The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has expressed appreciation for the support he received during the governorship primaries of the party.

Adeleke garnered 1569 votes to defeat his closest rival, Akin Ogunbiyi who polled 1562 votes.

In a message he personally signed, Adeleke affirmed that there was no winner and no vanquished, urging party unity and solidarity among the contestants and their supporters.


The full statement reads: “I send very big congratulations to everyone in the Osun PDP family. We have once again blazed the trail by demonstrating to all undemocratic forces how powerful the will of the PEOPLE can be. We have proved that PDP is a party of true democrats determined to take Osun people from poverty to prosperity.

“I must specially acknowledge the support and contributions of Hon. Albert Adeogun, Akogun Lere Oyewunmi, Professor Aworemi and Mr Olawale Rasheed; aspirants who energized our campaign with their endorsements and active support.

“I congratulate Alh Fatai Akinbade, Rt. Hon. Bello Adejare, Mr Nathaniel Oke (SAN), Mr Kayode Oduoye, Prof. Durotoye and Mr Ayombo Adewopo for their energetic campaign and mobilisation of our teeming party members.


“I congratulate Dr Akin Ogunbiyi and his hard fighting team for running a good and impressive campaign. It was a brotherly contest in our collective strive to redeem our state, It is therefore no gainsaying that we are all winners.

“My emergence as the governorship candidate of our great party marks the beginning of divine liberation of our dear people from repression and oppression.

“Today is a great Day! I thank TEAM IMOLE and our committed delegates for their steadfastness and undying passion.

“The end of phase 1 has come and the start of the great battle to fully liberate our people through the forthcoming general elections must commence.

“I commend and thank our Elders, Leaders and Party Executives from ward to the State level, especially our Chairman; Hon Soji Adagunodo for the robust management of this complex primaries election. It is now time for unity and I extend my hand of fellowship to ALL stakeholders.

“Please let us all work together in the best interest of our party and the good people of Osun who keenly and earnestly look up to us for their liberation and empowerment.

“Once again, congratulations to the PDP Family and the good people of Osun state”.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/osun-guber-adeleke-finally-speaks-on.html

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has stated that the tempo of the killings arising from farmers-herders crisis was going down.


He also said that the government was committed to ending the incessant clashes once and for all.

Mohammed urged Nigerians in the diaspora not to believe everything they read on social media about happenings in the country.


Addressing the staff of the Nigerian Embassy to the United States in Washington DC, the Minister advised them to download the FGN-iAPP on their mobile devices in order to have access to authentic Nigerian news.

Alhaji Mohammed said the federal government recently launched the National Campaign Against Fake News in order to stem the spread of false and misleading information, which is capable of threatening the peace and security of the country.

The Minister, who interacted with past and current senior US government officials and stakeholders in the US policy on Africa, under the auspices of the think tank Atlantic Council, said the picture being painted in some circles of an ethno-religious crisis in Nigeria was far from the truth.


”Despite such crises as the farmers-herders clashes and communal conflicts, Nigerians – for the most part – are living together harmoniously. Nigeria is not at war,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/farmers-herders-clashes-killings-have.html

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the newly elected governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi to prioritise the payment of workers salaries in his second tenure.

Congress President, Ayuba Wabba, who gave the charge in Abuja yesterday in a letter of congratulation to the governor-elect, said his election is a reflection of popular wish of the people.

While urging Fayemi not use his victory as a pay back time, Wabba said he must see his re-election as an opportunity to complete the work he started during his first tenure.


Wabba opined that Fayemi’s election by the Ekiti people confer on them the right to ask question particularly on electoral promises made to them during the electioneering campaigns.

“There are other compelling needs of Ekiti people on the basis of which they will look up to you.

They shall be acting within their civic rights and responsibility if and when they hold you accountable to your promises. Our responsibility to your government would be no less.

We therefore urge you to give your utmost best,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/nlc-urges-fayemi-to-prioritise-payment.html

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the protection of human rights is a cardinal objective of the Buhari Administration, and that the violation of rights is not a government policy.

Addressing a High-Level Roundtable organized by the Atlantic Council, an American think tank on international affairs, in Washington, DC, on Thursday, the Minister said the picture of impunity and complete disregard for extant laws and international obligations painted by Amnesty International, in a recent report, is not a true reflection of the character and ethics of the Government of Nigeria or any of its agencies.

Since the counter-insurgency war started in 2009, Amnesty International has issued periodic reports on alleged human rights violations by the Nigerian military, with the latest of such reports bordering on violations of human rights and International Humanitarian Law by the Nigerian Armed Forces and other government agencies.

Alhaji Mohammed told the Roundtable that the government has taken several measures to address human rights violation in the course of the counter-insurgency operations, including the establishment of Human Rights Desks in all military formations, the quarterly Human Rights/Military Dialogue, Training on Mainstreaming Human Rights into
Counter-Insurgency Operations, and Court Martials of officers indicted for human rights violations.

”Very soon, the Federal Government will adopt a National Policy on the Protection of Civilians in conflict situations to further strengthen and entrench its constitutional practice of Protection of Civilians,” he said.

The Minister also spoke on the counter-insurgency operations, insisting that Boko Haram has been badly degraded hence it is incapable of carrying out organized massive attacks beyond using women and children to carry out suicide bombings against soft targets.

”Many have queried how we could say Nigeria is winning the battle against Boko Haram when the insurgents have continued to carry out deadly attacks. However, to understand this, it is necessary to put things in context. When President Buhari was being sworn into office 29 May 2015, 24 Local Governments making up a territory three times
the size of Lebanon were firmly in the hands of Boko Haram. They hoisted their flag, collected taxes, installed their own Emirs and administered a large swath of territory. That is history now as not an inch of Nigeria’s territory is being administered or controlled by Boko Haram.

”Before the advent of this Administration, Boko Haram could carry out attacks anywhere in the North East and beyond at a time of their own choosing. They attacked the UN Complex, the police headquarters, motor parks and a military barrack in the capital city of Abuja. That is now history.” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed also told the Roundtable that the incessant farmers-herders clashes were neither religious nor ethnic in nature, as they have been portrayed in some circles.


”There is no question that this (conflict) is driven mostly by an increased contest for dwindling natural resources like land and water. This has been worsened by demographic pressure and climate change. Nigeria’s population in 1960 was 45 million, and this has ballooned to about 200 million in 2018, but the available resources have not grown at all. If anything, they have shrunk.

”As desertification continues to encroach and the Lake Chad that provided a livelihood for over 35 million in several countries shrank from 25,000 to 2,500 square kilometers, herders in particular are forced to move south in search of grazing land and water for their cattle,” he said

The Minister said beyond the main causative factors, however, disgruntled politicians and beneficiaries of corruption, who have vested interest in undermining the Buhari Administration through any means necessary, have latched on to the conflict.

He cited two instances to buttress his assertion that the ethno-religious slant given to the clashes constitutes a false narrative.

”The northern state of Kebbi is predominantly Muslim and Fulani. Yet, 70% of those who are in jail in the state are there over farmers-herders clashes. Yet, the herders are Muslim and Fulani, and the farmers are Muslim and Fulani. There can therefore be no ethno-religious basis for these clashes.

”Also, the northern state of Zamfara is the hotbed of cattle rustling, which perhaps has claimed more lives than the farmers-herders clashes in the entire middle belt. Yet, those rustling cows are Muslim and Fulani, and those whose cows are rustled are Muslim and Fulani. Therefore, to impugn ethnicity and religion into these clashes is simplistic at best and downright mischievous at worst,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

The High-Level Roundtable, which was convened by the Africa Centre of the 57-year-old think tank, was attended by about 30 current and former senior US government officials, as well as other stakeholders
in the US Policy on Africa.

The participants included retired Gen. William E. Ward, former Commander, US Africa Command; former US Ambassador to Nigeria Robin Sanders; Ms Florizelle Liser, President and CEO, Corporate Council on Africa; Mr. Thierry Dongala, Senior Advisor, House Foreign Affairs Committee; Mr. Trevor Keck, Deputy Head of Policy, International Committee of the Red Cross and Dr. EJ Hogendoorn of the International Crisis Group’s Africa Programme.

The Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Ambassador Sylvanus Nsofor, led a team of the Nigerian Embassy officials to the one-day event.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/buhari-is-serious-about-protection-of.html

Senator representing Kogi West District in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, has spoken on the alleged assassination attempt on his life on Thursday.


The Senator had arrived Kogi State on Wednesday and was in his constituency to commission over 143 projects scattered across the seven local government areas that formed the district.

On his way to Isanlu in Yagba East local government council to commissioned some projects, some gunmen prevented him from entering the town.


Melaye met road block with heavy truck shortly before Isanlu as the gunmen also set up bonfire with tyres blocking any one moving into the town.

The Senator, who noticed the antics of the gunmen, turned back to Ayetoro-gbede with his entourage.

At Ayetoro-gbede, some uniformed security personnel allegedly fired shots on his jeep.


Speaking on the alleged assassination attempt, the lawmaker wrote on his Twitter handle: “I thank God for sparing my life once again. Over 20 bullets holes on my jeep. Combination of police, SARS and military. God I thank you.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/dino-melaye-confirms-assasination.html

Oshodi -Apapa Expressway turned to football pitch by tanker and truck drivers after blocking the expressway with their vehicles. What a country!!!

More photos at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/photos-oshodi-apapa-expressway-turned.html





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsHBdLkpOts

Telecommunications consumers in Africa are said to be the ones bearing the brunt of high spectrum fees in the region, as untold cost are passed to them.This is even as it has been revealed that about four billion people across the globe are still very much offline.As such, better spectrum pricing policies are needed in developing countries to improve the economic and social welfare of the billions of people that remain unconnected to mobile broadband services.

According the GSMA in a new report titled: ‘Spectrum Pricing in Developing Countries’, released by the Association, on Tuesday in Kigali, Rwanda, at the ongoing GSMA Mobile 360 – Africa conference, the study revealed that spectrum prices in developing countries are, on average, more than three times higher than in developed countries, when income is taken into account.

GSMA stressed that this high spectrum pricing is a major roadblock to increasing mobile penetration.Authored by GSMA Intelligence, the study also found that governments are playing an active role in increasing spectrum prices to maximise state revenues from spectrum licensing.

According to the report, high spectrum prices are linked to countries with high levels of sovereign debt, and alarmingly average reserve prices in spectrum auctions are more than five times higher in developing countries than in developed, once income is accounted for.

The report also identified a link between high spectrum prices and poorer coverage, as well as more expensive and lower quality mobile broadband services, all of which hinder the take-up of services by consumers.

Head of Spectrum, GSMA, Brett Tarnutzer, said: “Connecting everyone becomes impossible without better policy decisions on spectrum.“For far too long, the success of spectrum auctions has been judged on how much revenue can be raised rather than the economic and social benefits of connecting people. Spectrum policies that inflate prices and focus on short-term gains are incompatible with our shared goals of delivering better and more affordable mobile broadband services. These pricing policies will only limit the growth of the digital economy and make it harder to eradicate poverty, deliver better healthcare and education, and achieve financial inclusion and gender equality.”

The GSMA study assessed over 1,000 spectrum assignments across 102 countries (including 60 developing and 42 developed countries) from 2010 through 2017, making it the largest-ever analysis into spectrum pricing in developing countries, as well as the drivers and their potential impacts of spectrum pricing on consumers.GSMA informed that setting high final prices administratively or setting high auction starting prices (e.g. reserve prices), artificially limit the amount of licensed spectrum available.It noted that not sharing a clear spectrum roadmap, and setting poor auction rules are some of the policy decisions that are also driving high spectrum prices in developing countries.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/consumers-bear-high-spectrum-costs-in.html

The police are parading 22 suspected members of Boko Haram with three commanders alleged to have participated in the abduction of Chibok schoolgirls in April 2014.

Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command, Damian Chukwu said the suspects were arrested by the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Team that arrived the state in search of Boko Haram hideouts since June.


“Some of the suspected commanders confessed to have been actively participated in the adbdurion of Chibok girls on 2014 and coordinating several suicide bombings,” Chukwu said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/photo-police-parade-suspected-boko.html

Most three in five people infected with HIV, or 21.7 million globally, took antiretroviral therapy in 2017, a new record for anti-AIDS drug access, the UN’s HIV/AIDS agency said Wednesday.

There were 36.9 million people living with the immune system-attacking virus in 2017, of whom 15.2 million were not getting the drugs they need, the lowest number since the epidemic exploded, UNAIDS reported.

Hailing progress in curbing new infections and deaths, the agency nevertheless lamented the mounting human toll: almost 80 million infections and 35.4 million lives lost since the first cases became known in the early 1980s.

Progress made to date risks being halted, even reversed, if funding and world attention is allowed to dwindle, the agency warned.

“We are short $7 billion (six billion euros) per year to maintain our results and to achieve our objectives for 2020,” UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe told AFP.

“Without these resources, there is a big risk of the epidemic rebounding, of an increase in mortality due to AIDS,” he said.

In 2017, about $20.6 billion was available for AIDS programmes in low- and middle-income countries which funded about 56 percent from their own budgets, said the report.

Under Donald Trump, the US administration, a major funder of AIDS programmes historically, has threatened to cut spending.

The UN goal is for 90 percent of all HIV-positive people to know their status by 2020. Of these, at least 90 percent must receive ART, and the HIV virus be suppressed in 90 percent of those.

– Infections decline –

Assessing progress towards the target, UNAIDS said 1.8 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2017.

This was down from about 1.9 million the year before, and 3.4 million at the peak of the epidemic in 1996.

Deaths declined from 990,000 to 940,000 year-on-year, compared to 1.9 million in 2005 and 1.4 million in 2010.

The number of people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) grew from 19.4 million in 2016 to 21.7 million last year up from a mere 611,000 in the year 2000 and 2.1 million in 2005, said the report released in the run-up to the International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam next week.

This helped boost the number of people living with the virus from 36.3 million in 2016 to 36.9 million last year.

Despite more than three decades of research, there is no cure or vaccine and HIV-positive people have to take lifelong treatment that can be expensive and have nasty side-effects.

ART inhibits the virus and can limit its spread between people mainly through sex — but does not kill it.

– ‘We haven’t won yet’ –

UNAIDS reported large variation between world regions in the battle against the killer virus.

In the Middle East and north Africa, for example, less than a third of people with HIV have access to ARV, only 36 percent of those in eastern Europe and central Asia, and 40 percent in west and central Africa.

For west and central Europe and North America, the number is 78 percent, with about 1.7 million out of 2.2 million infected people on ARV, said UNAIDS.

In east and southern Africa — home to 53 percent of people living with HIV in the world — deaths declined by 42 percent from 2010 to 2017, thanks largely to the widespread rollout of treatment.

However, “there has been no reduction in AIDS-related mortality in eastern Europe and central Asia since 2010, and deaths from AIDS-related illness increased by 11 percent in the Middle East and North Africa,” cautioned the report.

“Some countries continue to concern us, such as Nigeria which accounts for about half of all new infections in west Africa,” said Sidibe.

In Russia, he added, the epidemic “is becoming widespread. While it was concentrated among people who inject drugs, it is affecting the general population more and more.”

Sidibe blamed punitive laws, which instead of offering drug users access to clean, uninfected needles, force them underground “hiding and infecting their partners.”

He also highlighted the particular vulnerability of children and teenagers.

About 180,000 minors were newly infected with HIV in 2017, and about 110,000 died of AIDS, yet more than 50 percent of under-15s had no access to treatment.

“This is unacceptable,” said Sidibe, who warned of creeping apathy and “complacency” in the fight against AIDS.

“We can win, but we haven’t won yet,” he said of the global battle.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/three-in-five-hiv-carriers-now-have.html

Sale of petroleum products by the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) decreased from the N198.94 billion realised in the month of February to N184.02 billion in May, 2018.

Total revenues generated from the sales of white products for the period March 2017 to March 2018 stands at ₦2.129 trillion, where Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) contributed about 86.94 per cent of the total sales with a value of ₦1.851 trillion.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which made this disclosure in its recent monthly financial report, disclosed that a total of 1.43 billion litres of white products were distributed and sold by PPMC in the month of March 2018 compared with 1.52 billion litres in the month of February 2018.


This, it said, comprised of 1.30 billion litres of PMS, 38.02 million litres of Kerosene and 88.59million litres of Diesel.

“Total sale of white products for the period March 2017 to March 2018 stood at 17.21 billion litres, PMS amounted to 15.30 billion litres or 88.93 per cent”, it added.

In March 2018, 2,383.46 million litres of PMS was supplied into the country through the DSDP arrangements as against the 1,791.62million litres of PMS and 27.21million litres of DPK supplied in the month of February 2018.

According to the corporation, the petroleum products (PMS & Dual Purpose Kerosene only) production by the domestic refineries in March 2018 amounted to 153.37 million litres compared to 136.61 million litres in February 2018.

Total Crude processed by domestic Refineries (Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) only) for the month of March 2018 was 271,215 MT while Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (KRPC) only processed intermediate 7,675MT and 12,675MT respectively.

This, it noted, translates to a combined yield efficiency of 83.64 per cent as against the 81.68 per cent in February 2018.


For the month of March 2018, the three refineries produced 159,424 MT of finished Petroleum Products and 67,428 MT of intermediate products out of the 271,215 MT of Crude processed at a combined capacity utilization of 14.41 per cent compared to 13.94 per cent combined capacity utilization achieved in the month of February 2018.

NNPC attributed the increase in operational performance to attributable to the revamping of the refineries especially WRPC despite the downturn in PHRC and KRPC during the month.

NNPC said that the ongoing revamping of the refineries will enhance capacity utilization once completed.

It stated: “The Corporation has been adopting a Merchant Plant Refineries Business Model since January 2017.

The model takes cognizance of the Products Worth and Crude Costs.

The combined value of output by the three refineries (at import parity price) for the month of March 2018 amounted to ₦42.39 billion while the associated Crude plus freight costs and operational expenses were ₦44.83 billion and ₦9.45 billion respectively.

This resulted to an operating deficit of ₦11.89billion by the refineries. Also, during the period under review, refineries combined capacity utilization was 14.41 per cent.”

NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said the corporation is ever ready to support the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in whatever way to enhance the distribution of petroleum products across the country.

He listed other palliative road rehabilitation intervention to the union by NNPC to include: Mokwa-Jebba Road and Iwuru 1 and Iwuru 2 portion of Ekpet-Ugep Road in Calabar, Cross River State.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/ppmc-gets-n18402bn-from-sale-of.html

“When Fayose won in 2014, the whole of Ekiti erupted with joy. In 2018 the APC “won” and all the streets of Ekiti are looking so gloomy. The people are sad because their will has been truncated”- Adeolu Daramola.


My friend and brother, Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state, is not infallible. He is not an angel and like every other mortal, he has his own fair share of faults, excesses and shortcomings.

We do not agree on everything and neither do we always share the same opinion on matters of state and policy.


I should add this: some of his friends are my sworn enemies and some of my friends are his, yet nothing and no-one can come between us.

That is the nature of our covenant and deep bond which has its roots well above politics, which was borne through our shared love of the Living God and the Gospel of Christ and which was established and forged by the blood of Jesus.

Our differences in terms of style and approach only brings us closer and serves to make our friendship stronger. And despite his regular displays of strong emotions, what a profoundly good and insightful man he is.


In terms of courage, compassion, decency, the love of his people and a yearning for truth and justice he stands head above shoulder virtually every other political leader in the country.

And permit me to add this: even if I am the only one left in the country that is willing to do so, I will stand by him till the end.

That is the nature of the man that the Buhari administration robbed, beat, slapped, humiliated and insulted last week and that they are now planning to utterly destroy.

Yet despite the abysmal behaviour and shameless criminality of INEC, the ruling-APC and Buhari’s minions during the conduct of the governorship election last saturday Fayose has nothing to be ashamed of and, in my view, he remains the epitomy of courage, truth, loyalty, decency, compassion and righteousness.

He stood for truth and he dared the powers that be in the name of the Most High God. Regardless of what we see today and what we witnessed on saturday, that God shall never forsake or leave him and in the end he will have the last laugh and be vindicated.

The bitter truth is that the Ekiti election was a sham. The APC paid 4000 naira for each vote that they got and, in collusion with INEC officials, they used the police and security agencies to drive away PDP agents and supporters from voting and collation centres. They also shut down the local television and radio stations to prevent the truth from being exposed.

This was a trago-comedy of the highest degree. As Josef Stalin, the dreaded Russian tyrant, once said, “the people who cast the votes decide nothing but the people who count the votes decide everything”.

I say weep not for Fayose, Professor Kolapo Olusola (the PDP governorship candidate), or the PDP but rather weep for the good people of Ekiti state, Yorubaland and Nigeria.

Worst of all is the fact that the daylight robbery that took place on saturday is actually a test run for 2019.

Those that are laughing at Fayose and making jest of his misfortunes and his efforts to defend the true wishes and will of the Ekiti people will get their own at that time.

I say this because the beast that seeks to devour him and the people of Ekiti seeks to devour us all.

When the jihadists, herdsmen and members of Nigeria’s “master race” start terrorising and butchering the good people of Ekiti state, the south-west and the south, just as they are already doing to the people of the Middle Belt, no-one should be surprised and neither should they complain because that is the nature of the beast that has broken the gate and forced itself into their land and homes.

Those that collected cash from the APC in return for their votes have unknowingly sold their souls, sovereignty, destiny independence and birthright to the agents and emissaries of satan in return for the rulership of a vicious and relentless cabal of vampires, demons, goblins and monsters who hail from a distant foreign land.

For a measly 4000 naira they have traded in their liberty and freedom in return for the dictates, whims and caprices of a wicked group of heartless and cruel men who take their orders and directives from a dark, sinister and blood-filled cauldron of sorcery and voodoo and a malevolent and accursed tattered old broom.

I have not mentioned any names but the creatures that I am referring to know who they are.

I have always said that Dr. Kayode Fayemi is my friend who I have known for many years and who I have always liked, respected and had a soft spot for.

The same goes for Otunba Niyi Adebayo, the former Governor of Ekiti state and the leader of the APC in Ekiti, who is not only a family friend of over 50 years standing but also a dear brother.

I do not bear any animosity towards either of the two or towards Senator Femi Ojudu, another friend of mine, who is also a strong APC leader in Ekiti state either.

However, I consider those that they represent and who sent them to enslave the southewest and the people of the south with cattle colonies, herdsmen, cows, a supporter of APC ethos and a jihadist philosophy as my perpetual, mortal and eternal enemies before whom I can and will never bow.

That is where I draw the line and that is our only point of departure. Outside of that I have no malice for or axe to grind with any of the leaders of the APC in Ekiti state or indeed anywhere else in Yorubaland. We simply belong to different teams and and different political camps. And this is for good reason.

For those that doubt it let us consider our plight in Nigeria today. Insecurity is at its peak. The mass murder, ethnic cleansing and commission of genocide against innocent and defenceless Nigerians is unprecedented.

Our nation is more divided than ever before. Our economy is in shambles and poverty stalks the land. The senior cadre of our Armed Forces are aggrieved because President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to appoint new Service Chiefs since the tenure of the old ones expired.

The democratic process has been subverted as votes are procured with public funds and electons are rigged with the apparatus of the state. People no longer see or believe that their PVC is their weapon because few believe that we can ever have a free and fair election in our country as long as Buhari remains in power. The list goes on and on and it is one lamentation after another.

Rev. Martin Luther King jnr. once said “to ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it”.

How right he was. And many in our nation today, out of fear, stupidity and cowardice, have chosen to simply ignore the evil that took place in Ekiti on saturday.

Yet even worse than them are those that have chosen to applaud the evil and celebrate it simply to spite Fayose. They forget that to applaud injustice is not only shortsighted and evil in itself but that it is also a graphic and singular manifestation of witchcraft and sorcery.

The truth is that those that delight in the suffering, misfortune and humiliation of others and that refuse to stand up and speak for the victims of injustice, wickedness and tyranny are doomed to failure and eternal shame and are best described as the children of darkness and the sons and daughters of perdition. They shall all burn in hell.

Many in our country are troubled by the many challenges that the Ekiti debacle has thrown up and even more understand and discern its solemn implications.

As examples of some of those concerns permit me to share the insighful words of two respected public commentators and discerning intellectuals about the implications of what happeed in Ekiti.

The first, Prince Otoks Dan Princewill, wrote the following.

“Is it not now clear? Who wants to know more? Who wants to be further schooled? This PVC matter needs a sincere government to function properly. We have in place a government that looks away as Nigerians are slaughtered. We have a government who moved in 30,000 officers to rig an election and has a Division sitting on its thumbs in a place less than an hour away where Nigerians are slaughtered in a killing orgy for days. We have a government who encouraged a police officer to slap and rough handle a Governor. We have a government that has appointed the entire security architecture from a section of the country. And yes, we have a country where conscience is for sale for 4000 naira and many say it is overpriced. We must therefore retool. We must redirect and reset. We must match the bar to where things has been raised. We cannot afford to assume anything. As at now, count 2019 lost. Unless we retool. It is not about PVCs and registration. It is about so much more”.

On his part Elder Michael Orobator wrote:

“We have Judases and pernicious traitors, Fulani slaves and useless idiots always at the beck and call of the internal colonisers in our ranks. I have said it before and FFK strongly reiterated same that the Fulani, most comfortable in situations of strife and warfare, will not leave us alone until we weed out the Fayemis, Oshiomoles, Oyeguns, Amaechis et al from our midst”.

Can any reasonable person dispute the insightful assertions of these two elderly, wise, experienced and discerning men?

Permit me to conclude this contribution with the words of Peter “the Rock” himself. After the rape of democracy that took place in Ekiti state on July 12th he said:

“I am Peter Ayodele Fayose, I hold my head high. I can never be suppressed. I don’t lose battles and I will not lose this. I will laugh last.The President should note what the Bible says which applies to him. ‘He that wears the armour should not boast as he that removes it.’ It is only Buhari that will pride himself with the security shooting sporadically at polling centres, scaring people to pave the way for APC thugs to snatch ballot boxes”.

These are strong and prophetic words from a Spirit-filled soldier of Christ and a courageous and strong lion of the realm.

He concluded by saying “Buhari’s EFCC is threatening me, as if Buhari will remain in power forever. Is the EFCC the Court?”

How right he is!

May God deliver our nation and may He guide, lead, strengthen and vindicate Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose and the good people of Ekiti state.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/femi-fani-kayode-weep-not-for-fayose.html

The National Universities Commission has called on private universities in Nigeria to sustain efforts towards achieving the vision to become institutions with globally competitive standards for which they were established.

The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, made the call while delivering the 14th convocation lecture of the Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, Edo State.


Rasheed described the establishment of private universities in Nigeria as a reflection of the need to close the gaps created by the challenges facing government-owned tertiary institutions across the country.

He listed some of the problems to include access, resulting in the emergence of degree mills and satellite campuses; preponderance of social vices, instability of academic calendar, indiscipline of staff and infrastructural decay.

The NUC executive secretary, who was represented by the commission’s Director of Accreditation, Dr. Noel Salihu, said, “In some cases, available facilities are not properly maintained and, therefore, left in a state of disrepair.

“Though funds from the government may be insufficient to sustain adequate provision of facilities and infrastructure, some of the universities pay lip services to institutionalising maintenance culture in the system. The private universities are not expected to have similar challenges as some operating in the country have state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment, making them attractive for learning in contemporary times.”

Rasheed disclosed that no fewer than 75 private universities had been established with Act No. 9 of 1993, which repealed the Private Universities (Abolition and Prohibition) Act of 1984 and allowed individuals, organisations, corporate bodies as well as local governments to establish and run private universities, upon meeting laid down guidelines and, subsequently, obtaining the approval of government.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Higher Education in Nigeria: The Private Universities Perspective’, he noted that with the advantages they had over their government-owned counterparts, the future of university education in Nigeria belongs to private universities.

He, however, advised the managers of such universities to shun acts capable of compromising the quality of programmes run by the institutions.

“Areas where there are loopholes, in relation to quality, must be plugged. Excellence in every facet of the operations of the private universities must be the watchword of the proprietors and the regulatory agencies.


“It might be argued that the provision of university education is a different ball game from those of the primary and secondary levels as it is more capital intensive and the financial profit derivable is usually not immediate,” he added.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/future-of-higher-education-belongs-to.html

Cristiano Ronaldo is undergoing a medical with Juventus as he finalises a sensational transfer from Real Madrid.

The striker agreed terms last week over a €100 million (£88m/$117m) switch to Serie A, a move that shook the world of football in the middle of the World Cup.

Under the deal, Ronaldo will receive a bumper €30 million (£26.5m/$35m) a season contract that will run for the next four years.

And, ahead of a presentation as Juve’s latest summer signing on Monday afternoon, he is in Turin to complete the formalities of the transfer.

Ronaldo will be put through his paces in a series of physical tests before being introduced to the world as a Bianconeri player.

On Sunday he was snapped landing at Caselle airport in the company of partner Georgina Rodriguez.

Having spent a night in new surroundings, the 33-year-old was back under the spotlight on Monday morning as he headed for his medical.

A jubilant Juve fan base got their first look at the club’s new arrival, with thousands of supporters in attendance at the J-Medical centre – with many chanting “Ronaldo, bring us the Champions League”.

Ronaldo moves to Serie A after nine trophy and record-laden seasons at Madrid, where he arrived in turn from Manchester United in 2009.

The Portugal star lifted an incredible four Champions League trophies with the Merengue, including three in the last three seasons.

Madrid also took the Liga title twice during his time at the club, while Ronaldo was honoured with four Ballon d’Or awards.

In total, the striker smashed 450 goals in 438 official Madrid games, a strike-rate of over a goal a game and a mark that establishes him as the highest scorer in Blancos history.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/photos-ronaldo-arrives-for-juventus.html

Members of Akida and Restoration groups of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna State on Friday announced their withdrawal from the party.

The Chairman of the Akida group, Matamaiki Tom-Maiyashi announced the decision of the two groups at a press conference in Kaduna.He said they left because the APC was not ready to accommodate alternative opinions or allow democracy to take its course in the conduct of party affairs.

The prominent members of the two groups include Senators Shehu Sani (APC Kaduna Centra) and Suleiman Hunkuyi (APC Kaduna North), Tijjani Ramalan, owner of Liberty Radio and Television stations, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed among others.

Tom-Maiyashi said:“this joint Press Conference is the culmination of extensive reviews and consultations over the state of the All Progressives,Congress (APC) in Kaduna State as well as in the nation.

“As you will appreciate, groups such as ours that had been part of the efforts to keep our Party along the lines of survival, accountability and integrity will be diligent in ensuring that whatever steps we take are consistent with our high sense of responsibility.

“We are satisfied that the positions we have arrived at are in the best interests of our members and the ongoing-efforts to create options and strategies that will rid our nation of undeserved and avoidable challenges.

“Members of our two groups have decided to leave the APC because it is incapable of accommodating and responding to well-meaning dissent, criticism and demands for inclusiveness and internal democracy,“ Tom-Maiyashi said.

He criticised the party, saying it had failed the millions of people who labored to put it and who expected genuine change.

“We are hereby advising all our teeming members to formalize their withdrawal from the APC.

“We are engaged in serious discussions with parties which share our values and principles towards political collaboration that best suits our interests, and in due course, we will make public the outcome of these discussions.

“We want to commend the resilience and commitment of our members in the face of institutionalized exclusion, marginalization and abuse.We urge them all to keep faith,“ he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/why-hunkuyi-shehu-sani-others-dumped.html

The South East Revival Group (SERG) has warned Ohanaeze Ndigbo of the consequences of unilateral endorsement of any presidential aspirant without due consultations with South East stakeholders. The SERG in a statement issued in Abuja by its national coordinator, Chief Willy Ezugwu, also assured Ohanaeze leadership that such act would be a futile exercise as Ndigbo are now wiser politically. “Having journeyed along the Nigerian political landscape from the pre- and post-independence elections, the Igbos have not only been used and dumped but also put consistently under socioeconomic disadvantage. PAUL UWADIMA, “The rest of Nigeria has continued to rob the South East of every opportunity to better the lots of the ordinary people. “With no serious federal government presence in Igboland beyond airport and tertiary institutions, the socioeconomic life of the average Igbo son or daughter is nothing to write home about.” He noted that Ndigbo have been accused by other Nigerians of living in disunited political front but insisted that it is time to prove them wrong. “We have it on good authority that the Ohanaeze leadership is in talks with an aspirant and we warn that any unilateral endorsement of any presidential aspirant or candidate without due consultation with all Igbo stakeholders will be frustrated. “It is time to end the circle of systematic underdevelopment of the South East. 2019 presidential election shall be used to tell the rest of Nigeria that the Igbos also have stake in the commonwealth of the country”, the SERG noted.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/seast-group-warns-ohanaeze-against.html

Nigerian singer and songwriter, Queen of the MIC
Olaedo okonkwo, better known by her stage name "Paragon" is a year older today and she has taken to her social media page to share adorable new photos of herself with a lovely caption.

The talented singer wrote:

Our time here is magic! It's the only space you have to realize whatever it is that is beautiful, whatever is true, whatever is great, whatever is potential, whatever is rare, whatever is unique, I Thank God for giving Me another chance to discover more!!!!!!.

more photos at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/blog-post.html

Cardi B and her husband, Offset have welcomed their first child together and Offset’s fourth. The baby has been named Kulture Kiari Cephus. And if you are wondering where the name is from, Kiari Kendrell Cephus happens to be Offset’s full name.
Recall that the couple got married in September and still managed to pull off a public proposal in October. She first showed off her Baby Bump on stage at the Saturday Night Live in April.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/cardi-b-gives-birth-to-baby-girl.html

The Borno chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has closed down MTN Nigeria in Maiduguri over alleged insensitivity to workers welfare.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that picketing of MTN offices started on Monday nationwide to address the company’s penchant for engaging casual workers thereby denying them their privileges.

Alhaji Bulama Abiso, the Borno NLC Vice Chairman on Tuesday said that all congresses leaders were directed to mobilise their members to participate in the protest.

“The reasons are insensitivity to workers welfare and contract employment of MTN across the country, which must be stopped.

“Our workers are not slaves; they must be made permanent staff.

“For instance in Borno, there are over one million subscribers of MTN but with only two permanent staff in all offices; the rest are on three months renewable agreement.

“This is very much gross insensitivity to the workers welfare in the country.

“The Nigerian Labour Congress deems it fit to do the picketing. And if MTN refuses to comply, we will wait for the directive of our national body for further action.

“We are here today and we will be here for the next two days to ensure it complies with our demands.

The whole MTN offices in Borno will not be allowed to continue operating until they address this insensitivity,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/nlc-pickets-mtn-office-in-maiduguri.html

In the face of various political activities ahead of the 2019 general elections, permutations have kick started as politicians and political parties strategze to either gain power or retain it.
While the money bags are busy spreading money here and there, the young emerging leaders are left with nothing but their dreams and sincere aspirations. The biggest challenge facing them is lack of funding for electoral consultations and campaigns. Reason why great minds with incredible leadership skills always shy away from politics because they think they do not have the finances needed to face the fraudulent money bags in the system.
Most of the time these young leaders don't even have money to buy nomination forms which are always too exorbitant for the average Nigerian. This in itself is a deliberate plan by the old gladiators to keep recycling themselves in the corridors of power.
With the passage of the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill into law, the young and patriotic people of Nigeria are optimistic that the right time has come for them to take center stage in providing the leadership that Nigerians have earnestly waited for. With the challenges of financing ahead of them however, it became necessary that a step be taken that will activate the capacities of young people irrespective of their financial backgrounds. This is why the #NotTooPoorToRun campaign was initiated as an activation response to the #NotTooYoungToRun law.
The #NotTooPoorToRun campaign, an initiative of The National Rescue Movement (NRM) which will be officially launched in a couple of weeks, seeks to provide an enabling platform within the party for young aspiring leaders by granting nomination forms/tickets in all electoral categories free of charge to all aspirants in the 2019 elections.
Addressing newsmen recently, the National Chairman of the party, Senator Saidu Dansadau said;

"This initiative became necessary because if governance continue to remain in the hands of crooked money bags, then the hope of achieving a better Nigeria will remain an illusion forever. This is because humble, true and sincere Nigerians will never have the chance to serve their Nation politically".

more photos athttp://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/nrm-set-to-launch-nottoopoortorun.html

Beyonce is pregnant again - according to new images circulating on social media. The Queen has been gaining weight over the last few months - and now it seems clear . . . that Beyonceand Jay are expecting their FOURTH child.

Beyonce and Jay Z already have three children - daughters Blue and Rumi - and Rumi's twin brother Sir. It's not clear whether the new baby was planned - or just happened.

But it is pretty clear that Beyonce is pregnant. New pics surfaced from the set of her Milan concert - and she clearly has a baby bulge. The below pic was taken from the large televisionscreens at the concert.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/breaking-beyonce-pregnant-again-new.html

The Federal Government has directed relevant government agencies to ensure that tankers and trailers which fail to comply with minimum safety measures should not be allowed to ply the highways, henceforth.

This was even as the Lagos State Government has accused the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and the Shippers Council of Nigeria, of conspiracy on enforcing regulations on the stipulated tonnage allowed by tankers/trailers.

In the same vein, the House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Jerry Alagbaso, has put the blame of poor road maintenance on the N25 billion debt being owed contractors.


Also, Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi, disclosed that Nigeria lost N7.1 billion to road traffic crashes, involving tankers, in the first quarter of 2018.

In the same vein, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Tijani Kaura, has called for stiffer traffic regulations against articulated vehicle operations; so as to reduce the number of crashes on the highways.

All these were espoused at the one-day Stakeholders’ Forum on Haulage Transportation in Nigeria, convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

The forum deliberated on how to tackle rising cases in road traffic crashes involving tankers/trailers in the country, with attendant loss of human and material resources.

The SGF said the decision to convene the summit stemmed from the deep concern of the federal government on the rising spate of road traffic crashes involving articulated vehicles, in recent times, and high casualty in both human and material resources.


While speaking on the directives, Mustapha identified disobedience of traffic rules as major causes of road accidents on the highways and decried the recent incident on Otedola Link Bridge, where over 55 vehicles burnt down and 12 people died, as well as different degrees of injuries on innocent lives.

He assured stakeholders that government will set up an inter-ministerial committee to ensure full implementation of the directives, to check the menace.

The SGF noted that nothing much has been achieved despite the plan of action marshalled out at the 2015 National Summit on Tankers and Trailers Haulage Operations to deliberate with key stakeholders predicated on four pedestals – standards, enforcement, institution’s capacity and legal.


Lagos State representative and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Taiwo Salami, insisted that there is conspiracy between the NPA and the shippers council when 98 percent of the traffic going to the Port are caused by haulage vehicles going to drop only containers.

Salami said the vehicle involved in the Otedola bridge incident carried three times its capacity; instead of 15 tonnes, it was carrying 60 tonnes.

Alagbaso, who blamed poor road maintenance on the N25 billion debt being owed contractors, called on government to release all funds being owed FERMA; to enable them clear their debts to contractors.

On his part, Oyeyemi blamed crashes on the road to the fact that 90 percent of transportation in the country is done by road, as well as none adherence to transport regulations, compromise by operators and non-compliance with standards.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/fg-bans-tankers-trailers-with-no-safety.html

The federal government on Monday asked the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) in Nigeria’s electricity market to buckle up or get out and leave the business of power distribution for people who are willing to compete and uphold their obligations in the sector.
Suggesting that the Discos have failed to live up to expectations in the industry, the government said it would not sit back and allow them to hold Nigeria hostage with their poor performances.

It thus asked the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to immediately step up its enforcement of the contracts of service of the Discos with regards to supply of meters, upgrade of their distribution networks and promotion of market efficiency.
Speaking to journalists at a briefing in Abuja, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, explained that the government had not granted the Discos exclusivity over their distribution areas and as such, the NERC could take regulatory decisions on issuance of fresh distribution licences especially within areas that are underserved by the Discos.

Fashola also stated that the financial remittances of the Discos have been very poor, adding that at the moment, they owed the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) a whopping N500 billion as debts for electricity sold to them by the NBET.
“It must be obvious to the ordinary person that the supply of power is now a private business in the hands of private operators and in the end, in the hands of the Discos.

“But because of the critical and sensitive nature of power supply, government has not left the supply solely. Government at federal, state and local level, as well as former employees of PHCN hold 40 per cent of the shares in the Discos.
“In addition, government is responsible for regulating the behaviour and compliance through the NERC which is like what the Central Bank of Bank (CBN) is to the banking sector,” Fashola said.

He further explained: “The law does not make it mandatory for any Nigerian to receive power from the Disco or to use only public power, that is why it is not an offence for Nigerians to buy generators, inverters or solar systems which are of course more expensive than the power which NBET buys from the Gencos to vest to the Discos to distribute to customers.

“It is the Discos which are service providers that you should turn to when you have questions about transformer collapse and metering.
“As it is now obvious, from 2016 when the Discos complained about lack of power to distribute, the problem today is that the Discos cannot distribute all of the power that is available, leaving the sector with an unused capacity of 2000 megawatts approximately.”
Although, he acknowledged that Discos alone could not be blamed for the failures of the sector, but suggested theirs were pretty obvious and most impactful.

“This is not the time to trade blame because there is enough blame to go round; for me, it is a time to reiterate everybody’s responsibilities and urge us to brace up to do what we are obliged to do, which is to serve the people.
“In the face of this picture, where we have power to sell, with more to come, the number of complaints coming to government for meters, which the Discos should supply, and for estimated billings, and mass disconnections when not everybody is owing cannot continue.
“Government must act, and will do so. The Discos bought these assets with their eyes opened, and they must compete to deliver or exit,” Fashola insisted.

He said small businesses need power but cannot get enough because of Discos’ failure, just as he claimed that the investments of Gencos were threatened because they cannot utilise the capacity they have installed.
According to him, none of the Discos has an exclusive distribution licence and as such, could not stop NERC from issuing new licences in the network areas they cover.

“Clearly, unless the Discos have a licence that is endorsed as exclusive, it is clear that no Disco has exclusivity over its franchise area.
“It is obvious that the law did not intend to replace government monopoly of PHCN in the power sector, with a private monopoly of businessmen.
“Whenever there is poor service, government, as a matter of policy and public interest, is able and entitled to act and invite new players to fill the gap,” he added.
The minister also noted that it was not the intention of government to take over the business of Discos, adding that it wanted them to grow.
He however said: “In the period when they are not yet ready, willing, or able, life must go on and we must find solutions and substitutes as we have seen in other sectors.”

He noted that in line with the provision of Section 33 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) 2005, and Section 32 (2) (a)-(g) of the same Act which specifies the functions of NERC, he was directing the NERC to step up its regulation of the businesses of the Discos.
“It is clear that a combined reading of these provisions show that it is necessary to direct NERC to step in to: Ensure that Discos improve on their distribution equipment and capacity to take up the available 2,000MW in order to optimise the use of the electrical resource produced by the Gencos, and I direct NERC to immediately act in this regard.

“Enforce the contract of Discos to supply meters and act to ensure the urgent speedy supply and installation of meters with a view to eliminating estimated billing and promote efficient industry and market structures.

“Stop Discos from threatening private entrepreneurs from entering the market to supply consumers whom the Discos cannot supply and to license such persons subject to terms and conditions in order to ‘promote competition and private sector participation’ and avoid a private monopoly of power.
“Section 71(6) dealing with Terms and Conditions of licences clearly shows that no exclusivity or monopoly was intended for a licence holder such as Gencos or Discos. To the best of my knowledge, the commission has not issued any exclusive license,” he added.

He stated that: “If we take into consideration that after five years of privatisation, there are still people and businesses who do not have power or enough power, common sense and public interest demands that we must not resist ordinary people, small businesses like shops and markets from seeking alternative sources of energy. For now, our developmental needs cannot wait for businessmen who are not yet ready to serve.
“National interest, public good, the need to support small business, provide access to power for ordinary people and increase productivity inform the policy statements that I have made and I expect NERC to act with dispatch,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/fg-asks-discos-to-deliver-power-or-quit.html

A Nigerian, Ozumba Tochukwu-Lawrence was reportedly killed by a gunman on July 6, in South Africa.

The Nigeria Mission in South Africa has condemned the killing.

The Consul-General of Nigeria in South Africa made this known in a statement by the Vice Consul Information and Culture, David Abraham, yesterday in Abuja.


Abraham said the Consul General received with pain the unfortunate news of the assassination of Tochukwu-Lawrence by a yet-to-be identified assailant.

He said the ugly incident was said to have occurred at 10 Koppe, Middleburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa, on July 6.

“An eyewitness account has it that an unknown man made a way into the compound of Ozumba Tochukwu-Lawrence and requested to see him.

“On being told about his guest, he came out to meet him, and the man opened fire on him and shot him six times, resulting in his death before he could reach the hospital. “The reason behind the sad incident is yet to be established, but this is very unfortunate and condemnable,” he said.

He said the consulate commiserated with the deceased’s family and indeed, the entire Nigerian community in South Africa.

The Consulate, he said, was also calling on the South African relevant authorities to unravel the mystery behind this dastardly act.

“Efforts should be made by the police and other relevant agencies to apprehend the assailant and bring him to justice.

“We also call on our nationals to cooperate with the police and judicial officers in their investigation and prosecution.

“The Nigerian Consulate will continue to advance the welfare and security of Nigerians in South Africa.

“We also call on our citizens to remain calm and eschew violence as we seek to obtain justice for the deceased and members of his family,” he said.

In her reaction, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed worry over the killing.

Dabiri-Erewa in short message sent to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja described the recent killing as unfortunate.

“All enquiries should be directed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama who has vowed to take decisive action with the new Foreign Affairs Minister in South Africa,” she said

Dabiri-Erewa expressed disappointment over an early warning signal put in place by both ministries, which she said, had still not been implemented.

She stated that no fewer than 117 Nigerians were extra-judicially killed in South Africa between 2016 and 2018 for one flimsy reason or the other.

She said that many more had followed since then.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that killing of Nigerians in South Africa had been on the increase in recent times.

Before the latest one, there was the assassination of ThankGod Okoro, who was reportedly shot dead in Hamburg, Florida West Rand, Johannesburg, on April 9, 2018, by the South African Police Flying Squad.

There was also the killing of Clement Nwaogu in April, a father of two who was burnt to death by his assailant.

These wanton killings of Nigerians in South Africa had sparked a number of protests there.

For demanding justice on behalf of their fallen compatriots, 14 of the protesters were taken into custody and branded drug peddlers.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/nigeria-kicks-as-another-citizen-is.html

Popular singer, Blackface, is currently unhappy about the spate of killings around the country. Sadly, his state, Benue, seems to be one of the worst hit by suspected killer herdsmen.

In a chat with Saturday Beats, he said that the killings around the country would have reduced if only Nigerian singers unite with one voice to speak against the menace. “They have killed a lot of people from my village, Agatu, in Benue. They have also killed people in Makurdi, and other places in Benue; then as they move up north to Adamawa, the trail of dead bodies continues. It does not affect my state alone. Sadly, the musicians are not doing anything about it. Some musicians just claim that they help victims either to gain public praises or for political reasons. Why can’t we come together and think of ways we can stop the killings probably by staging a concert?” he said.


The singer further told Saturday Beats that as a socially conscious singer, he has always sung about the ills of the society but the radio stations would not play his songs because he is in their bad books.

The singer claimed that ever since he raised the alarm that certain singers stole some of his songs, he became blacklisted by the media. “I did a song which preaches against the killings but radio stations would not play it because I am in their bad books. Simply because I said some people stole my songs, that is why they placed me in their bad books. I know there is a plan against me. I am an independent musician and I do not need Tuface to push my music. If I release a song titled, ‘Stop the killings,’ and the radio big boys do not play it, only a few people would listen to the message I am preaching which is of national benefit. The so-called big OAPs like Freeze, who is always talking about pastors, are on the radio but they are not doing anything to push socially conscious songs that preach a message. But if Tekno sings a ‘Jogodo’, they will gladly play it. Their nonchalant attitude would destroy a lot of things and only bring more chaos. I have always advised the younger artistes to seek the permission of older artistes before they use their songs but no one listened. Wizkid took my song, ‘Whine it,’ sang it with Banky W and put it on his album, ‘Starboy.’ That same song is on my album, ‘Dancehall business.’ When I raised the alarm, the whole media kicked against me and they stopped playing my music. Yet they say I am the bad one. How long would they keep sabotaging me?” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/nigerian-celebrities-not-doing-enough.html

The Dangote refinery plans to start selling petrol, diesel and aviation fuel by early 2020, but the fertiliser plant, will start producing urea this year, Edwin Devakumar, the group executive director told Bloomberg.

The $10 billion refinery, set to be one of the world’s largest and which can process 650,000 barrels of crude a day, should be near full capacity by mid-2020, Devakumar said in the interview,

“People still have difficulty believing we can do it on time and within those costs,” Devakumar, 61, said Wednesday. “But we believe we can. It’s something of the size that’s rarely been done before. It’s huge.”

Aliko Dangote, worth $12.4 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaire’s Index, has said the refinery can transform Nigeria by weaning it off fuel imports and generating foreign exchange through exports. Despite being Africa’s biggest crude producer and an OPEC member, the West African nation ships in almost all its gasoline and diesel from abroad because of the decrepit state of its government-owned refineries.Dangote’s facility will probably produce about 50 million litres (13.2 million gallons) a day of gasoline and 15 million liters of diesel, though output can be changed according to the demand for each product, Devakumar said.

While Nigeria, a country of almost 200 million people, consumes roughly 35 million liters of gasoline daily, Dangote can export surpluses, Devakumar said.

“Once we start producing, we’ll be able to meet all local demand and we’ll also be able to start exporting,” he said.

The company has been in talks with oil traders including Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Vitol Group and Trafigura Group Pte about them supplying crude and buying refined products, according to Devakumar.

“We are establishing a rapport with them, but there’s been nothing specific so far,” he said.

The plant is designed to process light and medium grades of crude and produce fuels that meet European standards so that Dangote can sell them globally.

“We’re flexible in terms of our feedstock,” Devakumar said. “We’ll be able to use all the African crudes, American crudes and Middle Eastern crudes. We don’t want to be dependent on Nigerian crude. We won’t be able to process heavy, dirty crudes. It doesn’t make sense in today’s environment.”

Trafigura confirmed discussions had taken place. The new refinery will benefit “the West African oil market and improve fuel standards in the region,” a spokesperson said in an emailed response.

Antonia Lock, a spokeswoman for Vitol, declined to comment, while Shell spokesman Bamidele Odugbesan didn’t immediately respond to a text message.

Upstream Investment

Dangote will start producing its own oil, partly to supply the refinery, within a few months. It aims to pump around 20,000 barrels a day from two shallow-water blocks, known as OML 71 and 72, located in the Niger Delta.

“We will continue to invest in upstream,” Devakumar said. “We may look for more blocks to produce up to 250,000 barrels a day. It’s where the majority of our cash flow from the refinery will go to. We’ll focus on that after we start the refinery.”

A fertilizer plant, located near the refinery, should produce its first batches of urea by the end of this year, Devakumar said. Costing around $2.5 billion and with a capacity of 3 million metric tons a year, it’s set to be one of the biggest globally.

“We can export a lot of fertilizer too,” he said. “It can meet the demand for most of Africa.”

While Dangote took on a $3.3 billion syndicated loan, which Standard Chartered Plc arranged, most of the refinery and fertilizer projects are self-funded. Both units will probably be partly sold via initial public offerings eventually, Devakumar said.

“We’ll go for listings, as separate companies,” he said.

Dangote is also building two 550-kilometer (341-mile) underwater gas pipelines from its oil blocks in the Delta to the refinery and fertilizer factory. The first pipeline will start to be laid this year and both will probably be completed in two years, at a cost of $2.5 billion, Devakumar said.

They’ll be able to carry 3 billion standard cubic feet per day, which will be used to run the plants and sold to other businesses, including power stations. Only about 400 million scf of gas is distributed in Nigeria today and the new pipelines will help drive industrial development, Devakumar said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/dangote-refinery-sets-2020-for-petrol.html

Executive Governor

Anambra State

Government House, Awka.

Your Excellency Sir,

AN APPEAL FOR YOUR EXCELLENCY IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION AND CANCELLATION OF TODAY’S KANGAROO AND SECRET ELECTION OF EKE AWKA MARKET EXECUTIVES COMMITTEE


We the aggrieved traders and aspirants in Eke Awka Market humbly write to protest and seek your Excellency intervention on the above subject matter.
As traders, that massively voted for your re-election as working governor of Anambra State, we find it necessary and proper to bring to your Excellency notice on the above subject matter.
That the third tenure of the Present Executive of Eke Awka Market is due to expire today being 6th day of July 2018.

That the said Executive fail to set up an election committee for timely preparation of the election into the vacant positions executive of Eke Awka Market.
That the Present Chairman, Emeka Jude Agumadu has orchestrated plan to elongate his tenure for the fourth times through an undemocratic election.
That we the traders and aspirants can only participate in an election that is properly and democratically organize in line with Eke Awka Market Constitution, hence our appeal for your intervention.
We hereby urge your Excellency to direct and put on hold the election of Eke Awka Market Executives secretly planned to hold today for the overall interest of the traders and maintenance of peace in Eke Awka Market.

Thanks in anticipation for your consideration and approval of our request.

Signed for and unbehalf of aggrieved traders and aspirants in Eke Awka market.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/eke-awka-market-traders-open-letter-to.html

Photos of a mother and her daughter in matching NYSC outfit went viral and became an exception among the other stunning pictures, simply because it was too adorable.The Happy Mother known as Angelic Chiamaka attended Federal Polytechnic, Oko. Class of 2016 and is a mother of one.

Angelic took to her Facebook wall to express her gratitude to God.

She wrote

Grateful heart oh Lord. Thank you Jesus n my mother of perpetual Help for this wonderful privilege. NYSC done n dusted is never by my power nor my strength but by HIS Grace. Baba God daalu imela ochi ejuwom oñù obim buso añuri chukwuebere Daalu. Jesus u really love us too much this nah Excess loveoooooo.......


Congrats to her !!

More photos at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/photos-female-corper-and-her-daughter.html

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has disclosed that he will not welcome President Muhammadu Buhari and his entourage to Ekiti on June 10, as requested in a letter to him.

He explained that the Federal Government under Buhari did not deem it fit to construct even a 100-meter road in the state since they came into office.

Fayose made the disclosure yesterday at a rally in Ado-Ekiti,

The governor expressed optimism that the party’s candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka, would be the governor-elect on July 14, adding that the president and his entourage would be disgraced in the state.

He said: “I am not going to receive the president. If they think that they can use the police to intimidate us, it is a lie.

This government is undemocratic, why did they close Akure Airport yesterday, when they knew that we would be receiving our party members.

“They have been arresting members of the PDP, but we will not be provoked. We will disgrace all of them on June 14.

If you vote for the APC, you are voting for Boko Haram and Fulani Herdsmen. But PDP believes in the sanctity of human lives.”

He said he was aware of plans by the INEC to rig the poll, adding that they will follow them anywhere they go, even as: “we are not interested in violence.

“When I saw the President of France, Emmanuel Macron and Nigeria President, I was ashamed. This country does not deserve an old man, we deserve the younger generations,” he said.

Party leaders at the rally said: “PDP has been rebranded and repositioned to gain the lost grounds. We will rescue Nigeria from all sorts of inhuman treatment meted out by the APC.

https://m.guardian.ng/politics/why-i-will-not-welcome-buhari-to-ekiti-by-fayose/

Ethiopian Airlines has announced that it recently took delivery of the largest B737 MAX fleet in the Continent. The B737 MAX 8 features the new ‘Boeinboosting customers’ experience. The environmentally friendly aircraft has a minimal carbon emission and consumes 15 per cent less fuel than the 737-NG.

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, said, “It is an immense honour for all of us at Ethiopian to reach this milestone a few days after we colourfully marked our 100 fleet milestone and the latest acquisition is an affirmation of our continuing pioneering role in African aviation and the successful implementation of our fast, profitable and sustainable growth plan, Vision 2025.

“Today, we are glad to include the B737 MAX 8, the latest in Boeing’s single-aisle series, in our young and modern fleet family with an average age of less than 5 years. As a customer-centric airline with a high adaptability to emerging technologies, we have been pioneering Africa’s aviation with latest-technology fleet throughout our 72 years history. In line with our growth targets under Vision 2025, we will keep on investing in further expansion of our fleet an in acquiring the latest aircraft the industry has to offer.”


With this delivery of the new ultra-modern aircraft, Ethiopian’s fleet of Boeing airplanes grows to 73 jets, including the 787 Dreamliner, 777, 737 MAX, and the 757 and 767. “Ethiopian Airlines continues to fly at the forefront of Africa’s commercial aviation industry by operating the most advanced airplanes,” said Marty Bentrott, Boeing Sales vice president for Middle East, Turkey, Russia, Central Asia & Africa. “We are honored by Ethiopian’s continuing confidence in Boeing airplanes and we look forward to growing our five-decade long partnership, the airline said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/ethiopian-receives-africas-largest-737.html

French President, Emmanuel Macron, has urged Nigerian youths to get involved with politics to change the narrative of the nation.

Macron, while describing politics as important, said only Nigerians could change their image before the comity of nations.

The French President, who was accompanied by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, gave the challenge during a visit to the Afrika Shrine in Ikeja, on Tuesday night at an event tagged “Celebrate African Culture.”

He noted that the future of Africa and the task of making it great rested with Africans, saying that the youths have a crucial role to play.

“Africa needs a new generation of Africans to share the new narrative about Africa all over the world,” he said.

According to him, politics is important because it is a tool to change the society.

Macron described the Afrika Shrine as an iconic place of strength, music, culture and the late Fela as a politician who wanted a change for the society.

“I am very happy to be here. Let me remind you that this place — shrine is a music place as well as politics which is needed to change the society.

“So, I will say to the youths, politics is important, be involved,” he said.

Macron also announced the launch of the 2020 African cultures season in France.

He said the event would help create a unique face for African culture in Europe.

Earlier, Gov. Ambode said the President’s visit was expected to signal the dawn of a new collaboration between France and Lagos State in the quest to make the state the culture and entertainment capital of Africa.

Ambode said the event was also about celebrating African culture which was a positive step for France as it sought to rebuild its relationship with Africa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event had in attendance personalities including, Dr Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra, Chief Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun, Prof. Wole Soyinka,, Sen. Ben Bruce among others.

NAN reports that the event presented an opportunity for Macron and Ambode to interact with musicians, artists, fashion designers and film makers.

more details at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/macron-urges-nigerian-youths-to-join.html