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Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Special Assistant and founder of Build Up Nigeria, Pastor Reno Omokri has prayed that those who believed in the All Progressive Congress, APC, government may their lives be mangled as that of the president.
Reno in a series of tweets said ‘Prove that you believe in this govt: May your life be managed the way @MBuhari runs Nigeria. Fave to say amen. Retweet to reject this prayer’
He further tweeted that government should try former National Security Adviser, Dasuki Sambo publicly ‘if they have nothing to hide’ saying ‘Let the FG try Dasuki publicly. I repeat, let them try Dasuki publicly if they have nothing to hide!’
He also said that Dasuki is innocent and the charges against him are spurious insisting that ‘with secret trial APC isn’t protecting national security interest but protecting the party interest.
'Let me ask you, the APC federal government said that the previous National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki embezzled $2.1 billion in an arms' scam deal. Now go through the charges they preferred against him in court and calculate the amount in those charges. It is not up to 10% of the amount they claimed was stolen.
The man himself said he never stole and is waiting to defend himself in court. All of a sudden, the APC federal government said they want a secret trial. The same people that accused him publicly, the same APC that has been leaking stories to the press suddenly do not want the press to be involved in Dasuki's trial.
They claim it is in the interest of national security. But what national security interests are they protecting? After all, they said the man did not buy weapons.
They said he stole the money. So, what possible national security interests could they be protecting if he did not really buy weapons? They are not protecting any national security interests. They are protecting party interests because they know that if the case is allowed to be tried in public it will become clear that Dasuki is innocent and the charges against him are spurious and a part of the 'Big Lie' told by a la Adolf Hitler. Let the Federal Government try Dasuki publicly. I repeat, let them try Dasuki publicly if they have nothing to hide.
You see, they do have a lot to hide because the APC is the biggest scam of the 21st Century! They scammed you with a lie so big you could not believe they were lying and now that you know they are lying, they want to disenfranchise you by using the phenomenon of 'inconclusive elections' which is the only major thing they have achieved since coming into office!
A group, Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF), has urged the new Ohaneze leadership to remain apolitical in its approach to unity and socio-economic development of Igbo land.
The President of the group, Comrade Augustine Chukwudum, gave the advice while speaking with newsmen on Saturday in Enugu.
Chukwudum noted that the enormous task facing Ohaneze needed a clear departure from politics and power-struggle as well as affiliation to any political party. "We urged the new executives of Ohaneze to maintain the non-partisan stand of the group.
Pro-Biafrans
"They should ensure that the organisation stands for equity and justice while shunning political alignment, patronage and promotion. "Ohaneze should be the rallying point of the entire Igbo race within the country and in Diaspora,'' he said.
The NUF boss also called on the people of Igbo to give maximum support to the Chief Nnia Nwodo led administration to succeed. "We believe that Ohaneze Ndigbo with Chief Nnia Nwodo at the helm of affair is equal to the task.
"We implore the new executives to use their expertise in different fields in collaborating with stakeholders in attracting investment to the Igbo speaking areas of the country,'' he added.
Journalists report that Ohaneze Ndigbo, which is an apex Igbo socio-cultural group, has branches in all states in the country and other foreign cities. The Igbo speaking people are located in Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers States.
By Tunde Rahman With the release of the photographs taken last Thursday when the All Progressives Congress national chieftains, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande, visited President Muhammadu Buhari in London, two things are now clearer about the president's present health situation.
The first is the president is not dead as speculated and promoted in some quarters. President Buhari may be ailing but he is not dead. The other is the president is in a residence in London, where his health is perhaps being attended to, not confined to a bed in a hospital as some would want to have us believe. President Buhari received Asiwaju Tinubu and Baba Akande in the Federal Government's official residence in London, called Abuja House. Not in a hospital. Information Minister Lai Mohammed had told the nation the president is not nursing a life-threatening ailment and not in a hospital. Despite all the verbal attacks on his person for mounting a bulwark for Aso Rock, it seems the minister knows more than we thought he knew after all.
PRESIDENT BUHARI IN LONDON: PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI RECEIVES APC CHIEFTAINS, SENATOR BOLA AHMED TINUBU AND CHIEF BISI AKANDE, AT ABUJA HOUSE IN LONDON ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017
The shots were taken as Tinubu and Akande were received by Buhari in the living room, when they launched into a discussion with the president and when, as a mark of respect, he saw his guests off to the door. It is puzzling, therefore, that even after the release of the photographs, some have continued to live in disbelief and denial. The rumour mill has been agog with all kinds of speculations and innuendoes and conspiracy theories. I don't need to dignify them by recounting all that here.
But real pictures don't lie. It is dismaying, however, that some still doubt or disbelieve what they see in pictures? Why do some still live in denial, even after being confronted with live pictures? Let me hazard two guesses for this. One, having experienced something like this before, perhaps some Nigerians now, understandably, get skeptical when it comes to issues relating to their president's health. Remember the case of late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua. The information about the real health status of President Yar’ Adua was hidden for so long. Nigerians were kept in the dark until it engendered a big crisis.
Two, you may say the way and manner the presidency has handled the present situation has not helped matters by not saying it all and you may be right. This may birth suspicions and engender speculations. But President Buhari told the nation he would use the opportunity of his vacation to undergo a check-up. Some other people will, however, choose to believe what they want even when confronted with facts.
Like every other mortal, the president may fall sick at some point or another.
For the life of me, is it out of place to expect a 74-year-old to have some health challenges? So what's the big deal about the president falling ill?
I'm not saying here that the president is at present enjoying the best of health. But why do we continue to distrust information around our leaders, particularly when they concern their health, even when we are presented with pictorial evidence to suggest that the situation may not be as bad as some would want us to believe?
Now, back to the photographs in question, the persuasive force is not only in the pictures themselves, it is also in the people in the pictures. I mean the efficacy of the message is not borne by just the pictures. It is strengthened, in my view, by those captured by the camera, the political enigmas therein. This point becomes more salient when you recall that some others had visited Buhari before and the pictures rolled out with little effect. Within seconds of the release of Thursday's pictures, they had become national and international headlines. They went wild on online platforms and social media. The major newspapers in Nigeria slammed them on their front pages the next day.
Indeed, I cannot agree more with Amit Kalantri, who posited in his book "Wealth of Words," that "a photograph should not just be a picture; it should be a philosophy". What is the spirit behind the visit to Buhari and the pictures taken? In my view, it is to send a message to the whole world that though President Buhari may be ailing, his is not a bad case. Those photographs are not just pictures, they have meanings; they convey messages of truth, messages of hope. But I also know that, as pictures, they will conjure memories in the future. They will conjure memories of this period in our national history.
*Rahman is Special Adviser, Media to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa A peace advocacy group, the Niger Delta Non-Violence Youth Leaders Assembly Saturday lauded the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s visit to the Bayelsa State, saying it has revived the hope in the people of the region for a proper sustainable peace and development in the region under President Muhammadu Buhari.
The group also described the announcement made during the visit by the Minister of State for Petroleum , Dr. Ibe Kachukwu on the proposed 20-points agenda to be unveiled by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as commendable and a show of competence.Ag Pres Osinbajo
In a statement issued in Yenagoa after its participation at the Interactive session the Acting President had with key stakeholders, the group stated that the openness displayed by Osinbajo and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu showed that the people of the Niger Delta will have a better deal under President Muhammadu Buhari.
The statement , signed by the group’s Secretary General, Ambassador Prince Tonye Jeminimieme, howver called on the people of the Niger Delta region to be calm and maintain the existing peace for the Federal Government to redeem it’s pledge of pragmatic development and peace in the region.
The group however stated that though the people have consciously participated in the discussions and profer solutions, “we are asking the Federal Government to inaugurate it’s team that will work in tardem with PANDEF to review and consider the 16 points agenda including the Ledum Mitee report and others.
“The Federal Government and the honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources should set up a committee to investigate non-compliance to GMoUs and Corporate Social Responsibilities by IOCs that causes over 60 per cent of crises between host communities and oil companies and call for review of the formula.”
“We urge the Federal Government and National Assembly to pass a law that the PIB Bill and establish the Nigeria Merchant Navy Bill to enhance security on our waterways. Federal Government should expedite action in the commencement of the Bonny LNG and the Brass LNG.
We call on the Federal Government to build five functional sea ports of international standard for the region. We also urge the Federal Government to commence clean up processes of the Koluama Oil Spill in Bayelsa.
“We also urge the Federal Government to make an upward review of the derivation formula and consider strongly the inclusion of indigenous firms and the allocation of Oil blocks,” the group stated.
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The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Saturday in Abuja prayed for peace, stability and progress of Nigeria.
She made the prayer shortly after her arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja from Saudi Arabia where she performed the lesser Hajj.
Mrs Buhari, who arrived the Airport at about 3:15 p.m. local time urged Nigerians not to relent in their prayers and good deed for Nigeria to prosper among the comity of nations.
The wife of the President, who expressed her gratitude to God for the successful trip, also prayed for Nigerian leaders and for peaceful coexistence of Nigerians.
Aisha Buhari
"I thank God for a journey mercy, I prayed for Nigeria and Nigerian leaders and we should not relent in prayers and good deed." she said.
She also expressed her gratitude to Nigerians for their support for President Muhammadu Buhari's administration; urging them to sustain the tempo.
"I want to use this opportunity to thank all Nigerians for the goodwill and support for my husband and Nigeria in general," she said.
She was received by the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki, former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Mrs Pauline Tallen and aides of the wife of the President. Also on hand to welcome the wife of the president are the wives of the service chiefs.
The wife of the Chief of Army staff, Mrs Ummu Kulthum Buratai, Mrs Theresa Ibok Ibas, Mrs Omobolanle Olonishakin, Mrs Hafsat Sadiq and wife of Inspector General of Police, Mrs Asma'u Idris.
Also, at the Airport to welcome the wife of the president are the wives of the governors including Mrs Zainab Bagudu of Kebbi State and Mrs Rashidat Bello of Kogi State.
The Federal Ministry of Environment says it has facilitated the treatment of lead poisoning of more than 2, 500 children affected in Shikira community of Rafi Local Government Area of Niger.
Mrs Aanu Basil, the Deputy Director, Marine Pollution, Contamination Clean-Up and Remediation in the ministry, said other residents of the community were safe from lead poisoning with the clean-up. Basil made this known in Abuja in an interview with journalists on Saturday.
She said that the clean-up programme was an intervention from government aimed at preventing lead poisoning outbreak in the community.
She observed that lead poisoning was as a result of illegal artisanal gold mining in Angwa Megero, Angwa Kawo and Shikira communities of the state.
Basil said that the incident occurred few years after a tragedy outbreak of lead poisoning in the community killing about 28 children below the age of five.
She said that the children who were contaminated from the lead poison had been treated by the government. Basil said that three officials of the ministry visited the site on the spot assessment; adding that proposal for the cleaning-up project commenced in 2016.
She noted that the federal ministry of environment collaborated with the federal ministry of mines and steel and Ministry of Health to ensure effective implementation of the project.
"The report of the visit indicated increase in the number of death of children as a result of high concentration of lead contaminants ranging from 5000 to 166, 000ppm in the impacted environment.
"The situation was declared then as an emergency and immediate clean-up exercise of the impacted sites took place to enable tackle the situation,'' she said.
Basil said that one of the objectives of the clean-up project was to eradicate the presence of the high concentration of lead and other heavy metals contamination.
She added that the exercise would curtail the immediate threat to life and health of the impacted communities, eliminate the continue exposure of the communities to lead and other heavy metal contaminants.
The deputy director said that the project was being implemented in two phases with the collaboration of United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
"The phase one scope of the project is identification of the contaminated sites within the Shikira communities, awareness campaign within the communities, and a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. "Also, characterisation of the lead impacted sites, excavation of lead contaminated sites from the three impacted communities, bagging and containerisation of excavated contaminated soils in high density polyethylene bags.
"Identification of new sites for sourcing of clean soils and for construction of landfill, excavation and transportation of clean soils to backfill the excavated contaminated soil areas, among others,'' she said.
She said that the project implementation was with the mobilisation of both contractors and some technical advisers in the ministry.
Basil stressed the need to put in place relevant programmes for mining practices such as strong sensitisation exercise within the communities.
She said that the essence of the sensitisation was to ensure that the communities complied with safe mining practices as it would prelude re-contamination of the remediated sites.
She said that the ministry also recommended the establishment of organisation mining cooperative groups to enable effective implementation of the project.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has alleged that the outgoing Gov. Olusegun Mimiko had approved N500 million as "parting gifts" to political office holders.
Mimiko's eight-year tenure will end on Feb. 23, while Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the Governor-elect will be sworn-in on Feb. 24.
The APC, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya, on Saturday alleged that the money was from the state Local Governments Joint Account.
"We have authoritatively gathered that Gov. Olusegun Mimiko, whose tenure expires in 12 days' time has approved a take-home package of N500 million (taxpayers' money) as valedictory packages for the 18 council chairmen.
"Other beneficiaries of the parting gifts are officials of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, who oversee the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Mr Governor himself.
"Each of the council chairmen and senior civil servants (names withheld), who are involved in facilitating the documentation and perfection of the loot, are to part with N20 million, while Mr Governor goes with a lion share of N300 million.
"We want to warn the Accountant General of the state and permanent secretaries not to succumb to pressure by Mimiko and his cronies to milk our state dry before the expiration of their tenure.
"There shall be commensurate negative consequences for every wrong actions or inaction.
"The action is a daylight robbery of the commonwealth of the good people of Ondo State, '' the statement read.
Adesanya warned banks and other financial institutions in the state not to get involved in any "shady deal'' with this outgoing government.
Efforts to get reaction of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Eni Akinsola, were unsuccessful as calls to his cell phone were not picked.
BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURI Askira – Persons suspected to be Boko Haram Terrorists have invaded Mussa Village of Askira-Uba Local Government Area in Southern Borno State and set ablaze dozens of residential houses and a man suspected to have been trapped in the attack.
This was not the first time Mussa village is witnessing Boko Haram attacks, as even the palace of the community head wwas burnt down by insurgents in recent past.
This incident is coming barely 24 hours after a group of insurgents laid ambush on military troops in Ajiri village of Dikwa Local Government Area leaving 7 soldiers dead with over 20 injured.
Nigeria’s military on Friday said seven of its soldiers were killed and 19 others injured in a Boko Haram ambush, in the latest incident against troops and the security services in the country’s northeast.
Lieutenant Colonel Kingsley Samuel, a spokesman for the Nigerian Army 7th Division in Maiduguri, said the ambush happened on Thursday evening on the road to Dikwa during “routine rotation” of troops.
“The gallant troops fought their way through, killing many of the terrorists. Unfortunately seven soldiers paid the supreme price… while 19 soldiers sustained various degree of injuries,” he said in a statement.
The injured were taken to hospital in Maiduguri for treatment. Reinforcements were sent and they were in “aggressive pursuit” of Boko Haram, he added.
A military source had earlier told AFP at least eight soldiers were killed in the attack and that it happened at about 9:00 am (0800 GMT) on Friday at Ajirin village, in the Mafa area of Borno state.
The source, who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media, described the battle as “a heavy gunfight”.
“It was a surprise attack and this is what led to the casualty toll,” the source added.
A civilian vigilante involved in helping the military with security in the restive region also confirmed the account but said as many as 10 soldiers may have been killed.
Conflicting death tolls and accounts are not uncommon in the remote region, access to which is strictly controlled by the military and government, making independent verification difficult.
At least 20,000 people have been killed in the Boko Haram conflict since it began in 2009. More than 2.6 million have been made homeless.
– Sporadic attacks –
Nigeria’s military and government have claimed repeatedly in recent months that Boko Haram, which is allied to the Islamic State group, is in disarray and nearly defeated.
The army has mounted a sustained counterattack against the group in its Borno state stronghold of the Sambisa forest. In December, commanders said the rebels had been flushed out.
Sporadic attacks since then have been attributed to desperate Boko Haram remnants on the run.
Nevertheless, there have been a number of attacks on military and police targets in Borno and the neighbouring states of Yobe and Adamawa, as well as deadly suicide bombings.
Residents in the village of Kautikeri, in southern Borno state, said Boko Haram killed one person and abducted a seven-year-old boy from the neighbouring village of Kaumutaiyahi on Thursday.
The rebels looted food stores before setting fire to the village, which is some 15 kilometres from the town of Chibok, where Boko Haram abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in April 2014.
Chibok is also near Boko Haram’s Sambisa forest camps. Thursday’s raid and recent attacks on the road between Damboa and Maiduguri have prompted speculation the militants are still in the area.
Arturo Vidal and Arjen Robben netted last-minute goals in Bayern Munich’s 2-0 win at Ingolstadt on Saturday to open a seven-point lead as their main Bundesliga rivals all lost.
Bayern, who host Arsenal on Wednesday in the Champions League last 16 first leg, broke the deadlock when Vidal ghosted in behind the Ingolstadt defence and put his side ahead on 90 minutes.
Robben netted just 60 seconds later to seal victory in the Bavaria derby.
It was a deserved win for Bayern after Robert Lewandowski hit the crossbar late on and had a first-half effort cleared off the line.
“It was an important win for us and gives us a lot of self-confidence for Wednesday,” said Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“The first-half was very difficult, we couldn’t find any space.
“Ingolstadt were very strong defensively.
“We had to give everything, we did give everything and we’re happy with the result.”
Bayern’s cause was helped as main rivals RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund all lost.
Robben
Second-placed Leipzig lost for the second week in a row in crashing 3-0 at home to Hamburg, who escaped the bottom three.
RB were two goals down after 24 minutes in a nightmare first-half as they conceded two headers from almost identical situations.
Centre-back Kyriakos Papadopoulos leapt highest to put them Hamburg ahead on 18 minutes.
The second goal followed six minutes later, again from a Nicolai Mueller corner, when Brazil midfielder Walace was unmarked in the middle.
Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuettl responded by substituting overwhelmed centre-back Dayot Upamecano, who made his starting debut, for forward Yussuf Poulsen after half an hour.
But Poulsen lasted barely ten minutes before going off injured to be replaced by Davie Selke just before the break.
Hamburg grabbed a late third when replacement Aaron Hunt scored with his first touch.
– ‘Chicharito’ strikes –
Third-placed Frankfurt lost 3-0 at Bayer Leverkusen as Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez scored two superb goals to take the pressure off coach Roger Schmidt following back-to-back defeats.
Chicharito volleyed home a cross on five minutes, then doubled the tally on 63 minutes.
Kevin Kampel’s long pass was volleyed on the wing by Karim Bellarabi and Chicharito slammed home the cross with his first touch on 63 minutes before Kevin Volland netted Leverkusen’s third.
Fourth-placed Dortmund crashed 2-1 at Darmstadt, who remain bottom and seven points from safety.
Thomas Tuchel named three teenagers in Dortmund’s starting line-up before Tuesday’s Champions League last 16, first-leg, match at Benfica.
Dzenis Burnic made his debut in defence, the second 18-year-old in the starting line-up alongside US international midfielder Christian Pulisic, while attacking midfielder Emre Mor is only 19.
It backfired as Darmstadt went ahead on 21 minutes when US international striker Terrence Boyd, on loan from Leipzig, was unmarked.
Dortmund’s Germany winger Marco Reus hit the crossbar from a free-kick on 32 minutes before midfielder Raphael Guerreiro levelled with a bullet shot just before the half-time break.
But Darmstadt sealed the win when Antonio-Mirko Colak got in behind the defence and slotted his shot Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki’s legs.
Borussia Moechengladbach climbed to ninth as Thorgan Hazard, brother of Chelsea star Eden, scored in their 1-0 win at Werder Bremen, who drop into the bottom three.
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State says the state government will soon turn around the state-owned media organisations to make them more efficient.
Addressing newsmen in Sokoto on Saturday, Tambuwal said that the state government had recently restructured the administrative machinery of the media outfits, especially the state media corporation.
"We will soon go beyond the change of the administrative structures of the media outfits but their operations also.
"The state government has also planned series of training and retraining packages for them in this direction," he said.
The governor also disclosed plans to transform the state-owned newspaper, ‘the Path’ into an online one.
Aminu Waziri Tambuwal,
Tambuwal explained that the gesture was aimed at making the newspaper to operate in tune with the global trend. The governor commended journalists working in the state for their uprightness and objectiveness.
Tambuwal further pledged to sustain the existing cordial relationship, stressing that transparency, good governance and openness would continue to be his watchwords. "Government is not a mafia or cult. We will continue to be open to you and the entire people of the state.
"I have never shied away from answering questions or accepting to be examined, and cross examined by those we are providing leadership for.
"Governments must be transparent and open to all. We will continue to cherish your positive reportage and constructive criticisms," Tambuwal added.
Gambian President Adama Barrow said he has inherited a nearly bankrupt economy and that the economy needed immediate restoration.
He has appealed for support, especially from the European Union (EU).
President Barrow was speaking in Banjul at the signing ceremony of $79 million immediate support package with the EU.
He said the sad reality was brought about by the mismanagement of the public finances.
"What is truly sad is that our debt burden has reached unsustainable level due to wasteful public spending," he stated.
EU Commissioner Neven Mimica, who met the Gambia leader on Thursday, said the peaceful democratic change was a result of the determination of the people, as well as the regional and international efforts.
"Gambians have shown commendable resolve, patience and courage during a period of high tension. The EU is fully committed to engage with President Barrow and his government," said Mr Mimica.
He disclosed that the EU was preparing a medium term package of $159 million, which would focus on building the capacities of the state and on job creation.
The commissioner described his visit as a clear signal of the EU's readiness to provide immediate financial and technical support to the democratic process in The Gambia and its dividends for the population in terms of good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law.
He promised that the EU would also step up its support to sustainable and inclusive development of the country in consultation with the new authorities.
The EU-Gambia partnership has helped deliver important development goals, including the paving of roads.
EU's total allocation for the Gambia under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) for the period 2014-2020 was set at $159 million.
EU had suspended its direct support to the Gambian government owing to poor governance and gross human rights violation under President Yahya Jammeh.
The President of the Senate Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has described all those who obstruct peace in the name of Islam as bad Muslims.
Saraki, the Turakin Ilorin spoke in Ilorin on Saturday at the formal closing ceremony of the 31st National Quranic Memorisation Competition.
He expressed pleasure to have been part of the gathering and the celebration adding that Allah would reward all the participants.Saraki
He however charged the participants not to stop at only memorising the Holy Book but to go further by preaching the words of God.
The President of the Senate enjoined all participants to take note of some key teachings of the Holy Books: morality, justice, equity, love, compassion and respect for elders.
"Use your knowledge of the Quran to let the world know that those who discourage people from acquiring education are not good Muslims.
"Let the world know that those who obstruct the peace of the world do not represent Islam.
"Let the world know that our Holy Prophet lived peacefully with Christians and Jews.
"He taught us to even emulate him. That is the essence of Hadiths. If we have taken to the words of Prophet Muhammmed (saw), there would have been peace and development in our country and the world over," he said.
While commending the participants drawn from 33 states in Nigeria, Saraki assured that the National Assembly would never pass any law that would stifle the practice of any religion in Nigeria.
He said that the holy books talk about the responsibility and burden of leadership which is why leaders must be responsible as they have a lot to account for before Allah.
"It is true that all of us are in one position of leadership or the other. We are leaders at various levels and we will be held accountable.
"Even as a follower, we will be held accountable on whether we have played our role in making our leaders lead with the fear of Allah.
"I also want to assure you that the Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general will not enact any law that will stifle the freedom of worship.
"We will always work to ensure that people can freely practice their religion without fear," he said.
Saraki used the opportunity of the gathering to call on the Ulammahs to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari.
"Let me use the opportunity of the gathering of distinguished members of the Ulammahs to ask that you all pray for our President, Muhammadu Buhari.
"May Almighty Allah continue to give him good health, the wisdom and know how to lead this country in peace and to prosperity.
"Also, pray for our country to have peace, unity, economic prosperity and political stability and general development," he said.
In a time of two hours, 15 minutes and 20 seconds, Kenya's, Abraham Kiptum who won the maiden edition of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on Saturday successfully defended his title at the second edition of the race carting away the grand prize of $50,000.
His time was a new record in the Lagos Marathon as he posted a time of two hours, 16 minutes and 19 seconds in the 2016 maiden edition. Kiptum's compatriots, Ronny Kiboss and Kiprotich Kiroi came second and third finishing in two hours, 15 minutes and 25 seconds and two hours, 15 minutes and 30 seconds, winning $40,000 and $30,000 dollars respectively.
Mr Akinwunmi Ambode,Executive Governor of Lagos Presenting Trophy to winner of 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon,1st position Abraham Kipton from Kenya.At the 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon in Lagos.PHOTO;AKEEM SALAUFrom Left;Mr Herbert Wigwe,GMD/CEO Access Bank Plc;Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule,Deputy Governor of Lagos State;Mr Akinwunmi Ambode,Executive Governor of Lagos State and Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede,President National Council Nigeria Stock Exchange.At the 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon in Lagos.PHOTO;AKEEM SALAUCross Section of the 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon Participant at the starting point in National Stadium Surulere Lagos.At the 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon in Lagos.PHOTO;AKEEM SALAUCross Section of the 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon Participant at the starting point in National Stadium Surulere Lagos.At the 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon in Lagos.PHOTO;AKEEM SALAUCross Section of the 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon Participant at the starting point in National Stadium Surulere Lagos.At the 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon in Lagos.PHOTO;AKEEM SALAU
Star musician "Davido'' on Saturday to thrilled fans at the finish point of the 2nd Access Bank Lagos Marathon at the Eko Atlantic City.
Newsmen reports that the popular "OSINACHI'' crooner is part of the side attractions put in place by the race organisers to cool off the nerves of the marathoners.
The stand which is directly opposite the finishing podium had in attendance DJs who were thrilling the fans until the announcement of Davido to their amazement.
The ecstatic fans, however, quickly forgot the stress of the marathon, dancing to the tunes by Davido, born David Adeleke, who did not disappoint in dishing out his best tracks.
The fans who spoke to newsmen expressed delight at the ingenuity of the organisers in offering them such an entertaining feature to reduce the stress of the race.
Adedeji Idowu said that it was more fun having Davido who is regarded as one of the best hip hop artistes in Nigeria on the stand.
"This is a great show and I'm happy to be part of this marathon. Having Davido on the stand to perform is one of the best things the organisers of this race have done to make us happy.
Davido on stage
"Davido is one of the most sought after musician in the country and all his fans are happy to see him on stage free of charge. "I hope the organisers will keep up with the good works, it's an amazing event,'' he said.
Also Dolapo Odujobi, a marathoner, praised the efforts of the organisers for not just turning the athletes back after the race. "The organisers of this event did well in creating a relaxed atmosphere for those who participated.
"Marathon is a stressful race and I think the organisers know better, that is the reason for setting up a place where the marathoners can cool their nerves. "I commend the organisers for their efforts,'' he said.
Davido at the end of his performance thanked the fans for their support and promised to do more in the coming years. Journalist reports that Davido sang some of his hit songs as "Aye'', "Osinachi'', "Skelewu'', and "Omo Baba Olowo'' to the delight of the fans.
In a time of two hours, 15 minutes and 20 seconds, Kenya's, Abraham Kiptum who won the maiden edition of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on Saturday successfully defended his title at the second edition of the race carting away the grand prize of $50,000.
His time was a new record in the Lagos Marathon as he posted a time of two hours, 16 minutes and 19 seconds in the 2016 maiden edition. Kiptum's compatriots, Ronny Kiboss and Kiprotich Kiroi came second and third finishing in two hours, 15 minutes and 25 seconds and two hours, 15 minutes and 30 seconds, winning $40,000 and $30,000 dollars respectively.Mr Akinwunmi Ambode,Executive Governor of Lagos Presenting Trophy to winner of 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon,1st position Abraham Kipton from Kenya.At the 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon in Lagos.PHOTO;AKEEM SALAU
Istifanus Peter Mahan was the first Nigerian to breast the finish tape in two hours, 37 minutes and 51 seconds, while Kefas Williams and Ritji Timothy finished second and third in two hours, 40 minutes and 43 seconds and two hours, 41 minutes and 31 seconds respectively.
The race started at the National Stadium, Surulere by 7am and ended at the Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island with over 50,000 athletes battling for the prize money.
Speaking shortly before presenting the prizes to the winners at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said his administration has begun steps to reposition sports in the State, assuring that no stone would be left unturned to achieve the aspiration.
He said the success of the tourney marked another leg of his government’s dreams and aspiration to make State the destination of Sports in Africa. To this end, the Governor said the State would continue to explore and attract regional, continental and global sports events to drive home its mission, adding that the all round development of youths through sports remains paramount.
“Our commitment to continue to support our Youth in Sports Development is resolute, a part that we cannot depart from. The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is a testimony to this avowed commitment,” he said.
Governor Ambode said it was gratifying that the Marathon attracted the presence of the Athletics Federations Presidents from other countries, and participation of elite Athletes from four continents, 15 countries and about 50,000 athletes overall.
While expressing delight on the interest and participation of thousands of Nigerians in the Marathon, the Governor said that more importantly, the event had set a foundational infrastructure to put the State on the world map.
“This mind blowing attendance underscores our determination to occupy a prime place in the Marathon Calendar worldwide and ultimately to be among the top ten Marathon races in the World.
Governor Ambode said that going forward, his administration would remain committed to supporting outstanding Athletes on the local front and that proactive measures that will encourage and challenge them to excel would be put in place.From Left;Mr Herbert Wigwe,GMD/CEO Access Bank Plc;Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule,Deputy Governor of Lagos State;Mr Akinwunmi Ambode,Executive Governor of Lagos State and Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede,President National Council Nigeria Stock Exchange.At the 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon in Lagos.PHOTO;AKEEM SALAU
“We are hugely encouraged by the local participation, which coincide with our mission on the Marathon. Let me reiterate that our collaboration with Access Bank Plc, Seven Up Bottling Company, Bet Naija and Eko Atlantic City is a template we intend to replicate in various sports across board,” he said.
Governor Ambode said beyond the Marathon, the State Government would continue to use sports to drive inclusion and engagement of the citizenry most especially the youths, while Tourism, Arts and Entertainment will remain the cornerstone and pillars of support of his social contract with Lagosians and the international community.
“In support of this, we have put in place a structured process of providing additional sports infrastructure in the various Zones of the State. “The target here is to ensure that no child is denied the opportunity of interaction with sports as early as possible in life while potential for career in sports can be identified for proper development,” he said.
The Governor also announced that the next edition of the Marathon would hold on Saturday, February 10 2018.
In his remarks, Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr Herbert Wigwe said the event, apart from showcasing the fact that Lagos is truly a safe place, the marathon had all the traits of world class tourney.
He said the marathon was also a pointer to the fact that Lagos is very much ready to receive the international world for business.
The UN Secretary-General, Mr Antonio Guterres has urged nations to end the bias preventing women and girls from taking up opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Guterres gave the advice in his message for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science observed on Feb. 11.
In the message made available to journalists in Lagos on Saturday, he said that for too long, discriminatory stereotypes had prevented women and girls from having equal access to education in STEM.
According to him, as a trained engineer and former teacher, it is a well known fact that these stereotypes are flat wrong.
"They deny women and girls the chance to realise their potential and deprive the world of the ingenuity and innovation of half the population.
"On this International Day, I urge commitment to end bias, greater investments in science, technology, engineering and maths education for all women and girls. "I urge commitment to end bias in the opportunities for their careers and longer-term professional advancement, so that all can benefit from their ground-breaking future contributions," he said.
In her message, Ms Irina Bokova, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) said that the celebration was an opportunity for all to take a stand for girls and women in science. Bokova noted that girls continued to face stereotypes, social and cultural restrictions.
Young Girls Learning
She said that such stereotypes were limiting access to education and funding for research, preventing girls from scientific careers and reaching their full potential. According to her, women remain a minority in science research and decision-making.
"This throws a shadow over all efforts to reach the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, both of which highlight the key roles of gender equality and science.
"At the same time, girls and women shoulder the heaviest burdens of poverty and inequality; they stand on the frontlines of climate change, including the disasters resulting from natural hazards. "Girls and women in rural and disadvantaged areas are hit hardest.
"Meaningful progress must start with the rights and dignity of women by nurturing their ingenuity and innovation," she said. Bokova said that humanity could not afford to ignore half of its creative genius, "who are women and girls'''.
She said that girls and women must be empowered at every level, in learning and research, from administration to teaching, across all scientific fields.
"We must inspire girls and young women by offering mentoring opportunities to young women scientists to assist in their career development.
"We must raise awareness about the work of women scientists by providing equal opportunities for their participation and leadership in a broad spectrum of high-level scientific bodies and events.
"The world needs science and science needs women. We invite everyone to sign this manifesto together, we can make a difference," she said.
St Petersburg’s purpose-built 2018 World Cup stadium passed its first public test on Saturday after a decade in construction.
The futuristic spaceship-shaped 68,000-seater is to host seven World Cup games including a semi-final and the third-place play-off.
A crowd of 10,000 volunteers came to witness the testing of its audio and floodlight systems and to watch a motor show.
“It’s a great event,” the 20-year-old Dima Petrenko told AFP.
“And it’s very interesting to see the new arena with my own eyes.”
The St Petersburg ground will also be hosting four Confederations Cup matches, which starts in June including the final.
The other Confed Cup venues are Sochi, Kazan and Moscow.
The construction of the arena, which will also serve as a home ground for Zenit St Petersburg, began in 2007 and was finished in December though the process has been hit by spiralling bills and missed deadlines.
“First of all I came here to see on what such a huge ammount of money had been spent on,” Roman Ignatiev, 27, told AFP.
Last year FIFA inspectors discovered serious problems with the venue’s retractable pitch as they found it unstable and unsuitable for playing.
But the constructors said they will solve the problem completely within the next few weeks.
“We’ve worked out the method of increasing the rigidity of the construction,” construction company chief engineer Petr Maksakov told AFP.
“For the moment we’ve completed around 86 percent of these works. We need just 15-20 more days to finish it.”
Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has decried the destruction of the foundation laying structure of the proposed Nigerian Army Battalion in Southern Kaduna.
In a statement on Saturday by Samuel Aruwan, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, El-Rufai described the situation as "unfortunate that conflict entrepreneurs are determined to create obstacles and setback to our stabilization and peace building efforts."
"I received the news with shock over the unfortunate destruction of foundation laying structure of the proposed Nigerian Army battalion in Southern Kaduna.
"The very structure we erected to establish the long-awaited Army Barracks to assist in the promotion of peace and end decades of senseless bloodletting in Southern part of Kaduna State.
"The situation is unfortunate, condemn-able and a setback to government's communal stabilization and peace building efforts, but we will not be deterred,'' said the governor.
Nasir-El-rufai
He urged the people to cherish peaceful coexistence, continue to be resilient, focused and resolute in overcoming antics of forces of darkness and evil.
"Those that did this are determined to derail the contributions of security agencies, having failed to spread their tentacles of hate, bigotry and penchant for divisiveness.
"I want to use this medium to appeal to all men and women of conscience, to remain firm and optimistic, while government in collaboration with security agencies, civil society, religious and traditional institutions will continue to work for peace and security of lives and property. "Finally, all those that have their hands in the destruction of this structure will not go free,'' he said.
According to him, the security agencies will fish out the perpetrators and those found to be involved, or engaged in omissions that led to the destruction of public property, will be brought to justice.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai and Gov. El-Rufai had last week, laid the foundation for the establishment of the battalion at Ungwan Yashi area of Zangon Kataf Local Government, as a response to incessant killings occurring in Southern Kaduna since 1980.
A young friend of mine recently met the man of her dreams. In the whirlwind courtship that followed, they quickly got round to the conversational games that lovers play. And so it was that Mr. Right asked Miss Right; "How many men have you slept with? The sensible girl immediately reversed the question, to which 'he answered '13'. She then replied with a circumspect '10'.
"How many is it really?" I asked excitedly. `Somewhere between a hundred and a hundred and ten', she said, not batting.an eye lid. "So why did she say 10?" ` I just thought that whatever he said, mine should be less'. How brutally honest can you get? 100 to 110 guys in how many years?!
This little story got me thinking what most latter day emotional, Shylock Holmes, think they are letting themselves in for when they seem bent on digging into past histories of their new lovers! It is a really funny question when you are faced with that kind of a quandary.
"As a regular rule," continued our woman-of-the world, "a woman would do well to gauge her answer from a man's. But what happens if he says 400? Would a response of 308 show a charmingly coy sexual reticence or elicit an indignant 'you're not the mother of my future children" from her shocked partner?
"One thing you should avoid saying is that you can't remember because that could reflect badly on you. I can't remember? That many, is it? She continues: "As a rule, men, automatically double the real figure and women automatically half it. Factual information backs up the theory. There are lies, damn lies and statistics and then there are sexual statistics which must be special kind of double lie. 'Whatever lies you tell, you need to get your head above the proverbial troubled waters!
"How many people you sleep with is a private matter. How many people you admit to having slept with is a social matter and, therefore, a question of manners. What you tell your friend is different from what you tell your lovers. People want to feel special, not as though they are part of a sprawling number game. A white lie isn't necessarily a wicked deceit, but could be simple courtesy. Why tread on someone's dreams when you can just as easily not?"
Good common sense, that is, if you ask me. Only it is amazing, how many good relationships are put in jeopardy in the male partners' quest to find out how promiscuous their female partners are. Are they as promiscuous as 'friends' say they are? At one of our 'old-students' renewals recently, we reverted to nostalgia, asking about old boyfriends. One of us looked particularly – sad and it expired that after her studies, she became pregnant and planned excitedly for a wedding with the love of her life. She was more than bewildered when the boy practically disappeared from the face of the earth.
He surfaced again years later to discover that she's not only had the child but got married to one of his friends. You guessed it! The friend who warned him that she was no wife material as she'd practically slept with most of their friends. "Sex", continues our 'expert' "is the final frontier when it comes to lies and hypocrisy and that's why the word 'promiscuous' was invented. It is a pointed finger of a word and it only ever refers to other people but us.
Come to think of it, when in your sober moments, you try to count the number of 'lovers' you've slept with, who really counts? The ones you had to struggle with and give in just to get them off your back? Or the ones you really like and you pray fervently for him to have more staying-power in the bedroom that never comes? Or the ones that go on and on that you pray for the punishment
to be over soon! Believe it or not, when you get to a certain age, you even lose count!
Years ago, when diplomacy was a strong word in my dictionary, a guy I was crazy about recounted his escapades with the various women he'd slept with and told me arrogantly he thought he should be honest with me in case some of his miffed ex-lovers want to embarrass me, seeing he was now mad about me. I scoffed inwardly at his conceit. Calmly, I told him a few of the lovers I'd had 'meaningful' relationships with and mentioned a few names for good measure. Names with muscles that would make his look puny!
"You mean they all meant that much to you?" he wanted to know. I nodded. "Like you feel the same way about me now?" Again, I nodded. "You've said all these erotic things you say to me from time to time during love-making to them?" I squirmed. I didn't ask for the blow-by-blow account of his escapades, so why the third degree? A few weeks later, one of the "lovers 1 mentioned with whom I'd remained very good friends paid me a visit. We were on the front porch, nattering over refreshments when lover boy showed up unexpectedly – he'd been doing that a lot since we had our 'true confession'. His face was like thunder.
As I made to introduce my guest, he flared up. "I know who he is," he yelled. Turning to the poor man he asked: "What are you doing here, you good-for- nothing moneybag. Agbaya. Why don't you run along to your wife!" He was a no-nonsense man and before I knew it, they were both having a shouting match. Enraged, I asked my boyfriend to leave if he was going to be violent. He went for my throat!
So, ladies, don't be fooled by all these men telling you they need to wipe the slate clean by knowing all about your past. Tell your man what he wants to know – remembering this would be one of the occasions when white lies are allowed, otherwise, what you say honestly might be used against you in future!
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