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
…as gas flaring, supply infrastructure deny Nigeria gas sales benefit
By Ediri Ejoh, Prince Okafor & Iloaze Blessed- Odidi
The challenges in the country's oil and gas industry may not see a new turn, as experts, on Wednesday, identifies ethics and transparency gaps, supply security and others as major hindrances robbing the country of potential benefits in contracts in the petroleum industry.
These were the views of stakeholders at the ongoing Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition, NAICE, 2016, in Lagos.
*Gas flare
In his presentation titled: Ethics and Transparency for Block Concession and Divestments in the Nigeria Oil & Gas Industry, the Chairman, Energy Institute, and former director of Director of Petroleum Resources, DPR, Mr. Osten Olorunsola stated that despite the development experienced in the industry, more is needed to be done in other to reap good returns in the pain of dwindling crude oil price.
He lamented that the guidelines and rules for operators are too flexible and confusing, low entry requirements; all comers game and no yellow or red cards; weak disqualification provisions.
But for processes and tools contracts, he identifies, insufficient due diligence, predominantly manual (Many toll gates), suboptimal evaluation of bids, skewed evaluation of bids, self interests, political pressures, injections (Forced marriages) and approval delays, as hindrances.
He also, faults the system as well as the individuals involved in the process, saying it thus encourage padding, winning the race from the end, bribery and corruption and partiality of referees (no level playing fields).
The implication of these unethical practices had brought about mistakes, disputes, court cases and other related issues respectively.
He however, urged for collaboration between all players to commit to fixing the problems. "We must tighten the rules, ensure level playing field Simplify and automate processes, minimize human intervention work on the character and refine attitude of players
Also speaking, Managing Director/CEO First E&P, Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, added that major under investment, especially in exploration and appraisal activity has been the main cause of reserves decline.
Others he identified as Insecurity across the Niger Delta hindered key activities, adding that at 3 million barrels per day, reserves will only last 30 years, and there is need to find more oil.
Moreover, for marginal field, he highlighted asset acquisition and management, operating environment, government policies, funding and personnel, capacity and technology, as other challenges and huddles confronting its success.
Meanwhile, Chairman, Society of Petroleum Engineering Nigeria Council, Mr. George Kalu, lamented the increase in gas flaring as well as inadequate infrastructure identifying them as major hindrances robbing the country of potential benefits from gas sales.
He explained that the challenges confronting the industry include, funding (rising from cash call arrears), exchange rate differential in a cyclical oil price regime.
Others, according to him, involve high operational costs due to long contracting period and several delayed payments to vendors, as well as high cost of borrowing.
He further attributed the belated passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, as a major setback to investment in the sector, adding that such challenge had brought activities down to their lowest point.
He argued that the level of crude oil and gas reserve discoveries do not match the rate between 2013 and 2016, and this has resulted to minimal exploration and a reduction of new development activities when compared to other oil and gas producing countries.
He added that "The country's petroleum industry had experienced massive capital flights due to bureaucratic bottlenecks in releasing information on prospects, fiscal regime, extant laws and feedback on performance of contractors. This resulted in significant delays in permits approval while providing a breeding / enabling environment for sharp practices.
"However, with all the challenges enunciated above, an average Upstream Technical Cost, UTC, (below US$20 per barrel) is required for global competitiveness for the industry."
The Commandant, Command Day Secondary School, (CDSS) Ojo, Lt. Colonel Usman Ndana has emphasized need for students in Nigeria to explore and embrace the dynamics in learning made possible by the introduction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform.
Ndana disclosed this at the 16th Speech and Prize Giving/Graduation ceremony of the School as he stressed the need for students to comprehend the new dimension in academic performance which has enhanced excellence globally. "Generally, there is the perception that the standard of education has declined in this country, but I differ, rather, it has taken a new dimension. Gone are the days when learning was strictly by books, now we have a lot of available platforms which are ICT oriented and we cannot isolate ourselves in a world dictated by internet and various web platforms."
While charging the graduating students to go forth with pride as great ambassadors of the school to explore their world with knowledge and discipline instilled in them by the school, he commended them for showing great enthusiasm in learning and adherence to set rules which makes CDSS, Ojo stand out as the most disciplined school among the rest.
Meanwhile, the Vice Principal, (Academics), Mr. F.O. Abang, commended the high standard, strict discipline and character moulding methods of the school which results in high performance in exams, both internally and externally.
"In CDSS, Ojo, we don't compromise. Students are rewarded according to merit, that is why Victor Ale emerged the overall best student in 2015/2016 WASSCE and NECO exams,” he said.
Lt. Col. Ndana who assumed duty 18 months ago lamented that the perception that Nigerian Command Schools only belongs to Ministry of Defense is wrong, as this fallacy accounts for the reason education supporting agencies and the Ministry of Education are keeping aids away.
He urged the relevant bodies supporting education to help develop the school as the school has raised the standard of education for both the children of the military and civilians.
Lauding the efforts of the Parents Teachers’ Association, he said; "New structures are being built while old ones are being remodelled. It couldn't have been possible without the great assistance of the school PTA, the school management, staff and cooperation of the students themselves."
Gracing the event were Major General I.H Edet, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army as special guest of honour, Brigadier General L.F. Abdullahi, Acting Commander, NAEC. Others are Brigadier General Solomon Daku, Commandant, Nigeria Army School of Medical Science, Ojo, Colonel Yakubu Momoh, Director of Education, 81 Division Nigerian Army, Royal fathers and others.
By LAIDE AKINBOADE-ORIERE Abuja – PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday, said he was deeply worried over low ranking of Nigerian universities and pledged to ensure that the lost glory of the nation’s Ivory Tower is restored.
He therefore tasked the new Executive Secretaries of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, and National Universities Commission, NUC, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa and Professor Abubakar Rasheed respectively to close rank in ensuring Nigerian universities become globally competitive.Buhari and daughter, Zahra when he celebrates her on her graduation
Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa, who is the newly appointed Executive Secretary of TETFund, revealed this on his official assumption of Office in Abuja.
Baffa, said President Buhari’s clear directive was for him to work with relevant stakeholders towards ensuring that Nigerian universities rank among the best 100 universities in the World.
He said this could not however be achieved if the culture of impunity that pervaded most of the agencies in the education sector in the past was allowed to continue.
He, therefore, warned the Vice Chancellors and heads of beneficiary tertiary institutions that the “era of everything goes is over”.
He charged all the heads of beneficiary institutions to ensure judicious utilisation of the intervention funds allocated to them.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Professor Prof. Abubakar Rasheed has described as vain the assumption and air with which many Vice Chancellors of universities carried themselves as though they are Chief Executive Officers.
Speaking in Abuja when he assumed duty as the substantive Executive Secretary of the Commission, Rasheed said it was wrong that many Vice Chancellors thought that they were CEOs. “They are not Chief Executive Officers,” he said.
According to him, “University administration requires team work and everyone in the system has a role to play from the driver to the VC” he said .
Rasheed, a former Vice Chancellor Bayero University Kano, said he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari with specific mandate to ensure that Nigerian universities were restored to their lost glory, working with relevant stakeholders.
He pledged to give welfare of staff of the Commission priority attention by ensuring that the workers get their salaries, promotion and due allowances as at when due.
Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, handed over the mantle of leadership of the Commission to Rasheed at a brief ceremony attended by two former Presidents of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Abdullahi Sule-Kano and Dr Nasir Fagge.
The new NUC boss, however, disclosed that the immediate past Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, would properly handover to him (Rasheed) on Friday while also appealing the staff of the Commission to work together in the efforts to transform the nation’s university system.
By Kingsley Omonobi Abuja – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said Wednesday that there was no need for apprehension and panic by members of the public living around the area of ongoing air operations at AREPO and its environs following its air bombardments of oil and pipeline vandals.
A statement by the Director of Airforce Public Relations noted, "It has become necessary to allay the fears of the people with a view to sustaining public confidence and support for the ongoing operations against pipeline-vandals codenamed Operation Awatse in the South West region of the Country.
"Therefore, the NAF wishes to assure the general public, within the affected areas, of their safety as the ongoing air operation is carefully planned to avoid collateral damage to the civil populace and property.
"The NAF is careful to ensure that only legitimate targets, such as observation post, anti-aircraft gun position, boats laden with suspected stolen petroleum products and armed combatants, are selected for strike.
"In aligning with this global best practice, the NAF usually undertakes surveillance flights before and after each strike to mitigate incidental harm to civilians and property.
"While pre-strike assessment missions are undertaken to help identify and select legitimate military targets for neutralization, post-strike or Battle Damage Assessment missions are meant to ascertain whether the desired degree of impact was achieved or not, and if a follow-up re-attack is required.
"It may also be necessary to state that NAF pilots are adequately trained, and as professionals, would not engage in human right violations and abuses.
"The successes recorded in the past 5 days since the NAF commenced strike mission in Arepo, in support of surface forces under Operation Awatse, attest to this display of absolute professionalism by NAF pilots involved in the operation as no single incident of collateral damage has been recorded.
"Meanwhile, it is necessary to add that the NAF, working in collaboration with men of the Nigerian Navy Special Boat Services (SBS), has set on fire the hideouts and camps used by the pipeline vandals in Arepo.
"As a result, Community leaders and members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the fleeing vandals and other criminal elements are please requested to oblige such information to the Security Agencies.
"Furthermore, the civil populace is please advised not to panic but to go about their legitimate businesses."
Indications emerged on Wednesday, that former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and his estranged god-son, Governor Willie Obiano have finally reconciled.
Both politicians have maintained an arm’s-length relationship since the former handed-over power to the latter in March 2014.
Obi and Obiano reconcile at Very Rev. Fr. Chukwuemeka Tagbo’s Burial Ceremony, in Onitsha
But today, Governor Obiano and former Governor Peter Obi, were said to have embraced total reconciliation at the Burial Service of Late Very Rev. Fr. Chukwuemeka Nichola Tagbo, held, in Onitsha, to the applause of jubilant Old Boys of Christ the King College, CKC, Onitsha.
Both Obi and Obiano are Old Boys of CKC, Onitsha, where Rev. Fr. Tagbo was the first African and longest serving Principal of the legacy school.
They both had their Secondary Education at CKC, Onitsha, in the 70s.
Abuja – Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Club Owners Association has appointed the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, as its Patron.
Isaac Danladi, Chairman of the association, said Saraki's selection as its patron would help advance the course of football in the country.Bukola Saraki
“This visit is aimed at advancing the course of football development in Nigeria through total consolidation of the positives already achieved, while opening new pages in the system.
“Football development globally has assumed a phenomenal dimension and all these are centred on the socio-economic development and empowerment of youths and making them useful in all facets of the society.
“Your Excellency, this is in consonance with your vision which you are already advancing through your club Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS), FC Ilorin; one of the numerous institutions you established through which many players have risen.
“We must also not forget the Kwara Football Academy which is today one of the strongest reference points of your glorious reign as Governor of Kwara State, that platform has continued to serve as a veritable springboard for youths to step into the realities of life.
Danladi also said the choice of Saraki was in recognition of the role he played in resolving the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), leadership crisis which almost brought the nation's football to a standstill.
He said the association would continue to complement the effort of the League Management Company (LMC), and also ensure fairness in the country's elite league.
The club owners chairman noted that the collaboration between the LMC and the club owners led to the developmental agreement signed between the NPFL and the Spanish La Liga.
“This agreement will give the NPFL All Stars the opportunity to play some league clubs in Spain; the NPFL All Stars will on Aug. 10 to Aug. 17 play three top clubs in Spain.
“Majority of our members will be part of the trip to Spain to understudy the workings of the Spanish La Liga.
“Some of our members will also accompany FC Ifeanyi Ubah to London next week where the club will sign a landmark partnership agreement with West Ham United.
Danladi extolled the leadership qualities of the Senate President and noted that it had manifested in the leadership style of his club ABS which is piloted by the Chairman Seni Saraki and the Director of Football Aloy Chukwuemeka.
He pleaded with Saraki to ensure the Senate expedited action on bills that would strengthen football development and assured that the league and LMC would not disappoint him at ensuring that football evolved in Nigeria.
Saraki assured the group that as a former member of the association, he would promote any bill supporting private sector participation in the league and football in general.
“If this visit had happened three years ago, I would have been part of your delegation; this is your place and you are my people. I commend all of you for where you have taken the league to.
“There is no doubt about it that progress has been made because when we compare where we are and where we were, you will see that we are moving in the right direction.
“We must do more for the league for it to move forward because football plays a key role in our society's social and economic development.
“I don't see any reason why our football cannot be like its European counterparts.
“I reassure you that the senate is ready to give you all the backing and legislation required to take our football to that level'', Saraki said.
The LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko and Secretary Salihu Abubakar were among those that visited the Saraki.
20 premier league club chairmen attended the occasion which took place in the Senate President's conference room.
Bauchi – The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has described as demoralising, the erstwhile dichotomy between HND and B.Sc in the country.
Its National President, Comrade Usman Dutse, a lecturer in the Department of General Studies, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.
“At the last meeting of the council on establishment a memo was presented by the minister of education demanding the removal of the dichotomy placed on HND and B.Sc graduates.
"The minister said the reason dichotomy was placed ab initio, has now been overtaken by events.
“And now if you look at the environment and the situation that we have in the country at the moment, you would see that the abolition of the dichotomy is long overdue.
“One of the major reasons the meeting and other stakeholders gave for the abolition of the dichotomy is the hitherto different entry requirements into both the university and polytechnic.
“Now the requirements have been harmonised. There was also the issue of curriculum, which was not wide.
"The issue of dichotomy was demoralizing to polytechnic graduates.
“We have a lot of HND graduates in the civil service and they have contributed a lot, but that dichotomy is killing their morale because they feel that their qualification is not being appreciated.
"Now it has been discovered that performance at work is not based on the certificate that people have or where you come from, but on the skills and the ability you have.
"Experience has shown that there are a lot of HND holders that perform better than some degree holders.''
Dutse noted that the dichotomy had created a flawed mindset among parents and employers that university degrees were more prestigious than higher national diplomas.
"The dichotomy even made people to give preference to university education at the expense of polytechnic education because if you look at the patters of application for admission to tertiary institutions every year, you will see that applicants keep applying more to the universities.
"In the last admission, 1.6 million applicants applied to the universities, but only 38,000 applied to the polytechnics, while only 29,000 applied to collages of education.
“And the major reason for all that was this dichotomy thing.
"Out of the 1.6 million people that applied to the universities, only 300,000 were admitted.
“It means that 1.3 million applicants would not be offered admission.
"So, dichotomy has denied people polytechnic education, but with the abolition of that dichotomy now, the tide will change a little especially with the Federal Government now talking about diversifying the economy.
“I believe that the diversification process will lay a lot of emphasis on technical and vocational education and that is where polytechnic education is strongest.''
The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to disregard the letter by the former chairman of PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff urging the commission not to recognize the party’s convention slated for Portharcourt on August 17.
In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the spokesman of the caretaker committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye said Sheriff’s letter to INEC was not only meant to scuttle the convention but to destroy the party.Sheriff-Makarfi
According to Prince Adeyeye, there is no basis upon which Senator Sheriff would ask the commission not to recognize the forth coming convention.
The statement reads:
“The latest attempt by the former National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his cohorts is not only to scuttle the forthcoming National Convention but also another clear evidence of his determination to destroy the PDP. The law and the facts are as follows:
“The ruling of Justice Okon Abang which Ali Modu Sheriff is relying on is a mere narrative of the Case before the Federal High Courts in Lagos and in Port Harcourt Divisions. It does not set aside or nullified the Judgment of Justice Liman which has authenticated the May 21st National Convention and the Resolutions emanating therefrom.
“The ruling did not anywhere direct INEC to do anything or not to do anything, to discharge or not to discharge any obligation; to perform any function or not to perform any function.
“In essence, it is a mere legal tale and the Order having been made without any application before him by either of the Parties has no foundation in law.
“Hon. Justice Valerie Arshi had in a Judgment nullified the appointment of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as Chairman of the Party. That Judgment has not been set aside. It is still valid and subsisting. And no Court of Coordinate Jurisdiction including the Federal High Court can make any other Order with the intention of rendering that Judgment ineffective.
“The National Convention which held in Port Harcourt on May 21st 2016 which resolutions were confirmed by Justice Liman of the Federal High NCourt, Port Harcourt on July 4, 2016 dissolved the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Working Committee (NWC) and affirmed Nthe National Caretaker Committee as the Supreme body to run the affairs of the Party until another Convention was held within 90 days.
“That being the case, it was therefore the last Convention that in fact convened the forthcoming one slated for August 17, 2016, and not the National Caretaker Committee parse. The National Convention is superior to all other Organs of the Party.
“We call on INEC to disregard the letter from the former National Chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his cohorts. It belongs to the garbage bin. He is merely acting the script of his paymasters. The Caretaker Committee will continue with its dogged determination to organize the best National Convention in the history of our great Party” he said.
Abuja – The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the Multi-lateral Competent Authority Agreement on Exchange of Country by Country Report to check tax evasion by multinational companies operating in the country.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made this known in Abuja on Wednesday, while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He stated that the implementation of the report will give government a better grip on its tax laws.
He said the movement of profits by multinational companies would be effectively monitored by relevant agencies of government once the report is implemented.
“In respect of the first memo, which is the memo for Multilateral Competent Agreement and the exchange of country by country report, the whole essence is to give the government a better grip on its tax laws and also to prevent tax evasions and avoidance by multinational companies.
“Where multinational companies operate in more than one country, it is quite easy for them to move profit from one territory to another territory, where the tax laws are very favourable to them.
“And what has happened over the years is that the revenue companies have lost a lot of money.
“As at the last count, over 1trillion dollars have been lost over a period of time and the revenue companies found out that they were losing more money in terms of tax evasion and avoidance than what they were even receiving in terms of grants from multinational agencies,'' he said.
The minister also disclosed that the council approved an outline Business Case for Development of Greenfield Port Facilities in Badagry, Lagos state.
According to him, the approval is the first step towards the establishment of a new seaport in the Badagry area.
“What is important to us in the approval is that it shows that despite all the challenges that Nigeria is facing, Nigeria is still a very preferred investment destination, '' he said.
Addressing the correspondents on the recently inaugurated Abuja-Kaduna commercial rail line, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Ameachi, dismissed reports that the fares that would be charged on the Abuja-Kaduna route would be on the high said.
Manchester City have signed 19-year-old Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus from Palmeiras on a five-year contract, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.
Jesus, who is reported to have cost City an initial fee of £27 million ($36 million, 32.2 million euros), will remain on loan at Palmeiras until December before moving to Manchester in January.
He is currently on duty with hosts Brazil at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“Manchester City is one of the best clubs in the world so I’m really pleased to sign,” Jesus said in comments published on the City website.
“We have many great talents in the team and a fantastic manager in Pep Guardiola that I can learn so much from.
“I’m looking forward to showing the City fans what I can do and I think we’ll have a great future together!”
News of Jesus’s arrival comes a day after City announced the signing of Germany international Leroy Sane from Schalke 04 for a reported fee of £37 million.
In total he is new City manager Pep Guardiola’s sixth signing, following Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Aaron Mooy.
City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain said: “We are delighted that Gabriel has chosen to join us.
“He is one of the most exciting young prospects in world football and plays the game in a spectacular way. We look forward to him making a big impact at Manchester City in January.”
A pacy, skilful player who can play right across the front line, Jesus was named Best Newcomer in the Brazilian top flight in 2015.
He joined Palmeiras from amateur side Associacao Atletica Anhanguera in 2013 and scored a staggering 54 goals in 48 matches at youth level.
He duly made his first-team debut in a Sao Paulo state championship match against CA Bragantino in March last year and went on to score 26 goals in 67 games.
Jesus has represented Brazil at under-20 and under-23 level and will appear alongside Barcelona superstar Neymar, to whom he has been likened, at the Olympics.
Various sociologists, political scientists, anthropologists and social historians have attempted to stratify society into a set of hierarchical social categories or classes. They have attempted rather unsuccessfully to agree on the appropriate classes but the most common remain the upper, middle and lower classes.
It is however, still debated as to the basis for the various class systems. While renowned Philosopher Karl Marx argues that “class is determined entirely by one’s relationship to the means of production hence the proletariat, those who work but do not own the means of production; and the bourgeoisie, those who invest and live off the surplus generated by the former, Max Weber avers that “class is determined by economic position… which is determined by social prestige rather than simply just relations of production.
Whether it is the Marxist or Weberian, it is important to observe that the concept of class is an appreciation of the correlation of income, education, wealth, social background, influence, power within the framework of our overall social interactions. It suggests that the degree of possession of any or all of the above variables determines the class such an individual belongs. Therefore, those possessing higher have been identified by scholars as the upper class, the bourgeoisie, the elite etc while those possessing little are identified as the lower class, the proletariat, the masses, the serfs etc.
Since income remains a determinant of social class, in Africa, the term elite has been loosely associated with the rich and educationally privileged few as against aristocratic bloodlines projected in other climes. In Africa, it can be agreed that the agitations for independence were championed by educationally privileged and sometimes relatively affluent individuals. They echoed what seemed to be the voices of the masses for freedom and boom! Sovereign states were springing up all over Africa.
It did not take long for Africa to realize that many of the independence champions only sought to consolidate on the new exposure garnered within the classrooms and on the streets of Europe to enthrone themselves as Africa’s foremost elite class. Their actions afterwards were precipitated on the need to perpetuate their fiefdom.
Soon, a new bar was set; break into the top echelon of government and remain there or amass a war chest of government treasury during your brief stay within government corridors and you have secured a lifetime of elite supremacy for even generations unborn. As a result, the daily struggle of the average African focused on wealth acquisition. He sees his self worth in his bank account statement and will spare no evil to ensure that it is constantly on the rise. Once his ‘self worth’ is aright then it must be flaunted to the indignation of all around.
Nigerians are akin to this trend and characteristically are indeed high flyers. As Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon once humorously remarked that …the microscopic few that have piloted the affairs of this nation live in peasantile luxury…" So much so that class is honoured in schools, hospitals, markets, prisons, offices, religious places of worship, to such extent that being poor seems repulsive.
World Bank president, Jim Yong Kim, stated at the IMF/World Bank spring meetings of April 2014 in Washington D.C. U.S. that Nigeria is ranked 3rd in world poverty index with 7% of the world’s poor. This according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics report (The Nigerian poverty profile 2010) released in January, 2014 represents 69% (112.519 million) of the country’s total population estimated to be 163 million. This is in paradox to the fact that we have in our recent history consistently featured individuals who grace the Forbes richest and even sit 'gloriously' atop the list of richest in Africa (Forbes richest list 2016).
Consequently, while many walk cap-in-hand for daily bread, others feed their dogs in golden bowl. They make bold to accentuate their distinct class in the faces of the masses. The legion of lower class men are forced to serve their upper class lords with utmost chivalry as they hope to receive pittance to their utter degradation. They indeed have to contend with being oppressed with what should have been their share of the common patrimony.
And so we hear of the man who sends his driver with N1.2million to purchase a brand of fine wine for a wild night but pays same driver N17,000 monthly and is not interested in his tales of a sick mother or the big boss whose Mai-guard washes his six cars every morning, cultures the flowers, sweeps the compound and shows up bright as he opens the gate for Oga’s visiting girlfriends but he is rewarded with a reminder of how lucky he is to keep a job as he pockets his pittance.
It is this unfortunate sequence that has made social commentators to caution that we are waiting by a ticking bomb that will soon ‘implode’ upon us to grievous consequences. They stress that the masses will soon revolt the status quo just like Aminata Sow Fall portrayed in her classic – The Beggars’ Strike. The looming danger for some is already blooming in the horizon.
When that day comes, the masses will blame the denial of what they believed to be rightfully theirs for their agitations; lament a gross insensitivity on the part of the elite; bemoan a denial of an opportunity to conveniently contribute to the nation’s discourse and grieve the lures of elite lifestyle. But they will forget that there is a moral rectitude which a person acquires irrespective of social class that dictates a propensity to do good no matter the reward or contrary attraction. They will forget that man is a product of choices made and the notion of choice implies freedom. They will forget that at no point did their actions cease to take to account duty to God, to others, to country and to self.
As I sit back to another news bulletin chronicling the problems bedevilling my dear country Nigeria, I ask, are the elite the problem?
Boko Haram, a Nigerian Islamist group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, may have a new leader, according to the jihadist group’s online weekly Al-Naba.
“In his first interview with Al-Naba magazine since his appointment as governor of west Africa, Sheikh Abu Musab al-Barnawi talks about the history of jihad in this region,” read the 41st edition of the magazine, published on Tuesday.
In the interview, Barnawi makes no clear reference to the movement’s leader Abubakar Shekau, except for a mention of Boko Haram’s pledge of allegiance to IS in March 2015.
Since the pledge, Barnawi has appeared in several videos distributed by Boko Haram, claiming responsibility for successive attacks, earning him the reputation of group spokesman, experts say.
Speculation over the fate — and alleged disappearance — of Shekau has been rife in recent months.
He last appeared in a video posted on YouTube in March, looking weak, and saying: “For me, the end has come.”
Sources close to Boko Haram say Shekau was injured in the abdomen.
With no proof of life since then, they say he has either been incapacitated and become unable to lead, or he has died.
“If (Shekau) is still alive then ISIS chose to replace him,” Kyle Shideler of the Washington-based Center for Security Policy told AFP, using another acronym for IS.
“This (Barnawi) is their preferred choice,” Shideler added.
– Was Shekau sacked? –
Romain Caillet, a French expert on jihadist movements, agreed.
“There is no indication in the interview that Abubakar Shekau has been killed, which means he was likely sacked,” Caillet wrote on Twitter.
A Nigerian security analyst said he believed Shekau is alive, but that IS may be seeking to clean up Boko Haram’s reputation among jihadists, by getting rid of a leader seen as disorganised and unreliable.
Barnawi may have taken over from Shekau, said Yan St-Pierre, a specialist on jihadist groups who works for the Berlin-based Modern Security Consulting Group (Mosecon).
Under Shekau’s leadership, “Boko Haram has lost its prestige and become difficult to control. Today, Boko Haram is divided into several little groups.”
Shekau became Boko Haram leader after the Nigerian security forces killed the group’s founding chief Mohammed Yusuf in 2009, sparking an insurgency that has left 20,000 people dead and forced 2.6 million people to flee their homes.
Sweden’s women claimed the first victory of the Olympic football tournament 1-0 over South Africa as Rio 2016 got off to an underwhelming start on Wednesday.
The sight of vast swathes of empty seats at the 60,000 capacity Olympic stadium in Rio will have embarrassed organisers at the first action of the Games.
Nilla Fischer bundled home the only goal of the game after South African goalkeeper Roxanne Barker fumbled a cross to give the Swedes a perfect start.
A much bigger crowd is expected at the same venue later Wednesday when hosts Brazil take on China in the other game in Group E.
Both the men’s and women’s football tournaments are being staged in six cities across Brazil that also hosted the 2014 World Cup.
World champions and four-time gold medallists the United States begin their campaign later in Belo Horizonte against New Zealand before Colombia and France also face off in Group G.
Two-time world champions Germany are expected to sweep aside Zimbabwe in their Group F opener.
2015 World Cup quarter-finalists Canada and Australia complete a busy first day of action in Sao Paulo.
By Henry Umoru ABUJA – FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday described former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih as a great asset to Nigeria as a country.
In a congratulatory message to Chief Anenih who will be 83 years old Thursday, Jonathan said that it would be on record the elder statesman’s wisdom, patriotism and time-honored commitment to the strengthening of democracy and national growth.Tony Anenih and Jonathan
In a one- page congratulatory letter dated August 3, 2016, former President Jonathan said, “I wish to most sincerely congratulate you on your 83rd birthday. I am glad the Almighty God has blessed you with the grace of long life and good health, in accordance with your manifest dedication to national development.
“There is no doubt that you have been a great asset to our dear nation while serving her in various capacities, especially in the critical areas of politics, peace building and security systems.
“Nigerians and the people of your home state will continue to be grateful to you because of your wisdom, patriotism and time-honored commitment to the strengthening of our democracy and national growth. You are a natural leader of the people and you have demonstrated that clearly over the years.
“I join your family and numerous admirers around the country to wish you more productive years in your determination to see our great country progress in peace and prosperity.”
A Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Bode Ojomu has joined the race for the party’s National Publicity Secretary at the National Convention billed for August 17, at Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
Ojomu who hails from Irepodun Local Government area of. Kwara State, North Central, Nigeria said he’s going into the race to enhance the rebuilding the party and return it to the people.
He promise to impactfully mobilize Nigerians through all forms of media to return PDP to power in 2019, rallying all media professionals in the party together.
The PDP had earlier zoned its National Publicity office to the North Central geo political zone.
Bode Ojomu had been a tested student activist at national level before his admission into the University of lbadan, having participated actively in NANS as Speaker of Oyo State College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife.
Bode holds a Masters Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies and B.A. Hons in language and Communication Arts and his a member of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
During the tenure of Chief Barrabas Gemade as National Chairman, Bode was appointed as a Member of the PDP National Committee on Media and Publicity to formulate a Media Policy for the Party.
He was the Director, Media and Publicity, MANDATE 2003 – the Governorship Campaign Organization of Dr. Bukola Saraki in Kwara State.
In 2004-2005, he served with both Chief Audu Ogbeh and Dr. Amadu Ali as Deputy National Publicity Secretary and Acting National Publicity Secretary for 3 months.
During his tenure, he participated as Member of so many important Committees including the Governor Joshua Dariye Investigation Panel under the Chairmanship of Governor Donald Duke and functions very effectively with the several organs of the party.
A 42-year-old man, Wasiu Lawal, who allegedly raped a 38-year-old woman on the pretext of helping her spiritually, was on Wednesday in Lagos brought before a Surulere Magistrates’ Court. The accused, who lives at No.1, Adeleke Agodo St., Ikorodu in Lagos State, is facing a charge of rape.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Christopher Okoniko told the court that the accused committed the offence at about 9.00p.m. on July 1 in Lagos. He said that the accused, who claimed to be a pastor, native doctor and a Muslim cleric (alfa) forcefully had a sexual intercourse with the woman under the guise of “praying” for her.
The complainant said she did not know how she ended up sleeping in the man’s house till the next day. “She said the next day she narrated the story to her husband who reported the matter at Ikorodu police station which led to the arrest of the accused,” she said.
“The accused uses one room for pastoral work, the second room to consult as a herbalist and the third one for muslim cleric (Alfa) work, “ he said. The offences contravened Section 258 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Magistrate, Mrs A. Dan Oni, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties. She said that one of them must be gainfully employed with an evidence of tax payment. The case was adjourned till Sept. 14 for mention.
The Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrested five internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno state on Wednesday, saying there are "bad eggs" among IDPS.
In an interview with NAN, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Borno commandant of the corps, said while some displaced persons have been engaging in prostitution, others are into drug abuse.
He said items recovered from the arrested suspects include windows, blends, noggin roofs, pipes and rubbers, among others.
"The IDPs are now causing more havoc by vandalising the hard-earned structure that the government put in place.
"There are bad eggs among the IDPs who can do anything to get money.
"Some of them engage in prostitution and sexual abuses while some are into illicit hard drug use.
"The command warned the culprits to desist from such crimes or face the full wrath of the law."
YENAGOA – THE Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, indicated on Wednesday that the supposed Federal Government banter with the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, which both claimed to be dialogue with Niger Delta militants, was simply a monologue.
Avengers in an exclusive online interview with Vanguard reechoed that MEND does not represent militants in the region and those promoting it were APC chieftains in the region, including a former governors and a group of ex-militant leaders with some northern power brokers looking for relevance and appointment from government.
It spoke just as former Minister of Police Affairs, Alaowei Brodrick Bozimo, told Vanguard on phone that Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, never opined at a consultative meeting of the Ijaw leaders, weekend, in Warri, Delta state, that any discussion with militants without the involvement of Niger Delta elders was a nullity.
"What Clark said is that the Federal Government should include Niger Delta elders and leaders in its dialogue with militants in order to achieve a meaningful result. I was there at the meeting, he said there should dialogue but it should be done with the appropriate persons," he said.
In spite of Bozimo's clarification, a group, Voice Delta, opposed to the violent agitation of NDA, declared that MEND was constructively engaging government and slammed Chief Clark and his group for their insistence that discussion with MEND was unacceptable.
The group in series of tweets said MEND has made a considerable inroad in the ongoing dialogue with militants and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore Chief Clark.
The Avengers, however, made it clear that its path would not cross with MEND as far as the struggle was concerned.
Its words: "From all reality checks to date, all members of the defunct MEND have remained disbanded as a group. The current paper and internet- based platform called MEND is orchestrated by some APC political thugs and criminal elements from the Niger Delta region and some Northern politicians."
"So the currently re-branded and rearmed MEND is only speaking for the political interest of some APC chieftains that are looking for relevance/ appointment, and so the NDA and the people of the Niger Delta cannot be part of any dialogue imitated by them.
"A careful look at the underlying factors behind the resurrection of this new media-MEND, one cannot but only see the release of Mr. Henry Okah, Charles Okah and Edmund Ebiwari as their main agenda," it said.
The former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin, says the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, bribed some members with 25,000 dollars each to sign vote of confidence on him. Jibrin said this in a statement he gave to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.
He added that the money was for selected members to sign a vote of confidence on the speaker and three other principal officers accused of padding 2016 budget. According to him, some Representatives were given 25,000 dollars to sign a register opened at the Speaker's guest house in Asokoro.
“This disgraceful act was coordinated by Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba and Deputy Chief of Staff to Speaker, Hon. CID Maduabum. “It is a shame that Mr Speaker has not responded to any of the allegations against him but has resorted to look for fraudulent cover.
“My stand on this is that the corrupt Speaker Dogara, Lasun, Doguwa and Ogor must listen to Nigerians, reconvene the House immediately and step aside. “Investigation by anti-graft agencies is already on and I pledge to support the investigation and prosecution of these corrupt public officers'', he said.
Responding, Rep. Zakari Mohammed said the allegation was false. “My attention has been drawn to yet another tweet by the former chairman appropriation committee, Hon. Jibrin, saying that I and others were distributing 25,000 dollars to each member of the House.
“That the money was to generate signatures for speaker Dogara as vote of confidence on him. “The accusation is not only untrue but it is another tale by moonlight to hoodwink Nigerians to malign my image. “Fellow countrymen please disregard this cheap blackmail aimed at playing to the gallery. I challenge Jibrin to name at least 10 members or less who benefitted from the bribe.
“My advice to Jibrin is that he should stop the mudslinging and concentrate on licking his self inflicted wounds'', he said.
Former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, says there is nothing wrong with restructuring the country provided it is done within one Nigeria context. Gowon stated this when Sen. Shehu Sani, the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Wednesday.
Reacting to calls by some Nigerians to restructure the country, Gowon said there was nothing wrong with restructuring. He recalled that Nigeria was restructured under his leadership as the head of state with the creation of states in 1967.
“We can restructure within one Nigeria context. I did it in 1967; we created states to stop eastern Nigeria from seceding. “We had to do something to ensure the fear of their seceding did not exist; a serious issue of a part of the country wanting to breakaway when we already lost a part to Cameroon.
"If we had allowed the eastern region to go away, the map of Nigeria would have looked funny; it would have been tilted one way. “So, we decided overnight to break the fear through the creation of states. If we had to save the country that was the only way to do it. “We also ensured that no state was too big or too small to threaten the unity of the country,'' he said.
Gowon, through a broadcast in 1967, announced the creation of 12 states; which are, North-Western, North-Eastern, Kano and North-Central states. Others are, Benue-Plateau, Kwara, Western, Lagos, Mid-Western, Rivers (a South-Eastern state), East-Central and East-Central states.
The former head of state added that the call for true federalism by some Nigerians was also not a bad idea, as long as it was done within the context of the nation's unity. “What is true federalism? As long as it means respect for oneness of our country, it is alright, but if it means to breakaway, it is not my way of thinking'', he said.
