The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has said that at least 992 people died of cholera, Lassa fever, yellow fever and monkeypox in 2018.

The centre made the data available on its website and stated that Cholera caused 830 deaths, Lassa fever caused 149 deaths, yellow fever killed 13 persons, while there was one confirmed death caused by monkeypox.

On cholera, the NCDC said, “As at October 29, 2018, a total of 42,466 suspected cases including 830 deaths have been reported from 20 States. The affected states were, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Borno, Ebonyi, FCT, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Yobe, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

“Since the beginning of 2018, 26.3 per cent of those confirmed to have contracted cholera were aged five to 14, while 50.6 per cent female and 49.4 per cent male were affected.”

On Lassa fever, the centre said there were 3,276 suspected cases reported, out of which 588 were confirmed positive, 17 probable and 2672 negative, from January 1 to December 9, 2018.

“A total of 149 deaths were recorded in confirmed cases and 17 in probable cases. 23 states recorded at least one confirmed case across 93 Local Government Areas, they are Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Imo, Plateau, Lagos, Taraba, Delta, Osun, Rivers, FCT, Gombe, Ekiti, Kaduna, Abia, Adamawa, Enugu and Kano.

“Forty-four health care workers were affected since the onset of the outbreak in seven states; Ebonyi 16, Edo-15, Ondo -8, Kogi -2, Nasarawa -1, Taraba -1 and Abia -1. Meanwhile, of the 82 per cent of all confirmed cases, 45 per cent were from Edo State, 25 per cent from Ondo State and 12 per cent from Ebonyi State.”

From the onset of the Yellow fever outbreak in September 2017 to December 2018, the NCDC stated that 3,902 suspected cases were reported from the 36 states and the FCT, with 78 cases of those cases being positive.

“Of the 3,295 samples that were collected and tested, 185 were presumptive positive and 78 cases have been reported to be positive from 14 the states. The states affected by yellow fever in 2018 were, Kwara, Kogi, Kano, Zamfara, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Katsina, Edo, Ekiti, Rivers, Anambra and Benue states, as well as the FCT. Total deaths from suspected cases were 33 while deaths from presumptive positive cases were 27 and total deaths from confirmed cases were 13.

On monkeypox, the centre recorded 104 cases that were reported from 19 States in 2018; Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kebbi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Oyo, Abia, Anambra, Bauchi, Plateau, Adamawa, and the FCT. Of the 104 cases reported, there were 38 confirmed cases, one probable case, and one death.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/cholera-lassa-fever-killed-993.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has served governors owing salaries a red card ahead of the March 2, governorship election.

Buhari, who is also seeking re-election on the platform of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), urged the voters to consider competence in exercising their franchise.

The president, who disclosed this on the Hausa service of the Voice of America, which was aired yesterday morning, said he saw no justification in governors collecting bailout funds from the Federal Government and still failing to pay wages.

The president was quoted as saying: “I wonder how these governors are able to sleep knowing that they have refused to pay workers their wages.

“These workers have families to cater for, they pay rent, pay school fees, hospital bills and food for their families.”

Buhari said the Constitution gives governors the independence to spend their funds without interference and that is why some are abusing that privilege by refusing to work for the people.


The president advised Nigerians to use their voting rights to make sure that they only vote for people who would deliver.

On the fight against corruption, which is a cardinal programme of his administration, the president said unlike before, he now uses democratic means.

He said being democratic in fighting corruption is slow but assured that the objectives will eventually be achieved.

Meanwhile, Buhari has justified his retention of service chiefs, two years after their tenure ended.

Buhari said he has not changed the service chiefs in order to avoid “competition within the service,” in a recorded interview aired by Arise TV on Monday night.


The president also said he is not afraid of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and that he would soon take action on his tenure, which ended on January 3.

However, Idris clocks 60 on January 15 and enlisted into the police on January 3, 1984.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Yusufu Buratai, nd the Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-EteIkwe Ibas, as well as the Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Baba Abubakar, have had their tenures extended twice.

Also, Idris, who was expected to retire on January 3, after completing a mandatory 35 years in service, is still at his job. He clocks 60 on January 15.

The president said: “The head [him] has to be very careful because you don’t know [the] ambition of the ones coming up,” and added that the performance of the service chiefs may be disappointing but he takes responsibility for not changing them.


“My understanding of security is that, when you have a case of emergency, you have to be careful, with tampering with the head of services. This is, again, one of my personal experiences. I have been a governor, I have been a minister, I have been a head of state, I came back, I tried to come back to this office three times but lucky on the fourth attempt.

“I am measuring the options critically; when you have a case of emergency, if you don’t wait for an appropriate time to do it, then, you create competition within the service. There are so many ambitious people waiting; only one man can be chief of army staff in the army, only one man can be the inspector-general of police.

“Don’t forget that it was this administration that appointed all the three.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/president-buhari-serves-debtor-govs-red.html

A new report released in New York by the United Nations Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) has revealed that Nigeria lost an estimated $2.8 billion in revenues in 2018, mainly due to crude oil-related crimes.


This is coming as Analysts at Agusto & Co, a credit rating and research company, have said that despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) which the National Assembly passed in 2018, the reform bill still gave a lot of powers or influence to the President of Nigeria.

The UN report, which covered from July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018, said “Maritime crime and piracy off the coast of West Africa continued to pose a threat to peace, security and development in the region.

“Oil-related crimes resulted in the loss of nearly 2.8 billion dollars in revenues last year in Nigeria, according to government figures.
“Between January 1 and November 23, there were 82 reported incidents of maritime crime and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.’’

The report also noted that compared to the situation reflected in the previous report, there was an increase in drug trafficking throughout West Africa and the Sahel.
“In Benin, the Gambia and Nigeria, more than 50 kilogrammes of cocaine were seized between July and October by joint airport interdiction task forces.

“During the same period, joint airport interdiction task forces seized more than six kilogrammes of methamphetamines, eight kilogramme of heroin (double the amount in the first half of 2018) and 2.6 tonnes of cannabis.

“Drug production across the region was also reportedly on the rise, with more than 100 kilogrammes of ephedrine and phenacetin seized by competent authorities,’’ the report said.

During the reporting period, it said that conflicts between farmers and herders resulted in loss of lives, destruction of livelihoods and property, population displacements and human rights violations and abuses.

The report said outbreaks of violence were recorded in many states across Nigeria, although with more frequency in the Middle Belt region, as well as Adamawa and Taraba States.

It said the spike in conflict between farmers and herders was closely linked with demographic pressures, desertification and the attendant loss of grazing reserves and transhumance routes, which had been exacerbated by climate change.

Others were challenges in the implementation of effective land management and climate change adaptation policies, and limited enforcement of existing pastoral laws.

Political and economic interests, the erosion of traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, and weapons proliferation, were other factors attributed to the increased cases of herders-farmers conflict.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/un-nigeria-lost-28bn-to-oil-related.html

The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) has embarked on a nationwide protest today ahead of the commencement of an indefinite strike.

The protest rally was to create awareness on the new Minimum Wage for workers and to press home its demand for an executive draft bill on the N30,000 minimum wage to be transmitted by the presidency to the National Assembly.

More photos at https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/photos-nlc-holds-nationwide-protest.html

BUA Group has announced that it has signed another contract with cement manufacturing company, CBMI, for the construction of a new three million metric tonnes per annum Kalambaina Cement Line 2 in Sokoto State, North West Nigeria.

This comes barely 90 days after the completion of another 3million MTPA BUA Obu Cement Line 2 in Okpella, Edo State, Southern Nigeria, and seven months after the inauguration of its 1.5million MTPA Kalambaina Cement Plant Line 1 in Sokoto State, thus bringing BUA Cement’s total installed capacity to 11million MTPA by the time the new project is completed.

Similarly, the move is coming less than one week after the listing of shares from the almost $1 billion merger between BUA Kalambaina Cement Company, and Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN), where it also assumed majority stakes in the enlarged company.


Speaking at the contract signing ceremony for the plant in Sokoto State, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Executive Chairman/CEO, BUA Group and Chairman of CCNN in a statement, disclosed that the construction of the new 3million mtpa kalambaina line was in line with BUA Cement’s strategic midterm expansion programme.

According to Abdul Samad, the Nigerian market is still greatly underserved, and with the projected growth in major infrastructure projects and spending over the next few years, it is important that local manufacturers are able to scale effectively to meet current and projected demand.

Rabiu also added that this partnership between BUA and Sinoma CBMI is not the first, as they were responsible for constructing the first BUA Kalambaina plant in Sokoto State.

“We are very confident that Sinoma CBMI possesses the necessary technical expertise given their track record in deploying cement plants across the world,” Tong Laigou, Chairman of CBMI, signed on behalf of CBMI construction.

On becoming Nigeria’s second largest cement producer by volume, Rabiu said the BUA’s strategic cement expansion programme, which focused on key regional and export markets has seen it become the second largest producer of cement by volume in Nigeria this year, whilst solidifying its leadership positions in the North West, South South and South East markets of Nigeria.

“We will continue to deliver quality products, which have earned us the ‘King of Strength and King of Cement’ moniker amongst block makers who form the largest users of cement in Nigeria,” he added.

Recall that the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), had recently approved the merger of the CCNN Plc with BUA’s Kalambaina Cement Company Limited of Nigeria that saw the enlarged CCNN become Nigeria’s 12th largest company by market capitalisation.

BUA Group’s current cement assets include the 6million MTPA Obu Cement I & II plants in Okpella, Edo State, the 500,000mtpa Edo Cement Plant, the 1.5million MTPA Kalambaina Cement Plant, and the 500,000 Sokoto Cement Plant.

The Group also owns over 90% stake in the publicly-listed CCNN Plc, and is widely acclaimed for its high capacity utilisation, efficiency, and quality of its products.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/bua-cement-capacity-in-sokoto-to-hit-45.html

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has declared that the continued stay of Ibrahim Idris as the Inspector General of Police (IG) after statutory retirement constitutes a threat to national security.

In a statement issued yesterday, the CUPP National spokesperson, Ikenga Ugochinyere berated Idris,


saying it amounted to impersonation and illegality for him to be parading himself as the Inspector General of Police.

“The opposition coalition wishes to remind President Buhari of the sacred provision of Section 215(1)a of the 1999 Constitution which clearly holds that the president can only appoint a serving police officer as Inspector General of Police. This means that having reached the mandatory retirement age of 35 years of active service on January 3 2019, and the mandatory retirement age of 60 years while in service which comes up on January 15, 2019, the IG is constitutionally barred from being retained or reappointed as IG as he is no longer a serving police officer and his continued stay in office is illegal and an act of impersonation. There is no legal or documentary evidence to back up his stay as IG,” Ugochinyere insisted.

He called on President Buhari to be courageous by announcing a replacement and not bow to the pressure to cement illegality in the core of the country’s security architecture due to his desperation to rig himself back to power knowing he has been rejected by the Nigerian people.

He said: “The uncertainty in the leadership of the police in such auspicious moment emboldens persons with sinister motives and demoralises senior officers of the force due to this abrupt and unlawful halt to their career progression. The law is clear on who can be appointed as Inspector General of Police and who cannot be appointed as Inspector General of Police and Mr. Ibrahim Idris is now in the latter group.”

He further revealed that the coalition members would embark on a protest if the president fails to replace Idris.

“It is flowing from this and to save our dear country from further drift from a government that lacks capacity to provide leadership to our country that the secretariat of CUPP hereby directs all coalition members in the 36 states to begin preparation for nationwide protests from January 15 if the retired IG is seen dressed in police uniform around the Force Headquarters.

“The protests will be in front of the Police Command headquarters of every state and shall be continuous till the right thing is done. During the protests, there shall be a declaration that since Idris is no longer a police officer, he cannot be addressed as IG and a call to him to stay clear of the Force Headquarters, “ the statement said.

He called on the president to be prepared to be held responsible in the event of anarchy, loss of lives and property if he follows the path of noxious plots to rig himself into power.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/ig-must-go-cupp-insists.html

Mrs Amina Zakari, accused by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described as false, the allegation that she is a relation of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Chairman of the INEC Committee on Collation Centre for the general elections, said: “President Muhammadu Buhari is my President as [he is] everybody else’s President.

“He is not my cousin, he is not my uncle as is being claimed.”

According to ChannelsTV, Zakari made a formal reaction to the allegation in an interview with the BBC on Saturday.

Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced her appointment on Thursday, PDP rejected it, insisting that she is related to Buhari and alleged that the move was part of the plot to rig the elections.

The Presidency and INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu have separately denied the allegations.

Zakari explained that she had done her job diligently over the years without scandal or blame.

She pointed out that she was first appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 and served as a Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo prior to that.

“I have done my job conscientiously over the years as a patriotic citizen of Nigeria,” she said. “I don’t think I should be distracted now that elections are coming forward. I will continue doing my work. I will continue serving my country to the best of my ability with the best of intentions.”

She recalled that she had been part of INEC when Jonathan defeated Buhari in the 2011 Presidential election and challenged anyone who had any evidence of wrongdoing against her to come forward with evidence.

“I have been on this job since 2010 and this same President lost an election and the people that complained have worked closely with me. They have not in any way accused me of any wrongdoing over the years and I have done my work diligently.

“I was in charge of political party monitoring for four years – from 2010 to 2014. There was not a single scandal to my name and nobody can claim to have paid me or asked me to do anything wrong. And if they have, I would love them to come forward and prove it to the nation and to the world at large because this is getting into a global dimension.”

Zakari said it was impossible for her to influence an election monitored by thousands.

“I don’t think I should worry about this because I am one single person out of 16,000 staff, of about a million ad hoc staff that will run the election. I can’t see how I can get powers to influence an election as a single individual.”

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) had earlier urged politicians and parties to focus more on how to realise their electoral goals in 2019 rather than paying attention to unnecessary issues.

The Lagos State Chairman of IPAC, Mallam Shakirudeen Olofin,gave the advice in Lagos on Friday.

Olofin was reacting to Thursday’s appointment of Mrs Amina Zakari by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its Head of Collation Centre for the 2019 elections and to the criticisms it generated in some quarters.

Olofin said that the criticisms trailing Zakari’s appointment were not necessary and mere distractions.

He said politicians and parties should rather spend time perfecting their strategies on winning the general elections rather than being pre-occupied by issues that should not concern them.

“We think the criticisms and controversies that have trailed the appointment of Zakari are unnecessary because it is not within the powers of political parties to appoint people for INEC.

“In a football match, the teams do not decide or bother about who the referee is. It is never done. Rather, they focus on how to win the match.

“The parties should be more focused and leave all these distractions. They should be on the drawing board planning for victory.They should leave INEC and Zakari to do their jobs,” he said.

Furthermore, Olofin said it was unfair to claim Zakari got the appointment because she was the president’s blood relation.

He pointed out that the she had always been in INEC where she even acted as the Chairman of the commission after the exit of Prof. Attahiru Jega.

Olofin added that IPAC believed Zakari’s appointment was not an aberration as she had also headed the commission’s ICT Department, which, he said, was related to her new responsibility.

Also, the presidency criticised PDP over what it described as another lie regarding the status of Zakari, a national commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Malam Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant on media accused the PDP of publishing a mendacious press release, in which it made equally baseless accusations regarding Hajiya Zakari, about her neutrality and integrity in next month’s election.

Shehu said Zakari in the first place was originally appointed by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and was only reappointed by Buhari.

Second, Zakari is not a blood relation of President Buhari as the PDP had claimed.

“President Buhari and Commissioner Amina Zakari don’t share a family relationship. An inter-marriage occurred in their extended families, so the imputation of blood relationship between the President and the electoral commissioner is a simple lie.

“What is even more curious about all the fuss coming from the PDP is that they, as a ruling party picked Mrs Zakari, judging her by her own merit and made her an electoral commissioner.

“She served so well with distinction as can be verified from the records that President Buhari approved the recommendation that she be reappointed, as he did other PDP nominees for second-term of four years.

“PDP, therefore, has no moral right to keep harassing this hardworking mother unless they have a hidden agenda.

“By this statement, the PDP is guilty of scoring an own goal and two, of harassing an innocent citizen on the basis of a lie, pure and simple”, Shehu said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/buhari-not-my-relation-says-zakari.html

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Saturday, urged Muslims to start looking for the new moon of Jimada Ula 1440AH.

Abubakar made the call in a statement signed by Prof. Sambo Junaidu, the Chairman, Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto.

“This is to inform the Muslim Ummah that on Jan. 6, which is equivalent to 29 day of Rabi’u Assani 1440AH, shall be the day to look for the new moon of Jimada Ula 1440AH.

“Muslims are, therefore, requested to start looking for the new moon of Jimada Ula 1440AH on Sunday and report its sighting to the nearest district or village head for onward communication to the Sultan.”

The monarch further prayed to Allah help in the discharge of the religious duty by all Muslim leaders and the entire Ummah.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/jimada-ula-sultan-tells-muslims-to.html

President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday stated that he did not leave an empty treasury for his successor, President Muhammadu Buhari, describing Pastor Tunde Bakare’s claims to that effect as false and untenable.

Bakare was quoted as claiming during a recent trip to Canada that President Buhari could not appoint a cabinet for six months because “he met an empty treasury.”


But in a statement by one of Jonathan’s media aides, Reno Omokri, he described Bakare’s statement as lies and a figment of both the imaginations of President Buhari and Pastor Bakare.

“The Jonathan administration left $2.07 billion in the Excess Crude Account when it handed over to the Buhari administration on May 29, 2015. This is an easily verifiable fact from both the Central Bank of Nigeria and is also available from other open sources”, Omokri stated.

“In addition to that, the Jonathan government left a foreign reserves of $29. 6 billion for the incoming government and $5.2 billion was left for the Buhari administration by way of dividend payments from the NLNG.

“Now, there is no way these huge amounts can be described as empty treasury. I challenge Pastor Tunde Bakare to disprove these figures I have given here or take me to court and I will embarrass him there and show him to be the liar that he is.”

He also disputed claims by Pastor Bakare that Nigeria no longer imports rice as untrue.

Omokri said, “first of all, even the Buhari administration has not claimed that Nigeria is no longer importing rice. What they said, which is also a lie, is that rice imports have reduced.

“But the truth is that Nigeria’s rice imports have actually increased by 60 per cent as revealed by no less an institution than the United States Department of Agriculture.

“In fact, according to the USDA, not only has Nigeria’s rice imports increased by 60 per cent, but Nigeria is projected to be the second largest rice importing nation.

“These are the exact words of the USDA “China and Nigeria are projected to remain the largest rice importing countries in 2019, followed by the EU, Cote d’Ivoire, and Iran.

“You do not have to take my word for this – google it by yourself. The last time Nigeria’s rice imports went down, according to the USDA, was in 2015 under former President Jonathan.”

Omokri added that Bakare’s claims that 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) occupied by Boko Haram are no longer an issue means that Pastor Bakare is out of touch, saying that as he was granting that interview, Baga, Doron-Baga, Kross Kawwa, Bunduran, Kekeno and Kukawa towns are all under Boko Haram/ISWAP’s control.

“In fact, the Governor of Borno State, a notorious political enemy of former President Jonathan, was forced to hold a press conference on New Year’s eve where he confessed that the situation has deteriorated and was worse than before.

“For emphasis, the following was the front page headline in the Punch on New Year’s eve “Residents flee as Boko Haram takes over Borno communities”, Jonathan’s spokesman said.

“There has been mass movement of people out of communities in Borno State through Damaturu the Yobe State capital to Bauchi, Gombe, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kebbi and Jigawa States.”

He added that unlike the Jonathan era, the insecurity in Nigeria is almost total, arguing that “as I write this today (January 2, 2019, Aminu Bello Masari, the Governor of Katsina State, President Buhari’s own state, raised an alarm on the insecurity and breakdown of law and order in his state.”

Omokri further stated, “We are not talking of Zamfara or the North-east. We are talking Katsina. If Buhari cannot secure his own state, is it Nigeria he can secure? And then there is Zamfara State, which is becoming as bad, if not worse, than the Northe-ast.”

He said that with these unimpeachable facts it is hard pressed to understand why “Pastor Tunde Bakare cannot respect himself and the calling he claims to have, by using his mouth to speak truth instead of lying like a heathen.”

[url]htps://twww.akelicious.net/2019/01/jonathan-i-didnt-leave-empty-treasury.html[/url]

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that he is presenting to the public available evidences of how the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, lied that he donated N10 million to the victims of Offa bank robbery.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister said he is presenting to the public both the unedited version of a live radio interview as well as the doctored, re-broadcast version on the donated fund to show Saraki’s disdain for truth.

Specifically, the minister said that in the live radio interview on Christmas Day Saraki said he donated the N10 million to the robbery victims in Offa.

However, it was doctored before it was re-broadcast to remove any reference to the claimed donation of N10 million to victims of the armed robbery.

Mohammed said he is releasing the evidence for Nigerians to see the extent to which “some leaders can go to deceive the people and peddle lies just to shore up their dwindling fortunes”.

”In the unedited live version, Dr Saraki, speaking in Yoruba, said categorically that he donated N10 million when he visited Offa to commiserate with the victims of the armed robbery.

“He claimed he is donating N10 million, whereas about N7 million was stolen from the vaults of the banks that were robbed during the attack.

”However, the version for re-broadcast did not contain any reference to the Offa robbery.

‘Whereas they claimed to have re-broadcast the interview due to popular demand, the truth is that they decided to
re-air it without the claim of N10 million donation due to the widespread derision that greeted that phantom claim.

“These people have a chronic disdain for the truth,” he said.

Mohammed challenged the Senate President to answer three critical questions or learn to keep his peace:

“The first one is did he not say, during the live interview, that the money in the vault was N7 million and that he dropped N10 million when he went to Offa on a condolence visit?

” The second question is did he really drop any money on that occasion?

“And the third, did he or did he not doctor the original broadcast?”

The minister said while he would not want to exchange words with Saraki on who is truly on ground in Kwraa, it is important to let him know that six weeks from now, the people of Kwara will answer that question.

”On Nov. 17 2018, the people of Kwara gave a hint of their determination to sack the rapacious leaders who have dominated their lives when they voted for the APC in the by-election for the Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero federal constituency.

” That crushing defeat so devastated the political warlords, who hitherto claimed
invincibility, that they started doing what they have never done before: going from ward to ward to campaign!

”Unfortunately, the game is up for them, as they will soon learn, because the people have resolved that ‘O to ge’ (enough is enough). In the meantime, they are free to continue to revel in self-deceit,” the Minister said.

Click here to listen to audio https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/lai-mohammed-presents-audio-evidence-of.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, of sponsoring smear campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, APC National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, alleged that the plot was hatched in collaboration with some foreigners in Dubai.

He maintained that the plot, aimed at dishing out fake news and spurious allegations against Buhari, his family members and other government officials, have failed to achieve the desired result.


He said: “Their Dubai-made strategy has collapsed like a pack of cards. The plan was to recreate the 2014/2015 scenario when APC pilloried them for their crimes, which woken the electorate to the reality of the disaster we were headed under the PDP government.

“PDP, led by their presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku, paid huge sums of money to some foreign con men in Dubai who posed as strategists.

“They began to spurn daily fake news and make spurious and unsubstantiated allegations against our president, his family members, the vice president, the APC national chairman, notable government officials, and public institutions to deceive Nigerians,” he said.

He said their strategists did not tell them that such would not work when the allegations cannot be proven.

According to him, this is unlike in 2015 when the APC allegations were based on facts, which have been validated by revelations upon revelations of heist committed during the inglorious 16 years of PDP rule.

The publicity secretary added that the opposition’s disgraceful recourse to false alarm, as a campaign strategy this time is a wrong approach, as facts are sacred.

He stressed falsehood, no matter how fleet-footed, would be overtaken by the truth in no time.

Issa-Onilu said the reality has dawned on the fortune seekers in PDP that it is not possible to tag a label of corruption on President Buhari as a demarketing strategy.

He said it is also not possible to campaign based on issues of governance, as the achievements of this administration have shown, adding that it is obvious that the PDP has found itself in a fix.

“Many in the leadership of the main opposition party are finding it difficult to identify with a character like Atiku and many of the charlatans running the PDP campaign are unsellable.

“It is worthy of note that a few of the PDP leaders, with some residual credibility, are battling with their conscience as they are increasingly becoming uncomfortable with the level of immorality that underlines the PDP’s politics. Anyone with a modicum of decency cannot be proud of the odious reputation of PDP,” he alleged.

He further claimed that when this is added to the fact that the PDP campaign has failed to present any programme to Nigerians, it could be seen clearly why the party’s campaign has become a stillborn.

“Like a lion, PDP roared, but it didn’t last and has joyfully ended up as the bleating of a goat,” he added.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/apc-accuses-pdp-atiku-of-sponsoring.html

Varsities may reopen soon, with the Federal Government making concessions to the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The concessions will be tabled before the union’s leaders on Monday at a meeting to be convened by Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige.

The Minister has reached out to the ASUU leadership for the “robust feedback session” with the hope that the union will return to the negotiation table.

Varsity lecturers on November 4, last year, began a strike to push the implementation of the 2017 Memorandum of Action.

The Memorandum was a follow-up to the 2009 FG-ASUU Agreement.

ASUU National President Biodun Ogunyemi attributed the strike to “the insincerity of government in meeting our demands”.

The demands are:
payment of shortfall in salaries of universities;
waiver/ government fiat to set up Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company;

(NUPEMCO);
revitalisation funds for varsities; and
payment of earned academic allowances for lecturers, senior staff and other workers.

But on Monday, the Federal Government succeeded in addressing the demands of the lecturers and other unions.

“One of the conditions met by the Federal Government was the release of N15.89billion to universities on New Year’s Eve( Monday) for the payment of shortfall in salaries of universities,” a source told The Nation.

“The cash is expected to hit the account of all the institutions on or before the close of work today (Wednesday),” he added, pleading not to be named.

“The government has also set aside N20billion as revitalisation funds for varsities. The National Universities Commission( NUC) has been directed to work out the modalities for allocating the funds to all institutions.

“On the demand for the setting up of Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company


( NUPEMCO), the government has directed the National Pension Commission (NUPEMCO) to issue a licence for the company’s take-off.

“Funds have also been set aside for Earned Academic allowances for lecturers, senior staff and other workers.”

Replying a question, the source added: “This agreement was inherited by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, but despite the lean resources available to the government as a result of the fall in oil prices, we have done our best to meet ASUU demands.”

Ngige said: “We have gone far in considering the demands of the lecturers. We have substantially met the conditions.

“I am meeting with ASUU leaders on Monday where all steps taken by the government will be tabled before them. This is a responsive and transparent government, we have done our best to meet the conditions.

“In fact, officials from the Ministry of Budget and National Planning will be at the next meeting with ASUU leadership where they will be briefed on facts and figures.

“We are hopeful that the actions taken by the government will be acceptable to ASUU for our schools to reopen.”

ASUU Chairman in the Southwest Zone Dr. Deji Omole denied knowledge of any updates on the union’s negotiation with the Federal Government.

Omole, who is also the Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter , told Akelicious that the government was yet to call another meeting in the ongoing negotiation since over two weeks ago.

He said the negotiating committee was awaiting announcement of a new date for talks.

More at https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/n1589b-injection-to-stop-ASUU-strike.html

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has released its 2019 Economic Outlook report and acknowledged government’s efforts at carrying the private sector along on the issue of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

The association said the government should pay adequate and unwavering attention to the emerging issues on AfCFTA in 2019 and beyond.

“Government should ensure that Nigeria’s economic interests, especially the private sector, are not only projected but protected in arriving at the decision to sign or not to sign or when to sign.

“As a necessary part of the readiness assessment and the resulting action plan, the government should put in place the necessary framework to protect and boost the capacity of the manufacturing sector to thrive in the continental free trade area,” it said.

MAN also detailed recommendations to achieve sustainable economic growth and budgetary objectives of the fiscal proposals for next year.

In the report released in Lagos, MAN urged the Federal Government to revisit the assumptions of the 2019 budget, particularly crude oil production and price as well as ensure upward review of education and health allocations before appropriation.

“The crude oil price has a $60 per barrel benchmark, while oil production has a 2.3 million barrel per day projection, these assumptions should be revisited to reflect present economic realities,” it said.

MAN called for caution in the country’s rising debt profile in view of the associated services charges and future economic burden that it would exert on the nation.

The association called for cutting down on government recurrent expenditures to reduce fiscal deficit, borrowing and service charges.

It also canvassed shedding the current borrowing size of the government in the domestic financial market so as not to completely crowd-out the private sector.

The association called for the commencement of the implementation of the harmonised taxes and levies and to allow the Joint Tax Board (JTB) monitor and enforce compliance by states and local governments.

It said that the government should be more interested in result-oriented spending with frugality, be more transparent and accountable in order to assuage the psychology of taxpayers for improved tax compliance.

MAN also called for the resuscitation of domestic refining of crude oil and ensure the operability of Independent Power Producers (IPP) for On/Off-grid power generation and the MicroGrid Initiative.

It also urged the government to “ re-classify the manufacturing sector into strategic gas users from the current commercial gas user’s classification.’’

The association urged the Federal Government to continue to entrench better foreign exchange rate management while allocation should tilt more to the industrial sector, including the SMEs.

It also urged the government to fast-track the development of key selected mineral resources through backward integration, especially those with high inter-industry linkages.

“Government should continue to support the resource-based industrialisation and backward integration in the country through appropriate incentives and funding support to investors,” it said.

MAN urged the government to expand the tax net to capture the non-tax-paying firms, particularly those operating in the informal sector and not increase the tax burden on the already tax compliant businesses.

It acknowledged the government’s recognition of the need to develop a digital economy and the fourth industrial revolution in order to enhance productivity.

The association, however, said the safety nets were not captured in the budget proposal nor in President Muhammadu Buhari’s budget speech.

“Nigeria’s production base faces future risks due to its weak performance in developing productivity drivers such as innovation and human capital, and this calls for closer examination and immediate action,” it said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/man-praises-nigeria-on-afcfta.html

Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has called on Christians across the country to dedicate time to pray for the successful campaign and electoral victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Ortom, the coordinator of Atiku’s campaign in the North Central, made the call during a special prayer session organised by North Central PDP Coalition for Atiku Abubakar 2019 at Faith Way Chapel International, Jos, Plateau State.

Represented by his Principal Special Adviser on Special Duties and Administration, Dr. Joseph Antyo, the governor said: “In the efforts to instal Atiku Abubakar as Nigeria’s next president in 2019, we need God in the project, because with God all things are possible.


“The choice of Atiku is an effort to rebuild this nation, anchored on his vast experience as a successful private investor and a God-fearing leader. We want all Nigerians, especially Christians, to join us in these prayers by dedicating their time through their various churches to organise prayers for Atiku.”

General overseer of the Faith Way Chapel International, Rev. (Dr.) Sam Alaha, who led the prayer, said: “It is wise for the coalition to surrender their political programme to God and it is good that the coalition believes that all powers belong to God and whoever seeks power must come to God for blessings.”

Meanwhile, former governor of Benue, Gabriel Suswam, has urged Benue electorate to vote out those that have been selling their land, but vote in those that would ensure the survival of Benue as a people.

Speaking during the PDP Benue north-west senatorial campaign flag-off at JS Tarka Institute of Political Studies, Gboko, at the weekend, Suswam expressed disgust that for four years, Benue was not included in the scheme of things at the federal level.

He expressed dismay that the present federal government, to bring the people of the state into extinct, had continued to neglect the state and allowed its citizens to be killed daily by marauding herdsmen.

“Nobody should be fooled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will work for the interest of the state or even the country, if voted again in the 2019 elections.

“We have suffered as a people these three and a half years. For us, this is not about party; it is about our very survival as a people.

“If you want to remain as a slave, you will remain in the broom. If you put APC before you, your survival as a people is gone.

“Let nobody fool you that he is at the senate struggling to get your share. Where is your share of the national cake he has brought home to you since you sent him there?

“Orker Jev (PDP senatorial candidate) is a dogged parliamentarian. Vote him to fight for your share; he won’t allow your share pass you by,” he added.

Earlier, Jev had advised the people to beware of those who come out every political season to deceive them to vote for them.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/01/ortom-charges-christians-others-to-pray.html

A study carried out on the operational status of the over 5,000 kilometres of pipeline network belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) across the country, has revealed that the pipeline network would need $12 billion to be replaced or $1.1 billion to be fixed.

Sponsored by the United Kingdom-funded Facility for Oil Sector Transparency and Reform in Nigeria (FOSTER), for the NNPC, the study was aimed at outlining an intervention plan to transform government-owned downstream oil pipelines into a proper business with incentives to attract private sector participation.


The report, which was obtained by Akelicious, stated that product losses from vandalism on pipelines owned by the NNPC, as well as costs incurred by the corporation to repair them have been enormous, and suggested that they be segmented for either privatisation or commercialisation.

The study equally did a comparative study of pipeline commercialisation models for possible adoption, along with policy recommendations developed for commercialisation with guidelines for implementation.

However, the report did not cover the extensive upstream crude oil pipelines owned by oil producing companies and downstream gas pipelines in its study.

“The exact mechanical condition of the network is unknown, and it would cost more than $12 billion to replace the entire network today, and more than $1.1 billion to repair and inspect it comprehensively,” said the study.

It added: “The pipeline network is a worthy investment that is currently vastly under-utilised due to a myriad of problems. For efficient management and to encourage competition, the products pipelines can be divided into three sections: the Western, Eastern, and Northern sub-networks. Additionally, the upstream segment for supply of crude oil to the Kaduna refinery can be managed as a dedicated crude oil sub-network.”

According to the report, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) – a subsidiary of the NNPC, which manages the lines have been unable to make the most of the pipeline network, which traverses the country, and consists of 4,315 kilometres of multi-product pipelines and 701 kilometres of crude oil pipelines.

“The pipelines are operated by Products and Pipelines Marketing Company (PPMC), and are utilised to transport crude oil from Warri to the Kaduna refinery, and to transport refined products (that is, premium motor spirit (PMS), automotive gas oil (AGO), dual purpose kerosene (DPK), and aviation turbine kerosene (ATK)) nationwide.

“The key challenges identified with PPMC operations of the pipelines under exclusive government ownership comprise, refinery operations: low availability of the refineries results in sub-optimal utilisation of the pipelines; security, pipelines vandalism, and theft of products: this is well entrenched in Nigeria; product pricing and downstream market regulations: these stifle private sector participation in the value chain, and related losses have been estimated at up to $15 billion per annum; poverty and chronic underdevelopment: this is partly responsible for the chronic incidences of vandalism and theft of products,” it explained.

It stated that while Nigeria faces challenges in its pipelines, pipeline transportation business has however been thriving in many countries, particularly the United States.

Nigeria, the report noted, still relies on expensive road tankers to take products across her length and breadth.

The study recommended that deregulating the downstream sector, and privatising or commercialising all its value chain, such as the refineries; pipelines network; pumping stations; and product storage depots, will ensure that the sector operates in a sustainable manner, such that market realities will keep its long-term viability.

According to the report, “Subsequent to their privatisation/commercialisation, fix/repair the four inland refineries and ensure they operate at optimum availabilities. If this is not achieved, it is unlikely that private investors will show a keen interest in acquiring/managing the pipeline network.

“Split the pipelines network into the indicated four segment sub-networks, i.e. Western, Eastern, Northern and Crude Oil, and privatise/commercialise each as distinct companies.

“Avoid the pitfalls associated with the privatisation of PHCN (Power Holding Company of Nigeria) assets in the electricity supply sector. Generate employment for the general public and the host communities via the pipelines privatisation/commercialisation process.”

On the issue of pipeline vandalism, the study stated that its severity was higher in the south than in the north, adding also that there is a ‘market’ for both crude and refinery products tapped from the pipelines.

It equally questioned the capacity of the PPMC to secure the lines, saying, “The responsibility for pipelines rests with PPMC. However, it appears that PPMC do not have a unit capable of managing the entire spectrum of pipeline operations, particularly those related to technical maintenance.

“Even basic security surveillance of the pipeline RoW is severely compromised. The opportunities that these technical and security-related operations offer to engage the communities on the pipeline RoW – and thereby improve government presence therein – are not maximised. Instead, only a token effort is made.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/nigeria-needs-12bn-to-replace-nnpcs.html

Massive corruption among top military chiefs appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari is the reason Nigeria is losing the war against Boko Haram, the Defense and Foreign Affairs has revealed in its Special Analysis released on December 28.

The Defense and Foreign Affairs reports are published by the International Strategic Studies Association (ISSA) based in the United States of America. ISSA is a Washington-based non-governmental organisation with a worldwide membership of professionals involved in national and international security and strategic policy.


The association, in 1998, took over publication of the Defense and Foreign Affairs publishing and information group, which began in 1972, providing strategic information and analysis to governments worldwide. It also incorporates the Global Information System (GIS), an encrypted on-line intelligence service for governments.

President of ISSA, Gregory Copley, told Akelicious yesterday night that their analyses were not released to the public but to governments the organisation had affiliation with. Investigation shows that not less than 160 countries have some form of affiliation to the organisation’s reports.

Asked specifically if the organisation had any affiliation with Nigeria, Coley, replied, “All I can say is that our report go to all countries we have some form of affiliation with. I will not comment on specific cases.”

The report obtained by Akelicious is damning and blames corruption among higher ups in the military high command for the faltering war against Boko Haram. Extracts from the analysis stated that at present, the Nigerian government had completely and comprehensively lost control of the engagement with Boko Haram and could show no instance when the government presently had tactical, theater, strategic, or information dominance of any aspect of the conflict.
According to the report, the insurgent groups grow stronger, and the government forces grow weaker and more beset by morale collapse.

It said, “It is fair to say that the Nigerian intelligence community itself is no longer sure what groups even comprise ‘Boko Haram’, nor has it addressed the international logistical, ideological, and support aspects contributing to the ongoing viability of the groups.”

The report stated that the leadership of the military, rather than concentrating on how to defeat the insurgents, were preoccupied with how to stop the leakage of information about massive corruption that had taken place on the pretext of fighting Boko Haram.

Excerpts from the report states as follows, “The conflict will almost certainly prove the undoing of the present government of President Muhammadu Buhari at the February 16, 2019, presidential elections.

“Despite this, the only significant engagement which the Nigerian military leadership — up to and including the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. (rtd.) Mohammed Babagana Monguno – seems to prioritise is the fight to stop the leakage of information about massive corruption, running into the equivalent of several billions of dollars, in the purchase by senior military officers of major military capital goods and military consumables, including the troops’ own food.

“The conduct of the war in the North is tied to the corruption in the military, and Buhari — ring-fenced by his own team — is unable to tackle the issue.

“His poor health does not help, but he had always (even as a military president, taking office on December 31, 1983) been indecisive and vindictive.

“This ongoing set of characteristics mean that the coming months will be dramatic, even more than the dying days of the preceding administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“It is significant that Buhari, who received the findings of the commission as much as a year ago, has refused to allow it to be made public and he, through National Security Adviser Monguno, has attempted to have the commission disband.

“However, it is believed that Monguno and Buhari are aware that copies of the report are beyond their reach and could be released unofficially if further attempts are made to assassinate commission members.

“The commission, investigating defense procurement from 2007 onwards, made significant strides which were initially accepted by the Buhari government, until the scope of the inquiry went beyond the period relating to the former government of Pres. Goodluck Jonathan, and began to show corruption patterns extending into officers still serving under President Buhari.”

The report stated that the death of a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal (rtd.) Alex Sabundu Badeh (who became Chief of Defence Staff), and that of a former Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Army, Major General Idris Alkali, on September 3, 2018 were not a mere coincidence .

It said, “Given the upsurge in momentum by ‘the highest levels of government’ to stop the findings becoming public from the corruption commission on defense procurement, it is plausible that the attribution of a criminal ‘kidnapping-attempt-gone-wrong’ against the Air Chief Marshal was a convenient excuse to ensure that the victim — Badeh — could not divulge in court the pattern and details of corruption which has grown even more rampant in the current generation of defense leadership.

“On September 3, 2018, the retired Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Idris Alkali, was also killed, ostensibly by a gang of youthful protestors who set up a roadblock near Jos, the capital of Plateau State. His body was discovered on October 31, 2018. And his death was blamed on ‘an irate mob’, who were protesting in the Du-ra-Du community against the September 2, 2018, killing of 11 members of their own community.”


The report further stated, “No significant economic or political progress can be achieved in Nigeria until the issue of the Boko Haram insurgency is resolved. Other insurgencies are also expected to emerge, or re-emerge, particularly in the Niger Delta. And while other pending internal security issues are important, it is on the BH issue that the prestige, credibility, and reliability of Nigeria is assessed by the international community. Thus, all questions of the viability of Nigeria as a candidate for inward foreign direct investment (FDI) and international cooperation are dependent on a resolution of the BH issues.

“Domestically, resolution of the BH issue is a pre-requisite to enabling issues of intra-Nigerian regional equity imbalances to be addressed. Moreover, the credibility of the Federal Government as an arbiter of justice is assessed by the domestic electorate and the world community.”

However, the Nigerian Armed Forces have consistently denied any allegation of corruption against the leadership. They have also stated and demonstrated the fact that they are capable of not only stopping the insurgents but rooting them out of the country.

Two days ago, army spokesman, Brig. General Sani Kukasheka Usman, said the nation’s military repelled an attack by the insurgents in Baga, Boro State. According to him, the insurgents on Wednesday, December 26 attacked the 7 Brigade of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), based in Baga, Borno State, about 7pm.

A statement issued by Usman read, “The troops along with their Nigerian Navy counterparts put up a very determined fight to repel the attack throughout the night, while Sector 3 Operation LAFIYA DOLE sent in reinforcement who are in hot pursuit of the terrorists.

“Similarly, a Search and Rescue team has been constituted.

“The Nigerian Air Force component has also been mobilised and are engaging the fleeing terrorists. Unfortunately, a naval personnel was killed in action. So far, no further details of casualties yet as efforts are ongoing to clear the terrorists hiding in Baga and environs.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/report-corruption-in-military.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Thursday intervened in the interbank sector of the foreign Exchange market, injecting $210 million into the wholesale segment and other sectors of the market.

Figures released by the Bank indicated that the wholesale sector of the market got another injection of $100 million, while the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and invisibles sectors each received $55 million.

The Director, Corporate Communications Department at the CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, said the forex interventions, in continuation of the Bank’s resolve, were aimed at sustaining the high level of stability in the Forex market and continually ease access to the currency by customers in the different sectors.


While lauding actors in various sectors of the forex market for the level of stability, in spite of activities of speculators, Okorafor assured that the CBN was ready to play its interventionist role in the market.

The CBN had in its last interventions earlier in December 2018, injected the sum of $299.82 million and CNY 143.60 million into the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS).

Meanwhile, one United States Dollar (US$1) exchanged for N360 in the Bureau De Change (BDC) segment of the market yesterday.

Diamond Bank Appoints Babade Acting Chairman

Diamond Bank Plc yesterday notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that following the recent resignation of Mr. Oluseyi Bickersteth as Director/ Chairman

of the Board, the Board of Directors of bank has appointed Mr. Dele Babade as acting Chairman effective December 24, 2018.

Babade holds Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Laws from University of London and was called to both the

Nigerian and English Bar.

He started his career with Midland Montagu London (the predecessor of HSBC Investment Bank) on the Graduate

Training Programme in 1988 and at various times worked in the UK and Greece mainly in Corporate and Merchant

Banking.

He joined Citibank in 1993 and garnered experience from Citibank’s Emerging Markets business focusing on

businesses beyond Africa and became Vice President in charge of all cross border/international deals for Africa in 1996, statement on the NSE website explained.

In 1998, he joined Nomura International in London as a Director for Investment Banking for Africa.

After re-joining Citibank in 2000, he was moved to Nigeria and Ivory Coast in 2001 as Executive Director covering Nigeria and West

Africa and was a board member of Citibank Nigeria from 2001 to 2006.

He also served as Citibank’s Director & Regional

Head Sub-Sahara Africa Corporate Finance & Investment Banking based in South Africa from 2002 to 2006.

He started his own investment advisory firm in 2007 but left briefly to join Ecobank Transnational Inc as Head of Ecobank

Capital from 2010 to 2012 and was also a member of the Group Executive Committee, the top executive body for overall

direction of the Ecobank Group. Since 2012, he has been running his firm focusing on inward cross border transactions

across the African continent.

He currently serves as Chairman of the Africa Risk Capacity Pan African Insurance Company (ARC Ltd) and is also the

Chairman of its Finance and Investment Committee. ARC Ltd is a financial affiliate of the African Risk Capacity, a

specialized agency of the African Union (AU), an initiative designed to improve current responses to climate-related

food security emergencies.

Babade was nominated by First Carlyle Growth V (Carlyle) and his appointment as a Non-Executive Director was

approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria effective April 20, 2017.

Diamond Bank is currently in a business combination deal with Access Bank Plc

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/cbn-injects-fresh-210m-in-forex-market.html

The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Thursday, said that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will make a minimal impact in the 2019 general elections.

He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the President Villa, Abuja.

Speaking on the commencement of the APC presidential campaigns, he said that the party was ready for the election.

Stressing that the PDP was no option in the forthcoming elections, he said that even with the apology tendered by the National Chairman of the main opposition party, Prince Uche Secondus, there have not been any comment of acceptance to the apology by Nigerians.

He said “Campaigns will start on Friday in Uyo, we are flagging off with the South-South and it is going to be the first rally of the President and taking place in the South South is particularly significant.

“From all the feelers we have I think the people of Uyo and Akwa Ibom state are anxious to receive Mr. President and to hear the message. We are all in good mood.” he said

Asked the chances of the APC to win the elections next year, he said, “Of course, how can you ask what the chances are? If PDP was doing well after 16 years, they wanted to do for 60 but they were terminated, no employer will recall an employee dismissed due to gross misconduct and abuse of finances you don’t recall the employee back.

“I remember that the best (Uche) Secondus had to say was that he was apologizing to Nigerian people and I have not heard anybody say they have accepted the apology and people who have robbed you they don’t apologize and say allow me back into your store room, you don’t do that.

“So we are certain that even as we can’t talk of any perfect situation, nothing can make Nigeria get so confused as to think that yesterday there was mismanage and those who were at the heart of that mismanagement can be entrusted with providing leadership for tomorrow.

“I don’t think that is the question at all, PDP is out of this calculation as far as I am concerned.

“I don’t think Nigerians even in their moment … PDP is just not an option particularly when their candidate is not a new face, there is basis for benefit of the doubt, you can give benefit of the doubt to a stranger not to someone who was at the heart perhaps one of the most powerful Vice President we have ever had.

“So I am clear that Nigeria will never ever have basis to give PDP the benefit of the doubt.” he added

Read more at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/2019-election-pdp-not-option-says.html

The Nigeria Police Force said it has arrested five suspects for their alleged involvement in the killing of a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Vice Marshall Alex Badeh.

The Force, which refused to give the names of the suspects, said two out of the five suspects arrested actively participated in the killing.

It said the remaining three suspects played other roles that led to Badeh’s murder.

The Police however did not parade the suspects claiming that its decision was to prevent other members of the gang from escaping.

The Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood made the disclosures at a briefing in Abuja.

Moshood also said the postponement of the parade would help the investigators to arrest fleeing members of the gang.

He said: “The suspects arrested actively participated in the killing of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh. On the directive of the IGP, the Police Joint Investigation Team set up by the IGP were mandated within the shortest possible time to arrest all those responsible for the killing of the Badeh on the 18th of December, 2018 in Nasarawa State.

“Two principal suspects who participated in the killing of the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and three other suspects connected to the crime carried out on the 18th of December, 2018 have been arrested by the Intelligence Response Team of the IGP and the Special Tactical Squad.

“The suspects are currently in Police custody and undergoing investigation. The public should also know that the investigation into the killing is being intensified to arrest other suspects who are still at large.

“It is of significant note and for the public to be aware that the parade of the two suspects and the three other gang members will not come up today so as not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

“While the suspects will be paraded before the media and the public upon the completion of investigation into this matter, the Nigeria Police Force will not relent and will leave no stone unturned in getting to the root of the killing and bringing all perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/badehs-killing-police-arrest-five.html

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it may not honour further calls by Federal Government for a meeting on the way forward over the current strike by its members.

The union’s National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said this on the sideline of a news conference on the update of the union’s struggle to salvage the country’s public universities from deterioration on Sunday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the members of the union, under the aegis of ASUU, had on Nov. 4, embarked on what it had described as a ‘total, comprehensive and indefinite strike’.

Members of the union were protesting the non implementation of agreements entered into with the Federal Government in 2009 and 2017, as well as funding and improved welfare for members, among other issues.

According to Ogunyemi, to ensure that the agreements were implemented,union had held series of consultative meetings with the government and written series of letters with little or nothing to the effect.

He noted that it was against this backdrop that union resumed strike on Nov. 4.

“Since the commencement of this strike, we have had six meetings with agents of the Federal Government, with no clear commitment from government to resolving the issues we presented.

“Government appears to have adopted ‘keep them talking’ strategy while deceiving the public that progress was being made and that partial agreements had been reached between union and government.

“We want to say that government has continually and falsely raised the hopes of the Nigerian public on the state of duscussion with our union and we may not be interested in holding further dialogue with them until we see signs of commitment and sincerity in addressing the issues before them.

“Our expectation from a very responsive and sincere position is that by now, all outstanding issues would gave been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties.

“Unfortunately, government is yet to show commitment and sincerity in addressing these problems,” he said.
.
According to the don, on the renegotiation of Federal Government/ASUU agreeement, there are still unresolved issues about the leadership of the government team.
.
“We have strong reasons to believe that the continuation of Dr Wale Babalakin as the head of the renegotiation with ASUU will not yield good fruit,” he said.

Ogunyemi said union had taken up its current project as a life time, adding that this was why dating back to the 1980s, union had remained consistent on what was of concern to it.

“If we miss education, we miss development as we will end up being enslaved the second time.

“What is happening in this country now is that people are privatising everything, including education and before we know it, what happened to our primary and secondary education will happen.

“And these are some of the things we are supposed to be tracking and engaged in this society, if we want to make the change that we need.

“Our conviction is the reason behind the prolonged strike and our members have the conviction that until we get education right, Nigeria will never get it right.

“Insurgency will increase, banditry, poverty, kidnapping, misery and other societal ills will continue.

“Let me also state clearly too that our strike has nothing to do with politics or election, as is being speculated in some sectors of the society.

“We have never thought of aborting any election. We do not want to create problem for this country but let government do the right thing,” he said.

Ogunyemi said that the situation might have to rise to the point where Nigerians would have to tell government what to do with the country’s education system.

He said the union appreciated the understanding of the Nigerian students, their parents, among whom were many ASUU members and other people of goodwill since the resumption of the avoidable strike.

“ASUU does not take your sacrifice for granted. With your continued support and sacrifice, we can make the Nigerian ruling class come to accept the centrality of university education in improving the human condition.

“Qualitative and public-funded education is not an option; it is inevitable if Nigeria ever wishes to banish poverty, ignirance, sqaulor, insecurity, disease and curruption.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/strike-ASUU-threatens-not-to-honour-fgs.html

Nollywood star, Queeneth Agbor says she is fully in support of sex before marriage to be sure of the sexual strength of her man.

As dialectic as premarital sex is, the Nollywood actress, she recently revealed that she was fully in support of sex before marriage, as she doesn’t want to end up with a man who is not sexually active.

“As for me, I believe that sex is overrated in a relationship though I stand for sex before marriage with a good reason.”

“I need to test my ‘goods’ so I don’t end up with something inadequate. Cheating is a no-no for me. However, in a relationship, getting to know your partner doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with sex. I prefer to bond mentally and intellectually.
“I know my lover for who he truly is. Sex gone badly can actually end a relationship before you even get to know the real person.”
Agbor, not necessarily known for her roles in movies but for her incendiary comments about relationship, sex and marriage, which in most cases, dwell on her relationship preferences.

Speaking on the importance of sex in a relationship during a recent chat, Queeneth said, “To some people, sex is associated with stability because it increases the bond and maintains a level of stability.
`The actress once revealed how her Igbo Boyfriend slapped her silly for kissing a guy in a movie she acted and vowed never to date an Igbo guy.
“I won’t be dating an Ibo guy again; they are possessive and could be violent.”
Famous for her role in ‘Hooked’, she moved from Calabar to Lagos to pursue her dream career.

Read more at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/i-support-sex-before-marriage-nollywood.html

The Value Added Service (VAS) market is valued at N79billion ($220 million), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disclosed.

The commission’s Director of Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement, Mr Efosa Idehen, made this known during the 2nd Value Added Service (VAS) Stakeholders Forum on Tuesday in Lagos.

Idehen said that VAS was an important component of the Nigerian telecommunications ecosystem necessary for optimising the benefits of telecommunication services to consumers.

He added that VAS was non-core service beyond standard voice calls, SMS and data products.

According to him, VAS enables mobile network operators to develop additional revenue streams and can be used in any service industry for services available at little or no cost to promote their primary business

“The Nigeria VAS market, which is presently valued at about N79 billion ($220 million) is estimated to grow to about $500 million in 2021.

“The recent reform the commission embarks on in the VAS segment of the market is a further recognition of significant role of VAS in the entire telecommunications ecosystem,” he said.

The director said that like every service, there were both positive and negative impact of VAS on consumers but the positives far outweighed the negatives.

He said that the commission therefore deemed it fit to find a balance between enabling the opportunities that the VAS providers offered to consumers while at the same time mitigating the challenges or inconvenience they could constitute to other consumers.

According to him, in finding a balance, service providers are licensed by the commission and are allowed to operate and provide value added services to consumers.

He added that “consumers are empowered through the Do Not Disturb (DND) facility to choose whether to allow or block access to these services on a full or partial basis.

”Consumers have been at the receiving end of unsolicited messages, fraudulent deduction of consumers’ credit for VAS not subscribed for, among others.

”And subscribers are asking if what the telecommunications companies and their third parties are adding is ‘value’ or ‘pain’ services,” he said.

Idehen said that with that in mind, NCC introduced the DND number 2442, which empowered consumers to block all unsolicited messages and VAS services.


He said that the commission issued a direction requesting that network providers should ensure that information on the DND service be disseminated after every revenue generating activity via the End of Call Notification (EOCN).

The director said that the EOCN would run for the period not less than 45 days and within the hours of 8am to 8pm daily from the receipt of the latest letter on the subject.

He said that the operators were also admonished to deploy this information through all their channels of communications.

The channels of communications include websites, social media platforms, bill boards, flash messages, text messages, Interactive Voice Response platform, radio jingles, newspapers advertisements and television commercials.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/nigerias-vas-market-worth-n79bn-ncc.html

The Yuletide rally seems to be slipping away as yesterday’s transactions reversed gains of previous trading session, causing market capitalisation to depreciate by N23 billion.

Specifically, at the close of transactions yesterday, the All Share Index (ASI) shed 63.73 absolute points, representing a dip of 0.21 per cent to close at 30,609.06 points. Similarly, the market capitalisation shed N23 billion at N11.181 trillion.

The downturn was impacted by losses recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Forte Oil, Chemical And Allied Products (CAP), Guaranty Trust Bank, Unilever Nigeria and Lafarge Africa.


Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said: “In the near term, we expect the equities market to rebound on account of bargain hunting in stocks with attractive entry prices; we however maintain our overall bearish outlook for the market.”

Investdata Research Consulting Limited said the appearance of the Santa Clause rally is dependent on market forces and the move by some listed companies to close the year higher.

“Despite Friday’s marginal rebound on a high transaction volume in the midst of mixed sentiment and positive market breath that signalled the possibility of rally in the last full week before the Christmas festivities, the period under review closed lower.

“It is however dependent on market forces as fund managers and market players position for year end. Also the move by some listed companies to close the year higher may likely impact prices positively.”

Market breadth closed negative with 17 gainers against 20 losers. Diamond Bank recorded the highest price gain of 9.47 per cent, to close at N1.04, per share. Access Bank followed with a gain of 9.40 per cent to close at N8.15, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) rose by 9.24 per cent to close at N17.15, per share.

NPF Microfinance Bank appreciated by 8.51 per cent to close at N1.53, while Fidson Healthcare went up by 7.61 per cent to close at N4.95 per share. On the other hand, Forte Oil led the losers’ chart by 9.96 per cent, to close at N21.70, per share.

Ikeja Hotel followed with a decline 9.63 per cent to close at N1.69, while Wema Bank depreciated by 8.47 per cent to close at 54 kobo, per share.
Linkage Assurance declined by 8.33 per cent to close at 55 kobo, while CAP down by 6.44 per cent to close at N34.85 per share.

Total volume traded declined by 36.68 per cent to 214.96 million units, valued at N1.73 billion, and exchanged in 2,975 deals. The top traded stocks by volume was Diamond Bank with 70.98 million, valued at N72.64 million as investors reacted to the announcement of the bank’s merger with Access bank.

AXA Mansard Insurance followed with 20.03 million shares worth N40.1 million, while FBN Holdings traded 16.52 million shares valued at N120.19 million.

Access Bank traded 13.62 million shares valued at N108.55 million, while Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp) transacted 12.29 million shares worth N14.18 million.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/yuletide-rally-wanes-as-stock-market.html

The Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), has been urged to lead senior members of the Service, a detachment of senior police officers and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from Abuja to visit Seme and Idi-Iroko borders. Such a visit, it is believed, will enable him see how security officials aid and abet smuggling.

The unpatriotic officers, it was gathered, are assisting smugglers in frustrating and killing the Federal Government’s policy on local rice production by allowing purposely built vehicles to ply the roads unchallenged.

When Akelicious visited Seme and Idi-Iroko borders between Thursday and Saturday, last week, there were over 20 checkpoints between Agbara and Seme border and 16 checkpoints between the old Toll Gate at Sango and Idi-Iroko border.

In spite of the checkpoints, it was gathered that the rate at which rice and other prohibited items, such as frozen poultry products, used tyres, textile materials, used clothings, vegetables oil and others are being smuggled, is alarming.

Akelicious gathered that the illegal activity keep flourishing with the connivance of some unscrupulous officers in Customs, Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security agents who work at the border areas.

The smugglers use specilised and purpose-built vehicles to carry out their nefarious activities in the wee hours of the morning, in the evening and sometimes in broad daylight ferrying rice, vegetable oil and frozen poultry products into the country.

Over 300 of such vehicles used by smugglers were seen at various spots at Mile 2, Alaba-Rago Market, Okokomaiko, Ijanikin, Agbara, Oko-Afo, Araromi Ale, Mowo, Aradagun, Ibereko, Ajara, Badagry and Seme border, when The Nationvisited the area at the weekend.

The story of the converted vehicles was the same at Alakuko, old Toll Gate, Joke-Ayo, Ojoore, Iju, Atan, Lusada, Ketu, Adie-Owe, Apena, Alapoti, Ado and up to Idi-Iroko border when The Nation visited the area last Friday.

The specially-built vehicles also littered mechanic workshops and other areas on major roads within the border towns. Their drivers operate with impunity even with the presence of security men, who mounted illegal chek points along the areas.

Some motorists and residents of the border areas, stakeholders in the maritime industry and rice farmers in Badagry area of Lagos said Col. Ali needed to visit the areas to end the criminalities going on there.

The visit, a rice farmer, Mr Sunday Gabriel, said would enable the government to assess the poor and questionable attitude of most security agents posted to man border communities and to assist the Customs in checkmating illegal entry of such goods.

Motorists, specifically accused the Police and the FRSC officials of not doing their job diligently, despite their heavy presence on the two major roads leading to the borders.


The high cost of rice in the country, a resident of Ajara, Mr Gboyega Emmanuel, said may have added more impetus to the smuggling of the staple food as most of the vehicles used neither have number plates, particulars nor head lamps.

More than 25 of such vehicles, loaded with smuggled bags of rice, frozen poultry products and vegetable oil were seen discharging their goods at Lusada Market in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State last Friday.

Traders, motorists, community leaders and other Nigerians, who spoke with The Nation, expressed worries over the trend and the sophistication of the smugglers, adding that smuggling has assumed a frightening dimension as the Yuletide approaches. They urged Col Ali to visit the areas because most of the security agents look the other way while smugglers have a field day.

It was gathered that in Benin Republic, a bag of rice sells for less than N8,000, but sells for between N15,500 and N16,500, depending on the quality and size of the the grain, when it gets to the country.

“There is an urgent need for the Comptroller-General of Customs to visit the border towns of Seme and Idi-Iroko and see the high rate at which smuggled rice and other contrabands are entering the country with the connivance of some police officers, customs and FRSC officials.

“One wonders what the police and the FRSC officials are doing on the roads if purposely built vehicles that have no number plates, no particulars, no windscreens and no head lamps are plying our roads unchallenged.

“But the same unpatriotic police officers and FRSC officials that are aiding and abetting smuggling have the effrontery to stop and delay other commuters and motorists going for their legitimate businesses on the road.

“The attitude of most our security operatives along the roads leading to the land borders poses danger to lives and has negative effects on international trade and commerce,” Emmanuel said.

Other stakeholders and motorists spoke in similar vein, complaining about the police and FRSC officials’attitude on the roads.

A clearing agent operating at Seme border, Festus Solomon, and other operators, wondered why it was difficult for security agents, mostly the police and the FRSC officials to impound all the purposely built vehicles the smugglers are using to sabotage the country’s economy.

More at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/police-frsc-others-abet-rice-smuggling.html

Concerns mount over fate of $1bn arms purchase fund

By Kingsley Nwezeh with agency reports

At least 12 Nigerian soldiers were killed and dozens of others are missing after fighting with Islamists in Borno State, three military sources said yesterday.

This is coming as the $1billion earmarked for the purchase of arms and ammunition to aid the military in the fight against terrorism in the North-east region is now mired in confusion.


But the army said it repelled the attack in which it said one soldier was killed and another injured. The fighting followed an attack on Friday by insurgents in Gudumbali Local Government Area – a part of Borno where Boko Haram breakaway group Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) is influential.

Reuters quoted sources as saying the poor communication network in the remote area delayed details of the attack being relayed.

The attack, the sources said, was carried out on a military base and a nearby community in the Gudumbali Local Government Area of the state.


The three military sources, all of whom are soldiers who did not want to be named, said at least 12 soldiers were killed and dozens missing after the fighting.

But the army, in an emailed statement, said the insurgents opened fire on troops while aid materials were being distributed in Gudumbali.

“The troops, however, fought gallantly and outmanoeuvred the attackers inflicting heavy casualties on them. Unfortunately, a soldier paid the supreme price during the encounter, while another was wounded in action,” said the army in the statement.


The biggest loss of military life in the last few months occurred in late November when around 100 soldiers were killed by ISWA militants who attacked an army base in Metele, Borno State.

However, sources said 28 militants were killed, while the army reported that it lost less than 40 soldiers.

The North-east is home to two Islamist insurgencies: Boko Haram and ISWA which broke away in 2016 and is now considered by security experts to be the stronger of the two.

The federal government in June ordered thousands of people who fled the conflict with Boko Haram to return to Gudumbali, one of the most dangerous areas of northeast Nigeria. Officials cut off food and other aid to those who refused.

Meanwhile, the $1billion earmarked for the purchase of arms and ammunition to aid the military in the fight against terrorism in the North-east region is now mired in confusion.

This is coming as a group, Society for Good Governance (SGG), accused the federal government and state governors of playing politics with such an important national intervention, the absence of which has led to death of many soldiers in the North-east region.

It said if government could not account for the $1 billion security fund for Boko Haram, “then our position is that it has been diverted for the purposes of 2019 elections, and we will be left with no other option than to seek legal redress.”

The mystery is located in the fact that several government agencies and institutions have all denied accessing the fund.

The denial is coming as hundreds of soldiers have died owing to lack of equipment and inadequate salaries and allowances for those fighting in the war front as claimed by some soldiers who survived the Metele attack.

In the heat of the Metele attack by insurgents in Borno State, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Yusuf Buratai, informed a bewildered country that the Nigerian Army was yet to receive any fund or equipment purchased from the fund.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/12/17/12-soldiers-killed-dozens-missing-in-battle-with-insurgents/%3famp

GOVERNORS should include the payment of the new national minimum wage in their 2019 Appropriation Bills, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has counselled.

Labour said doing so remained the only to avoid friction and crisis in the New Year, adding that the state governments are buoyant enough to pay the N30, 000 being demanded for workers as minimum wage.

NLC President Ayuba Wabba told The Nation in a chat that the minimum expectations from workers as the President presents the national budget “is for provisions to be made in the budget for the implementation of the minimum wage.”

Wabba, who recently became the first African and the first black man to be elected President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), described as unfortunate that workers continued to bear the brunt of economic hardship, with nobody fighting their cause whenever the economy improves.

He said that governors only say they cannot implement the minimum wage because of how they have handled the resources at their disposal, saying the issue has nothing to do with the availability of resources.

Wabba said: “Legally, the minimum wage due and the President has openly told the world that he is committed to it. Our minimum expectation is that the minimum wage be accommodated in the budget and for workers to actually begin to benefit from it.

“There is no two way about this because it is legitimately due. So, Nigerian workers should not be made to suffer the consequences of what they are not responsible for. When the economy is doing well, nobody bothers about workers. But when the economy is worse, the workers will be at the receiving end because in most cases, they are not paid.

“So, when the economy is doing well and when it is not, we have not actually received the desired attention. So, our expectation is that since everybody mutually agreed, the minimum wage should be a priority.”

More at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/nlc-to-governors-include-n30-000-wage.html

Nigerian pop star, David Adeleke, popularly called Davido, has revealed what he will do for the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike ahead of the 2019 election


Davido said he would work for Wike’s reelection as Rivers Governor.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Davido made the pledge in Port Harcourt when he visited the Rivers Governor.


He said he would also institute a talent hunt show for Rivers-based artistes.

He said the programme would be in line with his discussions with the State Government to support new generation artistes in the state.

The musician was in Port Harcourt for a musical show tagged: ‘Plugged’, where he was billed to perform alongside other Rivers-based artistes.


“I am also here to see my godfather, Gov. Wike and to support his second term bid.

“I am planning a talent hunt show in Port Harcourt, one of the lucky artistes will perform at my show in Lagos on Dec. 27,” he said.

Davido said he was also in Port Harcourt to wish Wike a happy birthday, adding that in the forthcoming year, there were several things he was planning for the good of the music industry.

NAN also reports that Davido was accompanied by the organiser of the show, Mr Chima Aguma, and Music Promoter, Soso Soberekon.

In his remarks, Gov. Wike promised to support the entertainment industry, to create jobs for the youth

More at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/rivers-2019-what-ill-do-for-gov-wike.html

Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has declared that the outcome of the 2019 general elections will determine the future of the country.

Clark, who made this assertion at his Asokoro, Abuja residence weekend while playing host to Christian Campaigners of Nigeria led by its Co-ordinator, Rev Ayuba Kantiok, also stated that the nation was at a crossroads with recent lopsided appointments by the federal government as against the principle of federal character.


He emphasised that the forthcoming polls

“will most likely determine the fate of this country not only in the next four years, but actually its future, the future of our children, the future of generations yet unborn”.

According to him, this is why it is important that every facet or groups should be involved “as all hands must be on deck”.

He stressed that the coming election was also important for the citizenry to make some statements “because our national economy has suffered the most negative downturn of recent years.

“We have lost millions of jobs in recent times, the unemployment continues to soar to the rooftop, and prices of even basic foodstuff are now out of the reach of the average Nigerian”.

The former Information Minister in the First Republic expressed concern about the non adherence to the provisions of federal character by President Muhammadu Buhari in his appointments into Boards and agencies.

His words: “This country is at a crossroads today. If you are from certain parts of the country, it is most likely you will not get some jobs, despite provisions on Federal Character in our Constitution.

“For instance, in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which is the engine room of the oil industry, when its Board was constituted, out of a Board of nine members which includes the Chairman, six are from the North, a non-oil producing area; and these six include the present Chief of Staff, whose schedule of duty is already very tight, one is from the South West an oil producing zone, only one is from the South-South which produces 90% of the oil and none from the South East, an oil producing zone”.

He also frowned at the increasing trend of desecrating the nation’s national institutions, particularly the Nigeria Army and the Nigeria Police Force in using them for political gains saying “more and more, certain persons in political class have continued to drag the Police to become surrogates in achieving their nefarious political ends”.

Clark therefore reiterated his support for the restructuring of Nigeria “and will support any Presidential candidate that has the restructuring of this country genuinely at heart and sees it as one of the cardinal things he will do, if elected into office because restructuring will check inequality and injustice, make or force states to be viable as they will begin to think outside the box for survival.

“Powers must and should devolve to the States, in order to make them active. Local Government Councils in this country are in a pitiable state.

States do not feel challenged to develop the resources in their various States; at the end of every month, they come to Abuja to receive hand-outs, to come and share money gotten majorly from oil.

According to him, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, believes in the restructuring of the country, “a belief he has held since 1994 when he served as a member of the Constituent Assembly, together with people like the late Major Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (rtd) and my good friend, Prof. Ihechukwu Madubuike”.

He, therefore, advised the Christian group not to stand aloof in deciding the right leaders for the country saying “you have to encourage your members to be active in politics, to come out and vote in the forth coming elections and in doing this, they must vote their conscience.

“Do not allow people to intimidate you, to coerce you, or give you money which they stole from our common purse”.

Earlier in his address, leader of the Christian group, Rev Ayuba Kantiok, said the movement had a mandate to restore Nigeria with a view to moving the nation forward.

According to him, “We have observed that Nigeria is not working, hence the decision to put this group to rescue Nigeria. We are Christian ministers but we are advancing the cause of Nigeria and not religion. The election is coming in 2019 and we have the mandate of God that is for church to rescue Nigeria. Our campaign is that of justice, inclusiveness which we have observed is not happening. We decided to mobilise the youths to champion this cause.”

Katiok also assured that the Christian group “will no longer anoint people to go and campaign, we are going to take the lead to rescue Nigeria, we are here to launch the justice of our cause for a true Nigeria must be born”.

More at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/clark-2019-polls-will-make-or-mar.html

No fewer than 5000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the weekend defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo state.

Olusola Nenuwa, the leader of the defectors, said they decided to dump the APC because the ruling party had failed the people of the country.

Nenuwa said the President Muhammadu Buhari government had ruined the country’s economy in the last three and a half years, increasing the rate of unemployment and hunger.

He urged Nigerians to vote for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in next year’s election, saying the former vice president had the capability to take the nation our of the economic woods.

Nenuwa, who was a member of the Rotimi Akeredolu campaign committee in 2016, promised that the new PDP members would work hard to mobilize support for all candidates of the party in the state in order to achieve victory.

“In 2015, we thought APC would change things for better, especially in the area of the economy. We thought President Buhari was the messiah we needed.

“But to our surprise, the country moved from pan to fire. Instead of changing our story to a better one, they have worsened the situation.

“There is suffering in the land and you can see a lot of crime everywhere because of the hunger in the land. They have said now that they will take us to the next level of suffering.

“We have decided to join the moving train of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. He has what it takes to deliver us in this country. He is one of the highest employers of labour in Nigeria. He knows how he will improve the economy,” he said.

Abiodun Omonijo, the Akure South PDP chairman, who received the new members on behalf of the state chairman, commended them for taking the decision.

Omonijo promised the defectors that they would be fully integrated into the party and allowed to enjoy equal rights with old members.

The party chairman said Atiku was determined to get Nigeria working again, urging the defectors to take the message to all nooks and crannies of the state.

He said: “The APC is losing members to our party everyday, even including those with appointments in government. That has to tell you that people are no longer comfortable with the ruling party.

“There is hunger on the face of everybody. PDP is the only party that can give hope to Nigerians. Atiku is the answer. God has brought him this time to come and save Nigeria.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/5000-apc-members-defect-to-pdp-in-ondo.html

The presentation of the 2019 Appropriation Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari is under threat as National Assembly (NASS) workers are to commence a four-day warning industrial action from tomorrow, it emerged on Saturday.

President Buhari had written to the leadership of National Assembly that he would be presenting the 2019 budget proposal to the joint session of the National Assembly at 11am on Wednesday, 19th December, 2018.

The workers had to be placated last Tuesday by the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives to shelve their initial strike action after denying lawmakers access to the chambers while paralyzing all official duties that day.

On the same day, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Muhammed Sani-Omolori in response to the workers demand, in a statement heaped the blames on the Ministry of Finance that despite being on first line charge, inadequate release of budgetary allocation makes it impossible for the implementation of the new salary regime for the workers, among other demands.

The workers union, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) however made a U-turn Saturday following the discovery of over N10b in the National Assembly’s Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) accounts.

The union, according to a source, who pleaded not to be named said it has become obvious that the management had no intention of fulfilling the agreement after a CBN letter dated 21 November, 2018 to the Clerk requesting confirmation to two external auditors, N10,455,891,967,43 in National Assembly’s T24 account number 0020168142065 (Statutory transfer).

Signed by two CBN Directors, the National Assembly was asked to confirm if the information was in agreement with its records, while asking to provide further information that may assist in reconciling the differences, she added.

However, in a leter to its members on Friday, the union said after its emergency meeting of 14th December, 2018, it has been decided that a warning strike would commence on Monday, 17th December, 2018.

“By this notice, be kindly informed that the entire members of PASAN shall stay off their respective duties on the mentioned dates,” the memo stated.

As at the time of filing this report, phone calls to the National Assembly’s Spokesman, Rawlins Agada and his House of Representatives counterpart, Abdulrazak Namdas over the development proved abortive as their lines were not available.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/nass-workers-strike-threatens-2109.html

The Social Democratic Party, SDP, has said the candidacy of Sir Okey Ezeh in Imo State is not under any form of controversy, adding that the process that led to the emergence of Sir Ezeh is in tandem with the provisions of the Party's guidelines for the nomination of candidates.

This clarification was made by a National Leader in the Party who spoke to our correspondent while reacting to a misleading headline in soft-sell Owerri-based newspaper which drew an imaginary battlefield and alleged that the governorship ticket of the SDP in Imo is in dispute.

"You can take my word to the bank: Okey Ezeh became our candidate through a widely acknowledged transparent process. First, the Imo State Chapter of the Party failed to organise a direct primary election as the guidelines stipulated. They gathered at a hotel in Owerri and stage-managed something very absurd. We cancelled that particular exercise because it was an aberration and opted for the second alternative in the guidelines, which is consensus. We invited Okey Ezeh and three others who then purchased our nomination forms. We screened and eventually Okey Ezeh defeated the three others to become the consensus candidate of the Party in Imo State," he narrated.

He further stated that, "We are aware that there are some persons within the Party who are sponsored by the PDP to distract Okey Ezeh. This is the height of inferiority complex. They should stop hiding behind anyone to distract our candidate. If they think they are popular, let them meet us at the polls. Anyone who is pretending to be in court against the SDP or against Okey Ezeh is just a mole planted by the PDP to distract us, and at the appropriate time we shall deal with the person decisively."

In a similar reaction, the Imo State Publicity Secretary of the Party, Chilos Godsent, has issued a stern warning to all those who are dividing the Party to stop forthwith. He went ahead to ban members of the Party from writing anything misleading about the state of affairs in the party, even as he decried the activities of some persons who are sponsored by the opposition to scuttle the electoral chances of the Party.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/okey-ezeh-is-our-candidate-in-imo-sdp.html

The United States has expressed concerns about intimidation and partisanship by security forces as Nigeria’s general election draws near.

A statement obtained in Abuja, yesterday, said the Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of States, Tibor P. Nagy, Jr., stated this, among others, while testifying on Thursday before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Sub-committee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organisations.

According to the statement, Nagy, Jr., whose testimony before the committee was titled, “Nigeria at a Crossroads: The Upcoming Elections,” noted that heightened insecurity, terrorist attacks on elections institutions, or violence towards voters, observers, or electoral officials; and inability of large numbers of internally displaced persons or persons with disabilities to vote were also sources of concern to the U.S.

Additionally, it listed voter suppression, the use of armed gangs for voter intimidation, and other drivers of electoral violence, including a lack of official condemnation of hate speech and disinformation; and wide-spread vote buying that challenges the integrity of the electoral process as its other concerns for the elections.

The U.S, which vowed to maintain a neutral stance in the elections, however, said it would observe the entire preparations to identify potential attacks that could undermine the legitimacy of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the electoral processes.

Nagy Jr., said the U.S was not anticipating large-scale nation-wide conflict, but rather localised violence during the elections, adding that Borno and Rivers were top hotspots for such electoral violence.

“The Department of State agrees with the view that Nigeria’s February 2019 national elections are a critical test. The conduct of the elections could have significant consequences for the democratic trajectory of Nigeria, West Africa, and the entire continent.

“The conduct of the 2015 Nigerian elections, although by no means perfect, was a step forward for Nigeria’s democracy. That contest resulted in Nigeria’s first-ever democratic transfer of power to a non-incumbent party, thereby increasing capacity and improving conduct of Nigerian democratic institutions and election bodies,” he said.

According to him, the U.S had in advance of the 2019 elections, continued to support Nigeria to achieve free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections that reflect the will of its people.

He said through diplomacy, robust public engagement including with Nigeria’s youth and civil society, and democracy and governance programs, the US has helped to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and processes, but does not support any single candidate.

“We support a democratic process that is free, fair, transparent, peaceful, and reflects the will of the Nigerian people,” he explained.

He added: “I know many of you are watching the election closely. We share many of the areas of concern that you have voiced. We are monitoring and messaging – both publicly and privately – to mitigate a few key areas of risk that could jeopardise a free and fair process.

“For example: potential attacks on the legitimacy of INEC and the electoral process for political gain; intimidation and partisanship by security forces; heightened insecurity, terrorist attacks on elections institutions, or violence towards voters, observers, or electoral officials; an inability of large numbers of internally displaced persons or persons with disabilities to vote; voter suppression, the use of armed gangs for voter intimidation, and other drivers of electoral violence, including a lack of official condemnation of hate speech and disinformation; wide-spread vote buying that challenges the integrity of the electoral process.

“Many of you have expressed particular concern about violence around these elections. I can tell you from my impressions during my travels and my previous service in Nigeria that I fear there will be some violence around these elections, as has been the case with previous elections.

“I do not anticipate large-scale nation-wide conflict, but rather localised violence. We are already seeing increased tensions and polarisation as the election approaches. We assess that politicians are turning to narratives of identity politics in an attempt to improve their popularity, with potentially serious consequences for national unity. However, Nigeria’s political system and society have weathered such tensions before.”

In assessing potential hot spots for violence, he noted: “We look at places that are historically volatile around elections such as Rivers and Borno states. We look at states that are currently tense, especially if state-level politics are contentious like those in Benue, Plateau, as well as those in high-stakes locations with large populations such as Kano.

“2019 will be a significant year for Nigerian democracy – it has been 20 years since the country returned to democratic rule and this election’s youngest voters have never known a Nigeria without democracy. The upcoming elections provide Nigerians an opportunity to shape their country and solidify its place as a democratic leader in Africa.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/2019-elections-us-worries-about.html