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Zamfara State Governor, Abdul’Aziz Yari, has reacted to the court judgment which nullified the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the governorship election in the state. Addressing State House correspondents on Tuesday in Abuja, the governor said he would approach the Supreme Court on the matter. He explained that the purpose of going to the apex court was to seek the interpretation of the ruling for better understanding. READ ALSO: Bauchi Governor Congratulates PDP’s Bala Mohammed “I think it is better for us to go to the Supreme Court so that the court can be able to explain what the judgment is about,” Governor Yari said. He added, “In the entire judgment, there is no order or directive of what to be done or what not to be done.” The governor also noted that the judgement did not make any pronouncement regarding the National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections in the state. He addressed reporters a day after the Court of Appeal in Sokoto State nullified the APC primary for the governorship election in Zamfara. This followed an appeal filed by the lawmaker representing Zamfara Central district and Senate Committee Chairman on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Kabiru Marafa, and 129 others. In its ruling on Monday, the appellate court set aside the decision of the Zamfara State High Court which allowed the APC to field a candidate for the governorship election in the state. It held that the trial court failed to carry out a proper evaluation of the evidence before it before arriving at a decision. According to the appellate court, the decision of the State High Court was fraught with error. It added that it has the power in law to assess pieces of evidence on appeal, which the court had done in this case.

https://www.channelstv.com/2019/03/26/yari-heads-to-supreme-court-over-zamfara-apc-governorship-primary/

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Department of Petroleum Resources By Michael Eboh Determining Nigeria’s actual fuel consumption had over the years, been a herculean task, especially as the figure remains critical in determining the country’s revenue, as well as the amount the country is spending on fuel subsidy. Prior to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s fuel consumption figure had been put at between 30 million and 35 million litres. It later rose to 60 million litres per day, 55 million litres, while until today, no one actually knows the country’s daily fuel consumption. As a result of this, the Federal Government set up a committee to determine Nigeria’s actual fuel consumption using advanced information and communication technology, as well as improved surveillance. In its National Stock Reports released Wednesday, the DPR stated that as February 25, 2020, the cumulative stock of PMS at depots across the country was 915.772 million litres, dropping by 3.15 per cent from 945.6 million litres recorded February 24, 2020. The DPR disclosed that the PMS stock was owned by the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, the downstream subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC; as well as major and independent oil marketers. The DPR attributed the decline in national PMS stock levels to vessel discharges and truck out activities across the depots. It said “As at 25th February 2020, the cumulative depot stock of PMS at the depots was 915,771,566 litres (combined PMS stock owned by PPMC, major and independent marketers) vis-à-vis 945,604,305 litres on 24th February 2020 indicating a decrease of depot PMS stock due to vessel discharges and truck out activities (Table A and B) respectively at the depots. “Applying the estimated daily national demand of 38,200,000 (thirty-eight million two hundred thousand) litres, available depot PMS stock of 915,771,566 litres is sufficient for 24 days.” The DPR report further stated that as at February 25th, 2020, stock levels in 40 depots in Lagos stood at 539.99 million litres; while in Calabar/Eket, 82.97 million litres of PMS were available in 11 depots across the state. In Warri, Port Harcourt, Umuahia and Kaduna, PMS stock levels stood at 146.94 million litres, 129.19 million litres, 6.99 million litres and 9.68 million respectively. Furthermore, the report disclosed that on February 25, 2020, as at 600hours, seven vessels discharged 61.055 million litres of PMS at depots in the Lagos Zone, bringing PMstock levels in Lagos to 537.95 million litres after daily truck out. In its 2019 Benchmarking Exercise Report, released weekend, the Nigeria Natural Resource Charter, NNRC, confirmed the difficulty that had persisted in determining Nigeria’s actual fuel consumption and also highlighted recent efforts by the government to reverse this trend. It said, “In addition, steps were observed to increase the monitoring of the supply and distribution of refined petroleum to have a fair assessment of the country’s consumption level. In October 2019, the government reportedly launched the automated Downstream Operations and Financial Monitoring Centre (DOFMC) through NNPC. “According to the public affairs unit of the NNPC, DOFMC is part of a five agency operation to ‘monitor products supply and distribution across the country and check unwholesome practices with a view to authenticating the actual volume of products imported and consumed in the country.’” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/02/nigeria-consumes-38-2m-litres-of-petrol-daily-dpr/2021

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INEC Chairman, Prof. Jega By Jide Ajani A power struggle is brewing between Professor Attahiru Jega, the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and some of his National Commissioners, Sunday Vanguard can reveal. At the centre of the struggle is the contention for relevance by the National Commissioners who see themselves as “mere board members” without any form of executive powers. Then there is the allegation slammed on the face of Jega, that “there appears to be a systematic domination by people of northern extraction via appointments made by the INEC boss”. The danger in this, as pointed out by some National Commissioners, is that this new paradigm of domination can not be unconnected with a plot to use the instrumentality of the electoral process to ensure the emergence of a northern president in 2015. In an interview with Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to Jega, the allegation of domination was dismissed with a wave of the hand; while the other issue of power struggle was explained as “not being true”. But information made available to Sunday Vanguard points to a seeming contest for power, relevance and clarification on the roles of National Commissioners, heads of departments/units and Secretary to the Commission. Pursuant to enthroning a “paradigm shift” for effectiveness in INEC, “PRICEWATERHOUSE COOPERS, PwC”, according to a memo by Professor Jega, signed and dated Wednesday, June 13, 2012, “was appointed as a consultant by the Commission in October 2011 and tasked with the development of recommendations on restructuring INEC. I completed the task and submitted four volumes of its Report between February and May, 2012”. This Report, Sunday Vanguard has been told, forms one of the many inputs from bodies with a view to repositioning INEC – at least, that was the position canvassed by Jega. Apart from the PwC Report, Sunday Vanguard gathered that another independent committee, Registration and Election Review Committee, RERC, chaired by Professor Adele Jinadu, was also set up and its report submitted to the Commission. However, the Report at the centre of the brewing power tussle in INEC is the Senior Staff Establishments Committee (SSEC) Report on the PWC Report, which was submitted. The INEC National Commissioners’ position was that they ought to exercise some executive functions and control, just as they sought to press home the point that Jega was merely a first among equals. Jega scoofed at that suggestion, submitting that “the understanding of the Committee that all National Commissioners including the Chairman, are “Executive”, with the latter as being the Chief Executive”, is wrong and has no basis in law or in existing practice”. ”Since the establishment of INEC National Commissioners are National Commissioners, and the Chairman is Chairman and Chief Executive Commissioner, as well as the Chief Executive in law and in practice. Even more surprising is the laboured attempts to depict National Commissioners and the Chairman as equals. One wonders why drawing this awkward parallel should become a preoccupation of the SSEC”, the INEC Chairman thundered. He added: “It will be unconstitutional for the National Commissioners to exercise any ‘management and control of any employee in the discharge of his day-to-day responsibilities in the Commission”. The response of Jega, though hinged on a plethora of logic, legalese and common practice, is being frowned at by some of the National Commissioners. In fact, at the recent Retreat by INEC at PROTEA HOTEL, Maryland, Lagos, last month, an air of unease was pervasive. In Jega’s memo, titled INEC Chairman’s comments on the Senior Staff Establishments Committee (SSEC) Report on the PWC Report, the commissioners “were made to understand that there is a world of difference between what they desired and what was practicable in law”, a source at the meeting told Sunday Vanguard. Whereas the commissioners had raised the issue of executive responsibilities, Jega, in his memo, explained that there were “responsibilities very important to the discharge of the Commission’s mandate, time consuming and (enough to) justify the full-time nature of appointment of the National Commissioners”. The INEC boss added: “If these additional responsibilities are well conceptualized and done properly, at both the strategic and policy levels, the National Commissioners would be very busy indeed, with tremendous value-added to the overall attainment of the mandate of INEC; these responsibilities, though very important, are not “executive” in nature; and challenges have arisen when the distinction is blurred and some National Commissioners see themselves as “executives” over and above the head of departments/units (and the Secretary) in the day-to-day running of the affairs of the Commission. (There are examples where National Commissioners felt that directors and heads of unit cannot deal directly with the Chairman without going through them, or where Chairman of Committees tried to take procurement decisions and impose them on the departments). I received reports of such complaints and perhaps in its interactions with the staff of the Commission, the PWC also received such complaints.” ‘NATIONAL COMMISSIONERS ARE NOT EXECUTIVES’ “For the avoidance of doubt”, Jega continued, “nowhere in the Constitution or the Electoral Act is it stated or implied that National Commissioners are “executives” or have “executive” duties/responsibilities. Certainly, Sections 14(1) and 15 of the Third Schedule 1999 Constitution neither explicitly state nor implied so. In other words, there is nowhere that full time Commissionership is equated to executive role. “The essential point is, the Commission cannot be called a Board, even though some of its regular meetings at the highest level are akin to those of what is normally called a Board and the National Commissioners are not akin to “mere Board Members”, given their enormous additional roles/responsibilities. However, they have no “executive” roles as the SSEC implies in its use of the terms “management and control”. “It is a misnomer to place the Chairman and Chief Electoral Officer on the same level of executive responsibilities or “management and control” in an Organogram with the National Commissioners. The legally defined responsibilities and job descriptions (and even remunerations!) are not the same. This is taking the notion of “first among equals” to a ridiculous extreme.” Jega concluded his response with some recommendations. “Arising from my review of and comments on the SSEC Report on PWC Report, I wish to recommend as follows|: “1.At this Retreat we should not conflate the issues of restructuring and reorganisation of the administrative structure of INEC and those of making National Commissioners as Executives. If we have to do the latter at all, the best forum might be in our interactions with the members of the National Assembly as they undertake the review of the Constitution and the Electoral Act. We may then wish to ask them to make explicit provisions in the laws as to who is the Accounting Officer of INEC, whether National Commissioners are also Executives and so on. “2.Let us then review the recommendation of the PWC, those of the SSEC and mine and see what kind of trim structure we may come up with, to reduce over departmentalization and sectionalisation, to remove duplication of functions and responsibilities, and to make for efficient and effective service delivery of INEC’s programmes and projects even before the Constitution and the Electoral Act are further amended”. The correlation being drawn between preparations for the 2015 elections and the seeming over-concentration of people from a section of the country in INEC, is the “possibility of using the personnel to engender a systematic process that would determine a particular outcome for that year’s election”. In a recent advertorial signed by ELECTION INTEGRITY NETWORK, and titled THE TAKE-OVER OF INEC, the group quoted a publication where it was stated that INEC’s nine-man Strategic Planning Committee is made up of seven person of northern extraction with just two people from the south, just as its committees on Logistics, Operations, Procurement, Finance and General Purpose, ICT and Political Monitoring are all allegedly chaired by northerners. In the conversation with Idowu, yesterday, he said “some of the things being published by some people in that regard are laughable because the decisions taken at the Commission reflect a collective, hinged on consensus”. INEC is composed of the National Chairman and 12 National Commissioners, along with Resident Electoral Commissioners in each of the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. DETAILS OF JEGA’S MEMO NEXT SUNDAY. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/2015-jega-national-commissioners-on-war-path/#sthash.vkHxupA1.dpuf

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Tension in Bayelsa communities as gunmen kill soldier, steal service rifle By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa Unidentified gunmen have killed a soldier and made away with his service rifle in a border town between Apoi and Azuzuama communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The incident, which reportedly occurred on Monday evening, has thrown the two communities into panic over looming fear of military retaliation and possible invasion. Many indigenes and residents of the communities were said to have fled to nearby communities and some to the state capital, Yenagoa. It was learnt that some residents who have no relatives in the neighbouring communities have gone to hide in the forests to escape any imminent invasion by soldiers. It was gathered that the murdered soldier was on an official duty to Apoi community for a pipeline surveillance job when he was gunned down. He was said to have been killed in the bush between the boundary of Apoi and Azuzuama communities, where there is a pipeline. The assailants reportedly carted away with his AK 47 rifle before community members got to the spot. Sources in Apoi and Azuzuama communities confirmed that some residents had started fleeing the community for fear of reprisals by the military. A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “People have started running away from their communities for fear of reprisals by the military. This is because they have heard what happened to other communities where such ugly incidents have taken place in the past.” Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC) Apoi, Jephter Keme, confirmed the development and said that fears have enveloped the communities. He said that scores of community members had fled the town to neighboring communities as of Tuesday. He, however, said the leadership of the community was working with the army authorities to identify and fish out the killers. Keme said: “We are under tension and restless since the incident took place. We are peace loving community and we are working with the relevant authorities to bring the soldier’s killers to book. “No indigenes of Apoi can carry out such heinous crime. I believe that those who carried out the evil act are not from Apoi community.” The Public Relations Officer, 16 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Captain Tonye Wenke, said efforts were on to reach out to the appropriate quarters to confirm the incident. Spokesman for the joint military task force in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Major Victor Olukoya, said only the headquarters of the Nigerian Army could speak on the issue. “It is an operational issue and issues that have to do with operations are directed to Directorate of Media Operation in Abuja,” he said. But reacting to the development, the leadership of the Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Apoi Clan, has condemned the act, describing it as barbaric and inhuman. Chairman, MOSIEND, Apoi clan, Comrade Fidelis Duba, called on hoodlums operating in the Apoi creek and other areas to desist from such nefarious activities, assuring the security agencies that the clan would work with them to fish out the culprits.

https://thenationonlineng.net/tension-in-bayelsa-communities-as-gunmen-kill-soldier-steal-service-rifle/

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By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsur Olowoopejo LAGOS – Worried by the incessant killings and other electoral violence that had continued to trail the ongoing democratic transition, Presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Olisa Agbakoba, SAN and the former Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party, SDMP, Prof. Pat Utomi, will today lead other Nigerians on peace rally in Lagos. Among those expected at the rally in Lagos, includes Mr. Femi Falana, members of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress, OPC and National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS. Congress for Political Leaders, Democratic Alliance, NANS, Community Development Associations CDAs and Shakarau for Nigeria are jointly organising the rally. Briefing newsmen in Lagos, Monday, the South-West chairman of the Congress for Political Leaders, Mr. Austin Nnorom, explained that his group and others of like minds were moved to action by the recent bombing in Suleja, Niger State, in which 25 people, including Youth Corps members died. He called on Nigerians to take part in the rally. He said the rally was targeted at condemning killings, violence and other vices that could compromise credible elections in the country, saying, “Nigeria is undergoing an election that would either make or mar its status in the comity of nations.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/04/shekarau-fashola-utomi-agbakoba-walk-for-violence-free-polls/

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Scores killed as NAF bombard Boko Haram’s meeting venue Okodili Ndidi, Owerri Boko Haram insurgents suffered a major casualty on Sunday when the Nigerian Air Force jets bombarded their meeting venue in Boboshe, Borno State, it was learnt. According to a statement signed by the Director Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Ibikunle Daramola, scores of Boko Haram fighters were killed in the air raid. According to the statement made available to journalists, “the Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has decimated a location at Boboshe on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State, being used by Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) as a meeting venue. “The attack was conducted following successive days of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, coupled with Human Intelligence reports, that established that a building within the settlement was being used as a rendezvous by the BHTs where their commanders assemble to take instructions before launching attacks against own troops and innocent civilians. “Accordingly, the ATF detailed its fighter aircraft to attack the hideout, scoring accurate hits within the designated area leading to the decimation of the target structure. Several BHTs were also killed as a result of the strikes. “The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain its efforts to completely destroy all remnants of the terrorists in the Northeast.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/scores-killed-as-naf-bombard-boko-harams-meeting-venue/?

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•Unveils plans on insecurity, oil theft, economy, corruption Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has unveiled his policy thrust if elected President of Nigeria in 2023. Obi, who is in the United States of America in continuation of his international consultations with the Diasporas, gave a vivid picture of what his government would do in all critical areas, including his top three priorities, if elected to office. Below are details of the Questions and Answers that gave copious insight into what governance will look like in Nigeria if Obi is elected Nigeria President in 2023. How do you see yourself making a difference in Nigeria? We will offer a new brand of transformative and purposeful leadership. Nigeria is not bereft of good governance ideas and plans. However, a combination of institutional weaknesses and a lack of political will meant that various policies and strategies are poorly implemented leading to poor outcomes for the people. Hence, the overall goal of my administration shall be to streamline governance, and make it more responsive, transformative, effective, less transactional, and therefore efficient and cost-effective. What kind of leadership do you hope to provide Nigerians? Thinking through 2023 and beyond, we must think seriously about a leadership that is imbued with competence, capacity, credibility and commitment. Accordingly, we will pursue intangible assets of good governance, rule of law, and security of lives and properties; we will ensure that we have these assets in place and stress asset optimization. Africa has looked to Nigeria for leadership but has found it absent and wanting. What would you do to restore leadership? Our foreign policy has always been Afrocentric. So, Africa will remain the centre-piece of our foreign policy. We will strike a strategic balance that allows us to promote and protect national interests while meeting our ECOWAS obligations. We will rebuild Nigeria’s military power, promote economic growth, and enhance its technological prowess with a view to improving Nigeria’s diplomatic influence in sub-regional, regional and global affairs. Restoring leadership will require that we reassert proactively, Nigeria’s leadership role in African affairs through constructive engagement, peacekeeping duties, and using existing sub-regional and regional forums as well as bilateral platforms for dialogue on current and emerging challenges. We will continue to enhance our sphere of influence via peacekeeping, and trade and investment initiatives. The sense of being part of a united country has been eroded. How do you see yourself reuniting Nigerians? Securing, uniting and making Nigeria productive require steady and trusted hands. We shall ensure that in moving Nigeria forward, no state or community will be left behind. Pursuant to its statutory responsibility to protect, our government will promote equity in power and resource sharing. There must be a renewed sense of patriotism; that will come through leadership by example. Do you think that states and regions need more autonomy? You are indirectly asking about restructuring. I consider restructuring a process, not a one-off event. Yes, if we have a real federation, the federating units will enjoy discernible autonomy. Resources will also be shared equitably. A higher derivation paid to oil or solid minerals-producing states will not be tantamount to other states not receiving federal allocations that should keep them viable. We must transcend the rhetoric that bedevils a robust debate on some of these national questions. In the past, the ethnic identity of the President has resulted in a preponderance of unqualified people being appointed to key positions. How will you address this problem? We will respect the principles of federal character, affirmative action and gender balance; but no longer at the expense of merit. How do you propose to address the security challenges in the north and those of oil theft? The relevant security institutions and agencies exist. Supporting national security-enabling documents and strategies also exist. We will tweak the security architecture, which will entail reform of the security sector and governance. We will restructure, reequip and reorient the Nigerian Police: This will include three-level policing- Federal, state and community. We will build a compact, robust and ready Mobile Police Force with rapid response deployment capabilities; and legislate the establishment of state police based on community policing. We will raise the population-to-police officer ratio to a higher level. There would be a properly manned, equipped and technologically driven security system with particular emphasis on re-focusing the military on external threats and border protection and police on internal security threats and law enforcement; swift prosecution of criminals, bandits and terrorists; enhanced coordination among security agencies; and upholding the rule of law. We would integrate the activities of the National Intelligence and Security Agencies by establishing a central reporting intelligence loop under the authority the Minister of National & Homeland Security; Establish a National Command and Control Coordination Center for the efficient management of actionable intelligence, resource allocation and force deployment. Membership should consist of representatives of all security agencies on a need-to-know basis. I believe in continuity in governance. But each extant policy must be considered and if need be, reviewed on its merit. The oil theft is not petty pilfering. It is an organized crime by a syndicate that involves a certain degree of sophisticated intelligence and logistical arrangement. We must admit that oil theft is happening because there is domestic and external collusion. The government and the people have the collective responsibility to protect national assets. On my watch, those responsibilities will be accorded high priority. Foreign and National Security policy initiatives, might in the long term entail rebuilding, repositioning and sustaining ECOMOG, as the arrowhead of a West African Security partnership. This is to counter terrorist threats and international subversion of the sovereignty of the West African region of which Nigeria must reestablish her place as a regional power. Will you be maintaining the policy of fixed exchange rates coupled with heavy government borrowing? Will you be adhering to the fiscal responsibility laws? We will abide by the fiscal responsibility laws. Despite the exigency and convenience which the two-tier foreign exchange regime offers, it has become an albatross. Hence that arrangement will be critically reviewed, adjusted or even eliminated. We will explore ways of cushioning the forex demands by mainstreaming those components of Diaspora remittances that remain opaque and informal. With proper policy and planning, we can expect to boost and leapfrog the current $20 billion in remittances to $40b to $60b annually. That will translate to about 14% of our total GDP. The youth have often felt left out in the country, especially in the light of central Bank policies on tech companies. Will you reconsider these policies? How do you propose to address the brain drain? We are challenged by high youth unemployment, which stands at 33.3%; 54% for the youth; and 20 million out-of-school-children. We must give this country back to the Nigerian youths. Half of our 200 million people are below the age of 30. Harnessing our national youth strength and demographic dividends intelligently must start with curbing the high youth unemployment and creating funding access to enable our youths to become entrepreneurs and drivers of our Small and Medium Scale enterprises (SMEs). We will work to bring down the unemployment rate to fewer than 20 per cent over the next four years if elected. Part of our objectives on the economy will be focused on supporting job creation given its impact on the economy as well as poverty alleviation. We will review the legislation guiding the fund access modalities to Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), to redress prevailing bottlenecks, create greater transparency, and ensure increased flexibility, and optimum availability of funds required to meet the educational need of the Nigerian students they are meant to serve. We will explore ways and means of tapping in on technology transfer from the Diaspora; we will also explore ways of reversing the enormous brain drain that has been debilitating for our country. We will trigger every known technological and knowledge transfer initiator. Nigeria’s brain drain will be turned into brain gain. Will the corrupt be allowed to keep their loot? How much focus will be given to probes? We will have zero tolerance for corruption; block leakages and cut the cost of governance. Our total commitment to transparency and accountability in government business is the only credible way to achieve limited to zero corruption. The policies required to fight corruption already exist; it is the political will to implement them that has been lacking. My governance modalities have always been forward-looking and will remain so. We will negotiate the return of our stolen national wealth from the custodial countries. Will you be maintaining the subsidies on electricity and petroleum? There are two elements of subsidy- the corruption component and the real subsidy component. The oil subsidy arrangement as it stands is fraught with criminality. It is unacceptable. For corruption, we will deal with it decisively which will reduce the subsidy cost by over 50%. There will be weighted measures and counter-balance policies and programmes to cushion the impact of the removal of oil subsidy, if and when it is removed. The difference is that now, only some sacred and self-entitled few benefit from the oil subsidy. That narrative will change. We will support local refining for domestic use and priced strictly in Naira. Starting with all government vehicles, we will transition to gas-powered cars. While we support private enterprises will you take measures to ensure that Nigeria does not get dominated by a small group of oligopolists and monopolists? Free enterprise is about market forces and keen competition. These will occur at different levels. If we liberalize access to funding, SMEs will flourish; they have a role to play that giant company no longer play. We will enforce the legal framework protecting foreign investors and their indigenous partners. This is the only way to tamper with monopoly and capital flight. In respect of gender equality in business and politics, Nigeria is behind many African countries. Will you be taking this as a priority? As governor of Anambra State, my administration achieved close to a 60-40 gender balance in appointive and elective positions. The national target has hovered around 30-35%. We intend to progressively aim for between 35-40%, with aggressive gender mainstreaming action plans and rigid benchmarks. The Central Bank has lost the confidence of many inside and outside of Nigeria. What do you propose to do about this? As part of our monetary policy, we will seek to reestablish the independence of the CBN; and commit to a credible and transparent plan to normalize the exchange rate and bring inflation to single digits. We will remove import and forex restrictions and insist on a single forex market. The current system penalizes exporters who bring in forex by forcing them to sell at a rate that they are unable to source for forex when they need to purchase forex. This multiple exchange rate regime encourages capital flight and deters investment, which has further worsened Nigeria’s forex situation. Do you see yourself deepening or reducing ties with China? Our trade policies will always be predicated on what is in our best national interest. Trade partners who offer us comparative advantage will be considered. However, we will give primacy to our Africa Trade Treaty obligations. Beneficiaries of China’s goodwill and investments in Africa are many. So too are the countries defaulting on their Chinese loans. The trend is deeply alarming. Salutary, as it may seem, we must approach such engagement with our national interest uppermost in our minds. What policy will your administration have towards Russia and Ukraine? We maintain very cordial relations with Russia and Ukraine. Evidently, this war, in conventional terms, will need to be resolved at the negotiating table. We support the cessation of hostilities agreement under the auspices of the United Nations. As young people we are concerned with university education. What will you do about the ongoing strike by university teachers? We will pursue the global best practices and standards within the available resource. Certainly, in the medium and long term, 14% of budgetary funding for education is within the realm of possibility. We will strive to be globally competitive by increasing funding ad ensuring that the (TETFund) resources are redirected to the funding of the Universities and other higher institutions robustly with a view to ending the perennial strikes by University Staff and workers. What would be your top priorities on getting into office? • Production-centered growth for food security and export; • Securing and Uniting Nigeria; • Effective legal and institutional reforms (rule of law, corruption and government effectiveness); • Leapfrogging Nigeria from oil to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR); • Expanding physical infrastructure through market-driven reforms (unleashing growth-enabling entrepreneurship and market-creating innovations); • Human capital development that empowers competitiveness; and • Robust foreign policy that restores Nigeria’s strategic relevance. How did Nigeria address the COVID challenge and what will you need to do to address future epidemics and pandemics? Nigeria’s initial response to the COVID crisis was lacklustre and uninspiring, but her efforts when compared to those of bigger and better-developed Western countries were not that poor. What was lacking was experts who were proactive and could prioritize; people who understood how to manage complex emergencies. There were evident critical gaps in response capacity. We will address such gaps by putting in place a national resilience strategy. Do you think that government needs to be slimmed down? Certainly. We have a bloated federal bureaucracy; hence we are spending more on recurrent expenses. And we are borrowing frivolously. I am not against loans per se; but we must stop borrowing for consumption. All loans must be invested in regenerative projects. We must operate within available resources and strive for a balanced national budget as cost-saving measures. Ending the leakages including the subsidy regime and improving our tax regime should do the magic. In a Presidential system Presidents often find that they are hamstrung by the legislature especially when that body is dominated by members of opposition parties. How will you handle the National Assembly in this regard? Presidential power as we know is the power of persuasion. Members of the National Assembly have a vested interest in making their constituencies work. Their respective constituencies invariably form the presidential or national constituency. Policies that present win-win scenarios for national and federal constituencies will definitely attract bi-partisan support. Do you have any plans to address the issue of the humongous salaries and allowances earned by the National Assembly? Simply, we have to cut costs. There are no two ways about it. The structure and size of the civil service remain a major constraint for development in the country how do you plan to deal with the issue? Lack of political will and lack of synergy between the Executive and Legislative arms has resulted in costly inertia in tackling our oversized government. The result is persisting turf fights and competition among several overlapping agencies, and the resultant wastages. Cost-cutting measures must start with rationalization and harmonization. Pruning the size of the government will be imperative. The Oronsaye committee report of April 2012, recommended the abolition and merger of 102 government agencies and parastatals, while some were listed to be self-funding. What was called for was extreme but practical rationalization measures. Will you be implementing the Oronsaye report? That is affirmative. That is the only way to make governance efficient, cost-effective and productive. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/10/what-i-will-do-if-elected-president-peter-obi/

Politics

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…As A’Court dismisses APGA’s application for joinder THE All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers state has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to postpone elections in the state. This is as the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, dismissed the joinder application by the All Progressives Ground Alliance, APGA, in the case between the All Progressives Congress, APC, factions of Tonye Cole and Sen Magnus Abe and 42 other candidates over earlier Federal High Court ruling. The three man appeal panel led by Justice Ali Gumel, in dismissing the application, held that the party seeking to be joined failed to provide sufficient legal interest in the matter it wished to join. INEC had disqualified the APC from contesting the election over the crisis which affected its primaries. There are two factions of the party in the state. One led by Chubuike Amaechi, Minister of Transportation while Magnus Abe, a serving senator, leads the other faction. Tonye Princewill, director of strategic communications for the campaign of Tonye Cole, guber candidate of the Amaechi faction, said conducting the election without the APC will be “an exercise in futility”. He said giving the APC candidates an extension of time to go about their campaigns was necessary because of the “disruption by the legal tussle.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/rivers-apc-asks-inec-to-postpone-elections/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/02/rivers-apc-asks-inec-to-postpone-elections/

Politics

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President Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim and Head of Service Isa Bello Sali at the Federal Executive Council meeting summoned by President Jonathan Wednesday, in Abuja. By Tonnie Iredia This column drew attention some two weeks back to the need to reduce the cost of governance in Nigeria. The existence of bloated governments in Nigeria which was attributed to ‘petroleum mentality’- a mindset which encourages irresponsible spending (squander mania) was roundly condemned. It was argued pointblank that because Nigeria collects ample revenue from God-given petroleum resources to which it invests nothing, it sustains bloated bodies like a cabinet of 43 Ministers whereas a prudent nation would not go for more than 20. What needs to be added is that the inevitable consequence of the tendency to have a bloated body is that government becomes too bogus to function well. Many people may not have seen this correlation between obesity and lethargy, but in reality it was a feature of the news of the week-the deportation of Nigerians from South Africa. Why was our Ministry of Foreign Affairs caught napping? Perhaps half of those who should have articulated the issues at stake were quite busy under-cutting one another to get into the good books of their three Ministers. Thus, while our officials were involuntarily pursuing cosmetic matters, South Africa was able to find the effrontery to deal with Nigeria as she did last week. In truth, if we had maintained the proactive momentum of the Murtala/Obasanjo era in our foreign relations, South Africa would never have dared us. It would be recalled that in the 70s, we had only one Minister of External Affairs-Joseph Garba- and he put Nigeria up there. It is thus instructive that Nigeria whose glorious foreign policy was pro-actively managed by one Minister in the past now has to employ three Ministers for the same job! It is not uncharitable to argue that it is because there are too many ‘leading’ hands in the foreign affairs ministry that she now operates a ‘wisdom after event’ strategy in which South Africa takes a position on a subject and leaves Nigeria to begin to leak her wounds while threatening just to reciprocate. No serious nation can present reciprocity as its own initiative when it is a principle inherent in foreign relations. The South African behaviour was obviously not a surprise; we saw it coming. Indeed, our foreign affairs ministry by its own admission was aware of the events which preceded the deportation of some Nigerians and yet waited for our nation to be humiliated before waking up from its slumber. Anyway, thank God for South Africa, our foreign affairs ministry appears to be awake now having also deported some South Africans. But who else is working and how do we prevent him from returning to official indolence would depend on how well we can reshape our structure. Here, we insist that there is no better way of making our government responsive than to right-size it. Every other nation is busy doing just that by searching for an appropriate functional and cost effective framework of governance. As if Nigeria is aware of this and would not like to be left behind, it has now and again set up one panel or the other to restructure its public service. We have had that of Mbanefo 1959, Morgan 1963, Adebo 1971, Udoji 1972-4, Dotun Philips 1985, Ayida 1994, Joda 1999 and Danjuma 2010 to mention but a few. In spite of all of these, Nigeria has not been able to follow international best practices in the management of governance. All she does is to set up panels whose reports are never implemented hence the nation’s bureaucracy has remained bloated and unwieldy. In the face of global economic downturn, Nigeria has no option but to evolve ways of becoming prudent. First, it is time to streamline the structure of government by doing away with what we can avoid. Second, it is only a lean structure that can enable government effectively and efficiently manage her resources. Against this backdrop, it is obvious that with a Police Service Commission (PSC), the nation does not require a Ministry of Police Affairs. The nation will save costs if it drops the Ministry which duplicates the function of the PSC. Indeed, such a step would reduce the number of bodies which exist just to award contracts. Similarly, it is arguable if there is really a need for a Ministry of Petroleum. No one can point at the difference between now that we have a Petroleum Minister and several years back when there was none. The President can have an adviser on Petroleum matters without necessarily establishing a full fletched ministry for the purpose. The NNPC should be able to provide the workforce that is needed to manage the sector. Also, there are certain functions which should not be assigned to a Ministry because of the nature of bureaucracy. One such assignment is anything that government is anxious to accomplish speedily. Considering the deprivations of the Niger Delta people caused by oil-the nation’s main source of wealth, everyone agrees with the decision of government that developing the Niger Delta region is a priority. Interestingly, government ill-advisedly handed the assignment to a Ministry thereby subjecting the implementation of the policy to red-tapism. In earnest, if well focused and properly funded, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) would do a better job because it would not be bogged down like a ministry in the endless exchange of memos without a purpose. Oh yes, the Nigerian civil service has a long list of officials who have no specific duties and are thus engaged in the transmission of purposeless messages. Even if for the purpose of this piece, no reference is made to the performance of the civil service, its numerical strength alone calls for concern. At the highest level of permanent secretary, the figure is embarrassing. In the office of the head of the civil service alone, there are six permanent secretaries. There is one in charge of Common Services Office (CSO), another for Management Development Office (MDO) and yet another for Career Management Office (CMO). The other three Permanent Secretaries are in charge of Establishment and Records Office (ERO), Management Services Office (MSO) and the Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR). A similar long list of permanent secretaries is to be found in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). This arrangement exists because ours is a profligate nation. We donot need more than one permanent secretary in each of the two offices in issue. There is therefore the need to drastically reduce the number and plough the savings made to other uses. In addition, there is the urgent need to appropriately target our ministries to meet their vision of ‘implementing Government’s policies and programmes for rapid and sustainable development’ otherwise, if they are asked to document their annual activities at the end of the year, many would use flowing language to record only what they had planned to do and not what was done. For such an unwieldy system, expansion does not arise because the world over, big governments are now obsolete and are seen as a liability. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/09/anguish-chaos-gridlock-over-intl-flight-relocation/amp/Everywhere

Travel

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By Ochereome Nnanna ALTHOUGH there were varied positions on the matter, in the end the General Sani Abacha administration created Bayelsa out of Rivers State in 1996” The circumstances behind my joining a delegation for the burial of His Royal Majesty, Sunday Nnanta Woluchem, the Epara Rebisi XI of Port Harcourt on Saturday, April 21, 2012 is encapsulated in the above quote taken from his burial programme. As the author of his yet to be published biography, former Chief of General Staff, retired Commodore Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe, asked me to join his delegation to bury a royal father who, along with Ukiwe and others, played leading roles in the creation of today’s Rivers and Bayelsa states between 1993 and 1996. When the civil war started in 1967 and Biafra lost control of Port Harcourt to the Federal forces, the newly created Rivers State was handed over to the Ijaw. Ijaw leaders continued to maintain that Rivers State, with Port Harcourt as its capital, was created for them as reward for ceding their coastal terrain to the Federal side, thus making the sea blockade of Biafra possible. The Ijaw groups claimed to constitute the majority and continued to dominate the state both during military and civilian dispensations. With time, however, the Igbo speaking people of the state, particularly the Ikwerre nationality, decided they wanted a state of their own where they would be able to assert their own political and economic interests. This was what led to the quest for the creation of Port Harcourt State. However, the Ijaws felt if such a state was created they would become estranged in a city they have been part and parcel of since it was founded by the colonialists. In fact, they had even started portraying Port Harcourt as the capital of a future Ijaw state. Thus was born a great rivalry between the Ijaw-speaking and Igbo-speaking groups for the control of Rivers and between what was termed the “Okrika-Ijaw” and “Ikwerre-Igbo” over the “ownership” of Port Harcourt. The gruesome murder of Dr Obi Wali, the leader of the Ikwerre political front by yet-to-be ascertained assassins in 1992, owed to this tussle, which often led to street battles between Okrikans and Ikwerres. Meanwhile, the late father of Nigeria’s nationalism, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, had discussed the best strategies for reducing the animosity between the Igbos and their Minority neighbours as well as dousing the ethnic tension between Ikwerres and their riverine co-indigenes of Rivers State. It was agreed that as the touted largest Minority group, the Ijaw needed a state of their own. But with their emotional attachment to Port Harcourt, how would Rivers State be split without creating a permanent ethnic war front in Nigeria’s premier oil city? With the Ijaw groups obviously being favoured by the Northern-led Federal Government, Eze Woluchem, a lawyer who was installed paramount ruler of Port Harcourt in 1977 turned to Dr Azikiwe, appealing for him to support the aspirations of his Igbo kinsmen in the struggle. An ageing “Zik” referred the Eze’s delegation to Commodore Ukiwe, who had become Zik’s close political confidant. The Eze’s delegation of four, which included the late Chief Okogbule Wonodi and Chief Andrew Uchendu, met with Ukiwe in his office in Victoria Island. Their proposal was that Port Harcourt State should only be for Igbo-speaking Rivers people, while the Ijaw-speaking part would be named New Rivers State. On the other hand, the Kalabaris did not want to be parted with Rivers State, neither did the Okrikas, and Ukiwe advised that it would be “unstrategic” to cut out Bonny, Opobo, Kalabari and Okrika, apart from the fact that the Head of State, General Abacha, who was pro-Ijaw, might be pushed not to create any new state at all. Between Ukiwe and the Ikwerre delegation, and taking into account the expressed needs of others, the maps of the present Rivers State and Bayelsa State were drawn and presented to Abacha, who found it acceptable. On October 1, 1996, General Abacha included Bayelsa as one of the six new states approved by the Provisional Ruling Council, PRC. The postulations put together by Ukiwe and the Rebisi’s delegates worked like magic. Today the Ijaws have a state of their own with a capital (Yenagoa) which is being styled the “Jerusalem of the Ijaw Nation”. The Igbo-speaking groups in Rivers State also have a state in which they constitute a comfortable majority and have led since 1999. The issue of “ownership” of Port Harcourt has also been (partially) resolved, as Governor Chibuike Amaechi has retrieved the Crown Lands being claimed by the Ikwerres and Okrikans into government custody. In fact, he has pressed on with the establishment of New Port Harcourt in virgin land within Ikwerre heartland. The ethnic tension is still there somewhat, but it is no longer at the level of street battles and assassinations. Indeed, there were “varied positions on the matter”, but all is well that ends well. Rebisi Woluchem has returned to his Creator satisfied that he played a central role in giving his people the ground on which to stand and, along with other stakeholders within the Rivers state, chart a future devoid of rancour but full of promise for fast-tracked development for its many dwellers, both indigenes and non-indigenes. Let me note a sour irony of it all. A supposed beneficiary of Eze Woluchem’s struggles, Governor Chibuike Amaechi, was nowhere to be found during the funeral! He was reported to have travelled to the US during the burial. Funny, the Governor was also absent when the king’s wife died a few months before he followed her. I gathered that the Governor and the king had not managed to patch up their differences, as Eze Woluchem was solidly behind former Governor Peter Odili when he and Amaechi fought. As soon as he secured his second term of office, Amaechi voluntarily made up with his estranged godfather, Odili. Useful lesson: Be careful how you follow a politician into an enmity. You won’t know when they will make up and leave you in the lurch! Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/04/rebisi-in-history/?amp=1I

Politics

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Time for sports for the inmates By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA — Worried by the rising figures of awaiting trial inmates in various prison facilities across the federation, Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has asked magistrates to stop imposing stringent bail conditions on accused persons involved in minor offences. The CJN, who gave the directive when the national executives of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria, led by its acting National President, Chief Magistrate Victoria Isiguzo, paid him and 15 other Justices of the Supreme Court a courtesy visit during the weekend, said some magistrates were to be blamed for the level of congestion in the prisons. He said it was regrettable that minor offenders are sometimes ordered to meet harsh and untenable bail terms, even as he stressed that the essence of bail is not to punish an accused person but to secure his attendance to appear in court for trial. Besides, the CJN noted that a large number of persons are detained without charge while others are detained pending further investigation. He further decried that people are sometimes detained on the basis of a First Information Report, FIR, which he said upon examination, may operate as holding charge while the prosecutor seeks more evidence to back up his trial. Mahmud described the practice as unjust, noting that in most of the cases, suspects who are yet to be declared guilty by a competent court, often find themselves incarcerated. He, therefore, called on magistrates to stop indulging the police by admitting to bail a suspect whose case the police are not ready to prosecute. According to the CJN, “a corollary to this is the imposition of such bail terms which an accused has no real hope of meeting. I wish to use this medium to counsel magistrates to judiciously and carefully exercise their discretion to remand and consider alternatives to detention where possible, and to set reasonable bail terms as appropriate.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/prison-congestion-cjn-asks-magistrates-to-liberalise-bail-conditions/#sthash.z2sLFhSR.dpuf

Politics

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The Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has sacked three of his Commissioners and sworn in two at the State Executive Council meeting. The three Commissioners include Commissioner for Information Dr. Godwin Udeuhele, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Charles Ndukwe and Commissioner for Intel Government Affairs Barrister Smart Ogbe. At the executive hall, Mr. Ogbuagu Anikwe was sworn in as the new Commissioner for Information replacing Godwin Udeughele and Joseph Udedi who took the oath of office as the new commissioner for Youth and Sports replacing Charles Ndukwe. The replacement for the commissioner for Inter-Governmental Affairs is yet unknown. But the state governor in a statement said the changes came as a first step in the move to reshape his cabinet in order to further enhance effective delivery of good governance to the people of Enugu state.

http://www.channelstv.com/2017/07/27/breaking-enugu-govt-sacks-three-commissioners/

Politics

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…As many northern APC members plan to work for him just as PDP northern members voted Buhari in 2015 By Charly Agwam, Bauchi; Umar Yusuf, Yola; Marie-Therese Nanlong, Jos; Abdulmumin Murtala, Kano & Haruna Aliyu, Birnin Kebbi In the 2015 general election, a northerner, General Muhammadu Buhari, as the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress defeated the incumbent, a southerner, Dr Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. It was said that Buhari enjoyed the massive support of the northern electorate, including members of the opposition PDP because he was seen as one of them. Many PDP governors were even reported to have worked for Buhari’s emergence as President. At the conclusion of the recent presidential primaries for 2023 election however, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has a southerner, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as its flag bearer while a northerner, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar emerged as the presidential candidate of the PDP. With Atiku, from the north, as a presidential candidate, the northern voters, expectedly are queuing up behind him irrespective of party affiliation. It is therefore not a surprise to find in Adamawa state, billboards with Atiku’s photograph alongside that of the APC governorship candidate in the state, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani and the APC senatorial candidate for Adamawa Central, Malam Abdula’aziz Nyako, as “a winning team”, flooding every nook and cranny of the state. Meanwhile, it has been alleged that the group that is sponsoring such posters and billboards in Adamawa state are members of the ruling PDP in the state who are not on the same page with the Ahmadu Fintiri-led government. Though the group was regarded as a faceless one, it continued to place such billboards at any available space in the state. The government however claimed it had no idea of such billboards in any part of the state. In Bauchi state, a lot of frontline politicians who hitherto were chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are now defecting with their followers to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). Interestingly, these defections have only benefited political parties whose flag bearers are from the northern part of the country. Although, Bauchi defectors usually give reasons for defecting, it was gathered that they were changing parties to be on the side of the majority which seeks to perpetuate northern presidency beyond 2023. Speaking with Saturday Vanguard, an Electrical Engineer, Abdulraman Aliyu said he would vote a northern presidential candidate under any formidable party. “Democracy is a game of number. It is no secret that the North has the number to remain in power for as long as it wants. There’s no need to pretend, my family and I will vote for a candidate from the North. Why will I vote someone else when a northern politician is on the ballot?” he queried. The leader of the National Harmonized Traders Union, Dr Bature Abdulaziz, who is also the founder of Patriotic Elders of Nigeria (PEN) strongly believed that the former vice president Atiku Abubakar, now presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would enjoy massive support of voters from the north in the coming 2023 general elections. In an interview with Saturday Vanguard in Kano, Dr Abdulaziz however decried the manner both the APC and the PDP conducted their presidential primaries which he described as terrible, saying the defections of members from one party to the other in order to get a platform to contest was a bad omen. According to him, “It may be possible for some supporters of Atiku to support Tinubu and for some Tinubu’s followers to support Atiku. This is because of the way and manner the primaries were conducted in both the PDP and the APC. Everyone saw what happened during the primaries such that people were only interested in getting a platform in which to contest as they moved from one party to the other. There were those who lost the opportunity to become candidates in APC and moved to PDP and vice versa. For this reason, this kind of exodus will also take place as it happened before Buhari emerged. The people in the north on their own will prefer Atiku to Tinubu. But don’t forget that the APC governors in the north have the federal government at the center. The federal government and Tinubu’s supporters will have to double up their efforts. A northern elder and PDP chieftain, Abdullahi Muhammed Lamba, argued that the PDP was fair in throwing its presidential ticket open during the primaries as the north was in power for only two years out of the 16 years that the PDP ruled the country while the south enjoyed the remaining 14 years. He argued that the ruling All progressives Congress (APC) has lost its support in the north and can no longer win the hearts of northerners who suffered mentally and financially to bring President Muhammadu Buhari to power. Lamba contended that “APC’s poor governance was responsible for the insurgency plaguing the north which the masses thought Buhari as a retired army General would contain. But it became worse under him as the north has become a killing field under the APC led government”. He explained that none of the promises made to Nigerians by the APC has been fulfilled, with the economy in comatose and fuel scarcity persisting under the president who is also the minister of petroleum. He said that even the president’s home state of Katsina is being occupied by armed bandits and he watches helplessly as scores are being killed, raped and kidnapped. He declared that, the PDP having learnt its lessons was set to reclaim power in 2023 with Atiku Abubakar. In Plateau State, Ambassador Bagudu Hirse, submitted that “the support enjoyed by Buhari in 2015 was as a result of the security situation in the country as many people argued that if he did not win, the country would not be in peace. But you need to go to the embassies and see how Nigerians are trying to leave the country. The good thing about Atiku is the Muslim/Christian combination, which is the major thing in his favour. Atiku stands a chance of being voted in because the Muslim/Muslim ticket will not work out in the present situation in Nigeria.” In his own opinion, Mr David Racha noted that “the northerners have only one agenda which is their religion. The youths are even less equipped, they have no knowledge of their history and this definitely is not their fault.” Another respondent, Mr. Alex Kwapnoe said, “due to religious bigotry, I see Atiku getting some support from the north. But there will be resistance from Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Kwara and Zamfara in an attempt to safeguard their influence in such states.” To Mr Stephen Musa, “Politics, especially in Nigeria is unpredictable. Even though the event in 2015 is different from today, anything can happen. However, I doubt if Atiku will enjoy the same patronage Buhari had. Remember, the APC governors were unanimous in their decision on power shift during the primaries which produced Tinubu. “My view is that Atiku may not enjoy the support of some APC governors, but may end up losing the support of his PDP governors if the party fails to resolve the internal crises which emerged after the primaries. The southern governors, and indeed their supporters are not happy with the outcome of the primaries, which produced a Northern candidate. Then there is the issue of the choice of the vice-presidential candidate, which some of the governors, even from the North, are unhappy about. One thing is clear, 2023 will definitely be dicey.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/07/2023-presidency-atiku-may-inherit-buharis-northern-support/

Politics

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https://kol.jumia.com/s/dG85o4V

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A 39-year-old trader, Mrs Modinat Idowu, told an Igando Customary Court in Lagos state on Thursday that she would continue to deny her husband, one Akeem Idowu, sex until he has paid the debt he is owing her. Idowu said this while responding to a suit filed by her 45-year-old husband whom he had been married to for 12 years. “I have been denying my husband sex because he borrowed N690,000 from me and has refused to pay, I will continue to starve him of sex until he pays the money,’’ the mother of two said. “Akeem is in the habit of swearing and cursing me with a charm called `Ishan egungun’: a specially prepared masquerade’s rod and this is affecting my life.’’ She, however, urged the court not to grant her husband’s wish for the dissolution of their marriage, saying that she was still in love with him. The petitioner: Akeem, a businessman, had asked the court to dissolve the 12-year-old marriage over alleged sex denial by his wife. “My wife does not want me to touch her nor make love to her, I am tired of the marriage because I am neither a stick nor a stone,’’ he said. Akeem alleged that his wife loved attending social activities and hardly stayed at home. Whenever she went out, she would not return home until after five days or seven days, he said. “My wife will go from one party to another; spending days and neglecting the family. “I have reported her severally to her father who always calls her to order but there has been no positive change,’’ Akeem told the court. He described Modinat as a liar, not trustworthy and always inconsistent in her words and actions. “Modinat lies a lot. One day, she told me that she was going to Mushin in Lagos state; but some hours later, someone called to tell me that she was in Igbo-Ora in Oyo state. “When I called her and confronted her that she was in Oyo state as against Mushin she claimed she was going to when she left home, she cut her cell phone line. “She took permission on another day that she was going to Oshodi, but someone saw her at Ijebu-Ode in Ogun, I cannot just account for her movement.’’ Akeem said. He pleaded with the court to dissolve the union since he was no longer interested and did not love her any more. The President of the court, Mr Hakeem Oyekan, adjourned the case to July 22 for further hearing. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/i-will-deny-my-husband-sex-until-he-pays-his-debt-wife/

Romance

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By Our Reporters THE heat generated by the defection of five of the aggrieved G-7 Peoples Demo-cratic Party, PDP, governors to All Progressives Congress, APC, continued yesterday with one of the governors, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, saying joining APC was not the solution to the crisis, and called for everyone to join hands in fighting impunity in the country. Lamido, who did not defect to APC, spoke as the court re-instated National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola said his expulsion by the national leadership of PDP would not stand even as the party said, yesterday, that it was not losing sleep over the defection of the five governors and leaders of the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led new PDP. Meanwhile, Governor Murtala Nyako, who also decamped to APC, has asked his supporters to join the opposition party en mass, with PDP House of Representatives members saying they would wade into the crisis next week. Lamido made the comments, yesterday, while receiving for-mer Head of State, General Ab-dusalami Abubakar (rtd), who was in Dutse for the commi-ssioning of Jigawa State Judicial Complex. Lamido, Abdulsalami’s comments Lamido told Abdulsalami, “the democracy you nurtured is today being cannibalised. The present crises bedeviling the party for quite some time now will not augur well for the nascent democracy. “The PDP crisis is a problem not only for the party; it can equally consume the whole nation.” Responding, Abubakar said it had become necessary for Nigerians to fight for peace as no meaningful development could be achieved without peace. Directing his supporters in Adamawa State to register en masse with the APC yesterday, Nyako said the opposition has good intentions for the state and the nation at large. The directives came as PDP flags were being removed from public institutions across the state. Nyako gave the directives yesterday at a meeting of stake-holders of APC and the nPDP at the Government House, Yola. The governor said that PDP had betrayed the people of Adamawa in spite of all they did in ensuring PDP victories at all levels in the last general elections. He described the plight of the people of Adamawa under PDP as that of Israelites under Pharaoh, necessitating their mass exodus. The governor debunked insinuations that he was working for his son’s political ambition, saying his son will not contest any election in 2015. Nyako said: “My son will not contest any election in 2015. What we are doing is for peace, progress and unity of the state and the nation in general. “The way PDP is operating in Adamawa is inimical to peace and unity of the state. “APC offered better opportu-nity with level playing field for everyone. There is no new comer or old member in APC, so go and mobilise your people to join the popular movement.” PDP Reps to mediate Apparently disturbed by the development, PDP Reps, yesterday, agreed in a meeting to interface with President Goodluck Jonathan on the way forward, next week. In a closed-door meeting held at the Reps’ wing of the National Assembly complex, they expressed disappointment in the manner the crisis was being handled and agreed that all the members would meet with Mr. President and bare their minds. The meeting, which was chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, resolved to work as one large family and look issues dispassionately. A front line member, who attended the meeting told Vanguard that “we have decided to work together as one.” Asked whether it was both the PDP and nPDP Reps that met, he said, “Yes. We all met and there was no division of any sort. We met as one body. “We are going to see Mr. President and tell him how we feel and how we intend to serve our fatherland without involving our members in whatever is happening outside the House.” Another source said: “Those who are parading themselves as our representatives at the Presidential Villa are not selfless people. We have agreed to deal with Mr. President collectively. …rule out House Meanwhile, the House said yesterday that despite the defection of five nPDP govern-ors, nothing will change in its leadership as no member has so far communicated to the leader-ship of his intention to move. Deputy spokesman of the House, Mr. Victor Ogene (APGA, Anambra), said until such a time when members formally declare their intention, the House remains the way it is. He said Section 68 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provides that members can only defect to another political party in group base on merger agreement, but that what was happening in PDP cannot be defined as such. He said: “In politics, things like this happen. But as a House, we remain one. Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, says people cannot cross carpet in group except in merger situation. “But defection has to do with individual member. So if they’re defecting, the proper thing must be done by activating that section of the constitution. “As at now, we are not aware of any member defecting to another party. Remember, going by our rule, until a party has 181 members, you can’t talk of having the majority.” Also yesterday, Oyinlola said that his expulsion from the party as recommended to the party’s NWC by Alhaji Umaru Dikko-led Disciplinary Committee would not stand. In a statement by his Principal Secretary, Femi Adelegan, Oyinlola, who noted that democracy was on trial, said: “The recommendations of the committee will not stand, as nobody can build something on nothing; and falsehood on truth. “The committee does not exist because its composition was not ratified by the National Executive Committee of PDP, which is statutorily empowered to approve the composition of the body. “They really worked with great speed in their feverish ambition of getting rid of Oyinlola before the hearing of his suit at an Abuja Federal High Court, challenging the validity of illegalities. “No sane or decent person would be surprised at the recommendations of the illegally constituted Disciplinary Committee, which from the outset shouldered a heavy burden of legitimacy, integrity, lack of respect for fair play, principles of natural justice and the Rule of Law.” Cross carpeting of disloyal elements, not merger— PDP The national leadership of PDP, yesterday, took a swipe at the five governors and some members who defected to the APC, saying it was not a merger, but an opportunistic cross carpeting of disloyal elements, reiterating that as a party it would not lose sleep over the action. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, PDP said a tree that is pruned blossoms the more. It added that there was no way the fusion of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led splinter group of PDP into APC could be described as merger because the group was never a party, adding that the Bamanga Tukur-led NWC stands as the only PDP known to law. Metuh said: “Our attention has been drawn to press reports and statements from some persons passing off the cross carpeting of a group of former PDP members to APC as a merger. “This information is false and is intended to mislead the public. What happened was not a merger. You can only talk of a merger where there were two distinct parties. “In this case, there is only one party, APC. The so-called nPDP was never a party. This was established on October 10, when a Lagos High Court gave judgment against then PDP and on October 11, when the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, wrote the nPDP to say that the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led PDP is the only recognised party by that name.” A sad devt— Anenih Meanwhile, Chairman of PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Tony Anenih, yesterday, described the move of the five governors as sad and urged members of the party not to be moved or disturbed by it. Chief Anenih expressed satisfaction that the party leadership, President Jonathan, former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, former National Chairmen, Barnabas Gemade and Ahmadu Ali as well as himself “invested enough energy, commitment, maturity and sincerity in the collective effort at reconciliation. “I had expected the governors to stay on in the party, which has offered them a unique opportunity to serve their people. “Surprisingly, they decided to abandon their home and platform to take up tenancy in an opposition party even when it was apparent that the effort of Mr. President for genuine reconciliation was enough for them to see good reason to show restraint and understanding. However, as adults, the final decision was and remains theirs. “I would like to urge our party members and sympathizers not to be disturbed by the exit of some of our governors but to continue to mobilize grassroots support for our party, Mr. President, and his Transformation Agenda.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/joining-apc-solution-pdp-crisis-lamido/

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Boko Haram: Why Chad withdrew troops from Nigeria By Okodili Ndidi, Abuja The recent decision by Chad to withdraw its troops assisting Nigerian Soldiers in the fight against Boko Haram under the aegis of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) may not be unconnected with the closure of borders by the Federal Government, The Nation has learnt. Although highly placed Military source claimed the Chadian troops were withdrawn because it has accomplished the task for which it was drafted. But a reliable source within the military cycle, who doesn’t want his name mentioned, told our correspondent in an exclusive chat that the Chadian troops and those of other countries participating in the Joint Taskforce were supposed to be deployed along the borders of their respective countries and can only deploy troops in the country when requested to so do. According to the source, the modus operandi is for the troops to patrol the borders and ensure that Boko Haram fighters do not escape into their countries. He said that with the closure of the border, there was no need for the troops to continue to remain, “I think Chad pulled out their troops as a result of the closure of the Nigerian border because they cannot just remain without doing anything”. However, the position was countered by another senior Military Officer who pleaded anonymity. He insisted that the withdrawal of the Chadian troops has nothing to do with the closure of the border but was as a result of the fact that the Boko Haram insurgency has been decimated. The Chadian authority said that it was withdrawing their troops in Nigeria because they have completed their mission. Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters has kept mute about the development. The Acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, when contacted did not pick his calls or reply to the text sent to his phone. But speaking briefly on the development, the Spokesperson of the Multinational Joint Taskforce, Colonel Timothy Antigha, said that Chad has not pulled out from the Joint Taskforce but has only withdrawn its troop deployed to Nigeria. He said: “The issues should not be mixed up. Chad has not pulled out of the MJTF but has only withdrawn its troop deployed to Nigeria”. Antigha also stated that the withdrawal of the Chadian troops has not affected the operations of the Taskforce in Northeast.

https://thenationonlineng.net/boko-haram-why-chad-withdrew-troops-from-nigeria/

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BREAKING: Eight die at Pitcoin Xmas palliative sharing centre in Rivers By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt About eight persons were feared dead Tuesday morning following a stampede that occurred at a Pitcoin office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. It was gathered that the unfortunate incident, which happened at about 7:30am, at Rumudara Town, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, was caused by a stampede. Thousands of Pinkcoin members, an online blockchain digital assets designed for giving charity, were said to have gathered at the scene to collect some palliatives. A source, who gave her name simply as Blessing, claimed that Pinkcoin invited everyone who registered with them in Obio/Akpor LGA to come and redeem their Christmas palliatives, But the management of the charity outfit was said to have failed to control the crowd of persons, who struggled to gain access to the office. The Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, said he was monitoring the situation.

https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-eight-die-at-pitcoin-xmas-palliative-sharing-centre-in-rivers/

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‘Southeast not ready for 2023’ Former Abia State All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Ndukwe Iko, in this interview with Musa Odoshimokhe explains why the Southwest is well prepared for the presidency in 2023 than the Southeast and how the party will retain Abia North Senatorial District. Excerpts When the election of Orji Uzor Kalu was annulled at the tribunal, what was your reaction? When the election was announced, I knew that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Mao Ohuabunwa will go to court. I was in the collation room during the election, I spoke with him and I knew he was heading to court. After the March election, I have not spoken with Orji Kalu and have not been to Abuja. But I knew that a court process is on and anything can happen. However, that does not remove the fact that the APC in Abia north is strong. We knew there will be a court ruling; we knew we have a legitimate victory that will stand the test of all the challenges. At the end of it, the APC will triumph because we were in the field and we can tell you what happened in the field. If at the appeal court and we still have to go for a re-run, Kalu will trash Ohuabunwa even with wider margin. What gives you that confidence? What gives me confidence is that before the election, we were having trouble in the camp of Orji Uzor Kalu. We had trouble in some of the local governments that formed Abia North. Abia North has five local governments. They are Umunneochi, Isikwuato, Bende, Ohafia and Arochukwu. During election Orji will have Bende, Ohafia and Arochukwu LGAs. But Isikwuato and Umuneochi often be a battle ground. But this time around it was different. In Isikwuato, for instance we have the Minister of State, Mine and Steel Development Uchechukwu Ogar well prepared to deliver for the APC. I believe a million times over the people will support the APC. At Umuneochi, the APC will lead comfortably because we have politically influential people there. Orji with his strength and popularity will get hold of the place. Coming down to Bende, the place of Kalu, he always rules in the area like a colossus. In Ohafia, where I come from and many others, we will deliver to the APC and that is a fact. At Arochukwu, Kalu had never lost any election in the area, so we don’t have any fear, should there be a re-run. That is the basis of my confidence and if there is a re-run ten times over Orji will still win the election. If at the Appeal the court upturns the judgment of the tribunal fine. But if is otherwise, I want to say Kalu will win Abia North any time any day. He can even stand as an independent candidate in any election and win. He is a cult hero in Abia North and there is nobody to contest it with him. Some people have raised concern that Abia government is not living up to expectation. Are you worried? I have met governor Ikpeazu several times and in our meetings I have been very opened to him. I have always told him that this is an opportunity to stamp his legs on the sands of time. The Ngwa nation or clan has been clamouring for an opportunity to produce the governor of Abia State. He is the lucky one that has occupied the position. If he allows the eight years to go and there is nothing to write about him, then history will adjudge him bad. Ikpeazu should put his house together and make sure he delivers good governance in Abia and that is our prayer. Let him use his tongue to count his teeth, whether he is doing well or not. Like they say, the taste of the food is in the eating. The people of Abia State that I meet are not happy with the performance of government. So, I will just advise him to use the chance he has to justify the clamour of the Ngwa people. The government owed its workers close to one year salaries now… I am an employer of labour, I know how painful it is if you don’t pay your workers. The biggest problem of some of the people in government is mediocrity. We have people who are not properly nurtured in the art of leadership and they are in very high position. I think it is evil for someone to work for you for 30 days and you refuse to pay that person. How do you expect that person to feed his family? I don’t see a governor that will sleep well, if he refuses to pay salary. Do you think the APC can make things better, if they have the chance in 2023? We are not happy that the governor is not paying salaries; there are many issues in Abia that one could campaign about including prompt payment of salaries. If the government is not paying salaries, it is an act of evil punishable by God and it is not proper. So, every pressure on PDP in Abia is an opportunity for us in the APC to produce the next governor. Is the Southeast prepared for the Presidency? The Presidency is still a long way to go. But the race to occupy the position of the President started immediately after the last election. The emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will define the way in 2023. But being that as it may, I believe at the moment, the Southeast is not politically strong enough to produce the President in 2023. And that is my honest disposition. Some people may criticize this, saying what is this Ibo man saying? But as a politician and someone that has come of age, I know that we need a strong political party structure and national outreach. You need other factors like finance and others to get to that exalted office. You need enough handshakes across the regions. The Yoruba are better positioned than the Igbo. If you look at the government of today, I will say the Yoruba are controlling more than 40 per cent in the structure of governance, where you have a Vice President that is from the Southwest. You have a speaker of the House of Representatives that is from the Southwest. Out of the four high offices, they have two from the same zone. Even the north does not have it that way because the President is from the Northwest and the Senate President is from Northeast. In the north, the portfolio is divided among the zones in the north. In the south, a lot of power is concentrated in the Southwest because of the judgment of my political party the APC. Simply, what you give is what you get. That is if you give much, you will also get much in return. That is what the Southwest is enjoying. Now, how do you place the Southeast in this calculation? They are nowhere to be found. The highest position the Southeast is occupying, is at the National Assembly. That is the Chief whip, a party position and not a national position. The Chief Whip of the Senate represents mainly the APC senators. It does not have overwhelming control of the PDP senators. The occupant can only negotiate, so the Southeast is nowhere to be found in this equation at the moment. So, for the Southeast to jump the bottle neck, to emerge in 2023, it will be difficult. The PDP can still rely on the north. They know that if they break from the north and give the Presidential candidate to another zone, PDP will problem. So in 2023, PDP will still go back to zoning its Presidential candidate to the north. But for the APC, the fight is between the North and the Southwest for the President. What is your view on the present cabinet of Buhari? I do not have confidence in the present composition. And when I compare that of Lagos State to the Federal Government I think, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is better. There is no gap in Lagos cabinet. You can see technocrats and when you put this side by side with the Federal Government, the federal cabinet is like a compensatory cabinet. People who can make things happen are not fully involved. This is why I say I do not expect much from the Federal Government.

https://thenationonlineng.net/southeast-not-ready-for-2023-2/

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it will freeze accounts without a Bank Verification Number (BVN) or National Identification Number (NIN) from April 2024. This is according to a Friday circular by the apex bank which instructed banks to place a “Post no Debit” restriction – which prevents customers from making withdrawals, transfers, or any other debits “for all existing Tier-1 accounts/wallets without BVN or NIN”. “Effective immediately, any unfunded account/wallet shall be placed on ‘Post No Debit or Credit’ until the new process is satisfied. Effective March 1, 2024, all funded accounts or wallets shall be placed on ‘Post No Debit or Credit’ and no further transactions permitted,” the circular by the CBN Director of Payments System Management Department Chibuzo Efobi, and the Director of Financial Policy and Regulation Department Haruna Mustapha read in part. READ ALSO: CBN Directs Banks To Issue, Accept Old, Redesigned Banknotes It also said all BVN or NIN attached to accounts/wallets must be electronically revalidated by January 31, 2024, According to the bank, a BVN or NIN verification will be “conducted shortly”, adding that the move is part of its efforts to promote financial system stability and strengthening of the Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures in financial institutions. The bank will also carry out a “comprehensive BVN and NIN audit shortly” and where breaches are identified, appropriate sanctions shall be applied. “The process for account opening shall commence by electronically retrieving BVN or NIN-related information from the NIBSS’ BVN or NIMC’s NIN databases and for same to become the primary information for onboarding of new customers, and all existing customer accounts/wallets for individuals with validated BVN shall be profiled in the NIBSS’ ICAD immediately and within 24hrs of opening accounts/wallets,” the CBN added. In cases where a potential customer does not have a BVN or NIN, the CBN advised the regulated financial institution to “commence the process of enrolling the individual onto the BVN database and be guided by the extant protocols issued by NIBSS”.

https://www.channelstv.com/2023/12/01/cbn-to-freeze-bank-accounts-without-bvn-nin-starting-april-2024/

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Jubilation is in the air at the Kogi State Government House as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and incumbent Governor, Yahaya Bello, has been re-elected. Governor Bello was returned elected on Monday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), having scored the highest number of votes in the keenly contested poll. The Returning Officer for the election and Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Umar, made the declaration at the INEC office in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. The APC candidate polled a total of 406,222 votes to beat his closest rival, Mr Musa Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 189,704 votes. See photos of the Governor and his supporters jubilating at the State House.

https://www.channelstv.com/2019/11/18/photos-yahaya-bello-supporters-jubilate-over-kogi-election-victory/

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The United Nations will live in infamy for lending its megaphone on Tuesday, September 19, 2017, to Nigeria’s elected military dictator Muhammadu Buhari. The Hausa-Fulani Muslim strongman is currently orchestrating genocide as defined by the Genocide Convention against Nigeria’s 50 million Igbo people because of their ethnicity and unwavering devotion to Christianity. Buhari’s genocide marks the culmination of a long train of Biafran subjugation by radical Hausa-Fulani Islamic terrorists. The dictator’s power is anchored to an illegitimate constitution decreed by a military dictator in 1999 to hold the Christian Biafran people in bondage to Hausa-Fulani Muslims. Nigeria’s constitution has never been approved by Nigerians. Last June, Buhari tacitly endorsed a Hausa-Fulani threat to expel by force and violence and to plunder 11 million Igbos in twelve northern Nigerian states that have adopted Sharia as their legal codes if they did not abandon their Igbo homes and businesses by October 1, 2017. During the past few years in northern Nigeria, Hausa-Fulani terrorists have destroyed thousands of churches and religious schools and displaced millions of Christian Biafrans. Hundreds of innocent civilians have died and more have been injured or terrorized by Nigeria’s military acting under Buhari’s direction in the last week alone. A courageous and influential Biafran leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has had his home attacked and quarantined by Nigeria’s armed forces and his followers killed. Grisly videos and photos taken at scenes of the harrowing crimes are conclusive. What they prove amounts to state terrorism—the systematic employment of violence to intimidate or coerce a civilian population. Instead of providing Buhari a megaphone, the United Nations should be expelling Nigeria from membership under Article 6 of the United Nations Charter. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) should be referring the dictator and his henchmen like Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai to the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, to investigate for complicity in genocide. The UNSC should also be imposing an arms embargo on Nigeria under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter until the right of the Biafran people to self-determination is secured through a free and fair referendum conducted by the United Nations Electoral Unit. At present, dictator Buhari is diverting arms purchased for ostensible use against Boko Haram, an international terrorist organization, to the terrorizing of Biafran Christians. Buhari has no interest in defeating Boko Haram because its threat triggers military and financial assistance from the United States in its global war on terrorism. These sanctions against Nigeria would honor twin objectives of the United Nations: (1) “to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained;” and, (2) “promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to…religion.” The genocide of Biafrans is not a “domestic” matter within the exclusive jurisdiction of Nigeria. Genocide is a crime against all of mankind which concerns every country. Moreover, if dictator Buhari is permitted to kill and enslave Christian Biafrans with impunity, Nigeria could degenerate into a Hausa-Fulani Islamic theocracy and could become a state sponsor of terrorism. Nigeria’s example would embolden the persecution of Christians elsewhere. Nigeria’s 190 million inhabitants make it the most populous nation in Africa. It is a model not only in West Africa but throughout the continent. It is too important for its fate to be left to the roll of the dice. The international community planted the seeds of contemporary Nigerian and African strife by arbitrarily carving up the continent in favor of colonial powers at the 1884-85 Berlin Conference. The United Nations is saddled with a moral obligation to help remedy the dystopias spawned by many of its key members. While the suffering and persecution of Burma’s Muslim Rohingya have captured headlines and the attention of the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, Nigeria’s far worse oppression of Biafrans has been largely ignored. It is difficult to resist the conclusion that international human rights community squints when blacks kill blacks. Please read our comment policy before commenting.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/sep/20/un-nigeria-stance-biafrans/

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THE 1967-70 Nigeria Civil War, for the Igbo was a battle of historic survival against the forces of national darkness that roamed in the form of periodic unrestrained anti-Igbo riots and massacres, and subsequently the chilling pogrom of 1969. It was not only a battle for survival but for the upholding of the Igbo man’s dignity, which, as previously feared got swallowed up by the events of the civil war. Those who supported Biafra did so not because of the capability of the Igbo to win the war against the World Powers-supported Federal might but for the case of conscience. The likes of Presidents Houphouet-Boigny of Cote d’Voire, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, Omar Bongo of Gabon, Papa Doc of Haiti and to some extent Siaka Stevens of Sierra Leone, Jomo Kenyata of Kenya, William Tolbert of Liberia, and the French Government of the time did so out of conscience against the forces of darkness that ruled Nigeria at that time. This explains why, even at the final defeat of the Igbo they never abandoned their vanquished friends-turned brothers. Today there are sprawling Igbo populations in these countries with many of them not only becoming full citizens of their host countries, but even playing very important Government roles. As the Igbo would often say, “no land exists without the presence of the lizard”. So it has become customary to say that no battle takes place without the active roles of saboteurs. The Nigeria civil war, like any such war of its kind no doubt witnessed a number of Igbo citizens playing the Vidkun Quisling role against their own people, sabotaging the survivalist sacrificial efforts of their down-trodden people by supporting the Federal troops, prophesying the doomsday for their people’s struggle for survival. These people not only celebrated the defeat of their own people but shamelessly rushed to seek Federal Government appointments and contracts while those who sacrificed, endured and survived remained in perpetual penury for decades and for life. Today, Reverend Ejike Mbaka in the event of General Muhammadu Buhari’s victory presents himself as a champion of God’s prophecy, just because he vaingloriously assumed that his words are the words of God verbatim. But there remain certain clear indices to determine if an event is truly the act of God in the manner a visioner or soothsayer presented it. We know that Ejike Mbaka is from Awgu district in Enugu State and it is not disputable that his people of Enugu State overwhelmingly voted for President Goodluck Jonathan. Secondly, Mbaka should let us know if the massive failure of the Jega’s rigging machine miscalled Card-readers was the act of God. Thirdly, let Father Mbaka tell Nigerians how the God he worships approved the fraudulent permission of under-aged children to vote in the northern part of the country. For we all know that the God of the Roman Catholic Church of which Reverend Father Mbaka belongs is a just God who hates cheating in whatever form it is presented. Unless Reverend Mbaka is telling us that he has another God other than the one Almighty God we all know and acknowledged.Yes, if the victors said the defeat of Biafra was the act of God, the Igbo could not have denied such a statement, just as the on-going victory of the blood-sucking Islamic State in Syria and the Levante (ISIS/ISIL) and their budding children in Nigeria called Boko Haram could also be attributed to the act of God. Those who truly worship God in truth and spirit through any form or medium truly know that God’s ways are hard to fully predict by mortal man. For whatever it was worth, the massive Igbo support for President Jonathan was a patriotic call to duty. Yes, President Jonathan might not have met the greater part of our expectations from him as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But for the Igbo, he wiped out the ignominious tears of second-fiddlers in Federal Government affairs. For the first time since the end of the Nigeria civil war, the Igbo occupied in one stroke the positions of Secretary of the Government of the Federation, two Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces at the same time – the Army and Navy. At least the second Niger Bridge is presently under construction. Beyond these, the massive Igbo support for the President was a cementing force that eventually obliterated the political cancer of rivalry and mutual mistrust between the Igbo and their South-South ethnic brothers that began with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Professor Eyo Ita in the 1950s. Today, the contentious State creation agitation by these neighbours of the Igbo from the defunct Igbo-dominated Eastern Region has been resolved with the existing multiplicity of States. The civil war has come and gone. But could we say that the reason for which the Igbo took up the arms of defence against the Federal Government no longer exists? The Niger Delta militants took up arms against the Federal Government in defence of their rights and have through that experience chiefly identified who their friends and foes are. Have the Igbo actually identified who their friends and foes are in the matrix of present politics? The historical experience of any people so oppressed like the Igbo, no matter how checkered it might be, fundamentally calls for reflection and in essence a lesson. The emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria most importantly calls for reflection primarily for the Igbo. It is a matter that evidently put the Igbo on the balance of sustained political principle via-a-vis a taciturn principle of progressive opposition or wobbling edifice of political harlotry. The present balance of political equation beckons on true Igbo patriots to stand firm and hold the bull of politics by its horn of emerging political challenges. The greatest political disaster the Igbo will attract on themselves is for the crop of her political leaders to aimlessly drift to the soon to emerge ruling APC in the name of being afraid to be in opposition. What is most important for the present political terrain is for both the South East and South-South to further cement the political gains of common solidarity for Jonathan by building a strong force of opposition. What has become customary in the acquisition of political power in Nigeria today, except for the Igbo, is that ethnic generated conflicts often end in Presidential compensation. President Olusegun Obasanjo reaped from the blood-watering conflict of June 12 presidential election annulment. President Umar Yar’Adua benefited from the dastard incarceration and eventual death of his senior brother in the hands of General Sani Abacha. President Goodluck Jonathan invariably reaped from the Niger Delta struggles for economic emancipation. And now, can one deny the fact that General Muhammadu Buhari evidently reaped from the on-going Boko Haram insurgency? What did the Igbo reap from the 30-month long civil war? The Igbo had since the end of the civil war engaged in competitive licking of the political ass of most past Federal Governments except in fact that of President Jonathan. Will this be the case with President Muhammadu Buhari? Dr. Tony Nwaezeigwe is an acting director , Centre for Igbo Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/igbo-and-the-fallacy-of-mbakas-gods-vindication/#sthash.zJeDQ5l1.dpufJust

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Senator Ike Ekweremadu By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke ABUJA— DEPUTY President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, weekend, said former President Goodluck Jonathan frustrated efforts to separate office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from that of Minister of Justice by refusing to assent to the amendment that would have brought it about. According to him, it is necessary to separate both offices, if Nigerians still desire that justice delivery must be strengthened in the country. Ekweremadu, who disclosed this to journalists during a tour of the construction site of national headquarters of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Abuja, said the proposal to separate the two offices actually sailed through during the last amendment, but did not see the light of the day because the Forth Alteration Bill containing it was not assented to by Jonathan. He explained that the separation of the two offices would make whoever was appointed the AGF to work for the people and not necessarily the government in power as a cabinet minister, saying that would ensure access to justice by citizens, devoid of any external influence. When separated, AGF will work for the people Ekweremadu said: “I believe in the separation of the two offices. I go for it any time, any day. This is because it will guarantee financial independence, security of tenure, and make the holder of the office of the Attorney-General at the state and federal levels to be autonomous in thinking and approach to the idea of justice. “It will ensure that citizens have access to justice, since the officer will not be dictated to by any external interest or influence. “During the last constitution amendment, we (members of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in the 7th National Assembly) recommended it to our colleagues, based on inputs from Nigerians, and they graciously adopted it. “Unfortunately, the last President did not sign it. Although, we will be looking at all the issues again, the decision on the separation, or any other issue for that matter, will depend on what other colleagues and Nigerians would think. But as a person, I strongly believe in it.” It would be recalled that the National Conference Standing Committee on Law, Judiciary and Human Rights had in April 2014 during the National Conference, adopted a recommendation for the separation of the office of Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation. Deputy Chairman of the committee, Prof Auwalu Yadudu, who made this known then, had said the recommendation was to ensure the independence of the office of the Attorney-General from political influence. According to him, the two offices should not be occupied by an individual in order to ensure justice. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/jonathan-frustrated-move-separate-agfs-office-justice-ministers-ekweremadu/

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A photo shows a campaign signboad displayed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show its readiness to defeat Boko Haram Islamists on assumption office at Ogijo, Ogun State in southwest Nigeria, on July 3, 2015. Boko Haram carried out a fresh wave of massacres in northeastern Nigeria on July 3, locals said, killing nearly 200 people in 48 hours of violence President Muhammadu Buhari blasted as “inhuman and barbaric”. AFP PHOTO The U. S. on Friday reiterated its continuous support for Nigeria’s efforts to bring those responsible for recent terrorists attacks to justice. This is contained In a statement by John Kirby, Spokesman of the States Department in New York. He said the U.S. strongly condemned the attacks. The spokesman reiterate commitment to help Nigeria and its neighbours counter Boko Haram, both through bilateral assistance and support to the Multinational Joint Task Force. “The United States offered her deepest sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the attacks of Thursday and Friday at a market in Gombe and a prayer ground in Damaturu, Yobe, Northeast Nigeria,” Kirby said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/u-s-reiterates-support-for-fight-against-boko-haram/#sthash.KC8KoiaG.dpufhttp://www.punchng.com/news/us-reiterates-support-for-fight-against-boko-haram/

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Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that Aisha Buhari, ensured the role of the First Lady is never questioned. Tinubu said this on Thursday, April 8, 2021, at the public presentation of Aisha Buhari’s biography tagged, “Aisha Buhari: Being different”. Dr Hajo Sani, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs, wrote the book. Tinubu, who chaired the occasion, said, “Given the First Lady’s achievements, no one can reasonably question the role of a First Lady any longer. “Remember there were those who argued that the constitution does not assign an official role to the First Lady. “Because of Dr. Mrs. Aisha Buhari, their concerns have been forever laid to rest. “The First Lady has played an uplifting, unifying role both in symbol and substance. “She has been a voice of conscience calling us to be our better selves for the good of the nation and for the betterment of the weakest, most vulnerable among us. “As such, she has been a strong pillar of support not only to the President but also to the Nigerian people whom they both serve with such patriotic commitment and high purpose.”

https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2024/07/18/igp-egbetokun-promises-affordable-housing-for-police-operatives/Because

Career

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File photo: Hunters *Say we know the terrain very well Borno State hunters have pleaded with the Nigerian Army to allow them join in the war against Boko Haram insurgents in the dreaded Sambisa forest. Emir of hunters in the state, Mai-Gana Mai-Durma, made the appeal while addressing journalists in Maiduguri. Mai-Durma said the call became imperative because the hunters were familiar with the terrain at the dreaded forest, the hideout and operational base of the terrorists. He said: “We are appealing to the military authorities to allow us join the fight against Boko Haram at the Sambisa forest. We are ready to pursue the terrorists because we know the terrain very well.” According to him, the military should align them with members of the vigilance group, popularly known as the Civilian JTF, for effective result. “We will overrun Sambisa in partnership with members of the civilian JTF if given the opportunity. This will help to complement the effort of military in the anti terrorism operation,” he said. Lamenting that hunters from the 27 local government areas of the state had been rendered idle by the insurgency, he said: “Hunters from all the 27 Borno LGAs are all in Maiduguri with our leaders doing nothing at present because of Boko Haram. “Rather than idling away, we will want to assist the military in crushing Boko Haram terrorists.” The head of the hunters in Borno State also appealed to the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Garbai, to assist in forwarding their request to the military authorities for consideration. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/borno-hunters-beg-army-allow-us-to-over-run-boko-haram-in-sambisa/

Politics

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Buhari joins 150 world leaders for climate change conference President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to arrive Paris, France, Sunday evening to join about 150 other world leaders for the Conference of Parties 21 (COP21). The meeting is aimed getting nations to agree on how to deal with the issue of climate change. There has been no agreement on practical actions even though governments have already committed themselves to limiting green house gas emissions that interfere with the climate, This Paris meeting is therefore seen as the last chance to arrive at concrete binding resolutions over issues which have been discussed every year since 1992 under the auspices of the United Nations. President Buhari will present Nigeria’s statement at the opening session on Monday before participating in the launching of the International Solar Alliance, an initiative of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who has invited around 110 nations to join the alliance. The alliance is to be named the International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (InSPA) and is aimed at a host of African nations and others located within the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. The President will thereafter attend a summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic which has been scheduled to take place on Tuesday on the sidelines of the COP21. Deliberations at the Paris meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic will focus mainly on the war against Boko Haram and other security issues of common interest to participating countries. Also on Tuesday, the President has been scheduled to participate in another COP21 sideline event titled: “the Conference on Climate Change and African Solutions” organized by the African Union (AU).

http://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-joins-150-world-leaders-for-climate-change-conference/

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By Our Reporter News that Ibadan residence of self-acclaimed Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho was attacked in the early hours of Monday, has been debunked as untrue. Neighbours of the activist, who spoke with journalists today said they were not aware of gunshots overnight as claimed. Olayomi Koiki, media aide to the Yoruba nation agitator claimed in a Facebook post, that Igboho’s Ibadan home was attacked. Koiki wrote, “Chief Sunday Igboho’s house came under attack this morning 26th April 2021 around 2am with heavy gun shots. The media aide in a separate video on his Facebook page said men of the Nigeria Army laid siege to the residence with the aim of arresting Sunday Igboho. He said further “There is a situation right now where the Federal Government of Nigeria tried to invade our residence. “We are telling the world that the war that the Federal Government is waiting for might start today. “The war that the Federal Government think they are expecting from the Yoruba people; let’s tell the whole world. As I speak to you, there is an ongoing incident but we are more than capable. “We cannot be caught unguarded. You cannot threaten us”. Koiki said that Sunday Igboho is fine. But P.M. News learned that Igboho is not in Ibadan, at present.

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2021/04/26/attack-on-sunday-igbohos-home-not-true/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=attack-on-sunday-igbohos-home-not-true

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You all hate rich people, Kiddwaya tells netizens Reality star, Terseer Waya aka Kiddwaya, has bemoaned the rate at which netizens don’t like rich people. Kiddwaya, the son of billionaire businessman and socialite, Terry Waya, made the claims via his X handle on Wednesday, October 18. Sharing a photo of his arrival in Milan, Italy with his father via private jet, Kiddwaya wrote: “Dad see wetin you cause. To be a billionaire son no be easy. Na so my own son go collect.” His post earned backlash, with some fans accusing him of “oppressing” the poor with his constant flaunting of his flamboyant lifestyle on social media. Reacting to the backlash, He said: “You guys just love to hate rich people. Keep on hating. We ain’t going anywhere. I’m going to be in your faces till @elonmusk decides to delete this app. Then we move to IG. Then Snapchat. LinkedIn sef. You go see my posts for your dreams.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/first-lady-unveils-vegetable-garden-at-state-house/You

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- The Nissan Z Proto is a lightly disguised concept-car preview of the next-generation Nissan Z. - A twin-turbocharged V-6 engine coupled to a six-speed manual transmission powers the Z Proto; that powertrain has been confirmed for the production Z. - When the production Z arrives in 2021, it is likely to be called the 400Z. The Z has always been an indicator of Nissan's well-being. The 1970 240Z set the stage for the brand's success throughout the decade, the 1990 300ZX showed the impressive engineering acumen Nissan would be known for in the '90s, and the 2003 350Z ushered in a renaissance as Carlos Ghosn and his Renault-Nissan Alliance brought the company back from the brink. The current 370Z has withered, along with its parent company, over the past decade, leaving many to wonder if the Z had a future at all in the wake of Ghosn's scandalous departure and the company's financial struggles. The Z Proto, a production-intent preview for the upcoming Z35-generation 400Z, appears to answer that question with a resounding yes. Five inches longer than the 370Z, the new car has an elegant shape. We see hints of Jaguar and Aston Martin in its proportions, but Nissan head of design Alfonso Albaisa is focused on how it evokes prior iterations of the Z. "We don't use the word retro, it's more of an homage," said Albaisa. The new car's detailing is somewhat of a grab bag of the best of past Z-cars, with 240Z-inspired headlights, 300ZX-esque taillights, and a few other historical touches. The only real nod to the past inside, though, is the three-gauge binnacle atop the dash; it's otherwise a fully modernized two-seat cockpit with large display screens for the gauge cluster and infotainment system and an attractive new steering-wheel design. Under the long hood is a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6, which GT-R guru and chief product specialist Hiroshi Tamura says is a modified version of the VR30DDTT unit available in both 300- and 400-hp states of tune in the Infiniti Q50 and Q60. The 400Z should hew closer to the high end of that scale, although Nissan might leave room for a NISMO version. A six-speed manual is standard, and an automatic will be optional, likely the seven-speed torque-converter unit found in the Infinitis. Nissan isn't discussing the chassis, leaving us to assume that it rides on the same rear-wheel-drive FM platform as before. It'll likely share suspension and brake components with the Infiniti Red Sport performance models. "The Z must have a strong connection between human and machine, like a dance partner," Tamura said, noting how the emotional aspects—driving feel, sound, and styling—are more important than objective performance here. We hope that's not an excuse for uncompetitive numbers, but Nissan is well aware of the other turbocharged 3.0-liter sports car coming out of Japan these days (well, by way of a BMW factory in Austria), the Toyota Supra. As they were in the 1990s, the Z and Supra will be close rivals. The Nissan's manual transmission is an advantage over the automatic-only Toyota (for now), but the Z will have its work cut out for it matching the 382-hp Supra's zero-to-60-mph time of 3.8 seconds. Nissan hasn't made any performance claims yet, other than hinting that the automatic will be quicker than the manual. Given its new engine and revamped design, we think the new Z will leap in price over the current car, which starts at $31,085. When the 400Z production car arrives sometime in 2021, we expect it will start in the mid-$40,000 range, neatly bisecting the four- and six-cylinder Supra models. And we hope it will be worth the wait. Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a34016940/nissan-z-proto-revealed/

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Updated with Video: Pray Against Interruption Of Democracy In Nigeria – Prophet T.b. Joshua Pastor T.B. Joshua of The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos, Nigeria, has called for urgent prayers for Nigeria against “interruption of the democratic practice” in the nation. Speaking to congregants on Sunday 1stJuly 2018 in a service beamed live via the Christian television network Emmanuel TV, the cleric stated he had received a revelation concerning Nigeria on three different occasions, prompting him to make it public. “I was in my vision and God told me to tell the nation and leaders to pray against the interruption of the democratic practice,” he bluntly revealed. “The president’s heart is like a stream of water in the hands of God and He can control it whenever He wants,” he continued in his customary parabolic fashion. Joshua then reminded congregants of the ‘prophecy’ he gave in 2016 where he candidly stated Nigeria’s future was “crying for help”. “You must join me in prayer for the nation because two believers are better than one,” he stressed before enjoining congregants to rise and pray. Worshippers then joined Joshua in asking for God to give President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria’s leaders “a greater understanding of God’s heart, discretion to guide their hearts, understanding that will protect them and wisdom that will rescue them”. Ihechukwu Njoku is a freelance Nigerian journalist

https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/267843/pray-against-interruption-of-democracy-in-nigeria-prophet.html

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Lagos residents and soccer enthusiasts trooped out in their numbers to have a feel of the giant Ball during the Lagos tour of the World Biggest Ball at Police College Ikeja, Lagos By Emmanuel Elebeke In an apparent move to save its image from possible damage, MTN Group is said to have commenced talks with Nigeria’s Central Bank for early repayment of almost $600 million of debt it owes some Nigerian banks. Vanguard gathered that the move by the leading telecom operator was also aimed at reducing further exposure of the naira, which has weakened against the rand and US dollar. A report from Bloomberg, quoted the Chief Executive Officer of the Group, Sifiso Dabengwa as saying in an interview that the negotiation with the apex bank was for possible repayment in good time. “We have already been negotiating with the lenders but the challenge has been getting the central bank to approve that we can accelerate the payment. “It would help a lot in terms of dealing with the currency fluctuations,” said Dabengwa. According to Mtn, its profit declined by 11 percent in the last six months, through June due to the weakening naira and other African currencies against the South African rand, in which it reports earnings. The report also showed that Nigerian sales decreased 9 percent in the period, compared with a 1.1 percent fall on a constant currencies basis. It was also gathered that the MTN executives have already met with President Muhammadu Buhari. Dabengwa, who confirmed the meeting, informed that the conversations were positive, and that the company has no pending regulatory issues in Nigeria, its biggest market with 62.8 million subscribers. The report further disclosed that MTN shares fell 0.3 percent to 207.83 rand as of yesterday, in Johannesburg, valuing the company at 384 billion rand. Available statistics showed that MTN is the Africa’s largest wireless carrier with operations in 22 countries. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/mtn-approaches-cbn-for-early-repayment-of-600m-debt-report/#sthash.NpFXtbar.dpuf

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Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has granted an order restraining the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, from further publishing the name of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Uche Secondus, in his looters’ list. Although the defendants or their representatives were absent in court, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iyayi Laminikara, who presided over the matter of libel, also asked the plaintiff to serve the defendant with the appropriate notice. Mr Secondus had on March 31, 2018, demanded a public apology and the sum of N1.5billion as compensation, following the list of alleged looters revealed by the Federal Government. He made the demand in a statement by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, one day after the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, said the PDP chairman was among those who allegedly looted the nation’s treasury. According to the list released, Secondus was alleged to have received the sum of N200million from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) on February 19, 2015. The PDP National Chairman, however, gave the minister 48 hours to withdraw the statement against him and tender a public apology, or face litigation. Having Failed to meet the demand, Mr Secondus on April 6, 2018, Mr Lai Mohammed, to court for defamation of character. According to a statement by his spokesman, Ike Abonyi, “the PDP National Chairman made good his threat and filed a suit at the Port Harcourt High Court in Rivers State. “In the suit no/PHC/1013/2018, he asked the court to award him the sum of N1.5b as damages for “humiliation, castigation, vilification attack on his person and integrity as a result of the publication.” He also claimed that the list published by the minister was defamatory and urged the court to direct Mohammed to retract the said publication and apologise in writing. However, in today’s sitting, counsel to Mr Secondus who led other Senior Advocates to court, Emeka Etiaba, explained to journalists that the matter is on course. The case has been adjourned till May 28, 2018.

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/04/23/dcourt-restrains-lai-mohammed-from-publishing-secondus-name-on-looters-list/

Politics

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President Bola Tinubu …80% others in low-capacity utilization …Over 100,000 employees thrown into the job market …Labour begs FG to intervene By Victor AhiumaYoung LAGOS — Over 50 firms in the chemical and non-metallic products sub-sector of the nation’s economy are in dilemma as multinationals, medium and small-scale enterprises, SMEs, and member companies are either exiting, on the verge of shutting down, or operating at low-capacity utilisation. It will be recalled that the employers, under the umbrella of Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Employers Federation, CANMPEF, had membership strength of no fewer than 100 firms,, comprising multinationals, medium, and small businesses, which employ about 350,000 people across the country. But presently, Vanguard checks revealed that while over 50 of such companies have closed down, four are on the verge of shutting down, while 80 per cent of the remaining companies are operating at low-capacity utilization. Industry sources told Vanguard that over 100,000 workers have lost their jobs directly and indirectly in the last one year. The firms in this sector produce medicals, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, cosmetics, toiletries, soaps, detergents and vegetable oil, hydraulics, cement, asbestos cement and concrete. Other products include glass, ceramic, earthenware, clay products, basic industrial organic and inorganic chemicals, fertilizers, explosives, fireworks, footwear, leather, and rubber. According to Vanguard’s checks, among the companies that have shut down are Glaxo SmithKline Beecham, Procter & Gamble, Mega Plastic Nig limited, Twinstar Nig limited, Femina Hygienical Products Nig. Limited and Linda Manufacturing Company. Those on the verge of shutting down include Unilever, PZ Industries, and Prime Pack. One of the companies about to shut operations in Nigeria is Kimberly-Clark because of high energy costs, expensive raw materials, and reduced customer demand. The company, it was gathered, has reduced shifts and implemented other cost-cutting measures in a bid to remain afloat. The company’s $100 million factory, located in Ikorodu, Lagos State, was commissioned two years ago by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to produce diapers and sanitary pads, among others. Lamenting the plight of the sector, Executive Secretary of CANMPEF, Mr Olorunfemi Oke, said the exits were painful, saying more worrying is the fact that challenges faced in the sector were inflicted by government policies. According to him, the challenges confronting the sector are floating of the naira, depreciating currency and volatile exchange rate, fuel subsidy removal, high exchange rate for computation of import duty, high interest rate, epileptic power supply with the recent increase in tariff that has tripled electricity bills and made it unsustainable for businesses; and inadequate gas supply for firms, and high cost of diesel. He also named poor road conditions, multiple taxations, a high inflation rate of over 34 per cent, weak consumer purchasing power, and insecurity across the country. The executive secretary said: “The effects of the socio-economic challenges on the manufacturing companies are enormous. Most of our member companies are just managing to survive. We cannot access forex for purchase of raw materials and machinery. “High import duty cost is discouraging importation of raw materials and machinery. High energy costs have resulted in high production costs. Unreliable power and gas supply disrupts production schedules and increases operation costs. “We are experiencing high reduction in capacity utilization and increased production slowdowns, huge foreign exchange losses suffered by many member companies, especially the multinationals, and reduction of profit. Majority are recording losses. “There is also declining market share and growth potential and inability to compete with imported products. High interest rates discourages business expansion. There is growing weakness in consumer purchasing power. Companies are shutting down some of their operations. This has led to retrenchment of employees. The hyperinflation has led to an increase in the cost of living of employees and an adversarial industrial relations climate in the sector. “While I don’t want to sound alarmist, tens of member companies from the multinationals, medium and small scale companies have shut down. Some of the companies that have closed down are Glaxo SmithKline Beecham, Procter & Gamble, Mega Plastic Nig Limited, Twinstar Nig Limited, Femina Hygienical Products Nig Limited, and Linda Manufacturing Company. Similarly, among those on the verge of shutting down include Unilever and PZ industries. ‘’We are very pained by these developments. Let us take for example the case of Linda Manufacturing Company and Kimberly-Clark. Linda Manufacturing Company which was producing synthetic hair attachments and other accessories was employing and keeping our young girls off the streets and criminality. Only God knows what these young girls will turn to now that they are out of jobs. And for Kimberley Clark which produces Huggies diapers, and sanitary pads, with the imminent shutdown of its Ikorodu production facility two years after investing $100 million in Nigeria. Remember that the former Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo commissioned the factory two years ago. The company has been producing below-installed capacity since late 2023 because of the harsh economic environment in the country. If this company is allowed to exit Nigeria, it will add to the sad story of the worsening crisis in our sector. The pathetic situation of this firm is that in 2022, the company commissioned a $100 million production factory in Ikorodu, Lagos State which was inaugurated by then vice president to resume operations after an earlier closure of operations in 2019 following a review of its business. Apart from these woes, 80 per cent of the remaining member companies are operating at low-capacity utilization. While Mr Oke was not forthcoming on the number of job losses, Vanguard, however, gathered that no fewer than 100,000 Nigerians have lost their jobs in the sector. Speaking further, he said: “As a Nigerian, it is sad and frustrating for me to talk about my fellow countrymen and women losing their means of livelihood in this manner. ‘’A lot of people have been thrown into the job market. The figure is huge. We are talking about direct and indirect employment, comprising suppliers, distributors, drivers, contractors, and traders among others. I do not want to give a figure. But I can tell you without mincing words that it is huge.” The CANMPEF scribe called on government to address challenges facing the sector by “giving concessions on the allocation of forex to the manufacturing companies, reduction of import duties for raw materials for an essential sector like the pharmaceutical industry, reduction in import duty charges, improving supply of energy and gas to manufacturers, reduction of the rate of energy charges by power distribution companies, DISCOs, stopping multiple taxes by the local, states and federal government agencies, signing and implementing the new national minimum wage bill to improve consumers’ purchasing power, focusing on rehabilitating selected roads to reduce logistics costs and fixing the nation’s refineries to enable access to petroleum bi-products that serves as raw materials for the chemical industries. “The industry is import- dependent because of the nature of its products and its raw materials are chemicals majorly from the petro- chemical industries. ‘’The Federal Government should take urgent action to stop manufacturing companies from shutting down. Government should support the companies to thrive and increase employment and reduce insecurity challenges in the country. “The only member companies that seem to be doing well today are the cement manufacturing firms because of road constructions and other related businesses.” Voda Paint MD reacts Also speaking, the Managing Director, Voda Paints Limited, Mr Rotimi Aluko, blamed unreliable power, unstable currency, difficulty doing business, steadily rising inflation, insecurity, multiple taxation, and poor infrastructure, among others. Aluko, who is also the Vice President of CANMPEF, said: “Like most of the sectors making up the Nigerian industrial landscape, the chemical, leather, food sectors are all struggling to survive economic hardship that, looking back now, has actually been long coming. ‘’It is, indeed, very hard to find any one sector of the economy that is not impacted by the numerous issues which those doing business in Nigeria have really been enduring, starting with unreliable power, unstable currency, difficulty doing business, steadily rising inflation, insecurity, multiple taxation, poor infrastructure, etc. “Currency tweaking and the associated policies in concert with the removal of petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira, have helped to compound the pressure on industrial operations generally. “The consequence on the consumers is depletion of disposable income, such that most households are in tight adjustment as their income is hardly coping with necessities. “Most industries rely on bountiful discretionary income to survive. That is the crux of the pain in the sector. Demand has significantly dropped and so goes production and ultimately income. “It is, indeed, very tough, especially for sectors outside of households’ eessential or committed expenses. ‘’Even those in essential expenses column are grappling with the consequences of reduced demand, owing to downward adjustments by consumers of quantities and quality of their purchases as a result of inflation-driven loss of purchasing power. “I think how the sectors have been coping can easily be deduced from all the aforesaid; we are in survival mode. Sacrifice, cost-cutting as much as feasible, mounting bills, income stagnation, abandonment of key projects, reduced hours of operation/attendance rotation, etc. Everyone is scratching the ground as well as their heads for whatever will aid to keep them afloat. On ways out of the challenges, Aluko said: “Government action. It is all down to what the government chooses to do and not do. The truth starts with how the government views and treats manufacturing. If manufacturing is taken as the most strategic value-adding local content economic weapon that it is, Nigeria will transform into the league of leading nations of the world! “Not even crude oil can come close. Why? It is manufacturing that can harness our immense reservoir of human talents to serve as an engine for the conversion of the bountiful contents atop and beneath our God-given land and those beyond our shores into products capable of becoming the biggest foreign exchange earners as experienced by China and several other Asian economies. “Government just has to step forward to help get the necessary building blocks in place and put right the business environment, such that Nigeria will rank high among nations having very attractive level of ease of doing business. “For this to be, the government has to make these investments and protect local manufacturing. This is non-negotiable. All advanced nations and those who have climbed up to join the top league did it at one point or another and are still doing it. “The most powerful economic and military power in the world is currently engaged with China openly as an example. “We have done it before with huge success when in 2007, Nigeria clamped down on the importation of cement by companies without local cement manufacturing investment. The result is huge. “Before the implementation of the smart act of protection, Nigeria in 48 years of cement manufacturing preceding the protective action, only grew to about seven million metric tonnes of cement production per annum and in the 15 years succeeding the policy, has grown to over 60 million metric tonnes production/per annum. “Do that across several sectors integrating farm produce conversion, petrochemicals, basic chemicals, natural resources, basic tools, electronics, etc, Nigeria will be an unstoppable giant. It has potentials. “The government should declare a clear form of emergency in the manufacturing sector. It should subsidise consumption via manufacturing subsidy by way of tax relief, duty/tariff removal on agricultural and manufacturing inputs. The gains will come in many folds. “First of all, our youths will be gainfully employed and stop idling away their lives or hawking things they should be producing in the first instance. Savings on social and security costs cannot be estimated. “Government should put in place necessary administrative and legal firewalls against those who might truncate gains of the strive towards the achievement of good level ease of doing business across the country and sectors.” Labour begs FG to intervene On his part, the National Secretary, National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, NUCFRLANMPE, Joseph Dada, pleaded with the government to intervene immediately to save the sector from imminent collapse. He said: “Our industrial sector has been finding it extremely difficult to operate smoothly and effectively for the past two years. ‘’Bad government policies have negatively affected the running of our sector. Many of the industries have relocated to other African countries where they can do their business with ease and maximise profit. “Our government, through the Central Bank, has increased the lending rate to over 30 per cent, which is not good for manufacturing and chemical industries to break even as most raw materials are imported. We cannot do backward integration. “The industries are groaning under the outrageous tariffs imposed by DISCOs and others responsible for the supply and distribution of electricity to the industries in Nigeria. The tariffs are doing nothing other than kill the industries. This is compounded by the removal of the petrol subsidy that has turned the country upside down since last year. The consequences are part of the socio-economic distortions plaguing the nation. “Some of the companies that have relocated to other African countries are multinationals, such as Procter & Gamble and GSK Pharma, Femina Hygiene, and Twinstar. Many others are on the verge of closing down any moment from now because of the unfavourable economic policies of our government. “Hundreds of workers have lost their jobs as a result of management’s inability to provide raw materials in their various companies. Those that are managing to produce are producing below 20 to 25 per cent of installed capacities. ‘’We are still compiling the list of job losses. I can tell you it is mind-boggling in a country with very high unemployment figure. “We are pleading with the Federal Government to urgently halt this alarming trend and create enabling environment for industries to have access to foreign exchange from Central Bank of Nigeria for manufacturers to get forex to import raw material for industries to produce. “The issue of unsustainable tariffs as well high cost of fuel regime must be addressed immediately to save our industries from total collapse. We are not equally unaware of the issues of excessive and multiple taxation from all levels of government, insecurity, poor state of our roads and very low purchasing power of most Nigerians. The government should come to our aid as renewed hope is gradually turning to sustained despair.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/08/distress-as-harsh-economy-forces-shutdown-of-over-50-firms/amp/

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Dr Sam Amadi, CEO, NERC By Clara Nwachukwu, Sebastine Obasi, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Ediri Ejoh, Prince Okafor & Iloaze Blessed-Odidi, LAGOS— Despite current drop in power generation and supply, the directive by the Senate to suspend the new 45 per cent tariff hike remains invalid, as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, said it lacked the constitutional authority to reverse the order. This came as the leadership of organised labour called for the probe of the NERC, and former chairman of the commission, Dr. , over the controversy surrounding the recent hike in electricity tariff. The declaration by NERC came as power generation in the country has plummeted to 3,664 megawatts, MW, according to information from the Federal Ministry of Power. This is happening at a time the distribution companies, DISCOs, are insisting on increasing tariff on all categories of customers without commensurate increase in electricity supply. However, justifying NERC’s stance, immediate past Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, described the Senate’s directive as illegal, unconstitutional and a direct encroachment on executive independence. Amadi explained that apart from the Senate lacking the constitutional right to give such a directive, NERC, as currently constituted, was not competent to suspend or rescind the tariff order issued by its former Board. He argued that until a new board was reconstituted to consider reviewing or totally suspending the order, “nobody anywhere can validly review or suspend the current tariff.” He said: “It is not wise for the Senate to instruct NERC to stop the tariff. It will create serious regulatory risks across the market value chain. People will begin to look at it and say there is no independence of the industry regulator.” Attacks cause generation drop Contrary to some newspaper reports (not Vanguard), the Power Ministry on its official website said Nigeria achieved energy generation of 3,664MW last Thursday, while energy sent out was 3, 578MW. This shows 1,410MW slide from the 5,074MW, highest peak generated on February 2. It is also far below the peak demand forecast of 12,800MW. The ministry attributed the decrease in power supply to the attack on Escravos gas pipeline, which it said led to a loss of 160 million metric standard cubic feet/day, MMSFCD, of gas. Counter directive, counter results But corporate consumers, who spoke to Vanguard believed the counter orders were only making matters worse, as the Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Mr. Muda Yusuf, argued that the Senate directive to stay action on the new tariff regime might not achieve the desired result. He said: “It’s doubtful whether it is within the competence of the legislature to give such a directive. A better approach would be for the legislature to invite the power firms to justify the increase.” Rather than indulge in a show of power, he urged that provision of meters to consumers should be accelerated to put an end to estimated billing. On his part, National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, Dr. Bassey Edem, said: “We are not interested in the politics between the Executive and the Legislators. All we want is regular and sufficient power supply with which to run our businesses. This price fixing war may adversely affect the volume of power supply which will not be good for our businesses.” Similarly, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, said: “We are not in support of agencies going against the Senate. We believe that the best way to go about this whole issue is simply by dialogue.” It argued that “the tariff is welcome as long as they are charged for what is used via the installation of pre-paid meter across homes and office in the country. Like every Nigerian, we are happy that there is a hold to the tariff. Nigerians should be charged according to what is consumed. If the pre-paid meters were installed before embarking on the increase in tariff, it wouldn’t have raised eyebrows.” Rather than getting some reprieves, Nigerians have been, instead, urged to brace up for tougher times due to the deterioration of power equipment. Managing Director, Egbin Power Plc, Mr. Kola Adesina, told Vanguard, weekend, that the primary cause of generation drop was the failure of machines and the inability to secure foreign exchange, forex, to replace them. According to him, “the overall crisis that the country is faced with is the exchange rate and that has equally trickled to the power sector. But that is not the primary cause; the primary cause is the failure of machine. But to replace those machines, you need forex and it is not available.” Organised labour wants NERC, Amadi probed Meanwhile, organised labour has called for the probe of the NERC, and the former Chairman of the commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, over the controversy surrounding the recent hike in electricity tariff by 45 per cent. The call for the probe of the former helmsman of NERC, Amadi, was based on an alleged statement credited to him (Amadi), asking the Senate to rescind its decision on the hike. Factional National President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in a statement in Abuja, described the statement by the former boss of NERC as “treacherous, shameful and saddening.” Wabba stated that Amadi was “being economical with the truth and his legal knowledge. The duties of the Legislature, as defined by the constitution, include legislation, oversight and investigation. “Amadi not only described the Senate directive as a ‘dangerous precedence’, but has instigated NERC not to obey the directive as ‘it would have put itself in a double bind between the executive and legislature and a violation of the provisions of the Act’.” “On our part, we demand that the directive of the NASS be respected and effected right away. We also demand that if any DISCO or GENCO does not have the requisite capacity, it should honourably surrender its possessory and proprietary rights to government as was the case with the Yola Electricity Company. The Yola company was honourable enough and reasons adduced by it, genuine. “We will not fold our arms while a few individuals or companies or institutions further plunder and plunge this country into abyss.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/nobody-can-reverse-new-electricity-tariff-ex-nerc-boss/amp/

Politics

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German Engineering Firm Bilfinger Resolves Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Charges and Agrees to Pay $32 Million Criminal Penalty U.S. Attorney’s Office December 09, 2013 | WASHINGTON—Bilfinger SE, an international engineering and services company based in Mannheim, Germany, has agreed to pay a $32 million penalty to resolve charges that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by bribing government officials of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to obtain and retain contracts related to the Eastern Gas Gathering System (EGGS) project, which was valued at approximately $387 million. Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Assistant Director in Charge Valerie Parlave of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement. As part of the agreed resolution, the department today filed a three-count criminal information in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas charging Bilfinger with violating and conspiring to violate the FCPA’s anti-bribery provisions. The department and Bilfinger agreed to resolve the charges by entering into a deferred prosecution agreement for a term of three years. In addition to the monetary penalty, Bilfinger agreed to implement rigorous internal controls, continue cooperating fully with the department, and retain an independent corporate compliance monitor for at least 18 months. The agreement acknowledges Bilfinger’s cooperation with the department and its remediation efforts. According to court documents, from late 2003 through June 2005, Bilfinger conspired with Willbros Group Inc. and others to make corrupt payments totaling more than $6 million to Nigerian government officials to assist in obtaining and retaining contracts related to the EGGS project. Bilfinger and Willbros formed a joint venture to bid on the EGGS project and inflated the price of the joint venture’s bid by three percent to cover the cost of paying bribes to Nigerian officials. As part of the conspiracy, Bilfinger employees bribed Nigerian officials with cash that Bilfinger employees sent from Germany to Nigeria. At another point in the conspiracy, when Willbros employees encountered difficulty obtaining enough money to make their share of the bribe payments, Bilfinger loaned them $1 million, with the express purpose of paying bribes to the Nigerian officials. Including today’s action, the department has filed criminal charges in the Southern District of Texas against three institutions and four executives and consultants in connection with the EGGS bribery scheme: On September 14, 2006, Jim Bob Brown, a former Willbros executive, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA in connection with his role in making corrupt payments to Nigerian government officials to obtain and retain the EGGS contract and in connection with his role in making corrupt payments in Ecuador. Brown was sentenced on January 28, 2010, to serve 12 months and one day in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $17,500 fine. On November 5, 2007, Jason Steph, also a former Willbros executive, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA in connection with his role in making corrupt payments to Nigerian government officials to obtain and retain the EGGS contract. Steph was sentenced on January 28, 2010, to serve 15 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. On May 14, 2008, Willbros Group Inc. and Willbros International Inc. entered into a deferred prosecution agreement and agreed to pay a $22 million criminal penalty in connection with the company’s payment of bribes to government officials in Nigeria and Ecuador. On March 30, 2012, the government moved to dismiss the charges against Willbros on the grounds that Willbros had satisfied its obligations under the deferred prosecution agreement, and on April 2, 2012, the court granted the United States’ motion. On December 19, 2008, Kenneth Tillery, a former Willbros executive, was charged with conspiring to make and making bribe payments to Nigerian and Ecuadoran officials in connection with the EGGS project and pipeline projects in Ecuador and conspiring to launder the bribe payments. Tillery remains a fugitive. The charges against Tillery are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. On November 12, 2009, Paul Grayson Novak, a former Willbros consultant, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA and one substantive count of violating the FCPA in connection with his role in making corrupt payments to Nigerian government officials to obtain and retain the EGGS contract. Novak was sentenced on May 3, 2013, to serve 15 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay a $1 million fine. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and its team of special agents dedicated to the investigation of foreign bribery cases. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Laura N. Perkins of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

http://www.fbi.gov/washingtondc/press-releases/2013/german-engineering-firm-bilfinger-resolves-foreign-corrupt-practices-act-charges-and-agrees-to-pay-32-million-criminal-penalty#disablemobileThat

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Buhari arriving the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, on Monday, April 4, 2016, after attending the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC, USA WRITING this, my third article on the economy, I’m keenly aware that the question Nigerians want answered is: what is government doing to address our economic challenges? The first thing to state is that there are no quick fixes, but our strategy is clear and the expected outcomes are pretty compelling. Our immediate economic imperative is to provide a Keynesian stimulus to reflate the economy. The 2016 focus is underpinned by a desire to radically reposition Nigeria’s economy. This administration believes very strongly that the previous direction was far from optimal. We are pursuing a fresh direction consistent with our belief in building a resilient economy. The strategy itself is worth reiterating. The 2016 Budget is being debt funded and the borrowings are targeted at the financing of capital projects to address the infrastructure deficit, create jobs and build the platform for optimisation of the non-oil economy that will see Nigeria prosper. To this end, we have commenced an aggressive programme of fiscal housekeeping: increasing revenues and reducing recurrent expenses. This will ensure that we move towards our objective of financing recurrent expenditure from revenue, rather than borrowing as obtained before now. In addition, we have signalled through our financial decisions that we are moving away from oil. Government investment in oil will be limited. We are inviting private sector participation in the funding of cash calls for our Joint Ventures rather than tapping the Federation Account. This is guaranteed to improve our cash flow. As I have stated previously, oil is important but oil is not enough. Therefore, if faced with an option to invest borrowed funds in our railways or power or fund oil cash calls, we will strategically fund non-oil. This is in the knowledge that there are private sector solutions to the funding needed for oil, but few sources other than government for investment in physical infrastructure. The debate about whether Nigeria should borrow is well intentioned and cannot be dismissed without careful analysis, given our antecedents as a nation. I am in agreement with those who argue that Nigeria should not borrow simply because its debt to GDP level is low enough to accommodate such borrowing. There must be a clear business case backed by justifiable benefits. I believe that Nigeria has such a case at the present time. Simply put, we need capital investment to grow our economy. At 13% debt to GDP, we compare favourably with the threshold of 30% for developing economies. Our low debt to GDP ratio is not exactly a positive attainment because it is accompanied by critically low level of infrastructure investment. It is actually a false economy. Low capital formation is a risk which, if uncorrected, hinders future economic growth and this is already evident. Borrowing, as we propose, will increase debt to GDP to 16% and still leave us significantly lower than our peer group including Ghana at 70%, South Africa at 50% (2015) and Angola at 31% (2014). Appropriate levels of fiscal deficit have been used to grow many of the most successful global economies. Economic multiplier effect As ours develops, our sources of revenue will grow, diversify, and become less susceptible to external shocks. Our need to borrow will reduce accordingly. It’s important to note that capital spending creates an asset, and this gives a return over time in the form of growth. Infrastructural projects such as rail and roads create jobs, generate taxes and stimulate further spending. This is the economic multiplier effect that capital spending brings. Therefore, while an increase in public spending may create a deficit in the short term, the resultant increase in productivity will lead to a higher rate of economic growth and greater tax revenues. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), for every one billion US dollars invested in infrastructure in developing economies, between 49,000 and 110,000 jobs are created. Our borrowing policy will remain conservative and will see us access the lowest available funds, hence our decision to approach multilateral agencies in the first instance, for budget support at concessional rates as low as 1.5% per annum. We have also secured commitments from Export Credit Agencies that are tied to specific capital projects including key initiatives in power, transport and other infrastructure, and at semi-concessional rates. The balance will be sourced commercially to create a blended cost of capital that’s as low as possible. We are addressing the relatively high debt service to revenue ratio which saw 28.1% of our 2015 revenues devoted to debt. This will be done through a systematic restructuring of inherited debt portfolio into a profile that is aligned with our medium term outlook as well as an increase in our revenues. Borrowing is not our primary focus. Increasing our Internally Generated Revenue is critical because it is sustainable; and because much of the funds collected went unremitted to Government – something we are tackling now. Revenue collection processes Our Revenue Team holds daily revenue sessions with MDAs during which clear targets are set and agreed; monitoring and evaluation are continuous. We are deploying cash-less revenue collection processes in our high earning agencies to ensure maximisation of our receipts. We are working through Treasury Single Account balances with a view to identifying monies that can potentially be used to fund the budget and reduce borrowing. Other costly leakages are being blocked. We have completed a detailed review of tax and duty waivers and discovered that in some cases, Nigeria lost significant revenues and with limited benefits. We are set to begin consultations with stakeholders on a revised policy aligned with the best interests of Nigeria. Furthermore, we are identifying funds that can be released from hitherto untapped sources, including idle and underutilised government assets that have commercial potential including real estate. To this end, Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) is to become a professionally operated Asset Manager, rather than a passive holder of government assets. It will be actively managed to ‘sweat’ Nigeria’s very valuable global asset portfolio. This will generate earnings and constitute additional budget funding. Gradually and with the requisite safeguards, we will authorise the investment of part of the estimated N6Tn currently held in pension funds into key infrastructure that will provide workers with higher returns on their pension funds while enhancing capital formation and economic growth. Nigeria’s first ever Project Tied Infrastructure Bonds are being designed. These are novel structures that will see borrowings tied to specific revenue generating projects, bringing private sector financial discipline to the project structuring and delivery process, thereby improving value. Our first quarter-planned release of N350Bn is ready and is sure to have significant impact, in addition to exploring opportunities to reduce contract prices. Our conditions for release of funds are clear and the mandate is a simple one: to define and agree the number of Nigerians to be engaged as a result of this funding. Priority will be given, without apology, to those creating jobs and opportunity for Nigerians. This level of investment, predominantly capital, exceeds the total capital spend for the whole of 2015 and the tempo will be sustained until the green shoots of recovery begin to appear. John Maynard Keynes’ famous quote on fiscal stimulus – that when economies are depressed, “Government should pay one man to dig a hole and pay another to fill it back” – is an extreme example and suggests an economic benefit in seemingly pointless activity. In Nigeria’s case, the activity to be triggered will be a fully productive one. We will pay men and women to meet our critical needs in power, transport, housing, agriculture, solid minerals, health and education – and lay the foundation for a collective future that is more positive than our current situation may suggest. One of Nigeria’s greatest strengths is the resilience of her people. Even beyond our shores it is widely acknowledged that if you can survive in Nigeria, you can thrive anywhere. Our ability to overcome obstacles and our ingenuity in exploiting opportunities, are legendary; our economic policy will ensure more of us succeed in creating wealth. There is sufficient diversity of opportunity which our capital investment can unlock. We will always celebrate the emergence of billionaires, of course, but we recognise that a thousand millionaires have greater fiscal impact. Therefore, where the number of private jets was touted in the past as a measure of success, we will take pride in the number of people lifted out of poverty, and the number of new jobs created. The idea that Nigeria can succeed this time is, for some, unthinkable. But for those of us privileged to be part of this determinedly patriotic team led by President Muhammadu Buhari, it is and will be possible. Mrs. Kemi Adeosun is the Minister of Finance Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/financing-future-kemi-adeosun/?

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‘Buhari’ll win, handover to Igbo President in 2023’ *Says PDP would lose states in the S’south A Christian cleric in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Prophet Udeme Bassey, has predicted victory for President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC) over Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Saturday. He also predicted that Buhari would handover to an Igbo president in 2023, after successfully completing his tenure and bowing out as the most celebrated president in the nation’s history. Prophet Udeme, who was spot on with his predictions in the 2015 election and Edo state 2016 governorship election, further stated that Buhari’s victory would defy the gang-up by former President Obasanjo and other prominent ex-rulers. “PDP kept Nigeria in the current situation that Nigeria is in today. They have killed and buried Nigeria for 15 years, but God is very pleased with President Muhammadu Buhari and even one million OBJs and Atikus cannot unseat him.” Bassey claimed that the PDP candidate is only on a mission to buy the remaining national assets that he failed to secure from 1999 – 2007 when he was Vice President. Similarly, the cleric who said his prediction followed 31-day fasting and prayers for the 2019 general election, predicted that 70percent of current elected office holders would lose their election. Read Also: Tinubu: Buhari didn’t order shoot on sight “The APC will take over four of the six South-south states and weaker candidates in weaker parties would be favoured. Seventy percent of current politicians would lose their seats to their opponents in 2019. “PMB will appoint more youths, women and Igbo politicians in his cabinet and his second tenure will be more friendly and his governance style will make Nigerians smile again,” he added. Meanwhile, Christian cleric has urged Nigerians to be tolerant of others’ political and general views, stressing that his experience had shown that people are not comfortable with unfavourable truth. He particularly lamented his predicament in the hands of his erstwhile landlord (names withheld) who allegedly threw him out of his apartment because of accurate prediction of the 2016 Edo state governorship race. “I was not owing him rent, but he said that he could not harbour a man who is against his interest in his own house.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/buharill-win-handover-to-igbo-president-in-2023/

Politics

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Port Harcourt – Swaziland’s national football team Coach, Harris Bulunga, said on Tuesday that Super Eagles’ Coach, Sunday Oliseh’s choice of players upset his game plan in a World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria. Bulunga made the remark after the Super Eagles beat Swaziland 2-0 in the match played at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt. Moses Simon scored Nigeria`s first goal in the 51st minute while Defender, Efe Ambrose, nodded in the second goal in the 84th minute. According to Bulunga, we expected Oliseh to field Mikel Obi. We did not see him and it was a surprise to us. “ Sunday Oliseh surprised us with his tactics and choice of players. The Nigerian midfield was generally slow in the first leg in Swaziland. “ In today`s match, the Nigerian midfield was more mobile and fluid and they created more chances in the match’’, he said. The Swazi coach said the Eagles midfield was more coordinated in the game `today.’ He also tipped the Eagles to go places in the World Cup qualifying matches. Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, said the Swazi`s did not come out to attack. “ We had to make changes during the break to open them and score’’, he said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/wcup-qualifier-oliseh-surprised-me-swaziland-coach/

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At the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, two students, Ayinla Lukman T. and Akinlabi Adeniyi of the Department of Statistics, have been expelled for examination misconduct. At its 183rd Statutory Meeting, the Senate decided the two students be advised to surrender all the university’s property in their possession including their identity cards to the Dean of Student Affairs. The duo have been denied entry into the university, unless with a prior written approval. At the same meeting, Mr. Kolade Shopeyin of the Department of Soil Science and Land Management was suspended for two semesters. He was suspended on an allegation of examination misconduct during the 2009/2010 1st Semester Examination. Similarly, Mr. Azeez Adeyemi of the Department of Mathematics has been suspended from the university following his inability to counter allegations on threat to safety of staff and students.

http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2016/10/13/21-chibok-girls-not-swapped-with-detained-boko-haram-terrorists-vp/Una

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Adebanjo no more acting Afenifere leader – Fasoranti Afenifere leader Pa Reuben Fasoranti has said that the meeting of the socio-political organisation will henceforth hold in Akure, capital of Ondo State. He said the leaders of the group will no longer converge on Isoya Ogbo, Ijebu home of the acting leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo. Following the shifting of meeting venue to the residence of the leader, Adebanjo may have ceased to be acting leader. Fasoranti, frontline educator and Second Republic Commissioner for Finance in Ondo State, reiterated the group’s endorsement of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He rejected the insinuations that he was paid to endorse the Jagaban Borgu, saying that he has been a man of principle all his life. Fasoranti said those who started meeting at Ogbo after naming Adebanjo as acting leader misunderstood and misinterpreted him. He lamented that these people shifted the meeting of Afenifere to Adebanjo’s residence because they felt he was becoming senile. Fasoranti said some people felt he could not comprehend things, adding that the person who said that has regretted it. However, Fasoranti said he is not senile, adding that “there is no shaking.” He stressed:”The reason the meeting was shifted was due to misunderstanding and misinterpretation of some people that I was going senile and that I cannot comprehend. When I heard that, I reacted and the person saying that regretted it. “ In a viral video at his Akure residence, the old ‘Action Grouper’ said he will now communicate meeting schedules to Afenifere members after liasoning with the secretary and other leaders on meeting agenda. He maintained that most Afenifere chieftains have said they will not go to Ogbo for meetings. Following the return of meeting venue to Akure, many Afenifere chieftains disclosed that Adebanjo has ceased to be acting leader. A chieftain, who spoke on phone, said:”There can’t be two leaders at a time.” Another chieftain said Adebanjo may fight back, but from a weak position, adding that the group should prepare for crisis management. The Afenifere leader said there is no meeting point between Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, pointing out that they are two different ethnic organisations. Fasoranti promised to leave a legacy of stability and honesty in Afenifere. He said the organisation will continue to pursue restructuring as a cardinal belief. The elderstatesman threw his weight behind the agitation for the use of arms and ammunition by Amotekun to effectively protect the Southwest, stressing that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who is championing the crusade was on course. He also urged government to defend education to halt falling standard.

https://thenationonlineng.net/adebanjo-no-more-acting-afenifere-leader-fasoranti/

Politics

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Former Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof Abisogun Leigh has charged the government to support swimming amongst other recreational activities. Prof Leigh made this known at his investiture as a patron of the Swimming Section of the Lagos Country Club on January 20, 2017. “I’m honoured to be here today and I’m happy about the swimming section and it’s laudable activities. I have always loved swimming from my childhood days so much that I had participated in several swimming competitions and done very well. “I urge the government to create more enabling recreational facilities to aid and engage youths in recreational activities,” Prof Leigh said. The investiture of Prof Leigh at the Swimming section of the Lagos Country club was witnessed by several members of the section as well as friends and associates. Chairman of the section, Oladapo Giwa was full of appreciation as he showered encomium on the 78-year old professor of Animal Breeding and Quantitative Genesis. Oladapo, who spoke at the event which coincided with the section’s Annual General Meeting also reeled out his administration’s success as well as the plans for 2017. Also present on the occasion were President Lagos Country Club, Chief Kayode Moradeyo, ace music producer, Laolu Akintobi and Ademola Adedoyin, media aide to ex-chairman of Skye bank, Tunde Ayeni.

https://www.thenewsguru.com/news/nigeria-news/article/exclusive-tension-in-rivers-as-gov-wike-arrests-22-exxon-mobil-offshore-staff/l

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Patrick Olusegun Odegbami Lagos – As more Nigerians react to former Super Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh’s resignation, Segun Odegbami, a former Green Eagles ace winger, says it is not normal in football. Odegbami, an assistant captain of the Green Eagles in 1980 when Nigeria won the African Nations Cup, said on Friday that quitting the coaching job was a misnomer. “I don’t know the way forward now; the only thing is that it is not normal for anybody, particularly a Nigerian to behave in such a way. “For a coach to just wake up and walk away from his job? A job that pays him between N5 and N7 million every month is not “There is more to it than meet the eye; I hope that one day we will be able to have the truth of the matter about what transpired between Oliseh and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). “There could be a reason behind his abandoning his job because it is not in the culture of coaches to resign their job, there is more to it than meet the eye,’’ he said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/07/13/how-militants-blew-up-atlas-cove-in-lagos/Na

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The Director, Finance and Accounts of the National Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Salau Ozigi on Tuesday maintained that the purchase of the two bulletproof BMW vehicles for the minister of aviation was carried out following the “usual process of lease arrangements”. “All the procurement processes was followed from the office of the NCAA to the office of the supervising ministry” he added. He however noted that transaction was not done on an “outright purchase” system adding that it was “done by an auto lease arrangement with First Bank of Nigeria Ltd”. He said 22 banks submitted bids to carry out the lease arrangement but three banks, First Bank, Stanbic IBTC and Union Bank, were chosen after their bids were critically analysed and First Bank was eventually awarded the contract. The vehicles, which according to Ozigi, were included in the 2013 NCAA Budget under the Safety and Security Vehicles, have been supplied by Messrs Coscharis Nigeria Limited and are parked at the NCAA office in Abuja. He blamed the economics of demand and supply on the high price of the vehicles noting that “only Messrs Coscharis Nigeria Limited is the only authorised dealer or supplier of BMW of this nature” insisting that “there is a lot of economics of demand and supply in this regard”. Ozigi further noted that there is a price monitoring unit within the agency responsible for ensuring the value for money is gotten for whatever is paid for by the agency, adding that fees for the four year warranty, clearance and maintenance of the vehicle, including “some other things” could have been considered to get the value for vehicles. Debunking the claim that money budgeted for the procurement has been overspent he said “on this arrangement, NCAA has been committed to the payment of N23.2 million or there about on a monthly basis” noting that “NCAA has made a payment of N52 million up till the end of September” insisting that it is within the threshold of the amount appropriated for 2013.

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/10/30/due-process-was-followed-in-purchase-of-bulletproof-cars-ncaa/

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Calls for Dickson’s resignation from PDP for betraying the party Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has rejected the offer of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) leadership to intervene in the conflict with outgoing Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson over the Soku Oil Wells/fields returned to Rivers State by the Federal High Court. In an interview on Tuesday, Governor Wike said that there is no premise for the intervention by the PDP leadership since the Federal High Court has already determined the issue in question. He said: “I don’t why they are interceding. They have no power to resolve the issue of Oil Wells. Secondly, the matter has been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. READ ALSO: PDP wades into Wike-Dickson face-off “Anybody who is not satisfied should go on Appeal. Are they interceding on behalf of someone who betrayed the party? “They know that Governor Dickson betrayed and sold out the party. They know that during the 2019 election in Rivers State, what happened in the state. That Dickson worked with my opponent. “Throughout that period, the National Chairman himself knows, that people were calling from all over the country to know the situation. Dickson never called one day. “This was because of his alignment with the opposition. I can show proof that Dickson had already made up his mind to go over to APC. “I am not going to sit down with anybody to discuss anything as it relates to Governor Dickson. I have no business with Governor Dickson.” Governor Wike said that the right thing for Dickson to do is to resign from the PDP so that PDP leaders in Bayelsa State can rebuild the party. “In fact, Governor Dickson ought to have resigned from the party by now. So that the leaders of PDP in Bayelsa would rebuild the party. “The National Leadership of the party should know that the only option left for PDP to be strong in Bayelsa is for Dickson to leave the party,” he said. The Governor said that the party’s intervention is no longer profitable in view of the incalculable damage done by the Outgoing Bayelsa State Governor. He said: “Where was the party when Dickson sold out? Why couldn’t they come out to speak out? Governor Dickson, you have killed our party in that State. What is anyone wading in for? I am not going to be a party to that and nobody will stop me. “Nobody fights Rivers State and gets any benefits out of it. I have said it severally. I am not here because of my interest. I am here because of the interest of Rivers State. “The party would have waded in when they saw fraud. That Dickson was killing the party in Bayelsa State. He has achieved his aim by making sure nobody comes after him as he leaves office in February 2020. “Do you know the effect of APC winning Bayelsa State? And they are talking of wading in.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/12/governor-wike-rejects-pdps-intervention-in-disagreement-with-dickson/

Politics

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…We are not owing Education commissioner insists By Ozioruva Aliu – Benin City For the 20th day running, staff and pensioners of College of Education, Ekiadolor yesterday staged a protest at the entrance gate to the Edo Ministry of Education, Iyaro, to demand their 12 months unpaid salaries and pensions. The workers have been occupying the entrance gate to the government house, last week they blocked the Ugbowo Axis of the Benin–Lagos Highway and they took their protest to the Ministry of Education premises. But the state government has insisted that it was not owing any worker and this was reiterated by the Commissioner for Education, Jimoh Ejegbai, when he told Vanguard on phone that the College of Education was defunct while the state government was meeting up with the agreement entered into with the workers. “They entered an agreement of 65 per cent that should be paid on a monthly basis, we have paid up to the month of June this year”, he said. But speaking to journalists, Chairman, Senior Staff Union, College of Education (SSUCE) Ekiadolor, Comrade Ken Omoruyi, said the protest would continue until their demands were met. He said; “The state government owes us 12 months salaries and we are here to debunk the rumours making rounds that the staff of the College has been redeployed. “We are here to see the Commissioner for Education and ask him when we were redeployed and if we were given redeployment letters. “There are also rumours that the College of Education has ceased to exist, which is not true because the state government appointed a Provost, Registrar and Bursar for the College.” Similarly, the chairman of the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Comrade Fred Omonuwa, Chairman, College of Education Academy Staff Union and President, Coalition of Unions in the college said the college had not been given adequate subvention in recent times. He said: “We have been on this protest for a long time and decided to take it to the Ministry of Education. The Commissioner said we are no longer Staff, but no sack letter to that effect, he also said we have been redeployed, but we were not given letters of redeployment”. Also, Mr Efosa Uzebu, who spoke on behalf of the pensioners of the college, said they were being owed 12 months pensions and gratuity. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/08/edo-college-of-education-staff-protest-12-month-unpaid-salaries-pensions/

Politics

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•Reduce tax, dues steeply •Pull back on spending not geared towards human capital •Give Julius Berger equity to fix power •Give CCECC equity to connect ports by rail to all regions •Import food immediately at zero duty to crash food prices and inflation •Customs should reduce dollar-based charges •NNPC, NAFDAC, JAMB, FIRS should offer payment holidays. •Offer tax credit to firms that increase workers salaries •Ban importation of some products relating to food and clothing to save FX •Impose moratorium on some debts •Reopen northern borders •VP’s ECONOMIC ADVISER: Inflation is killing By Tunde Oso Protests broke out in Minna, Niger State capital, and Kano metropolis on Monday as residents took to the streets to demand an end to soaring cost of living in the country. Their action was understandable: Inflation was shooting through the roof. The Federal Government immediately responded by convening an emergency meeting to address rising food prices and urged millers and major traders to make their reserves available among other measures. The situation is apparently dire as the report of the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, for January this year had revealed that consumer inflation rose for the 12th straight month, highest in more than 27 years, in December 2023 to 28.92% year-on-year from November’s 28.20%, with food prices surging. The food inflation rate, which accounts for the bulk of Nigeria’s inflation basket, rose to 33.93% in December from 32.84% a month earlier. The NBS said prices rose for a broad range of food items, which include bread and cereals, oil, fish, meat, fruit and eggs; with economic analysts saying “inflationary pressures are only likely to build from here,” citing second-round effects from the removal of fuel subsidy last year and Naira weakness. The NBC then predicted that inflation would breach 30% by the end of the first quarter of 2024. President Bola Tinubu had, last May, embarked on Nigeria’s boldest reforms in decades by scrapping a costly, but popular fuel subsidy and devaluing the currency to try to stimulate economic growth. But growth is yet to pick up while inflation has worsened. This happened as the soaring inflation continues to eat deep into the purchasing power of many Nigerians, taking staple foods from the table of many and increasing the poverty level in the country. January and February typically witness reduced demand post-Yuletide, leading to lower prices. However, 2024 has seen an unexpected defiance of this trend in food prices. Sunday Vanguard survey, covering Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Maiduguri, reveals increased prices for garri, beans, yams, corn, bread and cooking gas. Rice prices range between N65, 000 and N68, 000 per bag while tomatoes’ prices have increased in Lagos. The survey shows that prices for cooking gas and charcoal are steadily rising. A garri seller in Orile Market mentioned a significant increase in paint rubber garri price from N650 to N850 since December. In the same market, a Derica (tomato can) of beans, which sold for N600 in December, now sells for N750. At face value, the size of yams that cost N1, 400 in December has increased to N1, 600. The same is true with the price of bread in the Orile area of Lagos. Compared to Iyana Ipaja Market on the outskirts of Lagos, the differences in the prices of agricultural products above are negligible. While poor Nigerians are making sacrifices for the survival of the nation by enduring the hardship that comes with adjustment in petrol pump prices, the political officeholders seem not to care. Rather than Nigerian politicians cutting the cost of governance, they are busy living large and spending scarce resources on luxury. Sunday Vanguard thus spoke with some top economic analysts on the tasks before government at all levels. Only improvement in agric will solve food crisis – Prof Tella Sheriffdeen Tella, a professor of economics at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, said, “The two policies implemented were actually in order. But the problems created thereafter ought to be expected and prepared for which did not happen. “The major problems are massive depreciation of naira, rising cost of production and what looks like galloping inflation. “I support most of the measures taken but not the modus operandi. “The provision of palliatives by FG through states was good but the states did not implement the palliatives simultaneously. Some have not even been implemented till now. “So, the conditions have worsened for many citizens. There’s a need to check what happens with palliative implementation in troubled states. “Only improvement in farming, agriculture and industrial production will solve the problems with financial and fiscal interventions and reduction in security problems. “Then we start working on production with largely domestic inputs. “For exchange rate, there is a need to ban importation of some products relating to food and clothing, go for a moratorium on some debts, and increase oil and gas exports with proceeds to solve debt repayment and servicing with excess as reserves for intervention in the FX market.” There is urgent need to create policies that will tackle inflation – Yahaya, Chairman, Arewa Economic Forum Chairman of Arewa Economic Forum, Mallam Ibrahim Yahaya, on his part, said, “While allocations have been increased to the other tiers of government by the Federal Government, it hasn’t impacted on the people. “So the Federal Government needs to do the needful by creating policies that will have direct inflation-mitigating effect on the people, especially the most vulnerable and it should be done as quickly as possible because people are at their tethers ends. “The government has done what it deemed necessary but it hasn’t done what’s needed to alleviate the expected sufferings of the people most especially those in the North bedevilled by insecurity, poverty and lack of necessary support from the Federal Government. “The sufferings are further enhanced by the closure of the northern borders thereby hindering trade and movement of people. “Equally, whilst saluting the doggedness of our security forces, we note also that their needs are not adequately met to assist them in discharging their duties. “Therefore, the government’s policies haven’t met the most basic of the needed assistance that the people need and deliberate government modernisation of the agricultural sector and funding of small and medium-sized businesses.” States need to pay owed salaries, gratuities, pensions, and contractors — Tope Fasua, aide to VP Shettima Mr Tope Fasua. Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Office of the Vice President, said, “Over the weekend I did a market survey. The inflation is killing. I have informed the bosses. “State Governors are getting double from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). “All of them are busting their budgets this year. “They should please start to pay owed salaries, gratuities and pensions; pay owed contractors; urgently issue contracts for projects with high local content e.g. roads and housing. “Our people need to be able to survive the skyrocketing cost of living. That paint can of beans is N5, 000; five big yams go for N9, 000; basket of onions N3, 000, I haggled but I know that these guys too are just trying to survive. “It is not good enough for the National Bureau of Statistics to simply supply us with new inflation numbers monthly and for us all to go to sleep afterwards, waiting for next month. “With the infrastructure I have in mind, the idea is to put in place a level of awareness, a response system, and regulation in place to tackle inflation before it runs away. “The best time to put such a system in place is a time like this – with inflation at 28.92 per cent (a 24-years high number), and the huge struggle to tame that runaway plunderer of value. “What Nigeria needs is not just to react to inflation numbers, playing the role of price-takers, and panicking. “We need to put in place right now, and for the future, systems and policies that will help us manage inflation today and in the future, ensuring that we don’t have wild swings.” Import food immediately at zero duty to crash prices — Aja, Financial Education Instructor Kalu Aja, a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), on his X handle, raced through what federal and state governments should do: “Every federal agency should immediately do a steep reduction in taxes and dues charged. Suspend IGR for now, pull back on spending not geared towards human capital. “Give Julius Berger 5% equity of NNPC Ltd (they pay) and ask them to fix power. Same with CCECC, give them 5% of NNPC equity to connect all ports by rail to all regions. “Import food immediately at zero duty to crash prices of food and inflation. Customs should immediately reduce the dollar-based charges. NNPC, NAFDAC, JAMB, even FIRS should offer payment holidays. “The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) can offer a tax credit to companies that increase workers salaries. Same for states, pull back on taxes and levies. “Federal Government should sell 10% of NLNG, use funds to state a nationwide affordable housing program, that’s jobs and consumption. Get the youth out of social media and into the job market. “Outsource if necessary the patrolling of the Nigerian nautical waters to prevent the stealing of crude oil. “Drop this national pride; if a Western Navy will assist, let them block oil theft completely. “Cut the executive and NASS budget by 25% to give savings to BOI and banks to set up equity funds and grants to MSMEs. We are in survivalist mode, not IGR mode, once we cross this phase, then IGR can restart”. Palliatives failed due to poor implementation — Ucheagwu, GM, Valmon Securities Dr. Chukwuma, Ucheagwu, the General Manager of Valmon Securities Limited, said, “The current administration is running market-oriented policies which is a paradigm shift from a managed economy. These reforms’ objective is to correct the distortions in the system and sanitize the market. “It is important to note that these reforms are not short term and would bring about pains as the reform runs its full course. The removal of fuel subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange rate are key to the market-oriented policies. These twin policies are at the heart of main causes of high cost of living and inflation. The two variables are the root causes of the high inflation rate. “In economics, price is determined by the interplay of demand and supply. When demand is higher than supply, price increases and vice versa. In Nigeria we are predominantly a consuming nation. Our penchant for foreign goods is high hence the demand pressure on the equation is very high. Nothing meaningful has been done to address the supply side. Sources of government revenue are lean. We are more of a mono-product nation and our export base is narrow. We depend more on oil revenue to earn foreign currency while we chase the scarce available foreign currency for import leading to a perennial negative balance of trade. “Another factor stoking food inflation and exacerbating hardship is the heightened insecurity across the country. Banditry, kidnapping, farmers/herders’ rift, and terrorism are rife in the country. This situation has severely hampered farming even for subsistence purposes. The supply of food product is constrained hence increase in price. “The remedial policies put in place by the government in form of palliatives have not achieved the desired result due to poor implementation. We understand that the Federal Government sometime last year released a certain amount of money to the State Government to provide palliatives to their people based on need purposes. There is no record that this initiative was well implemented. The federal government also released certain items to the Representatives in the National Assembly for their constituencies. It is not clear whether the objective was achieved. Given these failures, the government must rethink the strategies of dishing out these palliatives or hand-outs as it appears because they have not succeeded in addressing the challenge. We understand that governments (State and Federal) have placed orders for CNG-powered vehicles to cushion the effect of the high cost of transportation, but we have yet to see this happen. “Given the recent protest, the government should devise strategies to solve the problems of hunger and transportation in the short term. State governments should implement social welfare plans for their people. While the issue of minimum wage is being addressed at the federal level, governments should dole out allowances to workers in the interim. Government should assist farmers in all possible ways to achieve food security. There should be a food bank sponsored by the government to help the most vulnerable in society. There should be mass transit vehicles to relieve transportation challenges, and this should be done urgently. The government should subsidize Medicare. The vulnerable should be able to access Medicare at little or no cost. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/02/hunger-in-the-land-top-economists-hand-to-do-list-to-tinubu/amp/

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Ife chiefs appease gods over faulty broadcast of Ooni’s death •Sijuwade’s family members move out of palace Members of the Iledi, a group of traditionalists, have begun rituals to appease the gods over the way the death of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II, was announced. Sources within the Ogboni Ibile (Iledi Ooni) said that the announcement on social and traditional media broke traditional protocol. They noted that the development could attract the wrath of the gods, hence the need to appease them to prevent calamities. Sources revealed that the remains of Oba Sijuwade were committed to mother earth on Friday night, hours after an inter-religious service for the late monarch. Christians, Muslims and the traditionalists participated in the inter-religious service held at Enuwa Square, opposite the palace otherwise known as Ile Oodua. According to the palace sources, the body was buried after several traditional rites had been concluded. The sources also revealed that people expecting a public burial for Oba Sijuwade were disappointed because “Ooni is not an ordinary individual, whose burial is done without rituals and ceremonies. The members of the Iledi added that the burial rites on Oba Sijuwade’s body was done in 201 shrines before it was buried. It was learnt that Oba Sijuwade’s successor would also pass through the 201 rites before being crowned the next Ooni. Iledi Ooni is the group of traditional Ogboni, that works with the Ooni, offering wise counsels from the traditional point of view. The group used to serve as the Supreme Court in the old days before modernity brought democracy and its institutions. Members of the Sijuwade’s family have moved out of the palace with their property, leaving the palace free.

http://thenationonlineng.net/ife-chiefs-appease-gods-over-faulty-broadcast-of-oonis-death/

Culture

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By Steve Oko, Aba Lawyer to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Mr Chukwuemeka Okoroafor, Friday, escaped an assassination attempt in Abuja, according to IPOB source. IPOB Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who disclosed this in a press statement he personally signed, condemned the attack, describing it as “war on Biafra”. The incident according to Kanu, occurred after the lawyer had visited a security facility where some IPOB members arrested at Obigbo Rivers State during the #EndSARS protest were detained in Abuja. Kanu fingered security agents for the attack alleging that it was a ploy to scare lawyers from taking briefs from IPOB. The statement read in part: “Following the assassination attempt made in Abuja today on Barrister Chukwuemeka Richard Okoroafor, the IPOB lawyer who has been making frantic efforts to secure freedom for our ladies abducted from Obigbo at the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest and taken to Abuja, I, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, want to put the world on notice that the Nigeria Government has declared war on Biafra. Also read: Insecurity: CAN urges Buhari to proscribe all Miyetti Allah groups, stop visa on arrival policy “The assassination attempt was in their desperation to frustrate us from securing freedom for these innocent ladies who the uncircumcised and amorous elements in the security agencies have turned into their … slaves. “Barrister Okoroafor went to the military base in Suleja to confirm that our people are held there including Elvis Ngozi and 109 others. ” On coming out to Suleja- Bida Road, an unmarked white Hilux just crossed and opened fire on him. “He told me that before leaving the base he discovered that his left back tyre was marked with black paint in the rim. He ran into Suleja Area Command and made a report. This testimony convinced me that the attackers are security agents. “Security agents attempted to assassinate IPOB lawyer to frighten other lawyers from standing in for IPOB members. ” The leadership of IPOB has come to realize that Nigeria has decided to engage IPOB in war. “The whole world must take note of this barbaric attack against innocent Barrister Chukwuemeka Richard Okoroafor, a lawyer who is doing his professional job. “Since they have taken it upon themselves to assassinate IPOB lawyers and to stop IPOB from challenging them with truth, they will soon reap the fruit of their evil seed.” Kanu demanded the immediate release of all Biafran ladies in security cells, vowing that no amount of intimidation will make him give up the agitation for Biafra. ” We, therefore, demand the immediate release of all our ladies in their custody. “May we reiterate that no amount of intimidation can make us give up the agitation for the restoration of Biafra. We are resolved to actualise this divine mandate in the shortest possible time.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/02/nnamdi-kanu-fingers-security-agents-as-ipob-lawyer-escapes-assassination-attempt-in-abuja/

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By Prince Osuagwu The Lagos State government, through the Urban Furniture Regulatory Unit,UFRU, has once again rolled out a new set of standards for the installation of communications masts in the state. UFRU is the Lagos Government Agency, under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development that is responsible for the regulation of masts installation in the state. This time around, Lagos may not be targeting the telecommunications companies with the new standards but Internet services Providers, Banks and other financial institutions. The agency admitted that although telecom operators are the highest deployers of masts in the state, the new standards may not affect them because their masts comply with international standards, approved specifications and quality of steel materials. It however revealed that those that may be mainly affected included the banks, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and other Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, that are using communication masts for their businesses. Reeling out the new standards to bank officials in Lagos recently, General Manager of the agency, Mr. Joe Igbokwe warned that henceforth, all communication masts in the state not erected with galvanized steel materials and not between 30 metres and 50 metres high, contravenes the new standard. He stated that the galvanized steel material replaces the hollow pipes that was hither to used by banks and ISPs in installing masts in the state. Igbokwe also noted that the new standards became imperative because of the coastal nature of Lagos and the global climate change. According to him, “the state government had since discovered that hollow pipes have little resistance to strong wind and other weather conditions like rain and sun, thus giving way easily to the slightest wind. This has resulted in collapse of several masts that have killed several people and destroyed property worth billions of naira in the state. “All hollow pipe type of masts must be removed and replaced with galvanized steel that has the shape of a pyramid. We will not accept re- painting of masts, but a complete evacuation of hollow pipe masts, and the evacuation must start now,” Igbokwe warned. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/lagos-govt-lists-new-standards-for-masts/

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FG to hospitals: replace striking doctors with NYSC members By Samuel Oamen The Federal Government has directed tertiary hospitals to engage the services of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members to maintain routine services in place of striking resident doctors. Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire said the measure to “mitigate the effect” of the strike by resident doctors across the country. The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embarked on nationwide strike on Monday over non-payment of their COVID-19 hazard allowance and other demands. To address the absence of resident doctors as a result of the industrial action, Ehanire gave Federal Health institutions four guidelines to comply with. “COVID-19 treatment outlets should continue to function as before; emergency services should continue to run as before; routine services should be maintained with consultants, NYSC Doctors; locum staffers to be brought in when and where necessary to forestall services disruption when applicable and affordable,” the minister said. “I call on the NARD to return to work and engage the Federal Government in completing the ongoing due process of implementing the MoU between NARD and government. “I wish to assure the general public that measures have been put in place to ensure that they continue to access services at all our federal tertiary hospitals across the country,” he said.

https://thenationonlineng.net/fg-to-hospitals-replace-striking-doctors-with-nysc-members/

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Malami tells Senate panel: I met with Maina in Dubai Justice minister admits writing commission ‘Maina ran account through sms, e-mail’ A clearer picture of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami’s role in the reinstatement of fugitive civil servant Abdulrasheed Maina emerged yesterday. The minister admitted before a Senate ad hoc panel probing Maina’s reinstatement into the civil service and promotion to acting director that he met with Maina in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) last year. He also said he wrote letters to the Federal Civil Service Commission (FRSC) on the sacked chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team. Maina was in 2015 accused of over N2billion pension fraud and declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC enlisted the International Police (INTERPOL) to trace Maina. But he dramatically showed up in the country and was last month reinstated as acting director in the Ministry of Interior. An embarrassed President Muhammadu Buhari ordered Maina’s immediate sack and a probe of how he was brought back. The EFCC stepped up its investigation. But Maina has not been seen since then. The Senate panel is conducting its probe in camera with a promise to brief reporters at the end of its investigation. But a source told The Nation last night that Malami, Interior Minister Abdulrahman Danbazau and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior appeared before the committee. The Interior minister and the permanent secretary insisted that they played no role in Maina’s recall that the attorney general admitted writing three letters to the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) on Maina. But he said he did not bring him back. Senators reportedly asked the minister questions ranging from the authenticity of the correspondence between him and the FCSC, the constitutionality of his alleged directives to the commission and the extent of his involvement in the reinstatement of the controversial civil servant. Another source close to the committee said: “Malami agreed before the parliamentary panel that he held a meeting with Maina in Dubai, although he insisted that he was not responsible for his dramatic return to the service. “ The source added: “The committee discovered that three letters were written by the Justice Minister asking questions from the FCSC on Maina. There is no record that the questions were answered by the FCSC in any correspondence. “The fourth letter was written by the Attorney-general in January as a directive to the Civil Service Commission to reinstate Maina. In the letter, the AG asked for Maina’s status, his position, rank and next rank. “There was another letter in February where the AG directed the Civil Service Commission to reinstate Maina. The committee frowned at this because under the constitution, they felt the AG cannot issue that kind of directive.” According to the source, the AG wrote another letter in April asking whether the reinstatement had been effected. In that letter, he directed the FCSC to promote Maina to Director. The source added: “When committee members asked the AG to react to the allegations that he wrote the letters, the AG agreed that he wrote them, but said he could not remember all that he wrote. He pleaded with the committee to allow him contact his files to ascertain the content. He promised to return tomorrow. The committee agreed. The source added: “The committee was satisfied that the Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation documented everything. “The Committee observed that she was tidy. It was learnt that at the sitting, the HoS did not release the purported letter written by the Civil Service Commission to Maina. The question the committee will be finding answer to on Thursday is where the Ministry of Interior got the letter it relied upon to reinstate Maina”.

http://thenationonlineng.net/malami-tells-senate-panel-met-maina-dubai/

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Senate President Lawan By Henry Umoru THE President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan has taken a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, alleging that its maladministration in 16 years allowed for BoKo Haram insurgency to fester. Lawan’s accusation was at the Presidential Campaign Rally of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) which took place in Damaturu Yobe State. The rally was attended by the leader of the party, President Muhammadu Buhari who arrived in the state on official visit on Monday. In a statement yesterday by his Media Adviser, Ola Awoniyi, the President of the Senate said: “PDP mismanaged and mal-administer Nigeria for 16 years. “When Boko Haram started in the northeast, in Borno state, the then leadership of PDP said it was not true. There was nothing like Boko Haram and Boko Haram blossomed. Boko Haram flourished and Boko Haram gained ground and took root. “Your Excellency, Boko Haram caused maximum, devastating impacts in our lives here. Your Excellency, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa particularly, we were under a state of emergency for 18 months. “For 18 months, the Federal Government then, stopped our statutory allocations to our local governments. We suffered, our people suffered. No developmental projects going on at all until you came in 2015. That was the salvation moment. “We are indeed very grateful to Almighty God that the APC, that platform and the people of Nigeria needed a change. They needed a leadership that will care. They needed a leadership that will not segregate and that leadership is your leadership. “During that time, even the ecological fund or stabilisation account was based on party. They will give to only PDP states. They will not give other states that were in opposition.You came, you changed all that. “Your Excellency, today, we have 41 million registered Nigerians as APC members. All we need to do is mobilise our base. “Your Excellency, Yobe State is an APC base. Infact at the risk of sounding controversial, I there say that there is no state in Nigeria that is more APC than Yobe State. We are going to deliver every contestable seat to APC in Yobe State. “Your Excellency, you have been in the seat of leadership in this country. For the seven and half years, you have done wonderfully well. ‘They lied. And lied and lied. They want us to believe that they did something. Infact PDP should be ashamed of itself. They destroyed this country. They should have no chance to go round this country, seeking the support of Nigerians. “You have provided security. As far as we are concerned, the new insecurity that we are seeing, we have acknowledged that it is true and that is the beginning of the solution and we are all working hard to ensure that before you leave, before Asiwaju takes the oath of office on the 29th of May, 2023, the security situation would have further improved.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/02/borno-massacre-boko-haram-ideology-devilish-buhari/Your

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BREAKING: Court postpones judgment on Ayade’s defection A Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled judgement for April 6 in the suit seeking to sack the Cross River Governor, Ben Ayande and his Deputy, Ivara Esu over their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Justice Taiwo Taiwo had earlier planned the judgment for March 25, 2022. Read Also: Defection: Ayade to know fate Friday But, when The Nation visited the court this morning, its was indicated on the cause list that the judgement would now be rendered on April 6. The suit marked: FHC/ABI/CS/975/2021 was filed by the PDP, with INEC, Ayade, Esu and APC as defendants.

https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-court-postpones-judgment-on-ayades-defection/?fbclid=IwAR3d3DmKpYyWj454mPGeupwZxVxU1mNjwCvvfMOAbtcQumeGjUWZlUR4xWw

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By Vera Sam Anyagafu Following the recently concluded Forum on China and Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing, President Muhammadu Buhari and President, Xi Jinping, were reportedly said to have reached a broad consensus for new opportunities that will further enhance China-Nigeria strategic partnership, even as both countries witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by their foreign ministers. This was disclosed by the Chinese Consul General in Lagos, Ambassador, Chao Xiaoliang, who also noted that the new opportunities are expected to attract multiple benefits for the government and people of Nigeria, as the opportunities will translate into closer connection in policy, finance, trade, infrastructure, and people-to-people ties. Xiaoliang said that, Nigeria and China have reached a broad consensus to bind themselves to the Belt and Road Initiative, which essentially seeks to extensively build up stronger cooperation and ensure shared gains between the two countries. “China and African countries are destined to be good friends, good brothers and good partners. China-Africa relations have demonstrated unprecedented solidarity, vitality and creativity, which offer significant opportunities to both sides. “ This also applies to China Nigeria relations, as China together with Nigeria and other African countries are ready to join hands to build a China-Africa community with a shared future that features joint responsibility, win-win cooperation, happiness for all, as well as a common cultural prosperity, common security, and harmonious co-existence”, Xiaoliang stated. Going forward, he said that, Nigeria and China have gained fruitful achievements from friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields, and both countries have corresponding development strategy, strong economic complementation and enormous cooperative potential. “Deepening China-Nigeria friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation is in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of the two countries and their citizens. Our partnership will generate more resources for everyone, expand markets and create space for African development and broaden its economic prospects, even as we get set to welcome participants in China’s first-ever International Import-Export Expo November, 2018 in Shanghai, “And to build an even closer China-African community with a shared future in the new era, President Xi Jinping has announced that China will, on the basis of the ten cooperation plans already adopted, launch eight major initiatives in close collaboration with African countries in the next three years and beyond”, Xiaoliang added, while listing the eight initiatives as Industrial promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, green development, capacity building, and health care, in addition to people-to-people, peace and security. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/nigeria-china-mou-will-create-new-opportunities-for-both-countries-chinese-consul-general/

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PDP rejects presidential Aspirant: PDP Presidential Aspirant Dr. Abduljhalil Tafabalewa displaying his N22milion teller from GTB rejected by PDP official. PDP official claimed that Presidential Forums were not available. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan By Henry Umoru ABUJA- AHEAD of December 6 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP where President Goodluck Jonathan, the sole presidential candidate of the party would be ratified, the National leadership of the party, yesterday made a U- Turn, saying the Presidential forms were now available for all. According to a two paragraph statement Monday night by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party urged all those who have paid for the Expression of Interest and nomination forms which include that of the president should visit the party’s National Secretariat to pick the forms. Metuh who insisted that sale of forms for aspirants closes on Thursday this week , said, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wishes to inform all aspirants to all positions for the 2015 general elections that the deadline for the purchase and collection of all nomination forms has been extended to Thursday, 6th November 2014. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/2015-u-turn-pdp-opens-sale-presidential-forms-tafawa-balewas-son-mko-abiolas-wife-others/

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MAIDUGURI (AFP) – A purported spokesman for Islamist sect Boko Haram claimed Thursday that the group, blamed for attacks including the suicide bombing of UN headquarters in Nigeria, has links with Al-Qaeda. “It is true we have links with Al-Qaeda,” the man identifying himself as Abul Qaqa told reporters in a phone conference in the Hausa language. “They assist us and we assist them.” Abul Qaqa has claimed to speak on behalf of Boko Haram on a number of previous occasions. He did not provide further details on the supposed link. He said “any Muslim group that is struggling to establish an Islamic state can get support from Al-Qaeda if they reach out to them.” There has long been speculation, particularly among Western nations, over whether Boko Haram has formed links with outside extremist groups, including Al-Qaeda’s north African branch. Boko Haram has been blamed for scores of attacks in Nigeria, including the August suicide bombing of UN headquarters in the capital Abuja that killed at least 24 people. A bomb explosion rocked Maiduguri late Wednesday in the latest such attacks by the sect but nobody was hurt, state police chief Simeon Midenda said. The explosion in a desolate area of the city was part of a new strategy devised by the sect in attacks targeting a special military unit deployed in the city to counter the sect, he said Thursday. “We have realised that Boko Haram members have come up with a new tactic of detonating bombs in places where there are no people and then lay ambush on soldiers who will naturally deploy to the area where there is explosion,” he said. The group is believed to have a number of factions with varying aims. Nigeria’s secret police alleged this week that some Boko Haram members have links to politicians following the arrest of another alleged spokesman for the group. Abul Qaqa refuted the secret police claims during the phone conference, while also threatening to kill a political figure in the northeastern state of Borno as well as attack political party offices. He issued the threat against Baba Basharu, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Borno, because of comments he reportedly made linking Boko Haram to former Borno state governor Ali Modu Sheriff. Basharu reportedly said Sheriff had allied with the group, but then the two sides had fallen out, causing Boko Haram members to turn against the then-governor. Abuk Qaqa said Boko Haram had two conditions for dialogue with the government, describing them as “implementation of sharia in Nigeria and the withdrawal of troops from Maiduguri.” A military task force has been deployed to the northeastern city of Maiduguri in a bid to stop Boko Haram, but soldiers have been accused of major abuses, including killing civilians and burning their homes. Islamic sharia law is in place in 12 states in northern Nigeria, but it is selectively enforced. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/11/al-qaeda-assist-us-and-we-assist-them-boko-haram-spokesman/

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The Lagos State Government on Wednesday, shut down 70 churches, 20 mosques and about 11 hotels, club houses and beer parlours in a move aimed at reducing noise in the state. The General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Bola Shabi, who made this known, said that henceforth, the state government would no longer allow make-shift buildings to be used as places of worship. Shabi said: “Precisely about 70 churches, 20 mosques and about 11 hotels, club houses and beer parlours were shut and we’ve given them some directives to follow. “We’ve been so strict now that we are not going to even allow make-shift churches in the state any longer. “What I mean by make-shift, using tents and uncompleted building, we are not going to allow that any further in the state. “But I will strongly tell you that the level of compliance is more on the mosque area, because immediately you shut them, they instantly bring down their speakers or reduce the noise they make.’’ Shabi said that LASEPA planned to reduce noise in the state to 70 percent and to zero per cent by the year 2020. “As at today, we are only able to reduce the noise level to about 35 per cent. That is not a pass mark yet. So, until we reach that target of 70 to 80 per cent, we will continue the enforcement. Enforcement is a continuous exercise and we have set a target for ourselves. We want to ensure that Lagos is noise-free by the year 2020. With our status as a mega city, by year 2020 we will be free of noise,’’ he said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/lagos-shuts-down-70-churches-20-mosques-over-noise-pollution/

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What Buhari has done on killings, by Presidency The Presidency defended yesterday its response to the killings across the country. It gave a timeline of President Muhammadu Buhari’s activities to end it. All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole said the party was concerned about the killings. He called on security agents to prove to Nigerians that they can defend them and ensure the safety of lives and properties. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) advised Nigerians to stop blaming President Buhari for the killings, saying: “Nigerian lawmakers should take the lion’s share of the blame, followed by the citizens and the media”. It added that politicians, tribal bigots and a section of the media, which has been spreading wrong information about killings, should also take the blame. Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said: “A popular refrain from some quarters is that the President is not doing enough to combat the insecurity that has beleaguered the country in recent times. “Lest that untruth begin to wear a garb of reality, let us consider some initiatives taken under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to rein in the security situation, particularly since January, 2018. For January 2018, Adesina said: “Leadership of the police deployed in Benue State, after mass killings reportedly committed by herdsmen. This was followed by a fact-finding team led by the Minister of Interior, and deployment of Special Forces of the military to restore law and order. “National Economic Council sets up 10-man committee on farmers/herdsmen clashes, headed by the Vice President. “The 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, launched a special operation,Karamin Goro (Small Kolanut), in collaboration with the Air Force, Police, Department of State Services, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC; to tackle kidnapping, robbery and cattle rustling in parts of Kaduna and Niger states (Minna-Birnin Gwari-Pandogari and Minna-Sarkin Pawa general areas).” In February 2018, “the Nigerian Army commenced Exercise Ayem Akpatuma covering Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Niger states, in order to tackle kidnappings, herdsmen/farmers’ clashes, among others”. “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) inducted its first indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV),Tsaigumi. The newly-inducted UAV has day and night capability, an operational endurance in excess of 10 hours, a service ceiling of 15,000 feet and a mission radius of 100km, and is capable of being used for policing operations, disaster management, convoy protection, maritime patrol, pipeline, power line monitoring as well as mapping and border patrol duties. “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) established 10 new Units as NAF had concluded plans to set up Quick Response Wings (QRWs) across Nasarawa State, in a bid to tackle the herders/farmers clashes plaguing some states within the axis.” In March, Adesina said, the government took some steps, including President Buhari’s sympathy visits to states that had experienced wanton killings in the country. “The Nigerian Army extended Exercise Ayem Akpatuma in Taraba State by two months. “The committee set up by the National Economic Council on farmers/herdsmen clashes submits report, making far reaching recommendations for peace, including ranching in five states. For April 2018, Adesina said the Air Force took delivery of a second batch of two brand new Mi-35N helicopter gunships to boost internal security. It deployed Special Forces to Zamfara State to combat criminality. In May 2018, police inaugurated a Mobile Squadron in Takum, Taraba State, the Nigerian Air Force established three new Quick Response Wings (QRW) in Taraba, Nasarawa and Benue states, and deployed Special Forces personnel to these new bases. (Taraba State QRW is located in Nguroje; Nasarawa State QRW in Doma; and Benue State QRW in Agatu). Also in May, “Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris ordered the deployment of 200 policemen, and 10 patrol vehicles to Birnin Gwari (Kaduna-Zamfara axis) to tackle armed banditry in the area. “President Buhari approved the establishment of a new Battalion of the Nigerian Army, as well as a new Police Area Command, in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna State, as part of measures to scale up the security response to the banditry affecting the area. Chief of Army Staff. Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has since flagged off the new Battalion (2 Battalion Forward Operating Base, FOB) in Kanfanin Doka Village, Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna State. “The Defence Headquarters assembled a Special Military Intervention Force comprising more than 1,000 personnel, drawn from the Army, Air Force, Navy, Police, DSS and NSCDC, to respond to the security challenges in the North Central and North West. On May 8, 2018, the Force launched Operation WHIRL STROKE as a full-scale military operation to completely restore law, order and stability in the affected communities. The Whirl Stroke Operational Force Commander is Major General Adeyemi Yekini. “Chief of Army Staff inducted a mix of 49 Toyota Land Cruisers and Innoson gun trucks at the HQ of the 133 Special Forces Battalion of the Nigerian Army at Azare to support the ongoing OPERATION LAST HOLD in Northern Borno. “NAF launched newly-constructed accommodation for the 205 Combat Search and Rescue Group (CSARG) — established in 2017 to provide aid and operational assistance to wounded and distressed troops serving in combat units — in Kerang, Plateau State. “The Air Task Force of NAF commenced Operation THUNDER STRIKE to attack selected locations of Boko Haram Terrorists in the North-East. “The Nigerian Army commissioned its new Forward Operating Base in Epe, Lagos State.” Adesina said in June 2018, the NAF deployed combat helicopters to its 207 Quick Response Group (QRG) in Gusau, Zamfara State to support the fight against armed banditry in the town and its environs. President Buhari approved the establishment of Operation WHIRL STROKE II, for deployment in Zamfara and Kaduna states. Securing the length and breadth of the country, he noted, is a continuing commitment. “It is one of the key pledges of the Buhari administration, which it is carrying out night and day,” the spokesman stressed. According to him, the security situation in the country in May 2015 when the administration came on board was in tatters. Adesina added: “It pulled up its bootstraps, rolled up its sleeves, set to work, and the Boko Haram insurgency was beaten back. It was eventually degraded. “Other security challenges are being tackled and will subsequently become history. Not doing enough, as some critics claim, is not part of the deal, nor is it reality, no, not by any stretch of the imagination. A lot is being done, and success is guaranteed,” he said. Oshiomhole, speaking after the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting yesterday, said Nigerians must come together with the same vigour they fought the Boko Haram insurgency to defeat the menace of herdsmen killings rather than attaching ethnic and religious sentiments to the killings. He told the security agents to wake up to their responsibilities as no one will be satisfied with making explanations or try to explain away why we cannot secure human lives especially of a Nigerian citizen within the borders of Nigeria. He said: “We have deliberated on the unfortunate incident that occurred in Sokoto state last week in which a number of innocent Nigerians were killed in cold blood by gunmen. “We are worried about this and our preliminary investigations showed that those affected come from a part of the state that can be said to quite rural and probably a place where people don’t even have cattle. All they have is just their farm land. “This killings, like other killings across the country is condemnable and the NWC condemn them in the strongest words possible, we believe that every Nigerian, regardless of his location has a right to life. “We admit that the minimum obligation of government is to protect lives and property and we urge our security chiefs to do everything possible not only to arrest all those involved in this senseless killing, but to do everything possible to be seen to have the competence to protect lives and property. “No one will be satisfied with making explanations or try to explain away why we cannot secure human lives especially of a Nigerian citizen within the borders of Nigeria. “We want to strongly appeal to all Nigerians and the media should help us in this process. This is the only country that we have and so, we must do everything to give every Nigerian a sense of security regardless of his accident of birth place which some people refer to as ethnic origin or his choice of residence of religious belief. “It is not helpful to national efforts of security lives and property if any Nigerian, including religious leaders and Media seeks to explain criminality in terms of religion or ethnic nationality. This is unhelpful in terms of our collective responsibility to work with security agencies to provide useful information that can lead to the arrest of criminals and also help them to preempt any plan by criminals to undermine our collective security. “Those responsible for the wanton killings in Sokoto and those who are victims are of the same ethnic origin and unarguably of the same religious persuasion. It is the same thing in Zamfara state. “It is not between one ethnic group or the other and so, if these criminals found themselves in other parts of the country as they have done from time to time, and their victims are of different ethnic origin, we should insist that we treat them for who they are, criminals that government has a duty to pursue and chase out of the territory of Nigeria and all those who are perpetuating crimes be brought to justice in accordance with the provisions of our laws. “As a nation, we should all be united, not only in co democracy in this wanton killing, but also in helping government to do what it has to do compel security agents to live up to their mandate. It is clearly unhelpful and it bothers on divisive politics if we seek to disguise criminality either in religious terms or ethnic terms. “Government has a duty to protect all citizens regardless of their religious belief. I ask the Media to help us to educate the people that it does not help the process of law enforcement if crime and criminality are identified in terms of their ethnic origin or their religion. “But we are together as a party and Nigerians that this killings stand condemned and our security must do everything possible to convince Nigerians that under their leadership, we are safe and secured. They must continue to review their operational modalities in the light of emerging threats. “The Buhari government is determined to do everything possible to secure the live and property of every Nigerian. That is one of the key objective that this government committed itself to. Unfortunately , as much as we have made progress, we cannot but commend the President and security agents in decimating Boko Haram.” In a statement in Ibadan yesterday, quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) MURIC’s Director Prof. Ishaq Akintola, said “Nigerian lawmakers should take the lion share of the blame, followed by the citizens and the media. “They should all accept their culpability in this peculiar mess instead of blaming the executive since the latter has done what is humanly possible within the law.’’ He said it was unfair to blame Buhari for Nigeria’s inability to stop killings because security was a collective responsibility, particularly the different arms of government. “The executive, judiciary, legislature and the press as the fourth estate of the realm also has a vital role to play as well as the citizens. “The legislature, instead of cooperating with the executive, is an open enemy even in a sensitive matter like the security of lives and property. “As killings occur on a daily basis, Buhari made a move in April to procure more weapons to fight insecurity but the senate turned down the request. “National Assembly made so much fuss about Buhari’s request for $1 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, threatening to impeach him for approving its release without its consent. “The same self-serving legislature delayed the budget for seven months just to get back at the executive and of course no money can be released before the Appropriation Act is signed into law. “The national Assembly also declined to accede to Buhari’s request to approve the sum of $496 million for the procurement of Super Tucano aircraft from the United States. “Yet Nigerians failed in their duty to question the right of their lawmakers to endanger their lives,’’ Akintola said. Akintola said the recent revelation by Hon. Ahmed Maje that certain politicians sponsored killers and assassins who were trained in Israel has completely absolved President Buhari in the killings. MURIC urged Nigerians to adopt a holistic approach to killings occurring in the country. “Farmer-herder clashes are common everywhere, particularly in West Africa and Nigeria is not an isolated case but we are behaving as if Nigeria is an island. “Take Ghana as an example. Earlier this year, cattle rustlers invaded farmlands in Ashanti, Volta, Brong Ahafo and the Eastern regions leading to killings and the destruction of farms. “But Ghanaians did not crucify their president because of the clashes but solve the problem by establishing their first cattle ranch last week at Afram Plains in the eastern region. It plans to establish more in the Volta and Ashanti regions. “It is time to face realities. We must borrow a leaf from Ghana. That country is as multi-religious and multi-cultural as Nigeria,’’ Akintola said.

http://thenationonlineng.net/what-buhari-has-done-on-killings-by-presidency/

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Atiku Abubakar smiles again One-time vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abuabakar, has been fighting several battles in recent times. His desire to displace President Muhammadu Buhari as the number one citizen of the country and the death of his close aide, Umar Pariya, lead the list. During the week, Atiku returned to Nigeria after spending about seven months in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This was well deserved considering the stress that came with the presidential election. Though things have not worked in his favour lately, the appointment of his son, Adamu Atiku, as the Commissioner for Works and Energy Development in Adamawa, will give him some reason to smile. Adamu was among the 23 newly inaugurated commissioners by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa. The inauguration ceremony was held on Monday.

https://thenationonlineng.net/atiku-abubakar-smiles-again/amp/

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Late Mrs Bridget By AbdulSalam Muhammad The 6 months trial of 5 suspected killers of a 74 years old Madam Bridget Agbahime over blasphemy was dramatically brought to end Thursday, as Kano magistrates set free all the accused. Bridget Agbahime, 74 years was strangulated to death by mob at Kofar Wambai market over alleged blasphemy last June. At a session of the court,Thursday, the Chief magistrate,Mr. Jibrin Muhammad discharged the five suspects and terminated the case in line with the directive of the attorney-general of Kano state. The freed suspects, Dauda Ahmed, Abdulmumeen Mustafa, Zubairu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar and Musa Abdullahi were challenged with a four-count charge of allegedly inciting disturbance, culpable homicide, joint act and mischief. In his submission earlier, state counsel, Mr Rabiu Yusuf who representing the attorney-general of Kano state, told the court that they have no case against the suspects. “We received the case diary from the police on June 8 and having gone through the case diary, the attorney- general of Kano state evaluated the facts in accordance with sections 130 and 150 of the criminal procedure code.” “The legal advice presented to the court, dated June 24, states that there is no case to answer as the suspects are all innocent and orders the court to discharge all the suspects.” However, counsel to the suspects, Mr Abdulsalam Gambo expressed happiness and commended the attorney-general of the state for the judgment. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/kano-court-freed-madam-bridget-suspected-killer/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

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By Emman Ovuakporie and Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA-MEMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP Sunday described President Muhammadu Buhari’s one year anniversary as another round of campaign. Some of the lawmakers who spoke to Vanguard were unanimous in their views declaring that the president’s speech smacks of electoral campaigns to further confuse Nigerians. Stop the blame game-Chairman House C’ttee on Capital Market, Rep Tajudeen Yusuf, PDP, Kogi said According to Yusuf, the president’s speech hover around blaming every visible thing on ground instead of telling Nigerians how he would fix the country. He said “he needs to deliberately make people who are on the other side politically know that despite their opinion they have a place as critical stakeholders in project Nigeria . ” The blame game should stop as 60-70% of the people around him were part of the last 16 years and for him to succeed he must jettison primordial sentiments and embrace facts that he met on ground”. “He was elected to fix Nigeria not to keep complaining. He should make nation building the focal point of his administration. Nobody in his right senses will dare challenge him on such a patriotic venture”. This is a ‘go slow govt’-Chairman House C’ttee on Public Petitions, Rep Uzoma Nkem-Aboonta said. Abonta who represents Ukwa East/West in Abia in his submission described the speech as a bag full of complaints and pointed out that “Nigerians are becoming impatient with this ‘go slow administration’. He explained that “this is a time for proactive measures that are sustainable not this idea of complaining of virtually everything”. “If he can’t get economic experts he should borrow from the Goodluck Johnathan’s economic team and this could help him save Nigeria”. “Somebody close to him should tell him that this is not time for lamentation rather he should concentrate on how to move this country forward”. Don’t place the blame alone on Buhari-Rep Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma,PDP, Edo. He said “we are all to blame because we did not manage our oil boom period instead a few Nigerians siphoned our commonwealth into private pockets”. “Though I’m in PDP, I won’t place the whole blame on Mr president alone as we all failed project Nigeria”. “On his speech I will say is another round of complaints without end as the mantra that catapulted APC to power has not changed anything”. “Nothing has changed, so far what we’ve seen is trial by error economic policies of this government”. “My final take is that we should all put our thinking cap on and see how the Nigerian project can be salvaged”. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/pmbs-anniversary-speech-stop-another-round-campaign-pdp-reps-tell-buhari/

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Omeiza Ajayi, Abuja Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has disclaimed reports of a meeting between him and opposition Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike in France ahead of the 2023 general election. Tinubu had recently flown to France in what his handlers said was a continuation of high-level engagements with stakeholders. However, a chieftain of the party in Lagos State, Joe Igbokwe had been quoted by a section of the media as confirming a meeting between the duo. On Friday night, the Tinubu Media Office in a statement signed by Tunde Rahman said although the APC standard bearer holds Gov. Wike in high esteem, such a meeting never took place. He said; “Asiwaju Tinubu’s supposed meeting with Governor Wike in France is Fake News”. Part of the statement reads; “We have seen a viral social media post made by one of the chieftains of All Progressives Congress in Lagos State and media reports emanating from same about a supposed meeting in France between APC Presidential Standard-bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. “It has become imperative to set the record straight. Although Asiwaju Tinubu is presently in France, he didn’t have any meeting with Governor Wike whether in that country or anywhere whatsoever. “This, however, does not detract from the fact that the APC presidential candidate holds Governor Wike in high esteem. And given the national and across-party lines appeal of Asiwaju Tinubu’s candidature, he will not hesitate to meet any important national leader when desirable. “As made public earlier, Asiwaju Tinubu is in France for some important engagements. He will return to the country shortly. “We would like, once again, to advise journalists to always cross-check their information with appropriate officers before rushing to press to avoid unintended errors”, Rahman counselled. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/07/breaking-i-didnt-hold-any-meeting-with-wike-in-france-tinubu/

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Story IN BRIEF On May 30,1996, Odumegwu Ojukwugare a memorable speech insisting that the spirit of the aggreement reached by the warring parties be obeyed. Anybody who was present at the Aburi meeting or has read the minutes, the communiqués, statements, and verbatim reports would be surprised that a person who calls himself a head of state could so deliberately mislead accredited representatives of foreign governments by saying that the implementation of each item of the conclusions required prior detailed examination by the administrative and professional experts in the various fields. The conclusions in Aburi were no proposals but decisions taken by the highest authority in the land. What happened in fact was that specific matters, namely, the decrees and sections of decrees to be repealed, the mechanics of army reorganization, and the question of rehabilitation of refugees, were referred to experts. The meeting of the financial experts to consider the question of rehabilitation of displaced persons has not been held because the Ministry of Finance does not think that such that such a meeting would serve any useful purpose. The army experts met and reached agreements, but these were rejected. Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon told the Heads of Missions that the agreement about returning the regions to the positions before January 17 also meant in effect that the federal government in Lagos would continue to carry on its functions as before. He failed to inform the world that the decisions taken at Aburi, the federal government meant no more than the Supreme Military Council. No one of course who knows the sort of advice Lieutenant-Colonel Gowon is receiving in Lagos would be surprised by this suppression and distortion of the truth. The actual Aburi decisions read as follows: Members agree that the legislative and executive authority of the Federal Military Government should remain in the Supreme Military Council, to which any decision affecting the whole country shall be referred for determination provided that where it is possible for a meeting to be held the matter requiring determination must be referred to military governors for their comment and concurrence. Specifically, the council agreed that appointments to senior ranks in the police, diplomatic, and consular services as well as appointment to superscale posts in the federal civil service and the equivalent posts in the statutory corporation must be approved by the Supreme Military Council. The regional members felt that all the decrees passed since January 15, 1966, and which detracted from previous powers and positions of regional governments, should be repealed if mutual confidence is to be restored. It is difficult to understand the introduction of the word “veto” into the matter. The Aburi Agreement was that any decision which affected the whole country must receive the concurrence of all the military governors because of their special responsibilities in their different area of authority and so to the country as a corporate whole. On the reorganization of the army, it is for Lieutenant-Colonel Gowon to explain to the world what he means by the “army continuing to be under one command,” when in the very next sentence of his statement he also speaks of an agreement to establish area commands corresponding with the existing regional boundaries. This contradiction in itself tells the truth, and one does does not need to belabor the point. The actual decision of the Supreme Military Council as recorded in the official minutes reads as follows: The Council decides that: (i) on reorganization of the army: (a) Army to be governed by the Supreme Military Council under a chairman to be known Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Head of the Federal Military Government. (b) Establishment of a military headquarters comprising equal representation from the regions and headed by a Chief of Staff. (c) Creation of area commands corresponding to existing regions and under the charge of area commander. (d) Matters of policy, including appointments and promotions to top executive posts in the armed forces and the police, to be dealt with by the Supreme Military Council. (e) During the period of the military government, military governors will have control over area commands for internal security. (f) Creation of a Lagos garrison, including Ikeja barracks. It is clear from the Aburi decisions that what was envisaged was a loosely knit army administered by a representative military headquarters under the charge of a Chief of Staff and commanded by the Supreme Military Council, not by Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Gowon as he claimed in his present statement to the diplomats. According to the Aburi Agreements “the following appointments must be approved by the Supreme Military Council; (a) diplomatic and consular posts; (b) senior posts in the armed forces and the police; (c) superscale federal civil service and federal corporation posts.” Everyone with even the most superficial acquaintance with the Nigerian civil service knows what those expressions mean and connote. To confuse issue, Lieutenant-Colonel Gowon gave the impression that the main difference between him and me on this particular decision was that I insisted on canceling the appointments of existing civil servants. I can think of nothing more slanderous. It is clear from Gowon’s statement in question that he is prepared to distort the verbatim reports of the Aburi meeting. To keep the public informed, the Eastern Nigerian Broadcasting Service will be playing the tape records of the proceedings live at scheduled times…. Arrangement have been completed to transform those tape recordings to long-playing gramophone records … We are also going ahead to print and publish the documents and records of Aburi meeting. We in the East are anxious to see that our difficulties are resolved by peaceful means and that Nigeria is preserved as a unit, but it is doubtful, and the world must judge whether Lieutenant-Colonel Gowon’s attitudes and other exhibitions of his insincerity are something which can lead to a return of normalcy and confidence in the country. I must warn all Easterners once again to remain vigilant. The East will never be intimidated, nor will she acquiesce to any form of dictation. It is not our intention to play the aggressor. Nonetheless, it is not our intention to be slaughtered in our beds, We are ready to defend our homeland. Fellow countrymen and women, on Aburi We Stand. There will be no compromise. God grant peace in our time. Being speech by Ojukwu restating commitment to Aburi Accord on May 30 1969 Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/11/on-aburi-we-stand-the-distortion-of-accord-by-ojukwu/

Politics

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‘Lawmaker’s daughter worked in PenCom with fake degrees’ A federal lawmaker and Pension Ad Hoc Committee Chairman’s daughter, Deborah Ighiwiyisi Agbonayinma has been working with the National Pension Commission (PenCom) with fake foreign and local university degree certificates, The Nation has learnt. Deborah’s father is Ehionzuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, the member representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha of Edo State in the House of Representatives. A source at the National Assembly, who pleaded anonymity, said Deborah Agbonayinma was sacked about four weeks ago. She worked at the commission for three years. The source said Miss Agbonayinma worked in other government agency with the fake certificates before joining PenCom. PenCom confirmed that she was sacked on February 27. In a telephone conversation with The Nation, Agbonayinma who spoke on his Committee’s probe of Pension Fund Administrators, declined comment on the allegations against his daughter. Miss Agbonayinma’s curriculum vitae with which she was employed in PenCom stated that she obtained a B.Sc degree in Accountancy with certificate number 12129 on August 8, 2012 from Irish University Business School located on 219 Bow Road, London E3 2SJ. A verification committee at PenCom, however, found that no such university existed as a valid UK degree-awarding institution. Having learnt that her foreign degree was ‘fake’, Miss Agbonayinma brought another degree in Accountancy to the Commission as a replacement from Olabisi Onabanjo University, which the university also disclaimed as fake. A probe of the documents showed that the Accountancy degree with 09083854 as a matriculation number was not listed as part of her academic qualifications in the original curriculum vitae submitted to PenCom, when she was employed. The Olabisi Olabanjo University (OOU), in Ogun State, in a letter dated February 6, 2019 and signed by the University’s Principal Assistant Registrar in charge of Exams and Records, Mrs O. L. Kaka, told PenCom that Miss Agbonayinma’s academic records and transcripts were fake. Her CV showed she was mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from 2014 to 2015, but details are still sketchy on the certificate she presented to the NYSC for the mobilisation. The CV also showed that she served as an Accountant in the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Development in Edo State during her Student’s Industrial Work Experience Scheme (Scheme) from June 2008 to November 2008 one year after she was enrolled to study Accountancy in London in 2007. PenCom said: ’’We confirmed through the UK government’s site that the university is not recognised as a valid degree-awarding body.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/lawmakers-daughter-worked-in-pencom-with-fake-degrees/

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Wizkid, a Nigerian superstar, has vowed to retire older Nigerian politicians at the upcoming 2023 polls. Wizkid, made the remarks during an interview with UK-based media outlet, The Guardian. While calling on Nigerians to speak up against people in government, the Essence crooner said, “I’m about to go crazy on their asses this election. All these old men are going out of power this time. They need to go to an old people’s home and chill out.” Advising older politicians to leave the political scene, the Grammy award winner vowed to pressurise them out of power in next year’s general election. He stated there is nothing worth celebrating in the country except for individual achievements of peoples in the sports, entertainment and comedy industries. He continued: “There’s nothing to celebrate [in Nigeria] except that [Nigerians] are amazing people in music, sports, comedy – entertainment in general. I’m proud of young Nigerians doing things around the world in tech. I have amazing friends, doing amazing things.” Wizkid added, “That’s it, though. There’s nothing else. But I feel hopeful there’ll be change. How soon? I’m not sure. But a lot has changed from growing up to now. “There was a time when you could never speak to the president or anyone in government like that. But now you have a voice.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/11/i-will-send-old-nigerian-politicians-to-retirement-homes-in-2023-wizkid/

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FAAC shares N388.3bn April allocation The Federal Accounts Allocation Committee on Friday shared the sum of N388.339 billion among the three tiers of government as revenue allocation for April. However, states and local governments have denied knowledge of any remittance of $1.48 billion which PricewaterhouseCoopers instructed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to pay into the federation account. Addressing journalists at the end of FAAC meeting on Friday, the chairman of Commissioners of Finance Forum, Barr. Timothy Odaah, said the states were not aware of remittances from the NNPC. “Mr. President has directed that the money be paid into the federation account. The Minister of Petroleum Resources did the same too, but it is important to note that we have not seen anything,” he said. Questioned on the inability of some states to pay civil servants’ salaries, Odaah blamed the state governors, saying,”if workers salaries could not be paid as at when due, what is their priority then? Why have those states refused to pay workers? Paying workers’ salaries is not an achievement of any government. It is naturally expected that people must be paid for services rendered.” FAAC approved for sharing N75.160billion from Value Added Tax( VAT) as against N71.197 billion. A gross revenue of N282.062 billion was received for the month as against N315.044 billion in the previous month. As expected, the federal government got the highest allocation of N132.118 billion, states got N67.012 billion and local governments went away with N51.663 billion. The oil producing states also got the sum of N23.109 billion as 13 per cent derivation. The Minister of State for Finance and chairman of FAAC, Amb. Bashir Yuguda, attributed the lower revenue sharing in the past months to “frequent shut down which continued to impact negatively on crude oil revenue.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/faac-shares-n388-3bn-april-allocation/

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Lere Olayinka, Special Assistant to Governor Ayodele Fayose on Public Communication and New Media, is one of the serious contenders for the post of the National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party. In an interview, he affirmed that his mission as National Publicity Secretary of the PDP would be to de-market the ruling All Progressive Congress. He speaks on his plans and strategies. By Rotimi Omoyela Why do you want to be the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party? I’m a committed member of the PDP. I have never belonged to any other party since I joined party politics. Again, I will say that I have paid my dues in terms of projecting the PDP, in Ekiti State, Southwest and Nigeria as a whole. Most importantly, the leader of the party in this state, Dr. Ayodele Fayose is interested in me becoming the National Publicity Secretary of the party. How would you assess the present Publicity Secretary of your party, Chief Olisa Metuh performance? I’m a forward looking person, I don’t dwell on the past, I don’t go about condemning and castigating people, the environment in which Mr. A operated last week, may be different from which Mr. B is operating now and the environment in which Mr. C will operate tomorrow might be different. So the strategy that worked yesterday would obviously be different from the one that might be applied tomorrow. I’m not saying those who have handled the media in the past have not done their best, in the political environment they operated, they did their best, I’m willing to pick up from where they stopped. Do you think you have what it takes to be Publicity Secretary of a Political Party? I’m a journalist and have been in this job for 19 years. I started active journalism since my days in the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, I have practiced as a publisher, as a reporter, I have been involved in broadcast journalism, print journalism and even social media journalism. The Peoples Democratic Party as at now appeared to be riddled with crisis and internal strife, what image do you intend to give a party of this nature? Politics is about conflict and conflict resolution when you have an organisation with varieties of interest there will always be conflicts. Unfortunately, we allowed minor crises to balloon into a major issue. Like every other political party, we have our share of crises in the PDP, and it is normal in politics, because of the divergent interests. The APC that is the ruling party today has its share of crises because of the divergent interests in that party. You must be aware of what is going on within the APC, and it has not been consumed by the crisis, PDP too will not be consumed by its crisis. Some say that the consensus arrangement used in the last congresses in Ekiti State is akin to imposition? I can tell you that there was no imposition of anyone. Don’t get it wrong. Consensus is never an imposition; they are not the same thing. Consensus is a mechanism put in place to discourage acrimony and rancour among contenders for a particular position. It’s an arrangement put in place to encourage contestants to step down for each other and allow the best candidate who is properly fit for a position to emerge, but in a situation where nobody wants to step down, we can call for the outright election to settle the matter. What are your other plans for the projection of the image of your party? Political communication is simple, you tell the people what your party is capable of doing, you tell the people what your party would have done differently, by making the people see that if our party is the party in government, we would have done things differently. It is about marketing your party and de-marketing your competitors; my job is to market the PDP and de-market APC. The latest crisis in PDP has to do with zoning and gladiators in Southwest want the chairmanship zoned to the area. But Governor Fayose has a different opinion, what is your take? The Chief Executive Officer of any political party is the Secretary, are you saying this position is not important? The National Publicity Secretary is the mouthpiece of the party, are you saying that is not important too? Though this issue has been resolved, and I would not like to go into it. With two governors in the Southwest are they complaining? Those are the major stakeholders in the party as at today. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/plan-de-market-apc-lere-olayinka/

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By Shola Ogundipe & CHIOMA OBINNA For most couples, the birth of a baby elicits joy. For some, the birth of twins or more elicits even greater joy and gratitude but when a woman is safely delivered of quadruplets (four babies) or quintuplets (five), her joy is supposed to be boundless. Such is the case of Mr. Wale Shofunlayo and his wife, Olayemi who were blessed with a healthy set of quintuplets weekend at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH. According to Wale, the couple’s joy is immesureable as they did not prepare for five babies at a go. As a Lawyer, Wale is under no illusion about the birth of their quintuplets. To him, the birth of the babies confirmed the adage that “Doctors care and God heals. ” Before the babies came, the couple had prepared for quadruplets as the doctors’ investigation including comprehensive scan showed that there were four babies. But little did they know that posterity had another plan for them. A gift, which could be described as the best Christmas gift anyone could get at a time like this. Vanguard gathered that the middle aged woman who gave birth to two boys and three girls was said to have been in the hospital since last June waiting for the arrival of the babies that finally came last week Friday. Doctors at LUTH had recommended bed rest from the seventh month till delivery. The delivery, which was taken by over 50 active medical personnel at the hospital all started like a fairy tale when the first, second, third and fourth baby came and the leader of the medical team, identified simply as Professor Ajayi discovered that there was still ‘something’ in the womb. Apparently confused with the fact that all the while, medical examinations continually show only four babies, the experts almost jumped to conclusion that what was left must be fibroid tissue. But thanks to experience, that made them hesitant in terminating whatever may be there or seal up the opening without further probe. Further check thereafter showed that the fifth baby was actually on the way. Each of the five babies weighed at least 1.5 kg while the biggest weighed 1.8 kg. Narrating her experience to Vanguard, Mrs. Olayemi whose joy knew no bounds described the delivery as a pleasurable experience and surprise package from God. Olayemi who was still recuperating said, “I and my babies are fine. I was expecting four. After everything, I found out they were five”. In a chat with Vanguard, father of the babies, who declined comments on the possibility of an Assisted Reproductive treatment said “We have a 2 -year -old -boy already but to have the quintuplets is God’s doing. Our first baby was delivered at Lagoon hospital. I’m a Muslim and I give glory to Allah for this rare blessing. It is not every day one is blessed with five children at a go. “We have heard of instances of two, three, or four babies at once, but this is the first time I would hear about five and I feel so elated to be the one to have this number. I feel great, I feel happy and I give all glory to Almighty God without him nothing can happen. “We were actually expecting four babies according to the scan. The doctors said there were four but God showed Himself and added the fifth one. They are two boys and three girls, he said.” Wale, who would not reveal whether or not he and his wife went through assisted reproduction, is optimistic about the future. On his reaction when he was told that his wife had five babies, he said:”I planned to have many children and my prayer is to provide for them to the best of my ability. I am not just knowing my wife was pregnant with multiple babies, we had been told there were four babies like I said earlier, and my wife has been on bed rest in the last seven months. I know God is there for me and my family”. The Ogun State born Wale who was full of gratitude to the medical personnel that attended to his wife at LUTH, said “I must specially thank Prof. Ajayi for his experience. An inexperience doctor would have sealed up the opening or terminate the last baby” He described the quality of care given to the babies as excellent. “I give kudos to the nurses and doctors who attended to my wife and babies. I am more than satisfied with their services. Asked if he is financially comfortable with the development, Wale said’ “I will not say it is the duty of government to take care of my babies. I don’t have the intention of begging with this publication but if anyone feels like helping it will be welcome. I don’t like going to people and being turned down. Even as a Lawyer, we don’t advertise, I don’t see the reason why I should do that because of these babies. “But being human no one can have it all, so any assistance is welcome but that is not to say we will go cap in hand begging for aid. I have a job I’ve been doing for 19 years and God has been faithful”, he added. In the views of the Public Relation Officer of LUTH, Mrs. Hope Nwalolo, the birth of the babies was not the first case of multiple birth recorded by the hospital. According to her, the delivery took less than 30 minutes as there were experienced medical professionals on ground. What experts say about multiple births Multiple births are a type of multiple birth in which the mothers give birth to two or more offspring from the same pregnancy. The occurrence and frequency, however, vary dramatically. In the views of a fertility expert, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi of Nordica fertility Centre, Lagos and Asaba, “Factors such as maternal age, socio-environmental factors, increase in the use of contraceptives, the race of human population, increase in the spontaneous abortion rate, and seasonal variations are among the factors that could influence multiple birth including twinning (two babies), triplets (three babies) and quadruplets (four babies) Assuming they are alive, Nigeria’s first known multiple birth babies (sextuplets) would be 103 years old today. Historical and medical records show that the birth of the first set multiple babies in Nigeria dates back over 100 years ago to 1907 when an unnamed 19-year-old woman from the South East region was delivered of six babies in a row after a short labour. Although it is not known what their male/female sex ratio was or how many of the babies eventually survived, the event, like that of the controversial multiple birth babies, elicited as much drama, and graphic insight as to just how demanding all multiple births can be. For several decades, multiple birth has been a regular feature in Nigeria. Multiple births refers to the delivery of twins and higher order multiples (eg, triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets, etc). Multiple births occur when multiple foetuses are carried during a pregnancy with the subsequent delivery of multiple births. Specifically, since the late 1970s, the prevalence of multiple births in Nigeria has been increasing. A combination of factors including the widespread use of assisted reproductive techniques and advancing maternal age at conception is associated with this phenomenon. Records are scarce, but it is believed that a plateau in the prevalence. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/multiple-birthdoctors-say-4-but-god-added-another/

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By Wole Masadomi Minna—Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Aliyu, weekend said the people of the state will resist any attempt to frustrate the former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida out of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP . Aliyu also cautioned the PDP against attempts to intimidate anyone over the zoning imbroglio threatening the party, adding that, “Nobody should be intimidated, because no one has come up to discuss issues about the zoning or how we can waggle out of it for us to move forwardâ€. Governor Aliyu who said this during a rally to mark his victory at the Supreme Court in Abuja over the weekend also expressed the resolve of the government and people of the state to support the presidential ambition of Babangida come 2011. Governor Aliyu maintained that the choice of the state to support the Babangida’s presidential ambition was based on earlier agreement to allow the north have its own fair share of the Presidency for the period of eight years. Aliyu said he will resist attempts to edge out Babangida from the party pointing out that, “We are supporting IBB because he is our son and since he is looking for the 2011 presidential ticket under the PDP we have no choice but to support him in actualizing his ambitionâ€. Though he is in support of IBB for the 2011 Presidency going by the earlier PDP arrangement on zoning, Governor Aliyu nevertheless said he is not against President Goodluck Jonathan contesting alongside Babangida on the platform of another political party. “Whoever is the choice of God will eventually emerge winner, and no matter the pressure from other candidates from the northern extraction from other political parties. We will ensure that PDP has enough supporters to emerge victorious in 2011â€. Governor Aliyu recalled what led to the argument over Goodluck Jonathan contesting the Presidency, adding that, “the PDP arrangements on zoning should be respected. If for any reason it was discovered that the concept is no longer workable, all we need to do is to sit round the table and reviewed our earlier stand and move on so that nobody will be offended. He said further, “Zoning or rotation of the Presidency is a PDP affair, now that the issue is generating a kind of confusion, it is left for the party caucus to sit on a round table and discuss on how to unravel the matter so that we can move forward.†Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/08/02/people-ll-resist-attempt-to-frustrate-ibb-out-of-pdp-gov-aliyu/

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Igbos must get presidency in 2023-Anambra Bishops By Nwanosike Onu, Awka As the battle for which geo political zone will succeed President Mohammadu Buhari in 2023 gathers momentum, some clerics have declared it is now or never for Igbo. Anglican Bishop of Mbammili in Anambra West local government Area,Most Rev Henry Okeke and Bishop Emma C Obiorah, say its the only thing that can bring peace and unity in the country . The two Igbo clerics, spoke during the celebration of Christo Feast 2019 at Life of Faith Gospel Assembly Ministries headquarters at 3-3 , Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi local government area, while speaking with The Nation According to Obiorah: “For the country to survive, we need every tribe, we need equity and it is the turn of Igbo man to be the President of Nigeria. “The impression some people have created against Ndigbo is bad. “God loves Igbo the way He loves others. Igbo has the gift to fix this country again ” “I’m not against any government or tribe, but let’s live for one another. “I’m appealing to the federal government and the leading political parties in the country that they should work on giving Igbo the 2023 presidency for the unity to continue ” For Bishop Henry Okeke, every body should start praying seriously for the government of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and President Buhari because the situation was becoming unbearable in the country He said: “The country needs that balance and it is the base of restructuring and that is the only way for unity in this country ” “The Southeast people are neglected, give the people chance, yes, nobody is perfect but there are people more gifted than others who can lead this country and make residents happy” “If this country is giving to Ndigbo in 2023, there will be balance which has been lacking in Nigeria. “There has not been peace, no unity among the people and insecurity every where. This country needs equity and fairness.” The clerics said greed had eaten deep into the fabrics of politicians in the country, while calling on other religious leaders and groups to pray hard for the current leadership in the country. They agreed that the economy in the country had affected marriages, families and governments, describing life as a battle.

https://thenationonlineng.net/igbos-must-get-presidency-in-2023-anambra-bishops/

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The FCT Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Ishaq Bello, on Thursday, launched an e-filing and case management system to improve justice delivery in the FCT. The application manages the entire case process, from the point of filling to the point when the case is decided. The CJ said this was an effort to improve justice delivery, through the development of online courts and digital processes. He added that he had seen how judges toiled to ensure that justice was delivered and under the most uncomfortable conditions. ” The pandemic has made this year a difficult and challenging one. It has, however, opened our eyes to new ways of doing things. ” Also, technology could be used to our advantage in saving travel time, physical meetings, conferences and even social contact. ” More fundamentally for us as a public institution, we began to think of ways to leverage technology to our advantage, at the height of the pandemic,” he said. Bello noted that justice cannot be insulated from the digital revolution, especially as technology development continues to advance, the law and justice system should not be frightened of it. He said that technology should be harnessed to provide better and more efficient services to the public as it improves access to justice, stressing that the software offered litigants, through their counsel, the opportunity to file their matters comfortably online. ” The software has the capacity to accommodate online payment and every sundry attachment to the court processes. ” The era of paperwork is fast eroding as the software is developed to empower both the administrative and judicial proceedings of the case. ” As a web-based software, it enables easy access to the weekly Cause list and the tracking of existing cases in various courts in the FCT high court with an intention to monitor the stages of proceedings and eventual delays, if any,” he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many judges were in attendance and asked questions from the consultant, who explained the workings of the software. On Oct. 28, 2020, the FCT Judiciary also launched a digital speech recording machine and video transcription system, for quick and efficient court proceedings. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/12/fct-judiciary-launches-e-filing-case-management-system/amp/

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Shiites defy army, pour into Abuja from major routes As security operatives open fire on mourners Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has called on all the international Human righhs organisations to note the record of brutal killings, especially that of Shiites people under the current administration, saying President Muhammadu Buhari and his Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, must face trial after their stay in office. Frank said contrary to the constitutional provision that security of lives and welfare shall be the responsibility of government, the current All Progressives Congress (APC) administration is encouraging its agents to cause the killing of the citizens. Recall that on Sunday morning, the protesting Shiites and the Nigerian Army had clashed where some protesting Shiites members were brutally killed. But while condemning soldiers deadly use of force on supporters of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) during a religious procession in Zuba, near Abuja, Comrade Frank, in a statement on Monday, said under President Buhari the country has seen a sharp rise in the use of brute force by security agents to quail armless demonstrators. According to him, a country where the value of human lives continues to depreciate on a daily basis can only be referred to as a failed state. The former APC spokesman said the continuing detention of Shia’s leader,El-Zakzaky despite several Court orders is uncivilised by any leaders in the world. “President Buhari-led administration have been releasing the dreaded Boko Baram jihadist under the guise of ‘repentant terrorist’ yet he does not see anything wrong in attacking the shia members who are peacefully clamouring for the release of their leader who the Court of law had set free. “The disobedience of this administration to the decision of Court of law portents danger for the country’s peace and orderliness. “If ordinary cutizens are being kill by the security agents under an elected democratic government in this manner, such h leader must be ready to be prosecuted for genocide after his short stay in power,” Frank stated. Continued, the outspoken former APC chieftain wondered “how can an army kill her armless citizens with live bullets? I will never support the idea that live bullets were used on the protesters. What manner of provocation will make them shoot unarmed citizens? Soldiers shooting and killing unarmed protesters is a crime against humanity.” While calling on international community to take note of the current development, Frank also called on Amnesty International (AI) and other rights protection international organizations not to close their eyes against the act of “killing innocent citizens for no just cause.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/frank-condemns-shiites-killing-says-buhari-buratai-must-be-tried-for-genocide/

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MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — Hundreds of girls who were abducted last week from their boarding school in Nigeria by a group of armed men have been released, a local official said on Tuesday, the second time in less than a week that gunmen have returned kidnapped schoolchildren in the country. The girls were taken on Friday from Government Girls Secondary School in the town of Jangebe, in the northern state of Zamfara. The Nigerian government has denied paying ransoms. It was not clear how the release of the children in this case was secured. “It gladdens my heart to announce the release of the abducted students of GGSS Jangebe from captivity,” the governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, wrote on Twitter early Tuesday, referring to their school’s name. Mr. Matawalle did not provide details about the girls’ release. Officials initially said that 317 girls had been in the group, but later told journalists that the correct number was 279. The frequency of mass kidnappings of girls and boys at boarding schools in northwestern Nigeria is rising in part because abduction has become a growth industry amid the country’s economic crisis. The victims are increasingly schoolchildren — not just the rich, powerful or famous. One of Amiru Malan’s daughters was among the kidnapped. He said that as soon as he heard the gunfire after midnight on Friday, he knew what the armed men wanted. His home is only a short distance from a boarding school, where his two daughters lived in dorms. He knew the armed groups that have stalked schools in the region for months had come for his family.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/world/africa/nigeria-kidnapped-students.html?smid=url-shareWhy

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Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi I have a story to tell the world and most importantly the people of Ile-Ife. About 40 years ago, I was born into the Giesi Ruling House, Ojaja Royal Compound in the ancient city of Ile-Ife. From birth, my life has been a journey; one that I embarked on, saddled with great conscientiousness when I became a responsible father at the age of 19, which shaped and groomed me for greater challenges ahead. To cater for my family as a young father, I became very enterprising with the knack of building something out of nothing. This certainly increased my temperament for being successful in all my endeavours, as well as towing the right path as a responsible father. Thus, in the following years, I was able to build a consortia of companies with a team of well-versed, highly skilled and unskilled professionals from scratch and with hard work and God’s providence. This has made me a huge employer of labour and a captain of industries. The story of Ile-Ife begins as the cradle of civilization and has spread its tentacles beyond Black Africa. The Ooni stool is highly revered and exalted and as the world looks on; our strength and emphasis need to be injected into the development of Ile-Ife as a beacon of hope and enviable city. Spiritual home of all Yoruba Suffices to say that Ile-Ife is the ancestral and spiritual home of all Yorubas, bona fide, in Nigeria and the Diaspora, and the World Headquarters of the House of Oduduwa, which comprises people resident in nearly all the continents of the world. Thus, the Ooni, as the head of the vast Oduduwa family, must be no less versatile and resourceful. Available evidences from the curatorial community and archaeological discoveries have put the origin of Ile-Ife around 2000 years BC. Around this time, the people of Ile-Ife have distinguished themselves in technology and cultural advancement. A notable fact in this direction is Ori-Olokun: though purportedly ‘discovered’ by the famous German archaeologist Leo Frobenius in 1910, but had been in existence for thousands of years. Discovery: The pure-copper sculpture took the entire arts world by storm at the time of its discovery that experts from the West argued that the artefact was a mystery that was too sophisticated to have been created by African hands. However, after careful examinations of other works, profusely located in and around the city and bearing striking resemblance, the world accepted the truth that the advanced people of Ile-Ife had, not only wielded the technology to turn iron to alloy but also of moulding abstract artworks out of the product. Consequently, it is now accepted by the curatorial community that the advanced artistic techniques used to create the sculpture were more advanced than those of Renaissance Italy, and comparable to those of [the artist] Donatello. Yet, Ile-Ife has not taken its rightful position as the ‘source’ of civilization despite her wealth of history, culture and tradition. Having found ourselves in such state of affairs where the potential of the land remains untapped and its people lacking economic and social emancipation, we should all take it upon ourselves to redress this situation. Redressing the situation The Ile-Ife of ‘my dream’ will be strategically positioned to empower its people socially, economically and culturally to bring about the desired developments. Now, with our resolve to transform Ile-Ife we are ‘SET’ to leave no stone unturned, in the drive to put Ile-Ife on the map of the world. Our ultimate goal is to reposition the House of Oduduwa as a worthy example of successful inward-looking community. At this juncture, I consider it pertinent to share with everyone the account of how Nigeria as a nation came to be. The Royal Niger Company was a mercantile company charter by the British government in the nineteenth century. It was formed in 1879 as the United African Company and became the Royal Niger Company in 1886. By 1900 it went through several name changes and in 1914 a merger occurred between the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate to become the independent Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1960. It suffices to say our beloved nation developed through a corporation of technocrats and quality mind input. Arguably, this is one of the several ways cities and communities are built; through large corporations. The ethos of this account goes to prove that any geographic setting can undergo boundless growth through clusters of companies which invariably can lead to the creation of settlements and human capital development. Consequently, there is a huge possibility for Ile-Ife to experience tremendous growth through industrialization and developmental projects like a company managed by dedicated sons and daughters of Ife and all Ife enthusiasts. I have no doubt, Ife will be great again due to its economic dexterity. Ife has one of the largest land mass in the South-west beaming with natural resources including three out of the four factors of production; ‘land’, ‘labour’ and ‘entrepreneurship’ and with our great resolve we shall work towards ‘capital’ creation. I am very passionate about my roots with the determination of bringing Ile-Ife to the forefront of economic and social affairs. In my private life, I have for a while been involved in many philanthropic gestures in Ile-Ife and its environs. The progressiveness of the youths of Ile-Ife is at the core of my philosophy and I have been instilling hope to thousands of youths through the various ongoing reciprocity Programmes I established a while ago. It is within the dictates of our culture that the young shall provide for the old and for this reason our youths need to be nurtured and engaged positively hence they can attain financial independence and in return provide for their parents, families and dependants. This is not to say that the old and elderly will be left out. There will be various empowerment Programmes for the elderly and the widowed to learn new trades and acquire new skills that will help stamp out redundancy and at the same time be financially rewarding to them. Many might argue that the tasks before me are incredibly monumental and impossible. However, I do not get easily swayed by the idea of impossibilities. In every challenging situation what I see is a speck of possibility which I build on till the task at hand is completed. I have done this time over time and I have defied the rules of men to follow my gut instincts. I have excelled where, people had predicted failure and I derived the most joy where others have said emphatically “it is not possible.” A recent classic example of turning impossibilities to possibilities took place at ‘Parakin’ in Ile-Ife where I converted a sizeable piece of thick forest land into a beautiful castle within a month. The land hitherto, was a garbage dump and an escape route for men of the underworld in the vicinity which constituted a social menace to the inhabitants of ‘Parakin’. In recent history one cannot mention Ile-Ife without acknowledging the Ife and Modakeke conflict. It’s unfortunate that lives were lost during the war between Ife and Modakeke; a war that had no economic value and displaced many lives. I paid a courtesy visit to the youths affected by the war and implored them to be proactive. Furthermore I urged them to be on the straight and narrow path and propagated the tenets of hard work as the only way to make it in life. In the course of my life I have had many touching experiences. However, my most compelling experience till date involves two young boys namely Demola Adewole and Taye Fayemi. Demola and thousands of others energetic youths visit work sites on a daily basis to solicit for money. I took it upon myself to get to know these young boys and found that all they wanted was to earn a decent living. We got acquainted with Demola and found out he was a welder. Without hesitation, we helped to re-orientate him and got him involved in construction work in ‘Parakin’. Demola Adewole has turned out to be one of the best welders I have been privileged to work with till date. Another set of energetic youths on one of the days I visited Ife chased after my car, many of them climbed onto the fast moving car and during the tussle to stay latched on to the car, one of them got injured. I got out of the car and addressed all of them and asked why they would want to hurt themselves and with no care in the world, Taye replied “death means nothing to me”; I shed tears, there is no hope for the youths and no one to rebuild their dashed hopes or future. Taye Fayemi was simply desperate to make a living for himself and today, to the glory of God I personally supervise Taye’s rehabilitation, his personal development and wellbeing. Destinies: Similar to the story of Demola and Taye, are thousands of youths with different expertise that need our help to find their feet, many whose destinies would have been cut short like the others lost the war. I cannot but emphasize that the development and well being of our youths is paramount to our future and one that is very close to my heart. This area needs to be properly addressed to ensure our youths are well engaged in various professional and vocational pursuits. Today, and to the glory of God, I have been energized to rehabilitate and take off the streets several thousands of youths by providing them with gainful employment. Furthermore, we shall set up a foundation that will support post war effects and the rebuilding of war torn Ife and Modakeke. Thereafter there shall NEVER be war again. I stand firmly for peace and unity between Ife and Modakeke and I guarantee that this peace and unity will transcend into economic and social benefits for everyone. Similarly, we shall use this stool to unify the entire Yoruba race; there shall be no division, no supremacy or animosity amongst us, we are all from the one and the same source-God Almighty. Coming to the throne is a clarion call to heed my selfless desire to serve the people of Ile-Ife, the Yoruba race and all of humanity. We will use the stool to provide a lot of opportunities to invest in the youths through mentor-ship and empowerment programs that will further take thousands off the streets on a gradual basis. Youths all over the country will be eligible for the mentor-ship programme and Ife will be the pilot model. We will use the stool to transpose Ile-Ife into the twenty-first century and with the use and influence of social media we are ‘set’ for his transformation. Sons and daughters of Ife and Ife enthusiasts around the world will have an input in the building of the New Ife City, ‘NIC’ through constructive feedback. ‘Socially’, we are ‘set’ to revive and promote Ile-Ife as a tourist destination. ‘Economically’ we are ‘set’ to increase our industrial footprints to give Ife the much desired facelift and ‘Traditionally’ we are ‘set’ to redefine the kingship system by blending modernity into our cultural values and practices and our tradition of thousands of years will stand. Plans are well under-way to revitalize Ife in the areas of Sports, Mining, Agriculture, Real Estate, Tourism and rapid industrialization. To achieve this transformation, a brand new platform named ‘House Of Oduduwa Resources Limited’ has been established to stimulate the entire economy of Ile-Ife with a positive impact on the entire Yoruba race and our nation as a whole. ‘House Of Oduduwa Resources Limited’ will be tasked with rebuilding Ife into the ‘New Ife city’, NIC. However, this is a herculean task which can only be achieved with the support of all well-meaning technocrats, sons and daughters of Ile-Ife in Nigeria and in the Diaspora and all lovers of Ife. My fervent desire is to grow ‘House Of Oduduwa Resources Limited’ into one of the biggest corporations out of Africa, likewise uniting all lovers of Ife with the people of Ife. Earlier this year, I acquainted the youths of Ile-Ife of my plans to replicate the truly Nigerian project, Inagbe Grand Resorts Lagos, Nigeria (almost hundred percent of raw materials used are locally sourced) in Ile-Ife. Inagbe Grand Resorts is the first of its kind and will soon be the most sought after resort destination in all of West Africa. I have developed an incredible master plan for the proposed ‘Ife Grand Resorts’ which will be an off shoot of ‘Inagbe Grand Resorts Lagos’. The ‘Ife Grand Resort’ project and the ‘NIC’ initiative was conceived to attract young men and women, businesses, corporate organization, investors, holiday makers, lovers of Ife and Ife in Diaspora to a comfortable ambience to stay when they are away from home. This will continually put Ile-Ife, the cradle of black civilization on the map likewise showcasing many artefacts about the Yoruba race, hence creating a steady influx of people into Ile-Ife. The time has come for us to embrace our true heritage as the progeny of Oduduwa and the task of modernizing Ile-Ife is yours and mine. I am highly honoured to have been chosen to fill the stool that great men once occupied; history and I will forever remember this day. I use this opportunity to pay tribute to Oba Adesoji Aderemi and Oba Okunade Sijuwade; these monarchs were colossus that redefined the monarchy with touch of diligence, elegance and gravitas that traversed so many cultural boundaries. They were great fathers to me and I will forever miss and honour them. I am not coming to the throne to pass judgment on those that have maliciously wronged me. But then, I should think that a bid to be enthroned as the foremost Oba in Yoruba race should be healthy and ordained of God. There is also the Ifa divination that also synthesizes the process, just in case human beings are partial. Rather, some people resorted to dangerous attacks, wicked lies, malicious insinuations and vigorous campaign of calumny. Why would I fail to forgive them when all came to nought and the good people and governments of Ife and State of Osun saw through these unfair games and chose me as the prestigious Ooni of Ife. Therefore, I am coming to set a good example and show the world that I am truly called by God to lead Ile-Ife into a state of tranquillity, conscientiousness and prosperity. It is my fervent prayer that the Lord will continue to guide us all and bestow us with great wisdom to carry out our incumbent tasks. I use this opportunity to call on all the sons of Ile-Ife that were alongside me in the race for the stool to heed to my call and let’s work harmoniously to align our goals for the sake of posterity and Ile-Ife. Together we shall not lose sight of the values and tradition that have made us the greatest nation of black people on earth. I come before you all today as a man pledging his unwavering commitment to his Kingdom and his people that I cannot do this alone; without you all there is no me “I will serve you all with everything I have”. Long live Ile-Ife; long live the Yoruba race, long live the House of Oduduwa, and God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/the-ile-ife-and-yoruba-of-my-dream-by-ogunwusi-ooni-elect/

Culture

en

Quietness can be an amazing asset, frequently more significant than words. Knowing when to stay quiet can save connections, forestall clashes, and lead to better independent direction. The following are a few circumstances where keeping quiet can be gainful, joined by the justifications for why quiet is the most ideal decision in these situations. 1. During Warmed Contentions Significance: Feelings run high during contentions, and expressing something seemingly out of the blue can prompt lament and further acceleration. Staying quiet can forestall expressing terrible or irreversible things. It considers chilling off and moving toward the discussion later with a more clear psyche and more valuable disposition. 2. At the point when You Need Total Data Significance: Talking without the real factors can prompt falsehood, misconceptions, and humiliation. Quietness permits you to accumulate all important data prior to framing an assessment or saying something. It exhibits astuteness and reasonability, showing that you esteem exact data over speedy reactions. 3. Even with Incitement Significance: Answering incitement can frequently heighten what is happening, prompting superfluous clash. Quietness assists with keeping calm and pride. It forestalls providing the provocateur with the fulfillment of a response and holds what is happening back from raising. 4. While Listening is More Significant Significance: Successful correspondence frequently includes more tuning in than talking. Being quiet permits others to put themselves out there completely, which can prompt better comprehension and more grounded connections. It recognizes the speaker and can give you significant bits of knowledge and viewpoints. 5. During Snapshots of Misery or Agony Significance: in the midst of despondency, words can now and again feel lacking or even nosy. Quiet can give a soothing presence and show that you are there for help without compelling discussion. It permits the lamenting individual to deal with their feelings time permitting and way. 6. At the point when You Have nothing Helpful to Add Significance: In some cases, adding to a discussion without valuable info can weaken the message or shift concentrate superfluously. Quietness guarantees that main significant commitments are made, keeping up with the quality and pertinence of the conversation. It shows that you esteem substance over amount in correspondence. 7. At the point when Others are Attempting to Control You Significance: Answering control can wander right into whatever the controller might have had planned. Quiet can act as a guarded procedure, keeping the controller from utilizing your words against you. It gives you an opportunity to painstakingly perceive the control and thoroughly consider your reaction. 8. While Noticing and Learning Significance: Observational learning requires consideration and quietness to completely retain new data. Quiet takes into consideration better perception and comprehension of circumstances and ways of behaving. It helps in gaining from the climate and others without obstruction. 9. While Reflecting or Thinking Significance: Reflection and contemplation require a peaceful psyche to be successful. Quiet works with more profound reasoning, reflection, and self-improvement. It advances mental clearness and close to home security, assisting with settling inward clashes and settle on better choices. 10. During Talks Significance: Quiet can be a strong arranging strategy. It can make the other party self-conscious, frequently driving them to reveal more data or make concessions. It permits you to listen cautiously to the next party's offers and requests, assisting you with figuring out a superior reaction. Quiet isn't only the shortfall of discourse however an essential instrument that can be employed to improve correspondence, forestall clashes, and encourage understanding. Whether in warmed contentions, snapshots of despondency, or exchanges, realizing that when will generally be quiet is an indication of shrewdness and the capacity to understand people on a deeper level. By picking quiet at the perfect opportunities, we can explore life's intricacies all the more really, keeping up with our honesty and advancing amicable cooperations. There are no comments for this story Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

https://vocal.media/lifehack/when-in-life-in-any-situation-it-is-better-to-be-silent

Phones

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By Ikechukwu Nnochiri The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, dismissed a suit that Governors of the 36 States of the Federation, filed to query the constitutionality of regulations the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, issued to guarantee financial autonomy for local governments. The court, in a judgement that was delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, held that the suit lacked merit. It held that the regulations which came to effect on June 1, 2019, was aimed to ensure that funds meant for local governments are paid directly to them, rather than through a joint account controlled by governors. Besides, Justice Ekwo stressed that provisions of the NFIU’s guidelines, were not in conflict with 1999 Constitution, as amended. It will be recalled that the state governors under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum, had on May 27, 2019, through their Attorneys-General, approached the court to halt the implementation of the regulations. The regulations had aside from setting modalities through which funds could be withdrawn from local government accounts, also set daily limit for such withdrawals. In their suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/593/2019, the plaintiffs, through their lawyer, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, prayed the court to nullify the regulations for being unconstitutional, null and void. They urged the court to declare that by virtue of sections 4(7), 7(6)(a) and (b), 162(6) and 162(7) and (8) of the Nigerian Constitution, the state governments, “are not subject to control or directive of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit or body on the terms and manner of operation of State Joint Local Government Account other than by a law passed by the states’ House of Assembly”. Cited as defendants in the matter were the Attorney-General of the Federation, the NFIU, and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE. Meantime, while dismissing the suit, Justice Ekwo, held that the essence of the regulation was to guarantee transparency in the spending of funds that accrue to local governments. “I am unable to see how the provisions of the 2nd defendant’s (NFIU) guidelines contradict or conflict with the provisions of Section 162(6) of the constitution which creates the ‘State Joint Local Government Account’ into which allocations to the local government councils of the state from the Federation Account and from the government of the state shall be paid”, Justice Ekwo held. He said the guidelines did not contradict Section 162(8) of the Constitution which prescribed that the amount standing to the credit of the local government council of the state, shall be distributed among the local government councils of that state, on such terms, and in such manner as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of the state. “The duty of the court is limited to expounding the law and not expanding it. “On the whole, I see the provisions of the guidelines of the 2nd defendant as seeking to direct the monitoring of accounts, transfers and any other means of payment or transfer of funds of local government councils as provided for in Section 3 (1) (r) of the Act of the NFIU. “It only limits cash withdrawal made from any Local Government Account anywhere in the country to amount not exceeding N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) per day. “Any amount higher than that can be done using other methods of banking transaction save cash. “Unless it can be shown that there is any provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which these provisions of the 2nd defendant’s guidelines have contradicted or conflicted directly and practically, then the issue of unconstitutionality cannot be said to arise. “I find that the case of the plaintiffs has not been established and I so hold. “I find in the end, that the case of the plaintiffs lacks merit and ought to be dismissed and it is hereby dismissed. This is the order of this Court,” Justice Ekwo held. The court equally struck out the name of the 37th plaintiff (Incorporated Trustees of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum) from the suit for lack of locus standi to institute the action. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/05/36-govs-lose-suit-against-financial-autonomy-for-local-governments/

Politics

en

News of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa overthrowing the administration of President Bola Tinubu has been described as false. This clarification was made by former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode. Fani-Kayode also said President Bola Tinubu will not fall for such claims that his Minister of State of Defence, Bello Matawalle, are planning to overthrow him and install a military regime. Posting on X, the All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain said the video was aimed at getting Tinubu to sack some of his best appointees. He said, “Now come the devious and vicious lies presented in a malevolent, morbid and well-orchestrated campaign of calumny and disinformation designed to engender suspicion, fear, division and panic in our ranks. “A situation whereby fake stories and doctored videos are being peddled all over social media claiming that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, is poised to take over the reigns of Government and become Head of State and that the Minister of State of Defence, Bello Matawalle, is spying for and collaborating with the military Government of Niger Republic to topple the Tinubu administration clearly reflects the fact that the intention of those that are peddling such egregious and nonsensical falsehood is to sow division within the Government and mislead the President into firing some of his best, most trusted, most vocal and most loyal hands with a view to weakening him and making him vulnerable. “This is a dummy that President Tinubu must not fall for.” AllNews.ng recalls that a nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest began on Thursday, August 1 and will end on Saturday, August 10, 2024 according to the organisers. The protest which started last week Thursday as at Tuesday is in its sixth day. Despite President Bola Tinubu's nationwide on Sunday, protesters still defiantly continued their protest. The protests which had been largely peaceful in some south west states has been violent in the North especially Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and otjer states. Also, it was reported that on Sunday and Monday some of the protesters in some noethern8syates were waving the Russian flag and calling on the Nigerian military to overthrow the government. However the Russian Embassy has debunked having anything to do with the protests. Also, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Musa has restated that the Nigerian military will defend Nigeria's democracy.

https://allnews.ng/news/sheikh-habeebullah-adam-al-ilory-is-an-olodo-says-saheed-shittu-videoYes

Religion

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By Efe Onadjae Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Lagos, Dr.Olajide Adediran, popularly called Jandor, has challenged the incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the state to prove that he is medically fit to continue to govern the state by engaging in a road walk across the political wards. Adediran made the remark while addressing some of his supporters at Carter Street, Ebute Metta, Yaba on Saturday. The PDP governorship candidate maintained that it is through the fitness walk that the people could assess Sanwo-Olu if he has the physical and mental health to continue to govern the state. Adediran, who addressed the Council of Arewa Chiefs in the palace of the Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos state, urged the people to unite in voting out the All Progressives Congress, APC, adding that they cannot be intimidated to vote against their choice on election day. He said that he was aware of the challenges the Arewa community faces in the state, promising to create enabling environment for the growth of their businesses. Adediran said that the state government’s ban on motorcycle was counterproductive as the government did not provide an alternative source of income for the operators, condemning the profiling of a particular ethnic as criminals who used motorcycle to commit crime. According to him, “It is wrong for the government to conclude that your people use motorcycles to commit crime. There are criminals among all ethnic groups in Lagos, it is not peculiar to your people. “If I become Governor, instead of me to ban, I will rather sit with the Sarkins and discuss how we could fish out the bad eggs among the riders and purnish them rather than taking their source of livelihood. “The APC government does not appreciate your economic contribution to the state that is why the governor decided to ban motocyle without creating alternative source of income for you people. “I can assure you that my government will not operate like their own. We shall sit and discuss wayout in curbing the menace. “If I become Governor, the Arewa community will have more appointment slots unlike now that they give one slot to you people despite living in the state for almost 30 years.” Meanwhile, the Waziri of Shuwa-Arabs, Shiek Adam Muhammed, in his remarks, urged the PDP candidate to carry them along in his government if elected, asking what would be their benefits if they support him. Muhammed, however, requested on behalf of the Arewa community for five commissioner slots and 57 councillors slots. Similarly, the PDP governorship candidate visited the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Lagos Mainland Chapter, where he explained part of his manifestoes to them. Adediran said that he would tackle insecurity and ensure the safety of residents regardless of their religion, tribe and colour, adding that the excesses of the members of the transport unions would be curtailed in such a way they would channel their energy to a productive venture. The PDP guber candidate said, “My government will not tolerate the nonsense the NURTW members are doing in the state. I can tell you that the transport unionists are misbehaving because they have the backing of the state government. “I can tell you that if the state government wants to stop it, it will be stopped, but because the union has become tool in the hand of the government, the governor will not like to curtail their excesses. “Yes, NURTW is a registered labour union under Nigerian Labour Congress but I will reorganise it to serve its statutory purpose and use them to address traffic crimes.” The clergy men, who spoke on behalf of the leaders, urged Adediran to carry them along in his government if elected, lamenting that the body had always been sidelined for years. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/11/jandor-challenges-sanwo-olu-to-fitness-walk/

Politics

en

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said there was no need for the Academic Staff Union of Universities to continue with their industrial action. Jonathan said this at the inauguration of the Federal Government sponsored-Transformation Projects at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). Represented by Prof. Ruqayyat Rufai, the Minister of Education, the president said N30 billion had been released for the payment of earned allowances in all public universities. The president said that the inaugurated projects were in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to providing quality education in the country. He said the projects were based on the need assessment exercise conducted by the Federal Government in universities. Jonathan urged the university administration to engage in research for national development, while stressing the need for proper maintenance of completed projects. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chidozie Asiabaka, in his speech, expressed joy at the completion of the structure. Asiabaka noted that the projects had gone a long way in tackling the dearth of basic infrastructure in the school. “The dearth of classrooms, lecture theatres, power supply, student hostels, office accommodation, library space and facilities are major challenges my administration faced when I assumed office two years-ago,’’ he said. The vice chancellor said with the intervention of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the university got 1000 sitting-capacity lecture theatre, Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies Building. He said the inaugurated projects are the new Engineering Technology, School of Environmental Technology Building, Centre for Nuclear Energy Studies and Training and the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology building complexes. The others are the School of Environmental Technology building, landscaping of the campus and the provision of solar energy lights on the campus. He also commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on the completion of the giant student hostel building in the university. He lauded the Federal Government for the release of N1 billion for the development of capital projects in each public funded university. (NAN) Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/there-is-no-need-for-ASUU-to-continue-strike-jonathan/#sthash.1LX09d3j.dpuf

Education

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Some portion of the staff quarters of the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana has been demolished. The demolition exercise was said to have been carried out late Friday, although the Nigerian government has yet to react to the incident. A source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that a businessman had claimed that the Nigerian High Commission’s staff quarters was being built on his land. The man reportedly showed up last week with some pieces of evidence to support his claim and began to knock down the fence surrounding the building. According to the source, the action of the man was not opposed while the Nigerian High Commission petitioned the Ghanaian Government about it, but there was no response. Days later, he was said to have returned to the premises of the staff quarters and this time, with a bulldozer and began to pull down the building. In a bid to stop the demolition, officials contacted the police who reportedly showed up at the site when the building was almost pulled down. While the police allegedly allowed the man to leave the scene without reprimand or questioning, the Ghanaian authorities have yet to respond to the Nigerian High Commission about what happened.

https://www.channelstv.com/2020/06/20/nigerian-embassy-staff-quarters-in-ghana-demolished/

Politics

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The drumbeats of the 2015 presidential elections are very clear and even deafening on the side of the amalgamated but yet unregistered opposition party. However the Peoples Democratic Party is treading, cautiously, as a result of the President’s ban on political campaigns ahead of the next general elections. President Goodluck Jonathan has warned his ministers and officials to resign if they want to participate in the politics of 2015 and some have complied. This disciplined approach to governance is to ensure the administration’s focus is not derailed or dimmed by early politicking for 2015. This is the first time a sitting President would restrict politicking to a specific period to allow the government-in-power to concentrate on governance without distraction. In previous civilian regimes, politics and campaigns for the next elections take off immediately the government in-power is sworn-in. And this is the one of the disadvantages of the double tenure system as against the six year single tenure which Jonathan proposed in 2011. This fine proposal was killed by the National Assembly especially the Tambuwal-led House of Representatives which attacks any proposal or bill originating from the presidency. The anti-Jonathan plot is thickening by the day just as the federal administration is scoring high on economy, infrastructures, security, education and good governance. But the plot will crumble like a pack of cards because it is the people who will elect their President, not Tambuwal and definitely not the new messiah of south-west politics. And of course not Prof Ango Abdullai, the chairman of the Northern Elders Forum who just threatened that the North will not accept Jonathan as President in 2015. I did not expect anything less from the Prof who has for long been sidelined in northern politics and only ascended into his political eldorado recently. It is unfortunate that the professor has never commented on the lack of education in northern Nigeria. About a forthright ago, the Director General of the Nigerian Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu said less than 20% of teachers in the North are qualified to teach. This means more than 80% of teachers in the North are themselves illiterates with mainly certificates in Islamic Studies. The figures on education in the North are mind-boggling. Before the Boko Haram insurgency, 10 million school age children were already out of school in northern Nigeria alone. With the recent wanton wastage of the lives of pupils/students in Yobe State and other Boko Haram states in the North, the withdrawal from school will almost double. In 2010, Adamu Ciroma and his associates tried all the tricks in their political bag but Jonathan won in all the geopolitical zones including Katsina State which is the home state of his main opponent. That same year, many associations sprang up aiming to defeat GEJ at the polls,but they all failed because of Jonathan’s promises and candidacy. Today, Nigeria is better for it as GEJ is on course in his efforts to take Nigeria out of the woods. A critical look at the President’s transformation agenda showed that out of the 14 points-program he has achieved reverberating success in sight. Our GDP has recorded encouraging growth and this has stabilized our exchange rate at between N150 to N160 per dollar. In May 2011 our inflation rate was 12.4 percent but today it is about 9.1%. The domino effect of this on the economy is inestimable. Our external reserve also rose from $38.08bn in May 2011 to #48.4bn in May 2013. Our External Crude Account (ECA) went from $4bn in May 2011 to $9bn in December 2012 and in May 2013 we recorded $6bn. This is because our projected crude oil production fell from the 2.53 million bdp to between 2.1 and 2.2mn bpd. Government annual borrowing was also drastically reduced from N852bn in 2011 to N588bn in May 2013. The Jonathan administration is working to earn international trust and confidence and this has made Nigeria the highest foreign investment destination in Africa with $7bn Foreign Direct Investment. Many foreign investors have openly praised the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration due to his transparence and absence of covert and personal pre-agreement conditionalities and kickbacks as in some previous regimes. In agriculture, the administration blocked loopholes in the procurement and distribution of fertilizer. On rail and road transportation, the Jonathan administration has made giant strides. These were infrastructural facilities that were pronounced DEAD, but it resuscitated them. In the road sector government has made Nigerians proud with the refurbishment of the Lagos-Ore-Benin Road, Kano-Maiduguri Road, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road. Even most of the eastern roads which were hitherto gullies are now pleasurably motorable. The much publicized East-West trans state road linking the West with the East is also progressing as planned. Petrol queues have vanished. The usually quarterly deregulation tango is now a thing of the past. Electricity has improved. And the President is not losing focus as electricity will be one of his legacies. Many Nigerians are impressed with the President’s handling of the Boko Haram issue. A few critics have lambasted Jonathan for handling the insurgency with kid gloves instead of using the bulldozer approach which leveled Odi on Nov. 20, 1999. The North has never hidden its disdain for the right of southerners to govern this country. From 1957, the North ruled Nigeria till 1999 apart from Gen. Obasanjo’s three years military rule. The North after ruling for 38 years now felt very sorry for the South and ceded power to the South-west due to Obasanjo’s support for President Shehu Shagari in the 1983 122/3 saga that nailed Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s ambition to make Nigeria a nation to be reckoned with in the comity of advanced nations. And so the North has ruled Nigeria for 41 years while the South in 2013 has ruled for only 15 years from 1957. The North will still vote the President into power inspite of the Ango Abdullais and the now sidelined Adamu Ciromas. Jonathan may not be a strong, military, bulldozing President but nothing will deprive him of his constitutional right to contest the 2015 presidential election. He will run for the presidency in 2015 and there will be no “shaking” about this by the special grace of GOD. *Nanaghan lives in Lagos. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/run-jonathan-run

Politics

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Director of Radio Biafra and Leader, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu as he appeared before Justice Ahmed Mohammed Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday, 23/12/2015 By Chinedu Adonu ENUGU- INDIGENOUS People of Biafra (IPOB) condemned British Government for seeking the death of leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and that she was an accessory to the genocide on Biafrans. IPOB also said that it has classified classified information which incontrovertibly placed the British Government as an accessory to genocide on Biafrans. This came as it accused the British Government and President Muhammed Buhari of plan to administer a non-traceable poison on the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to kill him. IPOB confirmed that the British Government is working in tandem with the Nigerian government to stealthily administer a non-traceable poison on the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Acording the press statement signed by IPOB spokesmen Barr. Emma Powrful and Dr. Cliford Chukwuemeka Iroanya, released to journalist in Enugu disclosed that Buhari and British Govornment want to kill Nnamdi Kanu to stop the leaking of heinous crime committed by them. “Our intelligence gathering team revealed that one of the reasons for embarking on this heinous crime by both the British Government and the President Buhari is to stop the avalanche of leaked videos and some classified information which incontrovertibly placed the British Government as an accessory to genocide on Biafrans. “Another reason is to ensure that Nnamdi Kanu is dead before Mr. Donald J. Trump takes over as the 45th President of the USA. We have also confirmed that should the plan to poison Nnamdi Kanu fail, a phantom road accident will be arranged for the vehicle conveying Nnamdi Kanu to court on any of the court days beginning from Tuesday, 10th of January 2017. “What bothers us in IPOB is the fact that Biafrans are Christians and a sizeable proportion of whom are Anglican denomination including the parents of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which was where they baptised and christened him “Kenneth or Kenny” for short. “So as a child and in accordance with Anglican prayer book Nnamdi Kanu grew up praying for the safety and well being of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and all their heirs. But the question we ask the British Government is this”. IPOB said. “Why would Britain, a supposedly Christian country and a proclaimed member of the body of Christ, be supporting people of Islamic faith such as Buhari to kill Biafrans and enthrone servitude in Biafraland? From where is this British Government hatred on fellow Christians of Biafran descent coming? Perhaps, the British Government must tell the world what we, Biafrans, did to them that makes them hate us so much”. IPOB question. “Is it because we accepted Christianity that they see us as inferior beings or is it the fact that we have English names that made them see us as people without a proud identity? Even the undersigned of this press release still bear their English names and append same on all documents both personal and corporate. “Why would the British Government want Nnamdi Kanu dead in spite of the fact that he is a British citizen? Or is it in line with the British Government’s standard practice of hating every African freedom fighter? Recall that both Margaret Thatcher and David Cameron called Nelson Mandela a terrorist and demanded he should be hanged. “In like manner, the British Government is now pushing for Nnamdi Kanu to be jailed. This hatred for African freedom fighters, especially those of the Christian faith, by the British Government is very surprising considering that these are Africans who willingly accepted Christianity. “What is it in Islam that the British Government discovered which makes them abandon their fellow Christians and connive with Muslims to oppress and kill these Christians on a continual basis? “We would like to use this opportunity to caution the British Government to retrace their steps and terminate their plans to kill Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We are also putting the world on notice that should anything happen to Nnamdi Kanu or those detained with him and elsewhere in Nigeria, the British Government shall be held directly responsible for their deaths. We reassure the world that the restoration of the nation of Biafra is a divine project whose time has come. “Both Muhammadu Buhari and the Biafra-hating British Government are incapable of stopping the restoration of the nation of Biafra and 2017 is the year that kick-starts the restoration process. To stop the restoration of the nation of Biafra, the British Government will have to kill over 70 million Biafrans who have sworn to restore their God-given nation. “We reiterate that the sovereignty of the nation of Biafra is not negotiable, come rain or shine”. IPOB said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/01/want-nnamdi-kanu-dead-ipob-asks-uk-govt/

Politics

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer for Adamawa Prof Muhammed Mele of the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, has rejected the manual result sheet from the Fufore Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. While the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 26,329 and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 21,721 in the result sheet, the INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) showed that the APC got 24,777 votes, and the PDP 20, 777. But the collation officials rejected the results as declared by the local government returning officer and accepted that of the IReV as authentic one. They say the results as declared by the Fufore LGA returning officer did not tally with that on the IREV portal. READ ALSO: Gov Election: Collation Resumes In Rivers State, PDP Maintains Lead They are now collating the final results for the announcement of the winner. With this result, the APC candidate Aisha Binani has eight LGAs while Gov Umaru Fintiri has won 13 LGAs from the twenty-one in the state. The APC agents complained about the results and were advised to follow the appropriate channel for their grievances.

https://www.channelstv.com/2023/03/20/inec-returning-officer-rejects-manual-result-for-adamawa-lg-accepts-irevs/

Politics

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Yes, Jesus rose from the dead in the same body in which He died. In John 2:19-21, Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”1 The Jews, therefore, said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of his body.” Jesus prophesied that He would rise from the dead in the very body in which He died. Right now, in heaven, Jesus has a physical body. He has scars on his wrists, ankles, brow, and side. He has retained the wounds of His crucifixion. After His resurrection, He appeared to Thomas. “Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing,'” (John 10:27). Notice that Jesus still retained the hole in His side where he was pierced. “But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water,” (John 19:34). Some scholars think that when Jesus appeared to the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35 and that the reason they did not recognize Him was that Jesus had been beaten about the face, and His beard had been ripped from His face and was simply not recognizable. It wasn’t until after He broke bread and exposed His wrists that they then saw who He was; but, this is just a theory. Though He was raised physically, His body was a glorified body. It was the same body, but it was different. 1 Cor. 15:42-44 says, “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” We do not know exactly what a resurrected body is capable of doing; but, Jesus did appear in rooms unannounced. Perhaps we might have the same ability at our resurrection. The physical resurrection of Jesus is a very important doctrine. 1 Cor. 15:14 says, “and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” The reason it is so important is that Jesus’ physical resurrection is the proof that death has been conquered and that we too will be physically resurrected. To say that Jesus did not rise from the dead is to say that death had victory over Him. If that were so, we would be without hope; and sin would still have its power. 1 Cor. 15:53-57, “For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

http://ow.ly/21Gt50N92n5

Religion

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Shagari…Nigeria under his watch Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who handed over the reins of power to the late Alhaji Shehu Shagari, in his book, Not My Will, said Shagari was pushed into power by those who wanted to use him “and he was unfortunately too weak, and somewhat ill-prepared for the trappings of political power to check the abuses of his power by those who made use of him”. Africa Today Publisher KAYODE SOYINKA, in this special piece for The Nation, examines the Shagari Presidency. FROM THE ONSET, ALHAJI SHEHU SHAGARI, who won the 1979 Presidential election, although the verdict was controversial, never gave the impression of being a man who had clear idea of what government was all about. If anything, he appeared to be the reincarnation of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa: purposeless, weak, and even to some, lazy – characteristics not surprising in a man who, after all, had never courted power and wanted only to be a senator. In the way he operated and performed as president of Nigeria, it was clear that what President Shagari found most attractive was the pomp and pageantry that came with leadership. General Olusegun Obasanjo, who handed over the reins of power to him, said of him, in his book, Not My Will: “He was pushed into power by those who wanted to make use of him and he was unfortunately too weak, and somewhat ill-prepared for the trappings of political power to check the abuses of his power by those who made use of him”. Shagari himself later demonstrated his lack of confidence in government when he made his famous remark to the effect that, in reality, there were only two major political parties in Nigeria during the Second Republic: the civilians on the one hand and the military on the other. Because he inherited a healthy economy and because, like former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, the oil boom really was a real boon for him, Shagari saw his problem not as earning money for the country, but as not knowing what to do with it. When he came to power October 1, 1979, the price of oil was $40 per barrel on average and the production level was two million barrels per day throughout 1980 and the beginning of 1981. The price of oil had jumped from about $14 per barrel in the third quarter of 1979 to $40 per barrel in the first quarter of 1980. In 1979/80 Nigeria’s revenue was estimated at N12.272 billion (about £9 billion), to which oil contributed about N9.489 billion (£7.6 billion). Politically, in the first two years of his administration, Shagari enjoyed reasonable amount of goodwill. His ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN), which called for a government of national unity, succeeded in getting Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) to join it to form a government. This relative support and goodwill, which Shagari received from the electorate, despite legal arguments in court about the validity of his victory at the poll, was partly due to the Nigerian people being genuinely fed up with the military rule of the past 13 years and wanting to give civilian rule a chance. Unfortunately, it turned out that Shagari, despite all the years he had spent in the country’s public service, both as a senior politician and in government, with several key ministerial feathers in his cap, really had little inkling of modern politics and economics. Lacking a sense of history or of Nigeria’s destiny, the Shagari government threw overboard the cost-cutting measures of its predecessor and began to wallow in profligacy. “The financial recklessness of federal and state governments inevitably resulted in the depletion of an already low revenue (resulting from a fall in oil production and price of crude), high debts, inflation, unemployment, factory shut-downs, food scarcity and general disenchantment,” wrote Nigerian commentator Ray Ekpu in the October 1984 edition of Africa Now. In short, Shagari’s NPN government of October 1, 1979, to December 31, 1983, was the epitome of political and economic mismanagement in Nigeria of that era – a government that had killed the country’s economy and politics in its first four-year term. What made matters totally hopeless was that the government engineered an incredible elections fraud in 1983 to ensure his re-election. It was no surprise therefore when Nigerians woke up on the last day of the year 1983 to discover that Shagari’s government had been swept away, there were few mourners. The new military government of General Muhammadu Buhari needed no great oratory to convince Nigerians that the fallen government had been a monumental disaster; almost everyone, except for a few party faithful who profited from the decadence, had felt the rottenness of the government in his bones. As the soldiers broke open warehouses and stores of essential commodities, rice, milk, sugar, cooking oil came tumbling out in large quantities and Nigerians began to dance in the hope that an era had come when such commodities would be both available and affordable. Even in the last period of his reign, luck was still on Shagari’s side. It had been said that a certain section of the military actually contemplated removing his government as early as March 1980, but that wiser counsel prevailed, namely that the 1983 elections should be allowed to go ahead. What happened during those elections finally provided enough justification for the removal of the government. In his second coming, Shagari provided further evidence of his lack of will and direction. To say that the massive corruption by members of his party and government was the reason for the New Year coup is to miss the point; that was just the symptoms of the cancer that was killing the country. Shagari was just an inept leader and uninformed. Wrote Dr Ibrahim Gambari, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister under General Buhari: “The issue of large-scale corruption severely damaged the reputation of the operators of the political system. Although this was not a new issue in Nigeria, the nature of the new presidential system and the increase in oil-based revenue accruing to the federal and state governments, especially in the early 1980s, helped to elevate corruption to new heights. Corrupt practices became pervasive at local, state and federal levels, especially in the award of contracts and the manipulation of the import-licensing system. When these practices continued without much regard to declining government revenue, they poisoned the social and political climate, since ever fewer funds were made available to maintain, let alone develop, social services and related institutions. It was not long before essential medical services and the educational systems degenerated and were on the verge of collapse. Social tensions were heightened and antisocial behaviour of the underclass increased very rapidly.” Dr Gambari, in his book, Theory and Reality in Foreign Policy Making: Nigeria After the Second Republic, maintained: “The elections of 1983 were not conducted in an atmosphere of freedom or with fairness. On the contrary, they were accompanied by serious abuses, blatant malpractices and communal violence. In view of the ethnic pattern of support and voting by the general public, the claims of ‘victory’ by one party in the traditional strongholds of the others stretched credibility to the limit and led to outbreaks of violence. The resulting bloodshed and confusion damaged the reputation not only of the law enforcement agencies, which were often part of the problem, but also of the federal government and politicians in general.” This was the situation in Nigeria when, on the eve of the New Year 1983, there was another military coup d’état that removed the Shagari government. It was the fourth successful military takeover in Black Africa’s most dominant power. However, unlike the ones before it, this coup did not come totally as a shock. It was one coup that was self-evident. The decision of the military to govern again on the eve of 1984 was ostensibly a patriotic and altruistic one: to save the country from what they perceived as the monumental scale of corruption and economic depravity in the civilian administration. Even allowing for some measure of sincerity in these intentions, it does not rule out another motivation, rooted in the historical trends, political development, ambitions, and fears extant in post-independence Nigeria: in short, in the on-going North/South geo-ethnic rivalry. One result of the 1967-70 civil war was the de facto establishment of the Northern hegemony within the army’s corps of senior officers who aimed at ensuring that this would be maintained even during a civilian administration. However, the dominance of the North both as a united political entity and, increasingly, over the economy during the military administrations from 1966-79 was being seriously challenged from the South under the civil administration of Shehu Shagari (Northerner though he was). When the 1983 election result gave Shagari both a second term of office and made his NPN the pre-eminent party, not only in the North but in majority of the Southern states as well, the worst fears of these top-ranking officers were confirmed. They could foresee that in the next presidential elections in four years time, the NPN would fulfil what was written into the party’s constitution, namely: the selection of a presidential candidate from among the faithful in the South. Indeed, the NPN’s Southerners made no attempt to conceal this aim and immediately after the 1983 elections jockeyed for federal positions in Shagari’s new government. Shagari had consolidated the Northern officer hegemony by encouraging Moslem Hausa/Fulani promotions (in preference to Southerners and Christian Northerners) by making appointments to coveted commands and awards of lucrative contracts to retiring officers of the same ilk. Despite this, a ruthless, single-minded cabal of Northern officers decided that the danger of their power base being eroded by a Southern-dominated administration with mass popular support (probably including that of the junior officers and rank-and-file in the armed forces) far outweighed any loyalty they owed to President Shagari. These were the more compelling reasons why Major-Generals Buhari and Babangida, with nine other senor army and air force officers, laid their plans stealthily and efficiently for the successful coup of December 31, 1983. Successful though the actual coup undoubtedly was, in order to gain legitimacy, the generals depended heavily on whatever support they could coax from the people. One of the numerous ways they went about this was to arrest former civilian politicians and lock them all up in different jails around the country. Show trials were staged before military tribunals at which they faced charges of corruption – an attempt by the regime to retrieve the ill-gotten gains the politicians had acquired when in government. The Buhari regime put the main blame on the politicians for the ravages on Nigeria’s treasury and on one man in particular: UMARU DIKKO. FAILED ATTEMPT TO FIGHT CORRUPTION When Shagari’s victory at the polls in the 1983 Presidential election had been declared, it was widely expected that he would do something about corruption under his administration. From the beautiful plateau holiday resort, the Yankari Games Reserve, in northern Nigeria where he had been in retreat, Shagari made a speech strongly condemning corruption. The speech came to be known as Shagari’s “Sermon on the Plateau” and it was widely thought that some heads would have to roll among his ministers. All eyes were particularly on Dikko who had by then gained notoriety for his presumed corruption. But only lightweight ministers were eventually sacked from the cabinet. Dikko not only remained in the cabinet, he retained his very powerful political influence, authority and power on the Presidency and government. The New Nigeria, with a characteristically slick paraphrase of a cliché, dubbed the sacking as “The Night of the Short Knives”. Shagari had set up a Code of Conduct Bureau to, in his own words, “maintain high standards of probity in the conduct of public officials;” he had appointed a special Tribunal of Enquiry into the alleged misappropriation of N2.8 billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) under the Obasanjo regime. But, for all his good intentions, perhaps he should have paid more attention to a famous Islamic reformer of the early 19th century who founded and lived in his own hometown and state of Sokoto and with whose works he was certainly familiar. This was Uthman Dan Fodio whose advice to any Caliph (high in the ruling hierarchy) included: “It is quite likely that it is about his officials that people wish to complain: he must therefore listen to them. If he doesn’t then he can be compared to a herdsman who, rather than guarding his herd, holds the cow (in this case, the people) by the horns to help the thief (his officials) steal the milk (his people’s wealth.)” Shagari never believed all the accusations of corruption levelled against Dikko or, for that matter, against any of his top ministers. For him to have acted decisively against any minister, he needed cast-iron evidence of that minister’s corruption, which nobody was able to produce. Despite the fact that a minister like Dikko had become increasingly unpopular in the eyes of the people, Shagari found it difficult to drop him from his cabinet. President Shagari trusted his ministers as surely as he trusted his own integrity. As President, his own honesty was never in doubt. He could be compared with Sir Milton Margai, the late Prime Minister of Sierra Leone who, when he died in 1964, owed money to the bank – he left an overdraft. Indeed, as Commissioner for Finance under General Gowon, Shagari himself had sought and obtained an overdraft. The bank manager had actually written asking him when he intended becoming solvent again. If a Nigerian Federal Commissioner for Finance, at the time his country was enjoying an unprecedented oil boom, had incurred an overdraft, which he was having difficulty in settling, surely he must have been an honest man. But Shagari, while he was President, was deluded into trusting people whom others viewed as dishonest. His tragedy was that, had he survived his second term of office, he might have proved that he was his own man instead of being the prisoner of his party, as he undoubtedly was during his first term. But Dikko, his campaign manager in the Presidential election of 1983, is one man who would defend the former president till the last. “Whatever any Nigerian may say, no matter how biased he is, one thing he would have to admit is that Shagari is a good person. He was not a dictator. He is a fair-minded man who meant well for Nigeria. Under his regime, whether or not you voted for him, you were not denied your entitlement as a Nigerian. He did not win in all the states of Nigeria but, despite that, there is no state where they can say they were totally excluded from the affairs of the country. Under Shagari we had the greatest chance in Nigeria, the best opportunity that ever came to us, to be welded into a nation, where you don’t think of yourself as a Yoruba or as Hausa/Fulani or as an Ibo; where you think in terms of belonging to this or that party. That is called advancement, politically. That was the road on which Shagari put Nigeria, only to be treated the way he was treated,” Dikko told me in an interview while in exile in London. - This article is adapted from Soyinka’s book: DIPLOMATIC BAGGAGE: MOSSAD & NIGERIA – THE DIKKO STORY.

http://thenationonlineng.net/shagari-nigeria-watch/?utm_source=quora&utm_medium=referral

Politics

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Abuja – General Muhammadu Buhari, the president-elect, has said that he is willing to work with any leader of the Senate, irrespective of what part of the country he or she originates from. In a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, May 13, General Buhari described as false, insinuations in the media that he was in support of any particular Senator’s emergence as Leader or that he belonged to any camp pushing for the emergence of a leader from a particular part of the country. “I am prepared to work with any leaders that the House or Senate selects,” General Buhari said. “It doesn’t matter who the person is or where he or she is from.” He added that these insinuations were probably born out of people’s expectations based on the way things had happened in the past, but reminded Nigerians that CHANGE had truly come. “There is due process for the selection of leaders of the National Assembly,” General Buhari said, “and I will not interfere in that process.” General Buhari added that the media and the public should begin to get used to no more “business as usual.” “Nigeria has indeed entered a new dispensation,” he said. “My administration does not intend to repeat the same mistakes made by previous governments.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/buhari-denies-purported-choice-of-senate-leader/

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A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Friday discharged and acquitted three persons charged for conspiracy and the murder of Bayo Ohu, a political reporter and the Assistant News Editor of the Guardian Newspapers, murdered three years ago in Lagos. The Lagos State government had accused the three men of conspiracy and the murder of Ohu. The accused are Dada Yemi Adesanya, Ganiu Sulemon and Idris Balogun. The Lagos State government which prosecuted the case had alleged that on the 20th of September 2009 at NO 9 Oyeniji Street, in Odukoya estate, Akowonjo Egbeda area in the Ikeja judicial division, the three men armed with offensive weapons robbed Ohu of one laptop computer and two mobile telephone sets. The men were also alleged to have murdered Ohu in the process of robbing him of his belongings. Ruling on a no case submission filed by the defence counsel, Yemi Omodele, the presiding judge, Justice Lateefa Okunnu held that the prosecution failed to prove its case against the men beyond reasonable doubt. The court stated that no evidence whatsoever was placed before the court to show that the defendants were at the scene of the alleged crime. Justice Okunu observed that none of the police officers listed before the court as witnesses came to testify saying “they abandoned the case and did not turn up”. The court further held that there was no correlation in the evidence of the first prosecution witness, Kashi Taiwo and that of Bode Adetola, the 2nd prosecution witness, to show that the defendants were the persons that killed Ohu. What the prosecution had against the accused person according to the court was at best ‘mere suspicion which goes to no issue’. The court subsequently discharged the accused persons. Ohu was shot and killed at his home in Lagos, on the morning of Sunday, September 20, 2009. Five assailants were believed to have attacked Ohu, stealing his laptop and cell phone. Former Inspector General of Police Ogbonna Onovo had in January of 2010 announced the arrested of three men suspected to be involved in the murder of Ohu, including the suspect that pulled the trigger that killed the journalist. The police authority who were pursuing a case of robbery as against the speculations of assassination had said that Ohu’s laptop and phones were recovered from the persons that bought them from the robbers adding that it was from them that the robbery suspects were traced and arrested.

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/05/11/court-frees-suspected-killers-of-guardian-editor-bayo

Politics

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•The Reps’ case against Osinbajo, NEMA DG on N39.5b IDP intervention funds •Claims are a hatchet job – VP’s associate By Levinus Nwabughiogu Nigerians are at it again. A feeling of déjà vu has engulfed the polity. Public funds had been wasted, misappropriated or embezzled. Investigations had also been conducted and reports of indictment made public. Same arms of government had always traded claims, but, this time, the number two citizen of the country and the lower chamber of the national parliament are the dramatis personae. The first segment of the face-off was between a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr Babachir Lawal, and the Senate. Senators had launched an investigation into the expenditures of the Presidential Initiative in the North East (PINE) and alleged a fraud of over N200 million said to have been perpetrated by Lawal in a grass cutting contract for the Boko Haram ravaged North-East and recommended his sack. But the Executive arm of government pooh-poohed the recommendation. The development led to a verbal exchange between Lawal and then Senator Shehu Sani-led investigative committee. It was not until the exchange became a public embarrassment for the federal administration that the Presidency set up a committee, headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to further investigate Lawal. Though the report of that investigation was not made public, President Muhammadu Buhari eventually fired the SGF. About one year after the incident, Osinbajo, a professor of law and pastor, is at the centre of another corruption allegation. This time, it is about the approval of N5.8billion for various humanitarian exigencies in the North-East. Also fingered in the corruption allegation is the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mr. Mustapha Maihaja, who has been accused of failure to account for over N33billion. Osinbajo and Maihaja are battling to extricate themselves from the accusations concerning the funds totalling N39.8billion. And like the Lawal/Senate face-off which the upper chamber pronounced on, the VP and the NEMA DG’s fate was decided by the House of Representatives Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Emergency which had launched investigation into NEMA’s activities in the North-East. The Committee was headed by Hon. Ali Isa representing Balanga/Biliri Federal Constituency of Gombe State. Ordinarily, Osinbajo would have had no business in the episode were it not for the health challenges of Buhari that took him away for most of 2017. During the period, the VP acted as President and the emergency situation in the North-East arose. Osinbajo did what he thought was legally and administratively expedient. But in the eyes of the federal lawmakers, then Acting President erred in law as Isa said he has questions to answer. At Thursday’s plenary, the House considered the report and recommendations of the Isa Committee and agreed that the VP actually erred. The House recalled that the sum of N5, 865, 671, 939.26 was approved and released in June 2017 via a memo raised by the Office of the Vice President, directing then Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and the Accountant General of the Federation to so act on the emergency intervention of food security to the North-East to support the population ravaged by insurgency. The memo further specified a directive to the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefile, from the Ministry of Finance to pay the sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account which the AGF was to raise a mandate for. But the House said that this was in contravention of the approval of the National Assembly on the issuance of Euro Bond from which then Minister authorized the payment. According to the lawmakers, the Euro Bond is for specified infrastructural projects and not for discretionary intervention, adding that there was no specific appropriation by the National Assembly. Section 80 (4) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, states, “No money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Federation, except in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly”. Relying on the constitutional provision, the House pointed out that the money, paid to six different companies for the supply of food items to the North-East, was not approved by the federal parliament. Same day, the House adopted the recommendation of the Committee that the NEMA DG should be relieved of his duties for the alleged loss of N33 billion and violation of public trust. The House also mandated the anti-graft agencies to further investigate the DG and apply appropriate sanctions where necessary. The areas where Maihaja was allegedly found culpable include the issue of the donation of 6,779 metric tons of rice by the Chinese government to IDPs in the North-East; the issue of the receipt and utilization of N1.6 billion for flood victims in 16 states; the issue of the funds released for emergency intervention of food security in the North-East and the issue of the release of N3,153, 000, 000 to NEMA for food intervention in the region. Others are on the matter concerning the evacuation of Nigerians from Libya and the question of the unaccounted N17, 889, 050, 401 released from the Ecological Fund to NEMA. On the issue of the donation of 6,779 metric tons of rice by the Chinese government to IDPs, the Committee made the following recommendations: * That the House condemns in strong terms the negligence and inefficiency of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and NEMA for the long delay in the collection of the rice from the port terminal. *That NEMA and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Budget and National Planning should account for the rice which was never received by the beneficiaries. * That the ICPC, the EFCC and the Nigeria Police should conduct further investigation and prosecute where necessary. * That the ICPC, the EFCC and the police should ensure the recovery of about N800m paid as demurrage from the concerned officers of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and NEMA while they should further investigate the conflicting testimonies of the agencies and determine whether there was multiple payment for the demurrage. * That the suspension of six staff members of NEMA by its management is an abuse of power, against the extant public service rules and a gross violation of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. On the receipt and utilization of N1.6 billion for flood victims in 16 states, the Committee recommended that the ICPC and the EFCC should further investigate the matter and recover N700m from Maihaja. On the funds released for emergency intervention of food security in the North-East, the Committee indicted government officials involved in the approval, processing, release and diversion of the N5.8billion for the emergency intervention of food security in the North-East, as it contravened S.80(2) and 80(4) of the Constitution and constituted an infraction on due process for the procurement and loss of government revenue and the flouting of the terms of the Eurobond loan, saying relevant security agencies should take steps to recover the money from them. On the release of N3,153, 000, 000 to NEMA for food intervention to the North-East, the Committee stated that the ICPC and the EFCC should recover N1,150, 000, 000 being subsidised cost of 5, 000 metric tons of rice from the Director General of NEMA who claimed to have donated same to the World Food Programme (WFP) when the agency was ready to pay for it or import same. On the matter concerning the evacuation of Nigerians from Libya, the Committee recommended that the Federal Government should make available adequate funds to relevant agencies for their rehabilitation in order to prevent them from going back. It added that the process, procedure, method and cost of the evacuation of the Nigerians stranded abroad was opaque and should be made more transparent in order to ensure better accountability. On the unaccounted N17, 889, 050, 401 released from the Ecological Fund to NEMA, the Committee said the agency should submit, through the appropriate authority, all the money accruing to it yearly to the National Assembly for Appropriation in order to meet constitutional requirements. The Chairman of the Committee, Isa, told the House, “From the investigation, it has been established that the Federal Government lost N33billion as a result of mismanagement or outright embezzlement of funds occasioned by the actions or inactions of the Managing Director of NEMA, Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja. “It is hereby consequently recommended that the Director General of NEMA be relieved of his duties by Mr President and handed over to relevant authorities for prosecution. The controversy on the issues continued outside of the House last week when Ikem Isiekwena of APNA, a political action committee supporting the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and believed to be Osinbajo’s associate, defended the Vice President while the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kola Ologbodiyan, and the National Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, Shehu Gabam, took sides with the lawmakers. Isiekwena, Ologbodiyan and Gabam spoke on Channels Television Sunrise programme. Reps indictment of VP is a hatchet job — Ikem Isiekwena What do you make of the disbursement of the N5.8billon to NEMA? I think there is a misconception to start with and it is essentially what you would call a hatchet job because we need to separate facts from fiction or innuendoes. The first point to note is that there was an emergency situation and the law provides for a process, whether by procurement or how money gets disbursed from government coffers, to address the situation. Now you have a report which, at best, is haphazard and, at worst, is a ploy to tarnish the image of persons in government. So you find out that what had happened in May 2017 was that there was a food crisis which the United Nations Food Programme said they were unable to deal with, and there was going to be a reduction of food to about 85% of the persons in IDP camps in the North-East; so the administration was confronted with an emergency, how did they deal with it? A meeting was convened and the Vice President who, at the time was Acting President, sat with relevant ministries. They had the Ministers of Budget and Planning, Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development and the CBN Governor which constituted a Presidential Committee on Food Security and it was clear that they needed to send 45,000 metric tons of grains to the North-East so that people don’t die of starvation. So it was a people-oriented action taken in good faith and they sat around and, in that meeting room, this report did not indicate, as was eloquently expressed in the House, that the CBN, in the consultations, said we had a price stabilization process where we are in a PPP arrangement with the most renowned agriculture aggregators, Flour Mills, Dangote Rice, etc, and they had grain reserves such that it contained any shocks from pricing. So cumulatively, there were almost 31,000 metric tons of grains. So, there was a pricing system at the time that allowed procurement process in an emergency situation to occur. Now you hear that there is unconstitutionality, illegality which is false. You have the NEMA Act and, if you look at Section 16 Sub-section 2, it clearly specifies the authorizing body for the award of any contract by NEMA in an emergency situation and it is the President and remember that the Vice President, at the time, was the Acting President. So he was acting in accordance with the law and here you also have Section 43 of the Procurement Act which provides that there is a departure from the general bidding process and you can do single sourcing or you can undertake the process that was undertaken in each instance. So Section 43 was followed, Section 16 and Sub-section 2 of the NEMA Act was also followed. Now you have a report that came out and I am shocked that this report specifies that Section 16 of the Procurement Act was infringed. How can there be an infraction of the general principle of law, when there is a specific Section of the law that says in an emergency situation this sort of process that was followed could be followed? So it shows you that it is a hatchet job. So what you are saying is that in the report that the House of Reps put forward, there is no iota of truth anywhere? There is no truth in it. There is something in the report that is tagged branding and packaging. You are not concerned about the fact that accountability is what the legislators are asking for here. The Office of the Vice President stated some of the things that the money was supposedly used for. That is not an extract from the report and it is a bagging process, there was no branding here. It was to bag grains that were in silos and having 707 trucks to deliver the grains from four different locations. In this emergency situation, according to the lawmakers, there was no bidding for any of these jobs that were given out. That is not true, it is inaccurate to say no company bid because the procurement process that was followed under Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act says that in an emergency situation and I told you that before the consultation process started, the CBN identified that we had a grain reserve programme. Where are you going to get 15,000 metric tons of grains from? Osinbajo can’t take Nigeria for a banana republic – Ologbodiyan Do you agree that it is a hatchet job? I do not agree that it is a hatchet job. The young man was acting on behalf of the Vice President and he came to act a script but he failed to deliver on it. Affected state governments were represented at the public hearing. The representative of Yobe State was a Perm Sec and he declared that no grain was received, no intervention was done and I believe that the House of Reps was very thorough both in the public hearing and the report that emanated from the public hearing. The House of Reps consists of 360 members across party lines and not a single objection was heard on the floor of the House. So it is strange for anybody to come and say it was a hatchet job. A hatchet job that the Vice President, as Acting President, did not approve of the N5.8billion as some form of intervention on the food crisis in the North-East? A hatchet job that the money was not expended? I truly do not understand his position. He cited some parts of the Procurement Act which he thinks the members of the House did not look at, particularly Sections 14 and 80 of the Constitution; he believed that the lawmakers did not look at these sections of the law effectively before they came up with this report. One recommendation of the committee is that the action of NEMA, chaired by the VP, contravened the provisions of Sections 82 and 84 of the Constitution and the act constitutes an infraction of due process particularly on procurement and a loss of government revenue, these are the basic issues. For instance, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Ali Isa, said there was no bidding for contract. Yes, there is a Section of the Procurement Act that says that in an emergency, NEMA can act but the Act doesn’t say that you can go and do contracts without following procurement rules. And so you cannot turn around and say that because it is an emergency you did a contract of N5.8billion without due process, you withdrew money from the Consolidated Account without taking it through the National Assembly? This is not a banana republic, this is country guided by a Constitution and the VP is a professor of law. The Presidency must answer to the issues raised by the House – Gabam Do you agree that this is a hatchet job? I think we need to understand the processes that are involved in such a very important exercise that touches the lives of people that are stranded. Government has three arms: executive, legislature and judiciary. Lawmakers have an independent way of investigating issues that the executive has addressed. The National Assembly, apart from the Speaker and the Senate President, has Committee Chairmen who function as ministers in their own rights, and they have the powers to investigate and write reports on issues. Those investigations do not mean that somebody is being witch-hunted; it is a process of accountability, to ensure that issues of perceptions, allegations are dealt with thoroughly and anybody who has visited IDP camps will come to terms with the reality that the people are desirous of immediate attention at all times because the life they live is very pathetic, it seems that there is no intervention anywhere. So, sometimes, the necessity of what you see creates that desperation especially when the large chunk of the N5.8billion is going into the IDP camps and no result to justify that kind of thing. So, when I look at it from the responsibility of the National Assembly, it is an oversight function of that committee to do a thorough job and we are a government that is governed by laws and we operate within the parameters of laws and I believe that what they are doing is what needs to be done. One of the things the legislators talked about has to do with accountability and Section 16 of the Public Procurement Act talked about processes being carried out with clarity and transparency so that there can be accountability. Do you think they are right in saying that there are questions that need to be answered as regards this emergency situation in the North-East? They are absolutely right; they have the powers to investigate. No President has unlimited powers and as Acting President he had operate within the law and once there is an Act that makes provisions for an emergency situation, there are processes and those processes have to be followed. I am not saying there is absolute violation of that process and their investigation is ongoing but I am saying that, as a matter of fact, this should not been seen as a deliberate act to witch-hunt anybody but as process that will explain to Nigerians what happened because issues were raised and perhaps Nigerians are not aware the exercise had taken place until the National Assembly raised it. The Presidency has not explained to Nigerians that they were carrying out this exercise in the overall national interest in an emergency situation. I have been in the executive and I know sometimes how frustrating the executive can be given the situation but at the same time if there is a good relationship between the executive and the National Assembly some of these gaps wouldn’t have been there. And let us as Nigerians back a process that will take care of future reckless behaviour in terms of managing a process and nobody should feel he is above the law and the law must be complied with at all times. We must allow institutions to function properly and I think the institutions should continue to function properly and if they do as they are supposed to and as lawmakers, they ought to have done this a long time ago, not now at a point election is approaching and it is subject to a lot of interpretations and so on. The National Assembly should be allowed to function properly and Nigerians have the mindset to know whether they are being rational or otherwise and Nigerians should judge at the end of the day. So this is not a pre-emptive exercise in terms of demeaning the process. They have fundamental responsibility backed by law to exercise their oversight function. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/b-haram-survivors-didnt-get-food-on-which-officials-paid-n800m-demurrage/

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Some of the Dapchi Schoolgirls brought back by their abductors in Dapchi town, alongside their brothers/family members before proceeding To Abuja. Photo by Ndahi Marama. The Federal Government has accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of plumbing the depths of infamy for saying the abduction and release of the Dapchi girls were stage-managed. In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said such postulation on the Dapchi girls portrays the PDP as an inhuman, insensitive, unpatriotic and unworthy party. He said since the release of the Dapchi girls were negotiated by friendly countries and reputable international organizations, it would have taken a conspiracy of global proportion to have stage-managed the adoption and release of the girls. Alhaji Mohammed said the reaction of the PDP amounts to an expression of sour grapes, especially because the party failed woefully – when it was in power – to quickly resolve a similar abduction of schoolgirls. ”As we have said many times since the abduction of the Dapchi schoolgirls, no government is exempted from its own share of tragedies. What makes the difference is the way such tragedies are managed. Whereas it took the PDP all of 18 days to even acknowledge the abduction of the Chibok girls in 2014, the APC Federal Government acted promptly and responsively when the Dapchi schoolgirls were abducted 19 Feb. 2018, hence their quick release,” he said. The Minister said it is unfortunate that the PDP that failed woefully as a ruling party has also failed grievously as an opposition party, going by its insensitive and crude response to the release of the Dapchi schoolgirls – a development that calls for non-partisan celebration. ”In its 16 years in power, the PDP redefined governance as cluelessness, massive looting of the public treasury and crude exhibition of power. In its over three years in opposition, the PDP has again shown it does not understand the role of the opposition in a democracy. How then can the PDP convince Nigerians that it has learnt its lessons and that it is ready to rule the country again? Nigerians must say ‘never again’ to this primitive and soulless party,” he said. Alhaji Mohammed said the Federal Government has not been responding to the amateurish and jejune statements from the PDP precisely because the party has failed to learn the ropes of being an opposition party, ”even when we have advised them to take a crash course on the role of the opposition in a democracy. ”We broke our own rules this time because the PDP over-reached itself and scored an own goal at a time it could simply have congratulated the government and people of Nigeria on the release of the girls or just keep quiet,” he said. The Minister assured Nigerians that the Federal Government will intensify the ongoing efforts to secure the release of the remaining Chibok girls and return them safely to their families, just like over 100 other Chibok girls who have so far been released, unlike the PDP that could not secure the release of even one of the girls before it was booted out of power Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/dapchi-schoolgirls-fg-says-pdp-plumbs-depth-infamy/

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Senator Abdullahi Adamu .As Buhari’s senior aide defends ex-Lagos Gov Omeiza Ajayi, Abuja Following threats by the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu to sanction a national leader of the party over remarks considered uncomplimentary against President Muhammadu Buhari, a member of the party’s National Working Committee NWC has said Adamu’s position is not that of the NWC. Adamu had on Saturday voiced strong concerns about Tinubu’s outbursts on how he had helped President Muhammadu Buhari to power. National Vice Chairman, Northwest, of the APC, Salihu Moh. Lukman in his reaction said while Adamu has a fight to his personal opinion, he cannot however force down his opinion on other members of the NWC and pass it as the position of the party. He said; “We all including Asiwaju himself acknowledge that it was unfortunate he made those statements and it is his right to express his frustrations. It should be recognized as such. But nobody, no matter the position of the person can use it against him unless the party follows due process through the rightful organs of the party to discuss it. “So, the opinion expressed by Abdullahi Adamu was his personal opinion and it is his own right to present it to any organ of the party for consideration, but until that opinion is adopted by the relevant organ of the party, it cannot be considered as the position of party. It is not the position of APC, it is hispersonal opinion personal opinion”, he declared. In a related development, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Special Duties, Mallam Ya’u Darazo, has risen in defence of Mr Tinubu, over statements credited to the latter that was perceived as insulting to the president. Darazo who was present in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, where Tinubu addressed party faithful alongside the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun said the statement was taken out of context to embarrass Tinubu and create disaffection between him and President Buhari. The President’s aide who said he wrote the statement in his personal capacity and as a member of the Tinubu Campaign Organization, said he was convinced that President Buhari can see through the mischief having been a victim of misresprentation and character assassination himself in the past. He noted that the motive of those promoting the narrative that Tinubu insulted Buhari was to destroy the warm relationship between them. He said; “In the last 48 hours or so, the media space has been polluted by the odious breath of mischief makers – nay ingrates who mispresented Asiwaju’s speech with the sole aim of planting discord between him and President Muhammadu Buhari. In their mischievous minds, that would earn them added advantage in the primaries for the Ticket of the APC. “I have a message for them. They have failed woefully. They should not take Nigerians for granted; Nigerians are wise enough. Let the mischief makers note that good and purposeful leadership is not on the same page with mischief. It is good that Nigerians know them early enough. It is very clear that their purpose of seeking leadership is not service driven. “I was with Asiwaju in Abeokuta among other good people of Ogun State when he delivered the speech in question. It was in Yoruba Language. It was later translated to me—which I found quite acceptable and politically relevant to the audience and even beyond. Truth is sacred. If the mischief makers think that by mispresenting Asiwaju’s statement they will get the sympathy of the President; they have failed again—and failed woefully. “President Buhari is not a stranger to the bashing of media mischief. He is a veteran. He passed through it. He suffered from it like no other leader in this country. When he sees media mischief, he would know it; certainly, like this one against Asiwaju.” Going down memory lane, Darazo recalled previous attempts to unfairly misrepresent Buhari and damage him politically. He advised President Buhari who had been a victim not to be swayed by antics of mischief makers bent on undermining Tinubu’s ambition. “They are very active members of the PDP and are opposing all what President Buhari stood for. “These powerful elements are said to have recruited agents within the APC to do two projects for them. Ensure that APC produces a weak candidate that will give PDP a walkover. Secondly, to ensure APC produces a Northern candidate so that they will turn round and accuse the President as a Northern irredentist who denied shift of power to the South”, he explained. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/06/tinubu-its-your-personal-opinion-nwc-member-fires-back-at-adamu/

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Gunmen kill Ebubeagu operative, set body ablaze in Ebonyi Gunmen have killed a member of Ebubeagu Security Network in Ebonyi State. The victim, Ifeanyi Orogbowhow, 32, was murdered and partially burnt by the attackers. The incident occurred at night in Igweledeoha, Amagu in Ikwo Local Government Area. The murder took place at a drinking joint in the community owned by the victim. Police spokesperson, Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident. She said: “The DPO of Ikwo police division said that at about 3:am he received a phone call from one source at Igweledeoha Amagu Ikwo that one Ebubeagu security outfit, Ifeanyi Orogbo, aged 32 years old an indigene of Igweledeoha was murdered and partially burnt by unknown persons in his beer parlour shop along Eke Achara, Agubia road. “The DPO said as he received the information, he quickly mobilised a team of police operatives to the area but the culprits had deserted the area. “He said the corpse has been taken to general hospital for preservation and autopsy.” The spokesperson said two persons suspected to be involved in the murder of the Ebubeagu official have been arrested by the police. She said the Commissioner of Police, Garba Aliyu, has expressed dismay over the killing of the Ebubeagu operative and has vowed to bring the perpetrators to book.

https://thenationonlineng.net/gunmen-kill-ebubeagu-operative-set-body-ablaze-in-ebonyi/

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…Insists he’s threat to national security …As court reserves ruling on request to stay execution of judgement By Ikechukwu Nnochiri The Federal Government yesterday adduced reasons it has not obeyed the judgement of the Court of Appeal that ordered the release of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention. Government in a fresh affidavit filed before the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, maintained that Kanu posed a flight risk, insisting he would escape from the country as soon as he was freed from detention. The affidavit was attached in support of an application seeking to stay the execution of the appellate court verdict that quashed the entire 15-count terrorism charge the federal government preferred against the embattled IPOB leader. Arguing the application yesterday, an Assistant State Counsel in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. David Kaswe, told the court that the case against Kanu bordered on national security. Kaswe argued that Kanu’s fundamental rights should not supercede the interest of the nation. Relying on the decided case law in Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs Asari Dokubo, the federal government argued that once a case touched on national security, the right of the individual affected took secondary place. “It is important to appreciate the gamut of depositions in our application. The Respondent is a flight risk person and one of the ground of our application is that this matter touches on national security of the state. “We further rely on the case of FRN Vs Dokubo, where the Supreme Court held that where national security is threatened or when there is likelihood of it being threatened, human rights take secondary place. “Once there is a threat to national security, human rights of any individual can be suspended until such threat is taken care of. “Once security of the nation is in jeopardy, the individual right may not even exist,” government’s lawyer argued. Besides, he told the court that intelligence report in government’s possession indicated that releasing the IPOB leader from detention would worsen the security situation in the South East. “The defendant has shown that he has the capacity to jump bail or to escape from lawful custody. There is reasonable intelligence that the enforcement of judgement of this court, pending determination of our appeal at the Supreme Court, may impact negatively on the declining security in the South East. “No court can close its eyes on activities happening around it. As we speak, the entire social media is awash with threat to security in the country. “We believe that there is an exceptional circumstance to warrant this court to grant our application. “We urge this court to resolve the sole issue we raised and find our application meritorious, in the interest of justice and unity of the country,” federal government’s lawyer added. However, Kanu’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, urged the appellate court to dismiss FG’s application which he said was tantamount to seeking the stay of the liberty of a citizen. Ozekhome argued that contrary to FG’s position, Kanu’s release from detention would guarantee peace in both the South East and the country He said: “In fact, my lords, on the contrary, the release of Kanu will actually bring peace and tranquility to the South East in particular and the nation in general “This was demonstrated after the judgement of this court that ordered the release of the Respondent. Immediately the judgement was delivered, there was so much joy and happiness in the entire South East. There was so much jubilation and merriment.” He argued that Dokubo’s case was different from that of Kanu. According him, while Dokubo applied to be granted bail, pending the determination of the charge against him, in Kanu’s case, the appellate court had already terminated his trial and ordered his release. Relying on the case of Olisa Metuh Vs FRN, Kanu’s lawyer argued that the law forbade the grant of stay of execution in a criminal case. He told the court that the IPOB leader did not jump bail, stressing that he only escaped from the country to save his life, after soldiers illegally invaded his house in 2017, in an operation that led to the death of 28 persons. Ozekhome argued that the federal government, being in contempt of the judgement of the appellate court, could not approach it to seek any favourable order. “They are already in contempt of order of this court. This application is therefore nothing but a slap on the face of this court,” he said. After the three-man panel of justices of the appellate court, led by Justice Haruna Tsanami, had listened to both sides, it reserved its ruling till a date to be communicated to the parties. Meanwhile, six Igbo traditional rulers yesterday stormed the court to demand the release of the detained IPOB leader. The monarchs, who were all dressed in their regallia, said they were in court to show solidarity to their son, even as they stayed and observed the proceedings till the end. The traditional rulers that were in court included HRM Eze Innocent Nwaigwe, Secretary Umuahia North Council of Traditional Rulers; HRM, Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu, Chairman Ohuhu Council of Traditional Rulers; and HRM Eze Iheanyichukwu Ezigbo, Chairman Ibeku council. Others are HRM Eze Pastor Philip Ajomiwe, immediate past Chairman, Umuahia North Council; and HRM Eze Eddy Ibeabuchi, former Chairman Umuahia North Council and HRM Eze Ben Oriaku, Ikwuano LGA. It will be recalled that the appellate court had in a judgement delivered on October 13, ordered Kanu’s release from detention, even as it terminated further proceedings on the case the federal government entered against him. The court said it was satisfied that FG flagrantly violated all known laws when it forcibly rendered Kanu from Kenya to the country for continuation of his trial. It held that such arbitrary use of power by the Nigerian government, divested the trial court of the jurisdiction to continue with Kanu’s trial. Though FG had since gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgement, it, however, in line with the rules, it approached the Court of Appeal to seek a stay of execution of the verdict. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/10/biafra-why-we-wont-release-kanu-fg-tells-appeal-court/

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Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja on Tuesday for New Delhi to participate in the 3rd Summit of the India-Africa Forum aimed at boosting socio-economic development in Africa and India. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president, Mr Femi Adesina. The India-Africa Forum was established in 2008 as the official platform for the advancement of mutually-beneficial relations between India and African nations. Adesina stated that President Buhari, the Indian Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi and other participating Heads of State and Government would deliberate on issues of common concern to their countries such as climate change and international terrorism. He noted that this year’s summit would enable the leaders to discuss additional measures aimed at boosting joint collaboration to accelerate the pace of socio-economic development in Africa and India. The summit, which follows the 2nd Summit held in Addis Ababa in 2011, will enable the leaders to deliberate on further cooperation for the alleviation of poverty, and the eradication of hunger, disease and illiteracy. President Buhari would hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi and other senior Indian government officials on Wednesday, ahead of the opening of the summit on Thursday. Buhari would also meet with Chief Executive Officers of Indian companies with existing or prospective interests in Nigeria before returning to Abuja on Oct. 30. The President would be accompanied by the governors of Kano and Delta states, as well as the National Security Adviser, Retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno. Others include Permanent Secretaries in the Ministries of Defence, Power, Communications Technology, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs and Industry, Trade and Investment. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/10/buhari-to-attend-3rd-summit-of-india-africa-forum-in-new-delhi/

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SCARE—Traffic caused by the Boko Haram scare on Lagos -Ibadan Expressway, yesterday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. By Akintola Omigbodun I have made a few journeys recently between Lagos and Osogbo, Osun State. The outward leg of the journey from Lagos has been on the Lagos to Ibadan expressway, the Ibadan to Ile-Ife expressway up to Gbongan, Osun State and then on the Gbongan to Osogbo road while the return leg of the journey has been in the reverse order. However, on one of the journeys, the outward leg was from Lagos to Ikorodu to Itoikin to Ijebu-Ode to Ijebu-Igbo. The journey then continued on the road from Ijebu-Igbo to Orile-Owu, Osun State and this road passes through a rural area and a forest reserve with a bridge across the River Osun. The journey was next from Orile-Owu to Apomu where we joined the Ibadan to Ile-Ife expressway and then onwards to Ikire, Gbongan and finally the Gbongan to Osogbo road. The alternative route was chosen such that one could avoid any possible traffic delays on the Lagos to Ibadan expressway. The journey on the alternative route took one hour more than the typical time spent on the primary route through the Lagos to Ibadan expressway. Once the reconstruction of the Lagos to Ibadan expressway commenced about two years ago, journey times between Lagos and Ibadan have been unpredictable and the typical time for completion of the journey between Lagos and Osogbo has been about five and a half hours. However, in recent times the contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria, for the Lagos to Sagamu portion of the Lagos to Ibadan expressway has stopped all work on the project. The contractor, Reynolds Construction Company, on the Sagamu to Ibadan portion has been carrying out limited earthworks, concrete works for drainage and the crash barriers at the central road edge, placement of crushed stone base and finishing the asphalt pavement on certain stretches. The contractors’ operations have not given any cause for delays and with the excellent road surface on the completed stretches, the journey time between Lagos and Osogbo has been about four hours. The alternative route has an excellent road surface from Mile 12, Lagos to the roundabout at the centre of Ikorodu as reconstruction of this road was completed last year. However, there are several failed portions of the Ikorodu to Itoikin road and the Itoikin to Ijebu-Ode road thus making for longer journey times on these roads. The current Ogun State Government has constructed a bridge at Ijebu-Ode across the Sagamu to Benin expressway making for safe passage into and out of Ijebu-Ode on the Itoikin to Ijebu-Ode road. The Ogun State Government also has urban renewal projects at Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo and has completed or has under construction fly-over bridges to ease traffic movement at some road intersections in both towns. I have brought these to our attention so that we accept that it is within our means to provide some fly-over bridges across the Lagos to Ibadan expressway especially at the Mowe/Redemption Camp stretch and closer to Lagos at the Ibafo/Arepo stretch. Funding for the completion of the reconstruction works on the Lagos to Ibadan expressway appears uncertain at the moment. We must find the funds for building these bridges now bearing in mind that there are consequential costs if we do not build them. The Federal Ministry of Works should bring to President Buhari’s attention the need to conclude all funding arrangements for the reconstruction of the Lagos to Ibadan expressway. In particular, an early decision should be made on whether tolls would be charged for the use after reconstruction of the expressway and on the levels of tolls to be charged. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/recent-journeys-between-lagos-and-osogbo-osun-state/

Travel

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Shock in Ogun community as woman discharges maggots from private part Residents of Olakula area of Idiroko in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State witnessed a jaw-dropping spectacle on _Wednesday as maggots dropped continuously from the private parts of a woman identified as Iya Toheeb. The scene turned chaotic as residents trooped out to see the woman sat in a car with the assistance of family members and sympathisers. It was thought that she might have been a victim of money-making ritual after her condition allegedly defied orthodox medication. Our correspondent learnt that the woman was also brought to one of the men she was associated with, a carpenter in the community. Of the reason for bringing the afflicted woman to the man, a source at the scene who asked not to be named, said: “The woman was brought to the carpenter who was her former husband. Her family members believed that the man may be responsible for her worsening condition that defied treatment in hospital where she was admitted for months. “Doctors were said to have advised her relatives to seek alternative medicine to her ill-health because it had gone beyond the purview of orthodox medicine.’’ Another source, who did not want her name in print, said: “The woman had dated different men in the past and it is believed that she may have been used for money-making ritual going by what we heard from those who know her. “She has no wound in her private part yet maggots keep dropping from her sexual organ and that sends a signal that there is more to her problem than meets the eye, particularly since doctors have asked her relatives to seek help from native doctors for solution to her problem.” It was learnt that the carpenter, whose real name could not be ascertained at press time, made remarks that suggested the woman was being punished for her promiscuity, after which the woman’s family members decided to bring her to him for possible solution her predicament. The carpenter reportedly fled before the arrival of our correspondent. At the scene, sympathisers helped spread a sack on the car seat on which the woman sat when the maggots continued to drop even as a stench emanating from her body fouled the air. “This is what my beauty has done to me o,” said the woman shortly before being taken away by her family members.

http://thenationonlineng.net/shock-ogun-community-woman-discharges-maggots-private-part/

Health

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EFCC didn’t recover N7.9 billion from me – Okorocha By Damian Duruiheoma, Owerri Former Imo Governor and member representing Imo West Senatorial District, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of peddling falsehood against him, saying the commission did not recover any money from him. Okorocha’s outbursts followed reports credited to the Head of the Port Harcourt zone of the EFCC, Mr. Usman Imam, claiming at a press conference on Thursday he recovered N7.9 billion from Okorocha while he was incharge of Enugu zone of the commission. The EFCC chief was also quoted to have talked about Okorocha’s properties marked in Owerri and Abuja, by the commission. Reacting to the allegations in a statement on Friday in Owerri, Okorocha stated the anti-graft agency or anybody else never recovered N7.9 billion or any other amount of money from him. The former governor challenged the commission to prove him wrong by publishing details and owners of the accounts money allegedly recovered from him. He also challenged the EFCC to publish the details of the said property it marked and seized from him, emphasising the properties marked had been acquired by him about 20 years ago. According to him, the commission was misinformed by those after him, saying he would be expecting a retraction of the story and public apology from the EFCC in the coming days if the commission could not publish details of the so called N7.9 billion The statement signed by his Media Adviser, Sam Onwuemeodo, reads: “The EFCC as a commission or Mr Usman Imam as a person and Head of Enugu zone then, and today, that of Port Harcourt Zone, of the commission, never recovered N7.9 billion or any other amount of money, from Rochas Okorocha “With this denial, we therefore challenge EFCC or Mr. Imam as the one who made the claim, to prove us wrong by publishing details of the Bank Accounts the money was found and the owners of the accounts. “We hold the EFCC and its personnel in a very high esteem. And we expect the commission or Mr. Imam to take our denial very serious, because Nigerians of goodwill would like to know who is saying the truth or who is lying. “Where the commission finds out that it had misinformed the public and had also blackmailed the former Imo governor, perhaps unconsciously, we expect the commission or Mr. Imam to do the needful, which is to retract the media statement and then tell Nigerians the correct story. The N7.9 billion in question must be in bank Accounts. Let the EFCC publish the Accounts’ Details without delay”. The statement further adds, “Mr Imam talked about properties owned by Okorocha which the commission had marked. It is also important that Mr. Imam publish those properties because the properties marked had been acquired by Okorocha about twenty years ago. Since Mr. Imam has begun media trial, let the properties be also published for Nigerians to know the truth. “We have repeatedly told this story, that before the 2019 election, the PDP elements in Imo had written to the EFCC, alleging that Okorocha had planned to use all the state funds to finance the election of his choice candidates. The EFCC, leveraging on the petitions, seized all the accounts of the state including the ones meant for the payment of salaries, pensions, severance allowances and so on. We have made this particular claim severally and the EFCC or any other interested person or persons have never faulted our claim. “It has also been on the basis of these petitions written by the PDP government then led by Chief Emeka Ihedioha against Okorocha and the family, that the EFCC has been on the neck of Okorocha. “Even after that Government had petitioned the commission and the commission acting on the petitions, the government also instituted more than twelve commissions and panels to probe Okorocha and family, on the same issues or items the EFCC is investigating. “Some of the panels have submitted their reports to the current government in the state led by Governor Hope Uzodinma while others are still sitting and equally conducting media trials on Okorocha. Read Also: Imo to get N7.9b cash seized from Okorocha “Obviously, the EFCC has been misinformed. And the commission is using such misinformation to carry out media trial on Okorocha and in some cases, has even convicted him before the trial which Mr. Imam had talked about. “We want to reiterate that EFCC has not recovered any money from Okorocha including the N7.9 billion claimed by Mr. Imam. And it is left for EFCC to prove us wrong. And if the commission discovers that our claim is the correct story, Mr. Imam should retract the media statement and tell the world the correct story”.

https://thenationonlineng.net/efcc-didnt-recover-n7-9-billion-from-me-okorocha/

Politics

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The All Progressives Grand Alliance governorship candidate in Enugu State, Frank Nweke Jr has called out the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for deploying thugs to intimidate voters in the state. He said this while speaking to newsmen after casting his vote. Nweke said, “There is a clear order from the military high command and police high command that all movements across communities are prohibited, and as a law-abiding citizen, I must abide to. “But it is regrettable that information reaching us from various parts of the states has not been as savoury as one would have wished. “If you go to Maryland, for instance, there is a gentleman called Freedom Nnam who has been identified very clearly as coordinating thugs who are actually intimidating and threatening people that if they don’t vote for the PDP, they will be harmed. We have received several reports. There have been a lot of security breaches. People are being attacked. Voters are being intimidated by the Peoples Democratic Party, that’s what it is. It is by the PDP, the nation deserves to know what is going on in Enugu.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/03/video-pdp-thugs-intimidating-voters-in-enugu-says-apgas-frank-nweke/

Politics

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Soni Daniel, Regional Editor, North Crisis is brewing at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Abuja, following the decision of the Commission to contract the printing of the ballot papers to be used for the presidential and governorship elections to a foreign firm at the cost of N6 billion. Although the Commission is yet to award the controversial contract to any of the foreign firms, it has, however, set in motion the process that will lead to the award of the pricey job to either an American or European firm any moment from now. To ascertain which firm should be given the job, top officials of INEC are set to depart Nigeria this week for the United States of America, Germany, Italy and Ukraine in the first leg of the move to inspect elite printing companies, which can handle the job, classified as ‘security documents’ by the commission. Under the plan, which has already been wrapped up by the commission, the sum of N6 billion is to be used in printing ballot papers meant for the presidential and governorship election slated for February next year. Similarly, the commission has set aside the sum of N3 billion to be paid to local printers to produce the ballot papers to be used for the National Assembly and House of Assembly elections in Nigeria next year. In all the commission will spend a whopping N9 billion for the printing of ballot papers for the five set of elections, which the electoral body has decided to stagger because of its claim that it does not have adequate logistics to run it simultaneously. A competent source in INEC told Vanguard that many officials, who were uncomfortable with the decision of the management to farm out the job to outsiders, have made their opposition known to INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega. One of the sources close to the commission said: “The INEC officials will visit the United States of America, Germany, Italy, Ukraine, among others to inspect some printing presses that will produce the ballot papers for the next general elections in 2015. “INEC will specifically produce the presidential and governorship ballot papers abroad while those of the National Assembly and House of Assembly will be printed in Nigeria. The proposed budget for the overseas printing is put at over N6 billion. Vanguard learnt that those opposed to the printing of the papers abroad have reportedly drawn the attention of INEC Chairman to the fact that it was against the interest of Nigeria for such action to be taken at the time when the Presidency had already made a case for the printing of the documents locally. The antagonists of the proposal, Vanguard also gathered, had reportedly opted to report the action of the management to President Goodluck Jonathan, who only last week made a case for the printing of security documents with the Nigerian Security and Minting Printing Company, as a means of promoting national security and job creation. The angry officials are said to have queried the rationale of taking such a huge and security-related job outside Nigeria when there were many local printing companies that could conveniently handle it. To prove their point that the papers could be printed locally, the officials cited the successful printing of the ballot papers used in the Anambra, Ekiti and Osun elections by local contractors. According to them, the papers that were printed within the country were foul-proof and passed all INEC’s security checks. While kicking against the foreign contract, the officials, who pleaded anonymity, called on the Federal Government to stop the commission from awarding the job to foreigners especially as the materials needed for the printing were also available in the country. They also pointed to the fact that the 2011 election was postponed because of the non-delivery of the ballot papers sprinted abroad on time. But a senior INEC official told Vanguard on Monday that the commission would remain focused in its honest and earnest desire to ensure the success of the 2015 election. Defending the decision of the management to print the papers abroad, the officials, who pleaded anonymity because he had not been authorized to speak on the matter, said that no company in Nigeria had the capacity to produce the quality and quantity of paper required and be able to deliver to the commission before December this year. “We are concerned about the capacity of printing press in Nigeria. The time available to us as a commission to conduct the election and the quality and quantity of materials to be delivered by the local contractors do matter to us,” the official said. “If you must know, for us to conduct the election in February 2015, it means that we must take delivery of the ballot papers in December this year to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2011 when we had to postpone an election because of the late arrival of ballot papers from South Africa,” the officer added. Reminded that the President last week made a case for the printing of such vital documents with the NSMPC of Nigeria, the officer said, “Well, as we get along and the capacity of the company to handle such assignments grow, we will patronize it. For now, there is none in the country to do such complex job for INEC,” he said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/2015-polls-trouble-brews-inec-n9bn-ballot-papers-contract/#sthash.MPWCDced.dpufi

Politics

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