tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87670125891664974732024-03-05T02:31:46.061-08:00Reporters LabAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-62929767242684999472016-02-02T05:25:00.000-08:002016-02-02T05:25:40.079-08:00Jonathan Government Bought Substandard Weapons - FG<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Federal Government has said
whatever weapons that were procured by the Jonathan Administration for the
military to prosecute the war against terrorism were substandard and could not
have been responsible for the string of successes recorded by the military in
recent times.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In a statement issued in Abeokuta
on Monday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,
described as unfortunate and unsubstantiated the statement credited to former
President Goodluck Jonathan attributing the recent successes in the war to the
weapons allegedly bought by his Administration that were delivered after he had
left office.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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He said the present
Administration owes it a duty to put the record straight, especially because
the issues raised by the former President are of public interest and borders on
national security.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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”The weapons, munitions and
equipment which the former President said he bought were refurbished and lacked
the basic components and spare parts. Additionally, the ammunition bought for
both high calibre and small weapons have mostly expired, incompatible with
weapons and grossly inadequate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
”It is pertinent to state that
the ammunition he was referring to were back loaded because they explode within
the barrel when fired, thus leading to deaths and injuries among soldiers,”
Alhaji Mohammed said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He explained that the troops also
lacked the much-needed lift and operational vehicles and other equipment which
they needed for an effective prosecution of the war, until the present
Administration ameliorated the situation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
”The situation was so pathetic
that soldiers were often transported in Civilian JTF vehicles, civilian
vehicles, trailers and water tankers when going to the theatres of operation.
The revelations on the sorry state of things in the past, which have emanated
from the investigative panel so far, point clearly to the kind of legacy
bequeathed to this administration by the past government.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
”That explains why troops
remained largely static and were unable to effectively deploy to completely
rout the Boko Haram terrorists in all their known enclaves. The high level of
casualties sustained by our gallant soldiers was most unprecedented and cannot
be compared to any known military operations in recent times, all because of
the terrible state of affairs suffered by the military under the Jonathan
Administration,” the Minister said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He said apparently because former
President Jonathan could not understand how credible and dedicated leadership
could impact positively on the morale and performance of troops, he has chosen
to denigrate the system for the unprecedented feat that was achieved within the
first six months of the Buhari Administration – something that he could not
achieve in all of six years!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
”It is also clear, as has been
shown so far by the outcome of the panel probing past arms deals, that the
purchase of substandard weapons apparently resulted from the massive corruption
that enveloped the deals, the kind of horrifying graft that saw the purchase of
refurbished choppers that lacked rotors, or fighter jets that could not be
deployed to the theatre of war because they were not up to par.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
”The needless loss of lives of
many of our gallant troops, resulting from the lack of standard weaponry and
low morale in the past, is not a matter to be trivialized under any
circumstance,” the Minister said.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-50007900463835415942016-02-02T03:45:00.000-08:002016-02-02T03:45:01.676-08:00Arms Deal: How EFCC Raided Ex-VP Sambo’s Office<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Still shopping for evidence to
nail top Nigerians who might have benefitted from the $2.1 billion arms cash,
operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have raided
the Abuja office of former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, carting away $50,000
from his safe.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The raid was carried out,
weekend, on the building which houses a top European High Commission’s Visa
Processing Centre opposite the National Defence College, Abuja, throwing some
occupants into confusion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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A source close to the operation
confirmed to Vanguard, yesterday, that the operatives broke into the safe kept
by the former vice president and removed whatever valuable they found,
including top branded wrist watches, assets declaration forms, and list of
landed property.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The raid, it was learned,
followed the discovery that one of Sambo’s aide, known as Daboh, was found to
have collected N25 million from the embattled National Publicity Secretary of
the PDP, Olisah Metuh, as part of the sum he got from the former NSA, Dasuki
Sambo.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Although Daboh was arrested on
January 11 by the EFCC and later released after taking statement from him, the
operatives swooped on the ex-VP’s office on Saturday with the hope of
extracting “incriminating evidence.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The raid took place barely a few
days after Sambo had moved some vital documents from his residence to the
office in the Central Business District, in many bags, known as “Ghana-Must-Go,
which were thought to contain foreign currencies<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The raid also coincided with the
trip of Sambo to the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, where he is
undergoing treatment on one of his legs and for some religious purposes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Sambo’s lawyers protest invasion<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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But the raid, it was learned, has
infuriated Sambo’s lawyers, who felt that it was improper for the EFCC to break
into the office of their client without a valid search warrant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In response to the development,
the lawyers, yesterday, fired a strongly worded letter of protest to the EFCC
Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, asking him to direct his men to repair the destroyed
property in the office.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But the EFCC is reported to have
left behind three armed policemen to guard the place until the doors and other
damaged property were repaired.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A source close to the former vice
president confirmed last night that they were trying to get in touch with him
and brief him on the ugly development.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The source said: “I think the
EFCC operatives were disappointed that they could not find any reasonable
amount of money or any serious evidence of corruption against the former
president.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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“They had thought that the former
vice president had taken some money to the office which they could take as
evidence against him. But they were disappointed as they did not get anything
tangible from the office,” the source said.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-22587768480081333352016-02-02T03:40:00.001-08:002016-02-02T03:40:26.309-08:00SUPREME COURT JUDGMENT: Andy Uba, Oduah Resume Work In Senate<div class="MsoNormal">
The two remaining embattled senators from Anambra State,
Senators Andy Uba and Stella Oduah yesterday made a bold appearance in the
National Assembly to disprove assertions of their removal from office.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The two senators who were reported by some media channels to
have been removed from office on account of the judicial affirmation of the
Ejike Oguebego faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, also attended
their committees’ meetings unhindered.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Their action nonetheless, lawyer to the Oguebego faction,
Chris Uche, SAN yesterday, wrote the Independent National Electoral Commission,
INEC, asking the body to withdraw the certificates of return issued to Andy Uba
and Oduah. Uche in the letter sighted by Vanguard also asked the commission to
issue certificates of return to the nominees presented by the Oguebego faction.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Senator Uba, PDP Anambra South attended the meeting of the
Senate Joint Committees on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions
yesterday while Oduah, PDP, Anambra North was in her office attending to
visitors and files on her table.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Their presence at the National Assembly caught the attention
of staff and visitors, following news reports at the weekend of their sack from
office on account of the Supreme Court judgment on the supremacy battle between
the contending factions of the PDP in Anambra State.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The letter from the Oguebego faction addressed to the INEC
Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, was titled “Compliance with judgement of
Supreme Court Anambra state PDP National Assembly Candidates SC/37/2015-Ejike
Oguebego and Anor vs Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, dated January 29, 2016.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The letter was also copied the Chairman, Legal Services
Committee, INEC Headquarters, Abuja; the Director, Legal services department
INEC, Ibrahim Bawa, SAN, and Hassan Liman, SAN, INEC lead counsel.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Uche stated that the effect of the Supreme Court judgment is
that those who were not part of the list of candidates produced by the
congress/primary elections under the watch of Oguebego and his executive
committee ought and must vacate the positions they occupy at present on the
grounds that they were not validly nominated.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The names of Chris Ubah, Annie Okonkwo and 42 others were
replaced following the appellate court judgment of 6th February 2015, just
before the 2015 general elections.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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According to Uche, it is the responsibility of INEC to
enforce and comply with the said judgement, saying there was no other primary
election conducted by PDP to produce candidates other than the one that
produced his clients.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The letter reads in part: “the effect of the Supreme Court
judgment consequently is that all those who were not part of the list of
candidates produced by the congress/primary elections that the Ejike Oguebego
and his executive committee participated in, and monitored by INEC ought and
must vacate the positions they presently occupy having not been validly
nominated.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“In the light of the foregoing, we therefore demand that
your commission complies promptly with the said judgment of the Supreme Court
by issuing forthwith Certificates of Returns to our clients as the authentic
and legitimate candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party for Anambra state who
won the election, the entire gamut of litigation having been exhausted.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“We look forward to your timely cooperation and compliance.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A panel of the Supreme Court, had last Friday, in Abuja,
reaffirmed the earlier Federal High Court’s verdict, declaring the Oguebego-led
PDP as the recognized executive in Anambra State.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Oguebego faction had masterminded the National Assembly
primaries which threw up a separate list of National Assembly aspirants as
candidates of the party for the election. Among them is Chief Chris Uba the
putative leader of the faction, a brother to Senator Andy Uba who had emerged
as Senatorial candidate for Anambra South in rivalry to his brother.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The apex court in its judgment on Friday upheld the earlier
decision by Justice Chukwu of the Federal High Court that the Oguebego-led
faction as the validly elected leadership of the state chapter of the party.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In December 2014, the Federal High Court had ruled that it
was only the constitutionally recognized state party leadership led by Ejike
Oguebego that could organize the party primaries.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-53216205835123315342016-02-02T03:35:00.000-08:002016-02-02T03:35:22.820-08:00I’m The Only Legal Wife Of Ojukwu, Bianca Tells Court<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The trial in the ongoing legal
battle between the widow of the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu
Ojukwu, Bianca Ojukwu and his brothers over the family estate commenced
yesterday before a Lagos state High Court sitting at Igbosere.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Mrs. Ojukwu in her evidence in
chief before Justice Abdulfattah Lawal, admitted that neither she nor her
children are shareholders or directors in Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
She also admitted that Ojukwu has
eight children which includes the claimants, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu, adding
that she is the only one that was legally married among Ojukwu’s wives, as she
engaged in court, Church and traditional marriage.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Bianca, under cross examination
also told the court that the suit that was filed before the court is only for
the right of her children and not other children of Ojukwu.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The witness further informed the
court that some of the OTL properties in question had been in the possession of
her late husband before his demise, adding that the rent of those properties
were being collected by her husband.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Mrs. Ojukwu had on behalf of her
two under-aged children, Afamefuna and Nwachukwu (claimants) dragged Ojukwu
Transport Limited, OTL, and seven others before a Lagos State High Court
sitting in Igbosere over an alleged move by the family to eject her sons from
the company’s properties located in Lagos.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
She had asked the court to
declare that her children are entitled to the possession and occupation of one
of the properties known as No 29 Oyinkan Abayomi Street, Ikoyi Lagos until the
harmonisation of the management and administration of the assets of the first
defendant, OTL.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The defendants in the suit are:
Prof Joseph Ojukwu, Engr. Emmanuel Ojukwu; Lotanna Putalora Ojukwu; Dr Patrick
Ojukwu; Arch. Edward Ojukwu; Lota Akajiora Ojukwu and Mrs. Massey Udegbe (doing
business under Massey Udegbe & Company).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In the suit, Bianca, and her two
children, had in their statement of claim, prayed the court to declare that the
threat of forceful ejection from 29 Oyinkan Abayomi Street by the defendants is
illegal.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
She is also asking the court for
a declaration that her children are entitled to possess the following property,
namely: No. 13 Hawksworth Road, Ikoyi (now known as No. 13 Ojora Road; No. 32A
Commercial Avenue, Yaba, Lagos; No. 30 Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos and No. 30
McPherson Avenue, Ikoyi.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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According to her, the properties
were under the possession of late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, the father of
the claimants from the time the properties were released from government
acquisition till date.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The claimants stated that
throughout the period their father was struggling to retrieve the properties
from the government, the second to seventh defendants “never played any role in
the struggle nor contributed financially or otherwise to the realisation of the
struggle.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
However, the judge adjourned the
matter till today, for continuation of cross examination of Bianca.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-35496058655381019012016-02-02T03:29:00.000-08:002016-02-02T03:29:35.953-08:00Ijaw Leaders Call For Talks With JTF To End Siege<div class="MsoNormal">
WARRI—IJAW leaders of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West
Local Government Area, Delta State, have called for dialogue with the Joint Task Force, JTF, in
the Niger Delta to brainstorm on the recent pipeline bombing in the state and
halt the military siege that has crippled social life, education and economic
activities in the area.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The leaders are apprehensive that with the manner security
agents are allegedly hounding villagers without identifying and targeting the
perpetrators, the military could be setting the stage for the annihilation of
Gbaramatu Kingdom.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okowa’s aide warns against ethnic crisis<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, Senior Special Assistant to Delta State Governor
on Peace Building, Mr. Augustine Ogedegbe, has cautioned stakeholders of Ijaw
and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities against accusations and counter accusations
over the recent bombings of crude oil and gas pipelines in the state, so as not
to ignite ethnic crisis in the state.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reacting to the bombings of the pipelines, Ogedegbe said
that it was necessary to prevent a reoccurrence of the attacks on the oil
facilities and arrest of those involved in “the unwholesome criminal act.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He urged youths of the Niger Delta region to halt the
attacks on oil and gas facilities in the interest of peace in the area,
advising them not to resort to unlawful means to express their grievances on
any issue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why we want a meeting —Gbenekame<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Bebenemowei (Chief Mobilizer) of Gbaramatu Kingdom,
Chief Godspower Gbenekame, told Vanguard: “Yes, we (Ijaw leaders) are calling
for a peace meeting with the Commander of JTF, Major-General Alani Okunola and
his officers to discuss what is happening and the way out.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“A lot has happened. They are arresting our people
everywhere and many riverine dwellers have fled their homes in Okerenkoko,
Oporoza, and Kurutie and indeed, all the Ijaw communities in the kingdom
because of the fear that soldiers will invade them like they did in 2009.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The task force is not briefing the elders on anything.
There is no channel of communication as we speak, yet the JTF Commander said he
will hold leaders responsible while they have asked the leaders to produce
suspects they do not know and who the security agencies have not
identified. Can you see the problem and
how do you want community leaders to collaborate with those that are
intimidating them?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“What I am saying is that there is no synergy with the way
things are going on and this is not good. We have looked at it as leaders and
think that there is need for us to meet with the task force and discuss. We
hear them and they hear us and we all agree on how to tackle the problem.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, comprising Edo, Delta
and Ondo States and Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade,
FHRACC, think the task force has overstepped its bounds in urged the Minister
of Defense to call the Commander to order.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They accused the task force of indiscriminate arrests and
causing fear in innocent citizens who have no knowledge of the pipeline bombing
that was carried out by criminals.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Random shooting<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
FHRACC in a statement by its National President, Alaowei
Cleric, said: “The military attempt to unearth the perpetrators of the recent
pipeline bombings in Gbaramatu Kingdom has taken a twist. What the JTF is doing
to the riverine communities is a demonstration of military prowess to its
enemies in order to coerce them into doing its biddings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We are appalled by the belligerent attitude of the military
towards the riverine Ijaw communities over the pipeline destruction by
hoodlums. If the military refuses to retrace its aggressive step towards these defenseless
Ijaw communities, then they are forcing us to believe that the military has an
ulterior motive against the Ijaw communities beyond looking for the culprits of
the dastardly act.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The group cited the purported activities of the armed forces
on the inhabitants of Sandfield 1 & 2, Ogbogbene, Hotel and Fenegbene
communities, saying, “We are reliably informed by members of these communities
that the military had sent a warning to them that they should vacate their
ancestral lands.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“They also said the military sent a warning to them that
should they refuse to heed to the warning, soldiers will invade the communities
in the name of searching for the culprits of the bombings,” the group said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Arugbo-Ijaw community grumbles<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Meanwhile, the leadership of Arugbo-Ijaw Federated Community
in Warri has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Commanding
Officer, 19 Battalion, Koko, Warri North to order, saying that the army should
not extend the hunt for perpetrators of Delta pipeline bombing to Ondo State.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
President-General of the community, Chief Barrister Olowo,
in a statement, said it was wrong for soldiers to be hunting for ex-militant leader, “General” Bibopre Ajube,
alias Shoot –At- Sight, for the bombing in Delta State, as neither he nor the
Bolowoh community had anything to do with it.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-82215956213055419982016-02-02T03:23:00.003-08:002016-02-02T03:23:54.487-08:00Why We Transferred Fr Mbaka — Catholic Church<div class="MsoNormal">
The Catholic Church has explained the recent transfer of
controversial Catholic priest, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka from Enugu to Emene.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Church said the essence of his transfer was to make him
more useful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4aQc4OmE3LIyns-ftzqdgLOfpnuEajq6lgJ4DG1t8svowIpWUag9KC3vbhy_Ap6Nvh42_T-qNo7NCCWrt-X2gf_1y04MzqGqWp0bVxHZ_IfETuYgEB4guwCrfut5lDiyyGk8CYKDHx8/s1600/Rev.+Fr.+Ejike+Mbaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4aQc4OmE3LIyns-ftzqdgLOfpnuEajq6lgJ4DG1t8svowIpWUag9KC3vbhy_Ap6Nvh42_T-qNo7NCCWrt-X2gf_1y04MzqGqWp0bVxHZ_IfETuYgEB4guwCrfut5lDiyyGk8CYKDHx8/s320/Rev.+Fr.+Ejike+Mbaka.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a reaction through the Secretary-General of the Catholic
Secretariat of Nigeria, Reverend Father Ralph Madu, yesterday, the church said
the posting was not meant to be punitive but a “normal church procedure.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to him, “Mbaka’s transfer is not an exception; the
Bishop has the right to post any priest wherever he feels his service would be
more useful to the church.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
“His posting should have been a privilege, not a punishment
– which the Bishop can do because he has the power.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“If he (Mbaka) says it’s a punishment, then it’s open for
further investigation. Posting is a regular thing, a priest can be transferred
after two, three, four, or more years. It depends on the discretion of the
Bishop.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“That ministry (Adoration Ministry) is his private ministry.
It does not belong to the church. Overseeing a parish is a full time job.
Overseeing a ministry is a bigger task. If the church decides to take him
somewhere where he’ll have more time to carry out his ministry, how is it
punitive? That should not be the language.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Madu said Fr. Mbaka had done things that were unacceptable
to the church in the past but received no punishments for them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He said: “He is supposed to be a missionary. What if the
Bishop had closed down the ministry, which is within his power to do? Sometimes,
transfers can be for the good of the priest as something can be going wrong
which he might not be aware of. The Bishop is free to move any priest at any
time, it is his prerogative.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Criticisms had greeted the Enugu Diocese’s recent decision
to transfer Mr. Mbaka out of Christ the King Parish, GRA, where he had served for
over a decade and had established a popular prayer ministry, the Adoration
Prayer Ministry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fr Mbaka is to resume immediately at his new post at the Our
Lady Parish, Emene. The priest, who is as fiery as he is controversial, had
described his re-posting by the church as a “calculated move” to make him
suffer.”<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-14796105282276784712016-02-02T03:19:00.003-08:002016-02-02T03:19:28.619-08:0065 Killed, 136 Injured In Dalori Village Attacks —NEMA<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The National Emergency Management
Agency, NEMA, said yesterday that a total of 65 persons lost their lives and
136 persons injured, following the weekend attacks on Dalori village by
insurgents.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Dalori, which is less than 10
kilometres from Maiduguri, came under the attacks on Saturday evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
NEMA’s Emergency Response Team
immediately mobilized for rescue along with others, including Police Anti-Bomb
Squad, NSCDC, Nigerian Army, Federal Road Safety Commission, and Nigerian Red
Cross.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A statement signed by Sani Datti,
Snr. Information Officer, NEMA said:
“Victims were evacuated to Umaru Shehu Hospital, University of Maiduguri
Teaching Hospital and Borno General Hospital for medical attention where 40
persons were confirmed dead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘’However the community buried 25
deaths beside those that were taken to the hospitals. 136 persons were injured in the attacks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘’The insurgents came into the
village and started shooting sporadically. This put the villagers and the
neighborhood into pandemonium and started running helter-skelter.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘’Some of the villagers that
succeeded in moving out, including those in the nearby IDPs camp (Dalori Camp
II), converged under a big three where people normally gathered in the evening
to do menial trading activities, unknown to them that one of the suicide
bombers sneaked into the midst of the gathering and detonated explosive devices
killing scores of people and injuring many.’’<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-4204049373225063692016-02-02T02:53:00.000-08:002016-02-02T02:53:05.485-08:00Tompolo Challenges Warrant Of Arrest<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Former militant leader, Chief
Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), has challenged the warrant of arrest
issued by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, to compel his appearance in court to answer
to the criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglS8SrZJwt5RVQi5LCcgZlFJONSc5Qa0Xdo0iq5GTTWYOgGH_36W45rY2XCqeQVKJeRhIac5GAUQyliDpkqAB31BFk8dK-z5LoqaBXfI_VgQLllzGBm-GMdAgmQyzY84IdLLG4F3Lj6E/s1600/buhari%252C+tompolo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglS8SrZJwt5RVQi5LCcgZlFJONSc5Qa0Xdo0iq5GTTWYOgGH_36W45rY2XCqeQVKJeRhIac5GAUQyliDpkqAB31BFk8dK-z5LoqaBXfI_VgQLllzGBm-GMdAgmQyzY84IdLLG4F3Lj6E/s320/buhari%252C+tompolo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He is praying the court to
discharge the bench warrant issued against him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
EFCC, in the charge, had accused
Tompolo and others of diverting the sum of N34 billion belonging to the
Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, NIMASA.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Trial judge, Justice Ibrahim
Buba, had on January 12, 2016, following an application by EFCC’s counsel,
issued a bench warrant for Tompolo’s arrest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In the application challenging
the bench warrnt issued against him, Tompolo is arguing that the EFCC did not
follow due process of law in applying for an order of substituted service of
the criminal charge against him, adding that no service of the charge was
effected as directed by the court before the EFCC applied for a warrant of
arrest against him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He is further claiming, through
his counsel, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, that up till the time of filing the
application, he had not been served with the criminal charge nor indeed any
warrant of arrest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
According to him, whereas he was
prepared to appear in court and answer to any charge against him, he insists
that due process of law must be followed and his rights under the law be
guaranteed, especially the right to be notified and served with the charge
against him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He also called the attention of
the Inspector-General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff and indeed the Navy to
the fact that he is challenging the order made against him, so that overzealous
persons do not take advantage of the court process to attempt to trample on his
legal rights.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-81272403159899255142016-02-01T08:33:00.000-08:002016-02-01T08:33:04.429-08:00Boko Haram Killed 85 People In Last Weekend<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
At least 85 people were killed in
a weekend attack by Boko Haram insurgents in a village near the restive
north-east Nigerian city of Maiduguri, a state commissioner said on Monday.
Borno State health commissioner Haruna Mshelia said 75 bodies were brought into
the hospitals, while 10 others had been buried on Sunday. He gave the new toll
while briefing the state deputy governor and a military commander on Saturday’s
attack in Dalori, some 12 kilometres (seven miles) from Maiduguri, the state
capital.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Local residents and an
unidentified aid worker had said on Sunday that some 50 people were killed in
the attack. “A total of 65 bodies were
deposited at the specialist hospital, 10 others are being deposited at UMTH
(another hospital), while another 10 were buried yesterday evening at the
Dalori community cemetery” Mshelia said.
He said 16 villagers were unaccounted for. An eyewitness Bulama Malum said he saw more
than 20 bodies burnt beyond recognition and that 15 villagers were missing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A member of the civilian joint
task force, assisting the military in the fight against Boko Haram said more
than 100 were killed in the incident, the latest to hit the restive
region. “Even as at last night the
people that died were over 100. I am sure many could have died today,”
vigilante Musa Adamu told AFP. “Anybody
that tells you that the figure is less than 100 is just not saying the truth,”
he said. Saturday’s attack occurred near a camp for people displaced by the
seven-year Boko Haram violence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It also came as thousands of
internally-displaced people were returning to camps. The Borno State government
has said it was planning to return some 50,000 displaced people to their home
towns in the coming days. The Boko Haram insurgency has killed some 17,000
people and forced more than 2.6 million to flee their homes since 2009. The
group which seeks to impose strict sharia law in mainly-Muslim northern Nigeria
has also made cross border attacks into Cameroon, Chad and Niger.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-53458493387557364332016-02-01T08:29:00.002-08:002016-02-01T08:29:42.592-08:00Court Remands 3 Accused For Alleged Gang Rape Of 19 Years Girl<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’
Court, Ibadan, has remanded, Johnson Fabelurin, 23; Olalekan Oladejo, 21; and
Toheeb Farayola, 22; in prison custody for alleged ganged rape of a 19-year-old
lady. The accused persons were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy,
unlawful carnal knowledge and exhibiting its video coverage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs.
Kehinde Durosaro-Tijani, remanded the three accused persons in Agodi Prison
pending the outcome of the case file at the Directorate of Public Prosecution
(DPP). Durosaro-Tijani ordered that the accused persons be kept with the police
until the signing of the duplicated case file by the police before taken them
to prison.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The pleas of the accused persons
were not taken. She adjourned the case till Feb. 25 for mention. The Prosecutor,
Cpl. Folake Ewe, told the court that Fabelurin, Oladejo and Farayola between
April and August 2015 at Apete Area, Ibadan, conspired together to commit the
offence of raping the girl<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Ewe said that the accused persons
had unlawful carnal knowledge of their victim. “The three accused person’s
allegedly exhibits publicly the sexual video coverage of the raped lady.’’ Ewe
said the offence contravened Section 232(c), 357 and 516 and punishable under
Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38 Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State 2000.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-33063314766984895072016-02-01T08:23:00.000-08:002016-02-01T08:23:03.034-08:00Nigeria Will Start Producing Pencils In 2018 - Onu<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Ogbonnaya Onu, the minister of
science and technology, says Nigeria will start producing its own pencils in
another two years, as part of a wholesale production-sector revamp to be
witnessed in the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Speaking in an interview with
Daily Trust, Onu expressed assurance that the plan would have a “meaningful
impact” on the economy, because the wide aim of the ministry is to “commercialize
developed ideas and research findings to principal levels”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He dismissed questions over the
importance of pencil production, saying Nigerians would be amazed at the
multiplier effects, which will include the creation of at least 400,00 jobs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Yes, I have heard questions on
why pencils. We chose pencils to symbolize the problems that we have and our
commitment to local production,” he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“To produce pencils, we need
wood, graphite, rubber for the eraser and possibly, we will need aluminum to
hold the rubber in place. Then, we may need paint to give it color. But even if
we don’t add paint or rubber, already we have a pencil and it will write.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgW4nxEeFOuQOZQeGCYoFRMSkUMpGz3QdbFQWO7WQmqWQ0CUFinWxyEZSto8wCX2GIY2-snshDm8Jtatbbg83b3WIlPCNe3Jq5_sMmJMeeqvHtbS5tSzjMaSaSxsY3qWnxd9LVFQD8K7w/s1600/ogbonnaya+onu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgW4nxEeFOuQOZQeGCYoFRMSkUMpGz3QdbFQWO7WQmqWQ0CUFinWxyEZSto8wCX2GIY2-snshDm8Jtatbbg83b3WIlPCNe3Jq5_sMmJMeeqvHtbS5tSzjMaSaSxsY3qWnxd9LVFQD8K7w/s400/ogbonnaya+onu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Now, we have all the things to
produce a pencil, which is used by a large number of people from our young
pupils to engineers, and it looks simple to produce, yet we have not been able
to produce it. That is why we talked about producing pencils.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“We have asked PRODA (the
Projects Development Agency) to ensure Nigeria starts producing pencils in two
years. It is actually not PRODA’s mandate to produce the pencils. No. PRODA is
just to do the holistic research on pencil production in Nigeria. Somebody can
start producing pencils here and will still be importing the wood, the
graphite, the rubber, bringing in everything. No, that is not what we want.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“We want PRODA to do research to
make the production process totally local. We have to treat the graphite to
conform to the required standard for good quality production. We also have to
work on the type, quality and shape of the wood to be used. The local content
will also be total. This is PRODA’s assignment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“When PRODA is through with its
job, it is the private sector that will come in to do the production and we
will see the benefits. When production of pencils begins, Nigerians will be
amazed at the multiplier effects. It will create a minimum of 400, 00 jobs.
There will be the small-scale entrepreneurs that will do the beneficiation of
the graphite, that is, prepare it for pencil production; there will be
small-scale entrepreneurs that will prepare the rubber to be used as an eraser
for pencils; and there will also be small-scale entrepreneurs that will also
prepare the wood for the appropriate use. Can we imagine creating jobs for
100,000 people? The results will be amazing!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He expressed worry that Nigeria
has no single pencil-producing factory, despite the ease of required
technology.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“PRODA has confirmed that there
is not a single pencil-producing factory in Nigeria and even in West Africa.
This is why we are worried. We know this is a technology we can easily handle.
Beyond that, the number of jobs we will create in starting pencil production is
very encouraging. It will also be good for the image of the nation,” he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“The pencil-production idea will
make meaningful impact on the economy. It will certainly do. The wide aim of
the ministry is to commercialize ideas, research findings, etc. that we have
developed to principal levels. And there are so many of them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“We are working with the
organized private sector. The National Association of Small-Scale
Industrialists and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group had visited us here; they
had never done that until now. We are making them understand we have taken a
big risk off them by doing research and development and clearing the pitfalls,
so theirs is to come in and invest<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“The FIIRO (Federal Institute of
Industrial Research) alone has developed more than 250 research studies up to
the point of commercialization. And in incubation, we have an agency in charge
that has done up to 1000 products. I have many of the products myself, and
these are things we use on daily basis. Our major task now is to get these
products into the market, but if they are not commercialized, and maintained,
how can people know they exist? We can then start creating jobs. Government
will also start earning revenues from the taxes these producers will pay to
government to do many things.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Onu also spoke on his recent
visits to China and Indonesia for partnerships towards developing Nigeria’s
science and technology sector, especially in local production.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He described the visits as a
success, saying many of the agreements that were “reached” would boost local
production. He also expressed optimism that Nigeria will be Africa’s technology
hub by 2026.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-72256345052457956012016-02-01T04:18:00.000-08:002016-02-01T04:18:28.606-08:00Alleged N1trn Rail Contracts Scam: Reps Invite Amaechi, NRC MD, Others<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
ABUJA—MEMBERS of the adhoc committee of the House of
Representatives on failed rail contracts have summoned the Minister of
Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; Managing Director of Nigeria Railway
Corporation, NRC, Seyi Sijuwade; former Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, Dr Mohammed Bello Haliru; and former Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, to
explain their roles in the alleged N1 trillion rail contracts scam.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The adhoc committee is headed by Ehoizuwa Johnson Agbonayinma,
PDP, Ikpoba/Oha Federal Constituency. They are expected to appear before the
committee tomorrow during the investigative hearing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chairman of the adhoc committee, Agbonayinma, confirmed that
all the stakeholders had been duly informed and were expected to show up
unfailingly tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIB1N-tXBLrlWm-xEbQrdr4RdSQOx3K6l4329hWMyP0vP-5eiEDy7dNGWCkoZf4yR_fwGdx71QiBCGY7LFxPAKcn9AQ_LclAzlgAafCaQby9Su8QBTZmu8xJetDui7Qi5V_hmVG5vDBs0/s1600/Amechi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIB1N-tXBLrlWm-xEbQrdr4RdSQOx3K6l4329hWMyP0vP-5eiEDy7dNGWCkoZf4yR_fwGdx71QiBCGY7LFxPAKcn9AQ_LclAzlgAafCaQby9Su8QBTZmu8xJetDui7Qi5V_hmVG5vDBs0/s320/Amechi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Asked why the Minister of Transport was invited, despite the
fact that he is barely three months old in office, Agbonayinma said: “The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi,
was also invited to tell us all he knows, though he just assumed office but you
know government is a continuum.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“This 8th House is 100 per cent in support of President
Muhammadu Buhari’s crusade against any form of corruption.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We are not out to witch-hunt anybody but anyone found
wanting in the course of this investigative hearing will be adequately exposed
although as you are aware, not until it is proven by a competent court that
such persons are guilty you can’t say they are guilty.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It would be recalled that during the last investigative hearing
on December 10, former chairman of the NRC board, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, had
denied that during his tenure, no contract was awarded by the board he chaired.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tukur, a former chairman of PDP, had told the adhoc
committee that the Procurement Act excluded the NRC Board from participating in
the award of railway contracts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“The Board which I chaired, was never involved in any
contract award and was never told or invited to participate in issues of
contract award of financial disbursement,” he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He said throughout his stay as the Board Chairman of the
NRC, no issue of contract award of any amount or tune was discussed or awarded
by the Board.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another Chairman of the board, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, also a
former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, told the adhoc committee that
he was not privileged to appoint any consultant or award contracts for the
railway projects.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According to Baraje, all the paraphernalia and indices that
would assist him carry out his work were all gone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We only played the role of inspection because the
procurement act excluded the board from participating in any contract,’’ he
added.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He expressed worry that the country’s railway transportation
system had suffered neglect, in spite of playing critical role in the
development of the economy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Baraje said more attention should be given to the 25-year
railway modernization plan to boost transportation in the country.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also speaking at the hearing Senator Ladan Shuni, another
former Board Chairman of the NRC, wondered the essence of inaugurating a board
that lacked the capacity to oversee the award of contracts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The investigative hearing is expected to unravel how over N1
trillion was expended on rail rehabilitation, purchase of coaches, spare parts
and materials for NRC.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Vanguard recalls
that the House of
Representatives, had on October 14 based on a motion promoted by Rep Solomon
Ahwhinawi, PDP, Delta had set up the
adhoc committee to probe contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of rail
tracks, standard gauge, bridges, coaches, wagons and locomotives between 2010
and 2014 amounting to N1 trillion.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-8529253635035502562016-02-01T01:06:00.003-08:002016-02-01T01:06:45.425-08:00Anambra: Uba, Oduah Approach Supreme Court For Clarification Of Judgment<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Indications emerged at the
weekend that the nine federal lawmakers representing Anambra State on the
platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the National Assembly, including
Senators Andy Uba and Stella Oduah may return to the Supreme Court this week
for clarification regarding their status with respect to its judgment on the
leadership crisis rocking the party in the state.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULSDRilvxG_BAGVP1gobnOH1nONKpfnntqE5DkuGj-U1EsKhvAhjaM4enhpllWiN2597B1IAaXOjmO_QaVd9mJ92aj-V2m9dUXLbMQOlQ6J_4Xhd_RbF-ope4q_QllfYid72tsf7GrqA/s1600/stella+oduah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULSDRilvxG_BAGVP1gobnOH1nONKpfnntqE5DkuGj-U1EsKhvAhjaM4enhpllWiN2597B1IAaXOjmO_QaVd9mJ92aj-V2m9dUXLbMQOlQ6J_4Xhd_RbF-ope4q_QllfYid72tsf7GrqA/s320/stella+oduah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Interestingly, Chief Chris Ubah,
John Emeka, Annie Okonkwo and others on the list of Ejike Oguebego-led national
executive of the party, who got judgment of the Supreme Court, have approached
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue them Certificates
of Return as elected senators and House of Representatives members for Anambra
State.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Already, Uba and Oduah have written
to INEC insisting that the judgment did not affect their seats in the National
Assembly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Sources close to one of them told
Daily Sun that the motion seeking clarification of the judgment became necessary
in view of the insinuations that the lawmakers may have lost their seats by the
judgment of the apex court.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In a letter addressed to the
Chairman of INEC by their lawyer, Chief Arthur Okafor (SAN), the politicians
insisted that the Supreme Court judgment delivered last Friday has not in any
way rendered their seats vacant in both chambers of the National Assembly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The January 29 letter stated that
the lawmakers urged the INEC chairman to “resist the machinations of those who
are ill motivated and bent on causing confusion in the system. If you find that
the national executive of PDP, which, in the case, nominated our clients, then
in the absence of a court order, there will be no compulsion or justification
on your part to interfere with the mandate vested in our clients by the PDP and
the electorate.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
They insisted that the primary
election which produced them as candidates for the 2015 general elections was
conducted by the national secretariat of the PDP as required by law and not the
Anambra chapter of the PDP as being insinuated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In a related development, House
of Representatives member representing Anambra East and West Federal
Constituency and former state chairman of the PDP, Tony Nwoye, has said he
foresees further crisis in the party in the state following the Supreme Court
judgment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Nwoye reiterated that the
judgment of the court was purely on who was the authentic state chairman and
had nothing to do with their positions as lawmakers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The lawmaker said this when he
addressed members of his constituency whom he invited to his Nsugbe country
home to say thank you for their support for him. Nwoye noted that the Supreme
Court had earlier decided the issue of the PDP tickets when it held last year
in a matter brought by Charles Odedo that Oguebego had no business in the PDP
list.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Yesterday, in Abuja, Chief Chris
Uba, and Andy’s brother said he would, today, storm INEC to demand for his certificate
of return as winner of the election. Uba warned his brother and Oduah, as well
as others to stop parading themselves as senators.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He insisted that the judgment of
the Supreme Court last Friday which affirmed an earlier High Court verdict recognizing
the Oguebego executive as the state’s authentic leadership, meant that he and
the people in his camp have become members of the National Assembly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He advised the affected ‘former’
senators and House Representatives members to accept their fate and honorably
step down, adding that he will lead other members of the party who emerged as
candidates under the Oguebego monitored primaries to the office of INEC today
to demand for their Certificates of Return.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Andy Uba and Oduah had faulted
the assumptions that the Supreme Court judgment effectively removed them from
office, arguing that they were not party in the suit, which basically had to
deal with issues of leadership crisis in Anambra PDP.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Chris, who described himself as
“senator representing Anambra South” told newsmen in Abuja yesterday that he
was “shocked that those who should be conversant with the laws of the land
could be deceiving the public regarding their true status after the Supreme
Court failed to recognise the dubious way through which they got to the
Senate…”<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-65943874134793938712016-02-01T00:57:00.001-08:002016-02-01T00:57:15.757-08:00R-E-V-E-A-L-E-D: The Truth About Oliseh's Illness<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
There has been so much
speculation and guess work on the nature of Coach Sunday Oliseh’s illness that
there are even insinuations that it could be the “handiwork of his enemies”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Since he assumed office as coach
of the Super Eagles, the former Super Eagles star has not spent quality time
with the team due to an ailment that had seen him going in and out of hospital<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
On Sunday we reported that the
coach who led the Eagles to a disastrous outing in Rwanda did not come back
with the team because of what close associates termed “fear for his life”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvdDjJgohPjwlpDrw8TO3ahnhOk4fG3W4WUG6TLWvrk4WPp6NfSTJoGa4MeAACRyEpwRvqvZ_A4vhneN7_uHIVwOVyLra0UK__TWIQUKA-QCXlQtbsb10XTynazxwBRuJ5eYpTOt_8sE/s1600/Sunday+Oliseh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvdDjJgohPjwlpDrw8TO3ahnhOk4fG3W4WUG6TLWvrk4WPp6NfSTJoGa4MeAACRyEpwRvqvZ_A4vhneN7_uHIVwOVyLra0UK__TWIQUKA-QCXlQtbsb10XTynazxwBRuJ5eYpTOt_8sE/s320/Sunday+Oliseh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Today, ReportersLab gathered that
if Coach Oliseh was a player, he would not have been signed by Nigeria for
“chronic injury” problems.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A very authoritative source told
us yesterday that the NFF did not investigate properly before signing Oliseh as
he is “not fit”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“During the World Cup in Brazil,
Oliseh was part of the technical study group, yet he did not write down one
sentence because he was reported ill while he was in Brazil.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
His colleagues virtually helped
him to write his report.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“At one stage he was vomiting so
much that we thought he will die. It was okay for us to ask him to take time
out to treat himself while cover up for him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Am sure the NFF did not know he
was not medically fit, if not they would not have gone for him, “our source
insisted.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This exclusive revelation has put
paid to insinuations by sympathizers who laid his illness on the doorstep of
“enemies” who want to eliminate him from the national team job.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
With CHAN out of the way and the
Nations Cup preliminaries in March, the NFF will need a fit Oliseh to take
charge of the challenging double header against Egypt.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-31761990510556918712016-02-01T00:48:00.001-08:002016-02-01T00:48:44.294-08:00PDP NEC Picks National Chairman Thursday<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
AHEAD of the meeting of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) fixed for
Thursday, ostensibly to appoint a substantive national chairman, indications
emerged at the weekend that the North East and South West caucuses of the
party have sealed a deal to ensure that whoever emerges from the former zone
will get only a six- month tenure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVg_F3KNENk3oY7pouqrH3PmNnbJd3yejRfs1kG1dryTH-OnCgboT8lbcb3t9nuo_cMBSh34n5xENA6stTk4GMM7wT36jXkNVF7uEw3aroJWsnMSVurTPwUXK6eMW4Vdd-RDUgze54TMo/s1600/PDP+NEC+picks+national+chairman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVg_F3KNENk3oY7pouqrH3PmNnbJd3yejRfs1kG1dryTH-OnCgboT8lbcb3t9nuo_cMBSh34n5xENA6stTk4GMM7wT36jXkNVF7uEw3aroJWsnMSVurTPwUXK6eMW4Vdd-RDUgze54TMo/s320/PDP+NEC+picks+national+chairman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The new chairman, it was gathered
will conduct the party’s national convention.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A source said that the South-West
caucus of the party is backing the North-East caucus and May likely call for
an extension to “clean up the party register for the delegates’ list as a lot
of party chieftains have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). You
can’t organize a convention with an old register.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“The South West caucus wants to
lend its support for the extension so that it can enjoy the support of the
North East in the former’s determination to produce the party national chairman
at the convention when new set of national officers are expected to emerge.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Checks revealed that Ekiti State
Governor, Ayodele Fayose has been in the vanguard of the agitation for the
zoning of the chairmanship slot of the main opposition party to the South West
as he has consistently argued at meetings of the PDP Governors’ Forum that
the zone was yet to produce the party chairman.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The meetings of other statutory
organs of the party, the PDP national caucus and the Board of Trustees would precede
the NEC to ratify the candidate to be presented by the North- East caucus of
the party.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The party source disclosed that
“the caucus meeting will hold on Tuesday, simultaneously with the North-East
caucus at separate venues.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“The Board of Trustees meeting
where the position of the caucus is expected to be tabled will hold on
Wednesday.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Further checks revealed that the
Board of Trustees may likely appoint its substantive chairman to replace Dr.
Haliru Bello who has been holding forth in acting capacity after the exit of
its erstwhile chairman, Tony Anenih last May.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The main opposition party has
been embroiled in leadership tussle with three chieftains laying claim to its
national chairman. Ahmed Gulak, erstwhile Presidential Adviser on Political
Matters to former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had last Wednesday stormed
the party national secretariat to assume position as the national chairman of
the party.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Addressing newsmen, Gulak had
claimed that a court judgment delivered by Justice Hussein Buba on December 15,
2015 asking the acting national chairman, Uche Secondus to vacate his office
within 14 days equally pronounced himself (Gulak) as the new chairman of the
party.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But the PDP Governors Forum had,
in their emergency meeting same day condemned what they called Gulak’s invasion
of the party’s national secretariat.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The governors, in their
communique made available to newsmen at the end of their meeting, frowned at
Gulak’s action and further declared that a meeting of the statutory organ of
the party, the National Executive Committee would soon be convened to elect a
substantive chairman from the North-East to replace the immediate national
chairman of the party, Ahmed Mu’azu, who resigned last May.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The governors equally directed
the National Secretary of the party, Professor Wale Oladipo to assume the
position of national chairman.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Their proclamation was however,
dismissed by the party’s National Working Committee which insisted that Uche
Secondus remains the party acting national chairman.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-17587608440498128722016-01-31T20:41:00.001-08:002016-01-31T20:41:13.866-08:0015 Buildings Sealed In Anambra For Tax Evasion<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
THE Anambra State Government has
sealed off 15 buildings in Nnewi, a commercial city in the state, for tax
evasion.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The buildings are three filling
stations, two residential homes, one private school and one hospital.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Anambra Property and Land Use
Charge carried out the closure of the buildings following judgments it obtained
from an Nnewi Magistrate’s Court against the owners of the property.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
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Speaking with Southern City News,
the Head of Human Resources and Administration of APLUC, Mrs. Chinenye Okafor,
said the affected buildings owed the state government heavily.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
She said, “In ensuring that we
boost the Internally Generated Revenue of the state, there is the need for
property and land owners to pay their rates.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4P-0LKDk8xKA7IxC5CB7PzyKBpxAtAfd477kT5L5KO77-gbz6KgDO_5IZ6-7RsDTn4vpSePN6n5_ueNWOcx4LC5zFk2ZQE8a3SRWGaQeHZtXleKTRIcPKK4S83aktj46zIzaFImwgC0/s1600/Anambra+seals+off+15+buildings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4P-0LKDk8xKA7IxC5CB7PzyKBpxAtAfd477kT5L5KO77-gbz6KgDO_5IZ6-7RsDTn4vpSePN6n5_ueNWOcx4LC5zFk2ZQE8a3SRWGaQeHZtXleKTRIcPKK4S83aktj46zIzaFImwgC0/s320/Anambra+seals+off+15+buildings.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
She said the organization in 2014
and 2015 carried out similar enforcement in Awka and Onitsha on 85 buildings.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
She said, “We are advising
property owners in those areas as well as in Onitsha, Awka, Ogidi and Nkpor to
go and pay their property rates or face the wrath of the law.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“We had discussion with some of
them and they had promised to pay since November 5, 2014, but up till now, we
have not seen any positive response from them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“We are no longer interested in
continuing with begging and sensitisation because we have tried it for more
than two years now and nothing was coming out of it. The government is
considering the second option of litigation and enforcement this time,” Okafor
warned.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-21394418452021154952016-01-31T20:31:00.003-08:002016-01-31T20:31:43.224-08:00How We Rigged Ekiti Election For Fayose - Ex PDP Secretary<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A former Secretary of the Ekiti
State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Temitope Aluko, has alleged
that former President Goodluck Jonathan gave Governor Ayo Fayose N4.7bn cash to
prosecute the June 21, 2014 governorship election in the state.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TpFjzftpWn_aXrGM01oR7kAo4_lbwAXzk6QhssbBO9UfwYxVm4kxn_8KXvHmMOaUuU7ztNszSX9ZwKueN7u6w-S1VTA8kd2UGQgP_7hQxqqAMVKlnoGUHCZ9qtpvF2X2L8IwimvBa6I/s1600/Ekiti+State+Governor%252C+Ayodele+Fayose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TpFjzftpWn_aXrGM01oR7kAo4_lbwAXzk6QhssbBO9UfwYxVm4kxn_8KXvHmMOaUuU7ztNszSX9ZwKueN7u6w-S1VTA8kd2UGQgP_7hQxqqAMVKlnoGUHCZ9qtpvF2X2L8IwimvBa6I/s320/Ekiti+State+Governor%252C+Ayodele+Fayose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Aluko said the money was used to
defeat the then Governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was the
governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Aluko, who spoke with reporters
in Abuja on Sunday, also revealed how the PDP rigged the governorship election.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Aluko, who said he was part of
the team that prosecuted the election, added that he was the Chairman of the
Intelligence and Security Committee for the Fayose Campaign Organisation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He explained that he handled the
waiver Fayose got from the PDP at the national level to enable him to qualify
to take part in the governorship primary.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
To buttress the roles he played
in the emergence of Fayose, Aluko said he delivered the congresses that
produced Fayose and was also the governor’s principal witness at the Election
Petitions Tribunal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He said Jonathan initially gave
Fayose $2m in March 2014 for the primary election, pointing out that this money
was collected at the NNPC Towers, Abuja.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Aluko said, “It was about $35m,
which is about N4.7bn he gave us for the real election and for the primaries,
he released $2m to Fayose. I have details of all I am saying and I was present
when they brought the money and it was Senator Musiliu Obanikoro that brought
the money, the $35m, which he delivered to Fayose at Spotless Hotel.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“I can name eight people that
were there. We were all there because he said he would want us to take delivery
so that there will be transparency and accountability.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Let me just stop there for now,
but I am just trying to say that both the security and the funding came from
the Presidency and even the primaries money we collected at the NNPC Towers in
Abuja here and they took $300,000 from the $2m for courier which was on Monday,
23rd of March 2014 and we took it to Prince and Princess, Fayose’s house, but
the N4.7bn came into Ekiti on June 17, 2014.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He said the $35m was “taken to a
bureau de change in Onitsha where it was converted to N4.7bn.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In his reaction on Sunday, Fayose
said he would not take issue with Aluko because he was (Aluko) bitter, adding
that he got money from different sources.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He, however, did not deny that
the former President gave him the amount being alleged by his accuser.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Fayose’s Special Assistant on
Public Communications and New Media, Mr. Lere Olayinka, said Aluko was already
beclouded by his desperation to seek revenge against Fayose because of the
governor’s refusal to make him his Chief of Staff, such that he (Aluko) was not
mindful of committing the criminal offence of perjury.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“As per his claim that $37m was
given to the governor for the election, the governor got financial support from
various sources as it is usual of anyone contesting election and it is not for
us to begin to advertise in the media the level of support the governor
received from individuals, corporate organisations or groups.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“However, if money belonging to
the APC is missing and they suspect that the money was stolen by Dr. Goodluck
Jonathan to fund Ekiti State governorship election, they can approach the
EFCC.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The governor’s aide asked whether
it was also soldiers that rigged the 2015 presidential, senatorial, House of
Representatives and state House of Assembly elections that the APC lost in
Ekiti.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “For Aluko to be taken
seriously, he must first have to report himself to the police to be tried for
perjury and committed to prison for three years, since what he is now saying is
different from what he said under oath at the election tribunal, being the only
witness called by the PDP and Fayose.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“If after giving evidence under
oath at the tribunal that the election was free, fair and credible and that
security agents, including soldiers, performed their duties creditably well,
saying something else more than one year after is admittance by Aluko himself
that he is not a stable character.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“They will probably need to pay
INEC to tell Nigerians that an election it conducted, in which an incumbent
governor lost in his own local government, was not credible.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Giving an insight into how the
military and other security agencies were drafted into the Ekiti election,
Aluko said the Ekiti PDP and Fayose first ensured that the headship of the
security apparatus in Nigeria was changed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He said that the former President
agreed with Fayose on the need to change the leadership of the nation’s
security apparatus because of his desperation to win the presidential election.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Aluko added that Jonathan quickly
summoned a security meeting at the Presidential Villa for the purpose of the
election.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “Those at the meeting
were the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh; then
Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah; and a former National Chairman
of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Others included Fayose, Senator
Iyiola Omisore, then Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan and Minister
of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“At that meeting, the former
President made it clear to the ex-Chief of Defence Staff that Fayose would
stand for him (as Commander-in-Chief) in terms of providing security for the
election.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
According to Aluko, Jonathan’s
directive made the military chiefs to take orders from Fayose throughout the
duration of the election.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Aluko said Fayose then approached
the former Commander of the Army Brigade in Akure, one Brig. Gen. Dikko to take
charge of the election for the PDP.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But Dikko, he said, rejected the
proposal, adding that the army officer “stated bluntly that he would not be
available for such operation.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“So, Fayose sponsored a petition
against him which led to his replacement with another officer (name withheld)
who was amenable to our plans.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This, he said, made it easy for
the PDP to use soldiers to suppress the opposition APC.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“We went into the election with
1,040 recognized soldiers and another batch of 400 unrecognized soldiers
brought from Enugu by a serving senator from the South-East (name withheld).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“In addition, we raised 44
special strike teams brought in Toyota Hilux buses from Abuja and Onitsha. We
made special stickers for the vehicles that conveyed members of the strike team
and we gave each of them a Black Hand band for identification.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Each strike team was made up of
10 members headed by a soldier and comprising soldiers, policemen, DSS
operatives and Civil Defence corps. They were detailed to attack and arrest
prominent APC chieftains in all the local governments.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“We set up anchorage, mainly in
residential houses, in every local government where the strike team members
collected their welfare and other allowances.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“To encourage the strike team
members, we gave them orders to share money and other valuables they could lay
their hands on in the houses of the APC chieftains they raided.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Then we set up detention camps,
mainly in primary schools where most of the APC chieftains were detained.
Others were detained in police stations where the DPOs were friendly with us.
We let them off after the election was over.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“A day to the election, we used
the military to block all routes in the local governments and prevented the APC
chieftains, including former Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, from
coming into Ekiti.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“So, we ensured that no APC
chieftain was in sight on Election Day. We provided polling agents for the APC
in most of the polling units so we had no problem getting them to sign election
results in the units.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“All these local and foreign
observers that described the election as free and fair only witnessed the
voting exercise on election day without knowing what transpired before the
voting.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Aluko, who was the Chief
Returning Officer and signed the results of the election, said he was fully
involved in the plot with Fayose from the very beginning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
According to him, he was forced
to divulge the information because Fayose betrayed him, moreover, he said his
conscience was disturbing him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “I am using this medium
to apologise to Ekiti people for bringing in someone like Fayose and I have
done that at many meetings and I want to stand up to many of those things.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Before the election, Fayose,
Femi Bamishile and I jointly swore with the Holy Bible on a sharing formula
after we must have won the election. We agreed that Fayose would be governor,
Bamishile his deputy and I, as Chief of Staff.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“But the moment he got into
office, Fayose reneged on the agreement and left me in the lurch. More
worrisome is the fact that Fayose has derailed from the original Ekiti project
we envisaged.”<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-88978777688072521682016-01-31T20:23:00.001-08:002016-01-31T20:23:24.830-08:00Boko Haram Burns Children, 86 Killed, 100 Injured In Borno Attacks<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Boko Haram group was alleged to
have burnt some children to death when the militants overran Dalori, a village
four kilometres outside Maiduguri, where about 80 residents of the community
were killed on Saturday night.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Area Coordinator of the
National Emergency Management Agency in Borno State, Mohammed Kanar, said 86
bodies were picked up in the village on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Hospital sources added that no
fewer than 70 persons were receiving treatment in hospitals around the area.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A resident who managed to escape
the attack, claimed that screams of children could be heard from burning houses
as the embattled villagers ran in confusion to exit the village as the
destruction raged.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinO8kU8R1CRXlJrZBcy346OtgBOOYFGOxQEEbzJg_VgCvCTICq-xTl8NyKaqfJ7cbaJ-La4SdoxpcYGC_63ZLQvCCa1_PYw1p1a7tPxGKulc7sX0lO0soqRn08KLR4HsxGjjp7qcnuBnQ/s1600/boko+haram+burns+children.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinO8kU8R1CRXlJrZBcy346OtgBOOYFGOxQEEbzJg_VgCvCTICq-xTl8NyKaqfJ7cbaJ-La4SdoxpcYGC_63ZLQvCCa1_PYw1p1a7tPxGKulc7sX0lO0soqRn08KLR4HsxGjjp7qcnuBnQ/s320/boko+haram+burns+children.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Also, a survivor, who said he hid
on a tree, stated that he watched Boko Haram extremists firebomb huts and heard
the screams of children burning to death, AP reports.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
On Sunday, while some residents
had managed to return to their houses which had been razed, they discovered that
some burnt bodies and others, riddled with bullets, littered the streets and
some burnt houses in the town.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
One of those who had returned to
the village on Sunday said that insurgents including suicide bombers attacked
the town, which also spilled over to the Internally Displaced Persons’ camps
around the village.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Speaking on condition of
anonymity, he added that the suicide bombers mingled with fleeing villagers and
detonated the explosives on them at the neighbouring Gamori village, killing
several of the villagers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The villagers told newsmen on
Sunday that troops did not arrive in time to stop the rampaging sect fighters
from unleashing maximum havoc on the community.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Military authorities confirmed
that one of the places targeted by the insurgents was the Dalori Internally
Displaced Persons’ camp housing over 15,000 people, who are mostly women and
children from Bama.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A member of the youth vigilance
group in the town, who spoke on condition of anonymity on through phone call on
Sunday, said not less than 65 persons were killed with over 100 others injured
in the attack on Dalori.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
One of the residents of the
community, who fled to Maiduguri, Yusuf Ibrahim, said that the attack on the
village started around 6.50pm and lasted for hours.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He lamented that the insurgents,
who operated undeterred, stormed the village in Hilux vans and motorcycles
dressed in army camouflage and set the houses in the village ablaze.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He said livestock were not spared
as the insurgents set them on fire but looted foodstuffs.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A rescue worker, who participated
in the evacuation of the victims, said 50 corpses were taken to the Borno State
Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri and 15 others corpses deposited at the
University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Narrating his ordeal, a resident
of the village, Mallam Abba Dalori, said, “We were helpless as no one came to
our aid when the insurgents struck on Saturday night. I am still mourning as I
lost 11 persons in the siege. At present, I am still looking for five of my
children, who went missing during the attack.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Another resident of Dalori, Imam
Ibrahim, who could not hold back his tears as he spoke to one of our
correspondents, said the insurgents “dressed like military personnel and opened
fire on everybody.’’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He added, ‘‘All our wives and
children were brutally killed; our livestock were equally consumed in a great
inferno that engulfed the village.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A statement, the spokesman for
the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East, Operation Lafiya Dole, Col.
Mustapha Anka, while confirming the attack, however, failed to give the
casualty figure.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The statement added, “In their
desperate efforts for attacks on strong, determined and committed members of
the Civilian Joint Task Force and innocent citizens yesterday (Saturday), 30
January, 2016, Boko Haram terrorists (insurgents) launched an attack on Dalori
through Yale from (rear of Dalori village).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“An eyewitness said that the insurgents
who came in two Golf cars, motorcycles, started opening fire and burning
houses. Their motive was to cause rancour and penetrate the crowd with suicide
bombers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Similarly, while people were
running for their dear lives to Gomari Kerkeri village, three female suicide
bombers attempted to make their way into the crowd but were intercepted and
subsequently got blown off.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“During the incident, lives were
lost while some people sustained injuries. The insurgents also attempted to
penetrate Dalori IDP camp, but the attempt was resisted by troops, which
resulted into the detonation of IEDs by suicide bombers.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Anka added that the Theatre
Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Hassan Umaru, had sent a
condolence message to the District Head of Dalori, Alhaji Lawal Bashir, and the
residents over the unfortunate incident.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu
Buhari on Sunday said having lost the war to the nation’s armed forces,
insurgents were desperately seeking ways of returning to wreak havoc on the
society.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Buhari therefore called on all
Nigerians, especially those who resided in areas previously ravaged by
terrorists, to be more vigilant and ready to work with security operatives in
ending the war against insurgency.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This was contained in a statement
by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, on
Sunday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Buhari said this while reacting
to the spate of suicide bombings in Chibok market, Dolari Internally Displaced
Persons’ camp in Borno State and the Gombi market in Adamawa State.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He stated that the insurgents’
gradual return was meant to embarrass his government, pointing out that that
was why they chose isolated communities and markets as their targets.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Buhari said the insurgents had
suffered immensely from the sustained bombardments of their camps and hideouts
by the Nigerian military and had resorted to using desperate measures to gain
cheap media attention.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The President added, “Having lost
the war, they (the insurgents) are seeking ways and means to gradually find
their way back into society.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“They are not returning to
contribute but to cause more havoc. They are so desperate to embarrass the
government and the people that they have no qualms attacking isolated
communities and markets.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Buhari noted that the materials
for the Improvised Explosive Devices were locally sourced by the insurgents.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-23895654497575176042016-01-31T16:11:00.000-08:002016-01-31T16:11:05.446-08:00I’m Ready To Leave Chelsea — John Terry<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Chelsea captain and club legend,
John Terry has announced that he will leave the club at the end of the current
season.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The 35-year-old central defender
has spent his entire career at Chelsea and last May won the Premier League
title for the fourth time. He joined the club aged 14.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Terry was informed prior to last
week’s win over Arsenal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPjb0IfYjpIAH5oPpus0p0-kvcDTeqCd_c5u_eFwCYfKpGKWpOzpJac0aVeo1iex3B5HnNPnT_-v9NKSK0eSkYZxIXTOwCXMdYyhAI9U_h_L-gaW16q3fuwYHj1tuPfOVIdiQpZhCmY4/s1600/chelsea+captain+John+Terry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPjb0IfYjpIAH5oPpus0p0-kvcDTeqCd_c5u_eFwCYfKpGKWpOzpJac0aVeo1iex3B5HnNPnT_-v9NKSK0eSkYZxIXTOwCXMdYyhAI9U_h_L-gaW16q3fuwYHj1tuPfOVIdiQpZhCmY4/s320/chelsea+captain+John+Terry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Terry: “To be honest, I was in
last week before the Arsenal game and it’s [the contract] not going to be
extended.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“It’s my last run in the FA Cup
so I want to make it a good one. It’s a big season for me and I want to push on
– not just in this competition but in the Premier League as well. I knew before
the Arsenal game so mentally I’ve kind of accepted it. We just have to move on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“They said that when the new
manager comes in, things might change. It’s a no at the minute. I needed to
know now like I have done every January and sometimes it takes a couple of
months to get done. Unfortunately it was a no. It’s not going to be a fairytale
ending, I’m not going to retire at Chelsea.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“It’s going to be elsewhere which
took me a couple of days to get over. But like I say, I knew before the Arsenal
game and my performance isn’t going to change – the way I train, what I give
for the club. I want to give everything and finish on a high, on 100 per cent
good terms with the club.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Terry has made close to 700
appearances for Chelsea and is the club’s most successful captain, having won
four Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three FA Cups, the 2012 Champions
League and the 2013 Europa League.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-37358256765766645842016-01-31T16:06:00.001-08:002016-01-31T16:06:22.329-08:00APC Condemns Rev.Fr. Ejike Mbaka's Transfer By Enugu Catholic Diocese<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The All Progressives Congress
(APC), on Sunday, condemned the decision by the leadership of the Catholic
Church, Enugu Parish to transfer the fire-brand cleric, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka
from Christ the King Parish, Government Reserved Area, GRA, of the state to Our
Lady Parish, Emene, and a suburb of the state.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheX2jFSPfC2qCqH0RwjwoWTVz5Qw-9yny84d0dmZCS-Ldd1uCks0AGqOe4cppB5M_XG1nKjUQpjoHP-kk3jPLWM1bs4y8buTsvRq-MO9GakTLZUfPk0e0SEEYvnIh8qXKk10LOc1b9fOg/s1600/Rev.+Fr.+Ejike+Mbaka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheX2jFSPfC2qCqH0RwjwoWTVz5Qw-9yny84d0dmZCS-Ldd1uCks0AGqOe4cppB5M_XG1nKjUQpjoHP-kk3jPLWM1bs4y8buTsvRq-MO9GakTLZUfPk0e0SEEYvnIh8qXKk10LOc1b9fOg/s400/Rev.+Fr.+Ejike+Mbaka.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The fiery priest and Spiritual Director
of the Adoration Ministry has presided over Christ the King Parish for 20 years
but is expected to serve under another priest at the Emene Parish.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Spokesperson of the APC
South-East Caucus, Osita Okechukwu, “It was wrong to punish the fearless priest
for his prophecies which has proved to be from God.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Okechukwu while expressing
concern over Mbaka’s safety alleged that the transfer was influenced by outside
forces, adding that worshippers may find it difficult to get to Emene for
programmes of the Adoration Ministry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He said, “Whereas we accept that
the transfer of priests is a routine exercise of the great Catholic Church,
However we do not wholly accept a situation where the church allows external
forces to influence transfers as the Mbaka’s case suggests.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Otherwise, future liberation
clergy who speak truth to power will be hamstrung to the detriment of the
society.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Our major concern is the
security implications and the fate of his flocks who are mostly the downtrodden
who may find it difficult to go to Emene for salvation and healing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“We frown at anything which will
put Fr. Mbaka in harm’s way or deny his flocks healing.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Okechukwu, while stating that the
priest has been under attack from President Muhammadu Buhari’s opponent since
he prophesied that the President will win the last election, noted that the
party was in solidarity with the priest and condemn all attacks on him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He alleged that the leadership of
Ohanaeze Ndigbo influenced Mbaka’s transfer to a new parish where he will serve
under someone else.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Okechukwu said, “As a party, we
have watched with concern and trepidation the criticism, attack, assault and
unpleasant comments hurled at Fr. Mbaka since he providentially prophesied that
President Buhari would win the 2015 elections.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Even the Church did not spare
him, he was called unprintable names, yet his prophecy came true. We are happy
that Fr. Mbaka was vindicated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“It must be pointed out that
accusing fingers were pointed at the direction of some anti-Buhari elements
like Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a group that didn’t want to hear the name of Buhari –
even though Ohanaeze denied the allegation, doubt still persists.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“For we are still at a loss why a
senior priest will be demoted to an assistant parish priest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“We repeat that we are in
solidarity with Fr. Mbaka and our major concern is the security of Fr. Mbaka
and the suffering of his flocks, mostly the poor who need his healing powers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“We had thought that His Lordship
Bishop Calistus Onaga could have retained him at the Adoration Ground, as the
Bishop Emeritus Gbuji did because of security of his life and easy access by
his flocks,” he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-29337269219943322562016-01-31T16:00:00.001-08:002016-01-31T16:00:29.440-08:0050 Killed As Boko Haram Attacked Borno<div class="MsoNormal">
Around 50 people were feared killed when Boko Haram fighters
armed with guns and explosives attacked a village in northeastern Nigeria, the
army and local residents said Sunday.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Suicide bombers also carried out deadly attacks on Sunday in
the Lake Chad region, an area frequently targeted by Boko Haram, a local
security official said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OfBdLkouYNDMWhBJ36Hu0_pG8kg8FWYDxFClZ6sKVoJfmceeQRNpNlzZo2Iy-SlvMYI2xHTVmrU2HP689NCUGCNIxTuKtTV73sbJlzvrGOWaHsY16hhpWXB_mJjioGh_g-UPBKjUyRc/s1600/boko+haram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OfBdLkouYNDMWhBJ36Hu0_pG8kg8FWYDxFClZ6sKVoJfmceeQRNpNlzZo2Iy-SlvMYI2xHTVmrU2HP689NCUGCNIxTuKtTV73sbJlzvrGOWaHsY16hhpWXB_mJjioGh_g-UPBKjUyRc/s400/boko+haram.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nigeria’s army said Boko Haram fighters struck Dalori, some
12 kilometers (seven miles) from the northern city of Maiduguri late Saturday,
burning down the village and sending residents fleeing into the bush.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dalori is located near camps set up for people displaced by
the seven-year Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast of Africa’s most populous
country.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“During the incident lives were lost while some people
sustained injuries,” army spokesman Colonel Mustapha Anka said in a statement.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Residents and an aid worker said at least 50 people were
killed in the assault which took place after evening prayers in the mostly
Muslim region.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anka said the assailants also tried to penetrate the Dalori
camp, but they were repelled by the troops.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Boko Haram has kept up a wave of attacks despite President
Muhammadu Buhari declaring late last year that Nigeria had “technically” won
the war against the group.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the Lake Chad region, which borders Nigeria as well as
Chad, Cameroon and Niger, suicide bombers struck two Chadian villages killing
three people, a local security official said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the first attack in Guie, a bomber on a motorcycle blew
himself up, killing one person and injuring 32, while the second attack in the
village of Miterine left two dead and 24 wounded, the official said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon have formed a coalition along
with Benin to fight Boko Haram and have marshalled a force of 8,700 soldiers,
police and civilians.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In retaliation, Boko Haram has launched cross-border attacks
from northern Nigeria on the neighboring countries.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
– Entire village razed –<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Nigeria, local residents told AFP they fled into the bush
when the Boko Haram fighters descended on Dalori.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“We were seated outside our home shortly after the Isha
prayer when we heard gunshots and within a few minutes the invaders had
arrived,” Malam Masa Dalori, a community leader, told AFP.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“They came in Golf saloon cars and began to shoot
sporadically. Many people ran to the bush including myself,” he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“When we came back in the morning the entire community has
been razed. At least 50 people were also killed, many others injured,” he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mallam Hassan, another villager, gave a similar account.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I lost an uncle in the attack. But I thank God I escaped with
my children,” he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An aid worker who did not want to be named, said the bodies
of the victims had been evacuated to the hospital.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I think they should be more than 50, while several others
were injured,” he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Boko Haram fighters have made several attempts to retake
Maiduguri — the birthplace of the jihadist movement — since they were pushed
out three years ago.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The group which seeks a hardline Islamic state in northern
Nigeria has killed some 17,000 people and forced more than 2.6 million others
to flee their homes since 2009.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-82608462805904192132016-01-31T15:54:00.001-08:002016-01-31T15:54:51.707-08:00Judiciary Is My Main Headache On Fight Against Corruption - Buhari<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
President Muhammadu Buhari on
Sunday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said ongoing fight against corruption in
Nigeria could be effectively tackled with the strong support of the judiciary.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A statement issued in Abuja on
Sunday by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi
Adesina, said that Buhari stated this while speaking at a town hall meeting
with Nigerians living in Ethiopia.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbwzu_mw3QfboTsblHAcbJ4_GxRAzQiRR0AWp0TPShj-2sWq11_yx1tGsvhvYAOAI5d2F4NEK164QBZyaVLOM00BhZu-ZqIFr6VbRt20dKp65TV5L1F9S__hSJDzosuPVqDkBRJ8zn_Q/s1600/president+Buhari.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbwzu_mw3QfboTsblHAcbJ4_GxRAzQiRR0AWp0TPShj-2sWq11_yx1tGsvhvYAOAI5d2F4NEK164QBZyaVLOM00BhZu-ZqIFr6VbRt20dKp65TV5L1F9S__hSJDzosuPVqDkBRJ8zn_Q/s400/president+Buhari.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The president said that
far-reaching reforms of the judiciary remained a key priority for his
administration.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“On the fight against corruption
vis-à-vis the judiciary, Nigerians will be right to say that is my main
headache for now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“If you reflect on what I went
through for twelve years when I wanted to be the president, I attempted three
times.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
‘’At the fourth attempt, through
God and the use of technology, it was possible for Nigerians to elect an APC
candidate as president.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“In my first attempt in 2003, I
ended up at the Supreme Court and for 13 months I was in court.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“The second attempt in 2007, I
was in court close to 20 months, and in 2011, my third attempt, I was also in
court for nine months.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“All these cases went up to the
Supreme Court until the fourth time in 2015, when God agreed that I will be
President of Nigeria,’’ he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Buhari assured members of the
Nigerian community in Ethiopia that with the support of the Chief Justice of
Nigeria, he would continue to do his best to improve the nation’s judicial
administration system.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
On urban development and
infrastructure, he announced that the Federal Government had ordered a review
of several railway transport projects signed by the previous administration
with the Chinese government.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“The Chinese government was very
generous to Nigeria on the projects signed with the previous government because
they agreed to pay 85 per cent of the project.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“But, the Nigerian government was
unable to meet up with its counterpart funding of 15 per cent, so the Chinese
government was unable to make any impact on the project,’’ he said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The president said he had
directed the Ministers of Transportation, Finance, and Power, Works and
Housing, to revisit the agreements and explore ways of re-approaching the
Chinese government for assistance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He added that the Chinese
government had indicated interest to assist Nigeria on project financing
through its Export-Import Bank.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
On the proposed N6.07 trillion
2016 budget before the National Assembly, the president said that for the first
time in Nigeria, the budget would be largely financed from non-oil revenue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He identified the collapse of the
international oil market and oil theft in the Niger Delta as main reasons for
projecting more revenues to fund the budget from the non-oil sector.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He said that theft of oil by some
Nigerians who felt that the oil belonged to them was irritating to ‘’those of
us who participated in the civil war for 30 months in which at least two
million Nigerians were killed.’’<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Buhari explained that the
proposed budget would focus on increasing efficiency and transparency in
government operations and the blocking of leakages from revenue generating
agencies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He added that the recovered
assets of the country would also be used to reduce the budget deficit.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-69765700678989232372016-01-31T15:23:00.003-08:002016-01-31T15:23:45.782-08:00Boko Haram Is Embarrassing My Governmnet - Buhari<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
ABUJA-President Muhammadu Buhari
on Sunday said that Boko Haram sect was embarrassing his government with their
renewed onslaught against the people of the north-east.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Speaking against the backdrop of
plethora of suicide bombings in Chibok market, Dolari Internally Displaced
Person’s (IDP) camp in Borno State and the Gombi market in Adamawa State in the
passing week, president Buhari said that the insurgents had become more
desperate, saying that the recent bombings were attempts to gain public
sympathy and attention having suffered terribly in the hands of Nigerian
military.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
President Buhari said the
terrorists had been rendered weak, confused and homeless after repeated
bombings and ravaging of their camps and hide outs by the military, forcing
them to find their way back into the society to wreak havoc, like the case of
the Dolari IDP.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The President also noted that the
materials for the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were locally sourced by
the insurgents.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
He therefore urged Nigerians
especially residents of the north-east region to be more vigilant and
circumspect.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“Having lost the war, they are
seeking ways and means to gradually find their way back into society. They are
not returning to contribute but to cause more havoc. They are so desperate to
embarrass the government and the people that they have no qualms attacking
isolated communities and markets.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“I urge all citizens wherever
they live to own the war against terror and to be part of the fight because it
is the only way we can finish the remaining work that needs to be done to make
our country safe again,” the President said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
A statement by the senior special
assistant on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu stated that President
Buhari “extended his condolences to all the people of Chibok, Gombi and Dolari
who lost loved ones in the recent attacks and prayed that the Almighty God will
comfort them and grant the injured persons quick recovery.”<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-32001304968389799452016-01-30T14:52:00.002-08:002016-01-30T14:52:23.563-08:0010 People Killed In Bauchi Suicide Attack<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
At least 10 people were killed
when a suicide bomber blew himself up on Friday at a busy market in a town in
Bauchi where the Boko Haram group is waging an insurgency, residents and a Red
Cross official told Reuters.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Boko Haram has been waging an
almost seven-year campaign in Nigeria’s remote north to build an Islamic state.
Thousands have been killed and more than two million people displaced by the
campaign.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
There was no immediate claim of
responsibility, but the attack bore the hallmarks of Boko Haram, which has been
using suicide bombers since the army, helped by neighbors Chad and Cameroon,
expelled the group from territory it had captured previously.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8767012589166497473.post-78735793352691989202016-01-30T14:44:00.000-08:002016-01-30T14:44:17.343-08:00SECURITY ALERT: Terrorists Now Disguising As ‘Mad People’<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Nigeria army has warned
members of the public to be wary of people dressed as “mad people”, especially
in the north-east, saying they could be suicide bombers waiting to detonate
their explosive devices. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Rabe Abubakar, a
brigadier-general and acting director of defense information, issued the warning
on Saturday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymD63xLldJKPns3tZcyTPr-PMu0XnDOau1Y3AVsTn7NZ48acL2N8osIEFihytXs9EpRtxOuEY7Wf_smeIMmzvkpz0wBODRtRhTQsmvPuY86Odw7aClc6uVxZl9RTqAOQby7yG9s2M51I/s1600/terrorists+as+mad+people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymD63xLldJKPns3tZcyTPr-PMu0XnDOau1Y3AVsTn7NZ48acL2N8osIEFihytXs9EpRtxOuEY7Wf_smeIMmzvkpz0wBODRtRhTQsmvPuY86Odw7aClc6uVxZl9RTqAOQby7yG9s2M51I/s320/terrorists+as+mad+people.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
“It has come to the notice of the
Defense Headquarters (DHQ) that Boko Haram members, in their desperation to
cause colossal havoc, have now devised a new method where they dress like mad
persons to gain unsuspecting access to public areas to detonate bombs,”
Abubakar said in a statement.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a> <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The 2 male suicide bombers,
dressed like mad women and carried out suicide bomb attack in Gombi, Adamawa
state, is instructive in this direction. Five people lost their lives and
several others were wounded in the heinous attack by these ungodly people. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The Defense Headquarters
therefore urges our fellow good citizens across the country to be wary of mad
persons approaching markets, public places or crowded areas so as to nip this
ugly trend in the bud. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Nigerians are also enjoined to be
security-conscious at all times and should endeavor to report any suspicious
person or object to security agencies for prompt action.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11028936838291612957noreply@blogger.com0