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The visit of India Vice President, Honourable Shri Hamid Ansari, to Nigeria indicates the warm diplomatic ties both countries share, as he held several key bilateral talks with President Mohammadu Buhari to move both counties' economies forward. Declaring his country's commitment to this, Ansari, who is also expected to visit Mali for the first ever high-level bilateral talks with the leadership, stated that both India and Nigeria will forever remain friends, saying that his visit to Nigeria is to further strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Nigeria.
He said his visit would equally ensure expansion and diversification of the bilateral economic engagement between India and Nigeria and explore new avenues of partnerships on a wide range of issues of shared common interest. He went further to state that India today underscore the need to synergise its growth strategies with Nigeria in the backdrop of the current global financial situation, and that the economic cooperation occupies a prominent position in the bilateral matrix. According to him, India and Nigeria are well placed to convert every challenge to an opportunity, emphasising that infrastructural development and energy security are key areas for cooperation for emerging economies like India and Nigeria. “These sectors allow for both our countries to collaborate and benefit from each other’s expertise. Infrastructure stimulation programmes launched by the government of India, like the mission to develop 100 smart cities, upgrade infrastructure development in urban and rural areas and enhance nationwide connectivity through the ‘Digital India’ programme, have created massive opportunities for foreign partners in the Indian economy,” Ansari said.
He added that, “We are extremely happy to see the initiatives which Nigeria has launched under the sagacious leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari." Vice President Shri Hamid Ansari was accompanied by his wife Salma Ansari, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal and MPs Bhubaneshwar Kalita, Dilip Kumar Tirkey and Mohammad Salim.
Mario Balotelli opened his Europa League account for Nice on Thursday before keeling over sick as Nice went into half-time of their at Krasnodar in Russia at 2-1 down.
Mario Balotelli
Trailing after strikes from Fedor Smolov on 22 minutes and Joaozinho, 11 minutes later, the 26-year-old Balotelli slipped as he struck a curling shot home in the 43rd minute before bending over to cough and retch.
It was Balotelli’s fifth goal in four games for Nice after twice bagging braces in Ligue 1 wins over Marseille and Monaco.
The Italian striker, having been in some distress, was replaced at half-time
Nice lost their first Europa League Group I game 1-0 to Schalke 04.
Just today (Wednesday the 28th of September, 2016) the World Economic Forum released its Global Competitiveness Report and whereas a number of African nations like Kenya (of whom we are very quick to compare ourselves positively) improved in the Global Competitiveness Index rankings, Nigeria slipped three places and is now ranked 127 out of 138 nations.
To put it murky, only 11 nations (many of them war torn) are worse than Nigeria in terms of doing business!
Two years ago Nigeria was Africa’s fastest growing economy. Today, she does not even feature in Africa’s top ten most competitive nations! But when you point these out, the response is to blame Goodluck Jonathan under whom our economy blossomed like never before.
When you waste 16 months playing the blame game should you be surprised that investors are playing the disappearing game and running away from your economy?
And what has been the result? A recession. Now, the thing is that rather than face the recession frontally and ideate on how to end it, their administration, characteristically, has only one response: Blame Jonathan! As my Warri peeps would say-una no dey tire!
Today, the Naira has exactly half the value it had when former President Jonathan handed over power to President Buhari yet we have not gotten to half of this administration’s first tenure!
If there is anything you should not be doing during a recession it is complaining. Recessions bow to solutions not complaints!
But I do apologize. It is not exactly true that thus administration has not come up with a solution. It has. Sell of our national assets!
If I say that I was astounded by the news that the Muhammadu Buhari administration is toying with the idea of selling off Nigeria’s national assets, I could probably qualify for a place in the Guinness Book of Records for understatement of the year!
Nigeria is going through her toughest recession ever and the government’s response is the intellectually lazy one of selling our national assets! Somebody pinch me because I may as well be in a dream. I take that back. A nightmare this is!
First of all those in government need to understand that it is a most foolish thing to sell your assets in a recession because you will not get value for it. It is like selling your house while the real estate market is down. The only type of buyers you are going to attract are exploiters and shysters!
Of course a man like Aliko Dangote would advise government to sell its assets. Mr. Dangote did not become the richest African by being nice! I have met him in the flesh. He became the richest Black man in the world by being shrewd! And ever since the Buhari economy reduced his wealth by about $3.5 billion and removed him from Forbes Top 100 richest people in the world, the business mogul has not been happy about it and he has been angling to get back into that privileged company.
I may be wrong, but I suspect that Mr. Dangote, like a shark, has smelled blood. He has probably seen the cluelessness of the Buhari administration in the midst of this unprecedented crisis as a means to regain his lost fortunes.
Do not be deceived. Wealthy people like money and they like it more than you and I. Mr. Dangote, go back and check my history. I was the first man to acknowledge you as the richest Black man in the world in my 2010 documentary, Facts V Fiction. Before you conclude that I am your enemy go and watch that video. Google it. YouTube it. I am your admirer! But in as much as I admire you, I admire Nigeria more!
Back to the issues. The Buhari administration is best advised to read Napoleon Hill’s book, Think and Grow Rich. You do not sell and grow rich. You think your way out of a recession.
Selling our national assets because of this present recession is like selling your house because of car troubles. Where will you sleep after fixing the car?
Okay, if selling off our national assets does not stop the recession, what will be the next step? Sell us the citizens? Where does it end?
The conventional wisdom when you are facing a recession is to spend your way out of a recession. Now this spending is not the same as consuming. It is expenditure that stimulates production like a massive public works program.
But what we have now is still consumption not production. The same President who wants to sell of our national assets is still maintaining ten Presidential jets, multiple convoys, guest houses in several states and travels more than Ajala!
President Jonathan banned the importation of rice because Nigeria was spending ?1 billion annually importing the produce. Enter President Buhari who now reverses that ban and from one billion, we are now spending ?2.3 billion in importing rice (this figure was taken right out of the mouth of the minister of agriculture, Audu Ogbeh while addressing farmers at Ndeagu-Echara and Omege-Echara in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi on Friday September 16th, 2016).
How can you be wasting so much resources on consumption and not expect a recession? Do you think President Jonathan was a fool when he banned the importation of a product that we have the capacity to produce in Nigeria?
And at least before you consider something as desperate as selling off the family silver, you should cut wastes like the 10 presidential jets, the outrageous salaries of political appointees and the billions wasted on sponsoring pilgrims by giving them concessionary dollar rates.
Next, the President should abolish 50% of annual basic salary that he and his vice receive as ‘hardship allowance’. What hardship do they go through? Tax payers pay for their accommodation, feeding, medicals, travel and security. It is the man on minimum wage that deserves ‘hardship allowance’, not the men in the Villa!
Also, the President should direct his government to hands off sponsoring pilgrimage either directly or indirectly by giving them concessionary dollar rates that are denied to legitimate businessmen. A pilgrimage is a sacrifice. Once government pays for it, it ceases to be a sacrifices and becomes a luxury.
And if there is anything you should not be doing during a recession it is complaining. Recessions bow to solutions not complaints!
It is only in police stations and courts that you have complainants. In a presidential office you should have a problem solver not a complainant! Even the word executive means that you are in that office to execute.
For the avoidance of doubt, to execute means to carry out or put into effect a plan or a course of action. You cannot execute complaints. In fact only the powerless complain. If you have power and you are still complaining, what you are invariably saying is that you do not know what to do with power!
After spending ?20 million of their hard earned tax Naira to treat your ear in a London clinic, at least Nigerians deserve for you to use that same ear to listen to them and not sell their National Assets!
In just 16 months in power, the All Progressive Congress, APC has done more damage to Nigeria’s economy than the 16 years the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was in power.
Let us consider the facts. In 1999 PDP met dollar at ?88 to 1$ official and ?105 to $1 Black Market. By 2015 when PDP handed over power to the APC after 16 years it was ?197 official and ?225 Black Market. In just 16 months in office, the APC has seen the Naira depreciate to ?335 official and ?445 Black Market.
In 1999, Nigeria was the third largest economy in Africa behind South Africa and Egypt. After 16 years, the PDP managed to make Nigeria the largest economy in Africa. But in less than 16 months of the APC being in power, we have moved backwards to being the second largest economy in Africa behind South Africa and we are in danger of losing second place to Egypt.
According to official figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, the PDP created 10 million new jobs in 16 years. In contrast, the NBS reports that in 16 months of the APC being in power, Nigeria has shed 4.5 million jobs.
So next time the APC accuses the PDP of ruining the economy point out these statistics to them and do not be fooled by the change from frying pan to fire!
That is all I would say on that issue. Now permit me to digress. I hate injustice and I want to use this opportunity to address a grave injustice on an innocent woman.
The allegation that Aisha Buhari photoshopped her picture with Michelle Obama is false. Even if you do not like President Buhari, do not take it out on his wife or family. I have been at these functions. People line up to take pictures with the alpha personality (in that particular case, Michele Obama) who strikes and maintains the same pose.
I do not like President Muhammadu Buhari. I do not believe in him. I will NEVER EVER vote for him. Yet, I mention him by name everyday in prayer. Not some days. EVERYDAY.
I do this because I fear God. I will criticize him. But if I do criticize him, it will be because of something he is guilty of not due to something he and his wife are innocent of.
Whether you like it or not, Buhari is the Lord’s anointed, for now because Daniel 4:17makes us understand that power belongs to God and He gives it to whomsoever He wills. It does not mean that the person He gives it to is the best. If God did not will it, a thousand APC could not have made Buhari President.
If you are going to move against the Lord’s anointed, better have truth on your side or you end up like Rechab and Baanah!
Omokri is the founder of the Mind of Christ Christian Center in California, author of Shunpiking: No Shortcuts to God and Why Jesus Wept and the host of Transformation with Reno Omokri.
Mr Solomon Alimasunya, a Sokoto-based legal practitioner, on Thursday opposed the clamour for the sale of the nation's assets as a measure to pull out of economic recession.
Alimasunya told newsmen in Sokoto that there was no need for the sale since the Federal Government's economic team had informed Nigerians that the recession was a short time challenge.
He said the Ministers for Finance, Budget and Planning, had also assured Nigerians to look forward to a better standard of living as the current high prices of commodities in the markets would soon crash due to measures in place to control the recession.
He said that those clamouring for the sale of assets did not mean well for the country.
" This is because such sale is capable of robbing Nigerians and their generations yet unborn of our collective national assets." " Once these national assets are sold to individuals or multinational companies, then this country would have lost the assets forever," he said.
"Once the recession is over, what becomes of the national assets that had been sold off forever?"
He said the issue of the option for the Federal government to buy back the sold assets would be irrelevant because it might not be binding on individuals or multinational companies that purchased them.
The legal practitioner lauded the PENGASSAN, NLC and TUC for their positions on the issue.
Mr Adjoto Kabiru (APC-Akoko Edo) in the Edo House of Assembly has congratulated Mr Godwin Obaseki on his victory in the just-concluded governorship election.
Kabiru told reporters on Thursday in Benin that the victory would give the people the opportunity to continue to enjoy ongoing developments in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Friday in Benin declared Obaseki as winner of the gubernatorial election.
Obaseki polled 319,483 votes to defeat his closest rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 253,173 votes.
Obaseki
He said "I want to thank Edo people for not changing the change. The change will remain in the state and in the country.
"It takes time to get the dividends of democracy, but with time, things will get better. The 200,000 jobs Obaseki promised will be realised.
"And there will be more red roofs, hospitals and road construction across the 18 local government areas of the state."
He further said that himself and his Deputy Governor-elect, Philip Shaibu, would build on the foundation laid by Gov. Adams Oshiomhole.
The Federal Government has declared Oct. 3, as Public Holiday to mark Nigeria's 56th Independence Anniversary.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Alhaji Muhammadu Maccido, on Thursday in Abuja.
He said the Minister of Interior, retired Lt-Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau, assured Nigerians at home and abroad that Government was working assiduously to cushion the effects of the current economic challenges.
"The Minister enjoins all Nigerians to continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his determination to build a strong, virile and united country in line with the dream of the country's founding fathers,"he said.
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was targeted by Jose Mourinho for Chelsea last year but was blocked by an agreement between his agent and Juventus, the Frenchman’s agent Mino Raiola said Thursday.
Pogba, who left United for free to join Juventus in 2012 at the age of 18, returned to Old Trafford in a world record 105m euro deal earlier this summer.
But Raiola told Rai Sport: “Paul could have left (Juventus) last year because (Jose) Mourinho – then at Chelsea – really wanted him. “But Juventus and I had agreement: win the league title and the Champions League, then he can go.”
Juventus claimed a record-equalling fifth consecutive Serie A title last season but their progress in the Champions League was ended at the quarter-finals stage by Bayern Munich.
Raiola, meanwhile, said Pogba can expect a present from Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis because his transfer to United prepared the way for Juve to buy striker Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli for 90m euros.
He added: “De Laurentiis should be giving Paul a present, because without his departure Juventus would never have bought Higuain, and he would never have been able to bank all that money.”
Meanwhile, Raiola accused Inter Milan’s former owner Erick Thohir of not developing the Serie A giants before selling them on to Chinese owners.
Indonesian businessman Thohir, who owns Major Soccer League club DC United, was part of a consortium that bought a 70% stake in Inter for a reported 250m euros in October 2013, before selling the club in June to China’s Suning Holdings Group.
He sold a 68.55% stake to Suning for a reported 270m euros but retained 31.05% and the club presidency.
Since Suning took over, the Nerazzurri — treble winners under Jose Mourinho in 2010 — have emerged as potential title rivals to five-times consecutive champions Juventus. Ahead of this weekend’s fixtures Inter sit third at four points behind leaders Juventus.
While Inter attracted Chinese interest because they were the first European club to visit China 38 years ago, Raiola labelled Thohir’s 2013 takeover “false”.
“Thohir didn’t serve Italian football well. I never believed in his project, it was false,” Raiola, who also represents Manchester United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, told Rai Sport. “He came, he fixed Inter up a little bit then he listed the company (on the Asian stock exchange). But there was no need for an Indonesian to do that, an Italian could have done the same.”
During Thohir’s time in charge, Inter’s transfer market activity was limited because the club had breached UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations in 2015.
The club was fined and also had to scratch key players from their Europa League squad list. Thohir, meanwhile, insisted that most new players would be coming through the club’s youth system. Thohir sold Inter to the Suning group in June, whose chairman and owner is Zhang Jindong.
While Thohir remains president in name, Zhang’s son Steven Zhang is now on the board, five of whose members are Chinese. AC Milan are also on the verge of Chinese ownership, having received a 100m euros down payment ahead of a full, 740m euro takeover by the end of the year.
According to the outspoken Raiola, another Serie A club should be in Chinese hands. He called on Roma’s American president James Pallotta to underline his intentions for the capital club — or sell it to Chinese owners.
Pallotta’s much-heralded plans for a new, all-purpose stadium have yet to be fully approved and Roma made no big-name signings in the close season.
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Thursday in Abuja thanked Edo electorate for voting Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying "thank you for not changing the change'' .
Aregbesola said this when he broke the news of Obaseki's victory as Edo governor-elect to newsmen at the "National Day of Solidarity with Cuba''.
The event is a roundtable discussion on strengthening International Struggle against all forms of Blockade and Isolation against Cuba.
"I am happy that my party has won in Edo. I thank the Edo people for not changing the change. This change is here to stay,'' he said.
GOV. RAUF AREGBESOLA
He appealed to Nigerians to continue to bear with the administration in the face of economy recession.
"Please bear with us, it will soon be over and the nation will come out in victory,'' he said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, earlier in the day in Benin, declared Obaseki winner of the governorship election in the state.
Obaseki polled 319,483 votes to defeat his closest rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 253,173 votes.
It will be recalled that the slogan for the PDP campaigns in the state was "change the change''.
Edo election: The Edo chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) says it is happy with Godwin Obaseki's victory at the Wednesday governorship election.
The Chairman of the union, Mr Mike Uhumwangho, said this in an interview with newsmen in Benin on Thursday.
Uhumwangho said the election was free and fair "and I believe that the better candidate won".
"We are 100 per cent happy that the candidate who the Edo NUT endorsed won the governorship race.
"I believe that he will continue the good work that Gov. Adams Oshiomhole has started and will do better," he said.
He, however, called on the governor- elect not to renege on his electoral promises to revamp the education sector in the state.
INEC had declared Mr Godwin Obaseki of the APC as winner of the election, who polled 319,483 votes to defeat Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP, who scored 253,173 votes.
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) that his administration will eradicate bottlenecks and create an environment that can boost manufacturing. The President stated this at the 44th Annual General Meeting of MAN in Abuja on Thursday.
According to him, the need to boost manufacturing has become imperative in view of the fact that the "manufacturing sector is well positioned to be a major driver of Nigeria's economic growth''. He maintained that government was focused on implementing necessary policies and strategies aimed at unleashing the full potentials of manufacturing in Nigeria.
According to him, his administration will rely heavily on the association's ideas and inputs at all stages of formulation and implementation of new industrial policies. "The manufacturing sector is well positioned to be a major driver of Nigeria's economic growth because of our immense natural resources and the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians.
"Government is therefore focused on implementing necessary policies and strategies aimed at unleashing the full potentials of manufacturing in Nigeria. "We will rely heavily on your ideas and inputs at all stages of formulation and implementation of new industrial policies.
"For our part, we will remove bottlenecks and create a more business friendly environment. "Our strategic plan to boost manufacturing activities in the country is supported by the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the National Enterprises Development Programme (NEDEP).
"These programmes, present a clear road map towards an industrialised Nigerian economy.''Buhari stated that his administration is convinced that the key to the nation's economic diversification and subsequent survival lies in the agriculture and manufacturing sector.
He said that a strong manufacturing sector would create more jobs and wealth for the citizens, adding that it would usher in sustainable economic prosperity "because we will produce what we consume as a nation and generate foreign exchange by exporting any surplus''.
The President said that his administration was working on improving the patronage of locally made goods, bridging the gap between skills required by industry and those provided by the educational institutions and access to finance for the Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (SMEs).
He added that the Federal Government recognised that MAN and other members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) were key stakeholders in the journey. He said, "we will continue our engagement with you.'' The President stated that he was inspired by the association's commitment to a great Nigeria.
"As events unfold in the coming months, many of you will be called upon to play critical roles in the implementation of this administration's agenda. "I implore you to avail us your wealth of experience so that together we can uplift our nation's economy and social well-being.''
In his remarks, the President of MAN, Dr Frank Jacobs, commended the government for its new forex policy of allocating 60 per cent of all available foreign exchange to the manufacturing sector for the importation of raw materials and machinery.
He also praised the Buhari-led administration for the efforts it is making towards improving infrastructure across the country. Jacobs also saluted the government's efforts to end insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country. He said the efforts were yielding fruitful results
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) that his administration will remove bottlenecks and create a more business friendly environment to boost manufacturing activities in the country.
The president gave the assurance at the 44th Annual General Meeting of MAN held in Abuja on Thursday.
He said that the step had become imperative in view of the fact that the manufacturing sector was well positioned to be a major driver of Nigeria's economic growth.
He said government was focused on implementing necessary policies and strategies aimed at unleashing the full potential of manufacturing in Nigeria.
According to him, the administration will rely heavily on the association's ideas and input at all stages of formulation and implementation of new industrial policies.
"The manufacturing sector is well positioned to be a major driver of Nigeria's economic growth because of our immense natural resources and the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians.
President Buhari
"Government is therefore focused on implementing necessary policies and strategies aimed at unleashing the full potential of manufacturing in Nigeria.
"Our strategic plan to boost manufacturing activities in the country is supported by the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the National Enterprises Development Programme.
"These programmes present a clear road map towards an industrialised Nigerian economy,'' the president said
Buhari said his administration was working on improving the patronage of locally made goods and bridging gaps between skills required by industry and those provided by educational institutions as well as ccess to finance for Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises.
He said the Federal Government recognised that MAN and the other Organised Private Sector groups were key stakeholders in this journey.
He added: "we will continue our engagement with you.''
The president, who said he was inspired by the association's commitment to a great Nigeria, urged them to join hands with government in making the ongoing government efforts to revive the nation's economy a success.
He also urged them to ensure that the outcome of their deliberations would be to the benefit of all Nigerians.
"As events unfold in the coming months, many of you will be called upon to play critical roles in the implementation of this administration's agenda.
"I implore you to avail us your wealth of experience so that together we can uplift our nation's economy and social well-being,'' the president said.
In his remarks, the President of MAN, Dr Frank Jacobs, commended the Federal Government for its new forex policy of allocating 60 per cent of all available foreign exchange to the manufacturing sector for the importation of raw materials and machinery.
He also lauded the administration's efforts to boost infrastructure across the country.
Jacobs also saluted the government's efforts to end the activities of insurgents in the Northeast part of the country, which he said, had started yielding fruitful results.
Edo election: Mr Anselm Ojezua, the Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), in Edo, on Thursday, attributed the party's victory in the Wednesday Edo governorship election to the goodwill of the people.
Ojezua, who was reacting to the APC victory in Benin, said Gov. Adams Oshiomhole had served the state well and the people rewarded him by voting the party in again.
He told newsmen that the victory did not come to him as a surprise because it was earned through hard work.
The chairman said that the party would continue to build on the goodwill, adding "to God be the glory; this victory brings to the fore the need for hard work.
Also, Mr Gentleman Amegor, the Vice Chairman of the party in Edo South Senatorial District, said the party won because it had worked hard since it assumed office.
"In life, the key to success is hard work. When you work hard, success will never be far from you. That is exactly what has happened.
"Oshiomhole has laid the foundation and we pray and are hopeful that Godwin Obaseki will do better".
Similarly, the Attorney-General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Henry Idahagbon, described the victory as ordained by God.
"The victory is sweet but the battle was tough. It is a victory for development. Edo people should get ready for a high level development now," he said.
APC candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki, won the election by polling 319, 483 votes to beat his closest rival, Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP, who garnered 253, 173 votes. Oshiomhole's second term in office ends on November 12.
Benin – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that the refusal of some political party agents to sign the Edo governorship election result sheet did not invalidate the poll.
INEC National Commissioner in Charge of Publicity, Prince Solomon Soyebi, stated this in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Benin.
Soyebi said that the validity of an election was stipulated in the Electoral Act and Election Guidelines.
He said that the concluded Edo election was in line with the Electoral Act.
"The refusal of any party agents to sign the result sheet does not in any way invalidate the declared result of the election," Soyebi said.
The agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that of the Young Democratic Party had refused to sign the result sheet of the Edo governorship election.
He commended the people of Edo for their peaceful conduct that allowed the election to be peaceful and concluded in one ballot.
"This is one of the few elections that we have conducted with minimum violence," he said.
Soyebi said that the people of Edo had set the pace for peaceful election and mass turnout of voters in the country.
He expressed hope that such standard would be sustained as well as impact on future elections.
The INEC commissioner said high number of counseled votes and the inability to use the card readers remained one of the major changes in the election.
He, however, said that INEC would build on the success recorded in Edo as well as invest more in voter education to ensure the success of Ondo election scheduled for Nov. 28.
INEC had declared Mr Godwin Obaseki of the APC as winner of the election, who polled 319,483 votes to defeat Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP, who scored 253,173 votes.
President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the family of late Inspector General of Police (I-G), Etim Okon Inyang, who passed away at 85.
The condolence is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by Mr Femi Adesina, the president's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity. According to the statement, Buhari sends his condolences to the immediate family, friends and community of the deceased, who served meritoriously as head of the nation's police force for three years (1983-1986).
The president said that the deceased, who also served as member of the National Security Council and Vice Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee in 1987, contributed immensely to the reforms and structuring of the nation's security.
He added that the processes heralded good governance and democracy. President Buhari prayed that almighty God would grant the departed soul eternal rest and comfort his family. The Inyang family formally announced the death on Wednesday, which it said happened at the Reddington Hospital, Lagos, on Sept. 26.
Sir Etim Okon Inyang joined the Nigerian Police Force on Oct. 1, 1949 and rose through the ranks to become Commissioner of Police in Kano and old Bendel states. He was appointed Inspector General of Police in 1984 and served meritoriously until his voluntarily retirement in October 1986.
He was thereafter appointed Vice Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee in 1987 and conferred with the national honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). He survived by his wife, Mary, and five children.
Benin – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr Godwin Obaseki of the All Progressives Congress(APC) winner of the Edo governorship election held on Wednesday.
Obaseki polled 319,483 to defeat his closest rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), who scored 253,173 votes.
The Returning Officer, Prof, Kayode Soremekum , who is also the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, declared Obaseki as winner, having scored the highest valid votes.
Soremukum said there were 1, 900, 223 registered voters, while 662,039 of the registered voters were accredited with 613, 244 voters casting their votes in the election.
He said 582, 299 of the votes cast were recorded as valid with 30, 945 as rejected votes, saying the total percentage turned out was 32.74.
"I, Prof. Kayode Soremekun,as the returning officer of the Edo governorship election held on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016, hereby states that election was contested in the state.
" Godwin Obaseki, having satisfied the requirements of the law, scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared winner and is returned elected," he said.(NAN)
BENIN CITY-IT was jubilation galore across the three senatorial districts of Edo state Thursday after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, winner of the just concluded governorship election in Edo state.
Obaseki defeated his closest rival, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu after polling 319,483 as against 253,173 polled by the PDP candidate. The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Osaro Onaiwu who took third in the election polled 876 votes. Obaseki in his swift reaction, attributed his victory to God and the people of the state, assuring that he will continue the developmental strides of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Out of the 18 Local Government Areas of the state, Obaseki won in 12 while Ize-Iyamu won in five Local Government Areas. Obaseki won in six Local Government Areas out of the seven in Edo South, Egor, Ikpoba Okhai, Ovia North East, Ovia South West, Uhumwonde and Oredo.
Others are Igueben (Edo Central) and the entire six in Edo North, Governor Adams Oshiomhole's domain. Announcing the results, the Returning Officer Prof. Kayode Soremekun, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Ikere Ekiti state, declared that Obaseki haven won the highest number of votes is "hereby declared the winner and returned elected".Obaseki
Tension heightened when supporter of the PDP stormed the INEC office to protest the results but they were repelled by APC youths who equally embarked on a march in celebration of victory and stern looking policemen attached to the INEC.
PDP agent, Barr.Chris Agbenawangbe refused to sign the result sheet, citing what he described as alleged irregularities during the elections. But the APC agent, Mr Samson Abu, described his allegation as laughable, asserting "this election is one of the most credible we have ever seen. This PDP people have been using social media to misinform the people but they are finished. Edo people have rejected them long ago and they will never come back. They lost squarely because they deserve to lose. So all these talk about rigging is rubbish" he stated.
The House of Representatives, on Thursday, resolved to investigate the N500 billion debt owed Petroleum Pricing Marketing Company (PPMC) by major marketers and independent oil marketers.
The House said the decision is in line with sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which empowers the house to carry out oversight functions on government institutions.
Th decision followed a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Agom Jarigbe (PDP-Cross River), unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.
Moving the motion, Jarigbe urged the House to "resist the act of criminality being perpetuated within the oil sub-sector."
House of Representatives
According to him, there is a connivance and compromise by functionaries of PPMC to leave government funds in the hands of marketers, thereby putting the country in dire financial straits.
"PPMC went into through Put Agreements with some of the marketers, which does not empower the marketers to sell out products stored in their respective Tank Farms.
"The marketers criminally sold out the products and also benefitted from intervention allocations and have since not remitted the funds to PPMC."
The House alleged that those concerned had sabotaged government and converted funds that should rightly accrue to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The House, therefore, set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate "the huge debts and criminal act."
ABUJA-APPARENTLY acting on the outcome of the House directive on suspended former Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmunin Jibrin, National Assembly Management yesterday, sealed his office.
The Ethics and Privileges committee that tried Jibrin for breaching House Rules had recommended that he should be suspended for 180 days and the report was adopted on Wednesday.
When contacted on why such a haste on the part of management, Spokesman of the House, Rep Abdulrazaq Namdas, APC, Adamawa, simply said “management did the right thing’.
“There is no haste there because if a judge finds you guilty you are not given the luxury of time to do otherwise”.
On whether the action by the House would not amount to contempt of court, Namdas said “it is not because of the action of the House Jibrin went to court, the action of the House is laced around the collective breach of our privileges by Jibrin”.
“He (Jibrin) did not go to court because of the action of our committee but what the committee did was to suspend him for his action against our collective privileges”.
“And let me quickly remind you that Jibrin has not formally submitted any petition against anybody to the House till date”.
“What he did is to go outside NASS to submit petitions and mind you his petition is built around the quartet of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Whip and the Minority Leader.
“His case has no relationship with the entire House but in the case of his suspension, he was suspended for violating our collective privileges as enunciated in our House Rules”.
Asked whether if Jibrin apologises the House could have a re-think, Namdas said “well that is left for the committee to decide not us”.
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