₦airaland Forum

Nollywood has been hit with a sad news as it has been confirmed that producer, Chukwudi Bambino Anachina, is died.

Reports confirm that Anachina died today June 16th after a long battle with an undisclosed illness.

A member of the Board of Trustees of Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP), Chris Ekejimbe, confirmed the news via a WhatsApp group on Saturday afternoon saying he just spoke with the deceased’s wife who confirmed the news.

“Just spoke with his wife. He is dead,” Ekejimbe said

Also movie producer, Fidelis Duker confirmed Ananchina’s death on his Facebook page. See what he wrote below

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/see-tears-nollywood-producer-bambino-is.html

Governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’aziz Yari, said he had no control over security machinery in the state, causing him to drop his responsibility as Chief Security Officer of the state .

The Governor, Speaking to newsmen in Talata-Mafara on Friday, Yari said that his decision stemmed from the seeming helplessness of the state government and the people over recurring killings in the state.

He deplored the prevailing situation where as the chief security officer of the state, he could not take decisions on strategies for protecting the state and its people, and had it implemented.

“We have been facing serious security challenges over the years, but in spite of being governor and Chief Security Officer of the state, I cannot direct security officers on what to do nor sanction them when they err.

“As Chief Security Officer, the nomenclature in just a name,” he said. The governor lamented that it was disheartening that killings in the state had continued in spite of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to security agencies to end the incessant blood-letting across the country.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/killings-i-am-powerless-as-chief.html

Nigerian singer, Chuddy K and his wife have welcomed a set of twins. He shared a picture of him carrying the babies and wrote:

”Overwhelming with joy..if any one told me I was gn be baba beji I would have said its a lie…my angels are here”

In recent interview with The Sun, Chuddy K spoke on what he’s been working on that has kept him away from the scene lately. He said, “I have been working on stuff, like trying to set up a record label and trying to bring out new songs. I released a song, Ekelebe in February 2017 and I am having a reality show coming up soon. I am going back to the slums where I started and I’ll be reaching out to up and coming acts. My fans should watch out, I would be back with a bang!”

Concerning critics who feel he is just a one-hit wonder, he said, “You have to believe in yourself before doing something, so I believe in what I have; the passion took me where I wanted to be and the passion is still there. I have lots of songs which have not gone on air, so they should watch out for Chuddy K in 2018 and beyond.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/nigerian-singer-chuddy-k-welcomes-set.html

Olusegun Mimiko, former governor of Ondo State has collected the membership card of the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo state.

Mimiko defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday.

However, his move to return to LP was earlier opposed by Mike Omotosho, national chairman of the party.

Omotosho said the party was not interested in having Mimiko, accusing him of betrayal and leaving the party at a time of distress.

“We urge politicians like the former governor of Ondo state to stay clear of the new Labour Party because we are aware of their gimmicks to lure the Labour Party in the direction of other political parties with the hope of rehabilitating their dwindling political relevance,” he had said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/mimiko-picks-labour-party-membership.html

Ice melt has caused sea levels to rise by eight mm since 1992, according to leading scientists on Thursday.

Australian scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) teamed up with international researchers to study the Antarctic and concluded that the eight-mm rise in sea levels corresponded to approximately three trillion tonnes of ice melt.

Their research was published in the scientific journal Nature on Thursday.

Using 24 different satellite-based estimates, the group demonstrated a tripling of ice-loss in western Antarctica between 1992 and 2017.

Lead author and senior scientist, CSIRO Oceanographer Steve Rintoul, expressed concerns over the Antarctic ice sheet, commenting that “the largest mass loss is observed where relatively warm ocean waters are melting floating ice shelves from below.”

“As the ice shelves thin and weaken, they provide less resistance to ice flow from the continent to the sea,” Rintoul said.

“A critical question for the future is how ocean-driven melting of Antarctic ice shelves will change as the earth warms.”

“Continued high greenhouse gas emissions risk committing us to changes in Antarctica that will have long-term and far-reaching consequences for Earth and humanity.”

The study is part of a special collection of articles on Antarctica that includes Australian research on the role of the Southern Ocean in sea-level rise.

It explores how Antarctica and the Southern Ocean will change over the next 50 years, and how those changes will impact the rest of the globe.

Two scenarios are considered: one in which greenhouse gas emissions remain unchecked, and one in which strong action is taken to limit emissions and to manage increased human use of Antarctica.

If the high emissions continue, major ice shelves will collapse by 2070, according to the report, which also suggests sea level rise would accelerate to rates not seen in 20,000 years.

Furthermore, ocean acidification and over-fishing will alter Southern Ocean ecosystems, and a failure to manage increased human pressures will degrade the Antarctic environment, the report indicates.

Duanne White, associate professor at the University of Canberra, commended the paper as “a thorough assessment of the current state of knowledge of Antarctic ice loss.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/global-warming-scientists-reveal-what.html

Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola has taken a swipe at former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in respect to treatment of masses in Nigeria.

Aregbesola in a series of tweets described Jonathan’s administration as one known for exploiting the masses while enriching selected few.

On the other hand, the All Progressives Congress, APC, governor described Buhari’s administration as one which improved the lives of the masses with little available resources.

“Jonathanomics is what I describe as an effort to enrich some selected pockets at the detriment of the masses while Buharinomics is the effort of a government to use little available resources to better the lives of the masses,” Aregbesola tweeted.

Aregbodola added that his political interest in the state was to promote equality in human lives in his state through education among others.

“My political interest is to reduce the inequality in the way of human life. This has been my vision since my political consciousness from age 9 in Primary 3,” he added.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/jonathan-govt-exploited-masses.html

President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, in Abuja conferred National Honours on three distinguished Nigerians who contributed immensely to the enthronement of democratic governance in the country.

MKO Abiola was awarded GCFR, the higest title in the land, while Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe and Chief Gani Fawehinmi were awarded GCON.

However, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, IBB, did not attend the event.

Full text of Buhari’s speech below:

“Today, I am very happy to be present and to preside over the Commemoration and Investiture, marking the formal official Federal Government recognition of June 12 as National Democracy Day.

The decision and this event is not meant to be and is not an attempt to open old wounds but to put right a national wrong. Nigerians of their own free will voted for Late Chief MKO Abiola and Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe, the Presidential flag bearer and running mate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 1993 elections. The Government of the day inexplicably cancelled the elections when it was clear who were going to be the winners.

We cannot rewind the past but we can at least assuage our feelings; recognize that a wrong has been committed and resolve to stand firm now and in the future for the sanctity of free elections. Nigerians would no longer tolerate such perversion of justice.
This retrospective and posthumous recognition is only a symbolic token of redress and recompense for the grievous injury done to the peace and unity of our country.

Our decision to recognize and honour June 12 and its actors is in the national interest. It is aimed at setting national healing process and reconciliation of the 25 year festering wound caused by the annulment of the June 12th elections. I earnestly invite all Nigerians across all our national divide to accept it in good faith.

Our action today is to bury the negative side of June 12, the side of ill-feelings, hate, frustrations and agony. What we are doing is celebrating and appreciating the positive side of June 12. The June 12, which restate democracy and freedom. The June 12 that overcome our various divide and the June 12 that produced unity and National cohesion. This is the June 12 we are celebrating today and we will nurture it to our next generation.

Accordingly, on behalf of the Federal Government, I tender the nation’s apology to the family of Late MKO Abiola, who got the highest votes and to those that lost their loved ones in the cause of June 12 struggle.

At this juncture, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like everybody present to stand and observe a minute silence in honour of the memory of Chief MKO Abiola and Chief Fawehinmi and indeed all those who lost their lives in the struggle of June 12 1993.

Thank you all and God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/june-12-full-text-of-buharis-speech-at.html

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, on Tuesday disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari has given approval for some other Nigerians to be conferred with national honours for their contributions to democracy.

Mustapha spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, venue of the post-humous investiture of Chief Moshood Abiola as Grand Commander of the Federal Republic; his running mate, Babagana Kingibe as Grand Commander of the Order of Niger and late human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi, also as GCON.

Recall that the President had, in the statement he personally signed on June 6, 2018, asserted that June 12, 1993, the date of a presidential election considered to be the fairest in Nigeria’s history, “was far more symbolic of democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29 or even October 1”.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mustapha, however, did not disclose the identities of the fresh awardees.
“Further announcement on this will be made shortly,” Mustapha said in his welcome address at the ceremony attended by dignitaries across the country.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/mko-abiola-buhari-approves-national.html

Some Christian leaders held a thanksgiving for Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the presidential villa in Abuja on Monday.

Last week, a chopper conveying Osibanjo to Aso Rock the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja, where he attended the graduation ceremony of Senior Division Course 1/2018 participants, was forced to land few seconds after take-off.

Laolu Akande, spokesman of the vice-president, commented about the incident on Twitter.

“VP Osinbajo attended the graduation ceremony of Nigeria Customs Senior Course in Gwagwalada today (Thursday),” he wrote.

“On his way back, it was decided, for technical reasons, not to fly the chopper that had brought him to the venue. He drove back to the Presidential Villa and continued his schedule.”

On Monday, Seyi Malomo, chaplain of Aso Villa hosted senior pastors of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, leaders from the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) and Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria(PFN).

They offered praises and thanksgiving to God for sparing the life of the vice-president.

Malomo service said there was every reason to thank God for sparing Osinbajo’s life.

“Last week we received the news with shock that the vice-president’s helicopter engine failed,” he said.

“We thank God that preserved him. The preservation of the leaders is the preservation of the nation and as a result we want to thank God, so this programme was organised to thank God for his watchful eyes over our leaders, over our nation and more particularly over the deliverance for the vice- president.

“We will be spending 120 hours praising God, teaching about thanksgiving, praying to God to bless Nigeria more, establish peace in Nigeria more, preserve our nation more, give us the victory that is needed.

“As we all know we are a nation that deeply loves God and a love for God that is also born out of deep appreciation because we know that God loves us too and his love for us manifest in his good works towards us.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/thanksgiving-at-aso-rock-over-osinbajos.html

Egyptian king Mohamed Salah arrived Russia today.Reports say that he is almost fit for World Cup

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/see-moment-mohammed-salah-arrived.html

The candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in the June 12, 1993 election, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, has objected to President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to declare the day as Nigeria’s new Democracy Day.

He asked Buhari to reconsider the decision and claimed that conferment of national honour on anyone, should be beyond some cold political calculations.

Tofa, who finished second behind Abiola, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the election, said in a a statement that although he had been inundated with calls on why he was not listed for honour, it was not the most important thing to him.

“Following the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to honour my late friend, Alhaji Mashood K. Abiola (may Allah grant him peace) and officially recognise him as the winner of the inconclusive 12th June 1993 presidential election in which I was a candidate, I have been inundated by calls from friends, well-wishers, former political associates and journalists.

“While some worry about the brazen one-sidedness of this curious presidential action, especially given the list of invitees to Tuesday’s event at the Villa supposedly to mark ‘Democracy Day’, there are also those who canvass that I be so honoured with a similar award of GCFR, if the motive indeed was noble and meant to serve the end of justice.

“As much as I appreciate the goodwill, in this circumstance, however, I have to say that I would not accept it as it is, even if given.

“While I do not begrudge the President his power to bestow favour on whomsoever he pleases, it is also important, especially for history, for all actions from the highest authority in the country to be based on fair play and law.

“Needless to say, being one of the two presidential candidates in that election does not in any way define me or my achievements in life; it was not even the most important one.”

“However, as I have reiterated many times in the past, I am grateful to the numerous Nigerians from across the length and breadth of the country who made enormous sacrifices in the National Republican Convention (NRC) as well as the millions of our citizens who voted for both the late Abiola and myself in that historic election.

“Much more importantly, I am most grateful to Almighty God for the several honours He has bestowed on me; all of which have enriched my life.

“As for my friend, M. K. O. Abiola, what he needs most is our sincere prayers for Allah’s mercy and the gift of Paradise for him. While some of us cherish his memory as a departed friend and compatriot, there are many who will continue to exploit it and to glory in it for their own benefits.

“For those who may have forgotten or never knew, the late Abiola was a close personal friend of mine, a relationship dating back to the Second Republic when I was the National Financial Secretary of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and he was the Ogun State Chairman of the party. So, I do not in any way begrudge him the post-humous honour, even when I insist that the right thing must be done at all times.

“Meanwhile, whatever may be the prevailing sentiment and politics in Abuja, the idea that June 12 should be the new Democracy Day is also a matter that deserves serious reconsideration. Such decisions should be beyond some political cold calculations.

“Finally, like all, I am also travelling on the path prepared for me by God Almighty. He controls my destiny and I pray He will continue to favour and to guide me. All power belongs to Him alone. He gives it to whom He pleases and He has power over all things, including every ambition,” Tofa said in a statement.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/mko-abiolas-rival-tofa-criticises.html

• Buhari’s Govt Not Spending Money In Niger Delta —Clark
• $10b Investment Initiative, A Deceitful Scheme Like Others — Okoko
• Ministry Keeps Mum Over Fund

Close to two years after the Federal Government launched the $10b Infrastructure Fund to stimulate development in the Niger Delta, there is no trace of the fund anywhere.In October 2016, the Federal Government launched the $10b Infrastructure Fund to end insurgency and introduce sustainable development in the region.

Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu alongside President Muhammadu Buhari, who also is the Petroleum Minister during a ceremony to announce the plan, promised that the fund would not be tied to budgeting, and that government was introducing a joint account with oil companies to ensure inflows were clearly understood by all.The fund, which may have originated from the 2012 “Niger Delta Action Plan,” was expected to come from different players to complement other sources of funds going into the oil-rich area.

Findings by The Guardian revealed no trace of such Fund, and efforts to get the ministry to shed light on it proved abortive.When Kachikwu was contacted through his media team, headed by Idang Alibi and Uche Adighibe, via telephone calls on Thursday June 7th (at 3:19 pm) there was no response. By 4:08 same day, an email on the issue was sent to idangalibi@yahoo.com, and emmanuel.kachikwu@petroleumresources, and uche.adighibe@nnpcgroup.com, as well as ucheadighibe@yahoo.com were copied, but no reply was received as at the time of filing this report

On Friday, The Guardian followed up with a phone call to Alibi, who confirmed the email, but insisted that he could not view it due to network challenges. He therefore requested for a text message on the issue at stake. That was done at 3:40 pm on Friday June 8, but Alibi was yet to respond to the text message as at press time.However, Founder and Principal Partner, Nextier, Patrick Okigbo III, whose firm participated in planning the fund is unsure if any significant progress has been made to even raise the fund.

According to him, the fund might have suffered from the general economic downturn conditioned by the economic recession.“My firm, Nextier, was part of the team that designed this fund. Some efforts were made in 2013 and 2014 to advance this idea. The current administration found value in the design and indicated its interest to implement the recommendations. To the best of my knowledge, I am not aware that significant progress has been made to raise the fund. I will not be surprised if the fund suffered from the general economic downturn conditioned by the economic recession,” he said.Okigbo, who said significant amount of funds have gone into the region, stressed that the lack of transparency and accountability in the processes remained the primary barrier to the efforts.

He added that there were indications that the current administration is committed to addressing problems in region, especially responding to PANDEF’s 16-point demand of (PANDEF). “My firm is aware of efforts on at least three of these demands: modular refineries, community participation in the surveillance contracts for pipelines and other industry assets, reduction or elimination of gas-flares,” Okigbo said.

But for ‎President, ‎Coalition of South South Chambers of Commerce (FOSSCCIMA), Billy Gillis-Harry, the pronouncements were mere propaganda, reason why they have not translated into concrete development of the region.Gillis-Harry, who lamented the absence of “clear- cut developments in the region to show,” stressed that the government would need to outline what have been achieved through series of funds it claimed have been invested in the region.

According to the President, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Eric Omare, “I have not seen any action towards implementing that policy framework for the development of the Niger Delta. In my view, the idea started and ended with the public presentation.” He added that unless there is restructuring of the current political structure, whereby power is concentrated in the regions to allow the people participate in decision making over their resources, addressing developmental challenges in the area may remain elusive.

Delta State Women Leader, Host Communities of Nigeria (Producing Oil and Gas) Delta State Chapter, Omude Ochonogor-Ochibe, faulted government’s figures on investment in the region, adding that the investments were mere propaganda.Expressing displeasure over the deplorable state of infrastructure in the region, Ochonogor-Ochibe disclosed that the Federal Government has been frustrating project implementation in the region by not releasing funds meant for the projects.

Past President, Nigeria Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), who is also the Managing Director, Degeconek Nig. Ltd, Abiodun Adesanya, said there must be accountability for funds that the government has expended in the region.

To him, the people in the region, the National Assembly and other anti-graft agencies must demand accountability on the use of fund from the region.Already, Niger Delta leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, has accused the Buhari-led government of using proceeds from resources found in the region to develop other parts of the country, while depriving the area of developmental projects.

Currently, the impression held by the region is that the proposed $10b investment initiative, which was also aimed at shifting developmental emphasis from public sector-led mechanism to private sector, was just a hoax geared at boosting crude oil production, following vicious attacks on oil facilities by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).A chieftain of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Anabs Sara-Igbe, told The Guardian that the people were running out of patience over government’s inability to implement the strategic development agenda it conceived for the region.

He expressed displeasure that the strategic work implementation plan that covers the entire area, which the government recently came up with, after due analysis by PANDEF, only addressed three out of the 16-point agenda presented to the president by elders.According to him, PANDEF’s disenchantment was made known to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, when they met with him afterwards.“Anything you do in deceit can only last for a while. There is a lot of politicking involved in this… and our sons who are in government are also not sincere with us. If our sons who are ministers were sincere, they would have been the ones to drive the process, but they are not sincere; they are all selfish. We are patient, and we will still be talking, with the hope that the government would be sincere with us. We are aware that the country is just coming out of recession. So, we will continue to dialogue and be patient, but there is a limit to patience,” he said.

On his part, former President, Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Kimse Okoko, described the $10b initiative as a scheme designed to deceive the people of the Niger Delta just like other similar false promises made in the past.“That is what I have been complaining about some of the so-called elders in the Niger Delta, who go to have these barren talks and thereafter think that they have got something from the government, only for them to find out that the government is incapable of keeping its words,” he said.

Okoko, who is also a former President of Conference of Ethnic Nationalities of Niger Delta (CENND), added that the Federal Government only “announced the programme to stem unrest in the region; they wanted the oil; they wanted to get oil production back to a certain level; they were playing with the people of the Niger Delta. For me, the only battle I will continue to fight in Nigeria is for the restructuring of the country. That is the only thing I am interested in; nothing else,” he said. For former President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ledum Mitee, the reason why the Federal Government continually treats the region with contempt is because it does not seem to matter much in their political calculation.

“That is exactly what it has always been because once the people start any agitation, militancy and all that, the government will swiftly make one promise hoping that that will quell the agitation. As soon as it achieves a measure of peace, then it would abandon whatever it said and wait for another unrest. What this does is that it makes people to believe that the only time they get attention is only when they resort to some form of violence. And the shame is that, increasingly the next generation of agitators are going to be far more vicious than the present ones and so we are only postponing the doomsday,” he warned.

Clark whose speech was read by the former Minister of Police Affairs, Chief Broderick Bozimo, at an emergency meeting to address the alleged deprivation, at Kiagbodo, Delta State, said the federal government had not only turned deaf ears to the 16-point demands made by PANDEF, but also failed to spend on roads, railway, power, agriculture, water resources and solid minerals infrastructures in the region.

Said he: “Let me note that the total federal budget in the last three years has been as follows: 2016 – N6.07t; 2017 – N7.44t, and now N9.1t has been appropriated for 2018. Similarly, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo announced few days ago in Abuja that the Federal Government has so far invested N510b on infrastructural development in the last three years. Let me also recall a recent statement by the Minister of Finance that the 2017 budget has been over-spent by a large sum of N1.6t.

“Can the Federal Government in truth and good conscience tell us how much of this mammoth sum came to fund projects in the Niger Delta? Is this fair, just and equitable? Is this how people, who contribute so much to sustain national economy should be treated?“We are not second class citizens in this country, and so we demand to be treated with respect and dignity. Our young people and communities must not always be provoked to adopting unorthodox means to pursue their legitimate and unalienable rights as Nigerians and particularly as communities from where the wealth of the country is coming,” the elder statesman stated.

He said it was through the efforts of PANDEF that the nation climbed out of recession through a stable oil and gas production regime from, an abysmal 800, 000 barrels per day (at the peak of hostilities in the region), to an appreciable 2.35 million bpd, massive increases in gas production, all of which significantly contributed to a robust revenue earning capacity for the country.Clark said that the Federal Government’s causal and lethargic approach, which some perceive as lack of commitment and seriousness was responsible for the non-resolution of the current Niger Delta crisis, noting that youths and other critical stakeholders in the region have had their patience stretched to elastic limits.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/niger-delta-10b-infrastructure-fund-no.html

Two middle aged men were arrested after they were caught allegedly stealing a goat in Gombe state.

According to reports, the thieves stole the goat, put it in their car booth and were about to make away before they were caught. The local task force in the area – nabbed them after an alarm was raised.

The men were seriously flogged and publicly humiliated before they were taken into custody.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/photos-two-men-flogged-in-public-after.html

A group under the auspices of Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders have passed a “vote of no confidence” on the embattled Commander of the Military Joint Task Force, JTF, code named “Operation Delta Safe”, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi.

They took this stand during a quarterly meeting held in Warri, Delta State,

In a communique signed by twenty members led by Barr. Oweilaemi Pereotunor, they called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, as well as the International Community to probe the activities of the JTF and its Commander.

The group also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to review the current structure of the JTF Operations in the region with a view to strengthening it to serve its original purpose.

“The JTF have compromised its mandate of protecting oil installations, discourage bunkering and militancy which has brought untold hardship and its attendant environmental degradation in the regions.

“Presently, we have some identified spots where these illegal activities are taking place. In Rivers State Tue coastal fringes at Bonny and Bille are being identified as bunkering hot spots

“Also, Nembe in Bayelsa State and other coastal communities across the region are being flooded with the bunkering activities promoted by JTF in collaboration with foreigners thereby allowing the Nation’s coast to lie porous to potential invaders to execute their illegal activities, yet security agencies keep aloof to this day time robbery.

“Consequently on the above observations, the Council after a stormy session hereby pass a vote of no confidence on the current JTF led by Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi.

“We are in a better position to tell the world who and who is actually involved in it.

“There are high level illegal bunkering activities in the region being carried out by some powerful forces in the country in collaboration with foreigners. Tankers are coming to the region with fake voucher from NNPC to load crude oil with the gleeful eyes of the JTF.

“The loss in crude oil outputs daily to the illegal bunkering activities are as a result of these foreign invaders. Everyday, the JTF has been accusing the local communities of oil theft but to our chagrin, it has not spoken about the high level illegal bunkering activities of these economic saboteurs in the high sea which the military is aware of.

“We make bold to say that the military Joint Task Force is part of cabals that are sabotaging our economy,” the group claimed.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/illegal-bunkering-ndelta-youths-pass-no.html

It may appear too early to begin to predict the political campaign slogan that would be used in the 2019 elections.

Yet here in Nigeria, there is never a time you are late or early when it comes to contemplating political happenstances. The reason is not far-fetched.

The times are never different politically in Nigeria, the context has always been the same, and even the ranks of the players have never been seriously altered. Hence a political seer will never find it difficult to ply his trade in Nigeria.

In every election irrespective of where it is held, there are always political trade words that drive the campaign which are used in exchange for the votes of the electorate.

Even US President, Donald Trump rode on the “Make America Great Again” slogan to warm his way into the heart of the American electorates.

In the general election of 2015 in Nigeria, words such as integrity, corruption, security and most importantly Change were used as game changers.

Yet in the 2015 election, the major campaign currencies were ‘Corruption and Change’ and we think 2019 will birth something different from this.

Now, our question is this
Change Was Used In 2015, What Word Do You Think Politician Will Use Come 2019?

Let’s hear from you all.

Drop your comments.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/it-was-change-in-2015-what-word-will.html

Ghana FA will be dissolved by the government after explosive revelations of bribe-taking by referees and kickbacks to top officials that have shocked the football-mad nation.

Information minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said the government had “decided to take immediate steps to have the GFA (Ghana Football Association) dissolved” because of the “widespread nature of the apparent rot”.

The GFA had earlier pledged to tackle corruption in the wake of a long-awaited undercover documentary unveiled in Accra on Wednesday night, just over a week before the start of the World Cup finals.

Hidden camera footage purportedly showed referees taking as little as $100 (85 euros) each to rig matches.

It further alleged that GFA President Kwesi Nyantakyi — a senior member of world governing body FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) — requested $11 million from reporters posing as investors to secure government contracts.

He also allegedly tried to profit personally from a $5 million-a-year, five-year sponsorship deal with the GFA in what the expose said was a “clear breach” of ethics.

The information minister said the government, which has pledged to cut corruption in the country, was “shocked and outraged” at the claims.

The documentary “exposes gross malfunctioning of the Ghana Football Association characterised by widespread fraud, corruption and bribery”, he said in a statement.

The conduct of all GFA officials and the suspended director-general of the National Sports Authority, Robert Sarfo Mensah, was referred to police for further investigation and any “appropriate action”, he added.

Provisional measures will be put in place to run the sport in Ghana until a new body is formed. CAF and FIFA will be kept informed, he said.

“Government will see to it that the necessary reforms are urgently undertaken to sanitise football administration in the country,” the minister stated.

The GFA said it had not seen the documentary, which has sparked concerns about media freedom in Ghana after the journalist responsible received death threats.

But it said in a statement: “We view the allegations circulating in the media very seriously and would wish to take immediate steps to address them.”

It added: “The GFA wishes to place on record that, there will be no attempt of a cover-up or shield any of our members caught in alleged acts of corruption.

“The GFA wishes to assure all that as an institution it does not condone any manner of corrupt practices.”

The governing body said it had previously acted swiftly against claims of match-fixing.

In 2014, Britain’s Channel 4 television and the Daily Telegraph newspaper claimed Nyantakyi agreed a $170,000-deal for Ghana’s national side to play in a friendly organised by match fixers.

Nyantakyi denied signing any contract.

Ghana’s senior men’s team, the Black Stars, have not qualified for the World Cup finals in Russia, which include two teams from West Africa; Nigeria and Senegal.

At the last tournament in Brazil in 2014, Ghana’s previous government chartered a plane to send more than $3 million in cash to players in a row over appearance fees.

That decision caused a scandal back home as the country struggled with spiralling inflation, a yawning budget deficit and depreciating currency.

Diplomats, lawmakers, government ministers and members of the public packed a conference centre in Accra to watch the first screening of the two-hour documentary on Wednesday.

Football fan Simon Gyamfi said afterwards it was a “wake-up call” for the national game, adding: “I hope it will lead to a total clean-up in Ghanaian football.

“There is so much corruption in the system… The entire Ghana FA executive must be scrapped. What we have just seen is a total disgrace to the beautiful game.”

The documentary is the work of secretive investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who has previously exposed graft in the judiciary.

After watching an advance private screening, President Nana Akufo-Addo complained to police that Nyantakyi had “used the president’s name and office fraudulently”.

Nyantakyi was then questioned and released pending further investigation.

A lawmaker from Akufo-Addo’s ruling New Patriotic Party has since accused Anas of being corrupt and insinuated he should be killed and his colleagues beaten up.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/rotten-ghana-fa-for-dissolution-after.html

Yewande Abiodun, a budding rapper, popularly known as Tipsy, and her friend, Tamaradenyefar Clement, on Wednesday shared how operatives of the SARS, Special Anti Robbery Squad allegedly arrested them for “indecent dressing,” and demanded a N100,000 bribe from them.

The two ladies said the SARS officers threatened to take them away and that they paid N10,000 to secure their freedom.

In a chat with Punch Online, Tamaradenyefar alleged that she and Yewande encountered the SARS operatives around Akowonjo-Egbeda area of Lagos on Tuesday night.

“My friend and I went to visit another friend and on our way back, around Akuwonjo Egbeda, they (SARS officers) stopped us, asked us to come down from the Uber, searched our bags and found nothing asides money,” Tamaradenyefar alleged.

Continuing, she said, “Next thing he goes ‘Go and meet our Oga.’

“We were confused; so, we asked, ‘meet the Oga? Why?’

“He said because we were dressed indecently and it’s against the law. We tried asking questions and the only thing they ordered us to do was to enter their van.”

From her Twitter handle, @Tamaradenyefar, the lady revealed that the SARS operative asked them to pay the sum of N100,000, and they ended up paying N10,000, before they were allowed to go.

And even after the girls had paid the money, Tamaradenyefar alleged, they were only released after one of the operatives had given Yewande his phone number in the hope that she would be interested in meeting him later.

When asked what they were wearing, Yewande said, “I had a fully covered T-shirt and (a pair of) shorts. My friend had a tee (T-shirt) on as well and a skirt.”

Asked if they could provide the photographs of what they were both wearing as of the time of the encounter, Yewande told PUNCH Online,”We didn’t even have time to take pictures, as we dressed up in a hurry to go out.”

Tamara shared photos of one of the SARS operatives, whom she identified as the “Oga of the SARS Operatives.

She added that the SARS operatives revealed they were from Panti police station.

On her Instagram handle, Abiodun shared the alleged photograph of the operative, David Ale, who reportedly gave her his number. She said she got Ale’s photograph from his WhatsApp profile.

The scene of the incident

Below is a photo Abiodun shared of the SARS operative, claiming she got it from his WhatsApp.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/how-sars-arrested-female-rapper-over.html

An elderstateman, Chief Edwin Clark has urged the Federal Government to open up the existing platforms and frameworks to accommodate more people from the Niger Delta in the allocation of oil blocs.

Clark, who is the National leader, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), made the plea while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta.

He said that Niger Delta indigenes were not given priority in the allocation of oil blocs in spite of being directly affected by the impact of oil and gas exploration activities.

“It has become more pertinent and expedient that the Federal Government, without delay, should open up the existing platforms and frameworks to accommodate more people from the Niger Delta.

“This will, in no small measure, check the socio-economic and related challenges in the region.

“We are aware that about 50 oil blocs and marginal fields will expire in 2019. These marginal fields should be divested to indigenous companies.

“Also, the Federal Government should henceforth, as a matter of strategic priority, approve its granting to Niger Delta indigenes.

“The state governments in the Niger Delta zone should be given the Right of First Refusal (RoRF) in the renewal and award of new oil licenses,’’ Clark said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/clark-says-50-oil-blocs-fields-expire.html

Prof. Abdullahi Ashafa has been appointed the new Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic of the Kaduna State University (KASU).

Also appointed is Prof. Yohanna Tella, a Professor of Mathematics, as Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration.

The Public Relations Officer of the university, Adamu Bargo told the News Agency of Nigeria,NAN, on Tuesday in Kaduna that the appointments were ratified by the Senate of the university at its 85th meeting.

Until his appointment, Ashafa, a Professor of Diplomatic History was the Dean of Post-Graduate School of the institution, while Tella was the deputy dean of the school.

Ashafa and Tella will take over from Prof. Ado Ahmed and Prof. Alexander Kure, the outgoing DVC Academic and DVC Administration respectively.

Similarly, Prof. John Laah, the Dean of Sciences will now head the Post-Graduate School, subject to confirmation by the university’s governing council.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/kasu-gets-new-deputy-vice-chancellors.html

Some aggrieved members of the Lagos Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) have filed three applications before a Lagos Division of the Federal High Court seeking, among other things, a relief for the judge handling the suit, Mojisola Olatoregun, to recuse herself from the case.

Another relief by the plaintiffs is a prayer to join one Abimbola Bode-Thomas, one of the concerned elders of the Lagos Diocese, as a plaintiff while Adebola Ayodeji Ojofeitimi, a reverend and the Provost of the Lagos Diocese, who played a pivotal role in the installation and enthronement of bishops, be made a defendant in the suit.

This is to enable them to be bound by the court’s decision, the members said.

The plaintiffs are also urging the court to restrain the defendants and their agents from taking any step to enthrone Humphrey Olumakaiye as the new Bishop of Lagos Diocese pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

The plaintiffs, who identified themselves as prominent financial members and elders of the church, are suing for themselves and on behalf of concerned members of the Lagos Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

They include Fola Osibo, Modupe Alakija, Oluyomi Finnih, Femi Adeniyi-William, Layi Ajayi-Bembe, Laide Sasegbon, Modupe Sagoe, Ade Abisogun, Bukola Meadows, and Molara Otuyelu.

Joined as defendants in the suit are the Registered Trustees of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); The Lagos Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); and Reverends Nicholas Okoh; Adebola Ademowo; Humphrey Olumakaiye; Michael Fape.

The case was initially assigned to Chuka Obiozor, a professor and judge at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, but later re-assigned to Ms Olatoregun.

However, the defendants wrote a letter to Ms Olatoregun asking her to recuse herself on the ground that she is a communicant and a devoted member of the church.

At the last hearing, the judge, in open court, transferred the case file to another judge, Rilwan Aikawa, of the same Lagos Division.

The case has now been adjourned till June 21 for hearing.

The Genesis

After the election to choose the next Bishop of the Lagos Diocese by the church, ten members who were dissatisfied with the process dragged the Trustees of the Church and five others before the federal court in Lagos.

In addition to claiming that the election was manipulated, the aggrieved members alleged that one of the Trustees of the church and the current Bishop of Lagos Diocese, Adebola Ademowo, should be ordered to refund N260 million he allegedly collected from the Diocese and used for his personal purpose.

In a statement of claim accompanied by statement on oath of plaintiffs, it was alleged that as Mr Ademowo’s tenure as bishop began to wind down, the Trustees of the church commenced steps towards the election of a new bishop, and Messrs Olumakaiye and Fape were nominated for the position.

Mr Finnih averred that contrary to the established principles contained in the constitution of the church which stipulates that elections are to be conducted by secret ballot, the outgoing bishop, Mr Ademowo, began campaigning for the election of Mr Olumakaiye and took various steps to influence Mr Okoh, the Primate of the Church, and other bishops who were required to vote.

These steps, the plaintiff said, included approval of the publication of photographs of Messrs Ademowo and Olumakaiye in the church’s calendar wherein the latter was described as the ‘godson’ and successor of Mr Ademowo; the distribution of cash gifts to the bishops who were to vote; as well as the exercise of undue influence on Mr Okoh.

In complaint, some of the plaintiffs, Messrs Osibo and Ajayi-Bembe, as well as another financial member of the church, Bamidele Onafeko, wrote a petition to Mr Okoh highlighting the breaches of the church’s constitution but did not receive any response.

Mr Olumakaiye was later elected as the church’s new bishop.

After the election, the plantiffs wrote another letter to Mr Okoh complaining about the irregularities that marred the electoral process.

This time, the church responded through its Episcopal Secretary and Registrar who wrote on Mr Okoh’s behalf urging the plaintiffs to desist from making such allegations.

Furthermore, the plaintiffs wrote another letter to Mr Okoh reiterating their complaints and also stating the various acts of financial impropriety allegedly committed by Mr Ademowo in office.

The allegations include causing division and hatred among members, receipt of funds from the Diocesan Board for his personal use and the placing of his family members in strategic positions.

In their letter, the plaintiffs expressed their concern that Mr Olumakaiye being Mr Ademowo’s “godson” would cover up the said acts committed by the Bishop while in office.

In his reply, Mr Okoh told the plaintiffs their letter had been forwarded to Mr Ademowo for his reaction.

In his response to the Primate, Mr Ademowo admitted the receipt of N200 million and N60 million for the construction of his personal residence and the purchase of a car respectively.

The Registrar of the Church then wrote a letter to the plaintiffs on behalf of Mr Okoh stating that their complaints as regard the financial impropriety would be referred to the Diocesan Board of Lagos Diocese and that the Dean of the Church would constitute an independent committee to consider the allegations of pre-electoral malpractices against Messrs Ademowo and Olumakaiye.

The plaintiffs averred that Mr Okoh is one of the appointors of the Dean of the Church of Nigeria, and a committee set up by him to investigate the manipulation of electoral process in which the Primate himself is implicated cannot be said to be independent or impartial.

The plaintiffs averred further that the Diocesan Board of Lagos Diocese, to which the allegations of Mr Ademowo’s financial impropriety were referred, was the body that released the sums admitted to have been received by the former bishop and, therefore, cannot possibly be relied upon to give an impartial decision on their complaints.

The plaintiffs then contended that Mr Okoh breached his fiduciary duty by failing to countenance the allegation of pre-electoral breaches made by them, and failing to prevent the conduct of the election, despite having been notified of the actions of Messrs Ademowo and Olumakaiye.

The plaintiffs also averred that Mr Ademowo breached his fiduciary duties to the plaintiffs and members of Lagos Diocese in influencing the outcome of the election to the office of Bishop of Lagos Diocese, and various acts of financial impropriety committed by him

Consequently, the plaintiffs sought a declaration of the court compelling Mr Ademowo to immediately refund to the church the ₦260 million with interest at the rate of 22 per cent per annum from March 1 until full and final liquidation.

They also sought an order directing the conduct of fresh election for the position of Bishop of the Lagos Diocese.

In a notice of preliminary objection filed by four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Bambo Adesanya, Babatunde Ajibade, Wale Olawoyin and Adeniyi Adegbomire, on behalf of Mr Ademowo, they contended that the issues raised in the plaintiffs’ action are not justifiable in a court of law.

According to them, the issues belong to the domestic terrain of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion as enshrined in the constitution and canon of the Church of Nigeria and the constitution of the Diocesan Synod of the Diocese of Lagos Anglican communion.

They stated further that, even if the Federal High Court had jurisdiction to entertain the plaintiffs’ action, the court should in this case, decline jurisdiction as the plaintiffs have not exhausted the remedies provided by the constitution of the Church of Nigeria and the Diocese of Lagos before filing the action.

The lawyers further argued that it is the High Court of Lagos State that has the jurisdiction to entertain the action, adding that the plaintiffs had no legal right to institute the suit.

They, therefore, urged the court to dismiss or strike out the suit for want of jurisdiction.

In another objection filed on behalf of The Registered Trustees of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican communion) Lagos Diocese by Olumide Sofowora, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the church argued that there was no meeting of the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion or the Diocesan Synod of Lagos Diocese where the plaintiffs were given the authority to institute any suit on their behalf of the concerned members of the House of Laity of the Church of Nigeria in respect of all their allegations and claims in this suit.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/commotion-in-anglican-church-as-bishop.html

Niyi Odebode, Olalekan Adetayo, Adelani Adepegba, Leke Baiyewu and Olaleye Aluko

The police have given President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, till Wednesday to present his written defence on his alleged link with suspected robbers, who invaded banks in Offa on April 4.

Saraki, who disclosed this on Monday in his facebook and tweeter handle, had earlier said that he was ready to honour the invitation of the police.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, had, on Sunday in Abuja while parading suspects involved in the Offa bank robberies, said alleged gang leaders levelled allegations against Saraki and the Kwara State Governor, Abdufatah Ahmed.

Moshood had said that Saraki had been asked to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team Office at Guzape, Abuja to answer to the allegations reportedly levelled against him by five alleged gang leaders.

But on Monday morning, the Senate President said he was ready to honour an invitation by the police. The lawmaker said he had instructed his aide-de-camp to get the invitation letter from the police.

He wrote, “I have just informed my ADC to get the letter of invitation from @PoliceNG in respect of the allegations raised yesterday (Sunday)— so that I can immediately honour the alleged invitation.”

Later, the Senate President announced that he had received a letter from the police asking him to make his defence in writing and not to appear in person.

“Following my earlier tweet, I have received the letter from @PoliceNG. They are no longer asking me to appear at any station, but to respond in writing to the allegations within 48 hours, which I plan to do,” Saraki wrote.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; the Director General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), met with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday.

The meeting was held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa.

There were reports on Monday that the meeting was convened because of the invitation of Saraki by the police over the Offa banks robberies.

When State House correspondents approached the police boss for what transpired at the end of the meeting, he declined comment.

The meeting was held shortly after the DSS withdrew some of its men attached to Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had yet to issue a statement on the meeting.

nPDP pulls out of talks with Presidency, APC

But the new Peoples Democratic Party bloc in the All Progressives Congress has kicked against the linking of Saraki and Ahmed to the Offa banks robberies.

The group in a statement on Monday by its leader, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, said it had suspended its reconciliation talks with the APC and the Presidency.

It cited the Police indictment of Saraki and Ahmed, in the Offa banks robberies, as one of the reasons for the suspension of the talks.

The nPDP had last week met with Osinbajo. It was also scheduled to attend a meeting with the Vice-President on Monday (yesterday).

The Monday meeting was supposed to be attended by the APC Deputy National Chairman, Lawal Shaibu, and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

But the nPDP, in the statement by Baraje said the Presidency and the APC were not interested in reconciliation.

It stated that despite the complaints of its members, the APC went ahead to approve congresses of states, where its members were not well treated.

Baraje stated, “Nigerians may further recall that a team from the former nPDP led by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and four others, were to meet with the Vice- President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, today (Monday).

“However, while we are truly and earnestly committed to achieving reconciliation, harmony, truce and cohesion in the APC as we approach the 2019 general election, it appears that the Presidency is not interested in the talks and that they may have been negotiating in bad faith.

“We were alarmed that immediately after our meeting with the Vice-President last week, the Presidency misrepresented what transpired at the meeting by trying to blackmail some of the principal actors involved in the discussions in a national daily.

“Similarly, the leadership of the party (APC) went ahead to ratify all the congresses from wards, local governments, states and zones where many of our members have complaints, effectively presenting us with a fait accompli.”

He added, “His Excellency, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the Governor of Kwara State, both of whom attended the meeting with the Vice-President on Monday, May 28, 2018, ,have suddenly been accused of sponsoring armed robbery by the Police under the directives of the Presidency.”

He said that it recognised the powers of the Police to conduct criminal investigations, but he condemned what he called “an attempt to undermine, caricature and humiliate the institution of the leg“It appears that there is a fouled and toxic atmosphere and environment of intimidation and threat to life in which we now find ourselves which may no longer be conducive for members of the former nPDP to continue with the talks.”

Baraje stated, “The nPDP leadership has decided to brief our members on the unfortunate development and get a fresh mandate if good faith returns to the discussions.”

CDHR, SERAP condemn police flip-flop, demand thorough investigation

Meanwhile, two civil society organisations, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights and the Socio-Economic and Accountability Right Project, have scolded the police for its flip-flop instructions on the armed robbery and murder cases in which the Senate President was invited, demanding that the police should conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

The CDHR President, Malachy Ugwummadu, said, “…From police directives on stop-and-search to withdrawal of escorts from important personalities, the police have continued to demonstrate ambiguity and uncertainty in their duties.

“If it were to be a lower member of the society, the police would handle the case differently. It has become completely unacceptable the way the police, as the top law enforcement agency in the country, is going about this case. The Senate President also has a right to sue the police for defamation if it is revealed that he ir defamation if it is revealed that he is in no way connected to this incident.”

Also the SERAP Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said, “This is what we say about our laws. We must follow the due process, not only when it involves people who are not consequential in the society. If it had been a lower member of the society, he would not just be invited; he would be bundled into detention and nothing would happen.

“The Senate President does not have a right not to be investigated or not to be invited. But now that we see what the police are doing, it is only symptomatic of what is obtained by our law enforcement agencies, and it is not good for our democracy.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/offa-robberies-police-give-saraki-48.html

Manchester United are closing in on the £52million signing of Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos from Shakhtar Donetsk, with the player set to undergo his medicals this week.

According to the Manchester Evening News, he could be confirmed as Jose Mourinho’s first summer signing by Tuesday.

Fred’s agent, Fabio Melo, who represents him alongside former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva, is scheduled to hold talks with United on Monday.

The 25-year-old will sign a four-year contract with the option of another 12 months.

Mourinho also wants to bring in another midfielder, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Marco Verratti also being tracked.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/neymar-returns-in-scoring-style-as.html

A group has sworn that if anything happens to the leader of the indigenous People of Biafra, the country will end up in chaos.
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu
An Igbo group known as Igbo Renaissance Agenda, IRA has warned that the country will end up in chaos if anything happens to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

The group made the threat on Monday while reacting to a recent call by Arewa youths asking the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo to arrest the IPOB leader for what it termed “threat to national security”.

The IRA in a statement by its Coordinator, Jude Ndukwe and Secretary, Amaka Ekwo, described the call as“hypocritical and callous.” It warned that the era of the North “lording it over Nigerians and cowing the rest of the country into silence was long over.”

The group cautioned Arewa group to “face the cankerworm and work assiduously to tackle the menace of terrorism, abject poverty, illiteracy, disease, laziness (a vice that makes them threaten to acquire properties of Igbo by seizure) etc that ravage their region.
“They are looking for ways of pushing Osinbajo into making monumental errors that are capable of imploding the nation so that they would turn around to say he lacks the capacity to lead thereby using that alibi to create chaos that could see him ousted and have any of their kinsmen replace him.‎” The group added.

The statement reads:

“Following the call last week by the Arewa Youth Assembly to the Acting President to arrest the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, for what they termed “threats to national security” arising from his movements in parts of his country, we, the Igbo Renaissance Agenda, IRA, wish to state that such calls are not only hypocritical and callous but also prove that the real enemies of Nigeria are the several Arewa groups being used to achieve some sinister agenda by their elders.

“We are alarmed that while the dreaded Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen terrorists designated as the most dangerous and fourth most dangerous terrorist groups in the world respectively are having a field day killing innocent Nigerians almost on a daily basis especially the latest one in Maiduguri where oil explorers, university lecturers, staff of NNPC and our security agents were mowed down in cold blood, some still missing while some others were kidnapped, the concern of Arewa groups is an Nnamdi Kanu who is non-violent, never kidnapped anyone, nor requested for ransom from anybody unlike terrorist groups from Arewa’s enclave.

“While the Arewa controlled military and other security forces keep releasing dangerous terrorists into the society in the name of de-radicalisation, they also empower them by giving them huge sums of money in exchange for kidnap victims thereby compromising the general safety and well being of law abiding Nigerians.

“The non-prosecution of a good number of these criminals and their funding by Arewa-led government agencies in the name of ransom payment have the unimaginable propensity to embolden the them to carry out the kind of brazen attacks they did in Maiduguri and other places in recent days. This should be the concern of any reasonable Arewa group.

“Rather than face the cankerworm and work assiduously to tackle the menace of terrorism, abject poverty, illiteracy, disease, laziness (a vice that makes them threaten to acquire properties of Igbo by seizure) etc that ravage their region, they are so obsessed with the legendary Nnamdi Kanu who has always conducted himself peacefully everywhere he goes.

“We know the main objectives of the Arewa youths and their elders. We know that their other target is Osinbajo. They are looking for ways of pushing Osinbajo into making monumental errors that are capable of imploding the nation so that they would turn around to say he lacks the capacity to lead thereby using that alibi to create chaos that could see him ousted and have any of their kinsmen replace him.

“This is why they stated in their vexatious release that “This level of lawlessness has left us with no option than to doubt the ability of our Acting President to successfully preside over the affairs of our country”. We know where they are going but we shall stop them in their tracks.

“They are trying to push Osinbajo into the kind of stark indiscretion deployed by Buhari in mishandling the agitations all over the country today. The Acting President surely would not fall for such cheap trap.

“Our message to the Arewa youths and their elderly sponsors is simple: we dare anyone to touch Nnamdi Kanu and see if the nation would survive it even a minute longer.

“The days of lording it over Nigerians and cowing the rest of the country into silence are long over. It is a new dawn and the earlier the misguided Arewa youths and their elders know this, the better for all of us!”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/nigeria-will-not-survive-it-if-anything.html

Popular Nigerian singer and songwriter, Praise Adejo better known as Praiz, has said he does not take advantage of his female fans.

He, however. said that he tries to accommodate them when they reach out to him.

Praiz, who hit the limelight after he finished as second runner-up at the maiden edition of Project Fame West Africa, told the Nation Newspaper: “I try my best to accommodate my female fans. When they reach out to me by always replying them.

“And I try my best not to take advantage of my female fans because obviously they love you and it would be wrong for me to take advantage of the fact that they love my music, love my personality for my own selfish reasons.

“So, I do my best not to take advantage of my female fans.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/what-i-dont-do-to-my-female-fans-praiz.html

A pregnant cow has been sentenced to death after it wandered over the EU border.

Penka, due to give birth in about three weeks, walked away from her herd near the Bulgarian village of Kopilovtsi and crossed the border into Serbia, a non-EU country.

The cow was returned to its owner, Ivan Haralampiev, and Serbian vets said it was in perfect health.

But Bulgarian officials said the bovine must be put down because of strict EU rules, AFP reported.

“It is not for us to decide,” a veterinary expert, Lyubomir Lyubomirov, told the agency. “We are only implementing rules that come from Brussels.”

John Flack, a Conservative MEP, has written to the prime minister of Bulgaria, Boyko Borissov, and the president of the European Union, Antonio Tajani, to highlight Penka’s plight, the Daily Telegraph reports.

“Surely this is a case where pragmatism should prevail over a strict reading of the rules,” he said.

European Commission guidelines say cows must be presented at border checkpoints with documents verifying they are healthy.

It states: “The certification must accompany the animals en route to the EU and when they are presented for entry into the EU at an approved EU Border Inspection Post.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/pregnant-cow-sentenced-to-death-for.html

The Presidency has lambasted the embattled Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye for rebuking President Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie said Melaye needs mental evaluation.

Recall that the embattled lawmaker had yesterday challenged Buhari to apologize to the National Assembly over his recent comment that some lawmakers have spent a long time without doing anything.

Speaking in Abuja, last week, Buhari had wondered what members of the National Assembly have been doing, even when some of them have spent over a decade as lawmakers.

Reacting, the embattled lawmaker described Buhari’s comment as “unpresidential” and “unconstitutional.”

However, Onochie said soon, Melaye will come to terms with the fact that the National Assembly “doesn’t belong to him.”

In a tweet, Onochie wrote: “It’s an absurdity that Melaye, who is standing trial for alleged criminal offences, who in a suicide bid, jumped out of a moving vehicle and whose obsessive compulsion disorder makes him think he owns the Nass, should be allowed to return to d Senate without proper mental evaluation.

“One day, Dino Melaye, will come to terms that the Nass doesn’t belong to him. In his delusional state and on bail, he’s shamefully back to his clowning.

“I would hope that he confines his rascality to unsuccessfully suppressing opposing views in the Senate. Let the President be.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/dino-melaye-needs-mental-evaluation.html

An Abuja High court yesterday reportedly, sentenced former Governor of Taraba state, Jolly Name to 14 years in jail for misappropriating N1.64billion while in office.
The pictures shows his facial expression as the judge made the declaration for his sentencing.
Photos below;

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/the-look-on-former-governor-of-taraba.html

Osun State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Mr Emmanuel Attah has sternly warned corps members not to be tools in the hands of politicians as September 22 gubernatorial election draws near.

He advised corps members who would serve as ad-hoc staff during the poll to be patriotic and upright in their dealings and put the superior interest of the nation first.

Attah gave the charge in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Wednesday, during an event to celebrate 45th year existence of the organisation.

He insisted that NYSC was apolitical, adding that corps members must strictly adhere to the principle and tenets of the Corps and be totally neutral.

“NYSC is a neutral body in the election process and we have over the years in different elections, given great credibility to the Nigerian election process.

“We will continue to advise our corps members that would be participating in the elections to be neutral, to defend the name of their family, their names and most importantly protect the image of NYSC.

“It is indeed sacrosanct for our corps members to sustain our good reputation and unbiased commitment to credible electoral process to deepen the confidence of electorate in us as unbiased entity.

“To politicians, they must not come near our corps members, it is indisputably a crime for politician to entice our corps members with money or intimidate them in any way during and after election.

“It is the duty of everybody in and around the state to protect corps members jealously “, Attah said.

Speaking on NYSC 45 years celebration, Attah said the state NYSC and corps members would carry out sensitisation walk, cleaning of motor parks and markets and rendering medical services in the rural communities around the state.

He commended the state government for its good gesture towards corps members in the state.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/osun-2018-be-wary-of-politicians-nysc.html

Antoniette Munirat Lecky has shown that she could also rake some good cash from modelling aside being the Ambassador Head of Operations at Continental Basketball League.

Former BBNaija Housemate, Anto looks gorgeous and pretty in new photo shoot.

Anto rocks a lovely reddish outfit with lovely hat. The U.S returnee who is romantically linked with Lolu has also featured in a movie which is presently being promoted online.

The photoshoot was undertaken by Carlinda Ahya.

Anto is an Etsako indigene from Edo state despite the fact that she was born and raised in the United States of America.

She has always dreamt of coming back to work in Nigeria and intends to use the Big Brother platform to launch her public speaking career.

Anto’s favourite musician is Wande Coal.Anto loves going to the beach, dancing and cooking and she sure does know how to look sexy.

Anto holds two Masters degrees in Business Administration and Sports Business Management. She achieved this between 2011 and 2013 at the University of Central Florida.

She graduated in 2011 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel HillAnto also completed a Business Management GraduateProgram at DeVos Sports in 2013.

As a guest on Channels Television programme, Rubbing Minds on Sunday, Lolu, when asked what his fans should expect from his relationship with Anto said he is not in a relationship with Anto.“First of all, I am not a in relationship with Anto.

Second of all, Anto and I are really good friends. We have developed a friendship in the house and that will stay.“In the event that anything would happen between myself and Anto, it will not be rushed, it will

not be based on the fact that there are so many hastags and people contributing aso ebi money and cows (for the wedding).“It will be solely out of the fact that we see ourselves taking that step,” Lolu explained.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/bbnaija-anto-looking-gorgeous-in-new_29.html

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it has recorded 603 convictions since the President Muhammadu Buhari government took office in May 2015.

The anti-graft agency also added that it had recovered over N500bn under Buhari.

EFCC in a statement by its Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, on Monday noted that the figure was the aggregate of the 103, 195 and 189 convictions recorded in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.

It also includes the 116 convictions recorded in the first five months of this year.

The statement read in part, “President Buhari was elected three years ago on a ticket that pledged to address the monster called corruption. The EFCC under the leadership of Ibrahim Magu is the lead agency driving the anti-corruption agenda of the administration.

“The groundbreaking conviction record of the commission is the more salutary given that it includes the conviction, for the first time in the history of the country, of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joseph Nwobike.

“For the first time too, judges and top military officers including retired Service Chiefs are being prosecuted for corrupt enrichment.”

“Over N500bn has been recovered in the last three years by the agency; while the impunity with which public funds are stolen has been curtailed substantially as people have come to the realisation that there are consequences if one is found to have illegally dipped hands in the public till, “ it added.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/efcc-convicts-603-persons-recovers.html

Temitope Ogunnusi , Wande Coal’s baby mama has cried out over how the pop star allegedly abducted their son . She revealed that Wande coal abducted her child after impregnating her at the age of 16.

NewsmakerNG reports that Tope dropped out of secondary school at the age of 16 after being impregnated by 23-year-old Wande, back in 2008. The love child, Joseph, is now 10 years old and Tope has not seen him for 8 years.

Tope recounted that when she told Wande that he was going to be a father, the crooner rejected the pregnancy.

“Do you want to kill my career?” he allegedly asked Temitope. .

He denied paternity of the baby and left the neighbourhood so Temitope would not see him again. After delivery, Wande’s mother, Mrs Omolara Oluwayemisi Ojosipe, arranged to see the baby.

Drama began when months later a DNA test was conducted in 2010 and it showed the singer as the father of Joseph. Amazingly, the baby was allegedly abducted by Wande Coal’s after coaxing Tope to allow him to come and spend some time with her.

”She thereafter blocked every means of communication between her son and Tope.

Tope quoting Wande Coa’s mum said: “My son cannot marry a low class woman.”

Sadly, the gate-man was also instructed never to open the gate for her.

She called many times, but Mrs Ojosipe did not pick her call. Whenever she used a strange number, the woman would get angry and rain curses on her, telling her “never to call this line again”. .

Tope revealed that she had spent the last 8 years waking up with tears on her pillow and pain in her heart.She dropped out of secondary school in her final year to give birth to Wande’s son.

However, Wande Coal is yet to react to these allegations.
Wande Coal ties the knot?

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/wande-coal-abducted-my-child-baby-mama.html

Below are pictures showing Tonto Dikeh rocking a Fendi T-shirt. However, taking a closer look at the shirt, one can easily notice how fake it is especially when juxtaposed with the original.

There is a clear difference between the Fendi Faux-Leather Logo T-Shirt Tonto Dikeh wore and the ones Tiwa Savage, Wizkid and Davido’s Chioma wore which costs ($690) 248k.

The Nollywood actress shared the photo showing her rocking the Fendi outfit which she wore to an even at her son’s school two days ago.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/tonto-dikeh-caught-rocking-fake-fendi-t.html