Boko Haram Lays Siege On Damaturu

Members of the dreaded Islamist sect, Boko Haram have laid siege in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, in Nigeria’s north east.
More Details Soon….

Suspected Boko Haram Members Attack Borno State Shani Town

Suspected members of the Boko Haram sect have attacked Shani town in Borno state, Nigeria’s north eastern region.Residents and military sources say the attackers, who arrived on motorcycles, threw bombs at houses.Although residents claim that scores of people were killed, the police there have so far been unable to confirm the claims, as communications to the town has been largely cut off.Residents who claimed to have been in hiding while the attack lasted, said the gunmen fired at fleeing residents after they hurled bombs at the houses.There are also claims that the gunmen razed” the Shani Police Station and a telecoms mast.Militants have already attacked the town twice this year, most recently in June when at least 11 people were killed and the office of the electoral commission was burnt.

APC rules out Fashola as vice presidential candidate

Governor Babatunde FasholaThe Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has been ruled out as a running mate to the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress anytime the candidate emerges, investigation by The PUNCH has revealed.A highly placed source in the party, who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity in Abuja on Sunday, said that Fashola’s religion had ruled him out of the race.He said since it was almost certain that the party would field a Muslim as its presidential candidate, it would therefore be out of place to field another Muslim as the running mate.Apart from a former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), the party also has three other known presidential aspirants.They are a former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwakwanso; and a newspaper publisher, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah.Out of them, only Nda-Isaiah is a Christian.The source said that though Fashola remained the best candidate for the position, he however regretted that the issue of religion would deny the party and the country the chance of fielding the governor.He said, “You know that the South-West is a base for the APC and it also contributed immensely to its formation. We would have preferred Fashola because of his pedigree in the state. Moreover, of all the APC governors from the zone, he is the only one doing his second term.“But this issue of religion is the problem. Apart from this, other APC governors from the zone are also Muslims. You may need to recall that the enemies of our party tried in vain before to label the party a Muslim party.“Even though they have failed, we may also need to be guided by the words of advice from former President Olusegun Obasanjo against any party fielding same religion ticket. This is what is hampering us concerning Fashola, whose performance and competence cannot be queried.”The source said that even though the national leadership of the party was aware that the people of the “South-West are not religious but we are dealing with a larger society now. So, we must be careful.”

Five killed in Fulani herdsmen’s reprisal in Kogi

No fewer than five persons were feared killed while properties estimated at millions of naira were destroyed when Fulani herdsmen allegedly attacked Abugi community in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.Our correspondent gathered on Sunday that the incident which took place on Friday evening was a reprisal.A source, who pleaded anonymity for fear of attack, told journalists in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, on Sunday that the problem between the herdsmen and members of the Abugi community started few days ago when some of the herdsmen allegedly robbed and killed one Alhaji Abdullahi Zakari, who was sent to deliver money to an unnamed person in a neighbouring community.The source said angered by the killing of Zakari,   youths in Abugi engaged in a reprisal in oneof the Fulani settlements in the area, which allegedly led to the death of one person in the settlement.It was further learnt some Fulani elders later met with the paramount ruler of the community,Alhaji Kabir Isa for an amicable resolution of the crisis.

Bank sells Akingbola’s London houses to recover debt

Access Bank Plc said it had sold some London properties of a former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, in a bid to recover a debt of N164bnfrom him.According to the bank, a sum of £11m has so far been recovered by selling Akingbola’s properties known as Flats 17, 18, 19 and 20, Embassy Court London, NW 8.The bank stated that its move was pursuant to a judgement given in its favour against Akingbola in July 2012 by a London High Court.It added that upon discovering another of Akingbola’s properties in Cayman Island, it filed an application to convert the London judgment to a Cayman Island judgment. And on September 4, 2014 Justice Andrew Jones, of the Grand Court of Cayman Islands, ordered Akingbola to pay the bank the sums of N238, 471,484,162 and £1,800,000.Access Bank acquired Intercontinental Bank in 2012. The bank had filed a debt recovery action in the London High Court, in respect of the sum said to have been converted and allegedly misappropriated by Akingbola.In a copy of the said judgement, which was obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, the trial judge, Jones said all the issues raised were decided in favour of the bank since the defendant failed to enter any defence.The judge held, “Upon reading the affidavit of service Taiwo Abiodun dated August 15, 2014, exhibited to the affidavit of Jane Helle-Smith sworn on September 4, 2014 and no notice of intention to defend having been filed by the defendant prior to the plaintiff’s said application, it is ordered that judgment be entered against the defendant in the amount of N238, 471,484,162 and £1,800,000.“Interest shall accrue at the rate of two per cent per annum pursuant to Section 34 of the Judicature Law (2013 Revision) on the £1,800,000 sum due above from April 1 until payment.”The court also put the cost of instituting the action on Akingbola.It directed that, if conveyed by courier, the order of court shall be properly served on Akingbola at his residence in Ikoyi, Lagos or through his lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) in Nigeria, in accordance with the substituted service order of the court dated July 22, 2014.

Lagos senator backs impeachment moves against Jonathan

Senator Gbenga Ashafa| credits: File copyThe Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Gbenga Ashafa, has expressed support for the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan by members of the Federal House of Representatives.Ashafa stated his support while speaking on Friday at the closing ceremony of a two-day pre-election retreat, organised for his constituency staff in the Jibowu area of Lagos.The House of Representatives members, along with some senators, had been making moves to impeach President Jonathan.They said the move was for the good of the country, adding that over 50 impeachable offences had been identified against the President.The lawmakers intended to commence the impeachment process when they reconvene on Wednesday.Backing the move, Ashafa said, “As a senator, I represent one of the vibrant and patriotic people that know that Nigeria will remain one. I am one of those who believe it will be better. If members of the House of Representatives believe that their action in that process will make Nigeria better, so be it.”Ashafa said he believed the impeachment move had nothing to do with party affiliation, saying it was a move for the people.The senator explained that the retreat was aimed at re-orientating and appraising the achievement of his constituency in order to be well positioned towards ensuring victory at the party’s primaries and the 2015 general elections.He said, “ The retreat is to help us sit down and have a rethink, access what we have been able to do and get ourselves prepared for the events that we are going to encounter in the 2015 general elections.“We want to be able to interact with one another and serve as example to other political gladiators so that All Progressives Congress will be able to sweep resounding votes all over Nigeria. We have done well and we have to do more.”

Why they hate me – Outgoing UNIBEN VC

Outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin, on Sunday said that he had adversaries who opposed his style of administration as head of the institution.Oshodin, who spoke shortly after a thanksgiving service held in his honour in Benin, said thathis resolve to do things differently, which he said contributed to the success of his administration, did not go down well with his rivals, who he said were interested in their personal interest.He said there were an assassination attempt on his life as well as an attempt to poison him but that his vision and determination to improve the university had been a source of motivation.Oshodin said, “It has been really interesting; I believe I have done my best, I had a mission and a vision and I had a strategic plan only known to me and I am happy that I implemented all these strategic plans.“I met resistance from the devils and I stood my ground and they tried to eliminate me several times but they didn’t succeed. If you have God on your side, they will not succeed.“People did not know why people were fighting me; they were fighting me because I blocked their ways of embezzling allocations sent to the University of Benin.”The professor of health education, who assumed office on November 30, 2009, also attributed his success to the proper utilisation of intervention funds like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and the establishment of a mutually-transparent relationship with the unions in the university.“I have established over 27 programmes; there was no veterinary medicine in the whole of the South-South, I have established one there, which is good omen for those of us here and so many others; they are all in my terminal report,” he said.

Insurgency: We should revisit francophone policy, says minister

Minister of National Planning, Dr Olanrewaju Sulaiman.The Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, says the continued menace of Boko Haram has made it imperative for Nigeria to revisit its foreign policy with francophone nations.Also, a security analyst, Mr. Jackson Ojo, has warned President Goodluck Jonathan against trusting Nigeria’s neighbours in his efforts to win the battle against terrorists.In an interview with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Sunday, Suleiman said that Boko Haram insurgency had political dimensions.He said, “When you look at Nigeria’s history, we have been consistent in the kind of animosity we share with the Francophone West African countries.“Nigeria should revisit, for instance, our francophone policy. We should look at the French policy to Nigeria. We should look at the position of France to Nigeria’s security. We should look at what it has been over the years; the strategy in the area of politics; what has been the France-Nigeria relations; what has been the attitude, orientation, conduct and posture to Nigeria.“Again, we still need to go back to what has been the attitude of France and French government to Boko Haram issue in our ability to fight terrorism.”The minister said the continued menace of insurgency had not been because government was not working but that Nigeria was not getting enough support from the sub-region.He urged Nigerians to stop criticising or blaming President Goodluck Jonathan for the insurgency in the country.He said, “People should be mindful of one thing when they try to criticise President Jonathan on issue of terrorism. We should know that when it comes to fighting terrorism, counter terrorism and warfare, presidents do not go to war. It’s the primary responsibility of the military.“Nigerian Armed Forces today are being dominated by northerners and the Boko Haram spate is in the north. If there is a problem there, we should look at our tactics, military operations and suspect some subversive tendencies in the armed forces.“The Inspector-General of Police is from the North; the National Security Adviser is from the North, the Chief of Defence Staff is from the North. So, why must anyone blame the President?”Ojo, in an interview with one of our correspondents on Saturday, alleged that the constant attacks on the citizens and Nigerian communities had the support of some of the aggrieved persons in some of the neighbouring countries.The security expert, who condemned the deadly attack on Kano mosque on Friday, also said that Nigeria should not seek help from the United States. He explained that the US had predicted the disintegration of Nigeria by 2015, saying they would not offer any help but would rather aggravate the problem.Ojo said, “President Jonathan must do everything to put a stop to the activities of the Boko Haram sect. But he should no longer trust our neighbouring countries. Nationals of these countries, such as the Chaldeans, people from Niger Republic, those from Central African Republic and even Benin Republic enter into Nigeria anyhow and this must stop.“There are some aggrieved persons in these countries who would want to bring Nigeria down. Some of them are not happy about Nigeria’s stance against (the late Libyan leader, Muamar) Gaddafi and the way our troops went to Mali.“Majority of the members of this Boko Haram sect are aliens. Nigerians love life and would not want to be suicide bombers but aliens whose culture allow suicide bombing would go to any lengthy to destroy our nation.“We should not look in the direction of the United States of America for solution to this terrorism problem. The same US had long predicted the collapse of Nigeria and going to them would not solve our problem.”

We lost 200 to insurgents – Igbo group

The Igbo Welfare Association, a socio-cultural association for indigenes of the five south-eastern states currently residing in Borno State on Sunday lamented that the Boko Haram insurgency had claimed the lives of over 200 Igbo till date.The group also alleged that the ethnic group had lost property worth millions of naira to the crisis, which started in 2009.The President-General of IWA in Borno State, Chief Maclaw Nwaogu, said this in his speech at the inauguration of the new executives of the association and its award ceremony on Saturday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.Nwaogu appealed to Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima to look into the plight of widows and orphans of Ndigbo and other non-indigenes, some of whom he said had to migrate out of the state but were still suffering destitution as a result of the loss of their breadwinners to the Boko Haram insurgency.He also called on the governor to fulfil his promise of renovating the association’s hall, whichwas vandalised by the insurgents.He said, “It is pertinent to bring to your notice that internally displaced people of Igbo extraction are been catered for by Igbo Welfare Association. We are appealing to your government to help us remedy the situation.“There is no gain saying the fact that the insurrection in the North-East has brought lull into our activities, but under this regime, working together with all and sundry will be given the needed boost.”

Boko Haram attacks Shani, kills many

SEVERAL persons were killed on Saturday night in a fresh attack by Boko Haram on Shani, another town in Borno State.Both the police and fleeing residents confirmed the attack and they said scores were killed.Some of those who fled from the town during the attack told journalists that over 30 armed Boko Haram insurgents on motorcycles stormed Shani in the southern part of the troubled state on Saturday night.Shani is about 260 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and the town shares borders with some communities in Adamawa State.Borno and Adamawa, both in the north-eastern zone, have been under state of emergency for more than 18 months as a result of the activities of the violent Islamic sect.One of the fleeing residents, Solomon Shani, told journalists on phone from Biu on Sunday morning that “the terrorists came at about 8pm and started shooting everywhere. The gunshots were becoming unbearable and I just had to run away into the bush with my children.”He said all attempts to speak with some members of his wife and children since he fled Shanihad been futile as their phones were no more going through.Shani narrated that the insurgents set houses on fire to force residents out.On the casualty figure, he said, “I can’t say for now, many people were killed; 40, 50, 60, I can’t say.”A military source in Biu confirmed the attack, saying the insurgents burnt down a police station and other public buildings in the community.The Borno State police commissioner, Clement Adoda, who confirmed the attack on the townto journalists in Maiduguri, said several properties were destroyed.Adoda could not say the number of persons killed in the attack as of the time of this report.Shani had been under Boko Haram attack in the past. The Saturday invasion was the third since 2012.The town with a council headquarters came under attacks shortly before the 2011 general elections as suspected Boko Haram insurgents raided the local office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, killed some ad-hoc staff of the electoral body and destroyed electoral materials.The Shani Divisional Police Station was also attacked mid-June 2014 with no fewer than five policemen killed.

I’ll recover my stolen mandate from Aregbesola –Omisore

Senator Iyiola OmisoreThe governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has expressed optimism that he would be declared the governor of the state by the Election Petitions Tribunal hearing his petition against Governor Rauf Aregbesola.Omisore said this in an interview with journalists after the proceedings at the tribunal in Osogbo on Friday.Omisore had earlier in the day said the same thing at the summit organised by some Yoruba elders at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, that he would emerge victorious very soon.Asked if he had confidence in the tribunal, the PDP candidate said that he would not have approached the panel if there were no evidence that the August 9 governorship poll was rigged by the All Progressives Congress.He said, “I am very hopeful that justice will be done. I want to urge our people not to lose hope. We have a good case and that was why we came to the tribunal. We are a law abiding people. We refused to be provoked when they kept attacking our people even after the election.“Very soon, we will retrieve our stolen mandate from the thieves who robbed us. Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Lagos will come back to the PDP fold in 2015 and then the South-West will experience speedy development.”But the Director of Publicity of the APC in Osun State, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, when contacted, advised Omisore to stop deluding himself.The APC’s spokesperson said that Aregbesola won the election convincingly despite the PDP’s tricks and the attempts to rig the poll.He said, the election was used by the people of the state to pay back Aregbesola for his numerous achievements in his first term despite the meagre resources available.He said, “Omisore has no mandate anywhere. Ask him if he ever won election in his adult life.The senatorial seat was once awarded him from the prison.“In 2011, he thought he had enough to win back the seat, he could not even win his ward.“In 2014, he overrated himself; he lost woefully, even with all the federal support – the military, hooded operatives of the Department of State Service, the police and the scandalousmoney.“He should know by now that the reality in the state of Osun is the All Progressives Congress.”Omisore’s counsel, Mr. Nathaniel Oke (SAN), had applied to Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime-led tribunal to adjourn the sitting of the panel to Monday (today) for the continuation of the hearing of the petition.The counsel premised the application on the alleged refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission to make ballot papers used for the election available for the use of the petitioner.Oke said that Omisore needed the materials to further prove his case before the panel but INEC said the documents would be made available on Monday.Mr. Charles Edosomwan, who is the counsel for the first respondent (Aregbesola) and the APC’s counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), raised objections to the application for adjournment.

Hong Kong protesters clash with police

Thousands of protesters have scuffled with police in Hong Kong, stepping up their movementfor democratic reforms after being camped out on the city’s streets for more than two months.Student protest leaders on Sunday night told a big crowd rallying at the main protest site outside government headquarters that they would escalate their campaign.As of 17:30 GMT (01:30 AM on Monday local time), hundreds of police officers were engaged in scuffles with protesters as they tried to disperse the crowd. Several protesters carrying umbrellas were chased by police as they rushed to a underground highway.Police have been trying to hold back the protesters as they tried to surround the government complex and several protesters were injured in the ensuing scuffle, Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride,reporting from Hong Kong, said.“It’s a pretty chaotic scene. Police are chasing demonstrators,” our correspondent said, adding that the clashes were “the most violent in the last two months.”“It’s a very ugly scene in Hong Kong tonight.”The crowd tried to push its way down a narrow staircase in an attempt to get to the office of the city’s Beijing-backed leader.Hundreds of protesters charged past police lines, blocking traffic on a main road, but were stopped by police barricades from going down an access road to Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying’s office.Our correspondent said that police “completely lost control” of the main protest site, as several hundred demonstrators spilled over into the streets.Protesters said they would occupy the road until Monday morning to prevent Leung and other government officials from getting to work.They said they were escalating their protest to force a response from Hong Kong’s government, which has made little effort to address. The protesters want fully democratic elections to elect the next leader in 2017.

PoS transactions rises 191% to N241bn, says NIBSS

Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) said that electronic payment through Point of Sale (PoS) terminals has risen by 191 percent to N241 billion in 2014.

naira moneyThe company also reported 249 percent increase in its profit before tax, which rose to N2.82 billion for the year ended December 31st 2013.

Chairman of NIBSS and Deputy Governor, Operations, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Alhaji Suleiman Barau disclosed this at the 2014 annual general meeting of the company held in Lagos on Friday.

Addressing shareholders of the company, Barau said, “The financial performance of our Company was greatly impacted by the impressive business activities recorded during the year. Gross Income grew by 32.33 percent to peak at N5.13 billion, up from the N3.88billion recorded in 2013.   We closed the year with a Profit Before Taxation (PBT) of N2.82 billion representing a growth of 249.31% over prior year figure of N806.59million.

“NIBSS has witnessed tremendous growth in electronic payment trends on its platforms as consumers spending habits increasingly shift towards the use of alternative e-payment channels aside the Automated Teller Machines (ATM).

This is evidenced by the historic recording of over 10,000,000 e- payment transactions on its platforms during the month of July 2014 compared to the average monthly transaction volume of 8,075,000 in 2013. This represents 24% growth and is a clear indication of the potential for e-payments in Nigeria and also the need for greater attention and investments to enhance NIBSS infrastructure.

“Both the NIBSS Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) and NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) products have enjoyed steady adoption over the years, enhanced by the CBN mandate for Government and Corporate entities to make all salary and administrative payments electronic.

“The volume of NEFT transactions increased by 29.51% from 29.20million (N13.61trillion) in 2013 to 37.82million (N14.93trillion) in 2014 while customers’ affinity towards instant payment has seen NIP grow volume by 204.03% from 9.22million (N7.6trillion) in 2013 to 28.03million (N15.80trillion) in 2014.

“Cheque clearing as a key product of NIBSS have evolved over time from being purely paper-based to electronic via the implementation of the Cheque Truncation System (CTS) deployed by NIBSS to the Banking Industry.

Through CTS, clearing period has reduced from T+3 to T+2 in Nigeria and consequently, Cheques processing increased to 15.40million (N7.79trillion) in 2014 compared to the 12.23million (N7.15trillion) recorded in 2013 representing an increase of 25.96%.

“NIBSS serves as the Payments Terminal Service Aggregator (PTSA) for the financial industry as part of the Cashless Nigeria Initiative which requires all PoS terminal operating within Nigeria to connect directly to NIBSS through the NIBSS Central Terminal Management System (CTMS).

“The CBN Cashless Initiative which was first piloted in 6 states aside Lagos was extended nationwide in July 2014. The incredible growth in PoS transaction volume by 191.24% to 15.17million (N241.51billion) in 2014 from the 5.21million (N95.29billion) in 2013 further testifies to the successful story of PoS deployment in Nigeria.”

4 suspected cultists arrested for allegedly raping girl during initiation

Akure — THE Ondo State Police Command has arrested four suspected cultists for gang-raping a girl in Ondo town, after which they stole her handset.
According to the police, the victim (identity withheld) was raped as she was being initiated by the cultists.

The command said the rapists were among 14 cultists arrested alongside six suspected robbers, three burglars, one fraudster and four kidnappers terrorising the state.
Parading the suspects, the state Police Commissioner, Isaac Eke, said items recovered include N11,000 cash, a Toyota Camry marked FST 48 AC valued at N1.7 million, Scania Lorry marked KWC 232XA, among others.

Eke said the Toyota Camry which was stolen at Odode Idanre was recovered in Sapele, Delta State, by police detectives after one Afolabi Abiola took them there.
On the cult members arrested, the police chief said they had been responsible for murder, rape and stealing in Owo, Ondo and Akure towns.

According to him, the cultists were arrested by a team of Special Anti-Cultist Squad, SACS.

Eke said one Alhassan Shittu was duped to the tune of N1.5 million by some fraudsters under the pretext of awarding him a cable contract.
He noted that one Jimoh Ogbo of Bako Kwali in Abuja was later arrested and had confessed and mentioned other members now at large.

The commissioner said seven suspected robbers used a lorry to block the Lagos/Ore expressway to rob a lorry loaded with 800 cartons of fish.
The lorry was later recovered by detectives in Onitsha, Anambra State, adding that two suspects had been arrested in connection with the robbery.
Eke added that three burglars were arrested after they stole foodstuff, handsets, laptops and other electronics.

On the two policemen shot by suspected robbers, the commissioner said they died in the course of duty. According to him, the deceased were shot when they were deployed to the area following alleged robbery report.

ICPC trains 335 officials on handling of weapons

ABUJA—The Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, yesterday, presented certificates for weapon handling and intelligence gathering to about 335 officials of the Independent  Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

The presentation was done by the Commandant of the 177 Guard Battalion at the ICPC Headquarters, Abuja, to staff that took part in the three months training held between November, 2013, and February, 2014.

Speaking at the event, chairman of the commission, Ekpo Nta, said with the training, officers and men of of ICPC were now better equipped to tackle crimes as law enforcement agents.

Nta explained that when he assumed office as chairman of the commission, the staff operated without proper field expertise, saying it always required the services of other security agencies to handle cases.

However, the chairman pledged that further training would be drawn to further equip them, adding that the commission had made arrangement for 250 computer for the e-learning centre.

According to him, “I have started arrangement, so that physical exercise will be part and parcel of our activities here.”

Politics destroying Nigerian football – Akpoborie

With the Nigeria Football Federation seemingly being handicapped to take any decisive action on out-of-contract Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi, former Super Eagles striker Jonathan Akpoborie has reacted to the development, saying the NFF may have been the reason for their own problems.

Akpoborie says he doesn’t feel sorry for the NFF, believing the way they came into office may have contributed to them being handicapped as it seems, adding they will have to deal with the problems.

“I wouldn’t say I want to be sorry for the guys at the NFF because in getting into office, they used the political power that they have to get into the office, so it is something they have to deal with,” Akpoborie said.

The former Wolfsburg of Germany striker also points out politics as one of the reasons for the problems that is currently plaguing Nigerian football, adding that politics will have to be separated from football just like it’s done in Europe.

“Whenever we draw up a football plan, you see politics coming to disrupt these plans and we have to understand that politics is destroying Nigerian football. We have to separate football from politics, just like it is done in Europe,” Akpoborie stated.

Ibori’s daughter, others win PDP House of Assembly primaries in Delta

ASABA—MS Erhiatake Ibori, daughter of former Governor James Ibori, Mr Godwin Abigor, Speaker Peter Onwasanya, Mr. Pius Labo, Elegbete Moses Odibo and Mr Reuben Azeze, were among the winners at People’s Democratic Party, PDP, primaries for the 2015 state House of Assembly elections conducted, weekend.

Erhiatake won the Ethiope West constituency battle, said to have been boycotted by other aspirants, while Abigor polled 23 votes to displace the incumbent Omawunmi Udoh to grab the Warri South Constituency I ticket and Izeze, a former student union leader, sailed home unopposed in Ughelli South constituency.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Peter Onwasanya, won the Oshimili South slot and incumbent member, Mr Adolphous Ojo shrugged off his opponents to clinch the Ukwuani ticket.

Mr Onwusanya described weekend’s PDP primaries as a pointer to the unity of purpose among party members.

He insisted that the party provided a level playing ground for aspirants to test their popularity and described the election as peaceful,  free and fair and commended party members for comporting themselves peacefully throughout the election period.

Mr Friday Osanebi repeated the same feat in Ndokwa West, polling 49 against his fellow contestants, Emeke Ozegbe, Ann Izi, Sam Chukwuji, Chike Ugwumadu, who scored three, two, one and zero respectively.

Mr Kennedy Daubry, Burutu South constituency, emerged for a second term in the primary election held at Tuomo town.

Daubry, who is the incumbent member representing Burutu South, won the primary election with19 votes against the other two aspirants, who got 10 votes and four votes respectively.
Mr. Pius Labo emerged the party’s candidate in Bomadi, in the primaries held at St. Brendan’s College, Bomadi (former Government College).

Amongst those that contested for the party’s ticket were a former chairman of the party in the council, Labo, who clinched the ticket from the serving member in the state Assembly, representing the constituency, Oboro Preyor as well as two female aspirants Eniye Ayaoge and Eniekebi Edein-otu.

Former Commissioner in charge of Special Duties (Infrastructures), Mrs. Oreze Esievo emerged the party’s flag-bearer in Isoko South and the Deputy Chief Whip of the House Assembly, Mr Johnson Erijo, was returned unopposed in Isoko South.

Incumbent Efe Ofobruku won in Uvwie just as Tim Owhefere emerged in Isoko South and Dennis Omovie in Warri South Constituency II. Omovie, gunning for a fourth term in the state House of Assembly received 21 votes to clinch the Warri South II ticket against Erutega Okumagba, Vincent Okudolo and Jackson Omatsola, who got five votes put together with Augustine Chike supervising as PDP Returning Officer.

Former commissioner, Elegbete Moses Odibo and the DESOPADEC Commissioner, Mr Michael Diden, won in Udu and Warri North,respectively. Odibo dislodged the incumbent, Ketson Okoro. In the results announced by the PDP Returning Officer, Mrs. Flora Alatan, Odibo, polled 30 votes to edge out incumbent Okoro, who got 20 votes while Isreal Macauley got 12 votes.

In Aniocha North state constituency, Mr. Uzomah Idabor won the ticket, while Lady Angela Nwaka picked the Aniocha South ticket. Mr Isaac Ulebor won in Ika South, while Tony Elekeokwuri triumphed in Ika North East.

It was not clear who got the ticket yet in Sapele as the Majority Leader of the House, Chief Monday Igbuya and his fellow contestants found themselves at contrasting venues during the primaries.
There were parallel primaries in Sapele, but the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly Chief Monday Igbuya, told Vanguard on phone, yesterday, that he won.

Returning Officer in Sapele, Mr. Tobechukwu Okonkwo, has disclaimed reports that one Chief Felix Anirah was declared the winner of the elections, insisting that out of 62 accredited voters, 61 delegates voted for the incumbent lawmaker, Mr. Monday Igbuya, while Anirah scored one vote, just as the third aspirant, Chief Ayemonor Lucky, scored zero.

Hunters, Boko Haram and a maligned Army

THE story of David and Goliath remains a popular and fascinating tale.  A young shepherd slays a seasoned and —by some accounts— gigantic soldier.  This story plays into the narrative of the underdog emerging triumphant despite overwhelming odds.  And everybody loves a victorious underdog.

Everybody likes to see the big, bad bully get his comeuppance. It is in this context that we need to interrogate the uplifting, yet highly implausible accounts of hunters with dane guns overpowering Boko Haram insurgents armed with rocket propelled grenades and armoured vehicles.

Additionally, the reported victory of hunters over Boko Haram terrorists is not just about portraying the Nigerian Army as either cowardly, incompetent, or both.  In the run-up to the 2015 general elections, it should be clear that the reverberation of such portrayal goes beyond the Army. It aims at discrediting the Army’s Commander-in-Chief, President Goodluck Jonathan.

To grasp the essence of the entire hunters’ charade, look no further than the recent fulminations of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress. According to Odigie-Oyegun’s confused logic, “President Goodluck Jonathan is so desperate to win re-election that it will now appear that there is a secret understanding that our security forces should turn a blind eye to the Boko Haram insurgency, so that the insurgents can occupy as much territory as possible and make elections impossible in these areas, knowing full well these are APC strongholds.

“Otherwise, how does one explain that local hunters carrying dane guns and amulets are capable of dislodging the dreaded Boko Haram while our once proud army, which has distinguished itself in and out of the country, has failed?”

Therein lies the illogicality of Odigie-Oyegun’s vituperations.  How can hunters achieve what, in his own words, “our once proud army, which has distinguished itself in and out of the country, has failed” to achieve? It is simply unfathomable that a man of Odigie-Oyegun’s stature could indulge in celebrating the incredible hunters’ tale without taking cognisance of the fact that he is simply joining in standing logic on its head.

Then again, Odigie-Oyegun is not a man who lacks the ability to discern what is plausible and what isn’t.  So in going ahead to indulge this hunters’ victory fantasy, it must be because he is interested in perpetrating the narrative of a failing Army.  In so doing, Odigie-Oyegun continues the APC’s self-defeating tactic of maligning the Army, hoping ultimately to undermine the Army’s Commander-in-Chief.  What a crying shame!

As the Canada-based Nigerian journalist, Tunde Asaju, posted on his Facebook page: “Some stories should not be written.  The story of hunters killing 80 haramists breaks every law of plausibility.  It doesn’t add up…”. Indeed, the hunters’ story beggars belief.

In all this hoopla about a purported victory by hunters, it is easy to forget that the Nigerian Army has foiled many Boko Haram attacks, a number of which simply go either unremarked or under-reported.  It is the same self-defeatist negativity propagated by the APC and its vocal media supporters that is behind the continuing attempt to diminish the good work being done by the security forces, including the Army, in stopping bomb attacks.

Lest we forget, at the inauguration of the Victims Support Fund Committee by President Jonathan not so long ago, it was made known that Nigerian security personnel prevent about a thousand attacks for each successful one carried out by the Boko Haram.  This statistics, which Jonathan revealed in his speech at the event, was the first official indication of the enormous scale of the insurgency crisis facing Nigeria today.

Speaking on the determination of the Federal Government to crush the terror group, Jonathan said: “It is now just a matter of time. I call on all Nigerians to stand together in support of our security agencies against terrorism. They are working night and day under difficult circumstances. It is unfortunate that when our security personnel prevent 1,000 attacks, it is the one attack that succeeds that makes headline news and tends to portray our security agencies as not doing enough.”

If Nigerian security forces prevent 1,000 attacks for each successful one carried out by Boko Haram, the question all fair-minded Nigerians should ask is: How then can it be said that the security forces are losing the war against Boko Haram?  How can the Nigerian Army, which continues to do its best under strenuous conditions, be so maligned by some of the same Nigerians that the soldiers are laying down their lives for?

Whatever the truth may be, it is certainly not encapsulated in the oversimplification which the hunters’ purported victory over Boko Haram represents.  But in these times, when the excoriation of Jonathan has gained ascendancy, everything that supports or deepens the narrative of his electoral undesirability — as posited by the APC — is fair game.

The end result is the continued maligning of the Nigerian Army to the detriment of the Nigerian nation and her people.  What an avoidable shame!

Of course, Boko Haram must be stopped totally.  To achieve that, the President and the security forces, including the Nigerian Army, deserve support, not condemnation.  And portraying a band of hunters as being more effective than the Army, all in a bid to sully the image of Mr President, is not only self-defeatist, but also utterly ridiculous.

Mr Johnson Momodu, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Benin City.

OBJ, the prowling goat seller

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is haunting his hand-picked former protégé, President Goodluck Jonathan, like a malevolent ghost. You may wonder why OBJ, after four years as a military ruler and another eight years as an elected president, is still butting like a stubborn, demon-possessed ram at the doors of Aso Villa, Abuja? What does he still want? What did he forget in the seat of power after occupying it for 12 years? Why can’t he just go home and enjoy his new-found affluence after his latest eight years as president during which he doubled as Minister of Petroleum Resource for six years?

If you put this question before Obasanjo he will tell you it is because he “loves” Nigeria; he is a great “nationalist”, and he cannot keep quiet when things are going wrong. He will conveniently hide the fact that he is the cause of many of our problems.

Political interests

He will not accept responsibility. Instead, he will divert attention and point accusing fingers at others, making accusations that he is also guilty of a million times over. In the process, Obasanjo succeeds in hoodwinking a few gullible, uninformed Nigerians and raises applause among those whose political interests resonate with his objective of bringing down a sitting president.

But those of us who know him probably more than he knows himself are not carried away. We know his motives and methods all too well. Obasanjo’s estranged daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, in a letter in January this year in which she disowned her father, told us Obasanjo believes in his heart he “owns” Nigeria. President Jonathan, in his own angry rejoinder to a windy, scathing attack by Obasanjo, likened the Ota poultry farmer to a goat seller who, after selling his goat and pocketing the money, still holds on to the goat’s tether rope. In other words, Obasanjo, after handpicking and installing people in power, seeks to control them. When they refuse to be at his beck and call, he starts to fight dirty in the public square because he has come to see the Nigerian seat of power as his personal booty.

After all, he fought the civil war and collected the instrument of surrender from Biafra. We have since heard the truth about how Obasanjo fought that war. One of the civil war commanders, Brigadier Godwin Alabi-Isama, in his book: The Tragedy of Victory, actually described OBJ as a coward. In various interviews after the book was published, he disclosed that Obasanjo has bullet wounds on his buttocks. This means he was shot while running away from enemy onslaught! But he makes loud noises about his civil war “heroism” and feels entitled to exclusive freebooting on our national estate.

Obasanjo is confronting GEJ because the president is a gentleman. He could not try it with the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua, who was much tougher and savvier in the game of power than Jonathan.

As sick as Yar’Adua was, he was able to curtail Obasanjo’s goat-seller mentality and keep him tightly leashed. Those were the days when people like Nasir el Rufai actually bolted to America and only returned to become a troublemaker because Jonathan is a gentleman.

This same Obasanjo troubled General Babangida when the latter was in power because Babangida respected him. But when he tried it with General Abacha, we know what happened. Obasanjo came out of jail in 1998 looking like an exhumed corpse.

Besides, Obasanjo is a master in the game of hypocrisy. He likes to call other people thieves, and he is the first to accuse another person of being corrupt. The idea is to divert attention from his own unquantifiable deeds that fabulously enriched him, both as a military leader and elected president.

Sound Sultan, one of Nigeria’s most creative avant-garde musicians, has a song he entitled: “One day bushmeat go catch de hunter“. In it he sang: “Ole de shout ole”.When you catch a pickpocket red-handed, to avoid being lynched he begins to shout: “ole!, ole!!” (Thief!Thief!!).Was it not under Obasanjo that bags of money meant to induce lawmakers to impeach a political enemy of the president were displayed in the House of Representatives? Yet he calls MPs “looters”.

When Abacha raised the pump prices of petroleum in 1994 he established the Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF and used the proceeds to intervene in infrastructural reconstruction. Where did Obasanjo put proceeds of eight price hikes that took fuel price from N22 to N65 per litre over eight years? At least, Jonathan ploughs back his own increase from N65 to N97 into a fuel subsidy regime that guarantees steady fuel supply and funds for the implementation of Subsidy Re-investment Programmes, SURE-P, nationwide.

Fuel subsidy was bedevilled by corruption, but it is working. We are enjoying it. But we can’t see anything Obasanjo did with his own extra N43 per litre. Billions were sunk into the refineries but they never worked.

Billions were wasted on Independent Power Plants, but turbines were imported and left for years at the ports because they could not be moved inland. Government companies were sold for pennies to fronts and cronies. But in four years, Jonathan has laid down a clear agenda to overcome the challenges of the power sector. It is very slow-going, but is moving forward, with zero reports of corruption in the sector which is now mainly in private hands.

Yes indeed, Jonathan has his problems as a leader. He is too laid back about fighting corruption. It doesn’t seem to bother him. President Jonathan is too much in the background as my leader. I like my leaders there up front, inspiring me with words, deeds and examples. I like them tough and decisive, but always putting the interest of the nation first. I don’t like walking up front and looking back for my leader.

Thirdly, I don’t like the way Jonathan has handled Boko Haram. If he had done the needful things two years ago, we would not have the second largest number of displaced persons in the world, with parts of our territory under devilish Salafist Islamists.

I also have reasons to believe that if the Jonathan regime was given the support it needed, it would have recorded more successes than any other in our history. The quest by regional hawks to snatch power by all means, tied to the Boko Haram terror war and jackal-like opposition, have taken a toll on all of us. No regime has been sabotaged by the same people it strives to save from their enemies the way some Northern leaders have undermined the Jonathan regime. People who destroyed Nigeria in their 40 years of total brigandage are ganging up as the “opposition” to return us to where they left us in 1999, and Obasanjo has become their fire-eating generalissimo.

If Jonathan is a problem, Obasanjo created it by selecting him to pair with a terminally ill Yar’Adua, so that he (OBJ) would call the shots from Ota. Yar’ Adua and Jonathan were his “Plan B” after he failed to grab third term. I agree with former Speaker, House of Representatives, Umar Ghali Na’Abba, that if Obasanjo looks into the mirror he will see the trouble with Nigeria.

The goat seller wants his goat back after pocketing his profit. Well, Nigeria is not Obasanjo’s goat. The earlier he gets the message the better for him – and us all.

Siasia raises bar as preparations hots up

Activities in the camp of the U-23 men’s football team, Dream Team VI, will pick up this week as the Coach Samson Siasia led technical crew moves training programme to the next level, with more players invited from the Nigeria Premier League get set to storm the camp of the team in Abuja.

Head Coach Samson Siasia was quoted by the team’s spokesman Timi Ebikagboro, as saying that from  7th December, invited foreign based professional players would be expected to arrive the team’s camp to join the team and commence their screening.

“We don’t have time on our hands, so from the program we have drawn up, the team will continue screening  from the 1st to the 6th of December, then the overseas based would join them from the 7th and screening for them will continue till  the 12th of December  when we will, hopefully, travel to Bauchi to play a friendly game”

Siasia disclosed that any home based player who fails to report to the camp of the team between  the 1st to the 6th of December  should forget about coming to camp as they have all been given enough opportunity to showcase their talent and earn themselves a place in the team.

He added that  from the 8th to the 11th of December  the technical crew will concentrate on looking at the foreign based players who will be interested in playing for the country.

Disclosing that the team’s technical crew have given over 1,000 players from the local scene enough time to fight for shirts, Samson Siasia said aside the players from Enyimba FC who were invited and did not show up for the exercise, all other invited players from the Premier League honored the invitation.

Speaking on why the technical crew had to go through this difficult process to get players for the team, the U-23 gaffer said based on his experience when he handled the Flying Eagles and had some of his players disqualified days to their first game, he does not want to suffer same fate this time around.

“We want to be very meticulous the time around in the caliber of players who we will eventually settle for, I have used this method in the past and in the process discovered some players who where not known and today they are stars, we have over 50,000 youths eligible to play in this team, so inviting only a handful of League players to camp is shutting the doors to over 49, 000 other eligible players”

Siasia added that when the team reconvenes  on the 4th of January  after going on break  on 20th December, all selected players must come with their international passports, while those from the local scene must add a photocopy of their club licence for the past season.

He also disclosed that only players born on or after the 1st of January 1993 are eligible to play for the team, and as such all those who do not fall under this category need not bother to come to the camp even if they have been invited.

Siasia first assignment will be to qualify the team for the Men’s Football event of the 11th All-Africa Games (taking place in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo in July 2015). Their first hurdle will be a qualifying fixture against Gabon, with the first leg away in Libreville towards the end of February and the return leg early March in Nigeria. The winner of that fixture squares up against the winner of the fixture between Zambia and Madagascar in late March.

Currencies nosedive in oil economies

The unrelenting fall in the price of crude oil is taking its toll on the currencies of oil producing countries, leading to either outright devaluation or heavy depreciation of such national currencies.

naira-Dollar

Companies in these countries that are exposed to foreign exchange denominated loans will be hard pressed to pay back those facilities as they are now compelled to source more local currencies to pay off such debt.

For companies with foreign inputs they will also be forced to source more local currencies at higher volume to continue operation. The Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, said it devalued the naira to stem the continued depletion of the nation’s external reserve which serve as backup for the local currency to prevent Nigeria returning to the pre-1983 era of foreign exchange rationing.

Pre-SFEM settlement

It will be recalled that in 1982 when former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari introduced austerity measures as a result of shortage of foreign exchange in the country, the CBN could not provide cover for money paid by private sector operators into its account to settle foreign suppliers. The loans eventually became sovereign.

About N2.6673 billion was paid by importers into the commercial banks that awaited foreign exchange cover from the Central Bank. A large portion of the money had been paid into the banks in 1983.

At the time, about N1.4285 billion was paid to the Central Bank, while the balance of N1.2388 billion which represents the advanced deposits paid by importers against letters of credit was outstanding with banks.

The backlog was caused by foreign exchange scarcity, which hit the country as the nation’s reserve was depleted and could not pay for one month of imports.

Accordingly, CBN could not provide foreign exchange to facilitate the transfer of the money to overseas creditors before the introduction of the Second Tier Foreign Exchange Market (SFEM) in 1986. The hike in exchange rates put the importers who had already settled their bills in difficult position as they were being asked by their bankers to pay the new rates.

The importers, however, insisted that it was not proper for the banks to ask them to pay the prevalent exchange rates. According to most importers then, they paid in the N2.6673 billion into banks when the exchange rate was about N1.00 to $1.00.

But with the devaluation of the naira, the Central Bank issued a guideline in which the settlement rate was fixed at the rate ruling as at September 26, 1986 of about N1 to $1.5, and importers were asked to pay the difference which, according to financial experts, amounted to N1.332 billion.

Nigerian banks’ quest for foreign bonds over

In the present circumstance, Nigerian banks’ that have in recent time been rushing to the international capital market to raise funds will have to think twice before doing so.

The overseas borrowing fiesta looks to be over in the wake of dramatic currency devaluation last week, but while risks are rising, repaying existing debt could be a problem for most.

Nigerian companies have rushed in recent years to take advantage of rock-bottom global borrowing costs and investors’ hunger for yield, selling some $5 billion in hard currency bonds since 2007, according to Thomson Reuters data. Of this, more than $2 billion was raised this year by financial institutions shoring up their balance sheets, Standard Chartered estimates.

Oil producers’currencies in trouble

The oil price collapse has prompted currencies of oil economies from Nigeria to Malaysia to hit multi-year or all-time lows. In Russia, where energy accounts for two-thirds of exports, the rouble slumped 1.2 per cent and headed for its biggest monthly loss since 2009.

Moscow’s dollar-denominated stocks fell 2.6 per cent, set for their fifth month in the red. Russian bonds were also sold off; with dollar debt spreads over U.S. Treasuries at three-year highs and local 10-year yields surging to levels last seen in December 2011.

“The market reaction is very conventional. We see divergence between the winning countries over the decline of oil prices and the losing countries,” HSBC strategist Murat Toprak said. The rouble has overshot – but if the oil price keeps going lower like that, this momentum may continue.” Three-month forwards meanwhile imply a 10 per cent depreciation in oil-rich Kazakhstan’s Tenge. More @ http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/currencies-nosedive-oil-economies/

Keshi to earn N84m annually

Stephen Keshi will reportedly sign a new deal with the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and will now be earning seven million Naira per month.

The deal is expected to be a 12-month contract that will elapse at the end of 2015.

Keshi’s last contract with the NFF which ended after the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament was at N5million per month.

And one of the reasons why a deal failed to be brokered since then was the haggling over the price he wanted to be paid.

While the previous NFF board were said to have been insistent on retaining the N5million price-tag that he was paid, some reports claimed that Keshi wanted N10million, which stalled the deal.

But with the turn of events of late, and also the intervention of government which saw Keshi brought back after he was dismissed in October, a truce seems to have been reached.

Keshi will now earn N7million per month, which will culminate into N84million by the time the contract expires next year.

PDP has gone from grace to grass -Kwankwaso

Kano State Governor and All Progressives Congress presidential aspirant, Rabiu Kwankwaso,on Sunday said the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2015 presidential poll shows that the ruling party has gone from grace to grass.Kwankwaso spoke to journalists in Enugu shortly after meeting with the party’s national delegates at the state party secretariat.The presidential aspirant was responding to questions over the inability of the APC to present a consensus candidate for the presidential election.He said there was nothing wrong with the APC having multiple presidential aspirants, and described the situation as a positive development.Noting that some parties have no presidential candidate, Kwankwaso said, “A party like APC should have as many presidential aspirants as possible.“PDP has gone from grace to grass now that they have only one candidate – that shows that PDP has gone down.”Pointing out that the PDP had, over the years, always recorded several aspirants at its presidential primaries, the governor argued that the absence of any challenge to Jonathan’s candidacy means that times have changed for the party.He went ahead to restate his earlier claim that it would be easy to defeat Jonathan.“Jonathan has no capacity to rule the state – his government has failed, that is why there is a high level of insecurity and corruption.“All these are as a result of poor leadership.“People are looking for change,” he said, while explaining his reasons for believing that Jonathan would be easy to defeat.“APC is moving from strength to strength and God willing, APC will defeat him (Jonathan) in 2015,” Kwankwaso added.

CJN promises independent, efficient Judiciary

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has promised to ensure that an independent and efficient Judiciary was in place in his about two years tenure.Justice Mohammed spoke in Abuja at a dinner held in his honour by former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi.He said, with his understanding of the workings and challenges of the judiciary, he  was willing to ensure that a functional judiciary capable of meeting the people’s needs was in place.He added that with the support of good minds in the National Judicial Council he would build on the structure left by his immediate predecessor, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, in achieving his set objectives.The CJN recalled his past working relationship with Justice Abudullahi, who he described as his mentor.He said, “Throughout our years together, particularly during the military, he was an inspiration to me. I learnt a lot from him. He is a person whose integrity cannot be questioned. During the military era, when all the courts were subjected to a lot of pressure; sometimes, Justice Umaru Abdullahi would look an official in the face and say: ‘look you cannot interfere with our judicial works, keep off.’ That is the kind of person he is. “That is how I learnt to also be upright in the discharge of my responsibilities as a judicial officer. I have stayed a long time in the system. I will build on the structure left by my predecessor to ensure smooth running of the Nigerian Judiciary.”A former schoolmate of the CJN, Justice John Fabiyi of the Supreme Court and Justice Abdullahi expressed confidence in the CJN’s ability to deliver on his promises in view of what they know of him.Justice Fabiyi said, “I have known him since 1967 at the Ahmadu Bello University. He is a very humble person and easy going. He is very articulate and firm in his decisions. He has the support of all the Justices at the Supreme Court. Next year appears a little frightening, but by the grace of God, we shall overcome.”Justice Abdullahi said though the appointment of Justice Mohammed as the CJN was a good development, it came with huge responsibilities, which require wisdom and God’s guidance. He called for constant prayers for the CJN. The former President of the Court of Appeal said, “Those of us, who know him very well, knowthat he is capable and also going to be a very successful CJN, because he has been part of the Nigerian Judiciary for more than a decade. He knows the various stages of judicial functions.  “We have no fear that he will make a success of his office, but at the same time, he still needsa lot of prayers from us.”

I’ll end insurgency if elected President – Buhari

A former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has promised to fight insurgency and other forms of insecurity in the country if elected President under the platform of All Progressives Congress in the 2015 general elections.The pledge is coming amidst rising insurgency by the Boko Haram Islamic sect in the North East and recent attack on Kano Central MosqueHe also denied sharing money during his recent visit to IMO State during his nationwide tour to meet APC delegates.The Head (Media, Publicity and ICT) in Buhari Support Organization, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe stated these in his weekly brief on “GMB meet the party delegates nationwide tour” read to journalists on Friday in Abuja.“At no time all did GMB, all through this meet the delegates tour, share money or lobby any delegate with money. As we all know a leopard can never change its spot. Friends and sympathizers may have privately encouraged their colleague to attend the delegates meeting, certainly not GMB directing or approving any monetary exchange as being faultily being reported by some online media”, he stated.In his nationwide tour to meet delegates, Buhari had visited Abia, Bayelsa, IMO, Delta, Cross River and Rivers State where Governor Rotimi Amaechi described him as a committed and focused leader whose watch word is integrity which remains a strong ingredient of his character make up that will never change.Maduekwe said, “The summary of all the response and the welcoming remarks by GMB at various state capitals can be summarized. He made it clear that this country must first be secured and efficiently and effectively managed if our nation is to bounce back to normalcy for our people to prosper. Leadership integrity must be the focus watch word if we must salvage Nigeria once again.“We recall that we fought a ferrous civil war without borrowing a kobo but now despite budgeting well over 25 per cent of national annual budget to defence recently we are borrowing $1 billion to prosecute insurgency, yet all we keep hearing is the low morale of our fighting forces as they melt before the ravaging ill trained insurgents.“A situation were about 20 LGAs of this country are under an alien flag can no longer be tolerated. APC is ready to turn the tide to bring Nigeria back into the fold of proud and respectable community of African nations. Our watch word is: securing our nation, prospering our people.“One is worried to read about Nigerian soldiers giving interview to foreign media on how under equipped they are as they face the insurgency. Effort by the National Assembly to conduct hearing on such sad development is hushed down. Same as the NASS hearing on the subsidy scam which till this date has remained a mystery to our general public.”Maduwke quoted Buhari as informing the delegates that he has come to seek their consent and support to vote for him at the forthcoming presidential primaries.He also told them that “if as a party we fail to act strongly to win the 2015 elections then PDPwill not only destroy Nigeria but the people living in it.”

Stop lying against us, Omirin tells Fayose

The embattled Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin, has warned Governor Ayodele Fayose to stop churning out lies against the 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers.He was reacting to allegations by Fayose on state radio and television that he and other APC lawmakers demanded N365 million bribe to clear‎ the commissioner-nominees and 10 percent of the N2bn MDGs funds.Omirin in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Wole Olujobi, said the Assembly under his leadership had a record of integrity by passing 75 bills into law under the administration of the immediate past Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, without demanding for money.Omirin said instead of blaming the seven Peoples Democratic Party members for demanding10 percent of the N2bn MDGS fund, the governor had turned a full circle to accuse the APC lawmakers.He said, “I have never seen this kind of incorrigible attitude all my life. He told us to our face that he would lie against us to set Ekiti people against us. I thought it was a joke. “In actual fact, it was the PDP members that suggested that we should demand for 10 percent cut in the N2 billion MDGs fund and all APC lawmakers said no. “We even called the attention of the governor to‎ this attempted fraud. How  the governor has now turned full circle to accuse APC lawmakers of demanding for bribe is baffling. One good thing though is that Ekiti people know the kind of governor they have.“The alleged N1.3billion poultry fraud case is still in court. ‎There were many things coated insugar that he told Ekiti people about the poultry project. “Evidence of that lie and allegation of fraud on the people can be found in Justice Adamu Hobon’s court at the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti where details of how the governor allegedly defrauded Ekiti people are being examined for judicial interpretaion. Here we are again on MDG N2bn fund.”Omirin urged the Ekiti people to beware of the antics of the Governor “who have turned statecraft in Ekiti Sate to ‎the theatre of the absurd, where stunts and propaganda have taken the place of reason and candour in the mobilization of people and resources for the growth of the state.”He assured that the APC lawmakers would continue to tread the path of integrity to save the people from dishonest people who want to set Ekiti people against the lawmakers through lies and deceit to achieve sinister motives.

Telecoms operators exerting pressure on foreign exchange – NOTAP

Telecommunications operators have been putting enormous pressure on the nation’s foreignexchange as they seek approvals to acquire foreign software to drive their networks, Director General of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, Dr. Umar Bindr, hassaid.Bindr who said this at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday disclosed that in the last 12 months, the operators had obtained approvals to spend about N20bn on foreign technology agreements sought by the operators.NOTAP regulates the importation of foreign technologies by entities operating in the country.It is also supposed to oversee such technologies so that in the long run, they can be domesticated in the country.When such approvals are given, the operators go to the Central Bank of Nigeria to get foreign exchange and the expenditure on such technologies are tax-free because they are regarded as operational expenses.Telecoms operators are listed in CBN’s data among the heavy users of foreign exchange. Because of such heavy use of foreign exchange, it is often suspected that the operators see technology transfer agreements as avenues to repatriate funds to their home countries.The CBN recently devalued the naira because of depleting foreign exchange reserve occasioned by high demand for foreign exchange and low receipts from declining oil prices.Bindr said the agency has decided to open discussion on the subject with telecoms operatorsin a summit it plans to host in Lagos on Wednesday.

NGO seeks end to violence against women, girls

A non-governmental organisation, the Women in Peace and Security Network has expressed dissatisfaction over the increasing level of violence against women and girls in the country.The group, which linked the kidnap of over 200 Chibok girls to gender-based violence againstwomen, urged Nigerians to join the fight against such anti-social behavior.The NGO made its position known on Saturday during a press conference it organized in conjunction with the Rivers State Ministry of Women Affairs to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls.Director of Women Affairs in the ministry, Mrs. Blessing Dienye, who spoke on behalf of the group, stated that the NGO and the ministry had begun a 16-day activism against gender-based violence from November 25 to December 10, 2014.Dienye, who is part of the network’s activities, pointed out that the ministry and the group would be campaigning against domestic violence, child sexual abuse, sexual violence against women and girls during and after conflicts, proliferation of small arms in cases of intimate partner violence among others.With the theme as ‘From peace in the home to peace in the world; let’s challenge militarism and end violence against women and girls,’ Dienye described violence as an anti-social behavior that should be abhorred.

Hong Kong protesters clash with police

Thousands of protesters have scuffled with police in Hong Kong, stepping up their movementfor democratic reforms after being camped out on the city’s streets for more than two months.Student protest leaders on Sunday night told a big crowd rallying at the main protest site outside government headquarters that they would escalate their campaign.As of 17:30 GMT (01:30 AM on Monday local time), hundreds of police officers were engaged in scuffles with protesters as they tried to disperse the crowd. Several protesters carrying umbrellas were chased by police as they rushed to a underground highway.Police have been trying to hold back the protesters as they tried to surround the government complex and several protesters were injured in the ensuing scuffle, Al Jazeera’s Rob McBride,reporting from Hong Kong, said.“It’s a pretty chaotic scene. Police are chasing demonstrators,” our correspondent said, adding that the clashes were “the most violent in the last two months.”“It’s a very ugly scene in Hong Kong tonight.”The crowd tried to push its way down a narrow staircase in an attempt to get to the office of the city’s Beijing-backed leader.Hundreds of protesters charged past police lines, blocking traffic on a main road, but were stopped by police barricades from going down an access road to Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying’s office.Our correspondent said that police “completely lost control” of the main protest site, as several hundred demonstrators spilled over into the streets.Protesters said they would occupy the road until Monday morning to prevent Leung and other government officials from getting to work.They said they were escalating their protest to force a response from Hong Kong’s government, which has made little effort to address. The protesters want fully democratic elections to elect the next leader in 2017.

APC screens Tambuwal, others in Kaduna

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal; Governor Abdulaziz Yariof Zamfara State were among the 15 governorship aspirants screened on Sunday by the officials of the North-West zone of the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna.Shortly after he was screened and issued a certificate of clearance, the Speaker told journalists that he was opposed to shifting or postponement the 2015 general elections beyond February 2015 as stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission over fears of insecurity in some parts of the country.He reasoned that despite the level of insecurity in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, the embattled countries still held elections, wondering why the reverse would be the case with Nigeria.The Speaker argued that all that was needed was for the Federal Government to squarely address the issue of insecurity before the February 2015 elections in the country.According to the Speaker, there was no reason for anybody to cancel the forthcoming elections, adding that those charged with the reponsibilities of protecting lives and property of Nigerians should be up and doing.Apart from government’s commitment to tackling insurgency in the land, Tambuwal urged Nigerians to rise and pray so that the the menace of terrorism did not go beyond February 2015 when the elections were expected to hold nationwide.The Speaker said, “What we should hope and pray for is that before February elections, insurgency should be addressed by the government.“There are people, who has that responsibility it is, either as number one citizen in the country or Chief of Army of Staff or the National Security Adviser or those charged with the responsibility of guaranteeing safety and security of the citizens as established by the constitution.“They should do their work and ensure that we are all secure and safe; and then, let us hope and pray that by February, we should be able to come out en masse to cast our votes.“We should pray that insecurity should not go beyond February. What we should do is that we should be positive.”Tambuwal added, “The government should work hard towards addressing insecurity. I am opposed to the postponement of the elections. Elections are being held in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and several countries where there are security challenges.“What we should do is to address and make up our minds on the fact that there should be elections come February, 2015.”On what informed his coming out to contest the Sokoto State governorship election, Tambuwal said it was as a result of the clarion calls from the people of the state that he should offer himself to serve them.“It’s a response to the clarion calls by the people of Sokoto State for me to offer myself to serve in the capacity as governor of Sokoto State,” he said.

UN pledges to support Nigeria against terrorism

The UN has pledged its “full support” to Nigeria to end terrorism following the attack on KanoCentral Mosque on Friday, which left many worshippers dead and several others injured.This is contained in a statement issued by the UN Secretary-General Ban ki-moon and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.While condemning the act, Ban said that there was no justification whatsoever for the attacks on civilians.Ki-Moon “reaffirms the full support of the UN to Nigeria’s efforts to fight terrorism and to provide security to the population consistent with international law and Nigeria’s human rights obligations.”He conveyed his “deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and to the people and Government of Nigeria” and wished swift recovery to the injured.The Secretary-General called on the relevant authorities to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.

Indonesian officials ordered to eat street food to trim budget

Indonesia has ordered officials to eat local street food at meetings instead of fancy foreign fare and stop holding lavish parties, the latest moves by the new government to crack down on bureaucratic excess.

Snacks such as cassava, steamed corn and yam cakes should be served at official gatherings and the number of guests invited to high-ranking bureaucrats’ parties should be limited to 400, a minister said.

President Joko Widodo, who took office last month and is known as a modest figure from a humble background, has made reining in official spending and trimming back the graft-ridden nation’s bloated bureaucracy a key goal.

He has already slashed travel and meeting budgets for next year, and last week sought to lead by example when he flew economy class to Singapore for his son’s graduation, winning widespread praise online.

Announcing the latest moves late Thursday, Yuddy Chrisnandi, minister for bureaucratic reform, ordered officials to “stop anything that is excessive”.

He said that gluttonous officials were at risk of developing high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and that buying local snacks would help Indonesian farmers.

Chrisnandi said that the rules on food would be applied in all ministries and government offices from December 1. Those who broke them would face sanctions such as demotion or a postponement of bonus payments, he added.

The energy ministry, which is seeking to clean up its image following recent corruption scandals, has already sent out a list of permitted foods and has ordered drinks to be limited to coffee, tea and water.

The ban on lavish parties, due to come into effect early next year, is aimed at private functions held by high-ranking officials, which are often vast affairs at luxurious hotels.

Chrisnandi said such events “created an impression of inequality”.

“There are high-ranking government officials organising weddings for their children… inviting thousands, causing traffic jams.”

The moves echo an anti-corruption crackdown launched by China’s leader Xi Jinping after he came to power in late 2012, which included banning fancy fare from official banquets.

Exploding excrement topples building in China

A cesspool filled with excrement has exploded in central China, injuring 15 people and knocking down a building, state-run media reported.

The blast was apparently sparked by a local man burning waste close to the cesspool, igniting methane gas which was emanating from the pit, the Xinhua news agency said late on Sunday.

The incident in Zhangjiajie city, in the central province of Hunan, caused a residential building to collapse and three of the injured had to be hospitalised, Xinhua said.

China’s urban infrastructure has often been hastily built with little regard for safety as hundreds of millions of people have moved from the countryside to cities in recent decades.

In another excrement-related incident, a man and his mother both died trying to retrieve his wife’s new mobile phone — worth 2,000 yuan ($320) — from a toilet septic tank, reports said in May.

The man jumped in to try to locate the phone but was overcome by fumes and passed out, according to Dahe, a web portal run by the provincial government in central Henan province.

Electricity Stability: We must increase generation capacity – Nebo

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo has advocated for an increase in the maximization of gas utilization capacity if Nigeria is to experience stability in electricity supply.

Electricity-new

Prof. Nebo who was speaking in Uyo during a retreat organized and facilitated by Dr. Noel Akpata of Stratex Pro Services Limited, a leading strategy and execution firm for the Operators of the Nigeria Electricity Market (Market Operator) with the theme “Performance Culture Transformation for a More Effective Market Operator” in Le Meridien Ibom Hotels and Golf Resort, commended the Akwa Ibom State government for its investments in gas, asserting that without gas “we would never get to our target in the power sector”.

The Minister who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia noted that the Power Ministry would continue to work with the Ministry of Petroleum to create an enabling environment for private and public sector investments and partnerships.

Prof. Nebo noted that this year, there would be a robust procurement process for coal utilization, leading to bankable feasibility studies driven by the Ministry of Power, adding that a private investor like Zuma Energy is at an advanced stage in building collaborations to execute a coal power plant in the south-eastern part of Nigeria.

While asserting that the transmission infrastructure requires huge financial resources, he stated clearly that government may not on its own have such funds to invest. He noted that the Ministry was looking at driving enabling policies that can attract the organized private sector to support government in expanding its transmission capacity.

He commended the market operator led by the Executive Director, Chief Mrs V. N. Osuhor for their strides in the CBN intervention fund, adding that it was important that the market operator continues to play its role as an independent market operator, ensuring what the new electricity market would look like in terms of transparency.

Meanwhile, in her welcome address, the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Noble Lady Valerie Ebe who was represented by the Chairman of Ibom Power, Barr. Aniedi Akpabio expressed optimism that the ONEM would proffer optimal performance in the Nigerian power sector.

Others who gave speeches included the representative of Manitoba Hydro International, Mr. Paul Stegiszyn, Dr. Victor Udo, the Managing Director of Ibom Power, among other notable stakeholders in the energy sector.

Co-facilitators at the retreat include  official representative of the Presidential Task Force on Power, Mr. Chidi Ike; Mr. Sonny Iroche, Director Finance, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN); Mr. Marcel Martin, Director National Control Center; Mr. Maurice Smith, Transmission Advisor, Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility amongst others.

Sponsors of the retreat include Ibom Power Company Ltd, Heritage Bank, Akwa Ibom Online, Pacific Energy and Zenith Bank Plc.

The event featured a tour to infrastructure sites; paper presentations, strategy and execution sessions with the Dr Noel Akpata led Stratex Pro team, cultural displays; dinner amongst others.

Jonathan’s afterthought visit belated, says ARG

Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, has described President Goodluck Jonathan’s attempt to woo Yoruba nation for the support of his re-election as “already too late in the day.”

Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Kunle Famoriyo in statement Sunday, stated, “The Yoruba Progress Summit which was held last Friday is an afterthought and a futile effort to sneak the President into Yoruba land through the backdoor.

“For the past five years under his administration, Yoruba people have been deliberately marginalized and skewed out of national reckoning, especially in terms of key appointments and opportunity to partake in key sectors of the economy.

“We are surprised that President Jonathan believes the position of the Speaker, over which he has no control, is enough to atone for the deliberate marginalization in key appointments, over which he has control.”

“In any case, we do not need a ‘Progress Summit’ in Yoruba land. We already have a progressive culture based on democratic and egalitarian values.

What Yoruba nation needs is how to be delivered from the retrogressive forces imposed on us by the Nigerian state.

The Yoruba nation was well ahead in terms of development until the forced union called Nigeria began to steal our institutions from us. Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), being one of the stolen institutions, is good only to address the need to restructure Nigeria, not for an effort to sustain the status quo”

The group said nothing would please Yoruba nation other than a return to regional government through maximum devolution of powers and a return to parliamentary democracy because “We reckon this is the best form of public governance that gives us the opportunity to develop at our own pace and contribute our quota to Nigeria’s development.”

According to the group, everything that happened at the summit was a fool’s paradise as already proven by the students of OAU.

“Those Yoruba persons parading themselves as leaders f Yoruba people know that leadership in Yoruba land resides in treasured virtues of Omoluabi and Afenifere philosophy, not necessarily in persons. Yoruba people know their leaders.

“We dare say that more than any so called leader at that event, those students, who brave all the odds to tell Mr. President the truth, are the true leaders, irrespective of their ethnic origin.

“ARG therefore salute the courage of those students who spoke truth in face of oppression and we enjoin every Nigerian to replicate their courageous act.”

Ashiru’s death saddens Jonathan – Abati

Abuja – President Goodluck Jonathan has received with sadness, news of the death of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Olugbenga Ashiru, the president’s office said in a statement on Sunday.

The statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, extended Jonathan’s condolences to the family, relatives, friends and colleagues of the deceased.

It quoted the president as saying that the country would remain grateful to
Ashiru for its many diplomatic successes in the international arena during his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Reports say Ashiru died on Saturday in a South African hospital after a long battle with a terminal illness. He was aged 66.

The statement said; “Jonathan extends his sincerest condolences to Ashiru’s wife, children, other relatives, friends, associates, former colleagues and staff of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“His heart goes out to them as they mourn the exemplary diplomat who gave the most productive years of his adult life to the patriotic service of his nation.

“The president assures them all of the fullest sympathy, solidarity and support of the Federal Government as they mourn Ashiru.”

The statement expressed Jonathan’s belief that the deceased would be long remembered and honoured as one of the very elite few, who was recalled from retirement to serve as minister.

This was after “a long and very distinguished career as a Foreign Service Officer in the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, the statement added.

It noted that Ashiru’s recall was in recognition of his “widely acknowledged leadership qualities and diplomatic skills”.

“Jonathan believes that Nigeria will always owe the late minister a huge debt of gratitude for his notable contributions to the establishment of mutually-beneficial relationships with other countries while serving as diplomat and ambassador.

“The president prays that God Almighty will comfort all who mourn Ashiru and grant his gentle soul peaceful and eternal rest,” the statement added.(NAN)

Kano bomb blast: Health workers suspend strike

KANO – The leadership of the joint health workers union has directed its members to return to duty to save lives victims of last Friday bombing of Kano central mosque.

The Secretary ; Health workers of union,  Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir told journalists that its indefinite strike ” is hereby suspended following the Friday attack on Kano central mosque where hundreds of worshippers now rush to the hospital”

Members of the union at Aminu Kano teaching hospital and National orthopedic hospital Dala had joined their counterpart across the country on indefinite strike over an age long demands from the federal government.

The development came on the heel of outcry by the general public that questioned the continuation of the industrial action in the light of huge humanitarian crisis in major public health centres in the state.

In the meantime,   thousands of residents Sunday trooped to hospitals to donate blood in response to the clarion call to assist victims of the blast.

At Aminu Kano Teaching, National Orthopedic and Murtala Muhammed Vanguard findings indicates voluntary donors patiently waiting to donate blood

Chief Medical director of Aminu Kano Teaching hospital Prof. Zakari Muhammed confirmed that the hospital recorded large turn out of voluntary donors who were eager to assist the victims

” the large turn out of people here this morning is quite impressive and we are very happy to have them and on our part we have deplored our staff to ensure the exercise went smoothly” ProfessorZakari said.

Exploding excrement topples building in China

A cesspool filled with excrement has exploded in central China, injuring 15 people and knocking down a building, state-run media reported.

The blast was apparently sparked by a local man burning waste close to the cesspool, igniting methane gas which was emanating from the pit, the Xinhua news agency said late on Sunday.

The incident in Zhangjiajie city, in the central province of Hunan, caused a residential building to collapse and three of the injured had to be hospitalised, Xinhua said.

China’s urban infrastructure has often been hastily built with little regard for safety as hundreds of millions of people have moved from the countryside to cities in recent decades.

In another excrement-related incident, a man and his mother both died trying to retrieve his wife’s new mobile phone — worth 2,000 yuan ($320) — from a toilet septic tank, reports said in May.

The man jumped in to try to locate the phone but was overcome by fumes and passed out, according to Dahe, a web portal run by the provincial government in central Henan province.

Human flesh, blood litter Kano mosque

Pieces of flesh, blood splatters, broken floor tiles, abandoned footwears and prayer mats littered Kano Central Mosque on Saturday when the Emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi II, visited the worship centre following multiple bomb explosions in the mosque on Friday.Bloodstains were also noticeable at the entrance and on the walls of the mosque. The bomb blasts had left gaping holes in the ceiling of the sprawling religious edifice.The Emir subsequently directed that the mosque be washed and cleaned and prayers should continue there.Hundreds of residents and Islamic faithfuls thronged the outside of the mosque to catch a glimpse of the scene of the carnage. Carcasses of dozens of burnt motorcycles and cars as well as water bottles and hand fans were scattered around the area.A senior rescue official late Friday gaveAFPthe preliminary death toll of 120.The official also said at least 270 people were wounded in the attack, which saw two suicide bombers blow themselves up and gunmen opened fire during Friday prayer in Kano.Kano State acting police chief, Sanusi Lemu, told journalists that three of the attackers were grabbed and killed by the enraged mob.Speaking on the incident, Sanusi said it must have taken at least two months for the Boko Haram insurgents to plan Friday’s attack on the Kano Central Mosque.He also vowed that he would not be intimidated into renouncing Islam.No fewer than 120 people were killed and 270 injured on Friday as two suicide bombers and a number of gunmen allegedly attacked the 10,000-capacity mosque where the Emir and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, usually leads prayers.Sanusi said, “We will never be intimidated into abandoning our religion, which is the intention of the attackers.”The Emir dismissed the speculation that the attack was a response to his call for northernersto defend themselves against the insurgents.“From all indications, they (the attackers) have been planning this for at least two months,” Sanusi said in Hausa.”The Emir, who did not give details supporting that assertion, directed the place be washed and cleaned, anAgence France Pressecorrespondent at the scene reported.

Sultan asks Muslims to unite against Boko Haram

The Sultan of Sokoto and leader of Muslims in Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, has challenged Islamic sects in the country to unite and fight Boko Haram insurgency.The Sultan, while condemning the suicide bomb blasts at the Kano Central Mosque on Friday, which left about 120 worshippers dead and many others injured, stated that “those behind all the attacks are not Muslims.”He spoke on Saturday in Abuja during a post-2014 Hajj conference organised by the NationalHajj Commission of Nigeria held at the National Mosque.Abubakar said, “I do not believe those perpetrating these are Muslims, because if they are Muslims, they are not professing what Islam teaches.“In the world over, it is the duty and responsibility of government to provide security for the citizenry. This is the time for all the various sects in Islam in this country to rally round one another and end insurgency in this country.”The monarch said it was time for all stakeholders, particularly the Federal Government, to rise up to the responsibility of ending insurgency in the country.He also enjoined stakeholders to join hands and end the violence being perpetrated by Boko Haram in the country.The Secretary-General ofJama’atu Nasril Islam, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, while condemning the attack, reiterated the need for the Federal Government to show more commitment towards ending the carnage in the North-East.Aliyu further challenged the Federal Government to move from mere speech making on the issue of ending Boko Haram to taking decisive actions that would portray the government as serious in its anti-terrorism crusade.The JNI scribe said, “I think it is very important that this matter be looked at with all purposes and intents, and with a very serious focus on efforts from the government which has the constitutional mandate to look after the security and welfare of the people.“We have called with the loudest of our voice on the government but up till this moment, we hear only mere speeches not matched with actions and efforts aimed at curtailing this scourge and epidemic threatening the lives of the Muslims.“Where have you ever heard that even in a worship environment, a mosque for people to worship is bombed and over hundred people killed? Up to this moment, no arrest has been made; nothing from the government unto whom we are going to rely. I call on all Muslim leaders, elders, parents, Imams and scholars to come together to speak and brainstorm on how they can provide succour and help in any effort that we are going to get from the government.”

APC lauds Ajimobi over new road projects

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State has lauded the initiative of Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the leadership of the 33 local government councils to collaborate and embark onconstruction of intra-city roads in their respective domains in fulfillment of the promise made to the people by the state government.Some residents of the state had in the past few days commended the APC-led government in the state for either the repair or construction projects on many roads the party claimed had been abandoned for long.“Virtually all the caretaker chairmen in the 33 local government areas in Oyo State have flagged off two or more important road construction projects in their council territory to complement the efforts of Senator Abiola Ajimobi on improved road networks for the people of the state,” the party observed.In a statement issued by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, APC recalled that the development was a testimony to the seriousness which political office holders on itsplatform attached to addressing the plight of the masses as well as a pointer to the fact everypromise made to the people would be fulfilled regardless of the odds.“We recall that our party made an appeal to the people of the state to remain calm when there was this insinuation that attention was paid to only major roads while most intra city ones were in deplorable conditions. Some of the principal actors in the present administration even came out to assure that most of the roads in question would receive a facelift immediately after the intensity of the seasonal rains must have subsided.”

Our inclusion in impeachment list, a scam –PDP Reps

The deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, and some other Peoples Democratic Party members of the House of Representatives have described as a scam the inclusion of their names in the list of Reps in support of President Goodluck Jonathan’s impeachment.Ogor toldSUNDAY PUNCHon Friday that “the claim of PDP members joining the purported impeachment plot was a huge joke.”He described it as “laughable and cheap blackmail to mention the President’s key men in theHouse as being part of the plot.”The PDP lawmaker from Delta State added, “This is clearly a scam. This is cheap blackmail by people who have lost direction.“How can anyone say Mulikat (Akande-Adeola) and Leo Ogor are on the list to impeach Jonathan? How can the President’s henchmen be the ones to impeach him again?“They say they have over 200 people and they list PDP members, including myself and the majority leader? Is it not laughable?”Ogor advised Jonathan to “lose no sleep but continue with his transformation agenda.”He claimed the PDP caucus was intact and was prepared for any group that would “dare” to move any impeachment motion on the floor of the House.Similarly the Vice-Chairman, House Committee on Information Communication Technology,Mr. Tajudeen Yusuf, flayed the inclusion of his name in the list of lawmakers plotting to remove Jonathan.Yusuf, a PDP member from Kogi State, expressed shock over the development, saying he condemned the act.He said the impeachment was an agenda of the opposition All Progressives Congress, which had nothing to do with him.Describing the list as fictitious, Yusuf challenged the promoters of the impeachment project to come out in the open to defend it.He also demanded the publication of the full list of the members.He said, “I have never, at anytime, and will never sit, join, participate in any meeting to discuss any move that will work against President Goodluck Jonathan’s lofty transformationagenda, his government or the PDP.“It is ridiculous and evil for the APC in its unfortunate propaganda to insert names of PDP members, in their ungodly and inept antics to cause crisis in the polity.“The APC should not delude itself by ascribing to its members what they don’t have. Just likein the past, the PDP remains the majority in the House and at no time did PDP lose majority in the House.”Efforts to reach Akande-Adeola failed as she neither picked her calls nor replied to a text message sent to her.The reaction of PDP Reps exposed the widening crack in the impeachment plans.Investigations showed the widening division was as a result of more PDP members of the House, becoming “hesitant” and avoiding being drawn into “a hasty confrontation with Mr. President.”It was gathered that the crack might be a stumbling block for the mandatory “two-thirds majority” (240 out of 360 members) required to impeach Jonathan.Lawmakers, largely from the APC, began compiling signatures to impeach Jonathan soon after last Thursday’s alleged invasion of the National Assembly by the police and hooded Department of State Service agents.The compilation had gathered momentum, hitting about 131 after some PDP members reportedly joined the fray.But investigations revealed that some of the PDP lawmakers, who earlier “shared ideas on Jonathan’s case” with their APC colleagues, were unable to break into the main PDP group tosell the ideas successfully.However, another member, who pleaded not to be named, insisted that the plan was on course and had the backing of some PDP legislators.The APC source berated Jonathan for allegedly “killing the business of politics.”The source criticised the President for allegedly using state security apparatuses to muzzle the opposition.The source said, “This President is not a democrat. He is not. The PDP people do not want opposition.“They are threatening people all over the place, using the police and other agents of intimidation.“Why is the President killing politics? Politics is the only business we have as politicians, buthe is killing it.“We will keep the impeachment plan on course; this is the first time we have come this far, having the determination to compile signatures.”The Chairman, House Committee on Justice, Mr. Ahmad Ali, toldSUNDAY PUNCHthat the list had more than one-third of House members to begin the impeachment proceedings.“We need one-third (120) to kick-start the process.“Right now, we have far more than one-third; so, we can start when we resume,” he added.But another source claimed that PDP members were yet to be “decisive” because they were unsure how the upcoming primaries of the party would turn out.“Many of them are holding on, hoping that they will pick a return ticket.“If they can’t get the ticket, the President must be deceiving himself to conclude that all is well; he will be surprised,” the source toldSUNDAY PUNCH.The House spokesman, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, confirmed that some members were indeed compiling names to impeach Jonathan, but he said he could not speak for them.“I know of signatures, but not the number or who belongs where. I don’t know how many theyare,” he stated.Asked whether the leadership of the House would likely interfere with the plan, Mohammed said the leadership would not take a decision on a matter not before it.“I can only say, wait till we get to the bridge. We will cross it on getting there. The House is still on break till December 3,” he said.