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
By Henry Umoru ABUJA- SIX days after a meeting between the Senate and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU ended in stalemate, a renewed of same to nip in the bud, ongoing warning strike, again ended in deadlock today.
At the end of the 8 hours meeting which ended 8.32 pm Monday, there was however no concrete agreement between the University lecturers and the lawmakers.
Addressing Journalists after the meeting, Chairman Senate Committee on Tertiary Education, Senator Jibrin Barau, APC, Kano North said that both parties agreed with some of the issues raised, except one that had to do with their earned allowances, adding that they (ASUU) were going to make consultations with their members on the way forward.
Barau said: “You can see we have spent about 8 hours in this very important meeting. We have deliberated and thank God we have dealt with all the issues and we have agreed in all the issues except one.
“We have adjourned to make consultations, every sections of the meeting will get back to his constituency and report to it what transpired. At a later that we will reconvene to thrash out the remaining issues.
ALTHOUGH the Zika virus is still spreading, the World Health Organization (WHO) says it is no longer considered to be an international public health emergency. The global health body has declared that the crisis has entered a new phase that requires a longer-term response mechanism and sustained resources.
An Emergency Committee of the WHO which met weekend, said although the mosquito-borne virus is still a chronic problem and huge resources are required to fight its spread in a long-term manner, it no longer represents an emergency defined under the International Health Regulations (IHR).
According to the WHO Committee, Zika remains “a significant enduring public-health challenge requiring intense action” that requires management as a long-term priority like other major on going epidemics.
Based on the Committee’s advice, the WHO Director-General declared the end of the emergency declared in February 2016 as a result of an urgent need for research and a coordinated public-health response to determine if Zika was responsible for numerous cases of birth defects in newborns in Brazil.
Zika, which has been reported in 69 countries since 2015, causes devastating birth defects, such as underdeveloped brains and misshapen heads in babies born to women who were infected while pregnant.
Research has demonstrated the link between Zika virus infection and microcephaly, and the Committee says a robust longer-term technical mechanism is now required to manage the global response.
WHO notes that many aspects of the disease and associated consequences still remain to be understood, but this can best be done through sustained research. The Committee recommends sustained programme of work with dedicated resources to address the long-term nature of the disease and its associated consequences.
Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo has dismissed reports that his recent visits to the Presidential Villa are to facilitate his movement from PDP to APC.
Mimiko told State House correspondents in Abuja on Monday, after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, that he only briefed the president on the security situation in his state.
Governor Mimiko receives President Buhari in Akure
According to him, as the Chief Security Officer of Ondo, he is duty bound to brief the president on the security situation in the state.
"Like I said, as the Chief Security Officer of my state, if there is any credible threat to security, I owe the responsibility to Nigerians to brief Mr President of what is going on in the state.
"Mr President was in my state to campaign for his party. I extended to him the courtesies of receiving him at the airport and seeing him off as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not as APC.
"I understand that people have speculated that this means I am going to APC. There is nothing of such. I only extended him normal courtesies that protocols demand.
"As a governor and security officer of the state, if the president is visiting, no matter the party he belongs, it is only appropriate for me to extend the courtesies to him.
"That was what I did in Akure.
"And I have also come to brief him about the security situation in my state,'' he added.
Mimiko told reporters that he was only visiting the villa for the second time since the crisis in his party, adding: "I am just concentrating on the case of my party in court.''
When asked what would happen if his candidate were to win at the Supreme Court, he said: "the whole of Ondo State will erupt in joy and it will be so self-evident.''
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Monday, inaugurated a 330KV power switching station in Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom.
The minister, at Ikot Inyang village in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, said that the switch on of the station would boost electricity supply in the country.
Minister of Power, Fashola
He said that the station was expected to evacuate electricity from power plants in Alaoji, Afam, Calabar and Ikot Abasi and route same to Ugwuaji in Enugu up to Jos.
Fashola said that the development would solve the problem of stranded power as the generating plants would have their power evacuated for use.
The minister added that the project was bedevilled with challenges but for the intervention of the National Assembly, which resolved the contending issues for the completion of the project.
The Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Mr Chiedu Ugbo, who was at the inauguration, said contract for the project was awarded in 2006.
Ugbo said that the project was delayed due to challenges and lauded the stakeholders for the commitment toward completing the project.
He noted that the new management of NDPHC was committed to ensuring improved power generation, saying that the switching of the station on would mark the end of epileptic power supply.
He expressed gratitude to Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom and his predecessor, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and the host community for providing conducive environment for the completion of the project.
In her speech, Princess Maryam Akanmode, the contractor handling the project, said the 330 KV station had 12 inter-connectivity lines to evacuate power from the four plants to the national grid.
Akanmode, who is the Managing Director of Carlark International Limited, lauded the Federal Government and stakeholders for assisting in the completion of the project.
The Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, said the event marked significant turning point in the march toward new dawn in both power infrastructural renaissance and industrial revolution.
Represented by his Deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo , the governor said that the Ibom Power Plant had approval for upgrade to 685 megawatts from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
He said that the state was generating 191 megawatts from the Power Plant in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the state.
Emmanuel disclosed that the state government had equally partnered a private investor for the take-off of the N90 billion Uquo Gas Plant at Esit Eket.
He said that gas plant was projected to supply 131 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to the National Independent Power Plant (NIPP) in Calabar, as well as the Ibom Power Plant. (NAN)
Mrs Justina Ogugua, 39, is currently battling for life. She is a patient of End Stage Kidney Disorder.
A mother of four, Justina was diagnosed early this year with congestive cardiac failure. Currently she is confined to her sick bed suffering memory loss and unable to perform her duties as mother and wife.
Her husband, Ignatious, has been running from pillar to post in the effort to care for her and also cater for the family.
He recalled that Justina's predicament began early in 2016 when her health began to deteriorate for no particular reason.
"She was unable to carry out her normal business activities or domestic work and it got to a stage she began to lose her memory frequently.
Justina Ogugua.
"For over three months, she has been on dialysis that costs us an average of N80,000 weekly. Recently her condition worsened and the doctor said a kidney transplant is required to save her life.
Ignatious who said they have been given a bill of N10 million for the proposed surgery, however lamented that the family was broke.
"I have spent every kobo that I have. I am appealling and begging Nigerians to please come to my wife's aid and help save her life."
A medical report confirmed that Justina's renal function has been compromised.
The report signed by the Medical Director, Paulate Hospital, Dr. P. C. Duru, said Justina was first seen at the hospital with several complaints ranging from constant and persistent headache, generalised fatigue, to dizziness, poor vision/photophobia, insomnia, nausea and recurrent abdominal pains among others.
It noted that clinical examinations revealed that the patient was hypertensive and had severe tachycardia.
An initial diagnosis of congestive cardiac failure (CCF) c/o poorly controlled hypertension was made and patient admitted and treated accordingly."
The medic said further laboratory investigations however revealed that Justina's renal function had been compromised; hence an additional diagnosis of chronic kidney disease was made.
It was confirmed that Justina had undergone 16 episodes of dialysis with accompanying blood transfusion during each session. The report said she has been on routine treatment and management and has been recommended for a left kidney transplant.
If you are touched by Justina's plight, and wish to assist, kindly send your donation to Justina Ogugua, First Bank 3082077346 or contact 08066309036 for further details.
The Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Former Ministers Forum have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone Ondo State governorship election by three weeks.
Oke, Jimoh, Jegede Agunloye and Akeredolu
The party and former ministers briefed newsmen after their meeting on Monday in Abuja, saying the shift was necessary in order to resolve the legal dispute over the party's candidate for the state election.
The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, said it would be wrong for INEC to continue with the election as planned for Nov. 26 since the matter was still before the Supreme Court.
Adeyeye said that the case which was now before the Supreme Court had denied Eyitayo Jegede, his faction candidate, the opportunity to campaign in the last few weeks
The secretary expressed dissatisfaction with INEC for recognising the Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction's candidate, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, for the elections instead of Jegede.
He added that "INEC must postpone the election for a minimum of three weeks to allow everyone to participate.
"Every party should be allowed to present candidates of their choice. The election must be postponed in the interest of peace.
"INEC should wait for the decision of the Supreme Court before conducting the election."
He said people should remember that the second republic was truncated partly because of the electoral crisis in the old Ondo State, saying that "Ondo State is a highly educated state.
"We witnessed what happened in 1983. Ondo State wanted to choose their own leader. The events lead to collapse of second republic.
"We don't want that to happen again. INEC should allow Ondo people to choose their candidate. Let there be level playing ground for all political parties to choose their candidates."
Mr Tanimu Turaki, who spoke for the former ministers, said that the Forum support the PDP in the call for the postponement.
He also pledged the loyalty and support of the former ministers to the Makarfi leadership, saying PDP would not die.
"We believe we have come to a point where every responsible, every loyal, every committed party member should be seen to be rendering efforts to strengthen this party,'' Turaki said.
Earlier, Makarfi had said during an interactive session with the ministers that it was regrettable that Ondo State was in the centre of the raging party crisis.
He expressed the hope that all legal issues involving the party would be resolved before the end of the year.
He added that "our expectation was that before we begin thinking of going to the Supreme Court, it should be next year.
"But somehow, we will be in Supreme Court tomorrow (Nov. 23) and some major decisions might be taking.
"So, if you look at it and calculate, hopefully before the end of the year we will be done with legal issues."
Makarfi urged the ministers to consult with every member of the party and start strategizing on how PDP could capture power in 2019.
"If we don't capture power, it is a wasted effort. We must strategise so that we cannot be cornered.
"As a caretaker committee, we feel we should create a forum to bring our people together, to discuss and make recommendations on how to move forward.
"Zoning of the presidency to the north and the party chairman to the south is a major fundamental strategy decision,'' Makarfi said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is expected to deliver judgment on the PDP candidate for Ondo election on Tuesday, Nov. 23.
However, INEC had stated that it would not postpone the election for any reason.(NAN)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has no plan to postpone the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for Nov. 26.
INEC boss, Mahmood Yakubu
The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, disclosed this to newsmen while responding to calls by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some other registered political parties that the election should be postponed.
Oyekanmi said that INEC had already gone far with preparations and there was no any occurrence that warranted the commission to shift the Saturday election.
"INEC has no plan and does not intend to postpone the election.
"Preparations for the Ondo Governorship election started since March and 12 out of 14 activities planned for the poll have already been carried out.
"Besides, the grounds for postponing any election are enshrined in the Electoral Law and certainly, such calls for postponement is not one of the grounds.
"The 13th activity which is the Stakeholders' Forum will hold on Tuesday in Akure, Ondo State. The Commission therefore will not postpone the election."
The PDP had called on INEC to postpone the election, pending the determination of the suit involving its candidate which was before the Supreme Court.
A total of 20 other political parties had also called on INEC to postpone the election at a news conference in Abuja on Monday. (NAN)
The Director General of the National institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mrs. Chika Balogun, has called on travel journalists and security agents across the country to adopt a positive disposition towards the promotion of Nigeria as a tourist destination.
She said this will help to attract the right attention to the country in its quest to diversifying its economy as a way of overcoming the present recession in the country.
Balogun made the call while declaring open a training workshop organised by her institute in Lagos recently.
The theme of the training was “Global tourism ethics and ethics on brand Nigeria”, and it was attended by security officers from Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) and Nigerian Civil Defense and Security Corps and tourism journalists.
According to her, if the task of making Nigeria one of the top 20 destinations in the world is to be achieved the country needs to be promoted in a positive light and branded accurately in line with global tourism ethics.
Travel journalists and security agents, she said have greater role to play in this regard.
She said that there is the need to equip journalists and security agents on the appropriate ethics that would help in the branding of the country, adding that NIHOTOUR has decided to bring together both the journalists and security agents based on what she said is “our collective resolve to promote Nigeria for a better day ahead”.
Mrs. Balogun then appealed to the travel journalists to make the necessary effort to promote Nigeria tourism in positive light while she called on the security agents to cooperate with tourism operators in protecting the country and ensuring that the right controls and measures are put in place to secure the country.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was the special guest of honour, was represented by the Director of Domestic Tourism and Control in the ministry, Mrs. Ada Okoli.
The event had two technical sessions with one session devoted to the training of the security agents and the other to the travel journalists with experts on security, brand and destination building, tourism ethics and other related topics taking them through the rudiments of the topics.
FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) under the leadership of Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, yesterday, at the Rojenny Stadium, Oba, concluded a 4-day Open Screening/Selection Exercise aimed at discovering about 30 technically gifted players under the age of 20.
The players are expected to form the fulcrum of the West Ham United Academy as part of the Partnership agreement signed between the Hammers and FC Ifeanyi Ubah.
The U-20 players during the screening
The screening exercise which was duly supervised by the Vice Chairman of the board, Barr. J.B.C Obikwelu drew seasoned football coaches, tacticians and administrators, the 21 Local Government Football Council Chairmen drawn across the state, as well as members of ANSFA.
It is expected that about 30 of the players discovered from this exercise who are basically green horns and raw talents from schools/academies within the state will go into a 10-day close door training camp after which the group will be cut down to 20 players who will be embarking on a Trip to the London Club, West Ham United for trials and full integration into their academy after signing the dotted lines of the club's papers.
The Screening exercise which is part of ANSFA's quest cum efforts to discover, nurture and groom talents from all nooks and crannies of the state can be described as largely successful with the climax being the novelty football matches between the U-20 Select Team A beating FC Ifeanyi Ubah Academy 4-1, while in the second game, FC Ifeanyi Ubah Feeder Team defeated the U-20 Select Team B by 2 goals to nil.
Reacting to the recent development, CEO/Managing Director of the Rojenny Sports Complex, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka (Ogilisi Igbo) who witnessed the event on its first day commended the efforts of the Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah's led Anambra FA Board for the noble exercise which he described as timely.
"This event is timely, as it is a progress in our football and serves as a platform of hope for our youths to showcase their talents and a chance for international exploration. This is a goldmine in terms of future sports development in Anambra State. I commend Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah for his vision and capabilities. He is certainly a man who uses his visionary and intellectual capacity to turn things around. I urge him to continue with his good works," Chief Ezeonwuka stated.
Also reacting, Vice Chairman of the Anambra FA Board, Barr. J.B.C Obikwelu said the open screening exercise has afforded the football passionate and loving teeming youths a very honest opportunity to be seen and spotted out as well as develop their talents.
"This Screening Exercise is one that in the nearest future will return Anambra football to its former glory. It is a well thought-out process borne out of a well crafted blueprint for football development. Football is made in Anambra and in conformity with this cliche, we have hit the ground running. You can see for yourself how the exercise has turned out with the talents showcased by these young ones. What we are doing here is simply practicing what we preach for the betterment of the state in sports," said Barr. Obikwelu.
Reacting also, Sir Anthony Udennaka, a Member of the Anambra FA Board who doubles as Chairman of the Anambra State Referee's Council was of the view that the exercise is not only beneficial to the state but to the nation at large.
"An opportunity of this nature and magnitude is rare, this goes to say that the youths that are involved should make the best out of it by being focused, committed and disciplined. This exercise is not only beneficial to Anambra State but to the country at large. Football is a unifying factor and plays a key role in national integration, this is just the right way to start and on a concluding note, I can say that I am satisfied with what i have seen in the couple of days this exercise lasted," Udennaka submitted.
Present at the occasion were the Chairman Anambra State Football Association and Proprietor of FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah; Chairman, FC IfeanyiUbah, Chief Chukwuma Ubah; former U-17 National Team Coach, Amb. Fanny Amun (MON); FC Ifeanyi Ubah's new Head Coach, Kenichi Yatsuhashi; Technical Director, Mitko Dobrev; Assistant Coach/Fitness Trainer, Yaw Preko among others.
Heavily armed Niger Delta militant pirate gangs operating in and around the Niger Delta region, the Black Devils, have given reasons why they attack expatriate companies such as Agip, Shell, Chevron and others and take hostages for huge ransoms.
In a video interview granted by the leader of one of the militant groups to the Al Jazeera's People and Power documentary crew on investigation of the rise of piracy in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, the militants claimed the expatriate companies come to exploit them without employing them or giving them their due.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-With just one year and seven months into the four years term of the administration of president Muhammdu Buhari which will terminate in 2019, presidency has given sure indication that the president would seek a second term in office.
It also vehemently dismissed comments that it would be a lonely walk for the president, a development expected to serve as a punishment for perceived bad governance. Buhari
The refutation was a sharp reply to a statement credited a former member of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Alhaji Buba Galadima that the people of Nigeria would abandon Buhari should he choose to seek re-election.
In a strong worded statement last night, the presidency through the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu stated that the “suggestions that the masses will desert President Buhari in 2019 as unfounded and utterly ridiculous”.
Shehu asserted that “ordinary Nigerians are the backbone of his mandate and the only reason he ran for the office is to protect them against the rapacious merchants of corruption, who have held Nigeria back for decades”, saying that ” Galadima’s calculation and prediction is utterly confused and misleading.”
According to the presidential spokesman “the masses are solidly behind Buhari because he is not stealing their money and their future. President’s enormous goodwill remains ever strong because the people are convinced the President is acting in their best interest, despite the temporary unintended consequences of reforms.”
Suggesting vendetta and strong animosity agent the person and the government of Buhari, Shehu who carpeted Galadinma recalled that an age-long face-off between both Arewa leaders in their CPC days.
He revealed that it was the reason why Buhari discarded the likes of Galadinma in the 2015 elections he ran and won, urging Galadinma to retire to his constituency and stand an election if he still enjoyed the goodwill of his people.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is far from isolation. He enjoys a very strategic relationship with ordinary Nigerians. This relationship is as solid as the proverbial rock. If Buba Galadima thinks that because he has no role and no job in this government that means president is isolated, he is putting himself up to ridicule.
“Galadima cannot speak for the masses as far as their steadfast loyalty to Buhari is concerned. While acknowledging that Galadima was entitled to advance his own political agenda, Malam Garba said Galadima didn’t have the right to decide for ordinary voters.
“Buba Galadima’s disagreement with President Buhari was based on principle. He explained that President Buhari is committed to level playing field and would not want anyone to link his name to injustice.
“Galadima’s disagreement with Buhari started in 2011 when a group within the party, orchestrated an organizational mess by which the CPC embarked on the imposition and substitution of candidates for cash payments at the expense of those duly and democratically elected.
“Muhammadu Buhari was embarrassed by the incidents and complaints about the imposition and substitution of candidates, adding that he, as a democrat, would not suppress the will of the people to please selfish interests.
“Consequently he dispensed with the service, such as they are, of Buba Galadima; ran and won the 2015 Elections without them. Let Buba Galadima go to his constituency, stand for election and see what will happen to him”, Shehu stressed.
The Presidency, Monday, dismissed suggestions that the masses will desert President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, saying it’s unfounded and utterly ridiculous.
Presidential spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, who was reacting to allegations by a former Congress for Progressive Change, CPC member, Alhaji Buba Galadima that President Buhari would be abandoned by the people in 2019, asserted that “ordinary Nigerians are the backbone of his (Buhari’s) mandate and the only reason he ran for the office is to protect them against the rapacious merchants of corruption, who have held Nigeria back for decades.”
Buba Galadima
Garba Shehu said Galadima’s calculation and prediction is utterly confused and misleading.
The statement said: “masses are solidly behind Buhari because he is not stealing their money and their future, that the President’s enormous goodwill remains ever strong because the people are convinced the President is acting in their best interest, despite the temporary unintended consequences of reforms.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is far from isolation. He enjoys a very strategic relationship with ordinary Nigerians. This relationship is as solid a the proverbial rock. If Buba Galadima thinks that because he has no role and no job in this government that means president is isolated he is putting himself up to ridicule.
“Galadima cannot speak for the masses as far as their steadfast loyalty to Buhari is concerned.”
While acknowledging that Galadima was entitled to advance his own political agenda, Malam Garba said Galadima didn’t have the right to decide for ordinary voters.
Malam Garba Shehu recalled that Buba Galadima’s disagreement with President Buhari was based on principle.
He explained that President Buhari is committed to level playing field and would not want anyone to link his name to injustice.
The Presidential media aide said Galadima’s disagreement with Buhari started in 2011 when a group within the party, orchestrated an organizational mess by which the CPC embarked on the imposition and substitution of candidates for cash payments at the expense of those duly and democratically elected.
He said Muhammadu Buhari was embarrassed by the incidents and complaints about the imposition and substitution of candidates, adding that “he, as a democrat, would not suppress the will of the people to please selfish interests. Consequently he dispensed with the service, such as they are, of Buba Galadima; ran and won the 2015 Elections without them. Let Buba Galadima go to his constituency, stand for election and see what will happen to him.”
By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor After spending nearly a month in detention over alleged criminal breaches while in office, former Federal Capital Territory Administration Minister, Bala Mohammed, has pleaded with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to free him.
EFCC, which clamped Mohammed into detention since last month, is trying to extract critical information from him of how he executed the controversial Land Swap deal in which the FCT is said to have lost about N1 trillion and many other projects now under probe.Bala Mohammed
But unwilling to stay further in EFCC custody, Mohammed on Monday approached an Abuja High Court to enforce his fundamental rights, asking to be let off the commission's hook.
The court however fixed November 24 for hearing in a motion on notice filed by Mohammed, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged violation of his fundamental right.
Mr. Mohammed, former minister under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, had been in the custody of the EFCC since October 25 following petitions against him.
The former minister, through his counsel, Chris Uche, brought a motion of violation of fundamental human right against EFCC for detaining him for four weeks.
He also sought the order of the court for EFCC to release him on bail and also to award N100 million damages against EFCC.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, Mr. Uche told the court that his client had been in custody of the EFCC for four weeks now. Mr. Uche then prayed the court to attend to the matter urgently, noting that motion for the enforcement of his client's fundamental right was filed on November 16.
The prosecuting counsel, Rimamsomte Ezekiel, informed the court that the applicant was in the custody of the EFCC following an order of an FCT high court on November 9
He said the order would expire on November 23 and that the applicant was detained because he was jeopardising investigation. Mr. Ezekiel said that the applicant was being investigated on many petitions against him on several financial and fictitious contracts he signed while in office.
After hearing the submissions from the counsel, Mr. Baba-Yusuf adjourned until November 24 to hear the motion, if the applicant is not released on bail before the
THE Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, a pan Yoruba social cultural organisation, has thrown its weight behind the APC candidate, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, saying he is the best among those contesting for the governorship seat.
ARG Chairman, Chief Wale Oshun, told journalists after a courtesy visit to endorse Akeredolu in Lagos that the group has always kept its tradition of endorsing the most competent candidate in all elections held in the South-West zone of the country.
His words: “Certainly, we are here to endorse him. Barrister Akeredolu has been one of us, he is one of us, he is an activist, a tested progressive and he strongly believes in the welfarist principles of the founders of Afenifere.Rotimi-Akeredolu
“What is important at this stage is that he is the one that believes in the ideology of the political philosophy of Yorubaland. He believes in the principle that had been laid down by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“He is not just claiming it, we can identify and affirm it. He had been one of us and his party had deemed it fit to allow him to run as the candidate and because he is the best in the circumstance to rule the state. We believe we should give him our open support.”
Oshun urged Ondo electorate to cast their lot for Akeredolu and ”use their votes to install the best candidate as their governor.” Also speaking, Akeredolu said his party is working as one political family in the state to clinch victory in the election.
He said contrary to insinuations that some APC leaders shunned his mega rally they are working together. “All of us in APC are working together now. We all are working together as a party. Even Segun Abraham has come out to ask his supporters to come and work for APC. He said so without mincing words that he has not left APC. The only thing he he said which he has a right to is that he has a matter in court and it is all right. The only way any judgement in that regard can bring forth any fruit is for APC to win the election. So, he is with us.’
”Governor Abiola Ajimobi still called me yesterday . He came back into the country yesterday, his deputy was with us at the rally. The deputy came. We also heard information that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is still abroad attending to his health and I don’t believe that because people are not there that they are not part of the party.”
Rap superstar Kanye West has pulled the plug on his North American tour, organizers said Monday, two days after a rambling onstage tirade against fellow artists Jay Z and Beyonce.
The “Saint Pablo Tour” was set to run through December 31, but all 21 remaining shows are canceled and ticket-holders have been contacted about refunds, a spokeswoman for promoter Live Nation told AFP.
West, who is married to reality-TV queen Kim Kardashian, has not made any personal statement on the cancelation and his representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Celebrity gossip website TMZ quoted an unnamed source saying the rapper was pulling out because he was exhausted.
“He’s been working around the clock on fashion design, both his own line and the Adidas line,” the source was quoted as saying.
The announcement followed a Saturday night show in Sacramento, where West showed up an hour late and performed three songs before berating other artists and defeated White House hopeful Hillary Clinton, and cutting the performance short.
West said he was “hurt” because Beyonce supposedly said she would not perform at a certain show — likely the Grammys — unless she wins video of the year over him.
“I’ve been sent here to give y’all my truth, even at the risk of my own life, even at the risk of my own success, my own career,” West said.
He implored Beyonce’s husband, the rapper Jay Z, to “call me, bro, you still ain’t called me.”
“Jay Z, I know you got killers. Please don’t send them at my head. Just call me. Talk to me like a man,” he added.
West canceled a show planned for Sunday at the Forum, an indoor arena in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood, just hours before it was set to start.
The concert was supposed to make up for West leaving early from a November 3 appearance at the Forum due to what he called vocal issues.
The rapper told an audience on Thursday that he did not vote — but would have chosen Republican Donald Trump if he had cast his ballot.
West — who has talked about plans to run for president in 2020 — said Trump could help bring about change by exposing racism.
Minister of Solid Minerals and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said that he would never abuse or disrespect former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, saying Tinubu remains a leader he would continue to hold in high esteem.
Tinubu and Fayemi
Refuting a recent report that he denigrated Tinubu in an interview, Fayemi in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Olayinka Oyebode said: "Dr. Fayemi subscribes to the highest moral and ethical standard of the Yoruba and as such would not speak evil or seek to demean Asiwaju Tinubu or any of our respected leaders under no circumstance whatsoever.
"For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Fayemi has always held and will continue to hold Asiwaju Tinubu in high esteem.
"The bond that exists between them dates back to decades of cordial relationship and no peddler of falsehood or group of blackmailers hiding under the guise of politics can put asunder.
"The highly mischievous and malicious report is nothing but a tissue of lies.
"It must be stressed that Dr. Kayode Fayemi never granted any interview where he made disparaging comments about the person of our highly revered leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu."
There have been speculations in several quarters that the relationship between Tinubu and Fayemi turned sour, following the latter’s lost to incumbent Governor Ayodele Fayose, in the 2014 Ekiti State Governorship election.
By Nwabueze Okonkwo ONITSHA – Over 200 members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra/Biafran Independence Movement, MASSOB/BIM from seven local government areas of Anambra South Senatorial zone at the weekend converged on Industrial City of Nnewi, Anambra state to celebrate the victory of American President-elect, Mr Donald Trump.
The members who assembled under the auspices of Biafran Clergy Movement, BCM, also prayed fervently for Biafra to come soon.
MASSOB/BIM’s Director of Religion for Anambra South Senatorial zone, Apostle Akunne Chukwuemeka who led the prayer group, said the directive was from their national leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, adding that the event equally went on simultaneously in all the three senatorial zones of the State.
Citing the Book of Exodus chapter 9 verse 1, Apostle Chukwuemeka said the prayer summit was to congratulate the American President-elect, Trump on his electoral victory and to ask “Pharaoh” to let our people go. He said there was nothing Nigerian government could do to stop Biafrans now from actualizing their freedom which he said was only few steps to accomplish.
According to him, “As God directed Moses to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, so had the Nigerian government been directed to let the Biafrans go, adding, the election of Trump as the next American President was a prayer answered for Biafrans. Since Mr Trump is our choice, who will say no to Muslim colonization. It was the prayers of the Biafrans that stopped Hilary Clinton from winning the Presidential election”.
He therefore urged all Igbo clergy, irrespective of their denominations to begin to go down on their knees to pray for early emergence of the Republic of Biafra and spiritually destroy any weapon fashioned against the actualization of the sovereign State of Biafra.
Another preacher at the summit, Sylvester Obed, Director of Religion in Nnewi South council area identified Nigerian government as a polluted one full of corruption, nepotism and all manner of evil.
According to Obed, “Such a government would not be found in Biafra and I am urging men and women of God in Biafra land to always live by example, now that we are about to enjoy your new country.”
He said that Biafra would be a far better country “where Jesus will reign supreme devoid of corruption”.
In his own speech, Apostle Godwin. C.Igwilo, called for more sensitization of ministers of the gospel in Biafra land to join in the spiritual warfare for the arrival of the Biafran country.
Some the members present at the prayer summit were Apostle Dr John Columbus, Apostle Samuel .O. Maduabuchukwu, among many others.
A self-styled prophet in South Africa on Monday defended spraying his followers in the face with insect killer saying the practice healed people of their sins.
Photographs of Lethebo Rabalago spraying “Doom” aerosol on volunteers during his church service at the weekend in Limpopo, in the northwest of the country, spread fast on social media.
“Some people came with injuries but we sprayed them and they were healed,” pastor Rabalago, 24, told the Times Live website.
“No one inspired me. I just believe in God for anything.”
Rabalago — quickly dubbed the “Prophet of Doom” — said he was “glorifying God” by spraying his congregation at the Mount Zion General Assembly (MZGA) church.
“Everything here on Earth belongs to God. Petrol belongs to God. Doom belongs to God,” he said.
Pastor Lethebo Rabalago spraying insect killer on a member
Brand Tigers, which manufactures the well-known household spray, issued a statement calling on Rabalago to halt his ritual healing, calling it “alarming and extremely concerning”.
“(We) want to make it very clear that it is unsafe to spray Doom Super Multi Insect Killer… into people’s faces,” it said.
“The packaging has very clear instruction and health warnings for humans which must be adhered to.”
Brand Tigers added that anyone affected should wash their hands and face, avoid inhaling and seek medical attention.
Photographs from the MZGA showed several women, with their eyes tightly closed, being sprayed in the face by Rabalago.
The pastor said no one was injured, but declined to say how many devotees attend his church or how many were healed.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-Presidency has stated that the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was consistent in its resolve to finding economic stability in the country.
The re-affirmation followed the latest report of the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, NBS, that there was a dip in the Gross Domestic Products, GDP.
A statement from the Office of the Vice President on Monday in Abuja stated that the consistent growth in Agriculture and Solid Mineral sectors which were non oil sectors would cushion the effects and boost the economy.
According to the statement, the vandalization of oil assets in the Niger Delta by also affected production output.
It however said that hopes were high with the ongoing negotiations with leaders in the region.President Buhari
“Third Quarter GDP figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, reveal a consistent growth in Agric and Solid Mineral sectors, indicating the success of the Buhari administration’s economic policies even though overall economy is still in recession.
“The over-riding impact of the oil and gas sector, where vandalism and sabotage of critical installations negatively affected production output, explains the persistence of the recession, as the non-oil economy posted a very slight growth.
“Efforts to resolve the Niger Delta situation are however continuing as the Federal Government has opened several channels of communication with all relevant groups in the Niger Delta. Also, urgent fiscal and monetary measures to spur the economy back to overall positive territory are certainly in the offing including those targeting manufacturing”, the statement stated.
Quoting copiously the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu on behalf of the Economic Management Team headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the NBS report, the presidency however acknowledged that Nigeria was still in recession.
"The third quarter results just released by the National Bureau of Statistics show that the Nigerian economy is still in recession. Growth in Gross Domestic Product fell by -2.24% in the third quarter as compared to the decline of -2.07% experienced in the second quarter.
“The slight deterioration in national economic performance owes largely to the continued poor performance of the oil and gas sector which worsened to -22.01% in the third quarter as compared to -17.48% in the second quarter of 2016. The immediate cause of this, as is now generally recognized, is the steep decline in oil and gas production in the third quarter of 2016 due to acts of vandalism and sabotage of oil export facilities.
“Remote causes include the continued outsized influence of the oil and gas sector on the rest of the economy as typified by its contribution to government revenue and foreign exchange earnings, which continue to be important motors of economic activity.
“Moreover, due to time lags, it is still too early for policy interventions of the Federal Government to begin to impact fully on economic activity.
“There are however some ‘green shoots’ of economic recovery beginning to emerge.
“To start with, on-going consultations to bring lasting peace to the Niger Delta have enabled an increase in oil and gas production which if sustained at current prices, will bring a measure of relief to the economy.
“Other key sectors of the economy showed encouraging signs of improvement.
“The growth in the non-oil economy although still weak at 0.03% showed a return to positive territory after two consecutive quarters of negative growth. This was partly due to the continued good performance of agriculture and the solid minerals, two sectors prioritised by the Federal Government. Agriculture grew by 4.54% in the quarter under consideration of which growth in crop production at nearly 5% was at its highest since the first quarter of 2014. Growth in the solid mineral sector averaged about 7%.
“The financial sector rebounded quite strongly in the period under review growing by 2.85% from a negative growth of -13.24% in the second quarter. The recently approved first tranche of $600m to be borrowed from the African Development Bank will also provide some relief in budgetary terms and supplement capital inflows. Indeed, there was a slight uptick of capital inflows into the economy in the third quarter of 2016. Overall capital inflows in the third quarter of 2016 increased by 74.84% over the second quarter.
“The performance of the manufacturing sector continued to be of concern given its key role in value addition and job creation in the economy. It is expected however that with greater local sourcing of raw materials, expected improvements in infrastructure, especially power and reductions in the cost of doing business, this sector will soon experience a sustained improvement in its contribution to the national economy.
“Similarly, while inflation is still high at 18.3% on a year-on-year basis it has begun to level out on a month-on-month basis and should enable the deployment of more policy tools to support growth and employment. Indeed, growth of headline inflation slowed down appreciably from 13.8% in May to as low as 1.70% in September.
“The year to date growth is about -1.58% and is set to improve given some of the points mentioned earlier especially regarding agriculture, oil and gas, and power supply. In addition, there have also been reductions in the rate of contraction of household and government consumption expenditure. Household consumption expenditure fell for instance by -3.25% in the third quarter of 2016 as compared to -6.0% recorded in the second quarter.
“The ratio of investment to GDP also showed a notable improvement rising by 7.6% in the third quarter of 2016 as compared to a contraction of -7.4% in the fourth quarter of 2015.
“The Strategic Implementation Plan for the implementation of the 2016 Budget of Change prioritised capital expenditures for power, roads and rail as well as social investments. In addition to creating jobs and promoting social inclusion, these expenditures will also provide a stimulus by putting money in the hands of people. The usual economic activity that takes place in the Yuletide season will also likely have a positive impact on the wholesale and retail trade sector.
“Overall therefore, it is expected that these factors which will be underpinned by the policies to be unveiled in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP, to be adopted before the end of the year, will lend further momentum to on-going efforts to revitalise and reposition the economy."
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), has said that the abandonment of Ajaokuta Steel Complex and Delta Steel Company had been a major setback to attaining technological advancement of the country.
The President of NSE, Mr Otis Anyaeji, said this at the African Engineering Conference on Energy, UNESCO African Engineering Week and NSE's Annual General Meeting in Uyo on Monday.
Anyaeji said the abandonment resulted in the importation of all its iron rods for construction as it also impacted negatively on the economic growth of the nation.
According to him, open market costs of the imported construction materials has led to flooding the country with inferior building materials, which are the direct consequences of the collapse of engineering structures.
"Open market costs of these elements have hit the roof because of our weak currency. Substandard materials flood the market. This adds to the high rate of the collapse of engineering structures.
"Monopoly of manufacture of cement by a select few restricts choice and indiscriminate pricing. Costs of products, especially in the building industry become unpredictable.
"High cost of construction materials and scarcity of loans have slowed down activities in the industry. This has led to inadequate provision of affordable houses", he said.
Anyaeji said that the award of contracts to foreign firms without proper scrutiny of the conditions of contract had led to the side-lining of Nigerian professionals and importation of expatriates and artisans that are in some cases inferior to their local counterparts.
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