Usaamah, the son of Dr AbdurRasheed Adetokunbo Adenowo, the Welfare Officer of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University (LASU) chapter, was killed on Sunday night in a road crash at Volks bus stop on Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

He was 25.

It was gathered that a motorcycle rider and Usaamah were hit by a trailer while trying to avoid an oncoming Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) that drove against traffic.

“The reckless SUV driver drove the wrong way to avoid heavy traffic on the other lane. The okada rider, in a bid to avoid head on collision with the SUV, unknowingly turned to a speeding trailer. That man (Usaamah) and the okada rider were hit by the trailer. Both of them died on the spot,” an eyewitness told The Nation.

According to Adebanji Adeyemi, a PhD student and friend of Dr Adenowo, a soldier saw Usaamah’s Identity Card, traced the address on it to his home to inform his parents.

“The okada rider has been buried. Usaamah was buried earlier today (yesterday) at Isashi in Ojo Local Government,” he said.

Adeyemi, who taught the late Usaamah English language at Vanguards Academy, a secondary school in Ijebu-Ishiwo, Ogun State, described him as a gentle and intelligent person.

“He studied Law at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State. He was on his Master’s at the University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State. He was working with a law firm in Surulere. He was coming to Masha where he stayed with someone due to the distance from his parents’ house and the perennial traffic along the Badagry Expressway. I am devastated by his death,” he said.

The late Usaamah was called to Bar in 2015 after his Law School Programme in Adamawa State. He did his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2016 in Imo State.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/trailer-crushes-ASUU-lasu-welfare.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the current administration was committed to eliminating corruption in the country.

The President said his administration was not leaving any stone unturned in the battle against graft, while advising the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, to work with all relevant agencies to ensure full compliance with government directive on preference for locally produced goods and services.

President Buhari spoke at the first day of a 2-day and conference awards night organised by National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA at the International Conference Centre, Abuja which began on Monday.

President Buhari declared open the 2018 e-Nigeria international conference and exhibition, organised by NITDA.

He was accompanied by former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu who was also the keynote speaker; Minister of Information, Adebayo Shittu; Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalong; among others.

Buhari also charged NITDA to report any government agency that failed to comply with the new IT Clearance directive.

President Buhar said, “All these are aimed at promoting the digital economy in an era of disruptive technology through effective regulations,” in the event monitored by DAILY POST.

“Of particular note is NITDA’s initiative focused on the Registration of IT Contractors and Service Providers in collaboration with other regulatory bodies with special emphasis on competencies.

“This will ensure the delivery of quality IT projects, as well as facilitate the development of indigenous IT companies in line with global best practices.

‘‘You may also recall the remark about NITDA’s efforts at enforcing Federal Government’s directive on ensuring that all ICT projects in the country are cleared by it before implementation.

‘‘This will ensure that government’s ICT procurements are transparent, aligned with government’s IT shared vision and policy, lead to cost savings through promotion of shared services, avoid duplication, ensure compatibility of IT systems and improve efficiency in government business, enforce the patronage of indigenous companies where capacity exists; and uphold the highest standards for service delivery.

“In this administration’s efforts at ensuring full realisation of these objectives, a new Circular was issued in August this year, to reiterate this directive.

‘‘NITDA is expected to work with all relevant government agencies to ensure full compliance with this directive. Defaulters of IT Clearance among the public establishments are to be reported to government.

‘‘We are serious about fighting corruption. We must not fail in our quest to eliminate corruption in government businesses and in the wider society.

“I understand that the agency worked with relevant stakeholders in developing the document. I continue to encourage the Agency to use its regulatory instruments in ensuring full socialisation and implementation of this document.

“We emphasised the need for the public service to be highly competitive, innovative and digitally-enabled to deliver public services and effectively drive government programs and policies.

“I note that NITDA and other relevant government agencies have taken this up by creating the enabling environment through the development of policies, frameworks, standards and guidelines.

“I am aware that some of these regulatory instruments have been subjected to critical scrutiny and revision through a series of stakeholder engagements.

“Efforts should be intensified at making them public as well as sensitising public servants and the general public about the value of these regulatory instruments.

“The enforcement of the use of the policy on Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the impact they have made on the administration’s public financial management reforms.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/im-committed-to-eliminating-corruption.html

Amber Rose and her music exec boyfriend, Alexander Edwards aka AE are still going strong. The couple have been dating for about two months now. She shared a video showing off her pink new hair while locking lips with her man.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/amber-rose-debuts-pink-hair-as-she.html

Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, says conciliation on the national minimum wage will continue on Sunday despite the court injunction restraining organised labour from embarking on strike.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Industrial Court had on Friday ordered the organised labour not to go ahead with the nationwide strike scheduled for Nov. 6

Justice Sanusi Kado gave the order in a ruling on an ex parte application moved on behalf of the Federal Government by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Dayo Apata.

Recall that organised labour had threatened to commence an indefinite strike on Nov. 6 to press for a new minimum wage of N30, 000 for workers.

The minister in the statement, however, insists that the conciliation meeting involving organised Labour, the organised private sector and government scheduled for Sunday remain unchanged.

“The conciliation meeting involving the Organised Labour, the Organised Private Sector and Government scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 4 at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by 6 p.m. is still on course and will hold,’’ he said.

Ngige said that this will be followed by another meeting of the National Tripartite Minimum Wage Committee meeting on Monday, Nov. 5 at the same venue.

The minister appealed to all tripartite members to attend the meetings in the interest of the nation and finding a solution to the minimum wage impasse.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/minimum-wage-conciliation-resumes.html

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, again met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday.

Tinubu had on Wednesday, October 31, paid a similar visit to the State House.

During his last visit, the former Governor of Lagos dismissed the call for the resignation of the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiohmole, insisting that party supremacy must be respected.

According to Tinubu, Oshiomhole has so far not violated APC constitution or engaged in any anti-party activity that will warrant his resignation or removal from office.

Tinubu’s comments on Oshiohmole have continued to attract comments from some aggrieved members of the APC including Governor Rochas Okorocha, who spoke to State House correspondents on Thursday after he met with President Buhari at the State House.

Okorocha, who reacted to Tinubu’s approval of Oshiomhole’s leadership style, urged that the national chairman be called to order to respect the rule of law, do the right and respect court orders.

Tinubu, however, declined to comment on the matter after his meeting on Friday with the President.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/tinubu-meets-buhari-behind-closed-doors.html

President Muhammadu Buhari, Friday, in Abuja received the attestation and confirmation of his 1961 West African School Certificate (WASC) Examination result from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The documents were presented to the President at State House during a courtesy visit by a delegation of WAEC led by its Registrar, Dr Iyi Uwadiae, accompanied by Olutise Adenipekun, Head, National Office, WAEC, Abiodun Aduloju, Head Public Affairs, WAEC and Olufemi Oke, Zonal Coordinator, WAEC Abuja.

The President thanked the examination board, established in 1952, and which conducts the WASC examination for University and JAMB entry examination in West African countries, for upholding its integrity over the years, adding that he did not expect anything less from the institution.

He said it would have been impossible for him to have attended the Defence Services Staff College, India (1973) and thereafter, United States Army War College, as a Nigerian military officer, if he didn’t sit for the WASC examinations in 1961.

Buhari recounted that during his secondary school days, it was very difficult to commit examination fraud, even though it was not impossible.

”My colleagues and I who spent close to nine years in boarding school both in primary and secondary, including Gen. Musa Yar’Adua, when we intended to join the military we had to take a military examination.

”We were examined in three subjects, English, Mathematics and General Knowledge because English is the language for general instruction throughout the country because of our colonial heritage.

”Mathematics in the military was necessary, coupled with Geography. We were trained how to be dropped off in the bush, given only a pair of compass and since we were not astronomers, you have to learn to find your way, calculate, using the Pythagoras Theorem and others to work out your position,” he said.

In his remarks, the Registrar said it was possible for candidates to lose their examination certificates through fire and any other unfortunate incident.

”We don’t issue certificates twice but we can issue attestations or duplicate copy of the certificate.

”We also have what we refer to as confirmation; usually, universities were using this in those days when Information Technology was not in vogue.

”Whoever sat for WASC exams in whatever year, we have the records in our database, and Mr President, we have the records of the examinations you sat in 1961.

”We have the attestation of results which we issue to candidates who lost their certificates and confirmation of results,’’ Dr Uwadiae said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/what-buhari-said-while-receiving-his.html

Every now and then, some marriages end. However, when the individuals involved are celebrities, fans are affected and want to know what went wrong.

Here are five couples that Nigerian fans are sorry to see their marriages end.


1. Tiwa Savage and Tee Billz

This was supposed to be Nigeria’s “pop royal couple”. But no sooner than they had two wedding parties- one in Lagos and the other in Dubai- did rumours of an imminent breakup start to spread. Matters came to a head in 2016 when TeeBillz accused his wife of adultery. She countered by accusing him of the same and including drug abuse.


2. Tonto Dikeh and Churchill Oladunni

The aftermath of this marriage continues to cause ripples today. Tonto initially described her husband as the most loving man in the world only to reveal that she was domestically abused and that Oladunni was a fraudster. He would later allege that she was, in fact, was the abuser.


3. Lillian Esoro and Ubi Franklin

Towards the end of 2016, actress Lillian Esoro removed all traces of her one-year-old marriage to music exec Ubi Franklin from her social media pages and stopped wearing her wedding ring. Insiders revealed afterwards that the marriage had broken up months before and Esoro had moved out from their Lekki home.


4. Chris Attoh and Damilola Adegbite

The two actors got married in 2015 and by the following year, both parties have gone their separate ways. Attoh on his part has moved on by getting remarried just a few weeks ago.

5. Mercy Aigbe and Lanre Gentry

Having defended her husband against people who said he was abusing her in the past, Mercy Aigbe caught fans unawares when she released photos that showed bruises on her face. Gentry denied but was dragged to court by Aigbe.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/five-nigerian-celebrity-marriages-that.html

Presidential candidate of Zenith Labour Party, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko on Tuesday explained why he refused to submit his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The former Ondo State Governor said that he did not submit the discharge certificate to INEC because the commission did not request NYSC discharge certificate as part of the requirements for candidates seeking to contest the Presidential election in 2019.

Mimiko while speaking at a program entitled “Conversation with Olusegun Mimiko” attended by thousands of youths, women, political parties’, held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, declared that he served the country as s corps member but that he refused to submit NYSC discharge certificate because “INEC does not request for it”.

At the event were dignitaries among whom were: Secretary General, Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr. Kunle Olajide, National Action Council (NAC), Presidential candidate, Dr. Olapade Agoro, National Chairman of National Conscience Party (NCP), Mr. Yinusa Tanko and Dr. Olufemi Mimiko, amomg others.

The ex-Minister while speaking said, “I have presented my certificates to the INEC, I served the country meritoriously and I have my NYSC discharge certificate.

“I did not submit my NYSC discharge certificate because INEC did not request for it. I did not submit it because it is not part of the requirements, that is why I did not submit it to INEC”.

The former governor urged Nigerians to support his aspiration, adding that he has programs for the youth, women and unemployed with a promise that when elected, Nigerians will be equipped with the necessary skills and tools that will move the country forward.

He said, “I have a vision for Nigerian youth, youth will be equipped with the skills needed to move Nigeria forward. We have the resources, there is no doubt about that. The greatest resources is the human resources, we have it. We have people that can move this country forward. And I want to say it again that I will put together the mast that will move this country forward.

“I see a Nigeria where my children and other children will stand shoulder to shoulder with any person in the world”.

Mimiko added that “I have been a Commissioner, Secretary to the state government, Minister of the federal republic of Nigeria and Governor of my state for eight years. We can’t give up in this country and that is why today I am presenting my credentials to you, that is why I am presenting my vision for you today for this country.

“I as President of Nigeria will fight corruption through ICT, the BVN is enough to fight corruption. If you can trace the movement of money, you are already fighting corruption”.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-why-i-didnt-submit-nysc-discharge.html

All parties in the dispute cannot agree on a new minimum wage. While the NLC proposed N30,000, the Federal Government countered with N24,000.

Levi Obijiofor

The demand by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for a new minimum wage of N30,000 has hit an obstacle. The existing minimum wage is N18,000. The Federal Government has proposed N24,000 and has taken the position that the latest figure put forward by the NLC is irrational and unaffordable in light of the country’s current economic hardships. The NLC is not shifting ground. And the government is unwilling to agree to any amount higher than N24,000. In the current standoff over a new minimum wage, the troubling question remains: Who will blink first?

Following the inability of the parties to advance negotiations, the NLC has flagged its intention to start a nationwide strike on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, if the government fails to accede to the labour movement’s demand. The purpose of the NLC strike, it seems, is to make it difficult, if not impossible, for all systems of government to operate fully and efficiently. In essence, the NLC wants to ground to a halt all economic activities in the public and private sectors. If it goes ahead, the strike could bring a wobbly economy to a point of total collapse.

Current negotiations over a new minimum wage are not restricted to the government and the NLC leadership. Other parties include state governments and the organised private sector. All parties in the dispute cannot agree on a new minimum wage. While the NLC proposed N30,000, the Federal Government countered with N24,000. The state governments offered N20,000, and the organised private sector put forward N25,000. Strategically, the differences are not much.

While it must be recognised that some state governments have not been able to pay the existing minimum wage of N18,000 to workers on a regular basis, that failure by the states to meet their obligations to workers must not be taken as a genuine reason to deny workers an increase in wages that recognises the realities of the 21st century economic privation suffered by ordinary workers.

The idea that state governments cannot sustain the proposed minimum wage is odd and far-fetched. If the situation is bad for state governments, consider the impoverished socio-economic conditions of workers. If the economy is experiencing instability, if Nigeria’s finances are on an unsteady ground, if governors cannot find efficient and cost-effective ways to manage their economies, we must not view a reasonable increase in wages as the driver of the poor economic situation across the country.

Governors are crying they cannot pay the proposed minimum wage but that is simply because they have misplaced their priorities and redirected limited funds to phoney projects that do not add value to their economy or enhance the socio-economic conditions of citizens.

State governments should not insult workers’ intelligence by proposing a new minimum wage of N20,000 which is just N2,000 higher than the existing wage of N18,000. The minimum wage proposed by state governors is miserable and grossly inadequate. That amount will not allow lowest paid workers to take care of their financial commitments.

In 2011, during negotiations for the minimum wage of N18,000, Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State admitted candidly that the monthly wage of N18,000 would not take care of the needs of a family of four. He told journalists in Abuja on July 19, 2011: “In fact, N18,000 is too small for an average Nigerian worker, but the problem is that of availability of funds.”

It is paradoxical that state governors who have no difficulty finding money to fund bogus projects are also arguing they cannot find money to pay workers the minimum wage proposed by the NLC.

It is against this background of duplicity by state governments that the NLC leadership has hardened its position concerning the proposed minimum wage. The leadership of the labour movement has served the Federal Government a formal notice of its intention to commence a nationwide strike.

A statement jointly signed by the NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, and the general secretary, Peter Ozo-Eson, said: “This communique serves as formal notice to government that the NLC will commence an indefinite nationwide strike and industrial action from November 6, 2018; except government accepts and commences the process of perfecting the payment of N30,000 as the new national minimum wage on or before that date.”

The language is terse, hard-nosed, militant, and uncompromising. It is also confrontational. Perhaps the NLC adopted the tough language because it feels the Labour Minister and other government officials have been too unyielding to propose a compromise minimum wage that could be agreeable to all parties.

Government must be concerned about the consequences of a strike that would keep workers away from work for an indefinite period of time. General workers’ strike is not a scenario any government would like to deal with essentially because it will damage the image of the government. It will destroy the national economy, including those policies aimed to revive an economy that has since passed out.

While the NLC might view with delight the forthcoming nationwide strike as an opportunity to confront government officials it deems to be pig-headed during negotiations, the labour leadership must be careful how it handles the situation. A general strike, particularly one that drags on endlessly, can be a double-edged sword. It can affect the way the public perceives labour leaders and, at the same time, it can alienate workers from the NLC leaders.

Labour leaders and ordinary workers will be affected negatively during a general strike. No one would be protected or privileged. After all, the leadership of the NLC and workers buy from the same market that would have been shut down by the general strike.

A major challenge that confronts labour leaders is how to navigate the strike so it does not harm the welfare, wellbeing, safety, and security of the people they are trying to uplift. A general strike is intended to boost people’s welfare but at the same time a prolonged strike that exposes workers to hardships can turn the public mood against the labour leaders.

This is why skilled labour leaders do not use general strikes as a last resort. They negotiate, and negotiate, and negotiate until they reach a positive outcome with government officials. Compromise during negotiations is not a mark of weakness.

Government officials and labour leaders who are obsessed with their self-worth or ego should never be allowed to participate in negotiations. A negotiation is not a platform for narcissistic officials with exaggerated sense of self-importance to engage in shadow chasing. Industrial relations disputes require talented negotiators who will deal with the intricacies of minimum wage considerations. Those negotiators must be competent and they must possess a high degree of people-to-people skill.

The government must not treat with contempt the concerns expressed by labour representatives. On matters affecting workers’ welfare, federal and state governments cannot play the three monkeys because a monkey that hears nothing, sees nothing, and perceives nothing in the face of workers’ grievances, cannot be an intelligent and judicious monkey.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/new-minimum-wage-who-will-blink-first.html

The member representing Ovia Federal Constituency, Barrister Omosede Igbinedion has paid a courtesy visit to the Odionwere of Iguobazuwa, Pa. Sunday Omokaro.

The visit was more like an homecoming for the Federal LAWMAKER AS RESIDENTS OF Iguobazuwa trooped out en masse to show solidarity with Omosede Igbinedion.

It was more like a carnival procession as market women and traders abandoned their goods and trooped out in the numbers to identify with the lawmaker.

Omosede had to abandoned her vehicles and trekked with the multitude of residents to the home of the Odionwere ,Pa Sunday Omokaro.

The people danced and sang praises saying Omosede has been a blessing to them with her quality representation at the Federal House of Representative.

Welcoming the August visitor Pa Omokaro said he was delighted about her quality representation saying that anyone that does good it shall always be good for the person.

The Odionwere prayed for her and asked God to continually bless her and give her the ability to keep up with her good work.

Responding the Federal Lawmaker ,Hon Omosede Igbinedion said she was at the Home of the Odionwere to inform him of her return Ticket given to her by PDP to represent Ovia Federal Constituency and also to familiarise herself with areas that need attention in Iguobazuwa promising him that Iguobazuwa would be developed in his lifetime

Iguobazuwa is the headquarters of Ovia South west local government area

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/assurance2019-amid-fanfare-and.html

There were indications yesterday that the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill passed by the National Assembly last week may not be applied to the 2019 general election.

About three months to general election scheduled to begin with Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday February 16, 2019, the National Assembly is yet to transmit the Bill to the presidency for President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent.

A reliable source at the legal department of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) told LEADERSHIP that the commission will not adhere to the amended Act in the forthcoming polls even after being assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The source who did not want his name in print said the reason is to avoid “any legal trap that may arise from the elections, as some politicians may take advantage of the fact that the Act was passed or even signed after the six-month deadline to the next general poll”.

Confirming this, spokesman to chairman of INEC, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, however told our correspondent last night that if the amended Electoral Act is eventually signed into law, the commission might only implement some of the changes.

“There is now time constraint for the commission,” Oyekanmi said, referring to the amended Electoral Act.

He noted that the election won’t be entirely electronically considering the time limit it has.

According to Oyekanmi, card readers will be used for the 2019 general election but the entire election won’t be electronic.

“We will implement the new amendment but it will be impossible for total electronic voting,” he said.

He further explained that the commission prepared for the 2019 general elections without total electronic voting, adding that if there should be total electronic voting, it would be for subsequent elections.

Oyekanmi said in places where card reader fails during the 2019 polls, manual processes would be applied. “We are committed to conducting free and fair elections in 2019”, he added.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the N189.8 billion recently approved for INEC by the National Assembly for the conduct of the 2019 general election did not capture electronic voting.

The Senate and the House of Representatives passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill for the fourth time in 2018 on October 23, 2018 and October 24, 2018 respectively, following the adoption of all the 38 clauses recommended for approval by their committees on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

A source in the Senate told LEADERSHIP in confidence yesterday that as at Friday 26, 2018, the National Assembly was yet to transmit the Bill for President Buhari’s assent.

The source who did not want his name mentioned said, “The House of Representatives just passed its own version of the Bill on Wednesday after the Senators passed theirs on Tuesday.

“It is after the two chambers have passed the bill and harmonized it that it would be forwarded to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Ataba Sani-Omolori, who then dots the i’s and cross the t’s before covering the Bill with a note to President Buhari for his assent.

“You should not expect all that to have been done before the end of last week. But it is most likely that the Bill will be transmitted to President Buhari this week’’.

When contacted yesterday, the senior special assistant to the president on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, told LEADERSHIP that he was in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital, campaigning and could not make comment on any official matters.

‘’I am right in Uyo campaigning now and I cannot speak on any official matters until I return to Abuja during the week’’, he said.

Chairman of INEC, Mahmoud Yakubu, had declared that the bill will not be used for the 2019 general election unless it was signed into law at least six months before the election

Also, a national commissioner of inec, Prof. Okechukwu Ibeanu, said it would only comply with the amendments to the Electoral Act 2010 if it were passed into law six months before the next general election.

Speaking during a function at the Electoral Institute in Abuja, Ibeanu noted that the amendment by the lawmakers was still a proposal, which would need to scale through some hurdles before becoming a law.

This is against the backdrop of the proposed amendment to the electoral law altering the sequence of the 2019 general election, which was passed by the House of Representatives.

Among the 38 clauses recommended for approval by Senate committee on INEC headed by Senator Suleiman Nazif, which were adopted when Senate passed the bill for the third reading is the use of card reader for the conduct of the 2019 general election.

The Red Chamber said, while the card reader would be deployed for accreditation of registered voters, where the card reader malfunctions and another one is not deployed within three hours to the end of voting, election in such unit should be cancelled and a new card reader deployed within 24 hours for a fresh election.

During the 2015 elections, INEC deployed the card reader for the polls, though there was no such provision in the Electoral Act at the time.

The inclusion of the card reader in the Act was done through an amendment to Section 49 by inserting a new subsection (2) which states: “The Presiding Officer shall use a Smart Card Reader or any other similar technological device that may be prescribed by the Commission, for the purpose of accreditation of voters, to verify, confirm or authenticate the particulars of the voter in the manner prescribed by the Commission.”

A new subsection (4) of the ACT provides that “where a Smart Card Reader deployed for accreditation of voter fails to function in any unit and a fresh card reader is not deployed 3 hours before the close of the election in that unit or units, then the election shall not hold but be rescheduled and conducted within 24 hours thereafter.”

However, a proviso under the same subsection states: “Provided that where the total possible votes from all the affected card readers in the unit or units does not affect the overall result in the constituency or election concerned, the commission shall notwithstanding the fact that a fresh card reader is not deployed as stipulated, announce the final results and declare a winner.”

Corroborating INEC’s position, Muktar Abanika, an Abuja base legal practitioner, said the smart card reader is merely a technological device setup to authenticate and verify on election day a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) issued by INEC.

He said, “The arguments over its use in 2015 was that INEC neither has the legitimate authority nor capacity to use the card reader

“The use of the card reader for the 2015 general election was also criticized on the premise that its timing was too close for about 70 million Nigerian voters. Considering the fact that the device was relatively a new technology that has not been tested or tried in Nigeria, it was therefore argued that INEC should step aside the card reader in the 2015 general elections.

“To address the issue of the card reader not being tested, INEC hurriedly conducted a test-run for the device on March 7, 2015 (21 days to the commencement of the polls) in twelve states (consisting of 225 polling units and 358 voting points) of the federation.

“Some of the card readers could not function effectively during the test-run. However, INEC promised to deal with the issue.

“This test-run was carried out after the general elections were rescheduled. In order words, INEC could have conducted the general elections without test-running the device. This could have created a disaster for INEC that could only be imagined.

“But if the electoral amendment bill is assented to by President Buhari, can INEC use the smart card for the conduct of the 2019 elections? To me, the answer is no. The device was not used for the conduct of other elections since 2015, not even in Ekiti, Osun or several by-elections held all along.

“This is why the statement credited to INEC chairman that if the electoral amendment bill is not signed into law six months before 2019 election, the commission won’t use it for the conduct of the election becomes apt’’.

Another predicament likely to threaten the adoption of card reader for the conduct of the 2019 elections is that there is no provision for it in the electoral budget.

The Senate on had October 10, 2018 approved a total sum of N189,207,544,893 for the conduct of the 2019 general election expenditure as proposed by INEC, in supplementary budget.

According to a senior staff of the INEC, there could be provisions, which might not be specifically stated, but lobbed under wordings of technical devices’’.

“I don’t want to be quoted because I am not too sure, but I guess there may be something for it in the budget. Again, there is nothing stopping the commission from going back to the National Assembly for additional fund if what we provided for not enough or not at captured in the budget’’, he stated.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/electoral-amendment-may-not-be-binding.html

The last six weeks or so have been an eye-opener to me as I travelled with members of the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP); a body that was founded in 2016 and supported by the King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz International Centre of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, popularly referred to as KAICIID Dialogue Centre based in Vienna, Austria. This body that is made up of 100 members, spread equally between Muslims and Christians, with General Yakubu Gowon as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle are patrons of the forum.

The decision by the interfaith group to embark on advocacy visits to some states in the North was borne out of the desire to identify reasons behind the incessant crises crippling the country, especially in some states of the North. There is no denying the fact that these crises are casting frightening gloom on the prospects of Nigeria’s continued existence, just as security agencies are almost overwhelmed by the recurring rounds of violence.

From Zamfara to Benue; from the Mambilla hills of Taraba to Plateau state, criminals and various groups are enmeshed in various forms of crises that have unleashed frightening uncertainties on citizens. Instead of relying on narratives that have not helped the situation, the forum resolved to visit Zamfara, Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Kaduna with the sole aim of interacting with participants knowledgeable in the dialectics.

In Zamfara state, the advocacy team, headed by the Dankaden Bauchi, Alhaji Aminu Yakubu, visited the Emir of Anka (Sarkin Zamfara), Alhaji Muhammad Anka, Emir of Tsafe, Muhammad Abubakar Bawa, among others. The team also had interactions with the security agencies and critical groups like the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeder Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), among others. In that state, the crisis is between farmers and herdsmen and criminal abductions, cattle rustling and armed robberies. While the Fulani complained of their cattle being rustled, the farmers grumbled over destruction of their crops by straying animals. Sadly, no fewer than 3,000 lives have been lost in the conflagration. Despite the Federal Government’s deployment of no fewer than 1,000 troops to the state, peace has become so expensive, with various groups claiming victim status.

The Benue violence is premised on fight for resources between farming communities and the Fulani, with criminal elements taking advantage of the insecurity to unleash further havoc on citizens. Led by the co-Secretary of the IDFP, Alhaji Ibrahim Yahaya, the IDFP members were shocked at the dreadful conditions of the Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camp at Abagana and interacted with religious clerics on how to resolve the crisis. Both CAN and the JNI officials distanced religion as factor responsible for the crisis that has pitted herders against locals and led to hundreds of deaths.

In Plateau, the internecine clashes between suspected herdsmen and local communities have left several hundreds dead, just as many villages and towns have been sacked and presently being occupied by invaders. Mutual distrust amongst groups remains an albatross to peace. The Plateau team, headed by Amir Mohammed Jameel Mohammed, met with security agencies who said that what was setting Plateau on edge was the activities of criminals who whip up sentiments to veil their criminal intentions. The visit of the team to the state coincided with the abduction of a retired military officer, Major General Idris Alkali whose car was recovered in a pond in Du district, one of the hotbeds of conflict in the state. IDPs from Gashish district that survived from various attacks on their communities said failure of security was responsible for the current spate of insecurity ravaging the state.

Good Night Agwom Adara…

The late monarch was the first to grant audience to the IDFP team when it arrived Kaduna to commence an advocacy/fact-finding visit. Without hesitations, he spoke passionately on the need for peace among people. Having identified influence of selfish politicians on the youths and insincerity among leaders in the country, he expressed his confidence that peace efforts cannot be allowed to cave in due to current spate of insecurity in Nigeria.

The team was to later stumble on the scene of his abduction at Makyali, less than 30 minutes after his kidnapping, with corpses of his police orderly and three motorists. The IDFP team cheated death as their convoy was barricaded by angry youths at Doka, but we escaped with shattered glasses.

Tempers are running high amongst his subjects, but we must not forget that His Royal Highness Galadima was a man of peace. The best we can do to his memory is embrace peaceful disposition and give honour to all he stood for by ensuring the triumph of peace.

The sad tale of crisis in Taraba seems to have been brought under control, with IDPs making frantic efforts in picking the bits and pieces of their shattered lives. Apart from the IDPs being abandoned to their fate, there seems to be no genuine efforts by government to assist them in overcoming their present challenges or to alleviate their pains. All they depend on for succour is from well-meaning Nigerians and organisations, including religious bodies. Leader of the Taraba state team and co-Chairman of the IDFP Executive Committee, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, called on government at all levels and the international community, especially donor agencies, to provide assistance to the victims of violence living in various parts of the country.

The last on the list of state visited by the forum headed By co-Chairman of the IDFP Executive Committee, Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni, is Kaduna where members had interactions with the Police Commissioner, Ahmad Abdulrahman, groups and monarchs, including the Agwom Adara who was abducted less than 48 hours after meeting with the team. He was later killed by his captors in the early hours of yesterday. Incessant killings and abductions have become regular traits in the state. While MACBAN Kaduna state chapter complained that its members were under constant harassment of detentions by the military, CAN said insincerity and lack of fear of God are obvious stumbling blocks in attaining peace. Other groups identified lack of political will to prosecute persons involved in past conflicts in the state.

The synopsis of recommendations proffered by stakeholders in all the states include among others, that government should rise up to its responsibility of protecting lives and property. Religious leaders should embrace sincerity and teach their followers to embrace dialogue in resolving conflicts. There should be enlightenment campaigns to educate Nigerians on the dangers of hate speech and encourage communality of our bond across religious divide. Apart from calling for creating job opportunities for the youth, participants in all the forum called on Nigerians to be wary of selfish politicians who deploy vulnerable groups to achieve their political dreams. Genuine and lasting peace, the stakeholders maintained, can only be realised when Nigerians resolve to stand up for peace. A million of boots on the ground can only achieve peace of the graveyard in a society that is mutually distrustful of one another.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/idfp-and-search-for-peace.html

The Presidency yesterday told Nigeria’s Organised Labour to forget their dream of N30000 minimum wage for civil servants as it was not feasible for the government to pay at the moment.

Presidential spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, who stated the Federal Government’s position in a television programme said government would not be able to pay such a monthly take home of N30,000 giving the state of its finances.

Speaking during a Channels TV programme on Thursday, Adesina said even if public office holders sacrifice their entire pay, that will not still make such minimum wage achievable.

He said even some governors are unable to pay the N18,000, not to talk of N30,000.

“So if they can’t pay N18,000 and labour is asking for N30,000 and they refuse to come lower, there may be a stalemate which will not be good for the country,” he said.

“I think in the spirit of negotiation, labour should not insist on N30,000.”

Asked if the political class “especially members of the All Progressives Congress (APC)” agreeing to reduce their salaries will not make the new minimum wage demand possible, the presidential spokesman replied: “I doubt.”

“Even if they decide not to collect anything, it still doesn’t take care of N30,000 minimum wage; it doesn’t.

“Maybe if the members of the National Assembly concede part of their salaries and allowances, it can make a dent on minimum wage. But other office holders dont earn anything outrageous.”

The Nigerian Labour Congress has been at loggerheads with the Federal Government over a demand for an increase in the minimum wage.

Labour has rejected the proposal of the Federal Government to raise the minimum wage from N18,000 to N24,000 and has set a November 6, 2018 deadline for the commencement of a nationwide strike targeted at paralysing all the machineries of government across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital territory.

In preparation for the November 6 proposed nationwide strike, The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday advised Nigerians to start stocking food and other necessities of life at home.

The NLC in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday warned that the workers will ensure a total shutdown of the country.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/minimum-wage-n30000-monthly-salary-not.html

Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello has decribed those who left the All Progressive Congress ( APC) recently as fair -weather friends who came for the good times.

He spoke on Wednesday night to young supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari,during a dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to him, the defectors left because of the President’s insistence on personal integrity, fiscal prudence, equality before the law, national security, party discipline, international dignity and a single-minded war on corruption.

He said supporters of the President have three things in common which are” One, believe in Nigeria, two, belief in Nigeria’s potential for Greatness, and three, belief in President Muhammadu Buhari as the best person to continue leading Nigeria towards greatness at this point in our history.

He said “belief in Nigeria means you love this country and truly want the best for her. Belief in her potential for greatness means you are ready for the sacrifices of nation-building. Belief in Mr. President means you still have absolute confidence in him as the best leader for our nation till 2023 at least.

“These three great beliefs are vital if our commitment to confront the odds and win in 2019 is to remain unshaken. It is only when you believe Nigeria is worth fighting for that you can commit your all to make sure she does not fall again into the hands of the PDP or a similar swarm of locusts.

“The APC that is going into the 2019 General Elections is radically different from the APC which won the 2015 Presidential Elections. Our party has been through a steep learning curve and the lessons have been difficult, even painful, in many instances.

“Fair-weather friends who came for the good times have left, disappointed by Mr. President’s insistence on personal integrity, fiscal prudence, equality before the law, national security, party discipline, international dignity and a single-minded war on corruption.

“We are charged with telling the story of this Administration from now till victory is gained in 2019. The immediate task before us is to convince the masses that everything Mr. President has done is for our overall benefit,” he said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/fair-weather-friends-are-ones-who-left.html

Members of the House of Representatives have adjourned their plenary till November 6.

This, according to the lawmakers, is to enable them embark on oversight to various ministries, departments and agencies they supervise.

The deputy speaker, Yusuf Lasun, made the announcement at the close of plenary on Wednesday.

“The plenary is hereby adjourned till the 6th of November,” he said.

The Senate also on Wednesday adjourned its plenary in tandem with that of the House for the same reason.

The adjournment is coming about a month after the House resumed from its annual recess.

In August, both chambers went on a two-month annual recess and resumed earlier this month.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/house-of-reps-adjourn-plenary-for-two.html

Nollywood actress, Juliet Ibrahim has finally confirmed that her relationship with Nigerian rapper, Iceberg Slim is over.

Ibrahim, who has been ignoring reports of their breakup disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists during an event in Ghana.

According to her, they broke up on mutual terms.

The curvy actress said: ” I left the relationship myself. You don’t need to go for anybody. I carried myself.

“When you are in love, you do crazy things and things happen.

When asked if cheating was the reason for their split, she added, “I don’t know because they say and I hear all sorts of things but people close to me know what happened. I wouldn’t say because no matter what, I respect the people that I have been with. We broke up on a mutual term.

“I do not regret the relationship, you are not supposed to regret anything in life. You are supposed to learn, take it as a lesson.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/why-i-dumped-iceberg-juliet-ibrahim.html

WATCH VIDEO HERE

HMS Dragon, which patrols the Eastern Mediterranean, was travelling through the Persian Gulf when Iran’s machine gun boats halted its course and demanded Dragon to remain 1000 yards clear of the port side.

The captain of the type 45 destroyer immediately ordered five blasts of the ship’s horn, which is the international warning sign.

The Officer of the Watch then radioed over to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards – the Span Navy – warning that its boats prevented the Destroyer from completing its journey.

The Span Navy replied: “For your information we are here to safeguard our national sovereignty and we are doing routine operations.”

The Iranian craft boats eventually moved aside, but if they hadn’t, the Royal Navy crew would have had to fire flares and warning shots, according to Commander Carter-Quinn.

He told The Telegraph: “You have to provide a robust response.

“The day you don’t take it seriously is the day you become unstuck.”

Lieutenant Commander Richard Attwater also noticed that the Royal Navy navigates through dangerous waters as tensions between Iran and the West grow.

Around a third of the world’s seaborne petroleum exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz – including the majority of Britain’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Qatar.

Iran has a noticeable sea mine capability, meaning the rest of the world has to pay close attention in case Iran decides to close the waterway.

As part of the international effort to deter the Iranians, The Royal Navy has a permanent presence in the Gulf at the HMS Jufair naval base in Bahrain – west of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Attwater told the newspaper: “The contest between Iran and Saudi Arabia provides the backdrop to everything out here.

“It’s a very volatile region.

“And we’re sailing 8,000 tonnes of Britain right through the middle of it.”

Professor Michael Clarke of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) claimed Iran uses “the Gulf as a tap to turn on the tension and indicate their degree of cooperation with the international community”.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/irans-fast-boats-attack-royal-navy-ship.html

The Supreme Court yesterday set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, which validated the conduct of congresses by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State.

The verdict of the highest court in the land is coming days after the deadline for parties to submit names of candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had elapsed.

This implies that the APC may not field candidates for the 2019 polls in the state, as the local government and ward congresses held by the party in May are null and void going by the apex court judgement.

The Court of Appeal had on June 21, 2018 set aside the ruling of Justice A C Nwosu of the Rivers State High Court, which restrained the APC from conducting the congresses pending the determination of the substantive suit.

But the Supreme Court, in its ruling yesterday, voided the decision of the Court of Appeal.

Justice Centus Chima Nweze, who read the ruling in an appeal filed by plaintiff, Abdulahi Umar, held that the Court of Appeal ought not to have vacated the injunctive order issued against the APC by the Rivers State High Court on the conduct of the congresses.

The Supreme Court declared that it was unfortunate and wrongful for the appellate court to have entertained a party in contempt of a valid court order to the extent of granting judicial favour by way of staying of execution of an injunctive order when the party at the center of the dispute was in gross contempt of court.

While the injunctive order of the High Court was subsisting, the APC went ahead and conducted the ward, local government and state congresses on May 19, 20 and 21.

After the conduct of the congresses, the Court of Appeal, in a ruling on an application brought before it by APC seeking stay of execution of the High Court injunctive order and stay of proceedings of the main suit, vacated the injunctive order and refused to stay hearing on the substantive matter, prompting Umar to approach the Supreme Court.

In its judgement yesterday, the apex court berated the appellate court for judicially indulging APC and vacating the injunctive order in the party’s favour when there is abundant evidence that the APC was in contempt of court.

The Supreme Court also held that the Court of Appeal ought not to have granted its discretion in favour of APC because the party was in grave violation of the order of the High Court.

Justice Nweze noted that the appellate court has a duty to protect a lawful subsisting order and ought not to have granted favourable judicial discretion for a party that willingly disobeyed valid court order.

He stated: “It is unfortunate and wrongful for the Court of Appeal to have entertained a party in contempt of a valid court order to the extent of granting judicial favour by way of staying of execution of an injunctive order when the party at the center of the dispute was in gross contempt of court.

“It is a serious matter for anyone to flout a court order and in the instant case, it is clear that the respondent (APC) was in grave disobedience to two lawful court orders.

“It is sacrilegious, ill-fated and suicide mission for the Court of Appeal to have departed from various decisions of the Supreme Court that any party in contempt of court ought not to be granted judicial discretion and in this matter, Appeal Court is bound to follow Supreme Court final decision.

Justice Nweze said the refusal of the Court of Appeal to be bound by final decision of Supreme Court is a gross insubordination.

Accordingly, he nullified and set aside the decision of the appellate court delivered on June 21, 2018.

But the APC in Rivers State yesterday debunked reports on social media that Supreme Court nullified the ward, local government and state congresses as well as primaries organised by the party in the state.

Publicity secretary of APC in Rivers State, Senibo Chris Finebone, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the Supreme Court only set aside the stay of execution order of the Court of Appeal over the ruling of a Rivers State High Court in a suit against the party by Ibrahim Ima and 22 others.

The statement reads in part: “The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), would like to state, for the avoidance of doubt, that in the appeal filed at the Supreme Court by Ibrahim Umar & 22 others of which the ruling was given today, three issues were canvassed before the Supreme Court, one of which was that the Appeal Court did not act correctly by granting a stay of execution on the interlocutory orders of the State High Court.

“The Supreme Court agreed with them. However, the Supreme Court did not make pronouncements on the other issues since the State High Court had already given final judgment on them, an action that has left the present development a mere academic exercise.

The Supreme Court only granted the appeal in parts and did not make any consequential order, as that can only be subject matter at the Appeal Court when the hearing on the appeal of the State High Court judgment commences.

“According to Counsel to APC, The Supreme Court today allowed the appellants’ appeal which was against the stay of Order of Injunction of 11/05/2018.The court said the order should not have been stayed.

“The Supreme Court made no orders except to set aside the Court of Appeal order. That clears the way for hearing of the main appeal at Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt against the judgment of the High Court. Their prayer that Supreme Court should hear the pending appeal at Court of Appeal was rejected. The appeal is to be heard and determined by Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt.

“We call on all APC members to remain steadfast and refuse to be distracted as ultimate victory is assured. Those claiming victory and dancing in the streets are doing so either out of ignorance or out to deceive others.”

90% Of APC Members Are Behind Me

– Oshiomhole

Meanwhile, the national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomole declared yesterday that 90 per cent of party members are solidly behind him.

This is coming on the heels of reports that 15 of the 23 governors of the APC had finalised the plan to remove him and are about forcing a national executive committee (NEC) meeting to unseat him.

Speaking to State House correspondents yesterday, Oshiomole said only one or two governors of the party are not comfortable with him remaining in office.

According to him, the governors who are not impressed with his style fell out with him because he insisted on following due process.

He explained that under his leadership, the party is working consciously to entrench the core values of progressive politics, which is that the people must necessarily lead.

He said, “There maybe one or two governors who have issues and those issues can only be resolved democratically within the spirit, the letter and all the relevant provisions of APC Constitution, Electoral Guidelines and of course the Electoral Act. The Electoral Act is completely blind and our party rules too are completely blind to power, that it is sensitive to procedures and it is sensitive to processes.

“The good news is that the overwhelming majority, we have about 23 governors, I think we are very much happy, I don’t have issues with anyone, only one or two may have some situation that they may want to see differently but that is how the world is.

“It is not correct to suggest that there is a move, though one governor has publicly said he will ensure that I am removed. That is fine; the beauty of democracy is that any one or two could say something, but the majority is what matters.

“But I think even those two, when they have deeper reflection, they will recognize that all I have done is to stubbornly insist that the rules must be obeyed, nothing more, and nothing less”.

On the plot to remove him as APC chairman, Oshiomhole said, “I need to consult a lawyer who understands legal language to decode it to my layman understanding to be able to deal with it. But the only thing I just want to clarify is that I have seen banner headlines. People are just calling me that there is crisis in APC, that my office is under threat, some APC persons are very angry and all that.

“I just want to say that this is my finest hour. I am being encouraged by the level of participation in our primaries and of course the more open, the more the democratic process is.

“Most people today who are actively involved in politics that we might describe as not too young to run, the only model that they have seen was the PDP model which ran for 16 years. So understandably, the culture of opposition, the culture of cheating, the culture of power determining outcome has been so well entrenched”.

He noted that what he is trying to do under his leadership of the APC is to work consciously to entrench the core values of progressive politics.

He continued: “Yes we recognise power, yes we recognise protocol but at the end of the day, power must flow from the membership when it comes to primaries and it must flow from the Nigeria people when it comes to the popular election.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I have been committed, I am organized. It has been in history that I have organised a huge rally, which was solely dedicated to the history of one-man-one-vote campaign.

“I organised that when I was in Edo State. I fought and I defeated the rigging machine. So, having done that I now being privileged to be chairman of All Progressives Congress, I cannot watch people who have power try to suppress those who are powerless.

“Somehow it has been my lot to be on the side of the oppressed, whether that oppressed is a worker, whether he is a Senator or House of Reps member.

Saraki Now History In Kwara Politics, Says Governorship Candidate

Meanwhile, the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Kwara State, Abdulraman Abdulrazaq, has declared that the era of Senate President Bukola Saraki’s stronghold on the state politics is over.

He stated this yesterday when he led members of the party from the three senatorial zones of Kwara State on a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa.

Abdulrazaq said, “Kwara has become a battle ground and as you can see, we have come here to see Mr President haven gone through a hectic process of primaries. We went through direct primaries in which about a 100,000 party faithful voted.

“We had our difficulties but we have come to see the president to tell him that all is well and we are in unison and he has given us matching orders to go and take Kwara.

On Saraki’s stronghold in Kwara politics, he said, “He (Saraki) is history. We have gone pass him and we are looking at government house

On his part, President Buhari said the late Major General Tunde Idiagbon was a very rare example of what loyalty to fatherland and to a superior should be.

“Tunde was strong, loyal and extremely committed to the cause of positively changing the narrative about Nigeria, which the administration set out to do at that time,” the president said.

President Buhari recalled how his former deputy who was on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia when the administration was overthrown in 1985, insisted on returning to the country despite the political uncertainty, especially as he had learnt that he, as Commander-in-Chief at that time, had not been killed in the take-over.

The President added that the late Idiagbon rejected the offer from the King of Saudi Arabia to bring members of his (Idiagbon) family from Nigeria to the Kingdom, as he was his guest at that time, and eventually returned to Nigeria to suffer arrest like he (Buhari) did.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/apc-may-not-field-candidates-in-rivers.html

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, is dead. He died in a London hospital yesterday after a brief illness.

His eldest son, Sani Kutigi, confirmed this in Minna yesterday, saying “we are making arrangements to transport our father back for burial”.

The late Kutigi left behind 18 children and over 40 grandchildren.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen also confirmed the death of one of his predecessors, Justice Kutigi.

A statement issued yesterday by Onnoghen’s media aide, Awassam Bassey, said Kutigi died, in a London hospital at the age of 78 years.

He said Onnoghen who commiserated with the deceased’s family directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast in all judicial institutions.

The statement reads: “The Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Mr. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, has received with sadness the news of the demise of His Lordship, the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Mr. Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, GCON, who died in a London hospital on Saturday, 20th October, 2018 at the age of 78 years.

“The CJN, on behalf of the Nigerian Judiciary and, indeed, all Nigerians, commiserates with the family of the deceased former CJN and urges them to take solace in the fact that their patriarch lived to the fullness of age and served his country diligently, rising to become the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the highest office in the third arm of government.

“As a mark of deserved honour to the deceased jurist, the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria has directed that the Nigerian national flag in the premises of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the CJN’s official residence in the Three Arms Zone of Abuja, all Judiciary institutions including the National Judicial Council (NJC), the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), as well as all Courts of Records in the country, should be flown at half-mast for a duration of seven days.

“Similarly, the CJN has instructed the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to open condolence registers at both foyers of the court to enable Honourable Justices of the court and other well-wishers pay their last respects to the deceased Justice Kutigi, who was Chief Justice of Nigeria from 30th January, 2007 to 31st December, 2009”.

PMB, Saraki, PDP, ACF Mourn

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday condoled with the Kutigi family on the death of the CJN.

In a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the president also commiserated with members of the judiciary and legal profession, the government and people of Niger State on the death of the eminent jurist, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1992 and named as Chief Justice in 2007.

Adesina said the president joined them in mourning the elder statesman who will be long remembered and honoured for his visionary roles and contributions in the advances our country has made towards building a strong, independent and impartial judiciary, which is sine qua non for democracy to thrive.

The presidential spokesman stated: “Throughout his career in the apex court, President Buhari believes that the former CJN’s bold and articulate judicial decisions, advocacies on access to justice for all and protection of judicial independence are extant signposts for the advancement of the noble profession in the country and beyond.

“The President urges all who mourn the late jurist to honour his memory by working for a better and just society, in addition to upholding the virtues associated with him during his lifetime of long and dedicated service to the nation.

“The President prays almighty God to comfort Kutigi’s family, friends and associates and grant eternal rest to the soul of the departed”.

Also, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday expressed sadness over the death of former CJN Kutigi, describing him as an honourable jurist who spent his life in the service of his country and humanity.

Saraki, in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that the death of the jurist is a colossal loss, particularly coming at a time when his experience, dedication and knowledge were required in the service of the country.

He stated that the late Justice Kutigi would be remembered for his high sense of integrity, incisive judgements, reform-mindedness and immense contributions to national development.

“It saddens me that we have lost a vivacious, humane and tireless jurist who, even in retirement, was called upon by former President Goodluck Jonathan to chair the Sovereign National Conference in 2014. We shall all miss him,” Saraki stated.

The President of the Senate commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased and urged them to be consoled by the praise-worthy lifestyle of the departed statesman.

On its part, the apex Northern socio-cultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), described the late Kutigi as an embodiment of hardwork and selfless service who was committed to the unity of Nigeria.

ACF, in a condolence statement signed by its national publicity secretary Mohammad Ibrahim Biu, said the forum learnt with grief and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah, the passing on of Kutigi.

According to the statement, Late Justice Idris Kutigi was an eloquent jurist who held various positions in the legal profession and excelled to its peak as the Chief Justice of Nigeria from January 2007 to December 2009.

“He was a member of the ACF Board of Patrons and contributed immensely by his wise counsel and participation in the Forum’s activities”.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said it was deeply saddened by the news of the demise of the late eminent jurist, legal luminary and former CJN, describing his death as a huge loss to the nation and the Judiciary.

The party, in a statement, said Justice Kutigi was an outstanding administrator; a fearless, impartial and firm judicial officer, who upheld justice and the law in all his assignments at the bench.

The statement signed by the national publicity secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, noted: “As the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kutigi ensured the independence of the judiciary as an arm of government and contributed in no little way in providing direction to our nation at very critical moments in our national development.

“Beside his incisive judgments, Nigerians will always remember Justice Kutigi’s forthrightness as the Chairman of the 2014 Constitutional Conference, which made far-reaching recommendations for the development and stability of our nation.

“The PDP is grief-stricken that this noble Nigerian left the stage at the time his wealth of experience is needed the most”.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/ex-cjn-kutigi-dies-at-78.html

Professor Blassey Ford is not Hauwa Liman, an African woman, the last time we checked but she carried all the stigma of Boko Haram girls that were sexually abused or killed. She predicted the pain and psychological trauma she would go through if she ever came forward. Nevertheless, she never predicted the threat to her life! Even worse is the fact that nothing would happen or change because her harasser would be believed over her. In terms of equality between men and women, we might as well look towards Western Europe and Canada since Africans cannot count on the story and safety of American women. However, African women are pulling their weight everywhere. Many of them are just as highly educated as men but the opportunity to move to the highest level still comes through politics. This is the place where most women are missing in Africa. It is unfortunate that in 2018, such a highly respectable woman as Prof Ford could not even dent or scratch her harasser’s credibility one bit, where it matters. The fact that she did not disclose her experience to her boyfriend until after they got married raises fear the Boko Haram girls dreaded the most. Rejection or humiliation by suitors and their communities.
So white men, out of privilege positions, high paying jobs or little education, angry, depressed do feel out of place. Their notion is that women are using sexual harassment as a proxy to get even. Otherwise, they asserted that there is no reason to bring back a grudge or innocent act on the part of the boys back 10, 20 or 30 years later when men are at the top of their career. It is for no other reason than to pull them down out of jealousy or viciousness out of privilege.

There is no doubt that many African men are also worried that their women have taken blindly to what they think is hysteria in U.S.A. After all, almost 80 per cent of white married American women support their privileged class of men. It is these men in privileged positions that bring home good incomes; giving their wives the choice to stay home or work. They are even more concerned about their sons being accused of abuse than they are about their daughters. We must not fail to point out to our young boys and girls that boisterous habits can damage their career into the future. After all, not all boys join the ruffian clubs, drunks or misbehave as bangers. These are specialized sets that other boys stay away from either because they have been warned at home or they consider it crude and unruly to be associated with those guys.
So many people including women are confused right now, whether this is hysteria among highly liberated women or privileged abuses that have been taken for granted for a long time. Yet, neither men nor women deny the fact that women were abused. What is baffling though is the split among American women. It is so bad, Hillary Clinton could not even get majority of white women to vote for her as Obama got blacks. White women see her as a threat to the husbands. Therefore, it is in the interest of married white women to favour the men who made their lives comfortable, reliable and secure. Anyone in their shoes would do the same. On the other hand, 80 percent of black women in America are the head of their households, whether they are single or married. Black men have become endangered species outside Africa since the day of slavery in one form or another. Therefore, it is easier to throw black men out of homes for any reason or no reason at all. Most African/black homes would then crumble without them.
It is usually said that facts are very stubborn but a lie that people are willing to believe is over-shadows the truth. Nothing changes the fact that women suffer more abuse in the hands of men, we are only saying it takes much more to believe a black man than to believe a white man. Benefit of the doubt is not created for the convenience of Africans outside Africa. So, no matter how much women cry out, a privileged white man would be more believable.

Mind you, these guys are bailed out each time they get into trouble by their parents. So, it is not that they do not know the type of spoiled brats they raised at home. By the time they start finding excuses for their behaviour, it might be too late. Indeed, poor kids from underdeveloped environment would never get away with what rich white kids get away with. If they are poor or black, they call law and order officers on them but if they are rich, they call for rehab or second chance! Give them a break, these are nice white kids.Indeed, there are young school boys that find the unruly behaviour of their classmates like those Professor Ford experienced, unacceptable. The ones that took the side of the girls that are being bullied, harassed or called names would get into trouble if he stood up to the bully and hit him. Boys in schools are trained to keep their hands to themselves, no matter whom the bullies provoked.We must impact certain rules on our boys. Never hit another boy because he harassed a girl you consider pleasant or because she might be too timid to stand up for herself. Report to the teacher, otherwise you risk suspension or expulsion. Bullies and sexual harassers in schools are never trained or kept in check enough, not to display repulsive behaviour in schools. They depend on their privileged parents to get them out of trouble. It used to be that the children of the poor in Africa are the ones that turned out to be greater or more successful in life. It was in the days when education was a leveller and open to children regardless of how rich our parents were. The more it becomes a global world, the more African culture changed especially in the way we raise our children. The change usually results in some loss of the benefit of our culture and modest way of life. Indeed, most of our professionals and many leaders today came from poor homes. We noticed a change when these money bags started taking their children out of local schools and sending them to private schools or out of the country altogether. Since they had no more stake in local schools, they let them degenerate to squalor and militia recruits. What we got from graduates of those schools are the rut we find ourselves in today. The ones that would harass Prof Ford!

Aresa is a public affairs commentator.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/battle-of-sexes-proxy-for-sexual-abuse.html

Technology can be a vital tool to help rebuild trust in the accounting profession. This was the view of Michael Armstrong, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)’s Regional Director in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, expressed at the recent 48th Annual Accountants’ Conference.

The conference, which was themed: ‘Securing Our Shared Future: A Collective Responsibility’ took place at the International Conference Centre and Sheraton Hotels, Abuja, from October 1 to 5, 2018.

Armstrong, who made a presentation at one of the workshops titled: ‘Accounting Firms of the Future: Challenges and Opportunities’, stated that the accounting profession was set to witness exciting times ahead, in a changing world.

He said: “Our profession is currently under a great deal of scrutiny with the media reporting corporate failures, criticism of accountants and auditors, and sanctions being imposed on what can sometimes feel like a daily basis. All Chartered Accountants are under scrutiny. As defined by our Royal Charter, the fundamental function of bodies like ICAEW and ICAN are the protection of public interest. Due to the loss of public confidence, the key challenge facing the profession and our most immediate concern is the need to rebuild trust.”

Following a series of high-profile scandals across the world, many accountants and accounting firms have come under heavy scrutiny by regulating bodies. In this regard, one issue that should be of immediate concern to practitioners is the need to regain public trust and this is achievable with the help of technology.

Armstrong noted that the accountancy profession needed to recover its original purpose of assuring investors and the public of the truth, rebuilding trust and ensuring the sustainability of the profession.

The ICAEW director called on accounting professionals to act immediately. “In fact, our (ICAEW) CEO, Michael Izza, describes this as a “watershed moment” – a wake-up call for business leaders, regulators and auditors. As a profession, we have to be prepared to think and act differently in the future. If we don’t address this now, one wonders if we will still have a profession in 20 years’ time”, he said.

For Armstrong, who was also a partner at KPMG, one way to improve the credibility of financial reporting is to boost audit quality. He noted that changes, driven by a range of factors, but most significantly technology, will transform all aspects of business and society in the coming years, and reshape the accountancy profession across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the rest of the world.

“Over the years, our profession has moved from the use of spread-sheets, to computers and other more advanced technological devices. While the scale of the change today may appear more dramatic, this is not new territory for the profession which has a long history of adapting to changing regulatory and technological environments. It may seem more pressing and transformational now, but is the arrival of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Big Data more significant than the arrival of computers into finance departments or the appearance of the spread sheet? Our profession has always been very adaptable in the past so there’s no reason to think it can’t adapt this time” he added.

Armstrong also emphasised the need for collaboration amongst Chartered Accountants more than ever before; and looks forward to working and collaborating with ICAN following the MoU signed earlier in the year.

In his presentation, Armstrong noted that technology is the driving force behind change in the accountancy profession, as it presents countless opportunities for the profession to deliver more value to businesses through new and enhanced services. He also explained that accountants can save time – for themselves and their clients – from lower value tasks to focus on more complex and advisory work.

Other workshops held at the four-day conference were: ‘SMPS & SMES: Revving The Economy To Action’; ‘Securing Our Shared Future; Cyber Security Challenges’ and ‘Contemporary Issues in Digital Economy’.

The conference ended with a Gala Night and was attended by Chartered Accountants from across Nigeria.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/technology-will-help-rebuild-trust-in.html

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has disowned audio recording of a conversation currently circulating in the social media in which the acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, purportedly made comments to the effect that, nothing will happen peradventure Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, dies in custody.

EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, explained that the audio tape did not disclose the place where the conversation occurred and the person that Magu was supposedly talking to.

He noted that “the audio recording is fake as the comments did not emanate from the Chairman of the EFCC.”

Uwujaren noted that the Commission “wishes to alert the general public about an audio recording of a conversation currently circulating in the social media in which the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, purportedly made comments to the effect that, nothing will happen peradventure Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, dies in custody.

“Interestingly, the audio tape did not disclose the place where the conversation occurred and the person that Magu was supposedly talking to.

“Members of the public are advised to disregard this disingenuous creation as it is the handiwork of mischief makers intent on distracting the Commission from the serious work of wrapping up the investigation into the corruption allegations against the former governor of Ekiti state.

“The audio recording is fake as the comments did not emanate from the Chairman of the EFCC.

Purveyors of this fake news especially a former spokesperson of a leading political party are warned to desist.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force called on the members of the public to ignore and disregard the video or any insinuation on the Facebook page from ‘The Due Process Advocate’ as ill-motive, mischievous, misinformation aimed at casting aspersions on the hard-earned integrity and credibility of Police Officers and Men.

Force PRO, Jimoh Moshood noted that “the attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to a post on a Facebook page of a group with insignia: The Due Process Advocate and a video peddling on Social Media by the convener of same group, one Emeka Ephraim Ugwuonye.

“The Nigeria Police Force sees the video and publication as a desperate and deliberate attempt to incite members of the Public against the Force.

“Consequently, the said Emeka Ephraim Ugwuonye is presently facing criminal prosecution and was arraigned at the Magistrate Court 3, Wuse Zone 6, AMAC, FCT, yesterday.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/fayose-efcc-disowns-magu-threat-tape-in.html

The Plateau State Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Governorship Candidate, Senator Jeremiah Useni, has nominated James Dalok PhD, as his running mate.

This was contained in a press release, issued by Senator Useni’s, Media aid, Hon. Atiku Yusuf Abubakar.

The State Chapter of the PDP, has zoned the deputy Governor’s seat to the Central Plateau and afterwards zoned it to Mangu Local Government Area, in a micro zoning arrangement.

The letter signed by PDP Secretary Emma Tuang read: “The State working committee of our great party the PDP, after due consultation in line with zoning principle for the 2019 general elections is hereby recommending the following personalities,” Hon. Benedict Shingnuhul, Dr. James Dalok, and Hon. Moses Tangson, “from Mangu LGA for your consideration of any of them to serve as your running mate in the 2019 general elections.”

The Senator said pursuant to the Party’s request, “and having perused the CV’s of all the three personalities, and carried out wider consultations, Dr. James Dalok, has picked as my running mate in the forthcoming 2019 Governorship elections.”

“Dr. Dalok, is an accountant professional, before his nomination to serve as running mate of Senator Useni, was the deputy director and head of revenue in the Industrial Training Funds (ITF),” the release said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/senator-useni-picks-dr-james-dalok-52.html

On October 12, 2018, the news came to us that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party has chosen Mr Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State as his running mate in the forthcoming presidential election.

After brief consultation the President of Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) was mandated by the leadership to issue a brief statement stating that ADF welcome the nomination of Obi and congratulating Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate.

We followed by sending text messages to our brothers who were said to be complaining about the procedure of te nomination to withdraw their opposition and support Mr Obi’s nomination.

Since then, we have received several questions, particularly from some of our members as well as the broad spectrum of Umuigbo world-wide, asking for clarification on the ADF action. Some of the questions being asked are:
Why Mr, Peter Obi?

Why Mr Atiku Abubakar?
What will be the impact of their Presidency on the Igbo predicament in the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

How does this action of ADF relate to the mission of ADF which Umuigbo has increasingly come to identify with globally?

It is for the sake of clarifying these crucial but very legitimate questions amongst other issues that the leadership of Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) is addressing this International Press Conference.

Why Peter Obi?
In our brief congratulatory message to Alhaji Atiku for choosing Mr Obi as his running mate, ADF stated:
“His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, is one of the most Authentic,Trusted and Capable Igbo leaders through whom the continued membership of Alaigbo in the Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can be negotiated”.

Please note that ADF did not say that Mr Obi is the only person in Alaigbo worthy of such a choice by Atiku. But what is the basis of the judgment by ADF? Here is our answer.

In 2016, when nobody was thinking of Election or Nomination for the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Alaigbo Development Foundation, ADF, in further pursuit of her Aku-Ruo Ulo (Invest-At-Home) Movement, decided to undertake an Industrial Tour of Alaigbo to see for ourselves the challenges facing Umuigbo in their desire to invest and develop Alaigbo. The tour took us to Nnewi and Onitsha industrial axis.

It was amazing the extensive industrial complex in Onitsha which many people do not know. This was largely, as we were informed, due to Mr. Obi’s Administration. At Nnewi, we visited the massive Innoson Motor Manufacturing Complex. Innoson told us that everyone should thank Mr Peter Obi for what we were seeing of his Industry. For a take-off, Gov. Obi gave him a contract to produce vehicles for schools and institutions in Anambra state and paid him N5 billion up front. And he delivered the vehicles before the deadline given to him. He received further similar encouragement from Mr Peter Obi.

We were also informed that one of our business gurus had his goods seized at the International Airport in Lagos. Mr. Obi flew to Abuja and got President Jonathan’s intervention and had the goods released. What about his care of the old veteran political leaders in Anambra State – the late Mathematician and political leader, Prof. Chike Obi? What about Chief Mbazulike Amaechi?

ADF still has the video of the Industrial Tour for anyone who cares to listen to it on our website. Given this character of the man, Mr Peter Obi, it is inconceivable if he would be in any regime that continues to hunt and willfully destroy Igbo businesses and Igbo businessmen.

Mr Obi is a pragmatic business man and we expect that he will be sensitive to the basic interests of the development of Alaigbo in the interim. Someone told us that the choice of Peter Obi is premised on his vast experiences in the areas of investment, economic and social development, an area Nigeria is scoring below par at the moment.
Why Atiku Abubakar – a Fulani and a Moslem?

Many of us knew Atiku Abubakar initially through his political patron, late Shehu Yar’Adua. That was at the 1994-5 National Constitutional Conference. Yar’Adua was a Fulani and a Moslem, he was a liberal MoslemFulani whose main allies were Southerners. His liberal outlook pitched him against the late Sani Abacha as well as the most conservative elements among the forces of hegemony. We remember the long reign of Military autocracy that culminated in the fascist regime of General Sani Abacha.

We remember the great achievements of that Conference. General Shehu Yar’Adua was at the head of the Liberal North and worked with the liberal forces in the South to initiate most of the democratic provisions meant to promote equity, justice and democratic governance in the Federation. One remembers the six geo-political zones, power-sharing and rotation of the Presidency, federal character principle and commission, new revenue allocation formula, etc, etc.

Thus, from the ideological and political point of view, we have a basis for choosing between these two Moslem-Fulani candidates – Buahari and Atiku.

What will be the impact of their Presidency on the Igbo predicament in the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

The fact is that there are great obstacles on the way to our freedom which we must struggle to eliminate. Issues of development of Alaigbo, homeland security and protection of our people from the menace and killings of suspected herdsmen, dismantling of the military siege of Alaigbo, near comprehensive elimination of our people from the federal bureaucracy, total decay of our infrastructure, hounding of our businessmen, harassment and torture of our youth, We must continue to fight against these critical obstacles to our survival as a people.

The mission of ADF is the Rebuilding and Development of Igbo Nation and the Rebirth and Advancement of the Spirit of her Culture and Civilization. Put differently,ADF works for the
Restoration of the philosophical and social values of the Igbo Society; Re-energizing and Refocusing of basic Igbo communal spirit (Umunna), together with the spirit of enterprise and individual drive (Ikenga), anchored on the fundamental moral and spiritual ethos (Ofo-na-ogu). Ndigbo have been recognized world-wide for these philosophical and social values from time immemorial.

On the question of whether the Atiku/Obi ticket can win the 2019 Federal election. We in ADF dare say that Buhari can win only if the election is rigged. The election can only be rigged if the Security forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, DSS, EFCC, para-military agencies) and INEC are used to rig the election. In addition, they will succeed if the courts are used to provide legal legitimacy to the result of such rigging.

​Yes, all these are possible. But ADF believes that there are well-meaning personnel of these agencies whose conscience will resist any such plot.

Finally, ADF would like to state quite categorically that we do not condemn anyone who honestly seeks the path of collective solidarity and collective support of Ndigbo for the nomination of Mr. Peter Obi as the Vice Presidential Candidate of the PDP, and to ensure the victory of their ticket. The trouble is only with those who,for one selfish reason or the other, seek to undermine the nomination and the victory of the ticket. There is no doubt that right now, as someone has stated, that over 95 per cent of Ndigbo endorse the choice. Ndigbo must now stand as one man to ensure the victory of the Atiku/Obi ticket.
The APGA Primary in Imo State.

There is no way we can end this International Press Conference without a word on the political developments within the APGA family in Imo State. In short, ADF condemns the inability of the leadership of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to conduct a transparent Party Primary to choose their candidates for the 2019 election in Imo State.

ADF is not concerned about who was chosen but about the fact that there was obvious lack of transparency and decency in the exercise. Our worry stems from the fact that Umuigbo were beginning to look in the direction of APGA for the evolution of a political party that can effectively champion their Regional interest.

The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) hereby wishes to appeal to the political class in Alaigbo not to allow their political interests and ambitions to override the fundamental interests of Ndigbo.

– Nwala and Aniekwu are​​​ ADFPresident​ and Secretary

Abba Mahmood returns next week

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/peter-obis-nomination-as-pdps-vp.html

The federal government has extended the ongoing verification exercise of Nigeria Airways Limited former workers and assured that the exercise will not end until everybody is captured.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, stated this on Wednesday during her visit for on the spot assessment of the exercise across the three centres. She said additional desk has been made available to address all complaints. The centres are located in Kano, Enugu and Lagos.

The Minister, who was represented by the secretary, Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), Dr Mohammed Dikwa, appealed to all participants to be patient with the officials until they are all attended to.

According to Dr Dikwa, over 6000 former staff of the liquidated Nigeria Airways Limited spread across the three centres will be attended to during the period of the exercise. He added that 40% will be attended to in Kano centre while 50% and 10% will be attended to in Lagos and Enugu centres respectively.

“We are here on behalf of the honourable minister of finance, Hajia Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, based on the directive of His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, to release the entitlements of ex-workers of Nigeria Airways Limited (liquidation). I convey first and foremost the greetings of the honourable minister to you.”

He said, “We are very much aware at the federal level of the suffering you people have undergone over the years. It is as a result of this the Mr President forced the Honourable Minister to immediately release funds for the ex-workers of the Nigerians Airways Limited.

“Now the funds are ready, what is left for us to do here is to conduct that verification exercise, which started on Monday. Let me inform you that the verification exercise will continue until such a time that each and everyone that is entitled is captured. I want you to be patient and orderly so that you get verified and get your entitlements latest by next week.

“Also for many of you who were omitted, we will address it squarely and make sure that all those who are entitled and admitted are verified and paid their entitlements. On this note we are going to dedicate additional desk for you to go and lay your complains, put down your details and as soon as the team report back to Abuja next week we will address the matter with dispatch.

“And for those who are deceased and are also omitted be assured that your entitlements will be paid. We are going to look into the records and be sure that you are entitled and once that is ascertained, you will be paid.”

Others with Dr Dikwa, who also was the leader of the delegation to the three centres where the exercise is taking simultaneously include, the special advisers on media and communications to the honourable minister of finance, Mr Paul Ella Abechi, special adviser on ICT to the honourable minister of finance, Mr Abubakar Aruwa and others.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/fg-extends-verification-exercise-of-nal.html

A State High Court in Gusau, Zamfara State, has ordered the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stay further action on the contentious subject of party primaries in the state. An aggrieved member of the APC, Sanusi Dan Alhaji, an aspirant for the Gusau State Assembly constituency, had yesterday approached the Zamfara State High Court seeking an injunction compelling the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to recognise the primary elections held in the state. LEADERSHIP recalls that INEC had declared that the APC does not have any candidates in the forthcoming 2019 general elections as it failed to hold primaries within the stipulated time. The party had replied the electoral body, insisting that it would be fielding candidates for all elective positions, but the electors had made another statement standing its ground.

In the suit by Dan Alhaji, he asked the court to compel the NWC of the party to accept the primaries held on October 3 and October 7, 2018 for onward submission to INEC. He also sought the relief of court to compel INEC to accept the same primaries as submitted to it by the NWC. At the sitting, the presiding judge, Justice Mukhtar Yushau, after a careful scrutiny of the motion on notice, issued an interim order asking all parties in the matter to maintain status quo pending the determination of the main suit. “The court is hereby directing all parties involved in the matter to maintain status quo and desist from taking any action “, he added. Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister Sani Katu had also asked the court to stop the National Working Committee from taking any action contrary to the primary elections already conducted in the state.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/zamfara-primaries-court-orders-apc-inec.html

The lawmaker representing Kaduna Central at the Senate, Shehu Sani, has backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the African Free Trade Agreement, AfCTA.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had on Saturday lambasted President Buhari, saying his hands were too weak to sign the free trade agreement

Obasanjo added that he hopes that Nigeria will soon have a president who will sign the agreement.

But Sani explained that the idea would have made more sense if African countries were producing what they consume and not importing from Asia, Europe and America.

The lawmaker tweeted on Sunday night, “The African continental free trade is a great idea if African states are locally producing and not importing goods from US, Europe and Asia.

“The President is right for refusing to sign a trade deal that will only open our country to imports.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/afcta-senator-sani-speaks-on-buharis.html

Femi Falana SAN, a human rights lawyer, has called for the withdrawal of the travel ban placed on 50 high-profile Nigerians by the President Muhammadu Buhari government.

Falana, in a statement on Sunday, described the directive, which is backed by an executive order signed by the president, as an “ingenious design to expose the Buhari administration to ridicule”.

He said the executive arm of government is not empowered under the law to restrict the movement of criminal suspects, adding that only the anti-corruption agencies and courts have the right to restrict movement of individuals under investigation.

Falana said, “Sadly, the travel ban is a sad reminder of the reckless placement of political opponents on security watch list and seizure of their passports by the defunct military junta.

“Notwithstanding such judicial indictment of politically exposed persons seeking medical treatment during trial the law has not authorised the Executive to restrict the movement of criminal suspects.

“The power of the anti graft agencies and the courts to place criminal suspects on watch list or subject their passports to temporary seizure has never been in doubt.

“To that extent, the directive to place the 50 high profile suspected persons on watch list and restrict their movement is highly superfluous, completely unwarranted and totally uncalled for.

“In fact, it is an ingenious design to expose the Buhari administration to ridicule.

“If the federal government had done some background check it would have discovered that the names of the 50 VIPs have long been placed on security watch list while their passports have been impounded by the anti graft agencies or the courts as one of the conditions for admitting them to bail.

“For the umpteenth time, I am compelled to caution the Buhari administration to wage the war against the menace of corruption within the ambit of the rule of law.

“Since the 50 high profile criminal suspects covered by EO6 have been placed on watch list while their passports have been seized by either the anti graft agencies or the courts the travel ban slammed on them by President Buhari ought to be withdrawn without any delay.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/why-buhari-should-withdraw-travel-ban.html

A South-South delegate to 2014 National Conference, Col. Tony Nyam (rtd), has revealed the only way Buhari can beat his main opponent, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 presidential race.

Nyam said that the emergence of the former Vice President as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP portends a good sign for Nigeria.

He pointed out that since Atiku had drawn the attention of Nigerians with the promise to restructure the country, it would be wise if Buhari commences the process now to make the former VP’s campaign slogan irrelevant.

Speaking with New Telegraph, Nyam also appeal to Buhari to see the need to join the agitation for restructuring.

According to him, “I think the emergence of Atiku Abubakar portends good for Nigeria. I must command the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for conducting a good primary election.

“It was a classical outing for the party, because to a large extent, the primary was free, fair and transparent. But having chosen a candidate (Atiku) who has been clear about his support for restructuring, the party owes Nigerians a duty to see that the vision is realised when they reclaim power.

“Without action, Atiku has endeared himself to those of us who are agitating for restructuring. This is largely responsible for the support he had gathered so far across the various regions.

“I think that President Muhammadu Buhari should join the campaign for the restructuring of Nigeria.

“He should join the leaders of the various socio-cultural organisations, civil society organisations and pressure groups, that have been championing the agitation for several years now.

“Restructuring is inevitable and I am using this opportunity of Atiku’s emergence to ask Buhari to join the crusade. As a non- partisan politician, I want to appeal to Buhari to see the need to join the agitation for restructuring.

“It can never be late. In fact, if I were one of his advisers, I would have made him see the essence. He can even kick start the process right away. He can do a turn around and kick start the process in the remaining part of his tenure.

“If he could listen to the cries of Nigerians on the need to secure the release of Leah Sharibu and he put a call across to the girl’s mother, he should be able to respond positively to the cries for restructuring.

“We are all praying that the little girl should be released from Boko Haram’s captivity. As a non- partisan politician, I want to appeal to Buhari, to see the need to join the agitation for restructuring.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-presidency-what-buhari-must-do-to.html

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Saturday declared that he will not be distracted by the “torrent of lies” perpetrated by the All Progressives Congress, APC, against his government.

Ortom made the remark in reaction to report by the state chapter of APC that his administration was seeking approval from the State House of Assembly to enable it access a N10 billion loan facility.

The governor, through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase said such claim was “another desperate lie” by the APC in the state, who were determined to drag his name.

Ortom insisted that he has not made such move and will not.

According to Ortom, APC lacked understanding lacks understanding of a governing party, adding that the party had taken up the role of opposition.

A statement by Akase reads: “We urge the people of Benue State and other Nigerians to disregard the report being circulated by the state chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC that the Benue State Government is seeking approval from the House of Assembly to enable it access a N10 billion loan.

“The State Government has not made such a move and it does not intend to take a N10 billion loan, contrary to the report.

“This particular lie smacks of frustration and fury within the APC camp to drag the name and office of Governor Samuel Ortom to disrepute, having failed in all their previous attemps to remove the Governor through illegality and impunity.

“For a party which still controls power at the centre, the APC appears not to understand the job of a governing party and has assumed the role of opposition.

“The party’s latest false claim that the State Government plans to obtain the alleged loan is the height of desperation by a political party bent on misleading the public.

“We reassure the good people of Benue State that the government has met all requirements set by Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the recently recalled Paris Club refund will soon be returned to the state for payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.

“Governor Ortom remains focused on the task of delivering good governance to Benue people and will not be distracted by the torrent of lies and organised smear campaign against him by enemies of the state.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/alleged-n10bn-loan-apc-lacks.html

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bode George, has spoken on the possibility of President Muhammadu Buhari refusing to concede defeat and handover if he loses the 2019 presidential election.

There have been talks that the President may refuse to step aside if he eventual loses out, but George, former National Vice Chairman of the PDP (Southeast) believes Buhari may not want to burn his country by sitting tight.

George, who fielded questions from the Daily Sun, said what happened in recent elections in Ekiti and Osun States will not be allowed to repeat in 2019.

Asked if Buhari will hand over to the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, if he is defeated, George said, “He will. I believe that coming from our profession, that noble profession, where Justice, fairness, discipline are the key words that we are trained with, he will concede defeat.

“If a civilian can graciously hand over, why would you, a man who went through a disciplined professional career refuse to concede defeat? Why? Why would he want to burn his country? The will of the people must be respected.

“I saw what happened in Ekiti. That of Osun was absolutely shambolic, disgraceful. The rest of the world sounded a warning that, that was the worst thing they have ever heard or seen in Africa.

“Is that the kind of picture we are painting for the rest of the world? What will happen to investors who want to come here?

“We are 58 years old now. Are we still thinking back to 1963? No, please.

“I have spoken copiously about the attitude of the INEC people. Let them not burn this country.

“The pages of history will be replete with their inadequacies for generations of their own people to read about them.

“The professor who is there had worked with us before when we were at the National Conference.

“Let him not allow his name to be dragged into the mud. What is just is just. What is bad is bad.

“As a young man, let him stand up and defend what is right, so that the younger generation will remember him as a young man who stood with the truth.

“That is the only thing for him to do. He was honoured to be put there. He is not serving an individual. He is serving a system, a nation.

“A lot of people including me were not happy when we found a returning officer who couldn’t read 1, 2, and 3.

“A whole professor who is supposed to impart knowledge on our children was talking from both sides of the mouth. It was disgraceful. I have never seen anything like that in my life.

“That must repeat itself in 2019. That is the golden year when this nation will turn around for better.

“We are watching and I believe Nigerians understand what is going on.

“The message I will pass to Nigerians is let those in charge of the elections exhibit first class managerial skill, so that people will look at us and decide which party will manage the resources of our country best for their betterment.

“We saw it in Port Harcourt, as the people quietly moved to make a record, like a chainsaw they were moving; everybody peacefully casting their votes.

“At the end we should give kudos to Governor Okowa and his team in Convention Planning Committee.

“We must also give kudos to the management of the party. The fear before we went to Port Harcourt was that it won’t be fair and free, they gave us guarantees that it would be free and fair.

“Now, we have shown to the world that we can be better managers. We did indirect primaries.

“Those who claimed that they did direct primaries; I can see as a general and a strategist where they are going.

“They are pumping figures – 1.9m, 2.5m, when the population in that area is not up to that. They are preparing to announce wrong results.

“We will not accept it. We know the population. The offices of statistics, the National Population Commission know the population.

“What they are pumping now is greater than the total number of registered voters in the country. Very bad.

“They want to create figures where there is none and justify it. The total number of registered voters in Lagos is 9.9m.

“But when they were returning they overshot it, even as a party. In this 21st century? Don’t attempt it.

“We cannot afford to go back to the crises of 1963 in the western region. It started here and eventually the whole nation was engulfed in a civil war.

“Please, Oshiomhole should guard his mouth. He keeps saying provocative things suggestive of the fact that if we announce it heavens will not fall.

“At that time Edo state was part of Western region. I don’t know how old he was during the crises in 1963. Let him be very careful. This is not Labour union thing.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/2019-presidency-bode-george-speaks-on.html