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Senator Godswill Akpabio with President Buhari in London on Sunday …says PDP never did one kilometre road in Akwa Ibom By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – FORMER Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswil Akpabio on Monday said that his heart was with President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 election despite the fact he was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Akpabio who was the Senate Minority leader before his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in August stated this when he led elders and leaders of the APC to visit President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He alleged that throughout the PDP’s 16 years in office at the federal level, there was not even one kilometre road project by the federal government in the state. Akpabio who was Chairman PDP Governors Forum enthused that Akwa Ibom will be the first state from South South that will be won be the APC in the 2019 general elections, stressing that already what remained of the PDP in the state was mere carcass as the body and soul of the party had joined the APC. He said that over two hundred and sixty six thousand new members have registered with the APC after him and some other people dumped the PDP. He assured President Buhari that no single indigene of South South will vote against President Buhari in 2019, even as he said that there would not be any defection from the APC that will affect the chances of the party in the forthcoming elections. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/my-heart-was-with-buhari-in-2015-polls-akpabio/

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By Kazeem Ugbodaga The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has fixed Thursday for the governorship supplementary election in Adamawa State. The commission, in a statement on its Twitter handle on Tuesday said it decided to hold the supplementary election in Adamawa following the discharge of the injunction which stopped the supplementary election in the state earlier. The Adamawa State High Court had on Tuesday ordered INEC to conduct supplementary governorship election in Adamawa State. he same court had earlier stopped INEC from conducting the supplementary election in the state. Justice Abdulazeez Waziri of High Court 4, in his ruling said the court had the jurisdiction to continue with the case that gave rise to the order. The candidate of the Movement for Restoration and Defense of Democracy (MRDD), Rev Eric Theman, had sued INEC immediately after the March 9 governorship election in the state, saying he was deprived of his right to be voted for as the logo of his party was not on the ballot paper for the election. He had asked for an order cancelling the election and stopping the supplementary election which INEC fixed for March 26 after it declared the election inconclusive because the margin of lead between the two leading candidates was lower than cancelled votes. The court granted the injunction stopping the conduct of the supplementary election and fixed Tuesday for determination of its jurisdiction over the case, among other things, the Nation reports. At Tuesday’s sitting, Waziri lifted the order against the supplementary election but fixed Wednesday, March 27 to hear the originating motion by MRDD, asking the court to nullify the governorship election conducted on March 9 on the grounds of the logo of his party not being on the ballot paper for the election. However, INEC in a statement said “following the discharge of the injunction which stopped the governorship supplementary election in Adamawa State in the case filed by the MRDD, INEC will now conduct the election on Thursday, 28th March, 2019 from 8.00am to 2.00pm in 29 registration areas, 44 Polling Units across 14 LGAs with a total number of 40,988 registered voters.” Update on Adamawa Governorship Supplementary Election pic.twitter.com/4rSzF5sahB — INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) March 26, 2019

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/03/26/inec-fixes-thursday-for-governorship-supplementary-election-in-adamawa/

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By Esther Onyegbula A man of God (names withheld) has allegedly defrauded a former church member, Ms. Rita Okoro, of N5,000,000, being part of the total sum he had obtained from her and her family members, while pretending to assist in securing the release of her brother, who had been detained by police in Lagos since January 17. It was learned that Ms. Okoro, and her sister, Ngozi, were members of the said prophet’s church, until they discovered that he had been taking advantage of their predicament, like many other members of his church, to exploit and defraud them. Vanguard gathered that Rita and her family are not the only victims of the prophet’s fraudulent activities. However, not many members of his church whom he had defrauded have mustered the courage, like Rita and her family, to speak up. Okoro told Vanguard that sometime in January, following the arrest and indefinite detention of his brother by police operatives from the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Ikeja, Lagos, over an allegation of being an informant to a kidnapping gang, and frustrated by the persistent refusal by SARS to either charge him to court or even allow their family or legal representatives to see him, they approached the prophet for assistance. She said the prophet agreed to help and made calls to a ‘top police officer’ at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. She said the prophet then claimed to have travelled to Abuja and then started demanding money for logistics. She said at different times, she had given money to the prophet and paid some into his account, amounting to N5,000,000. She said: “At this point, we sensed foul play and wrote a petition through Network for Police Reform in Nige-ria, NOPRIN, to Special Fraud Unit, SFU, EFCC and ICPC with a view to assisting me recover my money and to investigate the prophet’s activities.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/prophet-allegedly-swindles-member-of-n5m/#sthash.iZqcvd7b.dpuf

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By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA – The Chibok community under the aegis of Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA) has told the federal government its daughter, Amina Ali who was recently rescued from the grip of Boko Haram is not, and has never been married to any terrorist. The community was reacting to reports that Amina was rescued alongside her ‘husband’, one Mohammed Hayyatu, a Boko Haram suspect. Chairman of the Chibok community in Abuja, Tsambido Hosea Abana handed at a press briefing organized by the Bring Back Our Girls advocacy group in Abuja said, “The Mbalala village, where Amina hails from, and the Chibok community as a whole welcome Amina and accept her wholeheartedly with her child, while we await all others still in captivity.” “It is noteworthy, also, that Amina was found in the company of others, among whom is a man, Mohammed Hayyatu, who claims to be her ‘husband.’ “From this foregoing, we, the Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA), wish to state the following as our stance on Amina Ali Darsha Nkeki: “We condemn, in strong terms, the calling of Mohammad Hayyatu as Boko Haram husband of our daughter; rather, upon confirmation by the Nigerian Military, should be referred to as a: “Boko Haram sexual exploiter.’ Amina had no husband and who ever that was rescued with her should not be referred to as her husband for any reason. They should be treated separately until Amina is fully rehabilitated. “We will not support discussion with the Government or any agency of government in company of Mohammad Hayyatu. “We are strongly calling on government to set up a team of expert investigators to investigate Mohammad Hayyatu’s involvement into Boko Haram that led him to be the sexual exploiter of our daughter Amina so as to allow the law to take its proper course. He should be treated based on what investigations will reveal not to conclude from start that he was also an abductee. Even if he is also abducted and forced to marry her, he should not be referred to in any way as her husband, because there was never consent in getting her with a baby. “All reports and findings of investigation should be made public. All stakeholders – Parents, Chibok Community (KADA), BBOG, etc – should be involved in any process of discussing and relevant actions relating to Amina and her colleagues that we are expecting their rescue soonest, for purpose of transparency and confidence building. “We are insisting Amina Ali’s mother/guardian and the Parents’ Association Chairman, Mr. Yakubu Nkeki to be on making decisions that concern her wellbeing. We are asking for a Safe Haven to be provided for Amina, her mom and her baby. A safe home that is controlled by her family with the reasonable amount of security support but not overbearing. Insist that all resources necessary be given to the Parents’ chair as her legal guardian in the absence of her Dad and a mom who herself needs help. “The Chibok Community wishes to be involved in any further decisions on our daughters. We are dissatisfied with the approach of the military, and the Governments in shutting us out of verification process. We therefore refer Government and its agencies to the Verification, Authentication and Reintegration System that BBOG designed with the participation of our community. It lays out the PROPER PROCESS for handling the return of our daughters. That was not done in this case and we would not want any recurrence. “The Chibok Community frowns at Federal Government and Borno State Government in treating Amina like an item. She is a traumatized young woman who needs immediate care and not any further media circus. We demanded to see our daughter today in Abuja as leaders of the Community”, it submitted. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/%e2%80%8estop-calling-boko-haram-terrorist-daughters-husband-chibok-community-warns/

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Mantu: PDP should apologise to Nigerians A former Deputy Senate President yesterday spoke of the need for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to apologise to Nigerians for the way it ran its affairs and the affairs of the country. Alluding to the mismanagement of the nation’s resources by some former public servants who are members of the former ruling party, Senator Ibrahim Mantu said: “I am now born again. Whatever I say now is the truth. Some people came to the PDP with nothing and left with billions (of naira). We need to bring the party to the people now.” He spoke in Abuja yesterday when former Minister of Education Prof. Tunde Adeniran announced his plan to run for PDP national chairman. Mantu has enjoined stakeholders and members of the party to support Adeniran’s aspiration According to him, Adeniran is “God’s choice” for the office. He said he consulted God by praying and fasting over Adeniran’s aspiration and that God gave him the revelation. Manu said: “I fasted for 30 days and 30 nights, asking God to show me who would lead the party. God showed me Adeniran. Let’s now look forward and make sure that we elect a credible chairman. We should make sure that nobody short-changes us at the national convention.” The ex lawmaker, one of the proponents and promoters of a third term for former President Olusegun Obasanjo, urged to the gathering of party faithful to start taking his words seriously because he had become a “born again” politician. Mantu added that it had become necessary for the PDP to be sober and apologise to Nigerians for the wrongs of the past. Adeniran said the party’s convention, tentatively slated for December 9, would be an opportunity for the PDP to bounce back to power. He called for reconciliation among the various groups and stakeholders for the party to be united and make progress. The aspirant solicited support from party faithful and stakeholders across the six geopolitical zones and pledged to work tirelessly to entrench principles in the PDP if elected. Others in the race include a former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George; a former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel; and former Sports Minister Prof. Taoheed Adedoja.

http://thenationonlineng.net/mantu-pdp-apologise-nigerians/

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- As guber candidate escape assassination Shina Abubakar, Osogbo Labour Party, LP, Presidential candidate, Mr Peter will on Wednesday storm Osogbo, Osun state capital to rally support for the party’s governorship candidate for the July 16 election in the state, Hon. Lasun Yusuf. Speaking with Vanguard on Monday, Lasun Media aide, Oyewole Oladimeji said the party is expecting Obi to head the final campaign schedule to hold on Wednesday in the state capital. “Ofcourse he will be in Osogbo for the mega rally and he is expected to come with other party dignities to drum support for the party ahead of Saturday Governorship election”, he said. Meanwhile the party’s Hon. Yusuf escaped assassination attempt early hours of Monday as gunmen were said to have invaded his country home in Ilobu Irepodun local government areas of the state. Information on the attack still remains cloudy as at the time of filing in this report but sources hinted that, the gunmen stormed his residence around 2.00 a.m of the day but were vehemently resisted by his security guards. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/07/osun-guber-peter-obi-to-storm-osogbo-for-lasun-aide/

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The alleged bomb found at the Ikeja Local Government office in Lagos By Evelyn Usman and Ifeanyi Okolie Ikeja area of Lagos State, was, yesterday, thrown into panic following an alleged discovery of substance suspected to a bomb, inside one of the offices in Ikeja Local Government Secretariat on Obafemi Awolowo Road. Government workers and those who came for transactions rushed out of the building with some car owners abandoning their vehicles as they fled for their lives. A multiple auto crash was also averted as motorists and commercial motorcyclists plying the route hurriedly made u-turn. Traders were not left out as they hurriedly locked up their shops and vacated the area. It was gathered that the combustive substance, which was planted in one of the buildings was connected to an air-conditioner behind the council’s doctor’s office. Vanguard gathered that one of the workers, who had wanted to put on the air- conditioner, discovered the substance. It was alleged that had the air-conditioner been put on, the substance would have exploded. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Yakubu Alkali, who was at the time at a security meeting with senior officers, reportedly drafted some policemen to the scene. Policemen from the Bomb Disposal Unit, it was gathered, promptly arrived the council secretariat and directed that all vehicles be removed from the premises, as they searched for the substance, which they later discovered. The Council Secretary, Mr Ayodele, told Vanguard that the policemen from bomb squad promised to take the substance to the laboratory to ascertain whether it was actually explosive. Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Samuel Jinadu, who was also at the scene, said the substance was not an explosive, though he did not say what exactly it was. Despite assurance by the police that substance was not bomb, none of the council workers dared returned to the secretariat. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/panic-as-alleged-bomb-found-at-ikeja-lg/

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President Muhammadu Buhari By Dirisu Yakubu ABUJA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed the report of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on restructuring as a ruse intended to deceive voters ahead of the 2019 general elections. The party also described the report as a grand design by the “Failed” President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to divert public attention from the woes of a worsening economy, relentless killings, corruption and endless litany of afflictions occasioned by their almost three years of “Dysfunctional governance.” In a statement on Wednesday, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan said it amounts to outright depravity that the same APC leaders who on assumption of office, rejected restructuring would suddenly embrace same barely a year to the 2019 general elections. The PDP said the fact that the APC has not the littlest intention of implementing any form of restructuring is completely manifest in the attitude and body language of its leaders including President Buhari, who in his 2018 new year address, rejected the idea of restructuring, by declaring that “When all the aggregates of nationwide opinions are considered, my firm view is that our problems are more to do with process than structure. “Even Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who eventually became the Chairman of the APC panel on restructuring, had also on June 29, 2017, during an interview on Channels TV, denied that the APC promised restructuring and described Nigerians, who were taking his party to task on the issue, as political opportunists and irresponsible people. “This is in addition to declaration by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who in a Radio Nigeria (FRCN) interview programme on June 9, 2017, stated that restructuring is not President Buhari’s priority. “As a matter of fact, it is instructive to note that the APC refused to rally its members in the National Assembly to support or vote for any amendment that dwelt on restructuring when the federal legislature voted on sections of the constitution where amendments have been proposed in the direction of restructuring. “If anything, APC leaders have consistently criticized any amendment that spoke or have a semblance of restructuring or true federalism. “It is therefore deceptive that in the wake of their rejection by the people, the discredited APC and its dysfunctional government have suddenly woken up to parade as champions of a restructured Nigeria. This is a callous and wicked attempt to once again take Nigerians on a trip to the land of fantasy,” the statement read. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/01/apcs-report-restructuring-smokescreen-says-pdp/amp/

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Ekiti State Governor, Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose distributing chicken, rice and money to the widow and aged in Ado Ekiti yesterday for the Christmas under the stomach infrastructure programme of his administration By Gbenga Ariyibi, Ado-Ekiti Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, yesterday, commenced the implementation of his stomach infrastructure programme, as he distributed no fewer than 80,000 birds, 100,000 bags of rice and cash gift to the less privileged, widows and the aged in the state. According to a press statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, yesterday, the office of the governor was besieged by the people who later went back home with gifts. According to the statement, some of the elderly, who could not hide their joy at the rare opportunity of having to celebrate the season with the package, were full of prayers for Fayose and members of his cabinet. Some of the beneficiaries had stormed the office as early as 10am as the governor, alongside members of his staff, started distributing the package to the people who kept appearing in their multitudes. Some of the beneficiaries, including Mr Jewoola from Ado-Ekiti, Mr Ife Akinyeye and Mrs. Afolabi Mary, noted that the gesture reaffirmed the governor as a grassroots man. They appreciated the governor for putting himself in the shoes of the common man who may find it difficult to prepare sumptuous meal for his family at this period of festivity. The governor later moved to markets in the state capital with same package for those who could come to the Governor’s Office with a promise that all the 16 local governments had designated centres for the distribution. In a chat with journalists, Fayose stated that his priority was the welfare of the people of Ekiti who, “against all odds”, returned him to office after eight years in a landslide victory. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/stomach-infrastructure-fayose-distributes-80000-christmas-birds-100000-bags-rice-cash/

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ON Thursday August 30, the Federal Government declared Anambra State the 10th oil bearing state in the country. President Goodluck Jonathan made the announcement while inaugurating Orient Petroleum’s Anambra River Production Facility in Aguleri-Otu, Anambra East Local Government Area and the decision has catapulted Anambra into the league of oil-producing states like Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia, Imo, Ondo, Delta and Edo. With the development, the state will start getting extra revenue from the 13 per cent derivation fund as soon as oil produced from the state starts contributing to the federation account. However, before Anambra earns a kobo from oil, it has started facing challenges from many quarters. Reason: Kogi and Enugu states are also laying claims to the oil. A host of Kogi groups and leaders are spoiling for war, claiming that the Anambra Well (1), which currently feeds the Orient refinery in Anambra, is on Odeke land in Ibaji local government area of Kogi State. A similar claim is also coming from Enugu State. The Anambra basin, where the oil is being explored encompasses communities in Anambra, Kogi, Enugu and Delta states. Since 1927, tension has always brewed among the communities around the borders following the boundary demarcation between Northern and Eastern regions. There was a serious bloodbath between the people of Aguleri in Anambra and those of Ibaji (Kogi) in 1994. There was also a protracted war between the Aguleri and Umuleri people of Anambra in the late 90s. Four of the wells, according to Orient Petroleum, are said to be currently at exploration stage in the area. While Orient said the bulk of the deposit are in Anambra State, Committee on Oil and Gas Exploration in Ibaji land contended that the area the company was referring to as part of Anambra, was indeed in Kogi State. Orient Petroleum Chairman, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, admitted that the basin cuts across the various states. However, he said the controversy over ownership of the oil deposits had been resolved and that the ‘bulk’ of the deposits were within Anambra territory, a statement the aggrieved Kogi groups dispute. There is need to resolve the emerging disputes amicably to avert needless inter-state bickering, that may degenerate to another skirmishes and loss of human lives as was witnessed in April 1994 during the Obale/Aguleri crisis. All the affected states should be brought to a round table to iron out the issues. Agencies of government charged with the responsibility of delineating boundaries such as the National Boundary Commission and the Surveyor-General of the Federation, must step in as a matter of urgency, to resolve the matter. Currently, there is an avalanche of unresolved issues in the oil sector. They include the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, the onshore/offshore dichotomy and lingering face-off between Cross River and Akwa Ibom states over the former’s loss of 76 oil wells to the latter. The nation can ill afford to add oil blood bath in Anambra basin to these challenges. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/as-anambra-joins-oil-producing-states/

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By: Kingsley Omonobi – Abuja More details about the death of the Deputy Inspector General of Police in Charge Force Criminal Investigations Department, and head of the probe panel of suspended DCP Abba Kyari, DIG Joseph Obiajulu Egbunike have emerged with Police saying the DIG gave up the ghost at the national hospital after an operation which may have been a medical error. Police sources said DIG Egbunike was driven to National Hospital following severe neck pains which troubled him at the weekend for a medical check-up. On getting to the hospital and seeing the pain the DIG was going through, the doctors immediately recommended an operation leading to the DIG being taken into the theatre. Sources present at the hospital however said that the National hospital doctors knowing fully well that the senior officer had a history of high blood pressure, would have allowed him to stabilize and the BP reduced to a manageable state before proceeding with the operation. “They ignored this and this is a medical error. There is no doubt this may gave led to his death”. DIG Egbunike recently headed the Special Investigation Panel that investigated the alleged involvement of Suspended DCP Abba Kyari, former Commander of the Police Intelligence Yeam IRT over the $1.1million Hushpuppi internet fraud reported slumped in the office and died before medical response could be performed late on Tuesday. Egbunike who had previously served as the DIG in charge of Finance and Administration before he was appointed DIG Investigation hails from Onitsha in Anambra state and in the DIG overseeing the South-East geo-political zone. A senior Police officer who was evidently in pain over the shocking demise confirmed the death of Egbunike. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/03/dig-joseph-egbunike-it-was-medical-error-to-operate-him-with-high-bp-source/

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Gov Ibikunle Amosun The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan on Thursday upheld the judgment of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered on Oct. 23 in Abeokuta which upheld the victory of Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun. The five-man panel of the Appeal Court headed by Justice H.M Ogunjimiju unanimously upheld Amosun’s victory and dismissed the appeal filed by Mr Adegboyega Isiaka of PDP. Ogunjimiju held that Mr Benjamin Ibikunle, the Principal Witness for the appellant was not a credible witness, adding that his testimony could not be relied on by the court. She said that the evidence of PW9 was biased and could not be given any probative value because he informed the court that he was a member of PDP and could go to any length to ensure victory for his party. The judge said that the report of the witness was inconsistent and that there was no doubt that he did not take part in the inspection of the electoral materials. Ogunjimiju said that the witness indicated to the court that he was not an expert while his testimony indicated an opinion of an expert The panel said the court could not give any probative value to the testimony of the witness because he was not an expert. It said that only an expert opinion could be given probative value by the court, adding that the tribunal was right in dismissing the petition. The panel said that there was no place that the number of voters exceeded the number of those accredited and that the election complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act. It said that the appeal lacked merit and dismissed it while declaring Amosun as the winner of the governorship election of April 11. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/appeal-court-upholds-amosuns-victory/

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By Rotimi Akinyemi The holiday season is upon us and as always, we all are scrambling to get the best deals online and in stores. However, a few wrong clicks this season could land cybercriminals topping your list of people who will be receiving presents this year. This year has witnessed lots of significant breaches ranging from a $40m cyber-heist by a Nigerian bank IT worker to the huge data leakage at Sony, just about a week ago. Information Security expert, Rotimi Akinyele of PhynxLabs said online users can easily put themselves and their devices at risk, unless they take precautions and avoid the common mistakes highlighted below that could compromise their security. Beware of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) Scam The ongoing Bank Verification Number (BVN) introduced by the CBN as a means of uniquely identifying bank customers across the Nigerian Banking industry has provided a fertile ground for cyber criminals to defraud unsuspecting bank customers. Scam emails purportedly sent from Banks/CBN are in circulation urging bank customers to visit a website to activate their BVN online as failure to do so would result in their account(s) and debit cards being deactivated. Please note that BVN registration can only be done physically at a bank’s branch. There is no technology now to replace the physical capture of your biometric data which the BVN seeks to achieve. Do NOT access your accounts from Public WIFi Just because a WiFi is free doesn’t mean you should connect to it any time it’s available. When you’re banking or making other online payments, it’s better to connect with EDGE or 3G, even if it’s slower. It might only be 45seconds of doing an online bank transaction, but if the wireless network has been compromised, that is more than enough time needed for a cyber-criminal to collect your data. Use a secure password It’s crucial to always use strong passwords as passwords are the first line of defense against cyber crooks. Try not to use names of your family, pets, first car, mother’s maiden name, etc. as all these can be easily guessed, brute forced or even available on social media sites like facebook, twitter or instagram. Make sure to use a mixture of characters, numbers, and letters of at least 8 characters when choosing your password; as only this will add a high level of difficulty for any attempted password theft. Also, do not reuse your passwords as a compromise on one would translate to a compromise on all. Stay safe on social networking sites Social media sites are increasingly becoming targets for spams, scams and other online attacks. Asides mining data from tons of “status updates” for targeted attacks, cyber criminals have mastered the act of baiting unsuspecting users with well-crafted short but compelling posts offering free entry to a Christmas competition with a fantastic prize. The general rule is “there is no free lunch or freebies on the internet – if you’re not buying a product then you are the product”. Users who click the links then inadvertently act as accomplices to the cyber-criminals because the malicious scripts would automatically re-post the links, images or videos on their contacts’ walls or timelines. If an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is. Do NOT click. Protect yourself from fraudulent emails If you receive an email urging you to download an unknown tax payment attachment or an email informing you of an urgent pending transaction and you need to login with your details to verify, DELETE that email. Such emails usually trick users into visiting the site, and once you do, viruses and spywares get downloaded on your device which automatically joins you to a network of enslaved computers that have been programmed to carry out malicious deeds. No reputable organization would send emails to collect user names, passwords, token keys or Debit/Credit card details. The threats to your online accounts increase daily, however, the tips above can help you stay protected online while still providing the convenience online access offers you this holiday. Stay safe online and happy holiday! Rotimi Akinyele is the Chief Security Evangelist at PhynxLabs. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/get-embarrassed-politicians-make-provocative-statements-jonathan/?

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President Bola Tinubu By Victor AhiumaYoung The Federal Government has been advised to suspend the proposed construction of the controversial Lagos to Calabar Coastal superhighway project and focus on other pressing priorities. Members of Nigerians for Better Nigeria, NBN, in a statement by their National Secretary, Abdulmumin Sanusi, contended that though the coastal superhighway is important, but not priority. Among others, the statement reads “We, members of the Nigerians for Better Nigeria (NBN), have watched with keen interest the ongoing controversy over the proposed Lagos to Calabar Coastal superhighway project. “After careful consideration and observation of the views of the proponents and the antagonists of the super highway, we wish to state as follows: Is the superhighway necessary? Yes, it is very necessary and important. Is it a priority? The answer is absolutely no. Why is it not a priority? “From our assessment, outside the controversy over its approval or not by the National Assembly, or whether it followed due process among others or not, the number one priority of most Nigerians today is how to feed. “Yes, roads are important, but the construction of a superhighway in the midst of dilapidated and failed roads across the country definitely is not a priority. What is stopping the government from fixing the failed roads across the country instead of constructing a superhighway? “The construction of a superhighway where many government’s hospitals have collapsed and essential drugs are unavailable and when available, are unaffordable; where sub-standard drugs now dominate the markets across the country, and citizens are dying in droves, is certainly not a priority. “In a country where workers are demanding for a new minimum wage, improved welfare and better working conditions and the government is unwilling to accede to their demands, construction of a superhighway cannot be a priority. “Construction of a coastal highway cannot be a priority in a country where power supply has totally collapsed and the citizens live in total darkness, cannot be a priority. “Construction of a coastal highway obviously should not be a priority in a country where fuel prices have risen beyond the reach of the ordinary citizens. “In country where the government is looking for funds everywhere that it is taxing and levying the citizens out of existence; and in a country where most citizens live below the poverty line, construction of a coastal superhighway definitely won’t be a priority. And in a country where the education system has collapsed from primary to tertiary levels, such a country cannot be prioritising a construction of a coastal superhighway. “We therefore, urge the federal government to suspend the construction of the Lagos to Calabar coastal highway and devote its energy on pressing priorities that can better the lives of the citizens. “The people are hungry, they are starving, they are suffering and they are in pains. The immediate priority of the government is to address their starvation, hardship and pains, not the construction of a coastal superhighway. “We will also want to ask, why should the construction of this superhighway not begin in Calabar where there are little or no structures to be demolished than in Lagos? In the rush to begin the construction of the coastal highway from the Lagos axis, many hapless citizens have been rendered jobless as their means of livelihood have been destroyed by the government. “While we insist that the project should be suspended until the citizens can breathe, whenever the construction is to resume, it should commence from the Calabar axis before terminating at the Lagos end.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/05/suspend-lagos-calabar-coastal-highway-project-face-pressing-priorities-fg-urged/amp/

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Brazil started three days of national mourning on Friday for football legend Pele, the three-time World Cup winner widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, who has died at the age of 82. The death of “O Rei” (The King) triggered a wave of tributes from around the globe to the man who both transformed football and transcended the sport. Pele died Thursday at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo after a long battle with cancer. The football world — from current stars to his former teammates — honored the man who more than any other made football into the “Beautiful Game”, scoring a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 matches during a career spanning more than two decades. READ ALSO: ‘Football In Four Letters’: Global Media Bows To ‘King’ Pele Brazil star Neymar said Pele “transformed football into an art.” France’s Kylian Mbappe said his legacy “will never be forgotten,” and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo called him an “inspiration to millions.” Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messi simply wrote: “Rest in peace.” Mario Zagallo, who won the World Cup alongside Pele in 1958 and 1962, said the King had “stopped the world several times” with his talent. “He leaves an eternal, unforgettable legacy,” the 91-year-old Zagallo said. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who declared three days of national mourning, said Pele had made football an “art and joy”, while president-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is due to take office Sunday, tweeted: “There had never been a number 10 like him.” Pele is the only footballer in history to have won three World Cups — in 1958, 1962 and 1970. A wake will take place on Monday, followed by a funeral on Tuesday in Santos, the southeastern city where he played most of his career. The city declared seven days of mourning as fans flocked to the team’s stadium to leave flowers. In Rio de Janeiro, the Christ the Redeemer statue which overlooks the city was illuminated in homage to Pele, as was the legendary Maracana stadium. He had been in increasingly fragile health, battling kidney problems and colon cancer — undergoing surgery for the latter in September 2021, followed by chemotherapy. In front of the hospital where he died, fans held up a banner which read: “Eternal King Pele.” In a testament to Pele’s influence, international figures including US President Joe Biden and former leader Barack Obama, Brazilian music legends Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil, International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach and FIFA President Gianni Infantino also paid tribute. “As one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, he understood the power of sports to bring people together,” Obama wrote. – ‘Samba football’ – Born on October 23, 1940, in the southeastern city of Tres Coracoes, Edson Arantes do Nascimento grew up selling peanuts on the street to help his impoverished family. He was given the nickname Pele, for his mispronunciation of Bile, the name of a goalkeeper at Vasco de Sao Lourenco, where his footballer father once played. Pele dazzled from the age of 15, when he started playing professionally with Santos. He led the club to a flurry of titles, including back-to-back Intercontinental Cups in 1962-1963. He epitomized the Brazil national team’s sublime style of play, called “samba football.” Pele set his scoring records playing for Santos (1956-74), the Brazilian national team, and the New York Cosmos (1975-77). But beyond the many benchmarks he set, he will be remembered for revolutionizing the sport, his number 10 on the back of Brazil’s yellow shirt one of football’s most potent images. The first global football star, he played a key role in making the game a sporting and commercial powerhouse — and made millions himself. He also played with heart, visible in the black-and-white footage of the 17-year-old bursting into tears after helping Brazil to its first World Cup title, in 1958. Eight years earlier, seeing his father cry when Brazil lost the 1950 World Cup final on home soil to Uruguay, Pele had promised to bring the trophy home one day. – Sports royalty – Pele reached the pinnacle of his greatness at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, where he starred on what many consider the greatest team of all time, alongside talents such as Rivellino, Tostao and Jairzinho. He was often welcomed like royalty when traveling abroad with Santos or the national team. Legend has it that his arrival in Nigeria in 1969 prompted a 48-hour truce in the bloody Biafra war. Pele declined offers to play in Europe but signed for a brief, lucrative swansong with the New York Cosmos at the end of his career, bringing his star power to the land of “soccer.” His influence extended beyond the pitch, with gigs as a movie star, singer and sports minister. But he faced criticism at times in Brazil for remaining quiet on social issues and racism, and for what some saw as his haughty, vain personality. Unlike Argentine rebel Diego Maradona, one of his rivals for the title of greatest of all time, Pele was seen as close to those in power — including Brazil’s 1964-1985 military regime. Pele’s health began to fail in the last decade. His public appearances grew increasingly rare, and he frequently used a wheelchair. He was hospitalized several times for urinary infections, then again in 2021 and 2022 for the colon cancer that marked the beginning of the end. When he was sick, he continued to communicate through social media. During the World Cup in Qatar this month, he urged Neymar not to retire from the Brazil team after the pre-tournament favorites were eliminated in the quarter-finals. “He has gone, but his magic will remain. Pele is ETERNAL!,” Neymar said following his death.

https://www.channelstv.com/2022/12/30/brazil-in-mourning-for-king-of-football-pele/

Sports

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President Muhammadu Buhari; President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan; Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ajayi Borrofice, during the Sallah homage to the President by the Leadership of the Senate in Daura, Katsina State, on Friday, August 16, 2019 By Levinus Nwabughiogu Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe representing Abia South has declared there is nothing called the North, noting that “if you go there, there are so many divisions going on.” In an exclusive interview with Vanguard, the Senate Minority Leader said that there are two classes of people in Nigerian politics, “those who are in power and those who are not.” Senator Abaribe while answering Vanguard reporter’s question on “But the North generally does not show inclination for restructuring…”, he replied; “No, it is not true. There is nothing called the North. This is part of the problems we have. We also have a general fear (of the so-called North). If you go there, there are so many divisions going on. “What you ought to say is that whoever has the levers of power today and he is sitting there in the Presidency has shown a disinclination, not the North. “There is no such thing. If you go and meet somebody from Plateau, he has a different idea about what should happen. If you meet somebody else in Benue, he has a different idea. “If you meet somebody in Kwara, he has a different idea. If you meet somebody in Niger, he has a different idea. If you go to Kebbi, people have a different idea; they are just so different. “The point really is that there are two classes of people: Those who are in power and those who are not. Those who are in power want to sustain the advantage they think they have. “They actually don’t have any advantage and the reason they don’t have any advantage is that if you are the only educated man in a sea of one million uneducated people, in what way does your education help you? “If you are the only rich person in a place and every other person is not so wealthy and then they have to come and feed off your hands, in what way does that help you? It is when you elevate everybody that you are actually building up your society. “So, I think what is going on really is that, people who find themselves in position of advantage think that they have to continue to sustain that advantage but everywhere in the world where you have had progress, what you see is that people challenge the status quo. “If you don’t challenge the status quo, there can’t be any progress. You must always ask yourself “why do you have to”.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/01/there-is-nothing-called-the-north-sen-abaribe/?fbclid=IwAR1XAedilu7TE9U48pDIFxuuGfu2SPUFpr_c93x9_wqH2Mvg4H0ryUBrqG0

Politics

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The Labour Party (LP) says its flag bearer in the February 25 presidential poll, Peter Obi is not aware of any apology purportedly issued by the British Government or any of its agencies regarding an incident involving the former Anambra State governor at the Heathrow Airport on April 7, 2023. “We would like to state emphatically that we are not aware of any such apology, and have not issued any statement whatsoever, in that regard,” said the Head of the Obi-Datti Media, Diran Onifade. Onifade, in his statement, also expressed confidence in the ability of the British authorities to resolve the matter, to conclusion. “Mr Peter Obi and the LP/PCC have since moved on from the incident and continue to be totally focused, on the legal processes before the Election Petition Tribunal towards the recovery of our mandate, which we are firmly convinced, was overwhelmingly expressed by voters, in the Presidential election of February 25th,” he added. Onifade had disclosed that Obi was “harassed” and “detained” by immigration officers at Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom for a duplication offense which suggests that someone has been impersonating Obi in London. The incident was said to have occurred when Obi celebrated the Easter festivities in London. The former governor was also said to have been “rescued” by his followers known as Obidients who were present at the airport. The British government has not issued any statement on the matter.

https://www.channelstv.com/2023/04/13/obi-not-aware-of-british-govt-apology-on-heathrow-incident-lp/

Politics

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By Tony Edike ENUGU—FORMER military president and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, General Ibrahim Babangida, yesterday, held secret talks with former Biafran leader and chieftain of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu in Enugu. Babangida, who spoke with reporters at Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu after the visit, confirmed that he had reached an understanding with Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki and Gusau to strike an accord. “We are working together and very soon, we will strike an accord,” he said. He also sent a message of gratitude to Ndigbo, saying the tremendous following he has in Igboland was informed by his past records. “The records are there and they speak for themselves,” said IBB. Although details of the meeting with Ojukwu were not made available, as it was held behind closed doors, it was learnt that the PDP presidential aspirant solicited the support of the Ikemba Nnewi for his ambition. Babangida was accompanied on the visit by former Senate president, Chief Ken Nnamani, former governorship candidate in Anambra state, Chief Obinna Uzor, his campaign coordinator, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, and Ojukwu’s brother inlaw, Ken Joseph Onoh. Babangida arrived in a helicopter marked 5N-BL which landed at Enugu Airport, closed to traffic since February this year. After the meeting with Ojukwu, the former military president declined to speak with reporters on the outcome of the meeting but later fielded questions at the airport while leaving the state. Babangida parried almost all the questions regarding his visit but made a scanty remark. “It was just a courtesy visit. Don’t forget we were all together in the military and as a very senior officer, I owe him that respect. I respect him because he is also an elder statesman,” he said. When his attention was drawn to the unprecedented crowd that stormed President Jonathan’s declaration on Saturday, Babangida gave no response as he simply clapped his hands for the feat. But the facilitator of the visit, Ken Joseph Onoh, told reporters that the visit had no political undertone. According to Onoh, “when it comes to the issue of paying respect to the Eze Igbo (Ojukwu), we all know that he has risen above political issues. Most people that come to visit him come to see him as an elder and basically I cannot confirm to you that the visit was political. “All I have to say to you is that you know that General Babangida has a lot of friends in the South East.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/09/ibb-visits-ojukwu-in-enugu/

Politics

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BREAKING: Court restrains Mc Oluomo, NURTW, others from collecting union levies The Federal High Court, Lagos Division has restrained a former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Lagos branch, Alhaji Musilu Akinsanya, a.k.a. MC Oluomo and seven others from collecting union dues and levies from commercial drivers that are non-union members in all motor parks in Lagos State. Read Also: MC Oluomo alerts police over violence threat The seven others are the Registered Trustees Of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW); Registered Trustees Of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN); Registered Trustees Of Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO). Justice Peter Lifu made the order by granting an ex parte application in a suit filed by a lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, who sued for himself and a new transport union, Transport Union Society of Nigeria (TUSON).

https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-court-restrains-mc-oluomo-nurtw-others-from-collecting-union-levies/

Politics

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By Joseph Erunke ABUJA—AS the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, begins the conduct of the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination Friday, Imo State has recorded the highest number of candidates that registered for the exercise,with a total of 92,890 candidates out of the 1.6 million candidates that are participating. Oyo and Osun states trailed behind with 86,695 and 86,044 registered candidates respectively just as Sokoto,Zamfara and the Federal Capital Terriyory, FCT have lowest registration with 13,456, 10,077 and 6,418 candidates in that order. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who released the candidates’ registration table at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday said the board recorded a decrease of 55,642 applications, representing 3.2 per cent in the sale of 2018 UTME application forms compared to that of 2017. Prof. Oloyede also disclosed that 367 visually impaired candidates, were expected to sit for the examinations, saying the figure was higher than previous years. He identified stiffer and innovative measures introduced in the system to forestall multiple registration and other illicit practices by prospective candidates by the board as reason for the decrease. He said the board under his administration would maintain the culture of transparency, professionalism and global standards. Recall that the nation wide exams is scheduled to hold simultaneously in the 602 Computer Based Test, CBT centres approved by JAMB across the country between March 9 and 17. “At the end of the two months application window, we realised that 1,662,763 candidates registered for the 2018 exam. This was contrary to 1,718,425 candidates that registered for same exam within a month and two weeks period in 2017,”he said. He reminded both candidates and invigilators of the ban on certain items, including: wrist watches, calculators, Bluetooth devices, smart lenses and several others. Prof. Oloyede warned candidates against patronising syndicates who have positioned themselves strategically to lure and defraud them with “mouth watering” offers and scores. “The 2018 UTME will be conducted in 602 centres across the nation. The examination is scheduled to commence from Friday, 9th March and end on Friday, 19th March, 2018. Every machinery has been put in place to ensure a smooth conduct. “The figure for 2018 shows a decrease of 55,642 applicants when compared with last year’s figure of 1,718,425, representing a decrease of 3.2 per cent. “Findings also revealed that the drop in the number of candidates for this year’s UTME is largely due to measures put in place by the Board to forestall multiple registrations and other unwholesome registration practices by candidates. “A total of 367 visually impaired candidates registered for this year’s examination as against the 201 last year.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/imo-leads-92890-candidates-2018-utme-begins/

Education

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By Bartholomew Madukwe THE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, has commenced an indefinite strike, following failure of the federal and state governments to implement agreements on issues affecting polytechnic education in the country. The indefinite strike declared, Sunday, by the union, followed end of a seven-day warning strike which ended weekend. Some of the issues in contention are non-migration of members at the lower cadres on CONTISS 15 salary scale; release of white paper on the visitation panel to federal polytechnics; non-commencement of needs assessment of Nigerian polytechnics; worrisome state of state-owned polytechnics/monotechnics; and continued appointment of unqualified persons as rectors by some state governments. Others include failure of most state governments to implement approved salary packages (CONPCASS) for polytechnics and 65 years retirement age; continued recognition of the NBTE as a regulatory body for Nigerian polytechnics against the creation of a national polytechnics commission; and the snail speed associated with the amendment of the Federal Polytechnics Act, amongst others. National President of ASUP, Mr Chibuzor Asomugha, told Vanguard, Sunday, that the indefinite strike had become inevitable because the meeting the union had with Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, on the issues yielded no positive results. He said the strike would be called off only when governments addressed all issues raised by the union, and urged all polytechnics across the country to abide by the directive to embark on strike. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/04/poly-teachers-begin-indefinite-strike/

Education

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NLC begins mobilisation against N97 petrol price Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday indicated that it has started mobilising its relevant organs, civil society groups, organisations and professional bodies against plans by the Federal Government to revert the pump price of petrol to N97 from next year. This followed media reports quoting the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, as saying at the National Assembly that the government might change the price of petrol as well as adopt a strategy of gradual removal of subsidy. The NLC accused the minister of being an agent of those who were working to undermine the President Muhammadu Buhari administration over his constant insistence on the removal of subsidy on petroleum products. Its President, Ayuba Wabba, who gave the workers’ position at a symposium to mark the 10th anniversary of Comrade Chuma Ubani’s death, said if Buhari wants to succeed in his programmes, he must be wary of the likes of Kachikwu. Wabba added that the minister constantly showed his preference for subsidy removal right from when he was appointed the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) Group Managing Director, even when the President had made it clear that he was yet to be convinced that the ordinary citizen could afford increased prices of petroleum products. The NLC president said: “At the Senate, the Minister of State on Petroleum Resources talked about ‘gradual removal strategy’, which, he said, would begin with the return to the pump price of N97 per litre from the current N87. Mr. Kachikwu threatened of the possibility of the Buhari government considering total withdrawal of fuel subsidy. “According to him, ‘the government doesn’t need to fund subsidy. There is energy around the removal of subsidy. Most Nigerians talked to today would say that’s where to go’. “With the figures being disclosed as the amount our political elite have stolen in the name of security, but which are used to ‘consult’ spiritualists etc, listening to Mr. Kachikwu talk about the so-called most Nigerians that they talked to wanting fuel subsidy to be removed, one can only wonder out loud who these Nigerians that the Kachikwus of this world are talking to. “These Nigerians certainly won’t be the millions of downtrodden mass of Nigerians who weathered every odd, including threat of violence to vote out the PDP- led government and embraced on March 28, 2015, the change agenda they believed Muhammadu Buhari symbolised. “The NLC wishes to state without equivocation that Kachikwu represents the same forces that have misled past government on the issue of removal of subsidy and deregulation of the downstream operations of the petroleum industry. “While the position of congress on these issues clearly remains unchanged, we make bold to however caution President Buhari to be wary of the likes of Kachikwu, whose sweet tongues on the issue of subsidy removal had derailed former Presidents from achieving their lofty goals. “Now that the Buhari government may have, through Kachikwu, sent the message to Nigerians on the path it wishes to take on the issue of petroleum subsidy, congress will meet its relevant organs, hold consultations with civil society and other organisations and professional bodies and carry out the instruction as we will be mandated.” Wabba added: “Against the background of the serious national crisis we are currently going through, caused by the mismanagement and recklessness of our political elite since the return of civilian rule in 1999, there is always the temptation to ask whether the struggle for democracy was indeed worth it after all. “However, I think that no matter the level of our frustration, we should not allow the question to be posed in this way. In modern times, there is hardly any alternative to democracy. What I think we ought to be questioning is the quality of our democracy and what we, labour and civil society actors should be doing to improve the quality of this democracy. “We should rightly be addressing the question of how the working class and its allies can participate in the struggle for capturing political power so that we are able to project the programmes and the visions of the working class in rebuilding our nation. “We must renew our determination to enthrone accountability by the political class in our country. We need to ensure that we apply maximum pressure on government so that all the ongoing disclosures of massive pillages and crimes against Nigerian people do not go unpunished.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/nlc-begins-mobilisation-against-n97-petrol-price/

Politics

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Twitter ban: Buhari, Atiku, 98 others to lose 160m followers By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation; Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja; Alao Abiodun; Tony Akowe; Gbade Ogunwale Site sanctioned for spreading misinformation, fake news – Presidency Canada, EU, UK, US, others kick over ban Twitter defiant, vows to help Nigerians access platform Malami orders arrest, prosecution of users of site NPAN, NGE, IPI, others demand reversal of suspension President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and 98 other individual Nigerians and organisations may lose 160,289,500 followers on account of Federal Government’s ban on Twitter, according to figures obtained on Saturday. But the organisation appeared unperturbed by the ban, offering to help its Nigeria-based users to bypass the ban. It said it had commenced efforts to restore access to its platform for Nigerians following the blocking of access to it by telecommunication companies in the country. Many Nigerians immediately sought an alternative route via Virtual Private Network (VPN). Downloading the VPN app appeared difficult on Saturday. Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami warned that violators of the ban would be prosecuted, even as more condemnations trailed the Twitter suspension. The United States yesterday told the Federal Government that its suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria is capable of sending wrong signals to investors and businesses. The Presidency, in its first comment on the temporary ban last night, dismissed suggestions that it was in response to the social media’s recent deletion of Buhari’s tweets. According to Rosbena.com, Buhari with 3 million followers and Osinbajo with 2.6 million rank among the 100 leading crowd pullers on Twitter. The others include ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; a former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; the richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote; ace Musician David Adedeji Adeleke (Davido); a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Temi Otedola; another highly rated musician, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (Wizkid) and the winner of Grammy’s Best Global Music Award, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu (Burna Boy). The suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria may also deny some Nigerians and institutions robust following. These include the Presidency, the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Army, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; Pastor Sam Adeyemi; a former Vice President of the World Bank Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; Sen. Dino Melaye; Sen. Shehu Sani and Femi Fani-Kayode. According to investigation by Rosbena.com, the identified 100 top Nigerians have dominated Twitter in the country. The link says: “Rosbena compiles the list of most followed Nigerian accounts on Twitter. “Unlike the most followed Nigerian accounts on Instagram which comprise mostly musicians and actresses, the list of most followed Nigerian Twitter accounts comprises mainly musicians, politicians, radio stations, newspapers and banks. The breakdown of some of the 100 ranked accounts and their followers is as follows: President Muhammadu Buhari (3m); Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (2.6m); Bukola Saraki (2m); Davido (6.8m); Aliko Dangote (880,200); Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun aka Wizkid (6.3m); Don Jazzy (4.5m); Tiwa Savage (3.9m); Channels Television (3.7m); Burna Boy (3.2m); Dapo Oyebanjo aka D’Banj (3.1m); Olamide Gbenga Adedeji aka Olamide (3.1m); Banky W. Banky (2.9m); Peter P-Square (2.5m); Ice Prince Zamani (2.4m); Ali Baba (858,600); and Genevieve Nnaji (2.1m). Others are musician Simi (2.1m); Wande Coal (1.9m); Comedian Basketmouth (1.9m); Blogger Linda Ikeji (1.9m); Governor Nasir el-Rufai(1.7m); Presidency of Nigeria (1.7m); Tony Elumelu (1m); Sen. Dino Melaye (1.6m); INEC (1.5m); D.J. Cuppy (1.5m); Nigeria Police Force (1.2m); EFCC (904,300); Temi Otedola (1.2m) Sen. Shehu Sani (1.2m); Pastor Enoch Adeboye (1.1m); WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala (1.1m); Oby Ezekwesili (1m); Funke Akindele (1m); the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu (978,300); and a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (956,200). Presidency: Suspension in response to long-observed misdemeanours The Presidency said the Twitter ban is temporary but denied suggestions that it was as a result of the platform’s deletion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweets. It said rather it was in response to Twitter’s long-observed misdemeanours, including misinformation and spread of fake news, which it said had led to violent ends. “The temporary suspension of Twitter is not just a response to the removal of the President’s post. “There has been a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria where misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real world violent consequences. “All the while, the company has escaped accountability,” the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said. He admitted that although the removal of President Buhari’s tweet was disappointing, “the censoring seemed based on a misunderstanding of the challenges Nigeria faces today.” Continuing, he said: “The President in his address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2019 said ‘the world was shocked and startled by the massacre in New Zealand by a lone gunman taking the lives of 50 worshippers.’ “This and similar crimes, which have been fueled by social media networks, risk seeping into the fabric of an emerging digital culture. “Major tech companies must be alive to their responsibilities. They cannot be allowed to continue to facilitate the spread of religious, racist, xenophobic and false messages capable of inciting whole communities against each other, leading to loss of many lives. This could tear some countries apart. “President Buhari has therefore been warning against social media’s disruptive and divisive influences, and the government’s action is not a knee-jerk reaction to Twitter’s preposterous deletion of his tweet which should have been read in full,” the statement said. Reacting to the narrative that President Buhari’s comments in the deleted tweets were genocidal in nature or a threat to citizens, the Presidency said it was rather a statement of fact about situations witnessed during the Nigerian civil war, adding that it was rather an assurance that rights of Nigerians would be preserved. It, however, noted that government would not fold its arms when the activities of IPOB, which it insists is a proscribed terror organisation, continue to put pressure on the peace and security of the country; a situation it said Twitter had refused to take notice of. “The tweet was not a threat, but a statement of fact. “A terrorist organisation (IPOB) poses a significant threat to the safety and security of Nigerian citizens. “When the President said that they will be treated ‘in a language they understand’, he merely reiterated that their force shall be met with force. It is a basic principle of security services response world over. “This is not promotion of hate, but a pledge to uphold citizens’ right to freedom from harm. The government cannot be expected to capitulate to terrorists. “IPOB is proscribed under Nigerian law. Its members murder innocent Nigerians. They kill policemen and set government property on fire. “Now, they have amassed a substantial stockpile of weapons and bombs across the country. “Twitter does not seem to appreciate the national trauma of our country’s civil war. This government shall not allow a reoccurrence of that tragedy.” Aisha Buhari deactivates Twitter account Moments after the announcement of the ban on Twitter operations on Friday, First Lady Aisha Buhari deactivated her Twitter account. She said: “I will be deactivating my twitter account for now. Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria.” How telecoms firms stopped Twitter operations Twitter operations went dead across the country at about midnight after receiving a formal directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The main telecoms industry body, the Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said it had “conducted a robust assessment of the directive in accordance with internationally accepted principles.” It said: “Based on national interest provisions in the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, and with the licence terms under which the industry operates, our members have acted in compliance with the directives of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry regulator. It promised to “continue to engage all the relevant authorities and stakeholders and will act as may be further directed by the NCC.” It said it remains “committed to supporting the government of the Federal republic of Nigeria and upholding the rights of citizens. “As an industry, we endorse the position of the United Nations that the rights held by the people offline must also be protected online. “This includes respecting and protecting the rights of all people to communicate, to share information freely and responsibly, and to enjoy privacy and security regarding their data and their use of digital communication.” The statement was signed by ALTON chairman Gbenga Adebayo and its Executive Secretary Gbolahan Awonuga. We’ll help Nigerians bypass ban, says Twitter Twitter itself appeared unperturbed by the development yesterday, saying it had commenced efforts to restore access to its platform for Nigerians. “We are deeply concerned by the blocking of Twitter in Nigeria. Access to the free and #OpenInternet is an essential human right in modern society,” it said in a statement posted on its Public Policy handle. It added: “We will work to restore access for all those in Nigeria who rely on Twitter to communicate and connect with the world.” Nigeria had about 33 million active social media users as at January 2021 with WhatsApp as the most popular platform. It has over 90 million users according to Statista. It is followed by Facebook which has 86.2 per cent, YouTube with 81.6 per cent, Instagram with 73.1 per cent, Faceboo Messenger with 67.2 per cent and Twitter with 61.4 per cent. Nigerians switch to VPN Many Nigerians did not waste time to seek alternative ways of accessing Twitter. While some shifted to Virtual Private Network (VPN) for the purpose of bypassing the restrictions, some others were struggling last night to download the app to find their way around the ban. The virtual private network enables users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network. It also makes it appear as if the user is accessing the internet from another country, and has been a way to get round similar bans in other countries. The term VPN became popular overnight, according to the search tracking site Trendsmap. AGF Malami orders arrest, prosecution of Nigerians still using Twitter Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami (SAN) yesterday issued a directive for the prosecution of violators of the ban on Twitter. He directed the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to “swing into action and commence in earnest the process of prosecution of violators of the Federal Government De-activation of operations of Twitter in Nigeria.” He asked the DPPF to liaise with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, National Communication Commission (NCC) and other relevant government agencies to “ensure the speedy prosecution of offenders without any further delay,” his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, said in a statement. PDP daubs Malami’s order illegal, null and void The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called the Malami directive blatantly unconstitutional, illegal, null and void. The party said the directive was not only downright ludicrous but shows the frenzied desperation by the Buhari Presidency to muzzle, victimise, clamp down on innocent Nigerians and foist a totalitarian system on the country. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, said: “For Malami’s information, section 36 (12) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that ‘a person shall not be convicted of a criminal offence unless that offence is defined and the penalty therefore is prescribed in a written law, and in this subsection, a written law refers to an Act of the National Assembly or a law of a state, any subsidiary legislation or instrument under the provisions of the law.’ “President Muhammadu Buhari and his APC are informed that there is no extant law that defined the use of Twitter as a criminal offence and there is no penalty prescribed in a written law for the use of Twitter by any Nigerians. “Moreover, they should also realise that the suspension of Twitter by the APC Federal Government, in addition to its unconstitutionality, only suspended Twitter operations and not the use of Twitter by Nigerians. “The directive by the Attorney General to arrest and prosecute any Nigerians found using Twitter does not have the backing of any law enacted by the National Assembly or any state legislative house, and as such, Malami’s declaration is completely of no legal consequence. “Malami’s directive to arrest and prosecute Nigerians using Twitter is therefore an attempt to suspend the 1999 Constitution (as amended); a development which bears the imprints of the leaked memo in which Mr. President was reportedly advised to suspend the constitution and strip Nigerians of their rights and freedom.” Canada, EU, UK, US, others kick over ban The diplomatic missions of Canada,the European Union (Delegation to Nigeria),Republic of Ireland,Norway,the United Kingdom and the USA yesterday expressed disappointment over the Twitter ban in Nigeria. They also flayed the plan to register other social media. They said in a statement that they “strongly support the fundamental human right of free expression and access to information as a pillar of democracy in Nigeria as around the world and these rights apply online as well as offline.” They added: “Banning systems of expression is not the answer. “These measures inhibit access to information and commerce at precisely the moment when Nigeria needs to foster inclusive dialogue and expression of opinions,as well as share vital information in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The path to a more secure Nigeria lies in more ,not less, communication to accompany the concerted efforts of Nigeria’s citizens in fulsome dialogue toward unity,peace and prosperity “As Nigeria’s partners,we stand ready to assist in achieving these goals. US to FG: Ban sends wrong signals to investors The United States told the federal government yesterday that the Twitter ban is capable of sending wrong signals to investors about the country. “Nigeria’s constitution provides for freedom of expression. The Government’s recent #Twitterban undermines Nigerians’ ability to exercise this fundamental freedom and sends a poor message to its citizens, investors and businesses,” the US embassy said in a statement. “Banning social media and curbing every citizen’s ability to seek, receive, and impart information undermines fundamental freedoms. As President Biden has stated, our need for individual expression, open public conversation, and accountability has never been greater. “The path to a more secure Nigeria lies in more, not less, communication, alongside concerted efforts toward unity, peace, and prosperity.” Makinde: Twitter is a source of livelihood for youths Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State joined in appealing to the federal government to reconsider the ban on Twitter. He described Twitter as a source of livelihood for many Nigerian youths. “We should also remember that Twitter has gone beyond a source of communication for many of our hardworking youths in Nigeria,” he said in a statement. He added: “It has become a source of livelihood for many, irrespective of their political affiliations or religious leanings. “Nigerian youths and digital communications organisations earn a living from being able to use the platform to post communications on behalf of their clients. “Others who may not have physical stores also rely on Twitter to give visibility to their products and services. “As leaders, we should go beyond emotional reactions to issues and think about how our actions will affect the people we lead and our international ratings socially and economically. “Twitter has become the platform for young people and indeed all Nigerians to exercise their fundamental right to express and publish an opinion. “They use the platform to complain, argue and give feedback to government and its agencies who in turn, use these to improve policies.” NPAN: Backtrack from Twitter ban The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) called for reversal of the ban on Twitter. Nigeria, it said in a statement, “retaliated with the cudgel against Twitter for alleged double standard in a hasty sanctioning of Buhari while pampering an unrestrained Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB),” who it said “has used same Twitter not just for serial hate speeches but for actually provoking and justifying violence in his separatist agitations.” It added: “To the extent that Twitter may have been hasty in sanctioning President Buhari and shown an uneven application of its rules against separatist Kanu, its sincerity stands questioned. It should correct itself. “However, The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) thinks that the suspension of Twitters operation by Nigeria is wrong and an overreaction. “The action would not win us friends as closure of public space limits public discourse and democratic advancement. “It is a futile exercise in any case, as other platforms are more likely to suspect Nigeria’s intentions towards democratic tenets and act adversarially towards Nigeria. “Twitter is a global platform for public communication that has expanded the frontiers of Free Speech and Press Freedom. It is a platform for business that has brought relief to Nigeria’s youthful population who have prospered by its operation. “The NPAN believes Twitter as a business is not infallible and can be influenced through high level engagement, to be a more responsive, liberal platform of public good and not a cynical champion of suspicious causes. “There should be a compromise: Nigeria needs friends and not enemies at this critical juncture of her existence. She should not play into the hands of the enemies who are relentless is seeking to destroy and ostracise her. “Banning Twitter is regressive and should be rescinded in favour of dialogue.” Editors urge FG to rescind ban In a similar statement, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) asked the federal government to immediately rescind the suspension of Twitter operations and seek other legitimate means of resolving its dispute with the company. President of the guild, Mustapha Isah, and the General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, said the federal government’s action had the unintended consequence of jeopardising the economic interests of many Nigerians who rely on the social media platform for vital information to make informed business decisions daily. Their words: “The suspension is a grave breach of Nigeria’s international obligations under article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. “The Guild sees the federal government’s action as an overreaction to Twitter’s decision to delete President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet early this week. “If the federal government finds Twitter’s action against the President objectionable, Nigerians should not be made to suffer the collateral damage of denying them their right to freely discourse on Twitter.” It described the ban as an over-kill after Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed had initially “condemned the deletion of President Buhari’s view as an unacceptable tab on the president’s right.” It said while the federal government has a responsibility to safeguard the unity, peace and stability of Nigeria, it ought to exercise restraint in expressing its anger. Reverse suspension, says IPI Similar sentiments were expressed by the International Press Institute ( IPI) . It said the action of the federal government was detrimental to the free press in Nigeria which uses twitter as a major platform. But it also told Twitter and other social media outfits to “pay greater attention to the content they promote on their platforms which violate their own rules,” and appealed to government to “reverse the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria and engage in meaningful dialogue with the social media outfit on issues of concern to the government.” FG is right, says APC; asks Nigerians to develop alternative app The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) hailed the federal government for the ban on Twitter, which it accused of operating “in a trajectory that is a direct threat to the country’s national security.” National Secretary Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, said in Abuja yesterday that Twitter “serially encouraged separatists, arsonists, and glorified terrorists by offering them the platform to spread their terror messages; a situation no responsible government will tolerate..” The party urged Nigerians talented in software applications development to seize the opportunity of suspending the operations of Twitter in the country to develop a home-grown application that can equal or even be superior to the suspended foreign application in meeting the needs of Nigerians. Nigeria, according to Akpanudoedehe, has talented citizens that could develop an alternative application to Twitter and “liberate the country and other developing countries from the shackles and shameful arrogance that frequently manifests in the way Twitter disdainfully promotes confusion and chaos in the name of freedom of expression.” He added: “We at the APC firmly believe that Twitter’s suspension will undoubtedly serve as a positive trigger to unleash the creative potentials of Nigerians in the global digital space. “This is a challenge to the vibrant youths with such talents. “They will get support in the exercise from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy and its agencies as well as the numerous information and Communication Technology (ICT) training and research establishments in the country. “The suspension serves Twitter right and warns other social media tools to toe the line of decency and show respect for their host countries. “The Federal Government of Nigeria was right in suspending the operations of Twitter in the country for its role in promoting disaffection, derogating the country and its institutions as well allowing divisive elements bent on harming the country to use it as a channel to propagate and legitimise such destructive tendencies.” Suspension provocative, obnoxious, says Reps Minority caucus The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives called the Twitter suspension provocative, obnoxious and unjustifiable. Its Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, said the decision of the government to suspend Twitter “smacks of intolerance, insensitivity and aversion to the views, opinions and aspirations of Nigerian citizens, especially the youths, on matters of state.” According to him, the development is capable of leading to further restiveness among Nigerians and worsen the situation in the country. “Moreover, this action of the Federal Government, coming at a time the National Assembly is conducting its public hearing towards the amendment of the constitution, may constitute a major setback capable of diminishing public confidence in the exercise as well as other processes genuine efforts by the legislature to strengthen democratic tenets in the country.” Muzzling dissenting voices can only postpone the ‘evil day’ – Shehu Sani To human rights activist, Senator Shehu Sani, Nigerian leaders who are bent on muzzling dissenting voices will only succeed in postponing the evil day. Sani, who spoke at a public event in Abuja yesterday, urged the federal government to adopt reconciliatory approach to dissenting individuals and groups, instead of seeking to suppress them. Reacting to the ban on the microblogging giant, Twitter, the ex senator knocked the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration for romancing the social media while they were in the opposition but attacking same while in government. According to him, the solution to Nigeria’s problems lies with Nigerians themselves, adding that “we do not have a Moses to take us to the promise land.” Likening the ban on Twitter to taking Nigeria back to the Stone Age, Sani said it is wrong for political leaders to descend on the media simply because they consider their contents unpalatable to their government. Twitter deletes Nnamdi Kanu’s post for ‘violating rules’ Twitter has deleted a post by the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdu Kanu, for violating its rules. The tweet appeared on Kanu’s handle on Wednesday, June 2 but had been pulled down last night. In it, he had threatened death for soldiers sent to the Southeast by the federal government to stop the destruction there. “Any army they send to #Biafraland will die there. None will return alive even if it means sacrificing my people,” he had boasted. The deletion came 24 hours after the federal government suspended the operations of Twitter in Nigeria.

https://thenationonlineng.net/twitter-ban-buhari-atiku-98-others-to-lose-160m-followers/

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Senate President: Support for Lawan, Akume ticket swells THE support for Senators Ahmed Lawan and George Akume as Senate President and Deputy Senate President in the Eighth Assembly has increased. A ranking senator, who said this yesterday, added that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in the cham ber “are excited by the new team”, which has the support of 40 All Progressives Congress (APC) senators. It was learnt that as the Lawan-Akume ticket was announced at the weekend, many senators-elect, who had not made up their minds before the retreat, supported the duo “because of the ticket and issue-based campaign”. The “Unity Forum” of the Senate, led by Senator Barnabas Gamade, at the weekend, announced the coming together of the two aspirants. Explaining that the ticket is unbeatable, ranking senators-elect likened it to the presidential ticket of the APC, which won the presidential election. They added: “All senators-elect across the political divide in the yet to be inaugurated Senate are already identifying with team, especially those in APC. “In terms of the experience, we have been telling our distinguished colleagues across party lines that the Lawan-Akume ticket will provide the nation with the much desired legislative know-how because Lawan is going to be the highest ranking APC senator in the Eighth Assembly. Senator Akume is a former governor and a legislator in the last eight years. He is the Minority Leader.” The senators-elect said it was not difficult to sell the tickets to their colleagues as one that would be on the same page with the Executive on the issue of corruption “because Lawan and Akume, from the available record of their service to the country in the public domain, have been on the same page with Nigerians on the menace”. “From the pronouncements of our party leaders and their body language, what is of utmost importance to them is for the National Assembly to start on a clean slate with principal officers who will be seen as not only transparent, but transparently honest and do not carry any baggage of past scandal, no matter how small,” they added. It was gathered that the PDP leaders in the Senate have reaffirmed their readiness to vote for Lawan and Akume “with the collapse of the campaign structures of the two senators into one”. APC ranking senators-elect said their counterparts in the opposition party told them that the Lawan-Akume ticket had made things easy for them, “following the ongoing engagements between APC leaders and the opposition leaders in the National Assembly”. Some PDP senators-elect were quoted as promising not to “betray” the Lawan-Akume ticket should there be need for election on June 4 when the eight session of the National Assembly will be inaugurated.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/senate-president-support-for-lawan-akume-ticket-swells/

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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Saturday restated that no money was misappropriated, stolen or lost in the 2016 budget. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan. The statement insisted that there was no act of corruption by the speaker during and after the preparation of the 2016 budget. It quoted Dogara as urging Nigerians to be vigilant with respect to the execution of the budget “to ensure that they are not short-changed’’. It said that the speaker had denied the allegations against him by Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin, describing them as false and baseless. “They are fictional and scandalous, untruths and falsehoods which will be dealt with at the appropriate time. “I wish to appeal to the public for patience as the truth which will vindicate the innocent in this unfortunate saga will unfold sooner than later,’’ the statement further quoted him as saying. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/no-money-misappropriated-2016-budget-dogara/

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President Goodluck Jonathan speaks during his visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos, on March 12, 2015. President Jonathan visited the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on March 12, and launched a new online mobile platform, X-Gen, designed to increase local investment. The platform is targetted at increasing the number of local investors in the country and to enable about 30 millions domestic investors have access to the market. AFP PHOTO By Soni Daniel & Ben Agande ABUJA — President Goodluck Jonathan spoke for the first time, yesterday, on why he conceded defeat to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), in the March 28 presidential election, saying he did so to avert a collective tragedy. President Jonathan was responding to remarks by the French ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Denis Guaer, who commended him for setting a record of humility, patriotism and courage in safeguarding the democratic process in Nigeria and Africa for which he will always be remembered. The French ambassador told the President: “Nigeria is not only an economic power in the world today, but also a great democratic example. And it is all by your effort, Mr. President. The last elections and your response was truly a great achievement and you will always be remembered for it.” In his response, President Jonathan said: “Since I assumed duty, I have been involved in quelling political crises in some African countries and I know what they passed through and what some are still going through. If you scuttle a system for personal ambition, it becomes a collective tragedy. “You need to have a nation before you can have an ambition. It should always be the nation first. You don’t have to scuttle national progress for personal ambition. Democracy has to be nurtured to grow. Strong democratic institutions are the backbone and future of our democracy. They must be protected and nurtured. As for me, as a matter of principle, it is always the nation first. Jonathan urges world leaders to support Buhari “President Francois Hollande was our guest in Nigeria during the celebration of Nigeria’s centenary. He has been very supportive of the country in the fight against terrorism. I expect that the same warmth and goodwill will be extended to the incoming government. “I expect that France will continue to work with the new administration, especially on issues of terrorism. The United Nations has been supportive as well. Our troops, supported by regional forces, have done very well in fighting the terrorists in recent times. What we need now is support to help our people get back their lives.” Jonathan, who also had audience with the new ambassadors of Senegal and Ethiopia when they presented their letters of credence, called on world leaders and international institutions to support the incoming president, Buhari, to move the nation forward. The President then appealed for patience, understanding and cooperation from all stakeholders in Nigeria, which he said General Buhari would need to move the country forward to greater peace, security and progress. The French Ambassador, Mr. Guaer, the new Ambassador of Senegal, Mr. Boubacar Sambe and the new Ambassador of Ethiopia, Samia Zekaria Gutu, assured the President that they would do their best to strengthen relations between Nigeria and their countries during their tenure. US to Buhari: We’ll support you to recover Chibok girls Meanwhile, the United States has expressed its readiness to support President-elect, Buhari, to rescue the more than 200 girls seized by Boko Haram militants from Chibok school in Borno State one year ago. American Vice President, Joe Biden, gave the renewed assurance in a telephone chat with Buhari in Abuja while congratulating him on his electoral victory. The support, according to Biden, also includes the fight against Boko Haram. Biden, according to excerpts from their discussion, made available to diplomatic correspondents in Abuja, also said his country was ready to expand collaboration with Nigeria in the new dispensation. According to the readout, “Vice-President Biden spoke with Nigerian President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to congratulate him on his victory in the recent Nigerian elections and affirm that the United States stands ready to expand collaboration with Nigeria on issues of common concern, including economic and security matters. “The Vice-President commended President-elect Buhari for his leadership in helping to ensure the elections were conducted peacefully and urged him to continue to foster a smooth, inclusive, and peaceful transition with President Jonathan. “The Vice-President expressed the United States’ support for Nigeria’s efforts to counter Boko Haram, recover hostages held by the group, and protect civilian populations. The Vice President also expressed the willingness of the United States to partner more closely with Nigeria to strengthen its economy, the excerpts said.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/why-i-conceded-defeat-to-buhari-jonathan/

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Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife (Osun) – Prof. Grace Akinola, the acting Dean, Student Affairs (DSA), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, says only one group is recognised as Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) on the campus. Akinola made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, in Ile-Ife. She said that a muslin group alleged to be operating like extremist was not recognised and had been warned to stop their activities. The officials, made the clarification after the OAU Muslim Community and University of Ife Muslim Graduates raised a disclaimer on a factional group of the MSSN. Speaking at the sideline of a retreat organised for newly elected leaders of the OAU Students’ Union, the acting DSA explained that a disciplinary panel had been set up to look into the development. Narrating her experience when she visited the students mosques, she said, “we first went to Awolowo mosque, when we got there, we met some demarcation in the mosque. “There was one that we told them to open, they refused. We told them that if they don’t open it, we are going to force it open. “After 15 minutes, one of them just made a signal and the place was opened. We went there at exactly 11am. “When it was opened, there were 12 girls locked there and others in the room. Meanwhile, the MSSN national came and said that was how Boko Haram started in Nigeria. “And they came to disown them that they don’t know about any evil they are perpetuating. The Muslim Community also disowned them,” she said. Akinola explained that efforts to shut the mosque had not been successful because of alleged intervention by an alumnus of OAU currently serving in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari. “We made moves to lock the mosque at that time. Even recently, they held a programme without taking permission from the university. “Despite that we called them to order and warned them not to continue with the programme. “I think they have people supporting them and one of them is in the current cabinet of President Muhammad Buhari. “The university has set up a disciplinary committee to look into the matter. They will have to face disciplinary action and whatever comes out of it, will be the final.” Akinola said. Mr Babatunde Oyatokun, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of OAU also debunked the rumour of Boko Haram, but confirmed that there was a MSSN disclaimer on the campus. He said that this ‘illegal group’ led by one AbdulRasheed Bakare neither registered nor was recognised by DSA, adding that the group had no logo and a constitution. The CSO further said that the only registered body of MSSN was the one headed by Akeem Idowu as recognised by the MSSN at all levels from the branch to the national. “Earlier, before the commencement of disclaimer of illegal programme, they were invited on Feb. 14 at the instance of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Anthony Elujoba and a riot act was read to them. “And despite this, they were still bold enough to hold the programme, so in view of this, we have reported to the management for further reaction, in which we are waiting for their response,” he said. The CSO clarified that the university management was taking necessary decision on the matter, saying that the group members were under surveillance. “The way they flattered the matriculation oath means they were being indoctrinated and if university fails to expedite action on them, it might degenerate and turn to something else entirely,” he added. Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, the University Public Relations Officer (PRO) reiterated the position of the DSA and CSO, saying that only the registered Muslim students group was recognised and permitted to operate within the university. While attributing the blame on some parents for abandoning their children in schools without bothering to check on them, he insisted that “there is nothing like Boko Haram on OAU campus.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/03/alleged-extremist-group-oau-support-buharis-cabinet-member-dsa/

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By Peter Duru IT has been tales of woes for commuters and motorists coming into Benue State from the southern parts of the country as the two major roads leading into the state have since become death traps due to their lingering poor state. The two major link roads – Makurdi-Aliade Otukpo and Makurdi-Naka-Otukpo – collapsed some months ago and have been left to fester like a big sore leading to unimaginable problem for users on a daily basis. As the two roads remain in a deplorable shape, farmers, traders and visitors to the state have become the major losers economically and socially. While many avoid the roads as a result of their deplorable condition, those who dare to brave them, lose their goods and trucks to the gallops and big ditches along the roads. Mostly affected are trucks laden with fresh and perishable food crops which often get stuck in the bad portions or overturned while trying to meander through the deep gullies which now litter the roads. As a result of the deplorable conditions of the roads traders not only lose their cash crops, but they also spend days on the roads trying to salvage their wares and in the process are exposed to armed robbers, kidnappers and other undesirable elements. While many of the traders have been attacked and killed by gunmen, others have been taken hostage and only released upon payment of prescribed ransom. Some of the commuters, who narrated their ordeal on the roads, lamented that lives and property worth millions of naira are being wasted daily as a result of their poor state and called for urgent action to end the nightmare. A tanker driver, Ado Yusuf, said he nearly lost his life on the road late last year when his truck tumbled near Howe Village on the Otukpo-Aliade stretch when he tried to avoid a deep gully only to end up in another gully. He said: “I was lucky because on that day I had already discharged my petroleum product and was heading back to Port Harcourt when my truck fell into the gully on the shoulder of the road. I was able to maneuver the truck with the help of colleagues and escape disaster. If we had crashed the truck with the petrol, the entire community would have been set on fire. If you recall that was what led to the tanker fire that killed no fewer than 100 persons, including firefighters when a truck laden with petrol fell along a bad road portion along the Aliade-Makurdi Road last year. On her part, a yam trader, Mrs. Agnes Uke, lamented that she lost close to N5 million worth of yam on the Aliade-Otukpo axis of the road in the last one year. “On three occasions trucks carrying my yam tumbled into one of the gullies on the Aliade-Otukpo stretch near Taraku but luckily on those occasions no life was lost but my yams were mostly destroyed and I lost a lot of money in the process. “Those unfortunate incidents have set me back financially because the money most of us use to run our businesses is borrowed from our local thrift and you must pay the loans without excuses. That is why some of us have resorted to buying yam in small quantity and selling in our local markets to avoid the problem of ending up on the road and not being able to repay our loans. “It is actually a sad development because our sources of livelihood are being frustrated by the failure of the Federal Government to fix these two very important entry and exit points of the state to the southern part of the country where we earn income from selling our farm produce,” she said. Contacted, the Federal Controller of Works in charge of Benue State, Charles Oke, said that something was being done to put an end to the poor state of the roads in question. “I have written to Abuja over the condition of the road and because of that matter I am going to Abuja this weekend to see what we can do on that stretch. “Even the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA in Makurdi has taken over the maintenance of some of the areas. I will talk to them to see what they can do in Aliade before we get approval to move into the area,” the controller of works said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/commuters-traders-groan-as-two-fg-highways-to-benue-collapse/

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Buhari yet to give Finance Ministry details of recovered loot —Adeosun Despite claims that his administration has recovered stolen money from previous government officials, President Muhammadu Buhari, it was disclosed, is yet to give details of the recovery to the Federal Ministry of Finance. Addressing journalists in Abuja at the end of the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja on Friday, the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, when asked how much had been recovered from those who looted the treasury, said President Buhari was yet to provide the ministry with details of how much had been recovered but the recovery process was ongoing. The minister did not say if the recovery had been lodged into the federation account to be shared by the three tiers of government or was still domiciled in a separate government account pending further directive from the president. The recovered money became an issue at the October 2015 FAAC briefing when the finance minister stated that funds available for disbursement at the end of the meeting was more than the amount shared in the previous month. She also said that the ministry was doing everything within its powers to increase revenue for the federation. At the end of the FAAC meeting, the Federal, State and Local governments shared a total sum of N473.83 billion for the October 2015 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting. This set of allocations to the three tiers of government marked a pleasant departure from the previous months of falling allocations. The October 2015, FAAC disbursements, the finance minister said, represents an increase of N83.89 billion compared to the N389.93 billion distributed in September. Adeosun, who presided over her first FAAC meeting as Minister of Finance, gave the breakdown of disbursements to journalists shortly after the month’s FAAC meeting which began at 5pm and lasted up till 8:09 p.m. The minister said the amount shared comprised of revenue from statutory sources made up of N388.59 billion and Value Added Tax, N57.78 billion. Of this amount, the statutory allocation to the three tiers of government, she said, was the Federal Government N191.99 billion, States governments N97.38 billion and local governments N75.07 billion. Adeosun also said the sum of N24.14 billion was allocated to the oil producing states based on the 13 per cent derivation principle. While under the Value Added Tax (VAT), allocations, the Federal Government received N8.66 billion, states governments pocketed N28.89 billion and local governments were given N20.22 billion to share. She put the gross statutory revenue for the month of October at N400.31bn stating that this was higher than the N321.99bn received in the month of September.

http://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-yet-to-give-finance-ministry-details-of-recovered-loot-adeosun/

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The Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir El-Rufai this morning was arrested by officers of the State Security Service (SSS). The SSS arrested El-Rufai at about around 6.30 am at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja . El-Rufai published his own arrest on Twitter, a social network before his battery went wrote the following at about 8am. “Got detained by the SSS on arrival at Abuja Airport. No reason given. On our way to the Headqurters. Will keep you posted if phones not seized” ‘We have arrived safely at SSS HQ. They are polite and courteous, so far…’ ”Taken up three floors to see the DG. He was my director of security in FCT, 2003…decent man then, will soon know if fresh air has got him.’ ‘Phone battery going down…no tweets until i charge….sorry guys, ladies..’ More details soon Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/07/sss-arrest-nasir-el-rufai/

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Suspected members of Boko Haram kidnapped 20 people from a bus in northern Cameroon, then executed 12 of them, a security source and resident said Monday. The kidnapping occurred on Sunday and all of the survivors have since been released, said a resident, on condition of anonymity, whose wife was among those abducted. An official from a local NGO also confirmed the incident. According to the security source, who is based in the region, the victims were travelling in a bus stormed by alleged Boko Haram members. “The bus was coming from Koza and was travelling to Mora,” the source said, referring to two towns in the country’s extreme north near the Nigerian border. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/boko-haram-kidnaps-20-people-cameroon-executes-12/

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Former Super Eagles forward Victor Moses has praised the influence of Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte on his career. The pair first worked together at Chelsea in 2016 where Moses played a key role in the Blues’ title-winning campaign during the Italian coach’s debut Premier League season. While Conte was sacked by the west London club in 2018 following a fifth-placed finish in the English top-flight, the Italian was hired as Inter Milan’s new coach at the start of this season and opted to bring in Moses to Serie A on loan in January. Speaking about reuniting with Conte once again, Moses said: ‘It’s an honour to link up once again with an important figure in my career. ‘He is my mentor and friend. I have played under a lot of managers and I’ve loved every single one of them. The most important one was Antonio Conte. ‘At Chelsea he just came in and changed everything. He is an amazing man; he totally changed my game to be honest.’ When Conte arrived at Stamford Bridge nearly four years ago, Moses’ career was stagnating following three uninspiring loan spells at Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham. After a difficult start to the 2016-17 league season, Conte switched Chelsea’s set-up to a 3-4-3 formation, bring in Moses as a first-choice wing-back option on the right-hand side. The Blues ended up lifting the Premier League at the end of the season, largely helped by a run of 13 consecutive league wins – a Premier League record at the time. Moses would remain a key player for the Blues in the wing-back role until Conte’s sacking and the Nigerian is forever grateful for that much needed confidence boost back in 2016. Moses added: ‘He gave me that fighting spirit to believe in myself and to enjoy my football same time. ‘It was an amazing [first] season for me under Antonio Conte and I’ll always respect him for that, he’s an amazing man. ‘I’ve never played that [wing-back] position before. When the manager came in, he talked me through it and then put me there. ‘It was good to have the manager’s support, and he backed me and gave me the confidence to go out there and express myself. ‘So I just wanted to go out there to play for him, the fans and the football club. I didn’t let him down.’ Despite fellow Italian coach Maurizio Sarri coming in as Conte’s replacement, Moses did not fit into the new coach’s philosophy and was loaned out to Fenerbache last season. And following limited game-time under Sarri’s replacement Frank Lampard, Moses was reunited with Conte at Inter Milan earlier this year. When Serie A gets back underway once coronavirus lockdown restrictions have been eased further in Italy, Conte and Moses will be looking for another league title together, with Inter currently in the Scudetto title race this year. While the 29-year-old wing-back has only played a handful of games in the Serie A so far, he is already making positive steps under Conte again. Moses added: ‘I’ve come to realise that you play better under a coach that believes in you and that is what Conte has done for me. I’ve played three matches and it’s been wonderful. Read Also: Video: Awoniyi nets first goal for Mainz in Bundesliga clash ‘I feel better already. Before the lock down I’ve played three games. I started the match away to Udinese and we won 2-0. ‘It is good for the team. We are playing for the good of the team.’

https://sportinglife.ng/victor-moses-reveals-most-important-manager-of-his-career/

Sports

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Akpabio decries conduct of PDP officials Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio has expressed displeasure with the turn of events during Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections’, saying the process was disrupted by thugs hired the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who did not allow the wishes of the people to prevail. Speaking to reporters at his polling unit while waiting for results to be announced, Akpabio said the PDP were shocked with the performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election and therefore resorted to carting away result sheets, to disrupt the process. His words: “Today, whenever they are counting votes and the APC is leading, somebody will come from nowhere and grab the result sheet and bolt away. “It happened in Abak. The APC was leading so much that the brother of one of the candidates for the federal House of Representatives grabbed the result sheet and jumped through the window of the primary school and attempted to run away in his car. But the army shot at him and impounded the car. He managed to escape. “In the local government of Governor Udom Emmanuel, they got angry when they realised that the APC was leading. They attacked the youth corps member and scattered the materials, as if to say why the APC should be leading in Onna, the governor’s community.” Akpabio said what the opposition party did not understand is that the people love him simply because of his good works. He said he was shocked with the avalanche of support and show of love he saw the day he defected from the PDP to the APC. He added: “I have never seen such a crowd in my life. There were hundreds of thousands of people packed together, but they were patient.” Similarly, a member of the state House of Assembly, Nse Ntuen, said what he witnessed during the election suggests that the electoral umpire has been compromised. He said: “There are no result sheets in many of the units. Even after voting, you see people coming to cause trouble and harass the voters. “This is what we have been saying, even before the commencement of this exercise. It seems that the umpire is not neutral; the umpire is biased. But we did not dwell on that; what we have tried to do as citizens was to mobilise people to come out and vote. “On a good day, nobody would vote for any other party here, except the APC. I am sure you have gone round the units in the local government to see what is happening. “We have spoken to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and he says we should mobilise people to take the results from the units to the oval government collation centres, because at the ward level, we hardly know the collation officers.” He was optimistic however that the APC will carry the day. The election in Akwa State was generally peaceful, but for a few flashpoints where violence was witnessed. The exercise started late in many units, due to the late arrival if voting materials. It was also as if the two major parties concede superiority to their opponent in places where they know they cannot win, by not bothering to have representatives in such units. For instance, when The Nation called at the voting unit of Senator Bassey Albert, there was no APC agent on hand. Similarly, there were no PDP agents at Senator Ita Enang and Senator Godswill Akpabio’s polling unit. As at 6.30pm when our correspondent left Akpabio’s polling unit, the results for the three voting points within the complex were yet to be declared.

http://thenationonlineng.net/akpabio-decries-conduct-of-pdp-officials/

Politics

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By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA—The Nigerian Army, yesterday, narrated before the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, how armed thugs invaded several polling units in the state on April 11, carting away election materials and ran into the bush. Three senior Army officers who testified before the Justice Mohammed Ambrosa-led tribunal, yesterday, insisted that the governorship poll in Rivers State was marred by violence and sporadic gun shots by thugs, a situation they said scared voters away. The officers, Captain Abubakar Mohammed, from Bony Camp, Lagos; Captain Fred Bala, from Maiduguri and Captain Isa Almakura, told the tribunal that they led different troops that were deployed in Rivers State during the governorship election. Capt. Almakura, who covered Ikwerri Local Government Area, along with 30 other soldiers, told the court that the entire council was tensed up right from April 10 when his team arrived the area to provide security for voters. He said that sporadic shootings in major towns of the council scared the electorates and forced them to stay away from voting. According to him, at a time, his team got confused by the “bombardment of phone calls” from ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, who, he said were shouting for help and rescue from thugs that invaded their polling units. “On our arrival at polling units in Osuala, Onuerelu, Omerelu and Alu, we found the INEC ad hoc staff, mainly youth corps members, mercilessly beaten by the thugs”, the Army witness added. He said upon inquiry, his team was informed by the manhandled INEC ad hoc staff that the political thugs hijacked and made away with all the election materials. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/rivers-poll-thugs-ran-away-with-election-materials-army-tells-tribunal/#sthash.iQOM8Sad.dpuf

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By OLASUNKANMI AKONI & IFEANYI OKOLIE IKEJA—Ahead of the October 22 local government election in Lagos State, hundreds of aggrieved members of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday, stormed the party secretariat in Ogba, Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, and took to the major streets in Isolo Local Government Area to protest alleged imposition of candidates. The state party had, Monday, released the names of candidates to be fielded in the council polls in the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas. The protesters, who accused state party chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale, of not following due process, called on the party’s National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, Governor Babatunde Fashola and members of the state assembly to intervene immediately. failing which they would disrupt the polls. Also, major streets in Isolo LCDA witnessed massive protest as aggrieved residents, traditional chiefs and politicians stormed the Osolo of Isolo palace to register their grievances. Market women and men, including traditional cult, popularly known as “Osugbo” trooped to the streets to invoke evil spirits at a junction called “Orita Esu” (devil’s junction) in Isolo with various placards to show their grievances against the imposition of one Shamsudeen Olaleye, against the popular choice of Mojeed Adam as the party’s candidate for the coming council poll. The protesters, who walked from Isolo Bus- Stop to the palace of Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka, said the party did not hold primaries but arbitrarily chose Olaleye, the incumbent chairman, as the candidate for the forthcoming election. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/council-poll-protest-rocks-lagos-over-%E2%80%98imposition-of-candidates%E2%80%99/

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By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting (NSPM) Plc also called MINT, Friday, allayed fears over the quality of the redesigned Naira notes, saying that best international best practice was followed in their production. In a statement, the Managing Director, Mr.Ahmed Halilu, admitted that the new Naira notes losing their colours when rubbed on white surfaces oes not indicate poor quality of the notes. According to him, “international practices have been deployed in the production of our national symbol, the Naira, and we shall continue to ensure that it meets international standards”. Mr. Halilu said the new Naira notes “leave traces of intaglio inks when rubbed on plain white surfaces”. He explained further: “the new Naira notes are of the same substrates and passed through the same printing processes and finishing procedures” as the old notes they are about to replace.” He insisted that as such the new notes were, therefore, basically the same as the other notes in circulation. The MD said that generally new notes were light when issued, but over time become heavier as they stay in circulation and on getting in contact with dirt and moisture. According to him, “the second stage of currency printing (intaglio) requires a heavy deposit of special inks with fairly large particles to give a tactile feeling of the portraits as well as other raised prints by way of design”. One of the properties of intaglio inks he stated “is non-solubility in water and ease of transfer (light stain) on plain white materials owing to the size of the particles”. This ink he added was a security feature of all banknotes that easily differentiates them from forged or counterfeited notes. The MINT boss stated that the Naira as the country’s legal tender was a national symbol and urged Nigerians and other users of the Naira banknotes not to subject the bank notes to experiments in order to prove a point. Mr. Halilu said that his company has been meeting the currency needs of Nigeria “with the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria since 2014 and Nigeria has achieved zero importation of currency, developed local capacity and, to an extent, conserved foreign exchange within this period,” and that it would maintain international standards in producing the Naira. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/01/intl-standards-used-in-new-naira-production-mint/

Politics

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Christians to participate actively in 2019 elections. The Church Must Vote (CMV), an NGO on Thursday called on Christians in Nigeria to come out in masse and participate actively in the upcoming 2019 general elections. Ikechukwu Nmor, Communication Manager, CMV, who made the call at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja noted that research findings showed the massive underrepresention of voters who are Christians in the 2015 general elections. Nmor said that as the 2019 general elections approaches, it is important that the elections and the outcome reflect a representative and inclusive decision of all demographics, age, gender and believes. ''The Nigeria Christian population, is estimated at about 50% is too important to let the affairs of the state to be decided by extremists. According to him, the call is an interfaith call to moderate from other religions to come out in their numbers and vote. ''In Nigeria irrespective of age, ethnicity, career and education, the majority of citizens are first loyal to their faith before anyother identity. '' We live in a country where there are more churches and mosques than schools and offices yet there is no significant progress to validate the presence of religion. ''Most Christians in Nigeria hide behind the mask of praying for the nation and abstain from the dirty arena of politics , yet the church remained the most vocal critic of government. ''It is simply not enough to pray behind close doors and wait in sheer optimism for change or progress to be achieved so we say to our brothers and sisters in the Christian faith: vote and pray, vote and pray, vote and pray," he said. Nmor therefore urged the church to go all out and get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), turnout in masse and vote.

https://m.thenigerianvoice.com/news/262597/christians-to-participate-actively-in-2019-elections.html

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By Taiwo Okanlawon Music executive and superstar Davido’s manager Asa Asika has revealed that the way collaboration works in the Latin music industry is not “Afrobeats style.” The talent manager and co-founder of The Pug Entertainment in a new interview with Ventes Rap, a French news website said that having all the big artistes on a single song is not how the industry works. “The Latin artistes, they collaborate way more than the Nigerian artistes, and that’s the thing. ‘Cause Spanish is the second most spoken language in America, so they are forcing it down your throat. You can have one song that has Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Ozuna all on the same record,” he said. “You probably will never get a song that has Davido, Burna Boy, Wizkid, Asake on one song. That is not really Afrobeats style,” he added. His comment came after he had told the publication that there have been some collaborations between top artistes in Nigeria, though it might not be as much as in the Latin music industry. “There are big collaborations. Burna Boy and Wizkid have a song. David and Kizz Daniel have a song. Davido and Olamide have a song. Asake is on David’s album. They work. Like the big artistes in Nigeria work,” he said. “They might not collaborate as often, but they definitely do. Collaboration is one of the major things that have pushed Afrobeats to where it is,” he added. Nigerian Talent Manager, best known as Davido’s manager, and the co-founder of The Plug, a Management, Music Publishing, Music Licensing, Music Distribution & Entertainment Company.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/04/28/badagry-council-builds-14-classroom-blocks/Big

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By Perez Brisibe A gang of suspected kidnappers who abducted a crane operator and an engineer attached to an oil servicing firm, S & A company with operations at Oteghele community of Warri South council area of Delta State have demanded a ransom of N40million for the release of the victims. The victims both of whom have spent eight days in captivity, were kidnapped at the site of the company by the hoodlums who invaded their operational base amidst sporadic gunshots and whisked them to an unknown location. Contacted, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Andrew Aniamaka said “the matter is yet to be formally reported at the respective police divsions in the area, hence I have no information on the incident.” Though the chief security office of the company, Ufuoma Bright when contacted, declined comment on the incident, a relative to the crane operator told SaturdayVanguard that the hoodlums are using the phones of the victims to contact family members with a demand for ransom. However, an agent to the company where the victims work, Mr. Chison Umukoro who confirmed the abduction, explained that the company was doing all within its power towards ensuring that the victims were released unhurt. The family source who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Initially, we didn’t know he (crane operator) was kidnapped as he didn’t return home on the day he was kidnapped, only to receive a call from him asking us to go to his office and ask the management of his whereabout. “They had initially demanded a ransom of N500 million but have reduced it to N40million before they would be released.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/07/15/kidnappers-reject-lulu%E2%80%99s-ransom/Kidnappers

Politics

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A human rights lawyer and the former general scribe of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Malachy Ugwumadu has frown at the act exempting certain category of persons from the prohibition law on the use of tinted glass cars in Nigeria. Mr Ugwumadu, who expressed his displeasure of the exemption act in an interview with Channels Television, said the President, Vice President, Governors, Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and others exempted from the prohibition of the use of tinted glass car do not face more security challenges than the ordinary Nigerians. He said, “These are people who are heavily paid, I mean the same category of people who are exempted, who receive what we call security votes, usually unaccounted for, usually running into billions. “I was here the other thing and I said Governor Rochas Okorocha, in all fairness to him, disclosed to this country that what his predecessor was receiving before he came on board was N6 billion and that when people wondered why he (Mr Okorocha) was able to revive free education in Imo State; it was that he dedicated Four out of the N6 billion to the educational assignment.” The activist said this is an example that the ordinary Nigerian, who do not have access to such fund, are more exposed to security threats than those exempted from the prohibition of the use of tinted glass car. Mr Ugwumadu said exempting some people from certain law is discriminationary and violate section 42 of the Nigerian constitution which holds that ‘A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person: (a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject; or (b) be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions.

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/05/02/banning-tinted-glass-car-lawyer-queries-exemption-for-president-others/

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Why we can’t produce Tompolo – Lawyers Lawyers representing a former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka) Tompolo, on Wednesday said they are not required to produce their client in court. Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa said it is not a defence counsel’s duty to produce an accused in court for arraignment, but the prosecution’s obligation. They referred to Paragraph 3 (b) of the Federal High Court Practice Direction 2013 which provides: “On the date of first arraignment, the prosecutor must produce the accused person in court.” Oyetibo and Adegboruwa, who filed an appeal on Tompolo’s behalf, were reacting to calls that they should produce their client in court or be disciplined by the Bar. It was suggested that since the lawyers are apparently in touch with Tompolo, who was declared wanted, they owe Nigeria a duty to produce him. But, the lawyers said Tompolo is entitled to appeal any order made against him, adding that in several instances, courts have quashed charges without an accused being present. According to them, in the case of Fawehinmi vs Attorney-General of Lagos State (1989), the Court of Appeal held that accused persons were entitled in law to take their objection to the charge irrespective of the fact that they were not physically present in court. “Thus, judges look at the facts of a case and the applicable law, but not sentiments, in deciding cases that come before them. “In Ezeugo vs Ohanvere (1978) 6-7 Sc 171, Justice Obaseki of the Supreme Court said: “sentiments command no place in judicial deliberations, for if it did, our task would be infinitely more difficult and less beneficial to the society.’ The lawyers said the notion that their colleagues who defend persons accused of corruption are aiding graft is misconceived. “May the day never come in Nigeria when lawyers would be afraid to take up the defence of persons accused of crime simply because of media backlash or editorial opinions,” they stated.

http://thenationonlineng.net/why-we-cant-produce-tompolo-lawyers/

Politics

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Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State has made some appointments on his first day in office. Ododo, who was sworn in at the Muhammadu Buhari Mini Stadium, Lokoja, the Kogi State capital on Saturday, made his first appointments during his inaugural speech. The governor nominated some commissioners and other top aides. Some of those appointed served in the immediate past government of Yahaya Bello. They include Folashade Ayoade Arike, Kingsley Fanwo, and Deedat Salami Ozigi, among others. [READ ALSO] PHOTOS: Usman Ododo Takes Over As Kogi Governor He named Arike as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and asked the Kogi State House of Assembly to screen the appointees speedily. Below is the list of appointees and their portfolios: Ali Bello — Chief of Staff to the Governor Hilary Ojoma — Deputy Chief of Staff Elijah Evinemi — Head of Service Jerry Omodara — State Security Adviser Oladele John Niyi — Chief Press Secretary Shaibu Orisa — Director-General, Government House Femi Adegboyega — State Legal Adviser Isah Ismail — Special Adviser on Media Sulaiman Ibrahim — Director-General of Protocol

https://www.channelstv.com/2024/01/27/ododo-makes-appointments-on-first-day-in-office-as-kogi-governor/amp/Nlfpmod

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Former Vice President and presidential aspirant of All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar and national leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the declaration of rally of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in Ilorin, Kwara State on Wednesday. ILORIN – Thousands of supporters, sympathizers,leaders and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC Wday stormed the expansive Metropolitan square along Asa Dam road, Ilorin venue of the public declaration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for second term in office,where among others the embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives,Hon Aminu Tambuwal called on President Goodluck Jonathan to resign from office because of poor leadership or face the consequence of the angry electorates that will vote him out with the Peolpes Democratic Party in 2015 election so that there can be peace in Nigeria. Also, the former governor of Lagos state and a leader of the party Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu who was boisterous and energetic throughout the ceremony explained to the mammoth crowd in vernacular language why they needed to vote for the leadership of his party and vote out President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP in 2015 general elections. Majority of the presidential aspirants, namely Alh Atiku Abubakar, General Muhammadu Buhari, Alh Rabiu kwankwaso and former minister of FCT Mallam El Rufai were all in attendant. Also governor of Kano state and other governors of the APC states, namely Governors Aliu Wamako of Sokoto, Adams Oshiomole of Edo, Rochas Okorocha of Imo, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and representatives from Osun Ogun and Oyo states among others were all present. The host governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed and the leader of the party in Kwara state, Senator Bukola Saraki also took their turn to justify the reasons for granting second term to the incumbent governor and why they defected to APC . Senator Bukola Saraki said he endorsed the governor for second term because of his impressive performance and loyalty and urged the people of Kwara not to be deceived and intimidated by the power of presidency and members of PDP in the state he described as artificial politicians who come around only during election period. The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal while addressing the APC supporters said, ‘’In Kwara state your political history is very rich. You have had the foundation of the political struggle of this state laid by our late leader, Dr Olusola Saraki. This structure that is being sustained by God Almighty who has always delivered Kwara to the right place.’’ ‘’ I believe that this time around there will not be anything different. With the support of the people of the state APC shall form 100 percent the government in the state from the local council to state Assembly and to the government house. Eventually and ultimately the state has always been providing leadership in the politics of this country.’’he stressed. When it comes to presidential elections, the Speaker said,’’ I am sure that the state will provide such leadership to the extent that we shall deliver this country to the government at the centre to APC’’. ‘’By voting APC at the centre you will be voting for prosperity and eradication of poverty. What we are witnessing today in Nigeria is not governance, but mis-governance. We are witnessing a system that does not have the interest of the people of this country at heart.I call on President Jonathan to resign from office because of all these misgovernance and the untold hardship Nigerians are presently passing through.If he fails to do that it is therefore incumbent on us as a people to turn en-masse and vote out Goodluck Ebele Jonathan come 2015. That will bring peace, progress and development of Nigeria’’Tambuwal said. The former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu told the APC members in Kwara,’’ Let me forget the protocol, because you are the votes. You are the people who must vote. We bring the greetings and respect of Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and the entire APC states in Nigeria.’’ ‘’What I want to beg of you is to be ready to defend for change. The race has started again. We have endorsed Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for second term in office as he has performed creditably well just like his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki’’. Referring the government of PDP, he said, ’’The thieves that daily steal your money. They have not given you any job; they cannot create jobs and they are starving states of funds to pay workers salaries. The best thing to do is to sweep them away through broom revolution. APC is a party of the masses.’’ ‘’I saw the sea of refuges and the lies coming from Jonathan’s administration. They have exhibited failure, lack of capacity, vision, creativity; the lie of yesterday is what they repeat today and it is what they will repeat tomorrow. They are lying to you. They are lying about the security; toying about the security of this country. I don’t have time to explain the logic of their lies.’’ ‘’But if you control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief of the armed of the federal republic, why should any part of this country be under occupation? And you give us excuses every day. In any civilized country Jonathan should resigned. But if he will not resign he should wait for our broom we will sweep them.’’ ‘’It now behooves you to begin a house to house campaign that this is a party of the masses. You had not seen Bukola and myself mounting the same podium campaigning for the same party before this time. This is a new beginning. This is a time of good things and tidings from us. We have brought good luck and commonsense revolution’’he said.. ‘’Now it is time to apply commonsense revolution and it is about your lives. It is about your education, your jobs and about the security of this country. We stay together since independence and we will remain together. Any affecting any section of this country affects all of us.’’ ‘’I will come back. This is just the endorsement of Governor Ahmed; that he will be re-elected by the grace of God with the support of you people here and those outside there. The unemployment situation will be conquered by this administration of APC. We have the vision for the security of th e lives of our children.’’he stressed. Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo state in his remark who said he was impressed by the notable achievements of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed hence his personal attendance also poured encomiums on the political legacies of the late sage Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki which has continued to provide good leadership to the state even till now. The governor of Rivers state,Mr Rotimi Amaechi said,this is the time to say the truth,the other party PDP is a party of liars,they are not truthful.When some has done well,you say thank you,we have come to say thank you’’ ’’On the day of election,don’t allow PDP to rig you,they will bring soldier,and police, don’t allow them to intimidate you.They are stealing our money,they took it to South Africa,its time to fund our military to overrun these terroristst’’he said. The former vice president, Alh Atiku Abubakar in his remark said,’’I was a foundation member of the current dispensation in kwara state,I wish Oloye were here alive today,we should make sure we sustain the legacy Oloye left behind by making sure that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is returned’’ Governor Ahmed in his address said,’’I pay homage to my predecessors for laying the foundation for a flourishing Kwara State that we upscaled through Shared Prosperity. Our state is much better than we met it and is growing everyday. Today, before all of you, I make bold to say we have essentially fulfilled our covenant and in the process strengthened your faith in governance.’’ After enumerating his numerous achievements the governor said,’’, I humbly and formally declare my intention to run for a second term in office so that I can do more for our state and its people. By the grace of God and with your mandate, we intend to accelerate the development of our state when re-elected for a second term in office.’’ Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/insecurity-resign-tinubu-tells-jonathan/

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Osinbajo, Soyinka, BBC, others move against fake news Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and others yesterday called for criminalisation of fake news. They spoke in Abuja yesterday at the BBC Conference, on Nigeria 2019: Countering Fake News. Osinbajo painted a picture of the destructive power of fake news, which he said has the capacity to cause personal harm and lead to violence. Besides, he said fake news can also cause damage to credibility and integrity of public information. He added that the capacity of fake news to cause great harm is not in doubt as it has the ability to mislead without realising it. Osinbajo, who narrated his personal experience in the hands of fake news peddlers, said a line must be drawn so as not to infringe on the rights of the people. He said: “I have also been a victim. Fake news may also cause you marital peace. About three weeks ago I got a call from my wife in the office and she said, Yemi what are you doing with strippers. There is this story on a very famous blog that said, ‘Osinbajo caught with strippers.’ And there was also a photograph of me standing in between the perfectly clothed ladies and under the photograph, the same ladies now not wearing much. It turned out that I have taken photograph with the ladies at an entertainment event when they were perfectly clothed. “The capacity of fake news to cause great arm is not in doubt at all. It has been the realisation that it may even mislead. I think it was Wilson Churchill that said a lie gets half way round the world before the truth has a chance to get his pants on. But why fake news is now news, is obviously because of the greater dimension of content of harm that it can do and then the scope. “A lot of these are as a result of the advancement in technology, especially in the past few decades or so. But I think as for the damage done to the credibility and integrity of public information, the capacity of fake news to cause alarm, fear and even violence has been demonstrated again and again.” He warned that greater damage would be done if nothing was done about it. “One of the great worries for us should be what harm it has done to public information. I think that a time may come if nothing is done, when nothing will be believed or nothing will be believable because as technology improves in its capacity to manipulate and disseminate, after a while there will be perfect videos raising artificial intelligence and all of the other tools of digital technology,” he added. He went on: “A perfect video of people speaking or somebody making a speech that he never made at events that never happened. It will become more and more difficult to differentiate between what is truth and what is not. “I think if we discredit public information, it is a massive danger for society itself aside from the capacity of it to cause physical arm. Ones it destroys the believability of public information, then the means of communicating with each other have been soiled forever.” While raising concern of human rights in an attempt to address fake news, Osinbajo said it would be impossible to regulate social media without infringing on fundamental rights. He said: “Today there are three issues we have to look at. The first is to which extent can we hold local media owners to account. A lot of the disinformation obviously is from social media. It is easier to sue the traditional media because they are bound by local laws and it is much easier to hold them to account. But social media is under multi-jurisdictional regulation if there is any threat. But I think there is opportunity here for more jurisdictional collaboration. There should be some kind of agreement between countries that should help us regulate social media much more effectively. “The second concern is how to deal with the consequence without infringing on the Freedom of Information and also the freedom of the press. Everybody is a press now, so freedom of the press means my freedom to own a blog, my freedom to determinate information, but the the question is how do we regulate now without infringing on these fundamental freedoms. “Really it will be impossible to regulate social media without infringing on fundamental rights. There is no way we are going to leave that in the hands of government or in the hands of the legislature without refining some activity on the part of government of the legislature. How do you create that balance?” Commending the organiser for coming up with the conference, Osinbajo said: “This conversation is overdue and I hope that we are able to provide some direction for the way we should handle this problem on fake news.” Prof. Soynka and other panelists unanimously agreed that fake news be criminalised as a way of curbing the menace. Other panelists include: BBC World Service Group Director Jamie Angus, Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) President Funke Egbemode and Bella Naija founder Uchechukwu Pedro. Soyinka said fake news has the capacity to cause the Third World War, adding that it might come from Nigeria. The Nobel laurel, therefore, asserted that fake news be treated as a crime. He said: “People do not understand what is like to have things attributed to you which you know nothing about. Apart from the fact that I have been killed on social media several times, this last year I had telephone calls asking me ‘where are you?’ and I said ‘I am in hall’. And I said ‘I know why you are calling because you thought I was dead’. Emerging waking up one day and finding a statement attributed to you and in a kind of language which you never used. For example during former President Goodluck Jonathan, there were statements that I said that why did Jonathan marry an illiterate. I never made comments like that whatsoever. Those who share fake news are sick. “And I made a statement that if people are not careful World War 3 may be quickly started by fake news and that fake news probably will be generated by a Nigerian. We have a system where fake news can multiply in a second. Many of the fake news carriers use it for business. I have someone whom we have tracked down in Poland, using a fake Facebook page of my name and my picture. And I give him a deadline to pull down the page. He lives in the Unites States of America but lives in Poland. He is a member of an organisation called some AIESEC which actually encourages young business men and women. “The first thing is to accept the fact that fake news is real and people should stop rushing to the fake sites. Individuals who have no voice before have been empowered suddenly. Every individual is now a journalist, editor, promoter and most of all a publisher. There is competition to be the first to comment. So the ‘419’ individuals sleep in cafes doing all sorts of things. Fake news should be treated as a crime. When you pin down one of such criminals, it should be a case of INTERPOL because they move all over the place. They should be advertised as criminals and get the police to arrest them. “I had complained about this to a former inspector general of police that this has to do with personal security, community security. I had expected him to reply but there was no response. Not even acknowledgment. This should be a collective responsibility. Above all we should treat it like a crime.” The representative of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Festus Okoye, a National Commissioner, argued that fake news constituted a danger to the forthcoming general elections. Okoye, who also pointed out that the country has an army of angry people with different agenda, urged the security operatives to be watchful so as to arrest any threat. The INEC commissioner also challenged Nigerians on the need to be able to draw the line on what they want to believe. The commission, Okoye said, will be undertaking regular briefing as the elections draw near as part of the measures to curb fake news. Okoye said: “It is important that we should pay attention to fake news, it is an issue in the forthcoming 2019 general election. “Fake news is misinformation; it has no basis in fact and no basis in reality. But it is generated for a particular purpose. The issues of fake news is of utmost importance in an election period where the stakes are high and where the gladiators wants to win and some of them want to win by all means. So, there are people who just sit down, mix fiction in other to generate a certain reaction. And when they generate such reaction, you can never tell how it will go. In a country like Nigeria, sometime people receive information saying forwarded as received without you looking at the dynamics of what they are forwarding. So for me if you forward as received that means you believe in what they are forwarding or you can attest to what you are forwarding. It is a very serious issue and we are also paying close attention to fake news. “The truth of the matter is that during an election period people want to guild their thoughts. As the chairman of the information on voter education committee of INEC, we have had to battle with a situation where it was reported that we have established polling unites in Chad, Niger and other neighboring countries for purposes of having the Internally Displaced persons to vote. “Nobody wanted to believe us when we said that there is nothing like that. One of the things that generate fake news is our inability to put out information in the public. When we put out information and you give it a different narrative then it is not our fault. I believe that if governments, agencies are proactive in putting out information on public space. In Nigeria you keep on hearing that there is no smoke without fire. That give people the opportunity to believe something even if they know that the chances of that news to be real in not possible. ” Egbemode warned INEC to be ready for fake news, saying politicians would use fake news to gain advantage. He stressed that fake news is dangerous, posited that some people are paid to spread it. She said: “Fake news is sophisticated. And some people wants to use that to set the country on fire. They want to see the effect. They know that there are some people who believe in sensation and they just take a full advantage of that. In the newsroom, we also know that fake news infringes on professionalism, it compromises integrity. Names that is built, brand that is build over decades. “So we make sure that as an editors we cross check. If you cannot prove it then it cannot even be called a news item. That is what we do and that is what we have been doing. This is the season for more fake news. It is because of the advent and strength of the social media that we are having fake news and there are a lot of people who are paid to spread fake news. These people who post or Carry fake news are not journalists. The fake news issue did not originate from the newsroom. We know what we will lose if we peddle the smallest news item that is fake. We will lose ground, credibility. INEC should be ready for more fake news as the election approaches. There is news and there is gossip. When you want what is real you know where to go to. And when you want gossip and sensationalism you know where to go. When you want to listen to a sermon you do not go to a bar.” Pedro noted that ” A lot of the fake news website mimic real news website, so they have they have similar template, it even contains lot of real information alongside the fake information. Fake news go viral than the real news. Many of these people that are posting fake news employs different methods by putting prominent figures to make it real. This is a political period we should be careful and vigilant. The traditional media is not creating fake news. Newspapers do not do that. The people who are posting fake news are not those who will benefit from it. When we have no official news people are going to take the unofficial one.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/osinbajo-soyinka-bbc-others-move-fake-news/

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Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos, has again insisted that the Lagos investment in Econet (now Zain), currently a subject of controversy in the media, was a straight forward institutional investment, which earned the state a profit of more than N15 billion and from which no individual benefitted. Reacting to allegations that there might have been some illicit payout, now a subject of British Metropolitan Police investigation, Asiwaju Tinubu said the claim was not true for Lagos State. He said the transaction was made by IBILE Holdings, a government-owned investment company; and that no broker was involved in the transaction. He added that the state, though IBILE, invested N4 billion; but reaped more than N19 billion when it divested. “I must stress that when Lagos State sold its shares, it hired no broker, agent, or intermediary of any kind – just as it did not hire any agent when it bought the Econet shares,†he declared. “So, the allegation that a broker called African Development Fund Inc. (ADFI) was ever used, by the Lagos State Government is false. The state did not pay any commission to anybody, from whatever profit it earned from the investment.†The former governor, however, challenged anyone who had contrary facts on that matter to come forward with them, and also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to carry out a speedy but thorough probe into the matter. “I challenge anyone who claims any commission was paid, received or laundered to come forward with proof. I also call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to carry out a speedy but thorough investigation into the matter, since some of us have families, relations and well-wishers; and these allegations are rather traumatic to them.†Asiwaju Tinubu also said the claim that the British Metropolitan Police was after any persons involved in the alleged deal was not true as far as Lagos was concerned. “I also read in the papers that the British Metropolitan Police investigated the integrity of the transaction and the alleged associated payments,†he declared in the statement. “I categorically state that the British Police has never questioned, arrested or charged myself or any other official of Lagos State under my tenure.†Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/09/my-position-on-econet-shares/

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*Dr Okhue Iboi By Yinka Ajayi A group, which calls itself Witches and Wizards Association of Nigeria (WITCAN), has described Governor Adams Oshiomhole as a workaholic while commending him for transforming Edo State. The group, which also asked Oshiomhole to put in place measures to ensure that the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state is successful, however, complained that its members were being persecuted, pleading that the persecution should stop. It spoke through its Publicity Secretary, Dr Okhue Iboi. “Members of our association are apolitical. We are not partisan. Our own concern as stakeholders in the project called Nigeria is for peace and unity to reign. Our own witches group are not evil. We do good, and promote whatever will bring progress to mankind. We love Nigeria. Oshiomhole has been working very hard in the last seven years plus, and he has transformed Edo State, but he should be very vigilant so that some hoodlums working for some political godfathers don’t unleash violence which may lead to the destruction of properties and lives,” Iboi, a trado-medical practitioner, told Sunday Vanguard in Lagos. The witches spokesman disclosed that the task of delivering the message to Oshiomhole and other political gladiators in Edo State was given to the witches during a meeting members of the group held at Irrua. “We were holding our monthly meeting at Irrua, and, suddenly, while looking at our crystal ball in the coven, we saw some things that were frightening concerning Edo and thereafter I was mandated as the spokesperson of the group to deliver this message to the governor, and other stakeholders that have one thing or the other to do with the governorship election in Edo State. But we are making a special appeal to Governor Oshiomhole because he is the Chief Security Officer of the state. He should liaise with the police, INEC and other stakeholders to ensure that peace is maintained before, during and after the elections,” Iboi said. Warning politicians in Edo State not to see the election as a do-or-die affair, he said political parties and candidates taking part in the election must respect the will of the electorate. “Power belong to God and He alone gives it to whomsoever it pleases Him to give it to. But one fact our politicians must know is that the will of the people must be respected” . While advising politicians to take the witches warning seriously, Iboi said: “Witches are not joking over this Edo election. We will not allow any individual or group to destroy the state or give it a bad name. It is unfortunate that many Nigerians are hypocrites. When they hear witches or read about witches, what comes to their mind is evil or darkness. For our own witches group, we are children of light. We are for good. Have people forgotten that even in the Bible there is a story of King Saul who consulted a witch when he was about to go into a battle to enable him know how the battle will go? “Again people tend to forget that Nigeria is a secular state, Nigeria doesn’t belong to only Christians and Muslims, the nation is for all faiths. They should stop persecuting witches or look at us with disdain. As stakeholders they should allow us to make our own contributions to the growth and development of the country.” The witches spokesperson said the election is going to be a straight battle between the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Godwin Obaseki, and that of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Pastor Ize Iyamu. “The battle is a straight one between Iyamu and Obaseki, and the election is going to be hotly contested. But on who is going to win, we are holding an emergency meeting at Ofosu next Wednesday, and the person who is going to win the election will be revealed to us at that meeting.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/persecuted-witches-group/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

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By Vincent Ujumadu & Chidi Nkwopara AWKA—AGRRREVED members of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, including the wife of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, Managing Director of Capital Oil, Chief Ifeanyi Uba, among others, yesterday shunned the reconciliatory meeting convened by the leadership of the party to assuage the feelings of those who lost out during the recent primary for the selection of candidates for the 2019 general elections. This is as a Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State capital, has ordered the leadership of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, to appear before it, November 13, 2018, to prove that there was a gubernatorial primary election in Imo State. Both Ojukwu and Ubah lost out during the primaries for the party’s ticket for Anambra South senatorial zone. Rancour and acrimony had trailed the controversial primary such that most of those who felt they were cheated had vowed to ensure the downfall of the party as they claimed that despite promises by the leadership of the party, the exercise lacked due process. According to them, the leadership of APGA ought not to have collected money from the aspirants if it was not interested in organising free and fair primary. The reconciliatory committee is chaired by vice presidential candidate of APGA, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, with a member of Board of Trustees of the party, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Obegolu, Chief Uzoma Obinyo, Chief Elias Adokwe and Mr. Uche Nwegbo as members. Incidentally, none of the members of the committee showed up yesterday, fueling speculation that their absence was due to fear of attack by the aggrieved aspirants. When Vanguard visited the APGA secretariat in Awka before the scheduled time of 3.00pm, a large number of canopies and seats were prepared but most of the aspirants failed to turn up. The few that came, mainly House of Assembly aspirants, vowed to work against the party unless all the monies collected from them in the name of primaries were refunded. Sensing the charged atmosphere, the state chairman and his executive members hurriedly locked their offices and left. Court summons APGA Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State capital, has ordered the leadership of APGA, to appear before it, November 13, 2018, to prove that there was a gubernatorial primary election in Imo State. The presiding Judge, Hon. Justice T. G. Ringim, gave the order yesterday, after listening to the submissions and address of the plaintiffs counsel, Mr. L. M. Alozie, SAN. The development is sequel to the suit, FHC/OW/CS/134/2018, filed by the former Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim and 13 other aggrieved gubernatorial aspirants on APGA platform, contesting the alleged emergence of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume as the governorship candidate of APGA. The court, on the prayer of the plaintiffs, equally abridged the time, within which the defendants will respond, from 30 days to 14 days. On the mode of service of all the court processes on the defendants, Justice Ringim ordered that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and APGA should be served in their Abuja head offices. In the case of Senator Araraume, the court okayed substituted service, adding that “it should be pasted on the walls of Destiny Foundation Campaign Organisation, Onitsha Road, Owerri”. Speaking to newsmen, Chief Ohakim said he was satisfied with the court’s ruling. “I am very pleased with what happened in court today (yesterday). Can there be party primary without the press and security agencies being there? It is most disappointing that APGA degenerated to the abysmal level of concocting results for a fictitious primary election”, Ohakim said. He recalled with grief that the plaintiffs helped in pumping members into the party, but regretted that “the party leaders failed to manage the surge.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/primaries-bianca-ojukwu-ubah-others-shun-apga-re-conciliatory-meeting/

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Enugu— Mrs Clara Chime, wife of Enugu State governor, has warned beggars to stay off the streets or face arrest and prosecution. Chime gave the warning, yesterday in Enugu while presenting gifts and money to some beggars arrested for parading major streets of the state. According to her, “begging is not a good thing. I will give you money to go and start petty trading. I will also give you clothes for you and your children. “If I catch you on the streets again, I will arrest and jail you. The annoying thing is that none of you is a destitute person because you all have houses.†She criticised them for exposing their children to danger. In her remarks, the Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Ndidi Chukwu, recalled that the ministry had been taking the beggars off the streets only for them to return. Chukwu appealed to them to make good use of the money given to them so that they would be useful to themselves and the society. The governor’s wife presented a cash of N20,000 to each of the 15 beggars as well as wrappers and insecticide- treated nets, after feeding them for two days at the Government Lodge. Fourteen of the beggars, who came from Ebonyi, were repatriated to their state, while the one from Awgu in Enugu State was given a job in her pet project. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/06/enugu-first-lady-warns-beggars/

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Abuja communities where girls’ breasts are suppressed to save them from rape Most societies try to protect girls from sexual predators by punishing said predators. But in this report, GRACE OBIKE reveals how pre-teens are tortured in Abuja by being made to undergo breast ironing all in the name of preventing them from being raped. It is widely believed that one in every four Nigerian girls has been a victim of sexual violence. Of the number who reported their ugly experiences, fewer than five out of 100 received any form of support data from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) states. For centuries, the fear of sexual violence has pushed women to adopt different methods of protecting their daughters. In Pygba Sama, a community in Apo about 14.2km away from the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the fear of rape and sexual molestation by randy men has shaped the culture of protection for underage girls. In order to make teenage girls look less ‘womanly’ and to prevent unwanted male attention, pregnancy and rape, women in Pygba Sama, Kpaduma II and a few other communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) practice breast ironing, also known as breast flattening. Why Iron the breast? Thirty-year-old Kandie Iliya was in panic mode when she realised that her 10-year-old daughter was beginning to develop breasts. She broke up parts of a calabash into what looks like huge bra cup sizes, called Amapala in Gbagyi language. She then placed the parts of the calabash close to the fire, and when it was hot, she held her screaming daughter down and used it to meticulously massage the daughter’s breasts tissues until she was satisfied it had dissolved. “I knew she didn’t want it, because she was crying and squirming. But what could I have done? She was too young to start having breasts. I love my daughter and did not want men to start noticing her.” She said. Kandie is not the only one who believes in such a practice. Thirty-eight-year-old Grace Ekene, who is originally Gbagyi but married to an Igbo man, also decided to iron her daughter’s breasts after realising that the 11 years old was not only towering over her mates in the community but had began to grow breasts. Although Grace escaped the experience when she was younger because she always ran away each time her mother tried to practice it on her, she still decided to put her daughter through the nightmare for fear of someone noticing the girl or molesting her. She said: “I didn’t like it when I was young. I was scared of it. Whenever my mother called me for it, I would run away from home till she forgot. “But after seeing my daughter and the way she was developing beyond her age, I decided to protect her, and I almost succeeded in ironing her breasts. “Luckily, my friends, who had attended a community meeting on the day that I had set aside to do it, came to visit. “When I told them what I planned on doing to my daughter that evening, they told me that they were told at the meeting that young girls whose breasts are ironed may develop cancer later in life.” According to African Health Organisation, breast ironing is the process whereby young pubescent girls’ breasts are ironed, massaged and/or pounded down through the use of hard or heated objects in order for the breasts to disappear or delay their development. The United Nations (UN) states that Breast Ironing affects 3.8 million women around the world and has been identified as one of the five under-reported crimes relating to gender-based violence. Investigation revealed that the unwholesome practice is carried out with the use of grinding stone, cast iron, coconut shell, calabash, hammer or spatula that has been heated for a long time over a scorching coal. It is also done by tightly wrapping the breasts with a belt or cloth. In Pygba community, the practice of breasts ironing is as old as time. An investigation carried out by our reporter revealed that almost all the community women spoken to had experienced breast ironing at one time of their lives or the other. Interestingly, most of them insist that their own mothers and grandmothers were also victims of the generational practice. An investigation carried out by the Teenage Network in the aforementioned communities also revealed that one in every three adolescent girls had experienced breast ironing. Some victims of the practice like Kandie ironed their breasts themselves when they felt their mothers were not forthcoming due to peer pressure. Kandie said: “Growing up, I ironed my own breasts myself because I did not want to develop breasts early. “I realised that the parents of all my friends and peers had ironed their breasts, so I didn’t even wait for my mother but did it myself. “So you can see why I felt that I had to do it to my child.” Is breast ironing only practised in the FCT? While Grace Ekene, who is Gbagyi but married to an Igbo man laid out her plan to iron her daughters’ breasts, her best friend in the community, who hails from Enugu State, did the same. Where Grace was going to use the Amapala on the daughter, her friend planned on using a heated spatula as is used in her own village in Enugu. Olanike Timipa-Uge, Executive Director Teenage Network, an organisation working with Action Aid Nigeria to motivate change in harmful socio-cultural norms that promote violence against women and girls, especially breasts ironing in the FCT explained: “During our baseline assessment which we are implementing in two communities, Pygba Sama and Kpaduma II in the FCT, we identified that one in three adolescent girls in these committees have actually experienced breast ironing.” She said apart from the FCT, breast ironing is widely practised in Nigeria but reporting is really low. Timipa-Uge said her organisation has had interactions with adolescent girls in the FCT who came from places like Niger State and they tell them they had experienced it while they were in their states. Apart from Nigeria, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reported that breasts ironing has been reported in other African countries like Cameroon, Togo, Guinea Bissau, West and Central Africa, including Chad, Benin and Guinea-Conakry. In Nigeria, apart from the FCT, Niger and other states, it is reportedly more common in Cross River, mostly amongst Cameroon refugees in the state. Dangers of breasts ironing Breast ironing is very painful. But apart from the immediate pains experienced by victims, investigations show that the practice can cause serious physical issues such as abscess, a painful collection of pus that develops under the skin; cysts: fluid-filled lumps under the skin that can develop into abscesses, itching, constant pain, burns due to the heated objects used, tissue damage. It can also cause infection, discharge of milk, breasts becoming significantly different in shapes or sizes, fever, scarring, mastitis, an inflammation of breast tissue, complete disappearance of one or both breasts, difficulty breastfeeding and an increased likelihood of breast cancer. Apart from the physical damage to victims, Timipa-Uge says, “it in a way creates a wrong impression about issues of sexual violence. When you iron girls’ breasts because you don’t want them to be sexually abused, you are indirectly saying that the fact that a girl gets sexually abused, the girl is to blame. You are saying the reason why she is being abused is because she has a breast, which is totally unfair to the girl child.” She also said it could have a psychological effect on the child because eventually, they tend to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Cases of sexual abuse in Pygba Sama At 13 years old, Maria had her life ahead of her until she was raped and impregnated by a 49-year-old man who threatened her life if she revealed his identity. She later lost the baby after its birth and eventually confided in an adult who confronted her rapist. He dismissed the aspect of rape, claiming the girl had enjoyed the encounter even though she fought, cried all through, and bled. Seventeen-year-old Joy was also molested by a young man in his early twenties, but unlike Maria, Joy spoke up. She reported the incident but was blamed by the molester’s parents. They accused her in front of the whole community of indecent dressing and acting like a know-all. The parents of the rapist disgraced, blamed and called her names within the community until the Teenage Network representative in Pygba Sama, Ruth Ibrahim, reported the case to the village head and threatened to report to the police and accuse their son of rape before the family backed down. What the law says The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Article 6 statesthat “States Parties recognise that every child has the inherent right to life. States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child.” Article 19 states: “States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.” In Nigeria, female genital mutilation/cutting/elongation, breasts Ironing and forced marriages are all criminal offences and are classified as harmful traditional practices under the Violence Against Persons and Prohibition (VAPP) Act. In terms of punishment, the VAPP Act states: “A person who carries out harmful traditional practices on another commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding four years or to a fine not exceeding N500,000.00 or both.” Although breast ironing in the VAPP act has been proscribed as a criminal offence punishable by jail term and fine, there is no visible record of a perpetrator who has so far been prosecuted for the crime. An article by the National Library of Medicine on breast ironing explains that as with a number of other harmful traditional practices (e.g. Female genital mutilation or cutting), breast ironing is typically performed by female familial relatives (e.g. mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, nanny, or another female guardian), and the practice is maintained as a secret between girls and their mothers or other guardians. It says to date, data and empirical studies on breast ironing have been extremely scarce, thus limiting broad understanding about its extent or general prevalence. Being as secretive a practice as it is due to the relationship between the victims and perpetrators has made reportage of the crime difficult. Even the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which has mandated by the Federal Government to administer the provisions of the VAPP Act said the agency had not handled any complaints on breast ironing. Steps being taken to end breast ironing in FCT NAPTIP insists that even though no one has come forward to report a case of breast ironing in the FCT, it is aware of its existence and taking steps to curb it. Director, VAPP Dept at the agency, Mrs. Ijeoma Amugo, said: “The issue was raised on the sideline of our engagement with some stakeholders from the Kabusa area of Apo, Abuja, some weeks ago and it was agreed that they should promptly report such a case to NAPTIP. “The DG has also directed improved surveillance in the community alongside sustained awareness and enlightenment on the danger of such harmful practices.” Apart from NAPTIP, Teenage Network has been working with stakeholders in Pygba Sama and Kpaduma II for the past three years on awareness creation. Teenage Network’s representative in Pygba Sama, Ruth Ibrahim, said she did not know about breast ironing until she relocated to the community with her husband. According to her, after her relocation, she noticed the high number of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) within the community, with men battering their wives at the slightest provocation, like being served their meals without meat, even when they (the men) refuse to provide money for food to wives who are mostly housewives. She added: “I became friendly with the young girls in the community and they began opening up to me. “Many of them come to me with things they cannot tell their mothers. It was in the process that I learnt about their tradition of breast ironing and the high level of sexual abuse being committed by older men and young boys. “So far, I have confronted a lot of these molesters, called them and their families out in community gatherings that I have organised and sensitised the women on the dangers of breast ironing.” Ruth Ibrahim says a lot has changed in Pygba Sama in the last three years in the aspect of breast ironing because the women are now listening and have begun ostracising mothers who still insist on practicing breast ironing. Luckily, practitioners like Kandie Iliya are beginning to repent. “After ironing that of my first daughter, I did not iron the breasts of my second because I have become aware of its dangers. “I did that of my first daughter out of ignorance because I thought I was doing what was best for her. “But now, they told me that it could lead to cancer, breast pains after giving birth, or it could prevent a mother from producing milk after giving birth. I don’t want anything to happen to my daughters.” she said. On her part, Timipa-Uge said so far the network has recorded quite a number of success stories. Adolescent girls in the communities have confirmed that there has been a significant reduction in the rate of breast ironing ever since the programme started. She added: “We’ve had girls whose older siblings had experienced breast ironing before the programme now telling us they were saved from experiencing that, and we have had community women openly telling us how they have changed their mind on the practice.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/abuja-communities-where-girls-breasts-are-suppressed-to-save-them-from-rape/

Culture

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Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti State and Ayo Fayose Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has declared that the state shall never again be governed by those who will borrow billions of naira to plant flowers and create comfort for themselves alone. Fayose, who was reacting to an interview of former Governor Kayode Fayemi in some newspapers in which he said that “his legacy was being destroyed”, affirmed that his government was destroying the legacies of huge debt, unpaid salaries, white elephant projects, bad governance and corruption allegedly left behind by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of Dr. Fayemi, adding that no responsible government will sustain a legacy of over N86 billion debt that was incurred on projects with no direct bearing on the welfare of the people. In a statement issued on Thursday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said it was necessary for Fayemi’s negative legacies to be destroyed, adding that; “Even in the APC, his legacy of betrayal of Senator Bola Tinubu, the man who made him governor is being destroyed.” “Today, Fayemi has been ostracized by those who assisted him to Office because he has betrayed all of them, including Tinubu. “Does he then wants us to sustain the legacy of serial betrayal of his benefactors? “If he served Ekiti and its people well, why was it that he was roundly defeated in all the 16 local councils in the State in the June 21, 2014 governorship election and his party was also defeated 16 – 0 in the Presidential, National Assembly and House of Assembly “Even his own party men described his electoral defeat as the worst in Nigeria,” he said. The governor, who said it was shameful that Fayemi, who left two months’ salary and four months cooperative and unions deductions from workers salary, as well as pensioners pensions and gratuities unpaid could be talking about his legacies being destroyed, asked; “Did Fayemi leave behind any positive legacy in Ekiti?” He said; “When Fayemi became governor, he choose to close down two universities established by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of Segun Oni and abandoned the Oba Adejugbe General Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, claiming that the State could not fund more than “The same Fayemi, who said Ekiti had no money to fund more than one university preferred to take N25 billion bond to plant flowers that never germinated up till now and build a new governor’s lodge, civic centre, pavilion and execute other irrelevant projects. “Furniture alone, in the N3.3bn governor’s lodge that he built for himself and his wife cost N604.9 million and Fayemi wants such legacy of profligacy to be sustained in Ekiti? We are sorry to tell him that we won’t sustain such legacy of waste. “Even vehicles bought for traditional rulers and political appointees, his government did not pay and uncompleted Oba Adejugbe General Hospital and State Pavilion were commissioned with fanfare. “Today, Ekiti State is under the yoke of debt, courtesy of Fayemi’s mismanagement of the State resources and what we are destroying are those legacies of mis-governance he left behind. “One bad news that we must however tell Fayemi is that; we won’t only destroy his legacy of mis-governance and betrayal in Ekiti, we will also make sure that economic devourers like him will never taste power in the State.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/people-who-borrow-billions-to-plant-flowers-wont-rule-ekiti-again-fayose/#sthash.bNhVsjZK.dpuf

Politics

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More revelations have emerged on what transpired on the field during the just concluded National Assembly election in Abia State. The latest is coming from the Returning Officer for Abia North Senatorial District, Dr. Ihekwaba Chukwugoziem, who revealed that the process was characterized by massive fraud and irregularities in the five Local Government Areas that make up the Abia North Senatorial District. Dr. Chukwugoziem revealed that electoral and collation officers were forced by hoodlums to manipulate figures in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party. The Returning Officer said that he had advised the Resident Electoral Commissioner to organise a rerun in all five Local Government Areas. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Abia North senatorial candidate, Mao Ohuabunwa, and his All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) counterpart, David Ogba, have traded words over the National Assembly (NASS) election results released by INEC. While the PDP candidate insists that the election results were genuine, the APGA candidate rejected the claim, saying the authentic results were yet to be declared. Also, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Anyim Nyerere, condemned the conduct and urged the electoral body to investigate the allegations of malpractice. The Abia State Government has warned political parties and their candidates to refrain from using inciting statements capable of causing rampage among the party supporters thereby truncating the existing peace in the state.

http://www.channelstv.com/2015/04/03/nass-election-returning-officer-reveals-irregularities-in-abia/

Politics

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Fresh information has surfaced surrounding the emergence of Prof Ibrahim Gambari as the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari and how the appointment connects to the reported gunfight at the Aso Rock Villa involving First Lady Aisha Buhari's ADC and the President's private secretary cum blood relative, Sabiu Yusuf. The new insights were contained in Farooq A. Kperogi’s column published on his website Saturday with the title: Backstory Behind Aisha Buhari’s Gunfight with Sabiu Yusuf, wherein the US-based professor described Yusuf as a "former recharge card seller in Daura who is now the third most powerful Nigerian after Buhari and Mamman Daura". According to the essayist, Gambari was originally not Aisha's preferred candidate to replace the late Abba Kyari as her husband's Chief of Staff but opted for the former diplomat when she realized that her choice wouldn't make the cut and as a way to checkmate Buhari's powerful nephew, Mamman Daura. The First Lady was said to have been initially rooting for Buba Marwa to occupy the office. Kperogi wrote, “Aisha Buhari was more enthusiastic about Gambari than Mamman Daura was. Gambari’s candidacy was almost entirely pushed by Maiduguri multibillionaire Muhammadu Indimi whose son is married to Aisha’s daughter, Zahra, who celebrated Abba Kyari’s coronavirus infection. “Of course, Gambari is known to Buhari. Apart from serving as his minister of external affairs when he was a military dictator in the 1980s, possibly on the recommendation of Tunde Idiagbon with whom Gambari shared Ilorin identity, Gambari was drafted to speak to presidents and international bodies to lend legitimacy and credibility to Buhari in the aftermath of his in-your-face electoral heist in 2019. “Nonetheless, had Indimi not pleaded with Buhari to consider Gambari for the Chief of Staff position, he wouldn’t have stood a chance. It turned out, however, that Buhari and, most importantly, Mamman Daura had not yet been totally sold on the Gambari candidacy when news of his appointment littered social media. “A close friend to Aisha Buhari’s media consultant told me that it was Aisha Buhari who commissioned his consultant to reach out to social media influencers to spread the story of Gambari’s appointment. At the time I learned of this, it didn’t make sense to me because I knew she wanted Buba Marwa to succeed Abba Kyari. “Then, in an unusual move, the emir of Ilorin issued a public statement thanking Buhari for appointing Ibrahim Gambari, his uncle, as Chief of Staff to the President even though Gambari had not formally been announced by the presidency as Buhari’s Chief of Staff. “When I read the emir’s statement, I called an older friend of mine who is close to power brokers in the north and asked if he knew what was happening. He said some opinion leaders there had called Gambari after they read the emir’s statement and asked him if he had been formally appointed. “My friend reported Gambari to have told them that he had not been formally informed that he had been appointed Chief of Staff. I was confused. Exactly three hours later, my friend called back to say Gambari had just spoken with one of the leaders and said he had just then received word from the Villa that he had been appointed Chief of Staff to Buhari. “Apparently, realizing that her candidate wouldn’t make the cut—and in order to forestall the possibility of Mamman Daura imposing a candidate on her husband— Aisha decided to compel Buhari into appointing her father-in-law’s candidate through artful social media manipulation. “I don’t know if she coordinated with the emir of Ilorin, but at the time the emir thanked Buhari for appointing his uncle, Buhari and Mamman Daura had not made up their minds on whom they wanted to be Buhari’s Chief of Staff. “So Buhari and Daura were dealing with three simultaneous pressures: social media chatter that Gambari had been appointed Chief of Staff when he hadn’t, the emir of Ilorin’s letter of gratitude for an appointment that had not been made, and Muhammadu Indimi’s push on behalf of Gambari. It was too much to resist, so they caved in at the last minute.” While connecting to foregoing narrative to the reported gunfight in the Aso Presidential Villa, the popular columnist explained that "Daura, having been beaten by Aisha in the choice of Gambari, decided to make Sabiu “Tunde” Yusuf, the son of his sister, the real Chief of Staff and a bulwark against Aisha’s encroachment into Buhari’s politics and policies. "As I noted in my May 30, 2020 column titled, “Gambari: Embrace and Alienation of an Outsider on the Inside,” “unlike Abba Kyari who had a direct access to Buhari and whom Buhari said all ministers should meet if they wanted anything from him, Gambari has an intermediary between him and Buhari. And it isn’t just any intermediary; the intermediary is Buhari’s blood relative whom my November 23, 2019 column titled ‘Government of Buhari’s Family, By His Family, and For His Family’ exposed.” Kperogi stated further, "Gambari has turned out to be not the Abba Kyari replacement Aisha had hoped he would be. Instead, Sabi’u “Tunde” Yusuf, her nemesis’ nephew, is the new Abba Kyari. Since the “Earth” hasn’t “cleansed” itself of the man like it did with Abba Kyari, she and her children wanted to do it themselves."

https://allnews.ng/news/kperogi-links-gambari-appointment-to-aisha-buhari-s-gunfight-with-sabiu-yusuf-in-new-claims

Politics

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By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke ABUJA— THE Senate, yesterday, directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, to begin to extend the validity of its results to a period of three years. This was even as it ordered the board to immediately stop its policy of re-assigning candidates to schools they never applied to, saying such policy was contrary to the act establishing the board. To this end, results obtained from the board by candidates seeking admission into universities are expected to last for three years. The red chamber, which order came following a motion entitled: ”JAMB’s New Admission Policy, “ sponsored by Senator Joshua Lidani, APC, Gombe South, which was debated during plenary, also urged JAMB to consult widely with Parents Teachers Association, ASUU and all other stakeholders in the education sector with a view to coming out with a friendlier holistic, comprehensive and sustainable admissions policy. It also directed its Committee on Education to enquire into circumstances surrounding the JAMB policy, including all allegations of favouritism and generally review the power of JAMB vis-a-vis administration and submit findings within one week. Earlier, in his motion, Senator Lidani frowned at the JAMB’s policy of posting candidates to schools, including private universities whose fees, he noted, were beyond the means of the candidates’ parents or guardians, saying in some cases, candidate were posted to universities located far away from their places of abode thus placing additional financial burden on their parents. Lidani expressed worry that although the Federal Ministry of Education had since suspended the implementation of this policy, JAMB was still going ahead with its implementation, thus creating more hardship for parents and uncertainty in the education sector. He said he was concerned given that the policy runs contrary to the letters and spirit of Section 5(1)(C) iii of the JAMB Act, which according to him, requires that JAMB should take into account preferences of the candidates in their choices of schools and the subsequent confusion surrounding the directive that only candidates whose names were forwarded to the university by JAMB were eligible for post-UTME screening and others would have to go back to JAMB website to find out their new institutions. Senator Lidani expressed concern that since the policy was announced, the board was faced with series of massive protests by parents and candidates of and some organizations like the Association of Tutorial School Operators of Nigeria as well as other numerous stakeholders. He said JAMB, at its 2015 Combined Policy Meeting, held on July 14, 2015, in Abuja, announced the adoption of a policy whereby candidates of universities with surplus applicants for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, UTME, were reassigned to other universities with lower number of candidates than their capacities. While noting that JAMB was a board created by an Act of the National Assembly in 1989 to administer a centralized admission for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in Nigeria. He further noted that by Section 5(1) (C) iii of the JAMB Act 2004, the function of the board, among other things, was the general control of the conduct of the matriculation examinations for admission into all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education and also include the placement of suitable qualified candidates in the tertiary institutions having taken into account, the preferences expressed or otherwise indicated by candidates for certain tertiary institutions and courses. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/senate-asks-jamb-to-extend-validity-of-results-to-3-years/

Education

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Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi John Alechenu, Abuja The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has urged Nigerian youths to remain positive and hopeful for the coming of a New Nigeria, which, he said, will be anchored on youth development and productivity. Obi made this call in his message to mark World Youth Day, WYD, on Saturday. He explained that the current confusion in the polity as well as the economic turmoil in Nigeria should not discourage but rather motivate our youths to remain committed and resolute in the struggle for a new and better Nigeria. He said, “Unless we remain committed to the struggle for a better nation, we will not be able to achieve the New Nigeria of our dreams. “We must remain resilient and persevere against every hardship and obstacle on our journey to a new nation.” The former Anambra state Governor noted that many of the nation’s challenges will be overcome if leaders paid attention to youth development and productivity. He blamed the high level of insecurity and the alarming rate of social vices associated with youths like drug and other substance abuse as well as the high inflation rate in the country; on the high unemployment rate among the youthful population in their productive ages. Obi equally said,”According to reports, Nigeria tops in the ranking of countries with the highest rate of unemployment in the world, with a 33.3 per cent unemployment rate. And further findings show that Nigeria’s unemployment rate would further rise to 40.6per cent, due to the continuous flow of job seekers into the job market. “With this high rate of youth unemployment where more than half of the population in their productive age are not working, the nation will continue to stagger under the weight of many economic and social challenges. “It’s only by providing job opportunities and massively supporting the growth of small businesses in the country, that the challenge of high insecurity, rising inflation, etc will be taken care of.” The LP presidential candidate reiterated his firm commitment to building a New Nigeria anchored on youths’ development, noting that their youthful energy, skills, and potentials were critical ingredients needed to move the nation from consumption to production. He he admonished Nigerian youths to remain steadfast and committed to the vision of a New Nigeria, which he insists, is Possible. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/08/world-youths-day-dont-despair-obi-urges-nigerian-youths/amp/

Politics

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Bola Ahmed Tinubu … Says ‘I Want Democracy’, not Consensus … As Tambuwal Hints on Agreeing to Consensus Arrangement by PDP By Femi Bolaji, Jalingo The National leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said he remains unshaken and very confident of winning the presidential ticket of the APC. The presidential hopeful who is in the race with over 20 other aspirants in the APC spoke weekend in Jalingo, Taraba state capital after an interface with delegates of the party. He explained that his chances of winning the presidential ticket are very high. According to him, “my chances of winning the ticket are incredibly high and I am very confident. I am sure I can and I will win it.” When asked if the option of a consensus arrangement sits well with him if his party eventually opts for it, Tinubu said he prefers democracy. In his words, “I want democracy. I am voting for democracy. One man, one vote.” Meantime, the governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal who was also in the state to woo delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of its presidential primary election hinted at agreeing to a consensus arrangement if his party considers the option. He explained that he and three other presidential aspirants under the platform of PDP from the North had earlier tried to work out a consensus arrangement among themselves but failed. He further noted that despite the failed attempt, he would not kick against a Consensus arrangement if his party sees it as the best option to select the presidential flag bearer of the PDP in 2023. He said, “I am sure you are aware that four aspirants from my party including myself came together voluntarily to try a consensus which we were unable to achieve. “I am not averse to anything the party may decide to come up with at the national level, but what I can say is that we have tried consensus in producing our national working committee members and leaders of the party. “The National Chairman himself, Prof. Iyorchia Ayu is also a product of consensus, so it is part of democracy. “If our party decides to attempt it, I will be ready to participate and be part of it.” Tambuwal also told the delegates at the instance of Taraba governor, Darius Ishaku, that he has all it takes to get Nigeria working if voted to fly the PDP’s flag at the presidential election in 2023. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/05/apc-primary-my-chances-of-winning-presidential-ticket-high-tinubu/

Politics

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Nigerian forward Al Farouk Aminu (L) vies with Lithuanian centre Jonas Valanciunas during the Men’s preliminary round group A basketball match of the London 2012 Olympic Games Lithuania vs Nigeria on July 31, 2012 at the basketball arena in London. Lithuania won 72 to 53.AFP PHOTO BY JACOB AJOM Captain of the national male basketball team D’Tigers, Olumide Oyedeji has defended the performance of the team at the just concluded London 2012 Olympics, insisting that the team should be commended for standing up among the best in the world. Speaking Thursday in Lagos, Olumide said that D’Tigers, as the national team is called was just a six week old, hurriedly assembled team. “We did our best under the circumstances. You do not expect a team that was assembled under six weeks to outplay a team like Lithuania, the 5th ranked team in the world.” The Nigerian captain dismissed insinuations that D’Tigers fell in their second game because they underrated Lithuania whom they beat in Venezuela during the Olympic qualifiers. “We didn’t underrate them,” he started, questioning, “how can you underrate number 5 in the world? Olympics is a different ball game.” Although he admitted their qualification for the Olympics gave them confidence, he said they did not allow that get into their heads. “Our qualification for the Olympics gave us hope and the confidence that we could do it. But people should not forget the fact that we only prepared for six weeks. The Spanish team that contested the gold medal with the USA has been together since the World Junior championship in 1999. You can’t toy with such a team,”Olumide said. Against the US, Olumide said the team suffered from the absence of their point guard a situation he likened to “a car without a driver,” saying, “everybody knew we could not beat them but injuries and the absence of our point guard worsened our quest for any meaningful performance.” He called for continuity and urged the Nigeria Basketball Federation to ensure the present squad is kept together because he foresaw a bright future for the team. “It’s the duty of the NBBF to ensure the players are jealously kept together. Most of them are still young and can still serve the country for another five or more years. The boys are good and with adequate preparation, the sky will be their limit,” Olumide said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/08/dtigers-had-only-six-weeks-to-prepare-oyedeji/

Sports

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By Femi Ogunshola The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has confirmed Dr kayode Ajulo, a constitutional lawyer and 57 others as Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by Secretary of LPPC, Mr Hajo Bello. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that LPPC had earlier shortlisted 69 lawyers for the prestigious award, Those in the list included Funmi Falana, the wife of Mr Femi Falana (SAN); the daughter of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) Mrs Folashade Alli, Abiola Oyebanji, Bomo Agbebi. On the list also were Daniel Uruakpa, Felix Offia, Lawrence Falade, Kingsley Obamogie. “The LPPC, Chairmanship of His Lordship, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, approved their rank as SAN“, Bello said in the statement. He said the swearing-in ceremony of the 58 successful applicants would take place on Nov. 27. Ajulo is a rights activist renowned for his extensive knowledge and activism in various areas of law. These include litigation, constitutional law, corporate and commercial law, and human rights. He obtained his first law degree from the University of Jos and pursued further education at various international institutions. He currently serves as a research scholar at Lincoln University College and volunteers his expertise as an adjunct lecturer at several universities, including his home state institution, Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State. Ajulo’s remarkable contributions have earned him numerous awards and honors, including Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) which was conferred on him by the President Muhammadu Buhari, (NAN)(www.nannews.ng) Edited by Uche Anunne

https://nannews.ng/2023/10/12/legal-practitioners-committee-confirms-ajulo-57-others-as-san/

Politics

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By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, Niger Delta and Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu (Benin City) ATTEMPTS by the Governor Kayode Fayemi Peace Committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to mend the cracks in the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, especially the alleged rancour between Governor Godwin Obaseki and the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, have collapsed. Sunday Vanguard learned that members of the committee, including Fayemi, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State and business magnate, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, were unhappy at the development. The last straw was the abortion of their decision to come to Benin-City, Edo State, last Sunday, to meet with stakeholders of the party and feuding lawmakers to resolve the issues. It was the collapse of the peace efforts that made the Senate, which earlier gave a window for a political resolution of the matter, slam a one-week ultimatum, last Tuesday, on Obaseki to issue a fresh proclamation for the inauguration of Edo State House of Assembly. We gathered that at the meeting held in Ekiti House, penultimate Monday, the committee stated its position that they wanted to make peace, if possible, resolve the matter politically without having to compel anybody to do anything. Asked to state in what ways Oshiomhole had wronged him, Obaseki allegedly mentioned the national chair’s alleged penchant for mobilising against him (governor) in Abuja the cancellation of the primaries conducted by him (Obaseki), last year, as if he was not the governor of the state. Sources told Sunday Vanguard that el-Rufai knelt down for nearly 30 minutes at the meeting begging Obaseki to allow anybody to ill-advised him and that the matter required a continued dialogue with Oshiomhole even if he does not agree with his predecessor. The Kaduna governor reportedly said he came to the meeting at the instance of Buhari, who would want the matter resolved with a fresh proclamation, especially with the crisis the party was also facing in Bauchi State. His argument was that the Presidency, APC and the governors wanted the right thing done in Edo before they could take on the Bauchi matter, where Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, benefited from the scenario that the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, averted in Edo, which Obaseki was grumbling about. El-Rufai spoke about how he had to dialogue with the party’s NWC and the Presidency on his problem with Senator Shehu Sani. He also alluded that a national leader of the party, Alhaji Bola Tinubu, had to succumb to the NWC position even after they had conducted primaries in Lagos. Oshiomhole reportedly showed the fruitless text messages he sent to the governor and his deputy requesting a meeting for them to come to a table to resolve the problem without reaction. He maintained that he could not destroy the house that he built and they blocked his attempts to ensure peace Other governors, including Fayemi and Bagudu, reportedly said they stand with el-Rufai, saying they would come to Benin-City, last Sunday, to meet with stakeholders, members of the House of Assembly and, in fact, everybody connected to the matter in the state to end the crisis. They also agreed to work out a position on the Speaker of the House, but Obaseki allegedly stated that he would be unavailable last Sunday for the meeting. “It is at this point that the meeting broke down because it became clear that there will be no headway and that is why the Senate, which gave a window for the political option to be taken, had to concur with an earlier resolution of the House of Representatives on the mater,” our source revealed. “President Buhari is aware of the developments and had expressed his wish on fresh proclamation before the Senate finally issued a directive to the effect. “Nothing really happened at the meeting that was to hold at the Transcop Hilton Hotel in Abuja, as it did not really hold because of intrigues.” How they stand in Edo South The disagreement, which has now polarized the Edo into two cleavages, one for Oshiomhole and the other for Obaseki, is already taking its toll on the party and it prepares for the 2020 governorship election and it will run into crisis if the grievances are not amicably settled. Edo South remains the largest senatorial district in the state. It houses more than half of the voting population in Edo and, understandably, it has been the most vociferous since the crisis began. Anybody who must be governor of Edo must win a majority of the votes in this senatorial region. In fact, most of the votes that made Oshiomhole governor in 2008 after the court separated the valid from the invalid votes came from here Apart from the members of the Edo Peoples Movement, EPM, which has vowed to see the back of Obaseki come 2020, the Joint Action for the Advancement of Democracy, JAADE, a coalition of some socio-political groups led by Ayanmekhue Edokpolo, and some group of activists, those who have come out to defend Obaseki are from the opposition parties. In fact, the lawyer, who reportedly helped in reviewing the legal implication of the controversial inauguration of the House of Assembly, is a known lawyer of the PDP. This is same for several others who have been defending the actions of Obaseki. Again, one of the civil society leaders who organized a recent mass rally in support of the governor was one of the foot soldiers that mobilised support for the PDP and against Obaseki in 2016. A former ally of Oshiomhole who was his political adviser for eight years when he was governor, Hon Charles Idahosa, has pitched his tent with Obaseki. He was the first to raise the alarm about the governance style of Obaseki and even threatened to resign from the APC but they persuaded him to return to the party. He repeatedly said Obaseki must get his second term and that, if by any act of “omission or commission Obaseki is forced out of the party, APC is dead in Edo State,” adding that if the governor decides to leave APC, he would follow him. Secretary to State Government (SSG) Osarodion Ogie has maintained a stoic quietness. Known for his silence and always preferring to work behind the scenes rather than taking the front stage, he has been one of the most dependable allies of Oshiomhole in the state and particularly Edo South. He was Secretary of Grace Group, a movement through which prominent members were pulled out of the PDP in 2006 and which was used to prosecute Oshiomhole’s election in 2007. He was also the Secretary of Oshiomhole Campaign Organisation and coordinated the legal team that delivered victory to Oshiomhole in court. He was Oshiomhole’s Chief of Staff in his first term and then Commissioner for Works in his second term. He was touted as Oshiomhole’s successor before Obaseki came into the scene. Observers believe that in the event that Obaseki leaves Edo APC and Ogie decides to go with him, it would adversely affect the fortunes of the APC in the Edo South, especially if he chooses to re-align with his former allies who are now in PDP. However, the likes of two former deputy governors, Dr Pius Odubu, who was deputy to Oshiomhole for eight years, and Lucky Imasuen, who was deputy to Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, the leadership and members of EPM, most of the state House of Assembly members-elect and some members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the APC are with Oshiomhole. People like the Lawrence Okha, the party scribe once told to resign by Obaseki, remains loyal to the governor while Hon Dennis Idahosa, member representing Ovia Federal Constituency, Hon Matthew Iduoriyeknemwen, and some others have remained neutral preferring to sue for peace. State of affairs in Edo North It is the second-largest senatorial district and Oshiomhole hails from here. Shockingly to many, his political son and Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has been the rallying point on the campaign against Oshiomhole. He had before now been seen as somebody who will never work against Oshiomhole’s interest no matter who is involved, but events in the last two months have indicated that for political exigencies, Shaibu can do otherwise. Shaibu has also found an ally in Hon Kabiru Adjoto, immediate past Speaker of the state House of Assembly who has just been appointed a Special Adviser by Obaseki. Adjoto’s grouse is that Oshiomhole denied him the ticket to represent Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Even though the Supreme Court did not rule in his favour, he has continued to insist that he won the APC primary, but Oshiomhole stopped him and returned the current Deputy Leader, Hon Peter Akpatason, who, against all odds, is in the House for a record third term. Former chair of APC in Akoko-Edo, Jeff Obasanmi, has also become an ally of Obaseki. However, the three members of the House of Representatives from the senatorial district, namely Akpatason, Professor Julius Ihonvbere (Owan) and Hon Johnson Oghuma (Etsako), have remained with Oshiomhole. Senator Domingo Obende has been calling for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. Who is where in Edo Central? The state Chairman of the APC, Mr Anselm Ojezua, is from this zone and he has consistently defended the actions of Obaseki. He is serving his second term as state Chairman. He took over from Thomas Okosun, who, incidentally, is also from this district. Ojezua was first a Commissioner, later Special Adviser to Oshiomhole before he became the Chairman of the party. Although he had said severally that they are all Oshiomhole’s boys, on this crisis, he has pitched his tent with Obaseki. Also toeing the line of Ojezua is John Inegbedion, who, until last year, has been the Commissioner for Finance since 2008. He was the APC Edo Central senatorial candidate in the 2019 elections but lost to the PDP. He is currently challenging his loss at the election tribunal. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/08/edo-apc-crisis-how-fayemi-committees-peace-efforts-collapsed/

Politics

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Ondo APC to Olanusi: behave like a statesman The Ondo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) on Thursday denied the allegation by former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi that President Muhammadu Buhari lost in Ondo state due to the anti-party activities of the leadership of the ruling party. Olanusi at a forum of the Concerned APC leaders in Akure, the state capital on Tuesday accused Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of compromising the election because of the NWC’s decision to endorse the three incumbent Senators as automatic candidates, which prompted his alleged sponsoring of opposition Action Alliance(AA) candidates. A statement by APC’s Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro said the former deputy governor has never been on the same page with the party leadership in the state, stressing that he is not competent to comment on the affairs of the party in the state. Besides, the party faulted the claim that the governor allegedly diverted the fund disbursed to Ondo state by the national leadership of the party for the 2019 general election and financed AA candidates in the state. It said” With these statements, Olanusi’s group had brought to fore their secret apathy against Akeredolu who refused to do their biddings. We should be reminded that Olanusi claimed huge amount from the present APC-led government in Ondo State to offset his accumulated salary arrears over his removal from office by the previous administration. Read Also: ‘How Buhari lost in Ondo’ “He refused to acknowledge the governor’s quick response to his plight, rather, he countered the effort with contempt. When he demanded for more money and was denied, he became dissatisfied and turned himself into a critic of the APC’s government,he claimed to be its Board of Trustees (BoT) member at the national level. ” We have it on record that he is planning ahead of the 2020 to present an unpopular governorship candidate for election in the state,but he doesn’t have to heat up the polity over such clandestine moves that will die on arrival” The statement emphasised that the party leadership in the state would not succumb to the group’s cheap blackmail and lies flying around. It said “We are advising Olanusi and his group to desist from constituting themselves as enemies of the party they claimed to belong.The former deputy governor particularly should behave as a true statesman and member, APC’s Trustee.

http://thenationonlineng.net/ondo-apc-to-olanusi-behave-like-a-statesman/

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PRELATE of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Uche, has refuted media reports that there was a grand plan by President Muhammadu Buhari to turn Nigeria into an Islamic state. In a statement, Prelate Uche described the reports has a misrepresentation of facts. The cleric said “President Muhammadu Buhari was never accused of planning to Islamise Nigeria rather, I said that the militant sect of the Fulani herdsmen with their Boko Haram collaborators think that they can Islamise Nigeria. Their efforts will always be resisted.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/alleged-plan-to-islamise-nigeria-methodist-prelate-refutes-report/

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By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA – The inability of the previous government to plan and save for the future during the crude oil price boom is why Nigeria is presently going through economic turbulence, president Mohammadu Buhari said on Monday. He also said that the country is paying dearly for incompetence in managing high revenue that accrued from oil, particularly over the past decade, and for allowing the decay of critical infrastructure. The president spoke while receiving the Chief Global CEO of Unilever, Mr Paul Polman at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He however assured better days ahead, stating that his administration was putting measures in place to change the structure of the Nigerian economy battered by several years of mismanagement. ”We refused to save for the rainy day. Now the rain is beating us. No money, no savings, nothing. And we are thoroughly wet from the rains,” he said. President Buhari said Nigeria was paying the price for turning herself into a mono economy, but assured that the country would soon be able to feed herself, and even export, with the current emphasis placed on agriculture. He assured that the Federal Government would fast-track the implementation of strategies to ease doing business and attract more investors into Nigeria. “We want to create jobs, and supporting manufacturing is one way to do it. As soon as we have stabilized our budget, I would personally be interested in the manufacturing sector, particularly in the generation of essential raw materials,” the President said. The Chief Global CEO of Unilever said the conglomerate had been in Nigeria for 93 years, making it the oldest manufacturing concern in the country. He added that Unilever had invested about N15 billion in Nigeria in the past 3 years. “Our products are more Nigerian than other Nigerian brands. Despite the economic downturn, there are opportunities to further advance our business here. “The situation to invest and continue to invest here is very encouraging,” Mr Polman said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/economy-rain-beating-us-now-buhari/

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PT candidate Olawepo-Hashim overtakes Buhari on Social Media SOCIAL media engagements, especially on Facebook, have indicated that the Peoples Trust (PT) presidential candidate Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has surpassed a vast majority of the other candidates in popularity. A look at the rating conducted by an independent body in Abuja indicated that as of December 6, Olawepo-Hashim had pushed President Muhammadu Buhari to a distant third position. Taking a critical look at the analysis of the Facebook engagements yesterday, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar had 25,000 engagements, PT’s candidate Olawepo-Hashim recorded 19,900, leaving Buhari at a distant third position with only 10,400 engagements. Presidential candidates such as Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) and Kingsley Moghalu of Young Progressives Party (YPP) had only 6,700 and 5,200 engagements respectively. With this development, political analysts, especially on social media, had reasoned that the agitation by a larger section of the Nigerian population for a credible alternative in 2019 was already coming to the fore. Olawepo-Hashim, aptly described as a political bridge between the North and South, had in recent times gained more followership that cuts across women and youth nationwide. Reports also indicated that discussions with over 20 political parties have reached an advanced stage in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, which is expected to culminate in the collapse of these political structures into Olawepo-Hashim’s People’s Trust. Apart from Facebook, Olawepo-Hashim has a good followership on twitter and Instagram, in addition to the goodwill and support he enjoys from the people wherever his campaign train visits.

http://thenationonlineng.net/pt-candidate-olawepo-hashim-overtakes-buhari-social-media/

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By Ben Agande ABUJA—The war of words between the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, and the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, escalated Okupe, yesterday, said: “All the fallacies, deceits, misinformation and disinformation about incompetence and non-performance of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s admiration as alleged by El-Rufai were unfounded, not supported by facts on ground and are, therefore, outright falsehood.” In a statement by Mr. Olusanya Awosan, Media Director to the SSA, he noted that the call for concerted efforts to face the challenges confronting the nation does not amount to “out-sourcing governance” or “begging the opposition for ideas.” He said: “It is clear that with the prolonged existence of the fundamental factors of our current challenges, these challenges cannot be resolved by any ‘microwave’ approach but rather by painstaking analyses, robust planning and precise execution of policies and programmes, all of which this administration has been dutifully engaged in and which positive results are gradually manifesting. “It is unfortunate that Dr. Okupe’s call for unified disposition in the face of present challenges has been misconstrued by the ‘patriot’ Mallam El Rufai and presented as ‘outsourcing governance’ or ‘begging the opposition for ideas’. “The fact is in times of national challenges in any fully integrated society, the elite class does spontaneously come together, in a non-partisan manner, to address such issues of national importance. “We sympathise with Mallam El-Rufai, because he is obviously constrained and motivated by the prevailing, fractionalised elite structure in our country; hence his unfortunate misinterpretation of Dr. Okupe’s patriotic call to national duty.” “Our brother should not hide his political frustration and deep-seated hatred propelled by other reasons best known to him, in his attempt to demean this administration and discount its unwavering commitment to progress and development.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/08/el-rufai-peddling-falsehood-okupe/

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President Muhammadu Buhari •It’s your biggest mistake —Mike Ozekhome, SAN •You are wrong, Delegates By Henry Umoru & Levinus Nwabughiogu The 2014 National Constitutional Conference was one of the boldest attempts in recent times in appraising the operational structure and system on which the country is run. The conference which was convened by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014 however faced many controversies, the first of which was its acceptance. The 492 delegates of the conference following months of brainstorming finally came up with a report which among others sought the creation of nearly 18 more states, the systematic restructuring of the polity, rotational presidency, the creation of state police, the scrapping of state/local government joint accounts among several others. The conference officially cost the Federal Government N9 billion which was besides incidental costs by state governments and other agencies of the administration. The report of the conference was submitted to President Jonathan who before he left office, handed them over to his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari as being among the major unfinished issues of his administration which he would want the new president to deal with. However, his successor who had been largely mute on it finally responded during newspaper interviews to mark his first anniversary in office last week. President Buhari said despite the persuasion of his predecessor that he had not even read the confab report and that it would remain in the archives where according to him it rightly belongs. He said: “I advised against the issue of National Conference. You would recall that ASUU was on strike then for almost nine months. The teachers in the tertiary institutions were on strike for more than a year, yet that government had about N9billion to organise that meeting (National Conference), and some (members) were complaining that they hadn’t even been paid. I never liked the priority of that government on that particular issue, because it meant that what the National Assembly could have handled was handed to the Conference, while the more important job of keeping our children in schools was abandoned. That is why I haven’t even bothered to read it or ask for a briefing on it, and I want it to go into the so-called archives.” Responding to the president’s assertion, some prominent members of the conference, styled as delegates in various responses tackled the president, pointing out what they claimed as major highlights of the conference that should be implemented. General Zamani Lekwot, rtd, The 2014 National Conference report is the real formula to restructure this country, implementing the report is a solution to the nation’s problems. Ignoring the entire report would amount to asking where Nigeria is going because, during the conference, we had the best of Nigerians, all professions, age and class of people who represented various groups as well as the group of elder statesmen. The implementation of the report can be done in phases, but throwing away the entire report will not help the country. Implementing the report will boost our economy, it would boost investment as that would help create a very conducive atmosphere for businesses to thrive and investors will come to the country. Implementing the report will also boost agriculture which used to be our mainstay, water would be improved, the inflation would be checked as well as lay a solid foundation for the development of the country. Implementing the conference report will address the issue of insecurity in the land. During the National Conference, I learnt a lot from other Nigerians, who were delegates.” Former Permanent Secretary in Rivers State and a delegate to the conference, Dr. Patricia Ogbonnaya It is being narrow-minded and unpatriotic because the president cannot claim that the report is entirely useless to the development of our country Nigeria. He should be reminded of the calibre of Nigerians who were at the conference. They were men and women who have excelled in their various fields of endeavour, including good performance as public and civil servants from the teething period of this country. Mr. President should know that no single individual has a monopoly of knowledge. He should take the good parts of the report and discard the so-called bad parts if he so wishes. Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Senator Aniete Okon Throwing away the 2014 CONFAB report is a way of postponing the obvious. The President is living in denial of the reality of the country today which is to get the Nigeria project working properly. The return to true federalism is an inevitable panacea for the country’s problems which Nigeria is struggling with. The President should be encouraged to stop living in denial in stark reality of our country. Former Presidential Candidate of the National Transformation Party, NTP, Deacon John Dara The 2014 National Conference was an improvement in many ways on the previous Conferences and Constituent Assemblies. It was a compilation of resolutions on which Nigerians have, by and large, built consensus. It is unfortunate that the President has not read the report because I believe that it will be a useful guide for good governance in Nigeria for a long time to come. Unless the government wants to reinvent the wheel, it is wasteful to ignore the report. It may, in fact, become an albatross for any government that chooses not to implement the report because new movements and new leadership will rise to truly renew and re-engineer Nigeria. Former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih The truth is that I did not hear him speak about it because I have not been around for some time. However if it is true that he said so by himself – that he will not consider the report – I would humbly advise him to reverse his decision. The President knows more than anybody else that government is a continuum. Successive governments strive to build on what the previous governments started building and not to dismantle and start again. The money spent on convening and running the 2014 National Conference is Nigerian tax payers’ money which must not be wasted. We appreciate that there are a lot of issues on his plate to tackle right now, what with the increasing spate of insecurity and restiveness all over the country and the looming famine in the land. He may feel that considering the report may distract him. Paradoxically, implementing the far-reaching, well-considered resolutions which were consensually reached by representatives of every segment and delineation of this country, will prove to be the answer he is seeking right now. Even the monster called corruption that he is seriously fighting now was discussed and recommendations on how to destroy it were advanced. Can we really say that the 2014 report will not be implemented, when several recommendations are already being implemented like the rehabilitation of the North East and a few others? If you read the report, there are recommendations for the Executive to implement, and there are recommendations that only the National Assembly can deal with. It’s his discretion to consider the report or not to, suffice to say that there are very important recommendations therein that could be useful in resolving the myriad of challenges facing the government. There are plethora of reports that never got attended to, the Oputa, Lemu, Uwais committees and all that. Constitutional Lawyer, Professor Auwalu Yadudu The report had three components; one, requires executive attention and the President is entitled to endorse or not and another is legislative intervention and it belongs to the National Assembly. If the National Assembly chooses to act on the report, nothing stops them. I had a problem with the basis for convoking the conference; it did not go through the legal process of having a law backing it. It is a dignified presidential advisory Committee. Jonathan did not help matters; time was not enough, there was no white paper to indicate which or which one not to accept. They played politics with it. A report that has three components cannot be kept in the archives. If the National Assembly decides to look at it, they can, and if the presidency decides not to implement, they may have their reasons.” Yinka Odumakin, Spokesperson of Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG The comment by the president shows a total disconnect with the Nigerian reality. The country is fast disintegrating and like Max Siollun wrote in the New York Times after the 2015 elections ‘Nigeria needs a reconstructive surgeon and not a bulldozer.’ If a leader is presiding over 52% of his country, he should know that something has to be done to improve on governance structure in an inclusive arrangement. That is the imperative of what Atiku captured succinctly in his recent intervention. The recommendations of the 2014 National Conference are the panacea to elongate the tenure of Nigeria, which has practically entered a terminal crisis. And if any leader thinks he can use the force of arms to keep a dysfunctional country together, he should learn from the Soviet Union which collapsed without a single shot being fired with all its military might. Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN For the president to attempt thrashing the 2014 National Conference report, to me, will be the biggest mistake of his administration. It will be ill advised and if you listen to the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar two days ago, you will notice that the issue of restructuring the country is even now more urgent than it was in 2014 when former president Jonathan instituted the national confab. The issues will simply not go away because it borders on what is called the national question. It is at the very heart and soul of our nationhood experimentation. Nigeria is still seeking nationhood because of the disparate nationalities, cultures, religious, languages, gender, tribes and idiosyncrasies all of which have led to great mutual suspicion and antagonism. “It amounts to throwing away the baby with the bath water by rejecting in toto the conference report simply because it was authored during Jonathan’s government and simply because Jonathan was the one who convened the national conference. It is therefore critical that you look at the message and not thld look beyond Jonathan as a former president and beyond his government and look at the report itself which was the collective product of eminent Nigerians drawn from across the nooks and crannies of this country. “In fact, there were times when almost fisticuffs were involved. There were abuses, insults, laughters, disagreements and then agreements. “The report was not just full and holistic, it took care of the challenges of Nigeria from amalgamation in 1914 up till now and how retool and re-engineer Nigerian so that we can become stronger not this one of disparite groups where Niger Delta Avengers wants a larger Niger Delta Federation; where IPOB wants a Biafra federation. We discovered that the agitations would continue to resurface. They are like sleeping magma which normally are dormant but grow up later into serious volcanic eruption. Because some people still feel shortchanged. Every region cries about marginalization. All Nigerians must be inward looking. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/buhari-confab-report-archives/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

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‘50m Nigerians suffer mental disorder’ Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Dr Ibrahim Wakawa, has said at least 50 million Nigerians are believed to be suffering from mental disorders. Wakawa alerted the nation to the problem yesterday at the unveiling of the Borno State Government Mental Health Strategic Implementation Plan in Maiduguri. Represented by Dr Ibrahim Mshelia, a mental health consultant at the hospital, Wakawa attributed the nation’s high mental disorders burden to insurgency, lack of awareness and health facilities to handle such cases. The CMD said studies had shown that one among four Nigerians was suffering from mental or psychosocial, traumatic health problems. He explained that the hospital was providing healthcare services to about 30 million people in the Northeast and other regions in the country. Read Also: Diagnosing Nigeria’s mental health “At least, 60 per cent of people attending primary health care have mental disorder. “Effective treatment and management of mental health can be delivered in primary health care,” Wakawa said. The CMD hailed the government for setting up mechanism at making mental health affordable and accessible to all. The Emergency Manager at the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Nigeria, Dr Owili Collins, said the organisation was working with the state and Federal governments to improve mental health through various interventions. Represented by Mr Isaac Bwatin, a WHO Mental Health Officer, Collings said the organisation had trained 154 primary healthcare workers on common signs of mental illness in order to provide humanitarian services to the persons displaced by Boko Haram insurgency. He noted that WHO had received grant from the European Union to upgrade and rehabilitate the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital in Maiduguri to enhance quality of services to the people. “WHO is working on a long-term plan with the Borno State and Federal governments to transform mental healthcare in the country through the implementation of the plan and interventions within the framework,” he said. He regretted that the horror lost, uncertainty and experience related to displacement and loss of livelihood had made people to have mental health. “The insurgency in the North-East has resulted large volume of populations to develop mental illness,” Collings said. IOM Coordinator of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support sub-working group, Ms Deborah Magdalena, said the organisation had been supporting Nigeria since 2005. “IOM is committed to continue providing service in line with the framework to minimise the stigma and discrimination against persons affected by mental health as well as to promote prospect to human dignity,” she said. Borno State Commissioner for Health and Humanitarian Services, Mr Salisu Kwaya-Bura, said the gesture was designed to provide mental service centres with a view to achieving basic healthcare services to all citizens in the state. Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Ibrahim Kidah, the commissioner said the state government had scaled up mental health since 2017. “The implementation plan provides elaborate strategies with emphasis to integration of mental health service at all levels. Mental disorder, treatment and rehabilitation,” he said.

https://thenationonlineng.net/50m-nigerians-suffer-mental-disorder/

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House of Representatives Summon Okonjo-Iweala, Adeosun, Oronsaye, others By Emman Ovuakporie ABUJA — THE House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement investigating the pre-shipment inspection contract, yesterday, unearthed five ghost companies, which benefitted from N17 billion consultancy fees between 2011 and 2017 . Chairman of the committee, Oluwole Oke, who disclosed this, yesterday, read the riot act to all ministers and accounting officers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, saying: “The shortest way to Kuje prison is through breach of procurement laws.” Apparently disturbed over the slow pace of the investigative hearing, members vowed to unearth those behind the contract scam and resolved to invite Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of Finance and Jonah Otunla, former Accountant-General of the Federation, AGF, to appear before the House on June 6, 2017 over alleged infractions in the Public Procurement Act, 2007. Those also summoned by the House Committee on Public Procurement are Steve Oronsaye, former Head of Service, and Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Finance, to ascertain their roles in the payment of N17 billion to pre-shipment inspectors and monitors of oil terminals between 2011 and 2017. The members in session decried the discrepancies between the submissions made by Federal Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. They observed that of the 12 pre-shipment inspectors and two monitors, which benefitted from the N17 billion, seven were appointed in line with due process, while five were appointed through the back door. Oke, however, stressed the need for overhaul of the entire process, noting that a former governor of Bauchi State and former member of the House of Representatives, who was part of those who promulgated the procurement law, were sentenced to five years imprisonment. He noted further that a former chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, was also sentenced to two years imprisonment on the breach of procurement legislation before the Supreme Court intervened. Perm Sec denies knowledge of N17bn payment While responding to questions, Isa Dutse, Permanent Secretary, who denied knowledge of the N17 billion payment to the pre-shipment inspectors and monitors, said: “I have to confirm further. I’m not familiar with those payments but the Director of Finance is here. I have to personally check.” On her part, the Director of Finance, Mrs Siyanbola, who aligned with the Permanent Secretary’s position, noted that the CBN was administratively in charge of managing the NESS fund. In his ruling on the motion for summoning the Minister of Finance, Oke directed the minister to submit presidential approvals for extension of the pre-shipment inspection contract, agreement with the contractors, performance records, based on which the payments were approved as well as pre-shipment budget and procurement plan. He also mandated the Minister and Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Finance to set up a technical team to enable the committee inspect the oil terminals and pre-shipment facilities. The chairman further noted that the ongoing investigative hearing was aimed at strengthening existing institutions and amend relevant legislative frameworks that would aid transparency, accountability and fight against corruption in the country. The Osun-born lawmaker explained that there was need for thorough probe of the entire pre-shipment inspection process, disclosing that all the submissions made by various agencies and operators were at variance, hence the need to scrutinise the entire process. He said the CBN and Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, through their submissions, were at variance on whether or not the appointed pre-shipment inspectors were necessary and whether or not the exercise was carried out by the inspectors and monitors. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/procurement-act-reps-unearth-5-ghost-firms-involved-n17bn-consultancy-fees/

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By Demola Akinyemi ILORIN-Member of Nigerian Association of HydroGeologist, Tuesday lamented that, despite the government commitment of large sum of resources into the Millennium Development Goads(MDGs) programme in the provision of water facilities in the country, over 102million out of 200million Nigerians still do not have access to potable water. The group’s President, Mr Ehidiamhen Olumese spoke at the 29th annual conference of the association held in Ilorin, Kwara state capital, with the theme ‘Strategies to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Water Resources”. He said “It is sad that most of these facilities are not providing desired results for the commonman of the country in the provision of drinkable water’. According to him, ‘it is disheartening to note that the nation with so much groundwater, but could not have access to portable water and this called for urgent re-approach so that the future generation can have access to drinkable water’ “The theme of the conference could not have been apt most especially when Nigeria has just kick started the full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)”. The national president added that, “This reaches the saying of the “ancient mariner” water, that water everywhere but none to drink’. He noted that, ‘provision of water from the ground is not by merely drilling boreholes into the saturated zone beneath the subsurface because the choice of materials based on informed decisions and completion of wells is essential to the effective delivery of water and sustainability of the boreholes. “Drilling of several boreholes does not translate availability of potable water to the citizenry but there must be concerted approach through the full implementation of the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management(IWRM) in the effectiveness and management of the nation’s groundwater resources and there must also the need to quickly conclude deliberation on the water before the national assembly and its enactment into an Act. “I want to say that, with the coordinated and professional development and management of the nation’s groundwater resources, the entire 200million Nigerians would have access to potable water and the needs of future generation would also be guaranteed “ Olumese therefore called on the federal government to remove restrictive requirements in the water sector procurement system, saying that, ”we place on record that many pre qualifying conditions in past advertisements of the federal ministry of water resources limit the tendering space and reduce competitions for players most especially our members’. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/nse-market-capitalisation-rises-n29bn-3/

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Fuel queues have resurfaced in several parts of Lagos as scarcity of petroleum hit Nigeria’s commercial centre. Channels Television observed that in some areas of the state, motorists were spotted in the queues that snaked into the streets. The development caused gridlock around filling stations. A litre of the product now sells for between N800-N1,000 in some filling stations, a move that has resulted in an increase in the cost of transportation Some filling stations are not selling the product while black marketers have taken advantage of the situation to do brisk business. The situation is not limited to Lagos. Some states in the northern region have experienced persistent scarcity of the product. READ ALSO: [Fuel Scarcity] FG Threatens To Withdraw Marketers’ Licences Over Hoarding FG Reads Riot Act But in a bid to tackle the situation, the Federal Government through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) threatened to withdraw licenses of filling stations hoarding fuel. “NMDPRA embarks on a war against the illegal sale of petroleum products, especially PMS in jerrycans. Filling stations are advised to desist from servicing illegal peddlers; failure to do so would result in the suspension of retail licences,” the agency said in a tweet on its handle. The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) last month blamed the scarcity of petroleum on a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels. “The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the tightness in fuel supply and distribution witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT is a result of a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels,” the NNPCL spokesman Olufemi Soneye said. But he assured Nigerians that the NNPCL is working to resolve the situation. “Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes, which has constrained the movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja,” he said. LASTMA Deploys More Officers Meanwhile, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has deployed its officers to monitor traffic around filling stations. LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department Adebayo Taofiq quoted the agency’s general manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki as warning motorists against obstructing the flow of traffic. He said the deployment became necessary due to reports of long queues at filling stations caused by motorists who park indiscriminately, thus blocking roads. “We want our roads to be free-flowing; fuel queues should not become a burden for other road users in Lagos,” the LASTMA chief said.

https://www.channelstv.com/2024/08/18/gridlock-queues-as-fuel-scarcity-hits-lagos/

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….Buhari adequately empowered Osinbajo to rule — Oshiomhole By Levinus Nwabughiogu He may not have told the story in this manner before. At 65, he has seen the good, the bad and the ugly sides of life. He’s dogged, resilient, stubborn, “quarrelsome” yet humble. He looks petite but very large-hearted. He’s like a gadfly that provokes thoughts, a spider that fights with its web. From a small background, he rose to become big so much so that many saw him as nearly indispensable to society. Today, the story of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and Edo State can never be complete without a mention of his name. And this was the story the immediate past governor of Edo shared with Sunday Vanguard for over one hour in Abuja after many months of tracking. Indeed, Comrade Adams Oshiomole is a journalist’s delight. Read about his many battles. How has life been since you left office? Well, it’s about five and a half months since leaving office. From November 13, 2016 to the end of April 2017, I think I have done exactly what anyone would expect. I have had to find time to rest just to make up for 16 years of hard work. If you play back the activities, I had to lead, as President of the NLC for eight consecutive years and, I left NLC, February 18, 2007 to contest for governorship on April 14 and, since then, it has been a struggle in a state that played host to political godfathers and to operate on a completely new political party in the state and work through that platform to become the ruling party and sustain that for three consecutive elections was tasking. This is to say nothing about the challenge of having to deliver on the public’s expectations. So it has been 16 years of hard work both in labour and in government and to God be the glory that we finished well and strong. So, the logical thing to do was, like I said to some friends, to make up for all the sleepless nights for those 16 years. If you have an average of 4 – 5 hours a night rather than the 7 –9 hours that the doctors recommend to make up for lost sleep alone, you need more than 6 months. So, what I have been doing basically was to take time out to really rest in the truest sense of the word and find time to stay with my family and make up for my absence from home, free my brain from tension and worries. So, obviously, I have been resting and I spend more time in the village with my people; I still have a mum. I have brothers and sisters. Even when I was in labour, I always found time to go to the village to reconnect with my people. What informed your choice of venturing into politics from labour activism in 2007? I think the truth is that as you grow and begin to appreciate the forces that define the quality of life of the majority of the people, you realise the limitations of the organised labour, however militant it is and however dogged the leadership and the membership are to reorder the socio-economic order in a way that will deliver prosperity and welfare. So having risen from the floor and walked to the most subordinated level in the factory to becoming the General Secretary of the Textile and Garment Workers Union and then to the presidency of the NLC and led strikes both at the factory and industry levels, and later at the economy level, you sit back to ask yourself; how much change have you really brought about? Each time you organise and you seem to get a concession, before you finish celebrating the concession, the ruling class has moved on to enact fresh policies that erode almost completely, sometimes, much more than you had gained in terms of welfare and purchasing power and then you are back to renewing negotiation. As soon as you go through this process and circle, you begin to ask yourself, when we say the struggle continues, till when? And can we really, with the power of organisation, activism, protest and strike, compel the ruling class to govern according to our own wishes and abandon their own class interest? Of course, one arrived at the conclusion that because governance isn’t value free, it is value driven. Those who govern would always pursue policies that protect their class interest and so, if you spend all your life agitating for welfare related issues; whether it is about a fair wage, living wage, social protection, all sorts of social economic issues, you begin to realise that as indispensible as the organized labour is, you can’t be, in the final analysis, the most effective tool to reorder the social economic environment in a way that delivers welfare to the vast majority of the people . It is not just a political theory, it is also a political reality that if you want to fundamentally change the course, the way the society is managed and reorder who gets what and who pays, the only machinery available is the political machinery. I think by the time I ended my tenure at the NLC, these facts became very well known. Some people write sometimes unfairly because they are limited to their understanding of the forces at play. I believe that in the course of eight years I must have led more than 10 national strikes and in some cases succeeded in shutting down the economy which shows the power of the organised labour and which helped to reaffirm the NLC logo which says that labour creates wealth and on such occasion we ended up with some concession which we believed constituted some level of relief to the workers in terms of the minimum wage. As President of the NLC, we got the legal minimum wage revised from 2,500 naira a month to 5,500 Naira and a practical wage for employees at minimum of 7,500 naira for federal, Lagos and the oil producing states particularly the core ones in the Niger Delta with the exclusion of Edo. After 100 percent increase in minimum wage and then causing an upward review of wages from levels 1 to 17 while also signing agreement for subsequent 25 percent increase the following year and 12 percent increase the year after and establishing a regime of annual adjustment of wages in line with the rate of inflation, you will think that you have gotten so much. It was legislated upon once we signed the agreement with the Obasanjo government. But then you find out that the combined effect of other social economic policies was such that in no time this 100 percent gain in purchasing power begins to whittle down without anybody touching your pocket physically, the system simply devalue and put workers at the disadvantage and you begin to go back to the negotiating table. So you find that, at the end of the day, you are generating so much heat, seemingly accomplishing so many gains, yet in real terms, the people are wondering if anything has fundamentally changed in their material conditions. So it was clear to me by the time I ended my tenure at the NLC that you needed a combination of activism as well as political power to fundamentally reorder the way the society is managed; who gets what and at whose expense? So this is what led me to the conclusion that I needed to get involved in politics. Now, the question was, at what level do you go in? You remember that there were people who said I should contest for presidency. Meanwhile, I also knew that the process of converting public goodwill to political asset and electoral asset required more than just being known and well respected. There are levels of organisation, there are core issues, there is time factor and several other issues and I was convinced that I had spent so much time of my life doing communiqué, resolution, threat, strike, collective agreement and disagreement etc. Now, let me go even if it is at a sub-national government level but, even at that level, there are limits to what you can do; but, even at that level, it is possible to get things done as government and, in some fundamental ways, address those issues that you have been trying to address through negotiations, through executive orders and I think that is what really motivated me and I said the way to start was to go to Edo State. To be honest, it would have been more convenient for me to contest election in Kaduna State because that is where I have lived all my adult life but, under the rules, you have to go to your state of origin and I went there and, of course, as they say, the rest is history. You must have faced some terrible situations in the course of negotiations with government. What can you remember about those days that were so daring? Anytime you engage the state and you do so in a manner that commands the support of the people and here we have to redefine the issue because we talked about fighting for workers, things are relatively easy. I believe labour is always fighting not just for the workers but for the country because the worker is not just a factory hand, he belongs to a community. He spends only eight hours at work and spends 16 hours outside the work environment, in a community. So, what affects him and the issue you canvass goes beyond the work environment. For example, when we engaged government over fuel pricing policy, it wasn’t about wage. Like I had to argue with the President and the government then, when you say you are going to give us buses to go to work, that’s not just what a worker needs. How does the increase in price, which affects my parents in the village, how does the provision of bus for me to go to work and come back from work address the cost of moving food from the farm to the market? The issues were much wider. Even though our immediate constituency was workers, the social agenda that we sought to push went beyond working families. It had to do with entire the voiceless people. Secondly, it is often not readily clear that, sometimes, the organised labour fights more for businesses but unfortunately business people, by reason of individual comfort and fear, are used to taking business risk but not often political risk . They can take business risk but when it comes to agitating for policies that would make the environment for doing business more conducive, they go beyond quiet persuasion to political leaders and, even as we speak today, I still see Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, etc, talk about the cost of doing business, the challenges, the bottle necks in double breasted suits, cozy conference rooms, well written letters to ministers, while we are the attack dogs that go beyond the rhetorics to engage the government that they must pursue policies that emphasise production rather than importation. A lot of the arguments we had to make, for example, talking about how all of these will affect the cost of doing business while public policy should focus more on protecting local production. For example, my first contact with Aliko Dangote was based on this; we were in a committee together on Vision 2010 and he was in a subcommittee that I was also in and, when he listened to my own articulation on public policy as it affects the private sector, after one or two days, he called me and said ‘I thought you were the union man but you seem to be so committed in protecting business interest and the way you understand the issue is even much deeper than some people in the private sector and people outside just think that you people only fight business, you fight employers, and I said it was not even out of love for business, it was just a matter of self- interest because when business prospers, collective bargaining makes sense, but when an economy is in recession and businesses are in trouble and they eventually begin to fail, the first causalities are workers and even under the law, if a company goes to bankruptcy, you would be surprised that the terms of managing the liabilities when they appoint a receiver manager, the bank tends to take precedent over employees interest. So,the receiver manager will auction assets to settle bank loans before settling workers wage obligations. Therefore, it is a matter of enlarged self-interest for trade unions to defend the business environment in a way that would keep businesses alive so that jobs can be secure and employers can be prosperous and therefore give the union the basis to negotiate how to distribute the prosperity that has been generated. So, when people say that unions fight for workers, it is only part of the truth. Unions fight for the country in a way that no other group seems to be able to do and, because labour occupies a very strategic position in the economy, it seems to be the only exclusive group that has the capacity to really engage beyond rhetoric to hold the regime down to specifics. So, we fight for everyone. I remember a lady saying to me when we were talking about pension reforms that when she watched my argument, she thought it was like she had spoken to me about the problem she was facing but she is not a member of the union but the issues we were canvassing affect people both at the vertical and horizontal lines. In the course of these negotiations, did you have squabbles with the powers-that-be? Of course, we don’t need to say these things. I think you are in a better position to know the reaction of government. Of course, it isn’t a novelty match. It is like a World Cup final, the stakes are high not just in terms of prestige but also, issues of reordering and redistributing national income and there are vested interests. Maybe the best way to summarize the attitude of the state and what we might have gone through because there are many things I cannot tell you in an interview is to play back President Obasanjo’s broadcast of October 8, 2003 or 2004 in which he accused me of behaving like alternative President and running the NLC as if it was an alternative government and said our plan ultimately was to overthrow the government. It was a national broadcast and when you saw his face, he thought he had had enough of an organisation that wasn’t recognising his right to govern according to his wishes and often reminded us that, while we claimed to be elected to represent labour that, he was also elected not only by labour, but also by other Nigerians and therefore he had the right to pursue policies that reflected the basis of his election. So, I think that broadcast will tell you the mood of government when you succeed in mobilising public action in a way that really threatens the policy environment. But a trade union is like a permanent opposition that has no vision or an objective of forming a government. So, it is not like a political party opposition that if it succeeds in bringing down a government, it will take over. Now labour, even if it succeeds or attempts to bring down a government, it is not in a position to profit from the defeat of a government because the government will be taken over by another political party and, when the political parties belong to the same class, how much difference exists? So, whereas we have no intention to bring down the government, we have the intention to defeat a particular policy or set of policies that we consider inimical to the welfare not just of workers but also of the silent majority of the people. Many Nigerians believe you got good help from some personalities and one of them they won’t shy away to mention is Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is a former Lagos State governor. How much help would you recall getting from Tinubu at the time? People look at politics and political support often in terms of naira and kobo. The election in Edo was cheap. If I recall very well, the total money we spent for the election was less than N300 million for my first term because I didn’t need to pay to introduce myself. I remember some women said to me: ‘You are the one who say kerosene price shouldn’t go up because we are too old now to carry fire wood’. So, I didn’t have to buy votes. In politics, the people are the drivers and players. All that was required was to remind the people they couldn’t reduce themselves to ‘dem say, dem say’. It had to be ‘we’ and that was why my slogan was ‘let the people lead’ and I was emphasising it to them. Now the lesson to learn from Tinubu, more than anything else people want to talk about, is the fact that, whereas in the South-West, the preference was clear as evident in the fact that AD controlled all the states which they won, but by the time Obasanjo realised that he was President without the support of his home base, he decided to launch an attack on the zone. I believe only he and those involved in the game knew what tools they deployed but, at the end, it was only Lagos that survived under Bola Ahmed Tinubu. So, you can’t but find that as a source of inspiration that it is possible in a game that many can be felled and one man can remain standing and begin to organize and mobilize rather than agonise and, overtime, claim that region substantially back to his fold. You cannot fail to appreciate the fact that when the then Federal Government took over AD through undercover agents and manipulations, Ashiwaju led a revolution to leave AD completely to found AC where he later became the only governor and I think now people have forgotten that, at a point, Tinubu’s ADC was withdrawn, his police details were withdrawn, the Commissioners of Police were changed every other day depending on whether they were ready to be used or refused to be used. INEC changed the EOs the way you change your underwears even a day to the election and the Lagos Army Garrisan was put on alert to ensure that Lagos was captured by all means by the ruling party and Tinubu, without control of the official instrument of rigging, fought hard to sustain his hold on Lagos. There is something to learn about conviction, about not agonising, about believing in your own capacity to fight and you will also recognise that the Federal Government, at the time, got so angry that they withheld local government allocations to Lagos and the political consequences of that, amongst other things, is that local government employees will not be paid and local government administration will come to a halt. Even with a Supreme Court pronouncement, the government of the day refused to release those allocations and Tinubu was able to run Lagos and pay local government workers as if the allocations were still coming. I always tell people that you don’t shy away from what works, admit it and see even how you can improve on it. I was in the union when Ashiwaju was fighting to reorder the Lagos tax regime. I remember him, when we insisted that he must implement the minimum wage of 7,500 naira in Lagos as if it was a derivation state or Federal Government due to the cost of living in Lagos, showing me the allocation to Lagos was about 2 billion or so, and local revenue was between N400 and N600 million a month and he fought hard, everyone took him to court, he persisted, he re-engineered the locally generated revenue and by the time he was done, revenue had climbed to about 17 billion and today Lagos doesn’t really need allocation from the federation account to survive. Those are things that can inspire you not in terms of ‘come and see that purse, there is money there’. If money is the basis for electoral victory or defeat, PDP would never have lost federal power. So, it is about skill, vision, courage of conviction and I like to read, I like to watch, I like to observe and when I see someone doing something unusual and it is working, I would like to quietly find out what is the secret. To that extent, we were inspired by the Lagos experience and that was why we allied with AC as it then was to fight the Edo battle. Not in terms of Naira and kobo. No. During the 2015 elections, you were seen to be everywhere. You canvassed for now President Buhari as against someone I may call your brother coming from the South-South. Meanwhile, barely two years in office as President, many Nigerians are quick to say that it was ‘one chance’ they entered, that APC has disappointed them. Do you really buy that idea? To people from my kind of background and orientation, we can’t reduce politics to brother and sister. It should be about competence. In 2011 when I thought, looking at the candidates, that here was a young man, well educated, he had seen it all, he worked at OMPADEC and he had worked as deputy governor, governor, vice president and acting president, he seemed to have, on the face of it, sufficient experience and, as a young man, he would be hungry to make a statement and Nigeria needed a hungry person who would be anxious to say ‘no, we must change our material condition’. In Edo, we voted for him. We didn’t hide it. In 2011, if you asked President Goodluck Jonathan, he will tell you that he got more votes in Edo but few years down the road, I also could see that the country was degenerating. I believe that if PDP hadn’t been voted out from the centre, Nigeria would have collapsed. Look at all the revelations, even security money was kept in a private residence in Ikoyi. Defence money in the face of Boko Haram was put by generals in soak away pits. These are no longer in the realm of speculations. These are judiciary findings and there are confessions all over the place. Boko Haram was controlling about 18 local governments and they got to Kogi and close to Edo. They bombed some banks in Auchi because they were looking for money. Look at the economy, the unprecedented level of crude oil theft that was being reported everyday and I was a member of a committee because we were agitating that about one hundred thousand barrels of crude oil were being stolen everyday. So, coming from my background, I couldn’t pretend that the country could go on and I was convinced that it wasn’t difficult to know what would have happened. I was convinced that if PDP hadn’t been voted out, if this scale of abuse of the system had continued, it is arguable whether there would have been Nigeria in its present form or not. So, on that basis of my conviction and having joined forces with the ACN, CPC, part of PDP and part of APGA to form APC, we had to aggressively fight and put the message across and, if I were to do it all over again, I will still do the same thing because I have arrived at the conclusion that, based on my definition of the socio-economic environment and the level of abuses that I was seeing, Buhari, given his track record, his personal life style, living by example and all of that, when you compare him with other generals, I was convinced, at this time, that we needed him to reorder the environment which is why “change” was our slogan. I can tell you that in discussing the slogan, we said it had to be the catch phrase ‘change’ and I believe many things have changed; certainly not everything but many things have changed and many things are changing. For those who say these are not what we promised, it is just that they have short memory. Everybody agrees that you don’t have to be a public sector manager or a player in policy and economy to recognise that security is a precondition for sustainable economic growth and development. Without security, you can’t attract investors. Even existing investors will run away. People don’t remember now what party was in government when Nestle relocated to Ghana? When Michelin relocated, when Dunlop relocated, many textile companies, when the Chinese rather than producing in Kaduna, Ikorodu, Aba, Port Harcourt and elsewhere went back to China to produce goods to be smuggled into Nigeria, who was in power? It was the PDP. Everywhere, everybody was counting how industries were closing rather than Nigeria’s huge population being an advantage such that if you want to access the market, you relocate here. People now realised that under the free trade, you don’t need to relocate to Nigeria because the environment was hostile. Government level of corruption was intolerable. I was at the meeting presided over by the former president where we were told that because Boko Haram was controlling about 48 local governments, we couldn’t go for national election. Today all 774 local governments are effectively under Federal Government control. This is not an achievement? I emphasise security because nothing else could have followed without security. The dollar as you see is a strong currency but it is also a coward. It doesn’t go to war zones. Once you detonate bomb, the first thing you see that starts to run is the dollar. So, I believe that President Buhari’s accomplishment in the area of security, you can’t downplay it, you can’t trivialise it. How many jail breaks in Kogi? Some of us that understood the technical definition of forest used to wonder where is this Sambisa Forest. I was in a meeting where they showed us the video footage of some people in this forest, so I said ‘if you can see these people, this forest isn’t as huge as the current sense of the word’ and today that forest is under the control of the Federal Government. You can’t devalue that. Secondly, the President, the APC said he was going to fight corruption and, in a memorable quote, he said that if you don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us. I don’t think anybody has disputed that. Today there is no question of whether corruption is being fought. The worst criticism I have seen is that there are arguments as to whether this is the way it should be fought or it should be that way. We are having a feeling of deja vu in the country right now. In 2010 Nigerians were exposed to that and we are having it again. The President is sick and there are calls for him to resign. Where do you stand? Sometimes people want to eat their cake and have it. The truth, is I believe and I say it, not as a political statement, that President Muhammadu Buhari has shown uncommon level of commitment to transparency and disclosure by admitting that he is sick and if you say you want to compare what happened under PDP in 2010 to what is happening now, you would see there is a huge world of difference. At that time, there were stories as to who signed the budget. Was budget signed in Saudi Arabia or was it signed in Abuja, Nigeria? What type of conversation is that? I think, this time, there is greater transparency. Secondly, the President said he was going for treatment and, unlike PDP, this President recognises the spirit and the letter of the Constitution. In drafting the Constitution, the people understood that a President can fall ill or find himself in a situation that he is completely incapacitated and he can’t work. During this period, he should appoint his Vice to act. Now, this President, without being compelled, without anybody organising protest, without anybody writing an editorial, wrote to the National Assembly; I am unwell and going for medical check up but, while I am away, the Vice President should act in line with the provision of the Constitution. That is a huge world of difference. Remember the whole debate as to whether or not Jonathan should act, whether they could pronounce him as acting president. Now Buhari came back after some weeks and said he was back but, even then, the VP should still act because he still needed 2 or 3 days to rest. How much more transparency can we expect? And as envisaged by the Constitution, the Vice President is playing his part and the Constitution also said very clearly that the President can delegate the Vice President to do anything he wishes him to do and that he is doing. I haven’t seen any commentator who says that the VP isn’t being empowered to do certain things. In fact, I hear people say the VP is being directed and he’s doing well. How much more can the President disclose? Is there anything happening now that isn’t constitutional? No! And when the President came back, he said at a later date he will still go back and he said all his life he had never been this sick, that he went through x ,y ,z. How much more can a leader disclose to his people? And then I see people say ‘ publish your health status, publish this, publish that’; you as a reporter, do you publish your medical result and report? Which of the governors has published what he spends when he goes for medical check up? Like I told someone, as governor of Edo, I appropriated public funds to support indigent persons and, in fact, two or three persons who on the strength of doctors recommendations, I sponsored their trip to India and UK to attend to surgeries at public expense. Even the ordinary Nigerian, anybody can fall ill. The call for resignation is unfair. It is not just unfair, it is mischievous; a political mischief. Who is casting the first stone? The President, at the twilight of your administration, said you were needed at the national level. Where do you go from here having served out successfully? What other future ambitions do you have? There are speculations that your name is being penciled downed for a ministerial position. Is it true? As you said, the President said something on his own and that is it. It is not an issue to be discussed. I am not one of those that would say I was pressurized to go and seek; that is pure hypocrisy. When I was asked to contest for President, some specific names tried to convince me and I said no. I remember Gani saying here was a lion who chose to work like a Lilliputian and went on to say it would be easier for me to win the President of Nigeria than the governor of Edo given the powers of godfathers in Edo. This was in black and white and he meant well but I said ‘no, at any level you want to serve you can make an impact’ . So, if the President said that, you leave it to him. Now as for speculations, I read them like you do in the media. I don’t know where it is coming from but my gratitude to God is that I asked Him to bless my decision to go to Edo to vie for the office of governor and to use the instrument to impact positively on the lives of the people and I sought re-election after four years and there was a referendum on my mandate and, in an unprecedented manner, I won in all the 18 local government areas. It has has never happened before and my party was in opposition and the godfathers could do nothing. I defeated each and every one of them in their wards and local governments. And in the retreat we had before the end of my tenure, our communiqué which I also filed before God, my prayer was to finish well and finish strong. I believe God granted both reliefs. I believe I finished well as evident in the President’s remark and the remark of very many Edo people including the Oba of Benin who spoke at his installation. Finishing strong and well, I was replaced by a candidate from my own party. What more could I ask for? So, now, I am having a well desired rest after eight years of political battles in Edo and eight years of activism on the streets as President of the NLC. God has been extremely merciful. And if I can tell you, when I am fighting battles, my source of courage is simply this. Growing up I never imagined I would be a councillor. It was never in my wildest dream and, if you ask my colleagues in the NLC, my former President who I was a deputy to, Paschal, he has passed on now but if you ask other activists who are still alive like Sylvester Ejofor, they would tell you I was the one that was leading the active partisan group. I believe labour cannot be apolitical. I mean you don’t operate in a political vacuum but that we shouldn’t be partisan. So I was the least political but as I became more aware and practically got engaged when I saw the limitations, I moved on and God blessed it. From being a worker at the lowest level in a textile factory to becoming the head of all the working people in Nigeria called the NLC and then made a complete cycle because, to be honest with you, when we used to fight those battles with the Federal Government, if I thought of contesting election, maybe, I would have been tempted to try to defend Obasanjo so that he could help me. In fact, there was a day he said to me, ‘You need to support me so that one day me too can support you’ but I didn’t understand what he was talking about. People talk about their lives’ ambitions; mine is a story of miracle. How God can order your life and help you deliver on it in a manner that you yourself can’t understand. When I see the fighting now being outside, I appreciate more the miracles of God. How could I have left NLC on February 18, 2007 and contested election two months later on April 14, 2007; winning that election through the judiciary intervention which was also unprecedented and proceeding from there to superintend over the liquidation of the godfathers? I mean this is God’s miracle. So, I am completely fulfilled. That is why all I can do now is to live on my conscience because there is nothing more to prove. I told the President when he came for the last rally ahead of the election of my successor, with joy and that joy was from my heart, ‘Sir, today, I am so pleased that whereas I started this journey as an orphan in the sense that I was a political orphan, fighting against the political establishment called godfathers and associates, not one councillor was in my party, not one local government, not state or federal and I won the election and I was being oppressed by the godfathers throughout this period and, by the time I was leaving, in the last election, I now had a sitting President at our rally to speak as President of Nigeria on the same political platform’. So, I came as an orphan and ended up with a father at the Villa. I can’t possibly ask for more. So, only God and God alone can make such miracles possible in the life of someone from my kind of background. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/05/battled-obasanjo-cultivated-tinubu-fought-jonathan-standstill-oshiomhole/

Politics

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…Cross section of Almajiri students (Note, this image was used to demonstrate the story) By Suzan Edeh Bauchi—THE member representing Dass constituency in Bauchi State, Maryam Bagel, has called for street begging school system by children (Amaljiri) to be abolished, saying the system is a major cause of backwardness in the North-East. The lawmaker spoke, yesterday, during the celebration of the Day of the African Child by Bauchi State Television Authority, BATV, in collaboration with UNICEF. She said: “Many stakeholders in the North-East are shying away from the negative implications of the Almajiri system due to political motives. “Those days, young men who were interested in acquiring knowledge travelled to places like Sokoto, Maiduguri. “Now we have Islamic teachers almost in every neighbourhood. So the essence of the Almajiri system is now defeated.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/almajiri-system-contributed-backwardness-north-east-lawmaker/

Politics

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Say “This outing will be brutish, brutal and bloody” By Emma Amaize and Perez Brisibe WARRI- THE militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, which, last year, aborted attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta region to enable the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, dialogue with the Federal Government, suspended its ceasefire today. The group in a statement by the spokesman, self-styled “General” Mudoch Agbinibo, renounced PANDEF, led by former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, and the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA. It said in a statement, “The Niger Delta Avengers are back and will not spare anything or anyone on our path to actualize a united and free Niger Delta.” “Our next line of operation will not be like the 2016 campaign, which we operated successfully without any casualties. This outing will be brutish, brutal and bloody, as we are shall crush everything we meet on our path to completely put off the fires that burn to flair gas in our communities and cut every pipe that moves crude away from our region. “We can assure you that every oil installation in our region will feel warmth of the wrath of the Niger Delta Avengers,” it said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/breaking-avengers-return-renounce-pandef-tompolo-rnda/

Politics

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A suicide bomber dressed as a woman killed around 10 people at a market in the capital of Chad on Saturday, police said, in the latest attack to hit the country on the frontline in the fight against Boko Haram Islamists. The bomber, wearing a full-face Islamic veil, blew himself up at the entrance to a market in N’Djamena around 8:45 am (0745 GMT), a police official told AFP, adding about 10 people were killed and several injured. An AFP reporter at the scene counted nine bodies. At first police identified the killer as a woman but later police director general Taher Erda confirmed that the attacker was a man. The head of the presumed bomber was found near the explosion site and shown to journalists. A police source said that the bomber had arrived disguised in a burqa which a police officer asked him to remove. “It was then that he detonated his explosives belt,” the source added. Chad banned full-face Islamic veils after twin suicide bombings in mid-June killed 33 people and wounded more than 100 in the capital. The authorities have blamed the attack on Boko Haram, the Nigerian jihadist group that has carried out multiple suicide bombings inside Nigeria, sometimes by women who hid explosives under modest outer garments. Chad’s army has spearheaded a regional military effort to fight Boko Haram as the militant sect extended activities beyond Nigeria’s northeastern borders. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/suicide-bomber-dressed-as-woman-kills-10-in-chad-capital-police/

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By Rotimi Agbana Surprisingly, at the just concluded 11th edition of the Headies Awards held on Thursday night at Eko Hotel and Suites, Penthehouse rapper and Fada Fada singer, Phyno, got shocking nods of disapproval and dissatisfaction from his fans as he walked back to his sit after receiving his award for Song of the Year. In what seemed to be a surprising change of fortune, Phyno who had received a massive applause from his fans and other guests at the event while he was called upon to receive his award, was later massively booed as a result of the physical and general disposition he displayed to and after receiving the award. Phyno who went to receive the award in the company of three associates, displayed an attitude which suggested pride and arrogance. After receiving the award, he proudly claimed he had nothing to say but “Thank you”, dropped the microphone and walked off the stage in the wrong direction, instead of going backstage just as other award recipients. Dissatisfied with his actions, his fans and other guests booed him while urging him to go back and pass through the backstage as his other colleagues. Instead, Phyno turned a deaf ear and walked back to his seat in a rather proud manner. Words on the mouth of many of his fans suggested that it is possible he wasn’t satisfied with the award category he won or he was beginning to feel too big for the prestigious Headies award just like his industry colleague, Tekno, who was disqualified from the Next Rated nomination list because of his arrogance. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/phyno-booed-at-headies/

Music-Radio

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Abuja – The European Commission said on Thursday that it is providing N4.7 billion in aid to affected by the activities of Boko Haram insurgents. This is contained in a statement issued by the European Union (EU) Secretariat in Abuja. “The new EU funding will provide immediate support, including clean water, food, shelter, healthcare and protection to the displaced and the host communities in the north-east of Nigeria. “It will also provide support to Nigerian refugees in the neighbouring countries. “€12.5 million of this funding will be used to tackle the humanitarian challenges in Nigeria, and €8.5 million to support the refugees in Niger, Cameroon and Chad. “This new aid comes on top of relief that the Commission is providing to the most vulnerable people affected by food insecurity and malnutrition throughout Nigeria and its neighbouring countries,” it said. It said the EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, was in Nigeria to assess the humanitarian consequences of the Boko Haram terror activities. The statement said Stylianides would meet with displaced persons and relief organisations and discuss how EU aid could be put to the best use in spite of the difficult circumstances. Stylianides would hold meetings with government representatives and civil society organisations. The statement quoted Stylianides as expressing his grave concern over the lack of access to the victims who needed help. “More than 1.7 million people have been displaced by the terror of Boko Haram. “Many of them live in precarious conditions in other parts of Nigeria or the neighbouring countries where they have fled. “We are stepping up our humanitarian response to the call of those in the greatest need,” it quoted Stylianides as saying. (NAN) Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/eu-provides-n4-7bn-in-aid-for-boko-haram-victims/

Politics

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By Bashir Bello KANO — The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF on Wednesday disclosed that Nigeria accounts for 15 percent of out-of-school children in the world. This was also it stated that about 7.6 million girls in Nigeria many from the northern regions remain deprived of the opportunities to go to school. The UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Ms Cristian Munduate disclosed this during an event organized to commemorate this years International Day of the Girl in Kano. Ms Munduate who raised alarm over the worrisome figures however maintained that it is not just a statistics but a wake up call on the authorities to take steps to reverse the menace. In her words: “Nigeria, alarmingly, accounts for 15% of out-of-school children worldwide. Yet only a mere 9% of the poorest girls have the chance to attend secondary school. This is not just a statistic….it’s a wake-up call.” “The truth is that 7.6 million girls in Nigeria, many from the northern regions, remain deprived of these very opportunities. Their seats in classrooms remain vacant, their dreams momentarily deferred. This leaves them vulnerable to early childbearing, with a soaring adolescent fertility rate. “Kano ranks second in the number of out-of-school girls in Nigeria, revealing a harsh disparity in the access to education. “Since its inception by the United Nations in 2012, the International Day of the Girl Child has aimed to spotlight and address the challenges girls globally confront. Today, more than ever, we need to emphasize the transformative power of education, a tool that not only creates opportunities but actively breaks cycles of poverty. “However, amidst these challenges, we find glimmers of hope. Proven models like the Girls’ Education Project 3, supported generously by the people of UK and UNICEF, have assisted states including Kano in sending 1.5 million girls back to school in just two years. This is the path forward….a path where every girl child in Nigeria receives an education. “As we observe the International Day of the Girl 2023, my plea is straightforward. To our government, communities, traditional institutions, parents, stakeholders, and every concerned Nigerian – let us pledge to build a Nigeria where every girl’s dreams are within her grasp. “While education is the foundation, our girls need more. By investing in healthcare, skills training, and diverse opportunities, we can catalyze their growth into pillars of our society. “Together, let us champion the rights and empowerment of our girls. Let’s dismantle barriers, extend mentorship, and curate an environment where they are poised to thrive. “UNICEF remains committed in its mission. We will continue our engagement with leaders, partners, and stakeholders to amplify our investment in the welfare of our girls, particularly as they face the brunt of conflicts, natural disasters, and the ever-looming threat of climate change,” the UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Ms Cristian Munduate however maintained. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/10/nigeria-accounts-for-15-out-of-school-children-worldwide-unicef/

Politics

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By Umar Yusuf YOLA—Gunmen have attacked Iware, a village in Adamawa State, along Fufore-Jada Road, killing nine and kidnapping seven children, locals and the Police have said. A local vigilante said some gunmen, suspected to be militants, invaded the village at night, killing everyone in a family of nine; went away with seven children and are now asking for ransom. According to the local, “the incident occurred in a new Fulani settlement called Iware near Beti Verre, between Fufore and Jada Local Government areas. “They (kidnappers) are now on the prowl again. There are now pockets of kidnappings in our areas, mostly targeting the well-to-do or those with herds of cattle. They always ask for ransom. “Local officials were informed about this incident and already we, the vigilantes and other hunters, have swung into action to track down the fleeing kidnappers.” While confirming the incident, the Police spokesman in the state, Superintendent Othman Abubakar, said the Police would act. His words: “We were told about this incident, but are yet to get the full details. “We have alerted residents of the state on the activities of kidnappers. “Before now, kidnappers were on the prowl at Toungo, but have changed to Jada and Fufore.” Kidnappers have abducted high profile personalities and businessmen in the state in recent months, including the member representing Toungo Constituency in the state House of Assembly. Also, Sani Ribadu, a brother to former EFCC boss, Nuhu Ribadu, and Wilson Gundiri, brother to Markus Gundiri, former governorship candidate and now an APC chieftain in the state, were abducted, but later released. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/01/gunmen-wipe-family-9-adamawa-kidnap-7-children/

Politics

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By Chioma Obinna A new study released by the Lancet has shown that in 2022, more than 1 billion people in the world are now living with obesity. It showed that worldwide, obesity among adults has more than doubled since 1990, and has quadrupled among children and adolescents (5 to 19 years of age). The data also showed that 43 per cent of adults were overweight in 2022. The study further showed that even though the rates of under-nutrition have dropped, it is still a public health challenge in many places, particularly in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Among countries with the highest combined rates of underweight and obesity in 2022 were island nations in the Pacific and the Caribbean and those in the Middle East and North Africa. Malnutrition, in all its forms, includes under-nutrition (wasting, stunting, and underweight), inadequate vitamins or minerals, overweight and obesity. Under-nutrition is responsible for half of the deaths of children under 5 and obesity can cause noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and some cancers. WHO has contributed to the data collection and analysis of this study. Speaking on the study, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the new study highlights the importance of preventing and managing obesity from early life to adulthood, through diet, physical activity, and adequate care, as needed. Ghebreyesus said: “Getting back on track to meet the global targets for curbing obesity will take the work of governments and communities, supported by evidence-based policies from the WHO and national public health agencies. Importantly, it requires the cooperation of the private sector, which must be accountable for the health impacts of their products.” READ ALSO: Obasanjo, Peter Obi hail Chief Imam of Egbaland at 90 He explained that obesity is a complex chronic disease and that the causes are well understood, as are the interventions needed to contain the crisis, which are backed by strong evidence. “However, they are not implemented. At the World Health Assembly in 2022 Member States adopted the WHO Acceleration Plan to Stop Obesity, which supports country-level action through 2030. To date, 31 governments are now leading the way to curb the obesity epidemic by implementing the plan. He listed the actions to support healthy practices from day 1, including breastfeeding promotion, protection and support; regulations on the harmful marketing of food and beverages to children; school food and nutrition policies, including initiatives to regulate the sales of products high in fats, sugars and salt in the proximity of schools; fiscal and pricing policies to promote healthy diets; nutrition labelling policies; public education and awareness campaigns for healthy diets and exercise; standards for physical activity in schools; and integration of obesity prevention and management services into primary health care. Speaking, Director of WHO’s Nutrition and Food Safety Department and one of the co-authors of the study, Dr Francesco Branca, said: “There are significant challenges in implementing policies aimed at ensuring affordable access to healthy diets for all and creating environments that promote physical activity and overall healthy lifestyles for everyone. Countries should also ensure that health systems integrate the prevention and management of obesity into the basic package of services.” Branca said addressing under-nutrition requires multisectoral action in agriculture, social protection and health, to reduce food insecurity, improve access to clean water and sanitation and ensure universal access to essential nutrition interventions. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/03/over-1-billion-people-worldwide-suffer-from-obesity-study

Health

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Executive Head of Networks, Vodacom Business Nigeria, Mr. Vernon Van Rooyen (center) addressing students of the Mathematics/Computer Science Department of Benue State University at an ICT workshop organized by Vodacom Business Nigeria recently in Lagos By Dayo Adesulu No fewer than 100 Nigerian girls from private and public senior secondary schools in Lagos get support from the partnership between Vodacom Business Nigeria and e-Business Life Communication Limited to studying Information and communication technology at tertiary level. This was disclosed as the students converged to celebrate the International Girls in ICT Day. Speaking at the event, Mrs. Obafunke Atanda, Senior Manager Product Portfolio, Vodacom Business Nigeria, noted that the number of females currently employed in ICT in Nigeria is extremely low compared to males. According to her, the development could be attributed not only to the relative lack of females studying science and technology at secondary and tertiary level, but also, the number of females given access to formal education. She explained that the partnership is aimed at encouraging youths especially females to include science and technology among their career choices. ‘’The intention is to increase the number of females in the ICT sector of Nigeria which is currently dominated by men. The company promotes the education and training of girls in primary and secondary schools, thereby empowering them at an early stage. “We feel it’s our responsibility to support initiatives aimed at increasing the number of skilled and qualified women in Nigeria, and we enjoin other companies to contribute to this course.” Empowering female students, she maintained would address the root cause of the lack of female advancement in education, unwanted teenage pregnancy and domestic violence. Meanwhile, the CEO of e-Business Life Communication Limited, convener of the Girls in ICT for Lagos, Mrs. Ufoma Emuophedaro said “Companies like Vodacom are playing a key role in the global push to get young women and girls excited about a future career in ICT. You educate a woman, you educate a generation. We are grateful for Vodacom’s participation and support for this event”. She said that Girls in ICT Day is a time when girls have the opportunity to reflect on the importance of ICT to their future careers. It is a day where girls gain hands-on skills in ICT development, and realize that coding, blogging or app development is a fun and creative way to make a difference in the digital world. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/vodacom-empowers-girls-to-study-ict/

Education

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In an exclusive interview with Channels Television, Senator Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara state defended his position on the controversial topic #ChildNotBride, an issue he said “is all about the definition of full age”. The removal of Section 29 (4b) of theNigerian constitution as intended by the National Assembly will leave citizens with Section 29 (4a) alone. This is against Islamic law which states that “any married woman is of full age,” he said, adding that “some don’t know that the provision is available in both the 1999 and 1979 constitutions”. The Senator who argued his case on the floor of the Senate using Islamic laws as defense, said his position on “any woman who is married shall be deemed full of age” “is provided for in the Quran.” He cited Chapter four of the Quran to back his argument. He stated that the “the issue of full age was given based on the maturity, that is, age of puberty of a girl,” adding that he recently discovered that the age of puberty as defined by European laws is given as between 12 and 14. While arguing his case, he stated that puberty is define by the start of a girl’s menstrual cycle, which may commence at age 9 and “when the breasts are fully mature”. Asked to set a clear distinction between maturity and puberty, the Senator insisted that “a married woman is a married woman”. The Child Right’s Act which stipulates the age of maturity as 18 “is not constitutional,” he said, insisting that “once a girl reaches the age of puberty” she is assumed to be matured and determined by her parents and ready for marriage. On the number of his wives who are under the age of 21, he said that “so long as I don’t do any action that is against Islamic law, I am covered by the Nigerian constitution”.

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/08/26/puberty-determines-maturity-for-marriage-yerima-on-childnotbride/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Politics

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7 players who had their contracts terminated for bizarre reasons Adam Johnson had his contract with Sunderland terminated recentlyA footballer’s contract isn‘t worth the paper it is printed on, according to most people involved with the game. Given the ease with which players can hold a club hostage, it’s perhaps unsurprising that when a club is in the position to terminate a player's contract with full prejudice, they are not shy in pulling the trigger.However, oftentimes, the reasons for a club ending an association with a player go beyond the footballing pitch, with some very bizarre reasons being afforded in the recnt past.Here are a few of the instances when a player has had their contract terminated for quite odd reasons. #1 Adrian Mutu - Chelsea Adrian Mutu arrived at Stamford Bridge in a blaze of glory. Scoring 4 goals in his first three games, the £15.8 million that Chelsea parted with to pry him away from Parma seemed money well spent. What followed, however, read like the script of a movie rather than a footballers career. First, the Romanian captain’s turbulent two-year marriage to his wife Alexandra ended, with Mutu losing custody of his son as well. A sex scandal with a Romanian movie star was Mutu’s next story that served as tabloid fodder. A car chase involving police resulting in a driving ban also followed, which ended in the striker being advised to seek psychiatric help. Mutu ought to have listened, as the final straw that broke Chelsea’s back was his admission that he had taken drugs, which were alleged to be cocaine. Chelsea came down hard on Mutu, sacking the Romanian with immediate effect, stating “In coming to a decision on this case, Chelsea believed the club's social responsibility to its fans, players, employees and other stakeholders in football regarding drugs was more important than the major financial considerations to the company.” “Any player who takes drugs breaches his contract with the club as well as Football Association rules.” The case did not end there, as the London club later pursued damages to the tune of £14 million, which Mutu’s subsequent clubs Juventus and Livorno were advised to pay. #2 Nicolas Anelka - West Brom Nicolas Anelka signed for West Bromwich Albion on a free transfer, a contract that would have kept the Frenchman at the club for a year. Clearly, Anelka knew that it was destined to be a short-term association with the club. However, the manner in which Anelka’s association with the West Midlands club ended is downright bizarre. Anelka celebrated one of the rare goals he scored for West Brom with a gesture that was dubbed the ‘quenelle’. While the Frenchman claimed that his act was not anti-Semitic nor racist, the comedian credited with creating the gesture, Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, was linked with those very sentiments. The FA took a dim view of Anelka’s act and banned the striker for 5 games while fining him 80,000 pounds as well. Anelka’s reaction? To announce on social media that he was ‘freeing’ himself from his West Brom contract, tweeting “I have taken the decision to free myself and put an end to the contract linking me with West Bromwich Albion.” West Brom for their part, had this to day “Nicolas Anelka's purported termination of his Premier League contract this evening via Social Media was invalid as this was not conducted under the correct legal process as required by his contract.” Terming Anelka’s behaviour ‘gross misconduct’, the Baggies cancelled the strikers contract days later, considering him far more trouble than he was worth. #3 Adam Johnson - Sunderland This isn’t as much a bizarre reason as it is a downright ugly one. When Sunderland parted with £10 million for the English winger’s services in August 2012, little did they know that Johnson would come to be involved in a scandal that had the potential to drag the club’s name through the mud for no fault of their own. Johnson was arrested in March last year for allegedly being involved in sexual activity with an underage girl. The Black Cats sided with their man, offering him support as Johnson was subject to an investigation. However, the winger recently pled guilty to the charge, with the case presently being heard before a jury. Sunderland’s response to the guilty plea was brief, but dripping with contempt in its brevity, saying “In light of Adam Johnson's guilty pleas, the club has today terminated his contract with immediate effect. The club will make no further comment.” Given that Johnson has played 3 years of his 4 year contract, Sunderland have a right to sue the winger for a breach of contract. However, the Black Cats have wisely decided against pursuing a potential £1 million windfall, given that the penalty outweighs Sunderland’s hopes of not being associated with the case at all. #4 Sergi Guardiola - Barcelona You would expect a footballer named Guardiola to have a long, storied career in Barcelona, but Sergi could not follow in Pep’s footsteps, try as he might. The midfielder was signed by Barcelona for their reserve side, but just an hour later found his contract terminated for a series of tweets praising Real Madrid and insulting Catalonia. The tweets have been subsequently deleted, but it is of no avail, as the name Sergi Guardiola will forever by synonymous with a footballer’s stupidity leading to their contracts being terminated. The club even released a statement to that effect, saying: “FC Barcelona have decided to rescind the contract signed by the player Sergi Guardiola this afternoon, who was due to join Barça B. It emerged that he has published offensive tweets about both Barcelona and Catalonia.” Understandably, Guardiola was full of regret in an interview he gave to Spanish radio station Onda Cero, saying “I apologise to Barca and to Catalonia. It is a misunderstanding.” “I didn’t write [the tweets], it was in 2013 and I didn’t even know they existed. It was put on my profile, but it wasn’t me. I ask for forgiveness a thousand times - I have learnt a difficult lesson. I’m from Mallorca, I’m not anti-Catalan or anti-anything. My dream was to play for Barca, now it’s broken.” #5 Ahn Jung Hwan - Perugia When Ahn-Jung Hwan scored an incredible extra time header for South Korea in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, little did he know that his club career was destined to take a nosedive. The Korean’s 117th minute golden goal dispatched Italy out of the World Cup in the Round-of-16 stage, making Ahn a national hero as South Korea qualified for the World Cup quarterfinals for the first, and only time in their history. Ahn woke up the next day to the rudest of shocks, as he learnt that the club to which he was contracted to, Italian Serie A side Perugia, had abruptly cancelled his contract. In what can only be described as the pettiest contract cancellation ever, then Perugia chairman Luciano Gaucci justified the decision, saying “I have no intention of paying a salary to someone who has ruined Italian soccer.” “He was a phenomenon only when he played against Italy. I am a nationalist and I regard such behaviour not only as an affront to Italian pride but also an offence to a country which two years ago opened its doors to him That gentleman will never set foot in Perugia again.” A striker who had his contract cancelled for scoring a vital goal. Truly, truly bizarre. #6 Julio Rey - Deportivo la Coruna What is it with promising, young Spanish footballers and their use, or misuse rather, of Twitter? Julio Rey found out the hard way that it does not pay to abuse a club on Twitter, especially if that very club in question want to sign you in the future. Rey, whose surname literally translates to ‘King’, displayed behaviour rather unbecoming of his name in 2012, when he tweeted the following: When translated into English, the tweet is rather rude, saying “F*** Depor, F*** Riazor” (Riazor happens to be Deportivo la Coruna’s home ground). However, the Spanish club were unaware of the tweet when they decided to rescue Julio Rey from his middling career in the fourth tier of Spanish football three years later. The 20-year-old even posed for pictures with Deportivo, but as the club’s legal team trawled through his twitter account, they found the offending tweet and called off the move. Julio Rey even deleted his twitter account in a bid to salvage the move, but it was fruitless, as the club later released this statement: “Real Club Deportivo, who announced the signing of Julio Rey in the afternoon after the player signed his contract with the club, have decided to cancel the transfer after analysing an unfortunate comment on the player’s person social media profile several years ago.” “[Deportivo] believes that a player deserves to wear the blue and white shirt if he’s an example of sportsmanship, respectful of their rivals, committed and has positive feelings toward Depor, it’s colours, it’s crest and those values that represent this institution.” #7 Iran Women\'s National Team Women in Iran are banned from attending the matches of their male counterparts. However, the men of Iran seemed to have infiltrated the female game far more than normal, as the Iranian FA recently required that random gender testing be carried out at training sessions of clubs and the national team. Their reason? In 2014, 4 players of the Iran Women’s National Team had their contracts torn up for being... men. Rather, they were men amidst a gender change operation, but were still, ‘men’ since their procedures hadn’t been completed. Gender change is legal in Iran, and coupled with the fact that Iranian women play with a hijab and full-length sleeves and slacks, it’s rather easy to be a covert ‘woman’ in the national team. There was a route back offered to the banned players, however, as a senior Iranian official said, “If these people can solve their problems through surgery and be in a position to receive the necessary medical qualifications, they will then be able to participate in [women's] football.” Clearly, Iran are a pioneer in bending the rules to an extreme degree just to ‘potentially’ better their national team. The things one does for success.

https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/slideshow/7-players-contracts-terminated-bizarre-reasons/5

Sports

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Suspected Boko Haram members BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI – ABUJA As the military offensive to dismantle Boko Haram terrorists activities and the camps in North East Nigeria continues, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed the release from Police, SSS and Military detention centers, of hundreds of persons held in connection with the insurgency. The action of the President which took many Nigerians and security agencies by surprise is however interpreted by presidency sources as the ‘Carrot and Stick’ policy by the Commander in Chief to bringing an end to the Boko Haram debacle. Vanguard gathered that the beneficiaries will cut across such states as Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kano, `Kaduna, Gombe and Niger, though the exact number was not revealed. The federal government however explained that the decision to order the release is sequel to the request of the Presidential Committee in Dialogue and Reconciliation set up to explore the possibility of amnesty for converted terrorists. A statement to that effect signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade said “Consequent upon the directives of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Defence Headquarters will be releasing from detention a number of persons being held in connection with terrorist activities”. “The move is in furtherance of the Federal Government position in response to requests by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation”. “The measure which is in line with Presidential magnanimity to enhance peace efforts in the country will result in freedom for suspects including all women under custody”. “The details of the directives and those to benefit from this gesture have been communicated to field units and the Joint Task Force”. “The beneficiaries will be released to the State Governors who will be involved in further rehabilitation before these suspects are released to their respective community leaders/relations”. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/jonathan-orders-release-of-detained-terrorists/

Politics

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…Condoles with the family of the demised monarch …Promises to immortalise the departed Attah Kogi State Government on Saturday has condoled with the family of His Royal Majesty, Dr. Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni II who joined his ancestor on August 27, 2020. In a statement, signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo the State Government announced the death of the paramount ruler while extolling the exemplary lifestyles of the departed Attah during his lifetime. The statement reads thus; “It is with absolute submission to the divine will that The Kogi State Government announces that the Chairman of the Kogi State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Attah of Igala, His Royal Majesty, Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni II has passed on to the great beyond. In line with royal Igala tradition, the Palace has made it known that the Royal Father joined his ancestors on August 27, 2020.” “The late Attah of Igala was a great man indeed, and often ahead of his time and institution in thinking and action. He ruled with great courage and the fear of God. He was fiercely loyal to his people throughout his lifetime and used the revered Throne of the ancient Igala Kingdom to foster friendships and partnerships for his domain and for Kogi State,” the statement added. “His Royal Majesty’s most enduring legacy will include his avid support, as Chairman of the Kogi State Council of Traditional Rulers, for this Administration’s signature initiative to replace competition and rivalry with cooperation and integration as the basis of engagement amongst the diverse ethnic nationalities in Kogi State. “He will be remembered for leading Royal Fathers across the state on a visit to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR on June 19, 2019 where they added their voices to the Governor’s for urgent federal attention to some crucial needs in Kogi State then, such as disaster management, the release of special funding and provision of sundry infrastructures. It is a measure of the respect accorded the delegation that Mr President responded with favourable actions soon after. “The late Royal Father advocated for rapid industrialisation of Igalaland and the Kogi East Senatorial District throughout his lifetime. He believed that widespread penetration of electricity was key to achieving this objective. Fortunately, he found a willing partner in Governor Yahaya Bello and lived to see Project Light Up Kogi East (PLUKE), a project of the Administration designed to expand electricity infrastructure and supply into all the local government areas of his kingdom reach advanced stages of implementation.” According to the statement, “The departed Attah established his own legend by his progressive words and deeds while on the throne. In due course, The Kogi State Government will immortalize him in a befitting manner but most importantly, Government will continue to honour the memory of this pragmatic leader by sustaining rapid development as the bedrock of governance in Kogi State.” “His Royal Majesty, Michael Idakwo Ameh Oboni II will be sorely missed. We console his family, the great Igala people and all of Kogi State on this great and irreparable loss. “Funeral obsequies and other ceremonies will be announced in due course,” the statement concluded. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/08/attah-igala-will-be-greatly-missed-kogi-govt/

Politics

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File: A screengrab taken on May 12, 2014, from a video of Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram obtained by AFP shows girls, wearing the full-length hijab and praying in an undisclosed rural location. Boko Haram released a new video on claiming to show the missing Nigerian schoolgirls, alleging they had converted to Islam and would not be released until all militant prisoners were freed. A total of 276 girls were abducted on April 14 from the northeastern town of Chibok, in Borno state, which has a sizeable Christian community. Some 223 are still missing. *FG turns down Boko Haram swap deal *Sect wants 30 commanders for 30 girls By Soni Daniel From a person who seems to have an insight into the operations of Boko Haram came chilling accounts of girls taken captive by the terror group. “Girls tell how they were raped every day, week after week. One girl was raped every day, sometimes several times a day by groups of men. Some did not survive the ordeal,” Stephen Davis, an Australian negotiator, who visited Nigeria to mediate the release of the Chibok girls captured by the Islamist group, recounted in an article contributed to Sunday Vanguard, titled, ‘When I met Asari and agreed a peace deal.’ The negotiator spoke on a day it emerged that Boko Haram and government representatives held talks on swapping the group’s members in prison with the kidnapped schoolgirls. At the talks, government reportedly rejected Boko Haram’s demand to exchange 30 of its commanders in prison with 30 of the Chibok girls. Davis was responding to a newspaper interview by a former Niger-Delta militant leader, Alhaji Asari-Dokubo, in which he claimed the almost 300 girls, reportedly captured in Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram, may not have been seized after all. By this weekend, the girls, some of whom apparently escaped from their captors, have spent over 160 days in captivity. The schoolgirls were seized on April 14. “The escaped girls tell harrowing stories of rape and abuse. They are traumatised and require medical treatment and counselling. These girls are testament to the horrifying truth about the kidnapping,” the negotiator stated. Davis made a strong case for action against Boko Haram sponsors to end insurgency in the North-east. He also recounted his encounter with Dokubo at the peak of the Niger-Delta militancy during the Obasanjo administration, leading to a truce between the militants and security forces. Read Stephen Davis’ piece here. Chibok: FG, Boko Haram in swap deal Meanwhile, a report, yesterday, said government officials and the International Committee of the Red Cross had talks with Boko Haram about swapping prisoners of the Islamist terror group for the Chibok school girls kidnapped in April. CNN, quoting a source involved in the negotiations, said officials met four times in mid-August with two senior members of Boko Haram in Abuja. The swap would involve the release of 30 Boko Haram commanders in the custody of government, according to the source, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue. Boko Haram reportedly submitted a list with the names of 30 members who were either convicted or awaiting trial on terror offenses. “The two Boko Haram negotiators assured the ICRC and government negotiators that the girls were never raped, were never used as sex slaves and were never sexually assaulted,” said the source. But this claim is disputed by Davis. The terror group was said to have expressed a willingness for a swap with the ICRC at an undisclosed location, according to the source. But there was disagreement on some terms, including the number of girls involved in the swap. Boko Haram, it was learnt, insisted on an even swap — 30 girls for 30 commanders — but the government refused. “They were only ready to release one to one, which the government was not going to accept,” the source said. Another hurdle in the talks was Boko Haram’s insistence on meeting the imprisoned 30 members involved in the swap, but they only had contact with six at a prison outside Abuja, the source said. The six prisoners included Kabiru Sokoto, a senior Boko Haram commander convicted in December 2013 of terror charges related to the deadly Christmas Day bombing of a church in Madallah in 2011. “ICRC couldn’t find where the remaining 24 were being detained,” the source said. The Boko Haram negotiators said they would get back to government after consulting with their superiors. ICRC sources declined to comment. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/160-days-chibok-abduction-girls-tell-raped-every-day-negotiator-stephen-davis/#sthash.QBUk3ZxN.dpuf

Politics

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FROM LEFT: DIRECTOR-GENERAL, PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC INSTITUE, DR LANRE ADEBAYO; CONVENER OF RESTART PDP PROJECT, MR NWOSU EMMANUEL; AND A MEMBER OF ZAMFARA ELDERS COMMITTEE, ALHAJI GARBA GUSAU, AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE ROAD MAP TOWARDS THE SPEEDY RESTRUCTURING OF PDP AHEAD OF 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN ABUJA Abuja – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday apologised for mistakes it may have made during its 16 years rule in the country. The Chairman of the PDP Reconciliation Committee, Mr Raymond Dokpesi, offered the apology at a news conference in Abuja ahead of the party’s National Conference slated for Thursday. Dokpesi admitted that the party might not have met all the expectations of Nigerians while it was in power and said: ‘’on behalf of PDP, I tender our apologies’’. He disclosed that the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu’s report on the outcome of the general elections showed that factors that affected the party included abandonment of its laws and internal wrangling. “We tender unreserved apology to Nigerians for the mistakes and to party members for abandoning the zoning principle of the party. “We apologise to people whose toes were stepped upon. “So far, whatever the PDP has done against anyone, we hereby tender an unreserved apology,” Dokpesi pleaded. The committee chairman admitted that the party deviated from the dream of its founding fathers, adding that members operated without recourse to the rule of law. He, however, gave an assurance that the party would do all it could to woo its founding fathers back to its fold. “We are going to have Adamu Ciroma, Alex Ekwueme and some of the founding fathers who were hitherto alienated from the party at the conference to chart the way forward for the party. “The party in 2010 and 2011 made the first fundamental mistake for not allowing the North to complete its term, but special recommendation were made to allow former President Goodluck Jonathan to complete it. “The party came again, because they were not courageous enough to allow zoning and they supported the former president, and the party suffered defeat,” he said. Dokpesi said that the era of allowing a clique to control the party was over, maintaining that the party would decide its future by allowing the people to own it, irrespective of status. He said that the committee’s mandate was to restructure the PDP by allowing the youth to take ownership of the party in driving national growth. He explained that sequel to the 2015 general elections, the party deemed it fit to have a conference that could help correct the error it made in the past in order to aid its return to power. Dokpesi emphasised that for the party’s national conference to be meaningful, it must have youth representation comprising a male and a female from each local government area across the country. According to him, youths whose age must not be more than 30 years, with a minimum of a degree or its equivalent, will take ownership of the party. He said that the current ‘’change’’ as being championed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not enough to generate tension as being witnessed in the country, adding that what the ruling party needed was to chart a course for the country’s future. According to him, what the country currently has under President Muhammadu Buhari does not have youth representation. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/pdp-apologises-to-nigerians-for-its-mistakes/

Politics

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Boko Haram members in action Boko Haram insurgents bombed a police station in northeast Nigeria, as the Islamists pressed on with attacks despite a multinational offensive targeting their strongholds, witnesses and security sources said Thursday. Separately, an attempted suicide attack was foiled outside a political office elsewhere in the embattled northeast, raising fears of growing unrest in the run-up to Nigeria’s general election, which has been postponed by six weeks. The Boko Haram uprising has raged for six years, killing more than 13,000 people, and the sect has in recent months increasingly posed a regional threat. Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger have since the start of this month launched an unprecedented joint effort to crush the uprising, raising hopes that this new cooperation could turn the tide. In a nationally broadcast interview on Wednesday, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan vowed that “serious advances will be made” over the next six weeks, meaning security will have improved by the new election day, March 28. “But I’m not saying (we will) wipe out Boko Haram,” he added. The insurgents have proved resilient throughout the conflict and despite initial claims of success, few believe the regional military teamwork can contain the conflict in the short term. – Police attacked – Scores of militants armed with guns and explosives stormed a police station in the town of Kanamma in Yobe state late Monday, multiple sources told AFP. Details of the violence took days to emerge because of the poor phone network in the remote area. “The terrorists overpowered our men and set the police station on fire before kidnapping the DPO (district police officer), whose body was later found in the bush,” said one senior officer, who requested anonymity. Several other policemen were killed, he added. That account was supported by Kanamma resident Maina Kachalla, who said the police station was bombed and burnt down. Kanamma holds significance in the history of the Boko Haram conflict. The group was formed in Maiduguri, the capital of neighbouring Borno state in 2002 but a hardline faction relocated to Kanamma in 2004 and attempted to form an extremist enclave in the town which they called “Afghanistan”, taking inspiration from the Taliban. They clashed with the military in Kanamma in January 2004 in the first known case of unrest involving the group that later become known as Boko Haram, which roughly means “Western education is forbidden”. The latest violence there was several hundred kilometres (miles) from the eastern edge of Borno state, the current epicentre of the multi-national offensive, which indicated that regional armies have substantial ground to cover if they hope to crush the insurgency. – Attempted suicide blast – In Yobe’s economic capital Potiskum, multiple witnesses said an attempted suicide bombing was thwarted outside the campaign office of Governor Ibrahim Geidam. The suspect reportedly raised suspicion by loitering outside the office and was confronted by a crowd, causing him to run into an abandoned building where he blew himself up, according to witness Abubakar Ubale, in an account borne out by two others. A similar incident outside a political office killed seven people on February 1 in Potiskum, while the next day a suicide bombing hit a presidential campaign rally in Gombe just after Jonathan left the site. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/02/boko-haram-attacks-police-suicide-bombing-foiled-governors-campaign-office-witnesses/#sthash.q1OBtGmy.dpuf

Politics

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By Chinenyeh Ozor Nsukka — A veteran journalist, John Akor, has been crowned as the king of Nimbo Community in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, Akor, who worked with the defunct National Concord Newspapers, received his staff of office as the Agaba Idu of Nimbo, from the immediate past administration of Governor Sullivan Chime in his Nimbo Community through the then Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Pastor Emeka Abugu. Presenting him with his warrant certificate and staff of office, Abugu said that the coronation was symbolic and unique for the fact that royal father occupied the kingship position (Eze) which was the most respected traditional authority in Igbo land before he received the certificate as the traditional ruler of Nimbo community. Abugu also noted that the state government decided to coronate the royal father on the last day of its administration after eight years of good governance to mark the end of a successful tenure which was anchored on honesty, transparency and accountability, adding that Nimbo had been a peace loving community for ages. He then, urged the traditional ruler to carry everybody along his cultural and traditional activities to enable the state government pay attention to the needs of the community. The former commissioner appealed to the royal father and entire community to be supportive of government policies mostly as the mantle of governance has changed for the good of the state, explaining that the history of the community flowed from its ancestral kingship tradition. Speaking shortly after his coronation, the royal father Igwe John Ikemefuna Akor appealed to the community, mostly those that contested the traditional stool alongside him to join hands for the development of the ancient kingdom. He added that the community used to be first in the scheme of things in Uzo- Uwani Local Government Area and must return to its pre-eminent position. The royal father also sued for peace among the 10 villages that make up Nimbo Community to enable it stand on a better pedestal both in culture, tradition and governance, adding that he would do his very best to put things in place for the unity and progress of the community. The coronation was attended by many government officials, clergy men, local government council chairmen, politicians, among other people from different walks of life, while different cultural dancers entertained the teeming audience. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/veteran-journalist-crowned-monarch-in-enugu-community/#sthash.FJyS0zkE.dpuf

Politics

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Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is new Ooni of ife Forty-year old Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has emerged as the new Ooni of ife. His appointment was announced in a press statement by the Government of Osun state early Monday morning in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti. The statement reads: “The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has approved the appointment of a new Ooni of Ife. He is Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi of the Giesi Ruling House of Ile Ife State of Osun. ” This choice follows the completion of the due process by the kingmakers and the communication of their decision to the Government.” Born to Prince Ropo and Late Mrs Margaret Wuraola Ogunwusi of Ile Opa family compound, Ile Ife , the new Ooni is a Higher National Diploma graduate from The Polytechnic, Ibadan. He is on the Board of Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank Limited, (formerly GTHomes), GTBank Plc and FinaTrust Microfinance Bank Limited. He is a member of several professional bodies including ; Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), an Associate Accounting Technician and a certified member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria as well as Global Real Estate Institute (GRI).

http://thenationonlineng.net/adeyeye-enitan-ogunwusi-is-new-ooni-of-ife/

Politics

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Solar powered community water project at Uturu Abia State The Nigerian government Wednesday received a grant of N2billion from the government of Japan to support the nation’s drive to boost power generation capacity, through solar energy. The donation under “The Project for Introduction of Clean Energy by Solar Electricity Generation System”, a statement by the Japanese Embassy, made available in Abuja said, “Japan donated 0.98 billion Japanese Yen (approximately 2 billion Naira or 7.84 million US Dollars) for the provision of solar electricity generation systems and to tackle the issue of climate change on top of 78.76 billion Japanese Yen (approximately 157.52 billion Naira or 63 billion US Dollars) which has already been extended in order to assist the power sector in Nigeria. “Concerned by the growing effects of global warming and challenge of power supply, which the G8 and African countries consider as the major impediments to sustainable development, wealth creation and the eradication of poverty, the Exchange of Notes of the project was signed by His Excellency Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and His Excellency Mr. Darius Ishaku, Honourable Minister of State for Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” “The Grant Agreement under the Exchange of Notes was signed between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Federal Ministry of Power in Nigeria” The statement added that, “Under this project, equipment and materials necessary for economic and social development of Nigeria under principles in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of Japan including PV module, Power Conditioner and Transformer will be procured from Japan, while third country products are acceptable for other type of equipments and accessories. In this project, Japan will provide solar electricity generation systems for the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University in Katsina state. “The people and the Government of Japan hope that this project will enable an increase of the ratio of clean energy in the energy portfolio in order to reduce the use of fossil fuel which is considered as the main cause of today’s global warning. The Government of Japan is confident that this project from the people of Japan will be a good showcase of Japan- Nigeria cooperation in the field of clean energy” “Regarding the Power Sector, the Federal Ministry of Power will chair the Consultative Committee in order to facilitate consultation and procurement process. The first meeting of the Committee shall be held after the signing of the consulting services agreement between the Agent and the Consultant Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/nigeria-receives-japans-n2b-grant-for-solar-energy/

Politics

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Dr Isuwa Adamu, Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Leather Science and Technology (NILEST), Zaria, on Tuesday warned against the consumption of animal hides and skin known locally as “ponmo”. Adamu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the consumption of the product as meat substitute was dangerous to health. According to him, scientifically, ponmo does not have any nutritional value to human health. “In fact, it is not advisable for you to consume ponmo in the sense that some of the animals killed and used for ponmo actually have skin diseases. “Some of these skin diseases are such that boiling them ordinarily, may not kill the bacteria,’’ Adamu said. He added that some of the animals killed had been ill and undergoing injections but the rearers went ahead to kill them, leaving the buyers vulnerable to chemicals in the animal skin. “Some of the animals because of the ailments that they have gone through, are sometimes treated by way of injection with chemicals. “People don’t allow these chemicals to complete its cycle and be removed from the body; they sometimes go ahead to kill these animals. “So, if you consume the ponmo, the tendency is that you are consuming the chemicals directly because the skin part of the animal retains most of the harmful substances. “Remember your skin is the major protective organ of your body and your skin harbours so many of the harmful things that are supposed to penetrate into your body,’’ he explained. He added that the skin of animals harbour so many of the harmful waste materials that the body secretes and boiling only could not remove some of those wastes. The NILEST boss said the institute was putting up efforts to sensitise the public and advise governments on policies that will help to reduce the consumption of animal skin to the barest minimum. According to him, ponmo consumption is a national and traditional issue that just putting up laws may not really help to stop it. Adamu advised the government to come up with policies that could be enforced to reduce the consumption of hides and skin as meat substitute. He added that this would enhance the quality and quantity of raw hides and skin that are available to meet the demands of the tanneries. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/ponmo-consumption-dangerous-health/

Food

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By Luka Binniyat, Emman Ovuakporie, Levinus Nwabughiogu & Laide Akinboade KADUNA —President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday for the first time spoke on the controversial $9.3m cash allegedly smuggled into South Africa by two Nigerians and an Israeli using his private jet. The money which has been confiscated by a South African court was meant for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian Intelligence Services. This is just as the #BringBackOurGirls# campaign group, has said it will soon drag the CAN president and the Federal Government to court over the money. Following the use of his aircraft to convey the money which was not declared in South Africa until immigration officials discovered it, the CAN president was linked to the arms deal with critics condemning his role in the arms deal. Explaining his own side of the story yesterday, at an emergency meeting of the expanded National Executive Council, NEC, of CAN in Abuja, Pastor Oritsejafor denied any involvement or knowledge of the deal to buy arms in South Africa, noting that enemies of Christians were fuelling the division of CAN. He said: “The media has been awash in the past few days about an unfortunate incident involving the movement of funds from Nigeria to South Africa. In the unfortunate news reports, attempts have been made to link me directly with the transaction. So far I have refrained from making any direct public statement pending the time that I would have briefed the leaders of the church and explained my position on the issues to them. “I believe that the primary institution that I owe any explanation to is the church. Permit me to thank everyone who stood by me these past days by ways of prayers, as well as strongly defending me even though I have not undertaken any public defence of myself. “I am particularly appreciative of the valuable support of the Catholic Church in refuting a distorted news item by mischievous elements in the media. I wish to assure you that I will not do anything to tarnish the image of Jesus Christ or compromise the divine standard of the Church. The aircraft is mine — CAN president “At the risk of being seen to be defending myself, I wish to confirm to the distinguished leaders of the church that the Bombardier Challenger 601 aircraft in question is mine. “The aircraft was presented to me as a gift by members of our congregation and ministry partners world wide at the 40th anniversary of my call into the ministry. May I be permitted to stress that the aircraft was not given to me by the President of Nigeria, neither was it a settlement for any political favour or patronage. “With the benefit of hindsight, the President of the country was a guest in our church during the anniversary celebration when the Jet was presented to me and this has been construed to imply that it was a gift from the President of the country. “The President of Nigeria has nothing to do with the gift of the aircraft. By the way, I still wonder why all those saying this, still cannot come out to show proof so that the matter can be put to rest once and for all. Let me say that this might be an issue of the court in the near future. “In order to ameliorate the cost of maintenance of the aircraft, I sought and got permit to allow the aircraft fly in and out of Nigeria. “Based on this, I leased the aircraft on August 2, 2014 to a company to run it. It was the leasee that entered into an agreement with the people who carried out the transfer of funds. Having leased the aircraft to the Green Coast Produce Company Limited, any transaction undertaken with the aircraft can no longer be attached to me. War against the Church “In as much as I am shocked and distressed by the incident, I wish to appeal to Christians in Nigeria to remember that a war has been waged against the Nigerian Church. This war is being fought on many fronts and this unfortunate incident is another dimension in the assault against the Church. “It is clear that those who manipulated this conspiracy desire to create a schism in the Church. The media hype and the deliberate distortion of information that followed it confirmed that forces that desperately desire to cause division and disunity in the Church are at work. Even the devil knows that a house that is divided cannot stand. “As Christians, we need unity in the Church now more than ever. We are witnessing inhuman attacks by religious extremists against Christians in the northern part of the country while Christian infrastructure is being destroyed in hundreds. “If we permit the enemy to divide us, our chances of corporate survival shall be severely threatened. “Distinguished leaders of the Church, please permit me to state clearly before God and before all of you here present today, I am not a party to the movement of $9.3 million from Nigeria to South Africa to purchase arms and ammunition. I am not part of the deal. I know nothing about it. “Let me make a passionate appeal to our heads of blocks, heads of denominations and Christian leaders at different levels and spheres of influence to please use your good offices to caution and control your subordinates and followers from making public statements that will further polarise the Church and strengthen the arms of the enemies of the church. “If I offend you or you offend me, instead of talking to media, let us talk to each other within the house of God.” #BringBackOurGirls# threatens to sue Meanwhile, the #BringBackOurGirls# campaign group, at its sit-out, yesterday, in Abuja called for more public outcry over the $9.3 million cash found in Pastor Oritsejafor’s private jet in South Africa, saying it has concluded arrangement to sue the CAN president and the Federal Government over it. According to the group: “We need more pressure more than ever; this is tax payers money, we must speak up any time an injustice is done especially when it is about infiltration of arms because that is what brought us here. There is need for a louder cry about this because quietly people are forgetting about the $9.3 million, it will continue if we don’t do anything. “By next week you will have something different, we are working with our lawyers to sue Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and the Federal Government.” Also, the House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Business has said that the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lai Mohammed must have acted out of ignorance for saying that the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha was biased in his ruling over the controversial $9.3million arms deal motion. Briefing House of Representatives correspondents at the weekend, chairman of the committee, Albert Sam-Tsokwa said “it is glaring that the APC publicity secretary was not conversant with our House rules when he said the Deputy Speaker manipulated the proceedings on the motion bordering on the $9.3m arms deal in South Africa. “The DS acted as a patriotic Nigerian as he considered the interest of Nigerians above any political lineage following our House standing Orders to the letter. “The motion in question was an investigative one seeking investigation into the alleged arms deal in South Africa which does not need any debate as this might jeopardise the proposed investigation”. Vanguard recalls that in the wake of the arms deal, the matter came up in the form of a motion on the floor of the House last Tuesday, but Ihedioha, who presided over plenary that day, did not allow debate on the motion, citing ‘national security.’ He later called for a voice vote and majority of the lawmakers voted against it. This development did not go down well with some lawmakers, most of whom are of the opposition All Progressives Congress ,APC, who staged a walk out from the floor immediately Ihedioha ruled. The motion, sponsored by Deputy Minority Leader Abdulrahman Kawu Sulaiman,APC, Kano sought for a thorough investigation into the matter. But Tsokwa argued at the briefing that what Ihedioha did was in line with the relevant rules of the House, which do not allow debate on matters relating to infrastructure, security and investigation. He explained that “the House is precluded from discussing any issue that is pending in court. Our rules also say motions on infrastructure, security and investigation are not to be debated. The motion on $9.3 million seeks an investigation, so it shouldn’t, couldn’t and mustn’t have been debated. That was exactly what happened,” Tsokwa said. Tsokwa further stressed that “the mover wasn’t supposed to take it that day, because it wasn’t on the Order Paper. He insisted on taking it because he said he was away on the Speaker’s errand. But any matter that is not on the Notice Paper can’t be included on the Order Paper. Some members were against taking the motion, but the Deputy Speaker allowed him.” The Taraba state lawmaker explained that going by parliamentary rules, if any member is not satisfied with a particular decision taken, such a member would call for the House to be divided based on the ‘ayes’ and the ‘nays,’ saying walking out was not appropriate. “The decision wasn’t taken on the basis of party. It wasn’t all APC members that voted against it and vice-versa”, he said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/9-3m-arms-deal-oritsejafor-opens

Politics

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By Soni Daniel ABUJA— Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd), has said that he should be regarded as a saint given the level of corruption that pervades the Nigerian society today. Babangida also scored himself high in the management of the economy during the eight-year period of his administration, claiming that he actually worked hard to end the menace of corruption rather than promote it. According to Babangida, those who held contrary opinion about the activities of his regime did so out of ignorance of what he did while in office. Babangida’s claims are contained in the latest edition of the Economic and Financial Crimes quarterly magazine, Zero Tolerance, a copy of which was obtained by Vanguard in Abuja yesterday. The former president said he was able to manage the economy and still left surplus in the treasury with a paltry $7 billion oil revenue compared to what is being earned by the government today. He stated: “Maybe I have to accept that but anybody with a sense of fairness has no option but to call us saints. I give you an example, in a year; I was making less than $7 billion in oil revenue but in the same period there were governments that were making between $200 billion and $300 billion. “With $7 billion, I did the best I could but with $200 billion there is still a lot to be achieved. I don’t have all the facts but if what I read in the papers is what is currently happening, then I think we were saints.” Babangida further claimed that he did his best to stabilise the Naira, leaving the exchange rate at N22 to the dollar, saying that the current exchange rate in the country was not his making. The Naira is exchanging for between N193 and N200 depending on where and when, following the slight devaluation of the Naira in the wake of plummeting oil prices. $12.4 Gulf War oil windfall Asked what he did with the $12.4 Gulf War oil windfall, Babangida further said that he used the money wisely on what he described as “regenerative investment,” giving examples with the building of Abuja City and the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge as some of such investments. He also stated that contrary to insinuations in many quarters, the oil windfall revenue was not stolen as, his administration channelled the money into the provision of critical infrastructure that Nigerians were using today. He said: “I am not an economist but I have an understanding of what this is. Our argument then was if you have the money then why keep it and be looking at it when you have a lot of things to do that will benefit the ordinary man? So that money was not stolen. “Let us take Abuja for example. I built it. Today, we have a brand new capital; we used that money. I gave you a Third Mainland bridge, Lagos, which you cannot build today with all the money that Nigeria is making.” Most investigated ex-president in Nigeria The former leader, who recently hosted President Goodluck Jonathan in his expansive mansion in Minna, the Niger State capital, said he was not worried over the corruption toga being bandied about him and his administration, claiming that it was a mere perception thing. He said he remained the most investigated former president in Nigeria but was happy that nothing incriminating had been found against him to justify the claim that his government was corrupt. According to him, “now, even our fiercest critics give us credit for certain things we did. I have been the most investigated president Nigeria has ever had. By now somebody should have come forward to say here it is. Every government that came after me investigated me because of that perception because they wanted to retrieve the billions that I stole.” On June 12 election On why he annulled the June 12 election won by his late friend, Chief M.K.O. Abiola, IBB said he had given the reasons in the past but pointed out that the very people who claimed to support the election were the same who turned round to work with the military junta and made it to perpetuate itself for many years. He said: “All those who fought for June 12 ended up serving the military government they didn’t like and that perpetuated a longer stay of the military in government.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/corruption-im-saint-ibb/?utm_source=&utm_medium=facebook

Politics

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CBN Governor, Sanusi By MICHAEL EBOH THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, said that plans are underway to extend the non-interest banking or Islamic banking principles to non-banking financial services. Some non-bank financial institutions, such as insurance companies, fund managers stockbroking firms have already introduced to the market products designed after the Islamic banking model. Speaking at the 16th annual CBN seminar for financial market journalists in Adamawa state, Special Adviser to the CBN Governor on Non-Interest Banking, Dr. Bashir Umar, in his paper titled, ‘Overview and Conceptual Issues of Non-Interest Banking in Nigeria,’ said that the apex bank will ensure that the proposed introduction of non-interest financial services will not be limited to banking services alone. Also speaking in his keynote address, CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido, said that non-interest banking will make a major impact on the Nigerian economy, considering the size of the country’s market and the population. Sanusi who was represented by Mallam Dahiru Mohammad, Member of the CBN’s Board, said that the introduction of Islamic banking becomes necessary, especially as some countries in West Africa are already positioning to enjoy the benefits of the non-interesting banking. According to him, a number of these countries had already started the processes of establishing the enabling regulatory framework for non-interest banking to thrive in their respective jurisdictions. He said, “Drawing an inference from historical antecedents, the Islamic financial system, on a global scale, has witnessed a progressive evolution over the last four decades to become a dynamic and competitive form of financial intermediation within the global financial system. “The facts also have it that it has recorded a dramatic growth, rising to about 435 institutions operating in 75 countries around the world, including major financial hubs such as London, New York, Luxemburg, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore, just to mention a few.” “Suffice to say that countries like Senegal and the Gambia already have operational regulations governing non-interest banks. In addition, several other countries in Africa are at various stages of crafting and consequently executing their regulatory guidelines. Sanusi said that the theme of the seminar, “Non-Interest Banking, Issues, Challenges and Prospects,” was very apt, considering the desire of the apex bank to broaden accessibility to alternative financial product by the country’s productively-active poor through the introduction and implementation of the new microfinance policy. He also noted that despite the modest progress made in introducing non-interest banking in the country, it had been faced with challenges such as dearth of knowledge, skills and technical capacity to regulate and supervise the product, limited knowledge of accounting and auditing standards pertinent to Islamic financial institutions, lack of robust and comprehensive legal guide, the absence of Islamic insurance to protect investments of Islamic banks against unforeseen hazards that could impair the growth of this form of banking, among others. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/09/cbn-to-extend-islamic-banking-to-other-financial-sectors/

Business

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By Tony Edike ENUGU — The Air wing of the Nigeria Police Force, NAF, will soon commence surveillance of the five South East states. As a result of this, the police authorities have approved the construction of a helipad for Heliporters at the Emene Industrial Layout Extension, near Enugu which is a distance of about three kilometers from the Akanu Ibiam International Airport for the exercise. Work on the air strip for the helipad being undertaken by Enugu State government has reached an advanced stage and sources said the police helicopters were being expected in Enugu to commence air surveillance of the entire South East zone. It was learnt that the police decided to site the Helipad in the zone to ensure quick response to distress calls arising from security threats in any of the five states of south east. Enugu State government which agreed to finance the construction of the Helipad has already approved N119,713, 275.26 for the project which includes completion of the external works. The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke who spoke on the issue in Enugu, said that the state government undertook the project as part of its support to the police force. He said that government was already handling the construction of the Hanger which would also serve as the Police Helicopter administrative block and a guest house, adding that work on the project was almost completed. Ugwoke further said that the money approved for the project would ensure the construction of the Helipad and other external works like concrete drains, fire-fighting equipment, generators and taxi park, among others. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/police-begin-air-surveillance-s-east-states/

Politics

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By Arogbonlo Israel It’s a dramatic moment as some protesters fight over undisclosed sum handed over to one of them by a Nigerian artiste. Vanguard gathered the singer who came around to felicitate with protesters who are out to mark the one year anniversary of the ENDSARS movement, handed the cash gift to one of the protesters. On getting the money from the artiste, a yet-to-be identified protester flee as others ran after him to get their portion of the money. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/10/endsars-drama-as-protesters-fight-dirty-over-money-at-lekki-tollgate/

Politics

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By AbdulSalam Muhammad The Minister of Transport, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday, announced that the Federal Government has earmarked $1.2b for the construction of the new Kano – Kaduna rail line. The Minister, who disclosed this during a visit to Gov. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, explained that the importance of Kano economy necessitated a new thinking. Amaechi said: “I think the President is doing that because the economy of Kano is also large in the country and that, between Kano and Lagos, we have about a total of 30 million tons of freight, and that will help in conveying some of them to Abuja, while we extend the construction to Lagos”. The Transport Minister said that already, the Federal Government was negotiating with China EXIM Bank and it was expected that the negotiation would end this year, to pave way for work on the project to commence. Ameachi further revealed that the Lagos – Kano rail (narrow gauge) would have more locomotives, before June 2017, stressing: “We are trying to bring in about 100 locomotives to move between Lagos – Kano – Funtua and Port Harcourt – Gombe”. The flurry of activities around this initiative, he noted, would greatly impact on Kano and reverberate on the national economy. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/fg-earmarks-1-2b-for-kano-kaduna-rail-line/

Politics

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BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU ABUJA — ALL branches of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will hold their congresses today to brief members on President Goodluck Jonathan’s offer. Nigeria public universities have been closed down over four months as a result of the Federal Government’s inability to implement the agreement it entered into in 2010 with lecturers. There have been a lot of calls from well-meaning Nigerians to the Federal Government and ASUU to come to a compromise so that students resume academic activities. Both warring factions had maintained hard stand on the issue as ASUU argued that poor funding was responsible for the dwindling fortunes of education and its attendant poor quality of graduates, while the Federal Government said the university lecturers downed tools over enhanced earned allowance. However, the long closure of universities led the leadership of the Senate and President Jonathan to hold separate meetings with the union and relevant stakeholders last Monday, where new offers were made to the teachers with a plea for them to re-open universities. A branch Chairman of ASUU, who told Vanguard of today’s congresses in all the universities, said the meeting was for the chairmen to brief members on the outcome of their meeting with President Jonathan. He further said that the outcome of today’s meeting of the various branches would be communicated to the national leadership of the union, which will in turn convene an emergency NEC meeting between Wednesday and Thursday this week to consider the positions of various branches . The Chairman, who did not want his name to be mentioned, said: “Branches throughout the country will be holding their congresses on Monday (today) to brief our members on the outcome of the meeting with the President. “It is at the meeting that the various branches will take position and communicate same to the national leadership Monday evening, then an emergency NEC meeting would be convened between Wednesday and Thursday. “We have not been told of the venue, but we were told to prepare because it would take two days by road from my branch.” He said calling for a strike or calling it off was not a decision taken by the ASUU President (Dr. Nasir Fagge) or the national executive alone. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/strike-ASUU-branches-meet-today-exco-wednesday/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter#sthash.CnUb4hFm.dpufOk

Education

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Joe Ajaero, NLC President … many FMBN officials may be on their way to Kuje prison-Rep By GiftChapi-Odekina, Abuja The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to pull out civil servants from the National Housing Fund’s (NHF) contributory funds over the non-remittance of deductions made. President of NLC, Joe Ajaero made the threat while appearing before the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Non-Remittance to the NHF and Utilisation of the Funds from 2011 till Date. According to Ajaero FBN had refused to send alerts of how much civil servants have contributed including their monthly deductions. He urged the lawmakers to take drastic steps to remove the encumbrances to affordable and quality housing to millions of Nigerians especially workers who make the most contributions to the NHF. This according to him is as identified in the memorandum and other memoranda submitted to the committee. He said that the immediate past Managing Director of FMBN Mr Ahmed Dangiwa who is now the Minister of Housing and Urban Development said he left behind N120 billion in the coffers of “He said he was able to mobilise 249.1 billion to Nigeria’s housing fund, and increased subscription to 197,000 between 2017 and 2022. He said in spite of these milestones, millions of Nigerian workers who are in line with sections 4 and 10 of the Act are unable to access finance to acquire, build or renovate personal housing property. He said the ease of reimbursement to retired workers of contributed funds even after failure to access housing loans is also cumbersome and unnerving. He also noted that in spite making the statutory contributions of 2.5 per cent of annual salary to the NHF, many workers were unable to access the loan due mainly to administrative bottlenecks. ” While the Act provides for 90 days from the date of application for the loan to disbursement, the experience by many workers is horrific as the undue delay in approving the loans force many workers to abandon the pursuit of the loan He said many resort to third-party agencies to fast-track the loan application at unofficial fees thus creating the perception of corruption in the process of housing loan approval and disbursement to workers who needed the funds. Also speaking at the meeting, the Managing Director of Federal Mortgage bank Mr Madu Hamman said that the total amount of contribution from MDAs from 2011 till date is N238 billion, adding that individuals contribution from 2011 till date was N225 million He said that the ministerial housing scheme was N34.5 billion. He however said that time to reconcile the conflicting documents from the ministerial housing pilot scheme which was missing from the one the chairman had. Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the committee Rep. Musa Bagos while cross-examining the agency aid,with the deference in the documents submitted by the MD was inconsistent He said should the committee continue with the hearing, many officials of FMBN would be on their way to Kuje prison. Bagos therefore adjourned the hearing to Aug 24, following a request by the MD to enable them put all the necessary documents together. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/08/nlc-threatens-to-pull-out-of-nhf-for-non-remittance-of-contributory-funds/amp/

Politics

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ONE of my patients recently had her request for a relatively common medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Vyvanse, denied by her insurance provider. I tried to appeal the decision, but her father — the chief executive of a health care company who purchased insurance for hundreds of employees — had better luck. He called up the head of the insurance company and got the drug approved. Last year, my 5-year-old fractured her ankle. The bill for the 12-minute orthopedist’s appointment was $1,125, and about half of it was covered by insurance. I wrote the doctor a letter — please revise this bill, as it is clearly erroneous — and included my “M.D.” Instead, the doctor left me a message saying he was waiving the bill entirely as a professional courtesy. Stories like these reveal an uncomfortable truth. Our health insurance system is so broken that pulling strings — or rank — is sometimes the only way to get the coverage you think you’ve paid for. Since 2010, when the Affordable Care Act was passed, the major insurance companies have seen their stock prices soar. Though the act expanded coverage to millions, a report last year by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation revealed that 41 percent of health plans sold on the government exchanges had physician networks described as “small” or “extra-small,” covering less than 25 percent and 10 percent of local doctors, respectively. Individuals may have to change doctors or choose out-of-network services, incurring extra costs. Wendell Potter, a former Cigna executive turned whistle-blower and a co-author of the recent book “Nation on the Take,” says that “insurance companies profit by introducing hurdles in the coverage and claims process.” These hurdles lead some patients to simply give up and pay or forego treatment altogether. He calls this the companies’ business model. This strategy has given rise to a new business. After his son was born with cerebral palsy, Scott Leshin, then an associate at Goldman Sachs, made it his business to read the fine print of his health insurance policy so that he could fight for the services his son needed.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/03/opinion/sunday/the-illicit-perks-of-the-md-club.html

Health

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Ado-Ekiti : A Nigerian-born U.S. Army Captain, Sunday Adebomi, on Sunday said that war against Boko Haram could be won if President Goodluck Jonathan set aside his gentility. Adebomi said in Ado-Ekiti that the war could be won if the Federal Government was determined to introduce a hard stand. “There are several ways of wiping out the sect and end the killings. If government is determined to end Boko Haram today it will be achieved. “Who are those in the sect that dare face the government? But unfortunately, I suspect there are some bigwigs behind these people. “Mr President is being too gentle in his handling of the killings; but unfortunately, it is daily assuming dangerous dimension; gentility cannot win the war. “Although gentility is not a crime but Mr President will have to be more aggressive because this is a security threat to the entire nation. “Mr President will have to take a stand on the matter either to continue to tolerate the sect and leave Nigerians to be mourning every day with the several killings. “Mr President should give a matching order to the military to wipe them off once and for all. “Not until a strong stand is taken Nigerians may not be able to sleep with their eyes closed,” he said. Adebomi said the military had been doing a good job in the affected states but “they are fighting unknown faces and faceless groups. “Government will have to first identify the cause of the problem, the root, sponsors, as well as where and how these insurgents get their weapons. “The security agencies do not also understand the terrain they are fighting the war because most of them are alien to the battle fields. “They know nothing about the sect, how then will they fight such war and think they will win; it is difficult.” The U.S. captain said he led over 5,000 U.S. soldiers to war during the Pre-Mobilisation in 2010 and expressed optimism that the sect could be wiped out. He said that the sect meant nothing to the Nigeria security agencies if genuine commitment was there adding, “all they need is the Presidential directive.” He appealed to President Jonathan to read the riot act to the governors of the affected states or be made to face the wrath of the Federal government. Adebomi said that the President could also compel the governors in the states to account for each soul lost to the insurgents. “What am simply saying is that the matter deserves an aggressive reaction; enough of a gentleman approach, because you don’t dialogue with faceless groups,” he said. “The question we need to ask ourselves is: “When will enough be enough? I woke up this morning with this thought in my mind asking Nigerians when enough will be enough. “I ask the President when enough will be enough. I ask members of the Senate and House of Representatives when enough will be enough. “Is it not time the government declared full state of emergency in the affected region? “Since this insurgency, what concrete intelligence step has the government taken apart from fire for fire exposing ill equipped military men and women to excessive fire power of Boko Haram. “Let us ask, when will enough be enough? Nigeria is dripping blood on daily basis; it is time the government woke up to its task.” Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states have been under the attack of the Boko Haram insurgents, loosing several lives and property. Adebomi hails from Ise-Ekiti in Ise/Orun local government area of Ekiti and had been in the U.S. Army for almost two decades. (NAN) Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/boko-haram-nigerian-born-u-s-soldier-urges-jonathan-suspend-gentility/

Politics

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President Muhammadu Buhari and Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan By Dirisu Yakubu ABUJA-As the countdown to the December 9 elective national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) begin, Nigeria’s immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Thursday took the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to the cleaners, saying the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is being run on lies and propaganda. Speaking in Abuja Thursday while receiving in audience one of the national chairmanship aspirants in his office, Professor Tunde Adeniran and members of his campaign team, Jonathan said the solidarity being shown to the party even though it lost election at the centre in 2015 is a pointer that “There is something in the PDP. While pledging to speak up some day on the giant strides recorded by the party in the course of its 16-year stewardship, the former President took a veiled dig at a serving Minister who he said, once stated that all it took a serious government to fix the power challenge was six months. “The PDP administration for 16 years did well and will continue to do well but this administration has done nothing,” he said, adding that “They deployed propaganda and lies at a professional level. “In the power sector, we did well to revive it. A State governor attacked our government, saying that any serious government should be able to fix the power challenge within six months. Today, APC has been in power for how many years now? Fortunately the then governor is in the APC Government as a Minister,” he said, fighting a bout of laughter. Extolling the qualities of Professor Adeniran, Jonathan reminded PDP faithful not to forget that for the party to stand a chance to oust the APC in 2019, “We need a competent, reliable and a courageous national chairman who would then lead the party to victory come 2019.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/jonathan-hits-buhari-apc-govt-lies-propaganda/?_e_pi_=7%2CPAGE_ID10%2C9701787423

Politics

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