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By Ayo Onikoyi Tonye Princewill, Labour Party governorship candidate for Rivers State at the 2015 general election, in this interview, shares his views on the judgment of the Tribunal, senate screening of the ministerial nominees among other issues. Excerpts. After everything, the Rivers governorship election has been annulled by the Tribunal with an order for the conduct of fresh election within 90 days. How do you feel about this judgment? Any lover of true democracy and justice who witnessed what happened will not be surprised with the judgment. I belong to that group. The elections were neither free nor fair nor credible, so they can’t stand honest scrutiny. I have said this repeatedly. The APC won the case for all of Rivers State, kudos to them. In 2007, I fought PDP to a standstill and the same people in the APC today were the beneficiaries of my fight. It is not about persons or political parties. It is about the state. I did not say I am celebrating the judgment. I said I am not surprised by it. But in Rivers politics, the analog politicians cannot understand the difference. People were confused as to which side of the divide you belonged after Wike was declared winner in the election, because you didn’t contest the outcome in court. Won’t your support of the judgment raise questions? Why? In my Post Election Statement in April, I clearly highlighted my displeasure in the outcome of the elections. I said, it is no longer in doubt that the election in Rivers State was neither free nor fair nor credible. I added that rather than the Jubilation of a victory or the recriminations of a defeat, I and my team prefer to keep searching for peace. I lamented on the and just wanted it to stop. No matter how much we find justice, if so many people in Rivers State are killed, who will be left to lead. This did not only show my disappointment in the conduct of the election but also my concern over peace in my state. It is not about taking sides with PDP or APC, it is about the truth. Both parties were violent. Not condemning the elections would be tantamount to aligning with the PDP, going to court would be tantamount to aligning with the APC. There was no additional value in my going to court. I didn’t steal money so I will not spend hundreds of millions on lawyers as if my people do not need help for other more important things. The Labour Party in the State has disassociated itself from your statement praising the Tribunal’s judgment, on the premise that you are on suspension. How would you react to this? To the best of my knowledge we have freedom of speech and right of opinion in Nigeria. My statements have always been my opinion and until recently, my party has always fallen in line with my thinking. From what I gathered, the state party Chairman dissociated the party from my recent comments on the outcome of the tribunal; but it baffles me that the party’s position is in line with the same comment they now disown. They after all submitted a petition to the same election tribunal. It’s also funny to note that a chieftain of the party condemned the judgment only a few days ago, claiming to be speaking on behalf of the Party Chairman. This is not just an embarrassment to my party, but a clear indication of poor leadership. I’ll leave him to his conscience. I have mine. No matter how much inducement you put in front of me, I cannot say black is white. People need to realize we are now in a digital world. Black and white TVs have been replaced by colour. You dragged the party leadership to court over your suspension, what is the position of the case at the moment? Yes, I did. I saw no justifiable reason for the purported suspension, so I simply took my concerns to the court. If people have been induced to kick me out of the party, the attempt should be made properly, not based on baseless allegations. He claimed anti party activities. Tell me; are his current actions not anti party? My lawyers have briefed me that the Party leadership has severally snubbed the court proceedings. I know the court will soon come up with a position on that matter, like they did on my candidature. Till then, I remain a proud member of the Labour Party and the movement. He remains in contempt of the court. Do you see yourself doing better than you did earlier should you partake in the anticipated re-run as LP candidate? I am yet to take a position on the role to play in the rerun; but even if I do partake, it’s really not about me. It’s about the decision of the people. They all know the political players in the state. They all know the possible after effect of a PDP or an APC victory. Politics is not war. There must be a winner and a looser. I am comfortable with either, because I am not desperate to be Governor; PDP and APC are. How that will produce a peaceful Rivers State, I am yet to find out. If Rivers People want Unity, Peace, a Government they can reach and believe that their votes will count, I believe my style of politics will have a better chance. PDP and APC need to adopt it. If they do, I may even support one of them. What matters is the state to move forward. You said after the election that you were not aligning with either APC or PDP as allegedly requested by some people in your party. Do you still maintain your non-alignment stance, despite the Tribunal judgment that sacked Wike and others? Yes, I do. I stand outside the PDP and the APC box and with the peace loving, forward thinking people of Rivers State. Not a popular position for many of our politicians, but it is here I find comfort. My opinions may help APC today or PDP tomorrow; that is not my problem. I do not speak for them. What remains consistent is my commitment to the comfort of the common Rivers man. I believe that the hate for Amaechi or APC because of what they did to Jonathan should not cloud our judgment and stop us from saying the truth. If PDP is the beneficiary of this sham today, APC should know that they can’t try it tomorrow. Will I not complain if that happens? Of course I will. If electoral violence is excused today, it will become normal tomorrow. What can you say about the controversy that surrounded Amaechi’s ministerial screening at the Senate, particularly from Rivers Senators? We’ve waited so long for this, and are eager to see the difference it will make. And like I always say, President Buhari is the President, whether his administration is moving the nation fast or slow, we should focus more on helping him, than pulling him down. I know Amaechi; and I know his abilities. He worked seriously for the APC and if he missed the VP slot and the SGF slot, why should PDP lose sleep if he becomes a Minister? I was praying we don’t disgrace ourselves before the world. I am glad we did not totally disgrace ourselves. I am not sure his inclusion did the President any huge favours in perception ratings, but perception is subjective to the individual and so we will leave each to their own. PDP gave us Wike. APC has given us Amaechi. Rivers people are watching. I believe though that with the right motivation, cross party support and a little prayer, he can be a useful tool in Buhari’s cabinet. Let us leave it to God. Again, let me just say I hope it is over. After a while it became too much, I lost interest. I advise the PDP senators, they should let it be – they have made their point. I am happy that the amusement for some has been cut short. I was abroad and I know what people who mattered are saying about us. Do you regret not defecting to the APC way before the 2015 elections? Why should I? The ideology of the APC at that time was, “Bring down Jonathan”, and I was on a totally different wavelength. So regretting is not a possibility. I am also happy I left the PDP. You can’t mistreat a man with a mandate and expect him to stay silent and clap for you. Not me. I have supporters. I have a caucus and I do not act alone. We listen and we learn. Of course we make mistakes. That’s why pencils have erasers. But in all, we do it not for ourselves but for the Rivers people. What is your take on the ongoing anti-corruption campaign? The anti-corruption campaign was the foundation of the Buhari campaign, so it is expected that a lot would be happening in that area. So far, so good, but it is yet to enjoy the confidence of all sides. The reason for this is obvious. Not a lot of APC people are in the dock. I suggest we stay tuned, there is still plenty time for that. No man who is just settling in will fight on too many fronts. Besides it is for the agencies charged with these responsibilities to do their work, unless there is evidence to show, the Presidency is interfering, let us await the results. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/pdp-apc-must-sacrifice-to-have-a-violence-free-rerun-tonye-princewill/

Politics

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu has named Kabiru Masari as his running mate for the 2023 elections. A chieftain of the party Kabiru Faskari said this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. “Ibrahim Kabiru Masari is our vice presidential nominee. He was the Welfare Secretary of the APC under Oshiomhole (former national chairman of the party),” he said during the show on Friday. “He is a well-known politician in Kaduna State and his name has been submitted.” Faskari explained that picking Kabiru, who hails from Katsina State, does not violate the country’s laws as against the clamour for a Muslim/Christian APC ticket. READ ALSO: I Am ‘Standing In’ As Vice Presidential Candidate Of Labour Party – Doyin Okupe According to him, Kabiru is experienced, close to Tinubu, and will not have a problem working with the former Lagos State governor. “He is young; he represents the youths and is grounded in politics and was even a national official of the APC. He is quite close to the presidential candidate and has been with him for a very long time,” he explained. “It is a very informed decision to put out his name.” He said the decision followed wide consultations and that the party needs a person from a region with a large voting population. “I think what it is is that it was the decision of the presidential candidate after due diligence,” the APC chieftain added. The APC, it is believed is putting Kabiru as a placeholder to beat the deadline given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for presidential candidates to submit the names of their running mates. INEC had given a Friday, June 17th, deadline for the submission of the names.

https://www.channelstv.com/2022/06/17/presidency-tinubu-names-kabiru-masari-as-running-mate-kabiru-faskari/

Politics

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By Vincent Ujumadu Awka – NO fewer than 167 persons,, who were alleged to be impersonators were apprehended during the just concluded Post University Matriculation Examination, Post- UTME, of the institution. It was gathered that the arrested persons have been handed over to security operatives .ion. The university’s director of information, Dr. Emma Ojukwu said the affected persons would be charged to court soon. Meanwhile, of the 30, 477 candidates who made the university their first choice institution and who were invited for the Post –UME, only 28,233 candidates turned up for the examination. According to Ojukwu, it was noticed that following the stringent measures adopted by the University for the examination, many fraudulent candidates did not turn up for the screening for fear of being detected. He said: “The University’s newly acquired Biometric Data Capturing Machines were fully deployed whereby candidates’ finger prints were matched with what we already have on our data base. “There was also physical verification of claimed documents. The shortfall of 2,244 candidates who did not present themselves for screening may not be unconnected with the stringent processes of screening which eliminated impersonation to a large extent.” He said that investigation of those arrested for impersonation and other malpractices showed that parents encouraged their wards to cheat, insisting that admission into the University was purely on merit. He said further: “It is on record that some persons, including staff of the University who collected money to assist candidates secure admission could not succeed last year. “As a result a staff of the university abandoned his work and ran away till today. The other one whose case was reported to the University administration has been dismissed from the university. “It is also important to inform the public that some criminals have opened Facebook pages in the name of our Vice-chancellor, Prof. Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku. Our vice-chancellor has no facebook account or page.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/post-ume-unizik-apprehends-167-impersonators/

Politics

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Fourteen months after the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in Nigeria, the Obama administration is considering selling his government 12 warplanes. It is a thorny decision because Mr. Buhari is an improvement over his disastrous predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, and is fighting Boko Haram, the Islamist extremists who have terrorized the region. But he has not done enough to end corruption and respond to charges that the army has committed war crimes in its fight against the group. Selling him the planes now would be a mistake. Under Mr. Buhari, Nigeria has cooperated more with Chad and Niger to fight Boko Haram. The group, which emerged in the early 2000s, has seized land in the northeastern, predominantly Muslim section of Nigeria. Thousands of people have been killed and 2.2 million displaced. The group’s depravity captured world attention in 2014 when it kidnapped 276 girls from a secondary school. While violence is down and some territory has been recaptured, the group continues to attack remote villages and refugee camps, and it is using women and children as suicide bombers. American military officials say that Boko Haram has begun collaborating with the Islamic State and that the groups could be planning attacks on American allies in Africa. Yet Nigeria’s government cannot be entrusted with the versatile new warplanes, which can be used for ground attacks as well as reconnaissance. Its security services have long engaged in extrajudicial killings, torture and rape, according to the State Department’s latest annual human rights report. Amnesty International says that during the army’s scorched-earth response to Boko Haram between 2011 and 2015, more than 8,200 civilians were murdered, starved or tortured to death. The Obama administration was so concerned about this record that two years ago it blocked Israel’s sale of American-made Cobra attack helicopters to Nigeria and ended American training of Nigerian troops. American officials even hesitated to share intelligence with the military, fearing it had been infiltrated by Boko Haram. That wariness has eased and American officials say they are now working with some Nigerian counterparts.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/05/18/opinion/block-the-sale-of-warplanes-to-nigeria.html?ref=international&referer=

Politics

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From Left: Mrs Ekaete Akpabio; Gov. Godswill Akpabio; President John Mahama of Ghana and President Goodluck Jonathan, at Akwa Ibom Airport during the inauguration of Akwa Ibom International Stadium Complex in Uyo /Nan By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Clifford Ndujihe & Kingsley Omonobi The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is to use today’s expected declaration by President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term to project his delivery on key strategic promises made ahead of the 2011 elections, campaign officials have disclosed. A document formulated by a strategy team at the national party headquarters has projected that the president would be the candidate to beat if key achievements of the administration are brought into focus. Meanwhile a host of interest groups including party stakeholders and youth groups have flooded the federal capital for the ceremony. In anticipation of the mass influx into the federal capital, the police has mapped out alternative routes for motorists and other road users. The achievements of the Jonathan administration expected to be tabled at today’s declaration will comprise key indicators in economic growth, transport, agriculture and energy inside sources have disclosed. Security which was not a major issue ahead of the 2011 campaign is not expected to be used as a template by the party strategists in the presentation. The administration has been hard pressed in tackling the insurgency fuelled by the Islamist Boko Haram group. The document read in part: “Apart from being an incumbent who would not have to learn on the job, the President has delivered on set targets and he is stabilizing the polity. “He has given hope to Nigerians by his performance and his support of democratic structures. His support base is not regional or ethnic base, he is delivering on the objectives of the party and none of his opponents can claim to have widespread support base close to his own. You do not change a horse in the middle of a race.” A party source said: “We will be thumping up the president’s achievements in the last four years and we will ask our opponents to dispute them. A lot of documents have been put together to communicate to Nigerians including the one by the One Nigeria Coalition. We are going to be stating clearly what Jonathan has done to lift the country. “If we take just three areas, Agriculture, Transport and Energy, Nigerians will agree that no one can dispute our achievements. Are you going to say agric is not better under this government? We are importing less food and we are feeding our people. Transportation is also better whether it is rail, air or road. In energy sector, the President is working assiduously to end the era of darkness. Support groups invade Abuja, JYV unveils new campaign office Apart from the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), notable groups that are in Abuja and expected at the Eagle Square today for the ceremony include the Jonathan Youth Vanguard (JYV), which will open its new campaign office in Abuja, today and the National Coalition for Jonathan and Sambo Presidency (NACOJSP). JYV Director General of the group, Mr. Ebis Orubebe, in a statement yesterday, said the office, which has a media centre, conference room and other facilities and centrally located at Garki Mall will officially be launched on a day President Jonathan will declare his re-election bid. Orubebe, who said the job of the group “is to mobilise youth and women support for Mr. President’s transformation agenda,” said after unveiling the office, members and supporters drawn from all parts of the country will proceed on a procession to Eagles Square, President Jonathan’s presidential declaration. Also, the NACOJSP National Secretary, Dr. Benjamin Onoriode Irikefe, said the president’s second term bid will be a coronation. Irikefe who said the second term bid would be a good omen for Nigeria said: “The truth is that the 2015 presidential election would be a mere coronation ceremony for President Jonathan. When you say coronation ceremony, it means the king makers, in this case, Nigerians, have already decided and they are saying this is the man we have chosen. Nigerians are going to vote in February 2015 to ratify the re-election of President Jonathan as Nigerian leader for another four years. Nigerians have decided to return him for another four years. The 2015 election is a self-fulfilling prophecy and in fact, it is going to turn out to be a coronation ceremony for President Jonathan.’’ Meanwhile, the Police in Abuja have said there will be diversion of traffic around the Abuja Metropolis which it was gathered was for security purposes. A statement signed by CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, FPRO said, “This is to alert the public of a major event taking place at Eagle Square Abuja tomorrow Tuesday, 11th November, 2014. “Members of the public are advised to use alternative routes, as vehicular traffic will be diverted from most of the roads leading in and out of Eagle Square Central Business District, Abuja between 0500am and 0800pm of Tuesday, 11th November, 2014. “The Nigeria Police Force regrets any inconvenience the diversion of vehicular movements within the area may cause members of the public, as this is one of the proactive security measures put in place to avoid break down of law and order in the area and Abuja at large. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/jonathan-project-key-gains-todays-declaration/#sthash.wbXLynUT.dpuf

Politics

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By SIMON EBEGBULEM BENIN— THE member representing Akoko-Edo federal constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives, Mr. Peter Akpatason, weekend, accused the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerian students, saying that “she has been blackmailing Nigerians that government does not have the money to meet its agreement with Academic State Union of Universities, ASUU.” The lawmaker, a former President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, said it was irresponsible on the part of the Federal Government to renege on its agreement with ASUU, describing as regrettable, the seeming insensitivity exhibited by government since the commencement of the ASUU strike. He spoke in Benin City, shortly after the inauguration of Uneme National Development Association’s N100 million Education fund for Uneme communities. According to him, “It is very disheartening that up till now, ASUU is still on strike but unfortunately, I am not in a position to blame ASUU because I was still fully in Labour when this agreement was negotiated between ASUU and government. “So, it is irresponsible of anybody to enter into an agreement and then renege. It is totally unacceptable and that is the issue. It is unfortunate that a party has gone into an agreement and today, it is is saying that it has no resources to fund what it signed. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is known for coming up with statements about inadequacy of funds but yet the entire revenue gates in the country are performing above estimation; customs, oil and gas industry, immigration, they are all doing well beyond what was anticipated, yet Okonjo- Iweala keeps deceiving Nigerians and the whole world that Nigeria does not have money. What are they doing with all our money?” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/okonjo-iweala-blackmailing-nigerians-on-ASUU-strike-akpatason/

Education

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By Festus Ahon FORMER Delta State Governorship aspirant, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, Tuesday said though the security situation in the country was pathetic and scary, there were better available options of improving security instead of the call for the Federal Government to allow Nigerians bear arms to protect themselves due to the worsening security situation in the country. Onuesoke who was reacting to a statement credit to the Chairman Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, said; “unfortunately the security situation in the country is pathetic and very scary because the Buhari-led government has failed on its duty to secure the lives and properties of the people. “That Nigerians can no longer sleep with both eyes closed goes to tell how terrible the situation is. I think there are better available options that can be employed to improve the situation of things. Prof. Itse Sagay’s advice to the federal government is the self-denial of the sad reality on the ground and an attempt to shift the goal post because he is in bed with the government of the day under whose watch the people are becoming a refugee in their country. “The government of the day has continued to renege on its obligation to fulfil its part of the social contract with the people”, arguing that “allowing individuals to take up arms as a means to protect themselves may result to anarchy, doom and national disaster in a country like ours where there is no adequate database for a proper background check, low level of awareness on mental evaluation and the unpredictable nature of Nigerians faced with so many uncertainties due to failure on the part of the APC/Buhari-led government. “With dwindling economic fortunes, hunger and increasing uncertainty in the land, allowing Nigerians to bears arms to defend themselves may just be the beginning of the end as this could lead to unnecessary bloodletting, reprisal attack, carnage and killing-spree because the majority of the people are angry and would be looking for every opportunity to let loose, which may result in an even worse scenario like we used to have in the United State”. He, however, posited that restructuring and a declaration of national emergency on security was the way forward “if the government is sincere in its effort to address the challenges of insecurity currently threatening the very foundation of this country. “The way forward is restructuring and a rejig of the security architecture of the country, improved welfare packages for our security personnel, heavy investment on modern security gadget and equipment to boost the morale of the security personnel in combating criminal activities and a declaration of national emergency on security across the country”. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/12/insecurity-onuesoke-knocks-itsey-sagay-on-call-for-nigerians-to-bear-arms/

Politics

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BREAKING: Imo Assembly bans protests By Chris Njoku, Owerri The Imo House of Assembly has banned any further protest in the state. It warned protests have become dangerous events exposing residents to danger in Imo. The Assembly also warned the PDP to stop crying wolf over the ruling of the Apex Court on Tuesday 14th January on the governorship election in the state. The lawmakers also passed a vote of confidence on Governor Hope Uzondinma and the Supreme Court.

https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-imo-assembly-bans-protests/

Politics

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Nigeria’s economy has continued to slump and has contracted for a fifth consecutive quarter in the three months through March as oil output declined, a Bloomberg report indicate. Gross domestic product in Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria shrank 0.5 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier, compared with a revised 1.7 percent contraction in the final three months of 2016, the Abuja-based National Bureau of Statistics said in an emailed statement on Tuesday. The median of eight economist estimates compiled by Bloomberg was for the economy to expand by 0.3 percent. Economy took a hit after oil prices crashed in mid-2014, and militants from the crude producing Niger Delta region destroyed pipelines causing production to fall to an almost three-decade low. That and power shortages weighed down output, causing the GDP to shrink a revised 1.6 percent in 2016, the first full-year contraction in a quarter of a century. Foreign-currency shortages fueled by falling oil exports caused inflation to accelerate every month for more than a year until January. The oil industry contracted 11.6 percent from a year earlier, the statistics office said. The International Monetary Fund forecasts the economy will grow by 0.8 percent this year and the World Bank predicts expansion of 1.2 percent. The President Muhammadu Buhari-led government said recovery will be driven by a rebound in output of oil, which accounts for two-thirds of its revenue, as well as increased state spending. Also, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, Monday, vowed that he will ensure that Nigeria achieves self-sufficiency in crude oil refining in 2019, stating that he would resign if he fails to achieve the target. Kachikwu declared that since assumption of office, the present administration had been able to improve the output of the refineries and that the refineries are currently undergoing refurbishment. He said, “Since coming we have been able to get them back to begin to produce 7 million litres versus zero. That is not the 90 per cent template. We are now refurbishing the refineries.” Kachikwu further stated that he has delivered on every of his targets since coming into office and would not relent until all his targets are met. He said, “I have delivered on everything since I came to office. First, I took NNPC and moved them into a profit making organization; first time in history and reshaped the organization. “I removed cash call deficit of over $6 billion, negotiated it. Everything that I have promised since coming into office, I have delivered. I will deliver on the refineries and I am committed to that and I will also deliver a future for oil that makes sense for Nigeria. “But bear in mind one has been there for one and half years, the president has been there for two years. I can’t pretend that we are going to solve in one day all the problems that happened in Nigeria in the past.” Kachikwu further stated that sustained engagement had been the missing component in the Niger Delta militants challenges, noting that the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is currently leading efforts in addressing the challenges. Also, the central bank, which will announce its decision on interest rates later on Tuesday, has moved to improve foreign-currency liquidity by allowing portfolio investors to trade dollars at market determined rates and removing a 197-199 naira peg. The regulator still intervenes to keep the official interbank rate at about 315 per dollar and continues to block importers of certain products from accessing hard currency on the official market. Senate approved a 21 percent increase in 2017 spending plans to 7.4 trillion naira ($23.5 billion). The government plans to spend 30 percent of the budget to build roads, rail, ports and improve the power sector in order to stimulate business and create jobs. The office of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said he will sign the budget into law as President Muhammadu Buhari is in the U.K. on a second medical trip since the beginning of the year to treat an undisclosed ailment. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/05/nigerias-gdp-shrinks-0-5-1-7-2016/

Politics

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UPDATED: Supreme Court schedules judgment in Sokoto, Imo gov’ship disputes By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja The Supreme Court has indicated its decision to deliver judgments around 5pm on Tuesday in the appeals challenging the outcome of last governorship elections in Imo and Sokoto states A seven-man panel of the court, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammd, said judgment will be delivered later on Tuesday. Justice Muhammed made the announcement after lawyers adopted their briefs in the six appeals filed in respect of both states. There are four in the Imo State dispute. Ifeanyi Ararume, who was the candidate of APGA in the election, filed one Hope Uzodinma (who contested on the platform of the APC) filed one; Uche Nwosu (who contested under Action Alliance, AA) filed one, while the incombent, Emeka Ihedioha (of the PDP) filed one. There are two appeals in the Sokoto State dispute. The main appeal was filed by the APC candidate, Ahmed Aliyu, while the incumbent, Aminu Tambuwal, of the PDP, filed a cross-appeal. Before the court rose a moment ago, Justice Muhammad said the court will reconvene in the next one and half or two hours to deliver its judgments.

https://thenationonlineng.net/updated-supreme-court-schedules-judgment-in-sokoto-imo-govship-disputes/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Politics

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Alledged Boko Haram members and their late leader, Yusuf Boko Haram jihadists killed 16 civilians in an attack this week on a southeast Niger village, near the Nigerian border, a local official said Saturday. “On July 15, Boko Haram elements fired on locals who were praying in a village near the town of Bosso,” said Bako Mamadou, mayor of Bosso, a town in southeast Niger on the border with Nigeria, where the armed Islamist group originated. “They killed 15 people on the spot and another person succumbed later to their wounds,” Mamadou said on state television. According to the Bosso mayor, four others were injured in the attack. Meanwhile the Niger army said Saturday it had killed 32 Boko Haram fighters from July 15-17 during “sweeping up” operations following the July 15 attack by “Boko Haram elements”. The defence ministry added that three Islamist fighters were taken into custody, adding that Chadian soldiers also took part in the operation. Nigeria and Niger, along with Chad and Cameroon, have launched a joint offensive to end Boko Haram’s six-year insurgency, which has claimed at least 15,000 lives and caused about 1.5 million people to flee their homes. There has been a recent spate of Boko Haram attacks in Niger’s southeast Diffa region following weeks of relative calm. The upsurge in attacks on civilians comes after the four-nation coalition pushed the militants out of territory they had seized in northeast Nigeria. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/07/32-boko-haram-fighters-16-niger-villagers-killed-in-counter-attack-in-niger/

Politics

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Harry Kane is on the brink of a move to Bayern Munich, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed on Friday. The two clubs have reportedly agreed a fee worth an initial 100 million euros ($110 million, £86 million) for the 30-year-old striker, who had just one year left on his contract at Spurs. Kane has been given permission to travel to Germany to complete a medical ahead of what would be a record transfer for a Bundesliga club. Postecoglou is preparing to take charge of his first game in charge of Tottenham at Brentford on Sunday and said he is now planning on life without the club’s all-time top goalscorer. “My understanding is it has progressed to the point where it looks like it will happen,” said Postecoglou at his pre-match press conference. “From that perspective at least it gives us some clarity and we move forward without Harry. “From my perspective it is just about understanding where we are at and the information I have at the moment is the deal is imminent, but like with all these things, you leave yourself some leeway. “But moving forward and training today preparing for Brentford, we are doing it without Harry.” Earlier on Friday, Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel said the six-time European champions were working on the deal as their “highest priority”. Tuchel’s men kick off their season against RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup on Saturday with the start of the Bundesliga season not till next weekend. “We are working hard on it… that is no secret,” said the former Chelsea manager. “But as of now there is no decision. As long as there is no agreement, the coach is not going to talk about it, as it is not his player.” Kane scored 280 goals in 435 games for Spurs and is also England’s all-time top goalscorer with 58 international goals. However, he is yet to win a major trophy at club or international level. Silverware is all but guaranteed at Bayern, who have won 11 straight Bundesliga titles. But the German giants were in desperate need of a striker after struggling to replace Robert Lewandowski last season. Bayern were eliminated by eventual winners Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and won the Bundesliga title on goal difference thanks to a final-day capitulation from Borussia Dortmund. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/08/transfer-kane-move-to-bayern-munich-imminent-tottenham-boss-postecoglou/amp/

Sports

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FG backs TStv, offers pay per view for N5 Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja The Federal Government has declared full backing for activities of an indigenous cable television company, TStv. TStv declared its plan to offer Nigerians affordable subscriptions on a pay-per-view basis starting from October 1 when it re-launches its services. The firm also explained its channels would be offered at between N3 and N5 subscription daily, noting subscribers would also be able to pause their subscriptions temporarily if they are unavailable to watch the programmes. Briefing reporters in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chief Executive Officer of TStv, Mr. Bright Echefu, explained the firm had learned from its past mistakes which forced it out of business for some time. He disclosed the company has acquired the latest transponders, which prevent service interruptions during bad weather, noting that most channels would be in high definition. Echefu further noted his firm had invested in a content acquisition which would give TStv a competitive edge in the Nigerian market, and across Africa. READ ALSO: Pay TV TStv returns Oct. 1 He said: “We have the support of the Federal Government, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Minister of Information and Cultural, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. “We have invested heavily in rights acquisition and acquired five latest transponders which would help us to overcome service disruptions and outage. “Most of our channels would be high definition and they are priced at N3 or N5 per day. “They are being offered a la carte, meaning that the subscriber can simply select the channels he wished to watch instead of buying a bouquet of channels he does not watch”. According to him, the service would be rolled out nationwide from Thursday, when the cost of the decoders and location of vendors would be announced. Echefu said customers have to acquire the new decoders to enable them to enjoy the quality service being offered by TStv, adding that the old decoders could be swapped for a new unit. He said: “The old decoders can be used for two weeks after which the subscribers would have to swap it for a new one”.

https://thenationonlineng.net/fg-backs-tstv-offers-pay-per-view-for-n5/amp/

TV-Movies

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its eight-month-old industrial action. The union decided to suspend the strike during a meeting of its leadership that started on Thursday night and lasted into the early hours of Friday. In a statement by the president of the union Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU said the decision followed a series of appeals by Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari, and the intervention of the Speaker of the House of Representative Femi Gbajabiamila. “While appreciating the commendable efforts of the leadership of the House of Representatives and other patriotic Nigerians who waded into the matter, NEC noted with regrets that the issues in dispute are yet to be satisfactorily addressed,” the statement added. “However, as a law-abiding Union and in deference to appeals by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, and in recognition of the efforts of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and other well-meaning Nigerians, ASUU NEC resolved to suspend the strike action embarked upon on 14th February 2022. “Consequently, all members of ASUU are hereby directed to resume all services hitherto withdrawn with effect from 12:01 on Friday, 14th October 2022.” The meeting was called by the union to determine its next line of action after its state branches met over the Court of Appeal ruling last week. Prior to the meeting, the Court of Appeal had ordered ASUU to suspend the strike before its appeal of the ruling ordering lecturers to resume work can be heard. Members of the union’s National Executive Committee, which comprises the chairmen of the state chapters and members of the national executive, attended the meeting at the ASUU National Secretariat in Abuja. READ ALSO: After ASUU Strike, Admission Seekers Struggle With Uncertainty ASUU has been on strike since February 14 this year. When the lecturers began the strike – initially a four-week industrial action – ASUU said it was pushing for better funding of universities as well as improved welfare for its members based on several deals reached with the government. ASUU was particularly asking for the release of the revitalisation funds for schools, the payment of earned academic allowances to members, and the release of whitepapers from the reports of the presidential visitation panels. It also demanded the usage of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a payment platform for university workers as against the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS). Following the Federal Government and ASUU’s inability to reach a deal, the union kept extending the industrial action before making it indefinite in August. In the wake of the tussle, the Federal Government registered two factional unions – the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA). But ASUU had said it was not bothered about the government’s move, describing it as “illegal”. Read Osodeke’s press statement below: PRESS RELEASE13 October, 2022 ASUU SUSPENDS ITS STRIKE ACTION 1. The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) held an emergency meeting at the Comrade Festus lyayi National Secretariat, University of Abuja, Abuja, on Thursday, 13th October, 2022. The meeting reviewed developments since the Union declared an indefinite strike action on 29th August, 2022. 2. During the intervening period, the Minister of Labour and Employment, through a referral, approached the National Industrial Court (NIC) for the interpretation of “the provision of sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 18 (1) of the Trade Dispute Act, Cap T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, whether the on-going prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities which started since 14th February, 2022 is legal even after statutory apprehension by the Minister of Labour and Employment?” In addition, he asked for an interlocutory order against the continuation of the strike. 3. The National Industrial Court in its wisdom gave an order compelling ASUU to resume work pending the determination of the substantive suit. Given the nature of the order, and in the opinion of our counsel, there was the need to appeal the interlocutory injunction granted against our Union at the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal acknowledged the validity of the grounds of the Union’s appeal but still upheld the order of the lower court and ordered our Union to comply with the ruling of the lower court as condition precedent for the appeal to be heard. 4. NEC noted the series of meetings with the leadership of the House of Representatives led by the Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as intervention efforts of other well-meaning Nigerians both within and outside government and the progress made so far. 5. NEC deliberated on the recommendations of the Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila-led Committee within the framework of the FGN/ASUU’s Memorandum of Action(MoA) of 2020 on the contending issues that led to the strike action. For the avoidance of doubt, the issues include: Funding for Revitalisation of public universities ⚫ Earned Academic Allowances Proliferation of public Universities Visitation Panels/Release of White Papers ⚫ University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a broad spectrum software to stop illegality and provide for an alternative payment platform in the university system. Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement 6. While appreciating the commendable efforts of the leadership of the House of Representatives and other patriotic Nigerians who waded into the matter, NEC noted with regrets that the issues in dispute are yet to be satisfactorily addressed. 7. However, as a law-abiding Union and in deference to appeals by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, and in recognition of the efforts of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and other well meaning Nigerians, ASUU NEC resolved to suspend the strike action embarked upon on 14th February 2022. Consequently, all members of ASUU are hereby directed to resume all services hitherto withdrawn with effect from 12:01 on Friday, 14th October, 2022. Emmanuel Osodeke President 13th October, 2022

https://www.channelstv.com/2022/10/14/breaking-ASUU-suspends-8-month-old-strike-conditionally/amp/What

Education

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The Lagos State Police Command would like to inform the general public that as of 0100hrs of date, queue of tankers and trucks from Apapa Wharf Road is getting longer towards Alaka-Stadium/ Surulere Road. This might not be unconnected with the ongoing Apapa Road rehabilitation work and the slow pace of work at the Port, which resulted in great reduction in the number of trucks/tankers being handled on daily basis. Consequently, it advised that Motorists going to Lagos Island use alternative routes. Meanwhile, the Command, in conjunction with other sister agencies are doing all the needful to ameliorate the situation. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/going-lagos-island-police-warns-motorist-use-alternative-routes/

Travel

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House of Representatives As doctors, non-medical staff collect allowances By Emman Ovuakporie ABUJA—THE ad-hoc committee of the House of Representatives probing Aso Rock Clinic, yesterday, declared that the life of the President and his family members would not be put at risk, saying there was need to have an effective health management in place in case of an emergency. Chairman of the committee, Magaji Aliyu, stated this during an afternoon interactive session with Ismaila Kawu, Senior Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House); Ita Enang, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate); Osagie Ehanire, Minister of State for Health and representatives of Muhammad Bello, FCT Minister, at the National Assembly complex, Abuja. Aliyu and other lawmakers, who expressed grave concerns over the presentations of both ministers earlier, who claimed ignorance of activities of the State House Clinic, frowned at the poor management of the facility by previous administrations. He said: “The summary of the whole thing is that the clinic is just there, it is not supervised and is not under anybody. The Ministry of Health and FCT said they are not aware, meaning the hospital is just there. I want all information on the clinic. We can’t afford to risk the life of Mr. President and somebody should be responsible.” Doctors, non-medical staff collect allowances According to the report presented by the State House Permanent Secretary to the committee, out of 329 personnel working in the State House Clinic, 47 non-core medical personnel for several years illegally collected call-duty allowances. It alleged that some doctors sponsored by the State House to proceed on Residency programmes (usually two years), got their call duty allowances paid even when they were no longer performing call duties at the medical centre. The Permanent Secretary told the lawmakers:“Sadly, some of them were discovered to have spent close to seven years doing residency, with many changing institutions, as they fail to qualify. “In view of the fact that paying doctors on sponsored training programme, call duty allowance was considered unearned allowances, IPPIS (OAGF) was advised to cease paying them such allowances, pending their return to duty from training.” The Permanent Secretary also blamed 80 percent of the State House workers and their spouses for enjoying free medical services, despite their failure to enlist on the State House Clinic’s National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS. “The State House reached an agreement with HMOs with regard to the remittance of all NHIS payments in respect of State House staff whose NHIS point is the State House Medical Centre. ‘’It is instructive, however, to note that whereas almost 80% of the personnel serving in the State House access medical services at the State House Medical Centre, only about 20% of them selected the medical centre as their NHIS point. “The implication of the foregoing is that, whereas they access free medical services at the centre, their respective NHIS contributions go to those medical facilities they selected as their providers, even though they do not go there for any medical service. ‘’This explains the quick depletion of the drugs and other consumables due to the very high number of patients being attached,” he said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/aso-rock-clinic-cant-risk-buharis-life-reps/

Politics

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Michael Titus Igweh Indonesia Friday executed four drug convicts, three of them foreigners, by firing squad, an official said, drawing swift condemnation from rights groups as Jakarta pushes on with its campaign of capital punishment. Ten others expected to have faced the firing squad, including nationals from Pakistan, India and Zimbabwe as well as Indonesians, were not put to death but officials said they would be executed at a later stage. Authorities did not give a reason for the reprieve, but the prison island where they were expected to be executed in outdoor clearings was hit by a major storm as the other sentences were carried out. “This was done not in order to take lives but to stop evil intentions, and the evil act of drug trafficking,” Noor Rachmad, deputy attorney general for general crimes, told reporters. He added that “the rest (of the executions) will be carried out in stages”, saying that the timings had not yet been decided. Amnesty International condemned the executions with the group’s Rafendi Djamin labelling them “a deplorable act”. “Any executions that are still to take place must be halted immediately. The injustice already done cannot be reversed, but there is still hope that it won’t be compounded.” The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the European Union had also voiced opposition to the plan in recent days. It was the first round of executions in Indonesia since April last year when authorities put to death eight drug convicts, including two Australians, which sparked international outrage. Friday’s executions came after a day of frenetic activity, with distraught relatives travelling to Nusakambangan island to say farewells to their loved ones and ambulances carrying coffins over to the heavily guarded penal colony. – Execution drive – The executed Indonesian was named as Freddy Budiman, while the three others, Nigerians, were: Seck Osmane, Humphrey Jefferson Ejike Eleweke and Michael Titus Igweh. Eleweke’s lawyer, Afif Abdul Qoyim, told AFP the execution should not have gone ahead as his client this week filed a legal appeal. “When this process in not respected, that means that this is no longer a country that upholds the law, nor human rights,” he said. Two people whose cases had raised high-profile international concern among rights groups were not executed. The first was Pakistani Zulfiqar Ali, whom rights groups say was beaten into confessing to the crime of heroin possession, leading to his 2005 death sentence. Syed Zahid Raza, the deputy Pakistani ambassador in Indonesia, hailed his reprieve as a victory and said it was due to diplomatic efforts in Jakarta and Islamabad. The other was Indonesian woman Merri Utami, who was caught with heroin in her bag as she came through Jakarta airport and claims she was duped into becoming a drug mule. At Cilacap, the city closest to Nusakambangan, family members were initially shocked to learn on Thursday morning their relatives would be executed in a matter of hours, having initially thought it would take place a day later. Some distressed relatives protested their loved ones’ innocence, while 10 women’s rights activists rallying in support of Utami were detained. It was the third batch of executions under President Joko Widodo, and means 18 drug convicts — mostly foreigners — have been put to death since he became leader in 2014. Widodo has defended dramatically ramping up the use of capital punishment, saying that Indonesia is fighting a war on drugs and traffickers must be heavily punished. But his execution drive has shocked the international community and disappointed activists, particularly as hopes were high that Widodo, seen as a fresh face in a political world dominated by figures from Indonesia’s authoritarian past, would improve the country’s rights record. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/condemnation-indonesia-executes-osmane-eleweke-igweh/

Politics

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No railway coaches stolen, says NRC MD The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced that the first set of coaches which was alleged to have been stolen from its Maiduguri yard actually got to its Jos, Plateau State running shed for general repair on October 10, 2023. A statement by the Nigerian Railway Corporation Fidet Okhiria on Sunday, stated that the viral video purported to have emanated from NTA had alleged that police had intercepted some criminals trying to steal a train coach at the Maiduguri Railway Station. Okhiria, who spoke exclusively with The Nation from China, said the coach in question was actually heading to Jos for repair ahead of its deployment on the rail corridor to enhance the Mass Transit Train Shuttle (MTTS), which is meant to help alleviate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal on the masses. He said the RDM Maiduguri in a photograph was seen successfully handing over the coaches to his Jos counterpart when the coach got to its destination last week. The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has been drawn to a news trending on numerous social media platforms purported to have emanated from Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), in which it was reported that an attempt was made to steal NRC coaches from Maiduguri. “NRC management wishes to clarify this erroneous reportage by stating that the said coaches are officially being moved to NRC running shed in Jos, Plateau State to be overhauled and putting them back to operation. NRC is trying to extend Rail Mass Transit all over the country. He further disclosed that the Railway management in a letter Ref. NO.MDP.70Nol.30/127 written by the Managing Director Fidet Okhiria, on the 13th of October, to the Commissioner of Police, Nigerian Railway Police Command, had intimated the police of the Corporation’s plan to overhaul all its rolling stocks located in all of its districts, with a view to getting them ready for deployment in areas of need. “You may wish to note that the recent removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit (PMS) impacted the cost of transportation among others. The NRC is of the view that making more rail routes available will greatly subsidize the cost of transportation and thereby reducing the hardship experienced by commuters.” This informed the need for the overhaul of some of our non-functional rolling stock. However, the expertise required for the overhaul of the rolling stock, the statement stated, is not available in Maiduguri, hence the need for the movement of 9SPA coaches, 1DRC and 1BVA from Maiduguri to Jos. He urged the CP to, “render all possible assistance to ensure a smooth movement and delivery of the rolling stocks from Maiduguri to Jos.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/no-railway-coaches-stolen-says-nrc-md/

Politics

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R-L; Governors Martins Elechi, Godswill Akapbio, Segun Mimiko; Deputy Governor Kogi, Yomi Awoniyi, Governors Jonah Jang, T Orji and Others after their meeting recently in Abuja. PHOTO; Sinday Aghaeze By Henry Umoru Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom today at the on- going meeting of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum at the moment at Lagos/Osun Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja which have in attendance about fifteen governors from both factions i.e. the Jang and Amachi faction, sat beside Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers. When Akpabio came in after the Akwa Ibom Governor-elect, he insisted that a chair be brought for him to sit beside Amaechi who was already seated. Northern States Governors’ Forum, NSGF, an umbrella body of all elected Governors from the north Monday agreed to nip in the bud, the lingering crisis in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, with a vow to bring together the two factions to form one indivisible and united body. Those in attendance 1. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom 2. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers 3. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo 4. Rauf Aregbosola of Osun 4. Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger 5. Ramallan Yero of Kaduna 6. Saidu Dankigari of Kebbi 7.Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta 8. Deputy governor of kano and governor- Elect, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje 9. Kashim Shettima of Borno 10. Deputy governor of Kogi, Yomi Awoniyi 11. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi 12. Deputy governor of Nasarawa State 13. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo 14. Governor- Elect of Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom 15. Deputy governor of Imo State More details soon Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/05/akpabio-seats-next-to-amaechi-at-ngf-meeting/

Politics

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Marrying many women ‘helps save economy’ – Ned Nwoko By Chinyere Okoroafor Ned Nwoko, billionaire husband of Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, has explained why he has more than one wife and prefers to marry young women. In an interview with BBC Igbo, the billionaire politician explained the economical reason behind his choice of polygamy. According to him, the average northerner has at least two wives, which he argued helps the society by preventing the women from being promiscuous. According to him: “The average Northerner marrying two, three, four women, they are helping the society because it is the economic downturn that has affected so many women who you see doing prostitution and all that. “But the fallacy of it all is that Christianity does not allow that in the South and yet, the average Southern man has 10 girlfriends.” He also said the polygamist nature of northerners has helped to increase their population and made them the majority. Nwoko also complained about how enlightenment has encouraged monogamy even though it is not our culture. He said: “I love my culture as I know it, not as they are trying to dilute it. Igbo culture is wonderful and should be promoted the way it has always been. “But even looking at that, look at your population in Nigeria and what I will call economy of marriage, as an Igbo man with one wife, four children, a Northerner has four wives with five children each, in the next 10 years, 20 years, imagine the population of the Northerners.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/marrying-many-women-helps-save-economy-ned-nwoko/

Politics

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Prof. Fetus Iyayi By AbdulSalam Muhammad, Kano. KANO – The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Wednesday suspended indefinitely its National Executive Council meeting over the sudden death of its former national President, Prof. Festus Iyayi who died in a fatal auto-crash along Lokoja – Abuja federal Highway Tuesday. Prof. Festus Iyayi,66, died after the vehicle he was travelling in had a head-on collision with a security vehicle attached on the convoy of Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Ichala Wada at a village near Lokoja . Iyayi was on his way to Kano for the National Executive Council meeting. National President, ASUU, Dr. Nasiru Fagge told reporters in Kano that “we are compelled to postponed this meeting in the light of the sudden death of one of our strongest pillar who died yesterday” Dr. Nasiru Fagge said that “as you can see for yourself, we are mourning the departure of this great scholar and you would agree with me that in this circumstance we cannot look at issues objectively”. Dr. Fagge described his late colleague as a ‘strong pillar of the union’, stressing that “this is great loss to the entire country”. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/prof-iyayi-ASUU-postpones-nec-meeting-indefinitely/

Education

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•Says state debt profile is N38bn By Gbenga Olarinoye OSOGBO—Parents of public secondary school students in Osun State, yesterday gave the government a five-day ultimatum to return boarding facilities to the schools where the facilities existed before the introduction of new education system by the present administration in the state. The parents under the aegis of the Parents Teachers Association, PTA, threatened mass protest should the state government fail to return the boarding system before the end of the ultimatum. Chairman of PTA in the state, Dr Ademola Ekundayo, who received protesting parents in his office in Osogbo, appealed for calm, saying their request would be channeled to the appropriate quarter. The state government had in its Schools Reclassification Programme closed all the boarding facilities in public secondary schools in the state. The parents however appeared uncomfortable with the new education system and called for a reversal of the system, urging the state government to return boarding system to public secondary schools in the state. Meanwhile, the state government yesterday said the actual debt profile of the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration wasN38 billion. The opposition parties’ candidates, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Iyiola Omisore and Social Democratic Party, SDP, Elder Segun Akinwusi, the immediate past Head of Service in the state put the state debt at betweenN300bn and N400bn. Commissioner for Finance, Budget Development and Economic Planning, Wale Bolorunduro, said the figure represented the loans and bonds taken by the government and the money owed contractors handling various ongoing projects in the state, adding that the situation was not gloomy as the state was ranked among the five least indebted states in the country based on the record of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Abuja. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/aregbesola-gets-5-day-ultimatum-over-boarding-schools/

Politics

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Baby Favour…needs help …Needs N100,000 for surgery BY EBUN SESSOU When baby Favour Adam-Umoh was born 21 months ago into the Family of Mr. and Mrs. Blessing Adams, Favour appeared normal as a growing baby and there was nothing unpleasant about her health, particularly her eyes to raise any suspicion that something was remarkably wrong with her sight. But six months later, the signs began to manifest. The state of her health then may have spured her parents to name her Favour – a gift bestowed as a token of goodwill, kind regard, love by God. But, today, Favour is struck with a strange eye disease which medical doctors at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, confirmed to be congenital glaucoma. Presently, Favour with bulging of the right eye which is now affecting the left eye, further medical examination revealed that the baby has cancer of the eye. According to her doctors, if there is no urgent medical intervention, poor Favour will lose her both eyes. The parents have been going from pillar to post, looking for solution but all efforts to help baby Favour have proved abortive. All the way from Onitsha, her mother, Blessing Adam came to Lagos recently in search of a miracle that could help transform the condition of her baby girl. The 28-year-old mother was advised to seek further solution in a faith based institution by a friend. So, she went to the TB Joshua’s Synagogue church of all nations in Lagos. According to her, “I went to TB Joshua’s church on Wednesday and waited patiently for me to be called upon but all expectations failed. “Unfortunately, it was not the time for cancer patients. So, I left and went back the following day. Again, my baby’s name was not called. So, I felt bad and left because I did not want my baby to die. “I was in a bus when a good Samaritan man saw the condition of the baby and advised that I should go to Vanguard that I must surely get help. “I am a petty trader and my husband drives a hired Keke Marwa. We both live in Onitsha but we are a native of Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State. “I did not know anywhere in Lagos but with the help of the man, I was able to locate Vanguard premises”, she added. Narrating the sorry tales of her baby’s health, she said, “Favour started scratching her eyes when she was six months old. “At first, I never envisaged it was a serious issue. So, I did not take her to the hospital immediately, but took her to nearby Chemist shop and the man advised that, I should apply eye drops and give her some Vitamin C syrup which I did. “Unfortunately, there was no changes in her as the day goes by, so, I stopped the eye drops and the drug. Then, I sought help elsewhere. I then started going from one church to another just to get help. “A pastor told me that it was a spiritual problem and that it can only be tackled with prayers. So, I started going from one church to another. And since the incident, I had gone to seven different churches but all efforts were to no avail. “After a while, my husband advised that I should take her to University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and there I was told that her eyes were already damaged and it will be removed. “The doctor said, an operation will be carried out on the girl but I do not know the cost of the operation. I was scared because I did not want my baby’s eyes to be removed, so I left. “Although, the doctor said removing the eyes will help save the life of the baby but I do not agree that her eyes should be removed. “Before taking her to University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, I had gone to Guinness hospital, Onitsha where I was given some drugs. But, there was no changes. I was then given a letter to go to Nnewi for laboratory test. “Unfortunately, we are financially incapacitated so, I could not go for the laboratory test as quickly as possible as prescribed. But, when we finally went, it was also discovered that she is having cancer of the eye. Since, the incident, the baby has been passing through severe pain. She cannot sleep at night. I only carry her on my back everyday and night. She cries so much such that she hardly sleep at night. Her siblings, a boy and a girl are presently at Onitsha”, she lamented. Asked, if there was any history of eye problem in her family, she said, “My mother-in-law has eye problem. My husband told me it was witchcraft that caused her eye problem. When Saturday Vanguard contacted Namdi Azikwe University Teaching hospital on the issue, Professor Onyekwe who is in charge of the case, disclosed to this reporter that an ‘Filteration surgeryof the eye’ will have to be carried out urgently to stop the enlargement of the cancer. He stated that the surgery which will take place at Guiness Eye centre, Nnewi, Anambra state will cost the sum of N100,000. Right now, the mother is calling on well meaning Nigerians to help baby Favour stay alive. Her account name is: Ini Adam-Umoh, account number: 2044779539 UBA. Her mother, Blessing Adam can be reached on 07083188829 and 07033996463. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/06/agony-of-a-21-month-old-baby-losing-both-eyes/

Family

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EVEN as President Goodluck Jonathan continues the geo-political zonal launching of his presidential campaign, there appears to be no letting up from the Northern establishment as there are moves being perfected to ensure that power goes back to the North by May 29, 2011. One of the options, according to a very dependable source, is the intensification of talks with the candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari. Another option which was discussed was the possibility of stopping the April general elections from holding as scheduled. The challenge for the latter option, Vanguard can reveal, is the realization of the leaders from the North that such a move would also put the other elections like Governorship, Senate, House of Representatives elections in jeopardy as the grudge is principally directed at the presidential elections. Vanguard has been able to discover that a meeting was held last week in Abuja by the pro-zoning elements. The meeting was held on February 5, 2011, between 8.00 pm and 9.00 pm. It was hosted by a former National Security Adviser, NSA, in Asokoro, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. Vanguard learnt that “the eight participants met in furtherance of their resolve to ensure the realization of their set objective for a Northern Presidency. The meeting was attended by eight participants with representatives drawn from some Northern political groupings like the Unity Forum, UF; and the Political Standing Committee of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF. Some of those in attendance were: *Ahmed Mohammed Gusau-Chairman, Political Standing Committee, ACF *M M Abdul, Chairman, UF, and Murtala A. Aliyu, a former minister, also representing UF *Mohammed Al-Ghazali, UF/ACF *Bashir Yusuf and Abu Ibrahim represented NPLF Vanguard was made to understand that “Gusau intimated the participants that the strategy sub-committee of the Political Committee of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, had earlier met and that the outcome of that meeting informed the invitation to the various representatives of some northern political groups.” According to him, “a two-way forward approach (was) agreed at that meeting on the issue of the Northern Presidency including: “To prevail on retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to negotiate power with other political groups; and in the event that Buhari’s presidency can not be eventually actualized, the under listed shall form the next options. 1. Some NPLF members would want to enter into a pact with Mr. President; and 2. That the forth coming presidential election should not hold.” Gusau was quoted as adding that “the option of not to conduct the presidential election is neither viable nor would it be attainable because it is not only the presidential election that would be conducted or the President alone that would be running for elective office.” He reportedly then argued that it would be difficult to sacrifice the candidates for other elective posts like the Governorship, House of Assembly and National Assembly. But Bashir Yusuf reportedly made it clear that “though he is the head of the NPLF secretariat, he is unaware of the planned pact of the NPLF with Mr. President.” He was also reported to have said he held a “meeting with Dr. Sule Yahaya Hamma of the Buhari’s Political Group,” suggesting that they should first engage in discussions with the Buhari’s group before they arrive at any decision or position on the issue.” One of the participants, toeing a very militant position insisted that the elections of April should not hold. Another meeting was fixed for this week. President vows to create a new environment Meanwhile, President Jonathan, yesterday, promised Nigerians that his administration would create an environment where they would no longer be judged by their culture tribe, tongue, religion or language. Speaking at the flagging off of the Northeast PDP presidential campaign in Bauchi, President Jonathan also promised that the diversities inherent in the Nigerian nation would be exploited and explored for the development of the nation. A transparent government, Jonathan declared, is what Nigerians would have from May 29, 2011, when he would be sworn in by the time he would have won the Presidential elections in April. “We will run a transparent government and we will create an environment where you will not be judged by culture, religion or language. “We will exploit the diversities of this great nation for the development of this country. “When we work together we will get to where we want to go”, he said. These and many more were the declarations of President Jonathan in Bauchi yesterday, during the North East geo-political zone presidential campaign launch. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/02/north-in-fresh-moves-to-stop-jonathan/

Politics

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Two feared killed, scores injured as Shi’ites, Police clash in Kaduna By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna Two members of the Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky- led Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shi’ites, were reportedly killed during a clash with Police in Kaduna on Sunday. The Nation gathered gunshots rented the air around the popular Ahmadu Bello Way as Police made efforts to disperse the protesting IMN members. The sect members were out in protest to press demand for release of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, who have been in detention since December, 2015 after a bloody clash with soldiers in Zaria. Kaduna State Government had since outlawed the group and prohibited all forms of protest in the State. A leader of IMN told The Nation Sunday evening that two of their members were killed during the Sunday clash while several others were injured. “As we speak, we are working on our press release. There was a clash and lost two of our members were killed by Police. Several other members were also injured,” he said. Contacted, Kaduna State Police Command’s PPRO, ASP Muhammad Jalige said, he was yet to receive signal on the incident. According to him: “I called the DPO in charge of the area, he didn’t pick; Maybe he was busy containing the situation. But, as soon as I get details about the incident, I will call you.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/two-feared-killed-scores-injured-as-shiites-police-clash-in-kaduna/

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Years before he became the most expensive player in the world; before his Olympic gold medal; before the Eiffel Tower lit up with his name to greet his professional move from Barcelona to Paris, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, the Brazilian forward known to the world simply as Neymar, faced his first public relations controversy. The year was 2010, and Neymar, then 18, had shot to fame in Brazil after a sensational breakout season. During an interview for the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo, in between a conversation about Disneyland and sports cars, he was asked if he had ever experienced racism. “Never. Not in the field, nor outside of it,” he replied. “It’s not like I’m black, you know?” His answer was heard like a record-scratch across the country. Was this young man in denial about his racial identity? Particularly when in the same interview he outlined his meticulous hair care regime, which involved getting his locks chemically straightened every few weeks, then bleached blonde. Or was there a less alarming explanation behind his comment? Could Neymar merely be pointing out that, as the son of a black father and a white mother, his lighter skin tone shielded him from the racist abuse directed at other players? Had he, at least in his context, reached whiteness? Whatever the interpretation, Neymar’s words revealed the tricky, often contradictory ways that many Brazilians talk, and fail to talk, about race in a country with the largest population of black descendants outside of Africa. When audiences tune in to watch Brazil play, they are treated to a rich spectrum of skin tones flashing vibrantly across the screen. The racial makeup of the Brazilian squad, in fact, generally reflects the demographics of the country. According to 2017 data released by the census department, 47 percent of Brazilians identify as mixed-race, while another 8 percent identify as black. One third of marriages happen across racial boundaries. Such numbers confirm the common belief held by Brazilians, and the millions of international travelers who visited last year, that the country is a racially fluid society. Unlike the national team, however, the upper echelons of most professions in Brazil — be it medicine, media, business, entertainment or government — are occupied by whites. The nation’s raw demographic data paints an accurate portrait of a diverse people; yet it also adds patina to the old myth, promoted for generations by the government and first intellectualized by sociologists nearly a century ago, that Brazil is a democracia racial, or “racial democracy.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/30/opinion/is-neymar-black-brazil-and-the-painful-relativity-of-race.html

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•Resurgence of suicide attacks political — Middle Belt Forum By Peter Duru & Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo Until last Saturday, the country had forgotten that suicide bombers once held the northern part of the country hostage. For some years, suicide bombing was almost a daily occurrence as terrorists carried out suicide attacks using women and children even as the military continued to engage them until the last administration of President Muhammadu Buhari declared that it had technically degraded the terrorists’ capabilities. Suicide bombing then ceased. However, last Saturday, multiple suicide attacks were carried out in Gwoza community, Borno state leaving more than 30 persons dead and 100 others injured. Concerned northern elders and other stakeholders in the region have expressed Resurgence of suicide bombing has brought fear, confusion —Rev Hayab According to Rev John Joseph Hayab, the immediate past chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Country Director of the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN), “the resurgence of suicide bombing at the time of serious pains and hunger in the country has sent fear and confusion in many quarters in our region. The death toll of that incident itself shows that the perpetrators took time to plan before executing their evil agenda. We are back to the era of our worst nightmare. How will our people cope with poor leadership, hunger in every home and every city with the fear of suicide bombers also. The Federal Government and our security agencies must triple their effort before citizens are pushed to the wall. A hungry man is known to be an angry man but what will happen if his anger and hunger are further threatened by serious security threats? Northern Elders and religious leaders must also come out to mobilize the people to support government and security agencies to fight evil in the region. We should not only be specialists in mobilizing our people to vote for the candidates of our choice during elections and not mobilizing them to double their efforts to make our region safe and peaceful. Northern Youths should not only form associations to attack political opponents of their favorite candidates, they should be seen and heard to be exposing evil elements amongst them and helping government and security agencies to track down sponsors and promoters of the evil that is ravaging our region.” Gwoza incidents shattered our hope —Shettima Similarly, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, the President General of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum ( AYFC), said “suicide bombing has been a devastating and horrifying tactic used by extremist groups for many years, causing tremendous loss of life and spreading fear and uncertainty in communities around the world. In recent years, many believed that suicide bombing was becoming less prevalent, as security measures and counter-terrorism efforts seemed to be making progress in preventing such attacks. However, the last incident in Gwosa, Bornu state, shattered hope when multiple suicide attacks occurred, leaving more than 30 people dead and many others injured. Suicide attacks not only disrupt the daily lives of residents but also hampers economic growth and development in the affected areas. Businesses may be reluctant to invest in regions prone to suicide bombings, leading to unemployment and poverty among the population. In the long term, this can contribute to social unrest and instability, creating a vicious cycle that perpetuates the conditions conducive to terrorism. In addition to addressing the immediate security concerns, Northern leaders and elders must also focus on long-term solutions to permanently discourage suicide bombing. Building resilience within communities and promoting social cohesion are key factors in preventing individuals from being radicalized and recruited by extremist groups. This can be achieved through grassroots initiatives that empower local leaders, religious figures, and community organizations to promote tolerance, inclusivity, and peaceful coexistence. By fostering a sense of belonging and identity, communities can become more resistant to the influence of extremist ideologies.” Resurgence of suicide bombings in Gwoza political —MBF On its part, the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, has alleged that the recent Gwoza suicide bombings in Borno State could have political undertone. The National President of MBF, Dr. Bitrus Pogu noted that the fact the incident came when efforts were in top gear by the Federal Government to return the over 120,000 Gwoza indigenes taking refuge in neighbouring Cameroon created much room for suspicion. His words: “On the Gwosa suicide bombings I can tell you that up till now there are a lot of the insurgents on top of the Gwoza hills who have not been flushed out. The fight against insurgency is being stalled by political interests who put pressure on military commanders not to do anything. And these boys are from one particular tribe mainly, they are called Duwhade and the majority of them are butchers. It is the people from this tribe that are mainly insurgents on top of the Mandara mountains which is an extension of the Gwoza hills. Because of insurgency, as we are talking, about 120,000 people from Gwoza Local Government, mainly behind the hills have found refuge in Cameroon as refugees. There are serious efforts, especially when this government came on board, to bring these people back to their ancestral land as promised by the President. But some political interests, who believe that the people will not vote for them because they are predominantly Christians, do not want them to return home. And I believe they are creating this unnecessary insecurity through attacks and suicide bombings so that these people will not be brought back to Nigeria to their ancestral land. “So the political leaders particularly the Governor and the Senator from Southern Borno should explain why these things are happening at a time when there is objection to the coming back of the people for political reason. Efforts to bring back IDPs and refugees to their ancestral homes by the Federal Government are being undermined and I believe that what has happened in Gwoza was purely political. “On the issue of suicide bombings, I don’t believe somebody would blow himself up because of religion, no. I believe the criminals would tie explosives on the people and tell them you either do what we have directed you to do or we deal with you and the victims would go in fear and somebody somewhere may be the one detonating the bombs. So, it may not be that the bomb carrier wanted to commit suicide and blow others up”. The terrorists merely went underground to regroup — Anthony Sani Former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mr Anthony NZ Sani, said “the resurgence of suicide bombing in Borno state underscores the fact that the immediate past administration merely tamed the terrorists but did not exterminate them permanently. As a result, they merely went underground to regroup. This resurgence also vindicates the view that military might alone cannot exterminate terrorism permanently. Only by addressing the underlying causes can we permanently put them to rest. The causes are poverty which comes with ignorance and unemployment. So, to defeat terrorism permanently, the government should apply both punitive and preventive measures. The punitive measure is the provision of enough and properly equipped security personnel who are well motivated to secure the nation while the preventive measure is the prioritization of education and health of the people. This is because the current out-of-school children, if left unchecked would become terrorists of tomorrow. This requires a long-term commitment from all stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and the private sector, to address the root causes of terrorism and extremism and build a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.” Economic opportunities provide viable alternatives to joining extremist groups —Northern Elders Forum Also, Mallam Suleiman Abdul-Azeez of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), said, “This alarming trend has reignited concerns among Northern leaders and elders, who recognize the urgent need to address the root causes of suicide bombing and the general and pervasive insecurity to prevent future attacks. The attacks in Gwosa have highlighted the need for improved coordination among law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, and military forces in detecting and preventing such attacks. I believe one of the key factors driving suicide bombings in the region is the lack of economic opportunities and widespread poverty. Many of the individuals recruited by terrorist groups are motivated by financial incentives or promises of a better life. To combat this, it is essential to create sustainable economic development opportunities that provide viable alternatives to joining extremist groups. Improving security and intelligence capabilities is another crucial aspect of addressing the threat of suicide bombing. Furthermore, it is important to strengthen border security to prevent the infiltration of terrorist groups and the smuggling of weapons and explosives. Fostering community resilience is also essential in preventing future attacks. This involves building trust between communities and security forces, as well as empowering local leaders and organizations to play a proactive role in countering extremism. By promoting dialogue and cooperation among different ethnic and religious groups, communities can become more resilient to the divisive tactics of terrorist groups. Engaging with religious leaders and institutions can be a powerful tool in combating the misuse of religion for extremist purposes. Interfaith dialogue and collaboration among different religious communities can also foster mutual understanding and respect, strengthening social harmony and countering divisive ideologies. Promoting social cohesion is another important strategy in preventing the spread of extremism. By addressing underlying grievances and promoting inclusivity and tolerance, it is possible to reduce the appeal of extremist ideologies. By working together to address the complex and interconnected challenges posed by suicide bombing, Northern leaders and elders can help create a safer, more secure, and more prosperous future for their communities. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/07/return-of-suicide-bombers-were-back-to-our-worst-nightmare-northern-leaders-lament/

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By Dele Sobowale “Justice Mohammad Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered President Muhammadu Buhari to hold all successive administrations since the return to civil rule in 1999 to account on the spending of the recovered loot” – a national newspaper. Are you aware that in addition to the four refineries in Nigeria – Portharcourt I and II, Warri and Kaduna, this country also had a 30 per cent interest in West African Refinery, Sierra Leone which was handed over to President Obasanjo’s government in 1999? Are you also aware that has Obasanjo so far failed to account for that national assets and its disposal, he was handed a list of assets forfeited by Abacha to the Federal Government on May 26, 1999 – in the last decree –Decree No. 53 – which was the last signed by General Abdulsalami Abubakar as Head of State, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria? Are you also aware that other Abacha loot, returned between 1999 and May 2007, when Obasanjo was forced to step aside, remain unaccounted for and might have been re-looted? Prepare yourself for a shock – if it is still possible to be shocked in Nigeria by anything done by leaders of the PDP who had access to the corridors of power – especially the self-righteous Obasanjo. His administration established the template for looting Abacha loot. But, permit first a diversion – a necessary one. Obasanjo had since made a caustic comment about the court order. He called Justice Idris “stupid” for daring to ask Buhari to ask Obasanjo to account for OUR money and other assets. That shows Obasanjo in his true colours. A honest man if asked to account for other peoples property which he held in trust does not resort to abuse. He would open the records for all to see that he had integrity. But, not Obasanjo. It is in his character. Back on April 8, 2012, three individuals who knew Baba Iyabo better than most Nigerians had the following to say about the man. First, former Senate President Ken Nnamani: “He personally authorized the disbursement of N50m each for 109 Senators, as well as other sums of money, which amounted to an excess of N8bn to pass the third term bill into law.” Then, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila: “He spent over N10bn on the agenda. His aides came to me to solicit support for third term. He also attempted to enlist the support of a former US President, Mr Bush, for the project, but it failed.” Finally, read what Honourable Halims Agoda had to say. “It was Obasanjo’s personal agenda. He sought the support of the National Assembly, but it was thrown out..”. In the front page report of a national newspaper on the day under reference, titled “Obasanjo a joker, liar, he was behind third term – Nnamani, others”, Nigerians and the entire world were presented with the man Obasanjo. From what Nnamani alleged, he was involved in bribery and corruption – spending funds whose sources were undisclosed. Readers will begin to get an idea of where the money came from by reading my book – PDP: CORRUPTION INCORPORATED. Obasanjo created the PDP as we know it today. Jonathan just took the party to the next level. Now, let us examine some indisputable evidence to support Justice Idris’ call on Buhari to ask Obasanjo and others to account for our resources. Please notice the word “resources” because what is missing is more than money – as will soon be demonstrated shortly. Decree No 53, as earlier stated was the last decree signed by General Abubakar, who after it was placed in the Gazette, wanted it withdrawn for reasons still unknown. A desperate but failed effort was made to retrieve all the copies. Consequently, few copies of the Decree are in existence and most people are not aware of it. Among the few is available at Unijankara kept under lock and key. Below however is the summary of all the assets forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria under the FORFEITURE OF ASSETS, ETC. (CERTAIN PERSONS) DECREE 1999. Properties/Assets Belonging To Late General Sani Abacha. Plot 135(A6), House No. 12, Zaire Crescent, Maitama; Plot 574 (A4), Yakubu Gowon Crescent near ECOWAS Secretariat, Asokoro; Plot 2824 (A6), Block No. 17, along Danube Street, Maitama; Plot 650 (A6), Rhine Street, Maitama; Plot 1487 (A4), Justice Mamman Nasir Street; Plot 2480 (A6) Alvan Ikoku Street, Maitama; Plot 636 Adeyemo Alakija Street, Victoria Island (Cowry House). Finally, 30 per cent shares valued at $420,000 USD, in West African Refinery, Sierra Leone (Purchased from UNIPETROL). In addition to the properties listed there were the following cash items: $625,263,187.19; 75,306,886.93 pounds sterling and N100,000,000. In those days with the US dollar exchanging for N130 per dollar and a pound fetching N250, the total Abacha loot alone Abubakar handed to Obasanjo’s government was about N100 billion. That was just from the first set of loot found in Nigeria. Wait util next week to find out how much was forfeited by Abacha’s National Security Adviser, Ismaila Gwarzo, Mohammed Abacha, Abdulkadir Abacha, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu and Chief Tony Ani. Then you will begin to understand why Obasanjo does not want a probe of the Abacha loot….. NEXT WEEK: “If he [Obasanjo] is claiming that he never initiated the idea, who then initiated the release of more than N8bn from CBN coffers? Is it not the President that has access to CBN vaults?” Senate President, Ken Nnamani. Raiding CBN by Presidents pre-dated Jonathan. Baba started the civilian version in 1999. CBN GOVERNOR: CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS ARE BLAMING THE VICTIM. “Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny.” William Shakespeare, 1564-1616. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTES). If there is one public official who has earned my total sympathy these days, it is the Governor of Central Bank, CBN. There must be occasions, these days, when poor Mr Godwin Emefiele must be asking if there aren’t easier ways to make a living. Personally, I admire his guts, his tenacity, his patriotism and his courage under the constant bombardment of attacks – mostly defamatory. If he is not accused of selling dollars to unnamed beneficiaries below official rate, he accused of conducting secret recruitment unknown to the Presidency. All the critics, without exception argue from narrow perspectives of the CBN’s challenges and options available. They are like so many blind men each holding a part of an elephant and thinking he knows what an elephant is. Nobody has offered a comprehensive alternative to what he is doing. Yet, I can state authoritatively that if there is any official most closely watched by government, it is the CBN Governor. He had made no important decision without approval from Aso Rock. Those asking for his sack are wasting their time. Bet on it. The guy is smart. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/how-obasanjos-govt-looted-abacha-loot/

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Boko Haram fighters BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURI Suspected members of dreaded Boko Haram Sect on Saturday evening invaded Ajiri village of Mafa Local Government Area of Borno state and wrecked havoc, leading to destruction of lives and properties. Sources have said. This is coming barely 24 hours when armed insurgents laid ambush along Maiduguri- Damaturu 125km road where over 5 people were killed with dozens abducted and injured. Ajiri less than 50km drive from Maiduguri the state capital is near Mafa Local Government area where Governor Babagana Umara Zulum hail from. The town was hitherto a ghost town, until mid this year when the Governor through the ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR) constructed about 500 housing units, in which its Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) taking refuge in Maiduguri were relocated back home by the present administration’s drive to ensure IDPs back to their ancestral homes. READ ALSO: Hoodlums kill ex-NASS member, another in Oyo Recalled that on 3rd September 2020, Zulum who visited Ajiri Community called on unrepentant members of Boko Haram to lay down their arms as his government is doing everything possible to return all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their ancestral homes. He said, one passionate thing Boko Haram members should know is that the IDPs who have returned or willing to return to their communities are directly or indirectly parents or relations of the insurgents that are eager to pick up their pieces and continue their normal lives. Unfortunately, details of casualties still remain uncertain when the insurgents stormed the community on Saturday evening, even as our Correspondent gathered at press time that airstrike from the military Airforce are currently engaging the terrorists while people scamper for safety. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/12/breaking-hours-after-35-passengers-were-kidnapped-boko-haram-attacks-ajiri-community-in-borno/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has accused Governor Ayodele Fayose of alleged complicity in the fuel supply crisis in the state. In a statement by Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party said it was in possession of “incontrovertible evidence” that the governor is allegedly contributing to the scarcity of fuel in the state to sabotage the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Accusing Fayose and his aides of mischievously disparaging the President for not doing enough to make fuel available to Nigerians while they were the actual culprits, Olatunbosun said available information confirmed that daily allocations of fuel to the state were allegedly being diverted to other states with the alleged connivance of some NUPENG officials and the governor to allegedly sabotage the Federal Government in order to set the people against the President. “Records have revealed that 10 trailers of fuel for Ekiti State on Fayose’s request were diverted mostly to stations outside the state. “The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mrs Dupe Alade, had earlier written for same allocation but her letter to NNPC was stepped down when Fayose used his office to request for the allocation of fuel to 10 filling stations, many of which do not exist in Ekiti State “The governor’s letter was addressed to the Area Manager at Mosimi and minuted to Ore and was processed by the Ore office of NNPC. “The trailers were loaded on Wednesday and Thursday the 20th and 21st of April but the real fuel companies and vendors were prevented from loading until the 10 trailers demanded by the governor left the depot but were diverted to other stations outside Ekiti State,” he explained, adding that the governor had allegedly been mentioned in several cases of fuel racketeering. He said the development reportedly elicited protests and complaints from the real fuel marketers in Ekiti State, adding that this had resulted in acute shortage of fuel in the state with few stations dispensing fuel selling at prohibitive costs to the masses that Fayose claimed to be his friends. He listed the company names in the letter of the governor to include Amsek Filling Station opposite Omolayo along Ikere road, Ado-Ekiti, that is selling above official price. “Other stations not in existence in Ekiti State but which appeared in the governor’s letter is Royal Oil, which the letter falsely claimed to exist in Omuo-Ekiti. “Rova Oil, also on the governor’s letter, no longer exists in Ekiti because it has since been sold and its name changed and it is now operating under NNPC. It is located in Ajilosun area of the state capital and selling above NNPC official price. “Other non-existent stations in Ekiti but which appeared in the governor’s letter and was allocated fuel is Bisi Jay located in Ile-Oluji in Ondo State. “The other company that received Ekiti State’s allocation is Ademur located in Osun State. This company has no station in Ekiti and it has no lifting right or permit in Ore, while Eyeowa Fuel that got allocation does not exist in Ekiti,” he explained. He alleged that Moson Global located in Ifon, Ondo State, also received Ekiti allocation at NNPC official price but selling above official price to the public. He challenged the governor to deny ever writing to the NNPC for fuel allocation. “There is need for the security agencies and the Minister for Petroleum to investigate the governor’s activities at the NNPC offices both in Ore and Mosimi and the roles of NUPENG officials in this wicked unleashing of pains on Ekiti people by unpatriotic act to sabotage the Federal Government,” Olatunbosun concluded. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/fuel-scarcity-apc-blames-fayose/

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Abuja – Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Tuesday expressed delight over improved electricity supply across the country. Sambo made the observation at the meeting of the Presidential Action Committee on Power in Abuja. He, however, directed the Ministry of Power to discuss with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and look into the problems militating against the evacuation of power. Sambo also directed that the issue regarding the non-settlement of energy invoice by market operators should be discussed, while a feedback on the issue was given at the next meeting. The vice-president, nonetheless, bemoaned the inability of the AfamPower Station, which was inaugurated in 1982 with an installed capacity of 726 megawatts, to work at full capacity. Sambo noted that the development posed a serious problem to power generation in the country, adding that the station was still facing the problem of route survey and compensation. He, therefore, directed the Ministry of Power to give a detailed report on the measures being taken to evacuate power from the Afam Power Station. Besides, Sambo expressed support for the payment of electricity bills via pre-paid cards, saying that it was a convenient arrangement for electricity consumers. In a related development, the vice-president also convened a meeting on the KadunaPower Plant Project that was expected to supply electricity to the KudendaIndustrial Area of Kaduna State. He said that the meeting was to find solution to the perceptible challenges which could hinder the project, which had the potential of generating 215 megawatts, from being inaugurated in 2012. Sambo, who noted that the issue of land had already been settled, however, cautioned that the right of way already acquired should be protected, so as to prevent people from encroaching on the land. Earlier, the Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, briefed the meeting on the power supply situation in the country. He said that the complaint of system failure had been addressed, adding that electricity supply had improved in the country. On the Kaduna Power Project, Nnaji said that the machinery for the thermal plant had already arrived in the country, adding that they would soon be moved to Kaduna for installation. (NAN) Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/12/sambo-expresses-happiness-over-improved-power-supply/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitterMay

Politics

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Adds: We have since concluded negotiation By Joseph Erunke ABUJA- ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has vowed not to involve itself in any round of renegotiation with the federal government concerning its 2009 agreement with the latter. The union’s position came as the government reconstituted a renegotiation team on the 2009 agreement, following the ongoing strike that has paralysed academic activities in public varsities across the country. READ ALSO:Evacuate 8000 Nigerians in Ukraine, not students alone — Ex-ambassador, Gana Yisa tells FG The nation’s university lecturers’ body said it would not participate in any further talk with the federal government, saying it had since rounded off a negotiation with the government concerning its demands. President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, reacting to the federal government’s statement that it had reconstituted a 7-member committee to renegotiate the 2009 demands, vowed that his group would not be a party to it. Reacting to the government’s action in an exclusive interview with Vanguard, Thursday evening, Prof. Osodeke, said ASUU was waiting for the government to implement its demands so that lecturers go return to the classroom. “We don’t know what they (federal government) are talking about, we have nothing to negotiate with the government. As far as we are concerned, we have concluded negotiation with the government,” he said. Recall that the federal government had earlier announced the reconstitution of a team to renegotiate the 2009 agreement with ASUU Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who reconstituted the renegotiation team in Abuja, explained that the action was to “speedily bring to a conclusion, all outstanding issues in the 2009 agreement to achieve the desired industrial peace on our campuses.” The chairman and members of the reconstituted 2009 FGN/University-Based Unions Agreements Re-negotiation Team has Prof. Emeritus Nimi Briggs-(Pro-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo), as chairman; Lawrence Patrick Ngbale-(Pro-Chancellor, Federal University,Wukari,as member representing North East and Prof. Funmi Togunu-Bickersteth-(Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Birnin Kebbi as member , representing South West. Other members are Sen. Chris Adighije- (Pro-Chancellor, Federal University. Lokoja as member, representing southeast; Prof. Olu Obafemi -(Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, member, representing North-Central; Prof. Zubairu Iliyasu-(Pro-Chancellor, Kano State University of Science & Technology as a member, representing North West and Barr. Matthew Seiyefa, (Pro-Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island as a member, representing South-South. The Federal Ministry of Education, in a statement to this effect, through its Director of Press,Bem Goong, said,” The team will be inaugurated by the Minister on Monday, the 7th of March, 2022 at the Minister’s Conference room, headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja by noon.” “All advisers and observers in the Federal Government/University-based Unions 2009 agreements Re-negotiation Team are expected to attend the inauguration,” the statement said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/03/we-wont-participate-in-any-renegotiation-with-fg-says-ASUU/

Education

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Ex-minister Pantami’s friend donates N50m to rescue five sisters abducted in Abuja Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami has disclosed that his friend has offered to pay N50m to rescue five sisters abducted by gunmen in Abuja. The Nation reports there was outrage over gruesome killing of a young lady identified as Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar by the gunmen who abducted her and five other sisters. Najeebah and her sisters were abducted on January 9, alongside their father, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar. She has been laid to rest according to Islamic rites on Saturday. Nabeeha was a 400-level student of biological science, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. Others abducted include: Najeebah (500 level, Quantity Surveying), Nadheerah (300 level, Zoology) It was gathered that the gunmen later released their father, asking him to go get N60m as ransom for the release of her daughters before Friday, January 12. In a bid to raise money, Nigerians were urged to donate whatever they have into a bank account, but not enough money was gathered as of Friday. Consequently, the hoodlums reportedly killed the oldest of the six girls, Najeebah, and dumped her body somewhere for her parents to bury. Pantami, confirmed the killing of Najeebah on Saturday night. He said he had spoken with the father of Najeebah over the remaining kidnapped girls. Reacting on Sunday, January 14, Pantami on his verified “X” page in a terse statement said: “Alhamdu lil Laah! I am personally not in support of paying ransom to criminals. “However, since it becomes clear, we lost our daughter Nabeeha yesterday, and the 5 remaining daughters have been threatened, as I spoke with the father on the matter yesterday and today. “Furthermore, I spoke with a friend and a brother who offered to pay the remaining 50 million Naira of the 60m immediately. “I conveyed the account number of the father of pur daughters, Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, to the friend and brother to send the money directly. Any additional amount earlier generated from yesterday, the father can use to treat the daughters and other family members in sha Allah. “May the Almighty Allah reward the bother and friend with Jannatul Firdaus for the donation. May He also reward all those who contributed in any way with Jannatul Firdaus, too. “May He also forgive Nabeeha and rescue her sisters. May the Almighty also help our security agencies to bring an end to these challenges. May Nigeria be a better place for all of us. I love Nigeria. #Najeebahandhersisters.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-ex-minister-pantamis-friend-donates-n50m-to-rescue-five-sisters-abducted-in-abuja/

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The Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, has said the agency will roll out a policy on face masks this week. Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu said this on Monday in Abuja during a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19. According to Dr Ihekweazu, the NCDC is almost done with the face mask policy but the draft is still being looked at by the agency. READ ALSO: Kaduna Records New COVID-19 Case, Traces 119 Contacts “Last week, I did say we would release a policy on face masks. That policy has almost been completed,” the NCDC boss explained. “In fact, the draft is now being looked at by various (his) colleagues to make sure that we are all alive. By tomorrow or next, we would be releasing that policy for all of us to align with.” He also revealed that thirty percent of the cases in the country were discovered via contact tracing. Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, has explained the role of the Chinese health experts expected to arrive in Nigeria. Mustapha, who is the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, noted that the experts were expected in the country on the invitation of a Chinese company, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). He said this during the press briefing of the committee on Monday in Abuja, and stressed that the development was to complement the efforts of the Nigerian government to curtail the spread of coronavirus just like other nations around the world were doing. “I wish to clarify that all the countries of the world are seeking assistance and are receiving help in the fight against COVID-19 – even the almighty United States is looking for help elsewhere,” he said. “The support coming from China is a cooperate social responsibility initiated by CCECC, a company with a total volume of infrastructural contracts in Nigeria worth over N10 billion.” The Governor urged the people to continue to support his Administration, show understanding over actions…

https://www.channelstv.com/2020/04/06/covid-19-we-will-release-policy-on-face-masks-this-week-ncdc-dg/amp/

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Abuja – President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday presided over Council of State meeting with former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari and former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon in attendance. The former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Senate President David Mark were also in the meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Also at the meeting are former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Idris Kutigi, Mohammadu Uwais, National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke. The governors at the meeting included those of Abia, Ekiti, Enugu, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger, Cross Rivers, Kogi, Ebonyi and acting governor of Taraba, while Katsina state was represented by the state’s Deputy Governor. NAN reliably learnt that the meeting might discuss among other matters, the confirmation of the appointment of the acting Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Suleiman Abba. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/jonathan-obasanjo-gowon-others-parley-council-state-meeting/

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26 killed, 80 houses razed in Plateau fresh attacks The National Caretaker Chairman of the Berom Youth Movement (BYM) Rwas Rwang Dalyop Dantong has cried on to the federal government to come and rescue Berom people from the hand of insurgents who have been terrorizing Plateau North senatorial zone of Plateau state. According to Dantong, “The series of attacks commenced on the 2nd of October and has continued on daily basis. He said, “The major attacks were preceded with silent killings of innocent farmers on their farms. We cried to the security agencies but nothing was done. Now the attackers have made it a daily attack. Since the last ten days, we have recovered at least 26 bodies from the various communities attacked by the insurgents.” The insurgents numbering about 400, allegedly divided themselves into 3 groups and are attacking the villages from all directions. In a statement released by the BYM yesterday in Jos and signed by the acting national chairman of the BYM, Mr Rwang Dantong reads, “We wish to, on behalf of the entire Berom Youths, condemn in strong term the persistent and systematic attacks on Bachi district of Riyom local government council by Fulani herdsmen. “This is an open declaration of war on Berom people for no justifiable reason. “These consistent attacks have been going on daily, since the 2nd of October. Within the period, the gunmen have attacked at least ten villages killing 26 people. The villages are Lwa, Shonong, Fang, Dum, Chengye, Rakweng, Diyan, Rachi and Sharbutu. “The casualties so far are; 7 killed in Lwa, 3 killed in Fang, 2 killed in Dum, 3 killed in Sharbutu, 2 STF staff killed, 1 killed in Chengye, 6 killed in Shonong, 1 killed in Rachi. “Among those killed was a pregnant woman in Lwa village who was expected to be wedded in a week time. Over 60 houses were burnt in the attack including that of late Senator Gyang Dantong. 20 houses were burnt down in Lwa village including a Church Pastorium. “It is quite worrisome that the insurgents have been identified as the Fulani herdsmen that are living within our communities. They launched the attacks and get back to their homes unharmed. The next day they would go to attack yet another village. It is an organized ethnic cleansing of the Berom tribe. “We can only cry out to the federal government to come to the rescue of our people and stop these attacks on innocent citizens. We are also calling on the special task force to rise up to the occasion and restore peace immediately. “There is the need to chase out these terrorists from our communities if peace must return to the areas, the gunmen have killed 26 people in 10 days of consistent attack. “We commend the executive chairman of Riyom local government, Hon. Mrs. Josephine Piyo for constantly mobilizing security agencies to the scene of attacks. We therefore called on all stakeholders to join hands with the council boss to chase these terrorists out of our communities. Few months ago, the Berom youths raised alarm that they had discovered training camps of some insurgents in Riyom Local governments. The youths called on security agencies for help over alleged plans by armed Fulani militants to launch fresh attacks on some lists of villages. The concerned villagers said they have discovered a training camp of unknown gunmen behind a rocky hill in Rim near Riyom. According to the villagers, “The alarm became necessary so as to attract security agencies to come to our aid in protection, the whole of Bachit district is under serious risk of gunmen attack if nothing is done to improve security surveillance in the areas” A member of a vigilante group in Riyom Dangyang Bulus said, “We discovered their plans because one of the Fulani living with us was invited to join them in their training camp, that one deceived them by telling them he would go home and prepare to join them later but refused to go back to the camp. “So it is our Fulani neighbour that revealed the secret to us, we have communicated to the police and security agencies in charge of these areas, but from all indication, they are afraid of going there, some of them even said we are raising false alarm. “These gunmen can strike anytime and we don’t know where and when they will strike. That is why we are raising this alarm. If this planned attack is not prevented, we will hold the security agencies responsible for any loss of lives and properties because, past attacks by these gunmen, recorded as much as hundred casualties,” said Bulus. A copy of a petition sent to Plateau state police commissioner by members of Shonong community, indicated that several of their men have been killed while working on their farms last month. The petitioned signed by Shonong Youth leader, Yohanna Ciroma described the situation in the area as silent terrorism, saying our communities has been under siege by armed Fulani men.” A member representing Riyom constituency at the Plateau state house of assembly, Hon Daniel Dem also confirmed the danger his people are facing. “However, the security agencies failed to rise up to the danger. The gunmen are now all over the villagers, attacking and killing them both day and night unhindered. Two soldiers serving with the special task force has been killed so far in the renewed attacks by the insurgents.” Hon Dem while commenting on the insecurity in his constituency said, “This is an act of terrorism against my people, they can no longer go to farms because they are consistently been attacked by suspected Fulani herds men” Hon Dem said, “The fulanis come into our farmland and will deliberately lead their cattle to graze on crops, if you complain you are killed instantly. “Close to seven of my constituency have been killed in Rim village of Riyom in the past two weeks by our attackers on their farms. This has forced them to abandon their farm lands.” Dem who is also the Majority leader of the state house of assembly further alleged that some security operatives must be aiding some of their attackers. He wondered why men of the Special Task Force deployed in the area could not stop the attackers. “In most of the villages attacked, there was presence of men of the STF. Why are they not going after the attackers? Hon Dem asked. The lawmaker called on security operatives to wake up to their responsibilities of protecting citizens of the locality. In Lwa village, an expectant mother was killed along with her four children. Names of the children are; Meriamu Jonathan age 25, Sandra Jonathan, 13, Agnes Jonathan, 10 and Goodluck Jonathan, aged 6. Other known victims killed in Fang village are Pam Kube, 23, Sgt. Musa Sanda (STF soldier), Dalyop Joro, 41, Emmanuel Danyam, 14, Stepehen Danjuma, 11. Those killed in Bachi are; Laraba Sunday Bwede, 60, Geoffrey Solomon Choji, 13, Mrs Jummai Daida Long, 66, Rhoda Luka Bwede, 17, Danjuma Bitrus, 39, Mathew Tiga, 34 and Mary Dauda, 56.In Bangai village, Emmanuel Dachung, 34. As at the time of sending this report, other affected villages are busy compiling names of their people killed in all the attacks. Spokesman of the special task force, Captain Ikedichi Iweka however could not confirm casualty figures but said, “a member of the troop was killed by the insurgents. He also said men of the STF have already taken control of the battle ground and peace has been restored in the villages”. According to Capt Iweha, “The attack is a reprisal kind of attack, it followed cow rustling, when people kill cows: the cow owners will stage revenge. But we have taken control, and we have restored normalcy. But stakeholders should be advised against giving exaggerated casualty figures, as doing so, will amount to sabotaging our peace efforts.” “The casualty figures given in that statement of Berom is exergerated, there are 13 deaths and we have stopped further attacks and killings. If not for our intervention,t the situation should have been worse.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/26-killed-80-houses-razed-in-plateau-fresh-attacks/

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How 2020 NBA elections were manipulated, by Adesina By Robert Egbe A candidate in the 2020 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election, Mr Dele Adesina SAN, Monday shed light on his claim that the process was manipulated. Adesina renewed a call he made last week for the cancellation of the poll, in a letter to the NBA’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr Olisa Agbakoba. His allegations were however refuted by outgoing NBA President Paul Usoro. Former NBA Secretary-General Adesina and his brother Silk Dr Babatunde Ajibade last Thursday lost the race for the NBA Presidency to a non-SAN, Mr Olumide Akpata. Akpata will succeed Usoro SAN later this month. But in his petition seen by The Nation, Adesina alleged that the election was marred by over-voting, disenfranchisement of some eligible voters, and non-compliance with the provisions of the NBA constitution. According to him, the voters register verified by the Electoral Committee of NBA (ECNBA) was found to be “manipulated, doctored and padded”. Adesina said the register contained “4,464 names of purported Lawyers without Branches ascribed to any of them from Serial Number 25171 to 29635. This List obviously provided cover for harvested voters without Branches; “86 names of Lawyers (were) under the category ‘International Diaspora’ from Serial Number 12182 to 12268, a clear violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the NBA. International Diaspora as a Branch is unknown to the NBA Constitution.” He alleged that there were cases of inflation of the list of some Branches, including “For instance, Obollo-Afor Branch had only 39 names from Serial Number 30424 to 30462 on the Final List for Verification. Strangely, this increased to 662 on the Verified Voters List published on the date of the Election.” According to him, there was also deletion/removal of names of many members from the final list. “For example: Ikeja, Ibadan, Enugu, Ife, Ado-Ekiti and many others had their number of voters substantially reduced without any explanation whatsoever or howsoever,” Adesina said. In another instance, he alleged that the voting site had predetermined election data. He added: “A close examination of the recorded result at different timelines shows percentage movement of the Presidential Candidates as 54%, 23% and 21% with little or no variation. “The system was obviously programmed to distribute votes at either +1 or 1 throughout the 24-hour period. “Besides, about forty percent of voters could not vote as they were not sent with the links to do so. Again, ECNBA admitted this fact by stating that notices were delivered in batches what ought to be delivered at once to all prospective voters. “Out of about 29,000 prospective voters, about 14,000 were not able to vote by the reasons stated above. As if that is not enough, instead of the recorded system stating that Mr. Olumide Akpata leads by 54% barely from about 20 minutes after voting started, the system stated that Olumide Akpata is winning by 54% in order to hoodwink and bias the mind of the voters in an election that is supposed to be free and fair.” However, Usoro, in a memo last month to NBA Past Presidents & Trustees, refuted some of the allegations in Adesina’s letter. Usoro said: “To reinforce the explanations in the ECNBA Statement No. 19, I further explained to Mr. Adesina that (a) all the names in the Verified Voters’ List were drawn from the Final Voters’ List that was published by the ECNBA on 01 July 2020 and that no new names were added; “(b) all the names in the Verified Voters’ List are lawyers and had paid their Bar Practicing Fees and Branch Dues and had therefore met the eligibility qualification to vote in the Elections; “and (c) the Elections would be determined, not on the basis of NBA branches but based on universal suffrage of the members which is the voting system enshrined in the Nigerian Bar Association Constitution, 2015 (as amended) and we should therefore not be fixated on the electronic glitches that assigned wrong branches to members. “I stand by those explanations…” He added: “It is strange that Mr. Adesina claims that there were members ‘who received the link’ but ‘could not vote’. The overwhelming evidence that I received and also read on social media was to the effect that the voting process was ‘seamless’ and very easy for our members. I have so far not received any report from any member claiming that he or she had challenges in voting on the basis of the unique link that were sent to members from and by the Election Platform server.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/how-2020-nba-elections-were-manipulated-by-adesina/

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By Kingsley Omonobi President General Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Ambassador George Obiozo has commended the Nigerian Army for its role in restoring peace to South East Region. He made the commendation in Enugu when he hosted the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Maj Gen Taoreed Lagbaja on a courtesy visit on Wednesday. Ambassador Obiozo expressed his delight for the visit saying “without peace nations cannot progress and without the Armed Forces, we will have more problems. They are the pillars of Nigeria’s unity.” He described the Nigerian Army among “the best in Africa”. He calls on troops to continue to do their best to ensure peace and security nationwide. Responding, the General Officer Commanding described Ohanaeze Ndigbo as a key stakeholder in managing the affairs within the Divisions core Area of Responsibility. He said the “Nigerian Army is an instrument of the state to safeguard peace, security and to ensure economic activities” hence the need to partner all stakeholders to achieve its mandate. General Lagbaja commended the leadership of the group for their recent pronouncement against the threat of using force in enforcing secessionists’ planned weekly sit at home order. He assured the entire residents of the region of security and warns troublemakers against any breach of security. He extended the hand of cooperation of the Division to the group in areas of security in the region. Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a socio-cultural organisation designed to provide a platform where Ndigbo, within and outside Nigeria come together for the purpose of nurturing better understanding and harmonious relations amongst themselves and with other ethnic groups in Nigeria and beyond. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/south-east-security-ohaneze-ndigbo-extols-nigerian-army-as-goc-extends-hand-of-cooperation

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Collation of results was almost marred at one of the registration areas in Osogbo Local Government Area, Osun State as the corps members had to rely on light from their handsets and torch to, collate results of the presidential and National Assembly elections. A Channels Television correspondent who observed the collation of result of Ward 5 at Salvation Army Middle school, observed that there was no electricity supply to the school as at 11.30pm when the exercise was ongoing. Some of the Ad-Hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in anger, lashed out at the Channels TV crew, complaining that they were not well catered for. The corps members said that they were made to sleep on bare floor, adding that no light nor water was provided for them to ease their duty. In aggression, they threatened to smash the camera of the crew, for daring to record them while collating the result in the dark. However, the corps members ended up collating the result for over two hours without light.

http://www.channelstv.com/2015/03/29/elections-corps-members-decry-ill-treatment-in-osun/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

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Yola – Three men, who trekked to Yola in honour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, are now stranded in Yola. The men, Salihu Jibrin, Aliyu Adamu and Abubakar Suleiman, who spoke to newsmen Saturday in Yola, said since their arrival they were unable to see their mentor, Atiku. They said all they needed was to see Atiku or his representatives to deliver their messages and go back to their various destinations. “I trekked for 38 days all the way from Lagos to Yola to see Atiku in view of his role over APC victory in the general election but up to now I was unable to see him. “I am now stranded with no money to go back; at times I sleep in motor park or squat with good Samaritans,” Jibrin said . Adamu, who rode bicycle from Kaduna to Yola, said he spent eight days on the way. “I want to thank the Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adamawa Council, Mr Baba Zare, who had been assisting me since arrival to cope with the difficult situation I found myself. “I want to meet Atiku before finding my way back to Kaduna,” Adamu said. On his part, Suleiman, who trekked from Shelleng town, Adamawa, to Yola said he had been squatting from one relation to the other while waiting for an opportunity to see Atiku before going back home. ( NAN) Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/3-trekkers-for-atiku-stranded-in-yola/

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Judge Anthony Pitts of the Southwark Crown Court, UK, yesterday, adjourned the confiscation hearing of Chief James Ibori, former Delta State Governor, till June 6 next year. Judge Pitts granted the adjournment to allow him time attend to a case of attempt to pervert the course of justice brought against Ibori’s co-defendant, Mr. Bradresh Gohil. Gohil’s counsel alleged in court, at the hearing yesterday, that a British Police Officer, Mcdonald, who is a lead investigating officer in the case involving Gohil and Ibori, had been involved in collecting money for information involving Gohil and Risk Management company. While pressing home his demand, Gohil’s counsel said: “There are new evidence indicating that DC Macdonald exchanged 22 telephone calls, which have been traced with Risk Management at key stages of the investigation of Ibori. “They coincided with unexplained payment into DC Macdonald’s account.” Judge Pitts, while granting the request of Gohil’s counsel in the trial, said: “Justice must not only be done, but must be seen to have been done.” This is a second abrupt ending in the Ibori confiscation case. The first ended last year, after it abruptly ended James Ibori’s confiscation hearing late last year on the grounds that the judge lacked enough evidence to arrive at a decision in the confiscation hearing. Asking that the case be adjourned again on two grounds, Mr. Gohil’s counsel, Kamlish, a Queen’s Counsel, said: “Your Honour, I seek to have this case adjourned on two grounds: “Gohil is not being represented at the hearing as the former counsel and solicitor have withdrawn and the second ground being that it will be improper to have a confiscation hearing before Mr. Gohil’s trial.” The judge, in accepting his request, adjourned Mr. Gohil’s trial till January 16, 2016. This adjournment of Gohil’s trial affected Ibori’s confiscation hearing as the prosecution sought an application to join Ibori’s and Gohil’s cases together. Ibori’s case should have lasted for just six weeks, but will now be linked to Gohil’s case, which will begin January next year. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/london-judge-adjourns-iboris-case-to-june-6-2016/

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WE have come a long way in all things, including the attempt to checkmate that big monster called corruption. The joke is told of how a machine that catches thieves was invented outside these coasts. That machine was dispatched to us to help catch those big thieves around. But as soon as the machine landed in Nigeria, it was stolen! Does this sound any different from what is happening to the Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines, which were imported into this country to facilitate the process of registering us to vote? As soon as the machines arrived Nigeria, they developed wings and began to escape in every direction. We hear that some of the stolen machines have been recovered but what happened to the rest? The theft of even one unit of such sensitive machines should, ordinarily, be treated as high treason, except that in Nigeria, we have since learnt to treat everything with levity. Apart from the financial gains accruing to the thieves who stole the machines, we are pained by the bigger dent involved in a botched 2011 election, even before take off. While genuine Nigerians will be struggling in the field, under the sun and in the rain, trying to get registered, some will be doing dubious parallel registrations, the Adedibu style, in their private homes. And we still think we are conducting a credible election? How many things do we really do well in this country? This is a country where we can’t even count ourselves. Every ten years, we go into the expensive war of the census at the end of which we come out with some bogus population figures in some areas; while the figures in some other areas remain politically suppressed. See what is happening to Lagos with its burgeoning population? Everyone sees and feels it but the book-keepers tell us otherwise. Such hated areas must go to court to be able to get a pinch of justice on every issue, ranging from the allocation to the local governments to other minor issues. We hear that the Federal Government still went ahead to withhold the legitimate entitlements of the local governments of Edo, Ekiti and Ondo States. Our Federal Government has not learnt any lessons from the illegal withholding of the allocations to the local governments of Lagos State during the Obasanjo years. It is unfortunate that in its dealings with other federating units, the Federal Government is less than transparent and it cuts corners at every bend. Even on such a simple issue as the definition of our Financial Year, the Federal Government is unsure of itself. Not too long ago, the Financial Year in Government circles used to be from 1st April of one year to the 31st of March of the following year. This was changed to 1st January – 31st December of every year. The change here, notwithstanding, we see our Federal Government gradually adopting a new Financial Year from the 1st of January of one year to the 31st of March of the following year. This practice started with the implementation of the 2009 appropriation Act. We were all busy watching over the health of our late President that we did not know when “one flew over the coo coo’s nest”. Before we were fairly aware of what was happening, 2009 had passed and we had hardly started implementing the year’s budget. It was therefore convenient to announce that the 2009 appropriations would be implemented up to 31st March, 2010. Evidently, one bad turn deserves another. The Federal Government has just announced that the 2010 appropriations will be implemented into March 2011. Perhaps unwittingly, we have been pushed into a 15-month Financial Year. That’s what indolence and tardiness can do. Because a lazy executive branch of government has failed to submit the budget proposals to a lazy legislative branch at the appropriate time; the lazy legislature cannot pass the budget on time; and the end result is that spending on that budget cannot begin in earnest until much later in the Financial Year. What a chain reaction! As we approach the Election Year, it is clear that the entire machinery of government will soon migrate into the campaign fields and governance will be put in abeyance. We continue to wonder if ours is still a federation. A situation in which the Federal Government has so much to eat, to waste, to steal and to throw around while the other federating units that really need the money for true development are being starved is most undesirable, to say the least. Yet, the Revenue Allocation formula that we now have in place is as outdated as the National Minimum Wage Act. The last time that both measures were given any meaningful touch was during the Shagari Administration, in the Second Republic. This is one fertile area where an accountable National Assembly would have been busy, trying to remedy things. The bubble will soon burst. Right now, the Nigerian workers are making us an offer that we cannot refuse. They are awaiting the national minimum wage of N18,000 per month and our legislators will not have the moral justification to turn it down. But against the backdrop that many States have not been able to implement the N7,500 per month requirement, we wonder what magic they will apply to the N18,000 measures. This is the time to revisit the Revenue Allocation formula, which for the States, could be the last key in the bunch to open the door. The Federal Government is still swimming in the illegal excess crude account, which the Supreme Court has since outlawed, asking that the balance of the account be transferred to the Federation Account for better coordination. Even at that, we have been insisting that the operation of the Federation Account itself leaves much to be desired. What we have today as the Accountant-General of the Federation is a misnomer. He is, indeed, the Accountant-General of the Federal Government. For now, the Federation Account remains what the Federal Government says it is. The only way to avoid this is to establish a General Accounting Office (GAO) for the federation in which case, a truly separate Accountant-General of the Federation is simply imperative. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/02/gunmen-kidnap-11-council-workers-in-abia-demand-n25m-ransom/amp/This

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By Clifford Ndujihe Debatably, Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State and former National Security Adviser, NSA, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed Gusau are among the front-runners in the on-going race for the nation’s topmost seat in Aso Rock, Abuja. They are both aspiring on the plank of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. They are both Northerners. They are also among the quartet of Northern presidential hopefuls, who want to join forces and a pick a consensus northern presidential flagbearer, to contest the PDP ticket with President Goodluck Jonathan. These seem to be where the similarities end. Saraki and Gusau are indeed different. They are not from the same geo-political zone. Saraki hails from North-Central while Gusau is from North-West. Separately, they are prosecuting their electoral war games in unique manners. They don’t also belong to the same age group and do not share the same governance and administrative experience. Saturday Vanguard took a peep into how the duo have been running their campaigns in the last two weeks, their strength, their weaknesses and their chances and what was observed was quite revealing. Can Saraki get it done? Since he joined the presidential race on September 20, Saraki has electrified the political atmosphere with his rapid campaigns. He has set his foot soldiers loose in the tight race to woo PDP delegates across the country. He has taken about 50 pages of colour adverts in national newspapers to sell himself. He is not averse to using all legal means and avenues to convince the electorate. Like President Jonathan, who announced his intention to run on Facebook, Saraki is also exploiting the unlimited opportunities offered by e-campaigns. His campaign is on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube. With “Let’s Get It Done,” as campaign slogan, the two-time Kwara State Governor, wants the 2011 presidential polls to be hinged on track record, economy, fresh thinking, generational change and need for vision, ideas and a new direction. Without these, he fears that Nigeria might not realise her potentials. At 50 years after independence, he said: “Our great nation has not fulfilled its potentials and our realities are far from our ideals. It is time for a new generation to build a modern Nigeria.” The aspirant said he was disturbed that five decades after independence, “we have failed to realise the dreams and aspirations of our founding fathers. We are the sixth largest oil producer in the world, yet we import fuel and have no electricity. We have some of the most intelligent and resourceful people on earth, yet we cannot make Nigeria work for you.” According to him, Nigerians are not expecting too much from their leaders. “If truth be told, you are not asking for much from your government. You just want the custodians of our common wealth to give you good roads, good hospitals, good schools and a constant supply of electricity. You want potable water, food to eat and a roof over your head. You want sensible policies that create opportunities; to profit from your labour, to use your God-given abilities to improve your lot and to take care of your aged and loved ones. You want to give back to your community and you want a political system that encourages people to contribute to the development of our fatherland. You want to be safe, to take a stroll in the night without fear. These are the yearnings in our hearts.” “We can only attain these with effective, capable, caring, courageous and visionary leadership. We require fresh ideas and new thinking. This is the kind of leadership I have offered as Governor of Kwara State,” he declared. If given the mandate, Saraki promised among others to: *Build bridges of understanding across the nation *Get the economy moving *Educate our children * Provide security, housing and boost agricultural production * Enforce laws of the land and check crimes * Create jobs * Revamp healthcare * Empower women and the youths His strength, chances Saraki believes he can deliver on these promises and wants the electorate to judge him based on his track record as Kwara State governor. He claims that in seven years he had transformed Kwara State and given Kwarans reasons to be proud of their state. “Under my leadership, Kwara State became a reference point for new ideas, determination, dynamism and possibilities. An agro-allied economy was developed, jobs were created and power generation became a reality. I can do the same for Nigeria. Nigeria is a bigger undertaking, but the challenge of leadership is the same.” Sired by Second Republic Senate Leader and acclaimed father of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusola Saraki, the first-time presidential aspirant has, in his father, a political pedigree to lean on. It is therefore not a surprise that he broke the jinx of being re-elected as governor in Kwara State. Olusola Saraki is the leader of Northern Union, NU and is expected to deploy his political network in the aid of his biological and political son. Shortly after his re-election in 2007, Saraki became the chairman of the Governors’ Forum, a gathering of the 36 states helmsmen of the country. He wielded much influence among the governors and was a major power broker under the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He was instrumental to the appointment of a host of ministers, presidential aides and heads of agencies under Yar’Adua. Saraki was born on December 19, 1962. So, his supporters said he has age on his side as he will be 48 years in two months time. According to them, leaders of most leading countries of the world are within Saraki’s age bracket and Nigeria could ill-afford not to be blown by the generational wind of change. They include Barrack Obama, USA, 48; David Cameron, UK, 43; Dimitri Medvedev, Russia, 45; Stephen Harper, Canada, 51; Julia Gillard, Australia, 49; Nicolas Sarkozy, France, 55; Luis Zapatero, Spain, 49; and Jose Socrates, Portugal, 53. Before venturing into politics, Saraki was educated in both Nigeria and the UK and qualified and practiced as a Doctor in London before returning to Nigeria in 1989. He later became Director of the Societe Generale Bank. He joined the public sector as special adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Budget in 2000. He served on the Economic Policy Co-ordination Committee and later as the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Non-Oil Revenue Generation. To realise his presidential ambition, Saraki is expected to maximally utilise his strengths and mobilise support across the country. He is unarguably among the newest presidential aspirants in Nigeria’s political firmament. Although he is from the North, pundits say his being Yoruba might count against him, less than four years after another Yoruba man, Obasanjo, quit power. He is also from North-Central geo-political zone, which has held power longer than any other zone in the country. Since independence, the zone, through military dictators, had ruled Nigeria for 18 years. He is also expected to build political structures across the 36 states and this is not yet on ground. Currently, he is considered to have political anchor in Kwara, Kebbi and Gombe states. Olusola Saraki’s decision to endorse his daughter Senator Gbemi Saraki, to succeed Bukola Saraki has been criticized and considered as being insensitive to the notion of equity and balance in the sharing of political offices at a time the presidential aspirant is mouthing ‘zoning’ at the federal level. His campaign promises notwithstanding, some critics said Saraki is in the race primarily to ensure that power remains in the North. And that this accounts for his working accord with Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Gusua to produce a consensus northern candidate. He also has to handle the perception that he was bent on going all the way if the consensus option did not favour him. Sources said he expects the older politicians to give him the nod to proceed. Besides, his campaign team is considered unrepresentative with only Dr. Udenta O. Udenta, former secretary of the Alliance for Democracy, AD as the only Igbo in the top echelon. He is expected to get the backing of political heavyweights across all zones to sail through and this is not easy to come by. Gusau’s long thirst for presidency Among the crowd of presidential aspirants, Gusau has stayed longest in the corridors of power. Publicly he has been nursing the ambition of occupying the most powerful seat since 2006. And privately, as long as anyone can imagine. The retired general has been deeply involved in the nation’s public life for nearly 30 years starting from the military regime of Maj. Gen Muhammadu Buhari in January 1, 1984. He was at various times head of Defence Intelligence Agency, National Intelligence Agency, Chief of Army Staff, and under the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo presidency, the security adviser. He was also a key player in the governments of Generals Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha and Obasanjo. Gusau contested for the PDP’s ticket in December 2006, but he was beaten to the second position by the late Yar’Adua, who was largely backed by the party big guns, including former President Obasanjo. Thereafter, Gusau went into retirement hoping to make another bid for the Presidency. He was still knocking together his political team when he was called upon by President Jonathan, then acting President, to serve as the NSA, at a time the nation’s ship of state faced some turbulence and instability as President Yar’Adua’s illness turned the latter into a lame duck. The job, the fifth time he would be so appointed, temporarily demobilized his political footwork, but not his interest, his aides had said. Speaking through the Director General of his campaign organisation, Sen. Ben Obi, the former NSA said if elected into office in 2011, he would focus on such critical areas as power, energy, security, justice and evenly distributed prosperity. He said that Gusau’s entrance into the race does not negate the desire of the Northern elders to produce a consensus candidate for the North. He wants the election to be anchored on issues, experience and ability to deliver. Gusau’s aides told Vanguard that one factor that would favour him, in the pursuit of the Presidency, is his network of powerful friends, outside Nigeria and all over the country, with a lot of them within the ruling PDP. Aliyu Gusau is said to have wielded enormous influence across the country and beyond, and has been deeply involved in the nation’s public life for about 26 years. He is considered as the power-behind-the-throne in most of the administrations since President Ibrahim Babangida took power in ‘a palace coup’ in August of 1985. But for Babangida’s coup, accounts had it that Buhari would have sacked Gusau from the army because of his influence on the rank and file of the military. Gusau spearheaded the re-organisation of the security and intelligence apparatuses of the Nigeria Security Organisation , NSO during the Buhari regime. The intelligence and security operations of the nation was broken up into three organizations: State Security Services (SSS), National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI). The Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar regime also enlisted Gusau’s services for the recovery of huge sums looted by the Abacha regime from foreign banks. According to reports, Gusau was one of those who were consulted by the Nigerian military establishment and international intelligence and diplomatic agencies on the way to picking the president in 1999. His favourable reports were said to have aided Obasanjo’s emergence. A quiet and smooth operator, he is said to have been building his network for sometime now. Born in 1943 in Gusau, Zamfara State, Aliyu’s career in the army dated back to 1967, when he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on March 18. He attained the peak of his career when he was made the NSA during the Babangida regime and when IBB’s regime ended; Gusau became the Chief of Army Staff to the infamous Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government. His supporters said he was one person who could not be over looked in the politics of Nigeria, as his intelligence and military connections allegedly caused the rise or fall of over five civilian and military regimes. His expertise, his local and international reach which is believed to be second to none and his credibility among the northern circles may work to his advantage. So far, his campaigns have been devoid of media glitz. He is considered strong in only three states – Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara. In spite of his wide consultations, he appears not have got the support of principal stakeholders across the country, especially in the South. At 68 years, the clamour of generational change is against his aspiration. He also has a tough nut to crack to emerge as the Northern consensus aspirant. Besides, Gusau is from the North-West zone that had held power for about 14 years through military and civilian regimes. Critics said his major credential – security advisory experience, had not rubbed off positively on the country. According to them, if his advice had jelled, the country would not be caught in the web of kidnapping (Sooth-East), militancy (Niger-Delta), religious and ethnic violence (North) and armed robbery and assassination, etc, all over the country. His hope seems to hang on the outcome of the consensus arrangement. And if it did not in his favour, he publicly declared last week that he would throw in the towel It was alleged yesterday that he was ready to drop his ambition to back one of the three northern aspirants in the consensus option. Contacted, his campaign director, Senator Obi, said it was not true. “I don’t know about that. At least I should know.” Obi said the 17 wise men, were still working on the consensus candidate and would come out with their choice very soon. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/10/2011-how-far-can-saraki-gusau-go/

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Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the just concluded governorship election in the state is prepared to seek legal means to upturn the results in his favour. Recall candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ademola Adeleke was declared winner of the Osun governorship held on Saturday, July 16, 2022. Adeleke polled PDP 403,371 to defeat Oyetola and the APC with 375,027 votes, while Lasun Yusuf of Labour Party, LP polled 2,729 Speaking on Oyetola’s preparation for legal action against Adeleke’s victory, Kunle Adegoke, a senior advocate who is a member of Oyetola’s legal team revealed to Vanguard that 50 lawyers have indicated interest to join the case. When asked about the legal grounds with which Oyetola will be challenging Adeleke, Adegoke stated that they are still studying the election results and building their evidence. “We are still studying the election results, working on the legal grounds, and building evidence to challenge Adeleke’s declaration as governor-elect; as we speak, about 50 lawyers have indicated interest to join us.” He said. Meanwhile, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Diran Odeyemi, had earlier told Vanguard that any aggrieved politician who plans to take legal action against the victory of the Osun State governor-elect, Adeleke, is giving money to lawyers for an academic exercise. “An average Nigerian politician doesn’t accept defeat until they get to the Supreme Court. “So if anybody is still arguing or going to court over primary election that has been conducted, and as a matter of fact it’s now at the Appeal Court as you put it, with the overwhelming support of the people of Osun State, you will realise or agree with me that the person is just giving his money to legal people to just for academic exercise. “We are not bothered. An average politician in Nigerian doesn’t accept defeat; we don’t have the spirit of sportsmanship. “If you tell them that, they will tell you “but we are not playing football.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/07/oyetola-set-to-contest-osun-election-result-with-over-50-lawyers/amp/

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Security vote is a fraud, says Kwankwaso The presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNP), Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, yesterday said the security vote was a means to siphon money and perpetrate corruption in government. He said if he becomes the president, his administration will not take a dime as security vote. The NNPP presidential candidate spoke yesterday at the Channels Television Town Hall event, during which he addressed several issues. He said while he was the governor of Kano, he did not take a dime as a security vote, saying those who draw public funds under the guise of a security vote were actually ripping the public off. He said: “For the eight years I was a governor, I didn’t take a dime as a security vote, though I inherited a government that believed in that. What I did was to listen to the security challenges from the Commissioner of Police and if he or she successfully defended it, I took it to the council for approval. “Security vote in my own opinion is a big way of stealing money and that was why I didn’t do it as a governor. “If I have the opportunity again, there will be nothing like the security vote in the presidency. “We have seen cases where a lot of funds were been stolen under the guise of security votes and in my opinion, I think that should be stopped.” He pledged to boost the morale of the security agencies by increasing their personnel and giving them needed training and exposure to make them confront the myriad of security challenges bedevilling the country. He also promised to reduce the lack of coordination among the security personnel. “We are very much aware of the issue of synergy and coordination within our security sector. And these are very key if we must make notable progress. That was what we did when I was the Minister of Defence. “We noted that there were many issues within the three military services, the police, and other security agencies. In most cases, there was no understanding and agreement among them. “As a minister, I ensured we worked as a team and provided all that they needed to function. “This we also did when I was the governor of Kano. We created a very conducive atmosphere to function in Kano,” he added.

https://thenationonlineng.net/security-vote-is-a-fraud-says-kwankwaso/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1668403650Did

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Eze Israel Kanu his son and wife It’s not our place to declare him wanted, it says *Says citizens should not panic over October 1st quit notice By Joseph Erunke ABUJA-THE Defence Headquarters, Friday, declared that it does not know the whereabouts of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. This came as it asked citizens not to panic over hitherto October 1st deadline given the Ibos by a group of Northern youths to vacate the region, saying the threat was no longer effective. The DHQ which said contrary to some reports,it did not raid the IPOB leader’s home, said it was not the place of the military to declare Kanu wanted. The DHQ equally explained that it was constrained to move a special military operations against the dreaded herdsmen because they were neither visible nor carry out their activities under an open or known group. Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche, who addressed the media at the Defence Headquarters, denied that Nnamdi Kanu was in military custody. ” Nnamdi Kanu is not in the custody of the military,”he declared. On whether the military would declare Kanu wanted since his whereabouts is unknown, Enenche said:”It is not the responsibility of the military to declare Nnamdi Kanu wanted.” Enenche also said contrary to reports in some quarters, the military did not proscribed IPOB, just as he said due process was followed in the group’s proscription. “The military did not proscribe IPOB. Due process was followed to proscribe it. The job of the military was to diagnose security issues and warned the public of consequences and that is part of our media operations. “We did our media operations very well, otherwise that weekend would have been the longest weekend in this country and we are also very careful choosing our words and we know the law very well, “he added. He also denied that the military troops on Operation Python Dance raided Kanu’s home. Hear him:” Nobody raided Kanu’s home and I stand to be justified, not from the information I got. I was watching it live, I was monitoring it live and also speaking with them on the ground. “The people that came out there that I saw were the Biafra security service and Biafra National Guard. ” I think I later confirmed that there was nothing to actually justify them legally to mount roadblocks. I saw the militancy, nobody told me and I saw the action there. We are still investigating.” He spoke on the post military operations in the South East thus:”For the past couple of days since the operation started, the feedback I have been getting from that place is that yes, they are happy. “Some of them were actually afraid even before the operation started not from our troops but from the people that we actually getting them fighting, people that are actually intimidating them. But now, they have a lot of relief. “We have our sources of information as information outfits of the armed forces. We also get information from the general public using our own sources as a form of checks and balances.” Enenche said the country was not militarized contrary to the position of some people. “Other countries passed through this, if you go into history, before getting to where they are as developed countries today. “Like in China, you see one policeman inside a car, you hardly see a military man outside and it depends on the developmental process and what you passed through. “That’s why in simple terms, I will tell you that we are not alarmed at all. “For example, the last terrorist attack in the UK, 24 hours after the attack, the government asked the military to take over the area. ” If the UK government can tell the military to take over, to back up the Police, I think we are just about 100 years old of amalgamation and we about 57 years old, it’s not out of place, “he stressed. He expressed disappointment over the position of some legal practitioners on military involvement in the IPOD issue just as h said some of them got it right in his assessment of various contributions to the issue. “Of course, there will be competing demands on who is to do what by the military, the executive, the legislature they are all arms of the government and they all have responsibilities,”he said. ”The statement that came through me is not at par at all with what the Chief of Army Staff came out to clarify. People had mindset and they were In a hurry to attack the military because of their mindset and because of that it is a pity to say that somehow some people lost their reputation,”he clarified. He said the various operations and exercises under the Defence Headquarters were being sustained in the North East, North West, North Central, South West, South South and South Eastern parts of Nigeria. He also said troops of Operation RESTORE DEMOCRACY in the Gambia have been rotated. ”The contingent earned the operational medal, due to their outstanding performance. A new set has been inducted into the mission (ECOMIG). The Defence Headquarters, according to Enenche,” reaffirmed the unalloyed loyalty of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.” It also reaffirmed “total subordination of the Nigerian Military to constituted civil authorities,complete dedication of the military to its constitutional roles as well as dedication of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to the protection of lives and property of all peace loving people where ever they live in Nigeria. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/nnamdi-kanu-not-custody-military-dhq-tells-ipob/

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Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader …Says self-defence is legal By Clifford Ndujihe, Chimaobi Nwaiwu & Chinonso Alozie LEADER of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday, alleged that there are plots by South East governors to engage its newly established Eastern Security Network, ESN, with their respective vigilante groups in a battle. Kanu, who said that self-defence is legal in Nigeria, in a statement through IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, further alleged that the game plan is to orchestrate crisis between the vigilante groups and ESN to pave the way for Nigeria soldiers to attack ESN personnel. He, therefore urged vigilante groups in the five South East states, who had been contacted or being recruited by the masterminds of the alleged plan to have a rethink. Mazi Kanu’s statement read in part: “Through intelligence gathering, it has come to the knowledge of the IPOB that the governors of the old Eastern Region, are now recruiting traditional rulers, president-generals and politicians to mobilize some local vigilantes to engage Eastern Security Network, ESN in their various localities. “The game plan is to orchestrate crisis between the vigilante groups and ESN to pave the way for Nigeria soldiers to attack ESN personnel. We therefore, wish to warn all local vigilantes in every state of Biafra who have been/may be contacted or are being recruited by the masterminds of this evil agenda through the traditional rulers and President Generals, PGs of any community or town in Biafraland to attack ESN operatives to have a rethink. Embarking on such unholy mission is suicidal! “Anyone, vigilante group, community, traditional ruler or President General, political elite or anybody under any guise who will connive with the enemy to expose or attack ESN in their locality will live in eternal regret of such satanic mission. It’s not a threat but a promise! “We want to make it clear that leaders of any community in Biafra land where any ESN personnel is attacked will pay dearly for such attack. In the same way, the Governor of any state where the security outfit is attacked shall also be held responsible. Any traditional ruler, PG and vigilante group who collaborates with the Nigeria military to attack ESN operatives should be prepared to bear the bitter consequences of their treachery.” In another statement he signed personally, Kanu said: ”In Nigeria, self-defence is legal. Section 59 of Penal Code states: “Nothing is an offence of which is done in the lawful exercise of the right of private defence”. Section 32, Criminal Code states ‘It is not a crime to resist actual and unlawful violence‘. Group raises alarm over IPOB’s security network in Igboland Meanwhile, a group, the Movement Against Dissidents in Nigeria, yesterday, warned Nnamdi Kanu over his armed Eastern Security Network. The convener of the group, Obinna Osita, who gave this warning in Owerri, said that the continued showcasing of ammunition by IPOB would end up producing dangerous militia group against the Igbo people. “IPOB has some set of reckless, gullible, ignorant and untrained minds called members. We must caution here that if these untrained and bigoted minds are encouraged by Nnamdi Kanu, to carry assault riffles and other weapons and unleash them on Nigerians, we are doomed in this country with a new set of dangerous militia group in Eastern Nigeria.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/12/s-east-governors-others-plotting-to-incite-vigilante-groups-against-esn-ipob/

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The Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria, Mr Michel Arrion has alleged that Nigeria’s stolen funds are not only found in Europe but all over the world. Arrion, stated this at a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, while pledging support of the union to President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to recover Nigeria’s looted funds. He noted that while there were stolen funds in some European countries, it is a bilateral issue between Nigeria and the concerned European countries but assured that the EU will continue to give advocacy support. “Nigeria’s stolen funds are not only in Europe; they are everywhere. So we are happy to see that President Muhammadu Buhari went to UAE to discuss the repatriation of stolen wealth. “We welcome any form of cooperation in the judicial , the police cooperation that Nigeria wants to have with EU member-states,” he said. The EU envoy while noting that all countries are fighting corruption but that the level of commitment differs. He however remarked that the level of corruption in the country had impacted negatively on the economy and infrastructure. He cautioned against executive interference with the judiciary in the fight against corruption, adding that it is important for the executive to make statement on expeditious trial of corruption cases. “There have been cases of abandoned corruption trials in the past, so there is nothing wrong with the executive making statement on expeditious trial of corruption cases. “But prosecution must be within the ambit of the Rule of Law,” he said. He said the EU is supporting Nigeria’s fight against corruption through a range of programmes, aimed at strengthening the anti-corruption agencies and the criminal justice system. According to him, the EU’s support is not only to prevent the incidence of corruption, but also to deal with corruption cases when they occur. Arrion explained that the EU is supporting the fight against corruption in Nigeria through a 35 million Euros project being implemented nationwide by the UN Office on Drug and Crime. He said the EU support to the Justice Sector Reform in Nigeria with the UNODC is currently being implemented in six focal states. He said the projects, which targeted various anti-corruption cases, sought to evolve a coordination mechanism for the implementation of anti-corruption strategies. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/nigerias-stolen-funds-not-only-in-europe-but-everywhere-eu/

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Confusion shrouds health condition of tourism minister Ade-John The health condition of the Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John, is shrouded in uncertainty. Some reports had claimed that the minister was hospitalised at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja after experiencing acute poisoning. The reports said she was rushed to the hospital shortly after she started manifesting symptoms of poisoning, adding that she had spent four days at the facility as of Friday morning. The report was, however, debunked by a source in the ministry, which claimed that the minister is only attending to malaria and nothing else. The source, which refused to disclose the hospital where Ade-John is receiving treatment, said the minister was responding to treatment. It stressed that the minister, who just returned to the country following her appointment by President Bola Tinubu, has been struggling to acclimatise to the Nigerian environment. Dispelling the fear of acute poison, the source said Ade-John was only receiving treatment for malaria, adding that nobody in Nigeria is immune to the disease. “The minister only has malaria. She is responding to treatment and she is in stable condition,” the source said. “Don’t forget that malaria is a common sickness in Nigeria which everyone is prone to. But I can assure you that it is not more than that. “She is still trying to acclimatise after many years outside the country.” Some media reports also quoted the Assistant Director Press in the ministry, Emem Mariam Ofiong, as debunking the claim that the minister was poisoned, saying that she only had malaria, was treated and had been stabilised. “It is not true that the Minister was poisoned. She only had malaria and had been treated and is now stable,” Ofiong was quoted as saying.

https://thenationonlineng.net/confusion-shrouds-health-condition-of-tourism-minister-ade-john/

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Member of the Board, SecureID Limited, Adeyinka Adeyemi (left); Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada; Founder/CEO, SecureID Limited, Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe; Vice President, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo; Chairman, SecureID board Adedotun Suleiman and Corp Marshal Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi during a tour of SecureID Limited Manufacturing of World Class Smart Card facility by the VP in Lagos Tuesday PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has lauded Africa’s leading smart card manufacturing and digital solutions company, SecureID Limited, for its manufacturing operations in Nigeria while creating copious job opportunities and bringing Nigeria to the fore of global competitiveness with its world-class smart card manufacturing plant in Lagos. The statement was made during a visit to the company’s manufacturing facility on May 11 at Apapa-Oshodi, Isolo Lagos, and was attended by several eminent guests, The company recently bagged the esteemed Global System of Mobile Applications (GSMA) making it the first in Nigeria and 3rd in Africa; adding to its other global certifications including Visa International, MasterCard Incorporated, Verve, Card Quality Management (CQM), and ISO 9001/2015 for Smart Card Manufacturing and Personalisation of credit and debit cards for all banks in Nigeria and clients in 21 countries across Africa. SecureID also manufactures sim cards for telecom companies, loyalty cards for retail, and security documents for public sector: driving license, national identity cards, international passports, and more. Osinbajo expressed confidence in the company to bolster local content and contribute to the growth of the economy, stating that the recent GSMA certificate and other global certificates bears glowing testimony to the level of high standards demonstrated in its production of first-rate smart cards in the country “Today marks a momentous occasion in the history of the technology and manufacturing sector, and I am delighted to be a part of it. SecureID Limited has proved to us with this state-of-the-art manufacturing plant that local production of smart cards at the highest quality is not only viable in Nigeria but also brings a plethora of opportunities with it for Africa. “I must commend this indigenous company for laying the precedent for other local manufacturers to follow. I must also congratulate the founder and CEO, Kofi Akinkugbe, who through her grit and passion to contribute to the growth of the economy, has committed innumerable resources and manpower to bring this factory to fruition. It warms my heart to see a woman take charge and create something indelible for other young women to emulate. She is an attestation to the fact that women are dependable collaborators in our quest for nation-building,” he stated. The Vice President also extolled Akinkugbe for creating copious job opportunities for Nigerians, stating that this would bolster economic growth through local content. Speaking on the company’s recent milestone, Akinkugbe stated that SecureID strictly upholds high quality standards and protocols to manufacture an array of smart cards in line with global best practices, emphasizing that the company worked resolutely, to attain the GSMA certificate and other certificates. According to her, the company is an attestation that local production of smart cards at the highest quality is possible in Nigeria. “As an indigenous company, we are able to produce high quality SIM cards and at the same time, providing job opportunities for Nigerians. The government has seen it, its volume, value and growth that we are able to contribute is something we would showcase and further prove that this can be done locally”, she added. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/05/smart-card-manufacturing-secureid-brings-nigeria-to-fore-of-global-competitiveness-osinbajo/

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ierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been sent back to Arsenal by Gabon for medical examinations after he was diagnosed with heart lesions, according to Sky Sports. Aubameyang, who was banished from the Gunners first team by Manager, Mikel Arteta had left London earlier for the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Cameroon. The former Borussia Dortmund striker contracted COVID-19 recently but has since returned to training and felt healthy. The Gunners said last week that they had been in touch with the player and are confident his condition is not serious. However, the player did not play any part in Gabon’s match against Ghana due to a minor heart condition. Sky Sports reports that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) “did not want to take any risks” after Aubameyang and teammates, Mario Lemina and Axel Meye were shown to have “cardiac lesions” following bouts of COVID-19

https://thenewsguru.com/sports/aubameyang-leaves-afcon-sent-back-to-arsenal/

Sports

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Unemployment: Nigeria sitting on gun powder – Obasanjo Former president Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday warned that Nigeria would be in grave danger if the current unemployment level in the country persists till the end of the year. He said the nation is sitting on a keg of a gun powder and could explode if the unemployed neither have jobs to feed themselves nor contribute for the positive development of their families and society. The ex – president, who stated this at the 10th anniversary and convocation ceremony of the state – owned Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, urged the federal, state and local governments to pay more attention to jobs creation for burgeoning unemployed youth population. Obasanjo, who thanked the university for conferring on him a Doctorate Degree (Ph.D) in Political Science (honoraria causa), said education is a meal ticket for anybody that has it. He said: “Governments should do more in the area of employment. If there is no job for the unemployed to feed themselves and also to contribute to the development of the country then, we will all be sitting on gun powder. “If university education was not for development then, it was not serving any useful purpose. It must be for development, either for personal, local, national and even global and that is very important. “I believe in lifelong education. Nobody should stop learning until he or she dies.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/unemployment-nigeria-sitting-on-gun-powder-obasanjo/

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UPDATED: Eleka votes after manual accreditation The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Ekiti governorship election, Prof. Olusola Eleka, has eventually voted after the card reader to read his PVC twice. He voted at 11.10am after he was manually accredited. There was no assurance that another card reader will be brought by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). No use of incidence form has been filled to that effect. His wife’s PVC could also not be verified by the card reader. It is only the PDP candidate’s PVC that was not read by the card reader in his unit. Everyone else has been verified so far and voting is ongoing Meanwhile, a large turnout of voters still in a long queue in Eleka’s unit. There was a long pause as electoral officers tried unsuccessfully to verify him. Voting resumed after he stepped out of the ward.

http://thenationonlineng.net/updated-eleka-votes-after-manual-accreditation/

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*Prof Ango Abdullahi Suzan Edeh, Bauchi Bauchi: The Spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi, was Wednesday shot by some soldiers in Bauchi on his way to Gadau. Vanguard gathered that the former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, attacked his car as soldiers shot at the car as his driver overtook a military convoy. Narrating what happened to newsmen in Bauchi yesterday, Professor Abdullahi said he was on his way for an official assignment at Bauchi State University, Gadau, where he is the chairman of the university’s governing council. “It was in the morning as I was travelling in my official car with my driver. I was going to Gadau for a meeting. We had just passed the Awala Hotel roundabout when I saw a military convoy moving very slowly. “I was trying to catch up for the meeting, so my driver overtook the military convoy. The next thing I knew they opened fire at us, with bullets were sprayed on the car. “The bullets damaged the engine of the car, damaged the car that we had to park by the road side. The soldiers came out and were shouting angrily at us. “They were demanding to know why we wanted to overtake them, asking if we didn’t know that the soldiers were exporting sensitive materials,” he said. According to him, “they just left us there and continued their movement. I have never seen such a reckless act. “I called the Commissioner for Higher Education and told him. The Commissioner for Higher Education called the security agencies chiefs to inform them of what happened.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/prof-ango-abdullahi-shot-in-bauchi/#sthash.m6JJs6Pz.dpuf

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Kaduna – A Kaduna Sharia Court on Wednesday dissolved the marriage between one Maryam Ahmed and Sanusi Idris of Maje Village in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, after barely 30 days of the marriage. The court also directed Maryam to refund N25,000 paid to her as dowry by Idris in addition to returning clothes presented to her for the marriage. Maryam,16, had prayed the court to dissolve her marriage to Idris, 27, after just 30 days into the marriage because of a lack of interest in Idris. She told the court that she would refund the dowry after the dissolution of the marriage. In his submission, Maryam’s guardian, Malam Ahmed Maje, told the court that Idris had paid N25,000 as dowry. Idris, however, claimed that he paid N45,000 as dowry to Maryam and not N25,000, explaining that he also paid N16,000 as compensation to one of Maryam’s suitors. He said further that he provided N35,000 to Maryam for clothing and an additional N45,000, which she requested for to purchase other materials for the marriage. Idris said that unless the money he spent on Maryam was returned, he would not grant her the divorce. In his judgement, the Khadi, Malam Ibrahim Inuwa, said that a woman could seek divorce provided that “she is sane, mature and not under any duress or influence”. He, subsequently, dissolved the marriage. (NAN) Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/03/court-dissolves-30-day-old-marriage-asks-woman-to-refund-dowry/

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Our sexuality and gender can form a big part of our identity and those who don’t fit society’s heteronormative ideal can come up against more challenges. Those who identify as LGBTQ+ can be seen as ‘different’ by some, facing discrimination, bullying and a lack of understanding which can lead to mental health concerns. While things in society are slowly moving forward in terms of acceptance, we still have a long way to go. Incredibly, the World Health Organisation only removed ‘homosexuality’ as a formal psychiatric diagnosis in 1992. The fact is, being LGBTQ+ does not lead to mental health problems - dealing with other people’s adverse reactions does. Because of this, those who don’t identify as heterosexual are more likely to experience mental health problems. Here we’ll explore sexuality and mental health in more detail, where to find support and coming out concerns. Sex and relationship therapist Beck Harrison explains how an LGBTQ+ therapist can help with a range of issues, and what to look for when searching for an LGBTQ+ therapist. Sexuality and mental health LGBTQ+ people can be at a greater risk of developing a mental health condition than those in the wider population. According to the Mental Health Foundation, a survey carried out by Stonewall found that half of LGBTQ+ people experience depression and three in five experience anxiety. The reasons for this are complex and not entirely understood, however, most mental health problems experienced can be linked to discrimination, bullying, homophobia, biphobia or transphobia. If you identify as LGBTQ+ and you’re struggling with your mental health, know that you’re not alone. You may be particularly prone to: - Depression - when you experience a low mood for a long period of time. - Anxiety - when you feel especially anxious or worried for long periods of time or at a high intensity. - Self-harm - when you hurt yourself on purpose to cope with difficult emotions. - Suicidal thoughts - when you feel very low and as if there is no way out. You may experience rejection from those around you, including friends, family and work colleagues. Other factors may also complicate things, for example where you live, your ethnicity and religious background. Understandably, this can all have a big impact on your sense of self-worth and your confidence. You may feel the need to hide this part of yourself from others, and this can be damaging in itself. Some people may find they turn to alcohol and drugs to help them cope with difficult emotions. If you’re worried about the way you’re using alcohol or drugs, your doctor, a counsellor or an addiction helpline can offer support. There are hidden covert messages in the media about what it means to be 'normal' which in some way reinforces the message that being different is not acceptable. The notion of 'fitting in' not just in the wider community but within LGBT communities can and does come with its own pressures. - Read more on LGBT mental health. Speaking to a counsellor can help with some of the difficulties you’re facing, such as: - finding it hard to accept your sexuality - coping with other people’s reactions - low self-esteem and low self-confidence - fear of violence or abuse in public places - effects of bullying and discrimination - feeling as if your body does not reflect your true gender (gender dysphoria) If you develop a mental health condition, talking therapies can help you find new ways of coping and either overcome or manage your condition. What’s important is for you to find a counsellor who you trust and feel able to talk to openly about your experiences. For this reason, it can be helpful to check your counsellor has experience working with LGBTQ+ people and/or has had appropriate training. If at any point you feel uncomfortable with your counsellor, remember you have every right to stop your sessions and find a more suitable counsellor for you. I find that people come to me either because they want to discuss their sexuality or gender identity, or because they want that to be understood as something that is a part of them, but it’s not what they’re seeking therapy for. A cisgender, heterosexual therapist will often be able to offer that, but not always. - Jennifer Tomkinson, MBACP (Accred), PGDip, shares tips for finding a therapist if you identify as LGBTQ+ Other forms of support Aside from talking therapy and counselling, many LGBTQ+ people find it helpful to connect with others in the community. You may want to join a support group online or connect with campaigners. There are a number of organisations and charities that support and campaign for LGBTQ+ people, Mind has an excellent list of resources. Discrimination - what’s the law? Attitudes in the UK towards the LGBTQ+ community do slowly seem to be improving, however, there are still some people who discriminate against others based on their gender and/or sexuality. There is a law against this at work and in wider society - The Equality Act 2010. This protects gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people and anyone who experiences discrimination because they associate with LGBTQ+ people. You can find out more about what the Equality Act 2010 covers and includes on the gov.uk website. The term ‘coming out’ is often used to describe when you tell people about your sexual orientation and/or your gender identity. For some, it can take a long time to feel comfortable to do this. It’s important to know that you don’t need to come out at a certain time, you simply need to do what feels good and right for you. Having these conversations can be difficult. You may experience unpleasant reactions and even rejection in some cases. This can make coming out an emotionally trying time. And sadly, for many, coming out isn’t a one-time thing. Every time you meet someone new or start a new job, for example, you may need to consider when or how much of your identity as an LGBTQ+ person you want to share. Despite what may sound like negative repercussions of coming out, this doesn’t happen to everyone. Many people are supported and understood by those they’re coming out to. Hiding who you are, however, can be an incredibly difficult thing to do and can be damaging to your mental health and well-being. I had a realisation that I was gay and that it wasn’t a good thing to be. I began a nine-year battle with hiding the deepest part of who I was. This was one of the heaviest masks I wore. - Read Chris Dudley's experience of OCD and depression. Everyone will ‘come out’ in different ways. For many, it’s a series of conversations that take place between the LGBTQ+ person and the people in their life they want to tell. It’s important for you to come out in a way that feels right for you and your circumstances. Telling someone you trust and believe will be supportive first can be a good idea. They can then provide you with some support as you tell others in your life. Picking a time when you can talk through any concerns and worries is also recommended. Try to keep in mind that although this is likely something you have known about yourself for a long time, for others, it may be a surprise. Initial reactions may be laced with shock, and they may change over time. Creating a support network, whether that includes friends, family members, online communities or professional support (or all of these!) can be incredibly helpful when taking this step. Above all, please remember you are not alone. With greater understanding, kindness and representation hopefully making its way through society - we can only push for progress. - London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard: 020 7837 7324 - Online safety guide for LGBTQ+ community Trust our content We are a PIF TICK 'trusted information creator'. This means you can be assured that what you are reading is evidence-based, understandable, jargon-free, up-to-date and produced to the best possible standard. All content was accurate when published.

http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/sexuality.html

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Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary aspirant, Barrister Mohammed Kabir Usman has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of conniving with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the forth-coming gubernatorial elections in Anambra State. Speaking earlier today on Africa Independent Television (AIT) breakfast political show Kakaaki, Barr. Kabir Usman who observed that there may be no elections in Anambra State since Nigerians have no confidence in the integrity of the forthcoming governorship polls, accused top officials of INEC, notably Amina Zakari, a national commissioner, of working closely with the APC to ensure that a predetermined outcome is achieved. According to Kabir Usman, “as at now, Amina Zakari is in the same hotel with the APC candidate hence we have no faith in the outcome of that elections. “Strong controversies have always trailed any election conducted by Amina Zakari and in a decent society, no umpire in an election should reside in the same location with a frontline candidate who has an interest in the election. Not only is Amina Zakari in the same hotel which serves as a make-shift secretariat of the APC in Anambra State, the hotel is owned by Tony Nwoye who is also contesting the elections and lives in the same hotel”, he said. Barr. Kabir Usman who was the Zonal Legal Adviser of the PDP (North Central) for eight years also stressed that governors of the APC have contributed N100 million each towards ensuring that the Anambra election is manipulated. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/11/usman-raises-alarm-plot-manipulate-anambra-polls/

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LONDON — President Trump spoke by phone on Monday with the president of Nigeria, whose countrymen have not heard from him in weeks. Many of them have been wondering: Where is our president, and how is he doing? The president, Muhammadu Buhari, 74, left Nigeria for a vacation on Jan. 19, which was later extended, his office said on Feb. 5, for medical tests and treatment in London. But Mr. Buhari’s aides have refused to provide details about his health or his whereabouts, or even to say whether they have been in touch with him. The lack of clarity has spurred rumors — in a nation of 180 million that is known for its love of political intrigue and speculation — that Mr. Buhari might be in poor health or even that he might be dead. One of Mr. Buhari’s predecessors, Umaru Yar’Adua, died in 2010 after a closely hidden chronic illness that led to a political crisis. Mr. Yar’Adua, who came from the largely Muslim north, was replaced by his vice president, Goodluck Jonathan, who came from the mostly Christian, oil-rich Niger Delta region in the southeast. Mr. Yar’Adua’s illness and death unsettled the longstanding Nigerian tradition of rotating political power among leaders from different regions, tribes and faiths. In Mr. Buhari’s absence, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a Christian and a Yoruba from the southwest, has been filling in — a situation that for many Nigerians brings back anxious memories of the political tensions of 2010.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/world/africa/muhammadu-buhari-trump-nigeria.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur&referer=https:///JK1ebe1jPX

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The former Representative of Kaduna at the Nigerian Senate Shehu Sani has told Nigerian men not to beat their wives and run to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom. Sani advice is coming after Ortom reconciled Channels TV reporter Pius Angbo with his wife Ifenyiwa Angbo. READ ALSO: Domestic Violence: Nigerians Send Message To Channels TV Despite Gov. Ortom's Intervention Reacting, Sani tweeted: "That was just one off commendable peace parley. Please,Don’t start beating your spouse and rushing to Makurdi for reconciliation." It will be recalled that the wife of the Channels Tv reporter in a viral video narrated how her husband frequently batters her. In the viral video, Ifenyiwa accused her husband of beating her for advising him to spend wisely. "Hello people, my name is Ifeyinwa. I am a doctor. I have been married to Pius Angbo of Channels TV for six years and for six years, I have not known peace in this marriage. It’s been from one woman to another. "I just had baby. It was a Caesarian section just about 4 weeks ago. Just because I told him to spend wisely and not on women so recklessly considering we have four children, that is why I got this beating. He tried to strangle me and all that, sat on my incision, the children were crying. "When I was pregnant with this child, when the pregnancy was three months, it was the same thing. He would sit on my stomach. hit me, try to strangle me and all that,” Ifenyiwa in the video said. Reacting to the development, pointing out that it doesn't tolerate violence against women or anyone in general, Channels TV revealed that it was going to investigate the matter and take needed actions. That was just one off commendable peace parley.Please,Don’t start beating your spouse and rushing to Makurdi for reconciliation. — Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) December 8, 2020

https://allnews.ng/news/domestic-violence-don-t-beat-your-wives-and-go-to-ortom-for-reconciliation-shehu-tells-nigerian-men?fbclid=IwAR0PaSfITCMIuQrIDM_Htbna92n2DUDFghBgpm2dx8yh4ig4rXGnuU-bPUE

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By Festus Ahon THE father of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Chief Arthur Okorie Uzoma Okowa is dead. He died in the early hours of Thursday at the age of 88. The Governor’s father who hails from Owa-Alero, Ika North East Local Government Area of the State, reportedly died at Asaba. Until his death, the late Chief Arthur Okorie Uzoma Okowa popularly called AOU was the Okpara-Uku of Owa-Alero. A family source told Vanguard that the Octogenarian has been on and off with illness. However, the cause of death was not known as at press time. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/01/breaking-okowas-father-okorie-okowa-is-dead/amp/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&__twitter_impression=true

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…burn shops, food barns ” They took our husbands,children,we need help ‘ – victim By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo Locals who fled from Kwari village in Jibiya Local Government Area of Katsina have said that over 80 people were kidnapped by bandits who invaded the community and set their food barns and local shops on fire. The over 2000 villagers who were now taking refuge at a primary school in Jibiya town, said among those that were whisked away to the forest by the bandits,were children, women including pregnant ones and others. They alleged that the authorities have not come to their aid with any assurance . Soeaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service monitored by Vanguard on Thursday, one of the IDPs said they were forcefully chased out of the village by the rampaging gunmen . According to the woman, ” they came with full force at 5.30 pm and invaded us, we were not aware of their coming. They opened fire,shot sporadically and burnt down shops and our food barns .” ” They kidnapped people, men and women, little children who cannot even talk.They took them to the forest.They took about 80 people to the forest. We did a head count later,we found that about 80 of our people were taken away by the bandits. They are these Bush Fulanii people; they took even pregnant women away,” she alleged . She said they had to run away from Kwari village and moved to the Central Primary school in Jibiya town. ” We are here lying down in a humiliating manner.No even mats to lie on.We are all lying on the bare ground. “ ” When the bandits left, we looked and found out that those taken away were up to 80.In some houses they took 5,, 10 and took them to the forest .Even our little children .” When asked if they have received any assistance from the Local Government, State Government or from the security agencies,she said no. ” Truly, we are in need of help. We need assistance because we are in a pitiable condition .Please help us, Wallahi some husbands don’t know where their wives are.Some wives cannot find their husbands. Children cannot find their mothers, some mothers don’t know where their children are,” she said. SP Gambo Isa , Spokesperson of the Katsina Police Command could not respond to inquiries by the BBC on the attack. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/06/bandits-kidnap-over-80-villagers-in-katsina/

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The Benue State Government has received N14.9 billion, its final tranche of the Paris Club refund from the Federal Government. Governor Samuel Ortom confirmed the receipt of the fund, according to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, on Thursday. The governor says 80% of the funds will be used for payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities. To that effect, a committee headed by the Deputy Governor, Engineer Benson Abounu, has been set up to work out modalities for immediate disbursement of the funds. Also on the committee are the Head of Service, Finance Commissioner, Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adviser on Labour Matters, Chairmen of Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Benue State chapters. “The decision of Governor Ortom to involve key stakeholders in the disbursement of the Paris Club refund is in line with his policy of transparency and accountability,” Akase said. The state had initially received N12.7 billion as the first tranche and subsequently N6.4 billion of the Paris Club refund.

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/09/20/ortom-confirms-receipt-of-n14-9b-paris-club-refund/?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=ChannelsTv&utm_campaign=SNAP%2Bfrom%2BChannels+TelevisionMynd44

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Aisha Buhari’s brother, Ribadu, others move to unseat Adamawa governor There is tension in Adamawa State following sudden interest of Dr. Mahmoud Halilu, a brother to First Lady Aisha Buhari, in the governorship race. Mahmoud, popularly called Modi, wants to unseat Governor Jibrilla Bindow, who is from Adamawa North Senatorial District. But stakeholders are said to be opposed to Mahmoud who is relying on powerful forces in Abuja to clinch the ticket. It was unclear last night whether the First Lady had given her blessing to Mahmoud whose intimidating electronic bill boards have flooded Yola. If Mahmoud gets the ticket, Bindow, who is in control of the party’s structure, may have to use another party to seek re-election in 2019. It was also learnt that if Mahmoud is adamant, he has to vie for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) with Bindow, a former governorship candidate, Marcus Nada Gundiri, a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes( EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Senator Ahmad Abubakar Mo’Allahyidi, who currently represents Adamawa South Senatorial District. According to investigation, all attempts to convince Mahmoud to shelve his governorship ambition has failed. A top source said: “APC in Adamawa has a big challenge at hand. There is tension ahead of our primaries. We do not want Governor Bindow to defect to PDP but Mahmoud Halilu, who is a younger brother to the First Lady is insisting on seeking the governorship ticket. “He has all his posters in Yola. A graduate of Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, he has no known political pedigree except that he belongs to the First Family and carries that about. “He is not known in any political cycle in Adamawa. He had attempted to previously contest for a seat in the House of Representatives on the platform of the defunct CPC only to chicken out. “Under the current dispensation, he toyed with the idea of intimidating the party and Bindow by pressurizing them to assure him of a ticket to contest for Senate but he failed to actualize it. “We are suspecting that he is challenging the incumbent governor for refusing to do his bidding.” Responding to a question, the source said: “although the governor has control of the party’s structure, he might be helpless if there is an order from above because the court has ruled that the party has the final say on any ticket. “Our greatest fear is the likelihood of losing Bindow to PDP or any other party if he is denied APC re-election slot.” But apart from Bindow, the First Lady’s brother has to vie for the governorship slot with a former governorship candidate, Marcus Nada Gundiri, a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and Senator Ahmad Abubakar Mo’Allahyidi. Another source said: “Gundiri is a retired Director in Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources and a close ally of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal. He has been a serial governorship candidate in Adamawa politics. “He had previously contested on two occasions on the platform of SDP. He romanced with PDP and ACN in the past until he found himself in APC through the influence of Babachir when he was made Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign coordinator in Adamawa. “His greatest problem is that his politics is largely religious and ethnic which has been widely rejected by Adamawa electorate. “There is also Mo’Allahyidi, a serving senator from Adamawa South. He was among the young technocrats who worked with the defunct Afri-project Consortium during the PTF days. “He got the Senate seat on a platter of gold in 2015 because of President Muhammadu Buhari’s factor. He is not known much beyond that he is a senator and has close friends near the President. “But on his part, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is bringing his integrity on board having served credibly as the pioneer chairman of the nation’s foremost anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). “There is a general consensus that Ribadu’s choice will be an asset to Adamawa. But the corrupt elements have always stood against his ambition. He contested for a similar position on the platform of PDP in 2015 and lost to Bindow. “He is yet to formally declare his ambition because of ongoing consultations with party leaders like the President, top leaders of APC and his associates.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/governorship-poll-anxiety-in-adamawa-as-aishas-brother-moves-to-unseat-bindow/

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Sheriff and Makarfi Ben Agande, Abuja. Senators Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff Tuesday resolved to settle their differences and work for a United Peoples Democratic Party in the interest of the country and Nigerians. In a statement jointly signed by Sheriff an Makarfi the two leaders agreed to consult with other relevant organs of the party for a final resolution of the leadership crisis that has engulfed the party for a whole now. Addressing a joint press conference yesterday evening, the Deputy chairman of the Sheriff faction, Dr Cairo Ojuogboh and the secretary of the caretaker committee Senator Ben Obi said the resolution of the crisis followed a meeting between senators Sheriff and Makarfi Tuesday morning. The statement titled “Rejuvenating the PDP”reads “This is without prejudice to all outstanding matters in court. At a meeting held this morning between the two of us, a holistic review of the state of affairs of our great party, PDP, was deliberated upon. “In reviewing the crisis that has engulfed our party since the loss of the 2015 general election after 15years of uninterrupted leadership at the centre, it became obvious to both of us as principal actors that it is time to heal the wounds. And bring about a united, focused and constructive opposition party that can bring sanity to our democratic process. Bringing relief to the teeming supporters of our great party and to the benefit of our great country. “Based on the above, we have both agreed to: Consult widely with all relevant organs of the party; Set up a joint committee that will carry out a holistic reconciliation of all aggrieved segments of our party across the country and in Diaspora; Pursue the vision of the founding fathers of our great party. “Details of all the above will be made public soonest. “We therefore call on all party members to remain calm and refrain from any actions and utterances that could further bring about divisions or dispute the party” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/last-sheriff-makarfi-sheath-sword/

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BY ANAYO OKOLI. UMUAHIA — THE National and State Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Umuahia has been told that Mr. Emeka Nnamani representing Aba North State Constituency allegedly forged University of Purt Harcourt certificate with which he filled his INEC forms for the April 2015 elections. Nnamani was also alleged to still be a member of the PDP in his home State, Enugu while he contested the election on the platform of APGA in Abia State where he resides. These were the submissions of Dr. [Mrs.] Blessing Nwagba of the PDP who is challenging the election of Emeka Nnamani at the tribunal. Meanwhile, the tribunal headed by Justice S. Yahuzu has admitted in evidence a letter from the Registrar of the University of Port Harcourt disowning Nnamani as a graduate of the University. Also, the tribunal also admitted in evidence was a certified true copy of an expression of interest form filled by Nnamani who contested the PDP primaries in Enugu State for the House of Assembly, which the petitioner said was evidence that he was not qualified to contest in Abia State on the platform of APGA. The petitioner alleged that by this act that Nnamani was a member of two parties during the elections. According to Chief K. C. Nwufo, SAN, lawyer to the petitioner, by allegedly being a member of two parties, Nnamani allegedly contravened the Electoral Act, arguing therefore that his election would not stand. Nwufo also told the tribunal that the respondent told lies with regard to his educational qualification, alleging that he never graduated from the University of Port Harcourt as claimed. The Petitioner had closed her case. In his submission, Chigozie Ogunji, counsel to Nnamani said that the respondent was ready to enter his defense and hinted that they have no less than 10 witnesses to give evidence. The Tribunal Chairman has adjourned the matter to 24th and 27th of August for the respondent to begin his defense. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/uniport-disowns-lawmaker-say-he-did-not-graduate/

Politics

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By Emeka Anaeto, Business Editor THE World Bank has effected a massive cut in its projections for Nigeria’s economic growth rate for 2018 to 2.1 percent, down from 2.5 percent and 1.9 percent for 2019, down from 2.8 percent. This was contained in its latest World Economic Outlook just released at the on-going spring meeting of the World Bank Group in Washington DC, United States of America. The World Bank’s January 2018 Global Economic Prospect report launched on Tuesday, January 09, 2018 in Washington DC, had said Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by 2.5 percent in 2018 and 2.8 per cent in 2019 and 2020. Though the new projection still shows a huge leap against the actual of 0.8 percent achieved in 2017 and 0.2 percent higher than its projection in October last year, it indicated, not only a reversal of position but also a widening gap between the positions of the Federal Government and the World Bank on the recovery prospects post-recession while sign-posting the Bank’s concerns over possible stalling of growth momentum as the country prepares for a general election scheduled for first quarter 2019. The Federal government had projected GDP growth rate at about 3.5 percent in its 2018 budget. The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP, the government’s medium term economic blue print, had stated: “Real GDP is projected to grow by 4.62 per cent on average over the plan period of 2017 – 2020, from an estimated contraction of 1.54 per cent in 2016. Real GDP growth is projected to improve significantly to 2.19 per cent in 2017, reaching 7 per cent at the end of the plan period.” In its latest report, the World Bank stated: “In Nigeria, the economy is projected to grow 2.1 percent in 2018 and 1.9 percent in 2019 (up from 0.8 percent in 2017), reflecting improved oil prices, revenue, and production and recently introduced foreign exchange measures that contribute to better foreign exchange availability.” The report also indicated that Nigeria would be under-performing the sub-Sahara Africa group of economies which the World Bank projected would rise to 3.4 percent in 2018, up from 2.8 percent actual recorded in 2017, and improve slightly thereafter through the medium term to about 4.0 percent. Though the report did not state reasons for the Nigeria down-grade, it is likely tied to its earlier observations in previous reports that noted the adverse effects of political developments on the economies of sub-Sahara Africa. It also corresponds to the position of the ERGP document which stated: “The slight dip in growth in 2019 is projected to result from the general election in that year with a quick recovery the following year.” The current World Bank report has, however, aligned with inflationary trend in Nigeria while indicating that a possible policy adjustment by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, sometime down this year would sustain the inflation rate at double digit through 2018. Inflation rate in Nigeria measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has been on steady downward trend in the past 15 consecutive months dropping to 13.34 per cent in March year-on-year, from 14.33 percent in February according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report for March 2018. The latest World Bank report stated: “Inflation in sub-Sahara Africa is projected to moderate slightly in 2018 and 2019 but is expected to remain in double digits in key large economies, reflecting the pass-through effects of currency depreciation and their impact on inflation expectations (Angola), supply factors, and assumed monetary policy accommodation to support fiscal policy (Nigeria).” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/world-bank-reviews-nigerias-economic-growth-downwards/

Politics

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*456 foreigners in 41 companies in the sector doing jobs Nigerians can do *4 such companies account for 186 expatriates *Fruit juice firm holds expatriates in excess of 65; flour miller 43; another fruit juice firm 45 excess *Persistent influx of expatriates is in flagrant disregard to Presidential Executive Order 5 — Workers’ union By Victor Ahiuma-Young Industrial unrest is looming in the Food and Beverages sector of the nation’s economy over alleged expatriate quota abuse by multi-nationals and other major companies in the industry. Already, organised labour has petitioned the Federal Government through the Ministry of Labour and Employment, accusing a major multi-national in the sector of flagrant abuse of expatriate quota. Vanguard’s investigations revealed that there are no fewer than 456 foreigners in 41 companies in the sector doing jobs Nigerians can conveniently do, with four of such companies accounting for 186 expatriates. Two of such companies, according to the labour leaders, are a fruit juice processing company based in Lagos and a flour milling giant. The fruit juice firm is said to be holding expatriates in excess of 65 while the flour miller holds 43. Another beverage (fruit juice) company in a neighbouring state is said to be holding 45 excess expatriates. According to labour sources, two major bottling companies have 24 excess expatriates, while another based in Ogun State has 11 foreigners in the company without compliance with Nigeria’s expatriate quota rules. In the beverages sub-sector, four Lagos-based companies have 65, 16, five and four foreigners outside their expatriate quota, while six companies based in Ogun State, have 45, 13, six, six, five, three and three excess expatriates respectively. Also, two companies in the list (manufacturing biscuits) in Lagos, have 15 and nine foreigners working for them outside their expatriate quota while a company based in Ibadan, Oyo State has no fewer than 30 of such workers. Similarly, in the confectionery industry, the labour report indicated that two Ibadan, Oyo State-based companies have 14 and five excess expatriates in their establishments. The labour source also said a noodles manufacturing company in Ogun State, has no fewer than 21 excess expatriates working in the firm. Four other companies in the sector have two foreigners each, three in Ibadan, Oyo State, have two expatriates each, while three others also in Ibadan, have one each above their quotas. ‘We need expatriates, but…’ Lamenting the situation, a labour leader who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said, “With the level of our development, we cannot say we do not need expatriates. We need them in areas where we do not have local expertise. But our grouse is the abuse. “We have situations where just one expatriate is required but the company comes along with 20 or more who, in every sense of it, are not experts, but mere tools to fight unemployment in their countries, siphon money out of our country and so on. “In other words, they are coming to take up the few available jobs thousands of Nigerians are struggling for. They have no expertise to impact on or give to Nigerians. In fact, in most cases, it is Nigerians that end up training them. “Yet they are paid in dollars with each of them receiving Naira equivalent that can employ 10 or more Nigerians. “The rule guiding expatriate is clear; that is, people with the technical competence not available in Nigeria so that they can come in and train Nigerians for about two or three years. ‘‘After this period, such expatriate will return to his or her country. But what we have today is a situation where they come, spend three years, and at the expiration of their permits, the permits are renewed through whatever means. READ ALSO: Non-alcoholic excise tax: Food and beverages sector to loss N1.9trillion in 3 years – MAN “Before you realise it, they become permanent expatriates. In some cases, instead of the expatriate going back, with the connivance of dubious officials and agencies, the expatriate will move from one organisation to another and eventually, before you know it, he or she is given permanent residence permit. “This is unacceptable to us. We need expatriates, but they must follow due process and comply with rules of engagement. ‘‘Anywhere the Indians, the Lebanese, and generally, the Asians operate, they cause trouble. They are the people causing problem in the industry. They are the ones giving us the most problems in this area. “We go to our National Joint Industrial Negotiating Council, we do not have large percentage of representation because of these Asians. “We have told the employers body to call their members to order, especially the Indians. If you go into these companies controlled by Indians you will see what they are using Nigerians to do. It is nothing short of modern slavery.” Organised Labour in the sector, under the aegis of the National Union of Foods, Beverages and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE, and its Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, FOBTOB, counterpart, are not taking the perceived abuse lightly. President of FOBTOB, Jimoh Oyibo, while decrying the level of expatriate quota abuse in the sector, said: “We are seriously disturbed by the increase in the number that has flooded the companies in our industry. This is disheartening and unacceptable to us. This attitude alone has led to continuous taking over of jobs that are exclusive rights of indigenous workers. “Although, we have tackled the menace headlong in the past and I am using this medium to state that we will continue the struggle to save our jobs.” Speaking to Vanguard, the Acting General Secretary of NUFBTE, Mike Olarewaju, said, “Our union views this practice of abusing expatriate quota as a deliberate sabotage to Nigerian economy as well as a subtle channel for capital flight. “In the same vein, it is a threat to job dignity and employment opportunities of Nigerians. ‘‘Consequently, our union outrightly condemns this practice. “The so-called expatriates are being engaged in various departments including, Production, Supply Chain, Sales, Engineering, Quality Assurance and Stores among others, ‘‘Our Union has made several reports and protests to relevant ministries and other statutory bodies.” The union, Vanguard gathered, has decided to tackle the abuse on company-to-company basis, and is presently battling a soft drink company, over alleged “persistent influx of expatriate and flagrant disregard to Presidential Executive Order 5”. In a petition addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, NUFBTE through its Acting General Secretary, Mike Olarewaju, among others, stated: “Further to our letters on the above subject particularly reference to our letters dated 10th September,2017, 3rd October, 2017 and 17th January, 2020 respectively. “It is extremely sad and depressing to observe that the management of this company (name witheld) has continuously flouted with impunity the tenets of our previous mutual understanding by pervading deliberate acts of disobedience to the intents and contents of the letters under reference which undoubtedly amounts to unconscionable violation of the presidential executive order “5” with impunity. “Despite the unambiguous positions of our union as duly enunciated in our previous letters and meetings where your management promised to checkmate the trend, however, it is evidently clear that your management has continued unabatedly to engage in glaring acts of degradation and subjugation of Nigerians working in the company. “Consequently, our union has resolved to frontally checkmate this undesirable practice of unfair labour practice of perpetuating and relegating Nigerians to second class citizens in Nigeria by depriving them from occupying some management positions while at the same time your management provocatively reserves the positions exclusively for non- Nigerians. “Without mincing words, this oppressive practice is despicable, condemnable, provocative and outrightly unacceptable.” NUFBTE added that it expects the management of the soft drinks company to act wisely to save the emerging situation from altering the existing industrial harmony.” Ministry steps in Vanguard found that but for the intervention by the appropriate ministry, which has already summoned the management of the soft drinks company and asked it to respond to the petition among others, NUFBTE would have started an industrial action. According to a labour source, the Ministry has directed the company to provide detailed list of foreigners or expatriates working in the company and their educational qualifications. Efforts to speak with the management of the company on the development were unsuccessful. A senior management personnel who volunteered information on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that the issue is before the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the company will only respond to the ministry’s query for now. In the same vein, all attempts to speak with the leaders of the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers, AFBTE, the umbrella body for employers in the sector, hit a brick wall. An official of the association, however, told Vanguard that the “issue of expatriates are handled by the individual companies. The employers’ body has no role to play.” Equally, efforts to speak with the officials of the Ministry of Interior were rebuffed. Neither questions sent to one of the aides of the Minister after an initial telephone contact on October 28, has been responded to nor several calls since then till the press time. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/12/tension-in-foods-drinks-sector-over-expatriate-quota-abuse/

Career

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By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday led current and old students of Baptist Boys High School (BBHS), Abeokuta on an 18km walk round Abeokuta, as part of activities to mark the centenary celebrations of the school. Obasanjo who was joined by the leadership of the old boys association, led by the National President, Prof. Kayode Oyesiku and large numbers of the current students entertained residents, motorists and passers-by on the walk. A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi stated that hundreds of residents and enthusiasts echoed and praised Obasanjo’s names for his prowess, energy and endurance to embark on the walk despite his age. Among those who played host to Obasanjo and his team, were the Olubara of Ibara, Oba Jacob Omolade, former Finance Minister, Onolapo Soleye and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo. It was at the visit to the palace of Alake, that some aged old school mates joined them. They walked amid singing of the school anthem among other songs, through Oke Egunya, Igbore, Oke Igbein, and at Omida the palace of Oba Omolade. Thereafter, the walkers moved to the Ibara Housing Estate, the residence of Soleye. Subsequently, the team took the walk again to Ake, the palace of Oba Gbadebo. Shortly after the visit to Alake, the octogenarian still burstling with energy entered back on the road and headed towards Saje, a journey that took them through Isale Ake, Adatan, Kugba Road before entering the rehabilitated Saje Road into the school premises. Oyesiku disclosed that the walk covered 18km stretch when added together, as he commended the old boys of the school for spirit behind the centenary annivesary exercise. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/01/bbhs-100-years-obasanjo-shakes-abeokuta-metropolis-with-18km-walk/

Politics

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Following the restrictions placed by the Federal Government on social gathering in the heat of the second wave of COVID-19, Lauretta Onochie an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari has cleared that the government is not trying to deprive Nigerians of Christmas celebration. Onochie who reacted to the development said that the restriction placed by the Federal government is not a way of denying church leaders offerings and tithes. READ ALSO:COVID-19: Lagos, Ogun, Others Plan Tough Enforcement As New Cases Surge According to her, the fresh restrictions was not a move by the federal government to deny Nigerians the opportunity of seeing their loved ones. Further stating that the development had nothing to do with religious differences, Onochie warned that COVID-19 has no religion. "This is not an evil government trying to take the joy off of Christmas. “It’s not a way of denying church leaders their offerings and tithes. “It’s not the government denying us the opportunity of seeing our families whom we have not seen for a while. “This is not about Islam versus Christianity. Coronavirus has no religion,” she said. Recall that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had on Monday announced a fresh restriction on social gathering in the heat of the second wave of COVID-19. Announcing the development in a statement on Monday, Boss Mustapha, the chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 also revealed that a 5 weeks restriction had been placed on the religious and social gatherings. “Encourage virtual meetings in government offices. The leadership of such offices are to ensure that all offices are well-ventilated offices, and encourage staff to work from home where possible; “All government staff on GL.12 and below are to stay at home for the next 5 weeks; Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives are to be held accountable for enforcing NPI rules in their domains with frequent spot checks; “The PTF on the advice of the Federal Ministry of Education expects that schools would have vacated from the 18th December 2020 and remain closed till at least the 18th of January, 2021 to enable the measures introduced to take effect; “All persons above the age of 60yrs and/or with comorbidities are to be encouraged to stay at home and avoid crowds; “All non-essential travels both domestic and international during the holiday season are seriously discouraged,” Mustapha said.

https://allnews.ng/news/covid-19-restrictions-fg-not-trying-to-deprive-nigerians-of-christmas-celebration-lauretta-onochie

Religion

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By Ben Agande ABUJA – The Federal Executive Council, Wednesday, took a bold step towards immortalising the first president of Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe as it approved the sum of N1,496billion, for the building of a Mausoleum in his honour in Onitsha. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Dr. Rueben Abati, who briefed state House correspondents, after the meeting of the council said the President had given his commitment during his visit to Anambra State , recently, that the issue of the Mausoleum would be revisited. Dr Abati who was flanked by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple, and the Minister of Mines and Steel, Mohammed Sada, said that the Mausoleum has been an issue since 2006 and that “the President during his visit to Anambra State had given his word that the issue will be revisited and that was done today because the country owes it to posterity and the memory of the great Zik to ensure that the mausoleum is built and there is concrete assurance by the ministry of Lands and Housing that this time around the Mausoleum will be completed. The Minister of Works and Housing in her contribution said “the Federal Executive Council approved the award of contract for the completion of Zik’s Mausoleum, a Mausoleum in memory of our first President. It was given out for a sum of N1,496,531,483 with a completion of 13 months. This contract was originally under the Presidency but it was stalled and had to be cancelled three times, but in 2010 it was transferred when it became a full fleshed ministry; Ministry of Lands and Housing Development, it was transferred to the ministry” she said adding that this time they were confident that the contractors are able to carry out the work competently and finish in the 13month given to them. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/10/fg-approves-n1-5bn-for-ziks-mausoleum/

Politics

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An industry source called the other day to ask one troubling question: did you hear anything? I hear things all the time was my riposte. It will be an unfortunate disservice to over three decades in the journalism profession if I don’t hear things. Oh, this is about Dr. Isa Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy. He doesn’t want to leave the Ministry or its parastatals. He is plotting a return. Hey! You can’t quarrel with that. Dr Pantami can take any action that excites his body. After all, he is a politician. And Nigerian politicians are known to be very restless, like locusts, which is why they move from one party to another once they sense any impending moment of dullness or a dip in the expected returns on political investment. Pantami is obviously too exciteable to accommodate any dullness. Whether out of excitement, enthusiasm or even overzealousness, Pantami swept into the ministry with gusto and began to initiate series of actions that would reverberate in the entire telecommunications industry. Actions in the industry, whether by the Ministry or the regulator, are weighed on the strength of the Communications Act 2003, which can unquestionably be described as the Bible of telecommunications. Under his watch the Nigerian Communications Communications Commission, NCC, conducted two 5G auctions in the 3.5GHz band and raked in over $800m. That was a good harvest, something extraordinary that the Buhari government would always gloat over. In spite of the preceding observation, the minister does not have the good luck to enjoy the kind of cover which the NBC Act Cap N11 2004, gives the counterpart in Section 6, to the effect, that the minister can give any general direction that can override any regulatory decision of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC. Instead the Communications Act 2003 shields the Nigerian Communications Commission from every external encumbrance and restricts the minister and his ministry to the areas of policy. This could be the reason some of the actions of the minister at the Communications and Digital Economy ministry didn’t seem to ingratiate him to the industry irrespective of his claims of achievements. He came in a blaze and left in a welter of furore. On being appointed minister in August 2019, Pantami immediately moved into the regulator’s property at Mbora, Abuja. This was too close for comfort. The regulator’s peace had been traduced and uncertainty would soon envelope the regulator that used to be the pride of the nation and even the continent. The minister started to exert undue influence on the regulator by way of regulatory capture. All of a sudden, there was a rash and indiscriminate employment at the NCC. Could the minister have gotten too close to know that there was staffing need at the NCC and decided to help solve the problem? Employment used to be planned at the NCC like procurement, methodical and diligent, and only available for some of the best in the land. This time there was a deluge of employment without respect for the principles of the Federal Character Commission. Most of the people recruited were spirited into zonal offices where their employment would never really be accounted for. The nominal roll spiralled from less than 800 in 2019 to over 1600 in 2023. Some people call what happened at the NCC a big employment scam. But I wouldn’t be that harsh. The regulator came under so much pressure that it forgot its indenpence enshrined in the Act or lost the scent of its corporate culture. For instance, the minister claimed to have been given approval by former President Muhammadu Buhari to employ three directors. Profs. Salahu Balarabe Junaid and Aminu Ahmad were employed as NCC directors. Perhaps they were part of his technical team but it broke the norm. Why were they not employed as Ministry staff? In the past, NCC staff were seconded to the ministers for all necessary technical support, people with competences in various fields of communications. Furthermore, as a proof of the obtuse recruitment at the Commission in the past few years, a promotion exercise carried out by the regulator early this year, had all 15 Senior Officers (GL9) that were promoted come from a section of the country. Insiders even nailed it down to a couple of states in that part of the country. Some workers at the Commission said that was a very strange development and traced it to external pressure. Pantami’s tenure at the ministry destroyed peace and long existing camaraderie at the NCC and sowed discord, distrust and suspicion among the staff. Some workers were given positions of advantage and all of sudden they began to see themselves as products of sections of the country instead of the harmony that used to be among them. They were no longer part of the knitted whole. In a particular instance, the minister wrote to the President early in the year and prayed that a particular position at the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, be indemnified in the name of one person, until this person retires. I can testify that the person in the position is a good man, a very good, affable guy. I don’t think that such indemnity is what he yearns for. No. Not at all. But I also want to say that good souls can buckle under sustained pressure. Although the minister is the USP Board chairman with the executive vice chairman of the NCC as vice, he does not have the support of the Communications Act 2003, from Sections 112 to 120 to canvass such request or validate such appointment. To support his prayer, the minister made reference to a certain section of the Act in his memo to the President late December. Beyond the Act, this is what Section 23 of the Universal Access and Universal Service Regulation 2007, says: “The Commission shall appoint an individual person to serve as the head of the USP Secretariat ( the USP Secretary ) who shall be responsible for the day to day operations of the secretariat. The USP Secretary shall be an employee of the Commission that has been seconded from the Commission’s staff to serve as the USP Secretary on or a full-time basis.” The Commission has its internal employment policy which allows it to move workers around internally to work in different positions. The minister has only meddled in, and muddled up such internal policy. Here is what seems to be Pantami’s final act. In a letter dated May 8, the Commission conveyed the approval of waiver request made to the President through the minister by Emerging Markets Telecommunications Limited, EMTS. At a time the country is neck-deep in debt and lacks cash to run even daily operations, the President gave a 50 per cent waiver on the huge debt being owed by EMTS on spectrum fees. The waiver is as follows: N43,608,048,767.50 and for the 2100MHZ band, the sum of N29,329,977, 600. Over the next ten years the balance would be paid in instalments as follows N4,360,804,876.75 for the 900/1800MHz and N2,932,997,760.00 for the 2100MHz band. On Monday night, an industry source told this writer: “We shall respond. We know who is doing this. It is not the NCC but the minister.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/09/battle-to-control-ssouth-oshiomhole-versus-amaechi/Before

Politics

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Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki Governor Godwin Obaseki has expressed his administration’s desire to make Edo State the most prosperous economy in the South-South within the next three years. Besides, Obaseki expressed confidence that in another seven to ten years, he will position the State as the number one economy in the country, a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. John Mayaki said. While declaring open a 3-day strategic policy dialogue workshop with the theme: Setting Agenda for the new Administration with Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service as participants as well as political leaders and critical stakeholders in the state, Obaseki said, “15 to 20 years, we want to be the number one investment destination in the continent,’’ adding that to achieve this vision for the state, “first class institutions capable of nurturing transformation policies must be built”. “We must deliver on infrastructure that is better than what is available in the Federal Capital Territory. We must aim at generating revenues much more than Lagos without putting unbearable tax burden on our people. “We must therefore aim at developing our institutions because in the cause of this workshop, we shall be working on six thematic areas, which are the key pillars of our goal for the state.’’ He said the workshop would address issues such as how the state would achieve economic revolution that would translate to having a developed world class infrastructure. “How do we ensure that our culture which is world class acclaimed is displayed and made available for the world to enjoy our tourism as well as sustain our environment”. The governor noted that in the case of the economy revolution, the thematic group should focus on how the State would establish investment bureaucracy that could begin to attract world class investment. He added that focus should be on strategic plan that could create minimum of 200,000 jobs as well as many small scale and medium enterprise that was sustainable. Obaseki further urged other thematic groups on their expectations from the government at the end of their three-day brain storming session, adding that their resolution would be the working document for developing the state. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/edo-will-prosperous-economy-ssouth-three-years-obaseki/

Politics

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Turkey’s Islamic-rooted government has authorised the building of the first church in the country in nearly a century, officials said Saturday. The church is for the tiny Syriac community in Turkey and will be built in the Istanbul suburb of Yesilkoy on the shores of the Sea of Marmara, which already has Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Catholic churches. The announcement came after Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met Turkey’s religious leaders in Istanbul on Friday and said no faith that has lived in the country could be regarded as foreign. “It is the first (new church) since the creation of the republic (in 1923),” a government source told AFP. “Churches have been restored and reopened to the public, but no new church has been built until now,” he added. Turkey, which once had large Christian minorities, is now 99 percent Muslim and critics of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have accused it of trying to Islamicise its officially secular society. However, as part of its bid to join the European Union, Ankara has made efforts to widen minority rights and return some seized property as well as restore churches, monasteries and synagogues. Christians now make up less than 100,000 of Turkey’s population of 76 million and are sometimes the target of attacks. But the prime minister insisted that the ruling AK Party “does not discriminate between our citizens… the principle of equal citizenship continues to be our characteristic trait,” he added. He condemned recent attacks on mosques in Europe and urged the religious leaders he met with Friday to “speak up together against Islamophobia”. The country’s ancient Syriac minority, which now numbers less than 20,000, live mostly in the southeast and tend to be either affiliated to the Orthodox or Catholic churches. But their numbers have swollen in recent years by thousands of Syriac refugees first forced out of Iraq by war and sectarian violence and later by others fleeing the fighting in Syria. During his visit to Turkey in November, Pope Francis denounced what he termed the current wave of “Christianophobia” in the Middle East, accusing Islamist radicals of “hunting” Christians. The various Syriac churches are among the oldest surviving Christian denominations, and use Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ, in their services. The new Istanbul church will be built on land given by the local council and paid for by a Syriac group, the government spokesman said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/turkey-gives-go-ahead-first-new-church-century/

Religion

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Breaking: Real reasons why Onnoghen resigned, by Awomolo The lawyer to the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) has explained why his client resigned. Awomolo, while confirming that Onnoghen resigned on Thursday, said he (Onnoghe) said he acted in the interest of the judiciary. The lawyer said: “I have just spoken with him. He confirmed to me that he resigned yesterday. “He said he resigned in the interest of the Judiciary.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/breaking-real-reasons-why-onnoghen-resigned-by-awomolo/

Politics

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… New Artisan twin bridges to be ready in October The Federal Government has commended the governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, for his administration’s strategic efforts and partnership with the President Bola Tinubu Administration to ramp up infrastructural development in the South East region. The government also reaffirmed its commitment to completing the remaining sections of the Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourts expressways as well as the dualisation of the Enugu-Abakaliki road, being undertaken by the Governor Mbah Administration, describing them as strategic to Ndigbo and Nigeria. The commendation and commitment were given by the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, during the inspection tour of some key road projects of the Federal Government with Dr. Peter Mbah in Enugu, Sunday evening. Briefing newsmen at the end of the inspection, Umahi said, “The Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Port Harcourt and Enugu to Abakaliki roads are three very key projects that are dear to the people of South East. And the president has given adequate attention and the governor of Enugu State has also complemented the efforts of the president in the development of these sections. “We have inspected the flyover at Emene NNPC Depot attracted from Mr. President by the governor. That job is ongoing and I can say that it is about 40 per cent done. “I am happy that we are doing that flyover because the governor, on his own, undertook to do the daulisation of the Enugu-Abakaliki road and work is ongoing. So, it is a challenge to the FG, hence you see the people doing the flyover component of that daulisation, day and night.” The Minister frowned at the prolonged blockade of parts of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway from Abakpa Junction, Enugu by the contractor, thus causing road users untold hardship. “We saw that in Abakpa sections, over 3km is being blocked by RCC, which is the sub-contractor of MTN. So, we have agreed and I have called the contractor, that by Tuesday, if they don’t start work, we are going to remove the barricade. The suffering is just too much. “We also agreed on the flyover components of Enugu-Onitsha that the governor has already concluded with the subcontractor working for MTN. We got involved for him to go ahead and fund it,” he stated. Umahi equally commended Governor Mbah for undertaking the dualisation of the Abakpa Nike-Ugwogo-Opi Nsukka road as well the completion of part of the Ninth Mile-Opi road. “I also want to thank the governor very highly, as he is also willing to do that 3km up to Opi junction on the Enugu – Makurdi road. He is willing to put the wearing course and I will allow him to do that if by Tuesday, RCC does not remoblise to site, because people are really suffering everyday,” he said. Umahi and Governor Mbah also inspected the ongoing construction of a twin-bridge at New Artisan, at the Enugu end of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway where the Minister gave the contractors till October 2024 to complete the project. “I have been here more than 10 times since the collapse of the bridge. The governor went to see Mr. President and Mr President directed immediately for this work to be done. This work is being done by CCECC. I must commend them very highly for the quality of work and speed. This is the speed that Enugu Governor desires and he is also very happy with this. “I want to thank the governor that the moment we put a temporary bypass as he demanded of the president, he had to rebuild all the destroyed roads and I sympathise with him,” he said. He said that owing to paucity of funds, the FG would allow the Enugu State Government to complete the remaining part of the 61km road starting from Naira Triangle based on FG’s Highway Development Management Initiative, HDMI, which is a PPP arrangement, unless the contractors, DGC Nigeria, were willing to continuously finish the project within the next one year and get paid on milestones basis. Umahi commended Governor Mbah for placing governance above party differences, stressing that “after elections, we should stop deceiving the people about party and commit to the campaign promises instead.” Speaking, Governor Mbah commended the FG’s commitment to addressing the challenge of road infrastructure in the region. “We know that we are a common stock in the South East. But we also understand the importance of building a common market, and that common market cannot happen if we do not have good roads. “So, we cannot thank Mr. President and also the Minister enough for the tireless efforts and commitment they have shown in having our roads all paved,” Mbah said. The Real Person! The Real Person! Thank you so much my governor, and the honourable minister of work for your good intentions for our dear State and region. May God keep blessing you people in Jesus’ name. Amen.

https://enugustate.gov.ng/2024/09/12/n100bn-deal-gov-mbah-flags-off-revitalisation-of-enugu-united-palm-products-ltd/What

Politics

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LAGOS, Nigeria — For years, the name SARS hung in the air here in Nigeria like a putrid fog. SARS, which stood for Special Anti-Robbery Squad, was supposed to be the elite Nigerian police unit dedicated to fighting crime, but it was really a moneymaking terror squad with no accountability. SARS was random, vicious, vilely extortionist. SARS officers would raid bars or stop buses on the road and arbitrarily arrest young men for such crimes as wearing their hair in dreadlocks, having tattoos, holding a nice phone or a laptop, driving a nice car. Then they would demand large amounts of money as “bail.” SARS officers once arrested my cousin at a beer parlor because he arrived driving a Mercedes. They accused him of being an armed robber, ignored the work ID cards he showed them, took him to a station where they threatened to photograph him next to a gun and claim he was a robber, unless he paid them a large sum of money. My cousin is one of the fortunate few who could pay an amount large enough for SARS, and who was released. He is not one of the many tortured, or the many disappeared, like Chijioke Iloanya. In 2012 Mr. Iloanya was 20 when SARS officers arrested him at a child dedication ceremony in Anambra State. He had committed no crime. His family tried to pay to have him released but were asked to bring more money than they had. So they sold their property to raise money and went back to the SARS office but Mr. Iloanya was no longer there. They have not seen him since. Photos of him on social media show a young man, still almost a child, with sensitive eyes and a future waiting for him. There are so many families like the Iloanyas who are caught between pain and hope, because their sons and brothers were arrested by SARS and they fear the worst, knowing the reputation of SARS, but still they dare to hope in the desperate way we humans do for those we love. There have been End SARS protests, since 2016, but October 2020 was different, a tipping point had been reached. The protests signaled the overturning of convention — the protesters insisted on not having a central leadership, it was social rather than traditional media that documented the protests, and, in a country with firm class divisions, the protests cut across class. The protests were peaceful, insistently peaceful, consistently peaceful. They were organized mostly on social media by young Nigerians, born in the 1980s and 1990s, a disaffected generation with the courage to act. Their bravery is inspiring. They speak to hope and to the possibility of what Nigeria could become. Of those involved in the organization, none is more remarkable than a group called Feminist Coalition, set up by Nigerian feminists, who have raised more than $180,000, and have provided legal aid, security and food to protesters. But the Nigerian government tried to disrupt their fund-raising. The Nigerian government has reportedly accused Flutterwave, the company through which the donation link was created, of accepting funds from terrorists, even though it is clear that Feminist Coalition’s members are not terrorists. Their fund-raising link suddenly stopped working. Still, they persisted, and began to raise money through Bitcoin. From the capital city of Abuja to the small town of Ogbomosho, state agents attacked and beat up protesters. The police killed a few and detained many others, until social media and video evidence forced them to release some of the detained. Still, the protesters persisted.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/21/opinion/chimamanda-adichie-nigeria-protests.html

Politics

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President Muhammadu Buhari …Rights group tasks PSC on equity, fairness in next promotions By Clifford Ndujihe & Anayo Okoli OHANAEZE Ndigbo General Assembly Worldwide, OGA, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to consider appointing an Igbo as the next Inspector-General of Police, IGP. The group was reacting to the president’s appointment of new service chiefs – Lucky Irabor, chief of defence staff; Ibrahim Attahiru, chief of army staff; Awwal Gambo, chief of naval staff, and Isiaka Amao, chief of air staff, on Tuesday In a statement by its President-General, Onuorah Onyeachonam, yesterday, the group said President Buhari excluded Igbo from the appointments and urged him to appoint the most senior Igbo in the force as IGP. “There is no Igbo man among the newly appointed service chiefs. Those who claim that the newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff, Maj Gen Leo Irabor is an Igbo man should tell us if Irabor is an Igbo name,” he said. “As the Inspector General of Police is due for retirement and fast getting ready to exit the police apex position, we call on the APC- led Federal Government to consider an Igbo man for the position of the Inspector General of Police. If there is no Igbo man or woman qualified for the job of the IGP, promote the Igbo next in line in the Police Force to fit in.” Rights group writes PSC over promotions in Police, calls for equity, fairness The OGA spoke as the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, Intersociety wrote the Police Service Commission, PSC, asking it to among other issues, deliberate on who succeeds, the current IGP and address what it called “Igbo exclusion and other glaring injustices in police promotions.” In the letter to the commission signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chairman, Chinwe Umeche, head, democracy and good governance and Obianuju Joy Igboeli, head, civil liberties and rule of law, the group urged the commission to correct all marginalization in the force, particularly on promotions. Noting that Adamu is due for retirement on February 1 and three DIGs, 10 AIGs have reached retirement age and are expected to go with IGP Adamu, the group said there are ”a number of other senior police officers who are part of the Nigeria Police Management Team chaired by the outgoing IGP. “As your Commission is likely aware, three DIGs and ten AIGs have reached retirement age and will statutorily retire with IGP Abubakar next Monday, 1st Feb 2021, having joined the Force with the outgoing IGP on 1st Feb 1986. “The three retiring DIGs are DIG Baraya, DIG Ogbizi and DIG Oyabade and the 10 retiring Police AIGs are: AIG Karma, AIG Larmode, AIG Mustapha, AIG Inakwu, AIG Mava, AIG Babajide, AIG Babas, AIG Amba, AIG Akpan and AIG Adeoye. “We therefore, wish to bring to its attention and remind same of the outcries generated by the Commission’s last promotions on 18th December 2020. “The outcries by the public, public interest groups and direct victims of the shoddy promotions range from deliberate total exclusion of Igbo/Southeast officers from the rank of Police AIG and abysmal allocation of CP slots to the region as well as padding the lists of those made CPs, DCPs and ACPs and unjust exclusion from the promotion lists of senior officers due for promotion especially those in the rank of ACP scheduled for promotion to the rank of DCP having successfully undergone the mandatory Promotion Exams and Annual Performance Evaluation Reports (APERs). “It is on account of the above that Intersociety is writing your Commission and calling on you to frontally, justly and judiciously address Igbo exclusion and other glaring injustices thrown up in the last promotion exercise which was greeted by widespread outcries and misgivings. “The vacuum created by ten retiring AIGs is a golden opportunity for PSC to make amend. Already, fears are growing widely that there may be another round of promotion exercise outside the confines of regional balancing, merit and seniority. “We hereby attach for the perusal of your Commission and as a ‘working document’ our expert-opinion paper, released on 29th Dec 2020, findings made in the four-page investigative report which we feel is capable of frontally addressing the said injustices, if judiciously studied and acted upon by your Commission. “The investigative findings had frowned at total exclusion of Igbo/Southeast from the list of Police AIGs to the extent that out of the country’s 36 serving AIGs and 17 Police Zonal Commands, headed by same AIGs, no Igbo/Southeast is among them. “In the rank of CPs, too, out of the country’s 119, only eight, instead of at least 19, are from Igbo/South-East and of the eight, only six have a minimum of one year-and-a-half to stay in the Force. “It is therefore our firm demand that these glaring injustices highlighted above must be frontally and justly addressed. There is need to capture the 17 ACPs left out in the December 18, 2020 promotions in the new promotions.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/01/ohanaeze-general-assembly-asks-buhari-to-consider-igbo-for-igp/

Politics

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The All Progressives Congress Senatorial Candidate for Ogun West Senatorial District in Ogun state, Senator Solomon Adeola has emerged the winner of Ogun West Senatorial District seat in the Presidential and National Assembly Election held yesterday. Senator Solomon Adeola who doubles as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, is the senator currently representing Lagos West Senatorial District, he won the Ogun West Senatorial election by a total vote of 112,887 to his closest rival of PDP, Chief Ganiyu Dada Obanibasiri who scored 60,189. The Labour Party candidate came third with a total vote of 19, 244. The result was announced by Professor. Oluseye Olusegun Onabanjo of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta at the Oronna Townhall, Ilaro, the Ogun West Senatorial Collation Centre at about 7. 30pmtoday. Senator Adeola who had won all his five previous elections consecutively made national history by winning again in Ogun West from his present senatorial district of Lagos West making a senator in a state and a senator-elect in another state until the expiration of his current term in June this year. Senator Adeola had won his party’s primary in Ogun West against the incumbent senator, Senator Tolu Odebiyi by a total vote of 294 against zero for the incumbent in a democratic election that had the presence of the incumbent. The winning votes of 112,000 for Senator Adeola marked a departure from the previous senatorial election of 2019 where the winner scored 58, 452 votes out of a total of 150,517 of the three top candidates. Expressing satisfaction with the outcome of the poll in his favour and in favour of all APC candidates, including APC presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Adeola thanked God and his people for the overwhelming confidence and trust they expressed through their votes adding that having gone round the nooks and crannies of Ogun West in his ward to ward campaign tour, he knows where the shoe pinches them and is ready to give effective representation never experienced before in the district. “I want to assure you that having gone round the 59 wards of the district, I am aware of the developmental challenges facing my people in the area of infrastructure, energy, education and healthcare. Even before the election, I have started addressing some of these challenges and I promise to continue in similar pattern in the days, weeks and months ahead,” he stated.

https://www.channelstv.com/2023/02/26/2023-elections-senator-solomon-adeola-wins-ogun-west-senatorial-seat/amp/

Politics

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In April 2015, Muhammadu Buhari became the first opposition politician to defeat a sitting president in Nigeria, in a mostly free and fair election. Mr. Buhari, a former army general, who ruled Nigeria for 18 months from 1983 to 1985, had a reputation for being incorruptible and a disciplinarian. When Mr. Buhari returned to the Aso Rock presidential villa, Nigerians were disgruntled by reports of widespread graft by government appointees, and public services were on the decline. His election was supposed to usher in change, but less than two years later, he has been acting as if tending to the country’s needs should come on his own schedule. On Jan. 19, Mr. Buhari left for a 10-day holiday to London; it seemed odd to leave the warmth of Abuja for the misery of English winter. By early February, Nigerians were told that Mr. Buhari had extended his trip for unspecified medical tests. No return date was given. Who can begrudge a 74-year-old the medical tests he is said to be undergoing in London? If only Mr. Buhari had invested in the human resources and infrastructure required to conduct such medical examinations and treatments in Nigeria. Every year around 60,000 Nigerians seek medical treatment abroad, mostly in India and Dubai. Women who have a choice will spend every penny for maternity services abroad. People in Lagos openly talk of hospitals rationing supplies for those who have to go there. When he first took the reins of government from Goodluck Jonathan, who governed during an oil boom, Mr. Buhari lamented that he found an empty treasury, that Nigeria faced millions of dollars in debt and wasn’t even able to pay civil servant salaries. As Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria was hit hard by the global collapse in oil prices; crude is responsible for more than 90 percent of its exports and 70 percent of its government revenues. Oil prices plunged sharply, from close to $100 a barrel in 2015 to about $70 a barrel now, after recently climbing again.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/opinion/the-case-of-nigerias-missing-president.html

Politics

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President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed hope that his government will not fail but rather the nation will change for good during his administration. President Jonathan was speaking at a national breakfast meeting which held at the banquet hall of the presidential villa, to intercede for the nation. The president said he and his team may not have been the best hands for the job, but that God knows why he put them at the helm of affairs in Nigeria, pledging to do his best in the transformation of the country. The President noted that by God’s grace this government will not fail and was very optimistic that the nation will change for good. He says he will always make supplications to God for his emergence as president, pledging to do his best in the transformation of the country.

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/04/14/jonathan-calls-on-god-to-transform-nigeria/

Politics

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Why the APC should head South In the heat of the ongoing long presidential primary process, it is not likely that the decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress would read this piece. But I hope that someone, who by chance reads it, would whisper these recommendations to them: (1) The APC should not imitate the Peoples Democratic Party in jettisoning zoning. (2) APC should ignore the lure of northernization that comes with the abandonment of zoning. (3) The party should go for a Southern candidate that could muster the widest voter spread across the country, especially among the masses. Although the PDP presidential primary was well planned and well executed, the outcome was not without rancour in the South. Southern leaders (the Southern Governors Forum, Traditional and Religious leaders, and Sociocultural Organisations), who had canvassed zoning the presidential position to the South felt cheated and betrayed. In particular, the hotbed of PDP in the South (South-south and South-east) was so upset that the party’s flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar, quickly embarked on appeasement and reconciliation mission. How he can appease the South-east, whose leaders warned its politicians against accepting a Vice-Presidential slot, remains to be seen. So far, Atiku and PDP national leaders have been afraid to even consider someone from the Southeast for the slot, even though one was chosen in 2019. PDP did not just abandon zoning. It did it in an in-your-face manner. Here’s how the South-east socio-cultural group, Ohaneze Ndigbo reacted: “the PDP is now a political party for the Northern region, with Dr Iyorchia Ayu (Benue) as PDP Chair, Walid Jubril (Nasarawa) as BOT (Board of Trustees) Chair, and Atiku Abubakar (Adamawa) as 2023 PDP presidential candidate,” As if to complete the oppression of the South, another Northerner, Senator David Mark, supervised the PDP presidential primary. No wonder then that, within hours, Southern, Middle Belt, and South-south leaders rejected Atiku as PDP candidate. At the end of the day, this may well be a bluff. However, it cannot go without some repercussions for the PDP. If there is a lesson the APC should learn from the PDP convention, it is not to abandon zoning but to go South as it originally planned. The argument leading to the election of party officials was that the 2015/2019 arrangement was being reversed, implying that the Party Chairman would now go to the North, while the Presidential candidate would go to the South. Accordingly, the party chairmanship was successfully zoned to the North. If they still exist, the intrigues that led to a stalemate in implementing the promised zoning of the presidential candidate to the South should be ignored, if the APC hopes to win the election. Another factor the APC should consider in favour of the South is the role of the legacy parties that formed the APC. Many commentators have drawn attention to the role of the Action Congress of Nigeria, which had as many Governors (6) as the other legacy parties, ANPP (3), APGA (2), and CPC (1). It was the ACN that delivered victory to then candidate Muhammadu Buhari, who had previously run unsuccessfully for the same office three times. It speaks volume to the character of a person or group that ignores this history and the accompanying ethical bond in order to hold on to power. In the final analysis, it may well be suicide for the APC to ignore the South, especially the Southwest, the hotbed of ACN until the formation of the APC. Fortunately, the APC is not short of good candidates from this zone. In his column yesterday, Festus Eriye exposed the fallacy of the idea that only a Northern APC candidate can defeat Atiku, who is also from the North, or that the North is a monolithic voting bloc (see APC’s 2023 options: Facts and fallacies, The Nation, May 31, 2022). Granting that Atiku will be able to cart away some votes, APC should be the party to beat in the APC should still be the party to beat in the region. After all, it has 13 of the region’s 19 Governors currently in power. Equally unfathomable is the idea of another Northerner succeeding President Buhari in the same party after an 8-year tenure. Not only is it an insult on Southern sensibilities, it robs deep on the fragility of our democracy. Here’s where the PDP does not offer a model for the APC to follow. For one thing, the last PDP President was from the South. Therefore, the rotational principle might operate differently for the party. That’s one reason the same Atiku was their candidate in 2019. True, the idea of matching Buhari with a Northern candidate was in the consideration, that, too, should not be a model for the APC, whose Northern candidate would have been in power for eight years by 2023. Still lurking in the background of the ongoing presidential primary process is the new political fad, consensus. There are at least three indications that the APC might be working toward a consensus presidential candidate. First, attached to the nomination and expression of interest form is a consensus form, which many aspirants ignored. Second, the aspirants were asked during the screening if they would agree to a consensus candidate. Again, not all aspirants agreed to the arrangement. Finally, as recently as last evening, Tuesday, May 31, 2022, the President met with the APC Governors and shared with them his “dream” of the “ideal candidate” he would like them to consider. It is no longer the President’s body language. Now it is his dream. It remains unclear where either or both could lead. What is clear is that the President has just given the party leaders another goal to pursue—his dream of the ideal candidate. A categorial statement on zoning could limit the sphere of this wild goose chase. There is no better leadership the President can give on the presidential electoral process at this time than such a statement. If and when he makes the statement, the keyword should be South. - This column was not published on the back page yesterday due to a mix up.

https://thenationonlineng.net/why-the-apc-should-head-south-2/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1654145564

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By Gbenga Olarinoye, Osogbo The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, runner-up in the last Osun state congress, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi said the party’s governorship candidate Senator Ademola Adeleke should blamed for the breakdown in the peace talk between them. Addressing his party supporters weekend, in his country home, Ile-Ogbo, Dr Ogunbiyi stated that, Senator Adeleke flagrantly failed to honour all the three conditions given to him to meet by the national leaders of the party for peace to reign in the party in the state. According to him, the leadership of the party in Abuja summoned the two of them to a peace talk after the crisis that trailed the party’s primary where Adeleke defeated Ogunbiyi by a margin of seven votes. He said at the Abuja meeting Senator Adeleke was asked to concede the post of his running mate to Ogunbiyi’s group, the senatorial seat to the group and also shared both the national and state assemblies legislatures. “At that meeting, I never asked that any condition should be met or I should be refunded for all my expenses or we should share posts. It is in the wisdom of the party leaders that came up with those conditions and the two parties agreed with them”. he said. Dr Ogunbiyi explained further that all efforts by his group to make Adeleke fulfill his side of the agreement did not see the light of the day. As the national Secretariat of the party ordered former Senate President, Senator David Mark and senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to mediate in the crisis, Dr Ogunbiyi said the mediators need not come to him as he had obeyed all the directives of the party. His words: ” I believe in the party suppremacy and I don’t have any litigation in any court against him. So, when they come they should see Adeleke and ask him questions. He directed his followers to go out and work for the success of the party in all the future elections saying that he has no plan to leave the party. When Senator Adeleke was contacted for his reaction to Dr Ogunbiyi’s allegations, he said they are still talking. Adeleke who reacted through his media aid, Olawale Rasheed said, “There is nobody that loses election without a bit of anger.But this is a family affair.Dr Akin Ogunbiyi has affirmed that he is not leaving the party. “He also expressed readiness to work for the success of the party.The rest is politics.The focus now is the preparation for September 22. Peace is here “, he added. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/08/boko-haram-devilish-says-sultan-led-islamic-council/Blame

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Many Jos residents, majorly youths, who are supporters of the opposition PDP in their numbers, on Wednesday, trooped to the Rwang Pam stadium, venue of the APC campaign flag-off to engage in cleansing exercise. Their action came barely 24 hours after the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential flagged off its presidential campaign in the Plateau capital. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several of the support groups of the PDP who were among the youths, said their action was to show their commitment to voting out the APC in Plateau, in the next political dispensation. Kamru Sani, the Director General, Atiku Motivational Movement, who made this known, said the action was meant to sweep out what the APC brought to the state. Sani stated that Plateau is a stronghold of the PDP, and is set to return to its winning ways. “We are here to sweep out all they brought here, as PDP is for Plateau and Nigeria”. “The party is set to be on winning ways again, as it has shown that it is the true party for the state. “The party will bring relief to the sufferings that citizens of the state and Nigeria have had to endure in the last seven years,” he said. Also speaking, Mohammed Hassan, national coordinator, PDP youth Amendment Movement, said the movement would protect the future of the youths in Nigeria. Hassan said Nigerians are witnesses to the type of leadership experienced in the last seven years, and called on Nigerians to vote PDP in 2023. (NAN) Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/11/drama-as-pdp-members-in-plateau-clean-jos-venue-of-apc-presidential-flag-off/

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The keenly-contested November 11, 2023 Kogi State Governorship Election has finally produced a winner with the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Usman Ododo, clinching the much-coveted seat. The State Returning Officer, Prof Johnson Urama, who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, announced Ododo as the winner at 10:23pm on Sunday. “Ahmed Usman Ododo of APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Urama declared in a room crowded with party agents and election observers. Ododo won with 446,237 votes, defeating his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who scored 259,052, while Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 46,362 votes. Results from the 21 local government areas (LGAs) in the state were collated late Sunday with the APC candidate sweeping over half of the LGAs. Ododo, an ex-Auditor General of Local Government in Kogi under Governor Yahaya Bello, was the anointed candidate of the governor who is ending his double terms of eight years. Melaye and some civil rights groups had on Saturday, raised the alarm over “filled result sheets” in the Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of the North Central state. The PDP candidate also called for the suspension of the exercise over violence and vote buying. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) subsequently suspended election in nine wards in the local government area. Late Sunday, INEC said fresh polls will be conducted in 59 polling units in the Ogori/Magongo Local Government Area of the state on November 18, 2023. INEC, however, introduced a condition for the polls to be held in the 59 polling units, saying that “the decision to hold fresh elections is subject to the Returning Officer’s determination of the application of the Margin of Lead Principle”. In his declaration late Sunday, Urama said the total number of Permanent Voter Cards in the affected polling units was put at 16,247, one that was insignificant to the about 200,000 votes gathered by the APC candidate ahead of his closest rival – Ajaka. The margin of lead implied that the elections initially scheduled by INEC for next Saturday in the 59 polling units would no longer be held. Both Ajaka and Melaye have rejected the outcome of the poll, expressing disappointment in INEC and security agencies which they accused of collusion with the ruling APC in Kogi.

https://www.channelstv.com/2023/11/12/breaking-apcs-ododo-defeats-ajaka-melaye-to-win-kogi-gov-election/?fbclid=IwAR3kFguh1VZ2kKh4Ugo7mmIwEi4krTUKYXLhYQfryv_PkvW5eedwhR-jQm0nlfpmod

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SpyNigeria.com is a domain name that carries an air of mystery and expertise, making it an excellent choice for businesses in the Nigerian intelligence, investigation, or surveillance industries. With this domain, you establish a strong online identity and attract potential clients seeking reliable and professional services. Its unique and memorable name sets you apart from competitors, enhancing your brand's visibility. This domain is versatile and can be used in various industries, including private investigation agencies, security companies, or even news and media outlets focusing on Nigerian affairs. SpyNigeria.com's domain name instantly conveys trust and professionalism, making it an invaluable asset for businesses looking to expand their digital presence and reach a wider audience. SpyNigeria.com can significantly impact your business growth by attracting organic traffic through targeted search queries. With its unique and descriptive name, potential clients are more likely to find your business online, increasing the chances of converting them into customers. A domain name that resonates with your industry can help establish your brand as an industry leader, giving you a competitive edge. SpyNigeria.com can also contribute to building customer trust and loyalty by providing a professional and consistent online presence. It creates a strong first impression and instills confidence in potential clients, leading to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals. A well-chosen domain can help you rank higher in search engines, making it easier for potential customers to find you and explore your offerings. Buy SpyNigeria.com Now! At DomainMarket.com our goal is to make the domain process as painless and transparent as possible for you. Once your funds settle and we have verified the transaction (typically between 3 to 7 business days), we will be contacting you via email with the transfer instructions to take control of SpyNigeria.com. To acquire the domain, you incur a one-time expense. Subsequently, upon the domain’s transfer to your ownership, you must annually renew it through your domain registrar. These renewal charges varies depending to your registrar and remitted directly to the registrar. We accept various payment methods, including major credit cards, PayPal, and wire transfers. Our payment processing system ensures a secure and hassle-free transaction experience.

http://spynigeria.com/presidency-says-funds-in-excess-crude-account-intact-not-included-in-bailout-package/

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Queen Elizabeth II begins 3 days of birthday celebrations By Chioma Obinna Commonwealth Medical Association, CMA, on Thursday expressed sadness over the news of the demise of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth. In a statement signed by the President of the CMA, Dr Osahon Enabulele said: “Since being apprised of her death, our hearts have been laden with grief over her earthly transition. The CMA shares the deep sense of loss of the Royal family, the people of the Commonwealth and indeed citizens of the world, over the loss. The statement further reads: “On behalf of physicians from all over the Commonwealth, we offer our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the entire Royal Family, the Government and people of the United Kingdom, and the people of the entire Commonwealth. Her Majesty, the Queen of England was globally known as a strong centripetal force and an effervescent supporter of the Commonwealth and its people. Aside from engendering a new era of openness, integration, and connectivity in the Commonwealth, she admirably performed her roles as Head of the Commonwealth. “She was very collaborative and people-centred and strove hard to connect and integrate the people and nations of the Commonwealth through her very profound and impactful initiatives. Indeed, she was quite motherly, caring, and result-oriented. “We pray that the beautiful memories of her legacies, sacrifices and diligent commitment to the growth of the Commonwealth and its people bring great solace to the Royal family, as well as the people of the Commonwealth during this period of bereavement. May her precious and profound soul rest in perfect peace.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/09/commonwealth-doctors-mourn-death-of-queen-elizabeth-11/amp/

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I recently visited the United States and was invited to the official opening of an impressive, world-class Benue Culture Exhibition in Washington DC. The event was wonderfully well-organised by American Afrophiles and was attended by lots of distinguished people of various nationalities. I don’t normally feel proud of being Nigerian because most aspects of Nigeria are, bluntly put, an embarrassing mess. But my heart sang with proprietary pride when I saw how beautifully the Benue artefacts and archive film footage had been presented and when I heard foreigners enthusiastically praising them. The whole package was a stunning, mood-lifting tribute to the best of Middle Belt history; and I looked forward to personally congratulating Gabriel Suswam, the Governor of Benue State, who was expected to grace the occasion. But guess what? He never showed up! The MC announced his name and the audience eagerly clapped as they anticipated him mounting the podium and speechifying. But there was no sign of him. He didn’t even send a representative. I wished the ground would open up and swallow me when one of the foreigners who was standing next to me scathingly remarked that we shouldn’t really be surprised because Nigerian VIPs are notoriously unreliable and ill-mannered. Na wa for the political Master of Makurdi for missing a golden and rare opportunity to make his state shine on the international stage! OK, so let me grudgingly give him the benefit of the doubt and concede that he may have had a sound reason for failing to make an appearance at a party at which he was supposed to be the Star Guest. But this thing about letting people who are waiting for you down is pretty typical of Naija dignitaries. And, let’s face it: More often than not, this penchant for failing to honour commitments is caused by uncouthness, arrogance and inefficiency…rather than by genuine difficulties or factors beyond their control. They simply get into the habit of regarding themselves as demi-gods and treating others shabbily…though most of them are mediocres who would not get to the top in civilized societies where thieves, thugs and election-riggers become jailbirds not leaders! I left the exhibition venue with a sour taste in my mouth and shaking my head sadly and praying that Suswam would later apologise profusely to the organisers. By the way, I also went to see the “Fela!” (Anikulapo-Kuti) musical while I was in Washington; and it was an enjoyable theatrical extravaganza that was extremely well-received. But it was funded and created by Americans. And I keep wondering why a Nigerian impresario did not come up with this brilliant idea first…and then persuade an indigenous multi-millionaire to finance it. A few thoughts I WANT to express immense gratitude towards the many Vanguard readers who responded sympathetically to my anguished lament about the fact that Oliver, my adored teenage son, left home for a distant boarding school last week. I have derived so much comfort and strength from the wise advice and warm commiserations you kindly sent me via email and text. May God bless you all. But, at the risk of sounding as if I am too selfish, too weak and too emotionally immature to react philosophically to a separation that everyone around me swears will greatly enhance my child, I have to say that I do not accept the widespread belief in this country that our offspring must fly away from the maternal nest before they can truly commence the process of becoming adults. In Nigeria, most kids are despatched to boarding schools as soon as they complete their primary-level educations. Here, I was regarded as overly clingy and somewhat eccentric for refusing to let go of Oliver until he was l6. In Britain, where I grew up, the reverse is true. There, the majority of youngsters live with their parents full-time until they leave their non-residential secondary schools and start work or go to university, art college or whatever. And, interestingly, my Nigerian friends who went to boarding schools are not necessarily less spoiled, less self-indulgent or less skilled at coping with tough challenges than my British friends who went to day schools. I myself went to a boarding school and I’m less disciplined and less adept at surviving life’s shark-infested waters than some of my contemporaries who weren’t boarders. Given that the personalities people wind up with boil down more to their basic natures than to the form of schooling they went through, why do Nigerians constantly insist that boarding schools are “definitely” character-building? One thing I’ve noticed about Africans is that we are often too quick to base our convictions on irrational theories and prejudices rather than hard facts. Meanwhile, almost every shameless looter of public funds who has impoverished this nation went to a boarding school! Ditto almost every woman who has greedily sold her body to buy luxuries like diamonds that she doesn’t need…and almost every cultist or killer who has terrorised his fellow citizens. Frankly, even though there are good folks in Nigeria and bad folks in Britain, the British are, on the whole, less prone to misbehaviour than we are; and I have plenty of British friends who despite not leaving home until they were l8, possess high moral standards and characters that are strong in the right way. And the question I want to ask is this: Given that there is no proof that products of boarding schools are inevitably superior to products of day schools, how can the Nigerians who nagged me to send Oliver away be so absolutely sure that he will emerge from the boarding school experience as a better person?! Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/12/world-bank-says-nigerias-1-5-bn-budget-support-loan-request-still-in-the-works/amp/the

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Reading this on your mobile? Chances are that you'll soon be swapping your mini screen for an artificial electronic assistant, according to new research carried out by researchers working for Stockholm-based tech conglomerate Ericsson. The company's ConsumerLab quizzed more than 100,000 customers in tech-savvy Sweden as well as 39 other countries about their opinions and technological desires for the future and says its research statistically represents the views of 1.1 billion people worldwide. It found that half of smartphone users think that mobile technology will be a thing of the past within the next five years, as the growth of artificial intelligence starts enabling interaction with objects without the need for a phone or tablet. "A smartphone in the hand, it's really not that practical. For example, not when one is driving a car or cooking. And there are many situations where display screens are not so good. Therefore, one on two think that smartphones will belong to the past within five years," said Rebecka Cedering Ångström from Ericsson ConsumerLab. Swedes are among the world's most tech-savvy citizens. Photo: Helena Wahlman/Image Bank Sweden According to Ångström, artificial assistants could instead help consumers to multitask, as well as working as teachers, financial advisors and even doctors. "Things just go so fast now from the idea to the mass market. We have not studied the technology, this is just what consumers think," she added. Meanwhile she predicts that evolving technologies could also allow customers to enhance their leisure time. "Just imagine watching football and being able to choose from where you want to see the game from different places in the stands, or perhaps even from the pitch. Shopping is also an area where you could [virtually] try on shoes and see how they fit on your own feet," said Ångström. The research also suggests that customers are becoming less likely to ditch companies if they are disappointed with the service they receive, and more likely to use social networks to seek change. "Previously it has been the case that when consumers are not happy they vote with their feet. But now 32 percent think that the best way to get a company to transform itself is by posting on the company's social media channels," said Ångström. In a separate statement, Michael Björn, Head of Research, Ericsson ConsumerLab, added: "Some of these trends may seem futuristic. But consumer interest in new interaction paradigms such as AI and virtual reality (VR), as well as in embedding the internet in the walls of homes or even in our bodies, is quite strong. This means we could soon see new consumer product categories appearing – and whole industries transforming – to accommodate this development." Ericsson is a Swedish multinational company providing technology and communication services. It has its headquarters in Stockholm and employs more than 110,000 staff worldwide. Ericsson's Stockholm office. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT Here are the firm's 10 hot consumer trends for 2016 and beyond: The Lifestyle Network Effect Four out of five people now experience an effect where the benefits gained from online services increases as more people use them. Globally, one in three consumers already participates in various forms of the sharing economy. Teenagers watch more YouTube video content daily than other age groups. Forty-six percent of 16-19 year-olds spend an hour or more on YouTube every day. AI Ends The Screen Age Artificial intelligence will enable interaction with objects without the need for a smartphone screen. One in two smartphone users think smartphones will be a thing of the past within the next five years. Virtual Gets Real Consumers want virtual technology for everyday activities such as watching sports and making video calls. Forty-four percent even want to print their own food. Fifty-five percent of smartphone owners believe bricks used to build homes could include sensors that monitor mold, leakage and electricity issues within the next five years. As a result, the concept of smart homes may need to be rethought from the ground up. Commuters want to use their time meaningfully and not feel like passive objects in transit. Eighty-six percent would use personalized commuting services if they were available. Social networks may become the preferred way to contact emergency services. Six out of 10 consumers are also interested in a disaster information app. Internal sensors that measure well-being in our bodies may become the new wearables. Eight out of 10 consumers would like to use technology to enhance sensory perceptions and cognitive abilities such as vision, memory and hearing. Everything Gets Hacked Most smartphone users believe hacking and viruses will continue to be an issue. As a positive side-effect, one in five say they have greater trust in an organization that was hacked but then solved the problem. Consumers share more information than ever and believe it increases their influence on society. More than a third believe blowing the whistle on a corrupt company online has greater impact than going to the police. Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected]. Please log in here to leave a comment.

http://www.thelocal.se/20151208/death-of-smartphone-tops-swedish-research

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Soldiers accused of attacking Rivers community The people of Touma community, Bille kingdom in Degema Local Government of Rivers State have accused soldiers of invading their community. They alleged that 15 houses were torched and many were injured. An eyewitness, Mr. Akpoebi Dino, said unidentified gunmen attacked an Army House Boat at Touma last week, killing two civilians and a soldier. The source said men of the Joint Military Task Force stormed the area in over seven gunboats and shot people. He said: “The soldiers, on reprisal, came to our community in over seven gunboats, shooting sporadically. “The incident occurred, about 10 a.m., Many people were injured and 15 houses burnt down. “The soldiers accused us of conniving with criminals to attack them. We don’t know what they mean by that. “We have been living peacefully with the soldiers for years before this incident. We don’t know the cause of the sudden change in their attitude. When gunmen attacked the military base, the community took those injured to hospital and deposited three bodies in the mortuary.” Bille kingdom described as shocking, the attack on Touma by military men, saying the reprisal was unwarranted. In a statement signed by the Chairman, Bille Kingdom Community Development Committee, Asatubo Igbanibo Kemuel and the Youth President, Obirabi Sanipe Sylvanus, the kingdom noted that Touma was invaded by military men. The statement reads: “Soldiers, who came in about seven gunboats and eight speed boats, attacked Touma. They torched houses and destroyed property. “Residents fled. Many people are still missing. Mr. Profit Joseph, a resident, sustained bullet injuries. “Touma people will never attack soldiers and security personnel. We condemn this attack, maltreatment of innocent civilians and destruction of property. “We urge the Federal Government, Rivers State government and security agencies to intervene. We implore the government and relevant authorities to give the victims relief materials.” The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of 6 Division, Port Harcourt, declined to comment on the incident. He referred The Nation to the Joint Task Force (JTF) acting PRO, who he said is in a position to speak. The Acting PRO, Lt. Commander Otuji, refused to comment. Police spokesman Nnamdi Omoni promised to contact the District Police Officer at Bille. But he later said he was occupied with the visit of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

http://thenationonlineng.net/soldiers-accused-attacking-rivers-community/

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LAGOS — THERE was a mild drama at the Magistrate Court 19, Ikeja in the Lagos Judicial Division yesterday when Master Muyideen Alayande, son of defendant No 2 in the state vs. Chinuwa-Ogwu & Co who was allegedly murdered for ritual purposes surfaced in court in company of his mother, Alhaja Ashabe Alayande. Muyideen is the teenage son of Alhaji Alayande (the second defendant) who claimed he was told by his father to come for some home video shots in what has turned out to be a conspiracy to extort money from Mrs. Oyindamola Amuka, wife of the Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers. The make-belief shots from that event, allegedly taken by Steve Chinuwa-Ogwu, had been generously published by pointblanknews.com as evidence of murder of Muyideen Alayande for ritual purposes. Although the magistrate declined the prosecutor’s plea to put the boy in the dock “to once and for all clear the false allegation of ritual murder being canvassed in the public space and outside the courtroom by Steve Chinuwa-Ogwu, his lawyer Giwa-Amu and pointblanknews.com†because it affects the rest of the case, the prosecutor, nonetheless pleaded passionately with the magistrate to restrain pointblanknews.com and their agents from continued publication of falsehood concerning the on-going trial as that constitute a slap on the face of the court. The court had on May 25th, 2009 restrained Steve Chinuwa-Ogwu, his counsel Giwa-Amu and their medium www.pointblanknews.com from inputting extraneous matters while reporting the court proceedings. The presiding Magistrate in the case involving the state and two persons, Mrs Badejo Okusanya, however told the Police prosecutor, Mr Romanus Inuigbe who brought the presence of the teenager to the attention of the court that presenting him (alleged ritual victim) would translate to conducting trial. She therefore objected to the plea by the prosecutor to record the presence of the boy in court. The drama started immediately after the prosecutor called the attention of the court to a publication in pointblanknews.com which the prosecutor claimed distorted the last proceeding in court against an earlier order urging all parties concerned in the case to report only what was said in court. At the resumed hearing of the case, the prosecutor had told the court that three out of his five witnesses were in court, indicating his readiness to start the trial. He told the court that in spite of the court order earlier made, restraining parties from publishing anything outside the court’s proceedings, Steve Ogwu was still publishing extraneous stories indicating that there was indeed an act of murder committed by the complainants. He drew the attention of the court to Section 133 (4)(9) of the Criminal Code which gave the court the power to restrain parties to conduct themselves only within the ambit of the court. According to him, the publication by pointblanknews.com was meant to dent the image of the court and also prejudice the case pending before the court. He noted that the accused persons were charged for conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money under false pretense, wondering why the online publication, which he said Steve Ogwu was their agent, was alleging murder. At this juncture, the prosecutor called the attention of the court to reference of the publication over ritual murder and stated to the bewildered court, “even the alleged victim of the so-called ritual murder is here, physically present in court. With the permission of this honorable court, I will ask the boy to come out to the court.†He cautioned that if the court allowed further publication of extraneous stories, it would rubbish the case before the court. He urged the court to make a definite order restraining the repeat of such publication. In his response, counsel to Steve Ogwu, Giwa-Amu denied that his client was responsible for the publications. He also alleged that Vanguard had equally published stories which cast him and his client in bad light. Also, Mr Okunniyi representing Alayande denied the involvement of his client in the publication in pointblanknews.com At this stage, the presiding Magistrate queried whether the prosecutor investigated that indeed the first accused person was behind the publication. Earlier, Mr. Okuniyi had apologised for the absence of his client in court, stating that he was indisposed and that he had to travel abroad for treatment. Magistrate Okusanya however frowned at the absence of the suspect without informing the court. Reacting to the controversies over the publications, the Magistrate in her short ruling held that further publications on the case must be limited to the proceedings of the day. The Magistrate adjourned further hearing in the case till July 23, 2009. The charges against the accused persons reads- *“That you Steve Chinua, ‘m’, Alhaji Rasheed Alayande ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did with intent to defraud obtain from one Oyindamola Amuka ‘f’, the sum of N4 million on the pretext that you are treating her child that was sick, a fact you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap c17, Vol II, Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2003. * That you Steve Chinua, ‘m’, Alhaji Rasheed Alayande ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did steal the sum of N4 million, property of one Oyindamola Amuka ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence publishable under section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap C.17, Vol II, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003. * That you Steve Chinua, ‘m’, Alhaji Rasheed Alayande ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did with intent to extort money from one Oyindimola Amuka, cause a publication of a defamatory matter on pointblanknews website, dated Sunday, December 21, 2008 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 376 of the Criminal Code Cap C.17, Vol II, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/06/25/drama-as-alleged-ritual-murder-victim-surfaces-in-court/

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said Nigeria is ready to assist Germany to defeat terrorism. The president said this after he expressed shock and horror at the shootings which recently rocked Munich, Germany. In a terse statement by the Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Mr. Femi Adsina, the president said that a united force by world countries, evil would be defeated. The statement read thus: “On behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Buhari sends his most sincere condolences to the families and friends of victims of the barbaric act. “The President says it is quite unfortunate and inconceivable that the forces of evil do not relent on their activities, but expresses confidence that with the unanimity of purpose from all forces around the world, the workers and perpetrators of these evil acts will not prevail. “The President also assures the people of Germany that Nigerians as a people are standing with them at this time and are ready to assist in any way to defeat the planners and executors of such crimes.” Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/munich-shooting-ready-assist-germany-defeat-terrorism-buhari/

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Read-a-thon champion is Copyright Ambassador Nigerian Copyright Commission has appointed Ms. Osariemen Asein as a Copyright Ambassador. She is to remain a voice for promotion of copyright values and draw attention to importance of creativity. Director General, Dr. John Asein, commended her for drawing attention to values of reading, history, culture, tradition as well as United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. “Through determination, Osariemen has spent the last 10 days focused on the book and importance of reading.” Dr. Asein was at the grand finale of Ms. Asein’s 230-hour read-a-thon in her attempt to break Guinness World Record for continuous reading aloud. He noted that the readings were from books of diverse subjects, including effect of intellectual property infringement on the economy. “As a Copyright Ambassador, the commission will count on Osariemen to speak on copyright issues and encourage youths to read and develop their talents,” Asein said in a statement. He urged Edo State to introduce mandatory reading in schools and organise competitions to mark her feat.

https://thenationonlineng.net/soldier-abandoned-during-operation-coward-army/Read

Politics

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From the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, came a stern warning to the Presidency: Shelve any plan to arrest the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal. The opposition party said government would be pouring petrol on naked fire if Tambuwal was arrested. The warning was issued on a day the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, and the police denied that any move to arrest the Speaker was being contemplated. Meanwhile, the Presidency washed its hands off the Thursday’s police invasion of the National Assembly to stop the Speaker and his colleagues from gaining access into the parliament. ”Published reports have corroborated what we know: That the plan on Thursday was to prevent Tambuwal from entering the National Assembly to pave the way for his Deputy, Emeke Ihedioha, who had already been allowed into the House, to preside over the removal of the Speaker. Were it not so, why would the police even try to seize the mace from the Sergeant-at-arms, as reported? Why would the police detain the Sergeant-at-arms for his refusal? What is the business of the police with the mace, which is the House’s symbol of authority?,”the APC said, yesterday, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. The statement went on: ”It has also now been corroborated that the plan hatched by the PDP and the Presidency was to give Tambuwal the ”Ekiti treatment”, in which seven PDP members removed the Speaker in a 26-member House of Assembly. But for the quick thinking and action by the honorable members who scaled the gate to access the assembly, that plan would have succeeded and Tambuwal would have been removed as Speaker, the consequences of which no one would have been able to foretell. ”Therefore, instead of pillorying those who scaled the gate, we should be commending them for risking their lives to save our democracy. Those who shut the gate against the lawmakers and barred them from carrying out their constitutional duties are the villains, not the honorable members who acted in the nation’s interest.” The opposition party said the “ceaseless hounding of Tambuwal by President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP is patently provocative, to say the least, and calls into question the stated commitment of the Jonathan administration to the rule of law.” ”In the eyes of the law, Rt. Hon. Tambuwal remains the Speaker of the House of Representatives, despite his defection from the PDP to the APC. No matter what the PDP and the Presidency may feel, they are not the court of law, which is the only body that can make a definite pronouncement on the fate of the Speaker,” the APC argued. ”The Speaker also remains the number two man in the hierarchy of the legislative arm of government, which is distinct from the executive arm headed by the President. It is therefore not only unconstitutional but also anti-democratic and anarchic for the PDP-led government of President Goodluck Jonathan to continue to hound the Speaker and desecrate the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly, using the police force that has now become the enforcement arm of the ruling party, having dropped all pretences to neutrality and professionalism.” The party said at a time the political atmosphere has become so charged by the government-backed police assault on the National Assembly, it is a perilous game to seek to arrest the Speaker, for whatever reason, unless of course the administration is bent on deliberately plunging the nation into crisis. ”It is difficult to fathom the reason behind the government’s increasing resort to recklessness, but it may not be unconnected with the rising desperation by the ruling PDP to hold on to power at all cost. Perhaps now that it has started seeing the handwriting on the wall with Nigerians clamouring for change, this government may be tilting towards its last option of throwing the nation into crisis to prevent the 2015 elections from holding. ”We are therefore calling on all men and women of good conscience, especially those who have the ears of the President, to prevail on him not to push the nation into any worse crisis than it is currently encountering. With terrorists daily killing and maiming Nigerians, forcing more than 1.5 million people to flee their homes and threatening the nation’s territorial integrity, the government’s trifling is baffling, and should stop forthwith.” ‘Security agents raided APC offices’ The party, also yesterday, alleged that its offices in Lagos were raided by security agents who, it claimed, destroyed a dozen computers. The APC condemned the alleged invasion it called “perhaps the worst political scandal in Nigeria’s history”, and demanded independent inquiry to fish out those behind it. Giving details of the invasion, the APC, in another statement, said, in the early hours of yesterday, a combined team of men of the DSS and OP-MESA stormed the Bola Ajibola Data Centre belonging to the APC in the Ikeja area of Lagos and arrested 25 APC data agents and three security guards. ”In what was a gestapo-like operation, the APC membership data centre located at Number 10, Bola Ajibola Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, came under siege between the hours of 5:30 am and 7:30 am on Saturday. An operation of terror and brigandage was unleashed on a legitimate operation of a leading national party. They came without a search warrant for the premises. Over 50 security operatives drafted from Abuja operations blocked the two major street entrances to the APC data entry centre, pulled down the gates and spent over 2 hours ransacking and vandalizing the centre”, the party said. ”More than a dozen computers were destroyed. The server was also vandalized along with other equipment in the building. Just like the Watergate Scandal in the USA, the state-sponsored security operatives apparently acting at the behest of the ruling PDP government, turned the office upside down, and pulled out and vandalized everything in sight. ”If the PDP-led government and the security agents had done due diligence and acted professionally, they would have known that the APC data centre is a legitimate operation and the staff are Nigerian youths who were left jobless by the Jonathan government. Apart from the Lagos centre, the operation is decentralized and similar centres are functional in about six different locations around the country. ”They chose to believe the lie that it was a warehouse belonging to one of the national leaders of the party where dangerous weapons were being kept, when in fact it is a centre for entering the data provided by the millions of Nigerians who registered as members of the party during its membership registration exercise.” It described the invasion as another act of impunity. APC called the invasion of the offices an attempt to suppress the opposition, get details of its membership with the intention of using it to rig the 2015 elections and also to destroy the spirit of democracy. ”When on Oct. 6, 2013, we issued a statement alerting Nigerians that the Jonathan administration was using Rivers State as a testing ground for creeping fascism ahead of the 2015 elections, some said we were raising a false alarm, “the party said. ”Well, here we are. In the past five months, the PDP-led government has stepped up its acts of impunity and terror against the leaders of the APC and all non-PDP actors. Elected officers, who are not PDP members, have had their rights repeatedly violated by the police and other security operatives. Never before has an elected government been so scared of the opposition to the point of shutting it down. ”Now that they have overreached themselves by attacking the offices of the main opposition party and destroying part of its membership database, can the PDP-led government still claim to be operating under the rule of law? Can the government sincerely tell the world it is now ready for free and fair elections in 2015? This is one impunity too many, and we will not allow it to be swept under the carpet.” `No arrest order’ “In apparent reference to the arrest move claim, the Office of the NSA, yesterday, described as unfair and total falsehood “the report in some media that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, ordered the arrest of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal at a meeting with Vice President Namadi Sambo and Inspector General of Police Suleman Abba”. The Director, Special Duties in the Office of NSA, Colonel Bello Fadile (rtd), stated this in a statement. “It is not only untrue and mere fabricated reports that the NSA met with the VP and ordered the arrest of Hon Tambuwal, the fact is that the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has been outside the country since Wednesday on pressing national security issues”, the statement said. “To the best of our knowledge, there is no order for the arrest of Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of the House of Representatives. “We therefore urge the media to always cross-check their stories before going to press.” Police spokesman, DCP Emmanuel Ojukwu, also denied any move to arrest Tambuwal. “It lies with the investigators to determine who should be quizzed and/or prosecuted, as the case may be for criminal acts”, Ojukwu stated. ‘Leave Jonathan out of NASS invasion’ Yesterday, the Presidency said Jonathan did not authorise the Thursday’s police invasion of the National Assembly. “The matter is being investigated; we should await the outcome of the investigations and so I urge that we should all refrain from saying anything that may be prejudicial, partisan or uninformed as some people are already doing, which may then turn out to be incorrect. But I can tell you that President Jonathan did not authorise any form of assault on the National Assembly. He has no hand in it. The police authorities themselves have said that they acted on their own, based on information that some thugs were planning to cause mayhem and compromise the safety of lawmakers. Let the police explain exactly what happened. And they have said they will. This is certainly not about President Jonathan. He has a very excellent relationship with the National Assembly”, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, told Sunday Vanguard in an interview. Senate Minority Whip condemns invasion In a related development, the Senate Minority Whip and Chairman of the upper legislative chamber Committee on Capital Market, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon (GOS), condemned in strongest terms the parliament invasion. Solomon, running for governor in Lagos State on the platform of the APC said in Lagos, yesterday, that the police attack on the federal lawmakers was the height of executive lawlessness and interference. He noted that the invasion of the hallowed chambers was a signal that the police might not be impartial in the February 2015 general election. The front-runner aspirant called on the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to maintain neutrality in political matters and remain impartial in contests among the political parties. Solomon, who was a member of the House of Representatives before being elected to the Senate, pointed out that the issue of the defection and speakership of Tambuwal should be left to the members to resolve and not the executive coming into it to muscle him out of office. Speaking in the same vein, yesterday, a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abibakar Tsav, lamented that officers of the police were being reduced to thugs by desperate politicians, to breach the laws of Nigeria. Tsav cautioned: “The use of the police against perceived opposition will usher in anarchy”. He said what was exhibited at the National Assembly, on Thursday, was not only disgraceful and shameful but showed immaturity and intolerance by the Peoples Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/dont-arrest-tambuwal-apc-warns/

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A group, known as the Northern Liberal Democratic Movement (NLDM) has called on the presidential candidate of the opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso to withdraw from the race for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. According to the group, the mood and opinion of stakeholders in the region and the country were in favour of Atiku who it stated was in a better position to win the contest irrespective of the former governor Kano’s decision. This is contained in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja by the National Secretary of the movement, Hon Balarabe Ali Bello on Thursday. In the statement, Bello stated that apart from the mood of the people of the region, the current reality is prompting scores of many chieftains and members of the NNPP to dump the party for the PDP across the region in anticipation of a likely Atiku victory in February. The NNPP has in the last few weeks lost its chieftains to the PDP with the recent being the Deputy Governorship Candidates of the party in Niger and Yobe State, so also the state chairman of the party in Kaduna and the Zonal secretary of the party in the North East zone. These chieftains defected with scores of their supporters. Prior to that, no fewer than 700,000 members of the party defected to PDP in Bauchi state, North East zone of the country prompting many stakeholders in the region to urge Kwankwaso to throw in the towel in favour of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar whom many see as well placed to win the February’s election. “I am joining other well-meaning Northerners to urge our brother, His Excellency, distinguished Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to consider the overwhelming interest of our people and allow the Wazirin of Adamawa win the forthcoming elections. “He is a young man who would eventually get his opportunities at the appointed time. “The rate at which many members of his party are defecting to the PDP should serve as a clear signal to him to do the right thing in the interest of the people of the North and country,” Bello said. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/01/presidency-northern-group-urges-kwankwaso-to-withdraw-for-atiku/

Politics

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Real Madrid remain the most valuable club in world football as they have increased their value by eight percent in the last year. As outlined on the front page of Friday’s edition of Diario AS, Los Blancos now have a value of €3,478m – an increase from last year’s valuation. Barcelona – whose value is measured at €3,193m – are third on the list behind Manchester United, with the valuation of the English club not outlined by the newspaper’s front cover. There is a significant drop to the next most valuable club on the list – Atletico de Madrid rank 13th globally with a value of €1,197m while Valencia are the only other La Liga club in the top 32 listing, with their €408m valuation placing them in 25th position. The top three are well established as the sport’s most valuable clubs ahead of German giants Bayern Munich, with five more English clubs among the top 10, with Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain usually fighting to complete the rankings.

https://sportinglife.ng/real-madrid-remain-footballs-most-valuable-club/

Sports

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Intrigues as govs, ministers battle for Buhari cabinet slots Outgoing ministers and state governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are intensifying their battle of wits to make their way into the next cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari’s first tenure ends at midnight on Tuesday, May 28, the same day all ministers are required to leave office. But many of them are keen to return as are some of the outgoing governors who want to move to the federal level. Many of the returning governors are equally playing high wire politics to make their input into the constitution of the next federal cabinet. They want to nominate candidates from their states to enable them have a firmer grip on the party at the grassroots. Multiple sources told The Nation that the President is determined to hit the ground running this time around by forming his cabinet within weeks of his swearing in. The situation has sparked intense lobbying by party chieftains including governors and ministers for ministerial slots . Some outgoing governors, it was gathered, are allegedly working round the clock to replace the current ministers from their various states in the FEC. The affected governors have reportedly contacted some prominent party leaders to indicate interest in their states’ ministerial slot and possibly make a case for them at the highest level possible. The President is keeping his plan close to his chest but some party leaders say the situation unfolding in the state will make it difficult for the President to personally nominate all members of his next cabinet. The party leaders spoke of massive political intrigues in “some of our states, especially states where the outgoing governors want to serve as ministers.” “Many of the ministers feel they have done well enough to be given a second chance. Currently, both parties are making moves to corner the ministerial slots of their various states,” a source said. Continuing, the source said: “The body language of the president is such that nobody can predict where the pendulum will swing. I can tell you of a Southwest state where many people will vow that President Buhari will give the outgoing governor a place in his next cabinet and others will strongly argue that the current minister from the state will retain his place in the next cabinet. And both of them are openly scheming for the state’s slot by lobbying party leaders and other stakeholders. “In another state in the north, the outgoing governor and the minister are both holding meetings with party chieftains to explain why they should be given the state’s ministerial slot to occupy. “Their ambitions have divided the party as their supporters are now lining up behind their preferred candidates. “Party leaders in the state recently came out to call for caution over the matter. Both the governor and the minister have also been coming here to lobby party leaders.” The Nation also learnt that many of the ministers have been celebrating the President’s directive that they should continue in office till May 28. “They see it as a subtle vote of confidence in them. They are more optimistic now that they may have actually earned the President’s trust,” another source said. “And if you listened to what the President said about why he didn’t overhaul his team, you may want to agree with those interpreting his directive as an endorsement.” But many of the governors eyeing their state’s slot are also relying on their relationship with the President to clinch the job. While some are certain that with the efforts they put into ensuring Buhari’s re-election in their states and the words of commendation they got from him before, during and after the elections, others are banking on the interaction they had with Buhari when he came to their states to commission projects. The Nation also gathered that the governors and ministers may have also taken their lobbying to the presidency in their bid to outwit one another. According to reliable sources, unsure of how the President will constitute his next team, many of those seeking places in the cabinet have been talking to close aides and associates of the President, urging them to put in words for them if the need arises. “It is normal to have ministerial hopefuls reach out to close aides and associates of the President for help. Don’t forget that President Buhari is one man you cannot predict easily. “He is keeping the issue of his next cabinet close to his chest for now. But one thing we can deduce from indications is that he may have plans to announce the next cabinet early. Whether he will call for inputs from party leaders and other stakeholders or he will handle the selection of the team alone is left to be seen,” another source said. The Nation also gathered that there is palpable uncertainty over how the President will choose his team this time around as party leaders and other stakeholders await the mode the exercise will take. “We are still uncertain about who will be consulted for input into the next team. There was a time the President dropped the hint that the party will contribute to the selection of his next team. We are waiting to see how that will play out,” a source said. But a senior party chieftains from the north-central insisted that the President is already consulting party leaders on the next cabinet. According to him, those involved in the struggle for the slots know those involved in the ongoing consultation and are reaching out to them as much as necessary. “It is those who don’t know that will say the President is not consulting leaders on the matter. Ask the outgoing governors and the ministers and they will tell you the various party leaders in their states or regions that they have gone to see on the matter,” he added.

https://thenationonlineng.net/intrigues-as-govs-ministers-battle-for-buhari-cabinet-slots/

Politics

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A second republic senator has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately resign from office and not wait until the coming general elections. Professor Banji Akintoye made the call on Wednesday during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. READ ALSO: Buhari Has Achieved More Than Obasanjo Did In Eight Years – Sagay The former associate of late Obafemi Awolowo believes the President does not have the ability to manage the country’s economy, saying he would advise him to quit his job if he had the opportunity to meet him. He noted that Nigeria has been evaluated as one of the countries with the highest rate of poverty, as well as one of the nations where citizens have the least access to basic amenities. “This president does not seem to know or understand Nigeria, does not seem to care about the suffering of people, and has no clue at all about managing the economy,” said Professor Akintoye. “If I were to stand in from of him, as a fellow citizen who belongs to my generation, I would say ‘brother, you can’t do this job’. “I will say to him, ‘my dear brother you cannot do this job; you have no idea (of) how to do it. Our country is perishing under you, I would advise that you resign (and) not even talk about standing election in 2019’. I think he should resign right now,” he added. The elder statesman made the comments amid controversy and war of words that have accompanied a statement issued by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday. Obasanjo had in the 13-page statement, advised President Buhari not to seek re-election and called for a new movement to salvage Nigeria from its challenges. He also said the Buhari government has failed the people, especially in one of the areas it pitched as its ‘key point of action’ when it assumed office in 2015 – the fight against corruption. Asked whether the claims made by the former President were true, Professor Banji said, “I think so; that’s another matter over which I agree with former President Obasanjo.” The historian further criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a ‘disintegrated’ party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a one that is encouraging ‘corruption’. He also faulted the Senate and called on Nigerians to ensure they elect lawmakers who would lead the country on the path of restructuring and ensure adequate security of lives and property. “APC is not a party, it’s just a contraption that was brought together to produce Buhari as president,” the second republic senator said. “After that, it (the party) disintegrated. Buhari is not using APC as a factor in a government.” “PDP has so mismanaged our lives in the past and has such a hideous record of corruption; to think that Nigerians will after one term vote for a party like PDP is egregious. No, it cannot happen – what should happen is what former President Obasanjo is suggesting. “Nigerians need to get together, put themselves together, and find a way to elect a totally different Senate in 2019 that will lead Nigeria – one, to restructure the country so that we can release all the tensions and two, to bring security into the land. We need to have security in our land,” he added.

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/01/25/i-think-buhari-should-resign-right-now/

Politics

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Gov Ademola Adeleke By Shina Abubakar, Osogbo Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke did not include the name of his daughter nor uncle in the commissioner nominees list forwarded to the State House of Assembly. This was disclosed by the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed in a statement issued to dismiss rumours that the governor’s daughter and uncle were included in the list. According to Rasheed, Mrs Adeleke is the daughter of Chief Omidiran of Osogbo Land and wife of the late Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke. It reads; “The attention of Governor Ademola Adeleke has been drawn to a fake news alleging that the state chief executive has appointed his supposed daughter in person of Adenike Folasade Adeleke and his alleged uncle, Prof Maroof Adeleke into the State cabinet. “There is no truth whatsoever in the report as neither of the two nominees are daughter or uncle of the Governor. Prof Adeleke was born at Ilesa and hails from Osogbo, the state capital. Mrs Adeleke is the daughter of Chief Omidiran of Osogbo Land and wife of the late Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke. “We had expected those pushing the fake news to engage in basic investigative journalism if they have any altruistic motive. If however the goal is to malign the state Governor, the truth can not be hidden as the nominees are bona-fide indigenes of Osogbo Land. “We therefore urge members of the public to ignore those merchants of fake news. No biological member of the Governor’s family is included in the cabinet list. Governor Adeleke is committed to fair distribution of appointments based on competency, spread and sectoral representation”. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/07/gov-adelekes-daughter-uncle-not-in-nominees-list-spokesperson/

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UNN VC, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba By Emeka Mamah Enugu—THE Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Professor Chukwuma Ozumba, has said “motivation is the secret behind the increased productivity among the staff of the nations’ premier independent university.” Ozumba, who spoke in an interview with Vanguard, said his administration realised the need to motivate lecturers and other non-academic staff of the institution, saying the International Webometric ranking, which placed the university as the first among all the universities in the country, was among such successes being recorded. He added that it is not a chance occurrence, but the result of a well thought-out policy aimed at increasing academic productivity among scholars and scientists of the university. Ozumba, who is a professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, stressed that motivation of staff was at its lowest ebb before he assumed office two years ago, pointing out that he went to work with his team, bringing a favourable turnaround for UNN. A professor, who asked not to be named, corroborated the Vice Chancellor’s statement, saying Ozumba’s administration had also restored adequate funding of departments and other units of the university. Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Vanguard newspapers or any employee thereof.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/motivation-secret-increased-productivity-unn-vc/?_e_pi_=7%2CPAGE_ID10%2C6254331487

Education

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