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
Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (right), being presented with an Arsenal Football Club jersey by Super Falcons and Arsenal Ladies FC Star, Azeezat Oshoala (left) during Oshoala’s courtesy visit to the Wife of the Governor, at Lagos House, Ikeja, on Friday, August 12, 2016.Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (middle), being presented with an Arsenal Football Club jersey by Super Falcons and Arsenal Ladies FC star, Azeezat Oshoala (right) during Oshoala’s courtesy visit to the Wife of the Governor, at Lagos House, Ikeja, on Friday, August 12, 2016. With them is Senior Special Assistant on Sport to the Governor, Mr. Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye (left).
…as UK Jalsa opens with over 35,000 delegates By Ishola Balogun, London In what was described as the largest annual gathering in Britain, over 35,000 Ahmadi Muslims converged at the Oakland Farm, Hadeeqatul Madhi, Hampshire, London for a three-day world conference to discuss ways of promoting peace, tolerance, poverty eradication and socio-economic development in the world.Over 35,000 Ahmadi Muslims converged at the Oakland Farm, Hadeeqatul Madhi, Hampshire, London
Declaring the event opened after hoisting flags of over 200 countries where the jamaat is established, the leader, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, his holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad in his keynote address, charged Muslims world-over to be kind to fellow human beings and offer regular prayers for the enemies, adding that this, rather than avenging hostilities will bring about peace in the world.
“Kindness to the fellow human beings and positive prayers for the enemies were the practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammad and all Muslims should emulate that. One should not harm any human being. This is the true teachings of Islam. This is what I teach you and this is what I tell you always. Do not set partners with Allah and always seek forgiveness of sins. When a person truly submits to almighty Allah, He forgives him and blesses him.”
“So, this three-day convention should not only remind you of morals and what you should do, but to make them part of your life. No jamaat can be called a true jamaat unless he gives a helping hand to the weak, treat people with love and affection.”
Earlier during his Friday sermon, the jamaat world leader urged participants to forget all worldly affairs while the Jalsa lasted in order to gain spiritual up-liftment and increase in the fear of God. “The 50th Jalsa is not going to give us any worldly material, but we should rather increase in the fear of God,” he said.
Over 35,000 participants, 5000 volunteers
Officials said over 35,000 participants across the world were registered for the event while about 5000 volunteers were strategically placed to offer assistance in different capacities to participants. For the three-day event, these people will be fed three times a day with security and other logistics in full control.
Salim Ulah Kahlon, a Briton and one of the officials confirmed to Saturday Vanguard that the event has been the largest gathering in the country in the last five years contributing over £30million to the economy every year.
“We have been having no less than 30,000 attendees every year since the last five years. If each one of them brings in £1000, it means we will be having £30million put into our economy every year. Again, we cannot quantify the socio-cultural effect of this gathering,” Khalon added.
The event is being broadcast live by MITV, TVC and the group’s Muslim Television Ahmadiyya, MTA, which has studios in 12 countries including United States of America, United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, Nigeria and other parts of Africa. It also covers Middle East, North Africa and North America.
It broadcast both live and recorded programmes in over 16 languages. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is known with strong passion and zeal in spreading the true teachings of Islam
ABUJA-President Muhammadu Buhari has hailed the Nigerian youth for their tenacity and hard-work at all times despite the challenging times they faced.
The president spoke via an address he personally singed in commemoration of the 2016 International Youth Day marked Friday.
He recalled that the youth played active role in the 2015 general elections that brought APC to power and assured that his government would not turn its back on the youth.
While enumerating some programmes initiated by his government to impact the youth, the president revealed that some 30 distinguished youth would soon be engaged to help provide solutions to some technology-based problems in the country.
The speech runs thus: “Dear Nigerian Youths, Today is International Youth Day.
“I am delighted to commemorate this occasion, the second such celebration since I took office.
“The roles that young Nigerians played in the historic election that brought our government to power will never be forgotten. This government belongs to you.
“I would like to use this opportunity to assure you of our commitment to improving the quality of your lives and to creating opportunities for you to achieve your dreams and ambitions.
“We are mindful of the fact that Nigeria has one of the youngest populations in the world. Those young people are immensely energetic and talented, consistently blazing the trail in the arts, sports, business and technology. We are proud of what you have done and what you are able to do.
“We have launched a number of initiatives targeted at expanding the economic opportunities available to young Nigerians.
“N-Power, our job creation scheme, for which applications are ongoing, will employ 500,000 of you in agriculture, education, healthcare and technology.
“The Aso Villa Demo Day will soon bring 30 of the most innovative young Nigerians to the State House to showcase their talent in providing technology-based solutions to some of our most challenging problems.
“The Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), part of our N500 billion Social Investment Programme, will provide soft loans to thousands of young entrepreneurs across the country. These are just some of the many initiatives we have designed and are implementing for you.
“You are the strength and future of our country. Please be assured that this administration will create an enabling environment for you to realize your potentials.
“I wish you all a Happy International Youth Day celebration. Thank You.”
By Benjamin Njoku Africa Magic, in association with Multichoice and Amstel Malta, is calling for entries for the 2017 edition of the Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCAs), the prestigious initiative that honours film and TV talent across the continent.
Billed to hold on the 3rd and 4th of March 2017, this will also mark the fifth consecutive year of the awards.
The AMVCAs were created to celebrate the contribution of African filmmakers, actors and technicians in the success of the continent's film and television industry and with the success of the previous four editions, preparations are in top gear for the 2017 edition. Entries for the AMVCAs opened on the 1st of August and close on the 15th of October, 2016.
For those who believe everything controversial nudist and pseudo-singer, Maheeda says in interviews, they may have been taken on a fools' ride one too many times.
The self-acclaimed former prostitute who is fond of exposing her nether regions on social media has been known to make some outrageous claims in interviews in the past.
However, she recently came clean on social media when she confessed that she usually said a lot of things just for the camera's sake in the past.
In the said video, a girl was being interviewed, and she was asked if she knew the meaning of the word 'dab' which is a popular dance style in the country.
The girl said she did, then went on to give a wrong answer by saying it originated in 'the days of our forefathers.' And that Nigerians usually dab in times of fuel scarcity and increase in transportation fares.
Maheeda added the caption, 'Story of my life.this is just like me when I was forming musician in Nigeria. The interviews??? Hmm, I just open my mouth and say anything I can for the cameras.well thank God I wasn't made fun of.'
There you have it Maheeda fans; never believe everything she says.
X3M Music artistes Simi and Praiz recently teamed up on a groovy tune titled Outta my head.
Simi
The song is gradually receiving glowing reviews and getting the nods of music lovers.
The song is about a broken relationship that is difficult to let go of. Simi was inspired to pen the song because according to her, "Its sometimes difficult to let go of someone you love".
In her words: "Sometimes you want to move on from loving someone but you can't. It gets very frustrating when you want to get over the one you love, but you can't. The collaboration with Praiz was overdue and I believe he is the kind of artiste that can capture the emotion of the song.”
The release of Outta my head is accompanied by a promotional music video directed by terrific Josh Clarke and shot on location in Johannesburg, South Africa, the visuals depict a safari on the South of the continent, in a natural, romantic countryside complete with wild animals, rocky mountains and a sturdy Jeep to navigate the terrain.
Images of Simi and Praiz, expressively performing the lyrics of the song are interspersed with clips of two lovers acting out a romantic script.
Celebrities constantly face the brunt of harsh opinions from their fans.
Yemi Alade
With the advent of social media, more fans are taking to social media to show their disapproval over the lifestyles of some of their favourite entertainers.
In a chat with Showtime, Yemi Alade opens on what she thinks about fans who consistently throw negative comments at her.
"There are a lot of comments that people just throw my way without thinking. I personally think that it's only God that can save such people."
Speaking on how far she wants to take her music, the beautiful songstress says her focus is to reach the world with her music.
"My focus is not only Nigeria. The focus is indeed the world. We are all sent to this world to do something and I believe it's my calling to inspire young girls all over the world no matter what their skin colour is, or where they are from. My focus is more of the world than where I am from."
The police in Bayelsa State have arrested one Timidou Jephther ‘m’ 20 years, for sexually assaulting to death a 5 year girl, identified as Queen Kaiser.
The incident occurred at Akedei community, a riverine suburb of Sagbama in Sagbama Local government area of the state last weekend.
The suspect was reportedly apprehended and and beaten to stupor by angry community ?folks after the discovery of the remains of the kid behind his house.
?Spokesman of the command, Asinim Butswat, a DSP, who confirmed the incident said the suspect was arrested Tuesday aiding that the remains of the victim had been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre for autopsy.
His words, ?”the Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested one Timidou Jephther ‘m’ 20 years, of Akedei Community, a riverine suburb in Sagbama Local Government Area, who sexually assaulted one Queen Kaiser ‘f’ 5 years to death.
“The suspect was arrested on the 9th August, 2016. The corpse has been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, for autopsy.
“The suspect is detained at the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department SCIID, Yenagoa. Investigation is ongoing.?”
Abuja – Disputed National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ali Modu Sheriff, on Friday blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan for PDP’s losses in Borno and Yobe.
Sheriff told journalists at a news conference in Abuja on Friday that if Jonathan had listened to him, the two states would have been PDP’s currently.Alimodu-Sheriff
”Yobe and Borno are one and they will remain forever. I am following the trend of events in Yobe very well and I believe that PDP should never have lost Yobe at all.
”If the then president, Jonathan, had listened properly and we did what we had intended to do, by now we would have had the two states – Borno and Yobe.
”But unfortunately, whatever God decides, we will accept it and we cannot do otherwise,” he said.
On reconciliation between his faction and Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the party, he said: ”Members of the BoT are coming to see me.
”Even, last night they came to meet me at my place and the governors are also meeting with me.
”But, that does not mean that we are going to agree on anything that will affect our integrity, followership and our political interests.
”As some of you rightly said, ?some of them were ashamed to identify with the party.
”Now the PDP has become a strong party, everybody is looking up to PDP and we will not be distracted.
“This party, as I rightly said, must be returned to the owners. Anything short of that is a non-starter.
”What are our problems? How do we improve our standing, so that it is not when we want to go for election that we run around to put the house in order?
”It is now that we should put the party in proper shape ahead of the election period,” Sheriff said.
He expressed joy with the leaders of the party in Taraba, saying that people should always be allowed to chose who they want to lead them.
Ibeno (Akwa Ibom), – The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Usani Uguru Usani, says the ministry will soon begin to hold town hall meetings in communities of the Niger Delta region.
Usani disclosed this on Friday when led the Minister of State of Niger Delta, Prof. Claudius Daramola, and other senior officials of the ministry on a courtesy visit to the paramount ruler of Ibeno Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom.
He said that the ministry decided to embark on such meetings because it has realised the importance of information communication to the people at the grassroots.
The paramount ruler, Dr Effiong Archianga, said Ibeno people are peaceful and requested that the ministry should implement the N2 billion project earmarked for equipping Ibeno Skills Acquisition Centre.
Archianga said the money was jointly set aside by the Akwa Ibom Government and Mobil Oil for the completion and inauguration of the project.
He appealed to the minister that Ibeno should be considered in award of oil and gas pipeline surveillance contracts.
“Oil blocks should be shared between the Niger Delta region and others. True Federalism should be introduced,” he urged.
Besides, the traditional ruler appealed to the minister for vehicles, speed boats and outboard engines with accessories for Niger Delta local governments and states.
Former Super Eagles captain, Chief Joseph Yobo was part of a delegation of Niger Delta traditional rulers who paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari earlier today.
President Buhari with HRM King G.N.K. Gininwa (JP) OFR and Former Super Eagles Captain Joseph Yobo as he receives in audience HRM King G.N.K. Gininwa (JP) OFR, Gbenemene Tai Kingdom, President Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers in Statehouse on 11th August 2016
Yobo who was recently conferred with a chieftaincy title, the Mene Aborlo 1 of Ogoniland noted that the visit was connected to the ongoing efforts by the President to clean up the environmentally devastated region.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet about the presence of the former captain at the villa was met jokingly via a tweet which noted that the President forgot to call him Chief.
The player who hails from Ogoniland since the announcement of his retirement from professional football, has been involved in several high level efforts to ensure that the clean up of Ogoniland is successful.
The delegation was led led by HRM King G.N.K. Gininwa (JP) OFR, Gbenemene Tai Kingdom.
Benin – The Registrar of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, on Friday, said it was untrue that the board was imposing candidates on universities for admission.
Oloyede told journalists in Benin, Edo, during his visit to JAMB's zonal office that the board had resolved all issues of admission into tertiary institutions after due consultation with all stakeholders. ?
?”I know many of you are bothered and you want to hear from me about the admission. “There is no stalemate; after due consultation with the Senate, House of Representatives, because they were worried and invited us, the matter was totally resolved,'' he said.
He added that education and examination regulatory institutions “like NBTE, NCCE, NUC and JAMB itself, were also dully consulted''.
According to him, there is no ambiguity on what will happen. As it has been announced by the Minister Education, there will be no written examination, no written Post-UTME examination by any institution.
“Apart from that, every other thing remains as it used to be, because the authority, autonomy and independence of the academic boards or the Senate of the respective institutions remain sacrosanct.
“They should determine their criteria, following the directives of the Federal Executive Council to all Federal universities about what should be merit, catchment areas, educationally-disadvantaged states and other things.
“Things remain the way they used to be. The only addition this year is, for now, there should be no written Post-UTME examination.
“Every Senate and academic board should determine its own admission policy. “We must be fair to all; we must be federal in our attitude; we must be equitable in whatever we do. We must not extort the students.
“We must not exploit the masses of this nation; every other thing remains; that is the position of JAMB,” Oloyede said.
Pressed on the allegation of imposition of admission-seeking candidates on universities, he said, “I am telling you what the situation is today and that does not arise.
“The admission should be conducted as directed by the academic boards of the Senate of every respective institution except that there should be no written Post-UTME examination.
“The traditional guidelines as to spread in terms of merit, catchment area, educationally-disadvantaged states for federal institutions remain so.
“So, each proprietor at the state level and private level will determine the criteria and once that is done, you will ensure they are strictly followed. There should be no extortion of students.
“There should be no imposition of students on the institutions and also, every institution should be equitable to all,'' he clarified.
Although some recent findings have revealed that too much and wrong application of make-ups have serious adverse effects on women, this seem not to deter ladies from wearing those enhanced looks that send some men gawking.
A Dermatologist, Dr Idi Martins, has warned against excessive use of make-up, saying that it exposes the skin to considerable amounts of germs and harmful toxins. Read more on dangerous and harmfull effects of make-ups on women here.
However, some women who spoke to newsmen, said they could not do without make-up, particularly when going out of their house.
Esther Yusuf, a banker, said she cannot step out of her house without applying make-up to enhance her facial features.
“I cannot leave my house without applying make-up on my face. I am so used to make-up on my face that I feel naked without it.
“I have to apply make-up, no matter how late I am for an appointment; even if it's just powder,'' she said. Agree
Similarly, Jamila Umar, a civil servant, said the application of make-up on her face builds her confidence and makes her look more radiant.
“I don't apply it much on my face; I use make-up to highlight my features because it makes me look more beautiful and it enhances my confidence.
“ I look so dull without make-up; as if I just woke up from sleep. It's so obvious that when people see me, they usually ask if I was ill or going through some difficulties,'' she said.
Also commenting on the use of make-up, some men said that they preferred to see a woman without any make-up on her face because it made them look younger and natural.
According to the respondents, the real beauty of a woman becomes evident when she is not wearing make-up.
Mr Emmanuel Hezekiah, said he preferred to see his wife without any make-up on her face.
“I prefer to see my wife in her natural face, without any form of artificial adornment or make-up. It brings out her real beauty and makes her look younger.
“Keeping a natural face also saves time for other things, rather than spending it on applying make-up,'' he said.
Similary, Mr Enoch Musa said he appreciates the use of make-up on a woman's face, but when it is applied wrongly or excessively, it could make such women look older and unappealing.
“Some women actually look beautiful wearing make-up, but when it is excessively used, it makes them look so unappealing and older,'' Musa said.
Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Friday inaugurated the Steering Committee on the Concessioning of the Nigerian Railways.
A cross-section of members of the Steering Committee on the Concessioning of the Nigerian Railways, with the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, GCON and Chairman of the Committee Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi Minister of Transportation at the Conference Room, Office of the Vice President, Presidential Villa Abuja.Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, GCON iand Chairman of the Committee Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi Minister of Transportation .Yusuf Alhassan Adamu Director, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Vincent O. Akpotaire Ag. Director General Bureau of Public Enterprises, Chairman of the Committee Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi Minister of Transportation and Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, GCON.
A cross-section of members of the Steering Committee on the Concessioning of the Nigerian Railways, with the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN, GCON and Chairman of the Committee Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi Minister of Transportation at the Conference Room, Office of the Vice President, Presidential Villa Abuja
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, has said that a single individual cannot alone execute offence treasonable, considering the ingredients involved in the crime as enumerated in the Nigeria’s criminal code act.
Nnamdi Kanu at the Federal High Court, Abuja,
Kanu made this known through his lawyers, led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor and the Amoebi Nzelu, where he, Ejiofor, maintained that his client no longer had confidence in the court where the case against him is currently being heard.
Recall that Mr. Kanu and two others, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, who have been in detention since October, 2015, are facing trial for alleged treason.
"The six count charges proffered against our clients show in summary that our client (Namdi Kanu) is facing three charges; treasonable felony, managing unlawful society and concealing goods in a container holding goods of different description,” Mr. Ejiofor said.
He added that, "the second defendant Mr. Benjamin Madubugwu is facing two count charges (that is counts 4 and 5) of assisting the management of unlawful society and unlawful possession of firearms, while the third defendant is facing only one count charge of assisting the management of unlawful society.
"The question now arises as to whether a single individual can be charged solely with the offence of treasonable felony, considering the ingredients of the offence of treason as enumerated under section 41 of the Criminal Code Act cap C38 laws of the federation of Nigeria.”
Mr. Ejiofor said the court, presided by Justice John Tsoho, had denied his client bail, despite an earlier decision of the same court under Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who granted bail to the first defendant in the matter.
He claimed that the decision of Mr. Tsoho to vary an earlier ruling of his (Tsoho) by yielding to the request of the prosecution for the protection of witnesses in the ongoing trial of Mr. Kanu was further confirmation that the court under his (Tsoho) leadership would not grant justice to his client.
"In the face of this anomaly, it became apparent that our client, Nnamdi Kanu, cannot get a fair trial in this very court. These among other sundry reasons necessitated the other actions we adopted to demand that the honourable court disqualifies itself from further proceeding with the hearing of the case," he said.
Advising the media, Mr. Ejiofor said they should ensure a correct interpretation of the charges against their clients, saying Mr. Kanu is the only person directly accused of treasonable felony.
Rio de Janeiro – There might be some confusions in the Nigerian camp at the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympic Games over the non-release of funds to athletes and officials.
A correspondent covering the event gathered that the Federal Government had already approved funds for the athletes and officials to meet certain obligations.
However, a reliable source told NAN there that the budget for each of the federations and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) had yet to be released by officials of the Federal Ministry of Sports.
Some athletes had begun to complain of poor kitting , especially warm clothing, there.
They said they would have used part of their funds to buy warm clothing and other necessities now that the weather had suddenly changed, the source said.
“It had been cloudy in the last few days that many had to head off to purchase warm clothing, while those who had come with some had to dust them up.
“Why they are refusing to release the funds is defying every logic,” the source said.
It was also gathered that the main organising body allocated four vehicles to Team Nigeria.
But, one of the ministry officials had refused to pay the organisers so that drivers could be allocated to them, the source said.
Also some federations that had some of their equipment to clear had been facing uphill tasks in doing that, the source said.
The source said it was bad enough that the funds were not released in good.
And if it had been released by now, it was yet to reach those who would be in need of the funds to meet their obligations, it said.
The ministry officials, however, refused to talk to newsmen about it, insisting that they had asked for an emergency meeting where the issues would be resolved amicably.
The games which officially commenced on Aug. 5, will end on Aug. 21.
Abuja – Mr Cemal Yigit, the spokesman of UFUK Dialogue Foundation, has lauded the Federal Government's decision not to shut the Turkish schools in Nigeria for alleged connection with the failed coup in Turkey.
Yigit, who spoke on Friday in Abuja, said that the Turkish schools in Nigeria had no connection with the military coup in Turkey.
The Foundation is a Nigerian-based Turkish platform, where Christians and Muslims come together to promote peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding and dialogue, especially between the two religions.
Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil, had urged the Federal Government to close down the schools.
Cakil said that the schools were affiliated with the Gulen movement, the group the Turkish Government fingered as the mastermind of the July 15 attempt to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
However, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, said Nigeria would not shut the schools until the Turkish Government proved beyond reasonable doubt that the schools had connection with the group.
The minister had said that Nigeria, as a sovereign state, had rules and regulations guiding its operations, diplomatic or otherwise.
“Turkish schools and other investments came to Nigeria and indicated interest in investing in the Nigerian education system.
“ Conditions were presented to them and they apparently met the requirements and they were issued operational licence and have been operating in line with the specification of the licence they have.
"In that regard, it would be morally and legally unfair to yield to the call of the Turkish Government on mere allegations.
“We have no evidence against the Turkish schools and other investments in Nigeria that would warrant that we take the action as requested by the government and close the schools or other investments.
“Until the Turkish Government proves otherwise, they will continue to do their legitimate business here in Nigeria,'' Adamu had said.
Yigit told NAN that the Nigeria's stance was a good one diplomatically, as there was no proof linking these schools to the coup.
“That is how diplomacy should be handled and I respect Nigeria for that,'' Yigit said.
On his part, Mr Maxwell Opara, a legal practitioner, wondered if the Turkish Government had the right to make such call.
Are the schools owned by the private investors or does the Turkish Government have a stake in the schools.
“If the Turkish Government has a stake in the schools, it can ask the Nigerian Government to disassociate itself from the schools.
“If the schools are not owned by the Turkish Government, it does not have the right to ask Nigeria to shut the schools because Nigeria is a sovereign state.
“Besides, the schools are helping the growth of the Nigerian economy, as it provides employment to many Nigerians,'' he said.
NAN recalls also that the Managing Director of the Nigeria Turkish International Colleges (NTIC), Orhan Kertin, had in a statement said that the call by Cakil was misleading.
Kertin said that the schools had been operating in Nigeria since 1998 and had been law-abiding.
He said that NTIC was not a Turkish Government run institution but a privately funded institution by a group of Turkish investors.
Abuja – The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has said that integrity and accountability are needed for lawyers to make the desired impact in the lives of the people.
Osinbajo made the assertion at the inauguration of the Nigerian Bar Association House in Abuja on Friday.
He expressed belief in the legal profession to save Nigeria from its troubles, adding that lawyers had the capacity to make meaningful inputs in the realisation of good governance in the country.
He urged legal practitioners in the country to imbibe the virtue of integrity in their professional dealings, saying that integrity and accountability were the hallmark of the profession.
“I believe that our profession has a lot to offer our nation, especially in its most difficult times.
“The most important aspect of that is integrity; our profession must demonstrate that we are capable of teaching integrity in this land.
“People should believe us for what we say we are; we must bear in mind that everyone is looking at us and that we are the example not just for our profession but for the entire country,'' Osinbajo said.
He commended the NBA leadership for its unity of purpose in ensuring that the Bar House was not abandoned by successive NBA administrations.
“One of the important lessons we have seen in this edifice is the power of unity from Mr Olisa Agbakoba to the Presidency of Augustine Alegeh.
“We see the completion of the building which by every account is possibly one of the most important edifices in this city of Abuja.
“It is a building that demonstrates the unity of the legal profession; it demonstrates our capacity to start and to finish, which is by itself a very rare thing in this part of the world.
He said that the completion of the building had set a good example not just for the legal profession but for the nation as a whole.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, in a good will message, commended the NBA for its foresight in putting up a befitting building for lawyers in the country.
Earlier, the outgoing President, Mr Augustine Alegeh (SAN), expressed gratitude to the vice president and governors of Rivers and Sokoto, for their invaluable contributions toward the completion of the building.
In an interview with journalists, Alegeh expressed confidence in the ability of the President-Elect of the NBA, Mr Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), adding that he would maintain the edifice.
Abuja – Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, has urged national leaders of the People Democratic Party (PDP) to sacrifice their personal interests for peace in the party.
Dankwambo, who made the call at the North-East Zonal Caucus meeting of the party on Friday in Abuja, said that now was the best time to make such sacrifice for the party.
“In the past, so many things had remained issues of great concern. Now is the time to make sacrifice for all of us on old or new things that come our way, as a duty to the party.
“Everybody is weeping and crying at the same time.
“If anybody expects any other person to carry him on his wing, we may not get to our destination, because the wing may not be too strong.
“It is the wing of sacrifice that is strong enough to take us to the right destination,” he said.
The governor, however, urged PDP leaders from the zone to be careful in reaching a decision on national offices of the party zoned to the area.
“We must avoid decisions that will further divide our members or bring more problems to our party.
“We should respect the views of our stakeholders and take decisions that will unite us,” he advised.
On his part, Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba, expressed the zone's interest in the office of the national secretary of the party.
He said that giving the position to the zone was one of the ways to easily resolve the party’s crisis.
Ishiaku also expressed optimism that the leadership crisis rocking the party would soon be resolved and urged members from the zone to be united.
In his remarks, Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha, said that the PDP did not deserve the crisis it was going through.
He urged that everything necessary must be done to address the party’s problem “if Nigerians must be happy with the PDP''.
Bwacha said that the National Assembly caucus of the party believed that steps must be taken to ensure that everybody in the party was carried along in its affairs.
“I particularly told the BOT Resolution Committee to meet the PDP governors and ensure that Sheriff’s demands were met,” Bwacha said.
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, has said that his group, IPOB, is willing to negotiate with the Buhari's Federal Government to end the agitation for self-governance.
Nnamdi kanu
Kanu made this known through his lawyers, led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Amoebi Nzelu, while reacting to the government's decision on Thursday to release some members of the group who were arrested in February, saying they were not opposed to talks with the government.
"Nnamdi Kanu is not averse to political solution in resolving his present politically orchestrated ordeal," Mr. Ejiofor said.
"He welcomes genuine political solution to this case. Nnamdi Kanu has people of proven integrity and impeccable character that will negotiate on his behalf, based on his demands when communication on this effect is established."
Recall that Mr. Kanu and two others, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, who have been in detention since October, 2015, are facing trial for alleged treason.
Disowns MEND
However, on the claims that the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger delta, MEND, was negotiating on behalf of Kanu and IPOB, the lawyer said, "In the past few day, the media was awash with news on negotiation going on between the Federal government and members of MEND, where our client's name (Nnamdi Kanu) conspicuously featured.
"It is on that note that we wish to inform the general public that Nnamdi Kanu has no connection, contact, ties or any kind of relationship with members of the MEND. As such MEND has no implied, direct or express authority of Nnamdi Kanu to represent him or IPOB in any purported negotiation going on between MEND and the Federal Government.
"The general public is accordingly advised to ignore, discountenance and disregard the falsehood been peddled by MEND," said Mr. Ejiofor.
