A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Medical experts have called on the Federal Government to increase investments in hospitals to reduce medical tourism.
The Vice Chairman of Garki General Hospital and NHSA premier hospital, Dr. Ibrahim Wada, who made the call in Abuja during a live streaming of an open heart surgery session, said the country has well-trained experts to break boundaries in medical practice, but that finance is lacking.
He said the hospital had carried out 50 successful open heart surgeries since the programme commenced four years ago, and they partner with Nigerians in Diaspora to break the bounds of medical science.
Speaking, a missionary doctor, who is the Chief Perfusion Specialist in Las Vegas, Dr. Ikenna Okoro, said foreign doctors are not better than Nigerian ones, but that the missing link is that people abroad believe more in what they have.
On his part, the Chief Surgeon of Garki Hospital, Dr. Elijah Miner, disclosed that the hospital is also running kidney transplant and IVF programmes, but that they were no longer sustainable because of lack of finance.
He said: "We could have had more surgeries, but most of the patients lack the funds; we need government and donor-organisations to intervene in the programme so that they can continue with it."
The parent of one of the patients, who had the surgeries, described the operation as a good one, stressing the need for government to enable young doctors to be tutored by experts that come from overseas, so that they would always be on ground to attend to patients.
The New York Times reported on Wednesday that President Donald Trump sacked former FBI Director James Comey, days after Comey requested additional funding and personnel for the agency's probe into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
According to the newspaper, Comey had asked Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein last week for a significant boost in resources and later briefed U.S. lawmakers on the request, the New York Times said, citing three unnamed officials.
…Tinubu Gives Guidelines, Urges Party Leaders, Members To Embrace Peaceful Conduct Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday charged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State to work round the clock to ensure that the party wins all available elective positions in the forthcoming July 22 Local Government elections. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (left); National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (middle); APC Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Otunba Henry Ajomale (2nd right) and Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (right) during the APC Stakeholders meeting ahead of the Local Government Elections at Party Secretariat, Acme Road, Ogba, on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. Governor Ambode, who addressed members of the party at a stakeholders meeting held at the APC Secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos, which attracted thousands of faithfuls and top chieftains of the party, said it was important for the party to come out tops in the elections, adding that it would go a long way to ensure that the State continues to make steady progress.
While attributing his success in the 2015 gubernatorial elections to the dedication of party members and chieftains of the party, especially the National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Ambode charged them to rally round the party yet again to ensure victory for the APC in the polls.
"Almost exactly two years after, we have cause to thank God. I am able to look back that the confidence you give me two years ago and all of you working together to make sure I defeated the PDP candidate was no small feat.
"I have come here not only to attend this meeting but to say a big thank you to all of you. I want to thank you for being the first set of people that believed in me and thereafter God has been so gracious, he has not allowed me to disappoint u. I want to say a big thank you to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the State APC Chairmen and Exco members for supporting that course.
"If there is any party remaining in Nigeria today, that party is manifested in all the good things coming out of Lagos State. Why are we here; we are here to count our blessings and renew the course of unity to move forward as one great party.
"I want to implore all of us, whatever it is that would have transpired, it is very clear that this coming LG elections is all in your hands; just the same way we have done in the last two years, my call to all members of our great party is that all 57 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas must be won by APC without exception," the Governor said.
Noting that there were challenges and issues that had emanated in the run up to the local government elections, Governor Ambode, nonetheless urged members to stand by the decisions of the party leaders, which according to him would bring about the best for all.
"This is our first gathering this year, it is very significant, it is instructive and we are meeting on a very happy note. We have begun a new journey into the crusade to make Nigeria a progressive nation and it is starting from this process that we would use; our Chairmen, Councilors, SLGS and this is the new chart that we want to follow in this state.
"A whole lot of things have happened; it is left in the hands of Asiwaju to proclaim the way forward for all of us. So, whatever direction Asiwaju say we should go, we would go," he said.
On his part, APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended members of the party for supporting Governor Ambode in the 2015 elections, and urged that the candidates of the party for the forthcoming Local Government Election should also be supported.
Tinubu, who described the election as the most challenging, recalled how the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former President Goodluck Jonathan moved to take over the State by all means including spending huge cash, but the APC members resolutely stood their ground and ensured the victory of the party.
While urging members to accept the decision of the party with respect to the LG election, Tinubu said as agreed earlier, the 18 chairmen who were promised automatic ticket for their efforts in the party and the State would be allowed to return, while the Sole Administrators who took over from Executive Secretaries (ES) of the LGs and LCDAs would not be allowed to contest in the election.
He also directed party leaders in all the 57 councils to give special concession to youths and women, while also urging members of the party in Surulere to give peace a chance and drop all forms of public disorder.
Responding to issues raised by party members that the ES should be disallowed from contesting, Tinubu said: "Doing such would amount to denying them their rights having left office more than a year ago. It is just like saying that Governor Ambode or Senators and other party leaders should not be allowed second term."
Besides, Tinubu commended Governor Ambode for his sterling performance so far, saying that the Governor had not let the party down.
"Governor Ambode you have not let us down. He is doing a fantastic job, in an environment where there is economic recession is a big challenge, they say he might not be able to do it, but he is doing it and doing it perfectly.
"He has a very good team of performers, it takes a leader to lead a team to victory and a leader to think and dream. He thinks and performs and he is doing a great job, we are very proud of him," Tinubu said.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and other at the Stakeholders meeting ahead of the Local Government Elections at Party Secretariat, Acme Road, Ogba, on Wednesday.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (left); National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (middle); APC Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Otunba Henry Ajomale (2nd right) and Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (right) during the APC Stakeholders meeting ahead of the Local Government Elections at Party Secretariat, Acme Road, Ogba, on Wednesday, May 10, 2017.Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right); National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (right); Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (2nd left) and Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa (left) during the APC Stakeholders meeting ahead of the Local Government Elections at Party Secretariat, Acme Road, Ogba, on Wednesday, May 10, 2017.L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Otunba Henry Ajomale (right) during the APC Stakeholders meeting ahead of the Local Government Elections at Party Secretariat, Acme Road, Ogba, on Wednesday, May 10, 2017.
Moon Jae-In was sworn in on Wednesday as South Korea's new president, just a day after his landslide election victory.
He immediately declared his willingness to visit Pyongyang amid high tensions with the nuclear-armed North.
Left-leaning Moon Jae-In, a former human rights lawyer, backs engagement with North Korea in the quest for peace — in contrast to the threatening rhetoric from the Trump administration in recent weeks.
"If needed I will fly to Washington immediately," Moon said in an inauguration speech after taking the oath of office in front of lawmakers at Seoul's National Assembly building.
"I will also go to Beijing and Tokyo and even Pyongyang in the right circumstances."
Moon Jae-In
Moon will have a difficult diplomatic path to tread in his approach to the North, which dreams of a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the continental United States, and has vast artillery forces trained on Seoul.
At the same time the South is embroiled in disputes with China over a US missile defence system, and former colonial occupier Japan over wartime history.
He named former journalist Lee Nak-Yon, a four-term lawmaker, as prime minister — a largely coordinating role — and appointed a new head of the National Intelligence Service, Suh Hoon, who played a key role in preparing the past two inter-Korea summits of 2000 and 2007.
Domestically, Moon begins his term facing multiple challenges, including the aftermath of the huge corruption scandal that saw his conservative predecessor Park Geun-Hye impeached and swept him to power, but leaves the country bitterly divided.
Ahead of the swearing-in, Moon met leading lawmakers of Park's Liberty Korea party — which has repeatedly accused him of being a Pyongyang sympathiser — to "beg" for their cooperation.
"I will be a president to all people," he said in his speech, promising to "serve even those who did not support me" and remain "at eye-level with the people".
After the low-key ceremony he was driven through the streets of the capital to the Blue House, standing in the back of his limousine and waving to supporters.
Moon took 41.1 percent of the vote in Tuesday's election, far ahead of Hong Joon-Pyo of Park's Liberty Korea party, on 24.0 percent, and centrist Ahn Cheol-Soo on 21.4 percent.
The 64-year-old is bespectacled, reserved and mild-mannered, although some critics describe him as bland, indecisive and uninspiring.
"I liked the no-frills inauguration event and his down-to-earth style," said Lee Jeong-Mi, a Seoul office worker who watched him pass by. "He really looks like a true people's president."
THE Nigerian economy is overwhelmingly dependent on oil, while accounts for 81 percent of government revenue and more than 97 percent of export earnings. Myopic policies pursued by successive military regimes in the final decades of the last century devastated the traditional agrarian economy and crippled growth in the non-oil sectors.
Consequently, Nigeria's growing oil wealth corresponded with a simultaneous decline of human development indicators and widening urban- rural divides. Massive imbalances in the economy spawned a thriving informal sector that continues to sustain most of Nigeria's 188 million people( UN estimates October 19, 2016) . The fundamental problem with the Nigerian economy is its failure to diversify. Instead of investing oil revenues in multi-sector economic growth or poverty alleviation, past governments frittered away national profits through unsustainable import reliance, poorly sustained policies, and corruption. The resulting fragility has been clearly evident during the global economic downturn which has impacted key areas of the Nigerian economy from banking and foreign exchange reserves to the capital market and the mortgage sector.
Nigeria is better placed to develop a well-diversified economy than any other country in the West Africa. The abundance of natural resources, mineral deposits and fertile land it enjoys is unrivalled, as is its substantial human resource pool. A range of initiatives devoted to promoting other sectors of the economy is already in place as part of the government's extensive reforms programme. The non–oil economy saw two- fold growth to 7 percent between 2001 and 2006, an encouraging sign in view of Nigeria's vision 2020 goal of accelerated growth and economic consolidation. Optimising resource and raw material utilisation by developing a mass base of inter- linked enterprises are central to this scheme.
Business expansion
Given past experiences and present realities, Nigeria's resurgence is inseparably tied to business expansion in the small and medium sector. SMEs have proved reliable vehicles of economic transformation across the developing world because of the wide scope of their benefits – employment generation, foreign exchange conservation, optimal resource utilisation and equitable wealth distribution. The most convincing benefits of all, however, is the independence among businesses that SMEs foster- a critical consideration in the context of Nigeria's long term ambition.
Recent efforts by government to promote a more inter- linked enterprise economy includes: Reinforcing the financial sector with the 2004 bank consolidation programme to improve credit access to the private sector, specifically, small businesses. Privatising major public sector entities in oil production and marketing, construction, mining and ports to promote private participation and downstream enterprise development. Reduction of government expenditure and involvement in direct economic production through commercialisation, disinvestment and strategic mergers.
The Nigerian economy has not diversified as hoped. Even after a decade of multifarious reforms, more than half of all industrial raw material and consumer goods continue to be imported. Non- oil export remains marginal while growth in potential boom sectors like tourism and textiles is sluggish. The dynamic economy running on rapid enterprise development that Nigeria is desperate for remains patently unachieved. The challenge of economic diversification is not limited to the developing world. Emerging and developed economies likewise are constantly seeking to reinvent and diversify their economic profile to reduce dependency on traditional sectors and take advantage of new opportunities in our globalised world. The oil rich emirate of Saudi Arabia, which is well on the way to rein venting itself as a luxury tourist destination, is a striking example.
Nigeria's oil reserves are estimated to run out before the end of 2030. Even if further reserves are explored over the coming years, the eventual decline of oil- driven economy is inevitable. Nigeria's future standing on the world stage is therefore, a future beyond oil. If this future is to be a prosperous one it will be because Nigeria has successfully realised a multi-faceted and interdependent enterprise economy based on a profound entrepreneurial revolution.
Daud Olatunji ABEOKUTA-The General Managers of Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation , Engr. Tunde Awolana, General Manager, Ogun State Television Engr. Dele Bolujoko have been ordered to proceed on compulsory retirement from the Public Service of Ogun State. •Amosun: Ogun governor
The state governor , Senator Ibikunle Amosun on Wednesday reportedly accepted the notices of voluntary retirement with effect from the affected general managers .
The Head of Service, Abayomi Sobande in a statement said the retirement of the two affected general managers takes immeidate effect .
He said “on behalf of the Governor of Ogun State, I wish to seize this opportunity to appreciate the contributions of these General Managers to the development of the State and wish them success in their future endeavours.
“The Most Senior Management Staff of the two Government Agencies are hereby directed to take over the Management of the Agencies pending further directives from the office of the Head of Service”,he said .
FACTORING services can bridge the gap in the financing of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa by addressing the challenges SMEs face in accessing funding for business activities.
Ms. Kanayo Awani, Managing Director of Intra-African Trade Initiative of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), stated this at a two-day factoring promotion seminar organised by the bank in Douala, Cameroon.
She said that the effectiveness and potential of factoring services to support SMEs became even higher during periods of financial distress and that, because of its unique features, factoring was well-suited for facilitating financial inclusion of SMEs.
Factoring is a financial transaction and a type of debtor finance in which a business sells its accounts receivable (i.e., invoices) to a third party (called a factor) at a discount. A business will sometimes factor its receivable assets to meet its present and immediate cash needs.
Awani asserted that Afreximbank had been championing the development of factoring in Africa to support its strategy to grow intra-African trade and facilitate greater SME contribution to regional and global supply chains.
She added that the bank's support had been through provision of credit lines to factors, capacity-building workshops, policy and regulatory inputs, advisory services and technical assistance to promote best practices. "We are proud to note the increased awareness about factoring in Africa and, more tangibly, the growing number of factoring companies on account of our efforts," she said.
Increasing factoring transaction volumes and ensuring stronger legal frameworks were also part of the bank's targets, Awani added.
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – The Federal High Court in Abuja, Wednesday, adjourned the suit that erstwhile Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumin, filed to challenge his suspension from the House, indefinitely.
Abdumumin Jibrin
Justice John Tsoho suspended hearing on the suit based on an appeal that was lodged by two members of the House of Reps, Hon. Nicholas Ossai and Hon. Orker-Jev Emmanuel.
Ossai who is the Chairman of House Committee on Ethics and Emmanuel who moved the motion that led to the Jubrin’s suspension for 180 legislative days, are challenging refusal of Justice Tsoho to join them as interested parties in the suit.
Counsel to the two lawmakers, Mr. Hakeem Kareem, informed the court that appeal his clients lodged against the dismissal of their joinder application has already been slated for hearing by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
He prayed the court to temporarily hands-off the matter and await decision of the appellate court.
However, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, urged the court to go ahead and hear the suit on its merit.
Falana accused the two lawmakers of deliberately stalling hearing on the matter, saying the appeal was only aimed at rendering the suit spent and nurgatory.
He drew attention of the court to the fact that Jubrin’s suspension which is the subject matter of the suit will lapse on June 28.
On their part, the House of Reps and its Speaker, Yakubu Dogara who are original defendants in the suit, through their lawyer Mr. Kanu Onuoha, aligned with the appellants and urged the court to hands-off for the appellate court in line with the principle of judicial heirachy.
In his ruling, Justice Tsoho held that he was minded to halt further hearing on the suit in order not to take any pre-emptive step capable of jeopardising the pending appeal.
"This suit is hereby adjourned indefinitely pending the decision of the Court of Appeal on the motion for stay of proceedings," Justice Tsoho ruled.
Aside querying legality of his suspension, Jubrin is also praying the high court to award N1billion against the defendants as punitive and general damages for his suspension.
He is equally praying the court to declare that his suspension amounted to a violation of his fundamental human right to freedom of expression.
As well as to declare that the resolution the House passed to suspend him was in breach of section 68 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Besides, Jibrin wants the court to issue an order of injunction restraining the House of Reps from preventing him from participating in the Committees of the House or accessing the legislative chambers to perform his legislative duties.
It will be recalled that Jubrin was suspended on September 28, 2016 for 180 days, following corruption allegations he raised against principal officers of the House.
He had among other things, alleged that the officers, including the Speaker, Dogara, surreptitiously padded the 2016 budget with about N40billion
By Dennis Agbo ENUGU- SECOND republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme has noted that the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu were aimed at enthroning justice in Nigeria.
Former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and Independent People of Biafra's leader, Nnamdi Kanu during Kanu's visit to the former Vice President, in Enugu on Wednesday
Ekwueme also said that IPOB's agitation is pursuant to equity among all peoples of Nigeria, particularly the Igbo.
The former Vice President made the remarks, Wednesday, when the IPOB leader visited him in his Enugu residence.
He said he was happy to receive Kanu in his house and promised to privately offer his advice to him on how to carry on with his vowed agitation for restoration of a Biafra republic.
Ekwueme said "For me it is a pleasure receiving Nnamdi in my humble abode here today after all his travails in the last few months. I thank God that he is free and able to move around and to be able to see him here in this house.
"It is a pleasure for me to receive him. I will make my best counsel available in his very onus task of leading an agitation that is committed to maintenance of justice and equity among all peoples, especially our people."
A 17-year-old secondary school student, Jamiu Ibrahim, who allegedly broke into his school and stole nine ceiling fan regulators valued at N30,000, was on Wednesday released on N50,000 bail on the orders of an Ikeja Magistrates' Court.
The Magistrate, Mrs F. A. Azeez, who gave the ruling, also granted the accused a surety, who must be gainfully employed with an evidence of two years' tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Ibrahim, whose address was not provided, is facing a charge of theft.
He, however, entered a `not-guilty' plea.
But the Prosecutor, Sgt. Emmanuel Ajayi, said the accused committed the offence on April 19 at Birch Freeman High School, Mushin.
According to him, the accused unlawfully entered the school premises and stole nine ceiling fan regulators worth N30,000, property of the Lagos State Ministry of Education.
"The accused, a student of the school, was caught with the items when he wanted to escape at the school gate."
The offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section prescribes a three-year jail term for offenders.
The magistrate adjourned the case until May 17 for mention.
The ex-governor of Benue, Gabriel Suswam, has withdrawn the fundamental human rights suit he instituted against the Department of State Services (DSS) seeking an order of unconditional release from detention.
Former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, has been invited by the Department of State Services, DSS.
Suswam had also asked the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to order the DSS to award him N10 billion as compensation for unlawful incarceration and violation of his rights.
When the matter was called on Wednesday, counsel to Suswam, Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN), told the court that his client had no further intention of continuing the suit.
Daudu maintained that although Suswam's doctor had placed him on strict bed rest, he reluctantly released him to appear in court to validate his claim of ill health.
"The applicant was just released on Sunday after over 70 days in detention and he visited his consultant cardiologist and was given a document showing that he should be on strict bed rest.
"In view of the fact that he was released based on his health, he needs time to get his health back to be able to stand trial.
"We, however, apply to withdraw the application since he has been released," Daudu said.
State counsel, Mr Terhemba Agbe, said the DSS was not opposed to the application since an applicant had a right to proceed with an application or to withdraw it.
In a short ruling, Justice Gabriel Kolawale, said that based on the oral application made by Suswam's counsel to withdraw the suit, the application was granted and he accordingly, struck out the suit.
Suswam had been in DSS custody since Feb. 25 over allegation of possession of firearm found inside the boot of his car.
The DSS had prayed the court not to release Suswam owing to his alleged connection to the militant group that attacked Zaki Biam, a town in Benue.
The DSS also stated that security report from Benue government alleged that the state would be ungovernable if Suswam was released.
The court however released the former governor on May 7, on self-recognition.
Suswam and his former commissioner for finance, Mr Omadachi Oklobia are standing trial for allegedly diverting about N3.1 billion belonging to the government of Benue.
They are also being tried for alleged money laundering and breach of public trust while in office.
The Federal Government had on Jan. 25, asked the court to adjourn sine die, fresh N7 billion criminal charges filed against Suswam by the office of the Inspector-General of Police.
The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission was committed to making future elections in the country better than the 2015 exercise. Yakubu made the pledge when he received the new United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington at INEC headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.
He expressed gratitude to the U.S. Government for its commendation of the 2015 polls.
According to him, you have noted that the elections were well organised and were of international standard and accepted, contrary to situation in the past where there were protests on the street after elections.
"After the 2015 elections, there were jubilations on the streets and this further underscored the achievement of the commission and the steps that Nigeria has taken towards consolidating its democracy.
INEC
"We appreciate your kind words; 2015 was a defining moment for Nigeria elections, but we want to assure you that the commission is conscious of its responsibility and we are committed to making future elections even better.
"It is for that reason we are have taking some steps in ensuring that the 2019 general elections are better that 2015 general elections,'' Yakubu said.
He said that one of the steps being taken was proper planning.
"We have been planning ahead for 2019 general elections and beyond, and we have done so in many other areas in two ways.''
He disclosed that the commission would, from next week, commence the process of implementing its "2017-2021 Strategic Plan''.
The chairman said that the commission would also clean up voter register, conclude ongoing continuous voter registration in 774 local governments before the 2019 general elections, and continue the exercise later.
He also listed the fixing of specific dates ahead of the 2019 general elections as well as deepening the use of technology as other steps being taken to improve on the country's electoral system.
Yakubu pledged that the commission would continue to work more closely with the US embassy to strengthen the country's democracy and electoral process.
"There is a lot we share in common with the US in terms of our democratic evolution. America practices presidential system, Nigeria also practices the presidential system.
"Many people don't also realize that the Nigeria presidential democracy is second only to the US in terms of the size of registered voters.
"As I speak today, Nigeria has 70 million registered voters, and US is the only country that practices presidential democracy that has more registered voters than Nigeria,'' he added.
Earlier, Symington had said that his visit to INEC was to learn how Nigeria conducted its elections, and commended the commission for the success of 2015 general elections.
He said that conducting widely accepted elections had helped Nigeria to play a leading role expected of it in Africa.
Symington said that majority views across the globe on the 2015 general elections was that the elections were conducted in the atmosphere of peace imposed by wind of hope and shaped by the certainty of comfort.
"So, the combination of peace, hope and comfort seems to me a sort of key that is needed, going forward,'' he said.
He, however, listed good relationship and confidence between the leaders and the followers as some of the key factors required for good governance across the globe.
ABUJA – Only one of the 82 recently ‘released’ Chibok girls has established contact with her parents, Vanguard has learned. President Muhammadu Buhari (standing) speaking during a reception for the 82 Chibok girls. ABOVE RIGHT: A cross-section of the girls. BELOW RIGHT: Members of the BBOG jubilating yesterday.
Chairman of the Chibok community in Abuja, Hosea Tsambido told Vanguard in a telephone chat Wednesday night said Mr Bulus Yehi, who resides in Lagos was able to speak with her daughter via telephone.
“Only one parent, a father, Mr Bulus Yehi, who stays in Lagos has been able to speak with her daughter on telephone”, Tsambido said.
The Chibok community chairman also advised Mr Mustapha Zanna, a chief negotiator for the release of the girls to refrain from disclosing all he knows about the state of the girls in order not to put the families into further trauma.
“Government should not hold to that statement whether it comes from the girls or not. Government should do the right thing by ensuring the release of the girls, including the one said to have preferred the option of staying with her Boko Haram husband.
“Zanna should not have spilled this. It is not everything that he hears that he should come out to say. We are not saying he lied, but he should have kept it a secret. There are so many things that we have also heard but we are not speaking about them in order not to cause more trauma for the parents”, he explained.
The Kogi House of Assembly on Wednesday asked the State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA) and other relevant agencies to assess and remove all dangerous rocks and trees along roads across the state.
This is contained in a resolution of the House following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance on the menacing rocks and trees moved by John Abah (APC-Ibaji) at plenary in Lokoja.
Abah expressed concern that the unbalanced rocks and trees constituted great threat to motorists and passersby on the roads.
The lawmaker recalled that last month a rainstorm uprooted a tree by hydro junction, Adankolo in Lokoja, killing five persons in a tricycle including a pregnant woman.
Seconding the motion, Haruna Idoko Musa (APC-Idah) said government needed to take urgent steps to preventing further disasters, adding "a stitch in time saves nine".
Mr Aliyu Akuh (PDP-Omala) in his contribution said that the state Town Planning and Urban Development Board be made to be alive to its responsibilities, noting that many residential houses were being erected near such rocks and trees.
He said that the officials of town planning board should be cautioned against reckless approval of development plans in such areas.
In his ruling, the Speaker, Alhaji Umar Imam, first recalled the scenery provided by natural plants during his schooling days, holding however that since the government had failed to culture them for safety and recreational purposes, it should remove them with a view to protecting lives and property.
He ordered the clerk of the legislature to communicate the executive on the resolution.
Sylvester Emmanuel , Nigeria's number two-ranked tennis player who lost 3-6, 4-6 to Canadian Brayden Schnur on Wednesday, said experience kept the North American ahead of him.
Emmanuel however had qualified for the Round of 16 after beating US-based Aron Pierce on Tuesday in the ongoing second edition of Dayak Tennis Championship.
In an interview with nwesmen in Abuja, Emmanuel acknowledged that his opponent preformed better.
" The Canadian player was better and his experience enables him to unleash his skills and didn't give me chance to do what I needed to do.
"He played well and his experience was well above mine, which kept him ahead of me.
"This is a process anyway. You learn from each game and you move on," he said.
Schnur, who was in Nigeria for the first time and had to change his shirt twice in the match, said the hot weather did not affect his style of play.
"I changed my shirt because the weather is hot and I was sweating, though I ensured that the weather did not distract me.
"But I am getting used to the weather and will take the game one at a time as I look forward to playing in the quarter-finals," he said.
NAN reports that Schnur had won the Tombim Abuja Open last weekend and was hopeful of moving further.
NAN reports that the Dayak tournament is an International Tennis Federation event where players can garner Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) points.
The event which has over 50 players with 25,000 dollars up for grabs began on Sunday and will end on Saturday.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has not gambled with the club’s season by prioritising Europa League success over a top-four finish in the Premier League, he said on Wednesday.
Mourinho
Mourinho has given up on United’s hopes of securing Champions League qualification via the league and fielded a weakened team in last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Arsenal.
United are 1-0 up ahead of the home leg of their Europa League semi-final against Celta Vigo on Thursday and with victory in the tournament yielding a Champions League slot, Mourinho says his choices were entirely rational.
“The situation is simple. Seventeen matches in seven weeks with 16 players is impossible. It was not a gamble. It was a simple decision,” he told reporters at Old Trafford.
“It was a decision based on common sense. Seventeen matches in seven weeks, April and May. Seventeen matches with 16 players is completely impossible.
“We lost four players in one week, when we lost (Chris) Smalling and (Phil) Jones in the (England) national team and (Marcos) Rojo and Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) against Anderlecht (in the previous round).
“After that we lost boys that could be alternatives: Ashley Young, Luke Shaw, Timothy Fosu-Mensah. When we lost these players in a period of 17 matches in seven weeks, it was the impossible job.
“It was not a gamble, just a consequence of our situation.”
Mourinho has already led United to victory in the League Cup, but they lie four points off the Champions League places with three matches of the Premier League season remaining.
More accustomed to competing for Champions League titles, United are bidding to reach the final of Europe’s second-tier competition for the first time in their history.
– Atmosphere ‘not consistent’ –
Spanish side Celta have never reached a continental final of any stripe, but Mourinho says there will be no difference between the teams when it comes to their will to win.
“In terms of motivation we are even,” said the Portuguese, who led Porto to glory in the UEFA Cup –- as the Europa League was formerly known -– in 2003.
“For Celta, in their words it’s the most important match of their history. My feeling is also the most important match of our history. It doesn’t matter what happened before, how big the matches before were.
“What matters is the next one and the next one is tomorrow. I don’t think Celta want it more than us. So in this aspect I don’t think there will be a difference between the teams.”
Mourinho revealed United will be without Rojo, Shaw, Young, Fosu-Mensah and Ibrahimovic for the rest of the season, but he reported no new injury problems
Celta have scored in all six of their Europa League away games this season and with United’s lead so slender, Mourinho challenged the club’s supporters to provide a fitting atmosphere for the occasion.
“I see a difference between matches. I don’t think it’s consistent, the atmosphere, the enthusiasm,” he said.
“For example, the match against Chelsea (which United won 2-0), I could feel they (the fans) wanted to play. They played from the first minute until the last minute. It was really a very strong Old Trafford.
“We had other matches, for example against Anderlecht, where the stadium was not warm enough to make us feel that was a very important match for us.
“And it was, because it was a quarter-final second leg. So hopefully tomorrow they have this feeling it’s a semi-final second leg and more important than a quarter-final second leg. So we have to fight hard tomorrow.”
Manchester United's manager Jose Mourinho will be putting all his eggs in one basket when he leads out his team against Celta Vigo at Old Trafford on Thursday.
The main aim will be to move a step closer to ensuring UEFA Champions League football for next season.
The Portuguese coach has made no secret of the fact he has prioritised winning the Europa League over a top-four Premier League finish.
He has seen it as the best route for United to secure a place in Europe's elite club competition once again in 2017-18.
Mourinho takes his side into the Europa League semi-final second leg against Celta on Thursday, protecting a 1-0 lead comfortably earned in Spain.
The result has made United to be looking hot favourites to reach the final in Stockholm on May 24.
He effectively gave up the challenge of earning Champions League qualification through United's Premier League placing.
This was when he decided not to field his strongest team at Arsenal on Sunday and paid the price with an insipid 2-0 defeat.
Mourinho's caution earned him criticism from those United followers who believed he should have been more ambitious and gone all out for the victory at The Emirates.
They argued this could have still given the team hope on two fronts.
Most vociferous has been United's former England midfielder Paul Ince who, in his column for bookmakers Paddy Power, described Mourinho's approach as "rubbish" and "naive".
Yet Mourinho may have another good reason for focusing on the Europa League route.
Already, he is sure to bring back key figures like Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Antonio Valencia against Celta Vigo after resting them from Sunday's starting lineup,
But United are almost sure to go straight into the group stage of next season's Champions League by winning the Europa League.
However, they would have to go through the tricky final playoff round if they qualified by finishing fourth in the league.
The rules dictate that if the winners of the Champions League don't also qualify for next season's competition via their home league placing, then the Europa League winners have to go through the playoffs.
Yet with both Champions League finalists, Juventus and in all probability Real Madrid, sure to qualify through their domestic leagues, that will not apply.
All of this depends on United finishing the job against Celta and then prevailing in a potentially tough final against, in all likelihood, a vibrant young Ajax Amsterdam side.
The Dutch side go to Olympique Lyonnais protecting a 4-1 lead in their semi-final.
Yet Ince felt Mourinho had taken an unacceptable risk, with United now four points behind local rivals Manchester City with three Premier League games remaining.
"Jose Mourinho keeps going on about playing a 'weakened' team against Arsenal to save themselves for the Europa League second leg. It's rubbish," Ince said.
"They've got some really unfortunate injuries but they still have an excellent squad and should be able to cope with playing both games.
"I can see they're clearly going for the Europa League as the main target, but I think that's naive.
"If they'd put out a slightly stronger team last week (against Arsenal), they'd be touching top four. It's a massive risk."
