2016-04-17 | iBasam

See What Dangote Is Promising All Nigerians By 2019

BASAM 0 11:56:00

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<img alt="dangote (1)" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="268" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/dangote-1.jpg" width="400" />         
        
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Aliko
 Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Group, on Monday said Nigeria would be
 self-sufficient in rice, sugar and other commodities by 2019.</div>
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Dangote said this in Abuja at a meeting 
with the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, Nigerian 
businessmen and some philanthropists. The billionaire businessman, who 
was speaking against the backdrop of his investment in the economy in 
the nation, added that Nigeria would soon become the largest exporter of
 petroleum products and fertiliser.</div>
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He said he would not want to be known as
 the richest man alone, but would also lend his voice and other capacity
 to better the lots of Nigerians; and commended the steps being taken by
 the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in addressing the 
challenge of corruption facing the nation.</div>
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<strong>Read More</strong>: <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://dailytimes.com.ng/dangote-promises-nigerians-sufficient-salt-and-sugar-by-2019/" style="color: red;">dailytimes</a></span></div>

See What Dangote Is Promising All Nigerians By 2019

See What Dangote Is Promising All Nigerians By 2019

Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Group, on Monday said Nigeria would be self-sufficient in ric...

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Soldiers ‘force’ suicide bomber to blow self up

BASAM 0 11:43:00

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 <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"><img alt="Soldiers ‘force’ suicide bomber to blow self up" class="setborder" src="https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Operation-Lafiya-Dole-653x365.jpg" style="float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" /></span></div>
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<strong>The
 Nigeria army says its men have forced a suicide bomber to detonate 
improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on himself, thus preventing another 
suicide bomb.</strong><br />
According to a statement signed by Sani 
usman, a colonel and acting director of army public relations, the 
army intercepted the suspected bomber on his way to Ummarari community 
in Borno state,<br />
“Troops of 7 Division Garrison, Forward Operation 
Base (FOB), on Saturday averted yet another suicide bombing catastrophe 
on Ummarari community by suspected Boko Haram terrorist at about 7 a.m,”
 Usman said.<br />
“The suicide bomber was intercepted by the vigilant 
troops and the civilian JTF while attempting to enter the village to 
detonate his dangerous cargo on innocent persons in the community.”<br />
It
 said the suspect was forced to detonate his explosives, after he was 
halted by security agents and members of the Civilian JTF.<br />
“The 
suicide bomber detonated the strapped Improvised Explosive Device (IED) 
vest on his body, thus killing himself instantly, when he was forced to 
halt, based on suspicion that he was carrying suicide bombing material.<br />
“Thankfully, there was no any other casualty other than the suspected suicide bomber.<br />
“Troops
 and the Civilian JTF at the village are now combing the surrounding 
area to forestall further attacks and clear the environment of likely 
remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hibernating,”<br />
source: thecableng

Soldiers ‘force’ suicide bomber to blow self up

Soldiers ‘force’ suicide bomber to blow self up

The Nigeria army says its men have forced a suicide bomber to detonate improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on himself, thus ...

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Iheanacho’s goals sink Stoke

BASAM 0 11:40:00

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 <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"><img alt="Iheanacho’s goals sink Stoke" class="setborder" src="https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Kelechi-Iheanacho-3-653x365.jpg" style="float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" /></span></div>
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<strong>Nigerian
 forward Kelechi Iheanacho scored two second-half goals to help 
Manchester City to a 4-0 victory over Stoke City on Saturday.</strong><br />
Making
 a rare start in the Premier League, the Super Eagle grabbed his chance 
with both hands, also winning the penalty that Sergio Aguero coolly 
converted for City’s second goal of the encounter.<br />
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_102441" style="width: 560px;">
<a href="https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Kelechi-Iheanacho-4.jpg"><img alt="Kelechi Iheanacho 4" class="wp-image-102441" height="330" src="https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Kelechi-Iheanacho-4.jpg" width="550" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text">
Iheanacho dribbling past Stoke goalkeeper, Jakob Haugaard, for his second and City’s fourth of the game</div>
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City
 took the lead 10 minutes before half time when Fernando glanced a 
Jesus Navas corner beyond Shay Given, and there was still some time to 
add a second before the break, after Iheanacho drew a foul from Ryan 
Shawcross in the 18-yard box and Aguero stepped up to convert with 
aplomb.<br />
A groin injury forced Stoke to replace Given with Jakob 
Haugaard at the restart, and the new goalkeeper conceded his first goal 
in the 64th minute when, following good work by Zabaleta, Iheanacho fire
 into the net.<br />
The 19-year-old grabbed his brace 10 minutes later.
 Played in by Wilfried Bony, Iheanacho’s first touch took the ball 
beyond two Stoke defenders, and he went on to round Haugaard and slot 
into the net to hand his team a psychological boost ahead of Tuesday’s 
UEFA Champions League encounter with real Madrid.<br />
credit: thecableng

Iheanacho’s goals sink Stoke

Iheanacho’s goals sink Stoke

Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho scored two second-half goals to help Manchester City to a 4-0 victory over Stoke City on ...

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15 Things Men Don’t Understand About Women

BASAM 0 05:12:00

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<img alt="1" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="378" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/1142.jpg" width="963" />									
								
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<div class="p1 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">1. Why it feels so good to take off your bra at the end of the day. </strong>This
 is why they should make little bras for testicles so they can keep them
 in this weird sweaty thing that you have to keep adjusting, and 
sometimes one of them falls out of it, and it also itches and pinches in
 a weird way. Then when they take it off after 10 hours, they too shall 
dance the dance of kings.</div>
<div class="p1 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">2. Why you’ll say something is fine when it’s not fine.</strong>
 I wish all women could be direct all the time, but we’re socialized 
from birth to be nice and polite and not get upset or be “bitchy,” which
 unfortunately can result in the occasional “I’m fine” while smoke comes
 out of our ears like a cartoon in the 1960s. Just accept this about us 
and also pay more attention to when we’re not fine, so you don’t have to
 ask that question.</div>
<div class="p1 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">3. Why catcalling is never cute or complimentary. </strong>No,
 a gross, sweaty, weird dude telling me I have a nice ass when I’m just 
trying to go home after a long day is not a really nice compliment, and 
no, it’s not the same as a hot girl telling you you’re hot. It’s just 
not. Guys cannot understand this and trying to explain it to them will 
always make you want to throw yourself into the sea.</div>
<div class="p1 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">4. Why bras cost so much. </strong>We
 don’t understand it either, so if you could pick up dinner tonight, 
that’d be great. We just had to buy two bras and now we can’t eat for 
four weeks.</div>
<div class="p1 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">5. Why buying jeans is like stepping into hell and all of the jeans were made by the devil. </strong>I
 have often fantasized about what it must be like to waltz into a store 
and be like, “My waist is a size 27!” and they bring you a bunch of 
jeans that fit like a glove, but that is not a thing for women. Instead,
 we’re faced with a pile of jeans on the floor of the dressing room and 
breathing into a paper bag because who are we anymore if the pair of 
jeans that usually fits doesn’t fit our calves for some reason. What is 
this life?!</div>
<div class="p1 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">6. Why we have so many pillows on our couch/bed. </strong>I’m sorry but I love being cozy. Why do you not like being cozy? Are you OK?</div>
<div class="p1 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">7. Why we need another shirt/dress/pair of shoes when we already have one that looks exactly like it. </strong>I’ll
 admit this is a little silly but if we have a favorite striped shirt 
and then we wear it and we want to wear a striped shirt a few days 
later, we can’t because it’s in the laundry basket. Hence, my closet 
full of nothing but striped shirts. That actually doesn’t make any 
sense, but still.</div>
<div class="p1 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">8. Why it takes so long to do eye makeup. </strong>I
 want you to try to take a tiny pencil and draw straight lines on it 
very close to the lash line and then get both eyes to look exactly the 
same with no variation, and then you can ask me why.</div>
<div class="p1 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">9. When you ask them to take a picture of you, you mean “upwards of 10.” </strong>Because
 the odds that you’re Diane Arbus behind the camera are pretty slim, so 
we’re going to need options (followed by an extensive period of 
filtering and adjustments because it’s an art, thanks).</div>
<div class="p2 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">10. That period pain is very serious and real and no freaking joke. </strong>Unfortunately,
 evendoctors have been found to ignore women’s menstrual cramps, which 
can make women less likely to speak up when something could actually be 
really wrong.  Can’t you guys just assume it’s like a pain you’ll never 
experience ever and then go get us chocolate?</div>
<div class="p1 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">11. Why we ask if we look fat in something.</strong>
 I guess it’s because the pressure to be thin is all-consuming sometimes
 and because our self-esteem can fluctuate and also because we’re human 
beings who sometimes need emotional support? IDK.</div>
<div class="p1 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">12. Why we think romantic comedies are seriously life-giving. </strong>Actually,
 some dudes totally get this and they are gold among men, but the ones 
who don’t, dudes, I don’t know what to tell you, other than you should 
get some new feelings. Feelings are great.</div>
<div class="p3 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">13. </strong><strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">Why
 we have 400 products in our bathroom and the weight of all of it 
practically buries us every time we open our medicine cabinet.</strong> 
We didn’t make the rules, but yes we do “need” foundation, concealer, 
eyeliner (so much eyeliner, in all colors), multiple eye shadow 
palettes, lip liner, lip gloss, lipstick, lip balm, and also 90 waxing 
products. I’m not even counting things like toothpaste and deodorant, 
and I could list another 20 things if I felt like it, but even listing 
these is making me tired.</div>
<div class="p4 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">14. Girl drama.</strong>
 I don’t have time to explain to you what patriarchy is and why it wants
 us all to hate each other, but let me tell you, we hate it and most of 
us just want to be friends with every woman on earth because every woman
 on earth is mostly great. Plus, it’s fun to have access to other 
women’s closets, TBH.</div>
<div class="p4 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong data-redactor-tag="strong" data-verified="redactor">15. The difference between leggings, pantyhose, and tights. </strong>Nothing makes me laugh more than a guy calling leggings “tights.” Nothing.</div>
<div class="p4 body-el-text standard-body-el-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<strong>Credit: Cosmopolitan</strong></div>

15 Things Men Don’t Understand About Women

15 Things Men Don’t Understand About Women

1. Why it feels so good to take off your bra at the end of the day. This is why they should make l...

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Yobe Holds National Assembly Bye Election

BASAM 0 05:07:00

<em><strong><img alt="Yobe National Assembly Election" class="alignleft wp-image-173666 size-medium" height="162" src="http://www.channelstv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Kogi-election-300x162.jpg" width="300" /> </strong></em><br />
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<em><strong>The National Assembly bye election is currently holding in Yobe State, northeast Nigeria.</strong></em><br />
The election is taking place in order to fill the vacant seat left by the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, Khadija Ibrahim.<br />

Mrs Ibrahim represented the Damaturu, Gujba, Gulani and Tarmuwa 
Federal Constituency before her nomination to serve in the President 
Muhammadu Buhari cabinet.<br />

The election is holding in Damaturu, the state capital, as well as 
Gujba, Gulani and Tarmuwa Local Government Areas, constituting the 
federal constituency.<br />

The streets of Damaturu, like other affected council areas remain 
deserted as security operatives continue to search for vehicles and 
people using the road.<br />

Reports say that electoral officials arrived most venues on Saturday morning in good time for the polls.<br />

Four political parties: National Conscience Party (NCP), Advance 
Congress for Democracy (ACD), All Progressives Congress (APC) and the 
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are participating in the bye election.<br />
credit: channelstv

Yobe Holds National Assembly Bye Election

Yobe Holds National Assembly Bye Election

The National Assembly bye election is currently holding in Yobe State, northeast Nigeria. The election is taking place in order to fill...

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Why Women Leave Men They Love, What Every Man Needs To Know

BASAM 0 04:57:00

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<img alt="love" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="437" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/love.jpg" width="300" />         
        
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As
 a marriage counsellor working with men and women in relationship 
crisis, I help clients navigate numerous issues. While many situations 
are complex, there’s one profoundly simple truth that men need to know: 
Women leave men they love.</div>
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They feel terrible about it. It tears 
their heart out of them. But they do it. They rally their courage and 
their resources and they leave. Women leave men with whom they have 
children, homes and lives.</div>
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Women leave for many reasons, but 
there’s one reason in particular that haunts me, one that I want men to 
understand: Women leave because their man is not present. He’s working, 
golfing, gaming, watching TV, fishing…the list is long. These aren’t bad
 men. They’re good men. They’re good fathers. They support their family.
 They’re nice, likeable. But they take their wife for granted. They’re 
not present.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Women in my office tell me: <em>“Someone could come and sweep me off my feet, right out from under my husband.”</em> Sometimes the realization scares them. Sometimes it makes them cry.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Men, I’m not saying this is right or 
wrong. I’m telling you what I see. You can get as angry, hurt or 
indignant as you want. Your wife is not your property. She does not owe 
you her soul. You earn it. Day by day, moment after moment. You win her 
over first and foremost with your presence, your aliveness. She needs to
 feel it. She wants to talk to you about what matters to her and to feel
 that you’re listening to her. Not nodding politely. Not placating. 
Definitely not playing devil’s advocate.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
She wants you to feel her. She doesn’t 
want absent-minded groping or quick sex. She wants to feel your passion.
 Can you feel your passion? Can you show her? Not just your passion for 
her or for sex; your passion for being alive. Do you have it? It’s the 
most attractive thing you possess. If you’ve lost it, what’s the reason?
 Where did it go? Find out. Find it. If you never discovered it, you are
 living on borrowed time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you think you’re present with your 
wife, try listening to her. Does your mind wander? Notice. When you look
 at her, how deeply do you see her? Look again, look deeper. Meet her 
gaze and keep it for longer than usual, longer than what’s comfortable. 
If she asks what you’re doing, tell her: “I’m looking into you. I want 
to see you deeply. I’m curious about who you are. After all these years I
 still want to know who you are, every day.” But only say it if you mean
 it, if you know it’s true.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Touch her with your full attention. 
Before you put your hand on her, notice the sensation in your hand. 
Notice what happens the moment you make contact. What happens in your 
body? What do you feel? Notice the most subtle sensations and emotions. 
(This is sometimes described as mindfulness.) Tell her everything you’re
 noticing, moment after moment.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But you’re busy. You don’t have time for
 all this. How about five minutes? Five minutes a day. Will you commit 
to that? I’m not talking about extravagant dinners or date nights 
(although these are fine too). I’m talking about five minutes a day to 
be completely present with the woman you share your life with. To be 
completely open– listening and seeing without judgement. Will you do 
that? I bet once you start, once you get a taste, you won’t want to 
stop.</div>
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<strong>Credit: Huffington</strong></div>

Why Women Leave Men They Love, What Every Man Needs To Know

Why Women Leave Men They Love, What Every Man Needs To Know

As a marriage counsellor working with men and women in relationship crisis, I help clients navigate ...

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Saraki should step aside as senate president

BASAM 0 04:44:00

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 <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"><img alt="Reuben Abati" class="setborder" src="https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abati.jpg" style="float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 100%;" /></span></div>
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 <a class="icon-link" href="https://www.thecable.ng/author/reuben-abati" rel="author" title="Posts by Reuben Abati"><span class="icon-text"><br /></span> </a></div>
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<strong>The
 present Senate serving the Nigerian people runs the risk of being 
remembered as the worst since 1999.  Public Relations Consultants and 
media officials of this particular Senate have done their part flooding 
both the print and the online media with details of how productive the 
Bukola Saraki-led Senate has been, and they have been quite aggressive 
in telling us about 30 important Bills which when passed, will change 
the face of Nigeria and deliver change. </strong><br />
The Senate 
according to one report has considered over 125 bills, debated over 48 
motions, and passed three bills. But nobody is apparently impressed. 
During the Jonathan administration, the Senate was the better regarded 
of the two legislative chambers. While members of the House of 
Representatives in the Seventh Assembly behaved as if they were a band 
of students’ unionists, the then Red Chamber projected an image of 
maturity and temperance, even if it was also self-serving! With the 
8th Assembly, the House of Representatives, apart from the shameful 
resort to physical combat over the distribution of “juicy” committees in
 November 2015, has shown itself to be better organized than the present
 Senate. The critical difference is that of leadership. It is one of 
management. It is a matter of weight and politics.<br />
What is clear 
is that the leadership recruitment and selection process in the 
legislative arm of government is as critical as it is in any other 
sphere of government. During the 7th Assembly, the politics of the 
emergence of the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu 
Tambuwal, a PDP lawmaker who became an agent and later, chieftain of the
 opposition party, ensured that the House remained almost permanently in
 a frosty relationship with the Executive. Likewise, the manner of 
Bukola Saraki’s emergence as Senate President, marked again by alleged 
disloyalty to his own party and collusion with the opposition for 
personal gains, has laid the foundation for the supremacy of intrigues, 
cabals, and the politics of mischief in a Chamber that should be devoted
 strictly to the making of laws for the good governance of Nigeria.<br />
His
 colleague in the House of Representatives also emerged under 
controversial circumstances, but Yakubu Dogara’s politics seems to be 
better managed. Saraki’s politics is made more complex by the fact that 
he has strong roots in the two dominant parties in the National Assembly
 and has proven to be extremely influential across party lines, making 
him a dominant force in Nigeria’s current power equation, and most 
certainly, a threat to other power centres.<br />
Online, the Saraki-led
 Senate claims that it has done a lot, even if it has spent more time 
being on vacation in less than a year, and obsessed daily with the 
politics of contradictions. The Senate President once reportedly boasted
 that the Senate under his watch has helped to block corruption by 
helping Nigeria to save money.  He talked about the Senate’s probe of 
the Treasury Single Account (TSA).  But now, here is the contradiction: 
Many Nigerians would find it difficult to see how a Senate whose leader 
is on trial for corruption-related matters, and that has chosen to buy 
for its members, luxury SUV vehicles at inflated cost can claim to be 
helping Nigerians at a time when the economy is on a tragic downward 
spiral, and yet the same Senators had allegedly collected vehicle loans.
 This has brought the Senate condemnation from both the Nigeria Labour 
Congress and a coalition of about 400 Non-Governmental Organizations 
(NGOs).<br />
But we know where the problem lies: politicians are always
 playing games, and the Senate under Bukola Saraki’s watch has acted 
more than once, as if it is against the people. This Senate has had to 
reverse itself thrice in the last one month following public outcry 
about its lack of moral rectitude. The painful reality is that the 
impression has now been created that the Senate as presently constituted
 is playing the politics of one man. It has reduced itself to a 
Saraki-must-stay-and-the-Executive-and-anti-Saraki-APC-leaders-must-bow-Red-Chamber.
 Most members of the House of Representatives have tactfully stayed away
 from this abuse of privilege and utter contempt for the original 
mandate of the National Assembly, but they need to be advised to also 
stay away from the kind of infectious madness that seems to be seizing 
hold of the Senate. It is a form of madness that encourages recourse to 
farce, burlesque and conspicuous acquisition.<br />
Determined to show 
support for their embattled Senate President who is on trial before the 
Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), and whose name has also been mentioned 
in the Panama Papers scandal, many of the Senators abandoned the Senate 
Chambers and started following their boss to the Tribunal. On one 
occasion as many as close to 50 Senators abandoned their primary 
assignment and chose to go and play politics at the Tribunal.  If this 
seeming relocation of the Senate to the Code of Conduct Tribunal was 
meant to intimidate the presiding judge, His Lordship has refused to be 
intimidated, either by the crowd or the convoy of buses or the retinue 
of 90 defence lawyers.  He has now chosen to attend to the case on a 
daily basis. The number of Senators doing follow-follow has since 
reduced: it will of course, be absurd to shut down the entire Senate to 
embark on sycophantic frolic. Nonetheless, the Saraki case is taking its
 toll on the Senate. It has placed it on a collision course with a court
 of competent jurisdiction, with the Executive and also divided the 
ruling All Progressives Congress.<br />
It has also led to a situation 
whereby the lawmakers even attempted to change the Code of Conduct 
Bureau Act in an obvious attempt to frustrate the Saraki trial.  In less
 than 48 hours, the amendment bill went through first and second 
readings. If there had been no public outcry, the lawmakers would have 
passed the bill in less than 72 hours.  It would have been the fastest 
piece of legislation ever, and yet it was meant to be self-serving: 
making a law to sabotage due process, even when they know that a law 
cannot have retroactive effect. When that failed, our Senators came up 
with the ingenious idea that the Chairman of the Code of Conduct 
Tribunal must appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges 
and Public Petitions. An indignant crowd of civil society agitators also
 shut that down.  The Chairman of the CCT has also been a target of 
campaigns of calumny. Saraki’s supporters are throwing everything 
possible into this matter, where the legal process fails, the 
legislative process is deployed; when that also fails, an internet war, 
rallies, protests, all designed to win the public mind is launched.<br />
Senate President Bukola Saraki may not have read Robert Greene’s <em>The 48 Laws of Power,</em> for he seems to have broken too many of those laws already; perhaps he has read <em>The Art of War</em>
 by Sun Tzu. He should have been told that to rush headlong into war 
without mastering the dynamics of power is costly. This is one bitter 
political lesson about the strategy of war that  Senator Saraki is 
currently learning.  But now that he has gone so deep into the 
battlefield, he may no longer be allowed to surrender or retreat, even 
as his troops are gradually fleeing. Saraki has stepped on the 
proverbial Banana peel; as he struggles for survival, our Senate, the 
people’s Senate, must not be allowed to fail as a public institution. 
Senator Saraki should step aside, for now, as Senate President. If he 
emerges victorious from his travails, his colleagues should do him the 
honour of reinstating him to that office of honour, without question. 
But if he loses, he should remember that war only offers two 
possibilities, and even when a warrior wins, there may still be dangers 
on the way back home. In all, the politics of Saraki’s trial should not 
consume the Senate, and indeed the 8th Assembly.<br />
“So far, so 
good”, Saka Olawale wrote assessing the present Senate. I don’t think 
so. If anything, this Senate needs to be rescued. Whatever explanations 
our present set of Senators offers would be difficult to believe given 
the manner in which they have exposed their own limitations. The Senate 
cannot even keep documents. Copies of the 2016 Budget vanished from its 
custody. The copies when eventually found mutated into versions unknown 
to the Executive arm that presented the same Budget at an open ceremony.<br />
For
 five months, the Senate is embroiled in a needless controversy over the
 content of the Budget. What is worse: In almost one year, no Senator 
can be quoted as having said anything engaging or profound. The only 
Senator who makes a serious effort to display some common sense is far 
more active on Twitter than on the floor of the Senate. The more 
prominent Senators are known for their rabid politicking or their 
wardrobe or exotic cars or the comedy that they provide. One of them 
even came up with a bill to gag free speech. It was in this same Senate 
that some male chauvinists declared that women cannot have any equal 
rights with men, and so a Gender Equality Bill is unacceptable.<br />
They
 failed to realize that in the United States, whose Constitutional 
democracy we are copying, a woman is only a short distance away from 
emerging as Presidential candidate of the Democratic Party and as 
45th President of the United States. I imagine many of them struggling 
to be photographed with the same woman if they are so privileged. Was it
 also not in this same Senate that a member argued that Nigerian 
lawmakers should only patronize Made-in-Nigeria-women? This was meant to
 be a “brilliant” contribution to a debate on the need to promote 
Made-in-Nigeria goods. How dumb! And this kindergarten level statement 
actually generated some debate!<br />
Challenging as the democratic 
process may have been, Nigerians can still remember a few Senators of 
old who sat in that same Assembly and made impact with their 
interventions and insightful speeches. To now have a group of Senators 
who crack jokes, borrow their imageries from road side bars, embark on a
 frolic, or spend time on sycophantic exertions, and when called upon, 
prove annoyingly incapable of analyzing and interrogating policies and 
making solid contributions is sad. We expect this to change.<br />
credit: thecableng

Saraki should step aside as senate president

Saraki should step aside as senate president

The present Senate serving the Nigerian people runs the risk of being remembered as the worst since 1999. Pu...

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7 ways to survive the hot weather

BASAM 0 04:40:00

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<strong>The
 heat in town these days is so bad that you sometimes wonder if you’re 
still on earth or already in hell! It’s so scorching out there and there
 is no telling as to when it will get better. </strong><br />
Still, we 
have to learn to cope in this weather. It is also necessary to stay 
healthy this period because there are so many heat-related diseases. 
Here are seven ways to survive in this weather:<br />
<h4>
<strong>Drink lots of water than you will normally do</strong></h4>
Always
 have a bottle or container of water at all times. Do not wait until you
 are thirsty, to drink water. Your body loses fluids through sweating 
and this period is when you tend to sweat a lot so it is essential to 
replace bodily fluids. If you are not going to the toilet every two to 
three hours, then you are not doing it right.<br />
<h4>
<strong>Switch to natural fabrics</strong></h4>
Synthetic
 fabrics retain moisture and that causes more heat. It is essential to 
stay cool and for this reason, go with fabrics that are light and would 
not absorb heat. Also avoid wearing thick fabrics, even if natural. Go 
with brighter colours of materials.<br />
<h4>
<strong>Regulate exercise and workout time and routine</strong></h4>
During
 workout, the body normally adjusts to the heat. But these natural 
cooling systems may fail if you’re exposed to high temperatures for a 
long time. If you are new to exercise or you are unfit, be sure what 
your body can handle and take breaks during your workout. If you begin 
to feel tightness in your head, or you are weak or dizzy, you need to 
stop and cool down. And if after 30 minutes you still feel dizzy, you 
may need to seek medical attention. Also if you take long walks, then at
 every chance you get, you should stop to cool down under a shaded area.<br />
<h4>
<strong>Take showers as often as possible</strong></h4>
When
 you begin to feel restless and you feel so hot, hop into the bathroom 
and take a shower. If you are not where you can do so, wet a hand towel 
and place behind your neck. You can also use it to rub your face. This 
helps to cool the body temperature.<br />
<h4>
<strong>Carry a hand fan and a face towel</strong></h4>
These two are the essential items one must have in this weather.<br />
<h4>
<strong>Avoid taking alcohol, including beer</strong></h4>
Also
 avoid caffeinated beverages. Taking alcohol and caffeinated drinks 
affects the body and reduces its ability to deal with the heat. Taking 
this also leaves you needing more fluid. No matter how sweet or 
refreshing they are, they are not helping but harming you. Switch to 
water.<br />
<h4>
<strong>Apply dusting powder or calamine lotion</strong></h4>
As often as possible, apply dusting powder or calamine lotion. This acts as a soothing agent and helps cool the body.<br />
If
 you notice someone having a heat stroke, the first thing to do is get 
them out of the heat and then remove the outer layers of clothing. Lay 
them down with the legs elevated, and fan them. If the person has dry 
skin, apply wet compresses, then seek medical assistance.<br />
For 
someone who has suffered from heat exhaustion or heat stroke before, 
you’re at a higher risk of getting a heat sickness again.<br />
source: thecableng

7 ways to survive the hot weather

7 ways to survive the hot weather

The heat in town these days is so bad that you sometimes wonder if you’re still on earth or already in hell! It’s so scorchi...

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Lamido: If you voted for PDP in the north, you were branded a Christian, pastor, infidel

BASAM 0 04:37:00

<div class="article-photo">
 <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"><img alt="Lamido: If you voted for PDP in the north, you were branded a Christian, pastor, infidel" class="setborder" src="https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/sule-lamido1-653x365.jpg" style="float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" /></span></div>
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<strong>Sule
 Lamido, former governor of Jigawa state, has sought to explain the poor
 performance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general 
election in northern Nigeria.</strong><br />
The former ruling party 
lost governorship in all northern states apart from Taraba and Gombe — 
and won presidential election only in three out of the 19 states, 
compared to seven in 2011 and 12 in 2007.<br />
<a href="http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/politics/how-we-ll-chase-apc-out-in-2019-sule-lamido/143718.html" target="_blank"><strong>Lamido told Weekly Trust</strong></a>
 on Saturday that many northerners did not have the freedom to vote 
their choices because of the branding of the PDP as a Christian party.<br />
“In
 the build-up to the last general election, PDP was vilified, 
intimidated with religion, falsehoods and propaganda through Facebook 
postings. Rwandan genocide pictures were posted as Boko Haram victims. 
PDP was blackmailed into silence,” he said.<br />
“When you queued to 
vote in the north, people viewed you as an infidel. You were all there 
and these things happened in a country where freedom should be the 
operating word. APC man can vote APC but if Lamido votes PDP, he is a 
Christian, he is a pastor.”<br />
Significantly, APC had also accused PDP of branding it as a Muslim party.<br />
Many PDP leaders labelled APC “Muslim Brotherhood” and “Janjaweed Party” ahead of the 2015 elections.<br />
Lamido
 praised the appointment of Ali Modu Sheriff, former governor of Borno 
state, as the acting national chairman of the PDP as the party seeks to 
re-position itself ahead of the 2019 elections.<br />
He said: “Modu 
Sheriff has a long standing political history. All those making noise 
are product of political invention. Sheriff has been in politics and 
defeating PDP at the poll since 1999.<br />
“He was in the ANPP and 
worked for the alliance that brought together incompatibles. I mean, how
 do you put (Alhaji Abubakar) Atiku, (President Muhammadu) Buhari and 
(Chief Ahmed Bola) Tinubu in one political pot? How do you cook them? 
No, tell me. You can’t cook Buhari and these two in one political pot.<br />
“When
 they were forging alliance with ANPP, Sheriff was the arrowhead. They 
were celebrating him when he was in APC, working for APC. He was a very 
wonderful person. But, when he joined the PDP, he became a Boko Haram 
member. Who is saying so, of course, the APC members because they are 
scared of him? He knows them damn too well.<br />
“I think, today, 
Sheriff is the best thing to have happened to PDP. It is a huge good 
will, he has a huge followership. He is somebody who is courageous, 
inspirational and he can say: look, APC go to tell. APC is thoroughly 
scared because they know him and what he is capable of doing. He will 
come to Jigawa sometime next week.<br />
“We will come out en masse to 
welcome him and assemble the biggest crowd ever in Nigerian politics. We
 want to force them (APC) out in 2019 because they have no agenda and 
manifesto to govern.”<br />
credit: thecableng

Lamido: If you voted for PDP in the north, you were branded a Christian, pastor, infidel

Lamido: If you voted for PDP in the north, you were branded a Christian, pastor, infidel

Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa state, has sought to explain the poor performance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in...

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Boko Haram ‘now using birds’ for suicide mission

BASAM 0 04:20:00

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 <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"><img alt="Boko Haram ‘now using birds’ for suicide mission" class="setborder" src="https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Soldiers-4-653x365.jpg" style="float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" /></span></div>
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<strong>After suffering huge defeat from security forces, the Boko Haram sect has devised a new strategy in its operations.</strong><br />
According
 to Lamidi Adeosun, general officer commanding (GOC), 7 division of the 
Nigerian army, Maiduguri, the insurgents now strap bombs to birds.<br />
Adeosun
 revealed this to American diplomats and security officials during the 
briefing at the headquarters of the multinational joint task force 
MNJTF) in Chad.<br />
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/boko-haram-strapping-bombs-to-birds-as-isis-affiliated-group-continues-bloody-insurgency-in-africa-a6994101.html" target="_blank"><strong>The Independent said</strong> </a>the officer showed gruesome photos of the victims of Boko Haram’s attacks and their latest weapons.<br />
“One
 picture showed a bird with an explosive strapped on its back, 
demonstrating a lot of ingenuity,” Independent said in its report.<br />
Adeosun
 was quoted as saying his forces had received intelligence that ISIS 
members were being embedded with Boko Haram but that the Nigerian sect 
had not satisfied requirements for greater operational co-ordination.<br />
In
 March 2015, Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram leader, made a pledge of 
allegiance to ISIS, and urged those who shared the same ideology across 
Africa to take such step.<br />
The move was a major coup for the 
so-called Islamic State, which renamed its affiliate Wilāyat Gharb 
Ifrīqīyyah (West Africa Province).<br />
After expanding its violent 
campaign from Nigeria to Chad, Niger and Cameroon, Boko Haram was named 
the deadliest terror group in the world last year.<br />
credit: thecableng

Boko Haram ‘now using birds’ for suicide mission

Boko Haram ‘now using birds’ for suicide mission

After suffering huge defeat from security forces, the Boko Haram sect has devised a new strategy in its operations. According...

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Saraki: I’m paying for opposing all-Muslim ticket

BASAM 0 02:51:00

<div class="article-photo">
 <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"><img alt="Saraki: I’m paying for opposing all-Muslim ticket" class="setborder" src="https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bukola-Saraki-2-653x365.jpg" style="float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" /></span></div>
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<strong>Senate
 President Bukola Saraki says he is paying the price for what he calls 
“the original sin” – opposing the choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by 
the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 presidential election.</strong><br />
Saraki, in an article published in <strong>THISDAY, The Saturday Newspaper,</strong> denied
 that he fell out with his party for striking a deal with the PDP to win
 the senate presidency in June 2015 as alleged by celebrity journalist 
and Ovation publisher, Dele Momodu.<br />
The senate president, who is 
currently facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on 
allegations of false declaration of assets, said: “Most people talk 
about the Senate Presidency position, but this was not my only offence.<br />
“I
 have also been accused of helping to frustrate some people’s 
opportunity to emerge as President Muhammadu  Buhari’s running mate. But
 I have no problem with anybody.”<br />
His reference to Muslim-Muslim 
ticket is believed to be an allusion to former Lagos governor Bola 
Tinubu, a Muslim, who reportedly wanted to be running mate to Buhari 
before Yemi Osinbajo, a pastor, was picked.<br />
Saraki, also a Muslim, said it was not going to be politically smart to field an all-Muslim ticket.<br />
“My
 concern was that it would not be politically smart of us to run with a 
Muslim-Muslim ticket. I doubt if we would have won the election if we 
had done this, especially after the PDP had successfully framed us a 
Muslim party. I felt we were no longer in 1993,” he said.<br />
“Perhaps,
 more than ever before, Nigerians are more sensitive to issues of 
religious balancing. This… was my original sin. What they say to 
themselves, among other things, was that if he could conspire against 
our ambition, then he must not realize his own ambition as well.<br />
“For
 me however, I have no regrets about this. I only stood for what I 
believed was in the best interest of the party and in the best interest 
of Nigeria.”<br />
In 1993, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) fielded a 
Muslim-Muslim ticket featuring MKO Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe and was 
believed to have won the presidential election, although the 
announcement of results was stopped midway and annulled by the military 
government.<br />
source: thecableng

Saraki: I’m paying for opposing all-Muslim ticket

Saraki: I’m paying for opposing all-Muslim ticket

Senate President Bukola Saraki says he is paying the price for what he calls “the original sin” – opposing the choice of a Musli...

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Benitez wants to win on Anfield return

BASAM 0 02:25:00

<p dir="ltr">Rafael Benitez is hoping Newcastle United’s recent<br>
improvement will continue on his return to Liverpool<br>
on Saturday.<br>
Newcastle have taken four points from home games<br>
with Swansea City and Manchester City over the past<br>
week but remain in the relegation zone, two points<br>
adrift of 17th-placed Norwich City.<br>
The Magpies have lost all eight Premier League<br>
encounters away from St James’ Park in 2016 but<br>
Benitez is optimistic his players can arrest that slide at<br>
Anfield.<br>
He said at Friday’s news conference: “We have to<br>
believe, I’m very happy with the reaction of the team<br>
in the last two games. With that intensity, passion and<br>
character on the pitch, the players showed they believe<br>
and I hope everybody has the same feeling. We’ll fight<br>
to the end.<br>
“It’s the way we have to act if we want to be stronger.<br>
“As a team we have to work hard in attack and<br>
defence, Liverpool are scoring a lot of goals but we will<br>
go there to win. We are where we are but we have to<br>
carry on and stick together.<br>
“Before the game you always have to think about<br>
getting three points. It doesn’t matter about the name<br>
of the rival.<br>
“Our record against Manchester City was quite negative<br>
but we fought with the belief we could get three points.<br>
Liverpool will be exactly the same.”<br>
Stand-in captain Jonjo Shelvey has been relegated to<br>
the bench for the past two games while fellow big-<br>
money signing Georginio Wijnaldum was also dropped<br>
for the game against City in midweek.<br>
Benitez has been impressed at the way both have<br>
handled the situation.<br>
“Competition between players is really important,<br>
especially at the end of the season when you have so<br>
many important games,” he added.<br>
“Players like Jonjo and Gini have been really good.<br>
They are working hard and they have to compete.<br>
“They know my ideas and know they have to compete<br>
anyway.”<br>
Benitez spent six years on Merseyside between 2004<br>
and 2010, with the highlight undoubtedly the club’s<br>
2005 Champions League success over AC Milan in<br>
Istanbul.<br>
The Spaniard can see plenty of similarities between<br>
Newcastle and Liverpool and is relishing returning to<br>
Anfield for just the second time since leaving six years<br>
ago.<br>
“There are a lot of similarities between the Geordies<br>
and Scousers, the atmosphere and the passion of the<br>
crowd, we’re fighting and they’re fighting – they have a<br>
good manager and good players so we’re trying to<br>
replicate what we had here the other day [against<br>
Manchester City],” he said.<br>
“The cities are similar, they’re passionate. They’re<br>
workers and I like this.<br>
“I hope there is a good reception, my connection with<br>
the city is fantastic, my family lives there and we have<br>
a foundation helping people but we will try to get three<br>
points.”</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ygtx_J7w9hxglJ2y1tvM43duRPjMJIO_bKvPOuCi2bTjWrNTvNkQIQjdu3uqAVDLdwBjUwgusJt6l1Mj3RgIpvsZJZQCP60my0sCE9SkCdQDUCppm28U9V_vetmDGIWwF6-vfTpuzWUo/s1600/wet-90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ygtx_J7w9hxglJ2y1tvM43duRPjMJIO_bKvPOuCi2bTjWrNTvNkQIQjdu3uqAVDLdwBjUwgusJt6l1Mj3RgIpvsZJZQCP60my0sCE9SkCdQDUCppm28U9V_vetmDGIWwF6-vfTpuzWUo/s640/wet-90.jpg"> </a> </div>

Benitez wants to win on
Anfield return

Benitez wants to win on Anfield return

Rafael Benitez is hoping Newcastle United’s recent improvement will continue on his return to Liverpool on Saturday. Newcastle have taken...

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A Candid Response from the Senate President #Pendulum

BASAM 0 17:03:00

<p dir="ltr">By Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki<br>
My dear brother Dele, let me thank you most sincerely for your article last weekend, “My Candid Letter to Saraki.” I take everything you said in that article to heart and I must commend you for your candidness indeed and the sincerity of your intentions.<br>
As you said in your article, you are someone I have known more by reputation than by any personal relationship, until recently when we struck up some personal acquaintance based on our shared political interests, especially during the last presidential election. However, I understand why you had to sound so defensive for knowing me at all and had to publicly map the boundaries of our relationship. We have got to that point in our country when we no longer believe that anyone could stand for anything based on principles and convictions alone. Moreover, in the growing culture of media crucifixion and presumed guilt; it is rare to find a voice like yours that calls for fairness and justice.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I would have simply sent you a text message or call you up for your candid advice to me, which I take seriously. But I feel the need to make some clarifications on some of the issues you raised. One of them was that in seeking to be Senate President, I struck a deal with the PDP and made it possible for one of them to be the Deputy Senate President. I know this is the dominant narrative out there, but it is far from the truth.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I did not do any deal with the PDP. I did not have to because even before the PDP Senators as a group took the decision to support my candidature on the eve of the inauguration of the 8th Senate, 22 PDP Senators had already written a letter supporting me. What I did not envisage was a situation where some members of my party would not be in the chambers that day, especially when the clerk had already received a proclamation from the President authorizing the inauguration of the Senate. Pray, if a team refused to turn up for a scheduled match and was consequently walked over, would it be fair to blame the team that turned up and claimed victory? I believe those that made it possible for PDP to claim the DSP position were those who decided to hold a meeting with APC senators elsewhere at the time they ought to be in the chambers. What the PDP Senators did was to take advantage of their numerical strength at the material time. They simply lined up behind Senator Ike Ikweremadu while those of us from APC voted for Senator Ali Ndume. It was a game of numbers, and we were hopelessly outnumbered. If the PDP had nominated their own candidate for the Senate Presidency position that day, they would have won. It was as simple as that.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Secondly, I don’t know if you were aware that in the build up to Senate inauguration, the National Working Committee of the APC sent two signals. The first signal specified how leadership positions in the National Assembly have been zoned. While we were trying to give effect to this decision, the second signal came, which contained names of people to which these zoned position had been allocated. What was not acknowledged was that the President of the Senate is not an executive president. He is primarily one of 109 senators. Therefore, I cannot decide by myself who gets what in the Senate. Therefore, when they said I defied party directive in the choice of principal officers, they are invariably ascribing to me the power that I did not have.</p>
<p dir="ltr">My dear brother, most people talk about the Senate Presidency position, but this was not my only offence. I have also been accused of helping to frustrate some people’s opportunity to emerge as President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate. But I have no problem with anybody. My concern was that it would not be politically smart of us to run with a Muslim-Muslim ticket. I doubt if we would have won the election if we had done this, especially after the PDP had successfully framed us a Muslim party. I felt we were no longer in 1993. Perhaps, more than ever before, Nigerians are more sensitive to issues of religious balancing. This, my brother, was my original sin. What they say to themselves, among other things, was that if he could conspire against our ambition, then he must not realize his own ambition as well. For me however, I have no regrets about this. I only stood for what I believed was in the best interest of the party and in the best interest of Nigeria.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Now to the substantive issue of my trial. As you rightly noted, this trial is not about corruption. And I am happy that since my trial started, people who have followed the proceedings have now understood better what the whole thing is about. I have had opportunity to declare my assets four times since 2003. Over those years, the Code of Conduct Bureau had examined my claims. There was no time that they raised any issues with me on any item contained in my declarations over those twelve years. This is why you should be surprised that while I am being tried by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the witness and the evidence supplied against me were all from EFCC.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Like you, I have an abiding faith in the judiciary. May God forbid the day that we would give up on our judicial system. However, the onus is not on me to prove that I have confidence in the judiciary; the burden is on my prosecutors to prove to the world that justice is done in my case. If the process of fighting corruption is itself corrupt, then whatever victory is recorded would remain tainted and puerile!</p>
<p dir="ltr">Some people have wondered, why has Saraki been “jumping” from one court to another instead of facing his trial? To those people, I would say that I have only gone to those courts in search of justice. Strange things have happened, and they are still happening. For example, Section 3(d) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act states that the Bureau shall refer any breach or non-compliance to the Tribunal. However, where the person concerned makes a written admission of the breach, no reference to the Tribunal shall be necessary. It was on this basis that the case against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was dismissed in 2011, by this same judge in this same Tribunal on the grounds that he was not given an opportunity to deny or admit to any breach before he was brought before the tribunal. This was the ruling that I relied on in making my case. But what did the judge say? That he had judged in error in 2011 and he had since realized his error and departed from it. My question is whether a Tribunal of first instance has the power to reverse itself. I should expect that everyone would be worried if justice is applied differently to different people. However, in spite of my fears, I remain hopeful. Why? Because the judiciary does not end with this Tribunal.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Do you know the genesis of my real problems with President Goodluck Jonathan? I have had a touchy relationship with him, but the turning point was in September 2011 when I moved a motion on the floor of the Senate that exposed the N2.3 trillion fuel subsidy racket. I remain proud that I was the Senator that blew the lid on the most elaborate corruption scheme ever in this country. But after that I became a marked man. My security was withdrawn. I was invited and re-invited by the EFCC and the Special Fraud Unit. I was even declared wanted at a point. I believe I am still one of the most investigated former governors in this country. I have no doubt that if the Jonathan government was able to find anything against me, they would not have allowed me to go unpunished.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Let me make this point clearly. I do not expect to be shielded from prosecution because of my contribution to APC, if there was genuine basis for such action to be taken against me. But I have every reason to expect not to be persecuted by the party that I contributed so much to build. The New PDP may not have given APC victory in 2015, but it was an important factor in the dynamics that produced that victory. And with all sense of modesty, I was an important factor in the formation of New PDP; in leading that group to the APC; in ensuring our group’s support for the candidate during the primaries and in mobilizing substantial resources for the election. For these, I have not expected any special compensation. Rather, I only expect to be treated like every loyal party member and accorded the right to freely aspire!</p>
<p dir="ltr">Some people have complained that I have been taken Senators with me to my trial. But I did not force them to follow me. The Senators have freely accompanied me to the Tribunal not because they are loyal to me as Abubakar Bukola Saraki, but because they are committed to the principle that produced me as the President of the Senate. The same principle that produced Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President and produced Ali Ndume as Majority Leader. They see all of us in the Senate leadership as manifestation of their jealously guarded right to freely choose their own leaders. Because they know they made us their leaders without any external interference; they are confident that they retain the power to remove us whenever they so wish. They also know what this trial is all about. They believe I am being victimized because they have expressed their right to choose their own leadership. This is why I am not in any way perturbed by my absence in the chambers during this trial. Because I was not imposed on the Senate, I feel confident that the Senate will protect its own choice whether I am present or not. It is never about me. It is about the independence of the legislature. It has always been so since 1999. It is so today and it would be so in 2019, it would be so in 2023, and as long as we practice a democracy that operates on the principle of separation of powers.</p>
<p dir="ltr">My dear brother, let me end by observing that I am not alone in this trial. On trial with me in this process is the entire judicial system. On trial with me are our entire anti-corruption institutions and our avowed commitment to honestly fight corruption. On trial with me is our party’s promise to depart from the ways of the past, a promise that Nigerians voted for. And I dare say, on trial with me is our media; and their ethical commitment to report fairly and objectively. In the end, it is my earnest hope that whatever we do will ultimately ennoble our country.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Dr. Saraki is President of the Senate, Federal Republic of <u>Nigeria</u></p>
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A Candid Response from the Senate President #Pendulum

A Candid Response from the Senate President #Pendulum

By Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki My dear brother Dele, let me thank you most sincerely for your article last weekend, “My Candid Letter to Sar...

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Barack Obama Asks UK To Stick With EU

BASAM 0 15:29:00

<p dir="ltr">President of the United States, Barack Obama, has advised the UK to stick with the European Union (EU).<br>
 President Obama made the call on Friday during his final trip to Britain as US President.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Earlier in the day, Mr Obama and his wife, Michelle, traveled by helicopter to Windsor Castle for lunch with Queen Elizabeth II, who turned 90 on Thursday, and her husband, Prince Philip, 94.</p>
<p dir="ltr">UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, is hosting Mr Obama, who is on a three-day visit with his wife, Michelle at Downing Street.</p>
<p dir="ltr">BBC says London Mayor, Boris Johnson, called his view hypocritical”, describing the EU system as “alien” to US traditions.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Both leaders are holding talks on the fight against alleged Islamic State and would later be joined by the UK’s home, foreign and defence secretaries, as well as the chancellor.</p>
<p dir="ltr">They are billed to deliberate on the progress being made in combating IS in Iraq and other steps to be taken to tackle the terrorists in Syria.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As they are expected to later hold a joint press conference, the leaders would also discuss the situation in Libya, where the West is considering how to support the newly-established Government of National Accord (GNA) in the battle against IS.<br>
Credit: channelstv </p>
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Barack Obama Asks UK To Stick With EU

Barack Obama Asks UK To Stick With EU

President of the United States, Barack Obama, has advised the UK to stick with the European Union (EU). President Obama made the call on F...

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The Storm Is Over! Mide Funmi Martins Abiodun thank God and fans over her family reunion

BASAM 0 15:02:00

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLoD8SCxmF-8Jye3XuUXGWg6j6gbpIQ22fZN9u4rR12M2JdGEDMUFvpCjQ8cseByEHdZJ8O01hFHjTQWmTv2ClVMMwRkIHKfTXeJyvKYhcrxmGmZ3maUuNmFqebdjRTTHaY2DmGiSinkU/s1600/IMG_20160422_225055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLoD8SCxmF-8Jye3XuUXGWg6j6gbpIQ22fZN9u4rR12M2JdGEDMUFvpCjQ8cseByEHdZJ8O01hFHjTQWmTv2ClVMMwRkIHKfTXeJyvKYhcrxmGmZ3maUuNmFqebdjRTTHaY2DmGiSinkU/s640/IMG_20160422_225055.JPG"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fZkd6-6BXF9DGPgAdKMC_YESFidGULwJK6nigGL5ZIONsyQM4S6pYWxqKLFSzwC27ruWrXUZMcUE1Cg3CCA76G9HH86sxLPMG1WTChIrH5_zSyKvGieNa_J5RTYSN7qR7MF5VHrKW0Pw/s1600/IMG_20160422_225315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fZkd6-6BXF9DGPgAdKMC_YESFidGULwJK6nigGL5ZIONsyQM4S6pYWxqKLFSzwC27ruWrXUZMcUE1Cg3CCA76G9HH86sxLPMG1WTChIrH5_zSyKvGieNa_J5RTYSN7qR7MF5VHrKW0Pw/s640/IMG_20160422_225315.JPG"> </a> </div>

The Storm Is Over! Mide Funmi Martins Abiodun thank God and fans over her family reunion

The Storm Is Over! Mide Funmi Martins Abiodun thank God and fans over her family reunion

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Chad Intercepts ISIS Weapons Going To Boko Haram

BASAM 0 13:56:00

Chad has intercepted a large cache of different types of weapons sent
 from ISIS affiliate in Libya and going to Boko Haram insurgents in the 
Lake Chad region.
<span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-embedded  centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image">
<span class="block-story-object-asset"><img alt="" class="media-element file-embedded" src="http://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/Weapons-left-behind-by-Boko-Haram-in-Malam-fatori.jpg?itok=yAyB7X3C" /></span><span class="block-story-object-content"><span class="block-story-object-content-header"><span class="block-story-object-content-header-description">Chadian soldiers display arms captured from Boko Haram militants in Malam Fatori, in northeastern Nigeria
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The weapons were seized two weeks ago, underscoring the increasing 
ties between  Boko Haram and the Islamic State, which now has a 
foothold, from its northern base of Sirte,  south of Libya, next door to
 Chad.<br />

Brig. Gen. Donald Bolduc, commander of US special operations in 
Africa made this revelation in Ndjamena today as US ambassador to the 
United Nations; Samantha Power came for a visit.<br />

The Boko Haram-IS nexus may pose the greatest immediate threat to the Lake Chad region, Bolduc said.<br />

Brig. Gen. Donald Bolduc, right, accompanied by U.S. State Department
 Principal Deputy Secretary for African Affairs Bruce Wharton, speaks to
 members of the media outside the U.S. Embassy in Chad in N’Djamena, 
Chad.<br />

Although Boko Haram pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State last year, the operational connection has been unclear.<br />

Bolduc said the groups clearly share “tactics, techniques, and 
procedures,” from the way they conduct complex ambushes and set 
improvised explosive devices like roadside bombs, to how they undertake 
high-profile attacks on hotels.<br />

“You can, I think, draw a conclusion,” Bolduc told reporters. The 
implication was that the weapons were sent by the Islamic State, which 
has established a foothold along Libya’s Mediterranean coast, near the 
city of Sirte.<br />

[Samantha Power, left, listens as Chad President Idriss Deby Itno, center, answers questions from members of the media]<br />

Given the range of threats here, he said the “Lake Chad Basin region is Ground Zero” in the fight against extremism in Africa.<br />

U.S. officials warned of deepening links between the Islamic State 
and Boko Haram and prodded Chad’s ruling strongman to introduce reforms 
for the sake of long-term stability.<br />

The visit to Chad by America’s U.N. envoy, Samantha Power, and top 
U.S. military officials  highlights the country’s precarious position 
dealing with a multitude of hostile militant groups and unstable 
neighboring governments. It also underscores the impoverished, 
land-locked country’s growing geopolitical value.<br />

Boko Haram has launched attacks on Chad’s territory from its base in 
Nigeria to the southwest. The Islamic State and al-Qaida in the Islamic 
Maghreb lurk in chaotic and lawless Libya to the north. To the east is 
Sudan’s Darfur region; to the south is the Central African Republic, 
still recovering from years of interethnic conflict.<br />

Stressing the civilian aspect to defeating Boko Haram, a once 
indigenous Nigerian militant movement whose rebellion has morphed into a
 regional force, Samantha Power stressed the need to bolster economic 
development, job opportunities, and political inclusiveness.<br />

The message carried added weight, coming less than two weeks after 
Chad held elections that are widely expected to return Deby for a fifth 
term as president. Deby has led the country since 1990. Election results
 haven’t yet been announced.<br />

“We noted how far Chad has come from the dark days of dictatorship to today,” Power said.<br />

President Idriss Deby rejected opposition claims that some 60 
security forces who voted against him in the elections have since 
disappeared.<br />

“There are no disappearances,” he stated. “They will be presented on television, in front of the world.”<br />

The 63-year-old Deby, who seized power himself in a coup after 
helping Chad defeat Libya in the 1980s, said Washington and other powers
 were partly to blame for the Boko Haram-IS threat. He said they are 
destabilizing Libya through their effort to install a functioning 
government.<br />

“The international community is imposing a unity government from outside Libya that will fail,” Deby said.<br />

<em>*Source: AP report</em>

Chad Intercepts ISIS Weapons Going To Boko Haram

Chad Intercepts ISIS Weapons Going To Boko Haram

Chad has intercepted a large cache of different types of weapons sent from ISIS affiliate in Libya and going to Boko Haram insurgents in th...

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Saraki Faces Fresh Charges For Receiving Governor’s Salary As Senator

BASAM 0 13:48:00

<div class="first">
The Federal Government has amended the charges of false
 asset declaration preferred against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola 
Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.<img alt="" data-file_info="%7B%22fid%22:%2248859%22,%22view_mode%22:%22embedded%22,%22fields%22:%7B%22format%22:%22full%22,%22field_file_image_title_text%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22%22,%22field_file_image_caption%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22Saraki%20dozing%20off%20on%20in%20Courtroom%20on%20Monday%22,%22field_attribution%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22Punch%20newspaper%22,%22field_align%5Bund%5D%5B0%5D%5Bvalue%5D%22:%22center%22%7D,%22type%22:%22media%22%7D" src="https://secure.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/Saraki-sleeps-in-court.jpg?itok=5jCq-6Pj" /></div>
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With the amendment, Saraki will be facing two fresh charges in 
addition to the 13 counts originally preferred against him, which 
comprised false asset declaration and maintaining of an offshore account
 while serving as Governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.<br />

The additional charges include an allegation that Saraki continued to
 receive salary and emoluments as Governor of Kwara State after the 
expiration of his tenure and at the same time, from the Federal 
Government as a senator between June 2011 and October 2013.<br />

The offence is said to be contrary to section 6(a) of the Code of 
Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of 
Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 2(a), Part I of the 
Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.<br />

It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of the code of 
conduct bureau and tribunal act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part
 I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.<br />

The other additional charge is that Saraki failed to declare to the 
Code of Conduct Bureau on the assumption of office as Governor of Kwara 
State in 2003, his leasehold interest leasehold in the property at 42, 
Remi Fani-Kayode Street, Ikeja, Lagos.<br />

He was said to have acquired the property on December 12, 1996, 
through his company, Skyview Properties Limited from First Finance Trust
 Limited.<br />

The offence is said to be contrary to section 15(1)(2) of the Code of
 Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of 
Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) and (2), Part I o
 the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.<br />

It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of the Code of 
Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part
 I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.<br />

Our correspondent learnt on Thursday shortly after Saraki’s ongoing 
trial before the CCT was adjourned until April 27 for further 
cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, that the Federal 
Government might further amend the charges before they are read to the 
accused person.<br />
source: saharareporters

Saraki Faces Fresh Charges For Receiving Governor’s Salary As Senator

Saraki Faces Fresh Charges For Receiving Governor’s Salary As Senator

The Federal Government has amended the charges of false asset declaration preferred against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, befo...

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Senator Saraki’s Rented Protesters Unhappy Over Absent Pay

BASAM 0 13:47:00

Some of the protesters hired by embattled Senate 
President Bukola Saraki to protest his corruption trial are disaffected 
because the N1000 per day they were promised has not been paid for a few
 days.
<span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-embedded  centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image">
<span class="block-story-object-asset"><img alt="" class="media-element file-embedded" src="http://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/The%20man%20behind%20the%20Saraki%20support%20protest%2C%20Dr%20Katch%20Ononuju%2C%20DG%20Heritage%20Group%20Tracy%20Okoro%2C%20National%20Coordinator.jpg?itok=9CHIDODK" /></span><span class="block-story-object-content"><span class="block-story-object-content-header"><span class="block-story-object-content-header-description"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-embedded  centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image"><span class="block-story-object-content"><span class="block-story-object-content-header"><span class="block-story-object-content-header-description">The man behind the Saraki support protest, Katch Ononuju, DG Heritage Group Tracy Okoro, National Coordinator
</span></span><span class="block-story-object-content-footer"><span class="block-story-object-content-footer-item block-story-object-content-footer-item-attribution">Sahara Reporters Media
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A key player in the staged protests told SaharaReporters participants
 were recruited and paid N1000 per day to demonstrate their solidarity 
with Mr. Saraki, who is charged with false declaration of assets. He 
added that the fees had not been forthcoming for a few days, leading to 
disaffection among the rented protesters.<br />

The source said he was one of a few men tasked with mobilizing poor 
or unemployed youngsters to mount protests against the senator’s trial. 
“We arranged for [recruited] for these, food vendors,  sachet water 
sellers, <em>mai</em><em>-</em><em>barrow</em><em> </em>(truck pushers) and <em>mai</em><em>- boiler </em>(scavengers). They no longer went to their normal businesses because we were paying them N1000 each,” the source said.<br />

He accused Mr. Saraki’s aides of suddenly cutting off the cash to pay
 the demonstrators. “As you can see, all of them [the protesters] are 
sitting over there angry because they have not been paid for some days 
now. They are not happy. I have appealed to them but they remain adamant
 and even go to the extent of destroying the placards and banners that 
we gave to them,” said the source. 
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Our correspondent found torn pieces of posters and banners strewn all
 over the ground while some of the angry protesters were seen under the 
tree looking downcast.                                          <br />

Our correspondent talked to some of the disgruntled protesters. Asked
 if they knew who Mr. Saraki was or the crimes for which he was being 
tried, several of them said they had no idea.<br />

“All I want is the money they promised to give us every day,” one 
dismayed protester who identified himself simply as Sule, said.          
                            <br />

Our source said he was among several contacts contracted by the 
senator’s aides to rent protesters. He told SaharaReporters that one of 
the recruiters was almost manhandled one day when the people he hired 
accused him of collecting as much as N3000 per head and paying them only
 N1000. He said some of the protesters are armed with such weapons as 
sharp knives and cudgels, adding that some of them also carry “charms.” 
Last week, the police arrested one protester after spotting a weapon on 
him. Our source said the protester was released after the group leader 
who recruited him pleaded with the police on his behalf.                
                              <br />

One protester decried the fact that they stayed in the sun all day 
but were not paid at the end of the day. He insisted that they must get 
paid their arrears. The protesters sometimes stay out in the sweltering 
heat from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., often without food or water.      <br />

Our source disclosed that Mr. Saraki’s aides had initially provided 
two 18-seater buses to transport hired protesters from the outskirts of 
Abuja.<br />

In a related development, an editor of a major newspaper based in 
Lagos told our correspondent that Mr. Saraki’s bid to shape the media’s 
coverage of his trial has had little effect. “The senator’s media team 
has been working round the clock to bribe editors here in Lagos and in 
Abuja in order to influence the reportage of his trial. But I know that 
most of the media executive turned down the offer as they don't want to 
be caught up in any mess.”<br />

SaharaReporters had earlier revealed that Mr. Saraki’s media team had
 held a meeting with various judicial correspondents at a garden near 
the International Conference Center in Abuja. Each correspondent was 
given N50, 000 to ensure that they would not carry negative accounts of 
the trial.<br />

However, today Mr. Saraki media team issued a statement claiming the
 government witness could not give an accurate account of his "AMEX" 
account, the press release was already being passed off as a real story .
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<span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-embedded  centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image">
<span class="block-story-object-asset"><img alt="" class="media-element file-embedded" src="http://saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/photo%20l.jpg?itok=aYd6b7xm" /></span><span class="block-story-object-content"><span class="block-story-object-content-header"><span class="block-story-object-content-header-description"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-embedded  centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image"><span class="block-story-object-content"><span class="block-story-object-content-header"><span class="block-story-object-content-header-description">Stella Oduah accompanied Saraki to the tribunal</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-jpeg view-mode-embedded  centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image"><span class="block-story-object-content"><span class="block-story-object-content-header"><span class="block-story-object-content-header-description">source: saharareporters </span></span><span class="block-story-object-content-footer"></span></span></span>

Senator Saraki’s Rented Protesters Unhappy Over Absent Pay

Senator Saraki’s Rented Protesters Unhappy Over Absent Pay

Some of the protesters hired by embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki to protest his corruption trial are disaffected because the N1000...

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Senators Push Back Against Saraki’s Intrigues, Use Of Senate To Fight Personal Battles

BASAM 0 13:40:00

<div class="first">
Several senators and politicians, speaking to 
SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity, have revealed how Senate 
President Bukola Saraki manages to maintain control over the upper 
legislative chamber and to keep many senators loyal to his leadership in
 the face of mounting evidence of his corruption at the Code of Conduct 
Tribunal (CCT). Mr. Saraki is currently facing charges of false asset 
declaration and corruption at the CCT. But the sources explained that 
some senators may be resisting Mr. Saraki’s intrigues.</div>
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<span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-png view-mode-embedded  centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image">
<span class="block-story-object-asset"><img alt="" class="media-element file-embedded" src="https://secure.saharareporters.com/sites/default/files/styles/normal_medium/public/Saraki-Redhats.png?itok=6D0LunKf" /></span><span class="block-story-object-content"><span class="block-story-object-content-header"><span class="block-story-object-content-header-description"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="ds-1col file file-image file-image-png view-mode-embedded  centered clearfix block-story-object block-story-object-resource block-story-object-resource-image"><span class="block-story-object-content"><span class="block-story-object-content-header"><span class="block-story-object-content-header-description">Bukola Saraki attending his Code of Conduct Tribunal for corruption
</span></span><span class="block-story-object-content-footer"><span class="block-story-object-content-footer-item block-story-object-content-footer-item-attribution">Sahara Reporters Media
</span></span></span>
</span>
<br />

One of our sources revealed that a growing number of senators were 
becoming alarmed about the extent to which their colleagues had gone to 
serve Mr. Saraki’s personal interests. “In Senator Saraki’s absence we 
have held three days of closed-door sessions and discussed how to ward 
off public outrage against us,” the source said. He added: “It was 
decided that the Senate should drop some of its unpopular attempts to 
protect Dr. Saraki.” According to him, one of the resolutions was to 
back down from the Senate’s decision to summon Justice Danladi Umar, who
 is handling Mr. Saraki’s trial, to appear before senators to be 
questioned on allegations of corruption against him. The charges against
 the judge were dismissed in the House of Representatives when the men 
who made them failed to show up to back them up.<br />

“We decided it doesn’t make sense to continue harassing Justice Umar 
when the charges against him were never authenticated. In the same vein,
 we decided it is counterproductive to pursue amendments of the Code of 
Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. The public reaction against the 
amendment was very fierce,” said the senator.<br />

The amendment would have made it harder for the CCT to prosecute public officials for corruption.<br />

Another senator disclosed that tempers often flared up during the 
closed-door meetings. According to him, at one point Senator Dino 
Melaye, one of Mr. Saraki’s staunchest allies, threatened to beat up 
Senator James Manager from Delta South senatorial district. The source 
said Mr. Melaye became incensed after Senator Manager stated that Mr. 
Saraki’s maneuvers to use senators to scuttle his trial had caused great
 public anger against the Senate. <br />

“Senator Manager did not mince words that the trial of the Senate 
President was now creating huge problems for us,” our source said, 
adding that several other senators spoke in the same vein during the 
closed-door session.<br />

Despite efforts by Senator Melaye and other pro-Saraki hawks, the 
majority of senators decided it was time to de-escalate the tension 
between the Senate and the CCT. “Nigerians now perceive us as a group 
committed to the protection of one man who happens to be the Senate 
President. It is time we restore[d] public confidence and support,” one 
of our sources said. He added: “In the process, we decided to drop [the]
 Ethics Committee investigation of Senator Kabir Marafa, an outspoken 
opponent to Dr. Saraki.”<br />

Several sources told SaharaReporters that the decision to end the 
targeting of Mr. Marafa infuriated Senator Sani Yerima, a former 
Governor of Zamfara State. Mr. Yerima is a controversial political 
figure who introduced Sharia law in his state in his first tenure as 
governor. Shortly after leaving Government House in 2007, Senator Yerima
 triggered national and international outrage when he married a 
13-year-old Egyptian girl.<br />

Speaking about Mr. Saraki’s manipulation of senators, two sources 
disclosed that the embattled Senate President recently distributed 36 
new Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs to his closest allies in the Senate. One 
source stated that Senator Manager had received a car prior to his 
protests about Mr. Saraki’s image and its effect on the Senate as a 
whole.<br />

In a bid to stem the growing dissension against Mr. Saraki, Senate 
Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu, and a few senators organized a 
12-member committee with two representatives from each of the six 
geopolitical zones to reconcile members. Among other things, the Senate 
resolved that all members involved in litigation against the leadership 
of the Senate should withdraw such lawsuit. SaharaReporters learnt that a
 group of senators led by Senator Ahmed Lawan immediately rejected the 
proposal, which would have had them withdrawing a forgery lawsuit they 
filed against the Deputy Senate President and the outgoing clerk at the 
Senate who assisted him in forging Senate rules that enabled Mr. Saraki 
to get elected as President.<br />

Over the course of these three days, the senators also discussed the 
controversial issue of budget padding, which led President Muhammadu 
Buhari, when he found suspicious allocations, to reject the budget and 
call for talks with the Senate leadership.<br />

Senatorial sources disclosed that Senator Danjuma Goje, the chairman 
of the Appropriations Committee, did not show up at the meetings, adding
 that Mr. Goje was behind the diversion of funds from the Lagos—Calabar 
Railway to other areas of the budget.<br />

One senator alleged that pro-Saraki senators also used the budgetary 
padding to garner political support for the embattled Senate President. 
One source explained that almost every member of the Senate was either a
 chair or vice-chair of a committee as Mr. Saraki had intentionally 
increased the number of Senate standing committees from 57 to 70. “The 
budget was padded in a way that each Committee chairman and vice-chair 
would receive at least N2 billion in ‘special projects’ while the Senate
 leadership would get at least N4 billion each in such projects,” one 
source stated. He added that new Senators who are neither chair or vice 
chair of committees were each allocated N400 million in special 
projects.<br />

Our source revealed that many senators were reluctant to dump Mr. 
Saraki for a new Senate President because such a change would entail the
 dissolution of committee assignments and the loss of perks as committee
 chairs.<br />

A civil rights source in Abuja told SaharaReporters that Mr. Saraki 
had also corrupted some players in the non-government organizations 
(NGOs). “Many NGOs that campaigned for openness at the National Assembly
 were themselves co-opted into his [Mr. Saraki’s] inner circle,” the 
source said. “That’s why several of them have been unable to realize 
their objective of getting the public to see the details of the opaque 
budget of the National Assembly. And yet Senator Saraki had pledged to 
collaborate with these NGOs to bring matters of governance to the public
 domain.”<br />

Our correspondent learned that, during the final closed-door session,
 the deputy chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Sonni Ugbuoji
 from Ebonyi South senatorial district, shocked his colleagues by 
declaring that he was not aware of the details of the budget that his 
chairperson, Senator Goje, sent to President Buhari for assent. Senator 
Ekweremadu also disclosed he had not seen the budget breakdown till now.
 His admission infuriated some Senators, but he hurriedly appealed to 
them to stay united, pointing to those he called the enemies of the 
Senate from outside. He then declared the session open and closed to 
enable some members to join Mr. Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.<br />
source: saharareporters

Senators Push Back Against Saraki’s Intrigues, Use Of Senate To Fight Personal Battles

Senators Push Back Against Saraki’s Intrigues, Use Of Senate To Fight Personal Battles

Several senators and politicians, speaking to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity, have revealed how Senate President Bukola Saraki...

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FCMB’s profit crash: Cost of funds, credit losses get the blame

BASAM 0 13:35:00

<div class="article-photo">
 <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"><img alt="FCMB’s profit crash: Cost of funds, credit losses get the blame" class="setborder" src="https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Ladi-Balogun-653x365.jpg" style="float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" /></span></div>
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<div class="date">
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<strong>First
 City Monument Bank’s three-year recovery trend was broken in 2015 and 
the bank ended the financial year with profit crashing from its 2014 
peak to the lowest figure since returning to profit in 2012. The violent
 fluctuation resulted from a radical shift in the bank’s cost-income 
ratio led by rising interest expenses and credit losses.</strong><br />
The
 bank achieved a strong growth in profit in 2014 when it lifted net 
profit by 38.3% to a new peak of N22.13 billion. This is now followed by
 a sharp drop of 78.5% in net profit to N4.76 billion in 2015. The 
strong growth in profit in 2014 happened mainly because interest 
expenses declined against an increase of 14.2% in interest income. The 
pattern was reversed in 2015 when interest cost rose ahead of interest 
income at 31.5% compared to 4.7%, causing a drop of 12% in net interest 
income.<br />
The bank’s profit capacity got another big hit from 
impairment charges for credit losses last year, which advanced by 41.3% 
to N15.03 billion. This is an accelerated growth from the increase of 
33.3% in the preceding year. An expansion of over 37% in the net credit 
portfolio in 2014 appears to have been on the aggressive side. A return 
to caution seems to have informed a moderate decline in the portfolio 
volume in 2015.<br />
Apart from the two major rising costs, inability 
to grow gross earnings compounded the problem of rising cost. Against an
 increase of 13.5% in gross earnings in 2014, revenue only inched up 
2.6% to N152.51 billion in 2015. Mr. Peter Obaseki, the bank’s managing 
director/chief executive officer, faces the task of how to navigate the 
bank through the cost-income choke to attain operating stability.<br />
The
 modest improvement in revenue was mostly accounted for by interest 
income, which improved by 4.7% against an increase of 2.6% in 
non-interest income. The main drawback is other income, which dropped by
 nearly 69%.<br />
Revenue growth is constrained by a sustained drop in 
the investment portfolio for the third year running and a decline in 
loans and advances. At N135.31 billion, investment securities have 
fallen by close to 45% from the 2012 peak. Net loans and advances to 
customers declined by 4% to N592.96 billion at the end of 2015.<br />
With
 the slacken performance in revenue, the two rising expense lines 
claimed significantly increased proportions of revenue. Interest 
expenses, for instance, claimed 48.3% of interest income and 39% of 
gross earnings compared to 38.4% and 30.5% respectively in the preceding
 year.<br />
Management however succeeded in controlling cost in one of 
three main expense lines, which is operating cost. Operating cost was 
flat in the year, which was accounted for by a cut down in personnel 
expenses. This helped to moderate the increases in the other two major 
cost areas. The bank’s operating cost margin at 44% is at about the 
industry average number and it has been maintained around this level 
over the past three years.<br />
The ability to convert revenue into 
profit weakened in the year, which was caused mainly by the increased 
incursion of interest expenses on earnings. Net profit margin fell from 
15% in 2014 to 3.1% in 2015 – one of the lowest profit margins in the 
banking sector. An increased claim of loan loss expenses on gross 
earnings from 7.2% to about 10% over the review period also contributed 
to the drop in profit margin.<br />
Earnings per share dropped from 
N1.12 in 2014 to 24 kobo in 2015, the lowest since the return to profit 
in 2012. The modest profit figure for the year could not boost the 
bank’s equity resources against a slight decline in liabilities. The 
strength to grow the size of the balance sheet was therefore missing in 
2015, leading to a decline in asset base at over N1,159 billion.<br />
credit: thecableng

FCMB’s profit crash: Cost of funds, credit losses get the blame

FCMB’s profit crash: Cost of funds, credit losses get the blame

First City Monument Bank’s three-year recovery trend was broken in 2015 and the bank ended the financial year with profit cr...

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It’s Sad Corrupt People Are Hiring Protesters —NLC

BASAM 0 12:54:00

<div class="image-container" itemprop="image">

<img alt="NLC-e1451800481300" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="400" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/NLC-e1451800481300.jpg" width="533" />         
        
       </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The
 President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, says it is sad 
that corrupt Nigerians who are facing trial are hiring protesters to 
defend them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Wabba said this when he visited the 
Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. 
Ibrahim Magu, at the Abuja headquarters of the commission.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
According to a statement by the 
spokesperson for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the NLC boss said the 
union would continue to support the anti-graft agency.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Wabba said, “We have a situation where 
people, who have stolen from the commonwealth and are being prosecuted 
in court, go to their villages to hire people that they take to court to
 protest on their behalf, just because they have the resources at their 
disposal.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Such a scenario, according to him, 
necessitated the need to re-energise the NLC’s partnership with the EFCC
 as a collective effort is now essential.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The NLC boss stressed the importance of having a united front in confronting the ‘monster’ called corruption.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Corruption is a monster that has done 
more harm to our country than any other thing, because it is the cause 
of crises in the various sectors of Nigeria, be it power, health or 
housing,” he said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While noting that the NLC had in the 
past shown support for the agency, Wabba stressed that more than ever 
before, there was a need to renew such affiliation and unity, because 
“corruption is now fighting back.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“We’ve partnered in the past, but now we
 have more civil servants who are willing to be whistle- blowers to 
provide information for the EFCC,” he said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said that the union was also working 
to galvanise other civil society organisations to assist the agency 
expand its anti-corruption crusade to the grassroots.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
While appreciating the union, the EFCC boss assured the delegation that the agency was resolute in carrying out its mandate.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“The negative impact of corruption 
affects the whole country, including our children and the unborn 
generation, and so, we need your support more than ever before,” he 
said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Corruption, according to Magu, was 
fighting back, as many of those being prosecuted for corrupt practices 
had the money to throw about. He, however, stressed the resolve of the 
commission to remain steadfast in executing the war against corruption.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
“All of us have the duty to kill corruption,” he said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Source – Punchng.com</div>

It’s Sad Corrupt People Are Hiring Protesters —NLC

It’s Sad Corrupt People Are Hiring Protesters —NLC

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, says it is sad that corrupt Nigerians who...

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Boko Haram: Don’t Organise Rallies To Celebrate Our Success, Says Army

BASAM 0 12:53:00

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<img alt="Director-Army-Public-Relations-Col.-Sani-Usman-" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="394" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Director-Army-Public-Relations-Col.-Sani-Usman-.jpg" width="600" />         
        
       </div>
The
 Nigerian Army has advised the members of the public to refrain from 
moves to organize solidarity rallies to celebrate the recent successes 
of the military against the Boko Haram in the North East.<br />

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a
 statement on Thursday that while the Army was not against the public’s 
desire to associate with the successes of the military, it would not 
want such solidarity rallies.<br />

Usman said that the Army authorities had received information that 
some people were planning to celebrate the current victories against the
 insurgents through rallies.<br />

He said that it was necessary for the public to exhibit some caution as such rallies could distract the military.<br />

He said, “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a 
number of groups and individuals celebrating the routing out and 
decimation of Boko Haram terrorists on our soil.<br />

“So much as we thank them for that, it is imperative to state that we
 do not begrudge such persons their desire to identify and associate 
themselves with this success.<br />

“However, the Nigerian Army wishes to disassociate itself from such 
celebrations and solidarity rallies.We also would like to advice that 
they should thread with caution as this could be distractive to us.”<br />

Usman said that the insurgents were discretely moving out of the Sambisa Forest to wreak havoc in other places.<br />

Usman urged the members of the public to be more vigilant and 
security conscious to ensure that the remnants of the insurgents were 
dealt with.<br />

<br />

Source – punchng.com

Boko Haram: Don’t Organise Rallies To Celebrate Our Success, Says Army

Boko Haram: Don’t Organise Rallies To Celebrate Our Success, Says Army

The Nigerian Army has advised the members of the public to refrain from moves to organize solidarity ...

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Catholic Church Threatens To Sue Fayose Over Education Tax

BASAM 0 12:52:00

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<img alt="Ayodele-Fayose" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="344" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Ayodele-Fayose.jpg" width="500" />         
        
       </div>
The
 Catholic diocese of Ekiti has threatened to sue Governor Ayodele Fayose
 over the education development levy imposed on primary and secondary 
pupils in both state-owned and private schools in the state.<br />

Under the new tax regime, pupils in primary and secondary schools are
 to pay N500 and N1,000 education development levy, respectively.<br />

But the catholic church has said it will not pay the money, advising the government to exempt its schools from payment.<br />

Citing Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Law, 2005,
 the church said the state government had the mandatory obligation to 
provide free and compulsory education for every child of primary to 
junior secondary school classes.<br />

The bishop of the diocese, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye, stated this in a 
press statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Thursday.<br />

He threatened to file a legal action against the government in the 
circumstance that any of the schools under his custody is disturbed.”<br />

“No law empowers the state government of Ekiti to impose Education 
Development Levy on pupils/students of mission schools in Ekiti state,” 
he said.<br />

Ajakaye said that the church viewed the new tax as another burden on 
parents whom he said were already overwhelmed with taxes in different 
forms by the state government.<br />

He recalled with pain how the state, under the military regime in 
1975, “forcibly” took over 106 Catholic primary schools with seven 
secondary schools and one technical school without compensation.<br />

He added that the new tax was unnecessary because schools established
 by the Church had been paying various levies and taxes demanded by both
 local and state governments.<br />

“The Catholic Church in Ekiti land implores the state government to 
see the Church as great contributor to quality education and a 
formidable partner in the development of education in the state. 
Therefore, the status of the Catholic schools must be recognised as 
defined by their purposes and they should be treated accordingly,” 
Ajakaye added.<br />

<br />

<br />

Source- punchng.com

Catholic Church Threatens To Sue Fayose Over Education Tax

Catholic Church Threatens To Sue Fayose Over Education Tax

The Catholic diocese of Ekiti has threatened to sue Governor Ayodele Fayose over the education develo...

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