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…Summons minister with mgt staff By Henry Umoru ABUJA— Speaking when he led the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Privatization on tour of the projects, Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatization, Senator Ben Murray- Bruce, said the Senate was highly disappointed that successive governments could abandon the projects put in place by former President Shehu Shagari. Senator Bruce, who blamed previous administrations and governments after Shagari, for the rot and abandonment, said the Senate, after a public hearing, would meet with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to find lasting solution to the problem to ensure that the companies worked. Bruce, who was angered by what he saw, said: “The presentation has been enlightening. I am deeply depressed as a businessman and as a senator. “After spending about $5 billion, it does not make any sense to abandon the plant. The government should have had a plan. We are disappointed that successive governments after Shagari abandoned the projects. “There is a public hearing. We will not leave the venue of the public hearing until we find a solution. After everything, we will meet with the vice president who is the head of the economic team. We will fix this problem.’’ Earlier in his remarks, Sole Administrator of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Isah Joseph Onobere, who described the complex as the bedrock of Nigeria’s development, said the government must be careful about concessioning as any attempt to do so now, would amount to selling out scraps. According to him, $ 513 million is required to complete Ajaokuta project. “This place is the bedrock of Nigeria’s development. The first phase of the project has reached 98 per cent completion. ‘’It was abandoned in 1994. For 22 years, no new inputs, N23 trillion worth of steel products imported into Nigeria in 9 years. $513 million needed to complete the project. Total investment is $4.6 billion,’’ he said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/abandoned-ajaokuta-steel-govts-shagari-guilty-sen-murray-bruce/

Politics

en

•Suppliers unwilling to sell on further credit •Credit trading not peculiar to us — Spokesman By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor Global suppliers of petrol are no longer enthusiastic about supplying the product on credit to the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) due to piling debts, Sunday Vanguard has learnt. Competent industry sources told our correspondent last night that NNPCL, which solely imports the product using supply agents, is apparently weighed down by over $6 billion in debt, which the firm has not settled over time. The setback, according to informed sources, is apparently responsible for the lingering hiccups in fuel supply in recent weeks, our correspondent gathered. One of the sources familiar with the PMS importation into the country revealed that, at the moment, no fewer than five vessels which were primed to supply petrol to Nigeria have refused to discharge the product to NNPC due to fear that they would not be paid cash on delivery. The insider pointed out that the mounting debt has heightened the pressure on the petroleum company, which has now resorted to rationing its stock and appealing to its long-term suppliers to not cut off supply. A senior official at the NNPC, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the company is struggling to supply dealers due to a shortage of products at its disposal. The official lamented: “Bulk sales of ships and trucks to depot owners have slowed down in the last five days due to shortage of supply”. The source added that no bulk sales had taken place since Tuesday, resulting in the scarcity in the downstream sector. Another NNPC staff told this newspaper that fuel shortage, which resulted in the long queues being experienced in the last two months, was principally caused by the reduction in supply of products by suppliers who are being owed by the Nigerian oil firm. The top official admitted: “I was aware that at some points in mid-August, the Federal Government had to come in by giving money to NNPC to defray some of the outstanding liabilities and boost the confidence of the suppliers to continue. “However, what was paid was about $300 million, which only helped us get some reprieve for about a week before the queues fully returned,” he said. Credit transaction common in the oil business – NNPC Responding, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Mr Femi Soneye, said it was a common practice in the global oil industry to trade on credit but would not say more than that. Soneye said: “In the oil trading business, transactions are often carried out on credit; so it is normal to have outstanding balances at certain times. “Additionally, through our subsidiary, NNPC Trading, we maintain open trade credit lines with several traders.” But when asked to confirm the exact amount the company owes its PMS suppliers, the spokesperson declined, saying, “I will need some time to provide you with the exact amount”. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/09/revealed-how-6-billion-nnpc-debt-is-causing-petrol-supply-hiccups/#google_vignetteThe

Politics

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By Henry Umoru ABUJA — NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has again alleged that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was behind the continued cases of insurgency where members of the Boko Haram sect have engaged in massive killings and wanton destruction of property. The PDP, however, boasted that no amount of blackmail and wild allegations against President Goodluck Jonathan can exonerate the APC of blame for insurgency and wave of violence ravaging some northern states of the country. In a statement, yesterday, by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the PDP noted that the memory of Nigerians was not short on the body language and inciting utterances of APC leaders, including their presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, which had served as fuel to the raging flame of terrorism. According to the PDP: “By going to the international media recently to distance themselves from complicity and in turning round to blame the PDP, the APC is asking Nigerians to suddenly grow forgetful of the barrage of statements by their leaders that promoted insurgency in the country. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/pdp-accuses-apc-backing-boko-haram/#sthash.p5nyXrEH.dpuf

Politics

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By Boluwaji Obahopo LOKOJA—A royal father in Kogi State, the Maigari of Lokoja, Muhammed Makarfi II has called on the Federal Government to revisit and implement the 1976 Dasuki Local Government reform, saying it was the only solution to the barrage of problems facing the third tier of government. The tradition ruler, who spoke yesterday while receiving the newly constituted five-man administrative committee for Lokoja Local Government, however said the implementation must be done wholeheartedly or nothing would change. According to him: “The 1976 Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Reform would have saved the local government from all its present challenges. Though President Muhammadu Buhari then as a military head of state implemented it but it was half-heartedly. Such situation did not bring a complete solution to the councils’ challenges. Then came General IbrahimBabangida, who changed the system, and General Sani Abacha’s policies compounded the woes of councils. The Dasuki Reform is still the best for the LGAs and remain the only solution to the barrage of challenges facing the third tier of government. Unless the Reform is implemented wholeheartedly; I’m afraid there may not be a permanent solution to those problems local governments face.” The traditional ruler, however, charged the newly-constituted committee to look into the security challenges the people of Eggan, Oworo, Kakanda and Kupa communities were facing with the herdsmen. The head of the 5-man administrators, Lawal Shiru said very soon, workers of the local government would receive their two months salaries arrears, noting that the state of the local government was pitiable. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/why-weve-not-arrested-jonathan-efcc-boss/dasuki

Politics

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Africans have been fighting slavery since early ADs. Lourenço da Silva Mendouça, the First world Abolitionist, was a Prince from the royal family of Ndongo Kingdom in Angola. He had successfully convinced authorities to end slavery in Europe. What Nafafé discovered is that in 1684, Mendonça went to the Vatican, where he accused the nations involved in the trans Atlantic slave trade of crimes against humanity. It was not just a petition, it became court cases, undertaken by Black Africans and supported through highly organized international solidarity. Why the Vatican? It was Pope VI who had issued Papal Bull that authorized Spain and Portugal to colonize and enslave Africa, America and the Natives in 1493 AD. Muhammed Ali was on Mike Douglas Show with Sly of The Family Stone as co-host when he complained about Slavery. One of the guests, Rep. Wayne L. Hays, claimed the African Chiefs were paid. What he did not say is that the slave raiders went back, captured the Chiefs and sold them into the plantations as the other slaves. Nafafé explained that “It has never been previously established by historians that Mendonça was an African, which is really incredible – that in the 1600s you had this African man who traveled all over Europe to mobilize an activist movement for the liberation not only of Black Africans, but also of Indigenous people in the Americas ... People always think that the legal abolitionist movement started in Britain, in the late 18th century, but Mendonça really forces us to review our positions on this.” https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2021/3/10/how-portugal-sil enced-centuries-of-violence-and-trauma Well before 300 AD, Africans had been fighting the Muslim Caliphate from Ghana to Songhai Empires. The Zanj fought and conquered the Abbāsid caliphal empire. Their fight for Freedom and Rebellions led to the Zanj superior power in Mesopotamia that ruled Basra in Iraq into Iran from 869 to 883 AD. It took all combined forces of Arab states before Arabs were later able to overcome them. Bookman, another captured African leader of Maroon and Vodou Houngan, fought for Freedom in Haiti for Independence from France. The wrong notion that freedom for people only exists within the Western Activists is astounding. It is well known in the Diaspora that the Chiefs that sold African slaves were later captured by the same raiders and sold in countries other slaves were. Researchers and genes tracers confirmed many of the slaves in the Americas came from the lines of Kings and Chiefs that sold slaves and were sold into slavery themselves. Many African Americans like the Zanj conqueror of Basra, are aware and proud of their royal blood from Africa. Yet some blame new African immigrants not the raided Chiefs, for selling them out; knowing pretty well that their sellers were also captured about the same time after they were. The African Chiefs that sold Africans into the Diaspora suffered the same fate when the slave raiders brought them into the Diaspora. Stop blaming all Africans at home, many rebeled against slave trade sacrificing their lives like Bookman, at home and abroad. When the African sellers arrived at the plantations, their subjects and fellow African slaves that got there earlier recognized them. Some ridiculed the new arrivals and others welcomed them with hostility. The hostility remained today within African American communities, disrespecting one another and hostile to recent African immigrants. Some African Americans still blame the captured and free Africans that escaped slavery, rebelled and fought against slavery. Muhamed Ali was right, when Sly Stone tried to distract him while answering Rep. Wayne Hays questions, he said: Black people spend so much time attacking one another, some of us become a distraction from the real goal of keeping our energy on the Prize. As the inhumanity of man to man became more vicious, free Africans at home rebelled and ran away as those on the slave ships and in the Diaspora. Indeed, France got reverse reparation from Haiti. Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka was at Cambridge Library Colloquium with Prof. Louis Gate of Harvard University talking about Black on Blacks angers from Nigeria/Ghana to South Africa/other Africans. Prof. Gates raised the issue of recent Africans immigrants. More than forty years after Mohamed Ali and Wayne Hays tangled on the Mike Douglas Show. Prof. Gates, like some African Americans, still thinks the African immigrants that sold them, follow them to America to share their quota. It was embarrassing for all Africans at home and in the Diaspora that the issue is still alive at Harvard of all places. Quota is dead in America. It was threatened by American white students in courts, not recent African immigrants. Indeed, the United States Supreme Court finally nailed it. Though replaced by Affirmative Action, that was also replaced by Diversity for all ethnic groups. The diversity is being threatened by Asians in Court suing that they were cheated in Admission to Harvard; not by the African students. No other ethnic group in America attacks their own from old countries. The Irish created special admission for their recent Irish immigrants just as the Italians, Polish, Ukrainians Americans welcome their recent immigrants. Africans must find better ways to reconcile their differences at home and in the Diaspora. Black on Black crimes must decrease below the level of White on White, Asians on Asians or Natives on Native crimes. People victimize their own at a greater proportion than they victimize others. But Africans have suffered in the hands of others more than any other continent. It is true that the Chiefs sold their own for guns and mirrors to capture more slaves, it does not justify liberty of worst mean spirited habits by individuals to lynch, slash and burn slaves for any or no reason. Indeed, Yoruba tradition cautions that the way a child was born, so was a slave. Bi a se bi Omo ni a se bi Eru. The cry for reparations must be understood as making amends for past injustices, not to displace or favor anyone. Those that have gained from past injustices against Africans and continue to exploit the people and the Continent must look for humane ways to make their profit and pay Africans reparations appropriately to those that are due. Unlike France that demanded and got reparations from its colonies from Haiti to Africa. Despite all the wars Africans fought against the Muslims and Christians coming as explorers and missionaries, sent into the Dark Continent for 500 years, the only miracle is that Africans have not been eliminated from the surface of the Earth. They are strong and resilient. We do not need anymore enemies within. Today we are lured, not forced into slave ships anymore. Most of the new Africans use life savings to buy tickets on Boeing 707 like the looters and their families. The most anguishing part is that Africa, Haiti, and other historically hugely humanly explored parts of the world remain so devoid of prosperity, of tolerance towards minorities, of Justice.

https://www.modernghana.com/news/1183912/slaves-their-seller-chiefs-were-raided-by-arabs.html?_gl=1

Culture

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Ekiti election – There was a massive turnout of voters in Ekiti as the accreditation and voting process got underway in Saturday’s governorship election. Correspondents monitoring the election across the three senatorial districts of the state report that many voters had arrived their polling units as early as 6.30 a.m. to wait for election officials. Across many polling units in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, there was an impressive turnout of enthusiastic voters determined to exercise their civic responsibilities. At ward 10 Unit 12 a&b, Basiri area of Ado-Ekiti, the Assistant Presiding Officer, Miss Nafisat Jamie, told NAN that though they collected all the election materials as early as 6.00 am, the process could not start due to transportation challenge to the unit. As at 8.53 am, the names of eligible voters were just being pasted for viewing and confirmation. An observer from the Transition Monitoring Group, Mrs Tosin Abati, said that the Ekiti election process started late due to late arrival of INEC officials. At Ward 10 Unit 9, Okesha area of the state capital, the Assistant Presiding Officer 2, Mr Owoseni Taiwo, addressed the voters, who were already on the queue and opened the ballot box for everyone to see and confirm that it was empty. Visits to Wards 3, Units 5 and 13 Idemo, and Ward 9 Unit 12 Odo-Ado revealed that accreditation and voting were going on simultaneously with security men on standby. Dr Mike Omilusi, an observer from the Alliance for Credible Election, commended INEC for its pro-active strategies in the Ekiti election in terms of voter education and sensitisation ahead of the poll. He also commended INEC on the use of the card readers for the Ekiti election, but advised that more card readers be made available in future elections. The observer said that the new idea of accreditation and voting simultaneously was commendable, noting that this would ensure quick conclusion of the exercise. At the St Michael’s School, Ajilosun, opposite Mobil filling station, the turnout was also impressive while the accreditation and voting process was also going on simultaneously. Speaking an observer from the Justice Development and Peace Initiative, Mr Aluko Isiaih, said that, the Ekiti election started well until when the card reader in one of the wards stopped working for about 45 minutes before it was rectified. Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, elections were going smoothly in all the eight units located within the school’s premises while there was no report of violence. Efforts to speak with members of the monitoring team from the British High Commission, however, failed as they declined comments. Mr Wale Adebayo, a member of the team, said that they had no comment to make. In Isan-Ekiti, where the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, hails from, accreditation and voting commenced across many polling units between 8.03a.m and 8.38. In Fayemi’s Polling Unit 009 Ward 11, accreditation and voting commenced at about 8:38 a.m. although INEC officials arrived at about 7:26 a.m. Accreditation and voting began in Polling Units 006 and 007 as well as 005 between 8: 03 a.m. and 8:10 a.m. At Unit 009, no fewer than 345 names of voters appeared on the pasted registered list. In Ikere –Ekiti, the home town of the PDP flagbearer, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, voters trooped out as early as 6.30 a.m. to various polling units. NAN reports that a huge crowd was sighted at the Ofamofuru Polling Unit 007, Ward 02, of Olusola. The Presiding Officer of the polling unit, Mr Layeni Segun, had urged the voters to conduct themselves in an orderly manner after displaying the empty ballox box to those gathered. He equally appealed to the voters to allow the elderly and nursing mothers to cast their votes first. Other polling units visited such as L.A Pilot Polling Unit,08, Ward 002, Custom Polling Unit,08, Idiyin Polling unit 006, Ward 002 also witnessed a massive crowd of voters. NAN reports that no fewer than 667,064 eligible voters had collected their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) out of the 913, 334 registered. NAN also report that the electorate would vote in 2,195 polling units spread across 177 wards in the 16 local government areas of Ekiti while 35 candidates are contesting.(NAN) Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://vanguardngr.com/2018/07/ekiti-election-allaince-for-credible-election-commends-inec/

Politics

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Boy allegedly lynched in Lagos for stealing garri •No, it did not happen, Govt reacts By Olasunkanmni Akoni Residents have expressed shock and disapproval over an incident where a young boy of about seven year-old was burnt to death in Lagos, Wednesday, for allegedly stealing cassava flakes, otherwise known as “Garri,” describing it as “barbaric.” The alleged boy was reportedly lynched for stealing by yet to be apprehended perpetrators. Residents who reacted to the incident have called on Nigeria Police authorities to go after the perpetrators and bring them to justice to serve as deterrent to others. One Ms Sharon Samuel reacted thus: “If the killers of this boy are not brought to book then there is no more hope for anyone in this country. Garri seller, may be your garri is meant for ritual purpose else why should you raise an alarm that caused the death of this boy. Don’t blame Buhari but blame our wicked world. The end is more than near,” Sharon said. Another who identified simply as Queen Chi Chi, said, “What about those bank armed robbers, what about Nigerian politicians that are busy stealing and syphoning Nigeria’s money into their private accounts, are they not thieves? Why beating the boy to death because of ordinary garri, dastardly things to do.” Ebere Chidima, another resident, said, “Those that burnt that little boy for merely stealing garri and even those that stood by and watched the sin being committed are guilty of the same offence. Jesus Christ said; he who is without sin let him cast the first stone. “The Police authorities should go after these perpetrators of this dastardly act.” No, it did not happen, Govt reacts However, Lagos State Government, while reacting to the incident purportedly carried out in the state, through the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, urged residents, especially users of social media as a source of news and social interaction to be mindful of the source of their information to avoid spreading false and unsubstantiated materials. Ayorinde denied the alleged brutalization and killing of a 7-year-old pilferer that reportedly happened at a certain location in Lagos being circulated on social media. According to the commissioner, the Lagos State Police command has duly issued a statement questioning the authenticity of the story while asking for eye witnesses or anyone with verifiable information to come forward with information as the Police continue with their investigation. “While we condemn in its entirety every form of crime and jungle justice, it is important to plead caution whenever a human life is involved. So far, there is no indication that the dastardly act being peddled on social media happened anywhere in Lagos State or that it is a recent case. “The Police have promised to carry out further checks and will welcome every useful information, but available information at the moment does not suggest that such killing happened last Saturday at either Orile-Iganmu or Badagry. There is no any corpse that fits the description in any area being touted; just as the location of anyone with useful information to corroborate the sad tale being peddled cannot be established,” he said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/constitution-amendment-lawmaker-escapes-lynching-in-kano/Lynching

Politics

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Dr. Chris Ngige, Labour and Employment Minister By Adesina Wahab The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is waiting until midnight today, Tuesday, for the Federal Government to meet its demands or risks the union embarking on another round of strike. Checks by Vanguard, on Tuesday, revealed that the national leadership of the union wants to give the government the benefit of doubt and let the ultimatum the union gave it lapse before taking the next step. This is just as the National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the union may hold on Thursday, if government fails to do the needful, it was gathered. READ ALSO: We’re not starting strike Tuesday — ASUU The likely scenario is NEC rescheduling the meeting for Wednesday and Thursday, if by midnight today the Federal Government does not reach them. The CBN angle Also, the union has accused the government of buck passing by claiming that the delay in releasing funds to meet some of the union’s demands is caused by bureaucracy at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Speaking in a chat with the Vanguard, the Chairman of ASUU, University of Ilorin, UNILORIN, branch, who is also a member of NEC of the union, Prof. Moyosore Ajao, said the government is taking the issue with levity. “By midnight on Tuesday (today), the deadline given the government to meet our demands would lapse. “As we talk, it is not yet midnight and anything can still happen. However, in the event of the government not meeting our demands within the period given, the national leadership of the union knows what to do. It will call a NEC meeting. “As I speak to you, I am in Ilorin and no meeting has been called. We don’t want a situation where the government will accuse us of not giving them enough time; we have given them more than enough time. “The agreement to suspend our last strike was signed on December 23, last year. From then till now, it is almost nine months. “What are they saying is delaying them in doing their part of the deal? Will it take them a year to get money to pay us? “If the government is saying the delay is from the CBN, the bank is an agency of the government like the ministries involved in the matter, among others. “I don’t think the government is saying that it is ASUU that will go and twist the arm of the CBN for it to release the funds,” he said. Ajao added that as soon as the national leadership of the union knows where the government is heading, it would follow up on the next step. Recall that the union leaders and the government team met on August 2, this year to assess the level of implementation of last year’s truce terms and the union gave the government till the end of August to meet some demands. The union wants the government to sign and implement the renegotiated agreement, mainstream the Earned Academic Allowances and pay the N40 billion Revitalisation Fund. Recall that the union and the Federal Government had a face-off that led to a nine-month-strike by ASUU last year. The strike was called off last December. But up until now most of the promises made by the government are yet to be fulfilled. Other issues that union wants the government to address are the implementation of the Integrated Personnel Payroll and Information System, IPPIS, and the proliferation of universities, especially by state governments in the face of poor funding of the same. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/again-strike-looms-as-ASUU-waits-till-midnight-for-fg-to-meet-demands/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Education

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…Presidency picks holes in it The newly-released book “Boko Haram Media War: An Encounter with the Spymaster”, has listed over twenty-five major towns and cities recaptured by the Nigerian military during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan before the final handover to President Mohammed Buhari. The book, authored by Yushau Shuaib, revealed: “At the twilight of Jonathan’s administration when Sambo Dasuki was the National Security Adviser, dozens of towns and cities in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states were recovered and confirmed with video and pictorial evidence through military press releases. “Some of the liberated towns include, but not limited to: Abadam, Askira, Baga, Bama, Bara, Buni Yadi, Damboa, Dikwa, Gamboru-Ngala, Goniri, Gujba, Gulag, Gulani, Gwoza, Hong, Kala Balge, Konduga, Kukawa, Marte, Madagali, Michika, Monguno, Mubi, Vimtim among other communities with pictorial and video evidences provided by the Defence Headquarters. “In one day alone, April 30, 2015, at least 234 abductees (women and children) were rescued by the military who had stormed sections of the Sambisa Forest. “A clear testimony to some of the accomplishments was the official DHQ release dated March 16, 2015, with reference No: DHQ/ABJ/901/32/DDI and titled: “Troops Finally Rout Terrorists from Bama and Last Stronghold in Yobe.” The book in other sections, revealed glowing tributes paid to detained former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki by some current top officers of the Buhari administration. It disclosed how a top Buhari’s adviser commended Dasuki in an opinion article on May 1, 2015, for ensuring successes of the military operation against Boko Haram. In another chapter, the book disclosed how one of Buhari’s spokespersons had predicted that Dasuki would face stiff challenges as Fulani man from North-West against Kanuri people of North-East who would frustrate him after his nomination by President Jonathan as NSA. However, the book has been attacked by the Presidency over a claim in its foreword by Dasuki where he said Nigerian military intervention in the North-East in 2015 enabled the last general elections to be conducted in the area. A statement by the Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu said: “The residents of the areas… were able to vote, not in their hometown but in refugee camps in other parts of Borno State under a special arrangement made by INEC.” Garba, who claimed that he had not fully read the book before making his official statement, said “We will have to read the entire text to offer a full and adequate response” In a written piece in 2012, the said Buhari’s spokesperson even recommended and listed some Kanuri people that should have been considered for the appointment rather than the Sokoto Prince. The official had claimed that the appointment of Dasuki as a Northerner might produce the direct opposite result of appeasement of the region. According to Buhari’s pubilicist “the Boko Haram terror movement is dominated by Kanuri boys, despite the recruitment of volunteers from areas outside Borno and Yobe States, adding that Dasuki’s appointment ignored the historical rivalries between the Kanuris and the North-west or more directly, the Fulani hegemony.” The book also discloses how security and anti-corruption agencies monitored movements of cash in local and foreign currencies by the two major political parties, APC and PDP to win primaries and main elections in 2015. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/north-east-nigerian-military-liberated-25-towns-jonathan-new-book-reveals/

Politics

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All of our domain names are handpicked by branding and linguistics experts based on rigorous criteria. You can rest assured that if a domain is on the BrandBucket marketplace, it is a top-tier business name. Almost one out of every four names sold on BrandBucket is sold to a repeat buyer or a referral, which means that people who buy from us once, keep coming back for more. The .com extension is a brand in itself. As the default domain extension of the internet, having a .com domain that is an exact match to your brand name has numerous advantages: - Familiarity - People are familiar with .com. Most of the brands and websites they already trust, use the .com extension. Therefore, it serves as a subtle indicator that your business is a legitimate one. A recent study by the NCC Group, a global expert in cybersecurity and risk mitigation, found that roughly half of the consumers are uncomfortable visiting websites ending with a non .com extension, and only 9% are comfortable doing so. - Brand Protection - When you own the .com version of a domain name, you have the official online version of that name. Owning an exact-match .com can protect your brand name, as it is unlikely another serious business would use the same name when the .com extension is taken. - Easy to Communicate - .com domains are also easy to communicate. When people hear or see your business name without a TLD, they will inevitably assume it ends in .com, making it easy for them to find you online. Once you have received the name into your registrar account, you will be able to: - Use the domain as your website address. - Setup email addresses, for instance, [email protected]. - Use the domain and logo on business cards and other materials. If you don’t have a website built yet, you can put up a simple coming soon page, or you can just leave it until you are ready. You don’t need to do anything right away. Because you own the domain name, you can take your time. Our talented community of logo designers designs all logos on the BrandBucket marketplace. They are paid for their efforts, and BrandBucket owns all copyrights for the logos. We will transfer the full copyright for the logo to you upon purchase of the domain name. Logo files are delivered to you in the following formats: - High-resolution image file (PNG) - Editable vector file (.AI) Editing your design Vector (AI) files are entirely editable in programs such as photoshop and illustrator, so you or your designer can make desired changes. If needed, we can make basic color changes/small tweaks to the logo for you after purchase. If you are looking for a complete redesign, we can connect you with a designer from our talented design community at their discretion and price. All of our business domains are carefully chosen for their standout branding qualities. There is only one gistful.com. However, there may well be other businesses that are using the same brand name. In fact, with common keyword names, it is likely. That is why owning the .com is so essential. In holding the .com, you immediately establish your business as the most official version of that name. It's unlikely any serious business is going to use a brand name where the .com domain is already in use. Many companies believe that owning the matching .com version of a business name provides more protection for their brand than a trademark. No, and it’s not possible for us to do so. Trademarks are industry and region-specific, and to file a trademark for a name or logo, you must already be doing business as that name. Because of this, we can't trademark a name before your company is actively using it. Therefore, you will need to apply for trademark registration after you have purchased the name. When you purchase a domain from BrandBucket, you will own it 100%. However, all domain names worldwide must be kept registered at a registrar like Godaddy or similar that you choose. You will pay the registration fees to whichever registrar you decide to use. The price of registration varies at each registrar, but it generally ends up being around $10-15 per year for a .com domain name. Registration is annual but can be paid up for years in advance, which we suggest you do. BrandBucket serves as a third-party marketplace and escrow agent for domain names. We only offer refunds if either of these two conditions are met: - The buyer contacts us within 24 hours of purchase requesting a refund. - The seller fails to initiate the domain name transfer within 10 business days from the time of purchase. Buyers are advised to perform all necessary diligence prior to making a purchase. Your purchase is 100% confidential. Any personal information you share with BrandBucket is kept private, even from the domain seller. We never publicize any sale on our marketplace. A brand name is a name that you use to identify a family of products, services, or a single line of products or services that a company offers. For instance, Apple is the brand name used on most products manufactured by Apple, Inc. In this example, the business name and brand name are the same, a common use case. Your brand name is who you are to your customers. It is the pillar your business's public image will be built around. The products or services you offer can also have their own brand names. You may want to create new brand names for products or services that differ from your core business offering, for example: - UberEats - Food delivery by Uber - Amazon Web Services - Cloud computing from Amazon - Google Maps - Web mapping service from Google Registered Business Name A business name is the legally registered name of your business. You'll use your business name to create contracts, open bank accounts, pay taxes, and any other administrative related activities. Most business names contain the business's brand name, followed by the company's chosen business structure, for example: - Walmart Inc. - Verizon Inc. - Grasshopper LLC However, they don't necessarily have to be the same. In some cases, the business name is completely different from the brand name. This is most common in large businesses that have multiple brands housed under a single parent company, for example: - Brand Name: Google - Business Name: Alphabet Inc. - Brand Name: MailChimp - Business Name: The Rocket Science Group LLC A domain name is your website name - the internet address where people can access your website. Think of a domain as the address to the online version of your business. Every domain is one-of-a-kind. No website has the same web address as another website. Ideally, your domain name should be an exact match to your brand name. Think of your favorite companies. Odds are, their domain name is identical to their brand name. Apple's domain name is Apple.com; Amazon's domain name is Amazon.com. Having a matching domain ensures that people can easily find your brand online. What can a top brand name with a matching .com do for your business? Here are few of the many advantages of owning a premium business domain: Trust - Online, there are subtle clues that all of us subconsciously take into consideration to determine whether or not a business is legitimate and trustworthy. Having a great business name paired with a matching .com (by far the most trusted domain extension) signals to customers that you care about and are willing to invest in your brand. It makes your business and your brand messaging easier to trust. Authority - Owning a .com version of a fantastic brand name is a big signal to the world that your business means business, right out of the gate. This can lead to accelerated customer acquisition, more industry partnership opportunities, and press attention. SEO - Having a business domain that matches what customers are using in searches can lead to increased SEO, higher page ranking, and better quality traffic. Retention - Brand retention is critical for organically acquiring and keeping customers. A short, catchy, and unique business name makes your brand easier to remember, and having a matching .com means that consumers who hear about you offline will find you easily online. Save on marketing spend - Investing in a premium domain can save you a fortune in marketing spend down the line. You'll spend less of your valuable marketing budget and efforts on brand awareness, as your name will do much of the work for you. Our customers are primarily entrepreneurs looking for a quick and easy way to find a great brand name for their company. That's why when evaluating and appraising domain names, our central focus is whether they would also make great business names. What makes a great brand name? Here are some of the branding and linguistic traits we take into consideration: - Length - Great names are concise and to the point. The shorter, the better! - Common phrase/expression - Names that are based on real phrases and expressions make great brand names because of their built-in familiarity and inherent catchiness. - Letter order - Some letters are more valuable than others and better together, especially when it comes to the first letters of a name. - Pronunciation and spelling - Names should be easy to say and understand. It should also be spelled as it sounds. - Industry match - Names should be a good fit for a particular industry, or be broad enough to attract buyers from multiple sectors. - Longevity - Great brand names are broad enough in scope to grow with a company as it expands and not die when trends fade. - Uniqueness - Great brand names are easy to spot because they stand out in a crowd. - Memorability - A brand name is no good unless people can easily remember it. These criteria, along with historical sales data and current marketplace conditions, are used to determine whether a name is accepted to our marketplace, and how it's priced. Every name on our marketplace must score high in most or all of these categories to even be accepted. With an acceptance rate of only 10% of names submitted to our marketplace, BrandBucket sets a very high bar for the names we select. Customers Also Loved The following are business names for sale with similar qualities to gistful.com

http://www.gistful.com/2018/06/plateau-angry-youths-take-over-government-house-turn-violentphotos/

Politics

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Commander of IGP Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Yyari with arrested kidnap kingpin, Hamish Wadume •I’m a political thug, not a kidnapper •I made N6m from a sitting governor •How I escaped from soldiers who wanted to kill me •Slain policemen identified themselves before soldiers killed them •Wadume’s uncle, brother, cousin reveal their roles By Ifeanyi Okolie Suspected kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu Balla, a.k.a Wadume, who has been in the middle of the raging storm between the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police over the murder of three police operatives and two civilians by soldiers in Ibi town, Taraba state has finally opened up and made startling revelations. In an exclusive interview with Saturday Vanguard, Wadume gave a blow by blow account of his encounter with both the police and his Army Captain friend in charge of the 93 Battalion, Wukari who aided his escape after his initial arrest by the police. Wadume who expressed shock at the manner the soldiers opened fire on the Police Toyota Hiace Bus that was conveying him to the Taraba Police Command Headquarters in Jalingo said while he also sustained bullet wounds on his right thigh after the shootings, he never asked the army captain to rescue him from the policemen who arrested him. He also explained that as at the time he crawled out of the bullet ridden bus, which somersaulted three times before landing into the bush, the policemen were still alive but he was surprised to see the soldiers who had pursued them to the check-point raining bullets on the policemen before he was whisked in a red colored car, to the home of the army captain. He added that after his leg chain and handcuffs were cut off by a welder invited by the army captain, he was greeted by a large crowd of residents of Ibi who were standing beside the corpses of the deceased policemen who were all brought to the home of the army captain. With the sum of N550,000 in his pocket after he was rescued, Wadume said he fled Ibi Town and was hiding in the house of one of his friends, Meito, at Ungwachiki town but 24 hours, later some soldiers trailed him to his friend’s house and wanted to kill him. He therefore jumped out of the window and fled to the river bank, boarded a speed boat into Tunga area of Nassarawa State, where he spent a night before moving to the home of his maternal uncle in Kano State. My name is Hamisu Balla, alias Wadume, 33 years old and I am from Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State. I am married to four wives and I have four children. I attended Bula Primary school Ibi, but I dropped out from Government Secondary School Ibi at JSS 3. After I dropped out school, I started fishing business at the River Benue that flowed through Ibi Town. This was in 1996 and I did fishing for six years, but in the year 2002, I went into fishpond business. I used to buy fingerlings for N30 per one, nurture them for five months before selling them for N600 and N700. I started small with just two small ponds but I went on to get five more big ponds with 50 by 50 in size and five feet deep. “I am not a kidnapper, but I have sold arms to several kidnappers. I am a fisher farmer, I own fish ponds, I own a transport business. I am equally a political thug. I went into crime when some politicians came for me, they approached me through one Babangida Musa, who was also into fishing business. I got N6m from a sitting governor, N13m from APC, defrauded civil servant of N30m, In June 2018, I deceived a lot of politicians who were vying for political offices that I had spiritual powers to enable them win their elections. I defrauded the governor when he came to Ibi and met the youths in my town. As the leader of the youths, the Governor met me and I promised to work for him and to also consult some Mallams who would pray for his success. The Governor gave me N2million at first and we exchanged telephone numbers. But one week before the election, the governor called me and asked me to come to the Government house and when I got there the governor gave me N4million cash to continue with the prayers. Immediately after the election, the governor called to thank me. I was also given N13million by the APC to prosecute the 2019 presidential election but I spent only seven million. I also defrauded a civil servant from Ibi of N30million. I contested the Taraba state house of Assembly under the YDP Ibi Local Government but I pulled out of the election and took my supporters to the PDP. My initial arrest by the police I volunteered to follow the policemen when they came to arrest me at Ibi Town while I was drinking tea with some of my friends. They showed me their identity cards indicating that they were from the office of the Inspector General of Police and I volunteered to follow them, because I knew I could settle any problem I’m confronted with. The policemen handcuffed me and leg-chained me while I was inside their vehicle and the Army Captain wasn’t even there when the policemen came to arrest me and I don’t even know who informed him that I had been arrested. Slain policemen identified themselves While I was being taken out of Ibi, Town, the policemen passed the first check point which was being maned by some soldiers after they had identified themselves. They also passed the second check point which was maned by some Mobile Policemen. But when they got to the third one where we were attacked, four of the policemen alighted from their bus and they identified themselves to the policemen and exchanged banters. I was shocked when the soldiers came after us and rained bullets on our bus, killing those policemen. I was almost killed in the encounter. I was then taken to the army captain’s house. When I saw the corpses of the policemen and their agents in front of the Captain’s house I became very disturbed and I pretended as if I wanted to urinate and I escaped from the scene. How I escaped from soldiers who wanted to kill me I called one Audu who is one of my boys who took me on his bike to Ungwachiki Town in Ibi Local Government and I passed the night in the house of Meito, my friend. But while I was there some soldiers came to Meito’s house and started looking for me and they were armed with guns and machetes and axes, I believed they wanted to kill me. I don’t know how they got information that I was in that house but I managed to escape through the window and fled to the river bank around 8pm where I boarded a speed boat to Tunga village in Nassarawa State. I spent a night in Nassarawa state before I boarded another commercial bus to Kano State. People couldn’t recognize me because of the Sallah holiday. I had N500,000 with me as I was running from the police and I took the money to my uncle’s house where I went to hide in Kano. While I was hiding, I instructed one of my bothers in Ibi to go to my house and take away all my rifles. My cousin also brought an idea that I needed some favorable stories to be written about me, so he engaged a PR company who were to link up with journalists to write the stories. I paid N3million for that. Confession of Wadume’s cousin I’m Kawu Moahmmed Kasuwa, 30 years old from Ibi Taraba State, I am a civil servant and I work with Ibi Local Government. I am an executive officer at the Admin Department. Wadume is my uncle, he is a younger brother to my mother. I was arrested in Zaria, because I made efforts to get journalists to write a favorable story in support of my uncle Wadume who was being hunted by the police. It wasn’t my idea, but one of my uncles who was residing in Lagos State, Ismalia Jita who called me and said that he wasn’t happy with the bad press my Uncle, Wadume was getting since the incident occurred. He wanted me to raise some money to give to the reporters so they could come down to Ibi and speak with the natives and get a good story about the incident which will be favorable to Wadume. I asked for N3m and they sent me their company’s account number and I gave it to my brother, Awal who knew how the money was paid to the media out fit. I was arrested in Zaria while the police were looking for my uncle, Wadume. But I took them to my other uncle Awal in Abuja who I thought could help in their search for Wadume. I’ve always been suspicious of Wadume—Elder brother My name is Auwal Balla, I’m 38 years old, married with four children, I am commercial motorcycle rider at Alaba Rago Market in Lagos. I am known as Auwal Wawa. Wadume is my younger brother and we were born of the same father and mother. I knew my brother to be a fish farmer, a transporter, political thug and a kidnapper. I never knew that my brother was into kidnapping until the police came looking for him after my brother was rescued from the IRT operatives who were killed by the soldiers he called. When Wadume called and asked me to help him hide all his rifles in his house, I asked him what he was doing with all those rifles and he said he was using them for politics. Then I called one Uban Delu, my step brother and asked him to go to where Wadume kept his rifles and take them away and hide them in a different place. I came to Abuja because some people suggested that we should get the House of Representatives member representing our area to assist us in this matter and the people who were to lead me to the Honorable member asked me to come to Abuja. While I was in Abuja, one of my nephews, Kawul called and suggested that we should get some media men to write favorable stories for him that will change people’s perception about him. I sold the idea to my younger brother and he bought it. I then asked Kawu to send me the account number of the company which I forwarded to Wadume and he credited the company with that money. I was in Abuja when the police came and arrested me and I confessed that I have been in constant communication with my brother since he was rescued from the police and I also knew that he was in my uncle’s house in Kano. I have always been suspicious of my brother because he was spending too much money and since his business was such that couldn’t yield big money but he always told me to relax, that he was a political thug and was making big money from politicians, it was when he was arrested and rescued that I knew that my brother must have been into kidnapping. Why I harboured Wadume in my house—Uncle I’m Rayyanu Abdul, 46, from Kano State. I am married to a wife and I have six children. I am a civil servant and I work with Kano State Senior Secondary School Management Board, Kano. I am Wadume’s uncle, his mother is my elder sister. Wadume told me that he was into fish farming, car sales and cattle rearing but I didn’t know that my nephew was into kidnapping or any other crime. Three days after the killing of the policemen by the soldiers, I heard on radio that the police were looking for a wanted kidnapper, Alhaji Hamisu Balla, Wadume and that was when I knew that it was my younger brother that was in the middle of the storm and I became very shocked. Wadume’s elder brother, Auwal then called me and asked me if I had heard what happened to Wadume and I said yes. Wadume also called me himself and told me he was coming to my house but I asked him to stop at a filling station close to my house where I went to pick him up and took him into my house. When I discovered that Wadume had an injury on his thigh, I brought a doctor who started treating him. Wadume gave me N270,000 to stock the house with enough food stuff and my wife was preparing food for him. He took tea in the morning, ate rice in the afternoon and in the night he would take ‘tuwo’. In 2017, I was poisoned and Wadume and his brother came to visit me in a rented apartment where I was living with my family. They asked if I had a house and I told them, I only had land on which I had built the foundation and I took Wadume to the site. He saw what I had done and he promised to complete the building for me. Early this year, he came and completed the building and he furnished it for me. The building is a three bedroom apartment. When he came with his injury, I gave him my room and I moved into my wives’ room and he was staying alone in his room. I don’t know if he was praying regularly in his room. The Manhunt for Wadume The manhunt by the Police to arrest and bring down Wadume’s kidnapping empire began in March 2019, when it received a petition from one Sheriff Umar of Kirikinua South Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The petitioner stated that his cousin, Usman Mayo, was kidnapped on February 15, 2019, at Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State and his kidnapper demanded the sum of N200 million as ransom for his release. According to the petition, the family of the kidnapped victim negotiated and paid the sum of N85 million first, on March 11, 2019, but the victim was not released. An additional N15 million was paid on March 16, 2019, making a total sum of N100m paid to the kidnappers yet the kidnappers refused to release their victim as they insisted that that the family must pay the N200 million they demanded. The family therefore reported to the police and the IRT was drafted to investigate and track down the suspects behind the kidnapping and rescue the victim. It was gathered that while investigations into the matter commenced, members of the kidnapped victim’s family paid an additional N20m to the kidnappers and the victim was released, but the police discovered during investigations that Wadume had strong links to the kidnappers, who got N120 million as ransom from their victim. Following confessions by some kidnap suspects in police custody which allegedly implicated Wadume, the police therefore went on his trail and succeeded in arresting him in his home town, Ibi on August 6. He was being driven to Jalingo by the police team when soldiers opened fire on them along Ibi-Wukari Road, killing three police officers and two civilians. The soldiers were said to have received orders from an army captain to kill the policemen. The aggrieved Nigeria Police in a statement demanded to know why the soldiers killed the policemen even after identifying themselves that they were on official duty. The police equally wondered why the suspected kidnapper who was handcuffed and leg chained by the police was released by the soldiers and allowed to escape. The Army on its part claimed that the soldiers responded to a distress call and that the soldiers mistook the policemen to be kidnappers. The heat generated by the incident prompted President Muhammed Buhari to set up a probe panel to investigate the incident. The panel was yet to submit its report when the police, on August 19 re-arrested him in Kano. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/08/wadume-apc-gave-me-n13m-for-2019-election/amp/

Politics

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EFCC Secretary never worked in Osinbajo’s law firm – Investigation Fresh facts emerged on Saturday that the suspended Secretary to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Oluyede, has never worked in the law firm of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo called SimmonCoopers. He had also worked for several years prior to the establishment of SimmonCoopers, according to a document sighted yesterday by The Nation. It was gathered that Oluyede had worked as a consultant and managed corporate intelligence portfolio before joining EFCC. Social media reports had claimed that the EFCC Secretary was unduly favoured by Osinbajo to be appointed to the position. But the document seen by The Nation showed that the claim was “not only false but also discreditable to the person of Ola Olukoyede.” The document said: “Oluyede has never stepped or walked into the office of SimmonCoopers all his life, not to talk of working for the law firm. Read Also: Osinbajo: Between columnist and calumny “In his career profile and curriculum vitae, which he submitted to the Senate during his confirmation hearing in November 2018, Olukoyede worked for a finance and investment company Ecodev Investment as an investment officer for about five years before he started his law career with Legal Research and Corporate Development Projects (LRCDP Consulting) as a research partner. “At LRCD, he acted as a consultant and managed corporate intelligence portfolio with a number of high profile organisations in clientele, including financial institutions and law enforcement agencies from 2002.” The document gave more insight into the antecedents of Oluyede as an expert on anti-corruption strategies. It added: “In 2008, he established Global Compliance (GRC) a governance, risk and legal consulting outfit as a managing partner where he led and managed as an attorney, Investigation and Civil Litigation of fraud and corruption on international aid projects. “He has also been involved for several years even preceding the establishment of SimmonCoopers partners, in the development and implementation of strategic policy documents for operations, legal and administrative units of various anti-corruption agencies, including EFCC, as a trainer and consultant. “Also in the same year 2008, he established his Law practice, Ola Olukoyede & CO, from where he joined EFCC.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/efcc-secretary-never-worked-in-osinbajos-law-firm-investigation/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Politics

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Nigeria’s senate president Bukola Saraki has lost his re-election bid to the Red Chamber to the ruling All Progressives Congress’s candidate Ibrahim Oloriegbe. Saraki currently represents the Kwara Central senatorial district in Ilorin, Kwara state. He lost to his challenger in all the four local councils in the district. Result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission Sunday evening showed that in Ilorin West, APC polled 51, 531 while the PDP polled 30,075. The number of registered voters were 224, 494. While accredited voters were 91,130. The commission will officially announce the winner of the Senate seat. But based on the announced results, Mr Saraki has effectively been removed.

https://www.thenewsguru.com/top-story/article/breaking-senate-president-saraki-loses-senatorial-seat-to-apc-candidate/

Politics

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By Vincent Ujumadu Awka – THE embattled governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the February 6, 2010 election in Anambra State , Prof Chulwuma Soludo declared, last night, that he was not aware of any court stopping him from parading himself as the flag bearer of the party. He said he was pursuing his ambition with renewed vigour. “It is all rumour. I am still the candidate of the party and I remain so until the party declares otherwise,†he told members in Awka after receiving decampees from the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA.. In the meantime, the party’s national publicity secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali hinted yesterday in Awka that all the brains behind the Abuja High Court action on Friday would be sanctioned. A source at a meeting held at the new Soludo Campaign Organization headquarters in Awka said members of the PDP national leadership were not amused by the court action which is threatening the party’s chances in the governorship race in the state. Alkali, who represented the national chairman of the party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor at the reception of the decampees, said that the party has ways of resolving its internal matters, and that those who chose to go to court at this crucial time in the process for the 2010 election did not mean well for PDP and would, therefore, be disciplined by the party. He said that the party would do everything possible to ensure that Soludo was elected governor of the state next year to enable him deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Anambra State. He commended all the aspirants who vied with Soludo and have decided to team up with him in the interest of the party, noting that their action was an indication of their desire to see that PDP regained the Awka Government House. During the ceremony, the former national vice chairman of PPA, Chief Austin Ndigwe decamped with 19 local government chairmen and secretaries of the party to PDP, and he announced that all former offices of PPA in most of wards have been closed down. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/10/25/i-remain-pdp-flagbearer-says-soludo/

Politics

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By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA—MEMBERS of the adhoc committee of the House of Representatives on failed rail contracts have summoned the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRC, Seyi Sijuwade; former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Mohammed Bello Haliru; and former Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, to explain their roles in the alleged N1 trillion rail contracts scam. The adhoc committee is headed by Ehoizuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, PDP, Ikpoba/Oha Federal Constituency. They are expected to appear before the committee tomorrow during the investigative hearing. Chairman of the adhoc committee, Agbonayinma, confirmed that all the stakeholders had been duly informed and were expected to show up unfailingly tomorrow. Asked why the Minister of Transport was invited, despite the fact that he is barely three months old in office, Agbonayinma said: “The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, was also invited to tell us all he knows, though he just assumed office but you know government is a continuum. “This 8th House is 100 per cent in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s crusade against any form of corruption. “We are not out to witch-hunt anybody but anyone found wanting in the course of this investigative hearing will be adequately exposed although as you are aware, not until it is proven by a competent court that such persons are guilty you can’t say they are guilty.” It would be recalled that during the last investigative hearing on December 10, former chairman of the NRC board, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, had denied that during his tenure, no contract was awarded by the board he chaired. Tukur, a former chairman of PDP, had told the adhoc committee that the Procurement Act excluded the NRC Board from participating in the award of railway contracts. “The Board which I chaired, was never involved in any contract award and was never told or invited to participate in issues of contract award of financial disbursement,” he said. He said throughout his stay as the Board Chairman of the NRC, no issue of contract award of any amount or tune was discussed or awarded by the Board. Another Chairman of the board, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, also a former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, told the adhoc committee that he was not privileged to appoint any consultant or award contracts for the railway projects. According to Baraje, all the paraphernalia and indices that would assist him carry out his work were all gone. “We only played the role of inspection because the procurement act excluded the board from participating in any contract,’’ he added. He expressed worry that the country’s railway transportation system had suffered neglect, in spite of playing critical role in the development of the economy. Baraje said more attention should be given to the 25-year railway modernisation plan to boost transportation in the country. Also speaking at the hearing Senator Ladan Shuni, another former Board Chairman of the NRC, wondered the essence of inaugurating a board that lacked the capacity to oversee the award of contracts. The investigative hearing is expected to unravel how over N1 trillion was expended on rail rehabilitation, purchase of coaches, spare parts and materials for NRC. Vanguard recalls that the House of Representatives, had on October 14 based on a motion promoted by Rep Solomon Ahwhinawi, PDP, Delta had set up the adhoc committee to probe contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of rail tracks, standard gauge, bridges, coaches, wagons and locomotives between 2010 and 2014 amounting to N1 trillion. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/alleged-n1trn-rail-contracts-scam-reps-invite-amaechi-nrc-md-others/

Politics

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Let’s go back in time to May 2004, when the lands of Yelwa-Shendam, in Plateau State, had turned crimson. Primitive fury and hatred were unleashed, leading to internecine bloodbath. Hundreds and hundreds of people were killed along religious lines. It eventually led to Governor Joshua Dariye being removed, as a state of emergency was declared, and a retired Army General appointed sole administrator. While the place was turned into killing fields, the then President Olusegun MATTHEW Obasanjo (emphasis on that middle name) visited, and met with the different stakeholders. During the dialogue session, the then Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Plateau State asked a question the President found offensive. And the Owu man, a retired Army General, flew off the handle. He let out this fusillade: “What role have you played to bring about peace as CAN Chairman in Plateau State? CAN, my foot! What kind of CAN Chairman are you? Did your own Christianity teach you about revenge? You are an idiot. A total idiot. And I have no apologies for that.” Pin-drop silence. Strange things do happen in Nigeria. But it had never been seen like that. For a father of the country to publicly excoriate a religious leader? For a Matthew to call a preacher an idiot, “a total idiot?” It was sacrilege walking on two legs. And again, for a President, who laid claim to being a born again Christian, to denigrate the association of his own faith? “CAN, my foot!” It was the height of it. Of course, Obasanjo was President! Big shot. But many things were wrong with his conduct and the cavalier treatment he gave to a priest, a man of God. The Holy Bible makes certain things clear about our spiritual leaders: ‘Obey your leaders and submit to them. For they watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this will be unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:17. Again, we are charged: “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord, and give you instruction.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 12. In fact, the next verse directly tells us to “esteem them very highly in love because of their work.” So, for a Matthew to call a priest an idiot, “a total idiot?” Not acceptable by any stretch of the imagination. It was a bad example for all believers. Well, the saga ran for a while. The man in question, Rev Yakubu Pam, said security agencies summoned and asked him to apologize to the President for the public spat. Insult on injury! The two men continued with their public lives. Obasanjo finished in office, and went on to take a degree in Theology. I’m sure he now knows better about those the Holy Bible says “speak evil of dignities” (2 Peter 2:10), and the consequences. I believe he has privately repented. Rev Pam finished his term as CAN Chairman in Plateau State. He went on to become Chairman of CAN in all North Central states from 2008 till 2015, and then, Chairman CAN in the 19 Northern states and Abuja, till July 4, last year, when he was named Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), the regulatory body for Christian pilgrimage in the country. A tale of the priest and two Presidents. Publicly flagellated by one, a Matthew, and now, honored by the other, a Muhammadu. What Rev Pam didn’t get from a Christian, he got from a Fulani man from Daura, a Muslim. Is there any lesson we can learn from this? Think about it. A couple of weeks back, precisely on January 14, 2021, Rev Pam was at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, leading an NCPC team on a courtesy visit to the President. An idiot, “a total idiot” was at the seat of power, being treated with the dignity he deserved, by a man of a different faith. Holy Moses! Rev Pam delivered a speech at the event, under the title, In Peace We Blossom. He recounted how he had been campaigning on the need for peace round the country in places like Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa states, among others. He has met with church leaders also in Southeast and South-south zones, as well as youth groups. He submitted: “I humbly appreciate Mr President’s vision on peace building and deeply grateful for the confidence reposed on me in this respect.” Rev Pam is obviously a man of peace. That was why “when he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” (1 Peter 2:23). How many of us would be called an idiot, “a total idiot” publicly, and would not talk back? How many of our modern day preachers, who arrogate all sorts of powers and authorities to themselves, would not have cursed Obasanjo publicly, asking him to apologize or be killed by God within seven days? (You know, some of these modern preachers speak as if God was their personal property, who they can command and order around). I tell you, this Rev Pam, from Gyel, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State is a reconciliator, a peace advocate, and that is why God has lifted him up today. And not through a Matthew, but a Muhammadu, one against whom all lies under the sun have been told: he’s a religious bigot. A herdsman. A nepotist. Jihadist. Everything. May God forgive those who condemn the person they don’t know, and have refused to know. President Buhari personally congratulated Rev Pam on his appointment as NCPC boss. He encouraged him to continue with his peace building efforts across the country, stressing that no enduring development could be possible without peace. It was a day one was very glad to witness. A pauper can become a king. An idiot, “a total idiot,” can become a man of honour. It is God that does it. Don’t you think? *Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/02/the-priest-and-the-president-by-femi-adesina/

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Scientific paper credits ‘the Creator’ for human hand design Journal is forced to retract after outcry Controversy is raging after a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal, PLOS ONE, published a paper1 recently by a team of four Chinese researchers (three in China, one in Massachusetts).2 The paper dealt with everyday topics such as how human hands grasp objects, and showed these actions that we take for granted require “complex biomechanical architecture”. But this would hardly have been controversial if not for its ‘unfortunate’ use of some extremely taboo language: the researchers in multiple places referred to the Creator. E.g., the Abstract states: The explicit functional link indicates that the biomechanical characteristic of tendinous connective architecture between muscles and articulations is the proper design by the Creator to perform a multitude of daily tasks in a comfortable way.1 The Introduction includes: Thus, hand coordination affords humans the ability to flexibly and comfortably control the complex structure to perform numerous tasks. Hand coordination should indicate the mystery of the Creator’s invention.1 The public outcry was swift and fierce! One editor at the journal posted, “Just found out @PLOSONE published a paper with ‘evidence’ about some ‘creator’. If not retracted immediately, I will resign as editor.” Buckling to the pressure, the journal did exactly that shortly afterward, with the following statement: In light of the concerns identified, the PLOS ONE editors have decided to retract the article, the retraction is being processed and will be posted as soon as possible [sic]. We apologize for the errors and oversight leading to the publication of this paper.3 Perhaps even sadder than the public response to this paper, however, was that even the authors of the paper themselves seem to have backed down. They attempted to blame references to the Creator on errors in translation, rather than a belief in intelligent design. E.g. the first author wrote in the Comments: We are sorry for drawing the debates about creationism. Our study has no relationship with creationism. English is not our native language. Our understanding of the word ‘Creator’ was not actually as a native English speaker expected. Now we realized that we had misunderstood the word ‘Creator’. What we would like to express is that the biomechanical characteristic of tendious connective architecture between muscles and articulations is a proper ‘design’ by the ‘nature’ (result of evolution) to perform a multitude of daily grasping tasks. We will change the ‘Creator’ to ‘nature’ in the revised manuscript. We apologize for any troubles may have caused by this misunderstanding.1 But one must wonder if they really mean this, as even one of their critics responded: We would take this defense seriously if it were the only creationist phrase in the article. But it isn’t. You also talk about hand coordination as evidence of “the mystery of the Creator’s invention.” What mystery is that? Is there a mystery how evolution by natural selection could produce the coordination in question?1 Perhaps they don’t want to be blacklisted from ever being published again? Fallacy: “Why don’t creationists publish in peer reviewed journals?” Misotheists and their churchian allies (‘useful idiots’), when they can’t refute a creationist argument, often taunt biblical creationists (and Intelligent Design theorists) with the following challenge: If there’s really good evidence for Design, then why don’t you submit papers to a secular peer-reviewed scientific journal and gain the support of the mainstream scientific community? This incident should serve as a perfect response to any such challenge, and a ‘test case’ for what happens in such a circumstance. Far from giving due consideration, the so-called scientific community does the exact opposite: they scorn and bully anyone who would dare attempt to suggest a Creator, and do their best to prevent any such evidence from seeing the light of day. There would be pressure to remove any editor who allowed this to be published. This is the same type of behavior documented in Ben Stein’s movie Expelled, as well as the book Slaughter of the Dissidents by Dr Jerry Bergman. The simple truth is, the secular academic world is not open to considering evidence for a Divine Creator. The very concept of intelligent design is anathema to them, and they will stop at nothing to prevent any hint of such a Creator from breaking through the pages of secular scientific literature. The oft-cited ‘amazing admission’ by Dr Richard Lewontin once again is relevant here. The Hand: evidence for design In reality, the human hand is great evidence for the design of our Creator. For those who have not stubbornly rejected the truth, this simple fact seems obvious! One calls to mind the revulsion of Charles Darwin himself upon viewing the beauty of a peacock feather,4 which he knew he could not explain away by naturalistic means.5 I wonder– do today’s misotheists, such as the editor at PLOS ONE who threatened to resign his position over the mere mention of a ‘Creator’, experience a similar revulsion at the sight of their own hands? References and notes - Ming-Jin Liu, Cai-Hua Xiong , Le Xiong, Xiao-Lin Huang, Biomechanical characteristics of hand coordination in grasping activities of daily living, PLOS ONE, 5 January 2016 | doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0146193. PLOS = Public Library of Science. Return to text - Bolton, D., Scientific paper which says the human hand was designed by a ‘Creator’ sparks controversy, independent.co.uk, 3 March 2016. Return to text - Cited in Ref. 2. Return to text - Darwin, F., (Ed), Letter to Asa Gray, dated 3 April 1860, The Life and Letters of Charles Darwin, John Murray, London, Vol. 2, p. 296, 1887; 1911 Edition, D. Appleton and Company, New York and London, Vol. 2, pp. 90–91. Return to text - Note that Darwin tried to explain the peacock tail by sexual selection, i.e. in response to peahens choosing mates with this characteristic. But in reality, peahens don’t care, so sexual selection fails to explain the very thing Darwin concocted it for. See Takahashi, M., and others, Peahens do not prefer peacocks with more elaborate trains, Animal Behaviour 75(4):1209–1219, 2008; Catchpoole, D., Peacock tail tale failure, Creation 31(2):56, 2009. Return to text Comments are automatically closed 14 days after publication.

https://creation.com/hand-design-peer-review

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The Nigerian economy is in deep trouble. When the Government laid out its current five-year development plan, the forecast for 1983 was that production of high-priced oil, at two million barrels a day, would earn the nation $30 billion. As world oil markets faltered last year, the forecast was trimmed in November in an austerity budget based on production of a million barrels a day. At the time, industry analysts reckoned that, for the first quarter of 1983 at least, black Africa's largest oil producer would be able to pump 1.3 million barrels a day, about the December level. The forecasts were wrong: In January, oil industry sources and Nigerian officials said, daily production was no more than 880,000 barrels, despite the expectation of high sales to wintry America and Europe. Early February was worse: 550,000 barrels a day. The implications are serious. Nigeria, which faces elections in August, is spending far more than it is earning. Some prestige projects, like a $2 billion standard gauge railway, have already been shelved. Commercial Payments Slow Moreover, the nation's foreign exchange reserves have fallen to just over $1 billion, enough to finance one month of imports, and that figure, the ecoomist said, is only ''notional'' because outstanding commercial payments are much higher. One Western banker put Nigeria's commercial debts at ''$6 billion minimum.'' Other estimates vary between $5 billion and $7 billion, compared with a relatively low long-term debt of $12 billion. (Banking sources in London said that Nigeria had begun talks aimed at getting a $1 billion credit to repay some of its commercial debts, Reuters reported Tuesday.)

https://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/17/business/economic-strains-on-nigeria.html

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Okonjo-Iweala closer to emerging WTO DG By Samuel Oamen Former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has drawn closer to emerging Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). In the final two-man race, she polled 104 votes from 164 member countries to defeat South Korea’s Trade Minister. She may become the first African to head the WTO.

https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-okonjo-iweala-emerges-wto-dg/

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BY Favour Nnabugwu Federal Government Tuesday set in motion modalities to generate N500 bilion annually from its highways. This came at a time a proposal to restrict trucks and tankers to dedicated service lanes on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway was presented to President Goodluck Jonathan. Mr. Mike Onolememen, Minister of Works, who disclosed this at the inauguration of Road Sector Reform Committee in Abuja, said the federal roads could only be effectively maintained and sustained through revenue generation model in order for the sector to play its pivotal role to the nation’s economy. He said: “It is estimated that about N500 billion could be generated yearly with over two million jobs created nationwide. “With a current asset value of about N5 trillion, there is need for sustainable development and maintenance of our country’s road transportation infrastructure to provide safe, reliable and free-flowing system for motorists and other road users in order to facilitate economic activities in the country.” Onolememen who gave the committee six weeks to come up with draft policies on road transportation, said Nigerian roads could be sustainably managed if the country’s road users paid users’ charge and other road-related charges. He said: “If Nigerians could just part with a little road related users charges here and there, we will all be in a better position to benefit from very good roads. Nigerians will have a pleasurable drive on our roads.” On Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, the minister disclosed that his ministry had made a proposal to the President to have a dedicated service lane for trucks and tankers on the expressway in Lagos so the tankers and heavy duty trucks would not obstruct traffic flow for other vehicles plying the road. He stated: “We have made a proposal to Government and we want to hold Nigerian Port Authority and tankers accountable for implementing the proposal because we believe they have no business on that road. “We have also recommended a dedicated service lane for the users of tankers and trucks going to the port and tank farms. In that way, the exisiting Oshodi-Apapa Expressway will be free to normal vehicles.” Amplifying the revenue generation drive of the federal government, the Committee chairman, Dr Bernard Obika, said modern day road sector reform no longer run on a charity. Obika said: “I recognised the multidisciplinary road business reform. I mention the word business because road today is business. It is no longer, in modern days, a purely charitable venture “Any sector that like the Nigerian road sector that has an aseet valued at N5trillion is big business and must be manged along a rigid business line in order to maximise efficiency.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/fg-targets-n500bn-annual-revenue-from-highways/

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•Says Jonathan, Govs, NASS members looted the country dry •Insists Igbo are not marginalized •Buhari’s administration an answered prayer BY FRANCIS IGATA FIERY Catholic Priest and Founder, Adoration Ministries Enugu Nigeria, AMEN, Reverend Fr. Ejike Mbaka,yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be on his guards, prophesying that alleged beneficiaries of massive corruption perpetrated during ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration would plot to kill him. Mbaka made the revelations yesterday morning during his New Year Prophetic Message at Adoration Ground, where thousands of faithful converged for supplication. This is even as the Enugu- based cleric lashed out to ex-President Jonathan, governors and National Assembly members under his administration some of whom were allegedly involved in the squandering of the country’s resources during the oil boom to detriment of critical infrastructure that could have alleviated the sufferings of the masses. He asked Nigerians to brace up for tougher times this year due to the economic hardship. However, he urged them to be patient, prayerful and hard-working, adding that things would later improve. He also called for support for the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption fight. There will be light at the end of the tunnel Mbaka said: “People will by now, begin to question, is this the government we voted for? But the Lord says, it will start hard, but it is going to end well. It is going to end well. I am commanded to ask for patience. The Lord says that multiple crises will befall the system. But later, the country will be filled with the peace of Isaiah 66, peace that will be flowing like a river. And in this peace will be the blessing. So, I am claiming the peace in the midst of all the looming crisis. “New crises are going to come up. But at the end,there will be peace. Peace will be terbanacled at the epicentre of this country,to handle any crisis no matter how benign, malignant, barbaric or even satanic it will appear like. God says He will be in charge. In 2013, there was a prophecy that there was going to be an oil doom after the oil boom. And when that message came out from this ground, many started calling me a prophet of doom. “How can there be a doom? And the oil price continued to climb. And the message said, people and government should begin to gather, as in the days of Joseph, to stop squandering our wealth. And they never listened. Throughout the six years of the past administration, God blessed our oil with high prices, $140 per barrel. But the message said there was going to be an oil doom. Do not mind the high prices. It warned our politicians to stop embezzling our wealth. But they said the money would continue to come. “Our oil would continue to flow. During this moment of the oil boom, there was excess crude oil money. They did not know what to do with our money. Our youths were suffering and they are still suffering. Graduates have no jobs, new industries were not built. Our roads were not reconstructed. Our hospitals were in shambles and in total collapse. Our educational systems were in shambles and these politicians were building good schools outside Nigeria. “They were busy building hospitals even in South-Africa and other neighbouring countries. When any of them is sick, he will be flown outside Nigeria because there is no hospital in Nigeria worth of good medication. You cannot find any hospital in Nigeria that has worthy diagnostic facilities. The entire money voted for hospitals were looted. Corruption was in quantum to the level that Nigerian Catholic Bishops had to compose a prayer against bribery and corruption. “The Bishops assured all the Catholics to be praying that prayer everyday after the communion. All the moneys voted for road constructions were swindled. Many of the politicians became millionaires and billionaires in Naira, Dollars, Pounds Sterling, Euro when they have no workshops and business centres. Somebody who has nothing doing, yet he is a billionaire because he is a politician. The oil money was messed up. “Now, oil doom has come. There was no preparation for the doom. The economy of Nigeria is an oil-based economy. My beloved Nigerians,those who led us for the past six years downwards have killed this country. None of them is qualified to stay in this country by now. Both the president, governors, senators, House of Representatives members, council chairmen among others. They are wicked. It does not matter the man of God they worship with. Before God and man, all of them are wicked. “They hate this country. They succeeded in removing the liver, kidneys and cardiovascular system of this country and paralyzed the neurological organs, and handed over to Buhari, shambles and skeleton. A nation that is in comatose. Nigeria right now,economically and security wise is in the Intensive Care Unit, ICU. If the oxygen is removed, Nigeria will go. People of God prayed from here and there, and God answered our prayers and gave us Buhari. Buhari is God-sent “I want to tell you today, that Buhari is a prayer answered. Weather you hate or like him, Buhari is a prayer answered. The Catholic Bishops of Nigeria prayed against bribery and corruption and this President came with a war against corruption. All the prayers we have been doing against bribery and corruption, God answered the prayers through a Muslim who decided not to discriminate. There is nothing like racial, ethnic discrimination in this administration. “He is a man of all. He means good for this country and we owe him unalloyed, consistent, spiritual and otherwise support. If he is not the man at the helm of affairs now or had it being the last regime continued, by now, Nigeria would be for sale. Who will buy? All the moneys voted for infrastructure, few people stole the money. That is why we are passing through chronic hunger, joblessness. Many have died and are still dying because of this. That is why they want to engineer you people to cause crisis even in this part of Igboland under the guise that Igbo are marginalized. Nobody can marginalise Igbo “Igbo people are unmarginalizable. Nobody can marginalize the Igbo. The spirit of God wants me to speak good over what has been happening in this administration and that is what I am doing. I am not a sycophant,I do not support anybody for anything because I have the highest thing somebody can have which is God. So, I want to tell you that so far, God is happy with Buhari. And he who God has blessed, may you not try to curse because God will curse you. The plots to kill Buhari “Many people are planning, as it is revealed , to kill Buhari. There are many plans on how to eliminate his life so that corruption, embezzlement will continue. But the Lord says, God who put you there, will not forsake you. Be firm, resolute, focused, unbiased and refuse to be intimidated and distracted. Go ahead and war against evil. Buhari, go ahead and war against corruption. God and His people are behind you. You are the answer of the prayers of the people. “Our past looters, embezzlers, thieves on the political terrain have eaten the cake and now everybody is suffering. No ethnic group is marginalized. In the present administration, Igbo people hold the portfolio for Minister of External Affairs, Godffrey Onyeama; Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu; Industry and Commerce, Osita Enalema; Labour and employment, Chris Ngige. And the problem of this country now is unemployment. If our youths are well employed, kidnapping will go. Kidnapping was a child of the past administration. They delivered that ugly baby, which resembled them. It is my job to put your mind right. When anybody wants to say that Igbo are marginalised, do not believe it. Igbo are doing well everywhere. So,why are we evolving a war that does not exist? “Those who are engineering this war, have their children abroad! And they want to use our unemployed youths to begin to walk around, ‘Igbo are marginalized,’ ‘our roads are bad.’ By the end of this year, Buhari will expose the names of the people who looted money meant for our roads. What we are suffering now is the resultant effect of the last malignant administration that was intrinsically corrupt. What we are suffering now arose from past administration. But the Lord says there is hope. Many people are going to suffer. We should all get ready. But after the suffering we will all smile.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/2016-prophesy-there-are-plots-to-kill-buhari-mbaka/

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Manchester United boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is dreaming of signing Jadon Sancho in the summer. The Borussia Dortmund man is wanted by several Premier League clubs as he looks to move back home after two seasons in Germany. Metro claims Solskjaer and United are confident of signing Sancho, even with COVID-19 hurting the finances of most Premier League clubs. And Sancho would complete the manager’s front three next to Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford. Then United would have Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes and Scott McTominay in midfield to round off the attacking six. Solskjaer sees Sancho as the ideal right winger for his fast paced, youth oriented team.

https://sportinglife.ng/solskjaer-wants-to-form-dream-man-utd-front-three-this-summer/

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Joe Ajaero, NLC President — Holds prayer session at police state commands — On standby for strike if police detain NLC President By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja In solidarity with its President, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has mobilized its members, especially the Central Working Committee, CWC, to storm the Police headquarters, Abuja, as Comrade Joe Ajaero honours the summons by the Police over his alleged link to terrorism financing, among other allegations. Recall that the police had summoned the NLC President on Monday, August 19, to appear at the Force headquarters on Tuesday, August 20, by 10 a.m. to answer questions on his alleged involvement in terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony. The summons necessitated an emergency National Executive Council, NEC, meeting, where the Congress condemned the action, describing the allegation as trumped-up charges and politically motivated to silence the workforce. A circular to all NLC affiliates and State Councils, signed by the General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, on mobilization for peaceful procession and prayer session in solidarity with the Congress President, Comrade Ajaero, said together they shall overcome the challenges and continue to uphold justice, fairness, and democracy in the country. The circular read: “In response to the recent summons by the Nigeria Police Force for our President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, to appear for interrogation on trumped-up charges on Thursday, August 29, 2024, we call on all NLC affiliates and state councils to mobilize their members in Abuja and across the states to show solidarity. “Details for Participation: In Abuja: All CWC members resident in Abuja and other members are expected to assemble at the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress by 8:00 AM on Thursday, August 29, 2024, to accompany the President to the Police for the scheduled interaction. “In State Capitals: Members should gather at their respective state secretariats of Congress. From there, they will embark on a peaceful procession to their State Police Headquarters, where they will hold a prayer session until the president’s interaction with the police is concluded. “This peaceful march is a united stand against the unjust actions aimed at intimidating our leadership and stifling the voice of Nigerian workers. We urge all members to remain peaceful and orderly throughout the procession and prayer session. If for any reason, the President is detained, all workers nationwide shall proceed on indefinite strike. “Your unwavering support and solidarity at this critical time are crucial to defending civic rights and the integrity and rights of the labour movement. “Together, we shall overcome these challenges and continue to uphold justice, fairness, and democracy in our dear nation.” It will be recalled that after the Police summons for the NLC President to appear at the Force headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, the Congress held an emergency NEC meeting where it resolved to demand for an extension of time from the Police in order to consult its lawyers on the subject matter. Subsequently, a formal letter from the Chambers of Femi Falana, SAN, was sent to the police, where the NLC President said he would appear for the police interrogation on August 29, and he also demanded full details of the allegations against him. A communiqué issued at the end of the emergency meeting read: “The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) convened an emergency meeting to deliberate on the recent developments surrounding the invitation of the President of the Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, by the Nigeria Police Force. “This invitation is premised on a clearly unfounded and politically motivated investigation into alleged terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony. “The NEC notes with grave concern that rather than extending the demand by the Congress for the earlier invasion of its national headquarters by security agencies, the Nigeria Police has chosen to embark on this spurious and fortuitous journey of intimidation, harassment, and witch-hunting. “This is nothing but a travesty and a blatant attempt to stifle the voice of the working people and their leadership, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98. “In light of this, the NEC of the NLC resolves as follows: We Shall Honour the Invitation: As a responsible labour centre committed to the rule of law and due process, the NLC shall honour the invitation extended to its President by the Nigeria Police but will demand for extension of time given the nature of the invitation. However, we wish to state unequivocally that this does not in any way legitimize the baseless allegations levelled against him. “Condemnation of the State’s Actions: The NEC strongly condemns the continued harassment of the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and other Labour leaders. “We view this as a calculated attempt to weaken and destabilize the labour movement, which has always stood as a bastion of democratic principles and the voice of the Nigerian masses. Call for the State to Desist: “The NEC warns the state to desist from its evil intentions and stop the ongoing witch-hunt against the leaders of the Congress forthwith. The Congress will not sit idly by while the rights and freedoms of its members and leaders are trampled upon with impunity by the state. “The NEC directs all affiliates and state councils to immediately commence the process of mobilizing their members across the nation. The Congress will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement. “If anything happens to the President of the Congress or any other leader of the Congress in furtherance of these tendentious allegations by the State; NEC puts all its affiliates and state councils to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action by 12:00 Midnight today. “The NEC calls on all civil society allies and the general populace to stand in solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress in this critical moment. The fight against injustice and oppression is a collective one, and we urge all Nigerians to rise in defence of our shared democratic values. “The Nigeria Labour Congress remains resolute in its commitment to defending the rights and interests of workers and the Nigerian people. We shall not be cowed or intimidated by these desperate attempts to silence us. We stand firm in our resolve to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law in our beloved country.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/08/alleged-terrorism-financing-labour-to-storm-force-headquarters-thursday-in-solidarity-with-ajaero/

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Senator Rochas Okorocha The senator representing Imo west, Rochas Okorocha has asked the Senate President Ahmad Lawan to teach him how he returned to the senate after losing the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC with him. The duo contested the primary election of the APC but lost to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Surprisingly, after some weeks Supreme Court in a verdict, affirmed Lawan as the authentic candidate even though he did not contest the primary, which Bashir Machina was elected as the candidate of the Yobe north senatorial ticket of the party. Confused with his emergence as the candidate of the Yobe north senatorial ticket, Okorocha speaking during the valedictory session of the ninth senate on Saturday said: “I did not contest for senate this period. I only contested for the office of the president. “You are a very smart politician. How you came back is another chapter in our political history that we need to discuss. “I was there in the field with you running for president, I never knew how you were able to meander, leaving some of us. Next time you must teach me how to do that.” Reacting to his appeal Lawan said: “It was easy. I was there with you in the field and after our defeat, my constituents thought they needed me again. “They asked for me to come back and it was a tortious journey because we had to go through the courts.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/06/how-did-you-return-to-senate-teach-me-okorocha-begs-lawan/?fbclid=IwAR0vFyeWkXarwYGQLrG24SdCk5AED9N_gy1MwhCr613EaJcl5feBOuMCIVwCriminals

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By Emmanuel Aziken The seeming resolution of the crisis that recently engulfed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP over the stewardship of Prince Uche Secondus as national chairman has opened the way for another battle of intrigues over the party’s future ahead of 2023. Key to the intrigues, it was gathered from party chieftains, is the zoning configuration of party offices which is also expected to set a direction for the zoning of the 2023 elective and appointive national offices. At the resolution of the crisis earlier in the week, it had been resolved that the Secondus leadership would put machinery in place for the zoning and also for the national convention expected to come up in October. A senior party source, however, disclosed that after the strong battles against him, that Secondus is still battle weary and not in a hurry. The meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC to shape the issues generated from the Tuesday meeting, it was gathered, would not come up before next Tuesday at the earliest. Though one of the points canvassed by the anti-Secondus forces at the strategic stakeholders’ meeting of governors, former governors, former principal officers of the National Assembly among others was for Secondus and the present NWC not to recontest, sources disclosed that that stance was, however, left out of the communique. READ ALSO: Govs, BOT saved PDP from implosion — Wike A source revealed that a notable lawyer present and former minister, Tanimu Turaki had canvassed that it would run foul of the PDP’s constitution which provided NWC members the right to a second tenure. Saturday Vanguard, however, reports that no national chairman of the party had served a second term. None in the era of the four year tenure system which began with Chief Audu Ogbeh has also finished his term and considered a second term. Party insiders say that Secondus’ bid to upturn that record was one of the issues he had with some of the party’s principal influence pullers, particularly Governor Nyesom Wike. A second term for Secondus, party sources said, would also have destroyed the chance of the South-South getting the ticket of president or vice-president. Though, a senior party official disclosed that Secondus may not have completely aborted his second term plans, party leaders are said to be now gravitating towards the Southwest, which is the only zone in the country that is not averse to having the national chairman. All other zones with an eye to the presidential or vice-presidential tickets are said to be pushing the office of national chairman away from their zones. The leading candidate for the office in the Southwest, it was gathered is Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the penultimate governor of Osun State. “With Oyinlola, PDP will be killing two birds with one stone,” a party insider told Saturday Vanguard. “With him we have Obasanjo (President Olusegun Obasanjo) and IBB,” the source said. Meanwhile, Saturday Vanguard gathered that canvassers for Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 aspiration were also not particularly averse to the exit of Secondus despite the earlier notion that he was serving the interest of the campaign. “You can see what happened with Atiku visiting Wike and it tells you that nothing is impossible in politics,” the source said. It was gathered that Atiku was looking towards pairing with any of the South-South governors in 2023. After burning up to N30 billion in 2019, Atiku it was gathered was now looking towards any of the governors from the South-South willing to throw in help towards actualizing his aspiration. Despite the rapprochement with Atiku which was helped by the former vice-president’s seeming quietness in the push against Secondus, the running mate offer from Atiku it was gathered is not Wike’s for the taking. It was gathered that the ticket remains open to any of the three eligible South-South governors; Wike, Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) or Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta). It is a development that is bound to upset the Southeast and the aspiration of the zone which has made a bristling campaign for the president to come from the region. Besides the money factor, the Atiku Campaign it was gathered, is also conscious of the fact that the PDP has become a minority in the Southeast zone with the party controlling only two of the five states. The Atiku Campaign is, however, expected to appoint a high profile Southeast person as campaign director general with the person emerging as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in the event of a victory. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/zoning-intrigues-trail-secondus-crisis-in-pdp/

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Vital documents in suit on Jonathan’s eligibility stolen A Lawyer involved in the prosecution of a case challenging President Goodluck Jonathan’s eligibility in next year’s election, Wahab Olatoye, has said the vital documents needed to prosecute the case have been stolen. He said some men broke into his office in Abuja last Friday and stole “most of the files containing documents to be used in the eligibility suit and other vital documents.” Olatoye and Adejumo Ajagbe filed the suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney- General of the Federation (AGF) from allowing Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo to seek re-election next year. Olatoye said his office at Suite 33, Manga Plaza, Garki Area 11 was burgled on Friday night and vital documents he was using to pursue his case against the President and other vital documents were taken away. He said he had reported the incident at the Garki Police station. “It is really a great surprise to me, when I was called on Saturday morning that my office had been burgled by yet- to-be identified persons. It was my office alone that was burgled of the offices in the plaza. The thieves came in through the ceiling and ransacked the files. “Although, they made away with the money I left in the office, they also stole documents, especially the ones I am using in pursuing my case against the eligibility of President Jonathan to contest the election. “As a plaintiff in the matter and a lawyer, there are some documents I need to hand over to my lawyers, which I kept in the office. My computers were also destroyed, the office safe was damaged. “The matter has been reported at the FCDA Police Station in Garki. The police have promised to come on Monday morning for further investigation”, Olatoye said. Olatoye and Ajagbe are contending that by the virtue of provisions of sections 132(1), 135(2)(a) and (b), 137(1)(b), 142(1) and (2) of the constitution, the President and the Vice President elected in the same election and sworn into office on the same date were taken to have been elected for one term of four years. The plaintiffs also contended that by the virtue of the oaths taken by Jonathan and Sambo following the death of President Umaru Yar’adua in 2010 and their subsequent re-election in 2011, both of them were deemed to have completed the two terms allowed by law. Justice Ahmed Mohammed has fixed December 1 for hearing in the suit.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/vital-documents-in-suit-on-jonathans-eligibility-stolen/

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By Peter Egwuatu OPERATORS and analysts in the financial market have warned the Federal Government against discouraging foreign investment in the country following the continuous drop in Foreign Portfolio Investment, FPI, which fell to N24.41 billion in the month of September this year. This warning is coming after the saga against MTN’s alleged illegal repatriation of money outside Nigeria without obtaining the regulatory mandate of a Certificate of Capital Importation (CCI). Figures from the NSE shows that monthly foreign inflows outpaced outflows as foreign inflows decreased by 29.65 per cent from N34.70 billion in August to N24.41 billion in September 2016. Foreign outflows also decreased by 10.21 per cent from N21.36 billion to N19.18 billion within the same period. It will be recalled that MTN and Airtel had indicated interest to list on the NSE once the economy improves and the Nigerian stock market remains attractive for both local and foreign investors. The capital market operators who welcome the interest of the telecommunications companies to list on the exchange have warned the federal government not to do anything that will jeopardise or discourage the entities that will list on exchange come next year. President of the Institute of Capital Market Registrars, Bayo Olugbemi: said: “ We need these companies on the exchange to boost our market. MTN is a big company and has invested significantly and makes huge returns to stakeholders. So government must do everything it can to encourage it to list in our country. We expect other telecoms players as well as major oil companies and the power sector to join the train.” Meanwhile, speaking a Financial Management Consultant, Mr. Bisi Ogunwale, said the furour generated by the regulatory discrepancies between the MTN believed to have employed over half a million Nigerians and injected about 3.5 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) may portend a negative picture to willing investors in the Nigerian economy. Ogunwale said the accusations against the telco were not solidified as the withdrawal by MTN didn’t appear to contravene the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council act and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s regulation. He said the government should rather check the efficiency of the regulatory measures of the CBN and necessary parties to avoid repelling foreign direct investors (FDIs). Ogunwale said: “Just when we thought we were getting out of undue interference from our government in the way businesses are run, the upper chamber of the national assembly on the 27th of September did this. First, the issue here for me is what exactly is the Senate out to achieve and why are they doing what they are doing? I’ve looked at everything they brought forward and the issue that MTN did not get CCI before repatriating money. What funds are we talking about, MTN’s claims they were repatriating funds that were meant to be profit or dividends being paid on importation of capitals they have done. I don’t see anything wrong in what they have done. For me I think it is just a witch hunt.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/operators-warn-fg-against-decline-in-n24-4bn-fpi-in-september/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

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Some stakeholders in the finance industry have commended the Federal Government for its decision to use Micro-Finance Banks (MFBs) in distributing the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development fund. They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the policy demonstrated the government’s determination to improve living standards in rural communities. According to Mr Alfred Sagai, the Director, Bokkos Micro Finance Bank Limited, the decision will ensure proper disbursement of the fund for the growth of micro and small businesses at the grassroots. Sagai said that micro-finance banks played a vital role in providing loans to small business owners without collateral, unlike the commercial banks. “Micro-finance banks are playing a very good role in building the economy from the grassroots. Just as the local governments are created to get closer to the people in political administration, the micro-finance banks are established to get closer to the grassroots in economic administration. We ensure that those who cannot get loans from the big banks with collaterals are able to get loans in an easy manner from us and start their small businesses. “In my local government in Bokkos, we give loans from N10, 000 up to N250,000 to the people without collateral,” he said. According to him, we are able to do this because we know them on one-on-one basis and the transaction is done within the shortest possible time and without rigorous procedures. Sagai added that the initiative was a “good vision that will improve the standard of living of indigents and increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation.” He advised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to strictly allocate the funds to only qualified micro-finance banks that would disburse it to deserving business owners. He further said the MFB’s would on their part ensure that the funds are utilized for the purpose for which it is being allocated. An economic expert, Mr Gabriel Okeh, said that though routing the funds to the entrepreneurs through micro-finance banks was good, it require proper monitoring by the CBN to ensure effective implementation. “Commercial banks do not usually do much to support industrialization; they rather go into buying and selling which is not so with the micro-finance banks,” he said. He said, “it has become a Nigeria factor that such funds are collected by individuals who eventually use the money for their selfish interests rather than the purpose it is meant for. “The strength of industrialization in many countries is based on SMEs and Nigeria should not be excluded. “ Most of the products we consume were produced by small industries of not more than 20 staff or less, outside the country such as China and Japan. SME is supposed to be a base for industrialization because from small scale, they mature into bigger companies and are able to employ more people,” he said. Okeh, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for SMEs to would allow them to put the loan to good use. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/stakeholders-commend-fgs-use-mfbs-disburse-n220bn-msme-fund/

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By Dickson Omobola The jigsaw puzzle surrounding the quantity of petrol, otherwise called Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Nigeria consumes daily just got more puzzling as Sunday Vanguard understands that the figure went down to about 30 million litres per day after President Bola Tinubu’s ”subsidy is gone” statement of May 29, 2023, only to dramatically return to more than 60 million litres. Multiple sources attributed the ‘magical’ rise to renewed smuggling of the product into neighbouring countries where the price of the product is significantly higher than it is in Nigeria. Until Tinubu ‘removed’ the petrol subsidy via the 2023 Inauguration Day speech, the product sold for N254 but rose subsequently to N617 in Abuja and thereabouts in some parts of the country. In Lagos where it was cheapest, it sold for about N568 while it sold higher in other South-West states like Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti. In the North, South-South and South-East, it was a different ballgame as the price of petrol skyrocketed above N615 while independent marketers sold above N800. The quantity of petrol consumed daily in Nigeria has for a long time been a controversial issue with many stakeholders saying it was shrouded in secrecy especially since the quantity determined the amount to be paid as a subsidy which many people including government officials benefited from. According to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in the first three months of 2022, Nigeria recorded an average daily consumption of 64.14 million litres, while the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) revealed in September 2022 that Nigeria’s average daily petrol consumption was 66.8 million litres. However, at the beginning of 2023, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, said there was no credible data to ascertain the daily consumption of petrol in Nigeria while also stating that there was credible data on the actual volume of petrol evacuated from the depots. Analysts believe the figures quoted are often that high. The bulk of the petrol earmarked for the local market is usually taken by smugglers across the borders, especially to neighbouring countries, where the price of the product is very high because they don’t produce oil. The smuggling of the product across borders guarantees huge profits for those involved while subsidy also guarantees huge returns for marketers and government officials among others in the system. But following the Inauguration Day pronouncement of Tinubu (subsidy is gone), daily consumption of petrol in Nigeria, according to sector regulator fell significantly. Analysis of daily truck-out data published by the NMDPRA revealed that petrol consumption had reduced by more than 24 million litres per day on average. The average daily consumption in May 2023 was 69.54 million liters which fell to 49.48 million liters in June, representing a 28.3% drop. In July, this margin increased further to 34.61%, the equivalent of 24.06 million litres, and average daily consumption for the month fell further to 45.74 million litres. The price of petrol in neighbouring Benin Republic and Cameroon immediately soared, confirming the claim that both countries, among others, were befitting of the Nigerian subsidy regime. Part of the reason adduced by the Nigerian government to cancel the subsidy regime is the fact that apart from the cabal using the regime to rip off the government, nationals of neighbouring were also beneficiaries. But critics say the fact that the government cannot police its borders in such a way that smuggling of petrol across the borders is stopped does not justify ending the subsidy regime that helps poor Nigerians to modulate the prices of other items that they need petrol to carry out. Nigeria’s land borders are huge, covering an area of 923,769 square kilometres (356,669 sq mi) with borders Niger in the North, Chad in the North-East, Cameroon in the East, and Benin-Republic in the West. And with several footpaths that lead into the neighbouring countries and a few official border posts, smuggling of not only petrol but also other items like rice is difficult to control. Meanwhile, increases in the price of crude oil in the international market have led to a rise in the landing cost of the petrol imported into Nigeria. Reports say the current landing cost is around N1, 100. The implication of the landing cost of petrol has inevitably increased the subsidy margin to at least N600 per litre. NNPCL has been the only body importing petrol and bearing the brunt of the subsidy after marketers abstained from the operation simply because they are in business to make a profit. Consequently, the debt incurred by the NNPCL arising from the funding of the subsidy as of last week and as reported by Sunday Vanguard had ballooned to over $ 6 billion, a situation the government believed was unsustainable. The setback, according to Sunday Vanguard sources, is apparently responsible for the lingering hiccups in fuel supply in recent weeks. One of the sources familiar with the PMS importation into the country revealed that no fewer than five vessels, which were primed to supply petrol to Nigeria, had refused to discharge the product to NNPCL due to fear that they would not be paid cash on delivery. The insider pointed out that the mounting debt had heightened the pressure on the petroleum company, which had resorted to rationing its stock and appealing to its long-term suppliers to not cut off supply. A senior official at the NNPCL, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the company was struggling to supply dealers due to a shortage of products at its disposal. The official lamented: “Bulk sales of ships and trucks to depot owners have slowed down in the last five days due to shortage of supply”. The source added that no bulk sales had taken place since Tuesday, resulting in the scarcity in the downstream sector. Another NNPCL staff member told Sunday Vanguard that the fuel shortage, which resulted in long queues experienced in the last two months in petrol stations across the country, were principally caused by the reduction in supply of products by suppliers who were being owed by the Nigerian oil firm. The top official said: “I was aware that at some points in mid-August the Federal Government had to come in by giving money to NNPCL to defray some of the outstanding liabilities and boost the confidence of the suppliers to continue. “However, what was paid was about $300 million, which only helped us get some reprieve for about a week before the queues fully returned,” he said. Analysts say the increases in the price of crude in the international market have also pushed up the price of imported petrol in the neighbouring countries, thereby making the smuggling of the product from Nigeria where it is highly subsidized once again very attractive. ”Smugglers are once again taking petrol across the borders like they were doing before and the development has, as it were, sent the quantity of petrol consumed daily by Nigerians skyrocketing to over 60 million litres”, one industry source told Sunday Vanguard, last week. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/09/pms-puzzle-petrol-nigeria-consumes-daily-dropped-to-about-30m-liters-then-dramatically-went-up-to-over-60m-2/

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Governor Rotimi Akeredolu The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on monday appealed to the people of the state never to allow themselves to be cajoled nor deceived by the opposition against his second term ambition, saying “the election coming on Saturday is between a Statesman and the Politicians. I have governed you like a statesman. I leave you to choose wisely.” Akeredolu said the people must be very careful so as not to fall into the traps of those he described as “liars who are masquerading as messiahs at the moment”, stressing that some of the people who now want him out of power by all means necessary, once advised him to learn how to tell lies to the people because of his second term ambition. Speaking on Monday when he played host to a group of young Professionals under the aiges of Young Ondo Professionals Foundation (YOPF), Akeredolu promised to consistently govern the people of the state with the fear of God, pleading to be allowed to continue in office in the interest of the younger generation. “I have governed this State like a statesman, not as a politician. I have conducted myself with the fear of God. I have refused to be allowed to be railroaded into the infamy of political sloganeering. I want to return to office to build young leaders and wage war against poverty. “One of my major offenses today is that I am too honest, truthful and Straightforward. I have been told that being straightforward, honest, sincere and open-minded to the people whom I swore to honestly lead is an aberration in the firmament of politics. “But when I remember the past leaders who are currently being loved by the people like Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed, I remained focused and determined. I urge the young people of Ondo State not to be cajoled, wheddled and coerced into the abyss of political correctness. Do not allow these liars pretending as saviours cajole you. They have nothing to offer you. “Let me be honest to you, one of my opponents once advised me when we were still together to learn how to play politics because of second term. When I asked him what he meant by that, he said “your excellency, let’s learn how to cajole the people, when we win second term, we can now do what we like” but I ignored him. “Today, the same character and his godfathers are promising the people Eldorado and change. Our God is unquestionable, but I wish he allow us to see our hearts toward ourselves. “When I leave government, I want live among the people. I want to retire to Owo, as a statesman because i have governed the people like a Statesman. The election coming on Saturday is between a Statesman and the Politicians. I leave you to choose wisely”, Akeredolu, said. In his reamarks, the Chairman of Board of Trustees of YOPF, Mr. Ologunagba Adegbami, said his group, comprising of well-meaning young professionals from telecommunications, medical sciences, engineering, law, academics, journalism, banking and other reputable professions, are proud of Akeredolu’s giant strides and plans for the people of the state. In his words, Ologunagba said “we at YOPF see you as an accidental public servant, because you have distinguished yourself as a man of honesty and sincerity. Your vision on an industrialized Ondo is one reason that we have all agreed to throw our weight behind you. “We are a group of young but successful people, we are going to support you because we are interested in the actualisation of Port Ondo and Bitumen Exploration in the South. We want a New Ondo that will encourage some of us to return home”, Ologunagba said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/10/ive-governed-my-people-like-a-statesman-not-as-a-politician-akeredolu/amp/?__twitter_impression=trueLalasticlalaMynd44

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http://www.medicalhair4u.com

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By AUSTIN OGWUDA ASABA—SENATOR Uche Chukwumerije yesterday in an emotion laden voice sympathised with the people of Asaba, describing the city as the blackest spot in the history of Nigerian civil war. Speaking at a symposium, tagged “A memory on the Niger”, in memory of late Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Chukwumerije said: “If civil war was one black spot in the history of Nigeria and if blackness has degree of blackness, Asaba is the blackest spot in the Nigeria history. “Asaba remains a capsule and climax of genocidal wave that was called the Nigerian civil war,. We must have something more than a cenotaph in Asaba. And this memorial must be properly chronicled by the United Nations.” The symposium was attended by the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, Chief Sonny Odogwu, Ide Ahaba, President General of Ika-Ikenga, Dr. Sylvan Ebigwei, Professor B.I.J. Ijomah, among others. President-General of Aka Ikenga, Dr. Ebigwei, lamented that the inequalities and inadequacies designed during and immediately after the civil war to short-changed Ndigbo politically and economically were yet to be corrected. According to him, “South East today has the least states and local government areas.” On his part, Chief Sonny Odogwu said: “My tribute to you, Emeka, will be incomplete if I do not take this opportunity to urge Nigerian citizens, especially the leadership of this country, to correct those structural deficiencies and social injustices against which many of us sacrificed our lives and resources. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/asaba-darkest-spot-in-nigerian-civil-war-chukwumerije/

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File: House of Representatives …Invitation, not necessary-Gbajabiamila, Doguwa …thunderous shouts of No, No-Borno Lawmakers …as House abruptly goes into executive session By Levinus Nwabughiogu Members of the House of Representatives were divided at Tuesday plenary on whether or not to invite President Muhammadu Buhari to appear before them and offer explanation on the true security situation of the country. An earlier circulated motion had prayed for the invitation of the president. But the motion eventually moved by Hon. Satomi Ahmed on behalf other 10 Borno State lawmakers on the floor prayed the president to amongst other things, declare a State of emergency on security matters. But the motion as presented didn’t sit down well with another Borno lawmaker, Hon. Ahamdu Jaha who relied on Order 6, Rule 1 of the House to say that the original motion to which all the lawmakers agreed on was to call on the President to address them on the security situation especially in the north east region. He, therefore, amended the prayers of the motion. “My amendment is that Mr. President should be invited to come and explain the security situation in the country especially in the northeast”, he said. His amendment got the support of the House. But the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila said it was not necessary, stressing that the State of emergency prayer sufficed This was however rejected by the House. Similarly, the majority leader of the House, Ado Doguwa added his voice, saying that security issues can’t be discussed openly, pleading for the understanding of his colleagues not to summon the president. His contribution was however greeted with a thunderous shout of No. Seeing the rising tension and the determination of the lawmakers, the Speaker suddenly called for executive session to resolve the matter. “Hon. Colleagues, I am a little bit disappointed with a lot of these no, no. “This is not the spirit with which we started this 9th assembly. “We will go into executive session to resolve this matter”, Gbajabiamila said The House is yet to reconvene at the time of filing this report. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/12/borno-massacre-reps-divided-over-motion-to-invite-buhari-for-security-explanation/amp/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&__twitter_impression=trueUPDATED:

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By VINCENT UJUMADU AWKA—THE dredging of River Niger, which was begun few years ago, has been completed and the Onitsha port which is one of the inland ports being built by the Federal Government to service the country’s inland waters is also awaiting commissioning by President Goodluck Jonathan when he visits Anambra State. Senior Special Assistant to Governor Peter Obi on Inter Party Affairs, Chief Ben Obi, said yesterday that officials of the Federal Inland Waterways Authority had inspected the work and expressed satisfaction with the performance of the contractors. According to him, the Onitsha port is already providing skeletal services as it is being used by some companies for the clearing of goods, and that business at the port would peak when it is officially commissioned. He described as misinformation, the statement credited to the president of Anambra Markets Traders Association, ASMATA, Mr. Eze Nwankwo, to the effect that the dredging of River Niger had not been completed. Obi urged traders in the state to brace up for the commencement of full activities at the River ports built by the Federal Government at strategic towns on the bank of River Niger. He explained that his office was holding sensitization programmes with various interest groups and other stakeholders that would directly benefit from the dredged river and ports, adding that they were enthusiastically waiting for full operation to begin. His words: “The dredging of the River Niger and the construction of the Onitsha River port are two projects that have endeared our people to President Jonathan. These are projects that remained on paper for years and with their completion by the present administration, business activities in the South East geo-political zone will be enhanced”. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/04/dredging-of-river-niger-completed-obis-aide/

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Ex-Senate President, Ahmad Lawan By Henry Umoru, ABUJA AHEAD of the primaries of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to pick its Presidential candidate for the 2023 Presidential election, the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan has begun his campaign tour of the country, saying that he is running as a Nigerian Presidential aspirant, not a northern aspirant. Lawan who visited Katsina state yesterday to seek the support of party members particularly the delegates for his presidential bid, said that as a Nigerian he is qualified to be President and not as a northern aspirant as being insinuated in some quarters. Lawan said, “I am not running as a northern aspirant because the impression created is that I’m a northern aspirant or that northerners are saying they are not going to allow power to the South. “I’m not running as a northern candidate. I’m running as a Nigerian Presidential aspirant and therefore I come with all my qualifications for that office and people should judge me on the basis of what I have to offer,” Lawan said in Katsina. In a statement yesterday by his Media Adviser, Ola Awoniyi, the President of the Senate who spoke at a meeting with some members of the Katsina State House of Assembly who came to see him and led by the Speaker of the House, Hon.Tasiu Musa Maigari. Lawan who is one of the longest serving Nigerian Federal lawmakers having been elected into the National Assembly since 1999 said he possessed the requisite experience and qualifications that put him at an advantage over other aspirants. Lawan said, “We have been around for sometime. Thank God, from 2019, we have been working with the President of our Party, President Muhammadu Buhari, very closely. I know and I understand most of the national issues that we deal with. “I’m a participant in this government and I use that as one advantage that I have. Even though I’m a parliamentarian, I have some experience in governance. Real experience. Therefore, we are going round to tell Nigerians that we are available. “The fact that we came out last speaks volumes, because I didn’t just wake up one morning and say I want to be President. It took a lot of time for those who believe in me to talk to me to also throw my hat in the ring. And after some time, I accepted. “And that is to say that some people are not satisfied with those they are seeing and they think that we can do better. I have a great deal of respect for those who are running. The other aspirants. “And I believe that I have my advantages and I’m going to use my advantages by the Grace of God to not only emerge as the candidate of our party but also win the general elections. “And I’m not running like someone from the northeast, I’m running as a Nigerian because I believe that I understand the issues of development in Nigeria today. “And as a participant in this administration, I know that this administration succeeded in some ways and has not succeeded as much in others and therefore, those areas in which we succeeded, it’s for me to continue to build on them. “Those areas that we have found ourselves in deficit, that we have not been able to succeed as much, it’s for us to work on them I am a product of this administration and my party and therefore I commit myself to the ideals of my party. “I commit myself to the ideals of this administration because it takes every effort by everyone to bring development. Mr President will be finishing his term in 2023 as we all know but his ideals are there and his ideals are to develop our country,” Lawan said. The Senate President also told a large gathering of party leaders and delegates, with the State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari in attendance, why he should be considered to be the Presidential candidate of the party in the forthcoming primaries. “It will be 23 years on the 4th of June this year that I have been in the National Assembly. My experiences, I believe, are adequate because I have worked with people like you(Governor Masari) and today, I’m working with our President, President Muhammadu Buhari who is leading the APC administration. “For me, this is an experience that I cherish. This is an experience that makes me think that I have the capacity, that I have the ability, that I have the training, that I have the audacity and the courage to stay in that office in Abuja, in the Villa, to lead the affairs of this country with people like you around me. “It is not abnormal that a Senator can be a President. In the US, even the current President(Joe Biden) was in the Senate. Former President Obama was in the Senate and therefore I believe that, coming from the Legislature, with some experience from the Executive because I have been working very closely with the President, I have the requisite experience to lead the affairs of this country,” Lawan said. In his response, Governor Masari who described Lawan as very reliable and dependable person, said, “When he called me, I told him he should have gone to other places because whatever is possible, whatever we can do for him, we will do it,” Masari said. The President of the Senate was accompanied by the former Governor of Abia State and the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, Senator Bello Mandiya and former Senator Tafida Umar. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/05/2023-im-running-as-nigerian-presidential-aspirant-not-northern-aspirant-lawan/

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EFCC boss Magu and Patience Jonathan PORT HARCOURT- SOLICITOR to former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Ibifaka Goodluck Jonathan, First Law Associates, has given the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC, 14 days with effect from September 18 to defreeze her accounts and tender a public apology to her. Senior Partner, First Law Associates, Timipa Okponipere Esq. in an open letter to EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, urging the Commission to leave Mrs. Jonathan alone, warned that it refused to conform: “We shall file an action at the African Commission on Human Rights at the Gambia demanding N5 billion in exemplary and punitive damages.” The solicitor observed: “There is no established legal or political precedent for what the EFCC is currently doing to our client. How many former First Ladies in Nigeria have received the Patience Goodluck Jonathan Treatment (PGJT) to have warranted the EFCC to engage in the effrontery to freeze our client’s accounts and subject her to public opprobrium, ridicule and disgrace? This nonsense must stop forthwith.” He said: “Our client is a respected senior citizen of international repute, a retired Permanent Secretary and the immediate past First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Our Client is a law-abiding citizen who has never or at all been the subject of any criminal and/or financial investigation, whether at home or abroad. Accordingly, she has not been found guilty of any criminal conduct throughout a sparkling public service career spanning over 35 years.” “During the 5 years our client served as First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between May, 2010 and May, 2015; she was the Initiator/Founder of the A. ARUERA WOMEN FOUNDATION as well as the WOMEN FOR CHANGE INITIATIVE; both of which Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) substantially contributed to the 35 per cent affirmative action for women in the country. Our Client is the recipient of numerous local and international awards in recognition of her untiring commitment towards uplifting the living standard of women, children and the aged in Nigeria. “Sir, it is against this sterling and meritorious background of our client that we most respectfully, write to draw your attention to the numerous breaches of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 2004 committed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in cause of the Commission’s illegal and unlawful investigation of our client for alleged money laundering. These investigations have reportedly led to the freeze of our client’s accounts and led to untold consequences to our client’s health and wellbeing,” the solicitor asserted. He added: “The EFCC must realize that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 is inferior in content and quality to both the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, 2004.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/mrs-jonathans-solicitor-gives-efcc-14-days-defreeze-accounts/

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By Enyim Enyim ONITSHA—Anambra State House of Assembly has backed out of the proposed Grazing Bill expected to be presented to the state House of Assembly for debate and approval. Every state legislature is expected to have 2/3 majority to pass the bill or otherwise. Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mrs. Rita Maduagwu stated this while briefing newsmen on her score card in the past one year in office being marked today (Tuesday). She said the stakeholders, elders, the clergy and the Anambra league of professionals had roundly kicked against the bill and advised the legislative chamber to distance itself from it in the interest of the citizenry and the lgbo race in general. “The Anambra State league of professionals recently came from Lagos to see us and advised us not to support the grazing bill because of the implications and who are we say no if the people of Anambra State have spoken.” Maduagwu said that within the past one year under her watch as speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, four bills had been passed as well as 10 amended bills. She thanked the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano for giving the lawmakers enabling environment to function as an arm of government, adding that there had been cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/grazing-bill-anambra-assembly-backs/

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By Esther Onyegbula, LAGOS—Doctors are currently battling to save the life of 16-year-old Bolaji Kalejaye, who was hit by a stray bullet during the recent Mile 12 crisis. It was gathered that Bolaji was on his way home from where he went to write JAMB examination when he was hit by a stray bullet, which led to his intestines coming out. According to a family member, who spoke to Vanguard, “Bolaji was on his way home after writing Jamb, when the incident happened. “With the little strength left, he rushed to a police station, where he was chased away by the officers on duty. Can you imagine how insensitive the Nigerian police can be? “He fell along the road. If not for a neighbour who saw him lying helplessly on the road and then informed his parents, only God knows what would have happened. “Immediately his parents were alerted, they rushed him to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. “Bolaji, who scored 250 point in the exam, had dreams to study medicine. But his dream has temporary come to a halt.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/ketu-riots-boy-16-hit-by-stray-bullet-cries-for-help/

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Building & Properties Ota-Agbara axis: Finally, the goose that lays the golden egg gets attention Last Thursday, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, kicked off the reconstruction of Atan-Lusada-Agbara road abandoned by previous administrations and inaugurated the 10.25km Lusada-Igbesa road, reports OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE. There is a link between infrastructure development and economic prosperity because it attracts businesses and lifts the public out of poverty. Commuting from Ota to Agbara is an ordeal as a result of the dilapidated condition of the road. It becomes tortuous from Atan to Lusada. Don’t forget that the stretch is home to three private universities – Bells University of Technology, Covenant University and Crawford University – that should attract development but it didn’t happen until recently with the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun. A tour of the axis showed manufacturing firms that closed their operations with gates and warehouses padlocked, filling stations that are out of use as a result of low traffic on the route. It is a common sight to see tankers and trailers upturn at will, few commercial vehicles that ply the road carry excess passengers and charge exorbitant fees to make up for delays and longer travel time, wear and tear on their vehicles and the resultant high mortality of their vehicles. The road is lonely and the commonest means of transportation are the motor bikes popularly known as Okada. Before this reporter undertook the journey, she was advised by a colleague that to avoid delays as a result of the bad state of the road, she should board a bike but with a proviso that she must have a spare dress and a scarf because of the dusty nature of the road. Now, thankfully in 15 months that would be history. Noteworthy, and regrettably, so that several estates that were at various levels of completion were abandoned and several of those real estate companies folded. Little wonder the flagoff and inauguration were like a carnival as people trooped out and greatful that the administration in Ogun State has given reasons to have a new lease of life. A guide and a resident in Lusada said land speculators had returned. He confided in this reporter that he bought his plot of land for N120,000 several years ago, but was surprised that the same plot is sold now for N600,000 because people saw construction ongoing. He lamented the deprivation they had suffered for years and pleaded with the governor to ensure the completion of the all important road. Prince Abiodun said the dual event was a symbolic demonstration of his administration’s commitment to the infrastructural development of all parts of the state. Commending the establishment of the Free Trade Zones (FTZs) in Ogun State by former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, he said the establishment of FTZs was a veritable platform to help boost development, adding that its benefits are not limited to only reducing the fiscal intervention and leveling borders between nations. But also in his words, increases commercial flow; deferral, reduction or duty exemption; improved compliance; development of commerce and industrialisation; inventory tracking; quality control and indefinite storage. He stated that his administration is not unaware of the resultant effect of the Free Trade Zones in terms of employment generation; poverty alleviation, job creation, local patronage, capacity building and perhaps, product varieties, which in the long run, put the state on the global map of trade and investment. He said: “It is noteworthy to mention that this facility has grown beyond a Free Trade Zone to a community in its own class. And as such, a comprehensive development of commerce, processing of goods and manufacturing of varieties of products with the use of local raw materials and inputs have really boosted the economy of our dear State at large.” He, however, lamented the misfortune of the state which though has a Free Trade Zone with great potential, but could not be accessed because of the dearth of infrastructure. According to him, the inauguration of this road is another milestone in the administration’s march towards industrialisation and economic development of the state. He said: “This Lusada-Igbesa Free Trade Zone, on its own, is a practical demonstration of our administration’s wholesome infrastructural development plan towards improving on our Ease of Doing Business. In addition, we have other ancillary approaches to corroborate our commitment. These are in forms of policy formulation and programmes. For example, in accordance with the vision of our administration, creation of an enabling environment for business through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is of utmost importance. These have necessitated implementation of key fiscal and institutional reforms aimed at driving efficiency and promoting transparency and accountability. “All these are directed towards ensuring that existing businesses continue to thrive and new ones are attracted. Today, we pride ourselves for garnering the third largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigeria the records are there to see.” Furthermore, the governor said the road is a symbolic representation of the positive dividends of his administration’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agenda. He commended the management of the Ogun Guandong Free Trade Zone, Igbega, as well as the entire team of the China Africa Investment for its commitment to the partnership towards creating what he called corporate and individual prosperity for all our citizens. He continued: “No doubt, the construction of 10.25kilo metre Lusada-Igbesa road in partnership with the Ogun Guandong Free Trade Zone, Igbesa, is a commendable project. And, we are happy to have the road commissioned today in view of its benefits for improved investments and individual prosperity of all the people in Igbesa, Lusada and adjoining towns in this area. But, as an adjoining road, it is important to note that the full benefits of this newly constructed road can be realised only when the Atan-Lusada-Agbara road is rehabilitated and reconstructed. That import is not lost on us. We have just performed the ceremony of the turn of sod of the Atan-Lusada-Agbara road. All things being equal, the road will be completed soonest and both the Atan-Lusada-Agbara road and the Lusada-Igbesa Free Trade Zone road will complement each other for the full benefits of our people.” The governor pledged to continue to improve on the several public-private sector partnership programmes to identify funding options for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of major roads in the state. He canvassed the need for the people at this axis to take ownership of the Lusada-Igbesa road. “You are to ensure good maintenance of the road at all times. I also want to assure all our people that no parts of the state will be neglected in our infrastructural development agenda. In Ogun West, there are various road construction and rehabilitation that are on-going and some are nearing completion. These include, but not limited to Imeko-Afon-Agbede-Iwoye Road; Koro Otun–Itele Road, Ado-Odo/Ota; Empire Ground Road, Ilaro and Ota Owode Idiroko Road. Others are Igbesa-Ejira Road; Papalanto-Ilaro Yewa Frontier Hotel Road and Sango-Joju Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway. He called on investors and other players in the private sector to emulate the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, by identifying critical areas of investment that will really touch the socio-economic well-being of our people. He stressed that opportunities still abound in the state for investments in power, technology, industrial components, and exploitation of mineral products, among others. Both events were attended by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo; Chairman, Senate Committee on Works and former governor of Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero; Senator representing Lagos West and Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Olamilekan Adeola; Senator Ayo Akinyelure, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Micheal Nnachi, among dignitaries. While saying the road will be completed in 15 months, the governor said though the road, which is part of the Sokoto-Badagry Expressway, belonged to the Federal Government, his administration decided to embark on the reconstruction of the road to give succour to the residents and industries along the axis. Abiodun, who reiterated that his government would not develop any part of the state at the expense of another, disclosed that over 172 kilometres of road had been constructed, while 120 kilometres had also been rehabilitated across the length and breadth of Ogun State within two years of his administration. The governor assured that all roads leading to industrial areas and farm settlements in the state will be prioritised to boost economic growth and development. He commended the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government for the prompt approval of the request for the transfer of the rehabilitation, reconstruction and maintenance of Atan-Lusada-Agbara road to the state. He, however, urged the residents along the axis to take charge of the project, disclosing that the youth in the area would be gainfully engaged during the construction of the road. “No doubt, today’s twin event of turning of sod of Atan-Lusada-Agbara road and commissioning of the Lusada-Igbesa road is part of our administration’s commitment to provide infrastructure in order to continue to open up our border communities along the axis. “It is, in fact, an assertion of our strategic and deliberate approach to reposition our industrial hubs in our dear state. And, no doubt, Ogun West, especially the Agbara Industrial Estate, which is one of the biggest industrial estates in Nigeria remains key to the development of Ogun State. “In this direction, the completion of Atan-Lusada-Agbara, expected in the next 15 months, will go a long way towards improving the quality of life and advancement of commerce in Ogun West and other industrial hubs in Ogun state. “And, I am very optimistic that, at completion, this Atan-Lusada-Agbara Road will not only improve Ease of Doing Business in this area, but bring a wholesome development to the entire Ogun West District,”Abiodun stated. Senator Aliero assured the state government that the committee would ensure that the reconstruction of Atan-Lusada-Agbara road is included in the 2022 Appropriation Bill. The Senator noted that the Abiodun-led government had thought it wise to reconstruct the Federal Government road because of concern for the people. He described the initiative as a symbol of good governance which must be appreciated, urging the governor to ask for reimbursement from the Federal Government upon completion of the project. “This road is a Federal Government road, because of concern you have for your people you decided to embark on the reconstruction of the road because of its economic value, not only to the state, but to the country. This is what good governance is all about. “I want to urge you to ask for reimbursement from the Federal Government upon the completion of this project. This project is much more important to Ogun State and by extension Nigeria. I appreciate you for this initiative; it is a right step in the right for the benefit of the country. “We’ll give the necessary support to ensure that this project is included in the 2022 budget”, Aliero stated. Adebayo lauded the governor for taking the bold step to rehabilitate the industrial road, assuring that his ministry would continue to collaborate with the state in the areas of trade and investment. Senator Olamilekan Adeola and former senator who represented Ogun West, Akin Odunsi, expressed their delight at the decision to reconstruct the road after years of abandonment.

https://thenationonlineng.net/ota-agbara-axis-finally-the-goose-that-lays-the-golden-egg-gets-attention/

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Ayade pays December salary It’s early Christmas for civil servants in Cross River State as Governor Ben Ayade paid December salary yesterday. Governor Ayade at a retreat for political appointees at the Obudu Ranch Resort gave a hint that the December salary would be paid on the first day of the month. Yesterday, he fulfilled that promise as workers got “alerts” of salary payment from their banks. In May, salaries were paid on the first day to mark Workers’ Day. And last month, salaries were paid on Some workers expressed delight at the early payment of salary ahead of the yuletide, especially as the state got zero allocation from the Federation Account this month. Ayade said on early payment of salary: “Any governor can pay salary on the 25th of every month. For me, that is not what I like because it is not challenging. It is nothing extraordinary.” He urged workers to be prudent on how they spend their salary. He however promised “to be there should you run into any financial difficulty before end of January.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/ayade-pays-december-salary/

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By Udeme Akpan, Energy Editor THE $20 billion Dangote Refinery has started production of diesel and aviation fuel, thus promising to meet the domestic demand in Nigeria. This follows the successful delivery of about six million barrels of crude oil to the 650,000 barrels per day plant in the past few weeks. Meanwhile, the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, elatedly thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support, encouragement, and thoughtful advice towards the actualisation of this project. In a statement obtained by Vanguard, Dangote also thanked the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Nigerians for their support and belief in the historic project. He said: “We thank President Bola Tinubu for his support and for making our dream come true. This production, as witnessed today, would not have been possible without his visionary leadership and prompt attention to detail. His intervention at various stages cleared all impediments thereby accelerating the actualisation of the project. “We also thank the NNPC, NUPRC, and NMDPRA for their support. These organisations have been our dependable partners in this historic journey. We also thank Nigerians for their belief and support in this project. We have started the production of diesel and aviation fuel, and the products will be in the market within this month once we receive regulatory approvals. “This is a big day for Nigeria. We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone. This is an important achievement for our country as it demonstrates our ability to develop and deliver large capital projects. This is a game changer for our country, and I am very fulfilled with the actualisation of this project.” He said: “I must extend our sincere appreciation to our Bankers and financiers, both local and offshore, who demonstrated a great deal of patience, in seeing us through many difficult times. In the same vein, we thank the Government of Lagos State, under the leadership of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who has been incredibly proactive in ensuring that the many challenges we encountered in the course of executing this project were quickly resolved. I thank him immensely. “I also sincerely thank our host communities and their Traditional leaders for their sustained patience, forbearance, and admirable willingness to work with us to find amicable and win-win resolutions to the many issues we have had to deal with as the construction of this huge facility progressed. Our staff have also contributed so immensely to the success of this project. I thank them profusely.” The first crude delivery was done on December 12, 2023, and the 6th cargo was delivered on January 8, 2024. Designed for 100% Nigerian crude with the flexibility to process other crudes, the Refinery can process most African crude grades as well as Middle Eastern Arab Light and even US Light tight oil as well as crude from other countries. Dangote Refinery can meet 100 per cent of Nigeria’s requirement of all refined products, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet, and also has a surplus of each of these products for export. The Refinery was built to take crude through its two SPMs located 25 kilometres from the shore and to discharge petroleum products through three separate SPMs. In addition, the Refinery has the capacity to load 2,900 trucks a day at its truck-loading gantries. Dangote Refinery has a self-sufficient marine facility with the ability to handle the largest vessel globally available. In addition, all products from the refinery will conform to Euro V specifications. The Refinery is designed to comply with US EPA, European emission norms, and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) emission/effluent norms as well as African Refiners and Distribution Association (ARDA) standards. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/01/breaking-20bn-dangote-refinery-commences-production/amp/

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Friday, January 2, 2015 as public holiday to mark Eid el Maloud. The announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, on behalf of the government. In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Makaji Abdulahi, Moro urged Muslim faithful and all Nigerians to pray for the peace and unity of the country. Moro further urged all Nigerians to engage in violent free activities in the run off to the 2015 general elections and to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda to move Nigeria to the next level of development. Moro also wished all Muslim faithful and Nigerians a very peaceful celebration. The Federal Government had earlier declared January 1, 2015 as public holiday to mark the New Year.

http://www.channelstv.com/2014/12/30/fg-declares-friday-january-2-2015-public-holiday/

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Infrasonic language at Lagos coroner’s inquest A POST-GRADUATE student of Explosives and Material Science at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, Mr Biedomo Iguniewei, has testified before Chief Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe’s coroner’s inquest into the Synagogue building collapse deaths of more than 100 religious tourists that the building probably came down because it was attacked by a high-energy infrasonic radiation weapon. Mr Iguniewei, 37, claimed he reached that conclusion based on both his six-year work with the Defence Industries Corporation (DIC) and his apparently unsolicited private but brief investigation into the collapsed building. Until Iguniewei testified about the probable use of this esoteric weapon, it was not clear how many Nigerians, even in the scientific community, had heard of infrasonic radiation or its use as a weapon. Now, whether the coroner likes it or not, he will have to contend with this mystifying theory of low intensity sound, hitherto the preserve of science fiction. Postulating confidently before the coroner, Mr Iguniewei said that after studying the damage done to the building, whose foundation pillars were still standing, he had eliminated all other possibilities and concluded that the collapsed Synagogue guest house was fired at by an infrasonic weapon, either from a flying object, presumably the aircraft Synagogue officials claimed hovered over or circled the building, or from stationary location on the ground of indeterminate distance. Infrasound or anything infrasonic, whether of weapon — which are still being researched into or are already in very limited use — or of device, refers to anything that generates low-frequency sound (lower than 20 Hertz) for a variety of purposes. Mr Iguniewei reminds us, naturally, that infrasound cannot be seen or heard, and is different from acoustic or ultrasound. But he also obliquely suggests that weapons are always being produced and the producers are always looking for ways and where to test these weapons. But he is careful to hedge his assertions. Said he: “It is important for this court (the coroner) to be aware of this option (his explanation of the Synagogue building collapse), but why it could have been used here is another matter entirely.” In other words if the motives for the use of infrasound weapon cannot be substantiated, it is no longer the concern of Mr Iguniewei, nor does that fact vitiate his theory. Phew! He does not need to remind us that even before the last rubble fell on the collapsed pile, Synangogue officials had suggested that the collapse was probably the handiwork of terrorists who had threatened to hit the church, perhaps a vague reference to Boko Haram. It is remarkable how a rather easy matter to deal with, such as investigating the reasons for the building collapse and the unnatural deaths of tourists, should elicit the kind of confusion and complexities that have enveloped it. Leader of the Synagogue church himself has pointedly refused to appear before the coroner, for it is almost certain he will be embarrassed once he is put on the witness stand. And for a tragedy that involves the death of about 115 people, most of them South Africans, it is curious how Nigeria, in the name of due process, is allowing legal and bureaucratic fog to confuse everyone and diminish the impact of the lives lost. Worse, now we are being entertained by highfalutin theories of exotic James Bond weapons, the kind that the United States would have liked to use, if it had them, on ISIS buildings in Raqqa, Mosul, Sanjar and elsewhere in Syria and Iraq. But assuming such a weapon as described by the highly imaginative researcher, Mr Iguniewei, existed in Nigeria, why of all places would the authorities, in a government that courts religious groups madly, want to deploy it against the Synagogue Church of All Nations? Mr Iguniewei refuses to be drawn into that quicksand. He has thrown us a hard bone; he leaves us to determine whether our dentition can cope. Perhaps in coming to his conclusions, the smart Chief Magistrate Komolafe will doubtless put the evidence together and weigh them against all possible motives. He will also determine whether Nigeria possesses a craft that can deliver the esoteric infrasound weapon referred to by Mr Iguniewei. If his answer is yes, let him praise Mr Iguniewei for helping the coroner to come to an astounding decision. But if his answer is no, let him reserve very harsh words for the weapons researcher, who for one frightful moment, nearly made the militarily more powerful and developed industrialised West green with envy.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/infrasonic-language-lagos-coroners-inquest/

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By Harris-Okon Emmanuel UYO- Akwa Ibom State Government has cleared the air on its award of contracts, saying that the processes are in tandem with the international best practices. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Charles Udoh, made the disclosure against the backdrop of allegations that the state government contract award was shrouded in secrecy and not through competitive bidding. Udoh said: ‘’our award of contract follows due diligence, due process and international best practices. That is why we have a Special Adviser on Due Process and that tells you how serious this government takes the issue of transparency. We also have a Special Adviser on Direct Foreign Investment and we publish our annual report detailing how much we spend on a given project and that is a pointer to the fact that this government is transparent and accountable. ‘’There is no one way in awarding contracts. The most important thing in awarding contract is that you follow international best practices.’’ On why the state government does not publicize the contract sum, the Commissioner said: ‘’There are no standard costs because construction of roads varies from size to size. The road you construct in Mbo cannot be the same amount with the one you construct in Uyo because of their peculiar terrain. ‘’The annual report is a clear indicator how we spend Akwa Ibom money. There is no hidden agenda. And how many states in Nigeria publicize theirs? So, Akwa Ibom is very transparent and this is why we publish our annual report with audited financial statements for every year.’’ Udoh maintained that the roads constructed by the government were built to international standard and specification even as he allegedly accused the federal government of not building a single road in the state despite the fact that the state produces the highest oil quantum to the nation coffers. The Commissioner affirmed that the state government takes into consideration the economic value when building roads. ‘’The governor is transforming the state in a sustainable manner beyond political line. And without blowing our own trumpet, Governor Udom Emmanuel is celebrated outside the state and Nigeria. The federal government found him fit to be given an Integrity award and Akwa Ibom was only the state invested to speak at an investment in 2018 in London’’, he said. He, however appealed to the federal government to step up work on the portion of Itu-Calabar ravaged by gully erosion, otherwise the menace would cut off Akwa Ibom state. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/06/contracts-awards-pass-due-process-says-ibom-govt/

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As strike stalls resumption of varsities By Adesina Wahab The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said it will soon expose those feeding fat on the adoption of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS, by the Federal Government as its payment platform. This is just as the union alleged that some people in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation are subverting its efforts to reach an understanding with the Federal Government on the controversial payment system. The National President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, stated this on Sunday in an interview with Vanguard. Ogunyemi, who was reacting to a memo from the office of the AGF that any federal worker not yet captured on the IPPIS platform would not be paid salary as from November this year, noted that such a memo was not binding on his members. “All the agreements we have been having since 1992 with the government have always been having the provision that circulars emanating from the civil service which don’t have origin in collective bargaining with the government won’t be binding on us. “Circulars that will be binding on us are those coming out of our negotiation with the government like what we had in autonomy for university, retirement age and others. They can be respected because they are products of collective bargaining,” he said. On why the union would not accept IPPIS, the ASUU boss explained that there was a meeting with the government where it was agreed that if ASUU could develop a better alternative to IPPIS, such an alternative would be adopted. “Based on that, our members started work on the University Transparency and Accountability System, UTAS, and in the presence of the Minister, the Permanent Secretary and the leadership of the National Universities Commission, NUC, we demonstrated its use. “IPPIS was not part of the reasons we went on strike early March this year. Now, it is clear that some elements who are benefiting from it and who do not want a better platform, brought IPPIS matter up and we are going to expose them soon. Now, our members are being owed between three and eight months salaries. We know some people deliberately withheld the salaries. Nigerians should ask them why they are doing that,” he stated. Meanwhile, feelers from federal universities in some parts of the country indicate that government’s directive that schools should start resuming from Monday, October 12, may not hold water. This is because the ongoing strike by ASUU and the 14 days warning strike by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union. NASU, may stall that.Ogunyemi, while commenting on the development, urged Nigerians to understand what his union is fighting for. “I have two children in public universities and so I am affected too. However, what we want is that our children should have access to sound and quality education. We don’t want what has been done to public primary and secondary schools to happen to our universities. Our products must be able to compete favourably in the global market,” he said. Even when universities eventually resume, some may scrap one academic session. For instance, first year students of the University of Ibadan admitted for the 2019/2020 session are yet to begin classes before schools were closed due to the outbreak of Coronavirus disease in the country. Those to be admitted for 2020/2021 session are waiting in the wings for their admission. In a related development, some Federal Polytechnics may open soon but strike notice by teaching and non-teaching staff may later be a hindrance. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/10/we-will-soon-expose-those-feeding-fat-on-ippis-says-ASUU/

Education

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday it has become aware of products being sold online that fraudulently claim to prevent or treat Ebola. The FDA’s warning comes on the heels of comments by Nigeria’s top health official, Onyebuchi Chukwu, who reportedly said earlier Thursday that eight Ebola patients in Lagos will receive an experimental treatment called nano-silver. Erica Jefferson, a spokeswoman for the FDA, said she could not provide any information about the product referenced by the Nigerians. The FDA did not specify any products in its warning. Silver has been used as an antibacterial for centuries. Tiny silver particles known as nano-silver have controversially been incorporated into a variety of consumer products such as socks and bedding to help block odors caused by bacteria and mold. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers nano-silver a pesticide. Manufacturers of products that contain it must register them with the agency. Nano-silver is also sometimes sold online as a dietary supplement even though Danish researchers found in a recent study that nano-silver can penetrate and damage cells. The FDA regulates dietary supplements and said in its statement that “by law, dietary supplements cannot claim to prevent or cure disease.” The agency said it had received consumer complaints about the Ebola claims. “Individuals promoting these unapproved and fraudulent products must take immediate action to correct or remove these claims or face potential FDA action,” the agency said. The Ebola outbreak ravaging West Africa has claimed 1,069 lives so far. Most have been in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Nigeria has confirmed 10 cases of the disease and four deaths. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/ebola-nano-silve-pesticide-says-us-fda

Politics

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By Biodun Busari A talented Nigerian artiste, Olaolu Akeredolu-Ale, has designed the 2024 Emirates FA Cup trophy which final comes up this Saturday. The 23-year-old British-Nigerian, popularly known as Olaolu Slawn was approached by the English Football Association to design a one-off special trophy after BRIT awards. He designed the trophy alongside Thomas Lyte. This was first disclosed by @whatsonshuffle via X writing, “After previous endeavors with the BRITs Awards, Slawn has been commissioned to create the design for the 2024 FA Cup Trophy.” Olaolu Slawn’s video of the making of the FA Cup trophy was also posted. Confirming the project on Monday via his Instagram handle, the Lagos-born designer wrote, “Biggest thing I’ve done yet. My tribute to the FA Cup trophy. Slawn and @ThomasLyte. Thank you @EmiratesFACup. Amen.” The Emirates FA Cup reacted, “Can’t wait to see your tribute unveiled on Monday.” Most of Slawn’s works include spray paint, large-scale pop art canvases, graffiti, caricatures and murals. In 2023, he became the youngest person to design the Britannia statuette for the annual BRIT awards. His latest work, the FA Cup trophy would be lifted by either side of the Manchester clubs in a derby final at Wembley Stadium, on Saturday, May 25, 2024. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester were crowned the EPL Champions of Saturday, and look forward to getting a better chance of their bitter rivals to do double. Manchester United, managed by Dutch Erik ten Hag, are desirous of the England’s oldest cup to wrap up the season with a silverware and book a place for Europa League next season. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/05/23-year-old-england-based-nigerian-artiste-designs-2024-fa-cup-trophy/

Sports

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A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has declared the disputed National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, as a liar and a curse to PDP as a party. Fani-Kayode said this in reaction to a statement credited to Sheriff that he begged the former Borno State Governor after declaring him as the face of Boko Haram. Sheriff had on a Channels TV programme alleged that Fani-Kayode had begged him after the statement. But Fani-Kayode in a statement sent to Vanguard yesterday described Sheriff as a liar. He said he never begged him over the issue as claimed on the television programme. Rather, he said he remains happy that he was one of those who saw Sheriff for who he was and quickly opposed his leadership of the PDP. Fani-Kayode, who was the spokesperson of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation for the 2015 general election, wrote in the two part email to The Eagle Online: “Lying Ali Modu Sheriff told Channels TV that I sent people to beg him for claiming that he was Boko Haram. “These are the lies of a desperate and drowning man. “He came to destroy the PDP and if we did not rise up against him and kick him out when we did he would have succeeded in his mission. “I am proud to have been the first to see him for what he is and to publicly blow the whistle on him. “I was one of those that led the rebellion against him and orchestrated the campaign to push him out and dump him as the National Chairman of our party and many have thanked me for that including some of those that brought him in the first place and attempted to impose him on us. “The man is of the devil and no-one should believe a word that comes out of his mouth or take him seriously. “He is a curse to the PDP and the sooner he is kicked out of the party the better it is for us all. “Lying Ali Modu Sheriff has changed political parties no less than five times in the last few years. “Each time he goes to a new party that is not in power at the center he assumes the role of a government mole and spy and tries to destroy it from within on behalf of the government of the day. “That is his modus operandi. “On return he gets protection from the state for all the many atrocities he has committed over the years. “He has betrayed everyone and every political party he has ever worked with or for. “Go and ask around. “We used him to spy on and destroy the APP when Obasanjo was in power and now Buhari is using him to destroy the PDP. “Luckily he has failed because 99 per cent of PDP members have rejected him and now he is on his own. “He failed in his evil mission and now he is making noise like a chicken or snake whose head has been cut off. “Unlike him I am consistent in my views and I am as constant as the northern star. “It is a matter of good breeding. “With me you will always know where you stand and I will always speak my mind no matter whose ox is gored. “He is the opposite. “He pretends to be a friend and a loyalist when his real plan is to stab you in the back and kill you on the night.He does not have the courage to be loyal to any cause, any person or any political party. “He is more of a gangster than a politician and everyone knows it.He comes into another man’s house or political party and tries to pull it down by deceit and guile. “He is a vessel of destruction.That is the man who some misguided people believe can be trusted. “He was in APP, then ANPP, then APC and now he is in PDP all in a matter of a few years and everywhere he goes he fights everyone until they get tired of him and push him out. “If anyone wants to talk about ‘changing goal posts’ it should certainly not be him.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/sheriff-curse-pdp/

Politics

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APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole •Party faithful hail direct primaries By Simon Ebegbulem, Abuja The primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may have come and gone but several positives to cherish in the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. For the first time in the history of the party, even governors and leaders, who had called the shots over the years, were panicking with the mode of primaries adopted by the NWC. The NWC had canvassed for direct primaries across board but that pitched the APC National Chairman against some governors who saw that as an attempt to stop them from imposing their preferred candidates as governors and National Assembly members. The governors kicked and even plotted to get some non- NWC members to pass a vote of no confidence on the NWC, but the plot failed after President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the leader of the party, backed Oshiomhole’s direct primaries mode and other reforms embarked upon by the party leadership. Oshiomhole insisted on direct primaries to ensure that the party is returned to the people after the former NWC, led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, handed over the party to governors. That action polarized the party in almost all the states where the governors battled members of the National Assembly or the governors moved against their god fathers. Oshiomhole inherited a divided party but he promised to take up the challenge which he has done so far. As a matter of fact, Senator Shehu Sani pointed out, in an interview, that Oshiomhole inherited a time bomb as a party and could explode at any time. And as predicted, members started defecting shortly after Oshiomhole assumed office in June 2018. Party leaders, such as Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, left the party. And if not for the frantic efforts made by Oshiomhole on assumption of office to persuade aggrieved party members to remain in the party while he looked into their complaints, Saraki would have left with about 30 APC senators. Due to what the party experienced in the hands of some of these politicians, Oshiomhole vowed to ensure that his NWC will use the primaries of the APC to correct the wrongs of the past. While inaugurating members of the National Assembly Primaries Committee, the party Chair had said: “With what has happened to us recently, people used our platform to rise to certain positions such as the Senate presidency and, due to their personal ambition, they betrayed the party. That will never happen again. We will now ensure that we don’t give out tickets to bread and butter politicians or politicians who are not loyal to the party but only loyal to their personal ambitions. Nobody will get APC ticket by accident any more, we will ensure that whoever is given our ticket merited it and must have worked for it and he or she is prepared for the job ahead”. And after victories in both the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, which have made the South-West a complete enclave of the APC, Oshiomhole vowed to ensure that the party is rebranded in a manner that it will again be embraced by all Nigerians. The direct primary mode was tested in Bauchi senatorial bye election and it worked. It was successful also in Osun,. Consequently, Buhari and Oshiomhole believed it was the way to go. The APC then conducted direct primaries in 20 states and the FCT to choose its candidates for the 2019 polls while indirect primaries were conducted in 18 states. Understandably, some of the governors were not comfortable with the decision to adopt the direct primaries mode. But Oshiomhole pushed, stressing the need to allow the people vote candidates of their choice. The governors preferred indirect primaries to enable them put candidates of their choice but Oshiomhole insisted that that system is making the party far from the people. Besides, he needed to protect the National Assembly members who are at war with their governors. What actually played out in the just concluded APC primaries was that while Oshiomhole made efforts to protect the APC-led Federal Government under Buhari from the Saraki-led Senate and Dogara-led House of Representatives by ensuring that majority of the APC senators who are popular in their areas are returned, the governors wanted to protect their personal interests. The situation led to the rancorous primaries held in Imo, Ogun and Zamfara states. It was difficult in states where governors are completing their second term but nursing ambitions to go to the Senate. It is even more complicated when governors are deposing sitting senators which is not in tandem with the promise made by Oshiomhole to protect the senators who stood behind the party in the battle with Saraki. Oshiomhole held several meetings with the concerned governors to allow senators return, fearing that refusing them ticket will give the Senate President more leverage to continue to frustrate the laudable programmes of the Buhari administration. However, despite the shortcomings in some states, the direct primary mode can be said to have succeeded to a large extent. For the first time, majority of the members of the party came out in large numbers to nominate those who will represent them. The exercise has received accolades across the nation irrespective of the few skirmishes witnessed in some states. Some mischief makers have continued to organize protests in order to create the impression that the primaries were not successful. But such plots have continued to fail because majority of party faithful have continued to embrace the ongoing reforms piloted by Oshiomhole in the APC. The situation is similar to how the war against corruption embarked upon by the Buhari administration is fighting back. Oshiomhole came up with several reforms which include handing over the party to the masses. This became evident during the primaries, leading to a situation where political leaders, governors lost hold of the political machinery in their states. Serving Ministers were disqualified from contesting in the primaries due to one reason or the other. For most people it is strange but those who know Oshiomhole with the way he killed the politics of god fatherism in Edo State, while he was governor, know that he pursues his aims and objectives ruthlessly without fear or favour. The National Chairman had always stressed the need for political leaders in the APC to operate an all-inclusive party rather than that of isolation. His reforms has pitched him against some powerful people and they are fighting back. Mischief makers have continued to blackmail him but their plots will always hit the rock. However, Oshiomhole has remained resilient, dogged and never to be intimidated. Despite what his adversaries are saying, direct primaries have taught leaders of the party the need to be closer to the grassroot and, according to Oshiomhole, who predicted victory for the APC come 2019, “the journey for 2019 has just begun and, while the opposition PDP is busy dishing out false information to the public and raising false alarm, we have started mobilizing our members across the nation for the 2019 elections”. He added: “If you look at the way our people came out during the party primaries to vote for candidates of their choice, in a very democratic manner that is strange to PDP, you will know that 2019 is over for the PDP. I am very satisfied with the primaries but as you know nothing is perfect in life but I will say we achieved substantial success and this is the first time we as a party is adopting this mode of primaries. It looked difficult initially but at the end it came out well. Some persons may not be happy but many are satisfied with the outcome. We will take this to the next step and deliver all our candidates including our President, Muhammadu Buhari and we will ensure we maintain our majority in the National Assembly”. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/apc-primaries-how-oshiomholes-doggedness-to-protect-buhari-in-nass-pitted-him-against-govs/

Politics

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By PETER DURU In a bid to test the potency of his newly acquired bullet proof ‘juju’, a man, Ornguga Adega, of Agbatse village in Kwande local government area of Benue State, shot his only son dead while conducting a gunshot test on the boy. Sunday Vanguard gathered that the suspect, who was immediately apprehended by men of the Benue State Police Command, is currently facing trial at a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court. According to the First Information Report, FIR, by the police, the suspect and father of the ten- year- old had, in August 2012, bought some charm from a native doctor with the belief that it was potent enough to prevent the penetration of bullets into his body. He was said to have rubbed his ‘bullet proof’ cream on the body of his son in order to verify its efficacy and potency in line with the instructions of the native doctor from whom he bought the charm. According to the FIR, Adega fired a shot with his single barrel gun on the right leg of his son following which the bullet shattered the leg and also penetrated through to the left leg. The boy was said to have bled profusely but before his shocked and devastated father could get proper medical attention for him, the little boy bled to death. When the case came up at the Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court, police prosecutor, Inspector Gabriel Egbonyi, said the accused was arrested at the process of investigating the cause of death of the young boy. Egbonyi further told the court that the accused confessed to committing the crime and also acknowledged responsibility for the unfortunate incident which prompted further police investigation into the matter. Meanwhile no plea was taken for want of jurisdiction. However the prosecution said investigation was still in progress in the matter and asked for another date for hearing. The Chief Magistrate, Mr Dan Ogoh, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to 12 September. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/man-shoots-son-dead-in-failed-bullet-proof-charm-test-2/

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President Buhari hosts to Dinner APC Party Chieftains in State House •Our train has left APC station for good, says R-APC •Baraje: We’ll leave APC with or without Saraki •PDP looking for life after death, leopard can’t change its spots —APC By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Henry Umoru, Demola Akinyemi & Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA—The Presidency, working in concert with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has moved to break the ranks of the Reformed All Progressives Congress, R-APC. The move, coming in the form of promises of reconciliation and re-election to disaffected stalwarts of the group, are, however, strongly rebuffed by the R-APC which yesterday cautioned its members across the country not to be swayed by the moves, affirming that the train had left the station. Reflective of that, loyalists of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in Kwara State warned him yesterday that they would not remain in the APC with him in the face of what they claimed as their horrid experiences in the party. Also yesterday, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Comrade Timi Frank, said the move would not stop the defection of five state governors, 30 serving senators and 135 members of the House of Representatives who have reportedly made up their minds to dump APC in the coming days. The mainstream APC was, however, quick to link the mutterings to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which it yesterday accused of looking for life after death. APC spokesman, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari and Oshiomhole to reconcile aggrieved party members were the hallmark of leadership and responsibility. The move to stop the R-APC loyalists from defecting, it was gathered, was mainly being spearheaded by Oshiomhole who had been meeting with leaders of the R-APC in their homes in Abuja. Oshiomhole, according to one associate, had been able to win back the support of some federal legislators with the promise of reconciling them with their governors, who many of the legislators were peeved with. One associate of Oshiomhole said yesterday that some of the R-APC leaders had become confused as to which way to go, given their earlier beef with the President and the party. “With the moves of Adams, some of them are having a rethink, and I can tell you that some of them have become confused, ”an associate of the national chairman privy to the move, told Vanguard yesterday. However, R-APC stalwarts were yesterday dismissive of the move, saying they doubted the possibility of presidency officials having the same sincerity with Oshiomhole in his reconciliation efforts. We’ve left APC for good — R-APC The reconciliation efforts were, indeed, dismissed by the spokesman of the R-APC, Prince Kassim Afegbua, yesterday in a terse statement in which he said the train had left the station and that the APC would not change its colours. Pouring scorn on the reconciliation efforts, in the face of the troubles Saraki was made to go through, including linkage to the Offa armed robbery incident, trials for alleged forgery and false assets declaration, among others, the R-APC said: “It is interesting to suddenly see Mr. President holding meetings with the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, reportedly promising mouth-watering offers. ‘’The same leader who was ridiculed, scandalized, demonized, criminalized and called all sorts of names by agents of the Presidency just to give the Senate President a bad name in order to hang him. ‘’As soon as the Supreme Court gave a resounding verdict on the trumped-up and frivolous charges against the Senate President, Mr. President suddenly felt a need to praise the judiciary for standing on its own. Power, as they truly say, must be a crazy aphrodisiac. “Those who said they won’t lose sleep over the R-APC, have become sleepless in the last two weeks. The President, who has held himself in the inner sanctuary of the Presidential Villa, is all of a sudden, opening his doors to one meeting or the other all in the name of re-election. “Just to make the point that it is too late in the day. The train has left the station. Leopards cannot change their spots, no matter how much one tries to tame them. ‘’We enjoin all our members to remain steadfast and resolute in defending their rights and taking the appropriate action in defence of democracy. “This democracy must survive on ethical grounds and not on lawlessness and exclusion. It must provide a level playing ground for all participants. Those who prevented some persons from visiting their states in the name of politics have suddenly realised that they need the services and support of those persons. “They are now pleading, ready to submit to all demands. That won’t work because examples have shown that political agreements are often observed in the breach. “This is to inform our members nation-wide that we are still maintaining our stand against the APC and no amount of carrots, intimidation, and harassment can dissuade us in our shared commitment to rescue this democracy.” Further dashing hopes for reconciliation, the Chairman of the New Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, bloc in the APC, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, vowed yesterday that members of the APC and supporters of Saraki in Kwara State have vowed not to return to the party, irrespective of the juicy dangles being offered them. Expressing shock at the desperation of the Presidency and the party in an interview in Ilorin, he said: “The followers of the Senate President particularly from Kwara State and across the country have already resolved to leave the APC with or without Saraki, so it is now left for the Senate President to take a decision more so that he is an experienced and seasoned politician. “As far as I know, there is no juicy position that can replace the kind of embarrassment, debasement, and horrifying experiences many of us have suffered and gone through in the hands of some few mischievous members of the APC, it’s quite unfortunate,” he added . Baraje disclosed that as far as he and his supporters and followers are concerned, they have taken a decision and they are about to reach the final stage of such a decision. Baraje stressed: “If the Senate President feels it is fit for him to stay back, all is well and good. But the Senate President as a leader also has his supporters and followers, and if they have decided to leave the party, I don’t know what he (Saraki) will still be doing behind. Why we left — Timi Frank The momentum against the APC was further echoed by Frank, a former deputy national publicity secretary of the APC who said that as many as five governors, 30 senators and more than 100 members of the House of Representatives would leave the APC. He chastised the ruling party for making offers to the members of the R-APC to return. “In a matter of days, Nigerians will have cause to celebrate our final exit from the party of killings, poverty, and propaganda to join hands with real progressive groups in the country. “The same people that could not respect the agreement we had in the last three years are now begging, promising heaven and earth to our leaders. In their deception, they have failed to realize that Nigerians now know their true colours. Their much talked about integrity is a delusion, they are wolves in sheep clothing. “Our plan to reject them and their party is not for personal gain. It is primarily to team up with real progressive groups to rescue the country from the current handlers who rejoice when Nigerians are killed in their numbers, who value lives of cows than Nigerians and religiously persecute opposition members in the name of fighting corruption. “In the 2019 general elections, Nigerians have come to know that a vote for the APC will mean a vote for hardship, oppression, insecurity, and unemployment. We are teaming up to ensure an end to visionless leadership of the current APC government, and because our leaders in R-APC are men and women of honour, there is no going back in our plan to join forces in rescuing Nigeria from the incompetent APC leadership.” While calling on the leaders of R-APC not to give in to pressure, the Bayelsa-born politician warned that supporting re-election bid of President Buhari is as good as giving consent to be jailed in nearest future. The mainstream APC, speaking through its spokesman, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi in a statement yesterday, however, lampooned the PDP saying: “If PDP is not alleging wild conspiracies, they are threatening to boycott elections or announcing fake defections. What is clear with all these is that no matter how long a leopard lives, it cannot change its spots. “What President Muhammadu Buhari and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of our Party are doing, persuading every aggrieved member not to leave the Party, is what responsible and sensible party leaders would do. Party politics is a game of numbers. And that game is addition. If the PDP had the same presence of mind in 2015, perhaps the calamity that befell them would have been averted.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/presidency-apc-move-to-break-r-apcs-ranks/

Politics

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‘PDP defectors are failed politicians’ Bayelsa State Government on Thursday described persons dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressive Congress (APC) ahead of the December 5 governorship election in the state as tested and failed politicians. The Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Mrs. Ebizi Brown, who expressed government’s position, said the ongoing defections of politicians would not affect the fortunes of the PDP in the election. She said: “On the defection of members from the PDP, I want to say that their defections won’t make any impact. The PDP is waxing stronger by the day despite their exit. “Many of those who have become media tigers, were those who have been tested and failed. We are not perturbed by their antics as they are not forces to reckon with. When they were given opportunities to serve, they failed. Bayelsans at the grassroots know them. They also know that PDP is their party and it cares for them.” She called on indigenes of the state to support the second term aspiration of Governor Seriake Dickson to enable him to complete the ongoing projects in the state. Brown, who was a former Director-General of the Bayelsa State Tourism Development Board, insisted that the projects which were over 80 per cent completion would be abandoned if Dickson fails to win the election. She added that Dickson completely rebranded the state with his giant strides in roads construction, infrastructural development, construction of numerous buildings, construction of schools and capacity building, among others.

http://thenationonlineng.net/pdp-defectors-are-failed-politicians/

Politics

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VATICAN CITY (AFP) – Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday appealed for “an end to all violence” in Nigeria after deadly attacks by Islamists claimed at least 150 lives in the north of the country. The attacks Friday targeted Christian churches as well as police stations and an army base in Damaturu and Maiduguri and two small towns. “I follow with apprehension the tragic events reported in recent days in Nigeria,” the pope said after his weekly Angelus prayer. “While I pray for the victims, I ask for an end to all violence, which does not resolve problems but increases them, sowing hatred and divisions, even among the faithful,” the pontiff added. The attacks, two days ahead of Sunday’s Muslim feast of Eid el-Adha, were among the deadliest ever carried out by Boko Haram, an Islamist sect based in the north of Africa’s most populous country. Nigeria’s northern region is predominantly Muslim, with pockets of Christians. Six churches were bombed in addition to a police station in a mainly Christian neighbourhood of Damaturu called Jerusalem, according to residents. Boko Haram, whose name means “Western Education Is Sin” in the regional Hausa language, has targeted police and military, community and religious leaders, as well as politicians in past attacks. The sect, which wants to see the establishment of an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, staged an uprising which was brutally put down by security forces in 2009. It claimed responsibility for the August 26 suicide bombing at the United Nations’ headquarters in the capital Abuja that killed 24. Nigeria’s more than 160 million people are divided almost in half between Muslims and Christians, living roughly in the north and south of the country respectively. Regions where they overlap are prey to frequent tensions. Islamic Sharia law was reintroduced to 12 northern Nigerian states in 2000. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/11/pope-urges-end-to-all-violence-in-nigeria/

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Omeiza Ajayi, Abuja Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has urged the National Defence College, Abuja to include senior officers from the Federal Fire Service FFS in its training programme. Media Adviser to the minister, Sola Fasure said Aregbesola gave the charge while receiving the management of the College on Friday in Abuja. “Kindly include officers of the Federal Fire Service FFS in your training. They play a critical role in securing lives and property. Though we haven’t started having huge, wildfires as they do in the US, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey amongst others, however, the effect of climate change is beginning to catch up with us. READ ALSO:Petrol tanker ignites fire outbreak in Anambra “We must prepare our officers for the task ahead. It is only an unwise fellow who would wait to learn from his own experience and not from the experiences of others. Let us join hands in training and building the capacity of our officers to not only acquire the capacity to physically fight wildfires, but to have the managerial know-how on resource management and effective collaboration with other security agencies, like the Nigeria Air Force, who have the capacity – if well equipped – to fight fire with water and suppressant through aerial bombardment,” the Minister noted. The interior minister also urged security agencies in the country to cooperate and work with one another in other to promote peace and ensure adequate security for all Nigerians. “I recognize the role of the Nigerian Armed Forces in promoting peace and ensuring adequate security for all Nigerians. However, we must ensure all security agencies in the country which include all branches of the Nigeria Military, the Nigeria Police Force and other Paramilitary Security Agencies in the country, must cooperate and see themselves as one and avoid inter-agency rivalry. “I salute your professionalism and excellence in the discharge of your duties to the nation and keeping Nigeria one,” the minister stated. The Minister promised to make himself available as a resource person for the college anytime he is called upon. “As per your request, communicate with my office, anytime you want me to serve as a resource person, I will make myself available for service”. Earlier, the Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral Muritala Bashir, stated that the courtesy visit was necessitated by the need to collaborate with the Ministry of Interior, especially for the fact that it supervises critical Paramilitary Agencies in Nigeria. “We acknowledge and recognize the good works of the Ministry you are leading and the agencies under you have been doing in securing the country. “I took over the office three weeks ago and I know immediately that your ministry is one of the most critical I must engage and brief on our activities. Our aim is to prepare senior officers for operational and strategic leadership in their various agencies of government. “At the moment, we have three officers selected from the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Immigration Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, out of the over 200 participants selected from 16 countries participating in Course 30,” Rear Admiral Bashir noted. In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Shuaibu Belgore intimated the delegation of the ministry’s cooperation in achieving its aims and objectives. Others at the event included Air Vice Marshal BLP Keenam, Brig. General EF Oyinlola, Commander CF Umar, Lt. Commander LY Maitama, Sub. Lt. SA Shuwa, directors in the ministry and representatives of the paramilitary agencies in the ministry among others. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/02/couple-arrested-with-human-parts-in-ogun-2/

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Niger Delta will suffer for Jonathan’s actions – Obasanjo Former president Olusegun Obasanjo has said the Niger Delta region will suffer for the actions and inactions of the immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan, who lost the March 28 presidential election to President Mohammadu Buhari hails from Bayelsa, a state in the Niger Delta. Obasanjo spoke while responding to questions shortly after delivering a convocation lecture at the Benson Idahosa University, Benin City. The ex-president said he couldn’t have helped Jonathan to do his job as Nigeria President after helping him to secure the position. He said, “I became the Head of State because of my performance in the war front. If General Gowon had not sent me to the war front, he would not know whether I could perform or not. He sent me to the war front and because I performed, we both shared the credit. But if I had failed, he would not have shared the condemnation with me. I would have taken that alone. “I believe that the opportunity that afforded itself in 2010 was for somebody from the minority to on his self esteem become the President of Nigeria. We should never lose such opportunity. What he did with that opportunity is entirely up to him. What he did or did not do with it will reflect for a long time on that part of the country. There is no particular person who got there without the people.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/niger-delta-will-suffer-for-jonathans-actions-in-office-obasanjo/

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The General Manager, Air Traffic Control Operations of the Nigerian Air Space Management Agency (NAMA), Mr John Onyegiri, has described the plane that was sited at Dapsey Oil Station in Igando, Lagos on Thursday as a tricycle. According to him, the wingless plane which he also referred to as a “junk plane” was being towed by a van to an unknown destination for “education purposes”. Onyegiri said “you can’t call this one an aircraft anymore; this is like towing a junk”. He further explained that the wings of the plane had to be taken off to ease movement and traffic on the road. He called the plane a “tricycle” after the wings had been removed. “Aircrafts have wings, so to be able to tow it as a junk, they have to take off the wings and it becomes a tricycle. So they hook it up and take it somewhere else for tourism, for education purposes”. He also said the airport is littered with “eyesores” like that that are yet to be removed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/06/14/nama-calls-plane-seen-at-fuel-station-a-tricycle/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

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•As Reps come to the rescue •Airlines to import own fuel; NNPC kicks By Levinus Nwabughiogu, ABUJA Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, has given a graphic picture of how major oil marketers are shortchanging them with the cost of aviation fuel, also known as Jet-A!. It will be recalled that the operators had two months ago, on heels of the astronomical prices of aviation fuel, given a 3-day notice after which they would suspend flight operations in the country, if the price of the product was not reviewed down from N700 per litre. But the House of Representatives via a motion intervened in the matter and later met with stakeholders in the sector, including the Group Managing Director GMD of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, where a truce was eventually reached to sell the fuel at N500 per litre for the period. An agreement was also reached that the operators would be given licences by NNPC to import the fuel directly, especially as the marketers refused to disclose how much they were souring the product, despite pressures from speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and members of the Committee on Aviation. The speaker wanted to know from the independent markers where and how they sourced their products, with a view to ensuring the airlines were not being ripped off but this didn’t work out. Consequently, frustrated members of the committee and other stakeholders at the meeting, including unions in the industry, agreed on the N500 per litre price, which was to be a temporary price structure until the actual cost of the product was ascertained. But two months after, the airline operators last week issued a notice of another flight suspension to which the House leadership again intervened. They had threatened to shut down operations, pending when government addressed the issue of skyrocketting aviation fuel price from N700 per litre. This, of course, did not endure as marketers soon returned to the old price of N700 per litre and in some cases, Between N750 and N800 per litre. The probe of the marketers by the lawmakers was contingent on the protest of the domestic carriers who felt they were being ripped off by the marketers. Reading the resolutions of the meeting that lasted for about four hours on Monday, Gbajabiamila urged the operators to begin the process of getting their own license to import the product. He said: “That we move the language of suspension to canceled. That the issues of shut down has been canceled, based on this meeting. “NNPC and airline operators have both agreed that in the interim of three months, marketers of choice that you are comfortable with and that you know their mark up will not drive you out of business, would be supplied with jet fuel. We talked about N550 or something like that. “The third resolution is that at the mid to long term, in fact right now, you will begin the process of application for your own license to be able to import your own jet fuel. To assist you in your business. “Also tie to the benevolence of the CBN governor that six million litres are available now at N480. You will get allocation for the next three months through the companies you have nominated. “In the process of application for license, midstream should as much as possible grant waivers that would not touch on the security and safety of the process. Committee chairmen on aviation and downstream should follow up.” Earlier in his remarks, the speaker said their intervention was necessary to stop the economy from bleeding. “We are at the precipice today in Nigeria. It is a crucial moment for us. There is a crisis at hand. Shut down of airline operations has the potential of shutting down this government. We cannot sit here as stakeholders and fold our arms and watch this happen. We need to address this matter once and for all,’’ he said. Appearing before the special committee, led by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Monday, the Vice President of AON, Mr. Allen Onyema, who is also chairman of Air Peace, however, said that they were denied the delivery of 25,000 metric tons of fuel approved by President Muhammadu Buhari which was to be sold to them at the landing cost but accused the NNPC and some marketers of ripping them off. Consequently, he said they were asked to nominate 10 marketers they could trust to enable them handle the transactions. Onyeama told the committee of how his association was invited by the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority, NMDRA, to notify them of the President’s gesture. He also said that while he alerted the NNPC GMD, Mele Kyari, informing him of the President’s gesture and their selected marketers, the response he got was not friendly. “We were invited by the Midstream and Downstream Authority and we were told that the President approved 25,000 metric tonnes for us as a palliative to help us. We were very grateful to the president. ‘’It was not free. We were happy. We were told to nominate marketers that would market this product for us. We were told to have a meeting with these marketers. We called all the marketers, we held meeting with them. ‘’We decided the logistics, so they would take their logistical costs and everything and at the end of the day that fuel was getting to them, they told us at N335, so we put everything together and it would be getting to less than N400 for the cost and we said even if they sell to us at N450, it would be okay. “We were told that a week later that the consignment would be arriving Nigeria but the next thing we heard from the marketers was that they had already been given the consignment that we were all jostling for. So we waited, thinking that they would sell as agreed. They never did. “I actually called the MD of NNPC in the presence of our members. We wanted to hear from him. He answered that there was no way they would leave us to get the product directly, that it was dangerous. ‘’But I said no, that the marketers you are going to give are the same marketers that would handle it for us. He said he did not want any crash or anybody adulterating it. I said how could they adulterate it because they are the same marketers. ‘’We are not taking it on our own. Long and short of the story is that this product was not given to us and we noticed that it continued rising and rising,” he said. Also speaking at the forum, President of the Association, Abdulmanaf Yunusa, who’s also the Chairman of Azman Air, corroborated the allegation, saying NNPC denied them the allocation approved by the president. But Kyari, who put up a stout defence for the marketers, said his refusal was hinged on safety issues, stressing that releasing aviation fuel directly to operators, or even marketers was risky. “Mr speaker sir, it is more complex than they say. Somebody must handle aviation fuel. We cannot surrender the safety of Nigerians to just anyone. It is not every marketing company that can handle ATK, including the chairman’s company. ’We cannot give him. He has marketing company. We cannot give ATK to handle. That is why they have to bring the people that we can deal with,” he said. In his presentation, NNPC GMD, Mele Kyari, said it was difficult to have a fixed price of the product, saying “we agreed that we make the marketers sell the product to them at N500 for three days pending the day they would sit down and agree on this pricing formula. ‘’I confirm that between us the and the downstream authority they had sat down and engaged and agreed on a pricing structure. “Needless to say there is no fixed price. This is a deregulated product. So you cannot hold unto any price and indeed what you have seen in the media is N700 reference point. It cannot be a reference point. It depends on the market condition. It can higher than N700 depending on the market. This markets shifts. As we speak it is closely related to the price of crude oil. “There is no way the oil matters, I am speaking for them now, if you own me N1 billion. I would not give you credit. No one would do this. There are limits to credits. It is an understanding customers “It is our role to ensure we intervene. We did. We brought in products so that we can dampen the price. In March and April, we brought in cargo and made it available to the entire industry at N460. there is a build up to that price. When the customer takes marine N435, he has to transport, he has to charter vessel, bring it to his depot, to his furl station and transport it. So there cannot be two same price in Lagos and Maiduguri. “We cannot fix price. We cannot ask for N500. we cannot say it must be below N600 or N700. That is why we insisted they go and have a formula that is transparent that each one of us can see. “The only way we can have fixed price is if we put subsidy on. You can say it can sell for N500 in any circumstance, then somebody has paid for that difference. I am not sure this is what we are doing. “There is an FX constraint. There is limit to what the CBN can provide. We are constrained because we are not able to produce dollar because of teh dearth of oil in the Nigera Delta. This is then reality. So we do not have. That means customers must source for FX from alternative sources”, he said. Similarly, the CBN governor, Emefiele who responded to the an earlier concern of the operators of not accessing foreign exchange, said there was one to sell, adding that it was only when the NNPC exported products that it could get foreign exchange. “The availability of FX is very important and the issue of constraint from FX arising from issues bordering on theft in the Niger Delta is a big issue. It is when NNPC is able to export that dollars can come in. “We do not have FX to sell. It would be difficult for us to grant any concession. It means we would be taking a hit or we would be providing some sort of subsidy for the industry,” he said. It will be recalled that on March 14, 2022, when the first meeting of the stakeholders held with the deputy speaker of the House, Ahmed Idris Wase, presiding, he had lashed out at the Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority, NDMPRA, Ahmed Farouk represented by an Executive Director, Ogbogu Ukoha who said the prices of fuel had been discounted. Wase had asked the regulatory body the current price of the product and why it was so exorbitant but was referred to the marketers who, however, sidestepped the questions and could not give specific answers. Wase had said: “As far as I’m concerned, the basic issues that we left to come back today have not been addressed. First is on the agreement, your resolution, that’s is the basis to proceed on any meeting and I read out what we resolved the other day and that’s why I’m asking you the questions. ‘’ I specifically asked the other person when he said they sell at a loss. I said what was the unit cost at that time that you were selling at loss, so we will now know. And I said here, you are just using semantics and language. ‘’Here, I am after facts. We are on fact-finding, we are not on language here and I want to insist that please let’s be serious. “Like I did mention to him, the House can go further, if you want us to go on expanded investigation, we will do that. As far as I’m concerned, I am not willing to compromise what is in the interest of our own country. “You are supposed to regulate their (oil marketers) activities, are you just giving the licence? What are the minimum requirements; what is expected of that company that you are authorizing them to bring in this product? ‘’ Is it that they have the opportunity and then the leverage to tell you whatever rate they want and it has to stand? No, I don’t think so”. In their remarks at the meeting, the oil marketers, represented by Olumide Adeosun, thanked the House for their intervention. “We are grateful for your intervention. The last thing any marketer wants is to create a saturation where the general public has to pay far beyond what they can afford for any product. ‘’The resolution that we reached today is one that is attainable and we look forward to working with our colleagues in the aviation sector so that we can have an efficient sector for Nigerians”, he said. However, the marketers were absent at Monday meeting. The deputy speaker had remarked that they ought be handy to give some explanations to some issues, expressing displeasure with the GMD for speaking on their behalf. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/05/how-oil-marketersre-ripping-us-off-say-airline-operators/

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The Federal Government has extended the suspension of the new electricity tariff by one week. Prof. James Momoh, Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said this when the ad hoc Technical Committee on Electricity Tariff submitted its interim report at a reconvene bilateral meeting between Federal Government and Organised Labour on Monday in Abuja. The new tariff was earlier suspended for two weeks and ended at midnight on Oct. 11, when the organised labour suspended the planned industrial action over agitation on the hike in electricity tariff on Sept. 28., It would also be recalled that the the committee which was Chaired by Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour is to examine the justifications for the new policy in view of the need for the validation of the basis for the new cost reflective tariff. It was also agreed that while the committee carries the justification that electricity tariff should be reduced for two weeks. Momoh while speaking, said the one week extension new tariff said was to enable the committee to review and work out modalities for the implementation of the agreement reached on the electricity tariffs structure. Sen. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, while reading a resolution reached between the Federal Government, Organised Labour and the Ad Hoc Technical Committee on Electricity Tariff said that adoption of the work plan for effecting the resolutions has been reached. Ngige said the resolutions adopted would be implemented by all stakeholders within the week by Sunday, Oct. 18. According to him, the following amendments to the resolutions were adopted include, phase one immediate reliefs. “Using of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) VAT proceeds to provide relief in electricity tariff. This is to leverage on the VAT from the NESI, the increases experienced by customers due to the transition to the Service Based Tariff will be reduced. “That is Band A – 10 per cert reduction, Band B – 10.5 per cert reduction and Band C – 31 reduction,” he said. He said on the acceleration of National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP). It was adopted that for the distribution of the first one million meters, the Ministry of Power was to liaise with Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA). He added that they are to start work by Oct. 12, to accelerate the roll out of meters with a target of December 2020. The minister, therefore said that the meeting agreed that it would work towards bridging the metering gap. “The Federal Government committed to provide six million meters and NERC is expected to compel the DISCOs to meet the metering needs of the customers,”he said. Ngige also said on the resolution adopted for the Local procurement for Meters for National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) that organised Labour would to work with government to improve and ramp up local production capacity. He also said that the resolution adpoted on salary protection for electricity workers was that NERC should ensure that the personnel costs of electricity workers should be placed on first-line charge on the Primary Collection Account. He added that the process would commence from Monday , Oct. 12. “On the issue of mandatory refund for any over billing during system transition by the DISCOs that NERC should implement immediately within October. ‘While on the freezing of customer band migration during the interim period that the revised NERC order will include specific guidelines on freezing band migration, ” he said. Ngige also noted that the resolutions adopted for Phase two for the extensive review of key sector reforms include that the ad hoc committee would work from Oct. 12 to Dec. 12, to ensure that all outstanding issues are resolved and implemented. He also said the resolution adopted on gas pricing was that the Group Managing Director was co-opted into the Technical Committee to assist with the purpose. He added that on resource capacity, the Managing Director, NEMSA is also co-opted into the Technical Committee to work with NERC on the metering assignments.(NAN) Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/10/fg-extends-suspension-of-new-electricity-tariff-by-1-week/amp/

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…We will not play politics of favouritism, says Obaseki Attempts by the Edo State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs chaired by His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, to resolve the political impasse between Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his predecessor and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), hit the rocks on Wednesday, January 8, with Oshiomhole’s boycott of the Auchi Day celebration. The event was promoted as grounds to broker a peace accord between the two influential sons of the state, with the traditional rulers acting as umpires. The celebration, in its 23rd edition, was themed ‘Our salvation is in the hands of Allah’ and held at the palace of the Otaru of Auchi Kingdom, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State. Weeks before the event in Auchi, which hosted illustrious sons and daughters of the state, eminent traditional rulers, representative of the Oba of Benin, political watchers had predicted that the crisis would be resolved during the celebration as the traditional rulers would deploy their influence and wisdom in getting Governor Obaseki and Comrade Oshiomhole to settle their differences in the interest of the development of the state. In the run-up to the celebration, the Oba of Benin, had announced a fast on January 6, declared by the council to seek the face of God in the lingering crisis and pray for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. However, the absence of Comrade Oshiomhole at the venue, which is few meters away from Iyamho, the APC helmsman’s hometown, punctured the spirited efforts of the traditional rulers to resolve the impasse between the two former allies. READ ALSO: Edo to build Textile Mill — Obaseki Speaking at the event, Governor Obaseki said he will continue to pursue peace as there cannot be meaningful development without peace in the state, stressing, “I am impressed with the celebration, and would ensure its continuity in Auchi.” He assured Edo people that his administration will never play politics of favoritism, but rather focus on developing all parts of the state equally. The governor said the objective of his administration is to pursue policies and programmes that would guarantee a better life for the greatest number of people in the state, noting, “With the limited resources available to us, we have been able to renovate some primary schools and constructed road projects in the locality to improve the lives of the people. We aspire to do more for the people. “We have commissioned the Auchi Fertilizer and Chemical Company, which currently produce 60,000 metrics tones of fertilizer of fertilizer, creating over 500 direct and indirect jobs. I am pleased to inform you that we will commence construction of Igbe, ICE and Mission Roads, which lead to Auchi, among other projects.” The governor said his administration has started pilot programme on education, healthcare, job creation and entrepreneurial initiatives in Benin, promising to expand the programmes to Auchi. “Our priority as an administration is on the youths. We want to give them hope and opportunities for work. As a government, we are following the policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration as we have commenced investment in agriculture; we would expand it significantly this year. “We are investing in poultry and livestock. The first 256,000 birds which the state took possession of six weeks ago and distributed to almost 1000 farmers have done well. We are expecting that this year, Edo will be a hub in poultry production.” The Otaru of Auchi Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III, commended the governor and his entourage for gracing the 23rd edition of the Auchi Annual Day celebration. He called on leaders to reserve time to thank God for what they have achieved. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/01/oshiomhole-boycotts-auchi-day-celebration-scuttles-edo-traditional-councils-effort-to-resolve-political-impasse/amp/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&__twitter_impression=true

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The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the killing of two police officers attached to Mopol 18 by suspected gunmen along Gariki Road in Okigwe area of Imo State. Confirming the unfortunate incident in a statement signed by the command’s spokesman, Henry Okoye said the officers were ambushed in the early hours of Saturday while on patrol duty along old Gariki Road, Okigwe by hoodlums who threw dynamite on the officer’s patrol vehicle and engaged them in a protracted gunfight. He added that in the process, two officers paid the ultimate price while four others survived the attack. According to the police spokesman, on receiving report of the ugly incident, the Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, alongside Commander Mopol 18 and 64, immediately led operatives of the Command’s Special Tactical Unit to the crime scene for on-the-spot assessment. READ ALSO: DHQ Declares IPOB’s Simon Ekpa, 96 Others Wanted He tasked the operatives to go all out in synergy with other security agencies and hunt down the hoodlums responsible for the attack. The CP has also mandated the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Charge of Okigwe, the DPO, and other tactical units deployed in Okigwe to embark on visibility patrol, intelligence-led raids of criminal hideouts, and place watertight security to forestall any future occurrence. While empathizing with the families, friends, and loved ones of the deceased officers, the Commissioner of Police reiterated in strong terms that the Command under his watch would not condone any form of attack on security personnel in the State. He assured the people that the Command would leave no stone unturned in ensuring the perpetrators of this dastardly act are all arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

https://www.channelstv.com/2024/03/23/two-officers-killed-as-gunmen-lay-ambush-for-police-in-imo/

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The Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), Sokoto State Chapter, said on Sunday that stigmatisation was their greatest challenge in the northwestern state. The Coordinator, Malam Hussaini Mohammed, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto. Mohammed said that the development had forced many people living with the virus to hide their identity to avoid being rejected by people in their communities. He recalled that Gov. Aminu Tambuwal promised automatic employment for all people living with HIV with an employable certificate. He, however, noted that after the announcement, less than 10 persons came forward, stressing that those with certificates refused to come forward out of fear of being stigmatised. “I have been living with the virus since 2007, and I want to tell you that our major challenge in Sokoto is stigma, despite the domestication of the Anti-stigma Law by the state government. “We are still being stigmatised by community members, including some government officials. People find it difficult to identify with us or help us, out of fear that they may be seen as carriers of HIV. “Others do not want to even associate with us on the grounds that we will infect them with the virus. I tell you, Sokoto is a difficult place to live for people living with HIV. “But this is our home. We have no were else to go. We will have to deal with it and move on,” he said. The coordinator advised community members and government officials against stigmatising people living with the virus, and described that trend as “unfortunate and dangerous”. According to him, the problem, if not addressed, will consume the entire state someday, warning that infected people will be forced to continue hiding their identity and embark on spreading the virus. “If you keep stigmatising us, we will hide our status and marry your sisters. And what do you expect when an infected widow with children is hungry and suffering from no support? “Of course, in the struggle for survival, she will go into prostitution and in the process spread the virus to others until it eventually gets to those who treat us with hate.” Mohammed said that NEPWHAN had 15 support groups to share experience, increase patients’ knowledge and literacy, and serve as an intervention to address the psycho-social needs of people living with the virus. He added that there were also three community support groups implementing stigma reduction programmes in communities and helping to track and counsel members that were defaulting on treatment. He, however, said that due to lack of support, the groups had not been holding meetings for a very long time, a development he said was counterproductive to ensuring infected people remained in treatment. He called on the state government to increase funding to the state agency for the control of AIDS and ensure timely release of the funds. This, according to him, will enable the agency to help NEPWHAN to conduct support group meetings and provide home-based care services to members voluntarily. The coordinator urged people living with the virus to fight self-stigmatisation and find ways to come to terms with their situation and continue treatment so as to live long and healthy lives. He also advised people to know their status so that they could begin treatment if positive while urging those who tested negative to stay clear of the virus. “Please, we do not want more people to join us because support from international donors is dwindling and there is growing concern that this development will affect the supply of drugs, our lifeline,” he said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/12/stigmatisation-our-greatest-challenge-in-sokoto-hiv-positive-persons/amp/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&__twitter_impression=trueSissy3

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Herdsmen set Ortom’s rice farm ablaze Over 20,000 hectares of rice farm belonging to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom have been set ablaze by suspected herdsmen in Tse-Adorogo, Mbabeagh, Nzorov, Guma Local Government Area. In a telephone interview with The Nation, the governor said he had not harvested his rice farm, which is incorporated under Oracle Business Limited, before the suspected herdsmen set it ablaze. Orace Farms, which started when the governor was the Chairman of Guma Local Government Area, is into massive rice and soybeans cultivation. It was learnt that this was the fourth time Ortom’s farms had been attacked. When he was Minster of State in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, suspected herdsmen attacked his Oracle Farm on Naka Road at gunpoint and stole 30 cows. The herdsmen struck again in 2014 at his Tse- Adorogo, Mbabeagh country home and set his rice farm and house ablaze. When he became governor in 2015, herdsmen again set ablaze his rice farm in 2016 and 2017. The governor expressed concern that herdsmen again destroyed crops in the state. He reiterated his called for ranching of animals, saying there is no more land for anyone to feed their cattle in the name of grazing. “I said ranching is the international best practice for animal husbandry. But if anyone has an alternative method, let him bring it to the table,” he said. Ortom urged youths not to take the law into their hands but report to security agencies if any cattle encroached on farm lands in any part of the state. The governor told The Nation that he would officially visit the rice farm tomorrow to assess the damage done to it.

http://thenationonlineng.net/herdsmen-set-ortoms-rice-farm-ablaze/

Politics

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‘Judge stuffs cash in shoes’ A judge is under probe for allegedly collecting from a senator N30million bribe. He stuffed some of the cash, which was in United States dollars, in his shoes and walked barefooted to his car. The senator complained to the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) being led Prof. Itse Sagay. Also yesterday, it was learnt that most of the nine arrested judges had petitions against them with the National Judicial Council (NJC). The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, is said to have the list of judges to be investigated in the last five months. Although the list was shown to some legal authorities by the CJN, no action was taken by the NJC, a source claimed. PACAC has about 50 petitions sent to it against some judges by some aggrieved Nigerians, One of the said complaints came from a senator who alleged that a judge demanded about N50million from him to influence a case but he paid N30million. The money was delivered to the Court of Appeal Justice in dollars. But following the senator’s inability to pay the balance of N20million, the judge gave judgment against the senator, it was alleged. A source said: “The senator told us that the judge asked for N50million but he could only pay N30million and lost the case for not meeting up with the balance. “He said when the judge came at night to collect the bribe, he stuffed every available space and went to a ridiculous extent of stuffing some of the money in his shoes. The judge then decided to walk barefooted to his car. “We have the complaint against the judge and the senator is ready to testify because the judge did not refund the N30million to date. The government is going to see to the logical conclusion of this case against the judge.” Asked to name the judge, the source added: “The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), disclosed the name of the justice at a session with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to underscore why the bench must be rid of bad eggs. The NBA has been briefed, let them also talk. “This is to show that the government is transparent about the whole process. It is not a witch-hunt at all.” The highly-placed source gave insight into the arrest of nine judges and how the operation was conducted. The judges are Supreme Court Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro; the suspended Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, Justice Mohammed, Ladan Tsamiya, who was picked up in Sokoto; Justice Adeniyi Ademola( Federal High Court); the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike; Justice Kabiru Auta of Kano State High Court; Justice Muazu Pindiga (Gombe State High Court); Justice Bashir Sukola and Justice Ladan Manir, from the Kaduna State High Court. The source added: “In fact, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed has had the list of some alleged corrupt judges in his possession in the last five months. The list emanated from his office and anti-corruption agencies. But the NJC did not do anything. “About 60 per cent of the nine judges under probe have petitions against them before the NJC. The records are there. Nigerians should ask what has become of this petition. “Take the case of the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice I. A. Umezulike; he had more than three petitions against him. If the petitioner had not been steadfast, the Judge would not have been sanctioned by the NJC. “The allegation of N500million bribe against Justice Pindiga was actually made a “dead-on-arrival” by a Petition Review Committee of the NJC.” Unknown to most of the judges arrested, the Department of State Services(DSS) video-taped every details. The source added: “The DSS is ready to tender the video clips in court. In fact, some of the judges will be shocked by the professionalism of the security agency. “The clips have already been shown to a few lawyers to prove that due diligence was followed. We hope the court will allow the prosecution to show the clips during trial.

http://thenationonlineng.net/judge-stuffs-cash-shoes/

Politics

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…Mulls privatisation of Prisons By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA – Despite the ferocious wave of attacks on indigenous communities by rampaging herdsmen in some parts of the country, the Federal Government has ruled out the possibility of deploying military option to quell such violent activities. It said since the police have not been overwhelmed by the attackers, military option is not on the table. Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd) stated this on a Sunday midnight television programme “Question Time” on Channels TV. “We must protect the country which is the main function of the police. The Civil Defence are there to complement them too. “This is a non-military issue that borders on law and order. It is not every security issue that you call in the military. It is the responsibility of the police to maintain peace. I believe that if we put the police in proper position in terms of discharging its functions, then there would be no need for military option. The police are equal to the task. If you have to deploy the army, then you are going above board (sic). In any case, I do not even have the power to deploy the military for anything. It is only when the situation gets out of hand that you invite the military”, he said. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2015 report, “Fulani militants” killed 1,229 people in 2014 — up from 63 in 2013 — making them the “fourth most deadly terrorist group” globally. Privatization of Prisons, an option Dambazau also hinted the possibility of privatizing Nigerian Prisons, saying the only challenge with the proposal is that most prison inmates are not serving their sentences but awaiting trial. “Privatization is an option. How we go about doing that is another thing. Outside the country, for instance in the United Kingdom UK, they rely on ‘Prisons Labour’ to do that and it is from prisons labour they do that to recoup their investment. “Here, 70 per cent of our inmates are awaiting trial and by international law, you cannot engage inmates who are awaiting trial in such labour, but it is still something that we can sit down with those who are interested”, he said. ‘FG not spending N14, 000 prisoners’ The minister however dismissed reports that government was spending N14, 000 to feed each prisoner on a daily basis, but said Nigeria currently spends about N10.6 billion feeding over 65, 000 prisoners yearly. “It is not sustainable given that we have about 65, 000 to 70,000 prisoners. If you have 65, 000 prisoners, the feeding that was approved by former President Jonathan, you raised the feeding to N450 per day including gas; if you multiply it by 65, 000 prisoners in 365 days, you get roughly N10.6 billion. That was what we met and there was no budgetary provision for that. This was why we said there was need to look into prisons farms so that prisons can feed themselves”, he stated. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/%E2%80%8Efg-rules-out-military-action-against-rampaging-herdsmen/

Politics

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Rivers political crisis: Amaechi, CP Mbu’s face-off deepens The face-off between Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, and the Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, deepened yesterday after the governor accused Mbu of putting up lame and unsatisfactory argument about Thursday’s sudden redeployment of his (governor’s) Escort Commander. The governor, who spoke through his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari, described Mbu’s excuse as an after-thought. However, the police commissioner, responding through the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Angela Agabe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), insisted that the escort commander’s redeployment was ordered by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar. The CP said he is simply a professional police officer and not a politician. Amaechi and Mbu have been at loggerheads since February this year when the governor asked for the CP’s immediate redeployment, which he described as the only condition for peace in the Niger Delta state. He accused Mbu of taking sides in the state’s political crisis. On Thursday, Amaechi said that Mbu redeployed the escort commander because he refused his (Mbu’s) directive to furnish him with prior information on the governor’s movement. The NGF chairman noted that the escort commander was not in charge of his protocol and would not have prior knowledge of his movement, especially in the prevailing circumstances regarding security in the state. The governor pointed out that after redeploying the escort commander, Mbu also requested the Camp Commandant of Government House, Port Harcourt, to give him prior briefing of his daily movement, which he said in practice, would be difficult to comply with, unless the camp commandant gets prior knowledge of his movement. This the CP denied. Irked by Mbu’s defence, Amaechi, through his information commissioner, said in Port Harcourt yesterday that the excuse now given by Mr. Mbu was not “the reason given, when both the Escort Commander and the Camp Commandant were invited to the Police Headquarters (in Port Harcourt). “This excuse was also not offered when the governor personally called Mr. Mbu to complain about the removal of his escort commander. “Matters of personal security of government functionaries and especially top officials like the governor of the state are discussed and agreed with these officials. “Even if for the purpose of argument, it is indeed factual that the IGP ordered the redeployment of Governor Amaechi’s Escort Commander, wouldn’t the courteous thing be for the Commissioner of Police and the police high command to inform and explain this to Governor Amaechi? “On matters of his personal security, a governor reserves the right to reject or accept security details, as he may be comfortable with. The Rivers State Government, therefore, is reluctant to accept what it considers a lame and unsatisfactory argument by the Rivers State Police Command.” On September 2, the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Rivers State Governor, Debeware Semeikumo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was declared a deserter by Mbu, over the July 9 fracas in the state’s House of Assembly and also removed him (Semeikumo) as the ADC to Amaechi. Semenitari described the CP’s action as another mischief, stating that the Rivers police command was aware that Semeikumo sustained injuries and had been away for better medical treatment. The Rivers police commissioner maintained that the ADC to Rivers governor was declared a deserter, following his alleged failure to honour all lawful directives to see him and the IGP since July 10, 2013. Mbu said: “The decision to declare Semeikumo a deserter followed Section 398 (1) of the Police Act and the Regulation Cap 359 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990. “The whereabouts of Semeikumo remain unknown to the police. IGP Abubakar has approved his declaration as a deserter.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/rivers-political-crisis-amaechi-cp-mbus-face-off-deepens/

Politics

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By Sam Eyoboka National Christian Elders Forum, NCEF, is accusing the leadership of the Christian of Nigeria (CAN) of corruption and abuse of office. Specifically, the forum alleged that the leadership of the umbrella organisation for Christians in Nigeria collected N25 million or N40 million from the Presidency during a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari, criticising the action and calling for sanction. It also alleged that the CAN leadership bought official vehicles at questionable prices. The CAN President, Rev. (Dr) Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, dismissed the allegations, branding them as “a catalogue of lies” designed to smear his reputation. In a memo, titled ‘NCEF Protests: Is NEC of CAN Guilty of Negligence?’, and signed by the Chairman, Elder Solomon Asemota, SAN, on behalf of members, including, but not limited to retired Generals Joshua Dogonyaro, Zamani Lekwot, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma; Elder Matthew Owojaiye, Justice Kalajine Anigbogu (ret.), Elder Shyngle Wigwe, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Pastor Bosun Emmanuel (Secretary), NCEF is calling on the National Executive Council, NEC, to investigate alleged high handedness of the CAN President. According to the memo, NEC should immediately convene an emergency meeting to consider the issues raised and set up the process for the investigation of Ayokunle and immediate suspension of the President of CAN, until all these allegations have been investigated and he is cleared of wrong doing. Continuing, the memo urged the NEC to ensure that the investigation looks into the activities of other officials of CAN on whose heads allegations of wrong doing and misconduct hang. The Christian Elders argued that it has the statutory right to “make its position public to all Nigerian Christians and alert them that, if Christianity is destroyed in Nigeria or Christians continue to get slaughtered, the present NEC of CAN should be held responsible. NCEF began its memo by expressing its condolence to CAN and all Christians in Nigeria on the death of Dr. Musa Asake, CAN Secretary General, on Friday, May 11, 2018. The memo went on to level the allegations against the CAN to include corruption, high handedness and abuse of office. It alleged that a vehicle that was purportedly purchased for the use of the CAN Vice President at a cost of N11 million in Cotonou was being sold in Nigeria at N5 million. Dr. Ayokunle is yet to explain what happened to N6 million. In all, N43 million was spent to purchase four second hand vehicles in Cotonou. This allegation is too big to be swept under the carpet. (This vehicle is parked at the National Christian Centre, Abuja),”the Christian Elders said. They went on: “On the 10th of November, 2017, a delegation of CAN, led by the President of CAN, Rev. Dr. Ayokunle, met with President Muhammadu Buhari and, after the visit, collected ‘transportation’ money. While informed sources claim it was N40 million, CAN officials insist it was N25 million and it was alleged to have been shared by somebody who is not an official of the National Secretariat of CAN. “NCEF insists on proper investigation of how the money was shared and how much each person received. In addition, NCEF insists on proper sanction of every Christian leader that took part in sharing money from President Buhari. It is unethical and very insensitive for Christian leaders to collect money from the man every Christian is aware has compromised security to the detriment of the Church”. Saying the auditor presented a financial report to CAN that did not include the N43 million spent on vehicles in Cotonou, the memo said: “Where did N43 million disappear to?”. The group pointed out that NEC was yet to properly investigate how N28 million the former President of CAN provided before he left office, to minister to persecuted Christians, was spent”. Continuing, the Christian Elders said various alleged infractions on the constitution of CAN, as listed by the Vice President of CAN, had to be investigated including the Report of the Mediating Committee, headed by Supreme Court Justice, Hon. Justice James Ogebe. According to the memo, the attempt to use the Assistant General Secretary as scapegoat for the transactions in Cotonou has to be properly investigated and all those involved disciplined. The group also said “the letter to DSS which Rev. Dr. Ayokunle refused to sign on 28th February, 2017, after he had agreed he would do so on 15th February, 2017, has to be investigated. It asked: “Why did he, as the President of CAN and as the Chairman of the CAN Trust Fund, refuse to append his signature to the letter? “Second, who gave the authority to edit the letter and remove substantial sections of it before the Legal Adviser eventually signed and sent a diluted document to the DSS?” The Elders said CAN NEC was yet to investigate the tribal shift in appointments in the national offices and in the secretariat. Reacting to the allegations, Ayokunle, who was attending a conference in Philadephia, United States, at the weekend, advised Sunday Vanguard to discountenance the charges as a “catalogue of lies.” “There is no truth in what they are alleging. No truth at all in all the allegations. If they are after sanity in CAN, is it on the pages of newspaper that they intend to settle any dispute? Do Muslims behave like that about their leaders?”, the CAN leader said on phone. “You know if these people are allowed to smear my reputation on the pages of the media, they have successfully finished the Church in Nigeria. They have already written that I should be removed because they did a kangaroo investigation which did not involve me.” While appealing for restraint, Ayokunle said representatives from both parties to the conflict must allow the NEC of CAN to handle all perceived grievances amicably “because when you have done the damage, it will be difficult to correct.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2018/05/trouble-in-the-house-of-god-buharis-cash-gift-divides-can/amp/

Politics

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Police arrest seven over assassination attempt on Melaye The Kogi State Police Command on Monday said seven persons have been arrested in connection with the assassination attempt on Senator Dino Melaye at his country home Aiyetoro-Gbede last Saturday. Melaye escaped unhurt after gunmen invaded his house and shot sporadically. They also destroyed two vehicles and riddled the senator’s building with bullets. A source close to the state police command said a black jeep suspected to have been used for the operation, alongside a cache of ammunition was found at the Odokoro home of the administrator of Ijumu local government area of the state, Taofiq Isa, by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). The source added that the suspects were arrested at different locations, while the black jeep and the ammunition have been impounded by the state police command.

http://thenationonlineng.net/police-arrest-seven-assassination-attempt-melaye/

Politics

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BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO LAGOS — A one and a half year old child with two of his siblings were, weekend burnt to death in an inferno that engulfed a building and a church in Iba Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Lagos State, leaving property worth millions of Naira destroyed. Also, two unidentified dredgers got drowned in a 70-feet domestic well in Ojo Local Government, Lagos. The deceased siblings identified as Imoleayo, Ismaila who is eight years old and Busayo Ganiyu, were said to have been sleeping when the fire started. The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, but sources said it started at about 9:30p.m., Friday, from the victims’ one-room apartment before spreading to other rooms. According to reports, efforts by the sympathisers to put out the fire proved abortive, as it later spread to the Cherubim and Seraphim Church of Zion at 41, Ogunyemi Street, Sabo Ilaje, Ajangbadi, Iba LCDA. Sources said that the mother of the three siblings, a petty trader, was still in shock over the death of her children. Speaking to Vanguard, Adeyemi Ayinla, a friend to the late Ismaila, said that his friend would have been alive if the neighbours who raised the alarm saw the fire early enough. According to him: “We couldn’t get water early. And when we called the emergency numbers: 767 and 112, there wasn’t any response. This I guess, was due to the network. Before we could get water to extinguish the fire, they had already died.” A teacher in Sabo Oniba Primary School, Ajangbadi, Iba LCDA, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said that Ismaila was a primary three pupil. He said: “I can’t believe that he (Ismaila) is dead. He was in school on Thursday, his mother also attended the Parents /Teachers Association, PTA, meeting in the school that day.” Meantime, Vanguard gathered that the two men who died in a well were in their late 40’s. An eyewitness told our correspondent that the younger dredger was the first to drown. Effort to rescue him by his colleague proved unsuccessful and he also drowned. Confirming this, the Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe who spoke to our correspondent said that this was part of the four distress calls they received from Ojo yesterday. Fadipe said; AThat was one of the four distressed calls that came in but they came late. And it came from Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/three-siblings-burnt-death-lagos/

Politics

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Medically, the term nose job is known as rhinoplasty and is related to the surgery of nose. It is a cosmetic surgery procedure which aims at enhancing the appearance of nose. In some patients, it is performed for repairing structural problems which occurs because of injury or nasal fractures. Patients who prefer to undergo Rhinoplasty surgery in Delhi can be assured to get most effective and outstanding results. in the last few years, number of people opting for nose surgery in Delhi has increased like never before. Cosmetic surgery procedure of rhinoplasty can either decrease or increase the size of nose. Some people also get their nose's tip reshaped while some want to change the angle between their nose and lips. When planning nose surgery, nose surgeon in Delhi, takes into consideration several factors such as the nasal changes to be made, skin of the nose and facial features. The upper part of the nose is known as the bone while the lower part is cartilage. The surgery can alter skin, bone or cartilage, or all three. On the basis in which a cosmetic surgeon makes an incision, that is cuts through tissue or skin, the nasal surgery is categorised into two types - closed rhinoplasty and open rhinoplasty. In this type of surgical procedure, an incision is made inside the nostrils and surgeon can easily remove bones and cartilages inside the nose, if the need is. There are no scar marks in this type of surgical procedure. There is very possibility that surgeon might also perform an artificial implant surgery with an objective to give a desired shape to the patient's nose as per his specifications and requirements. Plastic surgeon performs this surgery without accessing the bones and cartilages of the nose. This is done for ensuring the safety of inner portions of the nose. An incision is made across the columella. It is a thin lining of tissues which separates the nostrils. When an incision is made across the columella, surgeon can safely remove the skin's tip and perform surgery. However, downside to this procedure is that it leaves a scar on the nose's underside. Most plastic surgeonsconsider it as the best available option. Risks associated with rhinoplasty It is important for you to know that just like any other surgical procedure, there are some risks associated with rhinoplasty surgery as well. However, these risks can be minimised to a great extent provided you choose an experienced and expert cosmetic surgeon. Some of the perils areappearance of tiny red spots on the skin, injury to columella, bleeding and infection in the nose among others. Some patients also experience bruising as well as swelling on the nose which might take months to fade away. There is no denying that success rate of rhinoplasty surgery in Delhi is very high, however it is best to do research and educate you about the procedure before making any decision. to know about the best rhinoplasty surgery cost in Delhi, all you need to do is consult cosmetic surgeons and choose the best accordingly.

http://www.sooperarticles.com/health-fitness-articles/surgery-articles/rhinoplasty-surgery-delhi-important-things-you-need-know-about-procedure-1582970.html

Health

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Economy & Politics | Economy & Politics Monday, September 30th at 10:41 AM This edition of the Economy and Politics show, anchored by Ottoabasi Abasiekong, features Dr. Paul Alaje, Chief Economist at SPM Professionals, recommending a “New Approach to CBN Inflation Management.” He reviewed the monetary policy approach of the Central Bank of Nigeria, which emphasized inflation targeting with an 850-basis point hike in the interest rate as ineffective in tackling inflation in the country. Business | Doing Business in Nigeria In the fast-paced world of business, securing the funds needed to fuel growth, kickstart operations, or expand activities often requires more than just traditional loans. Large businesses frequently turn to complex financial instruments and arrangements to meet their capital needs Proshare is a professional practice focused on delivering research and information services to bridge the gap between investors and markets; by delivery on credible, reliable, and timely engagements through the following areas — Impact Research, Market Intelligence, Strategic Advisory, Stakeholder Relations & Digital Media.

http://www.proshareng.com/myproshare/portal_news.php?id=3046

Business

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Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), said yesterday that the solution to power shortage in the country does not lie only with the building of more power plants but also in the proper management of the power distribution companies and the distribution assets. Fashola, who spoke in an interview with newsmen on the fringe of the on-going Joint Lagos State Executive Council and Permanent Secretaries Retreat holding at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac, added that the state has written to the Federal Government to allow it take over the assets of the two distribution companies located in Lagos, namely the Eko Distribution Company and the Ikeja Distribution Company, in partnership with the people who have indicated interest to use private sector funding and capacity to manage them. Said he: “As long as the Federal Government fails to articulate its intention in the power sector, no one will come forward with his money to invest. Until there is efficiency in the distribution end of the power chain, nobody is going to bring money into the power sector. “We did it with the telecom companies. Immediately the telecom companies got their licenses, they rolled out their mast and repeater stations, they issued bills and collected their money and continued to invest in infrastructure that kept the system goingâ€. He said the National Assembly has passed the law on power sector reforms with all that remains being for the Federal Government to complete the process by telling Nigerians what the roadmap to implementation would look like. The governor recalled that he had met several people in the last three years who have indicated interest in coming to invest in the power sector, but want a clear roadmap before doing so, adding: “The people who did it then are still availableâ€. He pointed out: “It is not enough to say we are going to privatize. What is the roadmap?. The decision is not clear to us here in Nigeria and it has to be clear to us before we can send it outsideâ€. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/07/11/antidote-to-power-sector-problems-by-fashola/Antidote

Politics

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Federal Lawmakers and Stakeholders Forum in Cross River have pledged not to follow the State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmakers and the PDP stakeholders forum at a news conference on Friday in Abuja, promised to remain in PDP, saying Cross River remained a stronghold of the party. Sen. Geshon Bassey, who spoke on behalf of the lawmakers, said that Ayade did not consult them before his defection, adding that “even if he did, we will not follow him. “As far as I know, till date, the National Assembly caucus remains intact. I don’t see any of us leaving. We are legacy members of the party, who have been in this party for the past 15 to 20 years. So, we are not going anywhere. “We were not consulted and I am not sure a lot of people were consulted,” Bassey said. The former governor of the state, Sen. Liyel Imoke speaking on behalf of the PDP stakeholders’ forum in Cross River, said Ayade’s defection though regrettable, was not unexpected. Imoke said people of the state were disappointed in Ayade’s decision but they wished him well. “We understand that the people of Cross River, who have stood firmly with the PDP since 1999 and other lovers of the state, are deeply disappointed by this move made by a governor, who has won all his elections under the platform of the party. “Given the overwhelming support which he enjoyed under the PDP and the fact that PDP has an undeniable strong grassroots in the state, we affirm that Cross River remains a PDP state.” Imoke said that an overwhelming majority of Cross River people remained PDP members. “Our key stakeholders, members of the national and state assemblies and strategic grass root mobilisers are still members of our great party. “We as a party, therefore, remain virile and strong. Our shell remains un-cracked,” he said. Imoke enjoined all people of Cross River and PDP members not to falter in their faith in the party. He said that the leadership of Cross River under the aegis of PDP since 1999 had led the state to a pedigree of progression and seen to the attainment of all the lofty achievements which the state had been known for. Imoke said that the events of the last 24hours in the state availed the leaders an opportunity to re -strategise and realign themselves to sustaining the trajectory of growth and development of the state . “While the current events may seem to present a glitch to the progress of the state, we hereby affirm our unwavering commitment toward serving the interest of the good people of Cross River as we strongly believe that Cross River shall be great again,” he said. Others present at the briefing were, Sen. Sunday Onor, Hon. Daniel Asuquo, Hon. Bassey Ekpo, Asuquo Eke, Chris Ngora, Etta Mbora, while Hon. Jaribe Agom Jaribe was represented. Other members of the stakeholders forum in attendance were, Jetty Agbi, Anna Enegbeni, Daye Arikpo and Divine Anong, PDP Deputy National Auditor. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/05/we-re-not-defecting-with-ayade-pdp-fed-lawmakers-stakeholders-forum/amp/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&__twitter_impression=true

Politics

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A combined team of security operatives, in the early hours of Sunday, have killed a suspected Boko Haram kingpin and his brother in Kinkinau area of Kaduna South Local Government of Kaduna State. Reports say soldiers traced the house of the suspect in Kinkinua GRA, Imgwan Mu’azu, and shot the man whose name was given as Usman. Eyewitness account said that the soldiers broke through the wall to gain access into the house, got his family out, and engaged him in a gun battle for about three hours before overwhelming him and his brother. The district head of Ungwan Muazu and Cikasauron Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Idris, after visiting the scene, blamed landlords who let out their houses without confirming the character of their tenants for being responsible for the high rate of insurgency in the North. He asked landlords and residents to be security-conscious and ascertain the identities of tenants in their houses. It was also gathered that the agent who gave out the house to the suspect and the landlord of the house have been taken away by the security operatives. A security source who would not want his name mentioned revealed that the suspected Boko Haram member fled from Maiduguri to settle in Kaduna, adding that the team of security operatives that stormed the area had been on the trail of the suspect and were provided with support by troops on ground.

http://www.channelstv.com/2014/07/06/army-kills-boko-haram-kingpin-brother-in-kaduna/

Politics

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Lagos – A 42-year-old housewife, Mrs Omolabake Bashorun, on Tuesday told an Igando Customary Court in Lagos that she caught her husband inside their 60-year-old woman neighbour’s bedroom. Omolabake, a mother of two, disclosed this while begging the court to dissolve her 18-year-old marriage with her 43-year-old husband, Tunde Bashorun, a businessman. The woman said that she does not want to die young and that she was no longer interested in the marriage. “Since the day I caught my husband inside our neighbour’s bedroom, he has been threatening to kill me. “I caught my husband hiding behind the door of our neighbour’s bedroom, when I went there to pick my purse that I forgot in the room earlier that day. “Our neighbour, a 60-year-old woman and I are very close; I enter her flat anytime of the day. “On that fateful day, I knocked her door to pick my purse. I could not enter because she had locked the door from behind; so she told me to come back, that she was sleeping. “I insisted because I needed my purse to pay for what I just bought, so I forced myself inside the room and I saw my husband hiding beside her door, sweating,’’ she said. She added that since that day, her husband’s behaviour changed; he had turned her into a punch ball and always threatening to kill her. “After beating me, he will pick either a cutlass, a pestle or a knife, threatening to kill me, if I refused to pack out of his house; that he was tired of me and that he had found new love. “My screaming always attracted our neighbours, who usually rescued me. “He also called my relatives to come and take me away; that if they did not do so on time, it is my corpse they will meet,’’ the estranged wife said. She added that her husband no longer slept on the same bed with her, that he preferred sleeping on the floor or going to their neighbour’s room to sleep. Omolabake added that her husband also transferred the aggression to his children, as he was no longer responsible for their upkeep. “He stopped paying their school fees and refused to buy them clothes; instead, he would go and collect used clothes from his friends’ children and bring them home for his children,’’ she said. The respondent, Bashorun, did not deny the allegation that his wife met him in their neighbour’s bedroom, but said that he went there to collect something. “My wife saw me in our neighbour’s room, but I only went there to collect something,’’ he said. He submitted that he only beat Omolabake whenever she erred, adding that she was fond of reporting him to his friends and neighbours anytime they had a misunderstanding. “My wife always reports me to third parties, which I detest so much that I usually beat her to make her change,’’ he said. Bashorun said that he always give his children food money, bought them new clothes and that he was still paying their school fees. He appealed to the court not to dissolve the union, saying that he was still interested in the marriage. The Court President, Mr R.I Adeyeri, however, adjourned the case till Oct. 21, for continuation of hearing. (NAN) Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/caught-husband-60-year-old-neighbours-bedroom-wife-tells-court/

Romance

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Onitsha River port —Says construction work ongoing at Baro, Oguta and Lokoja ports By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja Economic activities will soon increase at the concessioned Onitsha River Port in Anambra State as the Federal Government on Thursday, said that big cargoes will soon berth at the port. The Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, Chief George Moghalu made the disclosure while speaking with State House correspondence, after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja. Fielding questions from journalists on the agenda of his meeting with the President, Chief Moghalu simply said that the visit was a private one. He said that discussions were ongoing for the concession of Baro port and as well as the Oguta and Lokoja ports that are still under construction in order to reduce pressure from the government. According to him, “For Onitsha river port, we have successfully concessioned and handed over to universal Elysium, it is a company that is partnering with Port of Antwerp for the next 30 years. “Now, because of limited resources and to reduce pressure on government, we opened up discussion with other interested organizations, unsolicited proposals have come for the concessioning of Baro, for the concessioning of Oguta and Lokoja though still under construction. “So, we are discussing with them. The advantage here is that it will reduce pressure from government, these people own this port, complete the port, put the port to use and pay royalty to government. So, it has a lot of advantage. And we’re working conscientiously on that. “Before I came to office, Oguta River Port was not on the budget for quite a while, but we eventually brought it back to the budget. “As we speak, we have finished fencing of the Oguta river port. And we’re doing little by little, depending on resources available to put in place some basic infrastructure that is required for a port to operate. “Same is applicable to Lokoja. So we’re taking it from two perspectives. Completing the building by government and concession or concession it so that the new concessionaire can complete the ports and put it to effective use.” Asked when big ships are expected to berth on Onitsha the port, he said, “Very soon. What I did before the concession was that I was able to do a test run, move cargo between Onne and Onitsha and now we are concluding movement of cargo from Lagos to Onitsha and that will be a clincher as far as I’m concerned.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/04/bigger-cargoes-to-berth-at-onitsha-port-soon-fg/

Politics

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ABUJA—South Africa’s economy has regained the position of Africa’s largest in dollar terms more than two years after losing it to Nigeria as the value of the nations’ currencies moved in opposite directions. Based on gross domestic product at the end of 2015 published by the International Monetary Fund, the size of South Africa’s economy is $301 billion at the rand’s current exchange rate, while Nigeria’s GDP is $296 billion. That’s after the rand gained more than 16 percent against the dollar since the start of 2016, and Nigeria’s naira lost more than a third of its value after the central bank removed a currency peg in June. Both nations face the risk of a recession after contracting in the first quarter of the year. The Nigerian economy shrank by 0.4 percent in the three months through March from a year earlier amid low oil prices and output and shortage of foreign currency. That curbed imports, including fuel. In South Africa, GDP contracted by 0.2 percent from a year earlier as farming and mining output declined. “More than the growth outlook, in the short term the ranking of these economies is likely to be determined by exchange rate movements,” Alan Cameron, an economist at Exotix Partners LLP, said. Although Nigeria is unlikely to be unseated as Africa’s largest economy in the long run, “the momentum that took it there in the first place is now long gone.” The South African rand rallied as investors turned to emerging markets with liquid capital markets to seek returns after Britain voted to leave the European Union on June 23, even as the central bank forecast the economy won’t expand this year and the nation risks losing its investment-grade credit rating. The ruling African National Congress’s lowest support since 1994 in the August 3 local government vote led to further gains on speculation that it will pressure the party to introduce economic reforms that will boost growth and cut unemployment. In Nigeria, investors did not flock to buy naira-based assets after authorities removed the peg of 197-199 naira per dollar. The Central Bank of Nigeria raised its benchmark interest rate to a record in July to lure foreign money, even as the IMF forecast the economy will contract 1.8 percent this year. Nigeria was assessed as the continent’s largest economy in April 2014 when authorities overhauled its GDP data for the first time in two decades. The recalculation saw the Nigerian economy in 2013 expand by three-quarters to an estimated N80 trillion. The rand gained 1 percent to 13.2805 per dollar at 4:03 p.m. in Johannesburg on Wednesday. The naira weakened 2.7 percent to N320 per dollar. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/nigeria-loses-top-position-gdp-south-africa/

Business

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ROME (AFP) – An Italian minister on Sunday condemned “ethnic and religious cleansing” in Nigeria following attacks on churches claimed by Islamist group Boko Haram in which three people were killed and dozens injured. “Christian blood has again been spilt in Nigeria according to a now clear plan of ethnic and religious cleansing,” said International Cooperation Minister Andrea Riccardi, the founder of a Catholic charity active in Africa. “The international community can no longer look on at this massacre of innocent people without intervening,” Riccardi said. Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi also condemned the violence in a statement saying the reports had evoked “great pain and indignation.” “I reaffirm Italy’s maximum engagement in protecting and promoting religious freedom and in confronting the challenge of terrorism,” he said. Earlier on Sunday a suicide bomber blew his car up outside an evangelical church in the central city of Jos, causing the building to collapse entirely. In the second attack, gunmen opened fire during a service in the northeastern town of Biu also in an evangelical church. Boko Haram’s insurgency has killed more than 1,000 people since mid-2009, especially in Nigeria’s Muslim-dominated north. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/06/italian-minister-condemns-ethnic-cleansing-in-nigeria/

Politics

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Gen. Ibrahim Babangida By Emmanuel Aziken Former President Ibrahim Babangida has flayed what he Wednesday described as an attempt to ridicule the military institution and some of its sterling lights in the name of politics. Taking note of a television documentary aired on Tuesday night on a private television network to project President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the presidential election, Babangida lamented that the president’s backers at the same time poured calumny on some of the country’s former military rulers. Babangida took strong objections to what he said were the negative imputations put on the integrity and services to the nation by Generals Olusegun Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, himself; Ibrahim Babangida, late Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and T.Y Danjuma. Noting that the sponsors of the documentary which he described as a hate campaign were either intellectually delinquent or suffering from memory loss; or a combination of both, Babangida referred them to his leading role in the formation of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. “For record purposes, and without sounding immodest, the idea of a PDP that has now become the “largest party in Africa” started in my home, here in Minna. With the support of my fellow colleagues, we prepared the way for this democratic process that has now led us to where we are presently. We built the democratic infrastructure and architecture. Those who are parading themselves as democrats today, all participated in military governments. As a deliberate principle of remaining unsung, or blowing my own trumpet, I have elected over the years to maintain dignified silence on so many issues concerning Nigeria while I cultivate my access to each sitting President to pass across my advice in whatever form. “It is on record and this is incontrovertible that the government I ran paraded some of the best brains this country can be proud of. I still remain eternally grateful to those wonderful brains who participated in our government to fashion a new roadmap for re-engineering the country. Some of our policies have remained unsurpassed till date and most of what the country enjoys today was a creation of the Military. From primary healthcare to good roads, DFRRI, Better Life for Rural Women, housing, river basin authorities, MAMSER, new airports, agricultural development and other economic infrastructure, to mention but a few, were platforms where our interventions were felt. We achieved that much with very slim resources. If we had the several billions of dollars that are flying around today, we would have turned Nigeria to the Dubai of Africa. “The military is an institution that is so dear to my heart. It is an institution that nurtured my growing up and my achievements in life. I am not only sold to the military institution and by extension the Nigerian state, I am betrothed to it. As a profession, retirees are bound to participate in politics and democracy as an all-inclusive process, same way that Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Nurses, and Civil Servants get involved in it. It is the reason why I ventured into politics in 2003 before I quit in 2010. It is the same reason why General Obasanjo participated and got elected; and now General Buhari. It is therefore very curious that promoters of President Goodluck Jonathan’s aspiration would attempt to demonize and stigmatize former military leaders and cast aspersions on them in order to malign their reputation. This is very unfair. “Fact is; the military fought a civil war to keep this country together. What I suffer today is a consequence of the injuries I sustained during the Nigeria Civil War. I am not sure there is any patriotism that is more than that. Some of us were prepared to die for the country. The military is presently combating the dreaded Boko Haram sect to restore Nigeria’s territorial integrity. What law under a democracy forbids retired military personnel from participating in politics and presenting themselves for election? Over 90 percent of American Presidents have military background. Leadership training is better grounded in the military than any other profession. And the military parades some of the best brains in any country, including Nigeria. In fact, some of my military students that I tutored have Doctorate Degrees. It is therefore callous, wicked, out-of-sync, cynical and a show of crass ignorance for anyone to undermine the military institution by embarking on mudslinging campaigns against former presidents and leaders of military background. “While those campaigners are pointing their accusing fingers at us, they forget to recall that the present Director-General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization is actually a retired Military Officer. It is this form of demonization and stigmatization that often compels us to exhibit espirit de corps amongst ourselves in support of our military institution and colleagues when the stakes are high. As disciplined military officers, we are patriotic Nigerians and must be treated with utmost respect and decorum. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/babangida-fumes-at-anti-military-political-broadcast/#sthash.bZNlIIrv.dpuf

Politics

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Medics in full gear to avoid contracting the virus .No Nigerian infected .Nigerians should stop eating bats .Domestic animals not carrier of the virus By Chioma Obinna, Olasunkanmi Akoni, Lawani Mikairu & Daniel Eteghe The Lagos State Government disclosed, yesterday, that the Nigerian Ambassador to Liberia, Chigozie Obi Nnadozie, three staff of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and 55 others had contact with the victim of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, Patrick Sawyer, who died in Lagos, last Thursday. The Joint Federal and State Team in collaboration with other health organisations on prevention of Ebola outbreak in Lagos, has begun monitoring of the 59 persons that had contact with the victim, who died of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in a private hospital in Lagos, last week. Addressing a joint press briefing, yesterday, on the update of the Ebola virus disease, Director National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Professor Abdulsalim Nasidi, and Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, explained that out of the 59 persons that had contact with the Sawyer in Lagos, 44 were hospital contacts (38 healthcare workers and six laboratory staff) and 15 airport contacts comprising three ECOWAS staff – driver, liaison and protocol officer, Nigerian Ambassador to Monrovia, two nursing staff and five airport passenger handlers. Appeal for calm Idris, who appealed for calm, said right now, 20 contacts had been physically screened. “The airline manifest has not been provided by the airline at the time of this report and therefore, the precise number of passenger contacts is yet to be ascertained, especially as two flights were involved Monrovia – Lome and Lome – Lagos. There was no report of medical incident filed and the General Declaration report of the flight.” Idris who stated categorically that only one case of imported Ebola and one death has been recorded in Lagos, said: “No Nigerian is infected, but all contacts are being actively followed. We call on all Nigerians to be calm and not panic and I do hereby assure them that both the state and Federal governments are up in arms to ensure that the virus did not escape and that no Nigeria is infected with this virus,” he stressed. It was further disclosed that preliminary laboratory investigation conducted by the NCDC AI virology laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, and the Redeemers’ University’s World-Bank Funded African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) detected viral DNA and in both blood and urine samples obtained from the patient were positive for the Pan Filo virus analysis and Ebola Zaire MGB virus strain – specific analysis. Samples were also collected for further confirmation at the WHO, collaborating laboratory for Ebola in Dakar. Meanwhile, an isolation ward has been designated by the Lagos State Ministry of Health at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba for case management. The designation of three other health facilities was said to be under way. Idris explained that adhering strictly to WHO guidelines, the body of the deceased patient was decontaminated using 10 per cent sodium hypochlorite and cremated, with the permission of the government of Liberia. “A cremation report has been prepared for dispatch to the family. The vehicle that conveyed the remains was also fully decontaminated.” Nasidi, who allayed fears that EVD cannot be acquired through mere coming into contact with the EVD patient, disclosed that effort to send the packaged sample of the decease to Dakar failed as the courier company turned it down. “We were disappointed that the courier rejected the sample. That is why we immediately sought the second opinion of World Health Organisation, WHO, recommended laboratory which is International Centre for Genomics. We are still going to dispatch it to Dakar, most likely first thing today but the WHO has accepted this result.” Nasidi explained further that even dead bodies of EVD could be more dangerous in terms of transmission. To ensure appropriate case management and infection prevention and control, he explained that an isolation ward has been designated by the Lagos State Ministry of Health at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba for case management, adding that the designation of three other health facilities is under way. Further, he disclosed that a total of 100 Personal Protective Equipment, PPEs, have been procured by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, and Federal Ministry of Health, FMOH and distributed to the private hospital and the state Ministry of Health and WHO also donated 250 PPEs to the NCDC/FMOH. On how the corpse was decomposed, the Commissioner said the state adhered strictly to WHO guidelines, the body of the deceased patient was de-contaminated, using 10 per cent sodium hypochlorite and cremated, with the permission of the government of Liberia. “A cremation report has been prepared for dispatch to the family. The vehicle that conveyed the remains was also fully decontaminated,” he added. Recognising the importance of involving the community early in the response, he stated that already the various communities, traditional and religious leaders have been alerted about the disease and urged to report promptly to healthcare workers of any suspected case. Categories of EVD Explaining categories of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, spread, he explained that “those who come in direct contact of excretions of the dead are primary high risk group; the second group are those that come in contact with facilities used to actually treat or handle these patients; the third category are those who come in contact with those who came in very closed contact with the victim or the dead body. However, the fourth category is those who are within the areas of active transmission of the virus. “It is also important we clarify a question of whether any of the contacts has been tested – the two laboratories are on standby for 24 hours and we have the APIN and the laboratory committee on the group screening one on one, and taking temperature of the contacts twice a day – morning and evening. We are following WHO criteria and the special protocol that you screen only the blood of only those contacts that start developing symptoms. We are going to identify few of them that we’d already known that came directly in contact with the blood of the deceased while managing him,” he added. Warning communities that eat bats, he said this is the time for them to desist from consuming it. Similarly, he noted that some communities that worship bats and keep them in their houses should be very careful and stop the act. On burial ceremonies of people who died from EVD, he said it had been shown that 40 per cent of the cases of Ebola virus spread was from the mishandling of the burial of the dead bodies. He warned that in case of any Ebola death, people should not just go and bury but contact public health officials. President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Professor Oyewale Tomori, who commended the state government for its prompt response, harped on the rules of hand washing and infection control. “There is no need for panic if we follow the rules of hand washing and infection control. There is need for Nigerians to be at alert as it is happening within the West African countries. There is absolutely no need to panic, he insisted. “Where it has spread, it is because people have abandoned the rules of hand washing and infection control; we shouldn’t have diseases like Ebola if we maintain the rules of hand washing. Where people have followed the rules of hand washing, we must be at alert; we are not out of the wood yet. We must continue to be at alert. We need to be washing our hands but no reason to panic.” He explained that domestic animals are not carriers of Ebola virus and people who are rearing domestic animals such as pig should not be afraid. Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina urged residents and health officials in the state to report any suspected case of Ebola virus immediately. Adeshina appealed to residents to reduce the risk of contracting the disease by observing high standard of hygiene through washing of hands often with soap and water. “Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick and ensure that objects used by the sick are decontaminated and properly disposed because fluids from an infected person are extremely dangerous,” Adeshina urged residents. NCAA suspends A_SKY Airline operations to Nigeria Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, yesterday, said it has suspended all A_SKY Airline operations to Nigeria with immediate effect. The airline flew the Liberian infected with the Ebola virus into Lagos, which has created panic and diverted world attention to Nigeria. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/nigerian-ambassador-3-ecowas-staff-55-others-contact-lagos-ebola-victim-idris/#sthash.cLbFPu1G.dpuf

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Stay one step ahead of hackers. Always. Faster mean time to respond compared to the industry average Of manual incident response processes can be automated On average to onboard UnderDefense for security incident response services and enjoy the fastest time to value Respond to incidents 24/7 while reducing cost and risk exposure Excellent and cost-effective IR service 24/7 threat hunting and response Reliable evidence acquisition & reporting The broadest decryption support & speed Benefit from the broadest coverage of cybersecurity incident response services Expand your IR capabilities to stop active security breaches across your environment anytime Managed security services: incident response kickoff Not sure where to begin? Start by analyzing your current security posture and proactively hunting for threats using the UnderDefense MAXI platform. Register for free to tap into innovative security technologies, minimize your business exposure to risks, and get expert support whenever you need it. Our awards and certifications Frequently asked questions What does an incident response team do? An incident response team is a group of specialists who prepare a business for emergencies and help it react to them properly. Their areas of responsibility may vary from company to company; however, in most cases, an IR team takes on end-to-end incident response services, including the following: - Response to all types of security incidents, like attacks, data breaches, or system failure - Creation of proactive and reactive incident response plans - Support of all types of incident-handling activities - Maintenance of solid security best practices and procedures What is an incident response plan? An IR plan is a trustworthy and comprehensive roadmap that directs business stakeholders from threat detection, triage, and investigation to containment and eradication. This go-to documentation kit covers the following: - What threats and situations must be considered security incidents, and what staff must do when they happen - Who is responsible for performing certain tasks in case of a security incident, and how employees can reach them - When specific tasks must be performed by the staff - How exactly staff must complete those particular tasks Why do you need an incident response plan? What are the key cyber incident response steps? - Preparation. Create an exhaustive list of all your assets and endpoints with a defined importance score. Ensure you have monitoring tools in place to understand your normal activity, assess behavior patterns, and collect other metrics to see when something unusual happens. Decide what security events should be blocked and investigated immediately. - Detection and incident analysis. It all starts with collecting data from all your existing security tools, IT systems, public resources, and more. Then goes the analysis stage, where the normal and current activity of the affected system is assessed. Security specialists need to correlate related events and understand how they differ. It may be the most complicated and time-consuming step because it requires constant switching between contexts and interfaces and manual correlation and analysis. With UnderDefense MAXI, you can make this process easy and fast. The platform provides all the key features and capabilities for smooth and effective monitoring, risk detection, and analysis of security incidents. - Containment, eradication, and recovery. Blocking a threat before it incurs losses is one of the most important goals of incident response managed services. The containment procedure will vary depending on the severity, potential damage level, the need for vital systems' availability, and more. During the next stages, eradication and recovery, you may need to clean the environment, remove all incident elements, restore systems, or reset account details depending on the type of attack and affected assets. - Post-incident. Use the lessons learned to improve your security processes, IR plan, and corporate policies and procedures after each incident. What is the key to effective incident response? Things to check out Go backAll TopicsWritten A good point I’m generously going to throw at you now is that security... Are you sure your SOC is invincible armor? How often do you hear about the burnout of in-house SOC... Go back all topics written cybersecurity is getting more critical than ever as cyber threats grow in

https://underdefense.com/incident-response/

Business

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How are the mighty fallen? The good news is that some Nigerians are getting better, wiser and sober when choosing and rejecting politicians. We expect more sophisticated voters for the next Gubernatorial Election. While it is true that too many still vote on selfish, emotional and ethnic attachments; we are witnessing a class of voters voting beyond stomach infrastructure. We are now realizing that the hands of politicians are the wrong place to put all our trust and destiny just because they choose enemies for us. These godfathers are the real enemies we need to disgrace. Presidential Election is done, vote regardless of Party Affiliations and for the candidates that will implement the interest of your state. Divided States votes reflects sophistication and principle beyond primordial instincts. Ironically, most of those that are godfathers today rejected their own godfathers after getting the Golden Fleeces. Saraki rejected his own father as political godfather, Tinubu sent Pa Dawodu to grave in regret and Oshiomole rejected Anenih’s demands. But note that our first Prime Minister did not forget that Ahmadu Bello put him there unlike the enmity between Akintola and Awolowo. Obasanjo had crowned more Heads of State than other Godfathers but he was soundly rejected this time around. He overstayed his welcome as a political kingmaker. Most of the Presidential candidates usually parade themselves for these juggernauts fearing their political ambitions would be crushed without their blessings. It is not only immunity that godfathers demand: not be touched or probed for past transgressions but that they would get a cut of new loots and present candidates for juicy positions in government. Nevertheless, Saraki and Tinubu share the same trait, privilege and belong to the same class of Machiavellianism. There are those that want to die with everything they acquired in life like the ancient Pharaoh. The Gubernatorial Election will show us how many more of the godfathers, Mighty, Powerful men of “Timber and Caliber” will fall. It is up to you, regardless of parties. No Nigerian should see himself as loser or winner until all the godfathers are sent home. State governments have more impact on your lives if your resources and income are not sucked off by a selected few. Do not fool yourself, no state is living up to the potential of its income. We are in the life of a one-eye man thankful that he is not totally blind. No gubernatorial candidate can win a state on the propaganda of non-indigene. Indeed, such support can be detrimental. There are a few more politicians that have been more reckless and indifferent, prostituting in and out of political parties like Bukola Saraki. Kwara finally woke up and sent him to ignominious defeat from his own state. No matter what our reservation is about democracy, it has been useful in sorting out garbage for recycling them into the next life. The stench some created and introduced into our debased communities would take some time to deodorize. Buhari played his game well and he was forced to collaborate with Tinubu out of political expediency and for existential reasons. Buhari learnt after contesting a few times that he could not put all his eggs in one basket. The North under one people and one destiny has been shattered: divided into three, leaving him to North-East and North-West as his reliable base while North-Central has slipped away. In 1983 Buhari had tried to make up in the South by forming alliance with Okadigbo but lost against Obasanjo/Atiku ticket. Even North traditional foothold in the South, South-South is no longer reliable. In Presidential Election, they allied with South-East because former President Jonathan had been displaced after gaining votes North and South in the first election he won. This alliance cannot be relied on since they fear being swallowed by either the South-West or South-East. This is for the same reason in 1979, Gov. Ambrose Alli Bendel State alliance with South-West did not last past 1983. Though Tinubu was able to deliver divided West as expected in 2016, the adhesive force Tinubu had then has withered due to arrogance, overconfidence and indifference to those that helped him climbed in Lagos at the expense and demise of Funsho Williams. The arbitrary choice of candidates for political offices from local to state government has become overbearing. Indeed, Tinubu preferred one term candidates so that he could retain his grip on their successors. It was not long ago that he tried and failed to torpedo Fashola for his second term. Oba Eko that should have respected himself by wisely playing down his involvement into politics, actually got Fashola to agree to Tinubu terms or “contract” on Lagos State; to satisfy his avarice since the Oba wanted his own cut as well. It was an ugly fight between Tinubu and Fashola. But Tinubu got his piece of flesh as Fashola got his second opportunity to contest and won. Ambode was not so successful. Tinubu enjoys the power to bring anyone he wants, his wife, daughter, son-in-law or son; even from nowhere and promise them positions beyond their dreams as long as they accept his terms. This was the case with Fashola and Ambode. By the time these men realize the gravity of their complicity in deals, they had to submit to Tinubu. They had limited options but deeply involved in aiding and abetting financial crimes that could throw them in jail if and when exposed. Their collaboration was a safety insurance for Tinubu! Tinubu, no matter how clever or cunning he is can never get off scot free wishing him long life. Indeed, his time to pay for the consequences of voracious appetite has come. Many of the Yoruba that accepted him based it on the devil they know compared to that they do not know. Many of us usually wonder why a Yahoo Yahoo boy would not stop, a drug dealer would not quit or a looter would not stop and invest the money they made into some legitimate business. It is for the same reason most of us enjoy certain power, privilege, love certain materials, position or crowd. We get so used to certain way of life, it becomes inconvenient to change from a game you know so well to a new one. Many rich people do change before we associate past odious practices with them. Others are forgiven while many repent and gave most of their money away to good causes. We have Saraki and Tinubu as godfathers in every state. Indeed, some of the grudge against Buhari were that he closed godfathers’ source of illegal incomes, rejected their nominations for positions and stifled their influence. Those actions have reduced or eliminated their reach into his Government. Some folks claimed that closing the flow of money by implementing Single Account also affected the Economy because wasteful spending to cronies ceased. Even pastors have to put their personal aircrafts up for sale since they got away with maintenance and service fees.

https://www.modernghana.com/news/919049/godfathers-enough-is-enough-o-to-ge.html

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•Current fiscal distress may threaten Nigeria’s sovereignty •More Nigerians to fall below poverty level •How to save Nigeria By Babajide Komolafe, Economy Editor, Udeme Akpan, Peter Egwuatu, Yinka Kolawole & Gabriel Ewepo The worsening finances of the Federal Government, reflected in declining revenue, increased borrowing and debt service, will impact more misery on Nigerians, prominent economy experts and civil society groups have warned. The warning is coming on the heels of recent revelations by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, that the FG, recorded a N3.09 trillion deficit in its 2022 budget implementation in four months, from January and April, as subsidy on fuel gulped N1.94 trillion, exceeding revenue for the period by 19 per cent. Speaking at the Public Consultative Forum on the draft federal government 2023 – 2025 Medium Term Fiscal Framework & Fiscal Strategy, in Abuja, Ahmed said, “As of April 2022, FGN’s retained revenue was only N1.63 trillion, 49% of the prorata target of N3.32 trillion,” adding, “The actual spending as of April 31st was N4.72 trillion.” Out of the N4. 72 trillion, Ahmed explained that N1.94 trillion was spent on debt service; N1.26 trillion on Personnel costs, including Pensions; and N773.63 billion on capital expenditure. This development, which follows a pattern, that led to the doubling of the national debt to N41.6 trillion at the end of March 31st, 2022 from N12.6 trillion at the end of 2015 as well as the continued depreciation of the naira and rise in inflation to 18.6 per cent in June. It adds to the reason for the high unemployment rate of 33 per cent and widespread poverty in country, experts who spoke to Vanguard said. While also outlining measures to address the downward economic trend and its impact on the welfare of the people, the experts, however warned Nigerians to brace up for increased hardship should the FG persist in its spending and borrowing spree. Less provision of critical infrastructure, amenities In this regard, the Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Chinenye Almona, stated:”In the face of rising debt servicing costs accompanied with dwindling revenue, provision of critical infrastructure and amenities like healthcare services, education, power, roads, and security will be hard hit as funding shrinks. We see the unfortunate closure of our universities since February and till now no respite in sight. Reinforcing this position, Dr. Bayo Adedokun of the Department of Economics, University of Lagos, explained, “If government revenue dips, it will affect all the various sectors of the economy, especially Economic Affairs, which by categorization involves, agriculture, works and infrastructure, transportation, commerce, industry and solid minerals, once these sectors are affected, they can’t create jobs directly and remotely as a result of dwindling govt revenue.” Adedokun, who is a trade, finance and development expert, added that, “The issue of mounting debt servicing, it is no longer sustainable to use all the revenue to pay debt charges, it will have crowding-out effect on all other sectors such as education, health and social welfare, infrastructural development will be negatively affected, thereby creating wider infrastructural gap in the economy.” Weak purchasing power & job losses Similarly, CEO, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr. Muda Yusuf, said: “The prevailing economic conditions portend a very disturbing outlook for the welfare of the average citizen. “Weakening revenue performance, growing fiscal deficit and rising debt service burden are indications of a vicious cycle of fiscal vulnerabilities. “The implications for citizens and investors are far reaching and include the following: •Mounting inflationary pressures. •Weakening purchasing power. •Worsening poverty conditions. •Further depreciation of the currency. •Deteriorating balance of payments position. •Escalating operating and production costs. •Ability of governments to meet financial obligations , including payment of salaries will be undermined. •Capacity of employers to retain and create jobs will be constrained.” “The extreme hardship that citizens are currently experiencing is partly traceable to the impact of FG’s fiscal rascality.”, said David Adonri, Vice Executive Chairman, Highcap Securities Limited, stressing that the current fiscal distress of FG arising from structural failures and monetary distress due to forex illiquidity have brought misery to the citizens. “Most worrisome is the reckless borrowing by FG from the CBN through Ways and Means advances which stands at about N21 trillion. This is about 50% of FG’s total debt exposure of N41 trillion. It fuels inflation because this credit is not predicated on any principle of money creation. It is not tied to production but mainly to finance consumption. “If the current fiscal distress of FG leads to sovereign default, foreign creditors whose funds are currently trapped in Nigeria, can threaten the country’s sovereignty by seizing public assets. Foreign lines of credit can be cut off and Nigeria’s letters of credit may no longer be honoured. If that happens, the impact on production and availability of imported merchandise is better not imagined. “The resultant consequences of macroeconomic instability, dwindling supply of social goods, underproduction, unemployment and loss of investor’s confidence are now challenges confronting citizens.” Common man already paying huge price Commenting as well, Investment Banker/Stockbroker and CEO, Wyoming Capital and Partners, Tajudeen Olayinka, said: “Whatever hurts the economy, hurts the people. The common man is already paying a huge price for poor economic management, through persistent inflation and declining purchasing power. So, the common man will continue to suffer under this disturbing condition, while insecurity could be heightened in the process. Government must pay urgent attention to this disturbing development in Nigeria.” Similarly, Professor Emeritus in Petroleum Economics and Executive Director, Emmanuel Egbogah Foundation, Wumi Iledare, said, “another point is that the public investment to create a level playing field for the rich and poor kids will be badly impacted as federation funding declines. Education will be badly affected because of centralised planning.” More People will fall below poverty level Also weighing in on the worsening financial conditions of the FG, Civil Society Organisations, CSO warned that more Nigerians will fall below the poverty line. ”What do you think is going to be the hope for Nigerians, especially for the many who are below the poverty line?” asked Ene Obi, Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN. ”We know that nearly 50 per cent of Nigerians are below the poverty line and yet we continue to borrow and what they are borrowing for they don’t use the money for it, we don’t even really understand it. Is this something that will bring in more money or you are using it for something that is not productive, there is no industrialization. ”The issue of electricity is still a big problem. We take loans for things that are not productive. It is a very dangerous trend and more and more people will continue to go down the poverty line.”, he warned. The Convener of Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, CDNDC, Ariyo-Dare Atoye, said, “Poor management of the different aspects of the economy in the last seven years has coalesced and dealt a fatal blow to the country’s standard of living. ”Sadly, only the poor masses are suffering the declining trend in government revenue because the ostentatious lifestyle of the greedy elites has not changed. President and Founder, One Love Foundation, OLF, Dr Patrick Eholor, said, “Whatever the FG does as regards to debt or what have you, it will always take its toll on the citizens. “Look at the country, from the least (Grassroots) to the average (Common man), what you will see or hear is that there is hunger in the land, this is because there is no good economic structure on the ground to make business flourish. ”That is why when you look at the rate of employment, what you will see is that companies are not ready to employ because there is not enough money to pay staff and rather than employ they will prefer to over-labour their staff and then in turn underpay them. “That is what you get when a country keeps on borrowing and borrowing and then spends all its earnings on debt servicing.” The Way Forward Speaking on measures to reverse the worsening finances of the FG, Chinenye Almona said: “LCCI has consistently advised the government to borrow from cheaper sources and also to consider deficit financing from equity instead of the expensive debts borrowed and used for recurrent expenditures. “The commercialization model proposed for the NNPC Limited is the right direction to go. Once this plan succeeds next year, it should be replicated with other national corporate assets scattered across the country.” Muda Yusuf, of CPPE also said: “We need to undertake the following: Urgently reform government expenditure in line with prevailing realities. Address fiscal leakages at all levels of government. “Reform the foreign exchange market to attract private capital into the economy and stem the volatility of the currency. “Review the trade policy to moderate the pressure on manufacturers, especially with respect to intermediate inputs. “Address the growing insecurity to reverse the sharp declines in agricultural output and soaring food prices. Address the challenge of oil theft which is affecting our oil output and foreign exchange earnings.” According to CEO, Wyoming Capital and Partners, “It is either the government would have to increase taxes or withdraw completely from the subsidy regime, while also cutting back on expenditures. “All of these decisions at this time would hurt the economy more. I think what is more appropriate to do at this time, is to put the economy on a normal course of adjustment. “That is, to face reality, by simultaneously reducing current public sector dominance and increasing private sector participation.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/08/economic-crisis-what-to-expect-in-the-coming-days-experts/

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The protracted absence on medical grounds of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has stoked fears of a full-blown political crisis at the heart of Africa’s most populous nation. The 74-year-old former army general left Abuja for London on January 19, leaving Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in charge while he took time off. But on the eve of his return earlier this month, it was announced that he was prolonging his stay to enable him to collect the results of unspecified medical tests. Speculation, inevitably, went into over-drive that he may no longer be fit for the top job, and despite multiple claims he is well, the government has struggled to seize back the initiative. For many, the situation revives memories of the situation seven years ago, when president Umaru Yar’Adua fell ill and later died while receiving treatment abroad. It also once again lays bare the fragile divide between the majority Muslim north and the predominantly Christian south that characterises Nigeria and underpins political and daily life. Succession to power at the federal level is seen as a balancing force between the two regions. In 2010, it was the southern Christian former university professor Goodluck Jonathan who deputised for the northern Muslim Yar’Adua: now it is Osinbajo for Buhari. When Yar’Adua died, his supporters prevented Jonathan from taking over. The argument ran that the north would be short-changed if a southerner was allowed to complete Yar’Adua’s term of office. It took a deft move by parliament to get Jonathan to assume power and prevent a major political melt-down. – What if? – Buhari has repeatedly had to deny opposition claims that he is seriously unwell with claims ranging from prostate cancer to kidney disease. Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) even announced on its official Twitter account last year that he had died. The presidency said he had a persistent inner ear infection. Conversation in Nigeria has in recent weeks has revolved around “what if?” scenarios: what if Buhari were unable to carry on? What if he were to die in office? What if the north once again lost out on power to the south? How would it affect the choice of candidates for the next presidential elections in 2019? Political analysts, however, dismiss the possibility of a re-run of the Yar’Adua/Jonathan scenario. “There is a whole lot of difference between what happened during Yar’Adua’s time and what is happening now,” said Professor Abubakar Sadiq, from the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. “There was a leadership vacuum under Yar’Adua because he did not hand over to his deputy… and a cabal bent on hijacking power prevented Jonathan from taking over,” he told AFP. Yar’Adua’s illness was hidden from the public until he died and his body was brought back to Nigeria in the middle of the night, the political scientist noted. “Nobody was allowed to see Umaru. But Buhari in his own case, handed over to his deputy. So, there is no way we will have a repeat of that ugly episode,” he added. – ‘Zoning’ out – Rotating power — or “zoning” as it’s called in Nigeria — has long been assumed to be part of the constitution and at the heart of the Yar’Adua crisis. But experts said it never has been and was only PDP policy. Now Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) is in power, there is theoretically no reason why anyone of any ethnicity, religion or political affiliation can’t be president. Osinbajo, a trained lawyer who has long been in charge of economic policy, has widely been seen to be competent, travelling across the country and abroad, and chairing meetings. “If the unexpected happens, Osinbajo should assume the full mantle of leadership,” said Sadiq. Politics lecturer Dapo Thomas, of Lagos state university, agreed there was no cause for concern and said the constitution was “very clear” on the succession, should it come to that. “If the president cannot continue because of ill health, incapacitation or death, his vice will take over,” he explained. The slew of photographs in recent days of Buhari meeting delegations of well-wishers in London should go a long way to show he was not as ill as some have suggested, he added. Buhari’s illness had been politicised, he said, adding: “What is happening is dirty politics by mischief-makers… working to ensure that the government fails.” Buhari, who headed a military government in the 1980s, has been struggling to rid Nigeria of the endemic corruption that has blighted its development and plunged the country into recession. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/buharis-health-sparks-fresh-debate-leadership-nigeria/

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By Emma Amaize and Godwin Oghre SAPELE- ENRAGED youths, numbering over 2,000, armed with battleaxes, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons went on rampage, Friday, sacking and inflicting injuries on over 50 Muslims at the Hausa quarters, Sapele in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State. A northern security guard was shot dead in a separate incident by a gang of armed robbers that attacked a school in Sapele on Thursday. Vanguard gathered that the youths were incensed by the uninhibited attacks on churches and killing of Christians in the northern part of the country by the Islamic Boko Haram sect. Two of the persons suspected to have carried out the onslaught were, however, arrested by the police in Sapele. There was pandemonium following the attack on Muslims, who were ordered to vacate the town in their own interest since Boko Haram members had also issued ultimatum to Christians to leave the north. Secretary of a Muslim Media group in Sapele, Sadiq Oniyesaneyene Musa who spoke to Vanguard on the attacks by Sapele youths said, “We are disturbed by this attack on Muslims in Sapele and the order that all Muslims in Sapele should return to the north. I am a Muslim and an Itsekiri from Delta state, where do they want me to go to, this is my homeland”. Musa said the youths besieged Muslims in the town very close to the mosque that was bombed, last year, and injured a lot of faithful. “We called the director of the State Security Service, SSS, Asaba and the Area Commander and they responded. The Joint Task Force, JTF, on the Niger-Delta also deployed soldiers to take care of the situation”, he said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/over-50-injured-as-angry-youths-attack-muslims-in-sapele/

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By Dapo Akinrefon A founding member and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State, Mr. Charles Idahosa, on Friday, advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State to accept defeat in good faith and join hands with Governor Godwin Obaseki in the interest of the state. Speaking on the Supreme Court ruling which affirmed Obaseki as the governor of the state and dismissed the certificate forgery brought against him by APC, Idahosa, a former Commissioner for Information in the state also advised the APC to wait till 2024 when the next governorship election in the state will hold. He also appealed to APC leaders in the state, especially Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of the state to set the people of Edo free and stop holding them hostage with all manners of lies that Obaseki will be removed and APC will return to power in the state. He said prior to Friday’s judgment, APC leaders have been jubilating while assuring the people of Edo that plans have been perfected to remove Governor Obaseki from office because he accused the federal government of printing money to fund shortfalls in federation account. He said: “I knew it was going to be like that. I knew the governor was going to win but I want to appeal to APC leaders and supporters to stop misleading my people. I want them to let my people go; let them be free because they are putting them through mental torture especially during the COVID-19 period. They have been fooling the people and I am saying ‘enough is enough’. “For the past one month in Benin, they have been wining and dining. They even slaughtered cows to celebrate in anticipation of today’s judgment. They claimed all sorts of things that they already knew that APC will win because Obaseki is in the bad books of the federal government. They claimed that Obaseki will be removed because he accused the federal government of printing money. They said the cabals in the presidency have assured them that Obaseki must go”. “I remembered that I told our people then not to panic or listen to them. I said Nigeria is not a banana republic where the executive arm of government will be dictating to the Supreme Court. Infact, up to two hours before this judgment, APC members were jubilating all over Edo, saying they won the election and their candidate will be sworn-in tomorrow”. “They even said Obaseki has moved his belongings out of Government House while others said he has run out of town. They were saying what happened in Imo state will happen in Edo but they forgot that Edo is not Imo”. “I feel so sorry for them and I still want to appeal to them to let my people go. When the election was going to take place, Adams Oshiomhole was boasting about using federal might. He showed them the result of an election that has not taken place. Because of his boast, 43 political appointees of Obaseki left. Many threw their careers to the dustbin”. “ After they lost the election, they kept boasting again that the Tribunal will upturn the result. I fear that with this judgment and the lies they have been told, some of them may attempt suicide today”. “My advice to them now is to join hands with the governor to move Edo forward and if they are not ready for that, let them prepare for 2024 when the next governorship election will hold” . Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/05/obasekis-s-court-victory-wait-till-2024-idahosa-tells-apc/

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File: IDPs in Dikwa A full truck of relief materials sent to Taraba state for distribution to the Internal Displaced Persons IDPs by President Muhamadu Buhari have been declared missing by the permanent secretary Taraba state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) The permanent secretary Mr Nuvalga Dan-Habu disclosed this while conducting journalists round the venue where the relief materials were stored for self keeping in Jalingo Taraba state capital. The Presidential relief materials sent to Taraba state for IDPs have recently generated controversy and war of wards between the minister for women and social development Sen. Aisha Arhasan and Taraba state government when the permanent secretary refused to release the materials to the minister for distribution. Aisha was in the state to flag off the distribution of the materials to IDPs while on her five days official visit in the state, the state government refused to release materials to her, she also accused the state government of inflicting unnecessary hardship on the IDPs by holding on the materials. Nuvalga stated that few weeks ago he received a phone call from the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA North East zonal office Gombe, he was informed that twenty (20) trucks of relieve materials (Maize) were been sent by President Muhamadu Buhari for IDPs in Taraba state and the materials were on the way from Abuja to Taraba state. He said the NEMA zonal office directed that the Taraba state Emergency Agency should take the stock of the materials for self keeping for letter distribution to the IDPs. Nuvalga further disclosed that a truck of the relieve materials loaded six hundred (600) bags of Maize in each. He stated that instead of the twenty trucks as directed and informed by the Gombe zonal office of NEMA, only nineteen (19) trucks of the materials arrived Jalingo. He said when the nineteen trucks arrived Jalingo he called the zonal office and informed them of the details of the stuck the Agency received in Jalingo. While stating up till the time of briefing journalist the remaining truck was yet to arrived. “Instead of receiving 12,000 bags of Maize as we were informed by NEMA, only 11,400 reached us, a truck loaded 600 bags and it was only 19 trucks that reached to us although I informed NEMA promptly on the development” When asked why the State refused to release the materials to the minister for distribution, the permanent secretary said Sen. Aisha did not follow the Normal procedures on how to get the materials been released to her for distribution to the IDPs. “When I was contacted that materials were on the way, I briefed my boss who is the governor of Taraba state, who am answerable to, when the minister came into the state she called me, directing me to release the materials to her for onward distribution to IDPs then I told her that NEMA did not direct me to handover the materials to her and she should contact my boss to smoothen the process but she refused” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/full-truck-of/

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A scene at the Tottenham riot in UK By Uduma Kalu Nigerians living in London have blamed African leaders for the riots that has rocked the United Kingdom since last Saturday. According to them, the riots which were allegedly led by 99 percent blacks, was a reaction to years of poor leadership in Africa and the harsh economic realities in the United Kingdom also. British austerity measures have hit low-income areas like Tottenham hard. Theone week riots were fuelled by the killing of a black man, Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old father of four, fatally shot Thursday night last week in North London’s Tottenham Hale section. Duggan, who was a passenger in a minicab at the time of the shooting, was initially stopped as a part of an initiative to recover illegal guns in the area. Although an illegal firearm was found at the scene and initial reports suggested a gun was fired at police, The Guardian of London asserts that ballistic reports now show that all of the gunfire came from police. After Duggan was shot, his family and the Tottenham community were in shock. A peaceful protest was planned for Friday evening, and the family wanted to meet with police officials to get answers about the shooting. However, police reps refused to meet with them and the protests turned violent. However, as the riots subside, Nigerians in England and at home are counting their losses. Already, media reports say a Nigerian was killed in the riots. And this was just days after Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Dalhatu Tafida, said there were no reason for Nigerians to fear following the on-going riots in Hackney and Peckham areas of London. Yet, the Ghana-Nigeria friendly in Watford, England was cancelled as London was hit by four nights of rioting and looting, the worst in 25 years. The UK police said it could not guarantee the safety of both players and fans as the riots continued to spread across the country. As the riots spread, President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly offered help to UK PM David Cameron. Jonathan was said to have promised to assist by sending Nigerian police to England to help quell the riots, to the chagrin of some Nigerians who think that he should stop the Boko Haram bombing in the country first. Nigerians in the UK speaking on the riots said, “So many Blacks are away from their homelands, primarily because of present and past administrators/rulers/presidents. Black nations have never thought it wise to create conditions that will enable a majority of their citizens to find self-actualizing opportunities in their own countries. The acting out and destructive behaviour you see in the demonstrations is probably out of frustrations of not finding oneself in a foreign land and the prospects of achieving the same in the homeland is even more remote.” The riots spread throughout London and beyond. But there arose racial dimension to the riots also as photos showed more of black people looting homes and shops. However, houses, cars, and businesses were burned and at least hundreds of people were arrested. Looters smashed their way into stores and stole merchandise, and groups attacked police. Groups of young people who said they were fed up by the treatment they receive by police, allegedly drove the riots. It was in the midst of this that a young Nigerian man chatting with a woman at a bus stop was shot dead when an argument erupted. Reports said Daniel Famakinwa, 20, was waiting with friends for a bus in West Norwood after a night out when a row broke out with another group of young men. He was shot just after 4.15 on Saturday morning. As other people fled, the woman Famakinwa had been talking to stayed with him to try and help. However, she left when police arrived and is one of several people murder squad detectives are urging to come forward. The shooting took place in Waylett Place at the junction with Norwood Road. Famakinwa from Manor Park in east London was taken to King’s College Hospital where he died over an hour later. Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Goode said: “We know Daniel had been out dancing that night with a group of friends and afterwards they were waiting for a bus. There was an altercation between Daniel’s group and another group of black men who were also waiting at the bus stop which has resulted in Daniel being killed. ”I would urge anyone who was in the area at the time, and who may have seen or heard anything suspicious, to come forward as you may hold significant information. ”We are specifically appealing for a white woman in a checked shirt who was also at the bus stop, and who had no connection to either group, to come forward. She understandably made off at the time but we need her to contact police – she may have vital information. ”We also want to trace a young black woman who was speaking to Daniel immediately prior to the shooting, and was present through the incident and stayed behind to help. However she left before police arrived and again we need to speak with her as a matter of urgency. ”I believe there were also a number of other black women at the bus stop who fled after the incident, and again we need them to come foreword and make themselves known.” Not many Nigerians have heard about the Famakinwa death. In fact, as the riots raged, Nigerians were waiting to be blamed for the London crisis but were happy that they were not named. A report said, “As members of mandem and hoodgirls gangs and their parents lay waste to parts of North London over the weekend, Nigerian communities braced themselves to be blamed for the rioting and looting. But in an unexpected development, the London Metropolitan Police has not named Nigerians as the main suspects behind the wanton display of criminality. Baba Ijebu, a long time Tottenham resident, commented on the issue: “My son was afraid to go to work today because he thought the newspapers will be full of ‘Nigerians done it’ stories, but for once we are not to blame. We thank God!” However, President Jonathan was alleged to have offered to assist UK PM David Cameron with policemen to quell the riots. David Cameron last Thursday told MPs the riots in cities across England were “criminality pure and simple”, but there were “far too few police” on the streets. More than 1,500 arrests have been made since the unrest began on Saturday. Tottenham is the most ethnically diverse area in all of the U.K., where, according to the last British census, some 300 languages are spoken. Large communities of Colombians, Congolese, Albanian, Kurdish, Turkish-Cypriot, Turkish, Somalis, Irish and Portuguese all call Tottenham home. And given the area has the highest unemployment rates in the city – especially amongst the young — it’s not surprising that rival ethnic gangs have staked out complicated territories here and that youth mob vigilanteism is common. So, it is perhaps unsurprising that Tottenham High Street became Ground Zero for the riots that have swept across London this week. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/08/nigerians-lose-one-to-london-riots-blame-african-leaders/

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BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI LAGOS — LAGOS State Government has embarked on measures to eradicate defaecation in public places by adopting the Community Led Total Sanitation, CLTS, model. CLTS model seeks to eradicate open defaecation and promote household latrine construction. The CLTS approach is used globally for scaling up sanitation and has been piloted in Nigeria and found to be appropriate in scaling up sanitation with contributions of all stakeholders. Commissioner for Rural Development, Cornelius Ojelabi, said yesterday, at a six-day Train the Trainers’ Workshop on CLTS held in Lekki, Lagos, saying government was adopting the model to eradicate open defaecation in the state, while government would concentrate on providing sanitation facilities in public places. “The adoption of this model is sequel to the global and national successes recorded by the approach and our quest for excellence,” adding that the adoption would help to improve sanitary condition of communities in Lagos. “Lagos State aims to be one of the top ten megacities in the world in terms of living indices. “To achieve this noble desire, there is need to intensify efforts to scale up sanitation, most especially as a proactive measure to the report of WHO/UNICEF joint monitoring programme for water and sanitation which states that about 1.1 billion people in the world still defecate openly and that 81 per cent of the reported data is accounted for by just 10 countries in the world, of which Nigeria is inclusive,” he stated Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/lagos-to-eradicate-public-defaecation/

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Fuel: Buhari rejects marketers’ demand for price increase - Price increase - Total deregulation of petroleum products - Payment of outstanding subsidy - Creation of special window for Forex from CBN - Presentation of request for payment of outstanding subsidy to National Assembly - Creating opportunity for the establishment of modular refineries - No return to era of fuel subsidy A subtle move by marketers for the federal government to increase fuel price appears to have failed. President Muhammadu Buhari is not disposed to the proposal, The Nation gathered yesterday. He is also saying No to the re-introduction of fuel subsidy, sources said. The pressure on government to effect a rise in petroleum price from N145 per litre is coming amidst the current acute fuel scarcity across the country. Hundreds of thousands of motorists, for the fifth day running yesterday, kept searching for petrol wherever they could get it at any cost. Commuters, many of whom went shopping for Christmas, were made to pay high fares for transport to their destinations. Many others had to walk long distances. Well placed government sources said the administration is concentrating on finding permanent solutions to the recurring fuel crisis including checkmating sabotage by some marketers and stakeholders, and putting all the nation’s 23 depots in 100 per cent shape. It was gathered that marketers are still unwilling to import products because of low or insignificant profit margin. They are seeking full deregulation of petroleum products. Key players in the petroleum industry attribute the fuel crisis in the country to agitation for price hike by marketers, disruption of the supply chain, and sabotage by some stakeholders to force the government to deregulate the sector further. One of the sources said: “The key issue is price war. The marketers have made representation to the federal government and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to allow price hike of petroleum products and leave the sector to market forces. “The President and senior government officials are however opposed to price hike because of its spiral effects on the socio-economic life of the nation. It also has grave political implications for the survival of the present government. “In the last few months, the government has been trying to cope through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) until there was stress in the supply chain following threats by PENGASSAN and the challenge in Lagos.” Another stakeholder, speaking on the price war, said: “We import refined products as a nation. Once the prices of crude increase at the international market, they have effects on the cost of refined products being brought into our country. “The landing cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is between N165 and N170 per litre. The marketers are claiming that the profit margin is insignificant and they cannot recover cost, they say they need to top up prices since they no longer enjoy subsidy. “Initially, the same marketers said they had subsidy arrears to collect from the government and they will not import products. The arrears have not been appropriated for by the National Assembly and there was nothing the government can do.” But a government source said: “To mitigate the issues raised by the marketers, this administration put some measures in place. For instance, the government created a special foreign exchange window for the marketers to enable them to import products. “Instead of using the forex, some of them diverted it to other use. In order not to hold the nation into ransom by the marketers, NNPC in the last one and a half years has been importing 99.9% of products. This sole importation also drains the resources of NNPC but it has to sacrifice to ensure availability of products. “And if NNPC imports, it sells to marketers but they are still complaining of low profit margin. The importation chain has its own stress because for the storage of the products, NNPC can only accommodate 55% of the products. The oil majors cater for 30% and independent marketers take charge of about 15%. So, at any point, these marketers are still needed. “The alternative is for all the nation’s 23 depots to be operating at maximum capacity to check the antics of the marketers.” A minister, who should know, also said the government was suspecting sabotage by some stakeholders. His words: “Before the present crisis, the nation used to consume between 30million to 35million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily but since this current challenge started, the consumption has shot up to 80million litres per day. “Without a soothsayer, it is obvious that something had gone wrong. We cannot just rule out sabotage including diversion of products.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/fuel-crisis-buhari-rejects-marketers-demand-price-hike/

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*Northern leaders ‘ve to check their youths By Bashir Adefaka General Yakubu Dan-Yumma Gowon (Jack), GCFR, Nigeria’s former Military Head of State (1966 – 1975) is seldom available. Not in the sense of foreign trips; he is enmeshed in innumerable engagements in the good interest of the nation. At 76, the former ruler is often oblivious of the natural call for the required rest an ageing septuagenarian of his stature should have. Not a strong fighter for One Nigeria like Jack Gowon would leave fire on the roof-top and then go to bed. He believes that, as a father-figure of Nigeria, it would be too irresponsible to do so. The main reason, at 76, he never leaves any stone unturned in trying to help engender peace situation in the country. The mantle fell on what a commentator described as “his slim shoulders” at the age of 32 (in 1966) to lead Nigeria after the second coup and during his regime, the monumental structures on which successive governments have struggled to build upon were laid. Born October19, 1934 in Lur, Plateau State, General Gowon had his first education at St. Bartholomew’s School, Wasasa, Zaria between 1939 and 1949. He moved from there to the Government College, Zaria where he obtained his school certificate in 1953. As Head of State he had to grapple with Civil War considered by the Supreme Military Authority under him as capable of threatening the continuous togetherness of the entity called Nigeria. And he fought the war with his sixth sense to bring Nigeria back together as one through his ‘no victor, no vanquished’ approach. He would never agree he won the Civil War. Not even last Wednesday night when he had to respond to questions posed by Vanguard. He maintained, “It was not a fight against enemies; I mean you see brothers fighting to keep the country together. And in the end, that was what happened. Nobody won, nobody lost.” No wonder the exemplary legacy that has cohabited with his name “Go On With One Nigeria (GOWON). Excerpts: At a time Nigerians detest military and are talking negative about former military leaders, you stand out and your achievements as military Head of State are widely celebrated all over the country. How did you do it? I give the credit and credence to Nigerian people. They wanted something good and we worked together to get it. They didn’t leave me alone to it; they were quite supportive, they advised me quietly and I was the only one seen in the public doing the job. In most cases, they gave me a lot of advice on the pages of newspapers, which I made use of and which really, I must say, helped me in the many achievements that I made. Civil servants many a time are accused of sabotaging the effort of government leaders. What was the quality of civil servants like at your time? The civil servants at my time rendered quality-based services. They were very cooperative, loyal and committed. And the politicians, everybody was cooperating. And then you know, back to your question about my achievements, I can assure you honestly speaking, to me, I give them back to the people. The fact I took the welfare of the people as one of the priorities of my government was for nothing but for the mere fact of realising it was my duty as a leader. Because, by then, I tried to the best of my capacity to think much and work more on their welfare instead of the good of my personal self and that was appreciated by them. And it was greatly appreciated by the people and so they were supporting me always. It was because my government was performing to the satisfaction of the people that the people had confidence in me and supported me without much ado. And it was because they supported me that I was not sabotaged. That was how I was able to achieve what I achieved. But it was your government that fought the Civil War… I know we had to fight but it was not a fight of hatred. It was not a fight against enemies; I mean you see brothers fighting to keep the country together. And in the end, that was what happened. Nobody won, nobody lost. It became quite clear that your ‘no victor no vanquished’ approach to resolving the Civil War issue was a leadership style of achieving a One Nigeria without feeling of guilt by any side. But the Nigeria’s unity you fought hard to achieve about 41 years ago is being threatened by sectional, political and religious crises here and there. What is your feeling about it and what is the way out? Quite frankly, one regrets the incidences of violence by man against humanity. I thought frankly since we went in and had been able to come out of the Civil War, that Nigerians should forget acts of violence against one another and settle down properly to live in peace with one another. It is my sincere thought that after the Civil War, again, that we would begin to love one another and love our country by putting hatred aside. If you do that you would always be thinking of the interest of the country and good of the people. That all this show of hatred still happens years after the Civil War is highly regrettable. The solution to it is that, Nigerians have to be patriotic and be faithful to their country. Instead of using tribe, politics or religion as tool for violence, they should see it the other way by using it to buttress their loyalty and patriotism to their country, Nigeria. We’ve got to learn, especially through the two religions that we have, how to be able to live together and do things together in peace loving each other. That I think has worked out really in the West where they have a lot of religious differences and yet, they don’t seem to be a serious issue. They don’t go on fighting each other but they live side by side respecting each other, marrying each other, et-cetera. Unfortunately in the North that is not the case. I think the leadership in the North, especially the leadership at the lower level should really rein in their young militants to ensure that they do not have the hearts of violence against their brothers whether of the same religion or of other religion. You know, that leadership, unfortunately, they are the ones that talk to those people and encourage them to do what they are doing. Certainly at very high level, the feeling is against that sort of things. But I’m afraid down the level especially the political, the religious, they seem to encourage that sort of thing. And I appeal to them to really look seriously after the issues and try to calm these excesses and rein in their followers on how they should think of the good of themselves and the good of people of other tribes, religion and whatsoever. Could you tell us little about your childhood and how you really started out in life? I was born into a disciplined background of a religious parenthood. I was brought to be righteous, religious and to be a good person. And then I went to school, which was a mission school and then I went to train as a soldier and as an officer in the Army. All I can tell you is that I started out in life with the mindset of trying to be a good citizen, a good officer and a good Nigerian to the nation and to the community where I came from. My training as a soldier and as an officer really instilled in me that commitment, loyalty and patriotism for my country. And I think that was why really I was able to feel and readily take up that challenge when the country was to break up and I had to do something to check and stop it. Luckily, that, we were able to do with the cooperation of the good, quality people I was blessed to be able to put together in my cabinet and with the support of the generality of the Nigerian people. That was how I started out in life. Those training projected me to be a good person in the future and, for this, I will forever be grateful to my parents, my community, my church and of course my school. At a very young age ever recorded of any Nigerian you rose to the highest office as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Yes. And for that I thank God. When that leadership reality dawned on you and you took office, what did you have in mind to make of Nigeria as an achievement you could be remembered for? You would want to achieve the best for your country but I believe you can’t achieve all. You only try your part and leave the rest. However, I wanted to develop Nigeria and of course I wanted to keep Nigeria together as one and by so doing we were able to get young Nigerians to serve together in areas other than their places of birth so that they could know one another, get used to what ordinarily could have been differences among them and live together with that understanding in peace and tranquility. That was what I did with my establishment of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). It is only sad that recently some youth corps members had to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the country in trying to ensure that the nation moved forward through credible, free and fair electoral process. I must say that the loss of lives of those young people in parts of our country in the service of their nation hasn’t portrayed those responsible for the sad development as loyal and patriotic people. It is barbaric and I believe, by the pains that followed, we have learnt our lessons, the more reason we should not rage at arms or rage for whatever reason against each other. To me, I think the government should do something about it because, seriously speaking, it is sad. Mine is to see a peaceful Nigeria, a developed Nigeria, a Nigeria that can really and notably be counted in the group of developed countries of the world. Okay? I’m okay. Except that Your Excellency has not told us why you did not marry until you had got to office as Head of State… It had to do with my busy schedule, moving round because of the nature of my profession. And again, even at the time I took over as head of state, the crisis (civil war) caught us at a wrong time. I had to face it squarely and so, there was no time for frivolous things. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/05/41-years-enough-to-heal-wounds-of-civil-war-gowon/

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By Chioma Gabriel, Deputy Editor Discordant tunes are rising from the North, distorting the once political homogeneity of that part of the country ahead of next month’s elections, particularly the presidential race. Facing President Goodluck Jonathan in the election are the likes of General Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, pioneer Chairman, EFCC, and Governor Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano). The once powerful Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, is sharply divided, its chairman, General Ibrahim Haruna having been sacked over his perceived support for President Goodluck Jonathan; while the recently formed Northern Political Leaders Forum, NPLF, appears unsteady after some of its members were taken in by the State Security Service, SSS, over alleged plot to “poison” President Jonathan. A new group has since emerged, called Northern Stakeholders, which says NPLF should not be trusted. Meanwhile, elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai says the North “has not chosen anybody to speak for it.” NPLF yet to decide — Bello The Secretary General of NPLF, Mallam Abdulkadir-Bello says it is not true that the group has decided to throw in its lot with President Jonathan. Mallam Bello who was one of the NPLF members quizzed by the SSS said: “ The NPLF has not yet decided on whether to support Jonathan candidacy or not. The decision day by NPLF was the day I was arrested. But we would meet very soon on that. But seriously speaking, there could be 5th columnists either on our side or their side trying to disrupt whatever move either of the groups is trying to make. It’s strange, baseless and ordinarily ,common sense would have revealed that some people are out to achieve an ulterior motive. We don’t trust NPLF,–Northern Stakeholders Forum However, a member of the newly formed Northern Stakeholders Forum said: NPLF and Atiku want to enter an agreement with Jonathan which we in Northern Stakeholders Forum, are opposed to. Our aim is not to support Jonathan but to bring together all the progressive forces in the North. Our activities have seriously dented Adamu Ciroma whose wife is out there campaigning vigorously for Jonathan. Ciroma should not be pretending he is not supporting Jonathan when his wife is out there doing so. Why would Bibi Farouk want to kill Jonathan? Why would they want to do that and how? Does Jonathan go about drinking or eating anyhow ? They are trying to revive their legitimacy. That is why no group from the North is raising dust over the harassment of NPLF members. To us, the harassment was stage managed . “Our group is against insulting Jonathan but our main agitation is for all presidential candidates from the North to step down for one candidate. It is either we have Buhari or Ribadu or Shekarau or John Dara even though the last two are not significant players because they do not pose any threat. John Dara, is an eloquent man but not a threat to any presidential candidate. “This arrest is stage-managed, plotted to prepare ground to enter Jonathan’s government. We pointed out the inconsistencies of Ciroma in the past . Ciroma has no electoral value and cannot deliver a ward. Even Jonathan has come to accept that fact. Arresting them is giving them credibility so as to pave the way for working with Jonathan. Why would they poison Jonathan? . It is an insult to our credibility. And come to think of it, no Northern group raised hell over these arrests and is that not telling you something? Something is fishy here. We don’t play politics in ACF – Aliko Mohammed, ACF Chairman Alhaji Aliko Mohammed who replaced IBM Haruna as Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum says: “Our points in politics are well known and of course, we will prefer a Northern presidential candidate. We have three Northern presidential candidates in the persons of Buhari, Ribadu and Shekarau who are also members of ACF. The PDP has got theirs and in their constitution, they talked about zoning which they are not keeping. Sambo attended our meeting last week Tuesday like other members. We have not decided on any of the Northern presidential candidates. They are politicians and ACF is not about politics. ACF is not like NPLF which is a Northern political group led by Ciroma who is a member of PDP. ACF cannot speak on SSS arrest of NPLF members because they are politicians and members of PDP. It’s not ACF’s problem because they are not being hounded as members of ACF. It’s a political issue and not a matter for ACF.” Nobody is mandated to speak for the North — Yakassai Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, elderstatesman says nobody is mandated to speak for the North on presidency 2011. “The North has not chosen anybody to speak for it. There are three people vying for this position and every one of them is sponsored by a political party that is made up of people who believe in its manifestoes. These people are national presidential candidates, not Northern political candidates. We have the NPLF who are people in the PDP who decided to set up a committee to pick one of them as a consensus presidential candidate. It was entirely a matter for PDP. The three candidates from the North are candidates of Nigeria and they are supported by their parties. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/03/april-polls-who-speaks-for-the-north/

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DCP Abba Kyari By Kingsley Omonobi Former Head of Police Intelligence Response Team, DCP Abba Kyari, currently on suspension on Tuesday appeared before the Special Investigation Panel, headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in-charge of the Force Criminal Investigations Department, Joseph Egbunike. Sources said the SIP which is sitting at the Force headquarters Conference room had DCP Kyari presenting his defence to the indictment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the US to the SIP members until about 9 pm on Tuesday night. Following the constitution of the panel by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, the panel had a meeting on Monday but commenced proceedings on Tuesday. Kyari is under investigation for his alleged involvement in a $1.1m Internet fraud perpetrated by fraudster, Abbas Ramon, popularly known as Hushpuppi, and five others. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/fbi-indictment-dcp-abba-kyari-appears-before-dig-egbunike-panel/

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…say Yar’Adua has declared himself unfit By Ise-Oluwa Ige ABUJA—An Abuja-based constitutional lawyer, Mr Kayode Ajulo, has invoked the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal high court sitting in Abuja, asking it to declare, without further delay, Dr Jonathan Goodluck as the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the account that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had duly informed the leadership of the National Assembly through his 12 January 2010 broadcast of his temporary inability to perform the functions of his office. Ajulo is the fourth and the latest litigant in the legal quest by majority of Nigerians to ensure that the ailing President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua steps down on the account of his ill-health to enable Jonathan begin the performance of presidential functions in his own right as acting president in line with the provision of section 145 of the 1999 constitution. Ajulo invoked the original jurisdiction of the court on a day radical Lagos lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, tendered the transcript of the same 12 January 2010 broadcast by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in court to invite Justice Adamu Bello, the new judge, to hold that it amounted to a written declaration as required by section 145 of the 1999 constitution to allow his vice begin to perform the presidential functions as acting president. Falana tendered Yar’Adua’s speech in court He said although the Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Michael Kaase Andoakaa, SAN, had refused to answer the seven questions he served on him about the health status of Yar’Adua, he said the president had saved the situation by transmitting the required written declaration to the appropriate authourities through the BBC broadcast, the transcript now published by Nigerian newspapers, to the effect that he would not be able to perform the functions of his office for now until otherwise advised to so do by his doctors. He is urging the court not to waste time to okay his request by declaring Jonathan as the acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria so that he could start to perform the functions of the office in his own right. In the fresh originating summons already lodged at the registry of the Abuja Federal high court, the constitutional lawyer, Ajulo, is also inviting the court to hold that the Yar’Adua’s broadcast to Nigerians, including the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, the transcript of which had been received and read by them, amounted to activation of the provisions of section 145 of the 1999 constitution. Vanguard recalled that Yar’Adua had indeed addressed the nation on 12 January, this year at a time when rumour of his death since 10 December 2009 in Saudi Arabia as reported by American Chronicle, was rife. The most outspoken member of the Federation Executive Council, FEC, Chief Michael Andoakaa had earlier told Nigerians that the president was not dead and that he was fit both in body and mind to continue governance. In fact, he told all that cared to listen, including the Abuja Federal high court through several affidavits that Yar’Adua was okay and he is empowered by section 5(1) to govern the country from anywhere in the world. But the President himself came out to say on the 12 January 2010 that it was not true that he was medically fit to govern. He said he was sick and that he was hoping that he would soon get well to be able to perform the functions of his office. He said presently, his doctors advised him against shouldering the heavy burden of the office. He said as much as he wanted to continue in office, he told Nigerians, including the leadership of the National Assembly who ought to know the status of his health by virtue of the provisions of section 145 of the 1999 constitution that he would not be able to govern until his doctors okayed him fit. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/01/18/declare-jonathan-acting-president-by-ajulo-falana/

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How I recovered without infecting anybody, by Edo Speaker Edo State House of Assembly Speaker Frank Okiye on Thursday spoke about his recovery from Coronavirus (COVID-19) after 21 days in isolation without infecting anyone with the deadly virus. Okiye, who addressed reporters in Benin, the state capital, said all he did to prevent infesting his aides, family members and friends with the virus was strict adherence to government guidelines, especially those on social distancing, compulsory use of face masks, among others. The Speaker, who is the index COVID-19 case in Edo State, is among the 10 patients who have fully recovered and discharged after testing negative twice for the virus and treated with support from the state government. Narrating his ordeal, he said: “I came into the country from London through the international airport, via the local airport, and down to Benin Airport with my aides and moved to my house. I was in self-isolation for about three weeks and none of my aides, family members or friends was infested. “That was made possible because we insisted on adherence to all precautionary measures, including social distancing, regular hygiene, and sanitising of the environment. I ensured that if you had anything to do with me, you must wear a face mask. “I was an index case and didn’t infest anybody. I am certain that if we had 10 people like that, the thing wouldn’t have spread as we have it today.” “I want to appeal to you my brothers and sisters to be part of this screening and testing in various centres across the state as it will help to curtail the spread of this deadly virus.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/how-i-recovered-without-infecting-anybody-by-edo-speaker/

Politics

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…Forms alliance with Ambazonian agitators to bring in weapons to actualise secession By our correspondent The increased attacks by members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on security facilities and personnel in the South-East and South-South regions is for sinister motives, a top security circle source has revealed. The top source, which has been deeply involved in events in the two regions in recent months, revealed that the renewed onslaughts being unleashed by Eastern Security Network, the militant wing of IPOB, was clearly to clear the way for members of Ambazonian republic to ship arms to the South-East for the purpose of prosecuting the secession plot by IPOB. The source said: “Of course, we have since discovered that the increased killing of security personnel and the destruction of police stations and prisons as well as the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the South-East and South-South regions is to pave the way for the shipment of a large cache of weapons in to the regions for use by IPOB to actualise Biafran agitation. “The killings and destruction of what the outlawed group sees as possible challenge to its sinister plot are meant to create fear and force security agencies to withdraw along the Cross River-Abia-Anambra-Imo-Enugu-Rivers corridors and create a seamless route for fighters from Cameroun to bring in arms and ammunition to help actualise Biafra secession. “The killing of policemen and officers and the dismantling of police stations and prisons as well as INEC offices along the Cross River-River axis would not have happened if the illegal group had not perfected nefarious plot to flood the area with illegal arms so as to actualise its treasonable ambition. “But the annoying thing is that when they engage in illegal act and attack, kill and destroy government institutions, they mischievously blame those attacks on “Fulani herdsmen’, ‘unknown gunmen’, ‘hoodlums’ and what have you just to whip up sentiments among Nigerians and escape with blood on their hands.” But the discovery of the fresh plot by the outlawed group has heightened fresh security alert in the South-South and South-East to prevent a breakdown of law and order, given the boldness of the terrorists to unleash coordinated attacks on police stations and personnel in the areas in recent weeks. The onslaughts against government security facilities and personnel have increased steadily in recent months that the Abia State Government on Sunday raised the alarm that it had uncovered plots by some elements to carry out an attack in the state. But in a quick reaction, IPOB accused South-East governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and some traditional rulers in the zone of conniving with the Federal Government to blackmail its members with reports of phantom attacks and for helping to identify those they regard as dissidents for possible clampdown and prosecution. Spokesman for IPOB, Emma Powerful, had described the allegation against the group as a plot to tarnish the image of the group’s militant wing, Eastern Security Network, before the world and subdue its goals. The top security source posed some questions for IPOB and their backers, saying “If they are peaceful as they try to portray themselves, why the need for weapons? “You claim you are non-violent, yet you admit you are making weapons. What are the weapons for? Their main aim in all these attacks is to achieve secession, working with a group fighting for Ambazonia Republic in the Republic of Cameroon. “The narrative of the herdsmen is meant to serve as a distraction from the major issue. What is actually happening is a secessionist fight that is building. The herders issue is just a fringe issue. “You can see the recent upsurge in the attacks against security agents in the South East and along the Cross River corridor,” the source said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/05/why-ipob-is-dismantling-security-facilities-in-s-east-s-south/amp/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&__twitter_impression=true

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The Nigeria Police Force has debunked reports that suspended Deputy-commissioner of Police Abba Kyari has been recalled to resume work. Spokesperson for the police, Commissioner Frank Mba dismissed the report. “How can the police recall an officer suspended by the Police Service Commission?, he said. Kyari who was formerly OC SARS and commander of the Inspector-General of police Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT) had been under investigation after being indicted in a scam case involving Abbas Ramon, commonly known as Hushpuppi. The FBI alleged that Kyari connived with Hushpuppi to defraud a Qatari businessman of $1.1m. Giving an update on DCP Kyari’s case on Thursday, the IGP said the embattled officer had been queried and that the police were working with the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Attorney -General of the Federation for appropriate sanction on Kyari. He also explained that the panel constituted to investigate the case had submitted its report to the SGF, Boss Mustapha, for vetting and advice on the findings. The IGP said they recently got feedback from the SGF and were contemplating their next step. He also said he has not received any extradition request for the suspended DCP.

https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2021/10/31/kyari-not-recalled-by-igp-usman-baba-frank-mba/?utm_source=&utm_medium=facebookTesting

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By Aunty Julie I’m in deep shit over relationships. I’m a 35-year-old woman and met a very handsome 43-year-old man. We’ve been dating for five months now and still haven’t slept together. My problem is that in the beginning of our relationship, he asked mhow many men I’ve slept with and worried about how he would react, I lied and told him I’d slept with seven men. But after a few months, I could not live with the lie and finally decided to tell him the reason why I still haven’t slept with him yet. I told him I didn’t want to make love because I was scared that he’d lose respect and eventually leave me like all the other men. At this point he asked me again, just how many men were there, to which I replied forty-three. His reply was, “Hmm, one for each of my birthday.” And from that day on, I never heard from him again. I don’t get it , why is it that when men sleep around, they’re studs , yet when women sleep around, they’re sluts ? Why can’t women have their fun too? I’ve spoken with quite a number of women asking the same question. I don’t want to pass judgment on women, nor am I saying that women shouldn’t enjoy themselves sexually. But men and women are never the same. You expressed fear about losing respect and the way I feel as a woman is that women should be worshiped by their men. An object that has value is worshiped, respected, cherished, and shared with very few deserving people. As soon as you start sharing that object with anyone and without care, the object starts to lose value. The more people use the object, the more it depreciates and the less bargaining power it has: this is a plain psychological fact of life. Most women don’t realize the importance men place on a woman’s promiscuity. Women think that because men don’t care about how many women they’ve slept with, they won’t care about how many men their woman has slept with. But the reality is that most men, those looking for a serious relationship and not a one-night stand do place great value on a woman’s sexual restraint. There was a time when many women cherished their bodies much like a sacred temple where only a noble man, one who respected and loved her, had access to her body. But over time, it seems that women have failed to realize the important role their sexuality plays in finding a long-term mate. Thanks to the women’s movement, women are so busy trying to compete with men, including in the sex department, that they fail to realize the consequences of their actions. Today, it seems that women are the ones who are collecting notches on their Prada belts by giving their bodies away too easily. But if women themselves don’t value their bodies like they used to, why should men? Some women will argue that if men have the right to sleep around, so should women. But I ask only one question: If women adamantly believe this, then why is it that when faced with the question of how many men have they slept with, most women who have slept around with truckloads of men always lie? Some women will rationalize that they must do so because men can’t handle the truth. But if this is the case, why don’t women let men decide for themselves if they can or can’t handle it? Why do women need to lie to protect men’s egos? I think women lie to protect themselves rather than men because if it’s not shame or regret that’s making you hold your tongue, then the potentially dire consequences of the truth surely are. The power lies with women… Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/i-lost-my-man-because-i-slept-with-so-many-men/

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El-Rufai secures $6m loan for light rail, BRT Kaduna State has secured a $6 million loan from Indian Xing Bank to build Kaduna light rail from Rigachikun to Maraban Rido and French concessionary line of credit to build Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said. Addressing the ground breaking of BRT in Kaduna, El-Rufai said as part of the State Government efforts to ease traffic congestion, it conceived a three-prong approach towards solving the transportation problems for efficient human and vehicular movement. He said: ‘’We began to explore the possibility of having a light rail stretching from Rigachikun to Maraban Rido and we made progress securing financing from Indian Xing Bank to the tune of 6 million dollars to execute that project. ‘’We engaged the famous French Transportation Consulting firm, Systra to do the feasibility studies as well as engineering design for the project, however, government has been unable to find someone that will operate the light rail when it is completed. “And we think it is important to do that before we proceed. The second component of the transportation problems is BRT, which the government initially had difficulty in financing the project. The French government kindly stepped in and through its development Agency, AFD offered us a line of credit, a concessionary line of credit to finance this project.’’ El Rufai expressed gratitude to the ‘’government of France as well as the Ambassador and her team for being patient and pushing very hard to get this project to this stage. I’m optimistic that in a couple of years, Kaduna will have a functioning Bus Rapid Transit that will be moving tens of thousands of people every day. “With this project, government will be partnering with the smaller bus operators and Kaduna State Transport Authority to carry most of the traffic of people coming to work and back home every day in the city of Kaduna. We hope with the success of this project, we will extend this to Zaria Metropolitan area and Kafanchan Municipal area and gradually to all our major towns and cities,’’ he said. El-Rufai expressed gratitude to the French government for the support and the Federal Ministry of Finance for guaranteeing the facility concerning the agreement as well as all the agencies that have worked to make this happen. He appreciated the Commissioner for Public Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Thomas Gyang, as well as the Director General of Kaduna State Transport Regulatory Authority, Aisha Saidu Bala, for their efforts. The French Ambassador, Emmanuelle Blatmann, who jointly laid the foundation stone with Governor el-Rufai, in her response, described the project as “ambitious”, and a €110 euro investment. She expressed hope that the Kaduna model will serve as source of reference to other states in the country to emulate. The ambassador said that over 100,000 persons will benefit from the project and over 100,000 commuters will use the service daily. She expressed hoped that this Franco-Nigeria economic cooperation will strengthen further the relationship between Nigeria and France. Governor Nasir El-Rufai and French Ambassador, Emmanuelle Blatmann laying the foundation for the BRT

https://thenationonlineng.net/el-rufai-secures-6m-loan-for-light-rail-brt/?fbclid=IwAR0lS5CAtDjnDl5sNQayfKwSvfuk0i2R58JSagx2tvxZ39fpXIlPJEDRkBA

Politics

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By Olalekan Bilesanmi The National Assembly and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) appear to have emerged as the new battlegrounds for high profile politicians jostling for the 2019 presidential contest. The politicians bid, Sunday Vanguard learnt, is predicated on the assumption that President Muhammadu Buhari, on account of age (he is 72), may not run for second term at the next general elections. Sources at the weekend linked the politicians ambition to the National Assembly leadership crisis. The National Assembly came into the calculations because in the absence of a sitting President who is interested in seeking re-election and a Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is a technocrat, leaders of the National Assembly are in vantage position to use their offices to mobilize support and gain political visibility. The politicians, including governors, it was learnt, were, therefore, wary of allowing senators and Representatives with vast experience, huge resources, wide network and political visibility to emerge as Senate President, Speaker or occupy other principal offices. The attacks launched by a North-West governor on the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and Mr. Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, are believed to be tied to the 2019 presidential race. Analysts say the governor’s fear is that Saraki and Dogara, who are both northerners, may use their offices to traverse the country and build political network that may encourage them to seek the office of the President in 2019. The governor is said to be using his closeness to Buhari to unsettle the political system, including the sharp division he allegedly caused in the NGF and the Northern Governors Forum. Apart from staying away from the meetings of the NGF, sources said he has also refused to recognise the group’s leadership of Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar of Zamfara State. In the same way, it was gathered that he has made it known that he has nothing to do with the Northern Governors Forum led by the Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima. Instead, the particular governor has reportedly encouraged the emergence of a group made up of himself and his counterparts in Katsina and Nasarawa States, Aminu Bello Masari and Umaru Tanko Al-Makura respectively. The trio are said to have labelled themselves as Buhari’s favourite governors. Meanwhile, sources said the governor has been openly boasting that he has Buhari’s word to help him with his presidential ambition in 2019. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/2019-presidency-govs-forum-nass-are-new-battlegrounds/

Politics

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THE rumour over factional leadership of the Igbo socio-cultural organisation in Lagos has been debunked by the body of Ndi- Eze in Lagos, with a declaration that there was only one Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo President in the state To this effect, the body of Ndi-Eze at a conference in Lagos declared that Chief Sunday Ossai was the constitutionally recognised Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo President in Lagos State. Speaking at the conference, Eze Ndigbo Ikosi/Isheri, Eze Ambassador Remi Anyamele who is also the Secretary General, Council of Ndieze Lagos State and Eze Nicholas Njoku Eziokwubundu, Eze Ndi-Igbo of Ejigbo, clarified that “there can never be two presidents because the single term of four years tenure of office, for the erstwhile president of the organization, Lagos State Chapter, has ended and the constitution of Ohaneze does not allow tenure elongation for any position whatsoever”. They stated that Ossai was elected into office as the President of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Lagos State Chapter in 2022 and had asserted that he had all it takes to lead Ndi-Igbo in Lagos. The conference according to them became necessary in order to make clarification on who had the legitimate right to move the social cultural organization forward. They said the conference was also to refute claims by anyone parading himself as the leader of the organization. According to the group: “The consent of court can not be binding on Ohaneze because Igbos don’t rule through the court but utilize the appropriate channels of conflict resolution which entail the people and their heads coming to an agreement through dialogue”. On their part, Chairman of Chairmen, Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo Lagos State, Chief Mike Orji; South West Coordinator of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Chief Everest Ozonweke and Secretary General Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, Lagos State Chapter, Chief Robert Obasi, pledged their allegiance to the leadership of Chief Ossai whom they confirmed to be their authentic president. They stated that the Ime-Obi which was the highest organ of Ndi-Igbo had chosen him. They said: “Chief Ossai’s legitimacy as president of the organisation in Lagos, is hinged on the fact that the President General of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu who took up the mantle of leadership after the death of the former President General, late Professor George Obiozo has come to Lagos on more than two occasions to confirm Chief Ossai as the de facto president in Lagos.” Responding to questions on true leadership, the group’s recognised leader, Ossai, said: “a leader is someone who takes risks for others and who sees himself as a servant to those he is leading and he is an embodiment of that”. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/04/lagos-has-only-one-ohaneze-ndi-igbo-president-igbo-leaders/amp/

Culture

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