₦airaland Forum

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma has hinted that President Muhammadu Buhari might not assent to the 2018 budget recently raised to N9.1 trillion by the National Assembly, with additional N501 billion.

Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, Akpandem James speaking to Sun said the N501 billion addition by the legislature might not be feasible.

Udoma said the National Assembly would have to tell Nigerians if they have discovered another revenue stream unknown to the Federal Government to cover the addition.

“When we see the details, we will be in a better position to know how they came about it.

“We will see if they have discovered another revenue stream, which we were not aware of, or just relying on increased crude oil price,” he said.

The senate increased the appropriation Bill from the N8.612 trillion proposed by President Buhari, to N9.12 trillion. The crude oil benchmark price of the budget was also increased from $45 to $50.5.


According to the document laid at the House on Tuesday, N530,421,368,624 was proposed for statutory transfer; N2,869,600,351,825 for development fund for capital expenditure; N3,516,477,902,077 for recurrent (non debt) expenditure while N2,203,835,365,699 is for debt service; and N199bn for maturing loan.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/why-buhari-may-not-sign-2018-budget.html

The Kogi State Government has disclosed that huge loan servicing is responsible for its inability to pay the salaries of its workers regularly.

Kingsley Fanwo, the state Director-General, Media and Publicity, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lokoja.

Mr Fanwo said that the loans were taken by the two previous administrations for projects that did not add value to the state.

He said despite the dwindling resources of the state, the government will remain committed in the payment of salaries even if not as when due.

“Sometimes, we repay between N400 million and N500 million monthly as loans that add no value to the state.

“These loans were taken by the last two administrations and some of them were invested on projects that were never completed.

“When you go out, you will see Kogi Hotels, billions of naira was collected for that project and it was not completed, and it is not adding any value to the state.

“Also, the Kogi House in Abuja has gulped billions of naira, yet, it is not completed, not adding any value to the state.

“The previous administrations collected N200 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) development, which was not used for the purpose intended.

“There is no record of anybody given loan and now we are repaying. So all of these have taken its toll on the resources and finances of the state.

“Despite the poor resources accruing to the state, the government still strive to pay workers’ salaries.

“We cannot shy away from the fact that the resources that is coming to the state now has dwindled due to the loans we are repaying.

“It is increasingly difficult to muster enough resources to pay salaries regularly.

“As I speak with you, we are still owing March and April salaries.

“When you do a comparative analysis of wages in the North Central geo political zone, Kogi pays the highest and despite that, we have been very faithful,” Mr Fanwo said.

He, however, denied allegations that workers were being owed 24 months salary.

He said those peddling the falsehood were the people that benefited from the rot in the state in the past.

“The bailout funds were not gifts from the federal government, it was more or less a loan, so you have to prioritise what you use your bailout funds for.

“So, we used it basically for salaries and we were the only state in the federation that published how we used that bailout funds.


“Transparency and accountability are the hallmarks of this administration,” he added.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/why-workers-are-not-paid-salaries.html

Six persons, including two teachers of the Makurdi Local Government Education Authority, were reportedly killed by Fulani herdsmen near Ikpayongo, Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State.

A source told our correspondent that the victims were among the 10 persons who had gone to assess farmland for rice cultivation under the umbrella of a cooperative society on Wednesday but were ambushed and shot at.

The source said four of the teachers managed to escape with wounds, while six others were killed and their bodies dismembered by the herdsmen.

It was gathered that the remains of the deceased were found on Thursday with the assistance of some security operatives.

Sources from the area gave the names of two of the deceased as Mr Stephen Tavaku, headteacher at St. Mary’s Primary School, North Bank, Makurdi, and Mr. Christian Anankpa, a PhD student of ABU, Zaria, who was the Basic Science teacher, St. Mary’s UBE Junior Secondary School, North Bank, Makurdi.

Emerald Anyaogu, a close associate of Tavaku, while confirming the incident to journalists, said, “I never knew that my meeting with Mr Tavaku in his office that day was going to be the last. I went to see him with some journalists about an issue in the school. He looked so excited that day and attended to them well. He was such a nice man.”

A colleague of Anankpa said, “Ten people, four of whom were teachers, formed the cooperative and went to assess the farmland where they are expected to cultivate rice when the herdsmen pounced on them.

“Four people were able to escape, but on Thursday, we discovered the bodies of the victims. Two of them were teachers.”

Meanwhile, efforts to get the police to confirm the killings failed as the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, did not return his calls.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/again-herdsmen-kill-six-in-benue.html

Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua, fondly known by her stage name, Seyi Shay, has no doubt made a name for herself in the Nigerian music industry.

The talented songstress who lost her mum years back said she wishes that her mum can see everything she has achieved.

Seyi who was born and raised in Tottenham, London, England, to Nigerian parents said:”I just wish she could see everything I’m doing now and see that I haven’t given up despite the setbacks. I believe she will be proud of me”, she said in a chat with Vanguard.

When asked if her mum would have put her under pressures to get married, If she were still alive she said:”Yes, that’s true but then she didn’t put too much pressure on me for that. She told me before she died to make sure I’ve done everything I want to do before I get married and not to allow any man to shatter my dream”.

On why she featured DJs in her EP ‘Electric Package’, the ‘Yolo’ crooner said:”I believe a lot of people sleep on DJs and I really want them to be involved and be part of the process. I want them to play it wherever they are and feel like they own it”.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/i-wish-my-mum-can-see-everything-i-have.html

It appears Nigerian singer, Pelli just threw a shade at fellow musician, Kcee. Sharing a picture showing his six packs which he says he’s still working on, he threw a shade at a fellow singer whom says had six packs photoshopped into his pictures.


Pelli wrote:

Your boy ain’t there yet, but i am willing to put in that work, this 6 packs must form �.. It’s better real, than it being photoshopped like your favorite artist ����‍♂��‍♂

When his post was shared on a popular Instagram blog, many people concluded that he was shading Kcee who recently celebrated his birthday with photos showing him looking bulked up. One thing noticed in Kcee’s pictures is that he now has six packs which look photoshopped. Or what do you think?

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/did-singer-pelli-just-shade-kcee-saying.html

Police move another eight youths to Abuja

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, thursday cautioned Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Ibrahim Idris against linking him and Senate president, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, with the suspected cultists arrested in Ilorin, the state capital, and transferred by the Nigeria Police Force to Abuja.

The IG and Saraki last Wednesday traded words over the recent order to move four out of 17 suspected cultists to Nigeria police force headquarters in Abuja for further investigations on the alleged activities of the cultists in the state.

In a statement issued thursday by the governor’s media aide, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, Ahmed said neither him nor the Senate president or any of their aides have links with the suspected cultists or their alleged activities.

He also denied any knowledge of or intention to harm any individual as the political leadership in the state has never used violence as a political tool.

The statement referred the public to the parade of the suspects by the state commissioner of police, Mr. Aminu Pai Saleh, on May 10, 2018, in Ilorin, during which he announced that the suspects were arrested for alleged murder and membership of cult groups but made no mention of any confessional statement linking their activities to any sponsors.

Ahmed described the alleged killings as the outcome of clashes between rival cults in the state as most victims have been identified by security agencies as members of cult groups.

The governor emphasised that the growing problem of cultism and cult-related criminalities formed the basis of his charge to the new Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Saleh, to focus on ending the menace on his resumption last month.

According to him, the state government sees cultism as a serious security issue requiring urgent attention.”

He said the government has accordingly amended the state cultism law to prescribe stiffer penalties for convicts and those who aid and abet them, besides providing operational support to all security agencies in the state in their fight against all forms of criminalities, including cultism.

Ahmed warned that cultism is a serious security challenge which should neither be trivialised and turned into a political tool nor be treated with levity.

He urged well-meaning Nigerians to disregard any attempt to politicise the menace of cultism but focus instead on joining hands with the government and security agencies to bring the menace to an end in the interest of public safety while allowing the rule of law and justice to prevail in the matter.

Meanwhile, some All Progressives Congress (APC) youths in Kwara South senatorial district of Kwara State yesterday raised the alarm over alleged intimidation of its members by the federal government as a result of the outcome of the just concluded ward congresses held in the state.

Already, they claimed eight persons including the youths leader of the Irepodun Local Government Council, Hon. Samson Bada, the Speaker of the local government who is also Chairman, Councillors Forum in the state, Hon. Habeeb Abdulkadir, among others have been arrested, detained and moved to Nigeria police headquarters, Abuja for further investigations.

Speaking at a press conference in Ilorin yesterday, the youths leader of the senatorial district, Mr. Tomiwa Kolawole, accused the minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed of the brain behind the arrest of his members.

He said the minister visited the Inspector General of Police in Abuja on Monday where he allegedly orchestrated the arrest of his members.

Muhammed, according to him, was said to be angry over the dismal performance of his candidate in the last ward congress in the state where his candidate scored 36 votes while the Saraki’s candidate scored 453 votes during the Oro Ward 2 in Irepodun Local Government Council of the state.

In his reaction yesterday, Muhammed denied the allegation. In a statement issued and made available to journalists in Ilorin, the minister said, “the arrest has nothing to do with the ward congress in his hometown of Oro. After all, suspected cultists were also recently arrested and paraded by the police in Ilorin.”

He said the police, in the exercise of its constitutional responsibility, do not need to be goaded by anyone to carry out arrests where necessary.

Concerning the outcome of the election in his Oro Ward 2, Muhammed stated that his observations on the conduct of the election has been made known to the appropriate party authorities in line with his strong belief in the rule of law.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/dont-link-me-or-saraki-to-criminal.html

By Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
The Ijaw community in Abuja, Wednesdaycelebrated the heroics of Maj. Isaac Adaka Boro 50 years after his demise.
Boro, born on September 10, 1938 was an undergraduate student of Chemistry and a Student Union President at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, before he left school to lead an armed protest against the exploitation of oil and gas resources in the Niger Delta areas which benefited mainly the Federal Government of Nigeria and Eastern region at the expense of the Niger Delta people.
He believed that the people of the area deserved a larger share of proceeds of the oil wealth, and this prompted his decision to form the Niger Delta Volunteer Force, an armed militia with members consisting mainly of his fellow Ijaw ethnic group.
The group declared the Niger Delta Republic on February 23, 1966 and fought with federal forces for 12 days before being defeated, and Boro and his comrades were jailed for treason.
The administration of General Yakubu Gowon granted him amnesty on the eve of the Nigerian civil war in May 1967, and later enlisted and was commissioned as a major in the Nigerian army.
He fought on the side of the federal government but was killed under mysterious circumstances in active service on May 9, 1968 at Ogu (near Okrika) in Rivers State.
Speaking at a rally held in his honour in Abuja, the Chairman Ijaw Youth Council, Abuja Chapter, Ebizimor Preye, said Boro gave an Ijaw man a true definition in the entire Nigeria, saying that the rally was aimed at marking his 50th remembrance.
When asked if what he died for has been realised today, he said: “Basically, those are the questions we are asking today as Ijaw nation. If what Boro fought for has been really achieved. Today, we use this as a point of contact to reach out and to still remember what he fought for and place ourselves strategically because the era of armed struggle is beginning to fade off and the society is changing. It is time the Ijaw youth place themselves strategically to see how these things can be achieved.”
Preye noted that the Abuja chapter of the council has established the Ijaw Youth Consultative Forum, a developmental arm, to come up with a working document to engage the government in addressing the problems facing the Ijaw nation.
Also, the Chairman of Ijaw Youth Community, Abuja, Chief Onimim Batubo, said the rally was aimed at celebrating their legend and the founding father of the Ijaw struggle.
He stated: “Today is a day of mourning and celebration because Boro has given hope to an average Ijaw man that has a voice today in Nigeria context. That is why we are all here to make sure of that.”
Batubo believed that 10 per cent of what he fought for has been realised, stressing that part of his struggle made former President Goodluck Jonathan to become the president.
“My expectation is for the federal government to look more into the plights of the people of Niger Delta because we produce what is making this country work and we should be able to benefit from what is coming out of our soil,” he said.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/50-years-after-ijaw-community-in-abuja.html

The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Mohammed Danmallam, on Tuesday warned that no `trigger-happy’ Policeman would go unpunished in Enugu State Police Command.

Danmallam gave the warning in Enugu while reacting to an incident that occurred along Aninri axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Police patrol team on duty, allegedly shot at a moving lorry with Registration No DNG 612 XA; which resulted to the death of one of the passengers.

The commissioner said that he had ordered a full-scale investigation by the state Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department (CIID) into the unfortunate incident, adding that those behind the incident had been arrested.

According to him, policemen are always guided by relevant orders concerning the use of firearms and as a policeman, you must be professional in your handling of firearms.

Danmallam, however, regretted the inconveniences caused by the alleged incident which brought about the blocking of roads to other road users by those in sympathy with the alleged victims of the incident.

“I am assuring members of the public that those behind the incident will not go unpunished, if found wanting,’’ he said. (NAN)

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/no-trigger-happy-policeman-will-go.html

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, has expressed optimism that President Muhammadu Buhari would be re-elected in the 2019 presidential election.

Ngige spoke on Sunday at Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra, while addressing newly elected local government officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area.

The minister said Buhari had done so well to merit re-election.

“I stand before you today to say Mr President has done so well in all ramifications.

“He will be returned by Nigerians in 2019 in a landslide victory,” he said.

Ngige, who noted that the party would contest all elective positions in the general elections, urged party faithful to work hard to ensure that the APC scores not less than 70 per cent of the votes cast in the state.

He commended the party members for ensuring a smooth and peaceful local government congress held in the 21 local government areas of the state on Saturday.

“Contrary to what the prophets of doom had expected, the APC in the state had a hitch-free local government congress,” he said.

The National Treasurer of APC, Chief George Moghalu, also commended the party for the peaceful conduct of the congress in the state.

“I am very optimistic the same good conduct will be witnessed during the state congress,” Moghalu said.

Other stakeholders that spoke at the event pledged to work in unity and harmony to ensure victory for the party in the 2019 general elections.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/2019-ngige-speaks-on-buhari-re-election.html

Former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid would be difficult in 2019 due to his failure to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.

Bafarawa who stated this in an interview with Garkuwa Radio, maintained that Buhari’s failed to improve the nation’s economy while the security situation has worsened in the past two years.

He, however, noted that the living standard of Nigerians had worsened in the last three years with wanton killings in some parts of the country.

The former governor said, “As far as I am concerned, it will not be easy for Buhari to win election in 2019. He has not fulfilled the promises made to the people while their living conditions have worsened.

“In fact, had it been he met the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians, things would be easy for him and I will have no reason whatsoever to contest for the presidency.”

Bafarawa added that, “It is very disheartening that all those who supported Buhari to win the presidential election had been abandoned. Infact, his close associate, Malam Buba Galadima, is still in pains for being neglected by Buhari.

“I played a major role in the emergence of Buhari as the candidate of the defunct ANPP in 2003 but today we are no longer together.

“I have not decided whether to run for the presidency in 2019. Of course people have been urging me to contest but I will make my decision at the right time.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/2019-bafarawa-reveals-why-buharis-re.html

Latching on to his presidential mandate, Francis Ndubuisi writes that the new helmsman at the Amnesty Office, Prof. Charles Dokubo, has hit the ground running

The recent appointment of Professor Charles Quaker Dokubo, by President Muhammadu Buhari, as the new Special Adviser/ Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme is giving a sense of hope to the Amnesty Office and its beneficiaries as well as stakeholders.

The president had removed the former Coordinator, Brig-Gen Paul Boroh (Rtd), following several petitions from beneficiaries and other stakeholders of the programme. Announcing the appointment of Dokubo, the president, had in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, directed the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-Gen Babagana Monguno (Rtd), to fully investigate the activities of the Amnesty Office from 2015 to date, with special focus on allegations of financial impropriety alleged to have been committed by the former managers of the programme.
Stakeholders in the Niger Delta have applauded the choice of Dokubo for the job, saying he is eminently qualified to refocus the programme to become more impactful.

Born in Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government of Rivers State where he had his primary and secondary school education, Dokubo is well aware of the pains, challenges and expectations of the people of the Niger Delta. He also brings to the job a solid academic grounding. He was appointed into the Amnesty office from his position as the Director of Research and Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA). He received a Masters Degree in Peace Studies and a doctoral degree in Nuclear Weapon Proliferation and its control from the University of Bradford. He started out as a lecturer in the Department of Research and Studies of the Institute and rose to become the director before his new appointment. Dokubo has published extensively and carried out research in the area of nuclear proliferation, conflict resolution and other areas related to strategic analysis.

Stakeholders believe that with his academic background and exposure, he is adequately equipped to drive the very critical reintegration of the thousands of former militant agitators in the Niger Delta who have already been disarmed and demobilized under a structured Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Programme.

Expectedly, since assuming office, Dokubo has been busy cleaning the Augean Stable at the Amnesty Office, which was known to have been ran down by his predecessor. “The president and indeed all Nigerians expect a much more robust and impactful Amnesty Programme… That is why we must continue to do all that is within our powers and collective competences to improve this programme based on lessons we have so far learnt,” he said during the recent inauguration of an operational review committee for the Amnesty programme. “I wish to use the opportunity of the inauguration of this committee to underscore the compelling need to recalibrate and reboot the Presidential Amnesty Programme to meet current realities in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large,” he added.

The inauguration of the committee itself was a major take off point for the rebooting of the programme. Dokubo summed up the importance of setting up of the committee to his mandate by describing it as, “a major step in the on-going efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari to deepen peace, safety and security in the Niger Delta, using the instrumentalities of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for former agitators in the region.”

While further explaining the necessity for the committee, he noted that he received the hand – over notes of his predecessors as well as written briefs by the heads of the various departments of the Amnesty Office when he took over some weeks ago and had carefully gone through the documents: “I dare say, however, that these documents left lots of questions unanswered,” the new helmsman said.

The review committee is comprised of four senior officials from the Amnesty Office and four experts carefully selected from outside of the office. The inclusion of key departmental heads in the Amnesty Office in the committee, it must be observed, is a confirmation that the new Amnesty boss is not set out for a witch-hunt of his predecessor and those he worked with.

The committee is saddled with the task of reviewing all contracts awarded by the Amnesty Office since 2015 with a view to determine the levels of work done, monies paid, beneficiaries and extent of work done so far and thereby recommend a payment schedule for those qualified to be paid; determine financial assets and liabilities of the Amnesty Office; carry out a thorough assessment of all departments in the office and offer useful suggestions on how to improve on the performance of these departments moving forward; undertake a thorough personnel audit with a view to ascertaining the number of persons currently working in the Amnesty Office and the suitability of all personnel for the offices they currently occupy; and determine the current status of all the Vocational Training Centers built or are still under construction across the states in the Niger Delta.

In addition, the committee is also saddled with the task of ascertaining the current status of the database of the Amnesty Office with a view to determining its certainty and sanctity; determine the current status of all on-going vocational, educational and post-training empowerment programmes of the office within the country and offshore; and also to undertake an assessment of the current relationship between the Amnesty Office and the Presidential Amnesty Programme’s critical stakeholders with a view to suggesting ways of making the relationships even more robust. The committee is to recommend programme or policy reviews, where necessary at the end of its assignment.

However, the unwieldy documents with maze of dizzying figures and claims were not the only burden handed over to Dokubo on assumption of office. The former lecturer also had the misfortune of inheriting an Amnesty Office that looks more or less like a market place with many employees having no clear definitions of their job schedules. It was gathered that the workforce became grossly over bloated because the past administration gave in to pressure from politicians for employment of all manner of persons.

Dokubo at a recent meeting confessed that he was shocked at the large number of persons working in the office and decried a situation where many of the staff members have no schedules of duty or sitting spaces. Many of these personnel hired by his predecessor were also found to be grossly unfit for the positions they were employed for. Some of the employees spend their days in the office watching movies or simply loafing around because they have no desks to report to. Indeed, it was estimated that under the immediate past administration, more than 20 per cent of the employees did not have desks.

Dokubo made it very clear that he was not going to work with the unwieldly arrangement on assumption of office. In anyway, the continuous reduction in allocations to the Amnesty Office has also brought in the imperative of cost cutting. He began the process of recalibrating the office with a memo informing all contract staff, who are also known as Reintegration Consultants, of their disengagements from their positions or duties on 16, April. He also announced the engagement of a new Lead Reintegration Consultant for the programme following in the footsteps of his predecessors after approval of the federal government. The new Lead Reintegration Consultant was saddled with the responsibilities of hiring, deploying as well as remunerating personnel on behalf of the office. But even at that, Dokubo did not throw away the baby with the bath water because in the memo, he also encouraged the disengaged consultants to re-apply for their jobs through the Human Resources (HR) firm that was engaged to handle personnel appraisal.

Interestingly, many of those who reapplied got their jobs back after going through rigorous tests that were overseen by the HR firm. Those who scaled the hurdle have since returned to work.
The review committee has also rounded off its work and submitted a voluminous report to Dokubo. While expressing his appreciation to members of the committee, the new Coordinator noted that their findings and recommendations would go a long way in shaping the policy direction of the office under his administration.

“While waiting for this committee to complete its assignment, I took out time to acquaint myself with critical components of the Amnesty Programme and I have indeed learnt a whole lot in the past few weeks. Given my own personal findings and the report this committee has just submitted to me, I can safely say that I am now fully equipped to hit the ground running,” he said.

The Professor also announced that in line with ongoing retooling of the programme, he would embark on series of consultative meetings with critical stakeholders. “The idea is to hear directly from the beneficiaries of the programme on how to make it more effective and much more impactful,” Dokubo averred.

Even then, indications are that stakeholders in the Niger Delta are in agreement that with his appointment, it is already looking like a new dawn for the ex-agitators and beneficiaries of the amnesty programme.

This is a verdict borne out of the fact that despite inheriting a liability said to be in the region of over N7 billion the new coordinator has been able to fast track payments of the monthly stipends and backlogs of in-training allowances to beneficiaries of the programme in educational and vocational institutions in Nigeria and outside the country. He has also emphasized that all hands must be on deck if the objectives of the programme as a critical component for the sustenance of peace and development of Niger Delta is to be achieved.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/with-dokubo-amnesty-programme-gets-new.html

Award winning singer, Simi might be in trouble owing to theft of intellectual property for the song she released in 2017, “Joromi”.

It may be recalled that Sir Victor Uwaifo released a song which soared in his time, titled;’Joromi’.

It became a hit and was recognized by all in 1969. He has now cried out that the song has become a victim of intellectual property theft as Simi failed to give credit to him when she released her own version in 2017.

Uwaifo, during an interview with SaharaReporters, made the shocking revelation at the Annual General Meeting of Copyright Society of Nigeria COSON, in Lagos.

The former commissioner for arts and culture in Edo State described copyright and Intellectual property theft as a very serious issue in Nigeria, saying it must be dealt with urgently as it is reducing the creativity of the new generation of musicians.

he noted that the process of making music has now significantly changed from what it used to be in his time, as “more mediocres” are now in the game.

This is coming just a few days after her rumoured boyfriend, Adekunle Gold called out Nollywood producers on social media for using his song in a low budget movie without his consent

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/sir-victor-uwaifo-simi-is-in-trouble.html

Successful applicants who are shortlisted in the ongoing Police recruitment exercise will undergo aptitude tests to be conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, an official has said.

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of training, Mr. Emmanuel Inyang, disclosed this during an inspection of the ongoing recruitment exercise at the Akwa Ibom Command in Uyo on Friday.

He noted that applicants would undergo several medical examinations, after which the healthiest would be shortlisted for the next round of the recruitment exercise, which is the aptitude test.

The officer said that in all, 133,000 persons applied for recruitment, but that 6,000 candidates will be taken overall.

“The total number of those that have applied for the Police job is about 133,000. They are going through screening all over the country.

“Out of this figure, we are only going to take the best 6,000 candidates,” Inyang disclosed.


http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/shortlisted-police-recruits-to-write.html

Consumers of alcohol contents are usually advised to drink responsibly, not because it would make the producers wealthier, but solely because of the health of the consumers.

A young man aged 30, identified as Amos, has gotten far more than he bargained for as he loses his life to excessive alcohol consumption. The deceased allegedly decided to swim in his drunken state and reportedly drowned inside Atabong river in Eket area of Akwa Ibom.


According to reports, he had attended the opening of a funeral house in town, and was offered free bottles of alcohol as a guest but he drank himself to stupour owing to the availabilty of free drinks.


Thereafter, he decided to take a cool bath inside Atabong river, on Sunday evening as he normally does.

Eyewitnesses said he only swam for few minutes and was not seen again. An alarm was raised to rescue him but he was no where to be found. His dead body was later spotted on Tuesday as his body was long decomposed.


May God grant the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear their loss

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/drunk-man-drowns-while-swimming.html

Nigerian singer Davido is proving to be the biggest artiste in the Nigerian music industry and entertainment industry at large with is flashy lifestyle and expensive items he buys.

Davido recently bought a Porsche car for his girlfriend Chioma few days ago which was the talk of the nation and now he has announced that he just bought a private jet.

2018 is kind of becoming the best year for the singer as good things keep coming his ways.

He won the best artiste of the year in Headies 2018 awards, scooped best African artiste in Ghana awards and many other awards coming his way this year.

Davido had announced signing a multi-million deal for Chioma few days ago and he also signed his personal deal with Infinix worth hundreds of million.

Sharing the news on social media he wrote ““Air OBO soon land!! THIS ONE NAH FINAL.” Davido wrote.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/davido-acquires-private-jet-names-it.html

Two midwives and a nurse abducted By the Abu Musab Albarnawi faction of the Boko Haram at Rann, in Kala Belge local government area of Borno State, northeast, Nigeria have written to President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Kashim Shettima, the UNICEF and the International Committee of Red Cross, ICRC, to rescue them from captivity.

In a letter, hand written, sent to Mr. Ahmed Salkida and made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday, the trio said, ”We are pleading and begging with heavy hearts to our humble president Muhammadu Buhari to hear our cry for mercy and look into our situation and vindicate us from this captivity,”

Also, a message for the Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima reads: “To our Excellency Governor Kashima Shettima, the local Government Councils and the entire people of our dear nations to hear our cry and help us in anyway and get us out of here so that we can be reunited with our families.”

“To our able organisations, please hear our cry for mercy. We are really helpless and hopeless, please rescue us and vindicate us, our families need us back and the entire nation at large,” the letter added.

The three health workers — Mrs. Alice Loksha Ngaddah, a nurse and mother of two; Hauwa Mohammed Liman (midwife) and Saifura Husseini Ahmed (midwife), said, “With heartfelt gratitude, we wish to extent our warm greetings to our dear families, relations and the entire people of our nation. We are the Nurse/Midwives that were captured by Junudul Khalifa under Abu Musab Albarnawi.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/rann-attack-abducted-nurse-midwives.html

The General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has once again criticized President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Bakare said APC has failed to deliver on its change mandate.

“APC promised change, but it appears the people have been shortchanged, don’t promise what you cannot deliver.

“APC’s right leg is CPC, left leg is ACN, right hand is ANPP, left hand is a faction of PDP, and right at the head we don’t know how many chromosomes are there.

“The problem is that the Nigerian populace don’t know their right from their left,” the cleric said.

He also took a swipe at Buhari, stating that a leader must “stand shoulder high above the perversity of his generation”.

“Any leader that calls himself a person of integrity, a patriot, someone who wants society to change cannot be like others, he must stand shoulder high above the perversity of his generation,” Bakare added.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/apcs-right-leg-cpc-left-hand-faction-of.html

Former Governor of Kaduna State and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi has condemned the recent killings in Gwaska, Kaduna State.

Makarfi in a statement issued by his media aide, Mukhtar Sirajo, warned that the situation could degenerate into a breakdown of law and order if the government fails to restore peace in the affected areas.

According to him, security agencies are helpless in taming the security challenges in parts of the country.

He further called for more deployment of men and materials to tackle the menace.

The statement read , “Senator Makarfi believes that government exists principally to provide security to the people; failure to rise up to this responsibility is therefore a recipe for anarchy which we can ill afford now.

“Governments at all levels as well as agencies responsible must therefore restore people’s confidence by doing all it takes to not only secure the area and others so afflicted, but also ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

“The frequency, impotence as well as impunity with which bandits raid communities in some parts of the country and leave unchallenged is a source of worry for all patriotic Nigerians. The latest of such brazen violations of the peace and security of the people, which occurred in Gwaska of Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, which itself was the second time under a week, is becoming one too many.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/makarfi-reacts-kaduna-killings-says-fg.html

Says Buhari’s Second term will further divide, impoverish Nigerians
Secondus: EFCC out to tarnish my name

By Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo not to belittle his high office by allowing himself to be used as poster boy to bandy figures and make unsubstantiated statements against the opposition.

PDP in a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Nigerians, particularly the younger generation, were thoroughly disappointed in Osinbajo for allowing himself to be used to divert attention “from the impunity and corruption that saturate the All Progressive Congress APC-led federal government.”

While reacting to the comments made by the vice president at the APC ward congress in Lagos, PDP said as a professor of law, and an occupant of the exalted seat of the vice president of the country, Osinbajo should know better than allowing himself to be used to bandy figures and make unguarded statements at public events.

“We note that the vice president has refused to heed wise counsel and accord respect to his office by desisting from such unguarded comments only because he has been sucked in and entangled in the propaganda, deception, impunity and sleazes that not only brought their administration to power, but have become its trademarks in the last three years,” it said.

PDP said Nigerians should note that all assertions by the vice president, especially on the performance of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration as well as his allegations and bandying of figures against the opposition, have remained unsubstantiated.

The party further said Osinbajo, in his ‘sanctimony,’ has been silent on the exposed corruption under the Buhari administration, including the leaked memo detailing N9 trillion corrupt oil contracts at the NNPC, exposed sleazes in oil subsidy deals, diversion of Internally Displaces Persons (IDP) intervention funds.

According to the PDP, other alleged sleazes under APC watch include the probe of a misappropriated N18billion in National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) under his direct supervision as well as other looting in government agencies such as the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

“The vice president is also ominously silent about the prevailing high-handedness and human rights violations and the aloofness of the government resulting in daily bloodletting in various parts of our country,” it added.

Also, the PDP said if President Buhari is allowed by Nigerians to come back after a horrible first term, he will further divide and impoverish the people.

The opposition party said President Buhari’s first term score card showed anti-people policies and failure to serve the good of the ordinary citizens, contrary to what he would want Nigerians to believe when he spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) ward congress in Daura, Katsina State last Saturday.

It said it was unfortunate that the same President, who, in an interview with Voice of America (VOA) last week, could not present any agenda to justify his re-election bid, is attempting to sway Nigerians with cosmetic patriotism.

“What President Buhari’s handlers fail to understand is that Nigerians, being direct victims of his misrule, are aware that the harsh and reckless policies of his incompetent administration, coupled with his body language, are expressly responsible for the untold economic hardship, ethnic division and daily bloodletting currently ravaging our nation,” it said.

According to the PDP, if indeed the president was out to serve, as he claimed at the APC congress, he should show any of his 2015 campaign promises that he has fulfilled or any development project initiated and implemented to the benefit of the people in the last three years.

“President Buhari’s second term agenda is directly a quest to continue to enrich the presidency cabal, promote nepotism and protect cronies and corrupt members of the APC from the long arms of the law.

“President Buhari’s second term is also a quest to continue to ignore and destroy democratic principles; to continue trampling on the rights of citizens and persecution of opposition and perceived political opponents; to continue the derailing of democracy with manifest disdain for constitutional order; to continue with the intimidation and harassment of the legislature and the judiciary; perpetuation of mediocrity in governance; de-marketing Nigeria at international fora and to blame everyone else but himself for manifest incapacity to govern.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, has frowned at the action of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which he said has continued to link him to have collected money from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), when the matter is already before the court.

Secondus in a letter sent to the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, complained bitterly of the continued linking of his name with collecting money from Dasuki when nothing of such ever happened.

Secondus had through a letter Ref. No: EESE&C/02/03/05/1 and dated May 3, 2018 titled: ‘Re: Mention of Prince Uche Secondus on the list of Looters of Nigeria Economy,’ written by his lawyer, Emeka Etiaba (SAN) and which was copied to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation as well some foreign missions in Nigeria insisted that he never collected or sent anybody to collect on his behalf money at any time from the former NSA.

In a statement by his media Adviser, Ike Abonyi, the PDP boss expressed fear that the continued listing of his name might be a deliberate ploy by the commission to implicate him, scandalise his name in a desperate attempt by the ruling APC to suppress him, dent the credibility of our great party which is being rebranded by him.

The letter reminded the EFCC that the issue concerning Secondus is already in court and wondered why the commission should not approach the court with its evidence if any than continuously indulging in the media trial.

It drew the attention of EFCC to the suit before the Chief Judge of Rivers state in Port Harcourt where an interlocutory order was granted against the defendants and same restrained them from further publishing the name of Secondus.

The letter also drew the attention of the commission to the injunction order published in the dailies as ordered by the court a copy of which was attached to the letter to the commission.

“The said publication by the minister has become a subject matter of Suit No: PHC/1013/2018 in Secondus Vs. Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Federal Government of Nigeria and Vintage Press Limited (publishers of The Nation Newspapers). The above Suit is pending at Court 1, High Court of Rivers State, Holden in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and same has been adjourned to the May 28, 2018 for hearing.

“Having regard to the fact that the subject matter has become subjudice and having drawn the attention of the commission to the facts contained in this letter, it is our hope that the subsisting order of court should be obeyed and if the commission has evidence of collection of money from the office of the NSA by our client, (as an agency of the federal government which is the second defendant in suit No: PHC/1013/2018), the commission should avail such information to the federal government for its defence of the suit.

“Our client wishes for the umpteenth time to state that he neither collected money from the office of the National Security Adviser nor instructed anybody to collect money on his behalf. He also wishes to state that he never had a Special Assistant by name Chukwurah who is being touted as the one that collected the sum of ₦200,000,000 on his behalf.

Finally, the letter said, “Our Client hopes that the ongoing scandalisation of his name is not a ploy by the commission to give effect to the desperate attempt by the federal government to intimidate him and destroy his credibility and that of the PDP as well as other opposition leaders as the general elections approach in the pretext of war against corruption.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/dont-turn-to-propaganda-poster-boy-pdp.html

So Terrible! A man identified as William, who hails from Ile Onisa Quarters, was said to have slept with his daughter, threatening to kill her, if she told anybody about the incest.

Sources in Emure told reporters yesterday that the mother of the girl had separated from the suspect, following irreconcilable differences.

The mother was said to have left with the younger siblings and the deceased remained with her father.

She was said to be responsible for cooking for her father and taking care of the home following the departure of the mother.

The protruding belly of the deceased was said to have turned William to an object of ridicule in the community as locals said the late girl was never known to have any boyfriend in her lifetime nor was she promiscuous.

William was caught on Sunday at a spot where he was allegedly digging the grave to secretly bury the daughter after allegedly strangling her to death.

He was reportedly taken to the town’s palace where the chiefs were said to have advised the angry residents not to take the law into their hands.

The body of the deceased was said to have been deposited in a mortuary as the controversy rages in the town.

An Emure resident, who gave her name as Anike, claimed that William in a bid to cover up the crime of serial rape of his daughter took her to his farm located in Aba Iso area of the community and allegedly strangled her to death with the unborn baby.

Anike said:

“We are sure Williams killed his pregnant girl so as to cover up his crime because the girl’s pregnancy was already becoming very conspicuous and everyone knew that it was her father, who slept with her.”

Another resident, Omodele said: “It took us a while before we were able to apprehend William and drag him to the Oba’s palace.”

Contacted, police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi said the matter had not been reported to the state police command headquarters.

https://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2016/09/so-terrible-50-year-old-father-kills.html

A Female member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG who incidentally is also a worker recently reported that she was disgraced and sent home for wearing a very tight short gun to church.

The Nigerian lady said her pastor tagged her dressing as too “Short and Figure Hugging” to the church. The lady who took to her twitter page to share the news, Wrote:

“I was disgraced and sent home for wearing this to church… Worker in #rccg.”

What do you think readers?

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/why-i-was-disgraced-suspended-and-sent.html

No fewer than 500 local traders and shanty owners within the runway of Asaba International Airport were in the early hours of Thursday sacked by task force officials of the Delta State Ministry of Environment.

In what appeared to be a Melo-drama, the task force officials accompanied by armed policemen, descended on the traders with horse whip, while equally destroying hundreds of makeshifts erected within the airport under the supervision of the Commissioner for Environment, Barr. John Nani.

Speaking to MC EBISCO, the commissioner said; “The state government had earlier served the traders quit notice, but instead of relocating, they started erecting makeshifts along the Airport runway; such is illegal activity; we are acting on the mandate of the state Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa to demolish all illegal structures within Asaba Airport runway, and around. We have no apology for our action.”

Expressing worries over what he described as inimical hazards the traders’ illegal activities pose to the environment and the sensitive nature of the Airport, the Commissioner said that the traders in deviance littered the Airport with sachets of pure water, including used tissue papers, disclosing the traders’ negligence to comply accordingly with the quit notice they were earlier served, informed the action of the task force officials.

He said; “Despite earlier warning and an extended period of grace, the traders in an affront on the law, commenced their business activities,” adding that such acts of insubordination gave rise to the raid.

Barr. Nani explained that the illegitimate occupants have converted facility of the Airport into their private estate, and market place, therefore accommodating dissidents and persons with questionable character, including commercial sex workers.

But some of the traders whose property were destroyed by the task force officials told MC EBISCO that they refused to relocate because they had no other means of livelihood, and that government was not ready to provide employment for their children, or their husbands.

The leader of the traders, Mrs. Edith Ndukwe said; ‘We have nothing else to be doing, this is where we make a living for our family, our children; no employment; where do we go from here? Task force officials have destroyed our property worth millions of Naira”.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/what-delta-govt-did-to-trader-in-asaba.html

Nigerian Nollywood curvy actress Daniella Okeke has done what she knows how to do better once again as she flaunts her backside in new photos.

The actress who is really proud of this are natural God given killer gift is never shy of showing it off in the delight of her fans.

In her recent photos, Daniella adored the Fendi designer’s tight dress that really made her curves visible.

This explosive looks was complimented with a nice pair of black high level boots that gave her the killing final look.

Daniella Okeke is a Nigerian actress. In 2013, she starred as "Joke" in Lagos Cougars, a role that earned her the Best Actress in a Leading Role nomination at both the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards and 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/daniella-okeke-curves-explodes-in-fendi.html

Former Big Brother Naija 2018 housemate, Ifu Ennada has showered praises on fellow ex-housemate, Cynthia Nwadiora popularly known as Cee C.

Ennada took to her Instagram page to describe Cee C as a true definition of a mighty strong woman.

She wrote: “My #WCW is @ceec_official for a number of reasons. We were not the closest of friends in the #Bbnaija house, but something about you stood out.

“I remember the times you wanted to tell me your story and how we could make a movie out of it. You said you had always gotten everything you wanted thanks to your awesome dad, but had some struggles that shaped you in certain ways. You never told me these things, but I could relate to you in some ways because of my past… I like how you’re out and doing big things. I like how you’re very warm and receptive.

“I like how you left all that happened in the house back there and you’re becoming the true definition of a Mighty Strong Woman. So many things could break a woman, but you stand strong and show no weakness.

“The other day you asked me if I still do my shutouts… Well, here’s one – Shout outs to your father, he’s your biggest cheerleader! He reminds me of my dad. Everyone should have a dad like yours. You’re a Beautiful CeeC and I wish you nothing but the best! Cheers, Ifu”.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/bbnaija-2018-ifu-ennada-lauds-cee-c-as.html

The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) New Era on Tuesday enjoined people of Benue and Kogi States and other states experiencing killings of innocent Nigerians by suspected herdsmen to henceforth reject it by defending themselves.

OPC New Era while condemning what it described as ‘lackadaisical’ attitude of President Muhammadu Buhari towards finding a lasting solution to the problem, added that the current government in Nigeria is a complete failure when it comes to security.

The group in a press statement signed by Comrade Razak Arogundade (President) and Comrade Adeshina Akinpelu (Public Relations Officer) condemned President Muhammadu Buhari for failing in his constitutional responsibility of protecting the life of an average Nigerian.

The duo, however, suggested that, “time has come for people to find other alternatives to defend themselves”.

They added that, “How can you preside over the affairs of a Nation when you cannot protect the life of an average Nigerian? The Fulani herdsmen are killing innocent members of the public with impunity and yet your government is on a daily basis defending them, coming up different ridiculous excuses.

“As a Yoruba pressure group, we are appealing to Nigerians especially people of Benue, Kogi and some parts of the country which have been experiencing recurrent killings by Fulani herdsmen to find alternative ways of defending themselves”.

Speaking further, OPC New Era also warned the marauding herdsmen to steer clear of Yorubaland.

“OPC New Era is using this medium to warn these terrorists called ‘Fulani herdsmen’ to steer clear of Yorubaland because we are prepared to protect our people from any form of attack. Government at various levels in Southwestern part of Nigeria should support OPC and other pressure group to defend and protect our people from these criminals”.

The group while commensurating with government of Oyo state and the people of Ibarapa geo-political zone over the demise of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Adeyemo, however, urged the state government to continue to give the people of the zone its due politically.

The statement added “The group also commiserated with the people and government of Oyo state over the untimely demise of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Michael Adeyemo.

“We are also using this medium to commiserate with the people and government of Oyo state, especially the people of Lanlate over the demise of Honourable Michael Adeyemo. We are saddened by this unfortunate incidence and we pray to God to give his immediate family, Lanlate people and the entire people of Oyo state fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

“We are also using this medium to appeal to the Governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to continue to give Lanlate and Ibarapa people their dues politically. Most roads in Ibarapa are in bad shape and we are appealing to Governor Ajimobi to do something urgent about this and also look into other areas that require the attention of the State government in Ibarapa”.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/defend-yourself-against-killer-herdsmen.html

Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) has assured that it can put a permanent end to the herders/farmers’ crisis in Benue State.

The group in a statement signed by its National President, Alhaji Sale Bayari, accused other herders’ associations of inciting and escalating the crisis in Benue through their provocative, subjudiced utterances while the matter was still in court, adding that “these have elicited threats and reactions from tribal associations in Benue State.”

GAFDAN said, “Our association, having played no such role, has the confidence of both the herdsmen, the security agencies and the farmers, to intervene as a law-abiding association to put out the fire, douse the tension, and bring about lasting peace to Benue State and other states affected by the bloodletting conflict.”

The group recalled the role its leader, Bayari played as the secretary of the Sultan’s Tiv farmers/Fulani cattle Rearers Relationship Committee under the chairmanship and co-chairmanship of the Late Emir of Gombe, Alh Shehu Abubakar. and the Late Tor Tiv, Dr. Torkula Akawe respectively, which exhaustively addressed farmers/herders protracted crisis‎ by identifying and proffering peaceful measures to the crisis.

“With this experience, the association believes that it has the capacity‎ to intervene and put in all the necessary measures to ensure that peace and order returns to Benue and other affected states.

“The monumental loss of lives and collateral damage of property is unacceptable.

“If the crisis is not brought to an end, it could engulf the entire country and results in ethno-socio-religious conflict that politicians may inflame further to cause a national upheaval,” the group added.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/we-can-end-herdsmen-killings-in-benue.html

General Ibrahim Badamosi (rtd) GCFR

We need a national rebirth: The Older Generation Must Give Way For The Youths,We have become analogue – IBB

TOWARDS A NATIONAL REBIRTH

In the past few months and weeks, I have played host to many concerned Nigerians who have continued to express legitimate and patriotic worry about the state of affairs in the country.

Some of them have continued to agonize about the turn of events and expressly worried why we have not gotten our leadership compass right as a country with so much potential and opportunity for all.

Some, out of frustration, have elected to interrogate the leadership question and wondered aloud why it has taken this long from independence till date to discover the right model on account of our peculiarities. At 57, we are still a nation in search of the right leadership to contend with the dynamics of a 21st century Nigeria.

Having been privileged to preside over this great country, interacted with all categories of persons, dissected all shades of opinions, understudied different ethnic groupings; I can rightfully conclude that our strength lies in our diversity.

But exploring and exploiting that diversity as a huge potential has remained a hard nut to crack, not because we have not made efforts, but building a consensus on any national issue often has to go through the incinerator of those diverse ethnic configurations.

Opinions in Nigeria are not limited to the borders of the political elite; in fact, every Nigerian no matter how young or old, has an opinion on any national issue. And it is the function of discerning leadership to understand these elemental undercurrents in the discharge of state responsibilities.
WHERE WE ARE

There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria is at a major crossroads at this moment in its history; the choices we are going to make as a nation regarding the leadership question of this country and the vision for our political, economic and religious future will be largely determined by the nature or kind of change that we pursue, the kind of change that we need and the kind of change that we get.

A lot depends on our roles both as followers and leaders in our political undertakings. As we proceed to find the right thesis that would resolve the leadership question, we must bear in mind a formula that could engender national development and the undiluted commitment of our leaders to a resurgence of the moral and ethical foundations that brought us to where we are as a pluralistic and multi-ethnic society.

Nigeria, before now, has been on the one hand our dear native land, where tribes and tongues may differ but in brotherhood we stand, and on the other hand a nation that continues to struggle with itself and in every way stumbling and willful in its quest to become a modern state, starting from the first republic till date.

With our huge investments in the African emancipation movements and the various contributions that were made by our leadership to extricate South Africa from colonial grip, Nigeria became the giant of Africa during that period. But having gone through leadership failures, we no longer possess the sobriety to claim that status.

And we all are guilty.

We have experimented with Parliamentary and Presidential systems of government amid military interregnum at various times of our national history. We have made some progress, but not good enough to situate us on the pedestal we so desirously crave for.

It is little wonder therefore that we need to deliberately provoke systems and models that will put paid to this recycling leadership experimentation to embrace new generational leadership evolution with the essential attributes of responsive, responsible and proactive leadership configuration to confront the several challenges that we presently face.

In 2019 and beyond, we should come to a national consensus that we need new breed leadership with requisite capacity to manage our diversities and jump-start a process of launching the country on the super highway of technology-driven leadership in line with the dynamics of modern governance. It is short of saying enough of this analogue system.

Let’s give way for digital leadership orientation with all the trappings of consultative, constructive, communicative, interactive and utility-driven approach where everyone has a role to play in the process of enthroning accountability and transparency in governance.

I am particularly enamored that Nigerians are becoming more and more conscious of their rights; and their ability to speak truth to power and interrogate those elected to represent them without fear of arrest and harassment. These are part of the ennobling principles of representative democracy.

As citizens in a democracy, it is our civic responsibility to demand accountability and transparency. Our elected leaders owe us that simple but remarkable accountability creed. Whenever we criticize them, it is not that we do not like their guts; it is just that as stakeholders in the political economy of the country, we also carry certain responsibilities.

In the past few months also, I have taken time to reflect on a number of issues plaguing the country. I get frightened by their dimensions. I get worried by their colourations. I get perplexed by their gory themes.

From Southern Kaduna to Taraba state, from Benue state to Rivers, from Edo state to Zamfara, it has been a theatre of blood with cake of crimson. In Dansadau in Zamfara state recently, North-West of Nigeria, over 200 souls were wasted for no justifiable reason.

The pogrom in Benue state has left me wondering if truly this is the same country some of us fought to keep together. I am alarmed by the amount of blood-letting across the land.

Nigeria is now being described as a land where blood flows d to dry up. Almost on a daily basis, we are both mourning and grieving, and often times left helpless by the sophistication of crimes.

The Boko Haram challenge has remained unabated even though there has been commendable effort by government to maximally downgrade them. I will professionally advise that the battle be taken to the inner fortress of Sambisa Forest rather than responding to the insurgents’ ambushes from time to time.
THINKING ALOUD

In the fullness of our present realities, we need to cooperate with President Muhammadu Buhari to complete his term of office on May 29th, 2019 and collectively prepare the way for new generation leaders to assume the mantle of leadership of the country.

While offering this advice, I speak as a stakeholder, former president, concerned Nigerian and a patriot who desires to see new paradigms in our shared commitment to get this country running. While saying this also, I do not intend to deny President Buhari his inalienable right to vote and be voted for, but there comes a time in the life of a nation, when personal ambition should not override national interest.

This is the time for us to reinvent the will and tap into the resourcefulness of the younger generation, stimulate their entrepreneurial initiatives and provoke a conduce environment to grow national economy both at the micro and macro levels.

Contemporary leadership has to be proactive and not reactive. It must factor in citizens’ participation. Its language of discourse must be persuasive not agitated and abusive. It must give room for confidence building.

It must build consensus and form aggregate opinion on any issue to reflect the wishes of the people across the country. It must gauge the mood of the country at every point in time in order to send the right message. It must share in their aspirations and give them cause to have confidence in the system.

Modern leadership is not just about “fighting” corruption, it is about plugging the leakages and building systems that will militate against corruption. Accountability in leadership should flow from copious examples. It goes beyond mere sloganeering.

My support for a new breed leadership derives from the understanding that it will show a marked departure from recycled leadership to creating new paradigms that will breathe fresh air into our present polluted leadership actuality.

My intervention in the governance process of Nigeria wasn’t an accident of history. Even as a military government, we had a clear-cut policy agenda on what we needed to achieve. We recruited some of the best brains and introduced policies that remain some of the best in our effort to re-engineer our polity and nation.

We saw the future of Nigeria but lack of continuity in government and of policntinuity in government and of policies killed some of our intentions and initiatives. Even though we did not provide answers to all the developmental challenges that confronted us as at that time, we were not short of taking decisions whenever the need arose.
GROWING INSECURITY ON OUR HANDS

The unchecked activities of the herdsmen have continued to raise doubt on the capacity of this government to handle with dispatch, security concerns that continue to threaten our dear nation; suicide bombings, kidnappings, armed banditry, ethnic clashes and other divisive tendencies.

We need to bring different actors to the roundtable. Government must generate platform to interact and dialogue on the issues with a view to finding permanent solutions to the crises. The festering nature of this crisis is an inelegant testimony to the sharp divisions and polarizations that exist across the country.

For example, this is not the first time herdsmen engage in pastoral nomadism but the anger in the land is suggestive of the absence of mutual love and togetherness that once defined our nationality. We must collectively rise up to the occasion and do something urgently to arrest this drift.

If left unchecked, it portends danger to our collective existence as one nation bound by common destiny; and may snowball into another internecine warfare that would not be good for nation-building.

We have to reorient the minds of the herdsmen or gunmen to embrace ranching as a new and modern way to herd cattle. We also need to expand the capacity of the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Army, the Navy and Air Force to provide the necessary security for all.

We need to catch up with modern sophistication in crime detection and crime fighting. Due to the peculiarity of our country, we must begin community policing to close the gaps that presently exist in our policing system.

We cannot continue to use old methods and expect new results. We just have to constructively engage the people from time to time through platforms that would help them ventilate their opinions and viewpoints.
THE CHANGE MANTRA

When the ruling party campaigned with the change mantra, I had thought they would device new methods, provoke new initiatives and proffer new ways to addressing some of our developmental problems.

By now, in line with her manifesto, one would have thought that the APC will give fillip to the idea of devolution of powers and tinker with processes that would strengthen and reform the various sectors of the economy.

Like I did state in my previous statement late last year, devolution of power or restructuring is an idea whose time has come if we must be honest with ourselves. We need to critically address the issue and take informed positions based on the expectations of the people on how to make the union work better.

Political parties should not exploit this as a decoy to woo voters because election time is here. We need to begin the process of restructuring both in the letter and spirit of it.

For example, I still cannot reconcile why my state government would not be allowed to fix the Minna-Suleja road, simply because it is called Federal Government road, or why state governments cannot run their own policing system to support the Federal Police.

We are still experiencing huge infrastructural deficit across the country and one had thought the APC-led Federal Government would behave differently from their counterparts in previous administrations. I am hesitant to ask; where is the promised change?


LOOKING AHEAD

At this point of our national history, we must take some rather useful decisions that would lead to real development and promote peaceful co-existence among all the nationalities.

We must be unanimous in what we desire for our country; new generation leadership, result-driven leadership, sound political foundation, demonetization of our politics, enhanced internal democracy, elimination of impunity in our politics, inclusiveness in decision-making, and promotion of citizens’ participation in our democratic process. The search for that new breed leadership must start now as we prepare for 2019 election.

I get worried when politicians visit to inform me about their aspirations and what you hear in terms of budgetary allocations for electoral contest does not cover voters’ education but very ridiculous sub-heads.

A typical aspirant in Nigeria draws up budget to cover INEC, Police, Army and men and officers of the Civil Defense, instead of talking of voters’ education, mobilization and sensitization.

Even where benchmarks are set for electoral expenditure, monitoring and compliance are always difficult to adhere to. We truly need to reform the political system. And we must deliberately get fresh hands involved for improved participation.

We need new ways and new approaches in our political order. We need a national rebirth. We need a rebranded Nigeria and rebranded politics. It is not so much for the people, but for the institutions that are put in place to promote our political engagements.

We must strengthen the one-man, one-vote mantra. It is often ridiculous for me when people use smaller countries in our West Africa sub-region as handy references of how democracy should be. It beggars our giant of Africa status.

The next election in 2019 therefore presents us a unique opportunity to reinvent the will and provoke fresh leadership that would immediately begin the process of healing the wounds in the land and ensuring that the wishes and aspirations of the people are realized in building and sustaining national cohesion and consensus.

I pray the Almighty Allah grant us the gift of good life to witness that glorious dawn in 2019. Amen.

I have not written an open letter to the President, I have just shared my thoughts with fellow compatriots on the need to enthrone younger blood into the mainstream of our political leadership starting from 2019.

SIGNED FOR AND ON BEHALF OF GENERAL I.B.BABANGIDA, GCFR.

PRINCE KASSIM AFEGBUA

MEDIA SPOKESMAN

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/full-text-of-ibbs-letter-to-president.html

Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh reportedly received the sum of N5MILLION from an unidentified person(s).

The actress took to her Instagram page to report the misplaced fund.

She writes:

“Who ever paid 5million into my Acct. God bless you Oo �❤ #Ps:- I hope this isn’t a mistake ooo, cause you will ruin my day. I hate refunding money ���#KING TONTO�

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/05/missing-n5m-tonto-dikeh-receives-fund.html

Winner of Big Brother Naija 2018 reality television show, Miracle has finally received the cheque of 25 Million from the organizers of the programme.

Miracle was presented his cash worth of 25 million Naira and a car on Monday.

The presentation was done at the BBNaija Press Conference held in Lagos.

Miracle emerged winner of the just concluded reality show tagged, “Double Wahala” after beating 19 other participants to the grand prize.

Photos…

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/04/bbnaija-2018-miracle-finally-receives.html

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari’s health won’t pose any problem to his re-election bid in 2019.

Mohammed said the President was fit to seek re-election in 2019, stressing that there was nothing to fear about his health.

Speaking during his tour of media houses in the United States, US, Mr. Mohammed also declared that Buhari’s administration had done well and recorded so many achievements in less than three years.

Mohammed said Buhari would find his campaign much easier in 2019 because his campaign will be achievement-based.

According to Mohammed, “I think the exchange has been quite robust. We’ve spoken on a wide range number of issues from security to the economy to the fight against corruption.

“In particular, the interview dwelt more on insecurity and also they were interested to know why the president wants to seek re-election and whether he is fit to run given the concerns about his health.

“Of course, I explained to them that it is those who have a morbid fear about president coming back in 2019 that are flying this kite about his health.

“But his health is very good, since he came back in August, he’s feeling very well, he’s never missed one single Federal Executive Council meeting or cancelled any schedule and his schedules have been very hectic.

“He has faced his presidential duties with vigour, urgency and purpose. Therefore, there’s nothing to fear about his health.”

The Minister insisted that most people, who have raised the issue of the President’s health, were not being sincere.


He added, “Mr President, yes was ill, has recovered very well, so on the grounds of his health, there’s nothing to fear about his health.

“Of course I told them that he’s going to campaign largely about his achievements in the areas of economy, fighting corruption, investing in people and that we are very confident that the people of Nigeria, whose lives has touched, will respond positively.

“And by the time his campaign starts, I think he would have even more to speak about in all the areas he promised during 2015 campaign.

“He can beat his chest and say ‘I have delivered on revamping the economy, I have delivered on fighting insecurity, I have delivered in fighting corruption’.

“He’s only going to consolidate on these things in his second term.”

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/04/2019-lai-mohammed-speaks-on-buharis.html

As the succession battle rages across the country, the South-east is becoming a zone to watch, especially with the peculiar drumbeats of war coming from Imo State where Governor Rochas Okorocha has firmly thrown his weight behind his son-in-law. Christopher Isiguzo writes

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, states in the South-east geopolitical zone are becoming politically charged as far as the governorship seats are concerned. Apart from Anambra State where there will be no governorship election in view of the conduct of same late last year and the return of incumbent Governor Willie Obiano for a second term, the other states in the zone will be going to the polls to elect new helmsmen.

At the moment, the governors of Abia, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu; Ebonyi, Mr. Dave Umahi; and Enugu, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, all of who belong to the Peoples Democratic Party, will be seeking second terms. But their counterpart in Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, is expected to hand over to a new governor following the completion of his statutory two terms.

In view of their second term dreams, the focus in the three states of Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu is, without doubt, on the incumbent governors who have, expectedly, been receiving endorsements from different groups and individuals.

Endorsement
Perhaps, the real battle royal will take place in Imo State, where Okorocha has thrown his hat into the ring to ensure that his son-in-law, and his present Chief of Staff, Chief Uche Nwosu, succeeds him next year. That decision has put the eastern heartland on the edge, as many people in the state see it as an affront on their collective psyche.

Before the idea of Nwosu’s governorship in 2019 surfaced on the social and traditional media late last year, many observers had thought the governor was preparing his longstanding aide and Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, who hails from Mbieri in Mbaitolu Local Government Area to succeed him. It was the general belief that supporting his deputy would address the issue of zoning in the state. But Okorocha has allegedly told Madumere to go for the Owerri senatorial zone ticket, while he contests for the Orlu senate seat.

Zoning
Since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999, nobody from Owerri zone, which has nine out of the 27 local government areas in the state, has governed the state. Their only time on the governorship seat was in 1992, when Chief Evan Enwerem governed for a few of months. Enwerem hailed from Ikeduru Local Government Area.

In 1999, Chief Achike Udenwa from Amaifeke in Orlu Local Government Area and Chief Ebere Udeagu from Okigwe governed the state for eight years and in 2007, handed over to Chief Ikedi Ohakim from Isiala Mbano and Mrs. Ada Okwuonu from Mbaise. The team was, however, defeated in 2011 by Okorocha from Ideato South and Jude Agbaso (deputy) from Owerri North Local Government Area. Agbaso was later impeached before the end of Okorocha’s first term and was replaced by Madumere, a known ally of the governor.

The implication of the above scenario is that while Orlu Zone, with 12 local government areas, would have governed the state for 16 years by the time Okorocha completes his tenure in May next year, Okigwe has done four years, leaving Owerri zone with nothing, except the deputy governorship slot and in some cases the speakership of the House of Assembly. This situation has worsened the already charged atmosphere, as the people of Owerri zone are insisting that they can no longer remain by the side-line and watch while other zones are busy cornering what ordinarily should belong to three geopolitical cousins.

For the sake of equity, fair play, and justice, a school of thought believes that power should go to Owerri zone or in the worst-case scenario, Okigwe zone, but definitely not Orlu zone. It is for this reason that tension appears to be rising in Imo State following the endorsement of Nwosu from Nkwere in the same Orlu zone to succeed the incumbent governor. Not only are the people upset that the anointed one is more like a family member of the Okorochas, they are also uncomfortable that he still hails from Orlu zone.
That has remained the major talking point in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Fight to the Finish
The belief in some quarters is that Madumere’s determination to seek the governorship seat instead of the senate seat as proposed by his boss is a sign of rebellion against the governor. But the deputy governor has since dismissed such idea as a lie.

“Make no mistake to believe that I am in the race for personal vendetta, God forbid,” Madumere said recently. “I bear no grudges. At least you all know that I have served meritoriously and that by my training, I am now a seasoned administrator with exposure like no other. I have operated at the higher echelon in the private sector starting from corporate America to Nigerian private sector and then to the public sector and by the Grace of God, I have excelled in every responsibility I have been assigned to handle together with the ones I took up for myself.”

On his part, Nwosu does not seem to be worried with the backlash trailing his endorsement by his father-in-law. “Most people have even replaced my name by son-in-law,” he was quoted as saying. “When people want to score cheap political points, they refuse to mention Uche Nwosu and stick to son-in-law. Does being a son-in-law stop me from being who I am? Does it stop me from doing what I ought to be doing? So, it has become a sin to be a governor’s son-in-law.”

Nwosu added, “People tend to forget that what the people really need is somebody that will change their lives for the better, somebody that can effect the much-needed change, somebody who can put food on their table, somebody who can bring a new innovation, and not somebody who will be making noise and shouting son-in-law. As Uche Nwosu, I have carved a niche for myself and that credit should not be lost on my opponents.”

In the meantime, several known politicians from mainly Okigwe and Owerri senatorial districts have thrown their hats into the ring, threatening to thwart Okorocha’s bid to install his protégé as governor. Even though 20 out of the 27 members of the Assembly have endorsed Nwosu, opposition to his candidature has continued to mount.

The succession battle also seems to have torn the ruling APC in the state apart, with some party leaders opposed to the governor said to be fine-tuning their strategies to thwart the governor’s desire. The opposition elements within the party led by Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, it was gathered, have already established a presence in all the political wards in the state. The main battle ground, according to findings, will be the forthcoming congresses of the party. It is said that the governor’s camp is not leaving anything to chance, as plans are said to be underway to ensure that his own people emerge as ward, local government and state officers of the party.

Another plan that could facilitate the emergence of Nwosu as governor, many believe, is the proposed local government election. It was gathered that the state government had fine-tuned plans to install loyalists as ward councillors and council chairmen.
However, a top official of the Imo State Government told THISDAY that the choice of Nwosu as a possible successor to Okorocha was not the governor’s unilateral decision.

The official, who preferred anonymity, said, “We all agreed that Nwosu fits the bill. The fact that he is the governor’s son-in-law does not remove the fact that he is very capable to steer the ship of the state after Okorocha. The man in question has carved a niche for himself and has over the years demonstrated his readiness to lead the state to the next level. I can assure you that in an open contest, Nwosu will floor all his opponents, including the deputy governor.”
He added, “Besides, all these issues revolving around zoning arrangement don’t hold water. When did Imo start respecting zoning? When Udenwa became governor, he contested and defeated those from other zones. When Ohakim ran for governorship, people from other zones ran against him. When Okorocha contested, it was also against people from other zones. Now that Uche Nwosu is contesting, some people suddenly woke up from slumber and are playing the zonal cards. It cannot fly.”

Aberration
But an APC chieftain in the state, Chief Obed Iheoma, told THISDAY that it would be an aberration for another Orlu man to govern the state in 2019 after the zone had held the position for 16 years. Iheoma advised Okorocha to reduce the building tension in the state by supporting his deputy who he said had remained loyal to the governor for about 25 years.
“I am really surprised that it has become almost an unwritten law that governors don’t allow their deputies to succeed them,” he said.
At the moment, the political atmosphere in the state is charged. But that does not seem to faze Okorocha. His opponents have also dug their heels in. Only time can tell how things will pan out.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/04/tense-easterly-gale-from-imo-as.html