Trends and Politics : November 2016

Wednesday, 30 November 2016

Suspended APC Senator , party at war

Shehu Sani

The indefinite suspension slammed by the All Progressives Congress on the Senate Committee Chairman on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Shehu Sani, has drawn the party and the senator on warpath .

Senator Sani who represents Kaduna Central, did not spare the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-rufai, blaming his woes on him, while also boasting that his purported indefinite suspension from the All Progressives Congress, APC would not stand as it was not justified in any way.

Sani blamed his suspension on el rufai, whom he described as a ‘dubious progressive and a bogus representation of change’

The Kaduna APC however is fighting back , describing Shehu Sani as a man of the gutter, not willing to show remorse for his wrongdoing.

A statement by the party Wednesday described Sani’s claims against the party as uncouth, shameless and disgraceful.

Salisu Tanko Wusono, Acting Publicity Secretary of the party, in a statement added, that Sani represents the politics of fraud and deceit.

According to him, “As if determined to prove that he is beyond redemption, Shehu Sani penned a pathetic response to his continued suspension from our party that testifies that he is a denizen of the gutter. Any one that harboured any doubt about the morass in his mind and the decadence of his conduct would now have those uncertainties wiped away. Crassness of language is a twin to crass of conduct.

Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike acknowledge cheers after flagging off the reconstruction of the Chokocho-Umuechem-Ozuzu Road in Etche Local Government Area on Wednesday

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has called on the international community to take serious interest in the plot by the Police to start the indiscriminate arrests of PDP supporters few days to the December 10 rerun elections .

The governor declared that through the state established intelligence channel , he was in possession of the list of PDP supporters earmarked for arrest by the police before the rerun elections .

He spoke on Wednesday during the flag off of the Chokocho-Umuechem-Ozuzu Road in Etche Local Government Area .

He said : "They have written the names of those they want to arrest. In Khana Local Government Area alone, they have earmarked 103 persons for arrest.

"You didn't arrest them before now, but you want to arrest them at this point because election is approaching ".

Group urges FG to release Dasuki after one year in detention

A Sokoto based civil rights group, the Media Forum for Development (MEFODE) has called on the federal government to respect the rule of law and release the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, who has been detained for a year now.

Sambo Dasuki would have spent one year in detention since his arrest by security operatives on December 1, 2015 from his residence in Abuja.

Addressing a press conference in Sokoto on Wednesday, the interim National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Abdallah el-Kurebe stated that MOFODE had been following the indictment and prosecution of the former ‎National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki and observed that there was the need for Federal Government to apply the rule of law as an ingredient for democracy.

"While the Forum supports President Buhari's fight against corruption, an action that is supposedly intended to heighten Nigeria's development in socio-economic and political strata, however in fighting corruption, FG must develop standards as well as apply the rule of law in doing so," the statement read in parts.

The group contended that no nation would develop in the absence of rule of law and in such cases where "her extant laws and judicial structures are respected ‎devoid of sentimentality and grudging impunity.

Stowaway found dead on Arik plane in South Arica

A lifeless body of a stowaway was Wednesday found in the main wheel well of one of its A330-200 aircraft at the Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mr Ola Adebanji, Arik PR and Communication Manager, said the aircraft operated the scheduled Lagos-Johannesburg flight that departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 3:55pm on Tuesday, and arrived Johannesburg shortly before 11pm.

Adebanji said it was the Engineers of South African Airways Technical facility at the Oliver Tambo International Airport where the aircraft was scheduled for a routine maintenance check that discovered the body of the stowaway during inspection phase.

This latest discovery makes it the third dead stowaways that have been found on the airline’s aircraft. Recall that in October, 2012, the lifeless body of a stowaway was found in the hole of Arik’s Lagos-New York flight. Also in March 14, 2015 unidentified male in his 40s was also found dead on board the airline’s aircraft Lagos–New York City.

In September 2013, a 14-year-old boy, Daniel Oikhena, stowed away in an Arik Air Benin City-Lagos flight. The boy, who was hiding in the tyre compartment survived the flight to Lagos. Oikhena had said that he thought the flight was going to the United States and was hoping to fulfill his life ambition of a trip overseas.

NCC suspends directive on data segment price floor

Following the concerns that greeted the directive to introduce price floor for data segment of the telecommunications sector beginning from December 1, 2016, the Nigerian telecoms regulatory agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has suspended any further action in that direction.

The decision to suspend this directive was taken after due consultation with industry stakeholders and the general complaints by Consumers across the country.

The Commission has weighed all of this and consequently asked all operators to maintain the status quo until the conclusion of study to determine retail prices for broadband and data services in Nigeria.

It would be recalled the Commission wrote to the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) on November 1, 2016 on the determination of an interim price floor for data services after the stakeholders consultative meeting of October 19, 2016.

The decision to have a price floor , according to Tony Ojobo, Director of Public Affairs, NCC in a statement was primarily to promote a level playing field for all operators in the industry, encourage small operators and new entrants.

Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Chairman National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC), Mr. Gambo Ahmed, (sitting in white) and President General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Emmanuel Anthony Nted (next to him) in a photograph with other members of the Council at the inaugural meeting of the NJIC, held at the Head Quarters of NIMASA in Lagos recently.

The National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) has agreed to discontinue further negotiations for the increment of wages of dock workers given the prevailing economic conditions facing the maritime industry in general and Nigeria in particular.

This decision was reached at the inaugural meeting of the NJIC which met at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Friday November 25, 2016.

Presided over by the Executive Director Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Gambo Ahmed who is also the chairman, the Council noted that the dwindling fortunes in global shipping which has affected vessel traffic to Nigeria has negatively impacted the fortunes of Sea Ports and Terminal Operators of Nigeria (STOAN).

Tension as Sokoto CP visits IMN leader at Islamic centre

Palpable tension Tuesday, greeted the visit of the Sokoto State police commissioner to the residence of Sheikh Qasim Umar, a leading member of The Islamic Movement, ostensibly on a fact finding mission.
The Police Commissioner told the Sheikh that he was was at the centre to verify security reports reaching him that shiites will hold a "Grand African Shi'ah Congress" in Sokoto, which according to him, might cause a breach of the peace in the state.
Sheikh Qasim commended the Police Commissioner for setting a record of coming personally to verify the security report. He however denied knowledge of any Shi'a conference in Sokoto, stating that "I am hearing about it now from you for the first time."

Deportation of Nigerian in UK : House of Reps summons Foreign Affairs Minister, British envoy, over 18 months detention

THE Committee on Diaspora Affairs of the House of Representatives, Tuesday summoned the foreign Affairs minister, Mr Godfrey Onyeama and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria to explain the reason behind the alleged illegal detention of a Nigerian residing in the UK, Abiodun Juba for 18 months without trial and his deportation to Nigeria after 26 years in UK without any criminal record.
The Minister is also expected to explain to the Rita-Orji-led Committee the efforts his ministry had made towards the plight of a Nigerian, Ms Julie Osamese whose kidney was allegedly stolen by medical personnel in Turin, Italy.
The House Committee after hearing the testimony of Abiodun, 28, whose parents reside in UK but was deported and dumped in Lagos airport disclosed that the British envoy to Nigeria would have to appear to explain why he (Abiodun) a pizza nut delivery driver, was illegally deported.
The deportee who had dragged the British government to court in the UK was allegedly nabbed by the police for allegedly abducting one Elleese Woods with a known record to have elopped from her parent seventeen times.

L-R: Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike , Rivers East PDP Senatorial Candidate , Senator George Sekibo and PDP candidate for Ikwerre /Emohua Federal Constituency after he flagged-off the rehabilitation of the General Hospital , Emohua and the reconstruction of the Rumuakunde-Rumuche-Akpa-Abaka road on Tuesday .

Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that Rivers APC has refused to campaign because of the assurances from INEC and the security agencies that the elections would be manipulated in their favour .

He stated that the plot to rig would come to nought because the people of Rivers State are vigilant and would not be intimidated by the illegal use of security agents to aid INEC to rig.

He spoke at Emohua on Tuesday where he flagged-off the rehabilitation of the General Hospital , Emohua and the reconstruction of the Rumuakunde-Rumuche-Akpa-Abaka road.

The governor called on Emohua Youths to rise up and defend their votes , pointing out that this is the time to send non-performing politicians on retirement .

PHOTO: Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike , Minister of Labour and Employment , Senator Chris Ngige and Senator George Sekibo during the visit of the Minister to Governor House , Port Harcourt on Tuesday .

Rivers Governor , Nyesom Wike has declared that issues of development must always receive priority attention despite political differences .

This is as the Minister of Labour and Employment , Senator Chris Ngige described Governor Wike as an action governor who should lead the way in the implementation of the Employment Compensation Act being implemented by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).

Speaking at the Government House , Port Harcourt on Tuesday when he granted access to the Minister of Labour and Employment , Senator Chris Ngige , Governor Wike said placing development above partisanship would enhance the partnership between the Federal and State Governments to transform the country.

Patricia Etteh, former House of Reps Speaker, among 4, 225 new lawyers

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, was among 4, 225 new lawyers that were
called to the Nigerian Bar . Etteh headed the hallowed green chamber of the Nigerian legislature from June to October 30, 2007 .
While administering oath on the new lawyers , the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, warned them against engaging in “sharp practices”.
“As a legal practitioner, you must respond promptly, as reasonably possible, to request for information by your client.
Negligence in handling a client’s case may be of such a nature as to amount to professional misconduct. You must endeavour to adequately represent your client in all matters you are handling.
“Futhermore, as Ministers in the temple of Justice, it is never enough to solely protect the interest of your client. You musty strive to attain justice above all and not derail its course even if it may not favour your client and avoid ‘sharp practices. You must not knowingly advance a claim or defence that is unwarranted or with intent to abuse court process or maliciously injure another.
“Always remember that all oral or written communications made by your client in the normal course of professional employment are priviledged. Therefore, you shall not abuse or take advantage of the confidence reposed in you by your client for your personal gain or benefit or for any other consideration.

Chairman, House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago and the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside during an oversight visit by members of the Committee to NIMASA.

The House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration has resolved to support the rebuilding efforts of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in its quest to reposition, reform and restructure for the benefit of the nation.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago disclosed this when he led other members of his committee oversight visit to the Agency.
Hon. Bago challenged the Agency's Management on its budget implementation stating that the Committee expects an implementation of over 90%. He called on the Management to spend the funds appropriated according to the provisions of the law so that the value of the projects can be realized.
Describing NIMASA and the Committee as partners in progress, Hon. Bago assured the unflinching support of members to enable the Agency deliver on its mandate in ensuring the growth and development of the maritime sector, especially now that the country is in a recession.

Traditional Rulers welcome Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to the flag off of the reconstruction of the Airport-Ipo-Omademe-Ozuoha on Tuesday.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has flagged off the reconstruction of the Airport-Ipo-Omademe-Ozuoha road to the agricultural heartland of Ikwerre Local Government Area .

The governor , also Tuesday , flagged off the rehabilitation of General Hospital , Isiokpo aimed at providing quality healthcare services to the people of the area.

Performing the flag off of the road, Governor Wike said it was unfortunate that the immediate past governor who hails from the area could not construct the road.

He said: "Those who produce what we eat in the cities must be given a sense of belonging . That is why we are here today to commence the construction of this all important roads.

"We are here to wipe away the tears of the people. The former governor had the opportunity for eight years to construct this road which is in his home LGA, but neglected it.

Rivers Rerun : We shall release video of Rivers Police Commissioner plotting to rig --- Wike

R-L: Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike , Rivers West Senatorial Candidate , Senator Osinakachukwu Ideozo and PDP House of Representatives Candidate for Akuku-Toru /Asari-Toru Federal Constituency , Boma Goodhead during the flag off of the Rehabilitation of the General Hospital , Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area on Monday .

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared that the state government will in the coming weeks release the audio -visual footages of the Rivers State Police Commissioner plotting with politicians on the methods to be adopted for the planned rigging of the December 10 rerun elections Flagging off the rehabilitation of the General Hospital, Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area on Monday, Governor Wike noted that the audio-visual footages will be made public through different media platforms to expose the extreme rigging desires of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) with the backing of the police and other security agencies .

He noted that the 600 policemen working with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS ) in the state , the police commissioner has already distributed them to prominent APC leaders on a local government basis for the indiscriminate arrests of PDP supporters few days to the election .

The governor added that the 600 SARS personnel distributed would also be used to unleash unprecedented violence on the people on election day , so that APC leaders would have time to substitute results sheets handed over to them by the INEC leadership.

A refugee population of 239, 834 caused by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East is now in Nigeria.

This is contained in a published report of humanitarian relief intervention by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) which was released recently.

According to the report, "there are presently 20, 804 displaced Nigerians living the Republic of Chad, 80, 709 in the Republic of Cameroun and 138, 321 in the Republic in Niger".

The report however added that about 29, 581 Nigerians who fled their communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa to the Republic of Niger and Cameroun as a result of the insurgency have voluntarily returned last year.

According to the report, there were 13,046 Nigerian returnees from Niger Republic in May, 2015 and who were received in Geidam, Yobe State while between April and December, 2015 NEMA received about 16,595 Nigerians that have voluntarily returned from Cameroon through the Sahuda border crossing area near Mubi, Adamawa State.

“Some of the Nigerians that fled to neighbouring countries (Niger, Chad and Cameroon) were provided with humanitarian relief support by the Federal Government of Nigeria through NEMA to alleviate their suffering. The displaced Nigerians have also received humanitarian supports from the host governments, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the host communities and Nigerian citizens living in the three host countries’’ the report said.

Fiery Roman Catholic priest and spiritual director of Adoration Ministry, Emene, Enugu, Rev. Fr.Ejike Mbaka has called for the arrest of more judges ,saying that God was revolutionalising Nigeria with the arrest of judges who were hitherto, the untouchables.

Mbaka who commended the Federal government for the arrest of the alleged corrupt judges said that it would be nice to even arrest more judges and as well as those who influence them to pervert justice.
The fiery priest who stated this at the thanksgiving mass to mark the Enugu State Judiciary 2016/2017 legal year at the Adoration ground, Emene, Enugu said that though, some of the arrested judges may not be corrupt as alleged, it is good that they be investigated and if found culpable, imprisoned to serve as a deterrent to others.
Mbaka described the arrest of the judges as supernatural.
“The arrest of the judges is a supernatural brand new revolution that is going on in all dimensions in all three arms of government. When revolution starts you can not imagine where it would reach.
“I urge judges to remain incorruptible or be arrested and who ever that will arrest them should be praised," Mbaka posits.

Ajimobi congratulates Akeredolu

The Chairman, Southwest Governors’ Forum, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has congratulated the Governor-elect of Ondo State, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on what he described as his unassailable victory in Saturday’s governorship election held in the state.

Ajimobi, who is also the Governor of Oyo State, similarly felicitated President Muhammadu Buhari, the leadership and members of the All Progressives Congress for their respective contributions to the eventual victory of the party's candidate.

A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, said that the governor expressed great joy and deep satisfaction at the relatively peaceful conduct and successful conclusion of the keenly contested election.

The governor applauded the mature and brotherly behaviours of the 28 candidates that flew their parties’ flags in the election, as well as the electorate, noting that only in such peaceful and comradely environment could the country build a truly democratic culture.

Describing Akeredolu as a long-term friend and brother, Ajimobi prayed for God's guidance and wisdom for the governor-elect to make a difference in the lives of the Ondo people, who he said, reposed confidence in him and the APC.

PHOTO: The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, flanked by Aisha Mohammed, a movie producer and actress, and Josephine Ramos, an actress, at the premiere of the movie "My Name is Kadi" in Abuja on Sunday.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has implored Governors to encourage and support movie producers by providing incentives and creating the enabling environment for the Creative Industry to thrive in their respective states.
The Minister made the call in Abuja on Sunday Night at the premiere of the movie "My Name is Kadi."
"One of the reasons I am here today is that we need to encourage and support the movie industry from whichever part of the country. It's the same enabling environment that we are going to provide for all of them, but I think the state governments should encourage such film-makers also by giving them access to grants to help them because this could be very expensive. The state governments will also help by establishing cinema houses to show these films," he said.

Military sustains joint operations as COAS inaugurates projects in Kebbi

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin has maintained that the current trend in modern warfare has necessitated the need for joint operations training and planning among members of the Armed Forces. The CDS made this assertion at the opening ceremony of the Advance Joint Operations Planning Course at Defence Intelligence Agency Training School, Karu, Abuja.

General Olonisakin pointed out that the Armed Forces of Nigeria had been involved in a number of joint operations in various parts of the country which had recorded some level of successes in the past few years. This notwithstanding, he noted that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) reviewed some past and ongoing operations and identified some gaps in the planning and execution of such operations that call for reappraisal to make them success-driven.

Ekiti APC congratulates Akeredolu on victory

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has congratulated the candidate of the party in Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), over his victory in the last weekend governorship election. Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said in a statement in Ado-Ekiti that Akeredolu's victory had confirmed the confidence that Nigerians, particularly the people of the South West, reposed in APC and its leadership in the capability and capacity to restore hope to the people. The party congratulated the people of Ondo State in their peaceful conduct during the election that did not record any untoward incident, saying that such a civilised conduct was a product of transparency and openness that President Muhammadu Buhari was instituting to strengthen democratic practice in Nigeria.

Ekiti APC congratulates Akeredolu on victory

False accusation against Felix Obuah: PDP demands apology from Dakuku Peterside

Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded full and unreserved apology from the defeated All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2015 election and Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) , Mr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, following false accusation against the person of the State Chairman of PDP, Bro. Felix Obuah, that he (Obuah) attempted to inject poisonous substances on one Atonyesia Peterside, (Dakuku Peterside’s cousin), who was arrested for printing fake INEC result sheets and other sensitive electoral materials in preparation for the rescheduled re-run legislative elections in the State on December 10, 2016.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the PDP Chairman on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam, the party gives Mr. Dakuku Peterside 48 hours to comply with its demand or face legal action.

Dr. Peterside congratulates Ondo Governor-elect, Akeredolu

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has congratulated Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for winning the Ondo State governorship election.

Dr. Peterside who was the governorship candidate of the APC in Rivers State in the 2015 general elections noted that Chief Akeredolu defeated the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Social Democratic Party (SDP), among others in a keenly contested election that has been adjudged free, fair and credible.

He opined that the APC is the party to beat in any free, fair and credible election devoid of violence and intimidation because of the credibility of its candidates and general acceptance of the party.

The NIMASA DG called on the governor-elect to be humble and magnanimous in his victory and to see his emergence as the wish of the people of Ondo State in their yearning to chart a new course in the realization of their hopes and aspirations.

Justice Ajumogobia, arraigned, plead not guilty

Justice Rita Ajumogobia, a senior judge of the Federal High court has been docked on a 30-Count charge of perverting course of justice, forgery and conspiracy alongside a senior advocate, Mr. A. Obla before an Ikeja High Court.

The duo of Ajumogobia and the lawyer, Obla were arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi, who took their plea on the offences proffered against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Their counsel have argued their bail applications, while the matter was stood down by the court to prepare ruling on the bail applications.

Finance documents signed for a landmark 80 megawatt peat to power project in Rwanda

A US$350 million deal has been signed to finance an 80 megawatt (MW) peat to power project in Rwanda which aims to increase access to electricity for the three quarters of the country’s population that is currently off the grid.

The group of signatories includes Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), which is arranging total senior debt facilities of US$225 million, contributing US$75 million in loans and providing an underwriting commitment of US$35 million, and Finnfund, the Development Agency of Finland, the lead arranger for the junior debt and which is providing US$ 10 million of the mezzanine debt tranche.

Also contributing to the financing deal are the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (PTA Bank), the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD)and the Export-Import Bank of India. The sponsors of the Project are Hakan Mining and Electricity Generation Company Limited (Hakan), a Turkish power generation company, and Quantum Power Limited (QP), a multi-billion dollar international investment company.

APC congratulates Rotimi Akeredolu on Ondo State guber victory

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has congratulated the Party’s Ondo State governorship election Candidate and running mate, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN and Hon. Agboola Ajayi respectively on their landslide election victory.

In a message issued on Sunday on behalf of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), Odigie-Oyegun while thanking the Ondo electorate for voting for the Party also expressed gratitude to the good people of Ondo State for their impressive turnout and peaceful conduct during the election exercise.

The APC National Chairman equally thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and other party leaders for their invaluable support towards winning the Ondo state governorship election. He called for calm and appealed to the opposition parties and their candidates to accept defeat in good faith.

Return the N2bn Rivers money you donated to Ondo State PDP--Rivers APC to Wike

With the trouncing of Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in the governorship election in Ondo State Saturday, the Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, is asking the governor of Rivers State to immediately retrieve and return the sum of N2bn of Rivers money he donated to the Ondo State branch of the PDP.

Making the demand Sunday afternoon was the Rivers State Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress, APC, Senibo Chris Finebone while addressing APC supporters in Port Harcourt shortly after the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Chief Rotimi Akeredolu of the APC as the winner of the 2016 Ondo governorship election.

“It is unfortunate that Gov. Nyesom Wike is still playing Father Christmas with the commonwealth of Rivers people for his personal egoistic political voyage despite that the governor has cancelled hundreds of overseas scholarships and the students repatriated home among other important programmes. Agriculture is in its worst state since Rivers State was created. Songhai Farm is gone; the Banana Farm at Tai is gone; RSSDA is now a ghost of its former self with the staff owed 17 months salaries. The various fish farms at Buguma, Andoni and other places that provided jobs for thousands of Rivers people are now history.

Army Council approves 8th Division in Sokoto

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Yusuf Buratai has disclosed that the Nigerian Army Council has approved the establishment of the 8th Army Division in Sokoto.

He disclosed this in Sokoto on Sunday when he paid condolence visit on the Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal over the death of late Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki.

The COAS however said that the officers and men that would be posted to the new Division were currently operating in the Northeast.

According to Buratai, "As soon the security situation in that region is fully stabilised, the Division will move to Sokoto. The move is part of efforts to provide sustainable peace and unity of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Army is fully committed to ensuring this."

JAIZ wins three awards at Global Islamic Microfinance forum

The foremost non-interest financial institution in Nigeria, Jaiz International has won three awards at the 6th Global Islamic Microfinance Forum (GIMF) organised by Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics in Nairobi, Kenya.

The organisation and its associated institutions – Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation, Jaiz Takaful Insurance Plc, Jaiz Zakat and Waqf Trust Fund won the awards.

The awards are Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed on the Chairman of Jaiz Foundation, Alhaji(Dr.) Umar Abdul-Mutallab, CON; Best Corporate Social Responsibility Award to Ambassador Adamu Babangida Ibrahim, Director General/CEO, Jaiz Charity and Development Foundation and The Best Rising Islamic Microfinance Personality Award was awarded to the Managing Director of Jaiz Takaful Insurance Plc -Mr. Momodou Musa Joof.

Global Islamic Microfinance Forum is an annual apex gathering of Islamic Microfinance, Takaful, Islamic Banking, Rural Finance, Funder/ Donor agencies, Multilateral organizations and other allied sectors of Microfinance to address the poverty problems and their solutions through Islamic Microfinance. The awards which were granted after a rigorous evaluation of a record number of nominations by an internal research team and an award committee, recognize the industry leaders and promote the concept of poverty alleviation from over 35 participating countries.

Jaiz Foundation was a product of the first non-interest Bank in Nigeria; Jaiz Bank Plc. It was established as nonprofit, non-governmental charitable organization on the 2nd of April, 2012, to among other core areas of Charitable and other Sectoral interventions also act as a Corporate Social Responsibility implementing agency of Jaiz Bank Plc.

PHOTO: Kanayo Awani, Managing Director, Intra-African Trade Initiative at Afreximbank (left), with Khemalini Hurdowar, Head of Legal at the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius (2nd left), and Eric Timmermans, Deputy Secretary General of FCI, during the opening of the Afreximbank factoring workshop in Port Louis, Mauritius

Port Louis – Governments should create enabling environments for factoring in Africa in order to improve the competitiveness of African businesses, Dr. Benedict Oramah, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), said today in Port Louis.
In an address read on his behalf by Kanayo Awani, Managing Director of Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Initiative, during the opening of a factoring workshop organized by the Bank in the Mauritian capital, Dr. Oramah said that, given that it used open account methods, rather than the more expensive letters of credit, factoring improved the competitiveness of businesses.
Afreximbank was working hard to support businesses to seize the opportunities that beckoned in the factoring market, he said, adding that the Bank would support factoring companies in lobbying their governments towards creating enabling environments for factoring to thrive.
The President said that because factoring was a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)-focused product offering and because SMEs, which were “the engines of growth in our economies”, had limited policy-influencing capacities, it was up to multilateral institutions like Afreximbank to help make governments aware of the value and impact of factoring on their economies.

Publish details of alleged spending of N500bn as ‘running cost’, SERAP tells Saraki, Dogara

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP) has sent Freedom of Information Act requests to both the Senate President Dr Bukola Sakari and Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr Dogara Yakubu requesting them to “urgently provide information about alleged spending of N500 billion as running cost between 2006 and 2016, and the monthly income and allowances of each Senator and member.”

SERAP’s request followed disclosure by Abdulmumin Jibrin that Nigerian Senators and House of Representatives members have pocketed N500 billion as ‘running cost’ out of the N1 trillion provided for in the National Assembly budgets between 2006 and 2016, and by former president Olusegun Obasanjo that each Senator goes home with nothing less than N15m monthly while each member receives nothing less than N10m monthly.

The organization threatened to “take all appropriate legal actions under the Freedom of Information Act to compel the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to comply with the request if “the information is not provided to us within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.”

In the letter of request dated 25 November 2016 and signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organization, said that, “We are seriously concerned that details of the National Assembly budgets and income and allowances receive by its members over the years remain shrouded in secrecy, and hidden from Nigerians. Alleged stealing or mismanagement of N500 billions of public funds may be responsible for the economic crisis and attendant hardships being faced by millions of Nigerians.”The identical FOI requests read in part: “Representative democracy requires more than the simple casting of ballots in periodic elections. Only when Nigerians in general have access to concrete information about the running cost and other critical spending and financial details by the National Assembly can citizens make well-informed choices and can politicians be held accountable.”

Over 90% of 200,000 first batch n-power beneficiaries have bvn clearance

Over 90% of the 200,000 unemployed Nigerian graduates selected in the first batch of the N-Power Volunteer Corps, NPVC, have been verified using the Bank Verification Number, and any untrue information submitted in the process of application is a ground for disqualification.
This clarification was given today by the Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, while giving an update on the N-Power Volunteer Corps which is now advancing with assignment of beneficiaries to their places of deployments in their states of residence.
Akande who referred to a BBC report last week regarding the testimonials of some of the selected Nigerian graduates noted that “it is most gladdening that those who were selected are now telling the stories of how they have not been employed for years, but now grateful to the President for this initiative.”
Some of them, he added, express satisfaction, according to the BBC report now online, that even though they knew no one in government, they were selected for the paid volunteer job program, attesting to the transparency of the selection process.
The Senior Special Assistant stated that all the states and the FCT through the focal persons they appointed have since received the list of the 200,000, and now working on deploying the beneficiaries to their places of assignment.

Good governance, anti-corruption will birth a new Nigeria - Dr. Peterside

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has identified quality of governance, anti-corruption, institutional integrity, education as well as sound economic policies as factors that can transform a nation to greatness.

Dr. Peterside who was the speaker at this year’s University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) Distinguished Persons Annual Lecture of the Faculty of Management titled Connected Vision: Building Blocks of a New Nigeria at the Enugu Campus of the University also noted that the availability of Natural Resources is also a key variable.

He said that good governance is a critical factor to the wholesome development of any nation. According to him, “the principles of accountability, transparency, observance of the rule of law and basic freedoms remain fundamental to any definition of good governance. But the ultimate determinant of good governance is the extent to which such government meets the basic needs of the greatest majority of its people.”
The NIMASA DG observed that corruption has remained a major clog in the evolution of an egalitarian society and a major inhibitor of good governance saying “it is not surprising that some of the fastest growing countries like Singapore, Rwanda and Botswana also happen to have the toughest anti-corruption regimes in the world”.

It was indeed a day of joy for parishioners of St. Sylvester Catholic Church New Nyanya in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State as eighty couples were given the sacrament of matrimony by the Catholic Bishop of Lafia Diocese, Most Reverend Dr. Mathew Ishaya Audu.

In a statement signed by the Public Relations of the Church, Mr. Ewache John Ajefu notes that the ceremony was unique and historic in the anals of St. Sylvester Catholic Church history.

The marriage ceremony and the Sacrament of Confirmation put together by the Parish Priest of St. Sylvester Catholic Church New Nyanya Reverend Father Lawrence Soja Anyembugu were part of the key activities lined up for first pastoral visit of the Bishop to the Independent Mission.

Speaking at the occasion, the Bishop admonished the couples to cloth themselves with the love of Christ in order to have a sustainable marriage life, stressing that marriage without love is meaningless.

Ibori - New corruption investigation launched

The UK Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has launched fresh investigations into the original London Metropolitan Police case officers involved in the James Onanefe Ibori case. The Officers in the case were DC Peter Clark, DC John McDonald, DC Ben Irons, DC Mathew Hurding-Jones, DC David Cocks, DS George Simpson, DI Gary Walters and AFI Paul Gardiner.
The revelation was made by a lawyer, Lambertus De Boer, in his Twitter account at the weekend according to Tony Eluemunor, Ibori’s media Assistant , in a press statement, of Sunday November 27, 2016. Eluemunor said: “These officers, some with the National Crime Agency are believed have been served with anti-corruption notices. Surprisingly, they remain on active duty while the investigation continuous”.
Eluemunor said: “These same officers, who worked for the Department of foreign Investment and Development (DfID) funded ‘Proceeds of Corruption Unit with the MPS were investigated in 2012, after Bhadresh Gohil alerted the authorities of police corruption at the heart of the James Ibori investigation and prosecution.
Unknown to Gohil, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) had themselves independently suspected deep rooted corruption in relation to these officers and had itself conducted a covert surveillance operation, code-named – “Operation Limonium”. Despite substantial evidence, the MPS whitewashed its investigations because making such public before Ibori’s trial was concluded could shot down the conviction of Ibori and his associates. Now, that whitewash has become a bullet in the armoury of Ibori’s lawyers as they head to the Court of Appeal, where that failure will be pleaded as yet another infraction against the Police.

INEC rigged Ondo election in advance for APC - Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has lamented the outcome of the Ondo State Governorship election, saying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) connived with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its collaborators in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the election before it was conducted.
He said; “Just as I would have loved to congratulate the winner, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), because in every contest, there must be a winner and a loser, the role of INEC in awarding victory to him in the election left much to be desired.”
The governor, who reacted to the outcome of the election in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayina, said INEC gave the APC victory in the election by deliberately replacing the name of Mr Eyitayo Jegede, the PDP candidate, thereby creating legal logjam that lasted till three days to the election.
He said that the PDP went to the election with its hands tied to the back because of the uncharitable actions of INEC, which has no doubt become an arm of the APC.
He maintained that apart from the APC, political parties in Nigeria are now contesting elections against INEC.

Military bombardment left some militants dead in Delta

Troops of the Operation Delta Safe bombed a militant camp at Okosugbene Creek, along Burutu-Warri River, near Burutu, Delta State, with two fighter jets and about seven gun boats for nearly an hour on Thursday and some militants were suspected to have lost their lives .

Reports from the area said that soldiers, who struck at about 6.00 am caught the militants unawares.

But while a source said it was an abandoned militant camp belonging to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, another hinted that it was occupied by sea pirates.

Information about the casualties of yesterday’s attack was still unclear at the time of this report, but the raid caused tension among riverine dwellers. They ran helter-skelter at the sound of heavy gunshots.

A source said the militant camp is located at Lapala village, near Burutu

Infrastructures: Save Lagos Group writes Ambode over bad roads in the metropolis

A Civil Society group under the aegis of Save Lagos Group (SLG) has written a strong worded letter to the Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode over the bad state of the roads in the metropolis of the State which made the citizens of the State to be encountering horrible experienced to reach their various destinations on daily basis, calling on the State government for immediate action on the reconstruction of the roads across the length and breadth of the State because of the commercial nature of the State.
The group also condemned the shady jobs of the contractors handling the ongoing road projects in some part of the State, condemning the neglect of some areas of the State by the State government in the uplifitment of her infrastructures, particularly, the Ikorodu communities where Governor Ambode claimed as his constituency during the 2015 governorship election, complaining about the negligent attitude of some officials of the State government in handling of the ongoing road and other projects across the State presently.
According to the letter dated Monday 24th of October, 2016 with the titled “The urgent need of Igbogbo, Awesu,Orire-Abosan,Offin,Oreta,Baiyeku,Ebute,Adamo and Araromi communities of Ikorodu Town-A call for immediate Action” and signed by convener of the group, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman and forwarded to Governor Akinwumi Ambode, which a copy was made available to newsmen on Thursday, lamented the sorry state of the roads in the various communities of the State, noting that the aforementioned Ikorudu Communities lacked the physical presence of the state government in terms of social amenities like good roads, portable pipe borne water and so on.

‘Bail for Ojukaye is triumph of good over evil - APC

The granting of bail to the APC chieftain, Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree by the Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt Thursday signifies the pre-eminence of good over evil; it confirms that the triumph of evil over good is only but temporary, said Rivers APC in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Chris Finebone.
According to the statement, “For the members of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State and beyond, today reaffirms our belief in what the late sage, Haile Selassie said that “Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.”

CNPP disowns Okunniyi, denies rejecting postponement of Ondo guber election

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has denied rejecting calls for the postponement of Ondo State Governorship election, saying it has no Acting National Publicity Secretary in the name of Veteran Olawale Okunniyi.

According to a statement personally signed by the National Chairman of CNPP, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, the Conference noted that its Acting National Publicity Secretary is Dr. Yunusa Tanko, who is the current National Chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP).

The CNPP is the umbrella body of all political parties and associations in Nigeria.

The statement read: “The attention of the national secretariat of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has been drawn to media reports that the Conference has rejected calls for the postponement of the Ondo State Governorship election, quoting one Veteran Olawale Okunniyi as our Acting National Publicity Secretary.

Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (m), Deputy Governor , Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo (r) and Former Transport Minister , Dr Abiye Sekibo during the flag off of the construction of Okrika Internal Roads and Reconstruction of Okrika General Hospital on Thursday

Rivers Governor , Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has reiterated that the Minister of Transportation , Rotimi Amaechi is in receipt of INEC original result sheets extended to him by INEC .

The governor said that the feeble denial of the Minister of Transportation , Rotimi Amaechi that he is not in receipt of result sheets from the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) proves that the evil plot is still on.

Speaking while flagging off the reconstruction of the General Hospital, Nchia in Eleme Local Government Area on Thursday , Governor Wike noted that in the denial of the embattled Minister of Transportation , he did not dispute the fact that APC leaders met with him in Abuja on Tuesday .

He urged all the people of the state to remain vigilant all through the electoral process, in order to stop the introduction of criminally acquired results by the Minister of Transportation and his cohorts.

PHOTO: Toyin and Seun when the going was good
Seun Egbegbe, a former boyfriend to actress and social media celebrity Toyin Aimakhu was Thursday remanded in Kirikiri prison, . for alleged stealing 10 pieces of iphone by a Lagos State magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja.
Seun was arraigned before Magistrate Y.O Aje- Afunwa on one count charge of stealing slammed against him by the police.
Seun who pleaded not guilty when the charge of stealing was read to him, was said to have committed the offence at the Computer Village when he requested for the phones.
The police prosecution has argued that occurred while the sales girl was trying to calculate the items Seun requested for, but that he allegedly ran out of the shop with the phones and tried to board a waiting vehicle.

Following the inspection being carried out by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) on the facilities of State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards/Commissions/Agencies across the country, some state governments have started giving facelifts to their Hajj regulators to conform with required demand for licensing by the national regulatory agency.

Some of the inspected states have well-equipped and magnificent buildings with adequate manpower while others were found lagging behind. In some states in which NAHCON rejected their facilities, the state governors responded quickly by replacing them with high class ones that would meet the criteria for placing them in the appropriate grading by the Commission.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has felicitated with former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, as he turns 70 on November 25, 2016.

In a letter signed by the Party’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the Turakin Adamawa was hailed for his solid contributions to the growth of the Party and entrenching democracy in the country.
The letter reads:

“Our great Party, the All Progressives Congress celebrates with your Excellency on the occasion of your 70^th birthday.

“The history of Nigeria is incomplete without copious reference to your immense contributions to the social, political and economic development of the country.

From left: The Director, International Tourism, Mrs. Ronke Wole Fasanya, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Mrs. Ayo Adesugba, and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the inauguration of the Technical Committee on the Review of Nigeria's Tourism Master Plan in Abuja on Wednesday.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Wednesday inaugurated the Technical Committee on the Review of Nigeria's Tourism Master Plan, with a call on members to articulate realistic policies that will drive tourism from the periphery to the mainstream of the economy.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Minister said even though the Tourism Master Plan was designed in 2006, a plan of action to implement it was abandoned half way hence the need for members of the committee to review the Plan in consonance with contemporary challenges and realities and the peculiarities of Nigeria.

"This team is to review our own Tourism Master Plan and see which aspect of that Master Plan needs to be reviewed in consonance with what has happened both in terms of technology, politics and even in terms of climate change.

Wednesday, 30 November 2016

Tuesday, 29 November 2016

Monday, 28 November 2016

Sunday, 27 November 2016

Thursday, 24 November 2016