Monday 20 July 2015

Obasanjo urges Nigerians to shun tribal politics, extremism

Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday appealed to Nigerian politicians whom he observed are still playing tribal politics to eschew such unpatriotic attitude, insisting that Nigeria could only progress if every citizen sees himself or herself first as a Nigerian before any other consideration.
Also at the weekend, Obasanjo advised the Federal Governments to use education as a tool to end the Boko Haram insurgency. He carpeted some religious leaders whom he alleged have abandoned preaching tolerance and peace to encouraging violence, extremism and materialism
Obasanjo said it was regrettable that 55 years after Nigeria’s independence, the country’s progress is still being hampered by tribal, sectional, ethnic or regional politics.

EFCC Arrests Jonathan's Ex-ADC

Operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Sunday arrested Mr. Moses Jitoboh‎, Chief Personal Security Officer to former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

Jitoboh, a serving Commissioner of Police, We gathered, was arrested by EFCC operatives after shortly after luring him into the Presidential Villa.

Jitoboh served as ADC to Jonathan when the latter served as vice and acting President, and is the third security aide of the fomer president to face harassment in a week.

An EFCC source told newsman that Jitoboh was "brought into our custody‎" on Sunday evening.

As at the time of this report, EFCC spokesman Mr. Wilson Uwujaren told newsman‎ he didn't have any information on the reported arrest.

FRSC Warns Motorists Against Driving Under Influence Of Alcohol, Hard Drugs

The Lagos State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Hyginus Omeje, on Monday warned motorists to desist from driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages or hard drugs.
Umeh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that most of the accidents on the highways were as a result of reckless driving by motorists, especially those who have taken alcohol or hard drugs, before setting out.
He said that the FRSC would have to tackle the menace through the relevant agencies, so that the situation could be addressed from source, to ensure a drastic reduction in accident rates, especially during festive periods.

US to trace Nigeria’s stolen funds

Buhari, Obama

The United States will offer to help Nigeria’s new leader track down billions of dollars in stolen assets and increase US military assistance to fight Islamic militants, US officials said, as Washington seeks to “reset” ties with Africa’s biggest economy.

The visit to Washington by President Muhammadu Buhari is viewed by the US administration as a chance to set the seal on improving ties since he won a March election, hailed as Nigeria’s first democratic power transition in decades.

Buhari set to meet Obama

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday arrived Washington DC on a four-day official visit to United States, where he is expected to discuss bilateral issues with President Barrack Obama and other government officials.
The president, who arrived at Joint Based Andrews Airport Washington, was received by the Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Mrs. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and Mr. James Entwistle, U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
Others at the airport to receive the President included the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Prof. Ade Adefuye, Nigerian embassy officials and governors of Borno, Nasarawa, Imo, Oyo and Edo.

Aregbesola denies plan to sack 10,000 workers

Aregbesola

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Monday denied speculations that that his administration was planning to sack 10,000 workers.
Aregbesola in a statement by his media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, said in Osogbo that “the so-called plan’’ to sack 10,000 workers is a figment of an imagination by the opposition party in the state.
According to the statement, nowhere has the Aregbesola administration signifies any intention to sack any worker.

Fayose to Obasanjo: Stop Attacking Jonathan

Governor Ayodele Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has advised former President Olusegun Obasanjo to stop the consistent vitriolic attacks being launched against the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan.

Fayose said: “Dr Goodluck Jonathan is no longer the president of Nigeria; he should be allowed to live a private life devoid of mudslinging from elder statesmen like Chief Obasanjo.”

Suicide bomber kills five in Damaturu

A suicide bomber on Monday diffused a bomb at check point in Damaturu, Yobe State.
At least five people, including a policeman, were feared dead.
Details later…

Thursday 9 July 2015

Ekweremadu, APC and the ICC meeting

THE emergence of the leadership of the current National Assembly in our country has thrown up many issues that will generate a heated debate for a long time.
The June 9 inauguration of the Eight National Assembly and the drama attending the election of the Senate President, Speaker and their deputies have presented drama, intrigues and political calculations which deserve that not only books be written about the event of that day and what happened before and after, but also requires scholars of political science and Nigerian political developments and government to further interrogate and document what happened for posterity.
While so much has been written and many explanations given by the actors and their supporters on the leadership crisis, one has noticed how the issue of the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu representing Enugu State and a member of the minority party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the Deputy Senate President has equally assumed a life of its own.

Bailout Not from Savings Made by Jonathan Govt, Presidency Replies PDP

President Muhammadu Buhari

The presidency has described as false, banal and ludicrous the claim by the Peoples Democratic Party’s spokesman, Olisa Metuh, that the funds released to states by President Muhammadu Buhari to enable them pay their workers’ salaries came from savings made by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

But in a counter statement, the People Democratic Party is insisting that the LNG bail out fund approved by President Buhari to the state governors is part of the savings by the past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Ohakim, Nyako, son remanded in EFCC custody ‘…ex-Adamawa gov, others stole N29bn; Ohakim N270m’

(1) A former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, at the Federal High Court, standing trial for money laundering, in Abuja... on Wednesday. (2) A former Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyanko, at the Federal High Court, standing trial for corrupt enrichment, in Abuja... on Wednesday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arraigned former governors of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, and Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, before the Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged fraud charges.

Nyako, who was removed as Adamawa State Governor by the state House of Assembly on July 15, 2014, was arraigned along with his son, Abdul-Aziz, and others comprising, Zulkifikk Abba, Abubakar Aliyu as well as five firms.

Abdul-Aziz is the senator representing Adamawa Central in the National Assembly.

Nyako, his son and others were arraigned before Justice Evoh Chukwu for fraud amounting to N29,099,430,879.92.

Oshiomhole advocates stiffer penalties for rape, child abuse

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has advocated stiffer penalties against rapists, paedophiles and anyone involved in child abuse to serve as deterrence to others.
He also urged people of the state to stop giving alms to child beggars to discourage the rising trend of child beggars in the state.
Speaking to the Chairman and members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in the state, led by Mrs. Stella Ojemen, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Thursday, Oshiomhole said, “Edo State Government appreciates that you are addressing some of the challenges that government ought to have addressed like ensuring that we all mount campaigns against rape and defilement as well as ensure that when people have carried out these heinous crimes, that they are properly arrested and that they are diligently prosecuted with a view to sending them to prison.

Lamido, sons remanded in Kano prison

Former Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido and his two sons who were arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Thursday have been remanded in prison.

The trio were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 28- count charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of public office and subtle bribery by various companies that were involved in the alleged fraudulent deals, amounting to N1.351 billion.

Ex- PDP chief defects to APC in Ekiti

Former two-term State Chairman of PDP in Ekiti State, Chief Ropo Adesanya, at the weekend defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC)‎ in Ijan-Ekiti, Gbonyin Local Government of the state.
At a ceremony held at Ijan Ward secretariat were hundreds of his supporters were received to the party by the Ekiti South Senatorial Chairm‎an of APC, Mr Kayode Babade, in company of other party leaders across the state.
Gbonyin Local Government Leader, who is also the Chairman of Afenifere in Ekiti State, Chief Dapo Awojolu, praised Adesanya for leading Ijan Ekiti people out of darkness to the light represented by APC.
While urging members to always have positive attitude to their party for strength and growth, he appealed to the people to always pray for President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed in redirecting Nigeria to the path of development and prosperity.

Ambode fires LASEMA boss, announces replacement

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has appointed Michael Kolawole Akindele as the new General Manager for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA.
A press release signed by the Public Relations Officer, LASEMA, Mr. Adebayo Kehinde, said Akindele who replaced Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, was a former Vice Chairman Ikeja Local Government Area, as well as Special Assistant on Health to former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, between 2004-2007.

Christian Chukwu: Keshi had the opportunity of leaving honourably

Super Eagles’ former coach, Christian Chukwu, said yesterday that sacked coach Stephen Keshi had the opportunity of leaving the position honourably when it became obvious that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) no longer needed his services.
Chukwu was among the many football people who advised Keshi to walk away from his position when it became obvious that he was hanging on to the position because of the influence of some people in the former President Goodluck Jonathan government.

Maiduguri Closed for Army Day Celebration

The troubled town of Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria Northeast state Borno was shutdown for the celebration of the Nigerian Army Day.

Our reporter can report that most of the important route in the town that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah was expected to pass through to the Government House where he paid a courtesy visit on the governor, the road to the Shehu's palace where he also paid a courtesy call on the monarch, the road leading to the cemetery where he laid a wreath on dead soldiers and some military barracks where the activities of the day were held were closed.

Saraki: Governors can’t pay salaries because of corruption

Senate President Bukola Saraki on Monday attributed the inability of some state governors to meet their obligations to their workers and the entire citizens to the issue of corruption which, he said, had assumed a worrisome development in the country.

Saraki stated this when the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Mr.Ekpo Nta, led top officials of his agency to pay him a courtesy visit.

The senate president lamented that the embarrassing level of corruption in the country had taken a dangerous dimension to the extent that the three tiers of government were finding it difficult to pay salaries and provide basic social infrastructure.

Naira Now N236.50 To A Dollar

The Naira on Monday went for N236.50 against the Dollar, N345 against the Pound and N235 against the Euro.

Man Jailed Over Rape, Murder Of Teenage Girl- Rape

A 26-year-old man, Toba Afolasade, has been remanded in prison by an Akure Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Oke-Eda, the Ondo State capital, for allegedly killing one Adejoke Olalekan, a 16-year-old girl.

Gunmen kill 70 in Zamfara

GUNMEN struck Cigama village of Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State, on Saturday, killing over 70 people while several others sustained injuries. The terror act happened barely 24 hours after the same group killed six people at Kokiya village, also in Zamfara State. Reliable source disclosed that the armed bandits attacked Kokiya village shortly after the congregation prayer in Kokiya Central Mosque, on Friday.

Police arraign 115 street gang members in Kaduna

The Kaduna State Police Command, on Monday said it had arraigned 115 street gang members, locally known as “Yan Sara-Suka” for allegedly terrorising communities in the state.
The command’s spokesman, DSP Zubairu Abubakar told the Newsman in Kaduna that the arraignment followed massive raid of the gangs’ hideouts across the state.
NAN reports that Governor Nasiru El-Rufa’i recently directed the police to rid the state of the terror gangs that had killed and maimed several people in the state.

Boko Haram Steps up Attacks, Hollande Seeks New Summit

President Francois Hollande

As Boko Haram steps up its guerilla warfare in the North-east, French President Francois Hollande has offered to organise a new summit of nations fighting the terror group.

According to Reuters, Hollande spoke at the weekend after talks in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroun, with President Paul Biya. Cameroun is part of a regional group of nations including Nigeria, Niger and Chad that began a campaign against Boko Haram this year.

“Nigeria and Cameroun need to have the best relations… to work together. This corresponds well with the spirit we had at our last summit in Paris to take important decisions about Boko Haram, whose threat is getting stronger,” Hollande said.

Police arrest four suspected Ikorodu bank robbery

IGP Solomon Arase

The Police have made a breakthrough in their investigation of the June 24 Ikorodu bank robbery. They have arrested four of the perpetrators.

The arrest of one of them in Ondo was said to have led to the arrest of others in Ikorodu on Saturday.

The suspects are Promise, who was arrested in Ondo, Baba Ibeji, Bright and Monday.

Soldiers were said to have arrested Promise, who sources described as “prime suspect”, while on his way to his okitipupa home town in Ondo State, during a stop-and-search.

The soldiers reportedly found bundles of new N1000 notes with bank seals in his bag.

The soldiers transferred him to the Lagos Command following the request of former state Commissioner of Police Kayode Aderanti.

APC Group Defends Akande, Says He Spoke Like a Sincere Leader

Former Interim Chairman of the ruling party, Chief Bisi Akande

The Action Group of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has risen in stout defence of the former Interim Chairman of the ruling party, Chief Bisi Akande, saying his recent utterances on the crisis bedeviling the party at the National Assembly were those of a sincere leader.

The group, through a statement by its spokesperson, Segun Dipe, said the ramrod qualities of Akande qualify him to see when things are skewed towards failure and was right to have called the people involved to order.

“Here is the man who steered the ship of our party through the turbulent waters from conception to birth. He did so with sincerity of purpose and great sacrifice that even President Muhammadu Buhari, a man of few words, not given to praise-singing, confessed that he respected Akande’s patriotism while acknowledging how he led the interim party ‘with dexterity and integrity.”

Senator Manager: APC cannot blame Saraki for Ekweremadu’s emergence

Image result for Senator Manager: APC cannot blame Saraki for Ekweremadu emergence

A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, senator representing Delta South, Senator James Manager yesterday insisted that the election of Senators Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu as President of the Senate and Deputy President of the Senate followed due process.
Senator Manager who has been in the Senate since 2003, told journalists that what transpired on the floor of the Senate on June 9 was legal and in line with the 1999 Constitution, Senate Rules and Parliamentary convention. He further stressed that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, cannot blame Senate President, Saraki for the emergence of Ekweremadu of the PDP as Deputy President of the Senate.

Eyes already on 2019, as APC grapples with National Assembly ‘coup’

The All Progressive Congress (APC) is not a political party just because it stated itself as one. It is not progressive either owing to self-styling itself as such, or elements within the fold are welfares.
A coalition’s claims to being a political party or progressive party doesn’t make it so, for parties are political movements built over a period of time based on defined principles, and they must be nurtured to grow and mature.
From the outset, three things were expected to test to the very limits the new kid on the block, the APC. First is the question: will it last – arising from being a mere one-purpose contraption, assembled in the space of only about one year and three months from July 2013, with the sole objective (barring election campaign claims), of stopping the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) uninterrupted 16-year rule as the party in power – and it succeeded!