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
Sango-Ota (Ogun) – The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Ogun said six persons died while four were injured in an accident on the Lagos-Sagamu expressway on Monday.
The Ogun Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Clement Oladele, said in Ota, Ogun, that the accident occurred at about 2. 12 pm.Okene-Kabba road crash
Oladele said that a Nissan Quest van with registration number FKJ 297 AJ coming from Ikorodu to Ibadan rammed into a moving Iveco truck due to excessive speed.
The crash, he said, resulted in the death of the six persons while four sustained injuries.
" The four injured persons are receiving treatment at the Sagamu General Hospital while the corpses had been deposited at the morgue, " he said.
He advised motorists to desist from excessive speed, especially during the rainy season.
The Oyo State Police Command, Monday, confirmed the death of one person in the violence that trailed the public outing of the Ege masquerade in the Egungun festival in Ibadan on Sunday.
The police spokesman in the state, ASP Adekunle Ajisebutu, told newsmen in Ibadan that two suspects were also arrested in connection with the incident.
Violence had marred the Egungun festival on Sunday as many residents were assaulted while property were destroyed.
The festival, which often featured displays by masquerades, is meant to showcase the rich culture and tradition of Ibadan land.
Ajisebutu, however, said that the command had beefed up security in the area where the Egungun festival was taking place.
He said the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, had warned all masquerades and their followers to refrain from violence.
The police, he said, would not hesitate to deal with any individual or group attempting to cause a breach of the peace.
Meanwhile, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has expressed displeasure with Sunday's violence.
He said several meetings were held with stakeholders on the need to keep the peace before the festival commenced.
Adetunji, who commiserated with families and victims of the violence pledged that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
In furtherance of its commitment to creating equal opportunity for Nigeria children’s, Total Nigeria Plc has taken an additional sponsorship of one house with the SOS Children’s Villages in Jos.
SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-governmental international development organization which has been working to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of children since 1949. This brings the total number of houses sponsored by the company with the SOS villages Nigeria to four.
According to the company, “Prior to this time, Total sponsors three houses of 10 children each at the Isolo village Lagos State, Owu-Ijebu village Ogun state, Gwagwalada village FCT Abuja and now, Jos Plateau State.
The company also said that they have been in partnership with the SOS children’s villages Nigeria since September 2010 when it commenced the first Corporate Sponsorship with the Lagos village and has continued till date to support these houses annually, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility in the spheres of Education, Social and Economic Development.
“We are also running side by side with the Corporate Sponsorship, the Mentor-a-Child-Program where our employees serve as mentors to the children from its sponsored houses.” The company added.
The official inclusion of one house from the SOS Jos village was commemorated with the presentation of the annual sponsorship cheque to the village, received by the SOS Children’s Villages National Fundraising Coordinator, Ms. Ashionye Enumah.
SOS was obtained from a German word ‘Societal Socialise’ which means ‘A just society where every child has equal opportunity’
By Emeka Mamah and Chinenyeh Ozor Nsukka – Five Fulani and Kanuri herdsmen were Monday arraigned before an Enugu High Court sitting at Nsukka for allegedly launching an attack on the Nimbo Community in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, leading to the untimely death of several people on April 25, 2016.
Delta Women protest rape by herdsmen
This was even as there was fresh tension in Uzo Uwani, following the alleged killing of two farmers at Adaba, capital of same Uzo Uwani Local Government by Fulani herdsmen, Monday.
Those killed in the fresh attack were identified as Chiaha Okeke and Charles Maduegbunam, both from Adaba in the area.
They were reported to have been killed in their farms Fulani herdsmen between Saturday and Monday.
The U.S. government is allowing 15,000 additional visas for temporary seasonal workers to help American businesses in danger of suffering irreparable harm because of a shortage of such labor, the Department of Homeland Security said on Monday.US President, Donald Trump
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly found after consulting with Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta that there were not enough qualified and willing American workers available to perform temporary nonagricultural work, the department said in a statement.
“As a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to supporting American businesses, DHS is providing this one-time increase to the congressionally set annual cap,” Kelly said in a statement.
Many seasonal businesses such as resorts, landscaping companies and seafood harvesters and processors had sought permission to temporarily hire more immigrants. In May, Congress gave Kelly authority to approve up to about 70,000 additional temporary visas and lawmakers had pleaded with him to issue more of them.
But advocates of stricter limits on immigration criticized the move, saying American workers should get job openings. Roy Beck, president of NumbersUSA, said in a statement the decision “threatens to reverse the trend of reports emerging around the country of employers working harder and raising pay to successfully recruit more unemployed Americans for lower-skilled jobs.”
Beck called the decision “yet another example of the administration and Congress failing to keep the Trump campaign promise of putting American workers first.”
President Donald Trump campaigned on an “America First” platform of favoring Americans for hiring. But Trump’s golf resorts in Florida have used the visas to hire temporary guest workers, Reuters reported last year.
A group of U.S. companies and groups that use the visas, called the “the H-2B Workforce Coalition,” in a statement praised the “minimal relief granted… Though we fear this gesture may be too little too late for thousands of small businesses … the additional visas may help save some small businesses this year.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Monday, intervened in inter-bank Foreign Exchange Market with the supply of 195 million dollars as part of its efforts to stabilise the market.
The acting Director, Corporate Communications of the apex bank, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, in a statement, said 100 million dollars was offered through the wholesale segment.
He said that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment received 50 million dollars, while tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others, got 45 million dollars.
Okorafor said that the CBN was pleased with the state of the market, and assured that the bank would continue to intervene in order to sustain liquidity in the market and guarantee international value of the naira.
CBN: Naira & Dollar
He said the apex bank remained determined to achieve its objective of rates convergence, "hence the unrelenting injection of intervention funds into the foreign exchange market''.
Okorafor expressed optimism that the naira would sustain its run against the dollar and other major currencies around the world, considering the level of transparency in the market.
He, therefore, advised stakeholders to abide by the guidelines to ensure transparency in the market.
Last week, the CBN intervened in the various segments of the foreign exchange market with the injection of 396.8 million dollars.
Meanwhile, the naira continued to maintain its stability in the market, exchanging at an average of N364 to a dollar in the Bureau de Change segment of the market.
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they will become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24-25). This statement is so critical to the institution of matrimony that Jesus amplified it in Matthew 19: 4-6. Bible scholars interpret "leave" to mean breaking away from your parents to establish a new home, while "cleave" means being glued together so tightly that you become one and inseparable. This statement should put to rest the squabbles between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, which have torn many marriages apart and is still threatening many others. But human phenomena do not work that way.
I believe the husband is very critical in ensuring that his wife and his mother do not put asunder to what God has joined together. Very important is fairness, firmness and a thorough understanding of his mother and his wife. For instance, if your mother is brash, autocratic and domineering, insulate your marriage and spouse from her. On the other hand, if your spouse is selfish and possessive, you need to shield your mother from her. Be discreet in your interaction with and financial support for your mother. That is not the best way to relate with your mother, but what you need at the end of the day is your peace of mind and peace in your home. Continue to maintain a good relationship with your parents, but it should not be to the detriment of your spouse.
There is a time for everything, the great King Solomon wrote. A mother gives birth to a baby and nourishes him into adulthood. That is a long time to love and bond. Now he moves to another phase of life and gets married. That is what Genesis 2:24-25 is all about. Mothers, do not tie your married sons to your apron strings. Leave them alone to live their lives without your towering presence or shadow. The only time you have a right to intervene, as I have said in a previous article, is if your son's/daughter's life is in danger. Only foolish parents stand aloof while their son's/daughter's life is endangered in a marriage. Otherwise, parents should mind their business unless their opinion is sought, and let it remain an opinion, not an order. Some mothers actually ask their daughters the performance of their sons-in-law in the other room. Why ask? The taste of the pudding is in the eating. Go and experience it.
Husbands must at all times protect their wives (and vice versa). Do not denigrate your spouse before your parents or siblings, especially if they are selfish or loathe your spouse; it will destroy your marriage. Put measures in place to make the job of protecting your spouse easy. If you do not feel obliged to protect your spouse, your marriage is dead. What is left is carcass. However, I feel protection of spouses should be based on fairness, equity and justice. Why offend God to please your spouse? If your spouse is wrong, while I do not support dressing her down in public or before your mother, you must privately point it out to her. If you do not, you are living in deception; you are not helping her to become a better person. She should also be humble enough to apologise to her mother-in-law. If refuses to, you must do it on her behalf and pray it suffices for your mother. The same should apply if your mother is wrong. Humility has no age barrier. I do not support sweeping problems under the carpet and hoping they go away. They seldom do, if anything they grow worse.
This is Africa; we marry not just our spouses, but the family. But we must realize that your new family is not an extension of the one you are coming from. We must learn to balance the interest of our nuclear families with that of our extended families. The best advice I got from my elder brother, Fr. Tony, while preparing for marriage is that my wife and I should respect each other's family. The fifth commandment admonishes Christians (African tradition also does) to honour our parents. Our parents include our parents-in-law. We all had pre-existing bonds before we got married. Marriage does not erode these bonds. So, you do not treat your spouse's parents or family like filth and expect peace in your home. Even if you cannot love them, even though I think you should, respect them, be kind to them and be patient with them. Many older people need patience. If you truly love your spouse, you will do everything within your power to avoid conflict with his mother, because when you don't, you put him in an awkward and difficult situation.
Husbands should let the relationship between their wives and mothers evolve naturally. Do not force or influence it. If they get along, fine: if they do not, just ensure their paths seldom cross. Notwithstanding the nature of the relationship, there MUST be mutual respect. Finally, do not take your marital issues to the court of in-laws. You hardly get justice there. The court runs on emotions and bias, not equity and fairness. That is why churches have sponsors (advisers) for new couples and marriage advisory councils to handle marital issues. The government also has customary courts and other organs for arbitration on marital issues.
Thousands of Cambodians on Monday celebrated the inscription of the country's Sambor Prei Kuk archaeological site on the UNESCO's World Heritage List.
The site was built by Isanavarman I, King of the Chenla Empire, the 7th century Sambor Prei Kuk temple, or "temple in the richness of the forest" in the Khmer language.
It was listed as a world heritage site during the World Heritage Committee's 41st session in Krakow, Poland on July 8.
The site became Cambodia's third tangible cultural property that has been inscribed on the World Heritage List.
The first two listed properties in Cambodia are the 12th century Angkor archaeological park inscribed in 1992 and the 11th century Preah Vihear Temple included in 2008.
Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, addressing about 10,000 revellers at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, said it was another historic event for Cambodia in preserving and developing cultural heritage.
"This is a new pride for the whole nation,'' he said during the celebration which was live broadcast on television.
He said the listing of the site would greatly contribute to the development of the kingdom's tourism industry.
Meanwhile, the prime minister called on the citizens to join him in protecting the country's hard-won peace and national cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible properties.
The archaeological site of Sambor Prei Kuk is the most important religious centre of the pre-Angkorian period, located in a quiet patch of forest in Kampong Thom province, about 193 km north of capital Phnom Penh.
According to a UNESCO's news release, the site has been identified as Ishanapura, the capital of the Chenla Empire that flourished in the late 6th and early 7th century.
"Covering an area of 25 square km, the vestiges of the onetime capital includes a walled city centre and numerous temples with decorated sandstone elements, some of which are true masterpieces,'' the release said.
Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting the Cambodian economy.
According to the Tourism ministry, in 2016, Cambodia welcomed 5 million foreign tourists, earning gross revenue of 3.4 billion dollars.
The Southeast Asian nation is expected to attract up to 7 million foreign arrivals in 2020 with estimated revenue of 5 billion dollars.
The Nigerian Army has said that following regular interception of Boko Haram terrorists suicide bombers by troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE and the serial failures that have trailed their suicide bomb attacks, recent developments indicated that the terrorist group is now exploiting deceptive tactics to lure unsuspecting members of the public to target areas before detonating their suicide bomb in order to attain maximum casualty.
Boko Haram member
The army in a statement signed by Colonel Sagir Musa, Deputy Director Army Public Relations 82 Division said it has been observed that one of the tactics employed by the terrorists is to create a scene such as fighting with each other or any other person to attract attention and cause people to gather around them before they detonate their suicide bomb.
Another according to the statement is the antic of abducting children who are on errands, strapping them with suicide vests and sending them back home, where the suicide bomb detonates to kill members of the household.
Its said these deceptive tactics have been found to have played out in recent suicide bomb attacks carried out by the Boko Haram terrorists.
The army warned members of the public to be wary of these tactics and avoid such unnecessary gatherings that could expose them to preventable danger.
Additionally, ‘all parents and adults are advised to sensitize their children and wards on these new Boko Haram tricks and also urged them to be conscious of the whereabouts of their children and rein them in where necessary to prevent them from being callously used by the terrorists for the evil mission of suicide bombing.’
By Dirisu Yakubu ABUJA-Minister of Women Affairs, Senators Aisha Jummai Alhassan has called on the leadership of political parties in the country to give more slots to women to enable them participate in partisan politics and governance in the country.Alhassan
The Minister stated this when she led some women societies on a courtesy visit to the Peoples Democratic Party National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi at the party temporal secretariat yesterday in Abuja.
"From the lowest, all the way to the highest, women have often been underrepresented in leadership positions and decision making and are only sought after as electorate during electioneering campaigns.
This sad reality of women being under represented in all facet of the political process is often due to social-cultural barriers, leading to poor public, social and political party support," the Minister stated, even as she enumerated other factors that have contributed in the limitation of the political space for women in the country.
She said: "Entrenched traditional views, lack of financial means, lack of capacity building opportunities especially access to technology, gender discrimination, divisions along ethnic lines, violence and intimidation have all contributed in poor performance of women in political activities especially elections.
"Although the Nigerian Constitution guarantees equality for everyone in governance and political participation, women have not fully enjoined this constitutional provision. Globally, Nigeria remains one of the most backward and poor performing countries on the African continent in the area of women political participation.
As a result, we have been overtaken by countries like Rwanda with 66 per cent women representation in parliament, South Africa with 40 per cent, Seychelles with over 50 per cent, Ghana with 35 per cent and a large chunk of other African countries with over 25 per cent. Unfortunately, Your Excellencies, Nigerian stands at less than 6 per cent," she lamented.
Responding on behalf of the party leadership, Senator Makarfi thanked the Honorable Minister and her delegation for the visit and pledged the commitment of the PDP to partner with her in the advocacy for more women participation.
Makarfi however, urged the Minister to also take the advocacy to the parliament for possible amendment of existing laws and making of new ones to create more rooms for women.
"You are here on a courtesy call on a very fundamental issue-that of bringing some parity in gender participation by our mothers and sisters in governance…You are doing this at a very good time. Some matters are not just matters of policy but matters of constitution," he said. She advised the Minister not to stop at demanding for free nomination forms for women for elective positions insisting that free form without a ticket is as good as useless.
The former Kaduna State governor later displayed his humorous side by christening the Minister fondly referred to as 'Mama Taraba' the "Mama Nigeria.'
Present at the meeting were stalwarts of the party including Senators Abdul Ningi, Ben Obi, Iyiola Omisore, Odion Ugbesi, and Prince Dayo Adeyeye.
Martin Landau, American actor, who starred in the 1960s television show "Mission Impossible" and won an Oscar for playing Bela Lugosi in the movie "Ed Wood," is dead at 89.
According to the CBS News, Landau died on Saturday at UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles following "unexpected complications during a short hospitalization".
Landau was born on June 28, 1928, in Brooklyn and worked as a cartoonist for the New York Daily News before becoming an actor.
Martin Landau in Mission: Impossible (1968)
In 1957, he had a part in the play, "Middle of the Night," with Edward G. Robinson and ended up on the West Coast, according to the Internet Movie Data base.
"Mission Impossible," Landau's iconic film, which also starred his wife, Barbara Bain, became an immediate hit upon its debut in 1966.
It remained on the air until 1973, but Landau and Bain left at the end of the show's third season amid financial dispute with the producers.
The actor and his wife also starred in the British-made sci-fi series "Space: 1999" from 1975 to 1977.
—–Meets Chibok calls By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – THE Pakistani activist for female education Malala Yousafzai, Monday urged the Federal Government to declare state of emergency on the education of girl child and young boys.
Malala and Osinbajo Yousafzai who is the youngest ever Noble Prize laureate and known for human rights advocacy especially education of women in her native Swat Valley, in Khyber Pakhturhwa, northwest Pakistan, met with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa Abuja.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after her meeting with the Acting President, she called for the implementation of the Child's Rights Act in all the three tiers of government.
On what transpired at the meeting, she said, "It was a very good meeting. I had very good response. I highlighted a few issues. The first was to ask the government to declare a state of emergency for education because the education of the Nigerian girls and boys is really important. The Federal government, State government and local government should all be united for this.
"Secondly, the spending should be made public and thirdly, the Child Rights Act should be implemented in all states. I was really happy to hear positive response from the acting President that they are happy with the suggestion of implementing declaration of emergency in education and that they are happy to work more on education and that they are united.
"I am happy to hear positive responses from the Ministers as well that they are ensuring that education is prioritized in every girl and in every boy and education in Nigeria is given priority.
"In the morning, I met Chibok girls and I was very happy at what the Honourable minister is doing to support the Chibok girls. I am really excited to see them going back to their homes and to their families and continuing their education. But I hope the other girls who are still under abduction of Boko Haram are released."
Recall that on 9th October 2012, Yousafzai was injured after a Taliban gunman attempted to murder her. Yousafzai remained unconscious, in critical condition at the Rawalpindi Institute but later her condition improved enough for her to be sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birminghan, United Kingdom, UK.
The murder attempt sparked a national and international outpouring of support for Yousafzai.
Washington – The U.S. Transportation Security Administration on Monday said it had lifted a ban on passengers on Saudi Arabian Airlines carrying large electronics like laptops onboard U.S.-bound flights, the last carrier under the restrictions.
In March, U.S. officials imposed restrictions on passengers carrying large electronics like laptops in cabins on nine airlines, most of which were Middle Eastern carriers, to address the potential threat of hidden explosives.
In June, U.S. officials announced new security requirements for all airlines rather than an expansion of the laptop ban and have been dropping the restrictions from airlines as they boosted security.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Monday, announced the establishment of one million-dollar venture capital to boost the creative Industry.
The Minister made the announcement at the opening of the two-day Creative Industry Financing Conference holding in Lagos, saying 20 people, each investing $50,000, are expected to help make up the required amount.
He said, so far, five people have volunteered to invest $50,000 each, and expressed the optimism that more investors will come forward.
Alhaji Mohammed said the $1-million Venture Capital would provide seed money for young and talented Nigerians to set up businesses in the Creative Industry.
Lai Mohammed
Earlier in his welcome address, the Minister said the conference, which is being jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the Think Tank Media, was conceived with a view to taking the Creative Industry into a golden era of smooth access to short and long term financing.
"From my interactions with Industry stakeholders since assuming office, one issue has stuck out like a sore thumb: lack of access to financing is a major bane of the Industry. Instead of just lamenting over this, we have decided to tackle the problem headlong, hence the decision to host this conference.
"I have no doubt that at the end of the series of events here, we will be able to come out with a way forward that will surely boost the Industry," he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said the government is paying a great attention to the Creative Industry because of its capacity to create 1 million jobs in three years, boost the economy and allow the creative talents of the youths to blossom.
He listed the efforts so far made to re-position and transform the Industry as including the landmark National Summit on Culture and Tourism, held in Abuja last year; the Creative Industry Roundtable held in Lagos last week, and the MoUs signed with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, the British Council and the Bank of Industry.
The conference was declared open by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who was represented by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar; Minister of Information and Communication from the Republic of Niger, Hadjia Koubra Sani and many Industry stakeholders, including Film and Music Producers, Artists, Copyright lawyers, representatives of Banks and journalists, are attending the conference.
A labour leader, Mr. Isa Aremu, on Monday, appealed to the Federal Government to constitute a national minimum wage review committee without delay to alleviate workers' suffering.
"There is no way the economy can recover with poorly paid workers,'' Aremu, General Secretary, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, said.
He spoke to newsmen in Lagos.
The Federal Government had on May 23 said that it would set up a 29- member committee to review the minimum wage.
The Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress have been agitating for increase in minimum wage from N18,000 to N56,000.
According to Aremu, there is no need for delaying constitution of the committee since it has been approved by the Federal Executive Council.
He said that increase in the wage should not be tied to increase in government revenue.
"Increase in wage is a matter of law and not based on government revenue generation.
"It is long overdue; our patience is running out. We have already lost two years.
"We hope the organised labour will not resort to industrial action. The government should avoid this.
"Previously, there was no increase in wage without a nationwide strike, and strike is not healthy for anybody. We have enough problem in the economy," Aremu said.
He said that the payment of a correct wage at the right time was a major way to economic recovery.
He, however, commended Acting President Yemi Osibanjo for giving an executive order on ease of doing business.
Aremu said that the government's decision would improve investment and develop the economy.
—Says under Jonathan some LGAs were controlled by Boko Haram –vows to pursue $2.1b arms procurement scandal By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA – THE Presidency Monday debunked claims by the former National Security Adviser, NSA, to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Colonel Sambo Dasuki that the Jonathan's administration cleared the Northeast of Boko Haram terrorists to make elections possible in 2015.
Sambo Dasuki and Garba Shehu
The presidency described Dasuki's as not only faulty but laughable as some local government areas in the North East were under the control of Boko Haram before the President Muhammadu Buhari government came to dismantle all the areas of control by the Islamic sect.
A statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in Abuja stated that the claim was false and “an attempt to deceive Nigerians with blatant lies,” in order to rewrite history, adding that government would read through the entire text and make its response.
Shehu in the statement said, “The claim as contained in a new book by a journalist, is just another unfortunate attempt by inglorious Nigerians to rewrite the history of our country in such a way as to cover the sins of the past.”
“As a public relations goon for the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, the author did not surprise anyone by dismissing the acclaimed successes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the fight against Boko Haram, claiming that this government simply took the glory for the achievements of the previous government in the war against terrorism.
“For those interested in the facts, as at the time elections were held in March 2015, a number of local government areas in northeast Nigeria were completely under the control of Boko Haram–to the extent that elections in those areas had to be moved to safe areas.
“The residents of areas such as Gwoza, Banki, Kukawa, Monguno, Bulumba, Baga, Gamboru Ngala, Dikwa, Mafa, etc., were able to vote, not in their hometowns but in refugee camps in other parts of Borno State, under special arrangements made by INEC.
“Since the Buhari administration came into power, however, many of those residents have returned to their homes and Boko Haram eradicated from their areas.”
He further stated that institutions such as schools, police stations, markets and courts have been reestablished or in the process of being reestablished.
Shehu in the statement also said that despite Dasuki’s attempt to rewrite history, Nigerians could not have forgotten the embarrassing stories of failed weapons that plagued the country’s military during the previous administration, when the alleged unserviceable weapons, expired ammunition and fake armored vehicles caused untold grief to valiant armed forces on the battlefield, with arms exploding willy nilly and guns failing to fire.
He said, “It is for trespasses like these that the Buhari administration is determined to get to the bottom of the 2.1 billion Dollars arms procurement scandal and ensure that no single one of the culprits goes scot free.
“The truth, as a matter of fact is that the monster of terrorism got bigger and more daring due to the incompetence and misgovernance of the last administration and no amount lies and fiction can change that."
R&B legend R.Kelly has been accused by parents of running an abusive “cult” that’s tearing families apart.
R Kelly
According to reports, Kelly targets young women who come to him for help with their fledgling music careers: He seems to offer them professional guidance, and then instead he initiates sexual relationships with them behind their parents' backs.
The parents of one of the affected girls named only as J. and Tim, filed a report with Johns Creek Police Department accusing Kelly, full name Robert Sylvester Kelly, of keeping their daughter as part of a "cult" and accusing him of being "abusive and of "controlling her daughter."
In an investigative report carried out by BuzzFeed News, the parents told the news outlet that the last time they saw their child she resembled a cult member. "It was as if she was brainwashed. (She) looked like a prisoner – it was horrible," J. said. "I hugged her and hugged her. But she just kept saying she's in love and (Kelly) is the one who cares for her. I don't know what to do. I hope that if I get her back, I can get her treatment for victims of cults. They can reprogram her. But I wish I could have stopped it from happening."
The “I believe I Can Fly’ singer has been in and out of court over related issues.
ABUJA – The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has injected $195million into the inter-bank segment of the foreign exchange market, continuation of its drive to ensure the stability of the exchange rate. Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele Figures released by the Bank showed that it offered the total sum of $100million to the wholesale segment, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment received the sum of $50 million.
The invisible segment, comprising tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others, received $45 million.
Confirming the figures obtained, the CBN Acting Director at the Bank, Mr. Isaac Mr. Okorafor, said the CBN was pleased with the state of the Forex market, adding that the Bank will continue to intervene in order to sustain the liquidity in the market and guarantee the international value of the naira.
According to him, the Bank remained determined to achieve its objective of rates convergence, hence the unrelenting injection of intervention funds into the foreign exchange market.
Speaking further, Mr. Okorafor expressed optimism that the Naira will sustain its run against the dollar and other major currencies around the world, considering the level of transparency in the market. He therefore advised stakeholders to abide by the guidelines to ensure transparency in the market.
The CBN had, last week, intervened in the various segments of the Forex market with the sum of $396.8 million.
Meanwhile, the naira continued to maintain its stability in the FOREX market, exchanging at an average of N364/$1 in the BDC segment of the market, Monday
By Anayo Okoli. IGBO indigenes living in the 19 Northern States have commended Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, ove r its meeting with the Arewa Youths with a view to resolving the issue of the October 1 deadline quit notice to the Igbo in the North. Eze Ndigbo, Ibadan, and leaders of the Igbo community in Oyo State presenting a souvenir to Deputy Senate President, Senator Ekweremadu, at the 4th National Public Service Award of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association According to the Co-ordinator of Ndigbo Youth Council in 19 Northern States, Chief Obinna Nwankwo, in a statement, the Abuja meeting between Igbo youths was the first practical step towards halting the planned sack of Ndigbo from the North.
"We have always made it clear that the several meetings convened by the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, though looks worthwhile on the surface lacked the capacity to stop this trouble when it starts.
"We said this because the same elders who Osinbajo invited to the Aso Rock Villa had at the wake of the quit notice disowned the quit notice issued by the Arewa Youths. How then would they have the capacity to call these youths to order if they are bent on carrying out their threat", the group said.
Nwankwo commended the Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro led OYC for initiating the "a workable solution to the looming danger".
"There is no doubt that our lives and properties have been in danger ever since that threat was issued. We have for so long expected a situation where the youths are called for a discussion, but rather than do so, what we see is mere condemnations from various groups.
"We, therefore, salute the courage of the OYC for taking this bold step. We also commend the Arewa Youths for coming to the negotiating table with its counterpart from the South-East.
"May we, however, caution that any plan by anybody to jeopardize this peace process will be resisted. We now have the feeling that some people are benefiting from this tension.
"This could be the only reason why one Chuks Ibegbu, who said he is the Deputy Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo saw nothing good in this parley with the Arewa Youths. Is Ibegbu and his cohort holding the opinion that no effort should be made to safeguard the lives and properties of Ndigbo in the North? What do they benefit from festering crisis?
"As the Deputy Publicity Secretary which he claims to be, why has he taken over the functions of the substantive publicity secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo? Why is he issuing statements with reckless abandon without clearance from anybody for pecuniary reasons? We see his action as one borne out of utter jealousy and envy.
"We the entire Igbo Youths in the 19 Northern States wish to state categorically that we have absolute confidence in the leadership of OYC under Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro.
"By extension, we equally have absolute trust on the peace process he has initiated with the Arewa Youths. No price is too much for peace and that is why we shall not sit by and watch some persons derail this process.
"At this point, we are sounding a note of warning that should this process be stalled owing to Ibegbu's reckless utterances, and our people in the North face attack as a result of the collapse of that peace process, he shall be held responsible.
“Any opposition to the leadership of Ohanaeze Youths is indirectly calling for planned massacre and genocide against Igbo in the North and looting of Igbo properties in the 19 Northern States.
“We have uncovered plot by some shameless members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to allow Igbos be massacred in the North by trying to interfere in the genuine efforts of national leadership of Ohanaeze Youths", Nwankwo said.
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