welcome Ajabor Gospel Blogs

Enugu East Sen. Zone endorses Ugwuanyi for second term

2018-05-13T06:10:00.001-07:00

The people of Enugu East Senatorial Zone of Enugu State, yesterday, at a solidarity rally, pledged their support for the re-election of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his good works in the state. The people of Nkanuland, through a motion moved by the former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, seconded by the former Military Administrator of Abia State, Col. Anthony Obi (rtd) and put to voice vote by the former Minister of Information, Hon. Frank Nweke, unanimously endorsed Governor Ugwuanyi for a second term in office.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

They said that Gov. Ugwuanyi has engendered peace and good governance in the state, adding that his “uncommon leadership style” has favoured the people of Nkanuland in so many ways. The event, which was attended by other notable stakeholders of the zone, such as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi; Senator Gil Emeka Nnaji and his colleagues in the National Assembly; members of the State Assembly and State Executive Council, Council Chairmen, including Lady Jane Nnamani, wife of the former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani, among others, also witnessed the presentation an endorsement register signed by the stakeholders of the zone. Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Hon. Augustine Nnamani explained that the rally was a mass gathering of all the people of Nkanuland in appreciation of the governor’s “inclusive, people-oriented and development driven leadership”. The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ubosi said he was overwhelmed by the governor’s peace and good governance initiatives in Nkanuland in particular and the state in general, stressing that serving a second term would enable him complete the good works he has started in the state. Responding, Gov. Ugwuanyi thanked the people of Nkanuland for their support, solidarity, goodwill, prayers and endorsement, urging to intensify efforts towards the ongoing voters registration for continuation of good governance in Enugu State.

Finima killings: Soldiers, youths shot my son in my presence —Deceased’s father

2018-04-25T04:34:00.002-07:00

By Egufe Yafugborhi

PORTHARCOURT— BEREAVED Gogo Onyeoma, yesterday, alleged that military men, guided by youths of Finima, Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State, shot his son, Goodnews Gogo, in his home at Ajalamoni fishing settlement of Finima.

Goodnews, 22, was among Andoni settlers, including a pregnant woman, reportedly killed April 22 when military personnel safeguarding oil installations in Bonny area, moved into the fishing settlements over brewing conflict between the Andoni settlers and the landlord, Finima. His Majesty, Dr. Miller Ikuru, Ikwut VII, Okaan-Ama Ikuru, Chairman, Andoni Area Council of Traditional Rulers, in a briefing in Port Harcourt, yesterday alleged that “the unwarranted attack on April 9 and 22 by Finima and Andoni in the fishing ports resulted in killing of five, many others drowned and yet others missing till this moment.” According to Onyeoma, “I was in my home when the soldiers with Finima boys, about 40, invaded and started beating up people. Before I knew what was happening, my son, who was in my front, was shot dead. “By 1.30pm, they had shot and killed Goodnews, killed one pregnant woman and killed Lazarus. They left and suddenly came back asking for my son’s corpse. The soldiers wanted to take the body, but I sensed it and quickly removed him. That was how they left.” However, Finima General Youth Leader, Eric Tay-Brown, said: “The Andoni people are not telling the truth. They claimed on April 9 that Finima youths abducted one of their person, Prophet Blessing. We got the police, JTF to investigate and nothing of such was established. “Now we heard that Blessing, allegedly abducted, has been sighted in Ngo, Andoni village. But they went ahead and attacked Anthony Diepriye, a Finima son, nearly beating him to death. We reported the matter to Police and soldiers who went in for investigation. But Andoni people attacked the security operatives and I hear it got fatal.” They attacked JTF—Police Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers State Command, Nnamdi Omoni, also said: “I can also confirm that two persons died there. That encounter was between men of the JTF and youths in Finima fishing settlement. They attacked them and there was return fire, which explains the situation. Normalcy has been restored to the area.” The Andoni Area traditional council, however insisted: “Chiefs and the people of Bonny should, without sentiments, aid law enforcement agencies in their investigations to get to the root of this matter in order to restore peace and normalcy in the area.”

10 feared dead in Abia, Cross River communal clash

2018-04-25T04:16:00.001-07:00

By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—A bloody communal clash between the people of Isu clan in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State and their neighbours from Utuma in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State is feared to have left 10 persons dead and scores of houses reportedly set ablaze.

The bloody clash which was said to have erupted last week Wednesday has reportedly left the Abia community deserted as the people were said to have fled the community.

Consequently, the people of Isu have sent a save our soul, SOS, to the Abia State Government to urgently rescue them from being wiped out by Utuma people. According to a community leader from Isu , Hon. Nicholas Igwe Kalu, “over 10 persons have been killed in the fracas while several houses have been torched in Isu clan. ” But the police disputed the claim, saying no death was recorded and that only a farm hut was partly burnt. The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Anthony Ogbizi who confirmed the crisis said however that the area is now calm and that his command and his Cross River State counterpart have stationed their men there to ensure that peace reigned. He disputed the claim of Isu people that one of their persons was still being held, saying he had challenged them to name the person. Igwe Kalu traced the crisis to an on-going road grading being executed by the Ibeto Group, an indigenous firm interested in the development of lime stone said to have been discovered in Isu. ” Utuma people became more hostile to my people since the discovery of lime stone in the area was made public and Utuma people, in collaboration with people from Biase, abducted some members of my community.” According to him, they were disrupting the road project in Isu, pointing out that Isu people sent emissaries to them and appealed to them to allow the work to go on and even promised to persuade the company to assist them if they desired. He admitted that in reaction, Isu people also abducted some Utuma people but explained that both sides released their captives following the intervention of the police and the military. “After that, they went and reinforced and launched an unprovoked attack with sophisticated weapons, killing and destroying houses. The casualties we have recorded in this attack are only on our own side. If the government fails to intervene immediately, our clan may be wiped out. “We want the government to bring the National Boundary Commission to, as a matter of urgency, come and demarcate our boundary with Cross River State as the best permanent solution to constant clashes between us and the Cross River people,” Kalu said. Giving details of the crisis, CP Ogbizi said that his command was first informed of the crisis on April 17 and he quickly dispatched his men to maintain order in the area. “However, on Saturday, we got calls from Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, the deputy governor and many others that there was communal clash in the area. We raced there to dominate the place.”

Use NIN to democratize Africa, Buhari charges leaders

2018-04-25T03:45:00.000-07:00

…Sets 70m NIN enrollment target for Nigeria by Dec 2019

By Emmanuel Elebeke

ABUJA—President Muhammadu Buhari has charged African leaders to use National Identity Number, NIN, to enhance democratization process on the continent. President Buhari gave the charge yesterday while declaring open the 4th Annual Electronic Forum on Identity in Africa (ID4Africa2018), tagged: Harmonization of Identity Scheme, holding in Abuja.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari

The President, who was represented on the occasion by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said Africa needed to embrace NIN to be able to drive its resources by making digital identity infrastructure more efficient and creating enabling environment for talented African youths to tap emerging technologies. He averred that Nigeria and, by extension, Africa must leverage on its digital identity as a reliable tool for socio-economic development. With the advent of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning techniques, and robotic machines, he said now was the time to build ecosystem that will enhance security on the continent and prevent wasteful expenditure. President Buhari said: “My charge to you is that NIN should be used to enhance the democratic process in Africa in the immediate future. Africa needs to embrace NIN … over driving in the use of resources by making digital identity management infrastructure efficient thereby creating an enabling environment for talented African youths to tap into these technologies. “With the advent of disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, now is the time to build ecosystem that will enhance continent wide security, minimize fraud and wasteful expenditure. “Identity forms the nucleus of our daily activities, cutting across sectors of the economy. As a responsible government, we are extremely aware the importance of gravitating towards digital identity. “The International community, especially the developed countries, has adopted identity as a tool for transformation of governance and service delivery in areas such as transportation, financial inclusion, immigration, healthcare, social safety nets, agriculture, and security and so on. “The importance of the summit in optimizing the benefits of digital identity and leveraging its use for accelerated development prompted Nigeria’s decision to host the summit,” he added. The President also announced that Federal Government has set a target to grow the database of NIN from 28 million to 50 million by December 2018 and subsequently to 70 million by December 2019

Israel now wants voluntary exit of African migrants

2018-04-25T03:15:00.002-07:00

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu giving a TV interview

The plan to forcibly deport thousands of illegal African migrants has been shelved by Israel, but is encouraging voluntary deportation. In a written response to the country’s Supreme Court, the government said forced removal of the migrants “is no longer on the agenda”.
However, Israel’s immigration authorities are still seeking ways to deport migrants voluntarily, it said. The fate of Israel’s roughly 30,000 illegal African migrants has become a hugely contentious issue. The supreme court previously suspended a plan to expel the migrants – mostly from Eritrea and Sudan – unless they voluntarily accepted a cash lump sum and a plane ticket out of the country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then cancelled a UN deal to resettle the migrants in Western nations. Under the deal, Israel would give “temporary residence” to a migrant in Israel for each migrant resettled abroad. On Monday, 18 Democratic members of the US House of Representatives reportedly wrote to Mr Netanyahu saying they were “dismayed” and “disappointed” that he had dropped the UN proposal, saying it left the migrants “in limbo, with no clear next step”. Most of the African migrants in Israel are from Eritrea – a one-party state whose leaders have been accused of crimes against humanity by a UN inquiry – and war-torn Sudan. They say they fled danger at home and that it is not safe to return to another African country, but Israel considers the majority of African asylum seekers to be economic migrants. Most of them entered from Egypt several years ago, before a new fence was built along the desert border. This has ended most illegal crossings. A decision in January to offer the migrants a cash lump-sum and a plane ticket to leave Israel voluntarily or otherwise face forced expulsion has been criticised in Israel. Some critics in the country and among the Jewish community abroad – including former ambassadors and Holocaust survivors – said the plan was unethical and a stain on Israel’s international image. The UN refugee agency said it violated local and international laws, and large protests were held in Israel.

BREAKING: ‘House Speaker won’t seek re-election’

2018-04-13T03:40:00.000-07:00

House Speaker Paul Ryan has told confidants that he won’t run for reelection in November, according to reports.

He was expected to soon announce the decision, and Politico reports he’ll tell his fellow GOP lawmakers during a Wednesday morning meeting. The 48-year-old Wisconsin Republican has privately wavered for months over whether to continue as house speaker, and was said in December to be considering stepping down following the upcoming midterms. Ryan — Mitt Romney’s vice presidential candidate in 2012, and a representative since 1999 — hasn’t ruled out running for President in the future. If Ryan steps aside, Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise could be in line to fill his role, according to Axios. Source: nydailynews Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/breaking-house-speaker-wont-seek-re-election/

Breaking: Buhari extends VAIDS to 30 June

2018-04-13T03:27:00.000-07:00

President Muhammadu Buhari has on Wednesday, approved the extension of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) to June 30.

The statement equally noted that no further extension of time will be approved after June 30. Quoting President Muhammadu Buhari as cited by the official tweeter handle @NGRPresident, “For a nation of people who are competitive and driven, it is not a pride that we are the lowest performer in tax to GDP, not just in Africa, but in the world. “Nigeria’s growth needs are such that every Nigerian must do his duty to his nation, to his neighbour, and to himself. “Hiding monies overseas, evading taxes by manipulation, and other unwholesome practices, have never developed a country, and for Nigeria to attain her true potential, these must stop. Newsmen equally gathered that the short extension after the original March 31 date was based on the appeals of professional bodies and individual taxpayers. However, ‘no further extension of time will be approved after June 30’Presidency said. The President added that a new date was also given, based on the conviction of @FinMinNigeria that the overall objective to increase compliance will be attained, and additional revenue will accrue. A fresh Executive Order will be made to give legal backing to the new timeline. The President urged Nigerian companies and individuals to join government in the rebuilding mission, “and do the right thing by taking this window of extension to regularize.” He added that the right thing may not be convenient or comfortable, “but in the long run, we will all have a nation we can be proud of.” President Buhari further urged tax authorities to use the extension window to perfect plans to prosecute those who fail to regularize their tax status. He further said that ‘VAIDSNG’ is one of the key policies being used by the Federal Government to reposition the Nigerian economy and correct inherited underdevelopment. Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/breaking-buhari-extends-vaids-30-june/

FG reveals Nigeria’s current population

2018-04-13T03:16:00.000-07:00

The National Population Commission (NPC) has put Nigeria’s current population at 198 million people, with urban population growing at an average annual growth rate of about 6.5 per cent Chairman of NPC, Mr Eze Duruiheoma, stated this in New York while delivering Nigeria’s statement on Sustainable Cities, Human Mobility and International Migration at the 51st Session of Commission on Population and Development. Duruiheoma said: “Nigeria remains the most populous in Africa, the seventh globally with an estimated population of over 198 million. “The recent World Population Prospects predicts that by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world. “Over the last 50 years, the Nigeria’s urban population has grown at an average annual growth rate of more than 6.5 per cent without commensurate increase in social amenities and infrastructure. “It grew substantially from 17.3 in 1967 to 49.4 per cent in 2017. In addition, the 2014 World Urbanisation Prospects report, predicts that by 2050, most of the population – 70 per cent – will be residing in cities. The National Population Commission (NPC) has put Nigeria’s current population at 198 million people, with urban population growing at an average annual growth rate of about 6.5 per cent Chairman of NPC, Mr Eze Duruiheoma, stated this in New York while delivering Nigeria’s statement on Sustainable Cities, Human Mobility and International Migration at the 51st Session of Commission on Population and Development. Duruiheoma said: “Nigeria remains the most populous in Africa, the seventh globally with an estimated population of over 198 million. “The recent World Population Prospects predicts that by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world. “Over the last 50 years, the Nigeria’s urban population has grown at an average annual growth rate of more than 6.5 per cent without commensurate increase in social amenities and infrastructure. “It grew substantially from 17.3 in 1967 to 49.4 per cent in 2017. In addition, the 2014 World Urbanisation Prospects report, predicts that by 2050, most of the population – 70 per cent – will be residing in cities. “The 2010 human mobility Survey report revealed that 23 per cent of the sampled population were of more females than males”. He said the category of population mostly engaged in urbanisation and migration were young people of teenage and adolescents’ girls and boys, women of child bearing age and the working age population. He said existing urbanisation trend coupled with internally displaced persons (IDPs) in cities, pose critical challenges to securing sustainability of our cities, including efforts to make them smart and responsive to human influx. “The Displacement Tracking Matrix round XXI of January 2018 identified estimated 1.7 million IDPs in over 321,580 households across six states of North-East Nigeria with 40 per cent residing in camp-like settings in urban areas plus 1.4 million returnees. “The number of IDPs represented 4.5 per cent increase compared to the 1,702,680 identified in Round XX (Dec. 2017),” he added. Duruiheoma said like in other developing countries, Nigerian cities hosted wide spread poverty, under-employment and unemployment at an average of 18.4 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics 2017 report. The NPC boss bemoaned the insecurity and inadequate and inequitable health care services for adolescents and women of child bearing age. “Nigeria continues to commit to solving the challenges of insurgents in the Northeast, which has induced a high number of internally displaced persons. “We acknowledge that women, children and particularly the girl child are often the most vulnerable in these displacements, and in this regard, we remain focused on the wellbeing of these vulnerable parts of our population. “We are committed to providing adequate health care services, reducing maternal mortality, rebuilding safe schools and empowering our women, ensuring no one is left behind in terms of achieving sustainable development,” he said.

FG boosts power supply in Abia Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com

2018-04-10T07:53:00.001-07:00

By Anayo Okoli UMUAHIA—THE Federal Government yesterday, announced that it has added 40 megawatts mobile power transformer to the 132/33KV to Ohiya Transmission sub-station in Umuahia, as part of its effort to improve power supply in Abia State. Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/fg-boosts-power-supply-abia/

Fashola Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/fg-boosts-power-supply-abia/ It also said that the transformer in Aba transmission sub-station was equally boosted with 60 MVA transformers. Speaking at the inauguration of the transformers at the Umuahia sub-station, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, explained that the Umuahia project has brought to 90 such booster transformers across the country in the last few months. According to Fashola, “with the inauguration of the Umuahia transformer, power supply to city and its environs, including Bende, Ikwuano, Ohafia and parts of Arochukwu, Isuikwuato and Umunneochi council areas will improve.” He further stated that the Aba sub-station would ensure steady and quality power supply to the over 30,000 shops at the Ariaria International market and would boost the economy of the state. Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/fg-boosts-power-supply-abia/

52 Year Old Abuja Civil Servant Reveals How She Lowered Her Blood Pressure in 3 Weeks using a NAFDAC Approved Solution Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com

2018-04-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

If you’re tired of struggling with high blood pressure, specifically someone who wants to cure hypertension, lower blood pressure and avoid heart attacks, strokes and kidney failures… Then this may be the most important letter you’ll ever read. Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/52-year-old-abuja-civil-servant-reveals-lowered-blood-pressure-3-weeks-using-nafdac-approved-solution/ The reason why is because I was once in your shoes. My name is Mrs. Rose, and I was battling with high blood pressure up to the age of 52 years and it almost cost me my life Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/52-year-old-abuja-civil-servant-reveals-lowered-blood-pressure-3-weeks-using-nafdac-approved-solution/ You see, the problem with high blood pressure or hypertension is that… there are drugs that can actually help you manage it for some time…. But unfortunately, most of these drugs are harmful and have a dangerous side effect on you. I know this because; I have tried lots of them. Both the ones I got in Nigeria, and some other drugs that my children in Scotland and UK sent from abroad. Take for example, there was a time I was placed on Amlodipine (5mg or 10mg). It actually gave me a temporary relief, and helped me maintain my blood pressure. But, as time goes on, as I continued using it… I will experience stiff neck, ear ache and loss of hearing. Later on, I started to feel joint pain, joint stiffness, extreme fatigue, severe headache, swollen face, low fever. Sadly, I decided I might have to quit my job, so I could rest and manage my hypertension very carefully. So, I personally began to search for solution, another alternative way to lower blood pressure without using expensive and harmful drugs. During a workshop at the multinational company where I worked… My entire situation changed when I came in contact with an old time Doc friend, Mrs. Obasanya who was now based in the USA. She now also runs an herbal enterprise, so we exchanged contact again and started talking frequently. At a point, I opened up to her about how my high blood pressure is almost wrecking havoc to my body system and if she knew anything I could do to reverse it. Maybe, it was a coincidence, but… Mrs. Obasanya’s mom and I share the same story. She narrated how her mum almost ended up with stroke caused by her high blood pressure, until she was saved by a particular supplement they got from the US. She recommended the same herbal supplements for me. I was willing to pay the price despite the expensive price of the supplements and high cost of shipping. Immediately, I started taking them… morning before breakfast, and night before dinners as recommended. After one week, I was surprised at the results I got… I noticed that my blood pressure was becoming normal, I slept well at night and I could perform activities without feeling dizziness, or any side effects that comes from other drugs I used in the past. After 3 weeks, I went for medical check-up, and this time around I found that my blood pressure was very normal at 121/83. My doctor was surprised and he repeated the blood pressure readings again just to be sure. To make sure it was no magic, I decided to get the same supplements and give it to my Winners’ chapel church members with HBP… And also some of my very close friends that had similar high blood pressure conditions. Likewise, lots of them came back and were marveled about how the dietary supplement helped normalize their blood pressure. At this point, let me introduce you to the High Blood Pressure Solution that worked for me, and helped me normalize my blood pressure, and lower blood sugar without any side effects at all… High Blood Pressure Solution Pack Natural Therapy & Safe Way to Manage Your High Blood Pressure and Break FREE Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/52-year-old-abuja-civil-servant-reveals-lowered-blood-pressure-3-weeks-using-nafdac-approved-solution/

If Nigeria tells her story, others will keep quiet – Prof. Bande Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com

2018-04-10T05:29:00.000-07:00

“Nigeria and Nigerians are always happy when our sons and daughters excel all over the world. Millions of Nigerians are doing Nigeria proud all over the world,” he said. Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/nigeria-tells-story-others-will-keep-quiet-prof-bande/ Some officials of the Nigerian Missions in New York standing in fron of Nigeria House to celebrate the Nigerian Independence Day Parade According to him, the Federal Government has posted eminently qualified Nigerian envoys to the U.S. and the UN to project Nigeria’s image of the country to the outside world. Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/nigeria-tells-story-others-will-keep-quiet-prof-bande/ “There is no place as vibrant as Nigeria; that is who we are,” the Nigerian envoy stressed. Bande pointed out that other countries also had their own challenges, saying no country is immuned from problems. He said Nigeria disapora was very united, explaining that there is neither Hausa, Ibo or Yoruba sentiment among Nigerians once they left the shores of country. He also said efforts were ongoing to deal with the issues of corruption, disintegration, and insecurity, among others. The Nigerian envoy commended Obilo and family, saying: “I am happy a Nigerian is inviting Nigerian officials to his house to appreciate them. Also speaking, Nigeria’s Acting Consul-General in New York, Mr Tanko Suleiman, said Nigerians could fight when they were in the country. “But when we get outside the country, we fight as one Nigeria. Let us bring that thing that we practise outside back home,” Suleiman said. Obilo, in his remarks, said it was his tradition to host Nigerians and Nigerian officials, commending them for representing Nigeria well in the U.S. and for the reforms at Nigerian missions. “We Nigerians in the diaspora love our country. At the same time, we love our countries of residence. U.S. showed me who I can be and trained my children without any problems.” He, however, bemoaned some of the challenges confronting the country but pledged to continue to contribute his quota for the upliftment of his fatherland. The Nigerian philanthropist, who sponsors medical outreaches to Nigeria annually with his American partners, said: “Nigeria is blessed with many things but we also have challenges – the leadership is poor.

Adesina blows hot, tells contenders to run away Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com

2018-04-10T04:53:00.001-07:00

By Nwafor Sunday Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina Monday advised prospective contenders to have a rethink, following Buhari’s declared interest to run for the forthcoming 2019 election. Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/adesina-blows-hot-tells-contenders-run-away/ Adesina noted that Buhari is the only candidate that can take Nigerians to the Promised Land. He disclosed this barely four hours the President made a public declaration to contest for 2019. Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/adesina-blows-hot-tells-contenders-run-away/ Adesina Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/adesina-blows-hot-tells-contenders-run-away/ In his article titled 2019: Let the others simply run away, Adesina reeled out Buhari’s achievements noting that he will support him as long as he knows that the president will perform more than anyone else. Read his full article below: 2019: Let the others simply run away There are two options for those in contention for the presidency in 2019: run, or run away. Now that President Muhammadu Buhari has indicated his intention to run, dwarfs trying to wear a giant’s shoes should simply run away. The cat has returned from a journey, let the rats scamper for safety. Show clean pairs of heels? But this is a democracy! Everybody is free to run in the direction he or she fancies. True. So, what I’ve said is mere advice, which they can take, or choose not to take. Nigerians will decide early next year. The greater the challenge, the sweeter the victory. I have always said it privately and in public. If President Muhammadu Buhari decides to run for a second term in 2019, I would support him. It doesn’t matter whether I am in government or not. For some of us, the man Buhari is a conviction, a resolution, a man to admire and adore since 1984, when he became military head of state. Is he perfect? Show me the man who is. Is he running a perfect government? Show me the government which is. Is he sincere? Very. Does he love the country? Dearly. Will he take Nigeria to the Promised Land? As the good Lord helps. And he is on the way there. Does he need more time? Sure, he does. The rot was too much, benumbing. Nigeria is doing a lot more with a lot less today. There was a time we were awash with money. Oil sold for as high as $120 dollars per barrel, and we produced up to two million barrels per day. For many years. But we had no roads, no electricity, no health care, no security, nothing. The money was simply looted. They sat round the table, as if gathered for lunch, and hundreds of billions of dollars were shared. Now, after oil prices crashed to as low as 30 dollars per barrel in 2015, and currently oscillates between 50 and 60 dollars, Nigeria is doing great things. Electricity has been taken to over 7,000 megawatts, from the inherited 3,000. The economy is now being truly diversified, after five decades of lip service. Agriculture is now the second biggest thing after oil, and is poised to become number one in the not too distant future. Farmers, in their millions, now smile to the banks. The farmer is now king. He sends himself on pilgrimage to Mecca or Jerusalem, paying his own way. Those who want more wives among them have even taken. And not on credit. Lol. With income standing at about 60% less than what we used to earn, N1.3 trillion was spent on capital in 2016. The 2017 budget will close with about the same amount being expended on capital projects. Simply because you have a honest man in leadership. Not that corruption has been wiped out, no, but it has been drastically curbed. And anyone serving with the man knows that stealing is now corruption. When fish rots, it starts from the head. But we now have a head that shows the way. Mai Gaskiya. The Honest Man. Shine the light, and people will find the way. How about our foreign reserves? They say we should stop talking about the past, and simply face the future. So that Nigerians would not be reminded of how they ran the country into a hole? With oil at its highest prices for many years, what they left in foreign reserves was a miserly $29.6 billion. It dropped to as low as $24 billion about a year ago, because of collapsed oil prices. But then, by divine mercies, prices began to inch up in the international market. It reached $60 per barrel, just about half of what they earned for many years. We cut unbridled importation of what can be produced locally. Prudence became the watchword. And foreign reserves now stand at over $46 billion. Why? Simply because the money is not being pocketed by those in power, as it once happened. And then, some voodoo priests came: don’t run for a second term. Give way to younger people. Take a well deserved rest. Blah blah blah. As if they were the beginning and end of democracy. The motive was simple: we must dissuade this man from running, so that he wouldn’t become the greatest ever Nigerian leader. He must not become the authentic national hero. All types of cards were being flashed, yellow, green, red, purple, as if they had become emergency referees. But President Buhari kept his peace. No abuse for abuse, no railing for railing. When you are in the marketplace, you concentrate on the person you are transacting a deal with, and ignore the noise of the market. Now, the Tower of Babel has been resoundingly ignored, and democracy will be the victor. Early next year, Nigerians will decide what they want. Go ahead on the journey to Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey, or go back to Egypt, a land of eternal bondage, and excruciating pains? Nigerians will do it again. They will freely elect the leader they want, without pandering to ethnic, religious, and other primordial sentiments being currently whipped up. There will be no doomsday, as the election will be free and fair. No wuru-wuru or mago-mago under Buhari’s watch, no matter what. A man that swears to his own hurt. Nigerians, President Buhari is on the march again. For the sake of our tomorrow and the ages to come, for the sake of our children and generations yet unborn, let’s do it again. Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/adesina-blows-hot-tells-contenders-run-away/

Minimum Wage: Labour present fresh demand using current economic indices Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com

2018-04-10T04:43:00.000-07:00

Abuja – The Organised Labour has officially presented a fresh demand for higher new National Minimum Wage for workers to the Federal Government Tripartite Committee using current economic indices. Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/minimum-wage-labour-present-fresh-demand-using-current-economic-indices/ Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, General Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/minimum-wage-labour-present-fresh-demand-using-current-economic-indices/ NAN recalls that Organised Labour had two years ago demanded for N56, 000 as the national minimum wage for workers in the country. Ozo-Eson said that the fresh demand for the higher wage was submitted at the last meeting of the tripartite committee on March 27. According to him, we have taken a position when we made the initial demand on the government which is almost two years back. “But then when we got to the tripartite committee and the committee called on all stakeholders to submit memorandum. “In responding to the request for a memorandum, we then use current economic indices to make a fresh demand. So, what we place and what we demand is an outcome of analysis we carried out. “We did the analysis using the current economic table and data of the nation and of cause that came to something different. “We are going to maintain what is in the memorandum that we have submitted to the tripartite committee and it is not something or a figure we will be discussing in public, ‘’he said. He also said that the fresh demand was a joint memorandum by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The NLC General Secretary added that we have formerly submitted it at the last meeting of the tripartite committee. “We have also formerly made the presentation to the committee and we have defended it. “We have also taken into account changes between the first demand and the current position, Ozo-Eson said.(NAN) Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/minimum-wage-labour-present-fresh-demand-using-current-economic-indices/

Why I’m seeking a 2nd term — Buhari read more at www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com

2018-04-10T04:07:00.002-07:00

By Omeiza Ajayi, Dennis Agbo, Ugochukwu Alaribe & Dirisu Yakubu •President urges APC to be united and capture power in 2019 •Asks party to grant waivers for Oyegun, others to contest at congresses •Why I endured media attacks by my opponents — Oyegun •Afenifere, Junaid Mohammed, Ikokwu, Okorocha, Adeniran, PDP, others react ABUJA—President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, put paid to speculations about his political future with a declaration to the National Executive Committee, NEC of the All Progressives Congress, APC, that he would seek a second term to enable him consolidate on his achievements. Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/970425/ The resolution of the President’s aspiration, however, came with a fresh uncertainty on the future of the party, following a recommendation by a committee of the party that could open the way for the extension of the tenure of the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee, NWC. The committee led by Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State had been constituted upon President Buhari’s observations that an extension of tenure of the party executives was illegal. In its recommendations adopted by NEC, yesterday, it was recommended that the party goes ahead and conducts congresses and a national convention but that where it was impossible to do so, that the party should fall back on the extension of tenure for all party officers across board as originally conceived at the NEC meeting in February. President Buhari’s declaration was received with rapturous approval at the NEC meeting. However, outside, critics and political rivals expressed dismay upon claims of a mixed performance in his first term. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a reaction, charged every other contender to run away. At the crowded, closed-door NEC meeting, the President said that having made wide consultations and conscious of the need to consolidate on his achievements in office, he had decided to stand for re-election. His declaration was greeted with a standing ovation. The president, who came under “Any Other Business, AOB,” said he had been under tremendous pressure to make the declaration, adding that he felt it was courteous to first inform the NEC before going to town with it. Apart from hordes of presidential aides, others at the meeting which was also attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, were the caucuses of the National Assembly, led by Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Speaker Yakubu Dogara, governors of Zamfara, Imo, Oyo, Ogun, Benue, Plateau, Bauchi, Kebbi and Jigawa states. Others were those of Kaduna, Kogi, Borno, Sokoto, Adamawa, Lagos, Ondo, Nasarawa, Kano, Osun and the deputy governors of Katsina, Edo, Yobe and Niger states as well as other NEC members. Addressing journalists at a post-NEC briefing, both the Plateau State governor, Simon Bako Lalong, and the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, confirmed the president’s declaration. Lalong, who also spoke on the report of the technical committee which he headed, said: “Everybody’s interest was considered in the report and it was a unanimous vote and adoption of the recommendations that were made. “The President felt so happy and excited because of this unity in the party; he will now consider and also accept the appeal by several members of the society, party and everybody that he will contest the 2019 election. “He has accepted that he is going to contest again the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the governor confirmed. Oyegun’s NWC might have tenure extended if…. However, the last may not have been heard of the issue of tenure elongation for party executives as the Lalong committee in its recommendations sighted by Vanguard, stated that the party might have to fall back on its earlier resolution extending the tenure of the executives. It premised its decision on the inability of the party to fulfill all legal conditions necessary for a convention and congresses. “If for reasons of inability to fulfil constitutional and/or legal conditions requisite for the conduct of a valid elective congress or convention, then the party may as a last resort leverage on the NEC resolution of February 27, 2018, which in our view is lawful in the circumstances. Finally, the committee recommended that a NEC meeting be convened to consider the report.” According to the committee, “although the decision taken by NEC on February 27 is legal and constitutional; and violated neither the party constitution nor that of the federation, it is still in the best interest of the party to conduct congresses and convention. However, in doing so, all reasonable measures should be taken to minimise opportunity for acrimony or rancour while ensuring that all prescribed constitutional and legal conditions are met.” Earlier at the commencement of the meeting, the president gave a hint of what was to come as he engaged members in a conciliatory manner, urging them to close ranks and deliver the party to Nigerians in 2019. In a deft political move to placate contending forces in the party regarding the leadership of the party, President Buhari asked the NEC to grant waivers to members of the Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee, NWC, who wish to seek re-election. President Buhari urges unity The President said: “I want to specifically thank members of the technical committee for a job well done within a limited time frame. It shows the essence of commitment and the ideals of our party, with a view to consolidating the party to continue to provide good governance in the overall interest of Nigerians. “The general interest of the party and based on the report submitted by the technical committee, it is important to focus on how to move the party forward by avoiding actions detrimental to the interest of the party. “Considering that politics is a game of numbers, we must not be a house divided against itself and must try to appreciate and accommodate our differences as far as the law permits. “Having seen the report, my position is to ensure that the party tows the part of unity, legality, cohesion and not that of division. Therefore, I am stressing that we strengthen our internal democracy by organizing party congresses and convention where election of national executive committee members will be held. This will automatically end the cases filed by members seeking orders of court compelling the party to hold its congresses. “I also believe that the current executives should be free to run for elective positions in the party if they so wish and permitted by our party constitution. “However, considering the provision of Article 30 Section 1 and Subsection 3 of our party constitution, which requires any serving officer desirous of seeking re-election, to resign from office 30 days before the election, I’m not sure of the practicality of the present serving officers’ ability to meet this condition. “Accordingly, the party may consider granting waivers to party executives at all levels so that they are not disenfranchised in participating in the elections provided this does not violate our rights or our rules. “Necessary waivers should also be extended to executives at the ward level whose tenures may have elapsed and indeed to anyone knocking on our doors from other parties. “Just like our party symbol is the broom, we stand by strength in unity. Let us try to be united in party, victory is sure by the grace of God. And together, we must continue to sanitise Nigeria’s political environment. I welcome you to this meeting with the hope that in our deliberations, we will conduct ourselves without rancour, and promote the highest interest of our party and the nation.” Why I endured media attacks by my opponents —Oyegun Earlier, Odigie-Oyegun, while opening the meeting had lamented at the extent to which some party members went to discredit him. “In the past days, I have read news reports and all manner of comments and opinions that have tried to frame the majority decision of NEC as an attempt to primarily secure “tenure elongation” for Oyegun and the NWC. This is quite unfortunate because nothing could be farther from the truth. “We are looking for ways to minimize rancour in the party ahead of the next general elections, and we are looking for ways to save the party from potential legal booby traps. These are both valid considerations. The challenge that we have faced has been how to reconcile the two in the best interest of the party. “On a personal note, I have had to endure virulent media attacks, malicious insinuations, and outright character assassination. However, the responsibility imposed on me by my position as the National Chairman of the party, demand that I rise above my personal pains and refuse to yield to the temptation to react in a manner that potentially complicates the situation for our party. However, I will like to urge everyone else to remember that regardless of our ambitions and personal interests, the party is greater than all of us. Vanguard recalls that at the NEC meeting of February 27, members requested the NEC to approve a timetable for congresses and the convention ahead of the expiration of the tenure of the current executive. However, rather than approve the timetable, “members expressed concern that if we embarked on the congresses as planned, the process could precipitate a series of rancour, which might be difficult for the party to manage ahead of the coming general elections. It was, therefore, resolved by a majority of 104 to 4 votes that the current executives of the party at all levels be allowed to continue in acting capacity for a period not exceeding 12 months starting from June 2018. NEC retains Zoning Formula In line with the recommendation of the Lalong Committee, the NEC also retained the zoning formula for the party. The Lalong committee had in its report which was sighted by Vanguard recommended what it said was “a roadmap to the Congress and the convention respectively.” The recommendations are; “21 days statutory notice for the holding of elective congresses and convention be given to INEC immediately; the current zoning formula for party offices be retained; requirements of article 31(ii) be waived in line with the provisions of article 13.4(xv) to avoid disruption in the management of party affairs at all levels. All pending suits in respect of this matter be withdrawn.” Wild jubilation in Kano Meanwhile, there was wild jubilation in Kano, yesterday after the declaration, as youths in their hundreds took to the streets to celebrate. Usman Baba, a resident, said the past three years of the Buhari administration had been spent restoring security in the country and fighting corruption. “We are happy and hoping that President Buhari should return to embark on infrastructural development since he has already retrieved a lot from looters,” he was quoted to have said. “We don’t want someone to come and embezzle the retrieved loot or divert it to some looters again. That is why we want him to serve another term.” Abduljalal Mu’azu, another resident, also expressed optimism that if Buhari wins a second term, the country’s situation might improve. A female respondent Malama Musa, said the world had accepted the president as trustworthy and transparent. Reactions to Buhari’s declaration It is an internal APC affair – PDP The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said Buhari’s declaration is an internal affair of the APC for which it would not interfere. The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan told Vanguard that the declaration had placed President Buhari among the ranks of aspirants seeking to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, effective May 29, 2019. “Until he becomes the candidate of the APC, we will not spend precious time on his mere show of interest,” he noted. He has the right to contest; we have the right to vote – Labour Comrade Issa Aremu, General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garments and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN said while it is the president’s constitutional right to contest, workers would exercise their right to vote for who they feel is best for Nigeria. “For us in the labour movement, 1999 Constitution of Nigeria allows for two-term tenure for the President if elected. Same for governors and open-ended for legislators. “The controversy over why the President is contesting or not is therefore unnecessary. He has that right for reelection. What is also clear is that Labour will also exercise its constitutional rights to vote based on critical assessment of all political office holders with respect to decent work, decent pay, employment, cost of living, security and building of a prosperous, fair, just and united Nigeria. Buhari should not seek reelection – Onyia Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Dubem Onyia, in his reaction said: “Buhari scored low in all sectors. He came to power with the promise that he would fight corruption. In four years, nobody has been brought to book for corruption, and there is pervasive corruption everywhere. Look at the issue of Maina. He even recalled somebody who was sacked for alleged corruption. “The job of the government is to provide security for its citizens; he has failed to provide security for Nigerians. Nigerians are being slaughtered on a daily basis across the country, and nobody is doing anything. “Take the issue of the Naira. He came in when the exchange rate was N190 for a dollar, but it is now over N366 for one dollar.” It is a big relief – Gov Shettima Speaking to Vanguard after visiting the Chief of Staff to the president, Mallam Abba Kyari, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State said: “We are fully in support of his decision, and it’s part of democratic culture. Traditionally, the president has the right of first refusal of the candidature of their party, so it’s not something that is unusual or unwarranted or unconstitutional. “He has done the right thing, he is going to contest, and we are solidly behind him.” APC has no apology to make— Okorocha Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State in his response said it was a patriotic response to the clarion call of Nigerians of goodwill for him to lead the country for another 4 years. The governor noted too that, the declaration of the President to go for second term would also go a long way to reduce the noise of the opposition and take care of the idiosyncrasies of certain elements in the system. The governor said the President had done well to deserve second term and remarked that those who had wanted to blackmail him out of going for another term can now find other meaningful things to keep themselves busy. He expressed optimism that President Buhari would largely garner more votes in 2019 than he had done in 2015 because most Nigerians, including people of the South-East, have seen that he meant well for the nation and her Citizenry. The governor said the APC has no apology to make because it has done well considering the magnitude of the rot it met on ground in 2015. We thank Buhari – Governor Bello Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on his part, declared his staunch support for the president’s re-election. “I am a staunch supporter of Mr. President, and I am proud to be associated with such a great leader and personality,” saying the people of Kogi State were among the first to call on the president to seek re-election. “We thank Mr. President for listening to the voices of Nigerians who are satisfied with his performance.” He has failed on all fronts – Fayose Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State on his part said: “That ambition is dead on arrival. We don’t want grandpa as president anymore. Nigeria does not deserve a Buhari as president in 2019. Buhari is old and tired. When people don’t know when to take their leave and say bye, Nigerians will show them the exit door. “He has done more harm to this country. His ambition is a means by which Nigerians will tell him good riddance to bad rubbish when they booth him out of office. He is an easy candidate to defeat in the poll for he has failed woefully.” Contenders should have a rethink — Adesina Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina advised prospective contenders to have a rethink, following Buhari’s declared interest to run for the forthcoming 2019 election. Adesina noted that Buhari is the only candidate that can take Nigerians to the Promised Land. He disclosed this barely hours after the President made a public declaration to contest for 2019. In his article, titled “2019: Let the others simply run away”, Adesina reeled out Buhari’s achievements noting that he will support him as long as he knows that the president will perform more than anyone else. “There are two options for those in contention for the presidency in 2019: run, or run away. Now that President Muhammadu Buhari has indicated his intention to run, dwarfs trying to wear a giant’s shoes should simply run away.” Nnamani, Okechukwu, BSO react Former Senate President Ken Nnamani, the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria and the Buhari Support Organisation, BSO, in Enugu State, were among respondents to President Buhari’s declaration to seek for a second term in office. Nnamani, who was Senate President under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but now a member of the APC said: “He has taken the bull by the horn. There were hitches in his first term; maybe it will be a good opportunity to address them. On his part, the DG-VON, Mr. Osita Okechukwu said: “Now that he has agreed to our persuasions we believe he is the only one who can consolidate. The credibility of the loan that he is seeking for is because they know he can deliver with the money. “We expect he will deliver on roads, railway, power sector and self-sufficiency in agriculture. So we need him to consolidate on the achievements he has already made, it’s a welcome development.” The Enugu state chapter of Buhari Support Organisation on its part celebrated the President’s open declaration for second term bid. Chairman of BSO in Enugu, Chief Anike Nwoga in a statement, yesterday, said “it was is a launching pad for the progress and prosperity of our dear fatherland. A country whose growth has been stunted by infrastructure deficit. “BSO Enugu State Chapter rates the Buhari’s Roads, Rails, Agric and Power (RRAP) Projects as the most massive infrastructural development in the annals of the history of Nigeria, ever embarked by one regime.’’ He will meet us in the field – Adeniran, SDP chieftain Former Ambassador of Nigeria to the Republic of Germany and chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Professor Tunde Adeniran has welcomed Buhari’s decision saying the SDP would meet him on the field. “We are happy that he has come out to confirm what we have always suspected. He will meet us in the field. He has to convince Nigerians why they should support him for another four more years of nepotism, insensitivity, insecurity, subjugation, and uncertainty.” His friends are deceiving him — Ezeife Former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife said the president’s friends did not advise him well even as he affirmed that the president would win the election. “Good luck to him if he has chosen to run again. If it is the will of God that he returns, there is nothing anybody can do about it. But if you ask me, I think his close friends should have advised him differently. That is my honest opinion,” Ezeife stressed. He is Nigeria’s saviour — Etiebet In his reaction, former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Don Etiebet, said: “We have been waiting anxiously for this declaration because some of us have been consistent and audacious in supporting him since May 2015 when he became President of Nigeria. His presidency has shown he is the saviour of Nigeria, what is needed right now is for him to consolidate and entrench his programmes and policies as a foundation for Nigeria to take off as a nation for development.” Nigerians will live to regret it — Junaid Mohammed Reacting, Second Republic Lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said it is left for Nigerians whether President Buhari will get another term or not. “I believe nobody should be surprised about Buhari’s declaration. Why? Because Buhari is a kind of man that cares less about Nigerians and wants to hold on to power as long as he can. It is now left for Nigerians to decide whether he stays on or not. What I can boldly say is that if Buhari wins another term in office, there will not be end to corruption, insurgency, and insecurity. His loyalists and cronies will continue to milk the country.” All he wants is power — Okurounmun The Afenifere chieftain said by the declaration, President Buhari has shown that he does not have regards for Nigerians. “I think he cares about nobody, all he cares about is power. His quest for power does not make him think of anything like insecurity which is presently ravaging the country. I believe strongly he is doomed for failure, he is designed for disaster and I am sure he will meet his waterloo.” It’s left for Nigerians to decide —Afenifere In its reaction, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, said though the president has a constitutional right to seek a second term in office, it is left for Nigerians to decide whether they want to support him or not. Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin said: “He has constitutional rights to declare, and we also have constitutional rights to say whether we want to support him for a second term or not. So, now that he has thrown his hat in the ring, we want to see other hats in the ring. If Nigerians do not want what they have experienced in the last four years, they will decide. It is clear today that for Nigeria to move forward, Nigeria must be a productive country. He had no option – Senator Lawan “Last year, I said it that the President has no option than to run for the second term. He has been working very hard to set infrastructure foundation for Nigeria, and he needs to consolidate on that. With very scarce and limited resources due to the declining price of crude oil in the world market, this administration has been able to do a lot with the little it has got.” It is good for PDP – Senator Olujimi Deputy Minority Whip of the Senate, Senator Biodun Olujimi, PDP, who welcomed the development said it would make it better for the PDP to win. “We welcome him into the race because it will be easy to beat them.” Ball in Nigerians’ court – Ikokwu Second Republic politician, Chief Guy Ikokwu, said the ball is now in the court of Nigerians to decide based on their assessment of President Buhari’s performance. He said: “Buhari has the constitutional right to declare for second term. It is also the absolute right of Nigerians to assess his performance in office in the last three years and judge whether Nigeria has been better, whether there are real changes and improvement in their socio-economic and political welfare. If they felt he has done well, it is their privilege to endorse him. Read more at: https://www.showgosygroup.blogspot.com/2018/04/970425/

Abacha loot: Adeosun blocks $16.9m payment to Malami’s lawyers

2018-04-10T03:55:00.000-07:00

Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has refused to approve the payment of $16.9 million fees to two lawyers for the recovery of Abacha loot worth $321 million. Adeosun also wrote a strongly-worded letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, raising objections to the payment. Meanwhile, the recovered sum, according to online platform, TheCable, has been repatriated to Nigeria by the Swiss government, following the execution of the memorandum of understanding, MoU, between the two countries for the judicious use of the recovery. “It is true that a request was made to the Minister of Finance for the payment to the Nigerian lawyers, but approval is another thing altogether,” a senior government official said,weekend, adding that the request had been sent back to the Ministry of Justice. TheCable had reported that Enrico Monfrini, a Swiss lawyer hired by the Federal Government since 1999 to work on recovering Abacha loot, had finished the Luxembourg leg of the job since 2014 when Mohammed Bello Adoke was Attorney-General of the Federation. Monfrini had also been paid his fees by the Federal Government. The recovered money was then domiciled with the attorney-general of Switzerland, pending the signing of an MoU with Nigeria to avoid the issues of accountability around previous recoveries. All that was left after the signing of the MoU was a government-to-government communication for the money to be repatriated to Nigeria. However, Abubakar Malami, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, had engaged the services of another set of lawyers in 2016 for a fee of about N6 billion. The Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation, CNJF, a partner organisation to TheCable, then sent a Freedom of Information, FOI, request to Malami for a copy of the agreements reached with Monfrini for the recovery. TheCable understands that the terms in the agreement were clearly spelt out, such that no other lawyer would be needed for the return of the money to Nigeria. Malami refused to accede to the FOI request, but the Cable Foundation is currently in court to seek an order of mandamus to compel the attorney-general to make the documents public. In an email to TheCable, however, Monfrini explained that there was no truth in the allegation. He said: “I never had the audacity to ask for additional fees. This figure of 20 per cent is simply invented. I didn’t reject any proposal made by Mr. Malami since my fees were already paid a long time before Mr. Malami’s appointment as attorney general. Any allegations against that would just be a lie.”

CCT: Saraki’s Trial Stalled Over Fresh Motion

2016-03-12T05:06:00.000-08:00

The trial of the Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) was stalled yesterday following a fresh motion on notice filed by the Defendant. The Federal Government had filed a 13-count charge bordering on false declaration of assets against him. At the resumed trial, the Prosecution Counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), announced to the court that the business of the day was hearing and that his witnesses, 13 of them, were in court. But in a swift follow-up, Counsel to Saraki, Kanu Agabi (SAN), said he had filed a fresh application challenging the jurisdiction of the Tribunal over the case. The Motion, dated March 4, was in pursuant to Section 36 (6) (a)(b), 36 (12) and paragraph 15 of the First Schedule to the 1999 Constitution: Section 3 and paragraph 1 of the third schedule of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. The application was seeking an order of the court quashing and/or striking out the charges contained in Charge No. CCT/ABJ/01/2015 filed on September 14, last year by the Respondent against the Applicant. The grounds for the fresh application include that the tribunal has no jurisdiction to entertain the charge; that a condition precedent to the exercise of jurisdiction has not been fulfilled and that the charge was brought in bad faith. Other grounds include the fact that the charge was not brought in the public interest; it constitutes a gross abuse of legal process; that it was brought in violation of all due process and in violation of the Defendant/Applicant’s right to fair hearing as enshrined in the constitution. It was equally stated in the motion that the charge cannot lie at the instance of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice. The development, however, triggered a mild drama that lasted about an hour, as Jacobs objected the motion, describing it as frivolous and an attempt to scuttle trial. Jacobs also told the court that he was not served the motion, which was unusual, adding that the matter was originally scheduled for March 10, but had to be moved at the instance of the Defendant, who wrote on February 26, asking for an adjournment. He recalled a similar application from the Defendant, dated September last year, asking for transfer of the case, which the Supreme Court dismissed and asked him to go back to the tribunal to face the charge.

Siasia Drops Five Players From Super Eagles Camp

2016-03-12T03:34:00.000-08:00

Following the lacklustre performances of the home-based Eagles in the tune-up matches played against the Under-23 Olympic team and a national league side (the two national teams are preparing for the AFCON’s qualifiers and the Olympics football event in Rio, Brazil, respectively), the caretaker coach, Samson Siasia, has reduced the number of players in Eagles camp by five and reassigned one to the U-23 team. The home-based Super Eagles had earlier defeated the U-23 team 2-0 before the junior team avenged the loss by the same margin. However, on Thursday, the senior national team played a scoreless draw with Katsina United in a friendly match. Some of the players released by Coach Siasia to their clubs include, defenders Christopher Madaki and Oke Ogagatewho, midfielder Hassan Yau, attackers Prince Aggreh and Ezekiel Bassey, while Bright Onyedikachi was redeployed to the Under-23 camp. According to the Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye, only 13 players are expected in camp next week, as the coaches prepare to work on the remaining players ahead of the make or mar tie against the Pharaohs of Egypt. “The coaches are gradually cutting down the numbers. Next week, more players will be released to their clubs and some others will be transferred to the Olympic team also currently in camp ahead of the international friendly against Brazil. “I am sure the coaches already have an idea of those home stars that will join the foreign legion for the final phase of preparation in a week’s time,” Ibitoye said.

CAN threatens to pull out of NIREC

2015-02-26T19:02:00.000-08:00

LAGOS—THE Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, may soon pull out of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, established to mediate on the incessant ethno-religious crises in the country. The threat to pull out of the body emerged after an emergency meeting by some leaders in the Christian Community who were protesting the shabby and unequal treatment meted to CAN leadership by the co-chair of the Council which had rendered NIREC docile since 2013 despite the rising phenomenon of insurgency in the country. The protesters accused the leadership of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, of deliberately avoiding meeting with her Christian counterparts because they could not tolerate the gut of the CAN president. The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, (NIREC), a voluntary association made up of 50 members, (25 Christians and 25 Muslims) was inaugurated on September 29, 1999 by the representatives of the two principal religions—Christianity and Islam in Nigeria. Feelers emanating from a close inside source revealed that the inter-religious body established to provide religious leaders and traditional rulers with a veritable platform to promote greater interaction and understanding among the leadership and their followers as well as lay foundations for sustainable peace and religious harmony in Nigeria may be heading for extinction. A reliable source close to CAN Secretariat in Abuja told reporters yesterday that the 25 Christian members may soon disengage from NIREC as a result of the disrespectful and shabby treatment meted to the leadership of CAN by the co-chair and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar. NIREC is co-chaired by the President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor respectively with Professor Is-haq Oloyede, as its National Coordinator/Executive Secretary. The source claimed that the last straw that broke the carmels back can be traced to a meeting of NIREC which was scheduled for Abuja on February 9, after about years of silence but was unceremoniously cancelled by the Sultan after Christian leaders including an 80-year- old member had arrived Abuja on February 8. “Christian leaders from different parts of the country had flown into Abuja where we were supposed to meet only to hear that the meeting has been cancelled,” the source said

Electorate urged to collect PVCs

2015-02-26T18:58:00.000-08:00

Registered voters in Ogun State have been called upon to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVCs, even as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said only 59.1 percent of PVCs had so far been distributed in the state. The Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IACN, Ogun State chapter, comprising registered political parties, also called on INEC to ensure that all eligible registered voters in the state dully obtain their PVCs within the stipulated time of March 8 deadline or, if need be, extend the collection period. In a statement in Abeokuta by Mr. Biola Martins, Chairman and Mr. Segun Adegbenro, Secretary of the registe-red parties, respectively, they condemned what they called shoddy arrangement by INEC in the distribution of PVCs and pleaded with the electoral body to put all necessary machinery in motion to ensure that PVCs collection exercise is done with ease and proper arrangement.

500 ex-primary school teachers lament unpaid N17bn in Oyo -

2015-02-26T18:54:00.000-08:00

IBADAN—Over 500 retired primary school teachers in Oyo State, yesterday, marched through the streets of Ibadan, protesting unpaid outstanding gratuities and pensions estimated at N17 billion. The ex-teachers, led by their chairman, Remi Babatunde, took to the streets after their congress held at the Agodi GRA, where they complained that they could no longer bear the hardship occasioned by the unpaid pensions. The protesters, who acted under the auspices of National Association of Retired Primary School Teachers, said they retired from active service in July 2011, which coincided with assumption of office of the incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. They lamented that since then, the present administration had not paid any gratuity to them. They also dismissed claims that their money was part of the N6.5 billion allegedly looted at Oyo State Local Government Pension Board between October 2010 and April 2011

PDP don’t tell you about change because we aren’t bus conductors that ask for change – First Lady -

2015-02-26T18:52:00.000-08:00

OREROKPE—The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has charged women in the country to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stressing that any woman who votes for All Progressives Congress, APC, is an enemy of herself.

Dame Jonathan, at Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, at the PDP Women for Change Initiative Presidential Rally in the state, while applauding the benevolence of the PDP administration to women in the country, cited the Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria, YouWin and Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SUREP, as some of the empowerment programmes the President Jonathan administration was using to empower women and youths in the country. She said: “The PDP is a party that talks less and does more, unlike the APC that tells new lies every week. When you catch them today, they will tell another lie tomorrow. We (PDP) do not tell you about change because we are not bus conductors that ask for change. “We are now in a digital age and we should reject anyone who wants to take us back to analog days. They keep saying they will do this and that. They should tell us what they have done for Nigerians while in office. As for President Jonathan, he has vowed to do more when he is re-elected. “President Jonathan has brought a lot of innovation and empowerment programmes for us women. This is because no one loves the Nigerian woman more than Mr. President and the best way to pay him back is by re-electing him.” In his remark, the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, while applauding the developmental achievements of President Jonathan, said: “When someone does well in office, you should return that person to office and that is why all Deltans are prepared to re-elect President Jonathan as President, come March 28.”

Bauchi furniture firm workers protest

2015-02-26T18:48:00.001-08:00

Bauchi—Workers of Bauchi State Furniture Company Ltd, yesterday, staged a protest to press home their demand for better pay, improved working conditions and casualization. The workers are believed to be casual workers of the company, which is handling several furniture contracts in Bauchi and other parts of the country. The protesters demanded an upward review of their salarie, integration into the mainstream state civil service and yearly working bonus, among others. Reacting to the development, the Managing Director of the company, Bako Dijabira, said it was not possible to meet the demands of the workers because the company was a limited liability entity not structured for that. He said: “Though the company was established by the state government, there are no provisions to meet their demands.”

Slain Delta community leader’s family petitions IG

2015-02-26T18:46:00.001-08:00

UGHELLI—The family of slain Vice Chairman of Oteri community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Blessing Unuesefe, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Abba Suleiman over his killing by security agents. The family, whose petition was sent to the IG through the Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged, CENTREP, urged the police boss to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. In the petition by Executive Director, Oghenejabor Ikimi, CENTREP stated that the deceased was allegedly killed extra-judicially on the order of a member of the vigilante group in the area (names withheld). According to the petition, the deceased was ordered shot for allegedly refusing to obey an order to sit on the floor. Demanding the whereabouts of the remains of the late Unuesefe and need for an investigation into the matter, CENTREP stated: “Following the refusal of the victim to be humiliated, the vigilante member fired a shot at the deceased and in an attempt to run for his dear life, the deceased was shot again. “They, thereafter, took the deceased, who was bleeding, into their Toyota Hilux van and drove away, but later returned with some men of the Police Station, Ughelli, to search the house of the victim, after which the victim was taken to the Central Hospital, Ughelli, where he was confirmed dead by one of the doctors on duty. “The whereabouts of the said corpse is unknown to family members till date.” Ikimi, who is also counsel to the Unuesefe family, while calling on the IGP to investigate the matter, stated that despite the complaint to Ughelli ‘A’ Division, no investigation had been conducted into the matter. Contacted, state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, said: “Give me time to get the facts and send to you, but the deceased was a cultist, who was involved in a shootout.”

Corpse of kidnapped medical doctor found in Port Harcourt

2015-02-26T18:45:00.001-08:00

PORT HARCOURT—Rivers State Police Command, yesterday, confirmed the discovery of the corpse of Dr. Samson Okpara, who was kidnapped last week in a cassava farm at Borokiri area of Port Harcourt. State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, who confirmed the discovery to Vanguard, said the corpse had since been moved to a morgue. He said two other doctors kidnapped at separate times in the state had been released. Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has enjoined All Progressives Congress, APC, not to politicize the abduction of Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, an aide to the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, who was taken hostage last Sunday at Kaa in Khanna Local Government Area of the state. State chairman of the party, Mr. Felix Obuah, who spoke through his media aide, Mr. Jerry Needam, condemned the abduction. He further denied allegation that his party was behind it. The PDP, while absolving its members of any complicity in the kidnap of Mr. Ndigbara and other acts of violence in the state, admonished Governor Rotimi Amaechi and APC to always allow security agencies do their work than wallow in what he described as fruitless suspicion. The party further called for the immediate and unconditional release of Freddy and urged youths in the state to refrain from violence and acts inimical to peace and development.

Delta community restates support for Jonathan, Okowa, Nwaoboshi, others

2015-02-26T18:43:00.003-08:00

ASABA—THE people of Akwukwu-Igbo in Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, have restated their support for the Delta North senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi, whom they described as humane and a community developer. Speaking at a town hall meeting to sensitise the people ahead of the March 28 and April 11 general elections, HRH David Azuka, the Obi of Akwukwu-Igbo Kingdom, said the people of the kingdom were unanimous in their resolve to vote for Chief Nwaoboshi in the senatorial election and all other PDP candidates from the presidential to the state House of Assembly polls. Noting that Chief Nwaoboshi was instrumental to the appointment of a son of the kingdom, Dr Ben Iwezu, into the State Executive Council, the monarch said Nwaoboshi also played a key role in the election of an Ukala son as chairman of the council. He said: “This is the first time our son is being elected as chairman of council since its creation and this is the first time our son is being appointed as a commissioner.” According to him, Nwaoboshi has also attracted the construction of roads to the kingdom, adding that they have every reason to give him their votes. “We stand by the Anioma kings’ endorsement of Chief Peter Nwaoboshi,” he said. On the state governorship poll, the monarch, said: “We will support our son, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. This is the first time an Anioma person is emerging as governorship flagbearer of the PDP; so we will vote him.”