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
Enyimba major signing for the forthcoming NPFL season goalkeeper Fatau Dauda has been called up by Black Stars of Ghana ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in January in Gabon.
Fatau Dauda was Ghana No.1 choice at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa.
He has previously featured for Ashanti Gold as well as in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) of South Africa with Orlando Pirates and Chippa United.
Fatau Dauda
He has joined the overseas players who have moved to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) recently.
Compatriot and fellow goalkeeper Nana Bonsu won the Nigeria league with Rangers in October.
The Black Stars call-ups are to report for the training at Acquinas Secondary School from today till December 31 at 3:30 pm daily.
By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide Monday said the statement credited to the Kaduna State governor, Mallam El rufai that Niger Delta militants were contracted to carry out attacks in southern Kaduna is capable of inciting the people of Kaduna and the entire north against Niger Deltans.
Spokesman of the IYC, Eric Omare in statement issued in Yenagoa described the governor's comment as reckless and highly condemnable adding that Niger Deltans have no business going all the way to Kaduna or any part of Nigeria to attack Nigerians.
The statement read in part, "The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide states that the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam El Rufai is inciting the people of Kaduna State and by implication the entire north against Niger Deltans by his statement that Niger Delta militants have been hired to carry out attacks in southern Kaduna.
"This statement is reckless and highly condemnable. Mallam El-Rufai having failed in his duty to protect the lives and properties of the people of southern Kaduna should not use innocent Niger Deltans as scapegoats. Niger Deltans have no business going all the way to Kaduna or any part of Nigeria to attack Nigerians.
"We call on Nigerians and the security agencies to hold Governor El-Rufai responsible for any attack on Niger Deltans in the north as a result of his irresponsible statement.
"The Fulani herdsmen who El-Rufai paid for killing people are well known to the world, hence Niger Deltans should not be linked under any circumstances to the unwarranted killings going on in southern Kaduna.
"We also call the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency bring the killings in southern Kaduna to a stop and bring the perpetrators to justice including Governor El-Rufai."
In a related development, the IYC also described the call by President Buhari on Niger Delta agitators to come to negotiation table "as a subterfuge to deceive Nigerians and the world to create the false impression that the Federal Government is ready for dialogue whereas it is not.
"The Buhari administration is the one frustrating attempts at negotiation and not Niger Delta agitators. The Niger Delta leaders and stakeholders have done everything possible to start the negotiation process which has been frustrated by the Federal Government.
"IYC therefore call on President Buhari to demonstrate sincerity towards negotiating with the Niger Delta people by constituting the government negotiation team rather than Christmas day rhetoric."
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday said it arrested two suspects with cocaine at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.
A statement by the agency's spokesperson, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, said one of the suspects was arrested on his way to Hong Kong after ingesting cocaine.
"Another suspect, who lives in Athens, Greece, was also apprehended in connection with unlawful possession of wraps of substances that tested positive to cocaine.
"The arrests were made at the MMIA, Lagos, during screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight to Hong Kong and Egypt Airline flight to Athens.
"Preliminary investigation suggests that the suspects had targeted the Christmas holiday to smuggle cocaine out of the country but drug law enforcement officials at the Lagos airport were able to uncover their plan.
"The total weight of cocaine seized from the suspects is 1.150kgs.
"One of them excreted 45 wraps of cocaine he ingested, weighing 935 grammes while the other excreted five wraps of cocaine weighing 215 grammes.
"Both suspects tested positive for narcotic ingestion and while under observation; they expelled wraps of cocaine which they had wanted to smuggle out of the country.
"The suspects are currently under investigation.
"The high expectations of both suspects making quick money this festive season from drug trafficking had been dashed by vigilant anti-narcotic officers," the statement stated.
The statement also reported the Chairman of the agency, Mr Muhammad Abdallah, as saying that those wishing to get rich through drug trafficking would end up in prison.
"This is a warning to drug traffickers that the agency is determined to detect all hidden drugs and prosecute offenders.
"There are control measures in place to detect narcotics at all exit and entry points."We shall continue to improve on our strategies in line with our mission of providing a safe and healthy society for all." Abdallah said. (NAN)
Love him or hate him, Solomon Dalung, Minister of Youth and Sports, is one man that is so proud to mingle with his people, even with any kind of attire.
Recently, the social media has been abuzz with photos of Minister Dalung celebrating the Tarok Cultural Carnival 2016, an event Dalung said provided him the opportunity to identify and showcase the rich cultural heritage of his people,
See photos below:
Sports Minister Dalung steps out in style at 2016 Tarok CarnivalSports Minister Dalung steps out in style at 2016 Tarok CarnivalSports Minister Dalung steps out in style at 2016 Tarok CarnivalSports Minister Dalung steps out in style at 2016 Tarok Carnival
Abuja – The Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari over the successful routing out of the Boko Haram sect from Sambisa forest.
The faction also congratulated the Armed forces for the feat in successful clearing of Sambisa forest of the terrorists.
Mr Dayo Adeyeye , the Party's National Publicity Secretary made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
He described the news as a welcome development in the fight against terrorism in the country.
Adeyeye, however, said the feat was a collective efforts and sacrifices of Nigerians.
"We congratulate Nigerians for this important milestone in the long and bitter struggle against the forces of evil that have wreaked so much suffering and hardship on our people in the last few years.
"We also congratulate the President for his dogged pursuit of the war against insurgency, we are happy that he has built on the efforts of his predecessors.
"Whatever we are witnessing now is as a result of all the efforts and sacrifices of the past and present administrations," Adeyeye said.
He lauded the victory which earlier made it possible for elections to hold peacefully in almost all the local government areas in the North east states last year.
"We are therefore very much delighted with the continuation of this great effort by the President.
"We salute the men and women of our beloved armed forces for their courage, determination and sacrifice which made this achievement possible.
"The men and women of the Nigerian armed forces have served and continue to serve with distinction in many peace keeping operations all over the world.
"We salute them for fighting with great courage to keep the peace in their own country. "
He also commended the support and encouragement of international communities, particularly countries that helped in the procurement of critical military hardware.
The PDP advised the government and the military not to rest on their oars.
He called for the continued hot pursuit of the terrorists until the entire North east was rid completely of them.
"Beyond Sambisa, all the other forests which criminals use as hideouts and bases must equally be cleared by the military.
"Forests such as Birnin Gwari, Zamfara, Southern Kaduna, Enugu and Benue have become killing fields, "he said.
The Cross River State chapter of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Tuesday, decried the high cost of living in the country, saying it has inflicted untold hardship on the people with many of them dying from hunger and starvation.
MASSOB in a statement in Calabar, by its Public Relations Officer, Comrade Okon Effiom, said due to the current economic hardship most Nigerians can no longer afford to buy basic food items and medical bills, a situation he said has led to the loss of lives.
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the opening of a 2-day National Economic Council Retreat at the Statehouse Conference Centre on 21st March 2016.
The statement read: “With the state of things, there are clear indications that the Nigerian state cannot no longer take care of its people which accounts for the failed system which has led to the high cost of living.
“Even at Christmas, a period characterized by celebration and merriment, many people could not afford to cook rice meal for their families which is the basic staple during such time because of high level of poverty in the land.
"The standard of living in the country has depreciated abysmally in just one year where the cost of basic items have quadrupled taking them beyond the reach of the ordinary person, and making them to easily succumb to diseases and death while some are unable to bear the situation which has resulted to them taking their own lives.
"Between last year, (2015) and this year, the cost of living has risen over 500 per cent which is way beyond the ordinary citizen which accounts for the high death rate through disease and suicide amongst our people.
“The state of affairs in the country gives credence to MASSOB's struggle for secession through peaceful means to leave the Nigerian state and build a nation of their own based on the vision of Ralph Uwazurike.
"46 years after the Nigerian civil war, injustice is still being perpetrated against the people of Biafra especially the minorities as seen with the devastation of Odi in Rivers State, the handing over of Bakassi to Cameroon by the Nigerian government.
“We hereby call on President Muhammadu Buhari to let the people of Biafra go so that we can decide our fate and build our nation not to continue to languish in this unholy state called Nigeria.”
BY KINGSLEY OMONOBI-ABUJA. The Commissioner of Police in the FCT, CP Mohammed Mustapha has ordered a manhunt for suspected armed robbers who killed an Inspector and two Non-Commissioned Police Officers (NCOs) Monday morning at a check-point in Karmo, Abuja.
The three Police officers were on patrol in the Idu Industrial district that stretches up to Karmo and had embarked on stop and search action following information that robbers planned to attack residents of the area.
Unknown to them however, a vehicle carrying several heavily armed robbers, emerged from the Karmo Forest, close to the checkpoint, pretended to be obeying the order to stop, before the robbers opened fire on the Police officers.
The three officers were said to have died on the spot as they were shot at from close range.
The robbers later made away with the arms and ammunition of the Police officers from their Patrol Van.
A visibly disturbed CP Mustapha told Vanguard that he has ordered a round the clock search for the perpetrators who operated in an ambush style to kill his officers.
He said the killers will not know peace until they are apprehended noting that the entire FCT is being searched to get the hoodlums.
Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina head Gabon’s Africa Cup of Nations squad unveiled Tuesday by the hosts’ manager Jose Antonio Camacho.
Also figuring in the 23-player list for the Jan 14-Feb 5 continental showpiece is Bruno Ecuele Manga, a defender with English Championship side Cardiff City, China-based striker Malick Evouna and Didier Ndong with Premier League strugglers Sunderland.
Gabon co-hosted the 2012 Nations Cup with Equatorial Guinea, making it into the quarter-finals.
The Panthers are drawn in Group A with Guinea-Bissau, four-time winners Cameroon and Burkina Faso, runners-up to Nigeria in 2013.
Gabon captain Aubameyang could lead his team as African Player of the Year should he retain his crown.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The 27-year-old French-born forward is on the shortlist with Leicester City and Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez and Liverpool and Senegal winger Sadio Mane with the winner announced on January 5.
The Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Joe Abah, has stated that the process of getting passport, driver's license among others will be made easy in 2017.
Abah in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, yesterday, said there will be new reforms in public service in 2017 that would adequately foster the country's growth
Abah said: "We have a 10-year plan for reforms we've been following, however, as with every plan the sequence and prioritisation ranges with government emphasis.
Dr. Joe Abah, DG BPSR
"And so for 2017 we will be focusing very heavily on making it easier to do business in Nigeria.
"And that is why the bureau has commissioned a number of studies to look at the bottlenecks to service delivery and we are looking at those things that affect the ordinary Nigerian directly.
"For instance, the processes for getting a passport, the processes for getting a driver's licence, the process for getting a tax clearance and the process for seeing a doctor in a government hospital.
"And the gap between when you retire and when you actually start to get your pension. We have instances where people have retired and for one year they haven't got any pension.
"So, these are some of the topical issues we will be looking at to see where the bottlenecks are and what we can do to ease the process.
"We are also optimistic that our report on restructuring of the merged ministry will go to council very early in the new year, with a recommendation that we do the same for all the other ministries.''
The D-G BPSR said the recent announcement by the National Economic Council chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo showed that the government was now willing to address some of the issues.
According to him, the government is now willing to look seriously at the issue of rationalisation of agencies and parastatals, as we will finally have a go ahead with the work that we have designed.
Abah also emphasised the need to break the communication gap between the government and the citizenry as it relates to how government works.
He, however, said that the bureau would in January 2017 commission a policy paper essentially to address the gaps.
"We are also concerned that the communication function of government doesn't work as well as it should and this is not unique to this administration.
"It's been an ongoing problem for a very long time where government is simply not getting the message along to the citizens and citizens are not engaging with the government.
"So we will be commissioning a policy paper in January essentially showing how the disconnection in communication is actually hurting the government.
"And the need for a coordinated message that citizens can engage with and the opportunity for citizens to be put through the way that government works.
"We've already spoken with the Ministry of Information about it and also spoken with one of the Special Assistants to the President on new media on how we can work together to address these issues,'' he said.
The director-general also noted that the rate of unemployment in the country was worrisome, adding that the bureau will be engaging with the youth ministry and stakeholders in line with this.
Besides, he said that the bureau was working towards ensuring that there was coordinated approach to dealing with the problems of unemployment in Nigeria rather what it used to be.
"We will be doing a study in March on youth unemployment because again there is a problem with coordination.
"We have the Ministry of Youths and Sports doing something on youth unemployment, we have the Ministry of Women Affairs doing its own; we have the Ministry of Labour and Employment doing its own.
"We also have the National Directorate of Employment, we have various people doing various things but there is no coordination.
"So that is one thing we also want to look at.
"Because the issue of youth unemployment is something that is at the very fore front of our consciousness and something we are really concerned about,'' said Abah.
Argentine coach Diego Simeone will remain at Atletico Madrid next season, the club’s chief executive officer Miguel Angel Gil Marin said Tuesday.
Simeone, 46, signed a contract extension in 2015 that originally tied him to the club until June 2020, an unusually long deal by Spanish standards.
But in September he reduced the deal to 2018 after talks with Atletico, sparking speculation that he may leave.
Simeone
Asked about Simeone’s future, Gil Marin said he will stay at Atletico “this season and the next for sure.”
“He has been with us for five years and it would be reasonable if he stayed with us many more because we are delighted,” he added during an interview with private television La Sexta.
“We continue to grow, both him and the club, and what would be most intelligent for both parts would be to continue.”
Simeone, a former Atletico midfielder, has led the club to a host of trophies since becoming coach in 2011, including the domestic title in 2014 and two Champions League finals, in 2014 and 2016.
But the club’s form has stuttered this season and Atletico find themselves in sixth in La Liga with 28 points.
Atletico are not in league action again until January 7 as La Liga takes a winter break over the new year.
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia has granted state pardon to 20 prisoners convicted for offences ranging from stealing, armed robbery, conspiracy, intent to commit felony, advanced fee fraud and assault.
The state's Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Umeh Kalu made this known in a statement in Umuahia on Tuesday.
Kalu said that the prisoners held in Aba, Arochukwu, Port Harcourt and Enugu prisons were granted pardon on the advice and recommendation of the Abia State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
Ikpeazu
He said that three among the 20 prisoners were on death row and had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment while the others sentenced to various prison terms were released.
Kalu explained that the governor's exercise of clemency to the prisoners was in commemoration of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
"Government expects the pardoned prisoners to be law abiding and contribute to the drive to provide a better future for the state and the country at large,'' he said.
Justice Iyabo Oladunni Kasali, a Lagos high court judge, has been cleared of an allegation of judicial misconduct by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The NJC also dismissed a petition written against her over alleged perversion of justice by a lawyer, Evans Azuike.
Judges
Azuike had in the petition dated May 24, 2016, written to the NJC alleged that Justice Kasali struck out suit number LD/1791/2010 without justification and deliberately refused to release exhibits tendered in the suit.
He also said the alleged refusal to release the exhibits eleven months after the suit was struck out had hindered immediate commencement of a fresh suit.
The petitioner alleged further that the delay in releasing the exhibits enabled the defendants to mobilise men and materials to complete the structure which they had erected on the disputed Land, prior to the assignment of the suit to Justice Kasali in 2013.
However, following deliberation by NJC, it resolved that the petition lacks merit and evidence to establish the allegations levelled against Justice Kasali.
Therefore, the Council in a letter with ref. No. NJC/S.24/LAG.HC/12/1/461 held that no act of judicial misconduct was established against the judge.
Part of the letter reads: ''The NJC set up a three-man Committee to investigate the allegations contained in a petition dated 24th May 2016 against Justice Iyabo Oladunni Kasali of High Court of Justice, Lagos state. The Committee finds that no act of judicial misconduct is established by the petitioner against the Judge. At its meeting, which was held on 3rd November, 2016, Council considered and deliberated on the Report of the Committee.
"At the end of the deliberation, Council decided to dismiss the petition for failing to establish the allegation of judicial misconduct against Justice Kasali''.
Both the petitioner and Justice Iyabo Oladunni Kasali led evidence before the three-man Investigative Committee of the NJC.
Justice Kasali in her evidence stated: "I did not sit on the exhibits as alleged and that she neither delayed nor obstructed Justice through alleged sitting on Exhibits".
She also told the Committee that suit No: LD/1791/2010 was a case inherited by her as a trial court when she was newly posted to Lagos Judicial Division of High Court of Lagos State.
Prior to inheriting the case from Justice Oyekan-Abdullahi (as the trial Judge) the Petitioners' Counsel sought and obtained an Interim and interlocutory injunction from the Case Management Judge.
After trial commenced in the suit the defendants filed an application challenging the Court's Jurisdiction to entertain the suit on the ground, that at the time the suit was commenced, the petitioner's client's name had been struck off the Register of Companies by the Corporate Affairs Commission.
Petitioner's client subsequently had her name restored in the Register of Companies at the Corporate Affairs Commission.
The said restoration was well after the case was instituted and well after the claimant's client had obtained interim and interlocutory orders during CMC.
In her ruling delivered on February 18, 2015, Justice Kasali held that the suit was incompetent on account of same having been commenced when the name of the claimant had been struck out of the Register of Companies.
The claimant though dissatisfied with the ruling elected not to appeal
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-To rid the public service of corruption, the Federal government successfully identified and sacked 50,000 ghost workers.
This has also saved the country a huge amount totaling up to N200 billion.
The is consequent upon the taking off of N13 billion from the payroll, monthly, from February to December in 2016.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu who made the disclosure to State House correspondents on Abuja also hinted that 11 persons championing the syndicate of ghost workers have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.President Buhari
According to him, some were also undergoing trial at the courts.
“The flagship program of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to rid the system of fraud and instill good governance is on course. Through a notable initiative, the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, the government has embarked on the continuous auditing of the salaries and wages of government departments.
“When the the Committee was constituted in February 2016, Federal government monthly salary bill was N151 billion excluding pensions. Now the monthly salary warrant is N138 billion, excluding pensions. Which means that the government is making a monthly saving of about N13 billion. That is from February 2016 to date,” he said.
He added that the “the pension bill was 15.5bn monthly as at February. Now it is down to N14.4 billion, which means average monthly saving is made of about N1.1 billion.”
Speaking on the welfare of the recently-released 21 Chibok Girls, Garba said the girls have become the adoptees of the Federal Government even as he revealed that there local and international interests in the future plans of the girls were rising.
He said that an America billionaire had opted to sponsor them in school.
“A black American billionaire, Mr. Robert Smith who is currently sponsoring the education of 24 girls from Chibok, among them the first set set of escapees from Boko Haram at the American University of Nigeria, Yola has offered to pay for the education of the 21 released through negotiations and is offering to take responsibility for all the others who will hopefully be eventually set free. The Murtala Mohammed Foundation in the country is equally interested,” according to the the Presidential spokesman.
Responding to complaints by some of the parents of the 21 Chibok Girls that they did not have enough room for interaction with their daughters brought home for Christmas by the Department of State Services,DSS, the Senior Special Assistant to the President admitted that there were some hitches arising from a lack of understanding of the objective of the trip on the part of some security operatives but that following the receipt of this complaint, a directive has been given from the headquarters for the access by the parents to be eased. “If the situation persists, pls let us know so that the higher authorities will make a further intercession,” he assured.
Also touching on board appointments as it affected members of the ruling the All Progressives Congress, APC, Garba assured that the process would continue early next year.
” You know that the reconstitution began methodically, from sector by sector. You should expect that to resume at the beginning of the new year. The President has given directions on what to do,” he said.
On the agricultural programs of the administration, Malam Garba said that the President’s persistent calls for a return to farming was yielding good results.
“The talk about agriculture has driven people to the farm. This year, there is a huge boom in the rural economy. We have witnessed an excellent harvest. Farmers are getting value for their output. What has encouraged farmers the more is the increasing availability of extension services. New farming techniques are helping farmers to do their occupation better. The readiness of off takers to buy the produce is also a major boost.
“When you put all these together with the systematic move to curb importation as a boost local production through the restriction of the available foreign exchange to critically important sectors of the economy, you have favorable environment for the diversification of the economy.
” As we speak, several of the country’s major manufacturing industries are actively backward-integrating- Nestle, Unilever, the breweries are looking what we have as local materials, changing their formulations to maintain production levels and keep their share of the market. Manufacturers who are hooked on import of raw materials are advised to re-strategize and take full advantage of local raw materials. The future belongs to those who employ the use of local raw materials,” Garba said.
Disturbances that included gunfire, massive brawls and food-court fights played out at more than a dozen malls across the country in what proved to be a chaotic day after Christmas.
The disturbances, some of which were captured on social media, prevented some shoppers from clearing off clearance racks and returning Christmas gifts as they intended on Boxing Day.
The Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the U.S. Government had issued a security alert about planned attacks on Churches and had consequently beefed up security in the event of any eventualities during the festive period.
However, the mall incidents, which ranged from minor melees to mass evacuations, occurred nationwide from Colorado to Tennessee, Texas to New Jersey, according to CNN reports.
In Aurora, Colorado, it all started with a social media post that promised a fight at the Town Centre at Aurora.
Aurora Police Department spokesman Sgt. Chris Amsler said about 100 people had gathered in the food court before the brawls broke out, prompting the Colorado mall to close early on Monday afternoon.
"(It) kind of morphed into this large disturbance," Amsler said.
When off-duty police officers working as security guards tried to break up a fight, people circled the officers, who called for backup, Amsler said.
As police officers on duty arrived, fights broke out throughout the mall, at a movie theatre and at a nearby park-and-ride lot, he said.
He estimated that 500 people were involved.
Authorities arrested five people, all juveniles, and recovered no weapons, he said.
"One person assaulted at the park-and-ride lot suffered 'significant' injuries and was taken to a hospital", Amsler said.
In Memphis, Tennessee, seven people were arrested after incidents at two malls.
Police said a group started a disturbance in the Wolfchase Galleria food court and started running, which prompted some customers to call 911.
Then a crowd gathered outside Oak Court Mall, about 10 miles west, and started a disturbance; both malls were cleared and closed early for the night.
Shots were reported in both incidents, but police said they found no evidence of gunfire and no injuries were reported.
In Fayetteville, North Carolina, people panicked after teenagers fought in the food court, Fayetteville police spokesman Shawn Strepay said but that no shots were fired, in spite of reports of gunfire.
"Once people start running in that area or chairs are getting knocked over, tables, that sort of thing, that echoes and it could resemble the sound of a gunshot to a lot of people," he said.
In Elizabeth, New Jersey, the first calls from the The Mills at Jersey Gardens came in just after nightfall Monday, and witnesses said they thought they had heard shots fired.
That, along with a fight, led to what Elizabeth police Officer Greg Jones described as a "chaotic panic and everybody running all at once".
Ultimately, though, patrons had mistaken the sound of a chair slammed during a fight for gunfire, city officials said.
Two people, an eight-year-old and 12-year-old, were injured, the station reported.
In Fort Worth, Texas, the security guards had no other choice but to place the Hulen Mall on lock-down.
At one point, police said at least 100 people were involved in a series of fights.
Fort Worth Police spokeswoman Tamara Velle said officers initially responded to reported gunfire inside the mall, adding that after breaking up the fights, officers stopped by each store to let people leave while the lock-down remained in effect.
"There were no reported injures or property damage thanks in large part to local police.
"You keep hearing the horror stories of the mall shootings across the nations right now.
"Anytime we're hearing about a mall shooting and it's the day after Christmas, where you have tons of people holiday shopping … we're going to get in there as fast as we can," Velle said.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Rural Development, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu has described the recently conducted Local Government elections in Ogun State as a sham orchestrated by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun led administration.
Hon Adebutu
Hon. Adebutu made this declaration while addressing candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2016 Local Government elections in the state at the PDP Secretariat, Legacy Building, Abeokuta.
He admonished the candidates to consider themselves as the vanguard of the moment for a better change in Ogun State.
“I stand here to say boldly that what was sold to the public as a free and fair local government elections in Ogun state is merely a ruse. The daylight robbery of your mandates by the state government has further exposed the criminal nature of the APC led government and their penchant for illegality.
“I want you all to know that I am a firm believer in the autonomy of the local government administration in Nigeria and I promise to ensure the functionality of the council when elected in 2019,” he said.
Speaking further, Hon. Adebutu berated the State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun for what he described as a ‘reckless statement’ on his successor.
He enjoined the State Governor to stop playing God but rather face his primary role of governance as only God can decide who gets to lead the people.
Leaders of the party commended the candidates for holding forth and standing with the Sen Ahmed Makarfi Caretaker Committee and Ogun State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Sikirulai Ogundele.
They were urged to continue to work for the success of the party in all ramifications.
Present at the gathering were Chief Mrs Iyabo Apampa, the Apex Body Chairperson, Elder Akinwonmi, Chief Oyekunle, PDP state executive officers and all local government party chairmen.
No fewer than 48 shops and properties worth millions of Naira were on Tuesday burnt to ashes at Gombe old Market as a result of fire incident.
Malam Mohammad Abba, Chairman of the market told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident occurred in the night, adding that the cause of the fire had not been identified.
He said that about 300 shop owners lost their goods to the inferno.
According to him, some of the shops consist of various goods, while the shops occupy by some tailors were also affected by the inferno.
He advised the shop owners to take it as an act of God and to be careful in handling everything that had to do with electricity.
Abba called on government to come to the aid of the victims.
Some of the victims also said that they were suspecting that the fire was caused by electrical fault.
However, they commended the men of Fire Service and the security agents for their immediate response.
They appealed to Gombe State Government and public spirited individuals to assist them.
Ayo Opadokun, Convener, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform, yesterday, said that the non-confirmation of the acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, is an indication that President Muhammadu Buhari is no longer in firm control of his government.
President Buhari
Opadokun, who spoke with journalists, in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, said that it also indicated that the presidency was divided.
He said it was surprising that the Department of State Services, DSS, a part of the executive arm of government, wrote a report against Magu, the head of the anti-corruption war, whose confirmation nomination by Buhari was at the Senate.
Opadokun said: “It (the non-confirmation of Magu by the Senate) is an unfortunate development, very unfortunate dimension to our national crisis. Our national crisis of identity is being further damaged by the conduct of the Nigerian state.
"First, I like to say that President Muhammadu Buhari by conduct and behaviour over Magu's confirmation is indicating to his admirers and those who voted for him that he is no longer in control of his government. There are two or three major unfortunate developments that are showing a divided presidency, clearly telling Nigerians, perhaps that the Buhari we thought we knew in the 80s is totally a different personality now.
"The fact that the so-called DSS will now be writing a spurious and pedestrian report on Magu is an unfortunate dimension. I see this as humiliation of what Magu stands for and it is an unfortunate dimension to our so-called anti-corruption determination of President Buhari. Let me say clearly, President Buhari needs to be on his guard. The only reason that people voted for him was because of his promise to fight corruption because if we do not fight corruption, corruption will fight us and it fought us too badly."
Former Governor of Delta, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, says those people going to London to see his predecessor, Chief James Ibori, and posting pictures and comments about him, are creating more problems for him.
Uduaghan, who stated this in a Facebook post on Tuesday, asked those involved to "stop it".
Ibori, who was the governor of the oil-rich state between 1999 and 2007, was released from a United Kingdom prison on Wednesday after serving a concurrent13-year jail term for money laundering.
The Southwark Crown Court jailed him on April 17, 2012 after he pleaded guilty to a 10-count charge of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.
Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, flanked right by Senator Ighoyota Amori and left Senator Peter Nwaoboshi during the Christmas day celebration at London
Since his release, friends, family member and political associates have been paying him visits in his London home, where he is under house arrest pending the conclusion of his asset confiscation case.
A video of one of such visits which has been trending on social media shows a Senator from the state, Peter Nwaoboshi, boasting about how Ibori "installed" governors and lawmakers from prison.
The video immediately drew public criticisms with many already calling for Ibori's extradition and further prosecution in Nigeria.
Uduaghan wrote: "For those going to London to see Chief James Ibori and posting pictures and making comments, please stop it.
"We appreciate your love for him but you can go quietly without the unnecessary publicity.
"You are creating more problems for him than you can ever imagine.
"Nigeria is a complex country and you must understand and respect people's sensibilities."
That Uduaghan, who is Ibori's first cousin, is largely blamed by many for the latter's travails.
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
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has said that what Nigerians are now desirous of hearing from the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government is the defeat of hunger and untold hardship ravaging the country and not recycled stories of defeat of Boko Haram insurgents, which is as usual, aimed at diverting the attention of Nigerians from the fact that there is ravaging hunger at this time of the year.
Fayose and Buhari
The governor said it has become predictable that whenever Nigerians cry of the pains and sufferings they are going through, the federal government will come with stories like; "20 Chibok girls found," "$1billion found in Mr A, B or C bedroom," "Boko Haram technically defeated," "We have captured Sambisa forest," etc just to divert attention.
In a release issued in Ado Ekiti on Monday and signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said, "It is painful that Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari has become directionless either due to the cluelessness of the president or his old age that has foisted a purposeless leadership on the country.
He said, "This year's Christmas is the worse in the history of Nigeria. People cannot afford to celebrate and enjoy themselves due to the hardship caused by the APC government. To make matters worse, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also created artificial scarcity of cash, such that people could not access their hard earned money in the banks as most banks in the country do not have cash to pay their customers."
"Like I have maintained, the main issue confronting Nigerians now is hunger and hunger does not speak the language of political propaganda that is being used by the APC led federal government. It is therefore no longer about diversionary news, it is about preventing Nigerians from dying of hunger," he said.
The governor said, "the only solution to the myriad of problems facing the country is for those holding power in Abuja to face the sad reality that it was the hard stance of the president, his statements against Nigeria and its people both at home and abroad coupled with his demonstration of hatred against some sections of the country and desperation to crush his perceived enemies that led us to where we are today.
"It was the president that went to foreign countries to de-market Nigeria by calling all Nigerians thieves and dishonest people. He was the one who created atmosphere of economic and political instability in the country by his acts of nepotism and vindictiveness?
"Therefore, for the country to move forward, the President must change his attitude from a vindictive military dictator to a civilian president of all Nigerians."
He lamented that those cabal in the presidency have hijacked the president and his government, running the country aground, saying, "Things were never like this at any time in the history of Nigeria apart from 1984."
He said; "They are not running the economy of Nigeria by the open participation of Nigerians but by some cabal, who see themselves as superior to others. By their failure to involve those who know more than them, they have succeeded in creating unemployment instead of three million jobs that they promised Nigerians per year. They have taken Nigeria back to the Stone Age and it will take several years for the country to recover, if it will ever recover."
Governor Fayose, who appealed to Nigerians not to keep silent in 2017, said, "With every means of livelihood of the common people taken away from them, free, fair and credible elections becoming a mirage, Nigerians must begin to speak out now before the country is completely destroyed by this directionless federal government."
Newly introduced online betting platform Billionaire Bet has promised to turn thousands of Nigerians into millionaires with its one-of-a-kind features following its announcement on Friday, 23rd of December 2016.
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While the nation was lamenting the joke that APC leaders have turned the Nigerian Police into, following their failure to successfully rig the Rivers Rerun Elections , the Department of State Services ( DSS) has followed suit, singing shamefully from a criminally composed hymn book.
On Thursday (December 22, 2016) evening, within the space of 15minutes, I received close to 50 calls and text messages from journalists, all seeking the response of the Rivers State Government on yet another concocted statement to justify the mayhem visited on the people of Rivers State, this time by the DSS.
The ill-conceived and baseless statement was judgmental all through and reeked of what was prepared by horribly desperate sycophants, eager to satisfy their paymaster.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government has issued an official statement on this dance of shame by the DSS through the Honourable Commissioner of Information, Dr Austin Tam-George.
The statement read in part: ” "It is an irresponsible scaremongering by an agency that seems bent on a mission to blackmail the governor of Rivers State, and bring the state government into disrepute. Governor Wike is a man of peace, and would never orchestrate disturbances in any part of the country.”
In issuing a statement wherein the DSS alleged that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike planned to sponsor protests that will destabilise the Federal Government and the administration in bad light, the DSS conveniently forgot that for two separate days, APC leaders sponsored northern elements to protest against the government and people of Rivers State on the streets of Abuja.
They also forgot that on these two occasions, Police and DSS provided security cover for the hired northern protesters, giving them the official seal to insult the sensibilities of Rivers people who spoke in one voice; that APC stands rejected.
The DSS statement issued on thursday by interpretation is similar to that issued by the alleged principal sponsor of the alleged murder of the DSP. The main suspect in the murder of the DSP, according to Police Official Statement, confessed that their sponsor is Mr Wokocha, an aide to the Minister of Transportation and prominent APC Politician in ONELGA.
At the time the police released the name of Wokocha to the public, they presumed he is a PDP member. When it became obvious that the suspect is a leading APC member linked to the Federal Government, the DSS was conscripted to do damage control. As always, this damage control has worsened the already soiled image of the APC Government.
Before the DSS joke of a statement trying to link Governor Wike to any form of violence, the said Wokocha issued a statement trying to exonerate himself and his principal. Expectedly, the police is yet to invite Wokocha for questioning. Instead, the security agencies are struggling to divert attention from the substance of the matter.
In its embarrassing statement, the DSS took out time to rain insults on Governor Wike. They conveniently forgot that they are a security agency funded with the Niger Delta resources, but expected to serve all interests.
That the DSS have joined the police in straying into the bush of infamy, brings to the fore, the danger of having politicians head security agencies. The DSS, rather than gather intelligence, is desperate to defend the APC.
Did the Nigerian Police and the DSS contest the Rivers Rerun/supplementary elections? Why are they crying louder than the bereaved? Why are the setting up joint panel of inquiry to justify their concoction of an already discarded audio clip.
We understand that they are paid to act a script. But, every good actor knows when to leave the stage. It is obvious this illegal Squad (Police and DSS) are oblivious of this fact. They continue to dance naked on a stage where they have been repeatedly disgraced.
If 98000 security personnel (policemen, SARS personnel, DSS operatives, soldiers, Air Force personnel, immigration officials etc) deployed to Rivers State could not conquer the state for these political armed robbers, what makes the DSS and Police think that poorly and hurriedly written statements would move Rivers people.
In Rivers State, there are two popular political songs by the teeming supporters of Governor Wike. One: “How many dem dey wey we no go win dem” and “No body get morale like Wike “.
The DSS and Police should set up a 50 man panel to understand these songs. Nobody can intimidate a leader with the backing of his people.
These film tricks will amount to nothing. Like Governor Wike said, the security agencies should quietly retire the money they gave them for the elections without generating noise.
Governor Wike at his philosophical best sums the Rivers situation thus: “I believe that this country belongs to all of us. I believe that nobody should be a second class citizen of this country.
“I come from a state that by the Special Grace of God produces the wealth of the nation. So, even those who depend on the oil noney to survive are allowed to speak. Why would somebody that produces that wealth, not speak?”
The governor emphasized that all the people of Rivers State demand is that democracy must triumph. He wondered why the leadership of APC cannot accept that they will not win in all states, when Former President Jonathan willingly conceded defeat.
He said: “This is a government that came to power on the platform of change. We have offered ourselves to help them achieve change, instead of them to commend us, they want to eliminate us.
“I have told people who care to know, you rig election where you are popular. When you rig election where you are not popular, it leads to violence “.
Our security agencies should retrace their steps in the interest of this country. The other day it was the Rivers APC helping the Nigerian Army to issue a press statement. Now it is the DSS defending the APC.
What kind of security agency would raise very frightening false alarm over suspected protests in Abuja, just to cover up regrettable inefficiencies which have engendered unpopularity in the land.
Please as you sleep every night, pray for our security agencies. They have fallen victim of the economic recession, hence they are willing tools in the hands of wicked politicians without conscience.
Please pray for our security services so that they realise that they owe their allegiance to the Nigerian Constitution and not to the APC National Executive Council.
In fact, just pray for the deliverance of our security agencies. They have been kidnapped by the APC. Let’s join hands to rescue them in their time of need.
Their challenge transcends the Rivers Rerun and their desperation to justify their failure to successfully rig.
Simeon Nwakaudu is Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media.
…blames Gatwick Airport officials By LAWANI MIKAIRU
Med-View Airline, Monday, dispatched another plane to London to airlift the baggage the airline left behind after an earlier plane dispatched for that purpose on Saturday returned without the baggage.
The airline had blamed Gatwick Airport, UK, baggage handlers for its inability to airlift back to Nigeria left over baggage of passengers who boarded the airline in UK.
According to the Media Consultant to Med-View, Chief Obuke Oyibotha, "Med-View Airline special flight dispatched to London on Saturday to airlift left over baggage returned without the affected baggage following the inability of Gatwick Airport authorities to screen them".
While expressing regret over the development , Oyibotha said, "the Gatwick Airport had on arrival of the aircraft said it had no capacity to screen the baggage as only a handful of its workforce was on duty because of holiday".
The airline regretted the inconveniences caused the affected passengers whose left over baggage are still in London by this unhealthy development.
“We thought by Sunday we would have resolved the left over baggage issue if not for Gatwick Airport authorities,” Med-View Chief Operating Officer (COO/AM) Engineer Lookman Animashaun said.
Animashaun said another flight will leave for London today, (Monday), to bring back home the left over baggage, and appealed to the affected passengers for their understanding.
Recall a similar incidence happened recently when passengers who boarded Arik Air London- Lagos flight had their baggage left behind in London and threatened to ground the airline's international operations until their baggage left behind in London are safely delivered to them.
The passengers, who landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos on Saturday, December 3, 2016, said that Arik Air abandoned them and treated them as if they were not its passengers.
They therefore invaded the airline's counters at the international wing of the airport and threatened to prevent the airline from boarding any other passengers except their luggage were delivered to them.
Life is all about relationship. It is all about how you relate well with the other man or woman. For example, a successful father should be able to relate well with his children, a successful leader should be able to relate well with his followers. Similarly, a good manager should have a good rapport with members of his workforce.How well you relate with people could determine how far you will go in life.Think about it.
Two people have been confirmed dead while two others were hospitalised after a family of five was attacked by some faceless men on Christmas day.
The incident occurred at about 1am on, at Saka Adegbose road, Adegbose Estate, Solebo, Igbogbo/Ikorodu.
The casualties have been buried according to Muslim rites but those injured are still hospitalised.
Vanguard gathered that the family occupies a room and palour apartment but the father was not around as at the time of the incident.
The mother as gathered, was in the room with one of the children while others were in the palour.
Nobody knew precisely what transpired in the middle of the night but the mother was said to have woken up at about 1.30am, to use the toilet when she saw her four children in their own pool of blood and raised the alarm which attracted other neighbours.
They were perceived to be injured with grinding stones and other dangerous after which two of them Azeezat 21, and Abeeb 16, died on the way to the hospital.
The Divisional Police Officer in the area was said to have visited.
As at 7pm today, there was apprehension in the community and its environ.
The Ekiti State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the statement credited to the State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Mr Jide Awe, disparaging the person and image of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye as a demonstration of the devilish mind-set of the party and height of political rascality, saying, denying the statement was a mere afterthought.
Pastor Adeboye
The PDP noted that Pastor Adeboye commending the State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, for the governor's courage and willingness to defend his people and the cause of the common man in the country was a statement of fact.
Spokesperson of the PDP in the State, Mr Jackson Adebayo, in a statement on Monday, said; "it is the height of crude politics for the APC to insinuate that a man of God of Pastor Adeboye's standing took bribe to commend Governor Fayose for what is obvious.
He said; "Pastor Adeboye is a respected man of God. He is not a politician. He only said what he saw about Governor Fayose and the only Nigerians, who won't want to accept the fact that the governor has stoutly defended Ekiti people and the common people of Nigeria, are those in the APC."
Mr Adebayo, who described the rebuttal, issued late on Sunday, by the APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun as an afterthought, added that, "The APC in Ekiti State has strong history of political intolerance such that anyone not with them must be condemned at all cost.
"Not minding that Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola is a leader of the party, the APC in Ekiti State reacted violently and disrespectfully to his visit to Governor Fayose in Ado Ekiti, calling him (Aregbesola) all kind of names.
"If they could attack Governor Aregbesola, one of the party leaders for coming to visit Governor Fayose in Ekiti and describing the governor as an 'omoluabi' and a performer, why won't they attack Pastor Adeboye who does not belong to their party?
"If Jide Awe could lead over 50 members of his party to protest against a highly respected Ekiti leader like Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) in faraway Ibadan, Oyo State just because he was perceived as not supporting their party candidate in 2007, mere issuing a press release to abuse Pastor Adeboye is the least of what can be expected from the APC under a character like Jide Awe."
While admonishing the APC in the State to stop behaving rascally and imbibe political tolerance, the PDP Spokesperson said, "Denying the offensive press statement ostensibly as a result of negative comments from the public will not be enough. Jide Awe and his cohorts should seek forgiveness from God for speaking negatively against God's anointed and desist from seeing whoever that is not on the same page with them politically as one that does not deserve to live."
Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, flanked right by Senator Ighoyota Amori and left Senator Peter Nwaoboshi during the Christmas day celebration at LondonL-R: Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Monday Igbuya, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, Senator Ighoyota Amori, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, Hon Michael Diden and othersR-L: Ms Erhiatake Ibori (Ibori's daughter), Chief James Onanefe Ibori, Senator Ighoyota Amori and one other well wisher.
Outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama said he could have defeated Republican Donald Trump in the Nov. 8 presidential election if he had run against him.
Obama told his former senior adviser David Axelrod in an interview for the "The Axe Files" podcast, produced by the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN, aired on Monday.
He argued that Americans still subscribed to his vision of progressive change, asserting that he could have succeeded in this year's election if he was eligible to run.
Obama and Trump
"I am confident in this vision because I'm confident that if I had run again and articulated it, I think I could've mobilised a majority of the American people to rally behind it.
"I know that in conversations that I've had with people around the country, even some people who disagreed with me, they would say the vision, the direction that you point towards is the right one."
The two-term president also said that there was a difference between the hope-and-change vision he heralded in 2008, which won him outstanding victory over Republican John McCain.
"In the wake of the election and Trump winning, a lot of people have suggested that somehow, it really was a fantasy.
"What I would argue is, is that the culture actually did shift, that the majority does buy into the notion of a one America that is tolerant and diverse and open and full of energy and dynamism."
Neither Trump nor Democratic Hillary Clinton won a majority of the vote in the 2016 contest.
While Clinton beat Trump in the popular vote by almost 2.9 million ballots, Trump won more electoral votes and consequently, the presidency.
In the 50-minute session, Obama repeated his suggestion that Democrats had ignored entire segments of the voting population, leading to Trump's win.
He implied that Clinton's campaign had not made a vocal enough argument directed toward Americans who had not felt the benefits of the economic recovery.
"If you think you're winning, then you have a tendency, just like in sports, maybe to play it safer".
He, however, said he believed Clinton "performed wonderfully under really tough circumstances" and was mistreated by the media.
The podcast interview was Obama's latest post-election analysis, which had focused on Democrats' failure to convince non-urban voters and a media preoccupied with negative stories about Clinton.
Obama said his party this year had not made an emotional connection to voters in hard-hit communities, relying instead on policy points he said did not make enough of an impact.
"We're not there on the ground communicating not only the dry policy aspects of this, but that we care about these communities, that we're bleeding for these communities.
"It means caring about local races, state boards or school boards and city councils and states legislative races.
"And not thinking that somehow, just a great set of progressive policies that we present to the New York Times editorial board will win the day," he said.
Obama cited an unlikely model for future Democratic success: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who he said had executed an effective – if obstructionist – strategy.
"Mitch McConnell's insight, just from a pure tactical perspective, was pretty smart and well executed, the degree of discipline that he was able to impose on his caucus was impressive.
"His insight was that we just have to say no to that," Obama said.
He said part of his post-presidential strategy would be developing young Democratic leaders, including organisers, journalists and politicians, who could galvanise voters behind a progressive agenda.
The outgoing president also said that he would not hesitate to weigh in on important political debates after he leaves office.
Following a period of introspection after he departs the White House, Obama said he would feel a responsibility as a citizen to voice his opinions on major issues gripping the country during Trump's administration.
He, however, said that he would not necessarily weigh in on day-to-day activities.
"At a certain point, you make room for new voices and fresh legs.
"That doesn't mean that if a year from now, or a year-and-a-half from now, or two years from now, there is an issue of such moment.
"Such import, that isn't just a debate about a particular tax bill or, you know, a particular policy, but goes to some foundational issues about our democracy that I might not weigh in.
"You know, I'm still a citizen and that carries with it duties and obligations," the outgoing president said.
Obama's first acts out of office, however, will be lower-profile, according to him.
He said he would focus on writing a book and self-analysing his time in office.
The two-term president and his family plan to live in Washington while his younger daughter finishes high school, he disclosed.
"I have to be quiet for a while. And I don't mean politically, I mean internally. I have to still myself.
"You have to get back in tune with your centre and process what's happened before you make a bunch of good decisions," he said.
As he concludes his term, Obama is growing sentimental about his time at the White House, according to him.
He said he grew misty in a meeting of senior aides recently thinking about the end of the Obama era.
"I got through about four minutes of the thing and then started, you know, getting the hanky out.
"It feels like the band is breaking up a little bit," the outgoing 44th U.S. president said.
Obama was inaugurated as the 44th U.S. President on Jan. 20, 2008, the only Black man in the history of U.S. to be elected president.
The former Illinois senator, who still receives high popularity ratings among Americans, won re-election for the second and last term in 2012, will be out of office on Jan. 20, 2017.
A trip to some beer parlours in Lagos, has revealed that their operators recorded poor patronage this yuletide.
The number of people, who usually relaxed and socialise at some bars and joints in the evenings, has reduced drastically at yuletide.
Mrs Chioma Nwanze, a beer parlour owner, lamented the fall in the number of customers this festive period due to the parlous state of the economy.
"Many of us are no longer making it because there is no money in town, yet the prices of beer from brewers keep on increasing.
"Soon, many of us may have to return to our villages because of poor records of sales in Lagos.
"Sustaining our families is becoming a herculean task. There are rents and school fees to pay, in addition to feeding," she said. Another pub operator, Mrs Chiamaka Chukwuma, said that not many people were coming out to booze these days. "A few of them, who come out now go for the cheapest brands of beer; take just one or two bottles and leave. "Some people even buy on credit with the promise to pay at month's end; when they are to pay, some of them start to dodge to evade payment". Chukwuma added that in the past, he continued to sell till about 12 midnight at festive period but not anymore. Some others who usually visit joints after work, also said that the purpose of doing so was to relax and get relieved of tension. According to Mr Okon Edem, a businessman, drinking at the end of the day's work with his friends makes him comfortable. "I do not take more than two bottles of Guinness to relax. Alcohol is very good for the body but it is getting costlier.
"I am thinking of the next line of action, maybe to quit drinking but I do not think I can do that. "Again, we discuss politics to catch up with the happenings in the country, so that we get the update of issues," he said.
Olabisi Adebayo, a civil servant said that with this economic recession, he had to take at least one bottle of beer to make him sleep.
According to Ben Okechukwu, a businessman, drinking beer is part of a man's life and for men to hang out with friends, they must drink beer. "I cannot befriend a guy, who does not drink because I can't be drinking beer and the person will be drinking soft drink.
"Men patronise beer parlours to also socialise, take girlfriends or their wives out but not these days; I sit alone to drink, there is no money to throw about," he said.
Six people have been killed in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna state, with herdsmen suspected of committing the attack in the restive region, a former lawmaker and an official said Monday.
A long-running battle over land and grazing rights has left hundreds dead in central and northern Nigeria.
The violence occurred between Saturday and Sunday in Goska, near Kafanchan, despite a 24-hour curfew following incessant clashes between herdsmen and local farmers, they said.
“We lost six people, including my 17-year-old daughter who was one year to her graduation from secondary school,” said Gideon Morik, a former member of the state house of assembly.
“The gunmen we suspect to be Fulani herdsmen attacked the village late Saturday into Sunday,” he said, adding that the attackers wounded many people and destroyed houses before fleeing.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai condemned the attack in a statement on Monday, vowing to find the killers.
President Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim, has proposed setting up grazing reserves to address disputes.
UYO-Fire outbreak has gutted another building in Uyo metropolis on Monday, less than 24 hours Works Commissioner, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-eyen lost his residence to a consuming fire elsewhere in the city on Christmas day.
The incident which occurred at No. 25 Etim Okon Usanga Street, Nwaniba was attributed to recklessness by a neighbour.
Though no life was lost but, a seamstress, Ms Eno Una whose properties were destroyed recounted her experience this way, "I wasn't around when the fire incident occurred. Somebody called me and said, 'Eno fire has destroyed everything in your house,' I started shedding tears.
"I had to trace where the fire came from. It was later I discovered that the fire came through a neighbour's carelessness. All my certificates, from primary school to university are gone".
Ms Una, who is also a graduate of Political Science (Education), from the University of Uyo, expressed worry over the loss of her certificates and other properties worth millions of naira to the fire incident.
She maintained that, the inferno was not connected with electrical spark as power company had disconnected the compound from power source several months before the inferno and, appealed to public spirited individuals and government for help.
…Tasks security agencies to work in harmony By Joseph Erunke
ABUJA-FORMER Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Commissioner of Police, Lawrence Alobi, has said the non confirmation of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, by the Senate was a very big blow to the ongoing anti-corruption fight of the Federation government.
This was even as he said the rejection of Mr Ibrahim Magu’s confirmation by the Senate based on alleged security report from the Department of State Service, should not be seen as crisis within the Federal Government but the security and anti-graft agency.
Alobi, who faulted the delay in the presentation of the security reports that made the Senate to take the decision rejecting the acting EFCC Chairman, tasked security agencies to work in harmony, given that they were not only serving the same government but also the same country and same purpose.
Speaking on a telephone interview with Vanguard, in Abuja, Alobi, yesterday, the former police commissioner, who has been into legal practice since retirement from the Nigeria Police, said the Magu has worked to his admiration since assumed his position.
Even as he noted that the DSS has the duty to submit security reports of citizens of the country especially people entrusted with positions of authority, Barrister Alobi said delaying the report up to the day of confirmation of the anti-graft czar was not the best.
Magu
To him, earlier submission of the security report by the Nigerian intelligence agency would have given enough room to settle grey areas before the confirmation day.
Hear him: “The DSS has the duty to submit security report about persons as the highest intelligence agency in the country but I don’t know why it’s coming so late now since Magu’s confirmation request by the President has since been with the Senate for long now.
“Magu has been there all along as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for quite some time and he’s doing a good job.
“I don’t know really what they said is his offence because I have not seen the report, so cannot say anything much.
“All I would say is that the DSS has the duty to submit security reports about intelligence on security but my only worry is that Magu has been there all this while and he has been doing well.
” By my own assessment, he is a courageous officer who is doing his job and is doing well. But I don’t know why the delay in his confirmation.
“What is happening is not too good for the two agencies, being the DSS and the EFCC. There should be that collaboration. There shouldn’t be anything like conflict among the security agencies, the agencies should work in collaboration. I think there shouldn’t be any conflict or anything like rivalry among the security agencies.
“But like I said, I have not seen the report that the DSS submitted to the Senate against the EFCC chairman and so, can’t say anything other than what I have said here.
“I strongly recommend that the security agencies should work together since they have a common purpose of serving the same government, the same country and same interest.”
Ekiti State Government on Monday announced the approval for payment N140m severance package due to former dead and living elected-public-office holders at the local government level.
This is contained in a statement released to journalists by the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in Ado Ekiti.
According to the statement, the beneficiaries of the severance include those elected into office in 1999, 2006 and 2008.
They included : former chairmen of local governments, council secretaries, councilors as well council advisers.
He said the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, gave the order for the immediate payment of the severance package to the affected officers during a meeting he held with them on Monday.
Adelusi quoted the governor as directing that families of those already dead must also be paid the entitlements of their deceased ones.
He also warned local government officials who would effect the payment not to play politics with the exercise, saying anyone caught would face the consequences.
"The governor felt that despite the economic challenges we are facing as a state, we feel it is our duty to honour those who had served our state in the past.
"They had contributed their own quota to the development of our state; therefore, families of those that are already dead should be paid too.
"The exercise has nothing to do with politics and must be fairly shared.
"We already made some payments some months ago and we are again doing this now.
"If this had been done in the past, the backlog would not have been a burden on us now, if not for the financial challenges we are facing, we would have paid everything at a goal," he said.
The governor admonished leaders of the state to let their actions be in the best interest of the state.
The statement said Fayose urged the people of the state to expect the best from his administration, economic recession notwithstanding in the New Year.
Spanish forward Pedro Rodriguez scored twice as red-hot leaders Chelsea crushed Bournemouth 3-0 on Monday to register a club-record 12th consecutive Premier League victory.
Pedro struck either side of Eden Hazard’s 50th English league goal at Stamford Bridge as Antonio Conte’s side opened up a provisional nine-point lead at the summit in the Boxing Day action.
Olivier Giroud prevented Arsenal losing more ground, his 86th-minute header snatching a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion to lift Arsene Wenger’s side above Manchester City into third place.
But with second-place Liverpool not in action until Tuesday, when Stoke City visit Anfield, Manchester City can climb to second if they win at Hull City in the late game.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored one goal and set up two others as Manchester United closed to within three points of the Champions League places by beating Sunderland 3-1, while champions Leicester City lost again.
Chelsea’s victory over Bournemouth left them one win short of Arsenal’s 2002 record of 13 successive victories within the same top-flight season.
With Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante suspended, Conte paired Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic in midfield, with Hazard starting up front, flanked by Willian and Pedro.
Pedro broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, curling a left-foot shot into the top corner from Fabregas’s pass following a neatly worked corner.
Hazard made it 2-0 four minutes into the second half, rolling a penalty into the bottom-right corner after he had drawn a foul from Simon Francis, with Pedro adding a deflected shot in stoppage time.
Beaten 2-1 by Everton and then City on their two previous outings, Arsenal narrowly avoided going three league games without winning for the first time since January 2012.
Alexis Sanchez’s shot against the post looked to be the closest Arsenal would come until Giroud marked his return to the starting XI by looping a header over Ben Foster with four minutes to play.
Chelsea’s Spanish midfielder Pedro (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge in London on December 26, 2016. / AFP PHOTO
– Opening draw for Allardyce –
Manchester United enjoyed a far less complicated afternoon, sinking Sunderland to record a fourth successive league win for the first time under manager Jose Mourinho.
Daley Blind opened the scoring in the 39th minute, striding onto Ibrahimovic’s lay-off and steering a shot into the bottom-right corner.
Ibrahimovic got on the scoresheet nine minutes from time, slotting past Jordan Pickford to chalk up his 17th goal of the season, before Henrikh Mkhitaryan sealed victory with a clever back-heel.
United drew level on points with fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur, who visit Southampton on Wednesday.
Fabio Borini replied for the visitors, but it was a return to forget for Sunderland manager David Moyes, sacked by United in April 2004.
Sam Allardyce was denied victory in his first game as Crystal Palace manager after Troy Deeney’s 100th Watford goal earned his side a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road.
Ex-England manager Allardyce saw Yohan Cabaye put Palace ahead, but Christian Benteke had a penalty saved by Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes before Deeney equalised from the spot in the 71st minute.
Champions Leicester’s woes continued as they were condemned to a ninth defeat of the campaign by Everton, who won 2-0 at the King Power Stadium courtesy of Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku.
Leicester, who were without the suspended Jamie Vardy, have won just one of their last nine league games and sit three points above the relegation zone in 16th place.
West Ham United eased their relegation fears by winning 4-1 at second-bottom Swansea City through goals from Andre Ayew, Winston Reid, Michail Antonio and Andy Carroll.
Andre Gray’s late effort gave Burnley a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough, the striker’s shot squirming beneath visiting goalkeeper Victor Valdes.
The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has expressed confidence that God would restore Nigeria's prosperity in due course.
This is contained in a statement signed by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Head Media of CAN's president, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.
"He will restore prosperity to our land and make the coming year a year of abundance.
"We thank God for the joy and hope the season has brought to all of us,'' the statement quoted the CAN leader as saying.
He called on Christians and Nigerians to pick up courage and move on with their lives in spite of the prevailing socio-economic challenges facing the nation.
"Though Joseph was disappointed when he saw Mary pregnant thinking it was an outcome of her unfaithful sexual intercourse, he decided not to allow that to determine his future.
"He made up his mind to put her away privately and move on with his life; that was courage.''
Ayokunle prayed that God would intervene in the challenges being faced by Nigerians like He did through a dream in the case of Joseph and Mary.
He noted that God restored their relationship with a baby.
Ayokunle congratulated all Christians for the Yuletide festivities that commemorated the birth of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and wished them a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year ahead.
…Urges Stakeholders, Residents To Support Exercise
The Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) has said that it would commence audit of underground and over the ground utility infrastructures within the geographical boundaries of the State in January 2017 to ascertain the quality and quantum of the infrastructures and guide in proper regulation and planning.
Chief Executive Officer of LASIMRA, Mr. Babajide Odekunle, who disclosed this at a Stakeholders' Forum with telecommunication service providers and others, said the audit became imperative owing to the urgent need to determine the actual telecommunication and water cables as well as gas and water pipelines under the ground and on the ground for effective planning especially with regards to development and redevelopment of the city.
Odekunle said the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has already given approval and necessary support for commencement of the audit, while other agencies of government which will be involved in the management of effect of the exercise have been adequately sensitized on their roles.
He said the agency was very much determined to sanitize the process of erecting infrastructures within the boundaries of the State, as such would go a long way in ensuring sanity and address issues associated with non-compliance with global best practices.
He said: "It is about time we have a database of all utility infrastructures within the geographical boundaries of Lagos State. LASIMRA was set up in 2004 to monitor, manage and control utility infrastructure within the geographical boundaries of Lagos State in the critical sectoral areas of telecommunication, power, gas and water.
"As at today, there is no record of all these things and se we need to carry out an inventory. Some of the cables and pipelines underground are going to ten years or more. We have just been lucky so far, but the State needs to do this. If anybody should ask, how many roof towers do we have in Lagos State, nobody can say; how many towers do we have in the Greenfield, nobody can say; what is the distance or length of the fibres under the ground, nobody can say.
"So, we need to know what is where. Under the ground in this state we have gas pipes, electricity cables, water pipes, telecommunication cables and yet we cannot say on Isaac John for instance, this is what we have under the ground and so we just need to do this audit and the time is now.
"At the end of the exercise, an as built database will become a most sought after information system that will become a guide to the future of our State," Odekunle said.
While urging the stakeholders to cooperate with government in its bid to sanitize the sector, Odekunle said in as much as government has made adequate preparation for a hitch-free exercise, nonetheless members of the public should also cooperate with government in that regard.
In his technical presentation at the forum, Managing Director of Critical Infrastructure Services Limited, Mr. C.O Obike said telecommunication remained very strategic to the economy and national security, and as such, all stakeholders must play by the rules.
He condemned the practice whereby telecom operators construct beyond the approved kilometers for the purpose of erecting cables underground, and the laying of cables inside drainages, saying such often times, resulted in the blockage of the drainage channels which eventually leads to flooding.
Attacks in villages and fighting between militias killed at least 35 people over the Christmas weekend in North Kivu, a majority Christian area in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The bloodshed began in Eringeti — a town 55 kilometres (35 miles) north of the regional hub Beni, which for two years has been hit by massacres killing hundreds, many of whom were hacked to death.
Rebels from The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) — dominated by puritanical Ugandan Muslims — killed 22 people after storming Eringeti on Saturday, regional official Amisi Kalonda told AFP.
The toll climbed to 35 on Monday with the announcement that at least 13 Hutu civilians, mostly women and an eight-year-old girl, were killed on Sunday by a militia from the Nande ethnic group.
“The victims were all Hutu. There was an eight-year-old girl, a father and the rest were women,” said local official Alphonse Mahano.
They were killed around the village of Nyanzale, a Hutu majority community.
The Nande and some other ethnic groups regard the Hutus as outsiders because of their attachment to the majority ethnic group in neighbouring Rwanda.
A string of attacks in the past year by both Hutu and Nande militia forces has deepened hatred between the communities.
Joseph Kabila
Hutu farmers have also been forced to abandon land further south because of high property costs and under pressure from major landowners.
– Relentless bloodshed – Although Congolese officials have blamed the attacks on the ADF, several expert reports have suggested that other groups, including elements within the Congolese army, took part in some killings.
When the Beni massacres began in October 2014, the ADF was quickly branded the culprit by both DR Congo authorities and MONUSCO, the UN mission in DR Congo.
More than two years on, Congolese authorities and the UN have been unable to protect civilians and the ADF remains the only official explanation — with the government insisting on a jihadist link to the killings.
It comes as relations with the international community have soured over President Joseph Kabila’s refusal to step down despite his term ending on December 20.
Separately, the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) announced Monday that its troops had killed 10 soldiers from neighbouring Burundi after they crossed the border last week in pursuit of rebels.
“There were 10 deaths,” Major Dieudonne Kajibwami, told AFP, following a previous statement that five bodies had been taken to Uvira, a lakeside town in the eastern South Kivu province.
Kivu is rich in natural, mainly mineral resources, such as gold, coltan and cassiterite, coveted by the telecommunications industry. Both south and north Kivu have rich agricultural and forestry resources.
North Kivu is one of the DRC’s most densely populated areas.
Tiny compared to the vast size of the country, the two provinces suffer not only because of fighting over their mineral resources but because of their proximity to an unstable border with Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda, along with Tanzania.
Leicester City’s owners distributed around 30,000 Jamie Vardy masks ahead of their game against Everton on Monday in protest at the England striker’s three-game suspension.
Vardy was banned by the Football Association after being sent off for a two-footed challenge on Mame Biram Diouf during champions Leicester’s recent 2-2 draw at Stoke City.
Leicester had an appeal against the punishment rejected, which Thai chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha described as “unfair”.
Two supporters wears a Jamie Vardy masks in the crowd ahead of the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Everton at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on December 26, 2016. Leicester City’s owners distributed around 30,000 Jamie Vardy masks ahead of their game against Everton on Monday in protest at the England striker’s three-game suspension. / AFP PHOTO
Prior to the game, pictures circulated on social media showing rows of Vardy masks placed on the blue seats at Leicester’s King Power Stadium ahead of their home game with Everton.
Television footage showed Vardy jokingly putting a mask over his face after taking his seat in the directors’ box.
He then gestured to suspended team-mates Robert Huth and Christian Fuchs, sitting alongside him, both of whom laughed.
FA chairman Greg Clarke also attended the match and was also caught on camera wearing a mask.
Leicester went into the game 15th in the Premier League table, three points above the relegation zone.
