With a view to alleviating the suffering and restoring hope to those in distress because of one form of disaster or the other in Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke has donated relief materials of several millions of naira to them.

This was detailed in a press statement issued by the Hon. Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in Osogbo on Wednesday.

He revealed that the presentation of the items held at OSEMA Warehouse House, behind the Osun State Government Secretariat, was done on behalf of Gov Adeleke by Hon. Emiola Fakeye, the Special Adviser to the Governor on OSEMA.

ALSO READ: Police Arraign Nwadigbo Over Child Abuse

Alimi’s press statement reads in part, “His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke is resolutely committed to ensuring that none of the victims of one form of disaster or the other is left unassisted by the Imole Osun led administration in the three Senatorial districts of the state.

“Today’s distribution of edibles and non-edibles comprising rice, garri, maize, roofing sheets and other building materials estimated at several millions of naira is yet another commitment to proactive and responsive emergency management of the present administration in ensuring that no one is left behind in the wake of unforeseen events.

“While I enjoin you to take it as an act of God, I also pray that none of you experiences any form of disaster henceforth in this state.

“To the disaster victims who are here today to benefit from my administrations magnanimity as usual, I want to assure you that we have more than enough relief materials to go round all the affected victims whose profiles have already been captured by the officials of OSEMA under the leadership of Hon. Emiola Fakeye, the Special Adviser on OSEMA in Osun.

“The distribution will however be done in phases to ensure orderliness, particularly to forestall stampede because of the large number of beneficiaries that have been documented as would be beneficiaries by OSEMA.

“Therefore, if you do not get in phase one, automatically you will get in the remaining phases which has been captured and outlined by OSEMA officials.

“I want to assure and reassure you that as a government, the present administration will not forsake you in mitigating the disasters that befell each and every one of you.

“While I once again sympathise with you on behalf of the government and good people of Osun State, I must quickly state that the need to always take precautionary motives to prevent occurrence of any disaster, big or small, cannot be dismissed with a wave of hand.

“Finally, I want to thank all stakeholders, particularly OSEMA officials, community leaders and other partners for their efforts in joining the Imole Osun led government in making this type of intervention possible.

“Let us continue to work together to build a resilient Osun State where lives and livelihoods are safeguarded.”

Financial expert and Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives, Bismarck Rewane, has endorsed the proposed increase in telecom tariffs, describing it as a strategic move to enhance the sustainability of the sector and help curb inflation.

This comes after Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, confirmed plans to adjust telecom tariffs.

Speaking on Wednesday, Tijani revealed that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would develop the framework for the adjustment.

READ MORE: Police Arraign Nwadigbo Over Child Abuse

Appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Business Morning on Thursday, Rewane argued that the tariff increase would have far-reaching economic benefits.

“Yes, it helps to reduce inflation because it increases productivity,” Rewane said.

He highlighted the immediate positive market response, citing a 10% surge in MTN Nigeria’s share price to ₦220.

According to him, investors have already begun factoring in the anticipated changes.

“But more important to think about is the fact that because of an increase in tariff and an increase in investment to make the industry sustainable, they’re going to see an increase in productivity, not directly but indirectly,” Rewane explained.

The financial analyst also noted the alignment between policymakers, regulators, and telecom operators in ensuring the sector remains robust and efficient.

“We heard from the policymaker Bosun Tijani, who was very clear that we want a sustainable sector. But we also heard from the regulator saying that we will hold these guys to quality of service,” he said.

Rewane pointed out that the expected adjustment would likely fall within a reasonable range.

“Will they get 100%? No, they will definitely not. We suspect that we are going to likely see something between 40 and 50% which is fair after so many years of static changes,” he stated.

In addition, Rewane emphasized that the planned tariff hike would not only benefit telecom operators but also contribute to increased output and productivity, ultimately leading to a moderation in inflation.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has alleged that Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, incited his followers to issue death threats against APC’s spokesman, Felix Morka.

Ganduje accused Obi of spreading falsehoods by claiming that Morka had threatened his life and that of his family in a recent interview.

The controversy stems from Obi’s reaction to alleged threats following his criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration on New Year’s Day.

Obi had questioned whether he had “really crossed the line” after facing alleged threats to his life and those of his family and associates. This followed a statement attributed to Morka during a Sunday interview where he reportedly said, “Peter Obi has crossed the line so many times, and he has what’s coming to him. Whatever he gets, he should manage it.”

READ MORE: Two Nigerians Receive 20-Year U.S. Prison Terms For $560,000 Romance Scam

However, Morka denied threatening Obi, asserting that his comments were taken out of context and urging Obi to clarify the matter publicly.

In a statement personally signed by Ganduje, the APC Chairman dismissed Obi’s claims as “sheer mischief and outright falsehood.” Ganduje stated: “By falsely claiming that Morka threatened his life, Mr Obi has libeled Morka in the extreme and incited his online supporters to issue death threats against Morka and his family.”

He further criticised Obi for what he described as an irresponsible use of his platform, calling on him to provide accurate and truthful information. Ganduje argued that Obi’s allegations were not only misleading but also detrimental to public trust.

“Morka’s comments during the interview were strictly in response to a question referencing ‘prophets of doom’ and ‘voodoo economics.’ Nothing in his statement constituted or suggested a threat to Obi or anyone else,” Ganduje clarified.

The APC Chairman emphasised that as a public figure, Obi should accept criticism as part of the democratic process. He added, “Does Mr. Obi expect the APC to fold its arms and allow the opposition to propagate falsehoods without any response?”

Ganduje reaffirmed the APC’s commitment to free speech while maintaining that the party would continue to counter false allegations with facts. He urged Obi to refrain from spreading misinformation and focus on constructive engagement in Nigeria’s democratic discourse.