₦airaland Forum

Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has disclosed what he told his players after his side were defeated 3-1 by Manchester City on Sunday in the Premier League derby encounter.

Goals from David Silva, Sergio Aguero and IIkay Gundogan ensured victory for the hosts at Etihad.

Anthony Martial’s lone strike was not enough to get a point for Jose Mourinho’s side.

Mourinho said he told his players that they were playing much better than before, adding that they did great against Pep Guardiola’s side and they must put the defeat behind them.

Asked what he told his players after his side’s defeat by City, Mourinho told MUTV: “There was a fantastic character from the team and a great effort by everybody.

“So it was not an easy week for us but I just told the players they’re playing much better than before. We are much stronger, we are much more compact.

“Now we have to not let the defeat disappoint us. Sad, yes, but not too disappointed. In two weeks’ time we play at home against Crystal Palace and, from that game, we have to try to get the points.”

Mourinho’s side will now take on Crystal Palace in their next match on November 24.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/epl-what-mourinho-told-man-united.html

President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday that Nigeria will come out of the 2019 general election stronger.

According to the president, the nation had been able to weather the storm over the years only because of God’s intervention.

Buhari, who spoke at the annual breakfast prayer session organised by the National Assembly Christian legislators’ prayer breakfast fellowship, said in spite of doomsday prophesies, the country is tackling its problems and becoming more prosperous.

He pointed out that while doomsday prophets had prophesied that the country would plunge into crisis, the Nigeria would witness a great rebirth in 2019, especially after the polls, which many unpatriotic critics had predicted would be crisis-ridden.

The president who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, noted that God was with Nigeria, which is why the country is pushing ahead despite her several problems.

“God is with Nigeria. 2019 shall bring in a new Nigeria. God will answer our prayers as we look unto him”, the president prayed.

He assured that his administration will continue to promote peace and ensure good governance, adding that with God’s continued blessing upon the country, Nigeria shall witness better days in her political and economic life.

According to him, the hope for the rebirth of a new nation in Nigeria can only be realised when people in highly placed positions eschew divisive tendencies for overall national interest.

He said as leader of the nation, he always seeks the intervention of God Almighty for Nigeria in all spheres of her national life.

President Buhari also called on Christian lawmakers and other leaders to always embrace unity in all ramifications, noting that it would give birth to a new Nigerian nation.

In his goodwill message at the occasion, Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said that Nigeria can overcome her numerous challenges through constant prayers.

Dogara stated that through collective prayers, Nigerians can change the narrative and the destiny of the country.

In his sermon, the guest speaker, Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, said that God is at the verge of raising godly leaders for the country.

Drawing inspiration and reference from biblical quotations, particularly Isaiah 40:46, Jeremiah 33:25, 2nd Chronicles 20:35-37 and Joshua 10:1-9, he said political leaders must desist from making uncomplimentary statements about the polity.

The cleric noted that the 2019 general election would spring surprises for the nation, as God is going to use his divine mantle to select good and godly leaders for the nation.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/do-you-believe-we-will-witness-great.html

A Senior Special Assistant to Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on Public Communications, Segun Dipe, has stated that former governor, Ayodele Fayose must apologise to the people of the state, for allegedly giving them poor image in the eyes of the world.

A statement he signed on Friday, described Fayose’s four-year reign between October 2014 and October 2018 as the worst that ever happened in Ekiti, which every discerning son and daughter must never wish for again.

He said: “Fayose was a disaster that happened to Ekiti. He ruled as if his reign had no expiry date. He had no respect for the rule of law, he was the executive, the legislative and the judiciary rolled into one, preparing the state budget, presenting it to himself and approving it by himself.

“Though Fayose would be brought to book, his negative vibes on the rhythm of Ekiti State would continue to resonate for a long time and never again would such a mindless rascal be allowed to govern a state such as Ekiti.”

Dipe recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which is Fayose’s political party, once tendered an unreserved apology to Nigerians for shamelessly throwing the nation into economic mess in its sixteen harrowing years of reign and urged Fayose to also be man enough to do the same to the people of Ekiti.

“Fayose ruled with deception. Due to his avarice, he threw the state deep into a humongous debt of N120bn. He didn’t do so to meet the needs of the people, but he wasted it on his personal needs.

“Despite the huge borrowing, the various bailouts he got directly from the federal government and the heavy taxes he imposed on the people and their children, Fayose still refused to honour his monthly commitment to the workers, owing them months of salary and throwing crumbs at them once in a blue moon. Whereas he was pretending to be a man of the people.

“Where he could not steal directly without drawing the ire of the EFCC and other security operatives, Fayose would come up with phoney projects, hugely inflate the contract figures and rush to execute them in a shady manner.

“Three good examples are the needless Fajuyi Bridge in Ado Ekiti, the new High Court, which has been criticised as ill-conceived, ill-executed, and his much trumpeted Oja Oba market, which he rushed to build without minding the structural defects, yet went ahead to swindle the innocent and undiscerning people of their hard earned money by making them pay into a fake government account for fraudulently allocated defective stalls.

“In abject violation of the values Ekiti holds so dear, Fayose was no respecter of age or nobility. He would rain curses on elders and rubbish royalty, making the kings and chiefs, who should be revered, to literarily worship him and eat from his palm.

“Fayose was the substantive Speaker of the House of Assembly, with the elected Speaker as mere surrogate and other lawmakers as his footstool. Any lawmaker who dared to challenge any of his actions often had his/her wings clipped.

“Despite being richer than the state which he governed, Fayose continued to loot and scam the people endlessly. He baited them with false hopes, over-promising and under-delivering. He presented himself to them as their Messiah, the immovable rock. He would rush to the media to broadcast lies against his real or perceived enemies, to the extent of committing treason.

“Once he declared the President and Commander-in-Chief of the country incapacitated, another time he went on air to tell the people of the state to shun the president who was visiting the state. Yet another time, he went on air to declare some fake election results.

“Fayose used his power to grab generational lands from the people, demolishing their houses and erecting personal ones in their places. Only God can tell how many properties Fayose now owns in Ado Ekiti.

“With all these and other sins Fayose committed against the innocent people of Ekiti, it will amount to a display of sheer arrogance, calling their bluff and insulting the people he once described as stupid and ignorant, should he fail to apologise to them, especially now that it has dawned on everyone that he was merely taking them for a ride for four years, covering his atrocities with decoy and bravado tactics.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/fayemis-aide-calls-fayose-mindless.html

Cristiano Ronaldo declared Wednesday night that Manchester United “did nothing to deserve” their shock 2-1 win over Juventus in Turin.

Ronaldo appeared to have sealed the game for his team, only for Juan Mata’s free-kick and an Alex Sandro own goal to gift United all three points late on.

Speaking after the match, Ronaldo stated that Juventus gifted three points to the Red Devils.

“The Champions League is a special competition, where you could be winning, but can’t relax, as anything can happen,” Ronaldo told Sky Sport Italia.

“We dominated the game for 90 minutes, had so many chances, could’ve killed it off three or four times, but we relaxed and were punished.

“Manchester United did nothing to win the game. You can’t even talk about luck, because you have to find your own luck and in this case we just gifted it to them.

“Now we’ve got to lift our heads, as we played really well and are still top of the group.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/champions-league-how-ronaldo-reacted.html

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday reacted to the assassination attempt on the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his family members.

PDP said the “attack raises our fears that certain forces, who have been hostile to Senator Ekweremadu’s political standing, are still bent on silencing him at all cost.”

A statement by PDP’s Spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, expressed “grave concerns” over the attempt on the lives of Ekweremadu and members of his family in his official residence in Abuja.

According to Ologbondiyan, “The attention of Nigerians to the series of uninvestigated security threats around the person of Senator Ekweremadu. Nigerians could recall that on November 17, 2015, a similar attempt was made on Senator Ekweremadu’s life by some assailants on his way to work.

“Though, that attack was reported to the authorities, there have been no investigations by the security agencies, no arrests have been made and no culprit has been brought to book.

“Instead, the Senator has been a subject of unrelenting harassments and attacks on his person and office since his emergence as Deputy Senate President, including the May 26, 2017 invasion of his official quarters by security agencies, purportedly in search of phantom caches of arms, and the July 24, 2018 siege of his official residence at Apo Quarters.

“These were in addition to the invasion of the Senate chamber and carting away of the mace on the day Ekweremadu presided, in an otherwise very secure Three Arms Zone.

“We are, therefore, worried about the relentless attack on the Deputy Senate President, which we believe is part of a scheme to silence him.

“Consequently, the PDP demands an immediate wide-range probe into this particular attack as well as an assurance from the Federal Government on the safety of the Deputy Senate President, as the nation is not ready to accept any harm on his person or his family at this critical time.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/ekweremadu-pdp-reveals-why-forces-are.html

Iranian Shi’ites who reacted to the recent clash between Nigerian Shi’ites and the Nigerian military which led to the death of members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, have threatened to overthrow Buhari.

The Iranian Shi’ites who held different placards while chanting “Free free Zakzaky”, described the Buhari-led government as a tyrannical government which they will overthrow and teach Buhari and Nigerians a good lesson.

A man who appeared like the leader of the protesters, criticized the federal government over the continued detention of El-Zakzaky.

“The judge of Nigeria ordered that Zakzaky and his members to be freed but the government didn’t listen to that and so we are calling on them to free Zakzaky,” he said.

“The government of Nigeria should know that it cannot keep Zakzaky forever in the detention and in jail, In Sha Allah, by overthrowing the tyrannical government, we will free Zakzaky and teach Nigeria and its people a good lesson.”


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nRQzfU3slw

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/just-in-iranian-shiites-threaten-to.html

A new Commissioner of Police has been posted to the Bayelsa State Police Command, a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Butswat Asinim, said on Monday.

Asinim identified the new commissioner as Joseph G. Mukan saying he took over from Ebere C. Onyeagoro, who had been redeployed to the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID), Abuja, as CP Special Fraud Unit (SFU).

But the state Governor, Seriake Dickson and the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) expressed reservations over constant changes of police commissioners in the state ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Asinim in his statement said the new commissioner reported on November 2nd, 2018, but took over the command Monday.

H said: “He was the Commissioner of Police Special Fraud Unit, Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Abuja. He is a disciplinarian and a professional police officer, who has served in various commands and formations in various capacities.

“The command, by this announcement, solicits the cooperation and partnership of the good and well meaning people of Bayelsa State to accord the new commissioner of police, the necessary support to discharge his duties of maintaining law and order in the state”.

But Dickson read political meaning into the deployment of Mukan into the state saying the opposition party created an impression that the new commissioner would do their biddings.

The governor while receiving defectors to the PDP recently, said: “Now they just told me that the fourth commissioner of police they posted to Bayelsa had been removed.

“They brought the one they said is their party member to come to police our state that we have secured so that they can use cult boys to create problem and kill people. We will not allow that”.

Also at the weekend, the state PDP Chairman, Cleopas Moses, accused leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of influencing the transfers and deployments of commissioners in the state.

He also decried the politicization of security in the state adding that seven different commissioners of police were sent to Bayelsa in the last two months.

He said their aim was to instill fear in the citizenry and create a false impression that the APC would use security agencies to take over the state in the forthcoming elections.

He, however, expressed optimism that just as it was in 2015, the PDP would mobilize the people’s might against the federal might.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/dickson-pdp-kicks-as-bayelsa-gets-new-cp.html

That Kaduna has remained a hot bed of crisis is not a new development. The state has been enmeshed in one crisis or the other for more than fourty years. Kaduna has two major religions domiciled in the two parts that make up the state. The northern part of the state is a predominantly Muslim settlement while the southern Kaduna is made up of majorly Christians. This has seen to recurring clash between these two parts that has claimed thousands of life for years. The recent Kaduna crisis claimed over fifty lives before it was put under control.

The Governor of Kaduna state Mallam Nasir Elrufai has displayed much commitment to bring lasting peace and unity to the heavily fragmented state. To show he meant business, he recently conveyed a meeting where President Muhammadu Buhari was in attendance all in a bid to calm all frayed nerves with representative of the two major religions present and other stakeholders. However, it seems Governor Elrufai is far from promoting unity in that state and it’s like the Governor is about to stoke fresh violence in a state that is currently experiencing nascent peace.

The announcement of a new running mate for the Governor in preparation towards the 2019 Governorship election is a wrong step that must be corrected before it is too late. The Governor had on Friday, November 2, 2018 announced Dr. Hadiza Abubakar Balarabe, Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency, from Sanga Local Government Area of the state as his running mate. Dr. Hadiza might be a muslim but she is ethnically from the predominantly Christian South, and so it seems a Pyrrhic victory for the Christian South to expect that the doctor will put her ethnicity over her religion.

There is yet time for Governor El-Rufai to either pivot from this path or prove to Southern Kaduna that his new choice of running is motivated purely by the advancement of the state and not religious sentiment.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/does-el-rufai-really-want-peace-in.html

Uncertainty shrouded the reported death of Debe Ojukwu, first son of late Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, as no family member and associates, including his party, the United Progressives Party (UPP) were willing to confirm his demise yesterday

Bianca Ojukwu, the widow of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, also could not confirm the development, claiming she was not the family spokesperson.

“According to our tradition, it is not my role to make such announcements. We have elders in the family, who have such duties and functions,” she stated.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/no-formal-confirmation-yet-on-debe.html

A truck-load of assorted food items and other relief materials were on Saturday donated to the the internally displaced persons’ (IDP) camped at the Ogbe-Ijoh Primary School, Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri council area of Delta state by the Nigerian Army.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamil Sarham, who led other senior officers and men of the army to deliver the materials to the displaced persons, explained that it was part of the kick-off of the Exercise Crocodile Smile 3 in Delta state.
According to the General, who was conducted round Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities by the Commander of Sector 1 of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Colonel Alhassan Grema, and the Commanding Officer (Rear) of the 3 Battalion, Effurun, Major Salim Hassan, the newly launched Operation Crocodile Smile 3 has been designed to achieve peace and security within all commuties across the country.
Sarham, who had first paid a visit to the palace of the Ovie of Udu Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Emmanuel Bethel Delekpe, Oworhu 1, in his palace in Aladja, appealed to the traditional leadership as well as the people of the state for understanding as the Nigerian Army goes about executing the objective of the Operation Crocodile Smile 3, noting that the traditional leadership is in the best position to help the army pass the proper intent of the operation down to the citizens.
At the Ogbe-Ijoh IDP camp, the army chief assured the people that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, sympathised with them in their plight, adding that he had ordered that the food and other relief materials be provided to cushion the effect of their circumstances.
Speaking to the displaced persons, Sarham said “the Chief of Army Staff is aware of the plight of the victims of this natural disaster, he’s aware that the recent flooding has ravaged their communities and houses and because of that he directed me, along with these officers, this is the Commander of 16 Brigade, Exercise Crocodile Smile 3, to come and see the IDPs and donate these items to alleviate their sufferings”.
Meanwhile, explaining the concept and focus of the newly launched Crocodile Smile 3, Sarham said the exercise is designed to ensure that crimes do not thrive in any part of the country.
“Operation Crocodile Smile 3, basically means ridding communities of all crimes and criminalities, we are to safeguard lives and properties in all ramifications; be it naturally disaster like flooding and what have you. Also, we are not unmindful of the fact that there are criminal elements within society, so the Nigerian Army, in conjunction with other security agencies, has designed an annual training exercise, which dovetails into an operation to ensure that crime does not thrive in our communities, wherever located. That’s basically the essence of Exercise Crocodile Smile 3.
“However, you can’t do away in any given situation with mischief makers in any given situation. You are the press, you’ve seen what we’ve done throughout today, we’ve been together with you, you’ve seen the whole thing, it’s done in the open, we are at the vanguard of national development and you cannot develop without ensuring there’s peace and security in our environment”, he explained.
He also warned mischief makers from trying to negatively twist intent of the exercise, saying “we are firm in our resolve, we won’t allow any act of sabotage to be accommodated in our operations. The Nigerian Army remains resolute and we are committed to peace and security of all the citizens of Nigeria”.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/army-donates-relief-materials-to-idps.html

The West African Examination Council, WAEC, has explained why the body was not able to give President Muhammadu Buhari an “attestation of his result in 2015.

WAEC, through its Registrar, Iyi Uwadiae, had on Friday presented the attestation of results to Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

However, the action of WAEC stirred reactions among Nigerians, who questioned why Buhari was not issued the certificate in 2015 but has done same ahead of 2019.

Responding to a statement on Twitter, WAEC on it’s official Twitter page wrote: “What happened was that Move On. Nigeria went to Ghana to ask for a record that is in Nigeria. Was the exam done in Ghana? And for the avoidance of doubt, only the candidate and a court of competent jurisdiction can ask the Council for any certificate/result.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/waec-explains-why-buhari-was-not-given.html

The Nigerian Presidency has revealed how President Muhammadu Buhari was able to get his certificate from the West African Examination Council, WAEC after so many years.

His special assistant on New media, Bashir Ahmad, revealed that the president was asked to pay N20,000 and submit two photographs to WAEC.

He wrote: “In case you don’t know, just as President Buhari did, you can also download” Attestation of Results “from WAEC Nigeria.

“Lost your certificate? Submit your two recent photographs and pay N20,000 in draft passports, WAEC will do the rest for you.”

President Buhari was under attack from opposition figures over his missing certificate with some calling for his resignation but with the recent development, all that has been put to rest.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/just-in-how-president-buhari-paid-for.html

The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has been accused of trying to set the state on fire.

This is following the Governor’s choice of a Muslim as his running mate for the 2019 election.

Governor El-Rufai, a Muslim, had on Friday announced that he will be running for second term with Hadiza Balarabe, another Muslim.

Reacting to this, Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, noted that such decision could set the state on fire.

In his tweets on Friday evening, Omokri said, “Is @Elrufai trying to set Kaduna on fire? How can he, a Muslim, name Hadiza Balarabe, another Muslim as his running mate?

“In an ultra sensitive religious state like Kaduna, it is vital to balance the ticket to give Christians a sense of belonging so that peace reigns.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/2019-election-gov-el-rufai-under-fire.html

Dr. Madukwe Ukaegbu, an aide of former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has debunked rumours that the business mogul is critically ill.

Report emerged online yesterday that Kalu, the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Abia North senatorial district in the 2019 election, has been flown to a German hospital.

According to the report, the APC chieftain was rushed to a hospital in Germany when he went into coma.

Ukaegbu, in a statement he made available to reporters on Thursday, said the report was fake news and handiwork of political hackers and hoodlums.

“Nobody should take that report with any atom of seriousness because it is the handiwork of political hackers and hoodlums who have nothing doing and see fake report on Kalu as their source of income and livelihood.”

“Political enemies are at it again because they know that their time is up; they know there is going to be a level playing field in 2019 election and they are aware that Kalu is going to win the Abia North senatorial district seat and they think that the best way to stop him is to continuously dish out fake news, thinking that is the only way to stop him.

“The other time, the rumour was that his name was not in the APC register and when that could not work out, they came with another rumour that he was screened out by his party to contest the election and that even his name was not on INEC list of those to contest the election.

“When all these failed, then they came with the fake news that he was among Nigerians banned by the Federal Government from travelling out of the country.

“As that also hit the rocks, when they learnt he travelled to Germany on his normal overseas business trip, they now said he was rushed out of the country critically ill. I wouldn’t know if they said half dead.

“To put the matter straight, I spoke personally with Kalu on Tuesday night and again on Wednesday morning after he might have finished speaking with his lawyers over his case that is coming up next week.

“He is in Germany, hale and hearty, meeting with his business associates from around the globe,” he said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/11/uzor-kalus-aide-speaks-on-ex-governor.html

Current report as A former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, said yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari will win the majority votes in the North but will not garner as much votes as he did in 2015.

Shekarau said his prediction was premised on the strength of the opposition PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar who also hails from the North. He, however, said Buhari will ultimately defeat Atiku in the contest.

In an interview with Daily Trust on the sidelines of the conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) in Ibadan, yesterday, Shekarau, a chieftain of the APC noted that the 2019 election would not be as simple as the 2015 poll.

But with massive mobilization, he said Buhari would win majority votes in the North and ultimately a re-election. Commenting on the chances of Buhari and Atiku, he said, “I don’t think it is as simple as that.

As a practical man, I wouldn’t say that it is totally out of place. You cannot wish away the issue of regional, tribal, religious influences in anything that you do about people. Both of them (Buhari and Atiku) are from the North.

“So I think it is going to be a very tall order in terms of the struggle that decides the votes in the North; there is no doubt about that. Buhari may not necessarily get all of the votes he got in 2015 but we are still very hopeful he is going to have majority votes, I have no doubt about that,” he said.

Shekarau who dumped the PDP for APC recently after the defection of his predecessor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, insisted that the national leadership of the PDP practically handed over the leadership of the party to Kwankwaso.

He said he was determined to sacrifice his presidential ambition for peace to reign in Kano State, noting that his members felt cheated by the way they were treated by the PDP leadership.

He said he was today vindicated because the PDP in Kano was currently disintegrated, adding, “A large chunk has left for APC, a large chunk left for PRP (Peoples Redemption Party), and many of them have withdrawn from participating in political activities.

“So what remains of PDP today? Just Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiyya group and I am sure they are going to regret it in 2019.”

He said he was not certain if Kwankwaso was contesting with him in the Kano Central Senatorial election but noted that he was not a challenge to his aspiration.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/boko-haram-leadear-shekarau-reveals-how.html

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the Federal Government is implementing critical reforms and privatisation policies in key sectors of the economy to address the abysmal failure of public enterprises and halt the drain on the treasury

The Minister, who is the Chairman of the Stakeholders’ Engagement Committee of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), stated this in Lagos on Monday, at a Stakeholders’ Media Interactive Forum on the privatisation programme of the Federal Government.

He regretted that despite the massive investments of about $100 billion in setting up these public enterprises, they have failed to live up to expectations, consuming a large proportion of resources without providing commensurate returns or services.

‘’More importantly, they failed to allocate their resources efficiently, even as they consumed over $3 billion annually, by way of grants, subsidies, import duty waivers, tax exemptions,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He said there are ongoing reforms and privatisation in various sectors of the economy, including Communications, Development Finance Institutions, the Nigerian Commodity Exchange, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Federal Housing Authority, National Parks and the River Basin Development Authorities.

The Power and the Postal sectors, Federal roads, Railways, National Inland Water Ways and a host of other enterprises are also slated for reforms and privatisation.

The Minister said the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), had initiated and executed far reaching reforms in the Communications, Pensions, Sea Ports, Debt Management, Solid Minerals as well as the Power sector reform that led to the unbundling and privatisation of the successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

“Some of these reforms led to the establishment of both regulatory and other agencies such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Pension Commission (PenCom), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Debt Management Office (DMO), Nigeria Electricity Liabilities Management Company (NELMCO), and the Nigeria Electricity Bulk Trader (NBET),” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the BPE has drafted eight reform bills that, when passed, will liberalise the relevant sectors and lead to the setting up of appropriate regulatory agencies to create the much-needed conducive and enabling environment for private sector investments.

He listed the bills as the Railway Bill; the Inland Waterways Bill; the Ports and Harbour Bill; the Federal Roads Authority Bill; the National Roads Fund Bill; the National Transport Commission; the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill and the Postal Bill.

The Minister sought the buy-in of the media for the reform and privatisation programme in order to assuage the mixed feelings the reform has generated as well as restore public confidence in the programme.

In his remarks, BPE Director General Alex Okoh said 142 companies have so far been privatized since the inception of the privatization programme.

He said the BPE plans to generate N300 billion into the 2018 budget through the sale of some national assets, which include the Afam Power Plant in Rivers State, Geregu, Calabar and Omotosho National Independent Power Projects, re-privatization of the Yola Distribution Company, River Basin Development Authorities and the National Parks.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/fg-working-to-checkmate-failure-of.html

Says el-Rufai has failed to provide security

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

Following the crisis that claimed over 100 lives in Kaduna, a group, the Middle Belt Forum, yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Kaduna State.

This coming as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed special forces and helicopters in the state in a bid to end “the spate of senseless killings” in the state.

The forum said Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed el-Rufai, has failed to provide security in the state.

The group also expressed reservations over the inability of the security agencies to secure the release of a traditional ruler in the state, Agom Adara, His Royal Highness, Dr. Maiwada Raphael Galadima, who was abducted on October 19, 2018.

“The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) is gravely worried at the deplorable security situation in Kaduna State that has resulted in the death of many people. As anxieties mount across the various parts of the state, we wish to express our apprehensions over likely reactions from other states and called on relevant security agencies to quickly resolve the problem. We are also worried over the inability of security agencies to ensure the safe return of the abducted Agom Adara, His Royal Highness, Dr Maiwada Raphael Galadima, who was abducted on Friday, October 19, 2018.

“Taking into cognisance the fragile peace that has characterised the Kaduna State, and the alleged show of partiality by the State Government in tackling the internecine crisis that has led to the loss lives, we make haste to call on the Federal Government to take full control of the situation in Kaduna state in order to avert further breakdown of law and order”, the forum said.

The group, in a statement issued in Abuja said “Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai is seen by many as incapable of tackling the present insecurity, as he is alleged to be a part of the crisis. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to impose a State of Emergency on Kaduna State in order to full take control of the situation.

“For now, Kaduna has remained an unsecured state, while tempers are flaring in other parts of the state over the ongoing crisis. With the apparatus of state government on its knees, we are calling on the Federal Government to take full control of the situation, as further escalation could threaten peace in not only the state but Nigeria.

“MBF specifically calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to order an investigation into the recent Kasuwan Magani massacre that led to the deaths of no fewer than 100 persons and to ensure that those
found culpable are brought to justice.

We are aware of a narrative being sponsored by some persons that the Kasuwan Magani mayhem was premised on religion but we make haste to add here that the killings was done by criminals who have continued to make lives difficult with the sole aim of pursuing a dubious agenda that is solely aimed at subjugating the people.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force said the personnel and the helicopter deployed in Kaduna would join others already on ground and conducting aerial patrol.

“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) yesterday, October 28, 2018, deployed a detachment of Special Forces personnel to Kaduna in support of Internal Security operations in the State. The detachment will join other NAF personnel in Kaduna and other security agencies to ensure that the spate of senseless killings in some parts of the State is brought to a complete end and normalcy expeditiously restored. The deployment is in addition to the earlier deployment of 2 helicopters and a DA-42 Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft on 22 October 2018, which have since been conducting aerial patrols over flash points in the State, NAF said in a statement.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/killings-middle-belt-forum-calls-for.html

An aircraft with 189 passengers on board is believed to have sunk after crashing into the sea off Indonesia’s island of Java on Monday.

The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the capital on its way to the country’s tin-mining hub, officials said.

A spokesman for Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said the Lion Air flight, JT610, lost contact 13 minutes after takeoff, adding that a tug boat leaving the capital’s port had seen the craft falling.

“It has been confirmed that it has crashed,” the spokesman, Yusuf Latif, said by text message, when asked about the fate of the plane, which air tracking service Flightradar 24 identified as a Boeing 737 MAX 8.

Debris thought to be from the plane, including aircraft seats, was found near an offshore refining facility in the Java Sea, an official of state energy firm Pertamina said.

Wreckage had been found near where the plane lost contact with air traffic officials on the ground, said Muhmmad Syaugi, the head of the search and rescue agency said.

“We don’t know yet whether there are any survivors,” Syaugi told a news conference, adding that no distress signal had been received from the aircraft’s emergency locator transmitter.

“We hope, we pray, but we cannot confirm.”

An official of Indonesia’s safety transport committee said he could not confirm the cause of the crash.

Confirmation of the crash would have to wait until the recovery of the plane’s black boxes, as the cockpit voice recorder and data flight recorder are known.

“We will collect all data from the control tower,” said Soerjanto Tjahjono. “The plane is so modern, it transmits data from the plane and that we will review too.

”But the most important is the blackbox.”

Australia had not received signals from the plane’s emergency locator either, it told Indonesia in a reply to a query, agency chief Syaugi said.

The effort to locate the wreckage and retrieve the black boxes will represent the second major deep sea recovery challenge for Indonesian investigators.

This similar to the experience encountered after an AirAsia Airbus jet crashed into the Java Sea in December 2015.

Indonesia’s Lion Air says crashed plane was airworthy.

Under international rules, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board will automatically assist with the inquiry into Monday’s crash, backed up by technical advisers from Boeing.

Also to back them is U.S.-French engine maker CFM International, co-owned by General Electric and Safran.

Boeing is aware of the airplane accident reports and is “closely monitoring” the situation, a company spokesman told the Media.

The flight took off from Jakarta around 6.20 a.m. and was due to have landed in the capital of the Bangka-Belitung tin mining region at 7.20 a.m., the Flightradar 24 website showed.

“We cannot give any comment at this moment,” Edward Sirait, chief executive of Lion Air Group, said.

He added that a news conference was planned for later on Monday. “We are trying to collect all the information and data.”

Preliminary flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the aircraft climbed to around 5,000 feet (1,524 m) before losing, and then regaining, height, before finally falling toward the sea.

It was last recorded at 3,650 feet (1,113 m).

Its speed had risen to 345 knots, according to raw data captured by the respected tracking website, which could not immediately be confirmed.

Its last recorded position was about 15 km (9 miles) north of the Indonesian coastline, according to a Google Maps reference of the last coordinates reported by Flightradar24.

The accident is the first to be reported that involves the widely-sold Boeing 737 MAX, an updated, more fuel-efficient version of the manufacturer’s workhorse single-aisle jet.

The first Boeing 737 MAX jets were introduced into service in 2017.

The very first global delivery went to Lion Air’s Malaysian subsidiary, Malindo Air.

Indonesia is one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets, but its safety record is patchy.

Founded in 1999, Lion Air’s only fatal accident to date was in 2004, when an MD-82 crashed upon landing at Solo City.

It killed 25 of the 163 people on board, the Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network says.

However, six other Lion Air jets, including one that crash-landed in the water short of the runway at the Indonesian resort island of Bali in 2013, were damaged.

They were damaged beyond repair in various accidents, according to Aviation Safety Network.

Lion Air was removed from the European Union’s air safety blacklist in June 2016.

The privately owned airline in April announced a firm order to buy 50 Boeing 737 MAX 10 narrow body jets with a list price of 6.24 billion dollars.

It is one of the U.S. planemaker’s largest customers globally.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/plane-crashes-minutes-after-take-off.html

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Sunday cautioned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu not to “succumb to pressure to manipulate the electoral process for President Buhari as such could cause serious crisis capable of disarticulating our nation”.

PDP’s fresh caution to the INEC Chairman was predicated on an alleged secret meeting he had with President Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, at the Presidential villa last Friday.

The party warned that “Buhari’s handlers, who are desperate to force him on an unwilling nation, are fast pushing the nation to the brinks and should be checked before it is too late.”

In a statement by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party also cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari against allowing his “personal ambition to push the nation into chaos.”

The statement read further, “Prof. Yakubu should note that the polity is already tensed over INEC’s listing of President Buhari for election despite his failure to present

the constitutionally required academic credentials like other candidates. This development casts a dark shadow on the credibility of INEC to conduct a transparent election.

“INEC is invited to further note that Nigerians are aware that by President Buhari’s declaration, in an affidavit, that his said certificates are with the military, his nomination documentation is therefore constitutionally incomplete, making him ineligibile to contest the 2019 Presidential elections.

“Also, by failing to write to the military authorities to release his claimed certificates, Mr. President leaves Nigerians with no option than to hold that he does not have the credentials and the 1999 Constitution
(as amended) did not provide that affidavits can be used as a substitute for any candidate’s credentials.

“Moreover, Mr. President’s affidavit also shows that he did not submit any certificate in 2015, making his candidacy for that election improper and defective under our laws.

“Prof. Yakubu must have noted the heavy public criticisms that have been trailing his provocative declaration that Nigerians should go to court
over the certificate saga. His statement betrays an electoral umpire who is under threats and heavy pressure to abdicate his statutory duty of enforcing constitutional requirements for elections.

“We hold that allowing such siege mentality on our democratic institutions to fester will surely spell doom for our nation. Nigeria is our country and we don’t have any other nation we can call our own.

“Now that Nigerians have rejected President Buhari’s affidavit and insisted on his certificates, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is left with no option than to accept its self-inflicted misfortune.

“Meanwhile, we are not unaware of the anxiety and apprehension in the APC but such is the price of being stuck with bad merchandise.

“On our part, the PDP is ready for election. Our candidate, Atiku Abubakar, with his proven competencies, has met all the requirements for the election and is now enjoying the support of the overwhelming majority of Nigerians across all sections of our country.

“Nigerians are tired of a deceptive, dishonest and grossly incompetent Buhari administration, which has brought so much anguish and pain to our nation.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/waec-pdp-warns-inec-chairman-following.html

Family planning is about women’s rights and their capacity to make decisions about their health and wellbeing. It is a significant investment to promote human capital development, combat poverty and harness a demographic dividend, thus contributing to equitable and sustainable economic development.

On its own, family planning is an integral part of the steps towards curbing maternal death. In addition to all this, family planning plays a pivotal role in population growth, human development and good health.

It has been proved over time that contraceptives utilized for birth spacing services help reduce maternal mortality, pre-term birth, and incidences of underweight that causes most of neonatal deaths.

No doubt, the advantages of robust family planning services cannot be overstretched. However, family planning is also essential towards poverty reduction. There is a direct relationship between family planning and poverty.

When couples have the number of children they can cater for, it makes life easier. A planned family in which the children are adequately spaced is likely to live with a higher standard.

By providing cheaper and more reliable contraception and more convenient services, family planning reduces ill-timed and unwanted childbearing. Family planning helps to directly increase household income and reducing poverty rates. Failure or inability to sustain family planning programmes locally and internationally, leads to increased population growth and poorer health of populations, especially among the poor.

The list of the advantages of family planning is long. It begins with maternal, infant and child health. Infant survival, nutrition, educational attainment and general wellbeing are all part of the gains.

There is enough evidence from the United Nations and other governmental and nongovernmental organizations to support this conclusion. However, the status of girls and women is perhaps one of the most important determinants of the effect of family planning on poverty.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) particularly notes that family planning is key to poverty reduction and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Family planning is a prerequisite for achievement and critical link to meet each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by UN member states for global development, and for realizing the human right of reproductive choice. In essence, giving people access to family planning is crucial to achieving the SDGs by 2030.

Targets in two of the SDGs – Goal 3 and Goal 5 – call for universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare and rights, but unless there are sustained campaigns for wider access to family planning and improved reproductive healthcare, and more people are offered modern contraception, other interventions to reduce poverty and inequality may be far less effective.

One of the proposed benchmarks for the indicators in the SDGs is to meet at least 75 percent of demand for family planning by 2030.

In Nigeria and many other target countries, more women and girls have begun using modern contraceptives but the total number of those utilizing a modern method of contraception is still lower than anticipated and progress towards the target of giving an additional 120 million women access to contraception by 2020 is off track.

The need to revitalise and promote family planning in Nigeria is essential because the challenges facing Nigerian families in the future will be greater when it comes to population issues.

Poverty rates are particularly high among households headed by single women, and childbirth is often the event preceding these households’ poverty spells. Having legal access to birth control as early as possible significantly reduces probability that of women ending subsequently in poverty. Early legal access to oral contraception reduces female poverty measurably according to findings that take into consideration education, employment status, and household composition.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/family-planning-and-poverty-reduction.html

Audi’s R8 Coupé and Spyder models have been equipped with better looks and more strength, making the four-ring supercar offer more power as well as enhanced suspension and steering.

Both versions of the normally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 also received some extra urge. The V10 ‘Performance’ flagship model now produces 456kW and 580Nm (up from 449kW/560Nm) while the ‘base’ V10 gets an even bigger (22kW) power hike, from 397kW/540Nm to 419kW/550Nm.

Against the clock the R8 Coupé and Spyder V10 Performance models would screech from 0-100km/h in 3.1 and 3.2 seconds respectively, with the equivalent base versions taking 3.4 and 3.5 seconds.

The evolutionary curve continues with the R8’s dynamic systems, with modifications to the suspension, ESC stability control and electromechanical power steering. The R8 rides on 19-inch alloys, but customers can order ‘Five-V’ design 20 inch rims.

Key external design changes include a wider grille and front splitter, but what you’ll surely notice first are the flat slits just below the bonnet, first seen on the new A1 hatch.

There is also a wider grille at the back, as well as a new three-part engine cover that’s available in plastic or carbon fibre.

Ascari Blue and Kemora Gray join the exterior paint colour menu, and clients can choose from three exterior packages that add different highlights to the front splitter, side trimmings and diffuser.

The facelifted R8 goes on sale in Europe from the first quarter of 2019 onwards.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/audi-improves-model-with-new-look-more.html

Zimbabwean pastor, Uebert Angel has stated that God never told a woman to love her husband. The pastor buttressed his point by saying that one can never find such instruction in any page of the Bible.

According to him, when a husband fails to give his wife love, she malfunctions because she is created to be loved.

Uebert Angel shared on Instagram:

”DEAR SON .

God NEVER told a WOMAN to LOVE you as a HUSBAND. There is no such instruction in the bible. BUT he told you the HUSBAND to learn to LOVE your WIFE. In short WOMEN were created to be LOVED that’s why when they don’t receive LOVE they MALFUNCTION… .

DAD”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/god-never-told-woman-to-love-her.html

The philanthropist attitude of Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, was recognized and highlighted by Richtopia, a digital periodical that covers business, economics and financial news, based in the United Kingdom, on Wednesday as the richest man in Africa was named as the sixth most charitable man in the world.

Dangote recently endowed his foundation to the tune of $1.25 billion

Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and J.K Rowlings occupied the first three positions, while Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk were in the fourth and fifth position respectively.

Aside Dangote, Tony Elumelu, Chairman of United Bank for Africa, was 11th on the list and these two were the only Nigerians on the lists.

Dangote started his foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, in 1981, with a mission to enhance opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and wellbeing, promote quality education, and broaden economic empowerment opportunities.

Aliko Dangote Foundation was however incorporated in 1994 as a charity in Lagos, Nigeria.

Twenty years later, the Foundation has become the largest private Foundation in sub Saharan Africa, with the largest endowment by a single African donor.

The primary focus of Aliko Dangote Foundation is health and nutrition, supported by wrap-around interventions in education, empowerment and humanitarian relief.

Among many others, it would be recalled that the foundation gave out a whopping N2.5 billion, the same amount the Federal Government also donated, for the purpose of ameliorating the sufferings of the flood victims during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s era.

The Foundation, in line with its mandate to provide relief in times of disaster, spread its philanthropic works beyond the shores of Nigeria with a donation of $1 million to the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

The gesture was meant to support the government’s efforts in providing relief to the victims of the earthquakes that occurred in the country.

The Foundation also recently came to the aid of victims of the communal clash between Yoruba and Hausa traders and residents in Ile-Ife, Osun State with a donation of N50 million and also also donated N500 million as assistance to victims of the fire outbreak that occurred recently in five major markets in Kano.

The Foundation has also been at the forefront of alleviating the conditions of people in IDPs.

The Foundation in 2011 gave the sum of N364 million to IDPs across Kaduna, Bauchi and Gombe States after the post-election violence, which rendered many homeless, while the sums of N100 million and N60 million were respectively donated to victims of flood disaster in Lagos and Oyo States the same year.

Dangote Foundation donated N39.34 million to those IDPs displaced by the communal clash in Benue State in 2014.

While N42.5 million was used in feeding 5,000 IDP households across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States last year, N100 million and N50 million were respectively contributed to the Appeal fund raised by Daily Trust to cater for the IDPs in the North East and to support the Adamawa Peace Initiative all for the IDPs.

The sum of N1 billion was also recently pledged to Victim Support Fund for IDPs across the Northeast.

Through the Foundation, Dangote invested N2 billion to create jobs and end hunger for Borno State residents living in Internally Displaced Peoples camps.

Consequently, the Dangote Foundation came up with a micro grant scheme aimed at empowering the grassroots dwellers with funds to help them undertake petty trading so as to lift their economy.

Already, 256,500 women in states such Kano, Jigawa,, Kogi, Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States have benefited from the scheme that is expected to move round all the 774 local government areas across the nation.

Following the endowment to the tune of $1.25 billion recently by the founder/President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Dangote Foundation has unveiled a new name and logo.

It is now called Aliko Dangote Foundation.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/awesome-aliko-dangote-named-6th-most.html

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Dr Bello Ingawa from Katsina State, and a retired Federal Permanent Secretary, as Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission.

The confirmation, which was through a voice vote, followed presentation of report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its Chairman, Sen. Emmanuel Paulker at plenary.

The Senate also confirmed nine commissioners for new appointment and three other for renewal of appointment.

The commissioners for new appointment are: Moses Ngbale-Adamawa, Waziri Ngurno-Borno, Bello Babura-Jigawa, Ahmed Sarna-Kebbi, Iyabode Odulate-Yusuf-Ogun, Shehu Danyaya-Niger.

Others are: Fatai Adebayo-Oyo, Ejoh Chukwuemeka-Anambra, Joe Poroma-Rivers, while the comissioners for renewal of appointments are: Ibrahim Mohammed-Kaduna, Prof. Aminu Sheidu-Kogi and Simon Etim-Akwa Ibom.

While presenting report of the screening, paulker said the committee interviewed the nominees, scrutinised their credentials and found them fit for confirmation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the renewal of Mr Simon Etim’s appointment generated debate following Sen. Rose Oko’s (PDP-Cross River) objection to his nomination.

Oko said Cross River and Akwa Ibom like other states were paired up in terms of appointment.

She said in the past four appointments, spanning 20 years, appointments for the two states had been on a rotational basis of five years each.

She argued that the rotation was sustained until the renewal of Etim came up, adding that the whole Cross River was agitated over the re-appointment of Etim rather than a new appointment from Cross River.

According to her, the norm has been broken, appealing with the senate to wade into the matter. After much debate, the senate went ahead to confirm him.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, congratulated the chairman and members of the commission, wishing them a successful tenure.

In a similar development, the Senate confirmed Lanre Gbajabiamila as Director-General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission.

The Senate had in May, 2017, asked Gbajabiamila to stay away from office until his appointment was confirmed.

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, gave the order after listening to the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, on alleged assumption of duty by Gbajabiamila without Senate approval. (NAN)

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/senate-confirms-ingawa-chairman-federal.html

The National Organizing Secretary, NOS, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Col. Austin Akobundu (retd) has said that the rumoured defection of the Deputy Senate President, DSP, Senator Ike Ekweremadu to the All Progressives Congress, APC, was the handiwork of mischief makers.

The NOS, in a statement he signed on Wednesday, said, “Ekweremadu is PDP body and soul and is not leaving the party to anywhere”.

He stated that Senator Ekweremadu has made enormous contributions to the party especially during its trying period and “cannot leave at this time when the party has been rebranded and is soaring high to regain power in the country in 2019”.

Akobundu continued: “Senator Ekweremadu who is holding the highest political office in the region is thinking of how to galvanize the geo-political area to massively vote out APC and block any other party in the region.

“Intelligence available to the PDP shows that even those who erroneously joined the APC from the area are now full of regrets with some of them even contemplating a return.”

The NOS charged members of the public particularly members of the party in the South-East not to be distracted but continue in their mobilization to vote in the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar to victory in 2019 and help rescue the country’s democracy.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/pdp-reacts-to-ekweremadus-planned.html

The Federal Lawmaker representing Ovia Constituency in the National Assembly,Hon Omosede Igbinedion has organised a four-day entrepreneurship development training aimed at improving the socio-economic well-being of the people.

The programme which saw hundreds of constituents undergoing various skill acquisition was a huge success.

Congratulating the participants Hon Omosede Igbinedion said it has been her desire even before she became a Member of The House Of Representatives to see to the improvement of the living standard of the people.She said this is a means to ensure that the people do not depend on the government for their daily survival. She pledge that she would keep on doing her best to make life more meaningful for the people.

The participants would receive various grants to enable them start up their small scale business.

In response the participants said they are now better equipped to venture into small scale businesses and thanked their benefactor Hon Omosede Igbinedion and prayed for God to lift her higher in her endeavors.

Over Two hundred people benefited from the developmental programme.

Barrister Omosede Igbinedion has been applauded by the people of Ovia for her various socio-economic interventions to her constituency.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/assurance2019-hundreds-of-ovia.html

Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun has described the process that produced Dapo Abiodun as the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) as selection by the party chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomole and his cohort.

According to him, Oshiomole connived with a cabal in Lagos to write a fake result without recourse to the outcome of the direct primaries conducted in the state.

Amosun made the allegation in an interview on Monday shortly after swearing-in the new Chief Judge, Mosunmola Dipeolu held at the Governor’s office Chamber in Oke-Mosan area of Abeokuta, the state capital.

Amosun also fingered the national leaders of All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Segun Osoba as having roles to play in what he described as fraudulent APC governorship primary.

Corroborating his argument, the embattled outgoing Ogun state governor maintained that the silence of the duo APC national leaders translated to their consenting to the electoral fraud.

“The President already knows there was no election in Ogun State. He knows that they just went to Lagos, write all results, and that what they did is fraud. If the National Working Committee or the National Chairman said there was any election in Ogun State,” Amosun stated.

The outgoing governor, who could not hide his bitterness, insisted that, there were no genuine primaries held and supervised by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

He declared that the only authentic APC primary ever conducted was the one which produced Adekunle Akinlade as its governorship candidate for Ogun state.

“Mr President already knows, there was no election in Ogun State, other than the one we held. The issue of Chief Osoba and Asiwaju and co, what we said was that there was definite silence from their end, and silence means consent.

‘’We have not heard one word from any of them. Was there any election in Ogun State? Yes or No? They should come out and those that are hiding behind one finger, they cannot come out? People at this level should be courageous enough to take position, to come out, to come and tell us whether there was election.

‘’On Governorship, the day they said they did it or not, the one that we had, there was live telecast, people even witnessed it.’’

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/amosun-accuses-oshiomole-tinubu-of.html

Following an early morning inferno that razed Gboko market and reduced it to rubbles, the Paramount ruler of the area has sought the intervention of both the federal and state government in constructing a new market for the town. HEMBADOON ORSAR reports

The recent fire outbreak at Gboko market in Benue state has been blamed on lack of modern fire service and fire fighting gadgets in the market, even as the Paramount traditional ruler of the community seeks the construction of a new market for the town. Though, no life was lost to the fire outbreak that gutted the popular Gboko market saw property worth several millions of naira lost to the incident. Undoubtedly, the unfortunate, but avoidable fire outbreak has brought untold hardships to several traders operating in the market. Lamenting the loss of lives and property to the inferno, the chairman, Benue State Council of Chiefs and Tor Tiv, Professor James Ayatse noted that the planning of the market was without the modern fire service and other fire prevention and mitigating gadgets. The Begha u Tiv who was on a sympathy visit to the victims of the fire outbreak called on the federal government to urgently intervene in constructing an ultramodern market in Gboko to make it a pride of Tiv commerce and trade in the North Central zone of the country.

The monarch promised to prevail on relevant authorities, including the federal and state government as well as critical stakeholders to decongest the market to avoid further fire occurrence. He lamented that the latest fire outbreak in Gboko market has deprived many traders of a means of livelihood. “I am pained by the hardship the affected traders are passing through, but with the hope that God will replenish them a hundred folds,” the monarch said. The chairman of Gboko Local Government, Mrs Becky Orpin commended the Tor Tiv for demonstrating passion and empathy towards the victims of the fire incident.
The council boss urged the monarch to use his royal influence to cause relevant authorities to decongest the Gboko market and provide facilities to curb further disaster at the market.
In their separate remarks, the Tor Jemngbagh, Chief David Afaityo and chairman, Gboko Market Traders Association, Pastor Matthew Amuche, appreciated the concern of the Tor Tiv his words of encouragement to those who lost their property to the inferno.

The Tor Tiv was accompanied on the visit by Tor Jechira, Chief Clement Uganden, Tor Kwande, Chief Ambrose Iortyer, Tor Gwer Chief Julius Aondona, Tor Lobi, Chief Moses Añageende as well as Ter Gboko, Chief Gabriel Gbanongon Shosom, Ter Buruku, Chief Moses Hanior. Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, had during a sympathy visit to the affected traders, directed the Bureau of Internal Affairs to hasten the establishment of fire service units in major towns of the state. Ortom said the measures becomes necessary to prevent fire incidents in the state, and advised traders’ unions to liaise with local government councils to sink boreholes around markets. “The Gboko fire market inferno l learned was caused by electricity upsurge; it would be investigated with a view to preventing future occurrences.
While advising the traders in the market to ensure that fire extinguishers are provided in their shops, the governor also urged them to henceforth get professionals to carry out the electrification of the market.
He announced government’s donation of N20 million to the victims to help mitigate the effect of the damage.

In her remarks, the Chairman of Gboko Local Government, Mrs. Becky Orpin expressed appreciation to Governor Ortom for his concerns for the plight of victims. She appealed for the installation of fire service facilities at the market. Earlier, chairman Gboko Main Market Traders Association, GBOMATA, Mr. Matthew Amauche had said that the fire incident was caused by electricity upsurge and thanked Governor Ortom for coming to provide succour for the victims. LEADERSHIP Sunday recalls that over 40 shops were penultimate Monday razed at the Gboko Main Market in Gboko local government area of Benue state.
The mysterious fire which was said to have started at about 4am, destroyed property worth several millions of naira. Christian Uchendu, a major businessman in Gboko town, said the inferno started from one of the shops which might have sparked as a result of an electrical fault.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/tor-tiv-seeks-construction-of-new.html

In this report, NNAMDI MBAKWE writes on the controversy the recent choice of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, as running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential flag bearer in the forthcoming general elections, is causing in the South east

It is no longer news that the presidential flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has picked a former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi, as his running mate for the 2019 general elections. What is news now is the controversy generated by the announcement that Obi has been chosen instead of some experienced politicians who have contributed a lot to the PDP in the Southeast geo-political zone in the past. Many had expected that stakeholders of the PDP in the Southeast would have jumped at the rare opportunity and Atiku’s large heart to pick a running mate from the Southeast considering the incessant allegation of marginalization of the zone but because some people felt that they should have been consulted, the reverse appears to be the case. Shortly after Obi, who was a chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), before his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was announced as the running mate, stakeholders of the PDP in the Southeast convened an urgent meeting at the residence of the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, to protest their exclusion in the nomination of Obi. Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, PDP Governors Forum in the zone, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, Chis Ubah, among other prominent stakeholders of the PDP in the Southeast attended the meeting which was earlier scheduled to hold at the South East PDP office in Enugu.

Prior to the meeting, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, had through one of his media aides, allegedly congratulated Obi over his emergence as Atiku’s running mate but later retracted the statement after he was allegedly pressurized by some prominent members of the PDP in the zone. The governor apologized to Nigerians and Ndigbo for the statement that earlier congratulated the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, stating that his Chief Press Secretary acted without his knowledge He, however, stated categorically that he has nothing personally against Peter Obi or any other person emerging as the running mate to the presidential candidate of PDP. Umahi insisted that any position zoned to Ndigbo must be discussed and an agreement must be reached so that the right thing will be done in line with the peculiar nature of Igbo politics and their quest for politics of inclusiveness. He stated that he was shocked over the choice of the former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi as the running mate to the presidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, without consulting with the leaders of the zone. The Ebonyi State governor therefore withdrew his earlier statement quoting him as congratulating Peter Obi, adding that the position of the entire South East zone had always been that any position zoned to the South East must be deliberated upon by the leaders of the zone. Although Umahi tried not to betray his emotions, after the stakeholders meeting, the disdain with which he spoke showed that the stakeholders were not too pleased with the emergence of Obi as Atiku’s vice presidential flag bearer. Umahi hinted that they were shocked at the news of a vice presidential slot given to Ndigbo whereas no formal notice to that effect was given but disclosed that Atiku sent them a message that he would come and see them.“We saw news flying up and down saying that our presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has picked a running mate from the zone. We were shocked because we were not consulted “While we were meeting, Atiku sent message that he travelled out of the country for a short period. He promised to come down and meet with South East leaders,” he stated.

Addressing party faithful who could not attend the meeting at the residence of Ekweremadu, at the PDP South east Zonal Office, the Vice Chairman of the party in the South east, Austin Umahi disclosed that they were not aware of the emergence of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi as running mate to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar for the 2019 presidential election. Umahi, a brother to the Ebonyi State Governor, said after their meeting, they concluded that they were not aware of the appointment. Adding that they only heard about Obi’s emergence on the social media. He, however, disclosed that they were not rejecting anybody but restated that they were not aware that Obi had been made the running mate to Atiku. Umahi further corroborated that Atiku had promised to discuss with them over the issue and commended the PDP for a successful National Convention held at Port Harcourt. There was, however, drama at the headquarters of South east PDP in Enugu when some people protested over the inability of the South-East PDP leaders to take a decision on the emergence of Obi and accused some leaders of the party in the South-East of bias. Apparently afraid that opposition against Obi’s emergence may spell doom for the party especially in the Southeast if not contained, former President Goodluck Jonathan waded into the matter and appealed to the South East leaders to sheath their sword and accept Atiku’s choice of running mate, Peter Obi. In a statement addressed to party members, which he personally signed, Jonathan kicked against insisting on obtaining a zonal endorsement for a vice presidential nomination.“The task before us is to build on this firm foundation and momentum by pulling in one direction and working assiduously for the victory of these candidates at the polls. It is against this backdrop that I appeal for calm and understanding in the South East where my attention has been drawn to the fact that some leaders of our party are openly expressing their discomfort with the reported nomination of former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, as Atiku’s running mate. I am told that some of our leaders in the zone have raised issues with the process of consultation that produced the Vice Presidential candidate.

“I affirm that consultation is a key ingredient in every political process. Nonetheless, in the selection of a vice presidential candidate, a presidential candidate is allowed reasonable freedom to select his running mate based on loyalty, trust, experience, temperament and capacity to perform the responsibilities of the office. Anything other than this could create tension and acrimony between the presidential candidate and his running mate, even before the inauguration of the government. “My plea is for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to be given a free hand to choose who he wants to work with as his Vice President without putting him through undue pressure. In this regard, only minimal consultation is required which doesn’t necessarily have to involve full regional review and approval. “We have to be careful not to give the impression that the process of selecting a Vice Presidential candidate cannot progress until a regional stamp of approval is formally procured. The system we are used to right from the First Republic is one that places the choice of a running mate at the behest of the candidate, based on his own convictions on capacity and compatibility,” the statement issued by Ikechukwu Eze, who is Jonathan’s spokesman, read. Lending support to Obi, a former governorship aspirant of the PDP in Anambra State, Mr Osoleka Obaze, said: “His Excellency, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has made the right choice in picking Peter Obi as his running mate. Atiku has just exhibited the ability to make hard- headed decision required of purposeful leaders.” Also commenting on the emergence of Obi, the, Ohaneze Youth Council said: “We are calling on Igbo youths to ensure that the duo of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi make it to Aso Rock in 2019 as President and Vice President. We will reach out to Arewa youths, Ijaw, Middle Belt, Ibibio, Yoruba youths under the Nigeria Ethnic Nationalities Youth Organisation for the success of Atiku and Peter Obi.’’ As Obi’s emergence continues to generate controversies, close followers of political happenings in Nigeria believe that if the aggrieved stakeholders in the South east are not pacified, the PDP may perform woefully in the zone come 2019.
Pics: Atiku, Obi, Umahi

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/atikus-running-mate-and-matters-arising.html

An aspirants for Ado Irepedun federal constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC) Pastor Olayinka Olayemi Daniel has challenged the result of the just concluded APC primaries in the state saying there was no primaries.

He said candidates were handpicked without recourse to the tenets of democracy.

Olayinka who stated this yesterday in Abuja said what transpired in the state was a total rape of democracy without recourse to normal democratic settings.

In a petition to the National chairman of the APC on 10 October, 2019 signed by Olufunsho Isaac (Esq) for Kurina Tunyan (SAN) & Co, he demanded cancellation of the published results.

The petition reads in part ” APC national working committee must as a matter of urgency disregard and declare the published results as fake, untrue and not representing the party’s choice in Ekiti central federal constituency 1, Ekiti state.

“Our client is the most popular, the most acceptable and one who can win election without much ado. He is therefore, the best candidate for this position and should be adopted as the party’s flag bearer for the House of Representative seat in Ekiti central federal constituency 1, in the forth coming general election scheduled to hold in 2019.”

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/aspirant-rejects-ekiti-apc-primaries.html

The federal government yesterday indicated that it was targeting a tighter fiscal plan next year, with a projected budget of N8.65 trillion in 2019.

This was disclosed the minister of budget and national planning, Udo Udoma, during a public consultation on the 2019-2021 Medium Term Fiscal Framework and Strategy in Abuja.

The federal government explained that it would cut the budget from N9.12 trillion in 2018 to N8.65 trillion in 2019. This, it said, is predicated on the need to ensure prudence, reduce deficit and borrowing while laying greater emphasis on revenue drive.

The federal government also said it wanted to reduce the amount of borrowing to finance the nation’s budget deficit in the proposed 2019 fiscal year.

According to the government’s 2019-2021 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), the government will cut deficit in the 2019 budget draft from N1.9 trillion in 2018 to N1.6 trillion in 2019.

LEADERSHIP Friday reports that there had been calls on the federal government to reduce its borrowing and pay more attention to internal revenue generation from the non-oil sector. While approving the federal government’s borrowing request on Wednesday, the Nigerian Senate re-emphasised the earlier call by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to either halt or slow down its debt accumulation.

The government is also proposing 2.3 million barrels per day oil production for 2019, at $60 per barrel oil benchmark for the year. The medium-term revenue and expenditure framework is driven by key parameters and macroeconomic projections, Udoma said.

The federal government proposes national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate at 3.01 per cent in 2019. Nominal GDP is put at 139.65 trillion. The government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) puts 2019 growth rate at 4.5 per cent in the same year.

In response to recent hard knocks from the World Bank on the country’s poor allocation to human capacity building, Senator Udoma assured that priority would be given to human capacity development, with a promise to increase allocations to health, education, pensions and other growth enhancing sectors of the economy.

Speaking at the forum with the organised private sector and CSOs in Abuja yesterday, the minister stressed the need for government to shift attention from borrowing to revenue generation to fund the national budget in 2019.

“We want to reduce deficit and borrowing. We must concentrate on our revenues. We need to get the money today and use it now to solve our problems. We also need to build up the non-oil sector. We need to do much better. Our ratio of taxes collected is still very low. We are looking at how to generate revenue to rely less on debt and rely more on revenue. That is the main focus of our strategy,” he said.

Speaking to concerns that the government’s 3.01 per cent GDP growth is over ambitious, Udoma said, “The economy is strong, confidence is coming up and the direction of movement is positive. However, we are not growing at the pace we ought to be. Our aim is to increase company income taxes.”

According to him, government is trying to make Nigeria more productive by investing in human capacity.

The draft 2019-2021 Medium Term Fiscal Framework shows that Nigeria faces significant medium-term fiscal challenges, especially with respect to revenue generation. Thus, Udoma said key reforms will be implemented with increased vigour to improve revenue collection and expenditure management.

“Achieving fiscal sustainability and macro-fiscal objectives of government will require bold, decisive and urgent action,” he said.

Based on that, the budget minister added: “We must look at ways of squeezing out the maximum we can get from oil because oil is a wasting asset; we need to get the money and use it to solve a lot of our problems.”

Udoma further noted that the government would invest in infrastructure, in human capacity development and in other areas needed in building up the country’s stock of capital.

“We also need to ensure we build up the non-oil sector,” he said.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/fg-proposes-n86trn-budget-for-2019.html

Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, on Thursday said that additional 945 megawatts of electricity, would be added to the national grid before the end of 2018.

Fashola revealed this at the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce breakfast business meeting in Lagos, with the theme: “Power Sector and the Way Forward”.

The Minister said that additional power would be generated to the grid from 450mw Azura Edo plant, 215mw Kaduna power plant, 240mw Afam V power plant and 40mw Kashimbilla hydro plant in Taraba State.

According to him, the power sector had recorded successful improvement in incremental power capacity in generation, transmission and distribution.

“The country power generation, which stood at 4,000 megawatts when we came on board, but today, it has been increased to 7,000 megawatts.

“In 2015, energy transmission was 5,000mw while distribution was at 3,000mw but as at today, we are distributing 5,000 mw on average with 2,000 megawatts stranded.

“We are currently adding an average of 1,000mw of energy yearly to the national grid which implies that we have added about 3,000mw to the generation since we came on board,” he said.

Fashola said the statistics implied that 2,000mw was stranded and must be evacuated for use as more power will be generated in the years to come.

According to him, the government had committed to invest N72billion for the procurement and installation of equipment, to help distribute unused 2,000mw of electricity to consumers in the country.

He said the 2,000mw was from the 7,000mw that Gencos could generate and the 5,000mw that Discos could distribute.

According to Fashola, the Discos have complained about inadequate power to distribute.

Fashola, however, said the problem presently was that the Discos could not distribute all the power that was available.

This, he explained, was leaving the sector with an unused capacity of 2,000mws, with an approximately 1,150 mw projected to come in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

He said that more Independent Power Projects (IPPs) would also come on stream, to boost power supply in the country.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/10/power-supply-945mw-to-be-added-to.html