A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Republican Donald Trump said Monday he will slash taxes, block onerous financial regulations and unleash the energy sector as he pledged to “jump-start America” with a new economic plan if he is elected president.
The brash billionaire unveiled his plan during a speech in economically depressed Detroit as he resets his campaign and focuses on policies that draw a sharp contrast with his Democratic White House rival Hillary Clinton.Trump
“We are in a competition with the world, and I want America to win,” Trump told the Detroit Economic Club, as he highlighted “disastrous” policies that he said have snuffed out US jobs in the nearly eight years of Barack Obama’s presidency.
“I want to jump-start America. It can be done, and it won’t even be that hard,” he said to applause.
Trump laid out a series of policies he said are aimed at revitalizing a limping economic engine, including a sharp reduction of corporate tax to 15 percent from 35 percent, something he floated back in September as a way to lure back US corporations that relocated abroad.
He would also set a 10 percent tax on the “trillions of dollars from American businesses that is now parked overseas” and gets repatriated into the United States.
Personal taxes would drop too, with seven tax brackets compressed to just three. The highest income tax rate would be 33 percent, compared with today’s top rate of 39.6 percent.
Trump said he wants to “cut regulations massively,” a move he said would lift the “anchor” weighing down small businesses, something Republicans have sought for years during Obama’s tenure.
Calling for such a moratorium could help the New York real estate tycoon win support from small business owners who have argued they have been over-regulated under Obama’s presidency.
Trump also proposed repealing the estate tax, the controversial levy on the estates of the deceased valued at above $5.45 million.
“American workers have paid taxes their whole lives, and they should not be taxed again at death -- it’s just plain wrong,” Trump said.
He also announced a plan to allow parents to “fully deduct” childcare costs from their taxes.
The speech was interrupted more than a dozen times by protesters, who were escorted out by security.
– ‘Boldly into the future’ –
As Trump faces several polls showing him trailing Clinton, and as he pivots away from recent controversy about his campaign, he portrayed Clinton as the “nominee from yesterday.”
“There will be no change under Hillary Clinton — only four more years of Obama,” he warned. “But we are going to look boldly into the future.”
Clinton, he said, offers more of the same: “more taxes, more regulations, more bureaucrats, more restrictions on American energy.”
The Clinton camp, in an effort to get out ahead of Trump’s economic plan, released a video savaging “the dangers of Trumponomics.”
Her campaign has cited a study by Mark Zandi, a former economic advisor to Republican Senator John McCain, which predicted that under Trump’s plan, the economy would shed 3.4 million jobs and tumble into recession.
Since officially winning the Democratic nomination late last month, Clinton has spent several days attacking Trump on the economy.
She has also ventured into America’s so-called “Rust Belt” seeking to win over white working-class voters in areas that have suffered factory closures.
The nation’s unemployment rate stood at 4.9 percent in July, a substantial decline from the peak of about 10 percent in October 2009 after a major recession, according to federal statistics.
But Trump insisted the economy was lagging badly and that letting an insider like Clinton guide the economic ship would only exacerbate the problem.
“We can’t fix a rigged system by relying on the people who rigged it in the first place,” Trump warned.
“A Trump administration will end this war on the American worker,” he said, noting in particular that Obama’s “anti-energy regulations” have destroyed millions of jobs.
Trump’s plan to revitalize the energy industry, including coal, would “open a new chapter in American prosperity,” he said.
Trump renewed his opposition to the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact backed by the Obama administration, insisting Washington will withdraw from the deal.
“Americanism, not globalism, will be our new credo,” he said.
(L-R) Benin’s president Patrice Talon, Central African Republic’s president Faustin-Archange Touadera, Burkina Faso’s president Roch Marc Christian Kabore, Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari, Mali’s president Ibrahim Boubacar look on during the inauguration of Chad’s president Idriss Deby (not pictured) for his fifth term as president on August 8, 2016 in N’Djamena. Chad’s President Idriss Deby took the oath of office August 8 for a fifth term in power, facing dogged resistance from an opposition that alleges his re-election was a “political hold-up”. With tensions high a day after the death of a protester during an opposition march, around 14 African heads of state attended the swearing-in ceremony, including the presidents of Nigeria and Niger, both, like Chad, battling the Boko Haram jihadist group. / AFP PHOTO / BRAHIM ADJIChad’s President Idriss Deby took the oath of office August 8 for a fifth term in power, facing dogged resistance from an opposition that alleges his re-election was a “political hold-up”.President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria (L), Chad’s president Idriss Deby (C) and president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali talk during the inauguration of Deby’s fifth term as president on August 8, 2016 in N’Djamena.
Chad’s president Idriss Deby (R) gestures during the inauguration of his fifth term as president on August 8, 2016 in N’Djamena. Chad’s President Idriss Deby took the oath of office August 8 for a fifth term in power, facing dogged resistance from an opposition that alleges his re-election was a “political hold-up”. With tensions high a day after the death of a protester during an opposition march, around 14 African heads of state attended the swearing-in ceremony, including the presidents of Nigeria and Niger, both, like Chad, battling the Boko Haram jihadist group. / AFP PHOTO /
Following is a list of attacks on Western targets claimed by or blamed on the Islamic State jihadist group after Saturday’s assault on two policewomen in southern Belgium:
– August 6: Machete attack in Belgium –
A machete-wielding man shouting “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest) attacks two policewomen in Charleroi, southern Belgium, badly injuring one in the face before being shot dead by a third officer.
Investigators give the initials of the assailant as K.B., describing him as a 33-year-old Algerian who had been living in Belgium since 2012.
The following day, IS says the attacker acted “in response to (its) calls to target citizens” of countries in the US-led coalition bombing IS in Syria and Iraq.
– July 26: French priest killed –
Attackers slit an elderly priest’s throat in a hostage-taking at his church in the Normandy town of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.
Abdel Malik Petitjean and Adel Kermiche, both 19, pledged allegiance to IS in a video made before the attack.
– July 24: German suicide blast –
A failed Syrian asylum-seeker blows himself up outside a music festival in the German city of Ansbach, wounding 15 others. The Bavarian interior minister says the man “pledged allegiance” to IS, while the jihadist-linked Amaq news agency said he was a “soldier” of the group.
– July 18: German train attack –
A 17-year-old asylum-seeker, believed to have been Afghan or Pakistani, attacks passengers on a Bavarian train with an axe, injuring five people, two of them critically. He is shot dead by police.
IS releases a video the following day purportedly featuring the attacker announcing he would carry out an “operation” in Germany.
– July 14: Nice lorry attack –
Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Tunisian, rams a 19-tonne truck into people celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, killing 85 people and wounding more than 400.
IS said Bouhlel staged the attack “in response to calls to target nations of coalition states” fighting the jihadist group.
– June 28: Istanbul airport attack –
A triple suicide attack at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport kills 47 people. Authorities blame IS, though there is no claim of responsibility.
– June 13: French police couple killed –
A man claiming allegiance to IS stabs a police officer to death before slitting his partner’s throat in front of their young son at their home in Magnanville, west of Paris.
– June 12: Orlando gay bar shooting –
A gunman claiming allegiance to IS opens fire inside a gay bar in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 people in the deadliest mass shooting in US history.
– March 22: Brussels attacks –
Suicide attacks claimed by IS kill 32 people and wound more than 340 at Brussels airport and Maelbeek metro station, near the European Union headquarters.
The attackers have links to the cell that carried out the November 2015 jihadist attacks in Paris.
– January 12: Tourists die in Istanbul –
Twelve German tourists are killed in a suicide attack in central Istanbul. On March 19, three Israeli tourists and an Iranian are killed by a suicide bomber at an Istanbul shopping centre. Turkish authorities attribute both attacks to IS.
– December 2, 2015: San Bernardino shooting –
Syed Farook and his Pakistani wife Tashfeen Malik open fire at a Christmas party in San Bernardino, California, killing 14 people. IS hails the attack, but does not claim direct responsibility.
– November 13, 2015: Paris attacks –
Coordinated suicide attacks in Paris kill 130 people and wound more than 350 at a concert hall, cafes and the national stadium. IS claims responsibility.
– October 31, 2015: Russian jet bombed –
An Airbus passenger jet owned by a Russian company crashes in the Sinai desert after a bomb rips a hole in the plane, killing all 224 people on board. IS claims responsibility.
– June 26, 2015: Tunisia beach attack –
Gunmen kill 38 people, including 30 British tourists, at a beach hotel in Sousse, a little more than three months after a similar attack at the Bardo museum in Tunis kills 22 people, including 21 foreign tourists. IS claims both attacks.
– January 7-8, 2015: Paris shootings –
Gunman Amedy Coulibaly, claiming allegiance to IS, kills a policewoman in a Paris suburb before attacking a Jewish supermarket the next day, where he kills four more people. He is killed in a police assault.
On January 7, the Al-Qaeda-linked Kouachi brothers had killed 12 people at the headquarters of the Charlie Hebdo satirical weekly in Paris.
By Abdulwahab Abdulah Presiding Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare has reiterated that government officials in Nigeria are not only corrupt, but had made corruption official.
His remark came just as the second Vice President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani appealed to wealthy Nigerians to support the less privileged in the society.Bakare
Ubani made the appeal during the launch of his foundation, Onyekachi Ubani Foundation in Lagos, weekend.
The lawyer said that the society will continue to breed miscreants if the wealthy do not render necessary assistance to the poor and less privileged in the society.
Pastor Bakare in his remark at the ceremony noted that: “At the twilight of the military era in Nigeria's political trajectory, the name "Nigeria" became synonymous with a certain word, a word that elicits the image of a cesspool running over corruption.”
Pastor Bakare spoke on the theme: “The System that allows massive corruption in Nigeria must be a bad system”.
He said: “At that time, precisely in 1999, Transparency International rated Nigeria the second most corrupt country in the world in terms of perception, second only to her eastern neighbour, Cameroon.
“For instance, given the unbridled looting of the treasury at the time, reportedly to the tune of over 1billion dollars as was subsequently uncovered following the exit of the military, it was obvious that the abnormal had become the norm, the illegal had become legal, the outrageous had become banal and the aberrant had become the gold standard.”
The Pastor said trough 17 years of civil governance, the stench of corruption has continued to pollute the national atmosphere and to attract the derision of the international community.
“Despite the emergence of a new government on the heels of a strong anti-corruption campaign, despite the credence lent to this anti-corruption promise by the antecedents of President Muhammadu Buhari, and despite global acknowledgment that Nigeria has taken shovel loads off the peak of this mountain of filth, the stench of corruption remains "fantastically" horrible with t
Ubani on his part said to avoid crisis arising from the surge of unemployment is “to extend a hand of help with a heart of love, however little, to that next door neighbor, or stranger seeking your assistance,” he said.
Ubani noted that he has been in the daily struggled to help the poor in the society but that there is a limit to how many people he can help with his limited resources.
“There is a limit to how many Nigerians a Good Samaritan with limited resources can help, but I am convinced that if I get your support in your capacity as an empowered Nigerian, together we can create a system that will lift majority of Nigerians, young and old, out of poverty and hunger. ”
Earlier, during his address of welcome, President Muhammadu Buhari commended the vision of the foundation.
Speaking through his spokesperson, Mr Femi Adeshina, President Buhari said: “It is significant that the foundation is dedicated to helping the poor and needy in the society and also to celebrate those who made our country proud with virtuous acts.”
Commending the keynote address of Bakare, the President said, “I am very pleased that the foundation launch will be marked by a public lecture, which topic focuses on one of the things dearest to the heart of this administration which is the anti-corruption war. I look forward to details of the address.”
Lagos – A housewife, Glory Justice, was on Monday remanded in prison for allegedly killing her co-tenant (a man) with a rake, an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates' Court, Lagos, has ruled.
Justice, who resides at Olodi-Apapa, Lagos, is standing trial for murder.
The Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Olajuwon, ordered that the accused should be remanded at Ikoyi Prisons pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Earlier, The Prosecutor, Insp. Julius Babatope told the court that the offence was committed on July 8 at the residence of the accused.
He alleged that Justice had used a rake to hit the deceased, Sunday Agadima, 42, on the head and that he later died.
“The deceased had only instructed the accused to make sure she disposed off the waste she was gathering with the rake.
“Unknown to him, Justice was angry that he did not mind his business .she came after him and knocked him dead with the rake,'' he said.
The offence contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 which prescribes death sentence for offenders.
Sokoto – President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday launched the airlifting of Nigerian pilgrims from Sokoto to Saudi Arabia for the 2016 hajj.
The president, represented by Gov. Aminu tambuwal of Sokoto State, restated the commitment of the Federal Government to make Nigeria a better place for all.
“We are fully committed to introducing policies and programmes to better the lives of all Nigerians, including generations yet unborn,'' Buhari said.
He charged the officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to accord priority to the welfare and consular services of the pilgrims.
“The officials should be diligent while the pilgrims should be law abiding.
“They should also be tolerant with each other and be good ambassadors of their respective families, their states and Nigeria in general,'' the president advised.
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, who spoke,appealed to the pilgrims to pray fervently for President Buhari, to enable him to successfully steer the ship of state.
Abubakar also urged the pilgrims to prayers for relief from the hardship being faced by Nigerians and for peace and unity to reign in the country.
Gov. Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, commended NAHCON for selecting pilgrims from his state for the inaugural flight.
Yari also called on the pilgrims to protect their integrities, that of Zamfara and the nation at large.
The Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, said that no fewer than 65,500 Nigerians would perform the 2016 pilgrimage.
He said that the commission had made adequate arrangements to ensure the security and comfort of the pilgrims both in Nigeria and in Saudi Arabia.
NAN reports that, 500 pilgrims from Bakura and Bukkuyum local governments areas of Zamfara were airlifted to Saudi Arabia in the inaugural flight.
They departed about 3.00 p.m. aboard a Max Airline aircraft, Boeing 747, 400 series.
By Soni Daniel Immediate past Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, has strongly condemned the attempt to link him with the nascent militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).Ex-Militant Leader, Kingsley Muturu
Kuku, in a press release issued in Alabama, United States of America, where he is still undergoing therapy after a knee surgery, said he is not a sponsor of the militant group as claimed by a faceless Reformed Niger Delta Avengers in a report published by New York-based news portal, SaharaReporters.
"This is yet another attempt to discredit my hard-earned reputation and defame my person after the earlier plot to rope me with terrorism by another fictitious Kano-based group, National Security Watchdog. If that attempt failed, this too has surely fallen flat.
"Since the 90s, I have dedicated a greater part of my life to the service of our dear country. I have been privileged to serve Nigeria and my people in different capacities and have discharged my duties and responsibilities with utmost patriotism and the fear of God.
"The jury is still out on my last national assignment as Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme. But what cannot be disputed is the fact of an indelible mark my team and I achieved in ensuring and stabilizing the peace and security of the Niger Delta for four solid years despite the very grave challenges we faced. Even now I am willing to join any sincere effort to restore and strengthen the peace of the region irrespective of party affiliation in the interest of my people and the nation.
“It is therefore the height of perfidy to point accusing fingers at a man like me that has committed so much to guarantee peace and security in the region to now sponsor acts that are antithetical to my cherished principles. Without mincing words, I am pained by the seeming reversal of the gains recorded while discharging our mandate. But no matter the systemic attempts to blur our achievements, there shall be light at the end of the dark tunnel.
“In Nigeria of today where you are guilty until proven innocent, which is the title of my upcoming book, some of the fruits of our effort have started manifesting with the graduation of three of our delegates with First Class degrees and some others with Second Class Upper degrees in the United Kingdom alone just as thousand others have equally performed excellently well in other parts of the world and in Nigeria. These are youths that were privileged to be enrolled in higher institutions abroad and in Nigeria under the Special Scholarship Scheme initiated by my team and I under former President Goodluck Jonathan. We invested so much in academics and capacity development of youths from the region and our achievements continue to speak for us.
“As I recuperate from my surgery, I have advised my lawyers to take steps to defend my integrity against negative media reports.
“I remain an unrepentant advocate of the indissolubility of the Nigerian nation as well as the peace and development of the Niger Delta.”
Osogbo – Members of the Osun House of Assembly on Monday said the cash crunch in the state had subjected them to serious financial hardship.
Mr Akintunde Adegboye, the Deputy Speaker of the assembly, stated this at the 51st birthday lecture of the Speaker, Mr Najeem Salaam, in Osogbo.
Adegboye said the lawmakers had resorted to meagre earnings from their private investments to settle critical financial obligations.
"As we speak, members of the assembly are still using their private cars to do oversight functions.
“Most times, we sleep in darkness in our official quarters because we cannot afford to fuel our power generating plants.
"But to the people in town, we are the people with deep purse. That is the irony of the situation.
“Here in the assembly, despite the fact that our staff get something at the end of the month, they still look at us as stingy people.
“How about thousands of our constituents that depend on us, especially the sick and the unemployed youths, as well as others with financial constraints?"
Adegboye said that people should not think the legislators in the state were making money like those in the National Assembly.
The deputy speaker said the economic situation in the state had been responsible for the low keyed birthday for the speaker.
Traditional rulers in the six Local Government Areas in Edo North have endorsed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Godwin Obaseki, as their choice as the next Governor of the state from November 12, this year.
They also made cash contributions to his campaign to enable him reach out to people in other parts of the state, assuring him that he will win the election with a landslide in the whole of Edo North.
Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers who converged in his palace, the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh, Ikelebe III said their support for Obaski stems from the fact that he was introduced by their son, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who performed creditably as Governor.Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos and Chairman, National Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (left); Mr. Godwin Obaseki, APC Gubernatorial candidate in Edo State and Governor Adams Oshiomhole during Governor Ambode’s visit to Edo State, Tuesday.
He said: "this meeting is under the auspices of Edo North traditional rulers. The reason for it is that we have had one of our sons who has transformed Edo State in various aspects of human life. And from Edo Central, South and North, there has been a transformation of un-surpassing dimension.
"So, we want to demonstrate in no small sense that the whole of Edo North traditional rulers are behind him and the candidate that he is presenting for this governorship election in Edo State. Basically, that is the mission. And I want to say this, that Edo State traditional rulers have further committed themselves to this campaign by saying that whatever money you gave to traditional rulers at meetings at various locations of this nature, we donate it to the campaign that is on.
"I now wish to thank you for what you have been able to do in this state and Nigeria right from the time that you have been president of the NLC, and I am particularly proud that in 2002, the title I gave you was truly inspired, truly divinely inspired. I want to say that we are proud of ourselves, traditional rulers in Edo State will make history all round, and will continue to make history all round. So, on their behalf, I want to specially congratulate you for what God has made you do for us in this state and Nigeria, and what he is going to make you do for Nigeria right from Abuja. My congratulations, sir."
He told Obaseki, "To the man you have asked us to support in this election, we say, may God give you every support. Now, it is necessary for us that he alone who is the majesty of the heavens and the earth, and the all-powerful, and the all-wise, Almighty God will go with you, and will guide you, to also add to what heritage that you have inherited this time you are going to inherit, and we say inherited because it has already been destined.
"What is destined by Almighty God, nobody can alter it, nobody can violate it; nobody can overtake it. So, we are happy to make that statement today because there is no doubt about the fact that the one who is propelling you and giving you to Edo State is a man that God has chosen for that assignment. And because of that, we are assuring you that we will continue to pray for your success in this exercise."
Also speaking the Okuokpelagbe of Okpella, HRH Yesufu Dirisu "I want to say clearly that all he (Otaru) has said is hereby adopted by all of us, because words, in fact, are inadequate to tell you why. We have a reason to resolve that whatever our son is doing, whatever he was doing, we were behind him, and whatever he will be doing, we will continue to be behind him, the reason being that there is nobody who will argue that the traditional institution of this state has never witnessed what our son was able to do for us, is able to do for us and will continue to do for us because as he leaves here, he is going to higher level. And when he is there, he will continue to remember us. So, that is why I will join Otaru to say, on behalf of all of us, we thank you so much our son; we thank you so much our governor. We thank God for bringing somebody like you to make Edo North traditional rulers and the entire Edo North proud. It is not flattery to let you know that all traditional rulers, both openly, jointly and in their private rooms are praying for you because of what you have done for us, what you have done for the state, what God has made you do for Edo State, and in fact Nigeria."
On his part, the Olokpe of Okpe, Oba Idogun of Okpe said, "I want to say on behalf of Afemai traditional rulers, we thought it fit; we thought of it. How can we repay our dear son who has served Edo State very well, who has made the Afemai people proud? He has made us proud. We do not know how to show appreciation, but this is the only little way. We say that what you have done to Edo State, to Nigeria, particularly to Afemai people. Anywhere an Afemai person is, he can stand up today or tomorrow to say, yes, when we had our son, this is what he has done. We are all well pleased. This is the only little way we can say, thank you for making us proud. We pray that the candidate that you have presented to us, God almighty will crown him with success."
Responding, Governor Adams Oshiomhole said, "I am really short of words this afternoon. I wish my biological father was still alive to hear your very kind royal words and all that you have done for me these past nine years. I include the period of the first electioneering campaign and then the judicial process before assuming office seven and half years ago. As your highness said, God gives power to who he wishes, but he uses people of his chosen to make it happen."
The Governor continued, "I believe, my royal fathers, with your endorsement now, knowing that each and every one of you is not just registered voters, many if not all the people in your respective domains, they will take a cue from your body language and even express instruction on how to vote. I want to assure you highnesses that Godwin has worked with me long enough why we have done what we had to do, and therefore, he will have no difficulty in further improving on it."
He said, "Let to me announce to Godwin that his royal highness just passed an envelope to me which contains his royal donation in support of your candidature. I like to openly pass it to you."
Expressing his gratitude to the royal fathers, the governorship of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Godwin Obaseki who couldn't hide his joy at the royal endorsements said: "If I say that I am not truly humbled by what I have seen here today, I am not telling the truth. I feel truly humbled, but more importantly, I feel immensely challenged because what is happening here today is that someone is asking your royal highnesses to trust someone me."
He said: the next four years will be one in which we I will go out to attract investors into our various domains; to get investors, we have to guarantee security of the investments and who can do that more than our royal fathers, the custodian of the traditional institutions and the ones closest to the people?"
He assured the royal fathers that he will justify the confidence reposed in him and take Edo to a higher level, saying "whatever we have started, we will continue and improve on it."
Twenty-three royal fathers from different kingdoms, communities and domains across Edo North were at the palace of the Otaru of Auchi to endorse the APC candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki.
The National chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, has denied sponsoring activities of the Niger Delta Avengers, saying that it is nothing but a blatant concoction of falsehood obviously laced with the political intention of throwing a spanner in the works of our nation wide campaign/consultation with PDP delegates throughout the country in our bid to contest the National Chairmanship of the PDP.
*Dokpesi
He called on all Nigerians and delegates to the PDP National Convention to ignore Cynthia Whyte allegation.
In statement signed by Alhaji Shehu Gabam DG, Raymond Dokpesi Campaign Organisation on Monday Dokpesi said that ‘a report by one Cynthia Whyte of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers published by Saharareporters.com where an allegation was made to the effect that High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi is a sponsor of the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers.
‘We want to observe that ordinarily, a baseless accusation by a faceless identity is hardly worthy of a response. It is however unfortunate that the editors at Sahara Reporters allow their platform to be used irresponsibly to disparage innocent citizens with malicious falsehood and conspiracy theories without interrogating their sources on the authenticity of information they disseminate.
‘For the avoidance of doubt, let us state categorically that this is nothing but a blatant concoction of falsehood obviously laced with the political intention of throwing a spanner in the works of our nation wide campaign/consultation with PDP delegates throughout the country in our bid to contest the National Chairmanship of the PDP.
‘High Chief Dokpesi is a highly celebrated personality and people who know him will attest to the fact that he is not only a peace loving citizen but one who is passionate about the unity, indivisibility and oneness of our nation. Regardless of the partisan political process in the country, now clearly infested with all manner of treachery, bitterness and unwholesome acts by opposing political actors, he has always and will always be an advocate of winning all political contests fair and square.
‘While we do not hide the fact that we have political differences with the All Peoples Congress, APC and the Federal Government especially on it's policies, High Chief Dokpesi is a firm advocate for advancing the cause of our democracy through a robust and vibrant opposition that will keep the Government of the day on its toes.
‘If Chief Dokpesi’s campaigns around all states of Nigeria to be elected national chairman of the PDP is creating nervousness and fear in any political quarters in the country, we expect such persons to address the issue squarely by campaigning harder than we have done or advancing superior reasons to ours on the issues at stake.
‘High Chief Raymond Dokpesi calls on all Nigerians and delegates to the PDP National Convention to ignore and disregard the claims of this so called Cynthia Whyte who for reasons best known to him/her is bent on dragging Chief Dokpesi's name into a matter he knows nothing about. It is a baseless, spurious and unfounded allegation that aims at creating distractions to the critical political issues that currently engage his full attention.
By Vincent Ujumadu Awka- THE Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Monday insisted that struggle for the actualization of the Biafra Republic was still very much on course and denied the allegation by two officials of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, that MASSOB had betrayed the struggle.
Reacting to a statement credited to two spokesmen of IPOB, Emma Nmezu and Clifford Iroanya to the effect that MASSOB had derailed and betrayed the Biafra struggle, the MASSOB under the leadership of Comrade Uchenna Madu said the organization would not chicken out of the struggle like its former leader, Chief Ralph Uwazurike.
The statement signed by MASSOB director of information, Comrade Samuel Edeson read: "MASSOB, under the leadership of our leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, expresses dissatisfaction and sadness over this allegation from our sister organization, IPOB, and we advise that the statements should be thoroughly investigated because our image and name had been adversely affected..
"MASSOB understands that IPOB, while making the statements, was referring to Ralph Uwazuruike’s betrayal and sabotage ,If Uwazurike, as a person, is accused of being corrupt and sabotaging the Biafra struggle, it does not mean that MASSOB as an organization, had betrayed Biafra struggle. "Uwazuruike’s deviation from Biafra struggle was the primary reason MASSOB expelled and chased him out of MASSOB headquarters at Okwe, Imo State since 2014.
"MASSOB now under the leadership of Uchenna Madu has continued with the Biafra struggle untainted, unblemished and unstained and is highly energized with the Biafra spirit of consistency and self determination. "
The statement recalled that after Uwazuruike's expulsion from MASSOB, he formed another group called Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), and advised IPOB leadership not to associate BIM with MASSOB. It also recalled that MASSOB was the first group that reacted against what it called "the unapproved dialogue by MEND on Nnamdi KANU’s release"
Lokoja – A 49-year-old farmer, Gabriel Ajor has been arraigned before a Lokoja Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly abducting and selling seven children including his two sons and an eight-year-old baby for N400,000.
Ajor was alleged to have abducted and sold the children under the pretext of sending them to schools in Owerri and United States of Americal.
On arraignment at the Lokoja Chief Magistrate’s Court II on Monday, the accused was said to have tricked one Kenneth Omale and John Attah, parents of five of the children, into believing he meant well.
According to the prosecuting police officer, Cornet Ayabatu (ASP), the accused of Nwajala in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi, between March and June, criminally conspired with others now at large to commit the offence.
Ayabatu said that the matter was reported on July 8, by Kenneth Omale of Nwajala at the police area command office, Idah and Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Lokoja.
He said the children, Goodway Kenneth, 5; Kindness Kenneth, 3; Shedrack John, 6; Goodday John, 6; Confidence Ojonuba, 8 months old; Gift Gabriel, 6 and Destiny Gabriel, 3, all male, were allegedly taken to an undisclosed destination that could not be traced.
Ayabatu said police investigation led to the arrest of Ajor who confessed that he was paid N400,000 for the seven children by one Malik in Owerri, Imo State.
He was charged with criminal conspiracy and kidnapping contrary to sections 97(1) of the Penal Code and Section 4(1), punishable under section 4(3)(a) of Kogi State Kidnapping and other Related Offences (Prohibition) Law 2015.
The prosecutor however, told the court that investigation into the matter was in progress and asked for adjournment to enable the police address some grey areas.
In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Alhassan Husaini said that he was inclined to put on hold all ancillary applications connected to the case till the next sitting in view of the weighty and serious nature of the allegations.
Husaini therefore ordered that the accused be remanded at the state CID detention facility in Lokoja and adjourned to August 24 for further mention.
France midfielder Paul Pogba arrived at Manchester United’s training base on Monday to complete his record-breaking return to the club from Juventus, an AFP photographer reported.
Pogba was driven into United’s Aon Training Complex in the passenger seat of a red and black Chevrolet car provided by the club, having flown to Manchester from Nice.
He is due to undergo a medical and is expected to be officially confirmed as a United player on Tuesday or Wednesday.
British media reports say United have agreed to pay Juventus a world-record fee of 89 million pounds ($116.4 million, 105 million euros) to sign Pogba, not including agents’ fees.
United and Juventus confirmed on Sunday that Pogba, who has been on holiday since Euro 2016, had been granted permission to undergo a medical by the Turin club.
Manchester Airport had earlier tweeted a picture of a plane sitting on the runway, accompanied by the caption: “An important passenger has just touched down at the airport. Can anyone guess who it might be?”
Pogba, 23, left United in 2012 after making just seven appearances, but returns as one of the world’s most famous players after winning four consecutive Serie A titles in Italy.
He will eclipse Gareth Bale as the world’s most expensive player. The Welsh forward cost Real Madrid around 85 million pounds when he joined from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013.
United manager Jose Mourinho hailed Pogba‘s arrival following his team’s 2-1 win over Leicester City in Sunday’s Community Shield at Wembley.
“I don’t think Real Madrid were upset when they broke the record with Gareth Bale, with Cristiano (Ronaldo),” Mourinho said.
“When other people break records, I don’t think it’s a reason to be sad. I think it’s a reason to be proud with the dimension of a club that can do that and can attract players of this dimension.”
Pogba will become United’s fourth close-season signing after Ivorian centre-back Eric Bailly, Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
CALABAR- ODEY Ochicha, the gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Cross River State in the 2015 general elections has described the rumours making the rounds in the state that he received money from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to concede defeat to the party as malicious and unfounded.
Ochicha told Vanguard in Calabar on Tuesday that he conceded defeat to the PDP candidate, Senator Ben Ayade in the spirit of sportsmanship which has been misinterpreted by some people that he took money from the PDP during the election.
“My attention has been drawn to some malicious and demeaning falsehood being peddled by some people that I, Mr. Odey Ochicha received money as compensation from Ayade and his party to concede defeat in the 2015 general election.
“Let it be stated for the records that I never had any sort of transaction with Ayade before, during or after congratulating him; I did what i did in my own wisdom and my exposure to understand politics as an interesting game and in the spirit of sportsmanship therefore, I want to inform the general public to disregard such wicked rumours”.
He added that those who still harbour doubt of his integrity should trace his antecedents to his days at the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited, NITEL, and Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC, where he retired as a Deputy manager prior to the election.
He said those spreading the rumour should show facts that he got money from Ayade and petition the EFCC to trace his records before and after the election to prosecute him if he is found guilty.
While stressing that the rumour is aimed at fermenting trouble, causing confusion and misleading members of his party and the public, he urged his party members to be wary of false information from political foes and detractors.
“Let it be on record that although the decision to congratulate Ayade was my sole decision, when the party decided to challenge the election result in the Tribunal, I
contributed financially for the party to pursue the case so this rumour is nothing but a figment of the fertile imagination of the criminal elements spreading it.
“I want to urge members of our great party to be wary of political foes who are out to ferment trouble, cause confusion, distraction and division in the party”.
A FORMER Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Administration Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi has dismissed the report accusing him alongside others as being the sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, saying it is false and malicious. He also described the allegation as an attempt by his traducers to bring him down by every means.
The former NIMASA boss, who said this in a statement yesterday, denied having any link or ties with any political, advocacy or militant group anywhere in the world, adding that he is committed to Nigeria's interest.
His words: "My attention has been drawn to a recent publication by a group named the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), who purportedly listed "alleged" sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA); a group that has claimed responsibility for several attacks on Oil and Gas Infrastructure in the Niger Delta. The group is reported to have named me as one of the sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers.
"I want to say that this claim is false, malicious, defamatory and lacking any iota of credibility. May I remind the generality of Nigerians and the international community that I am currently facing six cases in various courts bordering on my stewardship in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency,NIMASA.
Nigeria, Perhaps, my adversaries may have realized that these charges in various courts lack merit and substance, and have decided to go this length to label me as a sponsor of NDA and its activities.
I am not a politician nor a member of any political or advocacy group. I also do not have any link or ties with any political, advocacy or militant group anywhere in the world. I am well educated with a Doctorate degree and became a public servant with interest in the rapid development of Nigeria’s Social and Physical Infrastructure. This is evidenced by my efforts in the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University.
"I cannot be involved in the destruction of Oil and Gas Infrastructure because this will adversely affect the eco-system in addition to other negative socio-economic consequences in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria. I was at the forefront of the anti-pollution campaign in our waters when I was the Director-General of NIMASA, so I will not be involved in actions that are causing pollution in devastating the already fragile eco-system in the Region.
''I, therefore, reject the baseless notion and association ascribed to me or implied in any shape or form by the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers as a sponsor of the Niger Delta Avengers and its activities.''
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC today arrested Mr. Abubakar Sidiq Usman, a blogger, for offences bordering on cyber stalking.
The suspect who is the publisher of Abusidiqu.com was picked up at his Kubwa, Abuja home in the early hours of Monday August 8, 2016 by operatives of the EFCC and is currently being questioned over the alleged offence which contravenes sections of the Cyber Crime Act.
The suspect has already been offered administrative bail and would be released to his elected sureties.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday congratulated Mrs. Funke Egbemode, on her confirmation as the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE).
Egbemode, who is the Managing Director of New Telegraph Newspapers, was officially confirmed as President during the guild's 12th annual conference in Port Harcourt last week.
The Governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said Mrs. Egbemode over the years has proved her mettle in the profession, saying that her recent appointment was thoroughly deserving and an inspiration to other women striving to make a name in the profession.
"I have no doubt in my mind that the cap fits Mrs. Egbemode. She has a proven track record of excellence in journalism, which has seen her rise through the ranks to the pinnacle of the profession", the Governor said.
Governor Ambode also urged Mrs. Egbemode to bring her wealth of experience to bear, not only in advancing the course of the Guild, but also the journalism profession in general.
"I urge Mrs. Egbemode to see her new assignment as one that comes at a time in our national life where we need the media to be more circumspect and developmental in playing its role as the watchdog of the society," he said.
Country Representative of the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Jean Gough, has said that Ondo state government needs to promote more of its award-wining programmes in all sectors so that the Federal Government and other sates can learn from it.
Mimiko
Gough gave the advice in Akure on Monday while on a thank-you visit to Ondo state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, for providing the organization with an office space in Akure and other interventions that have yielded positive results in the last few years.
She applauded the Abiye Safe motherhood and Agbebiye initiatives of the state Government saying they have become global benchmark in healthcare delivery system.
The UNICEF Country Rep. said many of the primary healthcare centers in Nigeria are really not functioning optimally and that the programmes Ondo state is implementing could be an example to the Federal Government and other states in Nigeria to emulate.
She lauded the governor for his collaborations with the organization in the last few years.
According to her; "We have come to really appreciate you for giving us the office space which will enable us serve the people better and also learn from the good initiatives that you have done.
"One of those things that has made you a progressive governor all the years is the fact that you are implementing social policies that are very strategic and focusing on the common man and I think that is part of your legacies".
She also commended the mega school initiative which she described as a transformative element of the state government.
Reacting, Governor Mimiko said his government will continue to partner with UNICEF to bring to bare global best practices in all its projects by helping in the documentation of the state programmes and other interventions.
YENAGOA- SUSPECTED sea bandits on Monday attacked a military checkpoint at Tombi waterside in Nembe, a coastal community in Bayelsa East Senatorial district, Bayelsa State, allegedly killing three soldiers.
Vanguard gathered that the pirates, who caught the soldiers unawares struck at about 10.00 am. They made away with a gunboat belonging to the military and two K2 rifles.
The incident caused panics in the coastal enclave, as the natives their homes for fear of reprisal by the military.
They stormed the checkpoint in an SUV and opened fire on the soldiers, carting away their arms. While some fled with the vehicle on land route, others disappeared into the creeks with the gunboat.
A villager, who spoke to Vanguard on phone, said that shortly after the attack, he saw a military fighter jet hovering around the area.
The motive of the attackers was not immediately clear, but the area was under attack between August 2015 and April 2016, resulting in loss of personnel and cache of arms
Sources hinted that the military reinforced security and took over the waterways to Nembe to checkmate the criminals. Soldiers also cordoned off the uncompleted Ogbia-Nembe road project jointly sponsored by SPDC and NDDC.
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As at the time of this report, the state Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (retd) had left Yenagoa for Nembe the scene of the attack.
Attempt to the get comment from authorities of the Joint Military Task Force, Operation Delta Safe proved abortive, as phone calls to the spokesperson, Lt. Col Daudu, did not connect.
Meanwhile, ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, and his media consultant, Mr. Paul Bebenimbo, have denied the allegation by the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA, that they are part of the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA.
Bebenimibo in a statement absolving his boss and himself, asserted: "My attention has been drawn to a news report by Sahara Reporters that I am one of the operatives of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), as alleged by a splinter faction of the NDA, which go by the name, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA)."
"In the same report, my boss, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo was also mentioned as one of the sponsors of the NDA.
"My initial decision was to ignore the said report as a result of the source and the bogus nature of the story. However, in order to set the records straight, I decided to write to dissociate my boss and myself from that wicked and malicious report.
"As for my boss is concerned, he has made it abundantly clear on many occasions that he has nothing to do with the Niger Delta Avengers," Bebenimibo said.
He added: "In my own case, I believe it was a mistaken identity as I am still wondering why my name is mentioned among operatives of the NDA when I have been going about my lawful business over the years."
"For the avoidance of doubt, I am a trained media practitioner, media consultant and media scholar of more than 10 years. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication, Master of Science (MSc) in Mass Communication and currently a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student in one of the prestigious Federal Universities in the South East.
"I am also the Executive Secretary of the Tompolo Foundation. Therefore, which time do I have to be operative of the NDA with all these legitimate things I am doing? This allegation is purely nonsensical and baseless and should be quarried by all well-meaning Nigerians," he said.
Bebenimibo asserted: "I wish to advise the Nigerian government to look for better ways to resolve the Niger Delta problem, and not to continue to compound the issue by relaying on voodoo means to resolve the issue."
"If members of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers claim to have parted ways with the NDA after destroying almost all the oil facilities in the Niger Delta region, and turned around to mention some people as sponsors and operatives of the NDA, then the government and people of this country need to know such people (RNDA). They should treat them accordingly and not the responsible Nigerians they mentioned as sponsors and operatives," he said.
"As it is now, I am going to brief my lawyers to take necessary action on this matter as it seems some people are out there to kill me for what I know nothing about. Presently, I am afraid of my life. I want to urge the present administration to be serious with human life as it is the primary duty of any government to provide security for the citizens.
"The use of miscreants to implicate genuine Nigerians is a dangerous trend in this country; as such people are likely to suffer for what they do not know anything about. Therefore, the government should investigate these claims seriously to avoid miscarriage of justice," he said.
In a related development, the Ijaw Human Rights Monitors, IHRM, yesterday, accused the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, presenting a list of prominent persons from the region as sponsors and sympathizers of NDA because it found out that government was no longer ready to patronize the group.
Coordinator of the group, Fred Brisibe, said: "Their fear became obvious the moment GEJ announced his willingness to work with the present administration towards the resolution of the Niger Delta issues."
"It gave them the fear of losing, all those who were expecting political appointments became frustrated, those who have been standing against the demand for restructuring with the hope of getting contract jobs to settle their bankruptcy issues have become flattened with disappointment. Desperate prisoners, who were already negotiating their freedom with their sinister role of obstructing the popular call for restructuring of the country are in painful frustration.
"The characters behind the nefarious activities of this despicable Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) are the same actors, who attempted to kill former President Goodluck Jonathan. They are the politicians whose stock in trade is to compromise the general interest of the Niger Delta people for their selfish end. They are the failed illegal businesspersons, who are desperate for favour from this Muhammadu Buhari – led administration," he added.
Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the new Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has commended the outgoing Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, for adopting the Computer Based Test (CBT) mode in JAMB’s examination.
Oloyode gave the commendation shortly after receiving handover notes from Ojerinde on Monday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government recently disengaged Ojerinde and 15 other heads of education parastatals and agencies.
Ojerinde was appointed the Registrar of JAMB in 2007 after serving as the Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO) for eight years.
Prof. Abubakar Rasheed was also appointed to head the National Universities Commission (NUC) following the expiration of the 10-year tenure of its former Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie.
According to Oloyode, the world is in the age of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which exists to make life easier.
“In this regard, we shall deepen what I once called the trendy tradition.
“When we introduced Computer-Based Test (CBT) at the University of Ilorin for the conduct of our screening exercise in 2007, we had no doubt that it was the right thing to do.
“It is gratifying that JAMB had subsequently transited to the use of technology for the conduct of its examinations and I salute the resolve of Ojerinde in that regard as well.
“We shall partner the relevant stakeholders and develop a robust technology infrastructure that will ease our task.
The new JAMB boss further said that he would ensure that staff members was computer literate.
Oloyode solicited the cooperation of staff of the board and pledged also to promote staff welfare, discipline and transparency.
Earlier in his remark, Ojerinde appealed to JAMB staff to give the new registrar all the support he needed to succeed.
He said that Oloyode would acquit himself creditably with the support of the staff.
Oloyode, who hails from Ogun State, was a former University of Ilorin Vice-Chancellor.
He is also the Executive Secretary of National Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), President, Association of African Universities (AAU) and an International Advisory Board member of International Network for Higher Education in Africa (INHEA).
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