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Ikeja – An Ikeja High Court has joined Mr Emmanuel Bamgboye as third defendant in a suit challenging the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for Mushin Local Government.
Mr Ishola Karaole, one of the aggrieved chairmanship aspirants in the May 27 primaries at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, had instituted the suit. Concerned Leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Mushin Local Government and Odi Olowo Local Council Development Area protest for the removal of the Party's National Legal Adviser for anti-party activities at Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, July 18, 2017. Karaole contended that under the APC constitution, a candidate for the council chairman would be voted by delegates from the list of aspirants, but no delegates from the constituency were at the venue of the elections.
He said rather some candidates who were not elected according to the party's guidelines were allegedly imposed on them by some chieftains of the party.
Following the May 27 primaries, Karaole filed a suit before Justice Olugbemiga Ogundare joining the APC and the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) as first and second defendants in the suit respectively.
Karaole, in his suit, is seeking an order of the court to declare that primaries held on May 27 in respect of the chairmanship of Mushin Council were contrary to Article 20(i),(ii),(iii) and (iv) of the APC constitution.
He wants an order that the state chapter of the APC did not hold primaries as there were no delegates and the names of imposed candidates were allegedly drawn up by some party members with a view to sending same to LASIEC.
He also sought an order of court to declare any list of returned APC candidates as null and void as they did not emerge trough a democratic process as provided for by the party's constitution.
He also asked the court to order fresh APC primaries before the elections scheduled for July 22.
NAN recalls that on July 14 when judgment was scheduled to be delivered in the case, Mr Emmanuel Bamgboye, claiming to be the winner of the May 27 primary elections, brought an application dated July 12 to be joined as a party to the suit.
Mr Dele Adeshina (SAN), counsel to Bamgboye, had requested that the court should grant three orders — an order granting leave to join Bamgboye as a defendant in the suit and an order joining Bamgboye as the third defendant.
The third is an order directing that all existing parties should serve Bamgboye the originating summons and applications filed in the case.
Adeshina had noted that his client was a necessary party in the suit.
"He is a necessary party, when proper parties are not before the court, the court lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate in the matter.
"Joining this applicant will not do any harm to the case of the claimant in any shape or form. It is not a time barred judgment that must be concluded here and now."
Mr Nurudeen Ogbara, the counsel to Karaole, had opposed Bamgboye's application noting that it is "dead on arrival."
"It is brought without any modicum of bonafide. Bonafide is defined in Animashaun VS Oloto as 'in good faith and without fraud.'
"He has not shown this court the result of the so called primary election that he was declared winner as well as his certificate of return," he said.
Mr Ademola Adewale, counsel to the APC, in opposing Bamgboye's application, said it was filed with the aim of preventing the judgment of the court from being read.
"The purport of the application is to arrest the judgment of the court fixed for today. They were aware of the suit and they came just a few days to judgment.
"They are taking advantage of our contested position as the ruling party in the state," Adewale said.
Mr Babs Animashaun, the counsel to LASIEC, however,said:"Justice delayed is justice denied, justice rushed is justice crushed.
"The duty of holding the balance lies with the court, the court should hand a decision which will give justice to the second defendant, applicant and other parties."
Delivering a ruling on Tuesday, Justice Ogundare ordered that Bamgboye should be joined as a necessary party to the suit.
"The applicant has convincingly shown with his exhibits that he is not only interested in the suit but that the matter will be unfairly dealt with if he is not joined as a party.
"The applicant therein has a right to be joined as a party to the suit. I hereby give the following orders : an order that Hon. Emmanuel Bamgboye be joined as an applicant in this suit.
"An order that the applicant should be joined as a third defendant in this suit.
"The claimants and existing parties should amend the originating summons dated June 1 and other court processes to reflect the name of the third defendant."
After the ruling was read, Ogbara, counsel to Karaole, urged the court to disallow Bamgboye from participating in the council elections scheduled for July 22.
"The third defendant should be restrained from participating in the election fixed for July 22.
"This should be in order to ensure a level playing field and to also ensure that the purpose of this case before this honourable court is not destroyed," he said.
Opposing Ogbara's submission, Mr M.B. Jimoh-Akogun, one of the counsel to Bamgboye, said, "we refuse to join issues with the applicant on the oral application for injunction he made
"I urge my Lord to reject and disregard his application which cannot be entertained during vacation except before a regular judge."
Justice Ogundare noted that the high courts are currently on vacation and as a result could not hear Ogbara's application.
"This is not a vacation court, the court will send the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment to a vacation judge,who will hear the case," the judge ruled.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria on Tuesday sealed the premises of Samsung West Africa in Victoria Island, Lagos, for failure to register some of its products being marketed in Nigeria.
Head of Public Relations of SON, Mr Bola Fashina, said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
Fashina said that the action was in accordance with the provisions of the SON Act 14 of 2015.
According to him, the Act provides for every product imported into Nigeria to be registered with SON for traceability and confirmation of quality status.
Fashina said that SON records showed that many Samsung products in the Nigerian markets were not registered.
He explained that the facility would be reopened once the company registered all its products as required by law.
"We are in the era of ensuring ease of doing business in Nigeria within the laws of the land," Fashina said.
He said that the representatives of the company claimed ignorance of the need to register the products, and that they did not import nor sold products but only marketing them.
Fashina said that it was the duty of the distributors to register the products.
Prof. Wole Soyinka has said that president Muhammadu Buhari needs rest but should leave his programme and anti-corruption agenda go on. He said this in a viral online video extracted from facebook when he said that “I hope he doesn’t contest for presidency 2019”.
The Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, said it was unacceptable that Nigerians spent five billion dollars on generators annually.
He said the house would support the Executive to find a permanent solution to the power problem in the country.
Dogara stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Power on three Bills pending before the lower chamber.
He explained that the lawmakers were reviewing some of Nigeria's energy laws to provide appropriate legal framework that would facilitate the exploitation of renewable energy to the benefit of the economy.
According to him, power is arguably the single most important driver of the national economy.
"Indeed, it is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine modern life without power. Our industries and factories need electricity to operate, and also our offices, homes and businesses.
"It is estimated that Nigerians spend about five billion dollars yearly to fuel their generators.
"This is an unacceptable situation and the House of Representatives stands ready to support the Executive arm of government to put a stop to this state of affairs.
"Renewable energy is a source of clean energy which is environment-friendly and is crucial to the economy of the future.
"We can only be self-sufficient in the energy field when we combine all our energy resources such as wind, solar, hydro, bio-mass, bio-fuel, landfill, sewage gas, solid waste, geo-thermal energy, ocean energy among others.
"Renewable energy sources are natural and often replenish themselves. Nigeria needs to invest more in renewable energy as fossil fuel is a diminishing asset.
"An appropriate legal framework to exploit renewable energy which is nature's gift to mankind is not adequate in Nigeria.
"This makes it difficult to organise the sector in a commercially viable matter. Herein lies the merit and strength of this Bill under consideration," the speaker said.
Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on Power, Rep. Daniel Effiong, had welcomed stakeholders and advised them to make inputs to enable the house to come out with enduring laws to grow the industry.
The House had at the inception of the 8th Assembly, committed itself to a Legislative Agenda (2015 – 2019) to devise "Legislative Initiative on Power".
This was with a resolve that it "shall take legislative action to tackle Nigeria's energy crisis that has led to a general collapse of industries and businesses and inflicted hardship on citizens.
"Legislative measures to support improved generation and distribution of electricity to homes and businesses will be encouraged".
By Vincent Ujumadu Awka – THE Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State Biafra, MASSOB, Tuesday, directed Igbo residing in the Northern part of the country to use the month of August, 2017 to return to the Eastern part to beat the October 1 deadline quit notice given by the Arewa youths. Igbo must go cartoon MASSOB National Information Officer, Mr. Samuel Edesonu said in a statement that the decision to urge Igbo people to come back home in August was taken at its national executive meeting presided over by the MASSOB leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu.
According to Edesonu, August was chosen because of its significance in Igbo calendar as the period for new yam festival and women’s August meeting and charged the Igbo, especially women, to persuade their loved ones (husbands and children) to come home unfailingly.
MASSOB directed all the Eze Igbo in the 19 Northern states to commence immediately the compilation of names, residential addresses and villages/towns of all Igbo living in their respective northern cities where they led, advising that such data collation of the people should end by 10th of September 2017.
According to the statement, the Biafra Intelligence Agency had also been deployed to the Northern Nigeria to monitor the situation in all the cities.
The statement read:”In continuation of our earlier stand and position on the quit notice to the people of Biafra by Arewa people, which will elapse on Oct 1st, MASSOB insists and beckons on Biafrans living in Arewa land to intensify efforts in relocating their families back home.
“MASSOB has resolved that the month of August being a significant month of special festivals of Iri ji (New yam festival) and Women August meeting in Igbo land, should be a special month of mass return for all Igbo living in Northern Nigeria.
“MASSOB also mandates all married Igbo women living in Northern Nigeria to start intimating their husbands about the dangers of staying in Arewa land which no longer guarantees their safety. They should also intensify their pressure on their husbands concerning the mass return next month.
“After the September 10th deadline for this compilation, MASSOB will embark on investigation of all the Eze Ndigbo in northern cities to ascertain their level of participation in this ancestral order. “MASSOB urges the Eze Ndigbo in northern cities to carry out this compilation of our kinsmen data as a native and ancestry exercise and we appeal to them not to betray this act of nobility because of their individual interests or favors from Hausa Fulani.
“MASSOB under the leadership of Comrade Uchenna Madu will continue undeterred in nonviolence pursuant of Biafra actualization and restoration”.
Ekiti state governor Mr. Ayodele Fayose has said that Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria is an ordinary citizen who can not do anything to anybody. He said that people are afraid of him because of the fear he instigated in them during his military regime. According to him, “Obasanjo’s time has come and gone, I am a governor now and we are in the center of the business now”.
Recall that Fayose had earlier demanded for the immediate return of his N10 million donation to the Obasanjo library project with interest. Fayose equally described the library project as one of the greatest fraud ever in Nigeria. Speaking further, Mr. Fayose said that 30 governors under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were compelled to donate N10m each in 2005 to the multi-billion naira project.
Note that his reaction was based on the PDP Southwest caucus passing a vote of confidence on the leadership of the Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee and branding the Ali Modu Sheriff group as mere usurpers of the party's structure.
Further reacting via this online viral video, Fayose said “If you had seen Obasanjo when Abdulsalami Abubakar released him, you will never allow him sit beside you, saying that Obasanjo shouldn’t have condemned PDP that gave him a platform from the prison.
The Standards Organisation of Nigeria on Tuesday sealed the premises of Samsung West Africa in Victoria Island, Lagos, for failure to register some of its products being marketed in Nigeria.
Head of Public Relations of SON, Mr Bola Fashina, said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
Fashina said that the action was in accordance with the provisions of the SON Act 14 of 2015.
According to him, the Act provides for every product imported into Nigeria to be registered with SON for traceability and confirmation of quality status.
Fashina said that SON records showed that many Samsung products in the Nigerian markets were not registered.
He explained that the facility would be reopened once the company registered all its products as required by law.
"We are in the era of ensuring ease of doing business in Nigeria within the laws of the land," Fashina said.
He said that the representatives of the company claimed ignorance of the need to register the products, and that they did not import nor sold products but only marketing them.
Fashina said that it was the duty of the distributors to register the products.
….Says it’s a duplication of roles, Waste of Resources
By Lawani Mikairu
The Director General /CEO of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, Prof. Sani Abubakar Mashi has faulted calls in some quarters for the creation of a separate and parallel Climate Change Agency, CCA, saying the establishment of such body would amount to a duplication of functions already being carried out by an existing agency, NiMet.
Prof. Mashi
Recall, the National Assembly, (House of Representatives), is currently processing the proposed bill for an Act to create the Climate Change Agency of Nigeria, with a Public Hearing on the bill already scheduled.
Prof. Mashi said NiMet was established by an Act of Parliament in 2003 to provide weather services in marine, environmental and bio-meteorology for climatic and human health activities, stressing that so far, all stakeholders are unanimous in their agreement that it has been carrying out this role both effectively and efficiently; and therefore sees no reason for the creation of a new body with similar functions.
The DG/CEO who was fielding questions from Aviation Correspondents in an interview in Lagos added that at a time when there is widespread clamour for Limited Government and scaling down of the bureaucracy, creating another body with essentially the same roles as NiMet will not only be counter-productive but also a waste of scarce resources during the period of an economic recession.
He said: “Since its inception in 2003 NiMet has played, and continues to play crucial, critical and strategic roles in fulfillment of its mandate including the issue of Climate Change hence the major authoritative voice on climate issues in Nigeria as recognized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a technical and specialized Agency of the United Nations (UN).
“Furthermore, NiMet is the repository of the National archive of climate data in Nigeria. The climate data bank has data spanning over a century from over 60 synoptic stations spread across the nation. There are no meaningful climate studies or policy developments that can be conducted without credible climate data. This climate data can only be found in NiMet. NiMet also has the largest concentration of climatologists in the country and these resources are always used to produce the scientific basis for climate change in Nigeria,” the DG contended.
Prof. Mashi said instead of creating a parallel agency, NiMet should be reorganized and strengthened to enhance the discharge of its responsibilities through the amendment of the enabling Act. He opined that areas that require amendment include, but not limited to the elevation of Climate Services to a Directorate of Climate Services status to “better handle issues relating to climate and climate change”.
He added that ,”It is rather surprising that at a time when the country is experiencing an economic recession and is literally fighting the battle of its life, people are proposing the creation of a parallel agency that will merely duplicate the functions of an existing body. Even at the best of times when resources do not pose any significant bottleneck, such obvious duplication is counterproductive and may lead to conflict of interest and unnecessary rivalry.”
The DG however said the plan to create the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) is a welcome development, adding that the Council should be saddled with the responsibility to “supervise NiMet”, even as he faulted other provisions in the proposed bill currently before the National Assembly for failing to include the DG/CEO of NiMet, the nation’s sole repository of climate data in the said Council.
Another area he picked holes in the proposed bill is the exclusion of the Nigerian Meteorological Society (NMS), the national professional body on meteorology and meteorological applications in Nigeria from membership of the Council, saying this is a grave omission that must be rectified before enacting the law.
“NiMet should be strengthened to build on existing gains, infrastructural development, reputation and soaring stakeholders’ confidence as it has the capacity, capability and a pool of highly trained and experienced professionals to discharge its responsibilities” rather than unnecessarily expand the bureaucracy by the creation of the proposed Climate Change Agency (CCA)”, the DG concluded.
Scores of leaders and members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Mushin Local Government and Odi Olowo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State on Tuesday demanded the expulsion of the party's National Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire from the party over series of anti-party activities and embezzlement of campaign funds.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/07/apc-members-protest-at-alausa-demand-banires-expuulsion/ Concerned Leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Mushin Local Government and Odi Olowo Local Council Development Area in protest calling for the removal of the Party's National Legal Adviser for anti-party activities at Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.
Concerned Leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Mushin Local Government and Odi Olowo Local Council Development Area protest for the removal of the Party's National Legal Adviser for anti-party activities at Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.Concerned Leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Mushin Local Government and Odi Olowo Local Council Development Area protest for the removal of the Party's National Legal Adviser for anti-party activities at Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.Concerned Leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Mushin Local Government and Odi Olowo Local Council Development Area protest for the removal of the Party's National Legal Adviser for anti-party activities at Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.Concerned Leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Mushin Local Government and Odi Olowo Local Council Development Area protest for the removal of the Party's National Legal Adviser for anti-party activities at Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, July 18, 2017.
A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Kazeem Ademola Alimi is dead.
The lawmaker who represented Eti Osa State Constituency 1 in the Assembly died on Tuesday July 18th 2017, two weeks after his 50th birthday after brief illness.
A statement by Musbau Razak, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, confirmed that the late lawmaker died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
A two time lawmaker, Hon Alimi until his death, was the Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The Osun state government has confirmed the receipt of the second tranche of N6.314bn Paris Club refund.
The state government made the disclosure to newsmen on Tuesday.
A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication & Strategy Office of the Governor, Osogbo, Semiu Okanlawon, said the state government would utilise the fund judiciously for the state's development.
According to him, "The Government of Osun wishes to announce that it has received the second tranche of the Paris Club refunds.
The refunds, totaling N6.314bn, was paid into the state coffers on Monday July 17, 2017."
"In line with our government's promise to utilize the resources of this state in the best interest of our people, we hereby restate our commitment to this promise as we begin shortly transparent deployment on our commitments to the concerned stakeholders."
-Dissolves Benue and Jigawa States Caretaker Excos
By Dirisu Yakubu ABUJA-The 74th National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Tuesday approved August 12 for the party’s Non-Elective Special National Convention billed to hold in Abuja.
The NEC also mandated the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the party to immediately set Standing Disciplinary and Reconciliation Committees.
Briefing journalists at the end of the NEC meeting, the party National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye argued that there was no adequate time for the National Caretaker Committee to organize an elective convention.
He explained that while the tenure of the committee was to elapse on August 16, 2017, the time was not enough to meet the constitutional requirements (21 working days) for holding an elective convention.
“When you want to hold an elective national convention, there must be a length of notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and other things.
“But we cannot meet such conditions anymore because there's no time. But non-elective convention does not require such. It only requires a short time notice to INEC.
“So we need a special non-elective convention to settle all the constitutional matters,” he stated.
Adeyeye further disclosed that proposals for the party’s constitutional amendment have been circulated to party members from national to the ward level in order for them to study and make recommendations, noting that the party leadership is concerned about the issue of internal democracy.
“Constitution amendment will deal decisively with the issue of discipline, internal democracy and administrative bottleneck,” he stressed.
The scribe also said announced the dissolution of the caretaker committees set up by Senator Modu Sheriff in Benue and Jigawa States, adding that "Benue and Jigawa States had no issues but when Sheriff got the Court of Appeal judgment, he set up caretaker committees in those states.
In attendance were governors of Akwa Ibom State, Emmanuel Udom; Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Ishaku Darius (Taraba); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Nyesom Wike (Rivers) and Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti) . Others were former governors of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam; Jonah Jang (Plateau); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Ramalan Yero (Kaduna) ; Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto) ; ex-National Chairman of the party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, immediate past Senate President, David Mark; Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda, former PDP national chairman, Ahmadu Ali, former acting national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, ex-minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki; former minister of National Planning, Professor Suleiman Abubakar, former National Women leader, Josephine Anenih and a host of others.
—-Disowns OHANEZE Northern Youth Council By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA – The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo Tuesday said that the people of the South East living in the 19 states of the North were not under any threat despite the 1st October deadline by the Arewa Youth for Ndigbo to vacate from the North. Igbo leaders in the 19 northern states after a meeting with Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State over the quit order by Arewa youths to Igbo in the North at the Govt house, Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi.
The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Chairman of Ohaneze, Mazi Odozi Nwodozi who made the clarification in a statement in Abuja, on behalf of the leadership of the Igbo in the North, told Ndigbo to ignore a statement allegedly credited to the coordinator of Northern Ohaneze Youth, Obinna Nwankwo, saying he lacked the mandate to speak for the Igbos.
Nwodozi who was a former Vice President of Ohaneze Youth Council, Anioma/Delta chapter stated that since the quit notice was issued to Ndigbo to leave the North before 1st October by the Areawa youth, the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo had commenced wide but strategic consultations with relevant persons and groups both within and outside the north with the singular aim of diffusing the tension, and securing the Igbo populace.
The FCT President of Ohaneze in the statement said, "It has come to the notice of the leadership of the Igbo in the north, the statements of some opportunistic alarmists who are trying to create non existing fears, and consequent panic in the minds of Igbo residing in the north of an impending massacre and wanton looting of their properties.
"This position is encapsulated in a recent press statement issued by one Mr. Obinna Nwankwo who arrogates to himself a non-existing position of Northern Coordinator of Ohanaeze Youth Council."
On the position of Ohaneze leadership on the raging matter, he said, "That we wish to reiterate once again that Ndigbo in the north as represented by the Igbo Delegates Assembly, IDA, under the leadership of Chief Chi Nwogwu, totally condemn and dissociate themselves from the shameful, beggarly and degrading parley between the suspended Ohanaeze Youth Council and some northern youths.
"That we were not consulted before the purported parley; which we wouldn't have attended or mandate our youth wing to attend as the characters that were at the center of it lack the blessings of the Igbo leadership.
"That the congregants of Ohanaeze Youth Council has surrendered its non-existing sovereignty to the Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB, on the 28th of June 2017, and from that point they lost every right to independence of action as exemplified by their participation in the said parley.
"On the quit notice issued to the Igbo resident in the north, the leadership of the Igbo in the north, in consonance with the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo under Chief John Nnia Nwodo have since commenced wide but strategic consultations with relevant persons and groups both within and outside the north with the singular aim of diffusing the tension, and securing the Igbo populace. However, these meetings though fruitful, have been quiet.
"That the said Mr. Obinna Nwankwo should cease forthwith from parading himself as the Northern Coordinator of Ohanaeze Youth Council, as the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has no place for such neither did he stand to be elected in the April 5th 2014 Ohanaeze Youth Council elections that ushered in the now suspended Ohanaeze Youth Council. Nor was he appointed into such position by any resolution of the Executive Council of the disbanded group.
"That it has come to our notice through our local intelligence that some elements under the tutelage of Mr. Obinna Nwankwo are plotting to ferment trouble in the north so as to create an environment of misunderstanding amongst Ndigbo in the north and their hosts, thereby causing panic, which might possibly escalate crisis.
"Therefore we call on security agencies to closely monitor the activities of the said Mr. Nwankwo with a bid to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
"We wish to state once again that the Igbo nation has a leadership structure which has Ohanaeze Ndigbo at its apex, therefore Ohanaeze Ndigbo under the leadership of Chief John Nnia Nwodo and anyone it delegates duties to, remains the authoritative mouth-piece of the Igbo nation.
"We hereby call on Ndigbo in the north to remain calm and resolute, bearing in mind that the leadership structure of Ndigbo both at the political and socio-cultural levels are working tirelessly to ensure the maximum safety of the Igbo in the north.
" Ndigbo should ignore the alarmist tendencies of jingoist and opportunists, and go about their lawful endeavors as they will be communicated through established channels if the need arises.
"Furthermore, we wish to advise authorities at different levels to desist from any interaction with the Okechukwu Isiguzoro-led Ohanaeze Youth Council as they lack the mandate to speak or negotiate for Ndigbo."
My 19 year-old daughter started wearing heavy make-up and spending lots of money on hair treatments. I was very angry about how much she was spending until she began to cry. She confessed she had hair extensions fitted because she had some bald patches she got when she pulled out so much hair. I feel really bad about what I now see as over-reacting. How can she break this habit?
Ebele, by e-mail.
Dear Ebele,
Don't feel guilty as this problem is about her – not you. Good thing is, she confided in you. Obsessive hair-pulling is horribly common among young girls suffering from low self-esteem. As is hiding behind layers of make-up.
Build up your closeness by sitting down with her trying to find out a suitable solution of her illness. A good hair stylist might help, so might a dermatologist from any of the Teaching Hospitals. Build up her self-worth by letting her know how common her problem is and how treatable.
The Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, said it was unacceptable that Nigerians spent five billion dollars on generators annually.
He said the house would support the Executive to find a permanent solution to the power problem in the country.
Dogara stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Power on three Bills pending before the lower chamber.
He explained that the lawmakers were reviewing some of Nigeria's energy laws to provide appropriate legal framework that would facilitate the exploitation of renewable energy to the benefit of the economy.
According to him, power is arguably the single most important driver of the national economy. "Indeed, it is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine modern life without power. Our industries and factories need electricity to operate, and also our offices, homes and businesses.
"It is estimated that Nigerians spend about five billion dollars yearly to fuel their generators.
"This is an unacceptable situation and the House of Representatives stands ready to support the Executive arm of government to put a stop to this state of affairs.
"Renewable energy is a source of clean energy which is environment-friendly and is crucial to the economy of the future.
"We can only be self-sufficient in the energy field when we combine all our energy resources such as wind, solar, hydro, bio-mass, bio-fuel, landfill, sewage gas, solid waste, geo-thermal energy, ocean energy among others.
"Renewable energy sources are natural and often replenish themselves. Nigeria needs to invest more in renewable energy as fossil fuel is a diminishing asset.
"An appropriate legal framework to exploit renewable energy which is nature's gift to mankind is not adequate in Nigeria.
"This makes it difficult to organise the sector in a commercially viable matter. Herein lies the merit and strength of this Bill under consideration," the speaker said.
Earlier, Chairman of the House Committee on Power, Rep. Daniel Effiong, had welcomed stakeholders and advised them to make inputs to enable the house to come out with enduring laws to grow the industry.
The House had at the inception of the 8th Assembly, committed itself to a Legislative Agenda (2015 – 2019) to devise "Legislative Initiative on Power".
This was with a resolve that it "shall take legislative action to tackle Nigeria's energy crisis that has led to a general collapse of industries and businesses and inflicted hardship on citizens.
"Legislative measures to support improved generation and distribution of electricity to homes and businesses will be encouraged".
BY UMAR YUSUF YOLA – Tension is brewing in Girei. A surburb of Yola, over a plot by the Adamawa State government to remove the Chief Imam of Girei, Sheikh Abubakar Halilu after he was queried for criticising the state government education policy.
Governor Jibrilla Bindow
An audio of the recent sermon by the Chief Imam of Gire Mosque, in which he described the state administration education policy as the worst in the history of the country has gone viral on the social media, attracting condemnation of the government from members of public.
A rumour of the alleged suspension of the Imam created tension in the Girei Local Government with youths planning a public protest.
Some of the youths interviewed alleged that the state government had mounted pressure on the Adamawa Emirate Council to take punitive action against the Imam, saying youths were ready to take to the streets should the plot is actualised.
A similar crisis in the past led to a violent riot in which protesters burnt the office of Yola North District Head, Baba Paris after the district head made an attempt to remove the Chief Imam of the area, Sheikh Sufyan for criticising the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government and praying for change of leadership at the height of Boko Haram attacks between 2014 and 2015.
Governor Jibrilla who declared emergency on education since last year has failed to pay teachers’ salaries or make meaningful impact on the ailing education sector despite billions of naira received from federal government as bail out funds and Paris Club refund.
Delivering Eid sermon at the end of Ramadan, the Muslim cleric expressed disgust at the state of education under the present administration with government refusing to pay teachers or provide learning materials despite huge amount of money received from federal coffers..
“In every village, you find teachers, health workers and local government workers, so failure to pay salaries increase poverty. We have leaders who tell lies, break promises and use indecent language”, he stated.
“Under tis administration, school teachers have overtaken Almajiris as reference point of poverty”, he said.
When contacted by journalists, Sheikh Halilu confirmed receiving the query but called for calm in the community, saying he was appalled by the volume of reactions to his rumoured suspension on the social media.
“Nobody suspended or removed me but I received a letter from the authorities, asking me to explain the content of my sermon and I replied them, that is all. I urge the public especially the youths to stop making insulting comments against leaders. My intention was to call the attention of government to the problems affecting the society and not to elicit such reactions from the public.”, he stated.
However, when contacted on the issue, the Secretary Adamawa Emirate Council, Khalil Kawu said the matter had been resolved by the district head who reported to the council, saying the Council could only intervene if the matter was beyond the capacity of the district head.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is prepared to take on government at all levels over existing vacancies in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, its President Ayuba Wabba, has said.
Wabba, who made the statement on Tuesday in Abuja when he visited the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), stated that there had been complaints that existing vacancies in the MDAs had been outsourced.
"We are prepared to tackle the government over casualisation and outsourcing of government jobs,
"This is another form of slavery, as those outsourced services do not have future in the world of work because it is not decent work.
"This has also led to lack of employment in the public service with continually low productivity in government service,'' he said.
The NLC president said that one of the goals of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) was using decent work to fight poverty, instability, insecurity and under employment.
He said that in most cases, workers who are engaged in outsourced and casual jobs are paid peanuts and do not have social protection and pension benefit.
He said: "there is no decent society where you have a poor of working poor that are working and have nothing to show for it.
" It is an aberration. We will continue to partner with you to ensure that we do not continue to have this in our society.
"Why should we invent a new paradigm were we treat our fellow Nigerians as slaves. I think that government at all levels must condemn this.
"We must be able to address this because that explain why these social vices are on the increase and our situation is getting worse."
Wabba said that congress would continue to campaign for decent work which was part of the initiative of the International Labour Organisation and goal number 8 of the SDG.
He expressed sadness over the delay by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to issue the enabling circular that would remove the dichotomy between BSc and HND holders.
He said that the Federal Executive Council and the National Council on Education had directed that the dichotomy should be removed.
"Let them (HND holders) be given the same opportunity to do the same examinations and on the basis of competence, they should be able to get to the peak of their career without any limitation.
"NLC will write a formal letter to government to demand that this issue be given accelerated consideration," he said.
In his remarks, NCSU President, Mr Kiri Mohammed, called on the NLC to intervene on the issue of outsourcing in the MDAs.
"Outsourcing came to light recently in the civil service by politicians who utilise it as strategy to appreciate and gratify their cronies at the expense of qualified and working civil servants.
"Schedules of work meant for civil servants like cleaners, messengers, security, among others are contracted out to private companies and firms.
"In the process, the civil servants are rendered redundant and this has eroded the membership strength of the union," he said.
Mohammed decried failure of government to employ fresh hands into the civil service as serving ones are retiring on daily basis.
He said that the union was faced with various challenges some of which included, poaching of cadres, protracted industrial unrest in states, lack of training and retraining of union leaders, among others.
My ex-husband and I divorced several years ago and are now both living with other partners. I'm happy and settled in my new life. It's the situation with my two teenage children that upsets me. The problem is, their father has completely disowned them. They never see him. They get nothing from him over and above the fees he pays. He doesn't even bother to send them a present on their birthdays.
Both children are devastated by his rejection. My daughter blames his new wife for the break up and my son has even asked for his surname to be changed.
It's disgusting. How does my ex ever sleep at night knowing how horrid he'd been to his first born children?
Tina by e-mail.
Dear Tina,
Your ex probably doesn't sleep at night! He knows he's done wrong. He knows he should be guilty and he'll always regret losing his children. Only, he's not your problem – your children are. You need to let them know that even though their dad has left, you'll always be there for them. Let them know you love them and always will.
As tricky as it may be, you need to help them work through their feelings about their father. Even though they swear they hate him, deep inside they will still care. However badly he's behaved, he is their father and they want him in their life. Encourage them to talk about their positive memories of him, the happy times they'd shared together, even though doing this will stick in your throat!
Help them to understand that his disowning them isn't their fault; that his walking away is a sign that he's wrong, not that they are bad. Let them know that life goes on. What's more, you are having a happy time with your new partner now and they'll realize it's possible to survive, even if someone you love walks out.
Former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, said he has decided to formally join the Accord party.
Okupe made this known on his his Facebook page on Tuesday.
Doyin Okupe
He said : "Following various consultations with political associates, family and friends I have decided to formally join the Accord party.
"My decision is based on deep reflection on who I am and what I want from politics. To me politics does not begin and end with winning or losing elections. It's not about big or small parties either. It's also beyond personal relationships or endearing associations or friendships. "There exist in our communities several platforms on which such affiliations and sentiments can be sufficiently gratified. To me, politics is about, service to the people, policies and ideologies that will serve the best interests of the greater majority of the society, forthrightness and accountability, honour and Integrity.
"I want to belong to a political party that will be able to publicly state its position on troubling national issues like, requests for self determination by a section of the country, resource control, federalism and restructuring, religious intolerance, atrocities of Fulani Herdsman, unequal standards in national university admission policy, and many more.
"Any political party that does not have an openly stated position on these issues is a mere association of elites coming together only to feather their own nests," Okupe said in the statement.
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