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Aaron Ramsey dedicated Arsenal’s FA Cup semi-final victory to Arsene Wenger as the beleaguered Frenchman’s side fought back to beat Manchester City 2-1 at Wembley.
Arsenal’s Spanish defender Hector Bellerin (CL), Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka (C) and Arsenal’s Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey (CR) celebrate victory after the FA Cup semi-final football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley stadium in London on April 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
Wenger has endured a wretched time this season as frustrated Arsenal fans called for his resignation after their failures to challenge for silverware in the Premier League and Champions League.
“We have let him down at times this season, we want to win it for him and ourselves,” Ramsey said.
For once, Wenger’s luck was in as Arsenal recovered from Sergio Aguero’s second half opener, surviving a barrage of City pressure to equalise through Nacho Monreal before Alexis Sanchez won it in extra-time.
Arsenal will play Premier League leaders Chelsea in the final on May 27 as they look to mark their record 20th FA Cup showpiece appearance by winning the tournament for the third time in the last four years.
Gunners midfielder Ramsey said his team are well aware of the pressures on Wenger, who is yet to confirm if he will return next season, and he hopes winning the trophy would erase the memory of some disappointing displays this term.
“It was important to win today, to have something to look forward to. But now we have another seven cup finals to try and get into the top four,” added Ramsey.
“That is the second time we played this formation so credit to the boys. We have shown the character we have in this team.
“I love this competition. We have been quite successful in recent years and you can see the passion that the players play with. We went behind and kept on going and got a result.”
Hundreds of women on Saturday staged a peaceful march in Aiyetoro-Gbede, Ijumu Local Government of Kogi, in support of Sen. Dino Melaye over the attack on his country home on April 15
About 10 gunmen had stormed the senator's house at Aiyetoro-Gbede, in the early hours of the said date, and opened fire from various directions.
Two vehicles parked in the estate were damaged by the hoodlums.
Melaye, who was at home for the Easter holidays, however escaped unhurt.
The women, who carried placards and leaves, marched through the street leading to the senator's house, before assembling at a nearby spot where their leaders delivered speeches.
The women came from the seven local councils that make up Melaye's Kogi West Senatorial District.
Some of their placards read: "Touch Dino and face our wrath", "Don't kill Dino Melaye" and "Don't kill the light, let it shine".
Mrs. Ikusemoro Jalo, one of the speakers, said that the solidarity march was to affirm their support for the senator and condemn the recent attempt on his life.
"We are mothers; we don't want him to be murdered. He is representing us the way we want. We are proud of him because he has made us proud," Jalo said.
She advised the senator not to be cowed by the recent attempt on his life, urging him to continue to fight for the rights of women, workers, pensioners, the oppressed and the repressed.
Another speaker, Mrs. Titi Kayode, said that assassination of political opponents had never been part of politics in Okunland, and described the masterminds of the attack on the senator's life as "enemies of peace and progress".
She called for a quick release of the report of the ongoing investigation into the incident, so that its perpetrators would be brought to justice.
Melaye expressed gratitude to the women for their support and prayers, saying that he "narrowly escaped death" on the day of the incident.
He cautioned politicians against politics of hatred and bitterness that was gradually gaining ground in Kogi "especially in the past two years".
While noting that political rivalry was normal, he said that it should not be allowed to degenerate to assassination and violent attacks .
The senator promised to sustain his fight against injustice and delays in the payment of salaries, and declared that attacks and intimidation would not deter him.
" God will not forgive me if I keep quiet while my people suffer," the senator declared.
By Emman Ovuakporie and Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, yesterday mourned the demise of Senator Isiaka Adeleke Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke
The three in their separate messages said that the country had lost a colossus whose wealth of knowledge was needed at the present critical time in the nation’s political history.
A message signed by the media office of the Speaker described the late senator as a distinguished gentleman, saying that his death was shocking huge loss to the country.
He said, “Senator Adeleke was a leader who left giant footprints and lasting legacies as the first civilian governor of Osun State.”
Dogara recalled that the late senator was credited for establishing tertiary educational institutions across Osun State when he was governor in the third republic, thereby laying the foundation for the development of the State.
He said, “On behalf of all members of the House of Representatives, I condole with the Adeleke family, the Senate, government and people of Osun State over this big loss.”
The Deputy Speaker in his own message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Wole Oladimeji described the death of Adeleke as a rude shock.
Lasun said that the three-term Senator currently representing Osun West Senatorial district was a grassroot politician, adding that the late Adeleke would be remembered for his uprightness iand lack of bitterness in politics.
“His personality uniquely designed in his form of traditional cap,” said, regretting that Osun state had lost one of its good and straight forward politician who believed in improving the condition of his people.
While consoling the people and government of Osun State over death of their illustrious son, Lasun said late Senator Adeleke would be remembered for his good deeds while serving the people, the state and also by his colleagues at the National Assembly.
Also commiserating with the people of Osun State and the family of the late Senator, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said late Adeleke was a colossus whose sudden death has left a huge void in Nigeria’s political firmament.
Ngige in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Nwachukwu Obidiwe, further described the late lawmaker as a rare breed.
He said, “Prince Adeleke belonged to the special breed of the political class who strongly believes in politics without bitterness. He would be missed by the common people of his immediate Ede community, the good people of Osun whom he served as governor between 1992-1993, the people ( Osun East) he also represented in the current Senate. He lived for the people. He shall live in the hearts for a very long time .”
The statement addd that ” a big political void has been created in the South West political firmament while a shining star has been lost in the National Assembly . Nigeria has in deed lost another great. May God grant eternal rest to his gentle soul.”
The State of Osun House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam has described as a rude shock and great loss, the death of the first Executive Governor of the State, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, who currently represents Osun West Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
Late Isiaka Adeleke
In statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the Assembly said the death was a great loss to the people of Ede town, Osun West Senatorial District, Osun State, Upper Chamber and the Nigeria in general.
The parliament said the death of the federal lawmaker had robbed off the state of one of its grassroot experienced politician and a philanthropist who has entrenched himself in the quest for good governance.
Describing the late Senator Adeleke as a politician of repute whose existence was significant to the democratic tenet in the state, the statement notes that the role he played as the first executive governor of the state could never be over-emphasized.
"Senator Adeleke was a leader of leaders, a philanthropist per excellence has made significant impacts in the lives of many young ones in Osun and Nigeria as a whole”.
"There is no gainsaying the fact that the state has lost one of its most experienced politicians, whose death will no doubt leave a huge vacuum in the pool of experienced politician and democrats in our state.
“The state parliament valued the invaluable contributions of Senator Adeleke to the development of our state, and entrenchment of democratic tenets. No doubt, he will be greatly missed”
"In the State of Osun parliament, we offer our heart-felt condolences to the immediately family of Senator Adeleke, the people of Ede town, Osun State with particular reference to Osun West Senatorial District, the Senate and Nigeria as a whole.
The parliament then prayed that Almighty God to grant everyone affected by the death of the former governor, the fortitude to bear the loss.
The State of Osun House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam has described as a rude shock and great loss, the death of the first Executive Governor of the State, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, who currently represents Osun West Senatorial District at the National Assembly.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has said that Nigerians did not elect General Muhammadu Buhari to function as "Friday President", adding that he (Buhari) was now acting more like a ceremonial and part-time President. Muhammadu Buhari
The governor, who said he was glad that his constructive criticism was getting to the President and his handlers, noted that it was not enough for the President of a country like Nigeria to be seen in public only while attending Friday Jumat service at the Presidential Villa, videos of his activities should be made public too.
Speaking on Sunday, through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said it was necessary for Nigerians to be properly informed about the well-being of their president.
He accused some close allies of the President of deliberately shielding him and preventing him from attending to his health so as to continue to run the government on the basis of "Mr President has directed" even when the President did not direct anything.
"That's why Nigerians are told every day that the President said this and that with the President neither speaking directly nor attending any official function. This is not good for the image of a country like Nigeria that is struggling to get out of economic recession," the governor said.
Governor Fayose, who said by virtue of the his old age, the President could be susceptible to illness, advised that "President Buhari should rather be allowed to take proper care of his health while the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo acts constitutionally as the president.
"However, it is doubtful if those cabals that are obviously running their own Presidency within President Buhari's Presidency will allow him to take a long vacation, probably outside Nigeria to take care of himself."
The governor insisted that Nigerians must hear the voice of their President and see him physically, not through surrogates or the cabal operating behind the scene.
"It is only when the President is seen and heard physically that Nigerians will believe that they are not being ruled by a part-time and ceremonial president, whose powers are being exercised on his behalf by some cabal," he said.
Mr Mike Omeri, the former Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), has advised the Federal Government to enforce the ban on importation of rice in phases to boost local production.
Omeri said this to journalists on Sunday in Abuja.According to him, what government needs to do is not an outright ban, but we should reduce the ban according to the level of production.
"If we are able to produce 10,000 tonnes and we are importing 20,000, let us cut off the 10,000 and bring in the other 10,000 tonnes so that we do not go hungry.
"So they let us look at the nutritional value and begin to patronise made in Nigeria rice. Let us do phase withdrawal of importion of rice in this country so that our people can grow more.
"We should also ensure that any rice that is imported must be competitive with the local rice, otherwise there is no need to bring it," Omeri said.
He said that policies relating to agriculture in the country have been result-oriented, adding that policies on agriculture did not just start from the present administration.
According to him, the policies started from previous ones; today, "we are seeing revolutions in Anambra, Nasarawa, Kebbi with rice everywhere.
He said that Nigeria did not need rice that would undermine the country's growth process or the one that would protect the imported rice.
"After all, our rice is more organic, fresher directly from the farm and doesn't have to go through the seas.
On Customs, Omeri said that the reforms taking place in the service were the repositioning of the system to conform to unfolding international standards.
Omeri said that there were things being done right in the Nigeria Customs Service that were not right enough.
"So what we are witnessing now is an attempt to ensure that we conform to the provisions of Nigeria Customs Service and the rules of our country and that Customs serves the best interest of Nigerians.
On public relations, he advised the public relations officers of the organisation to give free access to journalists and make information available to them.
According to him, lack of access to information leads to speculations. He further added that speculation often times generated some ill feelings.
"Some of us information managers, once we move into the management level, we forget where we are coming from; we forget that we were journalists.
The burial of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, which was earlier scheduled for 4:pm on Sunday, has been postponed.
Newsmen report that Adeleke, a former civilian governor of Osun, died in the earlier hours of Sunday at Biket Hospital in Osogbo.
Adeleke's corpse, which was brought to his residence in Ede at 1:10 pm in preparation for the Islamic burial rites, was returned back to Ladoke Akintola Hospital in Osogbo for autopsy.
Late Isiaka Adeleke
Newsmen learnt that the younger brother of the late politician, Deji, ordered for autopsy to be carried out to ascertain the cause of death.
Deji was also said to have directed that the burial ceremony be postponed till Monday.
Friends and sympathisers, who were waiting for the burial ceremony, were told around 5:30 pm that the event had been postponed.
A family source said the burial had been fixed for 10: am on Monday, pending the outcome of the autopsy.
Giving a picture of the developments leading to the demise of the late flamboyant politician, one of the domestic staff told NAN that Adeleke had attended a meeting till around 2: am on Sunday before he went to bed.
The staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Adeleke also attended burial and wedding ceremonies in Guta and Iwo on Saturday.
The source further explained that early in the morning on Sunday, Adeleke complained of leg pain and his private doctor was called in to attend to him.
According to the staff, the doctor gave him an injection and he left, only to be called back after the senator complained of stomach ache.
" He was later rushed to Biket Hospital where he was finally confirmed dead,'' the source said.
The news of the death had resulted in violent protests by youths in Ede, with many of them barricading the ever busy Osogbo-Ibadan road and setting bonfires which disrupted the free flow of traffic.
It took the combined efforts of both the regular and mobile police force to disperse the irate youths.
The Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Fimihan Adeoye, who said normalcy had been restored in the area, urged the youths to refrain from violence
As at the time of filing this report, two armoured personnel carriers were stationed at the road leading to Adeleke's house in Ede while one was stationed directly opposite his residence.
Meanwhile the Osun Government said it was in shock over Adeleke's sudden death.
A statement issued on Sunday by Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Governor's Office, described the death as a nightmare.
He said Adeleke's sudden death was hard to accept.
"The sad news of the death of the first civilian governor of our state, Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, has struck us like a thunderbolt.
" Gov. Rauf Aregbesola, who is far away in China on state assignment, is still speechless and in mourning.
"While the government awaits the reports of the autopsy which is being conducted, we can only calm our people to take this huge and incalculable loss with equanimity.
"Alhaji Adeleke, no doubt, has served our dear state well.
" First as its civilian governor and currently as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where he has provided adequate representation for the people of his senatorial district and the state.
"He was a politician with towering dossier.
"We find this loss inexplicable but we are restrained by the fact that we cannot query the verdicts of our Creator, the Almighty.
"We commiserate with the good people of Osun over this sad loss.
We are still in shock," Okanlawon said.
Similarly, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Sunday described the death of Adeleke as a rude shock.
A statement issued by Mr Moses Olafare, a media aide to the monarch, said Adeleke's sudden death was a great loss to the state and the country at large.
A former governor in the state, Mr Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in a statement in Osogbo, also described Adeleke's death as a monumental loss.
Oyinlola, who said he was on his way to Osogbo from Lagos when the news was broken to him, said he was still in shock.
He described Adeleke as a brother, friend and confidant whose demise had made him, the state and the political class in Nigeria poorer.
Oyinlola prayed God to grant his soul eternal peace.
The Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party in a statement described Adeleke's death as shocking and devastating.
The party, in a statement by its Chairman, Mr Soji Adagunodo, said Adeleke was a grassroots politician whose impact on the life of the people was noticeable and remarkable.
Adagunodo said the party had declared a three-day mourning for Adeleke, adding that the PDP's flag in the state would be flown at half mast in honour of the late politician.
On the 21st of February 2016, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), chaired by His Excellency the Vice President, Professor YemiOsinbajo, SAN took a significant step towards making it easier for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to do business in Nigeria. PEBEC approved a 60-Day National Action Plan on the Ease of Doing Business with clear deliverables and timelines forthe Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) responsible for implementing each line item in the Plan.
Accounting for almost half of Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Nigeria's MSMEs play a key role in the Nigerian economy and employ over 80% of the country's labour force. It is,therefore, to enterprises like these that we should look to provide the endless possibilities for Nigeria's economic growth. Think about multinationals like Facebook or Apple for example, that started as small, two-man enterprises, ora home-grown example like IrokoTV, which was launchedin December 2011 by two young menwho met whilst at university and, today, makes an estimated $2 million monthly. The ability of these enterprises to innovate and open up new streams of potential is critical to economic development. So it is beyond argument thatNigeria will not accomplish its socio-economic aspirations if its MSMEs are struggling to flourish because of unnecessary and sometimes superfluous bureaucratic and regulatory constraints. If for nothing else but their important contributions, MSMEs deserve greater focus and commitment and this is the role PEBEC seeks to play.
As secretary to PEBEC and coordinator of the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES), which implements the PEBEC's reform agenda, I've been asked in different fora to explain what exactly the Buhari Administration hopes to achieve with this NationalAction Plan. My response has been consistent. We want to make business work in Nigeria!By that, we want Nigeria to be a progressively easier place to do business for domestic and international investors alike. That is our mandate; that is what drives us.
Not unexpectedly, Nigerians have engaged with us on the Plan's contents from a range of perspectives. Some recognise that the work ahead is vital and hope that we can get it right this time; some are cynical and sceptial due to the perceived failure of similar efforts in the past, and everyone has an opinion on how it should work, whether or not they believe it will work. Does the Plan have the answers to all the problems that small businesses face in this country? No it doesn't. However, it is an important step that makes a strong statement of intent and conviction. An immediate-term Plan that focuses on the quick wins that will set us on the path to making businessin Nigeria work.
How do we plan to do this? The Plan prioritises some key reform areas: Starting a Business, Getting Credit, Paying Taxes, Getting Construction Permits, Registering Property, Trading across Borders, Getting Electricity,and Entry and Exit of People. One of the overarching themes is Government Transparency across the board.
These priority areas cut across several MDAs because making business work cannot be achieved by any single arm or level of government on its own. That is why His Excellency, President MuhammaduBuhari inaugurated PEBEC as an inter-ministerial, inter-governmental council, chaired by the Vice President and comprised of no less than 10 Ministers, each leading reforms in the departments and agencies under their supervision; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, representatives from the National Assembly, State Governments and the private sector. This structure ensures that we tackle each priority area through the concerted efforts of the key decision makers.
As the Plan's implementation remains ongoing, let me share a few examples of the direction PEBEC is working and some of the gains we're pleased to have recorded over the period so far.
Registering a Business is usually the first step taken by any entrepreneur ready to formalise his or her idea. The feedback is that this is conventionally the first point of frustration. From the difficulties experiencedinterfacing with the Corporate Affairs Commission's (CAC) online portal, to the time-consuming and often unavoidable need to physically visit the CAC offices in order to progressone's application; to the number of forms potential business owners have to navigate to incorporate their companies. Many would-be entrepreneurs felt as though the system was deliberately designed to prevent them from achieving their dreams.
Gradually, with the collaborative initiative and commitment of the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, the CAC's leadership and PEBEC, progress is being made. We received gratifying first hand feedback at the EBES Stakeholders Forum in Kano last month, when a female entrepreneur informed us that it took her only a week to register her business in January this year. Two years ago, when she registered her first business, she said it took her six months. As welcome as that feedback was, we do realise that there is still much more work to be done. In true reformer spirit, the goal is a moving target of a progressively easier business climate and we are merely at the beginning of the journey.
CAC's target is to register businesses within 24-hoursonce all required documents have been confirmed submitted. This is certainly within reach. To meet this goal, CACis working hard to improve the reliability of its portal to eliminate frequent downtime and has introduced online submission via uploading of registration and incorporation documents. In addition, CAC no longer makes it mandatory for applicants to use a lawyer, thereby reducing costs; and has consolidated the seven forms that were previously required for the incorporation of a limited liability company into just one form.The FIRS e-payment portal has now been integrated with the CAC portal so that applicants can pay stamp duty directly to the FIRS as they register their businesses. There is still quite a way to go, but we are confident that progress is being made.
Another area key to making business work is facilitating the smooth entry, exit and movement of people. Sadly, the state of our international airportsleaves a lot to be desired.With faulty carousels and elevators; litter, unclean, unsanitary toilets whose smells waft out into common areas the suffocating heat in nearly every part of them and the unsavoury incidence of touting, it is little wonder that our airports have been described as a national embarrassment and most unbefitting of a nation like Nigeria. So this is one of PEBEC's major focuses
Last month, Nigerians were pleasantly surprised to learn that the Vice President had paid an unscheduled visit to inspect the facilities at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos. The fact that there was absolutely no foreknowledge of His Excellency's visit meant that he could see and experience first hand what the problems are. This is the type of proactiveness that characterises PEBEC's efforts to make business work in Nigeria by creating an enabling environment. Our airports need to provide a more positive welcome to visitors and as part of that initiative, work is currently being done at the NnamdiAzikweInternational Airport, Abuja and theMurtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. Even before the launch of the National Action Plan, improvements were being made and are still ongoing at the Abuja airport, taking advantage ofits temporary closure.Similar improvements are being implemented in Lagos over the coming months.
The Visa-on-Arrival and 48-hour Visa Processing procedure have both recently commenced as part of the initiatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to aid the ease of doing business in Nigeria. Part of the work to be done in the 60-Day National Action Plan is to simplify these procedures to include the e-submission of applications and ensure full compliance across Nigerian Missions abroad. We are working closely with the NIS on this and the Honourable Minister of Interior recently announced a new immigration policy in line with these objectives.
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) are driving key initiatives to progressively ease the difficulties encountered in the import and export processes at our nation's ports. Last year, the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation ranked Nigeria 127th out of 136 economies in its Enabling Trade Index. This Indexrates countries based on their capacity to facilitate the flow of goods over borders to their various destinations. As part of our commitment to turning this tide around, Nigeria ratified the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in January 2017 – a strong signal to the world that we are indeed ready for business. The TFA has the potential to reduce trade costs by as much as 20% and implementing it will help "streamline, simplify and standardise customs procedures" and reduce the time and costs of moving goods across borders.
As we wait for the TFA to fully kick in, the NPA, NCS and the Terminal Operators, amongst others, are implementing reforms to ease cross-border trading. Our target on this indicator, as noted in the National Action Plan, is to reduce export and import times by half, compared to what is currently obtainable. The Honourable Minister of Finance has also issued directives to increase the effectiveness of Inspection Agencies by establishing timelines for pre-shipment inspection. Terminal operators will also start receiving the cargo manifest in advance so that they know what cargoes require physical examination, in order to sort them accordingly. Presently, goods are haphazardly stacked, making the use of machines and forklifts impractical. To make physical examinations of imports faster and more efficient therefore, the use of pallets will now be mandatory.
In the medium term, a National Single Window (NSW) is expected to become operational by Q4, 2017. The NSW is an electronic one-stop portal for Nigeria's cargo clearance procedures, which will significantly reduce the amount of time needed to clear cargo. The initiative will also include sufficient scanners and a ports community system. This project's Steering Committee, which is co-chaired by the Comptroller-General of Customs and the Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authorityhas already finalised its business plan and operating modeland reported to the Council in keeping with PEBEC's result focused approach to making business work.
The list goes on. Our 60-day National Action Plan contains 504 different actions, including collaboration with the National Assembly to pass two of their 11 priority bills on the Ease of Doing Business. These twobills are especially critical to the Planbecause of their role in improving entrepreneurs' accessibility to credit are also a priority- the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets (aka the Collateral Registry) Bill and the Credit Bureau Services Bill. The Plan also contains specific deliverables in our collaboration with the Lagos and Kano State Governments on registering property and getting construction permits, which are State responsibilities. The Governors, their Excellencies,AkinwunmiAmbodeandAbdullahiGanduje of Lagos and Kano States respectively, have been eager reformers and worthy partners. In the coming months, we intend to take our partnership to more States across the country.
At a radio interview in Lagos last month, the host was astounded to hear that we expect Nigeria to move 20 places up in the World Bank 'Doing Business' Rankings by October 2017 and to be in the top 100 by the year 2019. This is not idle posturing. It is an ambition guided by the strength of our resolve to make business work in this country. As Peter Druckersays, "The best way to predict the future is to create it.”There is strong commitment at the highest levels of government that this can and will be done.
However, as much as the World Bank ranking will bring about the much needed confidence in our economy, it is not our main gauge for measuring success. The one true indicator will be the testimonials from business owners across Nigeriaconfirming that they now spend less time navigating bureaucratic landmines and more time strategizing on how to break new grounds and enter new markets; the Nigerian business owners who will be able to access the credit they need to improve their processes and employ more people; and the Nigerian business owners who will begin to see Government MDAs as real partners in progress rather than as competitors, adverse regulators or tax collectors. It is their "rankings" that matter the most to us.
Dr.JumokeOduwole is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment in the Office of the Vice President and Secretary to the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC)
Islamic State group fighters disguised as soldiers ambushed a government convoy in a remote desert region of western Iraq Sunday, killing 10 members of the security forces, commanders said.
“Daesh (IS) members armed with assault rifles and rocket launchers attacked civilian and military vehicles carrying soldiers near Rutba,” an army lieutenant colonel said.
“They killed at least 10 and wounded 20,” he told AFP. Other officials confirmed the attack and the casualty toll.
Rutba lies about 390 kilometres (240 miles) west of Baghdad in the vast province of Anbar and is the last main town on the road to the border with Jordan.
Border guards and other security forces posted in the area have been routinely attacked by IS in recent months.
The army officer said the victims of the attack were members of the border guard, the Anbar police and the army.
“The Daesh members were wearing military uniforms and driving military vehicles. They set up a rogue checkpoint on the main road near Rutba,” a border guard commander said.
He said five of the 10 killed in the ambush were border guards.
The army lieutenant colonel said the jihadists took advantage of a sandstorm to carry out their attack.
According to the mayor of Rutba, Imad al-Dulaimi, the ambush was carried out at around 6:00 pm (1500 GMT).
He added that three more members of the security forces were missing.
Rangers International FC of Enugu on Sunday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, trashed visiting Kano Pillars FC of Kano 3-1 in one of their outstanding match after their Confederation Cup exit. The four goals were scored in the first half, but Rangers first goal was through a penalty. Chukwuma Agbo, the interim coach of Rangers, said that the players deserved the victory, after intensified training for one week. "We are back to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), and we are going to do our best. "I hope that we are going to get victories in our away matches and win all our outstanding home matches to get back to where we belong,'' he said. Kano Pillars Assistant coach, Ibrahim Musa, said that the two clubs gave good account of themselves.
"Rangers are a big club likewise Kano Pillars and this is football, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and sometimes you draw.'' Musa praised the officiating officers for job well done, saying that he sees no fault in their officiating.
Five things we learned from the English Premier League this weekend:
Liverpool’s Achilles heel exposed again
Jurgen Klopp has failed to cure the Liverpool conundrum — they go walkabout when playing the teams from the lower reaches. Looking in control of Crystal Palace they allowed their lead to slip and woeful defending at a corner for the second saw old boy Christian Benteke head home to record a double. Liverpool’s hopes of a Champions League place in all likelihood took a fatal hit with the Palace defeat but similar losses throughout the season like against Bournemouth have also done untold damage. Until Klopp solves the problem Liverpool will not be realistic title challengers.
‘Special One’s’ critical words prove effective
Jose Mourinho’s style may agitate many especially with his criicism of Luke Shaw and then Anthony Martial but it appears to have had a marked effect on both players. Martial responded with a goal and a key role in the second in the 2-0 win over Burnley that gives real hope for United to finish in the top four and secure a Champions League place through that route. The only people who on Sunday may not have been as happy will be the United accountants as Martial’s goal cost them an extra 10million euros and enriched Monaco’s coffers at the same time.
‘Boro demoralised and on the edge of abyss
Regardless of Gaston Ramirez’s 20th minute sending off, Middlesbrough were already 2-0 down to Bournemouth and whilst manager Steve Agnew urged his troops to rally for the midweek game with bottom side, and north-east rivals, Sunderland victory would probably just be for bragging rights as both look destined for the second tier. ‘Boro are nine points adrift of safety — and still without a league win in 2017 the only side in the top European leagues to have the unwanted tag — and with Hull especially in good order catching them looks beyond a side whose paucity of invention and goals has cost them dearly.
Hull home comforts
Hull showed Middlesbrough that being reduced to 10 men is no barrier to victory as Oumar Niasse’s first-half expulsion did more to energise Hull than it did a lacklustre Watford outfit who looked like they are eyeing the beach already. Since Marco Silva took over in January, Hull have taken on a different look in both style and morale and have dropped just two points at home. That could ultimately prove the difference between the drop and staying up.
Swansea not ready to give up fight
After a rocky run of form the team delivered the win manager Paul Clement demanded, a 2-0 win over a wasteful Stoke side. If the Swans are to beat the drop, though, they will require leading scorer Fernando Llorente — who got their first on Saturday — to stay fit. Even more crucially will be that playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson maintains his high standards as he has all but singlehandedly been the driving force that has kept their hopes alive of retaining their spot amongst the elite this season.
President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with Osun Government and the National Assembly on the passing away of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke on Sunday.
Buhari in a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Sunday, described the late lawmaker as "the gentle and kind-hearted former Governor of Osun''.
He said that Adeleke had passionately and relentlessly championed the cause of the less-privileged and most vulnerable in Nigeria.
According to him, the sudden loss of the legislator will create a gap in the hallowed red chamber as Adeleke had always epitomized unbridled patriotism, maturity and experience, especially with his recent interest in whistleblower's protection.
The president affirmed that Adeleke's contribution to his state as first elected governor, and the country, would always be remembered by posterity.
President Muhammadu Buhari during the Federal Executive Council Meeting held at the Council Chamber State House Abuja.
He prayed that the almighty God would grant the soul of the departed eternal rest, and comfort the family.
Sen. Adeleke died at 62 at Bikets Hospital in Osogbo, after suffering a heart attack, according to family sources.
The two-term senator was a former governor of the Osun in the short-lived democratic dispensation under the Babangida administration.
He was born in Enugu on Jan. 15, 1955 to the family of Sen. Ayoola Adeleke and Esther Adeleke.
He started his primary education at Christ Church School, Enugu, before moving to Ibadan. He had his secondary education at Ogbomoso Grammar School and later went to the United States for his university education.
He was Chairman, Governing Council, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, University of Calabar.
The National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen. Babagana Munguno (rtd) has began work on a template for the discovery and recovery of illegal weapons through a reward system.
Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, confirmed this development in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.
According to the presidential spokesman, the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) is adopting the whistle-blowing approach so as to eradicate mass shooting incidents and remove the harassment of law abiding citizens by holders of illegal weapons.
He said the proposed adoption of the whistle-blowing policy on illegal weapons by the Federal Government followed the success of the policy in the recovery of huge amount of questionable and stolen funds by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Shehu, therefore,said the presidency had started drawing up the rules of a whistle-blower mechanism to throw a spotlight on the regime of gun ownership and control as a bold move to prevent and eradicate illegal ownership of small arms and light weapons in the country.
He said that this would be a sort of searchlight on weapons ownership in the country, adding that the aim was to disarm communities especially those with proclivity to violence.
"In the last few days, we had discussed the efforts the administration is making to strengthen the whistle-blower mechanism in the Ministry of Finance, which to date has proved to be very effective in bringing the attention of the government to stolen assets and unexplained wealth.
"The ONSA initiative may be an independent line of inquiry or in active collaboration with what the government is doing in Finance. This will be a sort of searchlight on weapons ownership in the country.
"Whatever form or shape it takes, the administration wants to take a tough line to curtail the large number of illegal weapons in circulation used in intra and inter-communal conflicts,'' he said.
Shehu disclosed that the ONSA had already inaugurated a committee saddled with the responsibility of the recovery of small arms and light weapons in the country
The blowing policy, which has been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is meant to expose fraud and other related crimes in both the public and the private sectors.
The policy was devised by the Ministry of Finance aimed at encouraging anyone with information about a violation, misconduct or improper activity that impacts negatively on Nigerians and government to report it.
"If there is a voluntary return of stolen or concealed public funds or assets on the account of the information provided, the whistle blower may be entitled to anywhere between 2.5 per cent (minimum) and 5.0 per cent (maximum) of the total amount recovered,'' Minister of finance Kemi Adeosun said.
The policy has recorded appreciable success as it has led to the discovery of billions of Naira in the last few months since it started.
Coming Saturday 29th April 2017, the president of the United state of America, Donald Trump, will celebrate his one hundred days in the office, after taking over from the former president, Barack Obama. Bellow are his official programme for the week presented by Mark Knoller, CBS News White House Correspondent, Washington, D.C.
Former Lagos State Gov. Bola Tinubu, has described late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, as a grassroots politician with rich political background. The All Progressives Congress (APC), National Leader in a condolence message issued on Sunday in Lagos, said that the leadership and good counsel of Adeleke were still very much required when death came.
Adeleke, 62, also a former governor of Osun, died in the early hours of Sunday at a private hospital in Osogbo.
"I received the news of Senator Isiaka Adeleke's death with shock.
" It was too much to bear coming barely a day after that of Dipo Famakinwa. The news of his death was both sudden and saddening for me and I am sure for most members of our political family.
"Sen. Adeleke was a grassroots politician with a rich political back ground. He was hugely popular in his Osun , particularly in the three local governments in Ede, his hometown.
"He was a major leader of our party, the APC. His leadership and good counsel were still very much required when death came.
"The late senator and I shared mutual respect and affection. My path and his first crossed during the aborted Third Republic, in the 1992/93 era, when we both belonged to the defunct Social Democratic Party.
He was in the Peoples Democratic Party at the rebirth of democratic dispensation in 1999, but he later joined us in the APC in the build-up to the 2015 election, " he said.
According to Tinubu, he left behind a legacy in the area of education by establishing Ire Polytechnic and College of Education, Esa-Oke, among other laudable things during his time.
"Adeleke was with us in Lagos during the colloquium marking my 65th birthday. He also joined us for the inauguration of Aboru-Abesan Link Bridge and adjoining roads constructed by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.
"I commiserate with his wife and children. I commiserate with the entire Adeleke family and his friends and numerous supporters.
"My heart also goes out to his brother, Dr Deji Adeleke. I mourn with Gov. Rauf Aregbesola and the people of Osun over this unfortunate occurrence.
"I pray that they all have the strength to withstand this loss. I also pray for the repose of Adeleke's soul, " Tinubu said.
French voters flocked to the polls under heavy security Sunday in the first round of a cliffhanger presidential election seen as vital for the future of the ailing European Union.
Ballots are prepared for counting at a polling station in Rouen, northern France, during the first round of the French presidential elections, on April 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron are the favourites to progress to a run-off on May 7 but late gains by conservative Francois Fillon and radical leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon blew the race wide open.
Le Pen, the 48-year-old leader of the anti-immigration National Front (FN), hopes to capitalise on concerns about security that were catapulted to the fore of the campaign after the killing on Thursday of a policeman on Paris’s Champs Elysees avenue. The Islamic State group claimed the attack.
Nearly 47 million people were eligible to vote in the eurozone’s second biggest economy.
Most polling stations closed at 1700 GMT but voters in Paris and other big cities had an extra hour to make their choice. The first projections based on partial results are expected at 1800 GMT.
Voting was brisk on a bright spring day, defying forecasts of a low turnout after a campaign dominated by scandals and disillusionment with the mainstream parties of the left and right that have alternated in power for the past half century.
After nine hours, turnout stood at 69.42 percent, one of the highest levels in 40 years. With an extra hour of voting planned in smaller towns this year, pollsters predicted the final figure would be about 80 percent.
Riding the wave of disaffection with globalisation that carried Donald Trump to the White House and led Britain to vote for Brexit, Le Pen vowed to abandon the euro, hold a referendum on withdrawing from the EU and adopt a French-first policy on jobs and housing.
While constitutional obstacles would make it difficult for her to uncouple France from the EU, a Le Pen victory could nonetheless be a devastating blow for the EU, already weakened by Britain’s shock vote to leave.
Macron, a 39-year-old pro-EU reformer, is seeking to become France’s youngest ever president despite never having held elected office.
Tapping into anger with established parties, the former banker and economy minister formed his own movement, “En Marche” (On the Move), that he says is “neither to the left nor to the right.”
But polls show the scandal-tainted Fillon, a former prime minister, and eurosceptic firebrand Melenchon, who wants to renegotiate EU treaties, also in with a fighting chance.
Le Pen cast her ballot in Henin-Beaumont, a former coal mining town in the party’s northern heartland.
Macron voted in the chic northern seaside resort of Le Touquet with wife Brigitte, his former high school teacher who is 25 years his senior. Fillon and Melenchon both voted in Paris.
Many voters had spent weeks agonising over their choices, with many opting for the contender they considered likeliest to beat Le Pen in a run-off.
– ‘Can’t trust politicians’ –
With France still under the state of emergency imposed after the Paris attacks of November 2015, security was tight. Around 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers were deployed to guard voters.
Thursday’s shooting on the most famous street in Paris was the latest in a bloody series of terror attacks that have cost more than 230 lives since 2015.
In the aftermath of the Champs Elysees attack, Le Pen called for France to “immediately” deport all foreigners on a terror watchlist.
Guy Belkechout, a 79-year-old pensioner who was voting in the working-class Parisian suburb of Trappes, said security was one of his main concerns.
“Candidates who want fewer security measures, who want to reduce the police’s powers, have not got my vote,” Belkechout told AFP.
But Hajar Erhamani, a 39-year-old teaching assistant from the well-heeled Paris suburb of Sevres, said she was more worried about the economy and allegations about lawmakers lining their pockets with public money.
“You can’t trust politicians these days. On the left and the right, they’re stealing from us,” she complained.
– Fake jobs scandal –
Closely watched around the world, the French campaign has been full of twists and turns.
A race that began with the low-key Fillon trumping ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy for the right-wing nomination shifted into higher gear when unpopular Socialist President Francois Hollande decided not to seek re-election.
Hollande’s five years in office have been dogged by a sluggish economy and the constant terror threat.
With voters hungry for change Fillon had been seen as a shoo-in but in January he was knocked off course by allegations that he gave his British-born wife a fictitious job as his parliamentary assistant for which she was paid nearly 700,000 euros ($750,000).
The Socialist nominee Benoit Hamon also struggled, hemorrhaging support to the fiery Melenchon.
Though there are four main contenders in the election, a total of 11 candidates are taking part.
The vice president Yemi Osinbajo has released a press statement through his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, Laolu Akande on how the nominated three men presidential investigative panel should carry on their investigation.
Yemi Osinbajo
The three-man probe panel, which is headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a professor of law, with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Munguno (rtfd), came to a working term agreement yesterday.
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari last week, suspended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal, over an alleged breach of Nigeria's law in handling contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North East, PINE. and the Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke, over the huge cash recently discovered in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.
In view of this therefore, the VP Osinbajo released a press statement which thus:
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE WORK OF THE PRESIDENTIAL INVESTIGATIVE PANEL
The Presidential Committee ordered earlier this week by President Muhammadu Buhari to probe certain allegations against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Mr. Ayo Oke has commenced its work in earnest.
President Buhari on Wednesday established the 3-man panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, with Attorney-General & Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami and National Security Adviser, Rtd Major General Babagana Munguno as members, to investigate allegations of legal and due process violations made against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF and the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in a residential apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.
In the discharge of its work, the panel is expected to invite all relevant officials and private individuals who may be connected to both cases. It will also obtain and scrutinize documents that may throw some light on the issues raised in both cases. All its proceedings will however be in closed sessions to avoid speculations, allow for full disclosure and enhance the pace of proceedings.
The panel which is expected to submit its report to the President at the expiration of the 14-day deadline, will conduct it’s work with utmost diligence and without fear or favour.
Laolu Akande Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President Office of the Vice President April 22, 2017
Normalcy has returned to Nyagasang community in Atimbo area of Calabar, after a high tension cable of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), fell and electrocuted seven persons at a football viewing centre.
Survivors of Calabar electrocution in hospital.
According to the police, about seven persons died, while 11 were hospitalised after a high tension cable fell on Thursday on the roof of the football viewing centre during a match between Manchester United and Anderlecht.
A correspondent who visited the area on Sunday, reports that normal business and social activities had picked up in the area.
A community leader, Mr Ndabo Eno-Obong, who described the incident as a `disaster,' said that the community was now looking unto the government, non- governmental organisation and well meaning Nigerians for assistance.
"This tragic event has never happened before in this community. Watching our young ones who had gone out to express their passion for football die is very painful.
"Football is a game of unity; it is one special game that takes youths off crime. What has befallen this community is a great disaster.
"As you can see, we are peace loving people; normalcy has returned to the area because we asked all youths to be calm as events unfold'', he said.
Eno-Obong expressed satisfaction with the speed at which the police came to their rescue on the night of the incident, adding that the police helped in evacuating the dead bodies and taking the injured to the hospital.
Secretary of Nyagasang Qua Clan, Mr Bassey Edim, disclosed that since the tragic incident, different groups from the government, PHEDC management, NGOs and others had continued to visit the site of the incident.
"A day after the incident happened, we called our youths in a town hall meeting and appealed to them to be calm.
"When PHEDC top management staff visited the area, we received them peacefully, because we want the right thing to be done as it concerns the dead and those hospitalised.
"But, we are appealing to PHEDC to always carry out regular checks of all electrical installations in other to avoid further loss of lives and properties'', he said.
Mrs Theresa Edem, who lost her husband in the incident, appealed to the government to come to her aid, saying that raising her three children without her husband will now be difficult.
A petty trader in the area, Mrs Florence Akpan, revealed that the shock that gripped the community compelled shop owners in the area to be closing for business as early as 6p.m.
"Between Friday and Saturday, we have been operating like government offices that close for work by 6p.m.
"But from the look of things, normalcy has returned to the area and this means that we can now start closing our shops by 9.30 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily which is our normal time'', she said.
The area has since been temporarily disconnected from electricity supply, while the high tension cable that caused the havoc is still on the roof of the viewing centre.
Mr Abiodun Adesanya, Managing Director, Degeconek Nig. Ltd., has said that it is possible for Nigeria to be out of recession, as the country's economy is heading to the right direction.
Adesanya made the assertion in an interview with Newsmen on Sunday in Lagos following claims by global economists that Nigeria is out of recession.
On April 18 the United Kingdom-based world economists said that the Nigerian economy was out of recession and growing strong.
He said that Nigeria was likely to be out of recession because the prediction has always been things were heading in the right direction
They said this development was reflected in the growth of Nigeria's April Sales Managers' Index, SMI, for Nigeria, which rose to 58.5 per cent from 56.7 per cent in March.
"You know we had negative GDP consecutively in last four quarters, if they now say we have positive GDP, it means we may be out of recession.
"It simply means we should continue with that trajectory so that we don't nosedive again. We need to be careful so that we don't have wastage.
"However, the implication is that we have to ensure that we really build upon what we did and ensure it has direct impact on what we are doing.
"It is also very important that we take lessons learnt and that we actually apply those lessons so that we don't make the mistakes all over again.
" I mean mistakes of wastages, corruption, wrong project, wrong planning, lack of focus and those kinds of things. There must be a strategic cohesive development plan for Nigeria," he said.
Adesanya, who is also the president of Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), lauded the Federal Government for the timely completion of Abuja Airport run-way.
"I think it is the first time that such feat is achieved and it has to be sustained. It is a classical example of people knowing what they are doing and they do it.
" The minister puts his job on the line to show that he knows what he's doing and it is a fantastic thing to know that people in present government are doing that.
"You can see cooperation among the government agencies and this should be sustained. If we put everything in the basket, I think we will make progress as a nation," he concluded.
