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‘I jumped inside the bush from my vehicle and started running’ – Dino Melaye narrates ordeal with Kidnappers

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DINO MELAYE

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Senator Dino Melaye in a lengthy interview with Premium Times narrated his own version of what he said unfolded along the Abuja-Lokoja Highway which led to his disappearance for almost 24-hours.

 

The senator confirmed he was not abducted, but that he was not the architect of his ordeal either. He said he was travelling from Abuja to Lokoja for a court appearance on Thursday morning and shortly after passing Gwagwalada, which is roughly 50 kilometres southwest of Abuja, a convoy of three vehicles drove recklessly by his vehicle, intercepting him on the highway and forcing him to stop.

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According to him, the assailants tried to open fire to force themselves into the vehicle, only to realise that it was a well-fortified vehicle with bullet-proof. Without much time to waste at the scene, the attackers devised an alternative.

 

“They started shouting that they wanted to burn me, they said ‘burn him, burn him down,’ and crossed the road to look for tyres to set the vehicle on fire,” Melaye said. As the attackers dispersed in different directions to scavenge for tyres, Melaye said he feared for his life and made instinctive calculation to jump into the bush and bolt, rather than remained in the car in defiance.

 

“I jumped into the bush, and I started running. They pursued me and I was able to outmanoeuvre them and climb a tree. I was on top of the three when I saw them run past looking frantically for me. When they didn’t find me, they also ran back” he said.

 

The senator said it was on the tree that he perched until his assailants left. While on the tree, he saw four of them passing, but remained hushed to avoid being detected.  He would go on to spend 11 hours trying to ensure that he was no longer at immediate risk from his assailants and navigating his way out of the overgrown weeds.

 

He also said he could not identify any of them, even if there is an identification parade by authorities, largely because he was more apprehensive of his survival than anything else at that traumatic moment. The senator said he believed those who attempted to attack him were police-sponsored elements. He said when he appeared in court on Wednesday for his attempted suicide trial at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, he saw some men trailing him after the proceeding.

 

He described the vehicles the men were driving as two Toyota Hilux trucks and a Toyota Sienna minivan. “They were exactly the same vehicle that were used to attack me on Thursday morning,” he said.  He was driving to Lokoja in a vehicle not previously known with him, in a bid to disguise his move to those who were trailing him.

 

“I was going in a totally different vehicle, but I asked my brother to drive behind me in an SUV as a back-up. But I was shocked to see the attackers run into the middle, creating wall between my brother and I before attacking me” he said.

 

He added that “to begin with, the federal government and the police in particular have combined five cases against me in court. I have never declined to appear in court for trial in all the five separate cases”.

 

He said the claim that he was trying to avoid court appearance should immediately ring false to lucid minds, especially since he was in court just a day before. Besides, the court appearance in Lokoja was more about symbolism than substance. This was because he had learnt from his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, that the case would not be heard on Thursday because prosecution lead had already written to notify of his unavoidable absence and seek adjournment.

 

“Alex Izinyon is the prosecutor and he had written to my lawyer to inform him that he would not be in court on Thursday and that the judge should adjourn the matter. So why would I not want to be in court when I know that nothing would happen to me?” I have been attending all previous court hearings. I have been told that the prosecutor wanted an adjournment. I have been granted bail long ago which I continue to enjoy. So why would I not want to go to court that day? There is no sense in that claim. It is completely against logic,”Melaye said.

 

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact saharaweekly@yahoo.com

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SHALINA CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF TRUST, REITERATES COMMITMENT TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE DELIVERY IN AFRICA

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In celebration of its 40 years in Africa, a leading Afro-focused multinational company, Shalina Healthcare has reiterated its commitment to the delivery of quality healthcare in Africa. Declaring this in Lagos on Friday at the event to wrap up the company’s 2023/24 financial year and celebrate its 40 years of its existence, the Chief Commercial Officer, West Africa of the company, Arun Raj said the company “is determined to continually fulfill its corporate mission of making quality products available to every African at affordable prices.

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According to him;  ” It has been 40 years of trust in Africa and these 40 years,  the people of the continent have also reciprocated the trust in our quality products and healthcare delivery.”

Also, in his corporate presentation as well as new financial year projection, the Head, Corporate Marketing of the Company, Folorunso Alaran said; “the Company is building on the trust Africans have in its products and services over the year and is committed to healthy Africa.  It has been forty years of available, affordable and quality products for Africans.”

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In the words of Mr. Nirmal Jain CEO Shalina consumer Global,

“At Shalina, we believe that every African must have access to good products.  And for the last forty years, we have been trusted for our quality products. And more so, through our many initiatives and healthcare interventions, Shalina has continually raised the bar in healthcare delivery.”

Speaking further, Mr. Debajeet Mukherjee CEO Shalina Pharma Global, posited that; “despite the prevailing economic challenges, we do not waver in delivering our corporate purposes of available, affordable and quality health products. It is our belief that economic challenges should not hinder people’s access to quality healthcare.  Either the economy is good or bad, it shouldn’t affect the lives of the people in an adverse way. Despite the fact that some companies are leaving Nigeria, we are expanding our team in the country.  This is because we have trust and believe in Nigeria.”

In her own presentation at the event, the Company’s Managing Director, Nigeria ,  Opeyemi Akinyele said the company “is focused to become number one brand in Nigeria and continually promote the best of healthcare delivery in the country. ”

“Through our products, activities and interventions we have been doing greatly to ensure that quality healthcare is available and affordable for every citizen. And this is a promise that will remain unbroken ” She said.

Appreciating the members of staff of the company for their commitment and supporting roles in the company, Akinleye said “without you, your roles and efforts, we won’t be here and the successes recorded in the out gone year won’t be possible.  We also rely on your continuous support and commitment in the new year. ”

Meanwhile as part of the company’s end of year activities, many staff members were given awards of excellence in different categories for 2023/24 financial year.  Amongst them were  Lasisi Abiodun, Best Pharma Delegate,  Lawal Abubskar,  Best Medical Delegate,  Ruth Adesua Adewoye,  Best Regional Manager Pharma,  Ganiyu Lateef,  Best CVD Delegate, Mercy Omoji, Best Regional Manager, Consumer, Uzuma Pascal,  Best Zonal Manager, (Global) and  Juliet Ngozi Edward,  Best Consumer Delegate Global .  Winners in other categories included Sandeep Sahu, Folorunso Alaran, Emeka Adimoha, Chiuba Nwaosu among others.

Shalina Healthcare which began its business in Africa in DR Congo in 1984 made entry to Nigeria 25years ago.  It currently has about 2500 staffs globally out of whom 2000 are in Africa.

 

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THE PROPHETIC HALL OF FAME: How I ended “sit at home” in the East, Prophet Godwin Ikuru speaks

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By Collins Nkwocha

One of the major problems of the Eastern region was the “sit at home” menace which crippled business activities in the entire Eastern region; several lives have been lost in the process of enforcing this as the enforcers have always been very cruel and wicked, killing anyone who refuses to obey the order.

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Disturbed by the cruelty of the enforcers and how many lives that have been lost through this act, the prophetic Hall of Fame, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, Lagos,made a public declaration that “sit at home” was going to be over in the East.

People didn’t believe it when he said it, everyone believed that only the release of Nnamdi Kanu was going to end “sit at home” in the East.prophet Ikuru said that it would stop even while Kanu is still in detention.

Today,”sit at home” has ended in the East, people now go about their normal businesses on Monday.Today, the dreaded “sit at home” enforcers are nowhere to be found, you can do anything or carry out any business activity of your choice on monday because God has honoured the word of his prophet.

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Prophet Godwin Ikuru is one of the best prophets in Nigeria,he remains a major part of the ruling party in Nigeria.He is the major prophet that brought the president to power .

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Ondo Guber: APC Screening Committee Clears Female Aspirant, Funmi Ayinke

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The only female aspirant in the contest for the APC governorship ticket in Ondo state, Engr. (DR) Oluwafunmilayo Ayinke Waheed-Adekojo has been cleared by the screening committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja yesterday Friday, 12th of April, 2024.

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The screening process which normally involves validation of candidates’ credentials and eligibility to contest was without hassle for Funmi Ayinke as there were no discrepancies in her credentials especially for the fact that she has proven records in the public space confirming her credibility and eligibility for the contest.

When asked about her plans for the people of Ondo state by the committee, Funmi Ayinke expressed the need for Ondo state to evolve using technology and Artificial intelligence which she is very knowledgeable in, narrating how she generated electricity through briquette.

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She stated that Ondo state needs an engineer who is vast in the application of technology which would of course; secure a better position for the state internationally.

‘’I am vast in the knowledge of technology and Artificial intelligence, the world is changing and we can’t continue to remain as we are. We need an engineer who is vast and knowledgeable in all of these. I developed the generation of electricity through briquette so when we have this kind of grace in Ondo state, we should not waste it.’’

Continuing, Funmi Ayinke expressed confidence in securing the party’s ticket because all women in the state have thrown their weight behind her. She noted that many women decided to support her ambition because she has been a source of hope for them before she thought of a governorship ambition.

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Speaking further on the support she has received so far, Funmi Ayinke recounted the massive crowd that besieged her rally ground in Akure without paying a dime.

‘’Women come to me that they want to pay me back with their support because I have been a source of hope for them. Women vote more in Ondo state and I have that confidence that this is my time, I have sown the seed, it’s time for harvest.’’

‘’In the last rally we did, I didn’t pay any women to attend, It was just an open invitation and we shut down the whole of Akure, this means people know what they want and they appreciate the fact that we have the courage to come out. Without woman, there is no vote, no nation.’’

The screening process ended with cheers from the committee, congratulatory messages from officials at the party’s secretariat and prayers of victory from women in the secretariat premises.

 

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