SON OF NIGERIA'S KEN SARO-WIWA DIES
Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr, 47,
passed away after suffering a stroke, his family say.
He was a journalist
who became an adviser to three presidents.
The 1995 execution of
his father by a military government for leading protests against environmental
degradation caused by the oil industry sparked global outrage.
Saro-Wiwa Sr led the
Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (Mosop), which accused oil
multinational Shell of destroying the environment in his home region of
Ogoniland in south-eastern Nigeria.
His execution after a
secret trial under Gen Sani Abacha led to Nigeria being suspended from the
Commonwealth.
Noo Saro-Wiwa, sister
of the late journalist, told the BBC: "It is with great sadness that we
announce that Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr passed away suddenly. His family are devastated
and request privacy at this difficult time."
Funeral arrangements
are yet to be worked out, the family says.
Ken Saro-Wiwa was
first appointed in 2006 as a special adviser on peace and conflict resolution
by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He later served Mr
Obasanjo's successor, President Umaru Yar'Adua, as an adviser on international
affairs and stayed on under President Goodluck Jonathan until he lost last
year's election.
His willingness to
work with the federal government marked him out as less militant than his
father.
But like his father,
he was committed to the cause of the Ogoni people.
In a 2015 opinion
piece for the UK's Guardian newspaper, he wrote that the effects of the oil
pollution on Ogoniland had still not been cleared up.
"If my father
were alive today he would be dismayed that Ogoniland still looks like the
devastated region that spurred him to action.
"There is little
evidence to show that it sits on one of the world's richest deposits of oil and
gas."
A 2011 UN report said
Nigeria's Ogoniland region could take 30 years to recover fully from the damage
caused by years of oil spills. The study said complete restoration could entail
the world's "most wide-ranging and long-term oil clean-up".
It added that
communities faced a severe health risk, with some families drinking water with
high levels of carcinogens.
Shell has accepted
liability for two spills and said all oil spills were bad for Nigeria and the
company.
UNLAWFUL ASSAULT: SOLDIER GETS DEMOTION, THREE YEARS IMPRISONMENT
The
military Court Martial seating in Maiduguri has sentenced one Staff Sergeant
Umar Sule to three years in prison over unlawful assault on a ten year old in
Maiduguri.
The
convicted soldier was also demoted from the rank of a staff sergeant to a
private soldier.
The Nation recalls that the Acting General
Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu on Wednesday August 10, 2016, set
up a General Court Martial to try four officers and 16 soldiers
for various offences ranging from criminal sales of arms to
non-military persons as well as abuse of human rights in the ongoing war
against Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria.
Brigadier General Ezugwu at the inauguration
said he has to issue a convening order for a General Court
Martial “following the directives from Army Headquarters that a standing GCM be
set up for Operation Lafiya to try offences committed by personnel within the
Theatre of Operation”.
“This GCM is therefore convened to try a
total of 4 officers and 16 other ranks of the Nigeria Army who have committed
various offences within the Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole”, said the GOC.
Delivering
judgment, the President of the Court Martial Brig. Gen. Gabriel Adeniyi
pronounced his judgment quoting relevant military laws and laws of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria sentenced the convict on two count charges which include
unlawful assault of a minor and disobedience to standing military orders.
The
verdict reads: “Staff Sergeants Umar Sule, having found you
guilty of the charges against you and having listen to the presentation of the
prosecution urging this court to treat you as a first offender and the
counsel’s touching plea to litigation, we have also look at the various
punishment provided by both section 104 of sub section 2d of armed forces act
cap A 20 laws of the federation 2004 as well as section 119 of armed forces act
cap A 20 laws of the federation 2004.
“This
court also considers the need to ensure discipline in the system. This court
hereby sentences you as follows: “On count one; three
years imprisonment. On count two- reduced to private. This sentence is however
subject to confirmation by the confirming authority as provided by section 141
sub-sections 2 and section 152 sub-section 1A of the armed forces act cap A20
law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 2004”.
Speaking
after the judgment, representative of the Human Right Commission, Barr. Jumai
Usman Mshelia said she is satisfied with the judgment.
According
to her, “I believe that all the parties in this case have gotten justice. This
judgment demonstrates the discipline and transparency of the army that anybody
can get justice no matter who you are, poor or rich,” Barr. Mshelia said.
The father of the boy Usman Mohammed also
said he is satisfied with the judgment. He however called on the government to
assist in the upbringing of the boy whose two hands have now been severed due
to the torture by the convict.
Ten years
old Mohammed Saleh, the victim was said to have been arrested by the soldier
for allegedly stealing his N2000. The demoted soldier according to the father
of the boy tied his hands for more than eight hours which caused serious
injuries to the hand leading to the amputation of one of the hand while the
remaining hand still remains non-Functional.
The court
has been adjourned to 20th October, 2016 where two Captains and
one Major would be put on trial.
FANI-KAYODE’S WIFE RELEASES SNAPSHOT OF HER
ACCOUNT, SAYS EFCC LIED
Precious Chikwendu, wife of
erstwhile Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, Tuesday, denied allegation by
the Economic and Fianancial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that her Access Bank
account was used to launder funds from the NSA’s office and that approximately
N2.4 million balance was found in her account, when she was arrested by the
anti-graft agency yesterday.
In a statement by Chineye Okechukwu,
her Special Assistant, Chikwendu said the allegation was a lie from the pit of
hell. The statement read: “The assertion by one Wilson Uwujaren who is supposed
to be the spokesman of the EFCC that Precious Chikwendu’s Access Bank account
was used to launder Jonathan campaign funds or funds from the NSA’s office and
that approximately 2.4 million naira balance was found in the said account at
the time of her arrest is a lie from the pit of hell.
“The said account was opened in 2005
at Onitsha when Precious Chikwendu was about to start at the University of
Calabar. “At that time it was not known as Access Bank but Intercontinental
Bank. The account was used by her from 2005 till 2012 when it was abandoned and
went dormant.
“It was not utilised or activated
again until August 2016 when small deposits of between N200,000 and N500,000
were made into it and the total amount that entered into that account over a
period of 2 months was approximately N4 million naira.
“The money was spent on looking
after the family, paying staff salaries and to buy groceries.
Consequently, at the time that the
account was frozen last Friday, the amount that was left in it was N95,000.
“She was not notified about the freezing of the account until someone paid
N200,000 into it on Saturday.
The money entered the account but
after that it could not be accessed. “She decided to stop at the bank on her
way out of Ado Ekiti on Monday in order to know what was going on and she was
then detained and offered to the police and EFCC, together with her 8 month old
son Aragorn, for arrest.”
According to Chikwendu, “The total
amount that was in the account at the time of the arrest was N295,000 naira
which is approximately 600 USD.
This is reflected in the screenshot
above together with the relevant dates. “How Wilson of the EFCC arrived at his
figure of N2.3million being in the account at the time of arrest is
mind-boggling and absurd.
“It is nothing but a shameless and
barefaced lie and he and the organisation he works for are nothing but
pernicious liars.
It is equally absurd to suggest that
the said account had anything to do with Jonathan Campaign funds or Dasuki NSA
funds given the fact that the said account was not even active or functional
between 2012 right up until August 2016.
“The Presidential campaign took
place in 2015 and at that time the account was dormant. At the time that she
abandoned and stopped using the account in 2012 Precious Chikwendu had not even
met Chief Fani-Kayode.
“The lies of the EFCC on this matter
are sickening and they are wicked and sadistic people. Wilson’s assertions are
just one example of such lies.
“The only reason that Precious
Chikwendu’s bank accounts were frozen and she was subjected to such inhuman
treatment is because she is married to Chief Femi Fani-Kayode who is a
politician and a leading member of the opposition.
They wanted to punish her and their
8 month old son Aragorn just to hurt and spite Chief Fani-Kayode. “Finally let
me add this. It is not true that Precious Chikwendu has 17 accounts in GTB.
This is another dirty EFCC lie. She
has one current account with a merged savings account in GTB which was opened
in 2012.
“Outside of that she has a dollar account and
a pounds sterling account with the same bank which were all opened on the same
day in 2012.
“None of these accounts have any
connection whatsoever with public funds or with Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and
neither was any GTB BVN linked to his. Again on this issue the EFCC lied.
“Neither is it true that the EFCC were not at the bank in Ado Ekiti to arrest
her because three of their operatives were actually there manning the bank door
with their identity cards pinned to their jackets.
They were backed by five fully armed
policemen in uniform. “They made it clear to Precious Chikwendu that they had
been ordered to bring her to Abuja by road that same evening and that if she
could not leave her son in the bank with the manager he would have to come for
the ride too.
“Had it not been for the
intervention of Governor Fayose that is exactly what would have happened and
only God knows what they would have been subjected to on the way.”
EFCC PROBES BUHARI’S MINISTERS FOR
CORRUPTION
Strong indications have emerged that the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has opened investigations into
activities of some serving ministers in the President Muhammadu Buhari
administration.
Newsmen’s investigation revealed that operatives
involved in the discreet probe had gathered some evidence against the affected
ministers.
A top operative of the EFCC who confided in our correspondent
said investigations on two of the ministers had got to an advanced level.
The source said the two ministers were
being probed in connection with financial crimes.
It was learnt that one of the ministers is from the South-West
while the other is from the South-East.
Operatives of the EFCC’s Economic Governance Unit are probing
the minister from the South-East while the investigation into the activities of
the South-West minister is being handled by its Special Operations Unit.
Both ministers have not been invited for interrogation.
However, a top operative of the commission told newsmen that one of the ministers
was being investigated on suspicious award of licences in his ministry.
It was further stated that the commission decided to commence
the investigation into the process of award of licences because of complaints
that the process was fraught with irregularities.
The source noted that hundreds of millions of naira was involved
in the ongoing probe.
Our correspondent also learnt that the South-Eastern minister
was being probed for alleged involvement in the movement of huge amounts of
money on behalf of a company which he allegedly has interest in.
According to the source, the minister, who is said to have
shares in a telecommunication firm, aided the transfer of funds running into
hundreds of millions of naira out of the country.
The source said, “The commission has
commenced investigations into alleged corrupt practices by some serving
ministers. In fact, the cases against the two of them have got to an advanced
stage. One of them is from the South-West while the other is from the
South-East.
“The one from the South-West is under probe for alleged
questionable award of licences to firms which involved billions of naira. His
counterpart has a different case. He is being probed for aiding illegal movement
of millions of naira by a major telecommunication firm out of the country. The
minister is believed to have some shares in the telecommunication firm. You can
be sure that both cases are progressing and have got to an advanced stage.”
The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson
Uwujaren, said he was not aware of the investigation.
He said, “I don’t have that information but I will check and get
back to you."
NIGERIANS BACK AISHA BUHARI, AS SHE SLAMS PRESIDENT
Several reactions have trailed Aisha Buhari’s
comments that she may not back her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, at the
2019 election unless he (the President) reshuffles his cabinet.
Aisha Buhari, had in a BBC Hausa interview, expressed her displeasure
in President Buhari’s government, saying that the President does not know most
of the appointees in his cabinet.
She also suggested that the President’s government had been
hijacked by a few people, who In the interview, Mrs. Buhari said, “The
president does not know 45 out of 50, for example, of the people he appointed
and I don’t know them either, despite being his wife of 27 years.
“Some people are sitting down in their homes, folding their
arms, only for them to be called to come and head an agency or a ministerial
position.”
When asked to name those who had hijacked her husband’s
government, she refused, saying, “You will know them if you watch television.”
On whether President was still in charge, she said, “That is
left for the people to decide.”
Mrs. Buhari added that her husband had not told her whether he
would contest the 2019 election.
She said, “He is yet to tell me, but I have decided as his wife,
that if things continue like this up to 2019, I will not go out and campaign
again and ask any woman to vote like I did before. I will never do it again.”
Meanwhile, Mrs. Buhari’s comments on her husband’s government
have attracted both applause and criticisms by Nigerians.
For instance, the Convener of the Coalition of Northern
Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid mohammed,
praised Aisha for forthrightness and described her comments as “100 per cent
correct”.
Mohammed, who said Aisha’s honesty earned her his respect, added
that she could have said more, considering the information at her disposal, but
chose to be diplomatic.
He said, “From the bits I heard by myself and from friends whose
judgements I respect, everything said by Mrs. Buhari is true. In fact, given
the fact at her disposal, she has been very diplomatic because she could have
said a lot more and mentioned names and positions like I did in the interview I
had with Saturday PUNCHsome weeks
back. But she didn’t do that; she confined herself to what she said, which are
all factual.
“Some of the facts she said are matters in which I have
privileged information and knowledge, so I believe she was telling the truth
and I do not want to question her motivation or listen to what people say. I
believe it is in the interest of this country to listen to what she says before
we are driven into a ditch by her husband.”
According to Mohammed, Aisha had the right to have made the
comments because she was “speaking about her country and her nuclear family and
she is the closest human being to the President.”
“When the chips are down, it is she, her children and Buhari’s
children from his first marriage that will carry the burden. So nobody has the
right to tell her what is appropriate or inappropriate,” he added.
National Publicity secretary of Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba
organisation, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, also said being the “closest person to the
Presiddent”, Aisha’s comments should not be ignored.
Odumakin said as Aisha noted, President Buhari should reshuffle
his cabinet to accommodate competent people.
“The fact remains that being the wife of the President, her
views cannot just be thrown away like that,” he said.
“You can count on your fingers the cabinet members that know
what they are doing there. There is no impartial observer of the government
that will not agree that this cabinet has not performed well. It took a long
time for the President to appoint his cabinet members and we had expected
something more. The President should reshuffle the team and make sure he puts
on board people who can deliver.”
Mr. Victor Borubo, Ijaw National Congress Spokesperson, who
stressed that he was giving his personal view and not that of the organisation,
described the issues raised by Aisha “as valid”.
Borubo also called on the President to reshuffle his cabinet as
suggested by his wife, saying, “A good number of people in the President’s
cabinet are misfits and square pegs forcing themselves into round holes. So to
that extent, I agree that a lot of the cabinet members should simply give way.
What if a man he says is not corrupt is incompetent, what good is he to us?”
Chief Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation Magazine and a
former presidential aspirant, also praised Aisha Buhari for her comments.
Momodu said the President’s wife said what he and some other
supporters of the President had been saying for long and that if care was not
taken, the party could further be divided.
He said, “Aisha Buhari’s comments are welcome. She has done what
most Nigerian women and men cannot do — speaking the truth as it is, not
minding that she’s a beneficiary of power. It shows she’s a forward-looking,
intelligent and responsible woman who knows that life doesn’t begin and end in
Aso Rock.
“If she had been telling her husband and he had not listened to
her, now she has put it on record as a yardstick to judge her in the future.
She should be celebrated.
“What she said is what many of us had been saying before, that
some people have hijacked this government from the President. I have said it
before and I remember the [Senate President] Dr. Bukola Saraki had also said
it.
“Some people are saying she has no right to speak such
things, but that’s not true. She has every right to do so, as the President’s
wife and a public figure. Before the President won the election, she campaigned
for him.
“So, she has the right to express what she feels about her
husband’s government because she has so much to lose if her husband fails.”
Also, the presidential candidate of the National Conscience
Party in the 2015 general election, Chief Martin Onovo, said Aisha said the
truth and that her comments were reflections of the President’s weaknesses.
“It has been obvious for long that the President is not in
control of the government. If you have been watching the situation of things,
different officials in the APC hold different positions and always differ on
issues.
“If the President is in control, this wouldn’t have been so. It
shows weakness on the part of the President. He has always appeared to be
constrained by some forces despite the powers conferred on him by the
constitution.
“The President should know that authority and responsibility go
hand-in-hand, so for whatever is happening, President Buhari should take
responsibility.”
Onovo called on the President to display strength and not allow
a cabal to run his government.
He said, “When a cabal runs a government, they further their
selfish interests because they are behind the policies made. Hence, if the
President cannot run the government, it shows weakness and failure.
“He should encourage national unity by inviting all groups and
parties to participate in his government because diversity encourages
innovation and development.”
Also, a former Special Assistant to former President Goodluck
Jonathan on New Media, Mr. Reno Omokri, commended Mrs. Buhari for speaking out,
though he described her as a “wailer.”
He wrote on his Facebook page, “Wow! This is explosive! Even
Buhari’s wife has turned to a wailer! Aisha Buhari has told the BBC what we
have been saying all these months. You need to watch/read this interview. It is
well worth your time.
“His wife’s decision to go public with her concerns will shock
many people, but it shows the level of discontent with the President’s
leadership. Now, will all those who have had a field day attacking me for my
criticism also attack the First Lady?”
The Special Assistant to Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose on
Public Communication and New Media, Mr. Olalere Olayinka, also described the
President’s wife as a “wailer.”
Obviously referring to the President Buhari’s supporters, he
said, “Start attacking Aisha Buhari. And to the wailers, [there is] no need to
wail again. Let Aisha Buhari do the wailing for now,” he wrote on Twitter.
In the same vein, reactions have been trailing Aisha’s interview
on various social media platforms, where the news has been trending, with
majority of them backing the wife of the President.
In a Facebook comment, Michael Gabriel said Mrs. Buhari’s
comments showed how “poor” President Buhari was performing.
“It’s shocking to hear — that it’s coming from the First Lady
herself only shows how abysmally the present government has performed so far,”
he said.
“This is honesty. Even if it could cost her marriage, this woman
still spilled the truth. We need people like her.”
Ifeanyichukwu Chigozie also said on Facebook that going by Mrs.
Buhari’s comments, it was apparent that the current economic downturn was as a
result of nepotism and corruption.
He said, “Nigerians are suffering, yet people are pretending as
if everything is fine. The value of naira has dropped by 70 per cent over one
year, yet you (President Buhari) are still blaming the previous President.
“We kept complaining of bad economic policies, nepotism and
massive corruption, but our complaints were dismissed. It feels good now that
Aisha Buhari is on-board with us.”
Mohammed Tahir also said, “Aisha Buhari must be commended for
her courage. Her action should not be viewed as trying to gain favour from her
husband. She has been with him for 27 years, she knows him well and he knows
her well.
“She is the only one who will stand by him in victory and in
failure, we won’t be there. Therefore, we must listen to her very attentively.
To me, she is patriotic and wants to free her husband from the cabal.”
Alphonsus Ogbennaya said on Twitter, “This is patriotism and
love for her husband at play. Her advice must have been rejected privately,
that’s why she went public, because if her husband fails, she and her kids will
also share the blame. Thanks, Aisha, for your boldness.”
But some others condemned the President’s wife’s comments.
A political analyst Hatab Fadera also said it was wrong for Mrs.
Buhari to have gone public with her opinions.
He said on Facebook, “I think it is her fundamental right to say
in public whatever she feels is not right. However, I refuse to understand the
necessity of her points. I disagree in total that she has to necessarily know
who the President can and cannot appoint.
Reacting to the development, an Abuja based legal practitioner
and former National Secretary of the Labour Party, Kayode Ajulo, expressed
doubts over the authenticity of the story.
He said, “I doubt it if the President’s wife said some of the
things being ascribed to her.
BREAKING: FG RELEASES LIST OF NAMES OF FREED CHIBOKGIRLS
Following Thursday’s release of 21 out
of the 218 Chibok school girls abducted by the terrorist Boko Haram group in
Nigeria, Presidency has released the list of names of the freed girls as Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo meets with them.
List of names of released #ChibokGirls
List of names of released #ChibokGirls
FG DENIES EXCHANGING BOKO HARAM PRISONERS FOR 21 CHIBOK GIRLS
The
Federal Government has denied claims that four Boko Haram prisoners were
exchanged for the twenty-one Chibok girls released on Thursday.
AFP,
quoting local sources, reported that “the four Boko Haram militants were
brought to Banki from Maiduguri in a military helicopter from where they were
driven to Kumshe in ICRC vehicles.”
But
Nigeria’s minister for information and culture, Lai Mohammed said the girls
were released after credible lead was pursued.
“The moment we had a
credible lead, Mr President gave the green-light to the DSS to pursue it,”
Mohammed said at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.
“We can confirm that the DSS pursued
the lead in collaboration with a friendly European country and a renowned
international humanitarian organisation. The DSS was supported by the military.
“As soon as the necessary confidence
was built on both sides, the parties agreed on the date and the location of the
release of the 21 girls. Please note that this is not a swap. It is a release,
the product of painstaking negotiations and trust on both sides.
The twenty-one girls were released
around 5.30am on Thursday and were flown to Kaduna from the location of their
release, the minister said.
They are expected to be in Abuja later
today where an assembled team of medical doctors, psychologists, social
workers, trauma experts, would examine them.
“They will also be adequately
debriefed,” Mohammed said.
DSS RELEASES DETAINED
JUDGES
The Department of State Services has
released the seven judges that were arrested and detained on Friday and
Saturday in five states and the Federal Capital Territory.
It was gathered that the judges were released on
self-recognition.
Our correspondent learnt that the judges were released on Sunday
night, but were asked to return to the headquarters of the secret police on
Monday morning.
The DSS had, in what it called a sting
operation, arrested Sylvester Ngwuta and Inyang Okoro, both of the Supreme
Court; the suspended Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin
Division, Justice Mohammed Tsamiya; Justice Kabiru Auta of the Kano State High
Court and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Other arrested were a former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice
I. A. Umezulike, and Muazu Pindiga of the Federal High Court, Gombe Division.
A source close to the two judges of the Supreme Court, said that
the judges were seen “today.”
“Yes, I can tell you categorically that the two judges had been
released.
“I saw them today. They were to be part of the send forth we did
for one of the judges this morning, but they couldn’t make it because they were
asked to return to the DSS for further questioning,” the source said.
He added that the judge were, however, allowed to return home on
Monday evening after their questioning.
NJC TO HOLD EMERGENCY MEETING OVER DSS RAID ON JUDGES
Nigerian judges will hold emergency talks Tuesday following the “deeply
regrettable” detention of several judges by secret police in a corruption
probe, the country’s chief justice said Monday.
At least seven judges were
detained by Nigerian security forces over the weekend in connection with
allegedly receiving bribes, drawing sharp condemnation from the bar association
and from rights groups who described the raids as “unprecedented”.
The Department of State
Services (DSS) said it had seized $800,000 (715,000 euros) in cash during the
nation-wide sting operation.
In response to the public
outcry, President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman was forced to defend the raid,
saying on Sunday that the executive followed due process and insisting Buhari
is a “committed democrat.”
“It is indeed very saddening and deeply regrettable, the distressing
and unfortunate incident which occurred on Friday 7 October and Saturday 8
October, 2016,” said Chief Justice of Nigeria Mahmud Mohammed in an Abuja
court.
“However, I must ask all
Nigerians to remain calm and prayerful, as an emergency meeting of the National
Judicial Council, which will take place tomorrow, will comprehensively look
into the matter.”
In his remarks, Mohammed
praised the Nigerian Bar Association head Abubakar Mahmoud, who condemned the
swoop as a “Gestapo-style” operation.
– ‘Rule of law must be
obeyed’ –
Buhari, a former military
ruler, was voted into power last year on an anti-graft platform.
But critics have claimed his
corruption war is being used as a front to sideline political foes.
“The whole world is watching
and the explanation by the executive is unacceptable,” said senior lawyer
Adegboyega Awomolo in a statement.
“We believe in the war
against corruption but the rule of law must be obeyed.”
Human rights lawyer Clement
Nwankwo said that the crackdown on the judges was “unprecedented” in Nigeria.
“I have not seen anything
like this before. A large-scale coordinated arrest of judges across the country
is unprecedented,” Nwankwo said.
“Under the days of military
rule you didn’t have judges being arrested this way.”
Since coming into power a
year ago, Buhari has kept political opponents — including pro-Biafra activist
Nnamdi Kanu and ex-national security advisor Sambo Dasuki — in jail despite
court orders granting bail.
Nwankwo said the Buhari
government’s disregard for the law served only to undermine its war on
corruption.
“When you continue to
violate due process then the war can only become weaker,” he said.
“All of this is ad-hoc and
temporary, so ultimately there is no lasting reform.”
Lagos
lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, has thrown his weight
behind government efforts to sanitise the judiciary of corruption and
misconduct.
Reacting to the arrest of some judges nationwide by the
Department of State Service (DSS), Falana said it is a matter of grave concern
that the legal profession has allowed the denigration of the hallowed temple of
justice because of the misconduct of a few corrupt judges. He called for the
quick prosecution of the judges.
For several years, Falana disclosed that judges who committed
grave criminal offences were not prosecuted but merely retired by the
authorities on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.
He accused corrupt judges being investigated by the anti-graft
bodies of rushing to the court to seek interlocutory injunction to stop their
arrest and prosecution.
He revealed how a female high court judge in whose account an
anti-graft agency found N2 billion, rushed to the high court to seek
interlocutory injunction to stop her arrest and prosecution.
”It is on record that when both the Independent Corrupt
Practices and other Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission sent invitation letters to judges suspected of corruption, they had
rushed to the Federal High Court to obtain interlocutory injunctions to prevent
their arrest, investigation and prosecution.
”About two years ago, an anti graft agency found N2 billion in
the account of a high court judge. As soon as the judge was invited for
questioning, she reported and made a statement and was granted bail. But as she
could not defend the lodgment in her bank account she obtained an interlocutory
injunction from one of the judges in the custody of the SSS,” the human rights
activist stated.
To further justify the rots in the judiciary, Falana said it is
common knowledge that two Senior Advocates of Nigeria are standing trial in the
Lagos high court for allegedly bribing a judge. ”Even though it takes two to
tango, the judge has not been charged to court for allegedly receiving bribe,”
he said.
He blamed the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) for failing in its
statutory responsibility of exposing corruption in the legal profession.
According to Falana, ”the Nigerian Bar Association which has
information on all corrupt judges and lawyers in the country has continued to
shield them to the embarrassment of incorruptible members of the bar and the
bench. The few lawyers who have plucked up the courage to expose corrupt judges
and lawyers have been stigmatised and treated like lepers by their colleagues.
”Having failed to take advantage of the relevant statutory
disciplinary bodies to purge the bar and the bench of corrupt elements the
members of the legal profession have themselves to blame for the harassment of
judges by security forces.
It is on account of negligence on the part of the legal
profession that the SSS which screens candidates before they are recommended by
the National Judicial Council for appointment as judges has now engaged in the
arrest of judges for alleged corruption and abuse of office.
To avoid any further embarrassment in the circumstances, the bar
and the bench should immediately strengthen their disciplinary bodies with a
view to removing the few corrupt judges and lawyers whose criminal activities
have continued to erode public confidence in the judiciary.”
Falana called for the immediate prosecution of the arrested
judges, adding that they should be granted bail in self recognition.
”As the detained judges are presumed innocent until the contrary
is proved by the State, they should be admitted to bail in self recognizance.
At the same time, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation should
ensure that the suspects are arraigned in court without any further delay.
”Finally, it is painful to note that, before now, the demand of
the human rights community to the effect that the fundamental rights of lowly
placed criminal suspects be respected by the Police and other security agencies
has been treated with disdain.
But having regard to the fact that judges and other influential
citizens have since become victims of institutionalized abuse of official
harassment, it is high time that all stakeholders demanded that every criminal
suspect be treated with dignity in line with the provision of the Constitution
and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
POLICE PARADES SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS OF EMEFIELE’S WIFE
The Police on Monday said it had arrested
nine suspected kidnappers of the wife of the Governor of the Central Bank of
Nigeria, Mrs Margret Emiefele.
Parading the suspects before newsmen in
Abuja, Force spokesman, Don Awunah, said the suspects, who included two
policemen, have confessed to their various roles in the crime.
Items recovered from the suspects
included, N14, 725,000, three cars, one AK 47 magazine and two cartridges, the
force spokesman said.
Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police,
said that the suspects also received various sums of money as part of their
share of the ransom paid.
According to him, the police have
recovered from the suspects part of the money and cars bought with the ransom.
The spokesman said that the police would
continue to limit the capacity of kidnappers and other criminals by the
deploying adequate manpower to counter them.
He urged all stakeholders to cooperate
with the police in order to successfully check the activities of kidnappers.
According to Awunah, money or ransom was
sometimes used as bait or bargain to save the lives of victims of crime.
“It is also absolutely important to
mention that the police do not and will not encourage payment of ransom.
“Relatives of victims of kidnap for ransom
are strongly advised to exercise considerable caution in succumbing to payment
of ransom.
“The I-G, Mr Ibrahim Idris, is determined
in making sure that all those who are engaged in kidnappings and armed criminal
activities do not escape justice,” he said.
NAN recalled that Mrs Emiefele was
kidnapped with her three aides on Sept. 29 at Oquneki hills along Benin – Agbor
road in Delta and were rescued on Sept. 30.
RECESSION: LAGOS TO INTRODUCE MONTHLY PAYMENT ON HOUSING
In a bid to cushion the effects of economic recession in the
country, the Lagos State Government has perfected plans to introduce monthly payment
plan on its Home Ownership Mortgage Schemes popularly called Lagos HOMS across
the State.
The State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who stated this after
embarking on an extensive inspection tour of projects across the State, said
his administration has decided to scale up the rent-to-own policy by
introducing monthly payment plan whereby people can pay monthly instead of
being compelled to make a down payment of 30 percent of the total cost or pay
for one year.
He said: “We believe strongly that people should be able to pay
one month rent and live in our housing schemes.
We don’t think in a recession, we should be having a situation
where we allow people to come and buy when they don’t have money or to come and
pay one year rent.
We think the way to move forward is to allow these our younger
ones to just pay one month deposit and pay one month rent and move into the
houses and then more or less play up our rent-to-own scheme,” Governor Ambode
said.
While speaking on the pocket-friendly initiatives of his
administration on housing, Governor Ambode said the State Government has taken
time to review its mortgage schemes vis-Ã -vis its financial flow, adding that
many ongoing housing schemes have reached advanced stages of
completion and that they would be rolled out in a matter of months.
The Governor, who inspected the Illubirin Housing Scheme in Lagos
Island, said government, in partnership with private sector, is making
arrangement to transform the scheme into a live, work and play environment.
“In addition to that, the other housing projects that we are doing
are on course and I want to assure Lagosians that in the next few months, we
will be seeing a whole lot of housing units being rolled out,” the Governor
said.
On his part, the State’s Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Gbolahan
Lawal, debunked insinuation that the Illubirin Housing Scheme had been
abandoned, saying that government was rather working to improve on the project
which is sitting on 28 hectares.
He recalled how the project started under the administration of
former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu with sand filling, while
his predecessor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola carried on with the project.
He said: “Now, under the administration of Governor Ambode, we
want to scale it up and the idea is to make this place a live, play and work
environment and so we are projecting 500 units instead of the 1,260 that the
scheme was formerly designed for.
We believe government funds should be deployed to some other sites
that we are working on and to also come up with new designs and new buildings
and so instead of government to recapitalize this project, we are working with
the private sector and the investor that has come up is investing about $500
million.”
According to Lawal, about five hectares of the Illubirin scheme
would be dedicated to leisure, while there would also be commercial activities,
as well as flyover which would be constructed.
He said the State Government is already working with the Federal
Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Waterfront in that regard, adding that
the flyover would be on another phase.
He also said that all the phases of the scheme are expected to
span between five to seven years, but that there would be a lot of improvement
on the project before May 2019.
Governor Ambode also inspected the ongoing construction of a
lay-by and slip road into Isheri Olowora at Berger bus-stop.
PRESIDENCY DENIES FREEZING JONATHAN’S BANK
ACCOUNTS
| The |
Presidency on Friday said there was no truth in an allegation by some
protesters in Bayelsa State that former President Goodluck Jonathan’s bank
accounts have been frozen. It also denied stopping the allowances due to the
former president.
The Senior
Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said
this in a statement.
Shehu said
there was a clear motive for the demonstration that is different from that
which was being canvassed.
He alleged
that there was a premeditated attempt to blame President Muhammadu Buhari for
something he knows nothing about.
He said
Buhari was committed to justice and would not engage in vendetta. The statement
reads,
“The
allegation by demonstrators in Bayelsa State on Thursday that allowances due to
a former president have been stopped and his bank accounts frozen is patently
untrue.
“We have
confirmed with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation that the
former president and other past leaders were paid their allowances up to the
second quarter. “The past leaders have not been paid third quarter allowances
but will get their dues when remittances are received by the SGF from the
Ministry of Finance.
“Also, the
story of account closure is false. It is not known to the investigation
agencies. “The National Security Adviser to the President is not aware of this
bank account closure; the SSS Director General is unaware of it; the EFCC is
unaware and the IG of Police is not in the know.
“With all
of these agencies not being involved, how then could a thing like that happen?
In a dream perhaps! “To put it starkly, we believe there is a clear motive for
the demonstration that is different from that which was being canvassed.
“This is a
premeditated attempt to blame President Muhammadu Buhari for something he knows
nothing about.
“These
claims are false and poorly sourced to present a picture of vendetta; and they
should be disregarded by well-meaning members of the public.
Presidency denies freezing Jonathan’s bank accounts
Read more at: http://dailytimes.ng/presidency-denies-freezing-jonathans-bank
Read more at: http://dailytimes.ng/presidency-denies-freezing-jonathans-bank
NIGERIA TOO BIG TO FAIL, ADEOSUN TELLS WORLD
LEADERS
The Federal Government has vowed to do
everything required to bring Nigeria back to the path of growth with a resolve
to the world that Nigeria is too big to fail.
Speaking on sidelines of the plenary
session of the 2016 International Monetary Funds (IMF)/World Bank meeting in
Washington DC on Friday, the Finance Minister Mrs. Kemi Adeosun categorically
stated that “Nigeria is too big to fail and too significant in the region to
underperform.”
Reacting to the speeches of the World Bank
President Dr. Jim Yong Kim and the IMF managing director Ms. Christine Largard,
Adeosun stated that “what we are trying to do is to rewrite Nigeria’s economic
story so that we can grow, and to grow we need critical infrastructure like
power, transport, housing. These are where we are redirecting expenditure from
our recurrent where we thought there have been a lot of waste and leakages.”
The finance minister who was very vibrant
and visible at the meeting said the federal government is “redirecting spending
to capital to create long-term value, it’s tough in the short term but the long
term benefits will be there for the future generation. “We are confident of
getting back to growth” she assured the international community.
With regards to calls by Lagarde and Kim for massive investment in
infrastructure, Adeosun stated that, “if we invest in critical infrastructure
there will be increased productivity, which will lead to job creation and
prosperity for our people and it is very comforting to hear this coming from
the highest levels that that is the way to go.”
Adeosun stated that Nigeria has aligned with the views of the
multilateral institutions with regards to inclusive growth, stating that
inclusive growth is one of the objectives of this administration to end
poverty.
She noted that Government is “investing heavily in education
and as part of our social intervention programme we aim to engage more young
graduates into primary schools because, education, I am sure we will be soon
start seeing improvements in our education indices.”
She also stated that government was pumping money into agriculture
and women are many in agriculture, they are the key especially in agriculture
so we are pumping money into agriculture with small business loans with 60% on
agriculture. BoI has assured that it will start disbursing micro loans to women
so there is a great focus on women, out of the cooks for the school meal
programme are women. Money coming in from part-time jobs makes a huge impact on
family living.”
On his part, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr.
Godwin Emefiele said the three-pronged comprehensive approach of monetary,
fiscal and structural reforms “is the way everybody has to go and we are doing
that in Nigeria, there is serious collaboration between the monetary and fiscal
authorities and if we continue in this direction we will achieve these
objectives.”
Commenting on whether the financial sector reforms has been
enjoying a buy-in from potential investors, Emefiele said the CBN has “done a
lot of reforms like the flexible exchange rate regimes which is picking up
gradually, when you have the kind of situation that we have, naturally people
will be a bit skeptical but with time as they develop more confidence we will
begin to see more and more of them coming into the country.”
The CBN governor acknowledged that “there are
positive indications that meeting and networking with foreign delegations and
officials of the IMF and World Bank at this meeting we will achieve some of the
objectives that we have in mind. We will work together with China to see that
we get our fair share of the benefit of being the earliest country to adopt
renminbi as an international currency.”
‘WHY BUHARI’LL KEEP DASUKI IN DETENTION’
W
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hy is former
National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki still in detention despite court
orders that he should be released?
Dasuki, NSA in
the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration, is standing trial for
embezzlement of over $15 billion fund meant for equipment and other logistics
to fight Boko Haram, the insurgent group troubling the Northeastern part of the
country.
The ECOWAS Court
on Tuesday ordered Dasuki’s release. He went to the court after a Federal
High Court’s order that he should be released was ignored.
President
Muhammadu Buhari’s biographer, JohnPaden, hinted that Dasuki’s release from
detention may not happen soon.
In Chapter 15 of
the book, “Muhammadu Buhari – The challenges of Leadership in Nigeria”
which focuses on ‘Military Procurement Accountability’, Paden noted that
Buhari believed in confronting to the end any act of corruption that will
undermine the integrity of the military.
He also disclosed that such corruption in military procurement that puts the lives of the foot soldiers at risk is capable of endangering the Nigeria Project itself.
Paden writes:
“For Buhari who has said openly that he wants to be remembered for fighting
corruption, it will be an unmitigated disaster for his legacy if such a
gargantuan fleecing went on in his primary constituency, the military, and he
failed to unearth it and punish the culprits.
“Buhari knows
that Task Force and Division Commanders knew of and approved these arms
purchases; Service Chiefs knew too; Ministers of Defence and Finance knew;
Chief of Staff knew; civil servants in the Ministries of Defence and Finance
knew, Chief of Staff to the President knew; the Vice President knew; and the
President knew. It is why Buhari will keep his foot on Dasuki’s throat until he
fesses up.
“Who really was
Sambo Dasuki fronting for in Jonathan’s cabinet? That is the main question to
which Buhari is also seeking answers.”
Paden continued:
“As noted throughout this study, Buhari has a strong belief in right and wrong.
He also has an abiding respect for the Nigerian military as an institution that
can help hold Nigeria together.
“From Buhari’s
perspective, if corruption in military procurement undermines the integrity of
the military, that corruption must be confronted.
“And if such
procurement allegations weaken the military response to Boko Haram and put
ordinary foot soldiers at risk, that corruption poses a double threat, endangering
even the Nigeria Project itself.”
Paden however
ruled out personal or political affiliation as a reason for Dasuki’s continuous
incarceration.
He said: “It is
beyond the scope of this study to assess all the back stories of the
relationship between Buhari and Dasuki. Suffice it to say that the so-called
grudge between the two has never really existed.
“Dasuki is
twelve years younger than Buhari, even though Dasuki did participate in the
1985 countercoup. The family of Ibrahim Dasuki and the Buhari extended family
have been linked by marriage for more than four decades.
“In addition, in
his inaugural address, Buhari had professed that although ‘the past is
prologue’, he had no time to pursue alleged ‘enemies.”
“Other personal
relationships in play included Buhari’s relationship with Jonathan’s Minister
of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau and Buhari’s relationship with General
Babangida, who has played such a ubiquitous role in Fourth Republic politics.
“Yet the real
story probably has little to do with personal or political relationship"
FRSC BOSS TASKS STAFF ON PROFESSIONALISM
M
|
r Shehu Zaki,
the new State Zonal Commander, Federal Road Safely Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, on
Friday advised his officers to demonstrate high level of professionalism in the
discharge of their duties.
Zaki gave the
advice during a courtesy visit to Sango-Ota Command.
He said that
adherence to high ethical standards was crucial to improving sanity on roads.
“As a law
enforcement agency, we will not shy away from our mistakes and we will never
seek to cover them.
“The days of being
killed by articulated vehicles on the road must stop through our actions,” he
said.
The FRSC boss
urged the officers be alert and attentive while on duty to enable them enforce
minimum safety standard on roads.
Zaki also advised
the officers to desist from any misconduct that could tarnish the image of the
commission.
Ealier, Mr Leye
Adegboyega, the Unit Commander of FRSC in Sango-Ota, had appealed to his
officers to support the new zonal commander for the overall success of the
zone.
Adegboyega
described Zaki as someone with vast experience on the field which he would make
to bear on his new posting.
CONFUSION OVER STRANGE
CROSS SIGHTED IN NASARAWA MOSQUE
R
|
The mysterious sighting attracted a mammoth crowd from Assakio and its
environs with many praying for forgiveness and blessings.
Our correspondent observed that the illuminated cross was projected on
to the ground.
A 15 year-old-girl, Hajara Hussaini, in an interview with newsmen, said she
first sighted the sign of a cross at about 8pm on Wednesday.
Hussaini, who said she had been sent on an errand by her parents,
explained that when she saw a strange light, she as gripped by fear and rushed
back home to alert her mother, Matan Liman.
Confirming the incident to journalists, Matan said she had sent her
daughter to visit her grandmother. The middle-aged woman added that her
daughter saw the crucifix while returning from the errand.
The Chief Imam of Assakio Central Mosque, Muhammed Iliyasu, who
confirmed the incident, told our correspondent that the appearance of the cross
within the premises of the mosque was a revelation from God, affirming that
“Jesus is also a prophet of God.”
Also confirming the incident to our correspondent, Very Rev. Micheal
Dogo of the Evangelical Reform Church of Christ, Assakio, described the
appearance of the cross as a sign of reconciliation in the community.
Other eyewitnesses, who spoke to newsmen at the scene of the sighting,
expressed fear and bewilderment.
An Enugu State native, Grace Eze, who resides in the Ashige area of the
community, added that she got healed after visiting the scene of the cross.
She said, “I underwent a surgery about two years ago after which I
started to experience a movement in my body. But after praying before the
cross, I got healed.”
A resident, Jonathan Amegwa, said he was overwhelmed by the appearance
of the cross in the mosque.
I WILL DEAL WITH NIGER DELTA MILITANTS - BUHARI
President Muhammadu Buhari,
yesterday, warned Niger Delta militants that they could not continue to hold
Nigeria to ransom.
Buhari also said his administration
was working hard to reposition Nigeria for prosperity, urging Nigerians not to
be deterred by the current economic crisis, which, according to him, will not
last.
The President, who recalled his
promises during his campaigns as a presidential candidate, stated that he would
not deviate from the hallmark of transparency and honesty.
The remarks were contained in his
broadcast to commemorate the 56th independence anniversary of Nigeria.
Buhari’s warning to the militants in
the oil-rich region came barely one week after the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA)
resumed hostilities following several weeks of ceasefire to facilitate dialogue
on issues in the area. The speech He began:
“Today – 1st October is a day of
celebration for us Nigerians. On this day, 56 years ago, our people achieved
the most important of all human desires – freedom and independence. We should
all, therefore, give thanks and pray for our founding fathers without whose
efforts and toil we would not reap the bounties of today.
“I know that uppermost in your minds
today is the economic crisis. The recession for many individuals and families
is real.
For some It means not being able to
pay school fees, for others it’s not being able to afford the high cost of food
(rice and millet) or the high cost of local or international travel, and for
many of our young people the recession means joblessness, sometimes after
graduating from university or polytechnic.
“I know how difficult things are,
and how rough business is.
All my adult life I have always
earned a salary and I know what it is like when your salary simply is not
enough. In every part of our nation people are making incredible sacrifices”.
Reflecting on his motive for running
for the presidency, Buhari said: “But let me say to all Nigerians today, I ran
for office four times to make the point that we can rule this nation with
honesty and transparency, that we can stop the stealing of Nigeria’s resources
so that the resources could be used to provide jobs for our young people,
security, infrastructure for commerce, education and healthcare. “I ran for
office because I know that good government is the only way to ensure prosperity
and abundance for all. I remain resolutely committed to this objective.
“I believe that this recession will
not last.” ‘We have crushed Boko Haram’ Highlighting his achievements in almost
one and a half years of his government, the President said he placed security
ahead of every other thing, saying the terror group Boko Haram, had been
defeated.
“Temporary problems should not blind or divert
us from the corrective course this government has charted for our nation.
We have identified the country’s
salient problems and we are working hard at lasting solutions”, he stated.
“To re-cap what I have been saying
since the inception of this administration, our problems are security,
corruption and the economy, especially unemployment and the alarming level of
poverty. “On security, we have made progress.
Boko Haram was defeated by last
December – only resorting to cowardly attacks on soft targets, killing innocent
men, women and children. “Nigerians should thank our gallant men of the Armed
Forces and Police for rescuing large areas of the country captured by
insurgents.
Now, residents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa
States, as well as several neighbouring states go about their daily business in
relative safety.
People can go to mosques, churches,
market places in reasonable safety. “Commuters can travel between cities, towns
and villages without fear. Credit for this remarkable turn-round should go to
our Armed Forces, the Police, various sponsored and private vigilante groups,
the local traditional leaders.
Security is a top to bottom concern
and responsibility. “Besides Boko Haram, we are confronting other long-running
security issues, namely herdsmen vs farmers, cattle rustling, kidnappings.
This administration is firmly
resolved to tackle these challenges and to defeat them.”
`I will deal with Niger-Delta
militants’ On the attacks on oil and gas installations in the Niger-Delta,
Buhari vowed to crush militants.
The President said: A new insurgency
has reared up its head in the shape of blowing up gas and oil pipelines by
groups of Niger Delta Militants.
This administration will not allow these
mindless groups to hold the country to ransom.
“What sense is there to damage a gas
line as a result of which many towns in the country including their own town or
village is put in darkness as a result?
What logic is there in blowing up an
export pipeline and as a result income to your state and local governments and
consequently their ability to provide services to your own people is reduced?
NASS
OFFERS 20-POINT RESOLUTION TO BUHARI
T
|
The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the 56th Independence anniversary at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Saturday.
According to him, the National Assembly has already started implementing four of the resolutions concerning the legislature.
“Already, as you have seen, we have sat down to address the important issue which is the economy. We have come out with about 20 point resolutions to the executive that we think they should do.
We also have about four for ourselves. And we have started doing it already,” Saraki said.
“At the last session, we started addressing some of these issues that we are sure will make us come out of this recession in a short while.
“We will start preparing for 2017 budget to ensure that there will be releases of funds that would be spent to do that.”
Though he agreed that things are tough in the country, Saraki said that the problems are not insurmountable.
“I believe that we can do it. Like I said earlier, we have stayed united, we have stayed focused, determined and hard working. It is not something that we cannot achieve. The potentials are there.
We will weather it,” he said.
On the issue of the Niger-Delta, he said that the National Assembly will be favorably disposed in looking at the budget of amnesty Programme in the 2017 Budget.
“This is what we are looking at. We understand the challenges and we will play our own role to ensure we get out of it.
“We have been able to achieve a lot for the country. I am sure in present times, people will wonder what we are celebrating. As a country, we have stayed united.
We have have taken up a lot of challenges and we have come out better.
“I believe we have the capacity and the expertise to do it this time around. People just have to believe in the country and we will get there,” the Senate President.
GERI ALIMI UNDERPASS WILL
DECONGEST CHAOTIC TRAFFIC, ADD AESTHETIC VALUE – KWARA STATE GOVT
K
|
wara State Commissioner for Works
and Transport, Alhaji Aro Yahaya, has explained the state government’s decision
to embark on the construction of Geri-Alimi Diamond Underpass, Ilorin, the
state capital, which was flagged off on Tuesday by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Speaking on the need for the Split
Diamond Interchange, Yahaya said the project became necessary in view of the
growing population of the state capital, resulting in traffic situation within
and around Geri-Alimi.
He added
that the project will meet the needs of current and future road users in the
state.
The
Commissioner explained that the influx of people into Kwara, particularly
Ilorin, prompted the state government to come up with the idea of the Split
Diamond Underpass to ease human and vehicular movement within the metropolis.
He said
that as the first contact for the people visiting Ilorin from the southwestern
part of the country, traffic at Geri-Alimi usually gets busy especially in the
morning and evening thereby causing gridlock for hours.
Yahaya stated that the project, when completed, will not only decongest the chaotic traffic situation along the axis but also add aesthetic value to the area, as it is an engineering and architectural masterpiece.
Yahaya stated that the project, when completed, will not only decongest the chaotic traffic situation along the axis but also add aesthetic value to the area, as it is an engineering and architectural masterpiece.
According
to him, a police post, traffic light system and a Close Circuit Television
Camera (CCTV) will be provided at the roundabout to ensure 24-hours adequate
security in and around the area.
He added
that a walkway for pedestrians will also be provided while the road that extends
to General Hospital, Ilorin and the airport will also be upgraded.
The
Commissioner said that the project, which is in three phases, is expected to be
completed in the next 18 months. He disclosed that the state government will
unveil more developmental projects in coming weeks.
Yahaya
also revealed that the asphalt plant recently acquired by the Kwara government
will be commissioned next week, after which the Ministry of Works will embark
on massive rehabilitation and reconstruction of major roads across the state.
RECESSION MAKING HEART FAILURE PATIENTS DISCHARGE SELVES –CARDIOLOGISTS
M
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The experts are therefore advocating a healthier lifestyle among Nigerians to prevent the disease.
The advice came on Tuesday during a briefing to commemorate the World Heart Day in Lagos.
Speaking at the event organised by Novartis, a Consultant Cardiologist, Pro. Amani Ubakwem, noted that heart failure patients require four hospital admissions in a year, with each costing thousands of naira.
“Between 20- and 30 per cent of all hospital admissions are related to heart.
These are people in the middle age category. A lot of them are artisans or junior civil servants. More than two thirds of our patients are depressed.
Some stop taking their drugs and some discharge themselves.
“There is no single approach to winning this war. If you meet 10 Nigerians, probably three of them are hypertensive. So, we have to live a healthier life by cutting down on the risk factors. We have to cut down on our salt intake, do more exercise and eat fruits and vegetables.
“The government can also help by subsidising drugs for the patients. All the heart failure patients cannot be seen in tertiary hospitals and even if we attend to them, they still have to continue their care at the primary health care centre.
“But how do you continue your care if the people there do not have basic equipment? We need to defend the health system,’’ she said.
In her remarks, another Consultant Cardiologist, Prof. Jane Ajuluchukwu, urged Nigerians to eat and live right. According to her, many bitters and natural herbs contain chemicals that could weaken the heart muscles.
“It is not everything that is natural that is healthy. Nigerians are boiling pawpaw and mango leaves. They are taking all kinds of bitters which could contain chemicals,’’ she said.
RECESSION: GOVERNORS FRUSTRATED US FROM SAVING FOR RAINY DAY –
OBASANJO
F
|
ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo,
Tuesday, accused former governors of contributing to the economic woes
afflicting the nation by opposing his government’s efforts to save for the
rainy day when the price of oil was higher.
Obasanjo, who spoke at the 2016
World Pension Summit in Abuja, lamented that many of the former state
executives frustrated his genuine attempt to save a substantial portion of the
country’s resources when there was excess oil revenue.
Obasanjo said at the event attended
by global pension players and top government officials, “I remember when I was
in government and I told, particularly, the governors, ‘please let us save for
the rainy days.’ They said no!. “There was no rain at that time, now that the
rain has come; there is nothing we can fall back on to cushion us.”
Obasanjo, however, commended the
secured nature of the pension scheme, stating that despite the many years of
sleaze in the Nigerian polity, the pension funds were not touched. He said,
“One of the things that makes me very happy in the pension scheme is that in
the last five years, when almost everything goes, concerning public funds,
pension funds remain sacrosanct.
“I believe that the pension funds
are something we must preserve, no matter what we do.”
Obasanjo however called for caution
in introducing innovations into the pension scheme to ensure that the ability
of people to access their pension funds when they retire is not jeopardized.
WORLD’S FIRST ‘THREE-PARENT’ BABY BORN
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he world’s
first baby using new “three-parent” fertility technique has been born.
This is the first time ever that a baby with
DNA from three biological parents has been born.
RECESSION: WE WILL GET OUT OF OUR PROBLEMS BECAUSE GOD HAS GIVEN US PEOPLE, RESOURCES – BUHARI
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that
Nigeria would overcome her present economic challenges, saying it required
handwork on the part of the people.
The president stated that God had divinely provided the resources and the people to do the work. President Buhari gave the assurance when he formerly received the Nigerian-born President of the African Development Bank (ADB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina at State House, Abuja, on Monday. Adesina is visiting the president for the first time since his election and assumption of office.
It will be recalled that
Buhari was instrumental to the Adesina’s presidency at AfDB after serving as a
Minister of Agriculture in the immediate past regime.
President Buhari said: “God has given us people and resources. It will take hard work on our part, but we will make it. We will get out of our problems. We are determined to produce what we eat, and stop importation.
President Buhari said: “God has given us people and resources. It will take hard work on our part, but we will make it. We will get out of our problems. We are determined to produce what we eat, and stop importation.
We will also chase those
who stole, and get them to refund.” Buhari said the country appreciated the
helping hands of ADB to Nigeria, saying that that “we will not let you down.
Your country won’t
disappoint you.” Earlier, Adesina had appreciated President Buhari for the
support the country gave when he ran for ADB presidency, thus making him the
first Nigerian to occupy such position since the bank was established in 1964.
He also lauded Buhari
for the successes recorded in securing the country, particularly in the North
East, noting that “there can be no development without adequate security.”
He described the recent
economic decisions taken in the country as “bold, tough, uncomfortable, but
right,” adding that Nigeria would reap the dividends in the short and long run.
“You can count on the
ADB as a true friend of Nigeria.
You should support
massive investment in infrastructure, and we are here to also support. Closing
the infrastructure deficit will enable growth, and create employment. Nigeria
is too big to fail,” Adesina said.
The ADB President
unfolded the packages his institution has for Nigeria, which include; $1
billion of budget support, $300 million to create jobs for 185,000 youths, $250
million towards North East infrastructure development, $1 million grant to deal
with challenges of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), $300 million for
infrastructure development around Abuja, $200 million for Transmission Company
of Nigeria (TCN) to deepen facilities, among others.
He expressed delight with
what he called “President Buhari’s push on anti-corruption, and stance on
governance,” adding that building institutions was critical.
According to a statement
by Mr. Femi Adesina, the Media Adviser to Buhari, Adesina said ADB would give a
total of $4.8 million as grant for institutional support, with the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) getting $2 million, and $1million to Independent
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
“You can always count on
my support, and that of the ADB,” he said.
GOVERNORS,
MINISTERS BACK ASSETS SALE TO FIGHT RECESSION
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here
was an insight yesterday into the Federal Government’s battle against the
recession that has hit the economy.
The
government’s plan to exit the recession which got the backing of the National
Economic Council (NEC) includes
- assets sales;
- advance payment of licence renewals;
- infrastructure concessioning; and
- implementation of fiscal stimulus.
The
NEC is the highest economic decision body chaired by the vice president. Other
members are governors and key ministers in charge of the economy and the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor.
Some
experts and leading politicians have suggested the sale of some assets, saying
this will provide the cash to reflate the economy, reopen factories and put
money in the people’s pockets.
Pushing this view
are business giant Aliko Dangote, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor
Muhammad Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano and Senate President Bukola Saraki, among
others.
But Labour has
condemned the idea, saying it will make a few to amass the wealth of all and
deepen the seeming despair in the land.
Yesterday’s
meeting, which started about 11.10am, was presided over by Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo.
No fewer than 23
governors attended it. They include Governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti),
Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Abubakar Mohammed
(Bauchi), Willy Obiano (Anambra), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu),
Abdufatah Ahmed (Kwara), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Nasir el-Rufai
(Kaduna), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Abiola
Ajimobi (Oyo) and Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa).
Deputy governors
of Rivers, Nasarawa, Katsina and Lagos represented their bosses.
A statement from
the media office of the Vice President on the meeting said: “Rising from
its monthly meeting today at the Presidential Villa, members of the National
Economic Council, NEC, presided over by Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo
(SAN), expressed support for the plans and proposals of the Federal Government
to steer the country out of recession.
“While
acknowledging the current economic challenges and difficulties, governors at
the meeting also endorsed the work of the President’s Economic Management Team
and specifically commended the Budget & Planning and Finance Ministers.”
Among the measures
for economic revitalisation, he said, are a plan to generate immediate larger
injection of fund into the economy through assets sales, advance payment of
licence renewals, infrastructure concessioning, and use of recovered funds etc
to reduce funding gaps, implementation of Fiscal Stimulus/Budget Priorities.
“Council members
in response commended the Economic Management Team and generally welcomed the
presentation and expressed support for the plan to steer the nation out of
recession.
“Under AOB,
Council members expressed confidence in and unanimously commended the EMT and
both the Budget & National Planning and Finance Ministers for the
presentations to the Council, praising their efforts, competence and
capabilities.”
The NEC also
expressed confidence in the capability of Minister of Budget and National
Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma and Minister of Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun.
Deputy Senate
President Ike Ekweremadu and a few other senators on Wednesday pushed
for the removal of Udoma and Adeosun for their ‘poor’ handling of the economy
and the recession.
But, speaking with
reporters at the State House yesterday at the end of the NEC meeting, Kebbi
State Governor Atiku Bagudu said NEC praised the handling of the economy.
He was accompanied
to the briefing by Ajimobi and Ogun State Deputy Governor Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga.
Bagudu said: “The
National Economic Council met today at its sixth meeting of the year, which is
the 70th National Executive Council meeting and the Ministers of Budget and
National Planning and the Central Bank (of Nigeria) Governor made presentations
and the highlights of the presentations were the sad news that the economy was
in recession largely due to the dependency on single commodity which is crude
oil, which prices we do not control.
“Oil price
collapsed to less than $30 per barrel in first quarter of 2016 and market
expectation is that it will remain low for a longer period.
“However, this
crisis holds a silver lining to restructure the economy towards other areas
that we believe we have comparative advantage.
“Fast track
procedures through legislation and strategic implementation plan of the budget,
meaningful diversification of the economy which will cut down importation.
“The members of
the council responded and acknowledged with commendation the presentation by
the economic team and support the plan to steer the nation out of recession.
“And, in
particular, it was noted that our economic managers the National Economic Team
are responding in competition with economic managers elsewhere. So it is not an
easy task, it is a very difficult task and we crave the indulgence of our
nation to give them a chance for the measures to take effect.”
Ajimobi said the
Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform (PTCLR) presented the draft
regulation on Land Use Act 2013 to NEC.
According to him,
the regulation seeks to make provisions to streamline mortgage transactions and
clearly delineate the rights, duties and obligations of a mortgage.
Ajimobi said the
Minister of Finance made a presentation on Public Private Partnership (PPP)
Initiatives on Affordable Housing.
Highlights of the
presentation, he said, included target of N1 billion fund to operate PPP (N500
billion initial) to create a blended pool of long term funds to intervene in
housing development finance and mortgage provision
He said the fund
will deliver family housing for as low as N2.5 million up to N18 million
delivered in a ready to occupy condition with essential services (water and
power connected).
Ajimobi said: “The
delivery target is 400,000 to 500,000 housing units per annum. The ultimate aim
of the programme is to channel funds from savers to borrowers, so that builders
have the required capital to construct and prospective buyers can access credit
to purchase.
“The fund will
attract low cost local and international capital, including from domestic
pension and insurance funds, Federal Government funding, as well as
contributions from state governments and other agencies.”
The states are to
designate a liaison with whom Family Homes Fund can interface, expedite
building plan approval process and security of land title, invest in enabling
infrastructure, such as Federal roads.
Other benefits,
Ajimobi said, include improved urban planning and development, employment
generation and skills enhancement, and expansion of tax base.
Mrs. Onanuga said
the NEC was briefed that the balance on Excess Crude Account (ECA) as at 20th
September, 2016 was $2.453 billion.
She said Adeosun
and CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele briefed NEC on best options for managing the
floating forex policy introduced by Emefuele.
Highlights of the
presentation, Mrs Onanuga said, included CBN -introduced cautious Monetary
Policy orientation as dictated by consumer price and exchange rate,
adoption of policy tightening measures for flexible forex rate to address
persistent pressures caused by scarcity and speculative demands, improving
market dynamics by CBN, interventions to states in the area of salaries and in
commercial agriculture.
She said that the
presentation also noted that controlling inflation is key to stabilising other
macroeconomic indices and the current stance of monetary policy is expected to
continue to help lock-in inflation expectations.
On the update on
Budget Support Loan facility, Mrs Onanuga said the minister of finance reported
to Council that N50 billion had so far been disbursed to state governments while
the facility was ongoing.
RECESSION: NIGERIANS
LOSING FAITH IN FG’S ABILITY TO END SUFFERINGS – NLC
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IGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, has
said Nigerians were beginning to feel the Federal Government lacked the
capacity to end the hardship and sufferings caused by economic recession currently
weighing down workers and the masses.
The NLC in a statement signed by the
Joe Ajaero faction, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to provide
the needed socio-economic and political leadership to restore hope and douse
the mounting despair and sufferings in the country.
The statement read: “Nigerians want
to see new jobs or a guarantee that the spate of job losses have ceased. They
want to see rice, garri, beverages and utilities within their reach and
functioning.
‘’We want to see the cost of
transport come down and the roads being repaired. We want to see that the rot
has stopped and the run on the economy turning around for the better.
“While Congress’ commends the
President for convening the national stakeholders meeting to confront the
challenges, Nigerians, however, need to see actions on the ground and not
intentions and talk shops.
‘’It is the concrete steps that the people see that
will rekindle hope and help the people stand together as a collective to
weather this economic storm. “In the midst of all these, we urge the President
to talk to Nigerians now.
He should address the people to reassure us of
government’s programs and actions with guarantees of meeting stated timelines.
This is not the time to talk through
proxies but directly to the people. ‘’He is the President the people elected
and should reconnect with them.
This present challenge is an opportunity
presented to him by providence to redefine his perhaps already waning
Presidency.
Great leaders are made in the
furnaces created by this kind of challenge. “We want to point out to the
President and the ruling elite that Nigerians elected them into office, perhaps
as an alternative to taking matters into their hands.
This is borne out of the belief that
we shall experience real departure from the rot and decadence of the previous
governments.
‘’Whether this trust will be fulfilled depends on what the
government decides to do as from now.
Read more
SENATORS
KICK AGAINST GOVERNMENT’S ASSETS SALE
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The senators, who spoke on the floor of the senate during a debate on the state of the economy, also called for constitutional amendment to stop sharing of all revenue accruable to the federation account.
NAN reports that a business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had called for the sale of the assets.
Senate President Bukola Saraki also made the call in his welcome address at the resumption of legislative activities by the Senate on Tuesday.
However, Deputy Senate President Ike
Ekwerenmadu and Sen. George Akume cautioned against the sale of the assets
during the debate.
According to them, no country
resorts to selling its assets as a way out of economic recession.
Ekwerenmadu said: “UAE does not even
allow you close to oil wells let alone selling them.
“For a country like Saudi Arabia,
its budget each year is run by investments from oil revenue.
“Other countries are investing; I am
sure we will not be fair to the next generation if we sell off our assets.
“If we must sell, we have to sell
the non-performing assets so that people can turn them around and create
employment.”
He said that the recession had
buttressed the importance of savings, and called for amendment of the revenue
sharing formula between the federal and state governments to encourage savings.
Akume said that the country should rather focus on industrialisation through agriculture.
The senator also called for the review of the revenue sharing formula to encourage savings, saying that states should not insist on sharing revenue.
Sen. Shehu Sani (APC Kaduna Central) also urged review of the revenue sharing formula.
He said that sharing all revenues contributed to Nigeria’s economic crisis.
“The situation whereby states come to Abuja every month to collect cheques and then go back to execute capital and recurrent expenditure has made impossible any initiative to boost our economy,” he said.
Sani called on state governments to look into ways to improve their internally generated revenue rather than relying on the federal allocation. Read more
I DID NOT SLUMP AT IDP
CAMP – WOMEN MINISTER, AL-HASSAN
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The Women Minister who expressed shock at the report said it was false.
Speaking through her director of information, Mallam Hassan Dodo, the minister said that she had gone to visit the IDP’s camp as instructed by President Muhammadu Buhari to inspect the stores where the federal government had bought provisions for the IDPs as well as to ensure that they were well taken care of.
She said, “When I went into the stores
to inspect the items, it was quite stuffy and I had to sit down. I even spoke
to some press men after the inspection.
I am shocked that it was reported
that I slumped.” “I don’t know why the media will report something so false.”
She said that after the visit, she
had gone to the government house to hold a town hall meeting with some women
before finally leaving the state.Read more
FG BLAST CRITICS OF CHANGE
CAMPAIGN
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he Federal Government says the
implementation of the national re-orientation campaign, Change Begins with Me,
started from the leadership, contrary to the position of some critics.
The Minister of Information and
Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known yesterday in Abuja, when he
received a delegation of National Council of Women’s Societies, NCWS.
He said: “People have criticised the
campaign. Some have said that the campaign ought to start from the top. We
completely agree with them, but their criticism is because they did not
understand the campaign.
“The campaign actually started from
the top, because we are doing what we are preaching. This is the least ostentatious
cabinet you can ever have.
“We are all living and showing good
examples— we obey traffic rules, we queue up at public places and get to work
early and close late.
”The minister also faulted the
position of some critics of the campaign, who said it was ill-timed because of
the state of the economy.
He added
that “some people said that we should wait for the economy to improve before we
start the campaign, but we say no, for two reasons.
“First, if only those before us had launched the campaign, we will not be where we are today. If the campaign had sunk in, there will be no embezzlement, no corruption and no impunity.
“First, if only those before us had launched the campaign, we will not be where we are today. If the campaign had sunk in, there will be no embezzlement, no corruption and no impunity.
You cannot
say, as a mother, that because you are poor, you will allow your daughter to go
out from morning till midnight without correcting her.
“Second, though we are facing difficulties now, we still have to tell Nigerians the need to do the right things.” Mohammed said that the campaign was not meant to put any burden on Nigerians, but only to ask them to do the right things.
“Second, though we are facing difficulties now, we still have to tell Nigerians the need to do the right things.” Mohammed said that the campaign was not meant to put any burden on Nigerians, but only to ask them to do the right things.
He added
that part of the campaign was for Nigerians to embrace and buy made in Nigeria
products to improve the economy and create jobs.
The
minister assured that the campaign would be successful and appreciated the NCWS
for its willingness to partner with government. Earlier, the President of the
Council, Mrs Gloria Shoda, had told the minister that NCWS would partner with
the National Orientation Agency, NOA, to drive the campaign. She urged the
minister to direct NOA at the federal and state levels to co-opt members of the
Council during the advocacy campaign. Read more
STOP BLAME-GAME, TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PEACEFUL NIGERIA - UN TO NIGERIANS
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Takwa told
newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, that Nigeria was going through a challenging
moment that require everyone to be part of the solution.
“We are commemorating the
International Day of Peace at a very challenging moment; it should be a
“wake-up call ” and to ask if this is what Nigeria merits.
“Nigeria does not deserve what is
happening on the ground. We all can be part and parcel of seeking for solution.
“We should move from “blame-game”
and see how we, who are not part of the problem, can become part of the
solution,” he said.
Takwa challenged Nigerians to start
asking what he or she could do to put the country on the path of peace and
development. “I can link it to the ongoing “Change begins with me” campaign by
the present administration; the same message goes for the issue of peace and
values that we all propagate.
“What am I doing to make peace
happen in Nigeria? What is the role of my household in ensuring peace in
Nigeria?
“I think that is the question that
everybody should write and put on the walls of their homes; when we start
reflecting like this, the answers will come.” He explained that peace is not a
slogan or rhetoric, but a substance that everybody must invest in before it
yields fruits.
According to him, peace is a process
that requires to be consistently worked on before it is achieved.
“Peace is not like an equation that
you have a ready-made formula for or like a medication that you just swallow
and sit down, expecting it to work.
“It must be watered like a flower
each day. It (peace) requires watering, pruning, putting the manure and
everything before you will reap the flower in the future.
If you don’t do that and you miss
one day, then there is a loophole in achieving it,” he said. The theme for the
2016 Day is: “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace”.
The Peace Day is commemorated every Sept. 21 in accordance with the UN General
Assembly Resolution 55/282 of September 2002.
Read more
NIGERIA
IS NOT WORTH DYING FOR – BOLA IGE’S DAUGHTER
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Bola Ige was on December 23, 2001
murdered at his home in Ibadan by unknown men and nearly 15 years later, no one
has been jailed in connection with incident.
Speaking with Punch, Funso said her
father sacrificed so much for the nation and the reward he got was death.
“Nigeria is not worth dying for. For my dad, that was his own belief (that whatever you live for is worth dying for), I don’t believe Nigeria is worth dying for because there hasn’t been justice.
“If somebody or some people are paying the price for his death, then I’ll know that Nigeria is worth dying for. My father believed too much in this Nigeria.
“Every time you said anything negative about the country, he would say no, Nigeria is going to be great, that Nigeria would someday be part of G7 and all that stuff.
“God forbids anything to happen to you in this country, you are on your own. So, I’m not going to die for Nigeria. My father has already died for Nigeria; nobody in my family will ever die for Nigeria again.” Read more
NEW TECHNOLOGY: MAKE PHONE
CALLS WITH YOUR FINGERTIP
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Signl, formerly “TipTalk”, was developed by South Korean company Innomdle Lab, a new startup founded in 2015 by three ex-Samsung employees.
It’s a smart strap that can be worn by itself, with a classic watch or any kind of smartwatch ((Apple, Samsung, Pebble, etc.).
It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and thanks to a built-in “body conduction unit”, the strap sends sound through your body, allowing you to hear the caller just by touching your ear with a finger.
A microphone of the strap lets you have a conversation just like you would on a mobile phone.
Innomdle
Lab CEO Hyunchul Choi says that he came up with the idea for Signl after
hearing someone boasting about his new smartwatch, but at the same
time being embarrassed that others could hear the phone call conversations
as well. Inspired by this predicament, he started working on a solution that he
believed would become very popular in the future.
“People
who prefer classic watch, don’t want to wear wearables because it doesn’t look
nice with their suit,” Wenxing Bai, business manager at Innomdle Lab told TechNode.
“On the other hand, smart watch users don’t take
phone calls on their watch, because everyone can hear the conversation.”
Signl solves both these problems, as it is compatible with both classic and
smartwatches, and offers great call privacy since only the wearer can hear the
sound being transmitted through their hand.
The Signl strand is apparently
based on two core technologies n actuator unit that generates a
body-conductible vibration with low power consumption, and an audio algorithm
that selectively amplifies voice signals with proper wavelength modulation.
The
battery allegedly offers up to four hours of talk time and can be
charged through a micro-USB port. Read more
DESPITE
INFERTILITY, YOUR MARRIAGE CAN REMAIN STRONG
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he season of struggle is the best time you can
build your self confidence and depend on one another in your marriage.
Infertility is one struggle nobody ever prepares couples for during the
courtship period, a no go area which may be misinterpreted as wishing the
couple bad luck in marriage.
Today it has become a major life challenge in many
marriages, causing some certain kind of pains and confusion when not properly
managed. Just like any other complication, it has the capacity to destroy
marriage.
Unfortunately, a women dealing with infertility
can sometimes feel that she is carrying the burden alone if she is not getting
the necessary support from her spouse and it can affect her emotional stability
and her vulnerability at large.
Empathy is key
The journey of infertility in your marriage must
be seen as a shared responsibility and not a burden for your wife alone to
bear, it is therefore important that you are both open and honest with each
other about your individual feelings during the waiting period.
Your
wife may have suddenly lost pleasure and interest in the things you once
enjoyed together during this waiting period and this is a common trait in most
women going through the anxiety and unhappiness when pregnancy is delayed. Even
though you may not be able to solve her problem, you must also learn to accept
her feelings as your support is very important at this time.
Fight your fears
Some couples are afraid to admit the problem of
infertility in their marriage; they feel that acceptance could mean that they
are managing to keep the marriage together. The most difficult truth about
infertility is fear but if you are both open-minded about the situation, you
will be able to fight your fears. You can both help each other to balance the
way you think and feel as you both journey through the process of parenthood.
Inasmuch as this may sound insensitive, the truth
can hurt so deep and infertility can certainly put your marriage to test. But
when you consider all the opportunities you have to make your marriage stronger
despite the challenges, it is only then that you can find the strength to carry
on.
Protect your spouse
One of greatest challenges you and your spouse
will face during the course of her infertility will be dealing with the
opinions and reactions of others. It is not unusual for families and friends to
offer their own solutions, make certain suggestions and give opinions too which
may or may not go down well with you or your spouse.
Rather than give in
to the desperation that comes when you work against the human biological clock,
you must both learn to put your trust in one who is in control while you
continue to protect and encourage each other at all time. Read more
MAN TO DIE BY HANGING FOR
KILLING FORMER WIFE IN JIGAWA
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Giving the court verdict, the presiding judge, Justice Ubale Taura said the convict was found guilty of culpable homicide, punishable by death.
Justice Taura said the court passed the punishment on 26-year-old Usman Sani after he was found guilty of attacking his former wife, Amina Abdu on her way to the market killing her.
Six witnesses were called by the prosecution who all testified that the former husband had committed the crime, punishable under section 221 of the penal code.
The convict also confessed before the court that he committed the offence.Read more
NOBODY
IS PRAISING US FOR ALL WE’VE DONE –LAI MOHAMMED
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he Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji
Lai Mohammed, in this interview with ADEOLA BALOGUN and GBENRO ADEOYE, says the
Federal Government will tell Nigerians the truth and not how they take it.
A lot of Nigerians are wondering if the
Change Begins With Me Campaign is about stealing because just after it was
launched, two men- Mr. Akin Fadeyi and Omo Bazuaye- said the concept was stolen
from them. What do you say to that?
It is unfortunate that some Nigerians don’t
believe in industry, honesty, integrity and hard work. But they should realise
that there is no shortcut to success except by being honest and
straightforward.
This is the case with these two young men because
I will show you evidence that proves that by October 14, 2015, the entire
thematic production of Change Begins With Me had been completed. And by October
31, the theme songs had been completed.
Fadeyi was sent to me by Simon Kolawole (a former
Editor of THISDAY Newspaper) in December or January and when he came, we
compared (our works). However, this is a campaign that will last the entire
administration. So, I said to him, ‘if and when we need contents and your
contents match our own, we will contact you’.
And that was why I told him, we can’t even take
your material because we are not changing our theme -Change Begins With Me-
because everything we have done is on that and yours is Not In My Country; and
he went away. The next time we heard from him was in June 2016, when he wrote a
letter to request for partnership. We did not make a secret of this campaign.
As soon as I became minister; I told the whole
world what I was going to do. I will read this out to you. The correspondence
was dated October 14, 2015 and was sent at 3.04pm on that day.
Some
Nigerians are incredible people. Fadeyi came in January. We thank God for
technology. As soon as I became minister, I called a meeting of all the
directors to say that I was going to launch this campaign and after that, I
received proposals from more than 20 people, including Jimi Johnson. And to all
of them, I had just one message- wait for me to launch my campaign, if your
material matches our own, we will call you.
In December, I came to Lagos to seek the support
of Don Jazzy, Sunny Ade, Kwam 1, Tiwa Savage, P Square, all of them.
I met them at the Southern Sun and told them that
they could produce a theme song for me. So how can anybody now wake up and say
this was his idea? Honestly, it is just inspiration from God and I worked with
a team of more than five people.
We invited Brian from CENTERSPREAD. All the time
I was telling the world that I was going to launch the campaign, why didn’t
anybody say it was their idea?
But some Nigerians have questioned the
timing of the campaign, describing it as diversionary and that it appears as if
the government is pushing its change agenda on the people after it failed to
keep its promise. What do you say to that? Read more
BUHARI TO PUNISH OWN
OFFICIAL FOR PLAGIARISING OBAMA IN HIS ‘CHANGE BEGINS WITH ME’’ SPEECH
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resident Muhammadu Buhari has
ordered that prompt and appropriate disciplinary action be taken against those
responsible for a wrongful insertion in his speech delivered on September 8,
2016 at the launch of the “Change Begins with Me’’ campaign.
Many critics have attacked Buhari
for the similarity of his speech with that of President Barack Obama’s 2008
inaugural speech and called on him to show remorse.
It was observed that the
similarities between a paragraph in President Obama’s 2008 Victory Speech and
what President Buhari read in paragraph nine of the sixteen-paragraph address
while inaugurating the Campaign on Thursday, September 8, 2016 were too close
to be passed as coincidence.
But the Presidency described the
development as a mistake by an overzealous staff and regretted the occurrence.
“There was a mistake by An
overzealous staff and we regret that this has happened, Garba Shehu, Senior
Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said in a statement
last night. Shehu said that a Deputy Director in the Presidency had already
accepted responsibility for the insertion of the contentious paragraph.
“This serious oversight will be
investigated thoroughly and appropriate sanction meted. “The Presidency wishes
to state in the clearest possible terms that it regrets this unfortunate
incident and will ensure that this does not happen again.
“President Buhari urges Nigerians to
look beyond this incident and focus on the message of change which the country
needs in order to restore our cherished value systems. Read more
HOW OUR EFFORTS TO RESCUE
CHIBOK GIRLS FAILED – FG
T
|
he Federal
Govern-ment, yesterday, revealed measures including two failed swap deals it
had so far taken to return the 219 kidnapped Chibok Girls.
The
Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke on the issue yesterday,
cited the last minute change of mind by the Boko Haram leaders and infighting
within the group for the failure to exchange the girls despite President
Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of the exchange of some of the captured terrorists
for the girls.
Notwithstanding the disappointments, Mohammed said the administration remained determined to bring the girls and all other captives of the terrorists home as he called for deep understanding from the parents and other concerned persons.
Notwithstanding the disappointments, Mohammed said the administration remained determined to bring the girls and all other captives of the terrorists home as he called for deep understanding from the parents and other concerned persons.
The
Minister said: “You will also recall that from the physical destruction of
communities and strategic institutions, the terrorist elements also engaged in
abduction of women and children in the affected parts.
Most
painful was the abduction of the School girls in Chibok at the twilight of the
past administration in 2014.
“When Mr.
President assumed leadership of this country, he immediately directed security
agencies to urgently fashion out strategies to trace, locate and ensure the
safe and successful release of the Chibok girls. This was the mandate given to
security agencies.
“It was consequent upon this
directive that the security agencies, comprising of the Nigerian Army, Air
Force, Navy, Police and the DSS, commenced action in June 2015.
To this effect also, the DSS
established a special tactical unit to review the gamut of actions so far
carried out to secure the release of the Chibok girls, establish why the action
has recorded no success as it were and to present a roadmap for possible
success. Read more
FG TO INJECT N350 BILLION INTO ECONOMY NEXT WEEK
D
|
ismayed by the steady decline of
Nigeria’s economy and its disturbing impact on Nigerians, the Federal
Government yesterday said that plans have been concluded to inject N350 billion
into the economy next week in order to stimulate economic activities.
It also noted that the process of
obtaining $1 billion Eurobond had commenced, noting that it would be concluded
before this year ends.
The government further stated that
its pledged feeding programme, recruitment of 500.000 teachers and payment of
N5000 to vulnerable citizens would commence this month.
These came as the Senate, Comrade
Joe Ajero-led Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC, and Nigerian Insurers Association
hailed the development but demanded more measures in order to ameliorate the
hardship across the land.
However, capital market operators
said that FG’s decision would not have any noticeable impact on the economy,
while contractors under the auspices of Federation of Construction Industry,
FOCI, lamented that they were being owed over N2 trillion by the federal
government.
Nonetheless, the Minister of
Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who revealed the government’s plan yesterday in
Abuja while briefing newsmen, said the funds would be paid to Ministries, Departments
and Agencies, MDAs.
In addition, she said when the N350
billion would be released, it would mean that the federal government had
disbursed N750 billion for capital projects this year having released N400
billion earlier.
While stating that N60 billion had
been set aside for social investment, Adeosun said the funds so far released
went into on-going projects especially defence, transportation, interior, power
and agricultural projects.
The minister revealed that
Integrated Personnel Payrolls Information System ,IPPIS, had eliminated about
40, 000 ghost workers, thereby saving N10 billion for the country monthly.
In that light, she noted that
government’s wage bill had been reduced from N165 billion to about N155 billion
monthly. Continuing, she added that a fresh forensic audit of the payrolls
would be carried out, stating that about 30, 000 workers currently on the
payroll are not on the nominal rolls of MDAs.
Shedding light on the plan to raise
$I billion Eurobond, Director-General of Debt Management Office ,DMO, Dr.
Abraham Nwankwo , said: “On the Eurobond, we intend to raise the money before
the year ends.
In terms of the progress made so
far, more than five weeks ago we put an advert for Request For Proposals,RFPs,
in local and international media, following due process to allow our
transaction partners who are interested to compete .
“The closing date for the RFPs is
September 19, 2016. Immediately after that, we will fast track the process of
vetting and selection.
“We have a directive to make sure we
use a minimum time to conclude all these activities.
So we assure you that we are going
to cut the time because of the emergency situation to be able to realise the
money .
Before the middle of December, we
will have the money. “However, based on the directive of the minister, by the
time we reach a stage, it might be possible to conduct certain arrangement once
we are sure of when we are going to raise the money.
Certain arrangements could be made
to find a way of getting the money, more or less, arranging it in advance. We
are very focused on the fact that these monies are needed urgently to solve the
problem and turn around the economy and we are working on that.” Read more
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