Xenophobic Attacks On Nigerians: FG Warns S-Africa Of Serious Consequences

By Clifford Ndujihe, Henry Umoru, Emman Ovuakporie,
Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Victoria Ojeme & Levinus
Nwabughiogu.

ABUJA—AS fear of further attacks against Nigerians in South Africa spreads, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special
Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, has called on the South African government to take decisive measures to protect Nigerian citizens and other Africans in the country.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Dabiri-Erewa described the attacks as an unnecessary setback. Urging restraint on the part of Nigerians, she warned that further attacks without any reprimand may incur dire consequences.
She spoke as the Senate, yesterday, called for harder stance against South Africa on the issue, just as the
Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Matters, Rita Orji, condemned alleged lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government towards the protection of Nigerians outside the country, saying the government was more interested in remittances than the welfare of citizens abroad.

Anyene said the union had reported the incident to the Nigeria mission and South African police.
“As we speak, five buildings with Nigerian businesses, including a church, have been looted and burned by South Africans.
‘’One of the buildings is a mechanic workshop with 28 cars under repairs, with other vital documents burnt during the attack. Also, the pastor of the church was wounded and is in the hospital receiving treatment,” Anyene said.
Disturbed by the renewed attacks, Dabiri-Erewa advised Nigerians to be extra cautious because it looked like South African government seemed to have no control over the attacks.
The SSA, however, urged restraint on the part of Nigerians and warned that further attacks without any reprimand may have dire consequences.

Dabiri-Erewa said the AU was being called to intervene because information had it that there will be more
xenophobic attacks against foreigners on February 22 and 23.
“These attacks should not be allowed to continue because it is a big setback,” she said.
Two weeks ago, Dabiri-Erewa met with South African High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Lulu Aaron-Mnguni, on the
killing of Nigerians in South Africa, who assured that the South African government was investigating the matter.
“We have lost about 116 Nigerians in the last two years. And in 2016 alone, about 20 were killed. This is
unacceptable to the people and government of Nigeria,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
Cesspool of xenophobic attacks Since 1994, South Africa has been a cesspool of sporadic xenophobic attacks against foreigners with Zimbabweans, Somalis, Mozambicans, Ethiopians, Kenyans, Angolans and
Nigerians among others, being the victims.

In the case of Nigerians, the matter has been worsened by recurring police brutality and extra-judicial killings, which in 2014 led Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to describe the South African police brutality on a Nigerian, which was caught on camera as “horror and particularly disturbing.”
Tochukwu Nnadi, a 34-year-old Nigerian businessman, was killed by South African police on December 29, 2016.
How it began In December 1994 and January 1995, armed youth gangs in Alexandra Township outside of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, destroyed the homes and property of migrants and marched the individuals down to the local police station where they demanded that the foreigners be forcibly and immediately removed.
This was to be followed by a series of more violent attacks across the country in 1998, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016.

In August 2000, seven xenophobic killings were reported in the Cape Flats district of Cape Town. Seven foreigners from different African countries were killed on the Cape Flats. Among those attacked were two Nigerians, one Kenyan and two Angolans.

On May 11, 2008, an outburst of xenophobic violence in the Johannesburg township of Alexandra triggered more
xenophobic violence in other townships. First, it only spread in the Gauteng Province. After two weeks, the violence jumped to other urban areas across the country, mainly Durban, Cape Town and Limpopo Province.
In January 2015, Somali shop owner shot and killed a 14- year-old boy, Siphiwe Mahori, during an alleged robbery in Soweto Township. The boy was shot in the neck and died within 15 minutes. Lebogang Ncamla, 23, was another victim when he was shot three times in the arm. The incident triggered waves of attacks and looting of foreign-owned shops.

On March 5, 2015, xenophobic attacks occurred in Limpopo Province. Foreigners on the outskirts of Polokwane left their shops after protesting villagers threatened to burn them alive and then looted shops. Violence erupted in the Ga-Sekgopo area after a foreign shop owner was found in possession of a mobile phone belonging to a local man who was killed.

On April 8, 2015, a spate of xenophobic violence occurred after Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini made comments that foreigners should go back to their home countries because they were changing the nature of the South African society with their goods and enjoying wealth that should have been for local people.

For almost a week, the attacks on foreign nationals reigned. On April 12, 2015, in KwaZulu-Natal, shops in Umlazi and KwaMashu, outside Durban, were torched. In V Section, a shop owned by a foreign national was set on fire by a mob.
Five people were reportedly killed. On April 14, 2015, looting of foreign shops spread to Verulam, north of Durban following a day of clashes between locals, foreigners, and police in the city centre,
KwaZulu-Natal. About 300 local people looted foreign-owned shops.
Senate urges harder stance against S/Africa Piqued, the Senate, yesterday, condemned in very strong
terms, the recurring and renewed atta cks on Nigerians in South Africa and asked the Federal Federal government to take a harder stance against the country.
Speaking with journalists, Senate Committee Chairman on Diaspora, Senator Rose Oko, who expressed dissatisfaction over continuous killings of Nigerians in South Africa, said she has written a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to furnish the committee with what really transpired.

“We have written to Ministry of foreign Affairs to avail us with what happened in South Africa between the Police and the man. We condemned, in very strong terms, these attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
“You are aware that in 2016 alone, about 20 Nigerians were killed in extra-judicial manner. Before this time, several had been killed in like manner. There are several incidences of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. You are also aware that Nigeria/ South Africa have excellent diplomatic ties . In 2013, when there were xenophobic attacks, former President Goodluck Jonathan signed Memorandum of Understanding to re-enforce diplomatic ties,” she said.

Noting that killings of Nigerians in South Africa were against all known laws across the globe, Senator Oko said the committee would come up with a motion on the floor of the Senate on the matter.
The chairman wondered why Nigeria should have excellent diplomatic relationship with South Africa, if the country was not hospitable to Nigerians residing there.


“These attacks came notwithstanding the contributions Nigeria made towards liberation of South Africa during the apartheid regine. You begin to wonder why all these attacks? The Federal Government should take harder
stance against the country,” Oko said.

Rep knocks FG on protection of Nigerians abroad Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Matters, Rep Rita
Orji, decried the Federal Government’s attitude towards the protection of Nigerians outside the country, saying the government paid more attention to remittances from citizens abroad than their welfare.


[SOURCE]

We Will Not Allow Buhari To Be Disgraced – Dogara

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said lawmakers will not allow President Muhammadu Buhari to be humiliated, in the going deliberations over the 2017 proposed budget.

Dogara stated this while addressing a round-table on the N7.29trillion budget proposal, organised by the All Progressives Congress, APC Governors in Abuja on Monday.

“I must say that the APC as the party with majority in the National Assembly will not allow Mr. President and the APC as the ruling political party to be humiliated or defeated on its budget priorities as we are all part of the same government,” he said.

Dogara also insisted they were very sensitive about constituency matters irrespective of party affiliation.

“It is however, important to stress that on budget matters members of the National Assembly tend to be very sensitive to their constituency representational functions, irrespective of party,” he said.

He promised that the passage and implementation of the budget would be transparent.


[SOURCE]

I Want To Go To London… To See Buhari — Reuben Abati

I Want To Go To London… To See Buhari — Reuben Abati.

When 15 million plus Nigerians voted for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 General elections, their expectation was that he would be available to serve them 24/7/365, and that those who fielded him as their candidate had done their home work to avoid what is curiously becoming the Katsina problem in Nigerian politics. Katsina! But we have now found ourselves in a situation whereby our President is now in London, for more than one month sir, ma, and we are here, and we have an acting President, who according to everybody, including the extremists and the mischievous, and the politically partisan, is beginning to try his best, with his admirers, now praying for the worst.

For that reason alone, we have an emotionally, politically and spiritually divided country on our hands. Don’t mind what they tell you, and don’t deceive yourself, the Nigerian Presidency is in turmoil. It is not our wish. It is not what the voters asked for. But that is how democracy works. You cannot predict the results that democracy produces. Not even in America. Or Russia.

Now that we have found ourselves in this situation, anyway – an absentee President trying to remain relevant and an acting President struggling to put up appearances, and struggling harder not to be seen to be ambitious (sorry, Prof. I was your student but I have something to say sir, I don’t mean any harm – truth be told), where should the Nigerian people stand? For the past one month, we have all been trapped in a post-truth situation, pretending as if all is normal. We should stop pretending.

Those who supported and are supporting the APC that brought President Muhammadu Buhari to power and office cannot talk. They cannot talk due to embarrassment and shame. They are busy putting up a face. But for how long can they do this? The Nigerian media is also on its knees, looking so pitiable, with the exception of a few blogs, newspapers that we can’t even trust, professional media consultants who are in disarray, a few bloggers and then some gentlemen: Pa Ikhide, Farooq Kperogi, Sonala Olumhense, Omoyele Sowore, Pius Adesanmi and Okey Ndibe who have since been specially illuminated as they journeyed to Damascus.

I will return to this subject some other day. But I think right now, we should begin to take the subject of the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari more seriously. Bukola Saraki, our Senate President has visited him in London, twice, within two weeks. I don’t think we should leave this business of visiting the President to party chieftains, the executive and the Federal Legislature. If care is not taken, Senator Saraki may be tempted to visit the President again next week. And the week after and he may even be tempted to travel with all the members of the National Assembly. There must be equity in this matter.

Figure it out as follows: we all know that President Buhari is now in London and he is the man Nigerians chose as their President in 2015. We cannot forsake him. He is in London on working leave, for more than one month now, and we don’t know when that leave will end. We have been told it will end soon. Later. One day. Whenever. We are not God. Let the leave end when it will. But we, the people, have a duty to stand by our President. This is the point of this article. We are Africans. We have traditions. We respect elders. We don’t joke with old age. The time has come, right now, for Nigerians to behave like Africans.

We should therefore, not leave this business of visiting to Senator Busola Saraki alone. Party chieftains have visited Mr. President. The leadership of the National Assembly has also gone to London to be part of President Buhari’s working leave. I think Vice-President-Acting-President Yemi Osinabjo should also visit his boss, this week, next week, or ASAP. Henceforth, he should be in London at least once a week. Let us stop pretending that the President is not in charge. He is. If Aso Villa is now in London, let us make it work. The Acting President and the real President need quality face time. If the acting President must go to London everyday, let him do so, but don’t let us run Nigeria by telephone or DHL Am I making sense? I am not talking about common sense. I mean real sense. So, do I make any sense at all?

After the Acting President’s visit, all former Presidents should also start going to London to see the President. Those former Presidents are not as harmless as they pretend to be. They are projected to the public as advisers but they are more than that: they all left something in Aso Villa that makes them eternally powerful. It is like leaving your DNA in a woman’s body. They should be allowed or perhaps encouraged to visit President Buhari while he is on working leave. I think our Baba in Abeokuta, Ota and Ibogun should be the first to visit. That may negate the order of seniority, but trust the Ebora Owu to return from London with front-page news! After him, the others can start visiting and probably advise on the possibility of holding a Council of State meeting in London. As it were, the Nigerian Constitution does not insist that the Council of State Meeting must be held inside Nigeria. The main subject of that first historic, diaspora, Council of State Meeting should be phrased by OBJ in his own unique way: “Momodu: are you well or sick?”

There is something called the separation of powers. I don’t want to disrespect mi’lords but I think they too should go to London. The National Judicial Council (NJC) should put together a high-powered delegation of judges from every part of the country, from all divisions, and level, to proceed post-haste to London to visit, no, to confer with President Buhari on matters of judicial interest to the nation. But Sirs, don’t go there and talk about the welfare of judges, or the non-payment of your entitlements – if you try that, well, I won’t be in a position to tell you what awaits you on your return. You know mi’lords, as well as I do, that the law in Nigeria is now being made to look truly like an ass!

After the judges, okay may be the Nigerian Bar Association should also send a delegation, but I don’t trust many of our lawyers. They think they know the law, and they could go to London and say things that will disrupt the President’s working leave. To make that impossible, members of the NBA should be booked on an Arik flight to London, please. But if they get there, fine. The next delegation should be that of Permanent Secretaries. These ones should spend more than a week in London with the President. In fact, they can stay with him till he returns. If they also have medical issues, they should use the opportunity to ask for tests, with the condition that they must return immediately the President leaves London, notwithstanding the status of their own medical tests!

Once the Permanent Secretaries have been fully accommodated in London, the Ministers, those who were once dismissed by their own employer as “noise-makers”, and who have proven to be no better, should also visit London. They can go ahead and make as much noise as they wish in London and even enjoy the benefit of a full Federal Executive Council Meeting. I suspect that this will be a particularly productive FEC meeting. If the people in the Foreign Affairs Ministry know what they are doing, however, they would arrange ahead of that meeting in London, a special meeting with Theresa May, Prime Minister of Great Britain, followed by a dinner with Her Majesty the Queen of England, with a proviso, please, please, please, that nobody should bring up the issue of Biafra or Southern Kaduna after shaking the Queen’s hand, and there should be a strict guarantee that President Buhari will be accompanied by his extremely beautiful wife, Aisha, and he will not, meeting the Queen, no matter how excited, make the mistake of referring to “za oza room”.

Stop laughing, my friend; this is how you people cause problems for innocent writers. What I am now trying to add having made all these points above, is that the Governors’ Forum should also visit President Buhari in London. The Governors have already signified their intention to do so and that seems to be fine with the Nigerian public. The Governors should therefore appoint representatives who should proceed to London. When they meet with the President, they should hold a special prayer session with three prayer points: one, that President Buhari will not work for another person to come and eat; two: that the demons of Aso Rock will spare and forgive him and his family; three: that President Buhari will return to Nigeria with his two feet. The Governor to lead the prayer should be Peter Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State.

If he starts sounding as he has been sounding in recent times, Nasir el-Rufai should be asked to take the microphone from him. And if Nasir sounds like he is playing politics, as he has been doing, Adams Oshiomhole who will like to be there anyway, as a Governor ex-officio, should be given the microphone and asked to pray for the President as best as he can or as best as Trotsky could.

I have left out some people. In the past month, some Imams and ulamas and concerned relatives have been reported in the media, holding prayer sessions for a hale and hearty President who is just in London to enjoy the weather and do some quality check-ups, private and public. These prayer warriors have prayed and prayed in Abuja, Daura, Borno and everywhere else. The matter is so serious that nobody should be surprised if Rochas Okorocha or James Ibori organizes a prayer session for Muhammadu Buhari. This is the biggest business in Nigeria at this moment.

I think, therefore, that we should also encourage the ulamas and the imams to visit. Let them go to London and pray for their President. We have been told they have been sending prayers through skype, whatsapp and the air, the same channels that GSM service providers in Nigeria now want to block. Let the imams go to London then and let the verses of the Holy Quoran rain down. It will be unfair not to allow Christian leaders to go to London too. They are also anxious to go to London. Pastor Tunde Bakare, my beloved, secondary school senior should lead that team. His job should be to screen out any Pastor with Biafra, or Southern Kaduna or pro-PDP blood in him or her. I mean Pastors like Reno Omokri, Ebun Adegboruwa…. you get what I am saying? The prayer should be commissioned!

Traditional rulers, bloggers, public intellectuals, trolls, and journalists! Oh, I almost forgot. I think we should also be invited to London to have tea with the President. I volunteer to lead that team but if I am considered unpopular, since they say I am not one of them, let @ikhide, @akaebube, or @dejiadeyanju, @realFFK, or @YeleSowore, be the team leader. But please, ..



Credit: http://ikengachronicles.com/i-want-to-go-to-london-to-see-buhari-reuben-abati/

Abia Warriors Boss Okey Emordi Resigns

Abia Warriors head coach Okey Emordi has called it quit as the club's technical adviser just after some months in charge of the Umuahia based club.

The Nigerian ex-football player resignation comes less than 24hours after his side loses to visiting El -Kanemi in the week 9 game of the NPFL.

Emordi, who guided Enyimba Fc to a CAF Champions League success in 2004 joined Abia Warriors after a top-flight assignment, taking over the managerial responsibilities of C.O.D United Football Club.

In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the club, Chief Emeka Inyama stated that Emordi said he had to leave the following series of poor results.

El-Kanemi loss means Abia Warriors have lost four of their nine league matches this season and maintain just 11 points so far.

Abdullahi Biffo, who is Emordi's assistant is to take over with immediate effect, as his first game in charge will be an away match against Akwa United this weekend.


http://cheapgoals.com/breaking-news-okey-emordi-called-it-quit-with-abia-warriors

Naira Nose Dives against the US Dollar.

The Naira plunged to N520 against the U.S. dollar at the parallel market on Monday, after the CBN announced its readiness to sell dollar at N375 for school fees payment and personal travel allowance on Friday.

The Naira which had closed at N516 to a dollar on Friday, following a record low of N510 on Thursday remained weak despite the rising oil prices and national foreign reserves.

A Reuters report, attributed the fall in Naira value to retail currency trader’s reservation on the new forex policy as they tried to price in its possible impact on the market current rate and commercial banks approach to the announced policy.

Experts have said the announcement has increased the demand for dollar for school fees payment as well as personal travel allowance by intending travelers, leading to forex scarcity as demand currently outweighs supply.

"The CBN needs to do more on the intervention side to manage the situation since the apex bank has insisted on forex flexibility policy," said Samed Olukoya, a foreign exchange research analyst at Investors King Limited. "Intermittent intervention and speedy disbursement of the $20 million announced on Friday and commercial banks adherence to the new policy are strong determinants to how well the new policy will alleviate parents and travelers suffering," he added.

Currently, market illiquidity has forced Bureau De Change operators to source dollars from private sources and resell at a much higher price, pushing the black market rate even higher as retail currency traders depend on Bureau De Change for supplies.

http://investorsking.com/naira-depreciates-to-n520-against-u-s-dollar-as-retailers-examine-cbn-action/

Ali Modu Sheriff Visits Jonathan (Photos News)

Ali Modu Sheriff Visits Jonathan (Photos News)

Sanusi plans law barring poor Kano men from polygamy

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, says he is on the verge of proposing a law which will restrict poor men in the emirate from marrying many wives.

Sanusi said this in Abuja on Sunday at the 50th anniversary of the death of Ambasador Isa Wali, a former Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana who died on active duty on February 19, 1967.

The monarch said he had been able to establish a connection between polygamy, poverty and terrorism.
Sanusi said he would ensure that the law would be passed by the Kano State Government as a way of immortalising the late Wali who was one of the first northern elements to advocate gender equality.

He said, “Those of us in the North have all seen the economic consequences of men who are not capable of maintaining one wife, marrying four. They end up producing 20 children, not educating them, leaving them on the streets, and they end up as thugs and terrorists.

“It is perhaps a tribute to Mallam Isa that today, as I speak, in the palace in Kano a sub-committee of scholars, which I set up and has been working for about a year, is finalising the final sections of a family law we intend to introduce in Kano which will address some of the issues that Mallam Isa was concerned about.

“The law will address what Islam says on marriage, it will outlaw forced marriages, it will make domestic violence illegal, it will put in conditions that you need to fulfil before you can marry a second wife, it will spell out the responsibilities of a father beyond producing a child.

“It is a big law which covers a whole range of issues from consent to marriage, to maintenance to divorce, to maintenance of children and inheritance. It will be the first time in northern Nigeria that a Muslim law on personal status will be codified.”

Sanusi, who said there was nothing wrong with polygamy if it was practised properly, maintained that women must be given the opportunity to thrive.

The emir said his late predecessor, Ado Bayero, as well as all the princes in Kano were trained in Islamic studies by Wali’s grandmother.

He, therefore, argued that since women were responsible for shaping the lives of future kings in Kano, they were equally qualified to do greater things.

Also speaking, the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, eulogised the late Wali for challenging social conventions during his time.

According to Osinbajo, it takes courage to challenge the norm in a conservative society.

He said Nigerians need men like Wali who have integrity and the audacity to evoke social change.

Also speaking, a former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon(retd.), praised Wali for his sterling performance in Ghana while he was the Nigerian High Commissioner.

Gowon noted that when the January 15, 1966 coup took place, many of the coup plotters fled to Ghana where the then Ghanaian President, Kwame Nkrumah, gave them protection.

He said Wali was one of those who ensured that the coup plotters were deported to Nigeria to face justice.

A former Foreign Affairs Minister and friend of the deceased, Ambassador Ignatius Olisaemeka, said there was a need for the foreign service to be independent of the Civil Service Commission.

He revealed that the pension of a retired career diplomat was N100,000 a month which he described as shameful.

A former minister and former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Alhaji Maitama Sule, who was also the best man at the wedding of the deceased, said it was unfortunate that despite having some of the most talented people in the world, Nigeria had failed to develop.

Sule said Nigeria strongly needed good leaders like the founding fathers who put public interest ahead of theirs.


[SOURCE]

We Will Tell Buhari To Speak With Nigerians – Presidency

By Omeiza Ajayi
Hold Buhari responsible for APC campaign promises

THE Presidency has promised to get President Muhammadu Buhari, who is on indefinite vacation in London, to speak to Nigerians to douse welling controversies and disquiet in the country over his health status and well-being.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, who disclosed this in Abuja on the sidelines of an interactive session with Nigerian youths organized by the Citizens Support for Good Governance in Nigeria , yesterday, also dismissed fears of a division in the nation’s seat of power regarding the performance of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, who has held sway since President Buhari went on medical vacation last January.

President Buhari He also said it was not true that some close appointees of President Buhari had constituted themselves into a cabal with the aim of whittling down the influence of Acting President Osinbajo. Asked why the President’s handlers have not deemed it fit to get him to talk directly to Nigerians through Nigeria’s media, Shehu said the suggestion would be forwarded to the president to see if he would agree. ‘’Okay, if you are making a suggestion, we will put it to him, in case he would agree.

We will put it to him, ‘’he said. On the issue of a cabal in Presidency, Garba said: ‘’This country has one government. When Nigerians voted, they voted for Buhari/Osinbajo on one ticket. Nobody can divide that ticket, so if Prof. Osinbajo achieves a milestone, it is a milestone by the Buhari administration. It is one government, no division in this government.’’ He also added that Nigerians have to be grateful to the President, whose emergence, he said, halted the menacing advance of the Boko Haram terrorists, who by now, according to him, might have overran the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock. ‘’He (Buhari) wants a future that is secure and stable for young generations that are coming, that is yourselves. This is why in his messages, he has stayed on three key issues; he has repeated this over and over again.

‘’He says this country cannot make any progress without security. And look at all the efforts that has been put in rolling back Boko Haram. There are many people who believe that if not for President Buhari, if the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had continued in this country in 2015, Boko Haram would have taken over Aso Rock by now,’’ he said. Hold Buhari responsible for APC campaign promises Also speaking, a member of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, Barr. Ismaila Ahmed, urged the party to be open to criticisms and asked Nigerians to hold the President and other leaders of the party accountable for their campaign promises.

Ahmed said while the APC had tried in delivering on some of its mandate, there was no disputing the fact that some Nigerians were not satisfied with the status quo, and advised the party not to shut out critics. He said: ‘’As a government, we have to be open to criticisms. Some people are not happy, people have to express their frustration, people have to express their anger, we cannot and we should not have a problem with that. ‘’We campaigned all through because I headed the youth wing during the campaigns; I knew from day one that it was not going to be an easy task, even the President knew it won’t be an easy task. ‘’So the responsibility is not for us to start promising anymore because we are two years into the administration. ‘’This administration has to be convinced by its own performances and not its own promises anymore.

We have made promises during the campaigns, now we have to act on those promises and that is what the President will continue to do and our responsibility, as members of this party is to tell Mr President you can choose who you can work with, but we will make sure that we can hold you and those you appoint to account. ‘’We have so many things we have done right and we also have so many things we have done wrong, there is no doubt about that.

But the things we have done right we will continue to strengthen them, those we have done wrong, please tell us.’’ Speaking on the fight against corruption, one of the panelists, Alhaji Tahir Abubakar Umar, identified greed, poverty and illiteracy, among others, as factors, lamenting that the country had lost over a trillion Naira to corruption. Umar said President Buhri’s anti-corruption fight was responsible for the celebration of his death rumours recently by some people he described as ‘corrupt elements’ and urged the government not to be deterred by the antics of some corrupt individuals.

On his part, Engr. Chinedu Okpala, said the President Buhari-led administration had laid a good foundation that had created fears in the minds of those who might wish to perpetrate evil in public offices. Noting that the citizens had a right to criticise the government, Umar said, in turn, the same citizens had to show patriotism to the country and support for the government. The CSGGN National convener, Moses Abdullahi, told the gathering that Nigerian youths were at the receiving end of past looting of the national patrimony, hence the need to support the administration of President Buhari to fight corruption to a stand still.


[SOURCE]

Masquerades and Technology

I saw this picture posted and shared online [SOURCE], and I thought I should share same with you and have your opinion.

Do Masquerades really get connected with Technology? Does Traditionalist understand the language of Technology more so the Internet technology.

It's considered that Masquerades are spirits from beyond and they are thought to connect the living to their dead ancestors. It's a Myth that's being in existence for a very long time, but what the spirits have to do with modern technology now beats my imagination.

maybe someday, we would actually need the spirits to interpret the language of Technology.

Cheers friends.

Well, enjoy the picture.

Senate To Buhari’s SGF, Lawal: You Must go.

The Senate on Thursday stuck to his guns on the call for the resignation and prosecution of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal over his indictment by the special committee that investigated the fund released for Internally Displaces Persons (IDPs) in the North East. The lawmakers expressed disappointment over  SGF’s response to allegations against him.

The matter was raised again on the floor of the Senate by Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West.

Melaye who came through order 42 of the Senate Standing Rules presented a newspaper publication of the SGF response and tendered other documents linking the SGF to the company indicted in the Senate report.

“Every document that (is) fake, must have original. I challenge the SGF to bring the original of these documents,” Melaye said.

In his contribution, the Senate Deputy Majority Leader Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah said the SGF’s reply shows that he lacks the capacity to occupied the position of SGF.

Senator Chukwuka Utazi called on President Muhammadu Buhari to review the way the  Babachir became the SGF of the country.

In his reaction, the Senate President Bukola Saraki said the issue is very serious as it borders on  the integrity of the Senate. He added that the position of President Muhammadu Buhari is very clear Wednesday  when he stated that he is seeking peaceful relationship with the legislators.

“We would not allow anybody to intimidate us in doing our work. The committee will finish their work and we will communicate our resolution to the President” Saraki said.

Record of official proceedings from the  Senate noted that Senator Dino Melaye raised a motion over a publication by The Nation Newspaper and BBC Hausa on the infraction on the privilege of the Senate.

The title of the Publication: “Senate Seeks SGF Sack”  .. is all that balderdash”, BBC Interview: “The Senators are talking rubbish”

Melaye wondered why “A mere appointee of the President says that we are liars” and tenders more evidence acquired from the Corporate Affairs Commission against SGF, Babachir Lawal‎

“If the SGF  says the document presented by the CAC is fake, he should produce the original,” says Sen. ‎Dino Melaye‎.

“It is largely shown that the SGF does not have the necessary capacity to occupy the post”  Sen. Ibn Na’Allah‎ said.

“This position is a responsible position but if we have an irresponsible person there, it becomes a problem,” Sen. Chukwuka Utazi.

Saraki, according to official record of the day’s proceedings said, “The issue we have here is very serious because it borders on the integrity of the Senate, the President ‎ was here yesterday and said with all humility that he is seeking cooperation with the National Assembly, the SGF’s statement contradicts this. We will communicate with the President with necessary document and let’s see what the Executive will do. We leave that to the Executive to do what has to be done, we have done our part and I commend you all for your effort.”

http://www.socialtimesng.com/2016/12/senate-to-buharis-sgf-lawal-you-must-go/

Ogenyi Onazi Donates N1million To Falcons.

Super Eagles star Ogenyi Onazi donates a million Naira to Super Falcons.

Super Eagles star Ogenyi Onazi has thrown his weight behind protesting African champions Super Falcons by donating a million Naira to them.

A source close to the team revealed the Trabzonspor of Turkey midfielder showed concern about the ladies plight.

"Onazi is a fantastic man and supported the Falcons with the sum of one million Naira, that really helped the ladies,” a source reported.

“He also gave one of the injured players 200,000 Naira for her treatment.

“He is a wonderful guy. I was aware some of the girls called him to complain about their plight and he helped them."

The Falcons have embarked on a sit-in protest at their Abuja hotel and also staged a protest march demanding for their entitlements to be paid.

Several former Nigeria stars including Garba Lawal, Joseph Yobo and Nwankwo Kanu have equally spoken against the shabby treatment the Falcons have been subjected to since they won a record eighth women’s AFCON in Cameroon.

http://africanfootball.com/news/671777/Eagles-star-Ogenyi-Onazi-donates-a-million-Naira-to-Falcons

Guterres announces Amina Mohammed as UN Deputy Secretary-General.

The New UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, on Thursday announced Nigeria’s Environment minister, Amina Mohammed, as his Deputy Secretary-General.

Guterres made the announcement through the spokesman of the Secretary-General, Mr. Stephane Dujarric.

Guterres also announced the duo of Ms. Maria Viotti of Brazil and Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea into high-profile positions at the UN.

He said, “I am pleased to announce that I will be appointing Ms. Amina J. Mohammed of Nigeria as my Deputy Secretary-General, and Ms. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti of Brazil as my Chef De Cabinet.

“I also intend to create the position of Special Advisor on Policy, and to appoint Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea to this new role.

“I am happy to count on the efforts of these three highly competent women, whom I have chosen for their strong backgrounds in global affairs, development, diplomacy, human rights and humanitarian action.

“These appointments are the foundations of my team, which I will continue to build, respecting my pledges on gender parity and geographical diversity.”

Mohammed, the current Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, served as UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Post-2015 Development Planning.

She was instrumental in bringing about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

Before joining the UN, Mohammed worked for three successive administrations in Nigeria, serving as Special Adviser on the Millennium Development Goals.

She provided advice on issues including poverty, public sector reform and sustainable development, and coordinating poverty reduction interventions.

She is also an Adjunct Professor in Development Practice at Columbia University, and serves on numerous international advisory boards and panels, including the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Others include the Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development, and the Global Development Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

She is also the UN Secretary-General’s Global Sustainability Panel, the African Women’s Millennium Initiative, Girl Effect and the ActionAid International Right to Education Project.

Born in 1961, and educated in Nigeria and the UK, Mohammed is married and has six children.

Guterres had hinted on Monday after he took the oath of office that gender parity would be top of his agenda as the UN scribe.

He said, “I think that one very important element of the agenda would be to give a clear signal that gender parity is a must and so in the appointments I will be making.

“And the first ones would be announced soon. You’ll see that gender parity will become a clear priority from top to bottom in the UN and it will have to be respected by all.”

“This is a very ambitious agenda, an agenda that must be for both woman and man, and that is why parity is so important in our reform perspectives.

“That is also why the empowerment of women is so important in everything the UN will be doing around the world.”

Guterres, succeeds outgoing secretary-general Ban, who bows out on Dec. 31, 2016 after a decade of two terms, while the new secretary-general assumes office on Jan. 1, 2017, for the next five years.


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Zahra’s wedding: FG not paying for food, other expenses, says Buhari.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Federal Government is not spending any money on the wedding ceremony of his daughter, Zahra, slated for Friday in Abuja.

The president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, stated this in his Facebook page on Thursday.

Shehu maintained that all the wedding expenses including the printing and distribution of invitation cards, souvenirs, lunch event for the men and dinner for the women as well as other miscellaneous expenses would be financed by the family and personal aides.

He said the president has said that even though the family wants to make Zahra happy on her wedding day, she will not enjoy “royal wedding”.

He said, “Zahra Muhammadu Buhari’s wedding to Ahmed Mohammed Indimi starting today is a celebrity event to savour any day. Much as the family wants to make their daughter happy they, however, will not make it a royal wedding.

“The President’s family is trying hard to keep it as simple as possible. Wedding Lalle, Fatiha, lunch event for the men and dinner for the women who must have come from far and near and the bride heads to her husband!

“In a twist from what was a norm among past leaders, the President asked to be given the bill for the food at the banquet. Government, he said, has no business paying for that.

“This should be treated as private. His family and personal aides put the money together to foot the bill. No government money in invitation cards, souvenirs or Aso-Ebi. That’s essential Buhari for you!!.”

The Wedding Fatiha will be conducted at the National Mosque, Abuja, on Friday, while reception for guest will be held at the Presidential Banquet Hall.

(NAN)

Turn your iPhone or Android smartphone into a satellite phone.

The modern smartphone is a wonder of modern technology, and in combination with the carrier network, can allow you to make calls from the densest urban jungle to Mount Everest. But despite the amazing global coverage of the carrier networks, sometimes it just isn’t enough.

This is when you need to rely on satellite coverage. And believe it or not, you can add satellite capability to your existing iPhone or Android smartphone. Yes, that’s right, you no longer need a dedicated satellite phone. What you need is a Thuraya SatSleeve.

In addition to offering support for calls and SMS messaging, the latest SatSleeves also have satellite data functionalities for emails, instant messaging, browsing and so on.

Just slide on the sleeve, and BINGO! You have a satellite phone. Yes, calls and data are going to cost you an arm and a leg (don’t be surprised if it adds up to several dollars a minute depending on where you want to use your handset).



SOURCE

PHOTO NEWS: Fayose storms bank, withdraws N5m from ‘frozen account’

PHOTO NEWS: Fayose storms bank, withdraws N5m from ‘frozen account’

SOURCE

We’ll reject proposal to punish dollar hoarders – Senate.

•We’re not part of move, says CBN

Akinpelu Dada.

The Senate has expressed surprise at a recommendation by the Nigerian Law Reform Commission for a review of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Act to make people who have in their possession for more than 30 days foreign currencies to go to jail for up to two years or pay a fine of 20 per cent of the amount.

The Senate stated in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, that with its focus on boosting investors’ confidence in the nation’s economy, such a move would prevent investors from entering and exiting the market freely and that its members would reject the proposal outright.

Abdullahi said in the statement, “The measure is disruptive and counterproductive, threatening to undermine many of the reform efforts already underway in the legislature and by government ministries, which are intended to boost investor confidence.

“The Senate will never pass such a punitive and regressive proposal. Overall, some of the commission’s recommendations have many sound attributes and could help Nigeria’s investment climate. We believe the CBN should have the authority to regulate the forex market and determine the exchange rate policy as already enshrined in its enabling Act.

“A market-oriented exchange rate policy is the best recipe for guiding the operations of the foreign exchange market. This will ensure the supremacy of market mechanisms in efficiently allocating scarce forex resources. We will continue to work with the Executive to halt the worsening recession and return to economic growth.”

The proposed changes are said to be intended to help control capital flows and prevent foreign exchange from being taken out of the country.

“The amendments are necessary for effective monitoring and control, and to ensure probity in foreign exchange transactions in Nigeria,” the draft published on the website of the NLRC stated.

Meanwhile, the CBN has said that it has nothing to do with such a legislation that will bar citizens from holding foreign currencies for more than 30 days.

The Acting Director, Corporate Communications, CBN, Isaac Okorafor, stressed that the apex bank, in line with its mandate, was committed to safeguarding the international value of the country’s legal tender.

He denied knowledge of the proposed clause recommending a jail term of two years for any holder of foreign exchange in cash or a fine of 20 per cent of the amount.

“To the best of my knowledge, the Central Bank of Nigeria has not proposed any bill seeking to arrest and jail persons holding foreign exchange for more than 30 days,” Okorafor said in a statement.

He also denied that the CBN was planning to confiscate funds in domiciliary accounts of individuals, saying such a claim was false.


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Tinubu’s absence at Ondo rally, no big deal –Lalong.

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Governorship Campaign in Ondo State, Mr. Solomon Lalong, on Monday said the absence of the party leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and some South-West governors at the party’s rally in Akure on Saturday did not make any difference.

He said since President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were present at the rally, there was no cause for alarm.

Lalong, who is the Plateau State Governor spoke with State House correspondents shortly after he and the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, met Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Tinubu and Governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); and Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos) were conspicuously absent at the rally held at the Democracy Park in Akure on Saturday.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State was the only APC governor in the South-West who attended the rally.

Tinubu and other governors who did not attend are believed not to be in support of the party’s candidate in the Saturday election, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

But Lalong said their absence was not a problem to the party.

He said, “That (their absence) was not a problem. We explained their absence. They sent in their apologies. You heard what happened there. As far as we are concerned, the President who is the leader of the party was at the rally. The national chairman was also there. As far as we are concerned, everybody was there.

“To the party, their absence did not make any difference. If a leader was not there and he has said he was not there because of ill-health, we have prayed that God will heal him.”

The governor expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious in the Saturday election.

He said he and Fayemi were at the Presidential Villa to thank Buhari for making time out to attend the rally personally.

“We have finished our campaign. You saw what happened at the grand finale. We are not in doubt that APC will win the election in Ondo.

“It is other parties that are scared of the APC and not the APC being scared of other parties.

“We have come to thank the President for going to Ondo for the grand finale rally,” he said.


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How Justice Ngwuta moved N27m cash, exotic cars from house –FG.

Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

The Federal Government alleged on Monday that a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, on October 9, 2016, tampered with evidence likely to incriminate him while on bail – following his arrest by the operatives of the Department of State Service on corruption allegations between October 7 and 8.

The Federal Government, in opposing the bail application which Ngwuta’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), argued after his client’s arraignment before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, stated that the evidence the accused allegedly tampered with were a cash sum of N27m and three exotic cars.

The prosecution alleged that after Ngwuta was granted administrative bail by the DSS in Abuja on November 9, 2016, he made a call to someone in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, to move the sum of N27m cash and three exotic cars to some other locations in order to conceal them.

The cars, which were said to have been recovered by the DSS from where they were moved to, were a Hummer Jeep, a Wrangler Jeep, and a BMW 5 Series sedan.

The government, however, stated that the N27m cash along with some vital documents moved in bags from the bathroom of the Abakaliki home of the justice of the apex court was not recovered because it had been “dissipated”.

Ngwuta, who appeared before a Federal High Court in Abuja, sporting a grey suit with a blue shirt and a red tie, was arraigned before Justice John Tsoho on 16 counts, including money laundering and offences relating to obtaining of multiple passports.

The justice of the apex court was allowed to sit in the dock.

But he stood up to plead not guilty when the charges were read to him at about 10.41am on Monday.

Following his arraignment, his lawyer moved his bail application which was opposed by Federal Government’s lawyer, Mr. Charles Adeogun-Philips.

Despite the prosecution’s opposition to the bail, the judge returned from about two-hour break to grant bail to the Justice of the Supreme Court in the sum of N100m to be guaranteed by his own recognisance.

The defendant, who only had to sign a bail bond worth N100m and guaranteed by his status as a Justice of the Supreme Court, was seen being driven out of the court premises in his official Mercedes Benz E350 at about 3.30pm on Monday.

The judge, after dismissing the fear expressed by the prosecution about the possibility of the defendant interfering with evidence and evading trial as baseless, fixed December 7 and 8 for commencement of trial.

However, while opposing the bail application earlier, Adeogun-Philips referred to the counter-affidavit which was filed on Monday narrating how Ngwuta allegedly committed more offences by trying to conceal the origin of the N27m and the exotic cars by instructing Chukwuebuka to move them from his Abakaliki house to other locations.

The counter-affidavit deposed to by Mr. Ganau Wando, an official of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, read in part, “That whilst on administrative bail between October 9 and 21, 2016, the defendant/applicant committed further offences.

“That, in particular, following his arrest on October 7, 2016, and subsequent release on administrative bail on October 9, 2016, the defendant/applicant sought to obstruct the proper administration of justice, having tampered with the evidence likely to incriminate him in criminal acts by engaging one Mr. Nwamba Linus Chukwuebuka through a telephone call on October 10, 2016, to remove the properties from his private residence located at Engineering Close, Off Onwe Road, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. The properties are as follows:

“A bag located in the defendant/applicant’s bathroom containing some vital documents which was initially concealed by Mr. Chukwuebuka at the residence of one Abraham Ezeani in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on or about October 9, 2016, and subsequently recovered from there by investigators from the DSS in November 2016.

“A bag located in the defendant/applicant’s bathroom containing the sum of N27m in cash which was initially concealed by Mr. Chukwuebuka at the residence of one Abraham Ezeani in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on or about October 9, 2016, following which it was subsequently dissipated by Mr. Chukwuebuka on the direct instructions of the defendant/applicant.”

The counter-affidavit added that the Hummer Jeep Sports Utility Vehicle, Wrangler Jeep Sports Utility Vehicle and BMW 5 Series Vehicle were “previously located in the compound of the defendant/applicant’s private home in Abakaliki and initially concealed by Mr. Chukwuebuka at the residence of an aunt to Chukwuebuka in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on or about October 9, 2016, and subsequently recovered from there by investigators from the DSS in November 2016.

The prosecuting counsel, while arguing the government’s objection, said the prosecution “regrettably” had to oppose the defendant’s bail application because of his (Ngwuta’s) acts of dishonesty which he had demonstrated by also obtaining multiple valid passports.

 “There must be consequences for wrongful conduct. So many times, things have been done in our society with disregard to consequences,” the prosecutor said.

He added, “In counts 10 to 16 of the charges, the defendant is alleged to have maintained multiple identities.

“My lord, in any jurisdiction in the world, I cannot but reject him being released on his own recognisance or being released at all.

“On October 8, a day before the call was made to Abakaliki, the defendant was found with four valid passports. Two of those passports were diplomatic passports and two were standard. He didn’t stop there, investigation showed that earlier this year the defendant had declared two of those passports lost.

“Now we have this problem–we are confronted with such acts of dishonesty. We are confronted with offences that were committed while still on administrative bail.

“The objection is an outright objection. But I have also realistically identified that if your lordship is minded to grant bail, it should be on stringent conditions.

Replying on the point of law, Agabi, however, said the prosecuting counsel was merely repeating the content of the charges and urged the trial judge not to reach conclusions before trial commenced.


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Car Explosion At Benue Government House (PHOTOS).

There was panic in Benue State Government House on Monday after a car exploded and went up in flames.

DAILY POST gathered that the car was on its way into government house when it exploded and caught up in heavy inferno.

The timely intervention of the Fire Service men stopped the fire from causing more havoc.


The driver was successfully evacuated from the car.

The incident sent many workers and passersby to their heels as they thought it was a terrorist attack.

http://dailypost.ng/2016/11/21/panic-car-explosion-rocks-benue-government-house-photos/

Judge refuses to order Justice Ajumogobia’s release.

Ramon Oladimeji.

Justice Muslim Hassan of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday rejected an ex parte application by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, seeking immediate release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The EFCC had detained Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia while probing the source of about $793,800, which the EFCC claimed passed through the judge’s domiciliary accounts between 2012 and 2015.

The EFCC claimed that the judge used the money to buy a house in London, adding that the judge failed to explain the source of her wealth.

The EFCC also alleged that the judge received a gratification of N5m from a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Godwin Obla, at a time when the SAN had a case before the judge.

The anti-graft agency had filed 30 counts against both the judge and the SAN before the Lagos State High Court.

On Monday, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, appeared before Justice Muslim Hassan, with an ex parte application seeking the immediate release of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia.

Onigbanjo contended that the continued detention of Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia in the EFCC custody was a violation of the judge’s fundamental rights.

He argued that the EFCC ought to have charged her to court if it had any case against her.

The SAN said his client had shown the readiness to defend herself against any charge that the EFCC might press against her.

He maintained that the EFCC should either immediately charge his client to court or release her immediately.

 “The EFCC has the option to charge her to court but it has not done so. She has also stated that she is ready to defend herself vigorously against any charge that may be slammed on her.

“She is ready to deposit her passport and abide by any other conditions that the court may impose on her.

“There is no need, under the law, to continue to keep her in detention except to humiliate her because the offence is a bailable one,” Onigbanjo said.

Onigbanjo urged Justice Hassan to either order the EFCC to immediately take his client before a court if it had any charges against her or to order the EFCC to immediately release her if it was not ready to do so.

But Justice Hassan declined granting the application, saying it would only be fair to first hear from the EFCC.

He directed Onigbanjo to put the EFCC on notice and adjourned the case till November 28, 2016.

Justice Hassan said, “The prayers being sought cannot be heard by motion ex parte.”



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