Oyinkis Blog

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the establishment of two new private universities in the country. The decision was taken at the weekly meeting of the council, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan. One of the new universities is Edwin Clark University located in Kiagbodo, Delta State. The university belongs to Chief Edwin Clark, an Ijaw leader and major supporter of the President. Clark was also a former Federal Commissioner of Information in the First Republic. The Minister of Information, Patricia Akwashiki, announced the approval for the new universities during the post-FEC press conference in Abuja. Akwashiki also named Hezekiah University, located in Umudi, Imo State, as the second private university approved by the council. She said, “The Minister of Education tabled a memorandum to seek the council’s ratification of the President’s anticipatory approval for the issuance of provisional licence for the establishment of Edwin Clark Univer...

The Federal Government has condemned the execution of four Nigerians by Indonesian authorities over drug-related offences, despite pleas for clemency by President Goodluck Jonathan, describing it as a disappointment.The government however extended its condolences to the families of the deceased, demanding the repatriation of thecorpses of the executed persons for them to be given a decent burial in their various communities.A terse statement on Wednesday night from the Public Communications Division of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, gave the names of the executed Nigerians as Martin Anderson, Okwudili Oyatanze, Jaminu Abashin and Sylvester Obiekwe.The government however warned all Nigerians to desist from drug trafficking and other offences, which attract maximum punishment in several countries of the world.The statement read, “The Federal Government of Nigeria has received with deep disappointment, news of the execution of four Nigerians, Messrs Martin Anderson, Okwudili O...

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have warned against any move by the government to remove subsidy from petroleum products.Nigeria’s National Assembly had passed the 2015 appropriation bill without allocating any money for subsidy payment.Speaking on Wednesday, Deputy President of the NLC and chairman of the joint May Day celebration of the NLC and TUC, Peter Adeyemi, told journalists that organised Labour believed that government had never subsidised petroleum products.The Labour leader lamented that the bane of the sector had been corruption, pointing out that past government tried without success to address the issue.He said: “If you are asking whether we will back the removal of fuel subsidy, the answer is no. It is not as easy as that. You know that it has been a very contentious issue over the years. We have always said that there is nothing like subsidy. It is all about corruption.“Let me take your mind back and say that this sa...

Four members of an international robbery gang suspected to be from Ghana were yesterday shot dead by police in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital. The State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) men who carried out the operation also arrested two other members of the gang who were seriously injured during a botched attempt on a bureau de change office in Itoku, Abeokuta. The gang which fell into the trap set by the police was said to have attempted to rob the forex operators before they met their waterloo. Parading two of the suspects, Adamu Bamako and Ibrahim Tanko, who were injured during the shoot-out, the state police spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, described the suspects as cross-border bandits based in Ghana. Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, described the gang as notorious included nationalities of West African countries who invade Nigeria to commit crimes. He confirmed that the men of the SARS foiled the planned attack. He said the SARS operatives had been working on ...

In a daring and precise operation the Nigerian troops have stormedthe Sambisa Forest and rescued about 300 women and girls.Also at least 21 people were killed by suspected members of dreaded Boko Haram in Marguba community and other surrounding villages of Beneshiekh, the headquarters of Kaga local government area of Borno state.It was gathered that at least threemajor terrorists camps have beendestroyed in the well-cordinated attacks that include the destruction of the notorious Tokumbere camp in the Sambisa Forest.While confirming the operation the Director Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade said he could not confirm the identity of the freed victims and their origins and he could not state if any of them was from Chibok until after thorough screening and proper investigations.He said: “I can only confirm the rescued this afternoon of 200 girls and 93 women in different camps in the forest. We are yet to determine their origin as all the freed persons are now bei...

Eight convicted drug smugglers have been executed by firing squad in Indonesia.The executions took place in Besi prison on the island of Nusakambangan early on Wednesday morning local time.However, the execution of a ninth convict, a woman from the Philippines, was postponed at thelast minute.Among those killed were Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. Earlier, the men's families were allowed to see them for the last time.Australia had appealed to Indonesia to delay the executions, citing alleged flaws inhow their case was prosecuted.After the executions, Steven Ciobo, parliamentary secretary to Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, tweeted: "There are few greater displays of abuse of state power and regressive thinking than the death penalty."Those put to death also include Nigerian nationals, a Brazilian and an Indonesian.Filipina woman Mary Jane FiestaVeloso was also due to be executed, but this was delayed after a request by the Philippine president, a sp...

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said he is ready for any probe of activities under his watch when he leaves office on May 29.In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President said that he is not afraid of any investigation after leaving office.He noted that investigations will not be out of place since Jonathan’s administration also reviewed the actions of previous governments on assumption of office.“As Alhaji Mohammed threatened in his statement, the incoming administration will be perfectly within its rights to review all actions of the present government as it may deem fit.“We see nothing wrong with that. After all, the present administration reviewed the actions of previous governments on assumption of office with resultant benefits for policy and project implementation,”he said.He also disclosed that President Jonathan has ordered the immediate release of the full report of PriceWater Cooper’s i...