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
By Henry Umoru ABUJA- SIX days after a meeting between the Senate and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU ended in stalemate, a renewed of same to nip in the bud, ongoing warning strike, again ended in deadlock today.
At the end of the 8 hours meeting which ended 8.32 pm Monday, there was however no concrete agreement between the University lecturers and the lawmakers.
Addressing Journalists after the meeting, Chairman Senate Committee on Tertiary Education, Senator Jibrin Barau, APC, Kano North said that both parties agreed with some of the issues raised, except one that had to do with their earned allowances, adding that they (ASUU) were going to make consultations with their members on the way forward.
Barau said: “You can see we have spent about 8 hours in this very important meeting. We have deliberated and thank God we have dealt with all the issues and we have agreed in all the issues except one.
“We have adjourned to make consultations, every sections of the meeting will get back to his constituency and report to it what transpired. At a later that we will reconvene to thrash out the remaining issues.
ALTHOUGH the Zika virus is still spreading, the World Health Organization (WHO) says it is no longer considered to be an international public health emergency. The global health body has declared that the crisis has entered a new phase that requires a longer-term response mechanism and sustained resources.
An Emergency Committee of the WHO which met weekend, said although the mosquito-borne virus is still a chronic problem and huge resources are required to fight its spread in a long-term manner, it no longer represents an emergency defined under the International Health Regulations (IHR).
According to the WHO Committee, Zika remains “a significant enduring public-health challenge requiring intense action” that requires management as a long-term priority like other major on going epidemics.
Based on the Committee’s advice, the WHO Director-General declared the end of the emergency declared in February 2016 as a result of an urgent need for research and a coordinated public-health response to determine if Zika was responsible for numerous cases of birth defects in newborns in Brazil.
Zika, which has been reported in 69 countries since 2015, causes devastating birth defects, such as underdeveloped brains and misshapen heads in babies born to women who were infected while pregnant.
Research has demonstrated the link between Zika virus infection and microcephaly, and the Committee says a robust longer-term technical mechanism is now required to manage the global response.
WHO notes that many aspects of the disease and associated consequences still remain to be understood, but this can best be done through sustained research. The Committee recommends sustained programme of work with dedicated resources to address the long-term nature of the disease and its associated consequences.
Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo has dismissed reports that his recent visits to the Presidential Villa are to facilitate his movement from PDP to APC.
Mimiko told State House correspondents in Abuja on Monday, after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, that he only briefed the president on the security situation in his state.
Governor Mimiko receives President Buhari in Akure
According to him, as the Chief Security Officer of Ondo, he is duty bound to brief the president on the security situation in the state.
"Like I said, as the Chief Security Officer of my state, if there is any credible threat to security, I owe the responsibility to Nigerians to brief Mr President of what is going on in the state.
"Mr President was in my state to campaign for his party. I extended to him the courtesies of receiving him at the airport and seeing him off as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not as APC.
"I understand that people have speculated that this means I am going to APC. There is nothing of such. I only extended him normal courtesies that protocols demand.
"As a governor and security officer of the state, if the president is visiting, no matter the party he belongs, it is only appropriate for me to extend the courtesies to him.
"That was what I did in Akure.
"And I have also come to brief him about the security situation in my state,'' he added.
Mimiko told reporters that he was only visiting the villa for the second time since the crisis in his party, adding: "I am just concentrating on the case of my party in court.''
When asked what would happen if his candidate were to win at the Supreme Court, he said: "the whole of Ondo State will erupt in joy and it will be so self-evident.''
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Monday, inaugurated a 330KV power switching station in Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom.
The minister, at Ikot Inyang village in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, said that the switch on of the station would boost electricity supply in the country.
Minister of Power, Fashola
He said that the station was expected to evacuate electricity from power plants in Alaoji, Afam, Calabar and Ikot Abasi and route same to Ugwuaji in Enugu up to Jos.
Fashola said that the development would solve the problem of stranded power as the generating plants would have their power evacuated for use.
The minister added that the project was bedevilled with challenges but for the intervention of the National Assembly, which resolved the contending issues for the completion of the project.
The Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Mr Chiedu Ugbo, who was at the inauguration, said contract for the project was awarded in 2006.
Ugbo said that the project was delayed due to challenges and lauded the stakeholders for the commitment toward completing the project.
He noted that the new management of NDPHC was committed to ensuring improved power generation, saying that the switching of the station on would mark the end of epileptic power supply.
He expressed gratitude to Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom and his predecessor, Sen. Godswill Akpabio and the host community for providing conducive environment for the completion of the project.
In her speech, Princess Maryam Akanmode, the contractor handling the project, said the 330 KV station had 12 inter-connectivity lines to evacuate power from the four plants to the national grid.
Akanmode, who is the Managing Director of Carlark International Limited, lauded the Federal Government and stakeholders for assisting in the completion of the project.
The Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, said the event marked significant turning point in the march toward new dawn in both power infrastructural renaissance and industrial revolution.
Represented by his Deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo , the governor said that the Ibom Power Plant had approval for upgrade to 685 megawatts from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
He said that the state was generating 191 megawatts from the Power Plant in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of the state.
Emmanuel disclosed that the state government had equally partnered a private investor for the take-off of the N90 billion Uquo Gas Plant at Esit Eket.
He said that gas plant was projected to supply 131 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to the National Independent Power Plant (NIPP) in Calabar, as well as the Ibom Power Plant. (NAN)
Mrs Justina Ogugua, 39, is currently battling for life. She is a patient of End Stage Kidney Disorder.
A mother of four, Justina was diagnosed early this year with congestive cardiac failure. Currently she is confined to her sick bed suffering memory loss and unable to perform her duties as mother and wife.
Her husband, Ignatious, has been running from pillar to post in the effort to care for her and also cater for the family.
He recalled that Justina's predicament began early in 2016 when her health began to deteriorate for no particular reason.
"She was unable to carry out her normal business activities or domestic work and it got to a stage she began to lose her memory frequently.
Justina Ogugua.
"For over three months, she has been on dialysis that costs us an average of N80,000 weekly. Recently her condition worsened and the doctor said a kidney transplant is required to save her life.
Ignatious who said they have been given a bill of N10 million for the proposed surgery, however lamented that the family was broke.
"I have spent every kobo that I have. I am appealling and begging Nigerians to please come to my wife's aid and help save her life."
A medical report confirmed that Justina's renal function has been compromised.
The report signed by the Medical Director, Paulate Hospital, Dr. P. C. Duru, said Justina was first seen at the hospital with several complaints ranging from constant and persistent headache, generalised fatigue, to dizziness, poor vision/photophobia, insomnia, nausea and recurrent abdominal pains among others.
It noted that clinical examinations revealed that the patient was hypertensive and had severe tachycardia.
An initial diagnosis of congestive cardiac failure (CCF) c/o poorly controlled hypertension was made and patient admitted and treated accordingly."
The medic said further laboratory investigations however revealed that Justina's renal function had been compromised; hence an additional diagnosis of chronic kidney disease was made.
It was confirmed that Justina had undergone 16 episodes of dialysis with accompanying blood transfusion during each session. The report said she has been on routine treatment and management and has been recommended for a left kidney transplant.
If you are touched by Justina's plight, and wish to assist, kindly send your donation to Justina Ogugua, First Bank 3082077346 or contact 08066309036 for further details.
The Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Former Ministers Forum have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone Ondo State governorship election by three weeks.
Oke, Jimoh, Jegede Agunloye and Akeredolu
The party and former ministers briefed newsmen after their meeting on Monday in Abuja, saying the shift was necessary in order to resolve the legal dispute over the party's candidate for the state election.
The National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Dayo Adeyeye, said it would be wrong for INEC to continue with the election as planned for Nov. 26 since the matter was still before the Supreme Court.
Adeyeye said that the case which was now before the Supreme Court had denied Eyitayo Jegede, his faction candidate, the opportunity to campaign in the last few weeks
The secretary expressed dissatisfaction with INEC for recognising the Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction's candidate, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, for the elections instead of Jegede.
He added that "INEC must postpone the election for a minimum of three weeks to allow everyone to participate.
"Every party should be allowed to present candidates of their choice. The election must be postponed in the interest of peace.
"INEC should wait for the decision of the Supreme Court before conducting the election."
He said people should remember that the second republic was truncated partly because of the electoral crisis in the old Ondo State, saying that "Ondo State is a highly educated state.
"We witnessed what happened in 1983. Ondo State wanted to choose their own leader. The events lead to collapse of second republic.
"We don't want that to happen again. INEC should allow Ondo people to choose their candidate. Let there be level playing ground for all political parties to choose their candidates."
Mr Tanimu Turaki, who spoke for the former ministers, said that the Forum support the PDP in the call for the postponement.
He also pledged the loyalty and support of the former ministers to the Makarfi leadership, saying PDP would not die.
"We believe we have come to a point where every responsible, every loyal, every committed party member should be seen to be rendering efforts to strengthen this party,'' Turaki said.
Earlier, Makarfi had said during an interactive session with the ministers that it was regrettable that Ondo State was in the centre of the raging party crisis.
He expressed the hope that all legal issues involving the party would be resolved before the end of the year.
He added that "our expectation was that before we begin thinking of going to the Supreme Court, it should be next year.
"But somehow, we will be in Supreme Court tomorrow (Nov. 23) and some major decisions might be taking.
"So, if you look at it and calculate, hopefully before the end of the year we will be done with legal issues."
Makarfi urged the ministers to consult with every member of the party and start strategizing on how PDP could capture power in 2019.
"If we don't capture power, it is a wasted effort. We must strategise so that we cannot be cornered.
"As a caretaker committee, we feel we should create a forum to bring our people together, to discuss and make recommendations on how to move forward.
"Zoning of the presidency to the north and the party chairman to the south is a major fundamental strategy decision,'' Makarfi said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is expected to deliver judgment on the PDP candidate for Ondo election on Tuesday, Nov. 23.
However, INEC had stated that it would not postpone the election for any reason.(NAN)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has no plan to postpone the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for Nov. 26.
INEC boss, Mahmood Yakubu
The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, disclosed this to newsmen while responding to calls by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some other registered political parties that the election should be postponed.
Oyekanmi said that INEC had already gone far with preparations and there was no any occurrence that warranted the commission to shift the Saturday election.
"INEC has no plan and does not intend to postpone the election.
"Preparations for the Ondo Governorship election started since March and 12 out of 14 activities planned for the poll have already been carried out.
"Besides, the grounds for postponing any election are enshrined in the Electoral Law and certainly, such calls for postponement is not one of the grounds.
"The 13th activity which is the Stakeholders' Forum will hold on Tuesday in Akure, Ondo State. The Commission therefore will not postpone the election."
The PDP had called on INEC to postpone the election, pending the determination of the suit involving its candidate which was before the Supreme Court.
A total of 20 other political parties had also called on INEC to postpone the election at a news conference in Abuja on Monday. (NAN)
The Director General of the National institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Mrs. Chika Balogun, has called on travel journalists and security agents across the country to adopt a positive disposition towards the promotion of Nigeria as a tourist destination.
She said this will help to attract the right attention to the country in its quest to diversifying its economy as a way of overcoming the present recession in the country.
Balogun made the call while declaring open a training workshop organised by her institute in Lagos recently.
The theme of the training was “Global tourism ethics and ethics on brand Nigeria”, and it was attended by security officers from Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) and Nigerian Civil Defense and Security Corps and tourism journalists.
According to her, if the task of making Nigeria one of the top 20 destinations in the world is to be achieved the country needs to be promoted in a positive light and branded accurately in line with global tourism ethics.
Travel journalists and security agents, she said have greater role to play in this regard.
She said that there is the need to equip journalists and security agents on the appropriate ethics that would help in the branding of the country, adding that NIHOTOUR has decided to bring together both the journalists and security agents based on what she said is “our collective resolve to promote Nigeria for a better day ahead”.
Mrs. Balogun then appealed to the travel journalists to make the necessary effort to promote Nigeria tourism in positive light while she called on the security agents to cooperate with tourism operators in protecting the country and ensuring that the right controls and measures are put in place to secure the country.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was the special guest of honour, was represented by the Director of Domestic Tourism and Control in the ministry, Mrs. Ada Okoli.
The event had two technical sessions with one session devoted to the training of the security agents and the other to the travel journalists with experts on security, brand and destination building, tourism ethics and other related topics taking them through the rudiments of the topics.
FC Ifeanyi Ubah and Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) under the leadership of Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, yesterday, at the Rojenny Stadium, Oba, concluded a 4-day Open Screening/Selection Exercise aimed at discovering about 30 technically gifted players under the age of 20.
The players are expected to form the fulcrum of the West Ham United Academy as part of the Partnership agreement signed between the Hammers and FC Ifeanyi Ubah.
The U-20 players during the screening
The screening exercise which was duly supervised by the Vice Chairman of the board, Barr. J.B.C Obikwelu drew seasoned football coaches, tacticians and administrators, the 21 Local Government Football Council Chairmen drawn across the state, as well as members of ANSFA.
It is expected that about 30 of the players discovered from this exercise who are basically green horns and raw talents from schools/academies within the state will go into a 10-day close door training camp after which the group will be cut down to 20 players who will be embarking on a Trip to the London Club, West Ham United for trials and full integration into their academy after signing the dotted lines of the club's papers.
The Screening exercise which is part of ANSFA's quest cum efforts to discover, nurture and groom talents from all nooks and crannies of the state can be described as largely successful with the climax being the novelty football matches between the U-20 Select Team A beating FC Ifeanyi Ubah Academy 4-1, while in the second game, FC Ifeanyi Ubah Feeder Team defeated the U-20 Select Team B by 2 goals to nil.
Reacting to the recent development, CEO/Managing Director of the Rojenny Sports Complex, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka (Ogilisi Igbo) who witnessed the event on its first day commended the efforts of the Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah's led Anambra FA Board for the noble exercise which he described as timely.
"This event is timely, as it is a progress in our football and serves as a platform of hope for our youths to showcase their talents and a chance for international exploration. This is a goldmine in terms of future sports development in Anambra State. I commend Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah for his vision and capabilities. He is certainly a man who uses his visionary and intellectual capacity to turn things around. I urge him to continue with his good works," Chief Ezeonwuka stated.
Also reacting, Vice Chairman of the Anambra FA Board, Barr. J.B.C Obikwelu said the open screening exercise has afforded the football passionate and loving teeming youths a very honest opportunity to be seen and spotted out as well as develop their talents.
"This Screening Exercise is one that in the nearest future will return Anambra football to its former glory. It is a well thought-out process borne out of a well crafted blueprint for football development. Football is made in Anambra and in conformity with this cliche, we have hit the ground running. You can see for yourself how the exercise has turned out with the talents showcased by these young ones. What we are doing here is simply practicing what we preach for the betterment of the state in sports," said Barr. Obikwelu.
Reacting also, Sir Anthony Udennaka, a Member of the Anambra FA Board who doubles as Chairman of the Anambra State Referee's Council was of the view that the exercise is not only beneficial to the state but to the nation at large.
"An opportunity of this nature and magnitude is rare, this goes to say that the youths that are involved should make the best out of it by being focused, committed and disciplined. This exercise is not only beneficial to Anambra State but to the country at large. Football is a unifying factor and plays a key role in national integration, this is just the right way to start and on a concluding note, I can say that I am satisfied with what i have seen in the couple of days this exercise lasted," Udennaka submitted.
Present at the occasion were the Chairman Anambra State Football Association and Proprietor of FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah; Chairman, FC IfeanyiUbah, Chief Chukwuma Ubah; former U-17 National Team Coach, Amb. Fanny Amun (MON); FC Ifeanyi Ubah's new Head Coach, Kenichi Yatsuhashi; Technical Director, Mitko Dobrev; Assistant Coach/Fitness Trainer, Yaw Preko among others.
Heavily armed Niger Delta militant pirate gangs operating in and around the Niger Delta region, the Black Devils, have given reasons why they attack expatriate companies such as Agip, Shell, Chevron and others and take hostages for huge ransoms.
In a video interview granted by the leader of one of the militant groups to the Al Jazeera's People and Power documentary crew on investigation of the rise of piracy in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, the militants claimed the expatriate companies come to exploit them without employing them or giving them their due.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-With just one year and seven months into the four years term of the administration of president Muhammdu Buhari which will terminate in 2019, presidency has given sure indication that the president would seek a second term in office.
It also vehemently dismissed comments that it would be a lonely walk for the president, a development expected to serve as a punishment for perceived bad governance. Buhari
The refutation was a sharp reply to a statement credited a former member of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Alhaji Buba Galadima that the people of Nigeria would abandon Buhari should he choose to seek re-election.
In a strong worded statement last night, the presidency through the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu stated that the “suggestions that the masses will desert President Buhari in 2019 as unfounded and utterly ridiculous”.
Shehu asserted that “ordinary Nigerians are the backbone of his mandate and the only reason he ran for the office is to protect them against the rapacious merchants of corruption, who have held Nigeria back for decades”, saying that ” Galadima’s calculation and prediction is utterly confused and misleading.”
According to the presidential spokesman “the masses are solidly behind Buhari because he is not stealing their money and their future. President’s enormous goodwill remains ever strong because the people are convinced the President is acting in their best interest, despite the temporary unintended consequences of reforms.”
Suggesting vendetta and strong animosity agent the person and the government of Buhari, Shehu who carpeted Galadinma recalled that an age-long face-off between both Arewa leaders in their CPC days.
He revealed that it was the reason why Buhari discarded the likes of Galadinma in the 2015 elections he ran and won, urging Galadinma to retire to his constituency and stand an election if he still enjoyed the goodwill of his people.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is far from isolation. He enjoys a very strategic relationship with ordinary Nigerians. This relationship is as solid as the proverbial rock. If Buba Galadima thinks that because he has no role and no job in this government that means president is isolated, he is putting himself up to ridicule.
“Galadima cannot speak for the masses as far as their steadfast loyalty to Buhari is concerned. While acknowledging that Galadima was entitled to advance his own political agenda, Malam Garba said Galadima didn’t have the right to decide for ordinary voters.
“Buba Galadima’s disagreement with President Buhari was based on principle. He explained that President Buhari is committed to level playing field and would not want anyone to link his name to injustice.
“Galadima’s disagreement with Buhari started in 2011 when a group within the party, orchestrated an organizational mess by which the CPC embarked on the imposition and substitution of candidates for cash payments at the expense of those duly and democratically elected.
“Muhammadu Buhari was embarrassed by the incidents and complaints about the imposition and substitution of candidates, adding that he, as a democrat, would not suppress the will of the people to please selfish interests.
“Consequently he dispensed with the service, such as they are, of Buba Galadima; ran and won the 2015 Elections without them. Let Buba Galadima go to his constituency, stand for election and see what will happen to him”, Shehu stressed.
The Presidency, Monday, dismissed suggestions that the masses will desert President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, saying it’s unfounded and utterly ridiculous.
Presidential spokesperson, Mallam Garba Shehu, who was reacting to allegations by a former Congress for Progressive Change, CPC member, Alhaji Buba Galadima that President Buhari would be abandoned by the people in 2019, asserted that “ordinary Nigerians are the backbone of his (Buhari’s) mandate and the only reason he ran for the office is to protect them against the rapacious merchants of corruption, who have held Nigeria back for decades.”
Buba Galadima
Garba Shehu said Galadima’s calculation and prediction is utterly confused and misleading.
The statement said: “masses are solidly behind Buhari because he is not stealing their money and their future, that the President’s enormous goodwill remains ever strong because the people are convinced the President is acting in their best interest, despite the temporary unintended consequences of reforms.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is far from isolation. He enjoys a very strategic relationship with ordinary Nigerians. This relationship is as solid a the proverbial rock. If Buba Galadima thinks that because he has no role and no job in this government that means president is isolated he is putting himself up to ridicule.
“Galadima cannot speak for the masses as far as their steadfast loyalty to Buhari is concerned.”
While acknowledging that Galadima was entitled to advance his own political agenda, Malam Garba said Galadima didn’t have the right to decide for ordinary voters.
Malam Garba Shehu recalled that Buba Galadima’s disagreement with President Buhari was based on principle.
He explained that President Buhari is committed to level playing field and would not want anyone to link his name to injustice.
The Presidential media aide said Galadima’s disagreement with Buhari started in 2011 when a group within the party, orchestrated an organizational mess by which the CPC embarked on the imposition and substitution of candidates for cash payments at the expense of those duly and democratically elected.
He said Muhammadu Buhari was embarrassed by the incidents and complaints about the imposition and substitution of candidates, adding that “he, as a democrat, would not suppress the will of the people to please selfish interests. Consequently he dispensed with the service, such as they are, of Buba Galadima; ran and won the 2015 Elections without them. Let Buba Galadima go to his constituency, stand for election and see what will happen to him.”
By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor After spending nearly a month in detention over alleged criminal breaches while in office, former Federal Capital Territory Administration Minister, Bala Mohammed, has pleaded with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to free him.
EFCC, which clamped Mohammed into detention since last month, is trying to extract critical information from him of how he executed the controversial Land Swap deal in which the FCT is said to have lost about N1 trillion and many other projects now under probe.Bala Mohammed
But unwilling to stay further in EFCC custody, Mohammed on Monday approached an Abuja High Court to enforce his fundamental rights, asking to be let off the commission's hook.
The court however fixed November 24 for hearing in a motion on notice filed by Mohammed, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged violation of his fundamental right.
Mr. Mohammed, former minister under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, had been in the custody of the EFCC since October 25 following petitions against him.
The former minister, through his counsel, Chris Uche, brought a motion of violation of fundamental human right against EFCC for detaining him for four weeks.
He also sought the order of the court for EFCC to release him on bail and also to award N100 million damages against EFCC.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, Mr. Uche told the court that his client had been in custody of the EFCC for four weeks now. Mr. Uche then prayed the court to attend to the matter urgently, noting that motion for the enforcement of his client's fundamental right was filed on November 16.
The prosecuting counsel, Rimamsomte Ezekiel, informed the court that the applicant was in the custody of the EFCC following an order of an FCT high court on November 9
He said the order would expire on November 23 and that the applicant was detained because he was jeopardising investigation. Mr. Ezekiel said that the applicant was being investigated on many petitions against him on several financial and fictitious contracts he signed while in office.
After hearing the submissions from the counsel, Mr. Baba-Yusuf adjourned until November 24 to hear the motion, if the applicant is not released on bail before the
THE Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, a pan Yoruba social cultural organisation, has thrown its weight behind the APC candidate, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, saying he is the best among those contesting for the governorship seat.
ARG Chairman, Chief Wale Oshun, told journalists after a courtesy visit to endorse Akeredolu in Lagos that the group has always kept its tradition of endorsing the most competent candidate in all elections held in the South-West zone of the country.
His words: “Certainly, we are here to endorse him. Barrister Akeredolu has been one of us, he is one of us, he is an activist, a tested progressive and he strongly believes in the welfarist principles of the founders of Afenifere.Rotimi-Akeredolu
“What is important at this stage is that he is the one that believes in the ideology of the political philosophy of Yorubaland. He believes in the principle that had been laid down by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“He is not just claiming it, we can identify and affirm it. He had been one of us and his party had deemed it fit to allow him to run as the candidate and because he is the best in the circumstance to rule the state. We believe we should give him our open support.”
Oshun urged Ondo electorate to cast their lot for Akeredolu and ”use their votes to install the best candidate as their governor.” Also speaking, Akeredolu said his party is working as one political family in the state to clinch victory in the election.
He said contrary to insinuations that some APC leaders shunned his mega rally they are working together. “All of us in APC are working together now. We all are working together as a party. Even Segun Abraham has come out to ask his supporters to come and work for APC. He said so without mincing words that he has not left APC. The only thing he he said which he has a right to is that he has a matter in court and it is all right. The only way any judgement in that regard can bring forth any fruit is for APC to win the election. So, he is with us.’
”Governor Abiola Ajimobi still called me yesterday . He came back into the country yesterday, his deputy was with us at the rally. The deputy came. We also heard information that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is still abroad attending to his health and I don’t believe that because people are not there that they are not part of the party.”
Rap superstar Kanye West has pulled the plug on his North American tour, organizers said Monday, two days after a rambling onstage tirade against fellow artists Jay Z and Beyonce.
The “Saint Pablo Tour” was set to run through December 31, but all 21 remaining shows are canceled and ticket-holders have been contacted about refunds, a spokeswoman for promoter Live Nation told AFP.
West, who is married to reality-TV queen Kim Kardashian, has not made any personal statement on the cancelation and his representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Celebrity gossip website TMZ quoted an unnamed source saying the rapper was pulling out because he was exhausted.
“He’s been working around the clock on fashion design, both his own line and the Adidas line,” the source was quoted as saying.
The announcement followed a Saturday night show in Sacramento, where West showed up an hour late and performed three songs before berating other artists and defeated White House hopeful Hillary Clinton, and cutting the performance short.
West said he was “hurt” because Beyonce supposedly said she would not perform at a certain show — likely the Grammys — unless she wins video of the year over him.
“I’ve been sent here to give y’all my truth, even at the risk of my own life, even at the risk of my own success, my own career,” West said.
He implored Beyonce’s husband, the rapper Jay Z, to “call me, bro, you still ain’t called me.”
“Jay Z, I know you got killers. Please don’t send them at my head. Just call me. Talk to me like a man,” he added.
West canceled a show planned for Sunday at the Forum, an indoor arena in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood, just hours before it was set to start.
The concert was supposed to make up for West leaving early from a November 3 appearance at the Forum due to what he called vocal issues.
The rapper told an audience on Thursday that he did not vote — but would have chosen Republican Donald Trump if he had cast his ballot.
West — who has talked about plans to run for president in 2020 — said Trump could help bring about change by exposing racism.
Minister of Solid Minerals and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said that he would never abuse or disrespect former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, saying Tinubu remains a leader he would continue to hold in high esteem.
Tinubu and Fayemi
Refuting a recent report that he denigrated Tinubu in an interview, Fayemi in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Olayinka Oyebode said: "Dr. Fayemi subscribes to the highest moral and ethical standard of the Yoruba and as such would not speak evil or seek to demean Asiwaju Tinubu or any of our respected leaders under no circumstance whatsoever.
"For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Fayemi has always held and will continue to hold Asiwaju Tinubu in high esteem.
"The bond that exists between them dates back to decades of cordial relationship and no peddler of falsehood or group of blackmailers hiding under the guise of politics can put asunder.
"The highly mischievous and malicious report is nothing but a tissue of lies.
"It must be stressed that Dr. Kayode Fayemi never granted any interview where he made disparaging comments about the person of our highly revered leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu."
There have been speculations in several quarters that the relationship between Tinubu and Fayemi turned sour, following the latter’s lost to incumbent Governor Ayodele Fayose, in the 2014 Ekiti State Governorship election.
By Nwabueze Okonkwo ONITSHA – Over 200 members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra/Biafran Independence Movement, MASSOB/BIM from seven local government areas of Anambra South Senatorial zone at the weekend converged on Industrial City of Nnewi, Anambra state to celebrate the victory of American President-elect, Mr Donald Trump.
The members who assembled under the auspices of Biafran Clergy Movement, BCM, also prayed fervently for Biafra to come soon.
MASSOB/BIM’s Director of Religion for Anambra South Senatorial zone, Apostle Akunne Chukwuemeka who led the prayer group, said the directive was from their national leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, adding that the event equally went on simultaneously in all the three senatorial zones of the State.
Citing the Book of Exodus chapter 9 verse 1, Apostle Chukwuemeka said the prayer summit was to congratulate the American President-elect, Trump on his electoral victory and to ask “Pharaoh” to let our people go. He said there was nothing Nigerian government could do to stop Biafrans now from actualizing their freedom which he said was only few steps to accomplish.
According to him, “As God directed Moses to tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, so had the Nigerian government been directed to let the Biafrans go, adding, the election of Trump as the next American President was a prayer answered for Biafrans. Since Mr Trump is our choice, who will say no to Muslim colonization. It was the prayers of the Biafrans that stopped Hilary Clinton from winning the Presidential election”.
He therefore urged all Igbo clergy, irrespective of their denominations to begin to go down on their knees to pray for early emergence of the Republic of Biafra and spiritually destroy any weapon fashioned against the actualization of the sovereign State of Biafra.
Another preacher at the summit, Sylvester Obed, Director of Religion in Nnewi South council area identified Nigerian government as a polluted one full of corruption, nepotism and all manner of evil.
According to Obed, “Such a government would not be found in Biafra and I am urging men and women of God in Biafra land to always live by example, now that we are about to enjoy your new country.”
He said that Biafra would be a far better country “where Jesus will reign supreme devoid of corruption”.
In his own speech, Apostle Godwin. C.Igwilo, called for more sensitization of ministers of the gospel in Biafra land to join in the spiritual warfare for the arrival of the Biafran country.
Some the members present at the prayer summit were Apostle Dr John Columbus, Apostle Samuel .O. Maduabuchukwu, among many others.
A self-styled prophet in South Africa on Monday defended spraying his followers in the face with insect killer saying the practice healed people of their sins.
Photographs of Lethebo Rabalago spraying “Doom” aerosol on volunteers during his church service at the weekend in Limpopo, in the northwest of the country, spread fast on social media.
“Some people came with injuries but we sprayed them and they were healed,” pastor Rabalago, 24, told the Times Live website.
“No one inspired me. I just believe in God for anything.”
Rabalago — quickly dubbed the “Prophet of Doom” — said he was “glorifying God” by spraying his congregation at the Mount Zion General Assembly (MZGA) church.
“Everything here on Earth belongs to God. Petrol belongs to God. Doom belongs to God,” he said.
Pastor Lethebo Rabalago spraying insect killer on a member
Brand Tigers, which manufactures the well-known household spray, issued a statement calling on Rabalago to halt his ritual healing, calling it “alarming and extremely concerning”.
“(We) want to make it very clear that it is unsafe to spray Doom Super Multi Insect Killer… into people’s faces,” it said.
“The packaging has very clear instruction and health warnings for humans which must be adhered to.”
Brand Tigers added that anyone affected should wash their hands and face, avoid inhaling and seek medical attention.
Photographs from the MZGA showed several women, with their eyes tightly closed, being sprayed in the face by Rabalago.
The pastor said no one was injured, but declined to say how many devotees attend his church or how many were healed.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-Presidency has stated that the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was consistent in its resolve to finding economic stability in the country.
The re-affirmation followed the latest report of the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, NBS, that there was a dip in the Gross Domestic Products, GDP.
A statement from the Office of the Vice President on Monday in Abuja stated that the consistent growth in Agriculture and Solid Mineral sectors which were non oil sectors would cushion the effects and boost the economy.
According to the statement, the vandalization of oil assets in the Niger Delta by also affected production output.
It however said that hopes were high with the ongoing negotiations with leaders in the region.President Buhari
“Third Quarter GDP figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, reveal a consistent growth in Agric and Solid Mineral sectors, indicating the success of the Buhari administration’s economic policies even though overall economy is still in recession.
“The over-riding impact of the oil and gas sector, where vandalism and sabotage of critical installations negatively affected production output, explains the persistence of the recession, as the non-oil economy posted a very slight growth.
“Efforts to resolve the Niger Delta situation are however continuing as the Federal Government has opened several channels of communication with all relevant groups in the Niger Delta. Also, urgent fiscal and monetary measures to spur the economy back to overall positive territory are certainly in the offing including those targeting manufacturing”, the statement stated.
Quoting copiously the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu on behalf of the Economic Management Team headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the NBS report, the presidency however acknowledged that Nigeria was still in recession.
"The third quarter results just released by the National Bureau of Statistics show that the Nigerian economy is still in recession. Growth in Gross Domestic Product fell by -2.24% in the third quarter as compared to the decline of -2.07% experienced in the second quarter.
“The slight deterioration in national economic performance owes largely to the continued poor performance of the oil and gas sector which worsened to -22.01% in the third quarter as compared to -17.48% in the second quarter of 2016. The immediate cause of this, as is now generally recognized, is the steep decline in oil and gas production in the third quarter of 2016 due to acts of vandalism and sabotage of oil export facilities.
“Remote causes include the continued outsized influence of the oil and gas sector on the rest of the economy as typified by its contribution to government revenue and foreign exchange earnings, which continue to be important motors of economic activity.
“Moreover, due to time lags, it is still too early for policy interventions of the Federal Government to begin to impact fully on economic activity.
“There are however some ‘green shoots’ of economic recovery beginning to emerge.
“To start with, on-going consultations to bring lasting peace to the Niger Delta have enabled an increase in oil and gas production which if sustained at current prices, will bring a measure of relief to the economy.
“Other key sectors of the economy showed encouraging signs of improvement.
“The growth in the non-oil economy although still weak at 0.03% showed a return to positive territory after two consecutive quarters of negative growth. This was partly due to the continued good performance of agriculture and the solid minerals, two sectors prioritised by the Federal Government. Agriculture grew by 4.54% in the quarter under consideration of which growth in crop production at nearly 5% was at its highest since the first quarter of 2014. Growth in the solid mineral sector averaged about 7%.
“The financial sector rebounded quite strongly in the period under review growing by 2.85% from a negative growth of -13.24% in the second quarter. The recently approved first tranche of $600m to be borrowed from the African Development Bank will also provide some relief in budgetary terms and supplement capital inflows. Indeed, there was a slight uptick of capital inflows into the economy in the third quarter of 2016. Overall capital inflows in the third quarter of 2016 increased by 74.84% over the second quarter.
“The performance of the manufacturing sector continued to be of concern given its key role in value addition and job creation in the economy. It is expected however that with greater local sourcing of raw materials, expected improvements in infrastructure, especially power and reductions in the cost of doing business, this sector will soon experience a sustained improvement in its contribution to the national economy.
“Similarly, while inflation is still high at 18.3% on a year-on-year basis it has begun to level out on a month-on-month basis and should enable the deployment of more policy tools to support growth and employment. Indeed, growth of headline inflation slowed down appreciably from 13.8% in May to as low as 1.70% in September.
“The year to date growth is about -1.58% and is set to improve given some of the points mentioned earlier especially regarding agriculture, oil and gas, and power supply. In addition, there have also been reductions in the rate of contraction of household and government consumption expenditure. Household consumption expenditure fell for instance by -3.25% in the third quarter of 2016 as compared to -6.0% recorded in the second quarter.
“The ratio of investment to GDP also showed a notable improvement rising by 7.6% in the third quarter of 2016 as compared to a contraction of -7.4% in the fourth quarter of 2015.
“The Strategic Implementation Plan for the implementation of the 2016 Budget of Change prioritised capital expenditures for power, roads and rail as well as social investments. In addition to creating jobs and promoting social inclusion, these expenditures will also provide a stimulus by putting money in the hands of people. The usual economic activity that takes place in the Yuletide season will also likely have a positive impact on the wholesale and retail trade sector.
“Overall therefore, it is expected that these factors which will be underpinned by the policies to be unveiled in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERGP, to be adopted before the end of the year, will lend further momentum to on-going efforts to revitalise and reposition the economy."
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), has said that the abandonment of Ajaokuta Steel Complex and Delta Steel Company had been a major setback to attaining technological advancement of the country.
The President of NSE, Mr Otis Anyaeji, said this at the African Engineering Conference on Energy, UNESCO African Engineering Week and NSE's Annual General Meeting in Uyo on Monday.
Anyaeji said the abandonment resulted in the importation of all its iron rods for construction as it also impacted negatively on the economic growth of the nation.
According to him, open market costs of the imported construction materials has led to flooding the country with inferior building materials, which are the direct consequences of the collapse of engineering structures.
"Open market costs of these elements have hit the roof because of our weak currency. Substandard materials flood the market. This adds to the high rate of the collapse of engineering structures.
"Monopoly of manufacture of cement by a select few restricts choice and indiscriminate pricing. Costs of products, especially in the building industry become unpredictable.
"High cost of construction materials and scarcity of loans have slowed down activities in the industry. This has led to inadequate provision of affordable houses", he said.
Anyaeji said that the award of contracts to foreign firms without proper scrutiny of the conditions of contract had led to the side-lining of Nigerian professionals and importation of expatriates and artisans that are in some cases inferior to their local counterparts.
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 Deji of Akure Kingdom, Oba Aladelusi Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, weekend, pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to consider sons and daughters of his kingdom for key cabinet positions in his government.
Oba Aladetoyinbo made the plea while playing host to President Buhari, All Progressives Congress, APC leaders and other top government functionaries, who paid him a courtesy visit in Akure.
The Oba expressed concerns over the exclusion of sons and daughters of Akure from key federal cabinet positions since the exit of Chief Olu Falae from the federal cabinet in the late 80s. He said: "Akure kingdom has highly qualified and professionally sound sons and daughters, who have made indelible marks in various aspects of life."
President Muhammadu Buhari and Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, being entertained by members of the Akure South Cultural Troupe during Ondo State APC Grand Finale campaign for the forthcoming gubernatorial poll in Akure. Photo by Abayomi ADESHIDA 19/11/2016
Oba Aladetoyinbo identified some prominent and accomplished sons of the kingdom such as Tunji Ariyomo, an engineer and former United Kingdom Coordinator of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, who was also an APC governorship aspirant; Hon. Sunday Abegunde, a former member of the House of Representatives and Niyi Adegbonmire, a lawyer who was also an aspirant.
The monarch said: "When none of your sons and daughters are part of decision-making in Abuja, you are somewhat cut off and this will definitely affect development. If you are screened out of the federal in terms of participation, you become local."
Responding, President Buhari apologised for the oversight and agreed with the monarch that he truly should thank the people of Akure for their vast votes at the presidential elections and that it is in order to appoint their qualified people to be part of the government.
KPMG, a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services has tasked stakeholders to take advantage of increasing penetration of mobile phones to drive innovative delivery of financial services to the country's population.
L-R: Ladi Asuni, Senior Manager, Technology Advisory; Boye Ademola, Partner & Head, Financial Services Technology; Ayo Othihiwa–, Partner & Head, Financial Services Sector; Bisi Lamikanra, Partner & Head, Advisory Services; Olumide Olayinka, Partner & Head, Risk Consulting; Nike Oyewolu,– Head, Sales and Markets; Odalo Aimufia, Senior Manager, Technology Advisory all of KPMG at the Press Conference on the upcoming KPMG FinTech Summit held in Lagos
Speaking in Lagos ahead of FinTech Summit tagged, "The FinTech Disruption– Understanding the Value Proposition", bid to hold on 22 November 2016, in Lagos, KPMG, Partner & Head, Financial Services Technology, Boye Ademola, said that in contrast to the poor level of financial inclusion, mobile phone penetration is currently over 83 percent with about 150 million active phone lines with increasing access to affordable data services.
"The increasing penetration of mobile phones in comparison with the relatively low level of financial inclusion is the gap that presents a huge opportunity to utilize technology to drive innovative delivery of financial services to the country's population.
"The emergence of FinTechs in Nigeria can be attributed to a surge in e-commerce, smartphone penetration and strong affinity for technology adoption within the teeming youth population. We are seeing an emergence of FinTech players especially in the areas of payments, lending and crowd funding solutions. More recently, we have also seen some growing interest in insurance and blockchain."
On the upcoming event, Ademola said that KPMG Global FinTech Co-lead, Warren Mead will be addressing the topic, “How FinTechs Create Value for Financial Service Institutions”.
"The Summit will attract a variety of stakeholders includingFinTech companies, incubators, accelerators, banks, insurance companies, other financial service institutions, regulators, government, private equity and venture capital firms with interest in the Nigerian FinTech space. It will also feature KPMG and industry thought leaders sharing insights as well as demo sessions by hand-picked local and international FinTechs. Focus areas for the summit are next generation payments, lending and financing, financial inclusion, wealth management & personal finance, insurance, blockchain, and cyber security,” he added.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi over the Sunday train disaster that killed more than 100 passengers near Pukhrayan.
The President, who received the news of the train derailment and heavy loss of lives, expressed great sorrow and profound shock over the unfortunate incident.
He also commiserated with the families of the victims.
According to President Buhari, "the loss of human life on whatever scale, and anywhere, is bad enough," adding that “the world becomes united in sorrow during such moments because our common humanity makes us a family.”
President Buhari said that the government and the people of Nigeria felt and shared the pains and the anguish of the families of the victims and all Indians.
He prayed God to “comfort the grieving Asian nation.”
As the December 7 presidential election in Ghana draws near, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has counselled the people of Ghana to be mindful of making the same mistake made by Nigerians in the 2015 presidential election by voting for change, which has brought hunger, sufferings and economic recession to the country, such that even the entire West African sub-region is being affected.
He said "by buying into the All Progressives Congress (APC) message of change, Nigerians are now facing a kind of hunger and suffering never experienced in the country in the last 30 years and Ghanaians must not fall into that kind of trap."
Fayose
Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said in a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday that Governor Ayodele Fayose made this call while playing host to some men of God from Ghana on Saturday.
The governor said; "Ghanaians should not succumb to the deceit of the opposition party that are calling for a change of government. Rather, they should return the incumbent President, John Mahama, who has no doubt done creditably well to deserve a re-election.
"Ghanaians should know that the change in Nigeria brought hunger, suffering, disregard for the rule of law as well as arrest and detention of Nigerians without trial and be mindful of those preaching change to them.
"Most importantly, the situation in Ghana at present is similar to that of Nigeria. Like President Mohammadu Buhari, opposition party, New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo has contested the presidency two times. This is the third time he is contesting. He is also 74 year-old.
"In Nigeria, change is synonymous with economic recession that is even getting to the level of depression. Even majority of those who brought the change are now regretting it.
"Therefore, tell your people in Ghana that Nigerians are already regretting the change they made last year, which has plunged the country into serious economic hardship.
Tell them to learn from Nigerians and reject those preaching message of change to them. They should hold on to the government that they have now and beware of a change that will take their country to economic recession."
Founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, Prophet T.B. Joshua, has further clarified on his controversial prophesy regarding who would win last November 8 Presidential election in the US.
In a latest video on his church’s Facebook page, TB Joshua Ministries, Joshua explained that following his prophesy before the election, some concerned Americans went into deep prayers and fastings, which prompted God to hearken to their voice, thereby reversing Hillary Clinton’s win.
At the forum organised by members of the Nigerian community in China to address the thriving illicit trade on drugs and its effects on not just China-Nigeria bilateral relationships, but also on Nigerians living and doing various businesses in China, the President, Good Governance Initiative (GGI) Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, while intimating forum on BBC World Service Poll declared that 85 per cent of Nigerians believe that China exerts a positive influence on the social and economic development in Nigeria.
He said that China and Nigeria as closest allies and partners, are not deserving of any bad image which the growing malaise of drug trafficking can rob on both nations integrity.
In this online interview, Festus who also disclosed that in as much as Nigerians transactions in Guangdong Province alone in China is recorded to a cash return of over $5,000,000 Million Dollars a day, Nigerians continue suffering the worst form of stereotyping in every aspect in China and many other host countries abroad in addition to being placed on various diplomatic restrictions. Excerpt.
How would you describe China-Nigeria bi-lateral relations so far? Both countries are committed to realising a long lasting bi-lateral relationship and as the Nigeria-China cooperation continues to grow, there are over 50 Chinese official development finance projects identified in Nigeria which cuts across rail, power and telecommunications projects within the last 10 years.
But the underlying fact which Nigerians in China has failed to grasp is that Nigerian immigrants in China should have been the direct recipients of these benefits of trade development and mutual cooperation. China looks up to Nigeria as a model of trade and economic development in Africa to boost its cooperation with Africa. At present there over 2,000 registered Chinese businesses and companies in Nigeria alone and China seeks for avenues of mutual person to person cooperation between its Nationals, its business owners and Nigerian citizens.
Why are Nigerians placed on various diplomatic restrictions in China? Today because of the involvement of some Nigerian citizens in illicit drugs and drugs trafficking in China and outside, we cannot truly say that the consummate benefits of this relationship are robbing off on all of us.
Rather we are being profiled on daily basis and denied some privileges which ordinarily should come with our residing in this country. It is knowledge in the public domain that because of this involvement in drugs, by some miscreants, all of us are paying a heavy price for it. Like our people say, when one finger is dipped in the red oil it will automatically affect all the other fingers even when they do not want to be robbed with oil.
However due to our abusive tendencies to law and order we are on a daily basis denied these benefits and are instead placed on various diplomatic restrictions. Would you say it is partly the reason Nigerians are denied resident permit and or visa extension? In Guangdong Province, Nigerians are no longer giving resident permit. There is also no visa extension. Nigerians who are married and residing in China are not given resident permit. That is why many of us do not have our families here with us. Our citizens who come here to study cannot get resident permit and are not allowed to work unlike the citizens of other countries.
There is no doubt that illicit drugs and trafficking undermine state authority and the rule of law by fuelling corruption, compromising elections, and hurting the legitimate economy and significant impact on the livelihoods and quality of life of citizens, most particularly the poor, our women and children including all of us here, because one way or the other, we are involved. What can the Nigerian authority in China do in this regard? I plead with the Nigeria embassy and the Consulate General authority in China to find every means to look into the affairs of the many Nigerian citizens present here. The Community gathering known as "Nigerian Union" is vey paramount.
We are a communal people and China recognizes the impact of our community gatherings, as it aids control and management of the numerous Nigerian immigrants resident or transacting businesses across China. Our embassy authority should help in creating a platform of legality in the leadership of the Nigerian Community.
This I believe will aid all our efforts in harnessing the activities of many Nigerian citizens who are here in China for different purposes. Although, the embassy may not be able to follow activities of every Nigerian, a legal platform of the Nigeria Union in countries of abode can combat some of the excesses of a few robbing us the immense benefits of our cooperation with host countries. What advice do you have for fellow Diaspora Nigerians? We should all rise and say No to drugs because drugs and crime undermine development by eroding social and human capital. The direct impacts of victimization, discrimination, image problem as well as fear of crime impede the socio-economic development of all.
It also leads to restriction of movements as already highlighted by the position of Chinese authorities on some of us here in China. It also impedes access to possible employment and educational opportunities, and it discourages the accumulation of assets. Nigerian citizens used to be the most favourite of China's selection of Africans to partner with in business and other mutual relationship but these unlawful behaviors robbed the average Nigerian immigrant and businessmen in China that privilege. The negative effects of illicit drug trafficking and unlawful behaviors goes beyond the shores of China, I can't remember any former drug dealer who is at peace with the proceeds made from drug trafficking whether for himself, children and family therefore why should you continue to plot your own ruin in life. We all must rise to say No to drugs.
Nigerians must rise to say No to drugs. Let me emphasize here that religion has become a part of our cultural values, and since it plays a major influence on how we value life, I urge religious leaders to help discourage the temptation rather encourage true blessings of God when we work hard, pray and trust God.
As much as we are foreigners in China and have come here with the sole intent to succeed and take wealth home, the issue of clash of interest and partisan politics among Nigerian citizens whom I believe all has genuine intentions in helping to organize their fellow brothers and sisters should not be viewed in the negative but to be encouraged to take a formal approach with due respect to the laws of the land.
Diego Costa scored his 10th goal of the season as Chelsea won 1-0 at Middlesbrough to record a sixth consecutive victory and take over at the Premier League summit.
Costa struck for the third straight game with half-time approaching as Antonio Conte’s side underlined their title credentials by posting a sixth clean sheet in a row.
It took them a point clear of Liverpool and Manchester City, and three ahead of fourth-place Arsenal.
Only the woodwork prevented Chelsea from winning by a more handsome margin as Pedro Rodriguez hit the bar midway through the second half, during which Middlesbrough were forced to hang on for long spells.
Aitor Karanka’s side retained hope while the deficit remained at a single goal, but the gulf in class between the sides was clear and it leaves Boro one point above the relegation zone in their first season back in the Premier League following promotion.
Costa rewarded Chelsea’s dominance as the Spaniard put the visitors — unchanged for the fifth consecutive league game — ahead four minutes before the end of a tight first half.
Chelsea’s Brazilian-born Spanish striker Diego Costa (R) and Chelsea’s Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta applaud the fans following the English Premier League football match between Middlesbrough and Cheslea at Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough, northeast England on November 20, 2016. Chelsea won the match 1-0. AFP
It stemmed from a disputed corner, as Middlesbrough claimed debutant full-back Fabio da Silva had not touched the ball as it ran out of play.
Eden Hazard’s in-swinging set-piece looped into the air as Calum Chambers and Gaston Ramirez challenged Marcos Alonso at the near post.
Despite the hosts having numbers back to defend Costa reacted first to volley the loose ball home from inside the six-yard box, taking him to double figures for the campaign.
Middlesbrough goalkeeper Victor Valdes was partially at fault for failing to come off his line.
– Fingertip save –
His indecision was in stark contrast to earlier in the half when the former Barcelona man produced a stunning fingertip save to deflect a first-time Pedro shot over the bar.
It was one of few clear-cut chances before the interval as Boro were largely successful in their attempts to negate the threat of Conte’s side by packing midfield and looking to counter-attack.
The out-of-touch Alvaro Negredo wasted their two main openings, first firing across the face of goal and then heading wide from Antonio Barragan’s deep cross.
Ramirez shot over early in the second half after Negredo’s dummy created space on the edge of the box for the Uruguay international, but it was a rare threat from the hosts.
Boro have forced draws against Arsenal and Pep Guardiola’s City this season, but after falling behind they rarely looked like troubling Chelsea’s three-man back line.
Having not conceded a league goal since September 24 — almost 10 hours of football — Chelsea are on their best defensive run for six years.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois preserved their latest shut-out late on when he parried a powerful Negredo volley as the hosts belatedly pushed bodies forward.
The majority of chances arrived at the other end.
Alonso almost doubled the visitors’ advantage within seconds of kick-off in the second half, the Spaniard forcing a fine low save from Valdes after Hazard helped on Victor Moses’s cross.
The second goal failed to materialise, but Chelsea closed out their latest victory with relative ease to secure another valuable three points towards their growing title challenge
New Delhi, – At least 120 people have died so far and many injured in several carriages of an Indian train derailed in northern Uttar Pradesh, the nation's most populous state, in the early hours of Sunday, senior railway officials said.
Indian rescue workers search for survivors in the wreckage of a train that derailed near Pukhrayan in Kanpur district on November 20, 2016. A passenger train derailed in northern India on November 20, killing at least 120 travellers most of whom were sleeping when the fatal accident occurred, police said. Rescue workers rushed to the scene near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh state where the Patna-Indore express train derailed in the early hours of the morning. / AFP PHOTO Indian rescue workers search for survivors in the wreckage of a train that derailed near Pukhrayan in Kanpur district on November 20, 2016. Emergency workers raced November 20 to find any more survivors in the mangled wreckage of an Indian train that derailed overnight, killing at least1 210 people, in the worst disaster to hit the country’s ageing rail network in recent years. / AFP PHOTO EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / Indian rescue personnel stand near a body in the wreckage of a train that derailed near Pukhrayan in Kanpur district on November 20, 2016. Emergency workers raced November 20 to find any more survivors in the mangled wreckage of an Indian train that derailed overnight, killing at least 120 people, in the worst disaster to hit the country’s ageing rail network in recent years. / AFP PHOTO Indian rescue workers search for survivors in the wreckage of a train that derailed near Pukhrayan in Kanpur district on November 20, 2016. A passenger train derailed in northern India on November 20, killing at least 120 travellers most of whom were sleeping when the fatal accident occurred, police said. Rescue workers rushed to the scene near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh state where the Patna-Indore express train derailed in the early hours of the morning. / AFP PHOTO Indian rescue workers search for survivors in the wreckage of a train that derailed near Pukhrayan in Kanpur district on November 20, 2016. A passenger train derailed in northern India on November 20, killing at least 120 travellers most of whom were sleeping when the fatal accident occurred, police said. Rescue workers rushed to the scene near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh state where the Patna-Indore express train derailed in the early hours of the morning. / AFP PHOTO /
LAGOS—THE former governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, has been accused of treating the Esan people as a conquered nation, the deposing of the Onojie of Uromi, Zaiki Aidenojie II, being the recent manifestation of such mindset.
Oshiomhole
These were the sentiments of an Edo leader, the Esogban of Ubiaja, Chief Omochiere Aisagbonhi, who told newsmen in Lagos, weekend, that Oshiomhole's parting gift to Esanland was an attack on culture, which Governor Godwin Obaseki must immediately reverse to prevent the collapse of traditional institution.
According to Aisagbonhi, the Gbobamoyegun of Ikeja, "I am not in support of anybody, including a monarch, assaulting any one. If the Uromi monarch is accused of such, there are laws. This is why I say this act is politically-motivated and if Governor Godwin Obaseki does not reverse it, the system will fight back."
He added that in Esan, a monarch's stool is neither appointive nor rotational, but hereditary, based on the principle of primogeniture, "which is why it is a threat to our traditional institution. And any Esan man that did not walk out of the meeting where this decision was taken is a bastard."
The real estate mogul said Esan was totally marginalised by Oshiomhole, except for the few who keep mute because of personal gains, adding that "docility on the part of Nigerians is why a handful of political leaders have taken over 180,000,000 people for a ride for too long."
To bring the people closer, the Oyo State Government says it will begin quarterly town hall meetings with members of the public to convey its plans, policies, efforts and actions, and get feedback.
Alhaji Olalekan Alli, the Secretary to the State Government, disclosed the plan in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan.
Alli said that the new policy, which would entail regular dialogue, was adopted to address the various challenges in the state.
The SSG said that the state governor would hold a formal town hall meeting with members of the public and the media once in a quarter.
"The government is optimistic that the new measure will bring the people closer to the government.
"It will also serve as a veritable platform to obtain first hand feedbacks to smoothen the relationship between the government and the governed," he said.
Gov Ajimobi
Alli said that all local government chairmen and heads of local government administration had also been directed to follow suit.
He said that they would engage the citizenry in town hall meetings on quarterly basis.
Alli said that such regular conversation with the people would forestall misinformation, misunderstanding and mischief capable of heating up the polity.
"As a matter of policy, there will be public engagements with focus on issues such as security of lives and property, social and infrastructural services, including health, water supply, roads, energy, education and the environment.
"The discourse will also centre on the economy/finance, including internally generated revenue, salaries and pension of workers as well as the welfare of the citizenry.
"All heads of ministries, departments and agencies, including commissioners and permanent secretaries have been directed to hold monthly briefing and interactive session with their respective members of staff," he said.
The SSG enjoined all stakeholders to take advantage of the process by making meaningful contributions that would assist the government to undertake life-enhancing programmes for the citizenry.
Abuja – No fewer than 500 women from various parts of the world will converge on Abuja on Tuesday for the 1st Women International Networking Conference (WIN).
The two-day conference is designed to empower women with the necessary skills to achieve maximum success both for themselves and the organisations they work for, among others.
The conference is being organised by WIN Conference Switzerland, in partnership with Human Resource Working Partners (HURWORPS), Nigeria, an NGO.
HURWORPS said in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, that the goal of the conference is to "inspire noble values and develop integrated leaders.''
"At WIN, we wholeheartedly believe that change must happen in a paradigm, where feminine values such as compassion, win-win approaches to negotiate, empathy, caring and sharing are protagonist roles.
"Moreover, our programme is carefully designed to inform participants of the realities faced by leaders working in different business markets, sectors and countries in relation to themselves.''
According to HURWORPS, the conference is in line with the Federal Government's Sustainable Development Goal for Women being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
The conference is being sponsored by world reputable companies and women's network worldwide, the NGO said.
Emergency workers raced to find any more survivors in the mangled wreckage of an Indian train that derailed Sunday, killing at least 120 people, in the worst disaster to hit the country’s ageing rail network in recent years.
Shocked passengers recalled being jolted out of their early morning slumber by a violent thud as 14 carriages leapt from the tracks in a remote area near Kanpur city in Uttar Pradesh state.
Indian rescue workers search for survivors in the wreckage of a train that derailed near Pukhrayan in Kanpur district on November 20, 2016. A passenger train derailed in northern India on November 20, killing at least 63 travellers most of whom were sleeping when the fatal accident occurred, police said. Rescue workers rushed to the scene near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh state where the Patna-Indore express train derailed in the early hours of the morning. / AFP PHOTO
Survivors also told of their desperate search for loved-ones on the train, which was carrying at least one wedding party with the marriage season in India in full swing.
“My 12-year-old daughter is missing, I have been looking for her for hours,” a survivor told AFP at the accident site, breaking into uncontrollable sobs.
“My wife has received serious head injuries and I have lost all my belongings. I am feeling so helpless, my whole world has turned upside down.”
Hundreds of army and police have been deployed at the scene, where rescue workers used metal cutters to slice through severely mangled coaches to try to get to survivors.
Disaster response teams also set up special lights to ensure rescue work was not hampered in the night.
“We have been able to pull out 24 people so far, out of which five were found to be alive,” said Brigadier A. Chhibbar, who is leading the army’s rescue operations.
“We will carry on day and night, till there is any inkling of even a single person being pulled alive.”
Police said 120 people had been killed and at least 200 others were undergoing treatment in nearby hospitals, which were placed on high alert after the early morning disaster.
“The death toll has reached 120. At least 200 others are injured,” Zaki Ahmad, police inspector general of Kanpur zone, told AFP.
The accident was the worst since 2010 when a passenger train crashed into a freight train in the eastern state of West Bengal, killing 146 and injuring over 200.
Authorities have launched an official investigation into the accident, which junior railways minister Manoj Sinha said may have been caused by damage to the tracks.
– ‘Shaken to core’ –
India’s railway network, one of the world’s largest, is still the main form of long-distance travel in the vast country, but it is poorly funded and deadly accidents occur relatively frequently.
A 2012 government report said almost 15,000 people were killed every year on India’s railways, describing the deaths as an annual “massacre”.
Nitika Trivedi, a student who boarded the train with her family, said images of the victims’ bodies would long haunt her.
“I had never seen anything like this in my life before. I am shaken to the core,” she said.
Anxious relatives thronged the station in Indore in central India where the train originated, many clutching pictures of their loved-ones.
Railway officials said special trains and buses had been deployed for stranded travellers.
“We are also trying to clear the tracks and complete the restoration work as quickly as possible,” Vijay Kumar, a spokesman for north-central railways, told AFP.
Local media reports said the train was packed with families, some of them travelling home for weddings.
Bride-to-be Ruby Gupta, who survived the accident with a fractured arm, was desperately searching for her father.
“I have been looking everywhere for him,” she told the Press Trust of India.
EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / Indian rescue personnel stand near a body in the wreckage of a train that derailed near Pukhrayan in Kanpur district on November 20, 2016. Emergency workers raced November 20 to find any more survivors in the mangled wreckage of an Indian train that derailed overnight, killing at least 116 people, in the worst disaster to hit the country’s ageing rail network in recent years. / AFP PHOTO
In 2014 an express train ploughed into a stationary freight train, also in Uttar Pradesh, killing 26 people.
And last year 27 people died when two trains derailed in Madhya Pradesh state during heavy rain.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has pledged to invest $137 billion over five years to modernise the crumbling railways, making them safer, faster and more efficient.
On Sunday Modi tweeted that he was “anguished beyond words” by the loss of life in the latest accident.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunny and hazy weather conditions over the central states of the country on Monday.
NiMet made the prediction in the Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office in Abuja on Sunday.
It said that the central states would have day and night time temperatures of 35 to 36 degrees Celsius and 21 to 23 degrees Celsius respectively.
The agency predicted that the southern states would experience cloudy morning to partly cloudy conditions over the inland cities with anticipated cloudiness over the coastal cities during the forecast period.
It also predicted isolated thunderstorms during afternoon and evening hours with day and night temperature of 32 to 34 and 20 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.
According to NiMet, northern states will experience dust haze conditions with day and night temperature of 34 to 38 degrees Celsius and 15 to 22 degrees Celsius respectively.
"Northern cities will be under the influence of dust haze, central parts will experience sunny and hazy conditions, while the southern cities will continue to experience isolated thunderstorms," NiMet predicted.
Abuja – The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), says it has destroyed another set of illegal oil barges in Rivers.
Group Capt. Ayodele Famuyiwa, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, said the barges were filled with stolen oil.
According to Famuyiwa two of the latest barges filled with stolen oil were set ablaze by NAF helicopters on armed patrol around Okoromabie in the South-East of Port Harcourt Refinery.
Famuyiwa explained that the third barge, surrounded by canoes carrying drums, was sited at Onne, while individuals around the barge and canoes fled.
He explained further that the barge and drums did not explode, indicating the possibility of being empty. "The latest operations like the previous ones are clear pointers to the fact that it is no longer profitable to steal crude oil in Nigeria," Famuyiwa said.
NAF, had in the past one month, destroyed a number of illegal refineries and oil barges in Rivers.
Rev. Paul Ojoh, the Resident Pastor, Shepherd House Assembly International, Jos has said that pornography and masturbation could affect the brain and impede productivity.
"Those twin evils could hurt the brain and impede productivity because of the cumulative negative effects of addiction to them," he stated on Sunday in Jos, during a sermon at the Youth Conference of the Church.
In the sermon titled: 'Dealing with Forces of Addiction', he noted that a high percentage of youths suffer addiction mostly to pornography and masturbation.
" Research has shown that more than 50 per cent of youths are addicted to pornography, while 60 to 90 per cent of adolescent boys and 40 per cent of adolescent girls are addicted to masturbation.
" These addictions are sins against nature; the right hemisphere of the brain functions in facilitating creativity and inventions and a portion of the brain called 'cingulate codex, is responsible for moral and ethical decisions.
" So, when you feed your brain with masturbation and pornographic materials, it impedes your productivity and affects the efficiency of your brain which is designed to perform the task of creativity and invention,'' he explained.
Ojoh said that the remedy to such addictions was acknowledging that addicts could not fight the battle of emancipation alone, and therefore required divine intervention to see them through.
" Addicts of masturbation must admit that they cannot overcome their battles alone. They must accept that it is only possible with the divine intervention of God.
"It is important you avoid anything that triggers such addictions; these are things that you see and read that pollute your mind towards it like movies, magazines and places
" You must renew your mind and feed it with the word of God to fight addictive materials that have occupied the space of your mind.
"Addicts should also seek counsel from people of integrity, who will counsel them and monitor them through their recovery process,'' he said.
He said that addictions could also enslave a man, put him in bondage and regulate the lifestyle of the affected person or persons, which could subjugate potentialities.
The clergy, who defined addiction as a repeated habit which becomes a lifestyle, mentioned other negative addictions to include the internet, food, sex, alcohol, amongst others.
The youth conference featured comedies, drama plays and special renditions from the Choir.
As former President Goodluck Jonathan, Sunday, clocked 59, cross section of Nigerians took to the social media to felicitate with him, launching the hashtag- #HappyBirthdayGEJ on the microblogging site, Twitter.
See how they wished Jonathan a happy birthday today (November 20, 2016).
By Emma Amaize WARRI- EX-MILITANT leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, Sunday, distanced himself from an alleged plan by some militants to attack oil facilities in the Niger Delta region on grounds that the Federal Government declined to drop the criminal charges against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
His media consultant, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, in a statement, said: "The attention of my client, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has been drawn to an online publication by faceless person or persons that militants have vowed to attack more oil facilities over Tompolo if Federal Government of Nigeria refused to drop the criminal charges against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)."
He said: "High Chief Ekpemupolo (Tompolo) unequivocally dissociates himself from this threat as he did not send anyone to attack oil facilities in the Niger Delta region because of his case with the EFCC. Tompolo has consistently denied involvement in the resurgence and bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region."
Bebenimibo asserted: "This online publication is coming two days after one Michael Johnny accused Tompolo on a Channels Television programme, "State of the Nation" of being behind the bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region. Tompolo watched the programme with great disbelief as Michael Johnny accused him of being the brain behind the bombings of oil facilities."
He stated that that one of the suspects in the custody of security agencies had since confessed the person(s) that hired them to bomb oil facilities, adding that it was ridiculous for Johnny to cruelly accused him of being behind bombing of oil facilities when he knew it was a lie.
"Tompolo has instructed his lawyers to sue Michael Johnny for malicious damage," the statement added.
Bebenimibo asserted: "Tompolo has said in many occasions that he will not resort to violence and bombing of oil facilities because of his case with the EFCC. Tompolo sued the EFCC for illegally placing non-debit order in his company accounts in Warri before he was hurriedly dragged to court by the EFCC in Lagos."
He added: "And after a year, the court has refused to hear his case for frivolous excuses. And he has vowed to patiently pursue his case, rather than resort to violence and bombing of oil facilities which is greatly affecting our economy."
"Finally, we wish to warn that no one should use Tompolo's name to seek relevance in the present administration as such moves will be resisted by any legitimate means," he said.
By Imanuel Jannah ABUJA – Award-winning singer and songwriter, Harrison Tare Okiri popularly called Harrysong has exited Five Star Music record label.
In an interview he granted the media during the weekend, the Reggae Blues crooner revealed that his decision not to renew the contract with Five Star Music, after it expired, was based on his being unappreciated enough by the label.Harrysong
"What bothers me is not the work, what bothers me is the appreciation…. You are helping someone that knows nothing and he's telling you that he's helping you. You write a song and the person is telling you that 'it's when I sing your song that you blow, if I don't sing your song you don't blow'," he said.
Harrysong has floated his own record label called "Alterplate."
A visit to his instagram handle also confirms the move as nothing whatsoever on his profile still references Five Star Music anymore having replaced all such information with Alterplate.
Meanwhile, a large number of his followers on social media have congratulated him and have also described the development as a decisive move that would advance his music career in the right direction.
ABUJA-Finally, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has kicked off the process of engaging 500,000 unemployed graduates of different tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The programmes which would commence December 1, 2016 was in line with the 2015 election campaign promises of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to providing jobs for the teeming youth in the country.President Muhammadu Buhari
The fulfillment is however coming precisely one year and 7 months after the administration came on stream.
The project had had several slips which elicited doubts in many Nigerians about its reality.
This persisted until the Office of the Vice President where the project domiciled announced that it was factored into the 2016 National Budget signed into law by President Buhari on May 6, 2016.
To this end, a statement from the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s office on Sunday stated that “all is now set for the deployment of 200,000 unemployed graduates selected in the first batch of the Buhari administration’s plan to hire half a million Nigerians.”
Seemingly excited by the development, the office stated that the names of the selected 200,000 had been sent to state governments and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT who would deploy them to their specific programme assignments in various communities.
The names would also be published this week on the N-Power internet portal, while the participants would start receiving SMS messages informing them of their selection as from today.
The federal government therefore congratulated the successful candidates.
Four goals from super-striker Asisat Oshoala has set the right tone for the defence of the African Women Cup of Nations title.
Oshoala scored her first in the 40th minute in-between goals by Fransisca Ordega and Uchechi Sunday before following it up with a hat-trick in the 63rd, 68th and 77th minutes respectively.
Super Falcons in Cameroon
The Super Falcons went into the half-time break with a two goals advantage being courtesy of great team play and the pace of now top goal scorer of the competition Asisat Oshoala.
Nigeria now sits pretty at the top of Group B with a plus six goals advantage.
