, friends, colleagues, associates and mentees for this great loss,” Makinde stated.
The Ife born politician also in the statement humbly commiserate with the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and all members of staff and contributors of NewsDirect newspaper.
He added, “Writing is an extreme privilege I am blessed with. It’s also a God given gift that connects me to several people in life. It’s a rare gift that made me belong to several people and profession. It’s an uncommon gift that easily gave me out and perhaps as a vocal person, may be to a fault. The fact remains that I am never a palace jester.
“There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up a pen to write. A writer without a pen would be like a duck without water.
“In life, we co-create our reality with others in unseen ways. This is the best and straight way for me to describe Late Dr Samuel Ibiyemi, the publisher of Nigerian NewDirect Newspaper, a brother, a friend and a former co-traveller in the murky water of politics. Can I ever forget how this veteran journalist got me to be a regular columnist in his widely read newspaper NewsDirect?
“John Lennon in one of his popular quotes had this to say about dream, ‘A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.’ It is an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being… This and more reason is why I can never allow my dry pen to rest without paying tribute to the very man who encouraged me so much in the act of writing despite several opposing views,” He started.
Continuing, Makinde said, “I never knew it’s going to be our final meeting when I visited Dr Samuel Ibiyemi while he was on serious battle with death. He had just been proclaimed the winner so far on round three of the battle that eventually took his life. He had undergone extensive life saving operations and recuperating when I visited. With him on the day was his wife whom I understand practically stayed put in Babcock University Teaching Hospital and his Mathew and others.
“Honourable, why have you not been sending your article, please you shouldn’t stop, you are a rare talent, do not be discouraged by the happening in our community political arena. Please see Mathew as your son and the newspaper is yours. It must not die. I was shocked as he shrugged and sat on his hospital bed, he drew me closer and insisted we took pictures. A closer look at his eyes never betrayed him as someone I will never see alive again. What a life!
“The memory of my visit to him at Babcock Hospital enveloped me so much that I had to escalate his illness to our leader Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola. True to expectations, he immediately put a call to him but as God would always have its way, death the necessary end is here for real, Dr Samuel Ibiyemi is gone!
“May Almighty God grant his family as well as his associates the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” Makinde prayed.
News
IPOB declares May 30 sit-at-home in South-East to honour Biafran soldiers
The Indigenous People of Biafra has declared May 30, 2024, as a sit-at-home day across the South-East to celebrate Biafran soldiers.
The pro-Biafran group said that day is set aside annually to celebrate the men and women who died in the Biafran war between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now.
This was made known in a press statement by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, on Thursday, adding that every Biafran in the South-East is expected to sit at home and reflect on the war.
Powerful cautioned South-East residents to avoid loitering about on this day, adding that those who intend to travel to and fro Biafra land must do so before the evening of May 29.
The statement read, “We the global family of IPOB declare Thursday, May 30, 2024, a sit-at-home day in Biafra land for all Biafrans, friends of Biafra, lovers of freedom, and all residents in Biafra Land.
“Annually, we celebrate May 30 as our heroes and heroines day when we remember the men and women who died that we may live, before, during, and after the war against Biafrans between 1967 and 1970 and beyond and even until now.
“To honour our heroes and heroines. Biafrans are asked to observe this one-day sit-at-home in reverence to the spirits of our departed heroes who fought for us to be alive today. Every Biafran in Biafra territory is expected to sit at home on this day and reflect on the danger of the forced unity called Nigeria that has taken millions of lives of Biafrans.
“Other Biafrans outside Biafra territory are also encouraged to honour our heroes by observing the sit-at-home if possible or by limiting their activities on this day.”
According to the group, all schools, government offices, private offices, banks, transport unions, market unions and private individuals should shut down all operations in honour of our it’s heroes and heroines.
They added that exceptions to these directives are institutions and individuals on special duties such as nurses, doctors, ambulance services, hospitals, and medical workers who are allowed to operate on that day.
“We call on Christians and traditional worshipers to use this day to pray to Chukwu Okike Abiama for the fallen heroes and also pray for Biafra Independence from this murderous contraption called Nigeria.
“Heroes Remembrance Day is a call to duty for Biafrans to remember and honour our fallen heroes who were brutally murdered between 1967 to 1970 during the genocidal war against Ndigbo before and beyond. Biafrans living in the Northern and Western parts of the zoo called, Nigeria will join and stay indoors for this commemoration and remembrance of our heroes and heroines who died so that we may live.
“At this special event, IPOB members must light candles in remembrance of our fallen heroes. Heroes like our eternal leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Retired General Phillip Efiong, Col. Achuzie (Air Raid), Frank Opigo, Okonkon Dem, Sam Mbakwe, Akanu Ibiam, and many others who contributed immensely to the survival of Biafrans from the extermination war led by Nigeria military.
IPOB in the statement directed that all the residents of “Biafra Land” are to stay indoors from 6 am to 6 pm on May 30, 2024.
News
Lagos disburses N1.3bn to 11,386 households – Commissioner
Lagos State government has disbursed over N1,346,030,000.00 to 11,386 households through its bi-monthly Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, said this at the 2024 Ministerial Briefing on Thursday at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
“We have 12 local governments that have benefitted from this programme and they are Apapa, Amuwo Odofin, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Agege, Badagry, Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos Island, Shomolu, Ifako-Ijaye and Alimosho.
“The implementation of the CCT programme has contributed to the improved livelihood of beneficiaries through savings group mobilisation activities.
“Also the unit implemented the NG cares programme where transfer of N343,200,000 million was made to 2,145 beneficiaries in Eti-Osa, Kosofe, Mainland, Iru, Victoria Island, Agboyi -Ketu, Ikosi Isheri and Yaba,” he said.
Ajigbotafe reiterated the commitment of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to wealth creation and employment for residents of the state.
“Under the visionary leadership of Gov. Sanwo-Olu, no stone is left unturned. Come July we’ll inaugurate our leather hub at Matori Mushin, a N4 billion leather industry in Lagos.
“We got our machine and equipment from Italy. This will create more employment for the good people of our dear state,” he said.
He also said Lagos State was particular about the growth and development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with the initiative to assist start-ups, artisans and entrepreneurs in the state.
“The MSME loan programme in 2023 disbursed N859 million to 1,271 MSMEs in the state.
“Also Lagos Care supported 1,425 MSMEs with grants worth N358 million across the three disbursement linked indicators, which are credit, operation and IT enhancement,” he said.
Lagos Care is a World Bank sponsored intervention designed to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.
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