Rivers Rerun: INEC Suspends Elections In Six LGAs

<p dir="ltr"><br> TOP VIDEOS<br></p> <p dir="ltr">Rivers Rerun: INEC Suspends Elections In Six LGAs<br> Channels Television. <br> Updated March 19, 2016<br> 302<br> INEC has suspended the legislative elections in six local government areas of Rivers State.<br></p> <p dir="ltr"> <br> INEC’s decision, according to the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Aniedi Ikoikwak, follows reported cases of violence and other hitches witnessed in some parts of the state including Andoni, Bonny, Gokana, Khana, Eleme and Tai local councils where the exercise has been suspended.</p> <p dir="ltr">No date has been fixed for the rerun elections in the affected areas.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, voting has ended in the Rivers rerun election and counting has started in some polling units to determine the outcome of the election.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-omDKiQmBxKc/Vu2SW6_dUTI/AAAAAAAAAOA/s1600/INEC-2-300x161.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-omDKiQmBxKc/Vu2SW6_dUTI/AAAAAAAAAOA/s640/INEC-2-300x161.png"> </a> </div>

Rivers Rerun: INEC Suspends Elections In Six LGAs

TOP VIDEOS Rivers Rerun: INEC Suspends Elections In Six LGAs Channels Television.  Updated March 19, 2016 302 INEC has suspended the l...

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Oshiomhole Increases Health Worker's Salaries

<p dir="ltr">The Governor made the pronouncement on Friday when he invited members of the Joint Health Workers’ Union to the Edo State Government House.</p> <p dir="ltr">Governor Oshiomhole said that though, the state capacity to pay salaries has not increased, the government decided on the increment of workers’ salaries because of the harsh economic realities.</p> <p dir="ltr">Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), Agbonlahor Osaretin, pledged the workers’ commitment to duty in line with the motivation received.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowJhpFWWOUm5ktcfoIYNsI8jOXT8GIDI0weTMLPh7j0Z6BGZxTNnj_yV3T71Nb5Gm-jjlH9XkDYheUhs8jVgQMxNF8bKevJ8ubfPcL9Vt-UrkOa3K9hfhFb4SH9E7IwmeWGPnjKqd7JyJ/s1600/Oshiomhole-Adams-Edo-300x162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowJhpFWWOUm5ktcfoIYNsI8jOXT8GIDI0weTMLPh7j0Z6BGZxTNnj_yV3T71Nb5Gm-jjlH9XkDYheUhs8jVgQMxNF8bKevJ8ubfPcL9Vt-UrkOa3K9hfhFb4SH9E7IwmeWGPnjKqd7JyJ/s640/Oshiomhole-Adams-Edo-300x162.jpg"> </a> </div>

Oshiomhole Increases Health Worker's Salaries

The Governor made the pronouncement on Friday when he invited members of the Joint Health Workers’ Union to the Edo State Government House. ...

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Rivers Security: Army Launches Investigation Into Death Of Officers – COAS

<p dir="ltr">The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has revealed that the Nigerian Army has launched a thorough investigation into the killings of its personnel in Rivers State, south south Nigeria.<br>   The Army chief made the statement on Saturday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, when he paid a courtesy visit on the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, at the Government House.</p> <p dir="ltr">General Burutai said that the present happening in Rivers State is unfortunate, but assured that the combined security operatives are working assiduously to bring the situation under control as several arrests have been made in connection with the killings.</p> <p dir="ltr">His mission to Imo State was to familiarise with the officers of the 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze and also assess the security situation in the state, especially as it relates to the issue of kidnapping, cultism, and oil bunkering.</p> <p dir="ltr">While commending the Nigerian Army for their courage and commitment in fighting terrorism in the north-east and kidnapping in the south-east, Governor Okorocha also implored the Chief of Army Staff to provide more men and logistics for Imo State in order to succumb the security challenges facing the state.</p> <p dir="ltr">On issues of the Biafra agitations, the Army chief urged all Nigerians to think more of the unity and progress of the country rather than agitating a divided Nigeria.</p> <p dir="ltr">Earlier, General Burutai addressed officers of the 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze and assured them of a better welfare condition.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Chief of Army Staff and his entourage proceeded to 82 division Nigerian Army in Enugu to familiarise with the officers.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Nigerian Army on Thursday, said it lost two of its men from an ambush by unknown men in Abonemma, Akukutoru Local Government Area of Rivers State.</p> <p dir="ltr">The victims, one officer and one soldier, were among the troops on patrol in before a fierce encounter ensued between them and the gunmen.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source :Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxJt_u0RPzYRDMS1IZ8MXIblITmr8NG4icUGY0maLNIbYc9v-a_Oa-zDETnFQt4hdsw7wIrNA7T0VXY7IepySWLqM8frnvIJQKMskfToeCe1Uook6uDoa6U9jCNsTk-1rp-pUXfXdrnSu/s1600/Tukur-Buratai-300x162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxJt_u0RPzYRDMS1IZ8MXIblITmr8NG4icUGY0maLNIbYc9v-a_Oa-zDETnFQt4hdsw7wIrNA7T0VXY7IepySWLqM8frnvIJQKMskfToeCe1Uook6uDoa6U9jCNsTk-1rp-pUXfXdrnSu/s640/Tukur-Buratai-300x162.jpg"> </a> </div>

Rivers Security: Army Launches Investigation Into Death Of Officers – COAS

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has revealed that the Nigerian Army has launched a thorough investigation into th...

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THE MINISTERS ARE WORKING BUT INFORMATION IS SCANTY By Dele Momodu #pendulum

<p dir="ltr">Fellow Nigerians, I have been greatly troubled by the spate of criticisms and vicious attacks against the Buhari government. You cannot blame me. I was one of those who went all out to campaign for the change movement. Naturally, we must take credit for whatever success President Buhari achieves and face the public odium for its failure, God forbid. My fervent prayer had been that Buhari will not fail because the disgrace would be too monumental for some of us.<br>   I decided to go on a solo rescue mission hoping to make my modest contribution in the process. What I discovered through my interactions with some of our leaders is that majority have been too scared of talking for whatever reason. My unlettered mum used to tell me a Yoruba adage that “lack of effective communication is the beginning of foolishness and backwardness.<br> I have since had the opportunity of chatting hither and tither with some of the key cabinet members, officially and unofficially and realised that this government should jettison propaganda and let each Ministry provide its road maps to Nigerians. For example, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola is a super technocrat who has been saddled with so much. After our one hour long telephone conversation, he allayed my fears substantially on the intractable power problems in our country. He is meticulously plotting his paths through the labyrinth of electrical wilderness. Very soon, he believes, we shall enjoy some relief. He is not someone to be fazed on intimidated by daunting challenges.<br> Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is another Minister in charge of one of the most essential sectors of our economy, transportation. In the last few weeks, he’s been able to breakdown his plans and activities. I was very impressed when he acknowledged the foundation laid by former President Goodluck Jonathan and how the Buhari government would work assiduously to bring our transportation to its most modern level ever. His ideas are ambitious but practical.</p> <p dir="ltr">I have been mostly worried about the petroleum sector. The long queues have returned with a vengeance. The price of oil has fallen globally and our fattest cash cow has been growing leaner. Dr Ibe Kachikwu is a brainbox I have known for decades. They don’t get better than him in that industry. What then is the problem? To change any system is not always very simple. Those who used to make easy money would do anything and everything to frustrate the changer. My probe revealed some of the obstacles militating against this government but slowly and steadily hope is rising.<br> Change is in the air. Although it has been slow in coming it is gratifying to note that the patience of the longsuffering Nigerian masses, especially in the area of delivery of petroleum products is going to be rewarded after all. I’m willing to wait a little more for the magic wand to blossom.</p> <p dir="ltr">President Muhammadu Buhari has never hidden the fact that apart from the security situation and the fight against corruption his major love is to reproduce his feats in revamping the petroleum sector in respect of which he had two bites at the cherry, firstly as Commissioner for Petroleum under the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo between 1976 and 1979 and more recently as Chairman of the Petroleum Task Force (PTF) under President Olusegun Obasanjo. As it was one of the first acts of his present administration was the appointment of Nigerian and Harvard trained Dr Ibe Kachikwu as Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). Kachikwu’s appointment was hailed as all those who know him as a first rate appointment and one likely to sanitise the petroleum sector after the tales of corruption and mismanagement that we had been regaled with. When Kachikwu was later appointed as Minister of State in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources thuds being the first person to combine the dual roles of Group Managing Director of NNPC and Minister no one batted an eyelid as Kachikwu had already distinguished himself as an astute manager of this depreciating national economic pillar and a savvy administrator capable of utilising and maximising the use of scarce resources.<br> It is also a demonstration of the fairness and objectivity of Dr Kachikwu that he has been quick to accept that some of the groundwork of what he has been doing at NNPC and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources was laid by previous administrations. However what he has excelled in is to bring his vast array of talents and contacts to bear in taking the NNPC to the next level by insisting that things must work rather than just jettisoning them. Thus he has intensified work on preserving the security and integrity of the pipeline network by combining more traditional methods of manual security with proven scientific methods. The result is that our pipelines are becoming more secure and we will soon begin to see the changes that have been rung.</p> <p dir="ltr">In agreement with President Buhari that we cannot have refineries and still be importing petroleum products Kachikwu has gone to great lengths to oversee the revival of the ailing refineries in the country. It is clear that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources has taking the President’s marching orders to heart and he has definitely been making giant strides in this respect.</p> <p dir="ltr">“For the first time, Nigeria’s refineries are now ready to work”, Dr Kachilkwu said at a press briefing on Tuesday. “For the first time, our refineries are ready now to work. Crude has been pumped from Brass to Port Harcourt. Pipeline is being used for the first time in six years. For the first time we are able to pump to Ilorin, we have not done that in 10 years.”<br> The Minister of State also said that NNPC has saved Nigeria N1 trillion in what would have been subsidy payments and a further $1 billion under an efficient and effective importation programme which he has put in place. He has also listed some other achievements in the petroleum industry in the short period of time that he has taken command of the sector.<br> He said the change at NNPC is only just starting, adding that NNPC which should ordinarily be a cash cow but has been seriously haemorrhaging in the past will be delivering profit in two to three months. He expatiated by stating that from the innovative trend of publishing reports on the Corporation’s activities Nigerians would see that the Corporation has gone from an average deficit of over N30 billion to N3 billion in a period of six months.<br> Dr Kachikwu added “If you continue on this tangent, this company should continue to show monthly profitability in two to three months. That would be dramatic, and that is even before we have even started – because we haven’t started.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Looking at specific initiatives that Dr Kachikwu has deployed, the Direct Sales-Direct Purchase (DSDP) initiative seems to be one of the most dramatic. Kachikwu modestly attributes the adoption and unqualified success of DSDP to all Nigerians who through their suggestions and concern led to him and his team coming up with the final concept of DSDP. DSDP was adopted to replace the much maligned and abused Crude Oil Swap and the Offshore Processing Arrangement (OPA). The aim was to reduce corruption and introduce and entrench transparency into the crude oil for product exchange transactions carried on by the Corporation. To achieve this, the bidding process has been thrown open. In addition, because the assessment process is transparent and is based on the global and or national track record of performance of the respective bidding companies, the influence of the Minister or GMD of NNPC is greatly reduced. The effect is that bid winners are selected on merit rather than on the basis of ‘man know man’ so that the entire process can now be said to fully comply and be in tandem with global best practices.<br> Before the advent of DSDP, crude oil was exchanged for petroleum products through third party traders at a pre-determined yield pattern. However the DSDP option eliminates all the middlemen and gives the NNPC control of the sale and purchase of crude oil with its partners with the expectation that the initiative would save the Country at least $1 billion annually. In effect the policy is aimed at reducing the gaps inherent in the OPA and the losses incurred by the NNPC in the past.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another positive outcome of the new arrangement is that it would help the country to grow indigenous capacity in the international crude oil business and generate employment opportunities for indigenous companies because the Minister is determined to encourage fellow Nigerians by ensuring that they are selected to participate in the initiative albeit through the transparent process that has been evolved.<br> The DSDP initiative also gives other government agencies such as the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Nigeria Extractive Industry and Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the opportunity to be a part of the bidding process in order to engender adherence to due process.</p> <p dir="ltr">Notably Dr Kachikwu has implemented a price modulation policy which has rid the Federal Government of the burden of subsidy on imported petroleum products since January 2016. As Dr Kachikwu said on Tuesday “Look at the fact that with the removal or connivance on the removal of subsidy cost, you are saving the nation N1 trillion. For the first time this organisation is not worrying about where to get the next subsidy money or who is going to pay it.”<br> “But imagine what it looks like if you succeeded in identifying and doing all those. Imagine what it would look like if every business unit followed the same principles and monitored cost at those various levels.” For this reason Kachikwu has gone forward to unbundle the monolithic NNPC and established 5 profit units as separate entities with two further administrative units which owing to their very nature are supportive of the entire organisation.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kachikwu said that for the first time, NNPC has met up with 75 percent of its responsibility to the federation account, highlighting the new ways of the corporation.<br> “This is simply through your 20 fixes; you deciding to cut costs, and to watch your expenses and there’s still a huge amount of expenses you still need to cut.<br> There is definitely more to come from this man as he next targets the elimination of the perennial fuel scarcity in the country.</p> <p dir="ltr">AMBSAM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION</p> <p dir="ltr">On 28th March, 2015, (the day of the Presidential and National Assembly elections) Epe, in Lagos State, was thrown into deep sorrow and mourning following the tragic death of five illustrious sons of the town in a boat accident. These young and promising gentlemen are Olakunle Adewale, Olawale Mogaji, Gbolahan<br> Mogaji, Muiz Bello and Shamsideen Agoro.</p> <p dir="ltr">These young men were on election-related assignment to some remote villages in the Epe area where water transportation was the only means of movement. Whilst they accomplished their assignment they sadly didn’t return alive. A sixth person, Tunde Salawu, who was not involved in the boat accident also died about the same time whilst on election-related assignment. The tragic boat incident and the death of Salawu was unprecedented in the history of the town and brought grief and anguish all round.</p> <p dir="ltr">The untimely death of these gentlemen takes on added significance when one takes into account that Epe is the hometown of the State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, a governor who I admire a lot because of the silent but painstaking and decent way that he is continuing in the transformation of Lagos State and building on the legacy of his predecessors.</p> <p dir="ltr">Given the circumstances of their demise and the vacuum apparently created at family level, the immediate consolatory step envisioned after the sad development was to institutionalize a programme that would immortalize them and keep them in our consciousness. In this direction, a group of concerned and public-spirited individuals established a not-for-profit, non-governmental foundation known as AMBSAM Memorial Foundation in honour of their memories. (AMBSAM is derived from the initials of the victims).</p> <p dir="ltr">One of the objectives of the Foundation is to cater for the immediate dependents of the departed. The Foundation will also be used as a spring-board to alleviate the suffering of other less privileged and vulnerable youths in the community regardless of religion or gender. I associate with the spirit and intentions of the founders of the Foundation because all too often we give no regard at all to causes such as this. In other countries this kind of initiative is the norm and it is my hope and expectation that in the not too distant future tragedies such as this and the Lekki Gardens disaster as another instance will occupy our consciousness through overt acts and will not be swept under the carpet after a couple of months. My colleagues in the Media, both traditional and social, bear a huge burden and responsibility in this regard. We must never forget our basic humanity and there is no better way to remember than to remember innocent victims like those now honoured by the AMBSAM foundation.</p> <p dir="ltr">The launching of the Foundation is slated to hold on Monday, 28th March, 2016 to coincide with the first year anniversary of the incident. The concept of the AMBSAM Foundation is salutary and should be commended particularly as it honours otherwise nondescript Nigerians!</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_36x2sP0lwGc7FR2HAGBdveIPnEz2DB5FSCoUrkrXTVHkfze_bh6IIi1hWBepSsO0BbaGSIHp1sVo31Ifpd1mKoOB8gPF7EYwzEi8XMEa-wVKANam-yqPkMXus7xylisvBNYUOUfLALKk/s1600/TwImg-20150125-115919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_36x2sP0lwGc7FR2HAGBdveIPnEz2DB5FSCoUrkrXTVHkfze_bh6IIi1hWBepSsO0BbaGSIHp1sVo31Ifpd1mKoOB8gPF7EYwzEi8XMEa-wVKANam-yqPkMXus7xylisvBNYUOUfLALKk/s640/TwImg-20150125-115919.jpg"> </a> </div>

THE MINISTERS ARE WORKING BUT INFORMATION IS SCANTY By Dele Momodu #pendulum

Fellow Nigerians, I have been greatly troubled by the spate of criticisms and vicious attacks against the Buhari government. You cannot blam...

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Lafarge, Ashaka Cement Announce Disappointing Earnings

<p dir="ltr">listed leading cement producer, Ashaka Cement on Friday announced disappointing earnings for the 2015 financial period.<br>   Ashaka Cement, based in Nigeria’s North West town of Ashaka, reports a revenue fall to 17.4 billion Naira in 2015 from 21.1 billion recorded in the same period of 2014.</p> <p dir="ltr">Net profit was a 1.2 billion fall in the 12 months to December 2015 at 2.7 billion Naira against 4.5 billion Naira a year earlier.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ashaka Cement said that its pre-tax profit declined from 5.2 billion Naira in 2014 to 3.2 billion in the past financial year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Industries in Nigeria were faced with severe foreign exchange supply shortages in 2015 including difficulties of power outages, months of petro-products scarcity as well as rising general operating expenses in a year of electoral transition.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lafarge Earnings</p> <p dir="ltr">Nigeria’s second largest cement producer, Lafarge Africa has also announced a disappointing profit decline of about seven billion Naira, for the 2015 financial year.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement released to the stock exchange on Thursday, the cement giant reported a net profit of 26.9 billion Naira down from 33.5 billion reported in the 2014 full year period.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lafarge Africa said that its revenue rose from 260.8 billion naira to 267.2 billion in the 12 months to December 2015.</p> <p dir="ltr">Headline profit was seen at 29.3 billion Naira in 2015, a near 10 billion Naira fall from 40.4 billion Naira posted in 2014.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source :Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtjW_RGzDB7WertwjGPVGbBi-XquAp82wEb6DWzvb565k_SW-TYfv4bwfPFRV_rCwyC-3Gbf7XweIg6KFi1qRBGrFLEDxt0C87BZUOEjQMmIRYGqaZKnpOZaPKxG0jbcg3HRS9Zes2nJ3/s1600/lafarge-cement-300x162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtjW_RGzDB7WertwjGPVGbBi-XquAp82wEb6DWzvb565k_SW-TYfv4bwfPFRV_rCwyC-3Gbf7XweIg6KFi1qRBGrFLEDxt0C87BZUOEjQMmIRYGqaZKnpOZaPKxG0jbcg3HRS9Zes2nJ3/s640/lafarge-cement-300x162.jpg"> </a> </div>

Lafarge, Ashaka Cement Announce Disappointing Earnings

listed leading cement producer, Ashaka Cement on Friday announced disappointing earnings for the 2015 financial period.   Ashaka Cement, ba...

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Rivers Rerun: Observers Caution Politicians, Demand Credible Polls

<p dir="ltr">group called Neighbourhood Watch in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital has called on politicians and their supporters to exercise restraint in the Rivers rerun polls.<br>   Leader of the group, Charles Inko-Tariah, while condemning the spate of violence that has greeted the build up to the state and National Assembly rerun in the state, asked the players to be reminded that the people are important than their ambitions.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, another group known as West African Network of Election Observers have been talking to journalists about their concerns so far as regards the Rivers rerun.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hours to the rerun elections, tension has been at high degrees and security has been heightened as only just on Thursday, the Nigerian Army lost two of its men in a shootout with hoodlums in Abonemma area of the state.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, all appears set for the exercise.</p> <p dir="ltr">All sensitive materials for the polls have been delivered at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Port Harcourt.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sorting and distribution have been done at the different senatorial zones and constituencies in all 23 local government areas in the state.</p> <p dir="ltr">The INEC has recruited the services of 24,930 adhoc staff, 379 collation officers and 37 returning officers for the elections.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source :Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ajd2YY-mvc79oQI-z3FOzq2s5jBonR-YZC5vANnd0IVHleX98gO7M_jOpzRZQzprarm14CkrhYCUhbvUjCDRdbUFPdQn2DVVAwRl4hwCkJAEGquN37f6TS_DSy33CRnawzdRXMnubT8n/s1600/inspection-of-election-materials-300x161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ajd2YY-mvc79oQI-z3FOzq2s5jBonR-YZC5vANnd0IVHleX98gO7M_jOpzRZQzprarm14CkrhYCUhbvUjCDRdbUFPdQn2DVVAwRl4hwCkJAEGquN37f6TS_DSy33CRnawzdRXMnubT8n/s640/inspection-of-election-materials-300x161.jpg"> </a> </div>

Rivers Rerun: Observers Caution Politicians, Demand Credible Polls

group called Neighbourhood Watch in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital has called on politicians and their supporters to exercise restra...

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Court Orders Remand Of Ikorodu Kidnap Suspects

<p dir="ltr">Six of the men accused of abducting three schoolgirls at Ikorodu have been arraigned before the Ebutte Metta Magistrate Court in Lagos.<br>   The prosecution counsel, Mr Godwin Osuji, asked that the kidnap suspects be remanded in prison custody pending legal advice from the Department of Public Prosecution.</p> <p dir="ltr">Arguing the remand application, Osuyi, said the application was brought pursuant to section 264(1) and (2), of the administration of Criminal Justice of Lagos State, 2011.</p> <p dir="ltr">The court granted the application before adjourning the case till April 25, 2016. The Court also ordered the Police to duplicate the case file and forward it to the DPP for advice.</p> <p dir="ltr">The six men are accused of abducting three schoolgirls from Macaulay Babington Junior Seminary Ikorodu in Lagos State.</p> <p dir="ltr">The defence counsel, Ola Ogunbiyi said that the arraignment was proper and expressed optimism that justice would be done.</p> <p dir="ltr">The six suspected kidnappers ordered to be remanded in prison custody are: Emmanuel Arigidi, 37: Gift Pius, 30: Omoni Rufus Fred, 32: Owei Omobo Geofrey, 38: Akanji Seun, 38: and James Henry Segun, 29.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the charge sheet marked D/13/16, attached to the remand application, the Police alleged that the suspected kidnappers had on February 29, 2016, at about 8p.m, while armed with AK 47, and offensive weapons, invaded Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School, Ikorodu, and unlawfully kidnapped and detained three students of the school.</p> <p dir="ltr">The three students allegedly kidnapped by the suspects are: Tofunmi Popo-Olaniyan, 15: Olusa Timilelun, 14 and Deborah Akintayo, 14: all girls.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Police alleged that the suspects took the students away to a creek between Imota and Igbokuta of Ikorodu, on February 29, before they were rescued by the Police on March 6.</p> <p dir="ltr">They were also alleged to have robbed the Principal of the school, one Venerable Olaoluwa Adeyemi of the sum of 5.6 million Naira.</p> <p dir="ltr">Aside that, the first suspect, Emmanuel Arigidi, is alleged to be a member of the armed gang that robbed FCMB at Admiralty Way, Lekki, of the sum of 24 million Naira on March 12, 2015.</p> <p dir="ltr">The offences according to the Osuyi, are contrary to and punishable under sections 409, 269(1), and 295(2) of the Criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, <u>2011</u></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVFDtp-PJKe3GQaIghKmlIa_gAoxwpDQnRT3dTuso65Y0Reko29wbY4Gog6txnde0pARqd8xtx5N2KyTBcSzCftc0PiHbYClnKvmrO49J4SvD9bEoIARmSE8RYkbIq876LOUGA3UoGZ_T/s1600/Ikorodu-kidnap-suspects-300x162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRVFDtp-PJKe3GQaIghKmlIa_gAoxwpDQnRT3dTuso65Y0Reko29wbY4Gog6txnde0pARqd8xtx5N2KyTBcSzCftc0PiHbYClnKvmrO49J4SvD9bEoIARmSE8RYkbIq876LOUGA3UoGZ_T/s640/Ikorodu-kidnap-suspects-300x162.jpg"> </a> </div>

Court Orders Remand Of Ikorodu Kidnap Suspects

Six of the men accused of abducting three schoolgirls at Ikorodu have been arraigned before the Ebutte Metta Magistrate Court in Lagos.   T...

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Agatu Killings: Benue Lawmakers Condemn FG’s ‘Lukewarm Attitude’

<p dir="ltr">Benue State lawmakers in the House of Representatives have condemned the “lukewarm attitude” of the Federal Government towards the killings in the state.<br>   Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers on Friday in Abuja, Honourable Orker Jev, said that over 1,000 people have been killed and over 100 villages razed in Agatu area by armed herdsmen, who are yet to be apprehended by security forces.</p> <p dir="ltr">The lawmakers said that the Federal Government must take active steps to stop the killings in the area.</p> <p dir="ltr">They also urged the Federal Government to provide intervention funds and programmes for the displaced people in the affected communities.</p> <p dir="ltr">The lawmakers maintained that government must ensure that peace returns to the state that is known as the ‘Food Basket of the Nation.’</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggXNDXmIyq3XRXV-klA5L12eKPxtU2OMkPfqtECaT5eyAEtvaPnvTe7SG7Ij2y4GzVs1oEUfcEKlDGggl5M6EXa-GReF1bpu6fLQrKc0ZnpQNSiU2i-st8bs8az8Da_W2ymRGMLNRaOUv/s1600/House-of-Reps-300x162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggXNDXmIyq3XRXV-klA5L12eKPxtU2OMkPfqtECaT5eyAEtvaPnvTe7SG7Ij2y4GzVs1oEUfcEKlDGggl5M6EXa-GReF1bpu6fLQrKc0ZnpQNSiU2i-st8bs8az8Da_W2ymRGMLNRaOUv/s640/House-of-Reps-300x162.jpg"> </a> </div>

Agatu Killings: Benue Lawmakers Condemn FG’s ‘Lukewarm Attitude’

Benue State lawmakers in the House of Representatives have condemned the “lukewarm attitude” of the Federal Government towards the killings ...

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First Minister of Sadness by Haruna Mohammed

<p dir="ltr">By Haruna Mohammed Salisu</p> <p dir="ltr">Two things prompted this write-up: just last week, I travelled to Kano to collect my result, certifying me as a graduate of mass communication with 4.07 as my cumulative CGPA and the second best graduating student, secondly, the world happiness report released by the United Nations sustainable Development Solutions Network. The survey ranked countries based on their abilities to provide basic necessities of life for<br> their citizens thereby making them happy .The report published on several news outfits ranked Denmark the “ Happiest Nation, Burundi, the least happy” and Nigeria 103rd least happiest in the World. But to start with the first one, as usually the case with many students who graduated and are awaiting mobilization for National Youth Service, I started browsing the street of some major towns and cities in search of a temporary job to earn a living and avoid being dependent. Nigerian youthsNigerian youth I visited several secondary schools in Kano to see if I could be appointed a classroom teacher, of all the schools I visited, the school principal pulls out dossiers of applicants waiting to be called for an interview. I wasn’t discourage, I visited some private radio stations where some of my friends work, one of the whispered: “ we haven’t been paid salaries for three months”. What! A friend and classmate<br> who resides in Gombe told me of a newly<br> established Radio station—Progress FM. He advised I visit him to see if I could be lucky this time around. I conceded. Upon entry into the reception of Progress FM in his company, I demanded contact with the General Manager which I got within a couple of minutes. I tabled my issue immediately. She replied, though in a<br> very encouraging tone at least not to get me demoralized.<br> “We have over 40 staff already” wow! I thanked my friend for his support and left for Bauchi, my home state. Upon arrival, another friend of mine who studied mass communication at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi and have completed his NYSC but is still jobless told me to hold on a second. “ I thought you have been an Editor-in-Chief of Bayero Beacon and THE READER, your school based Newspaper and Magazine? He interrogated. Yes. I replied. And you also have more than four points as your CGPA? Yes. I answered again. Then you have a chance to work with the Daily Trust Newspaper, he said. No. Daily Trust only employs best graduating students and I am the second. I replied in a rather low tone of hopelessness. What about<br> other National Dailies such as Vanguard, The Guardian, Sahara Reporters, Premium Times and other online newspapers? He further queried.<br> Probably they only employ more experienced writers and seasoned journalists, but unfortunately I’m not one.<br> I conceded. But you can apply for Graduate Assistant in your University or Polytechnic where they teach Mass Communication, what about that? He continued with his mind boggling questions. This time around, he mentioned what I like doing most, but I was getting angrier with his questions. Universities no longer employ graduate assistants, and even if they do, you need the support of someone very influential to<br> bag the job, I told him. Just hold on, after your NYSC, you can apply for Nigeria Defence Academy and join the Army, he<br> insists. I also have interest in joining the army, and I believe I have something to offer, especially in the areas of strategic<br> communication. I believe, with a well coordinated strategic intelligence and communication, the army will unequivocally defeat the Boko Haram<br> insurgents, I declared. But if I could not get job in all the places I mentioned earlier just because I am not an anointed candidate and lack the support of those in position of authority, I wonder how I could have access to join the army.<br>   These are my predicaments, and no doubt of thousands of graduates in Nigeria who are still jobless for no fault of theirs. And whose future is still cloudy. Aren’t these enough to make me sad? If you think these reasons are not enough,<br> then hold on. As I said earlier, Denmark is ranked the first “happiest nation on earth” and Nigeria is103rd least happiest. Do you know that only Nasarawa state is richer in terms of mineral resources than the entire Denmark? Denmark has Natural gas, Limestone, Chalk, Clay, Sand, Gravel, Salt, Wind, Water, Solar and fuel trading.<br> In Nasarawa state, all the above resources are available plus; Beryl (emerald) Asquamirine and Haliodor), Dolomite/Marble, Sapphire, Tourmaline,<br> Quartz- Amethyst (Topaz, gamet), Zireon,<br> Tantalite, Cassiterite, Columbite, Limonite,<br> Galena, Iron-Ore, Barytes, Feldspar, Limestone,<br> Mica, Cooking coal, Talc, Cay, Salt, Chalcopyrite.<br> Not to talk of oil, richer agricultural land, our sea and water ways.<br> Isn’t this enough to make you sad? In Denmark, a lawmaker takes 38,000 US Dollars as his annual salaries while a Nigerian lawmaker takes more than four times that per month (181,974 US dollars), yet a graduate in Nigeria cannot afford three square meals. In one year, a Nigerian lawmaker takes $2,183,688 US which is equivalent to four hundred and thirty million, one<br> hundred and eighty six thousand, five hundred and thirty-six naira (N430,186,536) and his Danish counterpart has to work for more than 57<br> years to earn that salaries. Not only that, a Nigerian worker who earns N18,000 minimum wage has to work for more than 190 years before he will bag what a “distinguished” senator will earn in one year. Aren’t all these enough to make you sad? Then hold on. Do you know that a Nigerian Senator earns more than Barrack Obama of US and David Cameron<br> of UK? A lawmaker in Sweden has to work for 12 years before he/she will earn what a senator in Nigeria will take home in 12 months. Despite all the jumbo salaries of our lawmakers, about 300,000 children die annually of, guess what? Malaria! But no child dies of malaria in Denmark. As of 2015, our infant mortality rate (number of<br> babies dying before they reach one year per 1000 birth) was put at 57 children while only 3 children die in Denmark before they reach age one. Isn’t this enough to make you sad? Even citizens<br> from war torn countries like Libya, Somalia, Lebanon and Tunisia are happier than Nigerians according to the ranking. While countries like United Arab Emirates are appointing Minister of Happiness to “align and derive government policy<br> to create social good and satisfaction”, Nigeria should appoint its first ever minister of sadness to mobilize and coordinate sad people in Nigeria and at least remind them that President Buhari is in charge, probably things may get better.<br> I am calling on PMB to appoint me as his first minister of sadness, but my worries for now lies on the fact that I may not pass ministerial screening especially in the event that the National “Legislooters” (Legislators) become upset with my article Haruna Mohammed Salisu writes from Bauchi. He could be reached at<br> 08063180608 or harunababale@gmail.com</p>

First Minister of Sadness by Haruna Mohammed

By Haruna Mohammed Salisu Two things prompted this write-up: just last week, I travelled to Kano to collect my result, certifying me as a g...

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FULANI HERDSMEN OR TERRORIST? by Kayode Abiodun

<p dir="ltr">The fulani ethnic group (also known as Bororo'en, fellaata, fellah, fulfude, Fula and peul) are people that live in an area that stretches from Ouadai(chad) to far away Ethiopia, they are mainly found in twenty Nations in wide swath of Africa from Mauritania and Senegal to Sudan. They are grouped into the settlers and the Nomads. They are estimated to be about 25million people. They are mainly Muslims and rears cattle. </p> <p dir="ltr">  History says that the arrival of the Fulani In Nigeria Coincides with the Rise of Uthman Dan fodi and since then the Fulanis have been a Core member of the Entity called Nigeria. the Settlers are found in states like Kano, Kaduna, katsina, taraba, and Adamawa. The nomads can be found in almost every state in Nigeria. The Nomads don't stay in a place for a long time because their Cattles need Fresh Forages which is very scarce in the dry season so they move the Cattles in search of Greener pastures. This search for Fresh forages causes Conflict between the Nomads and the Farmers with the latter claiming that the Farm produce in millions are being destroyed due to Grazing of Cattles on their farms. They (the farmers ) also claimed that their lands were being degraded on a daily basis and any attempt at complaint were met violence from the Fulanis then comes retaliation by the citizens. This incessant Conflicts in 2002 prompted the then Governor of Oyo, Late Lam Adesina to place an embargo on the Nomads activities in the state. This decision was highly criticized by the Arewa forums and other concern citizens especially from the North and in order to find a lasting solution to the violence, the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar together with the current President, Muhammad Buhari held a meeting with the Governor, traditional leaders and other stakeholders in which at the end of the day, the embargo was lifted but Violence did not stop. <br>   Recently, the violent activities of the Fulani Nomads has become very rampant, they steal, they rape, maim, and destroy properties at slightest provocation.Their activities are mostly felt in almost every state with States like Benue and plateau bearing the brunt of the menace. But more recently, the Nomads have step up their game, they have abandoned archaic arms and ammunitions like Club, Dane guns, matchets and daggers. They now carry sophisticated weapon like Ak47, RPGs and grenades. They have been committing crime against innocent farmers and settlers for over five years now but the straw that broke the camel back came when they kidnapped a Yoruba in Akure. This Latest action sparked a lot of angry reactions from eminent Nigerians. Some even suggested that the Fulani nomads should be pursued from the south. The activities of this group has increased ever since President Buhari was sworn in</p> <p dir="ltr">Last week, the Fulani nomads heavily armed with sophisticated weapons reportedly killed over 500 people in Agatu village in Benue and just yesterday, they reportedly killed over 200 people in <u>the</u> same Benue state. This is not some fulani nomads-farmers conflict, this is a full scale terrorism. This is a bitter pill Nigerians can't swallow. The Yorubas, the Agatus, the igedes and other ethnic groups are being maimed everyday <br> People can't sleep with their two eyes closed, people are being terrorized on there own land. The United State recently named the Nomads as the fouth deadliest group in the  world. Something needs to be done. </p> <p dir="ltr">Nigeria need to Nick this menace in bud, the President as Grand commander of Federal Republic should address this madness, maybe he should go on live radio especially BBC Hausa to speak with his people, our boarder patrols need to be strengthened, we need to deploy men of The JTF to the most affected place, NEMA should provide abode for the refugees. Lastly we need to pray for protection against this uncircumcised savage. </p> <p dir="ltr">Let me end this write up with the words of Martin Niemoller </p> <p dir="ltr">     "First they came for the socialists and I didn't speak out because I was not a      socialist, then they came for the trade unionist and I didn't speak out because I was not a trade unionist, then they came for the jews and I didn't speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me."</p> <p dir="ltr">Kayode Abiodun writes from his village at Ayegun Ibadan and can be contacted on twitter @abiodunsays. </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEC2ax8POkFCuQGnF0epNREOECcvhV_icnmR16NHJMi6fle-rIvfzY5HTIND3UG5nu7e1ChMzTIywiuwuXff5FEhdEBZ9qT9PZyqIKZRKnSzaOTigoJigYhrxBaGgbs-TFnPK4CarPUIN/s1600/IMG_20160317_120443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEC2ax8POkFCuQGnF0epNREOECcvhV_icnmR16NHJMi6fle-rIvfzY5HTIND3UG5nu7e1ChMzTIywiuwuXff5FEhdEBZ9qT9PZyqIKZRKnSzaOTigoJigYhrxBaGgbs-TFnPK4CarPUIN/s640/IMG_20160317_120443.jpg"> </a> </div>

FULANI HERDSMEN OR TERRORIST? by Kayode Abiodun

The fulani ethnic group (also known as Bororo'en, fellaata, fellah, fulfude, Fula and peul) are people that live in an area that stretch...

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Centre Relocation : JAMB to compensate candidates with make-up

<p dir="ltr">According to the Registrar, Professor Dibu<br> Ojerinde, the board has records of candidates<br> who genuinely missed their tests due to sudden<br> relocation from their original centers.<br> The Registrar said that candidates were relocated<br> from some centers in Lagos to Moro in Osun<br> State and others from Uromi to Auchi in Edo State<br> because mercenaries and thugs invaded those<br> centers.<br> He also accused some independent centers of<br> insincerity, leading to abrupt relocation of some<br> candidates.<br> Asked what his position would be on the new<br> directives from the House of Representatives to<br> return to pencil and paper format or combine this<br> with the computer-based system, the Registrar<br> said that he would take instructions from the<br> Minister of Education.<br> He said that those who organized protests did so<br> out of frustrations because they were not allowed<br> to carry out their plans in those centers.<br> Complaints ranging from non-provision of<br> calculator, irregular shutting down of computers<br> and non-release of the results of the students<br> have trailed the 2016 JAMB examination.<br> A member of the Association of Private Coaching<br> Centers, Olawuyi Olufemi, has also questioned<br> the supposed allocation of 40 marks to some<br> students; an act which he said was not clear,<br> wondering how some candidates would benefit<br> while others would be exempted.<br> Disgruntled candidates have also urged JAMB to<br> find a lasting solution to alleged irregularities and<br> requested that the body should urgently release<br> the results still outstanding.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-znPQ3lp6HiI/Vuxe7p0PWsI/AAAAAAAAAMI/s1600/images_4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-znPQ3lp6HiI/Vuxe7p0PWsI/AAAAAAAAAMI/s640/images_4.jpeg"> </a> </div>

Centre Relocation : JAMB to compensate candidates with make-up

According to the Registrar, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, the board has records of candidates who genuinely missed their tests due to sudden r...

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Jamb 2016: Students Protest Alleged Irregularities

<p dir="ltr">Students who sat for the March 2016 University<br> Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) made<br> the call on Friday during a protest to registers<br> their displeasure.<br> The 2016 exam was the first time computers<br> were used to write all the exams and students<br> and parents have cried out in outrage that the<br> computer-based exam was still in its trial state<br> and had a lot of irregularities.<br> Complaints ranging from non-provision of<br> calculator, irregular shutting down of computers<br> and non-release of the results of the students<br> have trailed the 2016 JAMB examination.<br> Disgruntled candidates have also urged JAMB to<br> find a lasting solution to alleged irregularities and<br> requested that the body should urgently release<br> the results still outstanding.<br> A member of the Association of Private Coaching<br> Centers, Olawuyi Olufemi, has also questioned<br> the supposed allocation of 40 marks to some<br> students; an act which he said was not clear,<br> wondering how some candidates would benefit<br> while others would be exempted.<br> Meanwhile, the Joint Admissions and<br> Matriculation Board (JAMB) has promised to<br> compensate candidates who missed their<br> examinations during the just concluded 2016<br> exercise with another test.<br> According to the Registrar, Professor Dibu<br> Ojerinde, the board has records of candidates<br> who genuinely missed their tests due to sudden<br> relocation from their original centers.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTJJCHFLaRj5BXYVs2b_2VxaAFZBbXFA2dzC1kfeTuHBrAy36_odVAxtE4DNV8ICpv2vn08TQ18X4PNjXJeJrcQ0ro0sMSPuFvi6toiG4M5308ZnVOZDo6GoM8u1UpL_O62CutJXVx08V/s1600/images_4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTJJCHFLaRj5BXYVs2b_2VxaAFZBbXFA2dzC1kfeTuHBrAy36_odVAxtE4DNV8ICpv2vn08TQ18X4PNjXJeJrcQ0ro0sMSPuFvi6toiG4M5308ZnVOZDo6GoM8u1UpL_O62CutJXVx08V/s640/images_4.jpeg"> </a> </div>

Jamb 2016: Students Protest Alleged Irregularities

Students who sat for the March 2016 University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) made the call on Friday during a protest to regis...

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2016 Batch 'A' Orientation Course: Change Of Commencement Of Orientation Exercise

<p dir="ltr">The 2016 Batch 'A' Orientation Course is scheduled to hold as follows:</p> <p dir="ltr">1. Stream I<br> i. Commencement ----- Wednesday 27th      April, 2016</p> <p dir="ltr">ii. Swearing-In ---------- Friday 29th April, 2016</p> <p dir="ltr">iii. Close of Camp ------- Friday 13th April, 2016</p> <p dir="ltr">2. Stream II<br> i. Commencement------Saturday 21st May, 2016</p> <p dir="ltr">ii. Swearing-In ----------- Monday 23rd May, 2016</p> <p dir="ltr">iii. Close of Camp -------- Monday 6th June, 2016</p> <p dir="ltr">Signed<br> Management</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ad-sJWX3Yqhmojv6mmfZ4q7ueARIWRq9ujsqXJRmin6Luzj38ajdAvKHWt2SIagJ5xoKPzmh0Ve7yETO8vGU-XVc7QXMB6G_BaPa0i_JuBOJjm6AFVuw3CiiqViopT1YaesXMsUCicpf/s1600/weblogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ad-sJWX3Yqhmojv6mmfZ4q7ueARIWRq9ujsqXJRmin6Luzj38ajdAvKHWt2SIagJ5xoKPzmh0Ve7yETO8vGU-XVc7QXMB6G_BaPa0i_JuBOJjm6AFVuw3CiiqViopT1YaesXMsUCicpf/s640/weblogo.png"> </a> </div>

2016 Batch 'A' Orientation Course: Change Of Commencement Of Orientation Exercise

The 2016 Batch 'A' Orientation Course is scheduled to hold as follows: 1. Stream I i. Commencement ----- Wednesday 27th      April...

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OCHOLI DID NOT EAT FROM THE FOOD HE COOKED by Adeyemi Babatunde

<p dir="ltr">Death is an inevitable obligation of every living souls on earth. The name James Ocholi was personally unpopular to me in this country political terrain, I got to know his name when a ministerial nominee from my State (Oyo State), Barrister Bayo Shittu mentioned his name during the screening by the senate that "Ocholi was sent to him by President Buhari to pacify him and reduced the rate at which the feud between him and the incumbent Governor of Oyo state and the then All Progressive Congress gubernatorial ticket holder" which he believes was marred with irregularities and violation of rule of law, he mentioned how the SAN played a major role and addressed the internal wrangling amicably. <br>   As an ardent supporter of President Buhari, I believe in his principles, character and leadership qualities. This made me develop interest to know the people he entrusted with his herculean tasks that's when I came across this man's name again and I searched about him and got detailed information about this reputable man. I was amazed and entangled with what I read, saw and heard about this highly intelligent former Saleem University Chancellor .It was through him I got to know that it does not matter if a cat is white or black as long as it catches mice. He was an exceedingly courageous, inherently honest, highly intelligent, extremely loyal, humble and God fearing man.<br> Like the President said in his tribute to the late achiever, he was a man among men, an emblem of loyalty and an Iroko among trees. Ocholi was one of President Buhari trusted confidant and ally which he entrusted all legal issues to, he discharged his duties  without any form of  incompleteness. He was among the few gubernatorial aspirants of CPC that President Buhari toured and campaigned for from wards to local governments and other nooks and crannies of Kogi state. He lost the election to Capt Idris wada in 2011 and accepted defeat with a goodwill message and successful tenure.    Throughout those years he was moulding himself, making consultations and reconciling on how his beloved country will survive from impunity, corruption and maladministration and be among the comity of developed nations. I wasn't surprise when the arch Bishop of Kogi and labour Minister was paying their tributes during the service of songs to the departed soul, Senator Ngige said he played an unusual role during the merger which metamorphized into APC, he forgot ego, pride  hierarchy and worked under a junior lawyer who was not a SAN and subjected himself as his deputy to make sure the change he desired come to stay. Many tributes and accolades have been said to the father of five wards he was a devoted Christian, a good husband, a leader par excellence, a bridge builder, a generous man who adopted a son making five children he left behind. It is a pity he is no more, it is sad that we lost him by a ghastly accident with wife and a son, it is pathetic and tragic. <br>   The legal luminary  will solely be missed by Saleem family  worldwide , the Igala community, The great people of confluence state, the judiciary arm and the entire country. <br></p> <p dir="ltr">By Adeyemi Babatunde Hamed </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1o6wxxtF5D2o0ZM3Pt3GitMPk6ZhjclAmo-FfBZh44VABXWW9jx6NL4czdO3ncBk6PEkfv9YmsI3ZMD_iF_xZ0LcEq2_zs9_Cpxr32-eoC9F-gZC3Nqfx2-0VM6L0fzGiLLcz4b72B2O/s1600/IMG-20160318-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1o6wxxtF5D2o0ZM3Pt3GitMPk6ZhjclAmo-FfBZh44VABXWW9jx6NL4czdO3ncBk6PEkfv9YmsI3ZMD_iF_xZ0LcEq2_zs9_Cpxr32-eoC9F-gZC3Nqfx2-0VM6L0fzGiLLcz4b72B2O/s640/IMG-20160318-WA0000.jpg"> </a> </div>

OCHOLI DID NOT EAT FROM THE FOOD HE COOKED by Adeyemi Babatunde

Death is an inevitable obligation of every living souls on earth. The name James Ocholi was personally unpopular to me in this country polit...

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Man City to take on PSG and Barcelona face Atletico - Champions League quarter-final draw

The Citizens face the Ligue 1 champions, guaranteeing that one of the two sides will reach the semi-finals for the first time, while there is an all-Spanish clash elsewhere<br />   Manchester City will face Paris Saint-Germain while reigning champions Barcelona take on Atletico Madrid<br /><br />The match between City and PSG guarantees that one of the sides will reach the semi-final for the first time in their history, as Manuel Pellegrini's Citizens tenure begins its final stretch.<br /><br />Laurent Blanc's side, who have already wrapped up the Ligue 1 title, are once again handed a draw against English opposition, after defeating Chelsea in the last-16 with two dominant performances.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4IpwwF966RcqhfsuQVANrzEtyjVXMOKmP9aMQOWF3GxMKIxqfJhgHXuydFdiFZ1ItLEGiSS1b2zPqWSSVR5t30RgIvFRGMxVmRzcIzRp-bM4ehmtUFtjBU7Mht07CqdZ-e51VIK33QGK/s1600/gggggg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4IpwwF966RcqhfsuQVANrzEtyjVXMOKmP9aMQOWF3GxMKIxqfJhgHXuydFdiFZ1ItLEGiSS1b2zPqWSSVR5t30RgIvFRGMxVmRzcIzRp-bM4ehmtUFtjBU7Mht07CqdZ-e51VIK33QGK/s320/gggggg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> in the Champions League quarter-finals.<br />   <br />Elsewhere, there will be an all-Spanish tie as current trophy holders Barcelona face Atletico, renewing their rivalry on the European stage as the two clubs compete at the top of La Liga.<br /><br />On the other side of the Clasico divide, Real Madrid will be made heavy favourites against Bundesliga side Wolfsburg while German champions Bayern Munich, fresh from their triumph over Juventus, were handed a draw against Benfica, a tie that they will be expected to win

Man City to take on PSG and Barcelona face Atletico - Champions League quarter-final draw

The Citizens face the Ligue 1 champions, guaranteeing that one of the two sides will reach the semi-finals for the first time, while there ...

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South Africa’s Zuma Denies Outside Influence In His Cabinet Appointments

<p dir="ltr"><br> African President Jacob Zuma denied being influenced by anyone in the appointment of cabinet ministers, responding to allegations by his own deputy finance minister that a wealthy family close to Zuma offered him the job of finance minister.<br>   The government was rocked on Wednesday by suggestions that the Gupta family may have been behind Zuma’s decision to sack the respected finance minister Nhlanhla Nene in December.</p> <p dir="ltr">Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas said the Guptas, whose businesses stretch from media to mining, had offered him Nene’s job but he rejected it. The Guptas denied making job offers to anyone in government.</p> <p dir="ltr">Zuma denied any involvement in response to questions in parliament in Cape Town on Thursday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If Jonas says he was offered by the Guptas, I think you will be well-placed to ask the Guptas, or Jonas. Don’t ask me. Where do I come in?” Zuma said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I never offered Jonas the ministry. That’s why he is the deputy minister.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The country’s main financial newspaper, Business Day, said that Jonas received a text message from a “prominent businessman” telling him to be quiet shortly before he made his accusation in a statement on Wednesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Please keep your own counsel. Martyrdom is best left to Christ,” the text message read. The paper did not identify the sender or say how it had seen the message, beyond citing sources close to Jonas. Jonas was not immediately available to comment.</p> <p dir="ltr">The opposition in parliament called for Zuma to resign.</p> <p dir="ltr">The claims concerning the Guptas have erupted during a prolonged confrontation between Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who eventually replaced Nene, and the elite Hawks police unit. That has raised concerns about a possible repeat of the run on the rand and bonds seen in December when Nene was fired.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source : Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Vxk98EgnrySnQJEL_Udf4LZBljEgoba3NZ3Bq61vQ37JlNlm1y7PPH3dOY3utxZPkoZphoy8dit4_z6dUNL3ojI3MVsBud9R50VsydEc0cRgWqc7kz_mmXOGDJyuHy2KLD4bR8ITLuCB/s1600/Jacob_Zuma-300x161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Vxk98EgnrySnQJEL_Udf4LZBljEgoba3NZ3Bq61vQ37JlNlm1y7PPH3dOY3utxZPkoZphoy8dit4_z6dUNL3ojI3MVsBud9R50VsydEc0cRgWqc7kz_mmXOGDJyuHy2KLD4bR8ITLuCB/s640/Jacob_Zuma-300x161.jpg"> </a> </div>

South Africa’s Zuma Denies Outside Influence In His Cabinet Appointments

African President Jacob Zuma denied being influenced by anyone in the appointment of cabinet ministers, responding to allegations by his ow...

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See this funny LETTER TO P SQUARE by a concerned fan

<p dir="ltr">LETTER TO P SQUARE.<br></p> <p dir="ltr">Dear Psquare, I want to ask * WHY E BE SAY * una wan split after all these years? Coz u guys seem to have forgotten that there is * NO ONE LIKE YOU * in Africa, and u also forgot that God used * IFUNANYA * to make it a * POSSIBILITY* for u guys to be * UNLIMITED * today. I feel so bad over your latest * STORY* coz * I LOVE YOU* and i urge u to deal with your present situation * PERSONALLY * and do not let your * BEAUTIFUL ONYINYE’s * make you split. Don’t forget that they are only there to * CHOP YOUR MONEY *. I know that * E NO EASY* but u guys should try not to get involved in any * BIZZY BODY* because it will only lead to more * DANGER * in your carreer, Omo WAHALA go dey and your fanswill no longer be able to dance * ALINGO * again. settle the problems u guys are having, coz e get as e dey * DO ME* anytime i hear say u guys want to * BREAK IT *. I also heard that you brought * OGA POLICE*in to the matter. I want u guyz to be * MORE THAN A FRIEND * to avoid any * TEMPTATION * which will lead to * GAME OVER*, we are hoping to hear your * TESTIMONY</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKX9gPM8eHDIKDUafBZTbS027bFE7Q6p9wt-VYGAHom1R7WePka9IhETpSULd2btNj_d_SS2ggfQ7NB5w2tv42N_DSN_W8AydTgaHH-NXpZSqHWj0RXzgfJ9mVWck0AYMh8ADW7_iAUkLL/s1600/images_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKX9gPM8eHDIKDUafBZTbS027bFE7Q6p9wt-VYGAHom1R7WePka9IhETpSULd2btNj_d_SS2ggfQ7NB5w2tv42N_DSN_W8AydTgaHH-NXpZSqHWj0RXzgfJ9mVWck0AYMh8ADW7_iAUkLL/s640/images_2.jpeg"> </a> </div>

See this funny LETTER TO P SQUARE by a concerned fan

LETTER TO P SQUARE. Dear Psquare, I want to ask * WHY E BE SAY * una wan split after all these years? Coz u guys seem to have forgotten tha...

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Military Confirms Attack In Rivers State Leaving Two Soldiers Dead

<p dir="ltr">Eli Lazarus, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 2nd Brigade stationed in Port Harcourt, confirmed that Nigerian soldiers on patrol were attacked at 11am today.<br> The the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 2nd Brigade stationed in Port Harcourt, confirmed that Nigerian soldiers on patrol were attacked at 11am today.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr. Lazarus stated that “troops on patrol in Abonemma, Akukutoru LGA of Rivers State had a fierce encounter with a group of unknown gunmen suspected to be sea pirates.”</p> <p dir="ltr">During the encounter “an officer and a soldier who sustained various degree of injury lost their lives.” He added that the military was in pursuit of the gunmen and was confident that they would be apprehended.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr. Lazarus urged the public to go about their lawful activities and that the military would work to ensure peace and security in the area.<br></p> <p dir="ltr">Source : saharareporters.com </p>

Military Confirms Attack In Rivers State Leaving Two Soldiers Dead

Eli Lazarus, the Assistant Director of Army Public Relations for the 2nd Brigade stationed in Port Harcourt, confirmed that Nigerian soldier...

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FG to create 3 million jobs in the next 3 years – VP Osinbajo

<p dir="ltr">The vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday revealed on Facebook that the Federal Government will provide 3 million jobs in the next three years starting from this year. He said the jobs will be provided in the Technology, Wholesale & Retail, Construction and Agro-allied sectors of the Nigerian economy. Read what he posted on Facebook below;</p> <p dir="ltr">President Muhammadu Buhari and I are accountable to the Nigerian people.<br> The central focus of President Buhari’s administration is the creation of jobs. Every proposed policy begins with “how many jobs can this policy create?”<br> Today, I received the Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan on job creation and youth employment in Nigeria jointly packaged by the Job creation Unit of the Presidency, and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG.<br> Three million jobs would be created in the country within three years starting in 2016 especially in Technology, Wholesale & Retail, Construction and Agro-allied sectors of the Nigerian economy.<br> This year alone, over 700,000 private sector jobs will be created, majority of which will be in the Agro-allied sector.<br> This private sector-led job creation plan is different from the direct government jobs planned by the Buhari presidency which includes the 500,000 teaching jobs for unemployed graduates.<br> We are not unaware that this process of job creation is slow but President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is addressing the constraints of regulatory and institutional delays in the business sector.<br> The Job Creation Unit was constituted at the behest of President Buhari to initiate the job creation plan. The National Economic Summit Group, private sector players, validated the plan and will be working together with the government to implement the job creation plans.<br> Together, we will get this right.<br> Together, Nigeria will prevail.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yk_IKsjUxTj_iDklzN2a2gxbFDAnoG_Y-HkVxfvv-T_PMeiOgH3FmIHttcvfWjOALOqziGb7G0wru1pzSJNj9KPwouaFizIiUl75SDqhn5wIVJQNABVv3P01cs82yKZQTrMXYZyqt7p-/s1600/VP-Osiban.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yk_IKsjUxTj_iDklzN2a2gxbFDAnoG_Y-HkVxfvv-T_PMeiOgH3FmIHttcvfWjOALOqziGb7G0wru1pzSJNj9KPwouaFizIiUl75SDqhn5wIVJQNABVv3P01cs82yKZQTrMXYZyqt7p-/s640/VP-Osiban.jpg"> </a> </div>

FG to create 3 million jobs in the next 3 years – VP Osinbajo

The vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday revealed on Facebook that the Federal Government will ...

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Please help, my marriage is about to hit the rock

<p dir="ltr">This couple got married exactly three months ago, having been engaged for more than five months before tying the knot. <br> Everything seems to be going on smoothly for the this couple, the neighbors  were jealous of their love life, some parents coveted their happy home by praying for such a marital bliss for their wards. <br> However, things seem well outside, but inside Is nothing to behold, the wife has been making a lot of sacrifices in other to keep the joy flowing in her home, but when are sacrifices were affecting her health and the husband was not reciprocating, the wife decided to satisfy herself. The husband did not take it lightly, which got the wife annoyed for being so insensitive to her pain when all this while she has been going a against her own will and health in other to keep the family in one piece. <br> The hullabaloo between the couple got the neighbor's  attention, the whole neighborhood was confused because such noise has never emanated  from the couple's quarter and they were wondering What exactly happened to the happy couple? <br>   This is what happened, the couple shared common ground on virtually everything, except for the fact that the wife is used to eating pepperish foods, that is the way she was brought up, in fact, if she try anything contrary, she will vomit and vomit. On the husband side, anything pepperish gets him uncomfortable, he must treat stomach burn anytime he tries it. So, Anytime the wife decides to cook to her own taste, All hell will be let loosed. </p> <p dir="ltr">Out of concern, one of the neighbour suggested that, in order to avoid crisis between the couple, the wife should cook her own food separately, but the husband disagreed, he said their financial state can't accommodate that. <br>   After lengthy discourse, the couple were not able to resolve their differences, the landlord's wife advised the wife to apply wisdom in a time like this. <br>   Please advise this couple, as their tree months old marriage is about to hit the rock.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9sRUE14jpqw7YvnMbf1RKIU0vdnza2jiHkTmxxewqXy_sDeRGi_YD6eanMTFtYDtZ9ekb3KKuI2vdrIgmQDjLmu08OPpgTXwYr4sVNTwjpez-Ezl7fqweN6Bd0LXETPpMfL99By9Rm1H/s1600/strong-husband-beating-wife-vertical-view-43614411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9sRUE14jpqw7YvnMbf1RKIU0vdnza2jiHkTmxxewqXy_sDeRGi_YD6eanMTFtYDtZ9ekb3KKuI2vdrIgmQDjLmu08OPpgTXwYr4sVNTwjpez-Ezl7fqweN6Bd0LXETPpMfL99By9Rm1H/s640/strong-husband-beating-wife-vertical-view-43614411.jpg"> </a> </div>

Please help, my marriage is about to hit the rock

This couple got married exactly three months ago, having been engaged for more than five months before tying the knot. Everything seems to ...

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Mourinho: Messi makes winning easier

<p dir="ltr">Former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has no doubt winning matches is easier with Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi in your team, but remains steadfast in his belief that the group takes precedence over the individual.</p> <p dir="ltr">Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has won a staggering 26 trophies during his senior career with Barca, including four Champions League titles.<br>   The Catalan giants are on course to reach the quarter-finals of the Europe’s premier club competition for the ninth<br> straight season, heading into their last-16 second leg against Arsenal at Camp Nou on Wednesday with a 2-0 aggregate advantage.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mourinho believes Messi, who scored both goals in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, will likely prove the difference maker as Barca look to become the first side to successfully defend the Champions League trophy.</p> <p dir="ltr">“First of all it’s about individual players. Just to give you an example, Messi won the Champions League with three<br> different managers,” he said in an interview with BT Sport.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think it’s easier to win with him, than against him. I am a football manager. I know that sometimes people think that the individual is more important than the team.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But when I feel that it is time for me to take a permanent holiday – I still think that the team is more important than<br> anything.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But the obvious reality is that there are some players who can make a difference.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mourinho has been without a club since he left Chelsea in December and hopes to return to work ahead of the 2016-17 season.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Yes I was lucky enough to have good options since I left Chelsea in December – not just options but good options,” the Portuguese coach added.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But I made a decision to wait calmly. The reality is that I want to work. July, mid-July, new pre-season starts and<br> somewhere, I want to be there.”</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLduxxuUrg2mpi57wexo4FE5Y2mTaoapJbAnFypgHr3suX-05UNuk3KwobDgOG9Mbz5cJJGREmr36mG7gMrs_S04Vy-uVlR-vbagltH_fKNxaOsem6fKesIcLrd3RA8KDa8jokYUENnd2o/s1600/messi-300-768x522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLduxxuUrg2mpi57wexo4FE5Y2mTaoapJbAnFypgHr3suX-05UNuk3KwobDgOG9Mbz5cJJGREmr36mG7gMrs_S04Vy-uVlR-vbagltH_fKNxaOsem6fKesIcLrd3RA8KDa8jokYUENnd2o/s640/messi-300-768x522.jpg"> </a> </div>

Mourinho: Messi makes winning easier

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has no doubt winning matches is easier with Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi in your team...

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Gender and Opportunity Bill, Nigeria Senate and Nigeria culture by kayode Abiodun

<p dir="ltr">Recently, the Nigerian Senate stopped the second reading of the Gender and opportunity Aka GOB. The GOB bill titled "Bill for an act to incorporate and enforce Certain provisions of the United Nations Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women " sponsored by Senator Biodun Olujimi of Ekiti South Senatoral district. The Senate president after discourse from different senators puts the Bill to vote and Nays have it. This sparked reaction from eminent Nigerians especially social media activist, the Misogynist and Feminist, the Nigeria Senate trended through out the day on twitter with each individual sharing his/her opinion on the said Bill. </p> <p dir="ltr">An inward look at the proposed Bill depicts that the GOB bill seeks to promote equality, development and advancement of all persons in Nigeria, it also speaks on the women freedom of movement, female economic activity and girl access to education. It further point out concerns on equal rights for women in marriage, divorce and property /land ownership and inheritance.  The bill also seeks to appropriate measures against gender discrimination in political and public life and prohibitions of violence to women.</p> <p dir="ltr">From the above paragraph, at glance, one can easily conclude that such a Bill will be panacea to Discrimination of women and abuse but a microscopic view of the GOB bill shows that the bill contravened some of our Religion and Cultural believes. Our Cultural belief is that Man is the head of Family and the woman would in turn support the man in his endeavors. Hence the popular saying  " Behind a Successful Man is a woman. The culture states the Man has the head and the woman has the neck. Even our holy books showed that women should be held in high esteem. The Bill is also a repetition/ segregation of some provisions of the 1999 constitution. </p> <p dir="ltr">The above paragraph maybe confusing, so let's dissect the GOB bill point by point. <br> The bill seeks to promote equality, development and advancement of all person in Nigeria: this is a repetition of chapter 4 S. 33 and 41 of the Nigerian Constitution. That is a basic human right irrespective of Gender.<br> The bill also speaks on women freedom of Movement, female economic and girl right to education : Every person (irrespective of gender ) has  a fundamental right to freedom of movement and economic activity according to Chapter 4  section 34,36, ,40 and 41 of the 1999 constitution as amended.  As per the girl education, it shouldn't be categorized for the girl child alone. Education should be  a basic right of child irrespective of gender According to UNICEF 2012 summit. <br> The Bill seeks Equal rights for women in Marriage, divorce, property land ownership and inheritance: No sane church, mosque or Registry would marry off people without the consent of the groom, the bride and their parents, so, where is the inequality in Marriage. Same way with Divorce, moreover, Any discontented person can seek for divorce and I was made to know that the Child of the parents seeking for the divorce would be asked to choose between the parent.  On property and land ownership, I don't think any of the land impedes any woman from acquiring landed properties. In fact, where I stay, Most landed properties are owned by women. We don't need a Bill for this. On inheritance, I think that should be a personal choice, no law or bill should how inheritance should be shared. <br> Adoption of special temporary measures to eliminate discrimination and ensure equal opportunities for the Majority of Nigerians : I think this makes sense. I do support this point. <br>   Lastly, the bill seeks appropriate measures against Gender discrimination in political and public life and prohibition of violence to women: on Gender discrimination,  to buttress the point made by Deputy senate president that 70% of Nigerian lawyers are women and there are also a large percentage of female judges " I think the electoral act and electioneering provisions in the 1999 constitution didn't discriminate against any body so far the qualification are met. We have woman senator, deputy Governor, speakers of house of assembly in the past. On prohibition of Violence to women, I think it's good but isn't there a bill on domestic violence already in the National assembly? </p> <p dir="ltr">        CONCLUSION<br> After dissecting the bill, one could see that eve though GOB was proposed good intentions, but the bill wants to Categorize specifically for women A fundamental human rights meant for both gender. The Law is established as rule of law not segregated for any gender, so I advise the Ever Gallant Senator Abiodun Olujimi to go back to the drawing board and modify the bill entirely. I think what Nigeria need is to make a bill that protect Nigerian women from Domestic violence. The Nigerian women should also dream big and aim high. Nowadays, Most girls lack ephemeral ambition, there is need for reorientation to eradicate the inferiority Complex. </p> <p dir="ltr">Also I want us to remember this popular saying that the greatest harm can come from best intention. Before I drop my pen, let me ask these question, <u>we</u> are clamoring for equal rights, should female law enforcement agents be allowed to go to war front? </p> <p dir="ltr">Kayode Abiodun writes from his village in Ayegun Ibadan and can be containing on twitter @abiodunsays </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4OvdzXrEmyUD0nR0eJfbHcapL0hhKITXTe-5pGjoacDK6LIlkndalagw-QdfVa6H04XedwFNWMphFBs91gPi6Z84bHN-EantcVVVL77joJ6fIuO2kEUkNYhTFVsVrtXAJzBlKxO0BBAl/s1600/IMG_20160317_120443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4OvdzXrEmyUD0nR0eJfbHcapL0hhKITXTe-5pGjoacDK6LIlkndalagw-QdfVa6H04XedwFNWMphFBs91gPi6Z84bHN-EantcVVVL77joJ6fIuO2kEUkNYhTFVsVrtXAJzBlKxO0BBAl/s640/IMG_20160317_120443.jpg"> </a> </div>

Gender and Opportunity Bill, Nigeria Senate and Nigeria culture by kayode Abiodun

Recently, the Nigerian Senate stopped the second reading of the Gender and opportunity Aka GOB. The GOB bill titled "Bill for an act to...

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Buddhist monk reveals talismanic forces behind Leicester’s Premier League title tilt

<p dir="ltr">While Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have stolen the plaudits for Leicester City‘s incredible Premier League campaign this season, it appears that someone else deserves credit for their success.</p> <p dir="ltr">A Thai Buddhist monk named Phra Prommangkalachan, has been present throughout the Foxes’ miraculous rise from the Championship to the top of the Premier League in the last three seasons.<br>   Prommangkalachan has been a regular visitor to the King Power stadium over the last few years and he credits his blessing of the pitch and giving the players lucky charms for their excellent results this season.</p> <p dir="ltr">He told AFP: “I hang some amulets on their necks and I gave them these fabric talismans. I’m not sure if they understood what I explained to them about it, but they knew that it would bring them luck.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Leicester have been owned by the King Power International Group since 2010, when they took over from former chairman Milan Mandaric.</p> <p dir="ltr">The owners have played a major role in Leicester’s success through their financial backing, and the chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, a devout Buddhist, is the man who first made the decision to bring the monks to the Midlands regularly, Phra revealed.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said: “He brought monks there to pray for auspiciousness and luck in the game, for the management team and the players. The team will be the number one in the Premier League this year for sure.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Superstitions are extremely common in football, but even so Leicester’s story is a pretty remarkable one and adds another layer of intrigue to their amazing campaign.</p> <p dir="ltr">Whether the monk’s charms have actually had an effect is difficult to know, but Claudio Ranieri’s men certainly have performed like Premier League champions for most of the season, top-scoring with 53 goals and letting in just 31 at the other end.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source :<u>isoccerng</u></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlEDvBOE7gCc3YOHfWw27gElIFy7H9-upvwkQ2xzLkxnVwnB8cescf_3rajvOegXy9pY6PYnz0tfpR7OduLDsWXG1ETdAbi8RuhybHzeowjbxEpFFbANhw0ka9WXh3Gz7tOE6zqG-Kaob/s1600/monk-thai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlEDvBOE7gCc3YOHfWw27gElIFy7H9-upvwkQ2xzLkxnVwnB8cescf_3rajvOegXy9pY6PYnz0tfpR7OduLDsWXG1ETdAbi8RuhybHzeowjbxEpFFbANhw0ka9WXh3Gz7tOE6zqG-Kaob/s640/monk-thai.jpg"> </a> </div>

Buddhist monk reveals talismanic forces behind Leicester’s Premier League title tilt

While Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have stolen the plaudits for Leicester City‘s incredible Premier League campaign this season, it appears ...

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MSN demolish Arsenal to scale into UCL quarter-finals

<p dir="ltr">Barcelona’s famed attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were all on target Wednesday night as the Blaugranes dispatched Arsenal 3-1 to zoom into the quarter-finals of the Champions League on a 5-1 aggregate.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">The aggregate margin in favour of Luis Enrique’s team was 5-1 but Lionel Messi’s first-leg brace at Emirates Stadium did not discourage the Premier League side from playing with plenty of enthusiasm in Wednesday’s return.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">All three of Barca’s esteemed forward trio were on target this time around, with Neymar punishing slack defending after 18 minutes.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Mohamed Elneny and Alexis Sanchez wasted chances to equalise before the break but a splendid finish from the former allowed him to chalk up a maiden Arsenal goal on the grandest of stages six minutes into the second half.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">That superb effort gave Arsenal a glimmer of hope, with Arsene Wenger’s men requiring two more goals in a little under 40 minutes, but they were ultimately undone by the remainder of Barca’s fearsome three-pronged attack.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Suarez provided unforgettable fireworks and Messi added a late third to keep Barcelona on course to retain their European crown and leave Arsenal – out of the FA Cup and adrift in the Premier League title race – to reflect on a sixth successive last-16 exit.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Danny Welbeck scuffed an early chance wide via his standing foot and Arsenal were encouraged by an uncharacteristically untidy start from their hosts.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Mesut Ozil left Sergio Busquets on the seat of his shorts and advanced to send a shot whistling past Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s right-hand post.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Barcelona offered a glorious demonstration of their quality in the 17th minute when Neymar expertly picked out Messi with a raking pass.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Messi’s first touch was exquisite but Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina similarly pulled a save out of the top drawer.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Jeremy Mathieu was allowed a free header on the bounce from the resulting corner and a short and sharp spell of Barcelona pressure ended with the opening goal.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Hector Bellerin allowed Neymar to sprint through goal-side of him and the manner in which he collected Suarez’s pass and slotted home came with frustrating ease for Wenger.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">A heavy touch meant Elneny allowed a 38th-minute opening to pass him by and Sanchez headed a Bellerin cross wide when he should have punished his former employers.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">The industrious Alex Iwobi – a surprise starter – had an early second-half strike deflected into the side netting by Dani Alves before Arsenal pulled level on the night in wonderful fashion.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Sanchez cut a low pass from the left into Elneny’s path and the midfielder steered a crisp side-footed shot into the top-right corner.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Barca emerged from their latest slumber with a lightning combination between Neymar and Messi – the Brazilian’s backheel setting up his team-mate to force Ospina into a low save – although a timely recovery tackle from Javier Mascherano prevented Welbeck from ramping up the unexpected anxiety inside Camp Nou.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">But where Arsenal lacked precision to go with their enthusiasm, Suarez contributed decisively with his 43rd goal of the season – and arguably his best – in the 65th minute.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Alves hung a cross towards the back post where Suarez contorted himself and sprung acrobatically to send a spectacular volley beyond a helpless Ospina.</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">His opposite number Ter Stegen made a double save from Sanchez and substitute Olivier Giroud, before Messi’s impudent dink underlined the gulf in penalty area class two minutes from time.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source : <u>isoccerng</u></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsJPBuCd4K9fsTpq8HGW8Qe1XkYzAQU22KLl_mV6-Uzqisq7_oTkWKAls5KfRdjex4F4nGaPjFh9Dftlq7JEiTyPtuTLjWfHepbN2uV9t-lyHrGHNJL567DPgwUwtVlSkXwVPT6tVJLw5/s1600/wet-78-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsJPBuCd4K9fsTpq8HGW8Qe1XkYzAQU22KLl_mV6-Uzqisq7_oTkWKAls5KfRdjex4F4nGaPjFh9Dftlq7JEiTyPtuTLjWfHepbN2uV9t-lyHrGHNJL567DPgwUwtVlSkXwVPT6tVJLw5/s640/wet-78-1.jpg"> </a> </div>

MSN demolish Arsenal to scale into UCL quarter-finals

Barcelona’s famed attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were all on target Wednesday night as the Blaugranes dispatched Ars...

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Joshua J. Omojuwa: An Open Letter To Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari

<p dir="ltr">Dear Mr. President,</p> <p dir="ltr">Kwana biyu Baba! The last time we met was that day I picked up the microphone and was telling you that if you failed to deliver the change, we’d change you like Goodluck Jonathan was deservingly changed. You remember Mr. President? You said, “I very much appreciate the subtle threat…I will either perform or I will be shown the way out,” and that you would do your best to deliver on the promises made during the campaign. On our part, we promised to always tell you as it is. This piece is part of keeping that promise.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dear Mr. President, please do not pay heed to those who insist nothing is changing. The last time the NNPC opened up its books to the public, Facebook and Twitter had not been founded, PDP was set to rule Nigeria for another 60 years, and the word ‘tablet’ only meant drugs and not mini computers. Thanks to your government, the NNPC is beginning to look like it can work, a Prayer Contractor who got N2.2 billion from the Dasuki Wealth Fund has promised to refund it from the sales of his properties. Talking about properties, the prices of properties in Abuja are crashing and the cost of renting apartments especially in the posh areas of the city have considerably gone lower. A big time crony capitalist reportedly shutdown his foreign TV House in order to fund the return of over half a billion of his share of the Dasuki Fund. The Bank Verification Number regime has since cost about 40,000 federal ghost workers their jobs. That is bad for the job market of ghosts and their human masters but great for the Nigeria where ghosts earn fat salaries while bona fide citizens wallow in the biting poverty of joblessness.</p> <p dir="ltr">We have since moved on from the days of over invoicing for imported fuel and invoicing for zero litre of imported fuel. With the Treasury Single Account, the Nigerian government has since cashed almost N3 trillion. In the past, this would have been money available to the banks to be borrowed by the government at ridiculous interests, now it is money readily available to the government. Boko Haram retain the capacity to hurt us at anytime but even your most irrational critics will admit you have done more to hurt their ability to destroy and maim than your predecessor did in his 5 ineffectual years. A lot has since changed Mr. President and we the citizens who are first about the interest of Nigeria know things aren’t exactly as they were under the half a decade of oil boom and the attendant impunity that ended last May. But this is only part of the story.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sir, if the words above were easy to read, I crave your indulgence to read the following words a bit slower than the above. Criticisms against your work for you to do better are better than the praises for what has already been achieved. Against the reality you succeeded, some things have changed but the bottom line remains the same; Nigerians are still groaning under the weight of fuel scarcity, this seems like a permanent feature these days, power supply has arguably gotten worse or at least stayed the same. We can talk about the great things your administration has put in place since May 29, 2015 but ultimately, if those things haven’t changed the reality of life of the average Nigerian or look like they are about to change that reality, Nigerians have a reason to question the change.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is important not to have these Nigerians mixed up with those hypocrites desperate to be seen as making common sense look like the Einstein-esque discovery of our days when common sense has indeed become commonplace.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr. President, your response to the killings by herdsmen in the middle-belt has been nothing to write home about. That is because there has been nothing to write by way of response from you. The herdsmen were in a report were said to be the world’s 4th deadliest terrorist group in the world but your government and you in particular appear to pretend like they are not doing all the killings they are doing. Agatu is only the latest in the bloodshed. Something needs to get done and you need to communicate more on such killings. This is what governments that value human life do.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dear Mr. President, you once cried on national TV because you felt helpless and powerless about the sufferings of the Nigerian masses. If the majority of them continue to cry after finally trusting you with their mandate, the tears you shed on that day will be tears for yourself and the opportunity missed. You have good intentions but intentions alone cannot fry plantain just as they cannot run a country. You will not cut deals or have someone cut deals on your behalf. You will not clear several Abuja villages in order to have your own mega farm. You will not steal our money. But Mr. President, even if you do not do all these, you will only be judged based on what you should have done and did not do, what you did that you could have done better and what you did indeed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr. President, stop trying to command and control the economy on one side and looking to win investors over on another. They are two parallels line that don’t meet. The freest economies are also the most prosperous economies. Even China had to change its ways to lift hundreds of millions out of poverty. Even Russia let go of command and control to achieve telling economic progress.</p> <p dir="ltr">The fight against corruption is hot and sizzling but it must go beyond those who stole cash. Take a former minister of finance who was nominated in her capacity as a minister to the board of a special University of Technology in Abuja. On her way out of office, she replaced names of members of the board with her cronies and sought to keep control of the board. This is a university set up with funds from the federal government yet had its board illegally changed just weeks to the end of the last administration. Abuse of office is corruption. Corruption is corruption.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr. President, please do not expect Sai Babaing in the course of doing your work, those still making such noise don’t mean well. You have your work cut out. It is one’s hope that the passing of the budget will ease the apparent pains of Nigerians. The past 9 months have been generally disappointing against the expectations of most Nigerians; this is the truth and nothing short of the truth. It is high time you stopped referencing your performance against the disaster that was the Jonathan administration. If we wanted to benchmark progress against that administration, we’d have returned them and simply asked them to do better. We genuinely wanted a paradigm shift and that simply means a clear departure from that unwholesome reality.</p> <p dir="ltr">By all means Mr. President, you must never forget the faces of those Nigerians you met on your campaign trail. If you fail them, they’d have lost faith, not just in you but in their belief and hope that Nigeria can indeed be better. The reason is because you were expected to be the foundation of a much better Nigeria.</p> <p dir="ltr">Wherever they are, you must call the best of our country to help deliver this change. Do not forget to weed out those who led us to where we are. Thinking in a democratic setting you can make the change happen alone is to not understand the fact democracy requires all the parts of the machine working to move forward. It is not political to appoint all those that need to be appointed or sack those that need to be sacked to get the wheel of change moving, it is a necessary beginning to delivering on your promise. There is no time sir, you were elected a year ago this month. This is not a note of impatience; it is a reminder of the ticking clock.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the best interest of Nigeria,</p> <p dir="ltr">Joshua J. Omojuwa</p> <p dir="ltr">This piece was initially written for and published by the PUNCH <u>Newspapers</u></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaiwCnc_98GvlO9dhzd_CcKbvfT_Ti9KRMT9sUNe9DO4_xOY8xWrCE-JAzdr4ShYDD5jACimHZW7h7uXa7A1Sr2WlkhonMEr43VsnjJu534zoV82XNJwEOF9g4W9d3darWEFBR5jrPiBU/s1600/IMG_1786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidaiwCnc_98GvlO9dhzd_CcKbvfT_Ti9KRMT9sUNe9DO4_xOY8xWrCE-JAzdr4ShYDD5jACimHZW7h7uXa7A1Sr2WlkhonMEr43VsnjJu534zoV82XNJwEOF9g4W9d3darWEFBR5jrPiBU/s640/IMG_1786.jpg"> </a> </div>

Joshua J. Omojuwa: An Open Letter To Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari

Dear Mr. President, Kwana biyu Baba! The last time we met was that day I picked up the microphone and was telling you that if you failed to...

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Benue Govt. Probes 2.4 Billion Naira Paid To Ghost Workers Annually

<p dir="ltr">The Benue State government says it will probe the payment of 2.4 billion Naira to ghost workers in the state’s civil service.<br>   Over 2,000 ghost workers are said to have been recorded on the payroll system of the state.</p> <p dir="ltr">A bio-metric staff audit report showed that over 2.4 billion Naira was siphoned annually.</p> <p dir="ltr">The government said it would prosecute those that had added the ghost workers in the payroll.</p> <p dir="ltr">The State Governor, Samuel Ortom, and his Commissioner for Finance, David Olofu, on Wednesday, disclosed the development during the presentation of the final report of the Benue State Civil Service Bio-metric Data Screening Exercise.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Project Consultant, Prince Mkpang, while presenting his report to the Governor, said that over 2.4 billion Naira would be saved annually from the criminal diversion of funds to ghost workers, as a result of the air tight E-data base platform established.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Governor Ortom, the savings from the new and improved payroll system, would go a long way to reduce the financial burden on the  government.</p> <p dir="ltr">The bio-metric exercise would effectively reduce the bloated staff strength from over 21,000 to 17,962 employees for accurate and reliable data going forward.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source :Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YPLSkEIyPiHoTnZALfXkWWB62xiZEgMRJxo6CAJzQ9CiONtz7ml2FopY0qDQGwK8znj6XoI4bm1Gpu-lbe_hwI6jXH33x94JZ2xElDCR5Z8sQOfl5gb9V2CVfCxLd5_QLdb4kWPkjiXi/s1600/Benue-Ortom-APC-300x161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YPLSkEIyPiHoTnZALfXkWWB62xiZEgMRJxo6CAJzQ9CiONtz7ml2FopY0qDQGwK8znj6XoI4bm1Gpu-lbe_hwI6jXH33x94JZ2xElDCR5Z8sQOfl5gb9V2CVfCxLd5_QLdb4kWPkjiXi/s640/Benue-Ortom-APC-300x161.jpg"> </a> </div>

Benue Govt. Probes 2.4 Billion Naira Paid To Ghost Workers Annually

The Benue State government says it will probe the payment of 2.4 billion Naira to ghost workers in the state’s civil service.   Over 2,000 ...

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Zenith Bank declares N105.66bn profit after tax

<p dir="ltr">According to several business reports, Zenith International Bank Plc has declared a profit after tax of N105.66 billion for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2015. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is against the N99.46 billion recorded in 2014. The report is contained in the company’s audited result released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Tuesday in Lagos.</p> <p dir="ltr">The profit represents an increase of 6.23 per cent or N6.21 billion when compared with the figure for 2014. Its profit before tax stood at N125.62 billion compared with N119.79 billion declared in the corresponding period of 2014.</p> <p dir="ltr">The bank’s gross earnings rose to N432.56 billion from N403.343 reported in the preceding year, an increase of 7.24 per cent. Net Interest Income appreciated to N224.58 billion from N206.503 billion in the preceding year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Further breakdown of the bank’s result indicated that total assets surged to N4.01 trillion from N3.755 trillion, while total liabilities stood at N3.41 trillion from N3.202 trillion in 2014. NAN reports that the board of directors proposed a final dividend of N1.55 per share to all its investors.</p> <p dir="ltr">The bank had already paid an interim dividend of 25k in 2015.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6V3yz5JVCkNs5Hkzf95Gw9O-HayUnwgotnHYXXoRFCPEhJhz4Qx21G2sKVofcmoQH5WD5_E6vWvR2wE2TtxSoo19dqDzAx0CqDLZFLWF0xutN4mlH9T4LC5LFpwE0FDdCh07Jfzh8PNh/s1600/zenith-bank-9jastreet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6V3yz5JVCkNs5Hkzf95Gw9O-HayUnwgotnHYXXoRFCPEhJhz4Qx21G2sKVofcmoQH5WD5_E6vWvR2wE2TtxSoo19dqDzAx0CqDLZFLWF0xutN4mlH9T4LC5LFpwE0FDdCh07Jfzh8PNh/s640/zenith-bank-9jastreet.jpg"> </a> </div>

Zenith Bank declares N105.66bn profit after tax

According to several business reports, Zenith International Bank Plc has declared a profit after tax of N105.66 billion for the financial ye...

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Bomb Blast In Maiduguri Mosque Kills 22, Injures Several Others

<p dir="ltr">Report reaching our news desks now says a suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Umarari Village, on the outskirts of Maiduguri, early this morning, killing at least 22 worshippers and leaving several others injured.<br>   A Civilian-JTF official, Alhaji Danbatta, who confirmed the attack, said that at least 14 persons are dead and about 21 other persons were injured in the blast.<br> “The bomb attack occurred this morning in Umarari village, just after Mulai Leprosy Hospital, outside Maiduguri, along the Biu-Maiduguri highway.<br> He said,<br> “It was a suicide attack: the bomber sneaked in while the worshippers were observing the morning congregational prayer.”<br>   Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the Boko Haram terrorist group is largely suspected to be responsible.<br> Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, had said on Tuesday March 15, that he was confident that Boko Haram will be eliminated in Nigeria, as troops fighting insurgents in the northeast are doing so with utmost commitment and renewed.<br> Speaking at the office of the Oyo State Governor during his one-day familiarization tour of the Two Division of Nigerian Army, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Odogbo in Ibadan, Tukur said the Nigerian army is committed to ending the fight against the insurgents soon, not minding that the fight may seem unending to many Nigerians who have had to cope with the consequences of the terrorist group.<br> He assured;<br> “Terrorism is a global phenomenon. It may seem unending but I want to assure you that here in Nigeria, we are working hard to ensure that the Boko Haram terrorists are completely eliminated. We still have some remnants of them but we are closing up and clearing them by the day.”<br> More Details Later….</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uQsMvotzoKA/Vulk6sYC5NI/AAAAAAAAAHU/s1600/bomb-blast2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uQsMvotzoKA/Vulk6sYC5NI/AAAAAAAAAHU/s640/bomb-blast2.jpg"> </a> </div>

Bomb Blast In Maiduguri Mosque Kills 22, Injures Several Others

Report reaching our news desks now says a suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Umarari Village, on the outskirts of Maiduguri, early this mor...

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Ambode Orders Evacuation Of Lekki Gardens Occupants

<p dir="ltr">The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, who visited the site of the collapsed five-storey building which wasted the lives of 34 persons in the Lekki area of the state on Tuesday last week, has issued a directive for the evacuation of all occupants living in houses built by Lekki Gardens in order for an integrity test to be carried out on all the buildings to ascertain their safety.<br> Speaking to journalists after he went on a tour of the collapsed building site, as well as other buildings owned by Lekki Gardens, the governor said the developer should shoulder the responsibility of the occupants’ relocation as government would not fold its hands until the buildings kill other people. He said,<br> “The State Government will undertake a stability test on all other buildings constructed by the developer in the state, whether occupied or not, to ascertain their structural stability. The developer will pay the cost of the tests. Any building found to be defective would be demolished.<br>   For those that pass the integrity test, the developer will pay a penalty for any over-development on the site. Further to the above, the State Government intends to carry out an audit of all structures in Lagos to ascertain those with planning approval or not and evaluate the physical development against the approved building plans. The details of this initiative are being finalized and you will be briefed in due course.<br> “Let me reiterate that Lagos is open to business for those who must comply with the state’s laws and regulations in order to prosper. Our main concern is to continue to improve on the ease of doing business and uphold the rule of law at all times. Those who choose non-compliance and defiance will henceforth face the full weight of the law without fear or favour.”<br> While he sympathized with those who lost their loved ones and those who sustained injuries in the process, Akinwunmi Ambode made it clear that it is the duty of any government to make sure that the lives and properties of its citizens were protected, adding that his administration was resolute to succeed in that duty.<br>   Narrating the actions taken by his government since the incident happened, Ambode said they ordered the immediate isolation of the construction area and also stopped further work. He also organised an emergency rescue team which made sure that all the injured persons were taken to the state hospitals and also gave an order for the people who owned the crumbled building to hand themselves over to the police, which they did.<br> He sternly warned,<br> “In addition, some government officials have been relieved of their duties. I want to assure you that there will no longer be any sacred cows. If there is failure of duty, there will be sanctions.”<br> The governor gave an assurance that the state government would do everything within its legal jurisdiction, to curtail the prodigality of developers who disobey its regulations and to bring back effectiveness and confidence in the control and supervision of the building processes.<br> For the purpose of achieving this objective, the Lagos state government had instituted a committee led by Dr Moses Olubunmi Ajayi, a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Engineer Ore Fadayomi, President of the Nigerian Institute of Structural engineers; Mrs. Yetunde Ajayi, Retired Permanent Secretary; General Manager, Lagos State Planning Authority (LASSPA) and the Secretary of LASBCA as Secretary of the Committee.<br>   The terms and references of the committee, which is required to submit its report in 4 weeks includes,<br> To examine the Urban and Regional Planning Law of the state as it affects Lagos State Building Control Agency, and LASBCA and also to examine the operations of LASBCA and make recommendations for changes that would ensure effective service delivery.<br> To recommend organizational re-structure and appropriate manpower for effective operation of LASBCA.<br> To study the legal and operational issues affecting the functioning of the Materials Testing Laboratory and all other matters that will enhance the efficient functioning of the two organizations.</p> <p dir="ltr">Source :buzznigeria.com </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvf25nbqb1QU1ogUcGtZxLoyWrPZaLde33liLtKVAHs6MbRAXGPrJIkU6aZyVV8jpsHoICSjjXQbnMdHo3xkImshYvLvZZv1kQTl6xIMjwGuETjKhsr2tDkdSbvq-ldzsX8vSBW4tg5puO/s1600/Akinwunmi-Ambode.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvf25nbqb1QU1ogUcGtZxLoyWrPZaLde33liLtKVAHs6MbRAXGPrJIkU6aZyVV8jpsHoICSjjXQbnMdHo3xkImshYvLvZZv1kQTl6xIMjwGuETjKhsr2tDkdSbvq-ldzsX8vSBW4tg5puO/s640/Akinwunmi-Ambode.jpg"> </a> </div>

Ambode Orders Evacuation Of Lekki Gardens Occupants

The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, who visited the site of the collapsed five-storey building which wasted the lives of 34 perso...

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