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
ABUJA – The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has ordered the freezing of the Paris-London Club Refund bank accounts of Abia, Cross River, and Delta states.
Justic Yusuf Halilu issued the order on 3rd of August 2017, sequel to an affidavit in support of an ex-parte originating summons sworn to by Dr. Maurice Ibe, the Chairman and Managing Director of Mauritz Walton Nigeria Ltd, and filed before the court by his Counsels, Alex Marama, Charles Ude, and Kenneth N. Esq.
The suit was as a result of the debt owed by the three states, which had engaged a consultancy firm to pursue the refund of excess deductions on foreign loans and miscellaneous charges in exchange of certain percent of any fund recovered.
The Court, in the document that was made available to Vanguard, also ordered the banks to set up an escrow account where the funds in the respective bank accounts will be deposited pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
In the affidavit, Ibe averred that there is an urgent need for the court to direct the third defendants (United Bank for Africa Plc and Zenith Bank Nig. Plc) in the case between Mauritz Walton Nigeria Ltd and the three state governments to, in the interim, stop further disbursement of the money already in or accruing to the Paris-London Club Refund accounts of the three states.
Abia state government reportedly owes Mauritz Walton Nigeria Ltd the sum of $11,325,000 and N1.72bn; Cross River state government owes the sum of $8,050,000 and N1.2bn; While, Delta state government owes $27,274,135 and N3bn.
Abia state government had engaged Mauritz Walton Nigeria Ltd on the 3rd of November, 2014 to pursue the refund of excess deductions on foreign loans and miscellaneous charges in exchange of 30 percent of any fund recovered.
Similarly, Cross River government engaged the same consultancy firm on the same date for the same purpose in exchange of 20 percent of any fund recovered while Delta state government also engaged the services of Mauritz Walton Nigeria Ltd in exchange of 30 percent of any fund recovered.
Justice Halilu adjourned the suit to 7th September, 2017 for hearing.
By Joseph Erunke In a rare display of love and concern for the poor, Japanese Government through its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, GGP, establishes two skills centres in Abuja communities of Sabo Gida in Bwari Area Council and Durumi, near Asokoro in Abuja Municipal Area Council in a bid to empower the natives and give them a new lease of life. This is indeed, a warm handshake of love from Tokyo to Abuja, as Joseph Erunke reports.
Honourable Abike Dabiri-Ewa Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora with Mr Masaya Otsuka Deputy Head of Mission Embassy of Japanese
Durumi and Sabo-Gida, both rural communities under Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory,FCT Abuja, are few kilometres away from the city’s metropolis . The two communities to a large extent, share similar features-both are located near the highbrow areas of Abuja. While Sabo-Gida is close to Bwari Area Council metropolis where a federal government agency such as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, is located, Durumi is a few kilometres from Asokoro, one of the biggest cities in the Federal Capital Territory and a highbrow area said to be exclusively preserved for the rich, with sophisticated, state-of-the-art buildings and beautifully laid-out streets; a secured, organized and clean environment.
The quest of the two communities to have some vocational training centres for their people to learn some trades has been answered but not by Nigerian government or the Bwari Area Council that would have been responsible. Their helper is the Japanese government!
Touched by the plight of the people in these areas following the deplorable conditions they are daily faced with, the Japanese government stepped in with assistance of constructing and equipping two vocational training centres valued at over N100 million.
The two vocational training projects which were commissioned by the Japanese government through its embassy in Nigeria are expected to engage women in practical vocational training. Already, over 2,000 women in both communities have since indicated interest to acquire skills in each of the centres.
The projects were constructed and equipped by the embassy through its implementing partners, Initiative for Food, Environment and Health Society and the Tabitha Cumi Foundation.
While Initiative for Food, Environment and Health Society, IFEHS, handled the N30 million worth Sabo-Gida Vocational Training Centre Project, the Tabitha Cumi Foundation, was responsible for the N70 million Durumi Vocational Training Centre all sponsored by the people and government of Japan.
At the commissioning of the projects, the Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, Mr Masaya Otsuka, said the projects were part of efforts by the Japanese government to support and improve the lives of people in Nigeria.
According to Otsuka the Japanese government has so far assisted many Nigerian communities with 158 grassroots projects and vocational training centres to the tune of $11 million since 1988 and will continue to render strategic support to the country under the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, GGP. The projects, he explained, were aimed at training people in sewing skills, snacks making, professional cooking skills, craft making among other things.
He described the projects as direct socio-economic intervention aimed at providing opportunities for the poor, who he noted, were seeking for vocational training but cannot afford the cost of acquiring skills commercially and privately.
He explained that the projects were aimed at improving the lives and living conditions of the most socially and economically vulnerable people namely, women and young people.
While handing over the projects to the benefiting communities, he appealed to them to maintain the centres and the equipment properly for the greater benefits of the communities for a long time.
“Today is the beginning of the projects in your hands. I would like to ask everyone present here to maintain the centres and all the equipment properly for the greater benefits of the communities for a long time. I wish that these projects will give the comfort and vitality to the people."
Speaking at the commissioning of the two projects in Abuja, which incidentally fall within his area of control, the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Musa Dikko, lauded efforts of the Japanese government in alleviating the sufferings of his people through the provision of vocational training facilities.
Dikko confessed, “I am short of words to describe what the Japanese government has done for me and my people. Given the lean resources from federal allocation and in view of the many diverse challenges our local council is facing, we cannot boast of sitting these projects for the people .
“I am indeed grateful to the people and government of Japan for this laudable gesture done on us, the people of Bwari Area Council and by extension, Nigeria,"he said.
On her part, Executive Director, Tabitha Cumi Foundation, Tayo Erinle, said through the confidence reposed in the organisation by the Embassy of Japan, it had so far built three schools in three undeserved communities, namely Durumi, Jikoko and Mapa, all in Abuja for residents in need.
“In each of these communities, we have brought ‘Back to School, the’ Out of School’ children, ensured that the girls remain in school through our Tabitha Girls Club” and provided access to education for the adult learners who missed the opportunity of an early education due to poverty or early marriage. This has been achieved through our "Second Chance" programme in partnership with the FCT Agency for Mass Literacy," she said.
According to her, women have learnt basic literacy and numeracy skills thereby making it possible for them to assist their little children with school work, do simple book keeping in their trades and farming, access health care which she said, had changed their life styles and perception, thus giving them a new lease of life. Some of the villagers, who spoke on the development, hailed the Japanese government for its kind gesture to their communities, saying they would take advantage of the centres to change their lives.
A house wife and resident of Durumi Community, who identified herself as Martha John, said she would not waste time to enrol in vocational trade in the centre.
Mrs. John, who is dependant on her husband, a petty trader, was elated that the Japanese government had brought succour to her community.
“I don’t do anything. I have four children for my husband who sells provision. But his wares are not much. We eat and take care of the family from the little gain he makes from the business. I had wanted to have handwork so as to assist the family financially but the means has not been there. But with this now, I can go and learn handwork after which I will be using to assist the family in my own little way, “she said.
Matthew Agriga, a father of six, told Vanguard in Sabo-Gida that his wife and two grown daughters, who had nothing doing apart from engaging in subsistent farming, would be made to enrol at the Sabo-Gida Vocational Training Centre.
"My wife has no handwork. Even my two grown up daughters after passing out from primary school, are at home. Apart from helping us in the farm, , they have no other thing. I was thinking of taking them to learn trade when this opportunity came. With this now at our doorstep, I won’t hesitate to let them go there for learning of various skills, “he said.
Also in Durumi, Daniel Joshua Atnadu, the Chairman of Akummibodo Indigenous Youth Association, was full of praises for the Japanese Government for identifying with the plight of the people by not only constructing the project but also equipping and handing it over to the community for its use.
But like the famous Oliver Twist, Mr Atnadu said the joy of the Durumi Community would not be complete as other social amenities such as electricity, good road, standard hospital and secondary school among others were needed in the community.
To this end, he tasked the Bwari Area Council, elected representatives of the area as well as other well meaning individuals to rise to the occasion.
The highlight of the commissioning of the two vocational training projects was the decoration of Mr Otsuka in the host community, the Gbagyi's traditional attire as well as presentation of Gbagyi traditional farm implement to him, as symbols of appreciation.
Durumi and Sabo-Gida are not the only beneficiaries of Japanese government’s gesture in the country. In fact, the Japanese government has been cooperating with Nigerian to develop the latter’s different sectors including infrastructure (power supply, transportation, etc), urban environment (waste management, water resources, etc), achievements of inclusive growth, peace building and tackling terrorism through Official Development Assistance, ODA to Nigeria projects (Loan, Grant, Technical Assistance and Grant assistance for grassroots human security projects). The GGP is a Japanese assistance scheme, well known for its swift and pro-poor approaches in Nigeria. Its aim is to meet the diverse needs and bring a direct impact on the wellbeing of grassroots communities.
It provides financial assistance to non-profits organisations to implement development projects at the grassroots level.
Charly Boy, showbiz superstar and activist, on Monday expressed sadness over Sunday's killing of worshippers in a church in Anambra State, saying the killings shows there is no proactive security measures for the ordinary Nigerian. He also urged all levels of government to be proactive on security matters.
Ozubulu community in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra state was thrown into mourning early on Sunday morning, following an attack on St. Philips Catholic Church during Mass.
The lone gunman reportedly killed 35 persons and injured 18 others.
Charly Boy
Charly Boy, in an interview with newsmen, described the crime as the height of man's wickedness to his fellow man, and a sacrilege against God.
"That is the height of total disregard for the sanctity of human life, and my heart goes out to the victims, their families and the entire community.
"How can people be worshipping their creator and some inhumane fellow murder them in cold blood.
"There is no justifiable reason that should cause this massacre on a people, and every Nigerian must stand up and speak with one voice against it.
"I sympathise with the community and the state at large."
The "Area Fada", as he is popularly addressed by young people, noted that the Ozubulu incident was a clear indication that security agencies needed to do more in protecting lives and property.
He, therefore, urged leaders at all levels to prioritise security and give it the needed seriousness, to forestall a recurrence.
"For armed men to drive into a community and attack a church, shows that there are no proactive security measures in place for the ordinary Nigerian.
"If a top politician was in that service or environment, there would have been numbers of security personnel assigned to him.
"Our leaders must stop playing politics with everything, including security of lives.
"We must stand up and do the right thing because every Nigerian has a right to life, protection and other basic things of life," he said.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane indicated that Cristiano Ronaldo will feature in the UEFA Super Cup against Manchester United after travelling with the squad to Skopje on Monday.
Ronaldo
Ronaldo was surprisingly named in the reigning European champions’ group for Tuesday’s match in the Macedonian capital after only returning to training with his club over the weekend.
His summer has been overshadowed by accusations of tax evasion in Spain, which led to him appearing in court last week, and speculation over his future.
According to a report from Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, Ronaldo told the court he “would like to return to England” due to his tax troubles in Spain.
The World Player of the Year was handed an extended summer break after playing for Portugal at the Confederations Cup in Russia. He also reportedly became a father to twins in June.
But despite all that, Zidane said: “There have been a lot of things happening, a lot of noise around him as always, but he is relaxed.”
Ronaldo’s last club appearance saw him score twice in the 4-1 Champions League final win over Juventus in Cardiff in early June as Madrid successfully defended the trophy.
“What impresses me the most about him is that physically he is just as he was on the day of the (Champions League) final, which was two months ago now,” Zidane added at a press conference at the Philip II Arena.
“In the end that is what interests me, him and everyone else.
“The fact he is here with us means a lot because if he is with us he is here to play.”
Having not played any part in Real’s pre-season tour of the United States — which featured a defeat on penalties to United in California — it would still be an enormous surprise if the 32-year-old started in Skopje against his former club.
However, he took part in training on the Skopje pitch on Monday evening and he could get some game time as part of his preparations for the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona this Sunday.
Zidane took his entire 24-man squad to Macedonia for the game as Madrid look to win a trophy they also claimed last year, when they beat Sevilla 3-2 in extra time in the Norwegian city of Trondheim.
If I had a chance in my youthful days, I would have enlisted into one arm of the Nigerian Armed Forces. But I was frustrated, as several attempts I made for admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna were met with a brick wall. After the third failed attempt, I resigned to fate and gave up pursuing a career in the military.
But to say, I have a passion for the military is grossly understating my feelings. I am very emotional about soldiering because its nature does not only blend with me, but perfectly communes with my adventurous nature.
The satisfaction that I am battling to protect someone else, known or unknown to me, drives me crazy. That I can stand to be counted among citizens of Nigeria who can sacrifice their lives to protect and defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of my country confers on me an infinite feeling of fulfillment and heroism.
In addition, what keeps me glued to the military is also the sacredness any military personnel attach to "Orders”. No officer violates the sanctity of "order" and all eyes are set on the "last order", which notifies of a detour from an action in progress and induces fresh compliance with the new direction. No officer would want to be caught napping for flouting an "Order”. Indeed, if other professionals had imbibed the discipline of unquestionable compliance with "order" religiously as done in the military, the world and Nigeria, in particular would have been a better and more cherished place.
And the effectiveness of orders in the Nigerian military has been brought to our attention once more, in the ongoing counter-insurgency campaigns in the country. When Boko Haram insurgency raged with consuming fire, especially in Nigeria's Northeast, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed new Service Chiefs to energize the anti-terrorism campaigns.
The President, who doubles as the Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, appointed the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai as leader of the counter-insurgency war and the new assignment came with an "order" that the military command and control centre in Abuja be relocated to the hotbed of terrorism in Maiduguri. It got instant compliance. And the President fleshed it by ordering the Nigerian military to defeat Boko Haram Terrorism (BHT) within record time.
That was the order from the Commander-In-Chief to Gen. Buratai. And he lived every day working assiduously to not just comply with this presidential order, but also to post positive results in accordance with the order. The Army boss led our troops to the trenches and the tale of Boko Haram insurgency began to twist in favour of victory for Nigeria. By December 2015, barely months after this order to Gen. Buratai, Nigerian troops decimated Boko Haram insurgents considerably reducing their capacity to commit reckless atrocities on Nigerians.
At the outset of 2016, Gen. Buratai had reclaimed nearly all Nigerian territories captured by insurgents and by the middle of the same year; Nigerian troops had completely overwhelmed terrorists. The stage was set for their final defeat and in December 2016, Gen. Buratai fully complied with the order to defeat Boko Haram insurgents, with the demystification and dismantling of the formerly dreaded Sambisa forest in Borno state, insurgents most protective enclave.
That is the seriousness the military attach to "orders”. And the stage of the counter-insurgency war now is at the level of total elimination of terrorism by tracking down fleeing remnants of Boko Haram and also, stopping their capacity to strike soft targets.
Therefore, days back, Gen. Buratai ordered the Commander, Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, Major Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru to capture the factional leader of Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau "dead or alive," within 40 days. It's the first indication that Shekau is in trouble as Major Gen. Attahiru has just assumed duty to co-ordinate the counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria's Northeast. And as accustomed to the military, it's certain that the Theatre Commander would not play with this crucial order.
I assumed the COAS's order was the final, until another overriding order was issued to Gen. Buratai by the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. The Acting President was clear that Shekau should not only be arrested, but the Nigerian Service Chiefs should relocate to Borno state and through concerted efforts, scale up actions to halt further terrorists attacks on soft targets. It means the two complementary orders are being tackled simultaneously.
And I believe since the military religiously comply with orders, they are also mindful not to go beyond the dictates of the orders. President Buhari ordered the defeat of Boko Haram terrorism and it came to pass. Perhaps, Boko Haram is yet to be totally eliminated because there was no order to this effect until now, which accounts for the flashes of suicide bomb attacks in parts of Borno.
What infinitely excites me is that all the necessary orders have been issued now on the final military destination with Boko Haram terrorism and of course, the last one emanating from the Acting President, Professor Osinbajo. I have no modicum of doubt about the hard times awaiting Boko Haram insurgents, as a military officer would prefer death than fail to execute an order to its conclusive end.
And relieving still, the order is backed by action and collective approach as exemplified by the relocation of Service Chiefs and Heads of other security agencies to Borno state. It appears to me, Boko Haram insurgents dread orders and the present crop of Service Chiefs who are in Maiduguri to serve humanity and save their country have never failed to fruitfully execute orders concerning the counter-insurgency war. I can safely assert that the die is now cast and terrorists have tougher times ahead. That is the essence of the "Last Order," on Boko Haram by the Acting President, Professor Osinbajo.
Again, it also means the current tempo of the counter-insurgency war is no more business as usual and tailored to finally eliminate terrorism from our shores. Nigerians should be assured that Nigerian troops will chase Shekau and his remnants of foot soldiers into the darkest of holes, in compliance with this order.
I can happily sight the days of Boko Haram torment of Nigerians and our country gradually ebbing out and I feel, it's better for terrorists to surrender than be caught up in the crossfire in the course of executing these "Orders”. Myself and indeed, countless Nigerians appreciate the sacrifices of these tactful Service Chiefs and the courageous Nigerian troops. We cannot wait to see Shekau and his minions boil in their own stew.
Police in Enugu State have arrested Bishop Ginika Obi for allegedly defrauding members of the public of over N500 million.
The Spokesman of the Police Command in the state, Ebere Amaraizu, said this in a statement on Monday in Enugu.
Amaraizu said Bishop Obi, who is in-charge of the City of Liberation and Comfort Ministry in Enugu, had been trailed by police operatives for three months.
"Bishop Ginika Obi in-charge of City of Liberation and Comfort Ministry is now helping police operatives of the Commissioner of Police Enugu Monitoring Unit following his arrest over the weekend in a Hotel in Enugu where he has been taking refuge.
"Before now, the suspect who hailed from Umuaku in Uli community of Ihiala Local Government Area in Anambra was also in-charge of an alleged financial Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) known as `Build Your Generational Organisation' where his victims are made to invest with a hope of reaping a bumper financial dividend.
"It was gathered that his victims are numerous and with various degrees of complaints of huge amounts of money swindled from them without anything to show for it.
"The suspect on noticing that police are on his trail, based on complaints of alleged swindling of some suspected members of the public to the tune of N500 million with his wife and some of his eight alleged pastors, disappeared for months.
"The bishop, however, left his wife in Enugu Prisons custody over the matter.
"During his disappearance from Enugu, preliminary investigations revealed that he escaped and relocated to Asaba in Delta to avoid being nabbed by police operatives for months.
"It was further gathered that luck ran out of the suspect over the weekend as he was trailed based on intelligence information to a hotel at Amechi Road off Agbani Road in Enugu where police operatives acting on a tip-off nabbed him,'' he said.
Amarizu said that the bishop had also revealed during preliminary investigations that he never knew that his alleged financial NGO would "turn out in this way".
"The suspect (bishop) disclosed that the amount he defrauded was not up to the sum of N500 million but N186 million, while regretting his action,'' the police spokesman said.
Some of the suspect's victims, Blessing Edekin a widow, Nnenna Okonkwo and Chidiebere Okolo, told newsmen that the bishop had defrauded them of various sums of money and disappeared.
They expressed delight at his arrest.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Danmallam Mohammed, had directed a full scale investigation into the alleged nefarious activities of the cleric.
By OLA AJAYI IBADAN – GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has expressed doubts over a report given by some governors who paid a courtesy visit to the ailing President Muhammadu Buhari in London saying they did not take him along because they knew he would certainly tell Nigerians the correct health status of the President.
Fayose, who was presenting a welcome address at an all-inclusive meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party with other political parties which held at Ibadan Civic Centre, Agodi Gate, Ibadan Monday, maintained that a sick person who has little or no strength cannot govern Nigeria.
He became sarcastic saying if the President refused to take a bow and leave governance of the populous country, he should be made the "Minister of Foreign Affairs in London" where he is presently recuperating.
Osokomole as he is fondly called said, "Why did they not take me to London. Why didn't they take me there? They obviously knew very well that I would listen to the man and know whether his voice is clear or not. Then, I would be able to tell Nigerians the truth.
‘Leadership must come with a certain measure of strength. If you don't have strength, how can you govern the country? So, we need a president that is hale and hearty. If our President doesn't want to go, let him become the Minister of Foreign Affairs in London. These are statements of fact".
Some weeks ago, some governors including governors of PDP controlled states visited the President in London and came back with a report that he would soon come back to the country after the doctor’s approval.
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – FIRST Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, on Sunday went back to London, the United States capital, to join her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari who has been on medical vacation since 7th May Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, addressing State House Correspondents shortly after her arrival in Abuja on Tuesday (6/6/17) from United Kingdom where she went to visit her husband, who is on medical leave in the British capital. She conveyed the appreciation of President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians over their constant prayers and said he would soon return to the country.
Mrs. Buhari had returned to Nigeriaearly hours of last week's Thursday and preceded to Owerri, the Imo State capital, where she was received by the wife of Imo State Governor, Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha.
Confirming her trip back to London yesterday, Special Assistant to the First Lady, Media and Publicity, Mrs. Adebisi Olumide-Ajayi, said the First Lady returned to London on Sunday but added that there was no information about her return date.
The trip marked the third time Mrs. Buhari would be visiting her husband in London, since May 7, when the president left the country on an indefinite medical vacation.
She had first left the country for London on May 31 and returned on June 6. On July 2, three weeks later, she returned to London and did not come back until August 3, only to return on August 6.
Police in Rivers state said three out of the five passengers of "God is Good" motors kidnapped on Monday morning on the East-West road in Rivers had been released.
The Spokesman of the Police Command in the state, ASP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
Omoni said five passengers were initially kidnapped from the vehicle.
He said the bus was en route to Lagos from Port Harcourt when the incident occurred.
He said the police was "on top of the situation" to ensure that the remaining two passengers were released.
The incident happened at Emuoha community along the East-West road at 7.30 a.m.
Efforts to speak with the Manager of the Transport Company in the state proved abortive as he was said to have travelled with other staff members of the management to the scene of the incident.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says Kogi State Government violated the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention by proscribing ASUU in Kogi State University (KSU), Ayingba.
The Zonal Coordinator, ASUU Abuja Zone, Dr. Theophilus Lagi, who made this known while briefing newsmen on Monday in Abuja said the state government also violated the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.
The Abuja zone comprises University of Abuja, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai and Federal University, Lafia.
Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on July 19 proscribed activities of the ASUU in KSU, Ayingba.
Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi
The governor, who announced the proscription in Lokoja shortly after the weekly executive council meeting, said the decision was with immediate effect.
He said the state government was forced to take the decision following the refusal of the lecturers to call off six months old strike.
Bello said ASUU rebuffed all government efforts to persuade it to end the strike, including meeting over 90 per cent of the union's demands.
Lagi, however, dismissed the governor's claim that he had paid all outstanding salaries of the staff of the university.
According to him, ASUU members of KSU have the right to associate and form unions.
"This right is clearly enshrined in the ILO Convention on Freedom of Association and the Protection for Right to Organise, which has been duly ratified by Nigeria
"In ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Freedom to the Right to Organise, it clearly stated that workers shall have the right to organise and form trade unions and public authorities shall refrain from any interference.
"The provision of the convention is domesticated by the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and is clearly in Section 40 that, every person shall not only be entitled to freely assemble or associate and in particular shall freely form or belong to trade unions and other associations for the protection of his or her interest,'' he said.
He said ASUU was an organisation of intellectuals who believe in the rule of law, adding that the union was open to dialogue with a view to resolving the problem.
The ASUU Zonal Coordinator appealed to well-meaning Nigerians, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil and public servants and esteemed students to prevail on Bello to do the needful.
Southampton’s in-demand defender Virgil van Dijk has submitted a transfer request, the Netherlands international announced on Monday.
Virgil van Dijk
“I am incredibly ambitious and want to achieve as much as I possibly can to fulfil my potential in what is a very short career as a professional footballer,” Van Dijk said in a statement released to the media.
“I want to play European football again and challenge for major honours and as such I would like Southampton to consider the interest in me from top clubs should it still exist.”
Van Dijk, 26, has been linked with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Liverpool publicly dropped their interest in signing him earlier in the close season after Southampton threatened to report them to the Premier League for an illegal approach.
Van Dijk revealed he had been fined two weeks’ wages by Southampton and said he would be appealing against the punishment, which he described as “unjustified”.
He said he felt “frustrated” and “disappointed” that “enquiries from multiple top clubs have been consistently rebuffed”.
He also rejected accusations he had refused to train and said he had been told by new manager Mauricio Pellegrino to train away from the first team due to his unsettled mindset.
“As a proud professional I am insulted by the suggestion that it was me who refused to train and so feel it is important to point out the true version of events,” he said.
Van Dijk, capped 12 times by the Netherlands, said the saga had “seriously affected” his relationships with people at the club and Southampton’s fans.
“I would like to make clear that I have nothing but gratitude to everyone at Southampton for giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League,” he added.
“However, the time for me to move on is now and I hope to be able to work with the club to find the best resolution to suit all parties.”
Van Dijk joined Southampton from Celtic in a £13 million ($16.9 million, 14.4 million euros) move in September 2015 and has since emerged as one of the most imposing centre-backs in the Premier League.
He signed a new six-year contract in May 2016.
He missed the last five months of last season, including Southampton’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United in the EFL Cup final, due to an ankle injury.
—Says president hasn't broken any law By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA – THE presidency Monday said that President Muhammadu Buhari who has spent about 90 days in London as a result of undisclosed ill health will not resign from his office as he has not fallen short of any known law in the country.Sit-out protests in Nigeria and London to demand Buhari’s return or resignation
The Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu stated this while addressing State House Correspondents over the call by some civil society organizations, CSOs that protested in Abuja demanding that the president should either resume work or resign on the grounds of ill health.
Recall that President Buhari left Nigeria on 7th May to London on medical vacation and he transmitted power to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who he said should step into his shoes in acting capacity pending the time of his return.
Speaking with State House correspondents, Malam Shehu said President Buhari has not breached any law of the country.
According to him, "Those making the calls are exercising their rights in line with the constitution of this country. Of what use, or value is a democracy in which citizens cannot embark on peaceful protests? So we respect their right to convene or undertake peaceful protest.
"On the call for the President to resign or disclose whatever, I think they are stepping outside the laws of this country. Anyone conversant with the constitution of this country will have noticed or seen that Mr. President has complied 100 percent with the requirements of the constitution of this country.
"He has handed over power to the vice president as required by the constitution and the vice president is carrying out the affairs of this country. He is undertaking activities of government in line with the constitution in a way that the President himself has given words of commendation.
"So the President has not breached any law. What he has done is perfectly in line with the constitution and people are looking for things to say. I think they should do their research very well."
The Anambra state Police Command has said that it has arrested suspects involved in the early Sunday morning killing of worshippers at St. Philips Catholic Church in Ozubulu.
Spokesman of the command, Nkeiruka Nwode, confirmed this to TheCable on Monday.
Police
While refusing to reveal the identities of the suspects, the spokesman said that the suspects were arrested on Monday.
"This is a very sensitive investigation so you people (journalists) have to help us," she was quoted as saying.
"As soon as the investigation is concluded, we will let the public know. But as far as I'm concerned, it definitely has nothing to do with terrorists. It's just a conflict between individuals."
No fewer than 35 worshippers were killed scores injured.
It was learned that trouble started for worshippers who were in church for the 6:00am Mass, when at about 6:45am, the gunmen rode into the church in a Lexus SUV, as one of them entered the church and shot at close range an elderly man, later identified as Pa Ikegwuonu, while others remained in the vehicle outside.
An eye-witness told Vanguard that after killing the old man, the gunman opened fire on other worshippers, as those who tried to flee were cut down by the gunmen outside the church.
Pa Ikegwuonu is the father of Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu, a businessman from Amakwa, who built and donated the church to Nnewi Diocese, while his wife was shot on her right arm and still on admission at the teaching hospital.
It was gathered that the gunmen were looking for his son, Aloysius, who was said to have returned to the village on Saturday and left later in the day. According to a source, the gunmen had thought he was in the church and had wanted to deal decisively with him over a yet-to-be ascertained business deal. How it happened — Witness A survivor, Mr. Stephen Ohamadike, told Vanguard at the church premises that the gunmen entered the church around 6.45am as they were about to begin prayer of the faithful. He said: "Those of us who were to say the prayers of the faithful had just assembled at the altar and I had Number 2 which meant that I was to say the prayer for Nigeria.
Suddenly, I saw someone who was putting on a cap shooting indiscriminately inside the church. "There was pandemonium and in the midst of the confusion, I just lay down on the floor. The officiating priest and the Mass servers quickly left the altar and the Mass came to an abrupt end.
"I counted 11 dead people and many were wounded. I used the vehicle belonging to Pa Ikegwuonu to take him and his wife and others to Evans Hospital where the doctors advised us to go to the teaching hospital. I used the car to convey many other people to the hospital before I came back to Amakwa."
The parish priest, Rev Father Jude Onwuaso, declined comment on the incident, saying the Bishop had directed that only the Diocesan Director of Communications should speak on the matter. Several other parishioners, who sustained bullet wounds were being treated at the hospital, with over 50 medical doctors from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, and other private hospitals around Nnewi battling to save their lives at the Emergency Unit of the hospital.
Governor Willie Obiano, who visited both the church and the teaching hospital, described the incident as very worrisome, adding that preliminary investigations by the Police showed that it was a case between two people from the community who were resident abroad
He said: "It is tragic that these two people had to bring their quarrel abroad to the village and to the church where innocent people had to be killed and injured. We are not going to relax until those who perpetrated this heinous crime are apprehended.
That I can assure you. "It was so bad that the gunmen went round the church to ascertain that the car belonging to the person they were after was there before they entered the church and started shooting, not knowing that it was his parents that came in the car.
"I don't want churches in this state to become apprehensive because of this incident because it is an isolated case." The governor commended the doctors for their quick response to save lives, adding that but for their intervention, more lives would have been lost.
He promised that the state government would offset the bills of those being treated and assist in bearing the cost of the funeral of those who lost their lives.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA – Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NENYLF) on Monday joined in the condemnation of the attack on St. Philip's Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State during a church service, describing it as wicked. Blood stains at the scene of the deadly shooting at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, where an unknown gunman killed 11 persons and injured 18 others in Umuezekwe Ofufe Amakwa community of Ozubulu, Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra on Sunday Recall that the attack perpetrated by yet-to-be identified gun men left scores dead with many others critically injured.
A statement signed by the Acting National Chairman of the Forum, Comrade Imoh Okoko in Abuja stated that the attackers would have sought other lawful ways of resolving their differences instead of taking their grievances to the House of God.
The statement read thus: “The attention of the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NENYLF), has been drawn to the unprovoked attack unleashed on the innocent worshipers of St Philip's Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, it shows the high level of wickedness in our society.
“We hereby condemn this high level of killings of innocent worshipers in the sanctuary of the Almighty God which supposed to be a sacred place and a refuge to all manner of people who enters it. The invaders of the church have shamelessly turned the House of God into the theatre of war which is against the Christian faith no matter the provocation.
“Irrespective of what must have transpired in their business environment, there are law enforcement agents as well as law court to handle such grievances, the killers should have sought legal means rather than embark on mass murder in the church. It is indeed a terror attack on the defenceless Christians in their holy place of worship.
“We hereby call on the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the entire security agents to immediately employ every necessary machinery within their powers and make sure that the perpetrators of this terrorists act are fished out and brought to book. We also use this opportunity to warn the youths to desist from criminal activities and also refuse being used by politicians to cause harm to others.
“We use this medium to condole with the Catholic faithful, the entire members of St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Anambra State and the families of those who lost their lives as a result of this evil massacre; may the Almighty God console them and may the soul of the departed rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. And to those who sustained various degree of injuries, we wish you quick recovery in Jesus name.”
The leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West have called for sanction on Senator Buruji Kashamu and others who plunged the party into needless crisis and also warned members against colluding with those who want to destabilize the party.
In a communique at the end of their meeting in Ibadan on Monday, they also directed the Ogun State chapter of the party to take appropriate steps to punish the senator and others who colluded with him. Kashamu
This is just as Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, said he would declare his presidential ambition openly on October 1, this year.
In his opening remarks, Fayose, who is the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, said the recent judgment of the Supreme Court that recognised Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the National Chairman of the party, was for Nigerians as a whole.
The governor said the second chance given the party by the judgment must not be misused.
“Our party must take appropriate decisions. We mustn’t allow impunity. We need to save ourselves our else the party may be consumed. We have to confront the monster frontally. We have told our leaders to choose between the monster or us.
“Take hold and take charge of your state.
This guy is a black leg. God has delivered us and we must deliver ourselves. I commend you for your patience during the crisis period
I identify with Ogun state stakeholders,” he said.
The Zonal Chairman, Dr Eddy Olafeso, thanked members for their support and identifying with the party in spite of all odds.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Mr Charles Aniagwu has disclosed how the Delta State Government spent the N10bn it recently received from the Federal government as part of the Paris Club excess loan deduction refunds.
Aniagwu disclosed that out of the N10bn, Local Governments in the state were given N2.1bn as their statutory share while about N5bn was set aside to settle certain issues relating to certain aspect of salary arrears, co-operative deductions and pensions. The sum of N2bn plus was earmarked for priority projects that require urgent attention and payment of contractors.
Mr Charles Aniagwu,
The Governor’s Spokesman stated this on Monday while answering questions on ‘Trend talk’ a Radio Programme on Trend 100.9Fm Asaba.
He noted that the Okowa led administration was committed to the prudent, transparent and accountable management of the state’s resources just as he is committed to taking decisions that will be in the best interest of the people.
“Governor Okowa has vowed to remain prudent, transparent and accountable to the people because he realises that the ultimate political power rests on the people who overwhelmingly voted him into office”.
“He has assured that Deltans will get value for every money that accrues to the state at all times.
While answering questions bothering on the payment of local government workers salaries, Aniagwu stated that the local governments are a separate tier of government, adding that the State Government is not responsible for the payment of their salaries.
“Even though we assisted them in the past, we couldn’t continue in the present economic circumstance as we have our own challenges because a man cannot give what he doesn’t have”.
Justifying the setting aside of about N3bn for infrastructure and payment of contractors, Aniagwu stressed that government exists for everybody and not just for the payment of salaries of workers which are less than 2 percent of the population of the state.
“If the government spends virtually all that comes to pay salaries of workers, what happens to the larger chunk of the population? he queried
He assured that the State Government with the support from the Nigeria Society of Engineers will tackle headlong the flooding of Asaba while also reiterating the government’s commitment to completing the Okpanam road, DLA and Mariam Babangida roads.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has sent a message in the direction of UEFA Super Cup opponents Real Madrid by declaring his readiness to bring Gareth Bale to Old Trafford.
Bale – Mourinho
Speaking to reporters in the Macedonian capital of Skopje on Monday, Mourinho said he would wait to see what Bale’s role in Tuesday’s match was before deciding whether the Welshman was worth pursuing.
“If he plays tomorrow it is because he is in the plans of the coach and the club, and it is in his own plans and ambitions to stay there. Then I won’t even think about it,” said Mourinho of the 28-year-old.
“If he is not in the club’s plans and it is true that a player like Bale is at the departure gate, I will try to be there waiting for him at the other side.
“But if he plays tomorrow it is the clearest signal that he is staying there.”
Bale moved to the Spanish capital from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 but injuries restricted his involvement during last season’s run-in and he was only a substitute in Real’s 4-1 Champions League final win over Juventus in Cardiff.
He has been linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu with Real among the clubs fighting for the signature of Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe.
The French teenager has been linked with a 180 million-euro ($212 million, £163 million) transfer although Manchester City are also keen and Paris Saint-Germain are believed to want him to play alongside their world record recruit Neymar.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday consolidated two different suits seeking to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from initiating the process of recalling Sen. Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi).
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba allowed for the suits filed by Melaye and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be consolidated, to avoid having conflicting judgments since the subject matter of both suits were similar.
The application to consolidate the APC suit to the one filed by Melaye was brought by counsel to the party, Mr. O.D. Atoyebi.
Dimgba said that he was mindful to grant the application which was formerly before Justice John Tsoho, in order to avoid conflicting judgments.
He, therefore, directed the APC lawyer to serve all processes on all the parties.
Sen. Dino Melaye
Dimgba had earlier granted the application of some interested parties seeking to join the suit as defendants and plaintiff respectively.
Mr. Olowo Cornelius, John Ajorin and Malam Yusuf Adamu (the petitioners) had sought to be joined as co-defendants, while Michael Olowoleyemo, applied to be joined as co-plaintiff.
Ruling on the applications argued by Mr. Anthony Adeniyi for parties seeking to be joined as defendants, the court held that joining the parties was for "effectual and complete" adjudication of the matter.
Justice Dimgba said it was in the interest of justice that the parties be joined since the issue at stake affected their interests.
He adjourned the matter until Aug. 11 to hear the substantive matter.
It would be recalled that INEC commenced Melaye's recall process following the receipt of a petition from members of his constituency demanding his recall.
Melaye, however, approached the court seeking an order stopping INEC from going ahead with the recall process, pending the determination of a suit he had filed challenging his recall.
Melaye, in the suit, alleged irregularities and fraud in the petition.
The APC filed a similar suit, seeking to stop INEC from recalling Melaye, which was adjourned until Sept. 29.
DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has said that the sum of 12.319 billion naira would be recovered from public servants who fraudulently falsified their records of service.
The governor also directed that the over 530 staff who falsify their retirement age or refused to appear before the Verification Committee On Age Discrepancy And Date Of Birth and Employment of Public Officers in Delta State should be expunged from the payroll immediately.
Receiving the Final Report from the Committee which had Chief Nkem Okwuofu as Chairman, Monday in Asaba, Governor Okowa decried falsification of documents and laxity in the part of those who aid and abet such actions in the public service.
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left) receiving Committee report on the Verification of Dates of Birth and Employment of Public Officers from the Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Dame (Mrs.) Nkem Okwuofu. In Government House Asaba.
He bemoaned the connivance of staff in the falsification and handling of records especially those that are dead and retired, directing the office of the Head of Service to take disciplinary action against the Heads and Directors of affected Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
"It is quite unfortunate that at this point in time we are still dealing with this situation in our public service where people can still voluntarily work with other people to change their date of birth and date of appointment and it is something that all of us must frown at; I frown at such and I believe that the public service and its management must continuously frown at such an act because it is not possible for any staff to unilaterally change his or her date of birth or appointment, so obviously there is a collusion in the entire system and it worries me that at this point in time this is still ongoing", he said,
"Head of Service, with effect from today, the 402 absentees have to be disengaged from the payroll completely and the people that are due to retire, must be expunged from the payroll between today and tomorrow, we cannot continue to tolerate this, it is very unfortunate that we continue to see people who are dead and are still receiving salaries, it is very unsettling and I do not know what the reporting system is; when someone is dead he/she is dead and the name must be removed immediately", Senator Okowa said
"I think that there is a lot of laxity in the entire system and we must find a way to improve on the workability of the system and people must be held liable and disciplined if they do not do their duties; the permanent secretaries, the directors are there, so henceforth any place we find such laxity the people at the head including the permanent secretary or the director must be disciplined themselves otherwise such acts will continue and it should not be because it is very embarrassing to see people that have died over three years ago and we are still paying them", he added.
The governor commended the Committee for the exercise and assured them that government would implement their recommendations for the betterment of the civil service.
Earlier, while presenting the report, Chief Okwuofu disclosed that a total of 4,742 persons were screened, out of which 1,695 were cleared, 137 were asked to proceed on retirement, 810 had their dates of birth and employment corrected and 2,085 verified and affirmed while 402 were absent.
She disclosed with the correction of dates of birth of some staff in the payroll who ought to have retired but, for the falsification of records and others whose dates of birth were altered though not within retirement age, the exercise has resulted in total financial gains of 12,319,762,921.20 naira for the state government.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Monday advised the electorate in Anambra to shun the call by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to boycott the governorship election in the state coming up in November.
The party's National Director of Publicity, Mr. Ifeanacho Oguejiofor said in an interview with newsmen in Abuja that the call was unrealistic as nothing would stop the election.
Oguejiofor said, "Nobody should listen to the so called IPOB telling them that there won't be election in Anambra, it is not possible.
"Whether we like it or not there can never be two states in a state, likewise, there can never be two authorities or two supremacists in a state.
APGA Logo
"Until that is done, Anambrarians should go and register and have their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) so that they can express their choice.
"This is because the choices they make today will affect their future, so they should go all out and obtain their PVCs which is their power," he said.
Oguejiofor urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to give all political parties level playing ground to enable them transform the country's democracy, nurture and sustain it.
The director expressed confidence that no political party would beat APGA in the forthcoming polls.
According to him, the party has built solid foundation over the years in terms of people and infrastructural development since it wrested power from the PDP in the state.
"Since then we have been building the foundation and Willie Obiano is also building a super structure that no political party will be able to edge him out of the race.
"Whether you like it or not, Anambra state is working, Obiano is equally working; the internally generated revenue of the state has improved since he came to power," he said.
Oguejiofor disclosed that the party would commence sale of expression of interest form at the rate of N1 million and nomination form at N4 million from Aug. 8-10.
He said primaries would be held on Aug. 15 while Aug. 17 would be for the sitting of the governorship primaries appeal panel.
The director added that the party would commence campaign on Aug. 18.
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
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the early morning Sunday church killing in Anambra state. At around 6:00 am (0500 GMT) at least one gunman opened fire at St. Philip's church in Ozubulu, near the city of Onitsha, unleashing terror on the congregation. The attack saw at least twelve persons dead and over eighteen others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
However, condemning the terror attack, PDP, in a statement signed by Prince Dayo Adeyeye, its
National Publicity Secretary and made available to newsmen, said that it was barbaric and sacrilegious, adding that the crime shows that the Nigerian society is fast degenerating into a state of anomie, total collapse and disregard for the sanctity of the human life.
St Philip Catholic Church Ozubulu, where the lone wolf struck this morning.
The party which also gave its condolence to the people of Anambra state also said that the attack is simply a wake-up call to the government to up her ante in the area of security of lives and property.
"The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is shocked to receive the news of a gunman attack in the early hours of this morning at St. Philips Catholic Church in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing and injuring several worshipers.
"This invasion is indeed barbaric, sacrilegious and a serious indication that our society is fast degenerating into a state of anomie with total moral collapse and utter disregard for the sanctity of human life.
"We sympathize with the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano and the entire people of the State; and in particular, worshipers of St. Philips Catholic Church and families of the Victims. We wish those injured quick recovery; and may the Souls of the departed rest in the Lord, Amen.
"The killings is a call for moral rearmament by all and sundry. It is also a wake-up call for the Government to do more in the area of protection of lives and property.
"God bless Anambra State! God bless the PDP!! God bless Nigeria!"
By Dapo Akinrefon Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo Sunday, faulted the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinabjo for describing those agitating for restructuring as political jobbers. *AdebanjoAdebanjo Adebanjo said this yesterday at the Southern Leaders Forum meeting in Lagos. Reacting to the Acting President’s remarks that those championing the call for restructuring were looking for appointments, the Afenifere leader said: “That is a very unfortunate statement. I would like it to appear that we are attacking our acting president.
The Acting President was born on the principle of restructuring. Myself and his father were followers of Awolowo since the 1950s.”
Speaking further, he said “he cannot say we are looking for appointment, is it me or Horsfall or Gen Ike Nwachukwu? It just shows someone in position, but does not understand the problem of the people he is leading.
It is an unfortunate statement to make, I am not going to engage in a brick bat with him, it shows the limit of his knowledge of how the country came together. I think he should know better.
He is not only a lawyer, he has been an Attorney-General and Vice President.”
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has revealed why Former Head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, was overthrown in a bloodless coup on July 29, 1975, ushering in the government that came to be known as the Muritala/Obasanjo regime.
General Gowon was overthrown and replaced by Brigadier Murtala Muhammad as head of the new government, and Brigadier Olusegun Obasanjo as his deputy when he was attending an OAU summit in Kampala.
Chief Obasanjo who gave a chronological account of his life at the Diocese of Lagos West, Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral in Lagos, also said that despite the evil thought of the later head of state, General Sani Abacha against him, he did not, for a day, wish anything bad for the general.
Gowon and Obasanjo
“After the war, General Gowon said that military will go by 1976 but later said that it will not be realistic again and that was the major reason why he was unseated.
“That later brought about what was termed as Muritala/Obasanjo regime. But we were careless as regard security in which Muritala was killed like chicken and I would have been killed but God's grace preserved me and I was later persuaded to take over.
“We stabilized the country, conducted election and handed over. But when there was incessant coup in different parts of the country, I spoke against Military in general and Abacha's in particular.
“The consequence was that I was arrested, tried and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment which Abacha later reduced to 15 years but God in his mercy, I only spent 3 years, three months and three days.
He pointed out that the person who sent him to prison was not alive by the time he came out.
“But when I was in prison in Jos, Abacha's son died and I wrote a condolence letter to him and also when he died, I also wrote a letter of condolence to his wife of which the prison authority found unbelievable but delivered all my letters.
Obasanjo who spoke on the topic, “God in my Life” under the auspices of Torchbearers Society, said his educational career was God's destiny.
He disclosed that the respect he had for his biological father made him slap his teacher on his first day in school, after his teacher had asked him the name of his father.
“I do follow my father to farm but one day, he asked me what I wished to do and I told him I would prefer to be a mechanic. But he suggested education and I bought into it.
“We both went to Abeokuta and visited five different schools of which they rejected me because the school season was already in the middle.
“Later, I was taken to another school in the beginning of a new season. But, on my first day in school, they asked of my name and I gave them but when they asked of my father’s name, I found it irritating.
“By my own training in the village, to mention your father’s name is an insult and for him to ask for my father's name is an insult. So, I slapped him and I was punished for that.
He said that would have been the end of his educational career but God’s plan made him rise to his present level.
A Canadian and a Polish passenger jet clipped wings on the ground at a Toronto airport, causing “serious” damage but no casualties, a spokesman for Air Canada confirmed Sunday.
The Polish plane, operated by the LOT airline, was on the tarmac at Pearson International Airport late Saturday when it was struck by an Air Canada plane that was taxiing toward a nearby landing gate, Peter Fitzpatrick, a spokesman for the Canadian company, said in an email.
The Air Canada craft, a Boeing 767-300, was carrying 286 passengers from Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
Authorities are investigating the incident.
Chris Krepski, a spokesman for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, told public network CBC that preliminary information indicated that the Air Canada plane had struck the LOT plane as the Polish aircraft was preparing for takeoff.
CBC identified the Polish plane as a Boeing 787; its flight to Warsaw was canceled.
An Air Canada Airbus A320 was involved in a potentially catastrophic incident last month at San Francisco International Airport in California, when it came perilously close to landing on a taxiway where several planes were lined up for takeoff.
Air controllers urgently redirected the plane and it landed normally.
Senator Andy Uba has condemned in strong terms the shooting and killing of worshippers at the St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra state.
Senator Uba visits wounded gunshot victims in Anambra
In a statement issued by his media aide, Joseph Itazi, Sen. Uba who visited the scene of the incidents said that people of Anambra were not known for such violence.
He called on the commissioner of Police and the state governor to ensure that the perpetrators of such dastardly act are brought to book.
Uba who was very emotional, also donated an undisclosed amount of money to add to the treatment of the victims.
"Such acts cannot be tolerated in Anambra: for worshipper to be slaughtered during mass is something that we must not allow in this state.
"I call on the state governor and the commissioner of police to immediately swing into action to root out those who killed these innocent worshippers".
"My heart goes out to the families of the diseased.
"Although it is a sad event, we must take solace that having been martyred in the church, the deceased would have gone to a better place," he said.
Speaking wih the victims at Access Specialist Hospital and Martanity Ozubulu and Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Senator Andy Uba expressed deep shock and added that this kind of heartless evil must not be allowed to fester in Anambra State.
"We must not allow such to continue: our people cannot be allowed to be snatched by the cold hands of death due to the activities of recalcitrant members of our society.Senator Uba visits wounded gunshot victims in Anambra
"This is an eye-opener that we need a better and effective administrative system that can adequately take care of security challenges and youth unemployment in the state".
"He also said that this is a clarion call to all Anambrarians to play their individual part in maitaining the peace and unity of the state through community policing.
"We must work together to avoid a recurrence of such incident," he said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has described the late Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, as a `detribalised public official' who believed in the unity of the country.
Onyeama made the remark on Sunday in Abuja at a memorial service held in honour of the late politician and former Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, First Abuja Parish.
reports have it that the late Maduekwe, a lawyer, politician and diplomat, died at the age of 71 on June 29, 2016.
In his tribute, Onyeama said: "he was a public official in the true sense of it for the whole of Nigeria and for all Nigerians; he believed that was what he was without any allegiance to any section of the country.
"One of the greatest testimonials on him was a reception that was organised for him by a particular group who told him that he belonged to them and had to do certain things for them.
"However Chief Ojo Maduekwe told them that he was a minister for the whole country and not for any particular group and I think that really spoke about this man.
"He brought this passion to his work and of course it could underpin his intellectual pedigree which is razor sharp that made him outstanding in all his endeavours."
The minister noted that the late Maduekwe was one of Nigeria's icons, adding that the country had not produced many leaders who came with many qualities as the late politician.
He said that the deceased was "a good person and an intellectual with razor sharp mind'' who occupied the most important offices in the country.
"He has been Minister of Culture and Tourism, Minister of Transport, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of a political party and Nigeria's High Commissioner to Canada.
"So he was really up the height in terms of political and public service career; he was a humble man to the core.
"I had wanted to go and see him when I was made a minister of Foreign Affairs but before I did that he came to see me.
"He gave me a master class for almost one hour on many things even beyond foreign affairs; really amazing and really helpful," Onyeama said.
In his tribute, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, who was represented by his deputy, Ude Chukwu, said the late Maduekwe was a political god father to many people.
He described the late diplomat as "transparent, very intelligent and a man that would want you to do exactly what he said.''
According to the governor, the late Maduekwe did his best to hold Abia together, as well as ensuring the unity of Nigeria.
"He was a man that would want Nigeria to be like one of the developed countries of this world if it was possible for him overnight to turn Nigeria to a great country of this world.
"When he was PDP chairman, he showcased his legendary; when he was a minister he was always outstanding.
"Left for us we would have wanted the man to be alive but what can we do as death snatched him away.
"We pray that God would continue to grant him eternal rest," Ikpeazu said.
The wife of the late former Minister, Mrs Ucha Madukwe, described her late husband as "a lover of peace who wanted the country to be in peace always.''
"My husband wanted peace in the country always; he liked peaceful atmosphere; that was one important thing for him.
"He also wanted to see the youths doing the right things.
"In the midst of this agitation in the country, he would have been in the centre and would have loved peace to reign across the country," she said.
By Chinedu Adonu ENUGU – INTER-PARTY Advisory Committee, IPAC, has flayed the pro-Biafra group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, for their stand to boycott Anambra State November election if Biafra is not granted self-autonomy nor a date set for a referendum for the process. Overall Leader of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
The organisation maintains that Nigeria is still one sovereign nation and as such, such a call tantamount to a joke taken to far.
Chairman of IPAC, Enugu State Chapter, Rev. John Nwobodo, who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Enugu weekend, said that IPOB had no right to order people not to participate in an electoral process, pointing out that self-rule does not just come overnight.
Nwobodo, who is also the Enugu State chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, maintained that since the areas agitating for Biafra independence are still part of Nigeria, IPOB miscalculated by giving such order that election should be boycott.
“Telling people to boycott the Anambra polls, I think is a joke taken too far by members of IPOB because we are still part of Nigeria and should participate in the electoral process,” the IPAC boss said.
He however said that in as much as they may have genuine aspiration for self-determination, they don’t have to give orders but engage in consultations and dialogue to achieve their objective.
On the supposed rejection of restructuring and devolution of powers by the National Assembly, Nwobodo said that the matter has not been concluded because they may still revisit the issue in due course.
According to him, it was a national issue that requires wild consultations with various stakeholders and opinion moulders in the society.He stated that some of the legislators are not read while some of them are sectional, parochial and ethnic chauvinists, pointing out that it would take time for the issue to be sorted out in the interest of progress and development of the country.
While commenting on the forthcoming council polls in Enugu State in the fourth quarter of the year, Nwobodo flayed Enugu State Independent National Electoral Commission, ENSIEC, for setting the election timetable without consulting with the political parties.
The IPAC boss said that ENSIEC has no right to ask the candidates to pay money to participate in the electoral process, describing as laughable the various sums the election umpire has stipulated for the candidates to pay.
Nwobodo described the fees as illegal and said that if PDP candidates are ready to pay, others parties are not ready to pay, pointing out that should they conduct the elections without candidates of other political parties, it would be a nullity.
“The fees are illegal and the parties will not pay. We have always contested the payment of money to participate in an election. If they do the election without other parties, it will be a nullity,” the IPAC boss said. Ends.
Pastor Tim Gbasha of Sheperd International Assembly, Jos, has advised men to always resist the temptation to spank their erring wives, "no matter the provocation".
Gbasha gave the advice while delivering a sermon on Sunday.
"Women get angry easily and could shoot hard words at their men, but true men must resist the temptation to hit their wives when provoked," he said.
Gbasha, in the sermon with the theme: "The Trials of Faith", noted that trials were constant companions of Christians, but said that they should not make one deviate from the ways of God.
"Women, when angry, can provoke their husbands. They can go round, like an aircraft in the runway, raining insults on their husbands.
"At such moments, the husbands should never hit them because that period is a trial of their faith," he said.
The Pastor admonished Christians to be strong during trials, pointing out that even Jesus faced trials.
He reminded the faithful of the trials that confronted Job.
"Job lost everything including his children, wealth, health, and all that was dear to him, but he kept the faith. He did not complain," he said.
Gbasha urged Christians to always be on the watch as the devil could use just anything, including wives, children, friends, neighbours and even colleagues, to bring them down.
Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue state has said that his administration needs N40 billion to clear the backlog of salary arrears owed workers of the state.
Ortom dropped the hint in a statement issued on Sunday in Makurdi by his Special Adviser on Media and ICT, Mr. Tahav Agerzua.
He denied owing workers up to 10 months at a stretch, explaining that he had not breached his agreement with labour leaders in the state concerning the mode of salary payment.
"I have kept my agreement with labour leaders that as a result of insufficient funds, the federal allocation of two months would be combined to pay one month's complete salary for workers."
According to him, it is the accumulation of the unpaid months that gave the wrong impression of 10 months at a stretch.
Ortom
Ortom also expressed regret that the N8.2 billion inherited wage bill had compounded the financial situation of the state.
He said his administration had, however, reduced the wage bill to N7.8 billion, adding that the recovery of looted funds would help address the challenge of unpaid salaries faced by his administration.
He alleged that N107 billion had been looted from the coffers of the state government and that one of the persons indicted by an investigative panel had refunded N370 million.
He further said that N4.5 billion bond proceeds that had been diverted, had also been recovered and channelled to the original purpose it was meant.
The governor said the state of emergency declared on the payment of salaries would focus on reducing the wage bill and clearing the backlog of arrears owed workers.
He said the government was working hard to turn around the fortunes of the moribund industries.
Benue workers are being owed eight months' salary arrears.
The state government recently received N6.4 billion from the Federal Government as its share of Paris Club refunds for the payment of salaries among other interventions.
Wesley SneijderUnfashionable Nice have made a habit of signing top class talent over the last few seasons, with France international Hatem Ben Arfa, Italian striker Mario Balotelli, Brazilian centre-back Dante and Morocco playmaker Younes Belhanda all joining over the past two years.
Sneijder
Now, 33-year-old Dutch international Sneijder, who won the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010, is set to sign a one-year deal with an option for another year, according to a club source.
On Sunday evening, Nice posted on Twitter to say they had reached an “agreement in principle” with the former Real Madrid and Ajax star.
They also posted a photo of the player at their club offices and an emoji of two shaking hands.
Sneijder, who arrived in Nice at 5pm, will undergo a medical on Monday and could put pen to paper later in the day.
The attacking midfielder, who played in the 2010 World Cup final for the Netherlands and has won league titles in four countries, was released by Galatasaray at the end of last season, meaning he is available for free.
Nice signed Ben Arfa from Newcastle United in 2015, with the talented playmaker helping them qualify for the Europa League before moving on to Paris Saint-Germain.
Nice followed that up a year ago by bringing in Balotelli, who won the Champions League alongside Sneijder at Inter, Dante and Belhanda.
The latter left to return to Dynamo Kiev, from where he’d been on loan, before signing for Galatasaray — replacing Sneijder.
Nice finished third in Ligue 1 last season and face a two-legged play-off against Napoli later this month to qualify for the Champions League group stages.
On Saturday they lost their opening league match of the season 1-0 to Saint-Etienne.
Israel said on Sunday it planned to close the offices of Al-Jazeera in the Jewish state, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the Arab satellite news broadcaster of incitement.
Netanyahu had said on July 27 that he wanted Al-Jazeera expelled amid tensions over a sensitive Jerusalem holy site.
“Al-Jazeera has become the main tool of Daesh (the Islamic State group), Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran,” Communications Minister Ayoob Kara, a member of the Druze community from Netanyahu’s Likud party, told a news conference.
He accused the Qatar-based broadcaster of “inciting violence which has provoked losses among the best of our sons”, referring to two Druze policemen who were killed in a July 14 attack near the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in east Jerusalem.
Al-Jazeera microphone
Netanyahu tweeted his congratulations to Kara “who on my instructions took concrete steps to end Al-Jazeera’s incitement” in Israel.
An official at Al-Jazeera in Doha said the channel “deplores this action from a state that is called the only democratic state in the Middle East” and called the move “dangerous”.
The official, who declined to be named, said the broadcaster would “follow up the subject through appropriate legal and judicial procedures”.
Israel’s communications ministry said “nearly all countries in the region including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, have concluded that Al-Jazeera incites terrorism and religious extremism.”
It said it had become “ridiculous that the channel continued to broadcast from Israel”.
– Credentials revoked – Regional kingpin Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt broke ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of fostering extremism and later issuing 13 demands, including Al-Jazeera’s closure.
The Al-Jazeera official said Sunday he was “surprised” at Israel’s move, and defended the channel’s “professional and objective” coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The channel’s Jerusalem bureau chief, Walid al-Omari, said his office had not received any official notification that it would be forced to close.
Speaking on Al-Jazeera, he said the move was related to internal Israeli politics.
“Netanyahu wants to distract attention from issues he is facing,” he said, in an apparent reference to ongoing investigations into graft cases allegedly involving the premier.
The Israeli ministry said it would cut the channel’s cable and satellite connections and demand that Al-Jazeera journalists be stripped of their credentials.
The closure of Al-Jazeera’s offices would come under the remit of security officials.
Israeli authorities would also seek to limit access by the Jewish state’s Arab citizens to the station’s Arabic-language broadcasts, the ministry said without elaborating.
Arab Israelis, the descendants of Palestinians who stayed after the state of Israel was created in 1948, make up 17.5 percent of the country’s population.
Israel has regularly accused Al-Jazeera of bias in its coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Netanyahu heads what is seen as the most right-wing government in Israeli history.
He has frequently criticised the news media, accusing outlets of seeking to undermine his government.
– ‘Incitement’ – In July, Netanyahu accused the channel of “inciting violence around the Temple Mount,” a sensitive Jerusalem holy site known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif compound.
The site in east Jerusalem, which Israel captured during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed, is central to the Israeli-Arab conflict.
Protests erupted there last month after Israel installed new security measures including metal detectors, after the two Israeli policemen were shot by attackers who emerged from the compound.
“I have appealed to law enforcement agencies several times to close the Al-Jazeera office in Jerusalem,” Netanyahu said on July 27.
“If this is not possible because of legal interpretation, I am going to seek to have the necessary legislation adopted to expel Al-Jazeera from Israel.”
Palestinians refused to enter the site for nearly two weeks over the new security measures imposed after three Israeli Arabs shot dead the policemen nearby.
That triggered protests which left six Palestinians dead. A Palestinian also broke into a home in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank and stabbed four Israelis, killing three of them.
The crisis ended when the Israeli authorities removed the new security measures including the metal detectors.
Palestinians, who viewed the measures as an Israeli attempt to assert further control over the compound which houses the revered Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock, then ended their boycott of the site.
Under a decades-old agreement, only Muslims may pray inside the compound, although anyone can visit, including Jews.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has predicted cloudy weather conditions over the Central States on Monday morning with isolated thunderstorms over Abuja, Jalingo, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Yola, Ibi and Mambilla Plateau.
NiMet's Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office (CFO), released on Sunday in Abuja, also predicted prospects of rain showers and localised thunderstorms over most parts of the region later in the day.
It said that the central region would have day and night temperatures in the range of 24 to 31and 18 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.
The agency further predicted that Southern states would experience cloudy conditions in the morning with chances of isolated rains over Port-Harcourt, Calabar, Uyo and its environs.
It also predicted prospects of isolated rains over most parts of Soutern states during the afternoon and evening hours with day and night temperatures of 27 to 29 and 21 to 22 degrees Celsius respectively.
According to NiMet, Northern states will experience cloudy conditions with chances of isolated thunderstorms over Nguru, Katsina, Dutse, Kano, Maiduguri and it's environ during the morning hours.
"Later in the afternoon and evening period, isolated thunderstorms are likely over most part of the region with day and night temperatures of 30 to 34 and 21 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.
"Relative instability is expected within the country. These may give rise to cloud build up, thunderstorms and rains across most parts of the cities in the next 24 hours," NiMet also predicted.
The Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, Anambra, has described Sunday's attack on worshippers at St. Philip's Catholic Church, Ozubulu, by a gunman as regrettable.
The church, in a statement signed by Rev. Hygi Aghaulor, Director of Communications of the Diocese, and available to newsmen, said that the Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Jude Onwuaso escaped unhurt.
He described the act as a sign of loss of what is sacred and consoled the families of victims of the attack.
"It is regrettable that our people are more and more losing a sense of what is sacred.
"What on earth would make people open fire on innocent unarmed worshippers including children and women on a Sunday morning?
"We condemn this ungodly act in its totality; we pray Almighty God to console the families affected and assure them that our hearts are with them as we pray for the quick recovery of the wounded.
"For the entire parishioners, we call on them not to be discouraged in their usual practice of faith.
"It is when the forces of darkness attempt to overshadow goodness that the light of God shines even brighter than ever just as it happened on Easter Sunday.
"Evil may make attempts but God and goodness will always triumph; we call on the good people to continue to pray for the deceased worshippers and their families," Aghaulor stated.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state Mr Garba Umar, has said that the command would leave no stone unturned to bring the attackers to justice.
Umar, who spoke at a news conference in Awka on Sunday, gave the updated figures of casualties as 11 dead and 18 injured.
He ruled out the possibility of a terror attack, and spoke about an isolated feud between individuals in the community.
He said that the command had invited some suspects who would be useful to the investigation.
The CP advised residents to go about their lawful businesses, assuring them that churches and public places were safe.
"At about 6.30 a.m. today, Aug. 6, I got a distress call that gunmen had invaded and shot at worshippers at St. Philips Catholic Church, Umuezekwe, Ofufe, Amakwa Village in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area.
"As a result I, the Commissioner of Police, led my operatives immediately to the scene to rescue worshippers.
"The command, under my watch, will leave no stone unturned in locating and prosecuting those behind the massacre of innocent worshippers.
"The intelligence report and preliminary investigation showed that the incident was as a result of a feud between two individuals from the same community living outside Nigeria.
"One of the individuals built the church where the shooting occurred; it is definitely not a terrorist attack in the mould of Boko Haram or Fulani herdsmen attack.
"The command will brief the public after investigation is concluded; I commiserate with all those who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate incident.
"I also encourage `ndi' Anambra to be vigilant and to promptly report suspicious movements or strange observation of persons and actions in their localities to the security agencies.'' Umar said.
A brace from Vivianne Miedema led hosts Netherlands to a 4-2 win over Denmark and their first women’s Euro title in Enschede on Sunday.
Netherlands’ team players celebrate with the trophy after winning the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 football tournament final match between Netherlands and Denmark at Fc Twente Stadium in Enschede on August 6, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
Miedema pulled the hosts level at 1-1 on ten minutes and added her second goal two minutes from the end to round off the scoring, with Lieke Martens and skipper Sherida Spitse also scoring for the champions.
Denmark took the lead as Nadia Nadim scored from the penalty spot on six minutes after Kika van Es had brought down Sanne Troelsgaard in the box.
Miedema then fired home a superb cross from right winger Shanice van de Sanden who had outsprinted Cecilie Sandvej on the wing.
Martens turned with the ball just outside the box in the 28th minute and her low left-footer beat diving Danish keeper Stina Petersen at her left post.
The valiant Danes equalised on 33 minutes when skipper Pernille Harder picked up a long pass on the right wing, took it inside the box and wrong-footed Dutch keeper Sari van Veenendaal, scoring with a low left-foot shot to her left post.
Spitse then scored five minutes after the break with a low shot from a free-kick and Miedema made it 4-2 after fooling a defender inside the box and beating Petersen with a low shot in the 89th minute.
The Dutch are only the fourth team to lift the trophy after eight-time champions Germany, two-time winners Norway and Sweden, who won the first edition in 1984.
Denmark, like the Dutch playing in their first final, made two changes in their starting line-up as Sofie Junge Pedersen replaced midfielder Line Jensen, out with a torn knee ligament, while Sandvej came in for left-back Line Roddik.
Propelled by a sold-out Twente stadium in Enschede, the Dutch dominated the early minutes of a very lively first half, but Denmark’s first goal levelled the situation on the pitch.
Martens could have extended her scoring record after 15 minutes, when van de Sanden’s low cross found her inside the box, but Petersen had little trouble clearing her weak shot.
Nadim had two good chances to add to her opener, but her one-on-one with Van Veenendaal ended in the hands of the Dutch keeper and then she missed a cross.
In the second half, Van Es sent a long-range shot wide, Petersen superbly stopped Miedema’s blast from long range and Jackie Groenen narrowly missed from long range.
At the other end, Katrine Veje’s attempt from inside the box missed the Dutch goal, just like a rebound from a corner by substitute Frederikke Thogersen.
Troelsgaard missed the top corner by an inch five minutes from the end as the Danes pushed for an equaliser.
Twelve worshippers were shot dead at a church in southeast Nigeria on Sunday, with authorities suggesting the bloodshed was due to a local feud.
At around 6:00 am (0500 GMT) at least one gunman opened fire at St. Philip’s church in Ozubulu, near the city of Onitsha, unleashing terror on the congregation.
Chukwuma Emeka said he had just stepped out of the church to stretch his legs “when I heard gunshots and screaming and people running inside.”
“When the chaos subsided I went inside, I saw my fellow church members dead in a pool of their own blood and many others were screaming in pain.”
Attacks on churches are rare in southern Nigeria, where there is a predominantly Christian population.
Worshippers killed in St. Philips Catholic Church, in Anambra by a gunman
The country’s mainly-Muslim north has been gripped by a violent campaign by Boko Haram jihadists, who specialise in targeting religious centres.
There were varying accounts of what happened in Ozubulu. Witnesses said five gunmen in masks stormed the church, but police said the killing was the work of a lone shooter.
“So far, 12 persons have been confirmed dead and deposited in the mortuary here,” a worker at Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital told AFP.
St Philip Catholic Church Ozubulu, where the lone wolf struck this morning.
Several worshippers with gunshot wounds were also receiving treatment at the hospital, the source said. Witnesses said they feared that up to 20 people may have died.
– ‘Feud’ – Garba Umar, Anambra State police Commissioner, said the attacker was a gunman who “went on a shooting spree, killing and wounding” worshippers.
He said the violence was the result of a failed murder attempt, tied to a feud within the local community.
“The information at the disposal of the police is that the gunman had been hired to kill a particular family person believed to be among the worshippers,” he said.
Local rights activist Emeka Umeagbalasi said his information about the motive largely concurred with that of the police version.
The gunmen had gone to kill the son of a local chief but failed to find him at his home, Umeagbalasi said.
The attackers then went to the church to hunt for him, but could not find the intended target and became angry, he said.
They opened “fire on parishioners and shot indiscriminately,” he said, adding that the father of the intended target was shot and wounded.
Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara called the attack “barbaric… the height of wickedness.”
He extended his condolences to families of the victims, assuring them that the government would do everything within its power to track down those responsible.
Hundreds of churches and mosques in Nigeria’s north have been attacked since 2009 when Boko Haram began a violent campaign to impose strict Islamic law.
The rebellion has killed at least 20,000 people and forced some 2.6 million others to flee their homes, sparking a dire humanitarian crisis in the northeast.
Sen. Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), says Nigeria is on the pathway of economic recovery.
A statement signed by his media aide, Mr Essien Inyang, on Sunday in Abuja, said Enang disclosed this at an event organised to mark the end of the second legislative year of the 8th National Assembly.
He said the event was organised to improve the cordial relationship and goodwill between the legislature and the executive arms and to enhance good governance.
"President Muhammadu Buhari is fixing the country the right way and I'm convinced the expectations of Nigerians will soon be met by the government.
"You may not appreciate the pain of the injection caused by the needle but ultimately, it would bring cure."
The presidential aide reminded ex-lawmakers present at the event of the need to project the positive image of the country wherever they found themselves.
He also lauded the former lawmakers for their support for the Buhari administration.
Also, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na'Abba, described the legislature as the ultimate training ground for leadership in the country.
On the subject of restructuring, Na'Abba said: "Any part of the country with genuine problems must be listened to.
"Just as we listened to the South-South when the issue of militancy came up. The North-East and the South-East must also be listened to."
He described Enang as the country's most experienced legislator who had gone through all the ranks of the legislature, beginning from his local council as a counsellor.
"He has brought honour to us his colleagues.
"We are proud of Sen. Ita Enang.
"Even when he had no previous experience, he held his own as Chairman of Business and Rules. During his chairmanship, he was able to bring to the House a lot of intellectual discourse.
"Let me congratulate Sen. Enang for his commitment in the discharge of his duties as a presidential adviser,'' said the former Speaker.
Some former legislators including Amb. Jerry Ugokwe took turns to extol the exemplary leadership qualities of Enang and Na'Abba.
They urged Nigerian politicians to strive to emulate the former lawmakers.
UGHELLI – FORMER presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Prof. Patrick Utomi has denounced his inclusion as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the proposed interim government of the Republic of Biafra as announced by pro-Biafra group, Biafra Zionist Federation, BZF, led by Chief Benjamin Igwe Onwuka, last Monday.Pat Utomi
Utomi also condemned the actions of the group for seeking to relate his hard-earned reputation with its interests, stressing that he has always been an advocate for a united, peaceful and productive Nigeria that has so many opportunities, whether it be economic or social on the basis of its diversity.
Utomi in a statement, Sunday, said: "I want to register in the strongest possible terms that Biafra Zionist Federation (BZF) is totally alien to me, even by name, and it is very devious for them to have included my name as a cabinet member of its purported Interim National Government.
"I have never had any link with them, whether in word, speech, thought or in person. It is most uncharitable and unthinkable that BZF would seek to relate my hard-earned reputation with its interests. I completely dissociate myself from this body in every ramification.
"May I use this singular opportunity to make it expressly clear that my candid preference has and will always be for a solid, united, stable, peaceful and productive Nigeria that has so many opportunities, whether it be economic or social on the basis of its diversity. I do not support a break up of our country in whatever manner, and will advise the proponents of BZF to have a rethink and to set out to work towards building a Nigeria that they will be proud of."
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has condoled his Anambra counterpart, Chief Willie Obiano over Sunday’s church attack at St Philips Catholic Church Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The Governor in a statement on Sunday in Asaba by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, condemned in strong terms the unprovoked attack by gunmen leading to the death of several worshippers.
Mr Charles Aniagwu,
“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta State, I commiserate with my brother, the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, the government and people of Anambra State over Sunday’s church attack at Ozubulu leading to the death of several worshippers”.
The Governor expressed sadness on the desecration of the temple of God which served as a place of worship, adding that the Church is a place of refuge and devoid of attacks even in war situations.
"This is tragic, the church is a place of refuge for all who run into it, this unwarranted attack and mindless bloodletting is not only wicked but barbaric and must be condemned by all good men of conscience”.
“Our hearts are with the bereaved families at this moment of anguish. I pray that God grant the soul of the departed eternal rest as I urge the police and other security agents to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.
Governor Okowa urged the Church not to despair as to asking God why He allowed the worshippers to die right inside the church when they were worshipping God.
“To the Church, I urge you to be cheerful, prayerful and courageous in these trying times. Do not despair for every thing that happens under the earth is for a reason. For God knows the end from the beginning,” he said
The Nigerian Anatomy Act would come under intense scrutiny as over 400 anatomists from 55 private and public universities offering anatomy would converge in Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo this Tuesday.
The chairman of the local organizing committee, Professor Jide Desalu, who disclosed this on Thursday, said there was an urgent need for the society to close ranks and see to the amendment of the anatomy act to meet the needs of the 21st century.
For this reason, according to him, the keynote speaker for the event would be no other person than the majority leader of the House of Representative, Hon. Femi Gbajabimila.
In addition, a retired United Nations Organisation's official, Professor Oladapo Walker and an official of the federal ministry of health, Mr. Wole Afolayan would deliver lead papers at the two plenary sessions.
Professor Walker, who is a Babcock University lecturer would dwell on Anatomy as a basic medical science: Re-positing for cutting edge research and innovation with Afolayan speaking on Anatomy in the context of the global sustainable development goals.
Professor Walker's presentation, among other things, would examine anatomy as basic medical science from fundamental perspectives while Afolayan's paper would examine the present state of anatomy in Nigeria.
According to Professor Adesalu, the over 80 year's old act that has never been amended since its enactment would be a subject both for academic and professional experts in the field to analyse and situate against the modern trends in medical discoveries.
"This is the time for specific answers to be provided for what the Nigerian anatomist is to be."
"We should have a fundamental philosophy for their training. We cannot pretend that we are far from answering these questions right now."
This, in addition to several other important factors, according to him, underline the uniqueness and significance of this year's conference with the theme, Anatomy Act: What Next?
The organisers express the view that Babcock University would remain a landmark in the history of Anatomical Society of Nigeria, especially as a turning point and new beginning for the Nigerian anatomist.
"This is the time to make a difference in the life of the many undergraduate students graduating annually but without being mentioned in any public announcement for employment."
This, according to the society, remained the only way to justify the essence of training and the prospective professional destination of the Nigerian anatomist.
