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
Minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai mohammed (M); a leader of the Bring Back Our Girls Organisation (BBOG), Dr Oby Ezekwesili (R); and a member of BBOG, Aisha Yusuf, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja on a trip to Sambisa forest and some parts of the North-East on Monday (16/1/17).
By Emmanuel Elebeke The Federal Government has warned the Bring Back Our Girls Group to stop needless attacks on the President, saying that such attacks were counter-productive.
Rather than seeing the Federal Government as a partner he said that the group sees the government as an adversary in the group’s quest to secure the release of the Chibok girls.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who made the call said the BBOG’s continued portrayal of the government as an adversary and the needless firing of darts at the President, who is doing his utmost best to bring the girls back home safely, are ultimately counter-productive.
”The Federal Government has bent over backwards to carry the BBOG along and to show transparency in the conduct of the search for the girls. The recent invitation extended to the group to witness first-hand the search for the girls by the Nigerian Air Force is a clear indication of this.
”However, it came to us as a surprise that in spite of its initial positive report on the tour, the BBOG has too quickly reverted to its adversarial role. BBOG should stick to its role as an advocacy group rather than pretending to be an opposition party. The synonyms of the word ‘advocacy’ do not include ‘antagonism’, ‘opposition’ or ‘attack’. In fact, those words are the antonyms of ‘advocacy’,” he said.
According to him it amounts to needless grandstanding for the BBOG to say it will no longer tolerate ”delays” and ”excuses” from the President on the release of the girls, as reported by the media, noting that such impudent language should have been reserved for those who did nothing in the first 500 days of the girls’ abduction, not for a President who has presided over the liberation of all captured territory, the opening of shuts schools and roads, the safe release of some of the abducted girls and the decimation of Boko Haram.
The minister assured Nigerians that the efforts to bring the girls back safely are continuing, but sought their understanding for not divulging any further details so as not to jeopardize the intricate process.
”Let me say unequivocally that the people involved in the negotiations are working 24/7. The negotiations are complicated, tortuous and delicate. Any wrong signal is capable of derailing things. That’s why the less we say about the talks the better it is for all.
”We need a huge amount of confidence-building, the kind of which led to the release of the 21 of the girls. This has been lacking for years, but right now we are confident that we are on the right track. We won’t do anything to jeopardize these talks, irrespective of the pressure or provocation from any quarter,” he added.
Sporting agony in the shape of an early elimination from their own Africa Cup of Nations has only added to the other woes facing Gabon, a country already in the midst of a political and economic crisis.
“The Africa Cup of Nations is not finished. I encourage all football lovers to enjoy the quality of the remaining matches,” said president Ali Bongo in a statement released following Sunday’s 0-0 draw with central African neighbours Cameroon in Libreville.
That result, Gabon’s third draw in as many matches, condemned them to a group-stage exit, something that had not befallen the hosts of the Cup of Nations since Tunisia in 1994.
“It was a great derby. I would like to pay tribute to the quality of the performance of our brave Panthers. I would also like to congratulate Cameroon on qualifying for the quarter-finals,” added Bongo, who had attempted to rouse the Gabon side by visiting them at training on Saturday.
A last-minute coaching change, a poor build-up and two points dropped in the dying moments of their opening game, a 1-1 draw against Guinea-Bissau, all contributed to Gabon’s poor showing.
Newspaper L’Union was scathing in its criticism, saying: “Of all the teams taking part at the tournament, Gabon, the hosts, were the only ones who did not prepare. Incredible!”
The Gabon squad, spearheaded by star man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, got together later than planned in early January under the orders of a coach who had been hastily appointed.
The veteran Spaniard Jose Antonio Camacho was brought in to replace the Portuguese Jorge Costa, sacked in November.
But Camacho, who had been out of coaching since ending a stint in charge of China in 2013, does not speak French and was new to Africa.
L’Union nevertheless sympathised, saying he “did his best” while laying the blame at the door of the Gabonese federation.
Meanwhile, former Real Madrid player Camacho refused to be drawn on his future in the role after Sunday’s match, but meetings with the Federation, Sports Minister Nicole Assele and possibly even President Bongo will soon be scheduled.
The Gabon team could certainly do with some stability as they approach the end of their qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup, with their next match to come at home to the Ivory Coast in August.
– Turmoil –
Off the field, the usually peaceful host nation has been in some turmoil ever since the violence that followed the contested reelection of Bongo last year.
The 40,000-capacity Stade de l’Amitie was just about full for Gabon’s three draws against Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso and Cameroon, but some opponents of Bongo and an element of public opinion was not behind the Panthers.
“I don’t feel like the Gabonese are unhappy after the team’s elimination. This is serious, as if the country no longer identified with the national team. For the people of Gabon, the Panthers are the team of Ali Bongo. They are happy when they lose,” Jean-Gaspard Ntoutoume, a spokesman for opposition leader Jean Ping, said.
“This Cup of Nations has divided people,” one man, Donald, told AFPTV in Franceville, the south-eastern city that is a stronghold of the Bongo family.
“There is not really any enthusiasm. But let’s not fool ourselves. We must not mix politics with sport or with football.”
Others in Franceville said they would have liked to see the money used to finance the Cup of Nations spent on roads instead.
Gabon’s exit from the tournament means a return to economic and social reality.
Worried about a possible buyout, the 400 staff at the oil company Shell called a halt to their strike after reaching an agreement with management.
Meanwhile, having remained silent since the turn of the year, the opposition led by Ping still refuse Bongo’s offer to open political dialogue, and legislative elections are set for July at the latest.
An Ibadan based trader and mother of two, Yetunde Kolapo has urged an Iletuntun Customary Court to dissolve the seven year-old union between her and Olamilekan Kolapo over incessant battery.
Yetunde who resides at Academy area of Ibadan, told the court on Monday that her husband, Olamilekan constantly subject her to battery which sometimes result into her being hospitalised, and then abandoned.
"For seven years that I married Olamilekan, I have had no rest of mind, as his constant punches on me usually results into my being admitted.
"In addition, he does little or nothing about fending for our two children and me. In short, it is one day, one trouble in our home. My lord, I am completely fed-up with him,"she pleaded with the court.
Domestic Violence
She also prayed the court to grant her custody of the two children from the union.
Olamilekan who did not oppose the divorce suit, however said that his wife Yetunde often starved him of sexual intercourse.
"My lord, Yetunde usually deny me sex which is an integral part of what stabilises a marriage.
"As if that is not enough, she usually keeps late night, and she no longer take to my instructions.
"Her mother had been supporting her in her strange behaviour and she assisted her in parking her belongings from my home two weeks ago," Olamilekan said.
The President of the court, Mr Henric Agbaje, asked the couple to provide enough evidence to support their claims and adjourned the matter to Feb. 3, for judgment.
Enugu metropolis, on Monday, recorded its first rainfall of the year, which led to reduction in the temperature in the coal city.
The rain started at about 2:45p.m and lasted for over 30minutes.
The downpour led to the washing of roof-tops and drains that had been dotted by silts occasioned by the harmattan.
Reacting, a resident of the city, Mr Chidi Maduka, told newsmen that the rain had led to a cool weather, which most people of the coal city had been praying for.
Maduka said that the early rainfall also signifies more rainfall in the course of the year.
"We pray God that we have plenty of rain this year to help us grow food to check the current hardship in the land, "he said.
Another resident, Mr Samuel Edeh, said that the first rain would check heat rash and itching, especially among children and infants.
"Heat had been one thing disturbing children at night in crowded areas of the city; while the coolness brought about by this rain will check this.
"Residents, especially infants will now have a very cool night sleep, "Edeh said.
By Marie-Therese Nanlong. Jos – Armed men on Sunday attacked a Divisional Police Station at Dengi, the headquarter of Kanam local government area of Plateau State killing a Police Officer and carting away seven rifles.
State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Matthias Tyopev who confirmed the incident said, “The CP is yet to return from Dengi where he went to see things for himself. Once he comes, we will know the true situation.”
However, the Transition Committee Chairman of the Council, Hashimu Isah told Vanguard, “I am on my way to Dengi now to know exactly what happened. Once I’m properly briefed, I’ll get back to you.”
US President Donald Trump met with a dozen prominent American manufacturers at the White House on Monday, promising them he would slash regulations and cut corporate taxes.
But he warned them of penalties if they moved production outside the country.
Trump, who took office on Friday, promised to bring manufacturing plants back to the United States during his campaign, and has not hesitated to call out by name companies that he thinks should bring outsourced production back home.
He told the chief executives of Ford, Dow Chemical, Dell-Technologies, Tesla and others that he would like to cut corporate taxes to the 15 per cent to 20 per cent range.
This is down from current statutory levels of 35 percent – a pledge that will require cooperation from the Republican-led US Congress.
But he said business leaders have told him that reducing regulations is even more important. "We think we can cut regulations by 75 per cent, maybe more", Trump told business leaders in the Roosevelt Room.
"When you want to expand your plant or when Mark wants to come in and build a big, massive plant or when Dell wants to come in and do something monstrous and special – you're going to have your approvals really fast", Trump said, referring to Mark Fields, CEO of Ford, who sat around the boardroom style table.
The new president told companies that they were welcome to negotiate with governors to move production between states, but said those businesses that choose to move factories outside the country would pay a price.
"We are going to be imposing a very major border tax on the product when it comes in", Trump said.
"A company that wants to fire all of its people in the United States, and build some factory someplace else, and then thinks that that product is going to just flow across the border into the United States – that's not going to happen", he said.
Trump was scheduled to hold a meeting later on Monday with labour leaders and U.S. workers, the White House said.
Trump, a Republican who took over from former Democratic President Barack Obama, was also expected to sign executive orders to renegotiate
the free trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico, and to formally withdraw the United States from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Between winning the presidential election in November and taking office, Trump hosted a number of U.S. CEOs in meetings in New York, including business leaders from defense, technology and other sectors.
He also met with leaders of several labor unions, including the AFL- CIO.
Trump, a real estate developer, has particularly focused on manufacturing, lamenting during his inaugural address on Friday about "rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation" and vowing to boost US industries over foreign ones.
…Charges Parents On Clean Environment Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode on Monday flagged-off the State's mass de-worming exercise for primary school pupils in the State, charging parents in the state to encourage hand-washing among their children, as well as maintain a clean and healthy environment so as to prevent them contracting worm infections. Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (2nd right), administering de-worming syrup on one of the pupils of Lagos State public primary schools, Miss Precious Okoh during the flag-off of Mass Deworming programme for pupils in Public Primary Schools, organized by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, at Maryland, Lagos, on Monday, 23 January, 2017. With her are Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Pharm. (Mrs) Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf (right); Special Adviser to the Governor on Arts & Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola (2nd left) and Acting HOS, Mrs. Folashade Adesoye (left).
She gave the charge at Maryland, lkeja during the flag-off ceremony organized by the State' Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
She said that worm parasites contributes significantly to malnutrition in children by stealing the nutrients they ingest, leading to dangerous health conditions like severe anaemia, stunted growth and low immunity, among others.
According to her, "De-worming children helps them to develop well and boost their learning capability. This is a great advantage that cannot be ignored because good academic performance will to a large extent determine the future of a child.
"It is important to remind ourselves of the need to maintain a clean environment, as it is a simple and effective way of preventing worms and helping the children to live a healthy life," she said.
Speaking further, Mrs. Ambode commended the effort of the State Government in this regard, describing it as pivotal to the survival, growth and development of every child, regardless of social background.
She also reminded teachers of their responsibility towards educating children on healthy habits for good growth and development.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, disclosed that over 60,000 pupils from various primary schools in the state, would be de-wormed, using WHO-recommend drug.
She noted that worm infection had been identified as one of the major challenges to healthy growth and development of children, which the human body system did not have the natural means of combating.
According to her, "Worms infect more than one third of the world's population, with the most intense infections in children and the poor".
She promised that the current administration in the state would continue to take proactive measures that would assist healthy development and robust welfare of children in the state.
The Taliban has called on President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the "quagmire" of Afghanistan, saying that nothing has been achieved in 15 years of war except bloodshed and destruction.
In an open letter to the new U.S. president published on one of its official web pages, the insurgent movement said the United States had lost credibility after spending a trillion dollars on a fruitless entanglement.
"So, the responsibility to bring to an end this war also rests on your shoulders," it said.
So far, Trump has had little to say publicly about Afghanistan, where some 8,400 U.S. troops remain as part of the NATO-led coalition's training mission to support local forces as well as a separate U.S. counter-terrorism mission.
Two of his top security appointments – retired Marine Corps General James Mattis as Secretary of Defense and former General Michael Flynn as National Security Adviser – both have extensive experience in Afghanistan.
The Taliban, however, warned Trump against relying on the kind of "unrealistic" reports presented to former presidents by their generals, saying: "They would emphasise continuation of war and occupation of Afghanistan because they can have better positions and privileges in war."
The United States would not accept foreign forces on its territory or even in a neighboring country, said the Taliban. It accused Washington of imposing a "surrogate administration" on Afghanistan in the face of popular Muslim resistance.
"You have to realise that the Afghan Muslim nation has risen up against foreign occupation," it said.
The Taliban has made steady inroads against the Western-backed government in Kabul since coalition forces ended their main combat mission in 2014, with government forces now in control of only two thirds of the country.
It has repeatedly urged the U. S. and its allies to leave Afghanistan, ruling out peace talks with the Kabul government while foreign forces remain on Afghan soil.
Trump has sharply criticized past U.S. administrations for their handling of conflicts in the Muslim world but he has also pledged to eradicate militant Islamists around the globe.
By Evelyn Usman A female graduate of Nutrients and Biotechnology from the Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho, Oyo state has been kidnapped alongside three other farmers in a farmland in Epe area of Lagos State.
The kidnapped graduate, Ifeoluwa |Olabiyi (24) was employed two weeks before the incident happened.
The incident occurred at about 8pm last Friday, barely a week after gunmen stormed the Nigerian Turkish International School, Ogun state, abducting some students and members of staff.
Relatives of the college’s victims are still apprehensive over their state, following delay in the release of their wards after payment of ransom.
Vanguard gathered that kidnappers of the farmers contacted their relatives Monday, demanding for N5 million as ransom for the release of each of them.
The Pro-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Jerry Gana, has described the 2015/2016 two best graduating students, who are females, as role models of the institution.
Gana stated this on the side-line of the unveiling ceremony of legacy projects of the university on Monday in Lagos, that the female students recorded maximum 5.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).
The two female students are: Miss Taiwo Bankole from the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics and Miss Ajoke Omotuyi from the Department of Systems Engineering.
The duo, who were among the 231 First Class students that would be graduating during the institution's 2016 convocation, had matched the enviable record set by Mr Ayodele Dada, with similar score during the 2015 Convocation.
According to Gana, the two female students are a pride, not just to their parents, but both the university and Nigeria.
"I congratulate these two ladies as we are delighted to have them match the strength of men academically.
Taiwo Bankole and Oyindamola Omotuyi
"What they have done simply shows there is still so much zeal for hard work, discipline and dedication among some students.
"I want to task the university not to relent in its drive to produce students with good leadership quality because academics are about character and learning,'' he said.
According to him, this is the only way to take the university and the country to the next desired level.
"I want the university to continue with its excellent work, as the feat obtained by the girls, including Dada in 2015, is a combination of excellence in teaching under a conducive environment.
"It is equally the combination of the dedication by both the students and staff because no matter how much we teach excellently and provide the right environment, if the students are not serious, not much can be achieved,'' he said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Rahmon Bello, said that the university was building on the glory and commitment of its predecessors.
Bello said that each of the eras of the academicians and astute administrators were full of developments and legacies.
"This is what has inspired the University Senate to direct that all of them be honoured in ways that their names would be immortalised in the annals of the university.
"Today, we are renaming six major facilities after some of our past vice-chancellors for generations after us to remember them for what they stood for,'' he said.
The institution's Main Auditorium has been renamed as Prof. Ade Ajayi Auditorium and the Second Access Road of the institution as Prof. Akinpelu Adesola Road.
The others are: the Radiography hostel to be known as the Kwaku Adadevo Hostel and the Distance Learning Institute (DLI) auditorium as the Nurudeen Alao Auditorium.
The Multi-purpose Hall is now known as Jelili Omotola Hall, while the Staff School hall has been renamed after Prof. Tolu Odugbemi.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted partly cloudy atmospheric weather conditions over the central states of the country on Tuesday morning.
NiMet's Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office on Monday in Abuja predicted that isolated thunderstorms would prevail over Makurdi, Lokoja, Lafia, Abuja and Mambilla Plateau in the afternoon and evening hours.
It added that the region would have day and night temperatures of 33 to 39 degrees Celsius and 17 to 23 degrees Celsius respectively.
The agency predicted that the southern states would experience cloudy to partly cloudy morning with day and night time temperatures of 33 to 36 degrees Celsius and 22 to 26 degrees Celsius respectively.
It also predicted prospects of localised thunderstorms over Obudu, Warri, Ogoja, Ikom, Eket, Port Harcourt, Warri and Yenagoa in the afternoon and evening hours.
According to NiMet, northern states will experience sunny and hazy conditions with day and night temperatures of 37 to 34 degrees Celsius and 17 to 22 degrees Celsius respectively.
"The Northern states are expected to experience sunny and hazy while the Central cities have prospects of partly cloudy conditions with chances of thunderstorms over some southern cities,'' NiMet predicted.
Rivers United have slowly continued their ascent on the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) table following a solid start to the 2016/17 season.
The Pride of Rivers have won two and drawn one of their opening three games of the season, amassing seven out of a possible nine points.
Makes for good reading to the average fan of the football club but not to technical manager, Stanley Eguma, a well-known perfectionist who will hardly settle for anything than the best.
United's home games this season have followed a particular pattern; almost total domination of their opponents, especially in the aspect of chances created but putting the goalscoring opportunities away have seemingly been extremely difficult, a situation that has left Eguma exasperated.
"We could not convert the avalanche of chances (that came our way against Niger Tornadoes on Sunday) despite creating so many and that is a big worry to me.
Eguma
"It's a big worry for me and one of the biggest headaches I am facing at present.
"We will represent Nigeria on the continent and should be scoring goals freely but that is not happening.
"We have to go back and work on this," he told the club's official website, www.riversunitedfc.com.ng.
Striker, Guy Kuemian Venance, who netted United's solitary goal against Tornadoes on Sunday shares Eguma's sentiments and insists he and his teammates must improve in their efficiency in the final third.
"We cannot continue like this because failing to score when you have chances puts you under enormous pressure.
"In our first home match (of the season against El-Kanemi Warriors), we should have scored six or seven and it was the same situation (against Tornadoes on Sunday).
"The coach (Eguma) has every right to be unhappy because we all know the amount of hard work he puts in in the training ground every day.
"Now, we must work extremely hard ahead of our next game against a very difficult opponent like FC Ifeanyiubah," he said.
United will face FC Ifeanyiubah in their fourth league game of the season in Nnewi on Wednesday.
The Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has assured Nigerians of the safety of all prospective corps members, as they were set to begin their orientation course on Tuesday.
Dalung gave this assurance in Abuja, on Monday during the inauguration of four utility vehicles at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) headquarters.
He said that government had put in place machinery to ensure the safety and protection of lives of the corps members while in their orientation camps.
Dalung also assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari was well, stressing that he had been on vacation to the United Kingdom.
"I spoke with the president just 48 hours ago and from our conversation, there is nothing indicating that the president is in a state of poor health.
*NYSC members
"I commend the leadership of the NYSC for purchasing the vehicles; the scheme has set the agenda for this year.
"The NYSC is so dear to the present administration, hence, we will continue to do everything possible, despite paucity of funds, to ensure that if that is the only legacy Nigeria can leave to the future generation, we will do that.
"The NYSC has contributed significantly to the promotion of national unity. l often wonder whether Nigeria will still exist without the NYSC," Dalung said.
He reiterated that youths remained the fulcrum of building a very good future, adding that government needed to engage them more meaningfully.
According to Dalung, the Muhammadu Buhari administration is determined to lay a solid foundation where hope, hard-work, transparency and integrity will flourish.
Earlier, the NYSC Director of General Services, Bashir Salisu, said the vehicles would be deployed to NYSC locations where they were most needed.
Salisu said that this was the second time in two years the minister was inaugurating field operational vehicles.
He said the development was informed by the commitment of Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure, the NYSC Director-General to the welfare of the staff and corps members.
The article, by Godwin Anaughe on January 8, 2017, was interesting, but bemusing!
In the article, Mr Anaughe positioned himself as an APC patriot, distressed by the infighting in Delta APC, a party man who is desirous of APC forging a common front to dislodge PDP and win the governorship in Delta State in 2019. Yet in the piece, you find a partial, self-conceited individual who is out to drive a divisive agenda!
But then, who is Godwin Anaughe? The name rings no bell in Delta APC! Since the inception of Delta APC in July 2013, this is the first appearance of Anaughe! Godwin Anaughe is either a new entrant in the party among those recently admitted and registered in August 2016 from either Light of Labour, Accord Party, SDP or PDP or is a mischievous non-APC member trying to play the smart alec!
Here is the gospel, according to Anaughe: APC failed and was woefully drubbed in the governorship election of 2015, winning not a single local government area! Meanwhile, the Labour won 4 LGAs! This happened because APC had leadership issues and have no political base unlike the Labour Party that had strong leadership base.
Now, the super Labour Party with its winning streak, led by Chief Great Ogboru has magnanimously and graciously agreed to join forces with APC, yet the leaderless, rudderless, no political-base APC is failing to collapse its rickety structure to allow the superior Labour Party structure take over and lead the new APC to the promised land!
To finally nail the case, he resorts to call the dog enough bad names to make its hanging a celebrated acceptability. So here we go: Delta APC Exco is after all “illegal”, having been sacked by an Asaba High Court. Worse, the party is bedeviled by factions. Olorogun O’tega Emerhor/Prophet Jones faction; late Senator Okpozo faction; Adolo Okotie-Eboh faction.
Even the new joiners, Chief Great Ogboru’s Light of Labour is a faction and Hon. Victor Ochei/Chief Ayiri Emami, also head a PDP faction. Ingenious! Moreover, the Prophet Jones Erue Exco is not only “illegal” it is also unrepresentative of all the factions! So, why would such a fractious party resist the attempt to harmonise and restructure it?
Yet, Anaughe complains that new comers, who he claims are now in the majority, have not been welcomed with enough open hands, nor given enough sense of belonging. And, “All efforts to reorganise the party have been thwarted …” When Anaughe and his super joiners came through the Prophet Jones Exco for admission and registration and were dancing the victory dance in APC headquarters in Abuja, they were well aware of the existing disgruntled Okpozo and Adolo tendencies, yet they did not consider the Exco either “illegal” nor a faction at that point.
Then, as soon as their “efforts to reorganise the Prophet Jones Exco was thwarted” the Exco became illegal and a faction. Honestly, how on earth do you brand an Exco that admitted and registered you into a party “illegal”?
The truth is that the purported crisis and disunity in the Delta APC is contrived. It is a deliberate and vigorous strategy being pursued by Anaughe and his brand of new joiners! The objective is to portray a house in disarray which should be dismantled to provide the super joiners the opportunity to rebuild and take control. The Anaughes and co. actually resort to pep up and sponsor the so-called dissenting groups to make the factions de facto!
Then they proceed to inaugurate their own factions to truly complicate and muddle up the waters! According to Anaughe, “The infighting has nothing to do with growing the party to win, rather, it is a battle for who controls the party structure for personal aggrandizement. And leaving the party in the hands of those who cannot deliver victory but too strong to eliminate in the 2019 primary because of their hold on the party structure could result yet again in another disappointment ….”
The earlier Anaughe and his brand of joiners sheath your swords and accept that Prophet Jones Exco is here to stay till 2018, the earlier it will be to grow the party for the benefit of all. The Hon. Minister, Dr Ibe Kachikwu is not deceived by this antics! He knows the so-called infighting is about individuals like Anaughe who can’t wait for the 2018/2019 primary but want to immediately seize the party structure!
He will not be persuaded by this desperation and call on him to help you reorganise the party for your urgent take over! As you rightly observed, the meeting both by the SGF and the National Chairman of the party were indisposed to award you the early gubernatorial crown you seek. It is time therefore to cut it out and work with the structure you met on ground in the party.
You may also use, if any, your super strength of cunning, to positively bring the Okpozo and Adolo tendencies along for an ultimate united party that will deliver victory to the long suffering Delta populace irrespective of who eventually clinches the gubernatorial ticket of APC in 2019! .
A catholic cleric, Monsignor Gabriel Osu, on Monday advised husbands to desist from battering their wives and built good homes that would make Nigeria a better place.
Osu, Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He noted that a family remained the smallest unit of any society, and that, if well built, would impact positively on the large society.
The cleric said that a disunited couple would not be able to raise good leaders of tomorrow.
According to him, in recent times, there has been an unprecedented increase in the rate of reported cases of wife battering.
He called for more love and understanding among couples.
"The wife is the man's partner and not a punching bag; he must always see her as a helpmate and not a distraction or liability.
"There are men who derive pleasure from battering their wives; each day they return from work oozing out alcohol, they pounce on their hapless wives at a flimsy excuse.
"While that is happening, their children will be watching; for such couples, a day hardly passes without exchange of harsh words and blows.
"For their neighbours, they have learnt to live with the frequent squabbles that emanate from the homes of these couples.
"Should this be the case?'' he asked.
Osu said that there was no justification for a man to batter his wife
The cleric advised men to go out when provoked by their spouses.
He said that a peaceful home would result in a peaceful and progressive society.
A beauty queen Miss Yetunde Savage has initiated a football competition among youths in Ikorodu Local Government of Lagos, saying the tournament is one vital means of arresting restiveness in youths to curtailing the ever increasing crime rate in the city.
The reigning 'Miss Southwest', Face of Nigeria World beauty pageant 2016/17 who is also a TV Presenter and host of 'Sisters With Sweet Voices Show (SWSV) programme on AMC TV, Startimes Channels in a statement disclosed that with all arrangements on ground to start the tournament in first quarter of 2017, she believes that crime and other social vices will be reduced to barest minimum in Ikorodu communities,
"It is a football tournament for boys and girls of age 20 and below, titled: "Playing against crime". The reason for the vision is because in Ikorodu right now, crime of all sorts, such as cultism and kidnapping, raping, armed robbery and ritual killing, oil pipeline vandalism, among others are the other of the day. Ikorodu have become a cultists den with rival members brazenly challenging each other publicly. And it is so worrisome that citizens live in fear within the city.
“With the prevalent situation, I deemed it necessary to curb this rampaging menace with a social tool that I believe unites everybody, both old and young together in a peaceful and accommodating manner. Football game is so universal that it understands one language which is unity.
“With this tournament, all the 6 LCDAs' in Ikorodu and environ will participate. The kickoff will be among streets, moved further to local areas and then, finally to Local Council level for the finals. Within the preliminary stage, awareness drive in form of music concerts will feature thereby, sensitizing the community youths about the danger of crime and its consequences on the nation.
“The overall winners will be awarded a cup and cash prize while consolation prize will also be given to runner ups and other participating teams. In this game, everyone is a winner, and from this level, opportunities will be open for young talents to play football professionally." Yetunde said.
According to Yetunde,"This is a huge project that involves the Kings (Obas) in the 6 LCDAs in Ikorodu City, who are the custodians of tradition in the land. They have given their consent to the success of the project. Oba Semiu Orimadegun Kasali of Igbogbo Bayeku in Ikorodu has thrown his weight behind it saying, "It is a welcome development to revive Ikorodu land to its past glory."
Security agencies have begun a cyber hunt for masterminds of a video clip which has gone viral on social networks alleging that an Amstel Malta can drink contains a strange object.
Describing the clip as a calculated attempt to defame the low sugar formulated malt drink from the stable of Nigerian Breweries, the Corporate Affairs Adviser , Nigerian Breweries, Kufre Ekanem, weekend, stated that a picture earlier went viral that a fake Amstel Malta was in circulation, shortly after the company launched a new credential campaign #WhyAddMore#.
The picture was apparently because the new packaging wore the new NIS logo while the old packaging had the old NIS logo of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SONs.
The company according to Ekanem, reported the defamation attempt to the security agencies for further investigation, soon after a faceless consumer recorded an alleged contaminated drink and circulated it on social media.
However, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria , SON, which is the statutory body vested with the responsibility of standardising and regulating the quality of all products in Nigeria, has debunked claims by the faceless video producer of the fake Amstel Malta in circulation.
Briefing journalists weekend , on its investigation, SON’s Deputy Director, Mr. Fred Akingbesote, explained that Nigerian Breweries had met the organisation’s safety and quality requirements and had also complied with all requirements of the new National Industrial Standard (NIS) logo.
Maintaining that the people behind the defamation were just playing on the intelligence of Nigerians, Akingbesote said : "We have a web site (www.son.gov.ng) which contains all information on our standards and quality regulations. Every Nigerian who has doubts about any product certified by SON should crosscheck the facts", he said.
Forensic and marketing analysts as stated earlier by the Corporate Affairs Adviser , Nigerian Breweries, Kufre Ekanem observed that same source was responsible for both fabrications.
"Analysts and observers agreed that this might be coming from the enemy's camp as the recording left many gaps to cast a doubt on the genuineness of the video. For instance, the can was opened before the video recording, thus failing the basic test of validity.
They maintained that a careful look at the video reveals a lot of inconstancies and fallacies such as: * The can was not transparent for a consumer to see the content before pouring it * It is technical impossible to have a foreign object in non-reusable container like a can * The content was poured into a bowl instead of a cup ready for drinking * The content was not foaming like the normal Amstel Malta * All the persons in the video were faceless * The video camera was targeted severally at the Can to flash the logo of the product (perhaps to cause more damage to the premium brand) * The 'consumer' did not tell us how he got to know that there was an object in the can. * There was no mention of where it was bought or any intention to confront the retailer.
According to the analysts, the attempt remains a despicable and dirty way to ignite a brand war by exploiting the gullibility and stupidity of many social media users.
Marketing experts also maintained that the 'sword' may have emanated from interested industry persons who are afraid of the flight of Amstel Malta in Nigeria's marketing space", Ekanem stated.
THE family of a former House of Representatives member, Nze Chidi Duru has dismissed media reports that the former lawmaker was an armed robber describing the report as a lie fabricated to tarnish his (Duru’s) image.
Recall that Duru, who is Vice Chairman of First Guarantee Pensions Limited was arrested following an accusation by the National Pension Commission that the former lawmaker, in the company of some armed men in police uniform, stormed First Guarantee Pension office and ordered its management staff out.
In a statement, the Duru Family said the accusation of armed robbery against the former lawmaker was as an act of extreme provocation.
Nze Chidi Duru
The statement said: "The attention of the Duru family has been drawn to the false and malicious information currently circulating to the effect that our son and brother, Nze Chidi Duru was purportedly arrested for armed robbery.
"We wish to state without equivocation that this accusation is an outright lie which was fabricated to tarnish his image.
"It is the work of his detractors who are bent on forcefully seizing First Guarantee Pensions Limited, a company which Nze Chidi Duru founded.
"This most recent trumped up accusation of armed robbery is the latest desperate effort by an errant regulator and their cohorts to undermine the enforcement of valid court judgement and specific directives of the Attorney General of the Federation.
"We consider this development as an act of extreme provocation but remain confident in and faithful in our belief that darkness cannot triumph over light.
"Our lawyers are already challenging this injustice and misuse of state power while continuing to seek redress through the appropriate institutions of the Nigerian State."
*Says Abacha was the healthiest President Nigeria ever had
BY GBENGA OKE
Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, yesterday lashed out at the Presidency saying they should stop lying to Nigerians over the health status of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also said Nigerians cannot afford to have another constitutional crises due to Mr. President’s health.
The Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu had attacked Mohammed on Monday saying he is suffering from pathological cynicism.
According to Shehu, "Mohammed’s kind of critics is toxic to national progress because they are only primarily interested in destroying every positive effort and achievements of the government and we advise Nigerians to be wary of prejudiced and biased critics like Dr. Junaid
Mohammed who are more interested in personal publicity than respecting facts and figures about their claims".
But reacting to Sheu’s statement, Mohammed said the Presidential spokesperson should stop telling Nigerians lies about his health just as he maintained that General Sanni Abacha remains one of the healthiest President Nigeria ever had.
Garba Shehu and Junaid Mohammed
His words, "I believe Sheu is under pressure which is why he attacked me. However, I believe strongly they need to stop lying to Nigerians about Mr Presidents health. Can they actually tell Nigerians what this medical leave or routine check-up is? They don’t seems to be telling us the truth".
Mohammed who maintained he has been President Buhari’s friend since when he was a secnd lieutenant in the Army said he cannot shy away from telling the President the truth anytime he misfires.
He said, "If I am to comment on issues that concern Nigerians, I won’t shy away from telling President Buhari the home truth anywhere he is making mistakes. I criticized General Abacha as Head of State and told him some truths in private and sometimes face to face. I believe if people can challenge their friends in power, it shows they are not intimidated by the powerful".
"If Aisha Buhari can say what she said about her husband, I think the President needs to check himself and retrace his steps on some issues that concerns the country. I think the question the President needs to ask himself is that after one he has taken over the reigns of power, what has changed? Is Nigeria better off than when he took over on May 29, 2015? The truth is that Nigeria is worse off today than when Buhari took over the reigns of power.
"Every Nigerian today is worse off and nothing seems to be working under this government. Some who are rich in 2015 cannot say same today due to the economic woes that Nigeria is presently experiencing and we cannot continue to close our eyes off it".
He further explained, "This administration has failed in tamming the economic woes that seems to have turned everyone poor in present day Nigeria. Even though the administration made some giant strides in the fight against Boko Haram, the country is still not safe as people still live in fears even in Kano today. And there is also political crises in the party where President won his own election. So the President seems to be at war with everyone including the National Assembly members".
He however maintained, "I believe President Buhari should engage in turning around the fortunes of Nigeria economically, politically and security wise. By now, his administration should have stopped blaming the Jonathan government for their woes. I believe that in Politics, you take assets and liabilities".
Minna – The National Orientation Agency (NOA), said on Monday that wrong Bank Verification Numbers [BVN] and account numbers provided by beneficiaries of the N-power job was responsible for delay in payment of their stipends.
Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, the NOA Coordinator in Niger, said this in an interview in Minna.
He said during registration, majority of the participants provided wrong Bank details which had resulted in delay payment.
According to him, majority of the participants provided wrong Bank account numbers and BVNs which made it difficult for the Federal Ministry of Finance to credit their account.
"It is not the fault of the Federal Government that majority of the beneficiaries is yet to receive alert, rather the fault is from the participants themselves.
"So far, for the past one month now, we are working on it and we hope in the next one week the problem will be rectified and they will get paid", he said.
Aliyu disclosed that 5,013 participants were short listed in the state and 4,198 have been posted to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Health and Education.
He added that the agency would monitor beneficiaries in their different places of work to ensure they are active and doing the job well.
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